Culture Shock 2009
Culture Shock is a week of events dedicated to exploring the myths surrounding the experiences of immigrants, refugees, and communities of colour. The events are committed to moving beyond the multicultural dribble dictated by the Canadian state to illustrate the dynamic nature of these communities. It seeks to bring together members of these communities to engage in dialogue about issues relevant to their lives, as well as to educate non-members around some of the issues faced by minority groups. Culture Shock 2009 will feature a keynote panel, roundtable discussions, a walking tour, a party, and a series of fun workshops.
Culture Shock is a joint effort brought to you by the Students’ Society of McGill University (SSMU) and the Quebec Public Interest Research Group (QPIRG) at McGill.
Endorsed by: McGill Anti-Racist Coalition, Commission des Affaires Francophone, Tamil Students Association, Tamil Action Committee, Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights, CERAS (South Asia Research and Resource Center), Immigrant Workers Centre, Queer McGill, Midnight Kitchen, and Young Jews for Social Justice
Culture Shock is open everyone – we encourage all to attend!
For childcare, please let us know 48 hours before the event.
All venues are wheelchair accessible.
For more information: 514-398-7432 or qpirg@ssmu.mcgill.ca
This schedule is subject to change. For full schedule, visit: www.qpirgmcgill.org
Schedule of Events (.pdf)
Monday November 2, 1pm
Anti-Racism 101: Demystifying “Multiculturalism” and “Diversity”
Shatner Building, (3480 McTavish) McGill University, Room B-29
A basic workshop and introduction to anti-racism and critiques of multicultural discourse, presented by the McGill Anti-Racist Coalition (MARC). Students new to anti-racism are especially encouraged to attend!
Hosted by MARC
*****
Monday November 2, 12-2pm
The Rights Conundrum: Poverty of Philosophy Amidst Poverty
Faculty of Education, McGill University, 3700 McTavish, Rm. 437
The Rights discourse has exhausted itself. Yet the discourse continues to haunt like a disembodied ghost. The discourse has worked itself out through a number of familiar dualisms: moral rights versus legal rights, economic rights versus human rights, institutionalized rights versus right claims in praxis, rights under capitalism and socialism, Eurocentric rights concepts versus non-Eurocentric rights, the Asian values discourse or indigenous discourses for example, but whatever the starting point for the discourse or the preferred theoretical framework, attempts to ground it in the materiality of contemporary world order entangles the discourse in conundrum of one type or the other. Yet, if not grounded in the materiality of contemporary world, the Rights discourse loses its meaning as the very idea of Rights is tied inextricably with its sociality. Dr Radha D’Souza argues that we face an acute poverty of philosophy amidst widespread poverty. The connection between the two types of poverty is explored by interrogating the relationship between displacement and rights. She argues that if we look further afield away from European philosophical traditions we might be able to come to grips with the poverty of philosophy amidst poverty. Her paper examines the concept of ‘dukkha’ in South Asian philosophical tradition as a possible way out of the Rights conundrum.
Organized by Dr Aziz Choudry, Assistant Professor, International Education, Department of Integrated Studies in Education. Phone: 514 3982253/Email: aziz.choudry@mcgill.ca
*****
Tuesday November 3, 4 pm
Anti-Racist Walking Tour of McGill,
Meeting point: Roddick Gates, McGill University
Learn about the history of McGill University, see its landmarks, and become more familiar with the foundations of our campus.
Hosted by MARC
*****
Tuesday November 3, 6 pm
Canada and the Mining Industry: Reflections and analysis on the colonialist practices of the mining industry.
Shatner Building, (3480 McTavish) McGill University, Clubs Lounge
A panel discussion featuring:
– Judy Da Silva, community member and activist from Grassy Narrows;
– Enrique Rivera, activist and political refugee from San Luis de Potosi, Mexico, targeted by Canadian mining company goons in Mexico;
– Alain Deneault, professor at UQAM and anti-mining activist who is being sued by Barrick Gold and Banro for his anti-mining work and writing focusing on Canadian companies in African countries
A photo exhibit will accompany the panel
Translation will be available from French and Spanish to English
*****
Wednesday November 4, 1pm
A Radical Look at Jewish History and Identity
Shatner Building, McGill University, (3480 McTavish), room B-30
Come for some radical perspectives on Jewish history, and analyses on the diversity of ideas and thought within Jewish communities historically. Stay for discussions on identity formation and how changing systems of race and racialization have effected and influenced the Jewish community, now and in the past!
Hosted by Young Jews for Social Justice (YJSJ)
*****
Wednesday November 4, 3 pm
A Critical Visioning Session for International Development Studies (IDS)
Shatner Building, McGill University, (3480 McTavish), Lev Bukhman
What does “development” seek to do? How can students and professors promote anti-racism within the IDS program? Featuring a talk by Concordia Professor Gada Mahrouse and McGill Professor Michael Doxtater, with a discussion / facilitated workshop to follow.
Moderated by Aviva Stahl.
*****
Wednesday November 4, 6.30pm
KEYNOTE PANEL
1947/1948: The Decline of the British Empire, the Rise of Border Conflicts
Moot Court, McGill University (3644 Peel Street)
The keynote panel for this year’s Culture Shock will consider 1947/48 as the year that the British quit or handed over many of its colonies. The Empire could not maintain these colonies after the Second World War and left them in haste after arbitrarily partitioning them. The point of the panel is to look at contemporary border conflicts like Palestine, Kashmir, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka within a historical context.
Speakers:
Radha D’Souza is a Reader in Law at the University of Westminster, London. Her research interests include global and social justice, social movements, Law and Development, colonialism and imperialism, socio-legal studies in the “Third World” and water conflicts. She teaches Law and Development and has previously taught in Sociology, Development Studies, Human Geography besides Public Law and Legal Theory. Earlier she practiced as barrister at the High Court of Mumbai in India. Radha is a social justice activist from India where she worked in labour and democratic rights movements first as organizer and later as activist lawyer. Radha is a writer, critic and commentator and has worked with solidarity movements in the Asia-Pacific region.
Mazen Masri is currently a Ph.D candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School where he is also an instructor. Prior to resuming graduate studies at Osgoode, Mazen served as legal advisor to the Negotiations Affairs Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). He holds a Bachelor of Law degree (LLB) from Hebrew University and a Master of Law degree (LLM) from the University of Toronto. Mazen’s research interests include constitutional law and international human rights law.
Guru Paran Gunaratnam holds a Ph.D. in Comparative Literature from the University of Toronto. He is a Sri Lankan Tamil activist who lives in Montreal.
Hosted by: QPIRG McGILL, CERAS (South Asia Research and Resource Center), and Tamil Action Committee
*****
Thursday November 5, 1 pm
Film Screening: Les enfants de la loi 101, hosted by Comission des Affaires Francophone
Shatner Building, (3480 McTavish) McGill University, Gert’s Pub
The director of the film, Anita Aloisio will be present.
Hosted by Commission des affaires Francophones
*****
Thursday November 5, 6 pm
Migrant Workers and the Crisis of Capitalism: The economic crisis and Migration
Leacock Building, McGill University, 655 Sherbrooke O, Rm 232
Migrant Worker Roundtable featuring:
– Roberto Rodriguez, former participant in the federal Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP), to speak to his experience as a migrant worker from Mexico
– Evelyn Calaguay, from PINAY, organization that works with women from the Philippines who are working under the Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP)
– Noe Arteaga migrant farm worker whose case to have a work-related injury compensated is still in process
*****
Friday November 6, 1 pm
Film screening
Shatner Building, (3480 McTavish) McGill University, Room 302
This film screening will touch on issues of globalization, food access, and differential rights surrounding the ability to maintain food systems. Also featuring: delicious vegan lunch from Midnight Kitchen, the non-profit, volunteer- and worker-run food collective, as part of their daily servings in the Shatner Building!
Hosted by Midnight Kitchen
http://www.themidnightkitchen.blogspot.com/
*****
Friday November 6, 10 pm
Dance Party: Shades of Gay
Woof Bar: 1661 Rue Ste-Catherine Est
Dance party, co-hosted with Queer McGill
*Stay tuned for a list of awesome DJs!*
