Save Our Prison Farms
by SOPF
This campaign is a lightening rod for addressing the Conservative Party's generally short-sighted policies on farming, food and justice. The decision to shut down this successful rehabilitation program symbolizes our government's lack of understanding of what actually makes the public safe, and their failure to recognize the value of a restorative approach to justice and a sustainable, local approach to the future of farming and food.
Upcoming Campaign Events
Tuesday, June 15, Ottawa
THE FOUNDING PEOPLES CALL ON OUR GOVERNMENT TO SAVE CANADA'S PRISON FARMS:
First Nations, English and French Canadians demand respect for rehabilitation, restorative justice and sustainable local farms and food.
Sacred Fire Ceremony on Victoria Island - 11:00am-12:00pm
This sacred fire blessing ceremony on Victoria Island and will begin the actions of the day with prayers to the Great Spirit. There is some parking on the island and more near by (within walking distance) - see this link for a map. Water from the Little Cataraqui River (which runs past the Frontenac prison farm in Kingston ) and soil from the Pittsburgh Institution prison farm fields to offer at this ceremony and on Parliament Hill. Grandfather William will participate, if he is able.
Canoeing past Parliament - 12:00pm-12:30pm
Supporters who have participated in the ceremony will paddle down the Ottawa River past Parliament with signs and flags unfurrowed in the canoes and land at the base of the Rideau Canal .
Portaging Up to Parliament Hill - 12:30-1:00pm
Others can walk and drive from Victoria Island and meet us at the base of the canal, where we will tape banners onto the sides of the canoes and portage/march them up to Parliament Hill via Wellington St.
Drumming Circle and Campaign Message on Parliament Hill - 1:00-2:00pm
We will gather on the Hill and meet with Members of Parliament from all opposition parties and place the canoes with messages on the lawn of the Hill. Larry McDermott (Algonquian Elder), Dianne Dowling (President of the National Farmers Union, Local 316) and Sister Shirley (of the Sisters of Providence of St. Vincent de Paul) will offer the campaign's letter to the group of Members of Parliament gathered there from all three opposition parties, who will deliver it to Parliament that afternoon. A Drumming Circle will take place with participation from several drumming groups. A press conference will occur at 1:30pm and it is hoped that John Ralston Saul will make a live or prerecorded statement from where he will be in Europe.
Welcome! This new Save Our Prison Farms website
has been set up by the national campaign team to respond to growing
public concern over the immanent shut down of Canada's six prison
farms. We believe that our government will reverse its misguided policy
decision as it continues to discover that the vast majority of
Canadians of all political stripes support this productive, cost
effective, rehabilitative farm-based program.
Opportunities for
you and/or your organization to get involved are listed on the You Can
Take Action page.
The cooperation of Canada's founding peoples on this urgent practical issue of our country's prison farms has broader and deeper implications for justice and farm and food sustainability in Canadian society.
Coming from Kingston? Carpool, take our bus, or drive and bring your canoe!
Bus and carpool meeting point - the parking lot of the Kingston Centre at the corner of Bath Rd and Sir John A MacDonald Blvd, 8am for an 8:15 am sharp departure. We are suggesting a contribution of up to $20 (pay what you can afford) for the bus.
PLEASE RSVP ASAP SO WE CAN DECIDE HOW MANY BUSES TO BOOK. THANK YOU. If you already signed up on Sunday, please re-confirm your attendance with Dianne Dowling, dowling@kos.net, 613-546-0869.
Our bus(es) will leave Ottawa at 2:30pm to avoid rush hour and arrive home by 5pm. Those who would like to stay later to attend Question Period in the public gallery will be encouraged to do so - we can probably arrange a ride back for you with the people who are carpooling.
Bring prison farm signs, a lunch and water, a sun hat, comfortable shoes and your friends and family.
For those who are driving, please consider bringing your canoe and gear to participate in the paddle and portage from sacred Victoria Island to Parliament Hill - we have a permit, so there is no risk.
If you have any questions about this action please contact:
Andrew McCann, Urban Agriculture Kingston, 613-767-4127, mccann17@yahoo.com
Dianne Dowling, National Farmers Union, Local 316, 613-546-0869, dowling@kos.net
Recent Media Coverage
June 7, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard, story: Crowd preps for a fight - Sunday's rally and march with Margaret Atwood, details on plans for peaceful civil disobedience to save the dairy herds included
June 6, 2010 - Margaret Atwood's blog entry about her participation in Sunday's rally and march on CSC headquarters in Kingston. The post includes the text of her speach, and here's a link to a short clip from the end of her speech, the whole speech in video will be posted soon.
June 6, 2010 - CBC Radio, The Sunday Edition, listen to hour 1, 3:30-7:30, for Michael Enright's commentary
June 4, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard, story: Conservative MP, Scott Reid cancels planned visit to Frontenac prison farm
June 4, 2010 - CBC Radio, As it Happens, listen to the beginning of hour 3, for the Interview with National Farmers Union 316 President Dianne Dowling
June 3, 2010 - CKWS TV News, Kingston, Ontario, video: Sunday June 6 with Margaret Atwood and Feds possibly offering one farm, but the campaign says this is not enough
June 3, 2010 - Kingston This Week, Kingston, Ontario, story: Margaret Atwood to Join Prison Farm March
June 1, 2010 - Telegraph-Journal, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, story: Prison farm closure draws critcism
June 1, 2010 - Calgary Herald, Calgary, Alberta, news story: Atwood joins lobby effort to save prison farms
May 31, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard, Kingston, story: Margaret Atwood to lead the way at prison farm protest
May 25, 2010 - Kathy Sage in straightgoods.ca: Tell Feds not to close prison herd
May 17, 2010 - Telegraph-Journal, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, story: New Brunswick's only prison farm still fully operational
May 12, 2010 - CKWS Television, Kingston, Ontario, video news report: Spin offs from prison farms - food bank, farm supply businesses
May 11, 2010 - CKWS Television, Kingston, Ontario, video news report: On recent campaign events in Athens and Napanee, Ontario
May 11, 2010 - Liberal Party of Canada, Press Release: Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff denounces the planned prison farm closures and calls for a public inquiry
May 6, 2010 - Kingston Whig Standard, Kingston, Ontario, story: Ex-inmate makes personal plea to keep farms
May 5, 2010 - The Globe and Mail, story: Critics claim closing prison farms would create $1-million milk bill
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