Le Journal des Alternatives

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

2010-07-06T19:50:00Z

Who funds these internships?

The Québec Sans Frontières internships are funded by the Ministère des relations internationales du Gouvernement du Québec.

Are these internships remunerated?

No.

Alternatives engages to pay the following expenses:

return ticket for the overseas placement

overseas accommodation

medical insurance

visas if necessary

All interns are responsible for paying the following expenses:

vaccines

medical exams

Why is fund raising a compulsory part of the internship?

The internships are funded by the Ministère des relations internationales du Québec but the government requires a significant contribution from Alternatives and the overseas host organizations. Therefore, we ask that all interns also contribute to the general cost of the program by participating in a fund raiser. This effort will allow interns to develop new abilities and promote work that they will undertake overseas.

For the QSF programs, Alternatives ask that each intern raise 1500$.

Will I live with a host family?

This depends on the host country. In some cases, interns will be housed with a host family. In other countries, interns are housed in apartments or guest homes.

Who are your overseas partners?

Our overseas partners are organizations that work to promote economic, social and political rights of people and communities affected by poverty, discrimination, exploitation and violence.

About the pre-departure trainings

Québec Sans Frontières pre-departure trainings take place at our offices in Montreal. The pre-departure training is undertaken on a part-time basis, usually every other weekend, as well as certain evenings when necessary.

Trainings are undertaken in French, candidates therefore need to have a good enough grasp of the language to follow the trainings.

Engaging in a QSF internship program at Alternatives requires a significant investment in time during the period of pre-departure training. In addition to the training sessions (at least 190h of training depending on the orientation of internship) , interns must carry out fundraising activities.

The pre-departure training includes different themes that prepare interns to do their mandate overseas:

Development and international solidarity issues
Cross-cultural context
Group life and teamwork organizing
Health and safety overseas
Knowledge of the country and host community
Language classes (for interns who are traveling to Latin America)
Technical training specific to the theme of the internship (communication, ICT, environment, urban agriculture)

Participants from outside of Montreal can have their travel expenses reimbursed for all travel related to trainings, budget permitting. Pre-departure trainings are obligatory for everyone.

When communities take the information highway II : education in Yaoundé

2010-07-06T15:21:51Z

1. Partners :

A. Southern host organisation

PROTEGE QV

PROTEGE QV is a Cameroonian rights assocation whose mission it is to promote individual and collective initiative that target environmental protection and contributes to an increased quality fo life for Cameroonian families.

It's main objectives are as follows:
to solicit the active participation of development actors and increase their quality of life
rural development
promotion of technological research solutions to local problems and natural resource management
promotion and appropriation of information technologies to facilitate attainment of the Millenium Goals

B. Quebec partener organisation

Communautique

Connecting Communities

Communautique's mission is to support civic participation by promoting information literacy, appropriation of information and communications technologies and contribution to their development.

Its objectives are:
Enhance access to ICTs and to the Internet
Promote resourcefulness and self-reliance among voluntary sector groups, citizens and within the community environment
Create a democratic cyber-culture
Combat socioeconomic exclusion and unequal access to ICTs

2. Internship objectives

In Quebec :

The interns and the accompanier on this project will be hired on a paid internship with Communautique as part of their pre-departure training

Duration of the paid internship : from mid-september 2010 to the beginning of march 2011 Conditions : 14$ per hour, 28 hour per week (maximum)

Tasks

Facilitate basic computer litteracy workshops in internet commnity access centers (CACI))
Train volunteers in animation of an access center.
Evaluate workshops and compile statistics
Prepare on a regular basis workshops and produce training material
Promote the activities of the CACI to the public, produce the advertising material.
Participate in the other activities of the center.
Participate in trainings and team meetings
Participate in the update of the website of the access center
Other related tasks

Overseas:

Region, city or village: Yaoundé, Biyem-Assi

Résumé of internship objectives:
Facilitate Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) workshops to the 500 students and 20 teachers of the Biyem-Assi school;
Support a concrete community experience aiming to the empowerment of collectivity, in particular as regards to education, information and communication.
Consolidate the knowledge of teachers and students of the school-Assi Biyem ICT received during Phase 1 of the project.
Bring a technical assistance in improving the computer science club of Biyem-Assi school.
Share Alternatives and Communautique knowledge in terms of ICT.
Acquire practical knowledge in animation of the community sector for ICT for development.
Undertake public awareness activities to sensitize Quebecois to issues related to cameroonian sustainable development . Résumé of field activities:
Prepare and facilitate ICT workshops for the students and teachers of Biyem-Assi school
Participate in improving the computer science club room of Biyem-Assi School
Facilitate workshops on internet and computer security for the teachers of Biyem-Assi school
In collaboration with the host organization, produce training material
Facilitate the programming of collaborative projects and participate in the production of management tools for the computer club

Number of participants : 7 interns and 1 accompanier
Overseas placement : From 7 March to 7 May 2011 (60 days)
Pre-departure training : From 20 September 2010 to 7 March 2011

3. Application criteria

Eligibility requirements for participating interns

Be at least 18 and not older than 35 years old ;
Have a permanent address in Quebec for at least over the past year
Have Canadian citizenship status or permanent residency status
Be subscribed to post-secondary studies and/or having completed at least one class in a post-secondary degree.
Be unemployed or underemployed at the beginning of the internship
Show proof of interest for international development issues and North-South dynamics
Demonstrate interpersonal capacities appropriate for living and working in a multicultural context
Demonstrate the interpersonal capacities appropriate for living and working in a multicultural context
Be ready to participate in all steps of the internship (fund raising, pre-departure training, overseas placement, return activities)
Be in good health (a medical certificate will be required if you are accepted into the program)
Not have already participated in a Québec sans frontières internship program and not have already participated in an overseas internship in a "southern" country for more than six weeks
Have a good knowledge of French

Other:
Have a proven interest for comunications and alternative media
Knowledge of computers and Internet (including: surfing, installing and managing computer hardware and software)
Have a proven interest for the community sector
A good knowledge of HTML and web page design

Accompagnateur :

Be at least 21 years of age at the beginning of the overseas placement
Have permanent residency in Quebec for at least the past year
Have Canadian citizenship status or permanent residency status
Have a secondary V diploma
Have a proven interest in international development issues and North-South dynamics
Demonstrate a capacity for coordinating an intern group
Demonstrate interpersonal capacities appropriate for living and working in a multicultural context
Be in good health (if your candidacy is retained, a medical certificate will be required)
Be ready to participate in all steps of the internship (fund raising, pre-departure training, overseas placement, return activities)
Have a good knowledge of French

Other:
Have already undertaken a cooperation internship in the internship country or region
Demonstrate an interest for communications, alternative media and ICT.

4. How to apply

To submit your application, you should send your curriculum vitae as well as a cover letter with the form below.

Clic here to submit your application

deadline to submit your application: 17 August 2010, 5:00 pm

5. Dates and deadlines:

27 August 2010: Deadline to submit your applicatio

Week of 6 September 2010: Interviews and selection

Week of 20 September 2010: Beginning of the pre-departure training

Info-internship evenings

You have questions or you would like to know more about our internship programs? We'll be holding an information evening on 19 August 2010 starting from 5pm

Where? Alternatives 3720, ave. Du Parc (corner Des Pins) 2nd floor Montréal Métro Place-des-Arts

Another information evening will be held in September

6. For more information

Consult our FAQs.

For more information on Québec Sans Frontières internships, you can contact our internship project officer:

Caroline Tagny at 514-982-6606

For more information on the Québec sans frontières program, click here.

7. Sign up to the Info-stages list!

This e-bulletin will keep you up to date on upcoming internships and more.

To apply, please send back this message

Family agriculture as a vector for food sovereignty!

2010-07-06T14:59:30Z

1. Partners:

A. Southern host organisation

Réseau africain pour le développement (RADI)

RADI's mission is to fight against poverty, injustice and ignorance by promoting the participation of concerned population and by empowering and educating citizens to promote autonomy and self-sustainability. The RADI is involved in various areas: promotion and integration of women, sustainable agriculture and food security, national language literacy and basic education, peasant management, youth development in urban and semi-urban areas (education, training, integration, employment), and environment.

B. Quebec partner organisation

Head & Hands / À deux mains

Head & Hands' mission is to work with youth to promote their physical and mental well-being. Its approach is preventative, non-judgmental and holistic, with a fundamental commitment to providing an environment that welcomes youth without discrimination. Head & Hands facilitate social change and the empowerment of youth based on their current needs within its community and society at large.

Head & Hands envisions a society where all youth are participants and are inspired by the endless possibilities available to them.

*** Please note that this internship is part of the specialized program of QSF: all participants in this internship must have attended activities of Montreal's Head & Hands center at least six months prior to the recruitment period. ***

2. Internship objectives

Region, city or village: Dakar

Résumé of internship objectives:

In keeping with the mission of Head & Hands / À deux mains, the internship project will focus on integrating immigrants into Quebec society while discovering and respecting their cultural background. This project targets specifically (but not exclusively) second generation immigrants from the Caribbean and Africa. The overall objective of this project is to reduce the gap between the black community identity and the Quebec identity while encouraging social engagement and critical thinking of the participants through citizen journalism.

Facilitate the learning of communication tools among members and employees of the RADI.
Support a concrete community experience for the empowerment of a community, especially on food security, education and communication.
Support the sensitization efforts of the RADI on food security and sovereignty.
Share the knowledge of Alternatives on citizen and alternative communications.
Provide technical assistance in improving the communication tools of RADI.
Enable the interns to acquire practical knowledge in facilitation of communication for development workshops
Sensitize the population of Quebec to issues related to sustainable development in Senegal.

Résumé of field activities in Quebec:

In the pre-departure training, participants will be invited, through various activities, to explore the different socio-economic and environmental issues of Quebec. Participants will document their journey to become familiar with various communications tools that they can use overseas. Participants will also familiarize themselves with the community organizations sector working in the field of environment in Quebec.

Résumé of field activities overseas:

Do project planning meetings with peasants' organizations working with the RADI.
Conduct research in preparation for filming on the various topics covered: organic agriculture, fair trade commerce, food security, and food sovereignty.
In collaboration with members of RADI scenarize short documentaries and plan their production.
Prepare workshops on video editing as well as educational materials adapted to the target audience.
Facilitate workshops in video production.
Film and edit, together with members of the RADI, four short documentaries on the topics mentioned above.

Number of participants 7 interns and 1 accompanier
Overseas placement :From 13 June to 13 August 2011 (60 days)
Pre-departure training From 1 November 2010 to 13 June 2011

3. Application criteria

Eligibility requirements

Interns of this group should be young participants attending the center Head & Hands of Montreal for at least six months before the recruitment period.

Eligibility requirements for participating interns

Be at least 18 by the beginning of the overseas placement and no more than 35 by the application deadline
Have a permanent address in Quebec for at least over the past year
Have Canadian citizenship status or permanent residency status
Show proof of interest for international development issues and North-South dynamics
Demonstrate interpersonal capacities appropriate for living and working in a multicultural context
Demonstrate the interpersonal capacities appropriate for living and working in a multicultural context
Be ready to participate in all steps of the internship (fund raising, pre-departure training, overseas placement, return activities)
Be in good health (a medical certificate will be required if you are accepted into the program)
Not have already participated in a Québec sans frontières internship program and not have already participated in an overseas internship in a "southern" country for more than six weeks
Have a good knowledge of French

Other:

Have a proven interest in urban agriculture and communications for development
Have a proven interest of environmental issues related to development.

Eligibility criteria for the accompanier :

Be at least 21 years of age at the beginning of the overseas placement
Have permanent residency in Quebec for at least the past year
Have Canadian citizenship status or permanent residency status
Have a secondary V diploma
Have a proven interest in international development issues and North-South dynamics
Demonstrate a capacity for coordinating a group of interns
Demonstrate interpersonal capacities appropriate for living and working in a multicultural context
Be in good health (if your candidacy is retained, a medical certificate will be required)
Be ready to participate in all steps of the internship (fundraising, pre-departure training, overseas placement, return activities)
Have a good knowledge of French

Other:

Have already undertaken a cooperation internship in the internship country or region
Demonstrate an interest for communications and environmental issues related to development.

4. How to apply

To submit your application, you should send your curriculum vitae as well as a cover letter with the form below.

Clic here to submit your application

deadline to submit your application: 17 September 2010, 5:00 pm

5. Dates and deadlines:

17 September 2010: Deadline to submit your application

Week of 4 October 2010: Interviews and selection

Week of 1 November 2010: Beginning of the pre-departure training

Info-internship evenings

You have questions or you would like to know more about our internship programs? We'll be holding an information evening on 19 August 2010 starting from 5pm

Where? Alternatives 3720, ave. Du Parc (corner Des Pins) 2nd floor Montréal Métro Place-des-Arts

Another information evening will be held in September

6. For more information

Consult our FAQs.

For more information on Québec Sans Frontières internships, you can contact our internship project officer:

Caroline Tagny at 514-982-6606

For more information on the Québec sans frontières program, click here.

7. Sign up to the Info-stages list!

This e-bulletin will keep you up to date on upcoming internships and more.

To apply, please send back this message

Roots around the world : urban agriculture in Bamako (2nd year)

2010-07-05T21:13:38Z

1. Southern host organisation:

Clubs Kayira de l'Association des Radios libres Kayira

Le Réseau des radios libres is an organization regrouping 9 community radio station (1 in Bamako, 8 in rural areas). Around those community radios were created the Clubs Kayira which are constituted of women's groups, organizations helping people with disabilities o or organizations of villagers.

The 'Réseau des Radios Libres et des Clubs Kayira' is a democratic watch dog organisation, its mandate is to raise awareness and undertake popular education on:
local, national and international news, reported impartially and independently
Helping bring together large numbers of citizens to undertake civic education trainings to found the basis of participatory democracy
Take an active part in informing the public health, hygiene and environmental issues
Give a voice to associations and all citizens who otherwise have no forum in which to express themselves
Combat the dissemination of ideas and principles founded on intolerance, racism, exclusion and xenophobia
Opening the radio station to a diversity of cultural expression (artist presentations and musical presentations, theater and cinema) from Mali and elsewhere.

2. Internship objectives

Region, city or village : Bamako

Résumé of the internship objectives:
Allow young Québecers to share in a meaningful international solidarity experience with Malian culture
Foster the acquisition of urban agriculture work experience in a way that impacts the candidate's personal and career path
Promote urban agriculture and ecological practices in the North and the South
Support a community development initiative that aims to enhance the community's autonomy and revenue generating activities
Share the Alternatives' knowledge and best practice in urban agriculture, especially with regards to hydroponics and permaculture
Foster an opportunity for interns to integrate into the daily routine of an international cooperation organization.

Résumé of field activities:
Visit of the urban agriculture projects of our Malian partners
Coordinate and participate, in collaboration with Kayira's staff, the establishment of gardens in soilless culture with two women's associations.
Deliver workshops on a variety of themes, including ecological water management, installation of a productive gardening space, permaculture techniques, waste management including recycling and recuperation, using established urban agriculture principles aligned with public health standards.
Participate in the production of a guide on urban agriculture
Urban agriculture work with our Malian partner.

Number of participants : 6 interns and 1 accompanier
Overseas placement : From 7 June to 6 August 2011 (60 days)
Pre-departure training : From 1 November 2010 to 7 June 2011

3. Application criteria

Eligibility requirements for participating interns

Other :

Have a proven interest or knowledge in urban agriculture and permaculture
Have a proven interest for environmental issues linked to development

Eligibility criteria for the accompanier :

Be at least 21 years of age at the beginning of the overseas placement
Have permanent residency in Quebec for at least the past year
Have Canadian citizenship status or permanent residency status
Have a secondary V diploma
Have a proven interest in international development issues and North-South dynamics
Demonstrate a capacity for coordinating a group of interns
Demonstrate interpersonal capacities appropriate for living and working in a multicultural context
Be in good health (if your candidacy is retained, a medical certificate will be required)
Be ready to participate in all steps of the internship (fundraising, pre-departure training, overseas placement, return activities)
Have a good knowledge of Spanish
Have a good knowledge of French

Other:

Have already undertaken a cooperation internship in the internship country or region
Have a proven interest or knowledge in urban agriculture and permaculture

4. How to apply

To submit your application, you should send your curriculum vitae as well as a cover letter with the form below.

Clic here to submit your application

deadline to submit your application: 17 September 2010, 5:00 pm

5. Dates and deadlines:

17 September 2010: Deadline to submit your application

Week of 4 October 2010: Interviews and selection

Week of 1 November 2010: Beginning of the pre-departure training

Info-internship evenings

You have questions or you would like to know more about our internship programs? We'll be holding an information evening on 19 August 2010 starting from 5pm

Where? Alternatives 3720, ave. Du Parc (corner Des Pins) 2nd floor Montréal Métro Place-des-Arts

Another information evening will be held in September

6. For more information

Consult our FAQs.

For more information on Québec Sans Frontières internships, you can contact our internship project officer:

Caroline Tagny at 514-982-6606

For more information on the Québec sans frontières program, click here.

7. Sign up to the Info-stages list!

This e-bulletin will keep you up to date on upcoming internships and more.

To apply, please send back this message

Ecuador: Documentaries for women's rights in Ecuador

2010-07-05T20:40:26Z

1. Partners :

A. Southern host organisation

Asociación Cristiana de Jóvenes del Ecuador (ACJ)

ACJ Ecuador was created in 1959 and is a civil society organisation working for social change, development and human rights. ACJ works with poorest and excluded of the Ecuadorian society and more specifically with youth and women. ACJ is a oecumenical volunteer movement which belongs to the international movement of the YMCA.

B. Quebec partener organisation

The YMCA of Québec

The goals of the international programs of The Ys of Québec are to inform and educate by encouraging local participation of people on international issues. As well, they develop and strengthen partnerships between local and overseas YMCAs.

2. Internship objectives

Region, city or village: Santo Domingo de los Colorados

Résumé of internship objectives:

Train the young participants and employees of the ACJ Santo Domingo office to the use of communication tools.
Support a concrete community project aiming to the empowerment of a collectivity, in particular as regards to education, information and communication;
Support ACJ Ecuador public awareness efforts on women's economic rights.
Share Alternatives' knowledge and best practice on communications strategies.
Bring a technical assistance to improve the working communication tools of ACJ Ecuador;
Acquire practical knowledge in communications for development
Undertake public awareness activities to sensitize Quebecois to issues related to Ecuadorian sustainable development.

Résumé of field activities:

Participate and organize planning meetings with the youth organizations working with ACJ Ecuador;
Research on the following themes preparing the production of short documentaries: women's inclusion in the work force and income generating activities, gender equality in the work place, women's organization promotion, women's economic autonomy.
In collaboration with young Ecuadorian participants, scenarize short documentaries and plan their production;
Prepare workshops in video editing and produce training material
Facilitate video production workshops.
Film and edit in collaboration young Ecuadorian participants, 3 short documentaries on the topics previously mentioned.

Number of participants : 7 interns and 1 accompanier
Overseas placement : From 6 June to 20 August 2011 (75 days)
Pre-departure training : From 1 November 2010 to 6 June 2011

3. Application criteria

Eligibility requirements for participating interns

Other :

Have a basic knowledge of Spanish
Have a proven interest in alternative communications

Eligibility criteria for the accompanier :

Be at least 21 years of age at the beginning of the overseas placement
Have permanent residency in Quebec for at least the past year
Have Canadian citizenship status or permanent residency status
Have a secondary V diploma
Have a proven interest in international development issues and North-South dynamics
Demonstrate a capacity for coordinating a group of interns
Demonstrate interpersonal capacities appropriate for living and working in a multicultural context
Be in good health (if your candidacy is retained, a medical certificate will be required)
Be ready to participate in all steps of the internship (fundraising, pre-departure training, overseas placement, return activities)
Have a good knowledge of Spanish
Have a good knowledge of French

Other:

Have already undertaken a cooperation internship in the internship country or region
Demonstrate an interest for communications and alternative media

4. How to apply

To submit your application, you should send your curriculum vitae as well as a cover letter with the form below.

Clic here to submit your application

deadline to submit your application: 17 September 2010, 5:00 pm

5. Dates and deadlines:

17 September 2010: Deadline to submit your application

Week of 4 October 2010: Interviews and selection

Week of 1 November 2010: Beginning of the pre-departure training

Info-internship evenings

You have questions or you would like to know more about our internship programs? We'll be holding an information evening on 19 August 2010 starting from 5pm

Where? Alternatives 3720, ave. Du Parc (corner Des Pins) 2nd floor Montréal Métro Place-des-Arts

Another information evening will be held in September

6. For more information

Consult our FAQs.

For more information on Québec Sans Frontières internships, you can contact our internship project officer:

Caroline Tagny at 514-982-6606

For more information on the Québec sans frontières program, click here.

7. Sign up to the Info-stages list!

This e-bulletin will keep you up to date on upcoming internships and more.

To apply, please send back this message

Alternatives' days 2010

2010-06-02T18:37:18Z

Reserve your place NOW for the 16th annual Alternatives' Days!! Dates : 27, 28, 29 August 2010 Place : Camp Papillon de St-Alphonse de Rodriguez

Limited space, reserve now!! Call: (514) 982-6606 poste 2221

Alternatives welcomes you to the 16th edition of Alternatives' Days to participate with hundreds of other activists in debates, discussions and activities grouped this year under the title: Solidarity in Action!

Once again this year the activities will be held in a summer camp, Camp Papillon de St-Alphonse de Rodriguez in the Laurentiens. In addition to the hundreds of activists from here, there will be a dozen or more international activists and will reflect and strategize together on ways to act on important themes such as ecology, human rights and social justice to construct a society we want for us.

Bring your family along! There will be arrangements for daycare services!

You can also register online!

Preliminary Program

Three main themes are proposed for intellectual debates towards understanding the issues leading to strategizing actions and ways of your participation.

A. Climate Justice

Following the abject failure of governments to propose a political solution to climatic crisis during the Copenhagen conference of December 2009, Bolivia organized a People's Summit on Climate and Rights of the Earth. From April 20 to 22, 2010 over 35 000 delegates representing social movements, First Nations, NGOs from 146 countries came together during this Summit to discuss ways to save our planet from the catastrophe caused to its environment by the neoliberal markets and the capitalist system.

The next people's summit is scheduled for December this year in Cancun. Moving towards that rendezvous, people and movements all over the world will organize various actions on the issue of climate justice through referendums, popular consultations and tribunals to judge the country, people and governments responsible for destruction of the climate and aggravating climate change. The capitalist system will be on the bench of the accused.

Activities:

1. Opening Panel: From Copenhagen to Cancun: While the governments are sacrificing the planet for profits, people are organizing. In Quebec, a coalition for climate justice is a necessity. 2. Film screening: Petropolis 3. Preparing the International Tribunal for environmental crimes 4. Campaign 1: Europe-Canada Free trade: It smells Tar Sands! 5. Mining Companies: Digging our graves with impunity

Panelists (To be completed): Amir Khadir, Louise Vandelac, Cy Gonick, Roger Rashi, John Dillon, Maude Prud'homme, Christophe Aguiton, Georges Lebel, Christophe Aguiton, Alain Denault, Laura Lopez, Joel Kovel, and representatives from environment groups in Canada and other countries.

B. Quebec/Canada: Democracy Now!

Since the coming to power of the present Conservative Canadian government we are witnessing intensifying attacks on democratic institutions, practices, rights and liberties. At the national level we are witnessing decreasing transparency on governmental actions, muffling of dissenting voices, ignorance and disrespect for decisions made by international tribunals, growing disrespect for international laws and restrictions on freedom of expression and media. These systematic attacks are aimed at shutting the voices of dissent, difference of opinions and views critical of the Canadian government policies.

While many organizations and people are mobilizing on this issue in Quebec, the government of Charest is preparing to steal the middle class and the poor sections of the society of $3.5 billion which is four times more it is collecting from the big companies ($800 million). Its time to mobilize!

Activities:

1. Opening Panel: No Democracy without Voices 2. Fighting for Public Services 3. Combating the rise of the Christian Right

Panel (To be completed): Louis Roy, Keith Rimstad, Anne Ste-Marie, Gervais L'heureux, Régine Laurent, Marie-Eve Rancourt, Micheline Thibeaudot, Raphael Canet, Alexa Conradi, etc...

C. Movement for Human Dignity

Millions of people the world over are subjected to discrimination and have been deprived a life of dignity. Freedom to be able to live a life of dignity, to be able to choose ways of living and working is a prerequisite to dignified human existence. Among these millions we find the aboriginals, Dalits, bonded laborers, migrant workers colonized people to name a few categories. This is a movement for dignity, freedom, rights, justice and actions for the discriminated of the world with special focus on Palestine and the settler colony of Israel internationally and rights of migrant workers and people of the First Nations in Quebec.

Activities:

1. Opening Panel: Combating New Colonialism 2. BDS Campaigns in Quebec and Canada 3. Mobilization for World Education Forum in Palestine and the WSF-2011 in Dakar 4. Migrant workers rights in Quebec

Panel (To be completed): Mustafa Heneway,, Kamal Lahbib, Camille Chalmers, Ronald Cameron, Mireille Mendes France Fanon, Pierre Beaudet, Hamouda Soubhi, Refaat Sabat,Marie Auer Labonté, Feroz Mehdi, etc..

In addition to all these, there will be cultural shows, workshops on rooftop gardens, international internship programs, tools of communication.

And Saturday night, a live show starring NOMADIC MASSIVE

Sewing the labels of discontent

Peter Farrell — 2010-05-11T20:24:28Z

Taking a stroll through the endless clothes racks of a Canadian mall is generally not a terribly edifying experience. For some, it's a chance to pass a carefree day with friends, for others it's an opportunity to update their wardrobe with the hottest brands and styles, and yet for others, it's merely a necessary evil: a trip to buy new clothes for their children or for work.

Whatever it is that draws us to go clothes shopping, it is a fairly repetitive ritual based on labels. We scan the racks to find something appealing, first we check the brand label, then we check the size label, then the price label, and finally we might even check the washing instructions label.

These labels tell us a lot about how the article of clothing will affect our lives. The brand tells us what other people will think of us, the size tells us how it will hang from our body, and the washing instructions tell us if our day to day routine will now require regular visits to the dry cleaner. But of all the labels that we might find on these clothes, we are unlikely to find one that tells us how the garment has affected the lives of others.

Country of origin labeling may indicate the point of production for any particular pair of pants or t-shirt, but it says precious little about the true origins of a garment. This truth is hidden behind the vague understanding that labour rights are far from universal in much of the world. Indeed, country of origin alone is not enough to decipher the conditions under which our clothes are made. Ultimately, the truth is tucked away as if behind the curtain of a change room, down some dark corridor, where no one dares to venture.

Bangladesh is a country without such curtains to hide behind. It is among the world's leading garment exporters, with many of their manufactured goods eventually arriving on Canadian and American shores. By taking just a quick look through the clothing bins of Dhaka's New Market, you will find many of the brands that Canadians wear day to day. Even expensive labels like Nike or Tommy Hilfiger can be bought at a pittance of their North American shelf price.

The free market fantasy that the benefits of unfettered economic globalization will inevitably trickle down to vulnerable groups has failed spectacularly. In its current inception, globalization in many respects represents a race to the bottom for the world's poorest and most exploited. Intense global competition in the manufacturing sector pits workforce against workforce, pressing suppliers to reduce costs and putting constant downward pressure on wages and working conditions. This reality is ever-present in Bangladesh.

A recent study conducted by the Office of the Chief Inspector of Factories found a massive deficit between the law and actual practice in Bangladesh. The study found that one in seven factories do not pay their employees regularly and that one in three factories cannot be considered a good employer when measured against the nation's basic labour laws.

As I write this, Ashulia (on the outskirts of Dhaka) has seen three days of clashes between police and garment workers which have left at least two dead and hundreds injured. The unrest began when knitting operator, Al-Amin, was killed while demonstrating against the summary dismissal of three of his colleagues. Tensions intensified over the weekend as tens of thousands of workers took to the streets in protest. Yesterday, as tires, cars, and factories were set ablaze, security was increased in other areas of the country for fear that these tensions could lead to further unrest in the garment industry as a whole.

The clear anger and frustration that these tensions have generated seem to stem from the larger structural economic problems. These problems leave millions in Dhaka alone to toil in poverty and servitude, without access to basic labour rights and protections. Generations of Canadians before ours were forced to endure similar bloody struggles to win the right to bargain collectively, in order to bring about the workplace standards which we now take for granted. The right to collective bargaining is fundamental to combating worker exploitation and increasing standards of living. However, the current global economic order impedes the realization of this right, rather than furthering it.

In this struggle, we as Canadians must ask ourselves who we stand with. Is it the biggest and most profitable multinationals like Walmart – a company that continues to squeeze suppliers despite ever-increasing profits through the current global economic crisis – or do we stand with the workers who want nothing more than the same fair wages and working conditions that we won through the toil of generations past ? We can no longer afford to justify our apathy and complacency by closing the curtain once more. In the end, willful ignorance will simply stitch us another label: Blind exploiter of the world's most vulnerable.

Celine Dion, Mali and Black identity

Christopher Vaughn — 2010-05-11T20:15:15Z

I find myself walking down the dusty red path of Djoumanzana; a “suburb” if you will, of Mali's capital city, Bamako. It's nighttime and the only light available is that of the occasional passing motorcycle and the glare from between dark bodies huddled around the television set outside of the local corner store: villagers gawking over the dubbed Latin-American soap operas.

I continue down towards my residence, tired from the long day of working at Radio Kayira's rooftop garden. Across from my place I see a set of brothers in their early twenties chilling on woven chairs in quiet conversation. I've seen them before and they wave me over to come and sit with them. I oblige. I look at each of them and although it's dark; I see their eyes beeding with interest and it's funny because each one of them reminds me a friend back home, whether it be in appearance or demeanour. After having some tea and good conversation, a great Malian social ritual called “le Grain,” there is a moment of silence; and then it happened. One of the brothers, cool as ever, dressed in jeans and a sports jersey, idly plays with his cellphone, presses a button, and smiles at me. Then from the cellphone I hear her voice. Celine Dion. Celine Dion. His smile is huge now, he lifts his arm up and points to the sky simultaneously with her silky high notes. He nods at me, as though he expects me to know the words, as though Celine Dion is at the top of my ipod playlist, as though I have a larger-than-life poster of her in my apartment back home in Montreal.

« Comment sont les concerts de Céline Dion ? »

« Hum… je ne suis jamais allé. »

Ackward moment of silence.

« Yo, Céline Dion est la meilleure. » (Never had I heard the term YO and Celine in the same sentence… I was speechless.)

« Hum… oui, elle est la meilleure. »

What else was I supposed to do but agree with him ? He was so convinced and his boys seemed to nod in agreement. Now, those who know me know I have a very diverse taste in music; hip hop, jazz, reggae, rock… the list goes on. And, we know that the Black presence in all music genres cannot be denied; like Mos Def says… “I am (we are) Rock and Roll” as well as all types of music. But I have never EVER EVER seen a group of black brothers chilling together in NDG, Brooklyn, or anywhere else in North America, pump Celine Dion from their speakers. Even if we do have a secret fetish for mainstream top 40s, we wouldn't dare blast “My Heart Will Go On” in the presence of our peers. Author Bell Hooks says “We Too Cool” for all of that. We have a standard to maintain. We have an image to keep. We gotta represent. Hold it down, keep it real (add your own stereotypical African American sentence here) etc. We're Black Goddammit!

So as I sat there shocked, and as they continued to listened to even more Celine Dion, I wondered to myself…these brothers here, they are Malians, born and raised and will most likely die on black turf: Afrika. No one can deny them of their blackness, they do not have to prove anything; don't have to live up to a black code. They love what they love and don't care who sees them love it. Now, can we, the Blacks of the Diaspora learn to do the same thing ? If not, and this is deeper than liking Celine Dion… how come ?

True, here in this concrete jungle, we are the minorities (truly the majority but I'll leave that for another article), and being a minority, especially in a group that has been so cruelly treated, we yearn for the nationality that I believe many Afrikans born and raised in Afrika have. No matter how much we try to deny it, no matter how natty our dreads are, or how many pro-black books we have collecting dust on our TV stands, we live and are integrally part of a white/European culture, where our true identity as a people is pretty much lost in history books and outshined by the newest song and bamboozling dance on BET. (Sidenote: “Do the Stanky Leg” ? “She look like Halle Berry” ? These rappers are making Nelly look like Rakim… but I digress…)

I would like to recount two events that happened to me during my stay here in Mali. First experience; being kicked out of a mosque. I should say here that I have the utmost respect for Islam and its followers and admire their discipline, and this is in no way an attack on Islamic culture or faith. However, like many religions, there is at times ample space for confusion and miscommunication. I, and my white male collegues decided to go pay our respects to Bamako's main mosque. We entered the sanctuary, where we were greeted by many and even encouraged by some to go into the mosque. I, as do my friends, all have a profound respect for different cultures and made sure to follow all the guidelines as best we could (removal of shoes, washing of hands and feet). My Caucasian counterparts walked in first without a problem. I walked in after a few minutes. It seemed that my presence offended a leader and he came up to me asking quite rudely what was I doing there.

Before I could even try to answer he said something in Bambara and then continued in French stating that I must leave promptly. I respected his authority, and took my shoes and proceed towards the door. What stirred me about this whole situation was that no one from the mosque bothered my white friends until they figured out that they were with me. It seemed as though my black card not only got revoked but worked against me… amongst fellow black card holders at that.

In another instance, I got stopped and hassled by the police. A typical occurrence in Montreal perhaps, but being stopped by a bunch of cops that look just like you, and for no reason but to impose their authority really puts one's notion of black brotherhood in perspective. Clearly, these men were in a fraternity that I was not (nor wanted to be) a part of. As my white friends pleaded and explained the situation to the police, who clearly couldn't care less, I stood there with a smirk on my face, part awe, part disgust, and realized… that I am proud to be Black. On the other hand, this does not mean I share, or feel that I must share, the views, beliefs, likings and opinions of all Blacks.

So that's it really. A plea to all my brothers and sisters in Montreal and across the Diaspora; enjoy the freedoms we have and be yourself. “Live, love and be creative” is the cornerstone of grounding ourselves as a people. If you feel the need to drive down Sainte-Catherine's, pumping “Barenaked Ladies Greatest Hits”, by all means turn up the subwoofers and do it. If you have a craving for those beef jerkey sticks wrapped in tight plastic that I see little white kids gobble up… Hey, you work hard for your money and you shouldn't feel ashamed to pick one up just because there is a rastaman behind you in the check-out line. Be you… because there is a whole continent of black brothers and sisters being themselves across the Atlantic.

Shout out to my girl Cel-Dizzy doing big things….

Project officer – International volunteering programs

2010-05-05T16:05:12Z

Location: Taipei, Taiwan, with traveling possibilities.
Duration: 1 year
Conditions: consultant position
Salary: 2000$ / month
Start date: June 25, 2010

Summary:

Under the supervision of the Alternatives International general director and general secretary, as well as the Hao Ran Foundation, the project officer for International volunteering programs will support the execution of international volunteering programs of the Hao Ran foundation based in Taiwan. The project officer will contribute to meeting the organizations' objectives by designing, implementing and evaluating international volunteering programs.

Duties and responsibilities:

The project officer will support the Hao Ran Foundation in implementing an international volunteering and solidarity program in Latin America. The responsibilities of the position are the following:

Develop contacts with host organizations in Latin America
In collaboration with representatives of the Hao Ran Foundation, undertake prospecting missions if needed, visiting Latin-American community-based organizations.
Identify insightful guest speakers from Latin-American partner organizations that could participate in Hao Ran's volunteer training sessions.
Edit and research content for Hao Ran's alter globalization website in English, French and Spanish.
Support the design of Hao Ran's volunteer program.
Support the development, implementation and evaluation of the volunteer program
Upon the request of the directors, carry out other related tasks

Qualifications and experience:

Education and Qualifications:

Bachelors degree in social sciences, administration or in a related field.
Very good knowledge of the regions concerned (Asia, Latin America) and their social, political, economic, cultural and historical contexts.
Good knowledge of the alter-globalist movements and the World Social Forum process
Good knowledge of the field of international NGOs.
Excellent written and spoken English and French.
Good knowledge of Spanish and Portuguese is an advantage.
Very good computer skills, and good knowledge of an office suite, email and internet software.

Experience : 2 years of experience in managing community or international solidarity projects, including the management of human resources.

Skills needed :

Ability to develop close and respectful relationships with overseas partners in a spirit of solidarity.
Skills in designing, planning, managing and evaluating projects on a result-based management approach.
Excellent research and analysis skills.
Abilities to communicate and negotiate in a cross-cultural context.
Fast-learning and adaptation skills.
Availability, schedule flexibility and travel capacity
Autonomy and ability to work under pressure and in a team dynamic.

To apply:

Please send your cover letter and CV by email or by mail no later than May 31, 2010 to:

Alternatives, S/A Internships selection commitee 3720, ave. du Parc, bureau 300, Montréal, QC H2X 2J1

Email : stages@alternatives.ca : please add the mention "application volunteers" in the object of your message.

50ième anniversaire de la révolution

GaÃ«lle Janvier — 2009-11-23T00:51:24Z

50ième anniversaire de la révolution

50ième année de recherche constante d'alternatives!