[van-announce] Events and campaigns, CPT vigils, Haiti Rally, War Resisters

[Derrick O'Keefe]

Four items in this email:

1) Ongoing vigils
2) Haiti rally Tuesday January 10
3) StopWar.ca general meeting Wed. Jan.11
4) War resisters election resources

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1) Ongoing vigils for the CPT hostages and the people
of Iraq are taking place each Tuesday afternoon, from
5 to 6p.m. at the Art Gallery downtown on the Robson
Street side.

***

2) Rally for Haiti
Tuesday, January 10, 6:15 PM to 7 PM
Collingwood Neighbourhood House,
5288 Joyce St. (one block south of Sky Train)

Haiti Solidarity BC and other supporting groups will
bring the campaign for a free and sovereign Haiti to the
all-candidates meeting in Kingsway riding this Tuesday. Our purpose is to
give a voice to the people of Haiti in their struggle for democracy
and against the foreign-sponsored coup and sham elections.

In particular, we will be asking the Minister of
Industry David Emerson, Liberal candidate in Kingsway riding, why his
government sponsored and helped organize the overthrow of the
elected and constitutional government of President Jean-Bertrand
Aristide in February 2004.

The human rights situation in Haiti since the coup is
a disaster. So is everything else. A national election to be
organized by the occupying powers in Haiti has been postponed for a
fourth (!) time. On January 7, the head of the United Nations military
force committed suicide in Port au Prince rather than accept the
pressure to carry out more bloody attacks on supporters of President
Aristide. We say, ENOUGH!

For justice and democracy in Haiti!
Yes to free elections, no to sham elections!
End the repression of popular forces, free all political prisoners!
Free Father Gerard Jean-Juste!
Canada, US, United Nations: Out of Haiti now!

Haiti Solidarity BC
Contact: haitisolidaritybc at yahoo.ca
Ph 778-858-5179   604-338-7450

***

3) StopWar.ca will hold its first general meeting of 2006
Wed. January 11, 5:30p.m. at the Maritime Labour Centre (111 Victoria Dr.)

***

4) Resources for War Resisters campaign in the
election

FEDERAL ELECTION 2006
The Canadian election which is currently underway
offers a great opportunity to raise the issue of
sanctuary for the war resisters with our federal
politicians. We urge all our supporters across the
country to do their best to make sure this crucial
issue shows up on the radar screens of the candidates
in their ridings. Here are some suggestions for how
you can put the war resisters on the politicians'
radar screen:

Inform yourself about the issue – read and download
the Campaign’s 1-page Backgrounder at
http://www.resisters.ca/Backgrounder_for_Federal_Election.pdf

Attend all-candidates meetings in your riding and ask
the candidates where they stand. Suggested questions:
http://www.resisters.ca/Questions_for_Candidates.pdf

Put a “Let Them Stay” sign on your lawn or front porch
or in your window, and encourage your friends and
neighbours to display them too. In the GTA, email or
phone us for pick-up or delivery of your sign. [Price:
$2 each]

Raise the issue with candidates who knock on your
door.
http://www.resisters.ca/Questions_for_Candidates.pdf

Send a letter to the editor of your local newspaper,
explaining why it’s important to elect candidates who
will Let The War Resisters Stay in Canada.

Circulate our petition among your friends, neighbours,
at meetings – everywhere you can. Petition:
http://www.resisters.ca/WarResistersPetition.pdf

Arrange a showing of our new video: “Let Them Stay:
Voices of U.S. War Resisters in Canada”. At 28
minutes, it’s ideal for all kinds of events, and it’s
guaranteed to build support for the war resisters.

Let us know what they say: When you get a response
from a candidate on this issue, please contact us and
let us know about it. We need to know who is with us
-- and who isn't.

The next Parliament will likely be the one to decide
the issue of sanctuary for the war resisters. Let's
make sure all the politicians know how important it is
for them to do the right thing and Let Them Stay!

www.resisters.ca

***

StopWar.ca invites you to join in our ongoing
campaigns against war and occupation. Join us in
building a major rally and march on Saturday, March
18, 2006 as part of the Global Days of Action on the
3rd anniversary of the illegal invasion of Iraq.
Email: contact at stopwar.ca
Web: www.StopWar.ca