Magic Statistics

“I accept no responsibility for statistics, which are a form of magic beyond my comprehension.” — Robertson Davies

November 19th, 2007 at 6:47 pm

800,000 persons trafficked across international borders every year

A conference organised by Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons has been told that an estimated 600,000 to 800,000 persons, mostly women and children, are trafficked across international boundaries every year.  That does not include millions more trafficked within their own countries.

The meeting was held in Edo state, Nigeria, a state known as a centre for the trade in human beings.

Human trafficking is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded or coerced into labor or sexual exploitation.
. . .
In a few cases, physical force is used, and in other cases, false promises are made regarding job opportunities or marriages in foreign countries to entrap victims.
. . .
Besides prostitution, marriage, and forced labour, some of these victims are used for rituals, begging and even for organ transplantation or money laundering. While most trafficking into the commercial sex trade involves young adult women, minors including some children under 16 are also exploited.
. . .
Surprisingly, even the solemn Muslim pilgrimage has been turned to an avenue for trafficking, by some unscrupulous persons.

Given that Muslims were involved in the slave trade for centuries before the Europeans got into that depraved business, and continue today, some might not find that last bit of information "surprising".

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November 19th, 2007 at 5:24 pm

Celine’s husband blames lack of respect for concert cancellation

Like Celine’s heart, this story does go on.

Rene Angelil has told Montreal’s La Presse that his wife’s Halifax concert was cancelled because some city residents weren’t sufficiently obsequious, thus giving new meaning to the term "prima donna".

Halifax’s reputation as a good host could be at stake.

Celine Dion’s husband says the Dion camp pulled the plug on next summer’s concert on the Commons because Halifax didn’t lay out the welcome mat.

If a bribe subsidy of $150,000 doesn’t qualify as "lay[ing] out the welcome mat", I don’t know what does.

“Even before the sale of 20,000 tickets, journalists have to write that it was a place for the Rolling Stones to rock, not Celine Dion,” Rene Angelil told a French-language online newspaper Sunday.

“So if we are not welcome in Halifax, we won’t come.”

Not only does Halifax have to pay her to show up, no one in the province is allowed to disparage the super-wealthy pop star.  With that attitude, I’m amazed that she agreed to venture out of Caesar’s Palace at all.

Sticks and stones won’t break her bones, but names really do hurt her.

Celine Dion has never encountered such a negative reaction to a proposed concert as she did from Halifax, her husband-manager has told a Montreal journalist.

Let this be a warning to residents of Edmonton, Winnipeg, Vancouver, and anywhere else the diva deigns to sing.  Show some respect.

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November 19th, 2007 at 4:42 pm

Let my elevator go!

Someone's in a bit of a hurry.

YouTube Preview Image

True, he was provoked, but I would maintain that he overreacted just a tad.

h/t: Weird Wired Web by Matthew Moore at Telegraph Blogs 

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