The Council of Canadians’ office is buzzing these days, with the Integrate This! teach-in and World Water Day fast approaching. Here’s what we’re excited about these days:
Integrate This! (Because there’s Power In Numbers)
Over 250 people have already registered, and the roster of speakers gets more and more exciting every day. We’re throwing a huge kick-off party, and putting together a dynamic weekend of information sharing and action planning. What are you doing from March 30 to April 1st? Join us in Ottawa for Integrate This! Challenging the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, a free teach-in. Click the links below to register for the following events:
Power in Numbers ($10 in advance, $12 at the door)
Friday, March 30, 8:00 pm, Capital Music Hall (128 York Street, Ottawa)
The official kick-off party for the Integrate This! teach-in, featuring some of Canada’s top hip-hop, afrobeat, pop, jazz and spoken word artists, including Nomadic Massive, Soul Jazz Orchestra, Andrew Vincent and the Pirates and DJ Rise Ashen. Hosted by Allana Stuart. Click here to buy tickets now!
Integrate This! (FREE)
Saturday, March 31, 9 am to 5:30 pm, Ottawa Technical High School (440 Albert Street, Ottawa)
We’re bringing together activists, academics, workers, politicians and journalists from Canada, Mexico and the United States to challenge the big-business vision of North American integration contained in the Security and Prosperity Partnership – a vision that has yet to be debated anywhere but which will have major impacts on citizens across the continent. Featuring Maude Barlow, Avi Lewis, Maureen Webb, Antonia Juhasz and Judy Rebick. Click here to register now!
Organize This! (FREE)
Sunday, April 1, 9 am to 12:00 pm, Ottawa Technical High School (440 Albert Street, Ottawa)
Strategize to make the SPP and election issue and help organize opposition to the next Security and Prosperity summit, which will be held in Canada in August 2007. Meet with activists from your neighbourhood or your area of interest to plan creative protests and dream up inventive ideas for resisting the SPP. Click here to register.
We hope to see you in Ottawa for Integrate This! If you can’t make it, we’ll keep you updated on the resistance to the SPP and deep integration on our website. So keep checking back, because we’re adding new information every day.
 Take Action on World Water Day, March 22
March 22 was designated World Water Day in 1992 at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro to raise awareness about the importance of preserving global water resources. Since then communities, organizations and activists around the world have come together every year on March 22 to highlight water struggles and the need for clean, accessible, public water for everyone.
Last year, 43 Council chapters participated in World Water Day events, many in partnership with KAIROS and CUPE. These activities included potlucks, film showings and water ceremonies – and we hope to do even more this year. There are many things that you can do to mark World Water Day on March 22. Click here to find some resources to get you started, including a listing of events taking place on March 22 all across Canada.
Troops Out Now!
It’s the 4th anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, and the Council of Canadians continues to oppose this illegal and wasteful war – a war that has failed to bring democracy to Iraq, and has led to the deaths of too many soldiers and civilians.
We are also appalled that Canada has abandoned its commitment to peacekeeping in favour of fighting a U.S.-led war in Afghanistan. While public pressure forced the government to say “no” to participation in the war in Iraq and Ballistic Missile Defence, Canada is quietly integrating its military policies with the U.S.
The Canadian Peace Alliance has designated March 17 as a national Troops Out of Iraq and Afghanistan day of action. Click here to download a handbill (PDF) that you can distribute at anti-war rallies on March 17.
For a listing of the anti-war activities in 34 communities across Canada, go to the Canadian Peace Alliance's website.
Two right-wing governments, one secret trade agreement
Opposition to the Alberta-B.C. Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) continues to grow every day. On March 5, trade expert and public interest lawyer Steven Shrybman spoke to a crowd at the Vancouver Public Library, warning that TILMA represents “a profound assault on the capacity of present and future governments in B.C. and Alberta to serve the public interest.” Click here to watch a webcast of this event.
Hot off the presses!
The new issue of Canadian Perspectives is now online at www.canadians.org. Check out the special 12-page supplement on the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America, featuring articles on military integration, the fallacy of free trade, and some unlikely bedfellows in the fight against deep integration. Also, check out the Council’s 2006 annual report and an expanded chapter update section.
Join the Council of Canadians today!
Founded in 1985 by a handful of citizens including Farley Mowat, Pierre Berton and Margaret Atwood, the Council of Canadians is Canada’s pre-eminent public watchdog organization. The Council receives no money from government, corporations or any political party. To preserve our complete independence, we ensure that almost all our revenue comes from generous individuals like you. Join the Council today, and help us prove that a better Canada is possible.
Signing up / Signing off
Use the links below to sign up for more information from the Council, or to remove yourself from this list.
MARCH 31 - APRIL 1
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