Author: suzanneweiss63

My personal historical research finds current resonance

9 October 2015 – In September I accompanied Suzanne Weiss on a research trip concerning the work of anti-Nazi resistance in France 1940-45 to save Jewish children. Suzanne’s work took an unexpected turn, becoming part of present debate on attitudes to refugees. Here is her report. For the French text, see Europe Solidaire. — John Riddell

Toronto, 1 October 2015 –  Last month I visited Auvergne, a farming region in central France where, as a Jewish child of two, I was protected from the Nazis by a peasant family. It was the third time I had gone there with John Riddell, my husband, to find out where and how I had been saved from the Holocaust.

To my surprise, this time reporters sought me out for interviews to learn my story. How am I connected to Auvergne? Why was I interviewing villagers? Why did I seek the place where I had been hidden? Continue reading My personal historical research finds current resonance

The case for a tar sands moratorium

11 August 2015 – The following is based on a presentation that Suzanne Weiss did at an August weekend this year at Elbow Lake sponsored by Ideas Left Outside.
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Global warming translates into tragedies of millions of lives lost to starvation, lack of drinking water, and disease.

Climate scientists agree that 85 percent of the oil in the tar sands must remain buried in the ground if global warming is to be held to 2 degrees Celsius. The current pace of tar sands production in Canada contradicts this aim with its plans to increase tar sands extraction far beyond their present level.

As activists, we must focus on what the scientist say is the fundamental reason for climate change – carbon emissions fuelled by fossil fuels like the tar sands. Continue reading The case for a tar sands moratorium

California cities take a stand on toxic oil

7 January 2015 – During a holiday visit to Davis, California, I was thrilled to learn that the local City Council has passed a resolution opposing the transport of hazardous crude oil through their city.

In Addition to Davis, three other California cities – Berkeley, Richmond, and Oakland – have passed motions to halt the rail corporations in their goal to transport tar sands through their communities.

Davis climate action activists at Sept. 21, 2014, New York march

The strong stand of the City of Davis, overwhelmingly adopted by council members on Earth Day, April 22, 2014, states in part: Continue reading California cities take a stand on toxic oil

Candidates duke it out at mayoralty debate

17 September 2014 – Five East End Against Line 9 supporters handed out “Ban toxic oil” leaflets and gathered signatures for a petition to City Council for no toxic oil in Toronto, at a mayoralty debate. It was held Sunday at the Evergreen Brickworks under sponsorship of an environmental NGO. Attendance was 500+: a youngish and well-educated crowd.

The most outstanding feature of the Evergreen Brickworks debate was on the the effects of climate change. The facilitator said that costs of extreme weather events in Toronto, driven by climate change, are now ten times higher than a few decades ago. Continue reading Candidates duke it out at mayoralty debate

The Gaza slaughter: Not in my name

At a Toronto rally of 25,000:  Here, I comments on the stand taken by anti-Zionist Jews against Israel’s massacres in Gaza – and on the real history of the Nazi Holocaust and the resistance to it. 

26 July 2014 – I am proud to join more than 250 Jewish Holocaust survivors and descendants of survivors in condemning “the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza” and “the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.”

Our statement of solidarity calls for “an immediate end to the siege against and the blockade of Gaza” and a “full economic, cultural and academic boycott of Israel.” Continue reading The Gaza slaughter: Not in my name

Toronto activists honour the victims of Lac Megantic

7 July 2014 – On the July 6 anniversary of the Lac Megantic rail disaster, the pointless death of 47 residents was commemorated by moving ceremonies in dozens of communities across the continent. The actions had a common theme: Community activists across North America, along with ForestEthics, 350.org, Oil Change International and the Sierra Club, are holding events during July 5 to July 13 to honour the victims.

In Lac Megantic, more than 1,000 people marched in solemn silence after observing a moment of silence at 1:15 a.m. ,the moment on July 6, 2013, when the train laden with fracked Bakken oil derailed and exploded in a series of catastrophic fireballs leaving deep emotional scars and physical damage which remain on the local landscape. Continue reading Toronto activists honour the victims of Lac Megantic

Climate Accountability Bill Calls for 80% Cut in Emissions

11 May 2014 – An updated Climate Change Accountability Act has been presented to the House of Commons that would require the federal government to establish a plan to reduce greenhouse gases, which cause climate change, to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

The bill, introduced by East End Toronto MP Matt Kellway on June 16, would meet science-based targets that must be observed internationally to avoid catastrophic climate change. Continue reading Climate Accountability Bill Calls for 80% Cut in Emissions

Keep on rockin’ for freedom, Neil Young, cancel your Tel Aviv show

13 March 2014 – Will legendary rocker and indigenous rights activist Neil Young cross the international picket line to perform in Tel Aviv this summer?

Dear Neil,

Your “Honor the Treaties” concert tour across Canada struck a blow for fair treatment of the indigenous peoples of Alberta in defense of their land. It was not easy to challenge establishment politics or hear the criticism of your craft and personal commitments.

I think we understand that well: one of us is an Algonquin, once imprisoned for protecting his homeland; the other a Holocaust survivor.

Now we learn you are to give a concert in July in Tel Aviv. We ask you to reconsider these plans and, if you go to the region, to utilize your trip to express solidarity with the Palestinians, the indigenous people under Israeli rule. Continue reading Keep on rockin’ for freedom, Neil Young, cancel your Tel Aviv show

‘Canadian Charger’ must oppose Ottawa’s fake ‘anti-terrorism’ list

On December 11, 2013, the Canadian Charger, a web-based weekly with many readers in the Muslim community, formally retracted its editorial call for the Harper government to place Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood on its fake “anti-terrorism” list. The Charger thus responded to a wave of protests of its damaging editorial, published in its December 4 issue. Along with its retraction, the Charger featured the following article, which combines two of the protest letters. – JR and SW.  

By John Riddell and Suzanne Weiss. We wish to express our concern with Canadian Charger‘s editorial, “Canadians: List Egypt’s Brotherhood a terrorist group.” The article’s call on the Harper government to ban the Muslim Brotherhood as “terrorist” group is a serious breach of the Charger’s previous stand for democratic rights and against Islamophobia. Continue reading ‘Canadian Charger’ must oppose Ottawa’s fake ‘anti-terrorism’ list

Solidarity saved me from the Nazis; that’s why I fight Israeli apartheid

“Never again for humankind” means supporting Palestinian resistance to Israel’s Prawer Plan.

26 November 2013 – We hear disturbing reports this year from southern Israel. The Israeli government proposes to relocate some 70,000 Palestinian Bedouins from their present homes to government-approved townships. This is called the Prawer Plan, and Israel’s parliament approved it by a three-vote majority in June.

The Prawer Plan would destroy 35 Bedouin villages in the Naqab (Negev) region and extinguish Bedouin claims to land seized from them after the foundation of Israel. The government denies basic services to these villages. Right beside them, in many cases, are new, modern, fully serviced communities for Jewish settlers. Continue reading Solidarity saved me from the Nazis; that’s why I fight Israeli apartheid