Probing UNRWA's Neutrality

"[There have been] instances of staff publicly expressing political views [and] host countries with problematic content being used in some UNRWA schools."

"[UNRWA itself admits to finding in a review of textbooks] issues of concern to UN values, guidance, or position on the conflict. Even if marginal, these issues constitute a grave violation of neutrality."

"Among the various issues, recurrent ones were the use of historical maps in a non-historical context; e.g., without labelling Israel; naming Jerusalem as the capital of Palestine; naming cities in Israel as Palestinian cities; the use of the word Zionist, [e.g., 'Zionist occupation' referring to Israel]."

"The presence of even a small fraction of problematic content in textbooks, supplemental material and teaching content remains a serious issue. More work needs to be undertaken between UNRWA and the Palestinian Authority to pursue the replacement of problematic content and to avoid the promotion of discrimination and incitement to hatred and violence and the spreading of antisemitic views that contradict UN values and UNESCO standards."

United Nations investigation of UNRWA connections to Hamas

UN Sec/Gen Antonio Guterres speaks on special report presentation April 14, 2024  AP

The United Nations report on its investigation carried out by a specially-appointed review group into the United Nations Relief Works Agency neutrality during the terrorist assault in southern Israel when proof emerged that Israel's long-held suspicions that UNRWA had become an agency-arm of Hamas  by permitting its infrastructure to be abused by terrorists did not definitively find that Israel's accusations were misplaced. Israel had charged that a dozen UNRWA staff members had directly involved themselves in the October 7 terrorist attack, while many others supported the bloodbath,

 

The UN report managed to sidestep the critical issue of direct involvement of UNRWA employees, focusing instead on recommendations to improve the aid organization's neutrality. After the report's release, much of legacy media selected portions of the report to vindicate UNRWA. The headlines that drew public attention were those portions that reprimanded Israel for its decision not to cooperate with the investigation, and to provide evidence of UNRWA staff participation in the massacre in southern Israel. Similar past UN investigations gave Israel ample reason to withhold its participation.

The discovery by Israel of Hamas using UNRWA facilities that included its headquarters and its schools as bases of operations and for military storage centres was proven by their very existence. That alone should be recognized as ample proof, but UNRWA staff have held to their denials of having had any knowledge of such collaboration with Hamas, despite the tunnels that were dug under the facilities where they operated the UN mission. Electric cables running from beneath their building? Rockets stored below school classrooms? No idea...

That discovery that under UNRWA headquarters a massive Hamas data centre existed? How utterly amazing; how did that happen? Somehow, the international media managed to overlook the UN report's wan agreement, though equivocating, that the advisory committee believed oversight and] stronger governance structures [are critical for UNRWA to meet full neutrality protocols, along with support from the international community.

People walk past the damaged Gaza City headquarters of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) on February 15, 2024. (AFP)

 "UNRWA's facilities have sometimes been misused for political or military gains, undermining its neutrality."

"If the prevention of and response to the political misuse of UNRWA installations has been efficient, the agency has had more difficulty appropriately addressing the use of its installations for military purposes."

"Preventive measures, enhanced monitoring, and transparent reporting are necessary to address this issue effectively."

United Nations internal investigation of UNRWA participation in Hamas operations

 

Trudeau: "We strongly condemn this hate and its manifestations"

"Trans people -- they exist in society, and they deserve inclusion, just like everyone else."

"We need to talk to people, teach them the right vocabulary, the proper words, at an age-appropriate time, in order to explain that inclusion is a good thing."

"We need to make sure that their trans and queer peers at school feel welcome."

Trans activist Celeste Trianon 

"Transphobia, homophobia, and biphobia have no place in this country."

"We strongly condemn this hate and its manifestations, and we stand united in support of 2SLGBTQI+ Canadians across the country -- you are valid and you are valued."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

 

"We know that there are a lot of folks that don't feel safe because of the rise in hate and division that's targeting vulnerable people."

"But then you see a lot of people coming together, and it shows the strength of solidarity, of us supporting each other, of having each other's back."

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh

 

"I think our parents should become knowledgeable about what their kids are being taught and what is important for them to learn in schools and what's important for parents to make decisions on with kids that are under 16 years old."

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs

 

"I don't want them to be educated on whether they are a girl or a boy."

"Let them be what they want to be."

"If he [her son] decides in his life, when he's an adult, if he wants to change, I'm OK with that."

Jashandeep Dhillon, mother in Regina

 

"[Children were being] bullied by teachers into changing their pronouns]."

"It's one thing to say, well, we have various people who have different feelings about sexuality." 

"It's a different thing to teach everybody that it is perfectly normal, and that you [the student] should look into that, if it's applicable to you."

David Low, rally organizer, Prince George

Protests and counter-protests over LGBTQ school policies took place in Toronto on Wednesday, with many more happening across the country. The initial protests were organized under the banner of '1 Million March 4 Children' to 'protect our children from indoctrination and sexualization,' according to the group’s website. Counter-protests took place in response, with thousands gathering at places like Queen’s Park. CBC

 

Everyone is invested in the education of society's children, starting with their parents, and ending with the schools they attend where children in public schools are trusted to be introduced to and instructed in the most basic requirements of literacy and numeracy, geography, practical economics, history and enrichment programs associated with sports, nature, and social culture. This is all preparation for adulthood, for children maturing and accepted within their greater society. The stern educator of long ago demanding instant obedience from his classroom has long since been replaced by an easy-going instructor encouraging students to familiarize themselves with themselves. 

Where once unruly children were sent to the principal's office for the vice-principal to mete out appropriate punishment for anti-social and/or destructive or disruptive behaviour, it is now verboten. Students whose classroom performance is mediocre are now encouraged not necessarily to study more diligently and take part in classroom discussions, but to consider themselves special and extraordinary. In today's classrooms students can be disruptive and even physically abusive and face no penalties. Stories of teachers being assaulted physically and a general aura of violence have become common. There seem to be no penalties, children will be children.

 

Protesters march down Elgin Street in Ottawa as they demonstrate against sexual orientation and gender identity programs in schools on Wednesday. (Justin Tang/The Canadian Press)

"Safety can't be guaranteed in class; the Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario says three-quarters of its members report having experienced or witnessed violence committed against colleagues."

"On Monday, a 14-year-old girl in Whitby, Ontario stabbed another girl in school, seriously injuring her; meanwhile, in Oshawa, a 12-year-old girl had to be subdued with a taser after she attacked fellow students and a teacher with scissors, sending one child to hospital." 

Tasha Kheiriddin, journalist, National Post

Parents over the past several years have become increasingly perturbed over the agendas in schools their children attend. Where once parents scrutinized report cards for results, they now wonder what has been happening with their children as students in public schools when they read reports of school boards mandating that teachers not reach out to parents to discuss their child's newly-emerged preference to change their birth biology by assuming the persona of a gender other than that they were born with. The child requesting to be addressed with specific pronouns rejecting their birth gender has the final word.

 

Protesters and counter-protesters are shown in Charlottetown. (Alex McIsaac/CBC)

 

 At one time students in Canada's public schools were in the high percentiles of successful learning, passing their grades in above-average numbers, indicating that the Canadian education system was in fine form and doing justice to the needs of the active minds of their students engaged in learning basic academic subjects. That is no longer true. Canada has distinguished itself of late by being identified as the sole G7 country whose scores in math and science are "steadily declining", according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, a concerning reality for parents expecting their children to be properly educated.

What does now also hugely concern parents of school-age children is the new acculteration dominating the news of children being encouraged through the school system to think deeply about their sexual identity; whether it coincides with their ideas, thoughts, proclivities and orientations. Boys with girlish tendencies, and girls who emulate boyish behaviour are now engaged in the kind of introspection that leads them to question their gender realities, boosted by the literature they are now exposed to in their school libraries.

Young children are now introduced to aromantic (absence of romantic attraction), asexual (absence of sexual attraction), pansexual (attraction to any gender) or demisexual (attraction requiring an emotional bond) 'normalcies'. The atmosphere in the classroom is one of complete abandonment of biological determination based in science and nature, in favour of gender fluidity and the ease with which children can decide they prefer to alter their gender identification because it's alluring to them, and fits more neatly into how they perceive themselves after exposure to the alternatives available to them.

Transitions in fundamental biology that puzzle their parents and who have finally come to the conclusion that their role as guardians of their children's well-being, as nurturers and parents guiding their children into the future has been taken from them by a school system that cautions teachers and students not to inform parents of their children's preferences and decision-making. And so parents, some teachers who disagree with the system, and other concerned individuals mounted country-wide protests, called 1 Million March 4 Children.

True to his infamous virtue-signalling and condemnation of any who disagree with his social and cultural proclivities, the prime minister of Canada has denounced these hundreds of thousands of protesting parents as hateful and racist. Those who protest at school classrooms and libraries presenting drag queens acting out the theatrics of sexual exhibitionism and sex change, concerned for the welfare of their children being exposed to orientations of poor taste and no value, find themselves being told that there is no place for them in Canada, by their prime minister.

 

Hundreds demonstrated in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa Wednesday morning, one of several similar events across the country  CBC

 

21st Century Updated School Sex-Health Curricula

"The material in question — as Minister of Education, frankly as a parent — is completely inappropriate to be in a classroom."

"We want to make sure that material is not going to be a part of the resources that will be provided to students …"

"I want to make sure that the Ministry of Education, also, is undertaking a review of our own information to ensure that it is appropriate — and age-appropriate in particular."

Saskatchewan Education Minister Dustin Duncan 

 

"Sex from A-Z is a set of cards intended for gay, bi and queer young people. This is a fun and accessible resource that facilitates humorous and frank discussion among young people about sexuality and HIV and STI prevention. It can also be used by service providers as a discussion tool in workshops and training sessions."

"[The cards target young people as a] discussion tool [in workshops, with the instruction to] affirm [and be] sex positive [about every one of the sex acts depicted]."

"Do not make fun of any of the topics, including ones you personally enjoy. Affirm choices, theirs and other people’s who might be into the topic."

"A lot of people think that's really hot" [sample phrase on how to react 'properly' to some of the cards]." 

"If you do decide to go condomless, use lots of lube and get tested regularly for HIV and STIS."

Planned Parenthood/CATIE ABC Card instructions

 

Saskatchewan's Minister of Education has taken steps to ban Planned Parenthood from presenting their version of healthy sex education in the province's schools. On June 19 at Lumsden High School, the major secondary school in Lumsden, Saskatchewan, a community of 1,800 residents north of Regina, a Planned Parenthood coordinator delivered a Grade 9 presentation billed as a standard course on sex education. One student -- the students were 14 and 15 years of age -- left the presentation carrying home with him a complimentary deck of cards. 

That deck of cards led to a shock and outrage for their content detailing extreme sex acts some of which carry the potential for danger to anyone's health. The deck: "Sex: From A-Z" has 26 cards each with a sexual term (and cartoon) for every letter of the alphabet. Targeted toward young people as a "discussion" tool. Several cards detail acts of sex revolving around domination and risky sex, including urine and fecal matter: "Yellow and brown showers", describing  urinating and defecating on a sex partner. With instruction to "keep them on the outside of your body".

 

The under-18 targets of the card game, under "raw sex" are informed that although unprotected sex leaves them vulnerable to HIV, it remains a matter of personal preference. Produced and distributed by CATIE (Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange), a Toronto-based non-profit almost entirely funded by government grants, they have a Disney-like flair to them. 

The same type of cards produced some controversy in British Columbia when they were distributed to children by a public health nurse, but this time the cards that CATIE had produced in that instance had focused on "safer snorting", as a guide to drug consumption. 

In the Lumsden instance focusing on sex, following a complaint by a parent, the high school administration sent an email to parents explaining that the cards were not a core component of the presentation, but rather were placed on a table of "secondary resources" accessible by students. "Staff do preview resources, but one of the resources consisted of an A to Z sexual vocabulary which was not in the scope of the Grade 9 Health curriculum", the email conveyed to some incredulous parents.

Samples of A - Z Sex education cards