Growing Protests in Montreal: No longer about tuition fees

Montreal is witnessing “biggest act of civil disobedience in Canadian history,” according to protest organizers quoted in many local sources of News. [All pictures in this post are taken from the internet (see the text for sources)].

A year and a half ago, the Quebec’s government decided to increase tuition up by 75 percent over five years.  In response to student efforts to negotiate the deal, in February 2012 the government finally revised the increase up to 82 percent over seven years.  The alternative was described an insult by students’ leaders. On February, student groups launched what they expected to be a short strike, but instead it turned to a limitless, open-ended one.  In the coming days and weeks “strike turned into a rolling, day-and-night demonstration, while protesters were surrounded by heavy presence of riot police and met with tear gas, sound grenades and rubber bullets.” Village Voice

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Red Roses, Black Market

Red Roses, Black Market: Five places that aren’t feeling the love this Valentine’s Day. Foreign Policy. By Alessandra N. Ram. February13, 2012.

Good article except the title could have been more accurately chosen to read : “Five places that are forbidden to feel love this valentine’s day!” They are: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Malaysia, Uzbekistan , Belgorod (Russia). [Photo:  “An Iranian woman looks at the window display of a gift shop in Tehran on Valentine’s Day February 14, 2008. ATTA KENARE/ AFP/ Getty Images]




What does the future hold for Iran?

A CNN report: What does the future hold for Iran?
Translate into Persian


War with Iran…

War with Iran: A Conflict Obama Hopes to Avoid May Be Imposed on Him. By Tony Karon, Time. Jan 17, 2012 .(Source of photo: same place) 

(Translated to Persian)




The Truth About Iran

The Truth About Iran, Time. January 5, 2012. By Joe Klein 

(Translated in to Persian)

Source:  Iran’s growing state of desperation. The Washington Post, by Fareed Zakaria


Unite to end violence against women everywhere

25 November: International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

The United Nations’ (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is an occasion for governments, international organizations and non-governmental organizations to raise public awareness of violence against women. It has been observed on November 25 each year since 2000.


Contain and Constrain Iran

Contain and Constrain Iran. New York Times. By ROGER COHEN. Published: November 14, 2011

Translated into Persian


Ziba Kazemi: Celebrating her life to remember injustice

Ziba Kazemi, an Iranian-Canadian photojournalist, was murdered by the Islamic Regime of Iran in 2003 while in custody. She was arrested on charges of taking pictures of prisoners’ families who had gathered outside the notorious Evin prison. Ziba was born in Shiraz in 1949 and spent most of her life in France and Canada. She resided in Montreal with her only child, Stephan , who was in his early 20s at the time of his mother’s death. The circumstances of Ziba’s brutal death at the hands of Islamic regime, her courage in confronting the officials, and her family’s five-year battle in launching a law suit against the government of Iran brought international recognition and support – including from organizations such as Canadian Centre for International Justice and Amnesty International, and the worldwide media attention to her case – albeit sparingly.

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