Re: Humanitarian crisis grips Sri Lanka, March 29, 2007

Recently US$14 million was allocated in Sri Lanka’s Defense Budget. The government has been saying they would clear the East of the national from the hands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Why wasn’t this money allocated for the refugees instead? Because they are Tamils.
For more than 20 years, Tamil Rehabilitations organization, funded by mainly diaspora Tamils helped in such situations. Even during the Tsunami it was the LTTE & Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) that jumped to action in the affected Tamil areas. To render Tamils without help, the Sri Lankan government froze bank accounts of the TRO, issued warrants for the arrest of its executive officers, and only this week, through its “deep penetrating units”, mined a jeep and killed two TRO officers.
The government’s estimation for helping these wantonly displaced Tamils is about US$64 million. How much of this will go to those who are suffering and how much will end up in the war chest of the Government, or worse, private accounts?

B. Ananther,
Procurement & Customer Service,
Wiesbaden, Germany

Re: Editorial - Canada’s Welcome Mat Wearing Thin, March 29, 2007
 
Ashamedly, I have to agree with the Asian Pacific Post on this editorial, particularity in the West Coast. On a national level, work still needs to be done to have foreign credentials from reputable higher establishments recognized. Once this happens, it will benefit everyone. Having people with diplomas and degrees, whether from home or abroad, and working in menial jobs is a disgrace. Advertising that Canada is a land of opportunity, and oppressing people once they arrive, is deceptive at best.
Having lived most of my life in Eastern Canada, I can quite confidently say that there is much racism that dwells here that has stemmed from issues that originated over one hundred years ago. During the construction of the CPR (the original Canada Line), Chinese labour accepted half the pay of the standard rate that was in British Columbia at the time. Understandably, this caused much tension with the local people.
There is much to be done, and always something to be done to make society a more livable and inviting place for all to live.

Philip Francis Proctor,
Self-employed,
Vancouver

I agree that immigrant integration will be critical to achieving long term social and economic synergies in Canada. However, the idea that more recent immigrants suffer from a ‘state of chronic low income’ is misleading.
Because Canada’s economy is still driven largely by natural resource extraction, processing, and associated technological innovation in these areas, the types of employment which are more financially rewarding tend to be those which are key to these industries. Recent immigrants, particularly from Asia, whether educated or not, either rarely have expertise in these areas, or are simply not interested in doing the sorts of work that more established Canadians have built this country on.
Canada is a prime example of a core-periphery economy; whereby large urban centres like Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, and Vancouver siphon off the riches from the rural resource centres. New immigrants who do not have an immediate or relevant skill which is in demand in the urban core, have the option of either remaining in the urban core as low income workers, or ‘paying their dues’ by contributing to Canada in the rural resource-based sectors, where they will be much better off financially.
Canada needs new immigrants, both for their global economic connections and the positive aspects of their cultures, which enrich all Canadians. However, immigrants who believe that the simple act of moving Canada entitles them to an above average standard of living in the privileged urban core, are sadly mistaken.
They must be willing to move to where Canada’s economy dictates, and to do the sorts of work that is demanded. If they wish to remain in their urban ethnic enclaves, rather than ‘integrate’ in the truest sense of the word, they may continue to find themselves economically disadvantaged.
 
Gavin Johnson,
Teacher,
Calgary

Re: Filipino nurses’ exam scandal, September 7 2006

There is an expression in other Asian countries: “Only in the Philippines”. But this is a derogatory phrase that we sometimes ignore, likely because we do not have respect for ourself and our ethnicity. We just laugh about it. This hurts me.
That is what happened with the recent national board scandal. Why will the president of the Philippines ask for a re-take? Is she trying to blame all the test-takers or should she need to start looking at the broader picture of PRC which is responsible for this chaos and embarrassment?
How bad can corruption be in my country that the very future of our nation be corrupted at the early part of their career? Please, let these nurses get what they deserved. About the cheaters, I hope they are punished.

Nestor Abreu,
Registered Nurse,
Kansas City

Yes there should be a retake: it’s the only way to prove that nobody cheated. Though it is very hard to study and review the lessons, we should prove to them we Filipinos are worthy and honest at all times.

Jerome M.,
Student,
Masbate City, Philippines