THE
WFM-C BUZZ APRIL
2005
A ROUND-UP OF WHAT PEOPLE
ARE DOING
The litany and epiphany of the drama, intrigue, gossip and
inspiration that makes our organization.
COUNCIL/ EXECUTIVE
Council is mulling papers by Larry Gordon, Robin Collins, John Packer
and Graham Day on the future direction of WFM-C. Can we become
both a 'think tank' and a 'do tank'? How can we market our
message? A marketing survey is underway. Council meets again
April 16 and will experiment with using Skype internet
teleconferencing. Warren Allmand represented WFM-C at a meeting
in Athens of the Global Governance Group, a subsidiary body of the Club
of Athens. Karen Hamilton attended the WFM Council Meeting in the
Hague.
NATIONAL OFFICE
One of Executive Director Fergus Watts' projects is to give new energy
to the Peace
Operations Working Group
which WFM-C chairs. This is a subcommittee of a network of
organizations that compose the Canadian Peacebuilding Coordinating
Committee (CPCC).
Nita Dunn is at her post as usual, attending to administrative duties,
and studying Shakespeare in her spare time. Nita recommends the
website http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/index.html
where the camera zooms from a view of the Milky Way to the inside of a
proton by succesive powers of 10.
MONDIAL
Donna Lindenberg who has been in charge of copy editing and production
has a bold vision for the future of the publication for Council
consideration. She looks forward to a more regular, wide-ranging
and substantive quarterly.
COMMUNICATIONS GROUP
Formed about a year ago, the Communications Group comprises 4 very
part-time staffers located across the country who are trying to beef up
our media coverage, improve our website, update our publications,
and support
branch operations. We hope to encourage WF activists to
spread the word through articles, letters to the editors and communicating world
federalism to friends, relatives, and strangers at bus stops.
YOUTH NETWORK
Check out the new Youth Network website at http://www.worldfederalistscanada.org/youth.htm.
BRANCHES
Montreal - Warren Allmand, WFMC President, spoke on "Global Governance
and UN Reform"
at the Montreal Branch Post-Holiday Lunch January 30, 2005.
Ottawa - Next meeting April 28 on "Human Rights of Conflict Prevention: What
Can be Done?" (
For details of coming meetings of all
branches, go to Branch
Event Listings.)
Toronto - Congratulations to Heloise Apesteguy-Reux and the Toronto
Branch for their successful discussion forum on UN Reform which took
place on Mar 9 at the University of Toronto.
Winnipeg - Over 100 people came to hear Lloyd Axworthy speak on Global
Citizenship at the 12th Annual Robson Lecture on April 8. Syd
Baumel produced a new introductory pamphlet on world federalism for
newcomers.
Vancouver - The branch helped promote the Travelling World
Community Film Festival sponsored by Co-Development
Canada which links labour, community, women’s and student groups in
Canada with like-minded organisations in 11 countries in Latin America
and the Caribbean.
Vancouver is gearing up for the
World Peace Forum and our national AGM to be held June 23-28,
2006. More info to come. Mark your calendars!
Victoria - Nine members went on a Pender Island retreat Feb 27/28 and
report: 'Apart from a quick half hour walk after lunch first day and
some early risers doing another hike before breakfast, we pretty much
kept listening and debating for 2 days, with good meals, and
interesting life stories told around the meal table helping us discover
lots more about our little band than we thought we knew!'
PEOPLE
Peter Langille - now teaches in the Political Science Dept. at the
University of Western Ontario. His Globe & Mail article on
the need for a UN Emergency Force can be read at http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20041019.wdafur19/BNStory/Front/
Ross Smyth - A resident of Montreal, Ross joined World Federalists in
the 1960's and has given many speeches on the need for better managment
of our planet. Ross is writing his memoirs and will tell the
story of Canadian world federalists through the years of the sixties,
seventies and eighties. Ross has also written about his
career in aviation.
Dorothea Sheasby - How do you keep them back in Mississauga after
they've seen Paris? Dorothea has recently returned from a Board
meeting of the Registry of World Citizens. Look them up at http://www.recim.org/cdm/citizen.htm
Leonard Angel - Inspired by a lecture on eco-footprinting by William
Rees, Leonard is comtemplating how we can organize the world so that
our global use of resources won't exceed the earth's capacity to
replenish them. See Leonard's article 'The Eco-Plimsoll Line'.
This is the inaugural edition of the WFM-C Buzz. Its purpose is
to demonstrate that you are part of a large number of Canadians across
the country trying to advance ideas for a principled and just world
through world federalist ideas and ideals. We welcome your
suggestions and
comments. We'll be back assuming popular demand!
______________________________________________________________
WORLD FEDERALIST
MOVEMENT - CANADA
World
Federalists support the development of a global community based on the
rule of law and democratically accountable international institutions.
E-mail [email protected]
Telephone: (613) 232-0647
Fax: (613) 563-0017
URL: http://www.worldfederalistscanada.org