Tag: petition

Petitions for a Better Canada

In her latest newsletter, Eleanor Grant writes of several local events, followed by a number of petitions on federal issues as Canada Day approaches ….

ACTION: Are you sick of scandals and secret deals in Ottawa? Democracy Watch has launched 2 campaigns for better ethics rules:

Government Ethics Campaign | Democracy Watch

and Stop Fraud Politician Spending | Democracy Watch

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ACTION: Tell Harper to support the G8 plan on closing Tax Havens: Canada Must Support the G8 Tax Haven Action Plan | Canadians for Tax Fairness

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ACTION: “Fix the Bill” on banning Cluster Bombs. Canada has ratified a Convention to ban cluster bombs, but the bill to implement it, Bill S-10, is full of loopholes: Petition at Mines Action Canada. There is also a write to your MP tool on Mines Action Canada’s website tailored to the Bill S-10 issues. From the group that brought the ban on Landmines.

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ACTION: NO to Genetically Modified Alfalfa: GM Alfalfa has now been Registered for use in Canada. CBAN says, “Our government is siding with multinational companies against the best interests of farmers and our food system. I do not accept this. Do you?” Email your MP instantly from Stop GM Contamination: Stop GM Alfalfa / Take Action – Canadian Biotechnology Action Network – CBAN

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And don’t forget the MultiCultural festival next weekend June 22-23, and the Nonviolence festival Sat July 13 – both in Victoria Park.

Eleanor Grant writes a semi-regular e-mail newsletter on social justice issues. You can contact Eleanor at eleanor7000@gmail.com

Two new actions and events

Two actions, two events: Petition against tax evaders, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Israeli settlements, Dorothy Day documentary

Here’s the latest newsletter from Eleanor Grant:

Hello KW peace and justice supporters.

Two Events and two Actions:

ACTION 1 on Tax Evaders:

The G8 meeting this week in Northern Ireland will discuss a public registry to prevent individuals or corporations hiding their income or profits behind shell companies. But to implement this much-needed plan, the G8 needs unanimity. CANADA can either be the reason it fails, dooming us all to billions in extra taxes, or it can be the champion that ensures the deal passes.

Tell PM Harper you want Canada to be a backer not a blocker:
Avaaz – Harper: End the great tax scam

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ACTION 2 on Climate:

In early May we passed the milestone of 400 parts per million of carbon in Earth’s atmosphere. This trend must be reversed if there’s to be a sustainable future on this planet.

A local chapter of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby is being formed. Read more at We Generate Political Will for a Livable World

There will be an initial meeting, at the organizer’s home, on Sat June 1, with lots more to follow. If you’d like to get involved in this, please let me know and I’ll put you in touch.

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EVENT 1 on Israeli Settlements:

Thurs May 30, 7 to 9 pm,
UW Student Life Centre, Multi-Purpose Room:

A CHALLENGE TO JUSTICE: a PowerPoint presentation by Omar Ramahi, on Israel’s policy of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Omar was a 1948 refugee. Read more at Israeli Settlements: A Challenge to Justice | Waterloo Public Interest Research Group

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EVENT 2 on Dorothy Day, founder of the Catholic Worker movement:

Tues June 4 at 7 pm,
Queen St Commons (43 Queen S Kit):

Documentary Screening: DON’T CALL ME A SAINT

Local sponsor Isaiah Boronka writes:
Dorothy Day’s life and the movement she founded exemplify an approach to issues surrounding peace and justice that place an equal emphasis on personal commitment & change as on social change – her remarkable life and the movement she helped start has had a profound influence on many, including KW’s own Working Centre.

Read more at: Dorothy Day: Don’t Call Me a Saint

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Hope to see you at these events.

And please sign the Avaaz petition at the top of this msg.

Eleanor Grant

Eleanor Grant writes a semi-regular e-mail newsletter on social justice issues. You can contact Eleanor at eleanor7000@gmail.com

Two Actions: Protect CBC, Ontario Budget

Petition to Protect the CBC

Sign the petition to protect the CBC from political interference.

To Prime Minister Harper and Finance Minister Jim Flaherty: Keep your hands off the CBC. Remove the CBC amendment from the budget bill.

(from Sum Of Us in partership with LeadNow.ca)

Have your say in the Ontario Budget

Should Andrea Horwath press for more changes to the Ontario budget? Such as improvement in minimum wage and welfare rates? Fill in the survey at Your Say Ontario or send an e-mail to Andrea Horwath at ahorwath-qp@ndp.on.ca

Tell Harper: Don’t cut Polio funding!

I just learned of an initiative by Results Canada www.results-resultats.ca to urge the Harper government to maintain Canada’s funding for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, at the UN on Sept 27.

Here’s the letter I sent, with copies to the appropriate Opposition critics:

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To the Hon Julian Fantino, Minister of International Co-operation:

Dear Minister,

   Global Polio Eradication Initiative

On Sept 27 at the United Nations General Assembly, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative will be asking the nations of the world to replenish funding for their work for 2013 and beyond.

I understand that Canada intends to reduce its contribution to the GPEI from $35 million to $14.5 million in 2013.

Such a reduction in funding would be tragic and premature.  Countries previously free of polio are still experiencing re-infections because the vaccination effort is not complete.

Do not let this dreaded disease make a comeback!  I urge you to maintain Canada’s level of funding, and even increase it, until polio is truly gone forever.

Please read more at
www.theendofpolio.com .

Yours sincerely,

Eleanor Grant
Waterloo, Ont.

cc PM Harper

cc Opposition critics: Romeo Saganash MP, Mark Eyking MP, and Elizabeth May MP

cc Peter Braid MP

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Here are the politicians’ e-mail addresses in a block, for ease of copying into the To line:

pm@pm.gc.ca, fantino.j@parl.gc.ca, sagana.r@gc.ca, eyking.m@parl.gc.ca, may.e@parl.gc.ca
and add your own MP.

Please also sign the petition on the End of Polio site mentioned in the letter above.

Thanks.