Earth Day

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Only art can save us now

The world needs creative interpretations of global issues, not better descriptions of things people are accustomed to.

by Santiago Zabala

 

Perhaps rather than God, as Martin Heidegger once said, it is art that can save us. After all, artistic creations have always had political, religious and social meanings that also aimed in some way to save us. Certainly, they also express beauty, but this depends very much on the public’s aesthetic taste, which varies according to the cultural environment of each society.But when the political meaning is manifest, aesthetics (our sensations and taste) lose ground in favour of interpretation (knowledge and judgment); that is, instead of inviting us to contemplate its beauty, a work calls us to respond, react and become involved. As it turns out, art – as a channel to express reactions to significant issues – has sometimes worked better than historical or factual reconstructions.

“The radical changes brought about in the advent of global society mean that the artist today must respond to a wider public… one that is concerned with the same global issues.“

Pablo Picasso’s Guernica is the example we all have in mind: painted as a response to the Spanish nationalist forces’ bombing of a town in the Basque country, it was used not only to inform the public but also as a symbol of all the innocent victims of war. This is probably why “aesthetics”, a term coined by the German philosopher Alexander Baumgarten in 1735, refers not only to the study of art but also to sensory experience coupled with feelings regardless of the nature of its object. But can contemporary art, whether through music, conceptual installations or cinema actually save us from the damned circumstances, atrocities and injustices we live among?

As an ontological discipline, philosophy must always pay attention to existential claims, whether they come from science, religion or art. Even though this is now possible, since philosophy (and aesthetics) has overcome metaphysics, that is, objectivist-representational nature (which also limited art’s creations), not all philosophers pay attention to the claims these works make.

If such distinguished thinkers as Arthur Danto and Gianni Vattimo have moved beyond aesthetic representationalism and formalism, it is because of their post-metaphysical positions but also their interest in art’s current existential appeal. Both philosophers seem to agree that the end of art proclaimed by Hegel is not simply a matter of art becoming conceptual – that is, “philosophical”. Rather, the radical changes brought about in the advent of global society mean that the artist today must respond to a wider public than in the past, one that is concerned with the same global issues that affect the artist.

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Richard Bergeron of Projet Montreal in Verdun on Sunday

How To Put Montreal Back On Track with Richard Bergeron

Sunday, March 24, 3pm

Centre culturel et bibliothèque de Verdun
5955, avenue Bannantyne
Verdun (QC) H4H 1H5
Canada

 

***English below

L’association Projet Montréal à Verdun a le plaisir de vous inviter à une conférence du chef de Projet Montréal, Richard Bergeron, le dimanche 24 mars 2013, à 15 h. Cette conférence s’intitule « Comment remettre Montréal sur ses rails ».
Dans le cadre de sa présentation, Richard Bergeron présentera le bilan qu’il dresse des dix dernières années de gouvernance à Montréal et les solutions proposées par Projet Montréal pour réaliser la relance durable de notre métropole. Projet Montréal propose de mettre en œuvre des projets concrets, tels que le tramway et l’entrée maritime, inspirés des meilleurs exemples de développement urbain durable.
Cette conférence s’inscrit dans le cadre de la Tournée des arrondissements qui mènera le chef de Projet Montréal dans chacun des arrondissements de la Ville d’ici aux élections municipales de novembre 2013.
La conférence se tiendra le dimanche 24 mars 2013, de 15 h à 16 h 30, au Centre culturel et bibliothèque de Verdun, au 5955, avenue Bannantyne. La conférence sera précédée de l’assemblée générale annuelle des membres de Projet Montréal à Verdun.
Entrée libre, mais inscription obligatoire. Conférence en français et période de questions bilingue.
Pour vous inscrire : http://ow.ly/jdGAY

***

The Verdun Projet Montréal association is pleased to invite you to a conference featuring the leader of Projet Montréal, Richard Bergeron on Sunday March 24th at 3 PM at the Verdun Culture Centre Library. The conference is entitled : How to put Montreal back on track.
Throughout the presentation, Richard Bergeron will unveil the results of his study of the last decade in Montreal and the solutions put forward by Projet Montréal to make our metropolis a sustainable city. Projet Montréal wants to implement feasible projects such as the tramway and the maritime gateway, inspired by the best examples of urban sustainable development.
This conference is part of the Borough Tour that will bring the leader of Projet Montréal to all of Montreal’s boroughs from now until the November 2013 municipal elections.
The conference will be held on Sunday March 24th from 3 pm to 4.30 pm at the Verdun Culture Centre Library, 5955, Bannantyne avenue. The conference will be preceeded by the annual general assembly of the Projet Montreal members of Verdun.

Admission is free but registration is mandatory. Conference in French with a bilingual Q&A.

Register here.

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Kyle McKenna – What Up, Steve?

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Solidarity with IDLE NO MORE and Chief Theresa Spence

Solidarité avec Chief Theresa Spence & Idle No More / Solidarity with IDLE NO MORE and Chief Theresa Spence *BRING DRUMS AND PERCUSSION*

On Friday January 11th, 2013, stand in solidarity with Chief Theresa Spence and all First Nations.

January 11, 2013 1-3pm

1001 Place Jean Paul Riopelle

Between Square Victoria and Place d’Armes Metros

I think it is worth mentioning that it is the most disenfranchised portion of Canadians, who are idle no more.

They are leading the way. Is it not ironic, that they are cherishing this land more then us? Or perhaps its not ironic. Perhaps it is logic, after all the First Nations have been on this land for up to 50 000 years, and such time come a cultural bond with the land.
It is HIGH TIME that non-Aboriginal Canadians woke up, and began to shake off the shackles of apathy.
Apathy is destroying this country. The apathy of the masses is eating this great nation from the inside out.

We as CANADIANS must be united. We must stand as one.
Bring signs, and express your outrage PEACEFULLY and NON VIOLENTLY.
However let your outrage be known **loud** and clear.
It’s time we took back our country from this out of control government. We must make our concerns heard. We must spread the word. It IS our duty.

From this page.

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Idle No More – Montreal, Friday at Noon

****An English version will follow****

FRANÇAIS:

17/12/2012 – Mouvement historique – Les autochtones se réunissent sous la bannière Idle No More pour dénoncer les politiques du gouvernement Harper – Joignez-vous à eux le 21 décembre à Montréal.

Suivant l’impulsion d’un mouvement spontané, lancé par le mot-clic #IdleNoMore sur Twitter, des manifestants se sont rassemblés à travers le Canada le 10 décembre dernier pour protester contre l’adoption du projet de loi omnibus C-45 et contre l’indifférence du gouvernement du Canada à l’égard des Premières Nations. Le slogan, véritable appel à la mobilisation autochtone, a depuis fait boule de neige et motivé des dizaines de manifestations allant de Vancouver à Halifax, et maintenant Montréal.

Afin de faire écho à la grande manifestation prévue le 21 décembre à Ottawa, des membres des Premières Nations du Québec et leurs sympathisants se réuniront pacifiquement à Montréal ce vendredi. Ils témoigneront par le fait même de leur appui à la chef d’Attawapiskat Theresa Spence qui a débuté une grève de la faim le 11 décembre dernier, afin de réclamer une rencontre avec le Premier Ministre Harper et la Reine. Au cours de la dernière semaine, l’Assemblée des Premières Nations du Québec et du Labrador (APNQL) et l’Assemblée des Premières Nations du Canada (AFN) ont donné leur appui officiel à Theresa Spence et réclamé que le Premier Ministre accepte de la rencontrer.

La manifestation du 21 décembre se veut un premier effort de mobilisation au Québec et les membres du mouvement entendent poursuivre leurs actions jusqu’à l’établissement d’un réel dialogue de nation à nation entre le gouvernement du Canada et les Premières Nations. Ils invitent également toutes les organisations sympathiques à leur cause à le manifester publiquement et à se joindre à eux le 21 décembre.

Contacts
Mélissa Mollen Dupuis, Widia Larivière,
Amanda Tap’we IronStar, Marie-Celine Charron idlenomoreqc@gmail.com

Pour plus d’informations sur le mouvement Idle No More:
Le site web officiel: http://www.idlenomore.ca/

La page Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/IdleNoMoreCommunity?ref=ts&fref=ts
Les comptes Twitter canadien et québécois: @IdleNoMore / @IdleNoMoreQC
Groupe Facebook Idle No More – Québec: http://www.facebook.com/groups/466954116690346/
Un site web regroupant les faits saillants du mouvement: http://peuplesvisibles.tumblr.com/

—————-
ENGLISH:

Historic movement – Indigenous people unite under the Idle No More banner to denounce Harper government policies – Join them on December 21 in Montréal.

17/12/2012 – Under the impulse of a spontaneous movement launched with the #IdleNoMore hashtag on Twitter, protesters joined across Canada on this past December 10 to protest against the adoption of omnibus bill C-45 and the Canadian government’s indifference regarding First Nations. Truly appealing to indigenous people to rally, the slogan has since gathered momentum and motivated dozens of protests from Vancouver to Halifax, and now in Montréal. To echo the big demonstration planned in Ottawa on December 21, members of Québec’s First Nations and those who support them will meet peacefully in Montréal on Friday. They will express their support to Chief of Attawapiskat, Theresa Spence, who has undertaken a hunger strike since December 11, demanding a meeting with Prime Minister Harper and the Queen. This last week, the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL) and the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) have officially given their support to Theresa Spence and demanded that the Prime Minister accept to meet her. The demonstration on 21 December is meant as a first mobilization drive in Québec. The movement’s members intend on continuing their efforts until a true nation-to-nation dialogue is established between the government of Canada and the First Nations. They also invite all organizations who are sympathetic to their cause to express it publicly and to join Friday’s demonstration.

Idle No More Demonstration in Montréal
21 December at noon Cabot Square (Atwater / Sainte-Catherine)

Contact
Mélissa Mollen Dupuis, Widia Larivière
Amanda Tap’we IronStar, Marie-Celine Charron
idlenomoreqc@gmail.com

For more information on the Idle No More movement:
The official website: http://www.idlenomore.ca/

The Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/IdleNoMoreCommunity?ref=ts&fref=ts
The Canadian and Québec Twitter accounts: @IdleNoMore4 / @IdleNoMoreQC
The Idle No More – Québec Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/groups/466954116690346/
A website documenting the movement’s main events: http://peuplesvisibles.tumblr.com/

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Hunger Strike As First Nations Serve Notice

Open letter on behalf of the First Nations leaders to the Right Honourable Governor General David Johnston and the Right Honourable Prime Minister of Canada Stephen Harper

OTTAWA, Dec. 16, 2012 /CNW/ – On behalf of the National Executive of the Assembly of First Nations, we write today regarding an urgent matter requiring immediate attention.  As First Nations leaders from coast-to-coast-to coast, those with inherent rights and title and those with whom the Crown has entered into Treaty, we collectively raise our voices about the critical situation facing First Nations.

On December 11^th, 2012, Chief Teresa Spence commenced a hunger strike to call attention to the dire conditions which many First Nations communities and peoples face, and to protest the disrespect and shameful treatment of First Nations by the Government of Canada.   She has stated that she will remain on this hunger strike until a meeting is achieved between the Crown (including provincial Crown representatives where the provincial Crown is involved as in Treaty 9) and all Treaty First Nations to discuss the Treaty relationship and our respective obligations and outstanding issues.  This situation creates an urgency that is foremost in our minds and is a direct correlation to the humanitarian crises being faced in many First Nations communities today

The Government of Canada has not upheld nor fulfilled its responsibilities to First Nations, as committed to by the Crown including at the Crown-First Nations Gathering January 2012.  Canada has not upheld the Honour of the Crown in its dealings with First Nations, as evidenced in its inadequate and inequitable funding relationships with our Nations and its ongoing actions in bringing forward legislative and policy changes that will directly impact on the Inherent and Treaty Rights of First Nations. Treaties are international in nature and further indigenous rights are human rights, both collective and individual and must be honoured and respected.

We seek an immediate commitment to a meeting with you as the representative of the Crown, together with the Prime Minister of Canada, to demonstrate respect and attention to the priorities set by First Nations.  All First Nations across Canada stand united and in solidarity in advancing this urgent call for action and attention.

Respectfully,

National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo
In behalf of the National Executive of the Assembly of First Nations

SOURCE: ASSEMBLY OF FIRST NATIONS

For further information:Contact information:

Jenna Young, AFN Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext 401 or cell: 613-314-8157 or jyoung@afn.ca

Alain Garon, AFN Bilingual Communications Officer 613-241-6789, ext 382 or cell: 613-292-0857 or agaron@afn.ca

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À St-Henri, le 26 août – Screening Thursday Night

Great opportunity to see this film and pick up some information about Projet Montreal.

From the NFB page-

Glide along the boulevards of St-Henri with the charming perpetual motion machines that are this district’s diverse denizens, from the taciturn milkman to resourceful Doris the gleaner to a group of fashion-forward Mohawk hipsters. This kaleidoscopic romp through a semi-industrial neighborhood pays homage to Hubert Aquin’s 1962 film of the same name by seamlessly drawing together the work of sixteen cinematographers to capture everyday life in a vibrant working-class community on a single summer day. A thoughtful spatial metaphor in which people—the city’s vital force—flow through St-Henri’s streets, steam tunnels, train tracks, and magnificent central canal like blood throbbing through veins. In St-Henri, people are definitely on the move, not to escape from home, but rather, to revel in it. With an original score by Polaris Prize-winning musician Patrick Watson, this dawn-‘til-dusk collage provides a rare opportunity to see a community transform in front of one’s eyes.

Inspired by the 1962 ONF film “À St-Henri le 5 septembre”, this unique collaborative film brings together some of the brightest talents in the contemporary Montreal documentary community to capture this story.

Cher membre, chère membre,

L’association de Projet Montréal dans Le Sud-Ouest vous invite à la projection du film « À St-Henri, le 26 août », le jeudi 29 novembre, à 19 h, à la permanence de Projet Montréal. Le film est une reprise d’un classique de l’ONF, et nous sommes heureux de pouvoir rendre hommage à notre quartier adoptif avec le visionnement d’un film local, tourné en 24 heures dans cet ancien quartier prolétaire vibrant d’histoire.

Vous pourrez profitez de cette soirée pour rencontrer des personnalités du parti, ainsi que des membres de Projet Montréal et d’échanger sur les enjeux qui vous intéressent, ainsi que sur les réalisations du parti et les projets à venir.

L’événement se déroulera au 4000, rue Notre-Dame Ouest, à deux pas du métro Place St-Henri, de 19h00 à 22h00, afin de laisser place à la discussion avant et suite à la projection, qui débutera à 19h30. Le coût d’entrée est de 5 $ avec des boissons et popcorn à 1 $.

Vous êtes libres d’inviter des gens intéressés. Nous espérons vous y voir en grand nombre!

Pour plus d’information, veuillez communiquer avec nous au 514 390-0792 ou par courriel.

Au plaisir de vous compter parmi nous,

L’équipe de Projet Montréal dans Le Sud-Ouest

Projet Montréal

4000, rue Notre-Dame Ouest
Montréal (QC) H4C 1R1
Canada

514 390-0792
http://www.projetmontreal.org

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Art And Pasta In Verdun November 10

It’s a fundraiser for Projet Montreal. We need to get the corrupt parties out of our city and this is a great chance to contribute to the campaign, get to know what’s going on, eat some fine food, maybe purchase  a beautiful work of art by a local artist, or just meet some people who care. Should be a great time!

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Good News For Griffintown Horse Palace

MONTRÉAL – mercredi 24 octobre 2012 (english below) – L’avenir du Horse
Palace de Griffintown semble mieux assuré avec l’annonce jeudi dernier de
l’intention de la Ville de Montréal d’acheter l’enclos devant l’écurie Horse Palace
en vue de son aménagement en espace vert. La présidente de la Fondation du
Horse Palace de Griffintown est enthousiasmée par cette nouvelle. « Le terrain
est la propriété d’un promoteur qui a voulu construire 4 ou 5 étages de haut, » a
déclaré Juliette Patterson. « Le développement aurait caché la vue du Horse
Palace de la rue. Maintenant, l’espace vert en face du Horse Palace restera
accessible à tous.»
L’intention de la Ville d’acheter l’enclos ne garantissant pas l’avenir du Horse
Palace, la fondation à but non lucratif cherche à recueillir les fonds pour acheter
le terrain sur lequel le Horse Palace est situé, et restaurer les écuries de manière
à assurer un lieu moderne et propre aux chevaux des calèches de la ville et pour
ouvrir les écuries au public.
A cette fin, la Fondation du Horse Palace de Griffintown organise un événement
artistique unique avec encan silencieux le dimanche 4 novembre. Dix artistes
vont peindre ou dessiner les chevaux sur place au Horse Palace, suivi d’un
encan silencieux. L’encan débutera à 13 h 30 quand le public est invité à
acheter les oeuvres d’art. « Nous essayons de trouver des moyens novateurs
d’amasser des fonds et d’engager notre communauté en même temps, » dit
Patterson. « La vente aux enchères réunit la communauté artistique et les
chevaux, ainsi que le public, qui peut regarder un événement artistique unique.»
L’achat prévu de l’enclos fait partie du plan d’urbanisme de la Ville de Montréal
pour Griffintown et comprend six espaces verts et places publiques et 93 M$ en
dépenses d’infrastructure au cours des quatre prochaines années.
Pour plus d’informations sur la Fondation du Horse Palace du Griffintown
ou l’encan silencieux, veuillez contacter Shauna Janssen, administratrice,
au 514 865 5872 ou la Fondation au 514-934-6346 ext 2.
MONTREAL – Wednesday, October 24th, 2012 – Saving the Griffintown Horse
Palace from development took one step closer to becoming a reality with today’s
announcement by the city of
Montreal that it is purchasing the paddock next to the Horse Palace to preserve it
as a green space.
The president of the Horse Palace Foundation is thrilled with the news. “The land
was owned by a developer who wanted to build 4 or 5 stories high,” Juliette
Patterson. “Now the green space in front of the Horse Palace will remain
accessible to all.” The development would have hidden the Horse Palace from
street view.
The non-profit foundation is still working to raise funds to purchase the land the
actual Horse Palace sits on and to restore the stables so as to ensure a modern
and clean home for the city’s Calèche horses, and open them to the public.
To that end, the Griffintown Horse palace Foundation is organizing a unique art
event and silent auction on Sunday, November 4th. Ten artists will paint or draw
horses on site at the Horse Palace and their work will be available by silent
auction. Bidding will begin at 1:30 pm and the public is invited to view the art.
The intended purchase of the paddock is part of the city of Montreal’s urban plan
for Griffintown and includes six public green spaces and $93 million in
infrastructure spending over four years.
For more information on the Horse Palace Foundation or the silent art
auction, please contact Shauna Janssen, administrator, at 514 865 5872, or
the Griffintown Horse Palace Foundation, at 514-934-6346 ext 2.

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Turcot Meeting Tuesday

Bonsoir, citoyenNEs mobiliséEs pour un meilleur Turcot!

Nous continuons nos rencontres de travail les mardis soirs afin de poursuivre l’organisation de notre campagne d’appuis pour la “Cure minceur pour l’échangeur Turcot”. (cliquez ici pour voir les solutions proposées dans la Cure minceur).  Venez vous joindre à nous ce mardi:

Rencontre du comité citoyen pour un meilleur Turcot

mardi le 23 octobre

19h30-21h00

75 square Sir-Georges-Étienne-Cartier

bureau 201

Cette semaine: Pizza et blitz d’emails à 19h00! 

Juste avant la rencontre ce mardi soir, nous ferons un blitz d’emails et messages Facebook afin de promouvoir la campagne. Venez souper avec nous à 19h00 dans la salle 201 et contribuez au blitz avec des envois dans vos propres réseaux (amenez vos laptops si vous voulez, ou utiliser un de nos ordinateurs si vous le préférez).

à mardi!

Shannon pour Mobilisation Turcot

________

Good evening, Citizens for a Better Turcot!

We’re continuing our Tuesday night meetings to organize our campaign for the ‘Cure Minceur pour l’échangeur Turcot’ (click here to read the solutions proposed in the ‘Cure Minceur‘).  Come on out this week :

Mobilisation Turcot’s citizen’s committee

Tuesday, October 23rd

19h30-21h00

75 square Sir-Georges-Étienne-Cartier

office 201

at 7pm this week: Pizza and email blitz!!

This week, we’ll be doing an email and Facebook messaging blitz for a half hour before the meeting.  Come out and join us in room 201 for pizza and help spread the word about the campaign to your own networks!  (bring your own laptop if you like, or they’ll be computers in the office you can use if you prefer).

Hope to see you on Tuesday,

Shannon for Mobilisation Turcot

–

Shannon Franssen
Coordonnatrice, Solidarité Saint-Henri
75 square Sir Georges-Étienne-Cartier bureau 200
Montréal, QC  H4C 3A1
(514) 937-9813
coordination@solidarite-sh.org
www.solidarite-sh.org

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The R4 SustainabiliTEA! Public Consultation on Waste at Concordia Public Event

Thursday, October 18

4pm – 6pm

Library Building Atrium, Concordia SGW Campus

Join us for the first sustainabiliTEA of the year!!!!!

The SustainabiliTEA is a monthly event organized by the working groups of Sustainable Concordia to gather the community in a casual, tea drinking setting, for some discussion on sustainability!

R4 and the Zero Waste Campaign will be hosting the first of the year, raising the question: If you’re not for zero waste, then how much waste are you for?

This informal community discussion is an opportunity to learn about Concordia’s waste stream! Join us for a cup of tea and a short introduction given by R4 representatives, to provide context on current initiatives and issues at the university and a visual presentation of the data from the annual university waste audit.

Then, it is your turn! By breaking into groups focused on specific parts of waste output on campus, help brainstorm what else we can be doing!

This is an event to involve the community in making plans and taking definitive action! Join us to participate or to just enjoy your tea and listen.

And here is a relevant blog post entitled  Poop, Pee, and Efficiency

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Verdun Lanes – la Fete de la Ruelle

Was on the cool side but lots of people came out to the lane and had a good time.  Many thanks to Francoise Glutnay for organizing this wonderful event!

Meal and coffee for 2 bucks. Nice!

That sort of looks like one of my Verdun Lanes pictures, hey, it IS one of my Verdun Lanes pictures heh heh.

The obligatory sidewalk sale painting at the lane celebration! (wink wink).

The greatest art gallery on the planet! And have to say I  was pretty thrilled to have two projects, Turcot and Verdun Lanes, cross paths like this. It just doesn’t happen like this very often, folks! And, I still have about 8 Turcot pictures nicely framed 20×24 inches as you can see here, for sale!  http://neath.wordpress.com/2012/07/29/turcot-pictures-for-sale/ Email me for details at neathatturcot (at) yahoo dot com

I think I like the glare.

Love this. That is probably the most successful photograph I have ever made. It functions on so many invisible levels. It truly summarizes the way I felt at Turcot at times, the whole stupid political struggle, the environment -  it’s my Don Quixote for the 21 st century. But enough about me…

Merci, Francoise et tout le monde for a really great time!

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Day of Action on Friday

Vendredi. Montréal. 3 bloquages de rue consecutives. Mile-End à midi.
St-Henri 15h30. Center-Sud 17h30. À diffuser largement.

Mile-End
http://www.facebook.com/events/408559369180806/
St-Henri
http://www.facebook.com/events/482661268413843/
Centre-Sud
http://www.facebook.com/events/263542447090391/

From the Saint Henri page.

Vendredi 10 août, 15h30
Rendez-vous en face du métro Place-Saint-Henri (de l’autre côté de la rue)
À l’angle des rues St-Ferdinand et St-Jacques
(Nous nous déplacerons ensuite ensemble vers l’endroit où aura lieu la fête de rue)

Plusieurs assemblées populaires de quartier montréalaises se sont coordonnées afin d’organiser une journée d’action le 10 août s’inscrivant dans la perspective de plus en plus populaire d’une grève sociale contre l’austérité capitaliste et la répression gouvernementale ainsi qu’en solidarité avec la grève étudiante historique. À St-Henri, nous investirons une portion de rue et l’utiliserons comme un espace temporairement libéré pour y faire exister une fête avec de la nourriture gratuite, des ateliers d’éducation populaire ainsi que de la musique, des arts et autres contributions de membres de notre communauté. Nous prévoyons tenir des discussions autour de divers enjeux touchant la population de Saint-Henri, notamment la gentrification, l’échangeur Turcot, la grève étudiante et l’historique des luttes sociales dans le quartier.

Vendredi le 10 août est le dernier jour de semaine avant le retour du piquetage devant les cégeps (dès le lundi 13 août). Par l’organisation d’actions dans nos quartiers en cette journée, nous désirons signifier aux étudiantEs qu’elles/ils ont des nouvelles/nouveaux alliéEs dans cette lutte et qu’ils/elles ne doivent pas abdiquer. Nous considérons cette journée d’action comme faisant partie d’une grève sociale plus large, s’inscrivant aux côtés du mouvement étudiant. Si les grèves consistent en l’abandon temporaire des systèmes de pouvoir et des institutions, notre but pour le 10 août est de soustraire nos quartiers à la normalité d’un quotidien rythmé par le travail. C’est un objectif modeste. Nous l’envisageons comme une première étape dans un plus grand effort impliquant les syndicats, l’organisation autonome des travailleurs/travailleuses, les prisonniers/prisonnières, les organisations communautaires, les étudiantEs, les communautés autochtones et touTEs ceux et celles qui veulent s’organiser pour faire exister un monde meilleur.

Pour plus d’information, visitez le https://apaqsh.wordpress.com/
contactez apaqsh@riseup.net

******************************

August 10: Saint-Henri Street Party!
Whose streets? Our Streets!

Friday, August 10th at 3:30pm
Meet across the street from Metro Place-Saint-Henri
At the corner of Saint-Ferdinand and Saint-Jacques
(after gathering at the metro we will move together to the final location of the street party)

Neighbour assemblies across Montreal have coordinated a day of action on August 10th as part of the growing social strike movement against capitalist austerity and government repression, and in solidarity with the historic struggle of the student strike. In Saint-Henri, we plan to take over a main street, and use this temporarily liberated space to hold a street party with free food and free education, as well as music, arts, and other creative contributions from members of our community. We plan to have discussions of a variety of issues affecting people in Saint-Henri, such as gentrification, the Turcot Interchange, the student strike, and the history of social struggle in the neighbourhood.

Friday, August 10th is the last weekday before the return to pickets at CEGEPs on Monday, August 13th. By organizing neighbourhood actions on this day, we want to send a message to the students that they have new allies in this struggle, and that they should not give up hope. We see this day of action as part of a larger social strike movement, alongside the students. If strikes are the collective withdrawal of our participation in powerful systems and institutions, then our goal for August 10th is to temporarily withdraw parts of our neighbourhoods from their normal day-to-day of business as usual. This is a modest goal, and we hope that it can be a first step as part of a much larger effort involving unions, autonomously organized workers, prisoners, community organizations, students, indigenous communities, and everyone else who organizes for a better world.

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Sunday Protest In Montreal

It was hot as hell and I really have to admire the spirit of the people who came to march in this heat. This is the real Montreal, having a party even under what many would consider to be serious circumstances. This Revolution likes to have fun!

People gathering at Berri Square.

 

 

 

 

Drummers are always good in my book.

Obligatory mask shot.

 

Some speeches were made.

 

It’s all because of people like this guy, maybe we should thank him?

 

 

There was some riot squad cops at the ready but they weren’t needed.

 

More drummers.

Democracy.

 

And the march begins.

 

 

The support from all  Montrealers is awesome.

 

Very compressed shot. My guess is that it would be at least a  15 minute walk to the front to the march.

 

Where is this all leading? Very hard to say right now. But a lot of people in Quebec are quietly organizing for an election where the message will be to vote for anyone but Jean Charest. And if the Ontario students go on strike for the  fall semester as they have indicated, this could go national in no time at all. People are ready, they don’t all just know it yet.

Mark August 22 in your calendars.

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