If you liked Jordy-Boy, you'll love Patrick Elie

Hey Winnipeggers. Check this:

Date and Time: Monday, March 27, 2006 Location: University of Winnipeg, Room 1L12, 545 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB @ 7pm Admission: Free (donations accepted) Patrick Elie, a Haiti-based political rights activist and former Minister of the first government of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide (1991-96), will be in Winnipeg from March 27th to 28th, 2006, as part of a Canada-wide speaking tour. His main speaking event in Winnipeg will be at the University of Winnipeg, room 1L12, at 7 pm on March 27th 2006. In an interview upon arriving in Canada, Elie described the purpose of his speaking tour: "Haiti's history and its social and political realities are systematically misrepresented in much of the mainstream press and by the majority of politicians and so-called experts," he said. "The objective of this speaking tour is to deploy a people-to-people diplomacy and to cut through the web of lies and half-truths. If Canadians are correctly informed about Haiti, it will be more difficult for the government of Canada to engage in policies that constitute a violation of Haiti's hard won sovereignty and of the will of the Haitian people." Since February 2004, the social and human rights situation in Haiti has been disastrous. A series of high-profile reports and commentaries, including from the United Nations own spokespeople for human rights, indicate that conditions in Haiti are "catastrophic" (UN official) and getting worse. Canada is a major player in the coup and its aftermath. The Winnipeg portion of Patrick Elie's tour is being organized by Winnipeg-CHAN (Canada Haiti Action Network) a local activist group which formed to give attention to Canada's intervention in Haiti. In addition to the main event, student groups are endorsing a Monday afternoon event at the Fireside Lounge at the University of Manitoba Student Union building at 2 pm and Tuesday afternoon at the University of Winnipeg, room 1L12 at 4pm. Old Jordy-Boy himself will be appearing on next month's installment of G7 Radio! to talk about Canada's involvement in Haiti. Get ready to ramble!