Mouth Agape

"We know that thousands leave every day, so if you do the math, I think if we're not there [yet], we'll be at the same scale of the Syrian displacement quite soon."
"We're talking about forced displacement. These people leave Venezuela because if they do not leave, they don't survive."
Feline Freier, professor, researcher, Universidad del Pacífico, Peru

"The region had to respond to an emergency that in some areas of concern was almost similar to a massive earthquake. We are indeed facing a humanitarian earthquake."
"The reasons these people left are ranging from pure hunger to violence and lack of security ... We at UNHCR believe many have valid reasons to seek international protection." 
Eduardo Stein, joint special representative, UN refugee agency UNHCR, International Organization for Migration (IOM)

"We witnessed a transparent, secure, democratic and orderly electoral and voting process."
"Our delegation was impressed by the electoral process and felt confident that the results of the elections represent the will of the majority of Venezuelans who voted."
Common Frontiers report, May 2018 


"The notion that free and fair elections could possibly be taking place when you not only criminalize those who are on the opposition ... but when you don't have any allowances for expressions of freedom of speech, assembly, association and the like, simply is a non-sequitur."
"I think part of the problem with the labour groups who went down there is that they seem to be acting reflexively out of a political agenda rather than a human rights agenda. Out of a left-right agenda rather than a right-wrong approach."
Irwin Cotler, former Canadian Justice Minister

"While groups such as the Lima Group [led] by Canada are screaming fraud and government interference in the election process, not one shred of evidence has been produced to back up such claims."
Don Foreman, spokesman, Common Frontiers

Protests, Venezuela in Crisis   CNN

Once a wealthy country, endowed with the kind of natural resources in petroleum products the world was clamouring for, Venezuela is now riven with poverty, with a massive inflation rate, a scarcity of food and medicines, collapsed employment, social violence and a desperate population that sees no chance for survival other than to leave in massive numbers to seek haven and aid in neighbouring countries that are themselves now struggling to accommodate the flood of refugees.

Hugo Chavez's socialist-inspired Bolivarian revolution squats now, a malevolent splotch of deadly failure, over the country, as his protege, Nicolas Maduro allows his supporters to do as he does, in a corrupt skein of malice, to absorb whatever profit they can to their personal credit in a country they have ransacked and enfeebled through a death blow of totalitarian misrule. For years Venezuelans have been assembling in protest marches against the poverty and hopelessness that have been imposed upon them.

Comfort is hard to find anywhere. The United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and many European nations, alongside most of Venezuela's Latin American neighbours are condemning Maduro and his supporters wholesale, recognizing his re-election as an outright fraud leaving him free to continue his focus on dismantling whatever is left of the state apparatus as the country continues to descend into chaos, violence and malfunction.

On the opposite side, encouraging Maduro there is Russia, China, Turkey, Iran and many others both dictatorial and socialist in politics and ideology. And then there are the trade unions, who espouse undying solidarity for a movement they recognize as one of their very own and which as a result can do no wrong, yet is being slandered by the very nations those unions ply their trade within. In Canada, one of the leading nations attempting to persuade Maduro to step down, quick to acknowledge the legitimacy of Venezuela's legislative assembly's leader Juan Guaido as temporary president, an unholy alliance has taken place.

Unifor, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation, the United Church of Canada, and the Internet group Rabble.ca speak admiringly and supportively of Venezuela's "strong and vibrant democracy". They formed a common group to represent their interests in the support of Venezuela's socialist dictatorship; Common Frontiers. Post-election, the United Steelworkers and a law firm in Toronto were also acknowledged as having provided "delegation support" as election monitors during the May election.

This is the same Venezuela that an Organization of American States panel of human rights experts having concluded hearings and deciding that on the evidence Maduro's regime should be referred to the International Criminal Court to stand trial for crimes against humanity, cited thousands of murders, torture and imprisonment against political opposition. The same country that Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay and Peru along with Canada decided to refer to the International Criminal Court and for the same reasons.

On the website of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, supporters are invited to petition the government of Canada against its leadership of the Lima Group hose foreign ministers met Monday to discuss support for interim President Guaido. Common Frontiers has been funded by among others, the Canadian Union of Public Employees reflecting their "global justice work". CUPE claims that Maduro was "duly elected", criticizing the Canadian government for aiding a "coup d'etat". 

As for the United Church of Canada, it generously parted with $1,500 to help defray costs associated with their umbrella group Common Frontiers sending its election monitors to Venezuela to validate the legitimacy of the May election returning Maduro to power. Their Latin America program's Jim Hodgson, with the delegation, wrote for Rabble.ca after the trip questioning why Canada chose not to defend Venezuelan sovereignty against "U.S. aggression."

Staggeringly, the Ontario Secondary School Teachers' Federation representative claims Canadian could "learn a lot" from elections conducted in Venezuela, while the representative for Rabble.ca stated the Venezuelan elections should be an "international gold standard". These reprehensible social lunatics have much in common; they also, all together, support BDS and the defamation of the State of Israel.
 


  

It's a Job, God : Feel The Love Flim-Flam

"It's going to be wonderful. We'll be out from underneath that heavy cloud. Now we'll be able to really fly [among the Angels on High]."
"There have been times of elation when I have felt the incredible support and energy of that support and love and affirmation from my congregation and across the country and around the world."
"And there have been moments of incredible despair."
Reverend Gretta Vosper, minister, West Hill United Church, Toronto

Rev. Gretta Vosper is seen at West Hill United Church in Toronto on Aug. 5, 2015.

The Canadian Press

"The dances between these core values [faith in God and 'inclusiveness'], how they interact with and inform each other, is one that we continue to explore as followers of Jesus and children of the creator."
"As a Christian church, we continue to expect that ministers in the United Church of Canada will offer their leadership in accordance with our shared and agreed-upon statements of faith."
Reverend Richard Bott, moderator, United Church of Canada

"Both parties took a long look at the cost-benefit at running a heresy trial and whether it was good for anyone [and] the results speak for themselves."
"They recognized there's a place for Gretta, and that there is no reason to separate the minister and the congregation."
Julian Falconer, Vosper lawyer

Canada's second-largest religious group in Canada has decided that it is perfectly all right for a professed atheist -- one who has openly celebrated her rejection of a belief in a divine being -- to act as minister of one of their affiliated churches in Canada's largest, most populous city. To an onlooker that might appear as gross, ungodly hypocrisy, but it must be understood that the United Church prides itself on being non-judgmental, inclusive and open.

It has certainly be open about condemning Israel for the violence it 'perpetrates' against Gazans who insist on breaching the border between Gaza and Israel the better to attack Israeli settlements. The United Church has divested itself of all 'investments' in Israel, and sanctimoniously urges all other Canadians of 'good faith' to do likewise. It professes to hold Israel and the Palestinians in equal esteem, yet castigates Israel for its 'violence' and 'occupation' victimizing Palestinians, failing to hold the Palestinian Authority responsible for inciting violence and rewarding it.

The story today, however, is that of Reverend Vosper, most of whose parishioners think so highly of her that they don't mind one whit her denial of the existence of a supreme being despite that they may themselves believe in God and attend the church for the express purpose of worshiping his only begotten son, himself and whatever else the United Church believes steadfastly in, aside from its commitment to 'inclusiveness' leading them to embrace a minister who fails to embrace God.

Reverend Vosper is relieved she need no longer be concerned over an ecclesiastical court hearing condemning her atheism even as she insists she be permitted to lead a United Church of Canada congregation. Which congregation appears to be somewhat more committed to its reverend than to its God. "West Hill's non-exclusive language provides a church experience that draws participants across a wide spectrum of belief and unbelief", according to Randy Bowes, chairman of the West Hill church board. A social club, perhaps?

In any event the United Church and Reverend Vosper, 60, who has served as minister of West Hill United since 1997, commencing four years following her ordination in 1993, are relieved to have decided on terms of a (confidential) settlement which will leave the good reverend in charge of her church and the church a bit of a conundrum in religious circles one might imagine. Reverend Bott, new to his job as church leader is certainly pleased to get that one over with -- 'whew'!

gretta vosper @grettavosper

Cake and dancing this Sunday @WestHillUC as we celebrate our @UnitedChurchCda heritage and our welcome within its broad spectrum of belief. 3385 Lawrence Ave. E To. 10:30 until the cake is gone and we're tired of dancing!

12:17 PM - Nov 9, 2018

All are reconciled to being reconciled to a long-standing situation. Not that Reverend Vosper is a rarity among churches of any denomination; she is merely a trifle less discreet than are other religious leaders. Must be something about the new culture in Canada of 'progressivism' so beloved of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. As a Catholic, he is most certainly progressively understanding of a woman's right to an abortion at any stage during a pregnancy.

That some of her church's congregants are critical of her disavowal of the existence of God and her disinterest in the verities of the Bible, is of little moment to her; they can leave if they're dissatisfied and go elsewhere, but she no longer is concerned that it would be she meant to depart. Her parting with the doctrine and values of the United Church notwithstanding. Seems she likely precipitated matters when she wrote an open letter to the spiritual leadership of the church.

When the Paris massacre took place at the editorial offices of Charlie Hebdo she pointed out in her communique that motivation to commit to 'bad things' could be laid at the doorstep of religion. Complaints followed and the Toronto Conference interview committee set forth to conduct a review, finding (split decision) in 2015 that she was patently unsuitable for the ordained ministry since "she does not believe in God, Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit". Indeed!

However, things have progressed along a different path, as it happens, leaving Reverend Vosper free to continue her ministry as she will, with no restrictions whatever. As an atheist, free to speak of her non-belief in a theistic, interventionist, supernatural being called God. She will continue to minister to the religious/irreligious needs of her flock. And so be it.

God, are you listening? Are you not appalled? Smite her!

Gretta Vosper holds a Sunday service at West Hill United Church in Scarborough in a Jan. 24, 2015,   (J.P. MOCZULSKI / The Toronto Star)

Unsettling Solutions

"As the church, we are once again being asked to strive to live out God's mission in the world. Much is before us. Much is at stake. With these efforts, we join with many others striving to bring peace with justice to the Holy Land."
Right Rev. Gary Paterson United Church of Canada

"Characterizing boycott efforts as anti-Semitic is an outrageous misuse of the term. The Israel lobby, unable to defend Israel's occupation and brutal treatment of the Palestinian people, can only slur those who support Palestinian human rights."
Tyler Levitan, Independent Jewish Voices

A letter under Rev. Paterson's signature went out in November to church members. It was an announcement of a freshening up and strengthening of earlier attempts to impose a boycott on Israeli companies and products that come out of the West Bank. The church has labelled this campaign: "Unsettling Goods". It is rather an unsettling campaign. Singling the State of Israel out for outright condemnation as an occupier-state intent on enslaving the Palestinians.

As though this is what the State of Israel wishes to preferentially busy itself with; pay enormously for defence and security rather than live peacefully side by side with a neighbour prepared to honour its presence as it is prepared to accept theirs in a spirit of equality accommodation. The reality is far, far different, and to bypass it is to belittle a nation's anxiety to protect its civilian population from ongoing violent attacks. And to ignore the existential threats verbalized by other neighbours.

Sympathy is with the Palestinians, not only those on the West Bank but those too in Gaze, ruled by Hamas, an organization recognized as one committed to terror by many foreign governments. Peace with the Palestinian Authority, if it is at all achievable, will incorporate the West Bank only, excluding Gaza, whose Hamas rulers have unequivocally ruled out peace with Israel, a nation they have pledged formally to destroy.

But in their sanctimonious wisdom the United Church of Canada holds Israel responsible for a situation where Palestinians have lived for generations as beggars picking the international community's pocket to sustain them as 'refugees'. They have chosen, through their leaders, to keep Israel at arm's length, and their leaders have turned down one peace agreement after another. When all of their demands have been met and still negotiations for peace are spurned the only conclusion that can be reached is that they aspire to restore to themselves the entire disputed territory.

This is a reality that is of obviously little interest to the United Church of Canada. They have decided to select three main Israeli manufacturers: cosmetics firm Ahava, exporting skin-care products made of Dead Sea mud; Keter Plastics, manufacturer of sheds, fences and outdoor furniture; and SodaStream, makers of high-end kitchen devices for the carbonation of tap water. Church faithful are exhorted to boycott retailers like Canadian Tire, The Bay, Home Depot and Walmart, which carry those products.

The hoped-for campaign meant to persuade Canadian Tire, The Bay, Home Depot and Walmart that they would be far, far better off, pleasing their customers by refusing to continue carrying these products to create even further injury to Israel. There is nothing new about this focus on Israel as an occupier whose actions are to be condemned for their brutal treatment of the Palestinians. These incendiary descriptions are popular within left-social circles in demonizing Israel.

But they are not to be thought of as anti-Semitic, goodness gracious, no! "It singles out Israel in a way that is fundamentally unhelpful" points out Shimon Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. A coalition of nine Liberal and Conservative senators appear to wholeheartedly agree with Mr. Fogel; they have drafted a letter in condemnation of the campaign for its implication that "Israel is guilty and the Palestinians the only injured party".

But discontent with the social-action activities of the church also is reflected from within the church. Many within the UCC point out their unhappiness with their church's silence on the plight of Christians in the Middle East, targeted for violence and far worse, by Islamists. Others will go out of their way to seek out these products in the spirit of ecumenism. And others yet conduct their own campaigns to counter that of the UCC hierarchy....

"With the official launch this week of its boycott against three Israeli products, the General Council of the United Church of Canada (UCC) has demonstrated that it is more interested in advancing anti-Israel ideology than living up to its ecumenical commitments.
"In calling for a boycott of Soda-Stream products, the council is actually working to shut down a factory that employees over 800 Arab Palestinians with wages and benefits that are double the average in the West Bank.
"The Israel-Palestine Chamber of Commerce reports that 11,000 employees out of 17,000 (over 60%) working in 788 Israeli enterprises in the West Bank are Arabs. But the UCC General Council still wants to tear down this economic progress.
"Meanwhile, the heart and soul of the UCC is not embracing this boycott. Most congregations are much more focused on their ministry, and churches are voting with their money by reducing contributions to the Mission and Service Fund; a number of churches and the Ottawa Presbytery have declared they will not accept this boycott policy.
"Still further, a lot of congregations are strengthening ties with the Jewish community in their own neighbourhoods and distancing themselves from the boycott."
Rev.Andrew Love, United Church Minister, Ottawa

United Church of Canada Launches BDS Campaign

Largest Canadian Protestant denomination boycotts 3 Israeli companies, Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center decries as anti-Semitism.

By Ari Yashar -- ArutzSheva 7

First Publish: 12/4/2013, 2:33 PM

Illustration: protester demonstrating

Thinkstock

 

The United Church of Canada, the country's largest Protestant denomination, this week launched its "Unsettling Goods" campaign to boycott three Israeli companies, Ahava, Keter Plastics and SodaStream, all of which have factories in Judea and Samaria.

Aside from urging its members to boycott the three companies, the United Church intends to pressure Canada-based marketing chains Canadian Tire, The Bay, Home Depot and Walmart to stop carrying the Israeli products.

Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) denounced the church's boycott, noting "the church does not currently have any campaigns which address the ongoing slaughter of Christians in Muslim countries around the world, nor does it make any statement of support that recognizes Israel's right to exist."

"Despite Hamas' repeated calls for the destruction of Israel and the killing of Jews, based on Article 13 of the Hamas Covenant, which states 'There is no solution for the Palestinian question except through Jihad'..., and despite calls by Fatah officials for a third violent intifada against Israel, the United Church sees fit to pray for a successful boycott against Jewish businesses in Israel, while ignoring the ongoing incitement to violence and genocide against Israel and Jews coming from Palestinian leaders," said FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo.

Benlolo added that the "call to prayer for anti-Israel boycotts is nothing less than an assault on the Jewish people by the United Church. The echoes of the past history of Church-sanctioned antisemitism continue to grow stronger."

B'nai Brith Canada, a Jewish human rights organization, has likewise attacked the boycott.
On Tuesday an anti-Israel demonstration was held in front of a downtown Toronto Canadian Tire store, aiming to boycott SodaStream products. In November a similar radical-leftist demonstration in Vancouver targeted SodaStream.

In response, Frank Dimant, CEO of B'nai Brith Canada, remarked that SodaStream "employs 500 Palestinians as well as 400 additional Arabs living in eastern Jerusalem at its Ma’ale Adumim manufacturing facility alone," adding that if the United Church "would only take the time to examine the facts, they would realize who they really are hurting."

The tensions in Toronto revealed motives behind the protest as well, suggests Dimant. According to him, during the protest "the National Vice President for B'nai Brith Canada, a visible Jew, was unduly harassed as he attempted to enter the store and was summarily accused of being a religious fanatic, suggesting what we fear may be at the base of it all -- anti-Semitism."

Tags: boycotts, BDS, SodaStream, United Church of Canada, protestant