* * * * *

Used Cars Dealer & Services Oil Change Brakes Tires Water pump & Timing Belt Safety Inspection

TES AUTO
Meftih The Life Line of Eritrean Community Award Winning Independent Monthly Newspaper www.meftih.ca email: infomeftih@gmail.com Volum 9 Issue 5 January 2013 - Printed the first Friday of every month Tel: 416-824-8124 Fax: 416-783-7850

! Tel: 647-702-7528 448 Birchmount Rd. Unit 6, Scarborough, ON. M1K1A1 bellakebenna@yahoo.ca

Malcolm Ilelaboye (Charles)

Sales Representative

! !

Cell: 647-864-9191

Joel E. Tencer BA, LLB, RCIC

!

Dir: 416-590-2444 malcolm@realestateservice.com 17 Church Ave., Toronto, ON. M2N 4E7

Immigration & Refugee Cases

Licensed & Certified by Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC)

Temperatures hit - 50 as cold snap hits central and eastern Canada

* Business Class Immigration (Investor, Entrepreneur) * Skilled Worker Application * Live-in Caregiver (Nanny) * Refugee Claim * Family Sponsorship * Visitor Visa * Invitation Letter Joel E. Tencer * Immigration Appeals BA, LLB, RCIC * Work Permit & Study Permit ICCRC Member #: R420343 * Humanitarian & Compassionate Applications A frigid cold snap that * And any other Immigration Services. can freeze exposed skin

1018 Finch Ave. W., Ste. 223, Toronto, ON.

www.jtimmigration.com * email: joeletencer@gmail.com

416-850-9851

in a matter of minutes has swept across much of Canada, less than two weeks after hundreds

of thousands of people in parts of the country were left without power after a vicious ice storm.

please see page 2

BOOK EARLY AND SAVE ON FLIGHTS!

Call Zenab Warah for the Best Fares

Tel 416-485-6387 ext 6326 Toll-Free 1-877-727-6387 zenab@airliners.ca
1220 Ellesmere Rd, Suite 1, Toronto, ON M1P 2X5 TICO #4631677

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5: page 2

* Car Accident * * * Slip & Fall * Insurance Claim *

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5: page 3

Do you know whom to contact when you wanted to buy a house of your dream?
Yes, you are right!
Dedicated, trusted and knowledgeable

Temperatures hit - 50 . . .
From page 1 Residents in Lynn Lake, Man., were dealing with frigid temperatures as low as - 44 C with the wind chill Thursday afternoon. Winnipeg was slightly warmer at - 33. Most Canadian are saying it is only two weeks old -- winter -- but enough is enough, Dave Phillips, Environment Canada senior climatologist, told CP24 Thursday afternoon.
This bully that we describe as the cold air is engulfing all of Canada. Everyone is in this misery from coast to cost to coast. In Timmins, Ont., the mercury dipped to - 52 Thursday morning when the wind chill was factored in. The air was so cold it caused ice fog -- a type of fog seen in extreme cold weather that consists of ice crystals -- limiting visibility on many streets and roads. The normal seasonal low in the city is -23. Southern Ontario was also under a wind chill warning Thursday, with the City of Toronto advising homeless people to seek shelter. The temperature with the wind chill reached - 31 in the afternoon, and the mercury is expected to dip in the evening. The normal seasonal low for Toronto is -9. It is a serious issue with these brutal wind chills where flesh can freeze in under a half hour, Phillips said. Less than two weeks ago, nearly half a million people in southern Ontario were left without power after an ice storm knocked down tree branches and power lines. The latest bout of extreme weather comes just as Toronto Hydro officials announced Wednesday evening that all power outages had been restored. But at one Toronto high-rise in the north end of the city, some residents were still waiting for their heat to kick on Thursday, a day in which the temperature in the city was actually lower than in Iqaluit, Nunavut, which only reached -20 with the wind chill. Deep freeze hits Montreal In Montreal, where the temperature was nearly -40, the Dans la Rue homeless shelter was forced to open early in order for street youth to get relief from the cold. We extend our rules so they (youth) can stay longer, an extra night, or two extra nights if possible, Cecile Arbaud, the shelters director, told CTV Montreal. Of course we make sure every time they visit us they have enough warm clothes and warmers for their hands. Montreal was colder than Alert, Nunavut on Thursday, which is considered to be one of the northernmost permanent settlements in the world. The temperature in Alert was -35 with the wind chill. Atlantic Canada was bracing for a blizzard expected to hit Thursday evening and continue overnight in some areas. The temperature in Halifax was -32 with the wind chill Thursday afternoon. RCMP in northwestern New Brunswick said Thursday night that a 29year-old woman was found frozen in the snow 150 metres from her front door. Warmer weather around the corner The cold snap is expected to last until the weekend when temperatures are expected to warm significantly. Toronto, for example, is expected to hit 0 on Sunday while Montreal is expected to hit a high of -4. With files from CTV Montreal, CTV Toronto and CTV Northern Ontario Daniel Bitonti, CTVNews.ca

Raj Sekhon

905-783-1300

647-748-2334
* Pay Day Loans wire transfers * Money Orders Foreign exchange Cheque, Cashing
* * ! 647-748-2334
1544 Jane St. (south of Lawrence ave) Toronto, ON.

Snapchat to issue more secure app after network hacked

NEW YORK -- Snapchat says it plans to put out a more secure version of its application following a breach that allowed hackers to collect the usernames and phone numbers of some 4.6 million of its users. The disappearing-message service popular with young people said in a blog post late Thursday that the updated version of its app would allow users to opt out of its Find Friends feature, which was apparently at the heart of the breach, and would stem future attempts to abuse its service. The breach occurred after security experts warned the company at least twice about a vulnerability in its system.

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 4

Before announcing its plans to update the app, Snapchat had been quiet. Its seemingly detached response caused some security specialists to wonder whether the young company can handle the spotlight that its been thrust into over the last year as its service has become enormously popular. In response to a warning by Gibson Security on Dec. 25 --which followed an earlier alert in August -- Snapchat said in a blog post last Friday that it had implemented various safeguards over the past year that would make it more difficult to steal large sets of phone numbers. Snapchat hasnt detailed the changes it made. As Americans rang in the New Year, hackers reportedly published 4.6 million Snapchat usernames and phone numbers on a website called snapchatdb.info, which has since been suspended. The breach came less than a week after the most recent warning from security experts that an attack could take place. The incident bruises the companys image and may threaten its rapid growth. Los Angeles-based Snapchat has no source of revenue, but

its rapid rise to an estimated 20 million U.S. adult users prompted Facebook to extend a reported $3 billion buyout last year. Snapchats 23-yearold CEO Evan Spiegel turned down the overture. The user number estimate is based on census data and data from the Pew Research Center. What should users do? Gibson Security, the firm that warned Snapchat of the security vulnerability on Christmas Day, has created a site, -- http://lookup.gibsonsec. org/ -- that lets users type in their username to see if their phone number was among those leaked. Of two user accounts that The Associated Press checked, one was found to have been compromised. Gibson Security did not publish the last two digits of the phone numbers. Gibson says users can delete their Snapchat account if they wish, but this wont remove your phone number from the already circulating leaked database. Users can also ask their phone company to give them a new phone number. Lastly, ensure that your security settings are up to scratch on your social media profiles. Be careful about what data you give away to sites when you sign up -- if you dont think a service requires your phone number, dont give it

report by security researchto them, Gibson said. ers, he said, adding that his This was Gibsons second rity researchers and even pay concern is not with the spewarning to Snapchat, followbounties for people to expose cific database of information ing one in August that the seflaws in their systems. that was released, but that curity firm said was ignored. Snapchat may be too small Snapchat has demonstrated Given that its been around to pay bounties, but they a cavalier attitude about prifour months since our last certainly should be treating vacy and security. Snapchat release, we figured researchers with respect and Many people use Snapchat wed do a refresher on the lataddressing issues as soon as because it feels more private est version, and see which of they are told about them, he than other messaging apps the released exploits had been said. fixed (full disclosure: none of and social networks. Users In its blog post Thursday, them), Gibson wrote on the can send each other photos Snapchat listed an email adGibson Security website. and videos that disappear dress that security experts The Snapchat breach comes within a few seconds after could use to contact the comjust two weeks after Target they are viewed. While the repany when they discover was hit with a massive data cipient can take a screenshot new ways to abuse our sersecurity breach that affected of the message, a big draw vice so that we can respond as many as 40 million debit of Snapchat is its ephemeral quickly to address those conand credit card holders. nature. cerns. Gartner security analyst AviThis probably wont be the vah Litan said phone numlast problem with Snapchat, Barbara Ortutay, The Associbers are not considered senSoghoian said. Companies ated Press sitive personally identifiable like Microsoft and Google, information -- such as credit he added, actively court secucard or social security numbers -- so they are collected by all sorts of companies to verify a persons identity. A phone number is not as Seeking to hire persons, to refer clients to me, bad as password or magnetic strip information, but its who may need Immigration or Refugee Services. the piece of the puzzle that * High commission paid. criminals need to imperson- * Fluent in English. ate identities, she said. Christopher Soghoian, prin- Joel E. Tencer B.A. LL.B. RCIC cipal technologist with the Licensed by Immigration Consultants of Canada American Civil Liberties Regulatory Council (ICCRC), Union, agreed. Member # R420343 The main problem was that they ignored a responsible

IMMIGRATION /REFUGEE AGENT Needed

416-850-9851

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 5

FREE DEBT CONSULTATION

416-665-3328

!
Free Evaluation at www.Rumanek.com
Rumanek & Company Ltd. Trustee in Bankruptcy & administrator of Proposals (9 Locations in Ontario)

416-665-3328

To advertise online at

(www. meftih.ca)
or Offline on Meftih Newspaper please call 416-824-8124 or Email: infomeftih@ gmail.com

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5: page 6

200 - 75

` ` ` `

` ` Source: VOA

2014
2014 Times Square 400 2014 / Times Square Button

10 - UNHCR

UNHCR -

Source: VOA

Please see page 8

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 7

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 8

Dire conditions and forced conscription hold the answers to Eritreas refugee crisis, new campaign claims.

. . .
From page 6
2014 Burj Khalifa 400 77 Red Square Spasskaya the Great Wall of China Kong Yu 108 Source: VOA

Geneva, January 1st, 2014 Every year around 20,000 Eritreans aged between 17 and 50 years are forced to enroll in national service to serve the countrys political regime. Citizens are required to work for unspecified periods, in slavelike conditions, or face incarceration in Eritreas notorious prison system, where detainees are seldom released. The, Stop National Service Slavery in Eritrea Campaign launches today (January 1st) in Sweden, Norway, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, UK and Italy. The campaign links Eritrean born activists across Europe and will call upon local governments to recognise the oppressive regime in Eritrea, which is responsible for the mass exodus of 18,000 citizens, who risk their lives trying to escape. The campaign will last six months and will culminate in Geneva in June, where the group will appeal the UN Human Rights Council to intervene in Eritrea.

Organizers of the campaign state: we have seen the boat disaster in Lampedusa in October, we continue to be devastated by the heinous acts committed against our brothers and sisters in Libya and the Sinai Desert, in Tel Aviv and the refugee camps across the region in the Horn of Africa young Eritreans continue to suffer, all this is because they cant live freely in their own homes, we want the enslaving of young Eritreans to stop and we appeal for the world to recognize the National Service as the slavery it is. Elderly people, or those of ill health who are unable to leave Eritrea, have little means to support themselves. Family members who remain in the country are penalized for their relatives escape, and left financially destitute. Those who are unable to pay the extortionate fines face imprisonment. Campaigners believe that understanding the root cause of the exodus, is key to resolving the refugee crisis which claims

the lives of thousands of Eritreans every year. The campaigners come from six European countries and will be lobbying their respective governments before heading to Geneva in June. Speaking of some of the activities involved coordinators said: we will obviously involve traditional lobbying techniques such as, letters, face to face meetings with officials, but in reflection to our diverse backgrounds we have also got plans to utilize social media and arts to drive our message home The following organisations are already signed up, but calls will go out for more Eritrean Youth Organisations to join the Campaign: Eritrean Youth Group in Swiss, United for Eritrea (Germany), Eritrean Youth for National Salvation EYSNS (Italy), Eritrean Youth Solidarity for Change EYSC (UK), Young Wave Eritrea (Sweden, Norway, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland and Italy), Eritrean Youth Group in West London (UK). Feruz Kaissy

Aaron Berhane
260 Adelaide St. E. Toronto, ON. M5A 1N1 # 192 Tel: 416-824-8124 Fax: 416-783-7850 info@meftih.ca www.meftih.ca

Editor-in-chief

Editors:

Grace Cherian

Photographer: Mulugeta Zergaber

Contributors: Mohamed Edris Naza Hasebenebi

Subscription Costs in Canada $39 for a year and $59 for two years. In USA, it costs $45 for a year and $69 for two years. Articles appearing in assorted columns of Meftih newspaper are intended to generate civil & informed public discussions. You dont have to agree with opinions expressed by the writers. However, that should push you to express your own views. Through that way we generate lively & civil discussions in the community. Rejoinders are not forums for personal insults & we want readers to adhere to these principles.

Medhin Ghebreslasie, Amleset Tesfay, Bode Odetoyinbo, Mimi Chandy, Ken Ntiamoa

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 9

Message to PFDJ

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 10

Debt Advice
By Jordan Rumanek

Consumer Debt & How To Deal With It Learn What To Do & Who To Talk To
The average Canadian struggles to make ends meet on a monthly basis, while trying to pay their debts. A solution is to prepare a detailed personal budget and stick to it to solve your debt problems. However, there is often a need to seek Professional Assistance and Advice to deal with your financial situation. Where I can turn for advice? Chartered Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals (CIRP) are available for a free consultation to offer suggestions for solving your difficulties. Some options that may be available to you, depending on your specific personal circumstances, include the following: Proposal Orderly Payment of Debts Informal Arrangements with Creditors/Credit Counselling Debt Consolidation Loans Bankruptcy Why should I choose a CIRP/Trustee for advice? Trustees are licensed by the Superintendent of Bankruptcy to administer proposals and bankruptcies, to act as receivers and to monitor restructuring under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act. They are governed by the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) and the Code of Ethics for Trustees. The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) is an agency of the Canadian Federal Government under Industry Canada and is responsible for regulating the process and protecting the public interest. The OSB is also responsible for ensuring that the BIA is administered properly and that all fees charged by the Trustees are in accordance with the BIA. By choosing a Trustee in Bankruptcy who is also a CIRP you are getting more that a licence holder. A CIRP/Trustee must also comply with the bylaws, Rules of Professional Conduct, Standards of Professional Practice and Mandatory Professional Development requirements of the Canadian Association of Insolvency and Restructuring Professionals (CAIRP). The CIRP certification identifies insolvency and restructuring professionals who are the leaders in providing insolvency and business recovery services. Jordan Rumanek, B. Comm., CIRP, Trustee, Rumanek & Company Ltd, Jordan@rumanek.com

Today I walked spontaneously into the Higdef Embassy and delivered a message.... I still feel somewhat out of my comfort zone even just writing this...but when I had finished my shopping and stood in front of the underground station in North London at 12.25 PM being 5 mins early for my appointment, I looked up the small road in which the PFDJ embassy is located. I saw the Eritrean flag and all looked so peaceful and I said to myself, I hope this is the final year for PFDJ and the end of the suffering. I guess I felt so strongly about it that I simply walked up to their door. I rang the bell and entered. I know most of the staff there. One barely responded to my greetings. I waited in the queue and then said to the staff that I am one of the deleyti fethi and that they should stand up and no longer represent this government (bedjakum wekelti nayzi mengisti aytekonu). I was asked

to leave or wait for a representative. I repeated my message with a respectful tone and then turned to the people sitting inside the embassy (about 10 of them). Please, I said addressing them all, our people are suffering and dying, dont support this government - you need to stand up. I then wished everyone a happy new year and walked out. I decided to share it here as this is a means to spread our messages further and motivate each other. We all have moments of fear or hesitation or exhaustion or questioning, but when you feel the pain of thousands or even of just one mother who has been locked up in Eritrea for over 10 years like a wild dog, it gives you strength to just contribute to this cause the little you can. I heard Miriam Hagos story this Christmas. Miriam, Aster, Senait ...3 former freedom fighters, 3 mums, none of them said anything

against the government or challenged the regime in any way yet they all perished in prison. Miriam challenged her husband, a PFDJ member, over the phone and was taken from her house and locked up just days later. Aster returned to Eritrea after 4 years studying in the US to see her 4 children and was taken away by security guards from the airport. Senait Debessay wanted the custody for her children challenging her abusive husband, Beyene Russom PFDJ, ambassador to Kenya. Senait was locked up before the court hearing. 2 of them were said to be still alive yet in bad condition in solitary confinement, Senait died in prison. This government does not have weaknesses, as some claim. It is criminal. Praying for all the mums and sisters suffering badly under PFDJ. Please feel free to share.

Miriam Septembe

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 11

2001 . () .. . 29 30

2008 . EYC 2009 . Washington INN Hotel down town Oakland

()

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5: page 12

-(you tube) 2014

() 01-01-2014 . ( 1975)

? ? !

..

13

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5: page 13

. .
. .. .. . . . .. ()

.. !

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 14

Canadas new rules: Heres what changed for 2014

A new calendar year means some new rules are in effect across Canada. Heres a look at whats changed. As of Jan. 2, Canadians with parents or grandparents overseas can apply for them to become permanent residents in this country. Applications were halted in 2011, to clear an eightyear backlog. Now that the Family Reunification Program has begun again, Ottawa says it will limit the number of applications to 5,000 annually. the federal governments ban on incandescent bulbs went into effect Jan. 1.

Retailers can continue to sell their existing stocks of the oldfashioned light bulbs, but manufacturers wont be sending them any new ones. Instead, consumers will find store shelves taken over by more energy-efficient alternatives including comYou can imagine that the pact fluorescent need warrants to conduct race is on, CTVs Mer- lamps (CFLs) or lightsurprise workplace incedes Stephenson said emitting diodes (LED). spections, interview forfrom Ottawa Thursday, eign workers and demand noting that the applica- Sixty and 40-watt indocumentation from emtions will be taken on a candescent bulbs will be ployers -- all to prove first-come, first-served phased out next Decemwhether they are in combasis. ber. pliance with conditions of the federal Temporary I imagine that the Citi- Foreign workers Foreign Worker Program. zenship and Immigration New regulations designed The new regulations make Department is going to be to allay Canadians fears it illegal for employers seeing quite a lot of appli- their jobs are being filled to pay foreign workers cations for this. by foreign workers are 15 per cent less than the also in effect as of Jan. 1. standard rate for a posiBulb ban Under the new rules, for a tion, and include the inIf youve got a light bulb period of six years, govtroduction of a new $275 that needs replacing, ernment officials do not fee for each TFW permit youll soon discover that application. The fact that employers in Canadas sex industry will no longer be able to apply to bring foreign workers to fill their jobs has grabbed the most headlines, however.

Some people here in Ottawa have joked that this means more Canadianbased strippers, Stephenson told CTV News Channel, explaining that the rules first announced in 2012 as a means of protecting vulnerable foreign workers, is expected to mean more employment opportunities for Canadians to fill those jobs. Zapper clampdown Businesses now face stiffer fines for using socalled zapper software to dodge taxes by erasing sales from the company ledgers. A first offence will now net the company a $5,000 fine, while subsequent infractions would be punished with a $50,000 fine.

such programs could be hit with a $100,000 fine. Tax Relief A freeze on Employment Insurance premiums takes effect this week, meaning the rate will remain at the 2013 level of $1.88 per $100 of the $47,400 in maximum insurable earnings. Higher-income Canadians will pay a little more, however, as maximum insurable earnings rise to $48,600 in 2014.

Other tax changes include a new credit for charitable cash donations over $200 to $1,000, up from the previous 29 per cent to 54 per cent for first-time donors. With files from The CanaAnyone in possession dian Press of the software could be Source: CTVNew fined up to $50,000, while those who develop or sell

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

Tribunal delivers Sri Lankas guilty verdict

A tribunal of 11 eminent judges has unanimously found the Sri Lankan government guilty of the crime of genocide against ethnic Tamil people. Sitting in Bremen, from December 7 to 10, the Second Session of the Peoples Tribunal on Sri Lanka found that the crime of genocide has been and is being committed against the Eelam Tamils as a national group. I was invited to appear before the tribunal as an expert witness on the treatment of Tamils from Sri Lanka by the Australian government. The Second Session in Bremen was convened in response to the determination of the First Session, held in January 2010 in Dublin, that war crimes and crimes against humanity had taken place against the Tamil population in the final months of the war in early 2009, and that further investigation be undertaken regarding the question of genocide. The two sessions of the Permanent Peoples Tribunal were established in response to submissions made by the International Human Rights Association, Bremen, and the Irish Forum for Peace in Sri Lanka. The Permanent Peoples Tribunal is based in Rome under the auspices of general secretary Gianni Tognoni. Thirty eye-witnesses and other experts appeared before the Second Tribunal, some at great personal risk. The tribunal found that genocide against the Eelam Tamil group has not yet reached the total destruction of their identity; however, the genocide is a process and the process is ongoing. The military killings of May 2009 have been transformed into other forms of conduct causing serious bodily and mental harm to members of the group. The tribunal considered that the proof established beyond any reasonable doubt that the following acts were committed by the government of Sri Lanka: beatings, threats of death, and harm that damages health or causes disfigurement or injury. Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or part, including expulsion of the victims from Killing members of the their homes; and seizures group, which includes mas- of private lands; declaring sacres, indiscriminate shell- vast areas as military high ing, the strategy of herding security zones to facilitate civilians into so-called no the military acquisition of fire zones for the purpose Tamil land. of killings, targeted assassinations of outspoken Eelam The tribunal undertook to Tamil civil leaders who were further examine allegations capable of articulating the of forced sterilisation of Sri Lankan genocide project Tamil women. to the outside world. Britain and the US were Causing serious bodily or found to be guilty of commental harm to members plicity in the crime of genoof the group, including acts cide, including complicity of torture, inhumane or de- by procuring means, such grading treatment, sexual as weapons, instruments or violence including rape, in- any other means, used to terrogations combined with commit genocide, with the accomplice knowing that such means would be used for such a purpose; and complicity by knowingly aiding or abetting a perpetrator of a genocide in the planning or enabling of such acts. The tribunal recognised that Sri Lanka did not have the capacity to achieve genocide without assistance and, on the basis of evidence provided, came to the conclusion that Britain, the US and possibly India are guilty of complicity. However, due to the constraint of time, the tribunal limited its findings to Britain and the US, pending the availability of further evidence against India and other states.

page 15

it upon themselves to send Tamil asylum seekers back to Sri Lanka without hearing their claims. This was done on the basis that they were economic refugees although how this determination was reached without first hearing claims was not explained. Australians outside of government involved with the welfare of Tamil asylum seekers have long known of the genocidal intent of the government. But it has been puzzling why the Australian government was not informed of this by its high commission in Colombo. I took the opportunity at the hearings to ask some of the Tamil witnesses from within the country whether they thought the high commission was informed and they said yes, on the basis that they had briefed Australian diplomatic officers. This raises the question of what was done with that information. The assumption must be that it had gone to Canberra and had been ignored by government for reasons of policy and politics. This would suggest that both major parties knowingly acted illegally with respect to processing Tamil asylum seekers. How low can we go? Lower, it seems. I was also informed that the high commission has now ceased briefings from Tamil sources in the north, presumably on the basis of what they dont know they dont have to lie about. A form of deniability adopted and refined by Hitlers Third Reich towards the final solution of the Jewish question. After the recent gift of two The tribunal requested that patrol boats to Sri Lankas states able to do so should navy, Australia is in danger take Tamil asylum seekers of being one of those states. as refugees. The gift adds to the military capacity of the Rajapaksa re- Bruce Haigh is a political gime to illegally detain and commentator, human rights harm Tamil asylum seekers activist and retired diplofleeing repression. mat. In recent times the Rudd and Abbott governments took

OPINION

Its almost 2014 and Isaias Afeworki is still there, reigning over and ruining Eritrea. Change will come sooner or later. Of course it will! Sooner, if the movement for democratic change manages to quickly create an atmosphere ripe enough for those who can act, take a decisive action; or later, when nature takes its due course, as it always does. To have this decaying system linger for another 4-5 years is simply to sentence the Eritrean people to more suffering and to subject young Eritreans to disasters akin to Sinai, Sahara, Libya, Lampedusa or another godforsaken location where we would once again impotently wail, mourn and brace for the next disaster. It is still conceivable that the regime can survive the diplomatic, economic and political quagmire it dug itself into in recent years by simply positioning itself that all interested parties have no better choice but to deal with it. The international community, the neighboring countries (including Ethiopia), and even some Eritreans (including the very victims of the regime) are giving signals that they are willing to accept the status quo as the new normal and move on. The recent sectarian politics based crises in South Sudan and the endless butchering in Syria may serve as a backdrop to scare off would be supporters of regime change in Eritrea and lead them to conclude that Isaias Afeworki may be needed as the necessary evil to maintain stability. This leaves the committed Eritrean activists who are fighting to see a just Eritrea based on democratic institutions in a rather lonely place and swimming upstream. In a world driven by self-interest instead of by the more egalitarian aspiration of the common-good, change becomes that much harder. Is it a worthy fight? Absolutely! But it is also a fight that must be fought not to make a point but to win. That means the opposition camp need to retool, refocus and get rid of failed strategies that are simply working against itself, and to the delight of the dictator and those who upkeep the system. We have to, we must and we can hasten the downfall of the regime; but not in the state of toxicity our politics is current-

ly in, which only helps create thriving conditions for the venomous mafia regime in power. The fragmented opposition need to realize that to defeat Isaias Afeworki, it cannot afford to be perceived (and perception is reality!) as a sectarian movement, whose members spend more time infighting than laying out their alternative vision. Lets face it, no one group, sector or political party can defeat a system that has ingrained its cult-like culture deep into the Eritrean psyche. The truth is, we will all need each others support more than we pretend not to and create synergy that would take us beyond where we are today. Otherwise, why would 2014 yield a different result than prior years? To detoxify the political environment is then to deny breeding area for a system that needs this toxic situation in order to survive and multiply. We must detox, treat, heal and restore our political environment, if not out of more mature reasons, at least as a smart strategy to defeat the system.

Detoxifying Our Politics

to the end of Isiais Afeworkis brutal rule had begun. The following year, 2012, became the year of organizing this new and unprecedented addition to the movement. Everyone learned that unorganized movement cannot bear fruit. There must be an orderly and more effective way to execute actions and mobilize the public. So the organizing, aligning, structuring, restructuring, strategizing, ideological refinement went on and on with earnest. With that, the opportunities for disagreements multiplied and to some, winning ideological arguments became more important than actually winning crossing the most important finish line that will remove Isaias Afworki from power. As the disillusioned and less experienced younger generation tried to navigate these uncharted waters, by the end of 2012, it got entangled by the usual nets that have entangled its older compatriots. Once again, instead of getting encouraged to independently galvanize the public, something those who tried before could not do, the youth based movements that were mushrooming all over the world were viewed as either a threat to squash or a shiny new tool to squash others with. Sadly, but perhaps not surprisingly, the zero-sum game of either-withus-or-against-us mentality won the day. The proxy chess game continued, bringing with it toxic attitudes and vulgar languages. And Isaias Afeworki smiled. The proverbial countdown clock seemed to have been placed on hold. The year 2013 began with a rather surprising but welcoming news of a coup dtat attempt of what came to be known as Forto-2013. Believers, doubters and fence sitters celebrated together briefly, bringing back that organic euphoria and energy back to the movement. However, it was short lived. Now that the post Isaias era is not a matter of if but a matter of when, the pseudo generals of the proxy chess games intensified their do-or-die campaigns to control and purify the movement for change along narrow ideological, regional and tribal lines. The aptly repeated buzz word was unity! but the desired result was a thinly veiled uniformi-

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 16

But first, we need to understand what ails us? How did the movement suddenly become so unpleasant to operate in? How can the silent majority jump on this wagon for change if it continues to become uninviting for those who are already on it? Was it always so, or is it getting amplified by technology and simply getting louder? There are no simple answers to confidently say how we got here but it helps to take a glance at the last few years and look for general trends and make a learned choice for 2014. Fresh Wave The year 2011 was a game changing year in the long winding road of Eritreas movement for democratic change. Thanks to the inspiring accomplishments of young revolutionaries in the Arab world and ease of access to social media tools, a wave of young people stood up to be counted. It was a year to simply declare that enough was Enough! and Down Down Isaias! The euphoric energy was palpable, veteran Deleyty FtHi whose calls for respect of human rights and freedoms was mostly landing on apathetic ears finally saw the arrival of the long overdue wind beneath their wings, in the form of this youthful energy. The final countdown

ty! zey semere kabana yfele an eerily familiar mantra. The defamation, purging, splitting, insulting, bullying and counterattacking continued unabated and fanned by 247 Paltalk sessions, Facebook posts, press releases and gossipy phone calls, all in foolish attempts to control the movement and thereby controlling what happens after Isaias Afeworki is removed from the scene. Very foolish and very insulting to the Eritrean people indeed. For a while there seem to be only two kinds of Eritreans left in the world: patriots and traitors. Of course, which label one is bestowed upon depends on who is holding the label maker. The vitriolic and rather toxic commentary people are willing to use to paint those they disagree with was enough to give a reasonable person to pause and think what this could mean in post Isaias era, the tinderbox Eritrea the dictator is sure to leave behind. The change that we seek, at the very minimum, has to be better than what the PFDJ machine offers, doesnt it? Could we be playing with fire? But the downward spiraling continued anyway. Then we were hit with a bitterly cold splash in the face that sent shudders not only among Eritreans but also throughout the world community. The tragic loss of so many lives in one lump sum off the coast of Lampedusa became a glaring symbol of what it means to keep Isaias Afeworki and his PFDJ machine in place, and a shaming reminder that the futile, foolish and dangerous division among pro-democracy Eritreans must stop and fast. Lessons learned from moments of glory and tragedy wane real fast in our political arena, but at long last, the need for true unity seems to be taking hold not uniformity, not purity, not sameness but true unity of purpose and action coupled with respect of diversity of strategies, tactics and rights of others to go their own way. The recent vibe is encouraging but, needless to say, we must correct course and once again restart the countdown clock toward the demise of our brutal dictator in 2014. But HOW do we accomplish that? We always seem to get stuck on the HOW part, dont we? If we agree that that the current environment is

too toxic to practice a movement of hope and better alternative, then we all have a duty to detoxify it. Only the dictator and those who suckle from his dying system can benefit from this contaminated environment where activists are continuously pointing fingers at each other, spreading baseless gossips, accusing each other of ulterior motives, looking over their shoulders for spooky characters borne out of figments of their imagination as well as constantly engaging in endless criticism, counter-criticism and self-criticism. For Delety FtHi, this toxicity should be viewed for what it is: a cesspool of a counter productivity where Isaias Afeworkis demons take a refreshing bath. That is why, by at least attempting to take some practical steps toward changing the music if not the lyrics of our politics, we have little to lose and a lot to gain in the coming year and even beyond. Lets go to the solution then Conflict resolution experts might use healing words and phrases such as: anger management, open communication, reconciliation, issue isolation, tolerance, win-win situation, positive feedback, appreciation .bla bla bla bla lets face it, this stuff never works for us! We hear them but cant comprehend them. Where does one begin? How about some realistic and more programmatic steps that can be easily applied. Here are two unconventional, yet more familiar suggestions. Toxic item #1. Too much criticism and self-criticism (the selfcleaning oven is destroying the oven!) Solution: One Month of Fasting (but eat all you want) Our culture is deeply rooted in religion. Both Christianity and Islam call for a spiritual discipline that involves willful abstinence from food and also from other human temptations. In the Bible it says, Its not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth. I am sure there is an equivalent verse in the Quran. During the fasting period, one is supposed to try to be a better person as well. How about we

Please see page 17

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 17

From page 16
take a lesson from that chapter in our religious/cultural book and use it to detoxify our politics? For far too long, we have deluded ourselves into thinking that criticism and freedom to express our thoughts are virtues in and of themselves. We seem to have forgotten that the silent majority is always observing and making decisions silently. We owe it to the struggle not to scare off potential activists. To Do: Take one month, preferably the month of January, and abstain from criticizing the shortcomings of the opposition in any shape or form. Instead force yourself to say something positive, something you appreciate or praise someone whos doing a great job. If you have nothing good to say, say nothing. This must include private phone call, coffee ceremony chit chats, social media posts (yes, liking negative posts count) and if you are truly committed your private thoughts as well. Dont worry, after one month it will be open season again and you can criticize and selfflagellate to your hearts desire.

Chances are, however, the positive attitude will stick longer. BTW, I am resolving to do my fasting in January. Care to join in? Shoot me an email (see below) and let me know how it is going. I think its not as easy as it sounds. And yes, this entire article can be qualified as criticism of our movement. Hope it is the constructive kind. Toxic item #2. Parochialism, Regionalism, Nepotism (these narrow silos of division are cannibalizing the movement). Solution: Celebrate Individualism, Practice Diversity. Politics is essentially the competition for power to manage public resources. There will always be those who try to grab power and they will try to tap into our prides, prejudices and egos to turn the movement into us Vs them existential fight, if we let them. To belong to a certain linguistic, ethnic, regional administration or village is not a crime, nor is it an accomplishment. All these sub-national tendencies are rooted in elements of ethnocentricity where indi-

Detoxifying Our . . .
vidual members feel their group is somehow better than others, is more capable, is more nationalistic or more deserving. The problem arises only when individual members are gullible enough to believe it and start to use it as a discriminatory weapon. This is undeniable and something that must be addressed urgently, otherwise we risk making the PFDJ look more mature. What we are suffering can be summed up in the Tigrigna saying: Asha Wedi Qeshi Si amelaK abaHaguu ymeslo (roughly translates to a foolish son of a preacher thinks God is his grandfather). Similarly, some foolish activist might tend to believe Eritrean affairs belong only to him and his grouping. This kind of parochial and narrow thinking is simply toxic and unworthy of those who claim they are fighting for equality and justice. It only creates toxicity, division and resentment when practiced by those who are in the opposition. Hopefully we wont witness this kind of backward thinking in the coming year. What we all should be fighting for is liberty and justice for all,

regardless of region, religion, gender, age and how many of ones forefathers have purportedly lived in Eritrea. To Do: This one is borrowed from my friend Saleh Gadis recent speech in Bologna. I think it is a good exercise for all of us. Go through your mobile phones address book and review your contact list, especially the ones you are in contact with most. Is the list of your Eritrean contacts as diverse as you thought it was? No one is expected to have a list proportional to the mosaic of Eritrea, but it boils down to this: dont preach diversity, practice it. And if I may add If you suffer from unwarranted region of origin superiority complex, just close your eyes, think about how babies are made, and decide if you should take pride in that achievement that resulted in YOU. Every one of us should be judged not by our kinship to some African ancestral village, but by the type of individuals we are. No exceptions. On to 2014

Will the foolishness of this year follow us into next year? After Lampadusa? After the images of babies in small white caskets? I hope not. I think the lessons have been learned. In 2013, Fortos Wedi Ali (RIP) has captivated our imagination by showing us that change from inside is possible; Wedi Vacaro has demonstrated that one person with a humble and timely message can mobilize the public; Wedi Tikabo has given us a reason to once again synch our rhythm and dance in unison and national pride: Ere nHadnetna ye sheT meAntana goes his song. 2014 will have its own heroes and heroines. Lets just resolve to detoxify the political environment for them and the countdown to the end of Isaias Afeworki will start ticking real fast. Happy New Year to YOU! danielgmikael@yahoo.com @DanielGMikael

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 18

One of six Brazilian World Cup stadiums that had to be completed before the end of 2013 was symbolically delivered on New Years Eve, although it wont be fully ready until the end of the month. Local World Cup organizers in the northeastern city of Natal lighted up the Arena das Dunas stadium for the first time on Tuesday to symbolize the venues completion. The official inauguration, however, will only happen probably on Jan. 20, organizers said in a statement Wednesday. Brazil starts the year without six of the 12 World Cup stadiums ready even though FIFA had set the end of 2013 as the final deadline. Six venues had been built for the Confederations Cup this year. Footballs governing body usually wants all venues ready at least six months before the tournament starts so local organizers can host enough test events. Brazilian organizers an-

Brazil starts year without 6 of 12 World Cup stadiums ready

nounced during the World Cup draw in December that none of the remaining six venues were expected to be delivered by the FIFA deadline. Delays have included financial problems, workers safety issues and construction-site accidents. Three construction workers died at stadiums late

last year one who fell from about 115 feet (35 metres) at the Arena Amazonia in the jungle city of Manaus, and two who were killed when a crane collapsed while hoisting a roofing structure at the stadium that will host the World Cup opener in Sao Paulo on June 12. The Arena Amazonia is ex-

pected to be completed by the end of the month, but the stadium in Sao Paulo wont be ready until April. The Arena da Baixada in the southern city of Curitiba, where organizers faced difficulties securing the needed financing for the stadium, is likely to be ready sometime in March or early April.

The Beira-Rio Stadium in the southern city of Porto Alegre is set to be completed in January and the Arena Pantanal in the wetlands city of Cuiaba is expected to be delivered in February. The Associated Press, 2014

Arsenal remains atop standings: EPL

Arsenal stayed top of the Premier League after scoring two late goals in a 2-0 win over Cardiff while fellow title rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool also started the year with victories on Wednesday. However, the league trophy looks more out of reach than ever for Manchester United after the reigning champions lost 2-1 at home to Tottenham and fell 11 points behind Arsenal. Nicklas Bendtner and Theo Walcott scored Arsenals goals at Emirates Stadium to beat a resilient Cardiff team which played in front of expected new manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and frustrated the hosts for 88 minutes in the driving rain. We have a special spirit in the side and you know well fight until the last minute in the game, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. City remained a point behind in second after a 3-2 win at Swansea, while Chelseas 3-0 victory at Southampton in awful weather conditions ensured

please see page 20

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

Specializing in Ethiopian spices Wholesale * :: * ! Anwar Abdo Tel: 416-283-3254 Cell: 647-859-4339 Fax: 416-284-8189 1202-4175 Lawrence Ave. E. Toronto, ON. M1E4T7 anwarabdo2003@yahoo.ca

Anwar Spices

page 19

DUFFERIN CUSTOM UPHOLSTREY & DECORATION

- * 416-546-1501
We do new custom made:- Sofa, Chair, Headboard, Slip Cover & Window Seats. For your old furniture we do:- Re upholstery, Restyle, Restoration & Replace foam cushion

2350 DUFFERIN STREET TORONTO, ON

* Pharmasave Medication Manager * Medication Delivery * Medication Reviews * Live well consultations * Live well community seminars

Eagle Manor PHARMASAVE Specialty services provided by us:

1901 Weston Rd. unit 19 (at Lawrence ave)

Tel: 416-241-1115

Your ad could be placed here! call

416-824-8124 visit our website www.meftih.ca or www.meftih. digitalepaper.in

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5: page 20

Arsenal remains atop . . .

From page 18
Jose Mourinhos team stayed in third place, two points behind the leaders. After two consecutive losses, Liverpool climbed back into the top four after Luis Suarez scored his 20th goal of the season in a 2-0 win over Hull. Spurs climbed above United into sixth place two points behind Liverpool after goals by Emmanuel Adebayor and Christian Eriksen earned them a second straight league win at Old Trafford. United has now lost four times at home this season. Arsenal had to wait until two minutes from time before Bendtner gave the Gunners reasons to celebrate the start of a new year when he pounced from a rebound. The striker picked up an ankle injury while scoring and was substituted before Walcott chipped the ball over goalkeeper David Marshall. He was a bit unlucky, he said he landed on the foot of a Cardiff player and sprained his ankle, Wenger said. It looks like it is not a question of days, but weeks. Everton falls In other games, Everton fell to fifth by being held 1-1 draw by Stoke, Aston Villa beat lastplace Sunderland 1-0, Fulham earned a comeback 2-1 win over West Ham to climb out of the relegation zone, Crystal Palace drew 1-1 with Norwich and West Bromwich Albion beat Newcastle 1-0. Man City carried its recent form into 2014 and recorded the first goal of the year after 14 minutes when Fernandinho gave Manuel Pellegrinis team the lead at Liberty Stadium. Wilfried Bony put the hosts back in the game with a header but City was more clinical after the interval and pulled away with goals from Yaya Toure and Aleksandar Kolarov before Bony pulled another one back. Fernando Torres helped Chelsea to a 3-0 victory over Southampton as the Blues kept pace with their rivals. The Spain striker broke the deadlock on the hour mark, heading home a deflected cross from close range. Chelseas substitutes then combined to deliver the second, with Oscar cutting in from the left to set up Willian for a powerful shot from the edge of the area in the 71st minute. Oscar then put the result beyond doubt with a clinical finish in the 82nd minute after Eden Hazard and Ramires linked up to put the Brazilian through. Suarez set a Premier League record when he scored his 20th Premier League goal in just 15 games after missing five matches with a suspension. He doubled the Reds lead in the 50th minute with a perfect free kick curled into the top left corner after Daniel Agger had headed home Philippe Coutinhos corner to make it 1-0 in the 36th. It was our best win of the season, said Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers. After a tough period, to get a result like that against a very good team. Gerrard back Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard made his return off the bench to play his first game since picking up a hamstring injury in early December. The other Liverpool club, Everton, had a less enjoyable day. Leighton Baines converted an injury-time penalty to earn his side a draw that could not prevent it from slipping to fifth. Everton enjoyed plenty of possession and hit the woodwork twice in the first half before Oussama Assaidi gave Stoke a 49th minute lead against the run of play. The visitors were rewarded for all their pressure at the very end, though, when Jermaine Pennant fouled Leon Osman and Baines made no mistake with the spot kick. Aston Villa ended its five-match winless run by beating Sunderland and goals from Steve Sidwell and Dimitar Berbatov helped Fulham defeat 10-man West Ham. Saido Berahino converted an 87th-minute penalty to secure the win for West Brom, overshadowing the return of Nicolas Anelka after his controversial goal celebration. Newcastle looked like holding on for a draw despite the 62nd-minute sending-off of defender Mathieu Debuchy for a two-footed tackle on Claudio Yacob, only for goalkeeper Tim Krul to trip Matej Vydra in the area. Berahino, a halftime substitute, slotted the penalty into the corner for the win. Anelka started despite being the subject of a league investigation for celebrating a goal against West Ham on Saturday with a gesture that has anti-Semitic connotations. The Associated Press, 2014

My very special friend

for the eight friends I did see. I was especially delighted to see my friend, Gladys. As youngsters in primary school, Gladys and I became members of the Childrens Crusade, a Catholic organization which met for weekly prayer and worship of Christ. When we moved on to secondary school, Gladys and

By Grace Cherian
In April of this year, I experienced the excitement of traveling to Malaysia to visit my brother who has chosen to leave Canada and return to live there. We had grown up in Malaysia and

I had attended school there from 1962 to 1972. Thats the year my family and I emigrated to Canada. My friends and I had been in the same class for eleven years. One of my friends, Emily, coordinated gettogethers so that I could visit with as many of my former classmates as possible. I hadnt seen them in 41 years! I hooked up with eight friends in all. I would have liked to have connected with more. But of course that wasnt possible. My friends lead busy lives. They had work, prior engagements or sudden emergencies cropped up. But I am indeed grateful

I both joined the Legion of Mary, another Catholic organization. We met each week after school and devoted ourselves to prayer. Even though we all studied at a convent school, not all my friends are Catholics. But because Gladys and I share a common faith, a very special bond had developed between us. The transportation system in the city of Malacca where we met is not at all like the TTC which were so blessed to have here in Toronto. We may complain about the TTC but traveling to other places gives us

Aaron Berhane
260 Adelaide St. E. Toronto, ON. M5A 1N1 # 192 Tel: 416-824-8124 Fax: 416-783-7850 infomeftih@gmail.com www.meftih.ca

Editor-in-chief

Editors:

Grace Cherian

Photographer: Mulugeta Zergaber

Contributors: Mohamed Edris Naza Hasebenebi

Subscription Costs in Canada $39 for a year and $59 for two years. In USA, it costs $45 for a year and $69 for two years. Articles appearing in assorted columns of Meftih newspaper are intended to generate civil & informed public discussions. You dont have to agree with opinions expressed by the writers. However, that should push you to express your own views. Through that way we generate lively & civil discussions in the community. Rejoinders are not forums for personal insults & we want readers to adhere to these principles.

Medhin Ghebreslasie, Amleset Tesfay, Bode Odetoyinbo, Mimi Chandy, Ken Ntiamoa

please see page 21

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5: page 21

My very special . . .
From page 20
real insight into our blessings. In Malacca, people have to drive wherever they need to go, rely on friends who have cars or use an archaic bus system that will take you hours to get to your destination. Gladys lived a long way off from the caf where we had chosen to meet. Yet she went to a lot of trouble to make sure she got there. I said to her, Im so glad you came. I wouldnt have missed it for the world, she said. Gladys astounded me with her memory. She remembered the names of all my siblings: James, Elizabeth, David and Wils who was just barely six at the time. We had said Goodbye to each other 41 years earlier! Yet she remembered all those names. She added, I remember Wils spending time in the kitchen talking with your Mom while she cooked. Wils was very close to Mom throughout his short life. His fondness for Mom developed in him at a very early age. Naturally these memories of Wils and Mom are very precious to my family and me especially because theyre both in Heaven now. My dear friend said, Ive thought of you often over the years and prayed for you. What a precious gift! Prayer is the most powerful force in the universe. It can move mountains. Gladys works with children who have special needs. Those children are truly blessed to have her as a teacher. I have no doubt that she prays for each of the children daily. She radiates the light of Christ. Her godliness will have positive repercussions upon the children for the rest of their lives. Today Gladys and I write notes to each other. Yes, we communicate the oldfashioned way but I love it. Every note from Gladys is like a precious gem. Her messages provide a soothing balm for my soul. Im so grateful to the Lord for bringing the special gift of my friend Gladys back into my life.

Olivia Akpari,

B.A. LL.B

Barrister, Solicitor & Notary Public

905-565-0059 LITIGATION Services

* Motor Vehicle Accidents * Slip & Falls * Long-Term Disability Claims * Short-Term Disability Claims * No-Charge Initial Consultation

7025 Tomken Rd. # 204 Mississauga, ON L5S 1R6 Tel: 905.565-0059 Fax: 905.565.0559

Dr. Daljeet & Associates

Caring for the community for over 25 years!
* Implants * Veneers * Bonding * Whitening - Let us take care of all your familys needs - Lets give you a smile youll be proud of all year!

MAKE OVER YOUR SMILE

Call now for an appointment

Evening & Saturdays appointments available

416-492-3077

Victoria Park ave.

2942 Finch Ave. E. Unit # 4 Scarborough, ON.

Village Square Plaza Finch ave. E.

Dr. Nar Daljeet

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 22

Technology & Science

The science of wind chill

Cybercriminals are eyeing these 5 targets in 2014

Next year, hackers and cybercriminals will increasingly attack via devices such as smart TVs and use data from social networks to craft and target their attacks, cybersecurity experts predict. Cybersecurity Q & A: How to improve your online safety Internet security firms Fortiguard Labs, Websense Security Labs, Symantec, Trend Micro and Sophos have all issued their predictions about whom cybercriminals and hackers will be targeting in 2014, and many of them follow similar themes. vulnerable to an attack they also lack notification methods for consumers and businesses when vulnerabilities are discovered. Even worse, they dont have a friendly end-user method to patch these new vulnerabilities. One of the concerns is that hackers logging into such appliances may be able to get information about who is home at a given time of day, noted Fortiguard, adding, This is bound to give cybercriminals new and nefarious ideas around how and when to rob someones home. Fortiguard predicts well see the first mass malware for home devices such as smart TVs and appliances later in 2014. 2. Social networks

The wind chill factor is the method used by weather forecasters to tell us how much colder the wind makes unprotected skin feel. So why do meteorologists say its -10 with a wind chill factor that will make it feel more like -18? Why dont they just say its -18? The wind doesnt actually change the temperature outside, but the temperature we feel is not the air temperature but our skin temperature. A person will sense that its colder because the wind steals body heat by blowing away warm air that surrounds the skin. This means the wind chill factor is not a factor for inanimate objects like rocks, cars and snow they will all maintain the same temperatures no matter how strongly the winds blow. The new wind chill index adopted in 2001 uses a mathematical model developed at Environment Canada that approximates how skin temperature, especially on the face, changes with various air temperatures and wind conditions. The math was put to the test in the research labs of the Department of Defence in Toronto. A group of 12 volunteers, six men and six women, went through clinical trials in a refrigerated wind tunnel to see how the model held up in a real-world situation. Environment Canada also warns of the level of risk of frostbite

associated with a wind chill factor. For example, when the wind chill is from -28 to -39, exposed skin can freeze in 10 to 30 minutes. Before 2001, Environment Canada would calculate wind chill as how much energy (or heat) the body loses per second depending on how much skin is exposed to the wind. Wind chill was measured in watts per square metre, with values ranging from 1,000 to more than 3,000. But because a wind chill factor of 1,500 watts/m is meaningless to most people, the value was translated to the temperature it would have to be to cause the same degree of heat loss without any wind. This is called the wind chill equivalent temperature what you hear when meteorologists say, Dress warm. Its -10 but with the wind chill factor it will feel more like -18. Different countries use different formulas to calculate the wind chill factor and the wind chill equivalent temperature. However, they are all based on research conducted by scientists Paul A. Siple and Charles F. Passel in the 1940s, later used by the U.S. army to develop warmer clothing for soldiers. The research found that the rate at which water freezes depends on three factors: how warm it was to begin with, the outside temperature and the wind speed. Canada and other countries adopted the wind chill index as

a public health tool so people could protect themselves from cold-related ailments such as hypothermia and frostbite. This is especially useful for those who are going to be outside for long periods of time, whether snowmobiling or shovelling the driveway. Hypothermia results when body temperature falls below 35 C. Symptoms include drowsiness, impaired co-ordination and weakness. It can also be fatal. Frostbite is the result of skin freezing. It causes swelling, redness, tingling and burning. Skin turns white and waxy as the frostbite progresses. Infection and loss of extremities can result. Frostnip is a condition where ice crystals form under the skin. Chilblains occur when bare skin is exposed to cold water, or when wet skin cools. The skin itches and swells. Chilblains can lead to gangrene. According to Statistics Canada, 111 Canadians died from effects of the cold in 1997. Ninety-two of them were victims of hypothermia. Two cases of chilblains were fatal that year, and one person died from conditions resulting from frostbite of the hand. Source: CBC NEWS

Heres a round-up of the top five predicted targets. 1. Smart appliances Smart TVs, smart fridges and other internet-connected home appliances, ranging from medical equipment to

security cameras, are widely expected to become a magnet for hackers says Kevin Haley, director of Symantec Security Response in a blog post. The companies building gadgets that connect to the internet dont even realize they have an oncoming security problem, Haley wrote. These systems are not only

Attacks by cybercriminals are becoming more targeted, and social networks are becoming a useful source of data for crafting these types of attacks. Websense predicts that in 2014 hackers will increasingly make use of services such as LinkedIn to lure executives and other potentially lucrative targets.

Please see page 23

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 23

Rob Ford files papers for mayoral re-election

Toronto Mayor Rob Ford wasted no time relaunching his bid for re-election, officially filing his nomination papers Thursday shortly after the clerks office opened on the first day for acceptance of nominations. Ive got the strongest track record, Ive been the best mayor this city has ever had, Ford told reporters shortly after submitting his nomination papers and officially declaring his candidacy in the Oct. 27 municipal election. When asked about the personal problems that have dogged him throughout 2013, Ford, in a testy exchange with reporters, responded: Thats all personal. Let the people speak for themselves. Ford is the first person to register for the mayoralty race. 100 debates, Strashin reported on CBC News Network. Now the race is on. We should see more candidates register in the weeks to come. New Years levee wasnt free from politics On Wednesday, Ford and a handful of other councillors gathered at city hall to meet with residents at the New Years Day levee. People waited in line for up to an hour to shake hands and have their picture taken with Ford and other councillors at the annual event. A few who attended came wearing Ford Nation Tshirts, though one woman told CBC News she waited in line to tell Ford he has been a terrible mayor and should not run again. The levee is billed as a

So far, only Coun. Karen Stintz and former budget chief David Soknacki have said they will run. Politicians rumoured to be considering a mayoralty bid include: Olivia Chow, NDP MP for the downtown Toronto riding of Trinity-Spadina and former city councillor. John Tory, former provincial Progressive Conservative leader and current

radio host. Denzil Minnan-Wong, a fiscal conservative who chairs the citys public works committee. Fords move to seek reelection comes after a turbulent 2013. The mayor made headlines around the world after showing up drunk at public events, admitting to smoking crack cocaine and apologizing repeatedly for various inappropriate comments.

With Ford refusing calls for him to resign, council voted in November to strip him of many of his powers. CBC News city hall reporter Jamie Strashin said the central question of the campaign will be whether voters are willing to look beyond Fords widely reported personal problems. Its a long, arduous campaign, with more than

Please see page 24

From page 22
This highly targeted method will be used to gather intelligence and compromise networks. Haley of Symantec adds that cybercriminals wont just be turning to big social networks. Scammers, data collectors and cybercriminals will not ignore any social network, no matter how niche or obscure, he wrote. Users who feel its just them and their friends on these new sites are in for a big (and unpleasant) surprise. 3. The cloud Businesses are increasingly storing their data in the cloud and on servers outside their

Cybercriminals are eyeing these 5 targets . . .

own network, and Websense predicts that criminals will increasingly turn their attention to that data this year. Hackers will find that penetrating the data-rich cloud can be easier and more profitable than getting through the castle walls of an onpremise enterprise network, WebSense says. Sophos predicts that cybercriminals will target mobile devices and the credentials of individual employees to gain access to the cloud, perhaps employing blackmail via ransomware that threatens to go public with confidential data if the criminals arent given what they ask for. 4. Android According to Sophos, malware aimed at Googles Android grew exponentially in 2013, and is expected to keep growing in 2014 because of the operating systems dominant share of the smartphone market. While we expect that new security features in the Android platform will make a positive change in infection rates over time, their adoption will be slow, leaving most users exposed to simple social engineering attacks, the company wrote. It added that the mobile devices that run Android are an attractive launching pad for attacks aimed at social networks and cloud platforms. Trend Micro predicts the number of malicious and high-risk Android apps will hit three million in the coming year. Fortiguard expects Android malware to expand beyond mobile devices in 2014 to industrial control systems in devices such as smart home appliances. 5. Java Plug-ins that allow browsers to run apps in the Java programming language already responsible for some high-profile cyberattacks will continue to be exploited in 2014, security experts say. U.S. warns computer users over Java security bug According to Websense, older, insecure versions of Java are still rampant on the web. In 2014, cybercriminals will devote more time to finding new uses for tried-and-true attacks and crafting other aspects of advanced, multistage attacks, the company predicted. Security patches for older versions of Java and Windows are no longer being issued, even when new exploits are found, despite the fact that there are many systems still using this software. Trend Micro predicts that in the coming year, that lack of support will expose millions of PCs to attack. Source: CBC NEWS

Toronto ice storm cleanup cost estimated at $75 million

Toronto city officials estimate the cost of the cleanup after the recent ice storm will be about $75 million. Its expected to cost about $25 million to deal with the thousands of tree limbs brought down after the storm, and another $50 million to restore the canopy. We are relieved to be moving from an emergency phase to one of restoring peoples ability to move around their neighbourhoods, said Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly. As crews are released from assisting with hydro, they are being reassigned to making sure that roads are open and debris is collected. The cleanup is expected to take between six and eight

Meftih January 2014 Volume 9 Issue 5:

page 24

weeks, with 600 city staff and contractors working to clear the debris. Tremendous work The tremendous work done by everyone to date speaks to the calibre of people who make up this great city, said Mayor

Rob Ford. We will pull together again as we move into this next phase of cleanup operations and help Toronto residents return to their everyday lives. City crews will haul away all tree branches from front yards and roadsides, including those that have fallen on private property if theyre less than 15 centimetres in diameter and have been placed at the curb. Residents are asked to stack limbs and branches at the front edge of their properties. The city wont collect limbs more than 15 centimetres in diameter from private trees that have fallen on private property. Property owners should contact a private contractor for this work. Residents in the Asian long-horned beetle quarantine area in Etobicoke will have their debris disposed of by city crews and private contractors. Meanwhile, Toronto Hydro says all the power has been restored after the ice storm. Crews are now working on homes that need repairs done and focusing on those that have just partial power.

The brutal ice storm hit southern Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada last month, downing thousands of tree limbs and taking out power lines, leaving hundreds of thousands of customers without power in cold winter temperatures. At the height of the outage, about 300,000 customers in the Greater Toronto area were without power. Some were in the dark for as long as nine days.

Rob Ford files papers . . .

From page 23
chance for residents, and not the media, to speak with council members. Most councillors remained behind the velvet rope partition at city hall, but Stintz spoke to reporters, telling them the city needed better leadership during the recent ice storm, which left tens of thousands without power in frigid weather over the holidays. In the days after the storm, Ford was repeatedly asked whether he would declare a state of emergency, a move that would have ceded emergency powers to Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly. Although many experts have said Ford did the right thing not declaring a state of emergency, Stintz said this created a whos-incharge situation instead of clear leadership. During the week of the ice storm, we didnt benefit from having a strong mayor and we should have, she said. Nominations for mayor and council races remain open until Sept. 12.