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News & Views
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Tag >> politics
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
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!
Posted by: Janice Meighan in technology, raves, politics, people, justice, health, ethics, environment, current events, community news on
Aug 5, 2009
Thought I'd pass this along since the Hainford site is so close to us and so close to my heart. It came to me via a Habitat for Humanity news update. Strike affecting more than garbage pick-ups
There is no question that the Toronto's municipal workers' strike is making a significant impact on the welfare and safety of Torontonians and with the strike heading into it's third week, we wanted to let you know how our organization - which relies heavily on the Municipal Government - has been affected so far.
Habitat for Humanity Toronto estimates that the for every month that the strike continues, the organization may incur approximately $250,000 in lost funds. We are also concerned about how future funds received and home donor partnerships may be affected based on delays and project completions.
In addition, without the Municipal Government to process and provide necessary building, property and construction permits, all of Habitat for Humanity Toronto's build sites are being affected. Our largest current build site (located on Hainford Street in Scarborough) has suffered delayed construction and closing date changes. This means that 16 Habitat Partner Families may not be able to move into their new homes in time for the Holiday Season and that the charity will incur a delay in needed mortgage payments. Habitat Toronto will also have to face extended carrying costs of the Hainford Street property, delayed registration and mortgage payments of 27 other homes and start date changes of three more build sites.
"Though we are anxious how this strike is affecting our build progress, our greatest concerns lie with our Partner Families" says Neil Hetherington. "62 families may not be able to move into their new homes by the end of the year as they planned and will have to continue to pay high rent in their current accommodations and live in unsafe and unhealthy conditions."
We are always thankful of the support and understanding we continue to receive and are looking forward to this strike reaching a speedy and positive conclusion.
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.
read more...
Many of us have tickets to Rick's newest show, HardSell, for this coming Monday evening, April 20th. It's going to be an interesting night and will, through Rick's inimitably provocative style, be one we'll very likely talk about for some time to come. Here are a couple of articles about the show. One from the Globe this past week. And one from the CBC. Get ready; it's going to be a blast! Giving Us the HardSell Tales from the Dark Side
A while back I blogged about Bill C-291. You can find that entry here. I mentioned that organizations can throw their support behind the bill and the Board, on behalf of West Hill, chose to do so in March. I have since received an email from the MP sponsoring the bill, Thierry St Cyr. He writes, in part: On April 20, 2009, it will be debated for the second, and final, hour in the House of Commons. I invite you to contact organizations that you know have not yet returned the support form (available online at http://thierrystcyr.org/wp-content/form.pdf ) and ask them to send it in before Monday, April 20, at 11:00 a.m. The bill will be voted on April 22, so I strongly encourage you to pressure Liberal MPs to be present for the vote and support it. Please write to as many Liberal MPs as you can, or better still, talk to them in person, because at this time their support is limited. During the 39th Parliament, at third reading of the now-defunct Bill C‑280, introduced by my colleague Nicole Demers and addressing the same issue of the Refugee Appeal Division, 24% of Liberal MPs were absent. More recently, during a vote on the conscientious objectors who refused to participate in the war in Iraq*, more than one quarter of the Liberals was absent. If this happens again on April 22, this bill stands a high chance of being defeated, even if all the Bloc Québécois and NDP MPs are there to support it. Every effort is needed to get Bill C‑291 passed. Thank you for all the help that you can provide to this end. Thierry St-Cyr Député de Jeanne-Le Ber Porte-parole Citoyenneté et Immigration Bloc Québécois A sample letter you can send to your MP can be found here. To call and talk to your MP or arrange a meeting, contact their riding office.
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