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From: hfx-g7@ziplip.com
Activist Legal Defense Fund
317-2070 Quingate Pl.
Halifax, NS, B3L 4S1
hfx-g7@ziplip.com
Dear Friends,
We write to you today to ask for your assistance. As you may know,
on June 14 and 15, 2002 a meeting of the G7 finance ministers took place
in Halifax, to prepare the agenda for the G8 meeting in Kananaskis,
Alberta. A number of guests were invited to this meeting, including
officials of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, but no one
representing the rights of the people was allowed to attend. The G8 has
a record of mainly working to advance the neo-liberal agenda, usually at
the cost of workers', womens', indigenous, and human rights throughout
the world. In the past few years the world has begun to realize that
these powerful men must be called to greater accountability and to
implement fundamental change.
Here in Halifax a small group of people, compelled by conscience,
went to visit the G7 ministers to try to add the voices of the people to
the agenda. However, the police response to our non-violent protest was
shockingly brutal. After firing tear gas and pepper bullets, and
chasing the protest through town, they herded us into an area which
police surrounded, and began making mass arrests. Thirty-two, of the
fifty or so people who remained with the protest until the end, were
arrested. Most were beaten or "zapped" with tazer guns, their property
was confiscated and they were denied the right to legal council. So
far, five people have been charged, and police have stated there is the
possibility of further charges in the next few months.
Those charged are generally committed local activists, who are
dedicated to speaking out against injustice wherever they encounter it.
Some Halifax lawyers have generously agreed to work at half-rate, and a
group of law students have offered their time and skills to assist.
Nonetheless, the legal costs have quickly mounted, and continue to
rise. The Activist Legal Defence Fund has been started to help cover
these costs, and ensure that the voices of these people of conscience
are not silenced. We are also hoping to build the fund to help with
possible group actions against the blatant violations of protesters'
legal and constitutional rights by the police.
We ask that you consider contributing to this fund. To do so,
please contact us or deposit directly to the "Activist Legal Defence
Fund" account at the Credit Union Atlantic, Spring Garden Rd. branch.
We, in Canada, have the right to freedom of thought and speech, to
freedom of assembly, and to dissent. We have the right, and the
responsibility, to analyze and criticize the words and actions of our
elected officials and publicly state our disagreement. When people are
afraid to speak their minds, when people are afraid to express their
disagreement because they may be gassed, beaten, and arrested, the
rights of all of us are threatened.
We thank you in advance for your support.
Yours in solidarity,
Heather Maxwell, for
The Activist Legal Defense Fund
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SUST-MAR TIP: our archives are http://www.chebucto.ca/lists/sust-mar
CBC enviro news-briefs follow:
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SCHOOL WATER TESTS SHOW HIGH LEAD LEVELS
The province released preliminary well-water test results from 52 schools in
Nova Scotia Thursday. It tested schools in Halifax and along the South
Shore.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_water020823
CANADIAN, U.S. TEAM ATTEMPTS TO FREE WHALE
Federal fisheries officials from Canada and the U.S. are working together
to free a right whale that is entangled in fishing gear. They say the
whale became caught up in thick fishing lines somewhere off the eastern
seaboard and is now near Grand Manan Island.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_whale020823
REGULATIONS NEEDED IN N.S. MINE EXPLORATION
The head of a wilderness protection group in Nova Scotia says the province
should take more time to review potential mine sites. Martin Willison is
the president of the Nova Scotia branch of the Canada Parks and Wilderness
Association.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_mining020823
COLCHESTER MAYOR IN A SNUFF OVER TIRE FLUFF
There is a disagreement between Nova Scotia's only tire recycling facility
and the Municipality of Colchester. The mayor, Mike Smith, says Atlantic
Recycled Rubber's plant in Kemptville is producing too much waste.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_fluff020823
GAELIC CD RELEASE KEEPING CULTURE ALIVE
People filled the fire hall in Christmas Island Thursday night for the CD
release which features traditional Gaelic songs.
FULL STORY
http://novascotia.cbc.ca/template/servlet/View?filename=ns_gaelic020823
© Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
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