Two gig reports written by Grannie Ria Heynen

Earth Day: April 22-2006
 
We Grannies were invited to sing by the Sierra Club during their  Earth Day event on Sparks Street Mall, right at the CBC building.  They were there with tables full of information, especially relating  to water. Elizabeth May spoke while we were there. Our group sang three songs as loud as we could.

It is pretty difficult to be heard outside, although we had a  microphone. We wondered if it is worthwhile to sing in such circumstances. The only reason we could see is that we support the Sierra Club that way.
 

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Census protest on the Hill:  May 15, 2006

 
Present were: Jo, Loris, Corinne, Rosalie, Ria.
 
We arrived on the Hill with a big Banner saying:
RESIST THE CENSUS SELL-OUT!!
 www.countmeout.ca
 
Several people asked us what it was all about. Surprisingly enough, most were very much in support of our action.  A Dutch tourist whom we informed on the issue, was kind enough to  make some pictures, so Corinne could be on it as well. Rosalie had put our Declaration on large paper, which we held up.

The text of the declaration is as follows:
 
OUR OBJECTION TO THE 2006 CANADIAN CENSUS:
We, the undersigned, object to the contract between Statistics Canada and Lockheed  Martin.  We  cannot, in good conscience, complete this document as  requested.

Lockheed Martin Canada is the subsidiary of a U.S. company and is subject to the rules of the U.S. dept. of Homeland Security. Therefore, this corporation can be required to comply with any  request  by their government for information.

We believe our sovereignty will be compromised if the census is completed using the software and hardware supplied by the company which specializes in producing military spy technology.

We believe the decision to change the method in which this information is collected has been done to cut costs and eliminate jobs.  Because of the rules of NAFTA, this action may open the door to more U.S. corporations' access to work which should remain with  the public sector.

The declaration was signed on the Hill by: Loris Jordan, Jo Wood, Rosalie Reynolds, Maria Heynen and Corinne Allan (honorary RG).  At the next regular meeting it was signed by the rest of the Grannies as well.

By the way, we attracted some admirers - some visitors to Parliament Hill all the way from Turkey asked to have their pictures taken with us: