The State of Extraction (Conference)
The goal of The State of Extraction is to bring together indigenous leadership, academics, artists and public intellectuals from a variety of disciplines, activists engaged in various struggles related to resource extraction (including oil, gas, coal and rare earth metals), representatives of affected communities from the global north and south, and the general public to examine the new face of resource capitalism in Canada and its influence on the world; the (lack of) public debate about such issues and the role of resource capitalism in structuring (and frustrating) such debate; as well as alternative models of economic and social development.
There is space for workshops on Saturday and Sunday mornings during the conference. We are accepting proposals for 1.5 hour workshops, with priority given to grassroots organizations working from a systemic critique and organizing democratically and on an anti-colonial foundation. Workshop proposals can be submitted using this form February 14 2015.
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Conference Schedule (preliminary)
Friday March 27
12pm: News Conference
1pm: Welcome
2pm: Panel: The State of Extraction: Oil, Gas, Coal, and More
Intro: Stephen Collis & Samir Gandesha (SFU)
Melina Laboucan-Massimo (Lubicon Cree FN), Leila Darwish (Council of Canadians), Kevin Washbrook (VTACC), Jen Moore (Mining Watch)
4-6PM Roundtable: The State of Global Community Impacts and Resistance
Eriel Deranger with: Rueben George (Tsleil Waututh FN), Melina Laboucan- Massimo, Angelica Choc (Kekchi Maya / Guatemala), Chandu Claver (Philippines), Jen Moore.
6-8pm: Reception
8pm Keynote: Chris Hedges
Saturday March 28
9am-12pm: Grassroots Community Workshops
(10:30-12 Latin American Struggles)
12pm-3pm: Toxic Tour (Mining Justice Alliance)
3pm Roundtable: Indigenous Rights, Land, and Alternatives
Toghestiy & Freda (Wet’suwet’en/Unist’ot’en Camp), Caleb Behn (Dene FN), Rhoda Quock (Tahltan FN/Klabona Keepers), Kanahus Manuel (Secwepmec Women Warriors)
5pm Keynote: Glen Coulthard (UBC)
8pm: film screening
Sunday March 29
9am-12pm: Grassroots Community workshops
Legal workshop (BCCLA and WCEL)
12pm Panel: Extractivism, the Law, and Human Rights
Caleb Behn (Dene FN) with: Rachel Ariss (UofO, Aboriginal Law), Cory Wanless (Klippensteins Barristers and Solicitors), Alain Deneault (author)
2pm Keynote: Aziz Choudry (McGill)
3pm-5pm: plenary discussion of post-conference strategy and collective statement of purpose
7pm: Poetry Reading : Judith Goldman, Mark Nowak, Jonathan Skinner
This looks interesting.
I really wish that the left though would take the words 'struggle' and 'resistance' out of their lexicon. They are not winning terms.
Why not talk about 'brainstorming', 'solutions', 'health', 'prosperity', 'green economics'.
This looks interesting.
I really wish that the left though would take the words 'struggle' and 'resistance' out of their lexicon. They are not winning terms.
Why not talk about 'brainstorming', 'solutions', 'health', 'prosperity', 'green economics'.
Excellent point. I believe that was one of Jacks secrets-a positive solution focused message.
omg Chris Hedges! 
The Tsilhqot’in Decision and Indigenous Self-Determination
This is the second in a three-part series on the landmark Supreme Court of Canada Tsilhqot’in v. British Columbia decision last June, first published in First Nations Strategic Bulletin. Part 1,“The Tsilhqot’in Decision and Canada’s First Nations Termination Policies” by Russell Diabo, can be found here.
It is important to acknowledge with gratitude the courage and determination of the Tsilhqot’in People for moving our efforts to achieve self-determination one level higher. The Supreme Court of Canada (SCC) did unanimously recognize Aboriginal Title in the Delgamuukw Case in 1997 but this is the first case that Aboriginal Title has been recognized on the ground. It is, in a sense, an important step in our anti-colonial struggle but that battle is still one that we must continue both inside and outside of Canada.
Aboriginal Title
With regard to Tsilhqot’in Aboriginal Title, the Supreme Court said they have title over 200,000 hectares (2,000 km2) in the core of their territory in northern British Columbia. In comparison the Nisga’a total settlement lands amounted to 2,019 km2 in return for extinguishing Aboriginal Title to their whole territory.
Here is the broad territorial declaration of Aboriginal Title that the Supreme Court of Canada granted: “With the declaration of title, the Tsilhqot’in have now established Aboriginal title to the portion of the lands designated by the trial judge … This gives them the right to determine, subject to the inherent limits of group title held for future generations, the uses to which the land is put and to enjoy its economic fruits. As we have seen, this is not merely a right of first refusal with respect to Crown land management or usage plans. Rather, it is the right to proactively use and manage the land.”
This decision will obviously affect the colonial status quo and future relationship Indigenous Peoples have with Canada and the provinces...
http://www.newsocialist.org/785-the-tsilhqot-in-decision-and-indigenous-...
Dominican activists decry mining projects as ‘new form of colonialism’
ALGARROBOS, Dominican Republic — “This is no longer a local fight, but a fight for the life of this country as a whole,” said Tony Sánchez, referring to Loma Miranda, a mountain in central Dominican Republic that activists say is threatened by mining.
Sánchez, a trade union member, sits in a camp at the base of Loma Miranda with about a dozen other activists, including scientists, professors, clergymen and youths. Together, they are organizing a movement to oppose the mountain’s nickel excavation, a government plan the group says would result in irreparable environmental harm.
Loma Miranda, covering about 16 square miles, is home to a unique environment that contains much of the Dominican Republic's biodiversity, as well as dozens of springs, creeks and rivers that provide fresh water to the region.
“It is one of the most important mountain systems in the Dominican Republic,” said Victor Medrano of the Ecological Society of Cibao. “It produces enough water to provide to the surrounding communities irrigation for the entire region and hydroelectric power.”...
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/1/28/dominican-republic-minin...
Good piece by Brad Hornick, who brings some much needed clarity and analysis to the controversy over Hedges' appearance at the conference.
[url=https://ricochet.media/en/411/whose-conference-is-this-anyway]Whose conference is this, anyway?[/url]