[opirgyork] Weekly Digest April 15th
OPIRG York
opirg at yorku.ca
Thu Apr 15 16:16:46 PDT 2010
Greetings all!
Hope everyone is surviving exams, papers, etc.
The OPIRG office is still up and fully running this summer, and will be
open from monday to thursday 11am - 6pm.
Please come visit us! We're in 449C in the student centre.
Also look out for summer projects,workshops and events coming up in May!
Enjoy the sunshine!
-OPIRG York
----------------------------------
Events:
1) The Diaspora and the Future of Haiti: Symposium on Haitian-Canadian
responses to the catastrophe in Haiti
2) Opposing Prisons in Canada: Festival event & Public meeting: Night at
the Indies presents sistahz sAy!
3) Book Launch: "Barack Obama and the Jim Crow Media The Return of the
Nigger Breakers"
4) Community Meeting about Harper's "Law and Order" agenda
5) 2nd annual Inside Out Screen-A-Thon
6) Solidarity Fiesta!
7) Public conference:"Youth Speak!!!": Closing the Service Gaps in the
Criminal Justice System
8) Tenants’ Rights Workshop
9) Aboriginal HST Tax Protest
10) Nomanzland Open Mic Night
11) Fundraiser for the Canadian Arab Federation : Live Music -- Spoken
Word -- Art Auction
12) NO ONE CAN TELL YOUR STORY BUT YOU-PINK INK'S ANNUAL ZINE LAUNCH!
13) The Audre Lorde Workshop Festival
14) With Love from Palestine: TPFF 2010 Launch party
15) Rally: No One Is Illegal – Toronto and take to the streets to demand
Status for All on May Day
16) May day festival closing party
17) BLOCKORAMA 12 Fundraiser!
18) Conference: Mining (in)justice: At Home and Abroad
19) Old Struggle, New Strategies: Building a radical disability movement
20) Montreal Anarchist book fair 2010
Petitions/Opporunities:
1) Stamp Out Apartheid!
2) Stand Against Project Hero and the Glorification of War
3) Birthright Unplugged’s Summer 2010 Program
4) Non/non to Bill 94 Coalition - please sign and endorse!
----------------------------------------
1) The Diaspora and the Future of Haiti: Symposium on Haitian-Canadian
responses to the catastrophe in Haiti
April 16-17, University of Toronto
April 16, 8pm
Concert featuring Manno Charlemagne
Location: U of T-St. George, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education,
G-162 Auditorium, 252 Bloor St. W, 1st floor
April 17, 9-5pm
Public Symposium and community discussion with speakers from Toronto,
Ottawa and Montréal
Location: U of T- Scarborough, Science Research Building, SY110, 1465
Military Trail
Speakers include:
Jean Saint-Vil, activist and journalist, member of the Ottawa Haiti
Solidarity Committee (Kozayiti) and founder of the Haitian organization
AKASAN. Frantz Voltaire, Director of the Centre international de
documentation et de l’information haïtienne, caribéene and
afro-canadienne (CIDIHCA). Martine Duviella, director of the NFB film, A
Memory Forgotten – A Generation Sacrificed/Une mémoire oubliée... une
génération sacrifiée. Marlène Thélusma Rémy, Social Science Professor,
Collège Boréal, and author of The Contribution of Haitian Women to the
Construction and Survival of their Country.
All events are free to the public. Child care can be provided. Space
limited for both events, advance registration highly recommended. For
registration for the April 16 Manno Charlemagne concert and/or the April
17 Symposium please contact tetansam at gmail.com or call Melanie
Newton/Kate Creasey at 416-978-4054.
Sponsored by the University of Toronto Scarborough, the University of
Toronto Mississauga and Caribbean Studies, University of Toronto St. George.
-----------------------------------------
2) Opposing Prisons in Canada: Festival event & Public meeting: Night at
the Indies presents sistahz sAy!
Friday April 16 8-10pm
@ Wychwood Theatre
A vocal shout out from sistahz round the way and as far as Halifax, Nova
Scotia. Poetry, song, comic commentary, and more.
Part of the rock.paper.sistahz.9 festival of word, sound, performance
and more - bcurrent.ca/rps_2010
Please circulate widely . . .
On February 27th, 2010 a group of over 50 people came together to find
ways of opposing the Canadian governments proposed new legislation that
will increase prison populations. The government remains committed to
building new prisons to accommodate them (despite 'crime' rates
remaining stable or going down). Without a doubt, Canada is moving
towards the US-style of justice that has proven to be ineffective.
Are you concerned about increased spending on prisons?
Law-and-order legislation and increased prison construction will not
make our communities safer. In fact, if things transpire as they have in
the US, the result will be just the opposite.
Money spent on new prisons could be spent on increasing income
subsidies, affordable housing, effective drug and harm reduction
programs, youth programs, etc. - that is, actions shown to be far more
effective in diminishing crime than are tougher sentences and additional
prisons.
We have created four working groups:
• Harm Reduction and Bill C-15 (mandatory minimums)
• Human Rights and Bill C-43 (changes to the Corrections and Conditional
Release Act)
• Youth Justice (this is a small group that we hope grows with time)
• Prison Expansion Working Group
Please join us in working to make a difference!
Community Meeting
Saturday April 17th, 2010 from 2 to 5 p.m.
Rooms 308 at Metro Hall 55 John Street Toronto
For info contact giselle_8 at sympatico.ca
--------------------------------------
3) Book Launch: "Barack Obama and the Jim Crow Media The Return of the
Nigger Breakers"
A Different BookList and Baraka Books invite you to the launch of
"Barack Obama and the Jim Crow Media
The Return of the Nigger Breakers" by eminent African-American Writer,
Poet and Playwright Ishmael Reed
Ishmael Reed will be speaking.
United Steelworkers Hall
25 Cecil St
Toronto, Ontario
Friday, April 16 at 7:30 pm
The evening will be hosted by:
Professor George Elliott Clarke - award winning
writer, poet and playwright
RSVP A Different Booklist 416-538-0889
info at adifferentbooklist.com
www.barakabooks.com
A Different Booklist
746 Bathurst St
Toronto, ON
M5S 2R6
Tel:416 538 0889; Fax:416 538 6914
email:info at adifferentbooklist.com
www.adifferentbooklist.com
-----------------------------------------
4) Community Meeting about Harper's "Law and Order" agenda
Saturday, April 17th, 2 to 5 p.m. Rooms 308 at Metro Hall (55 John Street)
On February 27th, 2010 a group of over 50 people came together to find
ways of opposing the Canadian governments proposed new legislation that
will increase prison populations. The government remains committed to
building new prisons to accommodate them (despite 'crime' rates
remaining stable or going down). Without a doubt, Canada is moving
towards the US-style of justice that has proven to be ineffective.
Are you concerned about increased spending on prisons?
Law-and-order legislation and increased prison construction will not
make our communities safer. In fact, if things transpire as they have in
the US, the result will be just the opposite.
Money spent on new prisons could be spent on increasing income
subsidies, affordable housing, effective drug and harm reduction
programs, youth programs, etc. - that is, actions shown to be far more
effective in diminishing crime than are tougher sentences and additional
prisons.
We have created four working groups:
• Harm Reduction and Bill C-15 (mandatory minimums)
• Human Rights and Bill C-43 (changes to the Corrections and Conditional
Release Act)
• Youth Justice (this is a small group that we hope grows with time)
• Prison Expansion Working Group
Please join us in working to make a difference!
------------------------------------
5) 2nd annual Inside Out Screen-A-Thon
Saturday April 17, 2010 - 1 to 7pm
Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Ave.
Get your friends, family and co-workers to pledge you to suffer through
an afternoon of over-the-top diva classics in support of Inside Out and
the Toronto LGBT Film and Video Festival.
DIVAS DOING DAMAGE!
Do you love Inside Out enough to endure six hours of non-stop diva drama!
PROGRAM FEATURES:
• Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (1988, director Pedro
Almodóvar, starring Antonio Banderas)
Go here to see the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PypMOEKJuh8&feature=related
• Body of Evidence (1993, starring Madonna)
Go here to see the trailer:
http://media.community.madonna.com/_Body-of-Evidence-Trailer/video/820412/119720.html?b=
• The Wiz (1978, starring Diana Ross and Michael Jackson)
Go here to see the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZC_sdHwBAQ
With host Fay Slift and other special performances
Delicious movie treats provided and cash bar!
Tons of fundraising awards offered!
WHAT TO DO:
• Participate as an individual or BETTER YET put together a cast of your
friends, family or co-workers!
• Visit http://www.insideout.on.ca/festival09/latestnews.html and
register online or contact Winnie atwinnie at insideout.ca or 416.977.6847
• Registration fee $25 (charged at the door of the event or waived with
a minimum $75 raised in pledges)
• Start collecting pledges!
INDIVIDUAL FUNDRAISING GOAL $200
Thank you to our event sponsor: Xtra!
* * * * * *
Winnie Luk
Manager of Operations
Inside Out - Challenging Attitudes and Changing Lives
20th Anniversary Festival - May 20 to 30, 2010
Visit us on the web: www.insideout.ca <http://www.insideout.ca/>
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/InsideOutTO
<http://www.twitter.com/InsideOutTO>
Join our Facebook group: www.facebook.com
<http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=10634167642>
T: 416.977.6847
F: 416.977.8025
E: winnie at insideout.ca
219 - 401 Richmond Street West
Toronto, ON, Canada M5V 3A8
---------------------------------
6) Solidarity Fiesta!
Uniting in Struggle and Celebration.
Coordinated by the Latin American Solidarity Network, the Coalition Against
Israeli Apartheid, and the Toronto Workers Assembly.
Saturday April 17, 2010
7 PM - Late Night
Steelworkers' Hall - 25 Cecil Street
Cost $10 or PWYC
Featuring:
Cash Bar
DJ Carlitos
Dancing
Performances and Presentations
Delicous Latin American food for sale
WHY COME OUT ON APRIL 17?
To raise funds for CAIA, LASN and the Assembly.
To build solidarity.
To mark Palestinian Prisoners Day.
To remember the Cuban 5.
To mark the International Day of Peasants Struggle.
To help build for the April 18 Toronto Workers Assembly: http://www.workersa
ssembly.ca/ node/32
To have fun.
CAIA: http://www.caiaweb. org/
LASN: http://www.rlasn. org/
Toronto Workers' Assembly: http://www.workersa ssembly.ca/
--------------------------------
7) Public conference:"Youth Speak!!!": Closing the Service Gaps in the
Criminal Justice System.
April 20th, 9-5pm at 89 Chestnut Street
For Youth Initiative in partnership with City of Toronto and Toronto
Community Housing invites you to "Youth Speak!!!": Closing the Service
Gaps in the Criminal Justice System.
The conference aims at bringing key policy and frontline workers
together with high risk youth and other stakeholders to identify the
gaps that exist in the Youth Criminal Justice System.
Staying true to the theme, the keynote will be delivered by a youth who
is currently incarcerated via video conference and the panel discussions
will be streamed into a youth correctional facility and breakout groups
will simultaneously occur in the facility as well as at the conference
venue.
Please reserve your space with Rob by April 12th. For more details
rob at foryouth.ca / www.foryouth.ca
<http://www.foryouth.ca/ (416) 785 9900
------------------------------
8) Tenants’ Rights Workshop
Wednesday April 21st, 2-4pm, York University/Centre for Women and Trans
People, Room 322 Student Centre
Everybody is welcome!! Free lunch! Limited space, so you must RSVP by
April 19th.
Renting for the first time? MAKE SURE YOU KNOW YOUR RIGHTS!
This workshop will answer many questions:
1- Can your landlord come over whenever they want?
2- Do you have to give a damage deposit?
3- Can your landlord forbid you from having pets or guests?
4- Can your landlord raise the rent whenever they want?
This workshop will answer questions you may have about renting, give you
a run through of your rights as a tenant and provide you with important
resource to turn to if you run into trouble with a landlord. The
facilitator, Victoria Natola is from the Federation of Metro Tenants’
Association. The Federation of Metro Tenants’ Association is a
non-profit organization funded by the City of Toronto that runs a Tenant
Hotline, helps tenants start Tenant Associations to better deal with
their landlords, and does public legal education about Tenant Rights.
This workshop will be very useful to anybody who is new to renting, new
to Ontario, experiencing conflict with their landlord or other tenants,
or just wants to know their rights.
Centre for Women and Trans People at York U
416.736.2100 x 33484 | http://yorku.ca/ywc - Facebook: Cwtp AT York
--------------------------------
9) Aboriginal HST Tax Protest
Thursday April 22nd, 2010
9am - 5pm
Queen's Park
Toronto, ON
HST affects everyone, so even if you are not Aboriginal and wish to come
and support us in this protest you are more then welcome to come out and
you are encouraged to do so.
On July 1st the Government is taking away our inherent right to point of
sale tax exemption unless we all unite to be heard.
We Native poeple of Ontario have to come together and fight for our
right of point of sale tax exemption because once the government takes
it away we will never get it back, so we must stop it beforeit is pushed
through.
It is Illegal and Immoral for the Federal Government to ignore our
treat's and turn their backs on us.
Large protests and demands have worked in the past. If we organize a lot
of protests then the goverment has no choice but to cave in. Remember
when young people protested the changes to young drivers by the Liberals
by using facebook. It sure has worked before so we have to make it work
this time or it will forever be just another thing stripped from our
rights and gone for good.
THIS PROTEST IS COMMING FROM A GRASS ROOTS ANGLE SO ALL COMMUNITY"S ARE
ABLE TO COME OUT AND ANYONE CAN SPEAK OUT AT THIS PROTEST!
Please invite anyone and everyone to this protest and come out and fight
for our rights! The only way we can do this is by getting off our butts
and assemble in this protest. It is important that as many people come
as possible so please let's get the word out of this event and stop the hst!
"HST IN ONTARIO... this approved proposal, which will take affect this
year, is only designed to keep Ontario from progressing..... it takes
more money out of the hands of the improverished and First Nations
people. As a First Nations person, I refuse to pay the HST because it is
illegal for a nation to tax another nation, such as FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE.
The new 13% tax will therefore apply to things like your electric bill,
your gas bill, your water bill, condominium fees, insurance premiums,
and every other good and service you purchase. There are almost no
exemptions.
The extension of the new 13% GST/PST to homes is simply a tax assault by
the government on your primary home. They want to tax your primary home
and you will suffer because of it.
Why? Because if a purchaser has to pay almost $200,000 in taxes to buy
your $1 million dollar home, the purchaser is going to pay less to you
for your home. The purchaser will reduce the amount he or she is willing
to pay to you in order to pay all the taxes.
The New 13% Tax Will Effectively Raise Your Income Taxes Currently, the
combined Federal/Ontario income tax rates are roughly 25% on the first
$20,000 of taxable income, 42% on the next $40,000 of taxable income,
and 46.5% on each dollar of taxable income over $60,000. On top of that
you have to add the "Fair Share Health Tax" of up to $1,000 each of us
has to pay.
If the Ontario Government gets away with implementing their new
harmonized GST/PST sales tax of 13%, the top effective income tax rates
in Ontario will be as follows (since you can't spend any of your tax
paid dollars without paying the new harmonized 13% GST/PST tax):
38% on the first $20,000
53% on the next $40,000
59.5% on every dollar over $60,000
On top of that, you have to pay your Ontario Fair Share Health Tax, your
city realty taxes, your city garbage fees, your city water fees, your
city street parking permit fees, your annual Ontario and new city of
toronto vehicle license plate fees, your Ontario land transfer tax, your
new city of toronto land transfer tax, your gasoline taxes, your liquor
taxes, your air departure
taxes, your entertainment taxes, and so on.
While you can see above that the tax is not only a First Nations
violation of rights, it is also a violation of rights of the Tax Payer.
Many of times I have sat in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario and
witnessed many of these Liberal Ontario elected officials not even be
present when the questions of their misspending comes forth, while they
are making huge, profit gaining deals, like those with international
corporations like Samsung to gain profit on behalf of Ontarians. These
people are only out to line their pockets with cash.
I will say this, because I don't care right now... Dalton McGuinty is
the WORST thing to ever happen to Ontarians, and at this point, he's
probably made so much money off private deals for Ontario that it
doesn't matter whether or not he ever gets re-elected.
The only thing that I can say at this point is that for those of you who
don't vote and don't contribute to any of the causes that you believe
in, you thus leave decision making, like the HST to people like Dalton
McGuinty.....but.. you also leave it to people like activists to fight
for your rights in decisions that will affect your life and you leave it
to politicians like Dalton McGuinty to make choices for you. Regardless
of what your or our opinions are, please make sure that everyone knows
what you think, because each and everyone person on this group and
beyond are sooo important to the collective and I want to say Miigwetch
to every single one of you... because it is only you who can make change!"
-------------------------------
10) Nomanzland Open Mic Night!
630-930pm
15 Tobermory Drive
Toronto, ON
Our traditional Open Mic Night is back and we want to make it bigger and
better! So invite everyone you know...come down on April 22 at 15
Tobermory Dr. @ 6.30pm! We will be starting the event with a Nomanzland
performance so be on time ;)! The rest of the night the mic will be
available to anyone who wants to perform...everyone is welcome and all
talents are welcome. There will be free food, good home cooked food...so
COME THROUGH!!!!
If you want to email us or get in touch with Nomanzland email us at
nomanzland at riseup.net. We'd love to hear from you!
-------------------------------
11) Fundraiser for the Canadian Arab Federation : Live Music -- Spoken
Word -- Art Auction
Thursday 22 April 2010: 7-10 PM @ The Annex Live 296 Brunswick Avenue
(just south of Bloor St. W.)
Funds raised will help aid the Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) in their
current court case as well as defray the cost of preparing a response to
the CPCCA (Canadian Parliamentary Coalition to Combat Anti-Semitism).
CAF’s case against Jason Kenney is a watershed case in struggle with a
conservative government bent on changing our institutions and laws to
meet its reactionary agenda. This case challenges the government’s smear
campaign of groups and individuals who do not conform to its ideology.
It is about Israel today, but it will be about something else tomorrow.
If your organization would like to be added to our list of endorsers,
please contact us at:
pfex.toronto at gmail.com
For more information, please go to the following links:
From the Canadian Arab Federation: Minister Jason Kenney’s History with
CAF:
http://www.caf.ca/Admin.aspx?AppModule=TxAppFramework.Web.Admin&Command=EMBEDDEDFILE&DataObjectID=701&ColumnID=3581&FieldName=CONTENT&Lang=EN&RecordID=1948
From Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME), a fact
sheet
on CAF, Jason Kenney, and principles of government funding:
http://www.cjpme.org/DisplayDocument.aspx?DocumentID=350&SaveMode=0
Online article on Free Expression For Palestine, with links to several
articles and
resources for further reading:
http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/bullet211.html
Website for Palestine Freedom of Expression:
www.freeexpressionpalestine.org
--------------------------------------
12) NO ONE CAN TELL YOUR STORY BUT YOU-PINK INK'S ANNUAL ZINE LAUNCH!
APRIL 28TH
730PM
@ THE GLADSTONE HOTEL
ALL AGES EVENT
Free for youth, $5-$10 s/s for adults
NO ONE TURNED AWAY FOR LACK OF FUNDS
Come celebrate Pink Ink’s annual zine launch with writing and ranting by
talented queer and trans youth! Hosted by Karine Silverwoman and Joseph
Soobram.
Stick around for Elle Niño, co-founder and DJ of queer hip hop jam Yes
Yes Y’all, spinning hip hop, R&B, reggae, electro and 90’s classics.
This is an all ages event – everyone’s invited!
Pink Ink is a weekly creative writing drop-in facilitated by queer
community artist and activist Karine Silverwoman. It is a program of
Supporting Our Youth and Sherbourne Health Centre and is sponsored by
the Toronto Arts Council.
10 Reasons To Riot - Pink Ink's first zine, voted NOW Magazine "Best
Zine of 2005."
This year we are excited to have our launch be a part of the Mayworks
Festival of working people and the arts.
http://www.mayworks.ca/performance.html
http://mayworks.ca/
and by Granny Boots
Granny Boots is early evening entertainment for queer folk who like to
be in bed by 11. Every Wednesday Ryan G. Hinds curates a different
theme, host or event: from live music to drag, radical politics to
spoken word, you and your Granny get to be home early AND entertained
all in one night!
YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THIS INCREDIBLE EVENT!
COME CELEBRATE WRITING, RANTING AND RESISTANCE BY QUEER AND TRANS YOUTH!
-----------------------------------
13) The Audre Lorde Workshop Festival
Wednesday April 28- May 1st
Named in honour of the revolutionary poet, teacher and activist, this
festival features the second stage of works-in-progress by the adt!
resident artists with talkback q&a sessions.
amanda parris - every day’s another chance to get it right this time
cassandra walker - i
julie tesolin - safe haven
kalmplex - medusa: the truth they neglected to tell you
kemba king - where the stories are told
natasha morris - itty bitty
april 28 - may 1
doors: 7pm show: 8pm
entrance: pay-what-you-can (suggested $10)
all funds support anitafrika! dub theatre.
62 fraser avenue
liberty village
2 blocks east of dufferin
1 block south of king
647.454.2097 | village at anitafrika.com | www.anitafrika.com
--------------------------------------
14) With Love from Palestine: TPFF 2010 Launch party
Thursday April 29th, 9pm
22 Cumberland Street
To kick off the new season of the Toronto Palestine Film Festival (TPFF), we
are hosting the 2010 Launch Party: With Love From Palestine.
Join us on Thursday, April 29th for a night of live music and dancing at The
Stealth Lounge (@ The Pilot), 22 Cumberland Street (doors open at 9pm).
We'll
be announcing the list of acts shortly.
The 3rd annual TPFF is taking place October 2-8, 2010, showcasing the latest
Palestinian films and hosting exciting cultural events. For more
information on
upcoming pre-festival events, please visit: www.tpff.ca
--------------------------------------
15) Rally: No One Is Illegal – Toronto and take to the streets to demand
Status for All on May Day
Saturday, May 1st, 1:00pm - 4:00pm at St. Jamestown (Wellesley Street
and Ontario Street )
On May 1, 2010 (International Workers Day)
March for Status for All!
1pm, St. Jamestown
Wellesley St. and Ontario St.
5th Annual No One Is Illegal May Day of Action
**Endorse the march! Email nooneisillegal at riseup.net**
**Art/Banner Making: April 18 and 25, 2pm-6pm, Wellesley St. and Ontario
St. Spread the Word!**
**For more details, videos and posters visit
http://toronto.nooneisillegal.org/MayDay **
In the past 6 years the struggle for justice for immigrants and refugees
has grown immensely. Inspired by the individual and collective strength
of Mohamed Cherfi, Kimberley Lizano-Sossa, Fahim Kayani, Shamim Akhtar,
Isabel Garcia, Wendy Maxwell, and the many others that we have known,
and the countless others that have had to fight alone, the Migrant
Justice movement has fore fronted struggles of people of color, women,
disAbled and queer migrants, particularly those without full status.
Rising out of schools, shelters and apartment blocks from Jane and Finch
to Crescent Town, our voices have reached the streets and the hallways
of power. From the 2004 No One Is Illegal march from Montreal to Ottawa,
to the first Toronto May Day of Action in 2006, to the take over of
Yonge and Dundas square on May Day in 2009, we have worked tirelessly to
create real meaningful change – stopping deportations, winning access to
schools, changing federal immigration policy. We have been on picket
lines with labour unions, on barricades in solidarity with Indigenous
struggles, supported people’s organizations in streets and in communities.
Now, in 2010, as the Conservative government arrests and deports our
friends. As they tear apart our families. As they push us in to unsafe
jobs. As they call us “bogus refugees” and “illegals”, and do it with a
smile, we say no mas, no more.
On Christmas Eve, four migrant construction workers fell to their
deaths, unable to demand safe working conditions. Days before
International Women's Day, bullies from Immigration Enforcement raided
shelters, intimidating, harassing and arresting women and children in
the middle of the night. Workplace raids have increased dramatically in
Southern Ontario. Faced with being sent back to certain torture, Habtom
Kibraeb killed himself rather than be deported.
Kenney & Harper are writing a new story of migration. A ruthless story
that claws back past victories, and launches new attacks. Now more than
ever, we must fight back!
When a mother can’t bring her child to a hospital for fear of
deportation, when a worker is condemned to unsafe work for fear of
detention, when Immigration Canada acts as judge, jury and executioner,
we need to join together across movements, across divides, and across
the city to fight for Status for All.
The Struggle for Status is the fight for movement, good jobs, food,
health-care, education, shelter, housing, justice and dignity for all
people, irrespective of Immigration status.
On May 1, respectful of the history of struggle that has gone before us,
and in the spirit of solidarity, strength and anger, join us.
March for Status for All!
1pm, St. Jamestown
Wellesley St. and Ontario St.
5th Annual May Day of Action
Endorsed by: South Asian Women's Rights Organization, Justicia for
Migrant Workers, Jane Finch Action Against Poverty, Afghani Refugee
Rights Organization, Good Jobs for All Coalition, Mujeres al Frente,
Caregivers Action Centre, International Federation of Iranian Refugees,
CUPE International Solidarity Committee, Ontario Coalition Against
Poverty, MataDanZe, Toronto Haiti Action Committee, United Food and
Commercial Workers Canada, Davenport-Perth Neighbourhood Centre Bread &
Bricks, LIFE Movement, Parkdale Community Legal Services, Toronto Forum
on Cuba, Canadian Peace Alliance, Toronto Coalition to Stop the War and
more...
---------------------------------------
16) May Day Festival that evening!
It Will Work!
May 1, 2010
Doors: 7:30pm
The Garrison, 1197 Dundas Street West
Mayworks Festival Closing Party
Following the No One Is Illegal! May Day of Action (1pm. St.Jamestown),
celebrate May 1st by shining the spotlight on the struggles, successes
and strength of working class peoples, migrants, undocumented and
temporary workers, by joining the Mayworks Festival, No One Is Illegal
Toronto and the Canadian Labour Congress Ontario Region in presenting
musicians, dancers and artists who will ignite the stage with words,
musice and movement to provoke thinking as well as dancing and laughter!
Hosted by Deena Ladd of the Workers Action Centre, the line-up includes
Deidre DLishus Walton, MataDanZe, Mama D, LAL, Marinda and Solari, Red
Slam Collective, Humble The Poet and Amai Kuda!
Tickets: $5-$15 (no one turned away)
This event will be a build up to community and labor organizing
resisting the G8/G20 Summits in June 2010.
Part of the Mayworks Festival | April 24 - May 2 | www.mayworks.ca
Co-organized and co-presented by No One Is Illegal Toronto and Canadian
Labour Congress Ontario Region.
----------------------------------------
17) BLOCKORAMA 12 Fundraiser!
Join the Blackness YES! Committee/ Blockorama for a (hot, sexy fun)
dance party!
Come dressed to sweat!
Featuring DJS:
Nik Red
Black Cat
Verlia
JJ Rock
Unruly Twin
And:
Prizes, surprises and more!
HOT! SEXY! FUN!
SLIDING SCALE COVER- $5-10. No one turned away for lack of funds!
Fundraiser for the Blockorama stage!
@ Harlem Lounge
67 Richmond Street East.
Unfortunately, this venue if not wheelchair accessible. There is one
small step at the door, and about 10 steps up to the second floor dance
space. FYI.
For more information, email blacknessyes at hotmail.com
-------------------------------------
18) Conference: Mining (in)justice: At Home and Abroad
May 7-9, Toronto
Save the Date for mining (in)justice: at home and abroad, a conference
examining the role of Canadian mining and extractive companies.
Mining (in)justice: at home and abroad is a conference on the Canadian
mining industry (including Tar Sands) set to take place in Toronto on
the weekend of May 7-9, 2010. It will feature leaders in movements
against Canadian mining companies both within and outside of Canada and
provide space for growing our own movements in alliance with communities
impacted by this industry.
This is a follow-up conference to last year's mining conference, which
brought over 20 front line defenders to share their stories and
strategize solutions to ending corporate impunity and strengthening the
struggles against destructive mining projects around the world.
This year, we are expanding the conference into a 3 day event, providing
more space for participants to meet each other, form alliances, and plan
actions to foster an anti-mining movement within Canada.
About the organizers: Community Solidarity Response Toronto (CSRT) works
to bring the voices and experiences of communities impacted by Canadian
extractive industries to Toronto, where much of this industry is based.
We work in alliance with affected communities within and outside of
Canada to expose the true impacts of these companies within the
communities in which they operate.
For more information and to find out how to get involved:
solidarityresponse.net, e-mail: csrtoronto at gmail.com
Sakura Saunders
editor, www.protestbarrick.net
member, www.solidarityresponse.net
647-838-8455
---------------------------------
19) Old Struggle, New Strategies: Building a radical disability movement
Thursday May 6th
630-930pm
Friends House
60 Lowther Avenue
Toronto, ON
Pissed off that the province cut the Special Diet money? Angry because
cops, immigration ministers, social workers and teachers target you or
your allies, and can't meet your needs?
So are we.
Ableism - systemic discrimination against disabled people - affects
everyone. There is power and strength in our shared stories and
struggles. We have what it takes to fight back.
Join DAMN2025, a cross disability direct action coalition, for a PUBLIC
MEETING to brainstorm new campaigns to combat ableism in Toronto. Share
a meal, share your ideas; let's build a movement together.
MEAL PROVIDED (vegetarian options / nut-free)
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE
ASL PROVIDED
Please contact damn2025 at gmail.com or (416) 889-3037 with any questions
---------------------------------
20) Montreal Anarchist book fair 2010
May 28-30th
Montreal, QC
The Montreal Anarchist Bookfair -- and month-long Festival of Anarchy --
brings together anarchist ideas and practice, through words, images,
music, theatre and day-to-day struggles for justice, dignity and
collective liberation.
The Bookfair is as much for people who don't necessarily consider
themselves anarchists, but are curious about anarchism, as it is a space
for anarchists to meet, network and share in a spirit of respect and
solidarity. All are welcome.
The Bookfair is organized in a spirit of openness towards the different
traditions, visions, and practices of anarchism. Together we share a
commitment to promoting anarchism through the values of mutual aid,
grassroots democracy, direct action, autonomy and solidarity, while
opposing oppression in all its forms. The Bookfair principles are linked
here: http://www.anarchistbookfair.ca/en/node/4
The Bookfair is one of the largest anarchist events in North America,
and for the past decade, an important gathering and reference point for
anti-authoritarian ideas and practice.
What Happens at the Montreal Anarchist Bookfair?; read more here:
http://www.anarchistbookfair.ca/en/node/3
Accessibility Statement: http://www.anarchistbookfair.ca/en/node/6
------------------------------------
Petitions/Opporunities
1) STAMP OUT APARTHEID!
On April 14th, Canada will be issuing a "Canada-Israel Diplomatic Relations"
commemorative stamp to celebrate 60 years of relations. In light of on-going
occupation, policies of racial segregation and war-crimes against the
Palestinian people, we ask what is there to celebrate?
Please take a minute to send the following message to John Baird
(bairdij at parl.gc.ca), the Minister responsible for Canada Post
Corporation and
Rob Merrifield (Merrifield.R at parl.gc.ca), the Minister of State
(Transport) to
express your anger at Canada Post's joint issue stamp with Israel Post.
Please CC endapartheid at riseup.net.
*** STEP ONE ***
CUT AND PASTE THE FOLLOWING ADDRESSES INTO YOUR EMAIL:
bairdij at parl.gc.ca, Merrifield.R at parl.gc.ca
MAKE SURE TO CC THE LEADERS OF THE OPPOSITION:
IgnatM at parl.gc.ca, laytoj at parl.gc.ca, DucepG at parl.gc.ca
*** STEP TWO ***
Dear Mr. Baird and Mr. Merrifield:
I am writing to express condemnation of your decision to launch a $1.70
"Canada-Israel Diplomatic Relations" joint issue stamp on April 14th.
The stamp
comes a little more than a year after Israel launched a brutal assault
on the
Gaza Strip that left 1400 Palestinians, including 320 children, dead.
According
to the Report of the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission on the Gaza
Conflict,
Israel was found responsible for grave violations of international
humanitarian
law and war-crimes.
Canada Post should be taking the lead from its employees - represented
by the
Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) - in endorsing the call by over 170
Palestinian civil society organization for a comprehensive campaign of
boycott,
divestment and sanctions (BDS) targeting Israeli institutions complicit with
violations of international law. This is a non-violent and effective
means of
pursuing peace and justice in Israel/Palestine.
Along these lines, it should be noted that Israel Post continues its
complicity
with the Israeli occupation by servicing Israeli settlements in direct
contravention of the Geneva Conventions and the Rome Statute of the
International Criminal Court (ICC) and actively promoting Israeli militarism
through a series of stamp issues to that end. Furthermore, Israel
continues to
impede and disrupt mail delivery throughout Palestine , including
through its
nearly 3 year long siege on the Gaza Strip and its system of nearly 500
checkpoints throughout the West Bank .
I see little reason to 'celebrate' such policies at the expense of
tax-payers
residing in Canada .
Sincerely,
--------------------------------------
2) Stand Against Project Hero and the Glorification of War
For background info, please read:
John Conway, "Regina 16 say common folk won freedoms," Calgary Herald
www.calgaryherald.com/Regina%20common%20folk%20freedoms/2767446/story.html
The Petition:
We the undersigned urge Canadian universities and colleges not to
participate in "Project Hero," a program in which post-secondary
institutions waive tuition and course fees for "children
of fallen soldiers." Children of deceased members of the Canadian
military already have access to benefits through the Children of
Deceased Veterans Education Assistance passed in 1953. These benefits
cover course fees and tuition as well as a monthly living allowance.
Project Hero is not about aid to the children of deceased soldiers, as
their needs are already being met. Rather it is a political effort to
justify Canadian participation in the war in Afghanistan
and glorify militarism on our campuses. We do not believe our colleges
and universities should be participating in this kind of political
campaign masked as a student aid program.
We support the effort by University of Regina faculty members to raise
the issue of Project Hero on their campus. We are deeply concerned about
the response they have met in the form of
hate mail, threats and calls for their dismissal. They have every right
to raise these issues, and it is essential that free discussion and
debate about foreign policy and the role of the military be allowed
without vilification and threats of retribution. The University of
Regina Administration and the broader community must strongly defend the
academic freedom of these faculty members.
The very name of "Project Hero" demonstrates its fundamentally political
nature. We believe participation in this project threatens to align our
universities and colleges with a particular political message about
militarism and the war in Afghanistan. We therefore urge university and
college administrators to reject participation in this project.
www.thepetitionsite.com/
7/stand-against-project-hero-and-the-glorification-of-war
-----------------------------------
3) Birthright Unplugged’s Summer 2010 Program
Since 2005, Birthright Unplugged has facilitated travel in Palestine for
numerous multiple groups of people. We do this because we have found
that when people have firsthand experiences of and relationships with
Palestine, it strengthens their resolve, credibility, and accountability
to do sustained justice movement work.
Our 2010 program will include seven days of travel and a one-day
institute. Together, these elements are designed to support work related
to the 2005 call from Palestinian civil society for Boycott, Divestment,
and Sanctions against Israel (BDS). This call seeks to bring about the
end of apartheid in Israel, end the occupations of Gaza and the West
Bank, and implement the right of return for Palestinian refugees. It is
a non-violent strategy that has been critical to bringing about the end
of other systems of oppression, most notably apartheid in South Africa.
To date, we have worked with student activists, faith-based organizers,
and community organizers to help develop and strengthen their respective
BDS campaigns.
2010 Travel Component:
In seven days, we will visit Palestinian cities, villages, and refugee
camps in the West Bank and spend time with internally displaced
Palestinian people living inside Israel/’48. Throughout the journey, we
will help participants develop an understanding of daily life under
occupation and apartheid and the history of the region from people
profoundly affected by these realities who are otherwise
under-represented in Western discourses, and learn about the
dispossession and occupation of Palestinian people.
2010 Institute Component:
For the past several summers, we have offered a short institute as a
complement to our travel program following the trip. Our workshops are
designed to support the 2005 Palestinian call for BDS by helping
participants begin to integrate the knowledge they gain on the trip and
preparing them to engage in campaign work in their home countries. There
will be sessions for participants to share campaign work currently
taking place in their own communities, build organizing skills, and
develop strategies that are specific to the work they hope to do when
they return home. It is our hope that institute participants can learn
from and contribute to ongoing grassroots justice campaigns and movement
work, and that they might especially become able to invigorate current
campaigns already ongoing in their own communities.
Dates:
July 9, 2010 - July 17, 2010
Includes: 7 days of travel, 1 day of organizing workshops, and some breaks
Application:
You can download the application at
http://www.birthrightunplugged.org/unplugged/application. Please email
completed applications to info at birthrightunplugged.org by April 20, 2010.
Costs:
Sliding scale program contribution is $750 - $850. This includes both
the travel and institute portions of the program. Airfare is not
included. This contribution covers most ground transportation, meals,
translation, admission fees, and lodging expenses during the program.
Participants may purchase additional food and drink, souvenirs, and
gifts at individual discretion. Participants are expected to pay for a
few meals (est. $5-$15/meal) and car rides ($2-$4 ea) during free times
and any liquor, argile, gifts, internet café use, and personal items.
Transportation to and from airport is est. $10 - $15 each way and is not
included in the program contribution. You should expect to spend a
minimum of 10% more than the Birthright Unplugged contribution during
your trip, plus airfare.
Soon after being accepted to our Unplugged 2010 Summer Program and prior
to your trip, you will be asked to make your sliding scale contribution
of $750-$850 towards the cost of the program and complete and submit a
Participant Agreement. Your contribution is non-refundable except in the
event that the trip is cancelled. We encourage those who can pay more to
do so as program contributions do not cover program costs. We also
encourage participants to engage in personal fundraising, which has been
very successful for past participants. There is a template fundraising
letter you are welcome to use on the costs page of our website:
http://www.birthrightunplugged.org/unplugged/cost
-------------------------------------
4) Non/non to Bill 94 Coalition - please sign and endorse!
Quebec Premier Jean Charest has proposed legislation which, if approved
by the National Assembly of Quebec, would deny essential government
services, public employment, educational opportunities, and health care
to people who wear facial coverings. Bill 94 specifically targets Muslim
women who wear the niqab (face veil). The bill is an exaggerated
response to a manufactured crisis that will allow the government to deny
women services to which they are entitled. A truly democratic society is
one in which all individuals have the freedom of religious expression
and a right to access public services.
Although touted as a step toward gender equality, Bill 94, if approved,
will perpetuate gender inequality by legislating control over women’s
bodies and sanctioning discrimination against Muslim women who wear the
niqab. Instead of singling out a minuscule percentage of the population,
government resources would be better spent implementing poverty
reduction and education programs to address real gender inequality in
meaningful ways. Barring any woman from social services, employment,
health, and education, as well as creating a climate of shame and fear
around her is not an effective means to her empowerment. If Premier
Charest’s government is truly committed to gender equality it should
foster a safe and inclusive society that respects a woman’s right to
make decisions for herself. Standing up for women’s rights is admirable.
“Rescuing” women is paternalistic and insulting. Further marginalizing
Muslim women who wear niqab and denying them access to social services,
economic opportunities and civic participation is unacceptable.
Forcing a woman to reveal part of her body is no different from forcing
her to be covered. Both the federal Conservative and Liberal parties
have expressed support for Bill 94, which raises the very real
possibility that similar legislation will be proposed across Canada. We
demand that Bill 94 be withdrawn immediately, as it has no place in a
democratic state that values autonomy, liberty and justice.
No Bill 94 Coalition is made up of concerned individuals, organizations
and grassroots movements that are demanding that the proposed Quebec
legislation, Bill 94, be withdrawn immediately.
We invite all individuals and groups of conscience inside and outside of
Quebec to publicly or privately endorse this statement by emailing their
name(s), location (city, state/province, and country), and contact
information to nonbill94 [at] gmail [dot] com
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