notes from an occupied land…
by a lost, diaspora Tamil or a gypsy wanna-be…. this is ma journey from a land called S Lanka to occupiied land called kænədəArchive for Events
SIR ! NO SIR !
“Film Screening of ” SIR ! NO SIR ! “” on Sunday, March 29 at 7:30pm.
Event: Film Screening of ” SIR ! NO SIR ! “
“Introduced by Richard Boyd Barrett chair of the Irish Anti -War movement”
What: Performance
Host: Irish Anti War Movement (IAWM)
Start Time: Sunday, March 29 at 7:30pm
End Time: Sunday, March 29 at 9:00pm
Where: The New Theatre
To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=59637533121&mid=346daeG2153161dG1d05d51G7
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University of Toronto, 2nd Annual Tamil Studies Conference: Imagining Collectives: Continuities, Changes and Contestations
The fourth annual Tamil Studies Conference, “Home, Space and the Other” organized by the University of Toronto and the University of Windsor, will be held at the University of Toronto from May 21-23, 2009.
The objective of the conference is to map the various ways in which the Tamil regions and their spaces – linguistic, cultural, political, economic, religious etc. – have been constituted by, interacted with or responded to influences from within and outside their cultural norms, conventions, or geographical boundaries. The “other” could be defined internally as in constructions of “ur”, “kaadu-naadu” and the “aham-puram” schema of Sangam literature, or it could be identified as the various languages, religions, peoples and political forces that impinged on the Tamil regions. How have “others” in turn conceptualized the Tamil region, peoples and traditions? What are the sources and ongoing relevance of Tamil theorization of the “other” and how has the impact of the “other” introduced new forms of such theorization or altered interpretive frames. In the colonial and modern era when the Tamil regions have been subject to new regimes of knowledge and when Tamils have traveled, been transported and expelled how have they encountered and conceptualized new “others” and how have they been conceived and transformed by these new “others” in their historic and diasporic worlds?
…to know more click here.
PEACE WITH JUSTICE IN SRI LANKA
Canadians for Genocide Education
presents
PEACE WITH JUSTICE IN SRI LANKA
Genocide of Sri Lankan Tamils
Its Causes & Solution
March 25th @ 7:00 PM
Health Sciences Building (155 College St., Room 610)
Ticket Price $10
For information and tickets please call Canadians for Genocide Education at
(416) 529-6041 or (416) 240-0078 or visit www.uofttix.ca/view.php?id=459
ABOUT THE PRESENTATION
The address will trace the development of the ethnic conflict that has resulted in the violation of human rights of both the Tamils and the Sinhalese, which now features the Genocide of the Tamil people.
The fundamentals underlying this problem will be set out and the possible solutions analyzed.
Unless these fundamental problems are addressed, without delay, there will neither be Peace nor Prosperity in Sri Lanka, as the country slides inexorably and irreversibly into a Fascist Dictatorship, and a Failed State.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
For more than 50 years, Dr. Brian Senewiratne has been an international activist against the violation of human rights and the abuse of democracy by the Sri Lankan Government. Interestingly, he was born into the ruling Sinhalese community of Sri Lanka and a member of the powerful political clan that includes former Sri Lankan Prime Ministers and former President of Sri Lanka- Chandrika Kumaratunga.
Toronto Event: Shut Down the Tar Sands: Saturday March 21st
From Fort McMurray to Toronto, Shut Down the Tar Sands!
The Tar Sands “Gigaproject” in Alberta is the *largest industrial
project* in human history. It is also the most destructive. Join us
for a critical discussion about the global and local effects of tar
sands development in Alberta.
Saturday March 21st
7pm
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE)
252 Bloor St. West, Room 5-250
Sponsored by:
Upping the Anti: A Journal of Theory and Action
www.uppingtheanti.org <http://www.uppingtheanti.org/
Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG-Toronto)
www.opirguoft.org <http://www.opirguoft.org>
Featuring:
Mike Mercredi is a Dene youth who will speak about his previous
experiences working in the tar sands, his reasons for resigning his
job and the continued spread of rare diseases such as cancers, heart
problems, lupus and more that the community of Fort Chipewyan has seen
in vastly growing numbers (including members of his direct family) and
people suspect is coming from tar sands operations through the
poisoning of the Athabasca River.
Macdonald Stainsby is a coordinator of OilSandsTruth.org,
oilsandstruth.org http://oilsandstruth.org He will speak about the
larger range impacts, such as pipelines linking up the three oceans
and the Gulf of Mexico, refinery expansion is large numbers throughout
North America/Turtle Island (especially in the Great Lakes Region) and
the significance of the recent economic crisis to both development of
the tar sands and the impact on tar sands resistance.
Melina Laboucan-Massimo is Lubicon Cree from Northern Alberta. She
will speak about the cumulative affects that oil & gas exploitation
has had on her community, and how the recently approved construction
of the North Central Corridor Pipeline will only continue to wreak
havoc in their traditional territory. She will also touch on the
history of the Lubicon and explain how the government is not
respecting existing treaty rights in Alberta for communities that are
dealing of tar sands, but how the Alberta government?s approval of the
construction of the NCC pipeline directly infringes upon their
inherent rights as Indigenous peoples.
Clayton Thomas-Muller, Canadian Indigenous Tar Sands Organizer, will
discuss grassroots base building and Environmental Justice strategy
and tactics. He will share how the Indigenous Environmental Network
supports First Nations to speak for themselves on critical
environmental and economic justice issues related to fighting the Tar
Sands development in Northern Alberta, Canada
OISE is an accessible location.
–
UPPING THE ANTI : A Journal of Theory and Action
uppingtheanti.org
If the articles in Upping The Anti inspire or enrage you, if they
have been useful (or not) in your organizing work, or if you have
something to contribute to an argument on our pages, please consider
writing us a letter. We print letters up to 1,000 words and reserve to
the right to edit for clarity, spelling, and grammar. Email letters to
uppingtheanti@gmail.com.
SPROCKETS OFFERS YOUNG PEOPLE A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCOVER THE WORLD
March 10, 2009/OVERVIEW
Toronto – Organizers of the Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children are proud to announce the exciting line up of films from the best of international and Canadian cinema. The only film festival for young people in Toronto , Sprockets is a must-attend cultural event for families and schools. It provides a rare opportunity to see quality films that have not previously screened in the city and in many cases may not be available again. Engaging, educational and entertaining, Sprockets runs April 18 through 24, 2009, offering 70 films – 29 features and 41 shorts – representing 22 countries and 14 languages.
An enriching experience that is much more than just a day at the movies, Sprockets offers post-screening discussions with filmmakers and special guests to further explore the film’s themes, storytelling techniques and more. Directors Pieter Verhoeff (The Letter for the King) and Somaratne Dissanayake (King Siri), and Bilaal Rajan are among this year’s guests. Additionally, festival-goers can enjoy the immensely popular, free hands-on film-craft activities before and after screenings at Famous Players Canada Square throughout the weekend.
Tickets are now on sale. Visit the official website, sprockets.ca, call 416-968-FILM (toll-free 1-877-968-FILM) or visit the Box Office at 2 Carlton Street, West Mezzanine level (near College subway station). Hours of operation are Monday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $6.60 for children and $10.61 for adults; Reel Rascals and Jump Cuts Young Filmmakers Showcase tickets are $6.60 per person (prices do not include GST, building-fund fee or service charges).
“For the past twelve years, students, educators and the public have been our best champions, and it’s their support that has made Sprockets a unique and transformative experience,” said Elizabeth Muskala, Co-Director of Learning.
Allen Braude, Co-Director of Learning added, “As we move toward our new home, Bell Lightbox, we look forward to offering a rich array of thought-provoking and entertaining cinema, and film-craft workshops that will engage the community and inspire young minds.”
“Sprockets exposes kids to the whole big wide world outside of primarily American mainstream movies,” said filmmaker Patricia Rozema. “Short of going to live in other cultures, the kind of movies they see at Sprockets might be the best way to open their eyes to glorious diversity of life on this planet.”
Sprockets’ selection of 29 features includes the following films:
Spirit of the Forest – David Rubín, Juan Carlos Pena, Spain , English
When they find out that greedy Mrs.D’Abondo is planning to cut down the entire forest, gophers Furi and Linda rally a ragtag team of animals to help keep their home from being destroyed. The film’s all-star voice cast features Anjelica Huston, Sean Astin, Giovanni Ribisi and Ron Perlman. Age recommendation 5+
King Siri – Somaratne Dissanayake , Sri Lanka , Singalese with English subtitles
A poor but talented boy from a small Sri Lankan village attending a prestigious school in the capital Colombo is cast in the lead role in the school play but faces an enormous challenge to find the money for his elaborate costume. Director Somaratne Dissanayake will be in attendance. Age recommendation 8+
Hey Hey It’s Esther Blueburger – Cathy Randall, Australia , English
Unusual and unique, Esther Blueburger (Danielle Catanzariti) doesn’t seem to fit in anywhere until she meets the cool and offbeat Sunni (Keisha Castle-Hughes). The cast also features Toni Collette, Essie Davis and Russell Dykstra. This film is co-presented with the Toronto Jewish Film Festival. Age recommendation 11+
The Letter for the King – Pieter Verhoeff, The Netherlands, Dutch with English subtitles
Pursued by thieves, spies and ruthless rivals, the young squire Tiuri must deliver a letter that carries the fate of an entire kingdom. Filled with action and stunning natural settings, the film is based on the book Tonke Dragt, which was voted one of the greatest Dutch youth novels of the 20th century. Director Pieter Verhoeff will be in attendance. Age recommendation 9+
Little Dodo – Thilo Graf Rothkrich, Ute von Münchow-Pohl, Germany , German with English subtitles.
A happy-go-lucky young orangutan stumbles upon a violin and is determined to learn how to play it. In the process, he shakes up life in the rainforest from treetop to trunk in this charming, adorable and beautifully animated film. Age recommendation 3+
Sprockets’ shorts selection includes 41 films in six distinct programmes. Canadian Shorts celebrates the diverse homegrown talent across the nation from animation to live action and from comedy to drama. The programme includes the inspiring documentary Bilaal Rajan, directed by Lalita Krishna, about 12-year-old Bilaal Rajan, a youth spokesperson for UNICEF. Pacific Islander Shorts offers insight into the diverse identities and experiences of children of Pacific Island ancestry, and includes Hawaikii, directed by Mike Jonathan, which follows a young Maori girl who fears the first day of school and whether others will accept her and her culture. In Giraffes Can’t Dance, directed by Bryan Cox and Maggie McGuire, all the other animals are certain that giraffes can’t dance, until the night one giraffe proves them wrong. This charming story narrated by Billy Dee Williams screens in Reel Rascals Shorts, a programme especially for Sprockets’ youngest audiences members, children aged three and over.
Now in its eighth year, Jump Cuts Young Filmmakers Showcase brings together the best work by youth from grades 3 through 12 from across Ontario , celebrating the originality and diversity of young voices. A jury of industry professionals views all finalist films selected to screen and awards three grand prizes. This year’s Jump Cuts lineup will be announced on April 7.
SCHOOL PROGRAMME
The Sprockets School Programme runs from April 20 to 24, with 36 films from 14 countries. Dealing with such important children’s issues as tolerance, gender equality, self-confidence, accessibility and climate change, the programme includes 19 feature-length films and 17 shorts. Students engage in post-screening discussions and panels with filmmakers and special guests, further exploring the film themes, storytelling techniques and more. Additionally, each film has a unique teacher resource designed to support and extend the Sprockets experience in the classroom by connecting the films to many aspects of the Ontario curriculum. In addition to screenings, Sprockets School Programme offers Guerrilla Filmmaking with Jared Raab, a workshop designed for students to experience the exciting and inspiring world of filmmaking through hands-on activities. Sprockets is also offering a workshop for educators, Storyboarding, which provides strategies for incorporating storyboarding into the classroom.
