The June 19, 2010 Eyes on Sudan Conference: Working for Peace was an initiative of the Sudanese-Canadian students, community members and academics at the University of Winnipeg. Many participants in the annual Winnipeg Walk for Peace attended this informative conference. The report on this well-attended conference report is available here.
On Aug. 28, 2010, a small group of Winnipeg citizens declared themselves “Crazy for Peace” and marched through downtown Winnipeg to urge their neighbours to speak out against war with Iran.
Contact Crazy for Peace 2010 on Facebook or by email at crazyforpeace2010@hotmail.com.
Aug. 28, 2010: Glenn Michalchuk, chair person of Peace Alliance Winnipeg, speaks about the growing danger that the United States will attack Iran. The event was a rally organized by Crazy for Peace 2010 at the Manitoba Legislature in Winnipeg, Canada. The text of Glenn’s speech follows.
My name is Glenn Michalchuk and I am chair of the Peace Alliance Winnipeg. I want to thank the organizers of today’s action for giving the Peace Alliance an opportunity to speak and give our views on this most serious question.
The initiative taken by Crazy for Peace is important because of the need to make people aware that the danger of war against Iran is real and that we must do everything possible to prevent it from occurring.
If we are to learn anything from the disasters of Afghanistan and Iraq it is that we are not isolated from these events. Canada played a major combat role in the 1991 invasion of Iraq, a support role in the 2003 war in Iraq and became directly involved in the occupation of Afghanistan through its current combat role. Given this history one would expect that Canada would be a participant or certainly support any action taken against Iran.
What danger does this represent? The entire Middle East and Central Asia have become a major zone of conflict between the major powers and the emerging powers of that region such as Iran. The U.S. – far from re-shaping the politics of Iraq to suit its political control of the region – is faced with a deteriorating situation that threatens its interests. The main ally of the United States – Israel – is facing increasing political isolation in the world over its continued denial of the rights of the Palestinian people and its brutal siege of Gaza.
As Iraq and Afghanistan have shown plans for régime change are not easily achieved even with massive military intervention at the cost of billions of dollars and hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths. The lies and deceit behind the invasion and occupation of Iraq are well known and Afghanistan is now becoming the same even though some still try to justify NATO’s support for the corrupt Kharzai régime as bringing “democracy” to that country.
There is a sense of déjà-vu with what is happening with Iran. With Iraq it was the fictitious Weapons of Mass Destruction and 9/11. With Afghanistan it was the “War on Terror” and Al-Qaida. Now, with Iran it is nuclear weapons and Iran’s so-called threat to world security.
There is a very real danger that the United States, acting alone or with allies, will take military action against Iran. As with Iraq and Afghanistan its aim would be to effect régime change to ensure its political and military domination of the Middle East, the Persian Gulf and Central Asia. There is a very real danger that such a war could lead to a larger conflict.
In the current situation with Iran who is rattling the sabers and threatening war? It is the same countries and alliances that brought war to Yugoslavia in the 1990′s, Iraq on two occasions and Afghanistan. Can we believe these countries now when they make Iran the villain?
Given the current government it is very likely Canada would be part of such a conflict in some way.
The point of today’s action and other actions is to change this course. Canada does not yet have a foreign policy that is independent of the United States or its interests. Canada does not yet have a foreign policy based on the settlement of differences by peaceful and diplomatic means or to show leadership internationally on this.
The most recent history of Iraq and Afghanistan shows that these wars are carefully prepared and managed. Before that, in the 1950′s, the democratic government of Iran was overthrown by the British and the United States and a brutal dictatorship installed to protect access to Iranian oil and control of the Persian Gulf. Not that long ago the countries of South America were under military dictatorships loyal to Washington. The US openly bragged of its overthrow of Allende and the installation of Pinochet who was shielded from international justice even after his regime ended. Cuba has faced decades of economic sanctions and attempts to overthrow its government.
So people need to be aware that the big powers are attempting to drive events to protect their interests not the interests of any people or nation state. When there is talk of wars to protect human rights or to protect democracy we need to know that this is not the real history of intervention and conflict.
The majority of countries in the world have urged a peaceful resolution to the issues of nuclear development as it pertains to Iran. Only a minority – Canada being one – are raising the stakes and demanding ever new concessions and terms from Iran. If that sounds familiar it should — it is exactly what happened with UN inspections of Iraq in the months before the 2003 war. And if that is not sufficient there is always the hysteria of terrorism to convince the people that “something needs to be done”.
A few weeks ago at the ceremony to commemorate the dropping of the atom bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Member of Parliament Bill Siksay spoke of the need to develop a new attitude in Canadian foreign policy as part of the initiative to form a Department of Peace dedicated to a new role for Canada in international relations.
Certainly Canada has never played such a role internationally on a consistent basis. Its “peacekeeping” efforts have often been tagged with other considerations. Certainly its role in the last two decades has shifted to more aggressive military capabilities as part of its commitment to the NATO alliance which is strengthening its reach and ability to act independently of any considerations of the United Nations, international opinion or international law.
There is already a suggestion that Canada will continue to remain in Afghanistan to support the Kharzhai regime.
It is a big challenge to change the direction of Canadian policy. Nonetheless that is the challenge before us. Another challenge before is to ensure that another war does not erupt over the issue of Iran.
Thank you for coming today.
Thank you for being part of this effort to stop the growing danger that the U.S and others will begin a war with Iran. The cause of peace and justice in the Middle East – and elsewhere – can only be served if interference by the world’s powers stops and people are allowed to solve their problems with their own initiatives.
The following is the video and the text of the speech given by Christina Petriuk, a member of Crazy for Peace 2010, at a rally held on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, in Winnipeg. The purpose of the rally was to raise awareness of the danger of war with Iran and the risk that it could escalate into a world war fought with nuclear weapons. To contact Crazy for Peace, email crazyforpeace2010@hotmail.com, or visit their Facebook page.
“If you are not outraged, you are not paying attention.”
Years and years ago I read that on a bumper sticker on some little car here in Winnipeg, and it hit me that day when I read it. The first thing I thought when I read it was, well, I’m not outraged, but don’t tell me I’m not paying attention. I DO pay attention. And then I asked myself, ok, if I really am paying attention, why am I not outraged?
I’m glad to see you here today because it’s clear by your presence that you are outraged, and by extension it means you have been paying attention. And that you are here today because you want other people who are not outraged, to start paying attention, really paying attention. It’s possible that you were ambivalent about showing up today – perhaps you thought about staying home or going somewhere else – perhaps there are people who you care about who don’t share your interest in being here, who even ridicule you for your intention to come here, and you feel you have to separate yourself from them by being here. That’s good – it doesn’t say you are separating yourself from a society you care about and want a place in, by choosing to be here – it rather shows your strength of character, your ability to make a completely independent decision and feel good about your decision and yourself. It shows that you have emerged as a leader for that society that you care about. It shows that more than ever you belong to that society and that you are committing to taking care of it. And you see that you are not the only one here today, and you have met good people here this week who you respect and whose respect you are glad to have. And you can go back to your friends and families having participated in these actions today and you can belong with them and they will surprise you when they say, “Actually, I respect you for standing up for what you believe in.” And you can be certain that your relationships with those people will have changed now, that they ask for your opinion or for you to explain things in the news to them, and one day maybe your brother or your niece or your neighbour will indeed come with you to these peace events. So I hope everyone here today feels glad that they came, and feels good about themselves. I know you know you’re doing the right thing by standing up and saying, “That’s right – I’m against war. Is that crazy? Is there something wrong with that?” Which brings me to my next bumper sticker.
“The middle of the road is for dotted yellow lines and roadkill.”
What is the dotted yellow line? The line on the road that divides two clearly different directions. What happens to any poor creature that stands in the middle of the road in the way of speeding traffic in both directions? Not long before it’s roadkill. Nothing and no one belongs in the middle of the road. Ever. What about us? Are we going to stand in the middle of the road, afraid to choose a lane, afraid to commit to an opinion and to a belief system? oblivious to the dangerous consequences of not choosing a direction? ambivalent until we notice that Canada sends troops to support another hopeless war effort in the Persian Gulf? and then we cry out when it’s too late, that we disapprove of where our tax dollars are going, that we didn’t vote for a war? Why wasn’t there a vote on going to war? we wouldn’t have voted for war. Choose a lane right now. There’s one lane that goes in the direction of “Nuke ‘em, nuke the f’ers” and there’s another lane that goes in the direction of “Over my dead body – right now I am voting against war.”
This week I HAVE heard lots of people saying they’re against war, but some of those same people are saying they haven’t heard anything about war in Iran being a possibility. I say, yes you have, it just hasn’t hit you yet. Have you heard in the news about human rights abuses against women in Iran at the hands of the fundamentalist Islamic government? Have you heard about schools being bombed where girls are pupils? Have you heard about terrorist acts? Have you heard about men’s haircuts being regulated to cut off western-style locks? (Full beard with no mustache the preferred style.) Have you heard about Iran’s nuclear power plants ready to start functioning? Have you heard of round after round of economic sanctions against Iran recently? Then you’ve heard the warning signals that the US and Israel consider Iran a deserving target of punishment, and you have heard the sabres rattling of those allies of power and commerce and economic control in the Middle East. You have heard the announcements that war on Iran is coming. You have had déja vù because you have seen the whole charade before, and its ultimate goal. You have seen it with Iraq and you have seen it with Aghanistan. And you have seen what it accomplished, and what it did not accomplish. And you are seeing it now again with Iran. You have heard lots about war on Iran in the near future.
Is Crazy for Peace for or against Iran? Neither. We’re against war, anywhere, for whatever reason. We know Iran has a crappy human rights record that it is building on right now, and that Iran’s leaders are indeed leading the way with human rights abuses. We also know Iran has a crappy relationship with the US. The country and the region that has a peaceful relationship with the US – a relationship in which a country or a region agrees not to thwart the US economically or politically – is a country or a region that has no fear of military attack from the US or US-supported allies. Think all of western Europe and Canada and Mexico, North America. The country or region that has not agreed to be an economic partner of the US will always be in a precarious state of armed peace with the US – a term you might recognize better is, it is “an unstable region.” Regions declared unstable by the US are under threat of being made “stable” by the US. Being made “stable” for the US begins with de-stabilization of the recalcitrant state. The formula is by now predictable. Step 1: Frighten the public – begin with media reports of human rights abuses and media reports of Islamic terrorism and media reports of suspected nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction being stockpiled Step 2: Follow up with economic sanctions. Step 3: Encourage an internal military coup against the elected government. Step 4: Wage military war “as a last resort.” Starting to sound familiar? Iraq… Afghanistan… North Korea… Cuba… Venezuela… 1970’s Chile… Nicaragua… Palestine… Recognize the signs, distill the underlying message from the version being channelled into your homes by the media. Identify the pattern. Realize you are slowly being manipulated into supporting this bull. And it is bull. I hate being made a sucker. Don’t you? Don’t be so easily suckered into believing at face value whatever message is passed to the media in a government news release, and are then printed in your local daily newspaper. Don’t be so easily suckered into believing Iran needs to be attacked. If you find yourself saying at animated family dinner conversations, “Explain it to me again – why are they attacking so-and-so?” give yourself some credit and realize that you’re asking the right question. And realize that the reason you can’t remember and don’t understand the logic behind a military attack is because the logic is tenuous, the reasons aren’t good ones, the reasons aren’t morally correct reasons, the reasons aren’t based in Right and Wrong. The reasons are based on complicated economic and power issues that you have heard nothing about, and you haven’t heard these true reasons because the truth would outrage you in its clarity.
Countries that are rich enough and powerful enough to piss off the US and that do piss off the US immediately become “unstable.” We’re seeing Iran in action pissing off the US. They are rich in petroleum, and they are regaining control of their own natural resource. They are building nuclear power plants, NOT for weapons (maybe true, maybe not true), but for energy. They have been ordered by Israel and the US to halt and to dismantle their nuclear energy plans. They have refused to do so. Their power is directly born out of this resistance to bow to US and Israeli pressure. They have become an unstable region for the US. Economic sanctions against Iran began last year and are in their fourth round. Iran continues to resist. Their instability and their power thus continues to grow. Their threat to Israel is great. Israel is supported by the US. Israel warns it will attack Iran’s nuclear energy plant. Iran counters that it will not retreat from the threat – it will defend itself with whatever means it has.
This is war.
And it started with us, recall, believing wholesale what we’re told about the threat of Iran, the threat of terrorism, and how the enemy has to be attacked in order to protect the rest of us. In order to return the region to US control. Yes, you want to be protected. But do you require a region to be under US control? Feeling safe and being controlled by the US do not necessarily have to go hand in hand. What does feeling safe have to do with Wal-Mart and McDonald’s and US hotel chains gaining control of the landscape of popular foreign tourist beach destinations?
Crazy for Peace 2010 was born to promote awareness of plans for a US or US-backed war on Iran that is brewing right now with respect to Iran. We protest, you protest, and do we have an impact on decision-making? Will the Canadian government listen to us when the question arises, “How many troops will Canada commit to a US war zone?” Certainly not. But political lifespans are short – eight years at most in the US, and Canadians are fickle voters – we have a minority federal government for the last while. Time flies and before they know it there’s another election around the corner. Pleasing the voters becomes paramount if a party or candidate is to secure its place once again. We all need a paycheque, right? So too does the elected official. Speak out with Crazy for Peace 2010. Speak out yourselves, to your friends and to your families. Our protests will be noticed. Politicians might not care about your feelings per se, but they do care about how your feelings influence your vote. If you say you’ll vote them out over a bad decision on the issue of going to war in Iran, they’ll think about that paycheque they want after the next election and they’ll move heaven and earth to avoid going to war. To get your vote to keep their paycheque. Votes, elections, paycheque, power. That’s where Crazy for Peace comes in, and that’s where you come in.
Read between the lines. If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention. Pay attention, choose a lane, make it clear you’ll vote according to which lane you’re in. Don’t be middle of the road. Middle of the road is for yellow dotted lines and roadkill.
Council of Canadians-Winnipeg Chapter invites Winnipeggers to join in opposition to G20 Agenda!
June 22: PEOPLE’S CARAVAN TO TORONTO
7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Come out to the Front of the Union Station at the corner of Broadway and Main Street where we will meet the People’s Van which is heading east from Vancouver and will participate in the people’s mobilization against the G20 agenda in Toronto. If you wish to join the caravan, (and especially if you have a vehicle) feel free to hop on board! If not, you can still come greet the travellers including a couple of Winnipeggers.
June 25: Come View the SHOUT OUT FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
A live-stream broadcast from Toronto screened LIVE in Winnipeg via rabble.ca, featuring
TWO LOCATIONS!!
See Council of Canadians-Winnipeg Chapter website for details.
For more background on concerns with this summit here is a FACT SHEET: Shout Out for Global Justice! Confronting the G8 and G20, June 2010.
On Friday, June 4, at the call of Peace Alliance Winnipeg, Independent Jewish Voices and the Canada Palestine Support Network (Winnipeg) about 150 people gathered at the corner of Broadway and Osborne at the height of rush hour to join in the worldwide condemnation of Israel’s blockade of Gaza and the killing of 9 peace activists bringing humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Besides placards the demonstrators carried the flags of Palestine as well as those of Ireland, Turkey and Greece countires who are active in supporting the efforts of peace activists to break the sea blockade. Also prominent was a banner which read: “End the Blockade! Enough is Enought! End Israeli Apartheid!”
At the end of the action Howard Davidson, representing Independent Jewish Voices, thanked everyone for making the action a tremendous success. He called on those present to seize this important moment to escalate the efforts to support those who are working to break the blockade of Gaza as the world was now focused as never before on the plight of Gaza.
Glenn Michalchuk, chair of the Peace Alliance Winnipeg, spoke about the shameful role Canada has played in supporting Israel’s suppression of the democratic and human rights of the Palestinian people and nation. He said that the task of supporting the struggle of the Palestinian people has fallen to civil society and its organizations because Canada, the U.S. and other countries have sat silent in the face of Israel’s denial of the Palestinian people’s right to a country and freedom.
Article, video footage and photos: Glenn Michalchuk
The 8th Annual Conference of the Peace and Justice Studies Association
October 1-2, 2010
Menno Simons College and the Global College
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Submission Deadline — March 15, 2010
The PJSA Program Committee invites submissions for the 2010 Annual Meeting of the PJSA, to be held on the campuses of Menno Simons College and The Global College, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on Friday October 1 and Saturday October 2, 2010.
We welcome proposals from a wide range of disciplines, professions, and perspectives that address issues related to gender, identity, and security in the search for peace. We seek to explore how security can be re-imagined in the search for a more just world; to examine the many dimensions of gender and identity that must be addressed in the search for peace and justice; and to analyze the complex inter-weaving of all these issues in an evolving world-wide context of global change. We especially welcome contributions that explore the legacy of great women peace advocates in the tradition of Jane Addams, and look forward to proposals and initiatives of various forms that reflect on and assess the legacy, impact, and future of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women and Peace.
Submissions may propose offerings of various forms: research papers, presentations, round-tables, panels, hands-on workshops, posters, and creative works using a variety of media to address gender, identity, and
security in the search for peace. Our goal is to create a stimulating environment where academics and activists, educators, practitioners, and artists can build bridges and cross borders. The conference will invite
participants to engage with three avenues of exploration: papers and presentations, hands-on practitioner workshops, and a youth summit. It seeks to create an environment in which attendees will have multiple opportunities to meet and dialogue in both formal and informal settings.
The deadline for all proposal submissions is March 15, 2010. Abstracts are to be no more than 150 words. Those greatly exceeding this limit will not be printed in the program. Individuals must be members to have their papers accepted into the program. All proposals must be submitted electronically through the PJSA website.
Every August 6, citizens in thousands of communities around the world commemorate the nuclear attack on Hiroshima and rededicate themselves to the cause of peace and disarmament. In Winnipeg, a Lanterns for Peace Ceremony is conducted by Peace Alliance Winnipeg, Project Peacemakers and the Manitoba Japanese Canadians Association.
L-R: Ibrahim (Obby) Khan, Terry MacLeod, Kerry Pither. Photo: Liz Carlyle
By Murielle Jennings
On Wednesday evening approximately 50 people attended a dramatic reading from Kerry Pither’s book Dark Days: The Story of Four Canadians Tortured in the Name of Fighting Terror. The event was introduced by Shahina Siddiqui, President Islamic Social Services Association, Inc, with the reading featuring the author Kerry Pither, the host of information radio on CBC Radio One 89.3 FM, Terry MacLeod, and Winnipeg Blue Bombers Offensive Lineman #60 Ibrahim (Obby) Khan.
In a story-telling manner, the audience was transported into the lives and experiences of four Canadian-Muslim men – Ahmad El Maati, Abdullah Almaki, Maher Arar and Muayyed Nureddin. The excerpts from “Dark Days” included only some of the atrocities surrounding the four Muslim-Canadian men accused of being terrorists by Canadian national security investigations. As the dramatic reading unfolded, Pither provided the descriptive background for each man’s story, while Khan “became” the Muslim men and, MacLeod read a host of roles from media to security and government officials.
The audience sat quietly, listening to the interrogations and forced “travels” to the countries of Syria, Egypt and Jordon. As the men’s gripping stories unfolded their experiences and reality became apparent. The questioning, torture and living for years in prison cells not much larger than the men themselves were the real experiences of Canadians who were never charged with a crime.
How could these days be even darker? The real darkness is that Canada was complicit in sanctioning these human-rights abuses.
Pither, Khan and MacLeod spoke and answered questions for the audience afterward. There were many unanswerable questions, but Pither had done her research and the audience walked away wondering why and how this could happen to Canadians and wondering what could be done to prevent this from happening again.
The dramatic reading, a new style of presentation for Kerry Pither, had its intended effect, to bring the experiences of these four Muslim-Canadian men to more Canadians, and for all to ask more questions and demand answers.
The evening was sponsored by Amnesty International – Winnipeg chapter; Canadian Federation of Students – Manitoba; Council of Canadians; CKUW 95.9 FM; Islamic Social Services Association Inc. – Canada; Mayworks; McNally Robinson Booksellers; Peace Alliance Winnipeg; University of Manitoba Student’s Union; University of Winnipeg Students Association.
According to Al Jazeera, at least 697 Palestinians have so far been killed and more than 3,085 injured since Israel began its war on Gaza. At this hour, a ceasefire may be in the offing, but there are no guarantees. Around the world, people have rallied against the Israeli invasion of Gaza and the humanitarian catastrophe that is underway. Locally, despite snow and freezing temperatures, 450 Winnipeggers rallied at the Manitoba Legislature last Saturday.
Peace Alliance Winnipeg and the Winnipeg chapter of CanPalNet (the Canada Palestine Support Network) plan to hold two events this week to call for an end to the fighting. We strongly urge you to participate in these actions.
Supporters of the Israeli invasion will be holding a rally at the Asper Jewish Community Centre in Winnipeg on Thursday, beginning at 7:00 pm. PAW and CanPalNet plan to assemble there to hold a peaceful, dignified, candlelight vigil to underscore the need for peace and a withdrawal of Israeli forces.
Please dress warmly and bring a candle. Do not bring placards. Our protest will be a quiet, dignified, peaceful affair.
Date: Thursday, Jan. 8, 2009
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Place: Asper Jewish Community Centre,
123 Doncaster Street, Winnipeg
The Canadian Peace Alliance has called on all members and supporters to support existing demonstrations, or organize their own, this Saturday, January 10 to demand that the Canadian government call for an immediate end to the massacre in Gaza.
PAW and CanPalNet will be holding a rally at the Federal Building this Saturday, and on each successive Saturday until further notice.
Please plan to participate and please encourage others to join you.
Date: Saturday, Jan. 10, 2009
Time: 2:00 p.m.
Place: Federal Building (Water Avenue and Main Street), Winnipeg
Dress warmly and bring a placard and a friend.
Anti-War News