[opirgyork] Upcoming Events + Ways to get involved!

Thu Feb 14 14:07:22 PST 2013

Hello OPIRG York members and community!

For all the students out there, OPIRG York is sending you off to a happy
and hopefully politically charged reading-week next week (Feb 18-22)!
Check out the events upcoming (a few even tomorrow!) and the callouts for
jobs, educational classes, and some exciting events in the city! There are
so many ways to get involved and connected- find the issue that speaks to
you the most, and go for it!

As always, you contact us at OPIRG York any time about ways to get
involved, and help out, or if you are interested in other issues that we
can help connect you too. Feel free to stop by the OPIRG York office at
449C Student Centre anytime during regular office hours (Mon-Thurs. 10-5pm)
to chat!

-OPIRG York
--
www.opirgyork.ca
416-736-5724
opirg at yorku.ca

*==============================*
 *==============================*

*In this email:*
*
*
*OPIRG YORK NEWS*
*
*
*(1) Jan 25: Environmental Justice Organizing Meeting @ York - Stop Line 9!
**(2) ONGOING- Due Mar. 4h: WPIRG Job Posting*
*(3) **CWTP at York Upcoming Events*
*(4) **Peak Call for Submissions*

*COMMUNITY NEWS*

*(1) Feb 15: No More Homeless Deaths! Take action to set up emergency
shelter space*
*(2) **Feb 15: Amilcar Cabral's Continued Relevance to Struggles for
Liberation
*
*(3) Feb 16: Kitchener-Waterloo Anarchist Book fair!***
*(4) Feb 20: Act Now: Access Not Fear motion about to reach City Hall
*
(*5) Call Out: **Can you vote for TTCriders each and every day until Mar. 3?
*
 *(6) Call Out: **An Open Letter from the Solidarity City Network **Lets
make Toronto safer for undocumented people*
*(7) Feb 22: OCAP FUNDRAISING PARTY- 2013: Bring it On*
*(8) March 1: The Ninth Annual Israeli Apartheid Week*
*(9) Call Out: BANGLADESHI YOUTH ADVOCACY COMMITTEE (BYAC)
(10) Feb 17: **Prisoner Correspondence Project Letter Writing Afternoon
(11) ONGOING: **Free'Scool Winter Classes*

*OPIRG YORK NEWS *

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*
*
*Environmental Justice Organizing Meeting @ York - Stop Line 9!*

*Date*: Mon. Feb. 25th
*Time*: 1-2:30pm
*Location*: 311B Student Centre, York University
*On facebook: *https://www.facebook.com/events/128802613963711
*
*
Join us to discuss community canvassing against the Line 9 pipeline and tar
sands, plan on-campus awareness actions and envision other plans for the
Environmental Justice Working Group. New members are always welcome!

If you want to get involved, please email ecojusticeyork at gmail.com.

*
*
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*WPIRG Job Posting - **Outreach & Resource Centre Coordinator*
 *Submission Deadline: March 4th 2013, 9am *

WPIRG is seeking a dynamic, personable, and creative individual with a
demonstrated commitment to social and environmental justice to fill the
full-time permanent position of ‘Outreach & Resource Centre Coordinator’.

*The Organization*

The Waterloo Public Interest Research Group (WPIRG) is a student funded and
directed organization that provides support for students and community
members to research, educate, and take action on social and environmental
justice issues. WPIRG is a non-hierarchical organization that uses
consensus decision-making processes, and strives to create an
anti-oppressive working environment by proactively opposing all forms of
oppression such as those based on gender, race, class, sexuality, age,
cultural heritage/ethnicity, religion, and ability.

WPIRG has a high turnover in volunteers and the three permanent staff
provide continuity and stability in this ever-changing organization. Staff
carry out critical support work that maintains the integrity of the
organization, assist volunteers, and provide connection to other activists,
community groups, and organizations. They have an awareness of and interest
in issues relating to racism, sexism, queer and trans* phobia, class
exploitation, imperialism, environmental degradation, indigenous
sovereignty and decolonization, and ableism. WPIRG is a small office
environment, so staff work collaboratively, support each other, and share
some responsibilities.

*The Position*

 The primary function of the ‘Outreach & Resource Centre Coordinator’ is to
develop and implement a WPIRG outreach strategy; build awareness of the
organization – its mandate, services, programming etc. on the University of
Waterloo campus; increase the public profile of the organization in the
broader Kitchener-Waterloo community; and maintain the WPIRG Resource
Centre.

*Campus Outreach:* Raise awareness of the organization on the University of
Waterloo campus through a variety of means –  class talks, traveling
displays, posters, ads, information meetings etc. Connect and network with
other campus groups, societies and clubs, as well as sympathetic faculty
and departments.

*Community Relations: *Build and maintain relationships with allied
organizations in the broader Kitchener-Waterloo community. Seek out and
actively create opportunities for collaboration between WPIRG and other
community groups/projects.

*Website & Social Media:* Develop and implement a social media strategy.
Maintain and regularly update the WPIRG website, Facebook page/group and
Twitter account. Create WPIRG outreach materials (both electronic and hard
copies).

*Resource Centre: *Maintain the functionality of the library – ensure that
the centre has up to date materials (renew magazine and journal
subscriptions, acquire new books and DVDs as required), track materials and
maintain/update the Delicious Electronic Library System, assist library
users (in-office, calls, email correspondence) in finding information, and
stock the WPIRG zine distro.

*Research:* Envision and develop WPIRG research projects. Supervise and
assist with volunteer research initiatives – helping to define and refine
projects, developing research strategies and providing feedback.

In addition, the ‘Outreach & Resource Centre Coordinator’ will assist other
permanent staff in the following areas: policy development, grant
applications and strategic planning.

*Qualifications*

 ·     Demonstrated interest and experience in social and environmental
justice organizing, and familiarity with related contemporary issues
·     Knowledge of social movement/activist oriented resources (i.e.
publications, books, journals, zines, documentaries etc.)
·     Familiarity with activist research methodologies
·     Knowledge of anti-oppression analysis and proficiency in applying
this throughout your work
·     Experience in promotion of workshops, events, campaigns and/or actions
·     Experience in development and implementation of outreach strategies
·     Self-direction and ability to take initiative in a dynamic work
environment
·     Ability to create outreach materials (i.e. posters, pamphlets, flyers
etc.)
·     Proficiency with social media and basic web development skills
·     Experience with not-for-profit organizations
 ·     Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
·     Familiarity with a university/college environment

*Employment Terms*

The ‘Outreach & Resource Centre Coordinator’ is a permanent full-time
position with a 6-month probationary period. It is a 30 hours per week
position at a rate of $20.63 per hour, with extended health care benefits
and four weeks paid vacation per year. Permanent staff are members of the
Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 1281. The anticipated start
date is March 25th.

Because WPIRG is located on a university campus it follows the cycles of
university life – four-month terms (the busiest terms being Sep-Dec and
Jan-Apr and the slowest term being May-Aug).  Within each term, another
cycle exists, with the beginning of term being the most active and the end
of term quieter. Work time allocated to the various areas of responsibility
will vary greatly depending on the time of term. Evening and some weekend
work is expected.

* *

*How to Apply*

 WPIRG welcomes the contributions that individuals from marginalized
communities bring to our organization, and encourages aboriginal people,
people of colour, women, gays, lesbians, bisexuals, queer-oriented people,
single parents, members of ethnic minorities, immigrants and people with
disabilities to apply. We encourage applicants to describe in their cover
letter the contributions and experiences they, as individuals who identify
with marginalized communities, would bring to WPIRG.

Also in their cover letter, *all applicants* are asked to provide a brief
statement on their views of power and oppression.

*Applicants must provide* *a resume with 3 references, a cover letter, and
a response, no longer than 750 words, to one of the following questions:*

1) How would you envision your role in fostering a radical campus
environment and supporting students working towards social change?

2) How do you integrate an anti-oppression framework into your activism,
and what are some of the challenges?

*Deadline for Submissions is Monday March 4th 2013 at 9am.*

 Deliver submissions to The Hiring Committee, WPIRG, Student Life Centre
room 2139, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1; or email
applications to *tammy at wpirg.org.*

Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.

*==============================*
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CWTP at York Upcoming Events
1) Art for healing & self care with R3 Collective: register by Feb 18th,
Feb 27th start
2) 3Rd Annual Queering Black History Month Celebration. Thurs, Feb 28, 5:30
– 9:00PM

* 1) Art for healing & self care with R3 Collective:*

SASSL and CWTP at York would like to welcome
the R3 Collective in presenting a FREE 8 week arts-based workshop series for
survivors of trauma to foster self-care and healing through the arts within
an
anti-oppressive safer space.
Open to women and trans, genderqueer, gender non-conforming or questioning
communities of York University, on and off campus.

The arts-based workshops series will include: skill-sharing,
journal writing, meditation, vocals, music and dance.

Space is Limited:
Open to 15 participants
Registration by email:
info at r3collective.com by February 18th, 2013.

Group info session: Feb 20, 6 - 8pm

Start date: Feb 27th, 6 - 9pm

Every Wednesday 6 – 9pm staring on
Feb 27th through to April 17th, 2013.

Centre for Women and Trans People at York University –
322 The Student Centre, York University –
wheelchair accessible via elevator on east end of Student Centre.
Contact for further access needs.

Project of R3 Collective, sponsored by CWTP at York and SASSL at York
University
and funded by the Women and Trans People’s Safety Grant Committee.

CWTP York Fb: CWTP at York
SASSL: www.yorku.ca/~sassl/ <http://www.yorku.ca/%7Esassl/>
R3 Collective http://r3collective.wordpress.com/

*2) 3Rd Annual Queering Black History Month Celebration. Thurs, Feb 28,
5:30 – 9:00PM*

        QUEERING BLACK HISTORY MONTH IS BACK FOR ITS THIRD (THIRD!) YEAR!!

Please join the Ryerson Students' Union and Ryerson Community as we
celebrate
Queer and Trans African, Black, and Caribbean People in Canada and Beyond!

On Thursday February 28th, 2013 we will continue to honour and re-insert the
lives, experiences and amazing achievements of Queer and Trans people into
the
discussions of black history month.

The event will be taking place at the Ryerson Students' Union Centre at 55
Gould St. (The Corner of Church and Gould St) in Rm 115. Of course, there
will
be signage all over the building directing you to the room.

The evening will begin with a reception, accompanied by hors d’oeuvres, a
cash
bar and a beautiful photography exhibition documenting black queer people in
all of their fierceness and vulnerability!

Later, a panel discussion will honour the work and stories of Queer and
Trans
African, Black and Caribbean communities across the GLOBE! What's most
exciting this year is we are featuring speakers who trace their roots across
the globe from South Africa to Germany to Trinidad and Tobago! With so many
varying histories, this year promises to be another incredible evening of
story-telling!

And the night will end with a very special performance!

Our Very Special Panellists:

--

Edward Ndopu: Afro-Politan Social Critic, Anti-Oppression Practitioner and
Scholar.

Juli Rivera: Afro-German Film Activist

Afi Browne: Trinidadian-Canadian Multidisciplinary Artist

--

For more information, contact organizer Lali Mohamed at lali.moham at gmail.com
or Rodney Diverlus at president at rsuonline.ca

The space is wheel-chair accessible.

This event is organized by the Ryerson Students' Union and supported by The
Office of the President.

Many thanks to XTRA! for their generous media sponsorship!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Centre for Women and Trans People at York U

416.736.2100 x 33484 | http://yorku.ca/ywc - Facebook: Cwtp At York

322 Student Centre
4700 Keele Street
Toronto, ON, M3J 1P3

We are open Mondays to Thursdays from 10am - 5:30pm. We are also available
outside of these hours by appointment :)

To subscribe: ywc-subscribe at lists.riseup.net
To unsubscribe: ywc-unsubscribe at lists.riseup.net

*==============================*
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*Peak Call for Submissions*

*Callout for Articles: The Peak's Spring Issue*

The look of *The Peak *has changed, and so has our content. We’ve expanded
our magazine to make room for more kinds of content. Each issue of the peak
will include featured articles on a specific topic, in addition to news,
reviews, and more. We want to hear from you. We welcome submissions of
previously unpublished writing in line with *The Peak*’s anti-capitalist,
anti-oppressive, radical and anarchist focus.

*This Spring*

For our spring issue, our featured articles will focus on Enbridge’s Line 9
Reversal. Enbridge is proposing to reverse a section of its Line 9 between
Sarnia and Westover, Ontario, and involves the dangerous transportation of
tar sands crude to oil markets in the United States. In conjunction with
these features, we are soliciting articles under the broader umbrellas of
environmental activism (including topics like Indigenous sovereignty and
land defense and Bill C-45) and our relationship to our land-bases (topics
such as local ecology, permaculture, and gardening).

*Letters to the Editor*

Send us your rants and raves in 250 words or less.

*News From the Front Lines*

We want your current events stories, from coverage of current grassroots
resistance movements to report-backs from demos and other events. Short
news briefs are welcome.

*Theory and Analysis*

Theory is a broad category encompassing discourse, philosophy and more.
There is lots out there to say, from ramblings on obscure French anarchist
theory, to critiques of community accountability processes, to opinion
pieces and analysis of current and past struggles.

*Reviews*

Read a zine you absolutely hated, or a book that blew your mind? Have a sex
toy that you just can’t put down? Write us a review! Reviews can be short
and sweet or in-depth. If you need ideas, we may be able to hook you up
with free copies for review.

*Submission Guidelines*

*To propose an article, send an email to **peakcontent at gmail.com** by
**February
15, 2013*. Proposals let us know what kinds of articles writers are working
on, and should include the topic of the article, an estimated finished word
count, and sources used (if any).

*The deadline for all submissions to the spring issue is February 25,
2013.* Submissions
should be sent to peakcontent at gmail.com in .odt or .rtf formats, please.

Do you have an idea for an article, but need help making it happen? We’re
happy to give you a hand. Drop us a line at peakcontent at gmail.com.

*Volunteer Opportunities*

There are many ways to participate in *The Peak*. We welcome original
illustrations and photography, and we always need savvy copyeditors and
proofreaders to help us edit. To plug in, email volunteer.peak at gmail.com.

*COMMUNITY NEWS*
*
*
*==============================*
*(1)
==============================*

* No More Homeless Deaths! Take action to set up emergency shelter space!*

Meal and Planning Meeting
*Date:* Friday, February 15th
11am
*Location:*Church of the Holy Trinity
10 Trinity Sq (near Queen/Bay)
*Facebook: **https://www.facebook.com/events/159518464197810/?ref=2*

There have been 2 homeless deaths in the past few weeks in Toronto making
36 deaths in one year alone. The city and the Province have cut funding to
shelters, housing and homeless prevention services even though the reality
is that shelters are full and cuts are costing lives.

We have taken this issue again and again to the City of Toronto's Shelter
Support and Housing Administration including demands signed by over 1000
people - and yet they refuse to take action. We can not sit by while more
people die. Let's talk about taking and setting up an emergency shelter. If
they won't open shelter beds - we will. Direct action is required. Please
come out on Friday, February 15th to talk together about how we can do this.

Get involved: Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
www.ocap.ca<http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ocap.ca&h=UAQFV07v4&s=1>
416-925-6939
@OCAPtoronto

Sign the demands to the City on-line here:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/No_More_Homeless_Deaths_Dem
and_the_City_of_Toronto_work_to_end_the_homeless_crisis/

Toronto Homeless Memorial is on the 2nd Tuesday of every month, next one
being Tuesday, February 12th: http://www.holytrinitytoronto.org/
wp/justice-work/homeless-memorial/

*==============================*
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*
*

*Amilcar Cabral's Continued Relevance to Struggles for Liberation*

*Date:* Feb 18
*Time*: 6pm to 9pm
*Location*: 252 Bloor Street West, Room 5-170 at the Ontario Institute for
Studies in Education/ University of Toronto (next to the St. George subway
station)
*Facebook: **https://www.facebook.com/events/387479178013912/*

for details about the Saturday 16th Workshops, click here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/351147661666105/)

The Network for Pan-Afrikan Solidarity (NPAS), Justice Is Not Colour-Blind,
International League of Peoples' Struggle/Canada, Group for Research and
Initiatives for the Liberation of Africa (GRILA) and the Pan-Afrikan
Solidarity Network (U of T) present:

an Afrikan Liberation Month forum on the the relevance of the Guinea-Bissau
and Cape Verdean revolutionary theoretician, military strategist and
practitioner
Amilcar Cabral to the struggle for the self-organizing and mobilization of
the masses, economic and social justice and resistance against
neocolonialism, patriarchy and imperialism.

PROGRAMME FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 15TH

FILM SCREENING: "Afrikan Leaders: Amilcar Cabral"

Using rare archival footage, director Ana Lucia Ramos Lisboa accurately
chronicles both the personal and public sides of an African icon in Amilcar
Cabral. The founder of the African Party for Independence of Guinea Bissau
and Cape Verde (PAIGC), Amilcar Cabral led the Liberation Movement against
Portugal for those countries.
Excerpt from the film AFRICAN LEADERS: AMILCAR CABRAL:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGPkdCGDn8k<http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DLGPkdCGDn8k&h=dAQEFe8E-&s=1>

PANEL DISCUSSION:

Ameth Lo, Cabral, Pan-Afrikanism and Today's Challenges, Organizer with
Group for Research and Initiatives for the Liberation of Africa (GRILA)

Wangui Kimari, The (Ir)responsibility of the Intelligentsia and Other
Middle-class Elements in the Afrikan Revolution, Organizer with the Network
for Pan-Afrikan Solidarity, student leader and doctoral student, York
University

Crisostomo Tavares, Guinea-Bissau Now & The Post-independence Political
Situation

WHEN: Friday, February 15, 2013

WHERE: 252 Bloor Street West, Room 5-170 at the Ontario Institute for
Studies in Education/ University of Toronto (next to the St. George subway
station)

TIME: 6:00 - 9:00pm

Free Public Event - suggested donation of $5 or Pay What You Can (PWYC)

January 20, 2013 was the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Amilcar
Cabral by Afrikan opportunists and collaborators as well as Portuguese
colonialism.

TRIBUTES TO AMILCAR CABRAL

“Cabral was widely known as one of the most important figures in the Third
World comparable in stature to a Ho Chi Minh or a Fidel Castro. His
assassination thus sent shock waves throughout Africa and around the
world.” - Gerard Chaliand, a major writer on revolutionary struggles and
socialist developments in the Third World

According to Fidel Castro, “one of the most lucid and brilliant leaders in
Africa, Comrade Amílcar Cabral, who instilled in us tremendous confidence
in the future and the success of his struggle for liberation." - comment on
Cabral's contribution at the 1966 Tricontinental Conference in Havana,
Cuba, which was gathering of revolutionaries from Asia, Afrika, Latin
America and the Caribbean

For further information, please contact NPAS:
network4panafrikansolidarity at gmail.com

*==============================*
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*
*
*Kitchener-Waterloo Anarchist Book fair!*
*
*
*Date:* Feb 16
*Time*: 10 am to 6pm
*Location*: Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work (120 Duke St. W,
Kitchener)
*Facebook: **https://www.facebook.com/events/307923489313021/?ref=2*
*
*
For the latest information, please turn to:
http://www.kwbookfair.noblogs.org/

On Saturday, February 16th the 1st annual Kitchener-Waterloo Anarchist
Bookfair will be held at the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work. Taking
place on Six Nations of the Grand River territory, the bookfair will
welcome anarchists and non-anarchists alike- from seasoned organizers and
activists, to those simply curious about anarchism for a day of workshops,
presentations, film screenings, info tables, and social events. The
bookfair will introduce anarchist ideas, histories and practices, as well
as provide a space for more in-depth conversations about the ongoing
relevance of anarchism, and its implication for on-the-ground organizing
and everyday struggles.

Acknowledging the importance of fighting where you stand, a large focus of
the event will be on presenting ideas that are grounded in and relevant to
local organizing efforts. The bookfair aims to foster a growing anarchist
movement, contribute to action-oriented dialogue and facilitate strategic
discussion. The event will provide a venue for independent publishers,
activist groups, community organizations, infoshops and DIY booksellers to
showcase and distribute literature and goods. A jammed-packed schedule of
workshops, presentations and activities will take place throughout the day.

>From the practical to the theoretical and everything in between, the
bookfair will offer programming that covers a diversity of topics, is
offered from a variety of perspectives and geared towards people of
different experience levels. Topics to be covered include: introduction to
anarchism, indigenous solidarity, gentrification, anti-racism,
class-consciousness and intersectionality, radical parenting and family
inclusivity, ecology, challenging the prison industrial complex, queering
anarchism, forms of political organization, and alternative media to name
but a few.

The Bookfair Organizing Collective is committed to making the event as
accessible as possible. The event will be held in a wheelchair accessible
venue with gender-neutral washrooms, admission is free, lunch, childcare,
and family oriented programming will be offered, and ASL translation is
available upon request.

If you have additional accessibility requests, are interested in
volunteering or would like more information, please email
kwbookfair at gmail.com.

Visit www.kwbookfair.noblogs.org<http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kwbookfair.noblogs.org&h=3AQFd5crw&s=1>
for
a complete schedule and up to date event information.

If you have additional accessibility requests, please let us know and email
kwbookfair at gmail.com. We have limited resources, but will do our best to
accommodate.

Thanks to our sponsors: WPIRG, LSPIRG, SIRG, and Common Cause

For the latest information, please turn to:
http://www.kwbookfair.noblogs.org/<http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kwbookfair.noblogs.org%2F&h=HAQG7V4Lw&s=1>

*==============================*
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*
*
* Act Now: Access Not Fear motion about to reach City Hall*

*Date:* Feb 20
*Facebook: **https://www.facebook.com/events/151498678338243/?fref=ts*
*
*
In just two weeks, you could help make history. If you act now, Toronto
could become the first city in Canada that publicly opens up all its
services for immigrants without papers. All you have to do is contact your
local councillor.

Fill out this form! http://bit.ly/ISupportAcessWithoutFear

Last week, the Community Development and Recreation Committee of Toronto
City Hall heard from the Solidarity City Network and passed Motion 18.5.
This motion will commit Toronto providing city services to undocumented
people. Not only that, it will commit City council to advocate on behalf of
undocumented Torontonians at the provincial and federal level. (read it
here: http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2013.CD18.5
).

The motion now goes to Toronto City Hall on February 20th, 2013. This is
where you come in. You can make Toronto keep its promise. You can visit,
call, or even write to your local city councillor, and insist that they
vote for this motion on February 20th.

Everything you need to know about contacting your councillors is right in
this form.

But we need you to do a little more. After you've contacted your
Councillor, we need you to show up at City Hall on February 20th, with your
kids, your friends, and everyone you can bring along. Together, we can join
the wave of sanctuary cities emerging across the United States and Europe.

To make sure you hear details of February 20th, sign up here:
http://eepurl.com/tzEq9

In 2006, Toronto City Hall promised to make city services available to the
over 200,000 undocumented immigrants that live here. Yet for Maria who was
not allowed into three shelters, Danielle who was randomly stopped by
Toronto police and handed over to immigration enforcement and Andrea who
couldn't get her children in to any Toronto schools for two years - these
promises never came true. Our actions over the next two week can change
that.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Facebook link: http://on.fb.me/WMkMlQ;
Web link: http://bit.ly/UtmQ3K
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Solidarity City Network comprises of Health for All, Immigration Legal
Committee of Toronto, Justice for Migrant Workers, Law Union of Ontario, No
One Is Illegal – Toronto, Parkdale Community Legal Services, Roma Community
Centre, Social Planning Toronto, South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, South
Asian Women's Rights Organization, Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office and
Workers Action Centre. To join the network, or to support our Access
Without Fear campaign or to add your organizational support behind the CDRC
recommendations, please write to solidaritycitytoronto at gmail.com

*==============================*
 *(5)
==============================*
Can you vote for TTCriders each and every day until Mar. 3? Hi folks,

TTCriders is in the running for the Livegreen Toronto Awards.

We have a great shot of winning this competition as improving public
transit is a fantastic way to tackle climate change and smog emissions.  We
also have a massive list of 16,000 subscribers and a group of dedicated and
passionate people and members who are supportive of our cause. As of
today's count we're already in the lead in the 'group' category.

We need your help.

*VOTE FOR TTCRIDERS TODAY AND EVERY DAY UNTIL MAR. 3.*
http://awards.livegreentoronto.ca/entry/9997045-Want-great-public-transit%3F-Vot?offset=0&sort=upload%20DESC,id%20ASC&channel=22315
*Yep, you can vote every day!*
*
*
*WHY VOTE FOR US?*
TTCriders.ca <http://ttcriders.ca/> is an all-volunteer membership-based
group of passionate transit users. We want a great public transit system
and affordable fares for all Torontonians.

Climate change is our greatest environmental threat. We must reverse the
surge of killer hurricanes, drought, floods, and heat waves. But how?

Reduce car use.   Cars and light duty trucks account for 28% of Toronto's
total output of climate-causing greenhouse gas emissions.  Torontonians
will reduce their car-use if there’s a alternative.  That alternative is a
reliable, affordable, fast, and expansive public transit system.  TTCriders
is committed to engaging the thousands of people who ride the TTC and
working with them to champion the green and sensible public transit
solution.

TTCriders has a track record of success. Since our founding in 2010,
TTCriders has reached over to over 50,000 people and successfully
campaigned for the approval of more light rail rapid transit lines which
includes the construction of new light rail lines to Scarborough and Finch,
as well as the buildout of the underground Eglinton crosstown light rail
transit line.  According to TTC reports, once these lines are built,
roughly 53 million annual car trips will be avoided.

But we must build on that success.

TTCriders is tackling our toughest environmental issue in the most
strategic way. And we’re solving gridlock, keeping fares affordable,
reducing smog emissions, and engaging Torontonians while we’re at it.  Vote
for us.

*BECOME A TTCRIDERS MEMBER*
Sign up here: http://www.jotform.ca/form/22977908944270
Yearly membership rates range from $100 to a ‘pay what you can’
option.  All membership fees go towards helping TTCriders organize and
implement campaigns, undertake ward and neighbourhood level advocacy and
engage with key decision makers at Toronto City Hall, Queens Park and
the Toronto Transit Commission.

Become a Lifetime Member of TTCriders because we need people like you to
help kick-start the organization and support our advocacy work for more and
better public transit in Toronto. As a Lifetime Member, you will receive
special recognition on our website and be entitled to both current
and future membership benefits. Act soon, because this one-in-a-lifetime
opportunity ends on February 15.

*
*
*==============================*
*(6)
==============================*
*
*
*Act Now: Access Without Fear Motion about to reach City Hall, Wed, Feb
20, 2013*

        In just two weeks, you could help make history. If you act now,
Toronto could become the first city in Canada that publicly opens up all its
services for immigrants without papers. All you have to do is contact your
local councillor.

Fill out this form! http://bit.ly/ISupportAcessWithoutFear

Last week, the Community Development and Recreation Committee of Toronto
City
Hall heard from the Solidarity City Network and passed Motion 18.5. This
motion will commit Toronto providing city services to undocumented people.
Not
only that, it will commit City council to advocate on behalf of undocumented
Torontonians at the provincial and federal level. (read it here:
http://app.toronto.ca/tmmis/viewAgendaItemHistory.do?item=2013.CD18.5).

The motion now goes to Toronto City Hall on February 20th, 2013. This is
where
you come in. You can make Toronto keep its promise. You can visit, call, or
even write to your local city councillor, and insist that they vote for this
motion on February 20th.

Everything you need to know about contacting your councillors is right in
this
form.

But we need you to do a little more. After you've contacted your Councillor,
we need you to show up at City Hall on February 20th, with your kids, your
friends, and everyone you can bring along. Together, we can join the wave of
sanctuary cities emerging across the United States and Europe.

To make sure you hear details of February 20th, sign up here:
http://eepurl.com/tzEq9

In 2006, Toronto City Hall promised to make city services available to the
over 200,000 undocumented immigrants that live here. Yet for Maria who was
not
allowed into three shelters, Danielle who was randomly stopped by Toronto
police and handed over to immigration enforcement and Andrea who couldn't
get
her children in to any Toronto schools for two years - these promises never
came true. Our actions over the next two week can change that.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
++++++
Facebook link: http://on.fb.me/WMkMlQ;
Web link: http://bit.ly/UtmQ3K
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Solidarity City Network comprises of Health for All, Immigration Legal
Committee of Toronto, Justice for Migrant Workers, Law Union of Ontario, No
One Is Illegal – Toronto, Parkdale Community Legal Services, Roma Community
Centre, Social Planning Toronto, South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, South
Asian Women's Rights Organization, Thorncliffe Neighbourhood Office and
Workers Action Centre. To join the network, or to support our Access Without
Fear campaign or to add your organizational support behind the CDRC
recommendations, please write to solidaritycitytoronto at gmail.com

*==============================
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==============================*
*OCAP FUNDRAISING PARTY- 2013: Bring it On*

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd
STEELWORKERS HALL, 25 CECIL STREET

6.00 to 8.00 Meal and family friendly celebration

8.00PM: Bar opens, Music and Entertainment: DJ's AntiCapitalista, and more!

Admission: Pay-What-You-Can
Space is wheelchair accessible (with a lift off the front entrance)

On Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/483539615017209/?notif_t=plan_user_joined

----------
2012 was a landmark year for OCAP's work. We fought and prevented the
definitive closing of the School House Shelter and continue to fight for
increased harm reduction, homeless services and housing.

The Raise the Rates Campaign for a decent social assistance income grows
stronger every day. As a result of a powerful and determined mobilization
across the province, the Ontario Liberal party was forced to restore $42
million in funding it had intended to cut as part of the elimination of
Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB). And we aren't slowing
down anytime soon! This partial but significant victory has shown us what
communities can achieve and it will propel us forward as we continue the
fight to fully restore the CSUMB and Raise the Rates by 55%.

To make 2013 truly revolutionary we need the involvement and support of
everyone that can. Come out on February 22nd to help us celebrate the past
year and prepare for the year ahead!

Want to become an OCAP sustainer? Here’s how: http://update.ocap.ca/node/756

Ontario Coalition Against Poverty
www.ocap.ca
416-925-6939
@OCAPtoronto

*==============================
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==============================*
*The Ninth Annual Israeli Apartheid Week
March 1 - 10, 2013
www.apartheidweek.org
----------------------------------------------------*

Mark your calendars for Toronto’s Ninth Annual Israeli Apartheid Week,
coming
up March 1st - 10th!

First launched in Toronto in 2005, IAW has grown to become one of the most
important global events in the Palestine solidarity calendar. Last year’s
IAW was incredibly successful with 216 cities participating. The Israeli
Ministry of Public Diplomacy even dispatched “envoys” around the world in
an attempt to undermine the week.

This year Palestinians have endured another massacre on Gaza, the
enlargement of settlements, and daily growing brutality by Israel. Hence
our role in the international community to support the Boycott, Divestment,
and Sanctions (BDS) movement is more important than ever. This year IAW
will highlight many faces involved in the Palestinian struggle, from the
periphery and the centre, from the diaspora to diplomats, Indigenous groups
in solidarity to Palestinian professors, highlighting the many levels of
resistance to apartheid.

IAW 2013 will also take special care to voice the narrative of the changing
regional context. Around the world, people are standing in solidarity with
each other in struggles for democracy, equity, human rights and economic
justice. The resolve of Palestinians as they continue their 64 year
struggle against colonization, occupation and apartheid has provided
inspiration for movements struggling for freedom, justice and equality
around the world. Palestine, too, will be free.

*Confirmed speakers in Toronto include:*
- *Crystal Lameman:* Beaver Lake Cree First Nation activist and the Peace
River tar sands campaigner for the Indigenous Environmental Network in
Alberta
- *Razan Ghazzawi: *Frontline Syrian blogger and activist
- And a screening of *Roadmap to Apartheid* with Cinema Politica at the
Bloor Cinema!

Full program available soon at http://toronto.apartheidweek.org/

For other cities visit http://apartheidweek.org

Join our facebook
group<http://www.facebook.com/pages/Israeli-Apartheid-Week-Toronto/46324309566>
.

Follow us on Twitter: @ApartheidWeekTO
*
*
*==============================*
* (9)
==============================*
*CALL OUT FOR DIRECTORS: **BANGLADESHI YOUTH ADVOCACY COMMITTEE (BYAC)*

The Bangladeshi Youth Advocacy Committee (BYAC) – an initiative of CASSA
(Council of Agencies Serving South Asians –*www.cassa.on.ca*) is looking
for 5 to 10 committed youth (between the ages of 16 and 30) interested in
social and economic justice to become Directors of BYAC.

Please contact Raji: raji at cassa.on.ca with the subject line BYAC if you are
interested in joining.

In total, there are 10 positions available and all of them are volunteer
positions.

 BYAC will be made up of Bangladeshi youth who wish to actively participate
in social and economic justice related initiatives. BYAC will be involved
in many roles, including but not limited to, media relations, community
development, conferences, community events, public awareness campaigns,
government relations and youth engagement. BYAC will also work with various
stakeholders, including school boards, colleges/universities, parks and
recreation departments, public health, arts sector, environmental NGOs and
health service providers.

Directors of BYAC are required to commit to attending at least one meeting
per month. Anti-racism and anti-oppression training is a requirement for
all directors and the training will be provided by CASSA free of charge.

All interested youth are asked to contact Raji: raji at cassa.on.ca

If you are interested in being involved in BYAC in a capacity other than as
a director, please get in touch with us as well at: cassa at cassa.on.ca.

*==============================*
* (10)
==============================*

*Prisoner Correspondence Project Letter Writing Afternoon*

*
*
Join Prisoner Correspondence Project Toronto for our first ever
letter-writing afternoon!

FOOD AND CHILDCARE PROVIDED, WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE SPACE
Sunday February 17th, 2013
2 - 4 PM
The 519 Community Centre, 519 Church Street Room 304

Curious about the Prisoner Correspondence Project? Interested in
corresponding with someone on the inside? Come read letters, write letters,
or get matched up with a new penpal! Have a snack and learn more about the
new Toronto chapter of the project! Everyone is welcome.

If you’re not able to attend this event please send us an email (
priscoprotoronto at gmail.com) so we can get in touch with you directly or
organize an event in your area.

****************************************************

The Prisoner Correspondence Project is a collectively-run initiative with
chapters in Montreal and Toronto. It coordinates a direct-correspondence
program for gay, lesbian, transsexual, transgender, gendervariant,
two-spirit, intersex, bisexual, questioning and queer inmates in Canada and
the United States, linking these inmates with people a part of these same
communities outside of prison. In addition, it coordinates a resource
library of information regarding harm reduction practice (safer sex, safer
drug-use, clean needle care), HIV and HEPC prevention, homophobia,
transphobia, coming out, etc. The project also aims to make prisoner
justice and prisoner solidarity a priority within queer movements on the
outside through events like film screenings, workshops, and panel
discussions which touch on the broader issues relating to criminalization
and incarceration of queers and transfolk.

** Though this is the Toronto chapter of the organizing collective, you can
still become a penpal if you're not living in Toronto. We're also currently
trying to distribute promo materials in other cities, so please please get
in touch if you want to do some out-of-town outreach (even putting up a few
flyers or asking a few friends would be helpful!) **

Please email us at priscoprotoronto at gmail.com to get involved or receive
more info!

*==============================*
 * (11)
==============================*

 *Free'Scool Winter Classes*
*
*
*THE LANGUAGE OF STORYTELLING*
When: Fridays, 4:45- 6:45 PM
Start date: Friday February 8th
Where: Accents Bookstore, 1790 Eglinton Avenue West
Facilitators: Arestia Dehmassi and Navraaj Sandhu
Register at thefreescool at gmail.com, subject line: Storytelling

Description: What does storytelling mean to you?
We folks are all about our stories, where would we have been without them?
How else would we communicate, relate and connect to each other, ourselves
and the world all around us if we didn't share our stories. Old oral
traditions held their storytellers with high esteem and honour for they
brought to life all sorts of tales about love, courage, magic and
corruption. Our stories are told in all sorts of different ways and forms
yet all tell the same stories and shape our different cultures
similarly...reminding folks of how powerful our imaginations are. The dream
of this class is to explore our wonderful and diverse stories in different
forms and languages. Over the journey of six weeks, we will introduce
music, dance, show and tell and other mediums to best help us learn from
one another.

Join us as we spin tales and bridge the gaps between generations and
cultures- to get back in touch with our storytelling roots.

*WRITING TOGETHER*
When:Saturdays 5-7 PM
Location: St. Stephens Church-103 Bellevue Avenue, Toronto, ON
Facilitator: Maggie Helwig

Facilitator's Description: This class will give people the opportunity to
share their creative/expressive writing, give and receive feedback in a
safe environment, try new ideas and techniques. Those who write for their
own pleasure, those who write for friends, and those who publish their
writing or want to do so are all welcome.

I will offer writing prompts and ideas; I will facilitate the
feedback/response so that it stays safe and constructive and I will offer
examples of writing by other people so that participants can discuss and
learn from others outside the group.
I have published twelve books of poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction,
led workshops with youth and adults, edited magazines and books, run my own
small press and have been the co-coordinator of the Toronto Snall Press
Fair and the executive director of the Scream Literary Festival. I've also
done human rights work in Canada and overseas.

*COMMUNITY RESILIENCE THROUGH HUMAN RIGHTS*
When: Sundays, 12:30-2:30 PM
Start date: week of February 3rd
Where: The Barley Jar Community House (528 Brunswick Avenue, Toronto, ON)
Description: In the last semester (fall 2012), this class was discussion
based and focused on the following questions: What is community? What do we
want in community? What makes the community resilient?  Which human rights
relate to these needs? How can we apply them as part of a strategy to
achieve community resilience?

We approached these questions in light of realistic problems threatening
out communities today and in the near future. Some of these include drastic
climate change, water and air pollution, precariousness of energy and food
systems, etc.

As a result of this class, the learners and facilitators decided to
co-launch the second round of Community Resilience Through Human Rights,
tho time focused on an experiential/practical approach. This round,
starting in mid January 2013, the class has split itself into two main
groups- although they is always subject to modification or added categories
based on who comes to the class this winter: 1) Food, Water and Medicine
and 2) Building Community.

*CREATIVE COOKING*
Practical Cooking Skills in a creative way! with Petra H.
Re-start Date: Thursday February 7th, and every other Thursday for 6 weeks,
6-9 PM
Location: 888 Dupont Street
Number of participants: 8-10 people ***That means you have to let us know
if you plan on coming!
To register, please e-mail pei.czech at gmail.com, Subject line: Creative
Cooking

What's this Class About?
I would like to share some simple healthy ways of thinking about feeding
oneself, friends and family in an economical and practical way that would
appear to be an 'outside the box' approach! Why is this important? Because
most people are not taught this either at home or school or even later in
life. Rather than being reliant on fast food, restaurants and processed
food which all support the Industrial Food Complex, one can make a
difference in the world, their world and Activism by ACT by buying fresh
local produce and products that support a sustainable model.

For more information on all the classes, go to www.freescool.com.

-- 

-OPIRG York
--
www.opirgyork.ca
416-736-5724
opirg at yorku.ca

*There are many ways to get involved at OPIRG. We currently have 8 OPIRG
York working groups:*
Art For Justice, Justice is Not Colour Blind, Students for a Free Tibet, YU
Free Press, Environmental Justice York, Progressive Filipino Canadians for
Community Empowerment and Development (PFCCED), Students Against Israeli
Apartheid, and the Vanier Prison Support Line working group. You can contact
Victoria Barnett, our volunteer coordinator, about ways to get involved in
these working groups: victoria at opirgyork.ca.

*We also have three different collectives: *PrOPIRGanda Radio, Radical
Reading Room and PrOPIRGanda Zine- see the callouts below. You can contact
us about ways to get involved in these collectives: opirg at yorku.ca.
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