[April E-News] Anti-Terrorism Act C-51

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Published on Monday, 30 March 2015 15:45

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[April E-News] Anti-Terrorism Act C-51 r1 ... r33 April 2015 CFSC concerned by Canada's labeling boycotts "anti-Semitic"
We have written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs to express concerns with a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Canada and Israel. The MoU names the international boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement, "the new face of anti-Semitism". Read our response:
http://quakerservice.ca/news/cfsc-expresses-concerns-with-canada-israel-mou/
Inside Ramallah Meeting House in the West Bank. An epistle from Ramallah Friends started a multi-year discernment process among Canadian Friends leading in 2014 to our support for the boycott of products made in illegal settlements.
Photo credit: Matthew Legge You can find more information about Friends' work in support of the human rights of Israelis and Palestinians, including a NEW section on actions you can take at:
http://quakerservice.ca/our-work/peace/israel-palestine/


Our response to Anti-Terrorism Act (Bill C-51) At Canadian Yearly Meeting sessions 2003, Friends expressed a concern with anti-terrorism legislation that we felt was developed to appease anxieties post September 11th, 2001, rather than to answer any evident need. We found that pre-existing Canadian and international law was already more than sufficient for purposes of reasonable security.

We consider this all the more true today and have raised a number of concerns about Bill C-51. Read and share our statement: http://quakerservice.ca/news/cfsc-finds-new-anti-terrorism-act-deeply-flawed/

As we send this E-News changes have been proposed to C-51 - follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates!

CFSC supports Grassy Narrows 16 organizations, including CFSC, have called on the Government of Ontario to immediately cease all plans for clear-cut logging on the traditional territory of the Grassy Narrows First Nation. CFSC Clerk Lana Robinson notes in the joint press release about the statement,

"For years, Canadian courts have been telling governments that they must act honourably to uphold the rights set out in Treaties and affirmed in the Constitution and international law. For governments to selectively ignore their legal obligations when it comes to Indigenous Peoples is a form of discrimination pure and simple."

Read the press release at: http://shar.es/1gglPo
Read the full joint statement at: http://quakerservice.ca/GrassyNarrowsStatement

National Victims of Crime Awareness Week
What are Victim Impact programs? Can they help prisoners develop empathy? Find out at a free event on April 21 in Ottawa organized by the Church Council on Justice and Corrections (CCJC). This event is part of National Victims of Crime Awareness Week 2015. The page for this event also links to a list of events happening across Canada during the week, so you can find ones near you if you aren't able to make it to Ottawa: http://ccjc.ca/victims-week/

CFSC is a member of CCJC and Friends are actively involved in the Council's work. Find out more about our work on justice at: http://quakerservice.ca/our-work/justice/
News about Bill C-641 Last month in the E-News, we explained our reasons for supporting Bill C-641 An Act to ensure that the laws of Canada are consistent with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

There have been several important updates since, including an excellent letter from the Assembly of First Nations detailing the positive impacts C-641 would have if it becomes law, and a critique of the Bill by the Government of Canada. Read more on our website: http://quakerservice.ca/news/cfsc-supports-bill-c-641/

KAIROS Annual Gathering to coincide with final event of TRC
KAIROS' Intergenerational Gathering will be held in Ottawa on May 29th and 30th and participants will then join thousands of others in the Walk for Reconciliation on May 31st. On June 1st and 2nd the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) will be hosting educational events and presenting their final report. More details and registration at: http://www.kairoscanada.org/get-involved/time-for-reconciliation/

If you cannot be in Ottawa, you are encouraged to be part of local events. KAIROS will help to promote these. Contact your regional representative or Shannon Neufeldt This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Register now for Youth and Militarism conference April 24-26, 2015
We're all excited for the fast approaching Youth and Militarism conference, organized by Education and Outreaching committee of Canadian Yearly Meeting!

It will be held simultaneously in Peterborough, ON and Shawnigan Lake, BC with connection via video conferencing.

The Youth and Militarism Conference hopes to bring together dedicated and interested youth to discuss and learn about militarism in Canada, to gather wisdom from one another, and to build a common and effective voice to create change.

For more information and to register visit: http://quaker.ca/youth/news/youth-militarism/


In Bad Faith
CFSC has joined with partners to support the release of a detailed report, In Bad Faith: Justice At Last and Canada’s Failure to Resolve Specific Claims, which outlines Canada’s failure to fulfill its commitments to fairly resolve specific claims with Indigenous peoples. Read it at: http://quakerservice.ca/badfaith
Refugee Rights Day
April 4th is Refugee Rights Day, the anniversary of a 1985 Supreme Court decision finding that the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms protects the fundamental rights of refugees.

The Canadian Council for Refugees (of which CFSC is a member) website has resources you can use to reflect on what they've defined as the 7 Keys for Refugees. Read more and take action if led at: http://ccrweb.ca/en/refugee-rights-day

Radical Nonviolence: a Camp for Young Peacemakers
CFSC is thrilled to announce that from August 24th to 30th we will be gathering at Camp NeeKauNis to share skills and build community. Radical means "rooted" and this camp will help us all to discover or strengthen our roots in nonviolence.

The idea for the camp came from Young Friends, however it is open to anyone young or old over the age of 16 (non-Quakers welcome!). We are hoping for as diverse a group as possible. The camp will have multiple expert facilitators and will help to improve skills in nonviolent communication and community building, to increase awareness about the historical and modern day uses of nonviolence, and much more.

Be inspired, challenged, and enriched at Camp NeeKauNis! CFSC will make some travel funds available to Young Friends who need them. Find out more at: http://www.quakerservice.ca/camp
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