Got G8? Symptoms include poverty, violence, racism and a huge security tab
Wednesday April 14 @ 7pm
Bloomfield Centre (2746 Agricola) room 208
Free with coffee tea and snacks provided
An event presented by NSPIRG's Resist Atlantica campaign in approach of the protest against the G8 development ministers meeting in Halifax from April 26 - 28, 2010
Featuring
Alex Khasnabish: Overview
Jane Kirby: No One is Illegal - The G8 and global apartheid,
Vince MacDonald: The G8 police State, the biggest security tab in Canada's history
Asaf Rashid: Resistance to the G8 and associates, past and present
More info on anti-G8 information and action: nog8halifax.ca
================================================================================
Bloomfield Centre (2746 Agricola) room 208
Free with coffee tea and snacks provided
An event presented by NSPIRG's Resist Atlantica campaign in approach of the protest against the G8 development ministers meeting in Halifax from April 26 - 28, 2010
Featuring
Alex Khasnabish: Overview
Jane Kirby: No One is Illegal - The G8 and global apartheid,
Vince MacDonald: The G8 police State, the biggest security tab in Canada's history
Asaf Rashid: Resistance to the G8 and associates, past and present
More info on anti-G8 information and action: nog8halifax.ca
================================================================================
Atlantica * the Economic Crisis * Criminalization of Dissent
Saturday Feb 20th
1:00 – 4:30pm
Rm 255 Sobey bdg, Saint Mary’s University. See map here
Free event
Complimentary refreshments & food by Campus Action on Food
Summary:
A chance for workers, students and community members to discuss the economic crisis at its roots, the Atlantic Gateway and the criminalization of dissent and how they are all connected. The Atlantic Gateway is a proposed transportation and energy corridor and free trade zone that exploits Asian production to feed U.S. consumption. The federally and provincially funded Gateway is seen as a serious threat to labour and environmental standards in Atlantic Canada. The Gateway is an extension of the Free Trade model: privatization, cuts to public spending, production being moved to locations with cheap labour and low environmental standards. At the same time, more public resources are used to quell dissent from workers, students and the general public who speak out. We must fight back.
Brought to you by the Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group, with support from the Halifax and Dartmouth District Labour Council. Stay tuned for full details on http://nspirg.org."
PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSIONS:
(more details to be filled in, stay tuned ... http://nspirg.org).
*****
Economic crisis
Errol Sharpe, Fernwood Publishing
The economic crisis is not over. Workers and the general public are paying for it. But its roots do not just arise out of a little technical problem in an otherwise functioning system. The roots are embedded in the system.
*****
The Gateway to a dead-end road
Asaf Rashid, Campaigns Coordinator at the Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group
The Atlantic Gateway, arising from the corporate Atlantica project, is a federally and provincially supported project to facilitate increased global trade through the free trade model. It completely ignores climate change and the economic crisis. It is a plan to serve local and international corporate interests.
*****
Discriminating Tastes in Lawmaking
Shane Martinez, New Brunswick based community organizer and law student
The Canadian state has repeatedly used the courts, police and security agencies to attack dissenters. This presentation shall examine how classist moralism in lawmaking is used to facilitate repression within a naturally unstable socio-economic hierarchy.
*****
Repression on campuses: the interests of the corporate university versus student rights
Rebecca Rose, Maritimes Organizer for the Canadian Federation of Students.
Codes of conduct generally exist at Canadian Universities to penalize students engaged in political activities that challenge the administration, corporate partners or the government of the day. A Ryerson University case study shows how the code was recently used against students who protested high fees.
*****
Atlantica protest trial - sentencing date arrives - update
A local example of Criminalization of Dissent. In June 2007, there was a protest against the "Atlantica, charting the course" conference. 21 people were arrested and 4 went to trial. Two years and 8 months later, they are still awaiting sentencing over minor protest related charges, enduring numerous court appearances and restrictive conditions.
====================================================================================
1:00 – 4:30pm
Rm 255 Sobey bdg, Saint Mary’s University. See map here
Free event
Complimentary refreshments & food by Campus Action on Food
Summary:
A chance for workers, students and community members to discuss the economic crisis at its roots, the Atlantic Gateway and the criminalization of dissent and how they are all connected. The Atlantic Gateway is a proposed transportation and energy corridor and free trade zone that exploits Asian production to feed U.S. consumption. The federally and provincially funded Gateway is seen as a serious threat to labour and environmental standards in Atlantic Canada. The Gateway is an extension of the Free Trade model: privatization, cuts to public spending, production being moved to locations with cheap labour and low environmental standards. At the same time, more public resources are used to quell dissent from workers, students and the general public who speak out. We must fight back.
Brought to you by the Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group, with support from the Halifax and Dartmouth District Labour Council. Stay tuned for full details on http://nspirg.org."
PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSIONS:
(more details to be filled in, stay tuned ... http://nspirg.org).
*****
Economic crisis
Errol Sharpe, Fernwood Publishing
The economic crisis is not over. Workers and the general public are paying for it. But its roots do not just arise out of a little technical problem in an otherwise functioning system. The roots are embedded in the system.
*****
The Gateway to a dead-end road
Asaf Rashid, Campaigns Coordinator at the Nova Scotia Public Interest Research Group
The Atlantic Gateway, arising from the corporate Atlantica project, is a federally and provincially supported project to facilitate increased global trade through the free trade model. It completely ignores climate change and the economic crisis. It is a plan to serve local and international corporate interests.
*****
Discriminating Tastes in Lawmaking
Shane Martinez, New Brunswick based community organizer and law student
The Canadian state has repeatedly used the courts, police and security agencies to attack dissenters. This presentation shall examine how classist moralism in lawmaking is used to facilitate repression within a naturally unstable socio-economic hierarchy.
*****
Repression on campuses: the interests of the corporate university versus student rights
Rebecca Rose, Maritimes Organizer for the Canadian Federation of Students.
Codes of conduct generally exist at Canadian Universities to penalize students engaged in political activities that challenge the administration, corporate partners or the government of the day. A Ryerson University case study shows how the code was recently used against students who protested high fees.
*****
Atlantica protest trial - sentencing date arrives - update
A local example of Criminalization of Dissent. In June 2007, there was a protest against the "Atlantica, charting the course" conference. 21 people were arrested and 4 went to trial. Two years and 8 months later, they are still awaiting sentencing over minor protest related charges, enduring numerous court appearances and restrictive conditions.
====================================================================================
Fundraising show and film screening for trial costs!
August 8th
St. Matthias Church (6131 Chebucto Road)
Free food!
PWYC $5
4:30 Documentary "Undomshuset" (click here for background)
Bands start at 6pm. Show Line-up features (not in order ... stay tuned for that and click on each name for a connections to myspace sites /websites where applicable)
Miles Deck and the Fuzz
Scribbler
Jake Lekas
Gianna lauren
Story
Jeff Stevens
Clairely
Much appreciation to all these bands and every one else donating their time to help out.
======================================================================================
St. Matthias Church (6131 Chebucto Road)
Free food!
PWYC $5
4:30 Documentary "Undomshuset" (click here for background)
Bands start at 6pm. Show Line-up features (not in order ... stay tuned for that and click on each name for a connections to myspace sites /websites where applicable)
Miles Deck and the Fuzz
Scribbler
Jake Lekas
Gianna lauren
Story
Jeff Stevens
Clairely
Much appreciation to all these bands and every one else donating their time to help out.
======================================================================================
Capitalism -- Meltdown -- Collapse
Part of the "We Won't Pay For Their Crisis!" series
Presentation -- Workshop -- Discussion
Thursday, May 21, 7 pm to 9 pm
Roberts Street Social Centre (5684 Robert St.)
Drinks and snacks provided
Presented by the NSPIRG Resist Atlantica! campaign
The food crisis of 2008. climate chaos. the debt crisis of the 1980s. Peak oil, the nuclear goliath, and the energy crisis of the 21st century. The social crisis that is neoliberal globalization.
The media often constructs images of the 'economic crisis', without providing the important context of previous crises throughout the last century that play important roles in the shaping of the current failure of global capitalism.
The modern-day financial meltdown has its roots in overaccumulation, financialization and global apartheid. It is fundamentally a failed logic that exists within an ecology, an environment, and a biosphere which cannot sustain it.
This workshop will highlight the root causes of current meltdown and collapse. The discussion will offer a space for participatory dialogue on anti-capitalist and anti-oppression approaches to system collapse, and for strategizing into the future.
For more information:
www.no-atlantica.org
www.nspirg.org
===================================================================================
Presentation -- Workshop -- Discussion
Thursday, May 21, 7 pm to 9 pm
Roberts Street Social Centre (5684 Robert St.)
Drinks and snacks provided
Presented by the NSPIRG Resist Atlantica! campaign
The food crisis of 2008. climate chaos. the debt crisis of the 1980s. Peak oil, the nuclear goliath, and the energy crisis of the 21st century. The social crisis that is neoliberal globalization.
The media often constructs images of the 'economic crisis', without providing the important context of previous crises throughout the last century that play important roles in the shaping of the current failure of global capitalism.
The modern-day financial meltdown has its roots in overaccumulation, financialization and global apartheid. It is fundamentally a failed logic that exists within an ecology, an environment, and a biosphere which cannot sustain it.
This workshop will highlight the root causes of current meltdown and collapse. The discussion will offer a space for participatory dialogue on anti-capitalist and anti-oppression approaches to system collapse, and for strategizing into the future.
For more information:
www.no-atlantica.org
www.nspirg.org
===================================================================================
May Day Picnic! - Recognizing the international day of struggle against wage slavery
May Day (May 1st) @ 12:30 and carrying on until later in the afternoon
South Commons (the part with the Skate Park)
This event will have music and other entertainment, free food by Food not Bombs ... and lots of great info about May Day's history of anti-authoritarian struggle against wage slavery, Atlantica, loads of other social justice info ... AND this will also be a CD release for "Major Components of Capitalism Merge to Form Atlantica, Destroyer of Sustainability", ...a counter Atlantica musical compilation CD...which includes a packed zine about Atlantica and its broader connections, May Day and more!
Updates: no-atlantica.org!
If the weather is not permitting, the event may move to in internal location...
=======================================================================================
South Commons (the part with the Skate Park)
This event will have music and other entertainment, free food by Food not Bombs ... and lots of great info about May Day's history of anti-authoritarian struggle against wage slavery, Atlantica, loads of other social justice info ... AND this will also be a CD release for "Major Components of Capitalism Merge to Form Atlantica, Destroyer of Sustainability", ...a counter Atlantica musical compilation CD...which includes a packed zine about Atlantica and its broader connections, May Day and more!
Updates: no-atlantica.org!
If the weather is not permitting, the event may move to in internal location...
=======================================================================================
Getting out of the Storm - the economic crisis, environmental crisis & Atlantica
Tuesday April 28 @ 7:00pm
Bloomfield Centre (2786 Agricola St.)
A presentation and discussion with Jason Fraser and Asaf Rashid
Free, but donations welcome to help cover the costs
Coffee, tea and snacks provided!
Through the economic and climate crises, corporations and governments in the Atlantic Provinces are aiming to expand energy exports to the U.S. and act as a commodity super corridor from Asia to the U.S. This vision is called "Atlantica", and is based on the mega-production and mega consumption ideals that led to the crisis . But long-term survival will require different approaches entirely...
An event supported by NSPIRG
========================================================================================
Bloomfield Centre (2786 Agricola St.)
A presentation and discussion with Jason Fraser and Asaf Rashid
Free, but donations welcome to help cover the costs
Coffee, tea and snacks provided!
Through the economic and climate crises, corporations and governments in the Atlantic Provinces are aiming to expand energy exports to the U.S. and act as a commodity super corridor from Asia to the U.S. This vision is called "Atlantica", and is based on the mega-production and mega consumption ideals that led to the crisis . But long-term survival will require different approaches entirely...
An event supported by NSPIRG
========================================================================================
Atlantica Trial - background and present
Background - and then there were four
We need to support our comrades who have taken a fall for standing up to corporate oppression. Atlantica hasn't gone away, and 4 out of the original 21 arrestees from June 2007 are still facing legal battles and repressive conditions that are restricting fundamental freedoms. These include the right to be present at any kind of protest or demonstration and the right to freely associate with each other.
On July 28th, the Court will have a hearing on an application for something called an "Ascov Motion" making the case that this show has gone on too long without a conclusion (i.e. violating the supposed "right to a speedy trial"). But it is likely that the motion may fail, so we proceed to the trial - August 6th and 10th
The defender
Vaughn Barnett, non-lawyer advocate from New Brunswick, is defending the four. He's been helping Atlantica defendents since the arrests. He's doing it because he's committed to defending the poor and political dissidents. Vaughn helps greatly in the fight against the system using his over 14 years of experience with the law. His own politics, recognizing the systemic injustices of capitalism, make him approach the defense with the open-ness to making broad challenges.
The protest
On June 15th, 2007, Halifax bore witness to a protest /rebellion against Atlantica, the face of Capitalism in our region.
On that day, people took a stand against those who would have their drive for profit-making trample over the lives and dignity of people and the environment we live in. Capitalists and their government backers were not going to be allowed to have their cushy "Atlantica, Charting the Course" conference -- an escalation of ongoing class warfare -- without a challenge to their meeting and all it represented.
But the State sent in the great defenders of capital - the police - who applied their tax-funded crowd control equipment on Atlantica's opponents. Arrests ensued.
The arrests and jail
The arrests were brutal, with police using Tasers, pepper spray, billy clubs and choking-out techniques. People were not given medical treatement after being assaulted; many were not allowed to talk to a lawyer within a reasonable time frame after arrest; they were not read their rights upon arrest; 18 of the 21 people originally arrested were kept in jail for three days; all were deprived of food and water, with only one Powerbar provided to each person in a span of 24 hours, when they should have gotten 2 meals; vegans could not eat because the Powerbars contained dairy-based ingredients; when arrestees were removed to the Burnside Correctional Facility, there was more harrassment and disregard of basic rights.
Criminalization of dissent
The State wants to criminalize any dissent against Atlantica, and they are aiming to make examples of four of our comrades to scare away further dissent. They hope that each person arrested will feel so isolated and afraid that they will give up any idea of disruptive protest in the face Atlantica's continual, privately driven advance, which destroys land and water systems, fills the air with an escalating volume of toxic emissions, tramples over workers' rights and pretends that indigenous communities do not exist. The State hopes that everyone will limit their dissent to asking corporations and governments nicely if they will please stop pursuing their profit driven agenda, when we all know that they will never respond to polite requests with so much money on their table. They do not want anyone to be inspired by the idea of economic disruption and a diversity of resistance to corporate rule.
Supporting those arrested supports dissent for all
Support is needed in order to keep the spirit of dissent high. Every time someone is arrested for an act of dissent, community support is needed for her/him. We need to support each other through these tough times. Even if we do no all agree to each others' tactics, we can respect each others' determination to try and make a difference in the struggle against Atlantica. We can all also agree that it is not fair for anyone to be treated the way the Atlantica arestees were treated during and after their arrests - just imagine what it must be like for long-term prisoners! We should try and keep in mind that our comrades are only as strong as the support provided by friends and allies with them.
December 22nd proceedings
The point of the day was to see if the charges would even go to trial, to attempt to get a stay of proceedings. The argument brought fourth by Vaughn was that our charter rights were violated through the arrests and treatment in jail. The official name of the kind of procedure we were going through was called a "charter challenge." The hope was that it would be made obvious that there were sufficient violations of procedure to nullify the trial. In his application for the charter challenge, Vaughn demonstrated that there were precedents of other judges granting stays of proceedings because of similar circumstances, the idea being that if a judge were to find there were significant charter violations, the matter can't go to trial unless the charter violations are tried first.
The day started our with Vaughn arguing for a stay of all the proceedings, including the charter challenge, because the Crown provided late disclosure of Gottingen Jail video footage of defendents and the other people arrested at the Atlantica protest. Vaughn received these tapes and CDs just before the proceedings began. Obviously there was no time to review the 24 hours of footage by then! The judge denied giving a stay of proceedings because of the late disclosure. So, the charter challenge proceeded.
Vaughn asked questions to each of the defendants about how they came to the arrest and about treatment during the arrest and in custody. His goal was to reveal improper feeding, lack of respect for legal rights and intimidation. There were many examples of these kinds of treatment.
The prosecutor was very aggressive. He asked questions to each defendent about their presence at other protests to try to make us look like we had chronic problems with protests and violence, and that we knew what we were getting ourselves into. To the first defendant, the prosecutor asked about things on fire being thrown at the police. There were no things on fire thrown. Other questions were asked to the first defendant about violence and aggression at the protest. The prosecutor asked him about his presence at other protests and whether or not they were violent protests. The prosecutor questioned him about his presence at the WTO protest in Montreal in 2003 and the Summit of the Americas protest in Quebec City in 2001, asking if they were violent protests. He responded: "the police were violent" for each of these questions. He also asked him "were you in Seattle?" (WTO protest), to which he responded with a very determined "no". The crowd laughed at this question because it was obvious the crown was trying to make him look like a chronic protester with violent tendencies and wasn't getting anywhere. The prosecutor complained that he was being laughed at and the judge politely informed the crowd about resepcting the court or they would be asked to leave. The prosecutor also mocked one of defendants for wearing a dress at the protest, to which the defendent announced that it was a "beautiful dress". To another defendant, he interrogated him about dressing in black at the Atlantica protest, to which he responded, "I always wear black".
As the day carried on, it looked like the judge was not really averse to us; however, he gave the prosecutor some leeway to ask questions that seemed like they were focused on our protest history, which should not have been considered relevant, but the questioning was allowed to proceed for each defendent in that manner. In the case of the first defendent on the stand, the prosecutor was finally stopped only when the prosecutor started asking about his presence at the Seattle protest.
There was one other witness other than the the defendants. It was the director of Corrections Nova Scotia. He was asked questions about what proper procedure at the prison was supposed to be, such as proper feeding, respect for vegetarian diets and other legal rights we were supposed to have been afforded according the procedure. There were some startling statements that he made. Prisoners are not supposed to receive vegeterian or any other "special diets" unless they are practitioners of one of the main, recognized religions (monotheistic) or if they have medical conditions. Some religions are not even recognized by the Corrections institute! They are referred to as culture. They do no provide special diets for "lifestyle" reasons. The judge actually asked a question to him about what the difference was between someone being bound to obey their consceince if they didn't believe it was ethical to eat animals, versus if they believed they were being instructed by a holy power to do so. The man did not realy have an answer to this. No surprise that the actual policies of prisons are so discriminatory, after all, the whole institute is based on putting up walls. All the inmates were also supposed to receive a "handbook" that told us what our rightw were. No one recieved this. The guy from Corrections was asked about this, saying we should have been informed of this. He also revealed that there was a copy of this book in the min room in our cell block, which was news to us, over a year-and-a-half later.
The Prosecutor then asked the director of Corrections some of his own easy questions. Following, the proceedings were adjourned after some negotiations over what would happen next. The Crown wanted to call in some police officers to get other versions of what happened at the protest. There was arguement over why this was relevant. Vaughn was not the one who strayed into that line of questioning -- i.e. trying to include what happened BEFORE the arrest in the charter challenge -- it was the Prosecutor who did this. Vaughn argued that the Crown had plenty of time to have called in any such witnesses he was suddenly interested in calling, but he didn't. The arguement Vaughn made was that he should not be allowed to delay the proceedings if he didn't prepare for such witnesses already. Vaughn argued that there should not be an adjournment. In the end, the Judge decided to allow an adjournment, and the dates were set for August, for both the remainder of the current procedure and the trial! That's a very long 9 months away. Vaughn argued for the conditions to be removed because the process was lingering. Neither the judge or the Crown condeded, claiming that the defendents had to go to the Supreme Court to argue for such changes.
Despite the dissappointing limbo we're in, we're bolstered by the great solidarity shown.
December 19th Benefit show
Many thanks to all those who came to support! A further thanks to all those who helped with the benefit show on Dec 19th! Court solidarity is so important to keep morale high amongst those who the State tries to use as examples to scare away further dissent.
There were about 35 people in attendance for support through the day. It was amazing and very uplifting for the defendants to have the supporters in the room. It helped give us a boost of energy as we took the stand, always a difficult experience.
Also, some people served food outside. The "From G8 to Atlantica: Resistance is Global" banner made an appearance as well. Thanks to everyone.
Resistance to Atlantica will continue.
====================================================================================
We need to support our comrades who have taken a fall for standing up to corporate oppression. Atlantica hasn't gone away, and 4 out of the original 21 arrestees from June 2007 are still facing legal battles and repressive conditions that are restricting fundamental freedoms. These include the right to be present at any kind of protest or demonstration and the right to freely associate with each other.
On July 28th, the Court will have a hearing on an application for something called an "Ascov Motion" making the case that this show has gone on too long without a conclusion (i.e. violating the supposed "right to a speedy trial"). But it is likely that the motion may fail, so we proceed to the trial - August 6th and 10th
The defender
Vaughn Barnett, non-lawyer advocate from New Brunswick, is defending the four. He's been helping Atlantica defendents since the arrests. He's doing it because he's committed to defending the poor and political dissidents. Vaughn helps greatly in the fight against the system using his over 14 years of experience with the law. His own politics, recognizing the systemic injustices of capitalism, make him approach the defense with the open-ness to making broad challenges.
The protest
On June 15th, 2007, Halifax bore witness to a protest /rebellion against Atlantica, the face of Capitalism in our region.
On that day, people took a stand against those who would have their drive for profit-making trample over the lives and dignity of people and the environment we live in. Capitalists and their government backers were not going to be allowed to have their cushy "Atlantica, Charting the Course" conference -- an escalation of ongoing class warfare -- without a challenge to their meeting and all it represented.
But the State sent in the great defenders of capital - the police - who applied their tax-funded crowd control equipment on Atlantica's opponents. Arrests ensued.
The arrests and jail
The arrests were brutal, with police using Tasers, pepper spray, billy clubs and choking-out techniques. People were not given medical treatement after being assaulted; many were not allowed to talk to a lawyer within a reasonable time frame after arrest; they were not read their rights upon arrest; 18 of the 21 people originally arrested were kept in jail for three days; all were deprived of food and water, with only one Powerbar provided to each person in a span of 24 hours, when they should have gotten 2 meals; vegans could not eat because the Powerbars contained dairy-based ingredients; when arrestees were removed to the Burnside Correctional Facility, there was more harrassment and disregard of basic rights.
Criminalization of dissent
The State wants to criminalize any dissent against Atlantica, and they are aiming to make examples of four of our comrades to scare away further dissent. They hope that each person arrested will feel so isolated and afraid that they will give up any idea of disruptive protest in the face Atlantica's continual, privately driven advance, which destroys land and water systems, fills the air with an escalating volume of toxic emissions, tramples over workers' rights and pretends that indigenous communities do not exist. The State hopes that everyone will limit their dissent to asking corporations and governments nicely if they will please stop pursuing their profit driven agenda, when we all know that they will never respond to polite requests with so much money on their table. They do not want anyone to be inspired by the idea of economic disruption and a diversity of resistance to corporate rule.
Supporting those arrested supports dissent for all
Support is needed in order to keep the spirit of dissent high. Every time someone is arrested for an act of dissent, community support is needed for her/him. We need to support each other through these tough times. Even if we do no all agree to each others' tactics, we can respect each others' determination to try and make a difference in the struggle against Atlantica. We can all also agree that it is not fair for anyone to be treated the way the Atlantica arestees were treated during and after their arrests - just imagine what it must be like for long-term prisoners! We should try and keep in mind that our comrades are only as strong as the support provided by friends and allies with them.
December 22nd proceedings
The point of the day was to see if the charges would even go to trial, to attempt to get a stay of proceedings. The argument brought fourth by Vaughn was that our charter rights were violated through the arrests and treatment in jail. The official name of the kind of procedure we were going through was called a "charter challenge." The hope was that it would be made obvious that there were sufficient violations of procedure to nullify the trial. In his application for the charter challenge, Vaughn demonstrated that there were precedents of other judges granting stays of proceedings because of similar circumstances, the idea being that if a judge were to find there were significant charter violations, the matter can't go to trial unless the charter violations are tried first.
The day started our with Vaughn arguing for a stay of all the proceedings, including the charter challenge, because the Crown provided late disclosure of Gottingen Jail video footage of defendents and the other people arrested at the Atlantica protest. Vaughn received these tapes and CDs just before the proceedings began. Obviously there was no time to review the 24 hours of footage by then! The judge denied giving a stay of proceedings because of the late disclosure. So, the charter challenge proceeded.
Vaughn asked questions to each of the defendants about how they came to the arrest and about treatment during the arrest and in custody. His goal was to reveal improper feeding, lack of respect for legal rights and intimidation. There were many examples of these kinds of treatment.
The prosecutor was very aggressive. He asked questions to each defendent about their presence at other protests to try to make us look like we had chronic problems with protests and violence, and that we knew what we were getting ourselves into. To the first defendant, the prosecutor asked about things on fire being thrown at the police. There were no things on fire thrown. Other questions were asked to the first defendant about violence and aggression at the protest. The prosecutor asked him about his presence at other protests and whether or not they were violent protests. The prosecutor questioned him about his presence at the WTO protest in Montreal in 2003 and the Summit of the Americas protest in Quebec City in 2001, asking if they were violent protests. He responded: "the police were violent" for each of these questions. He also asked him "were you in Seattle?" (WTO protest), to which he responded with a very determined "no". The crowd laughed at this question because it was obvious the crown was trying to make him look like a chronic protester with violent tendencies and wasn't getting anywhere. The prosecutor complained that he was being laughed at and the judge politely informed the crowd about resepcting the court or they would be asked to leave. The prosecutor also mocked one of defendants for wearing a dress at the protest, to which the defendent announced that it was a "beautiful dress". To another defendant, he interrogated him about dressing in black at the Atlantica protest, to which he responded, "I always wear black".
As the day carried on, it looked like the judge was not really averse to us; however, he gave the prosecutor some leeway to ask questions that seemed like they were focused on our protest history, which should not have been considered relevant, but the questioning was allowed to proceed for each defendent in that manner. In the case of the first defendent on the stand, the prosecutor was finally stopped only when the prosecutor started asking about his presence at the Seattle protest.
There was one other witness other than the the defendants. It was the director of Corrections Nova Scotia. He was asked questions about what proper procedure at the prison was supposed to be, such as proper feeding, respect for vegetarian diets and other legal rights we were supposed to have been afforded according the procedure. There were some startling statements that he made. Prisoners are not supposed to receive vegeterian or any other "special diets" unless they are practitioners of one of the main, recognized religions (monotheistic) or if they have medical conditions. Some religions are not even recognized by the Corrections institute! They are referred to as culture. They do no provide special diets for "lifestyle" reasons. The judge actually asked a question to him about what the difference was between someone being bound to obey their consceince if they didn't believe it was ethical to eat animals, versus if they believed they were being instructed by a holy power to do so. The man did not realy have an answer to this. No surprise that the actual policies of prisons are so discriminatory, after all, the whole institute is based on putting up walls. All the inmates were also supposed to receive a "handbook" that told us what our rightw were. No one recieved this. The guy from Corrections was asked about this, saying we should have been informed of this. He also revealed that there was a copy of this book in the min room in our cell block, which was news to us, over a year-and-a-half later.
The Prosecutor then asked the director of Corrections some of his own easy questions. Following, the proceedings were adjourned after some negotiations over what would happen next. The Crown wanted to call in some police officers to get other versions of what happened at the protest. There was arguement over why this was relevant. Vaughn was not the one who strayed into that line of questioning -- i.e. trying to include what happened BEFORE the arrest in the charter challenge -- it was the Prosecutor who did this. Vaughn argued that the Crown had plenty of time to have called in any such witnesses he was suddenly interested in calling, but he didn't. The arguement Vaughn made was that he should not be allowed to delay the proceedings if he didn't prepare for such witnesses already. Vaughn argued that there should not be an adjournment. In the end, the Judge decided to allow an adjournment, and the dates were set for August, for both the remainder of the current procedure and the trial! That's a very long 9 months away. Vaughn argued for the conditions to be removed because the process was lingering. Neither the judge or the Crown condeded, claiming that the defendents had to go to the Supreme Court to argue for such changes.
Despite the dissappointing limbo we're in, we're bolstered by the great solidarity shown.
December 19th Benefit show
Many thanks to all those who came to support! A further thanks to all those who helped with the benefit show on Dec 19th! Court solidarity is so important to keep morale high amongst those who the State tries to use as examples to scare away further dissent.
There were about 35 people in attendance for support through the day. It was amazing and very uplifting for the defendants to have the supporters in the room. It helped give us a boost of energy as we took the stand, always a difficult experience.
Also, some people served food outside. The "From G8 to Atlantica: Resistance is Global" banner made an appearance as well. Thanks to everyone.
Resistance to Atlantica will continue.
====================================================================================
Monday December 22nd, 2008 Court Solidarity
ATLANTICA ON TRIAL
December 22, 2008
meet at the Halifax provincial courthouse at 9am
We need to support our comrades who have taken a fall for standing up to corporate oppression. Atlantica hasn't gone away, and 4 out of the original 21 arrestees from June 2007 are still facing legal battles and repressive conditions that are restricting fundamental freedoms. These include the right to be present at any kind of protest or demonstration and the right to freely associate with each other. Additionally, there are still court documents that arrestees are waiting for in order to have a proper defense, which should have been provided long ago.
The arrests and jail
The arrests were brutal, with police using Tasers, pepper spray, billy clubs and choking-out techniques. People were not given medical treatement after being assaulted; many were not allowed to talk to a lawyer within a reasonable time frame after arrest; they were not read their rights upon arrest; 18 of the 21 people originally arrested were kept in jail for three days; all were deprived of food and water, with only one Powerbar provided to each person in a span of 24 hours, when they should have gotten 2 meals; vegans could not eat because the Powerbars contained dairy-based ingredients; when arrestees were removed to the Burnside Correctional Facility, there was more harrassment and disregard of basic rights.
Criminalization of dissent
The State wants to criminalize any dissent against Atlantica, and they are aiming to make examples of four of our comrades to scare away further dissent. They hope that each person arrested will feel so isolated and afraid that they will give up any idea of disruptive protest in the face Atlantica's continual, privately driven advance, which destroys land and water systems, fills the air with an escalating volume of toxic emissions, tramples over workers' rights and pretends that indigenous communities do not exist. The State hopes that everyone will limit their dissent to asking corporations and governments nicely if they will please stop pursuing their profit driven agenda, when we all know that they will never respond to polite requests with so much money on their table. They do not want anyone to be inspired by the idea of economic disruption and a diversity of resistance to corporate rule.
Supporting those arrested supports dissent for all
Support is needed in order to keep the spirit of dissent high. Every time someone is arrested for an act of dissent, community support is needed for her/him. We need to support each other through these tough times. Even if we do no all agree to each others' tactics, we can respect each others' determination to try and make a difference in the struggle against Atlantica. We can all also agree that it is not fair for anyone to be treated the way the Atlantica arestees were treated during and after their arrests - just imagine what it must be like for long-term prisoners! We should try and keep in mind that our comrades are only as strong as the support provided by friends and allies with them.
December 22
This will be a chance to put Atlantica on trial, a chance for us to turn around the momentum against us. This is a call for all those opposed to Atlantica to come out on the day of trial, at 9am at the Provincial Courthouse. There will be a spirited gathering outside of the courthouse presenting all passerbys with clear messages and information that Atlantica opposition is alive, well and growing. There will also be people going inside to show moral support. Bring your friends and family. Pass on the word.
Solidarity in the Struggle against Atlantica
===================================================================================
December 22, 2008
meet at the Halifax provincial courthouse at 9am
We need to support our comrades who have taken a fall for standing up to corporate oppression. Atlantica hasn't gone away, and 4 out of the original 21 arrestees from June 2007 are still facing legal battles and repressive conditions that are restricting fundamental freedoms. These include the right to be present at any kind of protest or demonstration and the right to freely associate with each other. Additionally, there are still court documents that arrestees are waiting for in order to have a proper defense, which should have been provided long ago.
The arrests and jail
The arrests were brutal, with police using Tasers, pepper spray, billy clubs and choking-out techniques. People were not given medical treatement after being assaulted; many were not allowed to talk to a lawyer within a reasonable time frame after arrest; they were not read their rights upon arrest; 18 of the 21 people originally arrested were kept in jail for three days; all were deprived of food and water, with only one Powerbar provided to each person in a span of 24 hours, when they should have gotten 2 meals; vegans could not eat because the Powerbars contained dairy-based ingredients; when arrestees were removed to the Burnside Correctional Facility, there was more harrassment and disregard of basic rights.
Criminalization of dissent
The State wants to criminalize any dissent against Atlantica, and they are aiming to make examples of four of our comrades to scare away further dissent. They hope that each person arrested will feel so isolated and afraid that they will give up any idea of disruptive protest in the face Atlantica's continual, privately driven advance, which destroys land and water systems, fills the air with an escalating volume of toxic emissions, tramples over workers' rights and pretends that indigenous communities do not exist. The State hopes that everyone will limit their dissent to asking corporations and governments nicely if they will please stop pursuing their profit driven agenda, when we all know that they will never respond to polite requests with so much money on their table. They do not want anyone to be inspired by the idea of economic disruption and a diversity of resistance to corporate rule.
Supporting those arrested supports dissent for all
Support is needed in order to keep the spirit of dissent high. Every time someone is arrested for an act of dissent, community support is needed for her/him. We need to support each other through these tough times. Even if we do no all agree to each others' tactics, we can respect each others' determination to try and make a difference in the struggle against Atlantica. We can all also agree that it is not fair for anyone to be treated the way the Atlantica arestees were treated during and after their arrests - just imagine what it must be like for long-term prisoners! We should try and keep in mind that our comrades are only as strong as the support provided by friends and allies with them.
December 22
This will be a chance to put Atlantica on trial, a chance for us to turn around the momentum against us. This is a call for all those opposed to Atlantica to come out on the day of trial, at 9am at the Provincial Courthouse. There will be a spirited gathering outside of the courthouse presenting all passerbys with clear messages and information that Atlantica opposition is alive, well and growing. There will also be people going inside to show moral support. Bring your friends and family. Pass on the word.
Solidarity in the Struggle against Atlantica
===================================================================================
Friday December 19th, 2008 FOLK SHOW!
Come show support for the folks who are still facing legal battles. This is a fundraiser to help with legal costs. Featuring J. Stevens, Brian Rose, Chantelle, Story, and more! PWYC suggested $5
