Anne Farrell

In an activity bringing a different viewpoint to bear on common situations of violence, CHERIF V. Abou, a Togolese member of The Community, is holding workshops through his region. His aim and the aim of the organisation is wider participation among the local schools. Without such endeavours young people just follow the usual system, thinking there is no other way.

The YMCAs of Québec is pleased to announce today the winners of the 25th edition of the Peace Medals.

In an emotion-filled ceremony held this afternoon at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Complexe Desjardins, at Montreal, all of the finalists who work to promote peace locally, nationally, and internationally were gathered.

Pressenza spoke with Ehad Lotayef who was deported yesteday from an Israeli detention center to Canada. Lotayef was arrested with David Heap on the Canadian ship «Tahrir» on Friday
November 4th. The Israeli navy intercepted the ship about 35 kilometers north of the Gaza Strip in International waters. The Tahrir was part of a flottila to Gaza with the Irish Saoirse vessel.

On Monday morning 3h30 am, the Toronto firefighters were called on Occupy Toronto site the St James Park and took a look at the small fire. The firefighters spoke to the people responsible for it, and decided not to extinguish it because it was considered a sacred fire and is being tended to by aboriginals around the clock.

The students and members from different faculties currently protest at Havard investment policies and the polarizations perceived by the student in the economic courses.
According to students there is some lack in the policy proposals from the countries political leaders, democracy is ill.
On November 10, students gather and start the occupy movement in the Harvard Yard.

Thousands of students and pupils in education establishments around the world are preparing themselves for the “runthisway” project, a project getting people running to promote peace and nonviolence. Social movements around the world have sprung up this year and many have chosen non-violent means to achieve their aims. This initiative aims to support this trend.

Where is our current society heading: as events escalate, as violence becomes more and more
globalized each day? Is there a way out?

In the last few years, we have seen new conflicts and new forms of corruption emerge, we have seen
ecological and financial disasters. Theses events are entertwined and cause rapid changes.

Palestinian and Israeli Nonviolent resistance to the Israeli occupation

The author Maxime Kaufman-Lacusta visited Montreal on May 16th to launch her new book “Refusing to be Enemies”. Kaufman-Lacusta is optimistic regarding the future of Palestinian nonviolence movement. The book is about diverse strategies used by different organizations to struggle against the occupation.

In an official ceremony held earlier today, The YMCAs of Québec awarded the 2010 Peace Medals to five recipients during the 24th edition of this prestigious event. The Peace Medal serves as the only honor in the country that celebrates the work of exceptional individuals or groups who promote peace within their community or around the world.

Excellent news for the Quebecois! The organising committee of Non-violence Week in the Saguenay region in partnership with Stéphane Bédard, deputy of Chicoutimi, obtained the introduction of a bill on non-violence at the National Assembly of Quebec on November 12. This bill aims to designate 2 October every year as International Day of Non-violence.