Good News from Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East

Dear friends and members,

It's been two months since our last update to you on our many activities. We've been hard at work since then, and just wanted to inform you of all our activities over the last couple of months.

First, however, we'll start with a few opportunities...

Opportunities open to all

Become a Media Activist with CJPME's soon-to-be-announced Media Centre. CJPME will be officially launching its new "Media Center" in a few weeks, and is looking for individuals who have a keen interest in tracking the media, and responding to media issues. Please email us for more information.

Gaza Shall not Die Campaign. Dr. Norman Finkelstein - an important pro-justice speaker hosted on many occasions by CJPME - and other prominent activists are rallying a campaign this Fall to break the siege of Gaza. Their plan is to help groups fundraise to send thousands of people to Gaza on January 1, 2010, and march on Gaza to break the siege. Please join the Facebook group to be able to follow the campaign with us as it unfolds.

On-line Donations. CJPME is offers the ability to give donations on-line. If you believe in the work that CJPME is doing, and want to help see it continue, please consider giving on-line.

CJPME is about reaching out to People

We've had some great events in the past month or two to reach out to the Canadian public on the issues of our concern. Here's a sampling:

CJPME hosted Uri Davis on 4-city Canadian tour. Dr. Davis is an academic expert on political Zionism, and also author of the book, Apartheid Israel: The Struggle Within. Dr. Davis gave a profound and credible talk in each of the four cities in which he appeared. Dr. Davis has devoted his life to justice in the Middle East, with a focus on the dangers of political Zionism. CJPME hosted Dr. Davis in Toronto, London, Ottawa and Montreal between June 23rd and June 27th.

CJPME hosts Tony Burman. CJPME organized two talks with Tony Burman, Managing Director of Al Jazeera English, in downtown Toronto and Mississauga. Mr Burman discussed Al Jazeera English's pending application to the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for broadcasting rights in Canada and provided his personal insight on the future of Canadian Media.

Showing of Occupation 101 in London, ON. On June 5th, CJPME presented a screening of Occupation 101 at the Hyland Cinema in London, ON. The turnout at the event was great, and even included some members of parliament! The documentary is comprehensive and thought-provoking - it always has an impact on its viewers. CJPME has an institutional license to show Occupation 101, and is open to invitations to take it elsewhere.

Orientation and planning sessions in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and London. CJPME held several "teamwork sessions" in May and June in all cities with active branches. In these events, attendees planned for upcoming events, performed mailings for CJPME to policymakers, and discussed policy, media and community outreach.

Informing Canadians in Arabic-language Newspapers. CJPME has an on-going arrangement with Arabic-language newspapers in Canada to provide Arabic-language articles on Middle East issues facing Canadians. Recent articles have analyzed Obama's speech in Cairo, the one- and two-state solutions in Israel-Palestine, the irregularities of the Royal Ontario Museum exhibit on the Dead Sea Scrolls and challenges to get Al Jazeera English News channel in Canada.

CJPME is about being Present and Visible

CJPME meets ongoing with MPs in Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto, and London, ON. CJPME delegates continued to meet with MPs in May and June to discuss Canadian foreign policy towards the Middle East. CJPME representatives met with conservative MPs in London, Bloc MPs in Montreal and Liberal MPs in Ottawa and Montreal. These talks continued to focus on the needs and Gaza, and ways that Canada can make a difference.

Action protesting Royal Ontario Museum's presentation of its Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit. CJPME wrote letters of protest to ROM Trustees and to MPPs of the Ontario Provincial Parliament. CJPME also launched an email Action Alert to protest the nature and narrative of the exhibit. During a meeting organized between CJPME and ROM authorities, the ROM promised certain changes. CJPME thanks all those who participated in the email Action Alert, and who have supported this campaign.

CJPME Campaign to Support Al Jazeera English in Canada. CJPME launched an support campaign for Al Jazeera English's application to the CRTC for broadcasting rights in Canada. The support campaign enabled literally thousands of Canadians to officially document their support to the CRTC and Ethnic Channels group. CJPME also sent an official brief to the CRTC outlining why Al Jazeera English should be permitted to broadcast in Canada and how it would benefit Canada's multi-faith and multi-ethnic society.

CJPME Action to ensure a fair trial for Mohamed Kohail. The case of Palestinian-Canadian Mohamed Kohail has been in the news for over a year. Accused of murder in a school-yard brawl in Saudi Arabia and sentenced to death, Mr. Kohail's trail in Saudi Arabia has been beset by innumerable irregularities. CJPME's action called on Canada to push the Saudi government to ensure a fair trial, with some concrete results in recent weeks. Concerned Canadians can add their voice to the action by clicking here (English), or here (French.)

Ongoing Articles in Montreal-based Arabic Newspaper. CJPME has an ongoing series of articles published in a Montreal Arabic newspaper on a bi-weekly basis. So far, articles have been about Obama's speech in Cairo, the Uri Davis tour discussing the one and two-state solutions, the ROM exhibit of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Al Jazeera English in Canada.

CJPME is about developing Policy

CJPME expands its amazing factsheet series. Factsheets - brief one-sheet summaries of key issues - continue to be central to CJPME's strategy to reach Canadians with readable, accessible material. Please have a look at our two new factsheets - the latest in a repository of 60 different factsheets - and feel free to distribute them as widely as possible:
Factsheet - 'Respectable' Racism in North America
Factsheet - Legal Violations with the ROM's Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit
Press statements to Canadian media and policy makers. In addition to facts and positions, CJPME has actively promoted key pro-justice positions with the following press statements over the past two months:

Press statement - Hearing for Bil'in "went extremely well," Canadian lawyer says
Press statement - Netanyahu makes just two-state solution impossible
Press statement - "Anti-Zionist Palestinian-Hebrew" Makes Four-City Stop to Discuss Mid-East Solution
Press statement - Obama speech should be taken with cautious optimism
Press statement - Foreign Affairs Minister's condemnation, step in right direction
Press statement - ROM ignoring obligations by importing Dead Sea Scrolls
Press statement - 'Occupation 101' Screening Kicks Off London Chapter
Press statement - Queens Park Motion to exonerate Israel and censure Canadians
Press statement - CJPME Hosts Managing Director of Al Jazeera in Toronto
Press statement - CJPME: Support Al Jazeera English in Canada
Thank You

Congratulations to everyone who has participated to help create the successes above. We've had a great Spring - with more activities planned for the Summer and early Fall. Keep up the great work.

If you agree with CJPME`s initiatives above, and would like to see them continue, then please seriously consider donating. CJPME's work cannot continue without the support of concerned Canadians across Canada.

Warm regards,

The CJPME Leadership