Branch News (Updated for Mondial July 2007)

Calgary – Bruce Godwin spoke in May at a local Unitarian Church about the prospects for world federalism; a follow-up meeting was held in early June. For information on the time and location of the next branch event, please call Bruce at (403) 374-1925.

Manitoba – World federalists in Winnipeg have long worked towards the establishment of a Canadian Human Rights Museum, and are pleased that the dream is soon to be realized. The projected opening date is 2010. For information about meetings and events, please contact Karl at (204) 757-4794.

Montreal – The Marie-Berthe Dion Issues Action Group has held discussion and letter-writing meetings about three issues in 2007: in February, on Canada’s participation in the effort to ban cluster munitions; in March, on the Clean Air Act and climate change; and in April, on the Darfur crisis. Contact Carol at (514) 426-4170 if you wish to receive our briefing papers on these issues or our latest Branch Buzz. The Issues Action Group is now convening morning and evening sessions.

Branch members contacted MPs encouraging them to endorse the campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly. The branch is also represented in the Montreal Working Group of the Canadian Network for a Federal Department of Peace and on the steering committee of the Paix Quebec Peace Conference in
January 2008 where Montreal Branch plans to present a workshop. At the June branch meeting, Eugène Kwibuka, a third- year journalism student at the National University of Rwanda, and Montreal Gazette journalist Sue Montgomery presented a slide show and spoke about today’s Rwanda and efforts to bring justice and reconciliation to its people. Kwibuka is covering the trial of Desiré Munyaneza, the first person charged under Canada’s War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity Act (see page 8).

National Capital – Ottawa world federalists organized and hosted an evening with Lt.-Gen. Andrew Leslie and Dave Peabody.  Lt.-Gen. Leslie was appointed Commander of the Task Force in Kabul in June 2003 and was Deputy Commander of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. In June 2006, he was appointed Chief of the Land Staff (Canadian Army). Dave Peabody, coordinator of the Peace Operations Working Group, is the lead researcher for the project Civilian Monitoring of Complex Peace Operations:  The Peace Operations Monitor. The meeting was very well attended and the topic Canada’s Mission in Afghanistan: Are We Succeeding generated plenty of discussion.  For information about upcoming monthly meetings, contact Roma at (613) 224-3334. WFMC Executive Director Fergus Watt joined Jayne Stoyles (Canadian Centre for International Justice) and James Loney (Christian Peacemaker Teams) at an event June 26 commemorating the UN Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The theme was Canada’s Strength: From the Ground Up; Peace in a Complex World.

Vancouver – In April, Vancouver World Federalists, along with the local branch of the UN Association, kicked off the Canadian campaign for a UN Parliamentary Assembly.  Among the guest panelists were Ian Waddell and Adriane Carr. Sixty people attended including news media (see page 1). As a prelude to the UNPA campaign launch, a branch meeting earlier in April reviewed “The transformation of global political institutions through the introduction of a parliamentary dimension.” Parliamentary assemblies at NATO, African Union, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and La Francophonie were compared. In May, a meeting on The military boot print discussed the impact of military actions on climate change. Lt.-Col (Ret) Woodrow Coward was the guest speaker. In June, the meeting topic was Planet Earth: The Exploding Balloon. Branch president Dr. Leonard Angel led a discussion on the overuse of earth’s resources and ‘what to do before time runs out.’ Public meetings are held at 7:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month at the Unitarian Church, 949 West 49th Avenue at Oak Street. 

Victoria – January’s meeting focused on the topic Environmental Security and Military Activities:  Destruction or Reconstruction? March's topic was Traversing the Great Turning – Implications for Democratic Action. At the AGM in May, Aquiles Garro was elected branch president. The meeting featured a talk by Dr. Eike Kluge, former Chair of the Department of Philosophy at University of Victoria on the US Patriot Act and its implications for global society.  Monthly meetings are held at St. John the Divine Anglican Church, 1611 Quadra Street in the lounge of the Parish House.  

For information on upcoming WFM–Canada meetings in your area consult the ‘Branches’ section at www.worldfederalistscanada.org.