Activism News

Enough. Time to pack up and leave Britain's presence in Afghanistan is futile. The Foreign Secretary must act courageously Matthew Parris February 2, 2008 From The Times All of us, at every turn in our life, encounter circumstances in which there are severe limits to our ability to intervene. We feel no shame in this sane and commonplace response. “There's only so much I can do,” we say. If as individuals we so readily acknowledge private incapacity, how is it that, when we act as publics, parliaments, nations, armies, or indeed newspaper columnists, we find such simple truths so hard to acknowledge? Nations do, of course, come up against limitations. Reality rebuffs. But we fight shy of the language in which to talk - and think - about impotence. And so (like those hyperactive battery-powered puppies they sell in novelty shops) we bounce around the pen within which fate confines us, changing direction only when we hit a wall, then heading off with mechanical yaps towards another one.

Visit the Facebook pages for these protests (primary organizing is happening on Facebook) and join to get the latest updates: Main page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6512249067 Edmonton Protest page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=11084085434 Toronto Protest page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=8465582052 From http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6512249067 Feb 16: Protest for a Referendum on the Security & Prosperity Partnership PROTEST THEME - THE CONSENSUS IS THAT JUST ABOUT EVERYBODY LOVES THE IDEA! SO... THE JELLY BEAN PROTEST FOR A REFERENDUM ON THE SPP Encourage all to bring a clear plastic water bottle maybe half-way filled with jelly beans. Serves two purposes - to be used as noisemakers (like maracas). Basically its pitching Harper's lying words back in his face. For those of you who don't know, Harper used the example of the manufacture and sale of jelly beans in the US and Canada in order to ridicule and minimize the concerns of Canadians on the SPP. Also, because it will be cold in a lot of places and people will be wearing gloves, clapping won't be very effective! At the very least it should get the attention of the media if every protest does it. NOTE: THIS IS NOT A CAP INITIATIVE. ALL ARE WELCOME IF THEY AGREE THAT WE NEED A REFERENDUM AND EVERYTHING MUST BE HALTED UNTIL THAT HAPPENS.

! CALL TO ACTION ! On Feb 15th 1965 our red and white maple leaf was first raised over Parliament Hill; A flag representing our countries' proud history, and a sovereign nation admired the world over. On Feb 16th 2008, in cities and towns across Canada, citizens will come together to tell OUR elected representatives that we do not want further integration with our NAFTA partners. Gather in the streets, in churches, in buildings, and let your voice be heard! The latest attack on Canadian sovereignty is the Security and Prosperity Partnership with the U.S. and Mexico. This partnership is harmonizing all trade and safety regulations, applying the lowest standards, and placing corporate profit before public safety. It calls for continental utilization of resources such as water, oil, food, trees, and people. It is working to bring low-paid migrant workers into our country and drive our standard of living down. Following SPP advice, the three nations are currently forming a joint North American defense force. Part of this agreement calls for closer support of U.S. foreign policy initiatives .

Torontonians may want to call their councillors now: the infamous pain-compliance device seems to be used in other jurisdictions for 'offences' as trivial as talking back to a cop. Let's not let this happen to Toronto's finest: A full house is expected at Thursday's Toronto Police Services board meeting, where Taser International will make a pitch suggesting the city should equip all of its front-line officers with the stun guns. The board is grappling with the question of whether to spend $8.6 million to outfit every officer in Toronto with a Taser. Tom Smith, the head of the Arizona-based company that makes the Taser, has been invited by the board to explain why it should spend the money on the controversial policing tool.

.. some Bozo was on CBC yapping about Marijuana and these guys saying how their main sourse of income came from pot Ya Right try Coke Crack And heroin Tuesday » November 6 » 2007 Slain man was a top crime boss KIM BOLAN Vancouver Sun Monday, November 05, 2007 The man gunned down in front of his mansion Saturday night was a "top, national-priority organized-crime target" of the RCMP, The Vancouver Sun has learned. Forty-five-year-old Hong Chao (Raymond) Huang, a leader of the notorious Big Circle Boys gang, was believed to be a major player in the Canadian drug trade, involved in heroin, synthetic drugs, importation of precursor chemicals and more, police sources told The Sun on Monday.

TheEnergyNews.com, a site based in Edmonton that produces daily video newscasts about the Alberta/Canada energy industry, was on location for the oil rally at the legislative grounds yesterday and has posted exclusive video. They've sent us the following link to their video newscast: http://www.theenergynews.com/news/archives.php?section=1&category=9&storyID=378&videoSub=33

Dear All: Here is Medea's Blog about her experience being stopped at the Canadian Border along with Retired Colonel, career diplomat Ann Wright for their non-violent peace protest actions against the War on Iraq which led to their placement on an FBI National Crime Information Center data base. [2] See also [1] the Statement from the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace http://www.codepink 4peace.org/article.php?id=3552 http://www.codepink 4peace.org/article.php?list=type&type=328 [3] Related news on the Codepink Canada Page [scroll down right side] http://www.codepink 4peace.org/article.php?list=type&type=328 And [4] Sign the Petition http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/424/petition.jsp?petition_KEY=741 all the best, janet Janet M Eaton, PhD, Co-Chair Canadian Voice of Women for Peace

The Kyoto Protocol Implementation Act legally requires the government to produce a plan that meets Canada's greenhouse gas emissions targets. Prime Minister Harper hasn’t even tried. The federal courts can force the government to comply with the law, but crucial and legally admissible public consultation process ends September 20th, and almost no comments have been received! Climate Action Network Canada have asked Avaaz members to step in at the last hour to create a massive public outcry. We will be faxing open letters to Environment Canada who will have to submit them in court. If there are no comments, the government will claim in court that the public supports its illegal position. We have just 24 hours to make our voice heard - Please sign and send the letter below!

On the 28th of February, 2005, pilot Arnie Feast and his passengers Dave Stevens, Fabian Bedard, Doug and Trevor Decock died following a survivable floatplane accident. All five men were working, or on their way to work and yet no investigation has ever been done into the Occupational Health and Safety hazards which contributed to these five deaths. There has been no coroner’s inquest. There has been no investigation for cause. An RCMP investigation remains open. On March 2nd, two days before four Alberta RCMP officers were killed in the line of duty, the body of Dave Stevens was recovered barely five miles from the aircraft base. But it was not until the 28th of July, 2005 that the fuselage (without power section) was recovered at the physical, emotional and financial expense of the families of Arnie, Dave, Fabian, Doug and Trevor. The four missing men were not on board. All seatbelts were unbuckled, although life jackets were all still stowed.

Barbara Yaffe, Vancouver Sun Published: Wednesday, August 29, 2007 An aggressive Conservative plan has bestowed a group of British Columbians with a representative from the governing party before they've voted one in. Houston Mayor Sharon Smith has been appointed "government go-to person" for the NDP-held riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley by the federal Conservative caucus chair for B.C., Dick Harris. The MP for Cariboo-Prince George justifies his action with some pretty blunt opinions about how government really works in this country. He says that, realistically, it's not possible for Nathan Cullen, the elected New Democrat representing Skeena, to access government services on behalf of his constituents in the manner that an MP of Conservative stripe would be able to.

SPP Protest pics from Parliament Hill. http://www.canadians.org/integratethis/photos_Aug_2007/index.html

Prime Minister Stephen Harper is hosting President George Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderón in Montebello to discuss continental integration under an agreement called the Security and Prosperity Partnership. Take part in Amnesty International's action calling on all 3 leaders to put human rights at the centre of any new agreement: https://www.amnesty.ca/urgentappeal/mexico_parota/parota_montebello.php

Breaking News Sunday, August 19 3:36 PM Protests begin before Montebello summit Canadian Press OTTAWA — A North American leaders' summit that hasn't even begun yet is already drawing protesters — including some who temporarily blocked a commercial rail line in Montreal.

Posters from the Calgary protest (as found on Facebook). You can also get these from our download section: http://www.vivelecanada.ca/downloads/SPP%20poster%201.jpg http://www.vivelecanada.ca/downloads/SPP%20poster%202.jpg I'm happy to post any other posters from you creative types out there--the more the better...

Add your name to our petition which will be sent to: - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper - US President George Bush - Mexican President Felipe Calderón The signed petition will say: To Prime Minister Stephen Harper, President George Bush and President Felipe de Jesús Calderón of Mexico, We, the people of Canada want to send you a clear message that we do not support the SPP and will actively work to stop its implementation. The Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP) of North America, initiated on March 31, 2005 by the leaders of Canada, the United States and Mexico to advance free trade and security cooperation should not go forward.