Trade Unionists and community activists around the country are mobilizing a week of action against the free trade deal being negotiated between Canada and Colombia. This is not a country that Canada should sign a free trade agreement with.
Events are being planned for the end of November in several provinces to call for an immediate halt to those negotiations. For example, activists and concerned citizens in Nova Scotia are invited to gather in front of the office of federal Defense Minister Peter MacKay on Nov. 30 at noon.
Last year, 78 trade unionists were killed in Colombia. More trade unionists are killed there than in the rest of the world combined, according to a recent survey by the International Trade Union Council.
Journalists, electoral candidates, human rights workers, community union leaders and those who challenge government policies are accused of being supporters of the guerrilla movement. Such accusations are often followed by death threats, disappearance or exile.
Even the United States Congress has refused to approve a similar agreement with Colombia based on evidence of government involvement in crimes against humanity, massive human rights violations, ongoing unsolved crimes against labour activists and direct involvement of the Colombian government with paramilitary death squads.
Help send a message to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Defense Minister MacKay! Watch for announcements of action in your province.
