Corey Glass, war resister from Canada by way of Indiana, speaks out from his travels in Europe in the current issue of NOW. I’m not going to bother to tell you that the Iraq War was wrong or quote the UN handbook on refugees, Geneva Conventions, Nuremberg principles or trials. Nor
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Montreal Simon: Can War Be Made to Look Too Beautiful?
It was the most stunning and beautiful tribute to those who died in the First World War I have ever seen. A sea of ceramic poppies at the Tower of London, one for every British or Commonwealth soldier killed in that war. But now the poppies are being uprooted. The Christmas
Continue readingwmtc: e.u. advocate general ruling strongly supports claim of war resister andré shepherd
The fight for justice for US war resisters took a major step forward yesterday, with a ruling strongly in favour of war resister André Shepherd. In the legal case of U.S. AWOL soldier André Shepherd (37) the European Court of Justice Advocate General, Eleanor Sharpton, today published her final opinion.
Continue readingwmtc: 11.11: honour the dead by committing to peace
Robert Fisk, in The Independent: But as the years passed, old Bill Fisk became very ruminative about the Great War. He learned that Haig had lied, that he himself had fought for a world that betrayed him, that 20,000 British dead on the first day of the Somme – which
Continue readingwmtc: kevin vickers, nathan cirillo, and canada’s response to recent acts of violence
I’ve been thinking a lot about Kevin Vickers. By now the world knows Vickers’ name: he is the sergeant-at-arms of the Parliament of Canada, and his quick thinking and courage undoubtedly saved lives. Vickers shot killed Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, who had already killed one person and appeared intent on killing others.
Continue readingwmtc: "these acts were drive by hatred, but also designed to drive us to hate. they will not."
We woke up this morning in a country blessed by love, diversity and peace, and tomorrow we will do the same. These acts were driven by hatred, but also designed to drive us to hate. They will not. Thomas Mulcair I offer my sympathies and condolences to the family and
Continue readingwmtc: a war resister connects the dots: canada, is this the war you want to fight?
A U.S. war resister in Canada writes in this NOW Magazine. Very soon you will begin to hear about Canadian planes sending “humanitarian aid” of food and medical supplies to those affected by the fighting. . . . And now ISIL is touted as the new enemy from the darkness
Continue readingwmtc: u.s. war resisters in canada are at serious risk. here’s how you can help.
The War Resisters Support Campaign is facing an unprecedented crisis. Since war resister Kimberly Rivera was forced out of the country in September 2012, there had been no movement on any war resister’s case. Then, within one month, five war resisters received notices that decisions have been made in their
Continue readingwmtc: thank you, thomas mulcair and the new democrats: thank you for saying no to war
Today I feel so much better about living in Canada. Once again, we have a political party that says no to war. A political party that says no to letting the US dictate Canadian foreign policy. I now feel much better about voting NDP in the next federal election… which
Continue readingwmtc: what i’m reading: how i live now, excellent (youth) novel by meg rosoff
Last year, I wrote about an excellent, unusual youth novel called There Is No Dog, by Meg Rosoff. I recently read the author’s 2004 debut novel, How I Live Now, and I’m here to lay down a flat-out rave review. Most of How I Live Now is told from the
Continue readingwmtc: do canadians support a war against isis? not so much.
When the US invaded Iraq in 2003, Canadians protested in huge numbers, adding their voices to the unprecedented global outcry against the “pre-emptive” war. It was that massive public support – almost statistical unanimity – that allowed Jean Chretien to keep Canadian Forces out of the war. Even Stephen Harper,
Continue readingMontreal Simon: Stephen Harper and the Screaming Voices
It was one of the weirdest most surrealistic days in the long and dark history of Harperland.A day when all the voices in Stephen Harper's head seemed to be screaming at the same time.WAR !!!! PEACE !!!! EARLY ELECTION !!!!And in the House of Commons madness ruled.Read more »
Continue readingwmtc: will canada become a country continually at war? or, stephen harper gets his wish in iraq
I had been living in Canada but a few short months when Stephen Harper, as leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, formed his first minority government. At the time, this blog hosted an active and lively ongoing discussion about Canadian culture and politics, and my personal acculturation. I did
Continue readingwmtc: it’s september and u.s. war resisters in canada are at risk for deportation
Two years ago, almost to the day, US war resister Kimberly Rivera and her family were forced out of Canada by the Harper Government. Kim – peace activist, artist, mother, dreamer – crossed the border and was immediately taken away in handcuffs. She served more than a year in prison,
Continue readingMontreal Simon: What Excuse Will Stephen Harper Use to Trigger An Early Election?
He is not supposed to call an election until October 19, 2015 according to his own fixed-date election law.But everybody knows that Stephen Harper won't hesitate to hold one if and when it suits him.The question is what excuse will he use to trigger an election?And could it be a
Continue readingwmtc: thank you, charley richardson! your legacy lives on
On Labour Day, I happened to see this on Twitter: I am on my union’s labour-management committee, the group that meets monthly with management to discuss members’ concerns and try to resolve issues. I was intrigued and followed the link that Rank and File had posted. To my surprise, the
Continue readingwmtc: things i heard at the library: an occasional series: #15! one that makes me very happy!
The conversation was simple enough. Teenage girl: “Where is the nonfiction?” Me: “Nonfiction is upstairs, but it’s organized according to subject. There should be some nonfiction books on the Bingo display.” Teen: “I think they’re all gone.” Me: “OK, we’ll find you something. What would you like to read about?”
Continue readingwmtc: israel slaughters palestinians, pays for online propaganda, and north americans gobble up the bait
I’ve been trying to write about Israel’s latest slaughter of Palestinian people ever since the hideous spectacle began, without results. I post little bits of horror and disgust on Facebook, but can’t sustain anything worth posting here. Because… what is there to say? A mighty military power unleashes deadly force
Continue readingTHE CANADIAN PROGRESSIVE: CJPME Urges Canada to Stop Dithering and Let Syrian Refugees In
The Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME) urges Canada to resettle at least 5,000 Syrian refugees by the end of 2014. The post CJPME Urges Canada to Stop Dithering and Let Syrian Refugees In appeared first on THE CANADIAN PROGRESSIVE.
Continue readingThe Canadian Progressive: F-35 Fighter Jet Too Dangerous For Canadian Air Force, Says Report
by: Obert Madondo | June 9, 2014 A new report released Monday is urging the Harper Government to shelve its plans to purchase F-35 fighter jets to replace Canada’s aging CF-18 fleet. The report, entitled “One Dead Pilot: Single-Engine F-35s a Bad Choice,” was released by the Rideau Institute and the Canadian
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