OTTAWA — December 3rd is the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a time when progressive nations reflect on how well they, as a people, empower persons with disabilities in society.

“Sadly, our record on Human Rights has been fading and rather than celebrating, this should be one of sober reflection,” commented Elizabeth May, Leader of the Canadian Greens. “As the media has shown, Canada’s current attitude with respect to Human Rights is in question.”

Canada has still failed to sign on to the International Convention on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Even more telling is our refusal to ratify to date the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).” It should be remembered that already 29 months have passed since the signing ceremony for the CRPD at the United Nations,” stated Joe Foster, Human Rights Critic.

The Convention marks a paradigm shift in attitudes and challenges the previous view which saw persons with disabilities as people who require charity rather than respect. It now makes it clear that persons with disabilities, like all people, are “subjects” of the international human framework with exactly the same rights and freedoms as everyone else.”

“All Canadians benefit from increasing the active involvement of persons with disabilities in the life of our communities,” said Mr. Foster.

OTTAWA — On World AIDS Day, the Green Party of Canada expresses its deep respect to all who are participating in the global effort to halt the spread of HIV.  With the numbers of people suffering with this disease still rising, more needs to be done.  We must commit to helping combat the challenges of those affected by increasing awareness and support for the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS.

“We must not be complacent. The threat of HIV-AIDs is not averted. In Africa, we need to continue to ameliorate poverty, provide primary health care, and increase education especially for women and girls. In Canada, we need to confront the on-going threat in vulnerable populations, and increase treatment options, such as seniors’ facilities and hospices created for the gay community,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May.

Members of the Oshawa riding and the Oshawa-Whitby riding were happy to attend Durham Region’s Candlelight Service in honour of World AIDS Day in Pickering. ” What a humbling experience and a joy to participate. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this disease, ” stated Blaine Leal from the Oshawa Green Party.

The Oshawa Federal Green Party Association would like to remind everyone that November’s Executive Committee meeting is one week away. The Executive Committee will be meeting on Wednesday, November 18th at 7:30 p.m. at 13 John St. W right across from Memorial Park. All members are welcome to attend and offer their input. If you require more information or need a ride please contact us.

Gail Bates and the Oshawa Federal Green Party Association were proud to attend the Remembrance Day Parade and Service today at Memorial Park in Oshawa. It was touching to see thousands of residents from Oshawa attending. Let us not forget the sacrifices that so many have made for our freedoms even as this day passes.  Here are a few pictures from the day.

20 years ago my wardrobe consisted of a variety of pink spandex shorts, I loved snap bracelets and I just could not get enough of the New Kids on the Block. Give me a break, after all it was 1989 and I was 6 years old.

1989 was also the year my uncle Kevin took his fall trip to Germany to see the fall of the Berlin wall. At home in rural Ontario, I remember huddling around our television set for days, watching masses of people take down this gigantic symbol of suffering one cinder block at a time.

My parents did what they could to explain what this wall had meant to the people of Germany and the world, but it would take 20 years of living in this world to really understand the true importance of the day the wall came crashing down, November 9th 1989.

I have learned that though Mr. Reagan gave a great speech during the 750th Anniversary of Berlin, hope, persistence and unity brought down that wall. People from around the world joined together for the common good. They came together to fight oppressive forces in order to preserve freedom and security for the people of Germany, sending a message around the globe that the impossible is possible.

When my uncle returned from Germany he brought me a gift. I unwrapped the package, anxious to see what exotic European treasure he brought back for me, to my surprise inside the delicate tissue paper was a chunk of cinder. It was covered with decades of graffiti that no doubt carries the passion of the artists that put it there. He told me the story of how he was able to harvest the chunk. He had waited for hours by one section of wall free of graffiti but full of guards. No one dared to attack this wall. Though there were hundreds around him with the same idea, the fear of being shot on the spot was too much for anyone to act. Then he wandered down the wall to where he seen another large group of people. He said he watched awhile as they shared the few tools they had giving everyone a chance to attack the wall. I always found it funny how just a few meters away from this jubilation the old emotions were still clinging to the wall. How those guards could be so dedicated to protecting that wall until the very last moment has always, always been a wonder to me.

I’ll admit at 6 years old a chunk of cinder wasn’t what I would have asked for, but its the best gift I could have received. The chunk still sits in my living room, next the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. I’ve never forgotten what a triumphant it represents and tomorrow on the 20th anniversary of that day I will say a prayer of thanks and prayer of hope. May we never repeat the sins that lead to such a horrible division and may we never forget the power of the hope that brought it all crashing down!

I will leave you with my favourite quote from the graffiti on the Berlin Wall.
Many small people, who in many small places do many small things, can alter the face of the world.

Rebecca Harrison-White

Is it too much to give, this date, this hour, this moment, for thoughful recognition, reflection, and respect?

Let not your poppy be an inconvenience of fashion, nor your moment of silence a trival pause.

Let not remembrance become routine.

Join Gail Bates and the Oshawa Federal Green Party downtown Oshawa on November 11th at 11:00 a.m. at Memorial Park to honour and pay our respects to those Canadians who sacrificed so much so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have and share those freedoms with other nations.

THANK YOU !

Fill the Hill October 24, 2009

Members of the Oshawa Federal Green Party were happy to attend PowerShift Canada’s 2009 Conference in Ottawa, Ontario October 23 – 26th. PowerShift Canada was organized and held by youth activists across our great country.

A group attending one of the workshops.

On October 23-26, 2009, over 1000 young people from across the country  converged on Ottawa to take a message of bold, comprehensive and immediate federal climate action to Parliament Hill. Power Shift was two days of training, strategy and action and one mass lobby day to hold our elected officials accountable to for their part to solve the climate crisis, and to build a cohesive and effective youth climate movement. This was the largest-ever gathering of young people on the environment in the history of this country.

At Power Shift Canada, they delivered our message of change to our elected officials. Youth of all backgrounds came together to create a fresh, positive, and inspiring vision of the future, one focused on our potential to overcome the challenges of the 21st century, build a clean energy economy, create millions of green jobs, increase global equity, and revitalize our economy. Now is the time for action. Now is the time for boldness. We will accept nothing less from the people with whom we have entrusted our future: our elected officials, and most importantly, ourselves. 2009 will be a year history will remember.

On Monday October 26th meetings were arranged with local MP’s and Oshawa youth were happy to have Colin Carrie meet with them to discuss their issues and concerns about his governments stance on climate issues and their reluctance to pass Bill C-311, the Climate Change Accountability Act.

Meeting with Oshawa MP Colin Carrie

Lt. Justin Boyes

Gail Bates and the Oshawa Federal Green Party would like to extend their condolences to the family and friends of the latest soldier killed in Afghanistan, Lt. Justin Boyes.

Please join us this Saturday October 31st to honour Lt. Justin Boyes as he returns home down the Highway of Heros, we will be gathering on the Simcoe st. bridge.

Do you believe everything the conservative government tells you via newspapers and television, about our supposed economic recovery? Are we really in recovery mode? Have a look at these facts. Only the public sector is hiring and the provincial governments will soon reach their budget limits. The private sector is still cutting jobs. Unemployment is grossly under-reported: only those actively looking for jobs are counted. The people who have given up the search are not. Those who had full time employment and now have only part time jobs are not. The people who had good full time jobs with benefits and now are working full time for minimum wage and no benefits, are not counted either.
Wage growth has slowed to its lowest in years and, adjusted for inflation, is negative.
The stock market is not the economy, it doesn’t create jobs, increase wages, or contribute to the GNP. Stocks and bonds rise and fall due to the investment strategies of large fund managers. A rise in stock market indexes therefore is not an indication of recovery.
The Green Party gives Canadians the opportunity to move from an economy based on the unsustainable exploitation of our resources to a sustainable and resilient model based on conservation and renewable resources. The Green party believes in responsible budgeting, forward looking investing,and a concern for those among us who are least fortunate. These are the guiding principles of our economic plan. We support income splitting for families, lower payroll and income taxes, turning blue collar jobs into green collar jobs, higher taxes on polluting industries and no more grey-industry bail outs.