If You Visit Our Blog..
If You Visit Our Blog..
Emily and I hope you go to these first two links. The first link *HERE* is a CBC article and video (top right-hand of screen) about the first day of our friend, Tre Arrow's extradition hearing. The second link *HERE* is Tre's actual site (also found under the "Comrades" section in the right hand column of this blog). We would be thrilled if you informed yourself of his plight, and then went to his page to see how you can help out (also good would be prayers, letters of support and vodoo dolls of the prosecution).
We have done some re-structuring of the site, removing the 12 hour clocks and replacing them with a LOT more links. We'll probably be updating them over the next few weeks. You'll notice the "Peak Oil" links have made their way down to the bottom. Order of appearance and importance are not aligned here, infact the issue of Peak Oil seems to be in the periphery of every news day.
Speaking of links, *HERE* is one about MORE UN inpections that are being thwarted. Well, I don't know about you; but I think it's going to be time to move in soon..
I have two more days to go until the three weeks off that we have been REALLY looking forward to.
I didn't get quite the "Eabha-Face" photo that I had wanted, so I finished off this post with a compilation of them. I'm still determined to capture the phenomenon clearly and directly.
You will see a few pictures of the finger puppets made by our friend Anna, that I had mentioned in the last post. More about her and Dave's generous gifts in the next post when we have better pictures.
Well, best I scoot and let you to those links and photos..
Namaste,
John D
posted by Eabha the Kiwi @ 7:32 AM
2 comments
2 Comments:
For what it's worth, Here is a corporate media account of the second day extradition hearing:
Extradition Hearings: Day 2
U.S. environmentalist merely committed political offences, his
lawyer says
CAMILLE BAINS
VANCOUVER (CP) - An environmentalist who is on the FBI's 10 Most
Wanted list should not be extradited to the United States to
face alleged arson charges because he merely committed a
political offence for which he will be persecuted, a lawyer said
Tuesday.
Tim Russell said his client Tre Arrow, 30, was told by American
authorities that bad things would happen to him in jail if he
didn't give up
B.C. Supreme Court has heard that Arrow, a well-known
environmentalist from Oregon, fled to Canada after he was
charged with conspiring to commit arson against two logging
companies in the Portland area and causing $250,000 in damage.
A federal Crown prosecutor acting for the U.S. has said Arrow
took part in buying, assembling and detonating explosives that
were placed under several logging trucks that were firebombed in
two separate incidents in 2001.
Arrow is a successful activist who allegedly committed a
political offence in order to change the government's
environmental policies, Russell later said outside court.
Canada's Extradition Act ensures that political offences are not
extraditable, Russell said, adding the extradition attempt by
the U.S. is politically motivated while no motive of the alleged
offences has ever been shown.
"The conduct of a requesting state to seek the extradition of
someone for a political offence does violence to the very
integrity of our democracy," he said.
"There is no solace for the political prisoner. The political
prisoner who is being sought for extradition is in jail."
Rosellina Dattilo, a federal Crown prosecutor acting for the
U.S. government, said American officials have direct evidence
from several co-conspirators who have linked Arrow to the
arsons.
But Russell said the evidence is only hearsay and that U.S.
authorities have nothing else against his client.
Outside court, he said there are no other witnesses against
Arrow or any fingerprint evidence to show he was even at the
scene of the alleged offences.
"There's no evidence other than the evidence of the
co-conspirators who agreed to co-operate in exchange for extreme
leniency," Russell said.
Justice Kirsti Gill is assessing the constitutional validity of
certain sections of the Extradition Act and of certain
provisions in the extradition treaty with the U.S. that relate
to a political offence.
The final decision on whether Arrow will be surrendered to the
U.S. rests with the federal justice minister.
Arrow is seeking refugee status in Canada because of his fear of
persecution in the United States, his lawyer said.
"He is a person who has been a thorn in the side of U.S.
authorities for a very long time," Russell said.
"He is being sought for extradition to punish him for his
political opinions or offences that are of a political nature."
Arrow was arrested in Victoria by a Canadian Tire security
officer in March 2004 while trying to steal a pair of bolt
cutters.
Police checks revealed he was on the FBI's most wanted list as
an alleged domestic terrorist.
Arrow, who legally changed his name from Michael Scarpitti, has
been hospitalized while in custody because he lost weight after
going on a hunger strike.
He eats only raw fruits and vegetables, supplied to him by
supporters who say Arrow is concerned about wasted energy
resources used to cook food.
Tre’s Extradition Hearings: Day Three
*(also be sure to check out portland indymedia for further interesting
discussions on the case.)
Arguments wrapped up today at noon, and the next hearing date is
set for next Thursday, July 7th at 9 am. Tre will not be
physically present, but he will be able to watch and listen via
a live video link from the remand centre. The video link is
being set up for logistical reasons. Because of maximum-security
lockdown schedules and the amount of travel time required to get
from Port Coquitlam to downtown Vancouver, the remand centre
won’t be able to deliver Tre to the courthouse by 9 am. The
hearing will be held in one of the special courtrooms equipped
with the video technology. The exact location will be posted on
the schedule board at the BC Supreme Court entrance, 800 Smithe
St.
Next week's hearing focuses exclusively on the procedural issues
raised by lawyer Tim Russell's constitutional challenge of the
Canadian Extradition Act and the Canada-US Extradition Treaty.
The judge will decide on Thursday whether she has jurisdiction
to rule on the constitutional challenge. If the judge agrees she
can rule on that question, the next round of arguments will
address whether the act and the treaty violate the
constitutional rights of political prisoners. After that, the
court will determine whether Tre gets extradited. Observers have
noted that this process could carry on at least into September.
Tre also has the right to appeal if the judge orders him sent
back to the US. The appeal can take an additional two months or
more.
Tre is looking very fit and healthy, although he’s pale from
lack of sunlight. Thanks to the raw food supplied by his
supporters, he’s gained back all the weight he lost last year
during his seven-week-long hunger strike. After the proceedings,
Tre spoke to his friends in the courtroom for a few minutes.
“Thank you all so much for what you do,” Tre said. “I love you
all.”
A dozen supporters watched the hearing today, and reporters from
the Vancouver Province, Canadian Press and Associated Press were
also on hand.
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