demand peter mackay resign!

From the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War:

Call, fax and e-mail the Prime Minister to demand Peter MacKay resign

Today we learned that not only did the Canadian government know about torture of Afghan detainees but that they actually defended their torturer in Kandahar:

A former governor of Kandahar who is accused of personally torturing Afghans might have been removed from office as far back as 2006 if Canadian officials hadn't defended him, according to diplomatic memos that have never been made public by the Canadian government.

The revelation about Asadullah Khalid, who stayed on as governor two years after concerns about his reputation were raised, opens up another embarrassing avenue of inquiry over Afghan prisoner abuse.

The new allegation is contained in a two-year-old report by Richard Colvin, the whistleblower foreign service officer. Colvin's disgust that Canada would support a "known human-rights abuser" was palpable and formed the most incendiary paragraphs of the report. References to Khalid were entirely blacked out in the version of the report publicly released to the Military Police Complaints Commission.

But an uncensored version of the end-of-mission report was shown for the first time to The Canadian Press on a confidential basis.

"As far as I know, Canada has never suggested to (President Hamid) Karzai that Asadullah be replaced," says the memo, dated Oct. 24, 2007.

"In the one meeting where the subject was discussed, in July 2006, it was the president who raised the issue; Canada defended the governor, thereby ensuring his continued tenure."

The uncensored report sheds further light on Colvin's testimony last month before a special House of Commons committee, where he stated the governor was considered a "bad actor" on human rights.

The Harper government needs to hear from you. Call to demand that Harper:

Fire Peter MacKay

Call a full public inquiry

Bring the troops home NOW

Contact the Prime Minister and his chief of staff:

pm@pm.gc.ca, phone 613.992.4211, fax 613.941.6900

Guy Giorno, Stephen Harper's Chief of Staff 613.992.4211 x11

Please let us know how they respond by sending us an e-mail at cpa@web.ca or by posting a report on the wall of the "Peter MacKay Must Resign" Facebook group.

For more background information please go here and here.

on giving: helping people living the struggle

'Tis the season to be inundated by requests for donations. All our favourite causes need those end-of-year gifts, and every organization, from the most worthy to the borderline to the flat-out ridiculous, is out there asking for our dollars. Our paper mailboxes and are inboxes are stuffed with requests. And if you're doing more shopping this time of year, you know that every retail chain is trumpeting their good corporate citizenship by asking their customers for charitable donations. (Here's an idea: give from your own profits and leave us alone!)

We all make a series of decisions and rationalizations about where to put our limited donation dollars, and try to block out what we can't do. In general, I prefer to give to organizations that work to create change, as opposed to operating on a strictly charity model, but to also remember that charity serves real needs. In other words, work to create a world where fewer people are hungry, but fill a bag with groceries for a food bank, too.

I've heard the anti-charity arguments from the progressive point of view - if we feed hungry people, we're letting the government off the hook by doing its job. But people have to eat! This past year, visits to food banks in the GTA rose 8% over the previous year, bringing the total visits to more than 1,000,000 for the first time. This is beyond shameful. And it's not enough to give food and money once a year. But not giving food and money will not create a re-distribution of wealth or a more responsive government. It will only mean more people are hungry.

We need to work for change, but we need take care of each other, too.

I've always thought along these lines; it just seems completely intuitive to me. My favourite animal organization, BAD RAP, educates about the beleaguered "bully" breeds and works to change punitive breed-specific legislation, but it also rescues and rehabilitates individual dogs. I worked with SAVI - Sexual Assault and Violence Intervention Program - because it worked on every front to reduce violence against women, and also because it helped survivors heal.

I also try to give as close to the grassroots as possible. I can't see giving my limited donations to mega-charities like United Way. To me those groups are like the Microsoft of charities. They already enjoy huge mainstream awareness and support, and my small donation won't make much of a difference. When I give to the Abortion Support Network or BAD RAP or the War Resisters Support Campaign, I know exactly how my dollars are being used, and how badly they are needed.

I recently became aware of an organization that operates as a charity within the larger struggle to create change. For six years, Operation Christmas Cheer has helped the families of union workers who are on strike or locked out from their workplaces.

It's a tough thing to walk a picket line, to fight for your rights even though it means depriving yourself and your family. Most strikes are completely off the public radar. If I weren't friends with labour activists, and get information from various Facebook groups, I wouldn't even know these struggles were taking place. And then there are the public employees! Last summer, we saw what kind of support they enjoy: contempt, disgust, and often flat-out hatred.

Operation Christmas Cheer collects food, clothes, toys and cash donations for families facing hardship because of labour struggles. I think it's a great idea. You can sponsor a family, you can drop off donations of toys or food, or you can send a cheque. Details about who needs help and how you can join are here (pdf).

laxer: harper talking out the clock

I've been trying to write about the Harper Government's end game with Parliament... then I read James Laxer. Now I'll just quote him instead.

This is the hallmark of the Harper government. When its members are pushed into a tight corner, they lash out at critics and political opponents, labeling them unpatriotic cretins who prefer the Taliban to Canada's brave soldiers. Meanwhile, they alone -- the Conservatives -- walk the lonely path of virtue, serving the nation in a difficult hour.

Even when they have been exposed as incompetents or liars engaged in a deliberate cover-up, the members of this government concede nothing. As far as they are concerned, there will be no independent inquiry into the detainee scandal.

Stephen Harper and Peter MacKay are cynically talking out the clock. The House of Commons is about to rise for the Christmas recess and will not sit again until the end of January. By that time, they hope, Canadians will have moved on to other concerns.

Watching Peter MacKay in Question Period and delivering testimony to the parliamentary committee has been instructive. He repeats the same answer over and over, stressing the virtue of our soldiers and the perfidy of the opposition parties. In the parliamentary committee, his opening statement went on so long that, aided by a couple of breaks for votes in the House, he only had to face a few questions from the committee members. In answering those questions, he typically returned to square one, describing the mission and its purposes, and saying next to nothing about the issues raised. Later, of course, the Conservatives will insist that they were compliant in cooperating with the committee, yet another reason why no special inquiry is needed.

The government is making the assumption that Canadians are too befuddled to follow the details of all of this. Harper and his colleagues believe that if they hunker down and stick to their line, nothing will harm them. They cynically believe that torture in Afghanistan is an issue that only concerns a few pointy-heads, not the majority of double-double drinking Canadians.

And then one fine day with another election, and a majority, the Conservatives won't ever have to listen to the nobodies on the other side of the aisle in the irrelevant "talking shop" that is Parliament.

Go here for an instructive timeline of quotes.

"pre-emptive" arrests in copenhagen; miller: "as a canadian, it's embarrassing"

Toronto Mayor David Miller:

In Copenhagen, the "Day of Action" saw some activists dressed as polar bears or pandas as they walked from the Danish parliament to Cathedral Square in the host city for the 12-day conference. Among the Canadian demonstrators was Toronto Mayor David Miller.

Miller is one of more than 100 mayors from around the world and three from Canada who will convene in Copenhagen next week to talk about what their cities are doing to curb climate change.

"I'll tell you — here in Copenhagen everybody's talking about the Canadian government and how it's getting in the way of negotiations," he told CBC News over the phone. "And as a Canadian, it is embarrassing."

Later in the CBC story, emphasis added:

As night fell on Copenhagen, police said they rounded up more than 600 people in a preventive action against a group of youths dressed in black at the tail end of the mostly peaceful demonstration.

Beware youths dressed in black! They must be rounded up for the good of the people! (What would they do in New York? Round up everyone under the age of 50?)

But in all seriousness, 600 people are pre-emptively detained, and the cops come right out and say this, all in a day's work. The CBC story says 1,000 protesters were arrested and doesn't even mention why. This is so commonplace now, no one even bothers to explain it.

Here's Maude Barlow's first-hand account, from Rabble:

I was in the march that had more 100,000 people demanding climate justice and action. Suddenly, an unprovoked and very military-style police action took place. Hundreds of young people were surrounded by police in riot gear with dogs. They were forced to sit for hours on the cold ground with their hands tied behind their backs. There was no provocation for these arrests. I'm outraged at this treatment of legitimate protesters and the media's distorted reporting of it. If anything, we should be thanking these young people for having the courage to stand up for the kind of world that will help our planet and species survive. It's their future that is in jeopardy and they have more of a right than anyone to be heard.

This is so deeply disturbing: the global fascist shift.

elegy for a glove

I had some gloves.

They were the best gloves I ever had.

They fit so perfectly. They were warm. They slid on and off easily. They were lightweight.

I loved them.

They were the best gloves I ever had.

They looked like this, but they were gray, and lined with Thinsulate, and didn't have that non-skid stuff on the palm sides.

Once I left them behind. But I knew where I left them, and went back to the store, and a nice person had them behind the counter! Hooray!

Then the following winter, I left them behind again. But again, I knew where they were, and I raced back, and there they were, waiting for me. My trusty gloves.

This was their fourth winter. You know you're pushing your luck when your gloves have lasted three winters!

Two weeks ago, coming home from work, I took them off to get out my keys and my money. I went inside, but my gloves stayed in the cab.

I called the cab company. They called the driver. But alas, this time, my gloves were lost.

Where were these gloves from? How could I find them again?

I went to the mall. I hate the mall. I searched through the gloves. There were hundreds of them. In piles. In disarray. I was too warm. I was hungry. I had a headache. I couldn't find the gloves I want.

In store after store, my search continued. Where are you, oh my gloves? Where could you be?

I went home. I was annoyed.

Ah-ha! Later that day, I remembered where those wonderful gloves came from. I bought them online! I ordered them on a whim, while ordering other things, from one of the stores I frequent online. Hurrah! L.L. Bean or Lands End would save the day.

But alas, it was not to be. All the gloves in my size in any colour I would wear are all sold out.

I am sad.

There are other gloves I could buy. Many others. But I hate buying something I don't really like. And they won't be as good.

Now I'm using an old pair. They're warm, but they're difficult.

I miss my gloves.

Boo hoo.

swoopo.com

Have you heard of Swoopo? Has anyone here used it?

I'm in the throes of making a decision about a new secondary computer. It's clear my current used ThinkPad is dying. I'm deciding between another used, but newer-model ThinkPad from Craigslist (there are many available at good prices) and a new netbook, such as the Lenovo IdeaPad. Each has its pros and cons, but the smaller, lighter-weight netbook is currently in the lead.

While looking around online, I came across someone raving about buying brand-new netbooks for $10 on something called Swoopo. Perhaps I'm the last known person to hear of this site, but I clicked... and was amazed. From Swoopo, typos and all:

Swoopo - the next generation of online auctions

Founded in Germany in 2005, Swoopo is one of the world.s most innovative auction sites. Based on a unique software solution and business model, the company sells premium products like: computers, cameras, game consoles and even cars, at very low prices. Swoopo auctions over 10,000 products per month and has more than 2,500,000 registered customers.

Here is how it works: our online customers buy “bids” in advance. They cost $0.65 each and are sold in packs of 40, 70, 120, 300 or 800. Bidders have the choice of placing single bids, or, using an electronic bid assistant called the .BidButler.. Alternatively, customers can bid via the phone.

Every bid placed, increases the price of the product by 12c and the auction countdown by up to 20 seconds. To help keep track of the money spent on bidding, each auction displays the amount spent on bids by the customer and how much the bidder would save overall, if they won the auction at that moment.

The ‘last bidder standing’ when the countdown reaches zero, wins the auction - usually at a very low price; winners save, on average, 65% when compared to the recommended retail price.

In December 2007, Swoopo was successfully launched in the UK, followed by Spain in May 2008 and the US and Austria in September 2008. Swoopo has launched Canada in June 2009, more countries are going to be added in the future.

If you scroll through a list of ended auctions, you'll see things like "Toshiba 46" 1080p HD LCD TV" having sold for $15.62, an "Apple LED iMac MB953LL/A 27-Inch Desktop" for $6.89 and a "HP Pavilion dm3-1020CA 13.3-inch Notebook" for $15.95. All new, factory sealed.

This is very intriguing, although I'm not completely sure I understand it yet. There are several HP Pavilion notebooks, which seem nice and lightweight. Should I do it? It seems pretty low risk, but perhaps there is a catch I'm not getting.

Your thoughts?

[I've posted a bunch of links in comments. The catch, it seems, is the money you spend on bids for auctions you don't win - which is not refunded.]

canadian writer arrested and beaten at u.s. border

Apparently we were pretty lucky. From Cory Doctorow:

My friend, the wonderful sf writer Peter Watts was beaten without provocation and arrested by US border guards on Tuesday. I heard about it early Wednesday morning in London and called Cindy Cohn, the legal director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. She worked her contacts to get in touch with civil rights lawyers in Michigan, and we mobilized with Caitlin Sweet (Peter's partner) and David Nickle (Peter's friend) and Peter was arraigned and bailed out later that day.

But now Peter faces a felony rap for "assaulting a federal officer" (Peter and the witness in the car say he didn't do a thing, and I believe them). Defending this charge will cost a fortune, and an inadequate defense could cost Peter his home, his livelihood and his liberty.

Peter's friends are raising money for his legal defense. I just sent him CAD$1,000, because this is absolutely my biggest nightmare: imprisoned in a foreign country for a trumped-up offense against untouchable border cops. I would want my friends to help me out if it ever happened to me.

Update: Here's more from Peter, in his own words: "Along some other timeline, I did not get out of the car to ask what was going on. I did not repeat that question when refused an answer and told to get back into the vehicle. In that other timeline I was not punched in the face, pepper-sprayed, shit-kicked, handcuffed, thrown wet and half-naked into a holding cell for three fucking hours, thrown into an even colder jail cell overnight, arraigned, and charged with assaulting a federal officer, all without access to legal representation (although they did try to get me to waive my Miranda rights. Twice.). Nor was I finally dumped across the border in shirtsleeves: computer seized, flash drive confiscated, even my fucking paper notepad withheld until they could find someone among their number literate enough to distinguish between handwritten notes on story ideas and, I suppose, nefarious terrorist plots. I was not left without my jacket in the face of Ontario's first winter storm, after all buses and intercity shuttles had shut down for the night.

"In some other universe I am warm and content and not looking at spending two years in jail for the crime of having been punched in the face."

Thanks to James and everyone else who sent this. More here.

planet first, people first: seal the deal in copenhagen

Tomorrow, Saturday, December 12, join an indoor rally presented by Toronto Climate Campaign, Students Against Climate Change and Climate Action Network. There'll be a live feed from Copenhagen, speakers, video and other neat stuff.

When: Saturday, December 12, 3:00 p.m.
Where: Earth Sciences Auditorium, University of Toronto, 33 Willcocks Street

From Toronto Climate Campaign:

The Copenhagen Climate Talks are the world's last chance to secure an emissions reductions agreement that will replace the Kyoto Protocol before it expires. There is a growing consensus among scientists that we have as little as ten years to stop and reverse the global growth in greenhouse gas emissions before 'runaway' climate change becomes uncontrollable. That means the international talks being held in Copenhagen in December 2009 could be our last chance to avert a global catastrophe of unimaginable proportions—perhaps the most important international meeting ever held. We feel therefore that there is an overwhelming need to demonstrate a global will for urgent and effective action at this time.

CALL TO ACTION:

• We demand that world leaders take the urgent and resolute action that is needed to prevent the catastrophic destabilization of global climate.

• In Canada, the Harper government has failed to act on global warming and has blocked progress at previous climate meetings. The Canadian Government must take a stand against global warming at home and abroad. The Toronto Climate Campaign calls on the Harper government to support a deal that includes binding emission targets for developed nations, a global plan to cap total emissions at a level which would prevent the world from exceeding a temperature rise of 2 degrees Celsius, and commit developed nations to provide finance and technology transfers to assist developing nations with their mitigation and adaptation efforts.

• We demand that the government increase support for renewable energy, energy efficiency and good green jobs.

• Sign and promote the KYOTOplus petition on Facebook and join the campaign to ensure the Kyoto Protocol is strengthened and extended at the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

conscience canada: "work for peace, stop paying for war"

Last night we attended a fundraising dinner for the War Resisters Support Campaign. It was held at the Quaker house in Toronto, a lovely, warm home full of committed people of peace. There was great food, excellent music performed by Evalyn Parry, and the event raised enough money to cover a small hurdle of legal expenses. In general it was a big success.

I love being around peace-movement people, feeling a part of the community of people committed to social justice. Among those at our table, there were two Vietnam-era war resisters, a Quaker activist and one of the founders of Conscience Canada. I didn't know about Conscience Canada, and learning about the group was the personal highlight of the evening for me.

Conscience Canada is a war tax resistance group. This statement is from their website:

For many of us it is not enough to avoid personal military service because we know that funds taken from us in the form of tax will be used for war and other violent purposes. In other words, we know that we will be made complicit in war through our taxes no matter what our beliefs and values might be.

As Conscientious Objectors we want to know that all funds that we turn over to government will be used only for peaceful purposes. We therefore call ourselves Conscientious Objectors to Military Taxation (COMT).

Conscience Canada has worked since 1978:

* to promote a change in law to allow all Canadians the right to conscientiously object to military taxation as a right of conscience guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms;
* to educate Canadians about freedom of conscience and conscientious objection to military taxation;
* to support conscientious objection to military taxation; and
* to defend freedom of conscience.

The idea is not to pay less taxes. It's that a portion of one's personal income tax, equivalent to the percentage Canada now spends on the military, to be set aside into a special fund.

We watched a 10-minute video about the project, which explains the entire project far better than I can do here. You can watch it online here.

We also had an opportunity to chat with a founding member, and to hear about her experience as a military-tax resister. She spent a lot of time writing letters, explaining herself, in order not to have her income frozen, and she regarded those letters as opportunities for public education. (What do I always say? Each one, reach one.)

One Canada Revenue Agency representative she spoke with listened patiently, then said, "What an interesting idea. It makes sense. I'll speak to my supervisor about it."

Eventually Bruna decided to pay her withheld taxes, but she didn't feel her years of trying to withhold them were wasted. She saw it as part of the process. (What does Gandhi say? You can never know the results of your actions. If you take no action, there will be no result.)

Conscience Canada also supports and encourages Canadians to take the symbolic step of signing a statement of paying a portion of one's taxes under protest.

Option A: Declaration of Conscience only
* I am a conscientious objector to paying taxes for war.
* I claim the right of conscience under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms to insist that none of my taxes be used in the preparation for, or execution of, war. Nonetheless I believe in paying all my taxes.
* I object to having my taxes conscripted to pay for capital-intensive modern warfare.
* I request that legislation be enacted to create a government controlled Peace Fund, to be used only for peaceful purposes, into which all my taxes may be deposited.
* I believe that non-military peace building initiatives are more effective and more cost-efficient, and will not offend my conscience.
* Please recognize my human right to exercise my conscientious objection to war by ensuring that none of my taxes are used for military purposes.

I'm extremely intrigued by this idea. It was something I thought about it the US, but never seriously investigated. In the US, the movement has been spearheaded by the War Resisters League (founded by women opposed to World War I); information about US war-tax resistance here.

Now I'm wondering if military tax resistance is in my future. But I have a while to think about it, since I wouldn't try it until I attain citizenship. (CIC, could you please finish reading my blog and process my application already?)

If you are curious about this idea and what's been done so far, take 10 minutes and watch the video.

international human rights day 2009

Today, December 10, is International Human Rights Day. It's a perfect day for...

... Peter MacKay to resign for his failure to prevent Afghan prisoners from being transferred to inhumane conditions where they would be tortured, despite knowing full well what was happening,

... supporting Michael Ignatieff's private member's bill calling for gender pay equity as a non-negotiable,

... standing up for the human right of conscientious objection to war, by making a donation to the War Resisters Support Campaign, and

... supporting the human right of free expression, by helping Defend Free Speech and George Galloway fight Jason Kenney in court.

I'll be celebrating International Human Rights Day at the Quaker House, with a fundraising dinner in support of war resisters.

Thanks to Andrea for sending a story on Ignatieff's bill.

Update. In comments, reader Scott M reminds me that MacKay wasn't Defence Minister at the time in question, something I forgot while under-caffeinated this morning. However, Scott also points out - and of course I agree - that MacKay has been lying to the public about his knowledge of events. Harper, MacKay, Kenney and the rest of the bullies, nothing but lying, obfuscating, smearing and shit-flinging, should get the hell out of there.

a gentle man, a peace-loving citizen

You may recall my piece at The Mark, "Conscience Behind Bars", about campaigners' visit to war resister Cliff Cornell in the Camp LeJeune brig. Cliff is trying to win an early release, so he can return to Canada and rebuild his life on Gabriola Island. The current length of his sentence precludes that.

Here are what some Gabriola Island residents had to say in response to this story in the Nanaimo Daily News.

I am definitely in favour of having that gentle guy Cliff Cornell back on Gabriola Island.

He was a hard-working quiet and contributing member of the Gabriola Island community while he was here. Cliff didn't want to participate in the illegal Iraq war.

Like the hundreds of thousands of young Americans needing a lift up, he joined the army to get an education and recruiters promised him stateside duty. He didn't believe in the internationally discredited, illegal U.S. assault on Iraq, so when called up to fight there, he acted with guts and came to Canada.

Ann Buttrick, Gabriola Island

*

In response to the article Cliff Cornell's wish to return to Gabriola Island, I would support Cliff's wish because he was well liked and respected as a gentle man, a good and dependable worker and a good peace-loving citizen, who, with good conscience, does not agree with war as an answer to differences between peoples.

Mary Rose, Gabriola Island

two blogs worth visiting

I've been meaning to highlight a couple of websites, both by friends of mine from the war resister movement. I was waiting for some appropriate tie-in, but I see that is never going to happen, so here you are.

In May, I blogged about singer-songwriter Sara Marlowe, after we attended the release party for her new CD, "True Stories". Back then, I wrote:

Sara is a talented musician and committed activist, and she seamlessly combines the two. Her lyrics fall squarely in the tradition of music in support of social justice, while her music is a free-ranging mix of rock, jazz and folk. Sara's arrangements, which feature cello, flute and mandolin, give the songs a texture and depth that is simply beautiful.

I can't think of any better way to say it today. I was surprised to see a quote from wmtc front and centre on Sara's new website!

I highly recommend a look and a listen - and a CD: SaraMarlowe.com.

Jamine is a personal fitness coach with solid knowledge and a great motivating spirit. Her blog, The Jam Blog, is a fun mix of information on healthy eating, de-stressing and getting fit. I love this bit from her website:

Jamine is also the Assistant Coach for the University of Toronto's Women's Lacrosse Team, a year-round cyclist, and a connoisseur of fine friends.

Jamine's partner is Phil McDowell, a stop-lossed US war resister, and a spokesperson for peace and human rights.

Both Sara and Jamine are committed peace activists, each doing more than their share to make the world a better place. Visit them!

canada should be proud to welcome them

Two Davids, both readers of this blog, say, "Let them stay!" in letters to the editor.

War Resisters Kim Rivera and Chris V recently spoke in London, Ontario; this from the London Free Press.

Canada should be proud to welcome war resisters

Why should Kim Rivera, or any other U.S. Iraq war resisters living in Canada, be separated from their kids, jailed and given a criminal record for saying no to the Iraq war?

George W. Bush never served. He got out of it. Dick Cheney cleverly avoided the draft as well. Cheney reportedly said, "I had other priorities in the '60s than military service." At least Rivera and many of the resisters signed up to serve their country and actually went into combat in Iraq. But the architects of the disastrous war in Iraq will never spend a day in jail for the lies they told their soldiers.

Why is the Harper government so eager to side with Bush and punish the soldiers who saw the light and said no to an illegal war? A majority of Canadians and their MPs recognize this as an injustice and want them to be able to live in a country that proudly said no to the Iraq war.

David Fox, Toronto

This is in reply to a "deport the cowards" type of letter in the Calgary Sun:

DEFYING DEMOCRACY

Bethany Smith, the gay U.S. soldier who deserted, should be allowed to stay in Canada. (Letters, Dec. 28) National polls show clearly that a strong majority of Canadians want all war-resisters to be allowed to stay in this country. They don't need to be in the refugee process at all. Just let them apply for permanent residence. This is also the clear will of Parliament (which has voted twice to let war resisters stay in Canada), so where does the Conservative minority government think it gets a mandate to defy the democratic will of Canadians by continuing with the deportation of these courageous individuals?

David Heap

Thank you, David and David!

help george galloway defeat jason kenney in federal court

From The Defend Free Speech Campaign:

URGENT appeal for funds
Help George Galloway beat Jason Kenney in Federal Court!

Dear friends:

The Defend Free Speech Campaign is pleased to announce that British MP George Galloway has recently won an important victory against Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney in the Federal Court of Canada. On October 31, 2009, the Court announced that it would hear a judicial review of Kenney’s decision to ban Galloway from entering Canada. The Court is expected to issue a final decision in January 2010.

The significance of this development should not be underestimated: only about 10 to 15 per cent of all cases ever make it to the Court. This also indicates that Galloway has a serious case against Kenney - one that we can win!

But we urgently need your help!

Between now and December 21, we must raise a minimum of $20,000 CAD to cover basic legal expenses. Our dedicated legal team has been working pro-bono since the ban was announced, and will continue to do so, but they have had very little support for mounting court costs.

By contrast, Jason Kenney and the federal government have unlimited resources to undermine Galloway's case in the Court, and to attack our campaign in the media and the public. Indeed, this was their approach when the ban was first announced.

In order for the case to proceed, we're going to need your generous financial support, and we need it as soon as possible. At stake is much more than Galloway’s ability to enter and speak in Canada; at stake is the freedom of Canadians to criticize and oppose their government without fear of censorship or retribution.

Please help us to defend free speech by making a donation today!

There are two easy ways to donate:

1) Online

Click here to make an easy and secure donation by credit card (please note, your donation will be private; we do NOT list the names of contributors):

DFS.ChipIn.com

2) By cheque or money order

Mail your cheque or mondey order made payable to "Peace and Justice Committee" to:

Defend Free Speech Campaign
427 Bloor Street West, Box 13
Toronto ON M5S 1X7

No donation is too big or too small, and every penny counts towards our $20,000 goal.

In addition to making a donation, you can support the Defend Free Speech Campaign by taking the following steps:

+ Forward this e-mail to friends, family, co-workers and all your e-mail contacts, encouraging them to support the campaign, too!

+ Visit our website: http://www.defendfreespeech.ca. Add a link to our campaign on your website.

+ Join our Facebook group: Help George Galloway beat Jason Kenney in Federal Court! http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#/group.php?gid=192793582883&ref=ts

+ Spread the word on Facebook and Twitter. Update your status to: I'm helping George Galloway beat Jason Kenney in Federal Court! You can, too. http://bit.ly/FFBsT

+ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stopkenney.

+ If you belong to a trade union, student union, peace or social justice group, download this sample resolution to endorse the campaign and make a donation: http://www.defendfreespeech.ca/home.htm.

Thank you in advance for your generous support! This is a campaign we can win, but only with your help.

In solidarity,
James Clark
Defend Free Speech Campaign

Background

On March 19, 2009, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Jason Kenney banned British Member of Parliament George Galloway from entering Canada. Galloway learned about the ban from the British media, which had been contacted by members of Kenney's staff. Hours after the ban appeared in the media, Galloway finally received written confirmation of the ban from Canada's High Commission in London.

Letter from the Canadian High Commission (pdf)

Response from Galloway's Canadian lawyers (pdf)

Galloway had been scheduled to visit four Canadian cities - Toronto, Mississauga, Montreal and Ottawa - as part of a North America-wide speaking tour in March and April 2009. He had been invited by local peace coalitions, student unions and church groups to speak about his recent humanitarian aid convoy to Gaza, and to speak about his opposition to the war in Afghanistan.

Galloway spent two weeks speaking to audiences in major cities all over the United States, but was banned from entering Canada by Jason Kenney.

In response, peace activists and civil liberties campaigners launched the Defend Free Speech Campaign, which helped galvanize public opposition to the ban. Unfortunately, we were unable to overturn it before Galloway was scheduled to speak in Canada. As a consequence, Galloway was forced to speak to Canadian audiences through an online video connection from New York City.

Since then, the Defend Free Speech Campaign has remained committed to opposing Kenney's attack on free speech, and has supported a legal challenge in the courts. The Federal Court ruling on October 31 is our first major victory.

More background information is available on our website, including timelines, media reports, and legal documents: http://www.defendfreespeech.ca.

Defend Free Speech Campaign | defendfreespeech.ca@gmail.com | www.defendfreespeech.ca

one-eighth done

I am now one-eighth of the way to my Master of Information. Two down, 14 to go. I will post a report card of sorts when all my grades are in. For now, I will just say...

WINTER BREAK!!!!!!!!!!!

Four weeks with no classes - I'm just a tad over-excited! I have a long list of things to do and accomplish, including increased blogging and increased relaxation.

why we love greenpeace

Greenpeace rocks, and in this article, so does the Toronto Star.

Twenty activists from Greenpeace have been arrested after they breached Parliament Hill security and unfurled giant banners blaming politicians for failing to tackle global warming.

At 7:30 a.m., 19 Greenpeace protesters scaled the roofs of two buildings where federal MPs come to work each day. Five were quickly arrested when they displayed small banners just east of the Peace Tower, said Jessica Wilson, a Greenpeace spokesperson.

The job of bringing down the remaining 14, including six dangling from ropes on the roof of the West Block, home to politicians' offices, took a little longer. In the end, all 19 plus one organizer on the ground were arrested.

About 90 minutes after they set up, then dropped massive white sheets that read: "Harper/Ignatieff: Climate Inaction Costs Lives," Ottawa police and Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers arrested a number of spotters perched on the roof. That left six hanging on the walls beside the banners.

They wore yellow and orange hard hats and blue overalls identifying them as members of the "Climate Rescue Team."

Fire crews first cut down the banners before starting the laborious task of bringing each activist down with an aerial ladder, one that was just wrapping up shortly after 10:30 a.m. as the protesters were lifted down to the ground to cheers from a number of onlookers.

An RCMP spokesperson, Cpl. Caroline Poulin, spoke to reporters directly in front of where the protest was taking place, but could not offer much detail on how the activists scaled the supposedly secure building. She said that charges could include mischief and trespassing.

The Ottawa event was designed to put pressure on federal politicians as a global climate change summit opened across the Atlantic Ocean in Copenhagen. There, 192 countries are attempting to reach agreement on a plan to cut the world's emissions of greenhouse gases.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper, whose climate policy is designed to allow the continued expansion of energy production in Alberta and Saskatchewan, is a well-established target for environmental protesters. Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff has been applauded by the environmental movement in Canada in the past for proposing, during the party's 2006 leadership campaign, to implement a carbon tax. But since taking leadership of the party one year ago, his intentions have become fuzzier, Wilson said.

"Right now Ignatieff is talking out of both sides of his mouth. On one hand he's talking good climate policy, on the other hand he's full steam ahead in support of tar sands expansion. The two just don't mesh. You can't have a good climate policy and rapid tar sands expansion at the same time."

But Ignatieff said today that the protesters have it wrong about his party's position on climate change, which he says is far more ambitious than the Conservative government's proposals.

"Look, we've proposed an extremely ambitious cap-and-trade system, based on 1990 targets, with Canada as a leader to make sure our climate doesn't go up above two degrees (Celsius).

"We've proposed a huge set of initiatives in respect of protecting the boreal forest, protecting our water," Ignatieff told reporters. "It seems to me we've got our act together."

The protesters are right, however, Ignatieff said, to point an accusing finger at the Prime Minister and the Conservative government.

"This is a government that for four years has had three plans, has had three environment ministers, westill don't know what their targets are, we still don't know what their proposals are," Ignatieff said. "The world is beginning to say, 'where's Canada?'"

Ignatieff said he could not endorse the tactics of the demonstration.

"No one can approve of what they've done and we will have to ask those who are responsible for parliamentary security to explain."

Greenpeace has achieved a sort of fame over the years for their in-your-face approach to protesting. Members have displayed their messages from the CN Tower in Toronto, oil sands operations in Alberta and giant bridges across the country.

This was a first for Parliament Hill, though in October a Greenpeace team in London scaled the rooftop of the British Parliament with a similar message.

Thirty protesters camped out on the Palace of Westminster overnight, snacking on energy bars, and waited for British politicians to return from their summer break before starting their show.

diane savino, hero for justice

As you know, my beloved New York State did a terrible thing this week, rejecting an opportunity for equality. But this woman did her best to move things in the right direction. Meet New York State Senator Diane Savino. And if you think this woman isn't putting her job on the line with her speech and her vote, you haven't been to Staten Island.

I highly recommend you watch the whole thing. She really gets cooking around 4:30.



Found here from Digby.

why i no longer vote democrat*

I will promise you this, that if we have not gotten our troops out by the time I am president, it is the first thing I will do. I will get our troops home. We will bring an end to this war. You can take that to the bank.

Barack Obama, October 27, 2007

Video here.


* Only one reason of many.

the acid test of pakistan

On this Day of Remembrance, we remember the victims of violence against women - and the survivors. Kiss my roti shows us the face of terrorism against women.

WARNING!! These images are very graphic and very disturbing. They could be highly triggering. Click with caution: A different kind of terrorism.

choice is not enough

Women have learned to describe everything they do, no matter how apparently conformist, submissive, self-destructive or humiliating, as a personal choice that cannot be criticized because personal choice is what feminism is all about.

Katha Pollitt

I love this statement, and find myself thinking of it or quoting it often.

Yesterday I saw its application to other spheres: in this discussion, and this continuation. It's not about women or feminism, but I think you'll see the connection.

Thank you to Canadian Cynic for letting us use his blog for what turned out to be a lengthy, off-topic discussion.

a question and two answers

Question.

Does anyone know of a way to see how many people subscribe to a feed of a particular blog?

Statcounter, Site Meter and similar sites show only actual visits - click-throughs. Readers who read a blog through a feed aggregator, and don't click through, are not recorded.

Bloglines used to have some way to see how many people subscribed to your feed, but (a) it doesn't anymore and (b) it's not a popular service these days, so it would mean very little.

Allan and I both use Statcounter, which gives you some approximation of your daily traffic, but I think most people use feeds these days. I'm just curious. Any ideas?

Answers: to my earlier questions about laptops, dryers and false bargains, on the updated post.

dancing for the climate in t.o.

Thanks to Kim for uploading so quickly! Nice to see all my IS friends dancing. Wish I could have been there!

Toronto Climate Campaign

Greenpeace Canada

remember the massacre. remember the everyday violence, too.

On this day, the 20th anniversary of the Polytechnique massacre, we remember that on December 6, 1989, 14 women were murdered, and 10 more injured because they were women.

But if that's all we remember, we have failed.

Every single day, girls and women all over the planet, including in your own town, are beaten, raped or murdered because they are female. Femicide - the very word was coined in response to the Montreal Massacre - happens in outsized events that are seared in our memory. But more often, femicide and violence against women occurs within the banal rhythms of daily life. In the kitchen, in the bedroom, behind a closed door, against the backdrop of the television blare.

I remember when we in the feminist movement called "domestic violence" by another name: "violence against women". I fully understand the need for the inclusive and gender-free name-change. But I confess that I avoid the term, and when I do use it, it rankles me. For me the word "domestic" still conjures the old police expression "domestic disturbance" - those minor squabbles that happen at home, private episodes, none of our business. Feminists decided it was everybody's business, because the personal is political. Feminists set to work making the invisible visible. I can't help feeling that the word "domestic" de-politicizes the violence all over again. Because women have been removed.

There is intimate-partner violence against men, usually by male partners, and there is intimate-partner violence in lesbian relationships. And violence against children occurs every day, against boys and girls. But here are some things to think about. (I compiled many of these statistics for an old post, responding to a reader's accusation that I was "demonizing men". For more on that red herring, go here and scroll down.)

In Canada:

Half of Canadian women (51%) have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence since the age of 16.

Every minute of every day, a Canadian woman or child is being sexually assaulted.

One to two women are murdered by a current or former partner each week in Canada.

Spousal violence makes up the single largest category of convictions involving violent offences in non-specialized adult courts in Canada over the five-year period 1997/98 to 2001/02. Over 90% of offenders were male.

Thirty-six percent of female victims of spousal violence and less than 10% of victims of sexual assault reported these crimes to the police in 2004.

In 88% of all violent incidents, males are identified as the suspects; half of all incidents involve a male perpetrator and a female victim.

Women are almost 8 times more likely to be victimized by a spouse than are men.

30% of women currently or previously married have experienced at least one incident of physical or sexual violence at the hands of a marital partner.

21% of women abused by a marital partner were assaulted during pregnancy; 40% of these women stated that the abuse began during their pregnancy.

In the US:

Estimates range from 960,000 incidents of violence against a current or former spouse, boyfriend, or girlfriend per year to three million women who are physically abused by their husband or boyfriend per year.

Nearly one-third of American women (31 percent) report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives, according to a 1998 Commonwealth Fund survey.

Nearly 25 percent of American women report being raped and/or physically assaulted by a current or former spouse, cohabiting partner, or date at some time in their lifetime, according to the National Violence Against Women Survey, conducted from November 1995 to May 1996.

Thirty percent of Americans say they know a woman who has been physically abused by her husband or boyfriend in the past year.

In 2001, women accounted for 85 percent of the victims of intimate partner violence (588,490 total) and men accounted for approximately 15 percent of the victims (103,220 total).

While women are less likely than men to be victims of violent crimes overall, women are five to eight times more likely than men to be victimized by an intimate partner.

As many as 324,000 women each year experience intimate partner violence during their pregnancy.

On average, more than three women are murdered by their husbands or boyfriends in the US every day. In 2000, 1,247 women were killed by an intimate partner. The same year, 440 men were killed by an intimate partner.

Women are much more likely than men to be killed by an intimate partner. In 2000, intimate partner homicides accounted for 33.5 percent of the murders of women and less than four percent of the murders of men.

Pregnant and recently pregnant women are more likely to be victims of homicide than to die of any other cause, and evidence exists that a significant proportion of all female homicide victims are killed by their intimate partners.

* * * *

James sent me this gripping personal essay by actor Patrick Stewart, about growing up in a home controlled by violence. I have tremendous admiration for well-known people who speak out about abuse, like Joe Torre, whose Safe At Home Foundation, building on the foundation laid by generations of feminists, has helped make the fight against domestic violence mainstream in the US. Patrick Stewart:

My father was, in many ways, a man of discipline, organisation and charisma - a regimental sergeant major no less. One of the very last men to be evacuated from Dunkirk, his third stripe was chalked on to his uniform by an officer when no more senior NCOs were left alive. Parachuted into Crete and Italy, both times under fire, he fought at Monte Casino and was twice mentioned in dispatches. A fellow soldier once told me, "When your father marches on to the parade ground, the birds in the trees stop singing."

In civilian life it was a different story. He was an angry, unhappy and frustrated man who was not able to control his emotions or his hands. As a child I witnessed his repeated violence against my mother, and the terror and misery he caused was such that, if I felt I could have succeeded, I would have killed him. If my mother had attempted it, I would have held him down. For those who struggle to comprehend these feelings in a child, imagine living in an environment of emotional unpredictability, danger and humiliation week after week, year after year, from the age of seven. My childish instinct was to protect my mother, but the man hurting her was my father, whom I respected, admired and feared.

From Monday morning to Friday tea time he worked as a semi-skilled labourer, and was diligent and sober. Often funny and charming, he was always rich in the personal stories of warfare and adventure that thrilled me. But come Friday night, after the pubs closed, we awaited his return with trepidation. I would be in bed but not asleep. I could never sleep until he did; while he was awake we were all at risk. Instead, I would listen for his voice, singing, as he walked home. Certain songs were reassuring: I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen; I'll Walk Beside You . . . But army songs were not a good sign. And worst of all was silence. When I could only hear footsteps it was the signal to be super-alert.

Our house was small, and when you grow up with domestic violence in a confined space you learn to gauge, very precisely, the temperature of situations. I knew exactly when the shouting was done and a hand was about to be raised – I also knew exactly when to insert a small body between the fist and her face, a skill no child should ever have to learn. ... [More here.]

Today, in Canada, people wear white ribbons to remember December 6, 1989. Every MP wears one, including Prime Minister Stephen Harper. What is his white ribbon worth? This piece is old, but still horribly relevant. Ashifa Kassam, writing in Rabble:

2008 marked the year that women became equal to men - at least according to the Harper government. That must have been what they were insinuating when they attempted to axe women's right to appeal for pay equity to the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The move came bundled in their ill-fated November economic statement.

Pattern would suggest that this move wasn't borne out of the belief that women in Canada have achieved equality to men, but rather is the latest blow in a series of attacks on women's rights by the Harper government.

This is, after all, the same government that killed plans for national childcare, drastically cut funding to Status of Women and ended the court challenges program that sought to help women and minorities fight for their rights. News recently leaked of a secretive, parliamentary anti-abortion caucus, touted by its chair Conservative MP Rod Bruinooge, as opening a "new era" of advocacy for the unborn.

And just in case the Harper government's war on women wasn't obvious enough, a reminder that this is the group who removed the word "equality" from the Status of Women mandate.

montreal fans are smart

From the BigCityLib: Harper booed at Montreal hockey game.

Although I will do my best not to read too much into this incident, it brings me hope.

false bargains, used goods and buying dilemmas

I've blogged many times about the "false bargain" of buying a cheaper product that quickly falls apart, as opposed to spending what seems like a lot of money on a higher-quality product that will perform better and last longer.

I generally opt for higher quality and long-lasting. I hate shopping, don't accumulate, and hate sending a recently purchased pile of junk to landfill, so spending more money but buying less frequently is usually a better fit for me. The perfect example of this is the expensive chair I bought, which will last at least 10 years, probably twice that, and has alleviated a huge amount of strain and stress from my back, hips and legs. I was spending $150 or $200 on a new chair every few years. I felt strange spending nearly $1,000 on a chair, but it's actually a bargain, and that's without the physical benefits.

On the other hand, since moving to Canada, I've discovered the joys of buying things used on Craigslist.

There have been things I'd like and could use, but am unwilling or unable to spend a lot of money on, so buying used is a good deal. It started when we found this house. We really wanted to take it, but it didn't come with a washer and dryer, which is strange for a rental. As a lifelong renter, I wasn't going to invest in beautiful new appliances; if you rent, your appliances are always used anyway. We found a washer in one place, a dryer in another, and a guy with a van to transport them both to our new place, all for $300. They worked great and I was thrilled.

The following summer, I briefly tried notetaking for hearing-impaired college students. I needed a laptop (I use a desktop at home), but I had no idea if the job would work out, and couldn't invest in an expensive new machine. As it turned out, the job did not work out, but I immediately found other uses for my little ThinkPad, especially Joy of Sox gamethreads.

That laptop died, and I replaced it with another used ThinkPad, and now I use it in school. At this point, I'm so accustomed to having both computers that I'd be loathe to give up either.

After that, we needed a new TV for the bedroom. Found one used on Craigslist, exactly what we wanted, and found a rolling cart to put it on. Both great, and the price was right. In this case, if it meant spending 1,000 bucks, I'd do without. But for $200, no problem.

So depending on the situation, I can go either way. Now I find myself in a middle ground and don't know which way to go.

Our old clothes dryer, the one we bought on Craigslist before moving in this house, recently broke. It might have been fixable, and Allan wanted to try, but we were both busy and stressed, and I felt it would be a mis-use of time to try to fix an old dryer, especially without experience, relying on instructions found online. I insisted we junk it and buy another used dryer. There are always people renovating or moving and getting rid of old appliances.

I found one in Mississauga for $50 and it fit in our car. It seemed to work at the guy's house. Alas. It sucks. It was not much better than our previous used dryer, and as of today, it's useless.

Is it worth it to fix a dryer you bought for $50, when you really don't know how?

Do I assume this was just a bad experience that cost us $50, and buy another used dryer? Like our first one, it might last two or three years.

Do I now spend more money on a new, higher-quality product? Of course, I don't have the money to do that, I'd have to charge it. I'm willing to incur debt for travel and for necessity, but for a dryer? Eww. (I know many readers are credit-averse, but to me Visa is a fact of life. But it has to be within a reasonable comfort zone, especially since we have no writing income coming in right now.)

I have similar questions about my laptop. Now that I regularly use both my laptop and my desktop, should I spend more money on a better laptop? It doesn't seem smart to spend $200 every two years on a used machine. But then again, I can do that in cash. A new machine means credit.

You guys always have good ideas. What do you say?

Updates.

Dryers. It's silly to spend a lot of money on a new dryer, money we don't have and would rather put to different use. We don't think the problem with the current dryer is house-related. I think I carted away someone's crappy old dryer and paid $50 for the privilege. No big deal. Win some, lose some.

In a fortunate coincidence, a friend who reads this blog (I'll let him identify himself if he wishes) happens to be getting rid of a dryer, only six years old, brand-new by my standards, and in good working condition. He was about to list it on Craigslist when he saw my post. We'll take it!

Laptops. I've continued to ask around, and everyone I've asked hasn't replaced their laptop in about five years, unless they just wanted an upgrade while their old computer was still working. But whether I've been fortunate that my computers have lasted many years longer than most people's, or whether my experience is the norm, there's no reason to spend major money on a new laptop, considering it's not my primary computer. It makes more sense to replace one used laptop with another, keeping my cost per laptop at about $200, which so far has lasted two or three years.

Whether these are false bargains, or sound rational decisions, I don't know. But I think for me dryers and laptops still fall under the heading "buy it used".

Thanks for the input!

one year after prorogation

[redsock guest post]

It was one year ago today that Governor General Michaelle Jean granted Prime Minister Stephen Harper's request to suspend Parliament. Harper's sole reason? To avoid a confidence vote that would have brought down his government.

Rather than let the democratic process take its legal and proper course, Ms. Jean chose to come to Mr. Harper's rescue. At the time, Laura wrote:

I'm upset that the Governor General allowed her office to be used for political chicanery and self-interest. And my disgust for Stephen Harper can scarcely be put into words.

Yesterday, Toronto Star columnist Bob Hepburn addressed what has happened in the last 12 months. He noted that to save his job, Harper promised to play nice with the opposition parties.

That didn't last long, naturally, since Harper -- like the rest of us -- saw that he'd encounter little, if any, opposition from the Liberals. And so he quickly

revert[ed] to his natural governing style – regressive, nasty and centred on his ultimate goal of a right-wing Canada.

Clearly, much of Harper's rebound is due to the chaos in the Liberal party's ranks. ...

[Michael] Ignatieff has been a major disappointment for Liberals. ... So bad is the rot within the Liberal ranks that some polls are indicating the party's support is lower now than it was under Dion.

Against this backdrop, Harper has spent most of the past year governing dangerously.

He promised to be fiscally smart, but is running the largest deficit in Canadian history at $56 billion and climbing. ...

Also, over the last 12 months he has displayed little evidence of wanting to do anything while in power except to cut taxes, reduce the role of the central government and get tough on crime.

Just as critical, Harper has shown a total lack of leadership on some of the biggest issues of the day.

For example, he has done nothing to stop the drive by many neo-cons for privatized health care, which undermines Canada's universal medicare system and provides "choice" only for those rich enough to afford head-of-the-line care.

On climate change, Harper is badly out of step with Canadians ... Instead, Harper is defending the increased exploitation of the Alberta oil sands and had refused to attend a critical international conference starting Monday in Copenhagen until U.S. President Barack Obama said he was going.

At the same time, Harper has managed to heighten his reputation as the nastiest prime minister in modern history.

He has allowed his cabinet ministers to launch vicious attacks on diplomat Richard Colvin's reputation ...

And he showed utter contempt for taxpayers by permitting Tory MPs to send taxpayer-funded pamphlets into Liberal ridings with large Jewish populations that suggested Liberals are anti-Semitic. ...

While polls favour the Tories, one recent survey found that when asked who has been the worst prime minister in the last 40 years, Harper topped the list, ahead even of widely disliked Brian Mulroney.

Has Michael Ignatieff emerged from his coma yet? Do we know if the operation to give him a spine was successful?

people of justice confront jason kenney... everywhere he goes

Check out RabbleTV for footage of No One Is Illegal confronting Jason Kenney all over Canada.

Watch and learn.

huskies, wolves, us

Imagine being left in a forest, chained to a tree, without regular access to proper food, clean water or adequate shelter. Imagine growing more and more desperate as the days and weeks go by, your cries unanswered.

That's how the email from the Human Society International of Canada began.

Who of us who lives with rescued animals hasn't wondered about their lives before we adopted them? Of our five dogs so far, we found two on the street, one was on death row in a high-kill shelter, one had been rescued from the street and was in a foster home, and one had been rescued from a shelter and was in her second foster home. With each, I wondered, what had they endured? Had they ever been loved? Did they trust, and were betrayed, then abandoned? Had they waited for their person to return for them, waited and waited, in vain? It's too painful to consider for too long.

About 100 neglected sled dogs in Québec were waiting, and waiting, until HSI and the SPCA Laurentide-Labelle arrived on the scene. From HSI's email:

As we walked onto the property, my heart broke. The huskies had been chained to plywood structures over barren stretches of frozen mud. Hungry and dehydrated, they were unable to move more than the two-meter radius their chains permitted.

I am always amazed by the power of dogs to forgive. It was as if they realized we were there to help them, and slowly the miserable, emaciated huskies began to wag their tails as we approached. The dogs began to bark in excitement, but one remained quiet, waiting as his friends were rescued. I went to him and, as I grew closer, I realized he was blind because of cataracts—another casualty of the neglect these dogs endured. Carefully, we walked him to freedom, and the promise of a better life.

We arrived just in time. Winter is coming, and many of these dogs may not have survived without our intervention. With extreme cold temperatures approaching, these dogs — including a number of puppies — could have faced a horrific death.

Thankfully, our rescue operation was a complete success. One by one, we led or carried the dogs into our Emergency Services vehicle, and transported them to our emergency shelter an hour away—space generously donated by a local businessperson. There, dedicated volunteers from United Animal Nations will provide round-the-clock care, while SPCA LL veterinarians will treat and vaccinate the dogs. Once healthy, these deserving dogs will be adopted out to loving homes in Canada and the United States.

More information and how you can help here.

From the US, a story about these dogs' wild ancestors. This happened in mid-October; I read about it through the NRDC Save BioGems project, but this is a post from OnEarth.

527 is gone.

It is with a heavy heart that I write yet another obituary for a wolf that was part of our lives for 7 years. 527 was one of nine wolves that have been shot in a backcountry wolf hunt district in Montana just north of Yellowstone National Park. She was on the Buffalo Plateau but outside of the boundary. She was a one-of-a-kind wolf.

Born the daughter of 21 and 42, she came by way of greatness. She left the Druids as a yearling and joined her Druid female sibling, 217 (alpha female), in the Slough Creek pack. She spent the next 4 years with the uncollared black alpha that came after 217 and 380 and the crew with Slough. She was the beta female for a time and bred one year with beta Slough male 377 (one of the Mollie boys) as we watched from Picnic. She, too, suffered all of the hardships and challenges that 716 went through with the exception of being driven out by 380.

527 was a wolf that marched to the beat of a very different drummer. She was the most cautious wolf I have ever watched. There was no road stuff for her. She always took action and asked questions later. I would always notice her making her way to her secret spot. We used to think that she had some sort of secret hole near the east end of Jasper Bench near the row of trees. She would eat on a carcass and then disappear there. I always thought that she went to feed the pups in the dark of night. After she left Slough she spent a lot of time in some rocks east of the Slough den area. Her signal was always in the same spot, but we could not find her.

I knew that when she moved to Hellroaring she would be the one if any would make it there. The fate of other packs who inhabited that area was dismal. I thought that she could make a go of it. She has been successful there for two years. She spent a lot of that time out of sight from the road. She liked the upper drainage of Hellroaring and spent a lot of time there out of the way of other packs. She did not roam out of that area much, and when she did, it was to the north and out of the way of other packs.

We were so hopeful that she and her beta female, 716, would go back to the traditional Slough area. It was our hope, but I am not sure she thought it was such a good idea. Their past history there had been such a nightmare, I am not sure she wanted to test fate again.

We will never know. It is such a pity that we have watched her all her life and she has added so much to the history of the wolves of Yellowstone and now she is gone. These two females recently shot in the hunt (527 and 716) were two of the most interesting wolves I have ever watched in the last 5 years. What behavior we have seen. When Rick writes his book, all of their lives will contribute to knowing and understanding wolves in the wild and these girls will be standouts. I am a better person for knowing them and as Rick often says about 21 and 42, I feel, I, too, have walked in the footsteps of giants for knowing these two brave, intelligent wolves.

I am hoping that a buffer zone will be formed around the park. If it is to be, loss of life in 527's pack, the Cottonwoods, will be a large contributing factor. May their deaths help to save the lives of other wolves from the park. May their deaths not be in vain.

Laurie Lyman, October 5, 2009

I envy Laurie's interaction with these magnificent creatures! But not her heartache. I feel the death of these wolves, but I didn't know them as individuals the way she did.

It doesn't have to be that way. Take action.

on eve of climate change talks, canada de-funds kairos

From KAIROS Canada:

URGENT ACTION: RESTORE CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY (CIDA) FUNDING TO KAIROS

On November 30, KAIROS received notice from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) that our project proposal for 2009-2013 had been declined. We were not given an explanation for this decision, other than that our program did not fit CIDA priorities.

Our 2009-2013 proposal was developed within two priority sectors of CIDA: promoting good governance (human rights) and advancing ecological sustainability (reducing the impact of climate change and addressing land degradation). It was approved at every level of CIDA before being declined on November 30.

This decision terminates a 35-year history of cooperation between CIDA and KAIROS and its predecessor organizations, and compromises the work of human rights and ecological integrity in the developing world. (For possible impacts on specific partners, please see the background materials below.) This decision also negatively affects the ability of Canadians to develop skills and knowledge in the exercise of their global citizenship.

Please contact your MP to discuss this urgent matter. Please, respectfully and politely,

- Speak about your own positive involvement with KAIROS;

- Express grave concern about this decision;

- Ask that CIDA restore its long-standing relationship with KAIROS;

- Emphasize the impacts of this decision on global partners and our work in Canada;

- Ask them to call on CIDA to reverse this decision.

Please also write to:
The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, pm[at]pm.gc[dot]ca,
The Hon. Bev Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, oda.b[at]parl.gc[dot]ca, and
Margaret Biggs, President of CIDA, Margaret.Biggs[at]acdi-cida.gc[dot]ca
requesting a reversal of the decision.

Please copy your letters to KAIROS at info[at]kairoscanada[dot]org.

* * * *
Further Background Material

- KAIROS submitted a 4-year program proposal to CIDA on human rights and ecological sustainability. The total program cost of the proposal is $9,211,483 over four years (CIDA contributes just over $7 million of that amount). This is consistent with previous levels of CIDA funding to KAIROS.

- On November 30, we received a call from CIDA informing us that our 2009-2013 program proposal had been rejected and that KAIROS would no longer be receiving funding from CIDA. We asked for an explanation and were informed that our program did not fit CIDA’s priorities. This was the last day of an extension to our current proposal. No written explanation has been provided.

- This decision, if not reversed, would cut funds to 21 ecumenical and citizen’s organizations in Latin America, Africa, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East, and cut educational work that helps Canadians across the country to develop skills and knowledge in the exercise of their global citizenship.

- KAIROS and its precursor organizations have been funded by CIDA since 1973.

- The KAIROS-CIDA 2006-2009 program received a positive audit report and an excellent evaluation.

- KAIROS staff worked closely with global partners to develop the 2009-2013 program proposal which focused on human rights and ecological justice.

- It was submitted to CIDA in March 2009 and went fairly quickly through all levels of approval. KAIROS made all adjustments to the program requested by our program officer.

- The proposal arrived on the desk of Bev Oda, the Minister of International Cooperation, in July 2009. It remained on the Minister’s desk for five months.

- In September 2009, when our agreement had still not been signed, we were granted a two-month extension on our previous contribution agreement. During this time we received no communication from the Minister’s office. On November 30, the last day of this extension, we received the phone call from CIDA informing us that KAIROS would not be funded.

- This decision, if it is not reversed, will have a devastating impact on the work and well-being of our partners overseas, the hundreds of marginalized communities and the thousands of people who have benefited from their programs. Furthermore, it will decimate our education program in Canada, which enhances Canadian’s commitment to international cooperation.

- KAIROS supports partners in countries such as Sudan, the Congo, the Philippines, and Colombia who face extreme human rights and humanitarian crises as well as political repression. Many of our overseas partners risk their lives for the work that they do. KAIROS’ accompaniment, advocacy and education work with partners has saved lives.

- In the Congo, KAIROS funding means a women’s legal clinic to address rampant gender-based violence will be established. Loss of this funding to our critical human rights partner, Héritiers de la Justice, compromises this critical work to fight rape as a weapon of war.

- In Sudan, KAIROS is working with Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) and its members to mobilize greater action for democratic peace. The full implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan is essential to ensuring that basic humanitarian, food security, livelihood needs of women and children and their communities will be met. Without KAIROS funding, the SCC will not be able to adequately pressure parties to implement this peace agreement. In a country with very weak civil society networks, SCC has been an essential voice in negotiating and implementing peace.

- In Indonesia, KAIROS, through CIDA, supports KONTRAS: The Commission for Disappearances and Victims of Violence. KONTRAS is highly recognized as a credible human rights organization in Indonesia and internationally, working specifically on human rights monitoring, documentation and advocacy. KONTRAS plays a lead role in ensuring the Indonesian government investigates past military abuses and compensates victims (and the families of victims) of human rights violations and military atrocities. Without KAIROS funding, KONTRAS will lose ground on the achievements made over the years in widening democratic space in Indonesia and will be unable to hold the Indonesian government accountable for national and international human rights covenants.

- In Colombia, KAIROS supports a grassroots women’s human rights organization, Organizacion Femenina Popular (OFP), in Magdela Medio, a region that has experienced some of the worst human rights abuses in Colombia. The OFP now has a membership of 5,000 women in the region of Magdalena Medio and runs 22 women’s centers, offering programs which include integrated community development, human rights of women, health and legal services, and education. In a recent letter the OFP appealed to Minister Oda to continue funding to KAIROS, "so that our sons and daughters grow up without being recruited by armed groups, kidnapped or assassinated - so that they have the right to a dignified life."

andre shepherd: the american war on humanity is continuing

Here's a very good clip from BBC News on war resister André Shepherd, who is seeking asylum in Germany. Sit through a 30-second commercial for a good one-minute news story: here.

Also, a lengthier statement from Shepherd, on Courage To Resist.

My situation in Germany
By André Shepherd
November 30, 2009

Wow what a year this has been! I cannot believe that so much time has passed since I first applied for asylum. I would like to take this time to thank each and every one of you for you love and support during this difficult but exciting period.

First I want to give everyone an update as to where we stand. As of right now, the Federal Office in Germany is continuing its fact finding mission in order to reach a decision as to whether or not I should receive asylum. I realize that many of you are wondering why this decision should take so long. We must understand that a decision of this magnitude cannot be taken lightly. Remember that a yes decision would pretty much be a de facto admission that the War on Terror is illegal and immoral.

The ramifications of such a decision would be huge, especially since it would come from a strong ally of the United States. A move like that could provide a safe haven for the War resisters in Europe, it would be a huge embarrassment for the Administration, and could potentially put more pressure on the American Government to pursue War Crimes against humanity instead of continuing the ongoing persecution of War Resisters for making a sound moral decision. If the German Government decides no, then we are in a rather curious situation since as of this date there continues to be evidence that this war was one of aggression, and that it violates American, German, and international law. It would be interesting to see the explanation as to how such a decision could be reached, as well as the World´s reaction to such a decision. I understand that this is a potential political time-bomb given the long history of friendship between the two nations. Nevertheless I believe in true justice and that friends should be able to tell each other when they are in error.

Over the last year I have travelled the country giving talks and making appearances in order to raise awareness on this very important issue, as well as having a strong media and internet presence thanks to the help of very dedicated people. Looking back I feel as though we have been successful; however we must continue our efforts to reach the general population. It is difficult for the average person to fully connect to the Wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan mainly because they are so far away. Our job is to get the people to realize just what is happening on the ground in those countries, so that we may be able to put a stop to the madness that reigns there. I must continue to stress that the peoples of those lands do not hate us because of our beliefs and "freedoms". They are opposed to us simply because we have invaded their lands. It would be the same situation if some invading force made their way into your hometowns. You would fight tooth and nail in order to get them out, and that is what is happening in these countries. I am not happy that our soldiers are dying for reasons that have yet to be disclosed. No one should have to die for nothing, especially not under false pretences. My heart bleeds for every man woman and child who has to suffer on all sides of the conflict, because we are all victims of some very twisted policies. In order for us to help spread the message, I charge each and every one of you to please spread the word about this asylum case and to urge your friends and colleagues to contact the German and American Governments to withdraw from these lands NOW! Only with a united front can we even hope to achieve success. That is why we are continuing to ask for your support in this very important cause.

Since today is Thanksgiving in the United States, I wish to take the time to thank everyone for their tireless efforts in helping me fight this battle. Through donations of time, effort, and money we were able to achieve things that one year ago I did not dream were humanly possible.

From the Winter Soldier Europe Conference in March, to the Ethecon event in Berlin last weekend, we have spread our message to people from all walks of life. I am especially pleased that we were able to speak to schoolchildren about what it really means to be a soldier. This is very important since these children must make a decision that could potentially affect the rest of their lives. I want to make clear the importance of giving people the proper information so that they can make good decisions concerning their lives. For far too long we have been told what to believe and what to think about the world around us. It is time for us as human beings to wake up from our slumber and to see the world for what it really is by using our own minds.

I wish to especially thank Connection e.V., Military Counseling Network, Iraq Veterans Against the War (in the U.S. and Europe), Tübingen Progressive Americans, the DFG-VK, Stop the War Brigade and Ethecon for helping spread the message of peace. There have been many other organizations and individuals that I have not listed that have also made major contributions to the case. I wish to express my deepest appreciation to all of you and ask God to bless you in the future.

Unfortunately the American War on Humanity is continuing. President Obama is set to send an additional 38,000 soldiers to Afghanistan, as well as going back on his promises to withdraw from Iraq. The death toll in the conflict is steadily rising and soldiers from many countries are dealing with mental trauma from this unjust war. The peoples of these lands are still fleeing their countries in search for a safe haven, and basic services are way below acceptable levels for a functioning society. When looking at the situation it is very easy to get discouraged. However there is reason to hope.

The voice of opposition is growing stronger by the day, as our ranks are continuing to be filled with people from all over the world who are fed up with the crimes that are continuously being committed. We must continue to press on. Only when we stand together as one and demand that this comes to an end, will we be able to heal the wounds of the past, and be able to start building a better world for our children. I wish you all good luck and God bless you in all of your endeavours.

Sincerely
André Shepherd

jamie liew: even soldiers have rights

There was a recent hideous editorial in the Calgary Herald, lamely arguing against war resister Skyler James' refugee claim. You may recall that a recent federal court decision ordered the IRB to re-hear James' case, prompting several misinformed editorials from the right-wing media.

In response, here is an excellent piece written by James' lawyer, Jamie Liew. The Herald gave it good placement with photos. (Skyler James' given name is Bethany Smith.)

Even soldiers have rights
by Jamie Liew

The Calgary Herald Nov. 26 editorial, Not a refugee, is no different than the Immigration and Refugee Board's initial decision on Bethany Smith's case. The Federal Court rightly called the refugee board's decision "skewed."

Your editorial incorrectly states that Bethany did not ask army brass for help. She did ask for help and testified to the same at the refugee board. The Federal Court not only agreed that she did ask for help, but also found that the refugee board must be "sensitive to this special context" Bethany was in an "atmosphere of unconditional obedience to the (military) hierarchy."

Your editorial also wrongly ignores the plethora of evidence not only put forward in Bethany's case, but in the media, about how discharges of gays and lesbians in the U.S. military as per the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy have significantly decreased due to the need to have more bodies for the wars in which the U.S. is involved.

You call for Bethany to face a court martial, but the Federal Court has stated that evidence shows the U.S. court martial system could be discriminatory. For example, Bethany has provided evidence that military laws are not applied to gays and lesbians in the same manner as to those who are not perceived to be homosexuals.

Additionally, there is evidence that the way U.S. military laws are applied is contrary to the objective of the laws.

Canada used to have a military judicial system similar to the one south of the border.

However, in 1991 the Supreme Court in R. vs. Genereux held that the system violated a soldier's charter right to a fair and public hearing on the grounds that the tribunal was not independent; that the normal checks and balances in a democracy were not present.

Our Supreme Court found that the military judicial system did not give its judges security through tenure, that the executive branch of government and superiors had the power to affect the pay of judges and juries, and that the same executive branch, responsible for appointing prosecutors, also had the authority to appoint the judges and juries in courts martial. In other words, the opportunity was there for abuse.

Though the system was reformed in Canada, unfortunately the same reforms did not take place where Bethany will be tried if our government deports her.

Canada has found one system that violates human rights not good enough for our own sons and daughters on the front lines, so why should we treat those fleeing a similar system differently?

There's more at stake than Bethany being court-martialed for desertion. She could be punished for simply being gay because homosexual conduct is still considered a crime by the American military.

The U.S. military could also choose to deploy her instead of prosecuting her, sending her to the front lines to fear for her life not only from enemy fire, but from those within her unit who posted threatening messages on her door.

This is a real fear, considering the fact that a soldier from the same unit as Bethany was beaten to death for allegedly being gay.

Canadians understand that not all refugees are from wartorn countries or fleeing natural disasters. As the Federal Court stated in Bethany's decision, "each case must be decided on its own facts."

For our refugee law to be worth the paper its written on, this should be true regardless of where Bethany is from and despite any bias the minister of citizenship and immigration may have about U.S. soldiers who make refugee claims.

The majority of Canadians support allowing U.S. war resisters to stay in this country.

This support was reflected by the majority of members of Parliament in two votes in the House of Commons. Canadians are fair and compassionate people and we need our government to show the leadership we expect by protecting Bethany and those like her who face persecution if sent home.

Jamie Liew Is A Lawyer In Ottawa. She Represents Bethany Smith, Who Recently Appealed Successfully Before The Federal Court To Have A Second Chance At Claiming Refugee Status

demand a torture inquiry!

Red Cross warned Canada of prison abuse - in 2006.

And only two days after an April 2007 Globe & Mail investigation revealed allegations of abuse and torture among Afghan prisoners transferred by Canadians, Richard Colvin was ordered to delete "two bluntly worded sections" on Ottawa's delays in telling Red Cross about prisoner transfers.

Arif Lalani, the ambassador who ordered the censorship, is currently Canada's director-general of the Foreign Affairs Department's policy planning bureau.

Keep the pressure on. I want a torture inquiry! Sign and pass it on.

world aids day

Oh man, I can't believe I forgot World AIDS Day. If you'll forgive me, I'll use last year's post. It's as relevant as ever.

* * * *

Today is World AIDS Day.

Reflect.

Remember.

End prejudice against HIV-positive people.

Give / Give.

Give / Give.

linda mcquaig: a hero stands up to a cowboy

Excellent column by Linda McQuaig about Richard Colvin, Rick Hillier and our national identity: A hero stands up to cowboys, or, why Richard Colvin is a national hero, from Rabble.

i want a torture inquiry

In case you haven't seen this elsewhere: there is an online petition to Stephen Harper and the opposition party leaders, calling for a public inquiry into the transfer of Afghan detainees despite warnings about torture.

Please sign: I Want A Torture Inquiry.

fundraising update and event announcement

Our latest online fundraising drive for war resister legal defense is over, clocking in at $1250. It wasn't the mammoth intake we saw earlier this year, when we raised $5000, but it's $1250 we didn't have before, enough to pay for one round in court for one resister. Many, many thanks to everyone who donated - to any of these campaigns.

The difference in the two appeals was mainly down to the recent ChipIn drive not being sent to a large, national, peace-activist mailing list, as the first Fundable drive was. That was a little frustrating for me.

Now and in the future, you can always give to the War Resisters Support Campaign by sending a cheque (or check, we love US money!) to:
War Resisters Support Campaign
Box 13
427 Bloor Street West
Toronto, ON M5S 1X7
Canada

It's legal. I promise.

Meanwhile, funds are also coming in through other sources. If you're in Toronto, the Quakers are hosting a very special evening on behalf of the war resisters. Here are the details.

Fundraising Dinner for War Resisters - International Human Rights Day - Honour the Right of Conscientious Objection to War

When: Thursday, December 10, 6:30 PM
Where: Friends House, 60 Lowther Ave, Toronto, near St. George and Bloor
Donation: $50 or sliding scale

FOOD! ENTERTAINMENT! FRIENDSHIP! Featuring Vocalist Evalyn Parry

For more info and tickets: peaceworks-at-primus.ca

Cosponsored by Peace and Social Action Committee of Toronto Meeting (Quakers) and Conscience Canada