Citizens Handbook - International

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2929762

As evidence mounts that Jared Lee Loughner exhibited disturbing behaviour months before the rampage in Tucson, it's increasingly clear that Arizona authorities could legally have detained him for psychiatric evaluation and treatment -- and potentially have been able to avert the tragedy.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2936375

A suicide bomber wearing a vest packed with explosives and ball bearings attacked Iraqi police recruits on Tuesday, killing at least 60 and wounding more than 100, officials said.

http://indepthafrica.com/news/westafrica/displaced-ivory-coast-children-at-risk-of-sexual-exploitation/#

Thousands of children who have fled violence in Ivory Coast are at risk of sexual exploitation or recruitment by armed forces.

Citizens Handbook - Provincial

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2934785

It was a gut-wrenching day for the family of Sgt. Ryan Russell, his fellow officers and an entire city as the fallen hero was laid to rest in the largest police funeral Toronto has ever seen.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2936374

CBC takes $1.1 billion from the taxpayers and moonlights on the side to earn extra cash, but isn't willing to say what it makes from its various business ventures.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2936372

A suspicious package and a rash of phone calls threatening protests have shut down the planned screening of an anti-Iran documentary at Library and Archives Canada.

Citizens Handbook - Local

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2936341

Jan. 1 marked the 50th anniversary of modern-day St. Catharines. That's when the city officially swallowed up Merritton, Port Dalhousie and Grantham Township. St. Catharines more than doubled its population overnight, going from a sleepy burg of 41,156 to a, well, sleepy burg of 83,736.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2936645

Two people have been charged with several drug-related charges following a bust at a Haynes Ave. residence Tuesday evening. Niagara Regional Police executed a search warrant of the property at about 7:30 p.m. and found some cocaine and marijuana. Officers seized about $3,600 worth of cocaine and $200 in marijuana and $1000 in cash.

http://www.stcatharinesstandard.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2936357

Niagara Falls Council is questioning the NHS.

PCA 10

This cartoon is about Hilary Clinton, and the attitude many believed she took toward her race for president. In the cartoon she is shown presenting her marriage certificate, presumably to Bill Clinton, in lieu of a resume, which I think was meant to show how confident having been married to him, made her. Kind of like a "qualified by association" type of thing. This cartoon appealed to me because I liked the picture of Uncle Sam and the very "matter of fact" like nature of the entire cartoon. (If that makes sense...?)

PCA 9

This cartoon represents the chain of command in some countries, mostly those in the Western world. Through this it is clear that big corporations ( e.g. drug/tobacco/gun companies) are the ones who know the most about how things are really run and benefit the most from this set-up. Whereas civilians are the ones who get extremely "filtered-down" information and are essentially at the mercy of what the media is permitted to show. This cartoon appealed to me because of its shock value. The issues shown here will undoubtedly affect me, because as long as such corruption exists, my life might just be at the mercy of the media. Which is not good.

PCA 8

This cartoon is about the deal made between Canada and the EU about free trade. It's pretty much insinuating that there was a hidden downside to what seemed to be a good idea. This cartoon appealed to me because I liked the Trojan reference.

PCA 7

This cartoon is about the Summit that took place in Canada last year. It concetrates on the tax money used to pay for the security that was then used against the tax paying protestors, by showing the tax money being sprayed back into the person's face. I liked this cartoon because I saw the riots and protests that took place in Toronto around the time of the Summit, along with how(badly) the police were treating people. The issue shown here might affect me because eventually I will get a job and will start paying taxes, and it will be somewhat disheartening if I knew that the money I was paying in taxes to better the area/country I'm living in, was instead just being used to pay for police to beat people trying to take action against something they believed was wrong around them.

PCA 6

This cartoon is meant to discredit the idea of Canada being allowed free trade with the EU. This cartoon appealed to me because I liked the Trojan horse reference.

PCA 5

I think this cartoon represents the attitudes of a lot of people around the time of Hitler's reign. They recognized that all he was doing was wrong and unjust, but since he was killing "foreign" people, then it was justified. These are the ideals that they passed down, which is probably why the cartoon shows a mother type figure reading to her children. This cartoon interested me because I think that quite a few people still have that kind of mind set, that harming others is acceptable if those who are being harmed don't look/think as you do. This could affect me because further on in life people I come across might believe it is acceptable to treat me in an unjust manner, simply because I don't fit into a preconceived notion of what they believe people should look/be/act like.

PCA 4

This cartoon is referring to hoe hard it is to get a job these days, in contrast with the ease with which someone could find a war to fight in. I like this cartoon because I find it interesting that some people would rather join the military and possibly risk their lives as a means of income, because it has been so difficult for them to find a job. The issue in this cartoon may affect me because after high school i intend to find a job and a shortage of them would make ti a lot more difficult.

PCA 3

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The Frog And The Scorpion.
One day, a scorpion looked around at the mountain where he lived and decided that he wanted a change. So he set out on a journey through the forests and hills. He climbed over rocks and under vines and kept going until he reached a river.
The river was wide and swift, and the scorpion stopped to reconsider the situation. He couldn't see any way across. So he ran upriver and then checked downriver, all the while thinking that he might have to turn back.

Suddenly, he saw a frog sitting in the rushes by the bank of the stream on the other side of the river. He decided to ask the frog for help getting across the stream.

"Hellooo Mr. Frog!" called the scorpion across the water, "Would you be so kind as to give me a ride on your back across the river?"

"Well now, Mr. Scorpion! How do I know that if I try to help you, you wont try to kill me?" asked the frog hesitantly.

"Because," the scorpion replied, "If I try to kill you, then I would die too, for you see I cannot swim!"

Now this seemed to make sense to the frog. But he asked. "What about when I get close to the bank? You could still try to kill me and get back to the shore!"

"This is true," agreed the scorpion, "But then I wouldn't be able to get to the other side of the river!"

"Alright then...how do I know you wont just wait till we get to the other side and THEN kill me?" said the frog.

"Ahh...," crooned the scorpion, "Because you see, once you've taken me to the other side of this river, I will be so grateful for your help, that it would hardly be fair to reward you with death, now would it?!"

So the frog agreed to take the scorpion across the river. He swam over to the bank and settled himself near the mud to pick up his passenger. The scorpion crawled onto the frog's back, his sharp claws prickling into the frog's soft hide, and the frog slid into the river. The muddy water swirled around them, but the frog stayed near the surface so the scorpion would not drown. He kicked strongly through the first half of the stream, his flippers paddling wildly against the current.

Halfway across the river, the frog suddenly felt a sharp sting in his back and, out of the corner of his eye, saw the scorpion remove his stinger from the frog's back. A deadening numbness began to creep into his limbs.

"You fool!" croaked the frog, "Now we shall both die! Why on earth did you do that?"

The scorpion shrugged, and did a little jig on the drownings frog's back.

"I could not help myself. It is my nature."

Then they both sank into the muddy waters of the swiftly flowing river.
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This cartoon relates America's relationship with Iran, to that of the frog and the scorpion in the story, with America being the trusting frog, Iran being the deceitful scorpion and the efforts in Iraq being the journey across the river. This cartoon was of interest for me because I enjoyed the reference to that old story.

PCA - 2

This picture shows a difference in perspectives. They both depict the same situation, but with different people. This cartoon was of interest to me because I think that perspective is one of the most important things in life, and how being unaware of other people's perspectives can often make an individual seem ignorant. The situation shown in this cartoon could affect me, because people around me might be judging me based on certain factors, like my clothing, and I might do the same.