Wednesday, June 9, 2010

TWO SHORT VIDEOS: IF CSIS COMES KNOCKING

Since the fall of 2009 there have been a series of visits by members of the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS) to social justice organizers and activists in Montreal and other parts of Quebec. These visits are in addition to CSIS' ongoing harassment of targeted communities. In May, the People's Commission Network released a community advisory, "If CSIS Comes Knocking", in response to those visits.

The People's Commission Network has now produced two short videos re-creating CSIS visits to the homes of two Montrealers. The videos advocate a "Don't talk, Don't listen" approach of total and complete non-cooperation with CSIS.

Video: CSIS visit to Freda

Article: Two activists speak out about G8/G20 CSIS intimidation: Freda Guttman's story (Rabble.ca, 4 June 2010)


Video: CSIS visit to Abdulhadi

Article: Le SCRS s'active avant le passage de la flamme à Montréal (Le Devoir, 25 Nov. 09):


BACKGROUND

--> Read the People's Commission Community Advisory, "If CSIS Comes Knocking" in:
--> More background from People's Commission's CSIS Watch project.

TAKE ACTION


--> We encourage everyone to share these videos and advisory widely, in your networks and within your community. You can download a pamphlet version of the advisory, in pdf format.

--> We encourage community groups to ENDORSE the advisory as a way of building collective solidarity against CSIS harassment. An endorsement means your group agrees with the following statement: "We support and endorse the People's Commission Network's Community Advisory concerning the Canadian Security and Intelligence Service (CSIS)." Please send your group endorsement to: abolissons@gmail.com.

--> The People's Commission Network also offers "know your rights" workshops specifically about CSIS. If your group or community is interested in hosting a workshop for your members, contact us at abolissons@gmail.com.

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DEUX COURT-MÉTRAGES : QUAND LE SCRS FRAPPE À LA PORTE

Au cours des derniers mois, le Service canadien du renseignement de sécurité (SCRS) a effectué plusieurs visites chez des militants et militantes de la région. Ces visites s'ajoutent au harcelèment continu de communautés ciblées par le SCRS. Au mois de mai, le Réseau de la Commission populaire a émis un communiqué en réponse à ces visites.

Le Réseau de la Commission populaire a produit deux court-métrages qui mettent en scène des visites du SCRS chez un Montréalais et une Montréalaise. Les vidéos recommandent une attitude d'entière non-collaboration avec le SCRS.

** Visite du SCRS chez Freda

Lisez l'histoire de Freda (Rabble.ca, 4 juin 2010)

** Visite du SCRS chez Abdulhadi

Lisez l'histoire d'Abdulhadi (Le Devoir, 25 nov. 2009)

CONTEXTE

--> Lire le communiqué du Réseau de la Commission populaire, « Quand le SCRS frappe à la porte »
--> Plus d'information concernant le projet de Surveillance du SCRS de la Commission populaire.

PASSEZ À L'ACTION


--> Nous vous invitons à diffuser largement ce communiqué dans vos réseaux et dans votre communauté. Vous pouvez télécharger un dépliant de ce communiqué en version PDF.

--> Nous invitons les groupes communautaires à APPUYER le communiqué comme moyen de développer une solidarité collective face au harcèlement du SCRS. Un appui signifie que votre groupe est d'accord avec la déclaration suivante: « Nous appuyons et endossons le communiqué du Réseau de la Commission populaire concernant le Service canadien du renseignement de sécurité (SCRS). » SVP contacter abolissons@gmail.com avec votre endossement.

--> Le Réseau de la Commission populaire offre également un atelier sur vos droits face au SCRS. Si votre groupe ou communauté est intéressé à recevoir cet atelier, contactez-nous: abolissons@gmail.com.

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Le Réseau de la Commission Populaire est un groupe de travail du GRIP-Concordia. The People's Commission Network is a QPIRG-Concordia working group.
www.commissionpopulaire.org

For more information about the People's Commission Network:
www.peoplescommission.org
abolissons@gmail.com

Thursday, June 3, 2010

CCIC -- CIDA defunding news release

Canada's Foreign Aid Community Risks Losing Strong Voice for World's
Poor

Friends:

Attached and below is a news release from the Canadian Council for International Cooperation stating that CIDA (Canadian International Development Agency) is in process to discontinue financial support to the Council. As the coordinating body and voice of Canadian civil society engaged in international development, CCIC has received funding from CIDA over a period of 42 years, from the time when both organizations were created. This support has been a symbol of the cooperation between government and civil society, even when there are differences in views from time to time. Its termination sadly represents a hit at the democratic space for intelligent discourse on Canada's role in global development. As a former Executive Director of CCIC, I am deeply troubled about the direction signaled by this and
similar actions taken by our government for apparently purely political reasons. It not only lowers the level of public discussion and engagement in our country but diminishes Canada's contribution to the
elimination of poverty in the South.

Please share this news release with others and I apologize for any cross-posting.

Richard Harmston
South Asia Partnership Canada
1 Nicholas Street, Suite 1210
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 7B7 Canada
Tel (1) 613 241 1333
Fax (1) 613 244 3410


News Release
For Immediate Release - June 1, 2010

CIDA Funding to CCIC Threatened

Canada's Foreign Aid Community Risks Losing Strong Voice for World's
Poor

CIDA funding to the Canadian Council for International Co-operation (CCIC), Canada's pre-eminent coalition to end global poverty, is in doubt. A critical and well-respected voice for the world's poor risks being silenced if funding to CCIC is cut off.

CCIC's three-year contract with CIDA ended on March 31, 2010. Two months into a three-month temporary extension of CCIC's contract and no word yet from CIDA on the contract's renewal. In July, CCIC will start operating with no CIDA funds.

"Unfortunately, it's hard not to see de-funding as yet another example of the 'political chill' message this government has been sending to the development community," says Gerry Barr CCIC's President and CEO. "What
we're experiencing here is punishment politics. Speak out against government policy and risk losing your funding."

CCIC has a long history of development work and CIDA funding and collaboration. Established in 1968, CCIC has been monitoring and analyzing federal policies on foreign affairs, aid, trade and peacebuilding. CCIC regroups approximately 90 Canadian non-profit organizations working both in Canada and overseas. Among them are religious and secular development groups, professional associations,
co-operatives, labour unions and groups devoted to literacy, education and youth.

CCIC has given notice of layoff to all but 8 staff and has taken steps to liquidate its resources, including selling its office space, in order to meet costs associated with severance and near-term operations.

"This is extremely disappointing news," says Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada. "De-funding CCIC would mean
that the government is shutting down diversity. Without a diversity of voices you will have weakly-debated public policy increasing the likelihood of bad public policy."

"This would be a loss to the development community," says Jim Cornelius Executive Director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and CCIC member. "CCIC is a strong advocate for the world's poor. Here in Canada, the development community looks to CCIC for leadership on issues of trade, aid and humanitarian assistance.'

"We call on CIDA to continue its support for CCIC," says Robert Fox, Executive Director of Oxfam Canada and a CCIC member. "CCIC is exactly
the type of organization CIDA should fund. Aid policies and programs will suffer if CCIC is not doing what it does best - analyze, critique and advocate for the world's poor."

Gerry Barr, Alex Neve, Jim Cornelius, Robert Fox and CCIC's Chair of the Board Karen Takacs are all available for interviews.

For more information contact:

Katia Gianneschi
Media Relations
Canadian Council for International Co-operation
613-241-7007 ext. 311