Happy New Year’s Day and Happy Birthday to Us!

Happy New Year’s Day and Happy Birthday to Us!

Best wishes for 2015! On behalf of the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance, we wish you much success and prosperity for the New Year. We’re also wishing our blog a Happy 5th Anniversary.

We would like to thank all our readers for your continued support, encouragement and comments. A special thanks to all our writers who’ve brought us thoughtful, educational, and interesting stories, poetry and articles. We could not have grown so much without you. Your work has continuously been a pleasure to read for all youth, and has tremendously opened our minds and educated us all.

CTYA’s Blog is a space for Tamil youth to share their ideas, opinions and comments with other Tamil youth. It’s a space youth to empower and educate other youth through their own writings, and is a reputable platform for youth to share their work. Over the years, many diverse youth have contributed to the Blog, and have helped shaped the richness of the Blog.

We look forward to bringing you another year of stories, poems, art, and articles, and invite you all to share and submit your work this year, questions or comments. Feel free to email us at blogs@ctya.org. You feedback and contributions are always welcome.

Happy New Year!

A Tribute to the Victims of the Tsunami, 2004

Written By: Kiruthika Thusyanthan

It started off as any usual morning would, post christmas
the sounds of chatter, laughter, foot steps, voices of children,
of wives, husbands, sisters, brothers,
of mothers, fathers, grandmothers, and grandfathers
all strung together melodically with the constant gush of the shorelines

There was never fear of the shorelines
nor was there fear over waters that fed
nor was there fear over nature that nurtured
nor was there fear over the land that embraced their walking and dancing

But on this day, the waters moved differently
there was an undetectable darkness that hung above them all
and many edged towards the darkness, curiosity driven
and watched departing waters, rise and fall

the waters did return, it sure did
but nobody expected it to return like this
waves taller than them, their homes, even coconut trees
the ocean racing towards them at unstoppable speed
unthinkably wide, mountain high, impossible to breathe
everything they stood on, soon to be buried underneath

The wave swallowed them whole
no mercy to their cries
robbing futures from the children
leaving death and panic in their eyes
these waters that they bathed in
bodies soothed in summer thirst
splashed around in play, how could it be so cursed
wounds are washed in water, to get rid of filth and dirt
but now it was the one causing all the pain and hurt

humans wrong the waters
this might be its revenge
but even it too proved heartless
feasting on the innocent
over 200,000 living sent to rest, futureless
didn’t spare a body
didn’t spare a home
took so much back with it
for some, it didn’t even spare a bone

Nobody to point fingers at, and nobody to blame
but the anger remains
and questions of why never fade
we shall always remember all that was lost
the people, living animals, the land they lived on
their voices still heard along the shorelines they come from
In remembering, we give them a future
it may not be the ones they dreamed of
but it’s one to remind, though water can steal bodies and lives
even nature can’t steal love

In remembering my love lies
In hopes that their souls rise
into rest, into peace
into ease, into sleep

RIP to all the families, stories, and memories that existed before Tsunami 2004

Lest We Forget

Every year on November 11, Canadians honour the men and women who have served, and fought for Canada in the First World War (1914-1918), the Second World War (1939-1945), and the Korean War (1950-1953), as well as those who have served since then. More than 1,500,000 Canadians have served, and more than 100,000 have died. They gave their lives and their futures so that we may live in peace. Today, take a moment and thank the Canadians who have given up their lives for your freedom.

Like the Kaarthikai Poo, the poppy is worn as a symbol of remembrance throughout the month as a reminder of the sacrifice of the veterans. The idea of using the poppy as a means to support wounded veterans was an idea brought on by a French woman, Madame E. Guérin, who suggested the idea to British Field-Marshall Earl Haig. The first of these poppies were distributed in Canada in November of 1921, and the tradition has continued in Canada ever since.

All of us, growing up would have heard the heartfelt poem written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, a doctor serving with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps:

In Flanders Fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
John McCrae 11

The Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance encourages all its youth to take part in remembering and honouring the sacrifices of Canadian soldiers by wearing a poppy and taking part in the two minutes of silence on the 11th day, of the 11th month, of the 11th hour.

“Heroism is latent in every human soul – However humble or unknown, they (the veterans) have renounced what are accounted pleasures and cheerfully undertaken all the self-denials – privations, toils, dangers, sufferings, sicknesses, mutilations, life-” Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain

References:

Veterans Affairs Canada (http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/

Call Out for CTYA Board of Directors

Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) is seeking dynamic individuals who are responsible, enthusiastic and creative to join our Board of Directors. We are seeking for candidates that can utilize their experience, skills, and passion to empower youth to provide new innovative ideas and enhance the delivery of our services.

CTYA will be holding elections for Board of Directors at our next Annual General Meeting that will be held on December 7th 2014.

The following positions are available for nomination:

Executive Committee:
President – 1 position
Vice President Communication – 1 position
Vice President Events – 1 position
Vice President External – 1 position
Vice President Finance – 1 position
Vice President Membership Development – 1 position

General Council:
Arts/Culture – 3 positions
Athletics – 3 positions
Education/Career Development – 3 positions
Human Rights Advocacy – 3 positions
Tamil Nation Development – 3 positions

General Council Values:

http://www.CTYA.org/english/councils.html

Basic Responsibilities:
• Regularly attends monthly board meetings and committee related meetings.
• Makes serious commitment to participate actively in developing the council and engaging membership.
• Volunteers to accept assignments and completes them thoroughly and on time.
• Stays informed about committee matters, prepare themselves well for meetings, and reviews and comments on minutes and reports.
• Gets to know other committee members and builds a collegial working relationship that contributes to consensus.
• Actively participates in the committee’s annual evaluation and planning efforts.

Basic Qualifications
• Must be an individual member of CTYA.
• In depth understanding of CTYA’s mission and accomplishments.
• Able to plan, manage and execute CTYA’s mission and vision in collaboration with
Board members, general members and the community.
• A strong dedication to empower youth.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to commit a minimum 3-5 hours per week.
• Team building skills and previous experience in a group atmosphere is an asset.

Please contact us at elections@ctya.org for nomination packages. All nominations must be submitted through e-mail by Saturday November 22nd, 2014.

Email: elections@ctya.org
Phone: 647-470-2892

Live Streaming of Tamileelam F.A.’s games at ConIFA World Football Cup 2014

First game for Tamileelam F.A. against Arameans Suryoye FA is tomorrow, Monday June 2nd at 4:00 a.m (ET) and Kurdistan FA on Tuesday June 3rd at 4:00 a.m (ET). Tune into www.tamileelamfa.org for live streaming of #Tamileelam FA games! #tefa #GoalPodu

News Release: 5th Anniversary of May Massacre

Human Rights and Advocacy Council (HRAC), Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA)
Toronto I May 18, 2014

May 2009 marks the height of the genocidal onslaught against the Eelam Tamils by the Sri-Lankan Government. During this time, the Sri-Lankan Government engaged in widespread killing, shelling of Tamil civilians in Government declared “safe zones”, sexual abuse, and deliberate denial of food and medicine to Tamil civilians. According to Bishop Rayappu Joseph, records show that the existence and whereabouts of 146,679 Tamils have not been accounted for from the end of May 2009.

Since 2009, there has been evidence mounting, including video footages, photos, satellite images, war witnesses, and findings of unexploded cluster bombs that prove that war crimes, crimes against humanity and the height of the genocide were carried out in 2009. Global organizations are currently working towards collecting these evidences and proving these allegations in a way that will make Sri-Lanka culpable for its crimes.

Today, Tamils in the North-East continue to face rape, disappearances, coercive population control, destruction of cultural and historic monuments, and disenfranchisement of land. Without a permanent solution, Tamils in Sri-Lanka continue to face cultural genocide on many levels.

May marks a month that we as a community take the time to remember the victims massacred and heal together as a community. The HRAC joins with our members, friends, and families in commemorating the victims of May Massacre. We remember our relatives, friends, and brethren that were killed. As we remember the victims together as a community here in Toronto, Tamils in our homeland, many of them survivors or families of the survivors of May Massacre have been prohibited by the Sri-Lankan Government to hold any public commemorations for those who perished during May Massacre.

The HRAC will continue to voice against the genocide of Tamils by collecting evidences from the witnesses and survivors through the Thazhumbakam project. Thazhumbakam, A Tamil Genocide Memorial Museum aims to broaden public understanding of the history of the Tamil Genocide through comprehensive programs: art and artifact exhibitions, research and publication, collecting materials, distribution of educational materials and resources, and a variety of other public programming designed to enhance understanding of the Tamil Genocide.

The need for Thazumbakam to safeguard the history of Tamils and work towards collocating evidence pointing to genocide is imperative. The HRAC further calls upon the Tamil youth in Canada to continue to raise awareness about the genocide of Eelam Tamils and participate in Thazumbakam by hosting events and exhibitions to enhance public awareness of the Tamil Genocide.

A Statement from Liberal Party of Canada Leader Justin Trudeau

For Immediate Release

May 18, 2014

Statement by Liberal Party of Canada Leader Justin Trudeau on the Anniversary of the End of the Sri Lankan Civil War

OTTAWA – The Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement in recognition of the fifth anniversary of the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War on May 18, 2009:

“Today, on the anniversary of the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War, we remember and honour the lives that were lost during more than two and a half decades of terrible conflict.

“While the war may have ended five years ago, we must acknowledge that peace in the region has not yet been settled; there is still much work to be done.

“The Liberal Party of Canada has long called for an international, independent investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the Sri Lankan Civil War. The recent decision of the UN Human Rights Council to conduct an independent and international inquiry into these alleged human rights abuses is a positive starting point. We sincerely hope that the Sri Lankan government will cooperate with the investigation.

“I have spent time with the Tamil-Canadians across the country on many occasions, and I remain committed to achieving accountability and justice for the many who have suffered the awful consequences of this protracted war. We must be vigilant in working with the international community to pursue true and lasting peace in the region.

“Canada is a multicultural country, rich in both diversity and compassion. As a society, we all stand with our Tamil-Canadian brothers and sisters as they solemnly recognize this anniversary. Today we reiterate our commitment to fighting the abuse of human rights around the world, both in times of war and in times of peace.”

-30-

Contact:

Press Office

Office of the Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada

613-947-5100