THE WFM-C BUZZ JANUARY 2007
A ROUND-UP OF ACTIVITIES
The
Intergovernmental
Conference provides a
forum for fragile democracies to support
each other and share experiences in monitoring democracy. It also provides an opportunity for
World Federalists to give input on the need to democratize at levels above the nation state.
DESPERATELY SEEKING PARLIAMENTARIANS!
Who better to fight for the idea of citizen input into the United Nations than existing
Parliamentarians? Challenge your MP to sign the Appeal for the establishment of a
Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations. As our part of an international campaign,
WFM-C is looking for at least one individual in each federal constituency in Canada to meet
or write his/her MP to seek endorsement of this initiative. Background info kit will be provided
- see the Campaign website for complete details!
THE GLOBAL ALL-STARS!
each other and share experiences in monitoring democracy. It also provides an opportunity for
World Federalists to give input on the need to democratize at levels above the nation state.
DESPERATELY SEEKING PARLIAMENTARIANS!
Who better to fight for the idea of citizen input into the United Nations than existing
Parliamentarians? Challenge your MP to sign the Appeal for the establishment of a
Parliamentary Assembly at the United Nations. As our part of an international campaign,
WFM-C is looking for at least one individual in each federal constituency in Canada to meet
or write his/her MP to seek endorsement of this initiative. Background info kit will be provided
- see the Campaign website for complete details!
THE GLOBAL ALL-STARS!
What the world needs now is ...a Parliament By ELIZABETH SNELL
from
The Aquarian,
Spring 2006
"Here’s a suggestion for UN reform:
global decisions made by elected representatives of global citizens rather than by appointees of nations."
"Here’s a suggestion for UN reform:
global decisions made by elected representatives of global citizens rather than by appointees of nations."
AND NO
REPRESENTATION WITHOUT TAXATION!
from The Aquarian, Fall 2006
Robin Hood Taxes by Syd Baumel
New strategies to help level the globalized playing field
Syd Baumel is Editor of the Winnipeg-based Aquarian, a print and web-based publication.
CHECK OUT THIS TAX TABLE!
Paul Thomas of Victoria has also put together a nifty table of proposals for better
financing the United Nations: http://www.vcn.bc.ca/wfcvb/unfinancing.pdf
OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY!
Fergus Watt and Ernie Regehr of Project Ploughshares are writing a paper on civil society
participation within the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). The PBC is a new advisory body
to the UN that will help countries in post-conflict peace building, recovery, reconstruction and
development. Fergus and Ernie’s paper will focus on how civil society can feed into the PBC.
The paper has the potential to become a policy document of the Canadian government, and
also the Peacebuilding Commission.
Ernie Regehr was awarded the WFM-C World Peace Prize at this year's AGM. According to
Robin Collins, Chair of WFMC's Executive Council,"For decades, Ernie has been a significant
figure in almost every disarmament and peace-building campaign in Canada, He has been a
consistent advocate for raising the quality of thoughtful reflection and peace advocacy in
Canada and abroad and an invaluable colleague and mentor to his fellow activists."
PEABODY AND THE POWG!
The Peace Operations Working Group (POWG) is a project launched by the NGO network –
the Canadian Peace Coordinating Committee (CPCC) of which WFM-C iS a member. The WFM
chairs the POWG steering committee. A current POWG project is the
Peace Operations Monitor- Civilian Monitoring of Complex Peace Operations
This is a web-based resource providing an integrated mission perspective on selected
peace operations. The first phase of the site, Afghanistan, is active. POWG Coordinator
David Peabody works out of the WFM-C national office in Ottawa. As funding becomes
available, similar web-based projects concerning Haiti, Sudan and the DRC will soon be launched.
MEDIA FEEDING FRENZY!
While our WFM-C media releases often cause very small waves, the August edition
of "Upholding our Peacekeeping Tradition" distributed to coincide with Peacekeeping Day
in Canada set off a tsunami of media interest and led to interviews with Warren Allmand
in english and french (CBC Radio Canada International and a french-language station in Alberta)
as well as four interviews with World Federalist peacekeeping expert, Prof. Walter Dorn.
Our views lambasting the Canadian Government's lack of support for UN forces were also broadcast on Vancouver's Bill Good Show, and Straight Goods, an online independent newsmagazine.
from The Aquarian, Fall 2006
Robin Hood Taxes by Syd Baumel
New strategies to help level the globalized playing field
Syd Baumel is Editor of the Winnipeg-based Aquarian, a print and web-based publication.
CHECK OUT THIS TAX TABLE!
Paul Thomas of Victoria has also put together a nifty table of proposals for better
financing the United Nations: http://www.vcn.bc.ca/wfcvb/unfinancing.pdf
OUR SHARED RESPONSIBILITY!
Fergus Watt and Ernie Regehr of Project Ploughshares are writing a paper on civil society
participation within the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC). The PBC is a new advisory body
to the UN that will help countries in post-conflict peace building, recovery, reconstruction and
development. Fergus and Ernie’s paper will focus on how civil society can feed into the PBC.
The paper has the potential to become a policy document of the Canadian government, and
also the Peacebuilding Commission.
Ernie Regehr was awarded the WFM-C World Peace Prize at this year's AGM. According to
Robin Collins, Chair of WFMC's Executive Council,"For decades, Ernie has been a significant
figure in almost every disarmament and peace-building campaign in Canada, He has been a
consistent advocate for raising the quality of thoughtful reflection and peace advocacy in
Canada and abroad and an invaluable colleague and mentor to his fellow activists."
PEABODY AND THE POWG!
The Peace Operations Working Group (POWG) is a project launched by the NGO network –
the Canadian Peace Coordinating Committee (CPCC) of which WFM-C iS a member. The WFM
chairs the POWG steering committee. A current POWG project is the
Peace Operations Monitor- Civilian Monitoring of Complex Peace Operations
This is a web-based resource providing an integrated mission perspective on selected
peace operations. The first phase of the site, Afghanistan, is active. POWG Coordinator
David Peabody works out of the WFM-C national office in Ottawa. As funding becomes
available, similar web-based projects concerning Haiti, Sudan and the DRC will soon be launched.
MEDIA FEEDING FRENZY!
While our WFM-C media releases often cause very small waves, the August edition
of "Upholding our Peacekeeping Tradition" distributed to coincide with Peacekeeping Day
in Canada set off a tsunami of media interest and led to interviews with Warren Allmand
in english and french (CBC Radio Canada International and a french-language station in Alberta)
as well as four interviews with World Federalist peacekeeping expert, Prof. Walter Dorn.
Our views lambasting the Canadian Government's lack of support for UN forces were also broadcast on Vancouver's Bill Good Show, and Straight Goods, an online independent newsmagazine.
AT
YOUR PEACE SERVICE!
Despite the need at times to move quickly to prevent genocide, “ethnic cleansing,” and
crimes against humanity the United Nations has no reliable capacity to do so, even when
hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake. Peter Langille of WFM-C Council and a network
of academics have kept the idea of a United Nations Emergency Peace Service alive. In the
past four months the UN’s deployment has increased dramatically. There are now about
100,000 UN personnel in the field, generating a bureaucratic headache for the UN. A change
to allow more permanent arrangements at the UN is needed and may be possible.
Visit http://www.globalactionpw.org/UNEPS/publication.htm for the complete online version
of a book proposing the creation of a UN Emergency Peace Service.
Despite the need at times to move quickly to prevent genocide, “ethnic cleansing,” and
crimes against humanity the United Nations has no reliable capacity to do so, even when
hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake. Peter Langille of WFM-C Council and a network
of academics have kept the idea of a United Nations Emergency Peace Service alive. In the
past four months the UN’s deployment has increased dramatically. There are now about
100,000 UN personnel in the field, generating a bureaucratic headache for the UN. A change
to allow more permanent arrangements at the UN is needed and may be possible.
Visit http://www.globalactionpw.org/UNEPS/publication.htm for the complete online version
of a book proposing the creation of a UN Emergency Peace Service.
