OPIRG AGM + Guest Talk by Yves Engler on
Canadian Foreign Policy and Economic Crises
4 to 6pm,
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
GSA Conference Room
(Rm 430, Student Centre)
Ontario Public Interest Research Group at York invites all undergraduate and graduate students to join us for OPIRG's Annual General Meeting with a review and celebration of this year's OPIRG's activity. Come find out about board and staff reports, audit and election results. Meet OPIRG's volunteers, new and outgoing Board of Directors, and our membership.
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GUEST TALK:
Canadian foreign policy and the economic crisis
Contrary to the mythology of Canada as a force for good in the world, this country has been part of the command and control apparatus of the world economic system from its beginning. At first, Canada served as an arm of the British Empire, but, given the country's location and economic and racial makeup, quickly became intertwined with the USA.
In recent years Ottawa has helped overthrow Haiti's elected government, quietly supported the US war in Iraq and is currently waging an intense counterinsurgency war in Afghanistan. Simultaneously, Canadian mining companies operate socially and environmentally damaging projects around the world.
While not fundamentally changing the nature of Canadian foreign-policy, the economic crisis provides social movements with an opportunity to win over growing numbers of Canadians to an alternative vision of Canada's role in the world.
Yves Engler is the author of the forthcoming The Black Book of Canadian Foreign Policy and two other books: Canada in Haiti: Waging War on the Poor Majority (with Anthony Fenton) and Playing Left Wing: From Rink Rat to Student Radical.
And there will be snacks and refreshments!
Come out to support your student and community social justice and environmental organization - OPIRG York
