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Privacy
Victory for Internet freedom: Conservatives won't bring back online surveillance bill
rabble.ca 12/02/2013 - After a massive public outcry, the Conservatives have ditched their online surveillance bill once and for all.
Monday's statements from the government mark the defeat of legislation  that Public Safety Minister Vic Toews once advocated for by stating that critics of the bill had to decide whether they were "with us or with the child pornographers."
Justice Minister Rob Nicholson explained that the controversial provisions the government had tried to push through with Bill C-30 will not be resurrected. "This is a victory for privacy and for freedom," said Ontario Privacy Commissioner Ann Cavoukian.
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Torture
Afghan govt acknowledges torture of detainees but denies systematic abuse of prisoners
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War in Mali
Op-Ed: Canadians are right to worry about getting involved in Mali
The Ottawa Citizen 12/02/2013 - The Canadian public is leery of the role being played by our military in the troubled West African country of Mali, and rightly so. Having emerged from the sacrifices made in Afghanistan with seemingly  little to show for them, Canadians cannot be faulted for fearing "mission creep" and involvement in another unwinnable conflict. Some have found this reluctance to embrace the war frustrating. War historian Jack Granatstein, a well-known supporter of a strong Canadian military and critic of UN peacekeeping, used these pages last week to berate what he described as "the pacifist left," and my organization in particular, the Rideau Institute, for not supporting the Harper government's military contribution to the conflict. But as a historian, can Granatstein overlook our past mistakes in Afghanistan, only to repeat them in Mali? Even Time Magazine described Mali as "Africanistan."
Read moreMali and the true cost of Canada's military adventures in AfricaWeak support in poll for sending Canadian troops to MaliBaird warns Mali involvement invites 'another Afghanistan'Left behind in a house in Timbuktu, al-Qaida's manifesto, outlining strategic vision for MaliIslam is not the real issue we are facing in AfricaMokhtar Belmokthar could be added to secret 'kill' list, move driven by senior Obama officialsMali: Is France's Operation Serval anti-terrorism or pro-business?'We did not predict this': Top Algerian Minister discusses January hostage crisis
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War on terror
Comment: Terror - America scared witless
The Huffington Post 14/02/2013 - Most of our frenetic violence in the "war on terror" has been misguided: its chosen targets of uncertain threat to the United States, its methods crude, its implementation incompetent and corrupt  (except in narrow and tactical military terms), politically obtuse, ethically deeply compromised and counter-productive. It has come to be robotic as muscle displaces mind. Driven by fear rather than foresight, the trumpeted "WAR ON TERROR" has seriously damaged American. The gravest, most enduring damage has been done to American self-identity and the country's capacity for somber, discriminating action -- as opposed to disjointed, aimless flailing. As with an auto-immune system run amok, the over stressed body politic began to attack itself. The killing of American citizens by drones, the gross abuses of civil liberties represented by massive surveillance and now the draconian provisions of the NDAA that VOID basic habeas corpus provisions of the Constitution, and the suppression of criticism are doing irreparable harm to the health of the Republic. Read moreThe imaginary world of the 'war against al-Qaida'Despite planned troop withdrawal, special ops & private forces prepare to continue Afghan warObama calls al-Qaida 'shadow of former self' but still evolving threatHow the Iraq war was sold |
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Access to information
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Anti-terror laws
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Border security
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Criminalization of dissent
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Drones
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Guantanamo
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Immigration and refugee rights
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National security
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Racism
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Rendition to torture
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State secrets
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Miscellaneous
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About us
The ICLMG is a national coalition of thirty-nine Canadian civil society organizations that was established in the aftermath of the September, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. You will find in this News Digest news articles, events, calls to action and much more regarding national security, anti-terrorism, civil liberties and other issues related to the mandate and concerns of ICLMG and its member organizations. 
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ICLMG in the news
Critics say biometric borders threaten civil liberties
A new biometric system designed to screen temporary residents entering Canada has come under fire from the NDP and activists who warn that data-sharing with the U.S. threatens civil liberties and signals a dystopic future.  "If you've never committed a crime, you have the right under the Charter to be anonymous from the state, unless you're doing an operation that requires a permit, like driving a car," says Roch Tassé, coordinator of the Ottawa-based International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group, a coalition that includes Amnesty International and other human rights groups.
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Take action
"Hundred for Hassan" Campaign
Hassan will be put in prison if he does not pay his "creditor" - in this case, the Canadian government - $2,000 per month for the cost of his own surveillance. We invite you to be one of 100 people who care about due process and the presumption of innocence and oppose abusive extradition proceedings, by pledging $20 per month or more to share the cost of Dr. Diab's oppressive burden. This is our way of taking a public stand and saying, "This is just wrong."
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Take action
The Secret Trial 5 - donate to make the documentary a reality
***6 days left!***
Many Canadians view the so-called War on Terror as something distant, something far away. The reality is, it has struck much closer to home than most of us realize. There are men, women and families right here in Canada that have been caught in its web. Our film is about five such individuals, and five such families. Click below to watch an excerpt and share with your networks. |
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Event
NCCAR presents:
An evening with Miko Peled: Can Israelis and Palestinians live together?
Tuesday, February 26th
7:30pm
St. Paul University Auditorium, 233 Main Street, Ottawa
$10 ($15 at door)
An optimistic assessment of one of the world's most intractable problems. Miko Peled, Israeli/American Jew, former Israeli soldier, son of a famous Israeli general, discusses his frank views in a courageous new book. The book will be available for sale and signing by Mr Peled. This event is endorsed by the Independent Jewish Voices and the Group of 78.
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prisons. The panel's findings were the result of a two-week fact-finding mission following a U.N. report last month that said Afghan authorities are still torturing prisoners despite promises of reforms. The country's intelligence service earlier had denied any torture in its detention facilities.
