rabble.ca blogs - johnbon

Toronto group demands immediate release of Irish republican political prisoner

johnbon — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:15:48 -0400

Marian Price is a prisoner of the British occupation of Northern Ireland and she’s in jail because of her politics - not because of her actions, says a Toronto group of Irish republican supporters.

The 58-year-old has been held in prison for over a year, after the Northern Ireland secretary, Owen Patterson, revoked her release license because he felt the former IRA prisoner posed a threat to society.

Following her arrest, she was placed in Maghaberry prison, an all-male facility, for a nine-month period before being transferred to Hydebank women's prison earlier this year.

Sinn Féin MLA Jennifer McCann has repeatedly called for Marian Price to be moved from Hydebank Prison to an outside hospital facility due to her ongoing health problems.

Video: Art of the Danforth

johnbon — Sun, 20 May 2012 20:38:22 -0400

ART OF THE DANFORTH is a new art event in East Danforth that opened on Sunday and runs through June 10.

There are art displays, created by both professional artists and community groups, on and near the Danforth between Greenwood & Woodbine Aves – in empty store windows, mounted on walls of operating stores, on the street and in park areas.

Their goals are two-fold: to unify and give voice to the cultural diversity found along the Danforth, and to showcase the artistic talent found in and beyond the community.

For more information visit: http://www.artofthedanforth.com/

Video: Toronto protests NATO summit

johnbon — Sat, 19 May 2012 21:45:00 -0400

Canadians joined the global days of protest against the NATO summit in Chicago this weekend.

Coordinated by the Canadian Peace Alliance, the rally called on the Government of Canada to halt any proposed extension of the Canadian forces deployment to Afghanistan and call for all the troops to be brought home.

'Temporary' program to help homeless people still going after 25 years

johnbon — Tue, 08 May 2012 18:20:32 -0400

In January, the Out of the Cold Program marked its 25th anniversary of providing meals and temporary shelter to homeless people.

With the support and guidance of Sister Susan Moran, the program was started in 1987 by the students of St. Michael’s school after they befriended a homeless man who was sleeping in one of the school’s doorways.

Unfortunately, he died shortly thereafter.

Following the man’s death, the students and Sr. Susan began discussing ways of reducing homelessness.

Sr. Susan then connected with various faith groups across Toronto with the idea that they would organize groups of volunteers at each Church and Synagogue to provide a safe haven for homeless people.

Psychiatric survivors prepare to occupy Canada’s largest psychiatric facility

johnbon — Fri, 04 May 2012 18:18:06 -0400

For years they’ve faced unending prejudice.

Shunned by society. Locked away in psychiatric facilities. Forcibly medicated. Abandoned by their families and society at large.

Because they’re different. Because they don’t conform to psychiatry’s definition of “normal” behavior.

And for that they’re punished. Labeled in dozens of ways in an ever growing “bible” of psychiatric disorders.

The 2000 edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders describes 283 disorders which is almost three times the number reported in 1952.

And that number continues to grow.

Photos: Jane's Walk - A Second Look at Regent Park

johnbon — Sat, 05 May 2012 17:54:45 -0400

Click here to see more photos from Jane's Walk - A Second Look at Regent Park.

From the website:

Jane’s Walk is a series of free neighbourhood walking tours that helps put people in touch with their environment and with each other, by bridging social and geographic gaps and creating a space for cities to discover themselves. Since its inception in 2007, Jane’s Walk has happened in cities across North America, and is growing internationally.

Occupy Toronto stages successful protest against Barrick Gold

johnbon — Wed, 02 May 2012 20:56:10 -0400

Following a successful May Day rally and march, Occupy Toronto held their ground and refused to budge after they “re-occupied” Simcoe Park in downtown Toronto Tuesday evening.

When police threatened - at the request of the City - to arrest and remove protesters from the park if they stayed past midnight, Occupy held a General Assembly and unanimously decided to stay put.

Click here to see more photos from Wednesday's rally.

Twenty minutes later, Toronto Parks and Recreation reversed their decision.

Occupy: 1 City of Toronto: 0.

Dozens of groups take to the streets to mark May Day of Action

johnbon — Tue, 01 May 2012 20:16:41 -0400

Hundreds converged on the streets of downtown Toronto on Tuesday afternoon.

They came here because somewhere in Toronto a city worker is struggling to survive working part time hours for seven to 10 years before being offered a permanent full-time job.

They came here because somewhere in Toronto a disabled woman is worrying herself sick wondering how she'll survive when the government is only increasing her benefits by 1 per cent this year.

They came here because somewhere in Toronto a sex-trade worker is trying to make a living every day without getting assaulted or murdered.

They came here because somewhere in Toronto a young mother, trapped in an extremely abusive relationship, prays she won't be beaten or killed this evening.

Community rallies to save School House shelter

johnbon — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 19:57:56 -0400

About 15 years ago, Ric Atchison couldn’t work because of his arthritis, left a relationship, started drinking and ended up on the streets of downtown Toronto before finally landing at the School House shelter.

It was there that he started to rebuild his life. Found work. Secured permanent housing. Stopped drinking and using drugs.

Click here to see more photos from Saturday's rally.

“Everything just changed,” he says. “It was just a great place. Gives you a chance to get back on your feet."

National movement launched to end homelessness

johnbon — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 19:19:03 -0400

No names were added to the homeless memorial on Tuesday. So nobody died last month, right? Not necessarily.

Even if there were no homeless deaths last month, things are definitely not getting better for homeless people in Toronto or across the country.

Or so it seems.

“Usually what I do each month is bring you bad news,” says Michael Shapcott, housing and anti-poverty activist.

“And there’s lots of bad news I could talk about this month for those that want their bad news fix.”

Every month people gather on the second Tuesday outside the Church of the Holy Trinity to remember those who’ve died on the streets.