Hundreds of citizens arrested on bullshit pretexts.Detained arbitrarily in conditions that were gross violations of human rights.Subjected to racist, sexist, misogynistic and homophobic slurs and harassment.Assaulted indiscriminately.Beaten, tear-gasse…
Continue readingTag: human rights
wmtc: alice walker: why i’m sailing to gaza
Alice Walker has written a long, thoughtful essay about her experiences in the Palestinian territories, and her decision to participate in Freedom Flotilla II – Stay Human, the international convoy of ships bringing hope and humanitarian aid to the bes…
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Afghan Farce and Amnesty’s Birthday Video
When I think about what Stephen Harper and his sinister thugs might have been up to in Afghanistan. And how we’ll never know what really happened, because the Cons have shutdown the judge’s panel.The Conservative government decided to sh…
Continue readingThe Progressive Economics Forum: Fossil fuel expansion as a crime against humanity
After at 2010 that was one of the warmest years on record, 2011 has shown us astonishing patterns of extreme weather worldwide. It would take a long time to make the full list, but you know what I mean: tornadoes, floods, drought, record cold in some parts, record heat in others, hailstorms (Al Gore does […]
Continue readingPaul S. Graham: Oppose Harper’s draconian back-to-work legislation
This, just in, from Derek Blackadder at LabourStart. While it is addressed to trade unionists it should resonate with anyone who believes in democracy. The Conservative government’s decision to impose back-to-work legislation strikes at the heart of democracy; it is a form of forced labour, something expressly forbidden by the International Labour Organization of which […]
wmtc: why the canadian boat to gaza? david heap on cbc radio
My friend (and wmtc reader/commenter) David Heap was on CBC Ontario Morning radio yesterday, speaking from his hotel room in Athens, Greece, about why he’ll be on the Canadian Boat to Gaza, as part of Freedom Flotilla II – Stay Human.Listen here.
Continue readingPaul S. Graham: Video: Winnipeg Solidarity with the Postal Workers
On June 16, about 1,000 members of several Winnipeg unions rallied at the main post office in Winnipeg in solidarity with the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. The rally, one of many to be held across the country, was in response to federal government plans to legislate CUPW members back to work. The union has […]
wmtc: canadian boat to gaza send off today; female nobel laureates call on united nations to do the right thing
This morning in both Toronto and Montreal, many of the Canadian delegates of the Canadian ship Tahrir, will meet the media before boarding their flights to Turkey. The Tahrir will set sail for Gaza as part of Freedom Flotilla II – Stay Human, an intern…
Continue readingwmtc: bill ayers: "as public space contracts, the real victim becomes truth, honesty, integrity, curiosity, imagination, freedom"
A while back in my Intellectual Freedom and the Public Library course, I encountered an interesting shift of ideas. Larry Alexander, while arguing that freedom of expression is not a human right (I disagree!), points out that free speech is less about …
Continue readingwmtc: the true cost of tomatoes, or slavery and poverty continue to haunt the fast-food industry, and how you can help
I have blogged several times about the horrific conditions endured by the people who pick tomatoes in Immokalee, Florida, working for fast-food giants like Burger King, Taco Bell and McDonald’s, and supermarket giants like Kroger, Stop & Shop, Whole Fo…
Continue readingwmtc: canadian boat to gaza: we will not be intimidated by threats or lawsuits
A message from the Canadian Boat to Gaza, to anyone who thinks they can bully the boat into submission:
We will not be intimidated by threats or lawsuits
It has been brought to our attention that a lawsuit has been filed against the Canadian Boat to G…
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: New column day
Here, with my first commentary on a subject which I’ll plan to discuss plenty more in the future: the need to protect our freedoms of speech, conscience and assembly from private as well as public intrusions.
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: A Liberal Take on Air Canada and Canada Post
“The right to bargain collectively with an employer enhances the human dignity, liberty and autonomy of workers by giving them the opportunity to influence the establishment of workplace rules and thereby gain some control over a major aspect of the…
Continue readingwmtc: "abortion saved my life" and other tales of human rights
What does abortion access look like to women who don’t have any? What does it mean to be unable to obtain an abortion when you need one?
The anti-choice movement in the US has succeeded beyond most of our worst nightmares. Although early abortion is …
Continue readingthe reeves report: NDP wakes up to hypocrisy of asbestos mining and export from Quebec
CBC is reporting through the Access to Information Act, that the Harper government rejected a 2006 recommendation from Health Canada to support a global ban on asbestos. Health Canada suggested that the government reverse their previous commitment to keep asbestos off the UN list of banned hazardous materials, and Harper refused. The 2006 Rotterdam Convention … Continue reading »
wmtc: former nfl star michael strahan joins the fight for marriage equality
This is reaching whole new levels of awesomeoness. Go go go!
Continue readingMontreal Simon: The Gay Girl in Damascus Who Wasn’t
It was a compelling story. A young Syrian-American lesbian blogging about life and love in the darkness of a police state, only to be kidnapped.
Arraf wrote a blog called “A Gay Girl in Damascus,” a mixture of erotic prose and updates abou…
Continue readingDriving The Porcelain Bus: Toronto G20: One thug down, many to go.
Toronto police officer charged in G20 assault – thestar.com
Many more officers guilty of assault causing bodily harm will remain at large and uncharged due to a system that fails ordinary citizens when trusted police officers break the law.
Paul S. Graham: Update: Raza Family of Winnipeg granted permanent resident status in Canada
By Rev. Barb Janes, Crescent-Ft. Rouge United Church, Winnipeg It takes a village . . . Crescent Fort Rouge United Church is tickled to announce that the Raza family, who lived in sanctuary in the church from August 3, 2006 to February 29, 2008, has been granted Permanent Resident status in Canada. Our deep gratitude […]