Latest news with #IJF
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Politics
- Hamilton Spectator
Conservative activists gave Alberta government list of ‘inappropriate' books in school libraries
Social conservative activist groups provided Alberta government officials with lists of books now facing prohibition under new provincial content guidelines for school libraries, the IJF has learned. On May 26, Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced the province is bringing in new rules for school libraries after investigations by his office found materials containing depictions of sexual acts, nudity, drug and alcohol use, profanity and other mature content on the shelves in Alberta K-12 schools. Alberta currently has voluntary guidelines for library books, but school boards follow their own processes for selecting age-appropriate and relevant materials for students. Because of the inconsistent standards between school divisions, 'sexually explicit material has made their way onto school library shelves,' Nicolaides said, and so public, separate, francophone, charter and independent schools will be required to follow province-wide guidelines starting in the 2025-26 school year. While the province said it identified multiple books with sexually explicit and inappropriate content, it has so far only named four coming-of-age graphic novels: Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe, Fun Home by Alison Bechdel, Blankets by Craig Thompson and Flamer by Mike Curato. Three of the four books focus on 2SLGBTQ+ characters and themes. Nicolaides told reporters in Calgary on Monday he was alerted to the issue by a group of parents who provided him with excerpts from 'many of these books and other materials' and showed him information suggesting they were available in different schools. However, members of the groups Parents for Choice in Education (PCE) and Action4Canada have since taken credit for supplying Nicolaides with the names of books they wanted removed from school libraries. In an email sent to followers, PCE celebrated the launch of Alberta's public consultation on 'sexually explicit' books in K-9 schools, telling members 'your efforts helped make this happen. 'PCE has worked with concerned parents for the past two years to expose this issue. Using a list prepared by Action4Canada, one of our dedicated volunteers submitted examples of graphic books to government officials—proof that titles like Gender Queer and Fun Home are available to children in Alberta schools. This consultation is a direct result of that work,' the email newsletter reads. PCE is an Alberta-based parental rights group that has previously taken issue with sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) education in schools , gay-straight alliance laws and other 2SLGBTQ-related policies. Action4Canada is a conservative Christian group with more than 60 chapters across Canada. The group promotes deeply conspiratorial beliefs, claiming the Canadian government and education system have been ' infiltrated by radical LGBTQ activists ' and that SOGI education and sexually explicit books are part of a ' global agenda to sexualize children, interfere with parental rights, eliminate the natural family and normalize pedophilia.' After Alberta announced its new library guidelines on Monday, Action4Canada posted on its website , thanking Nicolaides for meeting with their team and responding to their concerns about sexually explicit materials in Alberta schools. In the post, the group said its Calgary chapter has been communicating with government officials over several months, providing evidence of inappropriate books in schools and a 'comprehensive binder' that outlines supposed harms of SOGI education. Nicolaides told the IJF in an email he met with PCE and 'other concerned parents.' He did not respond to questions about whether he met separately with Action4Canada or when these meetings took place. Action4Canada has led campaigns to have sexual education and 2SLGBTQ+ themed books removed from public and school libraries in several provinces. A 36-page list of 'sexually explicit and pornographic books' available in Canadian libraries published by the group includes the novels Gender Queer and Fun Home. The list includes excerpts of text and images from the novels. Many of the same excerpts are found in a document the government of Alberta provided to reporters on Monday showing examples of sexually explicit and graphic content found in library materials. Corinne Mason, professor of women's and gender studies at Mount Royal University, said Nicolaides' initial claim that complaints about school library books had come from parents concerned about books their kids had access to in schools is a 'total misrepresentation of the facts.' 'It's a blatant lie from the minister about what's happened,' they said. Both Action4Canada and PCE are highly organized and well-funded lobby organizations, Mason said. And in the case of PCE, one with strong ties to the UCP government and Alberta's conservative movement. PCE executive director John Hilton-O'Brien was a founding board member and past president of the Wildrose Party of Alberta . During the 2022 UCP leadership race, Danielle Smith and other candidates participated in a forum on education hosted by PCE. Mason said that Action4Canada's campaigns have targeted 2SLGBTQ+ communities as ideological indoctrinators and dangerous to children in a time when the community is being violently harassed by hateful actors as pedophiles and groomers. And that it's problematic if the UCP government has been looking to them for frameworks around what is and isn't appropriate in schools. 'The fact that Parents for Choice in Education and Action4Canada, both of those organizations claim this as a win, I think that should be really, really concerning for folks like myself, who are very concerned about the influence of the parental rights movement generally in Alberta,' Mason said Nicolaides said in an email the actions being taken by the UCP government have nothing to do with the LGBTQ+ community. 'The fact that our actions of protecting young students from seeing porn, child molestation, self-harm and other sexual material in school libraries are being labelled as anti-LGBTQ is frankly irresponsible,' he said. Alberta Teachers' Association President Jason Schilling also expressed concern that the government was willing to meet with special interest groups about library materials, but not educators. 'Parents for Choice in Education and Action4Canada are special interest groups who frequently target the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Their claims that the provincial government is taking direction from them and not educators is questionable and alarming,' Schilling said. PCE told the IJF that its interest 'is in the reasonable rights of parents. Nobody who attacks those rights can expect to escape our criticism. Those claiming that we are discriminating against them are merely using the LGBTQ+ community to excuse their egregious actions.' Edmonton Public Schools, the Calgary Board of Education , and the Library Association of Alberta have all said the province hadn't contacted them about the issue of age-inappropriate books in libraries before Monday's announcement. All provinces provide general orientations about library content, but it remains the business of school boards to decide what books it uses, said James L. Turk, director of the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University. Setting guidelines that block certain types of books from being in any school libraries is 'really unprecedented,' he said. 'What they're doing is censoring books,' Turk said. 'It's an absolute break from whatever any other province has done. It's following the lead of Florida and Texas and Utah and some American states that are moving in this direction.' The Florida Department of Education has removed over 700 books from K-12 school libraries. The agency maintains that no books have been banned in the state and the materials are 'sexually explicit' and don't belong in schools. The number of banned books in Florida spiked after a 2023 law was passed requiring school districts to have a policy for challenging materials that 'depicts or describes sexual conduct, is not suited to student needs and their ability to comprehend the material presented, or is inappropriate for the grade level and age group for which the material is used.' The four books named by Alberta's government have been frequently targeted by censors throughout North America. Gender Queer has the distinction of being the most banned book in the U.S. in 2021 and 2023 , and the graphic novel shared the title of the most banned book in U.S. schools in 2022 with Curato's Flamer. These novels have also received multiple literary awards and continue to be selected for library catalogues by educators because of their ability to grapple with difficult subjects young adults are coping with in their lives, Turk said. 'They do raise challenging issues, but young adults deal with challenging things in their lives, and nobody is forcing anyone to read any of these books when they're in school libraries,' he said. Turk said these books may have been found in K-9 schools in Alberta because for students in grade nine and up they are appropriate. He added that he would be surprised if they appeared in the library catalogues of elementary schools. Nicolaides told the IJF these materials were found in schools across the province, but said they are not naming the individual schools to ensure the safety and security of teachers, staff and students at these libraries. The only specific school that has been identified as part of the province's investigation is an Edmonton public school for students in grades 4-9. Garrett Koehler, press secretary to the minister of education, shared images on social media of Flamer and Gender Queer on the shelves of the school, commenting 'these problematic books were found in and around books like Goldilocks…' Gender Queer has been awarded the American Library Association's Alex Award, given to books written for adults that have special appeal to young adults, ages 12 to 18. The Government of Alberta's press release for its age-appropriate book guidelines policy states the recommended reading age for Flamer is 14 and up, or younger with adult guidance.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Ukraine to boycott World Judo Championships over Belarus's participation under national flag
Ukraine will not take part in the World Judo Championships set for June in Budapest due to Belarus's participation in the competition, the Ukrainian Judo Federation announced on May 29. The decision came after the Executive Committee of the International Judo Federation (IJF) confirmed, following an appeal from Kyiv, that Belarusian athletes are allowed to take part in all international competitions under national symbols from June 1, 2025. Since the outbreak of Moscow's full-scale war, Ukraine has repeatedly called for a ban on Russian and Belarusian athletes from participating in international competitions, including the 2024 Paris Olympics. Ultimately, these athletes were allowed to compete only as "individual neutral athletes" in individual disciplines without using any national symbols related to their countries. While Belarus, an ally of Russia, has not directly participated in the war, it has allowed the Kremlin to use its territory as a staging ground for its operations against Ukraine. According to the Ukrainian committee, the federation said in its response that "the IJF is committed to ensuring that sport serves as a platform for dialogue, unity, and understanding — building bridges, not walls." The Ukrainian Judo Federation condemned the decision, saying that it contradicts "the fundamental principles of fairness, responsibility, and solidarity in the global sports movement." "We firmly believe that allowing athletes from aggressor countries to compete under national symbols is not only a case of political blindness but also a blatant disregard for the victims of war and international law," the statement read. As of March, 591 Ukrainian athletes and coaches have been killed by Russia in the war, with 22 held captive and 11 missing, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said. Read also: How much does a Russian drone attack on Ukraine cost? The question is more complicated than it sounds We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Alberta government travel spending increased by nearly $1 million in 2024
Alberta's cabinet ministers and political staff spent significantly more on airfare, hotels and other travel costs last year compared to 2023, according to an analysis of government expense disclosures. The IJF analyzed over 60,000 expense claims from the previous two fiscal years. In 2024-25, Alberta government ministries spent $4.41 million on travel and hospitality, a 28 per cent increase over the $3.45 million expensed in 2023-24. Nearly 40 per cent of this increase comes from trips taken by cabinet ministers, top ministerial bureaucrats and their office staff. Ministerial office expenses related to travel totalled $1.84 million last year, up about $362,000 from 2023-24. Cabinet ministers alone racked up over $500,000 in travel expenses in 2024-25, 1.5 times more than the previous year. The highest spending members of cabinet include former minister of jobs, economy and trade Matt Jones, his successor Joseph Schow, Minister of Affordability and Utilities Nathan Neudorf and Premier Danielle Smith. The Alberta government's delegation to COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, was the single costliest international trip last year. Minister of Environment and Protected Areas Rebecca Schulz and five staff spent over $90,000 to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference in November 2024, including $58,535 for hotel accommodations. Other big-ticket items billed to taxpayers include $12,924 in airfare for Minister of Energy and Minerals Brian Jean's trip to the Japan Energy Summit and Exhibition and $10,925 for the premier's chief of staff Rob Anderson's flights to the United Arab Emirates. Smith's press secretary Sam Blackett told the IJF that travel is important for promoting Alberta's interests and building relationships. 'It also allows our government to engage with business leaders, investors and organizations, showcasing the province as an attractive place for investment, trade, and economic development,' Blackett said. 'On top of the ongoing trade dispute with the United States, we have a hostile federal government that does not align or support our provincial priorities. That's why it is more important now than ever that we are directly advocating for Alberta's interests.' University of Calgary political scientist Lisa Young said that with 2023 being an election year, 'politicians were very much staying close to home. They probably didn't want to be seen to be swanning around on the public dollar to the same extent. 'In 2024, we're far away from an election. And on top of that, you've got some fairly exceptional things going on internationally that might have driven at least some of the travel.' In the context of tariff threats and changing international trade relationships, the jump in travel spending by the premier's office and executive council or the trade ministry 'makes perfect sense,' Young said. Smith's brief visit to Mar-a-Lago in January to meet with then president-elect Donald Trump reportedly cost taxpayers more than $10,000 . The premier's mission to Washington, D.C., for Trump's inauguration eight days later, which included Smith and three other staff, came with a price tag of at least $15,800, according to public expense disclosures. There were 17 government ministries with travel expenditure increases of 25 per cent or more in 2024-25 compared to the previous year. While the increase in travel spending from the premier's office and the Ministry of Jobs, Economy and Trade were higher than most other departments, the largest year-over-year increase by dollar value, about $120,000, was reported by the Ministry of Health. 'The health spending actually is a bit of a head scratcher for me. I can't think of a particular reason why they would need to spend more money on travel in the health portfolio,' Young said. 'It's a very domestic kind of portfolio, and there's certainly lots going on here that you would think the minister and the minister's staff would be focused on.'
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Olympian Filzmoser journeys from Khi to K2
If determination had a face, it would look like Austrian judoka and four-time Olympian Sabrina Filzmoser's as she cycled her way to Rahim Yar Khan amidst the heatwave that has gripped Pakistan. The retired judoka is on a mission to spread the message of peace and cycling from Karachi to K2 as a part of Judo for Peace expedition. "Alhamdulillah, our Judo legend reached Kot Sabzal, Punjab. It is a small town in the Rahim Yar Khan District, located near the provincial border of Punjab and Sindh," was the message that the Pakistan Judo Federation secretary sent this correspondent, very proudly, as he has been one of the key figures in the organisation encourage women athletes to do more, and he sees Filzmoser's efforts as a way to inspire Pakistanis too. The 44-year-old judoka arrived in Pakistan on May 21, marking the first day of her journey that is aimed at covering sea level to Skardu and onward to the K2 base camp, from where she plans to ascent towards the world's second-highest peak. On her first day, she held a press conference with Pakistan Olympic Association and Sindh Association welcoming her, while she took to the seaview and Jinnah Mousoleum as well accompanied by local judokas and security personal. "Filzmoser is an amazingly brave woman, and she was here in 2023 last time too," Ahmed explained. " This is her mission and her aim, but we as a judo federation are supporting her, we promised to welcome her when we met her abroad. "When she climbed Mount Everest a few years back, and she did that in collaboration with the Nepalese Judo Federation as well. She also started an Everest club at the highest altitude there and she helped them with mats and establishing the club. She wanted to raise the flag of Judo for Peace there. So because of her initiatives and her dedication the International Judo Federation (IJF) has appointed her as climate ambassador. She is also the chairperson of the IJF Athlete Commission. She has been a versatile individual, she is a pilot, worked in the police, as a medical professional, and also won bronze medals at the Olympics. Since she is a member of the judo family, so we are facilitating her with documentation etc, but she hired her own guide, Karakorum, Expeditions, she has funded them and contacted them on her. But we wrote letters to the IGPs of all the provinces for her security, we have spoken to DIGs. We did the same when she came to Pakistan in 2023. "She wanted to start her sea-level to K2 tour two years ago as well. We met her in Abu Dhabi, in Hungary, and before that in Japan at the IJF meets, when she expressed her desire to come to Pakistan, which was a very good thing, I thought. She wanted to come here and train our local players too. "In 2023, she wanted to do this, but we told her that the security situation was not suitable at the time. However, she was very insistent so we had to tell the embassy of her country to tell her not to come here, but still, she decided that she would directly land in Islamabad and cycle through to Abbottabad and then to K2 base camp. She made a cycling club and a club for judo and trained with local athletes as well. She presented her bicycle to the women cyclists at the end of the journey. She went all the way up to the top of K2, but she aimed to cycle from sea level, from Karachi to K2. So she has returned to Pakistan with that aim." Ahmed praised Filzmoser for training the youth in Hyderabad too once she reached there on May 22. She is documenting her journey and interacting with people on the road. She was even willing to go through Moro in Sindh which was not clear for security till May 22. But she carried on her journey to Sukkur as well despite the heat. "Its 52C now for lunchtime between Hyderabad and Sukkur, Sindh area, the village name is Kandyaro. 220km done, 100km to go, already eight hour on the cycle," was the update shared by Ahmed on May 23. According to the press release by PJF on Saturday: After an overnight rest in Rahimyar Khan, the first city of Punjab Province on her route, Filzmoser is scheduled to continue her journey northward, aiming to arrive in Lahore on May 28. Speaking to the media, she described Pakistan as a safe and beautiful country with unmatched hospitality.
Express Tribune
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Judo champ Filzmoser kicks off Pak tour
The Pakistan Judo Federation is honored to announce the visit of Miss Sabrina Filzmoser — four-time Olympian, World Judo Medalist, Chair of the World Judo Athletes Commission, and Climate Ambassador of the International Judo Federation (IJF) — to Pakistan as part of the IJF's globally celebrated "Judo for Peace" initiative. Filzmoser will arrive in Karachi on the morning of 21st May 2025. Her peace-themed journey will commence on 22nd May 2025 with a symbolic cycling departure from Sea View, Karachi, covering a challenging route across Pakistan to Skardu and onward to the K2 Base Camp, from where she plans to begin her ascent of K2, the world's second-highest mountain. This extraordinary expedition merges sport with environmental advocacy, gender empowerment, and peace-building, reinforcing the message that Judo a Japanese sportmeaning "the gentle way"— promotes discipline, respect, and harmony rather than violence. In the wake of recent regional tensions, her timely mission carries greater relevance as a gesture of peace and unity. Filzmoser is no stranger to such courageous undertakings. In 2023, she cycled from Islamabad to K2 Base Camp-II, and in 2022, she completed a journey from the coastline to Everest Base Camp, eventually summiting Mount Everest with the "Judo for Peace" banner. Despite the intense heat of Sindh and Punjab, she is committed to her mission, underscoring her message of peace through perseverance. As the honorary Brand Ambassador of Takbeer Judo Club since 2023, she is also a strong advocate for female empowerment through self-defense training. During her journey, Filzmoser will visit various Judo clubs along the route to identify young talent and will meet with officials from the Pakistan Olympic Association and the Pakistan Sports Board in Islamabad. President Pakistan Judo Federation and national Judo Fraternity extends heartfelt gratitude to Filzmoser for choosing Pakistan for this cause and wishes her success in her inspiring, seemingly inconceivable journey in this scorching heat that exemplifies courage, unity, and peace through sport.
