EMCN October Staff Meeting AND Autumn Harvest Potluck Lunch
The EMCN Monthly Staff Meeting will be held this Friday, October 31, 2008.
If you have any agenda items, please send them to Helen Rusich. If you need any further information, please contact Katrina Paufler.
Everyone is welcome! Staff! Volunteers! Visitors and Friends!
Please join us on Friday, October 31 for our United Way Campaign Autumn Harvest Potluck Lunch!
The Potluck Lunch will be served in the staff room starting at 11:30, followed by a United Way presentation and the General Staff Meeting at 12:00 noon in room 2-4.
Tickets are only $5.00 each, or only $2.00 if you bring a dish for the potluck!
Please note: if you are bringing food, please let Katrina know before end of day October 30 – mailto:%20kpaufler@emcn.ab.ca or 780.423.9697
We look forward to seeing everyone there!
The EMCN United Way Campaign Committee
Submitted by Helen Rusich------------------------------
Homefest
Homefest, the great concert of folk and roots music in support of ending homelessness in Edmonton, happens on Sunday, November 2, 2-7 PM at the TransAlta Arts Barns in Old Strathcona. Admission buttons are available for only $10 from Jim Gurnett at EMCN or at the door. Children under 12 are free. For full details of the program, please check at www.homefest.ca. Some highlights include Maria Dunn (composer of our own Newcomers Song), John Wort Hannam, and Joe Nolan, voted best new singer at this year's Edmonton Folk Festival. Funds from this event have supported EMCN's work in past years, so please consider supporting it this year.
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Holiday Stories Needed
The Boyle McCauley News is looking for brief stories for the December issue in which immigrants share personal stories about how they celebrate holidays. It can be Christmas or some equivalent major holiday in their lives. The interest is not "text book" type descriptions of "How they celebrate Christmas in Peru", but rather individuals who tell their own memories. It might be remembering the celebration of a holiday in the homeland or it might be telling about how the traditions and practices are being kept alive now living in Canada. If there was a photo to go with the story that would be even better. They should not be longer than perhaps 350 words at most. The goal is to increase appreciation of the daily lives of the many different people now living in Edmonton. We have been able to provide wonderful small stories like this the past couple of years and I am seeking your help now to get a few for this year. It may be some of you who are staff would do this (last year for example Yusief contributed a great one) or it may be there is someone you know and could ask. Thank you for your help. The deadline to have these is early November, so there is no time to delay. Please forward the stories to me at mailto:%20jgurnett@emcn.ab.ca, not directly to BMN.
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Increase to Benefits and Earning Exemptions
Sent: Wednesday, October 22, 2008 2:32 PM
Subject: Increase to Benefits and Earning Exemptions
Dear Stakeholders,
On October 22, 2008, Minister Goudreau announced increases to Income Support rates, including the living allowances paid to EI and non-EI Learners and Apprentices. Information on the increases, and how they will be processed and paid to existing students, is being forwarded through our regular channels. The following background is provided for your information:
Non-EI Learners will receive a 12% increase to their living allowances. This amount reflects the fact that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Alberta has increased by approximately 17% since 2004, while non-EI Learners have received only a 5% increase in that timeframe. These learners, of course, are also entitled to earn employment income while they are attending training without any clawback from their benefits.
EI Learners and Apprentices will receive a 4.6% increase in their benefits, which is the approximate increase in CPI in Alberta over the past year. Because of the exceptional shelter benefit that these learners continue to receive, their rates will remain higher than non-EI Learners for each family composition. However, the lower percentage increase allows us to avoid widening the dollar gap that exists between these learner groups.
Increases were also announced for Income Support clients in the Expected to Work and Not Expected to Work categories. In both cases, we have ensured that the benefit structure acts as an incentive for people to improve their financial situation by either returning to the work force, or by pursuing training that will enable them to re-enter the workforce in the near future. We believe that employment is the best way to increase family income, and training is a critical part of securing sustainable, meaningful employment.
Thank you for your continued support of our workforce development initiatives. Should you have any questions please call David Schneider at 780-415-9106
Nancy Monaghan, Director
Employment and Training Services
P.M. (Mic) Farrell, Executive Director
Income and Child Support
Income Supports, Health and Training Benefits (ISHTB) Regulation Amendments (Exempted Income, Core Essential and Core Shelter Benefits)
Core Benefit Rates Change
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Just in Time: Fair Trade Christmas Sale
Sunday, November 9, 2008 / 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
@ Star of the North Retreat Centre http://www.starofthenorth.ca/
T: 780.459.5511 / 3A St. Vital Ave., St. Albert AB T8N 1K1
Just in Time: Fair Trade Christmas Sale: building justice into our gift giving: make your Christmas gift-giving more meaningful. Build justice into your purchasing and make a difference in someone's life! Join us at Just in Time' Christmas Fair Trade 2008. A variety of national & international development, justice, and Fair Trade organizations will set up displays/sell their fair trade products. What to expect? Beautiful & unique handmade crafts, Christmas decorations, coffee & other quality gift items.
Fair Trade is a trading partnership, based on dialogue, transparency/respect; it seeks greater equity & fairness in international trade. It contributes to sustainable development by offering better trading conditions to, and securing the rights of, marginalized producers and workers.
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Submitted by Ava Becker
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New Documentary Film About Goldcorp Inc's open-pit, heap-leach gold mine in Honduras
"All That Glitters Isn't Gold - A Story of Exploitation and Resistance"
Rights Action announces the release of this hour long film by Steven Schnoor (mailto:%20steven_s@yorku.ca). In Spanish with English sub-titles, it can be viewed, in 6 parts, at: http://www.rightsaction.org/video/gold
DVD copies available from Rights Action. To order, see below.
"All That Glitters Isn't Gold - A Story of Exploitation and Resistance"
"All That Glitters Isn't Gold" (Spanish title: "No Todo Lo Que Brilla Es Oro - Una Historia de Explotación y Resistencia") is an hour-long documentary that tells the stories of community members residing near Goldcorp's open-pit, heap-leach gold mine in Honduras' Siria Valley.
The first mine to be developed under Honduras' controversial 1996 mining law that was passed in the wake of the deadly and devastating Hurricane Mitch (some 30,000 people killed or disappeared) in 1998 (many articles of this law have since been found to be unconstitutional by Honduras' Supreme Court!), the "San Martin" mine opened in 2000 and is the largest open-pit heap-leach mine in Honduras.
As the mine nears its closure, community members discuss the grave complications they have experienced since the mine began operating -- from rampant health problems to a lack of clean water -- contesting Goldcorp's claims that the mine has been a model of healthy development for the community and has caused no adverse effects.
Steven Schnoor also made the "El Estor Evictions" - http://www.rightsaction.org/video/elestor/index.htm - about the harmful impacts of nickel mining on Mayan Q'eqchi' communities in eastern Guatemala.
(*** Toronto folks: The "El Estor Evictions" documentary will be screening on Friday & Sat night, Oct 24th & 25th, and Steven Schnoor will be there to answer questions. For further information: http://planetinfocus.bside.com/2008/films/eviction_planetinfocus2008
WHAT TO DO:
- View the film, in 6 parts, at: http://www.rightsaction.org/video/gold. To buy a copy, $25 (includes shipping), contact: mailto:%20info@rightsaction.org.
- To screen the documentary, and invite Steven Schnoor or Rights Action to speak about these issues, contact Steven (steven_s@yorku.ca) or Rights Action (info@rightsaction.org).
- To make tax-deductible donations for organizations in Honduras and Guatemala working to remedy the health, environmental and human rights harms caused by gold mining, make check payable to "Rights Action" and mail to:
- UNITED STATES: Box 50887, Washington DC, 20091-0887;
- CANADA: 552 - 351 Queen St. E, Toronto ON, M5A-1T8.
- CREDIT-CARD DONATIONS: http://www.rightsaction.org/Templates/donations_index.html
- EDUCATIONAL DELEGATION-SEMINARS: Form your own group and come on an educational seminar trip to learn more about community and Indigenous development, human rights and environmental struggles and issues in Guatemala and Honduras: mailto:%20info@rightsaction.org.
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Buy In, Don't Bail Out
Dear friends,
Over the next 48 hours, the world's leading finance ministers are meeting to thrash out our response to the financial crisis. Instead of bailing out reckless financiers again, we need a buy-in that gives us public ownership and strict new regulations to fix this broken system for good! --
Put your name here!
Watching the markets freefall, we know this crisis will utterly change our daily lives -- we're not just spectators any more, and we’re seeing something new –- people and governments directly intervening in the chaos that until now was controlled by reckless and greedy financiers.
Today and all weekend, extraordinary choices will be made by the world’s most powerful finance ministers, meeting to decide our response to the financial crisis. Together, we must make sure that governments don’t just use our money to bail out the banks, but claim a share of public ownership in these institutions for our future, and oversight powers to fundamentally fix the wider system.
We'll deliver our call for a global buy-in package in 36 hours to G7 finance ministers and again to a bigger Global Crisis Summit planned for November -- please sign the petition at the link below, and forward this email to everyone you know. The decisions made this week will shape our lives for years to come:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/global_public_rescue
Three weeks ago our petition to regulate global finance was waved by Denmark's former prime minister as the European Parliament voted.[1] Two weeks ago our US members bombarded Congress with phone calls for a buy-in not a bailout -- investing in the banks so they stop choking off capital, while giving the public a share for their money and the power to fix the system -- and yesterday, as Britain launched a bold buy-in of its own, word is the United States might finally change course.[2]
Only concerted action by the global community can build a better system, and we can't leave it to the financiers -- so today, we're launching an emergency campaign calling on leaders for a global public rescue to save all our economies. This is what's needed -- a 'buy-in' to financial institutions not a reckless 'bailout', massive public investment stimulus to stave off global depression, temporary guarantee of loans/deposits, and strict new regulations to fix this broken system once and for all.[3] It's a sensible and public-spirited package supported by progressives and expert economists alike -- add your name here:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/global_public_rescue
Leading economists now agree that citizens and our governments are the only force powerful enough to solve this crisis -- only the public can mobilise the investment and oversight needed to fix the financiers' failings, get the economy moving and revive things on a sounder basis.
The Great Depression of the 1930s teaches us that we cannot address this crisis with each acting alone -- only by acting together can countries head off disaster.
How we respond to this crisis will shape our lives for years to come.
We're still a long way from tackling the fundamental problems of the global economy, but the tide is moving in our direction. So let's take control of our future in the interests of people not financiers, and raise a worldwide voice across borders for a global public rescue. 3.4 million of us in every nation of the world will get this email -- that's a start. Click below to sign, forward this email to all your friends and family, and let's raise a voice our leaders can't ignore:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/global_public_rescue
With hope and determination,
Paul, Ricken, Graziela, Pascal, Veronique, Iain, Brett, Milena and the whole Avaaz team
PS: Congratulations to all those who supported our phone and email campaign on Europe's climate and energy package this week -- it was a stunning victory, we won 95% of what we wanted and our sources say we made a big difference. More soon!
Sources:
- Winning the vote on financial oversight and regulation in the European Parliament with Denmark's Poul Rasmussen: http://www.pes.org/content/view/1401/1700098
Rasmussen's Parliament speech: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?pubRef=-//EP//TEXT+CRE+20080922+ITEMS+DOC+XML+V0//EN#creitem19 - New York Times and NYU economist Paul Krugman on the UK plan and US shift: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/09/doing-the-right-thing/
"This would essentially be the plan supported by most economists": http://calculatedrisk.blogspot.com/2008/10/ny-times-recapitalization-plan-being.html - 18 leading economists from across the political spectrum and around the world -- "Rescuing our jobs and savings: what G7/G8 leaders can do": http://voxeu.org/index.php?q=node/2340
Submitted by Miranda Bestman
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Free Public Event to Raise Awareness for the Omar Khadr Case
Dear Edmonton Community Groups,
On November 8th a FREE public event will be held at Winston Churchill Square and at the Winspear Centre to raise awareness for the Omar Khadr case.
Community will gather in the Square at 6pm to hear music, talk to one another and circulate among tables and booths set up by groups like yours.
Although this evening is focused on the Khadr case, we want to ensure that it is alsoa chance for the citizens of Edmonton to hear about other organizations who support peace, justice and mercy in our city.
At 7pm the doors to the Winspear Centre will open, and all will be invited inside to hear Dennis Edney, lawyer to Omar Khadr, and other speakers tell the story to listen to local bands to SPEAK OUT on this important issue of justice.
I am writing to request that you publicize this event to your members and to ask your organization to consider setting up a booth in Churchill Square to tell all who gather about the things your group does to support community life in our city on an ongoing basis.
In September the faculty and students of The Kings University College heard Dennis Edney speak about Omar's case. Since then we have done our research, watched the CBC documentary, and read all of the material we can lay our hands on. Knowing what we know, we can not turn away. This event is our chance to share what we learned and to invite the citizens of Edmonton to speak out for Justice.
Although both our Christian and Muslim students are rallying support within their faith communities, this is a community event. All are welcome.
We have 1,700 seats to fill on November 8th. Will you please help us fill them?
Thank you. If you have any questions, please send an email.
Arlette Zinck, PhD, Associate Professor of English & Dean, Faculty of Arts
on behalf of King's students
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Connecting Edmontonians to City Government and decision making
The City of Edmonton is committed to involving people in the decisions that affect them. Whether it’s being informed about a City decision to build a road in an area, or an invitation to add your views on how we move people, goods and services through our City, your insights are needed to provide decision makers with the broadest spectrum of information informed opinion possible.
We are pleased to inform you and your organization that the City of Edmonton has a new tool to make it easier to plan when, where and how you can become involved in making your and your organization’s views known on the issues that affect you, your neighbourhood and your city.
The City of Edmonton’s Public Involvement Calendar lists public involvement events sponsored by the City. It’s available on the new City of Edmonton web site by going to www.edmonton.ca/PublicInvolvementCalendar. You can search the calendar by date, neighbourhood and/or City Department to see the range, location and timing of public involvement events throughout the City.
By the end of October, all City of Edmonton print advertising for public involvement events will carry the following tagline:
Learn more about and get involved on City issues affecting you and your neighbourhood. Go to www.edmonton.ca/PublicInvolvementCalendar for a list of City of Edmonton public involvement opportunities.
The City of Edmonton believes knowing where, when and how to get involved is critical to effective public involvement. We would very much appreciate you advising your organization’s members about this new tool through regular meetings or newsletters.
If you have any questions regarding the City of Edmonton’s public involvement programs please do not hesitate to contact me.
Jill Bradford Green
Office of Public Involvement
Deputy City Managers Office
780-944-0300
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
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Edmonton International Day of Persons with Disabilities
Submitted by Jim Gurnett
