Quote of the week:

“There is no relationship in this case, in the Montreal round-up, with either my country or (the Italian) Mafia.” —Italy’s ambassador to Canada Gabriele Sardo, protesting the RCMP’s use of the term “Italian organized crime” when referring to the arrest of dozens of members of the Montreal-based Rizzuto crime family last week

Memories of AIDS

For anyone who’s ever dealt with or lost anyone to the nastiness that is AIDS, Friday, Dec. 1 is a date of note. That happens to be the 18th annual World AIDS Day, and this year’s international theme is “Stop AIDS: Keep the Promise.” As part of the international effort, Montrealers are being called to assemble at Parc de l’Espoir, corner of Ste-Catherine E. and Panet, at 5:30 p.m. this Friday for a vigil being presented by an umbrella group of local AIDS organizations coming together under the banner of the December 1st Collective.

“It’s really intended to be an event where people get together to either just quietly think their thoughts or maybe even think them aloud and share them with other people going through the same thing,” says co-organizer Ken Monteith. “You know, people who’ve lost friends or relatives to the disease, or people who might be living with HIV—it’s really important that we come together and show solidarity.”

After the outdoor gathering, which Monteith says should last about 15 minutes, the vigil will be moving to the slightly warmer confines of Cocktail (1669 Ste-Catherine E.), for more reflection and good times. —Chris Barry

Mines and bombs

During its three-week war with Hezbollah last summer, the Israeli army dropped at least 1.2 million cluster bomblets on Lebanon, many on civilian neighbourhoods, reports Israeli daily Haaretz. They’ve killed at least 23 Lebanese civilians since the war ended, and injured hundreds more.

“The streets are still littered with the bomblets,” says Ana Nogueira, who was in Lebanon covering the war for Democracy Now! radio. She and photojournalist Andrew Stern will present a slide show and footage of their reporting on Thursday, Nov. 30, at Atwater Library (1200 Atwater, 7 p.m., suggested donation $5–10). “The war’s now out of the media, but it’s not over for people coming back to their homes,” she says.

It turns out that one in every three bombs dropped, all made in the U.S., didn’t explode on impact. Israel produces its own cluster bombs, which are more reliable than the American variety, but the Israeli army opted for the American bombs because they were covered by U.S. military aid, Haaretz reported.

Israel also laid landmines during the war, it emerged over the weekend, after two de-mining experts were injured after walking into a minefield. —Samer Elatrash

What’s up with randy teens

From Elvis’s pulsing pelvis to Britney’s bountiful bosom, adults have long fretted over the overt, budding sexuality of teenagers. But as sex and sexual imagery have become increasingly pervasive, some experts are questioning the long-term impact on both kids and society.

“Hippies and punks were provocative, but the new thing is about overdosing on sexuality,” says Mariette Julien, a researcher and professor at UQÀM’s École supérieure de mode de Montréal. “Many people think this is dangerous for young people. If it makes them happier, then it’s okay, but we just don’t know.”

Next week, UQÀM will host a panel discussion on the “hypersexualization” of youth. Hosted by journalist Alain Gravel, hot topics such as Internet porn, “sexy” clothing and the effects they have on child development, education and gender equality will be addressed. In addition to Julien, participants include UQÀM sexologist Francine Duquet, and from the University of Ottawa, philosophy professor Valérie Daoust and sociologist Richard Poulin.

The talk takes place Dec. 5, at 7 p.m. at UQÀM’s Judith-Jasmin pavillion (405 Ste-Catherine E.) in the Salle Marie-Gérin-Lajoie (J-M400). Info 987-3000 ext. 248. Free. —Christopher Hazou

Saving Fraser- Hickson

Friday, Dec. 22, is the scheduled closing day for NDG’s 121-year-old Fraser-Hickson public library (4855 Kensington). Out of money, the privately funded institution has been barely sustained by an agreement with the city to provide minimal funding for three years, after which a permanent funding plan would be drawn up. Those three years are up and there isn’t a plan in sight. The library almost met its end in 2003, again due to funding problems.

With a current roster of over 12,000 members, a children and adult library and free Internet access, the Fraser-Hickson’s closing would be a significant loss. NDGers have banded together in the form of a grassroots organization knows as Fraser Friends, which is committed to saving the library through online petitions, free faxes and e-mails, all aimed at the mayor’s office.

“This is important not only for literacy and education in NDG, but for the entire island of Montreal,” says Raj Ramtuhol, of Fraser Friends. “We’re counting on Mayor Tremblay to help save this library, and people have tied strongly enough to this library that they won’t forget its fate come election time.”

To help save the Fraser-Hickson, go to www.fraserfriends.org. —Benjamin Barna

REAR-VIEW MIRROR
15 years ago - Nov. 28– Dec.30, 1991

On the cover: David Bowie and Tin Machine, playing at la Brique. Bowie says he enjoys his lower profile these days. “It’s fun insomuch as it completely destroys the event status of the old stupendously-monumentally-sized thingy.”

• Plateau residents received anonymous 22-page packages at their homes denouncing the recently-announced AIDS shelter on Rachel E. Activist Douglas Buckley calls the package the product of a “KKK-like mentality.”

• A photo shows the newly-exposed “anatomically-correct” cartoon-like sculptures (i.e. drawn with erect penises and gaping vaginas) at 4150 Sherbrooke W. Sculptures of ghosts and flowers covered up the genitals, which offended sensitive Westmounters, but were stolen (“probably by some pervert,” speculates the caption).

Angel >> Going green They didn’t win the byelection in London last Monday, but the federal Green party should be feeling pretty good about itself. The party’s candidate and leader, Elizabeth May, got 25.9 per cent of all votes cast, good enough for second place, behind the Liberals. And while the Greens still don’t have a seat in Parliament, it’s evident, as recent polls show, that the environment is an increasingly important issue to Canadians. Nationally, the Green Party is riding high, with poll numbers breaking into double digits. Watching the Grits and Tories (well, maybe not the Tories) furiously try to scramble onto that bandwagon could be interesting.
Insect >> Avenue Robert-Bourassa Seems people power doesn’t count for shit in this town. Despite the tens of thousands of petition signatures and warnings by the mayor’s own local councillors, City Hall decided to go ahead and vote to rename Parc Ave. after an okay-ish premier 10 years in the grave. Amazingly, the mayor managed to corral his troops into getting the motion passed 40 votes to 22, and ditch a 123-year-old, perfectly serviceable and completely appropriate name. Forget the fact that hundreds of thousands of people, many of them immigrants, grew up on and around Parc and remember the name fondly; this move is a gross example of abuse of power, and should be remembered come re-election. Long live Parc Avenue!