News, Events & Comments

JOB POSTING: Inquality Researcher

The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is seeking a Researcher
for its Inequality Project. The position involves a combination of
research and writing, data and policy analysis, and communications
work. The Researcher will undertake a variety of short- and long-term
research projects related to the Inequality Project. We are looking
for an individual of exceptional skill, energy and commitment to be
part of this unique groundbreaking project.

Skills and Qualifications:

The position requires a strong background in data and policy analysis
in the areas of income distribution, labour markets and/or social and
economic policy. Candidates must be able to demonstrate research
experience in this area, with a strong (graduate level) academic
background in a relevant field of study. Other skills include:

· background in quantitative methods and statistics;
· strong computer skills;
· excellent written and oral communication skills,
including public speaking; experience, popular/accessible as well as
academic writing skills; experience giving media interviews is an
asset;
· demonstrated ability to work effectively, both
independently and as part of a team, in an environment that is
frequently working to deadlines with quick turnaround;
· fluency in French is an asset.

Job Duties and Responsibilities include:

· work collaboratively with the Inequality Team to develop
and/or undertake in-depth original research;
· research and write policy briefs, research papers, and
studies;
· write articles and opinion pieces for newspapers, the
CCPA Monitor, a regular blog, and other publications;
· monitor and analyze federal and provincial public policy
and trends with respect to income inequality;
· provide information and comment to media (press, radio
and TV interviews);
· prepare materials for and undertake public speaking
engagements about income inequality;
· provide support for project coordination and fundraising
efforts.

This position may be at the researcher or senior researcher level,
depending on the applicant. Salary will be commensurate with
experience.

Application Deadline: October 15, 2007

Inquire and/or send applications to:
Trish Hennessy
Director, Inequality Project
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
2 Carlton Street, Suite 1001
Toronto Ontario
M5B 1J3
Tel: 416-263-9896

This report came to us through the Global-South mailing list...

MiningWatch Canada reports that Ecuador Government Shuts Down Ascendant Copper's Junin Project:


Canadian junior mining company Ascendant Copper Corporation’s ambitions to develop a major copper mine in the Intag region of northwestern Ecuador were dealt a serious blow on September 25, 2007, when restrictions on the company’s activities in the area turned into a total prohibition."

Labels: Ascendant Copper

According to No ordinary Joe: Ethiopian coffee co-op founder aims for hearts and mugs of those who like a little justice with their java, a recent NOW Magazine article by Wayne Roberts, Tadesse Meskela, the general manager of the Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union spoke to standing room-only crowd at the September 14th screening of Black Gold at the Brunswick Theatre.

It's an informative and inspiring read; I was especially pleased to read that Starbucks has honoured its earlier pledge regarding the trademarking of Ethiopian coffee:

"A major victory came this spring when Starbucks gave up on its insolent effort to trademark the Ethiopian name of Sidamo beans and agreed to return to Ethiopia the right to license its own name and add brand-building value to the people who developed coffee a millennium a"

Labels: Brunswick Theatre, Oromia Coffee Farmers Cooperative Union

The following press release regarding the Strike Bike campaign came to us through the Industrial Workers of the World listserv:

Staff of occupied bicycle factory in the Thuringian Nordhausen take up production in self-management again

The 135 colleagues of the bicycle factory Bike Systems GmbH in the Thuringian Nordhausen, who keep the factory occupied since 10th of July 2007, decided to resume the production of bicycles in self-management. For this aim 1,800 binding orders on bicycles must be received till 2nd of October. So the collegues are working together with the anarcho-syndicalist union FAU (Freie Arbeiterinnen- und Arbeiter-Union – Free Workers-Union), which formed for this campaign the internetpage www.strike-bike.de.

Since more than two month the staff keep the factory in the south of Harz Mountains in three shifts occupied. They want to prevent the definite dismantling and sale of the factory. The file for bankruptcy from 10th of august is against long odds: The factory is exploited and ran down, the hall was emptied except for the coating line. The staff receives unemployment compensation and hopes for a new concept and a new investor.

The „Strike Bike“ - Solidarity-Bikes from Nordhausen

In the time of occupation and in the wake of discussions during the visits of solidary people, the colleagues of the factory developed the idea to initially take up the production in self-management for a short time. Because it's not the point to only prevent the evacuation of the last machines and to wait for a new investor, the idea of an own ”Strike-Bike“ meet with more and more response. Now the opportunity arises to show the ability to develop an own concept and to self-manage production and distribution.

If it goes well to collect 1,800 advance orders for the bicycles produced in self-direction, we spread solidary ideas and bolster the colleagues in similar situations, not to let themselves easily being restructured to zero. By whomsoever!

The staff gets assistancy by the solidary members of anarcho-syndicalist union Freie Arbeiterinnen- und Arbeiter-Union (Free workers-union), which will become active in whole germany to spread the knowledge of the struggle of the bycicle-workers and to support the sale of the „Strike-Bike“.

More Informations can be received at: www.strike-bike.de

For background informations and history of the occupation www.labournet.de/branchen/sonstige/fahrzeug/bikesystems.html

To get in contact with the staff and to take orders

For further informations about the campaign of the FAU-„Strike Bike“-Solidaritygroup:

Spokesperson:
Folkert Mohrhof
- mobile 0179-4863252 and ...
respectively monday till friday from 10 am till 3 pm:
+49 40 - 20 90 68 96

Labels: IWW, Strike Bike

The 12th annual Women's Health Matters Forum and Expo will take place in Toronto on January 18th and 19th, 2008. The theme this year is linking environmental impacts with women’s health issues.

If you sell eco-friendly products or services related to women’s health and well-being, you will want to consider exhibiting at this year's expo. To register as an exhibitor, contact Julia Von Flotow at juliavf@rogers.com.

Labels: Women's Health Matters Forum and Expo

The Ontario Co-operative Association's 7th Annual Co-op Conference and Gala will be held October 16th and 17th, 2007 at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario.

The Conference is being organized as a "green" event, so they are encouraging interested people to view the information and to register electronically in order to save paper.

Of special note to us at TorontoTheBetter is the fact the Kathy Bardswick, CEO of Co-operators (one of our sponsoring partners) is leading the Keynote Session: Building Up, Moving Forward.

Also, other sponsors of the conference include Iler Campbell and the Ontario Natural Food Co-op.

Labels: Co-operatives, Iler Campbell, Ontario Natural Food Co-op, the Co-operators