Donation Requests for OccupyTO

Next General Assembly

Thursday 13th, 5pm, at OISE.

Join the logistics committee!

Donations

Occupy Toronto 69 Youge St. PO box 17076 Toronto ON, M5E 1Y2

We are already talking to a number of organisations, but the more donations, the better!

The List

$$ donations (Qty, as much as can be spared)

Generators, solar and gas.(solar preferred)

tables

foldable chairs

Walkie Talkies 

Microphone

Blankets/Sleeping Bags (large preferred)

AA Batteries

AAA Batteries

Reflective Vest for night time + marshals

Garbage bags

Tarps

Whistles

Jerry cans for water

Gas Horns

White Board

Rope

Projector and screen

Working groves for garbage collecting

Flash lights / Lighting

Solar power Garden Lights

Wheatepasting supplies

arts and craft supplies 

Wooden dowels

Bamboo poles/poles

Flags

Wooden Pallets

Fabric

Warm Clothing donations 

Socks

Mitts

Medic Supplies: (Qty, as much as can be spared)

baby shampoo ‘no tears’ (1 large ones – size dependent) (for mace)

Maalox (plain) x 3 (for mace)

Ice (i supppose with a cooler) (as much as possible: AMAP)

squeezable water bottles with a nozzle (2) (for mace)

latex free disposable gloves (2 boxes at least – preferably small – medium)

steri-strips (3-4 packs)

posicle sticks (for tongue depressers)

matches/lighter

disposable mini alcohol swipes (amap)

a bottle of rubbing alcohol (950 ml) (1)

bottle of betadine solution (250 ml) (1 for now)

polysporin – or any other antibacterial topical (1)

blanket (2 – to be available for shock)

gauze (any size but 4x4s is prob best)(amap)

scissors – must be blunt tipped for safety reasons (1)

sanitizer (1 – 2 large bottles)

medical rippable tape…sorry i don’t know the technical name for it (maybe 1-2

small rolls)

bandaids (box or two of assorted)

gravol (about a pack of 24 tabs should be sufficient)

anti-histamine – preferrably allegra (less stomach irritation and drowsiness)

gatorade (for electrolyte imbalances)

paper towels (4 rolls)

tampons (a small box of regular – for nosebleeds)

fluroscent tape to mark all helpers so that they can be identified by people who

need assistance

stuff medics should have, but can do without (short term)

energy bars

pads/ sanitary napkins for women (a pack, large i guess so it can accomodate)

stuff we will be bringing:

glucose tablets or fruit juice boxes (for diabetics)

analgesics (aceteminophen and ibuprofen)

aspirin for several reasons such as problems with stomach lining and

anticlotting effects)

tweezers (3 pairs)

safety pins

flashlight

plastic bags (to use to make ice packs)

neem oil (a large bottle) – (good for antibacterial and soothing skin from

irritations other than pepper spray/tear gas – like allergies or hives)

some energy bars

shirts

extra soaps – lots of herbal stuff

toothpastes

Intersectionality & Feminism

Understanding how patriarchy operates in Canada without understanding colonisation is a meaningless endeavour from the perspective of Aboriginal people.
The Canadian state is the invisible male perpetrator who unlike Aboriginal men does not have a victim face. And at the feet of the state I can lay my anger to rest. Being able to name the state as my oppressor has allowed me to sit outside the personal cyclone of
pain that once raged out of control in my life. […] colonialism must be incorporated in feminist analysis. The women’s movement has never taken as its central  and long-term goal, the eradication of the legal oppression that is specific to Aboriginal women

(Patricia Monture-Angus, 1995. P175)

Great article, by Anna Carastathis: http://www.kickaction.ca/node/1499

Toronto Anti-Nuke Events in Solidarity with Nuclear-Free North America

The Coalition Against Nukes organized a North America wide day of action for a Nuclear-Free U.S. and  Canada on Saturday October 1^st, with rallies and protests taking place all of the U.S. and Canada. Here in Toronto, there were 2 events planned in solidarity with these actions, and with the people of Japan who are still dealing with the consequences of the Fukashima disaster.

The first even was flocking at Yonge and Bloor, complete with large, festive hats, and flocking across this busy intersection late afternoon Saturday. The second involved drumming, samba music, and dancing that coincided with Nuit Blanche festival. We were nomadic, meeting first outside of City Hall, and then moving a couple of streets west to continue into the night.

It was great to have events that coincided with so many others, including an event in NYC which Helen Caldicott, a physician who has spent the past 35 years educating about the hazards of nuclear energy,  attended and spoke at. And having the drumming and music was fantastic and made for a great evening.

Unfortunately, it is probable that the incredibly important message about how deadly the nuclear industry is was lost to a great extent. We did leaflet and talk with some, but the music was the draw and focus for most.. And anti-nuke sentiment here in Ontario is surprisingly absent, surprising given the number of reactors we have locally and the incredible threat they pose to all humans and non-humans alike.

However, there are some great people who have been fighting the industry for years and continue to do so, and DGR-Ontario is committed to supporting this fight in every way possible.

Dr. Helen Caldicott on Port Hope

Dr. Helen Caldicott on nuclear fallout 

Occupy Toronto Stock Exchange

We’ll be there!

DGR-Ontario is helping to organize the logistics of the action. Please contact us if you want to help out. Or, get involved in any of the committees, through these contacts: http://www.occupyto.ca/Contact

The event is inspired by Occupy Wall Street, while also remaining true to locality. The idea is not so much a pre-established march/action, but rather on the establishment of a radical democratic participatory space where people can gather and decide on our messages and actions together. Everyone present will be presenting themselves as people, and not the larger movement.

Grassroots solidarity!

Reflections on Ottawa Tar Sands Action

…And we’re back from Monday’s tar sands action in Ottawa!

People gathering ’round

The action was officially organized by an NGO coalition of Greenpeace, Indigenous Environmental Network, and the Council of Canadians. There was also a grassroots presence, and most importantly, community members, chiefs, and elders from First Nation and indigenous communities.

We came away feeling that there were both positive and negative aspects to the action. We were happy with DGR-ON’s role in helping fundraise for the travel of Fort Chipewyan community members and elders to Ottawa. In addition, we were happy that many community members — from Fort Chip, as well as elsewhere — had a chance to speak to the media, and address the crowd. The speakers included many amazing leaders. In addition, the action was very effective at involving a large amount of people, many of whom had never went to an environmental event before.

There were also some things that made us uncomfortable about the way the action was organized. While the choreographed nature of the action allowed a sense of safety appreciated by many first-time participants, it also rendered much of the action purely symbolic. Whereas the initial action plan had been a sit-in of the parliament building, as well as a presentation of a list of demands, after completely open negotiations with police, NGO organizers decided on an entirely symbolic civil disobedience action consisting entirely of crossing a fence, in front of a fence, in front of the parliament. In other words, the parliament was blocked off by a fence, disallowing protesters from entering. In addition, a smaller fence was placed in front of this fence, and lined with police tape, in order to facilitate an arrest-able action. When protestors crossed this smaller fence, they were immediately arrested. The idea was that we show we are willing to get arrested to make parliament listen to our cause. We were asked to sign documents agreeing to this action, and only this action, in order to access legal aid services.

While the arrests did garner attention as hoped for, as DGR-ON, we questioned whether co-operating with the police to this extend, as well as demonstrating that we are not in any way a threat (in fact, it was explicitly repeated that we ought to demonstrate the lack of threat consistently) would really encourage government to take our demands seriously. In addition, while we see media as one powerful part of a strategy, we personally shy away from using it as an entire strategy, as media images are difficult to predict, and are often censoring and/or misrepresenting. The action was so media-oriented that we were  handed pre-written media statements, and asked to consider not wearing white on the day of the action — since this would make our complexions appear dull in media photographs.

Nevertheless, the action required a significant amount of effort that deserves to be applauded. We stand in solidarity with movements against the tar sands, because we really do need it all, as long as those movements stand in solidarity with the grassroots, and community members. A massive amount of effort and care went into the event, including food and water a plenty for everyone involved. Given our focus on solidarity, however, we did become worried when the “de-escalation workshop” included questions on how to divert or “calm down” protestors who may feel the need to take more direct action, or include different messaging. It was advised to tell such groups or individuals that any action other than the pre-planned one would divert from the cause and be damaging to the movement. Solidarity was not encouraged, and there were even calls for reporting fellow, more radical, activists to the police.

When, during a debrief, the action was hailed by representatives as historical, ground-breaking, and global, we were left thinking about areas for further improvement. Mostly, it would have been great to have more space for grassroots and community input. All in all, we feel that we learned a lot at the action, and we are happy and grateful to have met many wonderful grassroots people, and having experienced awesome grassroots organizing as part of the Southern Ontario grassroots coalition against the tar sands. We were honoured to meet Fort Chipewyan elders and youth organizers.

Police ready to arrest

New Mega Quarry Video!

Opposing Fortress North America

Due largely to advocacy from First Nations, particularly community members from Fort Chipewyan and the Lubicon Nation, Canada has been exposed internationally as an environmentally and socially destructive petro-state. Indeed, as Canada embarrassed themselves in Copenhagen and Cancun during climate negotiations, Indigenous activists from the tar sands region held the microphones of the international media, getting the true story out.

Awesome article by Dave Vasey, here.

Bringing a Radical Voice to Ottawa

Hey all,

This is a general call-out.

DGR Ontario has been working with other groups to bring a more radical voice to the Ottawa Tar Sands action. The NGOs are primarily focusing around green energy. This does not question the dominant ideology of economic growth and expansion, and does not address community issues, austerity measures, water issues, etc. The grassroots would like to include messaging around these missing perspectives, and more.

If you want to find out more details about what our coalition of grassroots groups is working on, and find out ways to help out in different committees, please email us personally (dgrontario@gmail.com).

There’s different tasks for different levels of comfort: everyone has something to contribute!  

Some of the tasks involved include:

• Helping to find funding for busing and flying in community members
• Solidarity support for DGR Ontario and the other organizations in the coalition
• Helping to distribute flyers, information, spreading the word in person and using social networking
• Bringing people out to the event (a bus will likely be available through the coalition)
• etc!

Let’s go for some grassroots solidarity!

The Fair — Meetings

Some updates on recent events…

The People’s Assembly Fair

It was fantastic. Probably, we missed out on potential volunteers/organizers due to Jack’s funeral, but we got to connect with some great groups, including Shut Down the Tar Sands, Stop the Megaquarry, Mining Injustice, People’s Voice, someone involved in supporting the Grassy Meadows roadblock, and many others.

The organizers were great! Thank you again for hosting us.

Thanks to Karen, Cam, and Wilsun, who were there staffing the stall.

                                                                                                                                                             

Two Meetings

We’re having an internal meeting this Saturday, tentatively near YorkU, and some time before 5pm. We’ll let you all know the final time and location ASAP. Please come out and have your voice heard in the group!

The other external meeting is being pulled together by Shut Down the Tar Sands, and will include several community groups. Please contact me if you have not let me know already that you would like to go to this meeting as part of the DGR representation there.

Toronto People’s Assembly Fair — Schedule Available!

The schedule for workshops and participating organizations is now available!     To help out, email dgrontario@gmail.com!