On May 12, Pledge to Make Canada Open for Justice!

If your child was sick, your family’s safety in danger, you were being kicked out of your home, or your water was being poisoned—what would you do?

Would you demand justice?

Across the globe there are hardworking activists, community leaders, and organizations working at the grassroots level to do just that. They face an uphill battle when large Canadian extractive companies go into their communities to search for and extract minerals, oil, and gas. These companies are all too often accused of damaging the environment and employing staff who use extreme violence, including cases of rape and murder, when local leaders speak up against corporate practices.

We’re calling on YOU to join us on Tuesday, May 12, 2015. During a week of activities spotlighting justice for communities harmed by Canadian mining companies, we’re taking to social media to call on the government to make Canada #Open4Justice, not just open for business!

Background / Join Thunderclap campaign / Tweet policymakers / Promote day of action on social media

Background

The Canadian government provides significant support to Canadian mining companies working abroad, including political and financial backing. For years, the government has heard experts, witnesses, and victims testify to the devastating human rights violations associated with the operations of some of these companies.

Those harmed by Canadian companies abroad often find they have nowhere to seek justice. Victims often face significant barriers to accessing justice at home, including heavy costs, inadequate or non-existent out of court mechanisms, and corruption. That’s why Canada must uphold its international human rights obligations and prioritize human rights over mining profit!

The United Nations has called on Canada to uphold its international commitments with regards to corporate abuse happening abroad. Yet, Canada continues to prioritize business over justice.

The members of the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability launched the #Open4Justice Campaign to call on the government to open Canadian courts to those alleging harm by Canadian mining companies overseas. We are also calling for an Ombudsman dedicated to the extractive sector with an effective mandate.

From May 11-15, events across Canada will be spotlighting the incredible work organizations do to push for mining justice and the challenges we still face. We want everyone to stand up and support the #Open4Justice campaign—and ensure our voices carry all the way to the House of Commons!

Join us online on May 12! We want to see your support for mining justice on social media and share our call to the Canadian government to prioritize human rights over mining profit and make Canada #Open4Justice!

Join our Thunderclap campaign

Join our Thunderclap (through your Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr account) and your pledge will be shared with your followers on May 12 at 2pm EST. Don’t forget to encourage all of your friends to join too!

Join the Thunderclap here: http://thndr.it/1OJSxkl

Sample tweets to promote the Thunderclap:

Join our Thunderclap calling for Canada to be #Open4Justice for communities harmed by mining companies: http://thndr.it/1OJSxkl

Join Thunderclap calling for Canada to be #Open4Justice for people harmed by mining companies: http://thndr.it/1OJSxkl

On May 12 we're calling for Canada to be #Open4Justice. Join our Thunderclap online: http://thndr.it/1OJSxkl

Call for Canada to be #Open4Justice for communities harmed by mining companies. Join us: http://thndr.it/1OJSxkl

Stand up for communities harmed by mining companies. Join our Thunderclap & call for Canada to be #Open4Justice: http://thndr.it/1OJSxkl

Sample Facebook post to promote the Thunderclap:

On May 12, we’re joining with organizations and individuals across Canada to stand up and call on the government to promote justice for communities harmed by Canadian mining companies abroad. We’re taking to social media and want our voices to carry all the way to our country’s decision makers in the hopes they will finally pledge to make Canada #Open4Justice, not just open for business. Join our Thunderclap now and follow along online: http://thndr.it/1OJSxkl

Tweet our policymakers to take action

Tell our Members of Parliament that it’s time Canada takes its international human rights obligations seriously! We’ve approached MP’s from all parties to show their support for the Campaign—here are some suggestions for who to reach out to and sample tweets.

Link to MP Pledge: ow.ly/MuPCJ

MPs to tweet at:

• Honourable Edward Fast: @HonEdFast (Minister of International Trade)
• Don Davies: @DonDavies (International Trade Critic for the Official Opposition)
• Chrystia Freeland: @cafreeland (International Trade Critic, LPC)

Please also write to your own Member of Parliament to encourage them to take action. You can find your MPs name here and their twitter handle here.

Sample tweets:

.@(MP Handle) We want Canada #Open4Justice for communities harmed by mining companies: ow.ly/MuPCJ

.@(MP Handle) Make Canada #Open4Justice for mining-impacted communities, not just open 4 business: ow.ly/MuPCJ

.@(MP Handle) I call on you to prioritize human rights over mining profits. Make Canada #Open4Justice: ow.ly/MuPCJ

General Social Media Posts to Promote May 12 Day of Action

Sample tweets:

May 12: Stand up for Mining Justice! Join our call for Canada to be #Open4Justice not just open 4 business: http://bit.ly/1ELJ1FK

May 12: Join our call to make Canada #Open4Justice for communities harmed by mining companies: ow.ly/MuPCJ

May 12: Join our call for Canada to be #Open4Justice not just open 4 business: http://bit.ly/1ELJ1FK

On May 12 #Open4Justice is calling on Canada to prioritize justice over mining profits. Join us online: http://bit.ly/1ELJ1FK

Stand with us online on May 12: Thunderclap/Tweet & call on Canada to be #Open4Justice: http://bit.ly/1ELJ1FK

Sample Facebook Posts:

The #Open4Justice Campaign is calling on Canada to prioritize human rights over mining profits. We want Canadian courts to be open to those alleging harm by Canadian mining companies abroad. We are also calling for an Ombudsman dedicated to the extractive sector who can investigate and recommend remedy for claims of corporate involvement in human rights violations and significant damage to the environment. Join us online on May 12 for our day of action! We’re calling on Canada to be open for justice, not just open for business. Find out how to show your support: http://bit.ly/1ELJ1FK

On May 12, join us online during Mining Week! We want to make our voices so loud that they are carried all the way to Canada’s decision makers and call on them to make Canada #Open4Justice, not just open for business. Join us online by taking part in our Thunderclap and tweeting our government officials to take action and bring justice to communities harmed by Canadian mining companies operating abroad. Find out how to add your voice to our call: http://bit.ly/1ELJ1FK