CALLS TO ACTION
May 15, 2013 - Make garment factories in Bangladesh safe
Hundreds of garment workers were killed and injured when an 8 story building housing five textile factories collapsed on 24 April.
Large structural cracks appeared in the Rana Plaza the day before and an evacuation order was given. The building and factory owners ignored the warning and insisted work continue hours before the building collapsed.
This, the worst ever, industrial accident in Bangladesh comes only months after more than one hundred garment workers died in two factory fires.
< href="http://www.labourstartcampaigns.net/show_campaign.cgi?c=1813">www.labourstartcampaigns.net
May 16, 2013 - The Dominion is 10 years young!
The May/June issue of
The Dominion is online! We'll get to all the great new content that's been going up on the Media Co-op site. But first...
This is the 10th anniversary issue of
The Dominion! Published for the first time on May 20, 2003, it featured Canada in Review, Dru Oja Jay on the “Project for a New American Century” and Hillary Lindsay on corporate control of Canadian forests. On the back cover, we ran “What is the Dominion?” where we explained our goal of a new kind of media, influenced not by advertisers, but by readers and, eventually, members.
All through May, we're running our annual funding drive. This is crucial for us to be able to keep going throughout the next year, and to be able to plan new ventures, like we did two years ago when we launched the Media Co-op Investigative Fund. By giving $5, $10 or $20 per month, you help make sure that we can keep grassroots news flowing daily on the Media Co-op site, and every two months in the pages of
The Dominion.
Click
here to sign up today. You can also click here to find out about some
great deals we're offering all throughout May, just in case the deal of radical, under-reported news isn't enough!
EVENTS
May 16, 2013 - The Road to Palestine
A Personal Journey with Sid Ryan, Labour Leader and Activist
When: Thursday, May 16 -- 7pm
Where: Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham, Toronto
$5 donation (suggested minimum)
The Road to Palestine is a new series of personal talks programmed by and hosted at Beit Zatoun. Guest speakers are Canadians who have taken a public stand on Israel/Palestine. Speakers come from a variety backgrounds and careers. They share a recognition that a resolution to the question of peace and conflict in Israel / Palestine is essential to global justice, international law and to peace in the world.
The evening is meant to be personal and autobiographical. The speaker is traces their journey and relationship to the situation of Israel/Palestine from earliest views and opinions. What are their present views? What is their unique contribution to the question? What are their thoughts on the future and what is needed to resolve the situation? The Road to Palestine seeks to share a human and personal story in our midst that would otherwise not be told.
About the Speaker Sid Ryan -- born in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Sid Ryan is in his second term as the President of the Ontario Federation Labour (OFL), Canada’s largest provincial labour federation, where he represents 54 unions and over one million workers. Previously, Sid headed CUPE Ontario for 17 years and became one of the labour movement’s most recognized voices on public health care, education and public services. Sid has earned an international reputation as a champion of equity, social justice and human rights – not just for his members, but for workers in every workplace and their families in every community.
A friend and advocate to many, on the "question" of Palestine, Sid has shown the same resolve and leadership. He has fought hard battles on behalf of Palestine, probably the greatest being helping to spearhead the landmark CUPE Ontario Resolution in May 2006 endorsing the global campaign of boycott and divestment against Israel for "apartheid-like policies". CUPE and Sid came under tremendous fire from many quarters in Canada but held their principled position which has stood as an example for Palestine solidarity.
May 17, 2013 - Aamjiwnaang Gathering: No Line 9
Hello anti-pipeliners!
The second Aamjiwnaang Gathering has been set to take place from Friday, May 17 - Tuesday, May 21, culminating in a rally to protest the “Bitumen, Adding Value: Canada's National Opportunity” Conference on the Tuesday.
We encourage you to save the date and come join us for networking opportunities, unity-building, strategic planning, and helpful workshops focused on bringing Enbridge's Line 9 schemes to a grinding halt.
We very much hope to see you there. Questions can be emailed to wolf.chrapko@gmail.com
May 17, 2013 - Picket Kathleen Wynne
When: Every Friday -- 4pm
Where: 795 Eglinton Avenue East, Unit 101
Every Friday teachers and education workers are gathering outside of Kathleen's constituency office to remind the public that we are still fighting for our rights.
All supporters of education and education workers are welcome.
Facebook event
May 17, 2013 - Is Pan-Afrikanism Still Relevant to Global Afrikan Liberation?
When: Friday, May 17 -- 6:30pm
Where: OISE, Room 5-170, 252 Bloor Street West, Toronto
FREE PUBLIC EVENT (donation accepted)
May 25, 2013 is the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Pan-Afrikan body the Organization of Afrikan Unity (OAU)/ the Afrikan Union (AU).
PANEL DISCUSSION:
* WANGUI KIMARI, organizer, Network for Pan-Afrikan Solidarity, doctoral student at York University and writer on Afrikan affairs
* CIKIAH THOMAS, a principal organizer with the international Pan-African network the Global Afrikan Congress and a longstanding community activist and Pan-Afrikanist
* DR. AJAMU NANGWAYA, organizer, Network for Pan-Afrikan Solidarity, educator and a former Vice-President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees-Ontario Division (CUPE Ontario)
For further information, please contact: the Network for Pan-Afrikan Solidarity at: network4panafrikansolidarity@gmail.com
May 17, 2013 - SPEAKout Poetry
When: Friday, May 17 -- 7pm
Where: Beit Zatoun, 612 Markham St, Toronto
If you're new to the poetry scene this is a great opportunity to see what it's all about! If you're a seasoned artist, why not try your new piece with the crowd?
This is not a competition - we're just trying to provide the platform for talent to speak out!
Only $5 at the door, whether you choose to perform or watch talented poets spit out some awesome stuff!
Here are the details if you would like to perform:
Poets will be performing, on a first come first serve basis. Sign up starts at 7 pm. We will have time for each poet to perform twice if he/she would like to. All performances must adhere to SPEAKout's values:
* No profanity
* No explicit sexual content or performance
* Respects the diversity of the SPEAKout audience in terms of age and cultural/religious background
SPEAKout Poetry is a non-profit organization initiated with the purpose of highlighting the points of overlap in our communities through the art of Spoken Word.
Facebook event
May 20, 2013 - Wrestling with Democracy
Voting Systems as Politics in the 20th-Century West
When: Monday May 20 -- 7:30pm
Where: Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick, Toronto
Introductory comments by Leo Panitch.
Dennis Pilon will speak briefly on the book's key themes.
wrestlingwithdemocracy.blogspot.ca
May 21, 2013 - New Ontario budget
What does the new Ontario budget mean for people on social assistance?
When: Tuesday, May 21st from 2 to 4 p.m.
Where: St. Stephen’s Community House Corner Drop-in at 260 Augusta Avenue
Join us for a community meeting to discuss next steps. How do we get higher social assistance rates? How can we keep the Special Diet Allowance and return the Community Start Up Benefit to the provincial level?
Free pizza and TTC tokens
For more information, call Helen Armstrong at St. Stephen's Community House 416 964 8747 x 254
May 22, 2013 - Emergency Summit
When: Wednesday May 22 -- 6pm
Where: McNabb Community Centre, Assembly Hall, 180 Percy Street, Ottawa
Speakers include:
* Maude Barlow Voluntary National Chairperson, The Council of Canadians
* Michael McBane National Director, Canadian Health Coalition
* Natalie Mehra Director, Ontario Health Coalition
Please RSVP as food will be provided. Massive Hospital Cuts and Privatization in Ottawa. Ottawa is Ground Zero for hospital privatization in Ontario.
The Ottawa Hospital is facing among the harshest health service cuts of anywhere in the province. Thousands of surgeries and hospital procedures are being offloaded, cut and privatized to for-profit clinics (day hospitals). The privatization of clinical hospital care is unprecedented. It threatens the start of for-profit hospitals. It must be stopped. We Can Win!
Across Canada, tens of thousands of people have taken a stand to keep local hospitals public. In New Brunswick, attempts to bring in private for-profit hospitals were soundly defeated by massive public opposition. In Quebec, the provincial government is re-publicizing services because the private clinics have been a disaster.
All welcome. Please help spread the word.
For more information and to RSVP: Kim Johnston, Campaign Director,
Ontario Health Coalition 416-441-2502, ohc@sympatico.ca
ARTICLES
May 15, 2013 - Declaration of the Social Movements Assembly
World Social Forum 2013, Tunisia
As the Social Movements Assembly of the World Social Forum of Tunisia, 2013, we are gathered here to affirm the fundamental contribution of peoples of Maghreb-Mashrek (from North Africa to the Middle East), in the construction of human civilization.
We affirm that decolonization for oppressed peoples remains for us, the social movements of the world, a challenge of the greatest importance.
Through the WSF process, the Social Movements Assembly is the place where we come together through our diversity, in order to forge common struggles and a collective agenda to fight against capitalism, patriarchy, racism and all forms of discrimination and oppression. We have built a common history of work which led to some progress, particularly in Latin America, where we have been able to intervene in neoliberal alliances and to create several alternatives for just development that truly honors nature.
Source:
The Bullet No. 816
May 15, 2013 - Mali Under Occupation
By Roger Annis
France's National Assembly and Senate have voted to extend the country's military intervention in Mali. A resolution passed both houses of parliament on April 22. Not a single vote was cast in opposition. Three days later, the United Nations Security Council approved Resolution 2100, creating a policing mission beginning July 1, 2013. The mission is called by its French acronym MINUSMA. Its projected size is 11,200 soldiers and 1,440 police.
France invaded the north of Mali with fighter aircraft and 4,000 soldiers on January 11. The Mali government and its French benefactor lost control of the area in 2012 to Tuareg and other national groups fighting for autonomy and independence.
Rightist Islamist forces that oppose the sovereignty aspirations of the national minorities then briefly rose to military dominance in the region. It is their presence that served as the key pretext for the France intervention and now for a foreign, military and police occupation of undeclared duration.
Source:
The Bullet No. 817
May 16, 2013 - Fighting Austerity
The panelists discuss the history and scope of the austerity agenda, its effects on the environment, indigenous peoples and working people the world over. Who and what is driving this agenda and how do we conceive of a fight back strategy that might begin to challenge the current hegemony of corporate power.
* Janet Fraser, Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario and Organizer, Solidarity Against Austerity (Moderator)
* Donald Swartz, Professor (retired), Carleton University, School of Public Policy and Administration
* Jennifer Moore, Latin America Program Coordinator, Mining Watch Canada
* Ben Powless, Defenders of the Land
* Sharrae Lyon, Student and Organizer for SAA (Moderator)
* Yafa Jarrar, Palestinian Solidarity Activist and Organizer, SAA
* Geoff Bickerton, Research Director, Canadian Union of Postal Workers
Source:
LeftStreamed No. 174
May 16, 2013 - Alienation: An Introduction to Marx's Theory
Mark Bergfeld (MB): Marx used the philosophic theme of alienation throughout the 1840s. His later works such as Capital (1867) tend to focus on political economy and social science. Books on Capital pop-up like wild flowers these days. Books on alienation are a rarity. What made you write about Marx's theory of Alienation?
Dan Swain (DS): I wrote about alienation for my master's thesis, in which I was particularly interested in the way in which the idea of alienation can form an ethical core to Marx's wider critique of society. I found that a lot of the books about alienation that are out there are highly academic, and many of them are decades old, and so are stuck in older debates which are less relevant to today. It was great to get the opportunity to write something accessible, and in the process help me get clearer about my own ideas. I think the number of books about Capital reflects an understandable desire to re-engage with political economy after the crisis, and that should be welcomed. There's also a legacy of academic debates which have tended to deprioritize Marx's earlier writings. Nonetheless, the central idea behind alienation, that our social forms of life are organized in such a way that is radically bad for us, not just because of inequality or material poverty, but because they prevent us from living a fulfilled life, seems to me still profoundly relevant.
Source:
The Bullet No. 818