Protecting the Unprotected

The Current today on CBC is going to be worth listening to. The murderer of the children in Merritt, BC, had violated a peace bond and yet the Merritt police were not informed of this when he was released from custody for threatening her daughter's school principal just days earlier. Check it out on your online media source or watch for the Podcast:

Two tragic stories of domestic violence have dominated the headlines this week: a woman in Toronto who has been jailed in order to get her to testify in her boyfriend's assault trial and the on-going hunt for a man from Merritt, British Columbia who is alleged to have killed his three children. We're taking a step back and looking at the most common way that courts deal with domestic violence, and asking if restraining orders help keep women safe or make them more vulnerable.

Horror Feminae

No need for feminism. Fuck that. A reminder to those stubborn 'why can't we all just get along and call it humanism?' hippies:

Women are discriminated against in almost every country around the world, a UN-commissioned report says.

It says that this is despite the fact that 185 UN member states pledged to outlaw laws favouring men by 2005.

It adds that 70% of the world's poor are women and they own just 1% of the world's titled land.

The report, which was prepared for UN Human Right Commissioner Louise Arbour, says rape within marriage has still not been made a crime in 53 nations.

A tip of the hat to Feminist Allies for the BBC link and full article.

Fetus Find

This morning's online Calgary Herald:

City crews at the Bonnybrook waste treatment facility made the disturbing discovery of a fetus. . . Police said the method of disposal is a concern, but medically at this stage of development, a fetus is considered a "product of conception" and not a matter for the medical examiner to investigate or issue a death certificate.

"Life and creation arguments do not form the basis of this investigation, rather, it is firmly rooted in the probability that this may have been the result of a spontaneous medical condition, a 'hidden' pregnancy situation, or a premeditated and or forced act upon an individual; the last of these three situations cannot be overlooked or end without police involvement and determination if a criminal act was committed," said Berti.

I feel for the woman who went through this miscarriage, be it a 'hidden' pregnancy or any of the possibilities described. Whether or not she wanted to have a child, she may have felt that our medical system could not be reliable, trusted, or affordable. In a case of potential violence I hope for her that she finds safety and protection. I appreciate the annunciation that this is not about "life and creation" but about the health of the woman who aborted outside of a hospital or abortion clinic, whatever the case may or should have been. Even with abortion servcies in Calgary, there can still be instances of limited access due to social pressures or knowing where and how to access those services. This is an interesting story and I will certainly be following up on the community's reaction to it.

Down wid' CPC's

Senator Robert Menendez introduced a bill in the Senate yesterday that would regulate the misleading advertising practices of Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs).

Read the article here.
I should say. I had a woman in my office campaigning a few years ago for a "Crisis Pregnancy Centre". At the time I wasn't familiar with it so before committing to give any money I asked straight up, "Does it give abortion referrals?" Room went silent and she said, "No." And I said, "Well you won't get any of my money then." Since then I've learned more about CPC's sneaky rhetorical tactics and make sure I mention them whenever the topic arises. There's many people who aren't aware that CPC's are anti choice.

This House is Clean

It's 1982 and Steven Spielburg's Poltergeist is terrifying audiences and leaving a lasting impression of the fuzzy late-night T.V. screen in our nightmares when we wake up on the couch to the static sound of a snowy screen and a little girl's voice, "They're He-re..." A new study that will be published in the scientific journal, Neuroquantology, claims that Speilburg was on to something with Carol Anne being the vessel for creepy, paranormal activity. I can safely say I do not understand quantum physics (contrary to What the Bleep Do We Know and Deepak Chopra's claims to simplistic explanations), but still I consider this study to be bunk and sexist by this small paragraph:

"Poltergeist disturbances often occur in the neighbourhood of a pubescent child or a young woman," the authors note in their paper.

I can't wait to read about how adolescent girls and young women are the source of things that go bump in the night and all things creepy.
(Via Boing Boing)

Friday Delight

I say it again: I [Heart] Robots! My partner surprised me yesterday with a random robot pressy (Robot Lilliput) at work which brought me to this vintage song: Mechanical Man.
Great Friday Afternoon Musical Entertainment!! Mechanical Man? Meet me in my bedroom...

Women Protest

Women are banding in protest of government crackdown on women's vendor businesses:

Women stage protest in N Korea

Seoul - Thousands of North Korean women staged a rare street protest early this month against a government crackdown on illegal market vendors, an aid group said on Wednesday, amid worsening food shortages.

The protest was reported on March 4 in Chongjin, a port city in the north eastern province of North Hamgyong, said the South Korean group Good Friends, which works in North Korea.

Plus, Fuss, and Fashion

Today's Calgary Herald has an article by Joanne Sasvari, "Plus Minus Clothing." She takes a look at the fashion industry and the way it's missing a target audience: plus size women. Praising current retailers catering to sizes over 12, she notes that "plus-size fashions now account for one in five purchases in Canada's $10.8-billion ladies apparel market, a 20 per cent increase since 2003" and laments that there are so few retailers in our market that cushion the frustration so many women feel when trying to buy fashionable clothes that are made with satisfying material:

A bigger reason for dissatisfaction is that even among those labels that do offer plus sizes, the clothes are often not very nice, even though they can be significantly more expensive. Often they are not cut in a way that's flattering to a larger body. They're not available in as many colours or styles, or carefully tailored. And they're made with cheaper fabrics, as if a woman loses her love of silk and cashmere when she hits a size 14.

The end of the article lists some retailers that do carry plus size clothing. Seems to me that seven shops in Calgary, the others online stores, is a reflection of the intensity of the fat-hating culture surrounding us. Consider the number of women's clothing retailers for size 0-12 and anyone can understand that saturation is frustrating. Breaking down the negative stigma and pejorative rhetoric of plus-size women is an ongoing struggle in our culture of the glorification of emaciation. Calgary's Anarchist Bookfair on April 25-27 is hosting a number of workshops, one of them addressing fat-phobia in our culture, negative language, and shutting down the epidemic of plus size women hating. As always, dialogue sheds light on the darkness, so a tip of my hat to Joanne Sasvari for her article and her fat positive message in our City today.

Smitten

This little kitten was born with "I [Heart] [Dot]" on its little sweet side. The Mommy's name is Dottie and so this is just too cute not to share! Via Boing Boing.

Gender Bender

Thinking about going on a vodka bender and you're a lady!? Well you're in luck in Russia! Now there's Vodka for women!! As headlined, "Russian ladies who lunch are finally given their very own vodka". Some are celebrating the marketing ploy, for MIDDLE CLASS WOMEN ("It's not just for businesswomen") but as reported in the Independent, one doctor has said:

"Women drinking vodka is not only unhealthy, it's ugly and un-ladylike," said one doctor. "They should stick to more appropriate drinks for women, like champagne or white wine."

Well it's a good thing, then, that champagne and white wine comes in sexy soft-colored bottles! But there's some stiff competition when Damskaya has fluttery butterflies to boast and toast!

At Your Cervix

Here's a documentary to watch for:
At Your Cervix: a film dedicated to making pelvic exams respectful and pain-free

The documentary At Your Cervix explores the connection between the way medical and nursing students are taught pelvic exams and the reality that most women experience them as painful and disempowering.

At Your Cervix breaks the silence around the unethical methods used by medical and nursing schools to teach students how to perform pelvic exams; the most egregious being on unconsenting, anaesthetized women. At the same time, the film highlights the Gynecological Teaching Associate (GTA) Program in New York City. Fuelled by the spirit of women’s health activism, the GTA program began over 30 years ago and it has been shown to be the most effective way to teach exams and is also the most ethical and empowering to women

Check out the website for bios and more details!

Appropriate Blood

Easter Mass turns Bloody:

Six Iraq war protesters disrupted an Easter Mass on Sunday, shouting and squirting fake blood on themselves and parishioners in a packed auditorium.

Three men and three women startled the crowd during Cardinal Francis George's homily, yelling "Even the Pope calls for peace" as they were removed from the Mass by security guards and ushers.

Via Rawstory

Need I mention that Christianity is based on a whole lot of blood? Funny that there'd be outrage for the sake of the children being scared by gore. Eventually they'll be drinkin' the stuff.

Order of Canada

From the National Abortion Federation:

TAKE ACTION: Support Dr. Morgentaler

The Order of Canada, the highest civilian honour, was established to recognize outstanding lifetime achievement and service. Please sign this petition to the Advisory Council of the Order of Canada, which has repeatedly overlooked Dr. Morgentaler for this distinguished award.

Take Action Now!

About Dr. Morgentaler:
Dr. Morgentaler, a survivor of the Holocaust, has made a positive lasting impact on the lives and health of Canadian women for more than 40 years as a physician and advocate. He came forward publicly in 1967 and testified that women should have access to safe and legal abortion care at a time when abortion was illegal and countless women were sacrificing their lives and health to end an unplanned pregnancy. For his beliefs and actions to ensure safe abortion care, he was imprisoned. In 1988, Dr. Morgentaler won a significant victory for Canadian women in the Supreme Court of Canada in R v. Morgentaler, the ruling that decriminalized abortion in Canada. This landmark decision, that changed the legal landscape in Canada, was named one of the most important and influential Charter cases of the last 25 years.

Dr. Morgentaler’s determination and tireless efforts on behalf of women have never ceased. Now in his eighties, he continues to provide leadership in current struggles to ensure that women have access to funded abortion care.

He has received several awards in his lifetime, but Canada’s highest award has never been bestowed upon him. This is a significant omission.

Christian Gene

Thanks to GrrlScientist for the Monday morning, post-Easter laugh!

While Christians celebrated Easter and wrestled with their inner demons, our friends got together for some wrestling fun of our own.


I have been busy planning Luchador Parties and playing much music lately; trying to find some time for bloggy goodness. Thanks always for visiting, readers! I will try to get back into the swing of things as the days go by!

Failing to Mention

The Calgary Sun (surprise surprise) failed to mention a little detail about Keegan Spearchief's release yesterday. This is a man who was charged with multiple sexual assaults and break and enter. The vagueness of the sun is eclipsed by the Herald's report as follows:

National Parole Board documents obtained by the Herald show Spearchief did not complete the intensive therapy recommended by the judge, nor did he seek out any
programs.

Fuelled by heavy drinking and rape fantasies, Spearchief randomly terrorized women in 2003 by breaking into their Forest Lawn homes and attacking them. While under 24-hour house arrest for two previous sex attacks, he raped a 17-year-old girl at knifepoint in the middle of the night when she was home alone.

Although he was 17 at the time of the attacks, Spearchief was the first youth in Canada sentenced as an adult under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

Judge Sandy Park gave him four years, deemed a longer sentence that would accommodate Spearchief's rehabilitation. But during his time behind bars, Spearchief, who stands six foot five, did not complete any therapy, including an intensive eight-month program geared toward sex offenders that was recommended by the judge, parole board documents show.

"Given you have not addressed your criminogenic factors, the board concludes you remain at risk to commit an offence causing death or serious harm to another person," the parole board wrote.

Serving a sentence doesn't mean a godde damn thing if there isn't rehabilitation to re-integrate that person into society as a responsible citizen!! Unbelievable and yet so very much not. The shame.