Idle No More – What can you do to help and Aamjinwnaang Nation Solidarity!!
They’re asking for a meeting with the crown and her representatives, and for the gov’t to honour treaties, as this new bill c-45 completely ignores them. The best way to do that is to email, call, write, and visit your stephen harper, and your mp too.
harper.s@parl.gc.ca 
Don’t forget david johnson, our privileged governor general, who speaks for the crown in canada..
Demand that treaty rights be honoured. Join in the demonstrations, add to their numbers, take pictures, post them, video too if you can. Livestream, Twitter, facebook, email list, Blog, talk to your neighbours, co-workers and friends, people on the bus, walking down the streets, drinking in coffee shops. The only way to win this is through education. The only way for that to happen is for people to talk about it.
We need to talk about it not only for the First Nations peoples of this land, but For EVERYONE who lives here. This affects ALL of us, and the First Nations Peoples are the stewards of this land, known as Turtle Island. This isn’t Canada, or the United States of America. Those are names given by arrogant and ignorant European settlers who divided the land and created the borders in the first place…Settlers who continue, to this day, to marginalize and commit atrocities on what little land has been left to the Original People of this land.
There is a reserve near Sarnia, and all of the members know someone close to them with cancer. Nearly 2 in 5 pregnancies end in miscarriage or stillbirths. In 2005, 60% of the toxic air pollutants dropped on the land within 5 kilometres of the reserve. If this is not a blatant and overt attack upon this nation, I don’t know what is. This is but one example of many. It is time to stand #IdleNoMore with our sisters and brothers. To stand against all such atrocities. We walk together, but separate. Settlers have their laws, and the First Nations have theirs. This is the nature of the Two Row Wampum Belt. Settler leaders need to start respecting that or face consequences.
On the 23rd of December, we visited Aamijiwnaang Nation and the blockade they have setup to stop the flow of a CN Rail line through the reserve. This rail line, we have been told, ships over 5 million dollars worth of goods everyday. It will not run until Chief Theresa Spence meets with Stephen Harper, who ignores treaty rights and wishes to make this land their own personal fiefdom.
I spent the night talking and sharing with people who have been effected by the government’s indifference to the crimes of the factories and industry that surrounds them. We spoke of the things I’ve laid out previous to this, but the real enemy here is apathy and ignorance. Idle No More, as a movement can wipe out that indifference and ignorance. The people have been quiet for too long. It is time for not only activists, but the regular people to come out in support of those who have been oppressed for so long. It is time for us not to question, but to answer if asked. Not to lead, but to support in solidarity.
We also marched and shut down the streets of Sarnia, as well as the 402 for a time. About 400 to 500 people participated in this epic event, reminiscent of the 2007 blockade of the 401 by the Mohawk warriors. Like last weeks rally and march in London Ont, the march today was a peaceful demonstration to get Harper’s attention. Harper has continually ignored and marginalized those who are only trying to get justice out of a system that rarely, if ever, brings justice to those oppressed by settler society. By refusing to meet with Chief Theresa Spence, Harper once again shows his blind arrogance by refusing to even acknowledge Chief Spence and her hunger strike. Not only that, but his sheer callousness was brought to the forefront when one of his aides had the nerve to tweet “mmmm bacon”, while fully aware that someone is on hunger strike because of him.
The solidarity that is shown between everyone on this issue has been amazing. It is time to bring this out to the broader population. I watched CBC’s coverage of all this and I found it atrocious. Chief Spence is not asking to speak with agents, sellouts, and sycophant’s like John Duncan and Patrick Brazeau. They have no intention of leaving. No longer will the Aamjinwnaang Nation tolerate the settler invasion of their land. No longer will Theresa Spence tolerate the ignorance of the government and its puppets. No longer will nations allow pipelines through their lands, which will eventually burst and destroy it.
Many people are talking about the Seven Fires Prophecy. It says that when the world has been turned foul, and the waters bitter with disrespect, that the peoples of the earth with have 2 options to choose from: materialism or spirituality. If they choose the latter, then they will be saved. If they choose the former, they are doomed. It is up to each and every one of us to make a difference here. It also says that the people of all 4 colours will unite as one to stop the madness. Whether or not the prophecy is true, it certainly provides much insight and hope.
Sisters and Brothers, thank you. Many of you have never been idle, but do not let that deter you. It is a common misconception in settler society, so it actually helps with the promotion. Even the ignorant ones, just by talking about it, help. The whole world is watching. And not only watching, but standing in solidarity with you. Worldwide, people are watching this, and being inspired to have their own events in their own cities and towns, in support of Idle No More, and all of the First Nations peoples. Be inspired…or just help those who are. But most importantly, if you can, make those connections with others about these issues,educate them as well as yourself.
In solidarity,
The Indignants
Please, watch this video. It says more about what this movement really is, than anything written above.
Migwetch
Teaching assistant’s demonstration at Western to raise awareness
On October 16th 2012, members of the Teaching Assistant and
Post-Doctoral Workers’ Union (PSAC 610) staged a marking demonstration
on Concrete Beach at Western University.
Teaching Assistants raised awareness about their working conditions and
the constraints under which they are to provide quality feedback when
grading assignments. Undergraduate passers-by were given the chance to
mark essays strict time constraints, and afterwards they were asked for
their reactions. (Watch in 1080p for best quality)
Filmed and Edited by Mike Roy
Recorded in London, Ontario Canada (Oct 16th 2012)
Fascist, Neo-Nazi political party has a foothold in the EU and is now targeting Canada.
Currently the Right wing Fascist party “Golden Dawn” holds 18 seats in the Greek parliament. And on October 10th the Greek prime minister, Antonis Samaras, warned Europe that his country was on the edge of a Weimar Germany-style social collapse.
The Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has warned that the deteriorating economic and social situation in Greece has left Greek democracy facing its biggest challenge. He likened Greece today with the end of Germany’s Weimar Republic.
Antonis Samaras warned that “Greek society as a whole is threatened by what has not occurred in our country before: the rise of a right-wing extremist, one might say fascist, Neo-Nazi party.”
He said society was “endangered by rising unemployment, just as it was toward the end of the Weimar Republic in Germany.”
He added that the polls indicate Golden Dawn (Chrysi Avgi) is already “the third-strongest political force in Greece, upward trend.” He went on to say that if his government fails Golden Dawn is “waiting for us the chaos.”
You have to check out this Video:
The Canadian connection.
Golden Dawn wasn’t well known outside of Greece until this year, when it exploded from a fringe group to the third most popular party in Greece, at 22% in opinion polls.
Many are shocked that the party has done so well — it holds 18 of 300 seats in Greek parliament — considering it advocates the expulsion of all immigrants from Greece. The English-language Athens Today calls it “a fascist, racist movement of vigilante thugs.”
And now, it is exporting its brand of ultra-nationalism to Canada. The group has set up in Montreal and is recruiting member’s.
Sources and further information:
Please show solidarity and sign this petition to prevent the Golden Dawn to establish itself in Canada: SIGN HERE
Further sources and further information:
Great blog: http://links.org.au/node/2985
The Golden Dawn Greece: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Dawn_%28Greece%29
The Weimar Republic : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimar_Republic
The Brown Shirts: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_shirts
The Night of the Long Knives: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_the_Long_Knives
Photo: AP/Tumbler
Montreal CEGEP Students vote and demo August 13th
On August 13th 2012 students at Montreal CEGEPs (Quebec senior high schools/colleges) gathered into General assemblies to decide on maintaining the strike or going back to school. Many activist and students from Ontario made it down to help with the school blockades to join the demonstrations, including the Indignants from London ON.
The evening demo started with one CEGEP joining the demonstration, then the crowed marched to a CEGEP which was having a general Assembly. Some activists and students went into the school and up to the gym were the students were voting.
The demonstration continued on, and word had got out that some key schools had voted to go back; this definitely affected the overall mood of the rally. About 2 hours in, the police attacked with rubber bullets and tear gas, splitting the crowd into several small groups, than continued to attack the small groups till people gave up.
Many good organizers are saying all is lost, but looking into that gymnasium seeing all the students participating in a General Assembly, I thought that in itself is a huge victory. Democracy is not perfect, but at least the students in Quebec are leaps and bound ahead of us in Ontario in horizontal democracy. The model used by the Quebec students is one that encompassed accountability and empowers them, with some tweaking and time we can make it work here.
Update from Quebec: “it’s possible you’ve heard that a number of associations, including really mobilized ones, have voted to end their strikes, which is true. Facing incredible repression, and inaccurate but terrifying threats of a lost semester or year, yeah, people will vote to strike. At this point four or five university associations and two CEGEPs – with around 25000 students total – have voted to continue their strike in the last few weeks. I’ve also heard that the association at UQO voted in June to continue their strike despite law 78, and that this mandate will be upheld.
Mike Roy
Photos of school blockade and evening demonstration:http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152001312030234.883258.784550233&type=3
Video: http://youtu.be/KfPkG_ADQKY?hd=1 <–HD video of demo
*Will have a video of School blockade up soon and will post here.
The noise of pots risk to resonate well beyond Quebec..
The noise of pots risk to resonate well beyond Quebec..
The weekend of July 27th-29th students from all over Ontario and Quebec got together in Toronto for the “Ontario student strike workshops”..
This is fast becoming a global movement, which highlights the struggle for a accessible education that transcends all borders due to the fact that the majority of countries are grappling with budget cuts in education, while tuition fees explode. At the same time this is helping to spread the General Assembly model, bringing empowered students together to make collective decisions and begin dialogue about common concerns.
Personally it was a fantastic weekend, the workshops were very informative and helped shine a light on the avenues that we can take collectively to form and maintain a mass movement in Ontario and the rest of world.
Videos of the work shops will be up soon.
**Saturday night rally video: http://youtu.be/Grz5yKHxMjA?hd=1 <–HD link.
**Photos: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151950008220234.875219.784550233&type=3
Mike Roy
The Indignants Media & Media Co-op
To our friends in the NDP
To ex-New Democrats, and soon to be ex-New Democrats,
By now you have probably come to realise that there is no space for the left within Canada’s electoral system. After years of an ideological race to the bottom in an endless quest for votes, the NDP has revealed beyond any doubt that its self-professed principles don’t matter. It has entrusted its leadership to a man that is fundamentally no different than Stephen Harper.
We in the Indignants of London were not surprised by this turn of events. For a long time we have understood that the NDP is not the place where revolutionaries should be expending their efforts. And so we invite you to begin a new stage in your lives, and begin working for a real revolution that will change the world forever.
We are united on:
- breaking with bourgeois politics, a revolutionary struggle against capitalism, and the goal of participatory democracy;
- supporting the struggles of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit peoples and recognising their unconditional right to self-determination;
- denouncing Canadian imperialism and its destruction of the globe through exploitation and war;
- calling for the defeat of imperialism all over the world and support for people’s wars.
A better world free from exploitation, oppression, and alienation is possible. Revolution is the only way there. We look forward to working with you.
FREE SPEECH AT UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN ONTARIO DENIED: PEACEFUL ACTIVIST BANNED FROM CAMPUS
Without warning or discussion, local activist Mike Roy received notice that he is banned from UWO property for one year for “participating in a prohibited activity: unauthorized protest”. His “offense”? Participating in several peaceful non-violent demonstrations with Western university students. Free speech at our institutions of higher learning is being muzzled once again.
Mr. Roy, an independent journalist, was not given any warning before he received notice via London City Police that his presence is not welcome on UWO property for one year. No further communication has been initiated by UWO administration to outline his “offence”. His role in the demonstrations was to film and take photographs of students and local activists engaged in peaceful protest. He was not an organizer of any event he attended.
Mike Roy reacts, “This is outrageous and is not what I understand universities to stand for. Free speech and freedom of association and assembly should be paramount in our society and are key factors in our education system. How else can we promote dialogue and discussion about issues that affect us all?” Londoners will recall when esteemed and beloved local poet, Roy MacDonald, was unceremoniously escorted out of UWO’s bookstore for “disturbing customers with his appearance”.
It is quite evident that the University is not a place for freedom of speech. Section 2(b) of the Charter states that “everyone has the following fundamental freedoms:… freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication” Freedom of Speech is a cornerstone of a functioning democracy. The ban, if allowed to stand, will severely hamper Mr. Roy’s work, which includes being a regular contributor to CHRW, the University’s community based radio station.
Stephen D’Arcy, Chair of the Department of Philosophy at Huron University College, described the ban as “outrageous and unacceptable. We can never accept the idea that people can be banned from the campus for expressing opinions or for participating in the public discussion of ideas,” he said. “All members of the university community have to speak out against this.”
We call on all students, professors, citizens, organizations, and community groups to demand that this decision be overturned, that Mike Roy’s name be cleared from any wrongdoing, and that freedom of speech be upheld at UWO, London’s institution of higher learning.
Co authored by: Douglass St. Christian, Wendy Goldsmith, Mike Roy, Steve D’Arcy.
-Signatories and comments are welcome below.
-Hard copy will be distributed in London and Toronto.
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