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CJLO News - March 14 2013

Hosted by: Catlin Spencer

Stories by: Chloe Deneumoustier, Alyssa Tremblay, Jenna Monney-Lupert & Daniel Rowe

Produced by: Jenna Monney-Lupert

CJLO News - March 13 2013

Hosted by: Sarah Deshaies

Stories by: Saturn De Los Angeles, Sarah Deshaies, Carlo Spiridigliozzi, Jamie-Lee Gordon

Produced by: Spoon Jung

U.S. places arms embargo on Syria

SYRIA-CRISIS/GORAN TOMASEVIC/REUTERS

According to Al Jazeera, British Prime Minister David Cameron may break a European Union arms embargo on Syria.

The break would allow for weapons to make their way into the hands of Syrian anti-government rebels battling President Bashir al-Assad.

The embargo is part of a set of EU sanctions on Syria that roll over every three months. If a unanimous agreement between all members to either renew or amend the ban is not reached, it becomes void.

Cameron said he hopes to be able to persuade other EU members, but should that fail, they might have to go about things their own way.

Flickr Photo by: a.anis

STORY WRITTEN BY: JAMIE-LEE GORDON

The aboriginal prison population in Canada is growing

SingAlong-2

The number of aboriginal people sitting in prisons across Canada is becoming increasingly alarming.
 
The Toronto Star reports revealing statistics showing that the aboriginal prison population has increased 43 per cent in the last 5 years.
 
Aboriginal people make up 4 per cent of Canada's population.
 
Yet Métis, Inuit, and First Nations people comprise of 23 per cent of the prison population.
 
The incarceration rate of aboriginals is higher than the overall rate of imprisonment in the United States.
 
The US imprisonment rate is the highest in the world at 730 per 100,000 people.
 
The rate of aboriginals imprisoned is reaching levels of 910 per 100,000 people.
 
Policy changes like the removal of religious providers, lower prison wages, and lack of access to college courses makes rehabilitation in Canadian prisons difficult.
 
Imprisoned aboriginals face even more challenges under these reforms.
 
Flickr Photo by: michael_swan
 
STORY WRITTEN BY: AISHA SAMU

Chiefs sign agreement to halt "Nova Scotia process" talks temporarily

The chiefs involved in a recent hunger strike, admitted on Tuesday that there was a miscommunication with the Idle No More movement.

In a report provided by the Media Co-Op, the heads of two First Nations communities in Nova Scotia ended their 11 day hunger strike on Monday. They were protesting to what is known as the "Made in Nova Scotia" process.

Every cheif affected by this process signed an agreement on Tuesday that ensures the Idle No Move will be notified of any future negotiations and settlements.

While they didn't opt out of the process, they did agree on halting the negotiations until their communities are better educated on what is at stake.

The "Nova Scotia process" is considered a threat to existing treaties related to land claims with the federal government, which has been implemented in the last year throughout Canada as well.

Wednesday, March 13th on Champions of the Local Scene: Jenny 5000

Tune in to CJLO 1690 AM on Wednesday, March 13th at 6-7 pm ET for a very special episode of Champions of the Local Scene featuring our guest host and "Jenny 5000" creator Sinbad Richardson! We'll be talking about the launch of his new animated short, and spinning original music composed by Montreal artists specifically for the film. There are even more surprises coming up on the show, so you certainly want to catch Champs this week!

CJLO News - March 12 2013

Hosted by: Gabrielle Fahmy

Stories by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi, Jenna Monney-Lupert, Gregory Wilson & Nikita Smith

Produced by: Carlo Spiridigliozzi

Iran and Pakistan start pipeline contruction against U.S. sanctions

Despite the threat of sanctions from the United States, the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project entered in its final phase of completion on Monday with the inauguration of its construction by the presidents of the two countries in the Iranian city of Chabahar.  

According to The Hindu newspaper, the presidents released a joint statement stating that the pipeline would merge the economic, political, and security ties of Iran and Pakistan, and be in the interest of progress and peace. 

The 1.5 billion dollar pipeline, which is over 1,680 km long, will run across the countries two borders. 21.5 million cubic metres of gas will be supplied from Iran to Pakistan every day, due to Pakistan’s lack of energy production. It is expected to be completed by December 2014.

Though the U.S. has placed sanctions against Iran’s oil and gas sector due to the country’s nuclear program, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad stated that the pipeline is a symbol of determination against domination. 

 

Grade-fixing the next epidemic?

Thunder Hill Elementary School Kindergarten Tour

Grade-fixing is quickly becoming a controversial issue happening in schools across Quebec.

A teacher named Catherine told CBC’s Daybreak Montreal that grade-fixing devalues diplomas awarded in Quebec and undermines teachers’ professional autonomy.

She says teachers are being told to not give any grades between 55 and 59. They either have to fail the student at 50 or make them pass at 60.

School administrators say giving students a grade so close to 60 allows parents to complain to the school and to challenge the grade that was given to the student.

President of the Fédération autonome des enseignants, Pierre St-Germain, says Bill 88 may be to blame.

The legislation to amend the Education Act places a greater emphasis on graduation rates and success agreements.

St-Germain says that the minister puts pressure on school boards to improve their success rates and the school boards put pressure on school administrations so that their school’s success rate is higher.

Students who are being passed when they should be failing are being affected in the classroom.

Catherine says students tend to get lost when they move into the next grade without having fully learned the previous grade’s curriculum.

Adding that more communication between parents and administrators is needed to help with students struggling in school.

Flickr Photo by: Howard County Library System

STORY WRITTEN BY: JENNA MONNEY-LUPERT

First Nations leaders end hunger strike

Two First Nation members ended their 11-day hunger strike yesterday.

According to CBC, Shelley Young and Jean Sock were only drinking water between March 1 and March 11. Both are from Millbrook First Nation in Nova Scotia.

The Nova Scotian chiefs halted the negotiation process with the federal government to make the pair end their strike.

The chiefs will instead go back to their communities to inform them of their objectives.

The hunger strike was the pair’s way to stop the Nova Scotian chiefs from taking part in framework agreement negotiations with the federal government.

Which is meant to set the terms for future land negotiations with the Nova Scotian First Nation people.

As a result of the hunger strike, Chief Terry Paul will resign from head of the organization discussing with the federal government. But he added the process does not harm sacred treatises.

STORY WRITTEN BY: GREGORY WILSON 

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