from The Toronto Star
It’s rarely a smart move to fling yourself in front of a parade.
You could get crushed by a float.
But as the Justin Trudeau bandwagon pulled out of the station Tuesday night, those straining to jump on board should at least look at the recent history of political coronations, both here and south of the border….
from a news release
October 2, 2012
(Ottawa) – A judge today dismissed all charges against thirteen Canadians on trial for protesting the reckless climate change and energy policies of the Harper Government. The judge threw out the case after the Crown presented insufficient evidence that the peaceful demonstration constituted a crime.
The 13 defendants were arrested on 26 September, 2011, during a demonstration on Parliament Hill in which roughly 200 people risked arrest to protest the climate change and energy policies of the Harper government. They were charged with engaging in a prohibited activity contrary to the Trespass to Property Act and also issued a trespass notice that banned them from attending Parliament Hill for a period of one year.
“Throwing this case out of court puts the spotlight back on the real climate criminal: the Harper Government,” said Graham Saul, one of the thirteen who was arrested. “The Harper government’s reckless climate change and energy policy is dividing Canadians. None of us want to be arrested, handcuffed or detained, but I felt compelled to stand up against policies that are fueling, instead of fighting, climate change.”
–
The trial ends three weeks before thousands of people are scheduled to gather in an act of peaceful civil disobedience in Victoria, B.C. (see DefendOurCoast.ca)
Below are some initial reactions from some of the defendants:
“It’s appropriate that this case was thrown out of court on Gandhi’s birthday. It is a vindication of our right and our responsibility to nonviolently challenge the Harper government’s reckless and unethical climate change policies.”
– Liz Bernstein
"I do not regret participating in the pipeline protest last fall. It is our duty as citizens to fight against unjust government policy and stand up for our right to free expression – especially on Parliament Hill."
– Dan Snyder, 23, McGill law student
“I am more committed than ever to taken a stand against the Canadian government’s destructive environmental and energy policies; it is an international disgrace that our Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, has gotten into bed with the Big Oil companies. The Conservative government is serving the business interests of the oil companies, but the public interest (the health of our children, future generations, and the planet’s life support systems) is being ignored and damaged.”
– Trevor Hache
“I feel vindicated that trespassing charges resulting from our principled peaceful action against the Harper government tar sands and pipeline support were dismissed by the court.”
– Jo Wood
For more information, contact:
Defendant Graham Saul: grahamksaul@gmail.com or 613-710-2819
The market niche that nuclear power once held is disappearing. The key nuclear indicators — including the number of operating reactors, installed capacity, power generation, and share of total electricity generation — all show that the global nuclear industry is in decline….
2011-2012 World Nuclear Status Report, from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
from a news release
Thirteen Canadians, including an Ottawa-based couple, go on trial today to argue the federal government’s climate change and energy policy is dividing Canadians and creating the conditions where a growing number of people feel compelled to openly challenge the government’s unethical approach.
from SGEU
Labour law changes the Saskatchewan government is considering would result in lower wages, less workplace democracy and greater inequality, says a new report by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). The research was commissioned by the National Union of Public and General Employees.Regina —The Saskatchewan government’s contemplated changes to labour legislation as outlined in the Consultation Paper on the Renewal of Labour Legislation in Saskatchewan will have the perverse effect of lowering wages, undermining workplace democracy and contributing to worsening inequality in Saskatchewan, says a report released today by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA)…
from Kitchener-Waterloo Record
Physical beauty will only take you so far.
Mind you, Justin Trudeau is loaded with it. His heart-melting smile! His wonderful (for a man) hair! His confident TV presence!
Armed with all that charisma, not to mention the heft of the political dynasty he belongs to, it’s no surprise that Trudeau appears on an unstoppable path to run for leader of the once-mighty federal Liberal party.
But if I were a Liberal, I’d be extremely worried about this idea. I’d be concerned that Trudeau would hurt the Liberals, not help them, as they struggle to recover from the near-fatal blow they received from voters in the 2011 election. Here’s why:
from a news release:
Former Canadian MP (Member of Parliament 1980 to 88) and retired United Church Minister Jim Manly will join a group of prominent internationals on the Freedom Flotilla’s Estelle sailing from Naples to Gaza in early October.
The mission of the Estelle, which started in Scandinavia and visited many European ports before reaching Italy on September 27th, is the latest initiative of the international Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) to challenge the Blockade of Gaza.
The Canadian Boat to Gaza campaign is coordinating Jim’s trip and also playing a key role in the next FFC action: Gaza’s Ark <http://www.gazaark.org> , which is geared towards boat building in Gaza and encouraging Palestinian industry and exports to challenge the blockade from within.
FFC’s petition calling for an end to the Israeli Blockade of Gaza has been signed by over a hundred European Parliamentarians <http://upprop.shiptogaza.se/en> including members of parliament from Sweden and Norway.
Jim Manly is a retired United Church minister who served as a New Democratic Party Member of Parliament from 1980-88, representing Cowichan-Malahat-the Islands, a BC Coastal riding. As MP, he was NDP critic for Indian Affairs and later critic for Fisheries and also International Development. As a United Church minister, Jim served mostly British Columbia congregations and has been active in the Church’s social justice work in Canada and the Americas. Ordained in 1957, he retired in 1997. He lives near Nanaimo, B.C. with his wife, Eva, and together they continue to be active in a number of areas including United Network for a Just Peace in Palestine and Israel (UNJPPI), and Mid-Islanders for Justice and Peace in the Middle East. This past spring he and Eva took part in a Pilgrimage of Solidarity to the Occupied Territory of the Palestinian West Bank.
For more information or to get in touch with Jim Manly:
email: mailto:info@gazaark.org
from the Edmonton Journal
Temporary Foreign Workers are especially at risk.
…Why are Alberta’s paid farm workers still excluded from the province’s labour code? Why are they denied the same rights and protections of occupational safety legislation that cover every other worker in the province?
They are excluded from laws that govern hours of work and overtime pay and vacation pay. If they’re injured on the job and their employer hasn’t voluntarily covered them under the Workers’ Compensation Board, their only recourse is to launch a lawsuit for compensation…
from Democracy Now
A labor dispute between the National Football League and the union representing its referees reached a fever pitch Monday night during a game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers when substitute referees failed to call pass interference before a last-second touchdown. The play ended the game in favor of the Seahawks, when many argue it should have gone the other way. The play focused attention on the NFL’s decision to use substitute referees after it locked out the regular professionals over a dispute about pension plans and compensation.
from Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada
Canada’s national pro-choice group is demanding the resignation of Rona Ambrose, the Minister for Status of Women. [NDP critic Nicki Ashton has echoed the call.] The Minister voted in favour of anti-abortion Motion 312 on Wednesday, which sought to bestow legal personhood on fetuses in order to recriminalize abortion.
