Fredericton Peace Coalition

“We fear the Wayúu will become completely extinct,” warned Angélica Ortiz at a special hearing of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in Washington, D.C. this past March. The Constitutional Court of Colombia agrees with Ortiz’s assessment. In 2009, the court named 34 indigenous nations in Colombia – including the Wayúu – to be in danger of physical or cultural extermination due to armed conflict and forced displacement. The court called the situation “an emergency which is as serious as it is invisible.” ….

What does NB Power have to do with the imminent extinction of the Wayúu? NB Power’s Belledune plant burns coal extracted from the mine threatening Ortiz’s indigenous community. Coal extracted from Cerrejón is exclusively exported to meet the energy demands of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Massachusetts and other areas.

Thousands gathered to protest the NATO summit in Chicago. Afghan/Iraq War Vets also protested. “I don’t want any part of it anymore. I choose human life over war, militarism and imperialism,” said one man.

Tuesday, May 15, 7:00pm.
Cedar Tree Cafe, 418 Queen St., Fredericton

Dinner menu served until 6:45pm. Beverages available during the event.

Film Screening of Haiti: Where did the money go?

Join Michele Mitchell for a film screening of her film, Haiti: Where did the money go? Millions of people gave billions of dollars to Haiti earthquake relief. So, why are at least 600,000 Haitians still living in squalor? Why did so much money buy so little relief? How is it possible that a massive “relief enterprise” could be built on the suffering of Haitians? Why are so many NGOs not held accountable to anyone? Do you know how your donation was spent? Film produced by Film At Eleven.

Book launch of Paved with Good Intentions: Canada’s development NGOs from idealism to imperialism

Join Dru Oja Jay for the launch of the book he co-wrote, Paved with Good Intentions: Canada’s development NGOs from idealism to imperialism. By Nikolas Barry-Shaw and Dru Oja Jay. Published by Fernwood. How “non-governmental” are organizations that get most of their funding from the government? What impact do funding ties have on NGOs’ ability to support popular demands for democratic reforms and wealth redistribution? What happens when NGOs support a repressive regime? What happens when NGOs bite the hand that feeds them?

Free admission. Donations accepted to cover tour costs.

Hosts: Cooper Institute, Canada Haiti Action Network, Haiti Action Fredericton, Fredericton Peace Coalition, Cinema Politica Fredericton, YMCA Fredericton International Committee, UNB International Development Studies, Gallery Connexion, NB Media Co-op, Atlantic Council for International Cooperation & Latin American Mission Program (PEI).

Contact: info@frederictonpeace.org

Canadian Peace Alliance

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has suggested that Canadian Special Forces troops may remain in Afghanistan after 2014. This is the third time that Harper has lied to Canadians, saying that he will not extend the mission then flip-flopping and keeping troops in the war torn country.

The Canadian Peace Alliance and Afghans for Peace strongly condemn this potential extension and once again call on the Harper Conservatives to respect the will of Canadians and the Afghan people and bring the troops home now. A recent Angus Reid poll found 58 per cent of Canadians strongly disagree with keeping troops in Afghanistan beyond 2014. A CBC news live poll found a whopping 95 per cent of Canadians are opposed to the extension.
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Francisca Castro, a defender of public education in the Philippines, is in Fredericton this week participating in the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Convention. She will be giving a free public talk at the Wilmot United Church, 473 King St. on Friday, April 13th at 7:00pm. Coffee, tea and refreshments will be provided.

Castro, a teacher and union activist from the Philippines, will share her work against the privatization of public services like education in the Philippines. She is the Secretary-General of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers-Philippines (ACT). ACT is the largest non-traditional teachers’ organization in the country working for the economic and political well-being of teachers and education workers, and for genuine social transformation. Many of its national and local leaders have been assassinated. Castro and ACT also actively support political prisoners.

Castro’s public event is co-hosted by the CUPE Global Justice Fund, the Fredericton Peace Coalition, the Wilmot Church World Outreach Committee and the Fredericton District Labour Council.

A Fredericton man has started a hunger strike in the hopes of raising awareness about human rights issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Join us to hear David Heap give his firsthand account of the Freedom Waves to Gaza which took place in November, when Irish and Canadian boats tried to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza.

A linguistics professor at the University of Western Ontario and long time Palestine solidarity activist, Heap was on board the Canadian boat, the Tahrir, when it was seized by the Israeli navy in international waters. Freedom Waves is part of an ongoing global solidarity movement challenging the blockade of Gaza and working for the freedom for Palestine.

When: Thursday, Feb 16th, 7:30pm
Where: Carleton Hall, Room 139, UNB Fredericton

Free admission.

Organized by the Fredericton Palestine Solidarity, Jews for a Just Peace Fredericton, UNB Dept. of Political Science, Fredericton District Labour Council, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers Fredericton/Oromocto Local and the Fredericton Peace Coalition.

National tour sponsors: Council of Canadians, Canadian Peace Alliance, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Independent Jewish Voices Canada and Canadian Arab Federation.

For more info, visit: www.tahrir.ca

A study examining the causes of a dramatic spike in birth defects in the Iraqi city of Falluja has for the first time concluded that genetic damage could have been caused by weaponry used in US assaults that took place six years ago.

Mustafa Tamimi, 28, died of his wounds after being hit by a teargas canister fired by Israeli security forces in the village of Nabi Saleh.

Thursday, Dec. 1st, Dineen Auditorium, Head Hall, UNB

UNB student Youssef Bassem will share his first hand experiences in Egypt during the 18 days of revolution.

His talk will feature:
- A brief History of the past 50 years in Egypt
- Torture, corruption and unemployment
- Sectarian Strife; The Muslim Vs. Christians question
- Short term instigators
- The 18 days of revolution
- Momentous breakthrough’s after the fall of Mubarak
- Egypt today

Organized by Bread & Roses.

Facebook event page.