Citizens Press
PAOV- Code of Conduct - Citizens Press is an open platform for expression on all the issues that concerns the People’s Assembly of Victoria and the global occupy movements, it is the responsibility of the contributors to uphold the code of conduct.
Our values are inclusivity, empowerment, awareness, creativity, community, diversity and respect.
We will remove posts that have been reported and determined as are derogatory, intolerant, racist, sexist, intentionally malicious, bigotry and overtly counterproductive.
Removed posts will be given the opportunity to edit, resubmit and meet our code of conduct.
Transition Towns Workshop & Saanich Events
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 05 February 2014 13:32
- Written by editor
Transition Towns: the model and how it works
(a full-day exploration of activating positive change)
February 8, 2014 9:30 – 4:00
Oaklands Neighbourhood House, 2629 Victor St.
Despite the fear and uncertainty surrounding the economy, climate change and peak oil —or perhaps because of it—people around the world are beginning to look towards new ways of living, in league with nature and in harmony with the planet and each other. In towns and cities around the world, individuals, groups and communities are working towards this end and having fun doing it.
The Transition Towns approach was developed in 2006 in Totnes UK by Rob Hopkins. The model caught on as a positive approach to reducing our reliance on oil, adapting to climate change and responding to growing economic instability. It is now being used by close to 1,000 Transition Towns around the world, over 50 of them in Canada, over 20 in BC.
Who should attend:
* Individuals and organizations with an interest in public engagement and change related to economic instability and inequity, climate change and peak resources
* Individuals exploring their own transition pathways or how to get involved
What is covered:
* An introduction to the ingredients and discussion of impacts of the Transition Town model
* Practice working with key principles, steps and tools and discussion of approaches
* Introduction to successful REconomy (UK) and Resilient Streets (UK/Victoria) approaches
To Register and for Information:
* Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank" style="color: #1155cc;">michelle.colussi.2010@gmail.
* Email your registration form to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank" style="color: #1155cc;">michelle.colussi.2010@gmail.
o The workshop is $40/person and includes materials and refreshments (bursaries available -- it's “pay what you can" upon request)
o BYO Lunch (or walk to Koffi)
* See also: www.transitionnetwork.org and www.transitionvictoria.ning.
Michelle Colussi:
Michelle has worked professionally and as a volunteer board member and organizer in the field of community economic development since 1994. Prior to that her background includes teaching, training and facilitation, board development, psycho social rehab and work in recreation and the arts. Michelle is Canada’s first Transition Town trainer and has delivered numerous workshops across Canada since 2009. She is a co-founder of Transition Victoria, and has her own community economic development consulting firm. Contact her at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it." target="_blank" style="color: #1155cc;">michelle.colussi.2010@gmail.
For registration form, click here: Transition Workshop Flyer
*****************************
SAANICH
Announcing Saanich Resilience Learning Series
This February and March, the Building Resilient Neighbourhoods team is pleased to announce a new Resilience Learning Series and Resilient Streets micro-grants programme for residents of Saanich. This series of three workshops, all occurring in Saanich, will provide an opportunity to learn more about resilience and how it relates to other areas of neighbourhood concern like climate change, social inclusion, emergency preparedness, and meeting basic needs. It will also give Saanich residents a chance to network and explore possible projects and actions with each other. We invite and welcome participation by residents, community association leaders, policy makers and community-based organizations in Saanich. Support for these workshops has been provided by the District of Saanich Sustainability Department.
Workshop 1: Introduction to Resilience (Saanich only)
Thursday, February 20
Saanich Neighbourhood Place
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
In this workshop, you’ll learn about the global and local context that are creating the need greater community resilience, and why building resilience at the neighbourhood level can be so rewarding and effective. You’ll hear inspiring examples of what other communities are doing to strengthen their capacity to respond and adapt to change, and you will collaborate with fellow Saanich residents to identify the characteristics of your own neighbourhood that are supporting or hindering increased resilience.
Workshop 2: Introduction to Resilient Streets (Saanich only)
Thursday, March 6th
Pearkes Community Centre
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
From book boxes and skill sharing to community gardens and Transition Streets, in this workshop, you’ll explore ways of adapting local and international examples of resilience-in-action to start strengthening resilience alongside neighbours on your street or in your block. You’ll brainstorm, share and give feedback on possible project ideas in groups and learn about how you can get support for projects through our Resilient Streets micro-grants.
Learn more about Resilient Streets at: http://
SAANICH AND VICTORIA WEST
Workshop 3: Engaging Our Neighbours (open to Resilient Street leaders from Victoria West and Saanich)
Thursday, March, 26th
Saanich Neighbourhood Place
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
This workshop will provide a comfortable, creative, facilitated space for people who are leading Resilient Streets projects in Saanich or Victoria West to come together and share experiences, learnings, ideas, strategies and support.
Visit Transition Victoria at: http://transitionvictoria.
[Uvic-sustainability] UVic News: Gold for UVic in international sustainability rating system
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 05 February 2014 09:58
- Written by editor
Hello Everyone!
Really exciting news being officially announced today - UVic has achieved a Gold rating in an international sustainability rating system known as STARS. Congratulations and thanks to everyone on campus and in our community who work together to make our institution a leader in sustainability!
Cheers,
Rita, Matt and Neil
UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA MEDIA TIP & LEAD
Feb. 5, 2014
Gold for UVic in international sustainability rating system
The University of Victoria has achieved a gold rating in the Sustainability, Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS), administered by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE).
UVic is the...
Upcoming Events
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 05 February 2014 09:54
- Written by editor
Dear Friends of SJS,
Here are some upcoming events that may be of interest to you.
Thurs Feb 6th - BCGEU 2994 Douglas St: 6PM-9PM
Friday Feb 7th - UVIC, Harry Hickman Bldg Room 105: 6:30PM-9PM
Members of the Mi'kmaq Warriors Society who have been arrested and incarcerated
will be on a speaking tour in January and February to raise awareness about
their struggle against fracking, their ongoing assertion and exercise of
nationhood, and the repression they face from police and courts.
“Our warriors are still being mistreated in the system, justice for our
political prisoners of war.” Suzanne Patles, member of the Mi’kmaq Warrior
Society
If you would like to support this tour, please get in touch hwalia8 at gmail
dot com.
Thank you!
Both events are FREE. Light supper will be provided at the Feb 6th BCGEU event,
and snacks will be provided at the Feb 7th...
Peak Harper? The Petrostate? And More
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 05 February 2014 06:22
- Written by editor
Like
Tweet
Forward
GUEST POSTS & IN-DEPTH COVERAGE
Taming the Wolves of Wall Street: Brett Scott on Democratizing the Finance Sector
After years of economic crisis and the rise of social movements like Occupy Wall Street, the idea that there is something rotten in the financial sector has become commonplace. Banks that were too big to fail before the bailouts are bigger than ever, and investment in oilsands expansion, fracking, arctic oil exploration and deep-sea drilling continues at an alarming pace. READ MORE
Andrew Nikiforuk: Canada's Petrostate Has "Dramatically Diminished Our International Reputation"
"Alberta is very much a petrostate," says journalist and author Andrew Nikiforuk. "It gets about 30 per cent of its income from the oil and gas industry. So as a consequence, the government over time has tended more to represent this resource and the industry that produces it, than its citizens. This is very typical of a petrostate." READ MORE
Next Yes2SCS Volunteer Session: Monday, Feb. 17, 6:30-8:30pm!
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 04 February 2014 11:14
- Written by editor
Supporters and volunteers of Yes2SCS,
Interested in putting energy into the Yes2SCS campaign?
Our second volunteer orientation session will be held on Monday, February 17, 2014 from 6:30-8:30pm at the Central Meeting Room of the Victoria Public Library (Central Branch) at 735 Broughton Street. This is the room that faces Broughton and it is top-to-bottom windows. We will provide food!
This orientation will focus on honing our public messages and conversations about supervised consumption services, and strategizing how to reach our first year targets. Please come with a mental list of your connections and social networks that you can tap for this campaign.
In the meantime:
* Sign our petition for SCS in Victoria here
* Visit our website for resources about SCS (under the 'resources' tab) and minutes from the last volunteer orientation session (under the 'take action' tab) at
* Like and share content from our Facebook Page
Read more: Next Yes2SCS Volunteer Session: Monday, Feb. 17, 6:30-8:30pm!
Online Petitions Are Boring - ArtShift
- Details
- Published on Monday, 03 February 2014 16:00
- Written by editor
Art and creativity are the heart and soul of social movements, but too often creativity is left to the artists alone and organizing to the activists. ArtShift is based on a belief that everyone has the capacity for creativity and that when ignited, that creativity is a force that can move the world and make change irresistible. 
Inspired by projects like BeautifulTrouble, Platform London, ArtShift Europe and others, ArtShift is a project to bring together artists, organizers and activists to build a "creative action laboratory" as a legacy project of regional PowerShifts. Phase 1 of ArtShift is focused on the intersection of creativity, art and action looking especially a the role of art within action for social and climate justice. We'll be kicking off ArtShift with a one day event on creative action theory and practice with a focus hands-on skill building to take forward from ArtShift.
Find our more about ArtShift and RSVP!
[Uvic-sustainability] News and Events for week of Feb 3rd
- Details
- Published on Monday, 03 February 2014 13:20
- Written by editor
NEWS
Nominations for the 2013 UVic Student and Staff Sustainability Champion Awards are now open! If you know a student or staff member who has done an outstanding job over the past year promoting sustainability on campus, consider nominating them for this fabulous opportunity to be recognized for their efforts. Nominations will be accepted until Friday, Feb 21st at 4:30 PM, with an awards ceremony planned for March 17th. Find out more and get the applications on the Awards tab here.
The World Wildlife Fund is hosting its annual wear-a-sweater day challenge on February 6th asking Canadians to lower the thermostat and support energy conservation. UVic's Office of Campus Planning & Sustainability is hosting a Campus Ugly Sweater Challenge - post a photo of yourself in your best ugly sweater on our Facebook page and you could win a $65...
Read more: [Uvic-sustainability] News and Events for week of Feb 3rd
Food for the Future! Family Day Rally to Save the ALR - Monday February 10
- Details
- Published on Monday, 03 February 2014 09:40
- Written by editor
Food for the Future! Family Day Rally to Save the Agricultural Land Reserve
Monday, February 10 @ 12 Noon BC Legislature Grounds All Welcome!
February 2014 marks the 40th birthday of the Agricultural Land Reserve (ALR), created to protect farmland across BC for agriculture. Only 5% of the landbase of our mountainous province is protected in the ALR, and now the BC Government is considering drastic changes to erode the reserve and the autonomy of the commission entrusted to protect it.
British Columbians from all walks of life need a reliable supply of farmland to grow food now and for the future – particularly as the benefits of local food systems and the challenges of global transport become clear.
We therefore encourage you to mark your calendar and attend the Food for the Future Family Day Rally with your family, neighbours, co-workers and friends on February 10 @ 12 Noon – the day before the BC Legislature opens. Please share this message with all your contacts, join the event on Facebook, and distribute leaflets and posters in your community. If you belong to a farm organization, school PAC, church group, labour union or other association, you can endorse the Rally and promote it to members.
Together, we will save the Agricultural Land Reserve and support farmers and food systems. See you on Feb 10!
The Farmland Protection Coalition
www.FarmlandProtection.ca Join us on Facebook │Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. │Phone: 250.893.4505
Learn more in the
" target="_blank">"Hands Off the ALR" Video
Questionnaire
- Details
- Published on Friday, 31 January 2014 16:00
- Written by editor
One of our community partners, SocialCoast, is asking for your assistance. Please help out if you can:
Wanting to be an activist but don't know how? Trying to become a better community organizer? SocialCoast is creating a workshop series on building skills for activism.
We need your help to decide how these workshops will look, and would really like your advice. Please fill out this form, and let us know what you think:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Ai5XdA_bIuXYnsfNlmx6Iwv0EIv5i3PlU8UmzpATbF4/viewform
Care to get involved and help in the organizing? Email us:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
--
Margo MatwychukDirector
Social Justice Studies ProgramUniversity of Victoriaweb.uvic.ca/socialjustice/ @UVicSJS on TwitterUVicSJS on Facebook UVicSJS on YouTube
You have received this email because you signed up for the UVic Social Justice Studies email list. To be removed respond to this email with "REMOVE" in the subject line.
SJS Annual Lecture this evening
- Details
- Published on Friday, 31 January 2014 16:00
- Written by editor
Just a reminder that tonight is our Annual Lecture. We hope you can join us!
We are honored to announce that our upcoming Annual Lecture speaker will be Dr. Yvonne Shorter Brown. Dr. Brown is a retired public school teacher, university lecturer, researcher, writer and social justice activist. She was recently a post-doctoral fellow at the Harriet Tubman Institute for Research on the Global Migration of African Peoples, York University. Her research, writing, and workshop focus on how the legacies of the transatlantic slave trade and plantation slavery on the continent of Africa and in its Diasporas are remembered in various struggles for citizenship.
Dr. Brown's SJS Annual Lecture is entitled: Is There More That Canadians Should Know About Slavery, Besides the Fact and the Myth of the Underground Railroad
Friday, January 31st at 7:30 p.m. in the Hickman Building, HHB...
[coalalert] RAVEN COAL MINE ARTICLE
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 30 January 2014 12:20
- Written by editor
NOTE: INTERESTING COMMENT THAT ITOCHU IS NOT GOING TO WITHDRAW FROM THE COMOX JOINT VENTURE, EVEN AFTER INDICATING THEY INTENDED TO WITHDRAW.
EWS
Baynes Sound coal mine proponent readying another application
Living the New Economy - Social Coast
- Details
- Published on Wednesday, 29 January 2014 14:00
- Written by editor
Friday, 17 January 2014
Posted in Economics
WRITTEN BY KAT ZIMMER
An industrial landscape has dominated the part of Songhees territory known to most people as Vic West for at least a century. In its heart, there’s an unassuming and drafty brick building called the Roundhouse. Now surrounded by high-rise condos, it’s slated for redesign as a marketplace to serve the swelling crowd of urban dwellers. Over seven days last month, where railway workers tinkered with the train cars of a century ago, a new economy was being midwifed into existence. “Living the New Economy” was an exuberant convergence of visionaries and idea jammers who are working together to create and articulate this new economy.
The old economy is crumbling: globally, this has been obvious since at least 2008. The old models just aren’t working anymore, and many have started to realize they probably weren’t worth saving in the first place. Locally, Victoria’s dilapidated heavy industrial base is being transformed into a burgeoning knowledge economy of tech firms and services.
Want to know what chemicals are in used in fracking?
- Details
- Published on Tuesday, 28 January 2014 12:48
- Written by editor
Want to know what chemicals are in used in fracking?
Hi PAOV,
The rush to extract and export fracked gas continues across the north of BC. And as we know, it’s an industry that comes with a heavy cost.
To give you a sense of what hydraulic fracturing (fracking) is doing to local landscapes, communities and water resources, we created this quick little video entitled “Troubled Water”. Watch the video here >>
The fracking process involves injecting a toxic sludge into the ground to shatter shale rock and release trapped gas. And as we mention in the video, the make-up of this toxic sludge is a huge concern for us. Many of these chemical mixtures, which are called “frac fluids” by the industry, remain a mystery as they’re often protected as a “trade secret”.
Remember, millions of gallons of this stuff are forced underground at incredibly high pressures, and we don’t yet know the impact that it has on freshwater aquifers. Studies of fracking concoctions in the U.S. revealed hundreds of chemicals used in the process – including 29 substances that have human health impacts. But as it stands, companies in Canada aren't legally required to tell us what's in the mix.
Great unknowns like these are a big part of what’s brought us together in opposition to fracking.
The National Pollutant Release Inventory (NPRI), run by Environment Canada, is the Canadian government’s official summary of dangerous products being released into the air, water and land. This list is maintained primarily in the name of protecting public health. Our allies at West Coast Environmental Law have been demanding that fracking fluids be covered by the list, which would require oil and gas companies to disclose more information about the potentially harmful or toxic chemicals they use in the process.
However, Environment Canada’s current proposal suggests that fracking fluids will not be listed. For a backgrounder on the federal government's proposed approach, click here.
Right now Environment Canada is asking for feedback from you, the public, regarding the disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing. They want to know what you think about whether or not these hazardous chemicals should end up on the NPRI. Now is your chance to tell the federal government that the composition of fracking fluids is important, and that you should have the right to know all about it!
Click here to take action now.
The deadline for public comments is Saturday, February 8th – so please use our online letter-writing tool and write today!
Thanks,
Eoin Madden | Climate Campaigner
Wilderness Committee
------------
Please encourage your friends to sign up for these Climate Action Alerts.
Or sign up for our other e-alerts: Wilderness Committee E-alerts | BC’s Wild Rivers
Volunteer | Become a member | Donate
Fwd: Bruce Katz on The Indecency of the Harper Government
- Details
- Published on Monday, 27 January 2014 13:48
- Written by editor
This week Voice of Palestine interviews Bruce Katz from Montreal, president of PAJU, Palestinian and Jewish Unity about their recent statement entitled The Indecency of the Harper Government’s Support for Israel. We talk with Bruce about the position of PAJU, as well as engaging in a wide-ranging discussion of Harper’s visit this past week to the region.
Our final piece of music is by Lebanese singer Julia Boutros, entitled “I Breathe Freedom”; and we dedicate it to all those courageous people in Canada who are speaking up on Palestine and Palestinian rights and telling the Harper government, Not in our Names!
Click on this link to access a download of the show .
--
CAIA Active Members Committee
[Uvic-sustainability] News and Events for week of Jan 27th
- Details
- Published on Monday, 27 January 2014 11:48
- Written by editor
NEWS
UVic-led Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions has launched a new free online climate change course emphasizing actions and policy tools that governments, businesses and individuals can use to fight the climate crisis locally and globally.
UVic’s Ocean Networks Canada’s Digital Fishers game was featured in a CBC News story “5 easy ways to become a freelance scientist”. The article emphasizes the importance of citizen science and lists different ways people can contribute to scientific research, aiding scientists around the world.
UVic’s Polis Project on Ecological Governance released a new report “A Blueprint for Watershed Governance in British Columbia” that focuses on current water governance issues in B.C. and offers a path forward for how the province could transform its current approaches to decision-making to ensure a more sustainable and resilient future.
Int Dev Week Events
- Details
- Published on Monday, 27 January 2014 08:48
- Written by editor
Download File
Dear Friends of SJS,
VIDEA and Camosun College invite students from campuses across Victoria to join us during International Development Week for a morning exploring what it means to be an international intern. Curious about what working internationally is all about? Interested in doing an international internship but not sure what it will be like, or whether you would enjoy it? Not sure how your degree or diploma might apply? Join us to hear more about international internships from former VIDEA interns who carried out placements in South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Uganda!
University of Victoria and Royal Roads University students also encouraged to attend - everyone welcome!
Friday, February 7th - 9:00-1:00
Camosun College in Wilna Thomas 234
Light refreshments served,
Please register in advance...
Take action to keep crude oil out of Hudson Bay
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 30 January 2014 01:18
- Written by editor
Take action to keep crude oil out of Hudson Bay
Hi PAOV,
We need you to raise your voice against a terrible plan to ship crude oil through northern Manitoba communities to the Port of Churchill, and then by tanker through Hudson Bay. It’s a terrible idea that would put this fragile ecological area at risk!
Most people only know Churchill as the place to see polar bears and beluga whales; in fact, it’s the best place in the world to see them. Omnitrax, the company that owns the port and railway, plans to put those polar bears and belugas in jeopardy by shipping crude oil through this region.
We’ve already documented many aspects of this plan that simply won’t work. You can read about the area’s lack of oil spill containment equipment on our blog post here, and even see a government video of cleanup equipment failing in icy northern waters. You can read about how dangerous this rail line is in this blog post, which chronicles four separate derailments and accidents that occurred on this rail line while I was travelling to and from Churchill in the fall of 2013.
For some of the remote communities along the rail line, this single railway is their only access to the outside world – and to each other. How can oil spill response equipment be transported into these communities, when the only rail line has an accident on it? How do you evacuate people when there is no road into these communities? How do we safeguard the population, the wildlife, and the lands and waters that provide for them, when the only access – the rail line – is blocked by a train derailment?
Finally, Hudson Bay itself has no crude oil being shipped through it right now. We do not need to put Hudson Bay at risk. Nunavut, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec will all share the risk if crude oil is transported through Hudson Bay. This plan does not need to happen!
Please use this letter-writing tool to contact federal Transport Minister Lisa Raitt, and voice your opinion today! Share this information with your family, friends and neighbours – the more people who speak up, the better.
We must ban crude oil shipments through Hudson Bay to protect marine ecosystems, to protect the fragile northern ecology, and to protect the nearby communities – and the territories they rely on to thrive.
For the wild,
Eric Reder | Manitoba Campaign Director
Wilderness Committee
------------
Please encourage your friends to sign up for these Action E-alerts.
Or sign up for our other e-alerts: BC's Wild Rivers | Climate Change Action List
Volunteer | Become a member | Donate
Top photo: Polar bears in Churchill, MB (Traffic Media)
SJS Conversation with Activists
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 23 January 2014 18:24
- Written by editor
Please join us this coming week for our First Conversation with Activists:
--
Margo MatwychukDirector
Social Justice Studies ProgramUniversity of Victoriaweb.uvic.ca/socialjustice/ @UVicSJS on TwitterUVicSJS on FacebookUVicSJS on YouTube
You have received this email because you signed up for the UVic Social Justice Studies email list. To be removed respond to this email with "REMOVE" in the subject line.
--
Margo MatwychukDirector
Social Justice Studies ProgramUniversity of Victoriaweb.uvic.ca/socialjustice/ @UVicSJS on TwitterUVicSJS on FacebookUVicSJS on YouTube
You have received this email because you signed up for the UVic Social Justice Studies email list. To be removed respond to this email with "REMOVE" in the subject line.
Activist Social Potluck, Saturday, Jan. 25th Event
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 23 January 2014 16:24
- Written by editor
Hi friends,
You are invited to our upcoming event this Saturday, Jan 25th. Victoria Friends of Cuba
Music by:
Read more: Activist Social Potluck, Saturday, Jan. 25th Event
A Tribe Called Red Newsletter: new tour dates, Angel Haze and new merch!
- Details
- Published on Thursday, 23 January 2014 15:24
- Written by editor
Hi friends!
It's been a minute since we sent an update as we thought everyone could use a break during the holidays. We're back on track over here though and not wasting time to make 2014 one to remember! We've been in the studio working on some new songs and will continue before going on tour for quite a bit... check out the dates below! Some of the shows are selling fast so we strongly suggest you pick up your tickets in advance. All the details are here: http://atribecalledred.com/tour/
In other news, the album of our friend Angel Haze is out so grab it and support! We produced the song she entitled A Tribe Called Red and you can watch the lyrics video here: . Speaking of video, we shot a music video for our song Sisters last month and it should be ready soon, so keep an eye out for this one!
Finally, we'll have some new merch ready soon (hoodies and kids shirt) and working on other surprises too. We'll post it on our Facebook or Twitter, but you'll find them on our store page here: http://atribecalledred.spinshop.com/
A Tribe Called Red - Turtle Island tour:
Read more: A Tribe Called Red Newsletter: new tour dates, Angel Haze and new merch!
More Articles...
- upcoming events and information
- [evoz] Saturday, Jan. 25th Event
- Saturday, Jan. 25th Event
- [coalalert] ALBERNI VALLEY TIMES: " TRUCKING ONLY OPTION FOR MINE"
- SJS ANNUAL LECTURE
- [coalalert] RAVEN COAL MINE LETTER
- ACTION FORUM - Community Action Plan on Poverty
- Ingredients - Our Community Newsletter
- Fwd: press release condemning Harper's speech at the Knesset
- [Uvic-sustainability] News and events for week of Jan 20th
