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Today is "Black Out Speak Out Day" in Canada -- a national day of protest against Canada's conservative government's attack on non-profits including labor, environment, immigration, and students. Over 18,000 Canadians and more than 500 organizations have blacked out their websites Monday -- a symbolic protest of what they see as the government's effort to "silence" environmental voices across the country.
Today is "Black Out Speak Out Day" in Canada -- a national day of protest against Canada's conservative government's attack on non-profits including labor, environment, immigration, and students. Over 18,000 Canadians and more than 500 organizations have blacked out their websites Monday -- a symbolic protest of what they see as the government's effort to "silence" environmental voices across the country.
"Today, hundreds of organizations and individuals -- representing millions of citizens -- are speaking out in support of two core Canadian values: the protection of nature and democratic discussion," stated scientist and activist David Suzuki, in a news release on the day of action events.
"These values are the foundation of the peace, order and good government that define our nation, yet they are threatened by the federal government's omnibus budget bill, C-38."
* * *
The CBCreports:
"This government attempts to shut down and intimidate its critics," Liberal Leader Bob Rae said at a morning press conference to draw attention to the campaign. "And we all have to stand up and speak out."
"Today, hundreds of organizations and individuals -- representing millions of citizens -- are speaking out in support of two core Canadian values: the protection of nature and democratic discussion. These values are the foundation of the peace, order and good government that define our nation, yet they are threatened by the federal government's omnibus budget bill, C-38."
-David SuzukiThe "Black Out, Speak Out" campaign calls on Canadians to raise their voices against proposed changes to environmental laws included in Bill C-38, the government's budget implementation bill. Environmental groups say the changes will weaken environmental laws.
The campaign website also includes darkened Facebook avatars and Twitter "twibbons" for profile pictures to encourage individual Canadians to support the campaign.
In an interview with CBC News on Sunday, Gideon Forman, the executive director for the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment -- one of a dozen environmental groups leading the online campaign -- said "the Conservative government's attack on democracy and the environment is unprecedented."
"We are of the opinion that in order to protect the environment there has to be a very robust public debate in energy projects and other controversial projects with big environmental impact, and the Conservative government is trying to kill that public participation and that's very worrisome," said Forman, whose group represents over 5,000 doctors and concerned citizens.
"It's worrisome for the environment, it's also terribly worrisome for our democracy." [...]
The Green Party and its leader Elizabeth May are also part of the online campaign, as is the Bloc Quebecois.
"We are proud to stand in solidarity with Canada's environmental community," read a statement issued by May late on Sunday.
"There has been a recent chill due to smear campaigns. When environmental groups are demonized as 'radical' or 'against Canada,' we stand with them," the Green Party leader said. "If protecting nature, wilderness and our kids' future means our own government can attack us as 'radical,' then all Canadians must be radical."
May is working with the Liberals on an attempt to introduce over 200 amendments to the budget bill when it returns to the House of Commons at report stage, a parliamentary tactic that threatens to tie up proceedings with more than 50 hours of consecutive votes.
"We're always open to improvements, but if people are wanting to gut the legislative change we're not going to be impressed by that," Oliver told reporters Monday morning.
"When people talk about lack of free speech and lack of democracy... this is over-the-top rhetoric that is not substantiated by the facts," he said. "We're willing to have a rational argument but it's got to be fact-based."
* * *
Here are the top five reasons to Speak Out:
# # #
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Today is "Black Out Speak Out Day" in Canada -- a national day of protest against Canada's conservative government's attack on non-profits including labor, environment, immigration, and students. Over 18,000 Canadians and more than 500 organizations have blacked out their websites Monday -- a symbolic protest of what they see as the government's effort to "silence" environmental voices across the country.
"Today, hundreds of organizations and individuals -- representing millions of citizens -- are speaking out in support of two core Canadian values: the protection of nature and democratic discussion," stated scientist and activist David Suzuki, in a news release on the day of action events.
"These values are the foundation of the peace, order and good government that define our nation, yet they are threatened by the federal government's omnibus budget bill, C-38."
* * *
The CBCreports:
"This government attempts to shut down and intimidate its critics," Liberal Leader Bob Rae said at a morning press conference to draw attention to the campaign. "And we all have to stand up and speak out."
"Today, hundreds of organizations and individuals -- representing millions of citizens -- are speaking out in support of two core Canadian values: the protection of nature and democratic discussion. These values are the foundation of the peace, order and good government that define our nation, yet they are threatened by the federal government's omnibus budget bill, C-38."
-David SuzukiThe "Black Out, Speak Out" campaign calls on Canadians to raise their voices against proposed changes to environmental laws included in Bill C-38, the government's budget implementation bill. Environmental groups say the changes will weaken environmental laws.
The campaign website also includes darkened Facebook avatars and Twitter "twibbons" for profile pictures to encourage individual Canadians to support the campaign.
In an interview with CBC News on Sunday, Gideon Forman, the executive director for the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment -- one of a dozen environmental groups leading the online campaign -- said "the Conservative government's attack on democracy and the environment is unprecedented."
"We are of the opinion that in order to protect the environment there has to be a very robust public debate in energy projects and other controversial projects with big environmental impact, and the Conservative government is trying to kill that public participation and that's very worrisome," said Forman, whose group represents over 5,000 doctors and concerned citizens.
"It's worrisome for the environment, it's also terribly worrisome for our democracy." [...]
The Green Party and its leader Elizabeth May are also part of the online campaign, as is the Bloc Quebecois.
"We are proud to stand in solidarity with Canada's environmental community," read a statement issued by May late on Sunday.
"There has been a recent chill due to smear campaigns. When environmental groups are demonized as 'radical' or 'against Canada,' we stand with them," the Green Party leader said. "If protecting nature, wilderness and our kids' future means our own government can attack us as 'radical,' then all Canadians must be radical."
May is working with the Liberals on an attempt to introduce over 200 amendments to the budget bill when it returns to the House of Commons at report stage, a parliamentary tactic that threatens to tie up proceedings with more than 50 hours of consecutive votes.
"We're always open to improvements, but if people are wanting to gut the legislative change we're not going to be impressed by that," Oliver told reporters Monday morning.
"When people talk about lack of free speech and lack of democracy... this is over-the-top rhetoric that is not substantiated by the facts," he said. "We're willing to have a rational argument but it's got to be fact-based."
* * *
Here are the top five reasons to Speak Out:
# # #
Today is "Black Out Speak Out Day" in Canada -- a national day of protest against Canada's conservative government's attack on non-profits including labor, environment, immigration, and students. Over 18,000 Canadians and more than 500 organizations have blacked out their websites Monday -- a symbolic protest of what they see as the government's effort to "silence" environmental voices across the country.
"Today, hundreds of organizations and individuals -- representing millions of citizens -- are speaking out in support of two core Canadian values: the protection of nature and democratic discussion," stated scientist and activist David Suzuki, in a news release on the day of action events.
"These values are the foundation of the peace, order and good government that define our nation, yet they are threatened by the federal government's omnibus budget bill, C-38."
* * *
The CBCreports:
"This government attempts to shut down and intimidate its critics," Liberal Leader Bob Rae said at a morning press conference to draw attention to the campaign. "And we all have to stand up and speak out."
"Today, hundreds of organizations and individuals -- representing millions of citizens -- are speaking out in support of two core Canadian values: the protection of nature and democratic discussion. These values are the foundation of the peace, order and good government that define our nation, yet they are threatened by the federal government's omnibus budget bill, C-38."
-David SuzukiThe "Black Out, Speak Out" campaign calls on Canadians to raise their voices against proposed changes to environmental laws included in Bill C-38, the government's budget implementation bill. Environmental groups say the changes will weaken environmental laws.
The campaign website also includes darkened Facebook avatars and Twitter "twibbons" for profile pictures to encourage individual Canadians to support the campaign.
In an interview with CBC News on Sunday, Gideon Forman, the executive director for the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment -- one of a dozen environmental groups leading the online campaign -- said "the Conservative government's attack on democracy and the environment is unprecedented."
"We are of the opinion that in order to protect the environment there has to be a very robust public debate in energy projects and other controversial projects with big environmental impact, and the Conservative government is trying to kill that public participation and that's very worrisome," said Forman, whose group represents over 5,000 doctors and concerned citizens.
"It's worrisome for the environment, it's also terribly worrisome for our democracy." [...]
The Green Party and its leader Elizabeth May are also part of the online campaign, as is the Bloc Quebecois.
"We are proud to stand in solidarity with Canada's environmental community," read a statement issued by May late on Sunday.
"There has been a recent chill due to smear campaigns. When environmental groups are demonized as 'radical' or 'against Canada,' we stand with them," the Green Party leader said. "If protecting nature, wilderness and our kids' future means our own government can attack us as 'radical,' then all Canadians must be radical."
May is working with the Liberals on an attempt to introduce over 200 amendments to the budget bill when it returns to the House of Commons at report stage, a parliamentary tactic that threatens to tie up proceedings with more than 50 hours of consecutive votes.
"We're always open to improvements, but if people are wanting to gut the legislative change we're not going to be impressed by that," Oliver told reporters Monday morning.
"When people talk about lack of free speech and lack of democracy... this is over-the-top rhetoric that is not substantiated by the facts," he said. "We're willing to have a rational argument but it's got to be fact-based."
* * *
Here are the top five reasons to Speak Out:
# # #