Oct. 15, 2011: Scenes from Occupy Winnipeg – and a reminder that what is now called Canada was occupied long before by the aboriginal peoples of this part of the world. It is time the descendants of the Europeans who took the land from the people who were here first do a much better job of sharing it with today’s First Nations.
Winnipeggers took to the streets October 15, 2011 as part of the international outcry against corporate greed that began with Occupy Wall Street. The Flaming Trolleys provided just the right musical foundation, and, as usual, I took my video camera along.
David McNally teaches political science at York University in Toronto and is active in many social justice movements in that city. On Sept. 24, 2011, McNally spoke at the Mondragon Bookstore and Coffee Shop as a featured presenter at Winnipeg Radical Bookfair and DYI Fest. His topic: Global Crisis – Global Resistance.
Length: 60 minutes
Camera: Paul S. Graham and Harold Shuster
Editing and Production: Paul S. Graham
The governments of Canada and the European Union are negotiating a treaty called the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement. They hope to sign it by the end of 2011.
This treaty will take power from local governments in Canada and give it to large transnational corporations headquartered in Europe. These huge companies could take over the delivery of vital public services – such as water, transit, energy and health care – whether local communities like it or not. It’s NAFTA on steroids.
The time to stop CETA is now. Paul Moist, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, speaking in Winnipeg on June 27th, explains.
The fight to block CETA is being led by the Canadian Union of Public Employees and the Council of Canadians. CUPE’s Paul Moist and the Council’s Maude Barlow have been crisscrossing the country in an effort to drum up opposition to this treaty. You owe it to yourself to get informed and get involved. For more information:
On June 3, 2011, when Brigette DePape, a 21-year old parliamentary page from Manitoba, pulled out a “Stop Harper” sign during the opening session of Canada’s 41st Parliament, she was escorted out of the room and quickly fired from her position.
Her solitary act of civil disobedience in resistance to the policies of the Harper government not only inspired an outpouring of support, but also called to mind another Manitoba woman, Nellie McClung. In 1912, McClung helped organize the Political Equality League and throughout the 1920s championed female suffrage and a host of measures to combat the social injustices of her time.
On June 18, 2011, a few of us took a trip over to the Manitoba Legislature to express our solidarity with Brigette DePape by bringing her message to the Nellie McClung Memorial located on the grounds of the same Legislature where Nellie won, for Canadian women, the right to vote.
As the Canadian federal election campaign enters week two, the government of Israel has launched a campaign to slander, disrupt, and possibly attack the upcoming Freedom Flotilla to Gaza, which will have many Canadians aboard the Canadian Boat to Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu has now threatened to “act firmly” using “force” against the flotilla in May.
The Canadian Boat to Gaza is calling on all of the federal parties to denounce these threats against Canadians by Israel, which has demonstrated its willingness to use lethal force against civilians, similar to its fatal attack on last year’s freedom flotilla.
“Netanyahu’s vow to use force is tantamount to a death threat against the Canadian and international participants in the flotilla,” says Wendy Goldsmith of the Canadian Boat to Gaza. “The question is, if elected, what will candidates running in this election do to ensure the safety and security of those on board the Canadian Boat to Gaza, in light of Israeli threats of violence?”
Prime Minister Netanyahu has falsely claimed that the Flotilla is being organized by “radical Islamists” intent on smuggling weapons into Gaza by sea. With support from coast to coast, the Canadian Boat to Gaza has raised over 80% of its fundraising goal of $300,000, and enjoys the endorsement of organizations representing hundreds of thousands of Canadians.
Retired federal politicians – including Warren Allmand and Raymond Gravel – support the initiative, and the Canadian Boat to Gaza is calling on politicians seeking election to do the same.
“In the absence of federal leadership, Canadians are preparing to stand up for Palestinian human rights and international law by breaking the illegal siege of Gaza. We’re inviting the federal party leaders to join us on the boat and to be part of the peaceful solution to this crisis,” says Ehab Lotayef of the Canadian Boat to Gaza. “Candidates seeking office in this election have a responsibility to make it clear that it would be unacceptable for Israel to attack the Canadian Boat to Gaza or any other vessel in the upcoming flotilla.”
Many notable Canadian and international figures have already endorsed the Canadian Boat to Gaza, including Denis Halliday, former UN Humanitarian coordinator in Iraq, Amir Khadir, Quebec MLA, Maher Arar and Monia Mazigh, writers Judy Rebick and Linda McQuaig, Noam Chomsky and Norman Finkelstein, to name but a few. More than 100 civil society organizations – trade unions such as CSN in Quebec, Christian, Muslim and Jewish groups, campus and community organizations, as well as non-governmental organizations – have lent their support to the mission.
The international Freedom Flotilla II, coordinating the efforts of groups from all over the world (Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Italy, Ireland, USA, UK, Greece, Turkey, France and others) is planning to sail to Gaza in the second half of May 2011. Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu also asked UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to help him stop the Freedom Flotilla from arriving in Gaza in May. The Secretary General responded saying that Israel should end the blockade of Gaza.
See also: Video: Huwaida Arraf on the Free Gaza Movement and Freedom Flotilla
Contact your MP – here.
March 16, 2011: Huwaida Arraf spoke at a forum in Winnipeg, Canada entitled “From Direct Action to the Freedom Flotilla: the International Solidarity Movement and the Palestinian Freedom Struggle. Arraf is co-founder of the ISM and chairs the Free Gaza Movement. She was with the Gaza Freedom Flotilla on May 31, 2010, when Israeli forces raided the vessels on the high seas, killed nine peace activists, wounded 50 and interned the crews along with 10,000 tons of humanitarian aid. She tells how she became involved in the Palestinian freedom struggle and talks about plans for the next Freedom Flotilla.
This next Flotilla will include a vessel from Canada. Canada Boat to Gaza is well on the way to raising the funds it needs to participate in this action. I’m sure they would appreciate your help.
The forum was one of several events that made up Israeli Apartheid Week in Winnipeg. IAW Winnipeg was sponsored by:
- Students Against Israeli Apartheid (at the Universities of Winnipeg and Manitoba)
- Canada Palestine Support Network (Winnipeg)
- Independent Jewish Voices (Winnipeg)
- Peace Alliance Winnipeg
It’s Israeli Apartheid Week in Winnipeg, Canada and many other cities and towns around the world. In Winnipeg, Israeli Apartheid Week 2011 is taking place on the campuses of the University of Manitoba and the University of Winnipeg.
This clip features a presentation by Howard S. Davidson, Associate Professor of Extended Education at the University of Manitoba and member of Independent Jewish Voices (Canada). He spoke at a workshop entitled “Israeli Apartheid 101″ at the University of Winnipeg on March 14, 2011.
Professor Davidson demolishes the arguments of pro-Israel apologists who equate support for Palestinian rights with anti-Semitism. Further, he demonstrates that the term “Israeli apartheid” is a legitimate part of the political discourse in Israel, even while those who use it in Canada and the United States are vilified by Israel’s North American supporters.
In Winnipeg, IAW 2011 is sponsored by:
The schedule is available here.
Speaking at a forum, Jan. 23, 2011, sponsored by Peace Alliance Winnipeg and Project Peacemakers, author/activist Yves Engler explores Stephen Harper’s foreign policy and how it cost Canada its bid, in 2010, for a seat on the United Nations Security Council.
Sweden’s Sveriges Television has released a 57-minute documentary on the history of Wikileaks entitled WikiRebels. A must view for infomaniacs everywhere. The playlist for all 4 parts is here.
