Hey! I'm frustrated with what nova scotia's premier is doing! Are you a nova scotian who is ALSO frustrated with our premier? Find your MLA here and write and/or call them! Here's a pre-written letter if you haven't found the words yet;
Hello,
I am one of your constituents, and I am writing to you today regarding The Government Organization and Administration Act, and An Act Respecting Agriculture, Energy, and Natural Resources. I do not agree with the goals of these acts, and I'm reaching out to ask that you do all you can to prevent them from coming to pass.
I'm concerned that the changes outlined in TGOAA will limit government transparency and reduce oversight to ensure those elected will conduct themselves with integrity and in the best interest of Nova Scotians. I am concerned that limiting freedom of information requests and allowing the government to decide which auditor general reports are public will eliminate crucial checks and balances that preserve our democracy. I am against at-will employment and do not agree with the government being able to fire non-union employees and the AG without cause.The move to bring fracking back, rely on methane, and extract uranium and lithium with the AARA makes me worried for our natural resources, the health of Nova Scotians, and our ability to meet our climate goals.
Accountability, checks, and balances are crucial to ensuring our elected officials are working for Nova Scotians, and not their own interests. It's clear the GOAA seeks to undermine these critical tools. Given the underhanded way our Premier seeks to undermine our democracy, I do not believe he will keep Nova Scotians in mind while harvesting and selling our natural resources. Please fight for our continued Democracy, and the future of our environment. Fight the GOAA and AARA.
A letter to the political parties of Canada concerning the genocide in Gaza
I'm pasting it here just so I can link it on twitter for people who need alt text, because it's too many characters to post. I used this site to send it, and you can do the same with a pre-written email. https://www.itsagenocide.ca/ It also has a tool to find your MP's number if you'd like to call.
Social Media is something that has been vital to our society since it's inception. Many people my age will use it to unwind, to communicate with friends, to share funny memes and to organize against injustice. I use it frequently, and like many people, the first thing I do in the morning and the last thing I do at night is glance over at twitter while I counter-intuitively wait for sleep to come.
Ever since October 7th, my social media has been flooded with the death and destruction of Gaza and the West Bank.
Today I woke up to the news that it has been confirmed that when Israeli soldiers evacuated an intensive care unit, the babies the doctors were tending to, who they had been promised would be cared for, were left to die. They were found during the ceasefire decomposing in their hospital beds. This was one of the few censored videos I've seen. I have a six week old nephew, and when I saw a picture of a 17 day old baby who had been killed in an explosion today due to the end of the temporary cease fire, I decided it was time to contact you all about how disappointed I am in my government, a country that prides itself on its reputation for peace, to be one of the few who voted AGAINST a call for a cease fire weeks ago now. I wanted to send an email at the time, but to be honest, I was so angry and disgusted with everyone who represents me that I couldn't write anything that wasn't just pure vitriol.
Part of what stopped me was the absolute disillusion in the entire government. Canadians are not generally idiots, which may come as a shock to some of you. We know 90% of politician speech is just lip service to keep the status quo. I wasn't kidding myself thinking the liberal party actually cares about marginalized communities, or that they, or any other political party in this country, care about untold deaths over-seas. You must be very big-picture to continue to refuse to stand up for a community being paved over before the world's very eyes. But I'm not sure how any of you can sleep at night knowing that innocent people-- real men, women, and children-- are being slaughtered en-mass, and you have in some way enabled it by not speaking out. I'm honestly not sure, if you're either on Israel's government's side on this one, or indifferent to it, what you're doing in politics. Because it's certainly not to better anyone's lives. I assume it's money that stays any politician from speaking out against the horrors we are seeing come out of Gaza every day, with help from our weapons and our government's support, but I hope you know it isn't worth it. I cannot describe how low my opinion of every government party has sunk through this crisis. Normally I would say the NPD are exempt from my disappointment, but you called for one of your own to step down when they spoke out early against the genocide, so unfortunately it's you I'm most disappointed in of all.
I'm sorry to anyone who actually feels very strongly about what is happening in Gaza and is reading this letter, because I'm sure you're the only one who will actually take that disappointment to heart. And on top of that, you have the worst coworkers in the world. But know that if you're speaking out against this, if you are truly fighting and doing all you can to stop our government from helping to exterminate an entire people, I am not upset at you. I marvel at your ability to continue in the face of so much opposition. Truly I feel as though I'm losing my mind watching our prime minister stumble and refuse to say 'cease fire'. You were elected as a lesser evil, Justin, and you managed to flub even that. I can't imagine what our next election will look like, but for failing your promise of restructuring how our votes work, and as a party for your failure to look at the most black-and-white situation and refuse to call a genocide a genocide, know that whatever havoc is wrought if the cons win is on you as well. Canadians overwhelmingly want positive change, and instead we have a bunch of adults acting like children and hemming and hawing over whether killing and driving out an entire population from their own land is a genocide. Is bombing hospitals a war crime? Apparently none of you know. Maybe you should leave politics and go back to school.
All this is to say: call for a ceasefire. It's the RIGHT THING to do. I know politicians aren't (generally speaking) renowned for their ability to empathize, but give it a shot in this case, while there are still Palestinians left to save.
I have very little faith in all of you after this, truthfully, and I don't say that in anger or in hate. I am truly just indescribably disappointed in you, and the choices you've made as parties. Imagine all of you standing up and applauding a nazi, your country giving you the benefit of the doubt that you're all just sort've idiots, and then not speaking out to stop a genocide. Wow. I suppose we're the fools for electing you all, but when your options are clown1, clown2, clown3, and clown4, you can't really avoid getting a pie in the face.
Say "NO" to Genocide - Call, email, mail your reps (Canada)
Me and my friend spent some time today writing letters to the House of Commons, plus we have been calling MPs daily. I haven't seen too many resources for this floating around on tumblr, so here's a lengthy guide on how to do this plus some sample scripts! Long post ahead since I think it will be most helpful to dump everything in one spot to reference. On desktop, use CTR F/CMD F to search for the topic -> Phone / Email / Letter Mail / Contacts / Demands / Scripts / Fax
Update 1 - Nov 23: Updated emails with "mailto" hyperlinks, edited demands, added fax section, added scotiabank pres fax number.
On the PHONE / General Tips
Introduce yourself and identify yourself as a constituent by providing your postal code or address.
Ask to speak to the MP directly, but do not be surprised if you must speak to the MP’s staff instead. Staff can help move your issue forward.
Give the reason for your call and explain your concern.
Focus on one or two main concerns per phone call. Do not unload on the MP or their staff with all of your political concerns at one time.
Ask clear and pointed questions that require some explanation.
Ask for a commitment to action.
KEEP IN MIND
Tips for Calling MPs:
Tell the MP that this issue will matter to you in the next election.
Avoid revealing party affiliation or sympathies. If you show that your vote is already cast for a certain party, the MP may not have the incentive to respond to your requests.
Be as brief as possible while outlining concerns. Show that you respect their time.
Remain calm and respectful in dialogue. Be willing to work with them.
Follow up: Find out what actions were taken as a result of your call, and respond appropriately.
(Source: CPJ.ca)
CJPME Call Tool - Fill in the form, there will be suggested talking point. The tool will call your phone and then patch you through to your MP. If voicemail, state your concerns in 30 seconds. No address input will default you to call Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly.
EMAIL
Be sure you sign your email with your name and mailing address so they know you are a part of their riding.
You will most likely receive a PR-type response or no response at all, but please still send these. It disrupts operations, and it still contributes to pressuring your MP to act on behalf of your riding.
LETTER MAIL
Mail may be sent postage-free to any member of Parliament at the House of Commons address. You just need to use an MP's full title if they are Cabinet members. Cabinet mebers have "The Honourable" attached to their names.
Postcards are efficient in that they are small pieces of card stock and can be a short message plus demands, no need to get use envelopes.
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario,
Canada
K1A 0A6
CONTACTS
Find your MP - ourcommons.ca - Contact the MP of your riding, any of the contacts below, as well as any cabinet members in your city or province.
Prime Minister
(613) 992-4211 / [email protected]
*FAX: 613-941-6900 /*If faxes are closed at the House of Commons line, try their local offices! (See below under "FAX" for fax guide!)
Deputy Prime Minister - Chrystia Freeland
(613) 992-5254 / [email protected]
FAX: 416-928-2377
Minister of Foreign Affairs - Mélanie Joly
(613) 992-0983 / [email protected]
FAX: 613-992-1932
Minister of International Development - Ahmed Hussein
(613) 995-0777 / [email protected]
FAX: 613-995-0777
Minister of National Defence - Bill Blair
(416) 261-8613 / [email protected]
FAX: 416-261-5286
Canada-Israel Interparliamentary Group (CAIL)
Stéphane Bergeron (*he's not a chair or vice chair of this group, but i want to warn that stephane WILL argue with you, so call after hours if you are scared of confrontation 😭☠️)
(450) 922-2562 / [email protected]
Anthony House-father (Chair)
(514) 283-0171 / [email protected]
Randall Garrison (VC)
(250) 405-6550 / [email protected]
Marty Morantz (VC)
(204) 984-6432 / [email protected]
The Honourable Ya’ara Saks (VC)
(416) 638-3700 / [email protected]
Embassy of Israel (613)567-6450 / FAX: 613-750-7555
DEMANDS
Summarized from resistance groups such as H/mas, H/zbollah, PFLP (Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine), DFLP (Marxist Democratic Front got the Liberation of Palestine), CJPME (Canadians for justice and peace in the middle east), and other anti-war, anti-imperialist, IRL Palestinians.
Canada needs to...
Call an immediate PERMANENT ceasefire to end bloodshed
Send humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Institute embargo on all military exports to Israel
Close the embassies, and sanction Israel diplomatically and economically.
SCRIPTS
Use these as scripts for calling, emailing, and mailing. I suggest adding some of your own sentences and changing the subject lines (for email) so they don't end up in spam.
Example from Canada: Stop Arming Israel - World BEYOND War
As we mourn the thousands of people in Israel and Palestine who have been killed in the past few weeks we refuse to stand by and allow the only true winners in war — the weapons manufacturers — to continue to arm and profit off of it.
Canada exported over $21 million in military goods to Israel in 2022, including over $3 million in bombs, torpedoes, missiles, and other explosives. - 2022 Exports of Military Goods
Weapons companies across Canada are making a fortune off of the carnage in Gaza and the occupation of Palestine.
This is a call to action. It's time to stop letting these weapons companies profit off of the massacre of thousands of Palestinians. Find a location near you, get friends and allies together, and interrupt their business as usual to demand they stop selling arms and military technology to Israel.
Send an urgent message to demand Canada stop arming Israel and push for an immediate ceasefire to your Member of Parliament, the Prime Minister, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, International Trade, and Defense.
Dear [recipient's full name goes here],
We are witnessing genocidal violence playing out in Gaza right now. Thousands of Palestinians have been killed, nearly half of them children. With a blockade on water, electricity, fuel and food, a quarter of all buildings razed to the ground, and over a million people displaced, UN experts have denounced Israel's actions as crimes against humanity.
Meanwhile, weapons companies across Canada are arming -- and making a fortune off of -- the carnage in Gaza and the massacre of thousands of Palestinians by selling weapons and military technology to Israel.
I am calling on you to do two things: to take immediate action to institute an arms embargo on Israel and to ensure Canada pushes for de-escalation and a ceasefire in Gaza.
Sincerely,
Script Sample 2 from Palestinian Youth Movement
^This will open up a pre-written email in your chosen email app or site. Fill in the recipient line with the emails of MPs you wish to contact.
Script Sample 3 from CJPME's Email Campaign
^Complete the form to send an email to Prime Minister Trudeau, your local MP, and the leaders of the NDP, Convervatives and Greens. Canada must OPPOSE A SECOND NAKBA and dispossession of the Palestinians in Gaza by pushing for a ceasefire.
Script Sample 3 for mail:
(a mix of mine and a friend's)
I am writing to ask you to take immediate action to stop the genocide Israel is committing against Palestinians in Gaza as well as the onslaught of those in West Bank.
There is blockade on food, water, electricity, fuel, and the use of internationally banned white phosphorus to exterminate Palestinians. Aid is not able to enter Gaza because of this blockade. UN experts have named Israel’s actions as genocide citing numerous war crimes they continually commit.
While over 10k civilians have been martyr’d (4.2k of which are children), Canada has not even been able to NAME such crimes as genocide or call for an official ceasefire. This is not enough.
Canada needs to:
Call an immediate ceasefire to end bloodshed
Send humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Institute embargo on all military exports to Israel
Close the embassies, and sanction Israel diplomatically and economically.
FAX (NEW!)
Using faxzero.com is simple, just follow up the steps on the website. No fax machine required!
Tell officials your demands and customize your letter by noting their complicity based on their role as a politician or gov official. Or keep it brief and simple, in large legible letters.
Demands could include:
That you are a “Canadian” constituent
That you are demanding an IMMEDIATE AND PERMANENT CEASEFIRE IN GAZA;
That you demand a total withdrawal of financial (taxpayer) and commercial support and arms for continued occupation in Israel’s 70+ year occupation in Palestine;
That it is shameful that [X] is choosing not to speak up for the deaths of more than 11,000 Palestinians, half of whom are children and thousands of others displaced;
That Palestinians like all people, deserve life, dignity and justice;
That Israel is breaking multiple international laws daily and Canada MUST meet its international commitment to promote and defend human rights under the Geneva Convention;
That not putting these actions in place will harm constituents and undo acts of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples and other marginalized communities in Canada by not protecting the Indigenous peoples of Palestine;
That unless there is concrete and everlasting action taken place, that there will be no peace until Palestine is free, and subsequently that you will not be voting for them (if applicable) in the next election.
Sign off with your name, address and postal code (if applicable, furthering that you are a resident on the stolen Indigenous lands otherwise known as “Canada”)
Extended fax list:
Scott thomson (president of scotiabank) - 416-866-5929
joe biden / whitehouse - 202-456-2461
literally its so fun being abnormal about christianity and also being christian because i just said "id kiss judas with tongue" in front of my pastor and she squinted at me and went "do you need to be removed from council or are you going to be normal?"
FYI every purchase of any of The Adventure Zone music on Griffin McElroy's Bandcamp will be entirely donated to the Palestinian Children's Relief Fund for the rest of the year. His music is set at 'name your price', and the McElroys are also going to match the donations.
If you've listened to even a bit of any TAZ campaign, you surely know what a fantastic musician Griffin is, and there is no better time to purchase his music than now.
I have googled my life away. I have read bible verses. I have studied the ohilosophical meaning behind the numbers. I have become a modern Gallup trying to ask people to help me figure this out. What the FUCK does it mean.
got cornflakes for fried chicken & the back of the box has its own recipe. easy as pie. "rinse chicken tenders with cold water and coat with crushed kelloggs corn flakes cereal." and then cook. no binding agent. no seasoning. nothing but a pile of flavorless chicken with a side of the extra-dried-out cornflakes that fell off it. serve warm with your favorite dipping sauce. doesnt even say serve hot. Serve Warm. wouldnt wanna get too wild with it. truly this is the spirit of cornflakes
honey, I was thinking that we could spice things up in the bedroom by turning the heat off and pretending to be gold prospectors in the Yukon during winter who have to have sex to avoid freezing to death. how does that sound, babe?
i am shrunken down and brought to the gnome world and when i attempt to assimilate to their culture I use an acorn cap as a hat and they all laugh cheerfully at my silly mistake of wearing what they use as a bowl like a cap and though this is a transgression that would have humiliated me in my human life I am instead laughing alongside them at my humorous misunderstanding
they ask me what I would like to eat and knowing that gnomes enjoy fruit i ask for my favorite fruit, an apple, and they all laugh raucously and say that i must be very hungry indeed to desire an entire apple rather than just a small chunk, and i go along with their joke and say that while my body may have shrank my stomach has not! and they all guffaw with delight until their faces turn red and see that my request is met and we all sit around a toadstool and share many apple slices together
over my time spent with the gnomes, my antics are still regarded with much delight. though i am past the age in which i am confused by their customs and norms, i occasionally pretend to be clueless about simple and easily understood things, such as shock at how toads are as tall as I am. they all continue to laugh at my feigned surprise, and sometimes join in, asking me if I need any help distinguishing what berries are for eating and which are for painting. i laugh, too. there is a sense of grace that comes with my shortcomings amongst the gnomes. they are entertained by my misunderstandings, yes, because life is to short to not be jolly.
i wake up one morning back at my original size. the small cavern in the roots of a tree that i lived in is destroyed in my sleep. my clothes, tailored from cut-up scraps of fabric, are shredded around me. i am a human again. i am horribly embarrassed.
the gnomes of the community gather around where i sit, all looking at me and exchanging glances with each other, none of them speaking the obvious. i can no longer stay here, now that i am not their size. but i was part of their community. i became one of them, indistinguishable from these people only from my past. how am i supposed to return to the world of the humans now? there is no life left for me there. that is not a life where i may fish for minnows in a babbling brook and feast off a bounty of raspberries. i am distraught. i cry.
my community comforts me. friends, all minuscule to me now, pat me wherever they can reach, nimbly dodging the tears that fall from my face. one of them offers me water. they don't have any containers that are big enough for me, they apologize, so just this acorn cap filled with morning dew will have to suffice.
i take the acorn cap and look at it in my hands. it is so small now. with a sniff, i put it atop my head.
the gnome chuckles. then laughs. then bends at the waist, bellowing with laughter, supporting himself on my knee. then i am laughing too, face red, tears still falling, and my community of gnomes laughs with me as well, so loud that a flock of birds takes off in the distance, and i am still laughing even as i stand to my feet and lumber away, back to where i once came.
