Steve recorded this short video to explain the purpose of Ceasefire and help raise awareness with regards to Canada’s participation in Afghanistan. Please watch it if you have a moment.

The impetus behind writing this series of entries was sparked by the discovery of Canada’s complicity in handing over Afghan detainees to Afghan authorities known for their use of torture, as detailed in Graeme Smith’s article published on the 23rd of April by The Globe & Mail. I have made a series of entries about this matter, all of which you can find using either the search function and entering the keywords Canada, Afghanistan, Human Rights, and Torture. You can also visit the archives and click on April or May of 2007 and scroll through the results.

Ceasefire Press Release -

This image is linked back to my flickr page, so click here to go to the Ceasefire page prompted by this graphic.

The online advocacy web site, Ceasefire.ca, has launched a campaign using the latest Internet tools to mobilize Canadians who want Prime Minister Stephen Harper to fire Defence Minister Gordon O’Connor and Chief of Defence Staff General Rick Hillier over the torture of Afghan detainees.

Ceasefire.ca is distributing an eCard to its 15,000 supporters today linked to the web site where people can sign and send a letter to the Prime Minister. The campaign is also using the latest Internet tools including Facebook and YouTube to extend its reach to potentially millions of Canadians.

“Canadians are shocked by the reports of torture and the cover-up, and they want the government to hear it” said Steven Staples, Director of the Ottawa-based Rideau Institute and founder of Ceasefire.ca. “Keeping O’Connor and Hiller in their positions is an affront to Canadians’ respect for international law.”?

The web site will add the voice of citizens to many other voices calling for O’Connor’s dismissal, including political leaders and editorialists. Even some senior Conservatives are quietly expressing concerns, according to reports.

A poll released today by the Strategic Counsel shows that twice as many Canadians want the troops brought home as soon as possible (46%), than those who want the troops to stay as long as it takes to rebuild the nation (24%).

The Ceasefire.ca web site is a project of the Rideau Institute, a public policy research and advocacy organization based in Ottawa.