MAKING PEACE VIGIL Newsletter - December 25, 2025

[Oscar]

MAKING PEACE VIGIL Newsletter - December 25, 2025


SONG FOR THE DAY: ‘PUT CHRIST BACK INTO CHRISTMAS,' by Billy Bragg
[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liRd9pjSBDA ]


SPECIAL FOR CHRISTMAS AND THE NEW YEAR

THE 1914 CHRISTMAS TRUE. RESISTING ON THE FRONT LINE OF WWI
[ https://therealnews.com/the-1914-christ ... nes-of-wwi ]


FILM: WAR IS OVER! INSPIRED BY THE MUSIC OF JOHN & YOKO - THE ACADEMY AWARD® WINNING ANIMATED SHORT
[ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W68-XaFepOg ]


IT IS NOT THE FAR-RIGHT. IT IS THE PARASTATE
[ https://www.pressenza.com/2025/12/it-is ... parastate/ ]


SPECIAL EVENT: SUNDAY DECEMBER 28, 10 am – 1 pm: WAFFLE PARTY! VENEZUELAN SOLIDARITY, REGINA UNION HALL, 2709 12TH AVE
Join us for the second “Waffle Party” brunch. This month we will be discussing Venezuelan solidarity with guest speaker professor Miguel Sanchez.
The American assault on Venezuela is a continuation of the capitalist war-machine and Canada’s silence shows our complacency with American imperialism. American imperialism is the biggest threat to world safety.
Brunch is Pay What You Can with proceeds going towards meals for Sunday Funday - DM to book your spot!
The Waffle Manifesto discusses how America shapes Canada, as copied below:
American corporate capitalism is the dominant factor shaping Canadian society. In Canada, American economic control operates throughout the formidable medium of the multi-national corporation. The Canadian corporate elite has opted for a junior partnership with these American enterprises. Canada has been reduced to a resource base and consumer market within the American Empire.

The American Empire is the central reality for Canadians. It is an empire characterized by militarism abroad and racism at home. Canadian resources and diplomacy have been enlisted in the support of the empire. In the barbarous war in Vietnam, Canada has supported the United States through its membership on the International Control Commission and through sales of arms and strategic resources to the American military industrial complex.

The American empire is held together through worldwide military alliances and giant monopoly corporations. Canada’s membership in the American alliance system and the ownership of the Canadian economy by American corporations precludes Canada’s playing an independent role in the world. These bonds must be cut if corporate capitalism and the social priorities it creates are to be effectively challenged.


BOOK RECOMMENDATION FOR THE NEW YEAR
The World After Gaza, by Pankaj Mishra


GOOD READING & VIEWING & LISTENING

SASK ‘INDIGENOUS SAINT’ SHARES PERSONAL JOURNEY THAT LED TO UN’S NELSON MANDELA AWARD
[ https://leaderpost.com/news/saskatchewa ... dela-award ]


HOLIDAY SEASON A 'SECOND CHANCE' FOR MENTAL HEALTH PATIENT, ADVOCATE JAYNE WHYTE
[ https://leaderpost.com/news/local-news/ ... ayne-whyte ]


CANADA POST, UNION REACH TENTATIVE AGREEMENTS, WITH VOTE EXPECTED IN NEW YEAR
[ https://leaderpost.com/news/canada/cana ... 1ab844aa4b ]


CONTROVERSIAL VICTIMS OF COMMUNISM MEMORIAL WON’T INCLUDE NAMES—How about a memorial to the victims of capitalism!
[ https://www.readthemaple.com/controvers ... ude-names/ ]


BIG BUSINESS IS PUSHING MARK CARNEY FOR MORE HANDOUTS
[ https://www.readthemaple.com/big-busine ... -handouts/ ]


BOB RAE HAD ‘WINGS CLIPPED’ FOR DEFENDING INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT
[ https://www.readthemaple.com/bob-rae-ha ... nal-court/ ]


ELBOWS…UP? LOOKING BACK AT CANADIAN POLITICS IN 2025
[ https://breachmedia.ca/canadian-politic ... king-back/ ]


DESMOND COLE ON OLIVIA CHOW AND PROJECT RESOLUTE
[ https://www.tiktok.com/@thebreachmedia/ ... 6627847441 ]


POLICING PALESTINE SOLIDARITY: A CRISIS OF CIVIL LIBERTIES IN CANADA (2021-2025)
[ https://www.cjpmefoundation.org/re_2025 ... _2021_2025 ]


CANADA’S GLOBEL TV AIRS INTERVIEWS WITH DEPORTEES
[ https://www.muellershewrote.com/p/watch ... ot-segment ]


THE EMPTY CHAIR THIS CHRISTMAS
[ https://www.meidasplus.com/p/the-empty- ... irect=true ]


HAMILTON PRO-PALESTINE ACTIVISTS SHARE STORIES OF REPRESSION
[ https://hamiltoncitymagazine.ca/hamilto ... ppression/ ]


CANADA MUST DO MORE AFTER 6 MPS WERE DENIED FROM OBSERVING THE EXPANDING WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS
[ https://nccm.ca/westbank/ ]


HOW CANADA SUPPORTS THE ISRAELI ALCOHOL INDUSTRY, WHICH IS EMBEDDED IN OCCUPATION AND APARTHEID
[ https://www.justpeaceadvocates.ca/new-r ... apartheid/ ]


CANADA AUTHORIZED $37.2 MILLION IN NEW MILITARY EXPORTS TO ISRAEL
[ https://www.readthemaple.com/canada-aut ... to-israel/ ]


CHRISTMAS IS A STORY OF EMPIRE, INJUSTICE AND THE VULNERABILITY OF ORDINARY PEOPLE CAUGHT IN ITS PATH.
[ https://peaceandplanetnews.org/christma ... inian-one/ ]


HOW VENEZUELA SURVIVED AMERICA’S ATTACK: THE $36 TRILLION MISTAKE
[ https://www.tiktok.com/@logicof.power/v ... 2PVd4oyZhS ]


US MILITARY KILLED BOAT STRIKE SURVIVORS FOR NOT SURRENDERING CORRECTLY
[ https://www.democracynow.org/2025/12/24 ... ley-legal/ ]


“HEARTBREAKING”: JOURNALIST VICKY WARD ON NEW EPSTEIN FILES & SURVIVORS’ FIGHT FOR ACCOUNTABILITY
[ https://www.democracynow.org/2025/12/24 ... vicky_ward ]


“NEVER STOP”: FREED AFTER 9 MONTHS IN ICE JAIL, IMMIGRANT ACTIVIST JEANETTE VIZGUERRA KEEPS FIGHTING
[ https://www.democracynow.org/2025/12/24 ... _vizguerra ]


CBS 60 MINUTES CENSORSHIP RINGS ANOTHER ALARM, WARNING OF CORPORATE MEDIA’S THREAT TO DEMOCRACY
[ https://soundcloud.com/democracynow/col ... 60-minutes ]


YOU CANNOT ANNEX OTHER COUNTRIES’: GREENLAND, DENMARK FURIOUS AT TRUMPS SPECIAL ENVOY
[ https://www.commondreams.org/news/green ... mp-threats ]


FIRST VENEZUELA (THEN CHINA?)
[ https://socialistproject.ca/2025/12/fir ... hen-china/ ]


GRETA THUNBERG ARRESTED IN UK FOR SUPPORTING PALESTINE ACTION AND OPPOSING GAZA GENOCIDE
[ https://www.commondreams.org/news/greta ... g-arrested ]


FREE LEQAA KORDIA: PALESTINIAN WOMAN WHO JOINED COLUMBIA U. PROTEST HAS BEEN DETAINED SINCE MARCH
[ https://www.democracynow.org/2025/12/24/leqaa_kordia ]


ISRAELI CABINET APPROVES 19 NEW APARTHEID COLONIES IN OCCUPIED WEST BANK
[ https://www.commondreams.org/news/israe ... ettlements ]


INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE WAS BUILDING TO HOLD ISRAEL ACCOUNTABLE. WHAT HAPPENED?
[ https://theintercept.com/2025/12/24/gaz ... ceasefire/ ]


WHILE BETHLEHEM HOLDS FIRST FULL CHRISTMAS SINCE GENOCIDE BEGAN, LITTLE TO CELEBRATE IN GAZA
[ https://www.commondreams.org/news/chris ... -palestine ]


POPE LEO'S 1ST CHRISTMAS SERMON DECRIES TREATMENT OF PALESTINIANS IN GAZA, HARM OF WARS ON THE 'DEFENCELESS'
[ https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/pope-chri ... -9.7028136 ]


ISRAELI FORCES MASSACRE 6 PALESTINIANS CELEBRATING WEDDING AT GAZA SCHOOL SHELTER
[ https://www.commondreams.org/news/gaza- ... r-massacre ]


CEASEFIRE WHILE GAZA FREEZES TO DEATH: ISRAEL’S END GOAL
[ https://www.muslimnetwork.tv/ceasefire- ... -end-goal/ ]


HOLIDAY SHOPPERS ARE FLEXING POLITICAL POWER THROUGH BIG BOYCOTT CAMPAIGNS
[ https://wagingnonviolence.org/2025/12/h ... campaigns/ ]


‘DEVASTATING’: AMNESTY RIPS HEGSETH MEMO REVERSING LIMITS ON LANDMINES
[ https://www.commondreams.org/news/amnes ... -landmines ]


EVENTS, WEBINARS, TV PROGRAMS, & FILMS

SUNDAY DECEMBER 28, 10 am – 1 pm: WAFFLE PARTY! VENEZUELAN SOLIDARITY, REGINA UNION HALL, 2709 12TH AVE
Join us for the second “Waffle Party” brunch. This month we will be discussing Venezuelan solidarity with guest speaker professor Miguel Sanchez.
The American assault on Venezuela is a continuation of the capitalist war-machine and Canada’s silence shows our complacency with American imperialism. American imperialism is the biggest threat to world safety.
Brunch is Pay What You Can with proceeds going towards meals for Sunday Funday - DM to book your spot!
The Waffle Manifesto discusses how America shapes Canada, as copied below:
American corporate capitalism is the dominant factor shaping Canadian society. In Canada, American economic control operates throughout the formidable medium of the multi-national corporation. The Canadian corporate elite has opted for a junior partnership with these American enterprises. Canada has been reduced to a resource base and consumer market within the American Empire.

The American Empire is the central reality for Canadians. It is an empire characterized by militarism abroad and racism at home. Canadian resources and diplomacy have been enlisted in the support of the empire. In the barbarous war in Vietnam, Canada has supported the United States through its membership on the International Control Commission and through sales of arms and strategic resources to the American military industrial complex.

The American empire is held together through worldwide military alliances and giant monopoly corporations. Canada’s membership in the American alliance system and the ownership of the Canadian economy by American corporations precludes Canada’s playing an independent role in the world. These bonds must be cut if corporate capitalism and the social priorities it creates are to be effectively challenged.


MONDAY DECEMBER 29, 7 pm: ALL OUT FOR AVI—WITH NAOMI KLEIN & AVI LEWIS
[ https://act.lewisforleader.ca/outreach-party ]


TUESDAY JANUARY 6, 6:30 pm: THE FUTURE OF THE NDP AND WHO WILL LEAD IT
[ https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/registe ... gistration ]


WEDNESDAY JANUARY 7, 7 pm: QUEEN CITY URBANIST BOOK CLUB, CATHEDRAL COMMUNITY CENTRE, 2900 13TH AVE
The book that will be discussed is Places of the Heart, by Colin Ellard


TUESDAY JANUARY 13, 9 am: INDIGENOUS PERSPECTIVES ON THE GLOBAL CRITICAL MINERALS RUSH
[ https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/registe ... gistration ]


FRIDAY JANUARY 16, NOON: BUFFALO’S FAVOURITE FLOWERS: RESTORATION, RELATIONSHIP, AND LEARNING FROM THE LAND
[ https://www.prairiefoodsystemvision.org ... m-the-land ]


MONDAY JANUARY 26-MONDAY MARCH 23, 6:30-8 pm: PROJECT OF THE HEART, LUTHER COLLEGE 207, U OF R
In this edition of Project of Heart, participants will learn about the health care that the children detained at the Qu’Appelle Industrial School received. This includes care provided by the school’s staff, along with other services and public health initiatives, such as the File Hills Colony Hospital, the Fort Qu’Appelle Sanatorium, and the Fort Qu’Appelle Indian Hospital. They will also hear about the Church’s and the State’s motivations for providing these services, while actively seeking to suppress local forms of knowledge and healing practices.
[ https://www.luthercollege.edu/universit ... ister-2026 ]


TUESDAY JANUARY 27, 9 am: CANADA’S APPROACH TO CRITICAL MINERALS AT HOME AND ABROAD
[ https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/registe ... gistration ]


WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 4, 7 pm: QUEEN CITY URBANIST BOOK CLUB, CATHEDRAL COMMUNITY CENTRE, 2900 13TH AVE
The book that will be discussed is Messy Cities, by Dylan Reid, Zahra Ebrahim, Leslie Woo, and John Lorinc


NEW PETITIONS & OTHER ACTIONS


CRA: REVOKE CHARITY STATUS OF CHRISTIAN ZIONIST AND MILLENNIALIST ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING ILLEGAL OCCUPATION AND GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE
[ https://actionnetwork.org/letters/cra-i ... war-crimes ]


SUPPORT THE CALL FROM CHRISTIANS IN PALESTINE
[ https://actionnetwork.org/letters/suppo ... -palestine ]


SUPPORT NADER BEJI’S PERMANENT RESIDENCE APPLICATION TO CANADA
[ https://www.change.org/p/support-nader- ... -to-canada ]


COFFEE PLANTATIONS ARE CAUSING MASSIVE DEFORESTATION IN BRAZIL, AND WE WILL ALL SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES
[ https://www.thepetitionsite.com/140/926 ... 3534079368 ]


TELL THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TO STOP LETTING GREEDY POLLUTERS DRILL IN OUR OCEANS
[ https://action.foe.org/page/92126/actio ... id=4382646 ]


SEND MONDELIZ, OREO’S PARENT COMPANY, SEASON’S GREETINGS
[ https://act.ran.org/page/91782/action/1 ]


AMA: DEMAND THE RELEASE OF DR. ABU SAFIYA
[ https://www.codepink.org/ama?utm_campai ... e=codepink ]



- Making Peace Vigil