November 2024

OFRANEH denounces Canadian Randy Jorgensen for trafficking archaeological items, usurpation of Garifuna lands

Video still: Press conference in front of the Ministerio Publico. Criterio.hn reports: “[On November 26 at a press conference in Tegucigalpa] the Honduran Black Fraternal Organization (OFRANEH) denounced Randy Roy Jorgensen, a Canadian citizen better known as ‘King of Porn’, outside the Public Prosecutor’s Office [Ministerio Público/MP] for his involvement Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Gitanyow and Gitxsan resistance to the PRGT pipeline continues as decision on fate of megaproject expected in March 2025

Photo: Gitanyow Simgiget (Hereditary Chiefs) burn a “benefits agreement” on the PRGT pipeline as they close their territories to all traffic related to the megaproject, August 22, 2024. The National Observer reports that the fate of the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline is now in limbo after its decade-old Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Canada continues to monitor the situation of eight community members criminalized for their opposition to Frontera Energy

Video still: A military helicopter takes Ferney Salcedo, Yulivel Leal and four other social leaders from the villages of Venturosa and Platanales following their arrest on November 27, 2018. Video by Prensa Libre Casanare. Today is the 6th anniversary of the arrest of eight community members who were protesting the Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-Canada meets with Arcoíris LGTB Association of Honduras and the Trans Women’s collective Rainbow Dolls

Photo: PBI-Honduras accompanies LGTBI+ organizations at the Pride March in San Pedro Sula, August 6, 2024. The Peace Brigades International-Honduras Project accompanies the Arcoíris LGTB Association of Honduras and the Centre for LGTBI Development and Cooperation – SOMOS CDC. In June 2021, The Guardian reported that Cattrachas, a Honduran LGTBQ+ Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Ottawa Police Service escalates criminalization of Palestinian human rights defenders, arrests PYM organizer

An organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) was arrested in Ottawa on the morning of Sunday November 24. Instagram video of arrest and reading of charges. The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) media release states: “She has been charged with public mischief X2, obstruction of police, counsel an uncommitted indictable Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Palestinian environmental defender Abeer Butmeh calls for “global energy embargo against Israel” at COP29

Photo: Abeer Butmeh at COP29, November 14, 2024. The coordinator of the Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network (PENGON)-Friends of the Earth Palestine, Abeer Butmeh, is calling for a fuel embargo on Israel given “Israeli operations” violate the “right to a healthy environment”. She has previously noted that the Palestinian Environmental NGOs Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

As the UN COP29 climate conference concludes, Peace Brigades International turns its attention to COP30 in Brazil

Image: Logo of COP30 in Brazil. The United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) 29 climate conference is scheduled later today (November 22) in Baku, Azerbaijan. On September 10, 2024, Global Witness highlighted: “At least 1,500 defenders have been killed since the adoption of the Paris Agreement on 12 December 2015” Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

Arrest of Palestinian solidarity activists in Ottawa raises concerns about repression of protests against weapons companies

The Ottawa Citizen reports: “Ottawa police have arrested four pro-Palestinian protesters for allegedly blocking a downtown street during a demonstration on [the evening of Monday November 18].” The article quotes Sarah Abdul-Karim, an organizer with the Palestinian Youth Movement, who said: “We didn’t do anything different from what we do Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago

PBI-United Kingdom report: “human rights defenders need a UK law on mandatory due diligence”

Our colleagues at Peace Brigades International-United Kingdom have produced a 40-page investigative report titled: The Case For Change: Why human rights defenders need a UK law on mandatory due diligence. The six examples in the report (the Cerrejón coal mine and Amerisur oilfields in Colombia, the Eólica del Sur wind Read more…

By Brent Patterson, ago