🚀 go-pugleaf

I am posting this to CASID-L and DEVMEDIA in the hope that Canadian
subscribers will take appropriate action AND circulate this message to
related lists and interested parties.  Read the attached press release and
draft letter of concern for more details.  The press release is from the
Guelph International Resource Centre, however the announcement applies to
all Global Education Centres in Canada.

If you choose to take action, act now.  Please mail or preferably FAX a
copy of the attached letter (or a letter of your own) to both Andre
Ouelett, Minister of Foreign Affairs and your local M.P.  If anyone knows
Andre Ouelett's email address, please pass it on.

Mail: 	The Hon. Andre Ouellet (M.P.)
	Minister of Foreign Affairs
	House of Commons
	Ottawa, Ontario
	K1A 0A6
	(no stamp required)
Fax:	613-996-3443
Phone:	613-995-1851


Don Richardson
Assistant Professor
Rural Extension Studies
University of Guelph
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
____________________________________________________________________

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Tuesday March 28, 1995

CIDA CUTS DISCUSSED AT PRESS CONFERENCE

With no prior consultation, the Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA) announced a 100% cut to its Public Participation Program last
Friday.  These cuts will mean Canada's foreign aid programs are less
accountable to the public and about 700 people will lose their jobs
across the country.  In response press conferences will be held at global
education centres around the province (Ontario) to discuss the impact of
these funding cuts on their communities.  A press conference will be held
on Wednesday 29 March at 12 noon at the Guelph International Resource
Centre (GIRC).

At that time, members of the Board of Directors of GIRC and other
community representatives will outline how the Centre is organizing to
oppose the 100% cut in funding from CIDA to Global Education
organizations across Canada.  100 centres similar to GIRC throughout the
country, as well as numerous national and provincial NGOs responsible for
the administration and dissemination of CIDA project funds, are hit by
the announcement of unexpectedly high funding cuts.  A conservative
estimate holds that 700 jobs will be lost as a result of this move.

The Guelph International Resource Centre, which is celebrating its 15th
year of operation, is a community-based non-profit global education
centre.  Its mandate is to promote awareness, analysis and suggestions
for action around issues of global and local sustainability.  Its program
is three-fold: respect for human rights, promoting global sustainability,
and understanding global economics.  The Centre's staff and volunteers
offer educational programs to schools and community groups, a Resource
Library for community use, and assist a wide variety of local groups who
are active in global issues.  In 1993/94, GIRC's educational programs
reached 23,000 people in Ontario alone.

CIDA has been a primary funder of the Centre sinces its inception in
1980.  In 1992.93, CIDA spent $22.77 million -- less than 1% of its
budget -- on public outreach and education.  "In my opinion, this does
not represent a large amount of CIDA's budget and may partly explain why
public support for international development is on the decline," says
Dale Hildebrand, executive director of the Ontario Council for
International Cooperation (and one of the organizations affected by the
cuts).

Why is global education so important in motivating Canadians to become
involved in promoting global security and development?  "Canadians can
participate in policy decisions that have an impact on people of the
South (Third World) and in Canada.  To give just one example, we know
that in South Africa, the role of the international community in
demanding human rights and an end to apartheid was much more important
than whatever aid we were channelling to the poor of that country.  This
groundswell of grassroots public support was generated in large part by
global educators urging the public to become involved in the movement for
change," Mr. Hildebrand notes.

For further information regarding the Press Conference, please contact
Gayle Valeriote at GIRC, 519-822-3110 during business hours.

				- 30 -

_______________________________________________________________________

Draft letter of concern:

Dear Mr. Ouellet:

I am writing to express my concern over the elimination of the Canadian
International Development Agency's Public Participation Program.  Without
any prior consultation with the organizations and individuals to be most
affected CIDA announced 100% funding cuts to this program.  What these
cuts mean is that Canada's foreign aid programs will be even less
accountable to the Canadian public, communities will lose valuable global
education resources that have been built up over the years, and about 700
people across the country will loose their jobs -- some with less than
two weeks notice.

Global education centres across the country are among the groups to be
hardest hit by these funding cuts.  Some will be forced to shut down
right away.  In my community, the [name of local global education centre]
has played a vital role as a global education centre.  Over the years
many volunteer members and other organizations have supported the goals
and efforts of the Centre.  The Centre's library contains books, videos
and periodicals that simply cannot be found anywhere else in my
community, and it has been an indispensable resource for students,
teachers, researchers, and community members.

Many times over the past year we have heard pronoucements from MPs,
cabinet ministers, and others about the importance of involving the
Canadian public in Canada's international development policies.  Because
of the community-based, grassroots nature of global education centres
they serve a vital function in increasing public knowledge and
participation in these areas.  For instance, educational programming on
international development issues reaches a large target audience --
primarily young people at the high school and university levels.  These
are the people who are our future policy makers.  It is important that
they have a grounding in global education issues -- human rights,
supporting democracy and responsible government, promoting sustainable
and equitable economic growth, and respecting the uniqueness and visions
of countries in the South.

Please note that global education centres operate on minuscule budgets of
which only a portion is funded by CIDA.  In 1994 CIDA funding to 12
centres employing approximately 50 people was less than 1 million
dollars.  The remainder of the funding was raised by volunteers in the
community.  The work of these centres could not continue without the
support of the grassroots community.

The foreign aid budget has already suffered severe cuts.  The 1994/95
defense budget was 10% less in real terms than the 1989/90 level, but the
foreign aid budget was cut by 26% in the same period.  In 1995, Canada's
ODA/GNP ratio is only .38, not even meeting out commitment as a member of
the United Nations.  Surely more cuts should not be made.

I urge you to retain programs which support the efforts of Canadian NGOs
to educate and involve the Canadian public and local communities in
global education.  Without such programs, criteria for global education
will become inconsistent and an overall strategy for education will
likely disappear.  The loss to teachers, students, community
organizations and all Canadians concerned with social justice issues
cannot be over-emphasized.