CSJ Newsletter
April 18, 2024
CALLS TO ACTION
I Stand with Toronto Transit WorkersTransit workers in Toronto are the heart, soul and lynchpin of the transit system the city. They work day in and day out to make sure our community can move. Immigrants who come to our city rely on transit to start a new life. Businesses and schools rely on customers, workers and students to commute. It is workers who operate and maintain the vehicles and it's time to stand united with them for a strong union contract.
actionnetwork.org
Revoke Charities Funding Israeli War CrimesPetition to the Government of Canada
Whereas:
- Taxpayer-subsidized charitable donations may well be Canada's most important contribution to Palestinian dispossession;
- Over the last five years, more than a billion dollars has been sent by Canadian charities to Israeli recipients. While some of this money may find its way into charitable ventures, a portion goes toward supporting the Israeli military and/or illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, activities which stand in contravention of Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regulations and Canada's public policy;
- Recently, evidence has been uncovered of Canadian charities providing charitable tax receipts for Israeli organizations actively supporting what the International Court of Justice deems a “plausible” genocide in Gaza;
- One charity, registered as the Mizrachi Organization of Canada, has, for example, transferred funds to Im Tirtzu, an organization which is overtly involved in blocking aid trucks bound for Gaza, as well as to the organization Women In Green, which runs a campaign to “plant an Israeli flag” in Gaza; and
- The CRA has received numerous requests to investigate the activities of Mizrachi Canada and other charities which appear to be operating in violation of the Income Tax Act, official Canadian policy, and international law.
We, the undersigned, citizens or residents of Canada, call upon the Minister of National Revenue to:
1. Immediately investigate all Canadian charities providing funds to illegal Israeli settlement activity and/or the Israeli military;
2. Revoke the charitable status of all found to not be in compliance; and
3. Take concrete steps to prevent other organizations from engaging in such activities in the future.
ourcommons.ca
EVENTS
Imagining a Palestine without Occupation
When: April 18th, 12pm
Join this virtual conversation on Palestinian Resistance, Climate Justice, and Liberation: “Imagining a Palestine without Occupation,” featuring Moayyad Bsharat of Union of Agricultural Work Committees, Jimmy Dunson of Mutual Aid Disaster Relief, and Zayneb Al-Shalalfeh of Palestinian Women Water Practitioners Network and moderated by Yusra Bitar of Arab Reform Initiative. Interpretation will be available in Spanish, ASL, and Closed Captions.
zoom.us
What's next after Budget 2024?
When: April 18th, 7pm
Join members of the 350 Canada team for a short, high-energy online event with a packed agenda. Together, we will:
- Summarize the climate implications of Budget 2024: the good, the bad and the ugly
- Take action together to ensure federal leaders know where we stand
- Share our plan for the coming months and let you know how you can fight back against Big Oil and the far right
act.350.org
Growing our Movements
When: April 18th, 7pm
Register now to join this conversation with three incredible social justice leaders, as we talk through some big questions:
- Why aren't charity and philanthropy enough to overcome the interconnected crises of our time?
- How do we cultivate strong social movements, making powerful demands, led by the communities most impacted by oppression?
Whether you've been thinking about these questions for years already, or they feel brand new - this webinar is for you! We're deeply honoured to be in conversation with Desmond Cole, Mostafa Henaway, and Sarah Jama. They bring incredibly rich and complementary perspectives to this discussion, and we really hope you'll join us to be a part of it.
zoom.us
Resolution for Justice in Palestine
When: April 19th, 2pm
Learn more about the resolution brought forth by Sociologists for Justice in Palestine, coming up for an ASA vote soon.
Featuring: Michael Burawoy, Sharmila Rudrappa, Ruha Benjamin, Areej Sabbagh-Khoury, Roi Livne.
zoom.us
South Africa, Palestine and the Politics of the Present
When: April 19th, 5pm
Where: William Doo Auditorium, 45 Willcocks St
The African Studies Centre and The Caribbean Studies Centre, University of Toronto, invite you to a panel discussion with speakers Rieaz Shaik, High Commissioner, Republic of South Africa; Professor Atif Kubursi, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Canadian Arab Federation; Dr. Melissa Levin, Jewish Faculty Network.
Moderated by Dr. Nisrin Elamin, Anthropology and African Studies, University of Toronto with opening remarks by Dr. Dickson Eyoh, Interim Principal, New College.
newcollege.utoronto.ca
US Imperialism Defeat at Bay of Pigs
When: April 19th, 6:30pm
Where: Different Booklist, 779 Bathurst St
Speaker: Jorge Yanier Castellanos, the Honourable Consul General of Cuba
Documentary: The Actual Actors in the Bay of Pigs Invasion!
On April 17, 1961 the U.S. sent about 1500 CIA-trained mercenaries to invade the Bay of Pigs (Playa Giron) on the southern coast of Cuba in an attempt to overthrow the young Cuban Revolution. By April 19th, in less than 72 hours, CUBA HAD DEFEATED THE U.S. EMPIRE!
forumoncuba.com
Support LCBO workers!
When: Saturday, April 20th, 12:30pm
Where: Dufferin Mall (Croatia Street, between Dufferin Street and Brock Avenue)
We all need:
- Liveable wages that keep up with rising prices
- Good jobs in our communities
- The $2.5-billion in annual revenue from the LCBO to fund health care, education & other vital public services
justice4workers.org
Gaza Square
When: Every Sunday, 11am to 1pm
Where: 371 Wallace Ave
We'll be at Gaza square once again this Sunday morning with hot chocolate and coffee, buttons and posters, lawn signs and colourful chalk! Come say hi and meet your fellow neighbours/organizers as we make our presence known and continue to build safety in our community!
Instagram poster
Free Them All
When: April 21st, 2pm
Where: Bay and Front intersection
Rally for Palestinian prisoners.
twitter.com
Weekly Phone-zap for Palestine
When: Mondays at 12pm
Week after week, we're keeping the momentum going with our Monday lunchtime zaps.
Our collective action is making waves, but we need to ensure our elected officials continue to feel the pressure until real change happens.
Instagram poster | Register at
zoom
[Brampton] Chant for Change
When: April 22nd, 3pm
Where: Bramalea Rd. & Bovaird Dr. E, Brampton
Come to the corner of Bramalea Rd. and Bovaird Dr. to join our protest for:
- More public hospitals for Brampton and Caledon
- No privatization of healthcare
- OHIP for all, regardless of Immigration Status
bramptoncaledonhc.ca
Canadian Foreign Policy Hour with Yves Engler
When: Mondays at 6pm
Join author Yves Engler on Mondays for a weekly news roundup and interactive discussion about Canada's role abroad. This weekly session will delve into the latest developments on subjects ranging from military affairs and Canada's role in Ukraine to its contribution to Palestinian dispossession, and the exploitation of African resources. Join Yves for a critical take on Canada's foreign policy. Questions, comments, and criticisms are all welcome.
zoom.us
Fady Joudah Toronto launch for [...]
When: April 24th, 7pm
Where: Theatre Centre, 1115 Queen St W
Tickets: $10
From one of our most acclaimed contemporary writers, an urgent and essential collection of poems illuminating the visionary presence of Palestinians.
Fady Joudah's powerful sixth collection of poems opens with, “I am unfinished business,” articulating the ongoing pathos of the Palestinian people. A rendering of Joudah's survivance, […] speaks to Palestine's daily and historic erasure and insists on presence inside and outside the ancestral land.
eventbrite.ca
Day of Mourning
When: Friday, April 26th, 12pm
Where: Larry Sefton Park (Just behind City Hall), 500 Bay St
Join us in-person on Friday, April 26, 2024 to mark the Day of Mourning in Toronto and York Region. We will be holding a heartfelt tribute in two locations for the numerous workers who have tragically lost their lives, suffered injuries, or faced illnesses because of workplace incidents.
Let's stand united in remembrance and passionately advocate for the safety and well-being of all workers.
labourcouncil.ca
Book launch: The Fall and Rise of American Finance
When: Saturday, April 27th, 7pm
Where: CSI Annex, 720 Bathurst St
All are warmly invited to join us for the Toronto launch of this insightful and timely book. As global left and progressive forces search for ways to meaningfully confront the ever-evolving capitalism of today, works such as
The Fall and Rise of American Finance are a vital tool in understanding the shifting economic landscape we face.
tickettailor.com
ARTICLES
Neoliberalism is Canada's Real Productivity Problem
By Andrew Jackson
It is rare for the Bank of Canada to say that we face a national economic emergency. But that is exactly what Deputy Governor Carolyn Rogers did on March 26. She was referring to Canada's dismal record on labour productivity, which is indeed a major, albeit long-standing issue. Her widely publicized speech put a sharper focus on very weak Canadian economic performance, especially relative to the United States.
Source:
The Bullet No. 2971
Stand up to the Israel Lobby
By Sid Shniad and Independent Jewish Voices
In February, former BC cabinet minister Selina Robinson was forced to resign because of her bigoted comments about Palestinians. She had repeated an old insulting and long-discredited falsehood, calling historic Palestine “a crappy piece of land with nothing on it” that had to await Israeli Jewish settlement to thrive. This, along with a series of highly questionable social media posts by Robinson, vexed Palestinians and their supporters as well as members of BC's Muslim community. More than a dozen mosques responded by banning NDP politicians and the party was forced to cancel a fundraiser in Surrey, home of many Muslim NDP supporters.
Source:
The Bullet No. 2972
The Power of Finance Is Inherent to Capitalism
By Scott Aquanno and Stephen Maher
Much of the Left sees finance as being parasitic on industry. Financialization, in this view, amounts to financial institutions capturing the state, hollowing out the “real” economy, and hastening the decline of capitalism. But if we survey the last century of capitalist development, we find that, despite the costs to workers and the middle class, financialization has actually boosted competitiveness and strengthened capital – all with the support of an ever stronger and more authoritarian state.
Source:
The Bullet No. 2973
April 7: Six Months of Genocide in Gaza
By Independent Jewish Voices
The world has watched for six months as Palestinians are murdered, injured and displaced en masse by the Israeli occupation. Canada has aided and abetted this atrocity. Canadian arms deals with Israel flow freely in both directions: exporting military power to Israel, importing Israeli weapons “battle-tested” on Palestinian children. Since October 7, “the total value of the new permits authorised over two months exceeds the 30-year annual record high of $26-million in Canadian military exports to Israel in 2021.” This is complicity in its vilest form.
Source:
The Bullet No. 2974