[opirgyork] Color of Labor/Poverty Reduction Meeting + Conflict Resolution Training + Fossil Fuel Divestment + 12th Annual Pow Wow @ York U

Wed Feb 25 06:40:38 PST 2015

Hey folks!!!
There's lots goin' on in the community the next couple of weeks! Check it
out below!

If you're interested in volunteering at OPIRG York, or have any questions,
please get in touch with Victoria, at victoria.opirg at gmail.com. We always
need volunteers! And stop by the OPIRG York office anytime -- Room 449C
Student Centre!

-- OPIRG York

****************
*TODAY'S DIGEST:*

*//////// OPIRG YORK \\\\\\\\\\\*
1. *February 25th: *JFAAP Political Conversation Café Presents: The Colour
of Labour
2. *February 25th:* JFAAP Invite to Participate in City Poverty Reduction
Strategy Meeting
3. *February 25th & 26th:* Cinema Politica York & Cinema Politica Toronto
Present: Let the Fire Burn
4. *March 4th: *OPIRG York & Tools 4 Change Present: Conflict Resolution
Training @ York U
5. *ONGOING:* Environmental Justice Global Divestment Day

*//////// COMMUNITY \\\\\\\\\\\*
6. *February 26th*: Roundtable Discussion On Race & Pedagogy
7. *March 2nd**:* No To Maximus! OCAP Action In Solidarity With Disabled
People Against Cuts (DPAC)
8. *March 2nd*: Rally Against Police Violence In Toronto
9. *March 4th: *Access Centre: Self Advocacy Workshop
10. *March 5th:* ASAY 12th Annual Pow Wow
11. *March 7th*: Get to Know the Pan Am Games: The Displacement Behind The
Spectacle
12. *March 8th: *Voice of Purpose
13. *March 9th: *Meet Me In Liberation Square
14. *March 11th: *The Hike Stops Here! Day of Action to Freeze Tuition Fee's

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

*1. *
*JFAAP Political Conversation Café Presents: The Colour of Labour*

*Facebook Event
Page*:*https://www.facebook.com/events/1585216231690287/?fref=ts
<https://www.facebook.com/events/607056296072326/?ref_dashboard_filter=upcoming>*
******************

 What is the relationship between the North American Labour Movement and
the Black Liberation Movement?
We will look at the historical and current points of unity and conflicts
between the two movements.
We'll explore how best the two movements can work together.
*Date & Time:* *Wednesday Feb 11th @ 6pm, and Wednesday Feb. 25th @ 5pm*
*Location:* *4400 Jane St., Community Room @ Jane Finch Centre*
Presented by *Jane Finch Action Against Poverty (JFAAP)
<https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jane-Finch-Action-Against-Poverty-JFAAP/132701496774939>*
Political
Coversation Cafe

Supported by CUPE Ontario Racial Justice Committee and CUPE local 4772
Childcare, Tokens and Refreshments are provided !!!

*JFAAP* general meeting will be on *March 4th at 6pm at Seneca College in
Yorkgate Mall (North West corner of Jane and Finch) Room 218/219 (2nd floor
of the mall) *on the *1st & 3rd Wednesday of every month*; new members are
always welcome!

*2. JFAAP Invites You to Participate In The City's Poverty Reduction
Strategy Meeting*

[image: Inline image 1]

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

*3. **Cinema Politica York & Toronto Present: Let The Fire Burn*

*Cinema Politica York <https://www.facebook.com/CinemaPoliticaYork>*
 presents:

*Let the Fire Burn*
Directed by Jason Osder, 95 min

Followed by a panel discussion with Prof. Warren Crichlow, activist and
community organizer janaya khan, and filmmaker Chevy X. Moderated by
filmmaker Alison Duke.

In the astonishingly gripping Let the Fire Burn, director Jason Osder has
crafted that rarest of cinematic objects: a found-footage film that unfurls
with the tension of a great thriller. On May 13, 1985, a longtime feud
between the city of Philadelphia and controversial radical urban group MOVE
came to a deadly climax. By order of local authorities, police dropped
military-grade explosives onto a MOVE-occupied row house. TV cameras
captured the conflagration that quickly escalated—and resulted in the
tragic deaths of eleven people (including five children) and the
destruction of 61 homes. It was only later discovered that authorities
decided to “...let the fire burn.” Using only archival news coverage and
interviews, first-time filmmaker Osder has brought to life one of the most
tumultuous and largely forgotten clashes between government and citizens in
modern American history.

*February 25 at 12:00 pmNat Taylor CinemaN102 Ross, York University&*
*Thursday, February 26 | 7pm | Koffler House, Room 108Free Event. Free
Popcorn*
*U of T*

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

*4. OPIRG York & Tools 4 Change Presents: Conflict Resolution Training @
York U*
The purpose of this workshop is to provide techniques for resolving
conflict within our groups, as well as long-term strategies to build a
climate of equity, constructive debate and internal cooperation. This
workshop will provide participants with space to discuss and practice
de-escalation and conflict strategies.

*PLEASE REGISTER HERE:*
*http://bit.ly/1BggAkB <http://bit.ly/1BggAkB>*
**York students can choose the "I am a member of a sponsoring organization"
option!*

*Time:* *Wednesday, March 4th, 2:30-5:30pm*
*Location:* *York University, 4700 Keele St., Room 315C Student Centre.*
*Snacks to be provided. For any access needs, please email
*victoria.opirg at gmail.com
<victoria.opirg at gmail.com>*.

*Trainer:* *Brook Thorndycraft *

*Trainer:* Brook Thorndycraft has taught Interpersonal Communication and
Restorative Justice at George Brown College, and has been involved in
resolving conflicts in a number of community, personal, and work settings.
She sees conflict as an important part of communication, and enjoys
figuring out how to make it constructive, rather than destructive.

Please contact Victoria, *victoria.opirg at gmail.com
<victoria.opirg at gmail.com>*, for more information about the workshop.

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

*5. Environmental Justice: Global Fossil Fuel Divestment Day*

In order to avoid dangerous climate change, the world needs to redirect
investment from fossil fuels to alternative forms of energy that are
compatible with climate safety and social justice.

York University is invested in the fossil fuel industry. Governments and
organizations around the world have recognized that we are approaching the
threshold where climate change will become dangerous and irreversible.
Investment in fossil fuel corporations drives the consumption of fossil
fuel reserves, which must remain underground in order to avoid dangerous
climate change. In addition, the detrimental effect that extraction of
fossil fuels takes on the environment and surrounding communities cannot be
ignored. York plays a direct role in facilitating violent and dangerous
extraction techniques by funding
these fossil fuel companies.

York has divested before from companies for supporting investments contrary
to the mission of the University, and must do it again.

The York community plays a crucial role in the fight for fossil fuel
divestment. I call on York University to:
1. Freeze new fossil fuel investments immediately.
2. York University to commit to full fossil fuel divestment within five
years.
*https://divestyorku.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/fossil-free-york-petition*
<https://divestyorku.wordpress.com/2015/02/11/fossil-free-york-petition>

*https://www.facebook.com/fossilfreeyork*
<https://www.facebook.com/fossilfreeyork>

*6. *

*Roundtable Discussion On Race & Pedagogy*
*Race and Pedagogy
<https://casasw2015.wordpress.com/2015/02/06/roundtables/>*
*Thursday February 26th, 2015*
*2:45 – 4:15pm*
*519 Kaneff Tower, York University*
*To register, please email sargyork at yorku.ca <sargyork at yorku.ca> .  *

*Roundtable discussion with:*

   - Chair: Omme-Salma Rahemtullah, YCAR, York University
   - Cyndy Baskin, Social Work, Ryerson University
   - Nadia Habib, Human Rights and Equity Studies, York University
   - Pablo Idahosa, African Studies, Development Studies, Political
   Science, York University
   - Aaliya Khan, Communication Studies and Political Science, York
   University
   - Nishant Upadhyay, Social and Political Thought, York University
   - Alexandria Williams, Theatre, York University

*Description:*
As academics engaged in research and teaching about racialized bodies,
spaces and histories, we often find ourselves located within ‘Area
Studies’, ‘Ethnic Studies’ and/or ‘Development Studies’ – disciplines
entangled in the racialized politics of knowledge production in the service
of the historical and contemporary development of colonialism and
imperialism. Even as we aim to challenge the operation of colonial
and racial logics in the classroom, these logics continue to mediate how we
teach and learn about indigeneity, diaspora, race, migration and
multiculturalism. Our fraught relationships with these disciplines inspired
us to convene this roundtable to discuss the potentials, limits and
challenges of teaching, researching and learning about race and colonialism
within the context of the Canadian academy. We envision the roundtable as a
space to consider critical connections between area studies, diaspora
studies, critical race studies and indigenous studies.

*To register, please email sargyork at yorku.ca <sargyork at yorku.ca>.  *

This roundtable is part of the *Critical Approaches to South Asian Studies
Workshop <https://casasw2015.wordpress.com/> *organized by the South Asia
Research Group.  For more information visit *https://casasw2015.wordpress.com/
<https://casasw2015.wordpress.com/>*.

*This workshop is made possible with the generous support of York Centre
for Asian Research, Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies,
Faculty of Graduate Studies, South Asian Studies Program, Centre for
Feminist Research, United South Asians at York and the Departments of
Political Science, Humanities, Languages, Literatures and Linguistics,
Social Science, and Sociology.*
****************

*7. *
*No To Maximus! OCAP Action In Solidarity With Disabled People Against Cuts
(DPAC)*

*Toronto Action in Solidarity with Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) UK!*

*Office of Maximus Canada56 Aberfoyle Crescent, at Islington Subway
StationMonday, March 2, 11.00 AMIf you need TTC tokens, meet at Bloor/Yonge
Subway at 10.00 AM*

---

Many people in Toronto have followed the UK Government's brutal
implementation of the Work Capability Assessment (WCA). Under this
thousands of sick and disabled people have been recklessly denied benefits
on the grounds that they are 'fit to work'. Many have faced hunger and
homelessness because of this measure and thousands have died after being
subjected to the WCA.

The hated Atos company that implemented the test has now been forced out
but a new company, Maximus, has taken over. Our allies in DPAC are putting
on a UK wide Day of Action on March 2. They understand very well that
claims that the new outfit will be 'kinder and gentler' are entirely
bogus. The whole idea of the WCA is to cut benefits and force disabled
people to scramble for the lowest paying jobs on offer. DPAC is ready to
challenged the new hired gun the UK Government intends to use to inflict
misery and hardship on the disabled.

Maximus delivers services in Canada as well and has an office in Toronto.
We are going there to show our support for the struggle in the UK but also
because we understand that the same austerity agenda that DPAC is
confronting is at work here. Please come out on March 2 and show your
solidarity.

*http://dpac.uk.net/2015/01/maximus-day-of-action-2nd-of-march-list-of-events-around-the-uk-scrapwca/
<http://dpac.uk.net/2015/01/maximus-day-of-action-2nd-of-march-list-of-events-around-the-uk-scrapwca/>*

---
              *  ***

*Ontario Coalition Against Poverty157 Carlton St #201Toronto, ONM5A
2K3Phone*: 416 925 6939
*Fax:* 1 855 714 0566 *(toll free)*
www.ocap.ca

*Twitter: @OCAPtorontoFacebook:* facebook.com/OcapToronto
                ****

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

*8. *
*Rally Against Police Violence In Toronto*

On *Monday, March 2, 2015*, stand with those organizing against police
violence and speak out against the racial profiling and brutality that
continues to plague our neighborhoods and communities.

Our struggles to be free from racist police harassment and violence has
caused many studies to be discussed and press conferences to be held, but
in the neighbourhoods, nothing has changed – police still harass,
intimidate, illegally search, arrest, brutalize and murder our people.

The Toronto Police Services Board's words have proved empty and hollow, and
the "new way of doing business" looks exactly like the old one.

Putting an end to police violence starts with organized communities. They
can go on talking. We'll organize.

On *Monday, March 2, 2015*, join us in saying – enough is enough!

No more killer cops!

No more illegal detentions and searches!

Stop racial profiling and racist policing!

Drop the charges against Michael Duru and jail the cop A. Keown!

Organized and strong communities stand against police violence!

Speak out in front of the headquarters of Toronto’s cops before and during
the meeting of the Toronto Police Services Board!

*Where:* *40 College Street (1 block west of Yonge Street) *

*When:* *Monday, March 2, 2015, from 12:30PM -1:30PM*

Bring your drums, whistles, shakers, and voices and let’s chant down
Babylon, as Bob Marley would have it!
*For information:* *eliminatepoliceviolence at gm**ail.com <http://ail.com/>*

Organized by Jane Finch Action Against Poverty and the Network for the
Elimination of Police Violence

*Facebook Event Page*
<https://www.facebook.com/events/1551871831744547>
*https://www.facebook.com/events/1551871831744547*
<https://www.facebook.com/events/1551871831744547>

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

*9. YFS Access Centre Presents Self Advocacy Workshop*

The Access Centre is reaching out to the many leaders and students in the
York University community. Our primary focus is towards health and
accessibility initiatives however this workshop can be valuable in fields
involving networking, collaboration and self-direction. We will be hosting
an educational and interactive workshop on a skill that it is very
important as leaders, teachers and individuals – *Self Advocacy*. This
skill is fundamental in ensuring that our voices are heard and in
developing recognition that other voices may need accommodations in order
to be heard.

My name is Marta Awad and I am a coordinator of the YFS Access Centre. I
will be providing this as a one hour workshop. There will be light snacks
and refreshments provided. The workshop will be *March 4 2015, 3:00 –
4:00pm*. Let me know if you require any accommodations. If you have not
already RSVP'd indicating your attendance you may send an email
to*info at accesscentreyfs.ca
<info at accesscentreyfs.ca>*.

Thank you,

Marta Awad

____________________________________________

Access Centre
4700 Keele Street (Student Centre Room 429)
Toronto, Ontario M3J1P3

@YFSAccessCentre <http://twitter.com/YFSACCESSCENTRE>
YFS Access Centre
<http://www.facebook.com/pages/YFS-Access-Centre/367222200028886>

The Access Centre strives to identify and take action around issues of
concern for students with mental, learning and physical disabilities by
providing advocacy, services, social networks, resources and a safe space.

York Federation of Student's Community Service Group
<http://beingindigenous.wordpress.com/>

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

*10. **ASAY Presents: 12th Annual Pow Wow*

*The Aboriginal Students Association at York (ASAY) will be hosting its
12th Annual All Nations Pow Wow & Gathering: Celebrating Indigeneity &
Academia event on March 5, 6 & 7, 2015 at the York University Keele campus
in Toronto, Ontario.*

The three-day event includes opening ceremonies and a conference/symposium
with Indigenous speakers and student panels to discuss important issues
affecting Indigenous peoples. Native arts and craft vendors are set up
during all three days. The event concludes with a one-day Pow Wow, a
gathering of song and dance to celebrate and honour our rich heritage as
Indigenous people.

Facebook Event Page: *https://www.facebook.com/events/1432664173692364/*
<https://www.facebook.com/events/1432664173692364/>

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

*11. Get to Know The Pan Am Games: The Displacement Behind The Spectacle*

Not sure what the Pan Am games are? Not sure why you might organize around
them? Not sure what Pan Am has to do with mining injustice, migrant
justice, poverty or privatization of public funds? Want to know more about
how mega-sporting events cause displacement?

Well then this event is for you!

Come learn more and engage in an interactive world-cafe style session with
organizers from the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network, No One Is Illegal-
Toronto, Onatrio Coalition Against Poverty, Women's Coordinating Committee
for a Free Wallmapu and more to be announced!

The Pan American Games are coming to Toronto in July this year. We don't
want to be spoilsports but we need to talk about what is happening beyond
the spectacle. Mega-sporting events, like Pan Am, have consistently played
a role in gentrification, mistreatment of migrant workers, heightened
securitization, and the funneling of public money into private hands. This
year the winners of these games will be awarded medals supplied by Barrick
Gold, a company responsible for murders, sexual violence, violations of
Indigenous sovereignty and interfering in democratic processes.

Light snacks provided. We will have a designated childcare person who will
have some art supplies, also children are welcome to participate. Wheel
chair accessible space. We will have tokens as well. Please inform us of
any access needs you may have.

Organized by members of the *MiningInjustice Solidarity
<https://www.facebook.com/mininginjustice.solidarity> *network, a
Toronto-based activist group that organizes to draw attention to and resist
the negligent practices of Canadian mining companies, who comprise over 75%
of mining businesses worldwide. In solidarity with affected communities and
in response to their calls for support, we:

Educate… the Canadian public on mining injustices in Canada and around the
world.

Advocate… for stronger community control of mining practices, and in
support of self-determination in mining-affected areas.

Agitate… against corporate impunity and in support of substantive
regulatory change.

Check out our main website at *www.mininginjustice.org
<http://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mininginjustice.org%2F&h=uAQF8nBLq&enc=AZMTkFw6S3H_s9NDA1xjNnBGRZYGW3Q2BuI2aKy7dpqyTFm8Rmlx8GVR90oRWrTkakc&s=1>*,
and our Spring into Action campaign website:

*http://mininginjusticesn.wordpress.com/
<http://mininginjusticesn.wordpress.com/>*
****************

*12. Voice Of Purpose*

*Connect with your Divine Feminine this International Women’s Day through
Poetry and Chakra Healing with The Real SunDate: Sunday, March 8,
2015Time: 2:30-5:30pmLocation: 720 Bathurst Street, Toronto CSI Annex, Room
#1, 2nd FloorCost: $25 (Sliding Scale
available)VoiceOfPurpose.Education at gmail.com
<VoiceOfPurpose.Education at gmail.com>*

*Telephone: 647-262-5836 <647-262-5836>*

*registration required in advance. Workshop open too all genders.About the
Workshop*In this special International Womens Day workshop, we will be
integrating the Chakras, the emotional body, psyche, and the creative
process (poetry & vibration) in a process of holistic healing of the inner
feminine.
(Workshop open for all genders)

*About the Facilitator*
*The Real Sun* is an artist, educator and a natural healer,

dedicated to contributing to the collective awakening

and healing of humanity. She is a poet, singer/song-
writer who also studies in the fields of integrated and

holistic healing techniques including Energy Healing,

Psychotherapy and Bio-Energetic Therapy.

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

*13. Meet Me In Liberation Square: The Work Of Ali Mustafa (A Memorial
Exhibit)*
*Meet me in liberation square: The work of Ali Mustafa (A Memorial Exhibit)*

*Date: Monday, March 9, 2015*
*Time: 7pm - 9pm*
*Location: Beit Zatoun (612 Markham St., Bathurst Subway Station)*

A year has passed since the tragic loss of our dear friend Ali Mustafa on
March 9, 2014 in Aleppo, Syria.

Join us for a memorial event at Beit Zatoun on Monday March 9th from 7pm to
9pm, where we will gather with family, friends and allies to mark Ali's
passing with an exhibition of his incredible photographic work.

These photographs serve as a great testament to the ideas, passion and
principles that led Ali to chart a path across the globe in search of
radical social change.

We hope the memorial will be an opportunity to remember and celebrate Ali's
life and his relentless commitment to justice.

This event will be part of an extended exhibit of Ali's works at Beit
Zatoun beginning on March 6th.

To see more of Ali's works, please visit: *http://rememberingalimustafa.org/
<http://rememberingalimustafa.org/>*

(Beit Zatoun is accessible on demand via a portable ramp; washrooms are not
accessible. Light refreshments will be served.)

*Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/894711847235285
<https://www.facebook.com/events/894711847235285>*

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

*14. The Hike Stops Here! Day Of Action To Freeze Tuition Fee's*

*On March 11th York students are coming together to say enough is enough. *
Student pressure for more accessible, affordable and better quality
education has been building. This year alone we have collected thousands of
petitions, covered Vari Hall in messages of our debt and sent a clear
message to York University to put students first with a banner drop that
covered the entrances to campus.

We are calling on the York University administration to meet these three
demands:

*1.* York University place an immediate freeze on domestic and
international student tuition fees and call on the Provincial Government to
allocate more funding to post-secondary institutions

*2. *Work with the York Federation of Students and York University Graduate

Student Association to develop alternative budget options that do not
include tuition fees increases or departmental budget cuts to be considered
at the June 2015 Board of Governors Meeting

*3.* York University end departmental budget cuts and commit to maintaining
diverse, high quality program options.

*Location: Vari Hall*

*Date: March 11th*

*Time: 12:00pm*
*Facebook Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1586943204873122
<https://www.facebook.com/events/1586943204873122>*

-- 

-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
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.resist.ca/pipermail/opirgyork/attachments/20150225/5850ae56/attachment-0001.html>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: icon_sm_facebook.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 1686 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.resist.ca/pipermail/opirgyork/attachments/20150225/5850ae56/attachment-0002.gif>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: icon_sm_twitter.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 1016 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.resist.ca/pipermail/opirgyork/attachments/20150225/5850ae56/attachment-0003.gif>
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image.png
Type: image/png
Size: 151176 bytes
Desc: not available
URL: <http://lists.resist.ca/pipermail/opirgyork/attachments/20150225/5850ae56/attachment-0001.png>