test blog #10

Several times in the last few months, I've gotten the same voice mail message on our home phone line. It's a computer call, and the message obviously began before our outgoing message finished. I hear a robo-voice say, "...press 1 to lower your rates, or press 2 and this offer will expire." The call shows up without a name, just a US city and state. We have call-display - a lifeline for anyone who works at home and wears several different hats - and I rarely answer the phone if the ID looks suspect. But occasionally I will, out of curiosity, or to tell someone not to call me anymore. This afternoon I saw a call from "Pomapano Beach, Florida", no name. I assumed this would be some unsolicited bullshit, but I was curious. When I answered, it was the robo-call I've been hearing on voice mail. It said: "We have been urgently trying to reach you. This is your last opportunity to lower your credit card rates. Press 1 to lower your rate, or press 2 and thi...

While I wait for an important update on some war resister news, I'll post this info from NRDC. If you value the wild places left on earth, and you oppose killing animals simply out of bigotry and bloodlust, please sign this petition. Public opinion does matter in these issues. The fate of Yellowstone's wolves is hanging in the balance right now. Hundreds of wolves got a last-minute reprieve when President Obama put a freeze on Bush's midnight rule that would have stripped wolves in the Northern Rockies of their endangered species protection -- leaving them vulnerable to mass killing. But this "stay of execution" is only temporary, pending review by the new Interior Secretary. Now we must rush into action -- and convince Interior Secretary Salazar to reverse Bush's deadly policy and maintain strong federal protection for wolves. Please make your own voice heard. Send your Citizen Petition to Save Wolves to the Interior Secretary now. We must act swiftly. Altho...

A victory! The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration has (again) passed a motion calling for the Government to stop deporting US Iraq War resisters, and allow them to to stay in Canada. You'll recall that this motion passed in December 2007 , then passed in the full House of Commons in June 2008 . Because this is a new session of Parliament, the whole process had to begin again. Yes, the motion is non-binding. Yes, the Government can continue to ignore it. But the fact that it passed so quickly and easily is a strong affirmation of the Opposition's support. We are hoping that the Harper government will see the error of its ways and, this time, respect democracy. If it continues to ignore the will of the Canadian people, as expressed by their elected representatives, many Members of Parliament are prepared to fight.

The Open Letter that was first published as an ad in the Hill Times ( pdf here ) is now on the website of the War Resister Support Campaign. Please read it, and if you agree, click and fill out the form. A Campaigner is updating the site as she has time. An Important Message to the Government of Canada about U.S. Iraq War Resisters Thanks for adding your name.

There are tons of things going on in the world that I want to blog about, and a few things going on in my own little world that I'd like to whine about. But the Campaign is in full-on crisis mode right now, with several resisters and their families in peril. We are fending off a massive attack from the Government, and we are seriously short of funds. The safety of the war resisters is consuming my thoughts right now, and I don't have the mental space to blog about anything else. I'm trying to not apologize for that... but it's tough. If you want to see what I would be blogging about if I weren't struggling to keep my head above water, you can read Broadsides, Antonia Zerbisias's blog . Apparently The Zerb has very powerful brain-snatching powers. She steals my thoughts, then bangs out a week's worth of trenchant, witty commentary before I can formulate one clear thought. I was especially interested in writing about the Ontario sexual assault survivor who w...

Not a ringing endorsement, but at least he'd be back in Canada. From CBC: With Washington poised to shut down the Guantanamo Bay military prison, it's in Canada's best interest to bring terrorism suspect Omar Khadr back home to monitor his situation , a trio of opposition MPs said Wednesday. The opposition call came shortly before one of Khadr's lawyers and a group of Muslim leaders outlined a proposed reintegration plan for Khadr if he is returned to Canada. Liberal MP Bob Rae, Bloc Québécois MP Paul Crête and NDP MP Paul Dewar held a news conference in Ottawa, a week before U.S. President Barack Obama is scheduled to visit the country's capital. Obama halted the controversial military commission trials after taking office in January. Liberal foreign affairs critic Rae said it's time to "move forward with this case." "It's in the interest of the Canadian state and security to have a followed-up return, with all the guarantees that involves,...