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News & Views
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Tag >> justice
World attention has been focused for some time on the Bilin community in the West Bank whose farmland was being walled off from them by the building of what they have called the "racial segregation wall" but that Israel calls a "security fence". Ordered to redraw the line by the courts, the Israeli government has yet to do so. Now, attention is increasing and fast as those opposed to the wall, Palestinians, Israelis, and others, have been painting themselves blue and drawing references to their plight from the blockbuster hit Avatar. Read more Na'vi and Goliath
After claiming that the absence, in the publication of the new study guide for immigrants, of reference to Canadian equality rights as they pertain to gays and lesbians was the result of an oversight , homophobic Immigration minister, Jason Kenney, is found to have personally wielded the red marker that struck sections on gay equality and marriage from early drafts. More from The Globe and Mail
Alerted to the Government's failure to pass Bill C-291 which would have led to the creation of a Refugee Appeal Division, I sent the following email to my MP, Dan McTeague (who voted in favour) with copies to Judy Sgro, Joe Volpe, and the Speaker of the House, Peter Milliken. The Bill had reached its third and final reading in the house and, at the conclusion of the vote, the Speaker voted against it to break a tie. Apparently, this is only the 12th time a speaker has had to break a tie in parliamentary history. Please feel free to copy any portions of this text and forward a letter to your own MP about this deeply disappointing action on the part of those who had expressed support for this important bill. Hi Dan, I was absolutely stunned to read this morning that two liberals who were in the House yesterday, Judy Sgro and Joe Volpe, abstained from voting on the RAD Bill C-291 thereby allowing it to be defeated on its third reading. It is unconscionable that the Government of Canada continues to deny refugees access to an appeal process, the absence of which has undoubtedly cost lives. I thought your party was aware of that and were taking action to ensure that the injustice was eradicated. I am deeply saddened to see that it meant little to these politicians. Mr. Milliken, as Speaker, may have taken the opportunity to vote according to conscience and not fashion, the rarity with which the Speaker must cast a vote serving to underscore the feebleness of the position he chose to take. Indeed, his words, "In this case", made very clear his recognition that he was making a choice rather than leaning on tradition. Does the fact that this vote took place in a House reeling with accusations
of detainees being handed over to torture in Afghanistan not make it even
more incredible that it is now, willfully, refusing to offer asylum to thousands of others whose claims are denied by a single, overworked, bureaucrat and who have no optoin for appeal? Should we not consider those who voted against or who abstained from this vote complicit in every "disappearance", torture, or death that happens to someone turned
away by our inadequate refugee process? Are we not returning them to the exact fate we so loudly protest? Where were Sgro's and Volpe's voices in this challenge? Why did Sgro, Volpe remain silent? Why did Milliken choose not to exercise his right with conscience? That the Speaker paused before the conclusion of the vote to offer holiday wishes is simply unbelievable. I recognize the desire for merriment at this time of the year; however, that the Speaker's wishes were bracketed with a grave injustice is a symbolism that can't be overlooked. Is nothing that happens in the world -- blight, death, rape, child labour, destruction of habitat, infant mortality, commodification of resources, the return of innocent men, women, and children to torture and potentially death --is none of this is more than an insignificant blip in the midst of which we must remember to keep ourselves merry? Perhaps Sgro and Volpe were making their Christmas lists up instead of paying attention to the House' proceedings.
I cannot express the depth of my dismay and horror at the indifference Sgro, Volpe, and the Speaker showed to the lives of so many who are at risk, and with the Speaker's particularly insensitive timing. I am simply shocked and appalled. gretta
This amazing buyers guide will help you determine whether the companies you support also support the people you support. Put together by the Human Rights Campaign foundation in the States, an organization working toward achieving and maintaining rights for LGBTQ people across some of the most homophobic regions in North America, the guide indicates that despite tragic choices on the part of state legislatures, a very positive response to equality has been seen throughout the business sector. But it's interesting to know that BestBuy scores 100% on the Corporate Equality Index whereas RadioShack only scores 40%. Or that Dell is another shining example of support for the LGBTQ community, but Acer slumps way back at 58% on the CEI. Take a look at the Buyer's Guide and make your choices as positive as possible. The Human Rights Campaign Buyers Guide for 2010 Here's the criteria used to make the assessements, HRC's Corporate Equality Index
As a signatory on the Earth Charter, we support the principles and aims it will be presenting at the Climate Change conference in Copenhagen in a few weeks. ECI brings together elements of climate change challenges that are often missed when discussions take place. It isn't just science that will save the planet. Economics and justice play a huge role in creating a sustainable world. If you'd like to participate in the youtube competition and show your support for the Earth Charter, click on this link, then "vote" in the top band across the video. When option boxes appear to the right, type ecinternational in the lower one. They have suggested we vote for the "Club of Rome" video by clicking on the thumbs up button, though you really should make sure you watch the other one, too. (Nothing happens to show you've voted but it's safer not to vote twice and potentially get ECI disqualified.) "Youtoo" CAN make a difference!
Friend to West Hill, Matthew Behrens, has passed on information about this upcoming talk, presented by Amnesty International, Christian Peacemaker Teams, Stop Canadian Involvement in Torture, and Toronto Action for Social Change, Endorsed by The Centre for Integrated Anti-Racism Studies (OISE)When: Monday, November 9, 7:15 pm
Where: Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil Street (one block south of College), Toronto, Ontario Free admission Introduction by Hadayt Nazami, human rights and refugee lawyer About this event: On Monday, November 9 at 7:15 pm, Ottawa resident Abdullah Almalki, an engineer and father of six children, will speak in Toronto for the first time about how he was falsely labelled and became the target of one of the longest "national security" investigations in Canadian history. Hadayt Nazami is a respected Toronto human rights, immigration and refugee lawyer who represented Ahmad El Maati at the Iacobucci
inquiry. This event is part of an ongoing speakers series that explores Canadian involvement in torture. For more information phone: (416) 651-5800, email: tasc@web.ca, web: www.abdullahalmalki.com/
Posted by: Gretta Vosper in thoughts, spirituality, social, religion, reflection, progressive, media, justice, gretta, ethics, equality, environment, documentary on
Oct 27, 2009
Posted by: Janice Meighan in technology, raves, politics, people, justice, health, ethics, environment, current events, community news on
Aug 5, 2009
For the past few weeks, West Hill has been a welcoming space for a few Roma families who are living in shelters provided by Toronto's Family Residences. Roma refugees have been coming into Canada from Czechoslovakia in the past few months in increasing numbers as the racial persecution they experience in their country continues to rise. Several years ago, the shelter system also housed Roma refugees. At that time, the Canadian government, by increasing the requirements for Czechoslovakian travelers to Canada, essentially closed the border to refugees in an effort to stem the rising tide. It appears that, once again, the government is working to control the numbers of refugees entering Canada rather than recognizing the plight of the many who wish to seek shelter here. Today, Canada begins, once again, to require visas for those travelling here from Czechoslovakia as well as those coming from Mexico. The requirement was lifted in 2007 and, since that time, over 3000 applicants have arrived on our shores. The government's decision to do so threatens the lives of many Roma vulnerable to the rise of violence and aggression at home who may have been able to flee had the borders remained "open." Please read the newsletter from the Canadian Council for Refugees which includes a segment on the Roma situation in Canada. Also, you will find more graphic evidence of the persecution Roma experience in Czechoslovakia in this news article from May. Wednesdays, we are hoping to included the Roma families in our Weedless Wednesday morning at the church. As we dig up weeds in the gardens and on the property, it will be an opportunity for us to help these new neighbours learn English and further integrate into our community.
The oppression of women and girls in Afghanistan continues and as their oppressors well know, fear is the most effective weapon they have. 'Poison gas' puts 50 Afghan schoolgirls in hospital Nearly 50 teenagers have been admitted to hospital after a suspected mass poisoning at an Afghan girls' school, the second such incident in a month.
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