An event announcement in which I am personally implicated, below.
I also was, courtesy of some great organizers in Halifax, on the Atlantic Coast of Canada over this past weekend. I gave a talk on Haiti at St. Mary’s University and another on Israel/Palestine at Dalhousie. I was very happy to speak to engaged audiences of awake and interested people, not to mention to spend time with the local activists who made the events happen.
An event announcement in which I am personally implicated, below.
I also was, courtesy of some great organizers in Halifax, on the Atlantic Coast of Canada over this past weekend. I gave a talk on Haiti at St. Mary’s University and another on Israel/Palestine at Dalhousie. I was very happy to speak to engaged audiences of awake and interested people, not to mention to spend time with the local activists who made the events happen.
On the way back, I picked up Stephen Lewis’s book, ‘Race Against Time’, which are transcriptions of his Massey Lectures 2005. After listening to Thomas King’s ‘Truth About Stories’ Massey Lectures 2003, I realize it’s an institution I respect a lot. I have a real backlog of work and writing that I need to climb out of, but I am hoping to post at least a few thoughts about Stephen Lewis’s book here soon. As to what Lewis’s lectures were about – AIDS in Africa – I can’t seem to find a quick comment of any kind. Words fail me, though they luckily didn’t fail him. I just finished the second lecture in which he mentions stories of hope alongside the stories of horror. In that spirit I present the Toronto event below.
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Pueblos En Camino invites you to the first presentation of the series:
‘Caminando la Palabra: The Popular and Indigenous Struggles of Colombia and the Indigenous of Cauca”
Indigenous peoples and organizations of Cauca have increasingly been the leaders of an indigenous and popular struggle of resistance and transformation in Colombia. The history of these peoples and their processes and initiatives are not well known. The indigenous of Cauca have become the symbol of popular resistance in Colombia, a country suffering war under an authoritarian government that serves the interests of multinational corporations and the United States government. The indigenous of Cauca have provided a different vision and a different prospect for the country. This series of presentations and exchanges is intended to break through the distorted imagery and allow the indigenous to share their vision, which is an example to the world – an example of the defense of life, joy, dignity, and freedom for mother earth.
Part 1:
“ACIN-Cxhab Wala Kiwe, History, Context, Words, and Action”
Representatives of the Association of Indigenous Councils of Northern Cauca (ACIN), Cxhab Wala Kiwe (Land of the Great People) will provide an introductory presentation of the Nasa people and their struggle. Canadians who have seen and reported on the process firsthand will add further discussion.
Presenters:
Vilma Rocío Almendra Quiguanas and Manuel Rozental. Communications team, ACIN-Cxhab Wala Kiwe, Zona norte del Cauca, Colombia.
Comments:
Justin Podur and Sheila Gruner: Pueblos En Camino
Tinto Coffee House, 89 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto (Roncesvalles North of Queen St)
Thursday December 15 de 2005 at 6pm.
Hey Justin,
Was great to
Hey Justin,
Was great to have you out on the East Coast this weekend. Thanks for the kind words.
Just came back from trying to attend a talk by Stephen Lewis this evening. Like the Massey lecture, I was turned away half an hour before it started because the place was overflowing with people who’d come to see Lewis speak about his first-hand role on the inner circle of an international system that is allowing a Holocaust of an epidemic to consume a generation of black people. I can’t help but see this “rock-star academic” status as a hopeful sign…
Insiste. Existe. Resiste.