Op-Ed Columnist - March of the Peacocks - NYTimes.com

Op-Ed Columnist - March of the Peacocks - NYTimes.com

Genocide Film Series

Genocide Film Series

April 9-13, 2007
Huron University College, The University of Western Ontario

Partners:
Amnesty International, Huron
GLOBE, Huron
Amnesty International, Western
Students Taking Action Now: Darfur (STAND), Western
World University Services of Canada, Western
Canadian Centre for Genocide & Human Rights Education
Amnesty International, London

According to one estimate, some 250,000,000 people were killed by governments during the 20th Century - six times the death toll of every war during the same period. In fact, 250,000,000 bodies - averaging five feet in length - laid head-to-toe to would encircle the Earth - 10 times. Genocide - the destruction of a group - was so prevalent during the 20th Century that some observers now refer to the period as "The Century of Genocide."

Monday, April 9, 8:00 p.m. "Ararat" (2002) Huron University College, W12
Directed by Canadian filmmaker, Atom Egoyan, this film, which won best Canadian film at the Genie Awards, tells the story of an Armenian director making a Hollywood movie on the Armenian Genocide, which claimed the lives of over a million Armenians during World War I.

Tuesday, April 10, 8:00 p.m. "Rosenstrasse" (2003) Huron University College, W12
This film tells the story of the Rosenstrasse protest in Berlin, Germany, during which non-Jewish women rescued their Jewish husbands from deportation by the Nazis during the Holocaust, which claimed the lives of some six million European Jews during World War II.

Wednesday, April 11, 8:00 p.m. "Sophie Scholl" (2005) Huron University College, W116
This film, nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, tells the story of Sophie Scholl, a member of the White Rose, a student resistance group in Nazi Germany, who was convicted of treason and executed by guillotine for distributing anti-Nazi fliers

Thursday, April 12, 8:00 p.m. "Welcome To Sarajevo" (1997) Huron University College, W116
Based on the book, Natasha's Story, this film, which stars Woody Harrelson, Marisa Tomei, and Goran Visnjic, tells the story of a group of journalists covering the Bosnian War whose work permits them blunt and unobstructed views of the suffering.

Friday, April 13, 8:00 p.m. "A Sunday in Kigali" (2006) Huron University College, W12
Based on the novel, A Sunday at the Pool in Kigali, written by Canadian Gil Courtemanche, this film tells the story of a French journalist who is separated from his Rwandan lover by the genocide and his desperate efforts to reunite with her.

Admission: Donation

More Information: CA +1 5199362235 Call

Save Kashmir Fundraiser

Save Kashmir is a charity fundraiser that is currently in its fourth year. Every year, the Hindu Student's Association and the Pakistani Student's Association collaborate their efforts to raise awareness about the current humanitarian and political crisis in Kashmir. Student groups from the University have volunteered their time and effort to help us put together a cultural show and this year we will have feature acts from the WICSA culture show team, Western Bhangra Club, Hip-Hop Western, the Vietnamese Student's Association and many more! There will also be a silent auction and /or a raffle for the opportunity to win great prizes!! The proceeds this year will be donated to the Edhi foundation on the Pakistani side and Save the Children India on the Indian side of the border.

The event is being held on Thursday, March 29th at Wolfe Performance Hall in Galleria Mall from 7-9:30 pm.

For any other questions or concerns please contact hsaexec@gmail.com.

UWO/Huron PIRF Fair Trade Coffee House

Start: Jan 30 2007 - 8:00pm
End: Jan 30 2007 - 10:30pm
Location:Huron University College - The SAC (Student Activity Centre)
Description:
UWO/Huron Public Interest Research Group proudly presents our second Fair Trade Coffee house of the year. We will be viewing the riveting documentary, Arna's Children; an Israeli woman's perspective on how violence only begets violence in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.
The film is approx. an hour and a half.
We will be serving FREE Fair Trade Coffee and light snacks- So bring a mug!

International Women's Day March - Bus Trip

UWO PIRG is looking at the possibility of taking a busload of people from London to the International Women's Day march and fair in Toronto. This event will take place on Saturday, March 11. For more information about Toronto's IWD march please check out this link http://www.iwdtoronto.com/march.htm

We are gathering a list of people who might be interested in taking the bus to this event. If interested, please email Becky Ellis rellis23@uwo.ca (doing so does not mean you are committing to go, it just gives us a better idea of whether or not there is interest in this).

UWO-PIRG: Oaxaca Solidarity Speaker Event

In Oaxaca, Mexico there has been an ongoing struggle for human rights and freedom. The catalyst for the popular uprising was a teacher's strike. Since the strike, many people have been treated with various forms of brutality by the Mexican state including torture and murder.

The UWO PIRG Oaxaca Solidarity Group is very pleased to announce a talk by a representative of the Oaxaca Teacher's Union, Racquel Cruz Manzano. It will take place at 3:30 on Monday, January 22 at Huron University College, Room V207.

Vounteers Needed - Tropical Bowl

Hutton House is a local London organization that provides services and programs for youth and adults with disabilities.On Sunday, February 11th Hutton House will be holding Tropical Bowl -a bowling fundraiser with proceeds to support the Access Voluntarism program.Visit www.huttonhouse.com for more information.

Volunteers for event day are needed!

Positions include:
Lane Volunteers - Help with lane assignments, setting up computers with bowler names for scoring, answer questions, assist with T-bars & ramps for wheelchairs as needed.
Entertainment Volunteers - Help assist with one or more of the following areas - prizes, children's activity area and/or the food room.

Date: Sunday, February 11th
Time: 12:30 pm - approx. 4 or 5 pm
Location: Fleetway, 720 Proudfoot Lane (Near Cherryhill Village Mall,

Interested? Contact Susan Ratz, Development & Communications Coordinator
Phone: 519-472-6381 x227 Email: susan@huttonhouse.com

Those interested should contact Susan no later than Friday, January 26th.Thank you!

Film Showing and events to protest Guantanamo facility

There is a major international campaing this week (Jan. 11-15) to commemorate the opening of the illegal detention centre at Guantánamo. Here in Canada, this campaign has been added to an ongoing campaign to close Guantánamo North, the expensive prison near Kingston where three men have been help without charges for years under "Security Certificate" legislation (see http://homesnotbombs.ca/secrettrials.htm).Here in London, People for Peace has planned a few activities, including distributing flyers and askign for people to contact politicians to press for the closing of this "facility", and a film showing on Friday night (below).

What? Movie: The Road to Guantánamo
When? 7pm Friday, 12 January 2007
Where? UC 84, University College, UWO Campus
FREE!Web Poster: http://londoncommons.net/node/1910?size=_original
Details:Winner of the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival, The Road to Guantánamo is the terrifying first-hand account of three British citizens who were held for two years without charges in the American military prison of Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. Known as the "Tipton Three," in reference to their home town in Britain, the three were eventually returned to Britain and released, still having had no formal charges ever made against them at anytime during their ordeal. The film has already engendered significant controversy due to its critical stance towards American and British governments.

Official site: http://www.roadtoguantanamomovie.com/ There will also be another short documentary about Security Certificates in Canada, and men currently held without charges at "Guantánamo North".

Fair Ttrade Convergence in Boston!

Registration ends on January 15!

Dear Fellow Student and Community Activist,

It's my pleasure to invite you and the members of your organization to the 2007 United Students for Fair Trade Convergence taking place in Boston February 16-19th! The convergence will build upon the past accomplishments of USFT and continue to further its mission: to engage and inspire students to act for greater social and economic justice and equity around the world. USFT is a national network of student organizations advocating around Fair Trade products, policies, and principles. We have three main functions. First, we organize--we work to consolidate and coordinate the power of the over 100 active student Fair Trade organizations in the U.S. Second, we do leadership development and capacity building, primarily through intensive international exchanges and skill-building conferences. Last, we serve as a resource group for student-based affiliates looking for anything from a phone number to research materials to strategic advice to internship opportunities.

For more information about USFT and the 2007 Convergence check out www.usft.org.The core objective of USFT is to raise the awareness of and expand the demand for Fair Trade alternatives, both on campuses and in communities. Through this process, we redefine relationships between producer and consumer, and engage in the ongoing struggle to build people's power in the face of corporate-driven globalization.The 2007 USFT Convergence hopes to provide students with a comprehensive look at Fair Trade and its changing image amidst the rise in interdependence among governments and peoples and amidst the ever more globalized economy.

The key goals of the Convergence are as follows:
1. Facilitate an exchange of dialogue across cultures, perceptions, and experiences
2. Empower participants to organize in their communities
3. Embody accessibility through celebrating differences
4. Integrate a waste-free, environmentally sustainable focus.

If you'd like to look into the application or just more information about the Convergence, you can do so at http://www.ersvp.com/reply/2007usftconvergence. Financial Aid is available and can be designated on the application. If you have any questions at all, please contact us at outreach.usft@gmail.com. We'd love to hear from you! We can't wait to meet you and hope to hear from you soon!

All the Best,
Convergence Team

Amnesty Photography Competition

"Lenses of Life" Photography Competition

Grand Prize: $100 gift certificate for the UWO Bookstore
Deadline: Mon. Jan. 15th

Amnesty Huron is currently accepting photo submissions which represent any of the human rights listed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
(visit http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html for full list)

Submissions are due by Jan. 15 to the InfoDesk at Huron University College
No limit on number of entries and all entries must be min. 8"X10".

Submission forms available by e-mailing amnestyhuron@hotmail.com

There will be an art show featuring all entries the week of Jan. 22nd and a reception the evening of Jan. 23rd

Fair Trade Shea Butter Gift Baskets

Check it out....Fair Trade Shea Butter Gift Baskets! These are made by a local student and Oxfam Club member and make great Christmas Presents! You can contact Tori to order one at vclark2@uwo.ca or call her 519-200-7145. Available untill December 10th!

Holiday Shopping Alternatives

Blogging live from our UCC booth! (jealous?)

Today Oxfam is chilling in the UCC CentreSpot making hemp bracelets, beaded necklaces, recycled Christmas card gift boxes, origami ninja stars (thanks Mike), decorated t-shirts and other arts and crafts to provide students with no-cost gift alternatives for the holiday season.

Also available is information about holiday charity donations, Arts for Aids prints, and other wicked gift ideas that can make a difference in the world. It's been an interesting afternoon full of finger cramps and pwning n00bs. All in the spirit of Buy Nothing Day!

Big thank you to everyone who stopped by!