From dbernans at sdf.lonestar.org Tue Sep 5 17:33:16 2006 From: dbernans at sdf.lonestar.org (David Bernans) Date: Wed, 6 Sep 2006 00:33:16 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] Canadian 9/11 Author Defies Ban (please post) Message-ID: CANADIAN 9/11 AUTHOR DEFIES BAN AND CHALLENGES "RISK ASSESSMENT COMMITTEE" SECRECY (please post widely) University Says Risk Assessment Committee Membership Must Remain Secret for "Security Reasons" The latest developments in my Kafkaesque saga, as always, can be viewed on my publisher's web site: www.cumuluspress.com I have recently tried to focus more attention on the so-called "Risk Assessment Committee" which gave a negative evaluation of my book reading. I have refused to submit my September 11 "guerilla" reading at the Concordia Community Solidarity Co-op Bookstore or any other events I participate in for another risk assessment until the process is reformed. University spokesperson Christine Mota was sited in papers across Canada today (The Montreal Gazette, the Windsor Star, the Vancouver Province, the Saskatoon StarPheonix, etc.) as saying the risk assessment committee at Concordia University must maintain a secret membership for "security reasons" (only the head of the committee, VP Services Michael Di Grappa, is publicly known to be on the committee). This is a committee at a public university that makes decisions about who can and cannot speak on the campus. What "security reasons" could possibly justify its secrecy? The University has also failed to respond to my demand that the risk assessment committee GIVE REASONS to individuals and groups who are denied the chance to hold their events on campus. Similarly, Concordia still refuses to review the policies and procedures of the committee or to have student, faculty and university staff representation on the committee. We still need individuals and groups to write letters questioning the risk assessment committee's decision in my case and calling for a public review of the risk assessment committee's powers and procedures. PEN, an organization dedicated to writers' freedom, has written an excellent letter that can be used as a model. See the pdf version of the letter on the Cumulus Press web site. Please send letters to VP Services Michael Di Grappa at mdg at algol.concordia.ca Send a copy to the student newspaper at letters at thelink.concordia.ca And a copy for us at northof911 at yahoo.com For updates on the campaign and information about North of 9/11 see the Cumulus Press web site. To read an excerpt from North of 9/11 (if you are not afraid of the risk involved): http://www.cumuluspress.com/pdf.files/9-11_chap2.pdf Or if you are really feeling brave you can buy the book at: http://www.rabble.ca/bookstore/detail.shtml?x=49584 For inquires from the press contact: David Widgington, publisher widge[at]cumuluspress[dot]com To have me come and terrorize the population of your hometown with explosive literary weapons of mass destruction (otherwise known as a book reading), you can contact me at: dbernans[at]sdf[dot]lonestar[dot]org But September 11 is already booked (I will be reading the book at McGill University where quaint concepts like academic freedom and freedom of speech still mean something and I will be doing a guerilla reading at the Concordia Community Solidarity Co-op Bookstore). For updates about future book readings please see the Cumulus Press web site. Thanks for your solidarity, David Bernans Author and security risk From dbernans at sdf.lonestar.org Thu Sep 7 16:29:13 2006 From: dbernans at sdf.lonestar.org (David Bernans) Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 23:29:13 +0000 (UTC) Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] Sept 11 Concordia Reading of North of 9/11 (dedicated to Lillian Robinson) Message-ID: Dedicated to Lillian Robinson On the 5th anniversary of 9/11, (September 11, 2006) "9/11 RETROSPECTIVE: Troubling Directions North of 9/11" David Bernans 7:00pm @ Concordia Community Solidarity Co-op Bookstore, 2150 Bishop street, Montreal. The event will include readings from the novel North of 9/11 (Cumulus Press, 2006), musical performances and critical discussions of student activism in a post-9/11 Montreal. The novel I am credited with writing owes much to the encouragement and merciless criticism of Lillian Robinson. She is also mentioned several times in the book. The main protagonist of North of 9/11, a first-year Women's Studies major by the name of Sarah Murphy, calls Lillian her "hero". She is my hero too. Lillian has been following the media coverage of the banning of my book reading at Concordia and the subsequent scrambling of the PR department to concoct a cover story. She is very excited about the event and would very much like to be there. We will be video taping the reading, discussion and musical performances in order to bring it to Lillian at the hospital. We also hope to show video of the speech that Lillian gave at the launch of North of 9/11 in May. That speech is even more relevant today than it was in May. As you may recall, the launch happened on the day Canadian parliamentarians were debating whether to extend Canada's military engagement in Afghanistan. Lillian made the connections between the lonely anti-war voices of the North of 9/11 protagonists and today's anti-war movement. Now, we are seeing the consequences of that House of Commons vote as the civilian and military death tolls mount. So I really hope you all can make it. As you may know, I have refused to fill out another booking application to hold this event at Concordia. Filling out an application would mean submitting to another risk assessment. I will not submit to any more risk assessments until the so-called "risk assessment committee" is fundamentally reformed. The secrecy of committee membership should end (only the head of the committee, VP Services Michael Di Grappa is known to the public). There should be a review of the committee's procedures and past decisions. It should give reasons to individuals and groups when it denies their events security clearance. And there should be student, staff and faculty representation on the committee. Since Concordia is not helping with the event, we are trying to rig the proper audio and visual equipment to show the dvd of Lillian's speech ourselves. So if any of you have access to equipment such as a sound system, or even speakers for the video projector, your help would be much appreciated. If you can help, please call David Widgington at 514-523-1975. Thanks for your solidarity and support, David Bernans, author and security risk for more info www.cumuluspress.com From lf_gaudet at yahoo.ca Thu Sep 7 19:15:39 2006 From: lf_gaudet at yahoo.ca (Louis-F. Gaudet) Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 22:15:39 -0400 (EDT) Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] =?iso-8859-1?q?=5BCommuniqu=E9_LUX=5D_Hors_d?= =?iso-8859-1?q?=92Afghanistan_=3A_Halte_=E0_l=92imp=E9rialisme_humanitair?= =?iso-8859-1?q?e_!?= Message-ID: <20060908021540.92673.qmail@web52307.mail.yahoo.com> Communiqu? LUX, 7 septembre 2006 Hors d?Afghanistan : Halte ? l?imp?rialisme humanitaire ! Fondements pour un retrait unilat?ral des forces arm?es canadiennes L?Imp?rialisme humanitaire, un livre de Jean Bricmont publi? chez LUX ?diteur est maintenant disponible en librairie. Dans cet ouvrage attendu, l?auteur livre des arguments forts pour une opposition sans complexe aux interventions militaires et dresse les fondements d?un argumentaire qui pourrait servir aux Canadiens pour un retrait unilat?ral de nos forces arm?es en Afghanistan. En faisant un examen du consensus qui appara?t lorsque les grandes puissances, dont le Canada, s?appuient sur la d?fense des droits humains et la promotion de la d?mocratie afin de justifier leurs invasions militaires, Bricmont jette un regard critique sur les pr?jug?s et les manipulations qui sous-tendent l?id?ologie de l?ing?rence. Par le fait m?me, il soul?ve un nombre de questions qui sont rarement ?nonc?es et auxquelles on ne s?attarde que trop rarement : ? qui profitent vraiment ces ing?rences militaires ? Aux populations locales ou aux grandes entreprises ? La vision traditionnelle du droit international, qui interdit l?ing?rence unilat?rale, est-elle vraiment d?pass?e ? Lorsque l?on parle de d?mocratie et de droits de l?homme, pense-t-on aussi aux droits ?conomiques et sociaux ? Doit-on envahir un pays entier et le plonger dans la guerre civile, sous pr?texte, par exemple, que les femmes sont soumises ? un r?gime barbare et d?gradant ? C?est ? ces questions, o? les consid?rations politiques, ?thiques et morales sont aussi nombreuses que complexes, que s?attaque Jean Bricmont. Sans tomber dans le relativisme culturel, l?auteur d?Imp?rialisme humanitaire remet en question la l?gitimit? et les effets des politiques occidentales vis-?-vis du tiers-monde. En esquissant une d?marche politique autre que celle de l?ing?rence, fond?e sur une vision radicalement diff?rente des rapports Nord-Sud, Bricmont en appelle ? l?engagement citoyen. Nos gouvernements tentent de justifier l?injustifiable : un appui servile ? l?imp?rialisme le plus brutal et destructeur, pourvu qu?il se drape dans les oripeaux de la libert?. C?est ? cette logique qu?il faut s?opposer afin d??tablir les bases morales d?un retrait des forces arm?es canadiennes d?Afghanistan. ?galement co-auteur, avec Alan Sokal, du retentissant Impostures intellectuelles, Jean Bricmont est professeur de physique th?orique ? l?Universit? catholique de Louvain, en Belgique. Il est disponible pour des entrevues t?l?phoniques, et peut se d?placer ? Paris pour des captations en studio (t?l? et radio). Afin de planifier une entrevue, ou demander un exemplaire du livre en service de presse, veuillez vous adresser ? Louis-Fr?d?ric Gaudet, en t?l?phonant au (514) 521.5499 ou en ?crivant ? l?adresse ?lectronique suivante : lf.gaudet at luxediteur.com. Disponible en librairie Jean Bricmont, L?Imp?rialisme humanitaire, Montr?al, Lux ?diteur, 2006, 228 pages. ISBN 2-895960-38-0 Prix : 21,95 $ --30-- Infos: Lux ?diteur ? CP 129 succ. De Lorimier ? Montr?al (Qc) H2H 1V0 lf.gaudet[at]luxediteur.com ? http://www.luxediteur.com t?l. : (514) 521.5499 / fax : (514) 521.4931 __________________________________________________________ L?che-vitrine ou l?che-?cran ? magasinage.yahoo.ca From abolissons at gmail.com Sat Sep 9 06:37:13 2006 From: abolissons at gmail.com (Hunger-strike support committee) Date: Sat, 9 Sep 2006 09:37:13 -0400 Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] LUNDI/MONDAY: 5 ans depuis le 11 septembre / 5 years after 11 September Message-ID: <7094833a0609090637r5d3d08d5l51a2231eb4b7a1fc@mail.gmail.com> (english below) 5 ANS DEPUIS LE 11 SEPTEMBRE : cons?quences et r?ponses locales de 18h30 ? 21h ? la salle Leacock 132, Universit? de McGill (855 rue Sherbrooke Ouest) *Adil Charkaoui, emprisonn? pendant pr?s de deux ans en vertu d'un certificat de s?curit? *Jooneed Khan, journaliste, La Presse *Bassam Hussein, Commission populaire sur les mesures "s?curitaires" en immigration *Dolores Chew, membre du Centre communautaire des femmes sud-asiatiques Ceci est un ?v?nement bilingue avec traduction chuchot?e +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 5 years since 911- Local effects and responses 6.30-9pm, Leacock 132, McGill University (855 Sherbrooke West) *Adil Charkaoui, detained under security certificate for over two years *Jooneed Khan, journalist, La Presse *Bassam Hussein, People's Commission on Immigration "Security" Measures *Dolores Chew, member of South Asian Women's Community Centre This is a bilingual event- there will be whisper translation available ------------------------- Pour plus d'information, contactez : le Groupe de recherche en int?r?t public de l'Universit? McGill 3647 rue University, 3?me ?tage Montr?al, Qu?bec, H3Z 2P8 T?l?phone: 514 398-7432 Fax: 514-398-8976 http://ssmu.mcgill.ca/qpirg From mfoster at web.net Mon Sep 11 08:46:39 2006 From: mfoster at web.net (mary foster) Date: Mon, 11 Sep 2006 11:46:39 -0400 Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] Thursday: Support Kader / JEUDI Appui pour Kader Message-ID: <026601c6d5ba$02e31e30$dc8b8bcf@CPQ18145226471> From: "comit? d'appui pour abdelkader belaouni" (english below. please circulate. svp faire diffuser!) Jeudi : APPUYEZ Abdelkader Belaouni Tandis que Abdelkader (? Kader ?) Belaouni entreprend son neuvi?me mois d' incertitude, soyez des n?tres lors d'une d?monstration publique d'appui ? sa lutte : Jeudi le 14 septembre,12h30, ? l'?glise St-Gabriel - 2157 rue Centre (m?tro Charlevoix). Soyez des n?tre pour une action symbolique d'encerclement de l'?glise et pour la conf?rence de presse qui suivra. (Si vous souhaitez participer ? l' encerclement, assurez-vous d'arriver ? 12h30 pile!). PLUS QUE JAMAIS, IL EST ESSENTIEL QUE LA COMMUNAUT? T?MOIGNE DE SON SOUTIEN POUR KADER! Jeudi, prenez quelques heures pour manifester de mani?re concr?te votre solidarit? avec Kader. Ce dernier a pris sanctuaire ? l'?glise St-Gabriel le 1er janvier 2006 afin d'?viter la d?portation. En effet, pour les agent-es de Citoyennet? et immigration Canada (CIC), l'impossibilit? pour Kader de se trouver du travail r?mun?r? et l'absence de parent? directe au Canada sont des raisons qui suffisent ? chambarder sa vie pour une troisi?me fois. Kader m?ne cette lutte depuis 8 mois et demi d?j?. Son bien-?tre en est consid?rablement affect?. Au total, voil? 10 ans qu'il lutte pour son statut juridique, soit depuis qu'il a fui la brutale guerre civile d'Alg?rie. Cet exil a men? Kader aux ?tats-Unis, d'o? il a ?t? d?racin? pour une deuxi?me fois, suite aux ?v?nements du 11 septembre, en ?tant plac? sur le "special registration" simplement en raison de son pays d'origine majoritairement musulman. Sauf dans le cas de son combat avec les autorit?s canadiennes en immigration, Kader a trouv? la s?curit?, une communaut? d'accueil et a d?velopp? son autonomie ? Montr?al. Il refuse d'?tre d?racin? pour une troisi?me fois. Le moins que nous puissions faire est de lib?rer quelques heures de notre temps afin de t?moigner du soutien que nous portons au courage de Kader dans sa lutte contre la double discrimination ? laquelle il fait face en tant que migrant et non-voyant. Pour plus d'information : Comit? de soutien ? Abdelkader Belaouni www.soutienpourkader.net T?l. : (514) 859-9023 soutienkader at gmail.com * Pour faire partie de notre liste d'envois, envoyez-nous un courriel et demandez ? ?tre inscrit-es ? la nouvelle liste. =================== As Abdelkader ('Kader') Belaouni enters his ninth month of limbo, please join us in a strong public show of support for his struggle: Thursday, 14 September, 12:30pm at St. Gabriel's Church, 2157 Centre Street (metro Charlevoix). Please join us in a symbolic encirclement of the church followed by a press conference. (**Note that if you are joining the encirclement, you should be there at 12:30pm sharp.) IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO SHOW STRONG COMMUNITY SUPPORT FOR KADER! On Thursday, take a couple of hours to demonstrate your solidarity with him in a tangible way. Kader entered sanctuary in St. Gabriel's church on 1 January 2006 to avoid deportation at the hands of Canadian Immigration officials. To CIC officials, Kader's inability to find paying work and his lack of blood relatives in Canada was sufficient reason uproot his life for a third time. Kader has already taken 8 and a half months of his life to wage this struggle. This has taken a huge toll on his well-being. In total, he has now been struggling for legal status for 10 years, since first fleeing the brutal civil war in Algeria. He was uprooted a second time, from post-9.11 United States, where he was placed on a "special registration" list simply because he was born in a Muslim-majority country. Except for his battle with Canadian Immigration authorities, Kader has found security and community and has established autonomy in Montreal. He is refusing to be uprooted for a third time. The least we can do is find a few hours to show our faces and our support for his courageous stand against the double-discrimination he faces as a migrant and as a blind person. More information: Committee to support Abdelkader Belaouni www.soutienpourkader.net tel. 514 859 9023 soutienkader at gmail.com *To join our mailing list, email us and ask to be added to our news list. From aaron at resist.ca Tue Sep 12 09:43:14 2006 From: aaron at resist.ca (aaron at resist.ca) Date: Tue, 12 Sep 2006 09:43:14 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] CBC: Canada 'critical' to war on terror: Rice Message-ID: <1318.66.130.86.218.1158079394.squirrel@mail.resist.ca> apparently Condi even grabbed a coffee from Tim Horton's in Stellarton, Nova Scotia. what a home town gal! aaron http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2006/09/12/canada-us.html Canadian troops serving in Afghanistan are playing an "absolutely critical" role in the American-led war on terror, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Tuesday during a visit to Nova Scotia. Condoleezza Rice on the Afghan mission: 'I know there are times that it seems that things aren't going in a straight line. Big historic circumstances often don't go in a straight line.' (CBC) Condoleezza Rice on the Afghan mission: 'I know there are times that it seems that things aren't going in a straight line. Big historic circumstances often don't go in a straight line.' (CBC) Rice, who spoke during a news conference with Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay in the northern town of Stellarton, is on a two-day visit to the province to mark the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. "The Canadian contribution to helping build stability in Afghanistan is absolutely critical to the war on terror," said Rice, who travelled to MacKay's home riding after she arrived in the province on Monday. "I know that there is a sacrifice, I know that it is hard work. I know there are times that it seems that things aren't going in a straight line," she said. "Big historic circumstances often don't go in a straight line." Canada has been in Afghanistan since early 2002, shortly after the United States invaded to topple the Taliban government in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. Canada's military currently has more than 2,000 troops there and is leading the NATO forces in the southern provinces. However, public support for the mission has dipped in recent weeks following the deaths of five Canadian soldiers ? including one killed in error by U.S. forces ? in a massive anti-Taliban operation launched 10 days ago. Since the mission began, 31 soldiers and one diplomat have been killed. On the weekend, the NDP passed a resolution making withdrawal from Afghanistan a formal party policy. Canada will stay course: MacKay NATO's top commander made an appeal last week for the alliance's members to send more troops to Afghanistan. But MacKay said Rice had not asked Canada to boost its deployment. He said Canada is committed to the mission because Canadian efforts and sacrifices will pay off not only in Afghanistan, but also at home. 'We cannot retreat, we cannot come back. Boats are safe in the harbour, but that's not what they're made for.'-Foreign Affairs Minister Peter MacKay "If we leave it to the terrorists to continue to flourish in places like Afghanistan, they'll find us. They'll come here and they'll try to wreak havoc in our lives," he said. "We cannot retreat, we cannot come back." The foreign minister also offered an old expression from the Maritimes to get his point across. "Boats are safe in the harbour, but that's not what they're made for." Speaking after U.S. embassy attacked in Syria MacKay, who spoke hours after gunmen tried to storm the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, said Canada's increasingly tighter alliances with the U.S. do not make it a bigger target for attacks. "I don't think it elevates Canada as a target to be doing our share in the world," he said. No Americans were killed in the Tuesday morning incident in the Syrian capital, but three of the four attackers died when they tried to storm the embassy with automatic rifles, hand grenades and an explosives-packed vehicle. Rice said she was grateful the attack didn't succeed and that it was too early to tell who was responsible. Rice and MacKay spoke at Stellarton's Museum of Industry following breakfast and a morning walkabout that included a stop at a local Tim Hortons. Rice, MacKay stress friendship After landing on Monday, in a ceremony at the Halifax International Airport, Rice thanked Canadians who helped host 21,000 passengers forced to land in Canada when U.S. skies were closed after the Sept. 11 attacks. Since taking office after the Jan. 23 election, Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his Conservative government have focused on improving co-operation with the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush after strains in the relationship under the former Liberal governments of Jean Chr?tien and Paul Martin. 'We tend to forget how daily and ordinary our relationship is. It's the most active of relationships at a level of people to people, not just government to government.'-Condoleezza Rice on the Canada-U.S. friendship MacKay said the two governments may sometimes disagree, but Canada and the U.S. will are allies because of a "deep sense of kinship" the two countries share. "We will remain the best of friends, but we may not always agree, we will certainly find a way to find solutions that work for the benefit of both nations," MacKay said. Rice stressed the importance of the Canada-U.S. relationship in the everyday lives of people living on both sides of the border. "We tend to forget how daily and ordinary our relationship is," she said. "It's the most active of relationships at a level of people to people, not just government to government." With files from the Canadian Press From aaron at resist.ca Sat Sep 16 09:53:36 2006 From: aaron at resist.ca (aaron at resist.ca) Date: Sat, 16 Sep 2006 09:53:36 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] 21 septembre/ 21 de septiembre/ september 21 ::: Reseau anti-capitaliste/Red anti-capitalista/Anti-Capitalist Network (MONTREAL) Message-ID: [espa?ol abajo; English below] :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Jeudi le 21 septembre --- 18h30 Assembl?e g?n?rale -- R?seau anti-capitaliste de Montr?al GRIP-Concordia, 1500 de Maisonneuve Ouest, #204 M?tro Guy-Concordia :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: --> Service de garde gratuit disponible sur demande (par courriel ? cette adresse ou en appelant au 514-848-7583 au moins 24 heures ? l'avance) --> Service de traduction vers l'anglais et l'espagnol disponible sur place Suite aux trois Assembl?es g?n?rales tenues cet ?t?, le R?seau anti-capitaliste (le R?zo -- d?nomination provisoire) commence de se d?finir et de progresser. Le R?zo rassemble des collectifs et des individus de Montr?al qui s'organisent pour oeuvrer contre le capitalisme, le patriarcat et l'imp?rialisme, et pour favoriser l'autonomie et la libert?. Les partis politiques ne sont pas les bienvenus. Lors de la derni?re assembl?e, des d?cisions ont ?t? prises quant ? la base d'affinit? du R?zo et aux modalit?s d'appartenance ? celui-ci. La prochaine assembl?e servira ? d?finir les processus de prise de d?cision au sein du R?zo, ainsi que de choisir un nom. --> Plus plus d'information, par courriel : rezo.anticapi at gmail.com, ou par t?l?phone : 514-848-7583 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Jueves, 21 de septiembre Red Anti-Capitalista de Montreal -- Asamblea General 6:30pm QPIRG-Concordia, de 1500 Maisonneuve Oeste, #204 Metro Guy-Concordia ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: --> Guarder?a disponible (por favor llame 514-848-7583 o mande un correo electr?nico a rezo.anticapi at gmail.com por adelantado) --> Traducci?n disponible hacia el ingl?s, franc?s, y espa?ol Despu?s de 3 Asambleas Generales durante el verano, la red del Anti-Capitalista (nombre tentativo) est? comenzando a definirse y avanzar. La red re?ne a grupos y individuos en Montreal que organizan contra el capitalismo, el patriarcado, y imperialismo, y a por de la autonom?a y de la libertad. Los partidos pol?ticos no son los bienvenidos. En la ?ltima asamblea, la base de unidad y la definici?n de miembro fueron decididos. La pr?xima asamblea definir? el procedimiento de las tomas de decisi?n de la red, y elegir? un nombre para la red. --> Para mas informacion, made un correo electronico a rezo.anticapi at gmail.com or llame al 514-848-7583 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Thursday, September 21st Montreal Anti-Capitalist Network -- General Assembly 6:30pm QPIRG-Concordia, 1500 de Maisonneuve west, #204 Metro Guy-Concordia ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -->Free childcare available (please email or call 514-848-7583 in advance) -->Translation available into English, Spanish After holding 3 general assemblies during the summer, the Anti-Capitalist Network (tentative name) is beginning to define itself and is moving forward. The Network brings together groups and individuals in Montreal who organize against capitalism, patriarchy, and imperialism, and in favour of autonomy and freedom. Political parties are not welcome. At the last assembly, the basis of unity and the definition of group membership of the group was decided upon. The next assembly will define the decision-making process of the network, and chose a name. -->For more information, email rezo.anticapi at gmail.com or call 514-848-7583 From mfoster at web.net Sun Sep 17 16:05:11 2006 From: mfoster at web.net (mary foster) Date: Sun, 17 Sep 2006 19:05:11 -0400 Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] =?iso-8859-1?q?27_septembre_=3A_FEUX_DE_LA_G?= =?iso-8859-1?q?UERRE_ET_VOIX_DE_LA_R=C9SISTANCE?= Message-ID: <044201c6dab9$621a1800$c78b8bcf@CPQ18145226471> (english below. please circulate broadly. svp faire diffuser !) FEUX DE LA GUERRE ET VOIX DE LA R?SISTANCE Strat?gies de solidarit? avec le Liban ? Montr?al =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= MERCREDI, le 27 septembre ? 20 heures Auditorium Frank Dawson Adams 3450, rue Universit?, 2?me ?tage [au coin des rues Milton et Universit?; m?tro McGill] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Conf?renciers et conf?renci?res * Repas Iftar communautaire * Po?sie * Films * Halte-Garderie gratuite ----> Un panel comprenant: HASSAN EL AKHRAS: De la famille El Akhras, dont 11 membres ont ?t? tu?s le 16 juillet 2006 lors de bombardements isra?liens contre la ville d'A?taroun, dans le Sud-Liban. Hassan El Akhras parlera des crimes de guerre isra?liens et des strat?gies pour contester l'impunit? internationale dont b?n?ficie Isra?l. RAFEEF ZIADAH: Militante bas?e ? Toronto, Rafeef Ziadah est impliqu?e dans la Coalition contre l'apartheid isra?lien ainsi que dans le groupe Sumoud. Sa pr?sentation est intitul?e ?Making the Cut : mobiliser pour un boycott efficace d'Isra?l en Am?rique du Nord?. SAWSAN KALACHE : Sawsan Kalache est membre du collectif Tadamon! Montr?al et a particip? ? la d?l?gation 2006 au Liban. Elle a ?t? t?moin des premi?res semaines de l'offensive militaire isra?lienne contre le Liban et discutera des crimes de guerres commis par l'?tat isra?lien durant l'?t? 2006. STEFAN CHRISTOFF: Membre de la d?l?gation 2006 de Tadamon! Montr?al, Stefan Christoff a ?crit plusieurs reportages portant sur l'assaut isra?lien au Liban, pour le compte de m?dias tels que le Daily Star (le plus important journal de langue anglaise au Moyen-Orient) et le site Internet Electronic Intifada. Traduction souffl?e vers le fran?ais, l'anglais et l'arabe. ----> La soir?e se poursuivra par la projection des films suivants : Solidarit? avec le Liban : Cinq courts-m?trages r?alis?s par le cin?aste ind?pendant SANTIAGO BERTOLINO, tourn?s ? Montr?al cet ?t? et portant sur des actions de solidarit? avec le Liban. Films produits dans le cadre du projet Parole citoyenne de l'Office nationale du film du Canada. http://citoyen.onf.ca/blogs/view/post-1158094803043 Reportage vid?o sur le Sud-Liban: Produit par ANA NOGUERIA pour Democracy Now!, ce reportage explore les r?alit?s auxquelles font face les Libanais et les Libanaises du Sud, suite au largage de milliers de bombes ? sous-munitions sur au moins 170 villages du Sud-Liban. Les petites bombes qui n'ont pas explos? sur le coup constituent maintenant autant de pi?ges mortels pour la population civile. www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/23/1413209 ----> D?tails sur l'Iftar communautaire : Un iftar communautaire aura lieu sur le campus de McGill avant le panel, avec l'Association des jeunes libanais musulmans (AJLM). D?tails ? venir. ----> Contexte: Le 12 juillet 2006, d?j? dans la foul?e d'une offensive militaire majeure contre la bande de Gaza, Isra?l a lanc? une attaque massive contre le Liban. Montr?al a r?pondu par des mobilisations spontan?es et des actions d'urgence allant de p?titions aux manifestations, en passant par la r?daction de lettres, le lobbying, l'?ducation populaire, les d?l?gations populaires et autres actions. Un ?cessez-le-feu? a depuis ?t? n?goci? par l'ONU, mais les leaders militaires et politiques de l'?tat d'Isra?l n'ont pas ?t? amen?s devant les tribunaux pour qu'ils soient tenus responsables de leurs crimes de guerre, et ne paient pas non plus de r?parations pour leur destruction massive du Liban. Des bases militaires isra?liennes sont ? nouveau pr?sentes au Sud-Liban. L'arm?e isra?lienne a viol? le cessez-le-feu ? plusieurs reprises depuis sa mise en application. Le si?ge de Gaza se poursuit. Il est donc clair que le ?cessez-le-feu? onusien n'a aucunement mis fin ? la guerre contre les peuples de la Palestine et du Liban. Comment peut-on transformer les mobilisations d'urgence qui ont eu lieu ? Montr?al en une r?sistance strat?gique ? l'agression et ? la d?stabilisation du Liban et de la r?gion? Comment peut-on ?voquer certains des enjeux fondamentaux, tels que l'occupation de la Palestine, le droit de retour des Palestiniens et des Palestiniennes et le r?le d'Isra?l comme d?fenseur des int?r?ts ?conomiques nord-am?ricains dans la r?gion? Comment peut-on confronter efficacement l'alliance ?vidente entre le gouvernement canadien et le terrorisme de l'?tat isra?lien? C'est dans ce contexte qu'on organise cet ?v?nement afin de discuter de strat?gies concr?tes. Tadamon! lance aussi sa propre strat?gie en quatre volets, qui prendra forme au cours des mois ? venir. ----> Organis? par: Tadamon! Montr?al (http://tadamon.resist.ca, t?l. 514 690 8499, tadamon[arobas]resist.ca) et l'Association des jeunes libanais musulmans (info.ajlm[arobas]gmail.com). ----> Principes de base de Tadamon! Tadamon! [Solidarit?! en arabe], est un collectif d'activistes pour la justice sociale. Install? ? Montr?al, il fournit soutien et solidarit? aux mouvements locaux de justice ?conomique et sociale au Liban. Dans le contexte des changements politiques historiques qui ont eu lieu au Liban, Tadamon! vise ? soutenir par ses actions les luttes pour la justice sociale et les droits humains pour TOUTES les personnes qui vivent au Liban, gr?ce ? la coordination directe et ? l'organisation entre les activistes de Beyrouth et Montr?al. ? Montr?al, Tadamon! cherche ? organiser, gr?ce ? la sensibilisation des gens dans la Diaspora libanaise, une action culturelle et politique, qui se consacre aux luttes auxquelles la communaut? libanaise est aux prises, comme l'immigration, le racisme, la pauvret? et les droits dans le domaine du travail. En organisant son action, tant ? l'?chelon local qu'international, Tadamon! est en phase avec les mouvements de justice sociale au Liban, au Canada et sur le plan international, mouvements qui sont par nature contre le capitalisme et les tendances autoritaires. ========================== ========================== FIRES of WAR & VOICES of RESISTANCE: Strategies for Solidarity with Lebanon in Montreal. =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= WEDNESDAY, September 27th, 8pm Frank Dawson Adams Auditorium 2nd Floor, 3450 University St. [Corner: Milton & University; McGill metro] =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Presentations * Community Iftar Dinner * Poetry * Films * Free Child-care ----> A Panel Discussion Including Presentations from: * HASSAN EL AKHRAS: Surviving member of the El Akhras family, 11 of whom were killed on July 16th, 2006 in an Israeli air strike in Aitaroun in southern Lebanon. Addressing Israeli war crimes & strategies to challenge international impunity. * RAFEEF ZIADAH: Political activist from Toronto involved with the Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid & Sumoud. 'Making the Cut: Mobilizing an effective boycott of Israel' in North America. * SAWSAN KALACHE: Member of Tadamon! Montreal & participant in the 2006 delegation to Lebanon who witnessed the first weeks of the Israeli military assault on the country & will address Israeli war crimes committed during the 2006 war. * STEFAN CHRISTOFF: Member of Tadamon! Montreal's 2006 delegation to Lebanon who witnessed & reported on the Israeli military attack on Lebanon for the Daily Star, the Middle East's largest English daily, & the Electronic Intifada. Whisper translation into English, French & Arabic provided. ----> Including Film Screenings: * Solidarity with Lebanon: 5 short films by independent film-maker, SANTIAGO BERTOLINO who produced short films in Montreal on 2006 Lebanon solidarity actions for the Citizenshift Project of the National Film Board of Canada.... http://citoyen.onf.ca/blogs/view/post-1158094803043 * Video Report from Southern Lebanon: Produced by ANA NOGUERIA for Democracy Now!, which examines the realities of thousands of cluster bombs rained down on at least 170 villages in southern Lebanon during Israel's month-long war against Hezbollah. The bomblets that failed to explode are now a deadly trap for civilians. http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=06/08/23/1413209 ----> Community Iftar Dinner: A community Iftar just prior to the event will be hosted with Association des jeunes libanais musulmans at McGill campus. Details coming soon. ----> Background Information on Event: On July 12th, 2006, already in the midst of a major military offensive against Gaza, Israel launched a massive attack on Lebanon. Montreal responded with spontaneous mobilizations and emergency actions ranging from petitions, letter-writing campaigns, lobbying and public education to street protests, popular delegations & other actions. With a U.N. brokered "ceasefire" in place, Israeli military & political leaders are not being brought to justice for their war crimes, nor are they paying reparations for their massive destruction of Lebanon. Israeli military bases once again dot southern Lebanon, while Israeli forces have conducted frequent breaches of the ceasefire. The siege of the Gaza Strip continues. Today it is clear that the U.N. "ceasefire" has not halted the war on the people of Palestine & Lebanon. How to transform the emergency mobilizations in Montreal into strategic resistance to further aggression and destabilization of Lebanon and the region, through addressing some of the core issues: the occupation of Palestine, the Palestinians' right of return, the use of Israel as a vehicle for North American economic interests in the region? How to effectively challenge the Canadian government's open alliance with Israeli terrorism? This panel is being organised to discuss concrete strategies and to launch Tadamon's four-point strategy for the coming months. ----> Organized by: Tadamon! Montreal (http://tadamon.resist.ca / tadamon[at]resist.ca / 514 690 8499) & Association des jeunes libanais musulmans (info.ajlm[at]gmail.com) ----> Tadamon! Basis of Unity: Tadamon! [Solidarity!, in Arabic] is a Montreal-based collective of social-justice organizers & media activists, working to build relationships of solidarity with grassroots political movements for social and economic justice between Beirut & Montreal. In the context of historic political changes taking place in Lebanon, Tadamon!, through its political work, aims to support struggles for social justice and human rights of ALL people living in Lebanon, through direct coordination and organization between activists in Beirut & Montreal. In Montreal, Tadamon! aims to organize within the Lebanese Diaspora, through popular education, cultural work and political action, which address struggles facing the Lebanese community, such as immigration, racism, poverty and labour rights. Through organizing work both locally and internationally, Tadamon! aligns itself with social justice movements in Lebanon, Canada and internationally which are anti-capitalist & anti-authoritarian in nature. From mfoster at web.net Tue Sep 19 08:40:17 2006 From: mfoster at web.net (mary foster) Date: Tue, 19 Sep 2006 11:40:17 -0400 Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] Thursday/jeudi : Manif contre la complicite canadienne dans le kidnapping et la torture Message-ID: <027801c6dc01$efa761c0$c38b8bcf@CPQ18145226471> (english below. svp faire diffuser !!!) Manifestation : Renvois extraordinaires et ordinaires vers la torture contre la complicit? du Canada dans le kidnapping et la torture, qu'ils soient l?gaux ou ill?gaux. Manifestation Jeudi, 21 septembre 2006, ? 8h pile ! Devant les bureaux du SCRS au 715 rue Peel (angle St-Antoine). Hier (le 18 septembre 2006), la Commission Arar a rendu public son rapport officiel. La Commission d'enqu?te avait pour mandat de faire la lumi?re sur les actions des autorit?s canadiennes, particuli?rement le SCRS et la GRC, concernant l'expulsion et la d?tention de Maher Arar. Dans son rapport, censur? pour des raisons de s?curit? nationale, le juge Denis O'Connor arrive en outre ? la conlusion que les autorit?s am?ricaines ? se sont tr?s probablement appuy?es ? sur les informations confidentielles que le SCRS et la GRC leur ont transmises pour envoyer M. Arar en Syrie, et que ?la GRC n'avait aucun motif de fournir? ces informations d'ailleurs ?inexactes?. Le cas de Maher Arar illustre ce qu'il est convenu d'appeler le " programme sp?cial de renvoi vers la torture " (extraordinary rendition programm), par lequel les autorit?s d'un pays font faire leur sale boulot - kidnapping et torture - par un autre afin d'obtenir des renseignements par la torture, tout en gardant les mains propres. Ce qui est arriv? ? M. Arar a choqu? et scandalis? les gens au Qu?bec et au Canada. Le commissaire O'Connor a formul? 23 recommandations pour ?viter que pareil scandale ne se reproduise, incluant la tenue d'une enqu?te dans les cas de Al Malki, El Maati et Nouredine, des cas semblables ? celui de Maher Arar qui d?montrent que cela s'est d?j? produit de nouveau. En fait, plusieurs autres cas de renvois vers la torture par les autorit?s canadiennes existent mais sont pass?s sous silence, donnant ainsi au SRCS et ? la GRC la possibilit? de continuer ? faire subir ce que Maher Arar, Al Malki, El Maati et Nouredine ont v?cu ? d'autres personnes. Ces cas ne font pas l'objet d'enqu?te publique. Au contraire, ils sont litt?ralement institutionnalis?s et l?galis?s par l'entremise de la Loi sur l'immigration et la protection des r?fugi?s (LIPR). Ils pourraient en fait ?tre consid?r?s comme des cas de renvois ? ordinaires ? vers la torture. En vertu d'une exception pour des raisons de " s?curit? nationale ", des personnes se voient refuser la protection et ont ?t? et sont renvoy?es vers des pays o? elles risquent la torture et parfois la mort, m?me dans les cas o? les autorit?s reconnaissent les risques auxquels ces personnes font face. Dans le cas du d?tenu des certificats de s?curit? Mahmoud Jaballah par exemple, le gouvernement reconna?t qu'il ? existe des motifs s?rieux de croire que le demandeur serait tortur? ou tu? s'il ?tait renvoy? en ?gypte ?, mais le Canada tente toujours de le d?porter sur la base d'all?gations secr?tes, vagues et non prouv?es. Cette politique canadienne, ainsi que son cadre l?gal, ont ?t? s?v?rement critiqu?s par le Comit? de l'ONU contre la torture (mai 2005) et par la Commission des droits de l'homme de l'ONU, qui ont d'ailleurs recommand? en novembre 2005 que le Canada modifie sa l?gislation ?afin que se conforme ? l'interdiction absolue de la torture. Le Canada n'a jamais suivi ces recommandations. Le 1er juillet 2006, le r?fugi? sikh Sogi Bachan Singh a ?t? d?port? en Inde, m?me si Immigration Canada avait conlu qu'il faisait face ? un s?rieux risque de torture. La ? s?curit? nationale ? est invoqu? popur justifier les violations de la Convention contre la torture. Amparo Tores, une r?fugi?e colombienne re?ue qui vit ? Toronto, pourrait faire face ? un traitement similaire dans les mois ? venir, une fois de plus au nom de cette ? s?curit? nationale ? non d?finie. Adil Charkaoui risque toujours la d?portation vers la torture, comme les quatre autres hommes musulmans cibl?s par des certificats de s?curit? et d?tenus sans accusations sur la base de preuves secr?tes depuis des ann?es. Mahjoub, Jaballah et Almrei sont d?tenus depuis respectivement juin 2000, ao?t 2001 et octobre 2001. En avril 2006, ils ont ?t? transf?r?s ? Guantanamo Nord, le centre de d?tention de Kingston en Ontario, o? ils sont compl?tement coup?s du reste des d?tenus et o? leurs conditions sont encore plus difficiles qu'avant. Harkat, quant ? lui, a ?t? lib?r? depuis environ trois mois, sous des conditions extr?mement s?v?res. La Coalition Justice pour Adil Charkaoui, le Comit? Justice pour Mohamed Harkat et la Campagne pour la Fin des Proc?s Secrets au Canada continuent d' exiger que ces hommes soient lib?r?s imm?diatement, qu'ils aient droit ? un proc?s juste et ?quitable, qu'ils ne soient pas d?port?s vers la torture. Ils demandent ?galement l'abolition des certificats de s?curit?, tout comme des centaines d'organisations et d'individus au Canada et au Qu?bec. Venez dire non ? la l?galisation et la banalisation des renvois vers la torture. Le droit ? la protection contre ces pratiques inhumaines s'applique ? tout le monde peu importe le statut ! Ne laissons pas le SCRS et la GRC perp?trer leurs abus en toute impunit? et en secret. Coalition Justice pour Adil Charkaoui www.adilinfo.org justiceforadil at riseup.net t?l.: (514) 859-9023 Pour faire partie de notre liste de diffusion, envoyez un message ? justiceforadil at riseup.net ======================================== PROTEST : Extraordinary and ORDINARY "rendition" to torture Against Canadian complicity in all kidnap and torture, whether illegal or "legal" PROTEST on Thursday, 21 September 2006, at 8am Offices of Canadian Security and Intelligence Services (CSIS) 715 Peel (corner of Peel and St-Antoine) Yesterday (Monday, 18 September) the Arar Commission published its official report. The Commission of Inquiry was mandated to investigate the implication of Canadian authorities - particularly CSIS and the RCMP - in the arrest and explusion of Maher Arar. Arar, although he is a Canadian citizen, was detained and then sent to Syria by the United States, whetere he was imprisonned and tortured for almost one year. In the report, which was of course censored for reasons of National Security, Judge Denis O' Connor came to the conclusion that American officials had been "very probably supported" by confidential information supplied by CSIS and the RCMP in sending Arar to Syria. Arar's is a case of "extraordinary rendition", a programme which allows government officials to keep their hands clean by farming out their dirty work - torture - to another state, in order to obtain information under torture. What was done to Arar shocked and scandalised people in Quebec and across Canada. It was denounced as illegal. Commissioner O'Connor came up with 23 recommendations to prevent such a scandal from ever happening again, including the recommendation that there be an inquiry into the cases of Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El Maati, and Muayyed Nureddin, where it has already happened again. However, even to become a scandal, the information must get out . and this rarely happens because the government and its agencies act in secrecy under the cloak of national security. In fact, several other cases of "rendition" to torture by Canadian authorities have and are taking place. They are allowed to pass in a silence which permits CSIS and the RCMP to subject others to the same treatment as Maher Arar, Almalki, El Maati and Nureddin. The cases are not the object of a public inquiry. On the contrary, they are actually institutionalised and legalised by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). They could in fact be called the cases of "ordinary rendition" to torture. On the basis of an exception for "national security" written into the law, people have been and are in the process of being sent to places where they risk torture or even death, even though officials explicitly recognise the risk. In the case of security certificate detainee Mahmoud Jaballah, for example, the government recognises that "there are substantial grounds for believing that the applicant would be tortured or killed should he be required to return to Egypt", but Canada is still trying to deport him on the basis of unproven, secret and vague allegations. This Canada policy, with its legal framework, has been severely criticized by the UN Committee against torture (in May 2005, for example), and by the UN Human Rights Commission, which recommended in November 2005 that Canada change its legislation to recognise the absolute nature of the ban on torture. Canada has not followed the recommendation. On the contrary ... On 1 July 2006, Sikh refugee Sogi Bachan Singh was deported to India, even though Immigration Canada had found that there was a serious risk of torture. "National security" was evoked to justify the violation of the Convention against Torture. Accepted Colombian refugee Amparo Torres could be facing similar treatment in the months to come, again in the name of an undefined "national security". Adil Charkaoui still faces deportation to torture, like four other Muslim men targetted by "security certificates" and held for years without charge on the basis of secret evidence. Mahjoub, Jaballah and Almrei have been in prison since June 200, August 2001 and October 2001 respectively. In April, they were transferred to Guantanamo North, the new detention centre in Kingston, Ontario, where they are being held in isolation from other prisoners and where conditions are even more difficult in several important respects. For his part, Harkat was "freed" about three months ago under extremely oppressive conditions of house arrest. All four remain under threat of deportation. The Coalition for Justice for Adil Charkaoui continues to demand that these men be immediately freed, that, if there are any charges to be laid, they have the right to a fair trial, and that deportation proceedings against them be immediately halted. Like hundreds of organisations and individuals in Quebec and Canada, we also demand the abolition of security certificates. Join us to say no to the legalisation and the normalisation of deportations to torture. The right to protection against these inhuman practices applies to everyone, whatever their legal status. Let's not permit CSIS and the RCMP to perpetrate their abuses with impunity and in secret. Coalition Justice for Adil Charkaoui www.adilinfo.org justiceforadil at riseup.net tel.: (514) 859-9023 To join our newslist, send an email to justiceforadil at riseup.net and ask us to add you. From aaron at resist.ca Wed Sep 20 16:27:46 2006 From: aaron at resist.ca (aaron at resist.ca) Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 16:27:46 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] (Jeudi/Jueves/Thursday) 21 septembre/ 21 de septiembre/ september 21 ::: Reseau anti-capitaliste/Red anti-capitalista/Anti-Capitalist Network (MONTREAL)] Message-ID: <2433.66.130.86.218.1158794866.squirrel@mail.resist.ca> [espa?ol abajo; English below] :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Jeudi le 21 septembre --- 18h30 Assembl?e g?n?rale -- R?seau anti-capitaliste de Montr?al GRIP-Concordia, 1500 de Maisonneuve Ouest, #204 M?tro Guy-Concordia :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: --> Service de garde gratuit disponible sur demande (par courriel ? cette adresse ou en appelant au 514-848-7583 au moins 24 heures ? l'avance) --> Service de traduction vers l'anglais et l'espagnol disponible sur place Suite aux trois Assembl?es g?n?rales tenues cet ?t?, le R?seau anti-capitaliste (le R?zo -- d?nomination provisoire) commence de se d?finir et de progresser. Le R?zo rassemble des collectifs et des individus de Montr?al qui s'organisent pour oeuvrer contre le capitalisme, le patriarcat et l'imp?rialisme, et pour favoriser l'autonomie et la libert?. Les partis politiques ne sont pas les bienvenus. Lors de la derni?re assembl?e, des d?cisions ont ?t? prises quant ? la base d'affinit? du R?zo et aux modalit?s d'appartenance ? celui-ci. La prochaine assembl?e servira ? d?finir les processus de prise de d?cision au sein du R?zo, ainsi que de choisir un nom. --> Plus plus d'information, par courriel : rezo.anticapi at gmail.com, ou par t?l?phone : 514-848-7583 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Jueves, 21 de septiembre Red Anti-Capitalista de Montreal -- Asamblea General 6:30pm QPIRG-Concordia, de 1500 Maisonneuve Oeste, #204 Metro Guy-Concordia ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: --> Guarder?a disponible (por favor llame 514-848-7583 o mande un correo electr?nico a rezo.anticapi at gmail.com por adelantado) --> Traducci?n disponible hacia el ingl?s, franc?s, y espa?ol Despu?s de 3 Asambleas Generales durante el verano, la red del Anti-Capitalista (nombre tentativo) est? comenzando a definirse y avanzar. La red re?ne a grupos y individuos en Montreal que organizan contra el capitalismo, el patriarcado, y imperialismo, y a por de la autonom?a y de la libertad. Los partidos pol?ticos no son los bienvenidos. En la ?ltima asamblea, la base de unidad y la definici?n de miembro fueron decididos. La pr?xima asamblea definir? el procedimiento de las tomas de decisi?n de la red, y elegir? un nombre para la red. --> Para mas informacion, made un correo electronico a rezo.anticapi at gmail.com or llame al 514-848-7583 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Thursday, September 21st Montreal Anti-Capitalist Network -- General Assembly 6:30pm QPIRG-Concordia, 1500 de Maisonneuve west, #204 Metro Guy-Concordia ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: -->Free childcare available (please email or call 514-848-7583 in advance) -->Translation available into English, Spanish After holding 3 general assemblies during the summer, the Anti-Capitalist Network (tentative name) is beginning to define itself and is moving forward. The Network brings together groups and individuals in Montreal who organize against capitalism, patriarchy, and imperialism, and in favour of autonomy and freedom. Political parties are not welcome. At the last assembly, the basis of unity and the definition of group membership of the group was decided upon. The next assembly will define the decision-making process of the network, and chose a name. -->For more information, email rezo.anticapi at gmail.com or call 514-848-7583 From aaron at resist.ca Wed Sep 20 23:13:15 2006 From: aaron at resist.ca (aaron at resist.ca) Date: Wed, 20 Sep 2006 23:13:15 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] !! Samedi/Saturday :: Canada out of Afghanistan! :: Crisse ton camp de l'Afghanistan! :: Piquetage/Picket (11h) Message-ID: <2753.66.130.86.218.1158819195.squirrel@mail.resist.ca> [Fran?ais ci-dessous ...] [Please post and forward] CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN! Solidarity not Charity! ? No Justice, No Peace! --> Protest against Canadian war-profiteers! --> Picket against Canada?s presence in Afghanistan! :::::::::: Saturday, September 23rd :: 11AM (sharp!) H?tel Hilton Bonaventure Salon Outremont 900, rue de la Gaucheti?re Ouest (metro Bonaventure) :::::::::: This Saturday, Afghan President Hamid Karzai will be speaking to the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (CORIM) on ?Afghanistan and Canadian Development Cooperation?. Karzai will be introduced by Conservative Minister of International Cooperation Jos?e Verner. The CORIM event is co-sponsored by SNC-Lavalin, and the government-funded ?NGO? Rights and Democracy. Other CORIM sponsors include infamous war profiteering companies like: Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney and Bell Helicopter. Block the Empire-Montreal, a local anti-war, anti-imperialist group, is organizing a picket to raise awareness about Canada?s real role in Afghanistan. We are picketing to demand true solidarity, not charity, and to demand the withdrawal of all Canadian troops from Afghanistan. We are picketing to denounce the role of the Canadian military, corporations and so-called ?development? agencies in the destructive occupation of Afghanistan. INFO: 514-848-7583 or bloquezempiremontreal at resist.ca :::::::::: :::::::::: :::::::::: {SVP DIFFUSEZ} CANADA : CRISSE TON CAMP DE L?AFGHANISTAN ! On veut la solidarit?, pas la charit?! Sans justice, pas de paix! --> Protestons contre les profiteurs de guerre canadiens ! --> Manifestons contre la pr?sence canadienne en Afghanistan ! :::::::::: Samedi le 23 septembre ? 11h (pile!) H?tel Hilton Bonaventure Salon Outremont 900, rue de la Gaucheti?re Ouest (M?tro Bonaventure) :::::::::: Le pr?sident Afghan Hamid Karzai s?adressera ce samedi au Conseil des relations internationales de Montr?al (CORIM), au sujet de ?l?Afghanistan et la coop?ration canadienne au d?veloppement?. Karzai sera accueilli par la Ministre de la Coop?ration internationale du gouvernement Conservateur, Jos?e Verner. Cet ?v?nement du CORIM est co-commandit? par SNC-Lavalin et Droits et d?mocratie, une ?ONG? financ?e par le gouvernement. Parmi les autres commanditaires de CORIM, notons quelques corporations qui font profitent de la guerre, notamment Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney et Bell Helicopter Textron. Bloquez l?empire Montr?al, un collectif local anti-imp?rialiste et anti-guerre, organise une manifestation afin de mettre en lumi?re le v?ritable r?le du Canada en Afghanistan. Nous manifestons pour exiger un v?ritable soutien solidaire, pas seulement de la charit?, et pour revendiquer le retrait de toutes les troupes canadiennes en Afghanistan. Nous manifestons pour d?noncer le r?le de l?arm?e, des corporations et des soi-disant agences de ?d?veloppement? canadiennes. INFO: 514-848-7583 ou bloquezempiremontreal at resist.ca _______________________________________________ act-mtl mailing list act-mtl at masses.tao.ca https://masses.tao.ca/lists/listinfo/act-mtl From mfoster at web.net Fri Sep 22 09:16:05 2006 From: mfoster at web.net (mary foster) Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 12:16:05 -0400 Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] JEUDI, 5 octobre: POUR LE RETRAIT DES TROUPES CANADIENNES D'AFGHANISTAN Message-ID: <015501c6de62$6a8489b0$df33cdcd@CPQ18145226471> ----- Original Message ----- From: "?chec ? la guerre" To: Sent: Friday, September 22, 2006 11:21 AM Subject: JEUDI, 5 octobre: POUR LE RETRAIT DES TROUPES CANADIENNES D'AFGHANISTAN Soir?e publique pour le retrait des troupes canadiennes d'Afghanistan Le jeudi 5 octobre 2006 ? 19 h 30 Centre St-Pierre 1205 rue Visitation M?tro Beaudry Organis?e par le Collectif ?chec ? la guerre, la revue ? b?bord ! et Lux ?diteur. Prendront la parole: - Jean Bricmont, auteur de "L'imp?rialisme humanitaire" (Lux ?diteur, 2006), en vid?o-conf?rence depuis Bruxelles; - Benoit Renaud, coordonnateur du dossier "Imp?rialisme canadien" publi? par la revue ? b?bord ! (# 16, octobre/novembre 2006); - Raymond Legault, porte-parole du Collectif ?chec ? la guerre; - Ex-militaire canadien oppos? ? la guerre; - Des personnalit?s pour le retrait des troupes d'Afghanistan. Contribution volontaire Information : 514.521.5499 _________ D?claration des organisateurs : Non ? la guerre : pour le retrait des troupes canadiennes d?Afghanistan On nous dit que le Canada est en Afghanistan pour contribuer ? y instaurer stabilit? et s?curit?, mais, apr?s cinq ans, c'est l'ins?curit? de la population qui grandit et le nombre de victimes civiles qui s'accro?t. On nous dit que le Canada est en Afghanistan pour ?tendre l'autorit? d?un gouvernement central ?lu d?mocratiquement, mais cette ?lection a ?t? marqu?e par l'intimidation syst?matique et le Parlement afghan est en majorit? compos? de repr?sentants des seigneurs de guerre et des barons de l'opium. On nous dit que le Canada est en Afghanistan pour contribuer ? l'av?nement d'une soci?t? respectueuse des droits de la personne, mais l'arm?e ?tasunienne et ses collaborateurs locaux y pratiquent syst?matiquement la torture et ce sont "nos" alli?s afghans, les seigneurs de guerre, qui sont responsables du plus grand nombre de violations des droits de la personne, y compris le maintien des femmes dans un statut subordonn?. On nous dit que le Canada est en Afghanistan pour participer ? sa reconstruction et aider ? son d?veloppement, mais il ne peut y avoir ni reconstruction ni d?veloppement qui vaillent quand c'est la guerre qui est ? l'ordre du jour et que les d?penses militaires sont dix fois plus ?lev?es que cette soi-disant ? aide ?. Comme la majorit? de la population qu?b?coise, nous ne sommes pas dupes. En Afghanistan, c'est de guerre qu'il s'agit. Et cette guerre est men?e d'abord et avant tout en fonction des int?r?ts ?conomiques et strat?giques des ?tats-Unis et de leurs alli?s, dont le Canada, des int?r?ts qui n'ont rien ? voir avec le bien-?tre et le droit ? l'autod?termination de la population afghane, comme les r?sultats le d?montrent amplement apr?s cinq ans. Nous rejetons la logique de guerre et d'occupation militaire, de contr?le ou de destruction, qui domine l'intervention ?trang?re en Afghanistan. Nous refusons toute participation du Canada ? cette guerre et nous demandons le retrait imm?diat des troupes canadiennes d'Afghanistan. - 30 - From bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca Fri Sep 22 13:44:01 2006 From: bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca (bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca) Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:44:01 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] (samedi, 11h) :: Piquetage :: Canada: Crisse ton camp de l'Afghanistan! (Tract: La "Logique" du General Leslie)] Message-ID: <58011.205.205.243.169.1158957841.squirrel@mail.resist.ca> (svp diffuser) CANADA : CRISSE TON CAMP DE L'AFGHANISTAN ! On veut la solidarit?, pas la charit?! Sans justice, pas de paix! --> Protestons contre les profiteurs de guerre canadiens ! --> Piquetage contre la pr?sence canadienne en Afghanistan ! :::::::::: Samedi le 23 septembre ? 11h (pile!) H?tel Hilton Bonaventure Salon Outremont 900, rue de la Gaucheti?re Ouest (M?tro Bonaventure) :::::::::: [Le tract ci-dessous sera diffus? au piquetage ...] Le Canada profite de la guerre et de l'occupation La solidarit? et non la charit? SORTEZ LE CANADA DE L'AFGHANISTAN ! Le pr?sident Afghan Hamir Karzai sera en ?visite de travail? ? Montr?al ce samedi le 23 septembre. Sa visite inclut des rencontres avec les ONG disant oeuvrer dans le ?d?veloppement?, dont le Conseil des relations internationales de Montr?al (qui jouit du soutien de profiteurs de guerre notoires bien de chez nous, tels que SNC-Lavalin, Bombardier, Pratt & Witney et Bell Helicopter) ainsi que le Conseil des affaires Canada-Afghanistan. Propuls? au pouvoir par les ?tats-Unis, et prot?g? par les Forces arm?es ?tats-uniennes, Karzai vient au Canada sur l'invitation du Premier ministre Steven Harper. Sa visite s'inscrit dans une entreprise agressive de relations publiques, visant ? mousser l'appui ? la pr?sence canadienne en Afghanistan, pr?sence qu'on justifie en invoquant la ?guerre au terrorisme? et la ?responsabilit? de prot?ger? les ??tats d?faillants?. Selon sa strat?gie nomm?e ?3-D? (pour d?fense, diplomatie et d?veloppement) le Canada, comme d'autres pays membres de l'OTAN, a engag? des soldats, des diplomates et des bureaucrates de l'industrie du d?veloppement dans ce qui s'av?re ?tre une occupation ? long terme de l'Afghanistan. En octobre 2001, les forces men?es par les ?tats-Unis ont commenc? ? bombarder l'Afghanistan. Ce faisant, ils ont commenc? une guerre qui se poursuit ? ce jour. Les bombes de l'Occident ont d?vast? de nombreux secteurs de l'Afghanistan, punissant collectivement les civils afghans pour des crimes qu'ils et elles n'ont jamais commis. Pendant que ces ?v?nements destructeurs se d?roulent, les entreprises occidentales et les agences de ?d?veloppement? s'installent... Sans scrupule, on r?f?re ? tout cel? comme ?tant de la ?reconstruction?. Karzai est leur fa?ade, tout comme, par le pass?, d'autres idiots qui ont servit de marionnettes ? l'imp?rialisme colonialiste. Bush et Harper nous soumettent une fausse alternative : leurs soldats ou les Talibans. Le mot ?Taliban? est d'ailleurs devenu un pratique outil de propagande, servant ? avilir toute r?sistance locale ? l'occupation ?trang?re. La v?ritable justice sociale ?mergera de la solidarit? sans interm?diaire avec les populations afghanes, et du soutien direct ? leurs initiatives populaires ; elle ne viendra jamais de la r?signation ? des alternatives fallacieuses impos?es par un fondamentaliste, Bush, et sa marionnette, Harper. Aujourd'hui, comme avant dans l'histore, la pr?sence du Canada en Afghanistan ne peut ?tre isol?e de la conjoncture, plus large, du Moyen-Orient. Avec une persistance meurtri?re, les puissances occidentales, men?es par les ?tats-Unis, ont constamment min? les mouvements de justice sociale afin de mettre en place des r?gimes facilitant l'entr?e des troupes ?tats-uniennes, et la sortie des ressources strat?giques, soit le p?trole et le gaz naturel. Quand les dictateurs ou les forces de type ?Taliban? font l'affaire des int?r?ts occidentaux, on les appuie. Lorsqu'ils servent mieux ces int?r?ts en tant qu'ennemis, on les appelle des ?terroristes?. La ?guerre au terrorisme? est ?videmment un pr?texte pour promouvoir la domination ?conomique et militaire de l'Occident au Moyen-Orient. La ?responsabilit? de prot?ger?, contribution toute canadienne ? l'imp?rialisme ?tats-unien, est la justification que donne le Canada de sa pr?sence destructrice en Afghanistan, en Hait? et ailleurs. Cette id?e n'est rien d'autre que celle du ?fardeau de l'homme blanc?, revue et corrig?e pour le 21?me si?cle, qui encourage les forces ?conomiques et militaires occidentales ? mettre en place les conditions de l'appauvrissement, pour ensuite s'apitoyer sur ces ??tats d?faillants? et leur imposer la charit? de nos gouvernements, corporations et ONG. Le r?le de l'arm?e canadienne, du gouvernement, des corporations et des ONG de d?veloppement en Afghanistan est d'une hypocrisie raciste, int?ress?e et destructrice. Plut?t que des faux pr?textes et des voeux pieux, comme la ?guerre au terrorisme? ou la ?responsabilit? de prot?ger?, nous proposons une authentique solidarit? entre les peuples, afin de collaborer pour la justice sociale et la dignit?. Nous voulons le retrait imm?diat de toutes les troupes ?trang?res de l'Afghanistan, incluant celles du Canada, et nous d?non?ons la complicit? des corporations et des ONG canadiennes. Bloquez l'empire ! Montr?al info: bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca [encadr?] LA ?LOGIQUE? DU MAJOR-G?N?RAL ANDREW LESLIE Le Major-G?n?ral Andrew Leslie est le commandant des forces militaires canadiennes en Afghanistan. ? l'?t? 2005, commentant la pr?sence croissante du Canada en Afghanistan, le G?n?ral Leslie annonce : ?L'Afghanistan est une entreprise qui durera vingt ans. Il y a des choses qui valent qu'on se batte pour elles ; il y a des choses qui valent qu'on meure ; il y a des choses qui valent qu'on tue.? Dans le m?me discours, il dit : ?Chaque fois que vous tuez un jeune homme enrag? outre-mer, vous en cr?ez 15 autres qui vous pourchasseront.? Regardons de plus pr?s la logique du g?n?ral : 1. Les troupes canadiennes seront en Afghanistan pendant 20 ans. 2. Les troupes canadiennes vont y tuer des gens. 3. Chaque fois que nous tuons des gens, encore plus de gens veulent nous tuer. Voil? un plan qui assure le d?sastre, surtout pour les gens de l'Afghanistan. Est-il ?tonnant que ?reconstruction? et ?d?veloppement? soient les termes sous lesquels le Canada dissimule ses ?tueries? ? Y a-t-il de quoi s'?tonner que l'arm?e canadienne soit le couvert sous lequel op?rent les vis?es imp?rialistes des ?tats-Unis au Moyen-Orient ? ----- Bloquez l'empire ! Montr?al info: bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca From bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca Fri Sep 22 13:50:23 2006 From: bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca (bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca) Date: Fri, 22 Sep 2006 13:50:23 -0700 (PDT) Subject: [Bloquez l'empire!] (Saturday, 11am) :: Picket! :: Canada Out of Afghanistan! (Flyer: The "Logic" of General Leslie) Message-ID: <58063.205.205.243.169.1158958223.squirrel@mail.resist.ca> [Please post and forward] CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN! Solidarity not Charity! ? No Justice, No Peace! --> Protest against Canadian war-profiteers! --> Picket against Canada's presence in Afghanistan! :::::::::: SATURDAY, September 23rd :: 11AM (sharp!) H?tel Hilton Bonaventure Salon Outremont 900, rue de la Gaucheti?re Ouest (metro Bonaventure) :::::::::: [The following is the text of the flyer that will be distributed at Saturday's picket in Montreal ...] Canada profits from war and occupation Solidarity, not charity CANADA OUT OF AFGHANISTAN! Afghan President Hamid Karzai is paying a "working visit" to Montreal this September 23. His visit includes staged meetings with so-called "development" NGOs, the Montreal Council on Foreign Relations (whose supporters include notorious Montreal-based war profiteers like SNC-Lavalin, Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney and Bell Helicopter), as well as the Canada-Afghanistan Business Council. Karzai, propelled into power by the United States and protected by US armed forces, comes to Canada on the invitation of Prime Minister Steven Harper. His visit is part of an aggressive public relations effort to build support for Canada's presence in Afghanistan, a presence justified as part of the so-called "war on terror" and our "responsibility to protect" failed states. In an effort dubbed "3-D" ? defence, diplomacy, and development ? Canada has engaged soldiers, diplomats and development industry bureaucrats in what will be a long-term occupation of Afghanistan, along with other NATO countries. In October 2001, US-led forces began bombing Afghanistan, an aggressive war that has continued to this day. Western bombs destroyed large sectors of Afghanistan, and Afghan civilians have been collectively punished for crimes they had no part in. As this destructive and racist effort continues, Western corporations and "development" agencies move in; they shamelessly call this "reconstruction". Karzai is their cover, like other puppets have been useful idiots for colonialism and imperialism in the past. Bush and Harper propose a false choice between their soldiers or the Taliban. "Taliban" has become a propaganda term to dismiss any local resistance to foreign occupation. True social justice comes from direct solidarity with ordinary Afghani people and their grassroots institutions, not from accepting the false choices provided by the fundamentalist Bush and his puppet Harper. Canada's presence in Afghanistan cannot be isolated from the wider situation in the Middle East, both historically and contemporarily. Western powers, led by the US, have consistently, and murderously, undermined social justice movements, to ensure regimes that will allow easy access _in_ to American troops, and easy access _out_ of key resources like oil and natural gas. When Taliban-like forces or dictators suit Western interests, they are supported; when they make useful enemies, they become terrorists. The "War on Terror" is a clear pretext for increased Western economic and military domination in the Middle East. The "responsibility to protect", Canada's own contribution to American imperialism, is the justification for Canada's destructive involvement in Afghanistan, Haiti and elsewhere. This concept is nothing more than the 21st century's version of the "white man's burden", letting Western economic and military forces create conditions for impoverishment, and then declaring "failed states" that need the charity of our governments, corporations and NGOs. The role of the Canadian military, government, corporations and development NGOs in Afghanistan is hypocritical, racist, self-serving and destructive. Instead of shallow pretexts like fighting a "war on terror" or the "responsibility to protect", we propose genuine solidarity between peoples, to fight together for social justice and dignity. We are demanding the immediate withdrawal of all troops, including Canadian troops, from Afghanistan. And we denounce the complicity of Canadian corporations and NGOs. Block the Empire! Montreal info: bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca [boxed text] THE "LOGIC" OF MAJOR-GENERAL ANDREW LESLIE Major-General Andrew Leslie is Canada's military commander in Afghanistan. Commenting in the summer of 2005 on Canada's increasing military presence in Afghanistan, General Leslie stated: "Afghanistan is a 20-year venture. There are things worth fighting for. There are things worth dying for. There are things worth killing for." In the same speech, he stated: "Every time you kill an angry young man overseas, you're creating 15 more who will come after you." Let's break down the general's logic: 1. Canadian troops will be in Afghanistan for 20 years 2. Canadian troops will be killing people. 3. Every time we kill people more people will want to kill us. Sounds like a plan for disaster, mainly for the people of Afghanistan. No wonder that "reconstruction" and "development" are being used as cover for Canada's "killing"; and no wonder Canada's military is being used as cover for American-led imperialism in the Middle East. ----- Block the Empire! Montreal info: bloquezlempiremontreal at resist.ca