Monday, February 25, 2008

Environmental Justice Conference

Why Green Isn't Enough: An Anti-Racist Anti-Colonial Environmentalism Conference

March 14-15 2008, Peterborough

Co-sponsored by PCAP

Check out the conference site for more details: http://whygreenisntenough.blogspot.com/

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Take Action - Support the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation

Stop Frontenac Ventures Corp. (FVC) uranium mining - Moratorium Now!
Free Political Prisoner Bob Lovelace!
Reverse all Court Decisions Relating to AAFN co-Chief Paula Sherman!

More information below or click HERE and HERE

For a listing of related Peterborough events click HERE
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Please consider offering financial support to the on-going struggle of the AAFN to reclaim their lands and resist FVC's destructive behavior targeting Turtle Island.

The AAFN is asking supporters to please send donations for legal fees and household maintenance. Cheques can be made out to "Chris Reid, in trust for the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation" and sent to the address below:
Christopher M. Reid
Barrister & Solicitor
154 Monarch Park Ave.
Toronto, ON M4J 4R6
Tel: (416) 466-9928
Fax: (416) 466-1852

To The Community Coalition Against Mining Uranium (CCAMU), whose mandate
is raising public awareness on the uranium issuing and achieving a moratorium.
Please make cheques out to: "Uranium Mining Moratorium Fund" and mail to: 83 Cockburn St., Perth, ON K7H 2B7
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Click HERE to sign the Petition to Dalton McGuinty urging him to respond to the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation proposal for resolution.

Be aware that after entering your name and e-mail address on the petition, it will take you to a screen requesting donations for iPetition. At this point your name has already been entered on the petition, and you are under no obligation to donate to iPetition.
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ARDOCH ALGONQUIN FIRST NATION
(613) 329-3706 omamikwe@bell.blackberry.net
Media Advisory - February 22, 2008

FREE BOB LOVELACE – RALLY
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m., Sat. February 23
Quinte Detention Centre, Napanee

Last week, AAFN Spokesperson Robert Lovelace was sentenced in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Kingston to 6 months incarceration and stiff fines for upholding Algonquin law forbidding uranium mining within our homeland. In addition, our community was fined $10,000 and Chief Paula Sherman $15,000, and our statement of defense was struck out, which means that we are forbidden from challenging the constitutional validity of Ontario’s Mining Act. With support from the lawyers representing Premier McGuinty and Michael Bryant, Ontario’s Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, the court made it clear that the interests of the mining industry trump the
rights of First Nations and all people who care about protecting our homeland.

Shouts of “shame!” erupted in the courtroom as the sentences were read by Justice Cunningham and Bob was taken into custody. Many were shocked by the harshness of the sentence imposed for participation in a peaceful protest against a uranium exploration project which was approved by McGuinty without any consultation with our community.

Chief Paula Sherman said: “No consideration was given to the circumstances that led to our actions. The testimony given under oath by Bob Lovelace outlined Algonquin Law and the corresponding responsibilities of Algonquin people with respect to human activity in our territory. Bob also testified that the government of Dalton McGuinty, and his Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Michael Bryant, have consistently refused to consult
with our community on uranium exploration. All this was tossed aside by the judge. The message delivered clearly is one of domination and oppression; the government of Ontario will enforce one set of values with respect to human relationships with the land and there is no room for First Nations laws or values.”

Bob Lovelace is now in jail in Quinte Correctional facility in Napanee. Chief Sherman said: “He is a prisoner of the government of Ontario, and the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation places blame for this mess on Premier McGuinty and Michael Bryant. We have repeatedly asked for consultations on the mineral claims on our lands. We have offered Ontario several options for consultations. Every option was rejected out of hand. Our
position is clear and just: Meaningful consultation must occur before any of our land is damaged or given away to mining companies.”

For more information, contact: Chief Paula Sherman (613) 329-3706
or Chris Reid (lawyer) (416) 666-2914
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ARDOCH ALGONQUIN FIRST NATION PRESS RELEASE:
February 19, 2008
Jailing Aboriginal Leaders to Promote Uranium Mining in Ontario

In a travesty of justice, AAFN Spokesperson Robert Lovelace was sentenced in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice in Kingston to 6 months incarceration and crippling fines amounting to $25,000 for upholding Algonquin law within our homeland. An additional sanction of $2,000 per day will be imposed for every day that Bob continues to obey our law rather than the court order.

In addition, our community was fined $10,000 and Chief Paula Sherman $15,000, and our statement of defense was struck out, which means that we are forbidden from challenging the constitutional validity of Ontario's Mining Act. The court made it clear that First Nations' laws do not exist in Canada legal system and anyone who tries to follow First Nations law will be severely punished.

Shouts of "shame!" erupted in the courtroom as the sentences were read by the judge and Robert was taken into custody. Many were aghast at the harshness of the sentencing imposed for participation in a peaceful protest against uranium exploration which was approved by the province of Ontario without any consultation with our community.

Chief Paula Sherman said: "No consideration was given to the circumstances that led to our actions. The testimony given under oath by Robert Lovelace outlined Algonquin Law and the corresponding responsibilities of Algonquin people with respect to human activity in our territory. It was tossed aside by the judge and deemed to be of no relevance. The message delivered clearly through this court decision is one of domination and oppression; the law will enforce one set of values with respect to human relationships with the land in Ontario and there is no room for Algonquin laws or values."

Ontario and Canada portray themselves as shining examples of democracy and human rights for the world to emulate, all the while creating laws, policies, and value systems that oppress and deny Aboriginal peoples' human right to life as distinct people. Robert testified that Algonquin identity is tied to the relationships that we maintain with the land.

Lovelace is now in jail in Quinte Correctional facility in Napanee. Chief Sherman said: "He is a political prisoner of the Government of Ontario and Ardoch Algonquin First Nation places blame for his incarceration on Premier Dalton McGuinty and the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, Michael Bryant. We have repeatedly asked for consultations on the mineral claims on our lands within the larger Algonquin homeland. We have offered Ontario a variety of options to enable consultation. Every option was rejected out of hand.

Ontario's position has been consistent: Drilling on our land must occur. Our position has equally been consistent: Meaningful consultation must occur before any of our land is damaged or alienated to mining companies.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

March 12 - Film on Migrant Workers

OPIRG, the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty (PCAP), and the KWIC Food Issues Working Group invite you to a free screening of the new documentary film:

LOS MEXICANOS: Le Combat de Patricia Pérez (2007)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 ~ 7:00 PM ~ SADLEIR HOUSE LECTURE HALL
751 George Street North at Parkhill

Everyone is welcome. The lecture hall is wheelchair accessible.

Film Description: Sometimes we ignore the exploitation of workers on our own doorstep. In 2006, nearly 4,000 Latin Americans and West Indians came to Quebec to work on farms. The men, most of them Mexican, fill Canada's labour needs under the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP). Isolated by geography and language, they work in conditions that are hard to imagine. Patricia Pérez is founder of a support group for migrant workers that is funded by the Quebec chapter of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW). She helps as many as she can, informing them of their rights and organizing union drives. Her fight will not be easy.

A discussion with Lincoln Ellis from the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) will follow the film.

Vist http://www.opirgpeterborough.ca/ or call 741-1208 for more information.

Black History Month Events

BLACK HISTORY MONTH - Peterborough ~ February 2008

- Feb 14th, 5:30pm, St. John's Anglican Church - Potluck dinner with a BHM focus,. Hosted by New Canadian Centre. Afrocentric Awareness Network of the Kawarthas (AANK) will present a participatory fun activity. FREE.

- Feb 23rd, 11am – 3pm, Market Hall - Blues Festival Family day with music, art, and face painting. AANK will participate. FREE.

- Feb 23rd, 7pm, Market Hall – Fundraiser for Zimbabwian school. Hosted by Africville and DJ WHO. Featuring Adam Solomon and his ull-force band, MC Eternia, Chet Singh, Klyde Broox, and others. Admission: $20.

- Feb 28th, 7pm, Prince of Wales Elementary School - Live Performance: *…And Freedom For All. *(Featuring* *Beau Dixon and others). PWES, 1211 Monaghan Road (corner of Sherbrooke). Presented by Kawartha World Issues Centre and Heritage Pavillon Stage. $5/person, $10/ family, or pay what you can.

- Feb 27th, 7pm, Sadlier House - OPIRG is screening two movies: * Journey to Justice & Black Mother, Black Daughter. *FREE.

- Community and Race Relations Committee are showing *Speakers for the Dead* to various elementary and high schools in Peterborough. If you or your school are interested, please contact Mike at racerelation@gmail.com

Watch for Black History Month displays at the Peterborough Public Library – Downtown Branch (Afrocentric Awareness Network of the Kawarthas), Fleming College - Brealey Campus (Fleming College Diversity Office), and Trent University Bata Library (Trent African and Caribbean Students' Union.

For more information, , http://racerelationspeterborough.org/, http://www.kwic.info/, http://aank.org/ or please contact the Community and Race Relations Committee at 742-9658 or racerelation@gmail.com

Presented by the Community and Race Relations Committee of Peterborough, the Afrocentric Awareness Network of the Kawarthas, the Trent African and Caribbean Students' Union, the Kawartha World Issues Centre, OPIRG-Peterborough, the New Canadians Centre, Trent University Frost Centre for Canadian Studies and Native Studies, Heritage Pavilion Stage, Prince of Wales Elementary School, Africville, DJWho, and Fleming College Diversity Office.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Building Movements Against Apartheid

Building Movements Against Apartheid: From South Africa to Palestine to Canada

Sunday 2 March 2008
11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Peterborough Public Library
345 Aylmer Street North

Panel Speakers:

*Adam Hanieh, Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid and co-author of Stolen Youth: The Politics of Israel’s Detention of Palestinian Children (2004)

*Paula Sherman, Co-Chief of the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation and Indigenous Studies Professor at Trent University.

*Salim Vally, South African activist and former regional executive member of the high school South African Student's Movement (SASM). He is the chairperson of the Palestine Solidarity Committee and the Anti-War Coalition in South Africa and is currently a visiting scholar at the School of Social Sciences at York University.

A Canadian news documentary on 'Canada Park' will also be screened. Built over three destroyed Palestinian villages, Canada Park serves the Israeli public as a recreation area. The documentary reveals the complicity of the Jewish National Fund of Canada, which enjoys charitable status, in ethnic cleansing, land expropriation and occupation.

For more information email: peterboroughcps@gmail.com or visit this LINK

2008: Finish The Job!

Shawn Brant Speaks on Mohawk Militancy and the Struggle for Aboriginal Rights

Tuesday 26 February 2008
3:00-5:00 p.m.

The Great Hall, Champlain College, Trent University

All Welcome

Sponsored by Trent University Department of Canadian Studies, Political Studies, History, Sociology, and Indigenous Studies as well as the Peterborough Coalition Against Poverty and Champlain College.

Background Information HERE

Monday, February 4, 2008

Laibar Singh - Update on the National Days of Action

http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2008/02/laibar-singh-en.html

Laibar Singh is a paralyzed refugee claimant facing deportation to India. He is currently in sanctuary inside the Guru Nanak Gurudwara (Sikh temple) in Surrey, British Columbia.

Between January 25-29, 2008, eleven cities and towns across Canada participated in support actions, delegations and awareness-raising events in solidarity with Laibar Singh. Activities were held in Halifax, Fredericton, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto, Guelph, London and Vancouver/Surrey.

Together, from Halifax to Vancouver, Laibar's supporters were demanding that the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Minister Stockwell Day respect Laibar Singh's sanctuary, and that Laibar be granted permanent residency.

Across the Canadian state, protesters were showing their solidarity with the inspiring mobilizations, led by the South Asian community, in support of Laibar. The national actions also aimed to counter the racist backlash against Laibar Singh and the South Asian community, due to deliberate misinformation by the CBSA and some media outlets.

-> Click here for a PHOTO-REPORT from the National Days of Action in Support of Laibar Singh.

-> Click here to read an OPEN LETTER: Montreal Supports Laibar Singh!

-> Click here for VIDEO of a demonstration in support of Laibar Singh and Kader Belaouni at the Greater Toronto Enforcement Center.

-> Click here to read a NEWS COMPILATION relating to Laibar Singh.

-> For BACKGROUND and up-to-date information about Laibar Singh, visit both:
http://supportlaibar.blogspot.com
and
http://noii-van.resist.ca