campus • community • CULTURE

January 2011 Speaking for the trees since 2011 vol. 3, no. 3 Clear-cutting Calamity Opposition mounts to Kanata environmental destruction

City Council “to initiate an the National Capital Com- on,” said coalition member immediate and comprehen- mission (NCC), all of which Steve Hulaj, “We’re not going sive archaeological survey of have jurisdictional power to to back down. It’s the right this site.” protect the land. However, thing to do. When it’s the Commanda called for overlapping jurisdictions has right thing to do you never the City “to safeguard this allowed all parties to avoid give up. And we’re not. We ecologically and archaeo- responsibility. know we have the support of logically unique site of the The situation appears to the community and we’ll do South March Highlands as be coming to a head, with what we have to do.” a potential national heritage clear-cutting set to start and The struggle to save Bea- site, one of significant Indig- opponents refusing to give ver Pond Forest is part of enous importance... in the up. a broader strategic goal of unceded, unconquered and Councillor Marianne the Coalition to protect the unsurrendered Ottawa River Wilkinson spoke briefly SMH and halt the KNL-led Watershed.” with the Leveller at the rally. Terry Fox Drive expansion A motion proclaiming “If something doesn’t move project. The campaign has the opposition to logging in the next three days they drawn support from across of five Ottawa-area chiefs [KNL] are going to have per- the city, illustrating that there – representing the Ottawa, mission to cut on Monday is a growing sense of shared Kapishkawandemin, Ar- [Jan. 17]. We are at the break- responsibility in protecting doch, Kinounchepirini, and ing point now.” the region’s ecosystems from Kichesipirini Algonquin First “This is something that destructive and irresponsible Nations – was submitted to we are not going to give up development. City Council. The request for an inde- pendent archaeological as- The Year of the Forest photo from ottawasgreatforest.com sessment continues to be Some twelve thousand years ago the South March High- ignored, and a report funded lands where the Beaver Pond Forest is found was an by Andy Crosby 2.4 hectares of the remaining by the developer has drawn island surrounded by the waters of the ice age-created 72 acres owned by KNL. PAGE 8 sharp criticism from Robert Champlain Sea. As the water receded, a rich and fertile The planned destruction The only old-growth for- McGhee, former president of a strong land renewed its relationship with the winds. The birds, of Beaver Pond Forest for est remaining in the city, the the Canadian Archaeological leadership new homes and highways Beaver Pond Forest is part Society, who called it “clearly insects, animals and people living on the highlands at has prompted opposition of the 1,100-hectare South inadequate in its dismissal of that time carried the seeds of trees and also pollen of from community groups, March Highlands (SMH), the archaeological potential the island’s plant life further and further into their ever- PAGE 3 indigenous elders, and their the last wilderness sanctu- of the upland regions of the widening territory. The hungry soil graciously accepted the allies. ary in the Ottawa region. The poster policy area under consideration.” seeds and the trees of hardwood and softwood pushed Kanata Northlands De- SMH has been deemed the After learning about plans pandemonium forward into a grateful world, trees. velopment (KNL), a partner- most bio-diverse area in the to clear-cut the Beaver Pond & predation ship between Ottawa-based city and is protected under Forest in July, the Coalition It was the descendants of the island’s trees that the Eu- building companies Urban- Ottawa’s Official Plan. It is to Protect the South March ropean settlers saw when they arrived here a few hundred dale and Richcraft that owns home to hundreds of species, Highlands and its indige- years ago. Ambitious men of vision among them became Page 5 72 acres of the forest, has including several at risk. nous allies organized efforts lumber barons and as a direct result, Ottawa was born. harkat threatened to clear-cut it in The area is also of special to protect the sensitive area If our wonderful city brings health and prosperity to you injustice order to build 3,200 homes. archaeological and spiritual and held several demonstra- and your family then you owe a depth of gratitude not only In October, City Coun- significance to the Algon- tions. continues cil agreed to save the Beaver quin nations. Algonquin el- The community-led Co- to the trees here but also to the island of their origins, the Pond Forest. However, in der William Commanda, in alition has appealed to City Beaver Pond Forest. Page 7 December, the newly elected a Jan. 6th letter to the City of Council, the provincial and -Albert Dumont, Algonquin Elder, Kitigan Zibi Council voted to protect only Ottawa, asked the mayor and federal governments, and the year in unions

Page 11 sex workers call for against the un megatron public inquiry Page 13 seeing redd by David Koch inquiry into the tense rela- the top threat to their safety. Ottawa Police Inspector tiated. tionship between prostitutes “Most of the sex workers Tyrus Cameron acknowl- “These are unproven al- Sex workers and activists and the police. identified police violence as edged the importance of the legations,” he said. “Due Page 14 are urging the Ontario Hu- This occurred following their main concern, over vi- claims. process is required for us as toxic racism man Rights Commission a series of blistering allega- olence by client, over hous- “Is it concerning to me? well.” (OHRC) to investigate the tions of police misconduct ing, over basic needs, over Absolutely,” he said. POWER’s call for an in- Ottawa Police Service for al- published in December in everything,” she said. Cameron, whose respon- quiry comes as the Supreme Page 15 legations of harassment and a study by POWER (Pros- “We ended up sending sibilities include overseeing Court prepares to test the drugs in the other abuses of power. titutes of Ottawa/Gatineau over 30 letters by the end police who deal with pros- constitutionality of prostitu- ozarks The group met in early Work Educate and Resist). of the evening to make sure titution in Ottawa’s down- tion laws. January at Venus Envy, a lo- POWER Vice-Chair Fré- that the commission and town core, also stressed that Although prostitution is cal bookstore and sex shop, dérique Chabot, who co- Barbara Hall, in particular, no officers were named in not illegal, criminal law pro- to write letters to OHRC authored the study, said that know that a lot of citizens in the report. hibits several activities that Chief Commissioner Barba- many street-based sex work- Ottawa want this [inquiry] He believes that the re- continued on page 5 ra Hall, demanding a public ers singled out the police as to happen,” Chabot said. port’s claims are unsubstan- www.leveller.ca Lev•el•ler noun 1 Historical: During the English Civil War (c. 1649), one who favoured the abolition of all rank and privilege. Originally an insult, but later embraced by radical anti-Royalists. 2 One who tells the truth, as in “I’m going to level with you.” 3 An instrument that knocks down things that are standing up or digs up things that are buried or hidden. I’m a Leveller!

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2 The Leveller vol 3, no 3, January 2011 www.leveller.ca campus JUST ANOTHER ADMIN TOOL Poster Policy in Violation of Carleton Student Rights

nagan admitted, “I think that the notion that there was any statement in the poster poli- pressure put on CUSA.” cy needs to be restated.” There are 18 bulletin “However, there’s always boards on campus officially going to be some people designated for use by over who are not pleased by the 25,000 students as well as all administration taking steps CUSA registered clubs and to tighten things up.” organizations. Sam Heaton, the vice pres- The small number of bul- ident of student services for letin boards on campus pos- the Carleton University Stu- es a challenge to students. dents’ Association (CUSA), “There is limited space to said that with the introduc- advertise clubs beyond bul- tion of what he called the letin boards and tables. Bul- “hokey new policy,” CUSA letin boards are always full, will be available to counsel which decreases the amount students about their rights. we can advertise. Our op- Students who are charged tions are really limited as to for cleaning costs without no- how we can get the club out tice should “seek the ombud- there,” said Juraj Kobzi, vice sperson or a student union,” president of the Carleton according to Heaton. Kayak Club. Heaton said that the ad- When asked why the ad- ministration had “tried to ministration had chosen get student unions to police to not provide more poster Photo by pax the student body and name space, Flannagan declared names of offending students. it “just hadn’t thought of it” poster pertains to a student “treated with procedural fair- clause 5 of the Student Rights by Lital Khaikin Student unions would have and said that students have group, the student accounts ness and natural justice.” and Responsibilities Act been held responsible for not communicated that more Carleton students are of the group’s executive. According to Ryan Flan- would supersede the poster imposing fines on clubs and poster space is needed. facing a revised on-campus The policy is in violation nagan, director of student af- policy. societies and held respon- Heaton stated that “this poster policy, introduced by of the Student Rights and Re- fairs, the poster policy chang- In reference to the costs sible for club violations.” should be a wake-up call to the university administration sponsibilities Act, approved es were enacted because “the being implemented “at the When questioned about the university that there is a in November, which directly by the Carleton Board of current bulletin boards were university’s discretion and this, Flannagan asserted, “It severe lack of spots for stu- violates the rights of students Governors in 2007. It states not being used effectively” without any warnings,” Flan- was a request. I would reject dents to poster for events.” as outlined in the Carleton that its “primary objective is and students were postering Student Rights and Respon- to ensure that appropriate in non-allocated space. sibilities Act. student behaviour is main- Flannagan said “follow- Links to the full texts of the poster policy and the student rights and responsi- Under the new policy, tained in a diversified educa- ing up on people and groups bilities act can be found at http://leveller.ca students found postering tional environment” at Car- [who violate Carleton’s RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES ACT outside bulletin boards will leton University. poster policy] is too resource http://www2.carleton.ca/secretariat/policies/student-rights-and-responsibilities-policy/ be automatically fined. A Clause 5 of the act says intensive,” so the university charge ostensibly to cover the that all students have the administration deemed it POSTERING ACT cost of removing the poster right to be promptly in- more appropriate to charge Changes: http://www1.carleton.ca/students/notice-carletons-poster-policy-has-changed/ will be added to offending formed of any offence, to students’ accounts. Full version: http://www2.carleton.ca/secretariat/policies/ students’ accounts, or, if the present a defence, and to be Flannagan also stated that Carleton Hides Political Assault Behind Poster Policy by Ajay Parasram vestment, Sanctions (BDS) was apprehended. captured by D’Orazio, so why property theft justified a driven by political disagree- campaign at Carleton. Documents obtained D’Orazio asked repeatedly if broad appeal to the commu- ments catalyzed by SAIA’s Two Carleton students The man drove a utility through FIPPA indicate that the Department of University nity while the attack on stu- postering in non-designated who were attacked by a knife into a poster Buhaisi university officials did not Safety had surveillance foot- dent activists did not, Burns areas. knife-wielding man in Sep- was blocking with her arm, seriously investigate the inci- age of the attacker. Burns did said that the prior case affects Flannagan noted that “the tember were told their viola- which he proceeded to rip in dent and blamed the victims not respond to the question. the community while the lat- university has never frowned tion of university postering an upward motion in view of and their political activities In an email to Ryan Flan- ter is isolated. at Israeli Apartheid Week and policy made them partially witnesses. Buhaisi called the for the attack. nagan, Carleton’s director In an email to Carleton would go to bat for SAIA” in responsible for the incident, Department of University Days after the knife inci- of student affairs, Burns ex- President Roseann Runte, the spirit of healthy political according to university docu- Safety twice in an effort to dent, the man had not been plained, “I didn’t like the Burns wrote, “Mr. D’Orazio is debate on campus, so long as ments obtained by the Lev- have the man apprehended, apprehended and no public tone in his [D’Orazio’s] last as much the aggressor as his the posters are in designated eller under the Freedom of but could not get through. messages had been sent to e-mail so didn’t respond.” [sic] is the victim; although, areas only. Information and Protection As the man left the Uni- the Carleton community. The response of the De- he refuses to acknowledge There is discussion be- of Privacy Act (FIPPA). versity Centre, D’Orazio and According to Burns, it is the partment of University Safety any responsibility.” tween the administration and According to Allan Burns, Buhaisi pursued him with a department’s policy to only to the incident contrasts with Flannagan noted in an campus groups about adding director of the Department video camera, seeking to get announce assaults deemed its actions after another inci- email to Runte and Burns additional postering space of University Safety, “People a picture of their attacker. to put the Carleton commu- dent involving a knife. that reiterating the poster and employing other strate- who choose to confront sus- When the man realized he nity at risk. On Oct. 11, 2010, it issued policy “will help tremen- gies to facilitate dialogue on pects are putting themselves was being filmed, he hit Burns explained in email a general appeal to the Car- dously in managing this type contentious issues such as at risk and may escalate the D’Orazio with an umbrella exchanges with D’Orazio leton community for help of situation.” Palestine or abortion. situation unnecessarily.” before leaving campus on that the Department of Uni- identifying a knife-wielding Flannagan and Burns Focusing attention on On Sept. 30, 2010, Stu- the O-Train. versity Safety did not appeal laptop thief, including infor- both said that their ability postering policies decidedly dents Against Israeli Apart- D’Orazio, Buhaisi, and to the community with a de- mation on how to contact to comment on the incident sidesteps the fact that the heid (SAIA) members Dax other members of SAIA spot- scription of the attacker be- the Ottawa Police and the is limited, as the case is cur- attacker had targeted SAIA D’Orazio and Reem Buhaisi ted the attacker the week af- cause it “had video images of Department of University rently before the courts. They and assaulted D’Orazio and encountered a man ripping ter the incident and alerted the person involved.” Safety with information re- maintained that politics do Buhaisi specifically for their down posters that advertised the Department of Universi- The department did garding the crime. not motivate the university’s defence of SAIA’s right to a teach-in on the Boycott, Di- ty Safety, after which the man not have the video footage When asked by D’Orazio response and that the issue is freedom of speech. www.leveller.ca vol 3, no 3, January 2011 The Leveller 3 PRESENTED BY CUSA

JANUARY 27, 2011 | 7:00PM | PORTER HALL | $5 STUDENTS | $10 COMMUNITY MEMBERS

TICKETS AVAILABLE IN THE CUSA OFFICE (401 UC) ALL TICKET SALES GO TO THE TEN OAKS PROJECT

Expense Limits Campaign budgets shall be restricted to no more that $200 each for CUSA President and all Vice-President Candidates. Campaigns for all other positions shall be restricted to no more than $100. All funds, provided candidates have not been charged with fines and/or other offences in the Consolidated Electoral Code, are 50% refundable. Qualifications Writ of Election All candidates, in order to be eligible for any of the above-mentioned positions, must be undergraduate students, members of the Association, and not indebted to CUSA. Whereas pursuant to section 5.1 of the CUSA Consolidated Electoral Code, the Chief Electoral Officer shall issue a Writ of Election, For CUSA Council positions, all candidates must be undergraduate students in their proper constituency. Be it hereby known that Elections Carleton intends to hold elections for the positions below for the CUSA Council (hereafter referred to as the General Nominations Elections), on February 9th and 10th 2011. The campaign period will start on Nominations will commence on Monday, January 24th, 2011 and end by 4:30 Wednesday February 2nd, 2011, with the last day of campaigning on Tuesday P.M. Friday, January 28th, 2011, with all nomination requirements to be submit- February 8th, 2011. ted to the Elections Office no later than this time. Positions available are: Nomination forms may be obtained as of Monday, January 24th, 2011 at 10:00 Carleton University Students’ Association A.M. at Elections Carleton (426F Unicentre Building). President; (1) position Candidates for nomination are reminded that they are not to campaign before Vice President for Finance; (1) position the campaign period begins. Vice President for Internal Affairs; (1) position Signatures for nomination may not be obtained in residence, and candidates are Vice President for Student Issues; (1) position not to disturb classes in attempts to gain signatures, except with the express Vice President for Student Life; (1) position permission of the respective class instructors. Vice President for Student Services; (1) position Polling Locations Arts and Social Sciences; (7) positions General Elections (2011) polling stations will be located in: Business; (2) positions Computer Science; (1) position Atrium (2) polling stations Engineering and Design; (4) positions Loeb Tunnel (2) polling stations Humanities; (1) position Residence Commons (2) polling stations Journalism; (1) position Tunnel Level of MacOdrum Library (2) polling stations Public Affairs; (6) positions Tunnel junction between Stacie/Herzberg (1) polling station Public Affairs and Policy Management; (1) position St. Patrick’s Building (1) polling station Science; (2) positions Minto Centre (1) polling station Special Students; (1) position Athletics (1) polling station

Further Information: All enquiries regarding the electoral process and conduct should be referred to the Chief Electoral Officer: Allister McCabe at: 613-520-2600 ext. 1880 | [email protected] | Room 426F Unicentre. All interested persons and parties are encouraged to visit www.cusaonline.com/elections for information.

Rules and regulations regarding campaigning, including but not limited to campaigning in residence, will be posted on www.cusaonline.com/elections before the opening of the campaign period.

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 community “Sometimes they Injustice Continues smack you around.” in Harkat Case

continued from page 5 lobby of my apartment, no By Mat Nelson political party that was and “prisoner in her own been revealed that CSIS shoes on, and I got taken up savagely repressed by the home.” used evidence derived make the trade viable, such in a sweep,” she is quoted as On Dec. 9, Federal secularist, military-based During his time under from torture and that the as running a bawdy house, saying in the report. Court Justice Simon Noel government after winning house arrest, Harkat and main informant of the case communicating for the pur- Another sex worker, ruled that the security cer- the first round of parlia- his wife were allowed only failed a lie detector test, a poses of prostitution, and named only as Beth, de- tificate issued against Mo- mentary elections in 1991. three outings per week for fact that CSIS failed to tell living on the avails of sex scribed being subjected to hamed Harkat is “reason- In a unanimous deci- four hours each, where the court. The agency has work. a so-called “starlight tour,” able.” The decision came sion in September 2007, they were followed by two also listened to privileged Ontario Superior Court where one is detained in a just one day before Inter- the Supreme Court of Can- to six Canadian Border Ser- solicitor-client phone calls Justice Susan Himel struck police vehicle before being national Human Rights ada found the security cer- vices Agency (CBSA) per- and destroyed key pieces down those laws in Septem- dropped off in a remote lo- Day, on the eighth anni- tificate process to be un- sonnel carrying guns and of evidence in the case, in- ber, ruling that they endan- cation. versary of Harkat’s arrest constitutional. Although wearing bulletproof vests. cluding notes, tapes, and gered the lives of sex work- “They pick you up as if in 2002. the court suspended the All locations and people interviews. ers. they are arresting you, with Noel found that there effect of its ruling for a they were in contact with At a Dec. 10 press con- But the laws remain in the handcuffs and all, then were reasonable grounds year, in October 2008 the had to be pre-approved at ference in Ottawa, Harkat’s force following a decision by they bring you out to the to believe that Harkat has Harper government intro- least 48 hours in advance. lawyer Norm Boxall noted the Ontario Court of Appeal country, then they just dump engaged in, or will engage duced a bill to amend the This included visits to the that there was “absolutely in December that extended you there to walk back,” she in, terrorist activities, and security certificate process couple’s newborn nephew no evidence” to support the stay on Himel’s ruling. is quoted as saying in the re- that his past behaviour by introducing a “special and Sophie’s 80-year-old the government’s accusa- Chabot said that the port. suggests that he may be an advocate.” grandmother. tions. prostitution laws are just “Sometimes they smack al-Qaeda “sleeper agent” Special advocates are Surveillance cameras “What can an innocent part of the problem. you around. [Name with- or a member of the “Bin lawyers who can view were placed in the Harkats’ person do other than to say, “The policing of sex work held] does that quite a bit.” Laden Network.” some of the evidence home and their phones ‘I didn’t do it,’ and then to in Ottawa is not only based A woman identified as While Harkat has con- against the accused, but were tapped, with each be told that they’re a liar in law enforcement,” she Holly is cited describing a sistently denied all of the only those pieces of evi- conversation available for based on material they can’t said. “It’s also based in stig- public strip search near the allegations, the govern- dence that CSIS chooses to CSIS and CBSA agents to face?” asked Boxall. matizing assumptions about corner of Bank and Somer- ment claims he operated release. Furthermore, spe- listen to. All of their mail For the Harkats, it is a sex workers, and what we set. a Peshawar guesthouse cial advocates are selected was also intercepted. lose-lose situation. call ‘whorephobia.’” “I got strip searched on in Pakistan that “may be by the minister of justice Mohamed Harkat was “Will we learn from the Street-based sex workers the street, in front of ev- linked to Ibn Khattab,” a and are only given access also denied access to com- past? What is my husband quoted in the study recount- erybody, right in front of leader in the fight against to a “summary” of the puters, cell phones, and to do?” asked Sophie. “If ed verbal abuse and “call- Hartman’s, by male police the Soviet occupation of evidence, which cannot be other communication de- he does not testify, he will outs,” in which police alleg- officers, they left with my Afghanistan during the shared with the security vices in his home. To this be considered to be the edly draw public attention phone book,” she is quoted 1980s. certificate detainee. day, he continues to wear one hiding something. to prostitutes even when as saying. A security certificate is a After the bill was an electronic GPS moni- When he does testify, he is they are not working. “I get tickets for jaywalk- rarely used national secu- rammed through Par- toring tag at all times, even called a liar, a terrorist. It’s “When they’re with ing, loitering as soon as they rity mechanism that allows liament in 2008, new though other major restric- his word versus the secret friends, when they’re with run my name in the com- the Canadian government certificates were issued tions have been lifted. evidence, secret files.... His family, they’re called by puter.” to indefinitely detain non- against Harkat and four In his December ruling, word against a machine, their names by police offi- Cameron said that sex citizens without charge, other Muslim men, two of Noel found that “Parlia- our own Canadian govern- cers who are always check- workers can seek redress based on secret allegations which have since had been ment has designed a secu- ment and CSIS.” ing on them and making through the police depart- that the accused and their thrown out. rity certificate regime that Despite the inherently sure that everyone around ment. lawyer cannot access or Harkat, who was ar- provides a named person unfair appeal process in- them knows that they’re sex “They can come to us and challenge. rested in December 2002, such as the Applicant, Mr. volved in security certificate workers,” Chabot said. make a complaint,” he said. Ultimately, the terrorist was detained for three and Harkat, with a fair hear- cases, Mohamed and So- Sex workers cited in the If they are uncomfortable suspect can be deported, a half years without charge ing.” The logic of his deci- phie Harkat plan to appeal report also described be- dealing with the police, he despite the possible risk of before being released on sion is especially astound- Noel’s decision all the way ing arrested frequently and pointed to the Office of the death or torture if returned some of the strictest condi- ing given a recent finding back to the Supreme Court. without cause. Independent Police Review to countries with poor hu- tions in Canadian history. of the Supreme Court that “We are not giving up,” One woman, identified Director (OIPRD) as an al- man rights records. He was not allowed to “a fair hearing requires Sophie wrote recently. “The only as Lauren, was quoted ternative. Harkat faces serious be left alone in his house that the affected person justice system may have let saying she was arrested for The OIPRD’s website risk of death or torture if or yard without the su- be informed of the case us down, but not our sup- loitering in her own apart- describes the institution, returned to his native Al- pervision of his Canadian against him or her, and be porters and the average ment building. formed in 2009, as “an geria, where he had ties wife, Sophie. During this permitted to respond to Canadian who believes in “Once, I had ordered a arms-length agency of the with the outlawed Islamic time, according to Sophie, that case.” due process and justice. pizza, I was waiting down- Ontario Ministry of the At- Salvation Front. she was essentially Mo- Moreover, since Har- We continue to fight be- stairs for my pizza, in the torney General.” The Front is an Islamist hamed’s “full-time jailer” kat’s initial arrest, it has cause of their support.”

www.leveller.ca vol 3, no 3, January 2011 The Leveller 5 magazine CALL FOR PAPERS tHe story of Post-Secondary Education in Crisis: Appraising the Possibilities a political for Resistance in a Climate of Austerity romance

by sabrien Amrov scribed how Canadians di- chines are too strong. What Keynote Speaker: Jim Turk rectly participated in the can we do?” After being expelled from Israeli military forces. For The fi rst step in democ- Concordia University for al- example, Ben Dunkelman, ratizing foreign policy, ar- leged “vexatious conduct” who fi rst served as a Cana- gues Engler, is to understand Carleton University - Ottawa, Ontario following his participation dian soldier in World War what, how, and why Canada in the disruption of Israeli II, later joined the Israeli does not shy away from in- March 4, 2011, Dunton 2017 Prime Minister Binyamin Defense Forces (IDF) dur- ternational imperialist ten- Netanyahu’s speech in 2002, ing the Arabic-Israeli war of dencies. Yves Engler was forced to 1948, as part of the 7th bri- In building apartheid, In the wake of the global economic recession, public post- drop his student career with gade of the Israeli army. Engler makes the eloquent secondary education has come under attack in Canada and only fi ve classes left to com- Canadian political icon case that the decision to be around the world. The recent wave of cutbacks, the dras- plete his Bachelors in Politi- and former Prime Minister involved in the Palestinian- tic rise of tuition fees, and the curtailment of secure jobs cal Science. Lester B. Pearson openly Israeli confl ict has already Instead, the ex-vice presi- defended colonial moves been made for us. As Cana- in the post-secondary sector has not gone uncontested. dent of the Concordia Stu- by the Israeli government. dians, we are all, in some From the wave of student occupations across California, to dent Union ventured into After the war in 1967, Pear- way or another, involved: the recent strike wave in Paris and protests in the United the national archives while son supported Israel when it through our university tu- Kingdom, a resurgence of student activism has become working as a night door- secured control over the Pal- ition, our pension plans, widely apparent. But we need not look so far away to see man in Montreal, seeking to estinian lands in the West our taxes, the products we become a Canadian foreign Bank and Gaza Strip. He also consume, and the media we how neoliberal strategies are being actively resisted. Over policy expert. actively, in the name of Can- absorb. the past few years, students and workers in universities With four books now ada, opposed UN efforts to The decision to be in- across Ontario have also challenged the provincial gov- under his pen, the Montre- adopt a resolution demand- volved has already been ernment’s attempts to impose scal austerity, coalescing al-based writer is notorious ing Israel’s withdrawal from made. The ultimate matter for exposing the myth of the Palestinian-occupied becomes how do we want to in new organizations and developing new strategies for Canada as a peacekeeping territories when a majority be involved. Do we want to resistance. In an eort to build solidarity, the joint GSA force and honest broker in of nations were against the be an extension or a remedy and CUPE 4600 Political Action Committee will be host- diffi cult-to-solve disputes. Israeli occupation. of one of today’s most egre- ing a one-day conference at Carleton University. We invite Launched in March 2010, Engler’s newest book cov- gious cases of colonization? his latest book canada and ers the long affi nity between Yves Engler’s message both academic submissions and presentations by activists Israel: building apartheid ex- the two states. is clear: it’s time Canada which appraise the changing landscape of post-secondary plores how “the strong re- stopped siding with the most education in Canada and around the world, drawing les- lationship between the two The Crime of the powerful against the will of sons from past struggles and tracing potential trajectories states is part of the greater Concerned Citizen Canadians. But for this to Canadian foreign policy In a talk delivered in Ot- occur, Canadians must de- for future resistance. based on siding with the tawa last October, Engler cidedly express themselves powerful.” described how two Cana- in action and word. Potential topics include: In fact, just last fall, Can- dian activists, Stefan Christ- ada’s bilateral arm agree- off and Freda Guttman, • Academic Freedom, Freedom of Speech ments with Israel cost the have been harassed by CSIS • Coordinated Bargaining in the Post-Secondary Sector country a seat on the UN agents for their commit- • Strikes on Campus: Lessons Learned Security Council. ment to Palestinian activism • Neoliberalizing Post-secondary education (federal and Engler commented that in Canada. They are part of provincial policies) this loss demonstrates how Tadamon (Arabic for soli- Harper’s poor foreign policy darity), a Montreal-based • The Changing Conditions for Tenure has been noticed. “It was the organization at the forefront • International Perspectives on Student Activism world’s response to a Cana- of the solidarity movement The FirsT • Student Movement Histories dian foreign policy designed for Palestine in Canada. to please the most reaction- Engler explained how ary, short-sighted sectors the state’s public intimida- sTeP in We welcome individual submissions as well as panel pro- of the Conservative Party’s tion of activists is a form of posals. For individual papers, please send an abstract of base – evangelical Christian deterrence for the rest of the demOcraTizing no more than 250 words; for panel proposals please send a Zionists, extreme right-wing population. 100 word panel abstract along with paper abstracts of up Jews, Islamophobes, the Freda Guttman refused FOreign military-industrial-academ- to speak to CSIS when they to 250 words. ic complex, mining and oil came knocking on her door executives and old Cold- and has since been vocal POlicY, argues Proposals can be submitted by email until January 31, Warriors.” about her encounter with 2011 to [email protected]. the secret services. Stefan engler, is TO Canada and Israel: Christoff has publicly re- A Long Timeline fused to buckle under in- undersTand Yves Engler has argued timidation and continues to that blaming the current fi ght. According to Engler, Conservative government this is exactly what needs whaT, hOw, and for the strong ties between to be done: speak out and Canada and Israel ignores do not be silenced. No one whY canada the historical alliance be- should be harassed for be- tween the two states. ing a concerned citizen. dOes nOT shY Indeed, Israeli nationalist forces have always found a Canadian Apathy great ally in Canada, begin- According to Engler, those awaY FrOm ning with the 1948 Middle who speak out are harassed East war, which led to Is- because not enough Canadi- inTernaTiOnal rael’s establishment and the ans are taking an active role displacement of hundreds as citizens. In other words, is imPerialisT of thousands of Palestinian it too easy for Canadian to GSA-CUPE4600 Political Action Committee refugees. say things like “This is how In detail, Engler has de- things are. The power ma- Tendencies.

6 The Leveller vol 3, no 3, January 2011 www.leveller.ca magazine Bargaining for Better campus solidarity saves 2010 by Karen Foster and were over substantial issues its responses to the union’s CUPE 4600, the union between Carleton’s unions ton, Campus United’s mem- Brian Foster about the basic quality of initial proposals, effectively representing teaching as- and representative bodies bers have seen with these life, job security, and the allowing less time for bar- sistants (TAs) and contract such as the graduate and important labour and stu- Four unions’ contracts maintenance of educational gaining before a strike. instructors, came closest to undergraduate students’ as- dent victories that solidarity under negotiation. Three standards. In response, CUPE 2424 a strike. The two units were sociations (GSA and CUSA) is more than a word to be unions set to strike. Two called in a conciliator (a poised to walk over different – solidarity enacted on a bandied around. student organizations in jus- 2010 Union Negotiations trained mediator) in July but crucial issues. grassroots level and as a di- It is an effective tool that tifiably bitter feuds with the Carleton University 2010. “Carleton seems to For TAs, the most press- rect result of the coordinated depends on hard work and university administration Academic Staff Association employ a particular negoti- ing concern was a proposed efforts of Campus United. the ability to understand over autonomy and rights. (CUASA), the union repre- ating strategy with all of its wage freeze while tuition To be sure, a certain level that if the administration Yes, 2010 was an active senting faculty, librarians, units,” said James Meades, costs increased at 4% an- of resistance was brought to doesn’t treat these issues year at Carleton University. and instructors, received an co-president of CUPE 4600, nually. Anticipating the in- bear on the administration in isolation, then neither But while public institu- 88.5% mandate to strike, in an interview with the Lev- evitable result that TA wages simply because its four big should they. tions the world over – uni- but went to arbitration early eller. (and thus graduate student unions were negotiating at versities in California and in November. According to Meades, employment income) will the same time. But as James the UK, for example – have The end result, released what CUPE 2424 called eventually equal tuition fees, Meades and Carlo Fanelli descended into highly pub- in the arbitrator’s final deci- “foot dragging” has been union membership stood have pointed out, “there licized violent protest, Car- sion on Jan. 7, was a mod- identified by other unions as fast, demanding a wage in- is a big difference between leton’s battles have been est increase in salaries across brinkmanship methods: the crease to at least soften the bargaining together and bar- waged and won by labour the board, with only negligi- practice of forcing unions shrinking divide. gaining collectively.” and student groups through ble changes to the collective to strike deadlines in order Contract instructor pro- In contrast to 2007, when subtle yet effective organiz- agreement. to test the atmosphere, or- posals hinged on job se- its members voted against ing. The current agreement ganization, and solidarity curity, benefits, and wages. a strike, CUPE 4600 strike As the threat of auster- will remain in place for of unions before entering Already paid 14% less than coordinator Dan Sawyer ity measures trickles down two years, an intentionally meaningful negotiations their counterparts at the Uni- helped get union messag- from the government into narrow window of time ac- with their representatives. versity of Ottawa, instructors ing to individual depart- the university, Carleton’s cording to CUASA’s chief Many of CUPE 2424’s at Carleton pushed for the ments where union stewards administration has used the negotiator Brett Stevens, concerns, as well as many of same pay as their colleagues. needed assistance and to the language of “belt tighten- who has implied that keep- CUASA’s, related to the uni- In the eleventh hour, both general public through so- ing” to simultaneously at- ing contracts short is a way versity’s talks with Navitas, a units achieved some small cial media and consistent tack its employees’ standard of ensuring that they do not corporation which describes but important gains. releases. of living and the levies used outlive the economic and itself as “for-profit Austra- CUPE 4600 also negoti- Graduate students, many To be sure, a to deliver student money to political realities to which lian company which recruits ated an increase to its Em- of whom were against the the organizations students they initially respond. international students.” The ployee Assistance Fund, 2007 strike, took up the certain level voted to support. When CUASA’s negotia- para-university company sets which provides financial cause in a very public way, But it appears that in the tions moved to arbitration, up independent colleges on reimbursement for basic liv- making signs and participat- last year, the administration CUPE 2424 (clerical, techni- university campuses, enrols ing expenses, which student ing in information pickets. of resistance bit off more than it could cal, and administrative staff) international students, and workers are often unable to The organization and re- chew, actually bringing stu- had already been bargaining “prepares” them for univer- cover – namely, child care, solve of the unions seemed was brought dent and labour groups clos- for over five months. Early sity in pathway courses. vision care, and dental care to reach deeper into the er together. in the negotiation process, International students expenses, the latter of which membership than in previ- And where much of the CUPE 2424 informed its pay to have Navitas steer are not covered by the stu- ous years. to bear on the media attention to Carle- members (in a bulletin avail- them toward a partner uni- dent health insurance pack- But beyond the expand- ton’s labour negotiations able on the 2424 website) versity and prepare them age. ed, separate efforts of each administration focused on wage disputes, that Carleton’s administra- with training in the lan- In terms of wages, each union, Campus United – a the majority of negotiations tion was “foot dragging” in guage, “study environment unit won minor increases “loose association... through and learning expectations,” over three years. The raise which activities and resolu- simply because and institutional and cultur- does not match the increas- tions [were] coordinated al customs of their program. es in tuition fees or achieve [and] bargaining strategies, its four big Students enrolled at a pay equity for contract in- tactics, messaging and due Navitas campus must com- structors. process... openly discussed, plete a one-year program debated and built upon” – unions were controlled and operated by Gains and Solidarity connected the bargaining the company’s contract em- In every negotiation, unions via weekly meetings negotiating at ployees, which it flippantly both parties were forced to and communication be- refers to as “faculty.” Upon make key concessions. tween representatives. successful completion, these The administration has The organization also the same time. students may be eligible to framed the outcomes posi- weighed in on the battle According to Meades, enter their second year of tively, for example, by pub- between the GSA and the But as James undergraduate studies at the licly thanking the arbitrator administration over levy partner university. in the CUASA negotiations spending, and between what CUPE 2424 called “foot Concerns that CUPE for “recogniz[ing] Carle- CUSA and the administra- Meades and 2424 jobs might be con- ton’s financial reality and tion over control of Frosh dragging” has been identified by tracted out to lower paid, render[ing] a decision that Week activities. And the ter- Carlo Fanelli non-unionized Navitas em- respects our ability to pay.” rain for Campus United is ployees spurred those work- As CUPE 4600 co-presi- only opening up further. other unions as brinkmanship ers to request clarification dent James Meades told the Aramark employees, who have pointed of the language around job Leveller, “Given the climate... provide on-campus food methods: the practice of forcing security. I would say we got the best and dining services, are at- out, “there is a “If a group like Navitas is deal possible without hav- tempting to unionize in the allowed to operate at Carle- ing to go out on strike.” face of documented bully- unions to strike deadlines in ton,” 2424’s website states, Against a worldwide ing and interference from big difference “it could mean the elimina- backdrop of so-called aus- the employer. order to test the atmosphere, tion of a number of CUPE terity measures, and at a And as of the end of between 2424 jobs.” university where the “dire December, CUPE 910, the In the end, the univer- economic straits” message union representing physi- organization, and solidarity sity and the union signed a has played on loop since cal plant and maintenance bargaining memorandum of agreement even before the global eco- workers on campus, is with- of unions before entering that no CUPE 2424 jobs nomic crisis ostensibly set out a contract. together and would be eliminated if the in around 2007, how did Anticipating that these is- university entered into an the unions manage to make sues will come to a head in meaningful negotiations with agreement with Navitas or gains without resorting to 2011, and seeing a role for bargaining any other such partnership. strike action? itself in debates over copy- their representatives. Union members also won a The answer might lie in right and in a likely struggle collectively.” 7% raise over four years. the solidarity demonstrated to keep Navitas out of Carle- www.leveller.ca vol 3, no 3, January 2011 The Leveller 7 a strong leaDersHip

photos by pax The Algonquins of Barriere Lake defend their land – and their inherent right to self-government

by Andy crosby nation-to-nation: Reserve, was designated for clear-cutting. CAAF (Contrat d’approvisionnement et d’aménatement forestier) agreements The struggle to maintain their traditional govern- The constitutional context between the provincial government and lumber companies The history of native-settler relations goes back to 1613, ment is the latest chapter in the long resistance of gave these companies the right to manage the forests. when the Two-Row Wampum Treaty was fi rst signed. The treaty the Algonquins of Barriere Lake (ABL) to colonial- Matchewan explained to the Leveller, “Logging compa- showed two parallel paths representing sovereign nations – ism. nies started spraying pesticides in our territory, making the originally Dutch colonists and the indigenous Haudenosaunee The legitimacy of the Mitchikanibikok Anishnabe animals and the people sick. The community was able to slow – separate but equal. Onakinakewin or Customary Governance Code was them down by taking a strong stand and blocking the logging Following the English victory over the French in 1760, the affi rmed by a federal court last year, but the federal roads.” Three Figure Wampum Belt Treaty, which stipulated native in- government’s Department of Indian and Northern Af- Algonquin resistance, supplemented by international mo- volvement in any questions related to the land, was signed by fairs (INAC) has acted under a section of the con- mentum surrounding sustainable development, political ma- the French, English, and the Algonquin nations. troversial Indian Act to install its own leadership on noeuvres in Quebec, and fear emanating from the events at The Royal Proclamation of 1763 and the 1764 Treaty of Barriere Lake. Oka, led in 1991 to a co-management plan between the ABL, Niagara together ensured Algonquin land could not be sold Norman Matchewan, spokesperson for the small Canada, and Quebec called the Trilateral Agreement. before being ceded to the Crown. Algonquin territory remains First Nation community located 300 kilometres north The Trilateral Agreement covers governance over the land, unceded. of Ottawa in the province of Quebec, told the Level- wildlife, and resources of 10,000 square kilometres, almost a Although the Quebec Act (1774) and British North America ler, “Section 74 [of the Indian Act] is erasing our quarter of Algonquin traditional territory. It guarantees the ABL Act (1867) incorporated the Algonquins into both the province identity. Our identity and our language have always an authority over their territory that refl ects their constitutional of Quebec and the Dominion of Canada, the early treaties were been connected to our customs and our land.” rights, and provides a means for the impoverished commu- affi rmed in Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution in 1982 Under the INAC’s authority, a chief and four coun- nity to benefi t from the sale of resources extracted from their and enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights cillors (three of whom live outside the community) land. of Indigenous Peoples. were acclaimed. Casey Ratt, the nominated chief, Praised by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples In May 2010, the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal refused the position, saying that the imposed system and the United Nations as “trailblazing,” the agreement is seen Peoples issued a report affi rming that First Nations have the of governance “will cause serious harm to the social as a landmark collaborative conservation strategy between na- right to maintain control over their internal affairs and be free fabric of our community.” tives and settlers, and an alternative to the inequitable Com- to pursue their vision of customary government. Undeterred by Ratt’s rejection, INAC maintained prehensive Land Claims process, which effectively extinguishes that “the remaining members of the Council still have Aboriginal title to the land. the authority to govern.” Towards the Trilateral agreement Despite the legal and constitutional powers recognized un- dishonouring the agreement der historical agreements, the community’s territory and sov- Implementation of the Trilateral Agreement has, unfortu- ereignty have been systemically encroached upon by settlers nately, been plagued with diffi culties, and the federal govern- and the state. ment backed out of it one month before the fi rst phase was to In the late 1980s the heart of their traditional territory, be implemented in 2001. Quebec continues to prioritize the which had been incorporated into the La Vérendrye Wildlife CAAF model in forest management, and Canada continues to “The Canadian government is trying to forcibly assimi- late our customs so they can sever our connection to the land, which is at the heart of our governance sys- tem. They don’t want to deal with a strong leadership, selected by community members who live on the land that demands that the federal and Quebec govern- ments implement the outstanding agreements regard- ing the exploitation of our lands and resources.”

– Tony Wawatie, community spokesperson, a strong leaDersHip Algonquins of Barriere Lake BELOW: THIS GRAPHIC IS BASED ON THE THREE-FIGURE WAMPUM, WHICH REPRESENTS THE HISTORIC AGREEMENT The Algonquins of Barriere Lake defend their land – and their inherent right to self-government BETWEEN THE FRENCH, ENGLISH AND ALGONQUIN PEOPLE.

interfere in the political leadership of the ABL. government [and demanding that it] take back the imposition “Unfortunately, the [ABL governance] code has fuelled that INAC rescinded recognition of the ABL’s Customary Chief of Section 74 on our community and join a fact-fi nding mis- situation because different factions were able to use the code and Council in 1996, 2006, and 2008, opting instead to ei- sion with AFN [Assembly of First Nations], Barriere Lake, and for their own good, for their own political objectives,” said Camil ther appoint or recognize a small faction within the community Indian Affairs.” Simard, an INAC spokesperson. “Once there is progress made not selected in accordance with the customary system. Chanting “Tyranny no more. Take back Section 74,” the dem- in the discussions and once the people are able to participate The federal government’s actions have encouraged the prov- onstrators proceeded to the offi ce of John Duncan, the INAC in the ratifi cation of modifi cations to the code, the minister will ince to abandon its part of the co-management agreement. minister, presenting a resolution signed by the majority of the be prepared to repeal Section 74.” “Quebec is now using the leadership confusion created by the community rejecting Section 74. Wawatie said the ABL, like any community in Canada, have federal government’s interference in our internal affairs as an Pei-Ju Wang, a member of the Indigenous Peoples Solidar- disagreements. “[But] we still agree that we want to preserve excuse not to implement the agreement and to let forestry ity Movement in Ottawa (IPSMO), attended the rally. “It is im- our traditional government and our way of life, how we choose companies have their way on our land,” said Matchewan. portant for people in the local community to be aware of the our leaders.” The ABL have responded with direct action, notably block- issues and the history surrounding this land. Supporters of the Meanwhile, the Section 74 controversy has distracted at- ades of Highway 117 in October and November 2008. They Algonquins of Barriere Lake have done important work helping tention from the underlying issues surrounding signed agree- demanded that Canada and Quebec honour the signed agree- to draw attention to an issue that may typically not get much ments and the management of the territory. ments and respect their traditional territory. This prompted a media coverage.” “This secret collusion between Quebec, logging companies, violent response from the Quebec Provincial Police (SQ), who When asked about the best way to support the ABL, Wawatie and the Indian Act band council has exposed the real agenda attacked the peaceful crowd, drawing criticism from interna- said, “The best way that we can be supported is to continue of the Canadian government: to undemocratically impose a tional human rights groups. Over 40 members of the commu- pressing the Canadian government to respect the agreements handful of collaborators on us so the province and industry nity were arrested and charged. that they have signed with our First Nation so that we can can get away with the clear-cutting of our land,” said Wawatie “The federal government says that they want to improve our rebuild our community. Respect the agreements, respect the in a press release. living conditions and yet they do not want to honour the agree- wishes of the youth, and start applying international law such “Now that they [the government] have recognized this pup- ment they signed, the Trilateral Agreement, which gives us a say as the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous pet INAC Council, logging will continue,” Wawaite told the Lev- in what goes on in our territory and a share in the revenue that Peoples.” eller. “We’ve been known as a very peaceful First Nation, but they are extracting. The Quebec government makes over $100 we can only take so much.” million per year off our territory and nothing goes back into the a Permanent impasse community,” Matchewan told the Leveller. Now in 2011, the situation remains precarious and the future uncertain. The ABL has rejected Section 74 and de- Fighting section 74 manded recognition and respect for their community leader- The ABL continue to reject the imposition of Section 74 of ship selection process and governing code, and has joined the the Indian Act. Assembly of First Nations in calling on INAC to undertake a On Dec. 13, the ABL took their grievances to Parliament Hill fact-fi nding mission. in Ottawa. The Canadian government says that Section 74 will remain Marylynn Poucachiche, community spokesperson, an- in force until the community agrees to change its customary nounced, “Today we are here protesting and condemning the code. editorial Defending (the Remembering an Academic Defenders of) the Land Freedom Fighter

York University Professor his pamphlet entitled “The York He fostered discussions on David Noble, a life-long activist University Foundation: the Tail the nature of domination and and rabble-rouser, passed away that Wags the Dog,” which list- resistance, and actively encour- Of all current political stems from colonialism, ing the nature of extractive in a Toronto hospital on Dec. ed the directors of the founda- aged students to challenge debates, struggles over the from imagining ourselves and destructive capitalism 27, 2010. tion who had ties to pro-Israel him. environment are arguably as people who conquer the and growth. Because of this, Remembering his fight organizations. He challenged “He said to fight power, you the most narrow given the land rather than living off it struggles over the environ- against institutional injustices the university’s attempt to limit need to fight it on terrain upon issues at stake. Although we or protecting it. ment are ideal illustrations and those he led in a grand his academic freedoms, result- which you can hold it account- face the prospect of devas- Canada has difficulty of the need for a diversity of chorus of thoughtful criticism, ing in a precedent-setting repa- able,” says Wong. tating change to the natural coming to terms with its leg- tactics. we are reminded of the numb- ration of $2,500. This explains his champi- systems we rely on for sur- acy of colonialism, its casu- People who want to use ing repression on Canada’s Noble used his role as a oning of FIPPA requests, which vival, environmental issues ally vicious marginalization their power to work for po- university campuses. For us at professor to not only present he viewed as a useful legisla- are still debated as if the of indigenous people. The litical change have a range the Leveller, Noble’s life repre- alternative perspectives in his tive tool to uncover the various principle of unimpeded eco- recent high-profile perfor- of avenues for putting that sents something we have al- teaching material, but to also streams of deception plaguing nomic growth at any cost is mances of contrition, partic- power to work. Some of ways held dear: fierce commit- challenge the traditional peda- academic institutions. the presumed reality. ularly for the 100-year-long them are offered up by the ment to the public good. gogy of the Canadian educa- Thrown into the thick of it The issues are framed in cultural genocide inflicted state as an official form of Born in New York City, tion system. all, he brought the truth to the such a way that the impera- through residential schools, agency, while others are Noble sprouted into an inter- Noble challenged the grad- light. In the York student film tives of the natural world, don’t amount to a serious more contested, and seek to nationally acclaimed critical ing system, which aims to clas- School Bullies, Noble poignant- which is the ultimate source questioning of the assump- throw the state off its game. historian, renowned for his ex- sify students for the benefit of ly affirmed that “it is a tragic of the economy, not to tions upon which those de- Among the conventional ploration of the role of science the workforce. After experi- betrayal of the public trust that mention life itself, have to cisions were made. means of registering agency, and technology in society. menting with various grading these institutions that are en- be measured against other, Canadian political dis- voting is the most acces- He published several books, methods, Noble eventually trusted with the public’s hopes more pressing priorities, like course still treats Aboriginal sible. It takes seconds and it including America by Design, resorted to a pass/fail model. and expectations have been hi- the continuation of the cur- issues as issues of poverty doesn’t necessarily require Forces of Production, Smash Ma- He recognized that an emanci- jacked for corporate profit.” rent destructive system of or problems with the coun- a lot of thought. Voting is chines, Not People!, The Religion patory education does not co- At universities across the world trade. try’s “cultural mosaic” rather a bit limited in terms of its of Technology, and most recent- erce students into regurgitation country, we are witnessing A political debate that than the very bedrock of our effectiveness given concen- ly Beyond the Promise Land. and adherence to particular the expansion of corporate presumes we have to main- existence as a country. The tration of power, the nature In his writings and in his boxes and shades, and that the representation on university tain conditions of capital- denial of the existence and of political parties, and the activism, Noble was relent- grounds for learning are most governing boards. At Carleton ism even under the threat of legitimacy of Aboriginal cul- influence of undemocratic less in confronting the institu- fertile when they are natural. University, Goldy Hyder, se- catastrophic damage to our tures, which was the basis of powers like business on tions that drive capitalism. He He would say, “Socrates didn’t nior vice-president of Hill and lives is not going to get us the residential school mod- the political process, but if worked to show how the uni- grade, so why should I?” and Knowlton Canada, and Arvin very far. el, is repeated in self-con- there’s a political party or versity, fused with private influ- he firmly believed that viable Chhatbar, CEO and chair of Even if we get beyond gratulatory tales of industrial candidate advocating what ence, has become a machine alternatives to the current grad- Enablence Technologies Inc., the imperative of destruc- wealth that ignore the indig- you want to vote for, it for the production of corporate ing model could be actualized are just two examples of mem- tive growth, the inescap- enous economy and politics doesn’t do any harm. research and marketing, against if pursued. bers of the corporate world ably global nature of envi- that were scattered and sup- If you want to get a little the interests of students, aca- Until his death, Noble sitting on the Board of Gover- ronmental politics and the pressed to make way for our more active, the options demics, and workers. fought alongside students in nors. tendency of governments to national development. multiply and the effective- Here at the Leveller, we un- the struggle against the com- Carleton University is cur- pass problems off to other And yet, the constitution- ness starts to slope up sharp- derstand that agitating – well, mercialization of research, the rently investigating a potential jurisdictions have encour- al and territorial existence of ly. By writing letters, creating it ain’t always easy. Noble expe- corporatization of universi- partnership with Navitas, a pri- aged environmental activists Canada is inescapably inter- petitions, and attending or rienced firsthand the repercus- ties, and for student rights and vate company hoping to take to focus their attention on twined with the recognition organizing demonstrations sions of barking up the right academic freedoms. In March on the Carleton corporate logo international agreements, so of the power and legitimacy and marches, you can influ- tree. Noble’s opposition to the of last year, David Noble and to market “transition” courses that the struggle for more re- of indigenous nations. Our ence political leaders more corporatization of universities students in his The Underside to international students. sponsible stewardship of the initial dependence, our sta- directly and, if coordinating often earned him the wrath of of Progress course facilitated a Critics argue that the pres- earth becomes a dizzying lit- tus as visitors on the land, is with lots of other people, the post-secondary powers that public action honouring the ence of Navitas on campuses any of rules and regulations in all the documents. Even you can also educate more be. heritage status nomination of has resulted in unequal edu- and processes and protocols though the demographics people about the issues. He was fired from a posi- Vari Hall, a treasured student cational experiences, increased that defy casual awareness. have been changed by dis- Direct action, including tion at the Massachusetts In- space on campus that had pressures on campus space for It is easy to forget that ease and poverty, and the civil disobedience and road- stitute of Technology for being, been under attack by the York profit gain, and the introduc- what it’s about is how we power relations altered by blocks, have an honourable in Noam Chomsky’s words, administration. tion of non-unionized em- live. The environment is not brutal cultural and political pedigree in environmental “too radical.” His politically According to one of his ployment. “out there,” an object that repression, at the centre of struggles, in part because motivated removal was later former students, Laila Rashi- Navitas is exactly the we can decide we want to Canada’s legal existence still the struggles are about the condemned by the American die, “In Noble’s classes, we kind of commercialization like or not like. It’s our land, lies the inherent territorial land and physical forms of Historical Association. Then, practiced the essence of educa- project that Noble identified our water, our air, our soil, autonomy of First Nations. resistance – putting bodies in 2001, he was denied the J.S. tion – truth-telling and better- in his ruthless 2002 polemic our earth. It’s the food we Any major endeavour on the line, standing in the Woodsworth research chair at ing humanity – which is what Digital Diploma Mills. Navi- eat. It’s the things we need to to change the way politi- way of bulldozers and log- Simon Fraser University, even Noble had been ultimately tas and other attempts to be alive so we can be alive. cal power works in Canada ging trucks – drive that point though faculty members had practicing and preserving. And profit from a dumbed-down It is the bread-and-butter is- has to have at its centre the home. selected Noble in what was instill[ing] in us.” This kind of and mass-marketed private sue of all bread-and-butter affirmation of the right to Defending the land, and supposed to be a faculty deci- solidarity between professors education model are the issues. self-determination and lead- those who have historically sion. and students is hard to find on opposite of true education We have trouble think- ership of First Nations. This and constitutionally taken A true fighter, Noble filed campuses. – and are embraced by os- ing of the environment in is the lesson of the consti- the responsibility of stand- a lawsuit alleging that ad- Noble reminded us that at tensibly public universities this way because our politi- tutional battles of the late ing in the way of destruc- ministrators at Simon Fraser the heart of decisions about with alarming enthusiasm cal life has been organized 20th century, which came to tive industrial development, University, including Vice- education, about public uni- and carelessness. around a different question: nothing specifically because takes an array of powers op- President Academic John versities, should be the best As funding for post-sec- how to divide the spoils of the self-government of Ab- erating simultaneously on Waterhouse and Dean of interests of students and ondary education becomes a resource-based industrial original peoples was not giv- as many planes as possible. Arts John Pierce, conspired to workers, not the profit inter- increasingly scarce, and uni- economy. This question, and en adequate consideration. The transformation in block his appointment and ests of corporations. Yet at the versities and colleges seek the political movements and In the case of environ- values needed to develop a overrode the committee’s de- same time, “I don’t think it out new and creative ways institutions that have devel- mental movements, where new relationship to the land cision. Noble was supported would be doing Dave justice to increase corporate invest- oped out of it, is based in land is directly at stake, the ultimately goes beyond pol- by the Canadian Association to simply say he stood with ments and partnerships, the some sense on the negation importance of affirming and itics. It’s a question of telling of University Teachers, win- students on this or that issue,” work of David Noble remains of another way of looking at supporting the leadership of ourselves new stories about ning an apology and an out- says Devon Wong, a former more relevant to the struggles the land. First Nations is all the more ourselves and our relation- of-court settlement from Si- student of Noble’s at York. of today than ever before. Let Our political culture pre- crucial. Indeed environmen- ship to the land. It’s about mon Fraser University. “What Dave tried to teach us follow his example and be sumes exactly what it needs tal politics are in many cases new knowledge, a new ethic As an established tenured us was something broader bold enough to take a stance to directly address: domi- inseparable from solidarity of responsibility for, rather professor at York University, than that. It was the will to when our collective experi- nation of the land and re- with and support for Ab- than domination over, the Noble, who is Jewish, vocally ‘be against’ and to be willing ence with our institutions and sources, up to and including original peoples. land and resources as they opposed the influence of the to take matters into our own our education are on the line. their utter destruction, for Environmental issues af- pass through our hands on Zionist lobby on Canadian hands. To exercise democracy As he would say, we can’t af- the development of indus- fect all aspects of political their way to future genera- academic institutions and was and to treat freedom as a verb, ford not to make enemies in try. It is a presumption that power, up to and includ- tions. slandered by the university for not a noun.” this world.

10 The Leveller vol 3, no 3, January 2011 www.leveller.ca letters comment

Re: “The Ottawa I became much older did ily increased at all. Rather, Protocol” the notion of jail as reha- it is possible that is has bilitation enter my mind. stayed about the same or There is a reason why rac- Lessons from I have a feeling this is a even declined. ism against Jews has a spe- form of doublespeak along Koch writes that the cial name: anti-Semitism. the lines of “war to end Statistics Canada report Thousands of years old, it peace” and “quantitative lists “police-reported hate is the most enduring form easing.” Only after hearing crimes” as increasing into the climate of hatred – always unique, it enough does one actual- 2008. distinct, and dangerous in ly begin to accept it. From The article then goes on its tendencies. Today, anti- what, exactly, does jail re- to say, “And these numbers Semitism is at its highest habilitate one? Why is jail likely undercount the true change global level since the late as a form of rehab – free number of hate crimes that 1930s: that is, since the eve yet mandatory – frequent- occurred, because victims of the Nazi Holocaust that ly trying to be escaped often choose not to report systematically slaughtered from by its inmates? Of hate crimes to police, for megatron six million Jews. what is Bradley Manning, reasons including fear of With this in mind, par- an alleged whistleblower retribution and feelings People have been ask- would continue to lose fact only 37% of youth liamentarians from 50 to Wikileaks, being reha- of humiliation, the report ing me about my experi- their lives and livelihoods voted in our last election, countries came together in bilitated? noted.” ence as a Canadian Youth to climate change, while compared to 68% of Ca- early November in Ottawa A friend of mine spent a What has increased, Delegate to the 16th Con- we threw up our hands nadians over the age of at the second International night in rehab. He did not then, is the number of po- ference of Parties of the and said, “Oh well, better 65. Parliamentary Conference think of it as that nor call lice-reported hate crimes, United Nations Frame- luck next year.” Imagine what we could on Combating Antisemi- it such. not necessarily the fre- work Convention on Cli- Over the past month, accomplish if we got more tism to urgently address I found interesting the quency of those crimes mate Change (COP16), I have struggled to find a youth to show up the next the rise of hatred against comment by Justin Piche. themselves. These are not the most recent round of way to adequately explain time around! Jews, and to fight back. He maintains, “The pun- the same thing. climate change negotia- my experience at the UN Rumours are flying that No reasonable person ishment agenda is about Can one interpret the tions at the UN, since I ar- in a way that is simultane- we could have an election can deny that Israel leads not... meeting the needs of Statistics Canada report rived home in December. ously honest and hopeful. as soon as this spring; we the Middle East – and the victims.” This is true. as not more crimes, but as The conversation usu- Because, even in my dark- have the opportunity to world – in human rights. Presently an individual less people worried about ally starts off with them est, most difficult of mo- make climate change an One in five Israelis are Ar- who has their home bro- fear of retribution and asking, “Did you have fun ments, I never lost hope, election issue, and to en- abs who live, work, and ken into pays the costs feelings of humiliation, in Mexico?” not entirely. courage other young peo- vote with the same rights of the damages to their and as a result reporting After all, they reason, I I have to believe that ple to exercise their civic as every other citizen. By home, and on top of that their abuse to authorities? had just spent two weeks we can, and that we will right and responsibility to contrast, not one of the the costs of housing and If for the longest time in Cancun, the land of do better – it’s what gets vote. 56 Arab states grants equal feeding the person who these numbers were ar- white sandy beaches, ex- me out of bed in the There are a thousand rights, or even basic safety, committed crimes against tificially suppressed due clusive resorts, and all- morning. ways that we can take ac- to Jews. them. to fear or embarrassment night dance parties. How But I’m also a great be- tion on climate change. This is to say nothing of It would be cheaper and among victims, then we could I not have had fun? liever in following my pas- I for one am going to be the abhorrent treatment in more just to have criminals are now closer to seeing The first couple of times sions, and I have recently heading to the polls and most Middle Eastern coun- compensate the victims of the reality of the situation. this happened, I wasn’t realized that I am not, in bringing everyone I know tries of women and the their crimes for damages If the latter is true then quite sure what to say. Did fact, passionate about the with me. GLBTQ community – two they caused. When some- this is something to be op- I meet a lot of interesting UN. groups that also enjoy full one burglarizes several timistic about. people? Definitely. Did I There is still impor- Erica Nickels worked as sus- equality and protection in homes, rather than being One, victims are final- learn more in two weeks tant work to be done in tainable high schools coor- Israel. In this sense, your put in a box by the gov- ly feeling confident and than I ever thought was the UN climate change dinator at the Sierra Youth writers are correct that Isra- ernment where they “pay empowered enough to re- humanly possible? With- negotiations, and young Coalition from July 2009- el has “singled itself out.” their debt to society” why port their victimization to out a doubt. Was I glad people have an important 2010. This past December, Despite these facts, Isra- should they not reimburse someone, and two, people that I went? Absolutely. role to play in that pro- She travelled with the Ca- el is regularly and uniquely their victims? might be alerted to the real But did I have fun in cess. However, the single nadian Youth Delegation to subjected to condemnation The people who were seriousness of the prob- Mexico? No, not really. most important thing we COP16 in Mexico. by the United Nations Hu- stolen from would receive lem, which previously was Participating in COP16 can do as young Canadi- man Rights Council, whose compensation, the pro- hidden. Only if we proper- – the lead up, the confer- ans is to work to shift the members include notorious ductive abilities of the ly identify a problem can ence, and the aftermath ideological, economic, human rights abusers like burglar are put to work we try to solve it. – has been one of the and political landscape Libya and Saudi Arabia. rather than literally stored In the same issue of the most challenging experi- here in Canada. And despite these facts, away in a cage, and there Leveller, David Koch has ences of my life. Before Until Canadians recog- activists who claim to criti- is no expensive, oppres- an article directly above the conference, I struggled nize the moral imperative cize Israeli state policies sive, and enormous gov- the one mentioned here, as part of a project that, to take action on global spend incredible time and ernment rehabilitation in which he quotes in- like the youth environ- warming, realize that cli- energy urging boycotts of program. dividuals that claim the mental movement itself, mate change adaptation Israeli businesses, universi- Also, Canadians im- Canadian government is is vastly underfunded and and mitigation present ties, and cultural organiza- prisoned for non-violent leveraging Canadians’ fear stretched too thin. unparalleled opportuni- There is still tions. crimes, the majority of of crime to push through During the conference, ties for domestic economic Of course, one can prisoners, should be re- questionable policies. I witnessed the colossal growth, and make climate important criticize Israel without be- leased. At the same time, crime slowness of the bureau- change a central election ing anti-Semitic. Like any Mark Stobnicki is actually on the decline. cratic megatron that is issue, we can sign as many democratic state, Israel work to be In light of this we should, the UN. I sat through self- international treaties as can and should be criti- Unnecessary while not ignoring reports congratulatory speeches, we want, but our politi- cized when it goes astray. like these, attempt to view formulaic pleasantries, cians will never champion done in the But when one makes false Pessimism on them from all possible painfully technical de- legislation that seriously claims about the Jewish Hate Crime angles, reflect, and see if bates on punctuation, and addresses climate change. UN climate state, applies standards not Statistics? there are interpretations got up close and personal So where do we go expected of any other state In “Activists Demand that do not necessarily with Canada’s diplomatic from here? There are tons on earth, and questions the change End to Homophobic Vio- lead us to pessimism and evasive manoeuvre. of organizations in Cana- very right of Jews to a safe lence” in November’s Lev- despair. I spoke with country da that are doing excellent national home, one crosses eller, David Koch cites a Mark Stobnicki representatives who could education and advocacy negotiations, a dangerous line. Statistics Canada report only afford to send two work when it comes to Emile Scheffel showing that hate crimes Lovely Leveller negotiators to a confer- public outreach, issues- and young University Senator motivated by sexual orien- I am a student at Dal- ence where 15 negotiat- based campaigns, and (Public Affairs Students) tation increased over 100% housie who is back in Ot- ing tracks occur simulta- green jobs. people have Carleton University from 2007 to 2008. tawa for the Christmas hol- neously, and developing But there’s one thing I have not read the re- idays. I was lucky enough countries are behind be- in particular that we can Ideas on Jail port myself and am sure an important to stumble across your fore they’ve even started. do that would drastically Koch knows the details of In David Koch’s ar- lovely publication from As the conference drew transform Canadian poli- it better than I. However, ticle “No Vacancy” in the the month of November. to a close, I felt like the cies: vote! role to my understanding from November Leveller, Koch I commend you on the real reason we had all We know that if more the information Koch pro- quotes Howard Sapers’ re- Leveller’s great writing and come together had some- youth showed up at the play in that vides in the article is that port as saying conditions great layout. how been lost, and that polls, our country would the frequency of these in prisons are preventing Ryan Lum for another year hundreds look a whole lot different “rehabilitation.” Not until crimes has not necessar- of thousands of people than it does right now. In process. www.leveller.ca vol 3, no 3, January 2011 The Leveller 11 magazine york u presiDent refuses to be bullieD by mat nelson group of protesters holding Shoukri has again showed legation of defamatory re- the Palestinian organization of individual politicians signs and waving the Israeli his amazing tolerance for marks, Avi Benlolo, Presi- Hamas, which the Canadian claiming parliamentary le- The university campus fl ag chanted and shouted in anti-Semitism and lack of dent and CEO of the Friends government considers to be gitimacy. has again become a battle the foyer of the campus au- vigilance regarding the feel- of Simon Wiesenthal Center a terrorist group. These al- In his address to the ground for the war on free ditorium hosting Galloway ing of safety for Jewish stu- for Holocaust Studies (Can- legations stem from Gallo- conference, Prime Minis- speech. York University Pres- and an audience of several dents on campus.’ This state- ada), suggested that the at- way’s role in delivering an ter Harper warned of a ris- ident Mamdouh Shoukri hundred attendees. Refusing ment is untrue, is harmful tempt to limit protest on the aid convoy to Palestinians. ing “new” anti-Semitism, has been accused of tolerat- to be intimidated, Galloway to President Shoukri and his campus was “reprehensi- Earlier this year, Galloway which “perversely” uses the ing anti-Semitism and ne- posted a message on Twitter reputation, and to that of ble.” In a letter from Nov. 18 received clearance by immi- language of human rights, glecting the safety of Jewish the same evening that read, the university.... [W]e expect sent to President Shoukri, gration offi cials to travel to but actually targets “the Jew- students for permitting anti- “The cheers from the 700 at a retraction and apology Benlolo wrote, “Essentially, Canada after a Federal Court ish homeland, Israel, as the war and Palestinian rights Toronto’s York Uni drowned forthwith,” said the letter. the Jewish community was judge criticized the political source of injustice and con- activist George Galloway to and washed out the murmur University spokesperson implicitly told, ‘Galloway rationale behind Immigra- fl ict in the world.” speak at York University. from the Zionist protesters. Alex Bilyk called the rabbi’s in – Jews out.’ Clearly, at tion Minister Jason Kenney’s A number of organiza- The president responded A great night.” remarks “defamatory” and York University, freedom of attempt to ban him. This was tions have responded to with the threat of a lawsuit, Aaron Hoch, a rabbi from commented that the univer- speech is a one way street.” a major victory for the free the claim that a “new” anti- which has garnered support the Zionist organization sity “does not tolerate any But it appears that Benlo- speech movement in Canada. Semitism is on the rise in from those who refuse to Aish HaTorah, called upon racism or anti-Semitism on lo is only willing to defend Aside from claims of Canada, notably Indepen- equate criticism of the Israeli his cadre to protest the Gal- our campus,” but that the free speech when it meets anti-Semitism, Galloway is dent Jewish Voices, which state with anti-Semitism. loway talk and attacked York impetus for Lewis’ letter his political interests. unpopular with the Harper recently launched a video After a successful court University President Mam- was the “accusations that Independent Jewish Voic- government for various other available on YouTube en- challenge to the federal gov- douh Shoukri for being tol- Dr. Shoukri was being anti- es delved into the controver- reasons. As a staunch oppo- titled, “Defend Free Speech: ernment’s denial of entry to erant of anti-Semitism. Semitic.” sy on Nov. 28 with its own nent of imperialism, he has The CPCCA and the New George Galloway in 2009, In response, Shoukri, the Although Rabbi Hoch de- letter in support of President spoken out against the wars McCarthyism.” the UK anti-war activist and fi rst and only Muslim uni- nied that there was any such Shoukri. On behalf of the in Iraq and Afghanistan. Rather than fi ghting actu- former British MP complet- versity president in Canada, poster or that he posted any organization, Diana Ralph As the Galloway case al anti-Semitism, Indepen- ed a 10-city Canadian tour had the university lawyer comments about Mr. Gallo- wrote, “We applaud your demonstrates, accusations dent Jewish Voices maintains this past November. send a letter to the rabbi way to his website, the Of- stated intention to mount of anti-Semitism are in- that the underlying aim of A number of small groups threatening a defamation fi ce of the Counsel also took legal action against Rabbi creasingly directed at those the ICCA is to discredit and chanting allegations of anti- suit. In a letter sent to Rabbi issue with an email sent by Hoch for his libel against who challenge the policies silence the growing criticism Semitism picketed several of Hoch on Nov. 15, Harriet Hoch to 700 people on his you.... Rabbi Hoch and his of the state of Israel regard- of Israel’s apartheid policies. his speaking events. Simi- Lewis from the Offi ce of the community mailing list ask- supporters do not represent ing its indigenous Palestin- It is hardly surprising then, lar charges were echoed by Counsel at York referred to a ing them to “take part in Canadian Jews. Further- ian population. The Tory that the Harper government various right-wing Zionist poster that was widely circu- protesting this outrage” on more, your decision to take government recently hosted would target and defame a sources, including Bernie lated by the rabbi via email. campus, referring to the Gal- a strong stand against their a forum with the Inter-Par- known anti-war activist such Farber, the CEO of the Ca- The letter demanded that loway speech. abusive tactics is crucial for liamentary Coalition for as Galloway, who has vigor- nadian Jewish Congress, the poster in question be re- According to Lewis, “The the integrity of Canadian Combating Anti-Semitism ously defended the right to and Terry Glavin, who made moved from his website and university’s campuses are universities.” (ICCA), formally known as freedom of speech for indi- similar accusations in the that he direct his supporters private property, and pro- Mr. Galloway was banned the Canadian Parliamen- viduals and groups criticiz- Nov. 26 edition of the Ot- to cease and desist distribu- tests by non-student groups from entering Canada in tary Coalition to Combat ing Israel’s defi ance of in- tawa Citizen. tion of the poster. are not permitted.” 2008 based on allegations Anti-Semitism (CPCCA), an ternational law and human On Nov. 16, a large “You state fi rst that ‘Mr. In response to York’s al- that he fi nancially supported entity representing a group rights norms.

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12 The Leveller vol 3, no 3, January 2011 www.leveller.ca magazine Global Peasant Movement Left Seeing REDD by Chris Bisson

Under the guise of cli- mate change mitigation, delegations from 184 governments assembled in Cancun, Mexico, for COP16, the 16th meeting of the Conference of Par- ties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. By the close of COP16 in December 2010, dele- gates had adopted the Can- cun Accords, a non-bind- ing agreement purported to address climate change, which was much heralded by bureaucrats, CEOs, and journalists alike. The accords set a target of 2 degrees Celsius as the maximum allowable aver- age global rise in tempera- ture, which is the thresh- old level suggested by the International Panel on Climate Change, to avoid the most potentially dam- aging effects of climate change. However, the ac- cords rely almost entirely on market mechanisms to accomplish this. Most nefarious of these mechanisms is the Re- Photo by Ben Powless ducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest the stoppage of defores- is that it’s not addressing dustry could theoreti- “The governments repre- the coal markets are just Degradation (REDD) pro- tation as “conservation,” the underlying drivers of cally go “carbon neutral” sented in the COP16 need businesses and opportu- gramme. The programme which some are calling the deforestation, and there- through such a system to stop talking business nities for the expansion invites polluters to pay de- construction of “fortress fore it’s not going to solve while simultaneously in- and start talking about of control by the multina- veloping countries to stop forests.” It will result in the problem,” said Anne creasing their emissions. the climate; REDD and tionals.” cutting down their forests. the wholesale eviction of Petermann of the Global “It’s more expensive for a Forests would be sold as Indigenous peoples from Justice Ecology Project in a company to actually figure offsets on carbon mar- their lands, even those de- Democracy Now! interview. out how to reduce its emis- kets, with the money go- pendant on agroforestry. As forests are put into sions at the source. It’s ing to parties who agree to Che Lopez of the South- lockdown through REDD, much cheaper to just go forgo logging. Industrial west Workers Union in San developers and resource buy a forest somewhere,” states have discussed put- Antonio, Texas, described extractors, even those who said Petermann. ting aside money for the the situation in an inter- benefit financially from Additionally, REDD REDD programme, but it view with Workers World. the deal, could start log- would not address the is unclear how this would “Negotiators go into clean ging in unprotected areas. myriad of other ecologi- happen. communities and undevel- “So even if you suc- cal implications of indus- The accords call for Basically REDD is a sys- oped places, and they buy cessfully protect a forest trial development, such as tem whereby rich industri- communities’ carbon cred- in, say, the Congo, if you the increased cancer rates alized countries can bribe its. They then force people haven’t eliminated the found downstream in corporations in poor de- to move out of their com- pressures too – the pres- Fort Chipewyan, Alberta, veloping countries to stop munities. Corporations get sures for wood, for exam- caused by tailing runoffs land to be converted deforestation. It could fur- the right to pollute more ple – you’re just going to found in the local drink- ther encourage these ac- where they already are, push that logging into a ing water. tors to buy out Indigenous surpassing their parts-per- different forest,” said Pe- At the COP16 discus- peoples and strip them of million pollution rate.” termann. sions, peasant farmers and into commodified their land rights. By treat- Land would also be un- Another issue REDD allies worldwide rallied ing forests as exchangeable justly redistributed. The presents is the degree of against REDD under the commodities sold by their accords call for land to be ecological moral hazard banner of La Via Campe- inhabitants to corpora- converted into commodi- that industrial countries sina, a global coalition of tions and industrial states, fied carbon sinks – and will face. 148 peasant farmer orga- carbon sinks – and this programme will lead golf courses and euca- For instance, in Canada nizations, including the to a wholesale privatiza- lyptus plantations would the government will be National Farmers Union tion of the world’s forests, count. Such carbon sinks able to continue subsi- in Canada. to be managed by global would contain minimal dizing the Athabasca Tar La Via Campesina ar- golf courses and carbon financial institu- biodiversity and result in Sands by claiming they are gues REDD will be ineffec- tions and the World Bank. what some have been call- sanitized through REDD tive in mitigating climate It will also contribute to ing “green deserts.” carbon offsets. Multina- change, threaten indig- the growing number of There are serious doubts tional oil corporations enous sovereignty, reward climate refugees displaced as to whether REDD will invested in the tar sands logging and development eucalyptus plantations worldwide. actually result in carbon could expand their opera- corporations, and lead to The devil in the details offsets or effectively halt tions if they increase their further privatization of the that would allow for such deforestation. financial commitment to world’s forests. dispossession is in the “The issue with the the carbon trade. Alberto Gómez of La would count. programme’s definition of REDD scheme in general Governments and in- Via Campesina asserted, www.leveller.ca vol 3, no 3, January 2011 The Leveller 13 culture Two Thousand and Ten Exposing in Albums Reviews originally appeared in Arthur, the Peterborough and Trent University Independent Press.

Toxic Racism Three very different reviews of 3 very great records

Conference and exhibit shed light by Michael Duguay breakbeat-esque drum loops, leased his full-length debut and high-energy MIA-esque in September and it is a on pollution and colonialism Joanna Newsom female vocals. Highlight gift to the world, seriously. Have on Me of the record is “Rill Rill,” McKay’s smooth baritone, Epic, three-disc labour of which features a spot-on naturalist lyrics, and mind- love from American harp- Funkadelic sample and my blowing whistling skills ist and songwriter Joanna favourite lyric of 2010, “Keep are featured on top of King Newsom. The dramatic thinking about every straight Crimson-esque prog-synth scope of Newsom’s creative face yes; wonder what your and superb playing by the nuances, enigmatic lyrics, boyfriend thinks about your multi-instrumentalist band and dense orchestrations are braces.” Each track is catchy, leader as well as members of more realized on this out- jolting, light-hearted, and Bruce Peninsula and Owen ing than ever before. Her brooding, creating a sound Pallet’s band. previous two records have not otherwise heard in the The album highlight shaped a musical maturity last year. Perfectly suited for is “Andy’s House,” a play- and a tastefulness that are either Top 40 radio, or the ful song about your high displayed here in their fin- top three list of any I-knew- school friend whose parents est form, proving that News- this-band-before-they-even- were cool enough to let you om’s art is unparalleled in its existed scenester. smoke bongs and eat pizza beauty, breadth, and creative Best enjoyed driving very in their basement every Sat- inhibition. fast down a California high- urday night. Watch out for Best enjoyed over mulled way, topless with the top McKay in the coming year; wine in a candle-lit cave on down on your convertible. he is a force to be reckoned the moon. with. Steve McKay Best enjoyed in the base- Sleigh Bells (Self-titled) ment of your high school Treats Previously known as the friend’s parent’s house, Loud, loud, loud. Squeal- drummer in Toronto’s Bruce while smoking bongs and ing electric guitars, thrashy Peninsula, Steve McKay re- eating pizza.

Top 5 Five Country and Folk Albums

by Nick Ferrio present and one firmly root- of musicians, making his ed in the glorious history of weighty lyrics feel uplifting Daniel, Fred & Julie country music. and at times almost gospel. (Self-titled) Must listen: “New Girl Lyrics like “Cops get paid If asked what kind of Now.” to do what they’re told / The albums Attack in Black’s state has roots in capital / Daniel Romano, Shotgun, Doug Paisley Capital has interests in it- and Jaybird’s Fred Squire Constant Companion self” really summed up the and the-queen-bee-of-in- Who knew this album summer of 2010 and the ex- die-rock-cool Julie Doiron would be my constant com- periences of those involved would make together, I’d panion this year? Doug Pais- in the anti-G20 protests. never have guessed it would ley, that’s who. With a record With songs like “Airtight: be an album of old-time featuring a who’s who of the No Light” and “Snuck Right folk songs. Canadian musical canon Up,” Laviolette lets you But this self-titled debut including The Band’s Garth know it’s alright to be both – recorded in Fred Squire’s Hudson on organ, harmony a lover and a fighter, an ac- garage in Sackville, New vocals from Leslie Feist and tivist and an artist, a cowboy Brunswick, and consisting Jennifer Caste of Castlemu- and a counter-point to the of mostly traditional and sic, as well as bassist Basil status quo. public domain lyrics – is Donovan from Blue Rodeo Must listen: “Airtight: No Photo by Laurence Butet-Roch folk music at its best. Lis- – you can’t blame me for Light.” teners can expect sparse ar- never taking this record off by David Tough caused at Aamjiwnaang First In addition to the speak- rangements and harrowing my turntable. Daniel Romano Nation and in the Alberta ers from Aamjiwnaang harmonies from three of Paisley’s songs, part Bon- Workin’ for the Music Man Activists, youth, and el- tar sands. First Nation, the event will Canada’s best. nie Prince Billy and part Perhaps the album that ders from Aamjiwnaang Each year, CEHR hosts feature Ben Powless, long- Must listen: “Runner.” Kris Kristoffersen, are well surprised me most, and ar- First Nation, a community an annual event concerning standing member of the crafted, like little diamonds guably changed the way I in southwestern Ontario diversity and accessibility Indigenous Environmental Jack Marks in the rough waiting to listened to music, was Dan- facing ongoing toxic envi- on campus. This year’s con- Network and the Canadian Lost Wages fill your eardrums with so iel Romano’s Workin’ for ronmental contamination, ference will shed light on Youth Climate Coalition, as Jack Marks is one of the much sweetness you’ll think the Music Man. Where most will speak at the University the overwhelming presence well as spoken word and rap hardest working musicians someone squirted honey punk rockers turned coun- of Ottawa on Jan. 20. of racialized populations performances by Aboriginal in Canada. After beating a into your ears. try singers tend to play their The speakers will appear residing in highly polluted performers M.C.S., Flaw, life-threatening bout with Must listen: “Don’t Make “three chords and the truth” as part of the conference and toxic areas and their Daar and NativeLife. cancer, Marks has released Me Wait.” with their tongues firmly Toxins, Racism and Mental increased risk of developing Mckay Swanson, chair- some of the most compel- planted in cheek, Romano Health, organized by Sarah mental illness. person of the Young Peo- ling and urgent songs in Richard Laviolette & sings with the same blue- Wiebe and Nicole Leaver and In partnership with the ple’s Council within Aamji- Canadian country music to The Oil Spills collar aesthetic and down- co-sponsored by the univer- Forum for Aboriginal Stud- wnaang, said that “using rap date. All of Your Raw Materials to-earth honesty as Merle sity’s Centre for Equity and ies Research, the conference and beat poetry as a form Every song on Lost Wages Richard Laviolette is Haggard or George Jones. Human Rights (CEHR) and is intended to bring together of expression on these chal- sounds like a classic – “Bor- among the most gifted song- Joined by his partner Forum for Aboriginal Stud- academics, researchers, and lenging issues is a key way to row It Gladly” echoes back to writers our country has to of- Misha Bower, as well as his ies Research. activists to discuss the reali- give voice to the voiceless.” Blonde on Blonde-era Bob Dy- fer, and with All of Your Raw aunt and uncle, Romano The conference will ac- ty facing many communities Organizer Sarah Wiebe lan, while “New Girl Now” Materials he has presented played nearly every instru- company an evening of live bearing a disproportionate said that “the opportunity to sits somewhere between his strongest and most star- ment on the album. Workin’ music and an exhibition of burden of pollution in their have the people directly af- Springsteen’s The River and tling collection to date. for the Music Man is a family photography by Laurence backyards. fected by the issue do the talk- Wilco’s Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Known to wear his politics album from a punk-turned- Butet-Roch and Ben Powless, The conference will take ing is a real gift. We’re proud On Lost Wages Marks brings on his sleeve, Laviolette’s balladeer who has truly to be held at SAW Gallery. place on campus at the 90 to be able to bring the true ex- a refreshing perspective to knack for lyricism and infec- found his voice. The photographs document University Boardroom at perts on the effects of toxicity traditional form, keeping tious phrasing are rounded Must listen: “She Was the environmental damage 6:30pm. to the university, to teach us.” one foot firmly rooted in the out by a gifted community World to Me.”

14 The Leveller vol 3, no 3, January 2011 www.leveller.ca culture Finding Joy in wretchedness Celebrating The Room eight years on grit

pizza actually tastes like, or how fast Lisa’s concoction of in the scotch and vodka (dubbed “scotchka” by fans) could get you hammered. It will have you quoting ozarks lines like “Leave your stupid comments in your pocket,” lines that could never have Drugs, poverty been conceived of by speak- ers with previous experience in social interactions, or com- and resilience in petent in any of the many hu- man languages still spoken Winter’s Bone today. It will have you mocking that a potentially emo- Wiseau’s forced throaty creepy by Max Weinstein tionally exhausting story insincere chuckle. Even though the film is is made poignant, funny, It will have you using this critically acclaimed (so the and very entertaining. choice greeting “Oh hi [per- poster says), Winter’s Bone This is not some artsy son/animal/object/abstract initially elicited skepticism movie with an impenetra- concept of your choosing]” for from me: a poor teenage ble plot that shames you the following week. girl walks around looking for not really enjoying it. It will have you pondering for her father in a town It is well crafted and ac- questions like, “Why didn’t Wi- full of meth-cookers? It cessible, driven by a great seau shoot the rooftop scenes sounded grim and poten- central character in Ree, on an actual roof instead of tially tedious. played wonderfully by in front of a greenscreen?” or I decided to give it a Lawrence. “Who would decorate their try, admittedly because In one of my favourite place with a close-up photo of the Mayfair Theatre is only scenes, she teaches her lit- a spoon?” blocks from my house and tle brother and sister how Ever get the urge to stand was selling cheep beer for to hunt and clean squirrel a metre away from your buds “adult night.” The movie so they can survive in case in an alleyway and awkwardly was not what I had expect- they are separated. With toss a football around while ed, and better than I had Ottawa’s squirrel surplus, wearing tuxedos? You may af- hoped. this could offer useful in- ter watching The Room. Great movies entertain, sight for strapped students And despite these fatal but also have some sub- who wish to expand their enough. Every single thing about flaws, or actually because of by Erin Seatter stance that stays with you. culinary horizons. Johnny (Wiseau) is a man this movie, right down to its them, The Room has become and Aaron Saad Winter’s Bone is the rare The movie is also worth with a good heart, who loves finer details – even its trailer a contemporary cult classic, a movie that is capable in a look because it examines Tommy Wiseau’s most his fiancée Lisa (Juliette Dan- and its promotional poster – rare addition to the midnight both regards. the American meth town colossal failure is his biggest ielle). Lisa, as viewers are told is abominable. movie canon, a cinematic The movie is set in the with a clear authenticity success. several times by characters Shots appear sloppily out monster so earnest yet so Ozark mountains, a range that avoids simplification Screenwriter, director, pro- throughout the movie, is “so of focus. Characters are para- abysmal that spectators attend that runs through parts and stereotype. Since its ducer, executive producer, and beautiful.” She’s also tired of chuted in and story lines are regular late-night screenings of Arkansas and Southern rise in the 1980s, meth has starring actor of the movie The the dependable Johnny, and introduced only to be forgot- just to yell pre-scripted lines at Missouri, with small towns swept through hundreds Room (2003), Wiseau claims starts an affair with his best ten the next moment. Instead the movie and throw props at and some big military bas- of small towns across the he set out to make a black friend Mark (Greg Sestero). of setting the story in time and the screen. es mixed in. The scenery heartland of the United comedy. Lisa is a mental projec- place, shots leave viewers dis- It’s about finding joy in has an intense beauty off- States, devastating ar- But the film has the un- tion of the imagined evil of oriented, or unnecessarily re- wretchedness. set by the tough times that eas that once provided a mistakable scent of sincerity women. She’s beautiful, she’s mind them that no one’s gone Is the story of Tommy Wi- have befallen many of the backbone of hard-working that marks a doomed passion inconstant, and at one point, anywhere. The sex scenes are seau and The Room a triumph communities in the area. farmers and industry. project: The Room is Wiseau’s she untruthfully says that effective celibacy inducers. or a tragedy? The film has I spent some time in In his book Methland melodramatic labour of love. Johnny hit her after getting Human interactions are done what so many others, Devil’s Elbow, Missouri, a Nick Reding describes how Claiming to draw inspira- drunk. She isn’t a real woman, hilariously but unsettlingly with their obscene budgets few years ago, and was ex- the meth epidemic is wo- tion from Citizen Kane and but a caricatured culmination unnatural. and army of producers, could pecting the movie to con- ven into not only big busi- the works of Tennessee Wil- of Wiseau’s hatred of and fas- Lisa: Did you get your promo- not: it has become timeless, vey the same lush moun- ness and government, but liams, Wiseau has crafted a cination with women. tion? and continues to play in the- tains and backwoods also the fabric of American misogynistic tale about how It’s frightening to imagine Johnny: Naw. atres years after its initial re- culture I had seen. Instead, culture. being a good guy just isn’t how Wiseau feels about wom- Lisa: You didn’t get it, did lease. And yet, although it’s Winter’s Bone gives a cold, “In the 1980’s, meth was en; one can picture him clos- you? celebrated, it’s celebrated be- uncompromising look at a highly acceptable drug ing his eyes and immediately Wiseau, like an unpredict- cause it’s a failure. small-town Ozark life that in America, one of the rea- descending into nightmares of able and overly eager lead in a The film tells us that even is both disturbing and to- sons being that it helped shrieking, man-eating harpies. play, delivers his lines oblivi- good men find it hard to sur- tally captivating. … soldiers, truck drivers, (At one point in the movie, ous to the cues and timing of vive in a world where their The story follows Ree farmers and auto workers Whatever Mark describes a situation in those around him, sometimes closest friends and loved ones Dolly (Jennifer Lawrence), – work harder, longer and which a woman was beaten responding to other characters can’t be trusted. (Johnny’s a 17 year-old girl who more efficiently.” Reding so badly by a man that she while they’re still verbalizing woebegone cry of “Everybody you do in life, is saddled with support- separates meth from drugs ended up in a hospital; John- a thought (Find the infamous betrayed me! I’m fed up with ing her mentally broken of “sloth,” like heroine, ny responds with an intensely flower shop scene on YouTube this world!” encapsulates the however hard mother and two small sib- saying meth initially “ex- off-putting chuckle.) It’s even for a taste.). moments of doubt that even lings on a small piece of isted in a one-to-one ratio more frightening to think he The sheer volume and the most optimistic feel at one land. Ree has to find her with the defining ideal of you fail, you expected viewers could con- blatancy of The Room’s flaws time or another.) AWOL meth-cooking fa- American culture.” nect with this. makes it perhaps the most But if the film offers us a ther in order to save their Whether the politics of So why is something like highly accessible bad movie lesson in pessimism, the un- will always be house and the little family meth and America interest this still shown regularly in ever: anyone who watches it expected success of The Room she has left. you or not, this movie is theatres almost eight years af- can find something ridicule. reminds us that there is hope better at that The characters Ree en- well worth a few hours of ter its initial release? And The Room will trans- even in the most abject of our counters on her mission your time. The success of The Room form you, maybe forever. It will failures. Sometimes when you are products of the broken than Wiseau has to be due to its perfect make you want to do strange, produce a lemon, the world community: poor, violent, Winter’s Bone plays January storm of epic failure. Whatever inexplicable things, like find makes you lemonade. addicted, and paranoid. 18 at 4:45pm at the Bytowne you do in life, however hard out just what Wiseau’s bizarre is at making The characters and setting Theatre. Even if this review you fail, you will always be “half Canadian bacon with The Room plays regularly at the are brought to life with so leads you astray, the popcorn better at that than Wiseau is at pineapple, half artichoke and Mayfair Theatre. It screens next films. much skill and empathy and cookies are worth the trip. making films. pesto, and light on the cheese” on January 22 at 11:55 pm. www.leveller.ca vol 3, no 3, January 2011 The Leveller 15 Listings

TUES jAN 18 TALK: Approaches to Under- tues jan 25 BOOK LAUNCH: Journey wed feb 2 LUNCH: Vegan Lunch. The standing Islam. Mont-Petit of a citizen (Searching for PRD (People’s Republic of De- ABORIGINAL AWARESS 203, U of O. 6:30-9pm. TALK: The Energy Sustainabil- Earth’s reality from within the COOK: We’re Cooking. In- licious) prepares a vegan (free WEEK: Welcoming events - ity Dilemma: Powering the Fu- dysfunction of Canada). Ot- terested in vegan cooking? of animal ingredients) campus Morning in Galleria, 4th flr SHOW: Rebels without a Pause. ture in a Finite World. D’iorio tawa Public Library, Metcalfe. If you have any time on lunch Please come and eat UC; Keynote speakers - After- Atomic Rooster, 303 Bank St. Hall, Rm 214, U of O. 3-4pm. 7-9pm. Wednesday morning, please with us! Agora, UC, U of O. noon in Porter Hall, 2nd flr Hip hop / live music / book come help us to prepare the 12-1pm. UC, Carleton U. launch / fundraiser. 9:30pm. WORKSHOP: Hot Spots: G- LOVE: Dan Savage - It Gets Better. weekly vegan lunch! Kitch- Spot & P-Spot Pleasure. Venus Porter Hall, Carleton U. 7-9pm. en at 90 University, U of O. WORKSHOP: Thinking Out- TALK: The Impact of Enlarge- Envy. $10-20 sliding scale. 8:30am-12pm. side the Box. Venus Envy. $10- ment on the European Union: SAT jan 22 6:30-8pm. TALK: How To Get Started on 20 sliding scale. 6:30-8pm. Your Book. 395 Wellington, Lessons Learned. 433 Patterson Spectrum III TALK: Corporate Complicity CONFERENCE: EVENT: Stories & Tea. The Tea Rm 156. Ottawa author Nicole EVENT: Stories & Tea. The Tea Hall, Carleton U. 1-2:30pm. - Urban Poverty in Ottawa. Is- in Human Rights Abuses: Re- Party, 119 York Street. 7-9pm. McGill explains how writers cent Developments. FTX 351, Party, 119 York Street. 7-9pm. FILM: German Film Series. sues covered will include hous- begin, organize, and end their PRESENTATION: David U of O. 11:30am. Wer früher stirbt ist länger tot. ing, health, gender, food secu- stories. 7-9pm. Hughes. The Energy Sustain- Vanier Bldg 5070, U of Ottawa, rity, homelessness and media, LUNCH: Vegan Lunch. The wed feb 9 social enterprise, and income ability Dilemma: Powering the MUSIC: Fundraiser - Sweet 6:30pm. PRD (People’s Republic of CUSA ELECTIONS inequality, among others. The Future in a Finite World. Tick- Thing concert for the Vet Tech Delicious) prepares a vegan WORKSHOP: Going Down: A conference intends to provide ets $7 advance, $10 at door. St. Pub Night. All Procceds will (free of animal ingredients) TALK: Defending Battered Guide to Fellatio. Venus Envy. a forum for learning and dis- Paul’s University Auditorium. go to support Algonquin En- campus lunch Please come Women on Trial: Lessons from $10-20 sliding scale. 6:30-8- cussion with local participants 7pm. richment Program to support and eat with us! Agora, UC, Trial Transcripts. FTX 351, U of :30pm. in the poverty reduction com- Animal Adoption. Algonquin WORKSHOP: Jail Solidarity, U of O. 12-1pm. O. 11:30-1pm. munity. Tory Bldg, Carleton U. College. 8:30pm. Prisoner, and Court Support. 9am-4pm. TALK: International Human- LUNCH: Vegan Lunch. The WED JAN 19 Tools for Change - OPIRG itarian Law: Contemporary PRD (People’s Republic of De- WORKSHOP: Resiliency: Week. Pride Centre 215E, 2nd ABORIGINAL AWARESS fri jan 28 Challenges. FTX 315, U of O. licious) prepares a vegan (free Workshop Towards Practices flr UC, U of O. 7pm. WEEK: Welcoming events - 3-5pm. of animal ingredients) campus of Transformation: wellsprings STORY: Once Upon A Slam! A Morning in Galleria, 4th flr TALK: Under Anatolian Skies lunch Please come and eat for times of crisis - environ- story slam is much like a po- WORKSHOP: Organizing UC; Workshops and film - Af- in Cappadocia. Illustrated talk with us! Agora, UC, U of O. mental, religious, and eco- etry slam, except for it features Demonstrations: Strategy ternoon in Porter Hall, 2nd flr by Stuart Hughes sponsored 12-1pm. nomic. Saint Paul University, narrative stories of all kinds and Tactics. Tools for Change UC, Carleton U. by the Canadian and Turkish Room 1130. 9am-12pm. Mercury Lounge Underground - OPIRG Week. Location SING: Weekly environmental Women’s Association of Ot- (aka Bar 56) 56 Byward Mar- TALK: Prof. Maneesha Deckha, TBC. 7-8pm. choir rehearsals. Just Voices is PRESENTATION: Wrongfully tawa. Free. Rm A, 395 Welling- ket. 7-10pm. UVic. Joint Greenberg and Ottawa’s only environmental Convicted: Victims of the Jus- ton. 7:30-9pm. FILM: Salt of the Earth. GSA Environmental Law Speakers and social-justice theme choir. tice System. Southam Hall, MUSIC: Three Little Birds Lounge, Carleton U. 7-9pm. Series Lecture. Free. FTX 351. GAMES: Dirty Bingo. Meet Bronson Centre 222. 7-9pm. Theatre B, Carleton U. 4-6pm. and Testament. Part of OPIRG 11:30am-1pm. Drag Queen Zelda Marshall. Week - Tools for Change. Fund- SING: Weekly environmen- WORKSHOP: Mouthing Off: DANCE: Aboriginal Awareness Win Fun Toys! Observatory, raiser for Ottawa Movement tal choir rehearsals. Just TALK: The Politics of Telling Sensational Oral Sex. Venus Week. This dance was a healing Algonquin College. 8-10pm. Defense 1848, 2nd flr UC, U Voices is Ottawa’s only envi- (Rwandan) History: Prosecut- Envy. $10-20 sliding scale. ceremony that became a social of O. 8:30pm. ronmental and social-justice ing Genocide at the Interna- 6:30-8pm. dance for Aboriginal people theme choir. Bronson Centre tional Criminal Tribunal for wed jan 26 and is held in the winter sea- 222. 7-9pm. FILM: Divergence Movie Rwanda. Institute of African son. We join hands in a circle sat jan 29 Night. Harsh Beauty. Shang- Studies Brownbag Seminar Se- COOK: We’re Cooking. Inter- and dance around the drum- hai Restaurant, 651 Somerset ries. 433 Patterson Hall, Carle- ested in vegan cooking? If you WORKSHOP: Come Hell or thurs feb 3 mers and singers. The beat of St W. 8pm. ton U. 1-2:30pm. have any time on Wednesday High Water: Facilitation Train- the drum is like the heartbeat morning, please come help us ing and Consensus Decision- TALK: Environment, Human TALK: Making Privacy Protec- of the community, and every- to prepare the weekly vegan Making. Tools for Change Rights and (Extra) territorial thurs feb 10 tion More Effective for Canadi- one moves as one. It’s a dance lunch! Kitchen at 90 Univer- - OPIRG Week. UC, Pride Regulation. FTX 351, U of O. ans. Desmarais 12102, U of O. for everyone: children, friends, sity, U of O. 8:30am-12pm. Centre 215E, U of O. 2-3pm. 11:30am. CUSA ELECTIONS 4-5:30pm. families, youth, and Elders. Porter Hall, UC, Carleton U. LUNCH: Vegan Lunch. The TALK: From Seed to Table: WORKSHOP: Direct Actions TALK: Black History Month PANEL: Beyond September 6:30pm. PRD (People’s Republic of De- Eating and Growing Green. and Security Culture. Tools Speaker Series: Trey Anthony 30tth: Democracy in Ecuador. licious) prepares a vegan (free Nepean Centrepointe Branch for Change - OPIRG Week. and Dalton Higgins. Kailash ARTS Bldg 509, U of O. 5:30- of animal ingredients) campus Library. 3-5pm. Location TBC. 7-8pm. Mital Theatre, Carleton U. 7:30pm. sun jan 23 lunch Please come and eat 5-7pm. with us! Agora, UC, U of O. MUSIC: Heaven on Earth Cho- WORKSHOP: Ally Training. MEETING: Green Drinks Ot- TALK: Laid. 210 Tory, Carleton 12-1pm. ral Concert. Church of St John fri feb 4 U. 6pm. The Ally Program is an extreme- the Evangelist, Somerset at El- tawa. Fox and Feather Pub & KIOSKS: Canada’s Dirty ly important program at the TALK: Exploring an unknown gin. 8-10pm. Grill, 283 Elgin St. 5:30-7pm. SING: Weekly environmental Pride Centre and seeks to iden- Greek City: the first six years of Business - Mining and Con- WORKSHOP: SLOWest pres- choir rehearsals. Just Voices is tify people at the University of Greek-Canadian fieldwork at flict. Terminus UCU. 1-7pm. ents: Seventh Generation Ottawa’s only environmental Ottawa who are safe individuals Kastro Kallithea in Thessaly. Si- sun jan 30 FILM: Canada’s Dirty Busi- Learning Series - Simple & Sus- and social-justice theme choir. and are committed to educat- mard 125, U of O. 2:30-5pm. Bronson Centre., Rm 222. HIKE: CPAWS-OV snowshoe ness - Mining and Conflict. tainable Living. Annunciation ing themselves in order to act Terminus UCU. 3:30-5pm. 7-9pm. WORKSHOP: Self-Defense for hike. Meet at the Forêt La of the Lord Parish Church, in ways that affirm queer and Blanche Interpretation Cen- the Disabled. Tools for Change PANEL: Canada’s Dirty Busi- 2414 Ogilvie Rd. 6:30-8pm. trans communities. Pride Cen- ter. Forêt La Blanche in Mayo, - OPIRG Week. Mont-Petit ness - Mining and Conflict. THURS JAN 20 tre Drop in Space in UC Rm Quebec. 10am-1pm. 215-C, U of O. 1-3pm. Martial Arts Room. 4-5pm. Terminus UCU. 5-7pm. fri feb 11 ABORIGINAL AWARESS MUSIC: Choral Music Classes WORKSHOP: WISE steps to WORKSHOP: Undergrad WEEK: Welcoming events - PANEL: Panel discussion with with Lawrence Harris. Free. TALK: Spaces of religious diver- success. Fenn Lounge, Resi- Blues: How to Apply to Post- Morning in Galleria, 4th flr four Ottawa painters. Carleton Rm 201, Dominican Univer- sity and encounter: research, dence Commons, Carleton U. Graduate Programs. Tools for UC; Keynote speakers and film University Art Gallery. 2-3pm. sity College, 96 Empress Ave. agenda-setting and policy in- 5:30-9pm. Change - OPIRG Week. Loca- - Afternoon in Porter Hall, 2nd 3-8pm. tervention. Simard Bldg, Rm MEETING: Millhaven Lifers Li- tion TBC. 4:40-5:30pm. flr UC, Carleton. aison Meeting. The Millhaven MEETING: Pro-Choice Coali- 125, U of O. 4-7pm. Lifers Liaison Group of OPIRG tion of Ottawa. 6-108 blvd TALK: The Vernacular Imagi- Montclair, Hull. 6-9pm. mon jan 31 nation: Art and Life. 2017 welcomes you to attend its sat feb 5 sat feb 12 Dunton Tower, Carleton U. regular meetings concerning WORKSHOP: How to Start a CALL FOR PAPERS: Post-Sec- TIERRA Y LIBERTAD SHOW: Up From The Roots. 1:30-4pm. the Group’s visits to Millhaven Community Garden. Center- ondary Education in Crisis: Kailash Mital Theatre, Carle- Penitentiary to speak with peo- town Community Health Cen- Appraising the Possibilities for ton U. 10-11:30am. WORKSHOP: Women’s Self ple who are serving life sen- ter, 420 Cooper St. 6-8pm. Resistance in a Climate of Aus- sun feb 6 Defense. A121, Algonquin tences there. Royal Oak, 161 terity. precariousuniversity@ FUNDRAISER: Hopewell College. 2:30-4:30pm. FILM: Occupation 101. Stu- INTERNATIONAL DAY IN Laurier St. E. 6:30-7:30pm. gmail.com. “Love your life” Valentine’s dents Against Israeli Apartheid. SOLIDARITY OF LEONARD Day Gala. $100 tickets. Hilton PANEL/ART: Diversity and Ac- TB 208, Carleton U. 7pm. MEETING: Meet with The Peo- PELTIER cessibility on Campus: Toxins, mon jan 24 ple’s Republic of Delicious on Garden Inn (Airport). 6pm-1- racism, and mental health. Ab- SING: Weekly environmental Mondays to learn about serv- WEDDING SHOW: Wed By am. original environmental justice TALK: The Long-Run Labor- choir rehearsals. Just Voices is ing vegan meals (free of ani- Hand - Ottawa’s eco-friendly Market Consequences of Civil wedding show. Glebe Com- conference. Residence Lounge Ottawa’s only environmental mal ingredients) on our cam- sun feb 13 at 90 University, U of O and War: Evidence from the Shining and social-justice theme choir. pus! University Centre couches munity Center. 10am-5pm. Path in Peru. Robertson Hall - SAW Gallery. 6:30-8:30pm. Bronson Centre., Rm 222. lounge, U of O. 6-7pm. SUFFRAGETTES STORM ENG- Alumni Boardroom (617), Car- WORKSHOP: Decolonial 7-9pm. LISH PARLIAMENT FILM: Reel Injun. Cinema leton U. 12:30-2pm. MEETING: SLOWest food and Study Group: The Algonquin Politica. 180 UC, Carleton U. WORKSHOP: Becoming an garden group. GrowSlow@ and Eastern Ontario. Jack 7pm. FILM: GRIPO/OPIRG Promo. Ally: Breaking the Cycle of SLOWest.ca. 7-9pm. Purcell Community Centre MON feb 14 Come and hear about what Oppression. Tools for Change (TBC). 2-4pm. STORY: The Warrior Queen: OPIRG has been doing lately - OPIRG Week. Private Pride DAY OF JUSTICE: Rally for Chasing Boudicca. Ottawa Sto- and then join us for a film. tues feb 1 MEETING: Millhaven Lifers Sisters in Spirit! SIS has com- Centre 215E, UC, U of O. Liaison Meeting. Jack Purcell ry Tellers. National Art Centre’s Agora, UC, U of O. 4-6pm. 7pm. piled data for over 583 cases of 4th Stage Series. 7:30-10pm. TRADESHOW: Enviro Day. Community Centre (TBC). missing and murdered Native MEETING: Ottawa Worker’s Algonquin College, Salon A of Royal Oak, 161 Laurier St. E. women in five years time. They Assembly. Build an anti-cap- the Cafeteria. 6:30-7:30pm. FRI jan 21 thurs jan 27 identified key patterns integral italist assembly in Ottawa to understanding the systemic PANEL: In honor of the late FOOD: African-Caribbean to bring about positive local nature of the violence: media PANEL: The Well-Curated Michèle Ollivier’s intellectual Food Fair. Atrium, 4th floor mon feb 7 change. PSAC, 233 Gilmour neglect or racial bias, police Cheeseboard: A Year in the work. Culture, women, the Unicentre, Carleton Univer- St. 6-9pm. WORKSHOP: Erotic Talk: Talk- racism or negligence, victim- Life of a Curator. Friends of Art Internet: Reflections and chal- sity. 10am. ing Dirty for Women. Venus ization of Native women by History Visual Culture Series. WORKSHOP: Photography, lenges.Desmarais BLDG 3120, TALK: Scarcity vs. Pollution Envy. $10-20 sliding scale. the Justice system, and gov- 412 St. Patrick’s Bldg, Carleton B159, Algonquin College. 6-8pm. U of O. 4:30-7:30pm. U. 2:30-4pm. in Public Policy Toward Fossil 6:30-8pm. ernmental apathy and enforce- WORKSHOP: SLOWest pres- WORKSHOP: Activist Cam- Fuels. Desmarais Bldg, 10143, ment of cycles of poverty for TALK: Of names, dreams and ents: The Seventh Generation paigns: No One Is Illegal -To- U of O. 11:30am-1pm. tues feb 8 Native communities, to name sled-dogs: forms of care in the Learning Series – Home solar ronto and the Sanctuary City. a few. Parliament Hill. 12- Canadian Arctic. A720 Loeb, FILM: German Film Series. power. MEC, 366 Richmond Tools for Change - OPIRG DEBATE: Heads vs. Feds. Al- 2pm. Carleton U. 3:30-5:30pm. Rd. 7-9pm. Pingpong. Vanier Bldg, 5070. Week. Pride Centre 215E, UC, 6:30-8:30pm. gonquin College. Time TBC. U of O. 7pm.