Author Archives: Byline

PEI Battle Ground for New Media and Journalist with a Disability

A raging human rights battle is being waged on PEI in an ongoing battle for legitimacy between old and new media, as well as accessibility issues for the press

Wayne Thibodeau fb PEI Battle Ground for New Media and Journalist with a Disability photo

Wayne Thibodeau, Guardian no room in the inn for journalists in wheelchairs (Facebook photo)

By Chris Benjamin, OyeTimes – A raging human rights battle on PEI that highlights an ongoing battle for legitimacy between old and new media, as well as accessibility issues for the press, has garnered surprisingly little media attention.

It began in the fall of 2009, when the explosion of news blogging was a mere gathering of volatile gasses. After unanimously voting controversial news blogger Stephen Pate their secretary/treasurer, members of the Island’s press gallery booted him from their ranks. They claimed the issue was spurious content; Pate says it was his association with a disability advocate group—a violation of human rights law.  Continue reading →

Complaint against press gallery goes to court

A human rights complaint involving the P.E.I. legislative assembly’s press gallery has made its way to the courts after the defendants filed an application for a judicial review.

Wayne Thibodeau fb Complaint against press gallery goes to court photo

Wayne Thibodeau, Charlottetown Guardian reporter, named in Human Rights complaint for discrimination on the basis of association, physical or intellectual disability, and source of income. (Facebook photo)

Charlottetown Guardian – In 2010, Stephen Pate filed a complaint with the P.E.I. Human Rights Commission alleging members of the P.E.I. legislative assembly press gallery discriminated against him because of his disability.

Guardian reporters Wayne Thibodeau and Teresa Wright were also named in the complaint, along with CBC producer Donna Allen, who were all members of the press gallery.

They denied the allegations of discrimination.

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The application for a judicial review was filed April 29 after P.E.I. Human Rights Commission chair Anne Nicholson overturned an earlier decision to dismiss the complaint.  Continue reading →

Will an Asteroid Hit Earth on Feb 15?

NASA predicts 2012-DA14 asteroid smaller than football field will pass close to earth

Feb 15 asteroid 300x196 Will an Asteroid Hit Earth on Feb 15? photo

On Feb. 15th an asteroid about half the size of a football field will fly past Earth closer than many man-made satellites.

By Dr. Tony Phillips, NASA – On Feb. 15th an asteroid about half the size of a football field will fly past Earth closer than many man-made satellites, says NASA.

“Since regular sky surveys began in the 1990s, astronomers have never seen an object so big come so close to our planet.”

That’s a pretty close shave! Should be worry? Watch the video and find out.   Continue reading →

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Animation – City Lights of the United States 2012

Updated with animation – Ever wonder what we look like from space? NASA took a picture

USA at night Animation City Lights of the United States 2012 photo

United States – City Lights at Night (NASA photo public domain)

 

 

NASA Earth Observatory – This image of the United States of America at night is a composite assembled from data acquired by the Suomi NPP satellite in April and October 2012. Continue reading →

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US Senate Blocks Disability Treaty

Republicans block treaty citing abortion and home schooling as issues, despite veteran Bob Dole on floor

Bob Dole at Disability vote US Senate Blocks Disability Treaty photo

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) with disabilities on the Senate floor in a wheelchair

Live Leak- Republican Senators on Tuesday voted to block a United Nations treaty that would have helped to protect disabled Americans — including veterans — while they are in foreign countries.

Thirty-eight Republicans voted no, giving them five votes more than necessary to defeat the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities treaty, 61 to 38.  Continue reading →

Supreme Court Confirms Duties of School Board to Students with Disabilities

Failure of the school district to meet needs of a student with a disability was discriminatory

Supreme Court of Canada Supreme Court Confirms Duties of School Board to Students with Disabilities photo

Supreme Court of Canada decides education for children with disabilities is a right (photo Jason Rowe, Flickr Creative Commons)

By Robert Lattanzio and Laurie Letheren, ARCH Staff Lawyers

On November 9, 2012, the Supreme Court of Canada released a decision today in Moore v. British Columbia (Education). This decision will be extremely important to students with
disabilities in the general education system.  Continue reading →

Total Eclipse of the Sun November 13, 2012

On the morning of Nov. 13th the Moon will pass directly in front of the sun in Australia

Total Eclipse of the Sun Total Eclipse of the Sun November 13, 2012 photo

By Dr. Tony Phillips, NASA – People from around the world are converging on the coast of northeast Australia.

The attraction isn’t the Great Barrier Reef, just offshore, or the surrounding rain forests full of wildlife and exotic plants.  Continue reading →