[Hamiltonfreeskool] movie screenings, qi gong, practical solidarity, and more

Tue Nov 3 19:44:52 PST 2009

*hey freeskoolers!*
we haven't really sent around an email in a long time as we've been slowly
sorting ourselves out, but there are some exciting things happening that we
figure you all probably aught to know about.
read below for descriptions of:
i. upcoming freeskool movie screening this friday
ii. upcoming qi gong class
iii. upcoming practical solidarity with six nations event
iv. upcoming peace and culture classes
v. a wee bit of info about skydragon's new computer space and other upcoming
freeskool stuff

for more info on any of these things, contact us at freeskool.
take care everyone, think and be dangerous!

-brian for hamilton freeskool

----------------------------------------------------------
*i. Movie Screening: Free to Learn* (Friday November 6th at 7pm - SkyDragon
Centre)

we haven't had a potluck or large gathering of freeskool fans in a long time
so we thought we'd start screening some movies that people into free
learning might enjoy.  our first film, happening this *Friday November
6th*at 7 pm at the SkyDragon (27 King William St).  please come on out
and enjoy
the film and then engage in a brief discussion afterwards. here's a
description of the film:

> Free to Learn is a 70 minute documentary that offers a "fly on the wall"
> perspective of the daily happenings at The Free School in Albany, New York.
> Like many of today's radical and democratic schools, The Free School expects
> children to decide for themselves how to spend their days.
>
> The Free School, however, is unique in that it transcends obstacles that
> prevent similar schools from reaching a economically and racially diverse
> range of students and operates in the heart of an inner-city neighborhood.
>
> For over thirty years in perhaps the most radical experiment in American
> education, this small inner-city alternative school has offered its students
> complete freedom over their learning. There are no mandatory classes, no
> grades, tests, or homework, and rules are generally avoided. As a last
> resort, rules are created democratically by students and teachers, often at
> the prompting of a student. At a time when our educators are mandated to
> march forward with no child left behind, the students of the Free School,
> many of whom would have fallen through the cracks of today's failing public
> school system, have managed to slip out of education's back door and have
> run away free.
>
> Free to Learn follows a handful of these children courageously meeting the
> daily challenges of hope, acceptance, loss, friendship, conflict, and the
> difficult task of deciding, for themselves, what to do with each day.
>

*ii. Qi Gong Class*

here's some info on an upcoming class on qi gong:

Learn to heal with touch.  Qigong healing class will teach you how to access
your own healing energies to heal yourself or others.  Practice meditational
and movement based yogic exercises. Learn to treat a friend with hands-on
healing treatment under the supervision of a qualified facilitator.

Qigong is an ancient form of healing and spiritual practice, a systematic
discipline rarely taught in the west.  It combines movement, postures,
breath-work, and meditation.  Qigong literally means 'energy work' or
'energy skills.'  Qi might be defined as spiritual energy or life force.
 Working with Qi consists of circulating, shielding,  clearing,
strengthening, increased storing, as well as developing awareness and
sensitivity to spiritual energy.   Much of this is done through the
processes of removing energetic blockages, and balancing the energy from the
standpoint of the elements.

contact Brad for more info: *nacken3 at hotmail.com*

*
iii. Rally in Solidarity With Six Nations Land Rights!
November 7 at 1 PM, Victoria Park, (Downtown Brantford)*

Down with the Brantford Injunction!
No Developments on Six Nations Land!
Drop all charges against Six Nations land defenders!
Meaningful negotiations now!

Brantford, Ontario has become “ground zero” in the struggle over
Indigenous rights in Ontario. Most of the city is under landclaim, but
instead of halting development until the status of the disputed land
can be negotiated, Brantford city council is carrying out an
aggressive policy of encouraging the criminalization of Six Nations
land defenders. Since 2006, when protests in nearby Caledonia erupted,
over 60 people from Six Nations have faced more than 160 criminal
charges as they have tried to peacefully stop illegal developments
from taking place on their lands.

It is time for non-native allies and supporters of Six Nations to
stand up and bring pressure to bear on our governments and
institutions in order to demand that they respect and honor the
treaties and agreements we have made with Indigenous nations. The Six
Nations Solidarity Network -- a group made up of non-native activists
from communities in and beside the Haldimand tract, is calling all
supporters of Six Nations land rights to join us in a peaceful protest
on Saturday, Nov 7th 2009, at 1pm in Brantford’s Victoria Park (corner
of Market St. and Darling St.).

for more info or travelling details about buses leaving hamilton, contact
niki at *csn.thorne at gmail.com*

*iv. Peace and Culture classes*
all events at the peace cafe/skydragon centre (27 king william st)

Monday November 16, Peace & Culture: Gender's Role in Violence and War
(workshop, screening, discussion) 7:00pm
In this workshop we explore how exactly particular types of masculinity
perpetuate and support the validity of war and violence, and through
screening an episode of "Dog the Bounty Hunter", explore how some
fascinating alternative masculinities are beginning to emerge into Western
popular culture.

Monday November 23, Peace & Culture: Justified Violence and the Action Film
Formula 7:00pm
The typical “Hollywood Action Flick” has a definite formula to it. Just how
precise this formula is might surprise you. Join us as we explore the exact
circumstances in which nonviolence is universally rejected within this
television and movie genre, using an episode of the TV show "24".

Monday November 30, "Peace & Culture: Ethnocentrism & You" (workshop,
screening, discussion) 7:00pm
This workshop will be focused on the concept of ethnocentrism, using Gemini
award-winning Canadian travel show "departures" as a critical text.

Wed. November 25, 7:30pm - Film Night: Our Local Water History
"Geologic Journey: The Great Lakes" by David Suzuki tells the story of the
dramatic changes in the geology and landscape of the vast central area of
North America that only in very recent geologic history takes the form of
five great interconnected freshwater lakes.

*v. Other FreeSkool happenings*

Peter, a longtime FreeSkool magical genius recently started planting seeds
for a computer lab at the SkyDragon centre.  He is eager to hear from folks
who like setting up computers, open source software and having fun.  If you
are able to donate time, energy or computer parts, please contact him at *
peter.rogers at gmail.com*

Our friend Marya is involved in two upcoming classes, a theatre class and a
one time event that sounds crazy and complicated. For more information on
Woop Woop Theatre, check out our website.  I'll let the second event speak
for itself:
NOVEMBER 19th (thursday) 8pm: Chaotic Travels SkillsShare & StoryTelling
Circle Jam out! & midnight in the streets chaotic travel derive and parkour
event.
This event will be hosted by Paula Belina (Montreal & London) & Arlen
Horrell (London).
For more info or details on either happening, contact Marya at *
marya.bee at gmail.com*

-- 
Hamilton FreeSkool
www.hamiltonfreeskool.org
hamiltonfreeskool at gmail.com

"If modern industrial education—and more broadly industrial
civilization—requires "the subsumption of the individual," that is, the
conversion of vibrant human beings into "automata," i.e., into a pliant
workforce, then the most revolutionary thing we can do is follow our hearts,
to manifest who we really are."
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