Here's the petition to free Jim Loney:

http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/freethecpt

Ecovillage links

http://gen.ecovillage.org/
http://espora.org/jar/http://
www.mstbrazil.org/

http://home.tallships.ca/earthsea/
http://www.broadwayarchitects.com/sustainable-community-planning-2.html
http://www.craikecovillage.ca/
http://members.shaw.ca/srollans/articles/sustainable.html
http://www.gvofc.hub.org/
http://www.ourecovillage.org/
http://www.earthfuture.com/talkingcedars/
http://www.windsong.bc.ca/
http://www.yarrowecovillage.ca/index2.html
http://www.conscoop.ottawa.on.ca/
http://bcics.uvic.ca/galleria/bc.php?tourtype=2&group=21&story=6
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/News/nere/2003/2003-03-11-1000.cfm
http://www.advancedbuildings.org/main_cs_coop.htm
http://www.chaseo.org/news-citizenjan23.html
http://home.tallships.ca/earthsea/ComDescrip.html
http://www.manitouarbor.org/

Jim Loney

by Carrie Kristal-Schroder

A group claiming to represent three Arab men detained on secret security certificates in Canada is calling on the kidnappers of four aid workers in Iraq to release their hostages. In an open letter released to Canadian media yesterday, the group says that one of the Canadians being held, James Loney, 41, of Toronto, has worked to try to free three Arab men now being held in Canada on anti-terrorism security certificates.

"It pains our heart to know that a person of this calibre is being held captive," the letter says. "We care about his freedom more than we do our own. If you love Allah, if you have goodness in your heart, please deal with this matter as righteous Muslims and not let these kind, caring, compassionate and innocent people suffer."

The letter is signed by Mahmoud Jaballah, Mohammad Mahjoub and Hassan Almrei, detained in Toronto." This (letter) was initiated by the (detained men), and they actually have pictures in the jail with them of Jim Loney from when he was part of a demonstration calling for their release," said Matthew Behrens, a spokesman for the Campaign to Stop Secret Trials in Canada. "And they knew that Jim has not only worked for the freedom of Muslim prisoners here in Canada, he's also done that in Iraq."

Mr. Behrens said detained men have no other agenda in seeking the release of Mr. Loney but his safety and security, and wanted to add their voices to others who are calling for release of the hostages in Iraq.

Mr. Behrens said one of the detainees, one of whom is currently in solitary confinement, dictated his words over the telephone. Mr. Behrens, who said he has known Mr. Loney for more than 20 years, added that his organization has been endorsed by many prominent Canadians including as David Suzuki, former NDP leader Alexa McDonough and Alexandre Trudeau, son of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau.

"All our members and the people who support us recognize that there's a real injustice going on here in Canada, and we're basically saying we shouldn't be detaining anyone without charge anywhere on the planet."

The group has also lobbied on behalf of Mohamed Harkat of Ottawa, who has been held on a security certificate since December 2002.

Mr. Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, of Montreal were abducted at gunpoint in Baghdad on Nov. 26 along with Briton Norman Kember, 74, and American Tom Fox, 54. All four are members of the Christian Peacemakers Teams, a Chicago-based human rights organization.

Their kidnappers, a little-known group that calls itself the Swords of Righteousness Brigade, accuses the four of being American spies and says it will kill them unless all Iraqis imprisoned in American and Iraqi jails are freed by Thursday.

"We hope and pray to see these captives freed as much as we hope and pray for our own freedom here in Canada, a freedom for which James Loney has worked so hard," the open letter says. Mr. Loney is a Toronto resident known for his work with the homeless in that city. He's been working with the Peacemakers since 2000 and is currently the Canadian program co-ordinator. He had visited Iraq three times before and was leading a delegation when he was abducted. His parents live in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

From the Free Press:

WITH less than six months before the second annual North America Summit Hemispheria meets in Winnipeg, students from the University of Manitoba, University of Winnipeg and concerned community members are already gearing up to take action.

"Trade issues have broad impacts on all folks in Canada and all folks in North America," says Kate Sjoberg, president of the University of Winnipeg Students Association.

The Hemispheria Action Group was formed last summer by student union members of both universities. Since then, the group has been working to develop their website, and link with other local, national and international groups concerned with trade talks that will strengthen the North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico.

Last week, the action group held their first community meeting at the University of Winnipeg. It was their first community event to try and make the public more aware of the effects of strengthening free trade. The group plans to hold similar events each month leading up to the summit.

Troy Stozek, who is pursuing a masters degree in geography at the U of M, says that because the meeting involves government officials, but not presidents or prime ministers, the summit may not even fall on the public's radar. However, Stozek and the action group say that what the public isn't hearing about free trade is how it can have a negative impact on Canada's bargaining power with the U.S. Stozek points to the recent softwood lumber disputes as proof, and says the trade agreement gives too much money and power to the private sector.

"I don't think people are making that link," he says. "We don't have as much trade clout as we'd like to think."

According to Sjoberg, the action group's main goal is to raise public awareness about the effects such a broad trade agreement can have. She says it's important to examine issues like trading a natural resource like water with the U.S. and Mexico, or the negative effects developing land for hydro power can have.

Sjoberg says the action group hasn't ruled out holding protests and rallies against the summit, and says the growing number of group members will decide their action plan in the coming months.

"It really starts to treat people and consider people as consumers rather than citizens," she says of the trade agreement.

Which one do you prefer?

#1

To: pm@pm.gc.ca
I am concerned about Canada's water. Privatization, bulk water exports, and massive bottled water operations are threatening the future of our water. Your government must reinvest in our public water systems, stop water diversions, exclude water from all trade deals, and act to stop the environmentally damaging practices of water bottling operations and other industrial water takers. Moreover, a comprehensive National Water Act must be developed to declare water a human right and protect our water from these increasing threats.

#2

To: pm@pm.gc.ca
I believe that water is a sacred gift that connects all life. Its value to the common good must take priority over commercial interests. In Africa, Asia, and Latin America, private companies are taking control of public water services. Privatization of water resources is also increasing elsewhere in the world, including North america. This turns a common good into a commodity, depriving those who cannot pay and further threatening local ecosystems.
I call on the Government of Canada, nationally and internationally, to ensure access to clean water for all, now and for future generations by:

• Supporting publicly or cooperatively controlled water services that have genuine community participation;
• Opposing measures in federal, bilateral or multilateral agreements and policies that promote the privatization of water services; and
• Protecting and preserving natural sources of water.

A long time ago,

On Monday June 27, 2005. Ninety days after the March 23rd Waco Summit between Prime Minister Martin, President George W. Bush and President Vicente Fox, a ministerial report was made public. It outlined, in the words of the Public Security and Emergency Preparedness Canada media release, "the progress achieved in the implementation of the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America."

Though bureaucratic in language and spun to sound positive, the report gives a sense of the direction and timelines unfolding within the deep integration agenda. The imperatives of the Independent Task Force on the Future of North America, which had the full backing of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, can also be seen in this ministerial report.

This is a wide-ranging report that covers areas such as the movement of goods, financial services, cargo security, bioprotection, and aviation security. The full report can be found at http://www.fac-aec.gc.ca/spp/spp-menu-en.asp. Here are a few of the "initiatives" worth highlighting:

"Enhance electricity collaboration: All three countries need to coordinate efforts on restructuring issues that may impact transmission provision and access, as well as market design and investment issues that impact North American markets."

"Increase natural gas collaboration: This initiative will address a range of issues related to natural gas market in North America, including production, transportation, transmission, distribution, consumption, trade, interconnections and liquefied natural gas as well as projections for the future."

"Joint Canada-U.S. review of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement: The review is an opportunity to ensure that the Agreement continues to be a visionary statement guiding not only governments, but also members of the Great Lakes community, in the continued protection and restoration of the Great Lakes."

"Establish or identify a North American food safety coordinating mechanism: By March 2007, establish or identify an effective food safety coordinating mechanism facilitating the cooperative development of common North American standards, as appropriate, and the removal of identified differences in standards where warranted and appropriate."

"Identification and appropriate adoption of best practices in maintaining the safety, efficacy and quality of pharmaceutical products: The implementation of best practices and the harmonization of technical standards for the registration of pharmaceuticals promote regulatory efficiencies and predictability."

"Develop and implement compatible immigration security measures to enhance North American security, including requirements for admission and length of stay; visa decision-making standards; lookout systems; and examining the feasibility of entry and exit procedures and systems: Develop benchmarks related to procedures and policies for visitor visa processing, including security screening, visa validity, and length of stay within 9 months."

"Enhance our capacity to combat terrorism through the appropriate sharing of terrorist watch list data and the establishment of appropriate linkages between Canada, the United States and Mexico: The three countries will negotiate bilateral terrorist screening information-sharing agreements."

While the Government of Canada has endorsed these initiatives, none of these major proposals have been the subject of public debate or consultation with Parliament. In fact, they appear to be emerging from a narrow consensus of corporate executives, rather than the values and priorities of broader public opinion.

I believe that the people in Canada, civil society groups in Canada, and even the Parliament of Canada should have a voice on matters of such importance. Please contact Prime Minister Paul Martin at pm@pm.gc.ca and tell him that he must have a full and open consultation with people in Canada on these issues before he proceeds any further towards deep integration with the United States.

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To: Hon. Gord Mackintosh

I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the conditions in the Winnipeg Remand Centre. It is common knowledge that the majority of inmates in Manitoba’s correctional system are Aboriginal. Many of these inmates request culturally appropriate services, such as the ability to speak to and be counseled by Aboriginal people. It has come to my attention that the Remand Centre has four non-Aboriginal Chaplains, all male and only one Aboriginal Elder, also male. There are no female Elders in the Remand Centre, even though there are a significant number of female inmates in the facility.

I recently had the opportunity to speak to the Elder at the Remand Centre, Neil Hall who indicated that he cannot keep up with the number of requests he receives from inmates on a daily basis. I understand that while there may be 8-12 requests for his services per day which he must contend with alone, the Chaplains receive only up to 4 requests per day each. This is absolutely unreasonable and is a disservice to the Aboriginal population in the facility, particularly the women.

Neil indicated that he has requested that a female Elder or a female helper be hired, but that his requests have fallen on deaf ears. I understand that one of the Chaplain positions recently opened and another Chaplain was promptly hired. This would have been a good opportunity for the facility to hire another Elder, preferably female.

I want to recommend that this issue at the Remand Centre be looked at immediately and that the appropriate staff be hired, given the inmate population. Please let me know what steps you are taking to address this issue. Thank you for your anticipated serious consideration of this matter.

Sincerely,