Category: Indigenous peoples

Six three-minute speeches …

I’ve learned to make concise and cogent speeches in the three minutes appropriate for rallies and meetings. Of the several dozen “three-minute” talks I have on file, here are six examples.

Against Islamophobia and white supremacy

The video version of this speech made a  rally against Islamophobia and white supremacy went viral and received over 26,000 views as of this posting.

I speak today as a survivor of the Jewish Holocaust. Nazism took the lives of most of my family and six million my Jewish community. I and so many other Holocaust survivors are here only because of people united to protect us.

What is anti Semitism? It is simply the hatred of Jewish people. Amazingly, Donald Trump honoured the Holocaust by omitting, and in essence denying history. He forgot to mention that that six million Jews were murdered in the attempt to eliminate the whole Jewish people. It’s amazing that we heard no one object to this omission, and we especially did not hear a peep from Israel who prides itself on building a Jewish state. Continue reading Six three-minute speeches …

Montreal protest supports Chippewas, calls for Line 9 shutdown

28 December 2016 – In Montreal, protesters called for an end to the 9B pipeline on Dec. 18, walking through snow and sleet from Suncor refinery in Montreal East to Montreal City Hall. The protest marks one year since Enbridge Inc. began transporting its dangerous oil from Alberta to Montreal through Line 9.

Stopping along the route of their 16-kilometre march, the protesters expressed their views to those who stood to listen. “Enbridge Line 9B is a threat to our drinking water,” said Louise Morand, a member of Regroupement Vigilance Hydrocarbures Quebec (RVHQ), which is made up of 130 citizens groups across the province. Continue reading Montreal protest supports Chippewas, calls for Line 9 shutdown

A historic demonstration of indigenous unity for land, clean air, water

7 November 2016 – In Toronto, on Saturday, November 5, we participated in an event that could be called historic.  About five thousand indigenous peoples and supporters from many different communities from across the city united in support of the Sioux in North Dakota. Their fight is against a pipeline that would carry dangerous oil sands on their territory without their consent.

Standing Rock will not stand alone

The event was organized by the indigenous peoples themselves, speaking in their own voices, in the largest indigenous outpouring I have witnessed. A panorama of homemade signs told the tale: Among them were, “Water Is Life; Mother Is Earth; Stand with Standing Rock; No Pipelines on Indigenous Land; Leave the Oil in the Soil; We Can’t Drink Oil; Stop the Slaughter. Continue reading A historic demonstration of indigenous unity for land, clean air, water

Climate crisis and respect for Mother Earth

The following talk was given by Suzanne Weiss and John Riddell at Glen Rhodes United Church, Toronto, September 18, 2016.

Suzanne Weiss: What will Toronto’s weather be like thirty years from now? A study commissioned by Toronto City Hall says climate change will hit our city hard. Within thirty years:

  • Extreme rain storms will be three times heavier.
  • Days with extreme heat will be five times more frequent.
  • The need for air conditioning will be six times greater.

Continue reading Climate crisis and respect for Mother Earth

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

Environmental Racism and Climate Justice

A talk given to Ideas Left Outside August 1 2013

What is environmental racism?

There are disasters from natural causes, and then there are environmental catastrophes and tragedies imposed by the capitalist and imperialist systems which cause unimaginable hardship and suffering. We know that racism is part and parcel of these systems. Environmental racism has been termed “any policy that differentially disadvantages individuals, groups, of communities based on race or colour” such as by locating “hazardous waste sites, landfills, incinerators or polluting industries in areas inhabited mainly by [racialized] and low-income peoples.” (Gosine 2008 p. 4)

Let us take the example from Haiti. In [2011] Haiti was struck by a savage epidemic of cholera, an environmental disease. Cholera was introduced, in fact, by the massive UN military mission in Haiti, which dumped untreated sewage into a stream from which Haitians washed and bathed and from which they drank. More than 7,500 Haitians died. Continue reading Environmental Racism and Climate Justice

Black book exposes Canadian imperialism

The Black Book of Canadian Foreign Policy, by Yves Engler, Fernwood Publishing, 2009.

29 August 2009 – Yves Engler’s Black Book of Canadian Foreign Policy lays out the facts on Canada’s sinister role as a partner in world imperialist and colonial quests, and urges us to understand the consequences. He challenges the belief that Canada is a peacekeeping nation.

Engler tells us that he was first questioned Canada as a “peacekeeper” when it “helped overthrow the democratically elected Haitian government of Jean-Bertrand Aristide in February 2004.” Since then he has researched and explained Canada’s world role in the belief that citizens “have a right and responsibility to know, debate, ultimately shape what is being done in our name around the world.” Continue reading Black book exposes Canadian imperialism