CANADIAN LABOUR-MOOSE JAW:

AN XL BEEF BOYCOTT -FINALLY:

Last November 24 Molly reported (one of three reports on the subject here at Molly's Blog) on the call on the part of locked out workers at XL Foods in Moose Jaw Saskatchewan for a boycott of XL products. At the time I had some rather harsh words for the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour (SFL) and their hesitation in calling for such a boycott. That hesitation, I am happy to say, is over, and the SFL has called for a boycott in support of the workers who have been locked out since the beginning of last September. Better late than never I guess. Here's the story from The Canadian Cattlemen.

MJMJMJMJMJMJMJ

Sask. unions call for XL boycott over lockout:
With no new talks in sight to end a lockout at XL Foods' beef processing plant at Moose Jaw, Sask., the province's labour leaders have called for a boycott of the Alberta parent company's beef.

As of Wednesday, the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW Canada) Local 1400, which represents 200 employees at the Moose Jaw plant, reported no bargaining dates have been set and XL Foods has yet to respond since the workers voted in October to reject its last offer.

The workers, who have been without a contract since the end of January, came back in September from a five-month shutdown to be greeted by a company-imposed lockout, then rejected an XL Foods contract offer later that month.

"XL Foods locked out those workers to put pressure on them to accept concessions at the bargaining table," the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour said in a statement.

The Regina-based SFL, the overarching body for unionized labour in the province, urged in its statement that consumers "ask where (the) meat comes from" at grocery stores and meat markets, and not to buy if the answer is XL Foods.

"If you are at a restaurant, ask where the beef is coming from; if the answer is XL Foods, consider some other product," the SFL said.

It also recommended that consumers ask those questions every time they buy beef, as businesses may switch suppliers often for better pricing.

UFCW president Norm Neault said recently members have been distributing leaflets with the same general message.

Neault said he had yet to hear from XL but recently had heard from a provincial conciliator.

Unionized employees walking the line at the Moose Jaw facility recently got a boost in picket pay, he said, as affiliated unions in the U.S. raised money to support the locked-out staff.

That news was offset by a recent ruling from the federal Employment Insurance program, which according to Neault said the locked-out workers are not entitled to EI benefits relating to their layoffs beyond XL's originally scheduled recall date of Sept. 28, 2009. The company by that time had announced the lockout.

The UFCW noted that its Local 401 is also currently in talks with XL at the company's Calgary beef plant. UFCW-represented staff at that plant have been working under the terms of their last contract, which expired at the end of March 2009.

Bargaining sessions between the union and XL in Calgary are scheduled for Feb. 23 and 25, UFCW staff in Regina said.

Bargaining is also expected to begin in early 2010 for unionized staff at XL's plant at Brooks, Alta.

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR:

LABOUR VIDEO OF THE YEAR CONTEST:

The online labour solidarity site Labour Start is holding its first "labour video of the year" contest. Here's their call for nominations.

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Labour video of the year‏:
For the first time ever, Labour Start is sponsoring a Labour Video of the Year competition, open to trade unionists and film-makers from around the world.

Videos submitted must be on the web, and less than 10 minutes long. They must focus primarily on work, workers or worker's issues.

You do not have to be the owner or producer of a video to nominate it.

Please submit your nominations before midnight GMT on 15 February 2010.

Our international panel of judges will prepare a shortlist, with voting expected to take place in March 2010.

Winners will be announced after two weeks of online voting and winning films will screened at the Labour Start conference in July 2010.

There will be prizes for the winning videos, to be announced soon.

Spread the word -- pass this message on to friends, fellow union members, co-workers and anyone who know who might have suggestions for the best labour videos out there.
Thanks!

Eric Lee

MOUVEMENT ANARCHISTE DU CANADA/CANADIAN ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-SAGUENAY:

LE PIC-BOIS/THE WOODPECKER:

Voici des nouvelles d'un nouvelle bulletin anarchiste de l'Emma Goldman Collectif, le groupe de l'UCL à Saguenay, au Québec. Ces nouvelles venaient à Molly via le blogue Voix De Faits.

Here's news of a new aanarchist newsletter from the Collectif Emma Goldman, the UCL group in Saguenay Québec. This news came to Molly via the Voix De Faits blog.

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Launch of our regional newsletter

"The Pic-Bois" ( The Woodpecker):

The Pic-Bois is an anarchist newsletter from Saguenay, published for the first time at the beginning of 2010 and available on the web. A boisterous and rebellious bird , the Pic-Bois is very critical of the situation of the peripheral regions ( "resource regions") and puts forward the construction of alternative social and popular power to change society here and now.


You can send us your comments by writing to ucl.saguenay@causecommune.net . If you like the newsletter and want to distribute in your community, please contact the collective.


The Pic-Bois is available online at this address.


With its strong bill, the woodpecker enters a difficult hole, but with the strength of numbers it will overcome!
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Sortie de notre bulletin régional « Le Pic-Bois »:
Le Pic-Bois est un bulletin à tendance anarchiste du Saguenay, publié pour la première fois en ce début d’année 2010 et disponible sur le web. Oiseau tapageur et rebelle, le Pic-Bois est très critique de la situation des régions périphériques (« régions ressources ») et met de l’avant la construction d’alternatives sociales et d’un pouvoir populaire pour changer la société ici et maintenant.


Vous pouvez nous faire part de vos commentaires en écrivant à ucl.saguenay@causecommune.net . Si le bulletin vous plaît et que vous voulez le diffuser dans votre milieu, n’hésitez pas à contacter le collectif.



Le Pic-Bois est disponible en ligne à cette adresse


Avec son bec solide, le pic-bois s’engage dans un perçage difficile, mais avec la force du nombre il vaincra!

CANADIAN LABOUR-WINNIPEG:

A WOBBLY OFFER:

As many Winnipegers know nurses at St. Boniface Hospital have voted in favour of strike action though no definitive date has been set. The Winnipeg Wobbly Blog has an article on this, and, just like in the Manitoba Hydro strike, they are opening up their blog to comments from the workers affected. Here's the story and the offer.

WWWWWWWWWWWW

St. Boniface nurses vote to strike and the 'Wobbly Offer':
This is something we will be following in the up coming weeks.

CBC News - Manitoba - St. Boniface nurses vote to strike

Nurses at Winnipeg's St. Boniface General Hospital have voted 78 per cent in favour of strike action but have not set a strike deadline.

A little more than a third of the 1,400 nurses who work at the hospital voted Monday.

The president of the Local 5 of the Manitoba Nurses Union, Debbie Mintz, said Monday night there is no plan to strike just yet.

"Our intention is to return to the table to negotiate in February and for the rest of the dates that are scheduled, with an empowerment by the nurses at St. Boniface to get a final contract that does not include the rollbacks," Mintz said.

Mintz said the hospital wants concessions on overtime and the awarding of positions on the basis of seniority.

She said the contract has for 35 years awarded positions on the basis of seniority provided nurses meet qualifications.

"We certainly know that 78 per cent of the nurses that turned up here tonight are adamant that the final contract should not have rollbacks in [it]," she said.

The nurses have been without a contract since the end of last September.
Read more:

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/02/02/nurses-strike.html#ixzz0eUzCjSdu

::::THE WOBBLY OFFER:::

We would also like to send out a call to all members of the Manitoba Nurses Union: We want to here from you! This blog is a blog for, by, and about workers, so we want to hear your experiences at work, your feelings on the strike vote, gripes with the unions and the bosses, anything coming up. This is your soap box! Drop us an email at: winnipegiww@hotmail.com .

CANADIAN POLITICS-ONTARIO:

PRE-BUDGET "CONSULTATION" IN ONTARIO:

Every once in awhile governments get the strange urge to pretend that they are actually listening to the people that they rule. This perverse desire usually passes fast enough, but sometimes it becomes ritualized, with all the all the pageantry and comprehensibility of the Latin Mass. The government of Ontario is now engaged in such a ritual. Here's what the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) thinks of the process.

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On the Provincial Pre-Budget Consultations: Call to Action:‏
This article is available at:

http://www.ocap.ca/

www.socialistproject.ca/bullet/304.php

And soon to be available on Rabble.ca

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A Call to Action Against the Cuts to Come:

Submission on the Ontario Provincial Pre-Budget ‘consultations’

Liisa Schofield and John Clarke

The Ontario Government’s pre-budget consultations are currently underway at Queen’s Park. The Federal budget is set to be released at the beginning of March (that is unless Harper decides for another spontaneous vacation), with the Ontario Budget, and most Provincial budgets, then set to be released by the end of March or beginning of April.

It will, no doubt, be the same tired old routine. Agencies, services, and organizations will line up to sing for their supper in front of the all-party Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. The committee will be sent the same message that the government has gotten and ignored time and time again – that people in this province are suffering, that the people of Ontario cannot handle further cuts to programs or cuts to jobs, that their poverty reduction strategy is failing and that this province desperately needs to see a raise in funding for social assistance, childcare, and education.

Poor and working class people living in this province have a lot to worry about in this year’s budget. We are in an economic crisis and both the Federal and Provincial governments have made more than thinly veiled threats of cuts to come in the name of reducing bloated deficits.

With so much to lose, we cannot afford to put our faith in the pre-budget consultations process. Instead of playing their game and politely pleading our case behind closed doors, we are making our submission to the poor and working class people in Ontario – the vast majority of people in this province. This is our call to action.

The ghosts of Flaherty’s past:

Dear rest-of-Canada: take it from Ontario, with Flaherty at the helm of Canada’s economy we can be sure that some brutal times are ahead. Our old friend, Mr. Jim Flaherty was the man wielding the ax in Ontario’s Tory Regime in the 90’s – slashing all services and attacking the public sector without blinking. We should be terrified of his plans on the Federal level because Harper appointed him to do to Canada what he already did to Ontario.

Flaherty will be working hand-in-hand with the newly appointed President of the Treasury Board Stockwell Day – a man who is known not only for his belief that dinosaurs and humans walked the earth together, but also for his ‘Say No’ attitude when it comes to social spending. Harper has stated that “it is essential that the government limit public spending,” and that “the provinces will have to make some of the same difficult decisions we are making…”(http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-warns-provinces-will-be-cutting-back-too/article1439826/).

Harper, Flaherty, Day: this is an all-star line-up from neo-liberal hell. We should be under no illusions that they will ‘play nice’ this time around. Dwight Duncan fills Flaherty’s shoes: What Flaherty and Harper have called ‘belt-tightening’, is what Ontario Minister of Finance Dwight Duncan calls “difficult choices ahead" (http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/714276--ontario-deficit-billions-more-than-expected).

In October, Dwight Duncan announced that Ontario was facing a deficit of $24.7 billion dollars. Immediate speculation began on where cuts would be made. Will it be Healthcare? Will it be the Public sector? Will it be Social Assistance? Will it be ‘Dalton Days’? Clearly, the option of NOT making cuts to the basic needs of poor and working people was never on the table. On December 7, 2009, the Ontario Provincial Auditor’s report was released.

A major section of the Auditor’s report was dedicated to Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program. The report launches one attack after another on social assistance recipients from claims of massive overpayments to fraud. These attacks are all too familiar - we see them every time capitalism is in crisis. Nobody is surprised when the governments looks to blame poor people for the Province’s financial woes –it’s the perfect distraction from the fact that the deficit was caused by tax cuts to the rich and bailouts for banks and big business.

The Auditor’s report fits perfectly within this ‘blame the poor’ plan and this supposed ‘external and independent review’ has become the primary tool of the Provincial government to legitimize cuts to services in the name of ‘efficiency’ and ‘fiscal responsibility’ (See: http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_2009_en.htm).

How did we get here?

In 1995, Ontario Works was slashed by 21.6% by none other than Jim Flaherty, then Ontario’s Finance Minister under the leadership of Premier Mike Harris. The Common Sense Revolution in Ontario saw significant tax cuts for the rich while social programs and public services were being devastated. In 2003, the Liberals were elected to power on the promise of an end to the poverty regime. These empty promises have done nothing to end poverty.

The reality is that today people in Ontario in many ways are worse off than 15 years ago. Social assistance rates have been raised by a total of 6% since 2003. The government may try to fool us into thinking they have made positive changes, but the truth is that today, people on social assistance are living on rates that have been reduced by 40% when you take into account the cost of living increase. Six percent is such a small increase that it does not even account for inflation on, say, vegetables. 700 000 people in Ontario live on Social Assistance, the vast majority of that number are children. The basic amount for a single person living on social assistance is $572/month (which is meant to break down to $356 for shelter and $216 for basic needs), for a single parent with one child it is $920/month ($560 for shelter and $360 for basic needs).

Disability income rates are only slightly higher, and ODSP is a purposefully difficult program to qualify for – gaining access usually requires appeal processes and long waiting periods. In 2005, the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty launched the Raise the Rates campaign to demand a 40% raise in Welfare and Disability rates and a living wage (See: http://update.ocap.ca/rtr).

Not long after, people on Welfare and Disability became aware of the now well-known Special Diet supplement. The Special Diet supplement is extra money (up to $250) that people are entitled to on top of their monthly cheque if a health care practitioner determines that this extra money is required to buy food for medical reasons. Many health care providers were eager to sign people up for extra money because they understand that poverty is a social determinant of poor health. Nobody living on welfare and disability can afford to eat properly and they are therefore all at risk for serious health problems. This has led many health care providers to argue that there should be nothing ‘special’ about the special diet - everyone on welfare and disability needs this money for health reasons. These healthcare providers were determined to push for access to better income levels for people on social assistance.

The Special Diet became a phenomenon – word spreading like wildfire in poor communities resulting in ‘Hunger Clinics’ being held across the Province . Many poor people in Ontario gained access to desperately needed resources and were able to put food on the table using the Special Diet money. Everyone knew, of course that it was only a matter of time before the government targeted this vital program.

It is no surprise that this year’s Auditor’s report took aim at the Special Diet. The Auditor focused on the fact that the Special Diet spending in the Province increased from $5 million in the 2002/03 fiscal year, to $67 million in the 2008/09 fiscal year(http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_en/en09/311en09.pdf).

This is a fact that the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty is proud of – advocacy for the supplement forced the government to spend millions feeding poor people in Ontario. Of course, the Province and the City treat the Special Diet increases as an embarrassment – a blight on their otherwise outstanding record of denying poor people access to a decent standard of living. They have seized on the Auditor’s Report and cried ‘welfare fraud’ in order to justify steps that will be taken to ensure that poor people are denied access to the Special Diet.

It is important to understand the Special Diet within the context of the welfare system where people are forced to apply for ‘extra’ funding to cover basic necessities that are not covered by appallingly low OW and ODSP rates. People apply for the Special Diet allowance in order to eat, in the same way that people apply for transportation money to access public transit, for Community Start-up to try to avoid evictions or move after having faced an eviction, and Burial money for a family funeral.

These ‘extra benefits’ are just that – they are extra meaning that not everyone has access to them. For years, many of these benefits were on the books, but were not publicized and therefore not accessed. We have worked hard to ensure that people on disability and welfare are made aware of, and fight for access to all the benefits, however inadequate, that they are entitled to. In the face of the government’s accusations of widespread fraud, we must emphasize that it is not fraudulent for hungry people to apply for the Special Diet – it is a necessity in a system that forces people to live in poverty and to have to decide from month to month whether to pay the rent or put food on the table.

The dramatic increase in people accessing the Special Diet is not an indication of fraud: it is an indication of a hunger problem and a looming health crisis in this province. It should raise alarm bells for the Health Care system that people living on Social Assistance in this Province are living with poor health as a direct result of poverty conditions. There are huge health consequences when people cannot afford to buy healthy and nutritious food, when they cannot afford to avoid the foods that they are allergic to and when thousands are living with the extreme stress of trying to survive and support their family in dire circumstances.

Poor people suffer from poor health – this is a fact that the government ignores at their own peril. The government can either choose to pay the cost of providing proper income levels for everyone on OW and ODSP, or they can pay the higher human and financial cost of the inevitable health care bills that result from forcing people to live in poverty Neither the health nor general well being of poor people in this Province is a line item in the upcoming budget. If anything, their health and well-bring is up on the chopping block.

It is no coincidence that Ontario’s Minister of Community and Social Services, Madeleine Meilleur, is the co-chair of the Treasury Board Panel charged with ‘reducing the deficit’. Who better to determine how to best erode social services than the Minister in charge of providing them? Why such little faith in the Poverty Reduction strategy?

At the time of publishing, the Province has issued a ‘memo’ giving front-line OW and ODSP workers the authority to reassess ‘the legitimacy of any Special Diet claim’ (See www.ocap.ca/rtr for a copy of the memo).

Workers with no medical training are being given the power to

a)second-guess and question the diagnoses of a medical practitioner, and

b)to deny people access to the Special Diet on a totally unaccountable and arbitrary basis.

In what is clearly a move to quietly cut services and save money in the midst of the deficit, Social Services workers are being asked by the Province to, play doctor by overriding medical decisions in order to deny peoples’ legitimate claims. Using the Auditor’s Report as justification, this new provincial directive is laying the groundwork for eliminating the Special Diet, without the government having to explicitly say that is what they are doing.

Already,we are seeing the denial of the Special Diet on a massive scale, along with a general escalation of abuse against people on social assistance. Although no cut to Ontario Works has been officially made on paper, denying thousands of people the Special Diet, is in fact a significant cut to social assistance, or worse, the pre-cursor to more brutal cuts to come. The Province is creating an atmosphere of criminalization, and in the case of the Special Diet, facts on the ground from which to justify very serious cuts. For those of us who lived on social assistance through the Harris days – this atmosphere is all too familiar. It is a return to the days of ‘Workfare’, ‘welfare fraud’, ‘criminals’.

In the City of Toronto, Welfare is administered by Social Services -overseen through Janet Davis’ Committee on Community Development. City officials are playing their part in cutting social assistance by doing the Province’s bidding and denying access to the Special Diet and other programs. They are administering devastating cuts at a time when they should be standing up against the Province. It is under their watch that entire families are being denied the Special Diet benefit.

In this city, the process for applying for all benefits – basic and ‘extra’ – has become so riddled with suspicion and accusations of fraud, that qualifying is almost impossible.

We didn’t create this crisis Politicians and economists alike somehow believe that staying the course of a neo-liberal model will keep their heads above water in this failing economy. Dwight Duncan, Ontario’s Minister of Finance, boasts that new corporate friendly measures “…brings our total corporate tax cuts over the next three years to more than $3 billion.” (Dwight Duncan, State of Ontario’s Economy, March 3rd, 2008http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/media/2008/sp03-economy.html)

When the economic crisis first hit, and as it has deepened, billions of dollars of public money have been poured in to the financial system through the form of bailouts and tax cuts. That is where the deficit comes from, not from ‘overspending’ to create jobs and public services, and certainly not from ‘fraudulent welfare claims’. The government is looking now to get that money back, and we can be sure that it is not the financial elite who will be paying the price.

The method of deficit reduction is clear – to privatize public holdings, and to cut public and social services. When they say that ‘tough times are ahead’, they mean tough times for us. In a climate where the public sector and social services have not even recovered from the Tory era, we know that any further cuts will most certainly be devastating. For people on social assistance it will be a very serious crisis.

We are in a crucial time period where nothing will be provided for the needs of poor and working class people unless we fight and especially unless we fight together. The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) is renewing our commitment to the Raise the Rates campaign in demanding a dignified and livable income for Unemployed people and working people across this province. We intend to mobilize local communities to take the action necessary to challenge and defeat the abuses they face at the hands of the social assistance system. We will act to defend the right of people to obtain the Special Diet and other benefits that are being held back.

We will also work to bring together this locally based resistance into a general ‘Raise the Rates’ movement that can take up the fight for decent income in this province. This will be taken forward on April 15th, 2010 with a major OCAP mobilization against the Liberal Government that will demand a 40% increase in welfare and disability rates. Governments intend to impose this crisis on us but, through our resistance, we must create for them a political crisis and fight for lives free of poverty.

Liisa Schofield and John Clarke are organizers with the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty.

OCAP can be reached at ocap@tao.ca .

CANADIAN POLITICS-VANCOUVER:

BUILDING TO THE ANTI-OLYMPIC CONVERGENCE:

The 2010 Vancouver/Whistler Winter Olympics are almost upon us. Out there on the west coast they are desperately trying to find snow for many of the events, and the population is gearing up for the mother of all traffic jams as road after road is closed to local traffic. The Games will be held (frozen precipitation permitting) from February 12 to 28. Meanwhile the anti-olympic forces are gearing up for their own party. From February 10 to 15 there will be an 'Anti-Olympic Convergence' . Here's a checklist of details from the Olympic Resistance Network.

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Updates on Feb Anti Olympic Convergence‏
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FEBRUARY ANTI OLYMPIC CONVERGENCE

COAST SALISH TERRITORIES, VANCOUVER

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* SCHEDULE:

http://olympicresistance.net/content/schedule

* KNOW YOUR RIGHTS LEGAL INFO:

http://olympicresistance.net/content/know-your-rights

* CROSSING THE BORDER:

http://olympicresistance.net/content/crossing-border-canada

* NEED HOUSING:

http://olympicresistance.net/content/housing-request-form

* CAN YOU PROVIDE HOUSING:

http://olympicresistance.net/content/2010-convergence-billeting-form

* ORN WISH LIST AND CALL FOR SUPPORT:

http://olympicresistance.net/content/support-us

* FLYERS, POSTERS, AND OTHER OUTREACH MATERIALS:

http://olympicresistance.net/content/convergence-2010-promotional-materials * FACTSHEETS, BACKGROUND MATERIAL, AND VIDEOS:

http://olympicresistance.net/content/factsheets-and-flyers

* SIGN UP TO OUR LIST FOR UPDATES:

https://lists.riseup.net/www/info/orn-announce.

* PLEASE DONATE:

http://olympicresistance.net/content/make-donation

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WEBSITE: olympicresistance.net or no2010.com

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=22399134613

EMAIL: olympicresistance@riseup.net (preferred)

PHONE: 604-723-1206 (no voice mail, and not for media inquiries)

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Here's some more info on some events that have been added to the calender of anti-olympic efforts.

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Actions added to Calender‏
Please make note of updated schedule (details below)

1) Feb 13th - 2010 Heart Attack

2) Feb 15 (ONGOING): Rally for Homes and Support an Olympic Tent Village

3) Feb 15 - Anti War and Anti Militarization Moving Spectacle Full Convergence update at the bottom.

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2010 Heart Attack!

You are invited to a March on Saturday, February 13th at 8:30am in Thornton Park. This demonstration will respect the diversity of tactics and aims to disturb "business as unusual" on the first day of the Games!

What do you mean by diversity of tactics?

Diversity of tactics means support for each others' chosen method of resistance while not threatening the lives of those around us. It is a way by which we hope to create space for the realization of tension, uncertainty, action, humour and beauty as we strive for new ways to engage with each other and against a common enemy. While we may practice one tactic or action, we do not chose yours. As participants we agree to leave the policing of tactics to our oppressors, not our comrades; we will not attack each other for using methods that are not our own. Through a diversity of tactics we are stronger and more cohesive towards our goal of giving Capitalism a massive coronary.

What should we bring?

* A Nalgene or bottle of water

* Sharpies

* Band aids

* Money to take a cab

Do you have an affinity group ?

Then you should register to attend the spokescouncil:

http://olympicresistance.net/content/spokescouncil-invite-2010-heart-attack

(2)(2)(2)(2)(2)(2)(2)(2)(2)(2)(2)(2)(2)(2)(2)

- please forward widely -

No More Empty Talk, No More Empty Lots.

* February 15th, noon at Pigeon Park (Carrall and Hastings, Downtown Eastside of Vancouver, Coast Salish Territories).

Large and inclusive rally of all our neighbours and supporters.

Organizedby DTES Power of Women Group with the DTES Justice for All Network. Visit:http://dtesjustice.wordpress.com/

* Support the "Olympic Tent Village". Endorsed by Streams of Justice.

The upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics has escalated the homelessness crisis in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside and the Greater Vancouver area. Since the Olympic bid, homelessness has nearly tripled in the GVRD, while real estate and condominium development in the Downtown Eastside is outpacing social housing by a rate of 3:1. Meanwhile, a heightened police presence has further criminalized those living in extreme material povertyin the poorest postal code in Canada.

With the eyes of the world on Vancouver, residents of the Downtown Eastside and our supporters will be taking the streets to affirm our call for justice and dignity.

We want:

1. Real action to end homelessness now!

2. End condo development and displacement in the Downtown Eastside

3. End discriminatory ticketing, police harassment, and all forms of criminalization of poverty. No more empty talk and no more empty lots.

(3)(3)(3)(3)(3)(3)(3)(3)(3)(3)(3)(3)(3)

February 15th, 2010

*DO YOU BELIEVE IN TORTURE, WAR, AND OCCUPATION? THEFT OF INDIGENOUS LAND?

THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT DOES!

*Come out and be part of an anti-war and anti-militarization moving spectacle. This event is a festive and creative demand for the Canadian government to respect and uphold human-rights, international law, the right to self-determination and civil rights. This event will also feature Gold Medal Award ceremonies for human rights violations, war mongering, and police brutality. *Meeting Point:*

Vancouver Art Gallery, Georgia side.

*When: * Monday February 15th, 2010 Gathering at 6:00pm and leaving at 6:30pm

The 2010 Winter Olympic Games reveal the same consistent, predictable and historical pattern of militarization and anti-democratic acts as they have everywhere that they are hosted. StopWar is especially concerned with the militarization of Vancouver and Whistler during the Games, with its accompanying restrictions on the democracy and safety of our community.

Enormous resources, including one billion dollars of spending, considerable military personnel and equipment, and countless thousands of police and private security personnel are being deployed. The Games are accompanied by the largest domestic military and security operation in Canadian military history. Featured among the identified “threats” to the Games are domestic protest.

The Olympic Truce movement has similarly revealed the hypocritical and rhetorical commitment of the Canadian government to peace that is contradicted by action. Despite Canada being in its 9th year of waging war on the people of Afghanistan, the Canadian Olympic Truce is calling on the world community “to cease hostilities during the Games and promote the ideals of peace through sport”, however, Canada has no plans to cease causing death and destruction in Afghan society. In an ironic twist of history, we remember that the 1980 Olympic Games hosted by the Soviet Union were boycotted by over 60 countries, including Canada, in protest of the Soviet occupation and war in Afghanistan that had begun a year earlier in 1979.

Bring your costumes, signs, banners and musical instruments! Join us in calling attention to the Canadian governments disregard of human rights, international law, the right to self-determination and civil rights.

We call on the Canadian government to end the occupation, war crimes, and human rights violations from Afghanistan to BC, to sign the UN Declaration of Indigenous Rights, and to abide by International law. To bring aid not militarization to Haiti. To bring equity not militarization within Canadian communities. Sponsored by: Stopwar.caFor more information contact: Stopwar@resist.ca

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Here's a special volunteer appeal for people living in the lower mainland out west way. The organizers of the anti-Olympic convergence need more billeting space. If you live out there help out of you can.

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We need more billeting offers!‏
***PLEASE DISTRIBUTE TO TRUSTED NETWORKS*****

Hello,

With just over a week to go spaces are still needed to house visitors coming to Vancouver to partake in anti-olympics protest and action. So, if you have a couch, or a floor, or a backyard, if you live in a co-op and you have common rooms, or know of church basements or other faith-related spaces, studios, gyms, warehouse spaces, offices, schools, rec centres, etc. please get in touch. Either send an email to: orn_logistics@resist.ca or call: 604-723-1206. Our form is available at:

http://olympicresistance.net/content/2010-convergence-billeting-form

Visitors have been informed that they will need to bring all their own sleeping gear. Any other requirements, needs, concerns or questions please get in contact. Thank you

ACACACACACACAC

Coming up from the States for the Convergence ? Here's some essential border information that the Olympic resistance Network would like to share with you. Gotta do it; the joke mandate is demanding to be heard.

*For an American tourist in Canada forewarned is not forearmed.

*American border guards may beat the living crap out of you while calling you every possible foul name. Canadian border guards may beat the living crap out of you, but they will call you "sir" or "ma'am" all the way through it.

*American border guards may threaten to take away your first born in the name of 'Jeesas'. Canadian border guards may threaten to take away your first born in the name of multiculturalism. Doesn't that make you much happier ?

*Don't drink the water in Mexico. Don't drink the beer in Canada. Both are more than you can handle. Speaking about things you can't handle take your first taste of BC Bud in small doses.

*If you get into a bar fight in Canada remember to say "excuse me" before you hit the other guy, not after.

*Don't try out your incredibly bad French in Calgary. Don't go anywhere near Calgary for that matter. This goes double for Regina. Hit the gas pedal on the bypass.

*Bring tire chains. It actually might snow in the mountains in BC. On the other hand it probably won't at the Olympic venues where they want it.

ACACACACACACAC

Border Information for entering Canada from the US‏:
*****************************************************

Border Information for those entering Canada from the U.S.

Prepared by the Olympic Resistance Network, Jan. 2010

*****************************************************

As the Olympics approach, American and Canadian Border Services Agencies (Homeland Security and CBSA) have teamed up to tighten what they call "security," particularly along the BC/Washington border. This means not only an increased level of militarization at border crossings, but also an intensification in the profiling of "suspicious persons." Border agencies are working hard to expand their range of targets from migrants, people of colour and indigenous people, to political dissidents at large.

Unfortunately, the Olympic Resistance Network (ORN) cannot predict exactly what kind of security measures will be in place at the border in February. This communique is an effort to offer as much guidance as possible to those needing to cross the border in order to attend the Anti-Olympic Convergencefrom February 10-15. While you may very well get through with no problem at all, do bear in mind that the border is a militarized zone, so people with sensitive personal histories, documentation issues, or health needs should assess the risk to themselves and act accordingly. Please be in touch with any questions to olympicresistance@riseup.net or contact us at 604-723-1206. Good luck and see you in February! *****************************************************

Information from the CANADIAN BORDER SERVICES AGENCY

******************************************************

1. Required documentation for crossing Canada Customs:

(a) "When you enter Canada, a border services officer may ask to see your passport and a valid visa (if you are arriving from a country from which one is required).

*If you are a U.S. citizen, you do not need a passport to enter Canada; however, you should carry proof of your citizenship such as a birth certificate, a certificate of citizenship or naturalization or a Certificate of Indian Status, as well as a [government issued] photo ID.

* If you are a permanent resident of the United States, you must bring your permanent resident card (i.e. green card) with you. For more information on admissibility into Canada, read the fact sheet called Managing Access to Canada: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/facts-faits/037-eng.html."

(b) "Canadian law requires that all persons entering Canada carry both proof of citizenship and proof of identity. A valid U.S. passport, passport card or NEXUS card (see below) satisfies these requirements for U.S. citizens. If U.S. citizen travelers to Canada do not have a passport, passport card or approved alternate document such as a NEXUS card, they must show a government-issued photo ID (e.g.Driver's License) and proof of U.S. citizenship such as a U.S. birth certificate, naturalization certificate, or expired U.S. passport."

From U.S. Department of State. Bureau ofConsular Affairs. Canada -- Country Specific Information

.http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1082.html

2. Reasons the CBSA can refuse a person entry - in particular note criminal records: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/media/facts-faits/037-eng.html

3. CBSA's "Olympics" page:

http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/events-evenements/2010/menu-eng.html *******************************************************

Information from the ORN (disclaimer: this is not legal advice)*******************************************************

*Things to bring:

* 1. You cannot go through Canadian customs with only a driver’s license. Bring a valid passport, green card, Status card or government-issued photo ID plus birth certificate (see CBSA guidelines above).

2. Return travel tickets (if not traveling by car).

3. Relevant vehicle documentation (if going by car).

4. Contact information for where you are staying. You may be asked for this at the border, so confirm with your host whether it's ok to give their address out. If you are receiving housing through the ORN, you are asked NOT to give out the address you will be staying at *unless* you have the express permission of your host to do so. Please see a list of hostels (in appendix below) whose addresses you can provide instead.

5. Proof of ties to your country of origin: This can include contact info for your place of employment, if any, or documents like a housing lease. However, be advised that appearing "too prepared" can sometimes attract more attention!

6. Travel insurance, if any.

*Medications & Traveling with Minors:*

1. If bringing prescription drugs of any kind, they must be in the original bottle with a valid prescription printed on it. Avoid any things that will bring extra scrutiny to you, such as vitamins, especially those in gelatin capsules - they may be seized or cause a thorough and time-delaying search.

2. Minors also need to present ID (Birth certificate sufficient). Even if accompanied by one parent or guardian, minors must have a letter from absent guardian(s) stating that it is alright for the minor to travel, specifically across the international border into Canada, and listing who they are travelling with. Otherwise, the minor will be turned away at the border.

*Things NOT to bring:*

1. Don't bring any restricted items, such as fruit, soil, drugs (see CBSA site for details).

2. Don't bring any anti-Olympic or otherwise "subversive" materials – these things can be used as an excuse to detain you.

3. Avoid bringing materials that could be perceived to be for commercial purposes -- eg. lots of something to be distributed. Without proper licenses, the possession of commercial goods/merchandise can be grounds for refusal of entry.

4. Do not bring any electronics that are really precious or contain sensitive information. Be aware that cell phones can be searched/your address book recorded, and in some cases, police & intelligence agencies have been known to implant tracking or listening devices in phones.

5. We recommend against bringing laptops. Border agencies have the power to seize, search and hold laptops if you refuse to provide passwords or access to encrypted documents. Please contact us for a mailing address if you wish to send up non-electronic materials, like pamphlets, posters, T-shirts, etc.

*Getting through:*

1. Remember that border guards are likely to question people who fit their idea of an "activist" (or other "subversive") profile. Keep in mind that there will be many gung-ho tourists coming up as well, and use that to your advantage -- if you can, buy a hockey jersey and blend in! If you are traveling in a group then remind others of this too.

2. It is in your best interests to be as truthful and straightforward as possible when speaking to border guards about your reasons for travel. So for your convenience, we are providing a list of free entertainment and "Cultural Olympiad" events that you might like to include on your planned trip itinerary to reference. (See appendix below.)

3. Keep travel plans off line. Whenever possible, avoid communicating over email or through social networking sites, especially for final travel logistics. In-person communication is often ideal.

4. Discuss in advance with your travel buddies what you will do in the case that one or more should be refused entry.

5. If traveling alone, make sure someone knows where you are going, when you should arrive, and how to contact you or your hosts in Vancouver.

*Need a ride?*

The Cascadia Convergence Network (cascadiaconvergence.net ) is organizing carpooling for folks heading up to Canada from the Cascadia Bioregion (Pacific Northwest). If you need a ride please email Ptownno2010@cascadiaconvergence.net . Please detail if you are associated with any organizations and why you are interested in carpooling to the games.

****************ORN Support:****************

1. ORN has arranged to have a lawyer on-call in Vancouver during February in order to assist with difficulties as they arise at the border. Check back for updated contact information closer to the date, or contact us for more details.

2. Please contact the ORN so we can keep track of any problems that occur at the border: 604-723-1206 or olympicresistance@riseup.net . For legal questions you can also email ornlegal@riseup.net .

3. We will be updating our website in early February with more information on the legal rights of non-citizens and youth.

******************APPENDIX******************

HOSTELS IN VANCOUVER

Columbia Hotel

303 Columbia Street

Vancouver, BC V6A 2R7

(604) 683-3757

Everett House B&B

1990 Everett Road

Abbotsford, BC V2S 7S3

(604) 859-2944

Country in the City B&B

32985 Harwood Place

Abbotsford, British ColumbiaV2S 7C2

Phone : 1 (778) 808-4827

Backpacker's Hostel

927 Main Street

Vancouver, BC V6A 2V8

(604) 682-2441

Cambie Hostel

515 Seymour St.Vancouver, BC

SameSun Backpacker Lodge

1018 Granville St

Vancouver, Canada

Hi-Vancouver Hostel

1114 Burnaby Street

Vancouver, British Columbia V6E1P1

1.866.762.4122

*FREE EVENTS IN VANCOUVER*

Below is a list of events happening during the convergence which you may wish to add to your trip itinerary. The events listed below are free and do not require tickets or reservations. More event listings can be found here: http://www.vancouver2010.com/more-2010-information/cultural-festivals-and-events/event-listings/ http://www.skirebel.com/magazine/archives/5365 http://www.tourismvancouver.com/visitors/things_to_do/

February 10th & 11th, 2010

CUE: Artists’ Videos

When: 1/23/2010 - 3/21/2010

Daily: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Tuesdays: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm

Where: Vancouver Art Gallery, Robson Street façade

750 Hornby Street, Vancouver

February 12, 2010

Place de la Francophonie 2010:

Malajube

Type: Music

When: Friday, 2/12/2010 at 9:30 pm

Where: Place de la Francophonie

Performance Works,

Granville Island

1218 Cartwright St.,

Vancouver

February 13, 2010

Place de la Francophonie 2010:

Damien Robitaille

Type: Music

When: Saturday, 2/13/2010 at 9:30 pm

Where: Place de la Francophonie Performance Works,

Granville Island

1218 Cartwright Street,

Vancouver February 14, 2010 - February 15, 2010

Whistler Live! Karkwa

Type: Music

When: Saturday, 2/14/2010 at 2:45 pm

Where: Whistler Live!

Whistler Village Square

ACACACACACACAC

Let's close this out with the latest press release from the Olympic Resistance Network about their "press scrum" on Thursday, February 4. I truly hope they get a decent media turnout, but I seriously doubt it. I am almost "joked out" , but I still have a few rabbits in my hat. A poor turnout will not necessarily be because of some prejudice against lefty events on the part of editors. To say the least the average lefty "press conference" can hardly compete with others for the enthusiasm of reporters to press their editors so that they can attend. Free booze ? Forget it. The best that a reporter could hope for would be a marijuana leagalization event. Free food ? All that I can say on that subject is that it is doubtful, and, in any case, no food is better than a "vegan brunch" to those who are not true believers. But, all cynicism aside, here's the press release.

CACACACACACACA

Release: Anti-Olympic Resistance Unleashed!‏
TO ALL LOCAL, NATIONAL, AND INTERNATIONAL NEWS EDITORS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MONTH OF ANTI OLYMPIC RESISTANCE UNLEASHED!

What: Olympic Resistance Network Press Scrum

When: Thursday February 4 at 2 pm

Where: Pigeon Park, Carrall and Hastings, Downtown Eastside of Vancouver

==> Schedule of upcoming anti-Olympic activities available at:http://olympicresistance.net/content/schedule

==> Comprehensive list of daily and issue-specific media availability:http://olympicresistance.net/content/media

February 3 2010,

Vancouver Unceded Coast Salish Territories

– Over the past three years, the Olympic Resistance Network has coordinated anti-Olympics efforts in Vancouver and across the country. Due to a growing and vibrant movement to oppose the Olympic Games, VANOC and government officials are no longer able to host large public Olympic events in Vancouver without being shamed. During the RBC and Coca-Cola sponsored Olympic Torch relay, protesters in over thirty cities, towns, and Indigenous communities brought forward their message of “No Olympics on Stolen Native Land”, “Get your torch off our land, we don’t want your Olympic scam” and “2010 Homes not 2010 Games”.

In many instances, activists successfully disrupted the Torch Relay, forcing delays and route cancellations, with at least thirteen arrests associated with anti-Torch related actions. Anti-Olympic activists note that the Olympics are not simply about the athletes. According to Harjap Grewal, “With public funds invested by all levels of government nearing $7 billion, VANOC and their corporate cronies are escalating their propaganda to the world and international media about the positive legacy of the Games. The reality is that residents are increasingly disenchanted with the Games and we will not be silenced despite harassment and intimidation by the Vancouver Integrated Security Unit and ongoing attacks on our basic civil liberties.”

On Thursday February 4, representatives from the Olympic Resistance Network and allied groups will be hosting a press scrum. The Olympic Resistance Network notes: “While Olympic corporate sponsors are getting bailed out, Indigenous lands are being stolen, people are becoming homeless, thousands are losing their jobs and access to public services, the environment is being destroyed, and civil liberties are being eroded with almost a billion dollars sunk into surveillance. This negative Olympic legacy is turning into a growing anti-Olympic legacy of resistance across the country.”

According to Gord Hill, a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw nation, “The 2010 Winter Olympics are taking place on unceded Indigenous land. As a result of the negative social and environmental impacts of the 2010 Olympics on Indigenous peoples our struggle against colonization has only increased, which poses a significant threat to Canada and Canada’s image.” - 30 –MEDIA LIASONS:

Harsha Walia: 778 885 0040,

Gurb Gill: 604-376-0366

CANADIAN LABOUR-MANITOBA:

WHO (IF ANYONE) WILL OWN THE PINE FALLS PLANT ?:

Since the announcement of Tembec's intention to sell their paper plant in Pine Falls Manitoba an initial three groups "interested" in the purchase has dwindled to two. One, as previously reported here at Molly's Blog, is an ex-manager who has spun his managerial power through various other corporate entities to the point where he feels that he can raise enough of other people's money to make a bid on his old workplace. Sorta like an upstart bourgeois in 18th century England purchasing a landed title. Mr J.P. Bradette, the potential purchaser in question, has offered to give employees an "equity share". My spider sense starts tingling at this. First question-how many employees ? Mr. Bradette has stated very bluntly that he intends a large number of permanent layoffs (one of the reasons why the present workers are not keen on his plan). Seems more like an attempt to divide the workforce and undercut worker opposition to his proposal than a serious offer.

One also has to ask how much such equity shares would amount to, both in terms of magnitude, in terms of type of share and in terms of relative percentage of the total shares in the company. Anyone with as long a corporate managerial career as Mr. Bradette is, of course, very familiar with how managers often go against the interests of their shareholders. The reason he feels comfortable in this offer, besides the fact that he hopes to pull the teeth of his competitors for the mill, is that he is well assured that any such equity will be both a minor component of the total equity and potential profit and also leave the workers, should they accept such an offer with no control over the future direction of the plant-which might be important if the way od making such a profit involves either selloffs to others or actually making a profit by declaring bankruptcy. It's been done before.

The other proposal on the table, a joint buyout on the part of the workers involved and the nearby Sagkeeng First Nation. This is much more to Molly's liking. An actual producers' co-op seems an impossibility at this time, and this proposal would be optimum in that it would leave control in the hands of local people who would obviously want the mill to stay. I would suggest that the local municipality should also consider joining this partnership. On the part of the First Nation it would be obvious that they should demand preference in future hirings, There should, however, be no layoffs that the other partner to the deal, the present workers, would have to suffer. I would also hope that only a realistic proportion of the $1 million that the Province has promised to the community for the "transition" will be spent on any "feasibility study" ie one that somebody's friends or those that the government of the Province hopes to make their friends will latch onto like leeches. Sorry to say it, but it's my humble opinion that the "consulting" industry is, in the vast majority of cases, smoke mirrors and pickpocketing.

I would also hope that proper legal guarantees be put in place so that there could be no future selloff of the plant, like what happened in the 1990s when it ceased to be worker owned, for temporarily attractive terms. The mill may, indeed, have to be sold in the future no matter who owns it, but this should be only when it is plain that there is no chance of it being self-supporting. For now I would also suggest that the asking price might be diminished by pointing out that any attempt remove portable assets might run into difficulties. No advocacy of anything, of course, aside from the possibility that public peaceful protest might occur in such an eventuality. It should also be made plain, probably by the municipality, that the buildings would not be allowed to sit derelict and rusting away forever. It is within the mandate of a municipality to access penalties and even expropriate any derelict property in their jurisdiction. I'd suggest that such a plain pointing out of the facts might reduce the desire of Tembec's present management to try and charge an inflated price to whomever may buy the plant.

But enough of my own opinions. Here's the story of how things stand today from the Lac Du Bonnet Leader, a local area newspaper.

MLMLMLMLMLMLML

Battle for mill begins
Posted By Marc Zienkiewicz
A battle for ownership of the Tembec paper mill in Powerview-Pine Falls has begun, the Leader learned this week.

Cam Sokoloski, president of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 3-1375 which represents over 250 mill employees, said the union submitted a letter of intent to Tembec this week notifying the company of the union's employee buyout proposal.

The union, in partnership with Sagkeeng First Nation, is also submitting a proposal to the town's Community Development Committee in an attempt to conduct a feasibility study that's intended the bring the buyout to fruition.

"We're going ahead with it — we think this is best option for all involved," Sokoloski said.
Mike Fontaine, economic development officer for the First Nation, said he's excited at the prospect of the mill being community-owned like it was in the 1990s when the first employee buyout took place, prior to the mill being sold to Tembec.

"Sagkeeng is a part of this community and this could be beneficial to everyone," Fontaine said. "We were asked awhile back if we would be willing to explore this and we jumped at it and said absolutely."

Tembec recently put the mill up for sale. It has set a deadline for Feb. 1 for serious purchase offers, with the end of March being its final sale deadline.

If the mill isn't sold by then, the plant will be mothballed, Tembec has said. (Ah, as I said above, "derelict property"-Molly )

John Valley, Tembec's executive vice president of business development and corporate affairs, said the company will only be considering offers that have "real potential" to lead to an eventual takeover.

He did not elaborate as to the criteria the company is using to determine that potential, except to say time is of the essence and anyone putting an offer forward must consider that.
"If someone were to come along and say 'by golly, I want to buy the mill but I still have to get my advisers together and I have no money yet,' obviously we'd have to look at that very carefully," Valley said.

Sokoloski said if the feasibility study goes ahead, the funding for it will come out of the $1million fund recently set up by the provincial government to help the community deal with the aftermath of the recent Tembec labour dispute, which saw nearly 300 mill employees locked out by the company Sept. 1 of last year.

The lockout officially ended Jan. 13 after the Manitoba Labour board intervened. However, the workers are still out of a job and are now attempting to apply for retroactive Employment Insurance benefits.
Bradette's plan a go
As the union prepares its buyout proposal, former Tembec Vice President of Sales J.P. Bradette is also going ahead with his own purchase plan, Bradette told the Leader this week.

"In addition to offering employees a significant ownership stake in the new company, this proposal will create roughly 180 well-paid union jobs and some 20 staff positions, not to mention the benefits to the community as a whole," Bradette said in a statement written for the Leader.

"The reality at this point is that the employees will have no jobs, no wages, no benefits, and certainly no ownership in the mill, unless a viable offer can be made to Tembec by Feb. 1."

Bradette recently came to Powerview-Pine Falls to meet with the community's chamber of commerce and the union membership as well. His plan, of which no details have been made publicly available, was overwhelmingly rejected by the union membership last weekend, Sokoloski said.

Bradette said he's disappointed the union did not accept his offer.

"My understanding is that the issue was not even put to a vote; a decision as important as this one should be put to a secret ballot," he said in his statement. "I understand that my proposal may not fit with every union member's beliefs. To them I say that your support does not obligate you to accept the equity share and the well-paid jobs that will be created. Out of concern and respect for your colleagues and neighbours however, give them a choice."

Sokoloski recently told the Leader that Bradette's offer was "worse" than the Tembec concessions that led to the original lockout last year.

Bradette said support from the union is key to making his plan a success.

"The support of the employees is only the first of many steps required before the mill can be restarted. Without this support there can be no viable offer, and my concern is that the mill assets will be sold off to cover the shutdown costs, with no hope of a restart," Bradette said.

"I urge all employees and members of the community to think long and hard before ratifying such an important decision. There is still time to act, although the window is closing quickly."

INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS:

GAY MARRIAGE INTERNATIONALLY:

The subject of gay marriage has been a matter of recent legal dispute, both here in Canada and down in the USA. Despite setbacks it seems inevitable that gays are likely to win the legal right to marry in all but the most backward of jurisdictions. It will be faster in some cases and slower in others. Molly recently came across the following extremely informative article on the Care2 site. It documents the present state of affairs internationally and also has links to the situation in US states and the timeline of developments in this matter. To say the least it contains a wealth of information, as do many of the entries on the Care 2 site. Highly recommended.

GMGMGMGMGMGMGM
Which Countries Have Legalized Gay Marriage?:
posted by: Steve Williams

Which Countries Have Legalized Gay Marriage?
While several states allow gay marriage in the US, the federal government does not recognize same-sex marriage due to the Defense of Marriage Act. However, there are several countries that do recognize gay marriage.

Here is a resource page that contains information on which countries allow same-sex couples to get married. It will be updated to reflect future changes in marriage laws as they happen. For the sake of clarity, this page will only include those countries where same-sex marriage has been recognized. It will not include civil unions and other forms of legal recognition, as they will be part of a future list.

Gay Marriage in the Netherlands

The Netherlands became the first country to officially allow same-sex marriages on April 1, 2001. The bill, which widened the definition of marriage to include same-sex partners, was passed in September, 2000. The legislation also allowed same-sex couples the right to adopt. To find out more about the history of gay marriage in the Netherlands, please click here.

Gay Marriage in Belgium

On January 30, 2003, Belgium became the second country to recognize gay marriage. The change in the law granted almost all the rights open to heterosexual married couples, however it did not include the right to adopt. Legal co-parenting for Belgium's same-sex couples came into force just over three years later in April, 2006. For more information about gay marriage in Belgium, please click here.

Gay Marriage in Spain

Despite heavy opposition from the Roman Catholic Church, the Spanish parliament passed same-sex marriage legislation on June 30, 2005. The legislation, which made Spain the third country to recognize gay marriage, also granted adoption rights for same-sex couples, however some disparities between homosexual and heterosexual marriages remained. To help remedy this, the law on assisted reproduction was amended in 2006, allowing co-parenting recognition for married lesbian partners who had used IVF treatment to have a child. For more information on gay marriage in Spain, please click here.

Gay Marriage in Canada

Although the Netherlands was the first country to legally recognize gay marriage, a joint wedding by two Canadian same-sex couples actually preceded the recognition of same-sex marriage in the Netherlands, and seemed to precipitate, at least in part, full recognition of gay marriage throughout Canada some years later. Here is a little more detail about that case:

The couples involved were Kevin Bourassa and Joe Varnell and Anne and Elaine Vautour. The two couples had a joint marriage ceremony officiated by Rev. Brent Hawkes at the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto on January 14, 2001. Both couples were given a government record-of-marriage following their unions. However, Ontario officials refused to acknowledge the legality of the same-sex marriages that had been carried out that day.

After a lengthy legal battle, on July 12, 2002, a lower court ruled that the marriages were legal. This decision was affirmed in the Court of Appeal for Ontario on June 10, 2003. The Court of Appeal deemed that the exclusion of same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.

This decision was not appealed by Ontario's government, and as such the couples' unions were formally recognized as having been carried out on the aforementioned date of January 14, 2001, making it, in retrospect, a quiet landmark for same-sex marriage in Canada. The date of registration the two couples eventually received was June 11, 2003.

Similar legal victories were had in British Columbia and Quebec, and eventually in nine of Canada's provinces, until the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in 2004 in Re Same-Sex Marriage that same-sex marriage had constitutional validity.

The Court compelled the Canadian federal government to enact legislation to recognize gay marriage. The Canadian legislature eventually then codified the revised definition of civil marriage in the Civil Marriage Act. The legislation received Royal Assent (and therein became law) on July 20, 2005. To find out more about the history of gay marriage in Canada, please click here.

Gay Marriage in South Africa

Almost one year after South Africa's highest court ruled that the country's existing definition of marriage violated its constitution's guarantee of equal rights, gay marriages in South Africa became legal on November 30, 2006, following the South African parliament having passed a bill for same-sex marriage earlier in the month.

This made South Africa the first country in Africa to officially grant same-sex marriage, and the fifth country in the world. Same-sex adoption rights had already been affirmed in 2002. To see a brief history of the recognition of gay partnerships and how this culminated in gay marriage in South Africa, please click here.

Gay Marriage in Norway

Following a gender-neutral marriage bill that was passed by the Norwegian legislature on June 11, 2008, Norway became the sixth country to officially allow same-sex marriage on January 1, 2009. The new law also allowed co-parenting same-sex adoption rights and state funded IVF treatment for married lesbian couples. To find out more about gay marriage in Norway, please click here.

Gay Marriage in Sweden

Following a gender-neutral marriage bill being passed by the Swedish legislature in April, 2009, Sweden became the seventh country to recognize gay marriage on May 1, 2009. Sweden had previously passed a law to allow same-sex couples to adopt in June, 2002.

Notably, Sweden's Lutheran Church voted to permit gay marriages to be carried out in its congregation from November 1, 2009. This decision was a result of a vote in which nearly 70 percent of the 250 synod members of the Church of Sweden voted in favor of the move.

In 2007 the Church had approved the recognition of gay partnerships within the congregation, but without the term "marriage" being attached. To find out more about gay marriage in Sweden, please click here.

*Pending* - Gay Marriage in Portugal

On January 8, 2010, Portugal's parliament voted to approve gay marriage. The bill was passed by 125 votes to 99. A provision to allow adoption by same-sex partners was struck down. At the time of writing this, the bill must now be reviewed in committee before coming back to parliament for a final vote. However, the bill is expected to pass, and President Anibal Cavaco Silva is not expected to veto the legislation, meaning that gay marriage in Portugal could be a reality as soon as April, 2010.

*Pending* - Gay Marriage in Nepal

Following a Supreme Court decision in November 2008, in which the Court found laws against homosexuality to be unconstitutional, Nepal is now on its way to having a new range of LGBT friendly laws which will also legalize same-sex marriage. This change is expected to come into force in May, 2010.

Care2 Related Content:
Which States in the US Allow Gay Marriage?

Resources:
BBC Gay Marriage/Same-Sex Partner Recognition Time-line

CANADIAN ANARCHIST MOVEMENT-TORONTO:

TORONTO ANARCHIST ASSEMBLY COMING SOON:

Following the success of last year's Toronto Anarchist Assembly it's going to be happening again this year on April 9 to 11. Here's the callout from the Ontario section of the Anarchist Black Cat discussion board.

@@@@@@@@@@@@

****

Toronto Anarchist Assembly

April 9, 10, 11

****

Friends,

It’s time for us to gather. To assemble and talk to each other. To bring together folks who secretly or not so secretly identify with anarchism, and continue to build a larger and more vibrant community. Building on last year’s ‘Toronto Anarchist Gathering’ this will be a bigger and better weekend of events including panel discussions, booktables, workshops, social events and more.

We need your help!

We’re writing to invite you to participate in a weekend of fun and anarchism at the Toronto Anarchist Assembly on April 9-11th. This will be a space for a wide variety of anarchist individuals, radical political groups, and anti-authoritarian organizations to come together, meet, greet, educate, skill-share, and hear about each other’s projects and plans.

Hopefully this will be an opportunity to educate some people about what anarchism is all about, to encourage people to get involved with some of the organizing and organizations that exist in Toronto, and to provide a space for already-established groups to hear about each other’s work.

On Friday April 9th, there will be an evening panel discussion on “Anarchism in the 21st Century”

On Saturday April 10, there will be booktables, group tables, displays, and workshops from 11am-3pm. Then from 3pm-5pm there will be a giant go-around so folks can hear what other people are up to. From 5pm on there will be a family-friendly social with food, games, and movies, followed later by music, a bar, and all kinds of anti-authoritarian hijinks.

On Sunday April 11, there will be more booktables, group tables, displays, and workshops.

PLEASE GET INVOLVED.

Want to have a table for books, literature, flyers? Or to sell buttons, shirts, or whatever else?

Send us an email at: torontoanarchistassembly@gmail.com

(priority given to folks with literature)

Want to put on a workshop? If so, send us an email with a short description of what you want to do. We’ll try to put on as many workshops as we have space for.

If you want to help out in any other way, for example, by making a donation, putting up posters, or volunteering to do childcare, that’d be awesome. Give us a shout at torontoanarchistassembly@gmail.com. Also please let us know if you have any particular accessibility requests. We’ll do our best to accommodate.

The Toronto Anarchist Assembly is open to anyone who shares our anti-oppressive perspective against classism, sexism, racism, ableism, colonialism, homophobia, and other hierarchical attitudes, practices and crap.

http://torontoanarchistassembly.blogspot.com/