The concept of ‘Food Sovereignty’, was developed by La Via Campesina as the best way to promote social justice and human dignity. La Via Campesina is an independent, non-partisan body of local and international organizations from 70 countries, including Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas, representing 200 million small and medium sized farmers, farm workers, [...]
Archive for the ‘Columns’ Category
FOOD SOVEREIGNTY – A CONCEPT TO FIGHT FOR
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012TAX TIP: Canada Learning Bond
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012TAX TIP: Canada Learning Bond The Canada Learning Bond provides money from the Government to help you start saving early for your child’s education after high school. Your child could get $500 NOW to help you start saving early for your child’s education after high school, and an extra $100 each year up to age [...]
The U.S. “Right on Crime” Campaign
Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011Two prominent US Republicans, Newt Gingrich (former Speaker of the House) and Pat Nolan, (former Republican Leader of the California State Assembly) are saying that the American style “tough on crime” approach is not working. They, along with other US Conservative leaders are spearheading the Right on Crime Campaign, a national movement urging states to [...]
Canada-US Security
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011Over the past few months I have talked to people who have experienced difficulties at the US border. Often this involves having to leave ones vehicle and being subjected to intense interrogation. What has in the past been a routine “friendly” crossing has turned into a “negative” interrogation by abusive American border guards. There appears [...]
Biotech Bullying in Overdrive
Tuesday, February 1st, 2011I have long been convinced that big biotech companies such as Monsanto have been running a scam in regards to their genetically engineered (GE) crops. Despite fifteen years of failed promises to feed the world’s hungry and more recently to save mankind from climate change, the Canadian and US governments inexplicably continue to write all [...]
A Year in Review, Part II
Wednesday, January 26th, 2011This past year, my staff and I had the privilege of assisting constituents faced with federal bureaucratic problems – unfair treatment, misinterpretations or just plain despair at not seeing any hope in their particular plight. For the most part, I find the federal public service is exceptionally professional, knowledgeable and helpful, and should not be [...]
A Year in Review: Part 1
Monday, January 10th, 2011The past year has been an eventful one. In January the Haiti earthquake hit. My staff and I worked for days with Foreign Affairs, a School District and Mt. Sentinel School of South Slocan to safely locate, press for transportation assistance, and rescue a class of high school students caught in Haiti. In February, after [...]
Local Groups and MP Atamanenko Target Economic Well-being with Poor No More Film and Forums in Oliver and Osoyoos
Thursday, January 6th, 2011CASTLEGAR/OLIVER/OSOYOOS – The Osoyoos Baptist Church and the Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre are partnering with MP Alex Atamanenko (BC Southern Interior) to host two public showings of the acclaimed film Poor No More, featuring Canadian actress and comedian Mary Walsh. The film will show on Thursday, January 13th at 7:00 PM at the [...]
Has Canada Lost Its Way – Part IV – Foreign Policy
Friday, December 31st, 2010In the previous op-ed I talked primarily about Canada`s role in Afghanistan and how we have shifted our foreign policy away from the middle ground peace-keeping focus to active combat. Another disturbing trend in our policy is our shift in Middle East thinking. For decades Canada has attempted to promote a balanced approach to the [...]
The State of Democracy in Canada
Tuesday, December 21st, 2010One of the hallmarks of a democratic state is its commitment to free, public and political expression. Indeed, no society can call itself truly democratic if it does not guarantee its citizens the inalienable rights to gather, communicate their opinion and demonstrate their support for or against any political position they wish. If these assertions [...]