The willingness of new governments to respect rights will determine whether those uprisings give birth to genuine democracy or simply spawn authoritarianism in new forms.
Continue readingTag: Advocacy
The Canadian Progressive: Sierra Club Canada statement on civil disobedience
by Sierra Club Canada | Feb 1, 2013: The follow statement originated from the January 31, 2013 meeting of the Board of Directors of Sierra Club Canada: “Sierra Club Canada is an independent body that sets its own priorities and policies. Sierra Club Canada recognizes that the climate is rapidly approaching a
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Ontario Regional Chief Welcomes Superior Court Decision Regarding Residential School Records
by The Chiefs of Ontario, Jan. 31, 2013 TORONTO – Yesterday the Ontario Superior Court published a decision which made clear the federal government`s obligation to turn over its archival records on Indian Residential Schools to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of Canada. “The First Nations in Ontario welcome this
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: CASWE and CASW joint statement supporting Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island
A Canadian Association of Social Work Education (CASWE) and Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) joint statement supporting the aspirations of Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island and their aspirations, currently being articulated by #IdleNoMore. by CASWE and CASW, Jan. 31, 2013: As social work educators and practitioners the members of the
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Tension, merger pains to intensify at Ontario child welfare agency: CUPE
By Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) | Jan. 30, 2013: Tension and merger pains tied to amalgamating two area child welfare agencies will intensify next week unless labour turmoil is avoided this weekend, warn front line workers at Family and Children’s Services of Lanark, Leeds and Grenville in Ontario. Determined
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: MiningWatch Canada: Rape Victims Must Sign Away Rights to Get Remedy From Barrick Gold
by Mining Watch Canada | Jan. 30, 2013 Ottawa – Washington, D.C. – Oxford – Following years of denial, Barrick Gold is implementing a remedy program for victims of rape by employees of its Porgera Joint Venture (PJV) mine in Papua New Guinea (PNG). In order to receive a remedy
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: CUPE Alberta to support ‘Common Causes’
by CUPE | Jan. 29, 2013: EDMONTON – The President of the Alberta Division of the Canadian Union of Public Employees has pledged her support for ‘Common Causes’ a network of progressive activists looking for a change in direction on Aboriginal, environmental and democratic issues in Canada. “We can’t fight
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: “Common Causes” launches with actions in 25 Canadian cities, support for Idle No More
New social movement assembly launches to take on the Harper agenda by Council of Canadians | Jan. 28, 2013: OTTAWA – Community actions are being held in 25 cities across Canada today to step up the opposition to Stephen Harper’s agenda. Community members will gather as part of the launch of Common Causes, a new
Continue readingTHE CAREGIVERS' LIVING ROOM - A Blog by Donna Thomson: Advocating for Care: How to Win, How to Lose
I’ve been buried under a pile of blankets recently trying to keep warm – it’s been -30 degrees where I live in Canada! But I’ve also been holed up designing the meat of a workshop on advocacy for family caregivers. A quick google search into other such advocacy workshops reveals….nothing.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canada has a $145 billion infrastructure underfunding crisis: study
by Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives | Jan. 24, 2013: OTTAWA— Underinvestment in infrastructure is not a crisis but a chronic problem in Canada, says a new study by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA). The study, by economist and CCPA Research Associate Hugh Mackenzie, reveals the extent of
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: In 2012, richest 100 billionaires earned enough to end global poverty 4 times over: Oxfam
by Oxfam International | Jan 19, 2013 Leaders must aim to bring down global inequality at least to 1990 levels An explosion in extreme wealth and income is exacerbating inequality and hindering the world’s ability to tackle poverty, Oxfam warned today in a briefing published ahead of the World Economic Forum
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Council of Canadians supports First Nations legal challenge to Canada-China investment treaty (FIPA)
by Council of Canadians | Jan 22, 2013: Ottawa – The Council of Canadians supports the Hupacasath First Nation’s legal challenge to the Canada-China Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPA), a notice of which was filed in B.C. court on January 18. The Council hopes the dispute will force
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Sierra Club to engage in civil disobedience to stop Canadian tar sands
by Sierra Club | Jan 22, 2013: San Francisco, CA – The Sierra Club Board of Directors has approved the one-time use of civil disobedience for the first time in the organization’s 120-year history. Recognizing the imminent danger posed by climate disruption, including record heat waves, drought, wildfires and the devastation of
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Forest Ethics Responds to New Kinder Morgan Pipeline Expansion Proposal
by Forest Ethics | Jan 11, 2013: Yesterday Houston based energy giant Kinder Morgan announced that they planned to further expand their proposed pipeline through the most densely populated areas of the province of British Columbia. The company’s Canadian representative held a telephone press conference yesterday announcing that they planned
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Abortion rights group launches website to celebrate historic 1988 Supreme Court “Morgentaler Decision”
by Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada | Jan 15, 2013 In honour of the upcoming 25th anniversary of the Supreme Court’s historic 1988 decision to overturn the nation’s criminal abortion law, the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada is delighted to dedicate a new website to the anniversary: www.morgentaler25years.ca The day of
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canadian Labour Congress supports Idle No More and Chief Spence
by Canadian Labour Congress: The Canadian Labour Congress supports Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation in northern Ontario, who is on a hunger strike in Ottawa. She is determined not to eat until granted an audience with the Prime Minister to discuss conditions on her reserve and government
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canada’s Human Rights Reputation is Fast Becoming a Myth
by Ontario Federation of Labour: This year, as the global community recognizes December 10 as International Human Rights Day, many Canadians struggle with a vanishing sense of pride in Canada’s once renowned reputation as a leader in human rights. While that reputation has always been contradicted by the lived experiences
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Canada’s new refugee system unfair to refugees
by Canadian Council for Refugees AND Amnesty International Canada: On the eve of the introduction of important changes to Canada’s refugee determination system, the Canadian Council for Refugees and Amnesty International expressed fear that the system will fail some refugees, violate their rights in Canada, and send them back to persecution.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Forest Ethics: Canada’s Tar Sands 71% Foreign-owned
by Forest Ethics: An in-depth review of shareholder information from Bloomberg shows that 71 per cent of all tar sands production is owned by non-Canadian shareholders. Supposedly Canadian companies (with Canadian headquarters and accounting practices who trade on our stock exchanges) are largely owned by foreign interests, including Suncor (56.8%),
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: Enbridge cross-examination focuses on campaigning, lobbying; ignores evidence
by Forest Ethics | Tuesday Nov 27, 2012: Given the opportunity to shed light on its proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline project at the NEB’s Joint Review Panel (JRP) hearings currently taking place in Prince George, Enbridge lawyer Laura Estep chose instead to focus on ForestEthics Advocacy’s use of the media,
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