Abousufian Abdelrazik's return home to Montreal at last!!

For folks in or near Montréal: I just received the following announcement.

Join us for a late night rally to CELEBRATE his return and welcome him home!

OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
late night Saturday, 28 June 2009, starting at midnight
(during the night Saturday to Sunday)
Corner Ste-Catherine and St-Hubert, downtown Montreal
OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

Abousufian will be returning home to Montreal this Saturday around midnight after a six-year forced exile in Sudan, where he experienced torture, imprisonment without trial, and over one year trapped in the Canadian embassy. All with the involvement of Canadian officials.

Let's give him a warm welcome home. One of the few things that he indicated he would like is to greet some of his supporters upon his arrival. It's the least we can do.

While we await his arrival, there will be an opportunity to make cards, posters, banners and video messages to greet him, as well as friendly conversation and refreshments.

Bring your noise-makers, confetti, coloured flags and festive spirits to celebrate his return and this (small) victory.

****Please note: Check for an update on the website
www.peoplescommission.org/abdelrazik.php at 9:30pm on Saturday. Also, follow his return from Friday morning at http://twitter.com/retouraubercail.

Checking in

I've slowed down the blogging a lot since January. After 1,000 posts to this blog and well over 1,000 posts to my other Blogger course blogs (linked on the sidebar), I'm making some changes. While I may decide to use course blogs for large courses again in the future, I won't be course-blogging in the 2009-2010 academic year. Later this summer, I will have a new website that will link to all these blogs as archives, so if you use any of this stuff, don't worry. I won't delete anything (although over the years, of course, more than a few links have disappeared).

In the meantime, some new PM Press blogs and pages, while still under construction, are accessible here and also here.

Click here for an update on a story I've mentioned before.

ACTION IN ASIA

Click here!

Views from the Margins: An Evening Celebrating Community Media!

This event will also be broadcast on CKUT Radio:
7-10pm, Wed - June 10th
http://www.ckut.ca and 90.3fm in Montreal

Join the host of Radio Sanctuary, Kader Belaoni, for a night celebrating community inspired media.

Wednesday, June 10th
8:00pm, St Gabriel's Church
POTLUCK DINNER at 7pm
2157 rue Centre (Metro Charlevoix)
Childcare available, please confirm 514.448.4041 x6788

5$ suggested donation at the door for the Committee to Support Abdelkader Belaouni

You are invited to an evening of music by Abdelkader "Kader" Belaouni with special guest DJ 23 and brief presentations from media makers on views from the margins. Invited speakers include: Samaa Elibyari (Caravan, CKUT), Rufo Valencia (RCI), Dexter X (Igloolik Isuma Productions), Frederic Dubois (Parole citoyenne), Charlotte Bourne (CJSF/NCRA), Stefan Christoff (The Hour), Blandine (Centre de médias indépendant), Sergio Martinez (Latin Time, CKUT), Dave Austin (The Alfi Roberts Institute), and Jooneed Khan (La Presse).

Missing and Disappeared Indigenous Girls and Women in Canada

I just received the following announcement. Also, the Critical RACE conference starts today!

No One Is Illegal Radio reports about the frontline struggles for justice, dignity and self-determination by migrants, refugees and indigenous peoples.

On the MAY 2009 edition of No One Is Illegal Radio: We focus on the issue on the issue of more than 500 murdered, missing and disappeared indigenous girls and women in Canada, as well as get an update from the ongoing struggle at Grassy Narrows, where a trapper and clan mother is facing charges for building traditional cabins.

More info below or: http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2009/06/no-one-is-illegal-radio-may-2009.html

The entire show is linked here: http://www.radio4all.net/index.php/program/33758

Mohawk Resistance to Armed Canadian Guards

The following comes from: No One Is Illegal Montreal

“[The Canadian Border Service Agency] is a foreign oppressive force who occupies our sovereign community and territory. (They are) unwelcome, uninvited and now carrying firearms. For lack of a different description, that is considered by some an act of war.” – Larry King, member of the Akwesasne Mohawk Territory (quoted in Ottawa Citizen, May 29, 2009)

A delegation of three non-native Montreal activists, including a member of No One Is Illegal-Montreal, is currently at the site of protesters at the Kawehnoke Port of Entry (Cornwall Island) on the Mohawk Territory of Akwesasne. Native protesters at Akwesasne are welcoming allies to stand in solidarity, and to witness their efforts to resist the imposition of armed guards on Mohawk territory.

The No One Is Illegal-Montreal website will have updates directly from Akwesasne, as well as maintain a mainstream and alternative news compilation, at the following link: http://nooneisillegal-montreal.blogspot.com/2009/06/akwesasne.html ]

Update – 5:35am
Monday, June 1, 2009

Dawn is breaking on the Mohawk Territory of Akwesasne, where local residents have protested for months to oppose the arming of Canadian Borders Services Agency (CBSA) guards on their territory. More than 50 protesters are maintaining a presence near the Canadian customs building on Cornwall Island. There are at least five fires burning to keep demonstrators warm. Many more residents and supporters are expected to be on-site as the morning progresses.

According to residents of Akwesasne (as well as mainstream media reports), CBSA border agents abandoned their posts just before midnight, out of fear of reprisals from the community. CBSA agents were due to be armed at the Port of Cornwall crossing on June 1, a policy universally opposed and condemned by the Akwesasne Mohawk Community.

Vehicular traffic onto the Seaway International Bridge has been shut down by police on both sides of the border, although pedestrians are still being allowed to access the bridge.

The Mohawk territory of Akwesasne straddles the jurisdictions of Ontario, Quebec and New York State, and is a major international border crossing between Canada and the United States. CBSA guards began arming in 2007, and there are currently more than 800 armed CBSA guards across Canada. The entire CBSA aims to be armed, in stages, by 2016. The CBSA announced that their agents at the Port of Cornwall would be armed by June 1 of this year.



SELECTED NEWS & INFORMATION COMPILATION

June 1, 2009

Cornwall Standard-Freeholder: U.S.-Canada border closed by Akwesasne protest of guns at crossing; Border guards leave posts for U.S.
http://www.standard-freeholder.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1591962

Ottawa Citizen: Armed border guards abandon posts on First Nation
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Armed+border+guards+abandon+posts+First+Nation/1649395/story.html

Radio-Canada: Les Mohawks ne décolèrent pas
http://www.radio-canada.ca/regions/ottawa/2009/05/31/002-mohawks_douaniers_armes_colere.shtml



May 30, 2009

Mohawk Nation News (MNN): Akwesasne Unity March
http://www.mohawknationnews.com/news/singlenews.php?lang=en&layout=mnn&category=26&newsnr=716&backurl=%2Fnews%2Fnews4.php%3Flang%3Den%26layout%3Dmnn%26category%3D26%26sortorder%3D0%26start%3D0&srcscript=/news/news4.php


May 29, 2009

Ottawa Citizen: Plan to arm borders guards an “act of war”
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/Armed+border+guards/1644877/story.html

Mohawk Nation News (MNN): UN asked to stop guns at Akwesasne border
http://www.mohawknationnews.com/news/singlenews.php?lang=en&layout=mnn&category=26&newsnr=715&backurl=%2Fnews%2Fnews4.php%3Flang%3Den%26layout%3Dmnn%26category%3D26%26sortorder%3D0%26start%3D0&srcscript=/news/news4.php


May 28, 2009

Mohawk Nation News (MNN): There will be no guns! “You are on Indian Land”
http://www.mohawknationnews.com/news/singlenews.php?lang=en&layout=mnn&category=26&newsnr=714&backurl=%2Fnews%2Fnews4.php%3Flang%3Den%26layout%3Dmnn%26category%3D26%26sortorder%3D0%26start%3D0&srcscript=/news/news4.php

Centre Social Autogéré

I've been quite remiss in posting this flyer.
Infoshop News now reports, "Montreal's first squatted Autonomous Social Center evicted."
See updates, developments, and actions below.

::::::::::::::::::::

FROM: www.centresocialautogere.org

-> Demonstration in front of the southwest borough offices
TUESDAY, JUNE 2 at 6pm
815 Bel-Air, near métro Lionel-Groulx

There will be a demonstration this Tuesday, June 2 at 6pm in front of the southwest borough offices at 815 Bel-Air, near Lionel-Groulx métro. It looks as if the consultations on the luxury condo development at 2985 St-Patrick has been cancelled in the aftermath of our re-appropriation. Let’s not stay silent!

More info, in French, linked here: http://www.centresocialautogere.org/fr/content/manifestation-devant-la-mairie-darrondissement


-> To all groups who support, or would like to support, the Autonomous Social Center:

You are being asked to write letters of support to newspapers, to distribute the link to the recent press release (below), mobilize your members, sign the public declaration of support and more. and more. You are also encouraged to attend the demonstration this coming Tuesday (see details above). Read the original release (in French) here: http://www.centresocialautogere.org/fr/content/%C3%A0-tous-les-groupes-qui-appuient-le-csa-ou-qui-voudraient-nous-appuyer-votre-r%C3%B4le-maintenant


-> Press Release: BRUTAL EVICTION AT THE AUTONOMOUS SOCIAL CENTER: the riot squad pepper sprays the squatters.

Read the complete release here: http://www.centresocialautogere.org/en/content/eviction-brutale-du-centre-social-autog%C3%A9r%C3%A9-l%E2%80%99anti-%C3%A9meute-gaze-les-squatteurs

Andrea Smith in Montreal!!! (Plus even more!)

The 9th Annual Critical Race and Anti-Colonial Studies Conference
Compassion, Complicity and Conciliation
The Politics, Cultures and Economies of 'Doing Good'
Montreal, June 5-7 2009
Concordia and McGill Universities
Montreal, Quebec, Canada

If you are in Montréal or anywhere nearby, you should try to avail yourself of the chance to attend the above talks and maybe some more of this great conference.

And in case you hadn't heard, Andrea Smith has joined the amazing Setsu Shigematsu in the Department of Media and Cultural Studies at the University of California, Riverside.

"Under Colorado law, children as young as 12 can be tried as adults if they are accused of certain violent crimes such as murder."

The Denver Post reports "Colorado Springs teen may be tried as an adult."

This story is so painful and heartbreaking.

If you are in So-Cal, check this out!!

Agents of Repression in Iowa (update)

Click here.

Montréal FESTIVAL OF ANARCHY and ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR: May, 2009

THE FESTIVAL OF ANARCHY
MAY 1-31, 2009, MONTREAL

No gods, no masters; no bosses, no borders!
[Full calendar of events below]

* Theatre Festival * Art Exhibitions * Squat! * Films * Poetry Nights * Parties * Benefit Shows * Workshops * BBQ * Book Launch * Demonstrations * Guerilla Gardening * Community Dinners * Discussions and Roundtables * Anarchist Cabaret * Bookfair * Day of Anarchist Workshops & Presentations * and more! *

The entire month of May in Montreal is part of the Festival of Anarchy, with diverse anarchist-themed events occurring at different venues all over the island of Montreal. The Festival of Anarchy is organized as part of the 10th Montreal Anarchist Bookfair. The Festival of Anarchy is the largest anarchist event in North America.

Festival of Anarchy event venues include:
* Comité d’éducation aux adultes de la Petite-Bourgogne et de St-Henri (CEDA) * Parc Cabot * Petit Café Campus * Divan Orange * Quai des Brumes * Carrefour d'éducation populaire de Pointe-St-Charles * Cagibi * Casa del Popolo * Théâtre D.B. Clarke * Alizée * Rhizome * Il Motore * DIRA Anarchist Library * Independent Media Center (IMC) * Maison de l’amitié * Parc Extension Community Center * Jardin de la Liberté * Bar Populaire * and … the (new) Autonomous Social Center (Centre social autogéré)! *

Curious about anarchism?

Check out the Montreal Anarchist Bookfair and the Festival of Anarchy.

Welcome to all!

For more info:
www.anarchistbookfair.ca
514-679-5800
info@anarchistbookfair.ca
----------

FESTIVAL OF ANARCHY SCHEDULE

(updated April 15, 2009)

-> Friday, MAY 1, 5:30pm
Demonstration Against Capitalism
Parc Cabot (corner Atwater and Ste-Catherine – métro Atwater)

As part of the growing worldwide demonstrations against the crisis, a demonstration against capitalism is being organized as part of the May 1st workers holiday. Gathering at 5:30pm, march at 6:30pm. The demonstration will march to the main offices of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in the heart of the business district (1000, place Jean-Paul-Riopelle, in Vieux-Montréal). We will not pay for their crisis! Info: 1ermai2008@gmail.com


-> Friday, MAY 1, 8:30pm
Spectacle anticapitaliste
Petit Café Campus, 57 Prince-Arthur East

With: Paul Cargnello and the Frontline, Fred Dubonnet, Chaotic insurrection ensemble, members of Nomadic Massive, Micros Armés, Son un poco politicas. Doors at 8:30pm; suggested donation: $5. Info: 1ermai2008@gmail.com


-> Friday, MAY 1 to Sunday, MAY, 31
Exhibition of the art of Tournesol Plante
Divan Orange, 4234 St-Laurent, corner Rachel

Throughout the month of May, during the Festival of Anarchy, local anarchist artist Tournesol Plante’s works will be on exhibit. The vernissage takes place on May 1 from 5-7pm. Info: anartiste1984@yahoo.ca


-> Monday, MAY 4, 7pm
Piracy and the Anarchist Movement: Between Myth and Reality
Carrefour d'éducation populaire, 2356 rue Centre (métro Charlevoix)

Today's anarchist movement often makes reference to the piracy of the17th and 18th centuries, in its discourse, its lifestyle and its symbolism. However, what was the reality of this piracy? Do the egalitarian practices amongst pirates justify the references of today's anarchists? This workshop aims to provide a quick overview of the interesting and less interesting historical elements of piracy for today's anarchists. Organized by the popular education committees of the Autonomous Social Center and the People's Global Action (PGA) Bloc. Info: www.centresocialautogere.org


-> Tuesday, May 5 & Wednesday, May 6, 7pm
Anarchist Poetry Nights
at Quai des Brumes, 4481 rue St-Denis (métro Mt-Royal)

Each evening will have two parts: the first with invited poets, the latter with an open-mic. Free. Info: amouranarchie@live.ca


-> Tuesday, MAY 5 to Sunday, MAY 31
JUSTSEEDS Visual Resistance
Cagibi, 5490 St-Laurent

This month-long print show will cover the walls of Cagibi with over a hundred print works by members of the JUSTSEEDS Visual Resistance Artists' Cooperative. Info: www.justseeds.org


-> Saturday, MAY 9, 5:30pm
Immigrant Workers Center Mayworks Dinner
Parc Extension Community Center, 419 St-Roch (métro Parc)

Join the IWC and allies as they celebrate one year of immigrant worker struggles. Food, performances and presentations. Free. Info: iwc_cti@yahoo.com


-> Sunday, MAY 10, 8pm till late.
Vernissage, Art Appreciation and Dancing
Cagibi, 5490 St-Laurent

The official vernissage of the JUSTSEEDS exhibit at Cagibi. A coming together of artists, anarchists and friends. Welcome to all! Info: http://www.anarchistbookfair.ca/en/node/12


-> Monday, MAY 11, 5-7pm
Book Launch: “Lunch for Insurgents”
Casa del Popolo, 4873 boulevard St-Laurent

Author and performer Norman Nawrocki's newest collection of poetics in his 'Brain Food Trilogy'. Info: www.nothingness.org/music/rhythm


-> Wednesday, MAY 13 & Thursday, MAY 14, 7:30pm
The 4th Annual International Anarchist Theatre Festival
D.B. Clarke Theatre, 1455 de Maisonneuve West (métro Guy-Concordia)

The fourth annual Montreal International Anarchist Theatre Festival proudly presents two nights with New York’s legendary “The Living Theatre”. Wednesday night’s program also includes Maikan, the Innu giant puppet theatre troupe from Mali-Utenam (Québec). Thursday night’s performance includes Geneviève Letarte and La Chorale de la Maison La Virevolte et ses musiciens et musiciennes. Tickets are $15 at the door or in advance at L’Insoumise, 2033 boul St-Laurent (tel: 514- 313-3489). Info: anarchistefestival@yahoo.ca


-> Thursday, MAY 14, from 6pm
"Living as anarchists": From the "free milieux" to current practices
Rhizome, 1800 Létourneux, coin Lafontaine (métro Pie-IX)

At the close of the 19th century anarchists in France -men and women- "individualists", "communists", "naturists", created collective spaces, "free milieux" or anarchist colonies. Putting into practice communism, getting rid of all forms of authority, opting out of work, but also overturning different aspects of daily life: family, love, education, contraception, nutrition. These practices elicited a lot of questions on the ways and possibility of in the immediate, "living as anarchists". Workshop given by Céline, a French anarchist activist. Organized by la Mauvaise Herbe. Info: mauvaisherbe@riseup.net


-> FRIDAY, MAY 15, 8pm
ANARCHIST CABARET
L’Alizée, 900 Ontario est
Featuring anarchist stylin's from Montreal and abroad, including Benoît Tremble, Micros Armés, Testament, the Outspoken Wordsmiths, Willow and Mishka, FIE, and Don’t Put Charles on the Money, and many more still to be confirmed. The space is wheelchair accessible. Info: info@salonanarchiste.ca or 514-679-5800.


-> SATURDAY, MAY 16, 10am-6pm
MONTREAL’s 10th ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR
CEDA, 2515 rue Delisle (métro Lionel-Groulx)

The Bookfair includes: films, art exhibits, introductory workshops, as well as over 100 distributors and tables from all over Montreal, Quebec & North America (and elsewhere). Free and welcome to all! What happens at the Montreal Anarchist Bookfair?: http://www.anarchistbookfair.ca/en/node/3

-> Saturday, MAY 16, 7pm
Party and BBQ after the Bookfair
behind 2033 St-Laurent (métro St-Laurent)

An after-Bookfair gathering for food, discussion and other festivities. In the courtyard of the Independent Media Center and the DIRA Anarchist Library. Info: http://www.cmi-imc.info


-> SUNDAY, MAY 17, 10am-5pm
DAY OF ANARCHIST WORKSHOPS
CEDA, 2515 rue Delisle (métro Lionel-Groulx)

A full day of anarchist-themed workshops, panels and presentations. Confirmed topics and presentations include: The Crisis in Anarchist Publishing * Polinizaciones: Pollinating the North & South (with the Beehive Collective) * Anarchism and Ableism: Moving Towards Inclusion and Accessibility * Strategizing queer insurgency!: Re-centering marginalized queer issues from an anarchist perspective * Women and political violence: Assata Shakur and Ann Hansen

French workshops (with translation towards English): Résistance populaire et autogestion: Une stratégie pour les libertaires * Luttes urbaines et changement social * Économie politique d'un capitalisme en crise * Comprendre la criminalization de la contestation politique à partir des expériences au Canada, en Colombie et ailleurs * Organisation anti-capitaliste en milieu étudiant

Info: www.anarchistbookfair.ca


-> Sunday, MAY 17, 10pm
Glamarchist Lookfair: Q-Team Party and Fundraiser
Il Motore, 179 rue Jean-Talon Ouest
info: qteam@riseup.net


-> Monday, MAY 18, from 9am onwards
Jardin de la Liberté: Guerrilla gardening
Rendez-vous: at the end of rue Island

(beside the Lachine Canal in Point-St-Charles)

Guerrilla gardeners are gathering in Point-St-Charles, for a third direct action. The action will happen from 9am until the evening, with lunch served during the day. Info: http://www.lapointelibertaire.org/jardindelaliberte


-> Monday, MAY 18, 7:30-10pm
JUSTSEEDS Slideshow Presentation
Cagibi, 5490 St-Laurent

A multi-media slideshow presentation of radical and engaged print practices as well as the work of JUSTSEEDS Visual Resistance Artists' Cooperative, with presentations by Josh McPhee, author of Stencil Pirates: A Global Survey of Street Stenciling, and Erik Ruin, member of JustSeeds. Prints will be on sale. Info: http://www.anarchistbookfair.ca/en/node/12


-> Wednesday, MAY 20, 6pm
Roundtable: Research and Resistance
Cagibi, 5490 St-Laurent

A roundtable discussion on grassroots knowledge and struggle. Join us for an evening of short presentations by members of le Collectif de recherche sur l’autonomie collective (CRAC), the Community-University Research Exchange (CURE) and other groups, followed by a group discussion. Info: www.crac-kebec.org


-> Friday, MAY 22, 6pm.
Solidarity Across Borders (SAB) Community Dinner
At the Maison d'amitié, 120 Duluth East (métro Sherbrooke)

Welcome to all friends, allies and supporters of Solidarity Across Borders & migrant justice struggles in Montreal. Our community dinner will include a menu of tasty foods (both meat and vegetarian) prepared by members and supporters of Solidarity Across Borders. Don't hesitate to bring food to share. Dinner is served at 6pm (sharp!). Party and discussion to follow. Bring your kids! Kids activities planned on-site. Free. Info: 514-848-7583, www.solidarityacrossborders.org


-> Saturday, MAY 23, 7pm
Polinizaciones: Pollinating the North and South
Bar Populaire, 6584 St-Laurent (métro Beaubien)

A multimedia workshop on collective struggles in the North and South, with Projet Accompagnement Solidarité Colombie and the Beehive Collective. Info: www.pasc.ca


-> Wednesday, MAY 27, 8pm
Political documentaries under the stars
2033 St-Laurent (métro St-Laurent)

A presentation of two politically charged, locally produced full-length documentaries: “Myths for Profit: Canada's Role in Industries of War and Peace” and a sneak preview of 'H2Oil' about the Alberta Tar Sands. The screening will take place outside under the stars. Bring your blankets and enjoy two brand new critical and engaging films, both of which examine Canadian political and economic policies and realities. Rain or shine. Info: www.wideopenexposure.com , http://h2oildoc.com/home/


-> Friday, MAY 29, 5:30pm
Demonstration in support of the Autonomous Social Center
Rendez-vous: Parc-St-Gabriel, at métro Charlevoix

The Autonomous Social Center (Centre social autogéré) will be occupied and opened in an abandoned building in Pointe-St-Charles. A child-friendly demonstration. Info: www.centresocialautogere.org


-> Saturday, MAY 30, 8pm
Opening Party of the Autonomous Social Center
Location tba!

Various revolutionary musicians and artists will be performing at the newly opened Autonomous Social Center. Come and support the opening of a squat! Info: www.centresocialautogere.org


----------
For more info about the Montreal Anarchist Bookfair and the Festival of Anarchy:

www.anarchistbookfair.ca - 514-679-5800 - info@anarchistbookfair.ca

Fujimori is

heading to the hoosegow.

Pfizer

Click here for an update on this story.

Hurray for Vernon Jackson!!!!!! Right on, Vernon!! You did it!! I'm jumping for joy!!

Questions for Ko Youngran and Naito Chizuko?

If you attended tonight's lectures, please feel free to leave your questions below (in English and/or Japanese). Please try to keep them as short as possible.

Jodie and I will help with translation, and Professors Naito and Ko will do their best to answer as many of your questions as possible.

In Loving Memory of Richard Aoki

"I do believe in mass action." - Richard Aoki

If you click here, you can read a memorial tribute to Richard Aoki by Harvey Dong (posted by Cesar Cruz). Angry Asian Man posted about him here.

I'm reposting the trailer for this film, which I'm still anxious to see in its entirety.