Tag Archives: discrimination

IKEA: Swedish for Discrimination Against Workers

Values, discrimination, the Swedish way: all these ideas are in the mix as stakeholders of IKEA’s treatment of workers express how they feel about IKEA’s plan to break its union in Richmond, BC.

We’ve been writing about this new front line in Canada’s war against workers for months now. But the members of Teamsters Local 213 have been living it.

This is the Christmas season. If you intend to buy anything IKEA-ish in Richmond, Coquitlam, elsewhere in Canada or around the world, spend some time finding another vendor then tweet or Facebook IKEA letting them know you’re part of the boycott because of their horrible labour practices. [UPDATE: they deleted my post on their Facebook page. Did they delete yours too? You may need to post it again. And again, and over and over. Hint hint.]

Now, listen to the stories:

Continue reading IKEA: Swedish for Discrimination Against Workers

The Positive Women’s Network Enriches Community Fabric

I’m constantly impressed with the caliber of community cooperation in Vancouver. The Positive Women’s Network is holding a film screening fundraiser on May 26th at 7pm at Vancity Theatre. VIFF and Reel Causes are cooperating to produce the event. Every element of this event is a testament to what makes communities strong.

What does the Positive Women’s Network do?

Primarily, they are the kind of community-enriching organization that is creating the dynamic social fabric for a caring Canada in the 21st century:

We are challenging HIV and changing women’s lives. Our vision, Action and Leadership on Women and HIV/AIDS, fuels our work in British Columbia and across Canada, improving medical care and social realities for women living with HIV.

via About Us | Positive Women’s Network.

And, of course they have a blog.

What is the film?

Set predominantly in the spectacular Eastern Cape of South Africa, Themba: A boy called Hope is the moving story of a young Xhosa boy who dreams of being a soccer star and longs for his absent father to return home. His journey takes him across the nine provinces of South Africa, in a truthful film about HIV, the stigma and challenges attached.

via REEL CAUSES.

What is inspiring about REEL CAUSES?

REEL CAUSES organizes social film screening events in which film fans and the community at large enjoy an evening of high quality films for the benefit of a different cause every month.

Reel Causes events are all 100% volunteer organized, and 100% of proceeds go to benefit the charity/cause of the month.

via REEL CAUSES.

What about VIFF?

Well, simply, VIFF is VIFF. Plus, they’re partnering with Reel Causes:

VIFF’s Vancity Theatre is the new home for REEL CAUSES events. VIFF has a strong history of presenting excellent, relevant, cause-related documentaries during the 16-day International Festival and throughout the year at the Vancity Theatre. Sharing the understanding that film has an incredible power to enlighten, inspire and to stimulate action, VIFF is excited to support this worthwhile endeavour.

via REEL CAUSES.

This the kind of event that has a community-building multiplier effect. Not only do we get to enjoy the art and politics of an award-winning South African film, we get to endorse a community cooperation model that creates relationships, bonds and networks between different groups of people in the variety of our intersecting personal networks.

And just to add to the community enrichment, the film is followed by a chat with the directory, Stefanie Sycholt, via Skype from South Africa: the kind of thing we are used to with VIFF events.

Once upon a time, I remember watching an amazing film about the role of music in South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement, Amandla! A Revolution in Four Part Harmony. It inspired a poem about political decay in BC called A Song for Campbell Township. It was my calling card at a number of poetry and political events leading up to the 2005 provincial election. The intersection of art, human empowerment and cooperation of community groups is a powerful synergy.

Our job is to water the seeds of community fabric by supporting these events. We’re all richer for it, and in ways we can’t even predict.

So please share the news of this event with your people and in your social media networks.