I just sat down to watch the national on CBC and came away wanting to share the thoughts that went through my mind as I watched some of the stories. Let's take the G8/Syria issue. Obviously the US is not sure a US assisted removal of the murderous Assad regime is not going to be followed by an Islamist/Jihadist take over of Syria. What followed the Arab Spring in Egypt comes to mind. Hence while Russia continues to firmly support Assad, the West is gripped by ambivalence born out of Iraq/Afghanistan fatigue and the absence of a clear non-islamist alternative to the current brutal regime. The death toll continues to rise. The UN Secretary General has been mostly silent and ineffective mirroring the confusion and indecisiveness among members of the Security council.
Then there was the spectacle of the Montreal Mayor Applebaum being arrested on corruption charges. Some months earlier he had sounded a warning to those with designs of robbing the public purse. Obviously the citizens of Montreal can be forgiven for wondering whether their great city has been relocated to a country high up on the world corruption index. Of course one familiar as I with the newspaper/tv coverage of various scams on the Indian subcontinent can place it in a context and understand that Canada ,although not perfect, is still a great place to live. Independent police and judiciary are the ultimate guarantees of a fair and just country but there is nothing more important than an informed and engaged citizenry.
Veteran journalist Susan Ormiston presented a documentary 'the Price of Cheap' re the collapsed clothing factory that provides cheap wear for us in the west at low prices for which many Bangladeshis pay dearly with their lives and low wages. when I think of it a deep sense shame overwhelms me . In reality there can be no free or fair trade unless the countries and traders involved have equal bargaining power. I know that is not the case between Bangladesh and the rich countries in North America or Europe and that is not likely to be the case for years to come. In the interim the ordinary citizens in the west can help by shaming the Joe Freshes of the world into ensuring they buy products of safe working places. As well the citizens in places like Bangladesh have to be vigilant that their governments are not in the pay of slum lord manufacturers. All easier said than done. I know. But miracles do happen.