"Paranoid? Is that what they're saying about me now, that I'm paranoid?"

I know that MINUSTAH has photographed me in a coupl'a protests here in Haiti. Mostly, I try not to let that influence my actions. But I feel like I'm becoming paranoid. Like, on Sunday, we went to a restaurant for lunch, and a blan was sitting at another table with a Haitian woman. When we finished our lunch and got up to leave, he photographed us with his cell phone.

Today, we went to the beach. I didn't want to ever get out of the water, but eventually joined the gang when our lunch arrived on the beachfront tables. Again, someone photographed us, somewhat surreptitiously.

Yesterday evening, as we were driving to Jakmel, we got to hear the radio reporting on our press conference. A lot of air time.

Timely announcement is timely

The United Nations peacekeeping mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) is helping the impoverished Caribbean country prepare for upcoming legislative elections, providing secondary support in logistics, security and raising public awareness while leaving the primary organizing role to the national authorities.

“It is the responsibility of the Haitian authorities to organize good elections,” Marco Donati, the senor UN official in the southern region told a recent meeting in Les Cayes to encourage the local youth to participate in the polls. “MINUSTAH is merely playing a secondary role in the elections.”

The mission is also helping the authorities to maintain a stable political atmosphere conducive to electing the country’s legislators, he added.

— "Haiti: UN helps in preparations for legislative elections"

Pro Rogue

In Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai's government faces fierce opposition at every turn; many of his cabinet choices have been rejected in a secret ballot by the more than 200 parliamentarians that sit in the legislature. Simply closing parliament down and operating without their consent is not an option for Hamid Karzai; to do so would be blatantly undemocratic or at the very least downright Canadian. If Hamid Karzai suspended parliament on a whim we might be forced to ask why Canadians are dying to bring democracy to that country.

Stephen Harper doesn't have that problem. The Parliament of Canada has been suspended for no other reason than the prime minister simply can't be bothered with the relentless checks and balances that democracy affords us. He doesn't want to have to stand in the House of Commons and hear anyone question him on any subject. I don't blame him. Parliament is filled with jackals, opportunists and boors. The problem is, like it or not, they were elected.

— Rick Mercer, "22 Days of Snow Days"