Ontario Youth Matter!

Spreading the word about the consultations to front line youth workers. They'll have relationships with youth who would otherwise not have heard about the consultations, but who would be interested in this kind of opportunity.

The context of the engagement is important - " outcomes based youth policy framework" can be a difficult concept for experienced service providers to get their heads around - what are some of the ways we can make space for the voices of youth and amplify them so that they have a real impact, not just a token "yes I like the idea of a framework" - this is a challenge

As an American, I am ashamed and surprised to say that the United States is quite hypocritical. Americans like to say that they love freedom and justice, but here are some examples of where American actions conflict with American standards:

1. The US inspected a Soviet Union fighter jet that landed in Japan in 1976, but protested that China should not search an American plane that landed in China in 2001.

http://home.iwichita.com/rh1/hold/av/avhist/mily/spyplane.htm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/1255343.stm

2. The Fifth Amendment of the Bill of Rights clearly states that people should not be subject to the same offense twice, but sex offenders can be convicted of crimes and then later be required to register as sex offenders and be held for life under indefinite civil commitment laws even after they complete their original sentences. “John TV” shows that embarrass and punish people arrested on prostitution charges also violate the Fifth Amendment guarantee of due process rights.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/01/12/scotus.sex.offender.law/index.html

http://www.acluofnorthcarolina.org/?q=due-process

3. The Sixth Amendment guaranteeing the right to speedy trials is violated by holding prisoners at Guantanamo Bay without charge. The Eighth Amendment prohibits cruel and unusual punishments and is violated by torturing Guantanamo Bay prisoners. Whether the prisoners are foreigners or not makes no difference because it violates the intent of the Constitution and sends the message to other nations that human rights violations are acceptable. Taking the moral high ground is difficult when you are immoral yourself. If you want to prevent terrorism, give terrorists a trial, improve airline security, and don’t give out visas easily. Torturing suspected terrorists only recruits more terrorists. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

http://www.historiansagainstwar.org/resources/torture/cohn.html

4. The Fourth Amendment protection against illegal searches is violated by the Patriot Act that allows secret warrants.

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/webster/090419

5. The Fourth Amendment protection against illegal searches and seizures, the Fifth amendment that allows due process, and the Eighth Amendment that forbids excessive bail, fines, and cruel and unusual punishment are all violated by DUI checkpoints and asset forfeiture laws.

http://detnews.com/article/20091112/METRO/911120388/Police-property-seizures-ensnare-even-the-innocent

6. The Fourth Amendment protection against illegal searches and the Fourteenth Amendment that guarantees equal protection of the law is violated by Arizona’s immigration law that requires police to question people who look like illegal immigrants. Illegal immigration would be better stopped by having a strong border and fining employers of illegal immigrants, not by profiling Americans who look like foreigners.

http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may062010/arizona-law-rs.php

7. The United States criticizes Iran and North Korea for developing nuclear power, but the US helps the United Arab Emirates, India, and Vietnam develop nuclear technology.

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2010/08/07/us_vietnam_nuke_deal_likely_to_allow_enrichment/

8. The USA supports democracy, but has overthrown democratically elected leaders in Iran and Chile. The US also supports countries that do not have religious freedom and democracy like Saudi Arabia and has supported dictators like Ferdinand Marcos from the Philippines, Ngo Dinh Diem in Vietnam, Suharto in Indonesia, and Saddam Hussein from Iraq.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06353/747165-109.stm

http://www.military-veterans-for-justice.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=10&Itemid=13

9. The US opposes terrorism, but has supported Osama bin Laden and freed the accused Cuban terrorist Luis Posada Carriles suspected of blowing up a plane in 1976.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2001/09/15/osama-qna.htm

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/may/15/theterroristbushisntafter

10. The United States says that it supports free trade, but foreign companies can currently only own 25% of an airline in the US, while American companies can buy 49% of an airline in Europe.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=atMw6Pzh8Ls0

11. The United States criticizes Airbus for receiving European government subsidies while ignoring the fact that Boeing accepted government tax breaks.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/04/business/global/04wto.html

12. The US has a secret panel "kill list" of Americans who are targeted to be killed. This clearly violates the Fifth Amendment which states no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law. If China had a list like this, I am certain Americans would be outraged.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/05/us-cia-killlist-idUSTRE79475C20111005

http://www.aclu.org/blog/national-security/targeted-killi