PIRGSPECTIVES Fall/Winter 2010-11

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Fall Winter 2010-‐2011

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Fall/Winter 2010-­‐2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

About OPIRG KW/Z' DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ ůŝŶŬƐ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ǁŝƚŚ ĂĐƟŽŶ ŽŶ Ă ďƌŽĂĚ ƌĂŶŐĞ ŽĨ ƐŽĐŝĂů ũƵƐƟĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶ-­‐ ŵĞŶƚĂů ŝƐƐƵĞƐ͕ ďŽƚŚ ůŽĐĂůůLJ ĂŶĚ ŐůŽďĂůůLJ͘ dŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ͕ ƉƌŽĂĐƟǀĞ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͕ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĂĐƟŽŶ͕ KW/Z' ĞŵƉŽǁĞƌƐ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ƚŽ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ĂĐƟǀĞ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂŶƚƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĚĞĐŝ-­‐ ƐŝŽŶƐ ǁŚŝĐŚ ĂīĞĐƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ůŝǀĞƐ͘

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^ƚƵĚĞŶƚ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ ĨŽƌŵ ƚŚĞ ĐŽƌĞ ŽĨ KW/Z'͛Ɛ ŽĂƌĚ ŽĨ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌƐ͕ ĚĞĮŶŝŶŐ ďŽƚŚ ŽƵƌ ǀŝƐŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŽƵƌ ĂĐƟǀŝƐŵ͘ KƵƌ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚͲƌƵŶ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ŵĞĞƚ ƌĞŐƵůĂƌůLJ ƚŽ ĞĚƵĐĂƚĞ ƚŚĞŵƐĞůǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƌŐĂŶŝnjĞ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ǀĂƌŝŽƵƐ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ͘

GET INVOLVED Subscribe to our e-­‐mail events list to stay informed about our many public events, including ǁŽƌŬƐŚŽƉƐ ŽŶ ĐŽŶƐĞŶƐƵƐ ĚĞĐŝƐŝŽŶͲŵĂŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶƟͲŽƉƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ Įůŵ ŶŝŐŚƚƐ͕ ƉƵďůŝĐ ƐƉĞĂŬĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƌĞ͘ ŽŵĞ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŽĸĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĐŚĞĐŬ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞ ǁŝĚĞ ǀĂƌŝĞƚLJ ŽĨ ĨĂŝƌ ƚƌĂĚĞ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ĐŚŽĐŽůĂƚĞ ĂŶĚ ĐŽīĞĞ ƚŽ ŚĂŶĚŵĂĚĞ ǁŽǀĞŶ ďĂƐŬĞƚƐ͘

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Or call: (905)-­‐525-­‐9140 ext. 27289 &Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ĞŵĂŝů: opirg@mcmaster.ca

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A. Working Group Spotlight: ThreadWork Dorina Simeonov...............2

A. True Confessions of a PIRG Coordinator of Volunteers Randy Kay.........................9

A. The Key to Change is to Stop Fearing It McMaster Students for Social :ƵƐƟĐĞ͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘ϭϲ

B. Tech Free for Change & Poverty Awareness ^ĂďĂŚ <ŚĂŶ͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘ϯ

͘ KW/Z' ƌĞĂƟŽŶƐ͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘ϭϬ

C. Facing the Crisis of Biodiversity Loss Maria Strybos....................4

D. Inter-­‐City Humanitarianism ƵĚƌĞLJ EĂůƵnj͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘ϲ

C. Working Group Spotlight: FreeSkool..........................11 D. Book Review -­‐ Rethinking Schools: An Agenda for Change WƌĞĞƟ EĂLJĂŬ͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘ϭϮ E. Meet Your OPIRG Board ZĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟǀĞƐ͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘​͘ϭϯ

>ĂLJŽƵƚ ĚŝƚŽƌƐ͗ Harjot Atwal Dorina Simeonov

B. Rain Drops and Burning Cars Harjot Atwal.........................18 C. Working Group Spotlight: McMaster Students for Social :ƵƐƟĐĞ Dorina Simeonov..................19 ͘ dĂŬŝŶŐ ĐƟŽŶ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ Volunteering: Why Do We Do It? Arum Choi...........................20

WŚŽƚŽŐƌĂƉŚLJ͗ Harjot Atwal Davey T. Hamada

ĚŝƚŽƌƐ͗ Eric Collins <ƌŝƐƟŶĂ DĂŶŐůŝŐŽƚ

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LIVE ThreadWork... pg.02 Tech Free for Change... pg.03 Biodiversity Loss... pg.04 Inter-­City Humanitarianism... pg.06

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Fall/Winter 2010-­‐2011

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A Swapping of ThreadWork

ThreadWork began in September with three members and already has an active volun-­‐ teer group that helps out at events. Equipped

By Dorina Simeonov with a small budget and a progressive idea, Davey Hamada, one of the core members, and his co-­‐ collaborators are happy to know that “people

This new OPIRG can make a change in their community from one working group is already making an impact with its idea.” They are currently working On a list of do-­‐it-­‐yourself attitude that brands, retailers and thrift stores that are in line with the group’s core values of fair labour and promotes sustainability community. This will allow students and Hamilton and an alternative citizens at large to make use of their purchasing economy of buying less power and send a message that supports the fair and reducing consumer trade of ethically sourced clothing. All of the items waste. Despite the stigma of bed bugs and sani-­‐ that are left over from the Clothing Swap event tation associated with used clothing, members collected over 700 pounds of garments that were are being donated to a local charity, and members will also be holding Sewing 101 workshops to help displayed at the McMaster University Student students turn their large, ripped, and/or button-­‐ Centre atrium recently. less clothes into useable wears without mom’s

There, individuals could use their swap handiwork. points, obtained from donating their own used items, to get new (to them) items just in time for

Halloween. Over the past month, ThreadWork has If you want to stay in the loop or get been collecting everything from shoes to t-­‐shirts, weaved into the world of ThreadWork by which help you add to your swap points. These facilitating a workshop, contact the group at points will carry over to the next clothing swap in macthreadwork@gmail.com. the Spring, if you didn’t get a chance to use them up this time around.

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POVERTY AWARENESS THROUGH DITCHING TECHNOLOGY

By Sabah Khan

“How many of the one billion text messages sent each day are sent by you?” this is what many posters around the campus asked the students of McMaster University.

Tech Free for Change, an event sponsored by Open Circle, ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ ĐƟŽŶ͕ dŚĞ United Way, McMaster Poverty /ŶŝƟĂƟǀĞ ĂŶĚ KWZ/' DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ͕ ǁĂƐ ŚĞůĚ ŽŶ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ KĐƚŽďĞƌ Ϯϲ͕ 2010. McMaster students were invited to give up one or more pieces of technology for a day and explore life without being plugged in. 47% of students say their social life would worsen if they didn’t ŚĂǀĞ Ă ĐĞůů ƉŚŽŶĞ͘ ,ŽǁĞǀĞƌ͕ ŽŶ KĐƚŽďĞƌ ϮϲƚŚ ŵĂŶLJ ŽĨ these people pledged to go without their cell phones, ŝƉŽĚƐ͕ ůĂƉƚŽƉƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĨĂĐĞŬ ĨŽƌ ĂŶ ĞŶƟƌĞ ĚĂLJ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƐƚ of them thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Clubspace ǁĂƐ ƚƵƌŶĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ Ă dĞĐŚͲĨƌĞĞ njŽŶĞ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƵƐĞ ŽĨ ƚĞĐŚ-­‐ nological devices was prohibited. There were various workshops held in Clubspace throughout the day,that allowed one to have fun without the use of technology.

There were workshops on how to crochet, how to mend your own clothes, and access to technology while living in poverty. Various fun tables were also set up around Clubspace. A group of students sat at the clay table for ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ĂŶ ŚŽƵƌ ƚƌLJŝŶŐ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ŇŽǁĞƌƐ ŽƵƚ ŽĨ ĐůĂLJ͘ Another group had fun making their own toothpaste.

A Cootes hike with Cootes Paradise Club and Ă tĞƐƚĚĂůĞ ƚŽƵƌ ǁĞƌĞ ĂůƐŽ ŽƌŐĂŶŝnjĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJ͘ DŽƐƚ people took pleasure in stepping out of the campus ďŽƵŶĚĂƌŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĂĚŵŝƩĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ƐŽŵĞƚŚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞLJ did not do a lot of. The goal of this event was not only to challenge oneself to go without a favourite piece of technology for the day but also to ƌĂŝƐĞ ĂǁĂƌĞŶĞƐƐ ŽĨ ƉŽǀĞƌƚLJ ƚŚĂƚ ĂīĞĐƚƐ ŵĂŶLJ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ,ĂŵŝůƚŽŶ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ͘ /ƚ ǁĂƐ Ă ƟŵĞ ƚŽ ƉƵƚ ŽŶĞƐĞůĨ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ƐŚŽĞƐ ŽĨ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ǁŚŽ ŚĂƐ ƚŽ ĮŶŝƐŚ Ă ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ĂƐƐŝŐŶŵĞŶƚ ďƵƚ ĐĂŶ͛ƚ ĂīŽƌĚ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĞƚ Žƌ Ă ĐŽŵ-­‐ puter.

A guest speaker for one of the workshops ƐŚĂƌĞĚ Ă ƐƚŽƌLJ ĂďŽƵƚ Ă ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟŽŶ ŚĞ ŚĂĚ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŝƐ child about how all the student in their ĐůĂƐƐ ŚĂĚ Ă ĐŽŵƉƵƚĞƌ Ăƚ ŚŽŵĞ ƚŽ ĮŶŝƐŚ ƵƉ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĂƐƐŝŐŶ-­‐ ments. When he asked how she knew that she replied, “The teacher asked the class that whoever doesn’t have

a computer at home please raise your hand and no one raised their hand”. To this he replied, “Would you have raised your hand if you didn’t have a com-­‐ ƉƵƚĞƌ͍͟ ^ƵƌƉƌŝƐĞĚ ƐŚĞ ƌĞƉůŝĞĚ͕ ͞EŽ that would have been bad”. This story shocked some of the listener while others had heard it before in one form or the other. dŚĞ ĚĂLJ ĞŶĚĞĚ Žī ǁŝƚŚ Ă discussion dinner. Apart from the ĂŵĂnjŝŶŐ ĨŽŽĚ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ǁĂƐ Ă ƟŵĞ ĨŽƌ the people involved in the event ƚŽ ƌĞŇĞĐƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ͘ tĞ talked about how challenging it was to give up a piece of technol-­‐ ŽŐLJ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƟƌĞ ĚĂLJ͘ &Žƌ ƐŽŵĞ ƐƚĂLJŝŶŐ ĂǁĂLJ ĨƌŽŵ ƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJ ǁĂƐ Ă ĚŝĸĐƵůƚ ďĂƩůĞ ǁŚŝůĞ other hardly missed their gadgets. Regardless, most people agreed that they had more face-­‐to-­‐ face conver-­‐ ƐĂƟŽŶƐ ƚŚĂŶ ƚŚĞLJ ŶŽƌŵĂůůLJ ĚŝĚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĚĂLJ ďƌŽƵŐŚƚ a sense of peace to them.

The day and the discussion raised a lot of ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ ĂďŽƵƚ ŚŽǁ ŵƵĐŚ ǁĞ ĂƐ Ă ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ĂƌĞ dependent on technology and how this dependence is ĂīĞĐƟŶŐ ŽƵƌ ĚĂLJ ƚŽ ĚĂLJ ůŝǀĞƐ͘ /Ŷ ŽŶĞ ĚĂLJ ǁĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞĚ students to unplug, and in one day McMaster students ƵŶƉůƵŐŐĞĚ ĨŽƌ Ă ƚŽƚĂů ϭϴϵϲ͘ϱ ŚŽƵƌƐ ĨŽƌ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ĚŽĐƵŵĞŶƚ-­‐ ed pledges. McMaster accepted the challenge and did they ever deliver and made the day a successful event.

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Open Circle and CVA is now ƐƵƉƉŽƌƟŶŐ Ă ƚĞĐŚ ĨƌĞĞ njŽŶĞ ĞǀĞƌLJ dƵĞƐĚĂLJ ƐƚĂƌƟŶŐ on January 11 at ϭϮ͗ϯϬͲϮ͗ϯϬ ĂŶĚ Wednesdays at ϭ͗ϯϬͲϯ͗ϯϬ ƐƚĂƌƟŶŐ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ 19 , so come out for free food, ĨƌĞĞ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ŝŶ ClubSpace!

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Fall/Winter 2010-­‐2011

Sabah Khan

I am in my fourth year of the Physiology program at McMas-­‐ ter University. I have been involved ǁŝƚŚ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ sŽůƵƚĞĞƌ ĐƟŽŶ ; s Ϳ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ Ă LJĞĂƌ ŶŽǁ͘ Volunteering with CVA compelled me to explore life outside of the university campus and made me ƌĞĂůŝnjĞ ƚŚĂƚ / ůŽǀĞ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͘ DLJ ƟŵĞ Ăƚ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ University has brought invaluable experiences into my life. It was ĚƵƌŝŶŐ ƚŚŝƐ ƟŵĞ ƚŚĂƚ / ĚĞĐŝĚĞĚ ŽŶ pursuing a career in the medical ĮĞůĚ͘

FACING THE CRISIS OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS

by Maria Strybos

The existence of life and its diversity is the most striking feature of Earth. This biological diversity, Žƌ ďŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ŽĨ ůŝĨĞ ŝŶ Ăůů ŝƚƐ ĨŽƌŵƐ͕ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ŐĞŶĞƟĐ ůĞǀĞů ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ůĞǀĞů͘ ,ƵŵĂŶ ĚŽŵŝŶĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĂƌƚŚ͛Ɛ ĞĐŽƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ ŚĂƐ ĚƌĂƐƟĐĂůůLJ ƌĞĚƵĐĞĚ ĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ŽĨ ůŝĨĞ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŵĂŶLJ ŚĂďŝƚĂƚƐ ǁŽƌůĚǁŝĚĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ůŽƐƐ ŽĨ ƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ƐƉĞ-­‐ ĐŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐ ŽĨ ƉůĂŶƚƐ͕ ĂŶŝŵĂůƐ ĂŶĚ microorganisms that are working parts of our life-­‐support system is an inconsolable loss. ŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ŝƐ ĞƐƐĞŶƟĂů ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ of systems and services humans require for life. On average, greater diversity of life leads ƚŽ ŐƌĞĂƚĞƌ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟǀŝƚLJ ŝŶ ƉůĂŶƚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐ͕ ŐƌĞĂƚĞƌ ŶƵƚƌŝĞŶƚ ƌĞƚĞŶƟŽŶ ŝŶ ĞĐŽƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ ĂŶĚ greater ecosystem stability. Conversely, lower ůĞǀĞůƐ ŽĨ ďŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ĐĂŶ ŚĂǀĞ ŶĞŐĂƟǀĞ ŝŵ-­‐ pacts on ecosystems.

,ƵŵĂŶƐ͕ ǀŝĂ ƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ͕ ĂĨ-­‐ ŇƵĞŶĐĞ͕ ĞŶĞƌŐLJ ƵƐĞ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƐƚƌƵĐƟǀĞ ƚĞĐŚŶŽ-­‐ logical advances have unleashed an unprec-­‐ edented assault on natural cycles and global ecosystems that supply indispensable goods and services to humanity. The value of servic-­‐ ĞƐ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ƐƵƉƉůŝĞĚ ďLJ ƚŚĞƐĞ ŶĂƚƵƌĂů ƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ ŝƐ ĞƐƟŵĂƚĞĚ Ăƚ h^Ψϯϯ͕ϬϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ ;h^Ψϯϯ ƚƌŝůůŝŽŶͿ ƉĞƌ LJĞĂƌ͕ ĐŽŵƉĂƌĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŐůŽďĂů ŐƌŽƐƐ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů ƉƌŽĚƵĐƚ ŽĨ ĂƉƉƌŽdžŝŵĂƚĞůLJ h^Ψϭϴ ƚƌŝůůŝŽŶ ƉĞƌ LJĞĂƌ͘ dŚĞƐĞ ĞĐŽ-­‐ ƐLJƐƚĞŵ ƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞ ŵĂŝŶƚĞŶĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂƚŵŽƐƉŚĞƌĞ͕ ĐůŝŵĂƚĞ ƌĞŐƵůĂƟŽŶ͕ ĨŽŽĚ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ͕ ƐŽŝů ƉƌŽĚƵĐ-­‐ ƟŽŶ͕ ƉĞƐƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů͕ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƟŵďĞƌ͕ ŵĞĚŝĐŝŶĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶĚƵƐƚƌŝĂů ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƐ͕ ƌĞŐƵůĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĨƌĞƐŚǁĂƚĞƌ ŇŽǁƐ͕ ŇŽŽĚ ĐŽŶƚƌŽů ĂŶĚ ĚƌŽƵŐŚƚ ƉƌĞǀĞŶƟŽŶ͕ ĂŶĚ Ă ǀĂƐƚ ŐĞŶĞƟĐ ůŝďƌĂƌLJ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ĚŽŵĞƐƟĐĂƚĞĚ ƉůĂŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĂŶŝŵĂůƐ͘ Ɛ ůŽƐƐĞƐ ŽĨ ďŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ĚĞĐƌĞĂƐĞ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝŵĂƌLJ ƉƌŽĚƵĐƟŽŶ͕ ŶƵƚƌŝĞŶƚ ƌĞƚĞŶƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ƐƚĂďŝůŝƚLJ ŽĨ ĐƌƵ-­‐

4

ĐŝĂů ĞĐŽƐLJƐƚĞŵƐ͕ ŚƵŵĂŶ ůŝĨĞ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĞƐƐĞŶƟĂů services provided by ecosystems will be increasingly threatened.

The causes of these losses of biodiversity are varied, but are universally united in that their root cause is the human species. Biodiversity loss is impacted through human behaviours via habitat ĚĞƐƚƌƵĐƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĨƌĂŐŵĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ͕ ƉƌĞƐĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ŝŶǀĂƐŝǀĞ species and the spread of disease. These problems are expected to be exacerbated by global climate ĐŚĂŶŐĞ͕ ĂƐ ďLJ ϮϬϱϬ ƚŚĞ ŐůŽďĂů ĂǀĞƌĂŐĞ ƐƵƌĨĂĐĞ ƚĞŵ-­‐ perature is expected to be higher by an average of 1-­‐-­‐2 degrees Celsius. The levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere are also expected to increase, by 100-­‐-­‐200 parts per million. These increases repre-­‐ ƐĞŶƚ ŵĂũŽƌ ŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞƐ ŽŶ ŚĂďŝƚĂƚ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐŝŽŶ͕ ŚLJĚƌŽ-­‐ logic and nutrient cycles and invasive species areal coverage.

In the face of this crisis of biodiversity loss, it ĐĂŶ ďĞ ĚŝĸĐƵůƚ ƚŽ ƌĞŵĂŝŶ ŽƉƟŵŝƐƟĐ ĂďŽƵƚ ƉƌŽƐƉĞĐƚƐ ĨŽƌ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƐƵƐƚĂŝŶĂďŝůŝƚLJ ŽŶ ŽƵƌ ƉůĂŶĞƚ͘ ,ƵŵĂŶ ĐŝǀŝůŝnjĂƟŽŶ ƌĞůŝĞƐ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ͕ ƐŽĐŝŽͲƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ĂŶĚ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂů ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐĞƐ͘ ĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ĐƌŝƟĐĂů ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƐĞƌǀĂ-­‐ ƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐĞƐ͘ tĞ ĐĂŶ ƌĞĚƵĐĞ ƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶ growth through gender equality, economic develop-­‐ ŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ŝŶƚĞƌǀĞŶƟŽŶ ;ǁŚŝĐŚ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ƵƐĞĚ ĞīĞĐƟǀĞůLJ ŝŶ ĐŽƵŶƚƌŝĞƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ŚŝŶĂ ĂŶĚ dŚĂŝ-­‐ ůĂŶĚͿ͕ ďƵƚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ Ă ŵŽƌĞ ŚƵŵĂŶĞ ůŽŶŐͲƚĞƌŵ ƐŽůƵƟŽŶ͘ Ɛ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ KW/Z' ŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ Guild, we aim to address the lack of environmental ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ŽƵƌ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ͘ tŚŝůĞ ǁĞ ŚĂǀĞ ŚĂĚ ƐŽŵĞ ĚŝĸĐƵůƟĞƐ ƐƚĂƌƟŶŐ ƵƉ ŝŶŝƟĂƟǀĞƐ͕ ǁĞ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ that every part helps contribute and every person ǁŚŽ ŐĂŝŶƐ ŬŶŽǁůĞĚŐĞ ĐĂŶ ŚĞůƉ ƐƚĂǀĞ Žī Ă ŐůŽďĂů crisis due to biodiversity loss.

dŚĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽĨ ŚƵŵĂŶ ƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶ ŽŶ ďŝŽĚŝǀĞƌ-­‐ sity depends more on the way we use our environ-­‐ ment, the amount we consume and where we live, ƚŚĂŶ ŽŶ ƐŚĞĞƌ ŶƵŵďĞƌƐ͗ ƐŵĂůů͕ ŚŝŐŚůLJ ĂŋƵĞŶƚ ĐŽŵ-­‐ ŵƵŶŝƟĞƐ ĐĂŶ ĐĂƵƐĞ ŵŽƌĞ ĚĂŵĂŐĞ ƚŚĂŶ ůĂƌŐĞƌ͕ ŵŽƌĞ ŵŽĚĞƌĂƚĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƟĞƐ͘ tĞ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚƐ ŽƵƌ ĂŋƵĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJ ŚĂǀĞ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĂƚƵƌĂů ǁŽƌůĚ͘ ,ƵŵĂŶƐ ĐĂŶ ŚĂǀĞ Ă ƉŽƐŝƟǀĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ through responsible food choices, energy choices and family planning. We need to address inequality between the developed and developing world, en-­‐ deavouring for maximal quality rather than maximal ƋƵĂŶƟƚLJ ŽĨ ŚƵŵĂŶ ůŝĨĞ͘ dŽ ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐ ŽƵƌ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ

environment we have to closely examine our ef-­‐ ĨĞĐƚƐ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶ͕ ĂŋƵĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƚĞĐŚŶŽůŽŐLJ ĂŶĚ ĚĞƚĞƌŵŝŶĞ ĂƌĞĂƐ ǁĞ ĐĂŶ ƌĞĨŽƌŵ ĂŶĚ ƌĞǀŽůƵƟŽŶ-­‐ ŝnjĞ͘

dŚĞ ŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ 'ƵŝůĚ ĂŝŵƐ ƚŽ ŝŶŝƟĂƚĞ DĐ-­‐ DĂƐƚĞƌ͛Ɛ ĮƌƐƚ ͞EŽ /ŵƉĂĐƚ tĞĞŬ͟ ĨƌŽŵ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ ϭϳ ƚŽ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ Ϯϭ͕ ϮϬϭϭ͘ ƵƌŝŶŐ EŽ /ŵƉĂĐƚ tĞĞŬ͕ ĞĂĐŚ ĚĂLJ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĨŽĐƵƐĞĚ ŽŶ Ă ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ĂƐƉĞĐƚ ŽĨ ĐŽŶƐĞƌ-­‐ ǀĂƟŽŶ ĞīŽƌƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĞĂĐŚ ƉĞƌƐŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ can make. As a community, we will work together ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞƐĞ ĐŚĂůůĞŶŐĞƐ ƚŽ ƌĞĂůŝnjĞ ǁŚĂƚ ŝƐ ƚƌƵůLJ ŝŵ-­‐ ƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ŝŶ ŽƵƌ ůŝǀĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĨŽĐƵƐ ŽŶ ŽƵƌ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐŚŝƉƐ͕ natural environment and happiness rather than on what popular culture tells us.

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&Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚ ƵƐ Ăƚ ďŝŽĚŝ-­‐ versity.opirg@gmail.com or check us out on the OPIRG website.

Mary Strybos Maria Strybos is the president of the OPIRG Biodi-­‐ versity Guild. She is in her last year at McMaster, ŐƌĂĚƵĂƟŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ,ŽŶŽƵƌƐ ƌƚƐ Θ ^ĐŝĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ŝŽůŽŐLJ ; ŝŽĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ^ƉĞĐŝĂůŝnjĂƟŽŶͿ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵŵĞ͘

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Fall/Winter 2010-­‐2011

INTER-CITY HUMANITARIANISM?

Inter-­‐City Home-­‐ ůĞƐƐ KƵƚƌĞĂĐŚ ;/ ,KͿ connects the volunteer ƉŽǁĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌƉƌĞƟǀĞ resources of sev-­‐ ĞƌĂů ĐŝƟĞƐ ƚŽ ƐĞƌǀĞ ƚŚĞ needs and interests of homeless persons in the downtown cores of Toronto and Hamilton.

The program was born primarily out of Chris-­‐ ƟĂŶͲ ĂƚŚŽůŝĐ ŽƵƚƌĞĂĐŚ programs, but over the years has expanded to include volunteers of all beliefs.

dŽƌŽŶƚŽ ZĞŐŝŽŶ͗ Fr. Joseph Macdonald ŽĨ WŽǀĞƌĞůůŽ ŚĂƌŝƟĞƐ ĮƌƐƚ ƐƉĞĂƌŚĞĂĚĞĚ Ă ŚŽŵĞůĞƐƐ outreach program in downtown dŽƌŽŶƚŽ ĂŌĞƌ ŵĞŶƚĂů ŚĞĂůƚŚ ŝŶƐƟ-­‐ ƚƵƟŽŶƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƐŚƵƚ ĚŽǁŶ ĚĞĐĂĚĞƐ ago. The program included a drop-­‐in centre and a soup kitch-­‐ en. He heard about homeless ƉĞƌƐŽŶƐ ǁŚŽ ĚŝĚ ŶŽƚ ƵƟůŝnjĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ services regularly, so he went to them. He began driving his van around in the evening with about ϮϬͲͲϯϬ ƐĂŶĚǁŝĐŚĞƐ͕ Ă ďƵĐŬĞƚ ŽĨ soup, and his beloved German shepherd, Maggie, to keep him ĐŽŵƉĂŶLJ͘ ŌĞƌ Ă ĨĞǁ ŚŽƵƌƐ ŚĞ ǁŽƵůĚ ƌĞƟƌĞ ƚŽ ŚŝƐ ŚŽŵĞ͕ ŐƌĂƟ-­‐ ĮĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĞ ŚĂĚ ĨĞĚ Ă ĨĞǁ ŵŽƵƚŚƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŶŝŐŚƚ͘ ŌĞƌ :ŽĞ ƐƵīĞƌĞĚ Ă ŚĞĂƌƚ ĂƩĂĐŬ͕ ŚŝƐ ŚĞĂůƚŚ ƐƚĂƌƚĞĚ ƚŽ become unstable and the Sisters ŽĨ ƚŚĞ 'ŽŽĚ ^ŚĞƉŚĞƌĚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ his work in the same fashion, on ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟŶŐ ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ ŶŝŐŚƚƐ͘ dŚĞ group eventually stopped their ǁŽƌŬ ǁŚĞŶ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐŚĂƌŝƚLJ ŽƌŐĂŶŝnjĂ-­‐ ƟŽŶ ǁĂƐ ƌĞůŽĐĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ hŶŝƚĞĚ States.

ϲ

ďLJ ƵĚƌĞLJ EĂůƵnj

ƌĂŵƉƚŽŶ ZĞŐŝŽŶ: An unnamed group of volunteers in Brampton, who had helped Fr. Joe and the sisters over the years, decided to ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞ ƚŚĞ ŽƵƚƌĞĂĐŚ ǁŽƌŬ ŝŶ dŽƌŽŶƚŽ͘ KǀĞƌ ƟŵĞ͕ ƚŚĞLJ ďĞĐĂŵĞ known to their parish as the Mis-­‐ sion to the Poor and Homeless ;DW,Ϳ͘ dŚĞ ƌĂŵƉƚŽŶ ZĞŐŝŽŶ ƌĞƉŽƌƚƐ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ϯ ƚŽ ϱ ƟŵĞƐ ĂƐ ŵĂŶLJ ŚŽŵĞůĞƐƐ ƉĞƌƐŽŶƐ ;ůĞĂƐƚ mobile) served in Toronto than a decade ago, and there are more young people and women on the streets. Due to the current economic recession the presence of the MPH will be even more important for this coming winter, ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ŽīĞƌƐ ŽĨ ĨŽŽĚ͕ ĐůŽƚŚŝŶŐ͕ and heart-­‐to-­‐heart visits.

DŝƐƐŝƐƐĂƵŐĂ ZĞŐŝŽŶ͗ MPH con-­‐ nects several volunteers and schools in Mississauga that gener-­‐ ally operate under the Brampton Region’s framework. Today, there ĂƌĞ ŚŝŐŚ ƐĐŚŽŽů ƐƚĂī ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ

replicate the successes of the MPH in Brampton.

The FRESH campaign will commence in January as well. Frequently, donated foods are rich in sodium ĂŶĚ ĐĂƌLJĚƌĂƚĞƐͲͲͲƚŚĞ ŽďũĞĐƟǀĞ ŽĨ &Z ^, ŝƐ ƚŽ supplement the diet of homeless persons with fresh fruit. ICHO is partnering with Food For Life, another OPIRG McMaster Working Group, for this project.

Finally, we are using our experiences in Toronto ƚŽ ŚĞůƉ ,ĂŵŝůƚŽŶ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ďŽƚŚ ĐŝƟĞƐ ĨĂĐĞ Ă ŶƵŵ-­‐ ďĞƌ ŽĨ ƐŝŵŝůĂƌ ĚŝĸĐƵůƟĞƐ͕ ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ŵĞŶƚĂů ŚĞĂůƚŚ͕ housing, and, importantly, drug use and abuse. To date, the downtown core of Hamilton has re-­‐ ŵĂŝŶĞĚ ƵŶƚŽƵĐŚĞĚ ďLJ ŽƵƌ ŽƌŐĂŶŝnjĂƟŽŶ͘ Ƶƚ ǁĞ͛ƌĞ trying to change that.

ƵĚƌĞLJ EĂůƵnj ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ŚŽŵĞůĞƐƐ ƉĞƌ-­‐ sons in downtown Toronto since she was 10 years old. Her parents volunteered to help Father Joseph ĂŌĞƌ ŚŝƐ ŚĞĂƌƚ ĂƩĂĐŬ ĂŶĚ ƚŽŽŬ ŚĞƌ ƚǁŽ LJŽƵŶŐĞƌ ďƌŽƚŚĞƌƐ ĂůŽŶŐ ĂƐ ǁĞůů͗ ĚĂŵ ;ĂŐĞĚ ϵͿ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂƌŽŶ ;ĂŐĞĚ ϲͿ͘ ƚ ĂŶ ĞĂƌůLJ ĂŐĞ ƐŚĞ ŚĂĚ Ă ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ƐĞŶƐĞ ŽĨ ƐŽĐŝĂů ũƵƐƟĐĞ͘ /Ŷ ĞůĞŵĞŶƚĂƌLJ ƐĐŚŽŽů͕ ƐŚĞ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƚŽ help Father Joe and the Sisters of the Good Shep-­‐ herd. Throughout high school, she co-­‐ordinated the youth volunteers for MPH. She founded Inter-­‐City Homeless Outreach by applying to OPIRG McMas-­‐ ter’s Working Group program, and received approval ƚŽ ƐƚĂƌƚ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽƵƉ ŝŶ KĐƚŽďĞƌ ϮϬϭϬ͘ ^ŚĞ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞƐ ƚŽ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ DW,͛Ɛ ĞīŽƌƚƐ ŝŶ dŽƌŽŶƚŽ ĂŶĚ ƌĂůůŝĞƐ ǀŽůƵŶ-­‐ teers to help her strengthen ICHO’s Hamilton Region.

ƵĚƌĞLJ EĂůƵnj

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ƌĞŐƵůĂƌůLJ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞĚ ŝŶ ŽƌŐĂŶŝnjŝŶŐ travel for volunteers and prepar-­‐ ing food. There are also a few high schools that occasionally col-­‐ ůĞĐƚ ĚŽŶĂƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ĐůŽƚŚŝŶŐ͘ ,ĂŵŝůƚŽŶ ZĞŐŝŽŶ͗ Hamilton, ICHO’s newest focus, is served by ŽŶůLJ Ă ŚĂŶĚĨƵů ŽĨ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ;Ɖƌŝ-­‐ marily from McMaster) who want to connect academic research and resources to the problem of homelessness. This winter, ICHO Hamilton launched the BELOW ZK ĐĂŵƉĂŝŐŶ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ƌƵŶƐ ƵŶƟů the end of February. Warm win-­‐ ter-­‐wear and sleeping bags will be collected in blue cardboard boxes all over the McMaster campus.

Penny drives will raise money to purchase new socks, underwear, thermals, and toiletries.

In January, the group will map out where downtown “regu-­‐ ůĂƌƐ͟ ƌĞƐŝĚĞ ŝŶ ĐŽůůĂďŽƌĂƟŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ <ĂƟŵĂǀŝŬ ,ĂŵŝůƚŽŶ ŝŶ ĂŶ ĞīŽƌƚ ƚŽ

7

Fall/Winter  2010-­â&#x20AC;?2011

TRUE  CONFESSIONS  OF  A  PIRG  COORDINATOR  OF  VOLUNTEERS By  Randy  Kay

LEARN Confessions  of  a  PIRG  Coordinator...  pg.09 OPIRG  Creations...  pg.10 FreeSkool...  pg.11 Rethinking  Schools...pg.12 OPIRG  Board  Representatives...  pg.13

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      This  is  one  of  the  best  years  Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve  had  at  OPIRG  in  Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä?Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161; ĹľÄ&#x17E;žŽĆ&#x152;Ç&#x2021;Í&#x2DC; EĹ˝Ć&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÇ&#x2021; ŽĨ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ?ŽƾĆ? Ć&#x161;Ç Ä&#x17E;ĹŻÇ&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; years  have  let  me  down,  mind  you,  just  that  this  Ç&#x2021;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152; ÄŽĹśÄ&#x161;Ć? KW/Z' Ĺ?Ĺ˝Ĺ?ĹśĹ? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ć&#x152;ŽƾĹ?Ĺ&#x161; Ä&#x201A; Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ĺ˝Ä&#x161; ŽĨ Ĺ?Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ç Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Í&#x2DC; dĹ&#x161;Ĺ?Ć? ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ç Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x;ŽŜ Ĺ?Ć? Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x2020;Ä?Ĺ?Ć&#x;ĹśĹ?Í&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ä?Ĺ˝Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć? Ç Ä&#x17E;ĹŻĹŻ ĨŽĆ&#x152; our  future  as  a  place  where  students  can  contribute  their  energy  Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ĺ?ĹľÄ&#x201A;Ĺ?Ĺ?ĹśÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x;ŽŜ Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ pressing  social  issues.

constant  barrage  of  support  requests  overwhelm-­â&#x20AC;? Ĺ?ĹśĹ? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?Ć&#x152; Ć&#x;ĹľÄ&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ä?Ĺ?Ç Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;ĹŹĹŻÇ&#x2021; ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x;ĹśĹ?Ć?Í&#x2022; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x2021; ĨŽƾŜÄ&#x161; Ä&#x201A; Ć?ŽůƾĆ&#x;ŽŜ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ç Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ć?Ĺ?ĹľĆ&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ä&#x17E;ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;ĹśĆ&#x161;Í&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ä&#x17E;ÄŤÄ&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Í&#x2DC; Thus  OPIRG  has  moved  to  a  mid-­â&#x20AC;?month  deadline  for  Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x2030;ĹŻĹ?Ä?Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x;ŽŜĆ? ĨŽĆ&#x152; Ć?ĆľĆ&#x2030;Ć&#x2030;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161;Í&#x2DC; Ĺ?Ç Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;ĹŹĹŻÇ&#x2021; ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x;ĹśĹ?Ć? ĹśĹ˝Ç alternate  between  OPIRG  McMaster  planning  and  handling  of  support  re-­â&#x20AC;? quests.

      At  the  board  level        As  any  good  PIRG  -­â&#x20AC;?-­â&#x20AC;?  all  of  whom  are  volun-­â&#x20AC;? will  do,  we  start  at  the  teers  -­â&#x20AC;?-­â&#x20AC;?  some  remarkable  root  â&#x20AC;&#x201C;  and  for  me  that  dynamics  include  the  fact  means  our  volunteers.  that  three  of  ten  mem-­â&#x20AC;?

Like  all  volunteers,  bers  are  engineers  and  OPIRG  volunteers  are  two  are  from  commerce,  expected  to  freely  give  with  the  result  that  half  Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?Ć&#x152; Ć&#x;ĹľÄ&#x17E;Í&#x2022; Ä?ĆľĆ&#x161; ƾŜůĹ?ĹŹÄ&#x17E; of  the  board  originates  many  voluntary  posi-­â&#x20AC;? ĨĆ&#x152;Žž ĨÄ&#x201A;Ä?ƾůĆ&#x;Ä&#x17E;Ć? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x;ŽŜĆ?Í&#x2022; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x2021; žƾĆ?Ć&#x161; Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĆ?Ĺ˝ Ĺ˝Ĺ&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ĺś Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ĺś Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x201A;Ĺ?ĹśĆ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ÄŽĹśÄ&#x17E; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?Ć&#x152; Ĺ˝Ç Ĺś Ć&#x152;ŽůÄ&#x17E;Ć?Í&#x2022; Ç Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;ĹŹ ŽŜ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?Ć&#x152; Ä?Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝Ć?Ä&#x17E;Ĺś Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A; ŽĨ Í&#x17E;ŜŽŜͲŽĆ&#x2030;Ĺ?Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ĺ?Ć?Ĺ&#x161;Í&#x2DC;Í&#x; Ä&#x161;Ä&#x161;Ĺ?Ć&#x;ŽŜÄ&#x201A;ĹŻĹŻÇ&#x2021;Í&#x2022; Ç Ä&#x17E; ÄŽĹśÄ&#x161; ŽƾĆ&#x152;Ć?Ä&#x17E;ĹŻÇ&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ć? Ç Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;ĹŹ-­â&#x20AC;? Ĺ?ĹśĆ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ć&#x161;Í&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ć&#x161; Ĺ?Ĺś Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?Ć&#x152; Ĺ˝Ç Ĺś ƾŜĹ?Ć&#x2039;ĆľÄ&#x17E; Ç Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x2021;Ć? ÍžÇ Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ?Ĺś ing  with  an  MBA  class  from  the  business  school  to  an  OPIRG  framework  of  Consensus  Decision  Making  Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;žžÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152; ŽƾĆ&#x161; ŽƾĆ&#x152; Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021; ÄŽĆ&#x152;Ć?Ć&#x161; Ć?Ć&#x161;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?Ĺ?Ä? Ć&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x201A;ĹśÍ&#x160; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; ĹśĆ&#x;ͲKĆ&#x2030;Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ć?Ĺ?ŽŜͿÍ&#x2DC; ^Ĺ˝Í&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;Ć? KW/Z' Ä?ŽŜĆ&#x;ŜƾÄ&#x17E;Ć? Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ĺ˝Ç&#x20AC;Ĺ?Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ˝Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x2030;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161;ƾŜĹ?-­â&#x20AC;?       Both  within  our  working  groups  and  at  the  Ć&#x;Ä&#x17E;Ć? ĨŽĆ&#x152; Ć?Ć&#x161;ĆľÄ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;Ć? ĨĆ&#x152;Žž Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ç&#x2021; Ä?Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152; ŽĨ Ä?Ä&#x201A;ĹľĆ&#x2030;ĆľĆ?Í&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161;Í&#x2022; Ä?Ĺ˝Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x161; ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;ĹŻ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?Ć? Ä&#x201A;Ĺś Ĺ?ĹľĆ&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x161;ĆľĆ? Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝Ç Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x161; Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ć&#x;ŽŜÍ&#x2DC; indeed,  non-­â&#x20AC;?students  too,  a  good  year  unfolds.  I  will  While  we  are  asked  to  respond  to  outside  forces,  ŜŽĆ&#x161; ĨÄ&#x201A;Ĺ?ĹŻ Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ ĹľÄ&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x;ŽŜ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ç Ĺ˝ĹśÄ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ĩƾů Ç&#x20AC;ŽůƾŜĆ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć? Ç Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x161;Ĺ?Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x;ŽŜ Ç Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĹŹÄ&#x17E; Ä?ŽžÄ&#x17E;Ć? ĨĆ&#x152;Žž Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?Ć&#x152;ŽƾĆ&#x2030; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; ĹŻÄ&#x17E;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ĺ?Ć&#x152; Ć&#x;ĹľÄ&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ĺ?ŽƾĆ? Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĹŻÄ&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;Ć? Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ä&#x201A;Ć?Ć?Ĺ?Ć?Ć&#x;ĹśĹ? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; fully  engages  its  members. ŽĸÄ?Ä&#x17E; Í´ Ć?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ĸŜĹ? Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ä?ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ć?Í&#x2022; Ć&#x2030;ƾƍŜĹ? ĆľĆ&#x2030; Ć&#x2030;Ĺ˝Ć?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć?Í&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;-­â&#x20AC;? haps  most  directly  applicable  to  the  current  experi-­â&#x20AC;? tĹ˝Ć&#x152;ĹŹĹ?ĹśĹ? 'Ć&#x152;ŽƾĆ&#x2030;Ć? Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;ĹŻÇ Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x2021;Ć? Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ĺś Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ć&#x;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x17E;ĹśÄ?Ä&#x17E;Í&#x2022; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝Ć?Ä&#x17E; Ç Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ç Ć&#x152;Ĺ?ĆŠÄ&#x17E;Ĺś Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161;ÍŹĹ˝Ć&#x152; Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161;Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ä&#x17E; vortex  that  draws  other  students  in  to  their  circle.  Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ć&#x;Ä?ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ć? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ĺ?Ä&#x161; ŽƾĆ&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ç Ć?ĹŻÄ&#x17E;ĆŠÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Í&#x2014; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ç&#x20AC;ŽůƾŜĆ&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć?

This  is  because  working  groups  are  the  outward  ŽĨ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; EÄ&#x17E;Ç Ć?ĹŻÄ&#x17E;ĆŠÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152; 'Ć&#x152;ŽƾĆ&#x2030;Í&#x160; /Ć&#x161;Í&#x203A;Ć? Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ĺś Ä&#x201A; ůŽŜĹ? Ć&#x;ĹľÄ&#x17E; Ć?Ĺ?ĹśÄ?Ä&#x17E; expression  of  OPIRGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s  core  mandate  to  engage  stu-­â&#x20AC;? weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve  had  such  an  engaged  group  of  volunteers,  and  Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;Ć? Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ć&#x;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x2030;ĹŻÄ&#x201A;Ç&#x2021;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć? Ĺ?Ĺś Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ç Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;ĹŻÄ&#x161;Í&#x2DC; dĹ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; ŽŜÄ&#x17E;Ć? Ç Ĺ&#x161;Ĺ˝ that  is  something  to  celebrate. do  the  research  are  encouraged  and  empowered  to  Randy  Kay act. &Ĺ˝Ć&#x152; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x2030;Ä&#x201A;Ć?Ć&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ç Ä&#x17E;ĹŻÇ&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ç&#x2021;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ć? ZÄ&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161;Ç&#x2021; Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ĺś Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ć?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;ÄŤ dĹ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ&#x2021;Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x2020;Ĺ?Ä?ĹŻÄ&#x17E; Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;ĆľĆ&#x161;Ç&#x2021; ŽĨ KW/Z' Ĺ?Ć? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x161;Ĺ?Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć?Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ç&#x2021; ŽĨ person  responsible  for  herding  cats  and  volunteers  Ĺ?Ć?Ć?ĆľÄ&#x17E;Ć? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; ÄŽĹśÄ&#x161; Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x2020;Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ć?Ĺ?ŽŜ Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ć&#x152;ŽƾĹ?Ĺ&#x161; ŽƾĆ&#x152; Ç Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;ĹŹĹ?ĹśĹ? Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x161; KW/Z' DÄ?DÄ&#x201A;Ć?Ć&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Í&#x2DC; ZÄ&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161;Ç&#x2021; Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĆ?Ĺ˝ Ä?Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x17E;Ĺś Ä&#x201A;Ĺś Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ć&#x;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?Ć&#x152;ŽƾĆ&#x2030;Ć?Í&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x17E;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161;Ć? Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ĺ?Ä&#x201A;ĹśĹ?Ç&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x;ŽŜ Ć?ĆľĆ&#x2030;Ć&#x2030;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161;Ć?Í&#x2DC; cat/volunteer  with  OPIRG  as  a  founding  member  of  Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ĺ&#x161; Ç&#x2021;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152; ŽčÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152;Ć? ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ç Ĺ˝Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x2030;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161;ƾŜĹ?Ć&#x;Ä&#x17E;Ć? Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; ĹśÄ&#x17E;Ç Ĺ?Ć?Ć?ĆľÄ&#x17E;Ć?Í&#x2DC; ZÄ&#x17E;Ä?Ç&#x2021;Ä?ĹŻÄ&#x17E; Ç&#x2021;Ä?ĹŻÄ&#x17E;Ć? ÍžÍ&#x203A;ϾϳͿÍ&#x2022; Ä&#x201A;ĹśÄ&#x161; Ä&#x201A; Ä?ĆľĆ&#x152;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161; ĹľÄ&#x17E;ĹľÄ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; ŽĨ dĆ&#x152;Ä&#x201A;ĹśĆ?-­â&#x20AC;? Ć&#x2030;Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;Ć&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x;ŽŜ ĨŽĆ&#x152; >Ĺ?Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ä?ĹŻÄ&#x17E; ŽžžƾŜĹ?Ć&#x;Ä&#x17E;Ć? Ć?Ĺ?ĹśÄ?Ä&#x17E; Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ć? Ĺ?ĹśÄ?Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x2030;-­â&#x20AC;? dĹ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ä?ĆľĆ&#x152;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;ĹśĆ&#x161; Ä?Ĺ˝Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x161; Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x201A;Ć? Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĆ&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ä&#x161;Ç&#x2021; ÄŽĹ?ĆľĆ&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x161; ŽƾĆ&#x161; Ä&#x201A; Ç Ä&#x201A;Ç&#x2021; Ć&#x;ŽŜ Ĺ?Ĺś ĎŽĎŹĎŹĎŹ ÍžÄ?Ĺ˝Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161; ĨŽĆ&#x152;ĹľÄ&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ç Ĺ˝Ć&#x152;ĹŹĹ?ĹśĹ? Ĺ?Ć&#x152;ŽƾĆ&#x2030;Ć? Ć?Ć&#x;ĹŻĹŻ Ä&#x201A;Ä?Ć&#x;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E; Ć&#x161;Ĺ˝ Ä?Ä&#x17E; žŽĆ&#x152;Ä&#x17E; Ä&#x17E;ÄŤÄ&#x17E;Ä?Ć&#x;Ç&#x20AC;Ä&#x17E;Í&#x2014; Ä&#x201A;Ĺ&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ć&#x152; Ç&#x2021;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;Ć&#x152;Ć? ŽĨ Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E;Ä&#x201A;ĹŻĹ?ĹśĹ? Ç Ĺ?Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161; Ä&#x201A; Ĺ?Ĺś Ć&#x161;Ĺ&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ä?ŽžžƾŜĹ?Ć&#x161;Ç&#x2021;ÍżÍ&#x2DC; EĹ˝ ĹŻĹ?Ä&#x17E;Ć?Í&#x2DC;

p i r g s p e c t i v e s

9

10

Fall/Winter 2010-­‐2011

CREATIVE EXPRESSION

tKZ</E' 'ZKhW ^WKd>/',d

p i r g s p e c t i v e s

Broken Promises Broken promises Mama don’t you cry Shuttered dreams Mama don’t you cry Withered hopes Mama don’t you cry Cos shades of grey run by When we stand high t of a rose There aint no summer without the scen le We need your beautiful colors to be who I hear you petals fall, covered in the dirt n It don’t matter how long they put you dow r fault Restless hands, empty minds it aint you tumble down So lift your hands up high and watch them Mama don’t you cry Shuttered dreams Mama don’t you cry Withered hopes Mama don’t you cry Cos shades of grey run by When we stand high res Restless nights turn the days into nightma rt hea my ks Scarlet tears down your face it brea s I hear your tears fall, drowning all the rose s There aint no room for rainy day way Battered hearts, trampled souls, there’s a tumble down So lift your hands high and watch them Broken promises Baby don’t you cry Shuttered dreams Baby don’t you cry Withered hopes Baby don’t you cry Cos shades of grey run by When we stand high

By Kojo Damptey

u se e, b u t o y t a h w t “ A r t is n o e r s s e e .” h t o e k a m w h a t yo u e - Georgia O’Keeff Art by Harjot Atwal

Over 500 murdered and missing Aboriginal Woman in Canada...

Stop the violence

FREE YOUR ^ ,KK>/E FROM ARABIC TO Y/'KE'

By Dorina Simeonov

Hamilton Freeskool is an OPIRG working group that ŽīĞƌƐ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ LJŽƵƌ ĂǀĞƌ-­‐ age university curriculum. tŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ĨŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ of anarchist philosophy, egalitarianism and peace ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͕ ƚŚŝƐ ŐƌŽƵƉ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ Ă ƐĞůĨͲƐƵƐƚĂŝŶŝŶŐ͕ ĂŶƟͲŽƉƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ĂŶĚ ŝŶĐůƵƐŝǀĞ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĨŽƌ learning that doesn’t involve buying doorstopper textbooks. In fact, Hamilton Freeskool’s price tag ŝƐ ŝŶ ŝƚƐ ŶĂŵĞ͕ ĨƌĞĞ͘ tŝƚŚ ŇĞdžŝďůĞ ƐĐŚĞĚƵůĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚƌŝŐƵŝŶŐ ĐŽƵƌƐĞ ŽƉƟŽŶƐ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ŶŽ ǁŽŶĚĞƌ ƚŚĂƚ ƐŽŵĞ students are choosing to learn the ancient healing ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞ ŽĨ YŝŐŽŶŐ ŝŶƐƚĞĂĚ ŽĨ ƉƌĞĚƌŝŶŬŝŶŐ Ăƚ ŚŽŵĞ ŽŶ Ă dŚƵƌƐĚĂLJ ŶŝŐŚƚ͘ WůĂŶƚ ŝĚĞŶƟĮĐĂƟŽŶ͕ ƋƵŝůƟŶŐ ĂŶĚ ^ƉĂŶŝƐŚ ĂƌĞ ũƵƐƚ ƐŽŵĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĞĐůĞĐƟĐ ŽƉƟŽŶƐ available for university students of all ages, as well as members of the Hamilton community interested ŝŶ ĐŽŶƟŶƵŝŶŐ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘ The goal of Hamilton Freeskool is to promote a ŶŽŶͲŚŝĞƌĂƌĐŚŝĐĂů͕ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƚŽƌLJ ĂŶĚ ŽƉĞŶ ƐƉĂĐĞ where individuals can come together and discuss ways in which they can engage and learn about topics of common interest. By now you might be asking: Where can I sign up? How do I get involved?

Can I check out the courses? If you simply want to take a class that doesn’t involve prerequisites or ƚƵŝƟŽŶ͕ ĐŚĞĐŬ ŽƵƚ ŚƩƉ͗ͬ​ͬǁǁǁ͘ŚĂŵŝůƚŽŶĨƌĞĞƐŬŽŽů͘ org/courses. Don’t see anything you like? You’re in luck, because Hamilton Freeskool is always look-­‐ ing for new facilitators to coordinate courses. You can hold weekly, biweekly or even monthly ses-­‐ sions on any topic you choose, from exploratory movement to speaking French as a group. The best part? You don’t have to be an expert. All you need is a passion for learning-­‐-­‐-­‐one of the coordinators for this working group can help you set up your ĐŽƵƌƐĞ͘ ĞǀŽŶ ZŝĚŐĞ͕ Ă ĨĂĐŝůŝƚĂƚŽƌ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ WƌĂĐƟĐĂů Solidarity course and a Freeskool coordinator, is

constantly working with the Freeskool crew to make ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟŽŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞ the space and materials required for running all of ƚŚĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐ͘ ͞tĞ ĂƌĞ ŐŽŝŶŐ ƚŽ ďĞ ƐƚĂƌƟŶŐ a course on storytelling so we are in the process of ŚĞůƉŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĨĂĐŝůŝƚĂƚŽƌ ĮŶĚ ƚŚĞ ƐƉĂĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉ Ă ĚĞƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞ ĐĂŶ ƉŽƐƚ ŽŶ ŽƵƌ ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ͕͟ ƐŚĞ said. tŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŽŶ ͞ƚŚĞ ďĞĂƵƟĨƵů ŝŶƚĞŶƟŽŶ ŽĨ ĚĞĐĞŶƚƌĂů-­‐ ŝnjŝŶŐ͕͟ ĞǀŽŶ ŚĂƐ ŵĂĚĞ ĐŽŶŶĞĐƟŽŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ^ŝdž EĂƟŽŶƐ ^ŽůŝĚĂƌŝƚLJ EĞƚǁŽƌŬ͘ ŽƵƌƐĞ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂŶƚƐ are currently helping to raise awareness about the ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĐůĂƐƐ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ͘ &ƵƌƚŚĞƌ͕ ŝŶ ĐŽů-­‐ ůĂďŽƌĂƟŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ^ƚ͘ :ŽƐĞƉŚ͛Ɛ /ŵŵŝŐƌĂŶƚ tŽŵĞŶ͛Ɛ ĞŶƚƌĞ͕ &ƌĞĞƐŬŽŽů ŝƐ ĂŝŵŝŶŐ ƚŽ ŽīĞƌ ůĂŶŐƵĂŐĞ ĐŽƵƌƐĞƐ ŝŶ ĂŶ ĞīŽƌƚ ƚŽ ĞdžƉĂŶĚ ŝŶƚŽ Ăůů ĂƌĞĂƐ ŽĨ ,ĂŵŝůƚŽŶ͘

p i r g s p e c t i v e s

The idea of Freeskool is catching on and students and community members from Hamilton and other ƉĂƌƚƐ ŽĨ EŽƌƚŚ ŵĞƌŝĐĂ ĂƌĞ ŐĂƚŚĞƌŝŶŐ ƚŽ ůĞĂƌŶ͕ ƐŚĂƌĞ ĂŶĚ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƚĞ ŝŶ ĂŶ ŝŶƐƉŝƌŝŶŐ ǁĂLJ͘ ůƚŚŽƵŐŚ ,Ăŵŝů-­‐ ton Freeskool is faced with challenges, Devon relishes in her experiences with a course on explor-­‐ atory movement, where she was free to explore all the planes in which her body could move. While ĚĞƐĐƌŝďŝŶŐ ŚĞƌ ĨĞůůŽǁ ĐůĂƐƐŵĂƚĞƐ ĂƐ ĂƉƉĞĂƌŝŶŐ ƟŵŝĚ Ăƚ ĮƌƐƚ͕ ƐŚĞ ĞdžƉůĂŝŶĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ &ƌĞĞƐŬŽŽů ŝƐ about “[being] brave together to learn and try new things”.

Dorina is a Masters Students studying health policy and health services research. She is a new member to OPIRG McMaster and loves to paint, draw and create.

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p i r g s p e c t i v e s

Meet the Opirg Board

OPIRG BOOK REVIEW

RETHINKING SCHOOLS: An Agenda for Change

£ ¤ထ ¡® ¦ £ ¤ £ ¡နထ ¡ ¡¥ ထ ª ¡ ¤န

R

ethinking Schools is a remarkable tool for edu-­‐ cators and students alike, to change paradigms ŽĨ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘ dŚĞ Ŭ ĞdžĂŵŝŶĞƐ ƉŽǁĞƌ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ĐƵƌƌŝĐƵůƵŵ͕ ĂŶĚƐƚƌĞƐƐĞƐ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĂŶƟƌĂĐŝƐƚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘ Though the work is heavily based on American re-­‐ search, its conclusions are applicable to the Canadian context as well. In the book, interviews with leaders ŝŶ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶĂů ƌĞĨŽƌŵ ĂƌĞ ƉůĞŶƟĨƵů ĂŶĚ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƞƵů͘ /Ŷ ĂŶĂĚĂ͕ ǁĞ ĚŽ ƐĞĞ ŵƵůƟĐƵůƚƵƌĂůŝƐŵ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĂŶƐǁĞƌ ƚŽ racism, xenophobia and is-­‐ sues of social equity. How-­‐ ever, it is crucial to note ƚŚĂƚ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂů days or cuisine, do not ad-­‐ dress power struggles, ƐLJƐƚĞŵŝĐ ĚŝƐĐƌŝŵŝŶĂƟŽŶ and other deeper issues. dŚĞ ƚĞƌŵŝŶŽůŽŐLJ ŽĨ ŵƵůƟ-­‐ ĐƵůƚƵƌĂůŝƐŵ ŚĂƐ ŐůĂnjĞĚ ŝƚƐ audiences with widespread ignorance of problems eth-­‐ ŶŝĐ ŵŝŶŽƌŝƟĞƐ ĨĂĐĞ͘ This is why the authors ĂĐĐĞŶƚƵĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĂŶƟƌĂĐŝƐƚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͕ to push for a deeper understanding of diversity and inclusivity in public schooling. Curriculum is one ǀĞƌLJ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶƚ ĨŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ ĚĞůǀĞĚ ŝŶƚŽ͘ &Žƌ ŝŶƐƚĂŶĐĞ͕ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞ ƉůĂĐĞĚ ŽŶ Ă ďŝĂƐĞĚ ŶĂƟŽŶĂů history overshadows histories of other peoples, other ĐƵůƚƵƌĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ ƉĞƌƐƉĞĐƟǀĞƐ͘ ƵƌƌŝĐƵůƵŵ ĚŽĞƐ ŶŽƚ ĞŶĐŽŵƉĂƐƐ Ă ŚŽůŝƐƟĐ ǀŝĞǁ ŽŶ ǁŽƌůĚ events, world problems or world history. This one ƐŝĚĞĚ ƉĞƌƐƉĞĐƟǀĞ ŚĂƐ ƉƌŽĨŽƵŶĚ ŝŶŇƵĞŶĐĞ ŽŶ ƐƚƵ-­‐ ĚĞŶƚƐ͛ ƐĞůĨͲƉĞƌĐĞƉƟŽŶ͕ ĞƐƉĞĐŝĂůůLJ ƚŚŽƐĞ ŽĨ ĚŝǀĞƌƐĞ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ͘ /Ĩ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ĐĂŶŶŽƚ ŝĚĞŶƟĨLJ ƚŚĞŵƐĞůǀĞƐ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ƚŚĞLJ ĂƌĞ ƚĂƵŐŚƚ͕ ǁŚĂƚ ĚŽĞƐ ƚŚŝƐ lead them to become? It hinders embracement of ĚŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ƚŚĞ ƐŚĂůůŽǁ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ŐŝǀĞŶ sets the standard for what is the norm, and status ƋƵŽ͘ dŚƵƐ͕ ƐŽĐŝĂů ĐŚĂŶŐĞ ŝƐ ĚŝĸĐƵůƚ ƚŽ ĨĂĐŝůŝƚĂƚĞ ďĞ-­‐ ĐĂƵƐĞ ŝƚ ŝƐ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͕ Ăƚ ŝƚƐ ƌŽŽƚƐ͕ ƚŚĂƚ ƚĞĂĐŚ LJŽƵŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƚŽ ŶŽƚ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ ƉŽǁĞƌ ƌĞůĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ŽĨ

/ ƚŚŝŶŬ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ǁĂLJ ŝƐ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ƐƵƌĞ KW/Z' ^ƚĂī ĂŶĚ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌƐ ĂĚŚĞƌĞ ƚŽ ĂŶƟͲŽƉƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ it will trickle down into the community OPIRG is ƉĂƌƚ Žī ;DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ͕ ,ĂŵŝůƚŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŽƚŚĞƌ PIRG’S).

LJ <ƌŝƐƟŶĂ DĂŶŐůŝŐŽƚ

­ ¡ ¤ ­ ŝŶĞƋƵŝƚLJ͕ Žƌ ŝŶũƵƐƟĐĞ͘ dŚĞ Ŭ ůŽŽŬƐ Ăƚ ĞůĞŵĞŶƚĂƌLJ ƐĐŚŽŽůŝŶŐ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐĂůůLJ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ĚŝǀĞƌƐĞ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ƌŝŐŚƚ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ďĞŐŝŶŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ Ă ĐŚŝůĚ͛Ɛ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘ The authors look at the importance of diverse ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐůĂƐƐƌŽŽŵ͘ dŚŝƐ ĐĂŶ ŵĞĂŶ ĨƌŽŵ having an ethnic teacher, to including toys and books ǁŚŝĐŚ ĚĞƉŝĐƚ ŶŽŶ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟŽŶ͘ dŚĞ ĂƵƚŚŽƌƐ ĂůƐŽ ĞdžƉůĂŝŶ ŚŽǁ ƚŚĞ ƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ĂŶƟ ƌĂĐŝƐƚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ ŚĂƉƉĞŶƐ ŝŶ ƐƚĂŐĞƐ͘ dŚĞ ƉƌŽďůĞŵ ŚŽǁ-­‐ ever, is when systems stop at one stage. For instance, ŚĂǀŝŶŐ ƉŽƐƚĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ůŝƚĞƌĂƚƵƌĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĐĞůĞďƌĂƚĞ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ languages and cuisine is only a start. Understanding ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĚŝĂůŽŐƵŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƐƚƌƵĐƚƵƌĞƐ pushes students to think about how to implement ĐŚĂŶŐĞ͘ džƉŽƐƵƌĞ ƚŽ ƉůƵƌĂůŝƐƟĐ ŵŽĚĞƐ ŽĨ ƚŚŝŶŬŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ĂŶ ĞĂƌůLJ ĂŐĞ ŝƐ ĐƌŝƟĐĂů ƚŽ ĚĞǀĞůŽƉŝŶŐ ĞƋƵŝƚĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƐĐŝĞŶƟŽƵƐ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ůĞĂĚĞƌƐ͘ Rethinking Schools does a marvellous job of look-­‐ ŝŶŐ Ăƚ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƉƌŽďůĞŵƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƉĞŶĞƚƌĂƚĞ ƐĐŚŽŽůŝŶŐ͘ /ƚ ĂůƐŽ ƉƌŽǀŝĚĞƐ ƉůĞŶƟĨƵů ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚŽƐĞ ǁŚŽ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ĐŽŵŵŝƚ ƚŽ ŝŵƉůĞŵĞŶƟŶŐ ĐŚĂŶŐĞ ŝŶ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘ dŚĞ ĐĂƐĞ ƐƚƵĚŝĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌǀŝĞǁƐ ŐŝǀĞ ƌĞĂĚĞƌƐ ĂŶ ŝŶƐŝŐŚƞƵů ŝŶƐŝĚĞƌ ƉĞƌƐƉĞĐƟǀĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝŵƉĂĐƚ ŽĨ ďŝĂƐĞĚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘ ZĞƚŚŝŶŬŝŶŐ ^ĐŚŽŽůƐ ŝƐ ĂŶ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĂƟŽŶĂů ƉŝĞĐĞ͕ ŽŶĞ ƚŚĂƚ educators and students must read, to understand the ŝŵƉŽƌƚĂŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƐŽĐŝĂů ĐŚĂŶŐĞ ŝŶ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŽŶ͘

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Preeti Nayak

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Fall/Winter 2010-­‐2011

KOJO DAMPTEY ϭͿ dĞůů ŵĞ Ă ůŝƩůĞ ďŝƚ ĂďŽƵƚ LJŽƵƌƐĞůĨ͍ DLJ ŶĂŵĞ ŝƐ EĂŶĂ <ŽũŽ ĂŵƉƚĞLJ͕ ďƵƚ ĞǀĞƌLJŽŶĞ ĐĂůůƐ me Kojo. I am a Chemical Engineering graduate from McMaster University. I am also a Music Producer/ ^ŽŶŐǁƌŝƚĞƌ͕ / ŚĂǀĞ ǁƌŝƩĞŶ Ă ĐŽƵƉůĞ ŽĨ ƐŽŶŐƐ ĨŽƌ ŶƵ-­‐ ŵĞƌŽƵƐ ĂƌƟƐƚƐ ŝŶ ĂŶĂĚĂ͘ DŽƐƚ ŽĨ ŵLJ ƐŽŶŐƐ ĚĞĂů ǁŝƚŚ life experiences and how I view the world. ϮͿ tŚLJ ĚŝĚ LJŽƵ ĐŚŽŽƐĞ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ KW/Z'͍ / ǁĂƐ ŽƌŐĂŶŝnjŝŶŐ Ă ůĂĐŬ ,ŝƐƚŽƌLJ ǀĞŶƚ Ăƚ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ ŝŶ ϮϬϬϵ͕ ĂŶĚ KW/Z' ĚĞĐŝĚĞĚ ƚŽ ŚĞůƉ ŵĞ ŽƵƚ ĮŶĂŶĐŝĂůůLJ͘ dŚĞ ĞǀĞŶƚ ǁĂƐ Ă ŚƵŐĞ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ͘ ŌĞƌ ƚŚĂƚ ĐŽůůĂďŽƌĂ-­‐ ƟŽŶ͕ / ǁĂƐ ĂƐŬĞĚ ďLJ ƐƚĂī ƚŽ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ ĂƐ Ă ďŽĂƌĚ ŵĞŵďĞƌ͘ ŌĞƌ ƉŽŶĚĞƌŝŶŐ ĂďŽƵƚ ŝƚ ĨŽƌ Ă ĐŽƵƉůĞ ŽĨ weeks, I decided to sign up to be a board member.

ϲͿ Ž LJŽƵ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƐŽŵĞĚĂLJ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĨƌĞĞ ŽĨ ŽƉƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ͍ Kƌ ǁŝůů ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂůǁĂLJƐ ďĞ ƐŽŵĞ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ ŽƉƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ͍ In my opinion the world will never be free of oppres-­‐ sion. There will always be some form of oppression in ƚŚŝƐ ǁŽƌůĚ ƵŶƟů ƚŚĞ ŚĞĂƌƚƐ͕ ŵŝŶĚƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŽƵůƐ ŽĨ ŚƵŵĂŶ-­‐ ŝƚLJ ƵŶĚĞƌŐŽ ƐŽŵĞ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ ƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͘ KŶĞ ƚŚĂƚ ĞŶĂďůĞƐ ƚŚĞŵ ƚŽ ƉƵƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ďƌŽƚŚĞƌƐ ĂŶĚ ƐŝƐƚĞƌƐ ĮƌƐƚ͘ KŶĞ ƚŚĂƚ ŝƐ ďƵŝůƚ ŽŶ Ă ĨŽƵŶĚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ůŽǀĞ ĂŶĚ ƐĂĐƌŝĮĐĞ͘ ϳͿ KW/Z' ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂů ŝƐ-­‐ ƐƵĞƐ͕ ǁŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ ƚŚĂƚ LJŽƵ ĚŽ ƚŽ ďĞ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶ-­‐ ŵĞŶƚĂůůLJ ĨƌŝĞŶĚůLJ͍ a) I use public transit to reduce my carbon foot print ďͿ / ƚƌLJ ŵLJ ďĞƐƚ ƚŽ ƌĞĨƌĂŝŶ ĨƌŽŵ ƵƐŝŶŐ ďŽƩůĞĚ ǁĂƚĞƌ c) I am working on making my own laundry detergent and toothpaste

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ϯͿ ,Žǁ ůŽŶŐ ŚĂǀĞ LJŽƵ ďĞĞŶ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ KW/Z'͍ / ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌŝŶŐ Ăƚ KW/Z' ĨŽƌ Ϯ͘ϱ LJĞĂƌƐ ϰͿ tŚLJ ĚŝĚ LJŽƵ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽĂƌĚ ŽĨ ŝ-­‐ ƌĞĐƚŽƌƐ͍ I felt it was an opportunity to get involved in various issues that OPIRG coordinated on campus, espe-­‐ cially with regards to the environment. Consequently ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĨƌŽŵ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ďĂĐŬŐƌŽƵŶĚƐ ŚĂƐ always been a challenge for me. Hence joining the board would eventually give me the adventure of working with other people due to OPIRG’s inclusive atmosphere. I am also very passionate about social ũƵƐƟĐĞ͕ ĂŶĚ ĨĞůƚ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ƟŵĞ ƚŽ ďĞ ŝŶǀŽůǀĞĚ ŝŶ ĂŶ ŽƌŐĂ-­‐ ŶŝnjĂƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŚĂĚ Ă ƚƌĂĐŬ ƌĞĐŽƌĚ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ ^ŽĐŝĂů :ƵƐƟĐĞ /ƐƐƵĞƐ͘ dŚĞƌĞĨŽƌĞ͕ ďĞŝŶŐ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ďŽĂƌĚ would give me the full experience. ϱͿ KWZ/' ďĞůŝĞǀĞƐ ŝŶ ĂŶƟͲŽƉƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞ ĂŶĚ ƐŽ ŵLJ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ ƚŽ LJŽƵ ŝƐ͕ ǁŚĂƚ ĚŽ LJŽƵ ƚŚŝŶŬ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞƐƚ ĂŶĚ ŵŽƐƚ ĞīĞĐƟǀĞ ǁĂLJ ŽĨ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŶŐ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĂďŽƵƚ ĂŶƟͲŽƉƉƌĞƐƐŝǀĞ ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞ͍

ϭϯ

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people around them, or from the society they were ďƌŽƵŐŚƚ ƵƉ ŝŶ͘ KƵƌ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ ŚĂƐ ďĞĐŽŵĞ ǀĞƌLJ ŽƉĞŶͲ minded and more socially aware of the issues from the past and present. With that in mind, people are ŶŽǁ ǀĞƌLJ ĂĐĐĞƉƟŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĚŽ ƚƌLJ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ Ă ďĞƩĞƌ ƉůĂĐĞ͘ tŝƚŚ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ĞǀĞŶƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŽƌŐĂ-­‐ ϭͿ dĞůů ŵĞ Ă ůŝƩůĞ ďŝƚ ĂďŽƵƚ LJŽƵƌƐĞůĨ͍ ŶŝnjĂƟŽŶƐ ŚĂǀĞ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞƌĞ ƚŽ ĞĚƵĐĂƚĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ŽŶ ŽƉ-­‐ My name is Samantha Liang and I am enrolled in the ƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ͕ ƚŚĞ ďĞƩĞƌ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ŽƵƌ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ ĂǁĂƌĞ third year Honours Commerce program. I am hoping of what’s going on in the world. Ideally, having all this ƚŽ ƉƵƌƐƵĞ ŵLJ ŚĂƌƚĞƌĞĚ ĐĐŽƵŶƚĂŶƚ ĚĞƐŝŐŶĂƟŽŶ ŝŶ the future. Apart from being in OPIRG, I am heavily in-­‐ knowledge and knowing the pain it has caused in the ǀŽůǀĞĚ ŝŶ Ă ǀĂƌŝĞƚLJ ŽĨ ĞdžƚƌĂĐƵƌƌŝĐƵůĂƌ ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƉĂƐƚ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ͕ ǁŚLJ ǁŽƵůĚŶ͛ƚ ŽƵƌ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶ ƐƚƌŝǀĞ for an oppression free world to teach our children the the McMaster community. ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞ ďĞƚǁĞĞŶ ƌŝŐŚƚ ĂŶĚ ǁƌŽŶŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĂǀĞ ƚŚĞŵ teach their children. It’s possible, but maybe not plau-­‐ ϮͿ tŚLJ ĚŝĚ LJŽƵ ĐŚŽŽƐĞ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ KW/Z'͍ /Ŷ ŵLJ ƐĞĐŽŶĚ LJĞĂƌ͕ / ĚŝƐĐŽǀĞƌĞĚ ƚŚĞ KW/Z' ŽĸĐĞ ǁŚŝůĞ sible for awhile. ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ŵƵůƟĐƵůƚƵƌĂů ĞǀĞŶƚ ƚŚĂƚ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ ƚŚĞ ϲͿ KW/Z' ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ĐŽŶĐĞƌŶĞĚ ǁŝƚŚ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂů ŝƐ-­‐ ƵƐĞ ŽĨ KW/Z'͛Ɛ ďƵƩŽŶ ŵĂŬĞƌ͘ hƉŽŶ ŵĞĞƟŶŐ ZĂŶĚLJ ƐƵĞƐ͕ ǁŚĂƚ ĂƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƚŚŝŶŐƐ ƚŚĂƚ LJŽƵ ĚŽ ƚŽ ďĞ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶ-­‐ and Cecilia, I instantly became drawn to OPIRG’s ŵĞŶƚĂůůLJ ĨƌŝĞŶĚůLJ͍ mission statement and goals. OPIRG is an excellent / ůŝƚĞƌĂůůLJ ŐŽ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ŵLJ ŚŽƵƐĞ ĂŶĚ ƚƵƌŶ Žī Ăůů ƚŚĞ resource for students, as well as independent work-­‐ lights, make sure appliances and outlets are un-­‐ ing groups that require funding and support in their plugged when things aren’t in use or won’t be for ĂĐƟǀŝƟĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ŵĂƚĐŚ ŽƵƌ ŐŽĂůƐ͘ ĞŝŶŐ Ă ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ĂŶ ŽƌŐĂŶŝnjĂƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ŚŽůĚƐ ƐƵĐŚ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ŵŽƌĂůƐ ĂŶĚ ďĞůŝĞĨƐ awhile, recycle as much as possible and I take REALLY ƚŽǁĂƌĚƐ ƚŚĞ ďĞƩĞƌŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƐŽĐŝĞƚLJ ĂŶĚ ĞĚƵĐĂƟŶŐ ŽƵƌ quick showers! This may seem like a bunch of really small things, but these things add up if everyone tries ƉĞĞƌƐ͕ ƌĞĂůůLJ ĂƩƌĂĐƚĞĚ ŵĞ ƚŽ ŝƚ͘ to do their part. ϯͿ ,Žǁ ůŽŶŐ ŚĂǀĞ LJŽƵ ďĞĞŶ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ KW/Z'͍ Over the summer, I was told that OPIRG was seeking a ďƵƐŝŶĞƐƐ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŽĂƌĚ ŽĨ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌƐ͕ and applied simply with the hopes of becoming more involved.

Samantha liang

ϰͿ tŚLJ ĚŝĚ LJŽƵ ǁĂŶƚ ƚŽ ďĞ ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŽĂƌĚ ŽĨ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌƐ͍ /ŶŝƟĂůůLJ͕ / ƚŚŽƵŐŚƚ ƚŚĂƚ ďĞĐŽŵŝŶŐ Ă ƉĂƌƚ ŽĨ KW/Z' would be a great way to open doors and to meet ŵŽƌĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ Ăƚ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ͘ ŌĞƌ ũŽŝŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ŽĂƌĚ ŽĨ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌƐ͕ / ƌĞĂůŝnjĞĚ ŚŽǁ ŵƵĐŚ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƌŽůĞ ĞŶĐŽŵ-­‐ passed. So far, it has been a great experience being a ŽĂƌĚ ŵĞŵďĞƌ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ĂƌĞ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ĨƌŽŵ Ăůů ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ĨĂĐƵůƟĞƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ǁĞ Ăůů ƐĞĞ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ƐŝƚƵĂƟŽŶ ǀĞƌLJ ĚŝīĞƌ-­‐ ĞŶƚůLJ Ăƚ ƟŵĞƐ͕ ƐŽ ŝƚ͛Ɛ ŐƌĞĂƚ ǁŚĞŶ ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐŝŽŶƐ ďĞĐŽŵĞ intense. ϱͿ Ž LJŽƵ ďĞůŝĞǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƐŽŵĞĚĂLJ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌůĚ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĨƌĞĞ ŽĨ ŽƉƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ͍ Kƌ ǁŝůů ƚŚĞƌĞ ĂůǁĂLJƐ ďĞ ƐŽŵĞ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ ŽƉƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ͍ I do believe that one day the world will be free from oppression! I believe that ‘tyrants’ or those who op-­‐ press others learn that type of behaviour from the

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TAKE ACTION dŚĞ <ĞLJ ƚŽ ŚĂŶŐĞ͘​͘​͘ ƉŐ͘ϭϲ Experiencing the G20... pg.18 ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ^ŽĐŝĂů :ƵƐƟĐĞ͘​͘​͘ ƉŐ͘ϭϵ dĂŬŝŶŐ ĐƟŽŶ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌŝŶŐ͘​͘​͘ ƉŐ͘ϮϬ

“ “ If you’re interested in being a part of OPIRG Mc-­‐ Master’s Board of Directors don’t fret. You simply ŚĂǀĞ ƚŽ ƐƚĂLJ ƚƵŶĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ŽƉĞŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ near the end of Second Semester. Check the OPIRG ǁĞďƐŝƚĞ ĨŽƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ͘ KW/Z'͘

“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”

- Martin Luther King, Jr. Photo by Harjot Atwal

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Fall/Winter 2010-­‐2011 Photos by Davey Taigen Hamada

THE KEY TO CHANGE IS TO NOT FEAR IT DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ^ŽĐŝĂů :ƵƐƟĐĞ

7

Days.

ZŽƵŐŚůLJ Ψϭ͕ϬϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ͕ϬϬϬ ŽĨ Canadian Tax payers money.

For What?

Apparently, it is the priority of Ste-­‐ phen Harper to arbitrarily spend ƚŚŝƐ ĚŝƐƉƌŽƉŽƌƟŽŶĂƚĞ ĂŵŽƵŶƚ ŽĨ money to host the G8 and G20 World Summits, without the con-­‐ ƐĞŶƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂŶĂĚŝĂŶ ƉŽƉƵůĂƟŽŶ͘ And what would be the end result of such imprudent spending?

To reach a consensus -­‐ on a global ƐĐĂůĞ Ͳ ŽĨ ƌĞĚƵĐŝŶŐ Ă ĨĞĚĞƌĂů ĚĞĮĐŝƚ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŶĞdžƚ ϲ LJĞĂƌƐ͘ dŚĞ ŝƌŽŶLJ͍ ^ƉĞŶĚŝŶŐ Ψϭ ďŝůůŝŽŶ ƚŽ reach a conclusion on how to cut a ĚĞĮĐŝƚ͘ In the words of Globe and Mail columnist John Ibbitson: “Kudos in order as PM shepherds G20 to surprising consensus… The major economies have agreed to ĂĐƚ ŝŶ ĐŽŶĐĞƌƚ ƚŽ ĐƵƚ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĚĞĮĐŝƚƐ ŝŶ ŚĂůĨ ďLJ ϮϬϭϯ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞŶ ƚŽ ƐƚĂ-­‐ ďŝůŝnjĞ Žƌ ƌĞĚƵĐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĚĞďƚƐ ĂƐ Ă ƉĞƌĐĞŶƚĂŐĞ ŽĨ ' W ďLJ ϮϬϭϲ͘͟ What does this mean?

Governments of the most power-­‐ ful economies in the world have reached a consensus of further butchering government expen-­‐ ditures. All of this will be done in austerity measures.

Greece’ emergency bail-­‐out ear-­‐ lier this year is a vibrant example ŽĨ ŚŽǁ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚƐ ĂƩĞŵƉƚ ƚŽ ƌĞĚƵĐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ĚĞĮĐŝƚƐ ʹ ďLJ ŚĂǀŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĨŽƌĐĞƐ ŽĨ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ŵŽŶ-­‐

ĞƚĂƌLJ ŝŶƐƟƚƵƟŽŶƐ ŝŵƉŽƐĞ ƚŚĞŝƌ ǁŝůů to adopt austerity measures in ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞ ĞŵĞƌŐĞŶĐLJ ĮŶĂŶ-­‐ cial bail-­‐outs; all of which came at the expense of slashes to pension, wages, tax reforms and increased ƉƌŝǀĂƟnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƐƚĂƚĞ ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ͘ This consensus of reduced gov-­‐ ernment expenditures in the next ϲ LJĞĂƌƐ ǁŝůů ŚĂǀĞ ĂƐƚƌŽŶŽŵŝĐĂů repercussions for everybody in our society.

We are currently in the year 2010, ĞdžĂĐƚůLJ ϲϱ LJĞĂƌƐ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞ ĞŶĚ ŽĨ tŽƌůĚ tĂƌ // ;ϭϵϰϱͿ͘ zŽƵ ŵŝŐŚƚ ďĞ thinking – how is this relevant? /Ĩ ŵŽƐƚ ŽĨ LJŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ ĨŽƌŐŽƩĞŶ͕ when soldiers of the war returned home to their loved ones, there ǁĂƐ Ă ŐƌĞĂƚĞƌ ĂƉƉƌĞĐŝĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ value of life. The best way people ĚĞĐŝĚĞĚ ƚŽ ĞdžƉƌĞƐƐ ƚŚŝƐ ƐĞŶƟ-­‐ ment was by doing so physically, and the end result was a massive baby boom. This demography of baby boomers took place between ϭϵϰϱͲϭϵϱϬ͘ ϮϬϭϬͲϮϬϭϱ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƚŚĞ ƟŵĞ ǁŚĞƌĞ this demography of baby boom-­‐ ĞƌƐ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƌĞĂĐŚŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĂŐĞ ŽĨ ϲϱ͙ ƚŚĞ ƐĂŵĞ ĂŐĞ ŽĨ ƌĞƟƌĞŵĞŶƚ ŚĞƌĞ ŝŶ Canada.

Understanding this reality, many ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĂƌĞ ĮŶĂůůLJ ƌĞĂĐŚ-­‐ ing the point in their life where ƚŚĞLJ ĐĂŶ ƌĞƟƌĞ ĨƌŽŵ Ă ůŝĨĞ ŽĨ ŚĂƌĚ ǁŽƌŬ͕ ƐĂĐƌŝĮĐĞ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŽŶ ƚŽ the development of our Canadian society.

However, it appears to Prime Min-­‐ ister Harper that this demographic ĚŽĞƐ ŶŽƚ ĚĞƐĞƌǀĞ ƚŚĞ ĚŝŐŶŝĮĞĚ ƌĞƟƌĞŵĞŶƚ ƚŚĞLJ ĂƌĞ ĂŶƟĐŝƉĂƟŶŐ͘ The G20 Toronto Consensus of re-­‐ duced government expenditures is ĂůƌĞĂĚLJ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ĂŶ ŝŵŵĞĚŝĂƚĞ ĂƩĂĐŬ on pensions across this province and the country.

As an example, in Mid-­‐July, 2 to ϯ ǁĞĞŬƐ ĂŌĞƌ ƚŚŝƐ ĐŽŶƐĞŶƐƵƐ ǁĂƐ made at the G20 Summit in Toron-­‐ to, Ontario’s Ministry of Finance called on all university labour unions to suspended contract ŶĞŐŽƟĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ĚĞŵĂŶĚŝŶŐ the acceptance of a 2-­‐year wage ĨƌĞĞnjĞ͘ KǀĞƌ ŚĂůĨ Ă ĚŽnjĞŶ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐŝ-­‐ ƟĞƐ ĂĐƌŽƐƐ KŶƚĂƌŝŽ ĂƌĞ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ƵŶĚĞƌ ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ ŶĞŐŽƟĂƟŽŶƐ͘ dŚĞ Ministry of Finance publicly stated that the call for the suspension of ĐŽŶƚƌĂĐƚ ŶĞŐŽƟĂƟŽŶƐ ŝƐ ƚŽ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƚ ĐŽŶƐƵůƚĂƟŽŶƐ ǁŝƚŚ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ Ğŵ-­‐ ployers, labour unions and faculty members on how to make pension plans ‘more sustainable’.

This is not a coincidence.

Pensions and wages are the pri-­‐ mary components that auster-­‐ ŝƚLJ ŵĞĂƐƵƌĞƐ ƚĂŬĞ ĞīĞĐƚ ŽŶ͘ /ƚ ŝƐ no coincidence that wages, and especially pensions are currently ƵŶĚĞƌ ĂƩĂĐŬ ŝŶ ƚŚŝƐ ƉƌŽǀŝŶĐĞ͘ / ŝŶƚĞŶƟŽŶĂůůLJ ƵƐĞ ƚŚĞ ǁŽƌĚ ͚ĂƩĂĐŬ͕͛ because the reforms being made to pensions are not to increase government investment, but how to alleviate government contribu-­‐ ƟŽŶƐ͘ ^ŽŵĞ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĂƟŽŶƐ ďĞŝŶŐ ŵĂĚĞ ĂƐ ĂŶ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞ ƚŽ ĞŵƉůŽLJ-­‐ ĞƌƐ Žƌ ƚŚĞ ŐŽǀĞƌŶŵĞŶƚ ĐŽŶƚƌŝďƵƟŶŐ to pension plans is for workers to invest in RRSPs. This recommenda-­‐ ƟŽŶ ŝƐ ĞŶƟƌĞůLJ ŇĂǁĞĚ ĂŶĚ ŝůůŽŐŝĐĂů to the stability of workers, because RRSPs are market-­‐based invest-­‐ ŵĞŶƚƐ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ĚŝƐĐƌĞƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞƐĞ ŝŶǀĞƐƚŵĞŶƚƐ ŝƐ ĞŶƟƌĞůLJ ŽŶ the market and the ‘invisible-­‐hand’.

And what is it that drives markets? ^ƉĞĐƵůĂƟŽŶƐ͘ Therefore, the advice being given to the majority of society is to give ƚŚĞŝƌ ďůŝŶĚͲĨĂŝƚŚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶĮĚĞŶĐĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞŝƌ ƌĞƟƌĞŵĞŶƚ ƐĂǀŝŶŐƐ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ hands of speculators... and that the ‘invisible hand’ will be there to make sure they are socially secured and stable.

We don’t need to look that far to see what happened to our global ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ĞĐŽŶŽŵLJ ǁŚĞŶ ŝƚ ǁĂƐ ůĞŌ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵƉůĞƚĞ ĚŝƐĐƌĞƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƐƉĞĐƵůĂƚŽƌƐ͕ ďĞĐĂƵƐĞ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ƐƟůů ŝŶ the midst of recovering from the catastrophe of the current reces-­‐ ƐŝŽŶ͕ ǁŚŝĐŚ ǁĂƐ ƵůƟŵĂƚĞůLJ ĐƌĞĂƚĞĚ by speculators.

The G20 – Toronto Consensus is ŶŽƚŚŝŶŐ ŵŽƌĞ ƚŚĂŶ ĂŶ ŝŶƚĞŶƐŝĮĞĚ ĂƩĂĐŬ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ ĞƌŽƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƐŽĐŝĂů security that has been persistently diminishing since the neo-­‐liberal free-­‐market agenda was brought forth by former Prime Minister

[and the individual who sold this country out] Brian Mulroney. /Ŷ ƚŚĞ ŶĞdžƚ ϱ LJĞĂƌƐ͕ ǁĞ ĂƌĞ ŐŽ-­‐ ing to need greater government investment in healthcare, nursing homes, old-­‐age care, a concrete pension system that will guarantee Ă ůŝǀĞĂďůĞ ĂŶĚ ĚŝŐŶŝĮĞĚ ƉĞŶƐŝŽŶ͕ and over all greater social security for a demographic of our popula-­‐ ƟŽŶ ƚŚĂƚ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŚĞĂĚŝŶŐ ŝŶƚŽ ƌĞ-­‐ ƟƌĞŵĞŶƚ͘ dŚŝƐ ǁŝůů ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞ ŐƌĞĂƚĞƌ government expenditures. But ac-­‐ cording to Prime Minister Harper, this is not the case. Intead, he has ĐŽŵŵŝƩĞĚ ŽƵƌ ĐŽƵŶƚƌLJ ;ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ world) to do the exact opposite.

This consensus cannot go unchal-­‐ ůĞŶŐĞĚ͘ /Ĩ ŝƚ ĚŽĞƐ͕ ǁĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƐĞƫŶŐ ourselves up for a grave future.

ƚŽ ƐƚƌƵŐŐůĞ ĨŽƌ ďĞƩĞƌ ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ůŝǀŝŶŐ ĐŽŶĚŝƟŽŶƐ͖ The use of hegemonic mechanisms such as the mass media to manipu-­‐ late and deceive public opinion; The arbitrary and imprudent spending of social resources to the ďĞŶĞĮƚ ŽĨ Ă ƉƌŝǀŝůĞŐĞĚ ŵŝŶŽƌŝƚLJ͖ ŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĂů ĞŶĚŽƌƐĞŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ individual self-­‐interest over the col-­‐ ůĞĐƟǀĞ ǁĞůůͲďĞŝŶŐ ŽĨ ŽƚŚĞƌƐ ŝŶ ƐŽ-­‐ ciety has resulted in the erosion of ďĂƐŝĐ ĚĞŵŽĐƌĂƟĐ ƉƌŝŶĐŝƉůĞƐ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ŶĞŐĂƟŶŐ ĂŶLJ ƉŽƐƐŝďŝůŝƚLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ĐŽŵŵŝƚŵĞŶƚ ŽĨ ŐŽǀĞƌŶ-­‐ ments to promote compliance with established social agreements.

p i r g s p e c t i v e s

With that being said, I will leave LJŽƵ ǁŝƚŚ ŵLJ ĚĞĐůĂƌĂƟŽŶ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ McMaster at The G20 Discussion Forum: official declaration tĞ ;ƚŚĞ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ^Ž-­‐ ĐŝĂů :ƵƐƟĐĞͿ ĂƐƐĞŵďůĞ ŚĞƌĞ ƚŽĚĂLJ͕ September 28, 2010 -­‐ McMaster University, Canada to profoundly denounce the Toronto G20 consen-­‐ sus.

The intrinsic abstract forces of capital; reinforced by the G20 Summits, have once again demon-­‐ strated to be absolutely incapable of abiding and adhering to moral and ethical principles. dŚĞ ƌĞůĞŶƚůĞƐƐ ƉƵƌƐƵŝƚ ŽĨ ƉƌŽĮƚ ŚĂƐ ĐƵůŵŝŶĂƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƟŶƵĂů ĚĞŐƌĂĚĂƟŽŶ ĂŶĚ ĞƌŽƐŝŽŶ ŽĨ ƐŽĐŝĂů security; dŚĞ ƉĞƌƐŝƐƚĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŶƟŶƵŽƵƐ Ăƚ-­‐ tack on the working class; The erosion of liveable wages; dŚĞ ĚŝƐƌĞŐĂƌĚ ĨŽƌ Ă ǁŽƌŬĞƌ ƚŽ ƌĞƟƌĞ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ĚŝŐŶŝĮĞĚ ƉĞŶƐŝŽŶ͖ dŚĞ ĚĞŵŽŶŝnjĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ŵĞŶ ĂŶĚ ǁŽŵĞŶ ǁŚŽ ŽƌŐĂŶŝnjĞ ĐŽůůĞĐƟǀĞůLJ

For all these reasons, we call on all students to strengthen the bonds of unity, altruism, solidarity and ĐŽͲŽƉĞƌĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ĐŽŵďĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƐŽĐŝĂů͕ ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ĂŶĚ ĞĐŽŶŽŵŝĐ ĨŽƌĐĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĐƵƌƌĞŶƚůLJ ĂƩĞŵƉƚ ƚŽ ĞdžƉƌŽƉƌŝĂƚĞ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŝǀŝůĞŐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ďĞŶĞĮƚƐ ƚŚĂƚ were fought for with the blood, sweat and tears of working-­‐class ĂŶĂĚŝĂŶƐ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ďĞĨŽƌĞ ƵƐ͘ As leaders of tomorrow, it is imper-­‐ ĂƟǀĞ ƚŚĂƚ ǁĞ ƚĂŬĞ Ă ƐƚĂŶĐĞ ŶŽǁ͕ ƚŽ bring about the required change necessary to preserve the Canada we all wish to construct – one rooted on adhering to ethical ĚĞŵŽĐƌĂƟĐ ƉƌŝŶĐŝƉůĞƐ͕ ƚŚĞ ƌĞĐŽŐŶŝ-­‐ ƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐĂů ŚƵŵĂŶ ƌŝŐŚƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ a more just and equitable society ĨŽƌ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ ŐĞŶĞƌĂƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ ĐŽŵĞ͘ The Key to Change is to Stop Fear-­‐ ing it.

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p i r g s p e c t i v e s

Fall/Winter 2010-­‐2011

Raindrops & Burning cars Experiencing the G20 protests

By Harjot Atwal Photos by Harjot Atwal

:

At most, I felt that there was hope in the air. A common belief had brought these people together. Their belief was in-­‐ tertwined with their hope that

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through their common dissent of ƚŚĞ ƚĂĐƟĐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ 'ϮϬ ƚŚĞƌĞ ǁŽƵůĚ be a move to change. The groups that I felt most in tune with were the women who marched in soli-­‐ darity at the fore of the Peoples DĂƌĐŚ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ŽƉƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ /ƐƌĂĞůŝͲWĂůĞƐƟŶŝĂŶ ĐŽŶŇŝĐƚ͘ dŚĞ workers union and other groups throughout displayed their un-­‐ happiness with events that were occurring in the world without the ĂƩĞŶƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ 'ϮϬ͘ WĞŽƉůĞ ĂůƐŽ displayed their distaste with the leaders of the G20, whom they felt were failing to get their jobs adequately done.

When the People First ŵĂƌĐŚ ĐĂŵĞ ƚŽ Ă ĐůŽƐĞ͕ ĂŌĞƌ hanging out for a bit at Queens Park, I knew that I was ready to head home. Sadly the city was in a state of lockdown, and the subway south of Bloor was not in ĞīĞĐƚ͘ / ǁŽƵůĚ ŚĂǀĞ ŚĂĚ ƚŽ ǁĂůŬ ƚŽ hŶŝŽŶ ƐƚĂƟŽŶ͕ ďƵƚ / ǁĂƐ ƟƌĞĚ ďLJ that point and had to hail a cab.

The driver took me to the edge of Adelaide and York Street. There I ǁĂƐ ůĞŌ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ 'K ƐƚĂƟŽŶ without any assistance because the streets had been reclaimed by the people. I knew it was a short walk and so I sauntered on towards King ^ƚƌĞĞƚ͘ ƚ ƚŚŝƐ ƉŽŝŶƚ / ƌĞĂůŝnjĞĚ / ŚĂĚ unassumingly become a part of the ͞'Ğƚ Žī ƚŚĞ &ĞŶĐĞ͟ ƐŶĂŬĞ ŵĂƌĐŚ͘ A Snake march is where there is ŶŽ ƐĞƚ ƌŽƵƚĞ ĨŽƌ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ĚŝƐƐĞŶƟŶŐ

ĂŶĚ ĂŶ ĂƩĞŵƉƚ ŝƐ ŵĂĚĞ ƚŽ ƌĞĐůĂŝŵ the territory. I slowed my pace down as I heard noises at the end of the street and could see crowds of people, mostly young and in a variety of outerwear, showcasing their annoyance with the system.

When smoke began to bil-­‐ low up from the end of the street / ǁĂƐ ůĞŌ ĐŽŶĨƵƐĞĚ͘ tĂůŬŝŶŐ ĚŽǁŶ ƚŚŝƐ ƐƚƌĞĞƚ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ 'K ^ƚĂƟŽŶ͕ / ŚĂĚ ŵLJ ĮƌƐƚ ĞŶĐŽƵŶƚĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ ďƌŽ-­‐ ken shop windows and now some sort of smoke at the end of the ƐƚƌĞĞƚ͘ dŚĞ ƐŵŽŬĞ Ăƚ ĮƌƐƚ ƐĞĞŵĞĚ to me like a use of police force; ƵŶƟů / ƐĂǁ ƚŚĞ ŇĂŵĞƐ ƌŝƐĞ ƵƉ ƉĂƐƚ the heads of the crowd. Something ŚĂĚ ďĞĞŶ ƐĞƚ ŽŶ ĮƌĞ͘

The sirens rang out and I turned back to Adelaide to see the riot police swarm down the street towards the crowd that was ƉƌŽƚĞƐƟŶŐ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ ďƵƌŶŝŶŐ ĐĂƌ͘ Looking up to the sky there was a helicopter hovering that added to the surrealism of the scene. Many of us were running at that point.

Running out of the street, hoping not to get cornered by the police for a crime we did not commit.

fend for themselves despite men-­‐ ƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ƉŽůŝĐĞ ĨŽƌĐĞƐ ďĞŝŶŐ ƉƵƚ there for our safety. Two billion ĚŽůůĂƌƐ ŚĞůƉĞĚ ĨƵŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƟƌĞ 'ϮϬ ĮĂƐĐŽ͕ LJĞƚ ĂƐ Ă ĐŝǀŝůŝĂŶ / ĨĞůƚ ŵŽƌĞ afraid of the police than of the violent protestors.

In the end I was luckier than others when it came to ĮŶĚŝŶŐ Ă ǁĂLJ ŚŽŵĞ͘ / ŚĂĚ ƐƉĂƌĞ change to grab another taxi to ƐŚƵƩůĞ ŵLJƐĞůĨ ƚŽ ǁŚĞƌĞ ƚŚĞ ƐƵď-­‐ ǁĂLJ ƐƟůů ŽƉĞƌĂƚĞĚ͘ dŚĞ ƌĞƐƚ ŽĨ ŵLJ journey home became an inter-­‐

There were many more ĞƐƟŶŐ ŵŝdž ŽĨ ŶĞǁ ĨĂĐĞƐ ĂŶĚ ŬŝŶĚ who were innocent than there hearts. were guilty. The message that had dŚĞ ĞŶƟƌĞƚLJ ŽĨ ŵLJ ǀŝĞǁ ŽĨ come from the People First march the G20 protests can be best ex-­‐ had been drowned out by the plained by an elderly women who small incidents of vandalism that had earlier stood in the rain with were perpetrated by a very select ŵĞ ďĞƐŝĚĞ Ă ĐŽīĞĞ ƐŚŽƉ͕ ǁŚŝůĞ ƚŚĞ ĨĞǁ͘ dŚĞŝƌ ĂĐƟŽŶƐ ŚĂǀĞ ƐŝŶĐĞ ĐŽŵĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ƉĂƌƟĐŝƉĂƟŶŐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ^ŶĂŬĞ ƚŽ ƌĞƉƌĞƐĞŶƚ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƟƌĞ 'ϮϬ ƉƌŽ-­‐ ŵĂƌĐŚ ĐĂŵĞ ŝŶƚŽ ƚŚĞ ŝŶƚĞƌƐĞĐƟŽŶ tests, however I know from experi-­‐ before us at Yonge and Adelaide. ence, as do many of my friends, ^ŚĞ ƚƵƌŶĞĚ ƚŽ ŵĞ ĂŶĚ ŽīĞƌĞĚ ŵĞ ƚŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƚĞƐƚƐ ǁĞƌĞ ŶŽƚ Ă ŚŽƐƟůĞ shelter under her umbrella and environment for civilians. Those ĐŽŶƟŶƵĞĚ ƚŽ ŶŽĚ ŝŶ ĂĚŵŝƌĂƟŽŶ who used violence against the of the number of young who had ƉŽůŝĐĞ ĂƐ Ă ƚĂĐƟĐ ŽĨ ĚŝƐƐĞŶƚ ŶĞǀĞƌ come out to protest. threatened any fellow protestors

“When the youth are not or civilians, “There were many more who were happy with the and that is innocent than there were guilty” government it why I cur-­‐ is up to them rently do not stand against those to protest and let their voices be who used force against authority. heard.” I was surprised by her

ŌĞƌ ƌƵŶŶŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĞdžƉƌĞƐƐĞĚ ƐĞŶƟŵĞŶƚ͘ ^ŚĞ ĂŐƌĞĞĚ ƐĐĞŶĞ ĂŶĚ ŐĞƫŶŐ ƚŽ hŶŝŽŶ ^ƚĂƟŽŶ͕ ǁŝƚŚ ƚŚĞ ƚĂĐƟĐƐ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ƉƌŽƚĞƐƚŽƌƐ / ƌĞĂůŝnjĞĚ / ǁĂƐ ůĞŌ ƐƚƌĂŶĚĞĚ ĂůŽŶŐ and noted that if we ever gave up ǁŝƚŚ ĚŽnjĞŶƐ ŽĨ ŽƚŚĞƌ ŝŶĚŝǀŝĚƵĂůƐ͘ our freedom of speech and our dŚĞ 'K ďƵƐ ƐƚĂī ŵĞŶƟŽŶĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ability to dissent then we would buses were forbidden to enter lose our power as free people. the city due to the violence. I was

Certainly the G20 protests ůĞŌ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ ĂŶŽƚŚĞƌ ǁĂLJ ŚŽŵĞ͕ ĂƐ were full of mistakes made by both I walked through the rain soaked sides which over powered the mes-­‐ streets. However it was ironic that sage of many. But we must under-­‐ ƚƌĂŶƐŝƚ ďƵƐĞƐ ǁĞƌĞ ƐƟůů ƌƵŶŶŝŶŐ ƐƚĂŶĚ ƚŚĂƚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ǁĞƌĞ ĂƩĞŵƉƟŶŐ ŝŶ ŽƌĚĞƌ ƚŽ ƐŚƵƩůĞ ƉŽůŝĐĞ ĨŽƌĐĞƐ to struggle for what we have been around the city. struggling for for centuries.

dŚĞ ƉĞŽƉůĞ ǁĞƌĞ ĨŽƌŐŽƩĞŶ Change. ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĂŽƐ͘ ŝƟnjĞŶƐ ǁĞƌĞ ůĞŌ ƚŽ

A DOSE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE ON CAMPUS

By Dorina Simeonov

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reviously known as Campus Choice and the group behind the Coca Cola Referen-­‐ dum, the newly named McMas-­‐ ter Students for ^ŽĐŝĂů :ƵƐƟĐĞ ;D^^:Ϳ KW/Z' working group is no stranger to the univer-­‐ sity community.

Whether being praised for their successful rally to gather support for the Local 2 Service Employees /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů hŶŝŽŶ Žƌ ďĞŝŶŐ ĚƵďďĞĚ Socialists by the campus media, there is no doubt that this group is raising important and controversial issues. <ĞƌĞŵ ĂŶ ŶŐŝŶ ĂŶĚ ůĞdž ZĂŵŝƌĞnj͕ the founders, believe that we have ͞Ă ǀĞƌLJ ĂƉĂƚŚĞƟĐ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚ ƉŽƉƵůĂ-­‐ ƟŽŶ͟ Ăƚ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ŚĂƐ ŵĂĚĞ ŝƚ D^^:͛Ɛ ŵĂŝŶ ŽďũĞĐƟǀĞ ƚŽ involve more students in social and ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ŽŶ ĐĂŵƉƵƐ ĂŶĚ ďĞ-­‐ LJŽŶĚ͘ ŌĞƌ ƚŚĞ 'ϮϬ ĐŽŶĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ŚĞůĚ in Toronto, the McMaster Students for So-­‐ ĐŝĂů :ƵƐƟĐĞ ŐƌŽƵƉ ŚĞůĚ Ă ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐŝŽŶ ĨŽƌƵŵ on the way protests were handled during ƚŚŝƐ ŝŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ĞǀĞŶƚ͘ D^^: ŵĂLJ ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ĐƌŝƟĐŝnjĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĂƐŬŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ ͞/Ɛ Canada a police state?” but Kerem makes a convincing argument that “you have ƚŽ ĂƐŬ ĐŽŶƚƌŽǀĞƌƐŝĂů ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶƐ ƚŽ ŐĞƚ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟŽŶƐ started.” ƐŝĚĞ ĨƌŽŵ ĐƌŝƟĐĂůůLJ ĞdžĂŵŝŶŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĂĐƟŽŶƐ ŽĨ ĐŽƌƉŽƌĂƟŽŶƐ ĂŶĚ the Canadian govern-­‐ ment, Kerem and his team hope to tackle more issues in the future.

tKZ</E' 'ZKhW ^WKd>/',d

hen people took to the ƐƚƌĞĞƚƐ ŽŶ :ƵŶĞ ϮϲƚŚ ŽĨ ƚŚŝƐ year to protest the G8/G20 sum-­‐ mits in downtown Toronto, I was extremely excited to be in their midst. Gathering at Queens Park at 1pm for the scheduled People First march was almost surreal.

There were vibes of solidarity and common interest circling through the colourful crowds, no one felt deterred by the incessant rain.

As speakers came up to the mi-­‐ crophone and incited hope in the people, cheers of a found common cause rent the air. I felt at peace.

Music was played on recycled instruments as people danced and ƚŚĞ ĐŽŶƐƚĂŶƚ ƌĂƉƉŝŶŐ ŽĨ ƐƟĐŬƐ ŽŶ ŵĂŬĞƐŚŝŌ ĚƌƵŵƐ ŵĂĚĞ ŵĞ ƚǁŝƌů ĂŶĚ ďŽƉ Ă ůŝƩůĞ ŝŶƐŝĚĞ͘ KƵƚǁĂƌĚůLJ I shared smiles as I tried to locate ĨĂŵŝůŝĂƌ ĨĂĐĞƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ŐƌŽǁŝŶŐ ŵƵůƟ-­‐ tude of bodies.

That was the irony of the day and of the weekend it seems. The police were able to corner those few who had perpetrated these acts of violence and vandalism, but in doing so they indiscriminately ĐŽƌŶĞƌĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĂƩĂĐŬĞĚ ŝŶŶŽĐĞŶƚ people as well.

p i r g s p e c t i v e s

If you wish to get involved in social jus-­‐ ƟĐĞ͕ ĞŵĂŝů ŵĐŵĂƐƚĞƌƐŽĐŝĂůũƵƐŝĐĞΛŐŵĂŝů͘ ĐŽŵ Žƌ ĮŶĚ ƚŚĞŵ ŽŶ &ĂĐĞŬ͘

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p by giving, not directly taking or receiving something. i However, to face reality or to consider my career, I r ŵŝŐŚƚ ŶĞĞĚ Ă ƌĞĨĞƌĞŶĐĞ ůĞƩĞƌ Žƌ ƌĞĐŽŵŵĞŶĚĂƟŽŶ from a volunteer placement for professional school g ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ƐŽŽŶĞƌ Žƌ ůĂƚĞƌ͘ ,ĞƌĞ / ĂƐŬ ŵLJƐĞůĨ͕ ͞ŝƐŶ͛ƚ s ƚŚĂƚ Ă ĐŽŶƚƌĂĚŝĐƟŽŶ͍͟ /ƚ ŝƐ ƚŽŽ ŚĂƌĚ ƚŽ ĂŶƐǁĞƌ ƚŚĞ ďĂƐŝĐ ƋƵĞƐƟŽŶ ŽĨ ǁŚLJ / ŚĂǀĞ ďĞĞŶ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌŝŶŐ ĨŽƌ ƐŽ ůŽŶŐ͕ p ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞƌĞ ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶůLJ ŝƐ Ă ĐŽŵďŝŶĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ͘ e The only thing I could say is, “I enjoy volunteering be-­‐ cause I am glad that I can help someone out. However, c ŝƚ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ ĐŝƌĐƵŵƐƚĂŶƟĂů ƚŚĂƚ / ǁŝůů ŝŶĚĞĞĚ ŶĞĞĚ Ă ƌĞĨĞƌ-­‐ t ĞŶĐĞ ůĞƩĞƌ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ ĨƵƚƵƌĞ͘͟ dŚĞƐĞ ĂƌĞ Ăůů ƚƌƵĞ͘ i 7$.,1* $&7,21 7+528*+ From a number of years full of volunteering experience, / ƌĞĂůŝnjĞĚ ƚŚĂƚ ŶŽ ŵĂƩĞƌ ǁŚĂƚ ƚŚĞ ĮƌƐƚ ŵŽƟǀĂƟŽŶ ŝƐ v 92/817((5,1*

ƚŽ ďĞŐŝŶ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌŝŶŐ ;ŝ͘Ğ͘ ŐĞƫŶŐ ŝŶƚŽ ŐŽŽĚ ƐĐŚŽŽůƐ Žƌ e jobs or anything related to accomplishment of person-­‐ Why Do We Do It? s Ăů ŐŽĂůƐͿ͕ Ăůů ƚŚĞ ŵĂƩĞƌƐ ŝƐ ƚŚĂƚ ƐƚĂƌƟŶŐ Ă ŵŽǀĞŵĞŶƚ

By Arum Choi ÊÃÃçÄ®ãù sʽçÄã Ù ã®ÊÄ ; s Ϳ ŝƐ Ă ŶĞƚǁŽƌŬ ŽĨ ǀŽůƵŶ-­‐ teering groups with a facilitator for each group who leads ǁĞĞŬůLJ ŐƌŽƵƉ ƌĞŇĞĐƟŽŶ ŽŶ ƐŽĐŝĞƚĂů ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ĂŶĚ ĂƌƌĂŶŐĞƐ ĨŽƌ ƚŚĞ group to travel together from Mac to the placement each week.

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opirg mcmaster’s

ALTERNATIVE RESOURCE LIBRARY OPIRG McMaster established an ALTERNATIVE RESOURCE CENTRE in order to provide the McMaster and sur-­‐ ƌŽƵŶĚŝŶŐ ,ĂŵŝůƚŽŶ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ǁŝƚŚ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂůƐ ;ŝŶĐůƵĚŝŶŐ ǀŝĚĞŽƐ͕ ŬƐ͕ ũŽƵƌŶĂůƐ͕ ƉĂŵƉŚůĞƚƐ͕ ĞƚĐ͘Ϳ that explore current issues regarding social and ƉŽůŝƟĐĂů ũƵƐƟĐĞ, environmentalism, animal and human rights, and ŵŽƌĞ. dŚĞƐĞ ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ ŵĂLJ ŶŽƚ ďĞ ŽƚŚĞƌǁŝƐĞ ĂǀĂŝůĂďůĞ Ăƚ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂů ƌĞƐŽƵƌĐĞ ůŽĐĂƟŽŶƐ͘ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚ ĞŶƚƌĞ ZŽŽŵ ϮϮϵ &ƌŽŵ ϭϬ Ăŵ Ͳ ϰ Ɖŵ

NEW RESOURCES now available

p i r g s p e c t i v e s

ŚĞĐŬ ŽƵƚ ƚŚĞƐĞ EĞǁ ZĞƐŽƵƌĐĞƐ Ăƚ ƚŚĞ KW/Z' DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ ůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞ ZĞƐŽƵƌĐĞ >ŝďƌĂƌLJ

Many thanks to ALL who have been volunteering with s ͊ ǀĞƌLJ ŵŝŶƵƚĞ LJŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ ĚĞǀŽƚĞĚ ĂŶĚ ĞǀĞƌLJ ƟŵĞ LJŽƵ ŚĂǀĞ ŐŝǀĞŶ Ă ŚĂŶĚ ĂƌĞ ĂďƐŽůƵƚĞůLJ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ Ă ĚŝīĞƌ-­‐ ence in the Hamilton community. You mean a fortune to CVA and to Hamilton!

To sign up for a volunteer group go to www.opencircle. mcmaster.ca/volunteer today or email community.vol-­‐ ƵŶƚĞĞƌ͘ĂĐƟŽŶΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ

Arum recently graduated with Honours from the Life Scienc-­‐ ĞƐ ƉƌŽŐƌĂŵ Ăƚ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ŝƐ ŶŽǁ ĐŽŶĚƵĐƟŶŐ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚ ŝŶ the Pediatrics Department at McMaster Children’s Hospital.

“My big plans are to be a pediatrician and researcher so that / ĐĂŶ ƚĞĂĐŚ ĂŶĚ ƉƌĂĐƟĐĞ ĂƐ Ă ƉŚLJƐŝĐŝĂŶ͕͟ ƌƵŵ ĞdžƉůĂŝŶƐ͕ ͞/ also want to volunteer as a member of a medical aid team in an impoverished area.”

ARUM CHOI

ĞŽƉůĞ ǀŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ ĨŽƌ Ă ŶƵŵďĞƌ ŽĨ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƌĞĂƐŽŶƐ͕ ƌĂŶŐŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ĂŶ ŝŶĐůŝŶĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ ůĞĂƌŶ ŶĞǁ ƐŬŝůůƐ͕ ƚŽ ŚĂǀĞ ĨƵŶ͕ ĨŽƌ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ŐĂŝŶ͕ Žƌ ƚŽ ŵĂŬĞ Ă ĚŝīĞƌĞŶĐĞ in their society or the broader world. Some are com-­‐ pletely devoted to the cause they represent, while oth-­‐ ers simply wish to play their small part in volunteering whenever they can.

On a day like any other I began to wonder about rea-­‐ sons why I have been volunteering since junior high, even though I have consistently complained about my packed schedules. I also wondered why some of my vol-­‐ unteer members are willing to volunteer even though they do not seem to enjoy it. Much to my dismay, I have seen people volunteer just because it would look good on their resume or they needed a network prior to applying for fancy schools or programs, such as an MBA or Medical School. The term “volunteering” also seems like it is meant to be for or about the volunteer themselves.

My own understanding of “volunteering” is that it is one of those things that you are giving yourself without ĂŶLJ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĂƟŽŶ ŽĨ Ă ƌĞǁĂƌĚ͖ LJŽƵƌ ŝŶĐĞŶƟǀĞ ŝƐ ĚĞƌŝǀĞĚ from volunteering itself being the priceless experience ŽĨ ůŝŐŚƟŶŐ ƵƉ ƐŽŵĞŽŶĞ ĞůƐĞ͛Ɛ ůŝĨĞ ďLJ ǁŚĂƚĞǀĞƌ ŵĞĂŶƐ͘ I understand clearly that volunteering is mainly formed

Žƌ ƚĂŬŝŶŐ ĂĐƟŽŶ ŝƐ ƚŚĞ ŵŽƐƚ ƐŝŐŶŝĮĐĂŶƚ ƐƚĞƉ ŽŶĞ ĐĂŶ ŵĂŬĞ͘ /ŶĚĞĞĚ͕ ŝƚ ǁŽƵůĚ ďĞ ĞǀĞŶ ďĞƩĞƌ ŶŽƚ ŽŶůLJ ŚĞůƉ-­‐ ing someone but also helping yourself to acknowledge ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ƚŚĂƚ ĂīĞĐƚ ƚŚĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƐŽĐŝĞƚLJ͘ &Žƌ ŝŶ Ăůů ĐĞƌƚĂŝŶƚLJ ŝƚ ǁŝůů ŝŶƐƟŐĂƚĞ ƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ŐƌŽǁƚŚ͕ ŝŵƉƌŽǀĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟŽŶ ƐŬŝůůƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŚĞůƉ LJŽƵ ƚŽ ŝŶƚĞŐƌĂƚĞ ŝŶƚŽ Ă ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ĨƵůů ŽĨ ŵĂŶLJ ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƉĞŽƉůĞ͊ Those are all great reasons to volunteer.

Fall/Winter 2010-­‐2011

ŶĚ DĂŶLJ DŽƌĞ͊ ŽŵĞ ƚŽ Dh^ ƌŽŽŵ ϮϮϵ ĂŶĚ ƐĞĂƌĐŚ ŽƵƌ ĐĂƚĂůŽŐƵĞ ƚŽ ĮŶĚ ďŽŽŬƐ LJŽƵ͛ƌĞ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ŝŶ͘

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KW/Z' D D ^d Z

working groups ĂĐŚ ĨĂůů ĂŶĚ ǁŝŶƚĞƌ ƚĞƌŵ KW/Z' DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ ƚĂŬĞƐ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ ĨŽƌ ͞ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ͟ ŽŶ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂů ĂŶĚ ƐŽĐŝĂů ũƵƐƟĐĞ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ͘ t, d /^ tKZ</E' 'ZKhW͍ tŽƌŬŝŶŐ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ĂƌĞ ƐĞŵŝͲĂƵƚŽŶŽŵŽƵƐ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ŽĨ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ǁŚŽ ŽƌŐĂŶŝnjĞ ĂƌŽƵŶĚ ƐƉĞĐŝĮĐ ŝƐƐƵĞƐ ƌĞůĂƟŶŐ ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚ ĂŶĚ ƐŽĐŝĂů ĐŚĂŶŐĞ͘ KW/Z' ĞŶŐĂŐĞƐ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ŝŶƚĞƌĞƐƚĞĚ ŝŶ ĐƌŝƟƋƵŝŶŐ͕ ƌĞƐĞĂƌĐŚŝŶŐ ĂŶĚ ĂĐƟŶŐ ŽŶ ƉƌĞƐƐŝŶŐ ƐŽĐŝĂůͬĞŶǀŝƌŽŶŵĞŶƚĂů ŝƐƐƵĞƐ͘ tŽƌŬŝŶŐ 'ƌŽƵƉƐ ƌĞĐĞŝǀĞ ĨƵŶĚŝŶŐ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ KW/Z' ŽĸĐĞ͕ ĂƐ ǁĞůů ĂƐ ŽŶŐŽŝŶŐ ƐƵƉƉŽƌƚ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ͘ tŽƌŬŝŶŐ 'ƌŽƵƉƐ ƵƐĞ Ă KE^ E^h^ /^/KE D </E' ŵŽĚĞů ƚŽ ĞŶƐƵƌĞ ĞƋƵĂů ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ƉŽǁĞƌ ǁŝƚŚŝŶ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ĂƌĞ ĞdžƉĞĐƚĞĚ ƚŽ ƚĂŬĞ ĂŶ Ed/ͲKWWZ ^^/KE ǁŽƌŬƐŚŽƉ͕ ŽīĞƌĞĚ ĨŽƌ ĨƌĞĞ ĞĂĐŚ ƚĞƌŵ͘

tKZ</E' 'ZKhW^ & >> ϮϬϭϬ Biodiversity Guild

Hamilton Freeskool

Body Equity

,ĂŵŝůƚŽŶ tŽŵLJŶ͛Ɛ ŝŬĞ ŽůůĞĐƟǀĞ

ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ sŽůƵŶƚĞĞƌ ĐƟŽŶ

Inter City Homeless Outreach

Dominican Republic Self Help

Migrant Workers Resource

&ŝƌƐƚ EĂƟŽŶƐ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚ ƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ

DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ĨŽƌ ^ŽĐŝĂů :ƵƐƟĐĞ

Food For Life

Save More Students

Guatemala

ThreadWork &Žƌ DŽƌĞ /ŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ĐŚĞĐŬ ŽƵƚ͗ KW/Z'͘

OPIRG CORE VALUES WORKSHOPS (Free with Pre-Registration) ͻ Ed/ͲKWWZ ^^/KE tKZ<^,KW͗ ^ĂƚƵƌĚĂLJ͕ : Eh Zz ϮϮ͕ ϮϬϭϭ͕ ϭϬ͗ϬϬĂŵ to 12:00pm. ͻ KE^ E^h^ /^/KE D </E' tKZ<^,KW͕ ^ƵŶĚĂLJ͕ : Eh Zz ϯϬ͕ ϭϮ͗ϯϬͲϯ͗ϬϬƉŵ͘ WƌĞͲƌĞŐŝƐƚĞƌ ǁŝƚŚ ƌĂŶĚLJ͘ŽƉŝƌŐΛŐŵĂŝů͘ĐŽŵ Žƌ ϵϬϱͲϱϮϱͲϵϭϰϬ Ğdžƚ͘ ϮϲϬϮϲ͘ ŽƚŚ ǁŽƌŬƐŚŽƉƐ ĂƌĞ ŚĞůĚ ŝŶ dŽŐŽ ^ĂůŵŽŶ ,Ăůů ZŽŽŵ ϳϭϵ͘ KW/Z' ĞƌƟĮ-­‐ ĐĂƚĞƐ ĨŽƌ ĐŽŵƉůĞƟŶŐ ďŽƚŚ ǁŽƌŬƐŚŽƉƐ

For more informatrion check the Events calendar on KW/Z'͘

BECOME AN OPIRG MCMASTER COMMUNITY MEMBER! KEd Z/K Wh >/ /Ed Z ^d Z ^ Z , 'ZKhW DĐD ^d Z Your Membership contributes to the ongoing work of OPIRG McMaster, our Resource Library, and our front-­‐line volunteer working groups.

DĞŵďĞƌƐŚŝƉ ĂůůŽǁƐ LJŽƵ ĂĐĐĞƐƐ ƚŽ ŽƵƌ ĨƌĞĞ ƚƌĂŝŶŝŶŐ ǁŽƌŬƐŚŽƉƐ ŽŶ ŶƟ KƉƉƌĞƐƐŝŽŶ ĂŶĚ ŽŶƐĞŶƐƵƐ ĞĐŝƐŝŽŶ DĂŬŝŶŐ͘ ůƐŽ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞĚ ŝƐ Ă ďŝͲĂŶŶƵĂů ƐƵďƐĐƌŝƉƟŽŶ ƚŽ W/Z'ƐƉĞĐƟǀĞƐ͕ KW/Z' DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ͛Ɛ ƚŽƉŝĐĂů ŶĞǁƐůĞƩĞƌ͕ ŵĂŝůĞĚ ƚŽ LJŽƵƌ ŚŽŵĞ͘ WůƵƐ LJŽƵ ĂƌĞ ĂďůĞ ƚŽ ƐŝŐŶ ŽƵƚ ŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů ĨƌŽŵ ŽƵƌ ĂůƚĞƌŶĂƟǀĞ ůĞŶĚŝŶŐ ůŝďƌĂƌLJ ĨƵůů ŽĨ ŬƐ͕ ǀŝĚĞŽƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉĞƌŝŽĚŝĐĂůƐ LJŽƵ ǁŽŶ͛ƚ ĮŶĚ ĞůƐĞǁŚĞƌĞ͘ ;EKd ͗ &ƵůůͲdŝŵĞ hŶ ĚĞƌŐƌĂĚƵĂƚĞƐ Ăƚ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ ĂƌĞ ĂƵƚŽŵĂƟĐĂůůLJ ŵĞŵďĞƌƐ ŽĨ KW/Z'Ϳ E D ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ W,KE ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ Z ^^ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ ͲD />ͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺͺ dtK W zD Ed KWd/KE^͗ Ž KWd/KE ϭ͗ ΨϭϬ͘ϬϬ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ DĞŵďĞƌƐŚŝƉ ;ŵĂŬĞ ĐŚĞƋƵĞ ŽƵƚ ƚŽ ͞KW/Z' DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ͟Ϳ ϭϬ͘ϬϬ Ž KWd/KE Ϯ͗ ΨϭϬ͘ϬϬ ŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ DĞŵďĞƌƐŚŝƉ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƚĂdž ĚĞĚƵĐƟďůĞ ĚŽŶĂƟŽŶ ;ŵĂŬĞ ƚŚĞ ĐŚĞƋƵĞ ĨŽƌ ĨƵůů ĂŵŽƵŶƚ ;ΨϭϬ ƉůƵƐ ĚŽŶĂƟŽŶͿ ŽƵƚ ƚŽ ͞KŶƚĂƌŝŽ W/Z'͟Ϳ KW/Z' DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ͕ hŶŝƚ ϭϬϭϯ ĐͬŽ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ WŽƐƚ KĸĐĞ͕ ϭϮϴϬ DĂŝŶ ^ƚƌĞĞƚ tĞƐƚ ,ĂŵŝůƚŽŶ KE >ϴ^ ϭ Ϭ In Person: Room 229 McMaster University Student Centre. ƉŚ ;ϵϬϱͿ ϱϮϱͲϵϭϰϬ Ğdžƚ͘ ϮϳϮϴϵ ŽƉŝƌŐΛŵĐŵĂƐƚĞƌ͘ĐĂ ŚƩƉ͗ͬ​ͬŽƉŝƌŐ͘ĐĂ ůŽŐ͗ ŚƩƉ͗ͬ​ͬŽƉŝƌŐŵĐŵĂƐƚĞƌ͘ďůŽŐƐƉŽƚ͘ĐŽŵ J Eh Zz dƵĞƐĚĂLJ͕ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ Ϯϱ ontario migrant workers awareness

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OPIRG McMASTER

<d, ϭϯϱ Ͳ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ 7 -­‐ 9 pm &ŝůŵ ^ĐƌĞĞŶŝŶŐ ŽĨ ͚ ů ŽŶƚƌĂƚŽ͕͛ followed by a discussion. :ŽŝŶ KW/Z' ǁŽƌŬŝŶŐƐ ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝƚLJ ŽƌŐĂŶŝnjĂƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ Ă ĚŝƐĐƵƐƐŝŽŶ ĐŽǀĞƌŝŶŐ ƚŚĞ ĞdžƉůŽŝƚĂƟǀĞ ƐŝƚƵĂƟŽŶ ĨĂĐŝŶŐ temporary foreign workers in Canada.

&ƌŝĚĂLJ͕ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ Ϯϵ the people vs. u.s. steel Hamilton City Hall -­‐ 71 Main St. West 1 -­‐ 4pm tŽƌŬĞƌƐ͕ ƐƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ͕ ĂĐƟǀŝƐƚƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƵŶŝŽŶŝƐƚƐ ĂƌĞ ŵŽďŝůŝnjŝŶŐ ƚŽŐĞƚŚĞƌ ƚŽ ƉƌŽƚĞƐƚ h͘^͘ ^ƚĞĞů͛Ɛ ĂƚƌŽĐŝƟĞƐ ĂŐĂŝŶƐƚ ǁŽƌŬĞƌƐ and the Hamilton community.

^ƵŶĚĂLJ͕ :ĂŶƵĂƌLJ ϯϬ consensus decision making workshop TSH 719 -­‐ McMaster University ϭϮ͗ϯϬ Ͳ ϯƉŵ džƉůŽƌĞ ƚŚŝƐ ĚĞŵŽĐƌĂƟĐ ƉƌŽĐĞƐƐ ƐƵŝƚĞĚ ĨŽƌ ƐŵĂůů ŐƌŽƵƉƐ ĂŶĚ gain skills in small group dynamics.

& Zh Zz dƵĞƐĚĂLJ͕ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϭ Indigenous Studies Open House ,ĂŵŝůƚŽŶ ,Ăůů ϭϬϯ Ͳ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ

dŚĞ /ŶĚŝŐĞŶŽƵƐ ^ƚƵĚŝĞƐ WƌŽŐƌĂŵ ;/^WͿ Ăƚ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ hŶŝǀĞƌ-­‐ ƐŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ &ŝƌƐƚ EĂƟŽŶƐ ^ƚƵĚĞŶƚƐ ƐƐŽĐŝĂƟŽŶ ;D&E^ Ϳ ŝŶǀŝƚĞ LJŽƵ ƚŽ ĂƩĞŶĚ ŽƵƌ KƉĞŶ ,ŽƵƐĞ͘ dŚĞƌĞ ǁŝůů ďĞ ĨŽŽĚ͕ ĐƌĂŌƐ ĂŶĚ ŐŽŽĚ ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟŽŶ Ͳ ƐŽ ƚĂŬĞ Ă ďƌĞĂŬ ĨƌŽŵ your busy schedules and come and enjoy yourself at ISP!

dƵĞƐĚĂLJ͕ &ĞďƌƵĂƌLJ ϴ The Change We Knead Now! Bake Goods Not Bank Bailouts Tour >ŽĐĂƟŽŶ͗ d &ŽŽĚ EŽƚ ŽŵďƐ͊ ĨŽƵŶĚĞƌ <ĞŝƚŚ DĐ,ĞŶƌLJ ǁŝůů ďĞ ƐƉĞĂŬ-­‐ ŝŶŐ Ăƚ DĐDĂƐƚĞƌ hŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ ĂŶĚ ƐŚŽǁ Ă ϭϱ ŵŝŶƵƚĞ Įůŵ ŽŶ Tuesday Feb 8th, 2011.

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