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Bi-Weekly E-ArabiCa Newsletter
NCCAR E-ArabiCa - Week of August 8, 2006
NCCAR Working For You · Crisis in the Middle East o Government Relations o Fact Finding Mission to the Middle East with MPs o Web Resources o Documents o Media Relations · NCCAR Meeting with Ottawa Arab Organizations In Government/Parliament
Events · CJPME Organizes Meeting with Hassan Al-Akhrass and Senator Marcel Prud-Homme- August 12- Montreal · Organizations, Committees and Coalitions Organize Mass Rally/ March- August 12- Toronto · CAPCA Calls Canadians to Parliament Hill- August 12- Ottawa · Ottawa's Benevolent Compassion Team Fundraising Dinner Event- August 18- Ottawa · Lebanese Canadian Heritage Association Fundraising Event- August 22- Montreal · Members of the Lebanese-Canadian Community Among Performers on the Ex Lineup- August 18 to 27- Ottawa · Mosaic Arabic Folklore National Exhibition - August 25-26 - Toronto · Palestine House & Al-Qods Market Picnic - September 10 - Toronto · Jamelie Hassan at Toronto's first Nuit Blanche - September 30 - Toronto · Museum of Civilization-Petra: Lost City of Stone - April 7-Jan 2, 2007 - Gatineau · Third Algeria Energy Week - November 25-29 - Oran, Algeria Announcements
Volunteer/Job Opportunities Important Contact Information Support NCCAR
Crisis in the Middle East In
recent weeks, Israeli attacks in Lebanon and Gaza have killed hundreds
of civilians, including Canadians. The National Council on Canada-Arab
Relations has been following the events closely and has been assisting
in any way we can to alleviate the current crisis. The following is a
list of activities undertaken by NCCAR on behalf of our membership in
light of recent events in
Government Relations Executive Director Mazen Chouaib, NCCAR President Hasan Al-Shawa as well as NCCAR Board Members met with Foreign Affairs Minister Peter Mackay and Foreign Affairs officials on July 18 to urge Canada to assist Canadians in Lebanon as well as other innocent civilians by calling on all sides to cease attacks. NCCAR also called for the creation of a humanitarian corridor, as prescribed by international law, to prevent Israel from bombing civilians trying to escape. NCCAR also imparted to the Foreign Minister that Prime Minister Stephen Harper's comments on Israeli attacks against Lebanon as being "measured" is shocking and unacceptable. Mr. Harper stood by this position even after seven Canadians were killed by the bombings and as hundreds more continue to be at risk. NCCAR added that the PM should be upholding international law and human rights for all rather than unequivocally supporting Israel's offensive which continues. This message was also relayed to the Prime Minister's Office directly. NCCAR
is also in regular contact with Foreign Affairs officials to provide
them with advice as well as timely news and academic articles on a daily
basis. We also assist regular Canadians who contact us for information
on the situation and how they can help.
Fact Finding Mission to the Middle East with MPs NCCAR will be leading a parliamentary fact finding delegation to Lebanon during the week of August 14. The trip is scheduled to include stops in Egypt, Syria and Lebanon and the objective of the trip is to get a broader perspective of the situation on the ground (especially regarding the Lebanese-Israeli conflict). They are to meet and discuss issues with regional ministers, parliamentarians, officials, Red Cross and UN organizations, and Arab civil society groups.
Web Resource NCCAR has created a web resource for Canadians on the ongoing crisis in Lebanon. The site contains links to Canadian and international media, emergency contacts , NCCAR statements, government statements, travel advice, DFAIT (Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade) emergency operations centre, as well as links on how to donate to the Red Cross. http://nccar.ca/MiddleEastCrises.html#Take%20Action
NCCAR Documents Please double click on the following documents:
Media Relations NCCAR spokespeople
have been prominent in local and national media (French and English) since the
start of the attacks. Below you will find links for some of the articles
in which NCCAR was quoted.
Executive Director Mazen Chouaib was interviewed by numerous media outlets on Canada's shameful continuing support for Israel's aggression that goes against international law. He also spoke about the dwindling support for Mr. Harper amongst the Arab-Canadian community. Here are some of the organizations he spoke with:
RDI, Norman Lester (98.5 FM), CBC Newsworld, CTV Newsnet, All in a Day (CBC Ottawa), Reuters, Canadian Press, Macleans, La Presse, OMNI TV, Ottawa Citizen, Le Devoir, The Globe and Mail
Quebec Board Member Fouad Sahyoun appeared on Montreal's 940 am on a call in show hosted by Ken Connors. He suggested that an immediate ceasefire was necessary, encouraged Kofi Annan's initiative calling for an international peace conference and called on the Harper government to return to Canada's position as peacekeeper. He has also spoken with other media outlets.
NCCAR board member Michel de Salaberry, former ambassador to countries in the Middle East, has also been quoted in La Presse in the Sunday edition, RDI and Radio-Canada in Quebec City.
Bahija Reghai has also spoken to CBC and other outlets. NCCAR Meeting with Ottawa Arab Organizations
Government News Releases
·
July 31, 2006
·
July 31, 2006
·
July 28, 2006 Opposition Parties' News Releases Below are only some of the news releases issued by MPs from the opposition parties. There are many others. Contact your MP to find out of they have issued any statements on the current crisis in the Middle East.
·
28 Juillet 2006
Foreign Affairs Committee
http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/cmte/CommitteePublication.aspx?SourceId=150578
House of Commons Proceedings
The 39th Parliament of Canada has adjourned its sessions for the summer. MPs have either returned to their ridings or gone on summer vacation. Visit www.parl.gc.ca for all the information you need to know about Parliament and the current Members of Parliament. *****
CJPME Organizes Meeting with Hassan Al-Akhrass and Senator Marcel Prud'Homme- August 12- Montreal Canadians for Justice and
Peace in the Middle East are organizing an evening with Lebanese-Canadian family
spokesperson Hassan Al-Akhrass, who will share the trajic story of the Al-Akhrass
family who lost 11 of its members, 8 of whom are Canadian in the southern
Lebanese village of Aitaroun on the 16th of July 2006. The other
speaker will be Marcel Prud'Homme, Senator and activist for justice in the
Middle East. The meeting will take place at the LCHA offices, 4480 Cote-de-Liesse
in the Town of Mount Royal from 7:30 to 9:30 pm. For more information please
contact the CJPME Leadership Team at
cjpme@sympatico.ca. Organizations, Committees and Coalitions Organize Mass Rally/March- August 12- Toronto The Canadian Arab Federation, Jewish Women's Committee to End the Occupation, and several more organizations and coalitions organize Mass Rally/March from the Israeli Consulate at 180 Bloor Street West (West of Avenue road, north side of Bloor) to the U.S. Consulate 360 University Avenue (East of University, South of Armoury). For more information please e-mail info@caf.ca, visit www.caf.ca, or phone 416-493-8635 or 416-879-6766
CAPCA Calls Canadians to Parliament Hill- August 12- Ottawa The Coalition of Arab Canadian Professionals and Community Associations calls on Canadian Citizens to make an appearance at Parliament hill on Saturday August 12 to demand that Prime Minister Harper call for an immediate cease-fire and rush for Humanitarian Aid. For more information contact Samer Roumani at 613 794 4425 or Hani Naser 819 923 9981.
Ottawa's Benevolent Compassion Team Fundraising Dinner Event- August 18- Ottawa To support the Women and Children victims of Lebanon, a Fundraising event will be held at the St. Elias Banquet Hall on 750 Ridgewood Drive. The event starts at 6:30 pm, dinner at 7:15 and a program to follow. Price per person is $50 ($25 deductible receipt issued per ticket), and net proceeds go to UNICEF to support the Children of Lebanon. Donations are highly appreciated, and cheques can be made out to: OTTAWA BENEVOLENT COMPASSION TEAM. Tax receipts will be issued for all donations. For tickets and information please contact Ottawa's Benevolent Compassion Team at 613-731-4057.
Lebanese Canadian Heritage Association
Fundraising Event- August 22 -
Montreal To RSVP please call 514-274-3583.
Members of the Lebanese-Canadian Community Among Performers on the Ex Lineup- August 18 to 27- Ottawa Ottawa's popular rapper Massari (August 23) and Kale, Andre Ibrahim and the Stars of Lebanon band (August 27) are among eight other artists to perform. The Concerts run from August 18 through to August 27.
Mosaic Arabic Folkore National Exhibition - August 25-26 - Toronto Join Mosaic Arabic Folkore Ensemble at the International Pavilion at the Exhibition Place in Toronto for a weekend of multiculturalism, great performances by Mosaic from the Gulf, Palestine, Egypt and Iraq. Also listen to the great sounds of the oud played by Mosaic's own band. For more information contact Mosaic at 416-377-2222 or info@arabmosaic.ca. Theire website is www.arabmosaic.ca.
Palestine House & Al-Qods Market Picnic - September 10 - Toronto For a second year in a row, Palestine House and Al-Qods will be holding a BBQ in the Mississauga Valley Community Centre. Mosaic will be performing several traditional dances. The event is complete with great good, entertainment and serves as a fundraiser. Contact Mosaic at 416-377-2222 or info@arabmosaic.ca for more information.
Jamelie Hassan at Toronto's first Nuit
Blanche - September 30 -
Toronto
Museum of Civilization-Petra: Lost City of Stone - April 7-Jan 2, 2007 - Gatineau 100 Laurier Street, Gatineau (on the banks of the Ottawa River and opposite Parliament Hill). This exhibition is the most complete portrait ever mounted of the amazing and enigmatic city of Petra. It tells the story of this once-thriving metropolis at the crossroads of the ancient world's major trade routes and of the technological virtuosity that allowed the Nabateans to build and maintain Petra in the harsh desert environment. For 4 centuries beginning in 200 BC, Petra stood at the crossroads of the Silk Road and the spice routes that connected China, India and Arabia with markets in Greece, Rome, Egypt and Syria. The exhibition is organized by the Cincinnati Art Museum and the American Museum of Natural History. Info: www.civilization.ca
Third Algeria Energy Week - November 25-29 - Oran, Algeria The 3rd Algeria Energy Week, supported by
Algeria's Ministry of Energy and Mines, is being organized a year after the
adoption of new hydrocarbons laws. This event will represent a forum for
exchange between national and international partners, investors and key players
from the energy sector to strengthen cooperation and to seize new investment
opportunities in the Algerian energy sector. This year's theme is “The Reforms:
Strategies, Opportunities and Innovations” and will cover three major events:
the 7th Journées Scientifiques et Techniques, the 5th International
Strategic Conference on investment opportunities in Algeria's energy sector,
the 3rd International Exhibition on Oil & Gas Algeria. For more
information, go to
www.sea-algerie.com or contact: Gilles Poirier
Production for the Arab Youth of Canada A production company is on the search for Arab speaking local individuals interested in contributing to a series of 30 second public service announcements. The production will take place in Ottawa at the General Assembly Production Centre. Producers are looking for both adults and children alike for the roles available. For more information please contact Hala Elshayal at 613-796-2159
Mosaic Arabic Folklore Ensemble DVD
Do you live in Ottawa? Volunteer for NCCAR NCCAR is looking for research volunteers and volunteers to help with the organization of our Speakers' Bureau tours, National Conference, and general administrative tasks at our office in Ottawa, as well as with other projects. Contact Essam Farag at essamfarag@nccar.ca or on our website at www.nccar.ca/joinus/volunteer.html.
Office of the
Prime Minister, Right Hon. Stephen Harper
Office of the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Peter MacKay
Other Foreign Affairs Departments
Membership
Categories:
NCCAR is a non-profit organization committed to building bridges of understanding and cooperation between Canada and the Arab world. NCCAR receives its financial support from individual members, corporate and individual donations, and direct fundraising initiatives. You can help by providing a financial contribution, becoming a member, volunteering and by circulating our message. NCCAR is currently seeking youth volunteers to help with a variety of work.
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are payable to "National Council on Canada-Arab-Relations"
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For more information on membership privileges, an up-to-date review of NCCAR's involvement in the Canadian community, and recent activities in Canada and abroad, please refer to our website's many sections.
Disclaimer NCCAR is a non-profit organization dedicated to building bridges of understanding and cooperation between Canada and the Arab world.
Le CNRCA est un organisme à but non-lucratif consacré à sensibilisé le Canada au monde Arabe et à encourager des liens de coopération. | |||||||||||||||||||
