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REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

Mar 28, 2016

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Reach Magazine. The official e-newsletter of Tamil Youth Organization - Canada
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Page 1: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32
Page 2: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

To work towards theenhancement of theTamil Nation and toprovide an avenue

for the betterment ofTamil youth in canada

TYO

Feature ArticleTamil HistoryWorld HistoryYouth CanadaDid You KnowYouth Re�ectionGet Involded

3456 -15161718

The New Year is an opportunity to look forward to. Also, Thai Pongal is a special occasion for Eelam Tamils. This is a harvest festival - the Tamil equivalent of Thanksgiving. It is held to honor the Sun, for a bountiful harvest. Families gather to rejoice and share their joy and their harvests with others. The Sun is o�ered a "Pongal" of rice and milk.

However, the military occupation of the Tamil homeland and the genocidal intent of the Sri Lankan state have placed Tamils at a critical juncture in 2011. At the dawn of the New Year and Thai Pongal, Tamils face an uncertain future in Sri Lanka.

Currently, over 100,000 Tamil Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are still languishing in the Sri Lankan government run, in-adequately managed, poorly fed, military guarded, and over-crowded detention camps. Furthermore, 150,000 IDPs who were released from months of enforced detention had been dumped in places outside their traditional villages, in towns like Vavuniya, Mannar, Ja�na, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Polonnaruwa and Kandy without any form of assistance in regards to food, shelter, clean water, medical treatment and social reinforcement. Furthermore, most of the homes belonging to the IDPs in the North have been illegally occupied by members of the Sri Lankan armed forces and their families. While forcefully displaced Tamils are languishing in tents and under the trees, the Sri Lankan government is in the process of acquiring their lands to colonize it with majority Sinhalese settlements. The Sri Lankan government continues to employ widespread terror tactics; including forced disappearances, torture and rape on Tamils.

We hope that 2011 brings in an era where Tamil rights and aspirations are realized.

In Solidarity, TYO – Canada

Intr

oduc

tion

Legacy of Tamileelam Heroes

Since the military occupation of the Tamil home-land, Maaveerar Thuyilum Illaams (Resting Homes), where our Great Heroes were laid out to rest in neat rows of graves marked by single tombstones have been vandalized, bulldozed and destroyed. This barbaric act constitutes to a war crime and prevents family members, friends and fellow patriots from paying homage and worshipping their loved ones. Maaveerarillam.com was created to illustrate the sacri�ces of the tens of thousands of Tamileelam Heroes in their pursuit of justice, freedom and equality. Our intent is to give our people scattered across the world an opportunity to remember, pay homage and worship our fallen heroes.

The paying of homage and worshipping warriors has been custom and tradition of the ancient Tamil Nation. By honouring heroes fallen in battle and paying homage to them by erecting tombstones, the custom known as nadugal valipadu-nadugal, the ancient Tamil tradition and custom was once again resurrected.

This site is operated and managed in sole dedica-tion to the Heroes of Tamileelam. Their actions, undying will and perseverance have contributed signi�cantly to the rich history of Tamileelam. It is our �rm belief that identity is linked to history, and the sacri�ces made by Tamileelam Heroes contrib-utes to the history and identity of Eelam Tamils. Through accurate documentation this site aims to educate, commemorate, and preserve both Tamil history and Tamil identity.

The need to preserve the history and sacri�ces of our fallen heroes comes at a critical juncture. The information age has the potential to reach masses. It can also never be censored. In creating a virtual institution to house our fallen heroes, the youth have created an immortal structure where the sacri�ces and history of our fallen heroes will be preserved forever.

Maaveerarillam.com currently has the records of our fallen heroes up until 2004. The long term goal of the project is to make the website a virtual archive that holds all necessary information pertaining to our fallen heroes. The youth working on this tremendous and mammoth project intend to update the website in stages and phases. The hope is to build a Maaveerar archive that can be used for all purposes including scholarly research. The website’s target audience is for the youth aged in between fourteen to thirty years old. Therefore the youth behind this project expect the site to be released in languages such as: English, French, Dutch, and Tamil.

Currently, the pro�les of our Maaveerar could be searched on the website according to the Thuyilum Illam that they were buried in or where their remembrance stone was placed, or according to their year of martyrdom.

The website has surely lived up to its hype. It o�ers interactive features unknown to Tamil websites and incorporates �ash technology that amazes every-one at �rst sight.

Feat

ure

2 3

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32 TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

To work towards theenhancement of theTamil Nation and toprovide an avenue

for the betterment ofTamil youth in canada

TYO

Feature ArticleTamil HistoryWorld HistoryYouth CanadaDid You KnowYouth Re�ectionGet Involded

3456 -15161718

The New Year is an opportunity to look forward to. Also, Thai Pongal is a special occasion for Eelam Tamils. This is a harvest festival - the Tamil equivalent of Thanksgiving. It is held to honor the Sun, for a bountiful harvest. Families gather to rejoice and share their joy and their harvests with others. The Sun is o�ered a "Pongal" of rice and milk.

However, the military occupation of the Tamil homeland and the genocidal intent of the Sri Lankan state have placed Tamils at a critical juncture in 2011. At the dawn of the New Year and Thai Pongal, Tamils face an uncertain future in Sri Lanka.

Currently, over 100,000 Tamil Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are still languishing in the Sri Lankan government run, in-adequately managed, poorly fed, military guarded, and over-crowded detention camps. Furthermore, 150,000 IDPs who were released from months of enforced detention had been dumped in places outside their traditional villages, in towns like Vavuniya, Mannar, Ja�na, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Polonnaruwa and Kandy without any form of assistance in regards to food, shelter, clean water, medical treatment and social reinforcement. Furthermore, most of the homes belonging to the IDPs in the North have been illegally occupied by members of the Sri Lankan armed forces and their families. While forcefully displaced Tamils are languishing in tents and under the trees, the Sri Lankan government is in the process of acquiring their lands to colonize it with majority Sinhalese settlements. The Sri Lankan government continues to employ widespread terror tactics; including forced disappearances, torture and rape on Tamils.

We hope that 2011 brings in an era where Tamil rights and aspirations are realized.

In Solidarity, TYO – Canada

Intr

oduc

tion

Legacy of Tamileelam Heroes

Since the military occupation of the Tamil home-land, Maaveerar Thuyilum Illaams (Resting Homes), where our Great Heroes were laid out to rest in neat rows of graves marked by single tombstones have been vandalized, bulldozed and destroyed. This barbaric act constitutes to a war crime and prevents family members, friends and fellow patriots from paying homage and worshipping their loved ones. Maaveerarillam.com was created to illustrate the sacri�ces of the tens of thousands of Tamileelam Heroes in their pursuit of justice, freedom and equality. Our intent is to give our people scattered across the world an opportunity to remember, pay homage and worship our fallen heroes.

The paying of homage and worshipping warriors has been custom and tradition of the ancient Tamil Nation. By honouring heroes fallen in battle and paying homage to them by erecting tombstones, the custom known as nadugal valipadu-nadugal, the ancient Tamil tradition and custom was once again resurrected.

This site is operated and managed in sole dedica-tion to the Heroes of Tamileelam. Their actions, undying will and perseverance have contributed signi�cantly to the rich history of Tamileelam. It is our �rm belief that identity is linked to history, and the sacri�ces made by Tamileelam Heroes contrib-utes to the history and identity of Eelam Tamils. Through accurate documentation this site aims to educate, commemorate, and preserve both Tamil history and Tamil identity.

The need to preserve the history and sacri�ces of our fallen heroes comes at a critical juncture. The information age has the potential to reach masses. It can also never be censored. In creating a virtual institution to house our fallen heroes, the youth have created an immortal structure where the sacri�ces and history of our fallen heroes will be preserved forever.

Maaveerarillam.com currently has the records of our fallen heroes up until 2004. The long term goal of the project is to make the website a virtual archive that holds all necessary information pertaining to our fallen heroes. The youth working on this tremendous and mammoth project intend to update the website in stages and phases. The hope is to build a Maaveerar archive that can be used for all purposes including scholarly research. The website’s target audience is for the youth aged in between fourteen to thirty years old. Therefore the youth behind this project expect the site to be released in languages such as: English, French, Dutch, and Tamil.

Currently, the pro�les of our Maaveerar could be searched on the website according to the Thuyilum Illam that they were buried in or where their remembrance stone was placed, or according to their year of martyrdom.

The website has surely lived up to its hype. It o�ers interactive features unknown to Tamil websites and incorporates �ash technology that amazes every-one at �rst sight.

Feat

ure

2 3

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32 TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 3: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

To work towards theenhancement of theTamil Nation and toprovide an avenue

for the betterment ofTamil youth in canada

TYO

Feature ArticleTamil HistoryWorld HistoryYouth CanadaDid You KnowYouth Re�ectionGet Involded

3456 -15161718

The New Year is an opportunity to look forward to. Also, Thai Pongal is a special occasion for Eelam Tamils. This is a harvest festival - the Tamil equivalent of Thanksgiving. It is held to honor the Sun, for a bountiful harvest. Families gather to rejoice and share their joy and their harvests with others. The Sun is o�ered a "Pongal" of rice and milk.

However, the military occupation of the Tamil homeland and the genocidal intent of the Sri Lankan state have placed Tamils at a critical juncture in 2011. At the dawn of the New Year and Thai Pongal, Tamils face an uncertain future in Sri Lanka.

Currently, over 100,000 Tamil Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are still languishing in the Sri Lankan government run, in-adequately managed, poorly fed, military guarded, and over-crowded detention camps. Furthermore, 150,000 IDPs who were released from months of enforced detention had been dumped in places outside their traditional villages, in towns like Vavuniya, Mannar, Ja�na, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Polonnaruwa and Kandy without any form of assistance in regards to food, shelter, clean water, medical treatment and social reinforcement. Furthermore, most of the homes belonging to the IDPs in the North have been illegally occupied by members of the Sri Lankan armed forces and their families. While forcefully displaced Tamils are languishing in tents and under the trees, the Sri Lankan government is in the process of acquiring their lands to colonize it with majority Sinhalese settlements. The Sri Lankan government continues to employ widespread terror tactics; including forced disappearances, torture and rape on Tamils.

We hope that 2011 brings in an era where Tamil rights and aspirations are realized.

In Solidarity, TYO – Canada

Intr

oduc

tion

Legacy of Tamileelam Heroes

Since the military occupation of the Tamil home-land, Maaveerar Thuyilum Illaams (Resting Homes), where our Great Heroes were laid out to rest in neat rows of graves marked by single tombstones have been vandalized, bulldozed and destroyed. This barbaric act constitutes to a war crime and prevents family members, friends and fellow patriots from paying homage and worshipping their loved ones. Maaveerarillam.com was created to illustrate the sacri�ces of the tens of thousands of Tamileelam Heroes in their pursuit of justice, freedom and equality. Our intent is to give our people scattered across the world an opportunity to remember, pay homage and worship our fallen heroes.

The paying of homage and worshipping warriors has been custom and tradition of the ancient Tamil Nation. By honouring heroes fallen in battle and paying homage to them by erecting tombstones, the custom known as nadugal valipadu-nadugal, the ancient Tamil tradition and custom was once again resurrected.

This site is operated and managed in sole dedica-tion to the Heroes of Tamileelam. Their actions, undying will and perseverance have contributed signi�cantly to the rich history of Tamileelam. It is our �rm belief that identity is linked to history, and the sacri�ces made by Tamileelam Heroes contrib-utes to the history and identity of Eelam Tamils. Through accurate documentation this site aims to educate, commemorate, and preserve both Tamil history and Tamil identity.

The need to preserve the history and sacri�ces of our fallen heroes comes at a critical juncture. The information age has the potential to reach masses. It can also never be censored. In creating a virtual institution to house our fallen heroes, the youth have created an immortal structure where the sacri�ces and history of our fallen heroes will be preserved forever.

Maaveerarillam.com currently has the records of our fallen heroes up until 2004. The long term goal of the project is to make the website a virtual archive that holds all necessary information pertaining to our fallen heroes. The youth working on this tremendous and mammoth project intend to update the website in stages and phases. The hope is to build a Maaveerar archive that can be used for all purposes including scholarly research. The website’s target audience is for the youth aged in between fourteen to thirty years old. Therefore the youth behind this project expect the site to be released in languages such as: English, French, Dutch, and Tamil.

Currently, the pro�les of our Maaveerar could be searched on the website according to the Thuyilum Illam that they were buried in or where their remembrance stone was placed, or according to their year of martyrdom.

The website has surely lived up to its hype. It o�ers interactive features unknown to Tamil websites and incorporates �ash technology that amazes every-one at �rst sight.

Feat

ure

2 3

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32 TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

To work towards theenhancement of theTamil Nation and toprovide an avenue

for the betterment ofTamil youth in canada

TYO

Feature ArticleTamil HistoryWorld HistoryYouth CanadaDid You KnowYouth Re�ectionGet Involded

3456 -15161718

The New Year is an opportunity to look forward to. Also, Thai Pongal is a special occasion for Eelam Tamils. This is a harvest festival - the Tamil equivalent of Thanksgiving. It is held to honor the Sun, for a bountiful harvest. Families gather to rejoice and share their joy and their harvests with others. The Sun is o�ered a "Pongal" of rice and milk.

However, the military occupation of the Tamil homeland and the genocidal intent of the Sri Lankan state have placed Tamils at a critical juncture in 2011. At the dawn of the New Year and Thai Pongal, Tamils face an uncertain future in Sri Lanka.

Currently, over 100,000 Tamil Internally Displaced People (IDPs) are still languishing in the Sri Lankan government run, in-adequately managed, poorly fed, military guarded, and over-crowded detention camps. Furthermore, 150,000 IDPs who were released from months of enforced detention had been dumped in places outside their traditional villages, in towns like Vavuniya, Mannar, Ja�na, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara, Polonnaruwa and Kandy without any form of assistance in regards to food, shelter, clean water, medical treatment and social reinforcement. Furthermore, most of the homes belonging to the IDPs in the North have been illegally occupied by members of the Sri Lankan armed forces and their families. While forcefully displaced Tamils are languishing in tents and under the trees, the Sri Lankan government is in the process of acquiring their lands to colonize it with majority Sinhalese settlements. The Sri Lankan government continues to employ widespread terror tactics; including forced disappearances, torture and rape on Tamils.

We hope that 2011 brings in an era where Tamil rights and aspirations are realized.

In Solidarity, TYO – Canada

Intr

oduc

tion

Legacy of Tamileelam Heroes

Since the military occupation of the Tamil home-land, Maaveerar Thuyilum Illaams (Resting Homes), where our Great Heroes were laid out to rest in neat rows of graves marked by single tombstones have been vandalized, bulldozed and destroyed. This barbaric act constitutes to a war crime and prevents family members, friends and fellow patriots from paying homage and worshipping their loved ones. Maaveerarillam.com was created to illustrate the sacri�ces of the tens of thousands of Tamileelam Heroes in their pursuit of justice, freedom and equality. Our intent is to give our people scattered across the world an opportunity to remember, pay homage and worship our fallen heroes.

The paying of homage and worshipping warriors has been custom and tradition of the ancient Tamil Nation. By honouring heroes fallen in battle and paying homage to them by erecting tombstones, the custom known as nadugal valipadu-nadugal, the ancient Tamil tradition and custom was once again resurrected.

This site is operated and managed in sole dedica-tion to the Heroes of Tamileelam. Their actions, undying will and perseverance have contributed signi�cantly to the rich history of Tamileelam. It is our �rm belief that identity is linked to history, and the sacri�ces made by Tamileelam Heroes contrib-utes to the history and identity of Eelam Tamils. Through accurate documentation this site aims to educate, commemorate, and preserve both Tamil history and Tamil identity.

The need to preserve the history and sacri�ces of our fallen heroes comes at a critical juncture. The information age has the potential to reach masses. It can also never be censored. In creating a virtual institution to house our fallen heroes, the youth have created an immortal structure where the sacri�ces and history of our fallen heroes will be preserved forever.

Maaveerarillam.com currently has the records of our fallen heroes up until 2004. The long term goal of the project is to make the website a virtual archive that holds all necessary information pertaining to our fallen heroes. The youth working on this tremendous and mammoth project intend to update the website in stages and phases. The hope is to build a Maaveerar archive that can be used for all purposes including scholarly research. The website’s target audience is for the youth aged in between fourteen to thirty years old. Therefore the youth behind this project expect the site to be released in languages such as: English, French, Dutch, and Tamil.

Currently, the pro�les of our Maaveerar could be searched on the website according to the Thuyilum Illam that they were buried in or where their remembrance stone was placed, or according to their year of martyrdom.

The website has surely lived up to its hype. It o�ers interactive features unknown to Tamil websites and incorporates �ash technology that amazes every-one at �rst sight.

Feat

ure

2 3

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32 TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 4: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

On January 1st 1959, facing a popular revolution spearheaded by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement, Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista �ees the island nation. Amid celebration and chaos in the Cuban capitol of Havana, the U.S. debated how best to deal with Fidel Castro and the ominous rumblings of anti-Americanism in Cuba.

Tam

il H

isto

ry

Popular Revolution in Cuba

Wor

ld H

isto

ry

4 5

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Colonel Kittu

Eighteen years have rolled by since the martyrdom of our beloved Colonel Kittu. But the freedom �ame he lit still burns vigorously in the hearts of Tamils. The martyrdom of Kittu and nine martyrs has �rmly rooted in the minds of Tamils. The National Leader of Tamileelam, Hon.Velupillai Pirapa-haran, had profound love and a�ection for Colonel Kittu. His words illustrate the attachment: “I deeply loved Kittu as a brother, as a captain, as a friend. The a�ection is beyond that of ordinary people. It stemmed from mutual understanding that resulted from prolonged relationship in the liberation struggle, namely towards a common goal.” Today Tamils all over the world also consider him as a beloved martyr.

Krishnakumar was born on January 2, 1960, the second the son of the Sathasivam-Rajaluxmy couple of Valvetiturai, a historically popular costal town in the Vadamaradchy region. His father had a small printing press, at Nelliady, Karaveddy, doing jobbing works. In 1978, Krishnakumar joined LTTE and he was christened as Kittu. Colonel Kittu and some of his friends learned war tactics from their leader. Colonel Kittu’s energy and speed distinguished him from others. His quest for knowledge and innate ability to comprehend anything enabled him to understand his leader’s intentions, vision, and unbounded love for his people. Kittu’s numerous skills, speed, and intelligence manifested in his activities and thus earned him respect and admiration of other cadres and his leader. He proved himself in so many occasions. He planned and participated in many ambushes against the occupying Sri Lankan Army including the 1983 ambush which killed 13 Sri Lankan soldiers. Having been a key �gure in the training new recruits around 1984, Colonel Kittu quickly rose to become the commander of Ja�na. It was in this role particularly that he endeared himself to the Tamil people. Always open to suggestion and advice, Colonel Kittu came to be known simply as 'Kittu Mama' (Uncle Kittu) – to even many adults.

Colonel Kittu's latest temporary home became London in 1989, when Kittu, who had lost a leg, arrived amid euphoria as the Tiger's main international contact person to head peace negotiations with the then Sri Lankan government led by R.Premadasa. Many Tamils who came to know him in London quickly realized what Tamils in Ja�na had already; Colonel Kittu was never �amboyant, but strong-willed and disarmingly charming. He won many hearts by personally visiting people's homes to talk about his organization’s determination to secure the political aspirations of the Tamil people.

Apart from the battle�eld and political activity, Colonel Kittu was also a well read man. Poetry was a passion, mostly modern and revolutionary. A talented artist, he spent much of his spare time painting. His paintings re�ected his pain at seeing his people su�er. A true visionary, he realised that the armed struggle was but only one aspect of building a nation. Whilst in London he fostered the growth of community magazines and newspapers. He was also the leading light in founding and the driving force behind the Research Organisation of Tamil Eelam (ROOT), which later became the Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organisation (TEEDOR). The organisation's objective was the economic develop-ment of the Tamil nation. Under his guidance and leadership the organisation held in 1990 its �rst, and highly successful, conference into the economic potential of the Tamil nation.

In late 1992, with peace in tatters once again in Sri Lanka, Colonel Kittu left the United Kingdom to return to Tamileelam. Events turned for the worse, however, when the ship that Colonel Kittu was sailing in was confronted in early 1993 and surrounded by the Indian Navy in international waters. Kittu and his colleagues �atly refused to surrender to Indian authorities. With danger of capture ever increasing as the navy closed in, Colonel Kittu scuttled the ship and went down with nine of his colleagues on January 16. He had once observed "We are building a road. I do not know whether I myself will be alive to see the road being completed. But that does not matter. There will be others to take the road further." His words still holds true. The struggle for freedom and a nation continues today.

The U.S. government had supported Batista, a former soldier and Cuban dictator from 1933 to 1944, who seized power for a second time in a 1952 coup. After Castro and a group of followers, including the South American revolutionary Che Guevara (1928-1967), landed in Cuba to unseat the dictator in December 1956, the U.S. continued to back Batista. Suspicious of what they believed to be Castro's leftist ideology and worried that his ultimate goals might include attacks on the U.S.'s signi�cant investments and property in Cuba, American o�cials were nearly unanimous in opposing his revolutionary movement.

Cuban support for Castro's revolution, however, grew in the late 1950s, partially due to his charisma and nation-alistic rhetoric, but also because of increasingly rampant corruption, greed, brutality and ine�ciency within the Batista government. This reality forced the U.S. to slowly withdraw its support from Batista and begin a search in Cuba for an alternative to both the dictator and Castro; these e�orts failed.

On January 1, 1959, Batista and a number of his supporters �ed Cuba for the Dominican Republic. Tens of thousands of Cubans (and thousands of Cuban Americans in the U.S.) celebrated the end of the dicta-tor's regime. Castro's supporters moved quickly to establish their power. Judge Manuel Urrutia was named as provisional president. Castro and his band of guerrilla �ghters triumphantly entered Havana on January 7.

The U.S. attitude toward the new revolutionary govern-ment soon changed from cautiously suspicious to downright hostile. After Castro nationalized American-owned property, allied himself with the Communist Party and grew friendlier with the Soviet Union, America's Cold War enemy, the U.S severed diplomatic and economic ties with Cuba and enacted a trade and travel embargo that remains in e�ect today. In April 1961, the U.S. launched the Bay of Pigs invasion, an unsuccessful attempt to remove Castro from power. Subsequent covert operations to overthrow Castro, born August 13, 1926, failed and he went on to become one of the world's longest-ruling heads of state. Fulgencio Batista died in Spain at age 72 on August 6, 1973. In late July 2006, an unwell Fidel Castro temporarily ceded power to his younger brother Raul. Fidel Castro o�cially stepped down in February 2008.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

On January 1st 1959, facing a popular revolution spearheaded by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement, Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista �ees the island nation. Amid celebration and chaos in the Cuban capitol of Havana, the U.S. debated how best to deal with Fidel Castro and the ominous rumblings of anti-Americanism in Cuba.

Tam

il H

isto

ryPopular Revolution in Cuba

Wor

ld H

isto

ry

4 5

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Colonel Kittu

Eighteen years have rolled by since the martyrdom of our beloved Colonel Kittu. But the freedom �ame he lit still burns vigorously in the hearts of Tamils. The martyrdom of Kittu and nine martyrs has �rmly rooted in the minds of Tamils. The National Leader of Tamileelam, Hon.Velupillai Pirapa-haran, had profound love and a�ection for Colonel Kittu. His words illustrate the attachment: “I deeply loved Kittu as a brother, as a captain, as a friend. The a�ection is beyond that of ordinary people. It stemmed from mutual understanding that resulted from prolonged relationship in the liberation struggle, namely towards a common goal.” Today Tamils all over the world also consider him as a beloved martyr.

Krishnakumar was born on January 2, 1960, the second the son of the Sathasivam-Rajaluxmy couple of Valvetiturai, a historically popular costal town in the Vadamaradchy region. His father had a small printing press, at Nelliady, Karaveddy, doing jobbing works. In 1978, Krishnakumar joined LTTE and he was christened as Kittu. Colonel Kittu and some of his friends learned war tactics from their leader. Colonel Kittu’s energy and speed distinguished him from others. His quest for knowledge and innate ability to comprehend anything enabled him to understand his leader’s intentions, vision, and unbounded love for his people. Kittu’s numerous skills, speed, and intelligence manifested in his activities and thus earned him respect and admiration of other cadres and his leader. He proved himself in so many occasions. He planned and participated in many ambushes against the occupying Sri Lankan Army including the 1983 ambush which killed 13 Sri Lankan soldiers. Having been a key �gure in the training new recruits around 1984, Colonel Kittu quickly rose to become the commander of Ja�na. It was in this role particularly that he endeared himself to the Tamil people. Always open to suggestion and advice, Colonel Kittu came to be known simply as 'Kittu Mama' (Uncle Kittu) – to even many adults.

Colonel Kittu's latest temporary home became London in 1989, when Kittu, who had lost a leg, arrived amid euphoria as the Tiger's main international contact person to head peace negotiations with the then Sri Lankan government led by R.Premadasa. Many Tamils who came to know him in London quickly realized what Tamils in Ja�na had already; Colonel Kittu was never �amboyant, but strong-willed and disarmingly charming. He won many hearts by personally visiting people's homes to talk about his organization’s determination to secure the political aspirations of the Tamil people.

Apart from the battle�eld and political activity, Colonel Kittu was also a well read man. Poetry was a passion, mostly modern and revolutionary. A talented artist, he spent much of his spare time painting. His paintings re�ected his pain at seeing his people su�er. A true visionary, he realised that the armed struggle was but only one aspect of building a nation. Whilst in London he fostered the growth of community magazines and newspapers. He was also the leading light in founding and the driving force behind the Research Organisation of Tamil Eelam (ROOT), which later became the Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organisation (TEEDOR). The organisation's objective was the economic develop-ment of the Tamil nation. Under his guidance and leadership the organisation held in 1990 its �rst, and highly successful, conference into the economic potential of the Tamil nation.

In late 1992, with peace in tatters once again in Sri Lanka, Colonel Kittu left the United Kingdom to return to Tamileelam. Events turned for the worse, however, when the ship that Colonel Kittu was sailing in was confronted in early 1993 and surrounded by the Indian Navy in international waters. Kittu and his colleagues �atly refused to surrender to Indian authorities. With danger of capture ever increasing as the navy closed in, Colonel Kittu scuttled the ship and went down with nine of his colleagues on January 16. He had once observed "We are building a road. I do not know whether I myself will be alive to see the road being completed. But that does not matter. There will be others to take the road further." His words still holds true. The struggle for freedom and a nation continues today.

The U.S. government had supported Batista, a former soldier and Cuban dictator from 1933 to 1944, who seized power for a second time in a 1952 coup. After Castro and a group of followers, including the South American revolutionary Che Guevara (1928-1967), landed in Cuba to unseat the dictator in December 1956, the U.S. continued to back Batista. Suspicious of what they believed to be Castro's leftist ideology and worried that his ultimate goals might include attacks on the U.S.'s signi�cant investments and property in Cuba, American o�cials were nearly unanimous in opposing his revolutionary movement.

Cuban support for Castro's revolution, however, grew in the late 1950s, partially due to his charisma and nation-alistic rhetoric, but also because of increasingly rampant corruption, greed, brutality and ine�ciency within the Batista government. This reality forced the U.S. to slowly withdraw its support from Batista and begin a search in Cuba for an alternative to both the dictator and Castro; these e�orts failed.

On January 1, 1959, Batista and a number of his supporters �ed Cuba for the Dominican Republic. Tens of thousands of Cubans (and thousands of Cuban Americans in the U.S.) celebrated the end of the dicta-tor's regime. Castro's supporters moved quickly to establish their power. Judge Manuel Urrutia was named as provisional president. Castro and his band of guerrilla �ghters triumphantly entered Havana on January 7.

The U.S. attitude toward the new revolutionary govern-ment soon changed from cautiously suspicious to downright hostile. After Castro nationalized American-owned property, allied himself with the Communist Party and grew friendlier with the Soviet Union, America's Cold War enemy, the U.S severed diplomatic and economic ties with Cuba and enacted a trade and travel embargo that remains in e�ect today. In April 1961, the U.S. launched the Bay of Pigs invasion, an unsuccessful attempt to remove Castro from power. Subsequent covert operations to overthrow Castro, born August 13, 1926, failed and he went on to become one of the world's longest-ruling heads of state. Fulgencio Batista died in Spain at age 72 on August 6, 1973. In late July 2006, an unwell Fidel Castro temporarily ceded power to his younger brother Raul. Fidel Castro o�cially stepped down in February 2008.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 5: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

On January 1st 1959, facing a popular revolution spearheaded by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement, Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista �ees the island nation. Amid celebration and chaos in the Cuban capitol of Havana, the U.S. debated how best to deal with Fidel Castro and the ominous rumblings of anti-Americanism in Cuba.

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Popular Revolution in Cuba

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Colonel Kittu

Eighteen years have rolled by since the martyrdom of our beloved Colonel Kittu. But the freedom �ame he lit still burns vigorously in the hearts of Tamils. The martyrdom of Kittu and nine martyrs has �rmly rooted in the minds of Tamils. The National Leader of Tamileelam, Hon.Velupillai Pirapa-haran, had profound love and a�ection for Colonel Kittu. His words illustrate the attachment: “I deeply loved Kittu as a brother, as a captain, as a friend. The a�ection is beyond that of ordinary people. It stemmed from mutual understanding that resulted from prolonged relationship in the liberation struggle, namely towards a common goal.” Today Tamils all over the world also consider him as a beloved martyr.

Krishnakumar was born on January 2, 1960, the second the son of the Sathasivam-Rajaluxmy couple of Valvetiturai, a historically popular costal town in the Vadamaradchy region. His father had a small printing press, at Nelliady, Karaveddy, doing jobbing works. In 1978, Krishnakumar joined LTTE and he was christened as Kittu. Colonel Kittu and some of his friends learned war tactics from their leader. Colonel Kittu’s energy and speed distinguished him from others. His quest for knowledge and innate ability to comprehend anything enabled him to understand his leader’s intentions, vision, and unbounded love for his people. Kittu’s numerous skills, speed, and intelligence manifested in his activities and thus earned him respect and admiration of other cadres and his leader. He proved himself in so many occasions. He planned and participated in many ambushes against the occupying Sri Lankan Army including the 1983 ambush which killed 13 Sri Lankan soldiers. Having been a key �gure in the training new recruits around 1984, Colonel Kittu quickly rose to become the commander of Ja�na. It was in this role particularly that he endeared himself to the Tamil people. Always open to suggestion and advice, Colonel Kittu came to be known simply as 'Kittu Mama' (Uncle Kittu) – to even many adults.

Colonel Kittu's latest temporary home became London in 1989, when Kittu, who had lost a leg, arrived amid euphoria as the Tiger's main international contact person to head peace negotiations with the then Sri Lankan government led by R.Premadasa. Many Tamils who came to know him in London quickly realized what Tamils in Ja�na had already; Colonel Kittu was never �amboyant, but strong-willed and disarmingly charming. He won many hearts by personally visiting people's homes to talk about his organization’s determination to secure the political aspirations of the Tamil people.

Apart from the battle�eld and political activity, Colonel Kittu was also a well read man. Poetry was a passion, mostly modern and revolutionary. A talented artist, he spent much of his spare time painting. His paintings re�ected his pain at seeing his people su�er. A true visionary, he realised that the armed struggle was but only one aspect of building a nation. Whilst in London he fostered the growth of community magazines and newspapers. He was also the leading light in founding and the driving force behind the Research Organisation of Tamil Eelam (ROOT), which later became the Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organisation (TEEDOR). The organisation's objective was the economic develop-ment of the Tamil nation. Under his guidance and leadership the organisation held in 1990 its �rst, and highly successful, conference into the economic potential of the Tamil nation.

In late 1992, with peace in tatters once again in Sri Lanka, Colonel Kittu left the United Kingdom to return to Tamileelam. Events turned for the worse, however, when the ship that Colonel Kittu was sailing in was confronted in early 1993 and surrounded by the Indian Navy in international waters. Kittu and his colleagues �atly refused to surrender to Indian authorities. With danger of capture ever increasing as the navy closed in, Colonel Kittu scuttled the ship and went down with nine of his colleagues on January 16. He had once observed "We are building a road. I do not know whether I myself will be alive to see the road being completed. But that does not matter. There will be others to take the road further." His words still holds true. The struggle for freedom and a nation continues today.

The U.S. government had supported Batista, a former soldier and Cuban dictator from 1933 to 1944, who seized power for a second time in a 1952 coup. After Castro and a group of followers, including the South American revolutionary Che Guevara (1928-1967), landed in Cuba to unseat the dictator in December 1956, the U.S. continued to back Batista. Suspicious of what they believed to be Castro's leftist ideology and worried that his ultimate goals might include attacks on the U.S.'s signi�cant investments and property in Cuba, American o�cials were nearly unanimous in opposing his revolutionary movement.

Cuban support for Castro's revolution, however, grew in the late 1950s, partially due to his charisma and nation-alistic rhetoric, but also because of increasingly rampant corruption, greed, brutality and ine�ciency within the Batista government. This reality forced the U.S. to slowly withdraw its support from Batista and begin a search in Cuba for an alternative to both the dictator and Castro; these e�orts failed.

On January 1, 1959, Batista and a number of his supporters �ed Cuba for the Dominican Republic. Tens of thousands of Cubans (and thousands of Cuban Americans in the U.S.) celebrated the end of the dicta-tor's regime. Castro's supporters moved quickly to establish their power. Judge Manuel Urrutia was named as provisional president. Castro and his band of guerrilla �ghters triumphantly entered Havana on January 7.

The U.S. attitude toward the new revolutionary govern-ment soon changed from cautiously suspicious to downright hostile. After Castro nationalized American-owned property, allied himself with the Communist Party and grew friendlier with the Soviet Union, America's Cold War enemy, the U.S severed diplomatic and economic ties with Cuba and enacted a trade and travel embargo that remains in e�ect today. In April 1961, the U.S. launched the Bay of Pigs invasion, an unsuccessful attempt to remove Castro from power. Subsequent covert operations to overthrow Castro, born August 13, 1926, failed and he went on to become one of the world's longest-ruling heads of state. Fulgencio Batista died in Spain at age 72 on August 6, 1973. In late July 2006, an unwell Fidel Castro temporarily ceded power to his younger brother Raul. Fidel Castro o�cially stepped down in February 2008.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

On January 1st 1959, facing a popular revolution spearheaded by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement, Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista �ees the island nation. Amid celebration and chaos in the Cuban capitol of Havana, the U.S. debated how best to deal with Fidel Castro and the ominous rumblings of anti-Americanism in Cuba.

Tam

il H

isto

ry

Popular Revolution in Cuba

Wor

ld H

isto

ry

4 5

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Colonel Kittu

Eighteen years have rolled by since the martyrdom of our beloved Colonel Kittu. But the freedom �ame he lit still burns vigorously in the hearts of Tamils. The martyrdom of Kittu and nine martyrs has �rmly rooted in the minds of Tamils. The National Leader of Tamileelam, Hon.Velupillai Pirapa-haran, had profound love and a�ection for Colonel Kittu. His words illustrate the attachment: “I deeply loved Kittu as a brother, as a captain, as a friend. The a�ection is beyond that of ordinary people. It stemmed from mutual understanding that resulted from prolonged relationship in the liberation struggle, namely towards a common goal.” Today Tamils all over the world also consider him as a beloved martyr.

Krishnakumar was born on January 2, 1960, the second the son of the Sathasivam-Rajaluxmy couple of Valvetiturai, a historically popular costal town in the Vadamaradchy region. His father had a small printing press, at Nelliady, Karaveddy, doing jobbing works. In 1978, Krishnakumar joined LTTE and he was christened as Kittu. Colonel Kittu and some of his friends learned war tactics from their leader. Colonel Kittu’s energy and speed distinguished him from others. His quest for knowledge and innate ability to comprehend anything enabled him to understand his leader’s intentions, vision, and unbounded love for his people. Kittu’s numerous skills, speed, and intelligence manifested in his activities and thus earned him respect and admiration of other cadres and his leader. He proved himself in so many occasions. He planned and participated in many ambushes against the occupying Sri Lankan Army including the 1983 ambush which killed 13 Sri Lankan soldiers. Having been a key �gure in the training new recruits around 1984, Colonel Kittu quickly rose to become the commander of Ja�na. It was in this role particularly that he endeared himself to the Tamil people. Always open to suggestion and advice, Colonel Kittu came to be known simply as 'Kittu Mama' (Uncle Kittu) – to even many adults.

Colonel Kittu's latest temporary home became London in 1989, when Kittu, who had lost a leg, arrived amid euphoria as the Tiger's main international contact person to head peace negotiations with the then Sri Lankan government led by R.Premadasa. Many Tamils who came to know him in London quickly realized what Tamils in Ja�na had already; Colonel Kittu was never �amboyant, but strong-willed and disarmingly charming. He won many hearts by personally visiting people's homes to talk about his organization’s determination to secure the political aspirations of the Tamil people.

Apart from the battle�eld and political activity, Colonel Kittu was also a well read man. Poetry was a passion, mostly modern and revolutionary. A talented artist, he spent much of his spare time painting. His paintings re�ected his pain at seeing his people su�er. A true visionary, he realised that the armed struggle was but only one aspect of building a nation. Whilst in London he fostered the growth of community magazines and newspapers. He was also the leading light in founding and the driving force behind the Research Organisation of Tamil Eelam (ROOT), which later became the Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organisation (TEEDOR). The organisation's objective was the economic develop-ment of the Tamil nation. Under his guidance and leadership the organisation held in 1990 its �rst, and highly successful, conference into the economic potential of the Tamil nation.

In late 1992, with peace in tatters once again in Sri Lanka, Colonel Kittu left the United Kingdom to return to Tamileelam. Events turned for the worse, however, when the ship that Colonel Kittu was sailing in was confronted in early 1993 and surrounded by the Indian Navy in international waters. Kittu and his colleagues �atly refused to surrender to Indian authorities. With danger of capture ever increasing as the navy closed in, Colonel Kittu scuttled the ship and went down with nine of his colleagues on January 16. He had once observed "We are building a road. I do not know whether I myself will be alive to see the road being completed. But that does not matter. There will be others to take the road further." His words still holds true. The struggle for freedom and a nation continues today.

The U.S. government had supported Batista, a former soldier and Cuban dictator from 1933 to 1944, who seized power for a second time in a 1952 coup. After Castro and a group of followers, including the South American revolutionary Che Guevara (1928-1967), landed in Cuba to unseat the dictator in December 1956, the U.S. continued to back Batista. Suspicious of what they believed to be Castro's leftist ideology and worried that his ultimate goals might include attacks on the U.S.'s signi�cant investments and property in Cuba, American o�cials were nearly unanimous in opposing his revolutionary movement.

Cuban support for Castro's revolution, however, grew in the late 1950s, partially due to his charisma and nation-alistic rhetoric, but also because of increasingly rampant corruption, greed, brutality and ine�ciency within the Batista government. This reality forced the U.S. to slowly withdraw its support from Batista and begin a search in Cuba for an alternative to both the dictator and Castro; these e�orts failed.

On January 1, 1959, Batista and a number of his supporters �ed Cuba for the Dominican Republic. Tens of thousands of Cubans (and thousands of Cuban Americans in the U.S.) celebrated the end of the dicta-tor's regime. Castro's supporters moved quickly to establish their power. Judge Manuel Urrutia was named as provisional president. Castro and his band of guerrilla �ghters triumphantly entered Havana on January 7.

The U.S. attitude toward the new revolutionary govern-ment soon changed from cautiously suspicious to downright hostile. After Castro nationalized American-owned property, allied himself with the Communist Party and grew friendlier with the Soviet Union, America's Cold War enemy, the U.S severed diplomatic and economic ties with Cuba and enacted a trade and travel embargo that remains in e�ect today. In April 1961, the U.S. launched the Bay of Pigs invasion, an unsuccessful attempt to remove Castro from power. Subsequent covert operations to overthrow Castro, born August 13, 1926, failed and he went on to become one of the world's longest-ruling heads of state. Fulgencio Batista died in Spain at age 72 on August 6, 1973. In late July 2006, an unwell Fidel Castro temporarily ceded power to his younger brother Raul. Fidel Castro o�cially stepped down in February 2008.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 6: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

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TYO Food Drive

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Launch of Maaveerar Illam

TYO’s Media launched the much awaited website dedicated to our fallen heroes, www.maaveerarillam.com. The launch date for the website coincided with the commemoration of Colonel Kittu and nine martyrs on Sunday, January 16th, 2011. The event also served as a celebration of Tamil New Years (Thai Pongal). The website, Maaveerar Illam seeks to forever preserve Tamil history, struggle, and identity.

The Tamil Youth Organization donated nonperishable food products it collected during the 6th annual remembrance of the Tsunami. The food drive was organized not only to remember the victims of the tsunami but to give back to the Canadian society. Dozens of Tamil business institutions participated in this initiative. The nonperishable food items were donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

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TYO Food Drive

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Launch of Maaveerar Illam

TYO’s Media launched the much awaited website dedicated to our fallen heroes, www.maaveerarillam.com. The launch date for the website coincided with the commemoration of Colonel Kittu and nine martyrs on Sunday, January 16th, 2011. The event also served as a celebration of Tamil New Years (Thai Pongal). The website, Maaveerar Illam seeks to forever preserve Tamil history, struggle, and identity.

The Tamil Youth Organization donated nonperishable food products it collected during the 6th annual remembrance of the Tsunami. The food drive was organized not only to remember the victims of the tsunami but to give back to the Canadian society. Dozens of Tamil business institutions participated in this initiative. The nonperishable food items were donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 7: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

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TYO Food Drive

6 7

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Launch of Maaveerar Illam

TYO’s Media launched the much awaited website dedicated to our fallen heroes, www.maaveerarillam.com. The launch date for the website coincided with the commemoration of Colonel Kittu and nine martyrs on Sunday, January 16th, 2011. The event also served as a celebration of Tamil New Years (Thai Pongal). The website, Maaveerar Illam seeks to forever preserve Tamil history, struggle, and identity.

The Tamil Youth Organization donated nonperishable food products it collected during the 6th annual remembrance of the Tsunami. The food drive was organized not only to remember the victims of the tsunami but to give back to the Canadian society. Dozens of Tamil business institutions participated in this initiative. The nonperishable food items were donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

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TYO Food Drive

6 7

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Launch of Maaveerar Illam

TYO’s Media launched the much awaited website dedicated to our fallen heroes, www.maaveerarillam.com. The launch date for the website coincided with the commemoration of Colonel Kittu and nine martyrs on Sunday, January 16th, 2011. The event also served as a celebration of Tamil New Years (Thai Pongal). The website, Maaveerar Illam seeks to forever preserve Tamil history, struggle, and identity.

The Tamil Youth Organization donated nonperishable food products it collected during the 6th annual remembrance of the Tsunami. The food drive was organized not only to remember the victims of the tsunami but to give back to the Canadian society. Dozens of Tamil business institutions participated in this initiative. The nonperishable food items were donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 8: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

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TYO Thai Pongal

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

MTCL Awards Night

The Markham Toronto Cricket League (MTCL) held its 16th Annual Awards Ceremony on Sunday January 9th 2011 at Markham Theatre. The event celebrated the success and interests of cricket in young Tamils, particularly the youth. The MTCL has been instrumental in increasing the quality and level of competition in cricket. This is evident in the increase of teams and players into the league. In 2010, over 700 matches were conducted by MTCL. In the season of 2010, 34 teams registered to play for the Markham Toronto Cricket League. MTCL expects the number of teams and players in its league to increase in the near future. MTCL recognized its outstanding players and team of the 2010 season.

The Markham Chapter of Tamil Youth Organization celebrated Thai Pongal with its members. Thai Pongal is celebrated on January 14th every year. The month of Thai (January) is the harvest season in the Thamil homeland spanning from Thamil Nadu to Thamil Eelam. Pongal refers to rice cooked in milk and sweetened with brown sugar (chakkarai, from which the English word jaggery is derived). On a full scale it is a three-day festival of nature-worship. It includes feeding the birds that are part of the beauty of nature, and o�ering thanks to the cattle, Mattu Pongal, which gives milk and plough the �elds.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

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TYO Thai Pongal

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

MTCL Awards Night

The Markham Toronto Cricket League (MTCL) held its 16th Annual Awards Ceremony on Sunday January 9th 2011 at Markham Theatre. The event celebrated the success and interests of cricket in young Tamils, particularly the youth. The MTCL has been instrumental in increasing the quality and level of competition in cricket. This is evident in the increase of teams and players into the league. In 2010, over 700 matches were conducted by MTCL. In the season of 2010, 34 teams registered to play for the Markham Toronto Cricket League. MTCL expects the number of teams and players in its league to increase in the near future. MTCL recognized its outstanding players and team of the 2010 season.

The Markham Chapter of Tamil Youth Organization celebrated Thai Pongal with its members. Thai Pongal is celebrated on January 14th every year. The month of Thai (January) is the harvest season in the Thamil homeland spanning from Thamil Nadu to Thamil Eelam. Pongal refers to rice cooked in milk and sweetened with brown sugar (chakkarai, from which the English word jaggery is derived). On a full scale it is a three-day festival of nature-worship. It includes feeding the birds that are part of the beauty of nature, and o�ering thanks to the cattle, Mattu Pongal, which gives milk and plough the �elds.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 9: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

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TYO Thai Pongal

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

MTCL Awards Night

The Markham Toronto Cricket League (MTCL) held its 16th Annual Awards Ceremony on Sunday January 9th 2011 at Markham Theatre. The event celebrated the success and interests of cricket in young Tamils, particularly the youth. The MTCL has been instrumental in increasing the quality and level of competition in cricket. This is evident in the increase of teams and players into the league. In 2010, over 700 matches were conducted by MTCL. In the season of 2010, 34 teams registered to play for the Markham Toronto Cricket League. MTCL expects the number of teams and players in its league to increase in the near future. MTCL recognized its outstanding players and team of the 2010 season.

The Markham Chapter of Tamil Youth Organization celebrated Thai Pongal with its members. Thai Pongal is celebrated on January 14th every year. The month of Thai (January) is the harvest season in the Thamil homeland spanning from Thamil Nadu to Thamil Eelam. Pongal refers to rice cooked in milk and sweetened with brown sugar (chakkarai, from which the English word jaggery is derived). On a full scale it is a three-day festival of nature-worship. It includes feeding the birds that are part of the beauty of nature, and o�ering thanks to the cattle, Mattu Pongal, which gives milk and plough the �elds.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

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TYO Thai Pongal

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

MTCL Awards Night

The Markham Toronto Cricket League (MTCL) held its 16th Annual Awards Ceremony on Sunday January 9th 2011 at Markham Theatre. The event celebrated the success and interests of cricket in young Tamils, particularly the youth. The MTCL has been instrumental in increasing the quality and level of competition in cricket. This is evident in the increase of teams and players into the league. In 2010, over 700 matches were conducted by MTCL. In the season of 2010, 34 teams registered to play for the Markham Toronto Cricket League. MTCL expects the number of teams and players in its league to increase in the near future. MTCL recognized its outstanding players and team of the 2010 season.

The Markham Chapter of Tamil Youth Organization celebrated Thai Pongal with its members. Thai Pongal is celebrated on January 14th every year. The month of Thai (January) is the harvest season in the Thamil homeland spanning from Thamil Nadu to Thamil Eelam. Pongal refers to rice cooked in milk and sweetened with brown sugar (chakkarai, from which the English word jaggery is derived). On a full scale it is a three-day festival of nature-worship. It includes feeding the birds that are part of the beauty of nature, and o�ering thanks to the cattle, Mattu Pongal, which gives milk and plough the �elds.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 10: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

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UTSG Thai Pongal

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

UTSC Thai Pongal

The University of Toronto – Scarborough Campus Tamil Students Association (UTSC TSA) held its annual Thai Pongal celebrations on January 14th 2011. The event was well appreciated by student members of the Tamil Students Association as the event highlighted Tamil history, culture and traditions.

The University of Toronto St. George Campus Tamil Students Association (UTSG TSA) organized Thai Pongal festivities for its membership on January 14th 2011. The event featured creating awareness amongst Tamils and non- Tamil students about the importance of Thai Pongal to the Tamils.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 11: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

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UTSG Thai Pongal

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

UTSC Thai Pongal

The University of Toronto – Scarborough Campus Tamil Students Association (UTSC TSA) held its annual Thai Pongal celebrations on January 14th 2011. The event was well appreciated by student members of the Tamil Students Association as the event highlighted Tamil history, culture and traditions.

The University of Toronto St. George Campus Tamil Students Association (UTSG TSA) organized Thai Pongal festivities for its membership on January 14th 2011. The event featured creating awareness amongst Tamils and non- Tamil students about the importance of Thai Pongal to the Tamils.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 12: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

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Peel Regional Memorial

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

NCCT Protest

The National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT) organized a protest in front of the United States Consulate demanding the immediate arrest of war criminal Mahinda Rajapakse who was on a private visit to the United States on January 21st 2011. The Tamil community mobilized although there was a severe cold alert announced for Toronto that day. The protesters also demanded an independent war crimes investigation into the appalling human rights violations and war crime charges in Sri Lanka.

The Arts and Culture Council of Peel Region held an event on January 22nd 2011, marking the 18th anniversary of the martyrdom of Colonel Kittu and the nine brave heroes who sacri�ced their lives for the betterment of the Tamil people and our nation. The event was marked by speeches, uprising dances and performances.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

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Peel Regional Memorial

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

NCCT Protest

The National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT) organized a protest in front of the United States Consulate demanding the immediate arrest of war criminal Mahinda Rajapakse who was on a private visit to the United States on January 21st 2011. The Tamil community mobilized although there was a severe cold alert announced for Toronto that day. The protesters also demanded an independent war crimes investigation into the appalling human rights violations and war crime charges in Sri Lanka.

The Arts and Culture Council of Peel Region held an event on January 22nd 2011, marking the 18th anniversary of the martyrdom of Colonel Kittu and the nine brave heroes who sacri�ced their lives for the betterment of the Tamil people and our nation. The event was marked by speeches, uprising dances and performances.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 13: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

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Peel Regional Memorial

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

NCCT Protest

The National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT) organized a protest in front of the United States Consulate demanding the immediate arrest of war criminal Mahinda Rajapakse who was on a private visit to the United States on January 21st 2011. The Tamil community mobilized although there was a severe cold alert announced for Toronto that day. The protesters also demanded an independent war crimes investigation into the appalling human rights violations and war crime charges in Sri Lanka.

The Arts and Culture Council of Peel Region held an event on January 22nd 2011, marking the 18th anniversary of the martyrdom of Colonel Kittu and the nine brave heroes who sacri�ced their lives for the betterment of the Tamil people and our nation. The event was marked by speeches, uprising dances and performances.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

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Peel Regional Memorial

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

NCCT Protest

The National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT) organized a protest in front of the United States Consulate demanding the immediate arrest of war criminal Mahinda Rajapakse who was on a private visit to the United States on January 21st 2011. The Tamil community mobilized although there was a severe cold alert announced for Toronto that day. The protesters also demanded an independent war crimes investigation into the appalling human rights violations and war crime charges in Sri Lanka.

The Arts and Culture Council of Peel Region held an event on January 22nd 2011, marking the 18th anniversary of the martyrdom of Colonel Kittu and the nine brave heroes who sacri�ced their lives for the betterment of the Tamil people and our nation. The event was marked by speeches, uprising dances and performances.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 14: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

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MCW at York University

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Canadian Tamil Film Festival

Arts and Culture Council of Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) hosted a �lm festival to recognize, award, and encourage the talents of our Canadian Tamil �lm artists. The Canadian Tamil Film Festival (CTFF) by the Arts and Culture Council took place on Jan 22nd and 23rd, 2011 at Markham Civic Centre and Markham Theatre for Performing Arts. It was a well applauded initiation that recognized and encouraged the talents of �lm artists. The tsunami documentary, Remembering 6 Years, produced by the Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) was recognized for best Re�ec-tive Documentary.

The York University Tamil Students Association (YUTSA) participated in the annual Multicultural Week (MCW) event hosted by York University. The purpose of the event is to highlight the diverse cultures and backgrounds present at York University. YUTSA put on an amazing event highlighting Tamil identity, culture and traditions.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

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MCW at York University

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TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Canadian Tamil Film Festival

Arts and Culture Council of Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) hosted a �lm festival to recognize, award, and encourage the talents of our Canadian Tamil �lm artists. The Canadian Tamil Film Festival (CTFF) by the Arts and Culture Council took place on Jan 22nd and 23rd, 2011 at Markham Civic Centre and Markham Theatre for Performing Arts. It was a well applauded initiation that recognized and encouraged the talents of �lm artists. The tsunami documentary, Remembering 6 Years, produced by the Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) was recognized for best Re�ec-tive Documentary.

The York University Tamil Students Association (YUTSA) participated in the annual Multicultural Week (MCW) event hosted by York University. The purpose of the event is to highlight the diverse cultures and backgrounds present at York University. YUTSA put on an amazing event highlighting Tamil identity, culture and traditions.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 15: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

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MCW at York University

14 15

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Canadian Tamil Film Festival

Arts and Culture Council of Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) hosted a �lm festival to recognize, award, and encourage the talents of our Canadian Tamil �lm artists. The Canadian Tamil Film Festival (CTFF) by the Arts and Culture Council took place on Jan 22nd and 23rd, 2011 at Markham Civic Centre and Markham Theatre for Performing Arts. It was a well applauded initiation that recognized and encouraged the talents of �lm artists. The tsunami documentary, Remembering 6 Years, produced by the Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) was recognized for best Re�ec-tive Documentary.

The York University Tamil Students Association (YUTSA) participated in the annual Multicultural Week (MCW) event hosted by York University. The purpose of the event is to highlight the diverse cultures and backgrounds present at York University. YUTSA put on an amazing event highlighting Tamil identity, culture and traditions.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

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MCW at York University

14 15

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Canadian Tamil Film Festival

Arts and Culture Council of Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) hosted a �lm festival to recognize, award, and encourage the talents of our Canadian Tamil �lm artists. The Canadian Tamil Film Festival (CTFF) by the Arts and Culture Council took place on Jan 22nd and 23rd, 2011 at Markham Civic Centre and Markham Theatre for Performing Arts. It was a well applauded initiation that recognized and encouraged the talents of �lm artists. The tsunami documentary, Remembering 6 Years, produced by the Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) was recognized for best Re�ec-tive Documentary.

The York University Tamil Students Association (YUTSA) participated in the annual Multicultural Week (MCW) event hosted by York University. The purpose of the event is to highlight the diverse cultures and backgrounds present at York University. YUTSA put on an amazing event highlighting Tamil identity, culture and traditions.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 16: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

Cans were opened with a hammer and chisel before the advent of can openers. The tin canister, or can, was invented in 1810 by a Londoner, Peter Durand. The year before, French confectioner, Nicolas Appert, had introduced the method of canning food (as it became known) by sealing the food tightly inside a glass bottle or jar and then heating it. He could not explain why the food stayed fresh but his bright idea won him the 12,000-francs prize that Napoleon o�ered in 1795 for preserving food. Durand supplied the Royal Navy with canned heat-preserved food while Appert would help Napoleon’s army march on its stomach.

Tin canning was not widely adopted until 1846, when a method was invented to increase can production from 6 in an hour to 60. Still, there were no can openers yet and the products labels would read: “cut around on the top near to outer edge with a chisel and hammer.”

Can OpenerThe can opener was invented in 1858 by American Ezra Warnet. There also is a claim that Englishman Robert Yeates invented the can opener in 1855. But the can opener did not become popular until, ten years later, it was given away for free with canned beef. (Canned pet food was introduced by James Spratt in 1865.)

The well-known wheel-style opener was invented in 1925. Beer in a can was launched in 1935. The easy-open can lid was invented by Ermal Cleon Fraze in 1959.

Aluminum Cans

Since 1972, some 64 million tons of aluminum cans (about 3 trillion cans) have been produced. Placed end-to-end, they could stretch to the moon about a thousand times. Still, cans represent less than 1% of solid waste material – about one quarter of all cans are recycled. Worldwide, some 9 million cans are recycled every hour. Which is good news, considering that it takes a can about 200 years to degrade if you bury it. It takes paper about a month to bio-degrade, a woolen sock about a year, and plastic possibly hundreds of years.

Recycling cans saves 95% of the energy required to make aluminum from ore, or the equivalent of 18 million barrels of oil, or 10.8 billion kilowatt hours. Used aluminum cans that are recycled return to store shelves within 60 days.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Did

You

Kno

w?

Did You Know? Violation of Human Rights

Yout

h Re

�ect

ion

16 17

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

“Can openers invented 48 years after cans”

Rights cannot be given to another nor can it be taken away from another; however, when viewing the world through the lens of reality we can observe this occurring on a daily basis. If rights are non-negotiable, especially the right to live, then why must one protest for them?

Sri Lanka is a small island with big atrocities, bigger violations and immense injustices. From the basic right to live to rights of freedom of expression has been and continues to be violated. It is unfortunate that documentation of injustices in the past and present are di�cult to di�erentiate the time period as the same atrocities occur till this day.

When the victims of injustice rise to oppose, the majority takes no time to hesitate to mask the victims as terrorists. In the world where animals and even inanimate objects are being dealt with great care and respect Thamils in Sri Lankan are struggling to live with the respect as a human being. Their voices muted by the prevention of media, their future destroyed with no fair education, their freedom restricted with limited mobility and the list continues. The world and Sri Lanka must be taught that major-ity rule is not applicable with the concept of justice. February 4th is the Independence Day of Sri Lanka where they celebrate their inde-pendent state and freedom. Sri Lanka celebrates their independence from independ-ence from responsibility of war crimes and guilt of torture.

Enjoying independence while stripping the rights from Thamils and announce the country is no longer in a state of war; Sri Lanka continues to fool itself. Thamils have experienced every form of abuse and torture by the hands of the Sri Lankan Army and struggle to live in a state where rights seem to be a privilege.

Today the some media expresses what the Sri Lankan government presented and feeds them; such as ‘the LTTE has been defeated’. The interna-tional media may be lazy not to dig deeper and question the reliability and quality of their sources and the world can choose to not ques-tion; but as Thamils we do not have that option as we are the ones that face the consequence of ignoring such activities. Thamils must expose the truth to the world because our motherland is endangered and our people are the ones who are ‘living’ in such harsh conditions with their rights being violated constantly. Through our actions we must demonstrate that the �ght is not over for anyone to conclude that the Thamils are defeated. As Thamils we already determined the outcome, now we are merely working towards it. Our conclusion, the freedom of path towards our goal that there is no turning back. As Thamils we have the responsibility to question and correct media as to them it may be a story but we know this is our reality.

Cans were opened with a hammer and chisel before the advent of can openers. The tin canister, or can, was invented in 1810 by a Londoner, Peter Durand. The year before, French confectioner, Nicolas Appert, had introduced the method of canning food (as it became known) by sealing the food tightly inside a glass bottle or jar and then heating it. He could not explain why the food stayed fresh but his bright idea won him the 12,000-francs prize that Napoleon o�ered in 1795 for preserving food. Durand supplied the Royal Navy with canned heat-preserved food while Appert would help Napoleon’s army march on its stomach.

Tin canning was not widely adopted until 1846, when a method was invented to increase can production from 6 in an hour to 60. Still, there were no can openers yet and the products labels would read: “cut around on the top near to outer edge with a chisel and hammer.”

Can OpenerThe can opener was invented in 1858 by American Ezra Warnet. There also is a claim that Englishman Robert Yeates invented the can opener in 1855. But the can opener did not become popular until, ten years later, it was given away for free with canned beef. (Canned pet food was introduced by James Spratt in 1865.)

The well-known wheel-style opener was invented in 1925. Beer in a can was launched in 1935. The easy-open can lid was invented by Ermal Cleon Fraze in 1959.

Aluminum Cans

Since 1972, some 64 million tons of aluminum cans (about 3 trillion cans) have been produced. Placed end-to-end, they could stretch to the moon about a thousand times. Still, cans represent less than 1% of solid waste material – about one quarter of all cans are recycled. Worldwide, some 9 million cans are recycled every hour. Which is good news, considering that it takes a can about 200 years to degrade if you bury it. It takes paper about a month to bio-degrade, a woolen sock about a year, and plastic possibly hundreds of years.

Recycling cans saves 95% of the energy required to make aluminum from ore, or the equivalent of 18 million barrels of oil, or 10.8 billion kilowatt hours. Used aluminum cans that are recycled return to store shelves within 60 days.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Did

You

Kno

w?

Did You Know? Violation of Human Rights

Yout

h Re

�ect

ion

16 17

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

“Can openers invented 48 years after cans”

Rights cannot be given to another nor can it be taken away from another; however, when viewing the world through the lens of reality we can observe this occurring on a daily basis. If rights are non-negotiable, especially the right to live, then why must one protest for them?

Sri Lanka is a small island with big atrocities, bigger violations and immense injustices. From the basic right to live to rights of freedom of expression has been and continues to be violated. It is unfortunate that documentation of injustices in the past and present are di�cult to di�erentiate the time period as the same atrocities occur till this day.

When the victims of injustice rise to oppose, the majority takes no time to hesitate to mask the victims as terrorists. In the world where animals and even inanimate objects are being dealt with great care and respect Thamils in Sri Lankan are struggling to live with the respect as a human being. Their voices muted by the prevention of media, their future destroyed with no fair education, their freedom restricted with limited mobility and the list continues. The world and Sri Lanka must be taught that major-ity rule is not applicable with the concept of justice. February 4th is the Independence Day of Sri Lanka where they celebrate their inde-pendent state and freedom. Sri Lanka celebrates their independence from independ-ence from responsibility of war crimes and guilt of torture.

Enjoying independence while stripping the rights from Thamils and announce the country is no longer in a state of war; Sri Lanka continues to fool itself. Thamils have experienced every form of abuse and torture by the hands of the Sri Lankan Army and struggle to live in a state where rights seem to be a privilege.

Today the some media expresses what the Sri Lankan government presented and feeds them; such as ‘the LTTE has been defeated’. The interna-tional media may be lazy not to dig deeper and question the reliability and quality of their sources and the world can choose to not ques-tion; but as Thamils we do not have that option as we are the ones that face the consequence of ignoring such activities. Thamils must expose the truth to the world because our motherland is endangered and our people are the ones who are ‘living’ in such harsh conditions with their rights being violated constantly. Through our actions we must demonstrate that the �ght is not over for anyone to conclude that the Thamils are defeated. As Thamils we already determined the outcome, now we are merely working towards it. Our conclusion, the freedom of path towards our goal that there is no turning back. As Thamils we have the responsibility to question and correct media as to them it may be a story but we know this is our reality.

Page 17: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

Cans were opened with a hammer and chisel before the advent of can openers. The tin canister, or can, was invented in 1810 by a Londoner, Peter Durand. The year before, French confectioner, Nicolas Appert, had introduced the method of canning food (as it became known) by sealing the food tightly inside a glass bottle or jar and then heating it. He could not explain why the food stayed fresh but his bright idea won him the 12,000-francs prize that Napoleon o�ered in 1795 for preserving food. Durand supplied the Royal Navy with canned heat-preserved food while Appert would help Napoleon’s army march on its stomach.

Tin canning was not widely adopted until 1846, when a method was invented to increase can production from 6 in an hour to 60. Still, there were no can openers yet and the products labels would read: “cut around on the top near to outer edge with a chisel and hammer.”

Can OpenerThe can opener was invented in 1858 by American Ezra Warnet. There also is a claim that Englishman Robert Yeates invented the can opener in 1855. But the can opener did not become popular until, ten years later, it was given away for free with canned beef. (Canned pet food was introduced by James Spratt in 1865.)

The well-known wheel-style opener was invented in 1925. Beer in a can was launched in 1935. The easy-open can lid was invented by Ermal Cleon Fraze in 1959.

Aluminum Cans

Since 1972, some 64 million tons of aluminum cans (about 3 trillion cans) have been produced. Placed end-to-end, they could stretch to the moon about a thousand times. Still, cans represent less than 1% of solid waste material – about one quarter of all cans are recycled. Worldwide, some 9 million cans are recycled every hour. Which is good news, considering that it takes a can about 200 years to degrade if you bury it. It takes paper about a month to bio-degrade, a woolen sock about a year, and plastic possibly hundreds of years.

Recycling cans saves 95% of the energy required to make aluminum from ore, or the equivalent of 18 million barrels of oil, or 10.8 billion kilowatt hours. Used aluminum cans that are recycled return to store shelves within 60 days.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Did

You

Kno

w?

Did You Know? Violation of Human Rights

Yout

h Re

�ect

ion

16 17

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

“Can openers invented 48 years after cans”

Rights cannot be given to another nor can it be taken away from another; however, when viewing the world through the lens of reality we can observe this occurring on a daily basis. If rights are non-negotiable, especially the right to live, then why must one protest for them?

Sri Lanka is a small island with big atrocities, bigger violations and immense injustices. From the basic right to live to rights of freedom of expression has been and continues to be violated. It is unfortunate that documentation of injustices in the past and present are di�cult to di�erentiate the time period as the same atrocities occur till this day.

When the victims of injustice rise to oppose, the majority takes no time to hesitate to mask the victims as terrorists. In the world where animals and even inanimate objects are being dealt with great care and respect Thamils in Sri Lankan are struggling to live with the respect as a human being. Their voices muted by the prevention of media, their future destroyed with no fair education, their freedom restricted with limited mobility and the list continues. The world and Sri Lanka must be taught that major-ity rule is not applicable with the concept of justice. February 4th is the Independence Day of Sri Lanka where they celebrate their inde-pendent state and freedom. Sri Lanka celebrates their independence from independ-ence from responsibility of war crimes and guilt of torture.

Enjoying independence while stripping the rights from Thamils and announce the country is no longer in a state of war; Sri Lanka continues to fool itself. Thamils have experienced every form of abuse and torture by the hands of the Sri Lankan Army and struggle to live in a state where rights seem to be a privilege.

Today the some media expresses what the Sri Lankan government presented and feeds them; such as ‘the LTTE has been defeated’. The interna-tional media may be lazy not to dig deeper and question the reliability and quality of their sources and the world can choose to not ques-tion; but as Thamils we do not have that option as we are the ones that face the consequence of ignoring such activities. Thamils must expose the truth to the world because our motherland is endangered and our people are the ones who are ‘living’ in such harsh conditions with their rights being violated constantly. Through our actions we must demonstrate that the �ght is not over for anyone to conclude that the Thamils are defeated. As Thamils we already determined the outcome, now we are merely working towards it. Our conclusion, the freedom of path towards our goal that there is no turning back. As Thamils we have the responsibility to question and correct media as to them it may be a story but we know this is our reality.

Cans were opened with a hammer and chisel before the advent of can openers. The tin canister, or can, was invented in 1810 by a Londoner, Peter Durand. The year before, French confectioner, Nicolas Appert, had introduced the method of canning food (as it became known) by sealing the food tightly inside a glass bottle or jar and then heating it. He could not explain why the food stayed fresh but his bright idea won him the 12,000-francs prize that Napoleon o�ered in 1795 for preserving food. Durand supplied the Royal Navy with canned heat-preserved food while Appert would help Napoleon’s army march on its stomach.

Tin canning was not widely adopted until 1846, when a method was invented to increase can production from 6 in an hour to 60. Still, there were no can openers yet and the products labels would read: “cut around on the top near to outer edge with a chisel and hammer.”

Can OpenerThe can opener was invented in 1858 by American Ezra Warnet. There also is a claim that Englishman Robert Yeates invented the can opener in 1855. But the can opener did not become popular until, ten years later, it was given away for free with canned beef. (Canned pet food was introduced by James Spratt in 1865.)

The well-known wheel-style opener was invented in 1925. Beer in a can was launched in 1935. The easy-open can lid was invented by Ermal Cleon Fraze in 1959.

Aluminum Cans

Since 1972, some 64 million tons of aluminum cans (about 3 trillion cans) have been produced. Placed end-to-end, they could stretch to the moon about a thousand times. Still, cans represent less than 1% of solid waste material – about one quarter of all cans are recycled. Worldwide, some 9 million cans are recycled every hour. Which is good news, considering that it takes a can about 200 years to degrade if you bury it. It takes paper about a month to bio-degrade, a woolen sock about a year, and plastic possibly hundreds of years.

Recycling cans saves 95% of the energy required to make aluminum from ore, or the equivalent of 18 million barrels of oil, or 10.8 billion kilowatt hours. Used aluminum cans that are recycled return to store shelves within 60 days.

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Did

You

Kno

w?

Did You Know? Violation of Human Rights

Yout

h Re

�ect

ion

16 17

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

“Can openers invented 48 years after cans”

Rights cannot be given to another nor can it be taken away from another; however, when viewing the world through the lens of reality we can observe this occurring on a daily basis. If rights are non-negotiable, especially the right to live, then why must one protest for them?

Sri Lanka is a small island with big atrocities, bigger violations and immense injustices. From the basic right to live to rights of freedom of expression has been and continues to be violated. It is unfortunate that documentation of injustices in the past and present are di�cult to di�erentiate the time period as the same atrocities occur till this day.

When the victims of injustice rise to oppose, the majority takes no time to hesitate to mask the victims as terrorists. In the world where animals and even inanimate objects are being dealt with great care and respect Thamils in Sri Lankan are struggling to live with the respect as a human being. Their voices muted by the prevention of media, their future destroyed with no fair education, their freedom restricted with limited mobility and the list continues. The world and Sri Lanka must be taught that major-ity rule is not applicable with the concept of justice. February 4th is the Independence Day of Sri Lanka where they celebrate their inde-pendent state and freedom. Sri Lanka celebrates their independence from independ-ence from responsibility of war crimes and guilt of torture.

Enjoying independence while stripping the rights from Thamils and announce the country is no longer in a state of war; Sri Lanka continues to fool itself. Thamils have experienced every form of abuse and torture by the hands of the Sri Lankan Army and struggle to live in a state where rights seem to be a privilege.

Today the some media expresses what the Sri Lankan government presented and feeds them; such as ‘the LTTE has been defeated’. The interna-tional media may be lazy not to dig deeper and question the reliability and quality of their sources and the world can choose to not ques-tion; but as Thamils we do not have that option as we are the ones that face the consequence of ignoring such activities. Thamils must expose the truth to the world because our motherland is endangered and our people are the ones who are ‘living’ in such harsh conditions with their rights being violated constantly. Through our actions we must demonstrate that the �ght is not over for anyone to conclude that the Thamils are defeated. As Thamils we already determined the outcome, now we are merely working towards it. Our conclusion, the freedom of path towards our goal that there is no turning back. As Thamils we have the responsibility to question and correct media as to them it may be a story but we know this is our reality.

Page 18: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

WRITE For the beautiful moments

For the tragic timesWith your heart and no regrets

For our next month’s issue:Submit your written work based on

‘Whats on you mind’Please follow the guidelines below.

Don’t forget to add [email protected] to your e-mail safe list.

We appreciate all of your time and effort.

TYO - Canada

Guidelines:o All submissions must be in Englisho You may create your own title for your worko Written work should be within 750 words (or 2 pages lettersized), 12 pt font (Times)o Can be written in any form (article, research essay, poem, story, etc.)o Include your name, contact info, and University/ College/ High School (If applicable)o Submit before FEBRUARY 25th, 2011o Must be e-mailed to [email protected] with the subject ‘Reach-FEBRUARY 2011’o Please attach a word file or copy and paste your work in your e-mail

Join TYO

Our doors are always open to new members

that are looking to make a di�erence for Tamils

around the world.

As an organization with the interests of Tamil

youth at heart, TYO provides opportunities for

Canadian Tamil youth to network, contribute,

and develop their skills in various areas as well.

Interested in getting involved?

Please contact us [email protected] visit us atwww.canadatyo.org

Speak Out

As Tamil youth in Canada, we have the ultimate

duty of educating others, as well as ourselves of

the su�ering of the Tamil people. Understanding is crucial. And with understanding comes aware-ness, the most essential step in the path to progress.

Ignorance is not a bliss.

Get

Inv

olve

d

Get

Inv

olve

d

18 19

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32 TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

WRITE For the beautiful moments

For the tragic timesWith your heart and no regrets

For our next month’s issue:Submit your written work based on

‘Whats on you mind’Please follow the guidelines below.

Don’t forget to add [email protected] to your e-mail safe list.

We appreciate all of your time and effort.

TYO - Canada

Guidelines:o All submissions must be in Englisho You may create your own title for your worko Written work should be within 750 words (or 2 pages lettersized), 12 pt font (Times)o Can be written in any form (article, research essay, poem, story, etc.)o Include your name, contact info, and University/ College/ High School (If applicable)o Submit before FEBRUARY 25th, 2011o Must be e-mailed to [email protected] with the subject ‘Reach-FEBRUARY 2011’o Please attach a word file or copy and paste your work in your e-mail

Join TYO

Our doors are always open to new members

that are looking to make a di�erence for Tamils

around the world.

As an organization with the interests of Tamil

youth at heart, TYO provides opportunities for

Canadian Tamil youth to network, contribute,

and develop their skills in various areas as well.

Interested in getting involved?

Please contact us [email protected] visit us atwww.canadatyo.org

Speak Out

As Tamil youth in Canada, we have the ultimate

duty of educating others, as well as ourselves of

the su�ering of the Tamil people. Understanding is crucial. And with understanding comes aware-ness, the most essential step in the path to progress.

Ignorance is not a bliss.

Get

Inv

olve

d

Get

Inv

olve

d

18 19

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32 TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

Page 19: REACH - January 2011 - Vol 32

WRITE For the beautiful moments

For the tragic timesWith your heart and no regrets

For our next month’s issue:Submit your written work based on

‘Whats on you mind’Please follow the guidelines below.

Don’t forget to add [email protected] to your e-mail safe list.

We appreciate all of your time and effort.

TYO - Canada

Guidelines:o All submissions must be in Englisho You may create your own title for your worko Written work should be within 750 words (or 2 pages lettersized), 12 pt font (Times)o Can be written in any form (article, research essay, poem, story, etc.)o Include your name, contact info, and University/ College/ High School (If applicable)o Submit before FEBRUARY 25th, 2011o Must be e-mailed to [email protected] with the subject ‘Reach-FEBRUARY 2011’o Please attach a word file or copy and paste your work in your e-mail

Join TYO

Our doors are always open to new members

that are looking to make a di�erence for Tamils

around the world.

As an organization with the interests of Tamil

youth at heart, TYO provides opportunities for

Canadian Tamil youth to network, contribute,

and develop their skills in various areas as well.

Interested in getting involved?

Please contact us [email protected] visit us atwww.canadatyo.org

Speak Out

As Tamil youth in Canada, we have the ultimate

duty of educating others, as well as ourselves of

the su�ering of the Tamil people. Understanding is crucial. And with understanding comes aware-ness, the most essential step in the path to progress.

Ignorance is not a bliss.

Get

Inv

olve

d

Get

Inv

olve

d

18 19

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32 TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32

WRITE For the beautiful moments

For the tragic timesWith your heart and no regrets

For our next month’s issue:Submit your written work based on

‘Whats on you mind’Please follow the guidelines below.

Don’t forget to add [email protected] to your e-mail safe list.

We appreciate all of your time and effort.

TYO - Canada

Guidelines:o All submissions must be in Englisho You may create your own title for your worko Written work should be within 750 words (or 2 pages lettersized), 12 pt font (Times)o Can be written in any form (article, research essay, poem, story, etc.)o Include your name, contact info, and University/ College/ High School (If applicable)o Submit before FEBRUARY 25th, 2011o Must be e-mailed to [email protected] with the subject ‘Reach-FEBRUARY 2011’o Please attach a word file or copy and paste your work in your e-mail

Join TYO

Our doors are always open to new members

that are looking to make a di�erence for Tamils

around the world.

As an organization with the interests of Tamil

youth at heart, TYO provides opportunities for

Canadian Tamil youth to network, contribute,

and develop their skills in various areas as well.

Interested in getting involved?

Please contact us [email protected] visit us atwww.canadatyo.org

Speak Out

As Tamil youth in Canada, we have the ultimate

duty of educating others, as well as ourselves of

the su�ering of the Tamil people. Understanding is crucial. And with understanding comes aware-ness, the most essential step in the path to progress.

Ignorance is not a bliss.

Get

Inv

olve

d

Get

Inv

olve

d

18 19

TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32 TYO - Canada JAN 2011 Vol - 32