next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects
Tip: Your message to SUST-MAR must be html-free. So, BEFORE you hit SEND, please go to your "Format" pull-down menu and select "Plain text." In OE, select "Tools/Options/Send/"Plain Text"/Apply/Close." Thanks!
____________________________________________________________________________
.
Upcoming peace & justice events:
******************************
This Friday!
"Unpack the Big Box Empire: Wal-Town Rolls Back Wal-Mart"
Public lecture.
Friday, May 13th
7:00-8:30 PM
Dalhousie Student Union Building
6136 University Avenue
Room 303
Free. All welcome.
Refreshments provided.
Wal-Town Tour 2005: Is Wal-Mart Good For Your Community? The Wal-Town Tour,
developed by a group of Concordia University students, is designed to bring
the public's attention to Wal-Mart's unethical business practices and the
negative effects the big box store has on small communities in Canada. An
eye-opening presentation and slide-show about the biggest retailer in Canada
and the world. Check out the Wal-Town web site:
http://www.wal-town.com/index.php
Organized by the Society for Corporate Environmental and Social
Responsibility (CESR) Web site: http://cesr.dsu.dal.ca/
Email: cesr@dal.ca
******************************
Haligonians to join International Day of Solidarity With the Haitian People
RALLY AND MARCH IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF HAITI
WEDNESDAY, MAY 18 @ 5:30
VICTORIA PARK (CORNER OF SOUTH PARK AND SPRING GARDEN)
On May 18th, 2005 a worldwide coalition of grassroots organizations will
hold protests, teach-ins, petition drives, pickets, vigils, film showings,
and other events in solidarity with the people of Haiti, who are once again
struggling against a brutal foreign occupation of the world's first black
republic. The call for this day of solidarity has been taken up by hundreds
of grassroots organizations worldwide, including the Global Afrikan
Congress, who are calling on the global African community to respond to the
plight of Haitians.
In Canada, events are planned in several cities, including Vancouver,
Montreal, Ottawa, and Charlottetown. Here in Halifax, a rally and march will
be held on Wednesday, May 18 th at 5:30 PM beginning at Victoria Park (the
corner of Spring Garden and South Park).
This event is being organized by the Canada Haiti Action Network-Halifax and
the Halifax Peace Coalition. It has also been endorsed by the Halifax local
of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, and the Halifax Central Area
Education Committee.
Background
The Canadian military and government, like the governments of the United
States and France, were deeply complicit in the brutal coup on February 29
th of 2004 against democratically elected Haitian President Jean
Bertrand-Aristide. Canadian Joint Task Force 2 Troops were observed by
Associated Press reporters securing the airport from which Aristide was
flown from the country, after he was abducted from his home at gunpoint by
US Marines. In addition, the Haitian National Police are being provided
support, logistics, and training by the RCMP. Numerous human rights groups,
ranging from Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch to the Institute
for Justice and Democracy in Haiti have reported that the HNP is currently
engaged in a calculated campaign of summary executions, massacres, and
imprisonment of poor Haitians associated with the Lavalas party of the
deposed government of Aristide. Considering the close involvement of the
Canadian government, Canadian Forces, and the RCMP in Haiti, the time is
long overdue for Canadians to speak out against our government's verifiably
brutal role in Haiti.
In accordance with calls from the Haitian people themselves, we will be
demanding:
- A restoration of the Haitian Constitution and the reinstatement
of Haiti's democratically-elected government
- An end to illegal arrests and killings by the HNP
- An end to the participation of RCMP and Canadian Forces with such
abuses
- A parliamentary investigation into Canada's role in the Haitian
coup
- The freedom of all political prisoners in Haiti's prisons,
including elected Prime Minister Yvon Neptune.
- The elimination of Haiti's odious debt to Canada, the World Bank
and the "international community." An end to "disaster profiteering" in
Haiti by Canadian corporations.
For More Information:
Stuart Neatby, 446-8875, stu.neatby@gmail.com
Hfxpeace.chebucto.org
******************************
The National Film Board of Canada and the Centre for Foreign Policy Studies
at Dalhousie University invite you to the Halifax premiere of the
documentary film The Peacekeepers, a film by Paul Cowan.
Wednesday, May 25th 7:30pm
Scotiabank Auditorium
Marion McCain Building
Dalhousie University
6135 University Ave
The event will be hosted by Norma Lee Macleod, Host of CBC's Canada Now.
Following the screening, a panel including Paul Cowan and local experts will
take questions and examine issues raised in the film.
Please RSVP to 494-6296 or by email Marcia.seitz-ehler@dal.ca
******************************
It's time to register for the Breaking the Silence Annual Meeting at
Tatamagouche Fri., June 17, 7pm - Sun., June19, 1pm. (1-800-218-2220) More
info on the Tatamagouche Centre Website, www.tatacentre.ca
Resource persons Jamie Kneen of MiningWatch Canada and BTS returning human
rights accompaniers and wonderful women, Caren Weisbart and Heather Asbil,
will update and inspire us! Our returning Interns will have a chance to tell
their stories, always a highlight of the week-end. And this year we will be
making a special presentation, a gift from the students of the junior high
school in Rabinal to students and staff of Hampton High School in NB, who
are actively supporting the Rabinal school.
Attention newcomers! For those attending a BTS Annual Meeting for the first
time, we offer an introductory session on the philosophy, history and
activities of Breaking the Silence at 6:30pm Friday night, to enable you to
more fully participate in the rest of the meeting.
Programme Jamie Kneen will help us deepen our understanding of issues
related to Glamis Mines and other mining concerns in Guatemala (Glamis is
the tip of the iceberg!), including environmental risks and International
Labour Organization Covenant #169 regarding indigenous rights. Jamie grew up
in Pictou County, NS, and is now Communications and Outreach Coordinator of
MiningWatch Canada. He provides strategic support and advice for campaign,
consultation and negotiation efforts and maintains up-to-date research files
on regulatory, technical and strategic issues related to mining and the
environment. (See below for more information on Mining Watch. Also check out
their Website, www.miningwatch.ca.)
Those among us who have met Heather and Caren, members of our first Intern
group, know that it will be our privilege to have them present with us. They
will lead us in a situational analysis and share their human rights
accompaniment experience. After their Internships, Caren and Heather
returned to Guatemala as accompaniers for witnesses in the genocide case
against former Presidents Lucas Garcia and Rioss Montt. They also worked as
volunteers, Caren with the CCDA, our BTS coffee partner, and Heather with
Processo/Amigas del Sol (Friends of the Sun), as well as maintaining a
relationship with the community of El Porvernir, where she had been an
Intern.
And of course our Interns will share their experiences. We will all have a
chance to participate in working groups and setting plans for the coming
year, not to speak of the fiesta! As always, we will have some videos for
those who enjoy late night watching.
Bursaries The cost of the week-end is $115. We know that some of you cannot
afford the entire cost of the week-end and we do want you to attend, so
Breaking the Silence provides bursaries. Please contact me if you need a
bursary. Please do not contact Tatamagouche Centre, as BTS providees its own
bursaries.
Silent Auction We are again holding a Silent Auction. It was a great
success last year and lots of fun, and enabled us us to cover bursary and
other costs of the meeting. Participants contributed Guatemalan weavings and
clothing, plants, preserves and jam, art and all kinds of other creative
offerings! Start thinking now about what you might contribute! For items of
greater value, such as art, you may want to assign a minimum price.
Child care We provide childcare, free of charge. We welcome babies and
toddlers, as well as schol-age children and teenagers, who may participate
in BTS as they wish. Room and board costs are lower for children, and babies
are free of charge. You can discuss the costs when you phone to register.
We very much look forward to your participation!
Mary Corbett, Jeremias Tecu, Jerri MacKenzie, Margie Loo, Beth Abbott, Judy
Loo, Kathryn Anderson. BTS Coordinating Ctee.
Background info on Mining Watch Canada
It is a pan-Canadian initiative supported by environmental, social justice,
Aboriginal and labour organisations from across the country. It addresses
the urgent need for a co-ordinated public interest response to the threats
to public health, water and air quality, fish and wildlife habitat and
community interests posed by irresponsible mineral policies and practices in
Canada and around the world.
____________________________________________________________________________
Did a friend forward this to you? Join sust-mar yourself!
Just send 'subscribe sust-mar' to mailto:majordomo@chebucto.ca
next message in archive
no next message in thread
previous message in archive
Index of Subjects