Sudbury Social Justice News - March 24, 2013

EVENTS & MEETINGS:

1) Tuesday, March 26: Meeting of Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty
2) Tuesday, March 26: Organizing Meeting for Solidarity Against Austerity March and Rally
3) Wednesday, April 3: Anti-capitalism Discussion by Radical North
4) Friday, April 5: Roots, Rhythm and Resistance Caravan Tour Comes to  Fromagerie Elgin
5) Saturday, April 6: Citizens Climate Lobby Meetings Sudbury, Ontario
6) Sunday, April 7: Meeting of Sudbury Cyclists Union
7) Thursday, April 11: Building Inclusive Communities with Sex Workers
8) Saturday, April 13: Native Plant Workshop

NEWS, ANALYSIS, & CALLS TO ACTION:

1) Myths and Mirrors Community Arts Call-out for Story Collection Volunteers
2) "Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty demands local MPPs Melt the Minimum Wage Freeze" by SCAP
3) "Porter Airlines: The Little Strike That Could" by Sean Smith

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Tuesday, March 26: 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)

Matters to be discussed include organizing the Solidarity Against Austerity 2 rally and march (in the second part of the meeting – see event 2 below); reports on the Raise the Rates meeting in Toronto that 5 members of S-CAP attended; the raise the minimum wage campaign; our ongoing direct action support work, including for community start up and maintenance needs; setting up an S-CAP drop in space and much more. The venue is wheelchair accessible. Children are welcome to attend, or childcare support is available upon request.

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 dont 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!

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

This event (and the next one) online:
http://sudburycap.com/2013/03/23/upcoming-meetings/

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Tuesday, March 26: Organizing meeting for the Second Solidarity Against Austerity Rally and March in Sudbury.

Time: 7:30pm
Location: Offices of the Sudbury and District Labour Council (Suite 20 upstairs in 109 Elm Street, which is across the street from the Native Friendship Centre)

The Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty (S-CAP) is initiating organizing for a large public rally and march with our allies against provincial austerity measures in Sudbury before the provincial budget comes down to try to make sure these measures are not included in the budget. This action is also supported by the Sudbury and District Labour Council. This event will be held under the banner of the Raise the Rates campaign calling for a major increase in social assistance rates and for a raise in minimum wage rates to $14 an hour but can also include all the struggles of the union movement, First Nations, students and other community groups against the austerity agenda. While the focus will be on the provincial Liberal government the federal Tory government is clearly a big part of the problem.

Plans for the event will be developed in collaboration with our allies but we see it taking place in early to mid-April (perhaps April 10th or 15th). It looks like the provincial budget will be coming down around April 18th. We would see it built on the successful model of the first Solidarity Against Austerity march and rally held last year which involved more than 150 people from the community and union members. This event was held a Memorial Park in late March 2012 and involved a free meal, speakers, music, and a march through downtown streets. Like last year we would see going to the Provincial Building and by Rick Bartolucci’s constituency office to express our concerns and demands. For our part we would see raising the following as central concerns.

* Reverse the Cuts: social assistance rates need be increased immediately by 55% to bring the rates back to pre-Harris levels. Since 2003, the Liberals have failed to reverse Harris’ cuts. Welfare rates have barely increased, while the cost of living has skyrocketed. Thanks to the Liberals, poor people in this province are surviving on far less than in 1995.

*Fully restore the Special Diet and the Community Start-up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB): The Liberals have cut two vital benefits that poor people need to survive. The Special Diet put healthy food on the table and the CSUMB kept a roof over people’s heads. We demand that these benefits be restored immediately.

* Raise the Minimum wage to $14 an hour. Ontario’s minimum wage has been frozen for 3 years and the cost of living continues to rise. We need to melt this freeze and have a minimum wage that brings workers and their families above the poverty line.

To plan for this rally and march we are hosting an organizing meeting at the Sudbury and District Labour Council office (Suite 209, upstairs in 109 Elm Street, which is across the street from the Native Friendship Centre) on Tuesday March 26th at 7:30pm. Please come to the meeting and get in touch with us as soon as possible if you are interested in joining with us to build a powerful Solidarity Against Austerity event here in Sudbury. Thanks.

This event (and the previous one) online:
http://sudburycap.com/2013/03/23/upcoming-meetings/

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Wednesday, April 3: Anti-capitalism Discussion by Radical North

Time: 3pm
Location: LU L-239, Laurentian University Student Centre

Capitalism is a pyramid scheme: you may not know where you are, but you should know where you stand. Where do you fit in? Come find out!

Anti-capitalism discussion held by Radical North & Free food by LU Veg Heads.

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Friday, April 5: R3D Caravan Tour Comes to Fromagerie Elgin

Time: TBA
Location: The Fromagerie Elgin, 5 Cedar Street (entry from Elgin), Sudbury

r3: roots rhythm and resistance: using the arts to build communities, resist oppression and reconnect with our roots http://r3collective.wordpress.com/

r3 actively support people and projects that use an Indigenist or decolonization framework to tackle the legacies of colonization.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AMAI KUDA http://amaikuda.com/
LAL www.lalforest.com
BRIXIA BLOODBEARD http://brixia.bandcamp.com/
SONNY BEAN https://sonnybean.wordpress.com/

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Saturday, April 6: Citizens Climate Lobby Meetings Sudbury, Ontario

Time: 12:45pm to 3:45pm
Location: 80 Elm Street, Sudbury

Want to help create the political will in Sudbury and across Canada for a revenue neutral carbon tax?

CITIZENS CLIMATE LOBBY IS RECRUITING
Our next three meetings are:
- Saturday, April 6, 2013
- Saturday, May 4, 2013
- Saturday, June 1, 2013
12:45 - 3:00 pm
Light Snacks provided
Be empowered to create political will for a liveable world

Upcoming Texas Scrambler : June 8, 2013

Canada's Citizens Climate Lobby Media Statistics:

2012 STATISTICS:
90 Letters to the Editor, one Editorial, 12 Opinion Editorials/Columns,
9 articles about us, 10 Radio Hits and 2 TV Hits

2011 STATISTICS:
29 Letters to the Editor, 3 Opinion Editorials / Columns,
7 articles about us, 3 Radio Hits and 3 TV Hits
Canadian Year End Lobbying Statistics
• In 2012 our members lobbied a total of 51 Canadian politicians, [MPs, MPPs (Ontario) and Senators] about putting a predictable, effective and transparent on carbon pollution.

International CCL Statistics for 2012 vs 2011
• Letters to the Editor 181 (2011) vs 537 (2012)
• Editorials: 12 (2011) vs 22 (2012)
• Internationally, we had meetings with MPs, MPP/MLAs,
Congress and Senators 255 (2011) vs 534 (2012)

Currently in Canada we have 22 group leaders (fully-trained with volunteers) in 32 ridings in Canada covering 11 regions. We have 6 more group leaders in the process of being trained. Our big 2013 goal is to hold our first National Conference and Lobbying days in November 2013 in Ottawa. At this conference and lobbying days our goal is continue to develop relationships with our MPs and selected Senators around the issue of putting an explicit/transparent price on carbon pollution in Canada by 2015.

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Sunday, April 7: Meeting of Sudbury Cyclists Union

Time: 1pm
Location: The Laughing Buddha (194 Elgin Street)

Agenda TBA.

This event on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/events/345088822274430/

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Thursday, April 11: Building Inclusive Communities with Sex Workers

Time: 8am to 5pm
Location: Quality Inn, 390 Elgin Street, Sudbury
Cost: $60/$50 if you register by April 1/$20 for students

A day of capacity building, networking and training. Many sex work topics will be discussed including stigma, work safety, marginalization, trafficking, issues faced by Aboriginal communities, decriminalization, community policing, and the myths and realities.

Guest speakers include:

* Sex Workers Action Group (SWAG)
* Sex Workers Action Project (SWAP)
* Sex Professionals of Canada (SPOC)
* Maggie's Toronto Sex Workers Action Project
* Sex Workers Advisory Network Sudbury (SWANS)
* Prisoners' HIV/AIDS Support Action Network (PASAN)
* Prostitutes of Ottawa/Gatineau Work, Educate and Resist (POWER)

We encourage attendance by ALL COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS including sex workers, service providers, counsellors, health care providers, community members, police services, faculty and students.

Please note all presentations will be in English only. Refreshments and lunch will be served. Seating is limited

Sponsored by Reseau Access Network, Public Service Alliance of Canada, LUFAPPUL.

For more information, please contact Tracy Gregory at 705-688-0500 ext. 222.

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Saturday, April 13: Native Plant Workshop

Time: 10am to noon
Location: Lake Laurentian Conservation Area Nature Chalet (2309 South Bay Road, Sudbury)

Ever wondered about native alternatives to invasive species that are commonly planted in gardens? Conservation Sudbury, in cooperation with special guest Aisha Chiandet will be presenting a Native Plants Workshop - Urban Gardens Featuring Native Plants!

Participants will learn the benefits of introducing native wildflowers and shrubs to their garden or shoreline, and how to identify, source and grow native plants. They will receive resource materials on how to get started with native plants and how to identify and eradicate invasive species. Each participant will also obtain hands-on experience planting a native flower and/or grass to take home with them at the end of the workshop.

The cost of the event is $15.00 per person, which will be used to help cover travel expenses for our guest speaker, resource and planting materials, and complimentary hot beverages and light snacks for participants.

Space is limited to 30 participants. To reserve your spot or for more information, please call: (705) 674-8904 or email: lakelaurentian@gmail.com

We run monthly events at the Conservation Area all year long - stay updated by visiting the Conservation Sudbury’s website nickeldistrict.ca or find us “Friends of Lake Laurentian” on facebook.

This event online:
http://sudbury.mediacoop.ca/blog/grassrootssudburymedia/16877

NEWS, ANALYSIS, & CALLS TO ACTION:

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Myths and Mirrors Community Arts Call-out for Story Collection Volunteers

We have our design! We have our action plan!

Myths and Mirrors Community Arts is facilitating the creation of a mural which will reflect the oral history of the Donovan Elm West neighbourhoods. We plan to hold story circles and individual interviews with the seniors of this culturally and historically rich neighbourhood. The stories, once collected, will be offered to the community at large, especially the youth, to visually interpret on panels which will, like a mosaic, fill a sillhouette of the Donovan Elm West city scape.

What we need now are volunteers to make up our team of story collectors!

If you are interested in working with us on this fascinating project please get in touch with us as soon as possible as we intend on beginning our story collection process soon. Prior to our first session with the community, we will be holding a volunteer story circle to gather stories and practice how to collect the stories effectively.

Who can be a volunteer?

We are looking for volunteers who are 16 years of age and up. People who can listen.

Please contact Blaire Flynn, Community Artist at blaireflynn@gmail.com or call her at 705-662-0779 to register as a story collector.
Please indicate your availability. We will be holding our first session in the next week or so and will be in touch with information about the time and the place.

We are looking forward to working with you and the community on this extraordinary art making experience!

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"Sudbury Coalition Against Poverty demands local MPPs Melt the Minimum Wage Freeze"
by SCAP
(Published at Grassroots: Sudbury's Media Collective: http://sudbury.mediacoop.ca/story/sudbury-coalition-against-poverty-dema...)

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"Porter Airlines: The Little Strike That Could"
by Sean Smith
(Published by The Socialist Project (links in original): http://www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/780.php)