Recent and upcoming branch activities are posted on the ‘Branches’ section of WFM–Canada’s web page (worldfederalistscanada.org).

Manitoba – Members are considering establishing an annual event to honour Magnus Eliason, continue his life’s work to promote peace and justice, and to honour his memory as a committed world federalist.

Montreal – In March, Dr. Jack Hallock, a member of “September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows” was the guest speaker at a well-attended meeting. He showed a video of his trip to Israel and Palestine and spoke very movingly about the group’s work in turning grief into action for peace through dialogue. The Branch Annual Meeting took place June 8. Featured speaker Désirée McGraw spoke on sustainable development. Meetings are held at the Unitarian Church of Montreal, 5035 boul. de Maisonneuve ouest. Montreal Branch also holds monthly Issue Action meetings where participants discuss global events and then send letters to policymakers. Call Inez (366-6792) or Carol (426-4170) for more information.

Ottawa – April’s meeting featured Louis del Solar and Norberto Moretti from the embassies of Argentina and Brazil. They discussed the progress of federalism in South America, touching on the development of democracy in both countries. On May 22, branch members hosted a dinner reception for U.S. world federalist Myron Kronisch. Kronisch was in Ottawa representing Ambassadors for Weighted Voting, a group of former UN officials and international affairs scholars. They are touring world capitals to promote proposals for reform of the UN Security Council and General Assembly. Kronisch and WFMC Executive Director Fergus Watt later met with officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. A limited number of copies of the weighted voting proposals are available for $5 as hard copy monographs from WFMC’s national office. Meetings resume in September. Contact Roma (244-3334).

Vancouver – In March, UBC professor of international law Michael Byers, author of the new book War Law, argued that the Canadian government has, since September 11, 2001, disregarded fundamental rules of the laws of war. April’s meeting, co-sponsored with the Vancouver Branch of the United Nations Association, featured Clement Abas Apaak of Canadian Students for Darfur and filmmaker Erez T Yanuv Barzilay (A Cry for Madiom – ongoing Genocide in Sudan).  Both speakers made passionate pleas for all of us to get involved. In May, a panel review of trouble spots such as Sri Lanka and Myanmar within the larger context of global governance was moderated by Leonard Angel. Sustainability: Illusions and Realities was the topic of the June 15 meeting, featuring Mike Nickerson of the 7th Generation Initiative, who discussed the changes needed to preserve our planet. Meetings are held on the third Thursday of the month at the Unitarian Church, 949 West 49th Avenue at Oak Street.

Victoria – Let Them Stay was the theme of March’s regular branch meeting and is the title of the featured documentary. The 40-minute film, narrated by Shirley Douglas, explains why war resisters who are coming to Canada from the United States should be permitted to stay here. It also includes clips of resisters who have served in Iraq. On April 29, the Branch Annual Meeting was held at Pearson College. A resolution was passed for consideration at the WFMC national meeting in Vancouver. The resolution calls for WFMC to endorse the campaign to create a federal Department of Peace. Meetings resume in the fall and are held the fourth Friday of the month at St. John’s Church (lounge of the Parish House) on Quadra St.

All Branches:  Can you help stock the shelves of Juba University in South Sudan? Tag Elkhazin (elkhazin@subsaharacentre.ca), the president of Canadian Reach for Higher Education (CRHE) is looking for educational books published within the past 10 years on medicine, agriculture, social sciences, economics, environment, philosophy, education, English language education, sciences, history, politics, mathematics, and accounting. Good English dictionaries are also needed. If you can make a cash donation towards the shipping cost, make your tax-creditable cheque payable to Canadian Reach for Higher Education, 1981 Montclair Ave, Gloucester Ontario, K1W 1H9.