[opirgyork] Anti-Opression Training MONDAY + More events upcoming!

[OPIRG York]

Hey Everyone!

We have a free anti-oppression training this Monday from 2-5pm. Please
attend and invite your friends- there is a description below.

If you're interested in volunteering, 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


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*TODAY'S DIGEST:*

1. *MONDAY*: Anti-Oppression Training 2-5pm
2. *MONDAY*: Environmental Justice Working Group Meeting
3. Young Lakota: Indigenous Youth fight for Reproductive Justice
4. MLK was here: Readings and Reflections on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's
1967 Lost Massey Lectures
5. 9th Annual Strawberry Ceremony in Honour of Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women
6. Mad(ness) Pride Toronto 2014: Call for Submissions
7. Mi'kmaq Warriors Speaking Tour Comes to Toronto
8. Toronto Rally for a $14 Minimum Wage
9. Black Struggle and Socialist Revolution

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

*1. Anti-Oppression Training*

*Date*: Monday, February 10th
*Time*: 2-5pm
*Location*: Room 313 Student Centre

Have you been a part of a group where racism, classism, transphobia,
heterosexism, misogyny, ableism and/or any other form of oppression made it
impossible for you to stay in the group, made it impossible for others to
stay in the group, caused painful and unresolved conflict or hindered the
broader work of the group towards social change? Wondering what some of
those words mean? How can we build long-term and sustainable relationships
to anchor our work for the world we envision while getting real about how
systemic oppressions continue to damage and hinder our relationships to
each other?

*Facilator: Aruna Zehra*

Aruna is a first generation settler/immigrant born and raised on the
traditional land of the Three Fires Confederacy-Ganatsekwyagon Seneca
village in what is now known as Scarborough. She has been involved in
community organizing for the past 10 years both in Toronto and Kingston.
She currently works at the Federation of Metro Tenants Association and as
an independant consultant and facilitator that specializes in
anti-oppression, consensus and facilitation training and strategic planning
sessions for non-profits and grassroots organizations. Issues currently
occupying her mind focus on organizing around prison abolition, Indigenous
sovereignty-solidarity and breaking down White supremacy/anti-Black racism
as it manifests within model minority communities. She is the News Editor
for Indigenous Waves radio show on CIUT 89.5FM and lives vicariously
through science fiction, enjoys DJing parties and exploring her foodie
lifestyle.



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

*2. Environmental Justice Working Group Meeting*

*Date*: Monday February 10, 2014
*Time*: 2:30-4pm
*Location*: Student Centre room 311C

We will most likely be meeting every other week at the same time.

Some of the take away tasks from the last meeting include:

1) Figuring out creative ways to engage people when tabling ie photos,
broken pipelines etc.  If people have ideas to bring to the meeting that
would be great!
2) Setting up a facebook group for Environmental Justice @ York.
3) Event ideas ie films we can screen, speakers, creative actions

The meeting on Monday will focus on following up with the above items.

Also, for people that are interested, part of the meeting will involve
creating radio scripts for prOPIRGanda on some of the fossil fuel companies
that York invests in.  I will go over some tips on how to write for radio
and hopefully by the end of the meeting we will have some scripts ready to
be read on the radio show.

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

*3. **Young Lakota: Indigenous Youth fight for Reproductive Justice*

Young Lakota: Indigenous Youth fight for Reproductive Justice
Film Screening of Young Lakota, a film by Marion Lipchutz and Rose
Rosenblatt

Tuesday February 11th
7 PM
Innis Town Hall, 2 Sussex Avenue
$5-10 suggested donation

Screening followed by a discussion with Jessica Danforth of the Native
Youth Sexual Health Network

Moderated by the Ontario Coalition for Abortion Clinics
Presented by Medical Students for Choice (U of T), Ontario Coalition for
Abortion Clinics and the Native Youth Sexual Health Network

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

*4. **MLK was here: Readings and Reflections on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's
1967 Lost Massey Lectures*

University of Toronto's Black History Month Opening Ceremony
MLK Was Here: Readings and Reflections on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s 1967
Lost Massey Lectures

In honour of Black History Month, Hart House, the Anti-Racism and Cultural
Diversity Office, Multi Faith Centre and Massey College are pleased to
present this important event reflecting and exploring the words and life of
one of North America's most preeminent speakers, thinkers, activists and
social leaders of the 20th century: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Following
the discovery of the Lost Massey Lectures, itself a leading and important
repository of many respected Canadian change-makers, Dr. King's speech
comes just months before his assassination and leaves us with many
questions to ponder and sets out pathways for a more transformative future.
 The presenting partners are pleased to recognize the support of the Office
of the President at the University of Toronto and are delighted to announce
that President Meric Gertler will be delivering the official Welcome and
Opening Remarks on Dr. King own as part of the evening.  Further remarks
will be delivered by Angela Hildyard Vice President Human Resources and
Equity with opening greetings to Hart House by Warden, Professor Bruce Kidd.

In the wake of the loss of  globally respected leader and freedom advocate,
Nelson Mandela, with forgiveness and reconciliation  at the forefront of
international politics and policy making- how can Dr. King's recovered
lecture further situate the role of social compassion and action.

Dr. King's lecture titled Conscience for Change is a chance for us to
revisit our own consciences as a nation and assess our progress, commitment
to social change and our ability and willingness to work together towards a
common goal.

The evening's event centres on a number of prolific and thoughtful speakers
who bring to light their knowledge lived experience, critical reflection
and unique lens to draw new meaning from Dr. King's work while mapping it
on to our present day world paying special attention to what we still need
to achieve.  What role does the education, social action, and youth today
have to offer in re-imagining the world and pushing the agenda for peace
and justice?  Where is the University situated in this question.  Moderated
by Associate History Professor and Director of Caribbean Studies, Melanie
Newton, the evening will feature readings and reflections by University of
Toronto President Professor Meric Gertler, Associate Professor of Christian
Ethics Marilyn Legge, former Liberal Leader and current First Nations
Advisor Bob Rae, student Presidents Vanessa Jev (African Students
Association) and Modele Kuforiji (Black Students Association)  and others.

What: Black History Month - Readings and Reflections on Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr.'s 1967 Lost Massey Lecture
When: Wednesday Feb 12, 2014
Where: East Common Room, Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle, University of
Toronto
Cost: Free (No advance tickets)
Website: www.harthouse.ca

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

*5. **9th Annual Strawberry Ceremony in Honour of Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women*

9th Annual Strawberry Ceremony to Honour missing and murdered Indigenous
women who have died violent deaths by Colonialism
Friday February 14th
Strawberry Ceremony with Wanda Whitebird begins at 12:30 PM
Police Headquarters 40 College Street (College and Bay)

Community Feast catered by NaMeRes at the 519 Church Street Community
Centre; 519 Church Street following the rally.

Please signs and banners in honour of women who have died only.
Tokens will be available at the rally.

Three Indigenous women have died violent deaths in Toronto since last
year's ceremony. This has led No More Silence to create a community owned
database to document and investigate such deaths in collaboration with
Families of Sisters in Spirit and the Native Youth Sexual Health Network

We continue to raise our voices in denouncing the racism and complicity of
state institutions and we support the demand for a national public inquiry
led by Indigenous grass roots women and supported by a United Nations
Investigation into Missing & Murdered Indigenous women in Canada

According to research conducted by the Native Women Association of Canada
(NWAC) under the Sisters In Spirit Program, over 600 Indigenous women have
been murdered or gone missing, most of them over the last 30 years.

Despite clear evidence that this is an ongoing issue, the federal
government decided in the fall of 2010 to end funding to Sisters in Spirit.
Instead monies in the amount of $10 million have been dedicated to a
central RCMP missing person centre. The same institution - who, along with
the Vancouver Police Department, failed to properly investigate Pickton in
1997 - was at the centre of a public inquiry in Vancouver. The sham inquiry
into the failed Pickton investigation has since been completed with no
consequences for any guilty parties and was boycotted by 20 of the 21
groups who were granted standing due to the denial of adequate funding for
legal defense.

Pickton, who was convicted for six murders, has admitted to killing 49
women. A total of 18 murders occurred after he was arrested and released
for the attempted murder of a sex worker in 1997. This is blood on police
hands, yet RCMP officers testifying at the sham inquiry state "there are
few things they would change about how they did their work."

It should come as no surprise that the Committee to End Discrimination
Against Women at the United Nations has visited the country to investigate
Canada's missing and murdered Indigenous women.

On February 14th we come together in solidarity with the women who started
this vigil over 20 years ago in Vancouver's DTES, and with the marches and
rallies that will be taking place across this land. We stand in defense of
our lives and to demonstrate against the complicity of the state in the
ongoing genocide of Indigenous women and the impunity of state institutions
and actors (police, RCMP, coroners' offices, the courts, and an indifferent
federal government) that prevents justice for all Indigenous peoples.

No More Silence began holding ceremony at police headquarters on February
14th 9 years ago. 2 years ago we formed the February 14th Organizing
Committee in an effort to broaden community participation in the planning
of the event - the committee is made up of  The Native Youth Sexual Health
Network Sistering and other feminist and Indigenous community organizations.

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

*6. **Mad(ness) Pride Toronto 2014: Call for Submissions*

Call for Submissions to Mad Pride Toronto 2014
Saturday, July 5 to Monday, July 14
www.madprideto.com

Mad Pride is an arts, culture, and heritage festival created by psychiatric
survivors, consumers, mad people, and folks the world has labelled
"mentally ill".

Mad Pride is about:
remembering and participating in mad history
challenging discrimination
advocating for rights
affirming mad identities
developing and empowering mad communities
having fun!
Our lives and contributions are valuable and need celebration!

Do you want to host or participate in a consumer/survivor-driven event,
performance (poetry, spoken word, theatre, dance, music, comedy, book
reading, other), film screening, talk, presentation, workshop, or panel
discussion at Mad Pride Toronto 2014? Do you know someone/groups we should
contact to support and encourage their involvement?
Emailoutreach at madprideto.com for a copy of our submission form or leave a
message at 647-931-7563 to set up a time to ask questions/discuss your
ideas or fill out the submission form over the phone. Please include your
name and a way to contact you or someone else on your behalf.

Do you want to submit to our third juried Art Exhibition? We invite two
dimensional, sculptural, or time-based art submissions from psychiatric
survivors, consumers, and mad people. Contact Martine at
martinematthews at soundtimes.com.

If you are a consumer/survivor and would like to display/sell your art,
crafts, buttons, t-shirts, knitting, zines, books, music, baked goods or
promote your blog, website, group, network, idea, consider requesting a
table at the Mad Market. Contact outreach at madprideto.com or leave a message
at 647-931-7563.

Deadline: April 15, 2014

Please help circulate this Call for Submissions to your colleagues,
friends, and neighbours. Copies of our brochure and flyer are available for
download and distribution from our website. To request a Mad Pride Toronto
outreach presentation for your group/organization or for copies of our
promotional materials, contact outreach at madprideto.com or 647-931-7563.

Do you want to get involved in making Mad Pride Toronto 2014 happen? Check
out www.madprideto.com/contact.html for more information on joining the Mad
Pride Toronto 2014 Organizing Committee and/or to volunteer. Contact
outreach at madprideto.com or leave a message at 647-931-7563.

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

*7. **Mi'kmaq Warriors Speaking Tour Comes to Toronto*

*Date*: Thursday, February 20th
*Time*: 6:30pm
*Location*: Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre, 439 Dundas Street
East, Toronto

Members of the Mi'kmaq Warriors Society who have been arrested and
incarcerated will be on a speaking tour in January and February to raise
awareness about their struggle against fracking, their ongoing assertion
and exercise of nationhood, and the repression they face from police and
courts.

"Our warriors are still being mistreated in the system, justice for our
political prisoners of war." Suzanne Patles, member of the Mi'kmaq Warrior
Society

*BACKGROUND*:

Suzanne Patles speaks from Elsipogtog Anti-Fracking Blockade
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyewGdAlQNk

Elsipogtog: The Fire Over Water
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0N-lDcq1PQ

Mi'kmaq Blockade
http://www.submedia.tv/stimulator/2013/10/16/mikmaq_blockade/

Warriors Defence Fund:
http://www.gofundme.com/4v80u4

Sacred Fire: The People United Against Fracking
http://sacredfirenb.com/welcome-to-the-sacred-fire-website/

Guardian: New Brunswick fracking protests are the frontline of a democratic
fight
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/oct/21/new-brunswick-fracking-protests

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

*8. **Toronto Rally for a $14 Minimum Wage*

*Date*: Saturday, February 15th
*Time*: 1pm
*Location*: Young and Dundas Square

This Family Day, Ontario families deserve a raise! Rally for a $14 minimum
wage to lift working families out of poverty.
1 pm at Yonge and Dundas Square.
Organized by the Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage, the Ontario Federation
of Labour and the Ontario Common Front.
Other events will be held cities and towns elsewhere in Ontario.
For more information, visit: www.RaisetheMinimumWage.ca

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

*9. **Black Struggle and Socialist Revolution*

Date: Feb 13th, 2014
Time: 6-8pm
Location: Accolade West, York University
Room: #209

Over 40 years since the heroic civil rights and black power movements in
the USA, we are told that racism has become a thing of the past. We have
Black billionaires, Black presidents, Black police chiefs and prominent
Black entertainers. Has the promise of a post-racial society been
delivered?

>From the Jena Six, the killing of Trayvon Martin, the conditions facing the
black poor during Hurricane Katrina, the mass incarceration in prisons, the
ever-widening gap between the rich and the majority, to the mass
foreclosures since the 2008 crisis, the situation for the vast majority of
Black people in America continues to decline.

The Socialist Fightback is not hosting this discussion as your cliched
tribute to the past struggle against racism that we are used to during
Black History Month. For us Socialists, that struggle is not in the past.
Instead, we aim to inform the ongoing and unfinished struggle against
racism, economic inequality and for a genuine end to racism which is only
possible in a socialist society.

In this regard we have to study the great political traditions and leaders
of the past, looking at their strengths and weaknesses, instead of
sanitizing them as the mainstream press and academy does. This includes the
ideas of Martin Luther King and Malcolm X to the growing radicalization of
that movement in the late 1960s expressed through the Black Panther Party
and its leaders such Huey Newton, Bobby Seale and Fred Hampton, as well as
prominent revolutionaries such as Angela Davis.

Join us for an open discussion. Feel free to bring any questions.

Details
Date: Feb 13th, 2014
Time: 6-8pm
Location: Accolade West, York University
Room: #209

Organized by:
Socialist Fightback Club at York University

Contact:
socialistfightbackclub at gmail.com
647-448-0980

-- 

-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.

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