CANADIAN POLITICS/INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS:

NO TO COLOMBIAN/CANADA FREE TRADE BILL ON MONDAY:

This coming Monday, September 14, the House of Commons will be voting on a proposal to set up a free trade deal with Colombia. Colombia is a country of massive human rights violations, and it would merely encourage the government there on its present course to give its good most favoured nation status. There are indications that Liberal MPs will support the government on this bill. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) has launched a email campaign to Liberal MPs and their leader Michael Ignatieff, asking that they vote against the Bill. Here's the appeal.

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Vote coming on Canada Colombia Free Trade:
The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement is to be the first order of business when the House of Commons reconvenes on Monday, Sept. 14. There are strong indications that Liberal MPs will support the bill.

We managed to back them off once before - we need to do it again.

Send a message to Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff and his leading MPs. Urge them to oppose the CCFTA.

Ask your friends and family to do likewise.

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THE LETTER:

Please go to THIS LINK to send the following letter to Michael Ignatieff and other members of the Liberal caucus.

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I am writing to urge you to reject the Canada-Colombia trade deal.

I've heard it's to be the first item of business when parliament reconvenes Sept. 14.

Under the government of President Alvaro Uribe, the Colombian people are living in a constant state of poverty and fear.

The Uribe government has one of the worst human rights records in the world.

Under Uribe’s watch, an estimated 5 million Colombians have been forcibly displaced through land seizures, trade unionists and civil society activists risk death simply for advocating basic labour rights.

More than 2,500 have been killed by the state and its paramilitaries since 1986, including 40 in 2008.

And yet the Harper Conservatives have tabled legislation to implement a free trade agreement with Colombia.

Human rights must come before trade.

I hope the Liberal Party will put the well-being of 45 million Colombians first, and oppose ratifying the impending trade deal with Colombia.