Shouting out for global justice! The Council of Canadians challenges G8 and G20 agendas in Toronto Council of Canadians members, supporters and chapter activists were in Huntsville and Toronto, Ontario June 24-27 vocally opposing the undemocratic $1.2 billion G8 and G20 meetings. As political leaders hid behind steel fences and barricades, posing for photos and making insignificant progress on pressing issues, the Council of Canadians was in action demanding trade, water and climate justice for the 6 billion people worldwide affected by decisions made at these summits. We brought progressive leaders together in front of a capacity crowd at Toronto’s Massey Hall for our hugely successful Shout Out for Global Justice! event and then took our message to the streets in a peaceful march and rally, joining tens of thousands of people demanding that these boondoggle summits be scrapped in favour of more democratic meetings at the United Nations (UN). The tens of thousands of people who marched in a torrential downpour of rain were met by thousands of police officers lining the streets on foot, bicycles, horses and vehicles, many dressed in full riot gear with face masks and wielding shields and batons.  The police ringed every part of the agreed-to march route leaving the thousands of peaceful protestors – made up of people young and old – feeling  oppressively penned in for what was supposed to be a free and democratic gathering. Police used an unprecedented show of force at protests the next day and began arresting peaceful participants, bystanders and even members of the media. More than 900 were arrested and held in temporary facilities without food or water for hours. The Council of Canadians has joined the call for a full public inquiry into police actions both prior to and during the G8 and G20 summits. We encourage people to join the Facebook group “Canadians Demanding A Public Inquiry into Toronto G20” by going here. Here are more highlights of what we did to confront the G8 and G20: We Shouted Out for Global Justice! Internationally renowned speakers including Vandana Shiva, Naomi Klein, Maude Barlow and many others shared experiences and insight to a sold-out crowd at Massey Hall in Toronto. People across the country and those at the U.S. Social Forum in Detroit Michigan shared in the “shout out” as the event was live video-streamed by rabble.ca.

PHOTO: Council of Canadians' staff, chapters and members joined 25,000 others for a peaceful march through Toronto on Saturday, June 26. Support our work – Donate now The Council of Canadians is a non-profit organization and does not accept money from corporations or governments. Our work is sustained by the generous donations of concerned Canadians who share our vision and commitment to action. Join Canada’s largest advocacy organization and people who believe that a better Canada – and a better world – is possible. Become a member or make a donation today. Sign up! Want to stay up to date on Council of Canadians’ news, activities and hard-hitting analysis? Enter your e-mail address » PHOTO: People filled Massey Hall for our hugely successful Shout Out for Global Justice! on June 25, 2010. (Photo by John Maclennan)

We challenged the five-metre law
When news leaked of special provisions that gave police power to ask people to produce identification and state their purpose for being within five metres of the G20 security fence in Toronto, we issued a media release contesting it as an infringement of civil liberties. We challenged the law by measuring five metres out from the security fence and marking the line with yellow tape for the media. Maude Barlow and Council staff were extensively questioned by police for this action.

We paddled canoes to say “Scrap the summits!”
We took to canoes to bring our “scrap the summits”message to G8 leaders at the Deerhurst Resort near Huntsville, Ontario. We said these summits should be held at the secure facilities and more democratically representative UN. Under sunny blue skies we paddled to meet the leaders at the resort but were stopped by police before we could get there. Police representatives promised to deliver our scrap the summits message to the G8 meeting. Our voyage was captured by reporters and told in media stories across the country.

We counted summit expenses
To help keep the summits’ $1.2 billion budget in perspective, we hosted a “summit expense clock” on our website. As each hour of the summit progressed, we showed how millions of dollars were being used for unprecedented police forces, security and other outrageous expenses.

We were part of “The People’s Summit”
In the week leading up to the G8 and G20 meetings, we took part in organizing and presenting public education workshops at The People’s Summit. This event brought together community organizers, activists, non-governmental organizations, independent media, workers, impacted communities and artists to educate, empower and ignite positive change.

We asked to name the fake lake
When news leaked that the Harper government was spending close to $2 million to build a fake lake complete with docks, canoes, Muskoka chairs and widescreen tvs with views of cottage country for visiting journalists covering the G8 and G20 summits, the Council of Canadians suggested it needed a name. We applied to the Geographical Names Board of Canada to have it named in honour of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and be officially known as “Harper’s Folly.” This set off a national debate that went all the way to the House of Commons about the summits’ outrageous expenses.

We called on Harper to scrap the summits
We encouraged people to tell Prime Minister Stephen Harper that spending $1 billion for a handful of political leaders to meet behind fences and barricades was unacceptable. Instead, that money could have been used for urgent issues such as improving maternal health, access to clean water and sanitation, and urgent action on climate change. You can still add your voice by sending a letter to Prime Minister Harper today. Go here to see our action alert.

We protested at the ministerials
We spoke out against the G7, G8 and G20 ministerials in Iqaluit, Gatineau, and Halifax leading up to the summits in Huntsville and Toronto on issues such as a ban on Arctic oil drilling, Indigenous rights and stronger provisions to improve maternal health, including support for the human right to water. To date, the Canadian government has been the most vocal opponent to such a right.

A special thank you
We thank all of our members, supporters and chapter activists who helped make all of these actions possible. Together we confronted and questioned the undemocratic G8 and G20 summits. With our actions, we raised public awareness and national consciousness about the urgent need for change. As Maude Barlow said in her remarks at our Shout Out for Global Justice! event: “It is clearly time for the rise of the biggest civil society movement ever if we are to tackle these issues these leaders have so clearly failed to touch." She concluded: "To paraphrase Arundhati Roy, ‘Not only is another world possible, it is under construction. On this special evening, I can hear her breathing.’”

To see a photo gallery and find links to videos for our Shout Out for Global Justice! event, please go here. A photo gallery for the People's First march and rally can be found here.

Here’s more about what’s new at the Council of Canadians:

• Take Action! Demand Canada support the UN human right to water resolution
• A message from Maude Barlow: Wishing you a Happy Canada Day
• Join the Council of Canadians

Take Action! Demand Canada support the UN human right to water resolution

A resolution has been put forward by the Bolivian government for a UN resolution on the human right to water. The Council of Canadians has been campaigning for more than a decade in support of this right, which will require governments to provide access to clean water and sanitation for their citizens.

This resolution comes at a time when communities around the world face the impacts of a global water crisis and corporations seize control of limited water supplies to make large profits. The resolution would recognize the right to water and sanitation for the 1.2 billion people without access to clean water and the 2.6 billion without access to basic sanitation. Right now, a child dies every eight seconds from drinking dirty water. Access to safe clean drinking water and sanitation is essential for the health and dignity of communities around the world.

Go here to send your letter today.

A message from Maude Barlow: Wishing you a Happy Canada Day

Dear friends,

As we celebrate another Canada Day, I wanted to take a moment to wish you all well. You are all a very important part of making our country strong and ensuring that we are at the forefront of protecting our vital social programs and natural resources. As our voices come together united in asking governments for trade, water and climate justice, we are building momentum; a momentum that won’t be stopped. A better Canada is possible!

Happy Canada to one and all!

Join the Council of Canadians

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. By becoming a member of the Council of Canadians your generous support helps give our organization a voice on social, economic and political issues and build a strong, independent and diverse Canada. Join the Council today, and help us prove that a better Canada is possible. Already a member? Share this newsletter with a friend and encourage them to join or donate and become a part of Canada’s largest citizens’ advocacy organization.