Omnibus Crime Bill Lurches Towards Passage

I don't get very political but I thought I'd share the Green party's concerns with everyone. Just because I COMPLETELY agree and think something needs to be done. CANADIANS need to act out now or child molesters could get away with lesser harsh offeneses against them then a teen or adult who gets caught with some pot. PLEASE ACT NOW!!!

LINK: http://greenparty.ca/newsletter-articles/2011-10-13/omnibus-crime-bill-lurches-towards-passage?


13 October 2011 - 3:09pm
This Halloween, I am wondering if you would join me in "Greening" our "Trick or Treat" traditions.

Sadly, UNICEF has given up on its little orange box penny collections on Halloween. That used to be a way of providing an ethical dimension, but there are still things you can do.

First, an ethical chocolate challenge. We don't think about it much, but the trade in chocolate for those bite size morsels of commercial chocolates are not organic and not fairly traded. That means that the workers who pick the cocoa beans are not paid properly. Worse, it means you could be inadvertently supporting the use of child labour in conditions of slavery. True, organic and fair trade chocolate is much more expensive. Still, I buy it to give out on Halloween -- one little piece per customer. And I mix it up with healthy granola bars. No complaints yet!

Second, after the holiday has passed, help get all those carved pumpkins into the compost bin. A pumpkin round up can be fun for neighbourhood kids and keep those ghoulish gourds from becoming methane to warm the climate.

Meanwhile, I will be keeping a close eye on the scary bills in the House of Commons. If you have not done so yet, please go to www.greenparty.ca and click on the graphic of Frankenstein stalking the statue of blind-folded justice. The Omnibus Crime Bill is lurching toward passage, with all its wrong-headed provisions for mandatory minimum sentences, elimination of house arrest and other community based sentencing, moving toward more jail time and more jails. Experience in the US proves this approach does not reduce crime, but does drive up costs.

Very scary.
Elizabeth May
Leader, Green Party of Canada