To: embassy1@embaguate-canada.com

Cc: Harper.S@parl.gc.ca

Dear Mr. Francisco Villagran de Leon,

I am emailing you tonight due to my concern with regards to the August 7th murder, in Colotenango, Guatemala, of Antonio Morales. Mr. Morales was active in the struggle for the rights of Mayan people, the defense of natural resources, respect for community referendums, and (an issue most dear to my heart) resistance to open-pit mining. I hope you will instigate immediately an investigation into the death of Mr. Morales. Furthermore, I must ask you to listen to the wishes of Mayan communities: for autonomy, self-determination, and an end to large-scale mining (such as the Canadian-owned Marlin mine in San Marcos) and hydro-electric dam projects.

In the meantime, please enact your powers to protect the life of human rights lawyer Amilcar Pop, and the lives of the members of the Asociación Chrisitiana de Jóvenes. They are in danger.

Furthermore, please take what action you can to pressure Canadian extractive industries to follow the recommendations of the report on the National Roundtables on Corporate Social Responsibility and the Canadian Extractive Industry in Developing Countries.

In the memory of Antonio Morales,

Beyond Primitivism:

Toward a 21st Century Anarchist Theory & Praxis for Science

Can be accessed for free here:
http://illvox.org/2008/08/16/beyond-primitivism-toward-a-21st-century-anarchist-theory-praxis-for-science/

... but was borrowed from the Anarchist Studies Journal: http://www.lwbooks.co.uk/journals/anarchiststudies/current.html

Here's the Barriere Lake Solidarity link:

http://www.barrierelakesolidarity.blogspot.com/

and furthermore, another blog of note:

http://harrietspirit.blogspot.com/

Cheraq 43

(Iranian Queer magazine) is available on-line with some articles in English [!!!] and Persian.

www.cheraq.net

To the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi:

This letter particularly concerns the cases of Mohammad and Ali with file number B051747780. Mohammad and Ali were recognized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 2006 and 2007, respectively. UNHCR forwarded their case to you for quick processing, noting that this case should be treated as high priority. Mohammad and Ali completed interviews and health checkups in July, 2007. A whole year has passed and they are still waiting for your Embassy to complete their processes.

You must be aware of the perils that queer refugees in particular face in India. The Indian penal code calls for punishment of homosexuals and the Indian society is homophobic. Because of this, refugees like Mohammad and Ali deal with escalated risks. Confronting these risks often leads to mental health problems and symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder. It is essential that such individuals resettle in a country deemed safe and appropriate for homosexuals, such as Canada, as quickly as possible.

Especially at this time of imminent volatility, I support queer Iranians, and urge that you expedite Mohammad and Ali's case, because they are suffering in New Delhi and Mohammad's mental health is especially deteriorating. He has been medicated by a UNHCR psychiatrist for seven months. I am concerned about their emotional states in India, and urge you to bring them relief from their unhealthy situation. Due to the exigent circumstances especially facing queer refugees, I urge you to assist Mohammad and Ali, and help them resettle in Canada promptly.

Your timely, informed and sensitive treatment of this case will be much appreciated.

Sincerely and Respectfully,

To United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees-Ankara:

This letter particularly concerns the cases of Reza and Kamal with file numbers 385-06C03012 and 385-06C03015, respectively. Reza and Kamal completed their legal interviews on September 6, 2007, and are currently waiting for the commissioner's decision.

I support queer Iranians, and urge the acceptance of their applications for refugee status, as there is every reason to suppose that their lives may depend upon it. I am concerned about their physical and emotional states in Turkey, and urge you to bring them relief from the hard living conditions, which include unsanitary housing, lack of medical supplies and life expenses. Reza and Kamal are particularly affected because Kamal is seriously ill and needs urgent medical assistance.

I realize you have many refugee applicants that you must respond to. However, due to the exigent circumstances especially facing queer refugees, I urge you to assist Reza and Kamal, and grant them refugee status as soon as possible.

Your timely, informed and sensitive treatment of this case will be much appreciated.

Sincerely and Respectfully,
Timothy Schwinghamer

To: pm@pm.gc.ca

Cc: Minister@cic.gc.ca

Dear Prime Minister,

I am contacting you today with hope that you will stop any removal or deportation proceedings against James Corey Glass. Mr. Glass is a conscientious objector, who seeks to be a refugee to Canada, but is due for deportation on July 10th, 2008.

The US law recognizes the right to conscientious objection only on grounds of opposition to war in any form, and so, Mr. Glass was unable to apply for conscientious objector status because his objection was solely to the Iraq war.

According to a statement outlining his position, he had concerns about the legality of the war before he was deployed to Iraq. While serving there, he developed further serious objections to the war, including what he saw as the abusive treatment of civilians by US forces, and the military system's failure to address these abuses. He said he had reported his concerns to his superiors and asked to be relieved of duty. His request was denied but he was given two weeks' leave. He refused to return to his unit and went absent without leave in February 2006. So, while Mr. Glass went absent without leave, it appears that he took reasonable steps to secure his release from military obligations and asked to be relieved of duty.

I will consider Mr. Glass to be a prisoner of conscience if he is jailed on his return to the USA.