Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice
A national faith-based organization that supports Unitarian values through action
CUSJ’s partner, Fair Vote Canada, makes a compelling case for Proportional Representation in Canada by comparing the results of the recent Canadian federal election with the recent election in Germany, a country that has had a proportional system of representation since the Second World War. See Full Article Here https://www.fairvote.ca/2021/10/14/germany-and-canada-a-sharp-contrast-in-what-democracy-can-be/
This blog is by CUSJ Board member Jim Sannes, a long-time activist for reducing our meat intake and caring better for the animals we do raise for meat. Reducing meat intake and moving from industrial agriculture to agro-ecology are essential strategies in the struggle to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Originally published in The Canadian Coalition … Read more
CUSJ Joins 200 Organizations to Send A Letter to John Horgan Asking For Climate Action Thanks to the Tyee for printing the open letter Tackling the climate crisis offers an opportunity to generate new economic and social wealth as the province transforms where its energy comes from and how it is used, writes the … Read more
CANADIAN UNITARIANS FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE Canadian Unitarians for Social Justice is a national, faith-based organization that advocates for peace and justice in Canada and in the world. STATEMENT 2021 09 25 We were very troubled and saddened by the revelation of 215 unmarked graves at the site of what was once the Kamloops Residential School … Read more
CUSJ is a proud sponsor of the #NoWar2021 virtual conference starting June 4th, From Weapons Fairs to War Zones: Unravelling the War Machine. #NoWar2021 includes diverse representation across the anti-war/peace movement, with 270+ registrants from 24+ countries and 100+ endorsing/sponsoring organizations. To get more information, have a look at this new 60-second video.
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PRESS RELEASE. 2021 03 09 Petition Launched to Free Canada from Violence. (Sign the Petition here) A broad group of Canadians is calling on the public to sign a petition to free Canada from violence. They include victim advocates, public health, faith-based communities, social justice, municipalities, and academics. Rev. Frances Deverell led the creation of … Read more
On January 27, 2021, France’s court of appeal ruled that Canadian professor Hassan Diab must stand trial for a 1980 bombing outside a synagogue in Paris. This decision comes three years after a lower court dismissed the case, citing a lack of evidence, and released him. Diab returned to Canada. The latest court decision is … Read more
Permits for the Keystone XL pipeline have been cancelled by US president Biden this week, citing climate change as the reason. CUSJ has joined a coalition of climate activist groups to demand Justin Trudeau cancel the Trans Mountain pipeline and tanker project for the same reason. Oil companies will be pulling out all stops to … Read more
CUSJ endorses the following webinar and encourages its members to attend. Background On October 19, 2020, an open letter signed by Noam Chomsky, Roger Waters, Ken Loach, former MP Jim Manly, as well as poet El Jones and author Yann Martel, and more than 170 Canadians as well as several others, has been delivered to … Read more
Bob Van Alstyne First President of CUSJ Photo of Bob Van Alstyne and his life partner, Bert McBain, also a CUSJ activist. We are sad to report the recent death of the first official president of CUSJ, Bob Van Alstyne, Nov. 22, 2020. Born in Wetaskwin, Alberta, in 1932 Bob ended life with both a … Read more
CUSJ Supports the Council of Canadians in its campaign to promote the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for the Cuban Medical Teams, known as the Henry Reeve Brigades, who have mobalized thousands of Cuban medical personnel who have the skills and training to deal with a variety of global calamities including pandemics. The program to train … Read more
Legal & civil society organizations to say no IHRA
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada Langevin Block Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2 The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, P.C., M.P. Deputy Prime Minister of Canada Minister of Finance House of Commons Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6 CC. Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister Catherine McKenna, Minister Steven Guilbeault Dear Prime Minister and Deputy Prime … Read more
Lift the Closure CUSJ as an organization has signed on to this petition to lift the closure of the Gaza Strip. The imprisonment of Gazans has gone on too long. Thanks to those organizations which have joined the Gaza2020 call. This is TIME URGENT as it will be delivered to the United Nations Human Rights … Read more
CUSJ Outraged at Brutal Murder of George Floyd. 2020 06 04 For Immediate Release As Canadian Unitarians we are touched profoundly by the events in the U.S., arising out of the murder of George Floyd by police. The massive uprising of anguish and rage that has gripped the U.S. has moved people around the world. … Read more
CUSJ joins with a coalition of activist groups including our partner, the Climate Action Network, and the Council of Canadians to affirm and promote the following roadmap to a Just Transition to a Green Economy: PUT PEOPLE FIRST, DEMAND OVER 150 CANADIAN ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE LAUNCH OF SIX PRINCIPLES FOR A JUST RECOVERY Joint Media … Read more
CUSJ members were delighted at the news that Frances Deverell, long-serving board member and former president of the CUSJ, received the Knight Award at the May 16 online CUC annual meeting. The Victor and Nancy Knight Living Tribute Award is presented at the CUC National Conference. The Award is made annually from the income of … Read more
Below is Frances Deverell’s acceptance speech upon receiving the Knight Award. Well, you’ve done the impossible. I’m speechless. Thank you for this great honour, this very special recognition. First let me say that nobody does this work alone. I have been most fortunate to have many brilliant people and caring activists working tirelessly at my … Read more
Social Justice in the Time of COVID-19 by Leslie Kemp At the beginning of 2020, social justice advocates were mobilizing in support of the Wet’suwet’en and their fight against the Coast Gaslink pipeline. Unitarians were among them. Both CUSJ and the CUC sent out a statement of solidarity. In addition to Indigenous rights, many Canadians … Read more
LA VERSION FRANÇAISE SUIT Canadian Unitarians For Social Justice joined with many other NGO’s, unions, and faith organizations to call our Federal Government to direct subsidies toward helping workers through transition rather than bailing out oil companies once again. March 23, 2020 To the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, Cc: Federal Cabinet Ministers COVID-19 is presenting … Read more