Demos Saturday to End Bombing of Lebanon and Gaza

Violence in the Middle East has escalated, with Israel bombing Gaza and Lebanon. This is in response to the killing and capture of soldiers by militant groups Hamas and Hezbollah in two separate incidents. These groups are responding with sporadic rocket attacks aimed at Israel.

Read more on Global Indymedia.

In response, Ontarians are making their desire for peace known. There are two demonstrations to be held this weekend, in Kitchener and Toronto. If you know of other events, please post them to our events newswire.

Toronto - Saturday, July 22 at 1:00pm: Mass Rally at Israeli Consulate, 180 Bloor St W (just west of Avenue Rd), Toronto. Sponsored by Toronto Coalition to Stop the War

Kitchener - Saturday, July 22, 5:00 pm: Protest outside Kitchener City Hall, Peaceful rally in solidarity with the Palestinian and Lebanese people. Sponsored by Students for Palestinian Rights

London - Saturday, July 22 at noon: Demonstration outside the John Labatt Centre (the corner of King and Talbot; across from Covent Garden Market). Called by the Association of London Muslims. More information here.

Ottawa - Saturday, July 22, at 11.00 am: Demonstration on Parliament Hill. Planned by the Coalition of Arab Canadian Professionals and Community Associations Ottawa.

Hamilton - Saturday, July 22 at 1pm: Demonstration at King & James (in front of Jackson Square). Followed by a vigil and forum on the upcoming Wednesday and Saturday, respectively.

There is further information about Ontario demonstrations at the Canadian Peace Alliance site: http://www.acp-cpa.ca/en/Palestineaction.htm

Criminalization of Homelessness Continues in the 'Safe Streets' of Ontario

An amendment to Ontario's Safe Streets Act of 1999 entitled Bill 58 was in standing committee last week for amendments to decriminalize street fundraising by registered charities.

The change comes at the behest of organizations such as Muscular Dystrophy Canada and the Ottawa boot drive who claim to have lost $1 million and $800,000 respectively since the law came into effect because they have been unable to solicit donations on the streets. Panhandling and squeegeeing will remain illegal under the controversial act as will non licensed "phony non-profit organizations [who] could misuse this privilege".

Studies have shown that the Safe Streets Act has resulted in "tougher times for panhandlers" and the "worsening of living conditions" for so-called squeegee kids.

Despite its controversy, the Safe Streets Act has lived through condemnation by the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, a failed constitutional challenge and even an attempt at repealing the law in 2000.

1. Section 3 of the Safe Streets Act, 1999, as amended by the Statutes of Ontario, 2002, chapter 17, Schedule F, Table, is amended by adding the following subsection:

Permitted fund-raising by charities

(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to fund-raising activities that meet the following conditions:

1. They are conducted by a charitable organization recognized by Revenue Canada.
2. They are conducted by a non-profit organization on a roadway where the maximum speed limit is 50 kilometres per hour.
3. They are permitted by a by-law of the municipality.

Ottawa activists have unionized the homeless, employed them to distribute The Dominion and fought back in the courts. The Halifax Coalition Against Poverty, the Vancouver Anti-Poverty Committee, and the BC Civil Liberties Association have fought against similar acts passed by their provincial governments to criminalize homelessness.

In the early hours of Thursday May 27, 2004, residents of homes built under the Bathurst Street Bridge were forced from the property and watched helplessly as their dwellings were destroyed. Bulldozers finished the job and left the site resembling more a wasteland than a tiny community tucked into the foundations of the bridge. The razing was a result of the city making good on an earlier eviction notice which came from the City of Toronto By-Law Enforcement office and is reportably due to the Bremner Street expansion.

Residents living under the Gardiner Expressway at the Spadina Street Bridge consider themselves next as they expect the city to post their eviction notices sometime in the next week. Unlike when the city evicted the residents of Tent City, no shelter or rent supplements were provided as relief. Residents returned to the site on Saturday for an emergency support rally and meal where activist pledged to defend their homes and hold David Miller accountable for his "less than NDP-type behaviour", as one supporter stated.

For more information on the campaign, please contact the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty:
website: http://www.ocap.ca/ocapnews/bathurst.html
phone: 416-925-6939
email: ocap@tao.ca

On March 20, 2004, anti-war activists gathered across the globe on the first anniversary of the war in Iraq, reiterating the message the world still says no to war! American organizers hoped that their country's involvement in Iraq has not been forgotten, and that global anger has not cooled.

Thousands of activists braved the falling rain to try and bring an end to falling bombs.

Articles:

• Rally and March in London, ON
• March 20th in Brampton
• NoToWar
• TheVoteInSpainFallMainlyOnBush

Photos:

• 1st set from Toronto: 1 | 2
• WindsorMarch20
• AFewMoreFromWindsor
• more Toronto pix
• a 3rd set from Toronto

World Social Forum Comes Home

The World Social Forum moved from Porto Alegre, Brazil to Mumbai, India this year, where it was held Jan. 16-21. There was a mood of celebration and community, as well as planning strategies around a variety of issues for 2004. This was accomplished through workshops and assemblies, with lots of discussion among people around the world, with everyone tackling common problems.

Now, the discussion comes back to Toronto, with an event on March 27.

• Details on Toronto report-back: March 27
  • NOTE: event for February 23 has been cancelled!
• Reports from Daina Green at rabble.ca
  • Days 1,2,3
  • Day 4
• Declarations from World Social Forum 2004
• Upcoming local plans soon to be posted on Toronto Social Forum website
• Global Indymedia has a feature

Tuesday, December 23, 5pm-6:30 pm
and weekly every Tuesday
Jarvis and Queen

Homes not Bombs invites everyone to join their weekly vigil, as they distribute food, not bombs, and clothes, not bombs and try to build pressure to get the armoury turned over to the city for housing. They have been at Moss Park every Tuesday evening for the past 19 months, and Toronto City Council has written to the federal government calling for the armoury to be turned into housing as well.

For the second holiday season in a row, there is STILL no room at the inn. While the homeless sleep and die on the streets of Toronto, the Moss Park Armoury sits vast and empty.

You can reach them at:

Homes not Bombs Toronto
(416) 651-5800
tasc@web.ca
www.homesnotbombs.ca

• Archives: Moss Park on "lockdown" last March
• Latest Information

On December 6, 1989, fourteen women were killed as a man went on a shooting spree through L'École Polytechnique in Montréal. They were targeted simply because of their gender. The lone gunman, Marc Lepine, didn’t know the women he killed, he simply opened fire in an act that would later be dubbed The Montreal Massacre.

In remembrance of this tragedy, the Canadian government declared December 6 a day to not only mourn the loss of those fourteen lives, but to also be aware that women around the world are still the targets of brutal physical, social and economic violence that Canadians must try and eradicate.

Listing of December 6 memorial events

Editorial from rabble.ca: It Has To Stop

IMC Newswire

Ontario and beyond

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Local IMC Newswires

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Rants

http://members.lycos.co.uk/carinsu/
Ontario: Rant
2007-05-14 09:01:24 GMT
Max

A Prayer for Justice
Ontario: Rant
2005-12-23 19:38:44 GMT
John Doe

Jackboots and Brown Shirts
Ontario: Rant
2005-12-16 15:51:18 GMT
Angus McLeod?

Radio/Recording Industry Derails Caner Fundraiser
Ontario: Rant
2005-12-11 14:23:52 GMT
richard nattress

The Coming Great Global Re-Balancing
Ontario: Rant
2005-11-27 18:21:37 GMT
William Buckler

The Bush Staff Goes To MoralsSchool
Toronto: Rant
2005-11-16 03:40:59 GMT
mary la rosa

Crime at Amnesty International
Toronto: Rant
2005-11-05 18:54:38 GMT
Mac Crary

Dead Page
Ontario: Rant
2005-11-02 17:46:38 GMT
Red Reid

an unkind reply to RETORT (Iain Boal, TJ Clark, et
Toronto: Rant
2005-06-13 15:32:56 GMT
NOT BORED!

"The Economy has Taken the State Hostage"
Ontario: Rant
2005-05-08 16:06:56 GMT
Gerd Brunecker

Events

Click here for various lecture series or study groups

May 12 2007
Ontario
http://clearblogs.com/insure/

Mar 19 2007
Ontario
http://members.lycos.co.uk/carinsu/car-insurance.html

Mar 19 2007
Ontario
http://tinyurl.com.au/x.php?7d1

Aug 16 2006
Toronto
Curse of Copper

Aug 15 2006
Ontario
“The Cold War Flare Up” CUBAN Cigar Ban

Aug 9 2006
Toronto
(spam)

Aug 8 2006
Ontario
Marland Wood - Marklandtini Social 2006

Jul 22 2006
Ontario
Chicago Hunger Strike Commemoration

Jul 19 2006
Toronto
Car Stories returns to Toronto

May 20 2006
Ontario
Veggie Pride : May 20th 2006 in Paris

Apr 21 2006
Ontario
Reminder: Apr 22 to 28 - South East Ontario

Apr 18 2006
Ontario
'CANTASTIC' DOC BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

Apr 12 2006
Ontario
Apr 18 - 20 - Kingston, Peterborough, Toronto

Apr 7 2006
Ontario
Montreal, Killaloe, Ottawa - Healthy Mind, Body, P

Apr 06 2006
Ontario
Former Foster Child Sues CAS