humanrightsradio

Interview with Craig Benjamin about Indigenous Rights

Listen to our live interview from the public forum at the Unitarian Fellowship of Regina with Craig Benjamin, Amnesty International Canada Coordinator of Research and Campaigns on the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Issues for discussion for Sask Provincial Election

On Friday September 23, we spoke with Larry Kowalchuk a lawyer with the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour about the issues the SFL considers important in this upcoming Saskatchewan Provincial Election.  We also touch on some of the history of the labour movement and its continuing importance today.  We note that Poverty, Hunger and Homelessness is on the rise in Saskatchewan even though the economy is reported to be booming.  We also talked about pressure from the nuclear industry to establish nuclear waste repositories in Saskatchewan and how residents of northern communities, in particular have demonstrated their opposition to nuclear waste storage anywhere in Saskatchewan.

The last attempt to save Troy Davis

The State of Georgia (the one in the USA) executed Troy Anthony Davis on September 21 after a last minute appeal to the United States Supreme Court was denied.  On the Friday previous to the execution we spoke with Larry Bergman, a citizen of the United States living here in Regina who is a lifelong human rights activist and opponent of the death penalty.  Larry tells us why this execution was particularly unfair and why, in his opinion, the death penalty needs to be abolished universally.

Provincial Association of Transition Houses of Saskatchewan

On Friday Sept 9, Human Rights Radio Spoke with Diane Delaney and Crystal Giesbrecht of PATHS, the Provincial Association of Transition Houses of Saskatchewan.  The discussion included the importance of transition houses for women who live with partner abuse and the new Modeling and Mentoring program in Saskatchewan.

Nuclear Energy in Saskatchewan

On Friday Sept 2, we spoke with Dan Lindsay, a member of the planning committee for the Committee for Future Generations that has been working since June of this year to ask our government to ban nuclear waste storage in the province.  Our second guest was NDP MLA Sandra Morin.  Sandra is the Government Critic on the Environment, Climate Change, Water Critic, and also the critic on  the Uranium Development Partnership.  We also invited the Honorable Rob Norris, who is a Cabinet Minister in the Government of Saskatchewan whose portfolio includes being responsible for Uranium Partnership Development.  We asked for someone from his office to join us but didn't get a reply in time.

Regina Making Peace Vigil

On Friday August 19, Human Rights Radio spoke with Florence Stratton and Shannon Corkery who are members of the Regina Making Peace Vigil.  For over 4 years the Vigil has been meeting at Noon on Thursdays, rain or shine (or snow), at the F.W. Hill Mall, passing out leaflets that members have produced themselves detailing injustices in Canada and around the world.  The purpose of the Vigil is education and activism, making the public aware of unfair corporate or government behavour on many fronts, from environmental concerns to justice for marginalized people.  Florance and Shannon tell us how the vigil came to be and why they became involved.  Check out their blog at http://makingpeace.wordpress.com

All Nations Hope AIDS Network works in Regina

On Friday July 29, Human Rights Radio caught up with one of our favorite guests in the person of  Margaret Poitras who brought us up to date with the activities, events, and services of All Nations Hope AIDS Network.  Margaret is the executive director of this important organization which provides help and awareness for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C  and other health issues.  Clients are not limited to aboriginal citizens of Regina and everyone is welcome at ANHAN's 5th Street location.  We also gave an update on the 7000 generations walk against Nuclear Waste which is enroute to Regina from Pinehouse in northern Saskatchewan.

Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry

Advocating for the disadvantaged and marginalized is a full time job for Bonnie Morton.  She is a designated lay minister of the United Church of Canada making a difference every day in her work against poverty.  Bonnie received her Bachelor of Human Justice from the University of Regina. She is an experienced anti-poverty advocate with the Regina Anti-Poverty Ministry and Chair of both the Charter Committee on Poverty Issues and the National Anti-Poverty Organization. She has also held the following positions with the Court Challenges Program of Canada: Chairperson of the Equality Advisory Committee, member of the Poverty Issues Subcommittee and member of the Lawyers-Community working group.  We talk with Bonnie about what needs to be done to eradicate poverty in one of the richest nations in the world.

Saskatchewan Ombudsman Part Two

On June 24,2011, Saskatchewan Ombudsman Kevin Fenwick spoke with Human Rights Radio about the role of Ombudsmen around the world with specific examples of how issues have been resolved and how his office tries to instruct citizens on how to resolve issues without the need for outside help.  We also spoke about the work done in schools to help educate students about rights and conflict resolution.

Nuclear Waste in Saskatchewan: Committee for Future Generations

On Friday June 17, 2011, Human Rights Radio spoke with Max and Debby Morin from Beauval, as well as Dan Lindsey from Regina about the efforts of the newly formed Committee for Future Generations to make all residents of Saskatchewan, particularly those in the North, aware of the Nuclear industry's intention to site nuclear waste repositories and eventually nuclear waste reprocessing facilities in this province.  This would involve transporting nuclear waste through Ontario, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan then depositing this waste deep in the Canadian Shield.  We discuss what has gone on in some northern communities and the efforts of the new committee to ensure that people of Saskatchewan are made aware of all of the facts.