Harper called an election for October 14th today. I hope I get a chance to address my thoughts on this later today, but for now, this simple announcement will have to do.
A lot can happen in a week…
August 31, 2008Of all the weeks I could have been isolated from (most of) the world, of course it had to be last week. The week where the Tories dropped Bill C-484, Kyle Payne was sentenced to six months in jail, and McCain selected his running mate, Sarah Palin. To do all of these issues the minimal coverage they deserve, I’d be sitting at my computer for the rest of the day. So, I’d like to focus on the positive and local story, the fact that the Tories have dropped the Unborn Victims of Crime Act (for now).
When I got the text message telling me the bill was being dropped, I felt a sense of relief and excitement. Not only were women’s reproductive rights a little more safe in Canada for the time being, but I could stop stressing about planning a rally for September 28th against the bill and focus on other pressing concerns. After the initial elatedness settled, naturally I started thinking about the decision.
It should be no surprise that this announcement came once one considers the recent events that have transpired. Prime Minister Stephen Harper is threatening the other parties with an election, and it was just over a week ago that Liberal leader Stephane Dion urged Harper to clarify his stance on abortion.
Personally, I don’t think the bill had any chance of being adopted in the first place, but it was still dangerous in that it gave anti-choicers another platform to bring up their views. Nevertheless, the bill is far from dead. (In case you missed it amongst the abundance of links above, BigCityLib has a list of the MPs who continue to support it.) If Harper gets a majority, don’t be surprised if the bill comes back, despite announcements that the Tories are moving to introduce a bill that resembles Bill C-543 and would give tougher sentences to perpetrators of violence against pregnant women.
Wrapping this up, I feel this is a victory for feminists, pro-choice activists, and, most importantly, women. A small victory, perhaps, but a victory nevertheless. Let’s kill this bill off for good, though. Feminists across Canada need to demonstrate to the general public that Harper is bad for women and we absolutely cannot let him win this election. Feminists in Edmonton and Sherwood Park need to organise a campaign against Edmonton-Sherwood Park MP Ken Epp, as well, effectively demonstrating that women don’t want him or his bill. It’s crucial to keep in mind that the fight isn’t over, but I also feel it’s important to celebrate this small victory. So, feminists and allies, let’s get Harper out of Sussex Drive, but have some fun while we’re at it!
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Activism, Anti-Choice, Politics, Reproductive Rights | 
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Posted by Derek
Center for New Words launches This Is What Women Want
August 14, 2008Before you hesitate, it’s certainly not a sequel to the Mel Gibson flick.
This Is What Women Want is the Center for New Words‘ new project. (You may know the Center as the organisation behind WAM!) From the site:
This Is What Women Want is your chance to cut through the spin and tell the media, the candidates and the world exactly what you want this election season. Let’s demonstrate how diverse we are in thought, action, and experience. Let’s uncover what we have in common. Let’s amplify our own and each others’ voices until they cannot be ignored.
This site will (I hope) prove to be an effective tool for getting women’s voices heard. So what are you waiting for? Go check it out and tell everyone what YOU want!
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Activism, Media, Politics | 
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Posted by Derek
Put Equality Back on Track
July 3, 2008
Yeah, so in case there was any doubt in your mind, Harper is all Conservatives are pretty bad for women’s rights. Blanket statement? Probably, but I’m feeling particularly snarky tonight. Yeehaw!
Thanks to Ariel for the heads up!
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Politics | 
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Posted by Derek
A Toast to Morgentaler and Women’s Reproductive Rights
July 2, 2008
As many of you have likely heard by now, Dr. Henry Morgentaler has been appointed the Order of Canada, which is pretty great news. For those of you who don’t know, Dr. Morgentaler played a huge part in the legalisation of abortion in Canada.
Needless to say, right-wingers are criticising the decision and the Conservative government is distancing itself from the news. A (not so) big surprise from Ken Epp, too, the MP who proposed Bill C-484, the Unborn Victims of Crime Bill:
Edmonton Tory MP Ken Epp, who has a private member’s bill before the House of Commons that would allow criminal charges to laid if a fetus dies or is injured in an attack on a pregnant woman, said Morgentaler’s supporters have gone too far.
But hey, I don’t want to focus too much on what the crazies are saying. This is a time to celebrate, and is indeed a step forward for the acknowledgment that women do, in fact, have rights.
No Comments » | Politics, Reproductive Rights | Permalink
Posted by Derek
Bloggers Unite: We Need to Amend the Human Rights Code in Alberta
May 15, 2008
During Question Period at the Alberta Legislature today, Edmonton-Strathcona MP Rachel Notley (NDP) asked about an amendment to the human rights code, to protect gay, lesbian, and transgendered persons. Here is what happened:
Ms Notley: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Saturday is the international day against homophobia, a day aimed to build respect for gay, lesbian, and transgendered persons around the world. Here in Alberta the government still won’t amend the human rights code to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. To the minister responsible for human rights: in the spirit of striking an important blow against homophobia, will the minister reconsider his previous statements and do the right thing by introducing legislation to include sexual orientation as a ground protected against discrimination?
Mr. Blackett: Mr. Speaker, the answer to that is no.
The Speaker: The hon. member.
Ms Notley: Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker. Given that your so-called consultation on the issue has no budget, no timetable associated with it, will you admit that there is no consultation process and that you’re simply trying to delay until the issue maybe gets dropped?
Mr. Blackett: Mr. Speaker, I’m not going to admit that. I never said the word consultation. I talked about review in the context of, first, within our department. You’re trying to put words in my mouth, and I’m not going to agree to this.
Ms Notley: Well, Mr. Speaker, I think we’ll probably have to get back to that one a bit later. But can the minister at least tell the House if his government as a matter of written policy opposes homophobia and discrimination based upon sexual orientation?
Mr. Blackett: Mr. Speaker, as it stands right now, the implication from the Supreme Court
decision is that gays and lesbians are protected in Alberta, and if individuals were to go to our website or talk to anybody in the Human Rights Commission, they would find out that they are indeed protected, and we will stand up for them.
I’m sure I’m not the only one, but Lindsay Blackett’s response isn’t very convincing. Instead of dwelling on this, though, why not send him an email or call his office? Here’s his contact info:
Phone/Fax: (403) 538-0291
Email: lindsay4MLA@shaw.ca
Let Blackett know discrimination will not be tolerated and we need to amend the human rights code.
On a positive note, though, congratulations to California, the second state (after Massachusetts) to allow gay marriage!
No Comments » | Politics, Queer | Permalink
Posted by Derek
Finally: A Post About the Rally
May 6, 2008I haven’t yet gotten around to writing about Saturday’s rally against Ken Epp’s Unborn Victims of Crime Bill (C-484), so I suppose now is about time. I’ve been sick (possibly due to exhaustion), but feel better today. Anyway, there is much to tell.
The rally went considerably well, I’d say. There were a few minor setbacks, but all-in-all, it was a pretty good day. Hell, I’m impressed that we put it together in such a short time. (Myself and the other organisers began planning Monday night, less than five days before the rally.)
We ended up having visiting professor Dr. Rebecca Stringer, a woman on behalf of Medical Students for Choice, and NDP candidate Linda Duncan speak, and they were all fantastic. We had issues with the PA system, but they were quickly fixed.
While the MCs from Adamant Eve were wrapping up, we experienced some backlash. For those of you unfamiliar with the bill and its background, it was inspired after the murder of Olivia Talbot, who was six months pregnant. Now, at the rally, Mary Talbot, Olivia’s mother and an avid supporter of the bill, showed up, and she was not happy.
Mary began telling us to get our facts straight: That pregnant women were not being arrested in America for drug addictions; that organisations such as the ARCC had retracted previous statements criticising the bill. I sympathise with Mary, of course. She’s obviously still grieving after a terrible loss. Nevertheless, that does not mean it is acceptable to lie. It would be interesting to see where she pulled that information, if anywhere.
I can understand why Mary would support the bill. She feels she lost her grandson, that the fetus in her daughter’s uterus was a child. No one can change how she feels. It’s important to note, though, that laws should not be constructed around how a person feels. The Unborn Victims of Crime Act is a dangerous law that should not be enacted. Furthermore, claiming the proposed law “has nothing to do with abortion” is a statement that could only possibly be believed through a very thick cloud of ignorance. Giving a fetus legal rights does have implications for abortion. It doesn’t matter that the bill has that section seven which states lawful and elective
abortion would be exempt; giving a fetus rights is the first dangerous step towards the recriminalisation of abortion.
Nevertheless, I digress. After a bit of a spat between the vocal members of the rally and Mary, she left. After that, the rally was basically over, with many people lingering to discuss and socialise, and interviews took place as well.
Overall, it was a great experience. I had never even attended a rally before, never mind organise one. I’m thinking about putting together a guide of some sort for people interested in putting one together, because I had no idea what to do before this. Of course, a guide is never as good as getting advice from someone directly, as another organiser and I discussed, but it helps.
No Comments » | Activism, Politics | Permalink
Posted by Derek
Rally Was a Success!
May 4, 2008I will have a real post once I rest up, but I hope this news clip from CTV satisfies you until then!
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Posted by Derek
Contending with the Unborn Victims of Violence Act, Bill C-484, and Violence Against Pregnant Women
April 14, 2008This past Friday, I attended a lecture by Dr. Rebecca Stringer, a professor from the University of Otago in New Zealand, who presented, “Fact, Fiction, and the Foetus: Violence Against Pregnant Women and the Politics of Abortion.” It was, primarily, an academic approach to the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (UVVA) in America.
America previously used the “born alive” rule when dealing with harm inflicted on the foetus, which held that matters such as homicide or assault only applied to children outside the womb, so that a foetus in utero, if harmed, would result in no charge against the person who had harmed it. UVVA overturned this.
7 Comments | Activism, Anti-Choice, Politics, Reproductive Rights, Sexism, Violence Against Women, feminism | Permalink
Posted by Derek
Sigh…
March 3, 2008This is so depressing, but also not very surprising. Anyone know of anywhere nice to move?
8 Comments | Politics | Permalink
Posted by Derek
