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Joëlle Kabisoso: Giving Black girls and women a platform to seek justice

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BY SYDNEY WALCOTT

Being a victim of sexual assault is a trauma one will never forget, or get over, but if they do overcome what they have endured, it is not an easy process.

In 2013, Joëlle Kabisoso, then age 17, was the victim of a racially motivated hate crime when she was gang raped by five White boys, who then posted a video of the assault on X, formerly known as Twitter, with a racial caption. Unfortunately, Kabisoso did not receive the justice she deserved for the case because the assigned detective told her, “Maybe you shouldn’t drink too much.”

The injustice Kabioso experienced made her realize that the system needed changes, and she chose to act on this realization. Representing the city of Hamilton under the Black Youth Action Plan campaign, Violence 360, Kabiososo participated in the campaign to help highlight the lived experiences of many Black youths across Ontario, how they navigate different systems after experiencing violence, and whether there are any systems in place to provide support.

As a sexual assault survivor, Kabiososo talked about the lack of support she received when she reported her rape to the police, nor was she made aware of any additional services that would help her. The campaign highlighted Kabiososo’s experience to ensure that another youth does not endure what she and other youths endured.

The campaign happened in four cities across the province. These cities were: Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor, and Ottawa. The campaign brought together various MPs and city officials to hear the perspectives of Black youths and figure out what the next steps are to ensure Black youths will no longer be traumatized by the different systems in place.

In 2018, Kabiososo established Sisters in Sync following the success of the Violence 360 campaign, where she continues to advocate for equitable access to justice and services for Black girls and women through three different pillars.

The first pillar consists of encouraging self-esteem. The pillar comes from the campaign when it came to light that a lot of Black girls and women were not disclosing experiences, whether it be: sexual assault, bullying, workplace harassment, or microaggressions, because they felt no one would believe them, leading to the self-esteem pillar coming into place. The pillar is about instilling a level of self-esteem that makes them feel as if no matter where they go, they will receive adequate support.

There is an emphasis on the need to share their story so more people can be aware of what is going on. This will empower people to continue to talk and have a community leader to go to for the services and support they need if the police do not listen to them.

The second pillar involves advocacy, which involves shifting the way how the community and the system supports survivors. Through findings, Kabiososo noticed a lot of the work is being put on by girls and women, mainly Black girls, and women, to always be the ones to speak up on issues that affect them. This stems from allies and communities not being equipped to respond properly. That is why, through workshops, the focus is on centering the voices of Black girls and women while putting the responsibility on friends, relatives, and teachers to step in upon witnessing anything that negatively affects Black girls and women through the right training and knowledge.

The last pillar is about promoting a holistic life experience. A lot of the girls come from immigrant families and rarely get to experience positive things from their girlhood. Concerts and sleepovers are some things these girls miss out on, because of responsibilities at home. Through discussions and activities, this pillar gives Black girls the chance to experience their girlhood like how their white counterparts do. For the adults, Sisters in Sync recently established a program to help Black women move away from the hustle mentality. The program helps introduce them to different hobbies that allow Black women to exist outside of trauma and/or productivity.

During the pandemic, Kabisoso held various online workshops to provide girls and women with any support they needed. The workshops helped Kabiososo realize there was never something to highlight adolescent girls on their potential and achievements. Upon finding out there was an International Day of The Girl, the feedback they received, and realizing the lack of big-scale award celebrations for adolescent girls, The “You Go, Girl! Awards” was born.

“Sometimes on your journey, you just need somebody to tell you to keep going,” said Kabisoso.

The “You Go, Girls Awards” is about letting girls know from a young age they are capable of doing great things, and don’t have to wait until they’re older to accomplish what they want to do in life.

Set to be held on October 11th, The International Day of the Girl, this year, the recipients, and winners will receive a $500 investment to help invest into a personal development opportunity, their business, or their education. They will also have access to events and opportunities throughout the year, a network of mentors who will provide support and knowledge and goodies provided by sponsors.

As a sexual assault survivor, Kabisoso encourages other survivors to speak and share their experience when they are comfortable doing so. Unfortunately, Black girls and women who are sexual assault survivors don’t receive representation at all, because their stories are never really captured.

Kabisoso first shared her story five years later and acknowledged that some may not share theirs until 10 to 20 years later. She shares there is power and healing when one shares their story, and how Sisters in Sync is here to listen and provide support.

“We cannot be forgotten, and we cannot be erased,” said Kabisoso.

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Forgetting isn’t just something to be annoyed about, it’s a smart way to survive

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Photo credit - Press Foto

BY KHADIJA KARIM

Have you ever forgotten someone’s name, or where you left your phone and thought, “Why can’t I remember anything?” Forgetting might feel frustrating, but it turns out that forgetting things can actually be good for you. Experts believe forgetting might be an important part of human survival and could even have benefits.

You probably think that remembering everything would be better, right? If you remembered every tiny detail, like what you had for breakfast three weeks ago, or the colour of every car you saw today, you would be overwhelmed. Our brains are constantly receiving information, and if we didn’t forget some of it, we wouldn’t be able to focus on what really matters at that time.

Forgetting helps you clear out information you don’t need, and it helps your brain remember the most useful memories. Think about how hard it would be to focus on important things if your mind was filled with random thoughts. Forgetting helps you stay focused and keeps your mind from getting lost.

So, why would evolution make us forget things? Early humans had to deal with dangerous environments that changed quickly. They needed to remember things that helped them survive, like where to find food, or how to avoid predators. They didn’t need to remember every small detail, like what happened last week. Forgetting information, they didn’t need allowed them to make quick decisions based on what was most important at that moment in time.

For example, if you remember a recent storm, you might make sure to stay inside or find shelter. If you remembered every storm you’d ever seen, it would be harder to make decisions about the present. Forgetting irrelevant details helps you stay on your feet and helps you react faster to new situations. This ability to forget likely helped early humans survive and make better decisions in their everyday lives.

Next time you forget something, don’t be too hard on yourself! Forgetting is a natural part of how our brains work and can actually help you stay focused on the important things. It might seem annoying at times, but it’s helping you make better decisions. Forgetting isn’t just something to be annoyed about, it’s a smart way to survive in a world that’s always changing!

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Blink equity dives deep into the gap between people of colour and decision-making roles in Canadian law firms

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Photo Credit: AI Image

BY ADRIAN REECE

Representation in the workforce has been a topic of conversation for years, particularly in positions of influence, where people can shift laws and create fair policies for all races. Representation in the legal system is an even more talked about subject, with many Black men being subjected to racism in courts and not being given fair sentencing by judges.

The fear of Black men entering the system is something that plagues mothers and fathers as they watch their children grow up.

Blink Equity, a company led by Pako Tshiamala, has created an audit called the Blink Score. This audit targets law firms and seeks to identify specific practices reflecting racial diversity among them in Toronto. A score is given based on a few key performance indicators. These KPIs include hiring practices, retention of diverse talent, and racial representation at every level.

The Blink Score project aims to analyze law firms in Ontario with more than 50 lawyers. The Blink Score is a measurement tool that holds law firms accountable for their representation. Firms will be ranked, and the information will be made public for anyone to access.

This process is ambitious and seeks to give Canadian citizens a glimpse into how many people are represented across the legal field. While more and more people have access to higher education, there is still a gap between obtaining that higher education and working in a setting where change can be made. The corporate world, at its highest points, is almost always one race across the board, and very rarely do people of colour get into their ranks. They are made out to be an example of how anyone from a particular race can achieve success. However, this is the exception, not the rule. Nepotism plays a role in societal success; connections are a factor, and loyalty to race, even if people are acquainted.

People of colour comprise 16% of the total lawyers across the province. Positions at all levels range from 6% to 27%. These numbers display the racial disparity among law practitioners in positions of influence. Becoming a lawyer is undoubtedly a huge accomplishment. Still, when entering the workforce with other seasoned professionals, your academic accolades become second to your professional achievements and your position in the company.

What do these rankings ultimately mean? A potential for DEI-inclusive practices, perhaps? That isn’t something that someone would want in this kind of profession. This kind of audit also opens law firms up to intense criticism from people who put merit above all other aspects of professional advancement. On the other hand, there is a potential for firms to receive clientele based on their blink score, with higher ones having the chance to bring in more race-based clients who can help that law firm grow.

It is only the beginning, and changes will undoubtedly be made in the legal field as Blink Equity continues to dive deep into the gap between people of colour and decision-making roles in these law firms. This audit has the power to shift the power scale, and place people of colour in higher positions. There are hierarchies in any profession, and while every Lawyer is qualified to do what they are trained to do, it is no shock that some are considerably better than others at their jobs. The ones who know how to use this audit to their advantage will rise above the others and create a representative image for themselves among their population.

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“The Pfizer Papers!” Documentation of worldwide genocide

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BY SIMONE J. SMITH

We are living in a world where promises of health and safety came packaged in a tiny vial, one injection was promoted by powerful governments, supported by respected institutions, and championed by legacy media worldwide. Sadly, beneath the surface, a darker truth emerged.

Reports from around the globe began to tell a different story—one that was not covered in the news cycles or press conferences. Families torn apart by unexpected losses, communities impacted in ways that few could have foreseen, and millions questioning what they had been told to believe.

Those who dared to question were silenced or dismissed (the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper being one of those sources). “Trust the science,” we were told. “It’s for the greater good.” As time went on, the truth became impossible to ignore.

Now, I bring more news to light—information that demands your attention and scrutiny. The time to passively listen has passed; this is the moment to understand what’s really at stake.

I reviewed an interview with Naomi Wolf, journalist and CEO of Daily Clout, which detailed the serious vaccine-related injuries that Pfizer and the FDA knew of by early 2021, but tried to hide from the public. I was introduced to “The Pfizer Papers: Pfizer’s Crimes Against Humanity.” What I learned is that Pfizer knew about the inadequacies of its COVID-19 vaccine trials and the vaccine’s many serious adverse effects, and so did the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA promoted the vaccines anyway — and later tried to hide the data from the public.

To produce “The Pfizer Papers,” Naomi, and Daily Clout Chief Operations Officer Amy Kelly convened thousands of volunteer scientists and doctors to analyze Pfizer data and supplementary data from other public reporting systems to capture the full scope of the vaccines’ effects. They obtained the data from the Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency, a group of more than 30 medical professionals and scientists who sued the FDA in 2021 and forced the agency to release the data, after the FDA refused to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request.

It was then that the federal court ordered the agency to release 450,000 internal documents pertaining to the licensing of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The data release was significantly and the documents so highly technical and scientific that according to Naomi, “No journalist could have the bandwidth to go through them all.”

The “Pfizer Papers” analysts found over 42,000 case reports detailing 158,893 adverse events reported to Pfizer in the first three months The centerpiece of “The Pfizer Papers” is the effect that the vaccine had on human reproduction. The papers reveal that Pfizer knew early on that the shots were causing menstrual issues. The company reported to the FDA that 72% of the recorded adverse events were in women. Of those, about 16% involved reproductive disorders and functions. In the clinical trials, thousands of women experienced: daily bleeding, hemorrhaging, and passing of tissue, and many other women reported that their menstrual cycle stopped completely.

Pfizer was aware that lipid nanoparticles from the shots accumulated in the ovaries and crossed the placental barrier, compromising the placenta and keeping nutrients from the baby in utero. According to the data, babies had to be delivered early, and women were hemorrhaging in childbirth.

Let us take us to another part of the world, where research has been done on other pharmaceutical companies. A group of Argentine scientists identified 55 chemical elements — not listed on package inserts — in the: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, CanSino, Sinopharm and Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines (according to a study published last week in the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice, and Research).

The samples also contained 11 of the 15 rare earth elements (they are heavier, silvery metals often used in manufacturing). These chemical elements, which include lanthanum, cerium and gadolinium, are lesser known to the general public than heavy metals, but have been shown to be highly toxic. By the end of 2023, global researchers had identified 24 undeclared chemical elements in the COVID-19 vaccine formulas.

Vaccines often include excipients — additives used as preservatives, adjuvants, stabilizers, or for other purposes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), substances used in the manufacture of a vaccine, but not listed in the contents of the final product should be listed somewhere in the package insert. Why is this important? Well, researchers argue it is because excipients can include allergens and other “hidden dangers” for vaccine recipients.

In one lot of the AstraZeneca vaccine, researchers identified 15 chemical elements, of which 14 were undeclared. In the other lot, they detected 21 elements of which 20 were undeclared. In the CanSino vial, they identified 22 elements, of which 20 were undeclared.

The three Pfizer vials contained 19, 16 and 21-23 undeclared elements respectively. The Moderna vials contained 21 and between 16-29 undeclared elements. The Sinopharm vials contained between 17-23 undeclared elements and the Sputnik V contained between 19-25 undetected elements.

“All of the heavy metals detected are linked to toxic effects on human health,” the researchers wrote. Although the metals occurred in different frequencies, many were present across multiple samples.

I am not going to go any further with this; I think you get the picture. We have been sold wolf cookies, very dangerous ones. These pharmaceutical companies must be held accountable. I am proud of anyone who has gone after them for retribution, and have received it. Regardless, in many ways, there is no repayment for a healthy life.

REFERENCES:

https://ijvtpr.com/index.php/IJVTPR/article/view/111

https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/why-a-judge-ordered-fda-to-release-covid-19-vaccine-data-pronto

https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender_category/toxic-exposures/

Pfizer’s ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ — and Legacy Media’s Failure to Report on Them

55 Undeclared Chemical Elements — Including Heavy Metals — Found in COVID Vaccines

 

Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency

FDA Should Need Only ‘12 Weeks’ to Release Pfizer Data, Not 75 Years, Plaintiff Calculates

Judge Gives FDA 8 Months, Not 75 Years, to Produce Pfizer Safety Data

Most Studies Show COVID Vaccine Affects Menstrual Cycles, BMJ Review Finds

Report 38: Women Have Two and a Half Times Higher Risk of Adverse Events Than Men. Risk to Female Reproductive Functions Is Higher Still.

 

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