Canadian Department of Peace Initiative
Fall 2010 Newsletter
Inspiring News and Views

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Canadian-Department-of-Peace-Initiative/116559845067605

“Peace is the virtue of civilization. War is its crime.”
-Victor Hugo (writer, statesman, and human rights activist, 1802–1885)

Report on the CDPI Annual General Meeting
Winnipeg, Manitoba Sunday, October 3, 2010

NOTE: FOUR VIDEOS OF PRESENTATIONS MADE BY CDPI BOARD MEMBERS  CAN BE VIEWED AT .

Thanks to Pedro Mora and Linda Taffs for their excellent and volunteer work.

The fourth Canadian Department of Peace Initiative Annual General Meeting was held in Winnipeg Manitoba on October 1-3 of 2010. The attendance by representatives of 9 of the now 12 Chapters throughout Canada provided rich discussion and visioning for the growing initiative.

In addition to the AGM, CDPI was a partner with the Peace and Justice Studies Association at their annual conference during which CDPI convened two sessions on where the movement is at and where it should be going strategically. As well, four members of the Board made individual presentations.

The AGM business component was graciously facilitated, as a community service, by Denis and Noelle DePape for which we are very thankful. The meeting notes were taken by Perry Kimelmann of the Winnipeg group and thanks are due to him for the excellent job done.

Board members in attendance were: Peter Stockdale (Youth Chapter), Richard Preston Hamilton) , Irene Hunter (Edmonton), Carol Zhong (Vanclouver), Jean Trudel (Montreal), Bill Bhaneja (Ottawa), Kevin Rumsey Whitehorse), Micheline St. Hilaire (Winnipeg), Penny Joy (Victoria), Saul Arbess (Victoria), and Theresa Dunn (Ottawa), along with members of the Winnipeg Chapter and the Canadian Peace Alliance. The gathering of Pan Canadian representatives promotes solidarity as we celebrated the numerous activities accomplished throughout 2009-2010 as well as envisioned our next steps.

The following decisions and actions were taken in addition to continuing our core activities:

1. To pursue a membership basis at the chapter level and a sub-committee formed to develop a membership process that is to report by year’s end to the full Board. The outcome will be embedded in the Constitution and an implementation plan developed by March 31, 2011.

2. A Communication/Social Media Sub-committee was established to review the web site and financial arrangements with the web master and to build our social media opportunities, especially on Facebook, with a new group having been formed by Kevin, acting as administrator,.with over 100 members.

3. A new thrust at the local and provincial level was agreed to, with the name Peace in Action. Some specific actions are – create a culture of peace profile for each municipality, support the work of Jean Belliveau and his Walk for Peace across the world as he re-enters Canada and, engage in a petition campaign.

4. Steps were taken to update and continuously refresh the National Register

5. A possible web survey of a sample of Canadians re the department of peace idea is to be studied

Consideration was given to leadership succession at the chapter and Pan Canadian levels with the general guideline of two years in each office.

Submitted by Saul Arbess and Theresa Dunn, Pan Canadian Co-chairs.

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4th OTTAWA PEACE FESTIVAL PROMOTES PEACE, UNITY AND HARMONY

September 21 – October 02, 2010

Together with Ottawa peace and justice civil society groups, the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative (CDPI) and the United Nations Association of Canada – NCR Branch invite you to take part in a 12-day Festival of Peace. The 4TH Annual Peace Festival with the theme of Peace, Unity and Harmony will mark the two important UN International Days of Peace and Nonviolence, September 21 and October 02.

(All events are open to the public, admission is free. Events are subject to change due to weather/unforeseen circumstances.)

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CDPI AGM IN WINNIPEG, OCT. 1-3, 2010, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PEACE AND JUSTICE STUDIES ASSOCIATION (PJSA)

For registration and accommodation details, please see: <www.peacejusticestudies.org/conference>

This event is a first for the CDPI and we are very excited to be meeting and working with academics and practitioners involved in action research on peace and justice issues.

HERE ARE SOME HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE CDPI COMPONENT:

Friday, Oct 1 and Saturday, Oct. 2

On each day, a 75-minute interactive workshop; the first being an overview and update on progress toward a Canadian department of peace; the second being a strategy session to take the campaign to the next level with a keynote by Brent Patterson, Council of Canadians’ Director of Campaigns and Communications

Sunday, Oct. 3, CDPI AGM, 11 AM-3PM, Room 2MS13, Menno Simons College

Finalization of the Action Plan 2010-11, reports and other business. No fee.

Senator Mobina Jaffer, along with Mr. Bill Siksay, M.P. will kindly host an event introducing Bill C-447 and Motion-463 to Members of Parliament and Senators with an opportunity to discuss the principle and mandate of a Department of Peace in a way that corresponds to Canadian context and needs. The event will involve a presentation by chairs/ key members of the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative and question/ answer session.

Date: May 26, 2010

Time: 7:00pm-8:00pm

Location: Room 308, West Block, Parliament Hill

MPs and senators are asked to RSVP to Senator Mobina Jaffer at (613) 992-0189.

We ask that supporters of a Canadian Department of Peace request the presence of their MPs at this event to discuss the opportunities and challenges that this initiative offers for domestic and international conflict resolution and its relationship with government plans involving the economy, military expenditures and peace-building projects.

UPDATE:
AS OF DEC. 3, 2009, THE ALLOWABLE 20 SECONDERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PEACE BILL HAS BEEN REACHED, MADE UP OF MEMBERS OF THE NPD AND LIBERAL PARTIES. THE MOVER, BILL SIKSAY, NDP, HAS INDICATED THAT THIS IS A VERY RARE ACHIEVEMENT.

THERE IS NOW AN OPPORTUNITY FOR MPS TO SIGN ON TO MOTION M-463 TO ENDORSE THE PRINCIPLE OF THE BILL. THE MOTION READS:

M-463 — November 2, 2009 — Mr. Siksay (Burnaby—Douglas) — That the House endorse the principle of the establishment of a Department of Peace as part of the structure of the federal government and cabinet with a mandate to advocate for the non-violent resolution of conflict at home and abroad, the professionalization of peace work by Canadians, and the development of a culture of peace in Canada and internationally.

M-463 — 2 novembre 2009 — M. Siksay (Burnaby—Douglas) — Que la Chambre appuie le principe de la création d’un ministère de la Paix au sein du gouvernement fédéral et du Cabinet avec pour mandat de promouvoir la résolution non violente des conflits au Canada et à l’étranger, la professionnalisation du travail de paix accompli par les Canadiens et le développement d’une culture de la paix au Canada et à l’échelle internationale.

To read in full Bill in English or French, please go to:

<http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=4116951&Language=e&Mode=1>

CDPI -CPSC MEDIA RELEASE: 30th Sept. 2009

For an interview with the proponents of the Bill, for the English version, please go to:

http://cid-9ed012460ecdafc3.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public/DEPARTMENT OF PEACE – RCI – THE LINK – OCT 15 2009.mp3

Pour la version française, voir:

http://cid-9ed012460ecdafc3.skydrive.live.com/self.aspx/Public/MINISTÈRE DE LA PAIX – RCI – TAM TAM CANADA – 19 OCT 2009 .mp3

Private Members Bill for Department of Peace by Hon Bill Siksay , MP (Douglas-Burnaby)

The first ever legislative Bill for a Department of Peace in the Canadian Parliament, BILL C-447,  was tabled on Sept. 30 in the Parliament as a Private Members Bill by the NDP MP Bill Siksay (Douglas-Burnaby), and seconded by the Liberal MP Jim Karygiannis (Scarborough-Agincourt). The Bill calls for a Federal Department of Peace, headed by a Cabinet level Minister.

The proposed Department in the Bill is along the lines of a Model legislative Bill proposed by the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative(CDPI) . Since 2004, CDPI has been promoting a strategic focus for sustainable peace within the Federal Government, working towards a Culture of Peace at home and abroad and through its Minister provide the Prime Minister with advise and recommendations on effective conflict transformation through nonviolent means. (more…)

 For additional information on the Summit, please go to: <www.gasummit.org>.

 COMMUNIQUÉ

September 21, 2009

 4th Global Alliance Summit for Ministries and Departments of Peace

San Jose, Costa Rica, Sept. 17-21, 2009

 The 4th Global Alliance (GA) Summit was a resounding success with 200 participants attending from more than 40 countries, enhanced by a live streaming video link to the world. The Summit was inspired by Costa Rica’s declaration, earlier this month, of a Minister of Justice and Peace, making it the third country in the world to have such a Ministry. The President of Costa Rica, Dr. Oscar Arias, addressed the opening of the Summit, and told us that:

 “The task is only just starting; the creation of a Ministry for Peace…is not the final achievement, merely the making of a road to achieve sustainable order that would allow resolution of human conflicts without violence.”

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The 17^th Annual Mahatma Gandhi Peace Festival & Peace Walk (Hamilton, Canada)

From: The Centre for Peace Studies, McMaster University

Phone: (905)-525-9140 ext. 23112; peace@mcmaster.ca; www.humanities.mcmaster.ca/gandhi

Hamilton, ON.—Saturday October 3^rd hundreds will gather to celebrate the 17^th Annual Mahatma Gandhi Peace Festival and participate in a peace walk downtown at McMaster University, Down Town Centre (DTC) (50 Main Street East, Hamilton). In celebration of the 100^th Anniversary of Gandhi’s seminal book “Hind Swaraj (Home Rule)”, the theme of this year’s festival is “Swadeshi: Gandhi’s Economics of Self Reliance.” A special panel discussion will be held on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church at 1140 King St West, Hamilton. (more…)

PEACE FESTIVAL 2009 IN OTTAWA

September 21 – October 03, 2009 

The Canadian Department of Peace Initiative (CDPI), together with the United Nations Association of Canada – NCR Branch and other Ottawa peace organizations invites you to take part in a 13-day Third Annual Festival of Peace.  All events are without admission fee, and subject to change due to weather/unforeseen circumstances.

*Monday Sept. 21: 11.00 – 12.30 pm:   Pacifest – UN’s International Day of Peace at Victoria Island with Circle of the All Nations. The event will commence with a Peace Walk at the Peacekeeping Monument on Sussex Drive and end at Victoria Island where Proclamations on the International Day of Peace and Ottawa as a City of Peace will be read. (Peter Stockdale, cityofpeaceottawa@rogers.com , 613-852-4527 and Anita Rizvi,  arizvi@rogers.com, 613-841-9785). (more…)