[antiwar-van] Events and news

[No One is Illegal-Vancouver]

1) PROTEST BOMBING OF FALLUJAH
2) MEMORIAL FOR YASSER ARAFAT
3) EVENT WITH FEDERATION OF CUBAN WOMEN
4) EID AND DIWALI SHOW
5) IMMIGRATION MINISTERS' INITIATIVES TO CABINET


Anti-war protesters to gather at U.S. Consulate to protest bombing of
Fallujah. Everyday between 11:30 am and 1 pm at US Counsalate

StopWar.ca, the Lower Mainland antiwar coalition comprised of 160 member
organizations, is asking its members and others concerned about what is
happening in Iraq to gather at the US consulate from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00
p.m. every day this week.

“Several of us went to the U.S. Consulate on Monday during lunch time
after we received a call to join an emergency picket to protest the U.S.
bombing of the Iraqi city of Fallujah,” explained StopWar co-chair Irene
MacInnes. “We plan to be there every day this week between 11:30 a.m. and
1:00 p.m. and are asking people who share our concern join us to protest
this outrageous American military aggression,” MacInnes continued.

The U.S. Consulate is located at 1095 West Pender, at the intersection of
Pender and Thurlow.  StopWar.ca is asking supporters who plan to
participate to bring banners from their organizations if they have them.

“More than 800 people were killed in Fallujah in April by American forces
before they withdrew from the city,” MacInnes explained. “Now they’re at
it again. The BBC reported last Friday that a hospital in Fallujah had
been destroyed by a U.S. air raid. In addition, U.S. troops are using
155mm howitzers to pound targets inside the city,” she concluded.

In addition to the daily protest, StopWar has endorsed and will
participate in a protest and street theater at 3pm followed by a
candlelight vigil for the people of Fallujah at 5:00 p.m. this Friday on
the steps of Christ Church Cathedral at 666 Burrard Street in Vancouver.

Contact:
Irene MacInnes: (604) 737-1299


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The Palestine Community Centre will be holding a memorial service for the
passing of
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. The Centre welcomes individuals and
organizations.

Date:    Thursday, November 11th 2004.
Time:    7:00 PM -9:00 PM
Place:  Palestine Community Centre
1874 Kingsway (near Victoria Dr.)
Vancouver.
Tel:       604-873-6567
Email:   pccbc at shaw.ca
URL:     www.palestinecommunitycentre.com


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CANADA CUBA FRIENDSHIP ASSOCIATION (CCFA)

PRESENTS

Alicia Gonzales from the Federation of Cuban Women

WOMEN AND THE CUBAN REVOLUTION

Learn why all Cuban women enjoy equal pay, hold 36% of seats in
parliament, 49% of judgeships, comprise 60% of lawyers, 47% of the Supreme
Court, and 70% of educators and health professionals, among many other
spectacular achievements.

Formerly in charge of South American relations for Federation of Cuban
Women, Alicia González is currently responsible for international 
relations with Canada and the U.S.A. She has traveled and spoken
extensively on women in Cuba and their role in shaping that nation's
future. Don't miss this rare occasion to learn more about the Revolution
from the perspective of a champion of women, equality, peace, and ending
the U.S. blockade of Cuba!

THURS 18 NOVEMBER 7PM -- MARITIME LABOUR CENTRE
1880 Triumph Street at Victoria Drive

Sponsored by Canadian-Cuban Friendship Association (CCFA).
Hosted by Vancouver District Labour Council.
Endorsed by StopWar.ca, Canadian Network on Cuba, Cuba Education
Collective, Social Justice Committee of the Unitarian Church of Vancouver.


Call 604-940-0420 for more information. Admission free.

====================================================

SALAAM VANCOUVER AND TRIKONE NORTH WEST
PRESENT

EID AND DIWALI SHOW
SUNDAY NOV 21 @ 3 PM
DUFFERIN HOTEL (900 SEYMOUR STREET/ CORNER SMYTHE)

FEATURING: Sabrina The persian Princess, Zenobia Silk, Sheela Devi and
many others

By donation.

======================================================


http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041111.wimmigration11/BNStory/National/

By MARINA JIMÉNEZ
>From Thursday's Globe and Mail

UPDATED AT 1:45 AM EST  Thursday, Nov 11, 2004

Canada's refugee-determination system is subject to blatant abuse by
economic migrants and is in need of a major overhaul, says Citizenship and
Immigration Minister Judy Sgro, who vowed to implement key reforms.

Ms. Sgro outlined her vision yesterday for solving many of the
long-standing problems in Canada's beleaguered refugee process, and spoke
as well about the need for the country to attract more immigrants to
sustain its economic growth in the face of a declining birth rate and
aging population.

"I don't intend to be a caretaker minister," Ms. Sgro said. "There's a
problem and everyone knows there's a problem. . . . From what I've seen,
people [in the refugee system] are economic migrants more than anything
else. They're fleeing poor countries and see Canada as a chance to give
them a new future. . . . Many failed refugee claimants might be able to
come here in another category."

Last year, 42,000 asylum-seekers filed claims with the Immigration and
Refugee Board, which must determine whether they are fleeing persecution
based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a
particular social group, or whether they need protection because their
lives will be in danger if they are returned to their homeland.

The IRB's acceptance rate has dropped steadily since its creation 15 years
ago to 42 per cent in 2003 from 84 per cent in 1989, suggesting that
increasing numbers of bogus claimants are attempting to use the refugee
system as a back door into the country. While most claimants used to come
from war-torn countries, in recent years the top 10 source countries have
included stable democracies such as Mexico, Costa Rica, Hungary and
Turkey.

Among the initiatives Ms. Sgro hopes cabinet will approve are: reducing
the number of avenues of appeal available so failed refugee claimants can
be removed more quickly; ensuring that case decisions are more consistent
and timely; and helping qualified immigrants get their professional
credentials recognized.

Ms. Sgro also suggested there may be a "third category," or another way,
for economic migrants who fail to qualify as immigrants under the point
system to enter Canada without resorting to the refugee system —
especially if they have skills that are needed here.

The minister also hopes to win approval for an unprecedented program that
would give legal status to the "thousands and thousands" of undocumented
workers who toil in Canada's underground economy. She said in a lengthy
interview in her Toronto constituency office that she has given
Parliament's standing committee on citizenship and immigration the
go-ahead
"to have a serious look at the whole issue of undocumented workers.

"We have to look at how long these people have been here, have they put
roots down, do they have an employer, are they filling a job need . . .
then we have to set up a system."

Canada has 100,000 to 200,000 undocumented people. Many of them are failed
refugee claimants or visitor overstays from Eastern Europe, Latin America
and other countries, who work as cleaners, nannies and on construction. A
growing political movement, including unions, academics and community
groups, is lobbying to legalize these people, who cost the economy
billions in unpaid taxes.

"Every time you talk about amnesty, everyone gets all uptight about it,"
Ms. Sgro said. "Clearly we need to have a policy that will deal with
undocumented workers."

While acknowledging the challenge of working within a minority government,
Ms. Sgro said she believes MPs support the need for change in her
portfolio.

She could not be more specific about her planned reforms, except to say the
refugee-determination system will become "more streamlined and more
predictable." She did not commit to a merit-based appeal for failed
claimants, which refugee advocates want. She said there are already
various reviews, including an appeal to the Federal Court, a humanitarian
and compassionate review and a pre-removal risk assessment.

"We've created a system that they [refugees] can appeal and appeal and
appeal and be here for five years. I don't think we're doing them any
favours," she said.

Ms. Sgro also emphasized that raising the number of immigrants to 245,000
a year from 220,000 is an important goal, and that the point system —
whereby prospective immigrants must accrue 67 points for language and job
skills — should be reviewed. "Who plays the magic game of figuring out the
needs and the numbers?" she asked. "Canadians don't get engaged in
immigration unless it's a negative for the most part. It's important
because the whole growth of the economy depends on it."

The minister pledged to help immigrants get their credentials recognized
by working more closely with professional associations. She is meeting
this week with her provincial counterparts to discuss this and to develop
strategies to help foreign-trained doctors, engineers and nurses work in
their fields.

Refugee advocates praised the idea of developing initiatives for economic
migrants to enter Canada, and they support an amnesty for undocumented
workers.

"I think there is some momentum toward a program to regularize the
undocumented and to reform the refugee system, although it will be more
difficult to find a compromise that will be supported by the NDP, the Bloc
[Québécois] and the Conservatives," said Lorne Waldman, a Toronto
immigration lawyer.

"If you can find a way to deal with the poor carpenter from Mendoza to
come here, then you'll discourage him from using the refugee system as a
way in."

Janet Dench, executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees,
hopes Ms. Sgro will focus as well on unduly long waiting times to process
immigrants and their families.