Robert K Stephen (CSW)

“The Last Forest” (A Última Floresta): The Next Step Genocide? Toronto Hot Docs

The Yanomami indigenous people live in Northern Brazil and in Southern Venezuela. They have been there for at least 1,000 years which is 500 years longer that the nation states of Brazil and Venezuela. The greed of gold, oil natural resources and hydro electric projects threatens the indigenous way of life. The processing of goldContinue reading ““The Last Forest” (A Última Floresta): The Next Step Genocide? Toronto Hot Docs”

Florida puts brakes on COVID intrusions: Is there a time and place for ending government by emergency order?

Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Landmark Legislation to Ban Vaccine Passports and Stem Government Overreach On May 3, 2021, in News Releases, by Staff St. Petersburg, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis was joined by local legislators and small business owners in St. Petersburg where he signed Senate Bill (SB) 2006, landmark legislation aimed at stemming the tideContinue reading “Florida puts brakes on COVID intrusions: Is there a time and place for ending government by emergency order?”

“Any Given Day”: Insider’s perspective on mental illness; Toronto Hot Docs

Director, writer and producer Margaret Byrne takes us down a road that is a long journey where it seems impossible to ever reach a happy destination. The road we travel upon is mental illness in Chicago where Chicago’s Cook County offered a specialized probation for mental illness diagnosed detainees. A special court geared to provideContinue reading ““Any Given Day”: Insider’s perspective on mental illness; Toronto Hot Docs”

“The Doll”: Iran’s Progressive Morals on Display: Toronto Hot Docs

In today’s “progressive” Iran a 35-year-old father Alireza who considers himself a “enlightened traditionalist” considers marrying off his 14-year-old grade 9 daughter Asal to Soroush a medical student in university. If it wasn’t so sad and disgraceful it might be a comedy. As we hear from various relatives about the pros and cons of theContinue reading ““The Doll”: Iran’s Progressive Morals on Display: Toronto Hot Docs”

“Archipelago”: A Dreamy and Poetic Journey: Toronto Hot Docs

Félix Dufour-Laperrière’s “Archipelago” is an animated dreamy poetic journey in which 12 different animators show their style of animation. The narration is at times poetic and very fluid. This in contrast to an old newsreel narrated in a 1950’s style. I think the newsreel was called “Les ÎIes de St. Laurent” taking a voyage fromContinue reading ““Archipelago”: A Dreamy and Poetic Journey: Toronto Hot Docs”

“Mutantism on the March” :Chapter 55 “Bertie Foonbean and Squid Converse”

The ice began to melt after a couple of Moleson Export beers. They ate a sumptuous meal of lamb that the Greek Gods had provided and some wine sent from Bacchus. After their meal and the dishes had been cleaned they retired to the study for brandy and cigars. Bertie initiated the conversation after lightingContinue reading ““Mutantism on the March” :Chapter 55 “Bertie Foonbean and Squid Converse””

“Kimmapiiyipitssini”: The Scourge of Fentanyl and Opioids in the Kainai Blackfoot Community in Southern Alberta: Toronto Hot Docs

“Kimmapiiypitssini” in Blackfoot in short means empathy and involves giving kindness to each other and feeling for others and you are blessed if you show it. Perhaps for me it is a vital component of mindful living. Aa one police officer on the Blackfoot Reserve in Southern Alberta muses what would our people be likeContinue reading ““Kimmapiiyipitssini”: The Scourge of Fentanyl and Opioids in the Kainai Blackfoot Community in Southern Alberta: Toronto Hot Docs”

“Mutantism on the March”: Chapter 54 “The Greek Gods Catch up with Squid”

After Squid’s brief address to the McSwill University students a strangely attired man wearing some ancient Greek garb walked up to Squid stating he had urgent business to discuss with him. Passing the awestruck audience Squid and the man headed up to his cave deep in Mount Royal. The man spoke, “I am from theContinue reading ““Mutantism on the March”: Chapter 54 “The Greek Gods Catch up with Squid””

“Ostrov – Lost Island”: Misery and the New Tsardom: Toronto Hot Docs

The Russians have perfected the art over the last hundred years of criticizing authoritarian power through allegory in literature and poetry. Sometimes they get away with it but sometimes with novels from Solzhenitsyn like “Cancer Ward” or “One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich” it goes too far for the authorities to tolerate. InContinue reading ““Ostrov – Lost Island”: Misery and the New Tsardom: Toronto Hot Docs”

“About Endlessness”: Dare I Interpret?

This is a film that the director likes to taunt you into trying to interpret what it means. Yes a Swedish-Norwegian-German production puzzling you and challenging some sort of interpretation. No this is not “The Joker” or “Black Panther”. Instead you may be asking:” What the hell is going on here?” And that can beContinue reading ““About Endlessness”: Dare I Interpret?”