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Showing posts with label newsletter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label newsletter. Show all posts

Friday, October 24, 2014

OCTOBER 2014 NEWSLETTER

The Council of Canadians is the VOICE of progressive Canadians in 52 cities all over Canada. It is grassroots and bottom-up in its organization, with a small paid staff of researchers in Ottawa who provide the data we need to campaign on issues. 95% of all operating money comes from individual donations. The average individual donation is $50. We are non-profit but are not a charity because we educate and lobby for social and environmental justice. Each chapter determines which issues are important to its local supporters and is as active in campaigns as time and energy allow. Our London Chapter has eight committees: 

The Solidarity Film Coalition manages the Cinema Politica film series, which shows documentary films at the Central Library on the second Monday of each month. The motto of Cinema Politica is “Screening Truth to Power”.


The Trade Justice Committee campaigns against corporate-driven international trade agreements that would take away Canadian democracy and basic rights of self- determination. It has been active in educating London City Council about the perils of the Investor-State clause of CETA, and has been instrumental in getting London City Council to vote unanimously to have the option to vote for an ‘opt-out’ of CETA. 


The Health Care Committee works with the London Health Coalition to keep health care public and is currently engaged in planning a campaign and rally for Nov. 21 in Queens Park, to resist the austerity budget and the adoption of two-tier health care in Ontario. 


The Peace and Human Rights Committee has been active in bringing back John Greyson and Tarek Loubani from an Egyptian prison, supports the boat from Gaza, and opposes war as a solution to problems, social, religious, political or otherwise. 


The Energy and Climate Committee opposes expansion of the Alberta Tar Sands and the movement of bitumen by pipeline and rail. Because we have probably gone past the threshold where our climate can right itself, our position is that any further use of fossil fuels is suicidal for humans and life on this planet. It is also our position that pipelines and rail transport of dangerous substances threaten cities, First Nations, and wildlife, and poison watersheds and rivers they pass through. We actively oppose the reversal of flow of Enbridge’s 38- year-old Line 9 pipeline, just north of London, which crosses the Thames River north of Fanshawe Lake.



The Water Committee will be approaching our new City Council next spring to ask that London become a Blue Community. This means enforcing the bottled water ban in municipal venues and committing to keeping London Hydro public. We have been supporting OPAL (Oxford People Against the Landfill) by protesting with them in Ingersoll, Woodstock, Beachville, and other nearby towns most Fridays at 3:00 pm. In 2015 we will be working with First Nations to organize a water walk along the Thames River from Tavistock to Lake St. Clair.


The Democracy Committee works with Leadnow to fight for fair elections and proportional representation, so that our election process is a more just and accurate reflection of the wishes of all Canadians.


The Food Security Committee is working with City Council to make London a pollinator sanctuary for bees and butterflies. It opposes GM foods, and supports urban agriculture and the distribution and marketing of local food.
 

We strongly urge citizens to go beyond emotional or intellectual sympathy with the campaigns of the Council of Canadians and to contact us and get involved. We will put you in touch with whichever committee chair is working on your favourite issue. Help make Canada THE CANADA WE WANT. 

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Council of Canadians, London Chapter updates, May, 2014/ Line 9 Pledge of Resistance

Dear Activists - 

Since we were not able to send the minutes of the April 14 meeting out until this late date (BUSY doing CoC work) here are the updates and CHANGES to the minutes:

 1) Earth Day in Ingersoll was wonderful - met George Henry, Chippewa of the Thames , and will work with him against Line 9 and to save the Thames River - Maude Barlow helped walk the Water Serpent - lots of us went. 

 2) Earth Day in London - Water Serpent taken around by Boys' and Girls' Club -Thank you Cathy Quinlan, Paula Papel, and Daisy Oliver. 

 3) Defend our Climate Day of Action - Two actions: Lead Now event in Victoria Park got a crowd, and 50 people from all over, Guelph, Kitchener, Toronto, Sarnia, and London went on the Toxic Tour in Sarnia, got educated (it is appalling - I will share more at a later date) and supported the Aamjiwnaang First Nation in solidarity. Line 9 Snake and Water Serpent marched in a stiff wind with 24 puppeteers. Important to continue to support them in anyway we can. Serious situation! 

 4) Tzeporah Berman spoke at the Central Library last night and energized the audience - a new crowd - lots of potential activists for the important anti-Line 9 campaign we are engaged in here in London. See Rising Tide Toronto message below. Google - Not Worth the Risk Report - read it - print out copies - share it with friends - PLEASE 

 5) New place for our meetings needed - Tolpuddle most likely not available - please look around for free, can hold 25, can show films, central and easy to get to with free parking. Write us back if you find somewhere. 

 6) June meeting date and place not found at this time. It will still be a potluck and George Crowell will speak about the Bank of Canada and how it will help solve some of Canada's problems. 

 7) Our Solidarity Film Coalition will be hosting Cinema Politica next fall. 

 8) SLAVERY was eliminated, WOMEN have the vote, the VIETNAM WAR ended, ENDANGERED SPECIES have been protected and populations are returning, the UN passed the RIGHT TO WATER resolution, LABOUR UNIONS created decent working conditions where there were none before, we have MEDICARE ………….all these happened through grassroots organizing, relentless resistance, patience, and networking. Today the issues are CLIMATE CHANGE and holding on to DEMOCRACY. 

 9) EACH OF US has a little time and some skills and experience. TOGETHER WE ARE A FORCE. WHAT WILL YOU DO? 

Roberta Cory, Chair 
Council of Canadians, London 

 ---------------------------------------- 

From: "Rising Tide Toronto via Leadnow.ca" 
Subject: Update: Line 9 Pledge of Resistance 
Date: 13 May, 2014 9:52:18 AM EDT 
Hi there! 
Rising Tide Toronto would like to send you a (delayed) thank you for being one of over 600 people to take our Line 9 Pledge of Resistance. It's powerful to think what over 600 of us can accomplish for our communities and our environment if we work together to stop this reckless project from being built. With construction along Line 9 rapidly moving forward, it is more important than ever for us to stand together to protect our communities, our environment and our future, and we need to be able to keep you updated on what's happening, and how people who've taken the Pledge of Resistance can take action. To make our ongoing organizing as easy as possible, the folks at Leadnow - whose awesome petition system we used for the pledge of resistance - have said we can keep you updated directly via our own Rising Tide Toronto mailing list, rather than Leadnow's system, as long as that's OK with you. Of course, we're deeply committed to respecting your privacy, and rest assured, Rising Tide Toronto will never spam you. All our emails are sent with the understanding that you, like all of us, likely have a busy schedule to manage. We only hope that RTT can help you to nonetheless stay up-to-date and involved on this important issue that affects all of us. This email is coming from Leadnow's petition system. If you would prefer not to get updates directly from Rising Tide Toronto in future, please just click the "opt out" link at the bottom of this message. (You can also opt out in the future at any time as well.) In Solidarity Always, Rising Tide Toronto 

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http://londoncouncilofcanadians.ca/LondonCoCMeetingMinutes.pdf

Thursday, March 20, 2014

COMING EVENTS

Council of Canadians, London Chapter 
Coming Events 

March 20 
Thursday 6:30 - 8:30 Landon Library ENVIRONMENTAL BOOK CLUB - bring a book/title on climate change to share 

March 21 
Friday 2:00 car pool to Beachville Quarry Lake STOP THE DUMP RALLY Meet at 193 Duchess Ave. (4 houses W of Ridout) 519-601-2053 

March 24,25,26,27 
Monday though Thursday - 7:00 to 9:00 MAKE THE WATER SNAKE sew scales on the 30 foot Water Snake 193 Duchess Ave. 519-601-2053 

March 29 
Saturday 9:00 - 9:00 PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH CARE REFERENDUM canvas neighbourhoods in groups with ballots to vote for public health care; take a shift at tables with ballot boxes - Western Fair Farmer's Market and other public places - volunteers needed; Visit 620 Richmond St. for materials 226-238-9141 or 519-643-6806 or call Roberta 519-601-2053 

March 31 
Monday 5:00 ANTI-LINE 9 RALLY AND SNAKE WALK down Dundas. Meet at Riverside Park NW of Forks for Rally. Walk the Line 9 Snake across the bridge and East down Dundas 6:30 - East Village Coffee House - English and Dundas - food and drink for sale; film on resistance to tar sands and pipelines - music until 10:00 pm 

April 5 
Saturday All day long - BALLOT BOXES ALL OVER TOWN:      REFERENDUM ON PUBLIC HEALTH CARE - volunteers needed Phone to volunteer at a polling place - 226-238-9141 or 519-643-6806 

April 4,5,6 
WATER RIGHTS FILM FESTIVAL, MUSEUM LONDON
 FREE! 
Friday, April 4 6-9 Grandmother Josephine Mandamin - Water Walker film: Blue Gold 
Saturday, April 5 1-5 films: Waterlife and Dolime Dilemma Sunday, April 6 
 11-1 family program: water walk/films; 
 1-5 films: Bottled Life and Sacred Spirit of Water Juan Sanchez - poetry - Indigenous Message on Water 
Debut of the Water Snake!
http://waterrightsfilmfestival.wordpress.com 

April 26 
Saturday 1:00 pm MAUDE BARLOW at Earth Day in Ingersoll sponsored by OPAL ALLIANCE (Oxford People Against the Landfill); 
Second appearance of the Water Snake!    
Ride pool from 193 Duchess Ave. RSVP - 519-601-2053 leave at 11:00 am 
http://opalalliance.ca

Friday, May 4, 2012

Special May 2012 Newsletter from Don Mcleod

Editorial – Facilitator’s Monthly Topic – May 2012 
CETA! - CETA!! – CETA!!!

On Tuesday May 1, City of London Council will be discussing a full opting out of CETA. Please join us at City Hall 300 Dufferin Street at 4:30pm in Council Chamber Public Gallery Floor 3.

On Monday April 30 & Tuesday May1, Please take the time to email or contact your City of London Councilor and Mayor Joe Fontana.

Of note – I wonder how Councilor Paul Van Meerbergen will address the CETA discussion and vote, as he was the host of the Government’s visit to London on Friday April 27, hosting them at his workplace Lampko Tools. He quite clearly stated that his company was dependant on CETA for improving their access to the European Union, which puts him in a “conflict of interest” on CETA with his role as Ward 10 Councilor!

Reference 1–Council Agenda Item “Reports VIII – 13th Report of Finance Item #9”


          Please note “London Chapter Council of Canadians” in “a” & “b”
          Our hope is that documents in the Council Agenda will include Maude’s letter – Please see attached – Please use this as a reference when you talk to & email the Mayor and Councilors – they all have a copy!

Reference 2: Finance Committee Minutes of April 16, 2012 Item “2 – 9”



Reference 3: To contact Mayor Joe Fontana and City of London Councilors

Reference 4: Trade Justice -  http://tradejustice.ca/pdfs/CETAMythsEN.pdf

Thank you to our Stop CETA Committee for their diligent work on the CETA issue!

See you at City Hall – 4:30m pm Tuesday May 1!

Onward!
Don McLeod

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

February Newsletter email from Don McLeod

London Chapter Council of Canadians - February 2012 Newsletter

http://londoncouncilofcanadians.ca/Newsletter.pdf

Hello Folks,

Lots on the go with our London Chapter!

Thank you to our Chapter Chairs, Committees and member support for bringing us lots of activity and information for our Chapter!

Back a year ago our Chapter had a memebrship meeting where we outlined our need for our members to keep informed of important issues. This month we say thank you to our Council of Canadians Staff and supporting volunteers that keep us informed. Thank you! Well done!

Don

Council of Canadians

Information Resources

http://londoncouncilofcanadians.ca/InformationResources.pdf

We are truly blessed as members of the Council of Canadians to have access to daily up to the minute news on important issues that confront all Canadians. I have outlined some of our information resources below.

First, let me take you back to 1985. Our Council of Canadians has many noted Canadians that were the founding Charter members of our organization. Many have written articles for the Council over the past years How many do you recognize?

Some of the members of the C.O.C. are:

Doris Anderson, Margaret Atwood, Maude

Barlow, Pierre Berton, Gerry Caplan,

Stephen Clarkson, Sheila Copps M.P.,

Mayor Marion Dewar, Hon. T.C. Douglas,

Graeme Gibson, Hon. Walter Gordon,

Hon. Herb Gray, Grace Hartman, Mel

Hurtig, Pauline Jewett M.P., Hon. Eric

Kierans, Margaret Laurence, Gordon

Laxer, James Lorimer, Paul Martin Jr.,

Farley Mowat, Peter C. Newman, Anne

Claire Poirier, Heather Robertson,

Lloyd Shaw, David Suzuki, Mel Watkins,

and Robert White.

Taken from our Council of Canadians – Canadian Perspectives Winter 2005

http://www.canadians.org/publications/CP/2005/winter/wincp05.pdf

For you to be a member of the Council of Canadians puts you in the wonderful company of many distinguished and proud fellow Canadians!


Now, I would like to introduce you to a few people that provide us with a valued support information network for our London Chapter, and Chapters across Canada:

Regionally we are represented by staff Mark Calzavara, Regional Organizer – Ontario-Quebec-Nunavut who is in the Toronto office with Maryam Adrangi, our Regional Organizing Assistant. Mark & Maryam are our Chapter’s first point of contact with the Council of Canadians.

Roy Brady from the Peterborough Chapter is our Regional Chapter Representative. Roy provides guidance to Chapter’s as our volunteer Rep.

There are a number of campaigners that have Blogs that you can access to have up to date information on Council of Canadians core issues:

Maude Barlow, National Chair: http://canadians.org/blog/?author=16

Brent Patterson, Political Director: http://canadians.org/blog/?author=2

Adrienne Silnicki, Health Care Campaigner: http://canadians.org/blog/?p=13573

Andrea Harden-Donahue, Energy and Climate Justice Campaigner:

http://canadians.org/blog/?author=8

Meera Karunananthan, Water Campaigner: http://canadians.org/blog/?author=5

Emma Lui, Water Campaigner: http://canadians.org/blog/?author=4

Stuart Trew, Trade Campaigner: http://canadians.org/blog/?author=3

Anil Naidoo, Project Organizer – Blue Planet Project:

http://canadians.org/blog/?author=19


ACTIVlist

Sign up for daily Council of Canadians news:

http://lists.canadians.org/mailman/subscribe/activlist

Facebook, Twitter, YouTUBE, Daily emails & Blogs at

Follow Council of Canadians with social media:

http://canadians.org/stayinformed.html

Thank you to all the above Council of Canadians staff and volunteers who keep us informed! We appreciate the vital role and service that you provide our London Chapter and Chapters across Canada!

Lets all work together to become the best-informed Canadians!

Onward!

Yours from the Council

Don McLeod

London Chapter Facilitator

Council of Canadians

Email: Don McLeod <LondonChapter2012COC@yahoo.ca>

(519) 667-4016

London Chapter Web: www.londoncouncilofcanadians.ca

London Chapter Email: info@londoncouncilofcanadians.ca

Chapter Facebook: www.facebook.com/londoncoc

National Web: www.canadians.org

Stop CETA: www.stopCETA.ca

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

New Years Letter from our Facilitator, Don McLeod

Happy New Year Folks!

New Year’s Resolution

It was easy making my New Year’s resolution for 2012 – much the same as my 2011’s – to work at “saving the world and “making our community a better place to live”.

I was told that saving the world was a tall order! Through the Council of Canadians we have a plethora of friends to assist with the task! Our 120,000 member strong organization with 70 Chapters across Canada make for wonderful friends in helping to save the world!

Making our London community a better place to live gets easier every day as more friends join our 2000 plus member strong London Chapter!

In 1985 Maude Barlow started Council of Canadians, which gives all Canadians a portal to be heard! Let your voice be heard! If you have an issue that affects Canadians we want to know about it and put into action a call to attention on your issues with an action plan to publicize and work towards sustainable, effective resolutions.

Saving the world – making our community a better place, starts fresh everyday when we get up and look into the mirror – it starts with you and I - one day at a time!

2011 Reflections

Happy Anniversary London Chapter Council of Canadians! It was one year ago on January 12, 2011 that 8 of us met at the Central Library to re-ignite our Chapter. We started on building what is today a fresh, vibrant and engaged Chapter that has offered exiting, educational and productive events for our membership.

Our high praise and thank you to everyone that stepped forward to plan, organize and attend events, complete Chapter admin and make our members feel welcome! There were thousands of emails, telephone calls and hours spent on our Chapter activities in 2011. London Chapter – We Are Driven! THANK YOU!

Thank you to our Council of Canadians staff: Mark Calzavara our Regional Organizer; Maryam Adrangi, Regional Admin; Brent Patterson, Campaigns & Communications Director; Jeannette Muhongayire, Member Services in Ottawa HQ; to all the Campaignors; Roy Brady our Regional Chapter Rep and a huge and loving thank you to Maude Barlow – please visit us often!

Several years ago local CFPL TV News Anchor Jack Burghardt was the MC at a musical event at London’s Centennial Hall. In his introduction to the evening’s performance he stated that live events are unique in that the audience will be the only ones to share and appreciate the intricacies of that particular program and the vitality of those performing that night. Every event is different in how it embaces the audience, the chemistry of everyone developing familiarity with each other and members of the cast and how those attending become part of the historic story that only happens once! The individual experience commences as you come into the hall then works into a mutual bond by sharing the intrigue of the experience. My message – please come out and join us "live" at Chapter events!

In 2011, our Chapter provided several opportunities for our members and the public to attend live events:

  • James Loney – September – International Peace Day
  • Maude Barlow – October – talk on water & “Breakfast with Maude”
  • Glen Pearson – November – Poverty in Canada & London and OCCUPY
  • Paul Moist, Linda Wayne & Maude Barlow – December – The CETA Tour

CETA with our Chapter’s “live” CETApus, CETA Diorama in the window of 246 Dundas Street, CETA Open Mics; Occupy London support; Electro Motive Diesel Lock-Out; Bottled Water; Bank of Canada and the Canadian Boat to Gaza have been some of the issues our Chapter addressed in 2011.

Along with a World Water Day film event, Monthly Membership meetings and our Chapter’s Annual Bar-B-Q we had a full slate of events to engage our members!

Our Chapter was represented at Council of Canadians Events in 2011

  • Elaine Mahon – Toronto Chapter Water Forum in March
  • Don McLeod – COC Regional Conference in Toronto in May
  • David Heap – COC AGM in Montreal in October

In summary: Thank you for your support as members and affiliates; thank you to everyone active with organizing and attending events and thank you Council of Canadians for your support!

Onward in 2012

We had our 1st meeting of 2012 on January 10. Jeff Fitchett, London Chapter Co Chair Energy – Fossil Fuels, presented “Canada’s Ethical Oil Fallacy – The Alberta Oil Sands”. Everyone in attendance was provided with an in depth look at one of the world’s largest environmental disasters. Along with his narration Jeff showed us visual images of what Maude Barlow calls our Canadian Mordor. (JRR Tolkiens universe of Middle earth). Please see our web site for Jeff's presentation.

Each Month we will feature a program with a 1-hour presentation organized by our Chapter’s Committee Chairs. Our Membership Meeting Agendas will have a simple informative format:

Introductions

Secretary’s Report

Treasurer’s Report

Summary of past events

Feature Program Presentation with Q&A 1-hour

Announcements

Adjourn

Additional special programs will be offered and organized by our Chapter’s Committee’s – here are two proposals:

March 22 World Water Day – A special program is being planned.

http://www.unwater.org/

September 21 International Day of Peace

http://internationaldayofpeace.org/about/background.html

http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/

http://www.facebook.com/peaceday

Peace One Day

http://www.peaceoneday.org/en/welcome

http://www.facebook.com/peaceoneday

A special program is being planned.

October Council of Canadians Annual General Meeting –

November 12 London Chapter Annual General Meeting

We are focusing on our London Chapter Membership in 2012 to increase our membership, improve communications, provide educational programs to address your concerns and encourage more members to attend “live” events!

London Chapter Executive & Committee Chairs – we still have vacancies to fill!

Please contact me to get on the “inside” of our Chapter!

Lead – Follow or Support Council of Canadians with your financial contributions!

REMEMBER To keep informed please check our London Chapter Web site and event Calendar regularly: www.londoncouncilofcanadians.ca

Best wishes to everyone for a healthy, educational and prosperous New Year!

Please come out and join us – live!

Onward!

Yours from the Council

Don McLeod

London Chapter Facilitator & Contact

Council of Canadians

Email: Don McLeod <LondonChapter2012COC@yahoo.ca>

London Chapter Web: www.londoncouncilofcanadians.ca

London Chapter Email: info@londoncouncilofcanadians.ca

Chapter Facebook: www.facebook.com/londoncoc

National Web: www.canadians.org

Stop CETA: www.stopCETA.ca