T.O. Greenspiration Events: Powering Up

Angela Bischoff greenspi at web.ca
Sun Nov 27 16:46:48 EST 2011


Toronto Greenspiration Events

Pass this onto a friend... -a 

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Join Stop the Cuts at Ford’s Budget Launch!

Mon. Nov. 28, 9am - 12pm.
City Hall (Queen and Bay)
 
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FIT Review (Feed-In-Tariff) - Town Hall Meeting - For all solar industry stakeholders

Monday, Nov 28, 7 p.m. followed by reception
OISE, 252 Bloor W., Auditorium

Sponsored by the Ontario Solar Network, the goal of this Town Hall Meeting is for stakeholders to provide feedback and additional input into proposals for Solar FIT and microFIT 2.0, now being developed by Ontario Solar Network’s "FIT Review Coalition" (FRC) and other organizations. FRC is working to build consensus in the industry on key proposals to ensure a strong and sustainable solar market in Ontario. All input received will be incorporated into the FRC’s “Blueprint for a Ontario’s Solar PV Market” to be published one week later on Mon. Dec. 5.

Free.
Registration: http://solarnetwork.org/ontario/events?eventId=410489&EventViewMode=EventDetails

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Powering Up Your Neighbourhood

Mon. Nov. 28, 6 p.m.
Etobicoke Civic Centre, 399 The West Mall
Free

Town hall meeting to discuss the current state of our electricity system and suggested improvements.
http://torontohydro.com/sites/electricsystem/community/pages/townhallsessions.aspx 

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Immune systems fight vaccines, EMF's, GMO's, "Health" Care and bio-ethics 

With Sydney White, Investigative Journalist, Studies in Propaganda.
 
Monday, November 28 from 6-8pm
U of T, The Lash Miller Building, 80 St. George St., Room #159
More info:  416-787-0592

The next generation will not live as long, nor will they be as smart. - 680 AM Radio News, Feb. 15, 2011.

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Shop Sustainable: EcoFriendly Market and Clothing Swap

Tues. November 29th, 5 pm–9 pm
Admission: $15 plus at least one item of used clothing
Centre for Social Innovation, 215 Spadina Ave. (north of Queen St. W.)

Organized by eco-fashion non-profit Fashion Takes Action, the Shop Sustainable event is a fun evening of pre-holiday eco-friendly swapping & shopping. Soulful vibes will add to the party atmosphere where attendees will trade in their best lightly worn garments, shoes, purses and belts for other items displayed on racks. All remaining garments will be donated to charity. Attendees MUST bring at least ONE item to swap in order to participate (one item donated = one item taken home). 

For more information, see http://fashiontakesaction.com/content/.
Click here to buy tickets: http://shopsustainable.eventbrite.com/

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Language of Politics: Understanding “Populism”

Tuesday, November 29, 7 p.m
Location: TBA
with Stefan Kipfer, York University professor and researcher of politics, urban social movements and colonization.

Have you ever thought “do I really know what that word means?” Life’s demands often lead us to stop defining words once we “get the basic idea.” But political words, and the concepts to which they refer, are rooted in long histories of struggle. When we investigate these words, we find opportunities to strengthen our understanding of the world, better explain our current situation, and strategize in the face of injustice.

Unfortunately, the language of politics seems designed to confuse us.  Some words have multiple meanings; others are used mainly to distract us from our actual conditions; most of them seem too obscure to be useful. But words have always shaped our society - they’re powerful tools. Learning how to use them accurately and confidently is an important step toward changing the world.

Join the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (opirgtoronto.org) for our newest free workshop series. Bring your questions, curiosity and courage.

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Rio Breaks - screening

Tues. Nov. 29. 7 p.m.
OISE, 252 Bloor W, Rm. 2-279
PWYC

Join us for this inspiring tale of favela kids in Brazil who find some refuge from Rio's harsh streets through a surfing social enterprise. Meanwhile, in 2011 Rio police break up favela homes to make room for the 2014 World Cup of soccer, and in Toronto, as we speak...... Another economy is possible. Rio Breaks tells us what it might look like.

Presented by Toronto the Better

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Stop the Corporate Takeover of Public Space

City Council is set to pass these policies on: Tuesday, November 29th. 

Email or call your local councilor to demand meaningful public consultation and voice your concerns and objections to these policies.

See highlights and download the policy document as well as our “City for Sale” flyer to post in your community at our website:
http://publicspaces.ca/2011/11/growing-backlash-against-corporate-takeover-of-public-space/ 

The TPSI has released “Public Names for Public Spaces: A Policy Review of the City of Toronto’s proposed policies on naming rights, sponsorships, honourifics and street naming” in response to proposed policies that will allow the city to sell off the names of our public spaces and services to corporations, as well as bring in other forms of aggressive advertising such as logos, signage, and the vaguely defined ‘etc’ type of advertising to public spaces.  The TPSI document denounces the city’s aggressive over-commercialization of public space, lack of public consultation requirements, lack of transparency, lack of protection for people’s property values, and the wholesale sell out of our children despite public health concerns raised by local medical experts, among other major issues.  The analysis makes many positive recommendations and has already been released to Council, the media, and civil society actors.

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Canning Workshop

Tues. Nov. 29, 6 - 9 p.m.
Parkdale Neighbourhood Church, 201 Cowan Ave. (south of Queen St, between Dufferin and Lansdowne)
$45

James Partanen and Heather Kilner, both expert canners with many years of experience, will be leading you through a delicious recipe and an in-depth discussion about canning and preserving. This will be a great way to learn new skills or brush up old ones.

Register and find out more here: http://westendfood.coop/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=127

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Education for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence
with Gail Rappolt

Wed. Nov. 30, 7 p.m.
Unitarian Congregation in Mississauga, 84 South Service Road
$10 or pay what you can

For more info: 905 278 5622 or info at uucm.ca 

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Secure the Future of Medicare: A Call to Care

Wednesday, November 30, 7 – 9 p.m.

Watch the event LIVE on the Canadian Health Coalition website at HealthCoalition.ca (conference occuring at the Faimont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa)

Roy Romanow Q.C., Chair of the Commission on the Future of Health Care in Canada, will be the Keynote speaker. 
Andre Picard Senior Health Reporter at The Globe and Mail, will moderate and facilitate the panel discussion.

Panel 1 – Threats to Medicare: Failed Experiments and Myths
Diana Gibson (Parkland Institute, Alberta)
Marie-Claude Goulet, MD (Médecins Québécois pour le Régime Public)
Allan Maslove (School of Public Policy and Administration, Carlton U)
Natalie Mehra (Ontario Health Coalition)
Panel 2 – The Way Forward: Integrated and Continuing Care
John Abbott (CEO, Health Council of Canada)
Marc-André Gagnon (School of Public Policy and Administration, Carlton U)
Michael Rachlis, MD (health policy analyst)
Sharon Sholzberg-Gray (Past-President, Canadian Healthcare Association)


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The Center for Women Studies in Education (CWSE) cordially invites you to

I WILL BE A HUMMINGBIRD - Celebrating the life of Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai

Presented by the Canadian Academy for Diversity Leadership (CADL)

Wednesday, Nov 30 2011, 6-8:30pm
OISE, Room 2-281, 252 Bloor St W

In 2004 Dr. Wangari Muta Maathai was the first Black/African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize for her efforts to empower women to work for environmental, economic, and social justice. She passed away September 25, 2011 at the age of 71 after a bout with cancer.

As social activists, the African Canadian community and friends will join in celebrating what we learned from Dr. Maathai’s activism in Kenya and its effects on the rest of the world. Through the celebration of the life of Dr. Wangari Maathai, we will recognize her importance in leadership, women’s empowerment, and as a champion of human rights.

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It's a Black & Red Affair - MataDanZe Collective 5 Year Anniversary
	
Wed. Nov.30, 7 pm
Augusta House, 152A Augusta Ave

MataDanZe celebrates 5 years of community outreach and arts activism: It’s a Red and Black Affair. Story-telling through movement combines elements of theatre and dance, and upon this platform MataDanZe continues to break new ground in the field of arts activism. Empowering individuals to creatively explore their own stories and engage their bodies in new ways, the collective has built up an impressive repertoire of performances and workshop facilitation over the last five years with generous support from community, friends and family. 

MataDanZe is a six-member dance-theatre collective founded in 2006 by Victoria Mata and Olivia Davies. Current members also include Gricel Severino, Irma Villafuerte, Misset Parata and Corrie Sakaluk. They come together to empower women through dance and activism, and to transform the stigmatized role of women. They are determined to bring their work to communities across Canada and abroad, in order to inspire and enrich people's lives through artistic expression. They facilitate workshops that are accessible to the working class and that include a variety of dance styles. They welcome diversity. Their choreographies explore the power of storytelling, with a focus on women's stories, using contemporary dance and elements of theatre to bring their projects to life. A belief in the power of collaboration with other artists including musicians, designers, and activists, promotes the growth of their artistic community. 

Tickets can be purchased in advance at Chemagne Dance Studio during the Afro-Venezuelan Latin-Contemporary workshops Saturdays in November, email matadanze at gmail.com for more information. $10-$15 sliding scale at the door, 19+ event ID required to be admitted. Unfortunately the venue is not wheelchair accessible, our apologies in advance.

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Food For All Virtual Summit 

Wed. Nov. 30, all day

Register and find out more here: http://foodforallsummit.com

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Fight Aids in Africa - Healing and Hope Through the Arts

Wed. Nov. 30, 6 p.m.
Hart House
Free

The Stehen Lewis Foundation launches its Arts Fund with community based HIV/AIDS activists from Zambia and South Africa. 
Performers include Molly Johnson, d'bi. young, and Stephen Lewis. 

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Upstream and Downstream of Policy Instruments for Sustainable Urban Transportation
 
Wed. Nov. 30, 4:10 p.m.
40 St. George St, Rm. 1190, Bahen Centre, U of T, 

With JEAN MERCIER, Professor of Public Administration and Environmental Policy, Political Science Department, Université Laval.

What are the characteristics of successful, sustainable cities in terms of transportation? Upstream, what are some of their sociological, economic and political profiles? Downstream, what type of policy tools have they used to achieve their goal of a more sustainable urban mobility?

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Powering Up Your Neighbourhood

Wed. Nov. 30, 6 p.m.
Scarborough Civic Centre - 150 Borough Drive
Free

Town hall meeting to discuss the current state of our electricity system and suggested improvements.
http://torontohydro.com/sites/electricsystem/community/pages/townhallsessions.aspx 

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Protecting Farm Land and Reforesting Our Barren Planet: Essential Remedies for Climate Change

With John Bacher, Ph.D. Researcher, Preservation of Agricultural Lands Society. Author of Two Billion Trees and Counting.
Thur. Dec. 1, 4-6 pm
University College, Rm. 179, U of T.
All  welcome. No charge. Some of us will go for supper afterward, and you're welcome too.
 
Co-Sponsored  by University College Health Studies Programme, Canadian Pugwash Group, Science for Peace, and Voice of Women for Peace
 
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Social Planning Toronto Member Forum on the City’s 2012 Operating Budget

Thursday, December 1, 9:30 a.m. to Noon
YWCA Elm Centre, 87 Elm Street (corner of Elm and Elizabeth Street - two blocks north of Dundas, one block west of Yonge)
 
Come and find out about the City of Toronto’s 2012 staff recommended operating budget, what it means for our communities, opportunities to participate in the budget process.  The forum will include a budget presentation, remarks from a broad-based community panel, and a question/answer and discussion session with participants. 
 
Moderator:  Winston Tinglin, Social Planning Toronto
 
Community Panel:
John Cartwright, Toronto and York Region Labour Council
Geordie Dent, Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations
Mark Ferguson, CUPE Local 416
Franz Hartmann, Toronto Environmental Alliance
Rob Howarth, Toronto Neighbourhood Centres
Jane Mercer, Toronto Coalition for Better Child Care
Neethan Shan, Council of Agencies Serving South Asians
Michael Shapcott, Wellesley Institute
Preethy Sivakumar, Justice and Dignity for Cleaners Campaign
Susan Wright, Toronto Arts Council
Speaker from Toronto Women’s City Alliance
Speaker from Toronto Youth Cabinet
 
REGISTER here:  http://2012citybudgetforum.eventbrite.com/

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Brave New Teachers - Doing Social Justice Work in Neo-Liberal Times - book launch
 
By Patrick Solomon, Jordan Singer, Arlene Campbell, and Andrew Allen with the assistance of John P. Portelli

Thur. Dec. 1, 5:30 p.m.
OISE library, main floor, 252 Bloor W.

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Forum: Public Dialogue Situations - The Left's Responses to the Crisis in Europe and North America

with Leo Panitch, Stephanie Ross, Albert Scharenberg, Bill Fletcher

Thur. Dec. 1, 7 p.m.
Wilson Hall, 1016, New College, U of T, 40 Willcocks Street, (corner of Spadina)
Free
Sponsored by the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation, the Centre for Social Justice, and the Socialist Project.

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The East End Cyclist Social

Friday December 2nd, 7pm., group presentations at 7:30
Sarah's Cafe Bar, 1426 Danforth Avenue between Greenwood and Coxwell on the NE corner of Monarch Park Ave./Danforth Ave. (almost at the meeting of the four wards!) http://www.partywithus.ca/Contact.page

32 Spokes (the Toronto Cyclists Union's Ward 32  group) are organising an East End social, with hopefully representatives from:
29 Bikes (ward 29), SODA bikes (Ward 30), Jonathan (Ward 31),32 Spokes (Ward 32), as well as DECA Bikes (Danforth East Community Association, North and South of the Danforth). Anyone who wishes to socialise with other east end cyclists is welcome!
It will be an informal gathering, starting with a short 5 minute talk from each group on what they've achieved / what they want to achieve / any inter-ward issues.

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Harm Reduction as an Anarchist Practice: a user’s guide to capitalism and addiction in North America   

Fri. Dec. 2, 2 –4 pm.
410 Sherbourne Street, 3rd Floor Classroom
Presenter:  Christopher Smith

In spite of its origins as an illegal, clandestine, grassroots activity that took place either outside or in defiant opposition to state and legal authority, there is growing evidence to suggest that harm reduction in North America has become sanitized and depoliticized in its institutionalization as public health policy. Harm reduction remains the most contested and controversial aspect of drug policy on both sides of the Canada-US border, yet the institutionalization of harm reduction in each national context demonstrates a series of stark contrasts.  Arguing that the founding philosophy and spirit of the harm reduction movement represents a fundamentally anarchist-inspired form of practice, Christopher Smith considers tactics for reclaiming and re-politicizing the future of harm reduction in North America. 

Currently a Postdoctoral Fellow at U Pennsylvania, Christopher’s current research examines consumer involvement in the addiction and mental health sectors, underground harm reduction interventions in Canada and the US, and global drug user capacity building initiatives.  His forthcoming book, “ Addiction, Modernity and the City: A users’ guide to urban space” will be published in 2012

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Bhopali: award-winning film by Van Maximilian Carlson

Friday, December 2 · 7:00pm - 9:30pm
Bloor Street United Church, 300 Bloor St. West (at Huron)

BHOPALI is a feature length documentary about the world’s worst industrial disaster, the 1984 Union Carbide gas leak in Bhopal, India. Thousands were killed and up to 500,000 were affected by the contaminants. 26 years have passed since the disaster yet the suffering continues and for the victims, justice has yet to be seen. 

For the Bhopal people, the disaster has been unending. There are more than 100,000 people still chronically ill. In fact, children today born to gas-affected people are besieged with birth defects and growth disorders. Additionally, for the last 15 years 30,000 people living in the region with no other choice have had to drink contaminated water. 

Award-winning director Van Maximilian Carlson presents a modern portrait of shattered lives in the community surrounding the abandoned Union Carbide factory. The focus is on survivors of the disaster and their families as they continue life among the indelible remainders of contamination and death. Set against a backdrop of high stakes activism, global politics and human rights advocacy, this film explores the ongoing struggle for justice against Union Carbide. 

The demands for justice from the corporation are articulated in BHOPALI via interviews, quintessential scenes of activism and commemorative events spanning the 25th anniversary. The film features Noam Chomsky, Satinath Sarangi and attorney Rajan Sharma. 

There will be a discussion/Q & A at the end of the film with Ellen Shifrin, co-chair of Amnesty International Toronto Business & Human Rights Group, and member of the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal (North America) Advisory Board. For more info, email business at aito.ca
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=138006042968603 

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Education for Activists Conference

4th Annual Toronto Socialist Action Trotsky School

Fri/Sat. December 2-3
OISE, 252 Bloor St. W, Room 2-212, just above the St. George Subway Station

Conference Registration: $10 for the weekend, $4 per session (or pay what you can)
For more information, visit: www.socialistaction-canada.blogspot.com 
e-mail: barryaw at rogers.com or call: 416 – 535-8779

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Global Day of Action on Climate Change

Sat. Dec. 3, 10 a.m. on
Oakham House, 2nd floor, 63 Gould, Ryerson U
 
This is midway through COP17, the 17th  Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which takes place in Durban from November 28 to December 9, 2011. Speakers, videos and live skype interviews with enviros on the ground in Durban. Discussion of action going forward. It is also anticipated that there will be a march with Occupy Toronto at 2 pm.
 
Organized and hosted by: Toronto Climate Campaign, Council of Canadians Toronto Chapter, Toronto People's Assembly on Climate Justice, Continuing Education Students' Association of Ryerson
 
Coffee and a light snack will be available. Please BYO mug and lunch! If you are interested in tabling, please contact   info at torontoclimatecampaign.org

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Climate Refugees - screening

Sunday, Dec 4, 1 p.m.
Noor Cultural Centre, 123 Wynford Drive

Free!
Food donated by: Hearty Catering http://heartycatering.com/

Post documentary discussion by: Liz Rice – volunteer for Citizens Climate Lobby, Toronto Chapter http://CitizensClimateLobby.ca
For more info about the film: http://ClimateRefugees.com

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Resisting Canadian Mining Industry Exploitation in Colombia - Teach-in
 
Sunday, December 4th @ 2 – 5 PM
OISE, 250 Bloor Street West, Room 5150 (St. George Sbwy Station)
 
Speakers:
Jennifer Moore, Mining Watch Canada-Ottawa
Asad Ismi,  International Affairs correspondent for the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Monitor
 
As in many other parts of the world, Canadian corporations are already engaged in patterns of displacement and conflict with local communities.  The intense chemicals required in the extraction process is also contaminating the soil, rivers and air; thus endangering the subsistence, health and life of its inhabitants and wildlife in these regions.  The extraordinary violence already released against different sectors of the population who defend environmental rights, foretells that the struggle for the defence of the environment will be another long and painful chapter in the history of the Colombian peoples. 

CASA/LACSN  More information:  cca_toronto at hotmail.com  LACSN:  http://lacsn.weebly.com/ 
 
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Dear Friends of Toronto's Environment,

It appears to some that clean air, environmental reporting, community engagement and local food procurement are luxuries we can no longer afford at the City of Toronto. We've heard that that the city's 2012 capital and operating budget (to be made public on Monday) will include the elimination of the Toronto Environment Office, the city's equivalent of the Ministry of Environment and the office responsible for ensuring the city's efforts to clean the air, engage communities, buy local food and coordinate the city's many environmental efforts.

These cuts are part of a growing trend to cut important city services and will create a dirtier, meaner Toronto. They follow on the heels of cuts already made in the last six months to water efficiency, waste diversion and tree canopy programs (here) and proposed cuts to water efficiency and community outreach (see here) which will be reviewed next week at a City Council meeting.

We all deserve a better, greener Toronto than the one that is being offered to Torontonians. And we need to speak loudly and forcefully. That's where you come in. The public will only have one opportunity to speak their mind to City Councillors about the cuts. This will be on Thursday, December 8th to the City's Budget Committee.  

I am asking you to come to City Hall and let City Councillors know what you think about proposed cuts that will lead to dirtier air and a dirtier environment.

To sign up to give a "deputation" contact the Budget Committee clerk by email (buc at toronto.ca) or by phone (416-392-7340). Tell them you want to speak on the city's 2012 capital and operating budget on December 8th.

Next, let me know that you have signed up for a deputation. I will then notify you when I have details about the proposed cuts, our analysis of the cuts and specifics about how the day of deputations will go (this could be another "all-nighter") meeting.

Finally, City Council will decide on January 17-19 at a Special Council meeting about what city services to cut and save. December 8th will be our opportunity to  directly tell City Councillors that we all deserve a better, greener Toronto than what's on offer in the budget. Then, we will have 5 more weeks to convince a majority of Councillors to vote for a better, greener Toronto.

Needless to say, contact me if you have any questions.

Franz Hartmann, PhD
Executive Director, Toronto Environmental Alliance
416-596-0660  www.torontoenvironment.org

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