[opirgyork] Welcome Back + Ways to get Involved + Upcoming Events!

[OPIRG York]

Hello OPIRG York members and community!

Hope that you all had a lovely vacation/time off/rest during the month of
December- and for those who are studying, that you were able to finish all
exams and papers, and hopefully you are now coming back in January, in the
new year of 2013, fully refreshed, and energized to get back to organizing,
and to school/work of course!

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. Stay tuned for callouts and
announcements about these collectives coming soon! You can contact our
Coordinator of Administration and Information, Sharmeen Khan, about ways to
get involved in these collectives: sharmeen at opirgyork.ca.

You can always contact us at 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! Hope you have a good new semester, and 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

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*In this email:*
*(1) Jan 8th: Environmental Justice, Tar Sands and Line 9- Organizing
Meeting @ York*
*(2) Jan 8th: **Film Screening: DOCTORS OF THE DARK SIDE*
*(3) Jan 10th:  Idle No More York U with ASAY @ York*
*(4) **Jan 10th: **Emergency Mapuche Protest: Matias, We Remember You in
Struggle*
*(5) Jan 16th: Jane Finch Action Against Poverty (JFAAP) Meeting*
*(6) Put pressure on Ontario to #FillTheIFHGap*
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*Environmental Justice, Tar Sands and Line 9- Organizing Meeting @ York*

*Date*: Tuesday, January 8th
*Time*: 6pm
*Location*: Room 307, Student Centre @ York U.

*Contact*: victoria at opirgyork.ca, 416-736-5724

This is the fourth meeting for the environmental justice working group of
OPIRG York. We are specifically planning for an educational day- this
meeting will work out those details. We have also discussed, outreach,
media, and actions! If you want to get involved, please email
victoria at opirgyork.ca.
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*Film Screening: **DOCTORS OF THE DARK SIDE*

featuring Mohammad Mahjoub & other special guest speakers

*Date*: Tuesday, January 8th
*Time*: 6:45pm - 9pm
*Location*: Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Suggested donation $2-10
*fb:* www.facebook.com/events/139594962861274

This Toronto premiere screening is co-presented by Cinema Politica with the
Justice for Mahjoub Network, the Canadian Centre for Victims of Torture,
Physicians for Human Rights and Amnesty International Canada, and will
feature Mohammad Mahjoub and other special guest speakers.

Doctors of the Dark Side will be preceded by the 4-minute short, Hidden
Stories of Canada's Immigration Detention, by Owen Shappard, Wairimu Gitau
and Zach Ruiter of the Liberation Cooperative Organization.

*DOCTORS OF THE DARK SIDE*
*Martha Davis / US / 2011 / 72 ' / English*

Doctors of the Dark Side exposes the scandal behind the torture scandal —
how psychologists and physicians implemented and covered up the torture of
detainees in US controlled military prisons. The stories of four detainees
and the doctors involved in their abuse show how essential doctors have
been to the torture program. Director Martha Davis (Interrogation
Psychologists) spent four years investigating the controversy and produced
the documentary with an award-winning team that includes Oscar-winners Mark
Jonathan Harris (Writer) and Mercedes Ruehl (Narrator), and Emmy-winner
Lisa Rinzler (Director of Photography). Editor M. Trevino (Hidden Battles)
led the post-production team of the feature length documentary.

Security certificate detainee Mohammad Mahjoub will be at the screening to
talk about his experience with detention and torture. Mr. Mahjoub has been
held by the Canadian government for over 12 years without charge, after
escaping the Mubarak regime as a torture survivor. He is one of the 'secret
trial five' - one of three Muslim men still held under a racist security
certificate. Visit www.supportmahjoub.org to learn how you can help.

*Endorsed by*: Justice for Mahjoub Network, Cinema Politica, Health for
All, No One Is Illegal- Toronto, Amnesty International and more ...

-----------------
Justice for Mahjoub Network
www.supportmahjoub.org
www.facebook.com/SupportMahjoub
justiceformahjoub at gmail.com


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*Idle No More York U with ASAY @ York*
*
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The Aboriginal Students' Association at York is calling on all our friends
and allies to support our Idle No More York U initiative.
Please accept and share this invitation far and wide. Chi Meegwetch!

*Our Facebook event invite* http://www.facebook.com/events/153632854784017/
*Date*: Thursday, January 10th
*Time*: 12pm
*Location*: Vari Hall *Round Dance* - Vari Hall at 12 pm sharp +
*Teach In*- 1-3pm in North Ross 203

Calling all treaty people, Indigenous and settler people alike! Please join
us in a round dance flash mob in solidarity with Idle No More and Chief
Therese Spence. Our unity against the Harper Government's omnibus Bill C45
is Theresa's strength, our knowledge, our power.

Anishnawbe Professor, Robin Cavanagh and Professor Anna Zalik, both of the
Faculty of Environmental Studies will be our guest teachers. There bios are;

http://www.yorku.ca/fes/wa/FacultyProfiles/app/profile/83052
http://www.yorku.ca/fes/wa/FacultyProfiles/app/profile/571558

As details develop, they will be posted here (
http://www.facebook.com/events/153632854784017/). As it is, we meet in Vari
Hall at 12 pm sharp on Thursday, January 10th, 2013. Our teach-in is to
follow at approximately 1pm.

Please wear red, bring Indigenous national flags and supporting signs and
banners. Some sign suggestions are:
-We Are All Treaty People
-Honour Our Treaties
-In Unity with Chief Theresa Spence
-Settler in Solidarity

'I am an Ally' swag bags will be available to assist campaign and unity
efforts.

*Why January 10th?...*

"For me to say that, I'm not afraid to die, I wouldn't be honest. As I
stated, when I began the hunger strike (on the 12th of December) if we do
not see anything positive, thirty days after the start on Jan. 10/13, I'm
willing to give my life so future generations can survive and enjoy the
many gifts from the "Creator". I have a lot of very good reason to want to
live, and I have a lot of faith in all of the Aboriginal People and our
Sisters and Brothers of other color, who are in this struggle to save
"Mother Earth" for those that are living and those not yet born." Chief
Theresa Spence

*The Idle No More Website* http://idlenomore.ca/


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*Emergency Mapuche Protest: Matias, We Remember You in Struggle*

*Date*: THURSDAY, JANUARY 10TH
*Time*: 5PM
*Location*: TORONTO CHILEAN CONSULATE – 2 Bloor Street West

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION in Support of the CAM Mapuche Political
Prisoners on Hunger Strike (50+ Days)

CALLING OUT ALL ANTI-COLONIAL/ANTI-CAPITALIST/ANTI-AUTHORITARIAN ALLIES

STOP THE STATE OF SIEGE + REPRESSION IN MAPUCHE
AUTONOMOUS MAPUCHE TERRITORY!

FREE OUR MAPUCHE POLITICAL PRISONERS!

In the Memory of Matias Catrileo Quezada, murdered by Chilean Police on
January 3rd, 2008 at the Santa Margarita Estate, so-called property of
Jorge Luchsinger, during an indigenous land reclamation. MATIAS, WE
REMEMBER YOU IN STRUGGLE.

Bring your drums, flags as we will show to the world our brothers and
sisters are not alone in their just struggle for the Reclamation,
Reconstruction and Liberation of the Mapuche Nation.

WCCC [Toronto]

For more info on the latest situation in Mapuche Territory, go to:
http://wccctoronto.wordpress.com/


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*Jane Finch Action Against Poverty (JFAAP) Meeting*

Wednesday January 16, 2013
6pm – 8pm
1 Yorkgate Blvd, unit 202
(Yorkgate Mall, close to the Dollarama- upper level)

Come join us as we prepare for this years events! Jane and Finch Action
Against Poverty (JFAAP) is a resident-led grassroots coalition of community
residents, activists, workers and organizations working to eliminate
poverty in our community and in the world. JFAAP meets at 6pm on the 1st
and 3rd Wednesday of every month at the Black Creek Community Health Centre
in Yorkgate Mall; new members are always welcome!


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*Put pressure on Ontario to #FillTheIFHGap*


*Dear health providers, social service providers and community members of
Ontario: *

In response to drastic cuts to the Interim Federal Health (IFH) program in
Canada, 2012 was marked by historic mobilizations where health care workers
and allies took to the streets, occupied Conservative MP offices, rallied
outside Citizenship and Immigration Offices, launched a Non-Cooperation
Campaign in response to drastic cuts to refugee health care coverage in
Canada. These cuts mean a man in Saskatchewan was denied chemotherapy for
his cancer treatment, pregnant women have been denied coverage for their
deliveries, countless refugees and claimants have been cut off from access
to medications and now, those seeking refuge from countries Jason Kenney
has designated as ‘safe’ will not be able to get care even for a heart
attack. These cuts are in line with ongoing regressive immigration policies
introduced by this government including Bill C-31.

In the wake of these cuts, Quebec has stepped up to fill the gap by
providing health care coverage for refugees. Manitoba has said they will do
the same and send the Feds the bill. Saskatchewan has called for a review
of the cuts and provided chemotherapy for a dying man. Yet, we have seen no
action from Ontario and it’s time we escalate our demands.  As a New Year’s
resolution, we are asking you to JOIN US in calling on the province to step
up, FILL THE IFH GAP, and provide healthcare coverage for all those seeking
refuge in Ontario. Help us make this an issue in the Ontario Liberal
Leadership race by participating in our three upcoming Wednesdays of Action
leading up to the Leadership Convention!

*1. The next three Wednesdays in January (Jan 9th, 16th, 23rd) leading to
the convention, we need your help to: *

Flood the communication lines asking Ontario Liberal Leadership candidates
to make public statements agreeing to fill the IFH gap if they are chosen.
Scroll down for contact information for all candidates.

A. Phone the candidates.
B. Email the candidates individually or click here for an easy online form
that will email all candidates for you.
C. Tweet the candidates. Use the hashtag #FillTheIFHGap as well as using
the #olpldr and #onpoli hashtags. Scroll down for automatic tweet links.
D. Have your organization write a letter to the candidates.
*
*
*2. On Wednesday, January 23rd, JOIN US in a public rally to deliver a
petition with over 627 signatures of health professionals, social service
providers and community members to the Ministry of Health. *

When: Wednesday, January 23rd, 11:30am
Where: Ministry of Health and Long Term Care office (900 Bay Street),
Toronto.
Why: Because it’s time for the Ontario government to step up and fill the
IFH gap.
Who: We are mobilizing the 627 signatories and calling on everyone else to
join us!

See the petition here: http://health4all.ca/PetitionToMinisterMatthews
*
*
*3. On the weekend of the actual convention, January 26th and 27th, we want
you to help us TAKE OVER the #olpldr and #onpoli hashtags demanding that
the candidates promise to #FillTheIFHGap. *

*Contact Information for Ontario Liberal Leadership Candidates: *
*
**
 NameEmail Phone Twitter Eric Hoskins ehoskins.mpp.co at liberal.ola.org
416-967-0814
416-656-0943 @DrEricHoskins Gerard Kennedy gk at gerardkennedy.ca 647-472-6000
@GKennedyOLP Glen Murray gmurray.mpp.co at liberal.ola.org 416-924-5500
416-972-7683 @Glen4ONT Sandra Pupatello sandra at sandraforleader.ca
416-351-1919 @SandraPupatello Charles Sousa csousa.mpp at liberal.ola.org
416-507-6519
905-274-8228 @SousaCharles Harinder Takhar takhar at votetakhar.com
htakhar.mpp.co at liberal.ola.org 289-232-8273
905-897-8815 @HarinderTakhar
Kathleen Wynne contact at kathleenwynne.ca
kwynne.mpp.co at liberal.ola.org 416-964-8556
416-425-6777 @Kathleen_Wynne
*

*Don’t know what to tweet? How about: *
@DrEricHoskins As a doctor who has worked with refugees, do you agree to
#FillTheIFHGap if you become #olpldr? #onpoli #refugeehealth
@GKennedyOLP Quebec & Manitoba have stepped up to #FillTheIFHGap from
#refugeehealth cuts. Will you do the same in Ontario? #onpoli #olpldr
@Glen4ONT Ontario has a responsibility to the migrants who live here. Will
you #FillTheIFHGap left by #refugeehealth cuts? #onpoli #olpldr
@SandraPupatello 627 frontline workers and community members want you to
#FillTheIFHGap. Will you commit to this? #olpldr #onpoli
@SousaCharles As a frontline worker, I want you to commit to
#FillTheIFHGap. Ontario must provide #refugeehealth. #olpldr #onpoli
@HarinderTakhar Will you let refugees die in Ontario? Commit to
#FillTheIFHGap and provide healthcare for refugees. #olpldr #onpoli
@Kathleen_Wynne Frontline workers will deliver a petition to @Deb_Matthews
to #FillTheIFHGap for #refugees. Will you support? #olpldr #onpoli


Please forward this widely to your contacts, and share the link for the
callout here: http://health4all.ca/FillTheIFHGap and the facebook event
here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/455851527807727/?notif_t=plan_user_joined.
If you are interested in helping organize logistics for this action or
would like any further information, please contact us at
healthforalltoronto at gmail.com!

In Solidarity,
Health for All
@HealthForAllTO
www.health4all.ca
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