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EVENTOS
#39
OTTAWA-OUTAOUAIS
SOCIAL FORUM
A Community Carnival for Change!
Submissions Call-Out!
Consider being a part of the Social Forum from May 2-4, 2003!
The Ottawa-Outaouais Social Forum (OOSF) is a
community-based project inspired by similar events happening around the world,
like the World Social Forum in Porto Alegré, Brazil. The social forum process
was created with the goal of building a culture of participatory democracy in
the region, forging new links among groups and individuals working for social
change, and generally developing a stronger, more dynamic and connected
community.
The OOSF will bring together progressive people
and groups to share and explore creative ways to engage in social justice
issues, promote sustainability, strengthen our community and work to improve
quality of life for ourselves, others and future generations.
The Social Forum is not a conference. It will be
a dynamic meeting of social movements - a great opportunity for dialogue,
discussion, debate, creative action and mobilization, for building networks in
the region, and for promoting campaigns and initiatives. In a carnival
atmosphere, the Social Forum will offer a diverse range of activities with many
objectives in mind, such as building political and economic literacy; creating
participatory democracy in and outside of electoral politics; and energizing,
engaging and inspiring each other.
The OOSF will be held in downtown Ottawa at
various locations. The city council chambers (with translation equipment) will
host some larger, common events while meeting rooms and "open spaces"
will be found at city hall and nearby locations.
Social Forum Program
The idea is for the community to create the
program of the forum, thus giving it a composition that reflects the issues
facing our region, on both sides of the river. Accordingly, we are inviting
anyone to envision workshops, testimonies, cultural activities, panels, films,
participatory theatre exercises, presentations, musical offerings or other
events of interest that fit with the vision and themes of the OOSF (see the web
site, and below). When you are sure the event will take place, please take the
time to submit your proposal. Or, if you're still planning, contact the Program
Committee (via Casey Roberts) to see if a similar idea has already been
proposed.
The following themes have been drafted to give
focus to the forum and to help inspire and guide participants:
- Linking Local and Global Action
- Participating, Sharing & Shaping
Alternatives
- Healthy Environment, Healthy People
- Claiming our Human Rights: A Region free from
Poverty, Discrimination and Injustice
- Celebrating Arts and Culture and their role
in Change
To submit proposals:
Proposals can be geared to groups from 15 to 150
in 30, 60 or 90 minute blocs. Or they may be for a more ongoing, "free
form" activity that has no definite length of time. Events are
self-organized and self-financing, though some equipment may be available, such
as translation equipment.
The Ottawa-Outaouais Social Forum will provide
infrastructure, outreach and promotion, and support services to ensure
accessibility. We welcome and encourage both submissions in French and
English.
Submissions can be made:
- through the website;
- by e-mail to casey@autobookcomp.com;
- by mail or phone to
Casey Roberts (attn: OOSF),
304 Somerset St. E.,
Ottawa, K1N 6W1, 613-237-6511;
and should provide a title, brief description,
including target audience, anticipated size and language(s), organizing group
and contact person.
We urge interested participants to submit their
proposals by April 1 st so t hat we can start organizing a program for the forum
with adequate time. Proposals can still be submitted after April 1 st , but we
cannot guarantee your event will be printed in the program after this time,
though we will do our best. Please appreciate the number of events and venues we
are trying to coordinate.
To get involved:
We encourage all to become involved. We hold
Community Meetings roughly every three weeks and have an active committee system
in place. For more information, call the OOSF line at 613-728-7687.
Next Community Meeting: Week of March 31 st .
See the website for details on the meeting, the committees and contacts.
http://socialforum.digitalindependence.org
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PARTICIPATE
IN THE TORONTO SOCIAL FORUM
The Toronto Social Forum is just around the
corner. On Friday, March 28, the kick off event, Artists Against Empire, will
rock the Music Hall on the Danforth. Writers, bands, singers and performance
artists from The Prize Budget for Boy to Lillian Allan to Shyam Selvadurai will
perform in opposition to war.
Doors open at 7 pm and the show starts at 8 pm.
This is the first big artists rally against the war and your participation will
make it is a success.
On Saturday and Sunday at Ryerson's Jorgenson
Hall, community groups have organized more than 80 workshops on a wide variety
of topics and struggles. Most of the focus is on alternatives to globalization
and strategies for change. The panels and workshops will provide a wealth of
discussion, cultural events and interactive dialogue on every topic that
interests you.
In the social forum spirit we are combining fun
and politics. Saturday at 4 pm we will host a soiree with musicians, poets and
others entertaining you while you sip wine, nibble finger foods, and mingle
among the different groups with tables. Then on Sunday we will take the streets
in the most creative and colourful anti-war demonstration you've ever
seen.
Join the Toronto Social Forum and be part of
making a better world and a better Toronto possible. Registration for the entire
week-end including lunches is only $40. Pay what you can for those who can't
afford it. You must pre-register for daycare, ASL and for lunch. Pre-registering
also gets you a reserved seat at the Friday night event which is sure to be sold
out.
Register here: www.torontosocialforum.ca/register2.html
And for more information www.torontosocialforum.ca.
Or call 416-979-5000x7046 / email: tsf@ryerson.ca
Judy Rebick CAW-Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy Ryerson
University 416 979-5000 ext 6169 www.ryerson.ca/socialjustice
TORONTO SOCIAL FORUM EVENTS COMING UP
FEBRUARY 15 and MARCH 28 - 30! CHECK OUT THE WEBSITE: www.torontosocialforum.ca
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THE
WORLD UNITES FOR APRIL 12 International Day of Action
On April 12 -- in addition to the National March
on Washington DC and joint actions in San Francisco and Los Angeles -- massive
and coordinated demonstrations will take place around the world, in the Middle
East, Latin America, Africa, Asia and Europe.
In England, the Stop the War Coalition UK -- the
group that organized over 1.5 million people to demonstrate in London on
February 15 -- will hold their next national demonstration on April 12. See
http://www.stopwar.org.uk for more information.
In past months, massive demonstrations on
January 18 and February 15-16 were the decisive factor in changing the political
climate contributing to the political isolation of George W. Bush, Tony Blair
and their war plans. There have been many other huge demonstrations in the
United States and around the world on October 26, March 15 and March 22. The
whole world is now taking to the streets in almost daily protests. April 12 will
be another opportunity for a coming together in vast numbers to show the
continuing and growing power of the anti-war movement.
Stop the War Coalition UK, A.N.S.W.E.R.
Coalition and German anti-war organizers have put out a joint call to rally
international participation on April 12. It reads in part: "It is becoming
clear to millions that this is not a war for Iraqi liberation but a bloody
military invasion. ... further coordinated international action can make it
difficult for [Bush and Blair] to continue the carnage. ... We call on the
anti-war movements to organize the next day of global capital city protests on
April 12."
Protests are already scheduled for Brazil,
Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, South Korea, the Philippines, Italy and Sweden,
in addition to England, Germany and the U.S. Other protests are currently in the
planning stages and will be announced soon.
FOR MORE INFORMATION about the National March to
Surround the White House in Washington DC and joint actions in San Francisco
&Los Angeles, go to http://www.internationalanswer.org
Email circulated by: A.N.S.W.E.R.
Coalition Act Now to Stop War &End Racism
New York 212-633-6646
Washington 202-544-3389
Los Angeles 213-487-2368
San Francisco 415-821-6545
"Let us not love in word: but in deed and
in truth." 1 John 3:18
IFCO/Pastors for Peace
402 W 145th Street, New York,
NY 10031 212-926-5757;
fax: 212-926-5842;
web: http://www.ifconews.org
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10
de abril, HUELGA GENERAL DE 24h
CNT
de la Comunidad de Madrid
Pensamos que la gravedad de la situación lo
exige. La ciudadanía, sin distinción de siglas ni ideologías, tiene derecho a
expresar su rechazo contundente a una guerra en la que el gobierno, con un
desprecio absoluto por el sentir mayoritario, nos ha embarcado. No queremos
pasar a la historia como uno de los países pioneros en la creación de un orden
mundial basado en el interés económico, el abuso de poder y el desprecio por
las mínimas normas de convivencia y respeto. No queremos ser cómplices de una
masacre que tendrá consecuencias en forma de odio difícil de superar,
sufrimiento y desarraigo para futuras generaciones.
Debemos expresar nuestra lejanía y desacuerdo
con unos gobernantes que no representan nuestros sentimientos de paz y deseo de
convivencia pacífica; que usan la mentira, las verdades a medias y la
manipulación informativa para enmascarar lo que no es sino una agresión
injustificable. Debemos hacerles rectificar su posición. Desde los sindicatos
de la Comunidad de Madrid de la CNT-AIT, pensamos que la Huelga General es el
mejor medio para acabar con la barbarie. Es la herramienta indispensable de los
trabajadores y trabajadoras y de la sociedad en general para materializar el
sentimiento unánime antibelicista que hemos demostrado todos y todas a lo largo
y ancho de la geografía desde que esta guerra comenzó a fraguarse en los
despachos de los "ASESINOS".
¡ CUANDO LAS PALABRAS NO SON SUFICIENTES...
SOLO NOS QUEDA LA ACCION !
10 DE ABRIL, HUELGA GENERAL DE 24h.
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From The Canadian Autoworkers Union (CAW)
Subject: Demonstration for Peace and Justice - May 4th, Ottawa, Canada
Greetings, On May 5th of this year the President
of the United States is scheduled to make a State visit to Canada. Together with
other unions and community activists our union needs to be there on the eve of
his visit to reinforce with our government our opposition to the arbitrary
actions of the United States.
Whether it's attacking countries like Iraq,
against the wishes of most of the rest of the world or imposing trade regimes
like the WTO that attack our job security - the actions of this super power are
of growing concern to Canadian workers. We need to make sure that our government
hears that message of concern loud and clear on Sunday, May 4th.
The massive and unprecedented peace
demonstrations seen around the world have shown that some of our leaders can be
influenced by a show of strength from ordinary people. Here in Canada there is
no doubt that the decision of our own government to not participate in a war
without UN approval was influenced by the support of the Canadian public for
that position.
We are producing flyers which will be available
shortly to explain why we feel it's important to mobilize our leadership and
members to get to Ottawa. We have speakers who are available from the National
office to attend membership or executive board meetings to explain the need to
take action at this critical time in history.
We are currently holding a number of buses that
the National Union will cost-share for any local that can mobilize participation
in Ottawa.
I have asked Jack Tubman to work on the details
of the CAW's representation in this important event and he will be calling you
soon about your locals participation.
For further information or to book a bus, call
Jack at 1-800-268-5763 ext. 464.
As many eloquent speakers at the peace rallies
have said what we have at this point in history is two super powers - the United
States and the power of the people. Let's make sure that the CAW flags are
flying high in Ottawa on May 4th.
In solidarity,
Basil 'Buzz' Hargrove
President
bh:cp:dbopeiu343
cc: National Representatives - Ontario.
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