[IPSM] Political Prisoner and Prisoner of War Calendar 2006: Call for Submissions

[Jaggi Singh]

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Political Prisoner and Prisoner of War Calendar 2006

We are looking for written submissions and artwork for our 2006 Freedom for 
Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War calendar.

Submissions can be up to 800 words, and may include poetry, satire, statements, 
or interviews. We are particularly looking for submissions by ex or current 
P.P.'s and P.O.W.'s, their families and supporters.

This year, as much as possible, we are seeking submissions that fit into the 
theme suggested by white anti-imperialist Political Prisoner and calendar 
contributor David Gilbert. We hope this year's calendar will present an 
internationalist perspective, with an emphasis on the leadership of progressive 
movements in the global south. We want to highlight the links between movements 
occuring in all our local communities, and larger movements for global social 
change.  As David explains:

"There are overlapping potential movements [in the U.S. and Canada] that have 
failed to achieve the potential and needed synergy: antiglobalization, antiwar, 
and antiracism.  They need to go together because the progressive alternative 
to the "war on terror" is "global justice," and because the only reason Bush 
et. al. get away with their big lies and wholesale slaughter is the legacy of 
white supremacy.  So the question is in what ways can we promote synergy?  And 
additionally for white anti-imperialists, how can anti-racist consciousness be 
fostered among activist white youth?"

"As we know, the antiglobalization movement didn't start with Seattle. The 
leadership has come from the global South, which makes sense because that's 
where the contradictions are the sharpest.  As we know, the Zapatistas and some 
women-led community struggles in India are prime examples. But there's also a 
lot happening throughout Latin America: Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil. 
So, my proposed theme for '06: highlight anti-glob. struggles of the South, to 
educate folks, to bring some of their political leadership to us, to promote 
anti-racist consciousness."

Submissions on this theme will be prioritised, but please feel free to submit 
on other topics.  Due to space constraints, we may not be able to print all 
submissions. Please include a short bio of 2-4 sentences with your submission.

Artwork will be printed in full colour.  It does not have to fit directly into 
the theme.

We need all written submissions and artwork by JUNE 1ST, 2005.

Thank you very much for your support of the 2006 calendar project.

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Who We Are

We are a group of people who are committed to doing work grounded in an 
anti-imperialist and anti-racist perspective. We work in solidarity with 
anti-colonial struggles, Political Prisoners and the rights of undocumented 
citizens and immigrants. We are queer and trans positive. Two outside groups, 
one based in Montreal, and one based in New York City work together with three 
New York State Political Prisoners: Robert Seth Hayes, Herman Bell and David 
Gilbert to create the calendar each year. Proceeds from the 2006 calendar will 
be used for direct support work for Political Prisoners and anti-colonialist 
and anti-imperialist struggles in the U.S. and Canada.

What Our Goals Are

We hope to raise awareness of Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War in the 
United States, many of whom are now in or approaching their 30th year of 
imprisonment. We feel it is extremely important that people on the streets 
recognize the history of today’s social justice movements, and how that ties in 
with solidarity for PPs/POWs. We want to emphasis the ongoing involvement and 
continued commitment of PPs/POWs in these same movements.

Or other principle goal is to raise funds for groups doing direct support work 
for Political Prisoners and Prisoners of War in Canada and the U.S.A., or for 
groups engaged in the anti-imperialist struggles.

Contact Info

Please contact us with any questions, comments or submissions, at:
Calendar Committee
c/o QPIRG Concordia
1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. O.,
Montreal, QC
H3G 1M8
Canada

E-mail address: info at twelvemonths.org