| The organization Canada, Democracy and International Law (CANDIL) has created a Black Flag Coalition, to mark the upcoming anniversary of the war against Iraq.
At a rally on March 19 the coalition will display 100 black flags to commemorate the estimated 100,000 Iraqi citizens who have died since the U.S. first invaded Iraq. The rally will be held at Tompkins Park on 17th Avenue S.W.
They are encouraging people to make their own flags and put them on their homes and cars. At a Flag and Banner-making session this past weekend, 50 flags were created. The group is planning another session for March 12 at the Parkdale United Church.
The idea for the flags came from CANDIL member Julie Hrdlicka, who was in Iraq last year.
"When we were driving down the streets I saw black flags hanging from peoples windows. Our guide said they were announcements of death," says Hrdlicka, who organized the flag campaign.
For more information contact Hrdlicka at 270-9669, e-mail Info@candil.ca, or go to the group’s website www.Candil.ca
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In the March 1 throne speech the Conservative government announced plans to create a $3-billion endowment fund to strengthen the province’s post-secondary learning system, providing some much-needed support for Alberta’s post secondary institutions.
The throne speech unveiled other government plans for post-secondary education as well, including new apprenticeship certification programs, the creation of a new graduate scholarship and fellowship programs, a Lois Hole Humanities and Social Sciences Scholarship, and the development of the Lois Hole Campus Alberta Digital Library.
These initiatives followed earlier announcements that the government will freeze tuition costs for the 2005-06 academic year.
Other highlights from the throne speech include: introducing an education campaign to help protect children from sexual exploitation; developing provincial water conservation; and enhancing civilian oversight of police services.
Public Interest Alberta (PIA) responded to the announcement by stating that these efforts would not be enough to combat the ever-increasing costs of a post-secondary education.
PIA points out that universities, colleges and technical institutes are calling for a minimum increase in base funding of 10 per cent, saying that an increase of six per cent will only keep pace with increased operating costs. |
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