PHOTO MARCO CAMPANOZZI, THE PRESS
Maria Alyokhina, member of the artistic-activist collective Pussy Riot, is passing through Montreal these days.
Pussy Riot in Montreal
There’s no bad time to salute the remarkable courage of the members of Pussy Riot. But exhibiting – and celebrating – the work of the artistic-activist collective in Montreal these days, as the Russian regime leads a barbaric invasion in Ukraine, is incredibly timely. I attended a lecture by one of the group members, Maria Alyokhina, on Wednesday. His blood-curdling testimony allowed us to better understand the terror reigned by Vladimir Putin’s mafia regime, but also the bravery of those who oppose it. The Montreal Museum of Contemporary Art is dedicating an exhibition to Pussy Riot and sponsoring a few special events (the next one is a live performance at the Rialto). Well done !
Alexandre Sirois, The Press
PHOTO DAVID BOILY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Quebecers are there for the vaccination campaign: some 27,000 doses are administered each day.
Popular vaccines
Tired of COVID, Quebecers? It’s undeniable. Despite everything, they are there for the vaccination campaign. I am surprised and encouraged. The approximately 27,000 doses administered per day, adapted to the new variants circulating, will make a triple difference. They will reduce the circulation of the virus, protect the most vulnerable from serious complications and prevent cases of long-term COVID in the population. In addition to the 320,000 doses of COVID vaccines already given, approximately 520,000 people have also been vaccinated against the flu. At a time when fall favors indoor gatherings and the holiday season is already in sight, the reaction of Quebecers is very reassuring.
Philippe Mercury, The Press
PHOTO ARNI TORFASON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rally to mark Icelandic women’s day off in Reykjavik on Tuesday
THE kvennafri Icelandic
Iceland was believed to be a paradise for gender equality, but even in this model country, inequalities persist. Icelandic women earn on average 21% less than men and take on more domestic tasks than their partners. Worse still, more than a third have been victims of gender-based or sexual violence. On Tuesday, they took to the streets by the thousands. Even the Prime Minister was there. This is the fourth time that Icelandic women have gone on strike (there they say: kvennafri or “women’s day off”). No, they are not giving up! And it’s really inspiring.
Nathalie Collard, The Press
PHOTO FRANK FRANKLIN II, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Travis Dermott, Arizona Coyotes
Hockey player Travis Dermott’s rainbow ribbon
Congratulations to Travis Dermott of the Arizona Coyotes who played last Saturday with rainbow ribbon on his stick in support of the LGBTQ2+ community. He thus defied a ridiculous new NHL policy, which prohibited players from showing their support for a social cause on the ice. Gone are the rainbow jerseys and ribbons because a handful of players refused to wear them last winter because of a law in Russia or for religious reasons. Really not strong, this decision by the NHL! At least Travis Dermott forced the Bettman circuit to change its mind about the tape on the bats. If the NHL found its moral compass, it would once again allow its players to support social causes, for example by wearing a rainbow jersey during warm-ups.
Vincent Brousseau-Pouliot, The Press