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Singing resistance

When CMU announced “Singing Resistance” – an event to come on down to the chapel and sing protest songs together with music professors at the beginning of February – at the height of the terrible ICE raids happening in Minneapolis, I thought, yes! This is exactly right.  SINGING RESISTANCE In solidarity with Minneapolis Join us for an evening of singing old and new songs of protest and courage, in solidarity with Minneapolis, shaped by traditions of faithful voices choosing community over violence and hope over despair—part vigil, part community chorus. This is not a concert. It is the community coming together to raise voices in the face of injustice, fear, and the uneasy times we are living through Singing Resistance is an open invitation to remember that even when things feel out of control, our voices still matter. And so does being together. But then I saw how popular it was. The news was racing through Facebook. This event is going to be packed, I realized. My heart sank. Thi...
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Recent posts

Does he think Canadians are stupid?

Thanks to Just Peace Advocates for this letter template. I changed the final paragraph, however. Worrying about Canadian soldiers possibly being harmed by helping out the USA is *not* good enough. Canada should not be anywhere near this totally illegal war.  Spain showed the way. Just say no.  What happened to middle powers pushing back against dominant superpowers?  Dear Defence Minister McGuinty, Contrary to the will of the electorate, the Prime Minister has shamefully maintained he “supports” the US/Israeli aggression against Iran. But, Mark Carney also claimed Canada was not participating directly in the war and “not party to the military buildup or planning.” This appears untrue. Does he think Canadians are stupid? According to the CBC article “Canadian military members likely involved in planning U.S. strikes on Iran, retired general says”, Canadians forces have assisted the US/Israeli aggression. A Canadian military website says there are “approximately 18 CAF me...
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Whose death matters?

In June of 2024, a man was just riding his bike to work. Early in the morning when traffic should be low to nonexistent. Wearing a helmet and a reflective vest.  A racing driver lost control and plowed him over.  Anyone who bikes in this city was grieved and outraged.  This stretch of roadway is designated as a bike route. There's a little green sign with a bicycle icon to tell you that. The wide road that invites speeding certainly doesn't. How does a person even drive 159 km/hr on a sleepy residential street within city limits? (Because the street is too damn wide.) For about as long as it has existed, the cycling advocacy organization has identified this stretch of roadway as a route in critical need of remediation to make it safer.  So, within a week, temporary safety measures had been rolled out. Reduced speed limit signs were erected, poly posts narrowed the roadway and speed cameras made sure folks took it seriously.  Ha ha ha ha ha ha. No. 20, 40,...
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Iran

Dear Prime Minister Carney, First of all, let us be clear that the regime in Iran has treated its citizens terribly, especially in recent weeks when it has murdered thousands of civilian protestors. There is no question that this regime would be better ended.  There is a very real question about the best way to do that, however. U.S. intervention -- to serve the financial interests of certain wealthy oligarchs -- has never been an effective way of replacing a human rights abusing regime with a human rights respecting one.  Your statements in support of the US/Israeli war on Iran are condemnable. Tens of thousands will likely be killed in the rogue states’ bid to balkanize Iran. Already hundreds of Iranians have been killed, including upwards of 100 in a strike on a girls elementary school in Minab, southern Iran.  Why have you said “Canada supports” the US/Israeli war when this unprovoked attack is clearly a violation of the UN charter? If international law only applies t...
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Stop blaming immigrants 2

Where is your humanity, Prime Minister and all the ministers included on this message (except my compassionate and intelligent MP )?  I urge you to immediately rescind the proposed Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) co-payments and fully restore comprehensive health coverage for refugees and claimants in Canada, before May 1, 2026. The IFHP co-payments will:  (1) Deny access to essential care – a refugee managing diabetes and hypertension may take five or six medications; at $4 per prescription plus 30% co-pays for dental and mental health care, most will simply go without  (2) Cost more, not less – the government still covers 100% of emergency visits and hospitalizations, meaning untreated conditions will drive up ER and hospital costs that dwarf any savings from co-payments  (3) Punish the most vulnerable – refugees are fleeing persecution, war, sexual violence, and torture; co-payments function as a penalty for seeking safety in Canada  (4) Repeat a proven...
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Stop blaming immigrants

Just before unsubscribing from one of a million mailing lists to an email address I'm trying to shut down, I discovered an opportunity to adapt and send a letter on a subject I care about.  Send your own letter here As a constituent in [your jurisdiction will go here], I want to begin by thanking you for your work on behalf of myself and my neighbours. I’m grateful to live in a country in which we have the opportunity to engage with our elected representatives and speak into issues that affect our communities.  As [my MP] has a record of using her power for the people, I don't think she needs convincing, so the rest of this letter is addressed to Minister Diab and the Department of Immigration, Reguees and Citizenship:   The federal government's Immigration Levels plan for 2026 and beyond is unacceptable. The devastating cuts affect real people fleeing conflict and persecution and real Canadians who love them and are waiting to w...
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No fossil fuel expasion

A letter to the Manitoba government on their ludicrous plan. I can't remember where I found the template which I adjusted with my own comments, but it was probably from the Climate Action Team. Check out their resources for advocacy for a better energy future for Manitoba.  Climate Action Team Dear Premier, minister of the environment and minister of finance  I am writing today to voice my utter horror regarding your government’s recent announcement of plans to build a new, $3 billion fossil gas power plant. Could it get any more wrong at this moment? Building new fossil fuel infrastructure that will fuel the climate crisis and keep us reliant on imported fossil gas from Alberta for decades to come is unacceptable. You haven't even tried to supplement our energy with solar, wind, heat pumps and district heat, to say nothing of improving efficiency so we simply need less. My main concerns with this project are: It expands fossil fuel use during an era of climate emergenc...
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