High suspense! I talked with Todd following his trial today in Brockville ON. The judge heard the case but did not decide whether Todd is innocent or guilty of the charges.
The Judge will announce his decision on Monday April 6th (and deal with sentencing, if that’s necessary). See # 1 .
CONTENTS
(1) INTRODUCTION
(2) UPDATE: TODD STELMACH’S TRIAL MARCH 5TH
(3) HOW CAN WE SUPPORT TODD & CHELSEA STELMACH? Todd goes to trial on our behalf.
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(1) INTRODUCTION
Briefly, for newcomers:
The involvement of Lockheed Martin Corporation (almost synonymous with the American military) in the Canadian census is a more serious issue than most people appreciate:
– During 2008 there were a number of announcements about further integration of the Canadian and American military and security forces.
– The President of the Americas for Lockheed Martin Corp (Ron Covais) plays a prominent role in the SPP. In an interview with Maclean’s magazine in 2006 he said that they will get what they want, they’ve been given assurances by the officials, and they will not attempt legislative changes to get it. Instead they’ll use the agencies of government and the bureaucrats to get it.
– Nov 2008: Americans tell Canadian security conference that the Americans want the data on all Canadians, even “routine” ones. If they don’t get access to that data they will impose a visa system for Canadians to enter the USA. They have been given assurances that access to the data on all Canadians will be forthcoming.
– Under the Patriot Act, data that American corporations and their foreign subsidiaries have access to, are required to be handed over to the FBI, if requested. And the Patriot Act stipulates that the owner of the information will not be notified.
– Assurances by the Government that Lockheed Martin will not have access to the Statistics Canada data base (they’ll only do software work) are not believable. If not today, tomorrow they will have that access. I compare it to assurances by the Government that when CNR was privatized, it would remain Canadian. They even passed a law to that end in 1995. Today CNR is American with the directive that the company is to be known only as “CNR” – – with no reference to Canadian National.
– For decades historians could not figure out how the Nazis were able to enter a city in Europe and post a list of the Jews, with orders for them to report the following day to the train station to be deported to “the East”. Journalist Edwin Black working with a mixed bag of people pieced the information together. The story is told in “IBM and the Holocaust” (2001). It’s a fascinating story of psychotic corporate greed – Thomas Watson was the CEO of IBM. He understood the value of mechanized census information to the Nazis and so on. The lessons of history warn strongly against out-sourcing census work to Lockheed Martin Corporation.
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(2) UPDATE: TODD STELMACH’S TRIAL MARCH 5TH in Brockville, ON
Todd pleaded not guilty.
Chelsea writes:
Hello again!
So, the trial was this morning, and it went fairly well; Todd was able to represent himself very clearly, and both the crown and the judge were kind in guiding him through that process. In the end, the judge decided he needed more time to make a final decision on the matter, so we will go back to court on Monday April 6th to hear the judge’s decision and deal with the sentencing.
Big Thank You’s to those who came with us, it was great to have that support, and thanks again to those who were with us in prayers and in thoughts!
We may be on CKWS news and possibly CBC or French CBC evening news tonight, so keep your eyes open for brightly coloured protest signs during the evening news broadcast.
Thanks again to everyone for your support and encouragement!
love
chelsea and todd
www.thehousefamous.blogspot.com
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It was standing room only at Todd’s trial (although he points out that it was a small court room)!
Peter Morrison is the Statistics Canada official who has been quoted in various media articles about the contracting-out of Canadian census work to Lockheed Martin Corporation. He was a prosecution witness at the trial. (Anil Arora was the StatsCan witness at my trial.)
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From Chelsea:
Sent: Monday, March 2, 2009 7:26:14 PM
Subject: Todd’s Trial: This Thursday March 5th!!!
Hello Friends and Family,
Todd and I wanted to invite you to his trial (re: the 2006 Census and LockheedMartin Corp.)
The trial will be held this coming Thursday March 5th at 10:00am at the Brockville Court House (see Map here).
We are hoping to have a strong showing of support from our community, (we’ve also heard that courts will sit up and take more notice if a group of people shows up to support a defendant!). We are also hoping to continue raising awareness about the issue, and have invited the media to be at the trial. If you feel like making a sign or placard to hold regarding the issue, please feel free to do so!
For a recap of why Todd is being brought to court over this issue, please read here: http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2008/07/06/census-protest.html
and: http://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2009-02-26/news/objection-census-could-land-alumnus-jail/
We do have a few cars going, so if you need a ride, let us know; and if you have a car with space available (and are planning to go) please let us know!
We will be spending some time praying before the trial starts at 9am outside the Court; if you are interested in attending this prayer time, drop us a line.
Until Thursday,
chelsea and todd stelmach
(For newcomers: Todd’s reasons for non-compliance with the 2006 census and mine are similar. There has been good media coverage, especially in Kingston, of Todd’s situation. (hyperlink to Jul. 5 2008 )
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(3) HOW CAN WE SUPPORT TODD & CHELSEA STELMACH? Todd goes to trial on our behalf.
It’s that old thing: Todd’s action in isolation has some impact. And the irony: if Todd DOESN’T take that one action, there is nothing for the rest of us to build on.
Todd has to have faith in you and in me. Through our participation his action becomes HUGE – enough to help set our society on a new path. I am intrigued by the idea that we CAN, we have the numbers, to consciously evolve the human species to something more noble, to stop being complicit in the killing. And indeed we must, if we are to survive. The killing and environmental destruction has to be stopped – by us. Ain’t nobody who is going to do it for us – – and we can do it.
I love the mystery and adventure of it! No one of us will ever know which email we sent, or which conversation in support of Todd and Chelsea Stelmach, will find its way to the person who puts the final straw on the back of census contracts for Lockheed Martin. You won’t even know if YOU are the one who placed the final straw!
Get the word to as many people as possible. Lockheed Martin now has contracts for the 2011 census. But if enough people know what Lockheed Martin does in the world, if they understand the implications of the Patriot Act, the Government will easily be forced to stop out-sourcing multi-million dollar contracts to Lockheed Martin Corporation, war-mongers and profiteers. Masters of surveillance.
– Todd asks that people send letters to the Government to protest the contracts that Lockheed Martin has received for the 2011 census.
– Todd and Chelsea, I speak on behalf of many when I say: we could not ask for better representatives than you are, for us all. Many thanks for your work on behalf of a better world.