Rather belated, but I was having some computer troubles that prevented me from posting this photoset. These were taken at Queen’s Park this past Sunday (April 30), in a rally that urged the government to take action in Darfur. In a nutshell, genocide and civil war has resulted in the deaths of 180,000 and the displacement of more than two million civilians – and the Western world has done nothing because it has no vested interest in an African nation lacking diamonds and oil. More photos after the cut.

I took these for One-80 Youth Newspaper, but since I was under the (faulty) impression that it was for the print edition, and the editor hadn’t bothered to clarify that the deadline was yesterday, they used the writer’s photos instead. I can’t be too mad, though, because it turns out it was Ali Zafar’s story – he’s a friend of mine from the School of Journalism. He has an ongoing blog on the Darfur crisis, peep that noise!

To keep this somewhat timely, the Globe and Mail reports that this morning the Sudanese government and the primary rebel force in Darfur reached a peace agreement. Two rebel groups rejected the accord, but they plan to go ahead with implementing its provisions anyway. I’m excited because the peace agreement is a revision of a peace draft written by the African Union (AU). Khartoum had effectively refused UN intervention unless a peace accord had been put in place, which makes a rally like this even more urgent… now is the time for Canada to pool its resources and contribute as a UN member in the rebuilding and peacekeeping processes. Furthermore, African-centred democracy and self-reliance is the only effective way for Africa as a continent to get back on its feet (as seen with organizations like the AU) – but what do I know, I’m no pundit.


David Fradkin, my high school “let’s go get samosas” partner-in-crime.

Emily Krehm dancing

Adam Abdallah, protestor

Dr. Acol Dor speaks to a 1,000+ crowd.

JACK LAYTON YEAH!

Organizers David Berkal and Leora Smith (in red), speakers (L-R) Jonathan Laski, Elfadil Elsharif, Maurice Vellacott, Norman Epstein and Irwin Cotter. They’re screaming. For Darfur.

Queen’s Park

What possessed me to do such a hippie thing? On an ordinary day, cycling from my house at College/Bathurst to school at Yonge/Dundas could include 3 or 4 near-dooring incidents, being cut off (or almost crushed) by trucks, and drivers who ignore bike lanes and side-swipe me. Thankfully, I’ve never been in a crash yet, but it’s bound to happen soon; in the wake of two fatal bike-car accidents this month, participation seems more relevant than ever. So I hooked up with my two bikester/foodster/gumster friends Jason and Matt to, you know, just go around, and take back the streets of downtown Toronto in blissful ecologically-friendly traffic jamming with 120+ other cyclists.

A plethora of photos follow…

Partners in crime.

The meeting place at Bloor and Spadina (click for a full size view)

Something… in my teeth.

Bikesters.

On Yonge.

Turning onto College at Yonge.

This guy was really stoked on being a bikester.

Crossing the DVP on Danforth Ave.

Bike vs. car

“I wonder what’s in the hatch?”

Going into the Eaton Centre

The route we followed (the pack kept going on after us, but we broke off to go get Mexican food. The foodster element of the night starts there):

It was appalling how pissed drivers got when cyclists got in their way. While turning off Shuter onto Yonge, a Mercedes SUV tried frantically to pass us. The woman in the passenger seat rolled down her window and made a screwface and screamed when she was informed we all intended to pass her. Her husband in the driver’s seat gave us the finger. How you like dem apples?