Freeskool Blog http://www.hamiltonfreeskool.org/

The latest news and information for Freeskool Hamilton.

 en-ca Discussion night: Countering Right Wing Backlash and Building Solidarity Mon, 04 Jan 2010 01:44:55 -0500 http://www.hamiltonfreeskool.org/Discussion-night-Countering-Right-Wing-Backl-2010-01-04 Hamilton FreeSkool Practical Solidarity and Upping the Anti Present:

Anti-Native Organizing & the “Caledonia Crisis”: Countering Right Wing Backlash and Building Indigenous Solidarity in Settler Communities.

Wednesday, January 13th 7pm @ the Skydragon Center (27 King William St Hamilton)

Presentations, Discussion & Launch Event for Upping the Anti: A Journal of Theory and Action #9

www.uppingtheanti.org

The Six Nations people of the Grand River territory have been faced with a steadily increasing level of anti-Native organizing since they began the reclamation of the “Douglas Creek Estates” housing development in Caledonia in February of 2006. In addition to the large anti-native protests held by local residents, anti-native activists (who claim to speak on behalf of all non-natives) have organized a “militia” to oppose “native lawlessness,” have held protests against native smoke shops, and have supported actions of local governments to criminalize Six Nations land defenders. At the same time, there have been some important initiatives over the past several years that have seen non-native activists organize in solidarity with Six Nations and work on building on going relationships of solidarity and struggle.

Please join us on Wednesday January 13th at the Sky Dragon Centre for this public talk and to celebrate the launch of UTA Number 9.

About the presenters:

Katie Milley is a member of the CUPE 3903 First Nations Solidarity Working Group and the author of _“Where is John Wayne when you need him?”: Anti-Native Organizing & the “Caledonia Crisis”_ In Upping the Anti #9. Tom Keefer is an editorial committee member of Upping the Anti, an activist with the CUPE 3903 First Nations Solidarity Working Group, and the author of several articles on Six Nations land struggles.


About the facilitator:

Niki Thorne facilitates Hamilton FreeSkool's 'Decolonizing Practical Solidarity' class and is also a member of CUPE 3903's First Nations Solidarity Working Group.  She's written several articles about Six Nations land struggles and anti-native activism for Mayday Magazine and has co-authored a forthcoming book chapter about the same.

For more information about this event please contact uppingtheanti@gmail.com or check out www.uppingtheanti.org

]]> Torch-relay meet-up tomorrow! Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:51:29 -0500 http://www.hamiltonfreeskool.org/Torch-relay-meet-up-tomorrow-2009-12-18 Tomorrow at 2 ohclock pm, people from all sorts of different walks of life are going to converge at the skydragon centre (27 king william street) to show their support for the indigenous peoples, poor people and non-human species who are being so negatively affected by the 2010 olympic winter games.
So bring your signs, your noisemakers and your beautiful selves to the skydragon. 2:00!

torch relay happens around 6-7, meet us at dundurn castle if you're unable to make it at 2.
we have lots of signs and noisemakers if you don't have any!
this is a family friendly event!

]]> What's Wrong with the Olympics? Sat, 12 Dec 2009 02:15:09 -0500 http://www.hamiltonfreeskool.org/What-s-Wrong-with-the-Olympics-2009-12-12 On December 9, ten days before the torch relay through Hamilton, Hamilton FreeSkool & Common Cause hosted a film screening of “Five Ring Circus” followed by discussion. Since Vancouver won the bid for the 2010 games, activists across the country have been protesting the games. Why? There are lots of major concerns..but here are five of them in brief (more details below)

  1. Environmental Destruction—the hiways, stadiums, hotels and other development ventures cut through valleys with endangered species, including the spotted owl.
  2. Waste of tax money, towards funding development corporations rather than necessary public services including housing and healthcare.
  3. Displacement of the poor and working poor. With the olympics, gentrification occurs. Rents increase, forcing lower income individuals and families to the streets.
  4. Criminalization of homelessness. To clean up the streets, and make the city more picturesque for tourists and cameras, homeless people are ticketed, fined and arrested.
  5. Continuing dispossession of indigenous land. Much of BC is unceded native territory. (not addressed in the film)

For more details, you see http://torontotorch.blogspot.com/2009/12/why-we-must-block-torch.html; or watch the film in full at http://www.thefiveringcircus.com


Events happening in southern Ontario:

Tuesday December 15th

Dominion Olympics Issue Launch;

7:30pm, Skydragon (Hamilton)

Guest speaker Guillaume from the Olympic Resistance Network Vancouver & info night about the torch run rally

Thursday December 17th

Expose the Olympic Circus: Block the Olympic Torch

Massive Street Circus

5:15; North East Corner of University and College (Toronto)

for more info see no2010.com

Saturday December 19th

time TBA

The torch comes through Hamilton.

Sunday December 27th

Victoria Park, Kitchener

Torch Run Rally 4-8pm (family friendly)

for more info see www.peaceculture.org


Reposted from http://no2010.com/node/18

Why We Resist 2010

March 13, 2007 - 13:40 — no2010

Why We Resist
the 2010 Winter Olympics

The Olympics are not about the human spirit & have little to do with athletic excellence; they are a multi-billion dollar industry backed by powerful elites, real estate, construction, hotel, tourism and television corporations, working hand in hand with their partners in crime: government officials & members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

10 Reasons to Resist 2010

1. Colonialism & Fascism
The modern Olympics have a long history of racism, from its early founding members (i.e., Pierre de Coubertin, a French Baron who advocated sports as a means of strengthening colonialism) to recent IOC presidents. The 1936 Berlin Olympics empowered Hitler’s Nazi regime. Both the 1988 Seoul and 2008 Beijing Summer Games helped legitimize authoritarian regimes in Asia. The 1968 Mexico City Olympics (where over 300 student protesters were massacred by soldiers, days before the Olympics began) also helped legitimize state terror. IOC President Avery Brundage, an infamous US racist and Nazi sympathizer, didn’t even acknowledge the massacre. But when two Black US athletes raised their fists in a Black power salute on the medal podium, he had them immediately stripped of their medals and ejected from the Games! Another well-known fascist IOC president was Juan Antonio Samaranch (IOC president from 1980-2001), a former government official in Franco’s fascist regime in Spain.

2. No Olympics on Stolen Land
BC remains largely unceded and non-surrendered Indigenous territories. According to Canadian law, BC has neither the legal nor moral right to exist, let alone claim land and govern over Native peoples. Despite this, and a fraudulent treaty process now underway, the government continues to sell, lease and ‘develop’ Native land for the benefit of corporations, including mining, logging, oil & gas, and ski resorts. Meanwhile, Indigenous peoples suffer the highest rates of poverty, unemployment, imprisonment, police violence, disease, suicides, etc.

3. Ecological Destruction
Despite claims to be the “greenest Olympics” ever, and PR statements about ‘sustainability’, the 2010 Olympics will be among the most environmentally destructive in history, with tens of thousands of trees cut down & mountainsides blasted for Olympic venues in the Callaghan Valley (near Whistler) & the Sea-to-Sky Highway expansion. In the summer of 2007, a record number of black bears were hit on the Sea-to-Sky Highway, with at least 11 dying (attributed to loss of habitat). Massive amounts of concrete used in construction have also caused millions of Salmon to die in the Fraser River, where tons of gravel are being mined to make concrete.

4. Homelessness
Since winning the 2010 Winter Games in 2003, Vancouver has lost over 850 units of low-income housing; during the same period, homelessness has increased from 1,000 to over 2,500. It is estimated by 2010, the number of homeless may be as high as 6,000. Since the 1980s, Olympic Games have caused the displacement of over 2 million people (Fair Play for Housing Rights report, 2007). In Seoul 1988, some 750,000 poor were displaced, in Atlanta 1996, over 30,000, and for Beijing in 2008, an estimated 1.5 million have been displaced. Yet still today Olympic officials talk about ‘sustainability’ and ‘Olympic legacies’!

5. Criminalization of the Poor
To ‘clean out’ the poor and undesirables, Olympic host cities routinely begin a campaign to criminalize the poor. In Vancouver, the city has launched Project Civil City and new by-laws to criminalize begging for money, sleeping outdoors, etc. It has also included hundreds of thousands of dollars for increased private security (i.e., the Downtown Ambassadors). New garbage canisters on streets make it more difficult for the poor to gather recyclables, and new benches make it impossible to lay down. These measures fit with government plans to remove poor downtown residents to mental institutions, “detox centers” on former military bases, and the ‘fly-back’ scheme by police to return persons wanted on warrants in other provinces. This is nothing less than a process of social cleansing!

6. Impact on Women
Events such as the Olympics draw hundreds of thousands of spectators and cause large increases in prostitution and trafficking of women. In Vancouver, over 68 women are missing and/or murdered. Many were Native, and many were reportedly involved in the sex trade. In 2007, the trial of William Pickton occurred for six of these murders, and he is to be tried for an additional 20 more. In northern BC, over 30 young women, mostly Native, are missing and/or murdered along Highway 16. The 2010 Olympics and its invasion of tourists and corporations will only increase this violence against women.

7. 2010 Police State
Some 12,500 police, military and security personnel are to be deployed for 2010, including Emergency Response Teams, riot cops, helicopters, armoured vehicles, etc. The RCMP plan on erecting 40 km of crowd-control fencing along with CCTV video surveillance cameras. Special security zones will be established to control entry near Olympic venues. For 3 weeks, Vancouver will be an occupied Police State! And once the Olympics are over, there is no guarantee many of these security measures will not remain (i.e., CCTV).
Repression also involves attacks on anti-Olympic groups & individuals, including arrests of protesters, raids of offices, surveillance, media smear campaigns, cuts to funding programs, etc., all in an effort to undermine anti-2010 resistance. This repression has already been used against anti-poverty & housing groups, environmentalists and Natives, in Vancouver.

8. Public Debt
VANOC and government officials claim the 2010 Games will cost some $2 billion. However, this amount doesn’t include the Sea-to-Sky Highway expansion, the Canada Line Skytrain to the airport, the Vancouver Convention Center, or the lower mainland Gateway Project. Including these costs, since they were necessary to win the bid and had to be completed by 2010, makes the true cost of the Games some $6 billion, which must be paid for through public debt, money that could’ve been spent on social services, housing, drug treatment, healthcare, etc.

9. Olympic Corruption
The modern Olympics are well known for their corruption, including both top IOC officials involved in bribery scandals (i.e. Salt Lake City 2002) or athletes found to be using performance-enhancing drugs (such as steroids). Yet the IOC still claims the youth need an inspiration and a “model” of good sportsmanship! Despite published reports of bribery scandals involving IOC members and host cities (i.e., The New Lords of the Rings, by Andrew Jennings), the Olympics continue to be seen as an honorable & noble enterprise, thanks to the corporate media.

10. Corporate Invasion
Government’s and business use the Olympics as a means to attract corporate investment. In BC, the Liberal government has ‘streamlined’ application processes, cut taxes, and offered other incentives to increase certain industries such as mining, oil & gas drilling, and ski resorts. This includes large increases in transport systems, including new ports, bridges, expanded highways & rail-lines. This is all part of their Investment to 2010 Strategy. The results have been dramatic, record-breaking increases in these industries, resulting in greater environmental destruction and more corporate power & influence over our daily lives.

Many of the main corporate sponsors of the Olympics are themselves responsible for massive ecological destruction and human rights violations, including McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Petro-Canada, TransCanada, Dow, Teck Cominco, etc., while others are major arms manufacturers (General Electric & General Motors).

RESIST 2010

“What causes opponents to come of their own accord is the prospect of gain. What discourages opponents from coming is the prospect of harm.”
Sun Tzu, The Art of War

For more Info: www.No2010.com

]]> All the classes in the history of FreeSkool (maybe) Thu, 10 Dec 2009 13:14:41 -0500 http://www.hamiltonfreeskool.org/All-the-classes-in-the-history-of-FreeSkool-2009-12-10

With our first birthday party coming up soon, i decided to make a list of all the things we've learned and shared with eachother over the past 12 months. Here's a list of classes that have happened in the past year, i probably missed a few workshops in the compiling of this list.  Thanks to everyone who's taken part in the project this far, i'm excited to see what awaits us all in the new year.

All the classes in the history of FreeSkool:
Permaculture
Conflict, Communication and Consensus
To Settle (meditation)
Metal-Working
Critical Pedagogy
Whole Foods Nutrition
Vegan Baking
Alternative Mapping of Hamilton
Bike Polo
Hacky Sack
Stretching, Movement and Decolonizing the Body
Music Theory
Craft Circle
Arts and Creativity Circle
Dinner and Theory
Go Club
Movies 4004
French Talkin'
Peace Education Film and Discussion Series
Performing Peace
Russian
Hebrew
Exploratory Movement
Farm Tour
Tree Identification
Spanish
Erotic Movement Playshops
Community Dialogue for Collective Action
Influential Social Theory: Questions of contemporary relevance. Or, old dead white guys--(why) should we care?"
Journal Article Reading Club
Decolonizing Language: Practical Spanish
Bikes n' Hikes
Tarot
Wilderness Awareness
Radical Practical Solidarity



]]> Wanna be a part of our birthday party? Mon, 07 Dec 2009 12:04:48 -0500 http://www.hamiltonfreeskool.org/Wanna-be-a-part-of-our-birthday-party-2009-12-07

Be a part of Hamilton Freeskool's first birthday celebrations!

the hamilton freeskool project (www.hamiltonfreeskool.org) unofficially turns one this january! Maybe you want to be a part of the celebration?!

Well good!
Just answer this skill-testing question:

Do you want to:
a) join the planning committee.. email hamiltonfreeskool@gmail.com to offer your help.
b) prepare an un-expert lecture (a speech, lecture or conversation about 10 minutes long on any topic you're into (but not an expert in)) for presentation to a rapt audience of passers by.
** know that this involves guerilla public speaking. chances to practice beforehand are available if you like. examples of past unexpert lecture topics include; squatting; botch baking; love; the production of industrial beauty; the education system; the fish monkey theory, and more more more!
c) prepare a 50 minute workshop or skillshare on any topic you like, to be part of one of the free learning days happening during the week of celebration. for example, you could do a workshop in: anti-oppression; beer-making; bike repair; clowning; consensus; dream interpretation; ethno-botany; emanogogues; foraging; glass blowing; hitchhiking; ice carving; insurrectionary anarchism; juggling; knife sharpening; lacto-fermentation; mushrooms; midwifery; mortality; nutrition; optometry; ornithology; orature; permaculture; qi gong; quixoticism; resistance; revelations; supporting survivors of violence; storytelling; synesthesia; tree identification; tunnel building; underground railroads; vendettas; why the olympics are evil; xylophone contruction; yoga; zoology; zine making. and so on and so forth, spiralling madly towards freedom....
d) play music, sing, or sell crafts at a jam or a show.
e) come out to a workshop, skillshare, movie night, jam, potluck, fundraiser party, ice hockey game or new freeskool class!
f) facilitate a freeskool class starting in january 2010.
g) all of the above!

if you answered a, b, c, d, e, f or g to the above question, you're right! email hamiltonfreeskool@gmail.com to help out or learn more, and stay tuned for details on our birthday party, happening around January 11th-17th, 2010... ]]> FreeSkool News, Updates, and Invitations to DO Stuff! Tue, 01 Dec 2009 19:06:34 -0500 http://www.hamiltonfreeskool.org/FreeSkool-News-Updates-and-Invitations-to-D-2009-12-01
In this update:
a) What's Wrong with the Olympics: Film Screening & Discussion Night (Dec 9)
b) FreeSkool @ the Art Crawl (Dec 11)
c) FreeSkool Birthday Committee!
d) Callout for new organizers!
e) Call out for more facilitators, classes, workshops
f) Makeshit pre-film-screening party (Dec 9)


Hi friends, strangers, FreeSkoolers & friends of FreeSkool!  Here's what's up!

a) What's Wrong with the Olympics: Film Screening & Discussion Night (Dec 9)

Hamilton Freeskool & Common Cause Hamilton Present...

"Five Ring Circus: The Untold Story of the Vancouver 2010 Games"

Wednesday December 9th!
7pm Screening, Discussion to follow
Skydragon (27 King William St)

b) FreeSkool @ the Art Crawl (Dec 11)

Yeah Freeskool Promo!!  We're gonna be at Mex-I-Can (on James St. North) with super delicious FreeSkool cookies, buttons, zines, patches, & information about new classes.  Good times! Come visit!

c) FreeSkool Birthday committee!

Hamilton FreeSkool is ALMOST a year old!!  Do you want to help plan our birthday party (parties)???  Email us back!  We got a birthday planning committee with all kinds of wicked awesome ideas for celebratin'!

d) Callout for new organizers!

Ooh ooh ooh, do you want to help promote FreeSkool?  Find space for people to facilitate classes? Hang out with awesome people and come up with ideas to keep FreeSkool super amazing?  These are some things that organizers do.  We want more of them!  Email us about being an organizer for next term! Seriously, do it now!

e) Call out for more facilitators, classes, workshops!

New term starts in January!  Ideas to share?  You wanna start a class?  Maybe a one time workshop?  Any other cool ideas?  Email us, quick!  We're doing loads of promo starting next week so if ya can, let us know your ideas before then!

f) Invitation to a makeshit pre-film party ;)

Before the film screening, we wanna staple some zines, make lots of popcorn, bake some FreeSkoolFly cookies for the art crawl, sew some patches...all kinds of fun stuff!  Any of you Freeskool friends want to join us?  Email us and we'll give you more details.  We're meetin' up at noon on Dec 9th to make stuff (:

Lots of love!
~~Niki, for FreeSkool

--
Hamilton FreeSkool
www.hamiltonfreeskool.org
hamiltonfreeskool@gmail.com

"If modern industrial education—and more broadly industrial civilization—requires "the subsumption of the individual," that is, the conversion of vibrant human beings into "automata," i.e., into a pliant workforce, then the most revolutionary thing we can do is follow our hearts, to manifest who we really are."


]]> What's Wrong with the Olympics? Tue, 01 Dec 2009 10:54:11 -0500 http://www.hamiltonfreeskool.org/What-s-Wrong-with-the-Olympics-2009-12-01

In solidarity with those feeling the effects of the Vancouver 2010 a little more closely on the other side of the country, Hamilton FreeSkool and Common Cause Hamilton present the documentary "Five Ring Circus", examining the environmental, social and political impacts of the winter games. With the torch relay scheduled to barge its way through Hamilton on the 19th, the discussion will include what is taking place locally to resist the environmental destruction, gentrification, and colonization this year's Olympics represent. Everyone welcome! Free event!

The screening will be on December 9th at 7pm at the Skydragon Centre (27 King William St).

For more information about the Olympics, check out:
www.no2010.com
www.2010watch.com
www.thefiveringcircus.com

For more information about Common Cause, check out:
www.linchpin.ca

]]> Chaotic travels and wanna be a Facilitator? Thu, 19 Nov 2009 16:38:00 -0500 http://www.hamiltonfreeskool.org/Chaotic-travels-and-wanna-be-a-Facilitator-2009-11-19

hey friends,
included in this update aaaare:
i. chaotic travels class TONIGHT
ii. call-outs for facilitators and organizers
iii. freeskool news!

 

i.  Chaotic Travels Skills Share and Storytelling - TONIGHT @ 8pm, 25 West Ave N
As mentioned in an earlier update, tonight there will be a class facilitated by travellers Paula and Arlen who are making their way through town.  The class looks like it's going to be pretty sweet, with possible skills to be explored including clowning and parkour.  If you'd like to come check it out, i'll see you at The Womb Playspace, 25 West Ave N at 8pm!

ii. Call-Outs: Facilitators and Organizers, let's talk!
It's getting to be that time of the term again and FreeSkool is looking to connect with new organizers and create new classes for the Winter 2010 term.
Basically what our small group of organizers have helped with in the past includes:
-promotion through postering, tabling, flyering and internetting
-speaking on behalf of the project at conferences and other places
-co-ordinating classes, setting up spaces
-managing our tiny budget, fundraising
-organizing events like potlucks
-attending consensus-based meetings
If any of these things sound like they're within your abilities and you want to help freeskool keep moving through the new year, please get in touch.  Organizer positions are approximately 8 months in length. For more info about FreeSkool's values check out our website under "about".

Facilitators! We want you too!
Whether you want to facilitate a weekly class or a one-time workshop, oh please do get in touch.  Our facilitators in the past have been people who have an interest in a specific topic and want to explore it more with other people.  Past classes have included meditation, metal-work, french, tree identification, anarchist theory, knitting and more.  Facilitators are not a position of authority and are not required to be experts.  For more information on this, contact us!

iii. FreeSkool News!
Here are some upcoming things you can look forward to from FreeSkool

-The Seen: The Class
Tons of folks have been to the Thursday night open mics at the SkyDragon Centre's Bread and Roses Cafe. Now there's a class to explore the behind the scenes details, including a variety of aspects related to audio and live recordings. Some of the activities would involve:

-Building and maintaining the SEEN website
-Editing the audio recordings and publishing podcasts
-Managing the stage during the open mic
-Repairing some of the Sky Dragon audio hardware, or tracking down new gear
-Designing promo materials

Basically, I'd like to keep the class informal and de-centralized,
much like the SEEN itself, but rolling some of these tasks into a
class has its advantages. The potential for knowledge sharing here is
great since the class would touch on a variety of topics: podcasting,
audio recording, graphics design, event coordination, electronics
(basics of soldering and audio electronics).

Contact Peter for more details: peter.rogers@gmail.com

-December happenings
In solidarity with those people and lands being devastated by the upcoming Vancouver Olympics, FreeSkool will be dedicating our second film night to the issues tied up with this sports spectacle. Stay tuned for dates and times, the film we will be watching is Five Ring Circus.  www.thefiveringcircus.com

FreeSkool will be setting up a table at December's artcrawl (December 11th, 8pm-late) to meet new faces and give away some swag. If you're out checking out some expressions of the human soul, come see us at Mex-I-Can restaurant (107 James St N). 
www.jamesstreetnorth.ca

-We're Turning One!
In January this incarnation of FreeSkool will be turning one, we're hoping to celebrate in a big way and infuse this project with energy from faces old and new. We've got a few things planned but if you have ideas or want to help with the planning or organizing around our birthday party(s), let us know.


that's all for now freeskool friends, fans and lovers.
i hope to be seeing you all soon!

-brian for freeskool

]]> July Happenings Sat, 18 Jul 2009 11:54:15 -0500 http://www.hamiltonfreeskool.org/July-Happenings-2009-07-18 Hello freeskool fans!
 
hope you're summertimes are going splendidly, and you're learning and sharing all sorts!
 
we just wanted to let you know about a few classes just starting up - find their descriptions and contact info below...
 
Also, freeskool will be looking for new organizers to start in September, to take on the task of keeping freeskool organized.  If this is something that intrigues you, please be in touch - we'll be putting the formal process (with applications/conversations) in place in the next few weeks, and we'll keep you posted. But if you think organizing with freeskool is something you'd be into, stay tuned, or drop us a line at hamiltonfreeskool@gmail.com.

Oh, and ongoing classes are still open to drop-ins if you're interested, these include Russian, Burlesque, Vegan Baking, Hebrew, and Spirituality Matters.
and drop us a line about anything!  if you have comments, questions or concerns, organizers wanna hear about it! 

 
we love you,
 
freeskool.
 
Burlesque Playshops
Facilitated by Heidi Ann [eroticmovement(at)gmail.com]

*** Dates for this class are confirmed! Two one-hour sessions, on Tuesday July 14th at 8pm and Thursday the 23rd at 8pm, in the dance studio at the Skydragon Centre (27 King William St.). email Heidi Ann for details (eroticmovement (at) gmail.com)***

1 Hour Play shop for ADULTS!!!! Remember when you were a kid? You used to play elaborate games with your friends involving full out scenes with story lines and the whole Sha-Bang !!!????
Well...Just because you’re an “adult”…doesn’t mean you can’t still ROLE PLAY!!!!

The idea of Role Playing may, or may not seem silly to you. It is a sad fact that as most people get older, they tend to become more self-conscious about their expression and loose their ability to be in the moment enough to act out the playful, goofy and sometimes sexy or erotic personalities that they really desire to. We feel insecure and incapable of expressing in these ways…however giving ourselves the permission to do so, helps us get back in touch with our playful nature and also helps us to tap into the different aspects of ourselves that may help us progress in life. We can actually regain confidence and reclaim the power that was lost in everyday life by simply living on this crazy planet!

In these Play Shops, you will learn the art of role - playing through the classic art of Burlesque. Taught by performing Artist Heidi A. Crocini. Heidi has a background in ballet, modern and exotic dance. She has been teaching sensual dance to Women for just over 2 years.
WARNING: This class is HOT! Be prepared to strip…and tease! Heels are optional, feather boas & gloves will be provided. Please make sure you wear an outer layer for taking off …such as a button-down shirt, zip down hoodie or sheer housecoat.
Va Va Voooom! See ya there... *wink *wink
Those interested in attending can contact Heidi Ann @ (905) 635-7064 or eroticmovement@gmail.com

Radical, Practical Solidarity with First Nations
Faciltated by Niki csn.thorne (at)gmail.com

Here’s what I’m imagining: Theory in action. We’ll learn about Canada’s sketchy and appalling treatment of First Nations, past and present, spend some time out on some of the reclamation sites in and around the Six Nations reserve, building relationships, community, learning from each other, and having face to face dialogue about capitalist imperialism & the process of decolonization: looking at what’s going on & figuring out, talking about, visions for the future…and then working to make these happen. We’ll examine meanings of solidarity, justice & anti-oppression in radicalism…We can also set up some educational workshops in and around Hamilton, we can create flyers and zines, buttons, and distribute these at art crawls and festivals for donations, which can go to support the folks at Six Nations. We have a bunch of ready made ties with other First Nations solidarity groups and unions. Basically a blend of radical learning, outreach: trying to undo some of the bs people have learned about Canada as awesome towards FN and not at all racist (note the sarcasm) through creating & distributing compelling materials & setting up & hosting workshops, building community, solid relationships and networks with protestors @ Six Nations. Being practical, sustained, critical allies. This is what I imagine. I can’t wait to hear what you imagine. Email me and we’ll get this thing started.

FreeSkool Summer Gardening Series: Hands-On Permaculture
Facilitated by Tony (905-628-0324) or e-mail FreeSkool at hamiltonfreeskool@gmail.com

Come and get your hands dirty by DOing permaculture...the best way to learn is by DOing...so anyone who wants to learn/do permaculture/gardening/self-sufficiency organic mini farming, please give tony a call: 905-628-0324 [please leave a message always as i screeen] and say when is best for you.

Liberation Theology/Creation Spirituality
Facilitated by Tony (905-628-0324) or e-mail FreeSkool at hamiltonfreeskool@gmail.com

I am intrigued and inspired by the early Jewish/Christian call...DEMAND for social/environmental justice, freedom, radical community [i.e. mix of communism/anarchism], spirituality....I am also astonished by the lack of under-standing amongst the 'left'. Yet the left/poor in war-torn countries like El Salvador, cried to God in anguish....and revolted and took comfort in that God was on their side - the side of the oppressed.
For those interested, we could look more at these ideas and the texts that inspire, this summer and/or the fall. If interested, please call Tony: 905-628-0324 and leave a message always [i screen...telemarketers].

]]> July Updates Sat, 18 Jul 2009 10:37:05 -0500 http://www.hamiltonfreeskool.org/july

 
Hello freeskool fans!
 
hope you're summertimes are going splendidly, and you're learning and sharing all sorts!
 
we just wanted to let you know about a few classes just starting up - find their descriptions and contact info below...
 
Also, freeskool will be looking for new organizers to start in September, to take on the task of keeping freeskool organized.  If this is something that intrigues you, please be in touch - we'll be putting the formal process (with applications/conversations) in place in the next few weeks, and we'll keep you posted. But if you think organizing with freeskool is something you'd be into, stay tuned, or drop us a line at hamiltonfreeskool@gmail.com.
Oh, and ongoing classes are still open to drop-ins if you're interested, these include Russian, Burlesque, Vegan Baking, Hebrew, and Spirituality Matters.

and drop us a line about anything!  if you have comments, questions or concerns, organizers wanna hear about it! 
 
we love you,
 
freeskool.
 
Burlesque Playshops
Facilitated by Heidi Ann [eroticmovement(at)gmail.com]

*** Dates for this class are confirmed! Two one-hour sessions, on Tuesday July 14th at 8pm and Thursday the 23rd at 8pm, in the dance studio at the Skydragon Centre (27 King William St.). email Heidi Ann for details (eroticmovement (at) gmail.com)***

1 Hour Play shop for ADULTS!!!! Remember when you were a kid? You used to play elaborate games with your friends involving full out scenes with story lines and the whole Sha-Bang !!!????
Well...Just because you’re an “adult”…doesn’t mean you can’t still ROLE PLAY!!!!

The idea of Role Playing may, or may not seem silly to you. It is a sad fact that as most people get older, they tend to become more self-conscious about their expression and loose their ability to be in the moment enough to act out the playful, goofy and sometimes sexy or erotic personalities that they really desire to. We feel insecure and incapable of expressing in these ways…however giving ourselves the permission to do so, helps us get back in touch with our playful nature and also helps us to tap into the different aspects of ourselves that may help us progress in life. We can actually regain confidence and reclaim the power that was lost in everyday life by simply living on this crazy planet!

In these Play Shops, you will learn the art of role - playing through the classic art of Burlesque. Taught by performing Artist Heidi A. Crocini. Heidi has a background in ballet, modern and exotic dance. She has been teaching sensual dance to Women for just over 2 years.
WARNING: This class is HOT! Be prepared to strip…and tease! Heels are optional, feather boas & gloves will be provided. Please make sure you wear an outer layer for taking off …such as a button-down shirt, zip down hoodie or sheer housecoat.
Va Va Voooom! See ya there... *wink *wink
Those interested in attending can contact Heidi Ann @ (905) 635-7064 or eroticmovement@gmail.com

Radical, Practical Solidarity with First Nations
Faciltated by Niki csn.thorne (at)gmail.com

Here’s what I’m imagining: Theory in action. We’ll learn about Canada’s sketchy and appalling treatment of First Nations, past and present, spend some time out on some of the reclamation sites in and around the Six Nations reserve, building relationships, community, learning from each other, and having face to face dialogue about capitalist imperialism & the process of decolonization: looking at what’s going on & figuring out, talking about, visions for the future…and then working to make these happen. We’ll examine meanings of solidarity, justice & anti-oppression in radicalism…We can also set up some educational workshops in and around Hamilton, we can create flyers and zines, buttons, and distribute these at art crawls and festivals for donations, which can go to support the folks at Six Nations. We have a bunch of ready made ties with other First Nations solidarity groups and unions. Basically a blend of radical learning, outreach: trying to undo some of the bs people have learned about Canada as awesome towards FN and not at all racist (note the sarcasm) through creating & distributing compelling materials & setting up & hosting workshops, building community, solid relationships and networks with protestors @ Six Nations. Being practical, sustained, critical allies. This is what I imagine. I can’t wait to hear what you imagine. Email me and we’ll get this thing started.

FreeSkool Summer Gardening Series: Hands-On Permaculture
Facilitated by Tony (905-628-0324) or e-mail FreeSkool at hamiltonfreeskool@gmail.com

Come and get your hands dirty by DOing permaculture...the best way to learn is by DOing...so anyone who wants to learn/do permaculture/gardening/self-sufficiency organic mini farming, please give tony a call: 905-628-0324 [please leave a message always as i screeen] and say when is best for you.

Liberation Theology/Creation Spirituality
Facilitated by Tony (905-628-0324) or e-mail FreeSkool at hamiltonfreeskool@gmail.com

I am intrigued and inspired by the early Jewish/Christian call...DEMAND for social/environmental justice, freedom, radical community [i.e. mix of communism/anarchism], spirituality....I am also astonished by the lack of under-standing amongst the 'left'. Yet the left/poor in war-torn countries like El Salvador, cried to God in anguish....and revolted and took comfort in that God was on their side - the side of the oppressed.
For those interested, we could look more at these ideas and the texts that inspire, this summer and/or the fall. If interested, please call Tony: 905-628-0324 and leave a message always [i screen...telemarketers].

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