Monday December 10th was the 70th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights. My friend from France sent me this picture of a bridge in France where she had witnessed (from a safe distance) some protesters demonstrating and marching to the city to protest diesel prices, and a host of other issues brought about by Macron’s government.  Meanwhile in Poland, people at the UN Climate Summit are discussing Typhoon Haiyan and other climate disasters as impediments to Human Rights.

This picture made me stop and think.  It’s so serene, and from one minute to the next, everything could change.  I don’t have much more to say, but I like to imagine that the protests in France could be a wake-up call to the rest of the world that things are not ok.  Things could be better, and tyranny doesn’t happen over night.  It is subtly introduced until nobody knows how it started, and nobody knows how to stop it.

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UN General Assembly 1948)
-Dignity and equal inalienable rights of all members of human family foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world
-Disregard and contempt for human rights resulted in barbarous acts, outraged the conscience of mankind.
-Freedom of speech/belief freedom from fear
-As a last resort, or for rebellion against tyranny and oppression, HR should be protected by rule of law
-Common standard of achievement for all peoples and all nations
-Strive by teaching and education to promote respect for these rights and freedoms
Article 1: Born free with reason and consciousness, act together
Article 2: Everyone is entitled to these rights without any distinction
Article 3: Right to life, liberty, and security
Article 4: No slavery!
Article 5: No torture, cruel degrading treatment or punishment
Article 6: Recognition as a person before the law
Article 7: Equality before the law
Article 8: Right to legal representation
Article 9: No arbitrary arrest, detention or exile
Article 10: Right to fair trial
Article 11: Innocent until proven guilty
Article 12: No interference with privacy, family, home. No attacks
Article 13: Freedom of movement
Article 14: Right to seek asylum
Article 15: Right to nationality
Article 16: Right to marry, family protected by society and the State
Article 17: Right to own property
Article 18: Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
Article 19: Freedom of opinion and expression
Article 20: Peaceful assembly
Article 21: Take part in government, equal access to public service, will of the people the basis of the authority of government
Article 22: Right to social security
Article 23: Right to work, equal pay for equal work, unionize
Article 24: Right to rest and leisure
Article 25: Standard of living; food, clothes, housing, medical, social services, and security, esp. mothers and children
Article 26: Right to education, it shall develop personality, strengthen human rights and freedoms, promote understanding, tolerance, and friendship
Article 27: Participate in cultural life of the community, and share in scientific advancement and benefits, and IP rights
Article 28: Social and international order
Article 29: Duties to the community
Article 30: Do not re-interpret this document to destroy the rights and freedoms outlined here

 

UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People (UN General Assembly 2007)
-Indigenous people are equal, the rights of all people are different, and should be respected as such
-All people contribute to the diversity and richness civilization
-Racial, religious, ethnic or cultural superiority is wrong on every level
-Indigenous people should be free of discrimination of any kind
-Indigenous people have suffered from historic injustice
-Urgent need to respect and promote the inherent rights of Indigenous people in the State, and their traditions
Article 1: Right to all human rights outlined in UN Charter and UDHR
Article 2: Free and equal
Article 3: Self-determination
Article 4: Exercise the right to self-determination, autonomy/self-governance
Article 5: Maintain and strengthen their institutions while participating in those of the State
Article 6: Right to nationality
Article 7: Right to life, physical and mental integrity, liberty and security
Article 8: Right NOT to be assimilated or have their culture destroyed
Article 9: Right to belong to an indigenous community
Article 10: Not to be forcibly removed from their lands
Article 11: Right to practice, and revitalize cultural traditions, past and present
Article 12: Right to manifest, practise, develop, and teach their spiritual/religious traditions
Article 13: Revitalize, use, develop and transmit histories, languages, oral traditions, etc. and names
Article 14: Establish and control their own educational systems, and/or State-based education
Article 15: Dignity and diversity of their cultures, traditions and histories
Article 16: Establish their own media, and have access to all media
Article 17: Enjoy fully rights established under labour law; no dehumanizing work
Article 18: Participate in decision-making matters which would affect their rights
Article 19: States shall consult and cooperate with indigenous peoples in matters that concern them
Article 20: Maintain and develop their political, economic, and social systems
Article 21: Improvement of economic and social conditions
Article 22: Particular attention to Indigenous elders, women, youth, disabilities
Article 23: Right to determine and develop strategies for development
Article 24: Traditional medicines, health practices, conservation of plants, animals, and minerals, access to all social and health services
Article 25: Maintain and strengthen their distinctive spiritual relationship with lands, territories, and waters, and coastal seas
Article 26: Right to their lands, territories and resources
Article 27: States establish and implement fair process giving due recognition to Indigenous people regarding land, territories, and resources
Article 28: Redress; restitution, compensation for confiscated lands
Article 29: Conservation and protection of the environment
Article 30: No military activities on indigenous land
Article 31: Maintain, control, protect and develop cultural heritage, knowledge, cultural expressions
Article 32: Determine and develop strategies for their land and territories
Article 33: Determine and develop their own identity/membership, and to obtain citizenship in the State in which they live
Article 34: Promote, develop and maintain institutional structures, customs, spirituality, etc.
Article 35: Determine the responsibilities of individuals to their communities
Article 36: Maintain and develop contacts, even across borders
Article 37: Right to recognition, observance, and enforcement of treaties
Article 38: States shall take appropriate measures (legislative) to follow this declaration
Article 39: Right to have access to financial aid and technical assistance from States
Article 40: Prompt decision through just and fair procedures in conflict resolution with States or other parties
Article 41: The UN and affiliates shall contribute to the realization of this document
Article 42: Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and other agencies will follow up
Article 43: This is the LEAST we could do
Article 44: These rights are granted to male and female indigenous individuals
Article 45: None of this should be used to diminish any indigenous individual
Article 46: Nothing in this document should be used to infringe on the rights of Indigenous individuals

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyday I ask myself this question.  How do I identify myself? I will start with my name: Benjamin Arden Virgil MacDonald.  I was given a biblical name that corresponded with the name of an older relative. Virgil, I assume, corresponds with my birth sign Virgo, and MacDonald the name of my father’s line.

I have thought about my identity since I was 6 years old; I’m also assuming this is about 2 years after I came online as a thinking thing.

As a mixed race person, I think my first thought was “am I white or black?”. There is no one who can answer this question for you.  I’m sure there is a genetic answer, a social answer, a cultural answer, an ontological answer? (Or question?!?).  I don’t know, and that is my personal journey, and not that of my community.

My community here in the city of Toronto consists of my mom, my students, my peers in the music industry, my friends and family, and the thousands of people I see everyday as I move through this fabric of consciousness.  This is my city;  diverse, anonymous, polite, cold, warm, hot, vibrant, dynamic.  Always changing, and always challenging.  I live my life through the lens of music, and I am convinced that music connects all the disciplines from Math, Science, Language, Humanities, Social Sciences, Religion, Physical education, everything! (Still not sure about politics)

I had a dream once: that there were 7 disciplines, and they needed to be united after years of segregation.  They were walled up, imprisoned by a need for specialization, and those who found themselves diversifying were left behind.  The 7 disciplines began to communicate with one another, and realized their differences were what bridged the gap between other disciplines, and they were all inexorably linked to one another in ways they did not yet understand.  They decided to build a community centre.  A 7-sided building with no walls, open to everyone with a thirst for knowledge.  The Maths, Architects and Sciences designed the plans, Physical Health trained trades people to build it, Nutrition filled the centre with healthy food, Spirituality charged the place with strong communal energy, Languages ensured that every culture felt at home, and Art; Art painted the walls, taught everyone how to dance, and filled the space with music.

And then I woke up.  I explore my community through this lens, bringing people together, and striving to learn more about the world everyday,  and music is the fabric connecting it all through sound, vibration, geometry, space, and time.

Welcome to my life through music.