Sudbury Social Justice News - September 14, 2014

EVENTS & MEETINGS:

1) Wednesday, September 17: Meeting of Sudbury working-group of The Media Co-op
2) Wednesday, September 17: Meeting of Friends of Sudbury Transit
3) Sunday, September 21: People's Climate March -- PLEASE NOTE UPDATED TIME/LOCATION!!
4) Monday, September 22: Meeting of Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty
5) Monday, September 22: Raise the Rates Campaign Meeting
6) Monday, September 22: Presentation: What Does 'Organic' Really Mean?
7) Thursday, September 25: First Meeting of Council of Canadians, Sudbury Chapter
8) Thursday, September 25: Take Back the Night March
9) Wednesday, October 1: Good Green Town Hall
10) Saturday, October 4: Global March for Elephants and Rhinos - Sudbury
11) Thursday, October 9: Mayoral Town Hall on Seniors' Issues
12) Thursday, October 9: Screeing of "I Am A Girl"

NEWS, ANALYSIS & CALLS TO ACTION:

1) "Teachers in British Columbia are on strike and deserve our help" by Lois Weiner
2) "Thirteen years into the War on Terror" by Harsha Walia

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Wednesday, September 17: Meeting of Sudbury working-group of The Media Co-op

Time: 10am to noon
Location: meeting room #1, Main Branch, Greater Sudbury Public Library (74 Mackenzie Street, Sudbury)

As all of us adjust to the sad reality of summer being over, we're keen to make sure that the Sudbury working-group of The Media Co-op gets a good jump on organizing. We encourage anyone and everyone who might be interested in making media themselves, or who recognize that a robust grassroots media infrastructure is essential for social change work being done across a broad range of issues, to come out to the meeting that we're having on September 17th at 10 am in meeting room #1 at the Mackenzie Street branch of the library. We have thoughts about doing an event, a couple of workshops, and of course lots of media-making in the next little while, but we have not made any definite decisions -- it depends on where people's energy and enthusiasm lie. So please come out and share your ideas!

If you can't make it to the meeting but still think you might want to be involved somehow -- through organizing things, through participating in some of the editorial stuff, through writing or producing other content -- then be in touch with me at the email address above or send a note to grassrootssudburymedia@gmail.com.

Find our site at:
http://sudbury.mediacoop.ca/

Our callout for content, some of which we might even be able to pay for:
http://sudbury.mediacoop.ca/blog/grassrootssudburymedia/19108

The full callout for this first meeting of the season:
http://sudbury.mediacoop.ca/blog/grassrootssudburymedia/31583

Find us on Facebook at:
http://www.facebook.com/GrassrootsMediaCollective

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Wednesday, September 17: Meeting of Friends of Sudbury Transit

Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Location: Small basement meeting room, Main Branch, Greater Sudbury Public Library (74 Mackenzie Street, Sudbury)

Join us as we discuss how the Commuter Challenge for Candidates went and issues arising from it.

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1537344169829018/

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Sunday, September 21: People's Climate March

Time: 1pm
Location: Sudbury Market downtown (VIA Rail Station)

On Sunday, September 21st, just days before a landmark climate summit at the UN, Avaaz members around the world are taking part in a People's Climate March. In Sudbury, we will gather at the Market downtown (VIA Rail Station) at 1 PM to deliver our petition demanding 100% green energy and show our leaders that climate change matters to all of us. Join us at the Market to design your green heart t-shirt, pick up banners, and hear from the world's largest climate march in New York. At 1:30 PM, we will march to take a photo under the Bridge of Nations to show our solidarity with the global movement, to be shared by Avaaz at the UN climate summit. See you out there!

Sign up to attend at: https://secure.avaaz.org/en/event/climate/Peoples_Climate_March_826/

Learn more about the global movement to change everything: http://peoplesclimate.org/

Contact: Harneet Gill, hk_gill@laurentian.ca, (c) 705-988-0559

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/691595030931612/

 
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Monday, September 22: Meeting of Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty

Time: 6:30pm
Location: Offices of the Sudbury and District Labour Council (Suite 209 upstairs in 109 Elm Street, which is across the street from the Native Friendship Centre)

The venue is wheelchair accessible. Children are welcome to attend, or childcare support is available upon request. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. If you arrive late and doors are locked, please call the S-CAP phone (249-878-7227).

Matters to be discussed include: municipal election intervention; access to Handi-Transit; the S-CAP 11; and our direct action support work.

S-CAP is a direct-action anti-poverty organization based in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada. We provide direct-action support work assisting individuals in their struggles with welfare and ODSP, housing, employers, and others who deny people what they are entitled to in order to meet their needs. In addition, we mount campaigns against and support educational work about regressive government policies as they effect working people and people living in poverty. We believe in the power of people to organize themselves. We believe in the power of resistance!

La coalition contre la pauvreté de Sudbury (S-CAP) est un organisme d’action directe luttant contre la pauvreté. Elle se trouve à Sudbury en Ontario.

Le travail de la coalition se base dans l’action directe et consiste à apporter de l’aide aux individus dans leurs luttes pour l’assistance sociale, l’invalidité, le logement, l’emploi et à les aider à faire face aux gens qui leur refusent ce à quoi ils ont droit pour rencontrer leurs besoins. De plus, la coalition fait des compagnes de sensibilisation et de dénonciation par rapport aux politiques gouvernementales régressives quant à leurs effets sur les travailleurs et travailleuses et les personnes vivant dans la pauvreté.

La coalition croit au pouvoir des personnes de s’organiser elles-mêmes; elle croit au pouvoir de la résistance!

Please call us (249-878-7227)

Email us at sudburyCAP@gmail.com

Website http://sudburycap.com/

S-CAP on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/257339454351403/

 
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Monday, September 22: Raise the Rates Campaign Meeting

Time: 7:30pm
Location: Offices of the Sudbury and District Labour Council (Suite 209 upstairs in 109 Elm Street, which is across the street from the Native Friendship Centre)

The venue is wheelchair accessible. Children are welcome to attend, or childcare support is available upon request. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. If you arrive late and doors are locked, please call the S-CAP phone (249-878-7227).

The Raise the Rates campaign which is sponsored by the Canadian Union of Public Employees - Ontario and the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty is organizing a raise the rates week of anti-poverty action this coming Oct. 13-17th (see the call out below). The week is calling for the raising of social assistance rates by 55% to bring buying power back to what it was before the Harris government initiated the war on the poor; raising the minimum wage to $14 an hour indexed to the cost of inflation;  reinstating the vital provincal Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB); and ending the reviews that are designed to push people off of ODSP.

The Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty, as an active participant in the Raise the Rates campaign, is proposing that the following be organized in Sudbury leading up to and during this week.

 
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Monday, September 22: Presentation: What Does 'Organic' Really Mean?

Time: 6pm to 7:30pm
Location: reThink Green (176 Larch Street, Suite 305, Sudbury. Note that this location is not wheelchair accessible.)

A talk about the benefits of organic food and understanding what being a certified organic farmer really means.

Presenters:
• Allison Muckle from Rowantree Farms
• Ryan Spence from Field Good Farms / Ferme j'me champ bien
• Bridget King, Public Health Nutritionist from the Sudbury & District Health Unit

FREE ADMISSION.
No sign-up.

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/269783789884560/

 
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Thursday, September 25: First Meeting of Council of Canadians, Sudbury Chapter

Time: 6pm to 8:45pm
Location: South End Library (1991 Regent Street. Wheelchair accessible.)

Council of Canadians supporters in the Sudbury area have told me they want to start a new chapter. I'd like to invite you to our founding meeting on Thursday, September 25 at 6:00 p.m.

We have real momentum on our side and we are looking for people like you who are ready to do more.

Come hear the latest updates on Council campaigns and discuss how they relate to local issues in Sudbury. We continue to fight against cuts to public health care and for the renewal of the Canada Health Accord. We're working hard to ensure that the Comprehensive and Economic Trade Agreement between Canada and the European Union doesn't sell out local economies and jobs, and to expose this secretive trade deal to public scrutiny. Chapters across the country have helped pass resolutions at the municipal level to protect our cities and our communities.

Working at the local level has never been so important. Come out on Thursday, September 25 to meet your neighbours and have your say about how we can solve issues of local concern such as:

* A fair share of mining tax revenues for the City of Greater Sudbury
* The chronic shortage of accessible, appropriate and affordable housing
* Improving health care to Northern Ontario with more doctors and clinical specialists

What do you think are the critical issues facing your community?

Join us! Everyone is welcome. Bring a friend.

If you can't make the meeting but are interested in knowing more about the chapter, please get in touch with me -- Mark Calzavara, Ontario-Quebec Regional Organizer, The Council of Canadians, at ontario-quebec@canadians.org.

 
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Thursday, September 25: Take Back the Night March

Time: 6pm to 8pm
Location: Beginning from Sudbury Secondary School (154 College Street, Sudbury)
 
Every 6 days in Canada, a woman is murdered by her husband or boyfriend.  And 1 in 2 women has experienced sexual assault at some time in their life.  It’s time for men, women and teens to TAKE BACK THE NIGHT and end violence against women.  You are encouraged to stop the cycle of violence and join TAKE BACK THE NIGHT on Thursday, September 25th for a downtown march at Sudbury Secondary School at 6pm. There will be information from 15 local community resources in both French and English.

TAKE BACK THE NIGHT is an international event with the mission of ending sexual violence in all forms. TAKE BACK THE NIGHT has since grown to encompass all forms of violence against all persons, though sexual violence against women is still the top focus.

You are not alone.  TAKE BACK THE NIGHT is a message of hope!

Tu n’es pas seul. REPRENONS LA NUIT, c’est un message d’espoir!

For more information contact Lynzy at (705) 523-7100 ext. 2647
Pour plus de détails, communiquez avec Sylvie au (705) 670-2517, poste 2226

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Wednesday, October 1: Good Green Town Hall

Time: 6pm to 9pm
Location: St. Andrew's Place (111 Larch Street, Sudbury)

Meet-and-greet starting at 6pm with city council candidates for this fall's municipal election. A mayoral town hall will go from 7pm to 9pm.
Here's your chance to meet your candidates and ask your questions around green issues, climate change and citizen engagement!

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1455737588030732/

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Saturday, October 4: Global March for Elephants and Rhinos - Sudbury

Time: noon
Location: Starting from Memorial Park in downtown Sudbury

It’s a trans-national business that funds terrorist organisations, fuels conflict in Africa, and poses environmental, development and security challenges. The illegal wildlife trade is also a lucrative business, generating an estimated USD$20 billion per year.

At the launch of the United for Wildlife “#WhoseSideAreYou” campaign, in June this year, HRH Duke of Cambridge said, “There are two thousand critically endangered species on the verge of being lost forever. It’s time to choose a side – between the endangered animals and the criminals who kill them for money. I am calling on people all around the world to tell us: whose side are you on?”

The answer will be loud and clear from the thousands of people in over 100 cities worldwide joining the Global March for Elephants and Rhinos (GMFER) on 4th October this year.  Dr Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace, has given her support to the march, saying, “We must join forces everywhere to stop the slaughter of elephants and rhinos. They feel pain, they know suffering. We must stop people from buying ivory.” Support has also been given by English actor Ricky Gervais: "How can we allow the extinction of 2 magnificent creatures for the sake of the some morons owning tasteless trinkets or trying fake medicine?"

Also supporting the event, Joanna Lumley, OBE and Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, says "If we stand by and watch the brutal extinction of rhino and elephant, the stain of shame on our human consciousness will never be forgiven or forgotten."

The organisers of the grass roots event to be held at Memorial Park Downtown, Sudbury Ontario, October 4th 2014 at 12:00 pm, say that, “only a truly global response will stop our globally iconic species being sold into extinction. World Animal Day this year must focus on action - individuals, peoples, governments - all of us must act to end the vile trade in endangered species.”

Officially acknowledged by United For Wildlife as an event that will raise awareness about the crisis facing the world’s wildlife, GMFER organisers hope the event will also help to reduce demand for endangered species ‘products’ and will be pushing for governments to ban all commercial trading of endangered wildlife and to put an end to wildlife trafficking.

“Individuals, and society as a whole, can choose to shun ivory, rhino horn, lion and tiger bones as commodities,” say event organisers, “but we need governments to play their part too, by increasing penalties for bribery, corruption and trafficking offenses, and by shutting down all retail outlets and ivory carving factories.” The Global March will also call on governments to publicly destroy their stockpiles of illegal wildlife products, to show “zero tolerance for illegal trading”.

In Africa four elephants are illegally killed for their ivory every hour, and estimates are that between only 250,000 to 400,000 survive today.  Illegally killed for their horn, it is estimated that less than 22,000 African rhino now remain.  As for lions, more survive now in captivity, where they are bred to be shot by hunters, than roam in the wild.

Their path to extinction is very clear and the causes are well understood. “Ivory, rhino horn, lion and tiger bones continue to be sold to feed a relentless and growing demand, largely in Asia, where the body parts of these endangered animals are still viewed as highly sought after products,” explain the march organisers.  

The ivory and rhino horn trade is particularly cruel and gruesome – not only do poachers indiscriminately slaughter adults, babies or whole herds alike, but often hack off an elephant’s tusks or rhino’s horns while they are still alive.  “When it comes to choosing between saving the elephant, rhino and lion from extinction or slaughtering them for some mythical medicinal property or for an expensive carving, the choice is clear,” GMFER event organisers say.

Don’t stand on the sideline, “Whose side are you on?” Find a march near you:
Website: http://www.March4ElephantsAndRhinos.org/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/March4Elephants
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EleRhinoMarch Email:March4ElesAndRhinos@gmail.com

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Thursday, October 9: Mayoral Town Hall on Seniors' Issues

Time: 1:30pm to 3pm
Location: Parkside Older Adult Centre (144 Durham Street, Sudbury)

All candidates for Mayor in the forthcoming municipal election on Oct. 27th have been invited to meet with interested citizens at a special event sponsored by Friendly to Seniors – Sudbury, the local chapter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons (CARP) in conjunction with the Older Adult Parkside Centre.

A similar event was held at the same location during the last election and was well attended, and will be moderated again by well know Sudburian Gerry Labelle.

Candidates will be given the opportunity to present their platforms and answer questions, particular to, but not necessarily related to seniors issues.  While the event which will take place from 1.30 p.m to 3.00 p.m. Thursday Oct. 9th will be of particular interest to older citizens those citizens of other ages available at this time are also invited to attend.

No other recent local election has raised as much interest as the current contest and is of such significant importance.  As Sudbury’s older adult population continues to grow there is considerable concern with respect to the direction our municipality is moving with regards to accommodating Seniors issues, particularly in the areas of increased taxation, affordable housing, maintaining infrastructure and quality of life matters including health care etc.

Those interested should be present at the Older Adult Parkside Centre in the Centre for Life 144 Durham Street prior to the 1.30 p.m. start of the meeting on Thursday Oct. 9th.  Refreshments will be available.

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Thursday, October 9: Screeing of "I Am A Girl"

Time: 7pm to 9pm
Location: Sheridan Auditorium, Sudbury Secondary School (154 College Street, Sudbury)

LEAF Sudbury will celebrate Person’s Day 2014 with the documentary, "I am a Girl" on Thursday, October 9, 2014 in the Sheridan Auditorium at Sudbury Secondary School. The film presentation will start at 7:00 p.m. followed by a reception and refreshments.

I AM A GIRL, directed by Rebecca Barry, is an inspirational feature length documentary that paints a clear picture of the reality of what it means to be a girl in the 21st century. Feminism may have promised equality and sought a better and fairer world for women but the reality is that girls make up almost a quarter of the world’s population yet still face the greatest discrimination of any group in the world. Yet in spite of many obstacles, girls have found extraordinary ways to persevere and in this documentary we hear their stories of strength, hope, courage and a refusal to be second best.
Tickets will be sold at, The Apollo restaurant, Gloria’s, Laurentian University Bookstore and at the door. Tickets are $25. There will be free parking.

Contacts: Carol Stos. 705 675 1151, X 4273, Tannys Laughren 705-586-6915

This event on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/events/669472923142033/

NEWS, ANALYSIS & CALLS TO ACTION:

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"Teachers in British Columbia are on strike and deserve our help"
by Lois Weiner
(Originally posted at New Politics: http://newpol.org/content/teachers-british-colombia-are-strike-and-deser...)

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"Thirteen years into the War on Terror"
by Harsha Walia
(Originally published at Rabble.ca: http://rabble.ca/columnists/2014/09/thirteen-years-war-terror)