TakingITGlobal hosted a Live Chat just before the holidays on Youth Migration, which turned out to provide an interesting portrait of just what youth are facing when they attempt to take advantage of the 'shrinking world' and 'increasing connectivity' we're all meant to be benefiting from as a consequence of globalization. If the sarcasm in that last sentence wasn't obvious then I should explain that what we all understood from the portrait drawn by our speakers of Youth Migration in our day and age was that it is not necessarily made easier by 'globalization' and that it is in fact often a dangerous, disappointing and victimizing experience.

Migration is one of those issues that is especially relevant to youth but for some reason is not readily recognized as a youth issue, or is not often associated with youth when it is discussed at higher levels. Migration is a youth issue because youth are the largest group affected by, participating in and victimized by migration. It is similar in this way to an issue like HIV/AIDS, which is affecting youth more than anyone else, and yet youth are so often left out of the processes and policies addressing it.

Youth decide to migrate to another country for countless reasons - education, work, living conditions, etc - and you might think that now it must be easier than ever for this to happen. Thanks to new communication technology youth are more aware than any other generation of what is going on in the world around them, the internet lets us learn about opportunities in distant places and increasing international travel makes it more likely that we can get to those opportunities. I think most of us will have heard at one time or another how globalization and communication technology are bringing us all closer together and breaking down the geographical, political and technological barriers that used to separate us - right?

The opposite is happening for the majority of youth migrants. What we learned during the Live Chat is that globalization has created new barriers to keep people out, rather than breaking down the old ones. It seems that the greater connectivity globalization has created amongst economies and industries has increased the dangers of migration, because it has narrowed the channels for legal migration, therefore forcing more and more youth to attempt illegal migration. The global free market economy, Naomi Onaga (Director of Migrants Rights International) explained, makes keeping certain people in their countries working for low wages attractive and therefore channels for legal migration narrow except in the case of temporary labourers. Temporary labourers are denied citizenship, job freedom, and residency. They become vulnerable to abuse by employers because of this. The type of low-wage labour they are allowed to participate in means that they will bring little skill or knowledge back to their native communities.

It all makes for a pretty bleak picture, made worse by the dangerous journeys ahead of those who attempt to illegally migrate. Migrants - most often youth - are drowning while attempting to cross from North Africa to Spain or Italy, dying in the desert attempting to enter the USA, or are becoming victims of forced migration. If they make it to their destinations they will likely be greeted by a population that is mostly hostile to them, and sees them as dangerous.

The whole discussion had a special relevancy for me, because I will soon be a migrant myself. Leaving Canada for an overseas opportunity, but I'm lucky, because I will be migrating legally, will enjoy all of my rights and be relatively safe while doing it - or as safe as anyone can expect to be on an international flight these days. The Live Chat really sharpened those inequalities that mean that I will be able to take advantage of an opportunity in a different country, and others will face nothing but misery for trying to do the same.

To try and not end on a bad note, there are those working towards international recognition of migrants, more opportunities for legal, safe migration and, maybe most importantly, opportunities for work, education and a better life for youth in their home countries and communities. These people include the speakers who took time out of their busy schedules on December 18 - International Migrants Day - to join our Live Chat.

The biggest hurdle of all might be to change people's perception of migration and migrants themselves. I thought the image above was a great way to think about that issue. Of course, technically refugees and migrants are considered to be in different categories, but I think it speaks to the same fear of foreigners, immigrants, migrants or refugees being 'dangerous' or 'bad'. In fact, communities that welcome these people and make the best use of their skills benefit from them. Einstein is a pretty good example.

These are the organizations that supported our Live Chat on Youth Migration:

Migrants Right International
December 18
Young People We Care

It's not very often that there can be a blog title like this one. Canadian politics = exciting? What? Where am I? But for once - we've got something going on. I think what is happening now in Ottawa might actually be more exciting than what is happening right now in American politics. What is happening right now in American politics is Obama naming Hilary Clinton his Secretary of State which isn't exciting because everybody already knew it was happening two weeks ago.

Whereas no one in Canada saw this one coming. Bam! The Liberals, NDP and Bloc have all been secretly scheming against our latest Harper government since they all 'lost' to him during an election featuring one of the worst voter turnouts of all time.

If Harper's government tries to pass a budget that includes no stimulus package for the Canadian economy and cuts public funding for political parties they are going to pounce! If Harper's government presents a revised budget they will probably pounce anyways! Bringing down the government in a no-confidence vote and then asking to create a government made up of a coalition of Liberal, NDP and the Bloc when they feel like it.

This is pretty exciting for people who like watching Harper's sneaky plans to establish a Conservative monopoly within Canadian politics blow up in his face.

I like the coalition idea because it's a risk, it's new, it's sticking it to Harper, and it feels more like real politics than anything I've seen in Canada in a long time.

I don't like the coalition idea because it will make Stephane Dion Prime Minister, it will give the Bloc a lot of power to decide which coalition legislation goes through and which doesn't, and it will be unstable in a period where stability would be good.

So it's more like choosing the lesser evil. The stability of knowing you have a sneaky grinch as your Prime Minister. Or the potential of having five bickering 'Prime Ministers' (Dion, Ignatieff, Rae, Layton and Duceppe) and then a swift return to the grinch.

Soon-to-be no longer President of the United States of America. You know you'll miss him.

A few years ago when researching for an essay, whose topic I can't remember anymore, I happened across this passage from a book introduction by Russian sociologist Boris Kagarlitsky and economist Alan Freeman:

"... The globalised world is an imperial one: this fact simply conforms to direct daily experience outside the charmed circles of Western economic fortresses."

It really struck me at the time because it seemed like such a fitting description of the state of things. Instead of classic imperialism there is economic imperialism. And the imagery used in the passage - a 'fortress' - really stuck with me. It seemed to describe a world where there are walls dividing those people who belong to 'charmed circles' - and who are safe and certain within these 'economic fortresses' - and those who live outside the walls, with constant uncertainty and no guarantees. At the time I was particularly obsessed with the fact that it seemed to describe me: a relatively safe and happy person with little idea of what daily life is like for those who aren't lucky enough to be a member of the middle-class in a prosperous country like Canada. And today - Blog Action Day - this passage came back to me again, because today thousands of bloggers will be talking about the 'state of things' described by Kagarlitsky and Freeman: the inequality that exists in our world and the extreme poverty that it produces.

Today the 'Western economic fortresses' seem an especially relevant topic, because the fortresses seem to be shaking - stock markets in New York, London, Tokyo, Moscow, Toronto and elsewhere have spent the last week fluctuating at rates that have never been seen before. This doesn't necessarily mean that the sun is going to stop shining on any of the 'charmed circles' described by Kagarlitsky and Freeman- actually those most affected and hardest hit by an 'economic slowdown', or 'global recession', or 'global financial heart attack', will most likely be those already living with poverty. The same answer applies to the global problems of rising food prices, climate change, and global health threats - like HIV and AIDS, malaria or TB. [Of course calling them 'Western' economic fortresses ignores the poverty that exists inside what are traditionally referred to as 'Western' countries, and there are definitely those living with poverty in both rich and poor countries alike.]

I don't have a particular solution to propose, or action that I think everyone should take, except - if you haven't already - recognizing which side of that divide you might be on. For me, recognizing that was a big step towards getting more informed on the causes of poverty, the proposed solutions, and the biggest threats. Obviously there isn't any big miraculous solution to the issue, but there is always something you can do as an individual, even if it is as simple as recognizing your place within the greater state of things. I think the more you understand about a topic like poverty - not just globally, but within your own community - the more you'll be able to effectively contribute when that opportunity comes along for you to be part of a solution.

[The passage I quoted is from the book 'The Politics of Empire: Globalization in Crisis', pg 27 of the Introduction by Boris Kagarlitsky and Alan Freeman]

I think if someone were trying to sum up this whole Georgia-Russia-South Ossetia situation then 'Look what I can do!' would be pretty close to it. Because when Georgia started bombing South Ossetia a few days ago it was sort of saying: 'Look what I can do South Ossetian separatist groups and your Russian supporters! I can bomb you until "order is restored"!' Then when Russia retaliated it was sort of saying: 'Look what I can do Georgia! I'm a much bigger military power than you are and I'm not afraid to march right into your country and bomb your civilians right back!' Then Georgia said: 'Go ahead! I'm trying to join NATO and the US and Britain both think I'm great!' Russia: 'Try me!' And so on.

Obviously it's a little more complicated than that.

So did Georgia think that NATO was going to come to its defense? Because in the end - despite all Russian meddling in South Ossetia - (to the best of my knowledge) Georgia reacted with force first. Which to Russia pretty much translates to: 'Bring it on!' Maybe Georgia's President should have taken a good long look at Chechnya before inviting Russia to come on over. He might also want to check out Afghanistan - and then he might have realized that NATO (of which he is not yet a member anyways) is pretty busy at the moment.

Obviously nothing excuses the amount of force used by either side - whatever the situation - and the high amount of civilian casualties, displaced peoples and homes destroyed.


There are a couple of Georgia-Russia Discussion threads on TIG if you want to join in:
Russia-Georgian War in the Current Events Forum and The Conflict in South Ossetia and Georgia in the Peace, Conflict and Governance Forum.


Also if anyone has any sites where first-hand accounts from people in the region are being posted in English please leave me a link!

A week after President George W. Bush signed legislation repealing the travel restrictions placed on HIV-positive individuals visiting or immigrating into the United States Congresswoman Barbara Lee, from California, shared the process that concluded in the repeal with an audience at the XVII International AIDS Conference. The consequences of travel restrictions like those practiced by the United States, and still practiced by many other countries all over the world, were made clear during the question period. One man came forward to express the sense of betrayal felt by those forced out by the restrictions, he had personal experience as a US citizen living in Canada with a partner who is HIV-positive. He still loved his country, he told the panel, but he was ashamed and angry with his government for initiating the repressive legislation that forced him to choose between his country and his partner, as well as for taking 20 years to address it. The XVI International AIDS Conference, held in Toronto in 2006, drew attention to the restrictions. Many HIV-positive individuals faced difficulties traveling to the conference, since many flights into Canada would take them through the US. Congresswoman Lee attended AIDS 2006 and realized that the only way to put the United States on the "correct side of history", on this particular issue, was to abolish the travel restrictions completely, in her words: "Human rights are not won by appeasement or incrementalism." Although repealing the travel restrictions had support from both Democrats and Republicans, as well as a consensus in the medical community that travel restrictions did nothing to protect public health, it was a time when there was hostility towards any immigrant-related reform amongst the general public. However two years later the repeal is a major step forward, although it is not the final step. It is now up to the Secretary of Health to change regulations to reflect the new legislation. HIV must be taken off of the list of diseases that mean inadmissibility to the United States, but Congresswoman Lee is confident that this will happen soon. So confident she has suggested her constituency, Berkeley, California, be considered for the next International AIDS Conference.

Near the end of the session the conversation was brought back around to other human rights areas where the United States is lacking. One woman approached the microphone to congratulate Congresswoman Lee on her role in repealing the travel restrictions, but also to say that she would not personally attend an AIDS Conference in the United States until an apology was issued for all the human rights abuses it commits in other countries. Although using a session on travel restrictions against HIV-positive individuals as a platform for chiding the US on Iraq, or as she put it "marching into other countries" in the name of democracy, seems slightly inappropriate, it is a part of what the conference is about. Congratulating and celebrating to encourage progress, along with questioning and criticizing to show that we have not forgotten what remains to be addressed.

Photographers on the first day of the Youth Pre-Conference in Mexico City.

Does anyone else find the spotlight image for the Fitness and Sport page hilarious? It puts a smile on my face every single time I see it. Seriously - it's really brightening up my week.

TakingITGlobal will be publishing a fourth TIG Magazine this summer, in time for the World Youth Congress this August in Québec City. This TIG Magazine (we will be giving it a better name soon!) will be focused on the two themes of our recent Youth Voices Project, which were: 'Climate Change' and 'Culture & Identity'.

Currently the Youth Voices Project has two contest collections in our Global Gallery where TIG members have been submitting artwork related to the themes. Some of this artwork will be included in the magazine and published! But we are also looking for writing submissions for the magazine.

The basic goal of the fourth TIG Magazine is to create a really cool print & online magazine that shows the power of the creative youth perspective on climate and cultural issues. We are looking for writing that illustrates the role of youth as key stakeholders in issues that affect them like 'climate change', 'cultural & identity' and related topics [cultural conflict, cultural dialogue, celebrating your culture, explaining your culture, pollution, water scarcity, environmental activism, etc.] and shows how powerful and important youth voices are. Submissions can be creative writing (poetry, stories) or more fact/opinion based articles.

Interested in submitting some writing? If you have recently (within the last year) had an article published in Panorama that you think should be considered, please send the: Title, Article ID # (this is visible in the URL), Article Type and your name to this e-mail address: melanie@takingitglobal.org. Or if you are interested in submitting something especially for the magazine, that you have not already had published anywhere else, please send your submission to the same address: melanie@takingitglobal.org, and it will be considered for inclusion.


We need all writing submissions submitted to us by the 22nd of May. If you are interested in contributing a visual submission, you also have until the 22nd of May to contribute either to the 'Youth Voices on Climate Change' or the 'Youth Voices on Culture & Identity' Contest in the Global Gallery.

I read an article in Canada's Globe and Mail two days ago that really disturbed me. Here are some choice quotes:


'... the youth kicks Ms. Gomba in the face and blood starts to ooze from her nose. "That is what you get for trying to sneak the MDC through the backdoor," she snarls. Then they begin to use the whips. At first Ms. Gomba cries out; in response, the youths hit her harder.'


'...the noise as the whips hit her body is the only sound in the room...'


'...Outside the door, she found a knot of the youth militia ... "They said I was an MDC prostitute because I attended their rally here," ... "Then one of the youth flicked a lit matchstick on to the roof of my thatched hut." ... she lost everything she owned.'


'In Mutoko, 160 kilometres to the north of Harare, 20 houses were burned last weekend. Five were torched in Murehwa, 80 kilometres north, on Sunday night.'


I don't claim to be any expert on Zimbabwe's history or it's politics, or even to know that much beyond the basics. This article was based on reports from a Globe and Mail correspondent who was able to sneak into the meetings where, apparently, opposition supporters (or merely those who were supporting a fair election) are being violently beaten and threatened. The first thing I thought after reading it was - is there anything I can do about this? And I couldn't answer that question.


At this point I don't think it matters whether or not Mugabe technically won or lost, any leader that allows these kind of actions is not leading his/her people, they're just terrifying them.

Right now any Canadian Film production or Television production can apply for tax breaks from the Canadian government (so can foreign productions who will be filming in Canada) and this helps to fund most Canadian productions.Which is good.

But the Harper government represented by Heritage Minister Josée Verner is proposing an amendment to the Income Tax Act that would allow the government to deny tax breaks to any Canadian production that contains sex, violence, or "other content" the government deems inappropriate or excessive. (this will NOT apply to foreign productions filming in Canada). This is bad.

This is a bad idea because: 1. It discriminates against Canadian artists (rules don't apply to foreign productions) 2. It will allow the government of Canada direct influence over the content of Canadian film and television productions (which it has never had before) 3. The government will decide what is inappropriate, and excessive 4. This will encourage Canadian artists to go work in other countries where they will not be censored or discriminated against


Why does the Canadian government hate Canadian TV and Film so much?

The idea behind the amendment would be to discourage excessively violent or pornographic productions receiving public funding - I don't know, were we having a lot of problems with violence and porn? Was that a big concern? I sort of thought protecting Canadian cultural sovereignty and encouraging Canadian artists to stay in Canada was important?


Funnily enough the Harper government, in this case represented by Industry Minister Jim Prentice, just rejected an American firm's takeover of MDA Corp. (Canada's space company - makes satellites and the Canadarm!) The potential takeover apparently raised a lot of "national sentiment" and could mean losing data from satellites that would be crucial to defending Canada's arctic sovereignty in a future dispute. Arctic sovereignty is very important - but not Canadian culture I guess.

Way to go Stephen Harper. You're doing a good job.

For a while now I've been meaning to get moving on ways to make TakingITGlobal more reactive to current events that are affecting our members - or that our members are talking about. Not that the community itself isn't already reactive, people post on their TIGblogs about events as they happen, and start Discussion threads. But because of the size of the site it can be hard to find where the dialogue is happening. When you enter the TakingITGlobal site it isn't always obvious where you should go if you want to discuss the elections that just happened in Russia, or the US primaries happening today in Texas, or any other recent happening, or ongoing situation that you are interested in or affected by. I'm hoping that the new 'Current Events' Forum can be part of making it easier for TIG members to react to events and start discussions with their fellow members. And hopefully maintain TIG's position as a place where youth all over the world go to discuss social, political or economic hot topics.

The first topic for the Current Events Forum is the continuing conflict in Kenya, which began after their presidential elections in late December. I remember speaking to a few of the Kenyans on our TIG staff, who had high hopes for the election, which has now resulted in hundreds of thousands displaced from their homes, riots, violence, and hundreds of deaths. Our active TIG Kenya members will be speaking within this Discussion thread about their own experiences, perspectives and hopes for resolution, and I encourage all TIG members interested in the situation in Kenya, or with experiences and thoughts of their own to share, to join in the Discussion!