Solidarity is Our Security

In this issue:

Solidarity is our security 

Fear keeps us expecting more calamities, accepting that the situation can only get worse. It has a paralyzing effect on us, dampens our curiosity about the world and our belief in real possibilities for change.
Refugees in Malaysia: No sanctuary

Thousands of Burmese refugees are coming to Malaysia seeking security. But what they find is exploitation, extortion, trafficking, and sometimes death.

Breaking the curse

As a mining superpower, Canada plays a major role in exploiting Africa’s mineral resources. Canadian mining companies held $14.7 billion in assets in 35 African countries in 2007, a figure estimated to reach $20 billion by 2010. Through research and advocacy, TWN-Africa and Inter Pares are asserting that the accumulation of wealth in the North must not come at the expense of Africa’s economic and physical security.

Detention as a means of protection

Each year, hundreds of people, including minors and pregnant women, are detained when they arrive in Canada seeking refugee status. Unbeknownst to most Canadians, detention of refugee claimants is quickly becoming an institutionalized practice rather than an exception. People seeking security and protection in Canada – frequently after harrowing journeys – are forcibly confined and treated as criminals, often simply because their proof of identity is deemed insufficient.

Defeating fear by building solidarity

After thirty-five years, Inter Pares and our counterparts have learned much about working together in pursuit of peace and justice. And along the way, we have had the privilege to be part of some enduring and inspiring successes. We are particularly proud to have been co-founders of the International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group (ICLMG), a story that exemplifies what social justice is all about.