We are so grateful to everyone who supported our 1000 Women+ for Peace Campaign! Whether you signed our open letter to the Prime Minister and Minister of WAGE—as one of almost 1,500 individuals or on behalf of one of 80 organizations—shared the letter with others, joined our planning meetings, posted promotional materials, participated in our Ottawa events, or supported the campaign in other big and small ways, we are deeply appreciative.
Thank you for being part of this meaningful work and for joining our community in working towards a culture of peace!
On Saturday, September 19, VOW members participated in the Ottawa-Gatineau Climate March with our banner “Demilitarize, Decarbonize, Decolonize” and our buttons “Peace for Climate Justice.” At the end of the rally, Tamara gave a short speech on the need to demilitarize to decarbonize. We also attend the Seniors Climate Witness’ nonviolence training in the afternoon and community dinner with the Algonquin Youth Collective in the evening.
On Sunday, September 20, VOW co-hosted the film screening of “Earth’s Greatest Enemy”, a new documentary about the climate and environmental impacts of the U.S. military, at the Mayfair Theatre. Over a hundred people watched the film. At the end of the screening, Tamara provided information about the Canadian military’s climate and environmental impacts. VOW and WILPF-Canada also had a table at the screening and passed out handouts, brochures and buttons. The film screening was also organized by WILPF-Canada, the Raging Grannies, and Carleton PIRG.
On Monday, September 21, which was the United Nations’ International Day of Peace, VOW and WILPF-Canada held a press conference at the West Block Press Gallery to announce their Care Not Warfare campaign and open letter to Prime Minister Carney and Women and Gender Equality Rechie Valdez to cut military spending and cancel the defence industrial strategy and instead invest in peace and green, care economy. At 4:00 p.m., we also hosted a rally #CareNotWarfare outside of the Prime Minister’s office and had a great turnout with several speakers and music by singer-songwriter Chris MacLean and the Raging Grannies. At 6:00 p.m., Tamara led a discussion about the “Climate Impacts of the Military” at Carleton University organized by Climate Commons and Carleton PIRG.
The press conference can be watched on CPAC: https://www.cpac.ca/headline-politics/episode/peace-activists-hold-a-news-conference-on-parliament-hill?id=8cd17bde-6d08-430c-9d84-d782ca2aa92b
Media, such as the National Post and Ipolitics, reported on it.
On Tuesday, September 22, VOW members participated in the Seniors’ Climate Witness protest on Parliament Hill. At lunch time, we gathered at Green Door for a delicious vegetarian meal and discussion about events.
On Wednesday, September 23, co-chair Lyn participated in the Seniors Climate Witness’ bold action blocking the road to Parliament Hill with rocking chairs and calling for no more money for pipelines and climate justice and she got arrested along with six other seniors. Tamara stood with a banner in solidarity and support. In the evening, Tamara spoke on a panel “The Arctic at the Crossroads: A Zone of Peace or NATO 3.0” at Carleton University. The other speakers were: Beth Kotierk, Inuk lawyer; Dr. Charles Brunette, Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Ottawa; and Yves Enger, Canadian foreign policy analyst and author. The event was organized by Carleton PIRG & supported by VOW, WILPF-Canada, and the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute.
On Thursday, September 24, Tamara and Mariam Furre, a VOW & WILPF-Canada member, had a meeting at the High Commission of South Africa to thank South Africa for launching a legal challenge for Palestine to hold Israel accountable for genocide and to discuss Canada’s new Africa Strategy, the BRICS, and the possibility of middle powers working for peace. Later in the day, Tamara attended the high-level reception and policy discussion with the President of Vietnam on Parliament Hill.
