[opirgyork] UPCOMING: Media Training, Iran in (Re)View, Research in Action + So much more!
OPIRG York
opirg at yorku.ca
Thu Jan 23 13:58:19 PST 2014
Hey Everyone!
There are so many great events and trainings upcoming! As well as various
ways to support initiatives upcoming and ways to get funding for your own
group! Check out the digest of upcoming events and other initiatives below.
Also OPIRG York has a media training next Tuesday, as well as a Social
Justice Fair, and our event Research in Action: Building Accountable
Community Research coming up next week-- so hope to see you all there!!
Don't forget about the Iran in (Re)View: Toward Solidarity Beyond Borders -
Conference this weekend also, and all of our working groups have upcoming
meetings and events!!
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
****************
*TODAY'S DIGEST:*
1. Environmental Justice Working Group Meeting
2. Online Organizing & Making Social Media Count 101
3. OPIRG York Social Justice Fair
4. Research in Action: Building Accountable Community Research
5. FCYA/UKPC Lecture Series Part 1: The Filipino Canadian Community's
Current Situation, Struggles and Resistance
6. Iran in (Re)View: Toward Solidarity Beyond Borders - Conference
7. YU Free Press- Callout for New Editors/Designers/Web and Coordinators!!
8. 9th Annual Strawberry Ceremony in Honour of Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and those who have died Violent Deaths by Colonialism ---
Seeking volunteers!
9. FREEDOM FRIDAYZ 3YR ANNIVERSARY!
10. Faith & Flesh Movie Night - by Student Christian Movement and TBLGAY
11. Fight for Fair Wages! Public forum
12. The biology and sociology of HIV & AIDS: Core Skills Training for those
interested in sexual health
13. Does your social justice group need funding? Freedonia's 2014 Funding
Application Round is now open! The deadline for applications is February
28, 2014.
14. Appeal for Mats, Sleeping Bags & Blankets - OCAP Support Needed!
15. WPIRG’s School of Public Interest 2014: Just Education?
16. Reclaiming Citizenship & Resisting Double Punishment: Speaking tour &
updates for 2014
17. African Liberation Month at CHRY 105.5
18. WRITE BACK. FIGHT BACK. - Zine Callout
19. Support for Reclaim Turtle Island: IndieGoGo Launch!
****************
*1. Environmental Justice Working Group Meeting*
Monday Jan. 27
2:30 - 4pm
Student Centre rm 311C
This meeting will be to put together materials for tabling at the Social
Justice Fair on Jan.29 and to brainstorm ideas for events.
For people that cannot make it to the meeting, please stop by the
Environmental Justice table at the fair on Wednesday Jan. 29 at Vari Hall
and let us know how you would like to be involved in the divestment
campaign.
****************
*2. Online Organizing & Making Social Media Count 101*
This workshop explores how to engage in effective online campaigning &
maximize social media strategies in your projects and campaigns.
Participants will explore the benefits and challenges of different online
and social media tools, be given useful information about managing online
campaigns & social media platforms as well as mobilizing different
audiences and tracking results. Workshop attendees are encouraged to bring
project plans and proposals with them to maximize hands-on learning on
actual campaigns.
*Facebook Link:* https://www.facebook.com/events/503796879734135
*Date*: Tuesday, January 28th
*Time*: 5-8pm
*Location*: Room 311B Student Centre
*Trainer*: Syed Hussan is an organizer and writer in Toronto working with
undocumented and migrant peoples, in defense of Indigenous sovereignty, and
against counter intuitive programs like war and capitalism.
****************
*3. OPIRG York Social Justice Fair*
Come check out some of OPIRG York’s Working groups and learn about more
ways to be involved! You can also check out tables by different community
groups that we support and do ongoing work with!
*Date*: Wednesday, January 29th
*Time*: 10-4pm
*Location*: Vari Hall, Vari Link and Central Square tables
*Featuring*:
Featuring Opirg York working groups:
* Ukpc York
* Students Against Israeli Apartheid at York University
* Students for a Free Tibet Canada
* Environmental Justice @ York U
* Revolutionary Student Movement- York University
* YU Free Press
* Incendies
* Revolutionary Literature and Arts
* Queer and Trans Womyn Without Borders
* Art for Justice
AND
- Jane Finch Action Against Poverty
- West-Side Arts Hub
- Rebels With A Cause Film Festival
- and other community and York allies.
If you are interested in participating, please get in touch with our
Volunteer Coordinator, Victoria, at victoria at opirgyork.ca.
**Please note- there is limited tabling space and OPIRG working groups +
community groups are already being accommodated, but there are a few extra
spaces available. Note some of the tables will be shared to be able to
accomodate more groups.
*On Facebook (please share):*
https://www.facebook.com/events/201595660030084/
****************
*4. Research in Action: Building Accountable Community Research*
What does community based research look like? What would it mean for
academic institutions, faculty and students to take leadership from
community groups, and facilitate education and research in the interest of
social change? How can we ensure that community groups will truly benefit
from this research? There are important concerns around the ways in which
educational institutions situate themselves in communities, and take up
community issues as research interests, without ever consulting with the
communities themselves.
The Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGS) at both the University of
Toronto and York University are very interested in interrogating these
questions and addressing these concerns by creating links between the
University and the community that highlight the importance of community
based research. Similar programs at other PIRGs across Canada, namely
SFPIRG's Action Research Exchange (ARX), OPIRG-Ottawa's Community Research
Project (CRP), and QPIRG's Community-University Research Exchange (CURE),
serve as important models.
In keeping with our mandate to direct resources and research towards
anti-oppressive, social and environmental justice projects, we want to
educate students about participatory (action) research and community
organizing, to provide support and resources for community groups, and to
work to transform the privilege and resources of the academy into socially
relevant, community-based research and political action.
Please join us to discuss and share knowledge and skills around community
research exchange. This discussion will move from the concept of community
led research to developing ideas for proposals on what this research would
involve, using examples from other successful PIRG Community Research
Programs. Research coordinators from other PIRGs with these programs will
be on hand to talk us through the elements involved in this work, the value
of it and the challenges to starting this type of project in Toronto.
Community Organizations, students, faculty and PIRG members will all have a
chance to engage in fleshing out potential projects together.
Thursday January 30th
7 PM
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, room 2211
252 Bloor Street West
*This event is free*
*This event is wheelchair accessible*
With
- Jaggi Singh, Community University Research Exchange (CURE), QPIRG
Concordia
- Maria Basualdo, Community Research Project, OPIRG-Ottawa
- More speakers to be announced!
All students, faculty, and community organizations interested in community
based/directed research are encouraged to attend.
Please contact OPIRG-Toronto or OPIRG-York with any questions, concerns or
accessibility requests.
OPIRG-Toronto:opirg.toronto at gmail.com
OPIRG-York: opirgyork at gmail.com
****************
*5. FCYA/UKPC Lecture Series Part 1: The Filipino Canadian Community's
Current Situation, Struggles and Resistance*
Toronto, ON – The Filipino Canadian Youth Alliance/Ugnayan ng Kabataang
Pilipino sa Canada – Ontario (FCYA/UKPC-ON) is gearing up once again for
another round of political education at York University and University of
Toronto. The political education will be presented through a lecture series
focussing on the Filipino Canadian community’s history, current situation,
struggles and resistance. Despite being Canada’s third largest visible
minority group numbering over 500,000, the Filipino Canadian community
continues to be at the social, political and economic margins of Canadian
society. The lecture series aim to expose Canada’s neoliberal agenda by
concretely showing its impacts on working class and communities of colour,
such as the Filipino Canadian community.
‘As the future of our community, it is crucial for us youth to educate,
mobilize and organize ourselves and to fight for social change in our
community and the broader Canadian polity.’ says Bastian Leones of UKPC @
UofT.
The first lecture titled “The Filipino Canadian community’s Current
Situation, Struggles and Resistance,” will be held on January 30th at
University of Toronto and February 6th at York University and will be
presented by Kristoph Cles Aban, an executive member of UKPC-ON
*At University of Toronto: Thursday, January 30, 2014, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM*
15 King's College Cir, Toronto, ON M5S 3H7
University College Rm. 148
*At York University: Thursday, February 6, 2014, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM*
(Room TBA)
For more information, contact:
Kristoph Cles Aban
(416) 519-2553
ukpc-on at magkaisacentre.org
www.magkaisacentre.org
Facebook: Ugnayan Ontario
Twitter: @ugnayanontario
****************
*6. Iran in (Re)View: Toward Solidarity Beyond Borders - Conference*
*Facebook Link: *https://www.facebook.com/events/260393117449112 (Please
Share!)
Iran’s politics and society continue to be the focus of public discussions
across the world. Yet rarely does the complexity deserving of these
subjects receive adequate consideration. Iran in (Re)View aims to make this
complexity legible. Rather than reproducing conventional narratives and
convenient clichés, perpetuated by the mainstream media and the ruling
classes, the organizers of this conference intend to foster an open
atmosphere for the exchange of critical and alternative perspectives. This
dialogue will address a range of key issues pertaining to social, economic
and political realities in Iran today, such as: the class nature of the
Islamic state in Iran, movements for social and economic justice,
particularly the working class, women, students, and LGBTQ, the effect of
economic sanctions and the threats of war by the US and its allies
including the Canadian government.
This event focuses upon contemporary Iranian politics, society, and
economy. Join us as we critically examine the complexities shaping these
realities, and explore opportunities for solidarity in the struggles
against oppression and exploitation through a series of panels in Persian
and English.
Iran in (Re)view has been organized by various Iranian activists, students,
workers and academics, and made possible by support from Opirg Toronto and
Opirg York.
*Agenda: *
12:30 pm – Registration and Reception
1:00 – 1:30 pm – Opening the conference (Farsi & English)
1:30 – 3:00 pm: Panel One: Iran after Elections: Change or Consolidation
(in Farsi- English translation may be available)
3: 15 pm – 4:45 pm: Panel Two: Histories in Context and Futures at Stake
(In English)
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm: Panel Three and closing remarks: Toward Strengthening a
Solidarity Beyond Borders: International solidarity in action
*This event is free.
*The Multi-Faith Centre / Koffler Institute at U of T is fully accessible.
*There will be cameras, video recorders, and voice recorders throughout the
event.
*Please contact us if you have any accessibility issues that we need to
consider.
Our Page on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/IranInReView
http://iraninreview.com/
Email: info at IranInReview.com
Please stay tuned for updates on the event and spread the word!
****************
*7. YU Free Press- Callout for New Editors/Designers/Web and Coordinators!!*
*To apply for a position, please email (and for any general inquires)
to: yufreepress at gmail.com <yufreepress at gmail.com>*
*Positions Currently Available:*
*Layout Editor:* a) Maintain Layout e-mail account; b) Create layout using
final packages sent by Section Editors; c) Coordinate with the printers for
print date and delivery; d) Coordinate with Section Editors on aesthetics
of pages
*Website Manager: *a) Responsible for the constant upkeep of the website:
Adding articles, photos, monitoring comments etc.; b) Responsible for
maintenance of current layout, or creating a new layout and maintaining it
*Copy Editor: *a) Receive articles from Copy Editor Coordinator (who is a
voting member of the Collective); b) Edit mechanics and formatting, neither
content nor argumentative stances, using tracking feature (if any content
or legal issues are noticed, notify Copy Editor Coordinator); c) Send
articles back to Copy Editor Coordinator by deadline
*Section Editor: *a) Manage the Section email account; b) Actively solicit
content, gain permissions to reprint already printed articles; c) Read all
articles submitted prior to Content Selection meetings; d)
Contact/communicate with authors, edit, proofread, fact-check, word count,
consider liability, select pull-quotes, consider aesthetics of Section, etc.
*Again to apply for a position, please email (and for any general inquires)
to: yufreepress at gmail.com <yufreepress at gmail.com>*
****************
*8. 9th Annual Strawberry Ceremony in Honour of Missing and Murdered
Indigenous Women and those who have died Violent Deaths by Colonialism
--- Seeking volunteers!*
*Postering*: Help spread the awareness and pick up posters near you! OPIRG
at UofT, OPIRG at York and ASAY
Friday, Feb. 14, 2014 from 12 – 3pm: We are seeking approximately 30
volunteers
Volunteer shift :
Entirety of Event: 12:00pm – 3pm.
Strawberry Ceremony: 12:00pm until 1:30pm at 40 College St at Bay (Police
HQ)
Walkers/Food Servers/Clean Up Crew: 1:30-3:00pm at 519 Church St, Toronto,
ON
*What*:
Strawberry Ceremony in Honour of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and
those who have died Violent Deaths by Colonialism
You will be helping distribute water and strawberries at this ceremony.
Please RSVP directly to Jolene John at: johnjolene7 at gmail.com
If you cannot volunteer, but are available to participate, the ceremony
will take place at 40 College Street at Bay for Ceremony (Police
Headquarters) from 12:30pm-1:30pm.
This event is organized by No More Silence, The Native Youth Sexual Health
Network, Sistering and other agencies.
Details about the ceremony:
https://www.facebook.com/events/578758638867662/?source=1
Strawberry Ceremony with Wanda Whitebird begins at 12:30 Police
Headquarters 40 College Street at Bay, Toronto
Community Feast catered by NaMeRes at the 519 Church Street Community
Centre; 519 Church Street following the rally.
Please leave your agency and organizations signs and banners at home and
make some in honour of women who have died instead.
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.
Endorsed by: Toronto Rape Crisis Centre/Multicultural Women against Rape;
Toronto Bolivia Solidarity;DAWN Ontario DisAbled Women's Network Ontario,
OCAP, Centre for Women's Studies in Education at OISE, Native Women's
Resource Centre of Toronto Maggies TO Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural
Centre, Anduhyaun, Ontario Aboriginal HIV Strategy, Toronto Council Fire
Native Cultural Centre
Printing by Opirg York and the Aboriginal Students' Association at York
List of Feb 14th Memorial Marches in other communities:
http://womensmemorialmarch.wordpress.com/national
****************
*9. FREEDOM FRIDAYZ 3YR ANNIVERSARY !*
*Date*: Friday, January 31, 2014
*Time*: 6:00pm until 9:30pm
*Location*: 1785 Finch Avenue West Yorkwoods Public Library
January 31st marks Freedom Fridayz 3yr anniversary. Come and celebrate with
us as we enjoy:
Performances
Live Art
Free Food
Good music
Prizes
Beautiful People
and Endless possibilities...
Doors open at 6:00pm :)
♥
****************
*10. Faith & Flesh Movie Night - by Student Christian Movement and TBLGAY*
The Student Christian Movement is a socially progressive activism-oriented
group on campus working to raise awareness on issues like indigenous
solidarity, queer issues, transphobia, gender equality, economic justice,
migrant and labour justice and environmentalism.
We've teamed up with TBLGAY for our next Faith and Flesh movie night. We
will be watching A Jihad for Love, a moving documentary on the lives of
queer Muslims in the Islamic world. The movie will be followed by a
discussion on spirituality and sexuality in general; so check your agendas
and calendars and try and come! We're open to and welcome people of all
religious beliefs, or lack thereof! I hope to see a lot of you there!
*EVENT*: Faith & Flesh
*WHEN*: Friday, January 24th, 5:00pm - 7:30pm
(Come early or late, leave early or late, it doesn't
matter. Just come!)
*WHERE*: Student Centre, 449A
*WHAT*: Free Food, Discussion, Interfaith Prayer
Also, if you're interested in becoming more a part of the Student Christian
Movement and doing activism, please join our Facebook
group<https://www.facebook.com/groups/206537342860108/>
!
****************
*11. Fight for Fair Wages! Public forum*
*Friday January 24, 6:30pm*
William Doo Auditorum, 45 Willcocks St.
(Corner of Willcocks St. and Spadina, 2 blocks south of Harbord St.)
* Janah Bailey & Zitlali Adame-Reducindo, Fight for 15, on retail worker
strikes in Chicago and across the US
* Sterling Harders, Working Washington, on winning a $15 minimum wage at
Seattle-Tacoma airport
* Speakers from the Campaign to Raise the Minimum wage
* Spoken Word by Ritalin
* Music by Samba Squad and DJ No Capitalista
Join the fight for a $14 minimum wage!
Find out more and get updates at
https://www.facebook.com/events/608238165909898/
http://raisetheminimumwage.ca/
Organized by Campaign to Raise the Minimum Wage
Supported by:
Women and Gender Studies Institute, University of Toronto
Closing the Employment Standards Enforcement Gap Partnership Grant
****************
*12. The biology and sociology of HIV & AIDS: Core Skills Training for
those interested in sexual health*
*Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP)* offers health promotion
and support for South Asians living with and affected by HIV and works with
diverse communities on prevention education. As part of our community
education project we are pleased to announce that registration for our
Winter 2014 Core Skills Training for those interested in learning more
about HIV and AIDS and its sociological implications today, is now open. *The
training is a 2-day series that takes place over the weekend of February
8th and 9th from 10:30am to 5pm each day.*
The goal of this training is for participants to gain a sounder
understanding of the biology of HIV/AIDS, its modes and mechanisms of
transmission, and its sociological impacts. We will also be looking at the
legal issues surrounding HIV/AIDS which have recently been in the news to
better understand its implications. Additionally, time permitting we will
also delve into the theory and practice of popular education to explore
creative strategies for developing engaging and interactive means of doing
sexual education.
Please note that this training is offered at no-cost but does require prior
registration since there is limited seating. Click here to visit our
website<http://asaap.ca/event/core-skills-training-day-1/>for
additional details about how you can register.
Refreshments, a delicious lunch, drinks and TTC tokens will be provided by
ASAAP for both days.
*CONTACT: *
Yogi Acharya
Community Development & Volunteer Coordinator
Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP)
120 Carlton Street, Suite 315 (t) 416-599-2727 ext. 225
Toronto, ON M5A 4K3 (f) 416-599-6011
****************
*13. Does your social justice group need funding? **Freedonia's 2014
Funding Application Round is now open! The deadline for applications is
February 28, 2014.*
Are you involved in a grass-roots community organizing project?
Your group could be eligible for a Freedonia grant.
Freedonia is a Canadian organization that provides small grants to support
grassroots organizing that promotes radical and democratic social change.
Freedonia was founded in 1997 by Gary Moffatt as an expression of his
lifetime commitment to anarchism and to building social and economic
alternatives to capitalism. In keeping with this anti-authoritarian vision,
Freedonia is a catalyst for the development of movements promoting radical
democratic and systemic change.
In our 2014 Granting Period, Freedonia invites applications for projects
which are focused on expanding grassroots, face to face participation in
social, economic and political activism through organizing, training and
community-building.
*Applications for the 2014 Granting Period must be submitted by February
28, 2014.*
Freedonia provides grants of up to a maximum of $5,000. Freedonia funding
is limited to projects located within Ontario and British Columbia, Canada.
Freedonia recognizes and values the diversity of our communities and our
movements. Freedonia is committed to ending all forms of discrimination and
to the realization of full social and economic equality. In this spirit,
Freedonia takes proactive measures regarding funding applicants from equity
seeking groups. Favourable consideration will be given to projects that
expressly and actively promote social and economic equality.
Some of the projects that have been funded by Freedonia in the last couple
of years include:
Tools for Change, Media Co-op, Open the Cages, Radical Design School,
Grassy Narrows Drum Group, Toronto Anarchist Bookfair, No One Is Illegal,
Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, New Farmers Union Youth, Rhythms of
Resistance, Power of Women, Building for Sutikalh, Rising Tide,
Oshkimaadziig Unity Camp, Jane and Finch Action Against Poverty, Thistle
Institute, Power of Women, Building Indigenous Economies, West Coast
Caravan, Sinixt Nation Community Recovery Project.
http://freedonia.ca/
****************
*14. Appeal for Mats, Sleeping Bags & Blankets - OCAP Support Needed!*
Friends and Allies,
As you may be aware, OCAP has recently had a small victory in forcing the
City of Toronto to open Metro Hall as a Warming Centre for people during
cold alerts (see here: http://ocap.ca/node/1123). However, it appears the
City is, so far, not willing to make the Warming Centre as warm and
welcoming as it should be.
Last week as temperatures dipped close to -40, the Warming centre was
nothing more than a roped off area with a few hard chairs and no signs, no
cots or mats, and no screens for privacy. Only after pressure did the City
provide some blankets, but they did not allow hot food to be donated by
individuals or organizations, let alone provide it themselves. The city is
apparently afraid to let homeless people sleep with comfort at Metro Hall
for what that says about the overcrowded shelter system. In the mean time,
people were using backpacks and blankets to lie on under florescent lights
and in clear view of anyone walking by, eating cold granola bars and tea.
This Warming Centre for the homeless is drastically different than the
Warming Centres opened for those who lost power during the ice storm where
cots, blankets, showers and hot food were provided. This shows a massive
disparity and view of 'comfort' for those who are homeless and all around
lack of fair treatment.
During the next cold alert, OCAP intends to push the city on this matter
and as such we will be bringing these necessities to people who are using
the Warming Centre at Metro Hall.
We are currently in the process of rounding up mats(yoga or sleeping),
cots, sleeping bags and blankets to be distributed to folks using Metro
hall during the next cold alert. If you have any of these items that you
can part with, please consider donating them in the following ways:
1) Reply to this email detailing what you are able to donate, your name,
address and how best to reach you
2) Call or Text Kelly Sue at 647 248 0927
3) Consider donating financially with a cheque made payable to OCAP
157 Carlton, # 206, Toronto, ON M5A 2K3
Arrangements can be made to pick up your items.
Thanks and Solidarity,
OCAP
****************
*15. WPIRG’s School of Public Interest 2014: Just Education?*
Save the Date & Call for Proposals!
WPIRG’s School of Public Interest 2014:
Just Education?
Bringing Together Social Justice and Student Life
February 6-8, 2014
The University of Waterloo is renowned as a premiere center of technical
and scientific learning, but its reputation as a hub for critical thought
and action is understated. Often overlooked is UW’s long and vibrant
history of student engagement on social and environmental issues. Fuelled
by the passion of students and faculty, the campus has witnessed the birth
of environmental non-profits, the founding chapters of social justice
organizations, student activism, independent media projects, and
scholarship on anti-racist, feminist, and environmental issues, among many
other highlights.
In the wake of the Maple Spring in Quebec we have seen increased public
discussion about the role students can have in the broader fight for
positive social change. In an effort to bring this discussion home to the
University of Waterloo, and to foster this integral current of campus life
at UW, the Waterloo Public Interest Research Group is hosting its fifth
annual School of Public Interest conference around the theme of social
engagement on campus with the question “Just Education? Bringing Together
Social Justice and Student Life”
Taking place February 6th-8th at the University of Waterloo, the 3-day
conference will bring together students, activists, scholars, and community
organizers to recognize and celebrate the important work that has been done
to further social justice on the UW campus so far, and to build skills and
host challenging discussions to continue working towards a more just
education, campus, and society.
Possible workshop and discussion themes can include (but are in no way
limited to):
History of social justice work at the University of Waterloo
The impacts of co-op on student life, student community, and social
engagement
Critical education at UW and alternative pedagogies
The history and role of student media at UW & elsewhere
Corporate sponsorship: critically examining the University of Waterloo’s
relationship with external actors and the influence of the corporate sector
on the pursuit of knowledge
UW and the Haldimand Tract: student activism on stolen native land
Accessibility of and access to higher education: whose academy is it anyway?
“Class struggle”: tuition, student debt and the rising cost of education
Student unionism: the history, present, and future of student unions
Gender and male domination of STEM programs
Responding to the “rape chants” scandal: expressions of misogyny or other
forms of oppression on Canadian campuses
Connecting campus-based work to broader community
Campaigning for social justice on university campuses
Building an anti-oppressive institution
Writing for social change
Art and Activism
Ethics, politics and STEM
Activism from the academy: the connections between theory, research, and
social action
Student workload and mental health and/or social engagement
Questioning the economic status quo on a business-focused campus
Impacts of the Maple Spring/Quebec Student Strike
Social Justice actions taking place on other campuses and cross-campus
struggles and/or alliances
What is “the student movement” and who is organizing what? on which
campuses and why?
We welcome proposals from everyone: current students, former students,
academics and community activists. We accept proposals on behalf of
individuals, groups, and organizations. From theoretical discussions to
artistic explorations, from strategy sessions to practical skill-shares, we
are striving to host a diversity of session formats to tackle these issues
for a critical and creative conference.
Please submit proposals, including no more than a 1-page description and
facilitator bio, to spi at wpirg.org. Travel subsidies will be available to
cover travel costs for conference presenters, and a modest honorarium will
be provided. Contact spi at wpirg.org if you have any questions.
****************
*16. **Reclaiming Citizenship & Resisting Double Punishment: Speaking tour
& updates for 2014*
Thanks to all those who expressed their solidarity and support with
Deepan's struggle against statelessness and double punishment in so many
different ways throughout 2013. Without you, the far reaching support,
concrete gains, public awareness, and legal victories we`ve made, would not
have been possible.
2014 is now upon us, and we know it`s going to be a year full of struggle &
need you there with us along the way! As we enter a new year, we look
forward to your continued solidarity and hope you will be there with us to
succeed along the way. Please take a few minutes to check out the latest
developments and how you can help and stay plugged in…
1. Over the month of January, Deepan will be travelling across Canada to
tell his story and seek support. He will be speaking about his experiences
as a young man in criminal prison, in immigration detention, and his
current conditions as a stateless person. His struggle connects to issues
of criminalization, racial profiling, prisons, immigration detention and,
more broadly, questions of identity, belonging and borders. Come out to
hear Deepan and join in the discussion. Deepan`s tour begins in Kingston,
from where he will proceed on to Guelph, Kitchner-Waterloo, Toronto,
Peterborough, Montreal, with a final stop in Halifax. For details, check
out: ``Reclaiming Citizenship Rejecting Double Punishment`` here...
on our website: http://www.justicefordeepan.org/?p=880
Check out the facebook event here, which outlines the locations and times
of each speaking event: [https://www.facebook.com/events/446361202152882/]
2. Please like & share our memes! Memes are a quick and easy way to share
info via pictures. Get the latest ones here on our website: [
http://www.justicefordeepan.org/?cat=22]
on our facebook page: [
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=252417764924404&set=pb.185673334932181.-2207520000.1388961894.&type=3&theater
]
3. We are in dire need of fund$! A big thank you to all who donated in the
past. Funds help us cover the various pressing costs of the campaign, which
is entirely volunteer run (these include expenses of Deepan`s speaking
tour, various campaign costs, legal expenses and more). Any amount helps!
You have a few options if donating:
a) Check out our newest Indiegogo campaign. Funds from this will go
directly to covering the costs of the speaking tour. You also get some
neat perks with each donation! [
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/deepan-budlakoti-speaking-tour/]
b) Become a sustaining member! Provide us with direct monthly donations.
Sustaining membership allows us to receive an ongoing source to cover
costs. Click on the right side of our homepage to set it up here [
http://www.justicefordeepan.org/]
c) Don`t like either option: You can do a simple one time donation,
through paypal or via mail. Get the details here: (
http://www.justicefordeepan.org/?page_id=116
4. Be sure to continue to spread the word! Please ask everyone you know to
visit www.justicefordeepan.org and sign our Statement to Support Deepan.
Nearly 600 people have already signed it. Please ask your family, friends,
co-workers, your union & local group to endorse the Statement to Support
Deepan! Sign the statement here: [
http://www.justicefordeepan.org/?page_id=108] . You can also follow us by
following us on:
Twitter at [https://twitter.com/Justice4Deepan]
Facebook at [https://www.facebook.com/JusticeForDeepanBudlakoti]
YouTube at [http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqFnvWR8dNmVFTkNrU0T3Dg]
5. Stay in the loop for an exciting development in Deepan`s legal case in
the coming week!
In solidarity,
Justice for Deepan Support Committee
Restore his Citizenship. Stop his Deportation. No to Double Punishment.
****************
*17. African Liberation Month at CHRY 105.5*
Dear CHRY 105.5 Ambassadors, York Campus and Community Members,
*AFRICAN LIBERATION MONTH IS COMING…*
African Liberation Month is a month that celebrates black communities and
the various struggles against imperialism, slavery and on-going racism.
CHRY 105.5 recognizes the importance of African Liberation and we would
like to ensure our listeners do as well. We are inviting fellow campus and
community groups to collaborate with CHRY in producing specialized content
that pertains to multiple themes under the title of African Liberation.
*CHRY 105.5 WANTS TO WORK WITH YOU!*
CHRY 105.5 is offering the opportunity for our fellow campus and community
groups to get engaged with the program grid and produce specialized
one-hour programs on specific themes and topics that pertain to African
Liberation. The one-hour specials will be scattered throughout the program
grid throughout the month. It is a great opportunity to make the
information that you are passionate about accessible to a wide audience as
well as gaining broadcast experience and enhancing your critical analysis.
Attached to this document is a general one-hour breakdown for CHRY
including a sample runsheet. If you are interested in producing a one-hour
segment for African Liberation, please email chrynews at yorku.ca for more
details and support.
In conjunction with one-hour specials, CHRY 105.5 aims to produce 105 PSAs
throughout the month of February that will act as brief history spotlights.
Attached to this document there is a list of important people,
organizations and events that pertain to African Liberation as well as a
“How to Write a PSA” document. If you are interested in creating PSAs,
please fill out your name under the “Volunteer Column” and change the row
colour to yellow to indicate that you are working on the piece. Once you
have completed the piece, please change the row colour to green and send in
the audio to my email address chrynews at yorku.ca.
Please contact me if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions.
****************
*18. **WRITE BACK. FIGHT BACK. - Zine Callout*
*Feminist, Anti Oppressive, Survivor Centric*
We are looking for people who are interested in social justice and activism
to contribute their narratives to our zine!
*Topics to include:*
Sexual assault & sexual harassment
Indigenous/Aboriginal women & violence
Women of Colour issues
People with (dis)abilities
Trans issues
LGBTTIQQ2SA issues
Biomedicine, law and the legal system
Racism, oppression, privilege, sexism
Ableism, homophobia, transphobia
Classism, poverty, discrimination
Poverty, discrimination
Immigrant & migrant workers rights
Gender queer/gender variant issues
AND MORE!
Submission styles include: poetry, stories, photography, drawings, lyrics,
craft ideas, recipes and more!!!
*Questions?*
Email us writeback.fightback at gmail.com
Please include your full name and email address with your submission so we
are able to contact you. SASSL respects your right to privacy and
confidentiality.We will not publish your name in our zine without your
permission. Email addresses will not be published in the zine.
Email us at writeback.fightback at gmail.com
*SUBMISSIONS DUE MARCH 1ST, 2014*
****************
*19. **Support for Reclaim Turtle Island: IndieGoGo Launch!*
She:kon sewa'kwe:kon! Greetings everyone!
We need your help! We've just launched an IndieGoGo campaign to raise funds
for the early 2014 upcoming projects! It's a very exciting time and we are
looking forward to the struggles ahead. Please visit our campaign page to
support, share and spread the word:
*http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/reclaim-turtle-island/x/2915731
<http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/reclaim-turtle-island/x/2915731>*
Tag us on Twitter @defendourlands
More info:
Reclaim Turtle Island is a grassroots radical media project that works to
develop resources to build capacity for Indigenous sovereigntist and
anticolonial struggles in Turtle Island. So, later in October our primary
focus was delivering support for the Mi'kmaq Warrior Society who were toe
to toe<http://www.submedia.tv/stimulator/2013/10/20/showdown-at-highway-134/>
against
the state and a fracking company as they stood up for their land, waters
and peoples. Some of this work included getting the word out about
Warriors' treatment in
jail<http://reclaimturtleisland.com/2013/10/30/support-jailed-land-defenders-solidarity-w-mikmaq-warriors/>,
including supporting a Mi'kmaq Warriors fight against solitary
confinement<http://reclaimturtleisland.com/2013/11/20/end-mikmaq-warriors-solitary-confinement/>
and
having the honour to share the call to
#ShutDownCanada<http://reclaimturtleisland.com/2013/11/29/emergency-day-of-action-solidarity-for-elsipogtog/>.
In 2014 the resistance continues, and we would like to continue supporting
the active decolonization of so-called North America by elevating the
voices of frontline land defenders and building support for grassroots
Indigenous resistance to colonial-capitalism.
For this we need *you*. This crowd-funding initiative is to ensure that RTI
has the equipment necessary to produce high-quality video, from shooting
interviews to post-production editing, and our work will always be
available for free online. In early 2014, we want to bring you stories of
resiliance and inspiration from the Dine who are protecting sacred sites
and fighting against the mining of uranium. We want to connect with the
Ponca who are fiercely resisting tar sands pipelines and unearth some of
the histories of colonization in the southwest. We want to bring a land
defender from the heart of the tar sands to Lakota territory where they are
resisting tar sands infrastructure across their Nation. We want to support
the Innu resistance against *Plan Nord* and continue to nurture the roots
of Indigenous liberation in northeastern Turtle Island. *Our focus is
Indigenous resistance for Indigenous people and Reclaim is more than a
media project.* Reclaim Turtle Island also directly engages in struggle
against resource extraction as well as builds a network of land defenders
across our territories. We are bringing eachother together with stories of
resistance: to learn, to share and to better fight back. Please support
this initiative and encourage support from your friends. #2014WarriorUp
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