Anvil Mining faces lawsuit by Congo massacre survivors: People from the Democratic Republic of Congo want to sue a mining company with offices in Canada, for its alleged role in a 2004 massacre. Advocacy groups working on their behalf are asking the Supreme Court of Canada to rule whether the case against Anvil Mining can go ahead in Canada. The Link’s Lynn Desjardins looks into why the case could be tried in Canada and the implications it might have for companies operating in developing countries.
Canadian Centre for International Justice: http://www.ccij.ca/programs/cases/index.php?WEBYEP_DI=14
UN News release: DR Congo: UN's top rights official concerned at acquittals in military trial
http://www.un.org/apps/news/storyAr.asp?NewsID=23139&Cr=democratic&Cr1=congo#

Black History Month - Black Nova Scotians celebrate their African Heritage: This is the 15th year that Black History Month is being celebrated across Canada. During this month, The Link is featuring stories highlighting some of the many ways Black Canadians have helped shape our nation. Today we find out about Black History Month in Nova Scotia, which is home to Canada's oldest Black community. For 230 years, it has struggled and thrived, playing a leadership role in the advancement of civil liberties in Canada. As The Link’s Atlantic correspondent Robert Jaros reports, Black Nova Scotians use African Heritage Month to share their history and celebrate their accomplishments.

Indo Canadian Report - A mini United Nations comes to Montreal: Imagine being part of the negotiations at the World Economic Forum or being part of Ghadafi's cabinet as they decide what happens to Libya. Columnist Rashi Khilnani tells us how students from around the world got to bring current events to life at McGill University's Model United Nations conference, known as McMun.

Song: Windship
Artist: Terry Carisse
Album: Countrypak 11

Amputee athlete inspires thousands of MMA fans: Amputee mixed-martial artist Mike Rousselle of Cranbrook, B.C. tells us about his newfound celebrity after a video of his "superman punch" was featured on Georges St-Pierre's Facebook page. Mike is now looking to enter the upcoming Extremity Games, an extreme sports event for athletes with amputations and spinal cord injuries.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10150628786305309
https://www.facebook.com/georgesstpierre
http://www.extremitygames.com/

Web Discoveries - Changes at Google raise privacy concerns: There has been a lot of chatter on the web lately about Google's new, unified Terms of Service Agreement. As of March 1st, Google will begin tracking users’ activities across all their services, from their search engine to Gmail to YouTube. But, some fear having all of their Google activity rounded up in one place may not be a good thing. This week, our internet expert Andrew Fazekas takes a look at Google's new privacy policy, why it's so controversial and how it may affect you.
http://mashable.com/2012/01/24/google-changes-again-launches-one-privacy-policy-to-rule-them-all/
Andrew’s links:
Website: www.TheNightSkyGuy.com
Twitter: twitter.com/thenightskyguy
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Night-Sky-Guy/78350852774
Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheNightSkyGuy

Listener Letters: Host Marc Montgomery and Link researcher Kathy Coulombe read our emails and webpage comments; and playback the answering machine to find out which stories caught our listeners’ attention this week. They also draw the name of the lucky winner in our book giveaway. This week we’re giving away a copy of Robert Fowler’s, A Season in Hell.

Team Broken Earth - Newfoundland doctors and nurses team-up to lend a helping hand in Haiti: For the fourth time since the January 12, 2010, earthquake that devastated much of Haiti, a team of 30 Newfoundland health care providers will travel to Port au Prince this month to heal and teach. Victor Nerenberg tells us about their unique contribution to a broken nation’s recovery.
http://brokenearth.ca/

Song: Wood River
Artist: Connie Kaldor
Album: Wood River

Environmental watchdog warns Ontario trees and wildlife under threat: Forests, natural spaces and wildlife are under threat unless the Ontario government does more to protect their diversity from climate change and invasive species. The warning comes in a special report on the state of biodiversity in Ontario from the province's Environment Commissioner. Lyne-Francoise Pelletier has spoken with Ontario Environment Commissioner Gord Miller.
www.eco.on.ca/

New research adds to our understanding of the boreal birds of North America: Marc Montgomery speaks with Jeff Wells, a senior scientist with the International Boreal Conservation Campaign and the editor of the new book "Boreal Birds of North America: A Hemispheric View of Their Conservation Links and Significance." The book showcases the latest research on the importance of the boreal forest to global bird populations and the forest's connection to ecoregions throughout the Americas.
http://www.borealbirds.org/borealbirdsbook.shtml
http://www.interboreal.org/

Origins of Black History Month: This is the 15th year that Black History Month is being celebrated across Canada. During this month, the Link will be featuring the stories of some of the many Black Canadians who’ve helped shape our nation. Today we find out why February is the month dedicated to highlighting the history of Black Canadians.
http://blackhistorycanada.ca/

Indo Canadian Report - MLA trades paycheque for welfare cheque: Would $610 be enough to survive on for a month, if it had to cover your rent, food, transport and other expenses? It's the amount a welfare recipient in British Columbia gets monthly. A Member of the Legislative Assembly from Surrey, BC, named Jagrup Brar decided to test whether the amount is enough by trading his pay cheque for a welfare cheque for the month of January. He tells us what the experience was like for him.

Biblio file - Undercurrents: 2011 edited by Robyn Sarah: The Link’s book reviewer Priscila Uppal discusses the anthology Undercurrents: New Voices in Canadian Poetry edited by Robyn Sarah, a book conceived to feature the best of the country's writing from eleven poets on the verge of publishing a first book.

Sports slam: Ian Jones pops in with a look at what’s making news in the world of sport.

Canada delivers message of support to Israel, urges Palestinians to resume talks: Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird has told Palestinian leaders they should resume peace talks with Israel without pre-conditions. He also said they should abandon efforts to win recognition at the United Nations. For a closer look at Canada's position Marc Montgomery speaks with Middle East specialist Professor Rex Brynen of McGill University in Montreal.

Song: Beautiful
Artist: Gordon Lightfoot
Album: Don Quixote (1972)

Indo Canadian Report - IMAX goes Bollywood: The Canadian 3D company IMAX has just signed a deal to build four movie theatres in India, in addition to the three that it already has in the country. IMAX Chief Executive Richard Gelfond tells us about his plans for expansion in India, and how they could affect what is played on Canadian IMAX screens as well.

Calgary group helps non-profits work together: The Fig Tree Foundation is a non-governmental organisation that exists to help other NGOs working in international development do their jobs more efficiently. The Calgary-based group hosts a roundtable of more than sixty NGOs working on international development projects. The connections and shared expertise limit overlap and help member agencies deliver development assistance more effectively.
www.figtreefoundation.org
www.africabookproject.org

Feature interview - Robert Fowler, A Season in Hell: Robert Fowler, a Canadian diplomat who was taken hostage by al-Qaeda in 2008 and held captive in the middle of the Sahara desert, tells Marc Montgomery about his 130-day nightmare. Robert Fowler’s ordeal is described in the book, A Season in Hell. (Published by HarperCollins)

Song: Bluenose
Artist: The Irish Rovers
Album: Tall Ships and Salty Dogs

Sports slam: Ian Jones pops in with a look at sports news.
 

Canada encouraged to press human rights issues during PM’s visit to China: Canada's prime minister soon will visit China and human rights groups are urging him to press the issue of human rights. They are particularly concerned about the deadly clashes between Chinese authorities and Tibetans. The Link’s Lynn Desjardins examines what Stephen Harper is likely to do in China and the effect it might have.

Mexican journalist fears deportation from Canada: Karla Berenice Garcia Ramirez, a Mexican journalist, is fighting a removal order issued by Canadian immigration authorities. She says she's worried about her safety and that of her family if she's deported. Ramirez and her husband fled from Mexico to British Columbia in 2008. As The Link’s Pacific Coast correspondent Lorn Curry reports she says her life was threatened because she uncovered corruption inside the Mexican government.

@World.ca - Frederick Mulder: In the latest installment of The Link's web-based column featuring Canadians living and making a difference overseas, we meet London-based art dealer and philanthropist, Frederick Mulder. Ian Jones profiles the Eston, Saskatchewan native who, in nearly 50 years of living abroad, has become a world expert in European prints by masters such as Rembrandt and Picasso. As Ian tells us, Frederick Mulder has made millions from his business, but these days it is his philanthropic work that's making all the headlines.

Frank’s playlist Lynzie Kent, Josh Rager, Leonard Cohen: Journalist and musician Frank Rackow brings us his selection of some of the best new recordings by Canadian artists. This week we hear music by Lynzie Kent, Josh Rager and Leonard Cohen.
www.lynziekent.com  www.ragermusic.com  www.leonardcohen.com

Song: Darkness
Artist: Leonard Cohen
Album: Old Ideas

Sports slam: Ian Jones takes a look at some of the latest news from the world of sport

Global efforts seek to limit charges on wire transfers: New Canadians send some $12 billion a year to their families around the world. But, the fees for these transactions can exceed 25 per cent. Now, there's a worldwide movement to cap those charges. The Link’s Ottawa correspondent Amanda Pfeffer explains how various groups are trying to get money transfer companies to cap their remittance fees.

SONG: Lemon Cheeky
ARTIST: The Lemon Bucket Orkestra
ALBUM: Cheeky

Navigating our way around solar flares: The Earth was hit by a radiation storm this week, after a major solar eruption. An even bigger one is expected in 2013. For the most part, solar storms cause little harm. But they can interfere with a technology we now take for granted - satellite navigation. Victor Nerenberg speaks with geodetic researcher Richard Langley at the University of New Brunswick to find out how GPS is affected by the sun, and what can be done about it.
http://gge.unb.ca/Personnel/Langley/Langley.html

Egyptian activists urge faster transition to civilian rule: A year after the revolution that toppled Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian activists continue to press for democratic reforms. Marc Montgomery speaks with Egyptian-born Canadian Rena Saad about what's been accomplished, the challenges that lie ahead and how demonstrations here in Canada are bolstering spirits in Egypt.
Rena's twitter: https://twitter.com/renaroo84

Raymond’s music pick - Pied de Poule: Raymond Desmarteau, the host of our sister programme Tam Tam Canada, drops by to share some more French Canadian music. This week he tells us about the stage show, Pied de Poule.

SONG: Pied de Poule
ARTIST: Geneviève Lapointe
ALBUM: Pied de Poule

Million dollar donation to set up probiotic yogurt kitchens for African HIV/AIDS victims: The Link’s Africa correspondent Awa Dlodlo tells us about a University of Western Ontario programme that provides disease-fighting probiotic yogurt to people living with HIV/AIDS in East Africa. The Western Heads East programme, which was launched in 2003 by a group of Western students, faculty and staff, aims to teach East African mothers - affectionately called "Yogurt Mamas" - to produce potentially life-saving probiotic yogurt. Awa spoke to Marianne Larsen, who has donated $1.06 million to the programme, about why she chose to support the project and how the money will be used.

Sports slam: Ian Jones pops by with a look at sports news.

CIDA project pairing NGOs with mining companies raises ethical concerns: The Canadian government is funding three international development projects involving mining companies and non-governmental aid groups working together. The Link's Lynn Desjardins gets Development Minister Bev Oda's and aid groups' response to critics' concerns about the ethics of this kind of partnership.
Dominion article: http://www.dominionpaper.ca/about_the_dominion
World Vision and Barrick project in Peru: http://barrickbeyondborders.com/2012/01/barrick-gold-and-cida-co-funding-new-world-vision-project-in-peru/

Canadians are increasingly welcoming of immigrants: Polls show Canadians have a positive outlook on immigration, the integration of newcomers and their contribution to society and the economy. But, as The Link's Atlantic correspondent Robert Jaros reports, recent changes to Canada's immigration policy don't necessarily reflect this openness.

SONG: Just the Same
ARTIST: David Francey
ALBUM: David Francey: Late Edition
 
Indo Canadian Report - Taking Canadian 3D Technology to India: Creaform, a Quebec City-based 3D technology company, recently showcased its products at Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi.  As columnist Rashi Khilnani reports, the company plans to expand its presence in the Indian market, and says 3D technology can have practical applications in sectors as varied as automobiles and education. http://www.creaform3d.com

Listener letters: Marc Montgomery and Kathy Coulombe check The Link's emails and playback the answering machine to find out which stories caught our listeners' attention this week. They also share some of the letters sent to us by people writing in for one of our RCI 2012 calendars and telling us which part of Canada they'd most like to visit.

Web Discoveries - Groundbreaking research documents phenomenon of internet addiction: It's said that too much of a good thing is bad for you. Now, a new study says this holds especially true when spending time on the internet. In fact, as our web columnist Andrew Fazekas explains, it can become as addictive as drugs and alcohol.

Sports slam: Ian Jones drops by with a check of news from the world of sport.

First Nations chiefs gather for historic meeting: The Grand Chief of Canada’s Assembly of First Nations calls this week's meeting with the Prime Minister of Canada historic.  The issues at the meeting focussed on resolving the economic and educational crises facing Canada's first nations. But, as The Link’s Amanda Pfeffer tells us not all chiefs left the meeting with the same optimism as Grand Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo. 

Song: Did She Mention My Name?
Artist: Gordon Lightfoot
Album: Gord's Gold
 
Silent film preserves turn-of-the-20th century Arctic for future generations: As more and more people head north to cash in on the Arctic's melting ice, comes a reminder that Canada's Polar Region has been a magnet for adventurers for centuries. Marc Montgomery speaks with Canadian historian Peter Geller, who tracked down long lost footage from The Romance of the Far Fur Country, a film commissioned by The Hudson's Bay Company for its 250th anniversary in 1920; and, resurrected as part of Five Door Films' "Return of Far Fur Country" project. 
http://returnfarfurcountry.ca/about_the_film.html   www.macewan.ca/  
Association of Canadian Universities for Northern Studies: http://www.acuns.ca/
CBC story: http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2012/01/21/edmonton-long-lost-film-redone-arctic-canada.html

A Quebec City tribute to the Bard of Scotland: The 253rd birthday of the national poet of Scotland is being marked once again this year by the many Canadian garrisons of the Historical Regiment of the 78th Fraser Highlanders. Marc Montgomery talks to the Quebec Garrison's Ted Gunn about the Highlanders and their Robbie Burns Day traditions.     
http://www.scottishbanner.com/events/events.aspx?Country=Canada
http://www.robertburns.org/
http://www.78thfrasers.org/site/index.php
http://www.clangunn.com/

Song: Ciamar A Tha Sibh
Artist: Scantily Plaid
Album: This One's For You
 
Indo Canadian Report - Senator Asha Seth, the first female Indo-Canadian Senator: Meet Dr. Asha Seth, an obstetrician and gynecologist from Toronto, who was appointed to the Senate on January 6th this year, making her the country’s first female Indo-Canadian Senator. Columnist Rashi Khilnani introduces us to Senator Seth, and talks to another South-Asian Canadian Senator, Mobina Jaffer, who says she is looking forward to having an ally.

Biblio-file - Not Being on a Boat by Esmé Claire Keith: The Link’s book reviewer Priscila Uppal says Esmé Claire Keith’s debut novel, Not Being on a Boat, presents a satire of cruise vacations told from the perspective of a man determined to get his money's worth - an unexpectedly timely book about the potential perils of living a life of luxury.

Sports slam: Ian Jones is in with a check of sports news.

Mid-East tensions mount over EU ban on Iranian oil imports: The European Union has blocked the purchase of Iranian oil in a bid to stop Iran's development of nuclear weapons. In response, Iran is again threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz. The Link’s Lynn Desjardins looks at what's likely to happen next and the implications for Middle East politics.

Playwright John Murrell takes the stage in Taking Shakespeare: Taking Shakespeare is the first new play from Governor General’s Award-winning playwright and opera librettist John Murrell in a dozen years. And, The Link’s Frank Rackow tells us, it also marks his return to the stage as an actor after an absence of more than fifteen years.

Indo Canadian Report - Exploring food and identity in South-Asian Canadian literature: You are what you eat, so the popular saying goes. Columnist Rashi Khilnani introduces us to Toronto-based professor Julie Mehta who believes representations of food in Canadian writing have much to do with identity and belonging. Professor Mehta also explains why food can be used to empower Canadians and why breaking bread can join different cultures here in Canada. 

Canada urged to significantly boost its search and rescue capability in High Arctic: With more and more people taking advantage of the melting ice to travel to the world's polar regions, so too increases the risk for catastrophic accidents. But, even though it signed a circumpolar Search-and-Rescue Treaty at a meeting of the Arctic Council last May, Canada is far from being able to meet its obligations under that agreement.  We speak with Ron Wallace who's written a policy paper for the Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute think tank, on the importance of following through on the commitment.
http://www.cdfai.org/PDF/Emerging%20Canadian%20Priorities%20and%20Capabilities%20for%20Arctic%20Search%20and%20Rescue.pdf

Address to a Haggis - Bobby Watt: As we pay tribute to the Scottish bard on the eve of the 253rd anniversary of his birth, Ottawa-based musician and stonemason Bobby Watt recites Robbie Burns’ famous poem, Address to a Haggis.

SONG: A Man's a Man
ARTIST: Bobby Watt
ALBUM: Watt's next
 
Sports slam: Ian Jones is in with a check of sports news.

Alleged espionage case puts Canada-Russia relations in spotlight: Canada’s reported expulsion of four Russian diplomatic staff for alleged spying, has focussed attention on relations between the two countries. And, while experts seem to agree Canada should work to ease tensions with Moscow, The Link’s Lynn Desjardins tells us Arctic issues could help smooth things over.

The microscopic battle for Canada's forests: A team of scientists, led by researchers in British Columbia, has begun a three-year project to find better ways of diagnosing forest pests. The Link's Lorn Curry explains how they plan to tackle the problem using genomics.  
 
Canadian auction house set to sell watermelon-sized emerald: The world's biggest cut emerald is about to be put on the auction block in Canada's Pacific Coast province of British Columbia. The 11.5-kg, 57,000 carat gemstone has been appraised at over $1 million and will be sold to the highest bidder on January 28th.  Marc Montgomery speaks to auctioneer Mike Odenbach of Western Star Auctions.     www.westernstarauctions.com   www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQw3CVqLTbA           

Frank’s playlist - Joe Waye; Walk off the Earth; Thank-you, Merci; John K Samson: Broadcaster and musician Frank Rackow shares his selection of some of the best new recordings by Canadian artists. This week we hear the music of John Waye; Walk off the Earth; Thank-you, Merci; and John K Samson.
www.audiopress.net/cape-bretons-information-morning/musician-joe-waye
www.walkofftheearth.com    www.thankyoumerci.com    www.anti.com/artists/view/75  
 

Song: Heart of the Continent 
Artist: John K Samson
CD: Provincial

Sports slam: Ian Jones is in with a look at sports news.

Canadian authorities seek to muffle the noise of wind turbines: Governments in Canada are working together to devise voluntary guidelines for noise generated by wind turbines. Although scientific studies have not found a link between wind turbines and health problems, The Link’s Lynn Desjardins tells us there are people who say they got so sick they’ve been forced to leave their homes.
Society for Wind Vigilance http://www.windvigilance.com/
CBC documents on health problems  http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2011/09/21/wind-turbines.html
 
SONG: Universal Soldier
ARTIST: Buffy Sainte-Marie
ALBUM: Buffy Sainte-Marie
 
Visit the Ottawa Public Library, borrow a person: In this age of increasingly impersonal technology, the Ottawa Public Library is setting aside e-readers and reviving the tradition of storytellers. With the Human Library event, being held on January 28th, instead of autobiographies in book form, the life stories will be told by those experiencing them. Library patrons will be able to spend 20 minutes chatting, one-on-one, with anyone they care to know more about. The library's many branches will offer conversations with 60 volunteers including a brain surgeon, a Somali refugee, an urban Inuk and a sex-worker. We talk to one of the organisers, the Ottawa Public Library's Maureen McEvoy.
http://biblioottawalibrary.ca/en/main/about/comm/human   
http://www.cbc.ca/ottawa/humanlibrary/
http://www.warmuseum.ca/event/human-library
http://humanlibrary.org/
 
Canada losing a piece of its industrial history:   For 150 years, cast-iron manhole covers forged by the Imbleau Family have lined the streets of cities across Canada and beyond. The Canadian business survived the Depression, the Great Wars, and all the technological changes of the modern era.  But, The Link’s Amanda Pfeffer tells us H. Imbleau & Sons in Renfrew Ontario is about to close for good. 
 
Raymond’s music pick -  Gregory Charles: Raymond Desmarteau, the host of our sister-programme Tam Tam Canada, is in to introduce us to another French-Canadian recording artist. This week he brings us the music of Gregory Charles.
 
SONG: Loin de la lumière
ARTIST: Gregory Charles
ALBUM: Loin de la lumière
 
Canadian investors wooed by Ivory Coast: Ivory Coast is open for business and the country is inviting Canadian investors to take part in its reconstruction and economic revitalisation. The Link’s Africa columnist Awa Dlodlo spoke to people attending an investment meeting hosted by the Canadian Council on Africa in Montreal, to find out what kind of investment opportunities are available for Canadians in Ivory Coast.
 
Sports slam: Ian Jones drops in with a look at the latest sports news.