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egarding the ongoing news Rwdia reports of the slaughter { civilians in Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) within past days; a situation that the United Nations fears could escalate into a Rwandan like genoâ€" cide. The events published and shown on TV for months are read with great concern. During the past 13 years and today, I am involved directly with refugees located in places of asylum such as Zambia, South Africa and Zimbabwe from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Caring people demonstrate love in action Thanks to 30â€"Hour Famine volunteers n behalf of World Vision O(‘anada. 1 want to thank the participants, organizers and volunteers for their valuable contriâ€" bution to World Vision‘s 32nd annuâ€" al 30â€"Hour Famine. The 30â€"Hour Famine is a national _ 2003 30â€"Hour Famine will support event that provides youth with a _ youthâ€"focused programs in Canada, unique way to put their desires for a _ Cambodia, Rwanda, Ethiopia, better world into action. Not only does _ Guatemala, Nicaragua, Kenya, Sri the event help us identify with people _ Lanka, Tanzania and Iraq, who benefit from the programs supâ€" We are well on our way to reaching The Koebels are at fault, but Continued from page 8 Web site â€" www.mywaterloore gion.com. It is currently being expanded to include an Election Waterloo page for discussions. I am sure that it will be a valuable tool and I hope you will visit it often and contribute e Koebel brothers of Walkerâ€" I ton are at fault, but so are their employers, the mayor and council. Why weren‘t they Election 2003 â€"The challenge for Waterloo You said it WHAT‘S A SURE SIGN OF SUMMER? QUESTION Since early 1990 I have been well aware of the monumental price civilians have paid in the ongoing brutality consuming victims. In one situation, there are two parents where violence and insecurity are an hourly concern. They have two young daughters. The former assistant pastor father was urged to flee by church elders after the pastor was hanged the day before and a church memâ€" ber was also killed. Our program continues an effort to locate churches and other groups of peoâ€" ple (minimum five) anywhere in Canada who are able to become ported by the Famnine, but it is also a fun and creative way for Canadian teens to come together and make a difference in our local and global comâ€" munities. The money raised by Canaâ€" dian teens who participated in the 2003 30â€"Hour Famine will support youthâ€"focused programs in Canada, Cambodia, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Tanzania and Iraq. supervising their employees? for other levels of A few harsh penalties for the _ don‘t do their duty. whole bunch would save a lot of | court time and be a good deterrent This is a serious agenda for the citizens of Waterloo. With our help I trust everyone will respond to the challenges we all now face. "The sound of birds chirping. and seeing them carry things to their nests." "The heat for sure. And people wearing their shorts." Miem Gordon COMMENT Julia Taylor sponsors of an individual or a famiâ€" ly for one year, or less time if they become self supporting after arrival. The process to resettle a refugee is long, with a normal waiting time of at least 18 months after a docuâ€" ment at an immigration office in Canada is signed. The only way many refugees surâ€" vive is because of their dignity and hope for a better tomorrow â€" a time when a caring group of people demonstrate love in action. Terry Smith, refugee assistance program coordinator, Waterloo for other levels of government who the $4.2â€"million goal. Imagine the impact this will have â€" and it is because of the efforts, creativity and dedication of Canadian teens. You refused to do nothing about issues of world hunger and poverty. On behalf of the children whose futures will be brighter because of your efforts, I thank you. [F4 president, World Vision Canada North Presbyterian Church "Seeing farmers in their fields, working the land." "Lots of barbecues, and people wearing sandals." HRONICLE | M. Carl Kaufman, Beth Ann Lichti Luci De Pooter | | jl || In 1929, the British Privy Council (then the highest court of the land) upheld an appeal from "the famous five" (Emily Murâ€" phy, Nellie McClung, Irene Parlby, Louise McKinney and Henriâ€" etta Muir Edwards) of a Canadian court decision that ruled that the word "person" did not include women. The dubious prize at the time was that women could be appointed to the Senate, but the moral and legal significance of women being declared perâ€" sons for the first time was highly important. udicial activism has a proud history in Canada â€" one that started long before the proclamation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Critics of more recent court decisions â€" most notably those recâ€" ognizing the rights of lesbians and gay men to have their relationâ€" ships recognized by the state â€" should bear this history in mind {assuming that they agree with the proposition that women are, in fact, persons). Even before the most recent decision, which required immediate changes to the marrtiage law as applied in Ontario, these critics were already calling for the collective head of the judiciary. "Under the assumed authority of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms the courts have moved beyond their traditional role as arbiters of legal disputes and into the realm of policy making, Indeed, they have become politicians," opined Canadian Alliance justice critâ€" ic Vie Toews in May. The obvious point being missed by those who believe that judges are overstepping their boundaries is that the courts are stepping in when politicians have either refused to act or acted in a manner that is contrary to the constitution (the highest law in Canada, ‘ f on also passed by Parliament) ‘\N O [ } iL R Roy McMurtry, chief justice of the Ontario Court of Appeal (and, as attorâ€" ney general of the province in 1981, one of the authors of the Charter} wrote in 2000 that "it troubles me that elected politicians would be perhaps unreaâ€" sonably critical of the role of the courts in interpreting the Charter when the invitation and the responsibility â€" and 1 should emphasize the word responsiâ€" bility â€" was deliberately given to the justice system.". In many cases, from abortion to p :i.‘l’(‘éwsxl same sex unions, politicians appear IA content to let the courts handle the tough issues. Far from being an indictment of the judiciary, this situation is more of an indictment of our politicians â€" and as clear a reason as any why minority rights need to be protected from "the tyranny of the majority". Errol Mendes, a University of Ottawa law professor, argues "If I read between the lines, what is happening is that politicians are throwing hot potatoes to the courts because they don‘t want to deal with the issues themâ€" selves. The courts are either throwing it back or making the tough decision. And when the tough decision comes out, the side that is not happy with it then claims the court is influenced by party politics." The voices calling for the Chretien government to show some leadership are many and come from all sides of both the politiâ€" cal spectrum and this particular issue. NDP Leader Jack Layton, who, like his party, supports sameâ€"sex marriage, said "It‘s time for the Alliance, for the Liberals, for the Tories to come clean on a position for sameâ€"sex martiage. It shouldn‘t have to be up to couples to spend thousands of dollars going off to court when Alliance strategist Rick Anderson (who surprised me and many others by speaking out in favour of recognizing sameâ€"sex marriages) argues that, "Courts must interpret and apply laws, not make them. The helpmate of judicial activism is political lasâ€" situde. Legislators had plenty of opportunity to stand up and say, wait a minute, the Charter doesn‘t say what you say it does, or shouldn‘t mean what you say it means, so we‘re reinforcing current law. Or alternatively, we‘re changing the law. Parliament and provincial legislatures have the tools to do either, but have done neither. I‘m no fan of judicial activism. But before we blame this undemocratic mess on judges, let‘s reflect a moment on politicians content to hide behind judicial skirts on conâ€" tentious issues." It‘s more than likely that the Liberals will act on the court decision by not acting at all. Rather than updating the laws to bring them into compliance with the constitution. they‘ll simply let the decision stand and claim that they had no choice. That will ensure that Canadian law is fair and universally applied across the country; it will keep the significant minority of antiâ€" gay Liberal backbenchers somewhat happy (although many of them are calling for an appeal)}; but it won‘t quiet those who complain that judges are making laws. If judges are making laws in this country, it‘s only because politicians are too timid to do their jobs property and too casual about ensuring that laws comâ€" ply with the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. scott.piatkowski@rogers.com Canadians c.learly support the idea they should be able to be married like anyone else." Judge not the judges