Invitation to Join Working Group on Human Rights in Mexico

March 11, 2015 Dan Bashaw Leave a comment

Dear CASC supporters,

After Cafe’s February presentation of Ayotzinapa, the film about Mexico’s 43 murdered students, & Tim’s excellent discussion of the issues raised, CASC has formed a new working group on Canada-Mexico that would focus on issues of NAFTA, human rights, Canadian mining presence in Mexico and the links between the 2 countries.

Tim has suggested that one action to work towards might be, “that the group could put together a letter/paper outlining the issues regarding NAFTA/human rights/mining in Mexico to present to parties and their candidates before the next federal election with the intent of organizing an all-candidates meeting. I believe that with the upcoming election, the timing is great to bring our concerns regarding the deplorable human rights conditions in Mexico and the Canadian connection with those conditions to the attention of political parties, their candidates and to the public.”

Other actions and research can be developed in the group. Several people have already agreed to join this working group. If you are interested please contact Tim: timb(at) islandnet.com. He will coordinate the planning of the first meeting. From your CASC planning committee

Past Events

Report: The Art of Resistance

February 21, 2015 Dan Bashaw Leave a comment

Cafe Simpatico January 30, 2015 featured the arts s of resistance. The evening began with Nedjo ^ his friends making music & encouraging everyone to sing along.Theresa Wolfwood also read from her new poetry book, “Love and Resistance”, followed by book sales and author signing. The book is also for sale at Ivy’s bookshop in Victorian, Arbutus Arts on Hornby island. and Volume One Bookstore in Duncan,

Guest musicians Sharon Hazelwood and Alan O’Deane were a perfect complement to the banners on display, made by Theresa.

Part of the evening can be seen on this video made by Efran Quiroz: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLg40Oktr9o

Café Simpatico

Cafe Simpation Presents: Ayotzinapa

February 17, 2015 Dan Bashaw Leave a comment

Mexico’s Missing 43 Students, Human Rights, The War on Drugs, & NAFTA
including information about mining exploitation in Mexico

Friday, Feb 27th, 1923 Fernwood Rd.
7:30pm – Singalong
8:00pm – Films and Speaker

Join us for an important film of this tragic case*. CASC member Tim Boultbee will provide an update and field questions.

*The subject matter and images in this film may be disturbing to some people.

Admission by donation

Refreshments & Fair Trade Coffee available.

Café Simpatico

CAFE SIMPATICO: JANUARY 30

January 20, 2015 Dan Bashaw Leave a comment

Love and Resistance: A book launch and poetry reading by Theresa Wolfwood

Special musical guests: Sharon Hazelwood and Alan O’Dean

Textile Art Exhibition
Updates and news from CASC
Refreshments & Fair trade organic coffee
Book sales and author signing ($15, cash or cheque)

1923 Fernwood Road
Doors open at 7:15 pm
7:30 pm Sing-a-long with Nedjo and friends
8 pm Program & poetry
All welcome
Information: bbcf@bbcf.ca

Book Review

A new poetry collection by Theresa Wolfwood

December 9, 2014 Dan Bashaw Leave a comment

…with many poems about Central America

Theresa Wolfwood. 2014. Smallberry Press, London. UK ISBN: 978-0993031502

The passion for social justice, human rights and the longing for peace illuminate many of Theresa’s poems. In some the passion is expressed by individuals: a child in Gaza recounts her own war story and tells readers…we are still here in Gaza. In El Salvador a baker stands up against international mining interests…strong from the resistance of bread dough. She expresses her love for the world she inhabits on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, a world where all life in connected … rooted we are together in this brief borrowed paradise.

The poetry of Theresa Wolfwood also includes the intensely personal love poems for her lover …your back a mahogany guitar/ emerging from its case… and for her mother…She lay unconscious, a crumpled stained handkerchief/on a stretch of dirty snow.

Theresa Wolfwood is a poet of fine sensitivity and deep passion for the human condition, the world we travel through and our search for truth and meaning. Her poems are to be savoured and re-read as sign posts in all our journeys; her words, honest about tragedy and horror are nonetheless imbued with hope and optimism that …we will transform the power of desecration/ our song will restore the earth.

From the publisher
“Theresa Wolfwood writes intelligent, compassionate poems that are able to bear witness to human suffering and resilience, distant and near, with the same intimacy, sweetness and persuasive power. Theresa has a steady open gaze, what Iris Murdoch called ‘the reality of compassion…. the ability to see clearly.” Heather Spears, artist and Governor-General’s Award winning poet, author of 11 books of poetry and 4 novels

“Theresa Wolfwood puts her passion for justice into action, presentations, photography, fabric banners and fortunately for us — also on the page. Her poetry sings us to a better world through lament, challenge, hope and above all, love. Through much of my life, Theresa’s work has been an inspiration.” Carolyn Pogue, author of Rock of Ages and After the Beginning

“Like ‘the steadfast scent of za’atar’, the poems of Theresa Wolfwood are the product of her big heart: passionate, encouraging and hopeful. Yes, her poems crave the beauty of justice in an unjust world. To her, the Palestinian pain is not a theme of solidarity but a first-hand personal experience in her life. To be political and convincing in the same time is difficult but this is exactly the achievement of these poems.” Mourid Barghouti, author of Midnight and other poems & I saw Ramallah

Available from:
Ivy’s Bookshop, Victoria, BC
Beit Zatoun shop, Toronto, Ontario
Arbutus Arts, Hornby Island, BC
On line on Amazon & other outlets

For bulk purchase please contact the publisher: orders@smallberrypress.co.uk

Café Simpatico

Communities in Resistance Art Opening and Poetry Night

December 4, 2014 Dan Bashaw Leave a comment

The October 24th Cafe Simpatico was a moving and beautiful event
combining visual art, poetry, and song.

Sponsored by the Victoria-based Mining Justice Action Committee,
“Communities in Resistance” was a project to honour and recognize
communities impacted worldwide by the operations of Canadian-based
mining companies.

Outgoing Victoria Poet Laureate Janet Rogers opened the evening with
riveting readings from her most recent book, Peace in Duress.

Local poet and CASC member Terry Wolfwood read two pieces about
community leaders targeted for their resistance to Canadian mining in El
Salvador.

The event was also an opening for a two-week art show at the Little
Fernwood Gallery adjoining the Paul Phillips Hall where Cafe Simpatico
is held. Several of the artists were on hand to answer questions about
the moving pieces they produced.

Images from the event on the MJAC website,
http://www.mjacvictoria.ca/content/communities-resistance-and-art-solidarity
and in a YouTube video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-AZ0uLwdbE&feature=youtu.be by the
ExibitVic project.

Oro by Charlotte Bell

Latest

Celebration of LIfe: Gudrun Doherty

November 18, 2014 Dan Bashaw Leave a comment

Gudrun Doherty, long-time CASC supporter, died last week after suffering a missive stroke. She would have been 88 next month.

Gudrun came faithfully to CASC events, provided hospitality, billeting and amazing decades of support to the Central America Support Committee and we honoured her, Bill, Andree & Bev, in September.

There will be a celebration of the life of Gudrun on Saturday, November 29, at the Fernwood Community Association 1923 Fernwood Road.

Doors open at 1 pm, the program starts at 1:30 pm and it will be followed by refreshments and and time to socialize & look at photos and displays. Donations of finger food are welcome.

Café Simpatico

Cafe Simpatico is pleased to present:

November 12, 2014 Dan Bashaw Leave a comment

Cafe Simpatico is pleased to present:

An illustrated talk by Tessa Munro

November 28

Fernwood Community Association (FCA)

1923 Fernwood Road.

Tessa is a registered nurse and a graduate of Selkirk College. She has worked in both direct patient care and community health. Her interests lie in the intersection between activism, social movements, global health and nursing. She recently spent 4 months living and learning in Guatemala and Mexico.

Tessa will speak about her experiences with Nuevo Horizonte, a Guatemalan co-operative of ex guerrilla combatants, and its community and political work. She will talk about their initiatives and how she understands underlying social/political/economic forces that shape health and wellbeing in Guatemala and she will make links to increasing health challenges experienced in Canada and the same social/political/economic forces. She also will tell us about her experiences in a Zapatista community in Chiapas, Mexico and will speak about the work this movement does in community and how Zapatista resistance is linked to Guatemala and with our lives in Canada, particularly the indigenous resurgence here. We will be informed and inspired in our solidarity work by her words and images. Come and bring friends.

Doors open 7:15 pm and live music at 7:30 pm.

Presentation at 8 pm.

Admission by donation

Refreshments and fair trade organic coffee for sale.

Information: bbcf@bbcf.ca

Café Simpatico

Review: September 2014 Cafe Simpatico

October 26, 2014 Dan Bashaw Leave a comment

CASC honoured our elders and long-time activists for solidarity at September’s cafe. John Hillian thanked Andree Scott for years of service on our board, translation and hospitality; Bev Wood for many years of working and organizing volunteers & refreshments at Cafe; Bill and Gudrun Doherty for their unflagging quiet work, hospitality and generosity. John presented them with lovely scrolls made by Nancy and then Andree cut the cake for all. Recently Bill & Gudrun have moved into the Cridge Centre and they welcome visors to their new home there. They donated the proceeds of their moving sale on Saturday to CASC, many of us were able to help at the sale & many CASC supporters bought some of Doherty’s treasures. The proceeds were more than $1000 and we again thank them for their generosity and support.