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Greenpeace counters tar sands ads with satirical commercials.

from Greenpeace Canada

The federal government’s “Responsible Resource Development” ads depict the tar sands as environmentally friendly and have been running since 2012. Recently, Ottawa announced it will spend another $16 million this year to keep the ads running on television.

What this ad campaign doesn’t tell you is how the Harper government gutted Canada’s environmental laws in order to fast-track new tar sands mines and pipelines as part of the omnibus budget bills. And it certainly doesn’t tell you that tar sands development has made Canada one of the world’s biggest polluters and contributors to climate change.

In response, Greenpeace has crafted three satirical commercials, of which this is the first. The 30-second ad stars comedic actor Peter Keleghan, known for his work on shows like 18 to Life and  The Red Green Show, as Environment Minister Peter Kent. In the ad he says “being the kind of environment minister who makes big oil companies clean up their mess isn’t easy – but buying ads is!”

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Company offers gang rape victims help only if they promise not to sue.

from Sumofus.org

Trigger Warning: This page includes descriptions of the abuses suffered by rape victims.

Years after being sexually assaulted by Barrick Gold security staff, gang rape victims are finally being offered counselling and micro loans — but only if they waive their right to sue the world’s largest gold company.

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High operating costs mean phase-out would save $850 million per year.

from the Ontario Clean Air Alliance

The Pickering A Nuclear Station is the highest cost nuclear plant in North America while the Pickering B Station is the 5th highest cost.  The good news is that the operating licences for the aging Pickering reactors expire in 2014 and 2015. Phasing out these high-cost reactors would reduce our electricity bills by $850 million per year or 5 percent.

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Tell your MP: Keep aid focused on poverty and rights.

from Oxfam

Big changes are under way in Canada's aid program. As part of budget Bill C-60, the federal government plans to merge the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) with the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT). 

Let’s make sure that ending poverty and promoting human rights remain at the heart of Canada's international development efforts. Please reach out to your Member of Parliament.

Act right now. The House of Commons is due to vote on Bill C-60 very soon.

Visit the Oxfam website to view, modify and sign this letter:

Dear MP:

I am a constituent in your riding and I care about ending global poverty and promoting human rights.

I am concerned about the implications of folding the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) into the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Trade is important for development, but it cannot replace concerted efforts to eradicate poverty and promote human rights.

For the past 45 years, CIDA has supported the work of Canadian organizations to help poor communities gain access to schools and health care, to have enough to eat, and to ensure women and others can exercise their rights.

We have seen the results of this good work. And I want Canada to remain as engaged as I am.

I am asking you to keep poverty reduction and human rights promotion central in Canada’s aid program, and to allocate sufficient resources to fulfill that mandate.

I also would like you to ensure that the many Canadian organizations which have done such good work remain key partners of the federal government in its efforts to end global poverty.

I hope you share these concerns and I kindly ask you to raise these issues in caucus, with Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird and in the House of Commons.

Thank you very much for your time and support. Please let me know how you follow up on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Visit Oxfam's website to send this letter electronically.

Canada returned army deserter to US to face court martial.

from Amnesty International

Pregnant prisoner of conscience, Kimberly Rivera, will serve 10 months in prison following sentencing at her court martial. She deserted the US army while deployed in Iraq because she felt morally unable to take part in the conflict.

After pleading guilty to desertion at her court martial on 29 April 2013, Private First Class Kimberly Rivera was sentenced to 14 months imprisonment, reduced to 10 months under the terms of a plea agreement.  She was also given a bad conduct discharge from the army. She is pregnant with her fifth child.

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