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	<title>CSRT &#187; Events</title>
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	<link>http://www.solidarityresponse.net</link>
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		<title>Toxic Tour</title>
		<link>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/toxic-tour/</link>
		<comments>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/toxic-tour/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 11 Jun 2010 01:48:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>alissner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.solidarityresponse.net/?p=476</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Don&#8217;t miss our Environmental Justice Tour as Solidarity Response will join forces with People for Climate Justice and other climate and social justice activists to expose the impacts of the extractive industry through a march through the city. What better time than now!
WHERE: Alexandra Park (Dundas &#38; Bathurst)
WHEN: June 23, 2010, 11 AM

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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Don&#8217;t miss our Environmental Justice Tour as Solidarity Response will join forces with People for Climate Justice and other climate and social justice activists to expose the impacts of the extractive industry through a march through the city. What better time than now!</p>
<p><strong>WHERE:</strong> Alexandra Park (Dundas &amp; Bathurst)<br />
<strong>WHEN:</strong> June 23, 2010, 11 AM</p>
<p><a href="http://www.solidarityresponse.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/toxic-tour-poster-small.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-475" title="toxic tour poster small" src="http://www.solidarityresponse.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/toxic-tour-poster-small.jpg" alt="" width="467" height="600" /></a></p>
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		<title>New Mining (In)Justice Blip TV Channel showcases panels from the Conference</title>
		<link>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/new-mining-injustice-blip-tv-channel-showcases-panels-from-the-conference/</link>
		<comments>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/new-mining-injustice-blip-tv-channel-showcases-panels-from-the-conference/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 May 2010 03:12:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>underminingsustainability</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Case Studies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community Statements]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Multimedia]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.solidarityresponse.net/?p=463</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Did you attend the Mining (In)Justice conference but didn&#8217;t get to see all of the panels you wanted to? Did you see a great panel and want to share that experience with a friend?
Well.. now, a lot of the amazing panels that happened at this year&#8217;s mining injustice panel are available on our own Blip.tv [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Did you attend the Mining (In)Justice conference but didn&#8217;t get to see all of the panels you wanted to? Did you see a great panel and want to share that experience with a friend?</p>
<p>Well.. now, a lot of the amazing panels that happened at this year&#8217;s mining injustice panel are available on our own Blip.tv channel. <em>Check out the channel <a href="http://mininginjustice.blip.tv/posts?view=archive&amp;nsfw=dc">here</a></em>.</p>
<p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="480" height="350" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://blip.tv/play/AYHd8TUC" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="350" src="http://blip.tv/play/AYHd8TUC" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p>
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		<title>CONFRONT GOLD CORP AT THE ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS MEETING</title>
		<link>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/confront-gold-corp-at-the-annual-shareholders-meeting/</link>
		<comments>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/confront-gold-corp-at-the-annual-shareholders-meeting/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 May 2010 16:08:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>alissner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.solidarityresponse.net/?p=444</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[DATE: Wednesday, May 19, 2010
TIME: 11 AM
LOCATION: Outside 1 King West Hotel and Residence
STREET: 1 King Street West
CITY: Toronto, Ontario View Map
Gold Corp is a Canadian mining company infamous for their human rights violation, harms to the environment and to human health. Support the struggles of indigenous peoples throughout the Americas to defend their land, livelihood [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>DATE: </strong>Wednesday, May 19, 2010</p>
<p><strong>TIME:</strong> 11 AM</p>
<p><strong>LOCATION:</strong> Outside 1 King West Hotel and Residence</p>
<p><strong>STREET</strong>: 1 King Street West</p>
<p><strong>CITY</strong>: Toronto, Ontario <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&amp;hl=en&amp;q=1+King+Street+West%2C+Toronto%2C+ON"><span style="color: #0000ff;">View Map</span></a></p>
<p>Gold Corp is a Canadian mining company infamous for their human rights violation, harms to the environment and to human health. Support the struggles of indigenous peoples throughout the Americas to defend their land, livelihood and right to self-determination.<br />
Human rights are not for sale!</p>
<p>The theme around this year&#8217;s protest is &#8216; Gold Corp, Clean Up Your Mess and Get Out!&#8217; We want to remind the company and their shareholders of all the grave human rights abuses, environmental and health harms they have caused and continue to perpetuate. We invite people to dress creatively to reflect this theme. Ideas include:</p>
<p>- hazmat suits &amp; lab coats speaking to the hazardous work environments and toxic contamination caused by GC<br />
- Scrubs speaking to the health concerns<br />
- Prosecutors/Judges speaking to the impunity and corruption in which GC operates<br />
- Plumbers speaking to harms to peoples&#8217; drinking water<br />
-Superheroes, super-villains, whatever you can come up with!</p>
<p>To RSVP, check our facebook event page: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=106254712751818"><span style="color: #0000ff;">http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=106254712751818</span></a></p>
<p>To endorse the event or get more details please email: <span style="font-size: 13.2px;"><span style="color: #000000;">csrtoronto@gmail.com</span></span></p>
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		<title>mining (in)justice events this week!</title>
		<link>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/mining-injustice-events-this-week/</link>
		<comments>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/mining-injustice-events-this-week/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 May 2010 16:00:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>underminingsustainability</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.solidarityresponse.net/?p=374</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is shareholder&#8217;s season once again, and for mining-impacted communities all over the world that means it is time to confront their corporate nemeses at these companies&#8217; annual general meetings. To take advantage of this special time, we are throwing a conference and series of events to highlight the struggles of these communities and create [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>It is shareholder&#8217;s season once again, and for mining-impacted communities all over the world that means it is time to confront their corporate nemeses at these companies&#8217; annual general meetings. To take advantage of this special time, we are throwing a conference and series of events to highlight the struggles of these communities and create space for them to network with people in Toronto and impacted communities in Canada.</p>
<div>
<div><strong>May 5, 8pm:</strong> &#8220;The Devil Operation&#8221; + short films: Screenings in Bickford Park with filmmaker and Representatives from Cerro San Pedro, Mexico (Grace and Harbord)<br />
<strong>May 6, 3pm: </strong>Protest and Performance w/impacted communities. New Gold’s Annual General meeting, 77 Adelaide St West.<strong><br />
May 6, 6:30pm-8:30pm:</strong><strong> </strong>Opening Reception for &#8220;Someone Else&#8217;s Treasure&#8221; Photo opening.<strong> </strong>Toronto-based Photographer Allan Lissner has documented mining-impacted communities in Tanzania, Guatemala and the Philippines. Leonardo Galleries 133 Avenue Road</div>
<div><strong> May 7, 8pm:</strong> G8/20 Special Issue Dominion release party + conference opening party. The Ram in the Rye (55 Gould Street)<br />
<strong>May 8-9, 10am-6:30pm:</strong> mining (in)justice conference, Earth Sciences Building (UofT) (Bancroft and Huron. <a href="http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&amp;source=s_q&amp;hl=en&amp;geocode=&amp;q=Bancroft+and+Huron+toronto&amp;sll=43.660669,-79.398987&amp;sspn=0.007094,0.016286&amp;g=(Bancroft+and+Huron+u+of+t&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;hq=&amp;hnear=Huron+St+%26+Bancroft+Ave,+Toronto,+Toronto+Division,+Ontario&amp;ll=43.662346,-79.399416&amp;spn=0.007094,0.024891&amp;z=16">map</a>). <a href="http://www.solidarityresponse.net/mining-injustice-conference/">Click here</a> for a list of speakers!<br />
<strong>May 19, 10:30am: </strong>Confront Goldcorp at their AGM, 1 King Street West</div>
</div>
<p><strong><span id="more-374"></span><br />
HAMILTON EVENT: </strong>Canadian Mining Companies Operating With Impunity. Discussion with community representatives from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.  Skydragon Cafe, 27 King Street Hamilton Ontario, 7:00 PM. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119107694780400&amp;ref=ts" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=119107694780400&amp;ref=ts</a></p>
<p><strong>MARKHAM EVENT:</strong><em> </em>Can Mining Be Green? Discussion with indigenous people from Papua New Guinea, Trent and York University and the Green Party. 7:00 PM Milliken Mills Library, 7600 Kennedy Rd. Markham Ontario. <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/event.php?eid=118225634873301&amp;ref=ts" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=118225634873301&amp;ref=ts</a></p>
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<p><em>For more information, go to: <a href="http://solidarityresponse.net/" target="_blank">solidarityresponse.net</a></em></p>
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<div>Endorsed by: INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK • SCIENCE FOR PEACE • RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK • RAINFOREST ACTION NETWORK TORONTO • FIRST NATIONS SOLIDARITY WORKING GROUP • CIRCLE OF SUPPORT/INDIGENOUS SOVEREIGNTY WEEK • RIGHTS ACTION • MINING WATCH • COUNCIL OF CANADIANS • UTERN • OPIRG &#8211; YORK • FRIENDS OF THE CONGO, UofT • OPIRG &#8211; UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO • CONTINUING EDUCATION STUDENTS&#8217; ASSOCIATION OF RYERSON • YORK UNIVERSITY GRADUATE STUDENTS UNION • UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENTS&#8217; UNION • ASSOCIATION OF PART-TIME UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO • ACT FOR THE EARTH • LATIN AMERICAN SOLIDARITY NETWORK • THE DOMINION • EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES RESEARCH GROUP • NO ONE IS ILLEGAL TORONTO • OIL SANDS TRUTH • SIERRA CLUB PRAIRIE CHAPTER • RYERSON FREE PRESS <strong>• YORK FEDERATION OF STUDENTS</strong></p>
<p><strong>WED Film-screenings<br />
</strong></p>
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<div>In lead up to the mining (in)justice conference and the New Gold shareholder&#8217;s meeting, please join us for a feature film and a mix of short movies in the park! We will be joined by Stephanie Boyd, the filmmaker of &#8220;The Devil Operation&#8221;, which recently debuted at HotDocs. Mining resistance leader Enrique Rivera of FAO Mexico will also join us and show a short film about New Gold in Cerro San Pedro, Mexico.<br />
<em><strong><br />
Bring Blankets! Some snacks and some blanks will also be provided.</strong></em></p>
<p>&#8220;The Devil Operation&#8221; Synopsis</p>
<p>Father Marco, a humble priest from the mountains of Peru, is being followed. A private security firm is filming and photographing the priest’s every move; their meticulous reports are code-named “The Devil Operation.” Marco’s allies are murdered and tortured, but he and his disciples refuse to be victims. They turn their cameras on the spies and develop a counter-espionage plan that leads to South America’s largest gold mine.</p>
<p>For the past two decades, Father Marco has defended farming communities against the Yanacocha mine’s abuses, earning him the nickname ‘The Devil’.</p>
<p>The Yanacocha mine is owned by Newmont of Colorado, but mining giants defy borders in their lust for capital: the company’s Canadian subsidiary, Newmont Mining Corporation of<br />
Canada, is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.</p>
<p><em>Ontario film-maker Stephanie Boyd has spent 10 years documenting the farmers’ struggle and became caught up in this real-life political thriller.<br />
</em><br />
<strong>PROTEST NEW GOLD&#8217;S AGM<br />
</strong>In 1996 the Canadian mining company Metallica Resources, now New Gold Inc., came to Cerro de San Pedro, Mexico to exploit gold through open pit mining and cyanide leaching. Since the beginning the company has faced resistance from the town of Cerro de San Pedro, the city of San Luis Potosi, and internationally, organized through the FAO (Frente Amplio Opositor &#8211; Broad Opposition Front). The struggle has used legal strategies, through which the FAO won the closure of the mine by the federal environmental authority in November 2009. But, in violation of Mexican law, the mine is still operating with the complicity of the Canadian government and financed by the Toronto Stock Exchange. In response, the FAO is bringing the struggle to the streets to Toronto to directly confront New Gold and give their shareholders a glimpse of the scope of the global resistance to the mine at Cerro de San Pedro, and other similarly destructive mining projects throughout Mexico and the world.<br />
RSVP: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118647984829529" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118647984829529</a><strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>PHOTO OPENING RECEPTION:<br />
</strong>Broken promises, environmental disasters, human rights abuses, and cultural genocide, these are only some of the experiences that indigenous peoples all over the world have had to face when coming into contact with the global mining industry, and it’s perpetual pursuit of profit.<br />
Four years in the making, Someone Else’s Treasure is a multimedia project examining the social and environmental impacts of different multinational projects from the perspectives of various affected communities.</p>
<p>Thus far, Someone Else’s Treasure includes the stories of affected communities in Australia, Canada, Chile, Guatemala, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, and Tanzania. These intimate portraits are both a critique of the myth of progress and a celebration of the spirit of resistance. In an effort to better understand the true cost of an industry that shapes the world around all of us, the focus is on the externalized – the men, women, and children, that have been left out of the equations and are therefore forced to pay the price for someone else’s treasure.<br />
<strong> </strong></p>
<p><strong>CONFERENCE LAUNCH PARTY! MAY 7, Ram and the Rye<br />
</strong><br />
[Part of the Mining (in)Justice Conference, check it out: <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/event.php?eid=112912948735691&amp;ref=ts" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=112912948735691&amp;ref=ts</a>]</p>
<p>The mainstream media portrays the G8/G20 summits as rigid dichotomies of mask-clad protesters clashing with faceless riot police in a cloud of tear gas, all while world leaders try to right the global economic ship.</p>
<p>We think that there is more to be told! Come and support the launch of the Dominion&#8217;s special issues on the G8/G20!!</p>
<p>The event is also the opening night of the Mining (in)Justice Conference.</p>
<p>There will be bands and fun times! So Far confirmed: illogik and stacey b. DJ Joe Blow</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.dominionpaper.ca/g20" target="_blank">http://www.dominionpaper.ca/g20</a><br />
<strong><br />
CONFERENCE:</strong><br />
Mining (in)justice: at home and abroad is a conference on the Canadian mining industry (including Tar Sands) set to take place in Toronto on the weekend of May 7-9, 2010. It will feature leaders in movements against Canadian mining companies both within and outside of Canada and provide space for growing our own movements in alliance with communities impacted by this industry.</p>
<p>This is a follow-up conference to last year’s mining conference, which brought over 20 front line defenders to share their stories and strategize solutions to ending corporate impunity and strengthening the struggles against destructive mining projects around the world.</p>
<p>This year, we are expanding the conference into a 3 day event, providing more space for participants to meet each other, form alliances, and plan actions to foster a movement in solidarity with impacted communities.</p>
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<p>Reports will be heard from delegates from Honduras, Guatemala, Carrier Sekani First Nation, Papua New Guinea, El Salvador, Ardoch Algonquin, Northern Ontario, Fort Chipewyan, Mexico and more! Clayton Thomas Muller of the Indigenous Environmental Network is MCing the event!</p>
</div>
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<p><strong><br />
CONFRONT GOLDCORP</strong><br />
Gold Corp is a Canadian mining company infamous for their human rights violation, harms to the environment and to human health. Support the struggles of indigenous peoples throughout the Americas to defend their land, livelihood and right to self-determination.<br />
Human rights are not for sale!<br />
RVSP: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#%21/event.php?eid=106254712751818&amp;ref=ts" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=106254712751818&amp;ref=ts</a></p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Mercury Still Killing in Grassy Narrows</title>
		<link>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/mercury-still-killing-in-grassy-narrows/</link>
		<comments>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/mercury-still-killing-in-grassy-narrows/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 05 Apr 2010 17:53:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>alissner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[first nations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[grassy narrows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[logging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mercury]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ontario]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.solidarityresponse.net/?p=331</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Shocking new health study confirms Native health concerns; questions Health Canada guidelines Toronto &#8211; The health impacts of mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows people are worse now than in the 1970&#8217;s, say the shocking results of a newly translated health study by Japanese mercury expert Dr. Harada. The study is being released today on the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Shocking new health study confirms Native health concerns; questions Health Canada guidelines Toronto &#8211; </span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">The health impacts of mercury poisoning in Grassy Narrows people are worse now than in the 1970&#8217;s, say the shocking results of a newly translated health study by Japanese mercury expert Dr. Harada. The study is being released today on the 40th anniversary of when Ontario first banned fishing on the Wabigoon River due to mercury contamination by the Dryden paper mill upstream. The study finds that Health Canada safety guidelines are too low to protect people from the cumulative long-term health impacts of low level mercury exposure, which is now ubiquitous worldwide due to industrial pollution from sources such as coal burning power plants.<span id="more-331"></span><br />
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<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>PRESS CONFERENCE.</p>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: large;">April 6, Noon. </span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Where: </span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St. (South of College, East of Spadina) </span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Speakers: </span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">Chief Simon Fobister, Ontario Regional Chief Angus Toulouse, Maude Barlow, Judy Da Silva.</span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Content:</span></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">The latest Grassy Narrows mercury health study will be released, and discussed by the speakers who will demand action from the government of Ontario.</span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Newly translated health study downloadable at</span></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">FreeGrassy.org </span><span style="font-size: small;">on April 6.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>
<p>VISUAL:</p>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: large;">RIVER RUN CREATIVE MARCH AND RALLY. April 7, Noon.</span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">What:</span></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">Hundreds of Grassy Narrows members, and their supporters, will deploy 1,000 meters of blue fabric to create a wild river that will flow up University Ave. to Queen’s park to deliver their demands, accompanied by traditional and samba drum groups, and by activists wearing animal costumes and large colourful fish puppets.</span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Where</span></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">: </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">Noon. Grange Park (behind the AGO on Beverly South of Dundas).</span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">End:</span></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">Arriving at Queen’s Park around 1 p.m. for speeches and demands.</span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Shots:</span></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">Grassy Narrows women and youth lead the march up through Queen’s Park to the Parliament accompanied by a huge river of supporters with massive blue fabric rippling in the wind. Aerial shots available from public buildings on University Avenue (UofT lounges at College, Hospitals).</span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Speakers:</span></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">Grassy Narrows mothers, Chief Fobister, Regional Chief Angus Toulouse, Bruce Cox (Greenpeace ED), Craig Benjamin (Amnesty), Meera Karunananthan (Council of Canadians), Joanne Webb (CUPE), and more.</span></span><strong><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p>PUBLIC SPEAKING EVENT.</p>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: medium;">April 6, 6:30 p.m.</span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Speakers:</span></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">Maude Barlow, Judy Rebick, Grassy Narrows Women’s Drum Group. </span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">Where: </span></strong><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St. (South of College, East of Spadina).</span></span><strong><span style="font-size: small;">For more information go to: FreeGrassy.org</span></strong></p>
<p><strong> </strong></p>
<p><span style="font-size: large;">Context</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">Dr. Harada, who played a key role in exposing mercury poisoning in Minamata Japan, first visited Grassy Narrows and White Dog in 1975. He found people with mercury levels over 3 times the Health Canada limit in Grassy Narrows, and 7 times the limit in White Dog. When he returned in 2004 he found that 43% of his original Grassy Narrows patients were dead, including all those who had mercury levels above the Health Canada guidelines in 1975. Among the people who had levels below Health Canada guidelines in 1975, 89% were diagnosed with Minamata Disease (mercury poisoning), or possible Minamata Disease in 2004, even though their mercury levels were now even lower than before.Between 1962 and 1970 the Dryden mill dumped 20,000 pounds of mercury into the Wabigoon River, with the Province&#8217;s permission. According to a report prepared for the UN, less than 1/50</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: xx-small;">th </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Calibri; font-size: small;">of a teaspoon of mercury per 8 hectare lake surface is enough to make fish unfit for human consumption. The people of Grassy Narrows, Wabaseemoong, and Wabauskang First Nations were downstream and hurt by the health, social, and economic impacts of this poison. Overnight unemployment in Grassy Narrows skyrocketed from 10% to 90%, and a sacred food staple was lost.Mercury is a potent neurotoxin and a persistent pollutant whose health impacts include tunnel vision, loss of coordination, numbness in the extremities, tremors, loss of balance, and speech impediments. Dr. Harada’s report states that &#8220;*t+he possibility of congenital Minamata Disease occurrence is very high in these two communities.&#8221; Many Grassy Narrows mothers who cannot afford to buy food still eat fish during pregnancy and report delayed development, cerebral palsy, seizures, and other illnesses in their children. A compensation deal in 1985, reached after 7 years of negotiations, amounted to merely $8,000 per resident in Grassy Narrows and White Dog. Under the deal residents whose mercury poisoning is acknowledged by the Mercury Disability Board receive $250 to $800 a month. However, the Mercury Disability Board acknowledged only 38% of the people Dr. Harada diagnosed with Minamata Disease, Minamata Disease with complications, and possible Minamata Disease. Residents of Wabauskang (formerly Quibell), have never been compensated at all, despite reporting many miscarriages, stillbirths, and early childhood deaths from mercury poisoning.</span></span></p>
<p>Health Canada has stopped testing for mercury in Grassy Narrows residents claiming that it is no longer a problem because mercury levels have fallen below the Health Canada safety guideline. Dr. Harada’s study results &#8220;indicate that even being exposed under the safety guideline, if prolonged, it could cause Minamata Disease (chronic type).&#8221;</p>
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		<title>Under Rich Earth Screening at Bloor Cinema</title>
		<link>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/under-rich-earth-screening-at-bloor-cinema/</link>
		<comments>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/under-rich-earth-screening-at-bloor-cinema/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2010 18:39:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>alissner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ecuador]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[film]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.solidarityresponse.net/?p=311</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[ANNOUNCING A SPECIAL FUNDRAISING SCREENING AT THE BLOOR CINEMA:
Rye Cinema presents the acclaimed feature documentary film:
UNDER RICH EARTH
&#8220;Urgent and vital filmmaking in the spirit of Kanahsatake: 270 Years of Resistance and Manufactured Landscapes.&#8221;
- Jesse Wente, CBC
Director&#8217;s Cut!
Guest Speakers!
Director Q&#38;A!
DVD Launch!
Fundraising!
Date: Saturday, February 13th, 2009
Time: 6:30
Where: The Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor Street, Toronto, Tel: 416-516-2331
Tickets: $10
Please [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_310" class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 550px"><img class="size-full wp-image-310 " style="border: 2px solid black;" title="under_rich_earth" src="http://www.solidarityresponse.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/under_rich_earth.jpg" alt="Under Rich Earth" width="540" height="362" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Under Rich Earth</p></div>
<p>ANNOUNCING A SPECIAL FUNDRAISING SCREENING AT THE BLOOR CINEMA:</p>
<p>Rye Cinema presents the acclaimed feature documentary film:</p>
<p>UNDER RICH EARTH</p>
<p>&#8220;Urgent and vital filmmaking in the spirit of Kanahsatake: 270 Years of Resistance and Manufactured Landscapes.&#8221;<br />
- Jesse Wente, CBC</p>
<p>Director&#8217;s Cut!<br />
Guest Speakers!<br />
Director Q&amp;A!<br />
DVD Launch!<br />
Fundraising!</p>
<p>Date: Saturday, February 13th, 2009<br />
Time: 6:30<br />
Where: The Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor Street, Toronto, Tel: 416-516-2331<br />
Tickets: $10<br />
Please Arrive Early! Tickets go on sale 1 hour before the event.<br />
This is a fundraising event.</p>
<p>* Winner: Global Conscience Award &#8211; Mexico City Documentary Film Festival<br />
* Top Ten Most Popular Canadian Films: Vancouver International Film Festival<br />
* Nominated for Best Documentary &#8211; Hamburg International Independent Film Festival<br />
* Nominated for Coral Award &#8211; Best Documentary &#8211; Havana Film Festival<br />
* Official Selection: Toronto International Film Festival, Vancouver International Film Festival, Victoria Film Festival, Sudbury International Film Festival, Watch Docs Warsaw, Sao Paulo International Film Festival, Encuentros del Otro Cine &#8211; Quito, Boulder International Film Festival and many more&#8230;</p>
<p><a style="cursor: pointer; color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none;" onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), &quot;ac7a40c16ceacab7c0ba08ed7a5888e8&quot;, event)" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.underrichearth.com/" target="_blank">http://www.underrichearth.com</a></p>
<p>GUEST SPEAKERS!</p>
<p>The Honourable John McKay (To Be Confirmed) &#8211; John McKay is the Member of Parliament for Scarborough &#8211; Guildwood. His private member&#8217;s Bill C300 seeks to create a framework for transnational corporate accountability in Canadian law. The Bill has already passed second reading in the House of Commons and is not affected by Stephen Harper&#8217;s prorogation of Parliament.</p>
<p>Murray Klippenstein &#8211; Murray Klippenstein is a Toronto lawyer representing three Ecuadorians who are suing the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Copper Mesa Mining Corporation for violating their human rights. Under Rich Earth tells the story of the events that ultimately led to this ground breaking transnational lawsuit. Read more in the Toronto Star:<a style="cursor: pointer; color: #3b5998; text-decoration: none;" onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), &quot;ac7a40c16ceacab7c0ba08ed7a5888e8&quot;, event)" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/729148" target="_blank">http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/729148</a></p>
<p>FUNDRAISING!</p>
<p>Under Rich Earth was a labour of love produced on a shoestring budget over two years. Proceeds from this event will help to pay for the making of the film and to support two Ecuadorian community organizations that are featured in the film: Radio Intag (a community radio station) and Café Rio Intag, a fair trade coffee co-op located in the Intag valley.</p>
<p>DVD LAUNCH!</p>
<p>The Limited Edition Director&#8217;s Cut DVD of Under Rich Earth will be available for purchase:<br />
$25.00 &#8211; home use<br />
$150.00 &#8211; community organizations<br />
$295 &#8211; Universities and Libraries.</p>
<p>Event Sponsors</p>
<p>Nathanson Centre for Transnational Human Rights Crime and Security, Osgoode Hall Law School.<br />
Charles Street Video<br />
Mining Awareness Coalition &#8211; Toronto</p>
<p>SYNOPSIS</p>
<p>In a remote mountain valley in Ecuador, coffee and sugarcane farmers face the dismal prospect of being forced off their land to make way for a mining project. Unprotected by the police and ignored by their government, they prepare to face down the &#8216;invaders&#8217; on their own. Their resistance leads to a remarkable and dangerous stand off between farmers and a band of mysterious armed men high in the cloud forest. In a world dominated by news of massacres and terrorism, Under Rich Earth is a surprising and poignant tale of hope and determination.</p>
<p>HERE&#8217;S WHAT CRITICS ARE SAYING ABOUT UNDER RICH EARTH:</p>
<p>&#8220;Magnificent&#8230; a thrilling and revealing portrayal of the search for justice.&#8221;<br />
- Alberto Ramos, Signis (Brussels)</p>
<p>&#8220;Gripping and disturbing&#8230;&#8221;<br />
**** Eye Weekly</p>
<p>&#8220;Graceful and Uplifting&#8221;<br />
Critic&#8217;s Pick NNNN<br />
- NOW Magazine</p>
<p>&#8220;Hair-raising&#8230;&#8221;<br />
- Playback Magazine</p>
<p>&#8220;A remarkably prescient cautionary tale&#8230;&#8221;<br />
- Matthew Hays, Montréal Mirror</p>
<p>&#8220;An outstanding work of hard journalism&#8230;&#8221;<br />
- Michael Sauve, Canadian Film Programmers Blog</p>
<p>&#8220;A startling exposé&#8230; a graceful, well made vérité doc.&#8221;<br />
- Marc Glassman, Classical 96.3FM</p>
<p>&#8220;Down to earth&#8230;without any bullshit&#8221;<br />
*** AfroToronto.com</p>
<p>&#8220;Powerful&#8230; remarkable&#8230; dramatic&#8230;&#8221;<br />
- Chris Cobb, Ottawa Citizen</p>
<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s impossible not to be intrigued&#8230;&#8221;<br />
- David Schmeichel, Winnipeg Sun</p>
<p>&#8220;Another good film about people power. Things go sideways, diagonally, and off the chart when a small Ecuadorian farming village stands up to the supremely underhanded tactics of an aggressive Canadian mining corporation.&#8221;<br />
- Geoff Olson, Vancouver Courier</p>
<p>&#8220;Rogge&#8217;s most impressive achievement here is how his story gnaws through stereotypes of people as victims of corporate and army oppression. The documentary dispels such notions, revealing the people of Junin as powerful organizers.&#8221;<br />
- Ed Janzen, FUSE Magazine</p>
<p>&#8220;Unarmed and unprotected, the poor farmers in a tiny mountain community in Ecuador face down and detain armed mercenaries hired by Canadian mining company Ascendant Copper. Canadian documentary maker Malcolm Rogge caught some amazing footage to build a story about corporate malfeasance and how the undertrod overcame the superior forces of might, money and political manipulation.&#8221;<br />
- Susan Walker, Toronto Star</p>
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		<title>Reporte: Vigilia en Toronto por el asesinato de tres opositores a la minería.</title>
		<link>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/reporte-vigilia-en-toronto-por-el-asesinato-de-tres-opositores-a-la-mineria/</link>
		<comments>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/reporte-vigilia-en-toronto-por-el-asesinato-de-tres-opositores-a-la-mineria/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Jan 2010 16:28:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>alissner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.solidarityresponse.net/?p=318</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Megan Cotton-Kinch (megancottonkinch@gmail.com)
Toronto, Canadá, jueves, 24 de diciembre de 2009
Alrededor de 25 personas desafiaron los fuertes vientos del distrito financiero de Toronto el viernes en una vigilia para protestar por el asesinato de tres defensores de derechos humanos que fueron asesinados por hablar contra las prácticas carentes de ética de las empresas mineras canadienses en [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #444444; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-US">Megan Cotton-Kinch</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: #444444; font-family: Tahoma;" lang="EN-US"> (<a style="color: #ed1c24;" href="mailto:megancottonkinch@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0066cc;">megancottonkinch@gmail.com</span></a>)</span></p>
<p>Toronto, Canadá, jueves, 24 de diciembre de 2009</p>
<p>Alrededor de 25 personas desafiaron los fuertes vientos del distrito financiero de Toronto el viernes en una vigilia para protestar por el asesinato de tres defensores de derechos humanos que fueron asesinados por hablar contra las prácticas carentes de ética de las empresas mineras canadienses en América Latina. Mariano Abarca Robelo de México, Adolfo Ich Xaman de Guatemala, y Marcelo Rivera, de El Salvador fueron asesinados por hablar en contra de las prácticas mineras que desplazan a las personas, envenenan los ríos, y destruyen la agricultura y la salud humana. Las tres empresas que se benefician con el silenciamiento de sus críticos -HudBay y la Cuenca del Pacífico figuran en la Bolsa de Valores de Toronto. En el caso de Blackfire, tres personas vinculadas a la compañía han sido arrestadas en México en relación con el asesinato de Mariano Abarca. Las organizaciones que participaron en la protesta incluyó a Respuesta Comunitaria Solidaria de Toronto y a Amnistía Internacional de Toronto y a grupos de Derechos Humanos.</p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: 0px initial initial;" title="4204407129_6acb8fbf2c" src="http://www.solidarityresponse.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/4204407129_6acb8fbf2c.jpg" alt="4204407129_6acb8fbf2c" width="500" height="333" /></p>
<p><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p>La vigilia se llevó a cabo en solidaridad con las protestas del pasado viernes en México, donde, según el Toronto Star, más de 1,500 personas marcharon en Frontera Comalapa, Chiapas. Gustavo Castro, un amigo de Mariano, fue citado diciendo: &#8220;Esto no era exclusivamente una protesta contra Blackfire, sino contra la criminalización de la protesta social y la violencia, y el caso de Mariano es un ejemplo de esto&#8221;. Mariano Abarca Roblero fue conocido en México por su labor en la promoción del desarrollo comunitario y el medio ambiente, y en oposición a los daños a la salud y ambientales y a las violaciones de los derechos humanos causados por la minería. Mariano fue asesinado el 27 de noviembre por un hombre enmascarado en una motocicleta. Tres hombres vinculados a Blackfire, incluyendo un empleado, han sido detenidos en relación con este crimen. Ahora, los informes han aparecido en la prensa dominante que Blackfire admite haber pagado sobornos (ellos lo llaman extorsión) a la alcaldía de Chicomuselo, donde Blackfire opera su mina de barita., A efecto de &#8220;prevenir el vandalismo y la protesta locales en contra la mina.”<br />
<strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: 0px initial initial;" title="4205164712_9b0efcc850" src="http://www.solidarityresponse.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/4205164712_9b0efcc850.jpg" alt="4205164712_9b0efcc850" width="333" height="500" /><br />
</strong><strong> </strong><strong> </strong></p>
<p>Adolfo Ich Xamán, un maestro de escuela y líder en su comunidad maya Q&#8217;eqchi &#8216;, fue sacado el 27 de septiembre por los guardias de seguridad durante los desalojos ilegales cuando fue a ver si los niños se estaban retrasando. Según la información disponible, el jefe de seguridad CGN lo vio y lo llamó para hablar con él. Cuando llegó a los guardias de seguridad, fue golpeado y atacado con un machete y luego lo arrastró hacia la propiedad de la empresa, donde fue baleado y asesinado por los guardias de la CGN. Habitantes mayas locales de Ich y de Qeqchi, han resistido los daños y los desalojos forzosos provocados por las empresas mineras canadienses de níquel. La primera oleada de desalojos, asesinatos y la represión se produjo en la década de 1970, a principios de 1980 la represión de las protestas relacionadas con las concesiones INCO en la zona. Los desalojos y la represión reiniciaron en 2006 (por Skye Resources), hasta la actualidad. No se ha hecho justicia acerca de ninguna de las anteriores matanzas, ni de los abusos, ni en el caso de Adolfo. La empresa Minerales HudBay niega cualquier responsabilidad y continúa con los esfuerzos para &#8220;reubicar&#8221; potencialmente a miles de aldeanos mayas Qeqchi, que viven en estas tierras desde mucho antes de que los mineros de níquel (INCO) llegara en la década de 1960. Como en los otros países de América Central, esta lucha se enfrenta a una severa represión.</p>
<p><span style="font-size: small;">En el vecino El Salvador, Marcelo Rivera fue desaparecido el 18 de junio, bajo la reminicente táctica de terror de las guerras civiles de los años 80. Su cuerpo fue encontrado en un pozo de 60 pies de profundidad y con claros signos de tortura. Marcelo Rivera había sido muy activo en el movimiento para detener la minería de metales en El Salvador, específicamente de la empresa Pacific Rim. El Salvador es un país muy pequeño con una grave escasez de agua, la minería de baja concentración de minerales usa muy intensivamente el agua y también utiliza grandes cantidades de cianuro. Después de la muerte de Marcelo los representantes del movimiento contra la minería en El Salvador visitaron Canadá para aumentar la alarma, William Castillo, uno de ellos señaló &#8220;los beneficios [de la minería] son muy pobres en comparación con los costos que todo el país vamos a tener [que pagar] &#8230; Es demasiado riesgoso tener la exploración de metales en este país. No importa lo que paguen, los riesgos son demasiado altos &#8220;. (</span><a style="color: #ed1c24;" href="http://www.sialavidatour.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #0066cc; font-size: small;">www.sialavidatour.com</span></a><span style="font-size: small;">).</span></p>
<p><strong><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: 0px initial initial;" title="4205128030_8586485bbc" src="http://www.solidarityresponse.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/4205128030_8586485bbc.jpg" alt="4205128030_8586485bbc" width="500" height="333" /><br />
</strong></p>
<p>Según un representante de Respuesta Comunitaria Solidaria de Toronto, la razón para protestar ante la Bolsa de Valores de Toronto (TSX) es que: &#8220;No hay requisitos de derechos humanos que se coticen en la Bolsa de Valores de Toronto, si hay requisitos de presentación de informes, pero las normas actuales en materia de derechos humanos no existen. La misma TSX está siendo demandada como una de las involucradas en relación con las acciones ilegales de prospección en una mina de en Ecuador, donde los guardias de seguridad dispararon contra manifestantes pacíficos, entre ellos mujeres y niños &#8220;.</p>
<p><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><img style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: 0px initial initial;" title="4204383441_eb3bd7d134" src="http://www.solidarityresponse.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/4204383441_eb3bd7d134.jpg" alt="4204383441_eb3bd7d134" width="500" height="333" /></p>
<p>Los manifestantes clamaron &#8220;Es una vergüenza el juego mortal asesino de las empresas mineras por fines de lucro&#8221;. Susana Caxaj, de CSRT, dijo: &#8220;Creo que a muchos de los canadienses se les han engañado y mentido. Queremos creer que nuestro gobierno sea algo de lo que podamos estar orgullosos, cuando en realidad nuestro gobierno y estas empresas canadienses nos hacen cómplices de las peores abusos de derechos humanos &#8220;.</p>
<p>Lamentablemente los asesinatos continúan. El pasado domingo a las 4PM Ramiro Rivera Gómez, otro líder de la resistencia a la empresa Pacific Rim Mining, fue asesinado en la aldea de Cabañas, El Salvador.</p>
<p align="right">Versión al español de REMA</p>
<p align="right"><span style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Para ver las fotos y la version original en ingles</span>: <a style="color: #ed1c24;" href="http://www.mediacoop.ca/blog/megan-kinch/2390" target="_blank">www.mediacoop.ca/blog/megan-kinch/2390</a></p>
<p align="right"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45805608@N06/" target="_blank">www.flickr.com/photos/45805608@N06/</a></p>
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		<title>Vigil Reportback</title>
		<link>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/vigil-reportback/</link>
		<comments>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/vigil-reportback/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Dec 2009 01:40:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>underminingsustainability</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.solidarityresponse.net/?p=285</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Around 25 people braved the bitter winds of the Toronto&#8217;s financial district on Friday in a vigil to protest the killings of three human rights advocates who were killed for speaking out against the unethical practices of Canadian mining companies in Latin America.  Mariano Abarca Roberlo of Mexico, Adolfo Ich Xaman of Guatemala, and Marcelo [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Around 25 people braved the bitter winds of the Toronto&#8217;s financial district on Friday in a vigil to protest the killings of three human rights advocates who were killed for speaking out against the unethical practices of Canadian mining companies in Latin America.  Mariano Abarca Roberlo of Mexico, Adolfo Ich Xaman of Guatemala, and Marcelo Rivera of El Salvador were all murdered for speaking out against mining practices that displace people, poison rivers, and destroy both agriculture and human health.  The three companies that benefit from the silencing of thier critics-  HudBay and Pacific Rim listed on the Toronto Stock exchange.  In the case of Blackfire, three people connected to the company have been arrested in Mexico regarding the murder of Mariano Abarca.  Organizations involved in the protest included Community Solidarity Response Toronto and Amnesty International Toronto&#8217;s Business and Human Rights group.</p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-288" title="4204407129_6acb8fbf2c" src="http://www.solidarityresponse.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/4204407129_6acb8fbf2c.jpg" alt="4204407129_6acb8fbf2c" width="500" height="333" /></p>
<p><strong>Concerned residents of Toronto hold photo of murdered </strong><strong>Maya Q&#8217;eqchi&#8217; schoolteacher Adolfo Ich Xaman in front of the stock market ticker at the Toronto stock exchange</strong> (all photos of vigil by Eric Akaoka.  Photo of Adolfo Ich by <a href="http://www.mimundo.org/" target="_blank">James Rodríguez</a>).</p>
<p>The vigil was held in solidarity with protests Friday in Mexico, where according to the Toronto Star over 1,500 people marched in Frontera Comalapa, Chiapas. Gustavo Castro, a friend of Mariano&#8217;s, was <a href="http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/740791--protests-against-canadian-mining-company-in-mexico-escalate" target="_blank">quoted</a> as saying &#8220;This wasn&#8217;t exclusively a protest against Blackfire but against the criminalization of social protest, and violence, and Mariano&#8217;s case is an example of this.&#8221; Mariano Abarca Roblero was known in Mexico for his work in promotion of community development and the environmental, and in opposition to health and environmental harms and human rights violations caused by mining. Mariano was shot by a masked man on a motorcycle on Nov. 27th. Three men linked to Blackfire, including an employee, have been arrested in connection with this crime. Now reports have surfaced in the mainstream press that Blackfire admits to having paid bribes (they call it extortion) to mayor of Chicomuselo, where Blackfire operates its barite mine., for the purposes of “to prevent locals from vandalizing and protesting against its mine.”<br />
<strong><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-287" title="4205164712_9b0efcc850" src="http://www.solidarityresponse.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/4205164712_9b0efcc850.jpg" alt="4205164712_9b0efcc850" width="333" height="500" /><br />
</strong><strong> </strong> <strong></strong></p>
<p><strong>A woman holds a photo of Mariano Abarca, killed of Chiapas, Mexico.  Passers-by were angered when told of his death and of the arrest of Blackfire employees in connection with it.</strong><br />
Adolfo Ich Xaman, a schoolteacher and leader in his Maya Q&#8217;eqchi&#8217; community, was taken off by security guards on Sept 27th during illegal evictions when he went to see if any children were being left behind.  According the information available, the head of CGN security saw him and called him over to talk to him. When he reached the security guards, he was beaten and attacked with a machete and afterwards dragged onto company property, where he was shot and murdered by CGN’s guards.  Ich, and local Mayan-Qeqchi villagers, have long been resisting the harms and forced evictions  caused by Canadian nickel mining companies. The first wave of evictions, killings and repression occurred in the 1970s, early 1980s- repression of protests related to the INCO concessions in the area. Evictions and repression began again in 2006 (by Skye Resources),through to today. No justice has been done for any of the earlier killings and abuses, nor in Adolfo’s case.  HudBay Minerals denies any responsibility and continues with efforts to “relocate” potentially thousands of Mayan-Qeqchi villagers, living on these lands since long before the nickel miners (INCO) arrived in the 1960s. Like in the other Central American countries, this struggle is facing severe repression.</p>
<p>In neighboring El Salvador, Marcelo Rivera was disappeared on June 18th, a terror tactic reminicent of the civil wars of the 80s.  His body was found in a 60-foot deep well with clear signs of torture.  Marcelo Rivera had been very active in the movement to stop metal mining in El Salvador, espeically by the company Pacific Rim.  El Salvador is a very small country with a severe shortage of water- mining low-grade ores is very water intensive and also uses large amounts of cyanide.  After the death of Marcelo representatives in the movement against mining in El Salvador visited Canada to raise awarenss here, including William Castillo, “the benefits[of mining] are very poor compared to the costs that the entire country we will bear…Its too risky, to have metal exploration in this country. It doesn’t matter what they pay the risks are too high” (<a href="http://www.sialavidatour.com/" target="_blank">www.sialavidatour.com</a>).<br />
According to a representative from Community Solidarity Response Toronto, the reason to protest at the Toronto stock exhange is that: &#8220;There are no human rights requirements to be listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange, reporting requirments yes, but actual regulations on human rights do not exist. The TSX itself is being sued as one of the plaintiffs regarding illegal actions at a prospective mine in Ecuador, where security guards shot at peaceful protesters including women and babies.&#8221;</p>
<p><strong><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-289" title="4205128030_8586485bbc" src="http://www.solidarityresponse.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/4205128030_8586485bbc.jpg" alt="4205128030_8586485bbc" width="500" height="333" /><br />
</strong></p>
<p><strong>Members of Community Solidarity Response Toronto and Amnesty International Toronto stand in front of the Toronto Stock Exchange, demanding accountability.  About 25 people braved the frigid winds of the downtown financial district. </strong></p>
<p>Protesters chanted &#8220;mining companies deadly game- murder for profit that&#8217;s a shame&#8221;.    Susana Caxaj, of CSRT, said &#8220;I think a lot of Canadians have been deceived and lied to. We want to believe that our government is something we can be proud of when really our government and these Canadian companies are making us complicit in the worst human rights abuses.&#8221;<br />
Sadly the killings continue.  Sunday at 4PM Ramiro Rivera Gomez, another leader in the resistance to Pacific Rim Mining corporation, was <a href="http://www.mediacoop.ca/story/2379" target="_blank">killed</a> in a village in Cabanas, El Salvador.    <strong><br />
</strong><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-286" title="4204383441_eb3bd7d134" src="http://www.solidarityresponse.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/4204383441_eb3bd7d134.jpg" alt="4204383441_eb3bd7d134" width="500" height="333" /></p>
<p align="center"><strong>The killings of community leaders who speak out against mining continue. To the photos of these three must now be added that of Ramiro Rivera Gomez, killed Sunday in El Salvador for his opposition to Pacific Rim. (photo: Susana Caxaj)</strong></p>
<p>See more photos at <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/45805608@N06/" target="_blank">www.flickr.com/photos/45805608@N06/</a> and visit the CSRT website at <a href="http://solidarityresponse.net/" target="_blank">solidarityresponse.net</a></p>
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		<title>Community Caravan &amp; Rally Against  The Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA)</title>
		<link>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/community-caravan-rally-against-the-canada-colombia-free-trade-agreement-ccfta/</link>
		<comments>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/community-caravan-rally-against-the-canada-colombia-free-trade-agreement-ccfta/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:18:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>alissner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Get Involved!]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[colombia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trade]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.solidarityresponse.net/?p=218</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Saturday, October 10th
Join us for a caravan and rally at Liberal MP Bob Rae?s Toronto Centre office
to protest the Harper-Liberal party alliance to ratify a Free Trade Agreement
with Colombia.
11:00 am-Car/bicycle caravan departs from south-west corner of Allen Gardens
Park (Carlton &#38; Sherbourne Sts.).
11:30 am-Rally @ Bob Rae&#8217;s Constituency Office, 514 Parliament Street (Carlton
&#38; Parliament Sts.).
Background
The Canadian [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Saturday, October 10th<br />
Join us for a caravan and rally at Liberal MP Bob Rae?s Toronto Centre office<br />
to protest the Harper-Liberal party alliance to ratify a Free Trade Agreement<br />
with Colombia.</p>
<p>11:00 am-Car/bicycle caravan departs from south-west corner of Allen Gardens<br />
Park (Carlton &amp; Sherbourne Sts.).</p>
<p>11:30 am-Rally @ Bob Rae&#8217;s Constituency Office, 514 Parliament Street (Carlton<br />
&amp; Parliament Sts.).</p>
<p>Background<br />
The Canadian House of Commons is debating Bill-C23, to implement the<br />
CCFTA. The<br />
Harper government, with crucial Liberal party support, is committed to<br />
implementing the CCFTA and throwing right-wing Colombian president<br />
Alvaro Uribe<br />
a political lifeline, despite his corrupt, discredited regime and egregious<br />
human rights record. Two Liberal MPs in particular, Bob Rae and Scott Brisson,<br />
have shown themselves to be strong supporters of the CCFTA.</p>
<p>Come and tell our elected officials that we are opposed to the ratification of<br />
the CCFTA. It has no effective, binding mechanisms to safeguard labour, human<br />
rights and the environment. Like Mexico&#8217;s NAFTA, it will negatively impact<br />
small and medium-sized producers who are among the most marginalized in<br />
Colombia. It will mainly safeguard investors&#8217; rights, especially Canadian<br />
energy and mining corporations that are active in conflict-zones. CAFTA will<br />
aggravate internal displacement, which at close to 4 million people,<br />
is already<br />
an alarming humanitarian crisis. At minimum, the Liberal party should honour<br />
its earlier stated commitment to a full independent human rights impact<br />
assessment before further consideration is given to a trade agreement with<br />
Colombia.</p>
<p>Organized by: Colombia Action Solidarity Alliance (CASA), Toronto Chapter<br />
Council of Canadians &amp; Latin American Solidarity Network (LASN)/Endorsed by:<br />
CUPE OntarioFor more Information: esguerra @<a style="color: #1c51a8;" href="http://vif.com/" target="_blank">vif.com</a> 416.651.2409</p>
<p>Caravan  Route:<br />
First Loop<br />
Departure &#8211; Allan Gardens Park @ 11am<br />
EAST &#8211; on Carlton Street<br />
NORTH &#8211; on Parliament Street (5 min. stop at 514 Parliament Street)<br />
EAST &#8211; on Wellesley Street<br />
SOUTH &#8211; on Sumach Street<br />
WEST &#8211; on Carlton Street</p>
<p>Second Loop<br />
NORTH &#8211; on Parliament Street (5 min. stop at 514 Parliament Street)<br />
WEST &#8211; on Wellesley Street<br />
SOUTH &#8211; on Jarvis Street<br />
EAST &#8211; on Carlton Street<br />
End &#8211; Allan Gardens Park</p>
<p>__________________________________________________<br />
For more information about CASA please contact<br />
<a style="color: #1c51a8;" href="mailto:esguerra@vif.com">esguerra@vif.com</a></p>
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		<title>Break the Silence Congo Week: October 18-24</title>
		<link>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/break-the-silence-congo-week-october-18-24/</link>
		<comments>http://www.solidarityresponse.net/break-the-silence-congo-week-october-18-24/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 01 Oct 2009 15:38:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>alissner</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Events]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[congo]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.solidarityresponse.net/?p=202</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Break the Silence Congo Week, which will take place from October 18-24, 2009, is a global initiative led by students and community organizers around the world, in association with Congo Global Action and Friends of the Congo, to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in the Congo. Students from the US, Canada, England, Belgium, Germany, France, Brazil, Jamaica, Norway, Korea, [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="attachment_203" class="wp-caption alignleft" style="width: 570px"><img class="size-full wp-image-203 " style="border: 2px solid black;" title="banner_800" src="http://www.solidarityresponse.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/banner_800.jpg" alt="Break the Silence" width="560" height="140" /><p class="wp-caption-text">Break the Silence</p></div>
<p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em;">Break the Silence Congo Week, which will take place from October 18-24, 2009, is a global initiative led by students and community organizers around the world, in association with Congo Global Action and Friends of the Congo, to raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in the Congo. Students from the US, Canada, England, Belgium, Germany, France, Brazil, Jamaica, Norway, Korea, Ghana, Mali, South Africa, Columbia, etc. will organize events about the Congo (films, lectures, demonstrations, and more) on their respective campuses.</p>
<p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em;">The purpose of the Break the Silence Congo Week is to raise awareness about the devastating situation in the Congo and mobilize support on behalf of the people of the Congo. It will take place from Sunday October 19th to Saturday October 25th.</p>
<p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em;">The University of Toronto chapter of Friends of the Congo is proud to present a number of excellent speakers and films. See below for the full schedule.</p>
<p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em;">The Congo is the greatest humanitarian crisis in the world today where nearly 6 million people have died since 1996, half of them children under 5 yrs old and hundreds of thousands of women have been raped all as a result of the scramble for Congo’s wealth. The United Nations said it is the deadliest conflict in the world since World War Two. However, hardly anything is said about it in the media. Can you imagine 45,000 people dying each month and hardly a peep from anyone in the age of the Internet? This is literally what has happened and continue to happen in the Congo. There is a media blackout about Congo and no worldwide resolution to end the conflict and carnage there.</p>
<p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em;">
<p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em;">Visit the Friends of the Congo &#8211; University of Toronto Chapter for a full schedule of events</p>
<p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em;"><a title="friends of the congo uoft" href="http://friendsofthecongouoft.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">http://friendsofthecongouoft.wordpress.com/</a></p>
<p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em;">Visit the Congo Week website for more background information:</p>
<p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em;"><a title="congo week" href="http://www.congoweek.org/english/" target="_blank">http://www.congoweek.org/english/</a></p>
<div style="font-size: 11px; line-height: 1.4em; padding: 0px; margin: 0px;">
<p style="font-size: 11px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 18px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 24px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.4em;">
</div>
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