By Frank Liberto

Recently, gentrification has emerged as an issue in Hamilton, where political attacks have been waged on sex workers in the form of reactionary public meetings. Some civic boosters and members of the burgeoning downtown art colony and have engaged in a hostile rhetoric toward the poor and homeless.

In response, many social justice activists have begun to mobilize anti-gentrification struggles. Reaction to an art exhibit that exploited outdoor sex workers has evolved into an anti-gentrification group called HAND – Hamiltonians Against Neighbourhood Displacement.

March 15, 4PM to 6PM
School of Business and Economics, Room 2260
Wilfrid Laurier University
75 University Avenue West, Waterloo

Sponsored the Communication Studies and Global Studies departments.

As part of his Ontario tour, South African writer and activist Michael Schmidt, co-author of “Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism” will be in Waterloo to promote and discuss this important new book on the global history of anarchist and syndicalist movements and ideas.

Organized by Common Cause Ontario with support from AK Press.

For more information contact commoncauseontario@gmail.com
and check www.linchpin.ca.

About the book from AK Press:

Wednesday, March 17 at 12-2pm
McMaster University,
MUSC Rooms 311 and 313
1280 Main St. West
Hamilton, ON
Limited seating.
Please RSVP at commoncauseontario@gmail.com

Sponsored by the LIUNA-Mancinelli Professorship in Global Labour Issues and the School of Labour Studies.

Wednesday, March 17 at 7-9pm
Sky Dragon Centre.
27 King William Street
Hamilton, ON
Organized by Common Cause Hamilton
commoncausehamilton@gmail.com

As part of his Ontario tour, South African writer and activist Michael Schmidt, co-author of “Black Flame: The Revolutionary Class Politics of Anarchism and Syndicalism” will be in Hamilton to promote and discuss this important new book on the global history of anarchist and syndicalist movements and ideas.

Organized by Common Cause Ontario with support from AK Press.

For more information contact commoncauseontario@gmail.com
and check www.linchpin.ca.

About the book from AK Press:

Wednesday February 17th, 7pm
@ the Sky Dragon Centre
27 King William Street, Hamilton

Anarchist Discussion Group:
Who Has the Right to Shape the City?

a panel discussion on gentrification and urban renewal in Hamilton

How will the current campaign of urban renewal in the downtown core by the city of Hamilton play out for the working and poor who currently inhabit it? Recently the debate surrounding the future of downtown Hamilton has heated up and has come to involve everyone from city councillors and police to sex workers and artists. Who has the right to shape the city? What does it take to create a healthy urban environment? How have policies of urban renewal and gentrification affected other poor areas and cities? Come and join us for a panel discussion featuring members of various community groups to explore these questions.

Hosted by Common Cause Hamilton

featuring Argentinian militant/anarchist Sebastián Darraidou, on the popular response to Argentina's 2001 economic crisis and the lessons for us in Canada

Hamilton - Mon January 25, 7pm
Skydragon Centre
27 King William Street
Hosted by Common Cause Hamilton
commoncausehamilton@gmail.com

for more:
http://linchpin.ca/content/Work-workplace/Workers-Without-Bosses-Speaking-Tour

featuring Argentinian militant/anarchist Sebastián Darraidou, on the popular response to Argentina's 2001 economic crisis and the lessons for us in Canada

London - Sun January 24, 7pm
Empowerment Infoshop
636 Queens Ave.
Hosted by Common Cause London

for more:
http://linchpin.ca/content/Work-workplace/Workers-Without-Bosses-Speaking-Tour

featuring Argentinian militant/anarchist Sebastián Darraidou, on the popular response to Argentina's 2001 economic crisis and the lessons for us in Canada

Waterloo - Sat January 23, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
KW Community Centre for Social Justice (KWCCSJ)
63 Courtland Ave East
Hosted by Peaceculture.org and KWCCSJ

for more:
http://linchpin.ca/content/Work-workplace/Workers-Without-Bosses-Speaking-Tour

Steelworkers rally in downtown Hamilton against lay-offs and pension cuts marching under the slogan "Oppose Economic Terrorism." Dec. 14, 2009

The rally covered all four corners of Main and James streets. Workers from U.S. Steel (formerly Stelco) handed out flyers as they have done every Monday afternoon for the past year. The flyer attacked "the monopolies and the rich" for the economic crisis and called for "public ownership and control over the basic sectors of the economy."

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 Hamilton Freeskool, check out:
www.hamiltonfreeskool.org

On Friday, December 11th Common Cause London will be hosting a fund raiser at Empowerment Infoshop (636 Queens Ave) to support the 2009 Gaza Freedom March being organized by the International Coalition to End the Illegal Siege of Gaza.

The fund raiser will feature several live musical acts and a workshop on the No State Solution, presented by Common Cause member (and member of the delegation leaving for Gaza) Emily Ibsen.

The cost for the event will be $5, although nobody will be turned away for lack of funds.