Centre for Social Justice -» Community

Feb 1, 2015 - Forum: Environmental Justice, the Tar Sands, and Indigenous Rights

When: Sunday, February 1st, 2pm
Where: Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham St, Toronto

Tar Sands extraction projects, located primarily in Treaty 6 and 8, have radically damaged and contaminated a huge area of land in so-called Alberta, and poisoned the Athabasca watershed. As a result of the toxic operations, some Indigenous communities are experiencing unusually high rates of rare cancers and other illnesses. Traditional ways of life are also at risk as hunting, fishing, and collecting medicinal plants is becoming more difficult in polluted waters and lands.

These lands are the traditional territories of a number of Indigenous Nations whose right to hunt, fish, and live are protected by Treaties, which are currently being violated.

Speakers:
* Heather Milton Lightening, Indigenous Tar Sands Campaign
* Keith Stewart, Climate and Energy Campaign Coordinator, Greenpeace Canada
* Anna Zalik, Professor in the Faculty of Environmental Studies, York University

Recommended reading: A Line in the Tar Sands.

This is the second talk in the series: Capitalism vs. Ecology: We Need to Change Everything! Discussion series on ecology, economy, and social justice. Sponsored by: Centre for Social Justice, Greater Toronto Workers' Assembly, Socialist Project. | Facebook event

Feb 8, 2015 - Forum: The Historic Victory of Greek Left: What Now?

When: Sunday, February 8th, 2:30pm
Where: Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham St, Toronto

On January 25 2015, Greece elected a new government representative of a range of radical and left forces after years of protests and street battles against the extreme policies of austerity imposed by the so-called Troika composed of the European Commission, European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Syriza represents the first and the strongest democratic response to the bizarre deepening of neoliberalism after the 2008 crisis.

Were such a democratic government to be stymied or brought down by the hostility of its domestic capitalist class working in cahoots with international capitalists and their political representatives, this would be a tragedy for democracy. It would reinforce the notion, growing ever stronger in Europe today, that the only way to protect people from the neoliberal austerity is through supporting right-wing ethno-nationalist parties. For the moment -- at least until Podemos reclaims the mantle at the end of this year -- a democratic Greece under Syriza represents what democratic Spain represented for the international left in the 1930s. The prospects for a different outcome are much better, provided there is strong international support for giving a Syriza government the breathing room it needs.

This forum brings together two important commentators on the left, socialist strategies and Greece to comment on the openings and dilemmas now confronting the Greek, and indeed the European and international, left.

With:
* Peter Bratsis, Political Science, at City University of New York (see The End of TINA)
* Leo Panitch, Political Science, at York University (see The Greek Election)

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

Feb 2, 2015 - Make 2015 the year of the rider

When: Monday February 2nd, 9:15am
Where: City Hall, Toronto

Join us at 9:30am, Monday February 2 at City Hall, as we fill the TTC Commission with passionate grumpy riders. Wear your TTCriders t-shirt if you have one. And we'll give you a T-shirt if you join us for the day.

Register here www.ttcriders.ca | Facebook event

Feb 6, 2015 - Election Preparation Conference

When: February 6th and 7th
Where: Chestnut Residence & Conference Centre - U of T, 89 Chestnut Street

Federal Election 2015 is fast approaching and we want to make sure that workers’ concerns are well represented in the discussions and outcomes. To see change happen, we need to act and talk to our colleagues, neighbours and families about these values, who best represents them and will work to safeguard them in our laws. Our plan is to bring together seasoned campaigners and new activists from a wide range of communities and workplaces to share the experience they have while learning the latest and best practices for effective campaigning – from outreach and training to social media. Our goal is to show them how to take on the negative, powerful politics of greed and deliver a win for fairness.

Who should go?
The people in your union who can build, lead and deliver a winning campaign need to be at this conference – leaders, community campaigners, organizers and communicators; women and men, young and old; workers of colour, with disabilities, Aboriginal, LGBT; public sector and private sector; full-time, part-time or retired.

To register: canadianlabour.ca