Remember the war resisters I used to blog about all the time? It may surprise you to learn that many are still in Canada. And are still fighting to stay.For these men and women, it’s as if the recent change of government never happened. Of course I rea…
Continue readingTag: war resisters
wmtc: iraq war resisters still need your help: tell the liberal government to let them stay
I rarely blog about the War Resisters Support Campaign anymore, but the war resisters are always on my mind. In fact, they’re in my thoughts more than ever, now that the nightmare of the Harper Government has finally ended. With the newly elected Liber…
Continue readingwmtc: let them stay week 2015: january 25-31: make your voice heard
Allan guest post Since September 2014, seven US Iraq War resisters have received negative decisions in their cases. Two veterans were given removal dates (i.e., dates by which they must leave the country). One resister received a stay of removal and the government rescinded the second removal order at the
Continue readingwmtc: u.s. war resister corey glass speaks out from europe
Corey Glass, war resister from Canada by way of Indiana, speaks out from his travels in Europe in the current issue of NOW. I’m not going to bother to tell you that the Iraq War was wrong or quote the UN handbook on refugees, Geneva Conventions, Nuremberg principles or trials. Nor
Continue readingwmtc: e.u. advocate general ruling strongly supports claim of war resister andré shepherd
The fight for justice for US war resisters took a major step forward yesterday, with a ruling strongly in favour of war resister André Shepherd. In the legal case of U.S. AWOL soldier André Shepherd (37) the European Court of Justice Advocate General, Eleanor Sharpton, today published her final opinion.
Continue readingwmtc: a war resister connects the dots: canada, is this the war you want to fight?
A U.S. war resister in Canada writes in this NOW Magazine. Very soon you will begin to hear about Canadian planes sending “humanitarian aid” of food and medical supplies to those affected by the fighting. . . . And now ISIL is touted as the new enemy from the darkness
Continue readingwmtc: u.s. war resisters in canada are at serious risk. here’s how you can help.
The War Resisters Support Campaign is facing an unprecedented crisis. Since war resister Kimberly Rivera was forced out of the country in September 2012, there had been no movement on any war resister’s case. Then, within one month, five war resisters received notices that decisions have been made in their
Continue readingwmtc: "bogus" refugees and queue-jumping: stephen harper’s campaign against a compassionate canada
Political language — and with variations this is true of all political parties, from Conservatives to Anarchists — is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind. George Orwell, “Politics and the English Language,” 1946 Unpacking how this happens,
Continue readingwmtc: it’s september and u.s. war resisters in canada are at risk for deportation
Two years ago, almost to the day, US war resister Kimberly Rivera and her family were forced out of Canada by the Harper Government. Kim – peace activist, artist, mother, dreamer – crossed the border and was immediately taken away in handcuffs. She served more than a year in prison,
Continue readingwmtc: thank you, charley richardson! your legacy lives on
On Labour Day, I happened to see this on Twitter: I am on my union’s labour-management committee, the group that meets monthly with management to discuss members’ concerns and try to resolve issues. I was intrigued and followed the link that Rank and File had posted. To my surprise, the
Continue readingwmtc: things i heard at the library: an occasional series: #15! one that makes me very happy!
The conversation was simple enough. Teenage girl: “Where is the nonfiction?” Me: “Nonfiction is upstairs, but it’s organized according to subject. There should be some nonfiction books on the Bingo display.” Teen: “I think they’re all gone.” Me: “OK, we’ll find you something. What would you like to read about?”
Continue readingwmtc: "just because it’s broken, doesn’t mean it’s not beautiful": ashlea brockway and brokenart mosaics
The Brockway family, 2013 I want to tell you about an exciting venture: an opportunity to help make art more accessible for all, to help a low-income woman start her own business, and to help the family of an Iraq War resister, all at the same time. I hope you’ll
Continue readingwmtc: march 19, 2003: don’t call it a failure. it was a huge success for so many.
Eleven years ago today, the US invaded Iraq. This unprovoked invasion of another country that had not threatened the United States was justified by the pretense of finding weapons of mass destruction (which the US knew did not exist), and as payback for 9/11 (which the US knew Iraq had
Continue readingwmtc: let them stay week day 5: social media thursday
Today in Let Them Stay Week 2014 is Social Media Thursday! – Change your Facebook picture to the picture above to show support for US war resisters in Canada. You can also find the photo on our website, resisters.ca. – Invite your friends to change their picture, too. – Tweet
Continue readingwmtc: let them stay week day 5: write a paper letter to chris alexander
Today we go old school. Take out a pen, or turn on your printer, and send some paper mail to Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Chris Alexander. Tell him to stop deporting US war resisters in Canada, and to enact a provision to let them stay. Tell him why. Find
Continue readingwmtc: let them stay week day 3: email or call minister chris alexander
Today is a very important day in Let Them Stay Week 2014. Today we flood some inboxes! If you support US war resisters in Canada, please take a moment to call or email the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Chris Alexander. Ask him to ensure that no more US war
Continue readingwmtc: "in the midst of madness, one soldier has refused to participate": let them stay week, revolutionary thought of the day, and other coincidences
Don’t you love it when everything comes together? It’s Let Them Stay Week 2014, I’m thinking about the US war resisters in Canada, and about war resistance in general. And I’m reading a terrific youth novel, Flight, by Sherman Alexie, both fast-paced and rich with insight and meaning. And I come
Continue readingwmtc: let them stay week day 2: letter to the editor
Let Them Stay Week 2014 kicked off yesterday with a flutter on social media. Today we get underway in earnest by writing letters to the editors of local newspapers. Three ideas for letters are here on the War Resisters Support Campaign website. An excellent list of email address, along with
Continue readingwmtc: january 12-19: let them stay week 2014: stop the deportations!
This month marks the 10th anniversary of the arrival in Canada of Jeremy Hinzman, the first US Iraq War resister to seek asylum here after refusing to participate in an illegal and immoral war. Yet 10 years on, Jeremy and his family, and many other U.S. war resisters, are still
Continue readingwmtc: today is chelsea manning’s fourth birthday behind bars
Private Chelsea Manning (formerly Bradley Manning), who risked her freedom and her life so that people would see the truth about the US occupation of Iraq, is spending another birthday in prison. This is Manning’s fourth birthday behind bars. She was held in solitary confinement (a recognized form of torture)
Continue reading