Occupy Bay Street, not Afghanistan!

In solidarity with the Occupy Bay Street protest, the Toronto Coalition to Stop the War and the Canadian Peace Alliance will bring an anti-war contingent to the occupation on Saturday, October 15. Join the contingent at 1:00 p.m. in front of the Ryerson Student Centre, 55 Gould Street.

Occupy Bay Street, not Afghanistan!

The anti-war contingent is part of an anti-war weekend to mark the 10th anniversary of the war in Afghanistan. Please also join us at the bi-annual convention of the Canadian Peace Alliance, happening all weekend. Join us: http://on.fb.me/CPA11.

Bi-annual convention of the Canadian Peace Alliance

Organized by the Canadian Peace Alliance | Hosted by the Ryerson Students' Union

Featuring panel discussions and workshops on Afghanistan, Canada and NATO, the 'war on terror,' war resisters, the Arab Spring, Palestine, civil liberties, Islamophobia and racism, indigenous sovereignty, militarism and society, nuclear disarmament, war and climate change, war and austerity, and much more!

>>> Please see the preliminary program below. <<<

REGISTRATION
You may register at the door, but we encourage you to register in advance online. Registration costs must be paid in full at the door (cash or cheques only).

OBSERVERS
Waged $20-50 | Students/unwaged $10-20 | Per session $5-10 (sliding scale/pay what you can)
Everyone is welcome to attend the convention and may register as observers: http://bit.ly/CPA11reg.
Observers may participate fully in all aspects of the convention, but only delegates may vote on resolutions.

DELEGATES
Waged $75 | Students/unwaged $40
Only member organizations of the Canadian Peace Alliance may register as delegates: http://bit.ly/CPA11reg.

Celebrating 25 years of the Canadian Peace Alliance
http://www.acp-cpa.ca/ | cpa@web.ca | 416-588-5555

PRELIMINARY PROGRAM (speakers TBA)

Friday, October 14, 2011

5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Registration

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Panel discussion

Afghanistan: Ten years of war and resistance
An assessment of the anti-war movement over the last decade and discussion about next steps by anti-war movement activists from across the country

9:00 p.m. to late
Social

‘Rhythms of Resistance’
Light snacks and refreshments (cash bar) served in the Courtyard Lounge of the Ryerson Student Centre
Music and entertainment featuring Afghan musicians, DJs and performers

Saturday, October 15, 2011

9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Registration

9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Plenary

Introduction/resolutions
Delegates discuss, debate and pass resolutions

10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Workshops (choose one of three)

Can NATO survive the war in Afghanistan?
An assessment of NATO’s strategy and the growth of the Afghan resistance, and a discussion about NATO’s internal conflicts and future viability

Canada in Haiti: The military face of the neoliberal agenda
A discussion about Canada’s ongoing military/police presence in Haiti, and how it supports Canadian corporate interests in the Caribbean and Latin America

Canada’s war in Libya
An assessment of the US-led intervention in Libya, Canada’s role in the mission, and its consequences for the Arab world

11:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Break

11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Workshops (choose one of three)

Canada’s creeping militarism
A discussion about the growing militarization of public life in Canada under the Conservatives, from sports and entertainment to education and government services

The Tamil struggle after Sri Lanka’s war
An assessment of the outcome of the 2009 war and the challenges facing Tamils in their struggle for freedom and independence

War, famine and resistance in Africa
A discussion about the relationship between foreign military intervention and the emergence of widespread famine in Africa

12:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Lunch (on site)

Occupy Bay Street, not Afghanistan!
Join the anti-war contingent in solidarity with the Occupy Toronto protest

Meet at 1:00 p.m. in front of Ryerson Student Centre, 55 Gould Street.

Film screening
A film screening of Depleted Uranium (30 minutes), to be followed by a preliminary discussion about building opposition to nuclear weapons

2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Workshops (choose one of three)

Myths and facts about Canada’s new ‘training’ mission
A discussion about the nature of the post-‘withdrawal’ mission in Afghanistan and what Canadian troops will really be doing

Kashmir and the ‘war on terror’
A discussion about the history of Kashmir’s liberation struggle and its impact on the politics of Central Asia

War and climate change: An ecological disaster
A discussion about the environmental impact of war, its effect on climate change, and the link between peace and climate justice

3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Break

3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
Caucus meetings – round 1

Delegates meet to conduct elections and choose candidates

4:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Caucus meetings – round 2

Delegates meet to conduct elections and choose candidates

5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Plenary

Resolutions
Delegates discuss, debate and pass resolutions

6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Dinner (on site)

7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Panel discussion

The ‘war on terror’ vs. the Arab Spring
An assessment of the growing movements for freedom and democracy in the Arab world and how they’re challenging US foreign policy in the region

9:00 p.m. to late
Social

Celebrating 25 years of the Canadian Peace Alliance
Light snacks and refreshments (cash bar) - location TBA
Music and entertainment featuring local musicians, DJs and performers
A short program hosted by CPA co-chairs recognizing past achievements, steering committee members and members of the Canadian Peace Alliance

Sunday, October 16, 2011

9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Registration

9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Plenary

Resolutions
Delegates discuss, debate and pass resolutions

10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Workshops (choose one of three)

Alternatives to war: What happens if the troops leave?
An Afghan-led discussion about alternatives to Canada’s and NATO’s military intervention in Afghanistan, and how Canada could help reconstruction efforts

Indigenous sovereignty and the anti-war movement
An assessment of the anti-war movement and the need to build links with indigenous sovereignty struggles in Turtle Island

The US war in Pakistan
A discussion about the spread of the war from Afghanistan to Pakistan, the growing instability in Pakistan, and the role of US imperialism in the country’s history

11:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Break

11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.
Workshops (choose one of three)

‘Health care not warfare’: Resisting war in the age of austerity
A discussion about Harper’s austerity agenda and how the anti-war movement can be part of the broader resistance to it

Palestine solidarity and the anti-war movement
A discussion about the various campaigns for Palestine solidarity and how the anti-war movement can support them locally and internationally

A nuclear-free world: Canada’s role
An assessment of the role of the global arms industry in fuelling conflicts around the world, and how we can advance the movement for nuclear disarmament

12:45 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Lunch (on site)/panel discussion

Re-building local networks
A discussion about strategies for activity, outreach and growth for local anti-war/peace groups

2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m.
Workshops (choose one of three)

How can we win refuge for war resisters in Canada?
An assessment of the struggle for war resisters in Canada, including a strategy discussion about next steps for the campaign

Resisting the rise of Islamophobia
An assessment of the ‘mainstreaming’ of Islamophobia and anti-immigrant racism and what the anti-war movement can do to oppose it

War and the attack on civil liberties
A discussion about the relationship between war and attacks on civil liberties, including an assessment of the last ten years of resistance to repression

3:15 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Break

3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Plenary

Resolutions
Delegates discuss, debate and pass resolutions

4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Closing meeting/panel discussion

Building on our successes: Re-launching the peace movement
Wrap-up of the convention
Presentation of next steps

5:00 p.m.
Adjourn
- - - - -
Support the peace movement by making a donation to the Canadian Peace Alliance.

Donate online: http://bit.ly/DonateCPA

Donate by cheque/money order:
Payable to: Canadian Peace Alliance
427 Bloor St W, Box 13, Toronto ON M5S 1X7