Raging Grannies are Mad about Muzzling Event
We raged in front of the Library and Archives building, Thursday, April 18 We watched in horror while Stephen Harper placed gags on scientists, librarians and backbench MPs. But the Grannies couldn’t be muzzled (Harper tried). Instead, they sang about this outrage before chasing Stephen Harper away. Check out the words to Song 1, Song 2. See photos by the Ottawa Citizen here. The Press Release following the event Raging Grannies held a rally for muzzled scientists, librarians, and MPs. OTTAWA : 4 pm, 18 April, 2013, Library and Archives Canada Twenty Raging Grannies...
Read MoreGrannies at International Women’s Day FEMICON event
When asked to perform at FEMICON, we indicated that we are an activist group, not a choir. But we wanted to support International Women’s Day, so we offered to talk about song writing instead. The organizers agreed. So, in front of a packed auditorium, we explained who the Raging Grannies are, how we decide on issues, and how we write our songs. For example, we mentioned how we want to use satire and bring current events into our songs. To keep things lively, we donned our Granny outfits on stage and unfurled some of our recent banners while talking. We then sang a song,...
Read MoreRally for Health Care
Following the drastic cuts to health care both in acute care and long-term care hospitals, the Ottawa Health Coalition organized a rally in front of the Civic Campus on March 4. Five grannies, Bessa, Cathleen, Gale, Jo and Pat showed up with two songs directly to the issue. The organizers let us open the show and were appreciative of our efforts. Check out The Medicare Song and Get Sick, You’ll Make Somebody Richer.
Read MoreSave the Wild Salmon
A small group, Cathleen, Gale, Linda, and Jo went to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to say “Save the Wild Salmon” who are getting diseases and dying because of the fish farming on the coast of BC. Most of it is done by 3 large corporations from Norway who have come here because of our lax laws. They couldn’t do it there! Here is the pamphlet we handed out: PROTECT WILD SALMON! The future of wild salmon continues to be fatally compromised by industrial practices that dump toxic waste in wild salmon habitat. The salmon farming industry has planted itself in the...
Read MoreWhite Poppy Ceremony, 2012
The fifth annual White Poppy Ceremony took place today at 12:45 pm without a hitch. Whereas there were more people from the 11:00 am ceremony milling about the Cenotaph than former years, there was no police presence at the north side so tension was reduced and people were quiet and respectful. Pat and Bessa spoke after the laying of the wreath, in addition to Brenda Carr Vellino, Heather Menzies and several others, all evoking peace and co-operation as an alternative to combat. Heather read John McCrae’s iconic poem, In Flanders Fields, interpreting it as a lament and not the bellicose...
Read MoreGrandmothers Rally for Bill C 398
On November 1, 2012, Canadian Grandmothers supporting African Grandmothers rallied in support of Bill C 398 intended to make inexpensive medicines available in poorer countries. On a rainy day in Ottawa, they gathered on the hill for a touching rally. The Ottawa Raging Grannies joined them and took to the stage at the end to sing three appropriate songs: The African Grandma, Get Sick, Give them Access. This was greatly appreciated.
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