MAKING PEACE VIGIL Newsletter - March 9, 2025

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MAKING PEACE VIGIL Newsletter - March 9, 2025


SPECIAL REMEMBERING
March 7 marked the 4th anniversary of the passing of Catherine Verrall, one of the founders of Making Peace Vigil. A formidable peace and justice advocate, Catherine provides an example for all of us to follow. Below is the link to a video her daughter Ann made for her memorial service. It is inspiring!
[ https://vimeo.com/1063546904 ]

SPECIAL EVENT: TEACH-IN TUESDAYS BACK AGAIN: HURRAH!!!!
TUESDAY MARCH 11, 7 pm: TEACH IN TUESDAY—PANEL DISCUSSION IN HONOUR OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’SDAY, PAUSE COFFEE, 3434 13TH AVE
[ https://www.instagram.com/p/DGx-PfXu5gz/ ]


SPECIAL MEETINGS
REGINA CITY COUNCIL BUDGET: MONDAY MARCH 17 – THURSDAY MARCH 20: REGINA CITY HALL

The City of Regina is calling for a mill rate increase of 8.5%--the largest increase seen in the last 10 years. Personally, I’m happy to pay taxes, as long as they are being spent on the common good—in the well-being of all members of our community.
Regina Police Service is, as usual, calling for an increase to its operational budget—this year of about $7 million.
What should our tax money be spent on? How about money to end houselessness.

The police budget will be discussed Monday March 17, with March 18 – 20 reserved for the city budget. It is likely that presentations on the city budget will be heard on March 18.

We need lots of people making presentations at these meetings—letting councillors know we want our tax dollars spent on ending houselessness.

Presentations have to be submitted by noon on Thursday March 13.

If we want, we can each make 2 presentations, one in relation to the RPS budget and another in relation to the city budget.

To present, you must fill out an online form:
https://www.regina.ca/city-government/c ... e-Council/
Include the request that your presentation be made part of the meeting record.

The City of Regina 2025 budget is available here—click on “Agenda Packet”:
[ https://reginask.iqm2.com//Citizens/default.aspx ]

The Regina Police Service Budget is on pages 309-312.

SPECIAL READING

MATRIARCH’S COLLECTIVE TACKLES FOOD INSECURITY IN REGINA WITH DIGNITY AND RESPECT
[ https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/ ... nd-respect ]


REGINA CENTRAL LIBRARY NEEDS TO BE FIXED UP AND STAY WHERE IT IS, by Ed Lehman
https://leaderpost.com/opinion/letters/ ... here-it-is

SHOULD CANADIAN MILITARY ASSIST COUNTRY SEEKING ANNEXATION? With Yves Engler & Tamara Lorincz
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rg1GKFkp10o

TRUMP’S ECONOMIC WAR IS OURS TO WIN—IF WE DITCH THE CORPORATE PLAYBOOK AND THINK BIG, by Avi Lewis
[ https://breachmedia.ca/trumps-economic- ... think-big/ ]


GOOD READING AND LISTENING AND VIEWING:

U OF R STUDENTS TAKE PART IN 5 DAYS FOR THE HOMELESS CAMPAIGN
[ https://www.ctvnews.ca/regina/article/v ... -campaign/ ]


UNFAIR RENT INCREASES IN MANITOBA—Also in Saskatchewan
[ https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opini ... -increases ]


MINISTER SAYS PAUSE TO SASK IMMIGRANT NOMINEE PROGRAM WILL BE VERY BRIEF
[ https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewa ... very-brief ]


SCOTT MOE SAYS RETALIATORY MEASURES TO REMAIN IN EFFECT AMID TRADE WAR WITH US
[ https://leaderpost.com/news/national/sa ... r-with-u-s ]


MANITOBA PREMIER, ADVOCATES PRAISE FAMILIES' LOVE, STRENGTH AFTER REMAINS FOUND IN LANDFILL SEARCH
[ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba ... -1.7478665 ]


GRASSY NARROWS FIRST NATION SEES START OF MERCURY TREATMENT FACILITY — DECADES AFTER RIVER WAS POISONED
[ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder- ... -1.7476038 ]


FIRST NATIONS BYPASSED IN CANADIAN PIPELINES TALK, by Doug Cuthand
[ https://thestarphoenix.com/opinion/colu ... lines-talk ]


FEDERAL FUNDING FOR $10 A DAY CHILD CARE PLAN EXTENDED TO 2031 IN ELEVEN PROVINCES AND TERRITORIES (but not in Saskatchewan)
[ https://childcarenow.ca/2025/03/06/fede ... rritories/ ]


SASK ONE OF TWO PROVINCES HOLDING OUT ON SIGNING NEW FEDERAL CHILD-CARE DEAL
[ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatoo ... -1.7477277 ]


BREAKING BARRIERS: BLACK WOMEN SHAPING THE WORLD—with Dr. Jean Augustine
[ https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/play/rt38fP ... hkSw7kCJWO ]


SARAH’S STORY OF DISCRIMINATION AS A MUSLIM YOUNG PERSON GROWING UP IN CANADA
[ https://kidshelpphone.ca/youth-stories/ ... ung-person ]


CANADA’S ELITE ARE SCAPEGOATING MIGRANTS. HERE’S WHY THEY’RE WRONG
[ https://breachmedia.ca/migrants-canada- ... mployment/ ]


STANDING UP FOR CANADIAN WORKERS & JOBS
[ https://usw.ca/campaigns/fighting-trump-tariffs/ ]


WE’RE SECURE, UNTIL WE’RE NOT. SO DON’T TAKE CANADA’S SOVEREIGNTY FOR GRANTED
[ https://www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion ... ignty-for/ ]


TRUMP’S WAR: TIME TO SHOOT DOWN THE F-35?
[ https://www.peacequest.ca/p/is-it-time- ... n-the-f-35 ]


WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. ‘CANADA FIRST’ IS THE WRONG ANSWER, by Ryan Meili
[ https://ryanmeili.substack.com/p/we-hav ... lem-canada ]


CHINA FIRES BACK IN TRADE WAR WITH TARIFFS ON CANADIAN GOODS
[ https://www.rt.com/business/613901-chin ... trade-war/ ]


BEHIND MARK CRITCH’S VIRAL TRUMP & TRADE WAR SKITS
[ https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6675493 ]


CANADA’S MUTED CRITICISM OF ISRAEL’S “HELL PLAN” TO STARVE GAZA REFLECTS LIBERAL’S RACIST APPROACH TO PALESTINIANS
[ https://www.cjpme.org/pr_2025_03_06_hell_plan_gaza ]


U.S. HUMANITARIANISM OFTEN REPRODUCES INEQUALITY, BUT KILLING USAID IS WRONG ANSWER
[ https://www.democracynow.org/2025/3/6/u ... al_complex ]


“LIFT THE FREEZE”: HIV/AIDS ADVOCATES WIN SUPREME COURT VICTORY IN FIGHT OVER TRUMP FOREIGN AID CUTS
[ https://www.democracynow.org/2025/3/6/u ... aid_frozen ]


“A DECLARATION OF WAR AGAINST THE AMERICAN PEOPLE”: RALPH NADER ON TRUMP’S ADDRESS TO CONGRESS
[ https://www.democracynow.org/2025/3/5/r ... t_congress ]


“IMPEACHMENT IS A REMEDY FOR A RUNAWAY PRESIDENT”: REP. AL GREEN ON WHY HE DISRUPTED TRUMP’S ADDRESS
[ https://www.democracynow.org/2025/3/7/i ... medy_for_a ]


COP WATCHERS TELL THEIR SECRETS
[ https://www.youtube.com/live/Xc3V4g5nroI ]


STATE OF SEIGE: ISRAEL IS CONDUCTING ITS LARGEST MASS EXPULSION CAMPAIGN SINCE 1967
[ https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/west-ban ... rael-jenin ]


UPDATES ON GAZA & THE WEST BANK
[ https://www.ochaopt.org/ ]


HOUTHIS ISSUE ULTIMATUM TO ISRAEL: YEMEN WILL RESUME NAVAL BLOCKADE IF AID IS NOT ALLOWED INTO GAZA
[ https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/houthis- ... srael-gaza ]


TRUMP & THE VIABLE ROAD TO PEACE IN UKRAINE
[ https://peaceandplanetnews.org/trump-an ... n-ukraine/ ]


NICARAGUA AS SEEN BY A PEACE ACTIVIST
[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plPFpgJwuuA&t=2135s ]


TREATY FOR PROHIBITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS STATES AGREE THE BAN IS AN ALTERNATIVE TO RECKLESS NUCLEAR DETERRENCE & PROLIFERATION
[ https://www.icanw.org/tpnw_third_meetin ... deterrence ]


SCIENTISTS BROUGHT TO TEARS BY HUGE LOSS OF U.S. BUTTERFLIES
[ https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/butterf ... -1.7476479 ]


TRANSITION TIME FOR RED PEPPER—Red Pepper is comparable to Canadian Dimension in terms of content
[ https://www.redpepper.org.uk/culture-me ... ed-pepper/ ]


EVENTS, WEBINARS, TV PROGRAMS, & FILMS:

SUNDAY MARCH 9, 1 pm: QUEER MOMENTUM ELECTION MASS ORGANIZING CALL
With a federal election on the horizon, Queer Momentum and our partners across Canada are hosting a Mass Organizing Call to tap advocates and allies into our queer election campaigns!
[ https://zoom.us/meeting/register/6_e-li ... gistration ]


MONDAY MARCH 10, 12 pm: RESISTING NATO
[ https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/registe ... gistration ]


WEDNESDAY MARCH 12, 11 am: THE EMPEROR’S NEW CLOTHES—AN EARTH DAY SEASON LOOK AT THE FASHION INDUSTY
[ https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-live/ ]


WEDNESDAY MARCH 12, 4 pm: CANADA IN THE AGE OF TRUMP—NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY & FOREIGN POLICY IN A MULTIPOLAR WORLD
[ https://www.facebook.com/events/3875320099463630/ ]


THURSDAY MARCH 13, 3:30 pm: TARIFFS—THE US TRUMPS CANADA, U OF R, CLASSROOM BUILDING 112
Join us for an engaging conversation on Trump’s proposed tariffs, the ensuing trade wars, and their economic and political impacts on the global economy, Canada, and Saskatchewan.


THURSDAY MARCH 13, 6:30 pm: REPORTING ON A REVOLUTION
Independent media in Burma are resisting a military dictatorship.
[ https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/reporting-o ... tdtcreator ]


THURSDAY MARCH 13, 7 pm: SISTERS IN SONG REGINA INTERNATIONAL WOMAN’S DAY CONCERT, CENTRAL LIBRARY MEZZANINE


SATURDAY MARCH 15, 11 am: RAISE THE BAR—FEDERAL ELECTION TOWNHALL, CENTRAL LIBRARY 2311 12TH AVE, ROOM CE 1
[ https://you.leadnow.ca/events/raise-the ... -town-hall ]


SATURDAY MARCH 15 – SUNDAY MARCH 16: INTERNATIONAL US-CUBA NORMALIZATION CONFERENCE
[ https://us-cubanormalization.org/CubaConference2025/ ]


SATURDAY MARCH 15 – SATURDAY MARCH 29: FILM FEST—THE UNTOLD STORIES OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
[ https://www.pressenza.com/2025/02/2025- ... r-weapons/ ]


SUNDAY MARCH 16, 10 am: REFUSE THE WAR—ISRAELI CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTORS SHARE THEIR STORIES
[ https://actionnetwork.org/events/refuse-the-war ]


MONDAY MARCH 17 – THURSDAY MARCH 20: CITY OF REGINA 2025 BUDGET DISCUSSIONS, REGINA CITY HALL


MONDAY MARCH 17 – FRIDAY MARCH 21: CANADA READS, CBC RADIO ONE
[ https://www.cbc.ca/books/meet-the-canad ... -1.7431920 ]


TUESDAY MARCH 18, 7 pm: GETTING TO ZERO—CHECKING IN ON LOCAL CARBON REDUCTION INITIATIVES, mâmawêyatitân centre
Join the conversation as panelists discuss how local plans for reducing carbon emissions can contribute to climate justice in our community.
Panelists include:
Robbie Humble, Manager of Sustainable Energy and Adaptation at the City of Regina
Neil Paskewitz, Associate Vice-President of Facilities Management at the University of Regina
Abhay Singh Sachal, Graduate Student at the University of Regina and Founder of Break The Divide
Dr. Jennie Stephens, Professor of Climate Justice at the National University of Ireland Maynooth
[ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/getting-to ... tdtcreator ]


WEDNESDAY MARCH 19, 10 am: WOMEN IN CONFLICT ZONES
[ https://www.codepink.org/319webinar?utm ... e=codepink ]


WEDNESDAY MARCH 19, 7 pm: 2025 WOODROW LLOYD LECTURE, WITH JENNIE STEPHENS—CLIMATE JUSTICE AND THE UNIVERSITY: SHAPING A HOPEFUL FUTURE, COLLEGE AVENUE CAMPUS, 2155 COLLEGE AVE
[ https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-woodr ... 7082960899 ]


WEDNESDAY MARCH 19, 7 pm: A RIGHT TO STRIKE—10 YEARS AFTER SFL VERSUS GOVERNMENT OF SASKATCHEWAN, ARTESIAN, 2627 13TH AVE
Panelists:
Barb Byers (past president of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour & Exec VP of the Canadian Labour Congress)
Barb Cape (president of SEIU West Saskatchewan)
Rick Engel (co-counsel on behalf of the SFL & other unions at the Supreme Court of Canada)
Larry Hubich (past president of the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour)
Jeff Sweet (business manager, IBEW Local 2038)


FRIDAY MARCH 21, 7 pm: SCREENING OF THE BRUTALIST AT RPL FILM THEATRE, CENTRAL LIBRARY
[ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Brutalist ]


SATURDAY MARCH 29, 10 am – 4 pm: REPAIR CAFÉ, 1770 HALIFAX ST
A Repair Cafe is a community event where people can bring broken or damaged items to be fixed for free by volunteers. The goal is to promote repairing and reusing items instead of throwing them away, which helps reduce waste and encourages sustainability.
[ https://www.envirocollective.ca/repair-cafe/ ]


THURSDAY APRIL 3, 5 pm: HOPE IN THE ERA OF TRUMP—with Douglas Roche
[ https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/registe ... gistration ]


SATURDAY APRIL 5, 2 pm: CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF JUNE MITCHELL (1926 - 2024), 2 pm, BLUE ROOM, HOTEL SASK, 2125 VICTORIA AVE
June was a long-time peace and justice activist. She participated in Making Peace Vigil when we handed out pamphlets on the Scarth Street Mall.


NEW PETITIONS & OTHER ACTIONS:

BOYCOTT USA. BOYCOTT ISRAEL. STOP APARTHEID
[ https://bdscoalition.ca/2025/03/05/us-boycott/ ]


HANDS OFF SUDAN!
[ https://www.change.org/p/handsoffsudan- ... -sudan-now ]


- Making Peace Vigil