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Former RCMP C-IRG Bronze Commander Ken Floyd testifies at hearing on abuse of process application

By
Brent Patterson
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Video still: RCMP Superintendent Ken Floyd.

The second hearing of the abuse of process application at B.C. Supreme Court in Smithers, British Columbia brought forward by Indigenous land defenders Sleydo’ Molly Wickham (Wet’suwet’en Cas Yikh house), Shaylynn Sampson (Gitxsan), and Corey Jocko (Kanien’kehá:ka Mohawk) concluded today.

The application alleges excessive force and mistreatment by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) and asks Justice Michael Tammen to stay or reduce their sentences after being found guilty of contempt of court related to an injunction prohibiting interference with the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline on Wet’suwet’en territory.

CBC reports: “On Wednesday [September 11], defence lawyer Frances Mahon asked RCMP Supt. Ken Floyd about a PowerPoint given before the enforcement operation on how police should conduct the raids. Floyd was the bronze police of jurisdiction commander, and was present at the arrest of Sleydo’ and Sampson.”

The article then notes: “Mahon played an audio recording from microphones belonging to a journalist that were left on during the arrests in which police officers can be heard referring to blockade members with face paint on as ‘orcs’.”

It then explains: “Sleydo’ and Sampson both were wearing red dresses and had red handprints painted over their mouths when they were arrested. Red dresses and handprints are both symbols for missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls. Mahon said this was an example of a clear violation of the accused rights being breached during arrest.”

Video still of Sleydo’ being arrested by the C-IRG.

Then the article adds: “Floyd said that though he was ashamed by the comments made by the officers and believes they are wrong, because the comments were not said to the accused, it did not interfere with their rights and how they were subsequently treated in custody.”

The abuse of process proceeding began on January 12-19 of this year.

During that first hearing in January, C-IRG Silver Commander Superintendent James Elliott testified that officers would have had special training on Indigenous cultural sensitivity, but as noted in that hearing and again in court this week, an officer could be heard saying: “They all had the fuckin’ paint like, are you an orc?”

The January hearing included testimony about the RCMP having “lethal-force overwatch” in place in November 2021, but no negotiator, their perception that Mohawk patches heightened their risk assessment of the situation, that Corporal Sebastien Pilote sought permission to fire his weapon to disable a security camera, that the same officer pointed a 40mm projectile launcher at the land defenders, and more.

The September hearing included testimony about disturbing radio transmissions (that involved the nursery rhyme Ring Around the Rosie and a voice saying “I know where you are. I’m coming to get you”), arrested land defenders being kept for what “felt like hours” in a police van with the heat blasting, two of the defenders hearing an officer say: “Last time you’ll see that camp” (raising the concern that something was going to happen to them), the forcible removal of a medicine bag and cedar bracelet, and more.

Now that this September 3-11 hearing has concluded, the next court dates are expected to be November 4-8 and December 9-13.

We will continue to follow these proceedings.

Click here: The Yintah Access link to donate to help support the legal costs of the land defenders challenging RCMP C-IRG violence.

Complaints Commission finds RCMP C-IRG exclusion zones and checkpoints at Fairy Creek were unreasonable

By
Brent Patterson
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Photo from EJ Atlas by Mike Graeme www.mikegraeme.ca.

The Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC) has issued a statement today that highlights it has “published a summary of its final report on the RCMP’s handling of a public complaint regarding enforcement of a civil injunction covering the Fairy Creek area in British Columbia.”

Notably, “the CRCC found that the broad exclusion zones and checkpoints used by members of the RCMP’s Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG) were unreasonable. The review determined that the RCMP’s demand to search the complainant [who is not named in the report] at a checkpoint on a public road was unfounded, and his arrest, after refusing to agree to the search, was groundless.”

The 16-page summary of the report released today can be read here.

The summary report notes that while RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme (who has held this role since May 2023) agreed with some of the CRCC’s findings, he “did not fully support the Commission’s recommendation about developing national policy about the enforcement of civil injunctions that is consistent with the prevailing jurisprudence. The RCMP Commissioner stated that he supported developing a policy along these lines, but he objected to the Commission’s statement that the policy should reflect the courts’ cautions about police claiming invasive ancillary police powers that are preventative in nature and not exercised in responding to or investigating a past and ongoing crime.”

Photo: RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme.

The protests against Teal-Jones logging of old-growth forest at Fairy Creek led to about 1,100 arrests and 464 charges laid by the RCMP over the months of May to August 2021. The B.C. Prosecution Service approved 464 charges, mostly for contempt of court (relating to the injunction noted above), against 413 people.

Systemic investigation

The statement also notes: “The CRCC is also completing a separate systemic investigation of the activities and operations of the C-IRG in British Columbia.”

That investigation was launched after the CRCC had received nearly 500 formal complaints about the RCMP C-IRG. As CBC has reported: “More than 100 grievances accepted for investigation contain allegations of excessive force, illegal tactics, unprofessional behaviour, racism, discrimination and charter violations by the force’s Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG).”

The investigation was launched 18 months ago and at this point the CRCC “cannot speculate on when it will conclude.”

We continue to follow that process.

Further reading: RCMP enforcement of Fairy Creek logging protesters ‘unreasonable,’ says federal complaints agency (The Province, September 11, 2024)

Thousands protest Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin and other weapons companies at Land Forces in Melbourne, Australia

By
Brent Patterson
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Photo: The protest at Land Forces expo in Melbourne. Photo by Aveline Cayir.

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reports: “Thousands of protesters gathered outside Melbourne’s Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), where the biennial Land Forces International Land Defence Exposition is being held.”

The Land Forces expo is being held September 11-13.

ABC further explains: “The event attracts hundreds of defence and weapons companies from around the world.”

Those corporations include Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin, Hanwha, Boeing, Thales, NIOA and Rheinmetall.

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) has highlighted some of the companies at Land Forces in its overview: Companies Profiting from the Gaza Genocide. (Noam Perry from the AFSC will be speaking at this webinar on September 18 about Canadians arms exports and the call for an arms embargo.)

Photo: BAE Systems at Land Forces.

Land Forces is organized by AMDA Foundation Limited that describes itself as delivering “Australia’s largest and most prominent international defence and aerospace industry expositions, programs and airshows.”

The protest against Land Forces was organized by a large coalition of groups led by Students for Palestine and Disrupt Wars.

Their statement highlights: “The weapons manufacturers and arms dealers [at Land Forces] are all directly supplying the infrastructure of wars and genocides around the world. From Palestine to West Papua, these companies facilitate murder, displacement, land desecration, and colonisation, in the name of western imperialist interests.”

They demand: “A two-way arms embargo with the rogue state of Israel: no weapons, components, munitions or surveillance technology. An end to all weapons exports to states engaged in genocide and militarised repression.”

Bella Beiraghi from the same group says: “It’s outrageous that eleven months into Israel’s genocide in Gaza, which has killed more than 40,000 people, the Victorian government has welcomed one of the world’s biggest international weapons conferences into the heart of our city, supported by public funds.”

CNN quotes Natalie Farah who says: “We have seen many delegates coming through and we want to make it uncomfortable for these (people) to go inside and make million-dollar contracts and buy more weapons or sell weapons that are going to be used to commit genocide in Palestine and other places in the world.”

And Anneke Demanuele from Students for Palestine told ABC that the protesters aimed to be peaceful but also vowed to try to shut down the conference, including linking arms as delegates tried to enter the event.

CNN reports: “Police fired rubber bullets at demonstrators and both sides accused the other of violence.” That article adds that 1,000 police officers have been deployed and that 39 people have been arrested.

It’s unclear what Canadian participation there may be at Land Forces. The event’s prospectus notes that its sponsors include BAE Systems and L3Harris, both of which also sponsor the CANSEC arms show in Ottawa.

CADSI, the organizers of CANSEC, also have an “International Program” that “is designed to support Canadian defence and security companies in expanding their international business prospects and increasing success in export markets.” While it does not appear that they are at Land Forces in Melbourne, they plan to have a “Canada Pavilion” at the upcoming DSEI arms show in London, UK in September 2025.

DSEI will take place just after the next CANSEC arms show, now scheduled for Wednesday May 28 to Thursday May 29, 2025 at the EY Centre in Ottawa.

We are following Disrupt Wars on Instagram and Disrupt Weapons ARMS EMBARGO NOW on X/Twitter for updates about the ongoing protests against Land Forces 2024.

Photo by Disrupt Land Forces.

Join us on September 18 to examine the issue of Canadian weapons and weapon components being used in Gaza

By
Brent Patterson
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Photo: A protest in downtown Ottawa on the evening of September 10 calling for a full arms embargo now. Photo by Brent Patterson.

Yesterday, Tuesday September 10, Canadian foreign minister Melanie Joly said: “Our goal is to ensure that there are no Canadian weapons or weapon components sent to Gaza.”

Video: Joly speaking yesterday about arms exports to Israel.

Joly added: “We will not have any form of arms or parts of arms be sent to Gaza, period. How they’re being sent and where they’re being sent is irrelevant.”

She further noted: “That is why I am in contact with General Dynamics.”

Almost a month ago, The Maple reported: “The United States government announced this week that a Quebec-based company [General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc. in Repentigny, just east of Montreal] will be the principal contractor in a ‘possible’ $61-million US [CAD $83 million] sale of high explosive mortar cartridges and related equipment to Israel.”

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency named these as “M933A1 120mm High Explosive (HE) mortar cartridges with M783 fuzes.”

General Dynamics photo: The company says they are “the leading manufacturer of propellants for U.S. 60mm, 81mm and 120mm Mortar Systems.”

The response

NDP foreign affairs critic Heather McPherson has responded to Joly’s statement with this comment: “40,000+ Palestinians killed this year while Liberals allowed military goods to go to Netanyahu & today @melaniejoly gave zero details on HOW she will prevent the General Dynamics sale. Empty words? Show the proof.”

World Beyond War says: “This is MAJOR but we need a full #armsembargonow to stop the flow of ALL weapons to/from Israel.”

And Osgoode Hall Law School Professor Shane Martinez has commented: “Prudence demands careful scrutiny of Minister Joly’s comments, because even the most generous interpretation of them does not mean any of the following: That Canadian arms exports to Israel have ended. That the 50,000 mortars won’t be shipped from Quebec. That Canada is complying with the Arms Trade Treaty.”

30 of 210 permits suspended

Yesterday, Joly also noted: “I suspended this summer around 30 existing permits of Canadian companies, and we’re asking questions to these companies.”

According to a Canadian Press report: “Ottawa had an estimated maximum of $136 million in approved military export permits to Israel, according to a document Global Affairs Canada submitted to the foreign affairs committee, current as of July 3. The document lists all 210 permits that were valid at that point, amounting to a maximum of $154.8 million, of which $18 million had already been sent to various public and private clients in Israel. The permits date back to December 2020 and $24 million of the total authorized value stems from permits approved after the Oct. 7, 2023.”

Joly’s comments come one week after The Guardian reported: “[The United Kingdom] is suspending some arms export licences to Israel because of a ‘clear risk’ they may be used to commit or facilitate a serious violation of international humanitarian law. …The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, said it applied to 30 of the 350 existing arms licences, but would almost entirely exclude all UK components for the F-35 fighter jet programme, seen as a significant loophole by pro-Palestinian groups.”

A study commissioned by Lockheed Martin boasts that there are US $2.3-million worth of Canadian components in every F-35 warplane.

House of Commons vote

This coming Wednesday September 18 is the 6-month anniversary of the House of Commons vote of 204-118 that passed a motion to “cease the further authorization and transfer of arms exports to Israel.”

Video still: Joly rises to vote in favour of the motion.

The wording of that motion raised subsequent questions about the $28.5 million in permits approved prior to the vote and the $94.5 million in unused export permits with expiry dates as late as December 31, 2025. Both issues were revealed by The Maple.

Joly has previously said: “Since January 8th, the government has not approved new arms export permits to Israel and this will continue until we can ensure full compliance with our export regime.”

Webinar, September 18, 2:30 pm ET

Peace Brigades International-Canada and the Canadian Friends Service Committee have invited Noam Perry of the American Friends Service Committee Action Center for Corporate Accountability and Kelsey Gallagher of Project Ploughshares to speak on this issue.

The AFSC Action Center has produced the online resource Companies Profiting from the Gaza Genocide, while Project Ploughshares has published the report Fanning the Flames: The grave risk of Canada’s arms exports to Israel.

Photo: Noam Perry, Kelsey Gallagher.

We have also invited the Palestinian Youth Movement to talk about the devastation in Gaza caused by arms exports.

To register for this webinar, click here.

Both PBI-Canada and the CFSC have joined in a wider civil society call on the “Canadian government to uphold its moral and legal responsibilities and impose a full and immediate arms embargo on Israel.”

Further reading: 1,358 Palestinian human rights defenders may have been killed over the last 10 months (PBI-Canada, August 17, 2024).

Global Witness documents 196 land and environmental defenders killed in 2023

By
Brent Patterson
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Key excerpts from Missing voices: The violent erasure of land and environment defenders includes:

“196 defenders were murdered in 2023 after exercising their right to protect their lands and the environment from harm. The actual number is likely to be higher. This tips the total number of killings to over 2,000 globally since Global Witness started reporting data in 2012. Global Witness estimates that the total now stands at 2,106 murders.”

“43% were Indigenous Peoples and 12% murdered were women.”

In the countries where Peace Brigades International (PBI) provides physical accompaniment, is present or supports, 133 defenders were killed in 2023: Colombia (79), Honduras (18), Mexico (18), Nicaragua (10), Guatemala (4), Indonesia (3), USA (1).

“Establishing a direct relationship between the murder of a defender and specific corporate interests remains difficult. However, we were able to identify mining as the biggest industry driver by far, with 25 defenders killed after opposing mining operations in 2023. We were able to connect over 40% of killings in Mexico in 2023 to defenders opposing mining operations.”

“Murder continues to be a common strategy for silencing defenders and is unquestionably the most brutal. But as this report shows, lethal attacks often occur alongside wider retaliations against defenders who are being targeted by government, business and other non-state actors with violence, intimidation, smear campaigns and criminalisation. This is happening in every region of the world and in almost every sector.”

“Over 1,500 defenders have been murdered since the adoption of the Paris Agreement on climate change on 12 December 2015.”

Apart from calling on governments to prioritize and enforce existing laws and mechanisms, to establish new binding instruments and frameworks, to ensure access to an impartial and non-discriminatory justice system, and to facilitate access and genuine participation, Global Witness says businesses should systematically identify, prevent, document, mitigate and remedy harm caused to defenders in their operations.

To read the full report, including the recommendation on page 56-59, go to Missing voices: The violent erasure of land and environment defenders.

#DefendTheDefenders

After eighteen months, no deadline in sight for CRCC systemic investigation of the RCMP C-IRG

By
Brent Patterson
-

Photo: Michelaine Lahaie, CRCC chairperson.

On March 9, 2023, this news release announced that Michelaine Lahaie, the Chairperson of the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission for the RCMP (CRCC), had initiated a systemic investigation into the activities and operations of the RCMP “E” Division Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG).

That was 18 months ago.

The investigation was launched after the CRCC had received nearly 500 formal complaints about the RCMP C-IRG.

As CBC has reported: “More than 100 grievances accepted for investigation contain allegations of excessive force, illegal tactics, unprofessional behaviour, racism, discrimination and charter violations by the force’s Community-Industry Response Group (C-IRG).”

On June 7, 2023, about four months into this process, the CRCC told PBI-Canada: “The CRCC strives to complete its systemic investigations within 12-18 months; however, the timely provision of requested information and access to RCMP personnel will largely determine when the CRCC’s report will be available.”

A couple days later,  on June 9, 2023, Lahaie told the House of Commons Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security: “We are now looking at the Community-Industry Response Group in British Columbia. That’s a big investigation. It’s taking up a lot of my resources but it’s absolutely critical that we do it. But we had to wait for additional program integrity funding to come in before I could actually launch that investigation.”

Then on November 23, 2023, the CRCC posted an update on the investigation on their website. That update noted: “The investigation is progressing, though significant delays in receiving the relevant materials from the RCMP continue. The CRCC has received little information or records from the RCMP “E” Division since July 2023, despite regular follow-ups and requests for updates. This will impact the timeline for the completion of the investigation.”

On January 24, 2024, the CRCC told us: “As we continue to gather and analyze all relevant information in the ongoing systemic investigation of the C-IRG, we cannot provide an anticipated publication date at this time.”

Following that, on February 16, 2024, they told us: “As the investigation continues, we cannot confirm a date on the next public update.”

Today, the CRCC tells us: “The systemic review is active and ongoing, but we cannot speculate on when it will conclude. To date, the CRCC has received nearly 25,000 files. This includes more than 17,000 videos and images. The RCMP’s responsiveness has significantly improved, and information is now being received in a timely manner.”

Shortly after the systemic investigation was launched 18 months ago, the Abolish C-IRG coalition stated: “Given the nature of the complaints and substantial evidence supporting them, we argue for the suspension of all C-IRG deployment in BC pending investigation and resolution of all complaints currently before the CRCC. The CRCC reviews can take years to complete, and it is irresponsible to have this unit continue operations during that time, enabling the continuation of unlawful use of force, arrests, detentions, and assaults that have sparked such an investigation.”

We continue to follow this.

Further reading: Gitxsan and Gitanyow land defenders anticipate RCMP CRU-BC violence as they peacefully resist the PRGT pipeline (excerpts from Ricochet article by Brandi Morin, September 9, 2024).

Gitxsan and Gitanyow land defenders anticipate RCMP CRU-BC violence as they peacefully resist the PRGT pipeline

By
Brent Patterson
-

Photo: Luutkuziiwus member Aspin’m nax’nox on Madii Lii territory. Photo by Amy Romer.

In Another pipeline battle brews in northern B.C., journalist Brandi Morin writes about the police violence that the Gitanyow and Gitxsan anticipate as they peacefully resist the Prince Rupert Gas Transmission (PRGT) pipeline.

Morin writes:

“We saw years and years of fighting (in Wet’suwet’en territory), the police violence, and even the company with harassment and surveillance of land defenders,” said [Gitanyow Hereditary Chief Gamlakyeltxw, Wil Marsden, of the Lax Ganeda (frog) Clan]. “We don’t want none of that to happen here. We have a plan for everything we’re doing and we prefer to reconcile with B.C. and Canada,” he said, while sounds of children playing and laughter is heard from the blockade site in the background.

Bordering Gitanyow territories to the east is the Gitxsan (meaning “people of the river mist”) community of Kispiox (“people of the hiding place”). Some Kispiox band members are readying to set up various blockades along with the local settler community who don’t want their environment compromised by the PRGT project.

[George Muldoe, 83, who holds the legendary hereditary name Delgamuuk is] concerned for the safety of Gitxsan land defenders prepping to resist the coming PRGT project. With a far-off look, Muldoe recounts watching the RCMP’s formerly called C-IRG unit, (now called CRU-BC) arrest Wet’suwet’en using warfare tactics. He recalled Prime Minister Justin Trudeau addressing the media about dissension against “progress.” “Trudeau said if anyone tries to stop the economy of Canada, he will not hesitate to use force.” Those words seared into Muldoe’s psyche. He’s sure Canada, the province, the PRGT along with the RCMP will implement force if Gitxsan attempts to stop the project.

Luutkuziiwus member Aspin’m nax’nox, Ira Good, lives out at Madii Lii territory when he’s not working as a truck driver in Prince Rupert. “One hundred per cent this pipeline will go through. There are no ifs, ands or buts about it. If the government and industry try to come in and enforce their injunctions, they’ll bring their strong arm RCMP and enforce their laws without taking our laws into consideration. But I know my territory,” he paused and pointed enthusiastically to the wilderness outside the window. “I know where everything is out there. They’re going to be coming in with rifles, drones, dogs, power saws, helicopters, everything… what will happen? I’ll go to jail; I’ll go to court.”

To read the full article by Brandi Morin, go to Another pipeline battle brews in northern B.C. (Brandi Morin, Ricochet, September 9, 2024).

International Solidarity Movement volunteer Ayşenur Eygi, 26, killed by the Israeli military in Beita, Palestine

By
Brent Patterson
-

Twenty-six year old International Solidarity Movement (ISM) activist Ayşenur Ezgi Eygi has been killed in the West Bank.

The International Solidarity Movement has issued a statement that says: “During the weekly demonstration in Beita, Palestine, on the morning of [Friday] September 6th, 2024, the Israeli army intentionally shot and killed an International Solidarity Movement (ISM) human rights activist named Ayşenur Eygi.”

It adds: “The Israeli forces fired two rounds. One hit a Palestinian man in the leg, injuring him. The other round was fired at international human rights activists who were observing the demonstration, striking a human rights activist in the head. Eygi died shortly after being transported to a local hospital in Nablus.”

CNN also reports: “Eyewitnesses described the moments leading up to her killing on Friday. Eygi was crouched near a dumpster at the bottom of a hill when gunfire began, Vivi Chen, who volunteers for Faza’a – another pro-Palestinian group which works in partnership with ISM – said. Video shared with CNN by Chen shows paramedics wrestling her body onto a stretcher. Blood pours from a hole in her forehead. Eygi was brought to Rafidia hospital in Nablus, where she was pronounced dead.”

That article adds: “Chen said she believed Eygi was targeted. ‘They have weapons from America. It is not an accident that they hit her in the head.”

Student activist

The Seattle Times reports: “Teachers and peers at UW [University of Washington] reeled from the news Friday and remembered Eygi, who was a Seattle Public Schools and Seattle Central College student before attending UW.”

The Guardian also reports: “Eygi was an organizer with the Popular University for Gaza Liberated Zone on UW campus [said Aria Fani, a professor at UW]. ‘She was an instrumental part of protesting the university’s ties to Boeing and Israel and spearheading negotiations with the UW administration,’ Fani said.”

The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) has highlighted that Boeing, that has a production facility in Seattle, manufactures F-15 fighter jets, Apache AH-64 attack helicopters, GBU-39 bombs and the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits for MK-80 bombs that are being used by the IDF against the Palestinian people.

Fani also says “she was very critical of US foreign policy and white supremacy in the US, and Israel was no exception” and that she had previously protested the building of the oil pipeline on the Standing Rock reservation and was critical of Turkish nationalism and violence against Kurdish minorities.

Photo: Eygi at her graduation in June at the University of Washington. Photo in The Guardian courtesy of Aria Fani.

Photo of Ayşenur at protest. 

UN calls for full investigation

The BBC reports: “The United Nations has called for a ‘full investigation’ into the killing of a US-Turkish woman in the occupied West Bank during a protest on Friday. Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN secretary general, said: ‘We would want to see a full investigation of the circumstances and that people should be held accountable.’ The US has urged Israel to investigate the incident. [But] in a statement, Ms Eygi’s family said that given the circumstances, an Israeli investigation ‘is not adequate’ and called on the US to conduct an independent investigation and ‘ensure full accountability for the guilty parties.’”

Tweet from the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders.

The ISM

The International Solidarity Movement describes itself as “a Palestinian-led organization that provides protective presence and solidarity in the West Bank. The ISM was founded in 2002, and has maintained a steady presence in Palestine ever since, supporting the Palestinian popular struggle against the occupation.”

Their work includes “accompanying children to school and farmers to their fields, residing with or near families whose homes are threatened with eviction, demolition or harassment by settlers” and documenting the “countless human rights and international law violations by the Israeli military and settlers.”

The Guardian notes: “Eygi is the third ISM activist to have been killed since 2000, according to the Associated Press. In 2003, while protesting the Israeli military’s destruction of houses in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Rachel Corrie – a 23-year-old US citizen from Olympia in Washington state – was killed by an Israeli army bulldozer. A month later, Tom Hurndall, a 22-year-old Briton, was shot in the head while he was helping Palestinian children cross a street in Rafah. He died the following year.”

Middle East Monitor notes: “Her death comes as Israel continued its devastating offensive on the Gaza Strip, which has killed nearly 40,900 people, mostly women and children, and injured over 94,400 others since a Hamas attack on 7 October last year.”

Peace Brigades International-Canada extends its solidarity and sympathy to the family, friends and ISM colleagues of Ayşenur.

For more about the International Solidarity Movement, click here.

Further reading: 1,358 Palestinian human rights defenders may have been killed over the last 10 months (PBI-Canada, August 17, 2024).

Webinar: Six months after the House of Commons vote, what is the status of Canadian arms exports to Israel?

By
Brent Patterson
-

To register for this one-hour webinar, click here.

The Canadian Friends Service Committee and Peace Brigades International-Canada invite you to attend a webinar on the export of Canadian military goods to Israel on Wednesday September 18 at 2:30 pm ET.

September 18 is the 6-month anniversary of the House of Commons vote to “cease the further authorization and transfer of arms exports to Israel.”

And yet, as The Maple has reported, the Trudeau government authorized at least $28.5 million of new permits for military exports to Israel in the months prior to the vote; there are $94.5 million in unused export permits with expiry dates as late as December 31, 2025; and Quebec-based General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems Inc. has been approved by the US government to be the principal contractor in the “possible” sale of $83 million in high explosive mortar cartridges and related equipment to Israel.

Speakers on this webinar will include Noam Perry of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) Action Center for Corporate Accountability and Kelsey Gallagher of Project Ploughshares.

To register for this one-hour webinar, click here.

This webinar will provide an update on the current situation of arms exports to Israel, highlight Canada’s international human rights obligations, and help build support for Members of Parliament to endorse an arms embargo.

Register now.

Further reading: 1,358 Palestinian human rights defenders may have been killed over the last 10 months (PBI-Canada, August 17, 2024).

PBI-Canada visits Big Rideau Lake in eastern Ontario where PBI was founded 43 years ago

By
Brent Patterson
-

Peace Brigades International (PBI) was founded on Grindstone Island, a small 11-acre island on Big Rideau Lake about 500 metres from shore, at a meeting that took place from August 31 to September 4, 1981.

The island is situated on unceded Algonquin territory and the nearest town of Portland is about 100 kilometres south-west of Ottawa.

Daniel N. Clark, who was on Grindstone Island for that meeting, has written: “On the final day at Grindstone, we adopted the Founding Declaration of Peace Brigades International, which read: ‘We have decided to establish an organization which will form and support international peace brigades. …We are convinced that this commitment of mind, heart and dedicated will can make a significant difference in human affairs.’”

PBI’s founding declaration was adopted at the Quaker Peace Education Centre on Grindstone Island on September 4, 1981.

In the preceding days, the sessions began with readings from books by Indian anti-colonial leader Mohandas K. Gandhi, American civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr., and Russian novelist Leo Tolstoy.

Clark further notes in his recollection of that meeting: “Just as at that point we were all feeling inadequate for such a demanding task, Tolstoy was admonishing his readers that while many would say that we had no business launching a major enterprise for peace and justice given our poverty of resources and the formidable nature of the challenge, we had no choice but to do so, and that destiny demanded it.”

Leo Tolstoy

Initial discussions on where peace brigades could be deployed included Guatemala, Mexico, Lebanon, Northern Ireland, a planned east-west peace army march in Europe, as well as the conflicts between India and Pakistan, Colombia and Venezuela, Belize and Guatemala, and Ecuador and Peru.

Over the past 43 years, the work of PBI has further taken shape.

Last year, PBI supported 3,493 human rights defenders (including 1,327 land, environmental and Indigenous defenders), 68 organizations, and 950 communities globally through its presence in Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Kenya, Indonesia, Nepal and Nicaragua (Costa Rica) as well as Canada, Spain and Catalunya, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Ireland, Norway and Switzerland.

Today, as we looked out onto the lake where the founding meeting took place on a little island 43 years ago, we celebrate the vision and work of PBI’s founders.

We also remember meeting with founders Hans Sinn and Daniel N. Clark, as well as attending the memorial services for Murray Thomson and Hans Sinn.

#PBIaccompanies

Article: A celebration of the life of PBI co-founder Hans Sinn (September 25, 2023)

Article: PBI founder Daniel N. Clark: “We are like the street arm of Amnesty International” (September 3, 2021)

Article: Friends and family of Murray Thomson gather to remember and celebrate his life (October 25, 2019) If you look closely at the screen you might be able to see the PBI logo.

Photo: With Murray Thomson’s friends Eric Schiller and Nick Aplin at the service.

Article: Peace Brigades International co-founder Hans Sinn on disarmament and the social good (September 6, 2019)

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