It's pretty common - an activist collective gets together to meet about starting a campaign. Even though the group is relatively diverse, it seems to be that the people who are talking the most are those with considerable privilege. It's those folks (white, straight, male, rich, able bodied, etc.) that have to make sure that they aren't falling back in line with the status quo.

North American society is made for the privileged, with the justification that we live in a meritocracy. In reality, there are many different systems of power working to oppress certain groups, depending on what identities they hold.

Allies are amazing resources for activists - but they are often afraid of misrepresenting an issue they don't know enough about. But fear no more! This 32 page guide produced by the Portland Intersex Initiative  on how to be an ally to intersex activists has everything allies could want to know about the intersex movement and how to represent it. It's a collection of advice and essays written by intersex people. The guide includes:

Intersex basics, including history and FAQs

Although this two and a half hour workshop is designed for a school audience, the same activities could easily be used as a consciousness raising exercise for people unfamiliar with Canada as a colonizing force. It uses simple exercises about community built within groups to explore how powerful indigenous communities can be. This workshop also includes

A detailed agenda

Activities based in empathy

Simple definitions

Discussion questions

The former Midnight Special Law Collective created this workshop for facilitators about how to teach activists to be legal observers at protests, rallies and other actions.

This workshop is set to last about an hour, allowing for discussion and questions. Legal observers are essential in protests when things could get messy and people could be arrested. They act as witnesses and record events accurately. For more information on what you need to be a good legal observer, check out this guide they also made.

On International Workers Day (May 1, 2010) participate in the 5th annual May Day of Action and march for status for all!

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With presentations by:
Jessica Yee, Executive Director of the Native Youth Sexual Health Network
Gary Kinsman, co-author of The Canadian War on Queers
Ashley Fortier, Q-Team
Zaheen, Agitate! Ottawa

Suggested donation $5-10, no one turned away

Advance tickets available at OPIRG Carleton (326 UniCentre), OPIRG-GRIPO (631 King Edward Ave, 3rd floor) Venus Envy Ottawa (320 Lisgar St), and Octopus Books (116 Third Ave)

Talk descriptions:

The International Solidarity Movement is a loosely affiliated Palestinian solidarity group that works with civilians travelling to the West Bank and Gaza to participate in non-violent protest against the Israeli occupation.

Background

Code Pink is a women-led grassroots solidarity initiative that opposes Western militarism in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine and other countries around the world.