Messages

1

Canada / Re: Canadian mining companies: doing harm round the world

« on: December 03, 2009, 11:14:39 PM »

The night of November 27th, Mariano Abarca Roblero, an activist against mining in Chicomuselo, Chiapas, was murdered. Mr. Abarca was an important member of the community who had suffered threats, prison and violence due to his opposition to the mining activities of Calgary-based Blackfire Exploration.

At 10 am EST on Thursday December 3, four busloads of community members from Chiapas will arrive at the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City to protest the murder of the local activist. The 130 people will travel more than 1000 km overnight from Chiapas to protest the Canadian government's failure to regulate the international operations Canadian-based mining companies. The protest is being endorsed by the Council of Canadians and MiningWatch.

Mining Watch news release

2

Canada / Re: Canadian mining companies: doing harm round the world

« on: November 30, 2009, 09:14:58 PM »

I'd agree, but I think C-300 isn't so much trying to clean up anyone else's house, as it is trying to force our companies from going into other people's houses and making a bloody mess.

3

Canada / Re: Canadian mining companies: doing harm round the world

« on: November 27, 2009, 02:18:14 PM »

Ain't that the truth.

More of the same arrogance:

In a joint statement on Thursday, Barrick Gold (ABX.TO: Quote), Kinross Gold (K.TO: Quote), and Goldcorp (G.TO: Quote) called the bill "unnecessary and damaging to Canadian business".

"The hearings have amply demonstrated how Bill C-300 has become a magnet for false and unsubstantiated allegations from individuals anywhere in the world and do nothing but unduly harm the Canadian mining industry," Vince Borg, a spokesman for top gold miner Barrick, said in the statement.

Reuters

Or: to criticize us is wrong by definition. This bill has attracted criticism of us. Therefore this bill is wrong. The fact that the bill is bad proves that our critics are wrong.

Continue circle until dizzy.

4

Canada / Canadian mining companies: doing harm round the world

« on: November 24, 2009, 11:27:14 PM »

Seeing no thread on mining or C-300 (please move if there is one!) --

The word "Canada" is so reviled in some places that travelling Canadians mask their citizenship by wearing American flags on their caps and backpacks.

In Ottawa this week, at a House of Commons committee, MPs will continue debating a Liberal private member's bill designed to put controls on mining companies overseas.

Tor Star

Some good maps and so on at the link as well.

5

Exercise & Sports / Re: How come we don't have a football thread?

« on: November 22, 2009, 10:28:03 PM »

And watermelon heads....



Saw the green fireworks go up tonight. Everyone's so happy. And why not, when the community team beats Calgary?

6

Canada / Re: Canadian Citizenship Guide to be overhauled.

« on: November 15, 2009, 11:01:03 PM »

The Globe's coverage links to a practice citizenship test from BC. Somewhat disturbingly, this is one of the answers:

The following questions were answered incorrectly.   The correct answers are in red italics.
How is the government formed after a federal election?
a. The party with the most elected representatives becomes the party in power. The Queen chooses the Prime Minister from this party
b. The party with the most elected representatives becomes the party in power. The leader of this party becomes the Prime Minister.
c. The Governor General picks a party and a Prime Minister to run the government.
d. Each province elects one representative to form the government. The Queen then chooses the Prime Minister.

As for Jason Kenney's virginity, I think he finally met the right boy.

7

News / Re: Omar Khadr

« on: November 01, 2009, 02:06:03 PM »

Hi! Hope you're both doing great....

For what it's worth, someone in Jack Layton's office writes good letters:

Thank you for your email requesting that Canada repatriate Omar Khadr. New
Democrats have consistently supported Khadr's return to Canada. At our NDP
Convention in August, delegates passed a motion re-affirming our demand for
his return.

On the seven-year anniversary of Omar Khadr`s detention by US authorities,
we now know  that the Canadian federal government spent more than $1.3
million to effectively keep him in Guantanamo Bay. The total cost of the
government's appeals recently was released in response to a formal question
asked by our Party in June, 2009.

NDP Foreign Affairs critic Paul Dewar said, "Every thread of this case shows
the government is in denial of its responsibility, but now we find out it`s
also spending a significant amount of money just to fight repatriation,
which means the end result is that they're spending money to keep him in
Guantanamo".

We share the disappointment of Canadians over the foot dragging by the
Harper government. Like you, we want them to abide by judicial orders and
seek the return of Omar Khadr to Canada. This government also should follow
the will of Parliament which passed New Democrat Human Rights Critic Wayne
Marston's concurrence motion calling for the immediate repatriation of Omar
Khadr. This March 24th motion endorsed a report compiled a year ago by the
House Subcommittee on Human Rights which called for Khadr's repatriation.
http://www.ndp.ca/press/marston-s-khadr ... tion-urged.

This case is yet another example of the Conservatives indifference to the
plight faced by a growing number of Canadians who are experiencing problems
abroad. New Democrats believe that it is time to put an end to 'conditional
citizenship'. Looking ahead, MP Dewar has launched a campaign to protect all
Canadians travelling abroad. For more information, please visit:
http://www.ndp.ca/press/new-democrats-l ... anadians-a
broad.

In opposition, Mr. Harper spoke of the government's moral responsibility to
respect the will of Parliament because it was ultimately the democratic will
of Canadians. Regrettably, now in government, Mr. Harper has continued the
Liberals' shameful record of non-interference in the case of Omar Khadr.

Again, thank you for taking the time to register your concern. Feel free to
pass this email to anyone who may be interested. I also invite you to check
our website at http://www.ndp.ca to learn the latest work being done by our team of
New Democrats.

Sincerely,


Jack Layton, MP (Toronto-Danforth)
Leader, Canada's New Democrats

8

News / Re: Omar Khadr

« on: October 29, 2009, 03:26:59 PM »

Apologies for the drive-by posting (and yes, I know, facebook is evil, but what can ya do?)

TODAY IS EMAIL HARPER DAY - OCTOBER 29TH!

Thursday, October 29 is "email Harper day" Send emails to Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office calling for the repatriation of Omar Khadr: email - HarpeS@parl.gc.ca, CannoL@parl.gc.ca, NichoR@parl.gc.ca, IgnatM@parl.gc.ca, LaytoJ@parl.gc.ca   Please include your name and mailing address in the message.

The Courts have found that the Canadian government has failed to abide by its obligations under both the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and international human rights law including the Convention Against Torture and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Urge our government to reconsider it's position and respect these decisions without any further delay.

You can find out more information at
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Campa ... 9663170743

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Sappho's Salon / Re: Organizing in vulnerable countries

« on: July 18, 2009, 08:23:47 PM »

Hi skdadl, lovely to see you too.

dBO, I never know what's relevant and what's not. I mean, I think of the issues as different, but Canada's not exactly perfect either eh?

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Sappho's Salon / Organizing in vulnerable countries

« on: July 17, 2009, 03:14:30 PM »

Hallo - Hope all's been good here. It's been a while and I'm not sure who is where, so I'm posting this on both enmasse and bread & roses.... Sorry to drop in out of nowhere but I know there's people here who might be able to help, and not sure who is on which board.

So....

A friend of mine is looking to start up a lesbian and gay group in a country that does not currently have one. This involves quite a few risks, more from society than from government. So she's hoping to learn from the experience of the brave people who have done this sort of thing before. There may be some here who can suggest resources, lessons, tips, other types of advice. If so, I'd be very grateful to hear them, either on thread or by private message (more appropriate for some things, perhaps).

Thanks so much... Be well....

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Perpetual Threads / Re: Memorials

« on: April 21, 2008, 10:30:45 AM »

Aimé Césaire of Martinique, pioneer of the négritude movement.

12

Banter / The National Post brings you: Pope Dress-Up

« on: April 20, 2008, 10:49:24 AM »

ROCHET

An over-tunic usually made of fine white linen reaching to the knees. The rochet is decorated with lace or embroidered borders, broader at the hem and narrower on the sleeves. In recent years, lots of lace was frowned on, but at Benedict's coronation his secretaries were wearing semi-transparent ones, trimmed at the hem and sleeves with deep lace borders.

So much more on the sartorial splendour of Nosferatu XVI brought to you by the National Post at http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/ ... ?id=450529

13

Politics / Re: The inevitable Michael Ignatieff thread *sigh*

« on: April 20, 2008, 10:41:56 AM »

Ignatieff gave a strong talk in Toronto last fall, partly talking about how the human-rights case for war in Iraq was manipulated by pro-war cheerleaders. Powerful and persuasive stuff, without a single naming of who the people manipulating the truth were.

After all, high among their numbers was one Michael Ignatieff.

14

Africa / Re: Zimbabwe: Is this possible?

« on: April 20, 2008, 10:38:46 AM »

China's footprint in Africa is a current major focus for the Canadian Council for International Cooperation (umbrella for development NGOs). There's an interesting paper from the CCIC at http://ccic.ca/e/docs/003_acf_2008-04_c ... africa.pdf

Looks like Mugabe is going to cling on .... I think his basis for doing so isn't solely confined to Zimbabwe, but to his identity as a leader of collective third-world identity and resurgence (which is also why Mbeki tends to back him up). Honestly, if he'd done what some of his comrades (like Chissano in Mozambique) did and step down, he'd have been able to retire as a hero of African (and human) liberation. Not going to happen now of course....

15

Banter / Re: Best ... headlines ... ever

« on: April 15, 2008, 01:28:15 PM »

Never heard of a New England boiled dinner, no. I did once order "fillet of soul" at a restaurant, but none of it tops the misprinted King James Bible that commanded in its readers, on pain of damnation: Thou shalt commit adultery.