Taking Loyalty to a Whole New Level

Lao Pan's dog guarding his grave

I just read the most amazing story about devotion and loyalty. In China, a single man by the name of Lao Pan lived alone with his companion - his dog. At the age of 68, Lao Pan passed away, his dog stayed by his side even at his grave. A local Chinese villager discovered the dog safeguarding Pan's grave site. The dog refuses to leave the grave even after going seven days without eating. This story has touched the villager's hearts so much that they decided to build a kennel for the dog beside Pan's grave and bring him food and water everyday.

Leao guarding her owner's grave

This isn't the first time that a dogs have proved their loyalty to their owners. Over time and time again, we are consistently reminded of how loyal dogs truly are to their owners. Earlier this year, a similar story took place in Brazil. A dog named Leao was seen sitting beside his owner Cristina Maria Cesario Santana's grave after she was killed during a Mudslide in Brazil in January. The dog was discovered by a local and the villagers have since been providing food and water for it.

Being a dog lover, this doesn't surprise me at all. Dogs have always been an important part of life throughout time, this is proven in many ancient artifacts such as the Ancient Egyptian scriptures, drawings and even statues. Personally, I can't imagine my life without my dog, a dog is the most faithful and loyal friend that you will ever have.

"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself"  - Josh Billings

Diversity is Beautiful

Toronto is known for its cultural mosaic, this is what makes Toronto so different and unique from  other cities. We accept and embrace all cultures and religions. When hate crimes happens in Toronto or the GTA, it immediately attracts attention, because as Canadians we don't believe in hate. Inas Kadri experienced a hate crime first hand. Kadri is a Muslim women who wears a niqab (completely veiled but her eyes are visible).While in a mall shopping with her two young children, she was approached by a woman by the name of Rosemary Cresswell who had a brief confrontation with her before pulling Kadri's niqab off of her face. According to Kadri, Cresswell was saying "leave our country, go back to your country!" The confrontation was captured on video and Cresswell has pleaded guilty after the tape of the attack was shown in court.

Naturally, this comes as a surprise for most Canadians because as Canadians, we accept all beliefs and embrace diversity. So, why did this happen? It is mainly ignorance, what does it matter if her face is covered or not? She is human nonetheless and should be treated as such. Discrimination has no place in Canada and what truly defines a Canadian is the fact that we are open minded and welcome cultures and traditions around the world. If we all took time out of our day to understand the different religions, or the different cultures that surround our cities, it would make a huge difference to everyone, because now we can understand and even celebrate people's beliefs. People have to understand that the white man is no longer the majority, the majority is now diversity and no one should be judged based on the color of their skin or their personal beliefs. If you choose to judge someone, judge the quality of their heart because that is what defines them and that's what matters most.
Personally, do I care if you are White, or Black, or Asian, or if you wear a Turban or a Hijab? No, because I am not one to judge, we are all God's children regardless of which God we believe in. And as such, we should all be treated equally and respectfully. Regardless of your race, of your heritage, of your beliefs or traditions, you are my brother or my sister, you are me and I am you - we are equal, we are one. Even if you look different from me- it is your right to be different. Lets embrace each others differences, because diversity truly is beautiful. There no place for hate only love.

"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Egypt: The Rebirth of a Great Nation.

Revolution 2.0 has officially begun and we will not settle for less than we deserve. Back in the January 25, 2011 revolution, after Mubarak's resignation, the military took over and Egyptians had found some sort of peace in knowing that we will be taken care of. However, when our demands and our rights and dreams have been turned away the people of Egypt decided to go back to Tahrir and voice their opinions. What happened next was unbelievable, the military sided against the civilians and used violence and brutality to resolve the long standing conflict.
As a citizen, the state should protect you. The state should take care of you and protect you. As a citizen I should be comfortable in my home and I should trust my country and my government to support me when I need them. What a shame it is that Egyptians don't feel at home in their own home. Decade after decade we have been lied to, we have been told the government has our best interest at heart when the reality of it is that the government doesn't give a crap about its civilians and takes every penny right into their own pockets. The people have lost all respect for the government and the military. Shame, shame, shame! The value of a human is close to nothing in Egypt. It is so easy for the military to kill anyone on the street and what is even more disgusting is that they took some of the lifeless bodies on the streets and dragged them into a corner and dump them one after the other. 1 life gone is 1 life too many, and we won't forget the blood of our martyrs.
SCAF (Supreme Council of the Armed Forces) is a bunch of disgusting pigs! Shameful, disgusting pigs who call themselves humans. All we want is our fundamental human rights.. is that too much to ask for?! Here is my prediction, SCAF will continue to fight and continue to kill for no necessary reason, just to make a statement. Now, lets think of the power of the people, it took only 3 weeks for Mubarak to step down after the revolution in January.. it is only a matter of time until all our demands will be met. "The power of the people is stronger than the people in power."  The time has come for our dreams to be heard and our demands to be met. We are courageous and brave and will fight until our last breath. We may lose some lives, we may lose our dignity, but we will never lose our home.

Dear SCAF, this is a kind reminder that we own this country, not you. Thank you. 

Conviction

Betty-Anne Waters holding her brother Kenny Waters' hand
as they depart Middlesex Superior Court in Cambridge Mass.
(AP Photo/Steven Senne, File.) 

Conviction is a movie based on the true story of  a man named Kenneth Waters who gets falsely accused of murder and is sentenced life in prison without parole. Throughout his whole life, Kenny and his sister Betty-Ann have been moved around from shelter to shelter because their mother was deemed to be an unfit parent. They always supported one another and only had each other- they were truly the best of friends and deeply cared for each other. The story gets compelling when Kenny gets arrested and falsely accused with murder. Betty-Ann always knew that her brother was innocent and would literally do all that is in her power to set him free. She started looking for lawyers to defend her brother, however a lawyer for a case this big would need $25,000 up front before even looking into the case. This obviously a lot of money especially for Betty-Anne who works as a waitress at a bar in a small town in Massachusetts. Betty-Ann came up with an idea to go back to school, get her GED, get a BA degree and apply for law school. As crazy it sounded and as unrealistic as it is, she was determined and dedicated. Nothing would stop her from accomplishing this dream, all she needed was for Kenny to be patient with her. She wasn't sure if she would make it to law school or if she would even pass her courses, but she was determined to literally sacrifice everything for her brother.  After an eighteen year struggle, Betty-Anne became Kenny's attorney and fought to set him free.

This movie really moved me. It is such an inspiring story of true love, devotion and determination. It teaches you that you are never too old to follow your dreams and nothing will set you back from your dreams other than yourself. If you have the will and the drive to succeed, and if you believe in yourself, you can do any and everything you set your mind to. It just goes to show you it's not about what you know, its about how much you care. 

"The only thing that stands between a person and what they want in life is the will to try it, and the faith to believe its possible."

Real Women Drive Cars

When I was about four years old, I used to live in Saudi Arabia. I remember that my childhood was great in Saudi Arabia and I met many great people that I am still in touch with today. I had a lot of great memories in Saudi Arabia simply because it is a very nice place with very nice people. However, with every positive there always comes a negative. I remember seeing my mother's rights taken away from her. I remember at every family outing or any outing for that matter, she had to be covered from head to toe. She had to wear a long black abaya (a long robe like dress) and a hijab (head scarf) not because she wanted to, but because she had to. I also  remember not being able to go out until my dad came home from work, because by law, women are not allowed to drive in Saudi Arabia. 

Earlier this year, a Saudi Arabian woman's rights activist by the name of Manal al-Sharif started a women's right-to-drive campaign and defied this law and drove her car in the city of Khobar. She videotaped herself driving and put it on both youtube and facebook. On May 21, 2011 she was detained and was arrested the following day. She spent nine days in prison simply because she is a woman and she drove her car. Manal encouraged women accross Saudi Arabia to drive their cars on June 17, 2011 in the hopes of encouraging this movement and giving women their right to drive. This is not the first attempt for this campaign. In 1990, a group of women protested their right to drive arguing that women should have the freedom to go to the store or drive to work. This same group of women were also cheered on as 'whores' and most of them were banned from travelling for one year as a punishment for their behavior. 

I would expect this kind of law in the stone age when women didn't have rights. However to this day, women are still treated as property and as second class citizens in Saudi Arabia. These laws just don't make any sense to me, how can someone live in a country knowing that they are forced to dress and act a certain way? or that they are someone's property? or that their freedom and their rights are taken away simply because of what is between their legs? 

Women are beautiful people and need to be recognized for their beauty and treated with respect and dignity. Don't get me wrong, I love Saudi Arabia very much because most of my childhood was there and I grew up there, I just wish that their laws be revised and that women all around the world are given universal human rights. 

My message to Manal al-Sharif and all Saudi Women drivers: Fight for your rights and build a better tomorrow for future generations. Don't ask for permission to drive. JUST DRIVE! It is your human right and you are human. You are equal to man whether they like it or not! Driving is not a crime!

                         Women's rights are human rights!

My Canada Goose Experience

As I was driving through the city of Toronto today at around 7:30 pm, I was forced to stop in the middle of Eglington Ave because a Canada Goose was crossing the street. What caught my attention is that this Canada Goose was hopping on one leg and struggling to move the other leg. This Goose was definitely injured and had what looked to be like a broken or twisted bone in his or her left leg. 

Being the animal lover that I am, I naturally felt it was my duty to report this and to try to get this helpless animal any sort of attention. I followed the Goose and walked behind it making sure that I can visibly see it while contacting Toronto Animal Services. I called Toronto Animal Services where I was instantly put in an automated phone system that told me to press "1" if my call was an emergency call or if it was regarding an injured animal. Naturally, you would think that an emergency call would be answered instantly right? WRONG, I was following the goose for about 20 minutes until I finally got an operator named Sherry on the phone. When I explained my concern about the injured goose, there was an awkward silence, it was almost as if what I was saying was the most absurd thing she has ever heard of in her life. She then proceeded to tell me the most absurd and ridiculous thing that I have ever heard in my life. In a nut shell, she explained to me that she can contact someone to help me however, because it is after business hours, they will likely resort to "putting down the animal". I explained to Sherry that the Goose just needs some medical attention and does not need to be put down, she interrupted me and told me that these were the procedures and asked if she should contact someone to pick up the goose. So, after 20 minutes of being on hold and 5 minutes listening to the garbage she was saying, I was convinced that leaving the goose there to fend for itself was a lot better than killing it. Sherry proceeded to tell me that if I am still concerned tomorrow to go back to the area and look for the goose and call Toronto Animal Services during business hours and an inspector can come and take a look at the goose and give it the help it needs. Basically after hours, they resort to killing an injured animal, however during hours they would be glad to help. This is the STUPIDEST thing that I have ever heard and this is definitely not something I would expect from the city of Toronto.

I could be overreacting simply because I have a passion and a soft spot for animals. However, I can't help but wonder how valuable the Canada Goose really is. The Canada Geese are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918. This Act makes it illegal to harm or injure a goose or damage or move its eggs without a Federal permit. Failure to comply with this law results in fines ranging from $5000-$10,000. 

My concern is, we as Torontonians love our animals and agree with this law. However when it comes down to it, the city is more concerned over the fine or payment that you will be paying rather than the actual health of the animal. As I saw today the Canada Goose means practically nothing to the city. 

      I expected more from our city. What a shame. 

The truth behind the dolphin smile

My good friend Kaleigh Henderson recommended that I watch a documentary called “The Cove.”  This documentary has literally changed my life. This is the most powerful documentary that I have ever seen. It sends out such a strong and an important message. Everyone needs to know the truth.

This movie takes place in Taiji, Japan where approximately 23,000 dolphins and porpoises are slaughtered annually. This is the largest dolphin slaughter on the planet. Some selected dolphins end up shipped to several aquariums where they are held in captivity, while the rest are brutally killed and sold as food.

Most of the approximately 500 dolphins currently held in Japan's 50 dolphinariums were captured during a violent and deadly dolphin drive hunt. This hunt starts by taking boats with long poles that reach underwater into the middle of the sea and use hammers to create a loud wall of sound which creates stress on the dolphins. Due to their extremely sensitive sense of hearing, Dolphins are easily frightened by loud noises, therefore, when the dolphins hear the uncomfortable and extremely loud bang under the water, they are frightened and literally run for their lives in the direction opposite of the sound – the shore. After reaching shore, the dolphins are very stressed and overwhelmed. The babies and parent dolphins are split up some are taken to marine parks while the others are to be killed. 
The fishermen  snatch these beautiful creatures from their natural habitats, hoist them into nets, load them onto airplanes and drop them into a cement tanks all around the world. Taiji is the largest supplier of dolphins to marine parks and swim with dolphin programs around the world.  The remaining dolphins are brutally stabbed until they are dead and then sold as seafood. It is important to know that Japanese dolphins contain 2000 ppm of Mercury. This means that the dolphin meat is poisonous and if consumed can cause many medical illnesses, deaths, and deformations. Many Japanese people have been eating dolphin meat and have been poisoning their body without being aware of it. 
The reality is that not many people want to eat dolphins. Putting dolphin meat on a shelf at a grocery store, simply will not sell. As a result, the dolphin meat is carefully placed into cans of tuna, and/or sold in fish markets and relabeled under a different type of fish. The government of Japan is aware of this, but they continue to support and cover for the fisherman of Taiji.

The fishermen continue to do this business regardless of the immortality of it. These fishermen are generously rewarded for this brutality. For each dead dolphin they are rewarded $600 for each alive dolphin they are paid a minimum of $150,000.

 A lot of people don’t realize the problem with holding dolphins in captivity in places such as sea world. I, like many others assumed that dolphins and orcas enjoy living at Sea World and other marine parks. They always seemed to be smiling, jumping merrily around their tanks, eager to put on a show for human spectators. However, |Once the friendly joyful music starts playing and the dolphins start dancing and smiling, it’s difficult to see the problem. "The smiles you see on these animals are not true reflections of happiness” explains Rick O’Barry, a dolphin rights activist and the producer of the 'Cove'. “In actuality, they hate to be enclosed in their holding tanks and are often not fed until it is time to perform their daily routines” explains Rick. Dolphins create the greatest deception; they create the illusion that they are always happy. However, behind their smiles is a big despair. In every aquarium, there is a fish house where the dolphins are given Malox and Tagament to treat ulcers on dolphins who are stressed.

One aquarium in Baltimore, had a high death rate for dolphins. Workers and experts soon discovered that the filtration system in the aquarium was too loud for the dolphin to tolerate that it was causing a lot of noise that was overwhelming the dolphins, evidently this loud sound killed the dolphins. 
Accoustics and sound are the primary senses of the dolphins. Due to sound and acoustics, dolphins are considered one of the smartest creatures on the planet. They can literally see right through you. They can see your bones, they can see your heart, and they can tell if you are pregnant, they get a lot of information by just hearing and making sounds.

Captivity simply doesn't work because in the wild, they are travelling at least 40 miles a day, they could be surfing one area in the morning and the next hour they can be 25 miles away. Confining dolphins in a limited amount of space in a tank surrounded by a stadium of screaming people, it simply isn’t right and it isn’t fair.

After “The Cove” was released, many people became aware of this disgusting slaughter and many actions were taken. Due to the awareness the movie has made, the dolphin slaughter has dramatically decreased. Unfortunately, dolphin slaughter still continues in Taiji, however not nearly as much as it did before. Dolphin slaughter still exists and it’s up to us to save these beautiful creatures. We need to defend and give a voice to those who cannot speak.

Louis Psihoyos, director of The Cove, says “The cove is proof that one passionate person can make a difference and that together a few like-minded people can change the world.”

  Join me in taking a pledge to never buy a ticket to a dolphin show. 

 

Do it for the Cookies!

I use to see the Blood Services truck driving by me and always think "wow, there must be a lot of blood in this truck" I would always shiver and quench at the thought of even seeing blood. Just going for a blood test alone needed some serious preparation. 

Then it suddenly hit me! What if I donated blood? What is more important, my fear of needles and blood or potentially saving someones life? I thought long and hard and by coincidence, I was at the mall and the blood donation clinic was there. Without giving it a second thought, I immediately went to the registration desk and registered to donate. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. 

As I approached the nurse she asked me some personal questions and pricked my finger. She could tell that I was nervous and scared and was slightly hesitant in allowing me to donate. However, she allowed me to donate anyways.

Once I got to the final stage, I lay down on the bed waiting to finally donate my blood. I looked away,  as the nurse stuck the needle in my arm and told me to relax and squeeze my hand. She also put a paper towel on my arm so that I don't see the needle. 

My First Blood Donation

Ten minutes later, I was done; it was that fast! I had my cookies and my juice and sat with a veteran who has donated blood over 300 times in his life. During my conversation with him, he explained to me that each blood donation that you make saves three lives. 

I realized the importance of donating blood. It's not about the acknowledgment you may get, it's not about conquering your fears, it's not about you at all. It's about saving a life. 

It's only 1 hour every 56 days. That's 1 HOUR out of 1344 HOURS!

The ten minutes of pain that you may endure will save someone who has been living their whole life in pain. In the time it takes for your to check your Facebook, you could save a life. 

Think about how many people will have a smile on their face simply because of your blood. There are the three people whose life you have saved, and their friends and their families whose lives have been blessed, and all this simply because you donated your blood. It is the best and most rewarding feeling in the world. 

So, why is donating important to me? I donate because I want to. I love donating blood because it's my way of giving back, there's nothing better that I can do for myself and others than give back. I donate because I care about people in pain. It's important for me to donate because it makes me happy to know that a part of me will give someone the gift of life. I donate because a part of me will make someone happy.  

                                          

                    Don't forget, after every donation you get FREE COOKIES! 

Food Worth Dying For

I recently came upon this video that I simply had to share with everyone. The Heart Attack Grill is one of the most unhealthy food establishments I have ever heard of. This establishment is a hospital theme restaurant that refer to their waitresses as "nurses", take orders "prescriptions" from the customers "patients" A tag is placed on the patient's wrist showing their orders. The manager, known as "Dr. Jon", examines each patient with a stethoscope before and after their meal.
The menu consists of four types of cheese burgers; "Single," "Double," "Triple" and "Quadruple Bypass hamburger (named after the Heart Bypass Surgery). These burgers range anywhere from 0.5 to 2 lb of beef (up to 8000 calories) and all you can eat fries.
To make matters worst, they do not have any diet beverages and their French Fries are deep fried in 100% lard. The hamburger buns are also toasted with a lard spread. They have no lettuce in their hamburgers because lettuce is considered healthy. Their milkshakes consist of milk, chocolate and butter.
If you are able to eat an entire Triple Bypass or Quadruple Bypass, you get a final check up by the Doctor and then transported from your seat to your car seat in a wheelchair by one of the nurses.

Perhaps the most astonishing thing about this restaurant is the fact that the owner of The Heart Attack Grill  was originally a nutritionist! Another shocking fact is that customers over 350 lb (160 kg) can eat for free and have unlimited burgers as long as they can prove their weight by weighing themselves with a "doctor" or "nurse" before each burger.

I wasn't too sure of what to think when I saw this video, I was speechless and shocked at the amount of success this restaurant has. Looking at the burger, it doesn't even look appetizing - it just looks absolutely disgusting. The message alone that this restaurant sends out encourages people to live an extremely unhealthy lifestyle and to live for the moment that really and truly won't last. According to Jon Basso (owner of the establishment) you only live once so you should live each day at a time. I agree with this statement to some extent. I agree that we should live each day like it's your last try new things and new adventures, live for the moment. However, I do not encourage 'living for the moment' when it becomes a risk for your health. No matter how amazing the food is, the taste is only temporary,the calories will last. It is a matter of smart thinking, do the things you wish to do but within reason. If you are extremely over weight, you already have several health conditions that you need to take care of. Harming your body further is the last thing you want to do. This is literally food worth dying for, and this was the case for the spokesman of The Heart Attack Grill who died at the age of 29 on March 1, 2011 weighing in at a whopping 575 lb!

I woke up, wishing I was in Egypt

Egypt's Vice President Omar Suleiman announced on February 11, 2011 that Hosni Mubarak has officially stepped down as president and that the Egyptian Military will take over temporarily until the next elections in September.
I want everyone to realize something realize the beauty of this revolution. It is because the youth of Egypt took a stand for what they believe in! These are people who are my age, your age, parents, sisters, brothers, aunts uncles, cousins.. They all came together to change Egypt to make a better Egypt. This means that every single one of us can make a difference and that's what its about.. its about our generation making a difference in the world. Don't ever let anyone tell you you can't change the world because believe me, you can. Don't ever stop dreaming because dreams do come true!

The Beauty that is Egypt

As a child, I noticed every part of Egypt. You don't have to be a genius to realize the beauty that is Egypt

I remember pointing out the Pyramids and think that there is no greater beauty in the world

I would think of the History of Egypt and think if I ever have a daughter, her name would be Cleopatra

I would go to the Pharaonic Village millions of times and still be fascinated by history every single time 

I went to Luxor and Aswan and decided, I want to be a tour guide to let everyone know what history is about

I was so young, and so clueless, yet I was fully aware of the beauty that is Egypt

I was aware of the history and the culture that made Egypt what it is and I loved Egypt because of it

I remember the heart of the Egyptian people

I have never in my life met a group of people who were so willing to pay for my meal

So willing to literally give me their last drop of water 

I have never met anyone who will continue to smile even though their day was not worth smiling about

I will never forget looking at the Nile and thinking there is no greater moment than this

I have never felt so secure in my life than this very moment

I remember visiting Alexandria and carving my name on the shore of the Mediterranean 

I would drive by the Baron castle and stare at it in amazement even though I live five minutes away from it

The most memorable memory I have in Egypt, would be when I volunteered at the Awladi Orphanage

I would go daily after school to visit this orphanage to see the kids there

I was only in grade 6 but, I guess my kindness comes from the Egyptian heart that I have

These kids didn't have money, clothes, homes, parents, yet these kids would smile over the smallest things.

This is what Egypt is. Egypt is happiness. Egypt is kindness. Egypt is generous. Egypt is love. 

And it is because of all this Mother, that I truly believe that there is a heaven on Earth

It is right by the Nile and the pyramids and in your heart. 

And it is because of you Mother That I am who I am today 

You are the beauty that is within me. 

The truth behind the lies

1. Who voted for Mubarak anyways? 

The reason why I singled out the word "president" is because he is nothing more than a selfish, ruthless dictator. He is far from a president and I personally would be scared if this guy was to manage a coffee shop let alone manage an entire country.
Hosni Mubarak was appointed as the Vice President of Egypt in 1975 and became president of Egypt in 1981 after the assassination of Anwar El Sadat. He has now been the ruling president of Egypt for almost 30 years. Mubarak did not rightfully earn his peoples votes as president, he was appointed president because he was a vice president. Ever since he became president, many people have been uncomfortable to vote due to the thugs that threaten the Egyptian people by being present where the voting takes place as well as watch closely who you are voting for. The elections are rigged anyways so it's pointless to even consider voting because your voice is not heard.

2. The Case of Ayman Nour

Ayman Nour wanted to run against Mubarak as well as make running for government open to all candidates and has a strong interest in human rights. Nour was a threat to Mubarak because Nour used his political party (Liberal Democratic Perspective) as a platform to call for constitutional reform therefore limiting the presidents power. Ayman Nour was arrested on January 29, 2005 for "forging Powers of Attorney" on which happens to be the same year as elections. While in prison, Nour denied the charges and was believed to be innocent by most of the Egyptian people as well as by some political leaders. The White House released this statement shortly after Ayman Nour's arrest:

"The United States is deeply troubled by the conviction today of Egyptian politician Ayman Nour by an Egyptian court. The conviction of Mr. Nour, the runner-up in Egypt's 2005 presidential elections, calls into question Egypt's commitment to democracy, freedom, and the rule of law. We are also disturbed by reports that Mr. Nour's health has seriously declined due to the hunger strike on which he has embarked in protest of the conditions of his trial and detention. The United States calls upon the Egyptian government to act under the laws of Egypt in the spirit of its professed desire for increased political openness and dialogue within Egyptian society, and out of humanitarian concern, to release Mr. Nour from detention."
Ayman Nour was released from prison due to health issues and joined the Protest on January 25, 2011. While praying in the mosque, he was hit in the head with a stone or a rock that was thrown at him. He was in the hospital where he is now in stable condition. 


3. Theifs


The British Guardian newspaper reported that Mubarak and his family might be worth anywhere between $40 - $70 billion due to corruption, kickbacks and business activities. Mubarak shares this wealth with his family, they have houses in London, Paris, Madrid, Dubai, Washington, New York, Frankfurt and several houses in Egypt. Mubarak's sons Alaa and Gamal both have Hyundai dealerships and own a few Chili's restaurants as well. Now for all those who think that they can seize Mubarak's assets and fortune when he leaves office are sadly mistaken because Mubarak has his billions stacked in Swiss and British bank accounts. 
Mr. Mubarak, what have you done for 30 years? Robbed your people of their freedom, their democracy? Their life? Where did you get the billions of dollars that you have? Why are people literally searching the garbage trying to find food Mr. Mubarak? Where has our tax money gone? Where is the 1.3 billion dollars that is suppose to be given to Egypt annually? Mubarak, all you have done in your 30 years of power is stacked billions and starved millions.
A few people have told me that I don't give him enough credit because he was a soldier in the October 6th war and fought for Egypt and risked his life for Egypt. Mubarak, you were not the only soldier on the 6th of October so don't call yourself a war hero. Mubarak, you are a criminal, you are a loser and you do not deserve Egypt.

4. Omar Suleiman
I won't get into too much detail about Omar Suleiman as the next sentence pretty much sums what kind of person he really is. Suleiman was appointed as vice president of Egypt on January 29, 2011. That's right.. it took Mubarak 30 years to finally appoint a vice president. Mubarak appointed Suleiman whose career is marked by widespread abuses. Reporters, victims of torture and human rights groups charge that as head of Egypt's main intelligence agency, Suleiman had overseen the systematic use of torture on detainees, sometimes under the United States command and in one instance he personally tortured a detainee. He recently threatened and warned the street demonstrators of a potential martial law. Egyptians refer to him as Mubarak II. This is our vice president, the head of the CIA who is known for the torturing of detainees. Can you imagine what he would do to anti-government activists that have been in the media spotlight?

5. Emergency State Law

The Egyptian emergency law rule states that by law, police powers are extended, constitutional rights are suspended and censorship is legalized. The law also states that any non-governmental political activities such as street demonstrations, non-approved political organizations, unregistered financial donations are formally banned. Under the emergency state law, the government has the right to imprison an individual for any period of time and for virtually no reason therfore keeping them as a prisoner without trials for any period.
Again for those who are in denial lets take a look at the protest that happened on January 25 2011. How many people were killed during this protest which was intended to be a peaceful protest? Mubarak gathered his thugs along with police to do whatever needs to be done to get people off the streets. These martyrs were killed simply because they were asking for their rights as human beings. Others severely injured simply because they want to be treated like human beings they want their God given rights in which they deserve. Ayman Nour is a great example of how and when an innocent person can get locked up for virtually no reason. Censorship is legalized in Egypt, during this revolution the Egyptian State television broadcasts inaccurate information showing PRO Mubarak peaceful protests and fails to show the main protest in Tahrir (Liberation) Square where the PRO Mubarak protesters are on camels and horses, with weapons and tear gases trying to beat all the anti-Mubarak protesters.

I can go on and on with the corrupt government, the police brutality, the dictatorship, the lies, the stealing and crimes, people such as Habib El Adly and Ahmed Ezz who are involved in these crimes and so forth but I believe that these things speak for themselves when you see stations such as BBC and CNN. All I can say is that these people are professional liars and no matter what they say, we demand democracy.

Here is a personal message I would like to send to all the PRO-Mubaraks, the Mubarak Regime, and anyone else who has the smallest ounce of respect for Hosni Mubarak :

I would personally like to thank Mr. Mubarak for his amazing leadership. Thank you for ruining Egypt for the last 30 years. Thank you for making sure that Egyptians do not have any rights or freedom. I would also like to thank him for allowing each Egyptian civilian to live freely and equally. After all, Christians and Muslims in Egypt are treated equally right? I mean, I am a Muslim and I can build a mosque anywhere I want without a license or permit but for my good friend who happens to be a Coptic Christian, she has to take permission to build a church. Thank you Hosni! Now I would also like to take time to thank Mr. Mubarak for taking five days to respond to the Egyptian protesters on the streets. I would like to thank him for choosing a vice president from the same regime as him. This is his way of making 'change'. He sure does care about Egypt doesn't he? Where was Hosni when the museum was getting broken into and our history was getting stolen? Sun bathing in Sharm El Sheikh. Where was Hosni when Tahrir (Liberation) Square was on fire and the thugs are firing gun shots and killing the protesters? What rights do the protesters have? God forbid they ask to be treated like human beings. Stop blaming everything on the Islamic brotherhood, they will not gain power as the people of Egypt will not allow it and will continue to protest until someone who is not from a military force or a religious sector is chosen. 
It is pretty ridiculous that you don't mind Mubarak staying in power until September. Of course, let him stay in power until September its no big deal. Never mind the martyrs that got killed because they wanted freedom. Nevermind the fact that they died trying to defend you and fight for your rights. They died so that Egypt can live. Nevermind the thugs that were bribed by the Mubarak regime to get rid of the anti-government protesters. You will probably agree with Mubarak about the fact that these PRO Mubarak's are just regular people protesting. Regular people don't have weapons, they don't have batons or tear gases and they certainly don't have horses and camels. But it's okay, let him stay until September so that he can continue to steal our tax money and continue to steal the funds coming from the United States. Do you know that Egypt is the second highest country to be funded by the United States? Egypt alone gets 1.2 billion dollars from The U.S. Obviously neither you nor I nor will any Egyptians actually see that money. I wonder where that money went because it's clearly not going to the people. Clearly it's not going to the country -- it is going into someone's pocket. We struggle for food, we struggle for water, we struggle for bread and for the simple necessities of life. We have low income and can barely afford the over priced food the economy continues to sink in Egypt but it doesn't matter because poor people don't have a voice in Egypt. They are poor, they don't deserve to be heard. This is the type of garbage you are trying to tell me. I don't care if you are Muslim, Christian, Black, White, Straight or Gay we are all humans and should be treated as such. But it's okay, we should let Hosni Mubarak stay in power to continue to starve the people who work incredibly hard for to get $100 or $200 a month. We should let Hosni Mubarak stay in office until September to ensure that he steals as much money as he could to make a nice account outside of Egypt. Under Mubarak's power, he has the right to arrest people without charge, detain prisoners indefinitely, limit freedom of expression and assembly and maintain a special security court. This is our emergency law! 
So when Mubarak is in office until September and for the next 8 months when Egyptian's don't have any rights as human beings no one should complain because apparently it's okay not to have human rights. 
One way of the other we are going to have our voices heard. Our dreams will come true no matter what. Kill us, burn us, torture us, abduct us, do whatever you want to do to us but our dreams will come true. No longer will we sit back and watch you destroy our home, our history, our lives. Do you hear me Mubarak? Our voices will be heard and your days are numbered. You are an embarassement to Egypt and you should be ashamed of yourself for allowing one drop of blood to drip on our soil while you grip onto power. 
I have never seen so many people wear their hearts in their sleeves hope for hope and live for their dreams. We stood silent for years while shedding tears over you. Mother we love you and we will always take care of you. 

                                                  
        Mubarak, get the hell out of our country!

To the People That I Love

Today, is the million man march in Egypt. I am sitting here trying my very best to stay awake, knowing how tired I will be in the morning because this is by far the most incredible thing I have seen to come from the Egyptian nation in a long time. The video I posted today, literally took my breath away. It is amazing to see the people of Egypt uniting together to make a change, whether it be to fight for liberty or to continue to take care of their country. I haven't seen this sort of dedication and commitment from an entire nation before and it really is heart warming to see this. Well done Egypt, no matter what, you will always be our jewel.

I have compiled a few photos that I found of my courageous brothers and sisters at home which blew me away:

Injured protesters

Egyptian women mourning and fighting for the rights of the
 martyrs who lost their lives during the revolution.

An Egyptian woman flees as Egyptian anti-riot police
 clash with protesters in Cairo, Egypt. Jan 28 2011

An Egyptian woman confronts riot police during anti-Mubarak
 demonstrations in Cairo. (Credit: Victoria Hazou AP/SIPA press)

An Egyptian anti-government activist kisses a riot
 police officer (her son) following clashes in Cairo. Jan 28, 2011

Credit for Photo: Toronto Star

 I decided to write this post and dedicate it to every protester in the streets of Egypt, every martyr that sacrificed their life for the freedom of the people. This post is dedicated for every Egyptian who is fighting for their rights, who has fought for their rights, who is fighting for change. This is for all the Egyptians who are not
afraid.

Though I may not know you personally, and though I may never see you in my life, I want you to know that your acts of bravery and courage will not go unnoticed. You are our heroes, you are the reason that Egypt is still alive and because of your courage and bravery, you are the reason that Egypt will continue to be the beautiful country that it is and will continue to rise and stay alive. Thank you! Thank you for taking a stand and thank you for speaking your mind and thank you for being the amazing individuals that you are. I wish I was in Egypt right now to fight this battle with you to be a part of you and to be the change I want to see in my home. I apologize on behalf of myself and on behalf of all Egyptians living abroad that we could not physically be there to help you fight. You are always in our thoughts, in our minds, in our prayers and in our hearts and we have done our very best to make sure that you are not forgotten and that the world has heard your cries. We have had our own rallies and protests all around the world, in support of your cause. You are not alone. I am proud of every Egyptian who has taken this stand, you will soon see, the world is by your side.
And though I may not know you personally, and though I may never see you in my life, I want you to know that I love each and everyone of you.

In Solidarity with the People of Egypt and Tunisia

Yesterday was a great day. A rally was made in downtown Toronto to spread awareness of the issues surrounding the Egyptian revolution. It was amazing to see Torontonians from all sorts of backgrounds come together united in support of Egypt, Tunisia and all other countries that are being oppressed under dictatorship and Islamic regimes. The police who were monitoring the rally also helped with answering questions and spreading awareness to the people who just happened to be passing by Dundas Square. An on looker approached me and asked me why I was here, I explained to her that we have had a dictatorial regime for 30 years and we will no longer be silenced while our country is being destroyed. She was very moved by comments, what attracted her the most is when I explained to her that we are unable to contact our families because the wireless network including internet and cellular phones are not in service in Egypt. She quickly picked up one of the PRO Egypt signs that were provided and went in the crowd. While in the subway station, a few people approached me seeing my sign and my flag hanging behind my back, one person in particular approached me and shook my hand while saying "You can and will make a change."  As well, a TTC bus driver saluted me as I got off the bus.
The tremendous amount of support that we received is really incredible. Thank you!
As I was reading different news articles I came across a CBC article that was talking about the rally held in downtown Toronto. The comments at the bottom of the page from viewers were shocking and were far from supportive. I have put my input in red to outline my opinion on these comments.

x-pack wrote:Posted 2011/01/30 at 4:05 AM ET 
Go home and protest there , leave us Canadians alone ..
Us Canadians? I have a document here stating that I too am a Canadian. Most of the protesters in yesterdays rally were Canadian as well. 
Rob366366 wrote:Posted 2011/01/29 at 9:27 PM ET
Didn't the G20 teach you anything? Protesting is illegal in Canada. 
Oh really? Since when? This is news to me considering that I was protesting yesterday in front of about 10 cops who in fact were supporting the cause. 
manchester wrote:Posted 2011/01/29 at 8:33 PM ET
something I have never agreed to,,,go protest in your own country,,,,
Airlines are cancelled, I CAN'T GO TO MY COUNTRY. 
Seal and Gravy wrote:Posted 2011/01/29 at 1:49 PM ET
Go home and rally !
I CAN'T GO HOME. I have two homes and Canada, is one of them. So.. I am home. 
rakki004 wrote:Posted 2011/01/29 at 1:46 PM ET
Another Protest? If you wanna protest go back to egypt and protest. This is not our problem. Dont waste our resources.
What resources? It's not about whose problem it is, it is about freedom for all. 
farnorth55 wrote:Posted 2011/01/29 at 2:30 PM ET
I’m so flippin’ sick and tired of people that immigrate to Canada referred to with duel countries, like Egyptian-Canadians, Indo-Canadians and such. We immigrated to Canada over 50 years ago from England, me I’m just a plain old Canadian. The same applies to duel or multiple citizenship, what the hell is up with that? Once you receive citizenship in a country your loyalties are to that country and government alone, none of the double dipping stuff………………… 
You immigrated from England? So, correct me if I am wrong.. You are an immigrant from England?
Defeated wrote:Posted 2011/01/29 at 5:14 PM ET
Do NOT start that crap here in Canada!
If these protesters want to support their former country,they should go back there to do it!
Protesting here on canadian soil does NOTHING to help the situation,and I hope they are being watched closely.
This is Canada...not Egypt...remember?  did they not?
It's not my FORMER country, it is MY country period. And why would we be watched closely? Are we criminals for protesting or something? As a Canadian, I have fundamental rights. My rights as a Canadian include:
a. Freedom of Consiouc and religion
b. Freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression
c. Freedom of PEACEFUL ASSEMBLY
I am an immigrant, isn't it funny how I know my rights better than you do? 
Specimen Yarp wrote:Posted 2011/01/29 at 7:27 PM ET
It's time to end dual citizenship. Either you have 100 percent loyalty to Canada, or you get out.
For all the ignorant people out there, Canada is a cultural mosaic. It seems to me that you want Canada to be a melting pot. If thats the case, USA is right across the border. 
GWP... wrote:Posted 2011/01/29 at 7:24 PM ET
Keep your protests out of my Canada.
Your Canada? Good one! 


I noticed that a few readers were comparing our protest yesterday to the Tamil protest that took place last year. The Tamil protest that took place last year, was held on the DVP and the DVP Ramp. There were also children that were standing in the front line. The Egyptian protest that we did yesterday was pre-planned. The City of Toronto was contacted and was aware that we are having a demonstration at the heart of downtown. We received a permit from Dundas Square to have our protest there and the Toronto Police was contacted to monitor the protest. We also had families and children hand out candies, cookies and chocolates to the police officers, pedestrians and the protesters. As far as I am concerned, our protest was a huge success, we have a lot of supporters and it was a peaceful family friendly protest. Once again, thank you Toronto Police and the City of Toronto for allowing us to have this event. 


Special thank you to all my friends for the great support you have given me and Egypt. A special shout out to Al Henderson, Atiya Jacquesson, Myriam Theodule and Shyanne Spilchen. 

Mubarak the end is Near

Today is an important day in Egyptian history. Today is the day that the Egyptian nation finally takes a stand demanding an end to President Hosni Mubarak's 30 year dictatorial regime. That's right, THIRTY years.. since 1981!  


"This is the first time I am protesting, but we have been a cowardly nation. We have to finally say no," said 24-year-old Ismail Syed, a hotel worker who struggles to live on a salary of $50 a month.


Thousands of protesters surrounded the streets of Egypt on January 25, 2011  in an attempt to express their rage over government corruption and the failing economic policies. The Egyptian nation needs security, they need assurance, this is the key to building a proper nation. We don't have health insurance, we don't have education, we don't have jobs, we don't have proper salaries, we barely even have food to feed the nation. WE HAVE NOTHING!
 It's hard to believe that in the days of Anwar El-Sadat (former Egyptian president), Egypt was known for its power and its riches - now people can barely feed themselves. This needs to end, the dictatorship ends here. Egyptian activist Mohamed El Baradei took to his twitter to talk about the issues of the protest and the president.

"I sympathize with you because sometimes you are asked to do things that you do not want to do.One day, I hope that you will regain your role as the protectors of the people; rather than protectors of ... fraud elections. I am sure that every one of you deep inside is looking forward to the day that his role will again be with the people and a part of them, rather than against them.Threats of violence against participants in peaceful demos reveal the ugly face of a regime terrified of its own people"

Now is the time to stand up for your rights, stand up for your freedom stand up for your family, stand up for your people, STAND UP FOR WHAT YOU BELIEVE IN. Enough is enough Mubarak we are no longer going to tolerate a leader that cares more about his pay cheque then he does about his country and his people. He is not a leader, he is a COWARD. Its time to see a brighter and happier Egypt. 


Unfortunately I am currently not in Egypt and unable to physically support my brothers and sisters. However, I am with them in spirit. We will be having a peaceful awareness protest in downtown on Saturday January 29 2011. We are here standing in solidarity with you, supporting your struggle for a free and honorable living, democratic governments and human rights. We are here to raise awareness in Canada and to tell the Egyptian regime that we are all watching and their cries against the people will not be tolerated.
 If you would like to support Egypt please visit the event page at : http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=185655478122291


I cannot express to you enough how proud I am of all the Egyptian people for taking a stand. You are all heroes and you are all brave your cries have been heard and the whole world is standing be your side. We love you and we will always support you. Change is on its way.


I dream of an Egypt where everyone is treated equally. I dream of an Egypt where freedom is a right. I dream of an Egypt where there is no discrimination. I dream of an Egypt without a corrupt government. I dream of an Egypt where each person is treated like a human and the government actually gives a shit about each person. I dream of an Egypt where people can afford to raise a healthy family, where people have enough money to feed their children. I dream of an Egypt that provides education for it's children. I dream of an Egypt where there is insurance and assurance. I dream of an Egypt that has the funds and the medication to save as many sick lives as possible. I dream of a peaceful Egypt. I dream of an Egypt where freedom of speech is encouraged. I dream of an Egypt that has job opportunities and an acceptable salary. I dream of a poverty-free Egypt. I dream of an Egypt with a leader that we can respect. I dream of an Egypt without Hosni Mubarak. 

                            I love you so much Egypt