Support the Canadian Boat to Gaza

Canada Palestine Association (CPA) urges everyone to support the Canadian boat to Gaza by all means, including publicizing the mission and donating funds.

CPA was one of the first organizations in Canada to support the Free Gaza Movement (FGM) financially and politically (see our meeting with the co-founder of the FGM last November in commemoration of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people http://workingtv.com/int-day-pal2009.html)… Read more

MEC: the Co-op That Acts Like a Corporation

In its summer 2010 edition, The Global Educator, Journal of the B.C. Teachers for Peace and Global Education (PAGE) published the following article (on page 23): http://pagebc.ca/documents/Summer_2010_Journal.pdf

The British Columbia Teachers for Peace and Global Education is not affiliated with the Canada Palestine Association.

MEC is about as green as “Mother Nature’s Gas Station”, and now makes the un-coolest bike on the Canadian market.Read more

A Call to Divest from MEC

Dear friends:

Following our recent call to boycott Mountain Equipment Coop MEC, a MEC member who supported the campaign and had been a member since the 1980’s informed us that when he cancelled his membership as a form of protest he got $200 back on his original $5.00 share. Apparently, the refunded share value is calculated based on the length of membership.… Read more

Boycott MEC: Final Statement and Endorsers

On May 24, 2010, we in the Canada Palestine Association (CPA) issued our call for a total boycott of Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC), and since then, supporters have written MEC informing them of their decision to no longer shop there. In response MEC management not only defended their support for Israeli Apartheid, they also defended Israel and its institutions. Here is a quote from a representative from the MEC Service Centre in reply to one such letter: “Israel has a vibrant and functioning democracy, which has put in place independent judicial systems, free press and organized labour initiatives.”… Read more

Open Letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper Regarding Israeli Piracy

By Kevin Neish, Farooq Burney and Rifat Audeh. Although not CPA members, we are publishing their open letter on our website on their behalf.

We are writing to express our outrage and indignation over our government’s despicable silence on what took place in the Mediterranean Sea on May 31, 2010. We are referring, of course, to the piracy, murder and kidnappings by Israel against the Turkish humanitarian aid ship in general, and the actions against the Canadians on the ship in particular.… Read more

Letter to the Editor of the Ottawa Citizen Regarding the “Haters’ Test”

In response to the Ottawa Citizen’s attack on NDP MP Libby Davies
By Hanna Kawas

The Ottawa Citizen “Haters’ test” http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Haters+test/3139300/story.html, published June 11, 2010 is misleading, lacking in historic facts and crudely apologizes for Israeli occupation and discrimination. I am going to burden you with some documentation and references the Ottawa Citizen editors did not want to bother with.

Before 1948, there was no state of Israel.… Read more

Palestinian Civil Society Condemns Repression in Canada

Following is a statement from the Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC) on the harassment and repression campaign against pro Palestinian human rights organizations and activists in Canada.

Our petition on line, O Canada or O Israel??, has over 560 signatures, please consider signing it at http://www.petitiononline.com/hkawas1/petition.html

Palestinian civil society condemns repression in Canada against Palestine solidarity campaigns and humanitarian efforts

Occupied Palestine, May 26 2010 – The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions National Committee (BNC), strongly condemns the actions taken by Canadian state bodies, university administrations and pressure groups to defund, repress and otherwise attempt to weaken groups and individuals that provide assistance to, or campaign in solidarity with, Palestinians.… Read more

Boycott MEC Now

This Business Does NOT Advance Human Rights!!
Boycott MEC Now

A year and a half ago, it was discovered that Mountain Equipment Coop, headquartered in Vancouver, was carrying Israeli products and even partnering with an Israeli company, Source Vagabond, that brags of its connections with the Israeli military. Concerned activists across Canada tried in vain to convince both MEC leadership and those attending the 2009 Annual General Meeting to stop carrying these offensive products.… Read more

Who is Promoting Racism?

By Hanna Kawas
RE: Whose Interests are you Serving?
The following open response was sent to Manitoba MLA Heather Stefanson on April 14, 2010, answering her form email sent to those concerned about her motion “Denouncing Israeli Apartheid Week.”

Open Response to Manitoba MLA Heather Stefanson:

I just received the email, sent on your behalf, regarding the “debate” you say you are interested in having in the Manitoba Legislature.… Read more

Whose Interests are you Serving?

By Hanna Kawas. The following message was sent on April 12, 2010 to Manitoba MLA’s regarding a motion condemning Israeli Apartheid Week, to be debated on Thursday Apr. 15th, 2010.

Dear MLA:

It has come to our attention that a private members motion is expected to be introduced in the Manitoba Legislature later this week. This motion will reportedly call for censoring a student activity on campuses called Israel Apartheid Week, and is an attempt to use political office to stifle legitimate debate and criticism of Israeli government policies.… Read more