Appeal to the Canadian Government to increase the federal financial aid for typhoon Haiyan victims

November 25, 2013

Prime Minister Stephen Harper

Office of the Prime Minister

80 Wellington St.

Ottawa, ON  K1A 0A2

Dear Prime Minister Harper,

Re: Appeal to the Canadian Government to increase the federal financial aid for typhoon Haiyan relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction

As the Canada Coordinating Committee of the International Coalition on Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) we would like to reiterate a request we made on November 12 that the Canadian government increase its relief assistance and commit to provide additional aid for long term rehabilitation and reconstruction to the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. As of today, the death toll from what has been called possibly the strongest storm in history reached 5,235 with a further 1,613 missing and at least 11.3 million people are reportedly affected.

We welcome the aid offered by the Canadian government, including an initial announcement to provide up to $5-million to assist with immediate humanitarian aid in the communities in the Philippines affected by Typhoon Haiyan, and a decision to match the money donated by individual Canadians until December 9.

This was followed by up to $5 million to cover the deployment of relief supplies to the hardest-hit regions of the Philippines and a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) which was deployed to the city of Iloilo.

We were disappointed to learn that a further announcement of $15 million in aid was in fact not new assistance but a re-announcement of money already allotted for the matching funds, to which individual Canadians had already donated $19.8 million on the day of your announcement.

We believe the Canadian government has the financial capacity and the responsibility to the people of the Philippines and to the dynamic and growing Filipino community in Canada to considerably raise its level of assistance, particularly for medium and long term rehabilitation and reconstruction. The 600,000 Canadians of Filipino descent along with other generous Canadians and Canadian organizations have responded quickly to mobilize resources to aid the affected communities. However, private funding from individuals and charitable organizations can scarcely meet the enormous resources required for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction, particularly in the medium and long term.

A substantial increase in aid from the Canadian government would be in line with the international commitments and Canada’s response to past disasters. The UN has launched a flash appeal for $301 million for typhoon Haiyan emergency relief efforts to cover an initial period of six months. Australia, with a Filipino population one third the size of Canada’s, has announced almost CAD$30 million in direct aid.

In past emergencies of this magnitude, Canada has been among the major donors of assistance. It gave $425 million to countries hit by the 2004 tsunami. Following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Canada immediately allocated $150.15 million for humanitarian and initial reconstruction efforts and another $400 million for the Haiti Action Plan.

We thus appeal to the Canadian Government to increase Canada’s direct financial aid for Typhoon Haiyan relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction, in addition to what it has already promised.

We ask that information about the assistance provided by the Canadian Government to the Philippine Government and non-government organizations be made public to ensure transparency and public accountability for the use of the funds.

Sincerely,

Bern Jagunos

On behalf of the Canada Coordinating Committee - International Coalition on Human Rights in the Philippines

Email address: ichrpcanada@yahoo.com

Mailing address:  c/o Bern Jagunos, 211 St. Patrick St., #702,Toronto, ON M5T 2Y9

cc

Hon. Christian Paradis, Minister of International Development

Hon. John  Baird, Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ms. Helene Laverdierre, NDP critic, Int’l. Development and deputy critic, Foreign Affairs

Mr. Paul Dewar, NDP critic, Foreign Affairs

Mr. Wayne Marston, NDP critic, Int’l. Human Rights

Hon. Irwin Cotler, Liberal Party critic, Rights and Freedoms, International Justice

Mr. Marc Garneau, Liberal Party critic, Foreign Affairs and Int’l. Trade

Ms. Kristy Duncan, Liberal Party critic, Consular Affairs and Int’l Development

Mr. Tobias Enverga, Conservative Party Member of the Senate

Rev. Barry Naylor, Chair, Global Council of the International Coalition for Human

       Rights in the Philippines

Download this letter in PDF format 

Comment aider les victimes du super typhon Haiyan aux Philippines

Nos pensées vont au peuple des Philippines à la suite du terrible typhon Haiyan (nom local Yolanda). Beaucoup d'entre vous aimeraient aider, ainsi nous avons dressé une liste des organisations populaires philippines qui sont actifs dans les zones les plus touchées. Le Centre d'appui aux Philippines - Centre for Philippines Concerns à Montréal travaille avec ces organisations depuis de nombreuses années, et nous savons qu'ils sont dignes de confiance, capables et que tous les fonds iront directement et rapidement aux plus nécessiteux.

Sagip-Migrante Fund

Migrante Canada canalise les secours de ses organisations membres vers le fond Sagip-Migrante. Ces fonds appuieront des missions de sauvetage, de la distribution de biens de première nécessité tels que le riz, des conserves et des bouteilles d'eau, la mise en place des soupes populaires et autres missions de secours dans les zones touchées de la région des Visayas.

Vous pouvez faire un don au Fonds Sagip-Migrante de Migrante Canada via PayPal avec le lien ci-dessous:
 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO PAYPAL

Les dons peuvent également être déposés directement dans le compte bancaire de Migrante Canada:
VanCity N ° de compte: 663682 Branch 3 (Succursale 3)
ou au compte bancaire de SAGIP Migrante aux Philippines:
Migrante International, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Kalayaan Branch Savings Account No. 1993-0859-16 Swift Code: BOPIPHMM **

Des biens de secours peuvent également être envoyées au bureau d'accueil de Migrante International: # 45 Cambridge St, Cubao, Quezon City.
Les reçus d'impôt pour dons de charité peuvent être fournis par Migrante Canada sur demande pour les dons de plus de 20,00 $. Veuillez communiquer avec migrantecanada@gmail.com pour plus d'informations.

BALSA (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan)

Vous pouvez également faire un don à BAYAN urgence initiative BALSA. Voir le site BAYAN Philippines pour plus de détails: http://www.bayan.ph
Dépôt direct - compte en dollars U.S. de Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan or BALSA:
Rita T. Baua, acct #180218002566-3; Metrobank, Tomas Morato, Quezon City; MBTCPHMM **

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN) ou Nouvelle Alliance patriotique est un centre de campagne multisectorielle pour les organisations membres à travers les Philippines. BAYAN initie et / fait la promotion de projets de secours et de réhabilitation socio-économique en appuyant la défense des droits démocratiques des réfugiés de l’intérieur et les populations déplacées.

L’Église Unie du Canada

L'Église unie du Canada (UCC ) enverra les fonds reçus à la UCCP (Église unie aux Philippines) ou au Conseil national des Eglises des Philippines (NCCP) qui effectue le travail de secours. Des reçus d'impôt seront émis. Veuillez désigner des dons pour " Typhoon Haiyan Relief ".

Vous pouvez envoyer un don en ligne via la page de don sécurisé UCC:
https://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate?ID=1955&AID=3036

Par téléphone: 416-231-5931 ou sans frais 1-800-268-3781 et utilisez votre carte Visa ou MasterCard.

En envoyant un chèque, mandat ou des renseignements Visa ou MasterCard avec le montant du don à: 
L'Église Unie du Canada - Groupe philanthropie - Intervention d'urgence:
3250 Bloor Street West, Suite 300
Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4

N'oubliez pas de noter "Emergency Response- Typhoon Haiyan Relief " sur le devant de votre chèque. 

Autres collectes de fonds locales en cours:

Montréal :
Vendredi 15 novembre. présentation du film " Busong " 18h00 à Cuisine de Manille (Victoria Ave coin Bourret) . (Organisé par le groupe des jeunes Anakbayan) https://www.facebook.com/events/545909998832328

Samedi le 16 novembre. Dîner de collecte de fonds à l'Église Unie de Beaconsfield, 18:00 https://www.facebook.com/events/228275437350292/

Dimanche le 17 novembre, Messe des migrants, Église Saint- Paul sur Côte Sainte- Catherine, 17h00 . La collecte sera versée aux victimes du typhon. Un diner communautaire suivra la messe.

** Noter que pour les envois bancaires, si vous mentionnez que l’argent est pour les secours aux Philippines, la banque ne chargera pas de frais normalement.

How to help the victims of super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) in the Philippines

Our hearts go out to the Philippine people in the wake of the devastating Typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda). Many of you would like to assist so we have put together a list of Philippine peoples' organizations who are active in the areas most affected. The Centre for Philippine Concerns - Centre d'appui aux Philippines has worked with these organizations for many years so we know they are trustworthy, capable and that all funds will go directly and quickly to the most needy.

Sagip-Migrante Fund

Migrante Canada is organizing among its member organizations through the Sagip-Migrante Fund Drive. Funds will be in support of rescue missions, distribution and delivery of essential goods such as rice, canned goods and bottled water, setting up of soup kitchens and other relief missions in affected areas in the Visayan region.

You can donate to Migrante Canada's Sagip-Migrante Fund through PayPal with the link below:
 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO PAYPAL

Donations can be also directly deposited to Migrante Canada's bank account:
VanCity Account #: 663682 Branch 3
or to
SAGIP Migrante’s bank account in the Philippines:
Migrante International Bank of the Philippines Islands, Kalayaan Branch Savings Account No. 1993-0859-16 Swift Code: BOPIPHMM **

Relief goods may also be sent to Migrante International’s Home Office: #45 Cambridge St, Cubao, Quezon City.
Charitable tax receipts may be provided by Migrante Canada upon request for donations over $20.00. Please email migrantecanada@gmail.com for more information.

BALSA (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan)

You can also donate to the BAYAN emergency initiative BALSA (Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan). See the BAYAN Philippines website for details: http://www.bayan.ph

BAGONG ALYANSANG MAKABAYAN (BAYAN) or New Patriotic Alliance is a multi-sectoral campaign center for its member organizations across the Philippines. BAYAN initiates and/or promotes socio-economic relief and rehabilitation projects in support and in defense of the democratic rights of internal refugees and other victims of militarization and natural and man-made calamities, especially among the peasants and national minorities in the countryside.

* Bayanihan Alay sa Sambayanan or BALSA, US dollar account:
Rita T. Baua, acct #180218002566-3; Metrobank, Tomas Morato, Quezon City; MBTCPHMM **

United Church of Canada

The United Church of Canada (UCC) will send funds received to the UCCP (United Church of Christ in the Philippines) or NCCP (National Council of Churches of the Philippines) who are carrying out relief work. Tax Receipts will be issued so please include full name and address. Please designate donations for "Typhoon Haiyan Relief".

DONATE online via UCC secure donation page:
https://www.gifttool.com/donations/Donate?ID=1955&AID=3036

Phone 416-231-5931 or toll-free 1-800-268-3781 and use your Visa or MasterCard.

Send a cheque, money order, or Visa or MasterCard information with donation amount to: 
The United Church of Canada Philanthropy Unit - Emergency Response 3250 Bloor Street West, Suite 300 Toronto, ON M8X 2Y4

Please be sure to note "Emergency Response—Typhoon Haiyan Relief" on the face of your cheque. 

Other local fund-raising initiatives underway:

Montréal: 
Nov 15, Friday, Anakbayan film showing "Busong" 6:00 pm at Cuisine de Manille (Victoria Ave cor Bourret). https://www.facebook.com/events/545909998832328 
Nov 16, Saturday, fundraising dinner at United Church in Beaconsfield, 6:00 pm.
https://www.facebook.com/events/228275437350292/
Nov 17, Sunday, Migrants Mass, St. Paul's Church in Cote St. Catherine, 5:00pm. Collections will be donated to typhoon victims. Community dinner follows after the mass.

** NOTE: if you mention that you are sending money for the emergency in the Philippines, banks will normally not charge for the transfer or charge the bare minimum.

Victory: Detained Canadian student released, on flight back to Canada from Philippines

Kim Chatillon-Meunier

At 8:30 pm Manila time on Sunday, September 15 (8:30 am EST), Canadian student Kim Chatillon-Meunier was able to take her flight from Manila's NAIA Terminal 2 to Vancouver, Canada after being released from detention.

Kim was able to send a short text message from the plane: "Im on my flight, direct to vancouver with philippines airline :D I could never thank you enough for you help and I will always remeber it. People's lawyer and Karapatan were outstanding, you can count on my support." 

LATEST UPDATE: According to a text message from Émile Gauthier at 9:43 am EST, Monday, September 16, Kim had arrived safely at her home in Montréal, very tired but happy to be greeted by family and friends. Welcome back, Kim. Bienvenue chez toi, Kim!

On Sunday evening, September 15, 2013, Kim had stopped over at the Vancouver international airport on her way home to Montréal and was met by Jane Ordinario and other members of the group, Canada Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights.

This is excellent news and is the result of strong pressure put on the Philippines authorities by the human rights organization, KARAPATAN, assisted by lawyers from the National Union of Peoples' Lawyers (NUPL) and other Philippine organizations in concert with organizations and individuals in Canada and around the world. Particular kudos to Tinay Palabay (Karapatan) and Edre Olalia (NUPL) and their respective organizations for a job very well done.

Canadian government officials were also apparently in contact with Kim.

Kim's detention received top level media attention in the Philippines and in Canada (TV and radio reports in both French and English on CBC, CTV, etc.) and was accompanied by a barrage of letters, e-mails, and other messages to the Philippine government and Canadian government officials. The rapidity of the strong response served to force the release of Kim during the weekend and in the face of some Philippine government officials’ attempts to delay any response until offices opened on Monday.

Kim was primarily in the Philippines for her internship requirement at the Université de Montreal, Canada where she is a regular student. She was selected by the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) to go into an internship program in the Philippines called ‘Students for Development’ sponsored and financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Kim was involved in the research and documentation of the reproductive health conditions of women in Tondo, Manila.

While in the Philippines, she was able to attend the International Conference on Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRPP) in July. She also joined the International Solidarity and Humanitarian Mission in Quezon Province, along with other foreign participants, shortly before the Conference.

We at the Centre d’appui aux Philippines - Centre for Philippine Concerns are very pleased for Kim, her family and loved ones here in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, who have been on a roller coaster ride of emotions since learning that Kim had been detained on September 13. She was imprisoned after she attempted to board a plane to return home for apparently attending a rally in the Philippines last July. This action, which eye witnesses report Kim only arrived at late and simply observed, was attended by over 15,000 people on July 22, 2013. Such rallies have become a regular occurrence during the yearly State of the Union Address (SONA) by the Philippine President, with the Filipino people using SONA to address their concerns for better working and living conditions to the Philippine government.

While naturally very pleased at this outcome we are also very concerned for all those involved, like Kim, in people-to-people exchanges between Canada and the Philippines. Many such people are now apparently being placed on Philippine government “watch lists” and “black lists”.

Is this an attempt by the Philippine government to say that all those like Kim who decide to go to the Philippines and work with and participate in the activities of the people, especially the poor, are no longer welcome in the Philippines? Such activities could involve being with the people as they execute their basic democratic right to protest or rally and call attention to mistakes or misjudgments on the part of the Philippine government.

We certainly hope this is not the Philippine government's intention. However, this is the second such incident over the past three months. The other involved a young Dutch citizen, Thomas Van Beersum, who was also detained when he tried to catch a plane out of Manila, to be subsequently “deported” and told he was on a “black list” and could never return to the Philippines. Van Beersum was accused of attending the same SONA rally that Kim and about 100 other international delegates from the ICHRPP were invited to observe.

We join with groups in the Philippines and organizations here in Canada such as KAIROS in requesting an immediate end to the use of such “watch lists” and “black lists”. We also trust that the Canadian government will register a strong protest to the Philippine government on its serious mistreatment of a Canadian citizen and its use of these lists.

We look forward to welcoming Kim back in Montreal along with her family and friends. We will certainly be marking this victory during the 30th anniversary celebrations of our Centre d'appui aux Philippines - Centre for Philippine Concerns at the Maison de l'amitié, 120 Duluth East, in Montreal, Quebec, next Saturday, September, 21, 2013. The celebration, getting underway at 7 pm with program at 8 pm, is open to all.

SIGNED BY 

Joyce Valbuena
Coordinator 

Malcolm Guy
Communications officer 

Centre d'appui aux Philippines - Centre for Philippine Concerns (Montréal)

CAP-CPC calls for immediate release of Canadian student in Philippines

September 13, 2013

H.E. Benigno C. Aquino III
President of the Republic
Malacañang Palace
JP Laurel St., San Miguel
Manila Philippines

Re: Immediate release of Kim Chatillon-Meunier

Dear President Aquino:

On behalf of the Centre for Philippine Concerns (Centre d’appui aux Philippines) in Montreal, Canada, we call on the Philippine Government to immediately release Kim Chatillon-Meunier, a 24-year old student from Montreal who is currently being detained by Bureau of Immigration (BI) officials at the BI detention center in Camp Bagong Diwa in Bicutan, Taguig, Philippines.

According to immigration officials, Kim had been placed on a "watchlist" and is being held for allegedly participating in the State of the Nation Address (SONA) rally in July 2013. She was arrested at the airport as she was about to leave the country for Hong Kong on September 13, 2013 and was detained upon the order of BI Commissioner Siegfred Mison.

Kim Chatillon-Meunier, 24

Kim was in the Philippines as an intern from the international studies program of the University of Montreal, a project funded by the Canadian government. Her focus area of research and documentation has been the reproductive health conditions of women in poor communities in Tondo, Manila. Last July, Kim was a delegate to the International Conference on Human Rights in the Philippines and joined the international solidarity and humanitarian mission in Quezon Province prior to the conference.

Like many other Quebec students in the past, Kim has chosen to do her internship in the Philippines to learn from and share in the lives of the Filipino people, especially the poor and powerless. Is Kim’s arrest meant to instill fear and deter other internationalists from giving their support to the Filipino people’s struggle for basic rights and democratic freedoms? It certainly appears to be outright political harassment and a violation of the basic right to free expression. This detention is also reminiscent of the treatment of Dutch citizen Thomas van Beersum on his recent departure from the Philippines.

We are deeply concerned by these actions of the BI and the Philippine government and reiterate our call for Kim’s immediate release and her safe return home to Canada. We likewise request that such blacklists/watchlists be withdrawn or scrapped by the BI, as these are clearly tools for harassment and suppression of fundamental rights of those working to defend the human rights and basic dignity of the Filipino people.

We call on the Canadian government and its officials to apply the necessary diplomatic pressure on your government to ensure the immediate release of Kim Chatillon-Meunier and to deliver in the name of the Canadian people a strong statement of condemnation for this abuse and mistreatment of a Canadian citizen by Philippine officials.

SIGNED:

JOYCE VALBUENA
Coordinator

30 ans de solidarité: une célébration - le 21 septembre à Montréal

Le samedi 21 Septembre 2013, le Centre d'appui aux Philippines (CAP-CPC) célèbrera son 30e anniversaire de fondation. Depuis 1983, notre organisation offre des occasions de discussion et d'échanges au sujet des injustices aux Philippines par son programme d' éducation publique, de recherche et de solidarité avec le mouvement du peuple philippin pour la démocratie nationale.

Vous êtes chaleureusement invité à participer à cette célébration le 21 Septembre à la Maison de l'amitié - 120 Duluth est à Montréal.  Ce sera une soirée passionnante nous permettant de revoir l'histoire riche du CAP depuis ses débuts, de partager des nouvelles sur les défis actuels des Philippines et l'état de ses mouvements populaires, et l'occasion de renouer des liens et de rencontrer les nouveaux membres. Le tout sera parsemées de présentations culturelles, bien entendu!

En tant qu'organisation de solidarité au Québec composés de Philippin-e-s- et non Philippin-e-s concernés par la situation de répression et d'exploitation aux Philippines, nous persistons à faire pression sur le gouvernement canadien en faveur des droits de l'homme aux Philippines. Nous continuons à poursuivre notre mission de fournir des lieux de discussion et d'échange à faire de l'éducation publique, de la recherche et à appuyer le mouvement philippin pour la démocratie nationale.

Nous avons hâte de vous voir à la soirée de célébration de notre 30ème anniversaire!

Veuillez contacter Joyce Valbuena (coordonnatrice) à joycevalbuena(at)yahoo.com ou Malcolm Guy à mguy(at)pmm.qc.ca pour plus d'informations et pour confirmer votre présence.

RSVP!

En solidarité,

CAP-CPC :-)

30th anniversary celebrations of CAP-CPC on September 21, 2013

Dear CAP-CPC members and friends,

On Saturday, September 21, 2013, the Centre d’appui aux Philippines/Centre for Philippine Concerns/ (CAP-CPC) is celebrating its 30^th founding anniversary. Since 1983, our organization has been providing venue for discussion and exchange regarding the injustices in the Philippines through public education, research and advocacy in support with the Filipino people's movement for National Democracy.

We invite you to join the celebration of our anniversary on September 21 at the Maison de l'amitié - 120 Duluth East in Montreal, Quebec. It will be a exciting night to look back at CPC since its beginning, updating ourselves about current Philippine issues, enjoy some cultural presentations, dance to the music, renew old ties and meet the new members.

Being a solidarity organization of Filipinos and non-Filipinos in Quebec who are concerned to end the situation of repression and exploitation in the Philippines, we still persist to apply public pressure on the Canadian government for human rights in the Philippines. We continue to carry on our mission of providing venue for discussion and exchange regarding the injustices in the Philippines through public education, research and advocacy in support with the Filipino people's movement for National Democracy.

We look forward to celebrating with you at the CAP-CPC 30th anniversary bash!

Please contact Joyce Valbuena (Coordinator) at joycevalbuena(at)yahoo.com or Malcolm Guy at mguy(at)pmm.qc.ca for more information and to confirm your attendance.

RSVP!

In solidarity,

CAP-CPC

De retour à Manille

De retour à Manille. Trois ans se sont écoulés depuis ma dernière visite. Les choses n’ont pas beaucoup changé depuis, me dit Ronald, un ami philippin qui est venu me chercher à l’aéroport. Malgré les promesses électorales du président Aquino, en poste depuis 2010, l’élite oligarchique continue de se servir de l’appareil étatique à des fins personnelles et de monopoliser les institutions politiques à travers les structures caciques héritées de l’époque coloniale.

Vue de notre appartement à Quezon City, Philippines.

Malgré la persistance de cette triste réalité, une partie de moi persiste à croire qu’un jour, peut-être, la situation s’améliorera. C’est d’ailleurs la raison de ma présence ici; je suis fasciné par le dynamisme politique du pays qui s’incarne dans une société civile vibrante que j’ai découvert il y a de cela trois ans.

Lors de ce voyage, j’ai été exposé à ce milieu et j’ai été témoin des différentes méthodes employées par les activistes pour faire valoir leurs revendications. Le courage et la volonté de ces gens qui tentent, tant bien que mal, d’utiliser l’espace démocratique qui s’est ouvert depuis la chute du dictateur Ferdinand Marcos pour améliorer leur condition sociale et faire respecter leurs droits m’ont laissé une forte impression.

Ce qu’il faut savoir c’est que ce n’est pas une entreprise qui est dénuée de tout danger. Le gouvernement, et l’armée en particulier, mènent une lutte sans relâche contre les organisations populaires de gauches (ONG locales, grassroot organizations, people’s organizations, mass movements… les appellations sont nombreuses) dans le cadre de leur stratégie de contre-insurrection encouragée par les États-Unis. Assassinats extrajudicaires, kidnappings, torture, harcèlements, menaces et surveillance illégale font partie du quotidien des activistes qui sont accusés injustement d’être à la solde de groupes communistes rebelles comme le New People’s Army

Lors de ma dernière visite, je me suis contenté d’assister à cette lutte. Cette fois-ci, j’ai bien l’intention d’y contribuer, dans la mesure de mes humbles moyens. Je vous rassure tout de suite, il n’y a pas vraiment de réel danger pour moi qui ne suis qu’un pauvre blanc dont l’assassinat ou la disparition ne profiterait à personne. De plus, ce sont seulement les leaders des organismes ou les membres qui sont actifs depuis des décennies qui se font assassiner ou kidnapper.

J’ai décidé de faire un stage de deux mois avec un organisme qui défend les droits humains « Karapatan ». Ça fait seulement une semaine que je suis ici et déjà, je me suis habitué à l’environnement de travail et j’ai l’impression de contribuer à une cause qui en vaut vraiment la peine. Je mets ça sur le compte de l’optimisme naïf du novice. Mais tout de même, on se sent utile quand on est en train de rédiger une note d’information pour un délégué de l’Organisation Mondiale contre la Torture (un organisme accrédité par l’ONU, basé à Genève) qui sera en visite aux Philippines en fin juin afin de faire le bilan sur la situation des droits humains. En outre, ce stage est une excellente formation pour la préparation de mon mémoire de maîtrise qui portera sur les assassinats extrajudiciaires aux Philippines

J’habite dans un quartier populaire « Krus Na Ligas » situé à Quezon City, une des nombreuses agglomérations qui forment le Metro Manila. Je loge dans un appartement au 5^ème étage d’une bâtisse avec six autres étudiants de l’Université de Montréal. Quatre d’entre eux tournent un documentaire sur une problématique donnée avec d’autres étudiants de l’Université des Philippines (UP). Un autre fait sa maîtrise sur un groupe paramilitaire appelé les CAFGUs et une autre fait un stage auprès de Likhaan, une ONG qui fournit des soins de santé aux femmes dans les communautés marginalisées. En une phrase: we’re having a blast.

Le matin, on part chacun de notre côté en tricycle (cliquez sur le lien, des fois on est cinq dans ces engins. Trois dans la cabine, deux sur le banc derrière le conducteur) ou en jeepney et on se revoit le soir après le taff.

Dans une semaine, les étudiants qui font le documentaire partiront faire leur terrain pour filmer pendant trois semaines. Mention spéciale à Tiago et Marie-Charles qui se rendent sur une île volcanique en état d’« éruption imminente ». En plus de cela, il y a de forts risques d’ouragans et d’inondations dans la région. Sans mentionner les cinq tremblements de terre par jour. Et les serpents extrêmement venimeux dans le lac du village où ils logeront. La bonne nouvelle? Absolument aucune possibilité d’avalanches de neige. More fun in the Philippines! (le slogan touristique national ).

J’ai plusieurs activités auxquelles je prendrai part dans les deux prochains mois mais je ne veux pas vendre la mèche tout de suite. Lire : « je suis tanné d’écrire, c’tassez là. ».

- Émile

Conference for human rights and peace in the Philippines

Alliance for the Advancement of People’s Rights (Karapatan)
Ecumenical Voice for Human Rights & Peace (EcuVoice)
and the International Coordinating Committee for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICCHRP)

in cooperation with
Peace for Life
International League of Peoples’ Struggle

International Conference for Human Rights and Peace in the Philippines

19 – 21 July 2013
Metro Manila, Philippines

The conference will be a gathering of human rights defenders and peace advocates from around the world, aimed at deepening our understanding of the current state of human rights and peace in the Philippines. The conference will also draw up action plans to strengthen international support for the campaign for human rights and just peace in the country.

Before the conference, delegates will have the chance to join the:

International Solidarity Mission

14 – 18 July 2013
Ranging from three to five days, Mission participants will visit actual sites:

• Large-scale mining
• Landgrabbing by foreign multinational companies
• Strikes, other trade union struggles, and in worker communities
• Forced evacuation and the plight of internal refugees due to militarization in the countryside
• Forced eviction and relocation sites in the urban areas
• Targeted areas of extensive political repression
• Detention centers and prisons, meet with political prisoners

Your attendance in this conference and the International Solidarity Mission will be very valuable in strengthening international support to the Filipino people in their fight against the ever-worsening human rights violations and the Aquino government’s utter disregard for the people’s legitimate rights.

Register for the Conference!
Register for the Mission!

See you in July!

Laura in the Philippines

CAP-CPC member Laura Christine McKeeman has been on exposure in the Philippines the last few months. Follow her adventures with a camera and writing pad @

http://laura-in-the-philippines.tumblr.com/

Looks like you're enjoying yourself and learning a lot, Laura, really wish we could be there with you! But this is the next best thing.

-- Malcolm

Large-scale Mining: Why local level resistance and International Solidarity is needed

Large-scale Mining:
Why local level resistance and International Solidarity is needed

By Nicole Oliver

It was a cool and misty morning the day I set out with Innabuyog-Gabriela for Mankayan. As our van wound its way through Benguet Province, oddly I felt at home amid the familiar landscapes of jagged rock faces and majestic towering pines. The scenic route barring a welcoming resemblance to areas that I have explored in my home nation of Canada along with the four hour drive gave me space to reflect upon the differences and similarities that both Canada and the Philippines are facing regarding large-scale mining.

On the weekend of September 22, 2012 Innabuyog-GABRIELA along with an international intern from Spain and I camped out at the barricade site constructed by local indigenous peoples against the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Company’s drilling expansion project in Barangay Tabeo in the Municipality of Mankayan of Benguet Province. In February of 2012, the community of Barangay Tabeo sets a barricade to block access to the newly inserted and heavily contested diamond-tip drilling site of Lepanto. The site is set to advance the ever expanding Lepanto exploration and extraction of gold and other precious metals in the area. For nearly nine months, the community has sustained the Save Mankayan Movement (SMM) engaging in many protests actions, lobby,dialogues, petitions, pickets, and has held their deposits are found primarily under Alberta’s Boreal dialogues, petitions, pickets, and has held their deposits are found primarily under Alberta’s Boreal ground at the erected barricade site. They have received much support and messages of solidarity from other indigenous groups in the Cordillera region and people’s organizations in the Philippines.

On the flip side, the persons involved in this prolonged campaign have experienced harassment from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippines National Police (PNP), Barangay officials, Lepanto workers, and private security personnel hired by Lepanto that act mercenaries.

At this time, there have been three-failed dispersal attempts made at the barricade site in Tabeo. The local residents of Mankayan, who for multiple generations have relied on farming for subsistence and livelihood erected the barricade in February of 2012. The protesting community members claim that the site was given the green light for exploration without undergoing the necessary Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) process as stipulated in the Republic Act No. 8371, which states that no ancestral land shall be opened for mining operations without undergoing the said process and gaining the consent of the indigenous cultural community concerned.

Tar Sand mining Canada

Meanwhile back in my home nation of Canada, the debate is raging regarding the Federal Government’s tar sands expansion project and the West-to-East oil pipeline. The Canadian tar sands forest and wetlands covering an area about the size of Florida. In order to extract synthetic crude oil from the tar sands, millions of acres of pristine forests and wildlife habitat have been clear cut, strip-mined, and drilled. To produce what is often referred to as “dirty oil”, tremendous amount of water is needed for the refining process.

Additionally, the complex extraction and refining process of tar sand crude oil requires extraordinary amounts of energy in comparison to the production of conventional crude oil. It is estimated that tar sand oil production releases at least three times the greenhouse gas emissions per barrel to that of the conventional stuff.