Communism
Federal Land Allocated for Memorial to Victims of Communism
2010/08/14
Federal Land Chosen for Memorial to Victims of Communism
TORONTO, August 12, 2010—The Canadian memorial to victims of Communism will be located on a piece of land in the Garden of the Provinces and Territories in Ottawa. The land has been allocated to Tribute to Liberty for the Memorial to Victims of Totalitarian Communism – Canada, a Land of Refuge by the National Capital Commission (NCC).
A design for the memorial will be chosen through a national design competition planned for 2011.
Alide Forstmanis, Tribute to Liberty board chair says she is happy with the result of the site selection process. “The central location and the beauty of the site are fitting for this memorial. We are pleased with the land the NCC has found for us.”
Mrs. Forstmanis says the memorial will “commemorate the losses and hardships of all those who suffered under Communism, and will pay tribute to Canada which was and is a land of refuge for those who seek liberty.”
Tribute to Liberty is a registered charity and can issue tax receipts for donations to the Memorial to Victims of Totalitarian Communism – Canada, a Land of Refuge. Tribute to Liberty’s grassroots fundraising campaign, the Pathway to Liberty, allows donors to tell a story of a victim of Communism or make a dedication with their donation. The campaign is online at www.tributetoliberty.ca.
Tribute to Liberty
2010/05/21
Tribute to Liberty-A memorial to the Victims of Totalitarian Communism has ben granted charitable status by Canada Customs and Revenue Agency.
Dear Friends and Supporters of Tribute to Liberty and the Memorial to Victims of Totalitarian Communism,
Tribute to Liberty received some excellent news today. We are now a registered charity and can issue tax receipts for donations to the Memorial to Victims of Totalitarian Communism – Canada, a Land of Refuge to be built in Ottawa. Please see the attached press release.
We know many of you have been waiting to donate until we had charitable status. Now that we are able to issue tax receipts we hope you will donate to this important cause. We have a wonderful campaign, The Pathway to Liberty, where you can tell a story of a victim of Communism or make a dedication with your donation: http://www.tributetoliberty.ca/campaign.html
We really need your donations now to continue with the process of building the memorial. We will be holding a national design competition; however, before we can launch the competition we need to have a significant amount of funding in place. This is a requirement of the National Capital Commission (NCC). We work with the NCC and must meet its policy guidelines for building a memorial on federal land. If you are planning to donate to this project please do so as soon as possible. If you would like any information on the project please do not hesitate to contact myself or Carolyn. A donation form is attached for your convenience, and you can also donate online via paypal: http://www.tributetoliberty.ca/contribute.html
Dear Friends and Supporters of Tribute to Liberty and the Memorial to Victims of Totalitarian Communism,
Tribute to Liberty received some excellent news today. We are now a registered charity and can issue tax receipts for donations to the Memorial to Victims of Totalitarian Communism – Canada, a Land of Refuge to be built in Ottawa. Please see the attached press release.
We know many of you have been waiting to donate until we had charitable status. Now that we are able to issue tax receipts we hope you will donate to this important cause. We have a wonderful campaign, The Pathway to Liberty, where you can tell a story of a victim of Communism or make a dedication with your donation: http://www.tributetoliberty.ca/campaign.html
We really need your donations now to continue with the process of building the memorial. We will be holding a national design competition; however, before we can launch the competition we need to have a significant amount of funding in place. This is a requirement of the National Capital Commission (NCC). We work with the NCC and must meet its policy guidelines for building a memorial on federal land. If you are planning to donate to this project please do so as soon as possible. If you would like any information on the project please do not hesitate to contact myself or Carolyn. A donation form is attached for your convenience, and you can also donate online via paypal: http://www.tributetoliberty.ca/contribute.html
Soviet Story - Tribute to Liberty
2010/05/12
Interview on CFRA radio Ottawa. Edvīns Šņore, director of Soviet Story and Alīde Forstmanis, chair Tribute to Liberty
The Soviet Story - Premiere Screening in Toronto
2010/01/31
Tribute to Liberty Marks the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall with Prime Minister Stephen Harper
2009/11/10
Tribute to Liberty Marks the 20th Anniversary of the Fall of the Berlin Wall with Prime Minister Stephen Harper
On November 9, 2009 Tribute to Liberty Board Chair Alide Forstmanis took part in a private wreath laying ceremony with the Right Honorable Stephen Harper and other dignitaries, at a piece of the Berlin Wall in the Government Conference Centre in Ottawa. Following the wreath laying ceremony the Prime Minister gave a speech about the significance of the anniversary to an audience of over 150 people, gathered at the Conference Centre. Alide also gave a speech on behalf of Tribute to Liberty and the memorial to victims of totalitarian communism to be built in Ottawa. Speeches were also given by the German Ambassador, Minister Peter Van Loan, and the president of the Canadian Polish Congress.
Announcement from the Prime Minister’s Web Site
http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=2957
CPAC Coverage of Speeches
http://www.cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=view3&pagetype=vod&lang=e&clipID=3312
Announcement from the Prime Minister’s Web Site
http://www.pm.gc.ca/eng/media.asp?id=2957
CPAC Coverage of Speeches
http://www.cpac.ca/forms/index.asp?dsp=template&act=view3&pagetype=vod&lang=e&clipID=3312
Maldi un nevajadzīgi apvainojumi
2009/10/10
Latvija Amerikā, 2009. g. 3. oktobra numurā, 9. lpp. ir rakstītas nepatiesības.
"Cīņa par nosaukumu piemineklim Otavā"
Apsveicamā doma celt Otavā pieminekli totālitārā komūnisma upuŗiem nonāca strupceļā, kad „National Capital Commission” (NCC), 10. septembrī „principā” piekrītot idejai celt pieminekli, tomēr nolēma, ka tāds nosaukums būtu pārāk provokātīvs, tāpēc tas ir jāpārskata un jāizņem vārds „komūnisms”. Valdes locekļi uzsvēra, ka nebūtu polītiski korrekti minēt kādu konkrētu ideoloģiju, kuŗas nodarījumus pret cilvēci atzīmēt, bet vajagot uzsvērt visu totālitāro režīmu noziegumus.
Šādai domai pilnīgi pretī ir pieminekļa iniciātori – „Tribute to Liberty” grupa, kuŗas valdes priekšsēde ir Alīde Forstmane. Neiekļaujot vārdu „komūnisms” pieminekļa nosaukumā, tam vispār zūd sākotnējā nozīme. Tādās pašās domās bija arī daudzi līdzšinējie pieminekļa celtniecības atbalstītāji. Parādījās raksti kanadiešu presē, nosodot šo NCC lēmumu, kā arī tika sūtītas vēstules pieminekļa atbalstam.
Arī Centrālās un Austrumeiropas tautu padome (Central and Eastern European Council) Kanadā, kuŗā ietilpst arī Latviešu Nacionālā Apvienība Kanadā, nosūtīja visu šo tautu pārstāvošo organizāciju parakstītu vēstuli, izsakot savu nožēlu par šādu NCC lēmumu. Vēstulē uzsvērta atziņa, ka atklāti minot komūnismu kā lielāko cilvēktiesību pārkāpēju un pret cilvēci izdarīto noziegumu veicēju, būtu sperts liels solis pretī vispārējiem taisnīguma meklējumiem. Izteikts apgalvojums, ka tie 3.4 miljonu eiropiešu, kas ieradušies Kanadā, meklējot patvērumu no komūnistiskās tirranijas, un visu upuŗu radinieki noteikti ir pārliecināti, ka šāds piemineklis nepieciešams.
Pateicoties asajiem protestiem NCC septembŗa beigās tomēr pieņēma nosaukumu „Piemineklis totālitārā komūnisma upuŗiem” (A Memorial to the Victims of Totalitarian Communism”, pieliekot vēl apakšnosaukumu „Kanada – patvēruma zeme” (Canada, a Land of Refuge”). Līdz ar to tagad pieminekļa sagatavošanas un celtniecības darbi var ritēt pilnā sparā un arī ziedotāji var būt droši, ka viņu devums aizies paredzētam mērķim.
Lai saņemtu nodokļu atlaides kvītis, "Tribute to Liberty" var ziedot arī caur DV Kanadā - ar norādījumu TTL.
"Cīņa par nosaukumu piemineklim Otavā"
Apsveicamā doma celt Otavā pieminekli totālitārā komūnisma upuŗiem nonāca strupceļā, kad „National Capital Commission” (NCC), 10. septembrī „principā” piekrītot idejai celt pieminekli, tomēr nolēma, ka tāds nosaukums būtu pārāk provokātīvs, tāpēc tas ir jāpārskata un jāizņem vārds „komūnisms”. Valdes locekļi uzsvēra, ka nebūtu polītiski korrekti minēt kādu konkrētu ideoloģiju, kuŗas nodarījumus pret cilvēci atzīmēt, bet vajagot uzsvērt visu totālitāro režīmu noziegumus.
Šādai domai pilnīgi pretī ir pieminekļa iniciātori – „Tribute to Liberty” grupa, kuŗas valdes priekšsēde ir Alīde Forstmane. Neiekļaujot vārdu „komūnisms” pieminekļa nosaukumā, tam vispār zūd sākotnējā nozīme. Tādās pašās domās bija arī daudzi līdzšinējie pieminekļa celtniecības atbalstītāji. Parādījās raksti kanadiešu presē, nosodot šo NCC lēmumu, kā arī tika sūtītas vēstules pieminekļa atbalstam.
Arī Centrālās un Austrumeiropas tautu padome (Central and Eastern European Council) Kanadā, kuŗā ietilpst arī Latviešu Nacionālā Apvienība Kanadā, nosūtīja visu šo tautu pārstāvošo organizāciju parakstītu vēstuli, izsakot savu nožēlu par šādu NCC lēmumu. Vēstulē uzsvērta atziņa, ka atklāti minot komūnismu kā lielāko cilvēktiesību pārkāpēju un pret cilvēci izdarīto noziegumu veicēju, būtu sperts liels solis pretī vispārējiem taisnīguma meklējumiem. Izteikts apgalvojums, ka tie 3.4 miljonu eiropiešu, kas ieradušies Kanadā, meklējot patvērumu no komūnistiskās tirranijas, un visu upuŗu radinieki noteikti ir pārliecināti, ka šāds piemineklis nepieciešams.
Pateicoties asajiem protestiem NCC septembŗa beigās tomēr pieņēma nosaukumu „Piemineklis totālitārā komūnisma upuŗiem” (A Memorial to the Victims of Totalitarian Communism”, pieliekot vēl apakšnosaukumu „Kanada – patvēruma zeme” (Canada, a Land of Refuge”). Līdz ar to tagad pieminekļa sagatavošanas un celtniecības darbi var ritēt pilnā sparā un arī ziedotāji var būt droši, ka viņu devums aizies paredzētam mērķim.
Lai saņemtu nodokļu atlaides kvītis, "Tribute to Liberty" var ziedot arī caur DV Kanadā - ar norādījumu TTL.
Vita Gaiķe
Te ir Alīdes Forstmanes "lasītāju vēstule" LA redakcijai:
LA raksts; "Cīņa par nosaukumu piemineklim Otavā"
Pateicos ka dažas rindiņas tiek pievērstas šim svarīgam projektam - piemineklim Otavā, totalitārā komunisma upuriem. Bet man būtu labāk paticis virsraksts " Tiks celts piemineklis komunisma upuriem Otavā", jo svarīgais ir tieši tas, nevis dažādā politika un cīņa par godu un varu.
Būdama priekšsēde šim pasākumam zinu skaidri kas noticis un notiek. Vispirms vēlos pateikt lielu paldies LNAK 2008-09 g. valdei kura novēlēja $15,000 šim projektam. Ar nožēlu man jāsaka ka TTL līdz šai dienai trūkst oficiāls morāls atbalsts no LNAK 2009-2010 g. valdes. Divās sēdēs ir izskanējušas šaubas par šo projektu.
No Tribute to Liberty puses vēlos izteikt lielu paldies latviešiem vispārīgi, pat no aizjūras, par finansiālu devīgumu. Pateicoties s.c. LNAK 2008-09 g. valdei , DV Kanada un DV Toronto prāviem ziedojumiem varējām atalgot profesionālu konsultantu firmu kura kopā ar TTL valdi sastādīja projekta iesniegumu. Šo iesniegumu National Capital Commission valde pieņēma bez jebkādas maiņas. Mēs zinājām ka cīņa būs par pieminekļa vārdu "komunismu upuriem", jo šāda līdzīga situācija radās Eiropas Padomē 2005. gadā. Viens no TTL padomdevējiem ir zviedru parlamentārietis Gērans Lindblads, kurš mums stāstīja par EP diskusijām sakarā ar vārdu "komunismu upuru" pielietošanu.
NCC piekāpās TTL valdes spiedieniem jau dažas dienas pirms Centrālās un Austrum Eiropas tautu padome (CEEC), nosūtīja savu vēstuli NCC. NCC ļoti uztraucās par ļoti negatīvu kritiku kanadiešu presē kā arī radioraidījumos. Arī daudzas privātpersonas sūtīja atbalstvēstules TTL projektam.
TTL aicina visas CEEC dalībgrupas oficiāli pozitīvi atbalsīt un ieteikt visām savām tautām finansiāli, pēc savām spējām, atbalstīt TTL.
Turpmākai informācijai: Ontario AG (Attorney General) departements ir piešķīris TTL "charitable status" un patreiz piestrādājam pie nākamo soli - iesniegt dokumentus Canada Revenue Agency kas ir daļa no procesa. Ceram neilgā laikā saņemt oficiālo "charitable" statusu. Kamēr TTL ir bijusi iesaistīta šinī projektā nauda ir gājusi tikai paredzētiem mērķiem, cita iespēja vispāri mūsu izpratnē nepastāv. Avīžu raksta pēdējais teikums ir galīgi nevajadzīgs un negodīgs apvainojums.
Lai saņemtu nodokļu atlaides kvītes starplaikā var ziedot "Tribute to Liberty" caur DV-Kanada - ar norādījumu TTL.
National Capital Commission Approves Name for Ottawa Monument: "To Victims of Totalitarian Communism"
2009/09/22
TORONTO, Sept. 22 /CNW/ - The National Capital Commission (NCC) approved the title "A Memorial to Victims of Totalitarian Communism - Canada, a Land of Refuge" for the monument to be built on national capital region land to the more than 100 million victims of totalitarian communism.
"We would like to thank the NCC for working with us to develop a title for the monument that does indeed focus on the victims of communism." says Alide Forstmanis, Tribute to Liberty Board Chair. "We are happy that this part of the process is now behind us, and we will now be focusing our energies on the next stages - finding a site and proceeding with the design competition, and fundraising for all of that."
Charles Coffey, Honorary Chair of the initiative, commented on the process of working out the wording for the title of the monument: "Probably the board members at the NCC, like so many Canadians, are simply unaware of the scope and scale of communism. This monument will help to change that."
Tribute to Liberty will now embark on a fundraising campaign. Details of the campaign will be released in the next several days.
The National Capital Commission is the government agency that oversees the use and development of national capital region land. The memorial to the victims of totalitarian communism is a project of Tribute to Liberty working with founding partner The Open Book Group.
For further information: Carolyn Foster, Project Coordinator, Tribute to Liberty, info@tributetoliberty.ca
"We would like to thank the NCC for working with us to develop a title for the monument that does indeed focus on the victims of communism." says Alide Forstmanis, Tribute to Liberty Board Chair. "We are happy that this part of the process is now behind us, and we will now be focusing our energies on the next stages - finding a site and proceeding with the design competition, and fundraising for all of that."
Charles Coffey, Honorary Chair of the initiative, commented on the process of working out the wording for the title of the monument: "Probably the board members at the NCC, like so many Canadians, are simply unaware of the scope and scale of communism. This monument will help to change that."
Tribute to Liberty will now embark on a fundraising campaign. Details of the campaign will be released in the next several days.
The National Capital Commission is the government agency that oversees the use and development of national capital region land. The memorial to the victims of totalitarian communism is a project of Tribute to Liberty working with founding partner The Open Book Group.
For further information: Carolyn Foster, Project Coordinator, Tribute to Liberty, info@tributetoliberty.ca
Russia acts against "false" history
2009/07/25
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/europe/8166020.stm The Imperialists in Moscow are afraid of the truth.
Tribute to Liberty
2009/01/07
Tribute to Liberty is a Canadian organization whose mission is to establish a memorial to the victims of the Crimes of Communism in Canada's National Capital Region and to educate the public about Communism's Crimes. For more information see http://www.tributetoliberty.ca
Tribute to Liberty - Press Release
2008/10/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Canadian Communities Unite to Remember Victims of Crimes of Communism
TORONTO, September 26, 2008-Representatives from Canada's ethno-cultural communities have created a non-profit organization, Tribute to Liberty, to establish a memorial in Ottawa to the Victims of the Crimes of Communism.
“Because of this project Canadians will have an opportunity to learn about the Crimes of Communism, and how they have affected the lives of so many Canadians. Public awareness is very low in terms of the huge number of Canadians who have suffered under Communism in the countries they came from, and this memorial will change that,” says Philip Leong, Tribute to Liberty Board Chair.
“Ambassadors and their delegates from 14 countries have written to the Prime Minister calling for the creation of a memorial,” says Leong. “We hope to build on that broad international endorsement with comparable support from Canadians coast to coast to coast.”
Proponents of the project are engaging with representatives from a range of communities in Canada including Afghan, Armenian, Chinese, Cuban, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Mennonite, Polish, Russian, Slovakian, Tibetan, Ukrainian and Vietnamese, among others.
The members of the Tribute to Liberty Board of Directors are Philip Leong, Chair; Alide Forstmanis, Treasurer; Reet Marten-Sehr, Secretary; Alexandra Chyczij; and Wladyslaw Lizon.
Canadian Communities Unite to Remember Victims of Crimes of Communism
TORONTO, September 26, 2008-Representatives from Canada's ethno-cultural communities have created a non-profit organization, Tribute to Liberty, to establish a memorial in Ottawa to the Victims of the Crimes of Communism.
“Because of this project Canadians will have an opportunity to learn about the Crimes of Communism, and how they have affected the lives of so many Canadians. Public awareness is very low in terms of the huge number of Canadians who have suffered under Communism in the countries they came from, and this memorial will change that,” says Philip Leong, Tribute to Liberty Board Chair.
“Ambassadors and their delegates from 14 countries have written to the Prime Minister calling for the creation of a memorial,” says Leong. “We hope to build on that broad international endorsement with comparable support from Canadians coast to coast to coast.”
Proponents of the project are engaging with representatives from a range of communities in Canada including Afghan, Armenian, Chinese, Cuban, Czech, Estonian, Hungarian, Korean, Latvian, Lithuanian, Mennonite, Polish, Russian, Slovakian, Tibetan, Ukrainian and Vietnamese, among others.
The members of the Tribute to Liberty Board of Directors are Philip Leong, Chair; Alide Forstmanis, Treasurer; Reet Marten-Sehr, Secretary; Alexandra Chyczij; and Wladyslaw Lizon.
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http://www.tributetoliberty.ca
CONTACT:
Carolyn Foster
Project Coordinator
Tribute to Liberty
416.421.4114
info@tributetoliberty.ca