Sandra Finley

2011-08-18 G&M: Government crack-down on allowing suspected war criminals to enter Canada? (Get Bush Arrested in Vancouver on Oct 20)

Aug 192011

Contents

(1) LAWYER GAIL DAVIDSON LETTER-TO-EDITOR, GLOBE & MAIL (RE WENTE ARTICLE)

(2) MARGARET WENTE, “AMNESTY’S MISPLACED HAND-WRINGING”, G&M

(3) AMNESTY’S REBUTTAL TO WENTE

(4) I HAD TO TAKE A KICK AT THE CAN: crack-down on allowing suspected war criminals to enter Canada?? No. George Bush is the worst of the lot. He enters freely.

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LAWYER GAIL DAVIDSON LETTER-TO-EDITOR, GLOBE & MAIL (RE WENTE ARTICLE)

Dear Editor;

Re: “Amnesty should find some real victims to defend.”

Both Ms Wente and Minister Kenney are wrong. There is no government crack-down on allowing suspected war criminals to enter Canada: Amnesty’s open letter does not, as suggested, oppose the “legal” removal from Canada of people suspected of war crimes, against humanity or other serious human rights violators. Amnesty calls on Minister Kenney to comply with the law.

The law: Canada’s has adopted laws and has a legal obligation to prevent and punish certain crimes seen as threats to global peace (genocide, torture, war crimes and crimes against humanity). The duty to deny suspects a safe haven referred to by Wente and Kenney has two components. Firstly Canada must take steps to bar suspects from entering Canada under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, s. 35. Once a suspect enters Canada, the legal obligation is to ensure prosecution either by commencing a prosecution in Canada or extraditing the suspect to a jurisdiction willing and able to prosecute. (“…it is the duty of every state to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for international crimes.” Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court)

The Facts:

In violation of the letter and spirit of the law Canada continues to provide safe haven to suspects considered friends and to arbitrarily apply the law to others. For example George W. Bush, accused of torture and other war crimes and crimes against humanity has not only been allowed entry Canada on several occasions, in November of 2004 he was invited to speak to Parliament and dine with the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada. Public money has been lavished on protecting him from peaceful protesters and from prosecution. The evidence against Bush for torture and other crimes was then and is now, overwhelming. As stated by U.S. Maj. General Taguba, “…there is no longer any doubt as to whether the current [Bush] administration has committed war crimes.” G.W. Bush is scheduled to come to Canada again in October, this time at the invitation of the mayor of Surrey BC. It remains to be seen whether Mr. Kenney will welcome Bush this time or abide by the law and refuse him entry.

Ms Wente should hold her applause until then.

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2. MARGARET WENTE, “AMNESTY’S MISPLACED HAND-WRINGING”, G&M

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/opinions/margaret-wente/amnestys-misplaced-hand-wringing/article2132896/

Amnesty’s misplaced hand-wringing

MARGARET WENTE

From Thursday’s Globe and Mail

Published Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011 1:30AM EDT

Last updated Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011 11:49AM EDT

Cristobal Gonzalez-Ramirez is not exactly what you’d call a stand-up guy. He arrived in Canada from Honduras in 2006 and promptly filed an application for refugee status. In January – more than four years after he got here – his refugee claim was rejected. The Immigration and Refugee Board determined he was a war criminal, responsible for creating an army battalion that executed more than 100 Hondurans in the early 1980s. After being scheduled for deportation, he disappeared.

Then there’s Manuel De La Torre Herrera, who claimed refugee status after he arrived from Peru in 2000 to perform in a music festival. The refugee board determined he had once been active in a state-backed death squad. He went underground when his claim was denied. And how about Abraham Bahaty Bayavuge, who was turned down for refugee status in 2004 after the board found he had served murderous regimes in Congo? He disappeared, too.

All three characters figured on a most-wanted list of fugitives released by the government last month, complete with mug shots. All three were rounded up, and two of them have been deported. The third one, Mr. Bayavuge, is set to be deported, but not before a further round of due process that includes a detention review and a preremoval risk assessment to determine whether he’ll be endangered if he’s sent back.

Canada has become notorious as a haven for war criminals and phony refugees. Some have lived here for years, even decades, with impunity. So this belated government crackdown should come as welcome news. But not everyone thinks so. In fact, many people suspect that the government’s decision to publish the identities of these sketchy characters is a stunt meant to pander to the baser elements of the electorate.

On top of that, they insist, the government is violating their human rights. After all, how do we really, really know they’re all that bad? And even if they are, deporting them is wrong. Instead, these critics say, it’s our duty to put them on trial, at a cost of millions, so justice will be done.

Leading this crusade is Amnesty International, a prominent human-rights group that’s gained a reputation as the scourge of dictators and tyrants. Today, it gets more mileage out of scolding Canada. In an open letter this month, it rebuked the government for violating the human rights of the human-rights violators by trying to enforce the Immigration Act. In effect, it wants these people treated as if they were citizens, instead of illegal residents who lied their way into Canada, flunked their refugee-board hearings, and went on the lam.

In response to Amnesty’s scolding, Immigration Minister Jason Kenney popped his cork. He posted an open letter of his own on his constituency website. In it, he accused Amnesty of “self-congratulatory moral preening” and said the group had lost its way. “As a former AI member, may I suggest that ostentatious hand-wringing over the good name of war criminals and human rights violators may sit uneasily with those AI members who, perhaps naively, believe your compassion should be reserved for their victims.”

Not surprisingly, Amnesty (cheered on by the noisy immigration-lawyer lobby) has now issued an indignant response. Also not surprisingly, various members of the liberal punditocracy have denounced Mr. Kenney for his bizarre and irresponsible tirade. Cabinet ministers, after all, should not descend to low partisan attacks.

Maybe not. But the minister is right. Amnesty should find some real victims to defend.

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3. AMNESTY’S REBUTTAL TO WENTE

MP3

9:09 AM on August 18, 2011

Facts getting in the way of hyperbole. Here is the actual text of the Amnesty letter

http://www.amnesty.ca/media2010.php?DocID=814

Their problems with our government using immigration law to deport suspected war criminals are valid:

1 – if they are indeed war criminals then they should be tried, convicted and jailed, not deported to become someone else’s problem. If not in their home country, we certainly have the laws that allow us to do that – with a recent case of someone involved in the Rwandan genocide being tried in Montreal.

2 – that we as a country have international human rights obligations, in particular not to send someone back to a country where they face risk of torture or execution or becoming “disappeared” – if so, then see number 1.

These are valid concerns, and AI has a right to express the concerns. Kenny, as a Minister of the Crown, responded carelessly for someone in his position, but given the support I see for his response and the negative tone from posters of AI’s legitimate concerns, I gather that many Canadians don’t care much for our international human rights obligations, are fine with using deportation instead of the criminal justice system to bring suspected war criminals to justice, and don’t particularly care there may be people on the list (I recall Haiti human rights advocates being mystified by one Haitian on the list that they’ve never heard of) who aren’t war criminals at all.

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I HAD TO TAKE A KICK AT THE CAN: crack-down on allowing suspected war criminals to enter Canada?? No. George Bush is the worst of the lot. He enters freely.

Sandra1007

6:23 PM on August 19, 2011 (But they chose not to publish on-line because of some reason that I do not understand.)

Ms Wente is selective in the criminals she selects as example.

I can think of one who is responsible for war crimes far worse than the ones she profiles. There is no crack-down on him. His name is George Bush. He came to Saskatoon in October 2009. People here presented the Laws and the Evidence of his culpability to all the responsible authorities, more than a month in advance of his arrival. He was not denied entry into Canada and he was not arrested. Instead he was paid a lot of money and tax-payers paid handsomely for police protection for him.

Bush is to speak in Vancouver (Surrey) on Oct 20, 2011. Jason Kenney with help from Ms Wente needs to ensure that George Bush is denied entry to Canada, or that he is arrested in Vancouver on October 20.

When officials do not carry out their responsibilities, it is up to citizens to see that they do. It is, afterall, OUR democracy. We do not have democracy if the laws do not apply equally to everyone.

2011-08-17 Break-through! Article on the Nuclear (Corporate) Conflicts-of-Interest at the University: Senators want board chair to step aside.

Corporatocracy or Democracy or Administrative State or WHAT?, Nuclear, Take back the University No Responses »

Aug 172011

Background is at: 2011-08-16 Revolution Canadian style? U of S Senators challenge conflicts-of-interest at the University while The Walkers challenge the Government’s corporate interests.

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Mary Jean writes:

USSWORD (University of Saskatchewan Senators WOrking to Revive Democracy) sent out a media advisory earlier this week about the Presidential Selection Search, Nancy Hopkins’ conflict-of-interest. A really good article was published today (Aug 17, 2011) on the topic.

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Note: re·cuse To disqualify or seek to disqualify from participation in a decision on grounds such as prejudice or personal involvement

– — – – – – – – – – – — –

I am not sure who wrote this Comment:

Nancy Hopkins’ and Peter MacKinnon’s responses to the USSWORD claims are typical, but purposely off the mark, I believe. After all, is the chair of the Presidential Search Committee going to recuse herself everytime discussion arises about one of the 2 or 3 candidates (for next president of the University) with ties to the nuclear industry? In any event, if we are to take Hopkins’ and MacKinnon’s statements of impartiality to their logical extreme, then Richard Florizone, Grant Isaac and others must be considered at a disadvantage because the Search Committee is bound to shy away from their nominations because of the controversy that would ensue. Also, Cameco supplying uranium to the proposed University reactor is the least of our concerns. What about the tremendous influence the nuclear industry has upon research and its results at the University because of the large corporate grants and representation on the Board of Governors? . . .

Senators want board chair to step aside

By Janet French, The StarPhoenix August 17, 2011 8:39 AM

A handful of University of Saskatchewan senators are calling on the chair of the board of governors to step aside because of her ties to one of the world’s largest uranium producers.

The senators also say lawyer Nancy Hopkins’s position as a board member for Cameco Corp. puts her in a conflict of interest chairing a search committee for a new university president.

In a letter sent to the university’s secretary and board vice-chair earlier this year, environmental lawyer and senator Stefania Fortugno points to equity Hopkins has at stake that rides on Cameco’s performance. Fortugno questions whether Hopkins’s role is connected to the university’s increasing focus on nuclear research.

“Any time that the University of Saskatchewan enlarges the role of the nuclear sciences on campus, through the appointment of faculty chairs, or establishing a new $30-million nuclear research centre and allocates scarce educational resources to the same, the share prices of Cameco Corporation correspondingly increase,” the letter says.

Another elected university senator, Mary Jean Hande, says Hopkins’s role on the presidential search committee is problematic because several candidates with ties to the nuclear industry are rumoured to be in the running.

“I think it would be very difficult to maintain that public research goal and vision of the university if it was run by somebody who was working in the corporate sector as well,” Hande said. “I think it would also undermine the university as a public institution that was creating and supporting research that was independent.”

Hopkins is calling the conflict of interest allegations “absurd,” and outgoing university president Peter MacKinnon says the call for her resignation is “a request without any grounds at all.”

MacKinnon said there is no doubt in his mind that Hopkins would excuse herself from discussions and voting on any topic where she had a perceived or actual conflict.

MacKinnon says 99.9 per cent of the business before the university’s board has nothing to do with Cameco.

“She’s an enormously sophisticated governance person and has terrific judgment,” he said. Universities’ relationships with corporate donors are long-term and typically involve university staff, not board directors, he says.

Hopkins – a partner at McDougall Gauley who practises business and corporate law – said it is a public, provincial government initiative to establish a nuclear research centre at the university, and even if Cameco did – for example – supply it with uranium, the effect on the corporation’s profits would be negligible. Cameco share prices are more likely tied to the price of uranium than a public relations splash about a university donation, she adds.

“Part of the problem is, this involves the nuclear business, which is a big flashpoint for many people,” Hopkins said.

The concerned senators are drawing attention to Hopkins’s role as part of larger concerns about the increasing influence of corporations in directing university research agendas and funding choices. Corporate citizens are filling the void as government funding to post-secondary institutions across the country covers fewer university expenses.

They say an increased focus on universities as job training factories means other valuable programs in fine arts and the humanities are battling cutbacks and chronic underfunding.

They’ve started a website called the University of Saskatchewan Senators Working to Revive Democracy. Hande says they want to draw attention to the university’s call for public input until Aug. 31 in selecting a new university president.

Hopkins chairs a 12-member committee searching for a replacement for MacKinnon, who will step down on June 30, 2012.

Corporate involvement on campus is not new, Hopkins said, adding universities need to be careful about the details of their agreements to ensure academics maintain independence.

“Perhaps it would be ideal if government and student tuitions could fund the entire cost of a first-quality university education, but we haven’t seen that in a very long time,” she said. “It is unrealistic to think that we’ll ever go back to that situation.”

MacKinnon says universities must stay engaged with the communities they serve or risk becoming irrelevant.

“It is not only inevitable, but it is that reaching out that allows us to do our work well.”

jfrench AT thestarphoenix.com

2011-08-16 Revolution Canadian style? U of S Senators challenge conflicts-of-interest at the University while The Walkers challenge the Government’s corporate interests.

Corporatocracy or Democracy or Administrative State or WHAT?, Nuclear, Take back the University No Responses »

Aug 162011

Recalling that

the citizens of Saskatchewan gave a resounding “No” to the nuclear industry through public consultations in 2009, and
Fukishima is providing all the “research” necessary, if there was ever any doubt about the nuclear industry:

CONTENTS

1. DELIVER A DOUBLE WHAMMY (7000 Generations Walk PLUS an email to the University).

2. PRESS RELEASE: Concerned Senators Create Website to Address Issues of Corporatization and Transparency at U of S

3. SOME BACKGROUND: THE UNIVERSITY AND THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY

4. LINKS TO PREVIOUS EMAILS REGARDING THE UNIVERSITY

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1. DELIVER A DOUBLE WHAMMY TO THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY (7000 Generations Walk PLUS an email to the University).

Wow! Let’s give a hand to the U of S Senators. (Full disclosure: I am one of them.)

See item #2, Concerned Senators Create Website to Address Issues of Corporatization and Transparency at U of S.

The University is being used as the back-door for the nuke industry. See links in item #3 – THE UNIVERSITY AND THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY.

Research into radioactive waste disposal (“safe storage”) is part of the mandate of the Nuclear Studies Centre at the University.

Meanwhile, the Committee for Future Generations has walked 820 km from northern Saskatchewan to Regina to say: stop the transport of radioactive waste.

WHAMMY #1: Carloads of people from around Saskatchewan are joining the Walkers for the last leg of the journey (August 16). I’ll be there! If you are anywhere near, join the 7000 Generations event – history in the making!

DOUBLE WHAMMY:

Make a short submission to the University (they have requested public input to the search for the next President).

Details are at: http://ussword.blogspot.com/ – “Presidential Search”. You will see where the conflicts-of-interest (Cameco’s positioning) are being challenged, for one thing. The deadline for input is August 31^st. There’s information and examples of submissions on the USSWORD blog. The issue is the corporatization of the University.

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PRESS RELEASE: Concerned Senators Create Website to Address Issues of Corporatization and Transparency at U of S

August 15, 2011. SASKATOON: A group of U of S Senators called USSWORD (University of Saskatchewan Senators Working to Revive Democracy) launch website to build a bridge between the U of S and the greater Saskatchewan community.

What: University of Saskatchewan Senators Working to Revive Democracy

When: August 15, 2011.

Where: http://ussword.blogspot.com/

USSWORD was started by a group of elected University of Saskatchewan Senators. The Senate is the voice of the community in the governance of the University. They join hands with other groups and individuals who are concerned to the point of taking action against disturbing trends at the University. They believe that the University is the knowledge base for the Saskatchewan community and as such, it is intended to serve all of society and deserves to be funded and supported publicly, without strings attached. Special corporate and government interests should not be allowed to influence the research agenda and teaching conducted at the University. Unfortunately, in recent years the reduction in support from federal and provincial governments has put pressure on the University to seek out and become beholden to corporate funding. USSWORD is extremely concerned about this trend and the impact it has had, and continues to have, on the University.

The USSWORD blog site provides an opportunity to get actively involved with USSWORD around these issues and provides impetus for meaningful engagement between the U of S and the Saskatchewan Community. “There are many ways that the public can get involved and influence the direction of the U of S,” explained Senator Jordan Miller, “However, the tools are not often readily available.” The USSWORD website facilitates this engagement, and encourages individuals to offer input into such important decision making processes as the current Presidential Selection Search. More information about the Presidential Selection Search and USSWORD can be found on their website.

-30-

For more information contact:

Jordan Miller Mary Jean Hande

Elected Member At Large Elected Member At Large

University of Saskatchewan Senate University of Saskatchewan Senate

jordanwmiller@yahoo.com meh567@mail.usask.ca

306-290-3128 647-458-5326

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3. SOME BACKGROUND: THE UNIVERSITY AND THE NUCLEAR INDUSTRY

BEFORE the public consultations on the “Uranium Development Partnership” (UDP) (2009), the University had already set up the Nuclear Studies Centre with a mandate that included research on “safe storage” of radioactive waste.

Richard Florizone, Vice-President of Finance of the University, would have known that the Nuke Studies Centre was already up and going, at a time when he was chairing the UDP. He did a video-taped presentation for the public consultation meetings. The nuke studies centre at the University was one of the four PROPOSED components of the UDP that the public “consultations” were about. Florizone never said that the Centre was already in existence.

Excerpt from 2009-11-29 NUKE – The Chronology

July 17, 2009: The On Campus News says “Nuclear studies centre already under development” … working at various points in the nuclear cycle, … that extends from exploration and mining to power production to “safe storage” (radioactive waste disposal). (Link no longer valid http://www.usask.ca/communications/ocn/09-july-17/2.php)

2009-12-24 NUKE: The University has soul-searching to do while it still has a soul to save.
2011-04-21 Tax-payers give $30 million (or $47?) to Nuke at U of S, Nancy Hopkins Chairs U Board of Governors, is on Cameco Board, has $1.8 million in Cameco shares, Chairs Search for next President +

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4. LINKS TO PREVIOUS EMAILS REGARDING THE UNIVERSITY

2011-06-24 Submission (part 1) to University of Saskatchewan: what is needed in the new president

2011-06-12 Submissions made by other people to the search for a president for a Canadian University

2011-06-12 GREAT OPPORTUNITY! The University wants your input on the characteristics of the next president.

2011-05-05 Selection of next president for University: The Chancellor is appointed as the Representative for the Senate on the Search Committee.

2011-04-28 Lawyer Stefania Fortugno, letter to University re conflicts-of-interest, nuclear industry Cameco on Board of Governors

2011-04-21 Tax-payers give $30 million (or $47?) to Nuke at U of S, Nancy Hopkins Chairs U Board of Governors, is on Cameco Board, has $1.8 million in Cameco shares, Chairs Search for next President +

2011-04-02 Lawsuit seeks to invalidate Monsanto’s GMO patents

2011-01-21 Top U of S officials face criticism over law dean selection

2011-01-08 “Inside Job”, movie narrated by Matt Damon, highly recommended (role of University personnel – – not U of S – – )

2010-02-11 Manipulators without conscience. This is your food. Bayer’s GM rice. Triffid (U of S) GM flax. Jane Jacobs on separation of commerce and governance.

2010-12-20 Big Pharma – Dollars for Docs (PBS Nightly Business Report). Stanford Medical School Professors Violate Rules By Accepting Paid Speaking Roles.

2009-12-24 NUKE: The University has soul-searching to do while it still has a soul to save.

2009-11-19 H1N1 (or nukes or gmo’s or energy) in the context of “Selling Out”: the larger issue. Immune systems. TB. Constant Gardener.

2009-11-15 Corporatized universities devalue education

2009-11-04 EXTRAORDINARY, JK Rowling. Howard Woodhouse. Jane Jacobs. Universities & Values.

2009-10-10 Corporations at the Universities. Selling Out. Richard Florizone and UDP. Nuclear at the University.

2009-09-10 “Triffid” GM flax seed coming to you, compliments of the University of Saskatchewan?

2005-08-05 But what’s happening in the forest? (Science under siege) & Successful Revolutions (Science under siege is an excellent article)

2006-04-12 Real-life experience. PPP’s and corruption in action. Government-University-Chemical Biotech.

2004-01-11 Biotech critics at risk, San Francisco Chronicle. Scientists attacked. Corruption of science by corporate interests.

2011-08-08 Two American men CAN sue Donald Rumsfeld after ‘being tortured by U.S. army in Iraq when they worked for security firm’

George Bush war criminal No Responses »

Aug 112011

The UK Daily Mail reports on it: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2024036/2-Americans-CAN-sue-Donald-Rumsfeld-tortured-US-army-Iraq.html#ixzz1UlPZqjXz

Please go to the above link. Watch the video of the interview with Donald Vance. It’s near the bottom. It is important.

I copied the written article below. The link to the video doesn’t copy.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Pair say their rights of ‘habeas corpus’ were violated
‘Having judges second guess the decisions made by the army … is no way to wage a war,’ counters lawyer
By Oliver Pickup

Last updated at 10:01 PM on 9th August 2011

Rumsfeld, pictured in April, stepped down from his post as U.S. Secretary of Defence in December 2007

Two American men will be allowed to sue former Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld over claims that they were unfairly tortured by U.S. troops in Iraq.

Donald Vance and Nathan Ertel, who worked for a private security firm in the Middle East country, were allegedly beaten and punished for months in 1996 at Camp Cropper near Baghdad before being dumped at the airport without charge.

The pair argue that their rights of ‘habeas corpus’ – the legal term for unlawful detention – were violated, and are seeking damages from 79-year-old Rumsfeld, who was succeeded by Robert Gates in December 2007, and unnamed others.

Vance and Ertel had been hired by Shield Group Security, an Iraqi firm who the duo believed were involved in some questionable dealings, including illegal bribery and other corruption activities.

They flagged up their concerns to the U.S. authorities and began co-operating with the Federal Bureau of Investigation – and in early 2006 they were taken into custody and slung into Camp Cropper, the notorious holding facility for security detainees near Baghdad International Airport.

The whistle-blowers claim that they were forced to undergo harsh and prolonged interrogations at the same place Sadam Hussain lived his last years, and they were subjected to physical and emotional abuse.

Among the methods of torture used against them during several weeks in military camps was sleep deprivation and a practice known as ‘walling’, in which subjects are blindfolded and walked into walls, according to the lawsuit.

Scroll down to see a video of Donald Vance making his claims

Camp Cropper is a notorious holding facility that is located near to Baghdad International Airport

Donald Vance, who is suing former US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld

SCANDALS IN IRAQ

There have been a number of complaints against the U.S. over their treatment of prisoners in Iraq, and there have been a number of controversies along the way.

In 2003, Donald Rumsfeld instituted a policy that ‘encouraged physical coercion and sexual humiliation of Iraqi prisoners in an effort to generate more intelligence about the growing insurgency in Iraq’.

In November 2005 173 detainees were found in an Iraqi government bunker in Baghdad were found starved, beaten and tortured.

In December 2005 John Pace, human rights chief for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI), said an estimated 14,000 people being held in prison in Iraq contrary to UN Resolution 1546.

In October 2009 21 colour photographs surfaced, showing prisoners in Afghanistan and Iraq being abused by their U.S. captors.

And in December 2010 nearly 400,000 secret U.S. army field reports and war logs, detailing torture, summary executions and war crimes, were released through whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks.

Some 97 days later, they allege that they were unceremoniously dumped at the airport and never charged with a crime.

At that point they sued for unspecified damages insisting that their constitutional rights had been violated and claiming that U.S. officials knew that they were innocent.

The lawsuit alleges Mr Rumsfeld personally participated in approving the methods for use by the U.S. military in Iraq, making him responsible, it argues, for what happened to Mr Vance and Mr Ertel.

In 2003, Mr Rumsfeld instituted a policy that ‘encouraged physical coercion and sexual humiliation of Iraqi prisoners in an effort to generate more intelligence about the growing insurgency in Iraq’.

And yesterday a panel of three judges at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago upheld the decision made by a federal judge in Illinois, voting 2-1.

The verdict paves the way for the lawsuit to proceed, in spite of the best efforts of the U.S. government to have the case thrown out.

‘We agree with the district court that the plaintiffs have alleged sufficient facts to show that Secretary Rumsfeld personally established the relevant policies that caused the alleged violations of their constitutional rights during detention,’ the court ruled.

Mr Rumsfeld’s lawyer hit back at the ruling, which rejected arguments that he should be immune from such lawsuits for work performed as a cabinet secretary, and said the appeals court decision was a huge dent to the U.S. military.

More…

David Rivkin said: ‘Having judges second guess the decisions made by the armed forces halfway around the world is no way to wage a war.

‘It saps the effectiveness of the military, puts American soldiers at risk, and shackles federal officials who have a constitutional duty to protect America.’

U.S. Circuit Judge David Hamilton wrote yesterday: ‘There can be no doubt that the deliberate infliction of such treatment on U.S. citizens, even in a war zone, is unconstitutional.’

2011-08-08 Torture Charges Go Forward Against Bush-Era Defense Secretary (from Nation of Change)

George Bush war criminal No Responses »

Aug 112011

http://www.nationofchange.org/torture-charges-go-forward-against-bush-era-defense-secretary-1312990464

Torture Charges Go Forward Against Bush-Era Defense Secretary

Kanya D’Almeida

Inter Press Service / News Analysis

Published: Wednesday 10 August 2011

“Held without a trial or court hearing and tortured, the plaintiffs are suing for damages rendered against them in Camp Cropper.”

On Apr. 16, 2006, for reasons still unknown to them, two U.S. contractors in Iraq’s Red Zone were handcuffed, blindfolded and transported to Camp Cropper, a U.S. military facility located a few miles from Baghdad International Airport.

There, Donald Vance, a Navy veteran from Illinois and Nathan Ertel, a U.S. government contractor hailing from Virginia, experienced a “nightmarish scene”, in which they were held incommunicado in solitary confinement and subject to physical and psychological torture for the duration of their imprisonment.

This Monday, nearly five years since their ordeal, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago ruled that the plaintiffs could move forward with a lawsuit against the person who allegedly approved the operation – former U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

Held without a trial or court hearing and tortured – Ertel for six weeks, Vance for nearly three months – the plaintiffs are suing for damages rendered against them in Camp Cropper, where Rumsfeld and several other unnamed officials allegedly “developed, authorized and used harsh interrogation techniques [on them]”, thus violating their basic civil, constitutional and human rights.

Upholding a 2010 lower court ruling on the issue, the three-judge panel voted two-to-one Monday to allow the case to move forward, on the basis that “[the plaintiffs’] complaint alleges in detail that they were detained and illegally tortured by U.S. military [and] released from military custody without ever being charged with a crime.”

In the final court decision, Judge David Hamilton wrote, “This appeal raises fundamental questions about the relationship between the citizens of our country and their government,” adding that the plaintiffs were also justified in bringing a claim against the U.S. under the Administrative Procedure Act to recover personal items such as laptops and cell phones that were seized by U.S. forces prior to their detention.

“While the United States government has failed to live up to its legal and moral obligation to provide remedies for so many victims of U.S. sponsored torture, these two cases demonstrate that holding officials accountable in U.S. courts remains a possibility,” Melina Milazzo, a Law and Security Program fellow with Human Rights First, said in a press release Tuesday.

Help us speak truth to power. Donate what you can afford to support NationofChange.

“A state of war is not a blank cheque for senior officials to authorise torture. The integrity and security of our armed forces are [only] safeguarded when those who violate our core principles and values are held to account,” Milazzo told IPS.

From corruption to intelligence to “interrogation”

The Vance-Ertel case exposes the myriad links between private contractors, U.S. forces, U.S. government officials and intelligence agencies that often converge in the dark cells of detention centres such as Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo Bay and Camp Cropper.

According to court documents, both Vance and Ertel were employees of the private U.S. government contractor Shield Group Security at the time of their arrest, stationed just outside the so-called safe or ‘Green’ Zone in Bagdad.

In 2005 and 2006, Vance and Ertel became increasingly aware of corruption within Shield Group Security, noting, among other suspicious activity, that the company was making payments to Iraqi sheikhs – likely to “obtain influence” with powerful local players – and accumulating a cache of weapons that was flowing steadily to officials from the Iraqi Interior Ministry, which had ties to armed militias and death squads.

Alarmed by situation, Vance and Ertel began passing information on the company, sometimes on a biweekly basis, to the Federal Bureau of Investigation – until they were whisked away to Camp Cropper in early April 2006 for “work[ing] for a business entity that possessed weapons… on its premises and [being] involved in the possible distribution of these weapons to insurgent/terrorist groups,” Ertel’s detention notice read.

According to the Chicago court’s decision, the men then endured conditions that were “perfectly consistent with torture treatments approved by Rumsfeld’s Defense Department,” including living in cells whose walls were smeared with feces, being deprived of food and water, forcibly kept awake in brightly lit rooms, and made to endure “intolerably” cold temperatures.

“Even Saddam Hussein had more legal counsel than I ever had,” Vance told the New York Times in 2006, adding that he and Ertel wrote a letter to the camp commandant claiming that, “the same democratic ideals we [the U.S.] are trying to instill in the fledgling democratic country of Iraq, from simple due process to the Magna Carta, we are absolutely, positively refusing to follow ourselves.”

At the same time, First Lieutenant Lea Ann Fracasso, spokeswoman for the Pentagon’s detention operations in Iraq, insisted that the men had been “treated fair and humanely”, adding that there was no record of their written complaints.

U.S. government’s response

Rumsfeld’s attorneys attempted to dismiss the lawsuit on the grounds that the secretary of defense should enjoy immunity from criminal actions.

Rumsfeld also claimed that the plaintiffs should be denied recompense, since the violation of their constitutional rights occurred in a war zone.

The court rejected the claim that government officials should be above the law, stating in its final decision, “We see no persuasive justification in … case law or otherwise for [Rumsfeld’s] most sweeping argument, which would deprive civilian U.S. citizens of a civil judicial remedy for torture or even cold-blooded murder by federal officials and soldiers, at any level, in a war zone.”

“United States law provides a civil damages remedy for aliens who are tortured by their own governments. It would be startling and unprecedented to conclude that the United States would not provide such a remedy to its own citizens,” the decision said.

Civil liberties and human rights advocates say that while the court’s decision sends out an extremely hopeful message about accountability and justice, it is a sobering reminder of the detainees who are either still languishing in detention cells or have yet to receive any compensation for the months, or even years, of their lives that may have been stolen by U.S. interrogators.

“This is a good first step, but it would be even better if the administration authorised a full criminal investigation into overwhelming evidence of other instances of detention and torture,” Andrea Prasow, senior counsel in Human Rights Watch’s Terrorism and Counterterrorism Programme, told IPS.

In July, HRW published a detailed report on the mistreatment of detainees under the administration of former President George W. Bush, which the group said presented more than sufficient evidence to warrant criminal investigations into the possible complicity of top U.S. officials like Rumsfeld, former Vice President Dick Cheney and George Tenet, then-director of the CIA.

2011-08-11 Update, Get Bush Arrested in Vancouver + Appeal Court upholds Don Vance & Nathan Ertel’s leave to sue Donald Rumsfeld. Plus.

George Bush war criminal No Responses »

Aug 112011

(This posting is in follow-up to 2011-08-01 The Swiss caused Geo Bush to cancel his visit to Geneva. Can we do the same? Bush speaking in Surrey, B.C. (Vancouver) Thursday, October 20^th, 2011.)

If you have time for one thing, watch the short newscast interview with Donald Vance. (The UK Daily Mail, Two American men CAN sue Donald Rumsfeld after ‘being tortured by U.S. army in Iraq when they worked for security firm.)

Click on, the video is near the bottom: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2024036/2-Americans-CAN-sue-Donald-Rumsfeld-tortured-US-army-Iraq.html#ixzz1UlPZqjXz (Countdown, the torture of Don Vance)

CONTENTS

HALLELUJAH! APPEAL COURT UPHOLDS DECISION: TWO AMERICANS CAN SUE DONALD RUMSFELD OVER TORTURE
IF BUSH OR CHENEY STEP FOOT IN BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT, THE POLICE HAVE TO ARREST THEM FOR WAR CRIMES (2008) (this is not the only community)
WE ARE EACH OF US TAKING OUR PLACE IN A GLOBAL, HUMAN REVOLUTION … WITH MANY THANKS TO BLAKE MACLEOD

– – – – – – – – – – — –

PREAMBLE

On one hand I say “Hallelujah!”, the court case against Donald Rumsfeld is going ahead.

On the other hand, I watched the video interview with Donald Vance, one of the people who are pressing forward with the court action. And I can’t speak.

Blake’s words in item #3 will mean even more after you watch the video. If Donald Vance can do what he is doing, after going through the torture meted out by the American military, we can get enough information to enough people to ensure that George Bush gets arrested when he is in Vancouver. In solidarity.

Note: Organizing is underway to Get Bush Arrested in Vancouver on October 20^th. It is Very exciting with people and organizations from North America involved. Please let me know if you wish to participate in the organizing. We could use some people from Switzerland and Surrey and everywhere!!

Specific NEED: someone to set it up on facebook – – – are you someone?! Get Bush Arrested in Vancouver on October 20, 2011 (or a name decided by the organizers) .

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HALLELUJAH! APPEAL COURT UPHOLDS DECISION: TWO AMERICANS CAN SUE DONALD RUMSFELD OVER TORTURE

We have been following the case of Don Vance and Nathan Ertel:

2010-03-05 Court Allows Torture Suit Against Former Defense Sec’t Donald Rumsfeld (The first time in American history that court allows torture suit against current or former Cabinet Secretary)

U.S. Federal Judge Wayne Anderson’s ruling was appealed.

Hallelujah! On August 8^th, 2011:

“ .. a panel of three judges at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago upheld the decision made by a federal judge in Illinois, voting 2-1.

The verdict paves the way for the lawsuit to proceed, . . . .

Thanks to Citizens for Legitimate Government (CLG). I noticed the news on their feed:

Two American men CAN sue Donald Rumsfeld after ‘being tortured by U.S. army in Iraq’ –Pair say their rights of ‘habeas corpus’ were violated. Donald Vance and Nathan Ertel, who worked for a private security firm in the Middle East country, were allegedly beaten and punished for months in 2006 at Camp Cropper near Baghdad before being dumped at the airport without charge. The pair argue that their rights of ‘habeas corpus’ – the legal term for unlawful detention – were violated, and are seeking damages from Rumsfeld, who was succeeded by Robert Gates in December 2007, and unnamed others.

– – – – – – – – – – —

The UK Daily Mail report on it: 2011-08-08 Two American men CAN sue Donald Rumsfeld . . .

Watch the video of the interview with Donald Vance. It’s near the bottom. It is very important.

– – – – – — – – – – – – – –

The article at Nation of Change is very good and contains quotes from the court decision, click on 2011-08-08 Torture Charges Go Forward Against Bush-Era Defense Secretary

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2. IF BUSH OR CHENEY STEP FOOT IN BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT, THE POLICE HAVE TO ARREST THEM FOR WAR CRIMES (2008) (this is not the only community)

Susan from the U.S. writes (August 2011):

Brattleboro Vermont passed a resolution in 2008: if Bush or Cheney should ever step foot in town the police would have to arrest them for war crimes. (Link below). The world is getting smaller and smaller for these criminals.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=va&aid=8257

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To be arrested in Brattleboro “if they are not duly impeached”

Brattleboro Town Clerk Annette Cappy stands in her office holding a sample ballot.

The courageous people of Brattleboro, Vermont have taken the lead! Frustrated that elected officials have refused to introduce articles of impeachment in defiance of their constituents’ demands, the people of Brattelboro voted to direct town officials to draw up indictment papers against George Bush and Dick Cheney for violating their oath of office.

The Brattleboro vote took place during the Tuesday’s Vermont primary election. Bush supporters launched a major campaign to discredit the referendum resolution and the organizers. Yet the resolution passed by a vote of 2012 in favor to 1795 against.

“Shall the Selectboard instruct the Town Attorney to draft indictments against President Bush and Vice President Cheney for crimes against our Constitution, and publish said indictments for consideration by other authorities and shall it be the law of the Town of Brattleboro that the Brattleboro Police, pursuant to the above-mentioned indictments, arrest and detain George Bush and Richard Cheney in Brattleboro if they are not duly impeached, and prosecute or extradite them to other authorities that may reasonably contend to prosecute them?” The people of Brattleboro answered, “yes!”

The indictment means that Bush and Cheney can be arrested for criminal acts should they ever enter Brattleboro. The indictment would go into effect after Bush and Cheney leave office.

The Brattleboro resolution is becoming a powerful organizing model for cities and towns around the country. The impeachment movement has sunk deep roots throughout this country. The people of the United States are demanding not only that the Constitution be restored, but that the President, Vice President and other officials be held accountable for committing high crimes and misdemeanors.

The Brattleboro resolution shows that even where Congressional representatives are refusing to follow the majority sentiment demanding impeachment, that the people themselves can take action.

When Ramsey Clark launched the ImpeachBush / VoteToImpeach.org movement in January 2003 he sparked something entirely new. In the face of the aggression and arrogance of the Bush Administration, he launched a movement for the people to take back the Constitution. In Vermont, more than 40 town councils voted in favor of impeachment. Throughout California and in the other states of the union, the grassroots movement has put impeachment on the table through referendum, resolutions, demonstrations, rallies, newspaper ads and door-to-door petitioning.

In the next two weeks, ImpeachBush.org is joining with the anti-war movement for mass protests around the country. We are organizing buses, car caravans, printing placards and banners and making sure the call for Impeachment resounds on this coming 5th anniversary of the criminal war in Iraq. These will be locally and regionally coordinated mass actions in cities and towns throughout the country.

The movement is spreading because of the commitment and sacrifice of thousands of individuals who are engaged as volunteers in day-to-day organizing. Everyone should be proud of their work because this is a movement that belongs to all of us.

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3. WE ARE EACH OF US TAKING OUR PLACE IN A GLOBAL, HUMAN REVOLUTION … WITH MANY THANKS TO BLAKE MACLEOD

Note: sub·rep·tion (a new word to me!)

1. A calculated misrepresentation through concealment of the facts.

2. An inference drawn from such a misrepresentation.

Blake writes:

We are each of us taking our place in a global, human revolution; a movement against a constant and relentless assault on our democratic rights and freedoms, and against our efforts to create a better world.

The counter revolution is being surreptitiously driven by ‘free market forces’ and narrow ideology, is promoted by our own governments by subreption, and it uses our military and police against us.

This is not new; this tension between opposing interests has existed through all human history. What is new is the manner in which we are rising to resist it, and that we are motivated now by our desire to protect the global commons for all life on earth.

We have become true global citizens. We see now that humanity is both obstacle and solution in this struggle, and when we must resolve this conflict if we are to succeed. Every conversation should be framed in this context, because doing so will allow us all to work together…not only to survive, but to create a better world.

2011-08-05 NUKE: Yahoo! Things are cookin’! 7000 Generation Walk Against Nuclear Waste (will be in Saskatoon Aug 7-8, Sunday evening and Monday)

Radioactive waste No Responses »

Aug 052011

I can hardly keep my butt on my chair long enough to write. This is so exciting!

People from northern Saskatchewan have done an incredible job of organizing an 800 km, 22-day walk to the Saskatchewan legislature. What a blast it has become!

I read Jim Harding’s article about the 7000 Generation Walk (Aug 4^th – scroll down, it follows “ITINERARY”). It’s one of his best. It’s exciting BUT THEN, I realized that it got published in the Saskatoon Star Phoenix!!! This doesn’t happen in Cameco City. WOW! what a break-through.

There are people coming from Lloydminster (a 3-hour drive from the northwest), Archerwill (a 3-hour drive from the east), etc. to join in the Saskatoon events on Sunday evening and Monday. Some will overnite at my place. The air is full of song and dance and celebration and excitement! Sock it to ‘em, baby!

THE BIG DAY: TUESDAY, August 16 – March the Green Mile to Saskatchewan Legislature, arrive @ noon

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, different websites: http://forum.stopthehogs.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1082

http://www.cleangreensask.ca/ PETITION: The Committee for Future Generations

Scroll down to Northern Saskatchewan Says No To Nuclear Waste and Click on Links in article…..

The Committee for Future Generations has launched a petition calling on the Saskatchewan Government to permanently ban nuclear waste storage & transportation into, out of & through Saskatchewan.

Read the Open Letter to the People of Saskatchewan & share widely.

The Committee is planning an 820 km walk from Pinehouse to Regina this summer to raise awareness of this issue. They will be collecting petitions calling for a legislated ban on nuclear waste. Stay tuned or contact the group for more details.

The Committee is encouraging the formation of chapters in other communities to demonstrate solidarity to Say No to Nuclear Waste.

Post on the Facebook page or send an email to

committeeforfuturegenerations@gmail.com

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ITINERARY: 7000 Generations Walk Against Nuclear Waste

Pinehouse to Regina

WALKERS: BE PROUD OF YOUR CROWD! FLY A BANNER WITH YOUR COMMUNITY NAME!

Date Communities Distance km Sections*/km Total Km Total Days

July 27 – Pinehouse to Beauval – 107 4 – 27 107 1

July 28 – Beauval to Green Lake – 103 4 – 26 210 2

Joined@ Beauval Forks by NorthWest communities

Joined @ Green Lake by Meadow Lake

July 29 – Green Lake to Cowan – 29 — 239 3

July 30 – Cowan to Big River – 48 2 – 24 277 4

July 31 – Big River to Debden – 38.3 2 – 19 315 5

August 1 – Debden to Shellbrook – 49.6 2 – 25 365 6

August 2 – Shellbrook to PA – 45.1 2 – 22.5 387.5 7

August 3 – Noon gathering @ Prince Albert City Hall Memorial Square – Musician LEONARD ADAM 8

————————————————————————

Prince Albert to Saskatoon – 174.4 km

August 4 – PA to Duck Lake – 57.6 3 – 19.2 445.1 9

August 5 – Duck Lake to Batoche – 23 — 468 10

August 6 – Batoche to Osler – 62 3 – 21 530 11

7000 generations walk stop in Osler

The 7000 generations walk will pass through the town of Osler on Aug:06 on its way from Pinehouse and Beauval to Regina. Osler Mennonite Church is offering camping space, billets and supper to the walkers August 6th. There is a public event at the church, starting at 7.30 p.m. with a welcome from the town’s mayor, Ben Buhler. This will be followed by a shared meal, and some “circle time” in which walkers and others can share and listen to the stories of each others’ communities.

(A number of Osler people experienced and resisted the nuclear industry’s attempt to move into their community in the late 1970s with the proposal for a uranium refinery just down the road by Warman. Others who were involved in the campaign against the refinery would be particularly welcome.)

Walk leader Max Morin wrote to Osler Mennonite Church: “We are humbled for your kind and generous offer. We will be leaving Prince Albert on August 4 and camping in Duck Lake. We walk from Duck to Batoche on August 5, Batoche to Osler on August 6, and Osler to Saskatoon on August 7th. We are gathering water from every community, river, and stream that we walk past, and we would be more than happy to collect your water from Osler. This symbolizes that we are all connected by water. We would then pour this water into a jar of all the water collected along the way and Osler. We list every place that water is taken from.” Ben Buhler will present some of Osler’s water to the walkers.

Everyone welcome. Some food will be provided, but feel free to bring more and share it.

—————

August 7 – Osler to Saskatoon – 25.2 — 555.2 12

Joined by Lloydminster/North Battleford

August 7 (Sunday) – Evening of Entertainment in Saskatoon, Ave H & 20th Street 13

August 8 (Monday)- Noon Gathering @ Saskatoon City Hall Grounds

Musician CHESTER KNIGHT

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Saskatoon to Regina – 260 km

August 9 – Saskatoon to Dundurn – 41.9 2 – 21 597 14

August 10 – Dundurn to Kenaston – 40.34 2 -20 637.3 15

August 11 – Kenaston to Davidson – 34.1 — 671.4 16

August 12 – Davidson to Craik – 30 — 701.4 17

August 13 – Craik to Chamberlain – 30 — 731 18

August 14 – Chamberlain to Lumsden – 58 2 – 29 788.4 19

August 15 – Lumsden to Regina – 34.6 – 823 20

August 16 – March the Green Mile to Saskatchewan Legislature, arrive @ noon 21

– Musician Andrea Menard tentative.

August 17 – Depart for home 22

*Sections are walked concurrently

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Stand up for entire province
http://www.thestarphoenix.com/news/todays-paper/Stand+entire+province/5202914/story.html
�
BY JIM HARDING, THE STAR PHOENIX AUGUST 4, 2011
�
Thirty northerners left Pinehouse on July 27 on the 7000 Generations Walk Against Nuclear Waste.

Participants in the 22day, 800-kilometre walk through 12 communities, with rallies in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina, will present petitions to the government.

Indigenous, environmental and ecumenical networks are supporting this unprecedented action, with northerners calling for southern support to win a ban on nuclear waste storage. The controversy should become a fall election issue. The NDP, which has a policy against a nuclear dump in the province, has indicated it will support the walk.

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization has changed its tack in light of the growing opposition to a nuclear dump in the north. Its communications director, Jamie Robinson, contacted the Committee for Future Generations, the Coalition for a Clean Green Saskatchewan, and the Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES) to invite members to an all-expenses-paid tour “to a waste management facility at a nuclear generating station in South Ontario.”

NWMO said it wanted to “hear their concerns and questions.”

The timing is interesting, for NWMO declined to send anyone to the June 2 forum at Beauval. This was the largest, broadest based northern discussion of nuclear wastes to date, and would have been an opportune time to hear “concerns and questions.” Forum organizers wanted the industry view presented and, when no one turned up, they played two NWMO videos at the start of the meeting.

The northern committee has called for more transparency on NWMO’s spending. A July 27 Star-Phoenix story reported that: “Resources of up to $75,000 per community were made available for expenses incurred at this stage of the selection process.” The story doesn’t mention the $1 million NWMO gave to the FSIN or the $400,000 for the Métis Nation.

The committee has also asked what payments go to the hand-picked elders “advising” NWMO. Agency spokesman Michael Krizanc admitted they receive “a per diem that would be several hundred dollars a day.” That means when an NWMO-appointed elder such as Jim Sinclair attends any community forum to try to convince people to consider a nuclear dump, he is paid for it. Such monetary inducements undermine informed consent and the duty to consult.

Pinehouse official Glen McCallum suggests that the community is “just interested in gathering information,” yet village officials haven’t contacted people outside the industry. It took the Committee for Future Generations to have an open public forum in the community. It’s hard to accept that “there is no coercion” occurring; a private Pinehouse NWMO meeting talked of the need to “sugar-coat” nuclear wastes.

Krizanc says NWMO wants an “informed and willing” community to display its consent in a “compelling” way. He adds, “We haven’t defined what a compelling way is yet.”

What is compelling is the growing opposition to a nuclear dump.

In a StarPhoenix viewpoint on July 28, Pinehouse spokesperson Vince Natomagan attacked the Beauval forum for sending a “fear-based, short-sighted message.” Natomagan tried to make it seem as if the environmental society supported his position, without mentioning that the SES supports a nuclear waste ban in Saskatchewan.

Natomagan supported Sinclair, who was heckled at the Beauval forum, without mentioning that the elder was initially applauded when he began his speech by opposing a nuclear dump. Sinclair flip-flopped and ended up supporting a dump, as if that was the way to help the next generation avoid addiction, suicide and prison.

Such manipulation of the deep concern about the social crisis in the North may be backfiring. A founder of the Committee for Future Generations, retired RCMP officer Max Morin, told The SP that he was invited to be part of an elder’s summit focused on problems of death and addiction among the community’s youth. “Two hours in, the meeting turned out to be a presentation on nuclear waste storage set up by those working with NWMO.”

Northern Saskatchewan remains Canada’s second poorest region despite the uranium mining “boom.”

Bringing 20,000 truckloads of highly radioactive nuclear waste from Ontario won’t change that, but it will jeopardize sustainability.

The northerners walking from Pinehouse to Regina not only are standing up for the future of the north but for the future of Saskatchewan.

Harding is a retired professor of environmental and justice studies. He is active with Kairos and the Coalition for a Clean Green Saskatchewan.

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Saskatchewan: 800 kilometre Walk Heats Up Nuclear Waste Controversy

From: Gordon Edwards

Sent: Monday, August 01, 2011 6:38 PM

Background:

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is owned and operated by the three utility companies that run nuclear power reactors in Canada: Ontario Power Generation (OPG) with 22 reactors, Hydro Quebec with 1 reactor, and the New Brunswick Power Corporation with 1 reactor.

These three provincial government-owned corporations are responsible for producing almost all of Canada’s high-level radioactive waste in the form of irradiated nuclear

fuel. (Smaller amounts are produced by research reactors at Chalk River, Ontario, owned by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), and by reactors at various universities — notably McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.)

NWMO is currently courting some of the economically deprived communities in Northern Saskatchewan, hoping to find a town whose leaders will accept with open arms the nuclear garbage from power reactors that light up the cities in Southern Ontario and other less disadvantaged places.

The nuclear industry regards radioactive waste as a serious public relations problem that threatens to impede the expansion of the industry; thus NWMO has a built-in conflict of interest – the desire to make it seem as if the radioactive waste has gone away and will no longer pose a threat to the ecosphere for millions of years to come.

Despite the seductive lure of “economic development” and the unremitting pro-nuclear propaganda that accompanies it, despite the one-sided and partial explanation of long-term nuclear waste management that routinely omits any discussion of plutonium extraction or the health effects of chronic radiation exposure, a courageous group of people from Northern Saskatchewan are walking 800 km to express their opposition to a nuclear waste dump in Saskatchewan.

Citizens of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and other parts of Canada and the world have an opportunity to express their solidarity with these brave marchers.

Send messages of support to Jim Harding: hardingd@sasktel.net , with a copy to me at: ccnr@web.ca

Jim will relay those messages of support to the leaders of the march, and I will ensure that those same messages reach our political representatives in Ottawa.

Gordon Edwards, President

Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility

www.ccnr.org

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800 KM WALK HEATS UP NUCLEAR WASTE CONTROVERSY

BY Jim Harding

For publication in R-Town News chain – August 5, 2011

Much has happened since the Forum for Truth on Nuclear Waste Storage was held in Beauval June 2^nd. Organized in two weeks by the newly-formed Committee for Future Generations, the forum was attended by 200 people, most from ten northern communities. Within a few weeks committee members had organized a second forum, held in Pinehouse July 26^th. The next day thirty northerners left Pinehouse to begin a twenty day, 7000 Generations Walk Against Nuclear Waste, which will end up at the Regina Legislature.

The 800 km walk will pass through twelve communities, with rallies in Prince Albert on August 3nd, Saskatoon on August 8^th and Regina August 15th. On August 16^th the walk will go down The Green Mile along Albert Street to present petitions to the Wall government. Organizers are encouraging supporters to join in the walk wherever they can and for however long they can. Several carloads are expected to join the walkers at Lumsden the morning of August 15^th.

This is no small feat and walkers are bound to be tested by this summer’s extreme weather. First Nations, Métis, environmental and ecumenical networks are providing lodging, food and support along the route. This is an unprecedented event, with northerners calling for southern support to win a nuclear waste ban.

The mainstream media is finally reporting the growing opposition to a nuclear dump in the north. Provincial politics is heating up and the nuclear waste controversy may yet become a fall election issue. The NDP, which has a policy against a nuclear dump, has now indicated it will support the walk. We will see whether this resonates with the voting public or is seen as getting on the band wagon late in the game. Organizers want support from any and all groups that are willing to help; it’s a politically non-partisan action.

NWMO’S RESPONSE

The Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO), which has been promoting a nuclear dump In the north, appears to have changed its approach since the success of the Beauval forum. On July 21^st, a week prior to the July 26^th Pinehouse forum, NWMO’s Communications Director, Jamie Robinson, contacted the Committee for Future Generations, the Coalition for a Clean Green Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Environmental Society (SES). It invited members to come on an all-expense paid tour “to a waste management facility at a nuclear generating station in South Ontario where used nuclear fuel is currently stored on an interim basis.” NWMO said it wanted to “hear their concerns and questions and to provide a briefing about our activities.”

These tours are regularly given to political officials and business groups to try to get them onside. The timing of this invitation to opponents of a nuclear dump is most interesting, for it came after the NWMO declined to send anyone to the Beauval forum. This was the largest, broadest-based discussion of nuclear wastes to occur in the north to date, and would have been an opportune time for them to hear “concerns and questions”. (The forum organizers wanted the industry view presented and when no one turned up they bent over backwards and played two NWMO videos at the beginning of the meeting.)

NWMO’s invitation could have created divisions, but on July 25^th the Committee simply responded “we are unable to attend at this time as we are extremely busy with our forum in Pinehouse and our 7000 Generations Walk to the legislature in Regina.” We’ll have to wait and see whether the offer to take people opposed to a nuclear dump here, to Ontario, where the wastes are produced and should be stored, still stands after the summer’s activities.

TRANSPARENCY REQUIRED

The Committee for Future Generations has been calling for more transparency from NWMO; they want to know what money is going into the north as part of its promotions. A July 27^th Star Phoenix story sheds some light on this, reporting that “Resources of up to $75,000 per community were made available for expenses incurred at this stage of the selection process…” The story fails, however, to mention the $1,000,000 that went to the FSIN or the $400,000 that went to the Métis Nation.

The Committee has also been asking NWMO what payments have been going to the hand-picked elders that are “advising” it. When pushed on this, NWMO’s Toronto-based spokesman, Michael Krizanc, admitted they received “a per diem that would be several hundred dollars a day”. That means that when NWMO-appointed elder, Jim Sinclair, for example, goes to any community forum to try to convince people to consider a nuclear dump, he is getting paid. Such monetary inducements completely go against the meaning of “duty to consult” and “informed consent”.

There’s a lot of twisting of words in this controversy. Pinehouse official Glen McCallum suggests that the community is “just interested in gathering information”, yet village officials haven’t contacted people outside the industry, and it took forming the Committee for Future Generations to get an open public forum in the community. It’s hard to accept that “there is no coercion” going on behind the scene. Industry spokesperson Krizanc says NWMO wants an “informed and willing” community to display its willingness in a “compelling” way, but then adds “we haven’t defined what a compelling way is yet”. What is compelling is the growing opposition to a nuclear dump!

MANIPULATION EXPOSED

Those working behind the scene may be getting nervous. Pinehouse spokesperson, Vince Natomagan, had an op ed in the July 28^th Star Phoenix, just the day after the 7000 Generations Walk left his community. He attacked the June 2^nd Beauval forum as sending a “fear-based, short-sighted message”, while failing to say anything about the opposition to a nuclear dump expressed at the July 26th Pinehouse forum . Natomagan tried to make the SES sound like it supported his position, without mentioning that the SES supports a ban on nuclear wastes in Saskatchewan. Natomagan supported Jim Sinclair, who was heckled at the Beauval forum, without mentioning that Sinclair was actually applauded when he started his speech by opposing a nuclear dump. Sinclair then flip-flopped and ended up supporting a dump as if that was the way to help the next generation avoid addiction, suicide and prison. Many present were aghast!

Such manipulation of the deep concern about the social crisis in the north may be backfiring. One of the founders of the Committee for Future Generations, retired RCMP officer, Max Morin, told the Star Phoenix he “was invited to be part of an elder’s summit focused on problems of death and addiction among the community’s youth. Two hours in, the meeting turned out to be a presentation on nuclear waste storage set up by those working with NWMO.”

Northern Saskatchewan remains the second poorest region in all of Canada in spite of the uranium mining “boom”, and bringing 20,000 truckloads of highly radioactive nuclear wastes to the north will not change the highly inequitable pattern of mal-development. A new, sustainable path will need to be charted. Natomagan talks rhetorically about “standing up straight and making an informed decision”. The northerners walking from Pinehouse to Regina are not only standing up for the future of the north but for the future of the whole province.

Jim Harding is a retired professor of environmental and justice studies who is active with Kairos and the Coalition for a Clean Green Saskatchewan.

Other articles: http://jimharding.brinkster.net

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Spread the word! Join us! Bring a friend!

7000 Generations Walk Arrives in Prince Albert Media Release

The 7000 Generations Walk arrives in Prince Albert on Tuesday August 2.

The Committee for 7000 Generations has organized an 820 kilometre march against nuclear waste storage and transportation in Saskatchewan. On August 3 the walkers and supporters will gather at 9:30 a.m. Food ‘N Fuel at the Nordale corner and walk to City Hall where they will be welcomed to the city from 12:00 pm-2:00 pm. A social, featuring Leonard Adam, Violet Naytowhow and Liza Brown, will take place at the Union Centre at 7:00 P.M. the same day. The 7000 Generations Walk will continue on August 4 to Duck Lake and Batoche and will arrive in Regina on August 16.

The 7000 Generations Walk seeks to raise awareness among Saskatchewan citizens about the planned nuclear waste dump as proposed by the Nuclear Waste Management Committee (NWMO) The NWMO, a nuclear industry controlled committee, is working with three communities in northern Saskatchewan in an attempt to find a “willing host” for a site that will store high level radioactive nuclear waste which is being produced in nuclear reactors located in New Brunswick, Quebec and Ontario.

The storage and transportation of high-level radioactive waste presents huge environmental and health risks to the community that may be the site of the nuclear waste dump and to all communities that are on the transportation route. As such, the storage and transportation of nuclear waste is an important issue not only for northerners, but for all Saskatchewan people.

In an attempt to counteract the lack of information being made public on this issue, the Committee for 7000 Generations hosted a Forum on Nuclear Waste Storage in Beauval on June 2nd, 2011. Over 200 people from 12 northern and 8 southern communities participated in this forum, which passed a resolution to send a strong message to the Saskatchewan government to “BAN NUCLEAR WASTE STORAGE AND TRANSPORTATION OF NUCLEAR WASTE INTO, OUT OF AND THROUGH SASKATCHEWAN”. The Mayors of La Loche and Ile-a-la-Crosse have taken a stand against nuclear waste, leading by example with courage and vision.

However, the Committee for 7000 Generations needs the support of ALL Saskatchewan citizens to send this message to government. We cannot sit back and assume that our leaders will do the right thing for the people. The Committee for 7000 Generations will be collecting signatures on a petition requesting the Saskatchewan Government to legislate a ban on the storage and transportation of nuclear waste in Saskatchewan. – 30 –

Prince Albert Contacts:

Rick Sawa (Council of Canadians)—961-7894

Jim Bahr (Council of Canadians)—763-1963

Steve Lawrence (Renewable Power Intelligent Choice)—922-1062

Bryan Lee (MN-S Local 108 Fish Lake)—982-4576

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Make a donation to support The Committee For Future Generations “7000 Generations Walk”

The Committee For Future Generations needs your support to make this summer’s historical walk to Regina a huge success.

Donate by cheque made out to “Committee for Future Generations” to:

Royal Bank of Canada

130 Centre Street, P.O. Box 728

Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan Canada S9X 1Y5

DONATE (PayPal):

http://www.cleangreensask.ca/Home/learn-more/nuclear-waste/northerners-say-no-to-nuclear-waste/make-a-donation

Donations to the Coalition for a Clean Green Saskatchewan for the 7000 Generations Walk will be forwarded. Once you have filled out the donation amount on Pay Pal, you will see “Add Special Instructions for Seller”. Simply make a note indicating your wish to support the walk.

2011-08-01 The Swiss caused Geo Bush to cancel his visit to Switzerland. Can we do the same? Bush speaking in Surrey BC, Thur October 20, 2011.

George Bush war criminal No Responses »

Jul 312011

“Security… it’s simply the recognition that changes will take place and the knowledge that you’re willing to deal with whatever happens. … When you know that you’re capable of dealing with whatever comes, you have the only security the world has to offer.” — Harry Browne

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George Bush was in Canada in 2009 (Calgary, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Montreal).

We were heavily involved in efforts to have him arrested. Click on Arrest George Bush. Rule of Law essential to democracy. It’s a list of some of the efforts that are on-going through many organizations in the world to have Bush tried for war crimes.

The heat on Bush keeps building. Earlier there were countries (Spain an example) where he did not dare to go for fear of being arrested. He cancelled out on an appearance in Geneva (Feb 2011) in the wake of loud protests by the Swiss, calling for his arrest when he arrived.

Internationally, organizations are mobilizing around Bush’s appearance in Surrey BC in October, see “CONTENTS” below. Gail Davidson, Lawyers Against the War (LAW), is working on getting the legal arguments to the authorities (as we did in the 2009 go-around). Splitting-the-Sky (John Boncore) who attempted a citizen’s arrest in Calgary in 2009 is already in action (item #4).

Please get the word to people in the lower mainland of B.C. and in the American northwest especially. Peace organizations will want to know. And others that come to your mind. Thanks!

From the Calgary Bush event we learned WHO buys the tickets to hear Bush:

the big corporate law firms (Bennett Jones Law Firm was a sponsor)
the politicians like to rub shoulders.

They are pretty fickle if they know they might be confronted with their duplicity in the breach of laws – – – if anyone knows the law, it should be them!

Saskatoon, 2009: I went thru the Yellow Pages and picked out the email addresses for the Law Firms. Sent them a letter regarding the law and Bush and the requests for his arrest. Also contacted the Law Foundation and sent the info to them. To S’toon City Councillors, too, early in the game.

The organizers went bust on ticket sales. They had to give tickets away in large numbers in order to have the appearance of an audience. Brett Wilson (of CBC, Dragons Den fame) was one of the organizers. I contacted his lawyer, had a good conversation, told him that the letters had gone to the law firms; Wilson might at least want to know the content – – the package on Bush also went to him.

Word spreads in the old boys network, some are fickle – – or maybe they just need to have the breach of laws drawn to their attention. They also need to be reminded of what they were taught in law school: everyone is equal before the law, including Geo Bush. The media doesn’t tell people the laws and the evidence of the breach of laws that Bush is responsible for.

Action items will come. I searched for a facebook organizing group, didn’t find one; would be great if someone would set one up. For now, let’s just concentrate on spreading the word. Bush is scheduled to come. We are going to do our part, same as the people in Switzerland. The rule of law is essential to democracy and we are willing to mobilize to insist on it.

I expect there will be large demonstrations in Vancouver (Surrey) on October 20th.

BRENDAN WRITES, in response to the war-resistor videos (2011-07-31) Young people, another great video, the reality of war. Let’s give them a hand (and help ourselves at the same time!):

Thanks for such a great video. I am incredibly mindful of where we as Canada, or even “North America” are headed. It has occurred to me that if an emergency event happens in Canada or the US, our troops might intermingle across each others’ borders and Canadian sovereignty will be drastically damaged. Not only that, if Israel/US provoke or attack Iran as they are in Libya, the possibility of a Libyan/Iranian/Syrian alliance might be the next chapter. And Russia is an ally of Iran. Our borders must be protected as top priority. We must choose our friends wisely . . .

Brendan William Cross
Political Adviser , Regina SK http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&q=%22brendan+cross%22

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CONTENTS (copies of the articles follow):

THE ANNOUNCEMENT, FEB 01, 2011, GEORGE BUSH FEATURED SPEAKER IN SURREY ON OCT 20. http://www.surrey.ca/city-government/8019.aspx
INTERNATIONAL CRITICS OF GEORGE W. BUSH EYE SURREY ECONOMIC CONFERENCE, FEB 9 http://www.straight.com/article-373686/vancouver/international-critics-george-w-bush-eye-surrey-economic-conference
DIANNE WATTS (MAYOR, SURREY) URGED TO UN-INVITE GEORGE W. BUSH TO SURREY, FEB 10�
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Dianne+Watts+urged+invite+George+Bush+Surrey/4261143/story.html#ixzz1DbcF26ZL
ARRESTING IMPUNITY: CANADA’S LAW ENFORCEMENT SYSTEM PUT ON TRIAL, MAY 10 http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/campus-notes/2011/05/arresting-impunity-canadas-law-enforcement-system-put-trial

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1. THE ANNOUNCEMENT

http://www.surrey.ca/city-government/8019.aspx

Presidents Clinton and Bush at 2011 Surrey Regional Economic Summit

February 01, 2011

Surrey – Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts today announced that Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will be the featured speakers at the fourth annual Surrey Regional Economic Summit on October 20, 2011.

“President Clinton and President Bush will appear together to provide their very unique and timely perspectives on a broad range of economic, business, and geo-political issues and trends,” explained Mayor Watts, who launched the first Surrey Summit in 2008 as part of her city’s economic development strategy.

Over the past three years, the annual conference has attracted a growing number of prominent international speakers and presenters, including Tony Blair, Rudy Giuliani and Steve Forbes, as well as British Columbian and Canadian business and economic experts.

“The Surrey Regional Economic Summit is an opportunity for us to learn more about major issues that impact our lives, our jobs and our cities,” added Mayor Watts. “The summit reminds us that we’re directly impacted by the changes created by the dynamic and often dramatic competitive forces at work in markets in every corner of the world. As a result, the Surrey Summit has become a big part of our city’s brand as we work to attract jobs, investment and business opportunities to Surrey and the region.”

Co-chaired by Surrey Councillor Linda Hepner, the annual Surrey Regional Economic Summit emphasizes business, investment and social issues impacting Surrey, its neighbours throughout the region and the province as a whole.

“The United States is the largest economy in the world, Canada’s biggest trading partner and the single largest market for British Columbia businesses,” said Councillor Hepner. “Having President Bill Clinton and President George W. Bush with us in 2011 will give our conference participants an opportunity to hear from two unique leaders who have played major roles in shaping events over the past 20 years in the United States and abroad. As a result, their perspectives on the new realities facing the United States and the world’s major economies will be invaluable.”

Registration for the 2011 Surrey Regional Economic Summit will begin in the coming weeks.

– 30 –

Media contacts:

Tara Foslien
Office of the Mayor
604-375-4584

Greg Descantes
The Pace Group
604-646-3564

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2. International critics of George W. Bush eye Surrey economic conference

http://www.straight.com/article-373686/vancouver/international-critics-george-w-bush-eye-surrey-economic-conference

Comments (8)

By Stephen Thomson, February 9, 2011

George W. Bush is one of the featured speakers at the Surrey Regional Economic Summit on October 20.

An upcoming Surrey economic conference has caught the attention of critics of former U.S. president George W. Bush, one of the event's key speakers.

Human rights groups, including the New York-based Center for Constitutional Rights, backed a recent plan to file criminal complaints in Switzerland against Bush.

The complaints focused, in part, on Bush’s approval of controversial CIA interrogation techniques that included waterboarding, which simulates drowning.

The Center for Constitutional Rights claims waterboarding is a form of torture. The group has cited the U.N. Convention Against Torture, an international treaty, in its push for potential prosecution.

However, the plan to file the complaints, on behalf of alleged torture victims, was dropped when Bush abruptly cancelled his planned visit to Switzerland.

But the human-rights groups have indicated they will keep a close eye on Bush’s future travel plans.

Katherine Gallagher, a lawyer with the Center for Constitutional Rights, said her group is aware Bush is slated to speak at the annual Surrey Regional Economic Summit on October 20.

“As we get closer to that date we will see what actions we’ll take,” Gallagher told the Straight by phone from New York.

“I think we have to strategize and think that through with colleagues up in Canada,” she said. “It’s the next visit that we’ve heard about and we’re going to be following up and seeing what we know about it and preparing for it.”

The City of Surrey could not be reached for comment.

Surrey mayor Dianne Watts has said Bush and former U.S. president Bill Clinton—the other featured speaker—will appear at the 2011 summit to share their insights on economics, business, and geopolitics.

“The Surrey Regional Economic Summit is an opportunity for us to learn more about major issues that impact our lives, our jobs and our cities,” Watts said in a statement on February 1.

Since 2008, the Surrey conference has drawn high-profile speakers including former British prime minister Tony Blair and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Bush has defended his approval of the controversial, post-9/11 CIA interrogation program.

In particular, he has said he approved the use of waterboarding on individuals in U.S. custody.

“No doubt the procedure was tough, but medical experts assured the CIA that it did no lasting harm,” Bush wrote in his recently published memoir, Decision Points.

Bush wrote the interrogation program “saved lives”, adding that claims of unlawful torture at the hands of Americans were “not true”.

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3. Dianne Watts urged to un-invite George W. Bush to Surrey

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Dianne+Watts+urged+invite+George+Bush+Surrey/4261143/story.html#ixzz1DbcF26ZL

By Ted Colley, Surrey Now February 10, 2011

Former president George W. Bush

Photograph by: Mark Wilson, Getty Images, Postmedia News

SURREY – Gail Davidson says George W. Bush is a war criminal and shouldn’t be allowed to speak at this year’s Surrey Regional Economic Summit in October.

Bush and fellow former U.S. president Bill Clinton will be the keynote speakers at the event.

Davidson speaks for Lawyers Against the War, a Canadian organization that wants bush charged with war crimes for authorizing the use of torture in Guantanamo Bay, Iraq and Afghanistan.

Canada is a signatory to an international treaty banning torture, Davidson said, and that means the federal government is obliged to deny the former U.S. President entry into Canada.

“If he does enter Canada, then the government has the obligation to prosecute him when he’s on our soil.”

Davidson said LAW tried unsuccessfully to block Bush’s entry in 2009 when he visited Calgary, but thinks things could work out differently this time around.

Davidson said Bush was scheduled to speak at a Jewish charity gala in Switzerland on Feb. 12, but the engagement was cancelled.

Organizers of the event said the cancellation was due to security concerns when it was learned protests were planned.

Davidson said Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts should withdraw her invitation to Bush.

“I think if Mayor Watts’ office is even modestly informed, she would realize that’s the right thing to do.”

Watt’s disagreed.

“I think they were trying to do the same thing with (former British prime minister and Bush ally) Tony Blair,” the mayor said. “This isn’t a political event, it’s an economic summit. It’s not about whether you like an individual, it’s about having a dialogue.”

The Now has heard from readers who question what advice Bush and Clinton can offer since both played a big part in creating the global recession that has crippled the economies of the U.S. and other nations.

“I get that,” the mayor said, “but here’s the thing. It’s important for us to know what went wrong.

“We need a dialogue about what worked, what didn’t work and what utterly failed. If you only deal with one side, you’re not learning the other half of the equation.”

The federal Department of Justice did not return the Now’s calls.

tcolley AT thenownewspaper.com

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4. Arresting impunity: Canada's law enforcement system put on trial

http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/campus-notes/2011/05/arresting-impunity-canadas-law-enforcement-system-put-trial

By Joshua Blakeney

May 10, 2011

Arrest Bush: From Calgary, Alberta to Surrey, British Columbia

On Monday, May 2 a coalition of activists and civil resisters marched on Surrey City Hall in an attempt to school Mayor Dianne Watts on the voluminous domestic and supranational legislation that exists pertaining to credibly accused war criminals and other violators of human rights. Mayor Dianne Watts' ill conceived invitation to George W. Bush to come to Surrey, British Columbia to attend the annual Surrey Regional Economic Summit this coming Oct. 20 stimulated the demonstration, which was organized by Mohawk activist and author Splitting the Sky.

Splitting the Sky led the procession which marched peacefully in the direction of the mayor's office chanting "Arrest George Bush! Enforce the law!" Splitting the Sky presented Mayor Watts' communications specialist Tara Foslien with documents demonstrating the correspondence between Bush's self-admitted misdeeds and the Canadian laws explicitly prohibiting such crimes. The civil resister cited domestic legislation such as the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes Act as examples of two legal bodies enshrined to prevent Canada from becoming a safe haven for war criminals.

Also in attendance was Professor Anthony Hall of the University of Lethbridge. Hall emphasized the need for law enforcement officials to transcend politics and implement the law equitably, regardless of the status of the offender. Hall addressed the many police officers present, telling them they will be told that "[Bush] is an 'Internationally Protected Person.' That is not true! [Bush] is a civilian. He is no longer a head of state."

The attempts to elucidate the illegitimacy of the proposed visit of Bush to British Columbia in October ought to be viewed as an extension of the citizens' mobilizations which began with Bush's controversial visit to Calgary, Alberta on Mar. 17, 2009. That visit was Bush's first visit to a foreign country without diplomatic immunity. After the failure of law enforcement officials to do their jobs and arrest the then credibly accused war criminal -- now self-confessed torturer -- Splitting the Sky courageously and selflessly attempted to breach the police lines and conduct a citizen's arrest on the former U.S. president.

During the subsequent trial in Calgary which some dubbed "The trial of Splitting the Sky versus George W. Bush," former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark -- Splitting the Sky's former lawyer -- and former U.S. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney flew in to the oil-patch city to participate in the proceedings. The trial culminated with Splitting the Sky being given a conditional discharge by Judge Manfred Delong allowing him to avoid immediate incarceration. Some read this comparative leniency as a tacit acknowledgement by Judge Delong that Splitting the Sky was, as he submitted, being a conscientious citizen when he attempted to uphold the rule of law by seeking to arrest Bush.

The 'I was only following orders' defence

According to a report in The Province, Norm Stowe, the manager of the annual Surrey Regional Economic Summit to be attended by Bush, stated via e-mail that "the city respected the rights of protesters to present their views but will have RCMP support to ensure the event is not disrupted [...] The RCMP have responsibility for security and we know they'll find a balance that allows people to express their views without risking the safety of our speakers or those attending the summit."

These comments, by the organizer of the summit show a distinct failure to grasp the main contention of those protesting the impunity afforded to credibly accused war criminals in Canada. It is the law enforcement agencies themselves, including the RCMP, who are being objected to as it is they who are failing to do their jobs. How is it that Norm Stowe can be so positive that the RCMP will protect, rather than arrest, the self-confessed torturer during the Oct. 2011 summit? Who gave the orders to the RCMP to reassure those organizing the event that their guests -- even if they're culpable for the most murderous of crimes -- will be protected on that day? All those police officers who opt to protect, rather than arrest, George W. Bush when he comes to British Columbia are putting themselves in a position where they can be accused of complicity in the breakdown of the rule of law in Canada.

Those law enforcement officials who shirk their duties to uphold the rule of law in Canada might well use the defence in the future that they were merely "following orders." This was the common alibi of many officials tried at Nuremberg and it didn't wash. If I were an ordinary bobby assigned to shield George W. Bush from the law during his upcoming visit I would ask myself serious questions as to whether my role might have personal ramifications for me down the line.

If a police officer arrested Bush in Surrey on Oct. 20, s/he could easily justify doing so to an independent judge before a court of law. Firstly, by doing so the officer would be doing his/her job of upholding the rule of law. Secondly, by arresting the self-confessed torturer, the officer would be maintaining civility and order as s/he would be eliminating any possibility of a confrontation such as the one that arose in Calgary when Splitting the Sky was compelled, due to the failures of law enforcement officials, to attempt to break through the wall of immunity and impunity and arrest George Bush. During Splitting the Sky versus Bush, the defence of those police officers who had obstructed Splitting the Sky from implementing the law was that they were keeping order during a lively protest. Surely the best way to maintain law and order would be simply to arrest Bush as this would remove the catalyst of the protest and maintain peacefulness on the streets of Surrey?

Joshua Blakeney is a graduate student at the University of Lethbridge.

2011-07-31 Young people, another great video, the reality of war. Let’s give them a hand (and help ourselves at the same time!)

Peace or Violence No Responses »

Jul 312011

I remembered to go into the wild and beautiful prairie. It restores my soul.

You, good people, have a similar effect!

You’ll know why after this short series of emails about average people connecting and MAKING the change. They inspire. Bless them!

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1. Young People Rising Up Against U.S Military Recruitment

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19u4JR_55b0 June 16, 2011

(OR, find it on facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=160412500691995&comments )

COMMENT I POSTED

I can’t thank you enough for the video. Canadian prime minister Stephen Harper is Geo Bush reincarnated. He is merging us with you. Your work helps build the resistance here. We are in action-based solidarity with you.

You might be interested in this promotional video: creative genius to destroy the minds of young army recruits. http://sandrafinley.ca/?p=2090

Video: “Realistic” training for war. This passes as normal and desirable. After this training, these young people will never again be “Normal”. …. “

2. Even The Troops Are Waking Up – A Fantastic Video – Mike Prysner

(I circulated this earlier but can’t find it posted on this blog. It is powerful.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-CpCUOygqU Jan 17, 2010

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If more Canadians see the above two videos made by American kids – – (if you pass this email along!!) – – :

– We give value to their work (good information not shared has very little value). We empower them to do more.

– More Canadians will join in the efforts to stop the Government from spending tens of billions of dollars on Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth bombers. (Go to http://www.ceasefire.ca/ . Ceasefire (Steven Staples) does incredibly good work. After watching the two war-resistor videos, I was inspired to send a donation to Ceasefire.)

– Hey! we might even stop the overseas military bases the Government is planning to build. (Click on 2011-06-03 Canada to set up military bases abroad)

War is not the answer. Heaven forbid we sink deeper into it. (ummm “Heaven forbid” translates to “We are the only ones who can create the awareness on behalf of heaven!!)

2011-07-29 FIRST NATIONS WIN FEDERAL COURT CASE FOR PROTECTION OF CARIBOU IN THE TARSANDS.

Corporatocracy or Democracy or Administrative State or WHAT?, Energy, Sustainability No Responses »

Jul 302011

First Nations respond to victory in Federal Court caribou case

Court finds federal environment Minister acted unlawfully in refusing to recommend emergency order for woodland caribou

July 29, 2011 – Victoria, BC – Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Beaver Lake Cree Nation and Enoch Cree Nation received a favourable judgment from the Federal Court of Canada late yesterday afternoon.

Mr. Justice Paul Crampton held that federal environment Minister Peter Kent “clearly erred” in refusing to recommend an emergency order for boreal caribou in northeastern Alberta. The Court wrote: “… the Minister clearly erred in reaching his decision by failing to take into account the First Nations Applicants’ Treaty Rights and the honour of the Crown in interpreting his mandate under [the federal Species at Risk Act].”

The Court set aside (or overturned) the Minister’s decision, and sent the matter back to the Minister for reconsideration in light of the Court’s reasons.

The Court noted the federal government’s various concessions in the case, including that: caribou are threatened by habitat loss; all 13 herds of caribou in Alberta are at elevated risk of local extinction (largely because of industrial development in their habitat); the population and habitat conditions of all the herds in northeastern Alberta are “insufficient for those herds to be self sustaining”; there is a developing gap in caribou distribution in Canada centred around northeastern Alberta (the area of intensive tar sands activity); and Alberta’s failure to protect caribou will likely have consequences for the national population of the species.

The Court then went on to say: “I acknowledge that it is not immediately apparent how, given the foregoing facts, the Minister reasonably could have concluded that there are no imminent threats to the national recovery of boreal caribou.” (See paragraphs 48-49 of the judgment.)

The federal government conceded in the Court case that it was more than four years past the mandatory statutory deadline for completing a recovery strategy for boreal caribou. Further relief may follow from the Federal Court if the environment Minister does not complete a proposed recovery strategy by September 1st of this year.

“As for what this Court decision means, this is a very useful step towards protecting caribou in northeastern Alberta and towards respecting First Nations’ rights in the area,” said lawyer Jack Woodward, counsel for the First Nations Groups. “But we’ll have to see what the environment Minister does in response to the case: the ball is now back in his court.”

“We’re pleased the court recognized the importance of the Species at Risk Act,” stated Ron Lameman, advisor to Beaver Lake Cree Nation Chief and Council. “And in issuing this judgement has required the federal environment minister to properly reconsider the looming crisis for the woodland caribou – an animal vital to our livelihood.”

George J. Poitras
Mikisew Cree First Nation
tel. 780.264.1269

“It would be easier just to fold our hands and not make this fight…, to say, I, one man, can do nothing. I grow afraid only when I see people thinking and acting like this. We all know the story about the man who sat beside the trail too long, and then it grew over and he could never find his way again. We can never forget what has happened, but we cannot go back, nor can we just sit beside the trail.”
– Poundmaker, Cree Chief

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