Bad news Good News

Again I find myself skeptical of "good guy" motives and fearful of the momentum this cycle of violence is gaining...

From the BBC: A man has been shot dead by police at Stockwell Tube station in south London, as officers hunt four bombing suspects.

Met Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said officers fired after the man was challenged and refused to obey police.

The incident was "directly linked to the ongoing and expanding anti-terrorist operation", he said.

BBC crime correspondent Neil Bennett said the man shot dead was not thought to be one of four bomb suspects shown in CCTV images released by police…

Our correspondent says the man was under surveillance as a result of evidence gathered from the scenes of the four attempted bombings.

Stockwell passenger Mark Whitby told BBC News he had seen a man of Asian appearance shot five times by "plain-clothes police officers".

"One of them was carrying a black handgun - it looked like an automatic - they pushed him to the floor, bundled on top of him and unloaded five shots into him," he said...

The Muslim Council of Britain said Muslims were concerned about a possible "shoot to kill" policy.

Spokesman Inayat Bunglawala said: "There may well be reasons why the police felt it necessary to unload five shots into the man and shoot him dead, but they need to make those reasons clear.

"It's vital the police give a statement about what occurred and explain why the man was shot dead."

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But I am still trying very hard to be in the present, etc. etc. and gatherings like Saturday's do help with infusing one with hope in the human animal...

Positive Community Events:
LUMINARA SET TO LIGHT UP THE NIGHT ON JULY 23RD

The sixth annual Luminara Victoria Lantern Festival takes place Saturday, July 23 at St. Ann's Academy and Beacon Hill Park.

Luminara is a free, family-oriented event presented by the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA). Luminara is inspired by the world-wide appeal of lantern festivals across the globe, Luminara Victoria speaks to everyone in the language of light. At Luminara, people from all walks of life gather together to celebrate the spirit of community, creativity and diversity.

Activities for Luminara Victoria get underway on the grounds of St. Ann's (835 Humboldt St. between Blanshard and Quadra), starting at 5:00pm and continue until 9:00pm. Light up in Beacon Hill Park begins at approximately 7:30, and displays and performances continue there until 11:00pm.

At St. Ann's, the early start time is geared towards families with small children, though all ages will enjoy the performances, displays, refreshment kisks and activities on the lanscaped grounds of this beautiful heritage building. Performers at St. Ann's include Axe Capoeira Victoria and Mufaro Marimba, as well as clowns, jugglers, stiltwalkers and magicians. A children's costume procession, led by beautifully costumed characters and marching musicians, will wind its way around the grounds of St. Ann's starting at about 6:30pm. In Beacon Hill Park, the pathways and waterways will sparkle with handmade lantern displays of every imaginable design, enhanced by dazzling performances of live music, giant puppets, stilt walkers, dancers and acrobats.

The magic of Luminara is in the discovery and delight of surprises that await around the next bend. Most of all, Luminara is all about participation! Everyone who attends is encouraged to make and bring a lantern to carry, to dress in costume, face paint or a glowrope - whatever it takes to get into the true spirit of Luminara Victoria.