[opirgyork] Incendies Zine Launch + Social Justice Discotech + Hiring + May Day Events!
OPIRG York
opirg at yorku.ca
Tue Apr 22 13:43:20 PDT 2014
Hey Everyone!
So many things are going on- and it's the start of spring and nice weather!
Please check out the digest email below with a list of upcoming events, job
postings, callouts and ongoing events and donations requests. OPIRG York
hopes you can get involved in the many ongoing activities!!
If you're interested in volunteering at OPIRG York, or have any questions,
please get in touch with Victoria, at victoria at opirgyork.ca. We always are
in need of volunteers! And stop by the OPIRG York office anytime -- Room
449C Student Centre!
-- OPIRG York
****************
*TODAY'S DIGEST:*
1. *JOB POSTING:* OPIRG is hiring a Provincial Coordinator
2. *April 23: *Incendies Launch Party
3. *April 26*: Social Justice Discotech: AMC Fundraiser Future Design Lab
Toronto! + AMC Detroit Info.
4. *May 1*: Honouring our Communities: The 9th Annual May Day of Action
5. *May 5 & May 7:* The Struggle For Economic Justice: May Day Celebration
and Panel Discussion + The Demonstration (MAYWORKS Events!!!)
6. *May 5*: Ride the Overcrowded Bus to Queen's Park on Monday May 5
7. *ONGOING*: LAST PUSH! Get Deepan through Federal Court! End Harper's
attack on citizenship!
8. *CALLOUT*: The 2014 Toronto Anarchist Bookfair – July 19-20 (Proposals
Due June 15th)
9. *May 10*: Join TTCriders' Board - AGM May 10th
10. *June 26:* 26 June, International Day against Islamophobia and
Indefinite Detention of Immigrants: Free Mohammad Mahjoub Now!
11. *ONGOING*: LORETTA SAUNDERS SCHOLARSHIP FUND
12.* May 1: *CHRY May Day Programming
****************
*1. **JOB POSTING: **OPIRG is hiring a Provincial Coordinator*
*Job Description – Provincial Coordinator*
The Organization: Established in the 1970s, the Ontario Public Interest
Research Group (Ontario PIRG) is a provincial charitable non-profit
corporation whose membership is comprised of eleven campus-based chapter
PIRGs in Ontario. The purpose of OPIRG is to provide training, support, and
foster cooperation between PIRGs on social and environmental justice
issues.
Employment Date: Starting May 5, 2014
*Location*: Toronto, Guelph, Hamilton, or Kitchener-Waterloo ON (or nearby
community with ability to travel)
*Job Specifics*: This is a part-time position, with on average 20 hours of
work per month for a total of 240 over a year, with a 3 month probationary
period. The rate of pay will be between $20 and $25 an hour depending on
experience. A small budget for expenses associated with the work including
office supplies and transportation is also provided.
The Provincial Coordinator reports directly to the Supervisory Committee
but ultimately to the Ontario PIRG Board of Directors. The Provincial
Coordinator is expected to provide their own computer, phone and workspace
in order to carry out the duties of the position. Some expenses, including
long distance phone charges are eligible for reimbursement. Some evening
and weekend work is required, specifically attendance at the AGM and
Provincial Board meetings, which typically occur in October and February in
Toronto. Travel to other meetings and to PIRG chapters may be required.
*Roles and Responsibilities:* The Provincial Co-ordinator will develop
with the Supervisory Committee a work plan with timelines and evaluation
measures which includes the following:
*For the purposes of this job description Chapter staff shall mean
(Bargaining Unit Employees).
· - Develop a strong familiarity with the Collective Agreement,
Provincial By-laws, Policies and any Operating Manuals in order to provide
answers to Committees of the Board, Chapter Staff* and Board and to assist
in adherence to them at meetings of the Provincial Board.
· - Ensure all Chapter staff* and Provincial Board Representatives
have received or have access to the most recent Collective Agreement and
Ontario PIRG policies, procedures and Provincial Board minutes.
· - Provide new Chapter staff* with an orientation to the provincial
network with an emphasis
on portfolios and their tasks under the Portfolio Policy.
· - Provide new Chapter Board representatives with an orientation to
the provincial network with an emphasis on portfolios and their tasks under
the Portfolio Policy.
· - Develop and maintain a written document that provides an
introduction to the history, structure, policies and procedures of Ontario
PIRG that can be used as a tool for orientation of new staff and Board
representatives.
· - On a monthly basis request a list of new Chapter staff* in order
to arrange for orientations and provide any updates about new hires to the
Bookkeeper and Benefits Administrator.
· - Facilitate communication between chapters, including working with
the PIRG responsible for the listserv, as needed, to ensure that the
membership list is up-to-date.
· - Provide support for chapters in crisis by providing access to
resources and connections with the Ontario PIRG network, including
information about funding opportunities, direct connections with other
PIRGs and guides and written materials.
· - Communicate with Board member representatives about Provincial
funds for Collective Bargaining negotiations, legal advice and planning
meetings, and Board networking meetings. Where time permits provide
logistical support for Board networking meetings.
· - Maintain and keep organized the Ontario PIRG wiki site by:
ensuring all member of the Ontario PIRG Board of Directors know about it
and can access it and that important documents, and all final versions of
Ontario PIRG meeting minutes, Annual Reports, Committee minutes, financial
reports, budgets and Portfolio reports are uploaded and filed appropriately.
· - Monitor and respond as needed to messages sent over the
“Provboard” email listserv.
· - Provide a report on work activities, challenges and successes at
each of the Provincial Board meetings.
· - Attend one day of each of the Provincial Meetings (PBM and AGM)
and the Board Training School.
· - Act as the minute-taker at Provincial meetings attended, unless
otherwise requested by the Supervisory Committee.
· - Participate in a bi-yearly evaluation process.
· - Maintain and submit to the Supervisory Committee a record of
hours worked.
Meet Monthly with the Supervisory Committee to report on activities and
problem-solve challenges.
*Qualifications:*
· - Experience with the Ontario PIRG Board of Directors or equivalent
knowledge based on experience as a PIRG Chapter member.
· - Demonstrated knowledge of the Ontario PIRG mission, policies and
structure.
· - Proficient in the use of email, wiki pages, and word processing.
· - Ability to communicate clearly and efficiently over email.
· - Ability to summarize and simplify complex ideas and documents in
order to communicate them in writing or verbally.
· - Ability to develop relationships by electronic and phone
communications.
· - Ability to travel to Provincial meetings as required. (Meetings
usually occur in Toronto during the months of October, January and May)
· - Proficient in taking accurate and clear minutes for Board
meetings.
· - Demonstrated ability to work without direct supervision to create
priorities and accomplish tasks.
· - Bilingualism (French and English) an asset.
*Application:* Interested applicants should email their application to
Kalin Stacey at WPIRG (kalin at wpirg.org) by Friday April 25, 2014. Please
submit applications only as DOC/DOCX (Microsoft Word) or PDF (Adobe)
documents. Please include a resume and cover letter stating your
experience and qualifications, as well as two references with contact
information.
OPIRG welcomes the contributions that individuals from marginalized
communities bring to our organization, and invites aboriginal people,
people of colour, women, lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenderd people,
trans-sexuals, intersexed people, working class people, single parents,
members of ethnic minorities, immigrants, and people with disabilities to
apply. We encourage applicants to describe the contributions and
experiences, they, as individuals who identify with marginalized
communities, would bring to the OPIRG organization in their cover letter.
*Only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted.*
*No phone calls please.*
****************
*2. TOMORROW: **Incendies Launch Party*
*Date*: Wednesday, April 23rd
*Time*: 8pm - 1am
*Location*: Bike Pirates, 1292 Bloor St. W
Join us for a very special launch party for both of our issues released
this year, issue #3 Memory, and #4 Space!
This is a chance for the Incendies Magazine editorial team, volunteers,
writers, artists, readers, and fans to meet and mingle!
WE SO SO SO WANT TO MEET ALL OF YOU!
We are asking $5 or PWYC for admission, PLUS, the new issue of Incendies, a
super spiffy official Incendies notebook, and all you can eat/refreshments.
As part of this event there’ll be:
Live music! Artists TBA***
Live readings! Artists TBA***
A very cool PWYC button-making station! Images and supplies provided by
Incendies, but if you have an image you've always wanted on a button bring
it with you!
DIY zine making table! Get tips on zine formats, folding, distro, etc!
Cool merch for sale!
Food and refreshments provided
*All proceeds will go towards to printing costs of our next issue!*
ALL AGES: Yes
ACCESSIBILITY: Wheelchair Accessible, Gender-neutral Washrooms
Incendies Magazine AND Bike Pirates operate under a strict anti-oppressive
mandate. This is a safe space, and will be protected as such.
****************
*3. THIS WEEKEND: **Social Justice Discotech: AMC Fundraiser Future Design
Lab Toronto! + AMC Detroit Info.*
*Time & Location*
Saturday, April 26, 9am-6:30pm
Bento Miso, 862 Richmond St. W., Unit 100, Toronto
*On facebook: *https://www.facebook.com/events/1432251527016446/
*Summary*
Discover how to use design and technology to map out and build more just
and sustainable visions of the future!
*Description*
*Drawing Infinitely Scalable Images
*Screen-printing: Design your own poster
*Stenciling
*Stop-Motion Animation
*Paper marbling
*Book-binding
*Comics! By Ad Astra Comix
*Using torrents
*Button-making
*MORE!!
Tickets/ Registration:
$15 regular, $25 sponsor
You can also pwyc at the door.
Please REGISTER HERE:
https://bentomiso.com/events/social-justice-discotech-2
*SCHEDULE:*
10:30-12pm
Opening panel/interactive discussion: "Why is creativity important to
social movements? How do you use this as an organizing principle?” with
virtual appearances by Diana Nucera (Allied Media Projects, Detroit),
Jeanette Lee (Allied Media Projects, Detroit), Nina Bianchi (The Work
Dept., Detroit), and Wesley Taylor (Complex Movements, Detroit). Moderated
by Una Lee
12-12:30pm
Short Break + brief set-up/prep time
12:30pm - 5:30pm
Creation/DIY/Learning Stations, on rotation (Scheduled times to be posted
soon!)
5:30pm-6:30pm
Display work, wrap up talk/discussion and thank yous!
*****
Read about Bento Miso’s diversity and inclusiveness policy (
https://bentomiso.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201628406-Diversity-and-Inclusiveness-Statement)
and the accessibility of the space (
https://bentomiso.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201818783-Accessibility).
Please email veegs42 at gmail.com to request ASL interpretation (We will do
our best to make this happen but have very limited access to funds) or any
other accessibility requirements. Written documentation/resources will be
made available as much as possible.
******
*REGISTRATION for the Allied Media Conference in Detroit, June 19-22, 2014*
https://store.alliedmedia.org/2014reg
The AMC offers sliding scale registration so that the conference can be
accessible to as many people as possible. Please support the AMC by giving
generously with your registration contribution. The true expense of the AMC
is $125 per person. We will consider the registration amount you pay in
excess of $125 as a tax-deductible gift to Allied Media Projects.
****************
*4. **Honouring our Communities: The 9th Annual May Day of Action*
On May 1st, International Workers Day, we will march to reclaim May Day for
just people's struggles and to Honour Our Communities. We are unified in
our fight against poverty and capitalism. We oppose attacks on rights and
income of workers, irrespective of status. We demand an end to immigration
detention because no one is illegal. We will continue our support for
Indigenous peoples' movements for self-determination. We oppose
colonialism. We are in solidarity with struggles against Canadian
imperialism. We insist on an end to environmental destruction. We resist
patriarchy, racism, ableism, homophobia and transphobia both in our
day-to-day work and as larger systems of oppression. Join Us!
*Thursday May 1st*
*5:30 PM*
*Allan Gardens, Corner of Dundas & Sherbourne*
*On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/451818364949535/
<https://www.facebook.com/events/451818364949535/>*
--
Take a moment and imagine with us.
Worlds. Without rich or poor. Where land and freedom are sacred. Where wars
are mere nightmares. Where home is not just an endless longing. Where
migration is both celebrated and unnecessary. Worlds with bread and roses.
Where we honour those that came before us and together write new futures.
Where we are whole and not just what is written on our bodies. Worlds where
we belong to the land, the four legged and the winged ones, not them to us.
Worlds that are attuned to the earth's polyphonic harmonies.
On May Day, let's breathe together, and see the whole.
Apart, many times we have faltered, many times we have lost sight. We are
parts of the greater puzzle, each of us responsible to all our relations.
These worlds are not just hopes; the must be plans. Our plans. Our
struggles are not just to end immigration detentions or to ensure services
and status for all. For each one freed, each one fed, each one dignified is
a new flame in the fires we are stoking. Our songs and stories, our words
and pictures together are the blueprint for what will come after. Each
pipeline blocked, each mining company bankrupted, each shelter reclaimed
lays the foundations for these worlds. Every child taught, every elder
honored, each dead remembered, every living being fought for, sprouts new
seeds, deeper roots.
This May Day let us conspire; let us breathe; let us march; let us imagine
and then birth; let us be stronger, together.
--
Coordinated by a coalition of community groups including No One Is Illegal
- Toronto, May 1st Movement and Ontario Coalition Against Poverty. To
endorse the event, fill out this form http://bit.ly/1mtIrSZ
JOIN MAY DAY!
- Organize a contingent: bring a group of people from your class,
organization, neighbourhood, or union local to this demonstration, bring
your demands, banners, flags and signs.
- Help fund a bus, food, transit tokens, ASL, and materials for the day. If
you or your organization or union local can make donations of money or
in-kind, please help us make this day as participatory and accessible as
possible. Cheques can be made to No One Is Illegal and mailed to 260 Queen
Street West, PO Box 60006, Toronto, ON M5V 1Z8. Please put May Day in the
memo line and email nooneisillegal at riseup.net to let us know.
- Get the word out. Call, text, and email your friends. Share the facebook
events, or better yet, start your own! Make sure to tag everything,
including pictures and videos after, with the hashtag #May1TO.
****************
*5. **The Struggle For Economic Justice: May Day Celebration and Panel
Discussion*
Monday May 5, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm, Free
York Woods Library, 1785 Finch Avenue West
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/773351199342360/
A community event in honour of International Workers’ Day featuring a
series of performance by Nomanzland and a photography exhibit by Errol
Young. These performances will be followed by a panel discussion on the
campaign for the $14 minimum wage, the campaign to raise Ontario Works (OW)
and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) rates, and issues of poverty
at large (such as cuts to social programs). Panelists will speak on how
these issues have been affecting communities of racialized immigrants and
working people and various ways in which we can work collectively for a
just society. Speakers include residents and activists from the Jane-Finch
community (Leticia Ama Boahen and Suzanne Narain) and Lawrence Heights
community (Kaydeen Bankasingh) and organizers from Workers’ Action Centre
(Sonia Singh and Acsana Fernando).
Food, TTC tokens and childcare will be provided.
Co-presented by Jane Finch Action Against Poverty and West-Side Arts Hub
Co-sponsored by Workers’ Action Centre and Ontario Coalition Against
Poverty.
This event is part of the 29th annual Mayworks Festival of Working People
and the Arts, taking place from May 1 - 15, 2014 at various GTA locations.
For more details on this year's program, artists, and festival partners,
please visit http://mayworks.ca/.
*The Demonstration*
*Opening Reception:* Wednesday May 7, 7 pm - 9 pm, Free
*Exhibit Runs from:* May 1 - June 8, Free
*Gallery Hours: *Thursday - Saturday, 1 pm - 7 pm
Whippersnapper Gallery, 594b Dundas Street West
Facebook event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/224403721087882/
Historian Eric Hobsbawm writes that, “Next to sex, the activity combining
bodily experience and intense emotion to the highest degree is the
participation in a mass demonstration”. Coco Guzman’s immersive
installation The Demonstration explores the interpersonal dynamics of the
crowd and the intense emotional narratives generated when a large group of
people comes together for a common purpose. The audience is invited to
wander within the scene of this grotesque demonstration/parade composed by
human-size papier-mâché figures and on-site drawings and to reflect on the
place that protest/celebration and gathering takes in our neoliberal
societies.
Co-presented by Whippersnapper Gallery.
Co-sponsored by The Public, Opirg York, CUPE 1281.
This event is part of the 29th annual Mayworks Festival of Working People
and the Arts, taking place from May 1 - 15, 2014 at various GTA locations.
For more details on this year's program, artists, and festival partners,
please visit http://mayworks.ca/.
****************
*6. **Ride the Overcrowded Bus to Queen's Park on Monday May 5*
Want to travel with TTCriders on an overcrowded TTC bus to demand Queen’s
Park fairly fund the TTC so we can have more service and lower fares?
Of course you do. Join TTCriders and friends as we travel in an
overcrowded oversized bus from City Hall to Queen’s Park to demand the
province give more funding to the TTC so riders can have better service and
lower fares.
Meet at Nathan Philips Square outside City Hall and march to Queen's Park @ 5pm
Mon. May 5.
(City Hall is located at 100 Queen Street West.)
Rally in front of Queen’s Park Legislature @ 5.45 pm Mon. May 5.
(Queen’s Park is located just north of the College St and University Ave
intersection.)
It is super important that we call for lower fares and better service at
this time because the provincial political parties are deciding how much
money to give to public transit right now.
RSVP to join TTCriders and friends on the overcrowded bus ride @
http://www.ttcriders.ca/join-us-in-the-overcrowded-bus-march-to-queens-park-for-more-service-and-lower-fares/
.
Our exciting May 5 rally will cost about $1000. Donate $50 to help us pay
for props, tokens for low-income people so they can attend, placards, and
more @ http://www.ttcriders.ca/donate/
Questions? Email info at ttcriders.ca
****************
*7. **LAST PUSH! Get Deepan through Federal Court! End Harper's attack on
citizenship!*
Hello friends & allies,
As many of you know, Deepan Budlakoti has had his citizenship stripped by a
racist federal government. They are trying to deport him to India (a
country he has never lived in), and have left him stateless in the only
country he has ever known, unable to access healthcare, education, and a
list of other services many of us take for granted.
On Wednesday April 9th, communities across Turtle Island declared loudly
and publicly that they support Deepan Budlakoti and his fight to have his
citizenship restored. Canadians from Vancouver to Halifax dropped banners
and took pictures of their solidarity. The banner drop on Wednesday was to
draw attention as Mr. Budlakoti takes his case to the Federal Court. [
http://www.justicefordeepan.org/photo-album-national-banner-drop-day/].
Deepan's Charter of Rights and Freedoms rights have been violated, and we
are going to Federal Court to prove it. If we are successful, the Federal
Court will have to acknowledge and uphold Deepan's citizenship and charter
rights. This case could be precedent-setting, limiting the government's
ability make someone who is born in Canada stateless.
This particular part of the struggle relies on our being able to
successfully raise enough funds to pay some steep legal costs - $8,000 by
June 2014.
Please donate to the indiegogo campaign to help Deepan fight this battle
against an aggressively hateful federal government. In appreciation of your
donation, you will receive exciting perks of your choice, including a CD,
t-shirts, artwork, and more. Anything helps! [
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/justice-for-deepan-needs-your-help]
Please pass this on to every listserve you're on and to all your relations!
Thank you so much for your help!
In Solidarity,
The Justice for Deepan Support Committee
****************
*8. **The 2014 Toronto Anarchist Bookfair – July 19-20*
The Steelworkers’ Hall (25 Cecil Street)
**Callout for Tables and Workshop Proposals**
This July 19-20 we will be hosting our annual Toronto Anarchist Bookfair!
We invite anti-authoritarians of every age and every walk of life – whether
you’re new and curious about anarchism or have been an anarchist for
decades – to come join us for a jam-packed weekend of books and zines,
workshops and discussions, good food, good friends, and more.
*TABLES –* are you an anti-authoritarian publisher, zine-collector, artist,
activist group, community organization, infoshop, distro, or anything else
that wants to connect and share with others? Let us know if you want to
reserve a table at the Bookfair! Please let us know if you’d like to table
for one or both days (you will be able to store your books or materials
overnight in the locked Steelworkers Hall if you’d like).
*WORKSHOPS* – is there a workshop or conversation that you would like to
facilitate? If so, please email us a title and a short description, and
we’ll accept as many as we can fit!
(Workshops are 90-minutes long. Our goal is to have one stream of
“introductory” workshops and one stream of “in-depth” workshops running
simultaneously. So let us know which stream you think your workshop would
fit better in).
*The deadline for workshop proposals is Sunday June 15. *
*HELP OUT* – do you have some time to help out with the Bookfair? From
postering to food prep, please give us a hand!
*Contact us at toanarchistbookfair at gmail.com
<toanarchistbookfair at gmail.com>*
We are committed to making the Bookfair as accessible and welcoming as
possible. The Steelworkers’ Hall is wheelchair accessible. There will be
childcare and kids programming. There will be a People of Colour caucus
space. ASL interpretation can be provided if requested. And as always the
Bookfair will abide by our Safer Space and Sexual Assault and Consent
policies (which you can read about on the website). If you have other ideas
or suggestions for improving the accessibility of the event please let us
know.
In Solidarity,
The Toronto Anarchist Bookfair Collective
*Email*: toanarchistbookfair at gmail.com
*Website*: http://torontoanarchistbookfair.wordpress.com/
****************
*9. **Join TTCriders' Board - AGM May 10th*
TTCriders is looking for energetic transit advocates to join our Board of
Directors at a significant time in the history of the organization. Apply
before April 19th
here.<http://app.ml.mailersend.com/links/view/633507/198923313/5015311/r1w7y7b/t5x2/2283996873/35/>
*About the Board Position*
TTCriders’ Board of Directors is responsible for the governance of
TTCriders. The board’s responsibilities include building TTCriders into a
strong, dynamic and effective organization with other like minded people.
Tasks include: strategic planning, fundraising, financial management,
membership recruitment, upholding our vision for better transit and more
affordable fares, organizational development, and more. The time commitment
is about 10 hours a month. Read more about being a board member, who we
are looking for, and information about the application
process.<http://app.ml.mailersend.com/links/view/633507/198923313/5015313/q5i6s2t/t5x2/2283996873/35/>
Applications are due by April 19, 2014. Apply
online.<http://app.ml.mailersend.com/links/view/633507/198923313/5015313/q5i6s2t/t5x2/2283996873/35/>
Questions? Contact us at info at ttcriders.ca.
You're invited to our first Annual General
Meeting<http://app.ml.mailersend.com/links/view/633507/198923313/5015315/m4n5d9h/t5x2/2283996873/35/>
TTCriders will be having our first Annual General Meeting on Saturday, May
10th 2014 from 1pm to 4pm at the United Steelworkers Hall (25 Cecil
Street). The Annual General Meeting will be an opportunity for members of
TTCriders to:
- Hear about successes and campaigns of the past year
- Vote for the new Board of Directors
- Vote on our first by-law, which sets out how TTCriders is governed
- Receive an update on the financial health of the organization
- Learn how you can get more involved!
Please register for our Annual General Meeting by sending a confirmation of
your attendance to:info at ttcriders.ca before May 3, 2014.
Has your membership expired?. Our on-going advocacy efforts aren’t possible
without you.Renew your membership
here!<http://app.ml.mailersend.com/links/view/633507/198923313/5015317/r9b9k1o/t5x2/2283996873/35/>
The agenda and candidates for the Board of Directors will be emailed one
week before the Annual General Meeting to all members.
*TTCriders Annual General Meeting*
Date: Saturday, May 10th
Time: 1pm to 4pm
Location: United Steelworkers Hall
25 Cecil Street
Toronto, ON
M5T 1N1
Light snacks and refreshments will be provided. The space is wheelchair
accessible.
****************
*10. **26 June, International Day against Islamophobia and Indefinite
Detention of Immigrants: Free Mohammad Mahjoub Now!*
#26JuneMahjoub
www.facebook.com/events/704434572931347
*CALL FOR EVENTS IN YOUR COMMUNITY*
Egyptian refugee and torture survivor Mohammad Mahjoub has been jailed and
detained for 14 years in Canada because he is profiled as a Muslim. His
supporters are calling for an international day of solidarity on June 26,
2014, marking 14 years of administrative detention. See background below.
*::Ideas for local actions::*
On June 26th 2014, we are coordinating creative actions across Canada and
in cities around the world to denounce Islamophobia and indefinite
detention of all immigrants. We are calling for actions that highlight the
amount of time Mohammad Mahjoub has been fighting to clear himself from
this horrible Security Certificate ordeal.
Here are some suggestions for actions and numbers you can play with, to
create your own local action:
# of years = 14 ------------> a 14-hour fast outside a Canadian embassy
# of months = 168 ----------> 168-person flash mob action in a Canadian
immigration office (!) or 14 people freeze for 12 minutes outside a
Canadian Border Services Office
# of days = 5110 -----------> a 5110-link chain wound around a symbol of
Canada
# of hours = 122,640 -------> 122,640 pieces of confetti, flyers or
symbolic objects to be released/dropped/shared
# of minutes = 7,358,400 ---> *yikes* if you can think of something, let us
know!
**For the larger numbers - try dividing the time up equally among a number
of people - see example in the # of months above.
Note: these are just examples! Use your creativity! Posters around the
city, dropping or releasing objects, signs, vigils, other actions: all
welcome!
*INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING? GET IN TOUCH WITH US *
justiceformahjoub at gmail.com. We can send posters, flyers, images, press
release, and background documents.
*::Background::*
Many view Canada as a welcoming and accepting country. The reality is not
so pretty. Here administrative detention and deportations of immigrants are
a daily reality. In immigration processes, profiling, use of evidence
tainted by torture, and collusion with abusive spy agencies around the
world is routine.
Mohammad Mahjoub is a 14-year victim and survivor of Canada's racist and
islamophobic border laws. Arrested on June 26th, 2000, he spent almost 8
years in prison, including several years in solitary confinement. His
imprisonment was justified as a question of "security" but no specific
charges were ever laid and the alleged evidence remains secret. Over the
years, Mr. Mahjoub went on hunger-strike over and over again, just to get
basic medical services and rights.
In 2007, under pressure of a widespread public campaign, the Supreme Court
of Canada struck down the "security certificate" legislation under which
Mr. Mahjoub was detained. However, the Court failed to release Mr. Mahjoub
and the other Muslim detainees; instead inviting the government to
introduce revised legislation before the men tasted freedom. The right-wing
Canadian Conservative party took advantage of its new governing position to
do so the following year.
Released on house arrest, Mr. Mahjoub's conditions were harsh and at first
included camera surveillance of his home, two-way video inside the home,
sensor which showed when windows were open, 24-hour physical accompaniment,
draconian limitations on movement outside his home, and a GPS device
permanently attached to his body. However, Mr. Mahjoub continued his
campaign for justice and dignity. As his release conditions were
progressively lessened, he embarked on a national speaking tour supporting
immigrant rights and speaking out against racism and islamophobia in Canada.
When the Egyptian uprising finally overthrew Hosni Mubarak, Mr. Mahjoub was
able to obtain new evidence disproving allegations made against him and
linking Canadian officials to the detention and torture of his brothers in
Egypt.
Nevertheless, in 2013, a Canadian court upheld the 'Security Certificate'
issued almost four years earlier, even as it acknowledged that the process
it used to make the ruling did not meet standards of fairness. Mr. Mahjoub
is now on his way to the Supreme Court for a second time.
Mr. Mahjoub's story is not extraordinary. In almost every western country,
Muslim men are jailed on 'security grounds', while anti-immigrant and
racist hysteria is fomented by politicians. In this latest wave of
surveillance, incarceration and attack on freedoms, particularly of
whistle-blowers and environmentalists, we have to remember that first they
came for the Muslims. Now is the time to connect our struggles.
Resist Racism! Resist Islamophobia! Forge Global Chains of Solidarity!
Justice for Mahjoub
www.supportmahjoub
justiceformahjoub at gmail.com
fb.com/supportmahjoub
****************
*11. **LORETTA SAUNDERS SCHOLARSHIP FUND*
*Who*:
Cheryl Maloney – President, Nova Scotia Native Women's Association
Darryl Leroux – Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology and
Criminology, Saint Mary’s University
*Why*:
Raising money for a scholarship fund in Loretta Saunders’ name for
indigenous women to study in Atlantic Canada
*What*:
Donate as little as $5 as an individual, organize a fundraiser among your
friends or in your communities and/or ask your employer, union or
university to donate to the fund.
*How*:
1. Send an email money transfer to lorettasaunderslegacy at gmail.com
2. Deposit money at your local credit union to Community Credit Union
(Truro, NS), Account #67630000
3. Send a cheque to “Cheryl Maloney” re: Loretta Saunders, at Nova Scotia
Native Women’s Association, P.O. Box 805, Truro, NS B2N 5E8
After a week of raising money among his friends and family, Professor
Leroux has collected $5,091. In order to maintain a scholarship or bursary
into the future, we need a minimum of $25,000. We are committed to sending
all of our donors frequent updates as the fund develops. You have the
option of being a “known” donor or to remain anonymous. Please advise which
option you prefer when you get in touch.
****************
*12. **CHRY May Day Programming*
CHRY 105.5 is offering the opportunity for our fellow campus and community
groups to get engaged with the specialized programming that will occur on
Thursday May 1st between 12pm and 6pm. The interview lineup for the day is
as follows (may be subject to minor change):
12:00-12:30 Strategies for unions connecting to their communities and CUPE
3903 upcoming bargaining.
12:30-1:00 Food service workers on the York University Campus
1:00-1:30 The Revolutionary Student Movement
1:30-2:00 The elimination of the Transitional Year Program
2:00-3:00 Filipino live-in care workers
3:00-4:00 International worker struggles including migrant workers building
the Guggenheim in Abu Dhabi.
4:00-5:00 Mayworks artists.
5:00-5:30 Migrant Detention in Canada
5:30-6:00 Unpaid internships.
--
-OPIRG York
--
www.opirgyork.ca
416-736-5724
opirg at yorku.ca
*There are many ways to get involved at OPIRG. Apply to be a working
group: **http://opirgyork.ca/working-groups
<http://opirgyork.ca/working-groups>*
Contact victoria at opirgyork.ca for further information.
*We also have two collectives: *PrOPIRGanda Radio and the Radical Reading
Room. You can contact us about ways to get involved in these collectives:
opirgyork at gmail.com.
*Unsubscribe*: https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/opirgyork
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