What are you doing this Thursday? And the next? If you have some flexibility with your schedule I would encourage you to read on. Below are two interesting events that you should to check out:
The first is an invitation from my friend Steve who works with Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support to a Rally for Refugees on Nov. 4th. The second, an invitation from my colleague Matthew to an Interfaith Peace Vigil on Nov. 11th.
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Hello Friends and Refugee advocates,
Recently we have witnessed a significant shift in public discourse about
refugees, especially refugee claimants. The federal government is currently
rushing through legislation that would make it very easy for the government to
arbitrarily detain for a minimum of one year, any refugee claimants, including
children, infants, the elderly and the sick, who they deem as having arrived
"irregularly". This designation would also prevent them from obtaining permanent
residence for a minimum of 5 years creating situations where families would be
unable to reunite for between 7 and 9 years (on average). The government has
claimed that this is being done to deter refugee claimants from using human
smugglers to make refugee claims in Canada, but it will punish the victims of
persecution as criminals. In response to this proposed Bill C-49 we are
organizing, on very short notice, a Rally for Refugees (information below). This
Rally is a chance for everyone in our community to show our support for
refugees, and to demonstrate to our politicians, that we believe that refugees
deserve the same human rights as every other person, and we don't believe in
detaining refugees and creating a climate of fear surrounding refugees. I invite
and encourage you all to come to this important event, and to announce this
event in your churches and to your friends. Let's join together and show our
support for refugees in our community.
When: Thursday, November 4, 2010
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM
Where: Kitchener Speaker's Corner (corner of King and Frederick)
Why: To show our support as a community for refugees
(519) 588-5236.
For more information see http://ccrweb.ca/en/c49.
Hope to see everyone there! If you cannot make it, please contact your MPs
and tell them what you think of Bill C-49, and it's proposed treatment of
refugees.
In solidarity,
Steven Reesor Rempel
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Our Prayers for Peace: Interfaith Peace Vigil in Waterloo, November 11
Interfaith candlelight vigil for peace on Remembrance Day - Thursday, November 11 at 6:00pm in the Waterloo Public Square. Bring a written prayer for peace from your own faith tradition (to be incorporated into a YouTube video about the vigil). Candles will be provided. Sponsored by Interfaith Grand River and Mennonite Central Committee Ontario.
More information: 519-745-8458 ext. 246 or matthewbd@mennonitecc.on.ca.
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