February 1
CETA & Toronto: What You Need to Know
7:00-9:00 p.m.
Toronto City Hall, room 4 (Queen & Bay streets), Toronto, ON
Free event! All welcome.
Guest speakers:
- Angelo DiCaro, CAW National Representative, Communications Department
- Stuart Trew, National Trade Campaigner, Council of Canadians
The proposed Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) threatens water, health care, daycare and other services you depend on everyday. At a time where local, sustainable policies are necessary CETA is a step backwards, holding Toronto from becoming a more equal, sustainable place to live.
Already over 20 municipal governments have requested to be excluded from the EU deal and a motion for Toronto to follow suit is currently being considered by city council.
Come hear how CETA would impact our city and what you can do to get our city excluded from this unfair trade deal.
More information:
February 8
(Un)Lawful Access Legislation – Ottawa Forum
The Council of Canadians is proud to co-sponsor an important event in Ottawa next month on Harper’s online spying legislation. As the event page describes, “The government is trying to push through a set of electronic surveillance laws that will invade your privacy and cost you money. The plan is to force every phone and Internet provider to allow ‘authorities’ to collect the private information of any Canadian, at any time, without a warrant.”
There is international pressure on Canada from the United States and European Union to grant Canadian law enforcement agents the same powers to snoop as exist in those countries. Canada is negotiating a perimeter security agreement with the United States that would harmonize many security and intelligence gathering practises with U.S. norms. Canada is also expected to eventually ratify a European treaty related to the gathering and sharing of criminal and watchlist data. You can learn more about “lawful access” and sign a petition against Harper’s proposed legislation at StopSpying.ca. There is also a Facebook page up here with directions to the event. Or click on “more” to see the event details.
Wednesday, Feb. 8, 6 - 10 p.m. Amphitheatre - St. Paul University 223 Main Street, Ottawa, ON
AGENDA:
- 6:00-7:00 pm Book launch — The Internet Tree; The State of Telecom Policy in Canada 3.0
- Refreshments (in the Atrium next to the Amphitheatre)
- 7:00 - 7:30 (Un)Lawful Access — a mini-documentary that features some of Canada’s leading legal and privacy experts, who explain the dangers of the federal government’s impending “Lawful Access” legislation, dubbed “Online Spying” by Canadians. (15min) — Moving Toward a Surveillance Society — mini-documentary from the B.C. Civil Liberties Association presenting the findings of new report on proposed law. (10 min)
- 7:30-8:30 Technical Panel + questions - Christopher Parsons Lawful Access: Stepping towards a harmonized surveillance complex? — Kirsten R. Embree Devil in the details: what will be the impact on ISPs? more to come…..
- 8:45-9:30 Political Panel + questions Moderator: Michael Geist — Charlie Angus, NDP — Elizabeth May, Green Party more to come…..
- 9:30 Summary; actions; continuing activities
SPONSORING ORGANIZATIONS: Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA), Canadian Internet Policy and Public Interest Clinic (CIPPIC), Council of Canadians (COC), International Civil Liberties Monitoring Group (ICLMG), National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE), OpenMedia, Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC), The Rideau Institute, More to come…
MEDIA SPONSOR: Rabble.ca
Download poster
February 12
Earth Dream Film Series: A Little Black Schoolhouse
Making a Difference: Inspirational Stories of Change is the theme of this year's Earth Dream film series to be held at the Mahone Bay Centre on Sunday afternoons this winter in Mahone Bay, NS.
The third film in the series, A Little Black School House, will be shown on February 12th at 2 p.m. Through interviews with former students and teachers, the film highlights poignant stories from Nova Scotia's segregated schools, as well as some footage from Ontario. Moving, provocative and insightful, this film showcases the impact of the participants efforts to bring equal access to education to all Nova Scotians. Following the film, there will be a discussion led by Amanda Reddick and Tionda Cain. Amanda's background in Peace and Conflict Studies complements her passion for community building and social justice. Amanda is a certified Dialogue for Peaceful Change Mediator and is interested in processes that lead to healing and building an Afri-centric approach to counselling and diversity work. Tionda, a social worker, works with women around issues of domestic violence as well as being the Creative Body Mind Spirit Coordinator of the Tatamagouche Centre. Tionda is passionate about working for social justice as well as for transformation and healing in Black communities.
There is no cost for the films. Donations welcome. For further information, contact the South Shore Chapter of the Council of Canadians at southshore.coc@gmail.com or call 527-2928.
February 13
Movie Night
Screening of The Age of Stupid
7:00 (92 minutes)
John M. Cuelenaere Public Library, 125 12 Street East, Prince Albert, AB
Free admission, everyone welcome
Co-sponsored by Prince Albert chapter of The Council of Canadians and Cinema Politica
February 18
Vancouver: The campaign to end the blockade of Gaza - Canada's role
7:00-10:00 p.m. Alice McKay Room-Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia, Vancouver, BC
Free admission
Please join us to hear Ehab Lotayef, Poet and activist from Montreal, will give his first-hand account of the Freedom Waves to Gaza initiative when Irish and Canadian boats tried to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza last November.
Lotayef was on board the Canadian Boat – Tahrir - when the Israeli navy took it over in international waters and imprisoned all people on board. When asked about their destination, the reply was, "Our course is the conscience of humanity". Freedom Waves are part of an ongoing global solidarity movement challenging the blockade of Gaza and working to free Palestine.
Introduction by Libby Davies.
Organized by the Vancouver Committee of the Canadian Boat to Gaza
This talk is part of a national tour organized by the Canadian Boat to Gaza and sponsored by: The Council of Canadians, Canadian Auto Workers Union, Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Canadian Peace Alliance, Independent Jewish Voices, Canadian Arab Federation.
For more info please visit www.tahrir.ca. Download poster.
March 4
Earth Dream Film Series: A Small Act
Making a Difference: Inspirational Stories of Change is the theme of this year's Earth Dream film series to be held at the Mahone Bay Centre on Sunday afternoons this winter in Mahone Bay, NS.
Last in the series, on March 4 at 2:00pm is A Small Act. The film tells of Holocaust survivor Hilde Back who decides to sponsor a young, rural Kenyan student. An educator, Ms Back was glad to be able to contribute and expected nothing in return. What she received was a visit from that young student, now a Harvard graduate and human rights lawyer for the United Nations. Through the course of events leading to their face to face meeting we see the ripple effect of one small act. A general discussion on how we can make a difference in our local community as well as globally, will follow the screening.
There is no cost for the films. Donations welcome. For further information, contact the South Shore Chapter of the Council of Canadians at southshore.coc@gmail.com or call 527-2928.
March 14-17
ALTERNATIF WORLD WATER FORUM
WATER FOR LIFE, NOT FOR PROFIT
From March 14 to 17, 2012, the Alternative World Water Forum (FAME or Forum Alternatif Mondial de l’Eau) will be held in Marseilles, France. This event is being organized by associations and movements; trade unions, NGOs, citizens and local authorities from all over the world.
Download: FAME Leaflet
If you would like to contribute to FAME or find out more about how you can participate:
www.fame2012.org
Facebook – FAME Alternative World Water Forum
international@fame2012.org
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Du 14 au 17 Mars
FORUM ALTERNATIF MONDIALDE L’EAU
L’EAU SOURCE DE VIE PAS DE PROFIT
Du 14 au 17 mars 2012, le Forum Alternatif Mondial de l’Eau se tiendra à Marseille.
Cet événement est organisé par des associations, mouvements, syndicats et ONG, citoyens et autorités locales du monde entier.
Télécharger : Dépliant FAME
Si tu veux contribuer au FAME ou avoir plus d’information sur comment participer :
www.fame2012.org/fr
Facebook – FAME Alternative World Water Forum
Twitter @famemarseille
Contact : contactpaca@fame2012.org
March 17
Power Shift: A Sustainable Future for Saskatchewan's Electricity
Featuring Dr. Mark Bigland-Pritchard of Saskatoon
1:30 p.m. Michael Hall, 3rd Floor, St. Peter’s Abbey, Muenster, SK (Highway #5 – 10 kms East of Humboldt)
Dr. Bigland-Pritchard is an experienced energy and green building consultant, with two engineering degrees and a PhD in architectural physics. He taught energy studies at two British universities and is now lead researcher for Green Energy Project Saskatchewan.
He will give an overview of the options available to green our grid, noting both strengths and challenges, and set out a rough framework for transition from our present fossil-dependent system to a fully renewable-based generation mix.
In his presentation, he will answer the following questions: What is wrong with the way we generate electricity now? Is there a better way? What would a sustainable electricity mix look like? How can we get there? What are the challenges we need to overcome? What benefits will we obtain? Is this all affordable?
Sponsored by Quill Plains Chapter, Council of Canadians
More information, contact Elaine Hughes at 323-4938 or Bill Curry at 554-2985.
March 22 (World Water Day)
Movie Night
Screening of Crude Sacrifice
7:00 (52 minutes)
John M. Cuelenaere Public Library, 125 12 Street East, Prince Albert, AB
Free admission, everyone welcome
Co-sponsored by Prince Albert chapter of The Council of Canadians and Cinema Politica
May 7
Movie Night
Screening of Culture of Resistance
7:00 (73 minutes)
John M. Cuelenaere Public Library, 125 12 Street East, Prince Albert, AB
Free admission, everyone welcome
Co-sponsored by Prince Albert chapter of The Council of Canadians and Cinema Politica
