Looking into the future the Pelican feeding its young from a self-induced wound in its own breast (as depicted, mysteriously, on the state flag of Louisiana) is accepted as an appropriate symbol of both self-sacrifice and rebirth. Through his selfless efforts, man is raised from the slavery of ignorance to the condition of freedom conferred by wisdom.
   Given the current state of affairs in Louisiana, one hopes that the understanding of t he Pelican as a symbol shall point the way towards a new consciousness of ourselves as a whole, and lead us to face our futures with strength, grace, wisdom and faith, to learn from our mistakes and carry our successes and zest for living to future generations.



President George Bush Charged in Provincial Court


Straight Talk
December 12, 2004
Vancouver, British Columbia


A Vancouver lawyer has filed torture-related charges against U.S. President George W. Bush in a Vancouver Provincial Court. Gail Davidson, co chair of an international legal group called Lawyers against War, told the Straight that she charged Bush on November 30th with seven counts of counseling, aiding, and abetting the commission of torture in connection with the actions of U.S. armed forces at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and at a U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay. If the case goes to trial and Bush found guilty, he would be liable to imprisonment for up to 14 years.

“I went about it in a very organized and solemn way,” Davidson said. “It wasn’t everyday that someone was going to walk in and try to lay a charge against a visiting president.”

A justice of the peace accepted the charges, which means there will be a hearing to decide whether or not Bush will be required to appear. Davidson said that within eight days of her laying the charges, the Attorney General of Canada, Irwin Cotler, must give his consent for the case to continue.

Davidson said she worked closely with Osgoode Hall law professor Michael Mandel, co chair of LAW, in preparing the case against Bush. She added that after the news was reported in the U.S., she received some hostile email, as well as “rude” treatment from some American media outlets.

The same day that Davidson’s charges were approved, the New York Times reported that it had obtained a memo from the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross accusing the U.S. military of using tactics “tantamount to torture” on prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. The next morning, mainstream Canadian newspapers such as the Globe and Mail, the National Post, and the two local CanWest-owned dailies did not report that the U.S. president had been charged in Vancouver.