[KWPeace-groups] 22 upcoming events for peace, earth and justice

[Tamara Lorincz]

Hello everyone!

22 upcoming events for peace, earth and justice - most are in KW but a couple are in Toronto & Guelph. 
Plan ahead World Environment Day is on June 5 and World Refugee Day is on June 20. 
Have a great long weekend!
Tamara

(1)
ISRAEL SETTLEMENTS: COLONIZATION IN THE NAME OF RELIGION
Truth Cafe and Mennonite Church Eastern Canada Israel/Palestine Working Group Co-Sponsor Event
When?  Saturday, May 18 at 7:00pm
Where?  Community Room at 50 Kent Ave, Kitchener (Mennonite Offices--2nd Floor)
What? Dr. Omar Ramahi will give a presentation on Settlements
“Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, including East Jerusalem, are illegal and an obstacle to peace and economic social development […and] have been established in breach of international law.” -International Court of Justice Ruling, July 9, 2004 
This presentation will contain minimal political perspective and focus heavily on the facts on the ground that have been established in objection to all international norms and in violation of the rights of the legal owners of the land. The presentation is important for anyone interested in peace and justice, here in Canada or in the Middle East. Omar Ramahi will present a testimony to this continuing grand challenge to justice.
Organized by Truth Café: https://www.facebook.com/truthcafekw/

(2)
MEETING GORBACHEV DOCUMENTARY
Playing at Princess Original, Waterloo
Tue, May 21 - 7:00 pm
Wed, May 22 - 7:45 pm
Sat, May 25 - 4:45 pm
Werner Herzog and André Singer's riveting documentary, filled with unforgettable archive materials and based on three long interviews, provides incredible access to, arguably, the world's greatest living politician. Now 87 and battling illness, the visionary Mikhail Gorbachev, former General Secretary of the U.S.S.R, has mellowed and slowed down. Still, gently but resolutely, he is pushing towards his goals. Herzog, as on-screen interviewer, does not disguise his affection, celebrating Gorbachev's three remarkable accomplishments: negotiations with the U.S. to reduce nuclear weapons; cessation of Soviet control of Eastern Europe and the reunification of Germany; and the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Eastern Bloc. All of this in six years! One German diplomat sums up Gorbachev's approach: "The process went so quickly that... opponents were overcome by the reality of the situation." Herzog and Singer remind us of the drastic and unforeseeable way the world changes.
More info: https://www.princesscinemas.com/movie/meeting-gorbachev

(3)
KNOCK DOWN THE HOUSE DOCUMENTARY
May 23, 7pm, Twin. Community Screening presented by Catherine Fife, MPP for the riding of Waterloo. Registration required for this free event.
"Please join me for a free screening of Knock Down the House at Princess Twin Cinemas on Thursday May 23 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm.
"This film follows the incredible stories of four women who decide to run for office against all odds. At a moment of historic volatility in American politics, these women set themselves on a journey that changed their lives and country forever."
RSVP here: https://www.catherinefife.com/knock_down_the_house
More info: https://www.princesscinemas.com/events-upcoming

(4)
DECODING RACISM, MULTICULTURALISM, AND POST-COLONIALISM IN THE QUEST FOR BELONGING IN CANADA AND BEYOND
Book launch
Authors: Kathy Hogarth & Wendy L. Fletcher
When: Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 12:00pm
Where: Renison Atrium, University of Waterloo
More info: https://uwaterloo.ca/renison/

(5)
ECONOMICS FOR A BURNING PLANET: CHALLENGING THE LOGIC OF THE GROWTH ECONOMY
THURSDAY, MAY 23, 2019 7:00 PM - 9:30 PM
CIGI CAMPUS AUDITORIUM, 67 ERB STREET WEST, WATERLOO, CANADA
The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted in 2015 as a collective action plan for UN Member States to ensure a more peaceful and prosperous world by 2030. Sustainable Development Goal 8 focuses on building sustainable economic growth, ensuring decent work for all, and addressing labour market inequality. However, in the context of a finite planet experiencing climate breakdown, some experts see inherent inconsistencies in this goal. A particular point of conflict is the idea that economic growth is necessary to address the imbalances that exist in access to the market. This panel, “Economics for a Burning Planet: Challenging the Logic of the Growth Economy,” will explore alternative approaches to sustainability that address the desired outcomes of SDG 8, including the 'degrowth' movement.
Dr. Leah Temper (Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University), Dr. Peter Victor (Author 'Managing without Growth'), Dr. Deborah McGregor (Indigenous Environmental Justice, York U), and Indigenous Climate Action co-founder Eriel Deranger, will present four distinct perspectives on the notion of 'sustainable and equitable growth'. These panelists bring extensive expertise and unique perspectives that inform potential solutions for both addressing the fundamental goals of the SDG, while also contesting the assumption that this can only be accomplished by further expanding the world’s economy.Copies of Peter Victor's second edition of his important work "Managing without Growth" will be available for sale at the event, along with other key works from ecological economics.
This event is presented as the public keynote of the Canadian Society for Ecological Economics (CANSEE) 12th Biennial Conference: "Engaging Economies of Change" in partnership with the Centre for International Governance Innovation and Power Shift WR.
More info: https://www.cigionline.org/events/economics-burning-planet-challenging-logic-growth-economy

(6)
FRIDAYS FOR FUTURE CLIMATE STRIKE: KITCHENER-WATERLOO
Join us on FRIDAY, MAY 24th from 12.30 to 1:30pm at Waterloo Town Square (*NEW LOCATION*), 75 King St. South, in Uptown Waterloo. Friday strikes happening all over the world (Then the first Friday of every month)
Organized by Climate Save: https://www.facebook.com/kitchenerwaterlooclimatesave/

(7)
2RIVERS FESTIVAL: SEA OF LIFE FILM SCREENING
Hosted by 2Rivers Festival and Kitchener-Waterloo Climate Save
Friday, May 24, 2019 at 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Ten Carden, 42 Carden St, Guelph, Ontario N1H 3A2
Tickets: www.2riversfestival.org 
Learn what is happening to our oceans and what we can do about it.
With stunning cinematography, Sea of Life is an inspiring
film offering hope and encouraging everyone to unite in an
effort to preserve our oceans on a global scale. 
Filmed over three years in seven countries, Sea of Life dives into some of the most spectacular ecosystems on the planet, exposing both the destruction that's happening in the ocean and the efforts underway to stop it. This multi-award winning documentary leads audiences through the stunning world of coral reefs into the heart of the environmental movement, meeting passionate scientists, activists and explorers who reveal an enormous opportunity to rise up and become the heroes the world needs.

(8)
COMMUNITY MAKER NIGHT
WPL has partnered with the Canadian Society for Ecological Economics for a family-friendly, fun evening of making!
Saturday, May 25 from 5:00pm to 8:00pm
Main Library (enter off Dupont Street using the Auditorium doors)
All ages are welcome to join us to explore ways to live waste-free while also improving quality of life. Hands-on workshops and activities include: make your own beeswax wraps, community art project
Games, make your own reusable bags, starting seeds, live music... and more!
More info: https://www.wpl.ca/maker-night

(9)
THE X-PAGE PRESENTS: “QUILT OF STORIES”
May 26 from 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Auditorium • CIGI
67 Erb Street West, Waterloo, AZ N2L 6C2
During a 12-week writing and performance workshop facilitated by local professional artists, 19 refugee and immigrant women from Waterloo Region each developed a personal narrative. They then worked collaboratively to bring their individual stories together into a cohesive presentation to be shared publicly.
A reception will follow the performance.
This event at the BSIA/CIGI Campus is being hosted by the International Migration Research Centre (IMRC).
More info: https://www.balsillieschool.ca/event/quilt-of-stories/

(10)
THE ECOLOGICAL AND CLIMATE CRISIS: HOW ARE WE TO LIVE NOW?
Tuesday, May 28th from 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Rotunda, Kitchener City Hall
200 King St. West, Kitchener, ON N2G 4G7
Our ecology, our home, is in crisis, and it’s much worse than we allow ourselves to believe. Even the most progressive government policies are woefully inadequate in light of the need. Each decade sees continued destruction, yet we tell ourselves we’re making progress, we still have a chance to “turn it around.”
How can we, as individuals and as a society, be honest about this situation? Why is it so difficult to tell the truth to ourselves, and to each other... to bear witness to the unraveling of our planet’s living systems?
And if we are honest, how then do we act? How do we act as if the truth is real? If the situation appears beyond hope… then what is our next step?
Join Professor Andrew McMurray and local Extinction Rebellion coordinator Shane Mulligan for a frank discussion of our current reality, and of the place of action in upholding both courage and hope.
About the Speakers: 
Andrew McMurray teaches Literature at the University of Waterloo. His most recent publication is Entertaining Futility: Despair and Hope in the Time of Climate Change (Texas A&M U., 2018).
In playfully pessimistic and thought-provoking essays, author Andrew McMurry explores a vital but fundamentally perverse human practice: destroying our planet while imagining we are not. How are humans able to do this? Entertaining Futility: Despair and Hope in the Time of Climate Change investigates the discourses of hope, progress, and optimism in the era of climate change, concepts that, McMurry argues, are polite names for blind faith, greed, and wishful thinking. The itemized list of humanity’s arrogance can quickly lead to despair, so McMurry compensates by presenting the news in a darkly comic and irreverent style. (from TAMU Press)
Shane Mulligan, PhD, has studied and taught about environment and politics for many years, before he turned to work in the community renewable energy sector. Shane also continues to write and research. His recent work on the textbook Global Ecopolitics: Crisis, Governance, and Justice, 2nd Ed. (U. of T. Press, 2019) helped him grasp the full extent of our planet’s ongoing ecological breakdown, and he is still trying to figure out how to live now, with this knowledge, in this time. He has been closely attuned to the actions of the global Extinction Rebellion movement, with its clear demands to “Tell the Truth!” and “Act as if the truth is real!” – while it uses non-violent direct action to move the political agenda toward a heightened sense of urgency.
More info and register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-ecological-and-climate-crisis-how-are-we-to-live-now-tickets-61677325541

(11)
OUT OF THE SHADOWS: STORY OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE SEX TRADE
85 Queen: An Evening with Timea Nagy and Shannon Moroney
Tue, May 28, 2019 from 
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM EDT
Kitchener Public Library
85 Queen St. N.
Kitchener, ON N2H 2H1
More info and to RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/85-queen-an-evening-with-timea-nagy-and-shannon-moroney-tickets-61228669599

 (12)
GUARDED GIRLS – A PLAY
The Registry Theatre, Waterloo 
May 8-19
The psychological destruction brought on by solitary confinement is at the heart of this wrenching and powerful new play by Charlotte Corbeil-Coleman. When 19-year-old Sid is transferred to a new prison, she finds friendship with Britt – but also forms a complicated relationship with the guard who seems to be watching their every move. Soon it’s the guard who’s being watched, and this playful, theatrical, mysterious work heads towards its shocking conclusion. THIS SHOW IS APPROPRIATE FOR AGES 13 AND OLDER (SOME STRONG LANGUAGE AND MATURE THEMES, INCLUDES NUDITY)
https://www.registrytheatre.com/category/events/partnerevents/

 (13)
POVERTY, POPULISM, PLANET: ENVISIONING ECONOMIC JUSTICE FEATURING MAUDE BARLOW
Conference & Key Note
Thursday, May 23, 2019 from 09:30-4:00
George Brown College (290 Adelaide St. E., 4th Floor), TORONTO
The 7th annual Tommy Douglas Institute at George Brown College is pleased to announce author, activist and Council of Canadians National Chair, Maude Barlow as its keynote speaker on Poverty, Populism, Planet: Envisioning Economic Justice.
More info and tix: https://www.georgebrown.ca/tommydouglasinstitute/

(14)
MARGARET ATWOOD: FROM THE HANDMAID’S TALE TO ART & TECHNOLOGY
An Evening in Conversation with Dave Bidini
THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019 at 7PM
Main Theatre, Centre in the Square
101 QUEEN STREET NORTH Kitchener, Ontario N2H 6P7
Experience an intimate evening with Canadian icon and literary legend, Margaret Atwood. The author’s dystopian novel, The Handmaid’s Tale, has been adapted into a critically acclaimed TV series – receiving 13 Emmy nominations and eight awards. Margaret Atwood: From The Handmaid’s Tale to Art & Technology; An Evening in Conversation with Dave Bidini will explore the themes, perception and inspiration behind her most provocative works. Noted musician and author Dave Bidini will moderate the discussion, which will include art, technology and the role of girls and women in STEAM.
Join us for an unforgettable experience as THEMUSEUM presents Margaret Atwood: From The Handmaid’s Tale to Art & Technology; An Evening in Conversation with Dave Bidini at Centre in the Square on May 30, 2019 at 7:00pm. This special presentation is in support of THEMUSEUM, with a portion of all ticket sales going to the charitable organization.
Buy tickets and more info: https://centreinthesquare.com/event/margaret-atwood-from-the-handmaids-tale-to-art-technology/ 

(15)
(THE WOKE WOMEN’S MOVEMENT) AND SELAM DEBS (JUICI YOGA)
Friday May 31, 6 pm – 10 pm
Registry Theatre, Waterloo
The FIRST of its kind in Waterloo Region, join us for an evening of inspiring speakers, live steel pan music, and an interactive panel discussion. Five Women, representing five unique cultural backgrounds, share stories of overcoming adversity and hardship, and define how they have persevered through cultivating unwavering determination in rising above barriers and setbacks. Creatively curated and by Selam Debs and Carla Beharry, come hear personal stories of resilience, from three empowering and engaging speakers:
MARVA WISDOM | KEYNOTE SPEAKER Director of the BLACK EXPERIENCE PROJECT | Co-founder of CANADIAN BLACK HISTORY PROJECTS
HALIMA AL-HATIMY Founder of FEMCARE COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVE
CAROLINA MIRANDA Founder of FEMININE HARBOUR LIGHT STORIE
Doors open at 6pm. Join us for a warm and welcoming hour from 6pm-7pm, for a glass of wine and live steel pan music, from our local, Guyanese-Canadian musician, Carol Taylor of Rhythms in Steel, to connect with speakers and other like-minded women in the region. Our speakers will run from 7pm-10pm, and will include a full interactive panel discussion.
Tickets: $65 EARLY BIRD PRICING – UNTIL APRIL 30TH, 2019 $75 AFTER MAY 1ST, 2019 *** CASH BAR WILL BE AVAILABLE
Call 519-616-1103 or Buy Tickets Online: https://www.registrytheatre.com/category/events/partnerevents/

(16) 
CULTURAL APPROPRIATION IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY: CAN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS HELP?
Monday, June 3, 2019 12:00 Pm - 1:30 Pm
Cigi Campus - Multipurpose Room A120, 67 Erb Street West, Waterloo, Canada
Public Event: Noon Lecture Series
Speaker: Brigitte Vézina
The fashion world is facing a burst of accusations of cultural appropriation. For example, French designer Isabel Marant was criticized in 2015 for designing a dress similar to a traditional blouse that has been made for centuries by the Mixe people, an Indigenous community in Mexico. Cultural appropriation cases spark passionate debate and while borrowing of stylistic elements from other cultures is common practice, it can not only be offensive but can cause economic harm to those that the original idea or knowledge belongs. Calls for action to curb appropriation emphasize a need for Indigenous peoples to have better control over their traditional cultural expressions (TCEs), including through the intellectual property system and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Join us for a dynamic presentation from CIGI fellow, Brigitte Vézina as she explains the concept of cultural appropriation, drawing on examples of cultural appropriation in the world of fashion. Brigitte will share how intellectual property rights, in particular copyright law, fails to provide adequate protection to TCEs making them vulnerable to cultural appropriation.
The presentation will start promptly at noon, and will be preceded by a light lunch starting at 11:30am.
More info: https://www.cigionline.org/events/cultural-appropriation-fashion-industry-can-intellectual-property-rights-help

(17)
CRITICAL THINKING IN AN ERA OF ALTERNATIVE FACTS
When: Tuesday, June 4 @ 12pm – 1:30pm
Where: Conrad Grebel University College, Community Education Room (2202), 140 Westmount Road North
How can you spot altered news stories? How do you verify sources of information? What is the goal of disinformation campaigns?  Join us for an interactive discussion on the importance of digital literacy for ordinary citizens as well as practical ways to address the era of alternative facts. Project Ploughshares researchers and communications staff will share insights into ways that we evaluate information, determine validity of sources and navigate social media platforms.
More info: https://ploughshares.ca/2019/05/event-critical-thinking-in-an-era-of-alternative-facts/

(18)
A GREEN NEW DEAL FOR ALL - TORONTO
Hosted by Briarpatch Magazine 
Tuesday, June 11, 2019 at 6:30 PM – 9 PM
Bloor Street United Church
300 Bloor Street West, Toronto, Ontario M5S1W3
The Leap and Friends are hitting the road to build a wave of popular support behind the Green New Deal in Canada
Join us at the Toronto tour stop of A Green New Deal for All!  Doors open at 6:30pm, event starts at 7pm.
Speakers and performers include Naomi Klein, Maya Menezes, Pam Palmater, David Suzuki, and Toronto's famous Raging Asian Women Taiko Drummers (RAW). 
We'll hear about:
How the climate crisis is affecting our communities
Who’s responsible for the mess we’re in, and
How the Green New Deal can build a better life for all
The evening will close with a 'barnstorm' led by 350.org.
We’re going to fall in love with what’s possible. And we’re going to lay out our plan to win — together.You're not going to want to miss this. 
Reserve your ticket now! Tickets: https://www.facebook.com/events/2193751557412110/

(19)
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLE'S DAY CELEBRATION - A TALK WITH PHIL MONTURE
Wednesday, June 19, 2019 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Address: Waterloo Region Museum, 10 Huron Rd., Kitchener, Ontario 
In recognition of National Indigenous People’s Day, which falls on June 21 each year, the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum will host Phil Monture, from Six Nations of the Grand River. He will tell the story of his community and the Haldimand Proclamation (Treaty) of 1784. The treaty covers lands for six miles on each side of the Grand River from Lake Erie to its source. 
Seating is limited for this event. Please RSVP at 519-748-1914 or email waterlooregionmuseum at regionofwaterloo.ca by Friday, June 14, 2019. 
Monture, who has been researching this history for almost 40 years, will provide a historical overview of various land transactions and will discuss current Six Nations’ claims in Canada. The knowledge that he will share will strengthen our understanding of the territory that we live on here in Waterloo Region and increase our capacity to make connections between treaties and local geography and history.
More info: https://calendar.waterlooregionmuseum.ca/Default/Detail/2019-06-19-1900-National-Indigenous-Peoples-Day-Celebration-A-Talk

(20)
NATIONAL INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY FESTIVAL
Wheelchair Accessible
Thursday, June 18 & 19, 2019 9:45 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Address: Waterloo Region Museum, 10 Huron Rd., Kitchener, Ontario View on Google Maps
A school program that allows students to learn about the history and current realities of the Region’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit populations. General public are welcome to attend.
More info: https://calendar.waterlooregionmuseum.ca/Default/Detail/2019-06-20-0945-National-Indigenous-Peoples-Day-Festival

(21)
WORLD REFUGEE DAY AT THE KEN SEILING WATERLOO REGION MUSEUM
Thursday, June 20, 2019 - 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Address: Waterloo Region Museum, 10 Huron Rd., Kitchener, Ontario View on Google Maps
Visitors are invited to help knot comforters that the Mennonite Central Committee will send with other supplies to refugee camps overseas.
More info: https://calendar.waterlooregionmuseum.ca/Default/Detail/2019-06-20-0930-World-Refugee-Day-at-the-Ken-Seiling-Waterloo-Regi

(22)
DAY IN THE PARK 2019
20 July 2019 @ 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Roos Island, Victoria Park, Kitchener
WR Nonviolence and Anti-Poverty: http://wrnonviolence.org/
Please join us for the 15th Annual Nonviolence Day In The Park!

(23)
THE INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY FUNDRAISING GALA
In support of Peaceworks and our charity partners Mennonite Centre Committee,
Kids Help Phone, and World Vision Canada
September 20, 2019
Kitchener Mennonite Brethren Church,
​19 Ottawa Street North, Kitchener, Ontario
Tickets: $75 each / 2 for $100 / 10 (table) for $400 (10% discount before May 30)
​Info: 519-591-1365 or mail at peaceworks.tv
All ticket sales prior to May 30th will support Peace Day,
​our free event for students in grades 6-12. BUY NOW!
Join us for a genuine Mennonite family-style dinner by Anna Mae's (including their famous pies)
auctions and music by the awesome JoJo Worthington as we celebrate International Peace Day!
More info: http://peaceworks.tv/gala.html

***

In solidarity for peace, earth and justice,

Tamara Lorincz

PS. In Toronto at the end of every month…

(*)
CANADA OUT OF NATO
No to the Military Alliance; Yes to Peace and Disarmament! 
Wednesday, June 19 and Wednesday, July 31 and Wednesday, August 28
12:00-1:00 pm
60 Harbour St., Toronto
(corner with Bay St. near the Queen's Quay Ferry Docks Terminal)
Every month this year, the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW) will be holding a peace vigil outside the NATO Association of Canada headquarters in downtown Toronto at 48 Yonge St (corner with Wellington St). This year is the 70th anniversary of this male-dominated military alliance and Cold War relic that threatens our security. NATO has been involved in illegal interventions in Serbia and Afghanistan and destabilizing operations in Libya, Ukraine, Latvia and Poland etc...  NATO members are the world's largest weapons manufacturers and arms companies like Lockheed Martin and General Dynamics fund the NATO Association of Canada. NATO puts intense pressure on Canada every year to increase military spending, which diverts public funding away from urgent social and environmental needs. NATO relies on a dangerous nuclear arsenal and refuses to disarm. VOW is calling for the Canadian government to withdraw from NATO and work through the United Nations on disarmament and the Sustainable Development Goals that will bring genuine human security. No to NATO; yes to peace, nonviolence and sustainability!
Organized by the Canadian Voice of Women for Peace (VOW)
https://www.facebook.com/VOWPeace/