Past Events of 2011

MOVIE AND PANEL DISCUSSION of an award-winning video and a panel discussion that includes director Amy Miller.

“Myths for Profit” challenges the popular conception that Canada is a global good guy by reviewing our dismal record in international development, national defence policy and peacekeeping.

Experts interviewed in the video include:

• Justin Poduk–Znet editor, Prof. of Environment & Culture, York U.
• Scott Taylor–publisher of Esprit de Corps magazine, author.
• Sherene Razack–Prof. of Sociology, U of T, author
• Michael Mandel–Prof of International Law, York U, Lawyers Against War, author
• Richard Sanders–editor of Press for Conversion, COAT
• Igor Todorovich–economic analyst, journalist
• Slobodanka Borojevich–plaintiff in lawsuit against Canadian gov’t over bombing of former Yugloslavia
• Steve Staples–Rideau Institute, ceasefire.ca
• Jesse Griffiths–aid policy analyst
• Patricia Adams–Probe International
• André Geneaux–banker, Canadian member of EBRD
• Karen Keenan–aid watchdog, Halifax Initiative
• Sakura Saunders–Corpwatch
• Richard Viellete–CIDA

The Panel

Amy Miller (participating via Skype): Amy Miller is a media maker and social justice organizer based in Montréal. She directed the featurette documentary ‘Myths for Profit: Canada’s Role In Industries of War and Peace’ which was screened thoroughly across Canada and at festivals including the Milano Film Festival, RIDM and won the Peoples Choice award at the Bay Street Film Festival. Her first short ‘Outside of Europe’ won second place for the CBC-RCI’s Migr@tion Award. She has worked extensively with The Dominion and The Media Co-op as both a writer and editor. She continues to focus on developing critical documentaries for transformative social change.

Dennis Lewycky: Dennis is the Executive Director of the Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, with extensive experience in community development in several countries including Belize, Botswana, Colombia, Tanzania, Israel, various Caribbean islands, Pakistan and Uganda.

Roger Annis: Roger chairs the Canada-Haiti Action Network and has decades of experience in international solidarity work.

More information on Myths for Profit: http://wideopenexposure.com/myths-for-profit

Annual Toy Store Inspection

was Saturday November 19th 2011 9:00 AM

THE RESULTS

Toy Store Inspection Rates Winnipeg Shops On Promotion Of Violent Toys

“Violence is Not Child’s Play” Campaign Holds Local Stores Accountable



Eighteen Volunteers participated in the 10th annual inspection of Winnipeg’s toy and department
stores on Saturday November 19th 2011.

The inspection was organized by Project Peacemakers, parents, university and high school
students, and concerned citizens promoting the idea that “Violence is Not Child’s Play” .

Our goal, in carrying out these inspections, is to raise awareness about the levels of violence in
children’s toys and games, and to call on retailers, government, and the wider community to take steps
to limit this violence. A growing body of evidence confirms that exposure to violent toys, games and
media can 1) increase aggressive behavior, 2) desensitize people to violence, and 3) contribute to an
exaggerated fear of the world.

We visited 11 stores including major chain stores such as Toys “R” Us, Wal-Mart and Zellers
and small independent stores.

These are the kinds of things we were looking for:

. Whether in-store displays promoted violent toys,
. Whether they sold violent and militarized toys, and particularly if they were at eye-level for
young children,
. Whether toy guns were sold and how realistic they were,
. Whether violent electronic games were sold, how they were displayed and whether there was a
Manitoba ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) Ratings Sheet was visibly displayed.




Our findings were as follows:



In the category of excellent was:

Children’s Museum



In the category of commendable were:

A Child’s Place , Hans Christian Toys, Scholar’s Choice, Toad Hall



In the category of acceptable:

BJ’s Toy Store , Kit and Kabooble,



In the category of needing improvement:

Dollarama, Toys “R” Us, Zellers



Although a team visited a local Walmart, they were informed that Project Peacemaker is unable to
publicize their findings without first contacting their public relations office.



Many of our teams noticed that stores that sell products made by Lego and Play Mobile have a significant
amount of products that encourage violent play. As an organization we will directly contact Lego and


Play Mobile manufacturers and encourage them to produce less violent related toys.



One team that visited a Zellers store shared that the employee in the video games section was very
informed and adamantly checked the video rating (following Manitoba’s ESRB Ratings for Video Games)
before selling to individuals and minors.



Thanks to the help of many volunteers, these concerned citizens helped promote the idea that
“Violence is Not Child’s Play”. Our volunteers, staff, and board members left with a better awareness of
the levels of violence in children’s toys and games. For the busy holiday season, Canadians can now be
informed on the ratings made by their fellow citizens on violent toys within stores in Winnipeg.





FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Janelle Freed
Project Peacemakers
(204) 775-8178
Email: info@projectpeacemakers.com
Website: http://www.projectpeacemakers.org/

Fundraising Letter November 11, 2011

November 11, 2011

Dear Friends,

November 11 seems an appropriate day to be writing my annual funding appeal for Project Peacemakers. It is an honour to be the person to make this yearly connection with all our members. As I am writing I can hear in the background a CD entitled “The Pity of War” – songs and poems of wartime suffering. I play this every November 11th to remind myself of the true costs of militarism in our society. The voices of peacemakers are badly needed in our country and world today. Project Peacemakers has been such a voice in our community since 1983.

Yesterday I spoke about the history and work of Project Peacemakers to a study group at the Unitarian Church. Preparing for my talk I was once again reminded of just how active we have been. From our early days as the Inter Church Disarmament Project to the present we have continued to bring the Peace perspective to our community. From demonstrations against nuclear missiles in North Dakota, Witness for Peace delegation to Nicaragua, Peaceful Play Festivals, workshops to ban the use of Landmines, lobbying the Provincial Government to pass legislation to restrict the sale of violent video games to minors, distributing our video games information pamphlet to every childcare centre in the province, the development and promotion of our Peace Resource for Teachers, the Toy Store Inspection, to our current Peace Banner project in city schools, we have reached many thousands of people in our community. Add to this the information we distribute through presentations and our Peace Projections newsletters, pamphlets on current topics (such as child soldiers), bi-weekly e-newsletters and website, you can see we have a very good track record for a small organization.

Volunteers alone cannot make all this happen. We need staff and resources. We do apply for grants for specific projects but we count on donations from our members and friends to fund the organizational structure needed to support these programs.

This year we are facing the prospect of cutting back our activities if we can't raise additional funds. To maintain the status quo we need to find an additional $10,000 and we need your help. One way is to increase your donation. If you wish to make a donation in memory or in honour of someone we will send a Peace card acknowledging your gift. Another is to recruit a new member for Project Peacemakers. If each us could recruit one new person we could double our membership to 300 instead of 150. A gift of a Project Peacemakers' membership is one option and it only costs $25 for one year or $40 for two years. Bringing friends to our fundraising events like the Eco-dinner will help widen our support. And we welcome other ideas you might have!

To make a donation please make cheques payable to Project Peacemakers (not Project Ploughshares) 745 Westminster Ave, R3G 1A5. Check our website to donate online.

A quote from Rosalie Bertell inspires my ongoing peacework: “We have to be part of something larger than ourselves because our dreams are often bigger than our lifetimes.”

Thank you for your commitment to peace.

Shalom,

Bev Ridd, Finance Chair

In addition, all board members and finance committee members endorse this appeal.

Board Members: Andrew Braga, Debra Schweyer, Dianne Cooper, Gerhard Neufeld, Ginny Twomey, Janelle Freed, Karen Burgoyne, Krystofer Penner, Margaret Glavina, Marlene Tjaden, Rudy Friesen, Wendy Kroeker

Finance Committee Members: Allyson Watts, Glenn Morison, Margaret Glavina, Mary Reimer, Shawn Kettner, Tim Sale

Sing for Peace: School Choirs perform Songs for Peace November 6 2011

Annual Eco Friendly Dinner April 2011