[tadamon-l] CAF Weekly Bulletin Oct 14-08

[Canadian Arab Federation]

If you are unable to view the layout of our bulletin, please refer to the
attached text file

You can browse through items of interest by clicking on the hyperlinked
headlines in the table of contents


CAF Weekly Bulletin

October 14, 2008


CAF Heritage Day is This Weekend! Buy Advance Concert Tickets Now!

 


 

CAF’s Heritage Day “Arab Pride” promises to be a memorable and exciting
weekend. 

Headlining this year’s Festivities is Orchestre Rachid from Montreal with
Rai singer Simo. Come and enjoy classical and popular songs from the Arab
world.  Ticket prices will cost more at the door – so purchase them for
$20/per ticket today through ticketmaster or by calling (416) 973-4000. For
more information email info at caf.ca  or visit:
http://harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/fallfestivals/index.cfm?id”2

 

When: Saturday October 18, 2008 at 7:00pm  

 

Where: Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West

 

 


Table of Contents


 

Announcements

1- <>  Photo Exhibit: Our Terrain of Struggle: Migrant Justice Organizing
and Resistance in Montreal

2-Forming <>  of a sustainable CAF Youth group needs your participation

3- <>  Call for Papers: International Conference on “Israel/Palestine: One
State or Two?” 

4- <>  Join the Fall 2008 Caravan to End Canadian Involvement in Torture,
October 17-22, 2008

5- <>  OCASI Youth Network

6- <>  Habibti’s Girls Group

 

Events of the Week

1- <> CAF Heritage Days Arab Pride at the Harbourfront Centre, October 17
and 18th, 2008 – Toronto

2-Film:  <> A Warrior-Woman's Journey: From Six Nations to Oaxaca, October
16, 2008 – Toronto

3- <>  RALLY & MARCH: to End the War. Bring the Troops Home Now, October 18,
2008 – Toronto

4- <>  Oct. 18 Picket to boycott wines of Israeli Apartheid, October 18,
2008 – Vancouver 

5- <>  Teachers for Palestine: Meeting, October 19, 2008 – Mississauga

6- <>  Information Session: How to Get into Medical School, October 19, 2008
– Mississauga 

7- <>  Popular Education Discussion Workshops: An Introduction to
Participatory Economics, October 20, 2008 – Montreal

8 <> - Action: Fourth Torture Canada action, opposing Canadian complicity in
torture in the name of "security". October 20, 2008 – Montreal

9- <>  Demonstration: U of T Reparations Committee week of Action, October
23, 2008 – Toronto

10-Toronto Palestine Film Festival is Coming Soon, October <>  25-November
1, 2008 – Toronto

11-Media <>  Democracy Day Fair – Vancouver

12- <> From Olive Groves to Courtrooms: Redressing Israel's Settlement
Policies in Canadian Courts, October 28 and 29, 2008 - Toronto   

 

 

CAF in The News

 

Articles of Interest

Canada's Arab immigrant vote <> 


Olmert: <>  Israeli Arabs have long suffered discrimination

 

 

 


Announcements


 

1-Photo Exhibit: Our Terrain of Struggle: Migrant Justice Organizing and
Resistance in Montreal

A photo exhibit documenting the organizing of Solidarity Across Borders
(SAB) and allied groups will be displayed at various locations in Montreal
this fall and winter. The exhibit is accompanied by silhouettes representing
Montreal migrants who have resisted removal in the past several years. The
photos are a partial and incomplete glimpse into the diverse organizing that
constitutes migrant justice struggle in Montreal. Solidarity Across Borders
is a Montreal-based network engaged in the struggle for justice and dignity
of immigrants and refugees. It is comprised of migrants, immigrants,
refugees and allies, and comes together in support of its main demands: the
regularization of all non-status people (Status for All!), an end to
deportations and detentions, and the abolition of security certificates. The
exhibit will be shown at Frigo Vert/Concordia University until October 10,
and in various locations until January 2009. Visit
http://www.solidarityacrossborders.org/fr/node/261 for more details. Back <>


 

2-Forming of a sustainable CAF Youth group needs your participation

Are you between the ages of 16 and 29? Do you want to start an initiative on
behalf of the Canadian

Arab community and its allies? Do you want to work on an initiative that
will provide you with the experience in the public sector or do you just
want to throw a wild party? If so, CAF wants YOU! That's right YOU. The
Canadian Arab Federation (CAF) is setting out to empower the youth of its
community through many youth based campaigns, programs and initiatives.
However, this cannot be done without your direct involvement. This is an
initiative to bring young Arab Canadians together to advocate on issues
important to us all.  It will be a space for your ideas to come to fruition,
and for your open mind to learn and find out where your talents can shine.
No idea is too crazy, and no ambition is unattainable. This is a great
opportunity to gain experience in taking a leadership role within your
community. We hope to see you at our soon to be announced net meeting to
begin mobilizing Arab Canadian youth in Canada. If you would like to be a
part of this group contact us about your interests and what you would like
to see from this group. Contact us via email to info at caf.ca
<file:///C:\Users\jq\Documents\info@caf.ca>  , youth at caf.ca
<file:///C:\Users\jq\Documents\youth@caf.ca>  Or by Phone: 416-493-8635 Back
<> 

 

3- Call for Papers: International Conference on “Israel/Palestine: One State
or Two?” 

Paper proposals are requested for an international conference addressing the
question of whether a two-state solution or a single constitutional
democracy in Israel/Palestine offers the most promising path to future peace
and security in the region. 

The conference aims to envision in specific terms the likely outcomes of the
two state peace process as well as the possible constitutional dimensions of
a future single state. Conference speakers will be selected to represent a
range of opinion, including proponents of one and two state models for
Israel/Palestine. The conference will provide an opportunity to question
whether a one state option could ever achieve sufficient political support
or adequately protect the rights and security of both national communities.
The conference is intended to be fully interdisciplinary in nature. The
conference will be held at York University, Toronto, Canada from June 22nd
to 24th 2009.  Paper proposals should be no more than 500 words in length
and should be submitted along with a biography or CV to
onestateortwo at osgoode.yorku.ca
<file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\admin\Desktop\adonis%20misc\onestateo
rtwo at osgoode.yorku.ca>  by October 15, 2008. Applicants will be contacted by
November 30, 2008. For further information and the conference vision
statement, please contact us at the above email address or visit the
conference website at www.onestateortwo.com
<file:///C:\Documents%20and%20Settings\admin\Desktop\adonis%20misc\www.onest
ateortwo.com>   Back <> 

 

4- Join the Fall 2008 Caravan to End Canadian Involvement in Torture,
October 17-22, 2008

Although Canada has traditionally been no wallflower when it comes to
supporting regimes that engage in the most brutal of human rights violations
(whether politically or economically), its complicity in the torture of
human beings has come into sharper focus in the years following 9/11/2001.
The Canadian government is openly flouting its international and domestic
legal obligations NEVER to be involved directly or indirectly in acts of
torture or other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Some of
the world's most vulnerable people are being abandoned in the name of
"national security."

Join a nonviolent community on wheels for part or our entire journey as we
travel through dozens of communities in a large triangular area (Toronto to
Kitchener-Waterloo to London, then through Tillsonburg, Simcoe and Welland,
up through Niagara Falls, St. Catherines, Hamilton and Mississauga) October
17-22.

The Caravan intends to expose and challenge the many ways in which the
Canadian government is increasingly involved, both directly and indirectly,
in policies and practices that result in the torture of human beings. While
it is possible that a federal election may be underway during our caravan,
we see this as a good opportunity to challenge all parties to commit to
ending ALL forms of Canadian complicity in torture.

This email has details on getting involved with the caravan, why it is
taking place, a city-by-city schedule, details on providing financial
support for the caravan, and a list of demands. If you plan on joining us
please let us know as soon as possible for so that we can cover the
necessary logistics from this end.  If you would like to take part but lend
your support in any way, palnet at sympatico.ca Back <> 

 

5- OCASI Youth Network

 

The Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (OCASI) is excited to
announce the creation of the OCASI Youth Network (OYN). The OYN wants to
help newcomer youth get access to the many excellent services in their
communities, and make sure they have barrier-free assistance from
organizations around the province. To this end, OYN is launching two new
exciting initiatives: Services for Youth in Newcomer Communities (SYNC), a
research project that will produce a best practices guide for community
agencies working with newcomer youth, and a youth-focused information and
referral website, providing current and accurate information through
technologies like instant messaging, on-demand SMS texting, RSS Feeds, and
Social Networking tools. To get involved, contact youth-jeunesse at ocasi.org
<file:///C:\Users\jq\Documents\youth-jeunesse@ocasi.org>  or visit
www.ocasi.org/youth <file:///C:\Users\jq\Documents\www.ocasi.org\youth>  or
www.ocasi.org/jeunesse .   Back <> 

 

6- Habibti’s Girls Group

 

The Habibti’s Girls Group will provide Muslim girls ages 13-18 a safe and
exciting forum to discuss topics that affect every teenage girl while at the
same time meeting new friends, and enjoy planned activities such as the spa
series, movie nights, mehndi parties and much more. The program runs every
Tuesday, from 3:30-6:30 pm at Agincourt Community Services (4155 Sheppard
Ave. E in Toronto). For more information, contact Hadil Issa or Hanifa
Kassasm at 416-321-6912 x 251 or khanifa at agincourtcommuityservices.com
<file:///C:\Users\jq\Documents\khanifa@agincourtcommuityservices.com> .
Back <> 

 


Events of the Week


 

1-CAF Heritage Days Arab Pride at the Harbourfront Centre, October 17 and
18th, 2008 – Toronto

Don’t miss out on the return of CAF’s Heritage Day festival. With
performances from Sudanese singer Mohamed Al Samari, Palestinian musician
and singer Bassam Bishara, Arabic dancing from Habeeba’s dance group and
contemporary performances from Ahmed Habib AKA bighead and comedian Dave
Merheje, this year’s festival promises to be memorable. Come for the art or
the vibrant atmosphere, filled with an Arabic style ‘souk’ market, along
with an arghuile tent for your favourite flavoured tobaccos. Bring your
children to participate in our storytelling and craft’s workshops. There
will be much more to see on the 17th and 18th at the Harbourfront Centre in
downtown Toronto, so come and experience it for yourself. For more
information visit
http://harbourfrontcentre.com/whatson/fallfestivals/index.cfm?festival_id%
or contact CAF at info at caf.ca    <> Back

 

2-Film: A Warrior-Woman's Journey: From Six Nations to Oaxaca, October 16,
2008 – Toronto

Come out to see the latest documentary by wolf dog productions on Doreen's
Silversmith journey to meet with Indigenous brothers and sisters in Mexico.
The Film is screening in part of ImagineNATIVE Film Festival. The film
screening takes place on Thursday, October 16, 2008, from 3:00pm - 4:30pm at
the Al Green Theatre, Miles Nadel Jewish Centre 750 Spadina Avenue Back <> 

 

3- RALLY & MARCH: to End the War. Bring the Troops Home Now, October 18,
2008 – Toronto

A recent Environics poll shows that 56 per cent of Canadians oppose the
mission, the highest level of opposition since the war began. Yet Stephen
Harper's government continues to back the war, despite the high number of
Canadian casualties and a dramatic increase in Afghan civilian deaths. The
Canadian Peace Alliance has called a pan-Canadian day of action on October
18 to send a strong, united message: no matter who forms the next
government, it's time to end the war in Afghanistan, and to bring the troops
home now. The Rally will begin at Queen’s Park at 1pm on Saturday. 

On October 14, vote to end the war in Afghanistan.

On October 18, march to end the war in Afghanistan.

Organized by the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War. Visit
<http://www.nowar.ca/> www.nowar.ca for more information  Back <> 

 

 

4- Oct. 18 Picket to boycott wines of Israeli Apartheid, October 18, 2008 –
Vancouver

With the 60th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, the Israeli government
announced plans to “rebrand” its 60 years of dispossession and ethnic
cleansing.  Here in B.C., the focus of this “rebranding” is the promotion of
wines under an Israeli label in B.C. liquor stores, which are now carrying
products from the Galil Mountain Winery, the Golan Heights Winery and the
Dalton Winery. The Golan Heights Winery produces wines from grapes grown on
occupied Arab land, and many of their wineries are located on occupied
Syrian land in the Golan Heights.  All of this is in direct contravention of
the Fourth Geneva Convention and stated Canadian policy.  Nonetheless,
successive Canadian governments have given Israel preferential trading
status under the Canada Israel Free Trade Agreement, an agreement that
financially enables the Israeli government’s oppressive policies and does
not even attempt to distinguish products that are from illegal Israeli
settlements. And BC liquor stores, when questioned as to their shameful
actions, replied they “
offer products from around the world on a commercial
demand basis.”  We say 60 years of “rebranding” is enough; 60 years of
dispossession, exile and the destruction of a whole nation are enough.  Send
this message to the Israeli government, and to our local and national
politicians.  As the South African campaigners said many years ago outside
BC liquor stores, then as now, DON’T DRINK WITH APARTHEID! The picket takes
place at OCTOBER 18, 2008 from 2-4 PM In front of BC Liquor Store, 1120
Alberni St., Vancouver (Thurlow and Alberni). Visit www.cpavancouver.org
<file:///\\cafserver\users\admin\mydocuments\CAF%20Website%20NEW\CAF%20Weekl
y%20Bulletins\October%202008\www.cpavancouver.org>  for more details. Back
<> 

 

5- Teachers for Palestine: Meeting, October 19, 2008 – Mississauga

Join our small but energetic group of elementary and secondary teachers,
retired teachers, and teacher candidates as we plan for an exciting year of
educational events and activities.  We are raising awareness amongst
teachers, students, and parents about the occupation of Palestine, and what
we can do as teachers to help end Israeli apartheid.

The meeting takes place at 1 pm, on Sunday October 19. It will be held at
Palestine House, 3195 Erindale Road, Mississauga (link to map below)

 To RSVP, and to join a carpool to this meeting, contact:
chewittw at gmail.com  Back <> 

 

6- Information Session: How to Get into Medical School, October 19, 2008 –
Mississauga 

Immigrant Settlement and Adaptation Program at Palestine House is pleased to
host an information session about getting into medical school. We invite all
members of the community (especially youth) to attend. Session takes place
on Sunday, October 19 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at Palestine House, 3195 Erindale
Station Rd Mississauga.  For more information and to RSVP please contact
Rafeef Ziadah: email rziadah at palestinehouse.org  telephone 905 270 3622 ext.
232 Back <> 

 

7- Popular Education Discussion Workshops: An Introduction to Participatory
Economics, October 20, 2008 – Montreal

What would a post-capitalist economy look like? How would we manage our
resources and needs consistent with principles of equality and justice,
while at the same time being free and efficient? Participatory economics is
perhaps a step towards a response. This idea puts forward a third economic
model which tries to move beyond classic liberal and Marxist models. This
workshop will provide an introduction to this model followed by a discussion
on the topic. The talks are located at At the Carrefour d'éducation
populaire de Pointe Saint-Charles 2356 rue Centre (métro Charlevoix)

Presented by Anna Kruzynski and Pascal Lebrun, members of La Pointe
Libertaire.
www.lapointelibertaire.org . For more information contact INFO:
<mailto:info at amp-montreal.net> info at amp-montreal.net -
<http://csa.revolte.biz>  <http://www.centresocialautogere.org/>
http://www.centresocialautogere.org - 514-848-7583 Back <>  

 

8- Action: Fourth Torture Canada action, opposing Canadian complicity in
torture in the name of "security". October 20, 2008 – Montreal

Join us in a participatory action marking the seventh anniversary of Hassan
Almrei's detention without trial in Canada. Hassan was accepted as a
convention refugee by Canada in June 2000. However, on 19 October 2001 he
was arrested under an immigration "security certificate". Since then,
successive governments have been using the security certificate process to
try to deport him to Syria - the country he was given asylum from and the
very place where Maher Arar, Abdullah Almalki, Ahmad El Maati, Muayyed
Nureddin and others were brutally tortured with the complicity of Canadian
officials. Hassan has been the sole detainee at the Kingston Immigration
Holding Centre, known as Guantanamo North since the summer of 2007. Before
he was transferred to Guantanamo North, he spent four years and two months
in solitary confinement in a Toronto prison. Prolonged periods of solitary
confinement and indefinite detention are considered forms of torture. This
is one of a series of creative actions taking place in Montreal throughout
the fall of 2008 to expose Canadian complicity in torture in the name of
"national security". Inspired by the People's Commission on Immigration
"Security" Measures, each action focuses on a different case of Canada's
current involvement in torture. More information on Hassan Almrei:
www.homesnotbombs.ca
<file:///\\cafserver\users\admin\mydocuments\CAF%20Website%20NEW\CAF%20Weekl
y%20Bulletins\October%202008\www.homesnotbombs.ca>  . The action takes place
at the corner of St. Catherine and McGill College at Noon.  Back <> 

 

9- Demonstration: U of T Reparations Committee week of Action, October 23,
2008 – Toronto

Governing Council is meeting again. This is the highest-governing body at
the University of Toronto. The University of Toronto invested a minimum of
5.5 million dollars in Apartheid South Africa, which contributed to enduring
economic, political, psychological and social damages unto Black people.
Demonstrate outside this meeting to voice your concerns about U of T's role
in apartheid and support the call for acknowledgement, reconciliation, and
reparations. Event takes place on Wed. Oct. 23 (4:00 pm) Simcoe Hall (27
King's College Circle) Back

 

 

10-Toronto Palestine Film Festival is Coming Soon, October 25-November 1,
2008 – Toronto

The Festival is an important component of the year-long activities
commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the Nakba. Cinema represents a
powerful means for visually interpreting the collective identity and
historic struggle of the Palestinian people. The Festival will present in
film the extraordinary narrative of a dispossessed people living in exile or
under Israeli occupation. The main objectives of the festival are to
highlight the Palestinian narrative and to introduce the rich variety of
historic and contemporary Palestinian film to a broad Canadian audience.
Films will be screened in theatres in Mississauga and Toronto. The program
for the event is now available at http://www.tpff.ca/program-by-date.htm .
Go to www.tpff.ca <http://www.tpff.ca/>  for tickets and other details. Back

11-Media Democracy Day Fair – Vancouver

Media Democracy Day will include a series of exciting panels, workshops and
speakers.

Confirmed speakers include:

*Rex Weyler - Co-founder of Green Peace

*Deborah Campbell - Award Winning Independent Journalist *David Beers -
Publisher – The Tyee *Michael Tippett - Co-founder of Nowpublic.com *Robert
Hackett - professor at SFU and author of “Remaking Media”

*Andrea Hayley - president of the Epoch Times Vancouver *Robert Scales – CEO
of RainCity Studios *Matt Thompson - Campaign Strategist for FreePress,
Co-Founder of SaveOurNet.ca

Our media democracy fair will provide the public the chance to meet local
media makers civil society workers, including representatives from:

Campaign for Democratic Media

Community Media Education Society (CMES) CJSF ICTV NowPublic TheTyee SFU
CMNSU (Communication Student Union) and many more... Visit:
http://mediademocracyday.org/ Back

 

12-From Olive Groves to Courtrooms: Redressing Israel's Settlement Policies
in Canadian Courts, October 28 and 29, 2008 - Toronto   

The Arab Canadian Lawyers Association is pleased to present a two-part
lecture series by members of Al-Haq’s Legal and Research Advocacy Unit.
Al-Haq is the West Bank Affiliate of the International Commission of
Jurists.

Part 1: Bil’in Village Council v. Green Park International

The Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, in collaboration with the U of T
Faculty of Law

International Human Rights Program, is pleased to present a public lecture
by:

Maysa Zorob, Dylan Smith and John Reynolds from Al-Haq

- and -

Mark Arnold, Lawyer Representing the Palestinian Village of Bil’in

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, Flavelle House, 78 Queen’s Park, Room
BLH

Doors: 6:00 pm; Opening Remarks 6:45; Lecture 7:00

Having exhausted the limited remedies in Israel, the villagers of Bil’in
have brought their

peaceful struggle for justice to Canada. With the assistance of Mark Arnold,
a Toronto based lawyer, its Israeli counsel, and Al-Haq, a Palestinian human
rights organization,

the village of Bil'in has filed a lawsuit in Quebec against Green Mount
International Inc.

and Green Park International Inc. - two Canadian companies accused of
violating

international, Canadian and Quebec law by building settlements on Israeli
occupied

Palestinian land.

 Part 2: Memory of the Cactus: The Creation of Canada Park on the Land of

Destroyed Palestinian Villages

The Arab Canadian Lawyers Association, in collaboration with the Toronto
Palestine Film

Festival, is pleased to co-present a film and discussion with:

Maysa Zorob, Dylan Smith and John Reynolds from Al-Haq

Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 7:00 pm

Revue Cinema, 400 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto

Advance Tickets ($10): http://www.tpff.ca/tickets.htm

The documentary, Memory of the Cactus, produced by Al-Haq reveals the story
behind

Israel's "Canada Park". In 1967, the Palestinian villages of Imwas, Yalo and
Beit Nouba

in the West Bank were destroyed after Israel occupied the territory. Today,
village

residents remain displaced and barred from returning to their homes, while
their land

has been converted into “Canada Park” by the Jewish National Fund, a
Canadian

registered charity.

For more information please contact info at canarablaw.org or visit
www.canarablaw.org.

For information on the lawsuit please see
http://www.alhaq.org/etemplate.php?id79 . Back


 

CAF in The News

 

- CAF participated in the preparatory meetings in Geneva at the United
Nations headquarters through October 6th – 10th 2008.  These meetings are in
preparation to the upcoming WCAR (World Conference on Anti-Racism) that is
scheduled to take place in April 2009.  CAF, amongst other NGO’s expressed
their views on the importance of holding a conference like WCAR’s. Further
CAF presented and relayed its concerns and preservations towards the
hate-motivated racism and discrimination against Arabs and Muslims in the
West.  

 

 http://www.un.org/webcast/unhrc/archive.asp?go1006
 http://www.un.org/webcast/unhrc/archive.asp?go1009

 

- Stéphane
<http://www.caf.ca/Admin.aspx?AppModule=TxAppFramework.Web.Admin&Command=EMB
EDDEDFILE&DataObjectIDp1&ColumnID581&FieldName=CONTENT&Lang=EN&RecordID1773>  Dion must fire Ken Dryden

 

Articles of Interest

Canada's
<http://www.caf.ca/Admin.aspx?AppModule=TxAppFramework.Web.Admin&Command=EMB
EDDEDFILE&DataObjectIDp1&ColumnID581&FieldName=CONTENT&Lang=EN&RecordID1771>  Arab immigrant vote

Olmert:
<http://www.caf.ca/Admin.aspx?AppModule=TxAppFramework.Web.Admin&Command=EMB
EDDEDFILE&DataObjectIDp1&ColumnID581&FieldName=CONTENT&Lang=EN&RecordID1772>  Israeli Arabs have long suffered discrimination

Back <> 

 

 

 


If you wish to unsubscribe please send an e-mail request to info at caf.ca

 

The above events and announcements are listed as a service to our members
and friends. Unless specifically stated, CAF does not endorse or necessarily
encourage participation in these events. 

 

The Canadian Arab Federation is the national organization representing
Canadians of Arab origin.
1057 McNicoll Ave. Toronto, ON, M1W 3W6
Tel: (416) 493-8635 / Fax: (416) 493-9239 

www.caf.ca

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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