Workshop Descriptions
January 19, 2010
BUILDING MOVEMENTS TO END APARTHEID
Workshops, Panels, Skillshares
9:30 am – 5:30 pm
University of Ottawa, Morisset Hall, 65 Universite Pvt
To register for the Saturday workshops, click here: http://tiny.cc/wHyHf
10:30 am – 11:20 am
OPENING PLENARY: Global Apartheid: What Can Organizing Do?
Rozena Maart, Ben Powless, and Yafa Jarrar
Rozena Maart was born in District Six, Cape Town, South Africa. She is an anti-apartheid activist from the Black Consciousness Movement of Azania, and has addressed interconnections between and among South Africa, Palestine, Canada, the United States and the UK for the past twenty years.
Ben Powless is Mohawk from Six Nations Territory, and a student of Indigenous Rights/Human Rights/Environmental Studies at Carleton, when not organizing with the Indigenous Environmental Network and the Canadian Youth Climate Coalition.
Yafa Jarrar was born in Jerusalem, Palestine. She moved to Canada in 2003 to attend Lester B. Pearson College of the Pacific. She is currently continuing her MA degree in Political Science at Carleton University, and is a member of Students Against Israeli Apartheid. Yafa represented Palestine in the Arab League of Nations in Cairo in 2001, addressing the effects of the Israeli occupation on the Palestinian educational process; and, also in 2001, was elected to represent Palestine to speak at the United Nations.
11:30 am – 12:50 pm
Defenders of the Land from Turtle Island to Copenhagen
Presenters: Ben Powless and Corvin Russell (Indigenous Environmental Network and Defenders of the Land)
Indigenous resistance has been growing in Canada and abroad to attempts to displace and strip Indigenous communities of their lands, rights and cultures. This workshop will discuss recent exemplary cases from across Turtle Island, and also reporting back from Indigenous Peoples struggles to protect their rights at the Copenhagen climate talks. We will also present the outcomes of a recent initiative to connect Indigenous communities and allies, the Defenders of the Land, and highlight ways to support these communities, especially in the shadow of the Olympics and G8/G20 meetings on stolen Native land.
Resisting Apartheid in Palestine: Reflections on the Current State of the BDS Movement
Presenters: Yafa Jarrar and Aidan Macdonald (Students Against Israeli Apartheid-Carleton)
This workshop will explore the origins, principles, and development of the Palestinian boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, with a particular focus on campus activism. The session will begin with a look at the 2005 call for BDS, and will also discuss the importance of developing strategies of anti-normalization as an alternative to the empty and ineffective “peace process.” The workshop will then move on to examine what can be termed the “methodology” of BDS, through an overview of the key components that have defined successful campaigns and advocacy work in the past. Finally, the workshop will finish off by looking at how these principles of BDS have been put into practice on campuses around the world, including the recently launched divestment campaign at Carleton University.
The Classroom as a Revolutionary Landscape: Fighting Injustice on the Thai-Burma Border
Presenter: Nisha Toomey
This workshop will focus on how educators everywhere can empower their students to fight oppression and injustice. Participants will learn about and discuss critical pedagogy (with reference to Paulo Freire’s Pedagogy of the Oppressed), and experience tried, tested and true techniques which help give voice to people living under oppressed circumstances. Telling the story of my illegal school, an institution created by young adults living on the Thai-Burma border, I will explore why and how we embraced critical pedagogy, which saw teachers and students working as a team to explore possibilities for fighting the unjust regime in whose shadow we lived, for understanding cultural differences and globalization, and for the transformative journey of self-discovery that only a wonderful learning experience can afford.
2:00 pm – 3:20 pm
Global Apartheid, the G8/G20, and Migrant Justice
Presenters: No One Is Illegal-Ottawa and -Toronto, the Colletif du Chat Noir
No One Is Illegal (NOII) Ottawa presents a three part workshop about the G8 and G20 and what they mean for the migrant justice movement. Hussan SK from NOII Toronto will talk about the G20 and how it relates to migrant justice organizing, a member of NOII Ottawa will talk about the work being done in Ottawa to link NOII’s work with anti G8/G20 work, and a member of the Collectif du Chat Noir will present the local anti-G8 organizing that is happening in Ottawa and how YOU can get plugged in. For more info, check: http://tiny.cc/FxQrc
Indigenous Solidarity for Settlers
Presenters: Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement-Ottawa
The goal of the workshop is to educate non-indigenous people about the importance of indigenous solidarity and to teach people and learn from them about what solidarity means and how to do it. The IPSM Ottawa is a predominantly settler organization that works toward building a movement of non-indigenous people actively supporting indigenous people struggling for justice and decolonization. For more information, visit: http://tiny.cc/vXgJa
Profile This! Racial Profiling in Montreal
Presenter: Project X
Montreal is known to be a diverse and accepting city. But in reality, Montreal has always had a serious issue with racist authoritative figures misusing their powers and ripping Montrealers of their rights and freedoms. This goes from day to day harassment in metro stations to the unpunished murder of 18 year olds in the park; as was the case with Fredy Villanueva in the summer of 2008. This workshop aims to present the real story of racial profiling in Montreal, and how it is falsely presented in the media. We are two members of Project X, a group working with youth dealing with racist authorities. We will be giving a break-down of racial profiling in our city; whether it’s in the metros, in the parks, at the schools, from not only the police, but school administration and other city representatives. We will also present what is being done by youths and other engaging people who have been affected by racial profiling and have decided to fight back in a creative and progressive manner. When police and school systems are the oppressive force then Montrealers (and people world wide) have no choice but to organize, educate themselves and kick some ass. Say what? Kick some ass.
3:30 pm – 4:50 pm
Resisting Canada’s National ‘Security’ Agenda
Presenters: Mary Foster (People’s Commission on Immigration ‘Security’ Measures), Sophie Harkat (Justice for Mohamed Harkat Campaign), Rania Tfaily (Hassan Diab Support Committee)
The terms “national security” and “terrorism” are consistently used by the Canadian government to justify invasive surveillance, arbitrary detention, deportations, exile, the withholding of entry visas, funding cuts, torture, the criminalization of dissent, and occupation. This discussion will focus on how these terms have served to attack social movements and stifle international solidarity in Canada, and the ways that groups and individuals have found to resist.
Tamil Eelam: Global Apartheid & Global Resistance
Presenters: Canadian Humanitarian Appeal for the Relief of Tamils
The main goal of the workshop will be to track the current and historical role that International actors have played in enforcing an Apartheid system through the propagation of war crimes, occupation, disenfranchisement, oppression, marginalization, mass murder, and finally the mass internment of the Indigenous Tamil population of Tamil Eelam. Also to be examined is the resistance offered by the Tamil Diaspora on a global scale and the telling Apartheid tinged reaction in Canadian mainstream media.
Organizing the Third World in the First: Immigrant Workers in the Global Economy
Presenter: Mostafa Henaway (Immigrant Workers Centre)
Immigrant workers have long been crucial to the daily life of cities such as Montreal. Yet they often constitute the most vulnerable of workers, without little or no protection. Many are non-unionized, and for the thousands without immigration status, and/or are forced to accept sweatshop conditions to provide for families here and abroad. In the new global economy, remittances have become critical sources of income to the global south from migrants in the North. Organizations like the Immigrant Workers Centre (IWC) have been critical in supporting these workers, (whether it be in the textile industry, temporary foreign farmworkers, temp agency workers, and domestic workers) through casework, political campaigns, and education. The IWC’s work includes a focus on health and safety for im/migrant workers, and fights for collective dismissal laws that protect textile workers, and other works who have been facing lay-offs during the current global economic crisis.
to register for the saturday workshops:
http://tiny.cc/wHyHf
for more info:
(613) 520 2757
globalapartheid2010@gmail.com
Full Conference Schedule
January 17, 2010
>> FRIDAY JANUARY 22
Opening Plenary :: Race, Space, and (In)Justice
Global Apartheid from South Africa to Turtle Island
A panel discussion with Shawn Brant, Rozena Maart, Chris Ramsaroop, and Jaggi Singh
Friday, January 22nd :: 7 pm :: Carleton University, Azrieli Theatre 102
Shawn Brant is a citizen of the Mohawk Nation living in the community of Tyendinaga.
Rozena Maart was born in District Six, Cape Town, South Africa. She is an anti-apartheid activist from the Black Consciousness Movement of Azania, and has addressed interconnections between and among South Africa, Palestine, Canada, the United States and the UK for the past twenty years.
Chris Ramsaroop is an organizer with Justicia for Migrant Workers, a grassroots collective of community, labour and migrant activists. J4MW works with migrant workers employed under the seasonal agricultural workers and temporary foreign workers programs.
Jaggi Singh is an anarchist organizer, based in Montreal, active on indigenous solidarity, migrant justice, no border, anti-poverty and anti-police brutality issues. He organizes with No One Is Illegal, Solidarity Across Borders as well as many related campaigns and initiatives.
Moderated by Abla Abdelhadi, an organizer with Students Against Israeli Apartheid
The opening plenary is free and open to the public (no registration required).
>> SATURDAY JANUARY 23
Building Movements to End Apartheid :: Workshops & Panels
9:30 am – 5:30 pm, Morisset Hall, 65 Universite Pvt, University of Ottawa
*Advance registration required – PWYC, $5-10 suggested (includes breakfast, lunch, and conference materials)
>> Click here to register
*draft schedule, subject to change – workshop descriptions will be posted early this week
11:30-12:50: Workshop Block 1
Defenders of the Land from Turtle Island to Copenhagen (Ben Powless and Corvin Russell) – MRT 219
Resisting Apartheid in Palestine: Reflections on the Current State of the BDS Movement (Students Against Israeli Apartheid) – MRT 221
The Classroom as a Revolutionary Landscape: Fighting Injustice on the Thai-Burma Border (Nisha Toomey) – MRT 250
1:00-2:00: Lunch (courtesy of the Garden Spot)
2:00-3:20: Workshop Block 2
Profile This! Racial Profiling in Montreal (Project X) – MRT 219
Indigenous Solidarity for Settlers (Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Movement-Ottawa) – MRT 221
Global Apartheid, the G8/G20, and Migrant Justice (No One Is Illegal) – MRT 250
3:30-4:50: Workshop Block 3
Resisting Canada’s National ‘Security’ Agenda (Mary Foster, Sophie Harkat, and Rania Tfaily) – MRT 219
Tamil Eelam: Global Apartheid & Global Resistance (Canadian Humanitarian Appeal for the Relief of Tamils) – MRT 221
Organizing the Third World in the First: Immigrant Workers in the Global Economy (Mostafa Henaway) – MRT 250
5:00-5:20: Closing Remarks (MRT 256)
6:00-9:00: Dinner on your own, or at East African Restaurant (376 Rideau) – please indicate if you would like us to include you in the group reservation on your registration form
Artists Against Apartheid :: No One Is Illegal-Ottawa Fundraiser
9 pm, East African Restaurant, 376 Rideau Street
PWYC // suggested $5 at the door – all proceeds to No One Is Illegal-Ottawa
To wrap up the Global Apartheid conference – words, voices, and beats come together as an amazing selection of artists perform against apartheid. Come and join the resistance chorus!
Featuring the Ottawa debut of Palestinian spoken word artist Rafeef Ziadah
performing poems from her critically acclaimed CD “Hadeel”
www.rafeefziadah.ca
PLUS
Free Will (Ottawa)
Faye Estrella (Ottawa)
Readnex Poetry Squad (New York)
Beats by DJ yalla!yalla! and DJ Mikkipedia
Poster design by Nadijah Robinson
Global Apartheid PSA & Poster
January 11, 2010
Download the one minute PSA for GLOBAL APARTHEID here:
Download the poster here:
See you on the 22nd!
Opening Plenary: Race, Space, and (In)Justice :: Global Apartheid from South Africa to Turtle Island
January 6, 2010
On Friday January 22nd, the conference will open with the plenary:
:: RACE, SPACE AND (IN)JUSTICE ::
Global Apartheid from South Africa to Turtle Island
A panel discussion with Shawn Brant, Rozena Maart, Chris Ramsaroop, and Jaggi Singh
Friday, January 22nd :: 7 pm :: Carleton University, Azrieli Theatre 102
Shawn Brant is a citizen of the Mohawk Nation living in the community of Tyendinaga.
Rozena Maart was born in District Six, Cape Town, South Africa. She is an anti-apartheid activist from the Black Consciousness Movement of Azania, and has addressed interconnections between and among South Africa, Palestine, Canada, the United States and the UK for the past twenty years.
Chris Ramsaroop is an organizer with Justicia for Migrant Workers, a grassroots collective of community, labour and migrant activists. J4MW works with migrant workers employed under the seasonal agricultural workers and temporary foreign workers programs.
Jaggi Singh is an anarchist organizer, based in Montreal, active on indigenous solidarity, migrant justice, no border, anti-poverty and anti-police brutality issues. He organizes with No One Is Illegal, Solidarity Across Borders as well as many related campaigns and initiatives.
Moderated by Abla Abdelhadi, an organizer with Students Against Israeli Apartheid
For more info contact:
(613) 520-2757
globalapartheid2010@gmail.com
The opening plenary is free and open to the public (no registration required).
To register for conference workshops and panels on Saturday January 23rd, email globalapartheid2010@gmail.com with REGISTER in the subject line!
GLOBAL APARTHEID :: a conference/convergence 