Mar 26, 2009

"Race Culture and Society" A public talk marking Black History Month at McMaster University organized by the African Caribbean Students Association and the African Students Association.
Watch video of the talks

Race Culture and Society

3/26/2009 08:26:00 PM , , ,

Mar 25, 2009

Should an institution dedicated to the study of peace be providing a forum for a “man of war” to express his views on war? This is a question that I have been confronted with in recent weeks following my decision in my capacity as Director of the Centre for Peace Studies at McMaster University to invite Brigadier-General Thompson of the Canadian Armed Forces to our campus for a talk on the Afghanistan war.

I don’t really think that a University as an academic institution should be justifying its invitation to an individual to debate topical issues. This is exactly what universities are for. Even where we do not agree with the views expressed by others, we have a responsibility to provide an intellectual space to engage and interrogate their ideas.

As an academic discipline dedicated to the study of conflict and conflict transformation, Peace Studies should be engaged with all perspectives on the subject of war and peace. An increasing number of students in Peace Studies programs in many universities including ours are active-duty military personnel who have come to Peace Studies with the hope that it can have some relevance to their chosen careers.

Besides, Brigadier-General Thompson is eminently qualified to speak not only on the subject of war but also on the subject of Peace. Apart from his recent posting as commander of Canadian and NATO Forces in Afghanistan, h hase served in the Canadian Foreign Affairs ministry as Director of Peacekeeping Policy. His insights on Canada’s role in international peace building will be particularly relevant to our students. As several scholars have pointed out, security is integral to sustainable Peace building in post-conflict societies.

Our commitment to peace should include a willingness to be open to ideas and providing an intellectual space to debate them even when we do not agree with them.

Of Peace Studies and “Men of War”

3/25/2009 09:21:00 PM , , ,

Mar 21, 2009

Obama’s message to the Iranian people marks a refreshing break from the adversarial and belligerent rhetoric that has characterized US-Iranian relations for over three decades. Hopefully this marks a small but significant first step in breaking the cycle of distrust and cynicism that has undermined peaceful and cordial relations between these to countries for so long.

President Obama Message to the Iranian People

3/21/2009 07:28:00 PM , ,

Mar 20, 2009

Eliminating Racial Discrimination: The Need for Vigilance
Bonny Ibhawoh

Remarks at the Forum Marking the United Nations Designated “International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination” Organized by the Hamilton Police Services, Hamilton Spectator Auditorium, Hamilton, 19 March 2009

The International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is observed annually on 21 March. On that day, in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid "pass laws".

On March 21, 1960 the Sharpeville massacre occurred when the PAC (Pan Africanist Congress) organized a peaceful protest in which black Africans burnt the pass books which restricted them from going in certain areas. What had started as a peaceful protest soon became violent when the South African police opened fire on the black civilians. 69 people were killed and 178 wounded by police during the violence. Remembering this troubled origin of International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination is important because it underscores the devastating implications of racist policies and the need for concerted global action to eliminate them.

Proclaiming the Day in 1966, the United Nations General Assembly called on states and the international community to re-commit themselves to the efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

The Declaration “affirms the necessity of speedily eliminating racial discrimination throughout the world in all its forms and manifestations and of securing understanding of and respect for the dignity of the human person.”

It asserts that “any doctrine of superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous, and that there is no justification for racial discrimination, in theory or in practice, anywhere.” It states that “the existence of racial barriers is repugnant to the ideals of any human society.”

The efforts to eliminate racism cannot be left to states alone. There is urgent and continued need for some form of international Monitoring and Enforcement, not only of racism and discrimination in dictatorships and authoritarian regimes but also of Western democratic societies. Even democratic societies need to be reminded of their international human rights obligation to work towards eliminating racism.

The UN has taken some important initiatives against racism and xenophobia.

1. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) is the body of independent experts that monitors implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination by its State parties. All States parties are obliged to submit regular reports to the Committee on how the rights are being implemented. Although like most UN bodies, it has no enforcement powers wars the committee can make its “concerns and recommendations” about racial discrimination known to the State parties. The committee also has performs its monitoring functions by examining individual and inter-state complaints about racial discrimination.

2. Another commendable initiative is the creation of the position of Special Rapporteur on Contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance

3. The World Conference against Racism (WCAR) which are international events organized by the UNESCO to highlight, confront and eliminate racist ideologies, policies and behaviors. Three conferences have been held so far, in 1978, 1983 and 2001. The next conference is planned for 2009 in Durban, South Africa. Canada, Israel, the United States of America, Italy and Australia have announced they will not participate in the conference on the basis of difference in views regarding outcome documents of the conference.

Need for continued Vigilance and Advocacy
In January 2008 Canada announced that it has withdrawn its support for the 2009 UN anti-racism conference in South Africa. According to secretary of state for multiculturalism and Canadian identity. Jason Kenney, the Durban II conference “has gone completely off the rails” and Canada wants no part of it, said Jason Kenney, secretary of state for multiculturalism and Canadian identity. “Canada is interested in combatting racism, not promoting it,” Mr. Kenney said. “We'll attend any conference that is opposed to racism and intolerance, not those that actually promote racism and intolerance.”

True, at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism in Durban there was some concern that Arab and Muslim countries ganged up in their criticisms of Israel. Israel and the United States walked out in protest; the Liberal government of the day remained in an effort to decry the attacks. This to me is what Canada role should be playing in these circumstances. Rather than blindly taking a rejectionist position as the Americans are wont to do, Canada's unique place should to engage and highlight the problems with the conference with a view to making it more constructive. Simply walking away should not be the first or only option. It marginalizes Canada and compromises its long tradition of engaged diplomacy shaped by diplomats like Lester Pearson and the country's role as a mediator and bridge builder even in the most contentious international issues and conflict.

As Canadians, it is our responsibility to insist that our elected leaders continue to pursue the middle road of constructive engagement particularly on an issue as important as racism and xenophobia. As Thomas Jefferson stated, "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." The struggles against racism and xenophobia on both the domestic and international fronts are linked to our collective liberty and only our eternal vigilance protects that liberty.

Thank you

Eliminating Racial Discrimination: The Need for Vigilance

3/20/2009 11:55:00 PM , , ,

Mar 16, 2009



This is a video I use often in my undergraduate class on “African Diaspora” to mixed reviews. Some students like it because it captures the pain and injustice of African American experience in the Jim Crow era. Others think the imagery of lynching is too strong and find it disturbing. I think it has a place in the classroom.

Legend has it that Billy Holiday who had a troubled life as an artiste and ultimately died of a drug overdose in 1959 often found it difficult to sing this song and resorted to taking hard drugs before performing the song. (Don’t quote me on this….just urban legend). It is also ironic that “Strange Fruit” was penned not by an African American but began as a poem written by a Jewish high-school teacher from the Bronx, New York about the lynching of two black men. This is a testament to the historic solidarity between Jewish Americans and African-Americans born out of a common experience of persecution and alienation (You can quote me on that).

Billy Holiday “Strange Fruit”

Southern trees bear strange fruit
Blood on the leaves and blood at the root
Black bodies swinging in the southern breeze
Strange fruit hanging from the poplar trees

Pastoral scene of the gallant south
The bulging eyes and the twisted mouth
Scent of magnolias, sweet and fresh
Then the sudden smell of burning flesh
Here is fruit for the crows to pluck
For the rain to gather for the wind to suck
For the sun to rot, for the trees to drop
Here is a strange and bitter crop.

Billy Holiday "Strange Fruit"

3/16/2009 12:01:00 AM , , , ,

Mar 15, 2009



I consider Thelonious Monk one of the most important jazz musicians and composers of all time. Yet, I am often surprised that many jazz enthusiasts know little about him. Born at the turn of the last century, his unique improvisational style brought new vigor to jazz piano in the 50s and 60s. His improvisation was not limited to his music. Even his style of playing the piano was unique. In this video, his piano playing defies everything I learned in my rudimentary piano class – hands and fingers crisscross awkwardly to hit keys. Note too that he sitting on a chair rather than the traditional pianist bench. The quintessential iconoclast! Yet, the music that emerges is timeless and one for the ages. It radiates peace and tranquility. This composition is called “Blue Monk.” Enjoy!

THELONIOUS MONK - Blue Monk

3/15/2009 11:35:00 PM

Mar 11, 2009

Sudan's president Omar al-Bashir on has become the first sitting head of state to be charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrant for Sudan's Bashir for a range of crimes, including the deliberate attempt to destroy ethnic groups deemed to be supporting rebel factions in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.

"He is suspected of being criminally responsible ... for intentionally directing attacks against an important part of the civilian population of Darfur, Sudan; murdering, exterminating, raping, torturing, and forcibly transferring large numbers of civilians, and pillaging their property.”

Although most observers have welcomed this decision, some have questioned whether this was the right decision to take under the circumstance and whether this was the right time to do so. A few have even raised the familiar and time worn concerns about neo-colonialism and cultural imperialism. Those concerns have their place and it is not here!

There can be no doubt that the indictment of President Bashir is a welcome development for the cause of human rights and social justice. True, the immediate consequence of the ICC’s indictment has been the expulsion of hundreds of NGO workers who provide important services to the people of Darfur blighted by years of war and government persecution. The impact will clearly be more hardship for these people. But even as we survey the immediate drawbacks, we must take a long term perspective.

The indictment of Sudan’s Bashir and the recent conviction of Sierra Leonean rebels for war crimes sends a clear and important message to dictators and warlords around the world. It marks a significant step in challenging authoritarian impunity and the wanton disregard for international human laws by political leaders. I agree with my friend Dr Paul Zelaza when he states:

“The indictment of President Omar al-Bashir and the issuance of a warrant of arrest by the ICC today marks an important milestone in the quest for justice for the people of Sudan as a whole, and not only the immediate victims of the violations in Darfur.”

In the days ahead, it will be interesting to see how the ICC and the international community follow up on this indictment. Will the international community bow to President Basirs’s show of bravado and or will they resolute and insistent on the cause of justice and human rights?
Read more….

World court issues arrest warrant for Sudan's Bashir
http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0305/p90s01-woaf.html

Dr. Paul Zeleza, “The Indictment of the Sudanese President: Justice or Neo-colonialism?”
http://zeleza.com/blogging/u-s-affairs/indictment-sudanese-president-justice-or-neo-colonialism

Darfur, ICC And The New Humanitarian Order By Mahmood Mamdani
http://zeleza.com/blogging/african-affairs/darfur-icc-and-new-humanitarian-order-mahmood-mamdani

Darfur: On the ICC’s indictment of Sudan's Bashir

3/11/2009 08:47:00 PM ,
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