World Water Day Snake Walk!

The Thames River, actually, the “Askunesippi” or “Antler River,” begins near Tavistock and Mitchell and flows 273 kilometers into Lake St. Clair. Along its course it is polluted by runoff and threatened by leachate from a proposed landfill of Toronto mid level waste into the Beachville Quarry. It flows over Enbridge’s Line 9 pipe just north of Fanshawe Lake and under the CN railway bridges in downtown London. 

On August 14, 2000 it was formally designated a Canadian Heritage River. Forty Five citizens had worked tirelessly for four years to present enough evidence to make that happen, no mean feat. In 2012, the Harper government removed protection for our river with the Omnibus Bill, C–45. Now Alberta bitumen can be shipped east by pipeline and rail without any legal roadblocks. 

On World Water Day, Sunday, March 22, at 3:30 pm, twenty three citizens gathered in Thames Park to walk the thirty foot, blue, sparkly, scaled Water Serpent along Wortley Rd. to its destination next to the river, just north of the Horton St. overpass. Tina Stevens carried the massive blue green head of the Serpent and lead us in the traditional Water Song. Many people brought home made signs proclaiming “Water is a Human Right,” and admonishing us to take heed that an “Oil Spill in the Thames (is) Not Worth the Risk.” 

Everyone is asked to use social media to pass on the photos of the rally, the river, the railroad trestle, and the city of London in the background. We are asking you to tweet your Member of Parliament to reinstate protection for our waterway using the hash tag #Pledge2Protect. 

CTV showed up, to our great surprise, and filmed the Snake Walk. It played a short version, which included parts of the speech by Julie, our Water Committee Chair, and parts of an interview with Roberta, London CoC Chair, on the 6:00 pm news. You can see the film clip here:
http://london.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=575688&binId=1.1137796&playlistPageNum=1 

Sources: Upper Thames River Conservation Authority – About Us – Thames Heritage River – Watershed Health 
http://thamesriver.on.ca/about-us/thames-heritage-river/

Canadians.org – National website – Campaigns – Water 

Irene.mathyssen@parl.gc.ca 

• Twitter:  @irenemathyssen 

Susan.Truppe.C1@parl.gc.ca 

•  Twitter:  @SusanTruppe 

Ed.holder.c1@parl.gc.ca 

•  Twitter:  @EdHolder_MP

CINEMA POLITICA presents: SILENCE IS GOLD

SILENCE IS GOLD

Monday 
January 12, 2015 London Public Library 
Central Branch 
251 Dundas St. 
Stevenson and Hunt Room 

Doors open 6:00 pm for set-up

After introductory remarks, the film will start at 7:00 sharp. 

Late comers please enter through the door at the back of the room. 

Everyone is welcome! 
This is a FREE event offered by Cinema Politica in parternership with the London Public Library. 

FRAGRANCE FREE EVENT! Please be respectful of attendees who have serious allergies! 

Details: http://www.cinemapolitica.org/london 

After Alain Deneault wrote an exposé of corruption and crime in Africa called Noir Canada, he and his publisher were threatened with a defamation suit by the world’s largest gold mining firm, the Canadian company Barrick Gold. Despite the threat, they still believed public debate was possible, so they decided to proceed with publication. Deneault and his collaborators soon found themselves mired in a legal hell that showed them what 21st-century censorship is all about. For four years, Julien Fréchette patiently followed all the twists and turns of the Noir Canada affair and the debate over strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs). This gripping legal thriller sheds light on major issues of concern to us all. (NFB Canada)

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January 5, 2015 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

In conjunction with the London Public Library (londonpubliclibrary.ca), Cinema Politica London (cinemapolitica.org/london) presents the documentary film Silence is Gold, about one of Canada’s largest mining companies attempt to silence an exposé of Canadian mining practices in Africa. 

In 2008 Alain Deneault co-wrote Noir Canada: Pillage, corruption et criminalité, a book highly critical of the Canadian mining industry in Africa. Prior its launch, Noir Canada publishers Les Éditions Écosociété Inc. received a letter from Canadian gold mining giant Barrick Gold, threatening legal action for alleged false information and libel. The launch was postponed but not before Écosociété had distributed nearly 2,000 copies of the book. Barrick then filed a libel suit for $6 million against the writers and the publisher.  

The case is considered by many to be a prime example of a “strategic lawsuit against public participation”(SLAPP). In 2011 the Quebec Superior Court ruled that "Barrick seems to be trying to intimidate authors", that the suit was "seemingly abusive", and that Barrick must pay the authors and publisher $143,000 to prepare their defense. Later that year Deneault and his team, exhausted by the court proceedings, reached an out of court settlement with Barrick. 

During the process, however, a coalition of activists began to push for anti-SLAPP legislation and in 2009 Quebec adopted an anti-SLAPP bill, a landmark piece of legislation protecting freedom of speech in Québec. 

For four years film directorJulien Fréchette followed the proceedings, documenting each legal twist and turn, revealing just how far the Canadian mining industry is willing to go to silence criticism of its mining practices. 

Professor Lorraine McNeil admits she is not surprised by Barrick Gold’s tactics: “This is not the first time a Canadian mining company is accused of abusive practices”. In fact, members of the indigenous Mayan Q’eqchi’ from Guatemala have filed three lawsuits in Ontario courts against Canadian mining company HudBay Minerals over the brutal and abusive treatment of several of its members. The abuses are alleged to have been committed by mine company security personnel at HudBay’s former mining project in Guatemala.
http://www.chocversushudbay.com/ 

Silence is Gold raises crucial questions about the limits of free speech, public debate, equal access to justice, and ultimately, our democratic institutions. 

Please join us to watch and discuss this important film, which will be screened on Monday, January 12th, 7 pm, at the Central Library, 251 Dundas Street, London, ON. 

For more information, contact: 

Lorraine McNeil: 519-859-4308 
Marie-France Arismendi: 519-851-0122

London chapter supports Unifor rally in defence of public health care

Photo courtesy of Kevin Jones

The London chapter of the Council of Canadians joined a Unifor protest yesterday in defence of public health care. The rally began in Victoria Park and then moved to the offices of London North Centre MPP Deb Matthews and London North Centre MP Susan Truppe. 

CTV reports, "Health care workers rallied in Victoria Park Thursday, and the Unifor members say if something isn't done to fix the health care system, more at-risk people will fall through the cracks. The union says that health care will be underfunded nationally by about $36 billion over the next 10 years, and many are concerned for the future. ...Unifor says the federal government refuses to discuss a new Canada Health Accord - the blueprint for federal contributions to provincial health care - and believe it is part of an effort to increase privatized health care." 

The London Free Press adds, "Unifor is reminding MPP and Liberal cabinet minister Deb Matthews [she's the president of the Treasury Board] to respect bargaining rights for Ontario health-care workers. Conservative MP Susan Truppe is being urged to support renewing and re-signing the Canada health accord which expired earlier this year." 

And the London Community News notes, "Unifor, Canada’s largest private sector union with more than 305,000 members, launched rallies in several Ontario cities on Nov. 6, including Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie and London. Organizers said some 15 buses brought in union members and their supporters from across the province to the London rally where about 500 people gathered in Victoria Park." 

15,000 Unifor health care workers are set to negotiate new contracts this year. Many of them coming off a two-year wage freeze and are having additional responsibilities placed on them. As CTV notes, "[Unifor] members say that along with seniors, [long term care] facilities are now also taking on assisted living patients and some with mental health issues. They say meeting all the varying demands is taking a toll." 

Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow also tweeted this 3-minute video from yesterday's protest in London. 

Photo: London chapter activists at yesterday's rally. Photo by Kevin Jones. Photo: Fred Wilson marches for public health care. Photo by Bill O'Neill.

Brent Patterson
Political Director
Council of Canadians

Originally published as
http://canadians.org/blog/london-chapter-supports-unifor-rally-defence-public-health-care

SUPER IMPORTANT Meeting - Thursday, Nov. 6, 6:30 pm, Landon Library

Regarding: 

GET ON THE BUS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH CARE! 

RALLY 

NOVEMBER 21, 2014 at 12 noon QUEENS PARK 

Peter 519-455-3430 (or email pbergmanis@rogers.com) TO RESERVE A SEAT 

IT'S OUR PUBIC HEALTH CARE MAKE IT BETTER! DON’T KILL IT! 

The threat to Medicare in Ontario from private clinics, which would create a two tiered health care system, is very, very real. This is not something we can hope will go away. Last Spring many of us worked hard on the Save Our Services referendum. The postcards collected voted overwhelmingly for not only saving Medicare, but putting more resources into it to make it better. 

A chartered bus is going from London on Friday, November 21 to Queens Park to join in a massive protest against austerity and the gradual killing of socialized medicine in Ontario. 
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SUPER IMPORTANT LONDON COUNCIL OF CANADIANS MEETING 

THURSDAY, NOV. 6, 2014, LANDON LIBRARY, 167 WORTLEY RD. 

Martha Bishop Room

6:30 - snacks and social 

7:00 - SPEAKER: Peter Bergmanus (London Health Coalition) 
"THE SEIGE ON MEDICARE AND WHY WE MUST FIGHT FOR IT OR LOSE IT" 
Questions and discussion 

7:30 - Sign up to go on the chartered bus to Queens Park for the noon rally on Nov. 21. leaving 8:30 am - returning 7:00 pm 

7:30 - 8:45 pm WORKSHOP TO MAKE WHIMSICAL MUSICAL, PERCUSSION, AND NOISE EMITTING INSTRUMENTS TO USE FOR NOV. 21 RALLY 

Twiddle tum tooters… floogleflonkers….snarfblatters…. Please bring funnels, pots, wire, kazoos, garbage can lids, 5 gallon plastic pickle jars, plastic kitty litter containers, bells, whistles, kitchen gadgets etc. etc. etc. Anything that can make a loud noise. Share PVC pipe, fabric, ribbons. Use your imagination and have fun! 

We will use our props and wear costumes for a photo op in front of St Joe’s (corner of Richmond and Grosvenor) in London at 4:30 pm on Thursday, Nov. 13. 

fragrance free event free to the public 

info: Roberta 519-601-2053

Minutes of our last meeting on Oct. 9:

http://londoncouncilofcanadians.ca/LondonCoCMeetingMinutes.pdf

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. 

A People's Ceremony to Honour the 50+ Municipalities, School Boards and Associations Requested to Be Excluded from the CETA

No to CETA! No to Investor State! 

A Big Yes to Fair Trade!

London marked the CETA completion with their own ceremony. The Council of Canadians London Chapter hosted a rally outside city hall on Thursday, September 25th at 4:30 pm to share the historic resistance of the grassroots to the CETA. With about 50 people overall, the chapter enacted a ceremony to honour municipal councils who for the first time rejected a trade pact.

London Chapter representatives, Jennifer Chesnut and Aldous Smith, gave opening remarks about this municipal trade deal and Investor State. London Chapter justice folk singer, Margo Does debuted "The CETA Song". The chapter chair, Roberta Cory, ran work parties to create the many signs, including a sign for every municipal entity that requested an opt out. Chapter members Julie Picken-Cooper and Jessie Chesnut along with other supporters led the ceremony to recognize the municipalities requesting to be excluded from the CETA.

The National Council of Canadian's CETA google map was used to collect the data. 

Excerpts:

"We come together today on the eve before the official announcement of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement to bear witness. We stand outside city hall in recognition of the municipal movement critiquing CETA that included more than eighty resolutions passed by municipalities, school boards and associations. We gather today to thank the many great city councillors in Thunder Bay, Hamilton, North Vancouver, Essex County, Toronto, and so many others who stood up to this deal to protect local choices, local jobs, and the well-being of families. Of those many, over fifty requested to be excluded from the CETA. None of these requests have been publicly acknowledged and debated. We will acknowledge them together today."

"We stand in solidarity with the Ottawa people’s response tomorrow under the tagline “The text might be finished but the fight is just beginning”. Organized by the Canadian Maritime and Supply Chain Coalition with support from the Trade Justice Network, the Quebec Network on Continental Integration (RQIC), and Campact Germany, we stand in solidarity with you."

The event was reported by local indie media here:

https://www.facebook.com/theindignants

https://www.facebook.com/events/1470686059864734/

Picture Credits: 
1. In blog body photo, Mike Roy of The Indignants; 
2,3,4. Kevin Jones



-- Jennifer Chesnut
          Trade Justice Chair, London CoC

Announcement of the rally:

http://londoncouncilofcanadians.blogspot.ca/2014/09/london-rally-on-eve-of-ceta-ceremony.html

London RALLY on the Eve of the CETA Ceremony!

We Stand on Guard for Canadian Cities!

No to CETA!
No to Investor-State!
And a Big Yes to Fair Trade!

The world famous CETApus of London, Ontario, 2011.

On Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014, at 4:30 pm, outside London City Hall, you are invited to take a stand for Canadian cities. Together we will mark the historic resistance to the CETA trade pact by city councils from Victoria to Thunder Bay to Toronto. These municipal governments, along with dozens of others, including London, represent the first ever cross-country resistance to a corporate trade pact. The CETA gives corporations the right to directly sue governments if new laws or regulations impact their profits. It also removes the right of municipalities to govern local assets publicly, in favour of privatization and foreign corporate management.

Together we will acknowledge London city council, which passed two resolutions to be excluded from the CETA, for which it has received no reply from either the federal or provincial governments. This gathering will also bear witness to the official announcement, on Friday, Sept. 26th in Ottawa, that negotiations for the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement are complete. In reality, while the agreement is nearing completion, the CETA still needs to be ratified, a process which could take up to two years.

Following the announcement, the CETA cannot be changed. But it can be rejected!

Thursday, September 25

4:30 pm – 5:30 pm

Outside City Hall (300 Dufferin Avenue, London ON) 

Hosted by Council of Canadians, London Chapter 

More info: www.canadians.org/trade 

Local contacts:

Aldous Smith         tradejusticelondon@gmail.com 
Jennifer Chesnut   jennifer.reanne@gmail.com 

Come together, connect, and thank Canadian city councillors for standing up to protect families and democratic process.

Bring your voices, ears for listening, and determination for democracy. Stand tall together, knowing we are on the right side of history. No to CETA and Investor State! Yes to Fair Trade!

People's Climate March London, Ontario - Sept. 21, 2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

PEOPLE'S CLIMATE MARCH, LONDON, ONTARIO, SEPT. 21, 1:30 PM - RIVERSIDE DR. AT THE JET D'EAU FOUNTAIN 

On Sunday, September 21, 2014, 1:30 pm at the Jet d'Eau Fountain at the Forks of the Thames, London will march in solidarity with hundreds of thousands of deeply concerned human beings around the planet to say NO to runaway climate change. The People's March in New York City expects over 100,000 people with 496 buses coming from nearly all 50 states and Canada. Those who cannot get to New York City are marching in their own cities. London will join 125 other cities in Canada, including Peterborough, Brampton, Barrie, Owen Sound, Oshawa, Belleville, Sudbury, Toronto, Burlington, Guelph, Stratford, Waterloo, Kitchener, Hamilton, St. Catherine, and Niagara on the Lake for this historic moment in history. 

Canadians who are angry with our government for escalating climate change and have a different vision for Canada are encouraged to speak to the crowd. The renown Line 9 Snake, which made its debut in Queens Park last spring to protest the National Energy Board approval of the reversal of the 40 year old Line 9, will be walked around downtown as marchers carry signs denouncing the continued use of fossil fuels. The march will end at the Peace Garden in time for the dedication ceremony of the new Peace Plaque. This is a fitting terminus for the People's Climate March, since escalating climate change is a serious threat to world peace. Rising sea levels, deserts where people once farmed, and lack of drinking water will all lead to wars over scarce resources. 

Anyone with a troubled conscience about Canada's contribution to climate change is invited to add their numbers to this historic event and join us at the Forks. 

Roberta Cory 
Chair, London Chapter, Council of Canadians 
519-601-2053 

LONDON CLIMATE MARCH!

IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE NEW YORK MARCH

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2014

1:30 PM AT FORKS OF THE THAMES

 (next to the bridge at the water cannon off Riverside Dr.)

 ANYONE CAN SPEAK (briefly)
 YOUR OWN WORDS OR QUOTES

BRING SIGNS

WALK THE LINE 9 SNAKE

PHOTOS OF OUR MARCH WILL BE SENT TO JOIN THOUSANDS OF OTHERS FROM CITIES AROUND THE WORLD

WE WILL END THE MARCH AT THE PEACE GARDEN FOR THE REDEDICATION OF THE PEACE PLAQUE at 2:45 pm 

Please go to watchdisruption.com. It is a 51 minute film that will help you understand the crucial fight against Climate change.

Cinema Politica London Re-opens to a Full House!

Packed house at our screening of We Are Wisconsin last night! Cinema Politica London lives!...and rocks! Not a dry eye in the room! A special bonus was in person commentary from a WAW veteran, Sarah Roberts (now a Western University professor), after the film. 

Next showing: "Living Downstream" on Monday Oct. 6, 2014.

http://www.cinemapolitica.org/screening/london/living-downstream

CINEMA POLITICA LONDON REVIVED! TODAY!

Cinema Politica London is happy to be back under new management after a two year hiatus! It is now being run by the Solidarity Film Coalition, a committee of the London Chapter of the Council of Canadians. Co-sponsors include L.A.C.A.S.A. (Latin American Canadian Solidarity Association), the London Public Library, and Seeds of Hope. Our kick-off film is, appropriately, "We Are Wisconsin", a rousing cheer leading inspiration to action for grassroots movements! It is guaranteed to knock your socks off! 

TODAY! Monday Sept. 8, 2014 at 7 pm in Stevenson & Hunt Room, London Public Library, 251 Dundas St.

All of our showings are free of charge, but we do welcome donations any time.

http://www.cinemapolitica.org/london

London Regional Social Forum, July 11-13, 2014

Final program:

 http://londoncouncilofcanadians.ca/LondonRegionalSocialForum2014.pdf 

Facebook page:

 https://www.facebook.com/events/464484100320894/

Kamilla Pietrzyk

The incredible program for the Forum begins Friday, July 11, 2014 at 6:00 pm with Musical Entertainment by Margo Does, activist/song-crafter, Indigenous Welcome by Gary Dickey, and Welcome by Lorraine McNeil and members of the organizing group. This welcome will be followed by the  Keynote Talk: "History and Impact of the Social Forum Movement" by Speakers Kamilla Pietrzyk and Ajamu Nangwaya. 

Ajamu Nangwaya

Then at 9:00 pm there will be rousing Musical Entertainment at East Village Coffee House, for which Tickets are available: $8 /sliding scale.

The spectacular program for Saturday July 12, 2014 promises to be a blockbuster, starting with a Panel Discussion at 10:00 a.m. on "Building Movement and Broad Resistance to the Right in Canada", With long-time activists and authors from across Canada: Tony Clarke, Carol Baker, Ken Lewenza Jr. and Matt Price with Murray Dobbin via Skype, followed by a Q and A session moderated by Patti Dalton. From 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm there will be a wide variety of workshops, including "The Fight to Protect our Groundwater", "Understanding and Resisting the Expansion of the Prison State", "Global-Local Solidarity with Palestine: Gaza's Ark and BDS", "Anarchist Perspectives", "Residential Schooling and the Indian Education Act: Why all the Hype?", "Peace Process in Colombia", "The Ontario Common Front", and "Grassroots Resistance to Line Nine". Following the workshops everyone is invited to join in on a walk led by the infamous giant LINE 9 SNAKE, and, if enough puppeteers are available, the giant Blue Water Serpent will come too. Both puppets are 30 feet long. Participants will decide on the details of the walk! 

Finally, Rabble.ca is holding a Book Launch at 7:00 pm for "The Best of Rabble 2014: The Year of Living Consciously"! Wow! Just wow!

Rain can have no effect on the program (all inside) on Sunday July 13, 2014, the grand finale, with eight more fabulous workshops starting at 10:00 a.m., including "Mayan Communities Fight Back Against Canadian Mining Companies: The case of the community of El Estor against Hudbay Minerals", "Exploring the Life and Legacy of Rachel Carson", "NGO-ization", "Women and Leadership in a Changing World", "Mesoamerica Resiste: a global struggle against capitalism", "Power to the 99% through Monetary Transformation", "Building Community: The Invisibles of Organizing", and "Alternative Media Panel Discussion".

Lunch will be provided by London's renowned Food Not Bombs group, and the Forum will be concluded with a Presentation at 4:00 p.m. on The People's Social Forum, Ottawa, Aug. 21-24, 2014 and a discussion of ideas for the PSF and the future of social forums in general and the London Regional Social Forum in particular. Once again we will be entertained by the biting guitar and wit of Margo Does as she sings us out following closing remarks by Meg Borthwick. What a day!

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 

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

http://londoncouncilofcanadians.ca/LondonCoCMeetingMinutes.pdf

Climate Day of Action, May 10, 2014: Sarnia, Here We Come!

Toxic Tour in Sarnia for the Climate Day of Action on May 10, 2014 looks like it's attracting large numbers of peeps from all over Ontario! The place to be! There should be plenty of puppeteers to operate both giant 30 foot long snake puppets, the Black Line 9 Snake (representing tar sands pipelines) and the Blue Water Snake (representing our precious fresh water, especially the Great Lakes and associated waterways and watersheds). Plans for the snakes include taking the Black Line 9 Snake from Sarnia to the terminus of Line 9 in Quebec and taking the Blue Water Snake from the headwaters of the Thames River to its mouth on Lake St. Clair. The Toxic Tour on May 10 would be the first time both snake puppets have appeared together! Hoping for nice weather, because they can't be used in the rain... If you need a ride to Sarnia from London call Roberta 5196012053.

Anti-Harper Demonstration: Anonymous Report from the Marconi Club, May 2, 2014

Conservative "Volunteer" confronting anti-Harper demonstrators

Report on the Conservatives 3rd year anniversary party from the Marconi Club: In the line up there were some people who threw disgust at the protest but even more of them felt uncomfortable and nervous in the line so the protest had some effect. No microphones for questions from the audience and I have never seen so many RCMP and local police at an event in London before. They had what appeared to be the Western Conservative Club (Hitler Youth) on the stage behind where Harper spoke so the cameras could film the youngest Conservative contingent even though the crowd was predominantly 50+. They did however have the creme of London's political, business, academic and even members of London's non profit agencies there. 

Harper was way late in getting started, and he spoke, thankfully, for only about twenty minutes. What he didn't talk about was more interesting than he did talk about which are the Con's faithful, a strong stable economy, safer streets, etc. He did drone on about the economy but he never mentioned the oil and gas industry at all. He talked about making strong and preserving things for the future but he only gave one line to the environment in the way of preserving Canada's park system, the rest of the night was made up on the Con's talking points and the fact that the opposition fought him on all of the "great" things the Con's have done for Canada during this session. When he talked about the opposition he only talked about the NDP Party as a whole but Justin Trudeau only for the Liberals. 

He wanted the Party faithful to keep working for the Party but I am surprised he never mentioned anything about money for the next election. I would have figured that would have been the time to try and get those purses and wallets loosen up but I expect massive amounts of follow up requests. 

Harper's biggest round of applause was for his support for Israel against Arab terrorists (his words) and second biggest was for his support for the Ukraine. It seems that Cons believe everything western news outlets broadcast or publish.

For a news story on the demonstration click here.

Michael Loebach's blog on "A River Runs Through Us"

Report on OPAL event, Ingersoll District Memorial Arena,  Saturday April 26, 2014 

(For a few photos of the event click here. For a newspaper article, with photos, click here.)

OPAL stands for Oxford People Against the Landfill, referring to a site of a quarry near Ingersoll, Centreville and Beachville. The quarry is used up and is now the site of a manmade lake, but for which there is a proposal for a landfill. It is opposed for not being wanted so close to the communities, and for being unsafe for the watershed and the Thames River, as the site is porous limestone and very close to the river. The communities want to retain the lake for recreational use.

There were several hundred people present, including strong presence of the Council of Canadians. There was literature about the project and OPAL, numerous petitions to the Ontario Ministry and politicians, and booths and literature of many other affiliated organizations. OPAL has built a strong alliance of organizations, including the Oxford Committee on Social Justice, Habitat for Humanity, and many environmental organizations, among others.

There were four speakers. 

Steve McSwiggan, chairperson of OPAL, who also acted as MC, gave an overview of the regulatory process involved, and how the group was opposing the project. 

Tom Comiskey, the mayor of the town of Ingersoll, spoke against the project and how it was important for the future generations of residents, for the current generations to protect their water and environment. 

George Henry of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nations council, spoke about how the First Nations have the constitutional right to be consulted and to consent about resource usage, and that they intend to enforce those rights with respect to this project, as they are downstream on the Thames. 

Finally Maude Barlow of the Council of Canadians gave a passionate and highly informative broad ranging talk about water resources, water supply and pollution. She outlined what she considered fundamental principles of water, including water as a human and legal right, water as a community property, and water as, despite the potential for conflict and hardship as a result of growing shortage, a unifier of action to preserve life now and in the future. She stated that water shortages are becoming acute in many parts of the world, noting particularly in California and western China. She noted how overuse of water by industry and cities is resulting in diminishment of watersheds and aquifers, and transfer of water to the oceans, augmenting the rising of ocean levels also being caused by climate change. She criticized recent federal legislation which has significantly reduced regulatory scrutiny and oversight of water and water resources. She praised the efforts of OPAL and its alliance, and related how a similar project in Simcoe County was stopped after a long community based struggle.

The speeches were followed by an attempted walk to the site of the quarry, which was truncated due to the cold windy conditions, and in the evening by a fundraising dance and silent auction.   For information on how to get involved and donate, see the OPAL website, link below.

www.opalalliance.ca

Toxic Tour: On The Front Line

Saturday, May 10 at 12:00 noon
Maawn Doosh Gumig Community and Youth Centre 
1972 Virgil Avenue, Sarnia, Ontario 
519-491-2160 or 519-491-1374 

AGENDA: 

Meeting outside of Maawn Doosh Gumig at 12:00 noon for Opening Prayer and song. The walk will include prayers to the 4 directions. We plan to walk through Aamjiwnaang to honor our relations with the land, air and water along the St.Clair river, through Chemical Valley. Back through Aamjiwnaang and walking along Talfourd Creek and to end back at the community centre for dinner at 5:00 pm.


The London Chapter of the Council of Canadians will be participating in this action! We will have both the giant Black Line 9 Snake, to be operated by 11 volunteer puppeteers, and our usual yellow CoC banner with us. 

For rides from London call Roberta, 519-601-2053.

MAUDE BARLOW IN PERSON! Saturday April 26, 2014

"A River Runs Through Us" 
Oxford People Against the Landfill 
Ingersoll District Memorial Arena 
97 Mutual St. S, Ingersoll, Ontario 

FREE! 

Maude is scheduled to speak at 1:30 pm; other speakers continue until 3:30 pm.

The giant 30 foot Benevolent Blue Water Serpent will participate at some point in this event! 

Need a ride? Roberta 519-601-2053 
Carpools leave London at 11:00 a.m.

Line 9 Snake Walk! The Forks to English St. on Dundas, March 31, 5:00 pm

LINE 9 SNAKE WALK! 

EVERYONE WELCOME  

11 puppeteers needed to operate the 30 foot evil black Line 9 Snake

The Snake joined the Anti - Line 9 rally at Queen's Park on March 7, 2014: 

http://rabble.ca/news/2014/03/line-9-will-snake-across-ontario-and-quebec-waterways

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZ7W2wWgHz4&feature=youtu.be 
 (press conference) 

http://ww3.tvo.org/video/196834/pipeline-runs-through-it

RALLY AT FORKS OF THE THAMES 
5:00 pm Monday, March 31, 2014 
(Rally at Riverside Park just north and west of the river.)

WALK THE SNAKE ACROSS THE BRIDGE OVER THE THAMES. 

WALK EAST ON DUNDAS TO THE EAST VILLAGE COFFEEHOUSE. 

THEN: 
SPRING THAWS PIPELINE MELTDOWN TOUR!

More info: Roberta 519-601-2053