Canada support for destructive mining in Romania? Not in my name!

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Published on Tuesday, 01 April 2014 17:00

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Canada support for destructive mining in Romania? Not in my name!

by Canada Save Rosia | 2,279 supporters

We ask the Government of Canada to withdraw its support for Gabriel Resources' Rosia Montana gold mine project in Romania, a massive open pit cyanide based mining project that will displace thousands. If we are successful with this petition, it will...

Read more Sign this petition

Read more: Canada support for destructive mining in Romania? Not in my name!

This week @ rabble.ca: Follow the money

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Published on Tuesday, 01 April 2014 16:20

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s17 r18.

28 Mar 2014

Hey rabble readers,

You've seen Galen Weston on his President's Choice TV commercials -- you probably even shop in Loblaws grocery stores yourself. But did you know that the Weston family has probably done more to undermine public education in Canada than anyone else? The family foundation has donated nearly $22 million to the Fraser Institute for its programs to destabilize the public education system. In an eye-opening series launching this week, Donald Gutstein follows the trails of corporate money -- to uncover which agendas it funds and how that shapes public policies and the social fabric of Canada.

Tuesday was the National Day of Action to stop the Conservatives' vote-suppressing election law, the Fair Elections Act. Why is the Fair Elections Act so harmful to our voting rights? Check out our top five posts on the Fair Elections Act and what you can do about it -- and see all of our coverage here.

Earth Hour is this Saturday and now it's time to get ready for Earth Month and all the organizing that comes with it! The Activist Toolkit has a new crop of tools for environmental activism, green living and embracing a vegan lifestyle. See them all in our roundup here!

Pro-choice organizations in Nova Scotia recently ran a successful grassroots campaign to counteract anti-choice advertising on buses. But who is behind anti-choice ads in Canada? See our guide to anti-choice advertising and learn how you can take action against it.

PowerShift Atlantic is coming March 28-31! PowerShift is a gathering organized by youth for youth that focuses on climate justice. It will bring together 500 youth from diverse backgrounds to learn, develop their skills and build the movement for climate, environmental and social justice. Learn more here.

Read more: This week @ rabble.ca: Follow the money

A little girl who spends her life inside a church

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Published on Tuesday, 01 April 2014 16:20

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Immigration Minister Chris Alexander: Let the Pusuma family stay safe in Canada

Sign Kristina's Petition

My good friends, Jozeph and Timea Pusuma and their eight year old daughter Viktoria (known affectionately as Lulu) have lived in a church in Toronto for two years, unable to set foot outside for fear of being deported from Canada to Hungary where their lives have been threatened.

The family fled Hungary to Canada after Jozeph began receiving death threats for his human rights work for an EU Parliamentarian known for speaking out against the persecution and racism Roma face. The last straw was when a masked, anti-Roma vigilante violently attacked them in the front yard of their own home.

It has been a nightmare. The lawyer who represented them at their refugee hearing in Toronto failed to present crucial evidence, and as a result the Immigration and Refugee Board decided they weren't "real refugees" and refused their case. The evidence does exists. The EU Parliamentarian even wrote a letter confirming the family's situation but the board refused to re-open the case so that this crucial evidence could be presented.

Read more: A little girl who spends her life inside a church

URGENT: Nominate the Peace River as B.C.'s Most Endangered

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Published on Thursday, 27 March 2014 15:20

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r33

Dear ,

Please act now to stop the Site C dam and protect the Peace River Valley! By nominating the Peace as B.C.’s Most Endangered River, you will help mobilize British Columbians to stand up for this wildlife hotspot and prime food-growing region that must not be sacrificed for a costly and unnecessary mega-dam.

To nominate the Peace River, please fill out the form on the Outdoor Recreation Council of BC’s website.

To help you answer the questions in the form, we have put together a backgrounder provided by Peace Valley Environment Association.

Many British Columbians don’t know that they stand to be directly affected by the Site C dam through hydro rate hikes and burgeoning debt. Before the B.C. government makes a decision on the Site C proposal this fall, we have a window of opportunity to create a huge public outcry. Achieving official status as B.C.’s Most Endangered River will inspire and mobilize British Columbians to speak up for the Peace River Valley – before it is too late.

The deadline for nominations is March 31. Please submit your nomination now.

Read more: URGENT: Nominate the Peace River as B.C.'s Most Endangered

One Week Until Fossil Fools Day!

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Published on Thursday, 27 March 2014 15:20

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Groups all across the country are gearing up to take action on Fossil Fools Day, on track to be one of the biggest days of coordinated
creative action we've ever seen or organized. Find an action near you or sign up to organize today! (You can download an organizing kit here too!)

Actions both on and off campus are gearing up to shine a lot on the ridiculous plans of the fossil fuel industry to drill, pipe, frack and generally mess up our climate. Organizers at Simon Fraser University are planning a big action to highlight the threat of the Kinder Morgan pipeline and their school's investments in dirty energy.

"SFU 350 is taking action on Fossil Fools Day because although climate change is serious, expanding fossil fuel infrastructure despite our knowledge of the carbon budget is ridiculous. We are specifically focussing on opposing the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion because it is going right past our campus, through our densely populated surrounding communities and because it already has a history of spilling into the iconic Burrard Inlet." - Tessa Ramburn

In Montreal, divestment organizers from McGill and Concordia are teaming up with other to organize a joint Fossil Fools Day Action.

Read more: One Week Until Fossil Fools Day!

You can make Fair Elections Act actually fair

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Published on Thursday, 27 March 2014 10:20

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Having trouble viewing this email? This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&u=http%3A//democracywatch.ca/%3Fwpmlmethod%3Dnewsletter%26id%3D126%26mailinglist_id%3D1%26subscriber_id%3D49215%26authkey%3Df73b76ce8949fe29bf2a537cfa420e8f">View Online This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&u=http%3A//democracywatch.ca"> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&u=http%3A//www.facebook.com/DemocracyWatch"> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&u=https%3A//twitter.com/democracywatchr">

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The federal Conservatives have proposed a new “Fair Elections Act” (Bill C-23). The problem is the bill will make federal elections more unfair in 5 key ways, and the bill also fails to correct 5 key unfair flaws in our current federal elections system.

Please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&u=http%3A//democracywatch.ca/campaigns/makefairelectionsactfair/">click here to send your letter now calling on federal politicians to Make the Fair Elections Act Actually Fair!

And please This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.&u=http%3A//democracywatch.ca/donate">click here to help keep this campaign going until federal elections are fair in every way.

Dear friend,

The so-called “Fair Elections Act” will actually make federal elections more unfair by:

1. Requiring more ID to vote, which will make it more difficult for hundreds of thousands voters to vote – instead the current ID rules should be kept with the voter registration card added to the list of valid ID, and Elections Canada should be empowered and given the resources to hire election workers earlier and train them better, and to make the voter registration list even more accurate.
2. Allowing wealthy people and banks to give more money to parties and politicians (and to give some candidates unlimited donations in secret), which is a recipe for corruption -- instead, gifts, donations and loans should all be limited to amounts most people can afford, and should all be fully disclosed.
3. Allowing political parties to hide millions of dollars of election campaign spending that secretly violates spending limits, and to audit their own spending, both of which are also recipes for corruption -- instead, all spending should be disclosed and limited, and Elections Canada should do the audits.
4. Allowing the ruling party to choose who runs voting stations on election day, which is dangerously undemocratic and unethical – instead Elections Canada should appoint these people.
5. Requiring secrecy by election watchdogs – Bill C-23 requires the Commissioner of Canada Elections (CCE) and the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to keep their rulings on complaints about election law violations secret, which will make it impossible to ensure the CCE and the DPP always make fair rulings.

Read more: You can make Fair Elections Act actually fair

Sierra Life: Defending B.C.'s Water in the Courtroom

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Published on Wednesday, 26 March 2014 14:20

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Sierra Life: Defending B.C.’s Water in the Courtroom r33

Standing up for B.C.'s Water

We kicked off World Water Week with a stint in the courtroom, where Justice Fitzpatrick heard our case against the B.C. government for allowing oil and gas companies to dewater north-eastern B.C. You’ll be shocked at how much water one single authorization from the B.C. Oil and Gas Commission allows to be extracted for fracking.

Habits, Consequences and 15 Seconds of Fame

“Old Habits + New Technology = Dramatically Altered Consequences”. What does this equation mean to you? Plastic-free blogger Carol-Lynne Michaels has some ideas.

Heart of Quadra Parks Saved!

Kayakers rejoice! The B.C. government has closed the deal on a key piece of land connecting two spectacular marine parks, and featuring a historic portage trail and aboriginal clam garden. Congratulations to Sierra Quadra and Quadra Islanders who laboured for 17 years to make it happen.

Read more: Sierra Life: Defending B.C.'s Water in the Courtroom

Orangutans Habitat Destruction - Unilever is attempting to redefine what counts as forest

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Published on Tuesday, 25 March 2014 15:00

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Unilever is attempting to redefine what counts as forest worth saving from destruction -- and allow companies to keep bulldozing the rainforest for palm oil.

We can't let Unilever undermine all our progress to save the orangutans. Sign the urgent petition to tell Unilever to stop greenwashing rainforest destruction.

We've just learnt that Unilever is supporting a dirty industry attempt to continue the destruction of Southeast Asia's rainforests. If it gets its way, orangutans could keep dying in the name of "sustainable" palm oil.

The consumer giant is attempting to ignore scientists' work and rewrite the rules on what counts as forest that should be spared from destruction, backed by the worst palm oil producers. It's a direct challenge to the strong scientific standards that groups from SumOfUs to Kellogg's to Mars have aligned behind. If we don't stop it, this could amount to a license for deforestation in the name of conservation, and undermine the huge progress we've made to save the orangutans.

Unilever is the world's largest palm oil user, and it's done the right thing in the past to support rainforest protection. It can do the right thing again, and we know that it's sensitive to consumer pressure. Right now Unilever thinks it can push this greenwash behind closed doors. But if we can put this into the public light, it won't be worth the risk for Unilever to continue.

Sign the petition now to tell Unilever not to greenwash rainforest destruction.

Read more: Orangutans Habitat Destruction - Unilever is attempting to redefine what counts as forest

24 hours, two things you can do.

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Published on Monday, 24 March 2014 12:20

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We wanted to let you know about two opportunities to act in the next 24 hours.

Climate justice journey.

A year ago, I was in the Philippines connecting with family members and communities who have lost their homes and loved ones to climate change disasters. The experience was personally transformational and deepened my own resolve to fight for climate justice.

Now, two inspiring young Filipino-Canadian leaders are embarking on a similar journey.

Even one Conservative MP admits that climate change is devastating communities in the global south first and foremost. We are realizing that our ability to rise to the demands of this urgent challenge must be grounded in a deep Love for the people on the frontlines of this crisis. People in Canada who are bound beyond borders by birth, blood or family, have a crucial (but often under appreciated) role to play in helping us all make these connections.

Please watch this powerful video and consider supporting these two young students in building the climate justice movement we all need.

National Day of Action against the Unfair Election Act!

The unfair elections act undermines democracy and could disenfranchise over ten thousand votes, predominantly youth, Indigenous peoples, migrants, and seniors. Join us in opposing it this Tuesday, March 25th as part of a National Day of Action. For more info and to find an action happening near you, visit: http://www.canadians.org/election

Read more: 24 hours, two things you can do.

Oil Sands or Tar Sands? A sticky subject

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Published on Monday, 24 March 2014 12:00

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Oil Sands or Tar Sands? A sticky subject - This Weeks Dose of Common Sense r33
When Pulitzer Prize-winning American author Tony Horwitz visited Fort MacMurray to research a new book, he noted, "It quickly became clear to me that saying ‘tar sands’ would tar me as a hostile environmentalist. So, I began to say ‘oil sands’." This week, we examine the PR wars over Alberta bitumen - a sticky subject that merits a rethink, given the water, climate and ecological implications behind the various names we give it.

Meanwhile, DC Reid sinks his shovel into the piles of waste coming out of open net pen salmon farms on BC's coast - a cost borne by the public and environment which he tags at a billion dollars a year.

Finally, BC isn't the only Canadian province getting into the liquefied natural gas game, as Nova Scotia recently approved a new LNG terminal on its coast.

Read more: Oil Sands or Tar Sands? A sticky subject

This week @ rabble.ca: A week of shockers in Canadian politics

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Published on Friday, 21 March 2014 18:20

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s17 r18.

21 Mar 2014

Hey rabble readers!

It was a week of shockers in Canadian politics, from Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's resignation to Alberta Premier Alison Redford's announcement that she is stepping down. Read our take on what it all means for Canadian politics in our politics section.

In a dark time for politics, there was a bright light kindled this week with the launch of the Tommy Douglas Institute. In his column, co-founder Thomas Ponniah introduces the new institute and explains how it embodies Tommy Douglas's commitment to social justice.

Throughout this week we featured the special series #ItEndsHere: Confronting the Crisis of Colonial Gender Violence. Originally published by Indigenous Nationhood Movement, the collection of articles confronts the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls, to declare: #ItEndsHere. You can see...

Read more: This week @ rabble.ca: A week of shockers in Canadian politics

Syncrude trying to control our kids' education

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Published on Friday, 21 March 2014 11:20

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Big Oil giants Syncrude and Suncor are trying to control our kids' education. They're due to participate in a landmark review of what kids learn in school -- unless we stop them.

Tell Education Alberta to stop consulting with Big Oil about our kids' education.

We just found out that public education authorities are consulting with Big Oil companies about what our children learn in schools.

Authorities have invited tar sands giants Syncrude Canada, Cenovus Energy and Suncor Energy to help draft “Alberta’s future curriculum" from kindergarten to grade 12. There is absolutely no reason why any company should be involved in designing our kids' education -- let alone three of the most polluting corporations in the tar sands industry.

But the partnership has just been announced, and the curriculum panel still hasn't met. If we act quickly, we can kill the partnership and get Big Oil’s dirty hands off our children’s textbooks.

Alberta Education: Stop consulting with Syncrude, Suncor and Cenovus about our kid’s education.

A reminder: these are the companies that have sued environmental activists for protesting toxic tar sands tailings ponds, and spilled thousands of barrels of toxic tar sands waste into our rivers. But now, Alberta Education wants to give them control over what kids learn in schools.

Read more: Syncrude trying to control our kids' education

It's Action O'Clock in BC

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Published on Friday, 21 March 2014 10:00

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With already half a dozen actions being planned across BC and more across the country Fossil Fools Day is well on its way to being one of the biggest days of creative action we've ever been a part of!

Sign up or join an action!

Climate change is no joke, but the fossil fuel industry's plans for BC are ridiculous and on April 1st it's time to show it.

And Fossil Fools is just the start, and some amazing allies in Victoria and Vancouver are both planning major trainings to strategize, prepare and plan to take actions to the next level. Check out the Unite to Stop the Pipelines Spring Training for Solidarity & Action in Victoria, and then the Rising Tide No Pipelines Action Training for Climate Justice in Vancouver starting on April 4.

Together we can push back and stop BC from becoming a Carbon Corridor.

Sincerely,

Cameron Fenton
National Director, the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition

P.S. Check out these great photos from the March 1st ArtShift event in Vancouver! -=-=-

Read more: It's Action O'Clock in BC

Railway blockaders in Toronto support a national inquiry into missing, murdered Aboriginal women

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Published on Wednesday, 19 March 2014 12:40

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VIDEO: http://aptn.ca/news/2014/03/13/railway-blockaders-toronto-support-national-inquiry-missing-murdered-aboriginal-women/

APTN National News
Another blockade popped up in Ontario.

This time on a rail line in downtown Toronto.

The blockaders are calling on the federal government to hold a public inquiry into missing and murdered Aboriginal women.

APTN’s Delaney Windigo has the story.

Read more: Railway blockaders in Toronto support a national inquiry into missing, murdered Aboriginal women