A tribute to Esther Chavez

Esther Chavez, who dedicated her life to fighting for justice for the murdered women of Juarez, died Friday, on Christmas Day, of cancer in Ciudad Juarez. Her death at 76 is a huge loss to her country, expecially the women of Mexico, and to people everywhere who believe in justice. In 1993, Esther was an accountant in the border city, across the Rio Grande from El Paso, when she began clipping newspaper accounts of women fround dead in the desert, whether buried in shallow graves, stuffed in barrels full of acid or mutilated. She began to notice patterns. Gradually her file became so thick, she went to the authorities, first municipal, then state and national, but nobody took her seriously (at least nobody in authority) as the death toll mounted. In fact, Francisco Barrio, who as governor of Chihuahua where Juarez is situated and who once told the Star the deaths should be considered "normal," is now Mexico's ambassador to Canada. It is estimated that well over 300 women have been murdered or disappeared over 16 years - a gruesome count that seems only to mount.

Police have done little - after all, these women are poor, often nameless coming from all over Mexico to work in the border plants and without heroes to fight for them - except Esther. She began a shelter - Casa Amiga - where she offered solice to families whose daughters, mothers, sisters and aunts had disappeared, prodded the authorities and expanded to do what she could for the dispossessed of Juarez,  offering a rape crisis centre and food and supplies when she could. The photo above by the Star's Carlos Osorio (taken in 2006) shows Esther in a typical pose, giving comfort. She was a powerhouse and ignored death threats. She was ascerbic, opinionated, kind, funny, warm and possessed the tremendous energy of those who see a problem and, instead of turning away, devote their lives to trying to solve it. She was, perhaps above all, humble; she saw it as privilege to be able to serve. Not for her the fame and little luxuries of those who sometimes mix human rights with spiritual pride. She was never too busy to sit down with a journalist, going over accounts of this case or that and making phone calls to arrange interviews, no matter the hour, if it meant publicity for the lost women of Juarez. She often commented on the response she received from Canadians.

Rest in Peace, Esther. You are hugely missed. May your work continue at Casa Amiga.

casa_amiga@prodigy.net.mx

http://www.casa-amiga.org/

Best Wishes for the Holiday Season

There's too much feasting in store this week for Decoder and a brief respite - until December 29 - is in order. 

TO THE SOURCE ON KAIROS

What many people realize on their own, I learned in university: it's  more useful to go to primary sources than to rely on second-hand material to determine what's closest to the truth (at least for the protagonists in any situation). It's more illuminating, for example, to read Napoleon's letters to the Directorate than to read others' accounts of his Italian campaigns. Problem is, busy lives don't always offer that luxury. (I do see the irony in that, as a journalist, I get to go directly to primary sources for a living, while those who read my work are reading  second-hand accounts. In my defence, I always give as much context as space allows and, increasingly, we use our website to offer first-hand information - whether minutes of meetings, international reports, transcripts, video or links to primary sources - to accompany our stories.

In that vein, I offer a copy of the speech Jason Kenny made last week in Jerusalem in which he explained why KAIROS lost funding. It's worth a read because it gives the full context of the immigration/multiculturalism minister's speech, including other examples he cites. (It's taken from Conservative MP Rick Dykstra's website.)

Here is my colleague Les Whittington's story on the reaction from KAIROS.

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My question is not original: Why didn't CIDA - or more appropriately Minister Kenny - tell Canadians the real reason funding was being cut for KAIROS? Instead, International Development Minister Bev Oda blamed CIDA's "shifting priorities."

Surely a decision apparently taken on priniciple doesn't require flimflammery. It rather debases the point, don't you think?

What Tiger Woods didn't know about Swedish women: Everything

There probably aren't too folks of any nationality who would marry a sports god without having the names of a few celebrity divorce lawyers at the ready. But a Swede?  No country's perfect, but Sweden is hardly a nation with a poor record on women's rights. It's been my experience Swedes are rather advanced in that department. I could point to many scholarly reports, but let's remember Swedish women went so far as to run "Just Breasts," a successful campaign to go topless. A spoof, but they got their tanning rights.

I'm not saying Erin Nordegren is the only women who'd be seeking divorce after this kind of nonsense from hubby Tiger Woods. But Decoder suggests the biggest blunder by Woods wasn't allegedly leaving voice mail on a lover's phone but in choosing a Swedish woman to cheat on in the first place - one from a wealthy and privileged family no less. As she's said, she's no "stand by your man" kind of gal. Reading about the decision by Nordegren (whose photo was taken with Woods by Reuters in happier times) to lay down a couple of million for an island just outside the harbour in Stockholm reminds one of the fierce Lisbeth Salander in The Girl who Plays with Fire.

She, too, bought posh harbour property, although closer than a two-hour ferry ride from Stockholm. I suppose there are other differences, like how Salander made her money through computer crime (however justified) and how she includes murder among options for revenge.  Nordegren merely appears to be seeking a few truckloads of cash.  

Canadian Indigenous groups protest at UN climate summit in Copenhagen

 
While government officials appeared to go to ground, non-governmental organizations have had a high profile - or at least as high as Danish authorities would allow. One website worth tracking for Canadian grassroots participation at the Copenhagen summit is pitchengine. Several organizations joined indigenous groups earlier this week in a day of protest against Canada's record at the Alberta tar sands. Among comments at their rally outside the Canadian embassy:

Fossil fuel extraction from the tar sands are killing our people with cancer, killing our culture by destroying our traditional lands, and killing our planet with CO2,” said Eriel Tchekwie Deranger, member of the Athbasca Chipewyan First Nation and Tar Sands Campaigner for the Rainforest Action Network. “It seems that Canada is more committed to fossil fuels than human rights or real action for the climate. Mr. Harper – We welcome you to Copenhagen because we want real action on climate, and that means shutting down the tar sands and a moratorium on new fossil fuel development.”

"The tar sands are a key reason why Canada has failed to take climate action. In the same timeframe that Harper promises to cut Canada's emissions a paltry 3 per cent, tar sands emissions are expected to triple,” said Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the Council of Canadians.

 

 

It's all buddy-buddy in the land of the Liberals

And I have some land in the Everglades you might like . . .

On Friday, Rocco Rossi, national director of the federal Liberal party, said he couldn't talk about the annoucement he would make today (Monday) because he'd made a promise and he would keep his word. Later that evening, he called back to say he'd kept his word but others hadn't. Therefore, he'd decided to confirm he would announce his candidacy for mayor of Toronto at a City Hall presser Monday morning, and talked about his reasons. He didn't sound happy about the position he found himself in, but insisted all's well with the Liberals, noting leader Michael Ignatieff had wished him the best, enthusing: "Mayor Rossi sounds pretty good."

Hmm, would the unnamed promise-breakers be staffers in Ignatieff's own office? Friday evening, Ignatieff made public a letter in which he told Rossi: "I salute your dedication to serving the public good and your desire to seek to the support of the electorate." Et cetera.

That sure looked like a cat scampering out of the leader's bag. Who're ya gonna trust?

* * *

Today, Rossi joined the mayoral fray, although not officially until registration in January.

Loss of political strategist bad timing for Ignatieff

The news that Liberal mastermind Don Guy is leaving Pollara- Dalton McGuinty gearing up for another run in 2011 - has repercussions beyond Queen's Park. Guy, the former McGuinty chief of staff and provincial election wizard, played an important strategy role for the federal Liberals during the 2008 campaign, along with his partner at Pollara, pollster Michael Marzolini. Despite reports Guy informed Ignatieff earlier this year he wouldn't be available next time, there's been speculation among Liberals he might be coaxed to change his (master)mind come election time. His recent email to friends and colleagues that his appointment as campaign director for the 2011 provincial campaign, plus other commitments, means he's leaving Pollara, something he's done before for ethical reasons during the political season. This time, however, according to friends, it's differrent. He's "dedicating himself to Dalton" because it appears the Premier will be facing a far tougher time in 2011 than in the last two campaigns and "there's a lot of work to do" - beginning next year.

There's no way Guy could lend a hand to the federal Liberals in 2011. But - and this is probably more important - it also means he won't be around next year either. With Peter Donolo in the OLO as chief of staff, Liberals are now talking about playing the long game, as Chantal Hébert has recently observed.

 The question is: will they get the chance? Will Stephen Harper give Ignatieff and the Liberals until 2011 to get their act together?

Barring a political meltdown for the Conservatives, 2010 might be looking particuarly scrumptious to Harper, what with the rosy glow expected from the Olympic Games and goodies that can be crammed into one last budget before the post-recession bell tolls for the next budget. Serious problems the government faces over Afghanistan don't appear to be sticking with voters - and they may not down the road.

Nope, no Christmas joy for Ignatieff, not this year anyway.

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Liberals urge Canada to sign on to Indigenous rights

This is short so I'm posting today's press release in its entirety:

Statement by Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

OTTAWA – Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff made the following statement today on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:

“Today, I would like to reaffirm my unequivocal support for the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
This declaration sets out the individual and collective rights of the world’s 370 million indigenous peoples. It calls for the strengthening of their cultural identities, and emphasizes their right to pursue development in keeping with their own needs and aspirations.

“Unfortunately, our current government voted against this very important declaration and to this day refuses to recognize its value.  Canada’s indigenous people have played a vital role in building a better Canada and the Canadian government must recognize their hard work and sacrifices. 

“Along with Liberal Aboriginal Affairs Critic Todd Russell, on behalf of Liberal Party of Canada and our Parliamentary Caucus, we urge Prime Minister Harper to show his commitment to the rights of indigenous people, not only in Canada, but around the world.”

It speaks for itself. Canadian lawyers played a major role in drafting the statement on indigenous rights, but Canada remains isolated in opposition, along with only two other countries, the U.S. and New Zealand.

A gambler watching the Santa Claus Fund numbers

Since writing a post on the Star's annual Santa Claus Fund, I've found myself needing a daily fix of checking out the numbers. There're not good. In fact, Barb Mrozek who's in charge says she need $45,000 a day every day until Christmas Eve just to reach the $1.5 million target. "We're in deep trouble," is how she put it.

There are a lot of pressures on people this year, and especially at Christmas.  I simply want to use the Decoder to remind people the Star fund to deliver gift boxes to 45,000 children at Christmas is out there for your consideration.

To Date:  $957,484

To Donate: For secure online donations, please go to thestar.com/santaclausfund

Visa, AMEX, MasterCard: Call 416-869-4847

Cheques: Please send to The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund, One Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5E 1E6

The Star does not allow anyone to solicit on its behalf. Tax receipts will be issued.

* * *

While I'm on the topic of our tough economy, let me break the news that Up in the Air was not the movie I thought it was going to be. I have a bone to pick with film critic Peter Howell who loved it. 4 stars.

I'm not saying the film won't load up on award show hardware. Its message fits perfectly with the zeitgeist and the ultimate message it delivers is a warm and fuzzy one. Which is what one would expect of a Hollywood movie. It was at least fun to carp over dinner Saturday about why we didn't like it. (Yes, Peter, I was pumped by your review into going out opening weekend.) Besides, I'll know what everybody is buzzing about this year at the Golden Globes, Oscars, et cetera.

I won't worry this blurb will affect moviegoers. After all, who're you gonna believe, me or Howell?

* * *

In a roughly similar view, my taste runs to About Schmidt.  Kathy Bates in the hot tub is an image forever burned in my brain. You want small town? Two words. Dermot Mulroney.

Those nasty web comments

This interesting read in Editor and Publisher - "New Tools in Policing Web Comments" - describes a problem familiar to any journalist whose work appears on a media site. It's based on the decision by Tennessee's Knoxville News Sentinel to take action after inflammatory comments - including from white supremecist groups -  forced defence attorneys in a murder case to go to court to request the paper stop allowing comments. They were, argued the defence, tainting the jury pool. The judge ruled against the action, but it was a wakeup call to management (and staff) at the News Sentinel to take action to better monitor its website.

One of the points of the piece is that comments are what really drive people to websites, with one expert arguing the real customers are  people making mean comments. I don't agree that mean comments are in the majority, but I do know monitoring comments at www.thestar.com is a huge task. Hardworking Star moderators try to ensure inflammatory comments don't appear in the first place but, when they slip through, they rely on the "alert a moderator" tool for readers to flag them. (That's one of the solutions undertaken by News Sentinel editors.) The Star takes other measures, such as not allowing comments on cases before the courts or on particularly sensitive issues - a practice that annoys some readers, as every journalist who's written a story with barred comments knows. Our own email boxes fill up fast.

One easy answer would be to have commentors use their real names - as do writers to the letters pages of print media. Since that's not going to happen, other methods are outlined in the News Sentinel piece.  We also come to know, and usually appreciate, regular contributors through their monikers. Moreover, it can fun on political stories (if there's time) to try and figure out which commenters are professionals, ensconced in political war rooms.

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Chief elf at the Santa Claus Fund

That would be Barb Mrozek and it's an honour for the Decoder to tell you about her.

She celebrates Christmas twice each year. One is her traditional family Christmas that officially begins on Christmas Eve, as soon as she finishes work at the Toronto Star.  The other starts much earlier, in February of each year, and ends around 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve when she's taken care of every last detail of the Toronto Star's Santa Claus Fund. You might say this second Christmas is a little bigger for Barb since she's in charge of ensuring 45,000 gift boxes arrive at children's homes across Toronto, as well as Peel and York regions, in time for the big day. She'd probably be hard-pressed to decide which is her favorite Christmas so  it's best she doesn't have to choose.

As director of charities and philanthropy for the Star, Barb's in charge of the annual Santa Claus Fund. There's an immense amount of work, beginning with placing all the orders for toys and clothing in February, but she has the pleasure (as she puts it) of "bringing a little bit of comfort and a little bit of joy" to the hearts of so many children. She takes care to see each box is packed with a warm shirt, mittens, a hat, socks, candy and a toy for children up to 12 years. Barb (or one of her elves) even tucks a toothbrush and either watermelon- or strawberry-flavoured  toothpaste in the boxes for children 5 and older. That way, she doesn't feel guilty about the candy. She says her goal is to send "educational" toys, but they still sound like fun. This year they include everything from a stuffed bear that snores for the really little ones to a walkie-talkie (age 7), a crystal-growing set (10), an American Idol shower radio (11) and a mini digital camera (12). Children are selected by social service and community organizations, including Toronto Social Services, the Yonge Street Mission, the YMCA and Catholic Children's Aid, among many others.

By the time Barb gets home to her own family on Christmas Eve, she's exhausted but it's the best kind of exhaustion. She gets cards, letters and telephone calls from regular donors, often people who tell her they remember receiving a gift - sometimes their only gift - from the Star's Santa Claus Fund when they were little and want to repay the kindness. This year has been an especially tough year for the economy and she's finding donations are coming in at a slightly slower pace than usual, but she's still confident of reaching the $1.5-million goal. "We need all the help we can get."

Barb talks about "one little guy" who started donating when he must have been about three years old. Julian Stevens from Toronto is a pre-teen now and veteran philanthropist, whose mother, April, first contacted the Star in 2003 to deliver $40 he'd raised with his hot chocolate business. (Barb keeps good records.) By 2007, he'd switched to the Fresh Air Fund, sending in $92 from his lemonade stand. Barb describes Julian's products as "seasonal." Last year, Julian collected $198.18 for the Santa Claus Fund and it's little wonder Barb says "he's inspiring."

In fact, "inspiring" is the adjective she uses to describe her job, although she says she usually doesn't see it that way until after Christmas when the work is done and she can relax. By then, it's almost time to begin again.

Merry Christmas, Barb, and best wishes of the season to you and your entire team of elves.

Here are the details of the Santa Claus Fund if you'd like to become a Barb Mrozek elf:

Goal: $1.5 million.

To Date: $883,585.

To Donate: For secure online donation, please go to thestar.com/santaclausfund

Visa, AMEX and MasterCard: Call 416-869-4847

Cheques: Please send to The Toronto Star Santa Claus Fund, One Yonge St., Toronto, ON M5E 1E6

The Star does not allow anyone to solicit on its behalf. Tax receipts will be issued.