[opirgyork] OPIRG York Weekly Digest - July 3rd 2012

[aruna at opirgyork.ca]

This is a great time for Alternative media!

The OPIRG newsletter is looking for submissions (written, art, prose) and
the deadline has been extended to this FRIDAY JULY 6TH!!
If you are interested in putting together an alternative newspaper for the
York U campus, the York University Free Press is looking for volunteers!

Check below for events in addition to the callouts!

- OPIRG York

1) Call for Submissions - Articles, Analysis, Blurbs & More: PROPIRGANDA:
OPIRG YORK NEWSLETTER*
2) YU Free Press Volunteer Call-Out
3) Stop Cliffs and the Ring of Fire! Join members of Neskantaga First
Nation in Toronto on July 5th as they demand justice.
4) Palestine to Philippines *It's Our Right to Rebel*
5) Honouring Indigenous Women: Hearts of Nations - Downloadable Free
Booklet and resources

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1) Call for Submissions - Articles, Analysis, Blurbs & More: PROPIRGANDA:
OPIRG YORK NEWSLETTER*

*THEME*: Strike Back!
http://www.facebook.com/events/386991421357706/

Friends, Allies & Comrades,

We live in exciting times. All throughout last year we have seen an
dramatic rise in people's revolts the world-over. Seemingly invincible
dictatorial regimes have toppled, huge corporate operations been ground to
a halt, and a creeping unrest has erupted all around us. Inspired by the
Arab Spring and uprisings across India, Pakistan, Spain, Greece and more,
the fires of resistance continue to fan and spread. Right here in Canada,
we have seen indigenous struggles up their anti in defence of the land,
migrant justice struggles merge forces with those in defence of
environmental and social justice. And of course, how can we forget the
ongoing bravery, organization and power of hundreds of thousands of our
comrades in Quebec  social strike.

The excesses of this system have gone on for all to long. It is past time
for us to merely cope.It is time to Stike Back.

It is with that theme in mind that we wish to ignite resistance at York
this year, beginning with the launch of our yearly newsletter -
ProOPIRGanda. And we are seeking your submissions! Please see details of
how and what you can contribute below.

This year we are also celebrating our 20th year anniversary of campus and
onthe ground resistance!

PrOPIRGanda is a media project facilitated andproduced by OPIRG York to
provide space for activists, students and communityto promote their
creativity and activism. It’s a good avenue to outreach toYork University
and the North York community on issues you are working on!

Things we are Looking For:

*Articles: Articles should be as relevant to the York community as possible,
and generally speak tothe social and environmental justice movements in
Toronto/globally as well.Articles can be from 100-500 words.

*Resources:Resource Articles can be guides, how-to's, directories/contact
info, and anyhelpful resources for new students. Up to 500 words.

*Organizational blurbs:

If you are part of an organization/group organizing in the North
York/Toronto area, you can submit a 100 word write upon your organization
and how students can get involved. Please include contact information and a
website (if you have one).

*FirstDraft deadline: July 2, 2012

*Please email them to propirganda at gmail.com

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2) YU Free Press Volunteer Call-Out

Coordinated by a team of undergraduate and graduate volunteers of the York
University community, YU Free Press is an alternative and critical
newspaper. As a principle objective, the paper and the YU Free Press
collective aim to challenge the mainstream corporate media model and
provide a space for critical analysis of current news, both on and off
York’s campus. The YU Free Press and its collective stand in solid
opposition to oppression in any and all forms, and are committed to
upholding a vision of social justice through activist-positive, critically
engaging, and politically left publications.

To apply for a position, fill out the application form below and email
directly to *info at yufreepress.org*.

*http://www.yufreepress.org/docs/application.doc*
*http://www.yufreepress.org/docs/application.pdf*

*Positions Currently Available:*

*Layout Editor*: a) Maintain Layout e-mail account; b) Create layout using
final packages sent by Section Editors; c) Coordinate with the printers for
print date and delivery; d) Coordinate with Section Editors on aesthetics
of pages

*Website Manager*: a) Responsible for the constant upkeep of the website:
Adding articles, photos, monitoring comments etc.; b) Responsible for
maintenance of current layout, or creating a new layout and maintaining it**

*Copy Editor*: a) Receive articles from Copy Editor Coordinator (who is a
voting member of the Collective); b) Edit mechanics and formatting, neither
content nor argumentative stances, using tracking feature (if any content
or legal issues are noticed, notify Copy Editor Coordinator); c) Send
articles back to Copy Editor Coordinator by deadline**

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3) Stop Cliffs and the Ring of Fire!

*Join members of Neskantaga First Nation in Toronto on July 5th as they
demand justice. *

WHAT: Neskantaga First Nation Legal Challenge to Cliffs Natural Resources
and Ontario
WHERE: Office of the Mining and Lands Commissioner. 700 Bay Street. 24th
Floor.
*WHEN; July 5, 2012.The hearing starts at 10.00 am*.

Background

American mining giant Cliffs Natural Resources faces a First Nation legal
challenge to the development of its $3.2 billion chromite mine in the
undeveloped Attawapiskat River watershed and the homeland of the Neskantaga
First Nation.

In a petition filed with the Ontario Mining and Land Commissioner, the
Neskantaga First Nation seeks to be meaningfully consulted and accommodated
before any government decision is made to advance Cliffs 340 km road into
the heart of Neskantaga territory.

Neskantaga are intervening before the Mining and Lands Commissioner because
it is abundantly clear that First Nations cannot expect to receive a fair
hearing within Ontario, where a multi billion dollar mine, a refinery and
thousands of jobs are at stake in a project the Premier describes as in the
national interest. Neskantaga need help now and help fast before they and
other First Nations are steamrolled by Cliffs rush to build this road and
mine. Once the road is built it will be too late for a way of life and the
environment that way of life depends upon.

The Neskantaga legal action is the first time the Ontario Mining and Lands
Commissioner tribunal has been used as a court to answer the practical
question about how the duty to consult works.

In the rest of Canada it has become standard practice for regulatory
tribunals making decisions about land use that affect First Nations to
ensure First Nations have been fully consulted.It's now  time Ontario
caught up .

The Neskantaga are intervening in a routine dispute between Cliffs and
junior mining company KWG over the right of Cliffs to build a road on KWGs
mining claims. Cliffs are asking Ontario for a land use permit for the road
and KWG are saying the Cliffs road will compromise their plan to build a
railway over KWG  mining claims.The Mining Commissioner is asked to resolve
the dispute

The Neskantaga First Nation are asserting that  *the concerns of First
Nations must be considered before strategic decisions by a regulatory board
like the Mining and Lands Commissioner grant approvals for Cliffs road to
resource development.*

In a May 9th letter to Prime Minister Harper, Premier Dalton McGuinty
described the Cliffs project as one of "national interest" and compared its
economic potential to the Alberta tar sands.

Cliffs is racing to meet a self-imposed 2015 deadline to put the mine into
production.

If successful, the Neskantaga legal action would mean that there will have
to be real negotiations between Ontario and the First Nations before any
decisions are made on the development of the road and mine. Neskantaga and
other *First Nations would have a significant say in where, when and how
the Cliffs project and the development of the entire Ring of Fire would
proceed, if it would proceed at all.*

Some analysts are projecting 10 new mines for the region in a development
that could rival Timmins or Sudbury.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/story/2012/05/14/sudbury-moonias-cliffs-mine.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/story/2012/06/22/tby-first-nations-eviction.html
 We Love Our Land
Downloads Neskantaga Mining Court
Action<http://onepagerapp.com/system/downloads/19290-2012-05-28%20LT%20Mining%20%20%20Lands%20Commissioner%20%2800560172%29.PDF?1340577549>
Cliffs Threaten Neskantaga Sacred
Area<http://onepagerapp.com/system/downloads/19292-2012-06-11%20LT%20Minister%20Chan%20re%20Archaeological%20Licences%20%2800564494%29.pdf?1340577494>
Neskantaga Letter to Minister
Bartolucci<http://onepagerapp.com/system/downloads/19293-Minister%20of%20Northern%20Dev.%20and%20Mines%20-%20Rick%20Bartoluci%20%2800555641%29.PDF?1340587071>
Neskantaga New Deal For the
North<http://onepagerapp.com/system/downloads/19302-NFN%20New%20Deal%20%20%20.pdf?1340723473>
Ring of Fire Moratorium
Resolution<http://onepagerapp.com/system/downloads/19294-Res%20ROF%20Moratorium%20June%2020%202012.pdf?1340587446>
Why Neskantaga Will Defend the Attawapiskat
River<http://onepagerapp.com/system/downloads/19303-Peter%27s%20Ottawa%20Speech.pdf?1340723501>
Friends of Neskantaga

- neskantagafriends at gmail.com

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4) Palestine to Philippines
*It's Our Right to Rebel*

Internationalist Solidarity and Resistance
Against Occupation and Counter-Insurgency

Thursday, July 12 - 6:30-9:00pm
Room 5-250, O.I.S.E. - 252 Bloor St. W., Toronto

Martha Roberts & Aiyanas Ormond of Alliance for Peoples Health Gaza June
2012;
Eyewitness to resistance against the criminalization of people's struggles
in Palestine

Alex Felipe of BAYAN Canada
Resisting counter-insurgency in the Philippines and the U.S. military
occupation
With introduction by ILPS-Canada

It's Right to Rebel
Building the united front against Canadian imperialism and defending
liberation
organizations against the War on Terror

Moderated by
Women United Against Imperialism

For more information, click here

Organized by: International League of People's Struggles (Canada Chapter)
Endorsed by: BASICS, OPIRG Toronto, Bayan Canada,
Women United Against Imperialism, Alliance for Peoples & Health

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5) Honouring Indigenous Women: Hearts of Nations
http://ipsmo.wordpress.com/honouring-indigenous-women/

Honouring Indigenous Women: Hearts of Nations, is a booklet published by
us, the Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement Ottawa. It is part of our
ongoing efforts to support Indigenous women on Turtle Island (aka North
America) and their struggle for liberation.
We, the Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement Ottawa, acknowledge our
shared history of colonization with all Indigenous peoples and the various
forms of violence against them, particularly against Indigenous women. We
further acknowledge the tremendous strength of Indigenous women in
reclaiming their distinct roles and responsibilities in our societies, and
the crucial roles they play in the survival and evolution of our species.

This publication consists of five sections: Struggle, Resistance, Power,
Liberation, and Be Solidarity.
In each section, we strive to use different forms of creative expressions,
mostly from Indigenous women,
to draw attention to their lived realities. We acknowledge the diversity
of Indigenous cultures and the
multitude of gifted Indigenous women who have publicly expressed their
experiences through various art forms.
The work included here is a mere glimpse and cannot fully represent the
voices of all Indigenous women.
Through this publication, we aim to augment the voices of Indigenous women
in one of many efforts to break
the silence surrounding the systemic violence perpetuated by colonialism.
It is an act of solidarity, meant
to encourage other acts of solidarity while building bridges between
diverse communities and providing
education to the dominant culture and recent newcomers about the genocide
of Indigenous nations.
Please feel free to click the links below to download the entire booklet
(all the files are in PDF format)
and distribute far and wide!
http://ipsmo.wordpress.com/honouring-indigenous-women/