Veils of Kali's Myst

Happy Valentines day

2012-02-14T17:30:00.001-05:00

I should have written this earlier today...

At 5:30 today, at Berri-UQAM there is a Marche a l'amour - where poems will be read.

Also at 5:30 today, at Cabot Square [Atwater metro] there is a Memorial march for disappeared and murdered indigenous women. This is the 3rd year for this event in Montreal.

At 6pm in front of St James the Apostle Anglican church on the corner of Bishop and SteCatherine there is a silent stand for all the fallen heroes of the Syrian revolution.

Last but not least, apparently at McGill there is a large group of protesters that have entered the downtown campus through the Roddick Gates. Wonder what is going to happen if anything?

C-11 Protest in Montreal Friday February 10th, 2012

2012-02-14T13:14:00.001-05:00

C-11 protest in Montreal Video hasn't been on youtube long enough for me to find it. Will update this blog later when I can embed it.

Now I have Welcome to the Jungle stuck in my head :P

They need a Zamboni to fix the ice on the LAKE?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

2012-02-13T08:45:00.001-05:00

Zamboni on Lac des iles in Entrelacs

I had to see it to believe it. They have a Zamboni - a real one to fix the ice on the skating ring on the lake!!!!! They also have a 4x4 truck just to keep the ice clear of snow. Talk about wasting municipal funds on a few dozen people.

Walking on lac des iles in Entrelacs

2012-02-11T23:52:00.000-05:00

Love the effect of the shadows in the snow on this photo, we were walking on lac des iles in Entrelacs.

City of Montreal claims it cost them a fortune to take down Occupy Montreal

2012-02-09T11:54:00.000-05:00

Here is the thing, they kept much of the equipment they took that day and I can't help but wonder how much money they could have recouped if they had sold the materials. Because they certainly didn't give us back our things as promised. Read more about the story here.

Old female dog passes in Entrelacs

2012-02-08T17:20:00.001-05:00

I found out last night that Princess, the old female German Shepard that belongs to Tony has passed away. I'm upset because I had a chance to bond with her. She's the dog that kept me warm the week-end I camped there and it was -35C.

May old Princess RIP.

Corruption a Entrelacs - video

2012-02-08T12:36:00.001-05:00

Solidarity between movements - Arab Spring & Occupy

2012-02-08T12:33:00.000-05:00

Solidarity with Homs - February 4th 2012

2012-02-07T22:00:00.000-05:00

More Shelling in Bab Amr, Homs, Syria

2012-02-06T08:51:00.001-05:00

It's another humanitarian disaster in Bab Amr Homs, the Syrian Army has been shelling indiscriminately for days now. Check the story on Al Jazeera here.

I also love the people who are condemning the vandalizing of the Syrian Embassy in Ottawa. Let me see splashing paint on people who represent the Syrian regime [Did not physically hurt anyone] in comparison to the Syrian Army killing people just because they are there....

People are saying that splashing paint is being a thug like the Syrian Army. I dunno I think splashing red paint on the embassy makes them look like they have blood on their hands. It's not like anyone got hurt in Ottawa, but a message was relayed.

I have it on good authority that the door to the Syrian Consulate in Montreal was also vandalized. I will look to see if someone has photos.

Another photo of the Syrian Embassy in Ottawa

2012-02-05T19:12:00.000-05:00

Syrian embassy in Ottawa gets vandalised

2012-02-05T08:48:00.001-05:00

The gazette reports that the Syrian embassy in
Ottawa got vandalized on Saturday. The RCMP isn't sure if it's related to the demonstration that happened on Saturday.

Photos I found on the net of the vandalism :)

The red paint symbolized the blood on the hands of all who stand with the regime of Bashar al Assad.

Standing in solidarity with Homs Syria, February 4th, 2012

2012-02-04T20:58:00.000-05:00

Today we stood for two hours in solidarity with Homs, in front of the Syrian Consulate in Montreal. Despite the fact that the event was called only a few hours before it happened, about 60 people showed up. There were a lot of women and they were in fine chanting form. It was a spirited demonstration! My pictures are here, and hubby's are here.

Entrelacs - does this sleepy municipality in Lanaudiere think they can invent laws?

2012-02-04T20:48:00.000-05:00

Apparently Tony has been told that the municipality wants to remove the signs. Here's the thing, last I checked the municipality cannot do much on private property. I'm not sure what kind of power trip the officials are in Entrelacs, but they seem to think because one neighbour complains they have to do things. Let the neighbour complain. He claims it's because he wants to sell his home but cannot because of Tony...

Sounds to me like just excuses. Sounds to me like there are ulterior motives. I mean if I wanted to sell my house I'd find a buyer that would fit into the current neighbourhood. Problem solved!

Remembering the Hama massacre in 1982 - and Demo today at Syrian Consulate

2012-02-04T09:43:00.000-05:00

Last night in front of Montreal's St James the apostle Anglican church, we gathered for a vigil to commemorate the deaths of those killed in Hama in 1982 by Assad Sr. Here are photos of the vigil.

I didn't take many because I was only there one hour, most of which I spent talking to this 82 year old woman who was curious what our vigil was about. Turns out she's also a photographer herself and had been to Damascus in the 1970's. She was very supportive and very nice .I wish I could remember her full name at this point. I hope she finds me on facebook :)

Meanwhile while Syrians both local and abroad mark the anniversary of the Hama massacre, there was a new massacre in Homs, over 200 people killed in a couple of neighbourhoods.

Today there's a demonstration in front of the Syrian Consulate, on Cote Vertu - in front of the Jean Coutu Pharmacy of the Consul.

Video of vigil for Farshad Mohammadi

2012-02-02T20:04:00.000-05:00

Here is the video for the vigil of Farshad Mohammadi, the homeless man shot by the SPVM. Amusingly we were one of the first people at the event, and the police officer in charge of supervising the event came to ask who was in charge of the event and if we had an itinerary. I told him that as far as I knew, we were going to stand there for one hour and then disperse, and that the organizers were not there yet. They did show up but were about 15 minutes late probably due to the snow. It was hell walking in those conditions.

Mind you I'm of the mindset that if it's downtown somewhere it walkable. So I take the train to Gare Centrale and walk anywhere I need to go. That day I figured we had a window of opportunity to go get hubby his doc martens. So we walked from Gare Centrale to St Denis a bit above Sherbrooke to Rio [or was it X20 I can never remember] and then walked back to the SPVM headquarters for the vigil holding boots.

He loves his new docs and finds them really comfortable and warm. I like the fact that though they are just leather boots, unlined, often I find them warmer then winter boots. Unless I'm going to be outside long, I prefer wearing docs.

I also love my new docs. I have 20 hole docs that go to my knees, but I don't find those practical for certain activities, though I love them for going to protest marches. For camping and other activities I prefer 8 hole docs. The pair I got back in the 90s were so dead, though I keep them for camping. So I ended up taking a pair of floral doc martens home with me. Did I mention I love them? I've had several people say that they were so me :)

Canadian MPs laugh at potential transgender flight ban.

2012-02-02T11:28:00.000-05:00

The conservative government in Canada is turning this country into a place where few of us will want to live. They seem to think it is amusing that transgendered people may be banned from flying. Having a letter from your medical doctor to prove that yes it's normal for you to not be the same gender as your outward appearance is offensive. I don't need a letter to travel, neither should they. People should be treated the same whether they are male, female or a mix of the above. It is not for the people in the government to decide.

See this article for more details. I'm appalled.

Case dropped against journalist

2012-02-02T11:21:00.000-05:00

This story makes me realize that if you are going to photograph or videograph interactions with the police you should make sure to have witnesses, otherwise they might change the facts to charge you even if you did nothing wrong. See this article from the Gazette today.

Sabotage by stupidity

2012-02-01T07:58:00.000-05:00

It sucks that sadly when involved with a leaderless movement, you also end up with idiots who sabotage because they are too dense to realize what they are doing.

A bunch of us have been working relentlessly on the Entrelacs project only to have a few unicorns think that bringing an GA to Entrelacs is a good idea. I'm not sure on what planet it's a good idea. The best part is they think they are bringing democracy to Entrelacs, what they are bringing is one way of seeing things, if it was democracy, there would have been a vote done in the Entrelacs group - and with the whole group, not just one person with 2 new arrivals.

The whole GA concept hasn't been working for Montreal but let's bring it to a small town and show them how it's done!?!?! Yeah. Sure whatever. The people involved in Entrelacs up to now have been doers, not GAers but let's bring in the deadbeats who will spend the next couple of months talking while the municipality bowls over it's residents.

Here's the thing, the 1% isn't afraid because they know the infighting in the end will win!

Syria, does it have to get worse before it gets better?

2012-01-31T08:23:00.000-05:00

I haven't blogged much about Syria recently because I'm so discouraged. As suspected the Arab league monitor system failed. Sadly there was more daily deaths in Syria with the monitors in the country then there had been before. At least the Arab League has said, Syria is not living up to it;s end of the bargain and pulled out the monitors and is bringing a resolution to the UN.

If only Russia would see the light and go with the flow rather then against the resolution. Russia doesn't want to support action against Syria because then they can no longer sell their weapons. What is for sure is that Russia's hands are just as bloody as Assads.

I was too exhausted to go stand at the Russian Consulate this past Sunday but at least I was happy to hear about 50 people showed up even though the event was put together at the last minute. John Jantac took photo's. This coming Saturday there is a fund raising dinner that I will most likely attend, this should make me less guilty for missing the event on Sunday.

This morning the article in Al Jazeera has the US saying Assad's days are numbered. Let's pray that this is true. The Syrian people keep fighting and moving on and hopefully very soon Assad will be gone.

Update on Entrelacs "tent" situation

2012-01-30T23:59:00.001-05:00

Currently Occupons Entrelacs is occupying both on Tony and on his neighbours land. The army tents are on his neighbours property. Well you see the letter below from the city, the neighbour never received one. So of course they are singling out Tony again.

Tony and one of the occupiers went around Entrelacs and took photo's of 8 other folks with roulottes on their properties and who probably have not received a notice from the town.

City of Entrelacs abusing power

2012-01-30T17:38:00.000-05:00

The city of Entrelacs is trying to tell Tony that he cannot put tents on it. I don't know what planet they are on really. I mean I've always put my tent in my back yard in Montreal the day before I go camping. It's been known to stay over a week sometimes due to inclement weather especially when I want the tent to dry.

I've also put our Occupy Tent on the front of my property in Pierrefonds as a protest and it has been there since November 25th, 2011. I have not received a single complaint. Heck I haven't received a single comment even from my neighbors.

This is the letter Tony received from Entrelacs and the funny part is if you look up the law they refer to, it only applies to camping trailers, not tents.

___________________________________________________________

Type d'infraction / Règlement et articles : USAGE NON AUTORISÉ
Règlement #00-426, ART 14.6 Grille des usages R-4
Date d'inspection : 23/01/2012
Délai accordé : 10 jours

25 janvier 2012

Avis d'infraction

Monsieur,

La présente fait suite à une inspection de votre propriété cité en rubrique en date du 23 janvier 2012. Lors de cette inspection nous avons pu constater la présence de deux (2) entes installées sur votre terrain et servanpour des activités de camping.

À cet égard, il appert donc que vous contrevenez à l'article 14.6 du règlement de zonage 426 de la municipalité d'Entrelacs.

Articl14.6
"Sauf pour des fins temporaires conformes aux dispositions du présent règlement, les roulottes ne sont autorisées que sur les terrains de camping.
Les activités de camping ne sont autorisées que sur les terrains de camping."

De plus, je profite de la présente pour vous signifier que dans la zone R-4, laquelle votre terrain fait partie, l'usage commercial de type "271-5 camping" n'est pas permis.

Pour ces raisons, nous vous demandons de bien enlever ces tentes et cesser toutes activités liées au camping sur votre terrain dans les dix (10) jours suivant la réception de la présente, sans quoi la municipalité entreprendra les procédures légales nécessaires.

Merci de votre collaboration,

Alexandre Morin
Directeur aménagement du territoire
Municipalité d'Entrelacs

___________________________________________________________________________________

I'd also love to know how much municipal tax money has been used to fight USELESS court orders. I mean so far they have fought Tony twice up to Superior court where he won his case!!!! I wonder if the residents of Entrelacs would be so pleased that their tax money is going to court cases over stupid things like dogs, and bridges and tents!!!!

Occupons Entrelacs - photos 4rth week

2012-01-30T07:08:00.000-05:00

These are the photos I took on the 4rth week at Occupons Entrelacs. We had an activity day and my gf came with her children. Snow men were built and signs were put up :)

Eglise St Emile a Entrelacs

2012-01-29T21:45:00.000-05:00

I love the effect of taking photo at dusk!

Nouvelles pancartes at Entrelacs!

2012-01-28T23:31:00.000-05:00

Bonne chance au voisin - il aura certainement besoin d'une echelle pour vandaliser ces pancartes!

New signs for Occupons Entrelacs.

2012-01-28T09:02:00.000-05:00

When rescuing becomes a disease

2012-01-27T23:49:00.000-05:00

Interesting article on Slate on overprotective animal rescue groups. I noticed myself when I rescued Pixie, that the questionnaire was long. and we had to visit, me and the girls a month before we got to adopt the cat. I guess she was a rescuer who was fine with people with children. It could also be the way we were with the cat when we visited and in general all the pets.

When I rescued Zeke, the rescuer came to see me with 2 cats. and also I suppose check me out to see if I was suitable. She talked with me for an hour while she watched the way Zeke just settled on my lap. I mean he wasn't my first choice for a cat, but after having him on my lap for one hour I knew he needed a home and he'd be happy. Sadly the rescuer 'lied' to me telling me the cat was 1 1/2 years when I adopted him. Turns out he was probably closer to 8 or 10.

It's pretty sad when people who claim to rescue become hoarders and end up hurting animals instead of doing good by them.

Full house again

2012-01-27T08:35:00.001-05:00

Our friend Nina got a job starting tomorrow, so she's going to be staying with us for a bit. She's been living with her dad near Granby, and it's not conducive to working in Montreal, especially without a car. I'm not sure if they figured out what was wrong with her car yet.

I've also had my sense of security shattered a bit. When I think about the guy staying with us. Who was homeless after the Montreal occupation camp got dismantled. I was thinking he might be clueless like the ex I don't talk to anymore, who can't cook until it's already made - he can reheat, who brings his laundry to his mom [and claims she likes it and she needs the money - right good excuse] and who can't clean much either... he likes moving stuff around and tidying. No this guy is resourceful and self-sufficient. He's intelligent and well read. He's ingenious and thinks outside the box. It just leaves me puzzled to think about it. I'm sensitive and I guess it makes me realize how crappy the world is and the fact that I'm this paranoid and not trusting isn't a bad thing.

Gotta run got miles to go before I sleep :)

Occupy Entrelacs Needs you!!!! Occupons Entrelacs a besoin de vous!!!

2012-01-26T08:05:00.000-05:00

Occupons Entrelacs (OE)

a besoin de :

- sacs de couchage
- couvertes
- chandelles
- petites bonbonnes de propane
- petits chaudrons/poêles
- matériaux pour faire des pancartes (markers, cartons, etc.)
- nourriture non-périssable
- fouin
- argent Canadian Tire

- argent
- un bureau
- tables et chaises
- petit poêle à bois pour chauffer la grande tente militaire
- raquettes
- skis de fonds
- radio

Occupy Entrelacs needs the following:

- blankets

- candles

- small propane tanks

- small pots and pans

- materials for making signs [markers, cardboard, paint]

- non-perishable food

- hay [for making floor of tent]

- Canadian tire money

- money

- a desk

- tables and chairs

- small wood stove

- snow shoes

- cross country skis

- radio

Please send your donations or drop them off at:

SVP envoyer vos dons ou venez les porter a:

Occupons Entrelacs

10891 Route Pauzé

Entrelacs, Quebec

J0T 2E0

Neighbor suspected in sign removal at Occupons Entrelacs!

2012-01-24T17:23:00.006-05:00

On Saturday we nailed some of the signs I made to Tony's fence in Entrelacs. Apparently this morning the signs were gone. He took photo's of footprints in snow and it seems that his 'bad' neighbor snuck around in the middle of the night and took down the signs.

Funny Tony was saying that he needs to add yet another camera, this one near the road. Well this is something we're going to need to do very shortly. This way in the future we can nail the bastard neighbor who's been the source of his problems.

My babies are spreading their wings

2012-01-24T14:24:00.000-05:00

This morning my youngest daughter chatted me a bit on Facebook. She's considering going to teach aboard next year. I know she was toying with going to teach in a remote location in Canada, most likely on a native reserve, but then she changed her mind because she was thinking she's going to get an internship in one of the institutions in Montreal and that would be more beneficial.

Today she's mentioning she's considering going to teach in England next year. I encouraged her. She's young and unattached, it's the best time for trying out new stuff and traveling. By teaching in England she'll be able to travel around Europe on her week-ends and get a chance to experience a whole new continent.

As far as my eldest daughter is concerned, as soon as she finishes her last semester at Concordia, in May she's moving to Halifax and joining the Navy full time. She's extremely enthusiastic about it!

So come next year I will have one daughter in Halifax and one daughter in England!

Winter camping

2012-01-23T09:55:00.000-05:00

I was pretty pleased with myself this year going camping in early October. Turned out to be one of the warmest Thanks-giving week-ends we've had on record. It was warmer camping in October then it had been in early September in the same provincial park.

I had perhaps excepted I might camp out at Place des Peuple once just to do it, though I was more looking forward just to spend the night at the camp and not sleep. However as it turns out, this never happened because the camp was dismantled prematurely.

When Occupy Entrelacs started, I didn't think about twice. Nina and I were ready to winter camp all we needed was a guy to accompany us since we did not know the people who's property we were going to Occupy. The guy we took is the guy staying with me. He was surprised to be asked by 2 women to go camping in January. Nina is an expert at winterizing a tent so I didn't worry about sleeping outdoors in winter.

The week-end of January 7th, it wasn't that cold outside, maybe went down to -15C. This time around though, it was just me and the guy in the tent along with an old German Sheppard dog. It was around -28 when we went to sleep but it went down to -35 apparently. I was warm throughout. The second night wasn't as warm mostly because my companion had been drinking and left the tent to pee four to five times... tent unfortunately was not as warm that night, but thankfully I think it was a warmer night.

The only thing I was disappointed is that so far I have not seen northern lights. However the sky was stunning Saturday night. All the stars that were visible. It would have been so sweet to have photo's of green northern lights above the tents. I've seen photos of northern lights along with tents and I always thought the people were crazy to camp in the winter. I figure so long as you're not one person, you manage to keep your heat pretty well.

For tips on how to winterize a tent, check the above video out:

Pictures of third week of Occupons Entrelacs.

2012-01-23T09:05:00.000-05:00

I put up photos from this week-end. So did hubby, here are his photos.

Occupons Entrelacs - and my life gets busy and complicated!

2012-01-23T03:40:00.000-05:00

Wow. I hadn't realized that I hadn't managed to blog in a week. Also I hadn't really noticed!

Admittedly this week has been a busy week. This was the second week with my batch of new students. They are all great choices, but since they are new they are full of questions. But my choices were good. These are eager to learn students. CJ in HQA has been giving them all hardware training and is having them compete assembling a system.

CJ and I grade the students not only on if the PC boots and windows is installed, but also attention to detail. Like are the cables passed funny and awkward. Are all the drivers installed in the OS? So his student and my students are competing to as who assembled the system the best and we'll tell them who is 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 ... and what they did wrong. Of course this is being done in a constructive way to teach them all about quality assurance and pride in doing the job right the first time.

Other then that since the camp at Occupy Montreal got taken down, I've let two people squat here from time to time and I suspect as time progresses it might be more. So I've been more busy. For a girl that was almost a hermit until this summer, I'm sure socializing way more then ever. Here's the thing, I'm tolerating being with people a lot fairly well at the moment. Considering I just spent the week-end with about 10 people or so most of the time with me, I'm remarkably chipper. :)

I've also developed feelings for one of the people that has been living with us. I suspect this person will be in my life a lot in the future. Hubby likes him a lot too, we enjoy having him around. I thought I originally met this person because he was one of the animators on the Occupy Montreal livestream, but it turns out he was the guy helping my buddy John put up the tarp at the People's kitchen on October 15th. We're all part of the Occupation movement's independent media team.

A small group of us went to Occupy Entrelacs this week-end, and I wandered around entrelacs so my friend could get his 'stock shots' for the news report he's preparing. It permitted me to get particularly stunning photo's of St Emile church in the process :)

rEvolution - Tunisian sponsored event

2012-01-14T22:21:00.000-05:00

Today I attended rEvolution an event sponsored by the Tunisian collective in Montreal and that wanted to unite together the different groups. In as such, the Syrian collective had a table and so did the 20th of february supporters for Morocco!

Here are my photo's for this event.

Vigil for Farshad Mohammadi

2012-01-13T22:13:00.001-05:00

Earlier tonight about 50 of us gathered in front of the SPVM headquarters in a vigil for Farshad Mohammadi.

Here are my photo's of this vigil.

Corruption in Entrelacs!

2012-01-12T11:24:00.000-05:00

Corruption in Entrelacs

The residents of Entrelacs have been subject to municipal corruption for over half a decade. The harassment ranges from unfounded fines of barking dogs, to not issuing needed building permits, to filing false charges of attempted murder.

The problems seem to have started for Tony Scafuro five years ago when he attempted to get a permit to build a bridge to join his driveway on one side of a river to his house on the opposite bank. Four homes share this strange situation and while some homes have bridges of their own, Scafuro was repeatedly denied a permit.

The problems since then have only grown for the residents of Entrelacs when a new mayor and city inspector came into power. The residents can’t help but feel they are being forced away from their land by the city officials. Many residents have received repeated and unfounded complaints and fines, other residents have been repeatedly arrested over false charges. This has left the residents of Entrelac terrified to leave their homes or even speak up against this tyranny.

One resident did reach out and did so to Occupy Montreal. After investigating the situation in Scafuro’s neighbourhood it was quickly decided to start Occupons Entrelacs. This new Occupation is in need of your help; we need people interested in spending time in the newly made camp to give the residents a sense of security they have long forgone. Occupons Entrelacs is also in need of camping supplies, food, propane and monetary funds. Help us say No to municipal corruption.

By Nina Haigh

Occupons Entrelacs!!!

2012-01-12T09:05:00.000-05:00

Syria - a Human disaster area!

2012-01-11T08:25:00.000-05:00

One of the monitors appointed to be in Syria quits and calls the whole process a farce!

On another front a convoy of young Syrians and peace activists from all over the world are planning to go into Syria tomorrow to help those in need. This is something I would have liked to participate in, though I know full well that they will need God's protection to survive this mission.

Occupons Entrelacs!!!!

2012-01-09T16:31:00.001-05:00

As it goes - What appears to be happening is that this man owns property next to crown land and some of the 1% want to drive him to sell his property so that they can easily access this crown land.

So far other then calling his bridge "Not conform with standards" [Which the supreme court twice said was not true and he was allowed to have this bridge], they have sent the DPJ [there was no reason and the people at the DPJ said as much], the SPCA [there was also no reason and the woman from SPCA would be willing to talk about that], he has also lost is SAAQ [he was injured in a car accident a few years ago and thanks for his asshole neighbors who constantly complained, lost his insurance].

Also - they claim his dogs are vicious, dangerous, noisy and howl non-stop - hence the several thousand dollars in dog fines.... We slept on the property. What dogs barking all night?

With 5 dogs on the property, not one barked at night. The 'vicious' dog, was so vicious when I showed up, he put his head in my hand to say "Pet me" and I'm not really a dog person. He was one of the sweetest dogs I've ever met and extremely friendly. Yes he has been trained to protect, but he was not trained to be vicious or aggressive!

However if you say how afraid of people some of his dogs are [Because one neighbor SHOT ONE OF HIS DOGS 3 times!!!] you would wonder what was done to them. And you can tell it's not Tony because they run to him but are nervous around anyone new.

They are looking to break this man so they can take his property. All those of you who feel he hasn't done his due diligence are welcome to come to Entrelacs and go through his several boxes of papers, judgements, proofs etc....

This is truly the kind of case this movement should be behind. Other Occupies in the US have occupied people's properties to prevent them from having their homes repossessed this is similar.

This man doesn't like being alone at home with his 4 year old son because he's afraid that the police will come over and arrest him again on bogus charges. At least with a bunch of occupiers on his property we can make sure if police show up to arrest him that no one hurts his dogs or come to burn down his property - Like they threatened to do to his and DID burn down a home just a few feet away from his - and while they did not find the culprit, firemen said it was criminal set.

Here are some photos

ENTRELACS : Un cas de persécution

Si vous avez besoin de plus d’information, donnez-nous un jour ou deux pour monter les séquences vidéo que nous avons tournées.

Il appert que la propriété de cet homme (Tony) jouxte des terres publiques, et que des membres du 1 % veulent l’obliger à la vendre afin de bénéficier d’un accès à ces terres publiques.

À ce jour, en plus de prétendre que son pont « ne répond pas aux normes » (bien que la Cour Suprême ait déjà démenti ces allégations à deux reprises et confirmé qu’il avait le droit de posséder ce pont), ils lui ont envoyé la DPJ (sans aucune raison, ainsi qu’en ont convenu eux-mêmes les représentants de la DPJ), la SPCA (sans raison non plus, et la dame de la SPCA est même prête à en témoigner), et il a aussi perdu ses indemnités de la SAAQ (il a subi des blessures dans un accident d’auto il y a quelques années et ses détestables voisins, à force de porter plainte contre lui, ont fini par lui faire perdre ses indemnités).

De plus, ils prétendent que ses chiens sont féroces et bruyants, et qu’ils aboient sans arrêt – d’où les amendes totalisant plusieurs milliers de dollars qui lui ont été remises à cause de ses bêtes… Nous avons dormi sur sa propriété et n’avons pas entendu un seul jappement de toute la nuit.

Malgré la présence de cinq chiens sur la propriété, aucun n’a aboyé une seule fois. Le chien soi-disant « méchant » était si féroce qu’à mon arrivée, il est venu spontanément poser sa tête dans le creux de ma main pour mendier une caresse – et je ne suis pas spécialement douée avec les chiens. En fait, c’est l’un des chiens les plus doux et amicaux qu’il m’ait été donné de rencontrer. Bien sûr, il a été entraîné pour protéger ses maîtres, mais certainement pas pour être méchant ou agressif!

En revanche, on peut se demander ce qui est arrivé à ses bêtes quand on constate à quel point celles-ci semblent effrayées par les étrangers (un de ses voisins a tiré TROIS FOIS sur l’un de ses chiens!) Et il est évident que ce n’est pas Tony lui-même qui rend ses chiens nerveux, car ils lui font la fête dès qu’ils le voient, mais ils sont agités en présence d’inconnus.

On cherche de toute évidence à briser la volonté de cet homme pour l’obliger à céder sa propriété. Et si vous croyez qu’il n’a pas fait ses devoirs ou qu’il s’est montré négligent, nous vous invitons à venir à Entrelacs pour examiner ses nombreuses boîtes de documents, de jugements de cour, de preuves, etc...

C’est tout à fait le genre de cause que ce mouvement doit endosser. D’autres groupes Occupy aux États-Unis ont occupé des propriétés privées pour éviter à leurs propriétaires d’en être évincés dans des cas tout à fait similaires.

Cet homme n’aime pas rester seul chez lui avec son fils de quatre ans parce qu’il craint que la police ne vienne encore l’arrêter sous de fausses accusations. Si quelques occupants se trouvent sur place, nous pourrons au moins nous assurer, si jamais la police se présente pour le mettre en état d’arrestation, que personne ne vienne faire du mal à ses chiens ou incendier sa maison en son absence – une menace qui lui a été formulée très clairement; on a même brûlé une maison voisine de la sienne, probablement en guise d’avertissement. Bien qu’ils n’aient pas réussi à trouver le coupable, les pompiers ont en effet conclu à un incendie criminel.

They Occupy at Entrelacs!

2012-01-08T01:40:00.002-05:00

UN official says Yemen amnesty may be illegal

2012-01-07T08:07:00.000-05:00

UN official says Yemen amnesty may be illegal - Middle East

I'm glad that it's not just Tawakol Karmen who can see that the GCC brokered deal for Yemen is wrong. Here's hoping that Yemen gets real democracy.

Bombing in Damascus today.

2012-01-06T10:29:00.000-05:00

First here's an article about the bombing.

ALJAZEERA INTERVIEW WITH COLONEL ASA'AD Today
-Anchorman: Colonel Riad Al Asa’ad, as a military expert, how would you describe the bombing in Al Midan today that resulted in the killing of more than 25 people?
- First, may mercy be granted to the martyrs. Second, the regime is starting to lose control over itself because of the Syrian Revolution.This operation is just like the two earlier bombings in Damascus. We are used to this ever since the 80s. Why did the bombing take place in al Midan, Damascus, which is one of the most respectable cities in Damascus? And Al Midan is holding protests. The regime is doing this to terrorise the people and convince them with their lies.
WE DON’T HAVE THE KIND OF EQUIPMENT THAT ENABLES US TO MAKE AN OPERATION LIKE THIS, AND NO POLICTICAL PARTY IN SYRIA HAS THAT POWER.
-Do you still insist on taking the Syrian situation to the international community?
-THE ARAB LEAGUE IS IN A WEAK STATE WHEN IT COMES TO DEALING WITH THE REGIME. THE REGIME NOW IS PLAYING WITH THE CARD OF “BOMBINGS”.
-Mufti Hasoun said that he will bring the region to an explosive situation in the Gulf region?
- THEY THREATENED TO KILL THE FAMILIES OF THE REGIME’S OPPOSERS. THEY THREATENED TO KILL MY FAMILY NAD BURN MY VILLAGE.
-Aren’t you afraid that if the Syrian situation is taken to the International Community, it will bring disaster to the Syrians?
-KILLING HAVEN’T STOPPED FOR 11 MONTHS. THERE IS NO REVOLUTION IN THE WORLD THAT CAN HOLD ON FOR 11 MONTHS. THE ARABIC REGIMES ARE HELPLESS IN FRONT OF THE SYRIAN REGIME. IF THEY CAN’T TACKLE OUR ISSUE THEY SHOULD STEP ASIDE AND PASS IT TO THOSE WHO CAN. THIS REGIME'S LANGUAGE IS KILLING, TORTURE AND DESTRUCTION.
- What is the Free Syrian Army's position now in Syria, and what are its future prospects?
- WE ARE FROM THE PEOPLE AND WE SWORE TO PROTECT THE SYRIAN PEOPLE WHEN WE FIRST ENLISTED IN THE ARMY. IT IS OUT DUTY TO PROTECT THE SYRIANS AND PROTESTORS.THE SYRIAN REGIME TOOK ADVANTAGE OF OUR LATEST STATEMENT.
- Can the FSA hold on and increase its numbers?
- WE HAVE BATTALIONS IN ALL SYRIAN REGIONS. THE FSA ARE ORGANIZED AND WE ARE DOING INDIVIDUAL OPERATIONS, AND YOU SAW THAT. THE NUMBER OF DEFECTIONS ARE INCREASING EVERYDAY

-Making the revolution a military one, isn't that a strategic mistake?
-NEVER. WE HAVE THE REIGHT TO PROTECT OURSELVES AND CITIZENS AS WELL.
THE REGIME IS TRYING TO IGNITE A SECTERAIN WAR BY KILLING AND TERRORIZING PEOPLE. IT IS OUR FAITH TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT THE UNITY OF OUR COUNTRY WITH ITS ENTIRE SPECTRUM. THESE PEOPLE HAVE STOOD IN THE FACE OF OPPRESSION FOR FORTY YEARS

This was translation of interview with head of Free Syrian Army by Al Jazeera. The original interview was in Arabic.

More occupy Lol cats I made....

2012-01-05T23:51:00.000-05:00

Montreal Boxing day - Flash Mobs of 99%, Syrian Collective & annonymous

2012-01-04T15:21:00.000-05:00

Syria deceiving the Arab League???

2012-01-04T15:01:00.001-05:00

Would the Syrian Regime do that? Damn right they would. It's crazy that the Syrian Regime still thinks we believe their crazy lies.

Here's a BBC article about the situation.

Here's an interview with a guy who's just defected: [Video was in Arabic so no point in posting it here]

What is your motive behind this defection?

I just can’t accept what is being said about armed and terrorist groups. And no sane mind can take that! And I assure you that there is NO armed groups on the streets, just peaceful protestors.
The ministry of defense, which he works in, is surrounded by intelligences branches. We saw the arrested individuals being blind folded and handcuffed behind their backs and taken to the intelligences basements (where they are tortured)
I saw the security forces with their vehicles and 4x4 cars moving towards the protestors to kill them.

The Free Syrian Army: they are honorable people which I know, since I work at the ministry of defense, they defected because they weren’t able to kill the protestors as they were ordered.
Reporter: You may be accused of repeating what the opposition is saying and there is no evidence or collaboration to what you are saying. How do you reply to that?
I was the one responsible for the financial reports. The Syrian Regime spent 2 billion Syria pounds to pay their thugs and all these are documented. And I saw with my own eyes they paid the shabiha to kill the protestors.

What is your opinion regarding the ministers and government official inside Syria?
- I believe they are “incarcerated”
How can you describe the state of the Syrian Regime? Especially that the opposition says that there are a lot of people who are waiting for the proper time to defect
“The regime is collapsing, it is falling apart.”
The regime is bombing the cities with airplanes especially the cities that represent a mighty state like Homs and some towns in Damascus Rural. The situation is out of their control”
I can assure you that 80% of the Syrian officials want to defect but they fear their lives and their families’ lives as well, so they calculate each step they want to take. I know because I am one of them.

How can you describe the regime’s financial situation?
It is too bad. They are receiving financial help from Iran, Iraq, and rich business men who support the regime like Rami Makhlouf. They are doing this thinking that they can control the revolution but they can’t and will not because the revolution is chantingr “to die is better than to live humiliated”. I saw the protestors and have taken part in protesting as well. I used old Arabic clothes, in order not to be recognized, and shared in the protests.

Work today.

2012-01-04T07:57:00.000-05:00

I was supposed to go back to work yesterday, but I couldn't get myself out of the house. Today though I'm aiming to be at work for 9ish. I have zero interest. I could use another 2 weeks of vacation and even then...

However I'm going to be a good girl and get my ass into a bath and get ready for work. I'm so not feeling it. Especially since it's -18C right now. BRRRRRR.

Occupy this!

2012-01-03T21:52:00.001-05:00

Apparently the word Occupy made 2011's most overused words :) This is no surprise. However it does not mean we need to stop using it, though - some would rather use decolonize. It's more politically correct at least from the natives point of view who feel we have been occupying Montreal for the past 450 some odd years.

Other then feeling more alive for the first time in years, the occupy movement has given me a lot of friends who are a lot like me. Maybe not on all levels, but a much wider pool of people to create bonds with. Not the type of people I tend to meet at work in an engineering firm which is rather homogenous. Well other then a few people who are also involved in some shape or another with the Occupy movement.

I have two friends currently that are homeless. Well I think one is no longer considered homeless since living in this home in Longueuil starting last week. The other isn't technically, he's living with probably close to a dozen people at a communal apartment. So far he's dropped in on us for a few days on three different occasions, because he needs to clear his head and get a bit of peace and quiet.

I have a third friend, who lives in the eastern townships with her dad. She will probably be staying a few days here as well, over the next few months when she needs to be in town for a few days.

Think this place will become an occupied home :P

Occupy LOL cats - a new batch.

2012-01-03T19:35:00.000-05:00

Operation Boxing Day!

2012-01-02T19:36:00.002-05:00

Montreal seen from lookout on Mont Royal

2012-01-01T22:26:00.002-05:00

Protest in front of the Syrian Consulate in Montreal on December 24th, 2011

2011-12-31T02:53:00.001-05:00

Boycotting Jean Coutu's that are owned by Ms Kanou

2011-12-29T10:13:00.000-05:00

The following are letters that can be emailed or snail mailed to Jean Coutu. They are in English and French. Feel free to participate!

****************************************************

In English :

Ms Nelly Kanou is the Syrian Honorary Consul General in Montreal and is the owner of the following Jean Coutu pharmacies in Montreal:

...
Nelly et Tania Kanou pharmaciennes,

237 boul De La Cote-vertu, Saint-Laurent QC,

514-331-2134

Nelly et Tania Kanou pharmaciennes,

740 boul de la Côte-Vertu, St-Laurent, QC,

514-744-2555

Pharmacie Jean Coutu - Nelly & Tania Kanou

475, boulevard de la Côte-Vertu, St-Laurent QC,

514-744-0203

Pharmacie Jean Coutu - N.T. Kanou & S. Marachian

5855, boulevard Gouin O, Montréal QC,

514-334-8641

Ms Nelly Kanou is the representative of the Syrian government in Montreal and has been a vocal supporter of the president of Syria, Bashar Alassad, accused of crimes against humanity. According to Human Rights Watch, the UN General Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International, torture, rape and execution of men, women and children are systematically used by the Syrian regime. Since the 15th of March 2011, Syria has witnessed a nation wide uprising demanding freedom, dignity and democratic institutions. The latest statistics have documented 5300 deaths, 351 children killed, 235 females killed, more then 25000 injured, more then 5000 missing, 191 protesters killed under torture, more then 59000 protesters incarcerated, more then 17000 refugees since the 15th of March 2011. In addition, testimonies from Syria and Amnesty international have reported that hospital workers suspected of treating protesters and others injured in the unrest have been faced with arrest and torture.

It is disgraceful that a Canadian healthcare provider has decided to support and align itself with a criminal and fascist regime. We call on Jean Coutu Group Inc to disassociate itself from Ms Nelly Kanou, representative of a criminal dictatorial regime. We further call on consumers to boycott the Jean Coutu pharmacies that are owned by Ms Nelly Kanou.

En Français :

Comme vous le savez, depuis le 15 mars 2011, le peuple Syrien descend chaque jour dans les rues pour demander la liberté, la dignité et l'instaurations des institutions démocratiques. La réponse du régime dictatorial de Bachar El-Assad est tout simplement le feu et le sang. Sous le prétexte non crédible de la présence de groupes terroristes armés, il bombarde par char, avions et navires de guerre les villes syriennes et leurs quartiers résidentiels pour mater les manifestations. D’après les dernières statistiques, plus de 5300 civils ont été tuées, dont 351 enfants et 235 femmes, plus de 25000 de blessés, plus de 59000 de prisonniers, 191 de détenus morts sous la torture, et plus de 17000 réfugiés. De plus, les professionnels de la santé, qui tentent de porter secours aux blessés, font face à la torture et à l’arrestation voire à la liquidation physique, selon des témoignages recueillis en Syrie et par Amnesty International. Selon Human Rights Watch, la Commission des droits de l’Homme des Nations-Unies et Amnesty International, meurtre, torture, viol et emprisonnement de femmes, d’enfants et d’hommes sont systématiques en Syrie contre les manifestants.

Par ailleurs, de nombreuses condamnations internationales ainsi que des sanctions économiques et autres ont été annoncées et mises en application. Le gouvernement canadien a fait une contribution à ce niveau. Citons à titre d'exemple la compagnie pétrolière et gazière SUNCOR de 1.2 milliards de $ d'investissement en Syrie y a suspendu ses opérations.

Mme Nelly Kanou est Consul Honoraire Général de Syrie à Montréal et copropriétaire de 4 pharmacies Jean-Coutu dont voici les adresses:

1- Nelly et Tania Kanou pharmaciennes,

237 boul de La Cote-vertu, Saint-Laurent, QC,

514-331-2134

2 - Nelly et Tania Kanou pharmaciennes,

740 boul de la Côte-Vertu, St-Laurent, QC,

514-744-2555

3- Pharmacie Jean Coutu - Nelly & Tania Kanou

475, boulevard de la Côte-Vertu, St-Laurent QC,

514-744-0203

4 - Pharmacie Jean Coutu - N.T. Kanou & S. Marachian,

5855, boulevard Gouin O, Montréal QC,

514-334-8641,

Mme Nelly Kanou, de par le fait qu'elle est consul, représente le régime d'Assad reconnu du monde libre comme criminel et accusé de crime contre l'humanité. Sans le Véto russe, nombreuses de ses personnalités auraient été traduites en Cour Pénale Internationale (CPI).

Il est tout à fait inacceptable qu' une professionnelle de la santé comme Mme Kanou de citoyenneté québécoise et canadienne soit complice d'un tel régime. Ainsi ne peut-elle que ternir la brillante et bonne réputation des Pharmacies Jean-Coutu.

Nous exhortons le Groupe Jean-Coutu Inc. de se dissocier de Mme Kanou et d'arrêter de fournir le nom de Jean- Coutu et tout ce qui s'en découle tant et aussi longtemps qu'elle participe indirectement au crime contre l'humanité du régime d'Assad. Aussi, lançons-nous bientôt une campagne auprès des consommateurs pour boycotter les pharmacies appartenant à Mme Kanou.

Monitors in Syria

2011-12-29T08:17:00.001-05:00

I'm not sure how useful the Arab League monitors have been in Syria, this is an article on the subject.

Also,Very important video of what happened at a Bab Dreib Checkpoint yesterday, where soldiers defected in the sight of the Monitors... (seen on the roof top, and at the checkpoint itself). This is the 'Hospital Checkpoint' one of the bloodiest in Homs.

The videographer says 'this is the first time we ever get this close to the checkpoint'.The people are chanting for the Monitors to ask the soldiers 'why did they shoot at us... why are our brothers in the army killing us?' Then the people hand out revolution flags to the soldiers and say 'why don't you defect... no one can harm you now?' Then one of the soldiers points to shabiha next to the blue sandbags, and say 'it is them, NOT the army (that is firing).'

The activist, even as two shabiha approach, says please tell the world 'This is a children's hospital' ...and Where are the 'armed gangs'? If you were facing armed gangs would you walk and stand like that?'

It is also very noticeable that the monitors are not afraid of the activists..

Without the youth, this revolution cannot be won. Here are stories from University Students of the revolution.

Photos from the various flash mobs on Boxing day.

2011-12-27T12:47:00.000-05:00

I put up my photos from boxing day here.

More Occupy LOL cats

2011-12-26T09:15:00.000-05:00

More Occupy Cats.

2011-12-25T11:27:00.000-05:00

Apparently I had a wealth of cat photo's in or around kitty tents. So I was able to create many Occupy LOL cats :) Here are a few more to cheer me up today.

Merry - bah Humbug

2011-12-25T11:17:00.000-05:00

It's hard to get in the Christmas spirit when I know my friends in Syria are suffering. If they aren't being bombarded by the Syrian regime's tanks, or fired upon by snipers as they go about their daily activities, they are short on food and water, medications and infant formula, heating fuel and car fuel.

This is supposed to be a day of peace and good will towards all mankind. It's hard to see it like that when so many are suffering.

If I could only have 1 wish today, it would be for an all encompassing peace. That there would be no other wars. That all arms would be destroyed and that people worked in businesses that didn't have to do with war.

I can dream I suppose. Merry.. .whatever...

The not so silent March of December 17th, 2011

2011-12-24T21:50:00.001-05:00

So apparently about half of the video footage is footage I took during this event. The other half was taken by hubby and he did the edit of course. Nice eh? I also took photos found here.

Boycotting some Jean Coutu's in Ville St Laurent!

2011-12-24T12:55:00.000-05:00

Dear Mr. Jean Coutu,

Ms Nelly Kanou is the Syrian Honorary Consul General in Montreal and is the owner of the following Jean Coutu pharmacies in Montreal:

Nelly et Tania Kanou pharmaciennes,237 boul De La Cote-vertu, Saint-Laurent QC, 514-331-2134

Nelly et Tania Kanou pharmaciennes, 740 boul de la Côte-Vertu, St-Laurent, QC,
514-744-2555

Pharmacie Jean Coutu - Nelly & Tania Kanou, 475, boulevard de la Côte-Vertu, St-Laurent QC, 514-744-0203

Pharmacie Jean Coutu - N.T. Kanou & S. Marachian, 5855, boulevard Gouin O, Montréal QC, 514-334-8641

Ms Nelly Kanou is the representative of the Syrian government in Montreal and has been a vocal supporter of the president of Syria, Bashar Alassad, accused of crimes against humanity. According to Human Rights Watch, the UN General Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International, torture, rape and execution of men, women and children are systematically used by the Syrian regime. Since the 15th of March 2011, Syria has witnessed a nation wide uprising demanding freedom, dignity and democratic institutions.

The latest statistics have documented 5300 deaths, 351 children killed, 235 females killed, more then 25000 injured, more then 5000 missing, 191 protesters killed under torture, more then 59000 protesters incarcerated, more then 17000 refugees since the 15th of March 2011. In addition, testimonies from Syria and Amnesty international have reported that hospital workers suspected of treating protesters and others injured in the unrest have been faced with arrest and torture.

It is disgraceful that a Canadian healthcare provider has decided to support and align itself with a criminal and fascist regime. We the Syrian Canadian Council, the Collective for Syria in Montreal, and 99% Quebec call on Jean Coutu Group Inc to disassociate itself from Ms Nelly Kanou, representative of a criminal dictatorial regime. We further call on consumers to boycott the Jean Coutu pharmacies that are owned by Ms Nelly Kanou.

Sincerely,

Syrian Canadian Council

http://www.syriancanadiancouncil.com/

Collective for Syria in Montreal

http://cfsmtl.wordpress.com/

99% Quebec

http://99quebec.com/

Jethro Occupies!

2011-12-23T16:10:00.000-05:00

This is the third of my Occupy Cats :) I'm still looking to see if I can find other cool cat pictures with tents :)

Bombings in Damascus by supposed "armed gangs"

2011-12-23T09:43:00.000-05:00

Statement on the bombings of public buildings
during the Friday of "The Protocol of Death"

The Syrian Revolution General Commission a representative of the people’s movement in Syria and a group that plans, organizes and leads integral parts of the Syrian Revolution reaffirms the following:

“The Syrian Revolution has maintained all actions to remain peaceful and has never adopted any military tactics”

The bombings that took place in Damascus today were a familiar pathetic move from the Syrian government and a feeble attempt to plant fear and terror in the hearts of civilians. These bombings were strategically planned during the beginning few days of the International observers presence on Syrian grounds in effort to damage our peaceful movement against oppression and injustice.

This is a repeated action Syrians have experienced back in the 80s when the Assad regime would murder their own police officers, bomb civilian and governmental buildings only to blame it on any movement they did not approve of. The very similar bombings that used to take place in the 80s were the regime’s excuse in entering different cities and committing more horrific annihilations on innocent civilians.

We hereby denounce the Syrian Regime’s bombings of public buildings and declare that the Syrian people are very aware of this regime’s tactics. We are now more persistent to continue their mission until freedom is achieved.

23 December 2011
Syrian Revolution General Commission

Article by Al Jazeera about the car bomb which the regime tries to blame on armed gangs of course. They want to blame al Queda, however this group loves to take credit for its actions. If they aren't taking credit, it's not their work. The following are questions to ask yourself about this bombing:

How did a car at Security HQ in Kafr Souseh end up 100 metres inside the main gate?

Why were there only civilians present at the Security HQ, which would normally be covered in security personnel and heavily guarded?

How did a car loaded with explosives and driven by human beings get past the many security checkpoints where IDs have to be produced and verified by computer, and where cars are routinely searched?

Many undercover reporters have confirmed that there are checkpoints every hundred metres or so in Syria...so this kind of activity can only be carried out by the regime.

Could the Regime please update the public on the safety of the detainees in the Security HQ which includes families and friends of activists, who are very concerned about their welfare.

As this building is covered by CCTV from many angles, the Syrian regime should be able to produce the video coverage for the hours leading up to the attack, and including the attack, so the report that they are checking DNA is far fetched. Earlier video will probably show the mass exodus of regime forces and staff before the explosion

Occupy Cats

2011-12-23T02:38:00.000-05:00

Massacre of unprecedented size

2011-12-21T17:39:00.000-05:00

Syria's opposition urged the international community to create Bosnia-style "safe zones" in the country after government forces surrounded more than 100 civilians sheltering in a mountain valley and allegedly killed every single one of them. A group of 110 people, a mixture of activists organizing protests against the regime and local villagers, managed to escape, taking refuge in a nearby valley. But they were mercilessly hunted down by soldiers who surrounded them and then opened fire with artillery, tank shells and gunfire. For four hours, activists said, the group made frantic telephone calls appealing for help that never came. One villager who arrived at the scene of the massacre afterwards said those who has survived the initial onslaught had had their hands tied behind their back before being beheaded. More here.

Wounded Syrians recount tales of horrific ordeal

2011-12-21T15:46:00.000-05:00

Tripoli, Lebanon: A small charity-run medical centre in this northern Lebanese city is quietly providing health care to a rising number of Syrians, civilians and combatants alike, who have been wounded in the nine-month confrontation against Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's regime. Many of those recovering in here are from Qusayr, a town of some 44,000 residents lying five miles north of Lebanon ...But they worry that the Lebanese authorities could place pressure on the hospital management to stop receiving Syrian casualties. The chief doctor said that Lebanese military intelligence had wanted to establish an office in the centre, but the hospital refused.

gulfnews : Wounded Syrians recount tales of horrific ordeal

Please world see that the violence has escalated to an unprecedented level this week. When are we going to stop the Syrian regime from killing it's own people? How many more Syrians have to die before the World says ENOUGH to Bashar Al Assad and his thugs?

Humanitarian Crisis in Syria. Why is it the Arab League is BLIND?????

2011-12-19T12:55:00.000-05:00

OH GOD!!!! Weeping!!!! The displaced people who have fled into the mountains from the villages of Jabal AlZawiyeh district.....in the fog and rain of yesterday... the little boy laying on the ground was shot......The videographer.... God bless him.... sharing the danger the displaced are in from Regime forces.....He asks the children.... where are your family? ....they answer .......we don't know, but we are very hungry....Oh God, what will it take for this world to help these people..;.........
PLEASE SHARE....PLEASE HELP GET THIS ON EVERY NGO AND GOVERNMENT AND EMBASSY WALL....CHILD REFUGEES.... AND WOMEN AND CHILDREN...In the mountains in winter....not even coats.....

Flash Mob downtown Montreal

2011-12-19T09:57:00.001-05:00

Flash Mob at Fairview

2011-12-19T09:54:00.000-05:00

Do they leave their brains on Holiday too?

2011-12-19T09:52:00.002-05:00

Do they leave their brains behind on holiday?

From Thomas Cook Holidays - listing some guests' complaints during the season.

1. "I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts."

2. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the afternoons. I often needed to buy things during 'siesta' time - this should be banned

3. "On my holiday to Goa in India , I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry. I don't like spicy food at all."

4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our swimming costumes and towels."

5. A tourist at a top African game lodge over looking a water hole, who spotted a visibly aroused elephant, complained that the sight of this rampant beast ruined his honeymoon by making him feel "inadequate".

6. A woman threatened to call police after claiming that she'd been locked in by staff. When in fact, she had mistaken the "do not disturb" sign on the back of the door as a warning to remain in the room.

7. "The beach was too sandy."

8. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as yellow but it was white."

9. A guest at a Novotel in Australia complained his soup was too thick and strong. He was inadvertently slurping the gravy at the time.

10. "Topless sunbathing on the beach should be banned. The holiday was ruined as my husband spent all day looking at other women."

11. "We bought 'Ray-Ban' sunglasses for five Euros from a street trader, only to find out they were fake."

12.. "No-one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children were startled."

13. "There was no egg slicer in the apartment..."

14. "We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish..."

15. "The roads were uneven.."

16. "It took us nine hours to fly home from Jamaica to England it only took the Americans three hours to get home."

17. "I compared the size of our one-bedroom apartment to our friends' three-bedroom apartment and ours was significantly smaller."

18. "The brochure stated: 'No hairdressers at the accommodation’. We’re trainee hairdressers - will we be OK staying there?"

19. "There are too many Spanish people. The receptionist speaks Spanish. The food is Spanish. Too many foreigners now live abroad'"

20. "We had to queue outside with no air conditioning."

21. "It is your duty as a tour operator to advise us of noisy or unruly guests before we travel."

22. "I was bitten by a mosquito - no-one said they could bite."

23. "My fiancé and I booked a twin-bedded room but we were placed in a double-bedded room. We now hold you responsible for the fact that I find myself pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked."

They walk amongst us and they vote!!!
Be afraid! Be very afraid!

I feel old, unwanted and unattractive.

2011-12-17T09:37:00.000-05:00

The way I'm feeling is making me feel miserable. Mostly because my feelings are so insignificant. I mean I'm upset probably because I just had a birthday. While I'm feeling sorry for myself, I know people who are homeless, who don't know when their next meal is going to materialize. I know the people in Syria might not have enough food, water, heating fuel, cooking fuel, required medicines or medical care, but here I am feeling miserable for myself.

I really don't have much to complain about and yet here I am feeling like someone destroyed my world. I'm having a hard time fighting the feelings and it makes me feel even worse. How can I feel sorry for myself when others are in such worse shape and they keep going. I sit here crying over spilled milk so to speak when others have no idea where their next meal is coming from.

Time person of the year

2011-12-15T13:27:00.000-05:00

This is an awesome cover. I originally assumed it was the drawing from a woman but looking at it now I realize that it could be either gender. I love the fact this photo is very androgynous. I love the fact that this cover embodies all the 99% all over the world. It's beautiful.

Proud Mother of an outstanding leading seaman.

2011-12-15T12:09:00.000-05:00

I have a lot to day but it may take me a while to blog it all.

For today I'll stick with the fact my eldest called me from her ship to tell me she passed her 'A ticket'. What it means is that she was an ordinary seaman [ grade you have right after boot camp] when she started this course a month ago, and now that she graduated, she skipped a grade and is now leading seaman. Of all the ones in her class, she is the only one who got the mention "outstanding" by the training staff.

So today on my 49th birthday I am the proud mother of a leading seaman!

Flash Mob at Fairview Mall - and being kicked out of Fairview Mall.

2011-12-12T21:16:00.000-05:00

Between 15 to 20 Occupiers/99% turned out at Fairview Mall near the bus terminus to participate in a silent flash Mob in honour of the international day for human rights. We had people show up from other neighbourhoods either because they liked our idea or because their neighbourhood didn't have enough people for an action. Either way we had a nice group of people. The majority of us taped money over our mouths. Some had Guy Fawkes masks.

We had printed up a flyer to hand out to people to sensitize them to our cause and make them aware that buying from large corporations is not the way to go, but better off buying from small local vendors and encourage those from the 99% instead. Our flyer included a list of small merchants around the West island.

We arrived around 10:30 and started our action close to 11am. We walked from the entrance near the bus terminus and took the escalator to the 2nd floor where we proceeded to hand out flyers and walk quietly. We didn't make it very far before the first security person spotted us and called for backup. By the time we made it into the food court, we were asked to leave. So we went downstairs and slowly proceeded back to the door to go to the bus terminus as we were going to leave by bus.

Once we re-grouped outside the bus terminus Fairview security followed us outside and told us we had to leave. Something they had no right to do. We told them that the bus terminus was STM property but they argued that no in fact it was leased from their property so their property and we had to leave and go on the sidewalk, or we had to take off our yellow felt circles on our clothes. I can wear a yellow circle with a happy face, but I can't wear just a yellow circle?!?!?! I can wear a poppy but not a plain yellow felt circle? I can wear a pin with a Rolling Stones tongue logo on my coat, but I can't wear a yellow felt circle?

Really? Last I checked the charter of rights says I can freely assemble in public places peacefully. The mall security even called the police. Some stayed behind and talked to both the STM security and the SPVM and the Fairview Mall security had no right to tell us to leave the bus terminus. This was confirmed by both STM and SPVM.

As my husband, my friend and I left to our vehicle one mall security followed us and was insisting to take our camera to delete the footage taken inside the mall, that we were not allowed to take video or photo's inside the mall. He went on to say it was common knowledge. I have never seen a sign at Fairview that bans camera's. I'm not sure how this is common knowledge. As it goes our cameras are our private property and he has no rights to it.

I'm sure the main reason he wanted to erase our footage was to keep himself out of hot water. When someone has nothing to hide then there is no problems with photo's or video.

Fairview Mall has many vendors and let me tell you something, they will not be seeing my hard earned money again. I think the hardest hit store will be the Hush Puppies store. Sorry Hush puppies salesman, you're nice and get my shoe needs and all, but you're in a location that doesn't allow people to shop with yellow felt circles.

International Human Rights day March in Montreal

2011-12-12T17:56:00.000-05:00

Photos from the March on Saturday for International Human Rights day. The 99% walked to the headquarters of the City of Montreal Police. The SPVM.

Photo's Flash Mob West Island

2011-12-11T10:47:00.000-05:00

My photo's from the flash mob at Fairview.

Anonymous - Operation Horizon - December 17th. American autumn

2011-12-09T15:02:00.000-05:00

Five Guys burger joint

2011-12-08T13:24:00.000-05:00

Today we decided to go to Five Guys burger joint that's on Sources and de Salaberry in Place du Marche, in Dollard. I'm always game to go to a place where I can eat a french fry.

First off the place looks like a 50's burger joint. White tiles with some red decoration but it looks truly aseptic. I prefer burger joints that look more like food places. But that's neither here or there.

I ordered a french fry and you don't have options to order a small, their fry is bigger then a large at McD's. I got my fries a minute later, they were hot, but it seemed like they were just dipped in oil for a few minutes, just long enough to warm them up but not long enough to fry them. I found my fries to be uncooked.

My colleagues who got their fries with their burgers had fries that were better cooked. However the portions are incredibly big. My gf ordered their small burger and it's the size of the biggest McD burger. This may be good to feed men who work outside all year round and teen boys, but otherwise the quantity of food served is obscene. People are starving in the horn of Africa and we eat a burger large enough to feed an entire village!

Occupy West Island first event at Fairview Saturday - Then go to Place des Peuples

2011-12-07T20:54:00.000-05:00

Event this Saturday in the West Island:

English follows.

***Point de rendez-vous: terminus d'autobus Pointe-Claire, dans le stationnement nord-est at 10:30***

Vous êtes invités à faire une marche silencieuse en chaîne humaine dans le Centre d'achat Fairview Pointe-Claire, en arborant le rond jaune du 99%. Nou s vous demandons aussi de vous cacher soit la bouche, les yeux ou les oreilles avec de l'argent ou des papiers représentant l'argent, ou un mot de revendication pour les droits humains. Habillez-vous normalement. Nous ferons le tour du centre, en silence, sauf si l'on nous interpelle. Les gens doivent venir à nous, non le contraire! Soyez nombreux! Départ de la marche à 11h! Si vous ne pouvez pas venir, SVP passez le mot!

***Meeting: Pointe-Claire bus terminal, in the north-east parking, at 10:30***

You are all invited to a silent march at Fairview Pointe-Claire Mall. We want to form a human chain with people covering their mouth, ears or eyes with money, or a paper representing money or any word showing a revendication for human rights. Please dress normally, but show on you the 99% yellow circle. The walk will be silent, but we will talk only to adress people who are talking directly to us. People must come to us! Start of the march at 11h! If you can't be there, please spread the word!

If we want to be at Place des Peuples [Square Victoria Metro] for 1pm we should take the 470 Express Pierrefonds direction est at 11:56 AM. This will take us to Cote Vertu Metro.

Pour arriver a La place des peuples [Metro Square Victoria], pour 13 heures, nous devrons prende l'autobus 470 Express en direction Pierrefonds est a 11:56. Cette autobus nous depose au metro Cote Vertu.

Montreal's first mobile tent event.

2011-12-07T11:20:00.000-05:00

On Saturday we Occupied Champs de Mars, right behind Montreal City Hall. We had our tents up for about 2 hours when a lone police car with a lone female police officer told us we had to put our tents down. I didn't actually put tent away put just took down poles. We Occupied Champs de Mars from 11 AM to 5PM. For what we lacked in numbers we made up in spirit!!!

I cant believe they waited till there was just 2 of us to send the police either. Anyhow we'll change strategies slightly but we will keep having mobile tent events. :)

Arab Spring and Occupy Montreal solidarity!

2011-12-07T09:12:00.000-05:00

A video from November 25th, 2011 - Some Occupiers from Occupy Montreal join the Syrians for a solidarity vigil with the Syrian people.

In memory of December 6th, 1989

2011-12-06T12:25:00.002-05:00

December 6th in Montreal always brings mixed feelings. Most of us still remember the Polytechnique massacre. I wrote on December 6 1990 this poem in memory of those who died.... Everyone remembers where they were. I was home with my 2 babies, watching television, while sewing, and my first reaction seeing the late breaking news on TV was "Oh another crazy in the US" until I realized the 'crazy' was in Montreal. Since my hubby then worked for a firm comprised mostly of engineers, we realized we knew people who knew the victims. Including Barbara Daignault, the cousin of our good friend Thierry.

In Memoriam of December 6th, 1989

You are gone forever but not forgotten
The memory of your tragedy lives on
It is a pity that you were attacked and killed
For just fulfilling your potential

There is a malaise in society
That was created long before you came to be
It will not go away so easily
Perhaps your death will make the problem clearer

There were those who looked on in disbelief
Those who were confused and deeply hurt
How can someone decide the fate of others
Is there no justice for the living?

The work of a madman for sure
But there is a madperson in all of us
Some say that he was just a marginal exception
But how can we learn to trust others again

Perhaps this incident will make people think
Of all the injustices committed towards women
Perhaps the next time she cries injustice
Society will believe she her complaint.

The answer does lie within each one of us
To forgive him who focused his personal anger on women
To help others learn to love and help themselves
And make this world equal for both men and women.

In your memory: Genevieve Bergeron, Helene Colgan, Nathalie Croteau,
Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Havierncik, Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, Maryse Laganiere, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay,Sonia Pelletier, Michele Richard, Annie St..Arneault, Annie Turcotte

Occupy Rape Culture?

2011-12-05T23:51:00.000-05:00

I thought that within the Occupy movement there would not be gender issues but apparently there have been problems in Montreal and in other places with sexual harassment or rape.

It's not particularly surprising considering that people in occupations are a microcosm of society at large, so the problems of society at large will be present in a smaller scale and we still have a lot of work to do.

An article brought to my attention recently because I have a daughter in the Canadian forces, in the Navy. This article is about the treatment of women in the RCMP, but I'm sure it's similar to the treatment of women in other police forces and fire brigades. Women get harassed, if not blatantly physically it's the constant insensitive jokes. My daughter after several weeks of being the only girl in her class was really longing for any female company even if it was to hear about things she could care less about like hair, makeup and nails :)

Assad maybe crazier then Gaddafi!

2011-12-05T09:10:00.000-05:00

It's not enough that the army that answers to Bashar al Assad is killing hundreds of innocent Syrian people for no good reason. It's not enough that they are aiming to kill children - one officer said of his killing of a 2 year old is he didn't want her to become a protester. Perhaps someone should have shot him at birth to prevent him from losing his humanity!!!!

It's not enough they kill the donkeys and the cows, and scorch the fields, and blow up gas tanks so people can't heat themselves and cook food, but on top of it do so WAR GAMES??????

What is Assad trying to show the world, don't come and invade my country I have a really big gun? My dick is bigger then your dick, I can piss further away then you can?

The Arab league is nothing but a bunch of buffoons. They are obviously waiting till there is no one left to kill in Syria to really impose sanctions. At this point it's a huge joke.

Syrian people are dying. There are places in Syrian like Homs that need EVERYTHING. They are facing a humanitarian disaster. They need food, heating oil, medication, baby formula, clothes, blankets etc.It is not the only place in Syria that needs help in every which way.

DO NOT LET THE WORLD DO THIS TO THE SYRIAN PEOPLE!!!!!!

A letter from Father Paolo to the Syrians

2011-12-04T13:17:00.002-05:00

Before the video starts click on the CC button on the bottom right for the English subtitles to appear. Father Paulo gets the concept of democracy. Well worth the watch. God Bless father Paulo!

Did you know that cars take away women's virtue?

2011-12-04T09:57:00.000-05:00

According to the Saudi's cars are a scourge of the earth!

If Saudi women started to drive, within 10 years there would be no virgins left?!?!?! What about married women driving? No that's not good either, they would end up either prostitutes, divorced or gay!!!!

The things you learn from the Saudi's !!!!

Occupy The world

2011-12-03T23:25:00.000-05:00

Occupy Montreal - West Island Meeting Monday - Come one come all!

2011-12-03T07:59:00.003-05:00

Part of the 99% in the West Island, join us!

Second Cup au 990 boul., St.-Jean, Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 5N9
lundi 5 décembre 2011 à 18h

Nous vous invitons tous à une discussion sur la direction à prendre avec le mouvement occupons Montréal.

Venez et essayer d'apporter une ou deux personnes avec vous on a besoin d'idées de toutes formes.

Avis à tout les curieux qui ne connaisse pas trop le mouvement, vene...z nous voir et il nous fera un grand plaisir de vous l'expliquer et de répondre à vos questions au meilleur de nos connaissances.
___________________________________________________________

We invite everyone to a discussion about the direction we should be taking with the movement occupy Montreal.

Come and try to bring one or two person with you we need ideas of all kind.

Notice to all the curious who do not know much about the movement, come meet us and we will be happy to explain it to you and answer to your questions to the best of our knowledge.

Occupy LA Protesters brutally removed from site

2011-12-03T07:52:00.002-05:00

Re-posting yasha levine's horrific account of detention in LA for Occupy: if you think this is municipal policing, you are hallucinating: Yasha Levine was forced to surrender his freedom, as well as his shoe laces…for his own protection

I finally got home Thursday afternoon after spending two nights in jail, and have had a hard time getting my bearings. On top of severe dehydration and sleep deprivation, I’ve got one hell of pounding migraine. So I’ll have to keep this brief for now. But I wanted to write down a few things that I witnessed and heard while locked up by LA’s finest…

First off, don’t believe the PR bullshit. There was nothing peaceful or professional about the LAPD’s attack on Occupy LA–not unless you think that people peacefully protesting against the power of the financial oligarchy deserve to be treated the way I saw Russian cops treating the protesters in Moscow and St. Petersburg who were demonstrating against the oligarchy under Putin and Yeltsin, before we at The eXiled all got tossed out in 2008. Back then, everyone in the West protested and criticized the way the Russian cops brutally snuffed out dissent, myself included. Now I’m in America, at a demonstration, watching exactly the same brutal crackdown…

While people are now beginning to learn that the police attack on Occupy LA was much more violent than previously reported, few actually realize that much—if not most—of the abuse happened while the protesters were in police custody, completely outside the range of the press and news media. And the disgraceful truth is that a lot of the abuse was police sadism, pure and simple:

* I heard from two different sources that at least one busload of protesters (around 40 people) was forced to spend seven excruciating hours locked in tiny cages on a Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Dept. prison bus, denied food, water and access to bathroom facilities. Both men and women were forced to urinate in their seats. Meanwhile, the cops in charge of the bus took an extended Starbucks coffee break.

* The bus that I was shoved into didn’t move for at least an hour. The whole time we listened to the screams and crying from a young woman whom the cops locked into a tiny cage at the front of the bus. She was in agony, begging and pleading for one of the policemen to loosen her plastic handcuffs. A police officer sat a couple of feet away the entire time that she screamed–but wouldn’t lift a finger.

* Everyone on my bus felt her pain–literally felt it. That’s because the zip-tie handcuffs they use—like the ones you see on Iraq prisoners in Abu Ghraib—cut off your circulation and wedge deep through your skin, where they can do some serious nerve damage, if that’s the point. And it did seem to be the point. A couple of guys around me were writhing in agony in their hard plastic seats, hands handcuffed behind their back.

* The 100 protesters in my detainee group were kept handcuffed with their hands behind their backs for 7 hours, denied food and water and forced to sit/sleep on a concrete floor. Some were so tired they passed out face down on the cold and dirty concrete, hands tied behind their back. As a result of the tight cuffs, I wound up losing sensation in my left palm/thumb and still haven’t recovered it now, a day and a half after they finally took them off.

* One seriously injured protester, who had been shot with a shotgun beanbag round and had an oozing bloody welt the size of a grapefruit just above his elbow, was denied medical attention for five hours. Another young guy, who complained that he thought his arm had been broken, was not given medical attention for at least as long. Instead, he spent the entire pre-booking procedure handcuffed to a wall, completely spaced out and staring blankly into space like he was in shock.

* An Occupy LA demonstrator in his 50s who was in my cell block in the Los Angeles Metropolitan Detention Center told us all about when a police officer forced him to take a shit with his hands handcuffed behind his back, which made pulling down his pants and sitting down on the toilet extremely difficult and awkward. And he had to do this in sight of female police officers, all of which made him feel extremely ashamed, to say the least.

* There were two vegetarians and one vegan in my cell. When I left jail around 1:30 pm, they still had not been given food, despite the fact that they were constantly being promised that it would come.

* There were 292 people arrested at Occupy LA. About 75 of them have been released or have gotten out on bail, according the National Lawyers Guild. Most are still inside, slapped with $5,000 to $10,000 bail. According to a bail bondsman I know, this is unprecedented. Misdemeanors are almost always released on their own recognizance, which means that they don’t pay any bail at all. Or at most it’s a $100.

* That means the harsh, long detentions are meant to be are a purely punitive measure against Occupy LA protesters–an order that had to come from the very top.

Yasha Levine is an editor of The eXiled. You can reach him at levine [at] exiledonline.com.

CTV interviews one of the UV tagged Occupy Montreal protesters

2011-12-01T23:33:00.001-05:00

I've been saying since it's happened that it's a violation of our human rights as a Canadian.

OCCUPY MONEY!!!!

2011-12-01T10:05:00.000-05:00

Saleh steps down but doesn't get it!!!!

2011-11-30T08:21:00.000-05:00

One of the last things Saleh did as he FINALLY stepped down in Yemen was to give amnesty to all the people who fought for him and his government. This is angering many Yemeni's who feel that since he signed off to leave he does not have the power to take this decision. In fact Tawakol Karmin wants an inquiry and she wants those responsible for the deaths of civilians brought to justice.

There's been historic elections in Egypt, here's hoping this newly elected government is closer to democracy then anything Egypt has ever seen.

Turkey has finally made good on it's threats to impose sanctions on Syria. Turkey has also said it won't deal with Assad's government anymore. It's waiting to deal with a new leader of Syria.

Closer to home, several Canadian firms have been hacked over this PotashCorp bid. Sadly it doesn't seem to be the work of Anonymous to destroy the sale all together, but from a competitor who's trying to get insider information.

My biggest beef in the past 2 days though has been the fact that a Native community called Attawapiskat has been asking for help for over a month. Our officials had time to play kick out the occupiers in various cities but has not found any time to address the human crisis going on in this native community. A bunch of protesters with tents really must be removed. Never mind that the living conditions in this native reserve are probably worse then any condition at any of the Occupy sites in Canada! Something to think about while you drink your morning coffee.

Interview on CBC in regards to the police UV tagging

2011-11-29T14:35:00.002-05:00

For those interested here is an interview on CBC radio here with two of the protesters that got UV tagged.

UAE releases 5 jailed Activists

2011-11-29T11:26:00.000-05:00

This is great news for the activists in the United Arab Emirates. Five of the activists detained and jailed for more then 8 months have been pardoned and released today.

The UAE is so afraid of having an uprising Arab Spring type that it squashes any form of dissent almost instantly. You cannot criticize those in power in the UAE, doing so can land you in jail as it did for these 5 men.

Occupons Montreal/Occupy Montreal - Photo's after the eviction

2011-11-29T08:46:00.001-05:00

Sadly I could not be there on the Friday morning when Occupy Montreal got evicted, but I was there Saturday morning, in support. It was such a shock to see the square denuded.

I've been so busy sharing the police UV tagging story that I haven't even finished uploading my photos. They go up to the show. Will have to upload my photo's of the live entertainment later.

In regards to the UV tag, after 4 days she said it had faded a lot but could still be seen. Also from the research she's done, the only other case she heard about was people who got arrested at the G8/G20 in Toronto last year, also got UV tagged, but I guess it didn't make the news. You would think a journalist would find this a really interesting story.

Police UV tag those they detained from Occupy Montreal.

2011-11-28T22:14:00.000-05:00

I'm posting Nina Haigh's post from Facebook for those who don't go on Facebook to see the photos and what she wrote:

****** IMPORTANT for all those who were arrested at occupy Montreal to read ********

When I was arrested at Occupy Montreal on the 25th of November 2011 They were taking my information. They wrote on my hand with a permanent marker and then after I felt something pointy and metallic scraping across my skin. I immediately asked "What are you doing" and they simply said we wrote on you with a pen and showed me a bunch of various pens in her hand.

I didn't argue about it and I was unable to look at my hands as they were tied behind my back with zipties. As soon as I was released I looked at my hands and there was no ink on them from a pen.

I began to worry and wonder what exactly did they do to me that prompted them to lie to me... it really was not a fun feeling. when I spoke about what happened a few hours later to a friend and my partner, the idea came about that perhaps it was something they used as a way to identify me.

This morning we tested my hands under a black light and sure enough there was a number 2! The freaky thing is this is IN my skin, washing my hands and scrubbing with abrasives will not get this off.... perhaps in several months of my skin cells renewing themselves if will eventually fade.

What ever ink that is in there is irritating my skin slightly and its a very terrible feeling that they put a substance in my body with out my consent and then later lied about it. This is a semi permanent alteration they did to me, if I go anywhere now with a black light this will show!


Under normal lighting


Hands seen under black light.

Important pour tous les arrêté-es d’Occupons Montréal ***

Lors que je me suis fait arrêter à Occupons Montréal le 25 novembre 2011, on a pris mes informations. Ils ont écrit sur ma main avec un marqueur permanent et puis j’ai senti quelque chose de pointu et de métallique qui grattait ma peau. J’ai demandé tout de suite : « Qu’est-ce que vous faites? » et ils m’ont dit simplement qu’ils ont écrit sur ma peau avec un stylo en me montrant une poignée de stylos.

Je n’ai pas argumenté et je ne pouvais voir mes mains, qui étaient attachées avec des Zipties derrière mon dos. Dès que j’ai été relâchée j’ai regardé et il n’y avait pas de marque d’encre de stylo sur mes mains.

Je me suis inquiétée et je me suis demandé qu’est-ce qu’ils avaient pu faire pour avoir besoin de me mentir… pas un sentiment agréable. Quand j’en ai parlé un peu plus tard à un ami et mon partenaire, l’idée nous est venu que peut-être c’était une marque d’identification.

Ce matin j’ai testé mes mains sous une lumière noire (black light) et il y avait écrit le numéro « 2 »! Ce qui est effrayant, c’est que c’est DANS ma peau, laver mes mains et frotter avec de l’abrasif ne le fait pas partir… peut-être que ça palira dans quelques mois, quand mes cellules se seront régénérées.

Peu importe l’encre qu’ils ont utilisée elle irrite ma peau et c’est une horrible sensation que de savoir qu’ils m’ont "injecté" une substance dans la peau sans mon consentement et qu’ils m’ont menti à ce propos. C’est une modification semi permanente qu’ils m’ont faite, si je vais quelque part où il y a un black light, ça se voit!

After 24 hours you can still see it.

Arab league finally sees the light on Syria!

2011-11-28T17:45:00.000-05:00

Finally the Arab league has put their foot down and the UN has come out with a report detailing human right violations.

Here's hoping that it makes a change for the people on the ground in Syria, because up until now no sanctions have had much effect on Bashar Al Assad and his cronies.

The thing I find the most despicable is that Syrian spokesperson referred to as Wally the Mule or liar depending on who you ask, says that the US is interfering with Syria's affairs, because the Arab League is now imposing sanctions. We all know the Arab league is a puppet of the US [?!?!?!?!].

Well he certainly shouldn't be calling the kettle black, as he invited some Iranian, Iraqi and Lebanese [Hezbollah] forces, along with the army and various levels of security in Syria to kill the Syrian people. Who invited foreigners into Syria? Bashar!

Here's hoping the Syrian people finally get rid of their dictator really soon. Wouldn't that be a wonderful Christmas present for them?

Occupy Montreal/Occupons Montreal - and the police.

2011-11-27T11:51:00.001-05:00

Yes the police in Montreal were nicer then anywhere else in the world when they removed the Occupiers in Montreal. However it did not mean that some of the 16 detainees were not brutalized. Apparently they used techniques such as ear pinching, and wrist twisting on some protesters. Some of the guys that were physically removed found the police brutalized them.

This is a far cry from the pepper spray and the beating with batons seen in other locations, where many people landed in Hospitals. However it is not any less traumatic for the people who were brutalized by the Montreal police.

Let us keep this in mind and all join in March 2012 for the protest against Police Brutality in Montreal!!!!

How to skew everything and make it sound bad - Let's thank the media!

2011-11-26T19:38:00.001-05:00

Headline "Condoms and needles found in tents at Occupy Montreal!". Sensationalism, everyone thinks there's drugged induced orgies!

Well how about diabetics? What are they supposed to do while they Occupy Montreal. Go home at meal time so that the needles they use to preserve their health isn't misconstrued as someone with a drug problem? I remember when travelling that the Canadian National Parks have needle disposals in their campground bathrooms. And not because they have a junkie problem on the campsites.

As for the condoms, anywhere people are going to sleep - like tents, is places they will have sex. I'd be more worried if NO condoms were found. Condoms mean safe sex. That's a big positive for everyone involved.

I don't discount that there have been drug addicts, homeless people, and people with mental health issues. I've run into some of them myself at the People's place. However as the population of the Occupation is a microcosm of society at large, you will see the problems of society at large. IT is not the occupation that has created the problems that lead to drug addicts, homelessness and mental health issues.

The media is making the 99% sound like they are all undesirables and nothing could be further from the truth. If people think that by removing occupation camps that we will go away they are in for a big surprise, this is far from being over.

Also I'd like to clarify what I said yesterday about "The Arrests"

Only one person was arrested and landed in jail. I had heard it was because he got physical with the cops. Not the physical I was expecting. This guy, dressed in a batman costume no less, came from behind and gave a police office a huge bear hug. His problem - was he probably took the cop by surprise so got arrested for getting 'physical'.

Let's recap. Montreal has the NICEST and BEST police officers in North America. My buddy Guy would say in the whole world.

The police who showed up to remove the protesters and take apart the camp were NORMAL police officers, they were not in riot gear. They had 2 buses full of officers in riot gear ready in case they were needed, but they were not so they were not used!

The only 'fishy' thing that happened, and which the protesters were NOT told is that they were tagged with some form of invisible tattoo, that shows up under a black light. When the friend who got arrested felt something metallic being dragged on her cuffed hands, she asked and she was told it was a pen to put a number. Sure she has a number on her right hand in ink, but on her left hand, there's a number that can only seen by black light. Something else - this number will take several months to go away because it is under the skin currently.

The other reason I'm saying the police in Montreal was nice is that they kept their word.

This tweet that was received Thursday evening was clearly intended to let the camp know that they would not wake them up at 4 or 5 am to tear the camp down. The best part is THEY KEPT THEIR WORD.

Please let people know that Montreal's police was exceptional in it's work with the people of Occupy Montreal. Thank-you!

Edit 27-11-11: Final tally of detainees 16, all released. Including the guy in the batman suit. He was also released unconditionally.

Standing in Solidarity with the Syrian People - November 25th in Montreal

2011-11-26T10:15:00.001-05:00

Montreal - November 25th, 2011

It was cool last night. Other then Syrians there was a Tunisian, a Moroccan, and several French Quebecois all in support of the Syrian people!

So-so-so- solidarité avec avec le peuple Syrien!

Occupons Montreal/Occupy Montreal - Arrests?

2011-11-26T09:33:00.000-05:00

Yesterday there was one arrest because the person got physical with the police. The others were not arrested, they were detained for 40 minutes and released far away from the square and told to stay away 24 hours, otherwise they would be arrested charged and fined. Some policemen suggested that it wasn't their doing, that it was someone much much higher up the chain who wanted the protesters out. The fact that the tent city was removed from Square Victoria is certainly NOT the end of the movement. It is just the beginning :)

There's a HUGE occupy Montreal support day at People's Place today. Come one come all!

These are the activities for the day

Samedi, 26 novembre à la Place du Peuple

11:00 Manifestation à Ottawa contre le C-10
11:00 Méditation à la statue
12:00 Grand rassemblement de soutien à Occupons Montreal
12:00 Préparation de l'AG: Groupe de travail de Facilitation
13:00 Assemblée Générale / General Assembly
15:00 GRAND SPECTACLE avec : Les Zapartistes + Bran Van 3000
16:00 Réunion: Des choses à Saveurs Féministes et Anti-Oppression
16:00 Réunion du comité de philosophie politique
17:30 Chorale
18:00 Réunion comité Environnement et salubrité de la place du peuple
19:30 PROJECTION DOCUMENTAIRE