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U.S.
President George W. Bush marked the fifth anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of
Iraq March 19 by praising the "undeniable
successes" of the surge in troops while justifying the "high
cost in lives and treasure" lost in the war, the CBC reported. "No one
would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure but those
costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in
Iraq," Bush said. The war has claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 U.S. troops and cost
U.S. taxpayers about $500 billion.
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It was five years ago that protestors staged a 'die-in' in front of the U.S. embassy in Ottawa to protest the impending invasion of Iraq by U.S.- led forces. So far the war has claimed the lives of nearly 4,000 U.S. troops and cost U.S. taxpayers about $500 billion. Amnesty International said that according to a January 2008 survey by the World Health Organization and the Iraq's Health Ministry, 151,000 people were killed from March 2003 until June 2006. As well, "According to the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), some 34,452 people were killed during 2006, with thousands injured. "The country is still in disarray. The human rights situation is disastrous, a climate of impunity has prevailed, the economy is in tatters and the refugee crisis continues to escalate," AI reported. |
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The Dalai Lama has urged his followers to remain peaceful and says he would resign as head of the Tibetan government-in-exile if violence got out of control in Tibet, the Associated Press reported March 19. However, he also suggested China may have fomented unrest in some provinces to discredit him. Beijing has accused the Dalai Lama of orchestrating the unrest which has focused international attention on China's human rights record in advance of this summer's Olympic Games in Beijing. |
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Ottawa
Mayor Larry O'Brien, who promised during his election campaign in 2006 that he wouldn't
raise taxes, wants taxpayers to pay a special levy of $50 per household to help
cover snow removal costs. He said the city expects a $23 million overrun in its snow
removal budget because of the near-record snowfall this winter. His suggestion, however,
is running into stiff opposition from taxpayers and some councillors who say a levy is a
drastic measure since there have been years when the city saved on snow-removal costs.
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Karen
Bailey, a professional Ottawa artist who paints people who seldom get credit for their
work, poses beside 'Morning Rounds,'
a painting of medical staff at the Role
3 Hospital in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Last June, Bailey was chosen to travel to
Afghanistan as a volunteer military artist in the Canadian Forces Artist Program.
(with above) (Photo at left) Bailey is also documenting older women who work together in the kitchen of St. Thomas the Apostle (Anglican) Church in Ottawa "Our culture does not acknowledge the contribution these women in their seventies, eighties and nineties make," she says. "In illustrating these women as they perform everyday tasks in the kitchen, I seek to celebrate their beauty, dignity and generosity of spirit." An exhibition of her paintings of the church women is to open at an Ottawa gallery in April.
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Going for the goldAt left, an 'out-of-frame' photo of the bronze statue of Big Ben and his owner/rider Ian Millar in Perth, ON, near Ottawa. Together Big Ben and Millar won more than 40 Grand Prix titles as well as the world cup show jumping championship two years in a row. The horse was euthanized in 1999 afetr vetererinarians said nothing could be done to ease his suffering caused by colic. Millar continues his winning ways on various mounts in Canada and abroad. |
