Saving us from political violence

In The Philosophy of History, Hegel describes “history as the slaughter-bench at which the happiness of peoples, the wisdom of states, and the virtue of individuals have been victimized.”

The recent massacre of 57 innocent civilians in Shariff Aguak, Maguindanao, along with the two major world conflicts of the last century and numerous violent incidents from Somalia to Iraq show how fragile human society has become. So prevalent is violence in human history that a good part of mankind’s efforts can be understood in terms of our attempts to deal with violence. With the state’s involvement in this human carnage, perhaps the ultimate issue we have to confront is how we can prevent political differences from becoming violent.

Justice, by no means, will be served fully well with the simple filing of charges against Mayor Andal Ampatuan Jr., the prime suspect in the Maguindanao barbarity. It only represents the first step, even though symbolic as it is against a political clan that is inextricably tied to the present occupant in Malacanang. All those who participated, directly or indirectly, those who ordered the slaughter, and those who allowed it to happen should be arrested, prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law. But the quest for justice should not end there.
(Please go to http://letterfromtoronto.blogspot.com to read full article.)

Canada’s new underclass

In just a few years, Canada brought in under its temporary foreign workers program an army of low-skilled migrant workers for jobs that Canadians are not willing to take under prevailing wage levels and working conditions. Jobs like vegetable and fruit-picking, work in the oil sands, bait worm collectors, cleaners, packers and people who dismember pigs for meat packaging plants.

When temporary jobs are completed or their work permits run out, or in some cases when jobs are wiped out by an economic recession, these workers are forced to take survival jobs, mostly underground, because of their lack of immigration status.

As a result, Canada’s temporary foreign workers program has created a burgeoning, permanent and illegal underclass. A new class of vulnerable workers without status and deprived of government protections.

Go to http://letterfromtoronto.blogspot.com/ to read full article.

Session 1: Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio and the Philippines

We have invited a couple guest speakers to help start us off, but it’s not really about the speakers at all, but about the participants sharing their questions, thoughts, and knowledge with each other.

Who were these guys? Why are the considered heroes? Why are they also sometimes considered less than heroic? Why did they matter? And most importantly why do they still matter today?

You don’t have to know a lot about Philippine history, or the Philippines today, you just have to be curious and eager to discuss.

Speakers:

Caroline Mangosing, a descendant of Jose Rizal’s sister Olympia will share what she knows about her ancestor. Caroline is the Exec Director of the Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts and Culture. http://www.kapisanancentre.com/

Joe Rivera is a Toronto based writer, and former lawyer. He will be speaking about Andres Bonifacio. You can read his writing here: http://letterfromtoronto.blogspot.com

Sunday, 1 November 2009
1:00 PM (DON’T FORGET TO SET YOUR CLOCKS BACK ONE HOUR.)
SEAS Centre
606 Gerrard Street East (east of Broadview)

Click here to see map.

From the subway: Go to Broadview Station, take any southbound streetcar down Broadview, get off at Gerrard and walk one block east.

For more info - migranteON.youth@gmail.com