Today I read a quote from the Agha Khan IV advocating a pluralistic ethic that sees “difference as strength in a world that is becoming increasingly diverse and, as a result, increasingly complex.” He enumerated the strengths that might serve to overcome such challenges: “…a vital sense of balance, an abundant capacity for compromise, more … [Read more…]
Non-Muslims reading the article from the link below (“Quebec Town Sets a Double Standard”) should pay particular attention to the suggestion in the article that sentiments “might have merit” which oppose freedom for any and “all religions that exclude others based on faith” This comment is an unusually frank admission of the authoritarian thinking which … [Read more…]
Remarkably, in just two years we’ve gone from punishing those who help people taking their lives to punishing those who refuse to help people take their lives. This ignores the huge difference between governments which prevent people from doing what we consider to be wrong and governments which force citizens to do what those citizens … [Read more…]
These are the Remarks delivered by Dr. Mark D’Souza at our International Conscientious Objectors Day Rally on May 15, 2017: Welcome, and Good evening, My name is Mark D’Souza. I am an emergency room doctor from Toronto, and former palliative care doctor; I will elaborate on that later. I have been advocating for over a … [Read more…]
OPENING Good evening, everyone! Thank you all for joining in this Democracy Defence Initiative this evening. And a special thanks to whoever arranged this wonderful weather! Also, our thanks to our musicians, Rob and Joe Koechl on guitar and vocals, joined by Ken Oakes, all the way from Nanaimo, B.C., on saxophone! We are here … [Read more…]
KITCHENER, ON.— The first annual Internationl Conscientious Objectors Day Rally, held in Kitchener yesterday, was a success, according to organizers with The Democracy Defence Initiative. Arranged to honour conscientious objectors, past and present, in Canada, in support of freedom of conscience, the event attracted over 50 people. Those present heard from conscientious objectors Dr. Mark … [Read more…]
May 15, 2017 We urge you to immediately introduce an amendment to recently enacted Bill 84 (Medical Assistance in Dying Statute Law Amendment Act, 2017) to include a provision for the freedom of conscience guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states in Article 18 “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, … [Read more…]
Former Member of Parliament Stephen Woodworth, with a delegation from The Democracy Defence Initiative, will deliver an Open Letter to the offices of several B.C. Law Society Benchers each weekday from now until May 9, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. to support freedom of association and freedom of belief, and to protest the treatment of members … [Read more…]
Wednesday, May 3, 2017, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. “Magna Carta: Our Shared Legacy of Liberty” (A John Robson Documentary) Presented by The Democracy Defence Initiative at Langley Canadian Reformed Church, 21804 52nd Avenue, Langley, British Columbia V2Y 1L3. Following this 45 minute film, former M.P. Stephen Woodworth will deliver a brief update on challenges … [Read more…]
May 1, 2017 To: All Benchers, Law Society of British Columbia We urge you to accept the resounding and unanimous defence of freedom issued by the B.C. Court of Appeal. Please prevail upon the B.C. Law Society to withdraw its appeal from the Court’s Trinity Western University decision. It is not illegal for any citizen … [Read more…]