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MAY 6th, 2008 EVENT
REMINDER: PERTH'S URANIUM |
IN THIS ISSUE: |
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1) TORONTO QUEEN'S PARK EVENT Gathering of Mother Earth Protectors Right now Indigenous communities across Ontario are taking a stand to assert our right to control our traditional territories and the future of our peoples. Many communities are actively preventing destructive industrial projects from proceeding on our traditional lands without community consent - including Grassy Narrows, Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI), Ardoch Algonquin First Nations. Rather than respecting Treaties of co-existence and the UN recognized Indigenous right to withhold consent over industrial projects on traditional lands, the Ontario government is criminalizing Native people and jailing community activists and leaders. This environmental racism cannot stand! Please join us in supporting freedom for First Nations and respect for the land. We Need: volunteers, donations of money, food, tents, blankets, billeting,
endorsements, and publicity. Please let us know if your group wants to
organize an event during the Gathering on May 27, or May 28. This event is endorsed by: Asubpeeschoseewagong Netum Anishinabek (Grassy Narrows First Nation), Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, Ardoch Algonquin First Nation, Christian Peacemaker Teams, Rainforest Action Network, No One is Illegal Toronto. OTTAWA SUPPORT FOR ROBERT LOVELACE AND THE KI SIX Protest Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty Date: Thursday, May 8, 2008 No New Ipperwash! Join ACT for the Earth for a rally in solidarity with Robert Lovelace, the KI-6, and the Tyendinaga of the Bay of Quinte, during Premier McGuinty's speech to the Ottawa Chamber of Commerce. Join us in calling on the Premier to put a stop to the persecution of Indigenous peoples for the sake of corporate greed! http://www.ACTfortheEarth.org>www.ACTfortheEarth.org NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION IN SUPPORT OF FIRST NATIONS Our Children, Our Future, Our Responsibility A National Day of Action in Support of First Nations - May 29, 2008 The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) and First Nations people across the country are calling on all Canadians to join with us for a National Day of Action on May 29th. We are calling on the Government of Canada to work with First Nations to protect our children, invest in our future and respect our responsibility to one another. We invite all Canadians to join us in putting forth a strong, clear call for action to the federal government. We are calling on the Government of Canada to. Protect Our Children: Invest in Our Future: Respect Our Responsibility to One Another: What Will Happen in Ottawa on the National Day of Action? The National Day of Action is about reaching out to Canadians and raising awareness about the situation of First Nations in Canada and the solutions to create a better, stronger Canada for all Canadians. Last year, Canadians from all walks of life joined us on June 21st for peaceful events across the country. But the Canadian government did not listen to our call for action so we are once again reaching out to Canadians to say: "Now is the time for action!" On May 29th, we will gather at Victoria Island for ceremony and song, then march to Parliament Hill for a major rally. Speakers and supporters from across the country will be there to make sure our message is heard. We hope to see you there! All are welcome. Remember: This is not just about First Nations - this is about all of us and our shared future! We are all in this together. For more information on the National Day of Action, please visit www.afn.ca. You may also send us a message at nda@afn.ca or call (613) 241-6789. Lead, Government Relations HIGH PROFILE CANADIANS WRITE TO PREMIER MCGUINTY Free Bob Lovelace and the KI Six We support the right of a community to say NO to mineral exploration and mining projects that threaten the health of people and ecosystems in Ontario. And in particular we support the rights of Aboriginal People to protect their lands as confirmed by the Supreme Court of Canada. Recently, retired Algonquin chief and university professor Bob Lovelace was sentenced to six months in jail and given a $25,000 fine for peacefully opposing a uranium exploration project in the Ottawa River Watershed. Co-chief Paula Sherman was fined $15,000 and the community as a whole was find $10,000. Six leaders from the community of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug, known as the KI Six, were also recently thrown in jail for peacefully opposing mineral exploration on their lands in the Boreal Forest (located 600km north of Thunder Bay). Cecilia Begg, Head Councillor from KI is a grandmother and will be spending her 60th birthday in jail. These are fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, grandfathers and grandmothers. We do not believe that mining should supersede the rights of people to protect their homes and their health. It is vital that Ontario replaces the antiquated 'free entry' system of mining and exploration with a modern, regulated process of granting exploration permits only after conservation planning and good faith consultation and genuine accommodation with affected Aboriginal Peoples as per Supreme Court decisions. The province of Ontario has a number of options to secure the release of the detained leaders, including by halting the exploration activities and entering into good faith negotiations thereby removing any basis for the contempt charges. We call on Premier McGuinty to: 1) Secure the immediate release of Bob Lovelace and the KI Six. Sincerely, Margaret Atwood, Stephen Lewis and Colleagues PREMIER MCGUINTY RESPONDS April 29, 2008 Dear Ms. Margaret Atwood and Colleagues, Thank you for writing to me regarding the incarceration of six members of the Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) First Nation and Robert Lovelace of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation. I appreciate your bringing your concerns to my attention, and I welcome the opportunity to respond. I would first like to say that I am both heartened and encouraged to see citizens of your stature and achievement investing time and energy in expressing support for the betterment of Ontario's Aboriginal communities and in bringing to the fore your perspective on Aboriginal issues in Ontario and in Canada. I recognize that, for too long, governments missed the opportunity to pursue strong and positive relationships with First Nations. That is why our government has taken steps to change the state of affairs. And we have done that by, among other initiatives, creating a new stand-alone ministry dedicated to supporting Ontario's Aboriginal communities, implementing the recommendations of the report of the Ipperwash Inquiry, signing an almost $3 billion gaming revenue-sharing agreement with First Nations and investing in Aboriginal health and wellness. As Premier of Ontario, and on behalf of the people of this province, I was tremendously proud to give the Kelowna Accord my full and unequivocal support. I am disappointed that the federal governments has chosen to abandon that accord, yet our government remains committed to working with Aboriginal communities to ensure that Prime Minister Harper follows through on the commitments made by the Government of Canada. I wish to reassure you that our government opposed the incarceration of KI First nation leaders in court and has since supported an expedited appeal. Our government has always strongly favoured negotiations over litigation and we worked very hard, in co-operation with the KI Chief and Council, to avoid the latter outcome. In keeping with our demonstrated preference to seek peaceful resolution through dialogue, the Honourable Michael Bryant, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, visited the KI First Nations three times since the beginning of this year to consult with leaders and the community. Minister Bryant remains firmly committed to working hard, on the ground, to help settle this dispute. I also wish to reaffirm that my colleagues and I are fully cognizant of our duty to consult with regard to the Frontenac exploration and other mining issues within the Algonquin land-claim area. To this end, the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs provided $100,000 to the Algonquins of Ontario to help establish an office to assist them with consultations with the province. We have committed to reviewing the Mining Act, and work is already underway. We need to modernize the act so that it is in keeping with our values and expectations a the beginning of the 21st century while ensuring that Ontario remains one of the best places in the world to do business and respects the principles of sustainable economic development. As I am sure you know, the determination to incarcerate the KI First Nation leaders and Mr. Lovelace was made by the courts. As the courts and judiciary operate independently of government, the province has authority over verdicts or sentences. Thank you again for sharing your views on issues that our government takes extremely seriously. Please accept my best wishes. Yours truly, Dalton McGuinty AN AFTERNOON WITH ROSALIE BERTELL AND FRIENDS Saturday, May 31, 2008 Please accept this invitation to join us on the above date for a celebration of the life and work of Rosalie Bertell, Ph.D. G.N.S.H. in her Jubilee Year as a Grey Nun. An interesting program is being developed that will celebrate the influence
that Rosalie has and continues to have in environmental health issues.
Speakers will include well-known figures whose work has been influenced
by Rosalie such as Prof. Ursula Franklin. Refreshments will be served. RSVP to: SAGE EVENT: RENEWABLE IS DOABLE Safe And Green Energy Peterborough presents; Renewable is Doable: A How-To Guide for Getting Off Coal and Nuclear Dr. Keith Stewart Thursday, May 15 at 7:00 pm Presentation will include; The University of Ottawa's Institute of the Environment presents a screening of the film, "Toxic Trespass." This moving documentary has been featured at film & video festivals in Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg: this is the first public screening in Ottawa. WHEN: Wed. May 28, 2008, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m Join us for an interactive discussion after the film (5:40 pm) with guest commentators: - Dorothy Goldin Rosenberg, Producer, Toxic Trespass Toxic Trespass journeys to several Canadian toxic hotspots, investigating the links between environmental pollution and health problems. The film focuses upon public perception of several current toxicological issues, such as air pollution in Windsor, birth rate problems in the Native reserve of Aamjiwnaang, and pesticides and shows how ordinary citizens, parents, scientists and others are taking action for prevention. URANIUM POEM BY DR. QAIS GHANEM Depleted Uranium - 20080422 They sold us uranium and called it depleted Polar bears are drowning, the arctic is heated The people in Baghdad, are thoroughly defeated They told us some stats, but hid some and cheated The men we elected, in comfort are seated Qais Ghanem, MD, Ottawa, Canada ARTICLE: STAR POWER; ALTHOUGH HE HAS NEVER MET JAILED ACTIVIST, SINGER STRONGLY BELIEVES IN BOB LOVELACE'S CAUSE By Frank Armstrong May 3, 2008 Of all the causes to which Bruce Cockburn has lent his support, this one is different. "I feel personally threatened by the prospect of having uranium being mined not very far away," said the Canadian music icon. To read more of this article go to, http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1012937 ARTICLE: SPEAKER DRAWS AWARENESS TO NUCLEAR INDUSTRY By Sally Pollak May 3, 2008 In the town where Lorraine Rekmans grew up, Elliot Lake, Ontario, sports teams were called the Radon Daughters and the Elliot Lake Atoms. To read more of this article go to, http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080503/ ARTICLE: IT'S LIKE A GLOW-IN-THE-DARK GOLD RUSH: PROJECTED NUKE-POWER RENAISSANCE SPURS U.S. URANIUM-MINING BONANZA The Grist: Environmental News and Commentary May 5, 2008 Due to the escalating price of uranium, a flurry of uranium-mining claims has been staked in the United States recently, with one of the greatest concentrations around the Grand Canyon in Arizona. To read more of this article go to, |