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 ‘Human Rights’ Category
FOOD SOVEREIGNTY – A CONCEPT TO FIGHT FOR
Tuesday, May 8th, 2012Statement in the House of Commons
Tuesday, June 21st, 2011Mr. Alex Atamanenko (British Columbia Southern Interior, NDP): Madam Speaker, I would just like to make a comment that I have been following the file of Canada Post and its effect on our rural communities for quite a while now. I have seen some pretty devastating policies that cut back part-time work and that transferred [...]
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 [...]
“Deserter Directive”: Letter to Minister Kenney
Friday, August 13th, 2010DATE: August 13, 2010 TO: The Honourable Jason Kenney Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jean Edmonds Building South Tower, 21st Floor 365 Laurier Street West Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1 RE: Your recent war deserter directive Dear Minister Kenney: I would like to express my concern over the recent directive issued by your department that [...]
“Stones Into Schools” Making a Difference in Afghanistan
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010Like most Canadians I struggle to make sense of our mission in Afghanistan amidst daily headlines which tell of torture allegations, roadside bombs, the cowardly killing of civilians by unmanned U.S. drones, and the deaths of our military personnel. That’s why it is so inspiring to read about the successful work being done by the [...]
Cuts to KAIROS – letter to Minister Oda
Monday, December 7th, 2009Minister Beverley Oda, P.C., M.P. International Cooperation Place du Centre, 12th floor 200 Promenade du Portage Gatineau, QC K1A 0G4 Dear Minister Oda, On behalf of many Canadians, I urge you to reverse the recent cuts made by CIDA to KAIROS. As you are aware, this decision in effect stops funding to 21 ecumenical and [...]
Atamanenko Criticizes Foreign Aid Cuts
Friday, December 4th, 2009OTTAWA- The internationally recognized Canadian aid and social justice group KAIROS has received notice from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) that it is losing half of its total funding. “KAIROS does tremendous work and this cut is mean-spirited and unnecessary,” said New Democrat International Cooperation Critic John Rafferty (Thunder Bay – Rainy River). “At [...]
MP Urges Action on Visitor Visa Program
Friday, November 13th, 2009Atamanenko throws his support behind Visitor Visa Fairness campaign CASTLEGAR – BC Southern Interior NDP MP, Alex Atamanenko, is joining the efforts of his NDP caucus colleague and immigration critic, Olivia Chow, to demand change to the current visitor visa system – a system that includes an arbitrary approval process and no viable recourse for [...]
Canada – Columbia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
Wednesday, September 30th, 200940th PARLIAMENT, 2nd SESSION EDITED HANSARD • NUMBER 087 Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act Mr. Alex Atamanenko (British Columbia Southern Interior, NDP): Madam Speaker, with regard to this agreement, we have talked about labour rights and I want to underline the fact that Colombia is one of the most dangerous countries on earth for [...]