September 16th, 7:00pm at Windsor Workers’ Action Centre 328 Pelissier St. Windsor.
You are invited to attend the first meeting of the Windsor-Essex Social Justice Coalition! Since the Social Forum we hope you have enjoyed summer vacation, however we must address mounting Social Justice issues in our city. With the networks and resources formed during the Forum, the Coalition has the potential of being a force for change in Windsor.
With our resolutions in hand (available at http://socialforum.ca/wordpress/?page_id=471), we must sit down and determine our course of action.
Our current proposed agenda is as follows:
1) How do we want to structure the coalition?
2) What are our long term objectives? What are some immediate goals?
If you have any questions concerning the meeting, agenda or resolutions please email CHANGE@socialforum.ca
Members of the Community and Windsor-Essex Social Justice Coalition Members,
Monday marks the initial public action of the People’s Assembly and resulting WESJC. At 6:00pm we will be addressing the City Council meeting as a delegation represented by Ken Townsend. On the table is the issue of garbage collection privatization. We have already delivered a letter to City Hall outlining the pitfalls of privatizing of public services, on Monday we will demand change for our community.
Privatization of public services is an issue that effects US ALL. The resulting loss of public service furthers income polarization and disproportionately effects marginalized populations within our city. Privatization as part of a wider neoliberal agenda has cascading effects into several issues addressed that the Social Forum.
There are several local effects:
increased marginalization of the poor and homeless through loss of accessible daycare services
further compounding effects of poverty on racially marginalized groups, women and children
elimination of quality public, union employment
loss of public recourse for environmental issues arising from private garbage collection
establishing precedent for privatization in other sectors
ultimately, increased cost to the public
historically proven in the case of garbage privatization
transfer of social burden to other services in the case of daycare privatization
We ask that all members of the Coalition and public attend in the gallery at 350 City Hall Square West at 6:00pm on Monday July 12th to show their solidarity and support for our demands. The letter delivered to City Hall will be available at http://www.socialforum.ca/lettertocity1.doc for review.
Remember, this is our first action. With over 100 members and 25 organizations, we have the power to improve our community for the better. Let’s solidify our reputation as a force for positive change!
Sincerely,
Ken Townsend Member, WESJC Organizing Committee, CSF2010
With coverage of progressive events, mainstream media often miss the essence of our efforts in favour of stories that sell. Although the story was positioned amidst the upcoming G8/G20 talks, Firday’s report of the Social Forum by CBC Windsor’s Steven Bull transcended this norm.
The Canadian Social Forum would like to extend a request to the community for volunteers. Due to the amount of interest from the community and quantity of presenters we are currently short-handed for operating the event.
If you can assist us by volunteering for one of the positions below, please contact CHANGE@socialforum.ca with your name and availability. We are willing to work around presentations you would like to attend. Thank You!
Set Up: Tent, Registration Table Projection Equipment – All Saints Church
A limited number of Canadian Social Forum tickets are now available from our friends at Ten Thousand Villages, Windsor for $15 each! Avoid the lineups and get yours today!
Ten Thousand Villages, 624 Chilver Rd. Unit 102, Windsor, ON.
The goal of the Canadian Social Forum is to connect the community with organizations for change on a variety of issues. We recognize that financial barriers can often silence members of community who’s voices need to be heard. The Canadian Social Forum does NOT wish to reproduce the very marginalization which we are organizing against.
In hopes of encouraging an equal and fair representation of our community, we would like to announce that free admittance is available to anyone facing financial barriers. Please contact CHANGE@socialforum.ca for more information.
Tonight, June 3rd, the Guerrilla Projection Unit will be taking the messages of Social Justice to the masses of Downtown Windsor! So if you see our message on the side of a downtown building, drop by and say hello.
