Centre for Social Justice -» Community

Mar 15, 2015 - Climate Change Impacts on the Global South and Inadequate UN Agreements

When: Sunday, March 15th, 2pm
Where: Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham St, Toronto.

Climate change is already catastrophic for countless people around the world, especially in parts of the Global South. Some residents of low-lying Island States in the Pacific Ocean are already having to move to other countries as a result of rising sea levels. Water is also rising in Bangladesh, swallowing up coastal areas and contaminating fertile land. In East Africa changing sea surface temperatures have disrupted seasonal rains and lead to severe droughts while West Africa is experiencing rising temperatures and shifting precipitation patterns which are threatening agriculture. Southern Africa is similarly seeing rising temperatures, below-normal rainfall, and droughts. Meanwhile, South Asia and South East Asia have been subjected to extreme weather events that have killed and displaced tens of thousands of people, with more severe climate impacts on the way.

These developments are revealing all too starkly the limits of neoliberal development strategies of building capitalism. There is a pressing need to turn to ecologically-responsible production and egalitarian development.

Yet, wealthy nations continue to look the other way, formulating weak and non-binding agreements on climate change at UN conferences. Even the 2 degree Celsius target set out by developed countries for capping the rise in warming would lead to full-scale humanitarian disasters in the developing world. Indeed, scientists say that at 2 degrees of warming, expected in 20 to 30 years, the world will encounter widespread food shortages, unprecedented heat-waves, and more intense cyclones.

Please join us to hear about the climate impacts in some of the most vulnerable regions in the world, an assessment of the current impasse at the global level, and some thoughts on ways to avoid an escalating crisis.

Speakers:
• Nasima Nektar, Executive Director, Bangladeshi-Canadian Community Services
• Isaac Asume Osuoka, Director, Social Action, Nigeria
• Romain Felli, Senior researcher in Political Science, University of Geneva

The talk is free. The space is accessible by mobile ramp upon request in advance. Washrooms are downstairs and not accessible.

Sponsored by: Centre for Social Justice, Greater Toronto Workers' Assembly, Socialist Project | Facebook event

Feb 28, 2015 - Postal Door-to-Door Canvass

When: Saturday February 28th, 9:30am
Where: Royal Canadian Legion Hall 35 Front Street North in Mississauga
Where: CUPW Scarborough Office 130 Dynamic Dr. Unit 12, Scarborough

On Saturday February 28th, join the CUPW activists going door-to-door to save home mail delivery. This week they will be hitting ridings held by Conservative MPs who are vulnerable in the next election:
* Scarborough-Pickering and Mississauga. Canvassers will gather at the Royal Canadian Legion Hall 35 Front Street North in Mississauga (contact Angela 647 909-7484) and
* CUPW Scarborough Office 130 Dynamic Dr. Unit 12, Scarborough (contact Derek 416 809-7632).

cupwtoronto.org

Feb 28, 2015 - The Legacy and Future of the Cuban Revolution

When: Saturday, February 28th, 2pm
Where: Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham St, Toronto

On December. 17, 2014 simultaneous announcements were made by the presidents of Cuba and the US, Raúl Castro Ruz and Barak Obama respectively, to establish full diplomatic relations between them. Understandably it raised many concerns and questions among friends of Cuba and the general public regarding the legacy of the Cuban Revolution. This surprising development deserves support since it is based on mutual respect which has always been one of Cuba’s requirements. At the same time, the criminal illegal economic, financial and commercial blockade imposed on Cuba by the US is still in place and it continues to hurt Cuba immensely.

To understand the new relations, as well as the opportunities for advancing the Cuban Revolution at home and in other counties through Cuba’s internationalist commitments, we need to continue building the solidarity movement with the socialist project of Cuba. Please join in this forum seeking a perspective on the legacy and future of Cuban Revolution. There will be ample time available for Q&A.

* Dr. Keith Ellis – The History of Cuba’s Struggle for Independence. Award winning Author, Poet; Professor Emeritus – Department of Spanish and Portuguese; Former Chair Latin American Studies Committee, University of Toronto

* Arnold August – Cuba’s Approach to Democracy and Cuba-US Relations. Journalist, author of Cuba and Its Neighbours: Democracy in Motion and the Spanish version Cuba y sus vecinos: Democracia en movimiento. Copies of the book in both English and the new Spanish Cuban version will be available for purchase and signing.

* The Honourable Consul of Cuba in Toronto – An Update on the Recent Developments.

Organized by Toronto Forum on Cuba.

Feb 28, 2015 - Norman Bethune Day

When: Saturday Feb 28th, 5pm
Where: GCDO, 290 Danforth Avenue
$5 - Dinner is also included, and a cash bar is available. Door prize: all-inclusive trip for two to Cuba.

Celebrate a pioneer of Socialized Medicine!

The Program for the evening includes a keynote by prof. Stephen Endicott, an action update on the struggle against Harper’s new ‘Anti-Terrorism” bill C-51, great jazz from the Wally Brooker Trio, a poetry presentation by Salimah Valiani, and much more.

Bathune Day committee, media sponsor People's Voice