[antiwar-van] (updated) Envisioning Peoples Struggles Conference (van)

[harsha at resist.ca]

* UPDATED SCHEDULE AND REGISTRATION BELOW *


             .:ENVISIONING PEOPLE'S STRUGGLES:.
              Friday June 24 to Sunday June 26
                    SFU Harbour Center
           Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories



Envisioning People's Struggles is a conference being organized on the
weekend of June 24 - 26 to bring together issues and analysis from the
many struggles against war, capitalism, colonialism, and imperialism.  The
conference will also explore and discuss the history of resistance
movements locally and around the world to broaden and contextualize our
understanding of current struggles, while emphasizing the need for
long-term strategy and vision through open dialogue that builds solidarity
between diverse organizing communities.

Envisioning Peoples Struggles will bring together those at the forefront
of self-determination struggles, and organizers and activists
participating in active movements for indigenous sovereignty, against
occupations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine, Haiti and elsewhere; for
justice for immigrants and refugees; for workers rights; for women’s
liberation; against the prison industrial complex; against
capitalist/imperialist globalization; anti-poverty organizing, and more.

It will be a weekend of workshops, panels, films, and strategy sessions.
Childcare available. Lunch and snacks provided.

For more information check the website at http://users.resist.ca/~eps2005/










REGISTRATION










We are asking people to pre-register for the conference. In the chance
that we reach full capacity for any part of the conference, those who have
pre-registered (along with those from out of town or people with
experiences/histories related to workshops) will get priority.

Registration information is included below in this email and is also on
the website.

The conference is by donation (suggested donation 10-20$ for the entire
conference including food and all the film festival). No one turned away
for lack of $.








SCHEDULE





...

-Friday June 24 @ 6 pm. Opening Panel at SFU Habour Center (515 West
Hastings)
-Saturday June 25 from 10 am to 6 pm at SFU Harbour Center (515 West
Hastings)
- Sunday June 26 from 10 am to 8 pm Outdoors and at Lore Krill (65 West
Cordova).


+++++++++++++++++++++
SATURDAY WORKSHOPS SCHEDULE
Each time slot will have two concurrent workshops.
Longer description of each workshop can be found at
http://users.resist.ca/~eps2005/

:::::10:00 TO 11:30::::::
* Rethinking the Labour Movement: With speakers on the role of labour
within social justice struggles; tensions between labour unions and
migrant labour issues; organizing for workers rights beyond unions; and
the state of the labour movement.

* Resisting 2010 Olympics: With speakers on gentrification in the Downtown
Eastside; indigenous land struggles against mega-tourism in unceded
territories of BC; vulnerable migrant labour conditions, and privatization
of public services.


:::::11:30 TO 1:30::::::
* Health under Capitalism: With speakers on the effects of privitization
on the public health care system, how western medical discourse acts as a
tool of social control, the impacts of war and occupation on health, the
practice and preservation of indigenous/traditional medicine, women’s
health, the effect of western medicine on immigrant communities, and
reports on grassroots projects for community health and safety.

* Creative Political and Legal Strategies: In the face of increasing
repression, innovative, subversive and effective legal and political
strategies are being engaged by communities in resistance: from community
self-defence against police repression, political and legal tactics
adopted by indigenous movements to confront the colonial system, and other
multi-fold strategies on doing long-term organizing.


:::::1:30 TO 2:30::::
Lunch Served.


::::::2:30 TO 4:00::::::
* The Possibilities and Limitations of Electoralism: With speakers on the
left taking state power in Venezuela; the left in local government in
Kerala; social movements beyond electoral politics in Argentina; and
confronting colonial governance systems from Iraq to Canada.

* The Globalization of War & the assault of globalization: With speakers
on war profiteering and the state/corporate nexus in war and
globalization; on free trade agreements, the War on Drugs, and occupation
in Latin America; struggles in Africa against neo-colonialism and NEPAD
(New Partnership for Africa’s Development); and resistance against
occupation and economic fundamentalism in the Philippines, South Asia, and
Turtle Island.


::::: 4:00 TO 6::::::::
* History Matters: Past resistance: With speakers on historic movements of
resistance in Vancouver and BC- the labour movement, womens movement,
anti-poverty organizing, indigenous sovereigntist struggles, the Japanese
redress campaign, struggles in solidarity with Third world liberation, and
immigrant organizing against racism.

* Struggles for Indigenous Self-Determination: fighting mining and
forestry destruction:  With indigenous speakers from Guatemala, BC,
Philippines, and India



++++++++++++++++++++++++
SUNDAY JUNE 26 SCHEDULE

* 9:30 am to noon: Space available for strategy sessions, caucuses,
networking, particularly for those traveling from outside Vancouver. More
details on this soon.

* Noon to 2 pm: Closing panel at Lore Krill (65 West Cordova)
“Resistance to War and Colonialism”: Speakers on the occupation of
Palestine, building a decolonization movement in Canada, the role of
US/Canada in the occupation of Haiti, an analysis of the Iranian elections
and US hegemony in the Middle East.

* 11:30 to 4:30 pm: “A Canadian Refugee Camp” at Victory Square (Cambie
and Hastings)
The Refugee Camp, constructed by over dozen immigrant/refugee groups,
highlights well known policies in Canadian immigration history such as the
Chinese Head Tax, the internment of Japanese-Canadians, the "None is too
Many" policy for Jewish refugees, and the exclusion of South Asian
migrants on the Komagata Maru; a history that is repeating itself with the
economic, political and imperialist drive of the "War on Terrorism" both
at home and abroad. The Camp also draws links between Canadian corporate
and state policies against indigenous peoples and Third World peoples that
are the roots causes of war, displacement and migration.

* Lunch will be served at the Refugee Camp (Victory Square) from 1:30 to
2:30 pm

* 2:30 to 3:30 pm: “Historical Struggles in the Downtown Eastside Walk” by
community activists and residents. The Walk will leave from Victory
Square.

* 4- 7 pm: Anti-oppression organizing in an
anti-imperialist/anti-capitalist context.
--- THIS WORKSHOP HAS MANDATORY REGISTRATION TO ENSURE A MINIMUM AND
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS.
“Can anti-oppression politics provide a model for a multi-faceted analysis
that addresses oppression and class exploitation as distinct but
nevertheless intimately interrelated social relationships?”
– Sharmeen Khan, “Roundtable on Anti-Oppression Politics in
Anti-Capitalist Movements”
Anti-oppression arose out of the left's failure to develop a nuanced
approach to questions of oppression. In recent years, the left has been
influenced by anti-oppression analyses, as the movement has sought to
address the effects of capitalism on different communities. Although
anti-oppression organizing has pejoratively been labelled “identity
politics”, it serves as a necessary foundation to ensure a systemic
analysis of capitalism and expand the analysis of radical organizing that
does not get co-opted by the liberal discourse of multiculturalism and
women’s/ queer rights. This comprehensive workshop will explore the
concepts of power, privilege and oppression and examine racism, sexism,
classism, homophobia and other systemic biases in order to increase
awareness, empowerment and create transformative politics within an
anti-capitalist framework.

*Also on Sunday: FILM FESTIVAL (location TBC) from 3 pm to 8 pm



++++++++++++
FUNDING:
We are in need of funding to meet the various costs associated with this
conference, including transportation for out-of-town guests, and making
sure the conference is accessible to participants. If you can donate,
please get in touch.

Cheques can be made out to: Life Without Capitalism and mailed to Maryann
Abbs, 2021 Kitchener, Vancouver V5L 2W6, B.C


++++++++++++
REGISTATION FORM
please copy the registration questions below into an email and send the
completed form to eps2005(at)resist(dot)ca.

Envisioning Peoples Struggles Conference
Workshops, Panels and Films
June 24-26, 2005


PRE REGISTRATION FORM

Name:
Organisation/Affiliation (if any):

When do you plan to attend?

Friday June 24 Opening Panel
Saturday June 25 Workshops
Sunday June 26 Anti-Oppression Workshop (mandatory pre-registration)
Sunday June 26 Historical Resistance Walk of DTES/ Chinatown
Sunday June 26 Film Festival

Please indicate your preference of workshops in each time slot for
Saturday so we get a sense of room size required:

10:00 TO 11:30
* Rethinking the Labour Movement
* Resisting 2010 Olympics

11:30 TO 1:30
* Health under Capitalism
* Creative Political and Legal Strategies

2:30 TO 4:00
* The Possibilities and Limitations of Electoralism
* The Globalization of War & the assault of globalization

4:00 TO 6
* History Matters: Past resistance
* Struggles for Indigenous Self-Determination: fighting mining and
forestry destruction

Do you need childcare (how many/ages)?
Time childcare is needed:

Do you have any food allergies or restrictions that we should be aware of?

Do you need translation?

Do you need housing (which nights/ accessibility needs or
preferences/allergies)?

Do you have any other concerns?

Contact Information
E-mail (preferred) or phone:



++++++++++++++++++
GET INVOLVED:
- To get involved in the organizing, please contact us at
eps2005 at resist.ca or call 778-552-2099 about upcoming meetings.
- Help publicize the event through your networks.


+++++++++++++++++
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Email: eps2005 at resist.ca
Website: http://resist.ca/~eps2005
Call: 778-552-2099