Invitation to Build a Pipeline of Hope

The Amnesty International student group at Cardinal Newman Catholic High School in Toronto is planning to present a "Pipeline of Hope" in Ottawa on Parliament Hill on Monday, October 17, 2005. This "pipeline" will be a long bolt of fabric laid over columns, holding signature petitions demanding the federal government resolve the Lubicon issue.

The event is timed to coincide with a hearing at the United Nations Human Rights Committee (UNHRC) in Geneva, where Canada's human rights performance will be reviewed by the Committee. The Committee has specifically asked Canada to explain what it is doing to rectify the Lubicon situation, fifteen years after a previous UNHRC ruling that Canada is violating the Lubicon peoples fundamental rights.

In 1990, the United Nations Human Rights Committee concluded that “historical inequities … and certain more recent developments threaten the way of life and culture of the Lubicon Lake Band”. The UNHRC ruled that “so long as they continue” these threats are a violation of their fundamental human rights under Article 27 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. They urged Canada to resolve the issue.

Since that time little progress has been made and there have been no negotiations towards a settlement in the last two years.

Canadians should be outraged that, for a country, which prides itself in upholding human rights, the federal and provincial government have allowed the Lubicon to suffer for so long. And we, as a nation - either through ignorance, apathy, or defeat - have remained silent. But the time for action is now!

Let us show our support for the Lubicon and give them hope! The Lubicon are tired of oil or gas pipelines and wells, polluting their territory. Let us give them a "Pipeline of Hope"! Join Newman students to lay the Pipeline on Parliament Hill from 11 am-1pm on Monday, October 17, 2005. Add to the pipeline with your own fabric petition signed by your group member, or simply add your name to the existing pipeline! We’re trying to get as many people to come to the event, including other schools, faith groups, politicians, and the media. Together, we can make our voices count!

For more information about the Lubicon issue, visit www.lubiconsolidarity.ca .

For more information about the Pipeline of Hope, send questions to:

Peter Petrasek or Audrey Ferrer
Cardinal Newman Catholic High School
Email: audferrer@yahoo.com, peter.petrasek@tcdsb.org
School Phone: (416) 393-5519
School Fax: (416) 393-5510

Thank you for your interest and support!