walk, bike, or bus - TLC

Transportation for Liveable Communities - open meeting:

WHAT: TLC Meeting
WHEN: Monday, November 9, 2009, 6:30pm
WHERE: NEW LOCATION DUE TO CAMPUS STRIKE: Ray's Place Boathouse, 303 Dundurn Street South

Bus tickets available upon request.

Disclaimer: this is not an official opirg mcmaster sponsored event, and is posted for information purposes only. Please contact the event organizers with any questions or concerns.

INJURED WORKERS ADVICE CLINIC

Saturday, November 14, 2009
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

United Steelworkers Centre, 1031 Barton St. E., Hamilton
(Entrance to parking at the rear, off Rosslyn Ave. N, alleyway behind Gilberts Tire)

Get FREE Advice & Direction on your Workers’ Compensation Issues

Bring your WCB/WSIB Decision Letters/Files
& Speak to an Experienced Representative

EVERYONE WELCOME
ABSOLUTELY NO CHARGE!


* Body Mapping: Identifying Workplace Occupational Disease & Injuries

* Information Pamphlets

Sponsored by: Hamilton & District Injured Workers Group (HDIWG)

In partnership with: Legal Community Clinics, Office of the Worker Adviser, Ontario Federation of Labour, Occupational Health Clinics for Ontario Workers & Worker Health & Safety Centre


Disclaimer: this is not an official opirg mcmaster sponsored event, and is posted for information purposes only. Please contact the event organizers with any questions or concerns.

revving up the fashion action

RevolutionWear 2010!

revolution wear is an alternative, reused fashion and art show. using all reused and reclaimed materials, revwear artists create a vision of alternatives and possibilities with a do-it-yourself flair. the 2010 show is slated for the beginning of March.

we're looking for designers, models and performers to help make the show rad and beautiful! no previous design or performance experience necessary! we are happy to teach, share, and support your brilliant ideas!

we're looking for all different kinds of beauty and creativity - no size/height/weight/age requirements!!

if you want to be a part of the show, contact revwear2010@gmail.com or find revwear2010 on facebook. we meet on Wednesdays from 6-7pm at McMaster (but you can still be involved if you can't make the meetings! contact us!).

Disclaimer: this is not an official opirg mcmaster sponsored event, and is posted for information purposes only. Please contact the event organizers with any questions or concerns.

holocaust education

McMaster Jewish Students Association
Holocaust Education Week
Please join us and meet a very
Courageous Woman
Kosita Musabye
A Survivor of the Rwanda Genocide
Tuesday November 3rd
7:00 p.m. Room 1A3
McMaster Medical Centre : Ewart Angus Area
Purple elevators

“My dreams were altered, my occupation and status have changed; my surviving is here to stay, I am and will always be a genocide survivor.”
All the best
Kosita Musabye

“If I am not for myself who will be for me? But if I am only for myself,What am I?And if not now when?”
The Great Sage :Rabbi Hillel


Disclaimer: this is not an official opirg mcmaster sponsored event, and is posted for information purposes only. Please contact the event organizers with any questions or concerns.

Critical Mass this Friday

An indie video about Hamilton's monthly Critical Mass bike rides, which is happening, perchance, this Friday. Go on and ride!


Disclaimer: this is not an official opirg mcmaster sponsored event, and is posted for information purposes only. Please contact the event organizers with any questions or concerns.

reading week service learning opportunity

*How will you be spending your Reading Week?*
Working with hunger and poverty agencies in Winnipeg?
Building homes in Arkansas?
Working on community development projects in Mexico?
Engaging with social service agencies right here in Hamilton?

Spots still available for the 2010 Reading Week Series.
For more information and to apply- go to servicelearning.mcmaster.ca.
*Financial support available!*
Application deadline extended to this Friday October 30th.

“This experience was SO valuable. I really enjoyed it, even more than I was hoping/expecting. I was surprised at how much it impacted me and how much it reframedmy thinking. This was a real learning opportunity and I'm very thankful and grateful that I had the opportunity to participate in it.” – Past Participant



* ALSO! Spend two weeks in May traveling, volunteering, living and learning in Costa Rica.*
Join Team McMaster as we travel to Isla De Chira in Costa Rica to work with local communities on development and environmental projects.
For more information and to apply- check out servicelearning.mcmaster.ca.
Applications extended to Friday October 30th.

Disclaimer: this is not an official opirg mcmaster sponsored event, and is posted for information purposes only. Please contact the event organizers with any questions or concerns.

new coke (working group, that is)

The Coke Case
Do you know what you are drinking?



Film screening: Dispatches: Mark Thomas on coca-cola

BSB 108
6.30 -8.00pm
27th October 2009


Mark thomas a political activists and a comedian, travels around the world to investigate coca-cola's
crimes around the world.

3-5-0

Heading out from Gore Park on Saturday after a morning of workshops, hundreds of marchers head to the nearby Federal Building on Bay Street to deliver a message to the government: we want action on climate change, with a goal of 350 parts per million of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere (currently at 390ppm).

At the Federal building, there were speeches and chanting, with an exuberant group of young people leading the vocalizations. at 3:50pm, a group photo was taken, to be included in the record of actions that spanned the globe this day.

Find out more about 350 and action on climate change at 350.org

write on

• CURRENT VOLUNTEER JOBS AT OPIRG McMASTER
  
  • Web Writer: Seeking volunteers interested in developing their journalism and writing skills. TASKS: interviewing OPIRG Working Group Volunteers about the work they do, what motivates them, and what impact they are having on the issues that concern them. Work with Volunteer Coordinator to set up interview, write and edit work, and post on the opirg mcmaster blog. Hours are very flexible. Ability to use a digital camera an asset.

Resource

Hi my name is Aisha Sheikh and I am the new McMaster OPIRG Office Assistant for the 09'-10' year. I am currently majoring in HonoursPolitical Science, within my last year here, and am endeavoring to make a positive difference in the world.

Working at the OPIRG office is quite exciting and a great opportunity because not only does it allow me to learn more about the social justice, human rights, and environmentalissues which OPIRG stands for, but the work also relates to my academic interests. Along with witnessing a variety of sweet events which the office supports, I also get to be in charge of the OPIRG library which has an amazing collection of interesting books which students can checkout as they please.

LTE5

Living the Environment, the fifth annual conference on the Environment with representatives from each of Hamilton's high schools, got a cool ice breaker to create a conducive climate for exploration of positive change. Lead by OPIRG volunteers from Hamilton Freeskool, the high school students and teachers had a creative morning of movement and getting to know eachother, followed by workshops on urban gardening (by OPIRG McMaster alumni Aimee Blyth), energy use (Mac's Engineers Without Borders), building solar panels and windmills, and much more.

More details to come, but the positive energy of the day, I think, is captured in these images.



LTE is an initiative of the Hamilton Community Foundation, in partnership with OPIRG McMaster and Mohawk College.

walking the talking

Walk supports Gandhi's message TheSpec.com - Local - Walk supports Gandhi's message

Nonviolence needed today, his grandson tells crowd

Mark McNeil, The Hamilton Spectator
(Oct 5, 2009)

Hundreds of peace demonstrators walked through downtown Hamilton on the weekend to support the nonviolence philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi in a world they say is becoming increasingly confrontational.

"Gandhi's message is more important today than ever before as nations across the world continue to grapple with the threat of conflict, violence and terrorism" said Preeti Saran, consul general of India.

"As long as there is a temptation to resort to violence in the human mind, Mahatma Gandhi's message of nonviolence will tug at our hearts."

Saran was one of several speakers at the 17th annual peace festival Saturday.

The festival aimed at encouraging "nonviolence, peace and justice," began at McMaster University's Downtown Centre on Main Street with speeches, songs and dances. After the peace walk, participants returned to the centre for a vegetarian lunch.

Among the speakers was Rajmohan Gandhi, a historian, biographer and grandson of Mahatma Gandhi.

He talked about the Gandhi principle of "Swadeshi," the idea of strengthening communities by making them more self-sufficient. An example in Hamilton would be campaigns to encourage buying local food rather than depending on imported supplies from the south.

He also said people who are serious about peace must play a role in eradicating suspicion and prejudice between Muslim and non-Muslim worlds.

He said current tension in some ways is more troubling than animosities during the Cold War. The fight then was between governments, whereas today anxieties are between people.

"Many in the so-called Muslim world feel the western world is against them. They think something is wrong with the western world.

"In many parts of the western world there is a deep feeling against Muslims as a people ... not just about the governments, but about the people of those countries.

"People who are serious about peace must play a role in building bridges between both sides."

One positive local example of bringing sides together is an ambitious and successful "peace project" at the Six Nations Reserve.

Teacher Suzie Miller, from Emily C. General Elementary School in Ohsweken, told the crowd about a pen-pal program between pupils at her school and children attending other Caledonia-area schools.

"Having kids write to each other helps them understand each other," she said.

More than 400 young people are involved.

Ten classes at Ohsweken and 10 classes in the surrounding community take part.

democracy Bolvian style

JULIO CHAVEZ, THE FORMER MAYOR OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF PEDRO LEON TORRES, VENEZUELA, TELLS HOW HIS MUNICIPALITY WAS CHANGED FROM BEING GOVERNED BY A SMALL GROUP OF OLIGARCHS FOR THEIR OWN SELF INTEREST TO ONE BEING RUN BY AND FOR ALL OF ITS PEOPLE

JULIO CHAVEZ

WILL SPEAK ON:

HOW PARTICIPATORY AND PROTAGONISTIC DEMOCRACY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF PEDRO LEON TORRES WAS ACHIEVED

PLACE: ROOM 1A3 HEALTH SCIENCES BLDG, MCMASTER UNIVERSITY

TIME: 7:30 PM

DATE: OCTOBER 8, 2009

EVERYONE IS WELCOME

Sponsor: Circulo Bolivariano Louis Riel, B Sc in Health Sciences, Centre for Peace Studies, OPIRG, all of McMaster University, CUPE local 3906, McMaster Muslim Students for Peace and Justice

Contact: sorger@mcmaster.ca

youthful climate

Power Shift Canada 2009

On October 23-26 2009, 1000 young people from across the country will converge on Ottawa to take a message of bold, comprehensive and immediate federal climate action to Parliament Hill. Power Shift Canada will be two days of training, strategy and action and one mass lobby day to hold our elected officials accountable for their part to solve the climate crisis, and to build a cohesive and effective youth climate movement. This will be the largest-ever gathering of its kind of young people on the environment in the history of this country.

At Power Shift Canada, we will deliver our message of change to our elected officials. Youth of all backgrounds will come together to create a fresh, positive, and inspiring vision of the future, one focused on our potential to overcome the challenges of the 21st century, build a clean energy economy, create millions of green jobs, increase global equity, and revitalize our economy. Now is the time for action. Now is the time for boldness. We will accept nothing less from the people with whom we have entrusted our future: our elected officials, and most importantly, ourselves. 2009 will be a year history will remember.

Why Come?

• Is the largest youth climate event in the HISTORY of our country – and you can be part of it!

• It’s for everyone. Whether you are a seasoned environmental organizer, or attending your first event this experience is for you.

• In December 2009, world leaders will make key decisions on the future of international climate policy at COP15 in Copenhagen. Power Shift Canada will let our leaders know that we demand action for OUR FUTURE.

• You’ll gain knowledge about environmental and social sustainability:

• Alberta’s Tar Sands

• Food security

• Clean energy

• Water sovereignty

• Environmental justice

You’ll gain skills to take action:

• Media training

• Outreach strategies

• Strategic planning

• Advocacy, and

• Volunteer coordination

Make 999 new friends to help you in your climate action endeavors.

• Power Shift Canada will be a rockin good time! You only have to check out the photos from the American Power Shift last February and the Australian Power Shift in July to see the huge smiles and exuberant antics!

• Youth around the world are calling for change. Power Shift summits have already brought together thousands of youth in the USA, England, and Australia. It’s time to add the voice of Canadian youth and build the momentum for change!

• The Canadian Government isn’t doing enough to prevent catastrophic climate change in our lifetimes. The science is conclusive – what we need now is the WILL to change. Bring your voice to Ottawa to pressure the Prime Minister to make science-based commitments to emission reductions, create millions of green jobs, and move our nation to a clean energy economy.

• The Canadian Youth Climate Coalition brings together student, labour, and environmental education organizations, rallying behind a common cause. Through partnerships with organizations such as 350.org and KYOTOplus and events such as C-Day: Fill the Hill (Oct 24th 2009, also in Ottawa), Power Shift Canada is building the global momentum to create change before it’s too late

For more information about attending as part of the Hamilton delegation team, please contact hamiltonpowershift@gmail.com or check out the Hamilton Power Shift Facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?compose#/group.php?gid=147314936922&ref=ts)

Disclaimer: this is not an official opirg mcmaster sponsored event, and is posted for information purposes only. Please contact the event organizers with any questions or concerns.