May 2012
18 posts
April 2012
17 posts
Listen
Feminist Tools for Total Liberation: Exploring Commonalities of Oppression with Jennifer Cox
At the top of the hour, we connect with Ashkon Hobooti to hear about the 4th annual Vegan Rock, which will happen at The Boat in the Kensington Market on February 23rd. Come listen to “happy, fun, upbeat” music from an all-vegan lineup of musicians — Dream Awake, Stefi Beck, Matt Zadkovich, and Hobooti himself — and indulge in some delectable bake sale goodies, including gluten free, raw, and nut free choices! All proceeds will go to the Toronto Vegetarian Association.
Then, in our feature interview, we speak with Jennifer Cox, who writes about queer, gender, and feminist issues for Because We Must. Because We Must writers strive to illuminate “both the diversity and interconnectedness of struggles against oppression”. In her recent piece, Reproductive Justice: Arguments for Animal Advocates, Cox discusses the lessons animal advocates can take from the reproductive justice framework. By looking beyond the reductionist way large national organizations frame issues, and listening to communities whose voices have been marginalized, advocates may discover a world of under-reported struggles, unique strategies, and potential allies. In this wide-ranging conversation, Cox also touches on the limits of rights-based activism, why animal liberation is a feminist issue, why people need to be “unapologetically out” about the causes they care about, and the vital importance of humility and acknowledgement of privilege in conversations within activist communities.The latest achieved post of Animal Voices!
BREAKING NEWS: No One Is Illegal occupies Tory offices, drops banners to axe Refugee Exclusion Act, Bill C-31, in 7 cities across Canada for Refugee Rights Day (April 4)
BREAKING NEWS: No One Is Illegal occupies Tory offices, drops banners to axe Refugee Exclusion Act, Bill C-31, in 7 cities across Canada for Refugee Rights Day (April 4)
At 10am Mountain time, 1pm Eastern, teams of No One Is Illegal members and their allies dropped banners in Halifax and Montreal while members and allies in Vancouver, St. Catharines, Ottawa, Edmonton and Toronto occupied Conservative offices.
The coordinated occupations of five offices across the country are going on right now! Follow www.twitter.com/NoOneIsIllegal to see pictures and updates.
ABOUT THE REFUGEE EXCLUSION ACT: The actions and occupations today are part of a campaign against the Refugee Exclusion Act. The Refugee Exclusion Act (Bill C-31) creates a two-tier system of refugee protection that entrenches nationality-based discrimination, mandates jail for many asylum seekers, denies and revokes permanent residency for many who have already been granted refugee status, and violently targets and expels refugees and migrants from Canada. This Act also introduces intrusive biometrics data collection on all migrants and gives increased powers of arrest and detention to border guards. This racist and repressive new bill is a major roll-back on an already minimalist and exclusionary refugee system.
SOLIDARITY MESSAGE: “The Lhe Lin Liyin of the grassroots Wet’suwet’en supports No One Is Illegal in their effort to see the Refugee Exclusion Act axed. The future generations amongst Indigenous, Refugee, and Settler Societies have an opportunity today to make known that we all as a human family require respect, compassion, a home to live in, and our status to be complete and recognized. In a world faced with increased industrial activity, intensifying climate change, and war mongering; refugees require understanding, respect, and safety. The occupation of Canada does not recognize the status of refugees and migrant peoples, but the Indigenous peoples who are the true owners of these lands will!”
BUILDING RESISTANCE: As with opposition to the Tar sands & Enbridge pipeline, Crime bill, public sector layoffs, and the Harper austerity budget, escalated and wide-spread opposition is necessary to ensure justice and dignity for refugees and migrants. The Refugee Exclusion Act is part of a frightening trend towards temporariness – where through shutting the door to permanent residency for refugees, family sponsorships, and skilled workers, Canada is ensuring that migrants are recruited primarily as indentured labour for big business. Hundreds of asylum-seekers languish behind bars, while hundreds of thousands of temporary workers and non-status people toil in fields and factories. Canada and its economy is built on the theft of Indigenous lands and resources locally and globally, and the exploitable (im)migrant labour of those who have been displaced through capitalism and imperialism. If the Refugee Exclusion Act is passed, more migrants will choose precarious means to get to Canada. Today we are sending a clear message to the Tories that their laws and policies will be resisted at every turn and that we will continue to offer our solidarity to migrants. No One Is Illegal, Power to the People!
+ Go on facebook or twitter, email or text a friend, talk about Refugee Rights Day and the Refugee Exclusion Act. Help Break the Silence! Use #noBillC31 #CdnImm #RefugeeExclusion For more ideas http://bit.ly/H95QsJ +
+ Learn more – Joint NOII Statement – Axe the Refugee Exclusion Act:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/no-one-illegal/2012/03/noii-alert-axe-refugee-exclusion-act +
+ Sign & share Amnesty’s appeal to MP’s – easy way to send a message:
http://www.amnesty.ca/iwriteforjustice/take_action.php?actionid=843 +
+ Find your MP’s contact info http://bit.ly/mfMkVq and call or write them. Some sample letters http://scr.bi/GNtvx2 and http://is.gd/jCeRm6 and http://bit.ly/HzFWYJ +
+ Join No One Is Illegal. Find us at www.facebook.com/NoOneIsIllegalNetwork, www.twitter.com/NoOneIsIllegal and www.nooneisillegal.org +
+ Join The Live Free Collective as we organize and stand in solidarity with these actions and re post our info from our facebook page as well as out twitter https://twitter.com/#!/livefreeniagara
Short Guide to the CUPE 4207 Unit 3 Strike at Brock University
It’s Day 7 of the CUPE 4207 Unit 3 Strike and I am disgruntled as aside from dropping off some (vegan) baked goods on my way to work and excessive honking, I haven’t been able to do my part in showing solidarity and support for CUPE 4207. As there seems to be endless questions from students, Professors, TA’s and community members - I thought what better way to lend a hand then to provide a short and simple guide. That said, what beats a guide? Hitting the picket line yourself and talking directly to those who are worried about the state of their jobs and the future of education at Brock.
Guidelines
- Do not cross a picket line. Repeat. Do not cross a picket line.
- TA’s - Professors - Students - You cannot be punished for refusing to cross a picket line. (Section 26.2 Brock Handbook)
- Professors and Teaching Assistants have a moral duty to cancel their classes while the line is up, while also doing your part to disrupt and/or cancel classes beyond when the line is up. Those who refuse to do so are not fit to teach.
- Students can be punished for not attending while lines are down (currently after 4pm), however, it is your moral duty as a student to organize your peers to disrupt and/or walk out of your classes. Those who do not are not fit to learn.
- The best way to show support, whatever your position, is to head down to the picket lines (both entrances to Brock from 7am - around 7pm) and spend some time getting to know the people who make Brock work. If you don’t have a lot of time to spare, considering dropping off some (vegan) food or baked goods. Failing that - honk wildly.
It goes without saying that the Live Free Collective supports CUPE 4207 (as well as CUPE 1287, Lincoln County Humane Society, who are also currently on strike in Niagara - same rules as above apply). Our guide is harsh in tone, but it is based upon the knowledge that those taking a stand right now need others to take a stand as well. The harder the stance and the greater the support, the greater the likelihood of a short strike with a deal that respects the workers involved. As it stands now, there are negotiations tomorrow, however, the University has shown bad faith throughout negotiations and now is a time to continue to keep pressure on.
Invitation from the Land Protectors of Kanonhstaton to the April 28th event →
april28coalition.wordpress.com
We wish to extend greetings to our neighbours, to our Onkwehonwe (native) and non-native allies, and to all our brothers and sisters across Turtle Island.
In the spirit of our Ancestors and the Kainerakowa, the Great Peace,
We, Haudenosaunee of the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory, invite you to join us on April 28, 2012 and to march for Peace, Respect and Friendship, as represented by the Two Row Wampum.
It has been 6 years since Kanonhstaton (“the Protected Place”) or the Reclamation began in 2006. Much has occurred since then. Our people have stood up and raised our voices and many connections, friendships, and relationships have been built. However, at the same time nothing has been done by the Canadian Government to address our treaties and land rights.
Therefore, we feel the time has come to stand together and respect the words of our ancestors, to call for our treaties to be honored, and to bring together our communities and allies to celebrate the principles of Peace, Friendship and Respect.
At 2pm on April 28th, 2012, we will be gathering at Edinburgh Square, a Haudenosaunee park across from the Caledonia Fairgrounds in the Township of Caledonia and then we will peacefully march down Argyle St. to the site known as Kanonhstaton. At the site there will be a potluck, live music, games, activities and discussions to which all people – from Six Nations, Caledonia, and any other community – are invited to attend.
We believe that Peace, Respect and Friendship is worthy of a celebration. It is the basis of our relationship and belongs to us all. We look forward to building on these friendships and coming together once again.
In peace, respect and friendship,
Land Protectors of Kanonhstaton
For more information or to endorse this event:
Email: kanonhstaton@gmail.com
Website: www.april28coalition.wordpress.com
Twitter: @kanonhstaton
Facebook: Kanonhstaton Six Nations
Youtube.com/kanonhstaton
