When: November 11th, 2015 from 6:30-9pm
Where: Friends House (60 Lowther Ave, Toronto)
Facebook event here.
“Yes, the long memory is the most radical idea in this country. It is the loss of that long memory which deprives our people of that connective flow of thoughts and events that clarifies our vision, not of where we’re going, but where we want to go.” – Utah Phillips
On this Remembrance Day, join the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network in asking: Why are some wars institutionally remembered while others are swiftly erased from Canadians’ collective memory? Can the complex forces of criminalization, militarization, surveillance, physical violence, and administrative violence that are enacted against Indigenous, campesino, and Afro-descendant communities in the name of Canadian economic interests be understood as a war? And if so, how can we fight the mechanisms that make us forget the causes and impacts of these wars?
At this panel, exhibit, and memorial event we will have the honour of hearing four important stories (including from two international guests) from the frontlines of Canada’s many resource wars.
Luis Solano is a Guatemalan economist and investigative journalist who has written extensively on the role of the Canadian mining industry in Guatemala. For five years, communities affected by Tahoe Resources’ Escobal mine have been peacefully defending their lands and livelihoods. More than 55,000 people have voted in community referenda against the silver mine and its proposed expansion plans. Despite this clear message, Tahoe Resources and the Guatemalan government, with tacit support from the Canadian Embassy, have been using repression, criminalization, and militarization to try to silence the communities’ resistance and to impose the company’s project. Tonight, Solano will present the results of his recent investigation into this militarization of communities in southeastern Guatemala, before bringing these results to Geneva the following week. Joining Luis on his Ontario/Quebec tour, Jen Moore from Mining Watch Canada will briefly speak to the role of the Canadian government and its complicity and active support of these violent processes.
Monica Gutierrez is a documentary filmmaker and member of the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network. Her collection of films, “Crude Gold: Stories of Justice Denied in Colombia”, showcases five pivotal cases of foreign-funded mining exploitation connected to Canadian investors. Tonight she will show one of these short films, “Gran Colombia Gold”, which explores the situation in Segovia, Colombia, where Canadian mining company Gran Colombia Gold has been accused of involvement in the murder of the Regional Union Mining and Energy Workers’ president, Rafael Tobon Zea.
Francisco Ramirez Cuellar is a Colombian human rights lawyer, trade unionist, and long-standing voice opposing the proliferation of multinational and Canadian corporate control of Colombia’s mining-energy extractive industries. In 2005, he co-authored the book “The Profits of Extermination: Big Mining in Colombia” with Avi Chomsky. More details on the topic of his presentation to come soon!
A final speaker will discuss criminalization and resource war in a local context – to be announced shortly!
Join us before this event for a public action organized in alignment with the night’s theme by DECOLONIZE NOW!, a new group working towards building a joint mass movement led by Black and Indigenous people, Peoples of Colour and White allies. This group’s intention is to draw public attention to the connections between our issues, whether it’s the murders of Black men and women by police, the disappearances of Native women across North America, or the destruction of our homelands. More details about the action to come!
Friends House is a wheelchair accessible venue, including the washroom. Speakers in Monica Gutierrez’ film are subtitled in English, making this film accessible for English speakers who need videos to be captioned. Childcare will be provided on-site and light refreshments will be made available. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do do make this event accessible for you by emailing [email protected]!