December 20th

Frequency Feminisms talked with Robyn Bourgeois, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Toronto Women’s Bookstore. The feminist, anti-oppression bookstore has come upon hard times on account of the economic downturn and internal/structural issues that may force it to close its doors after 36 years as a hub for feminist/anti-oppression activists, scholars and artists. Robyn talked with FF-WPR about the TWB’s mandate, mission, herstory, role in the community, present challenges, broader trends and challenges facing not-for-profit independent book-sellers, how listeners could help, vision for the future and evolving face of the TWB. FF-WPR talked about the ongoing work of including trans people, women with disabilities, poor women and women employed in the sex trade within the milieu of the TWB.

Contact:

Toronto Women’s Bookstore

73 Harbord Street

Toronto ON M5S 1G4

Phone: 416.922.8744

Toll Free (within Canada only): 1-800-861-8233

Fax: 416.922.1417

Email: support@womensbookstore.com

We continued our conversation with Robyn Bourgeois, who has recently returned from a trip to Vancouver, on the impacts of the 2010 Winter Olympic games, on sex trade workers, the homeless, the first-nations community and other groups. We talked about the successful attempt to block the Olympic torch when it came through Toronto on December 17. We heard a clip from a talk given by Harsha Walia, who is part of the Vancouver based Olympic resistance Network, describing the adverse impacts of the games. The talk can be found here.

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December 13th Show

This week, Frequency Feminisms talked with Sara Vance from the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty, concerning the forced relocation and subsequent firing of long-time advocate for the homeless, Gaetan Heroux. Heroux faces reprisal for his support of staff at Street Health to negotiate a fair collective agreement even as union busting by Street Health management has pushed the organization to a precarious situation. Vance described some of the work Street Health does with the homeless and under-housed population in south-east toronto and specifically Gaetan’s tremendous contribution for the past two decades. She also talked at length about the community support for Gaetan and for Friends of Street Health.

Contact: Street Health, 338 Dundas St. East, 416.921.8668

We also talked about the ongoing Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen and Canada’s role and culpability in resolving the climate crisis. As a major contributer to the climate crisis, being a developed country and the producer of more than its fair share of carbon emissions. We talked about the impact on developing countries and particularly the gendered and racialized impacts of climate change. We heard an interview originally broadcaste on Democracy Now with activist, Naomi Kline.

Finally, FF-WPR talked about efforts to organize against the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver and local organizing to appropriately welcome the Torch to Toronto on December 17, 2009. Rally to “Block the Olympic Torch” leaves from North-west corner of College and University on Dec 17 at 5:15 PM.

Music by Faith Nolan

December 6th Show

On the occasion of the 20^th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, Frequency Feminisms explored the systemic and interlocking nature of violence against womyn, focusing on state sponsored violence, violence in the school system, in the media, in the law and prison system and the ways in which violence is often internalized and considered "normal". As we grappled with this multi-facited issue, our discussion focused on local and global issues (from a kindergarten classroom to womyn living in the Congo and the mostly indigenous womyn employed in the sex trade in BC).

We also heard from Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the Family and Child Caring Society of Canada about their human rights case against the Government of Canada for years of underfunding of first-nations children in the child welfare system.

Music by Faith Nolan

November 29th Show

Interview with Sharon Sanchez from the Women's Coordinating Committee Chile-Canada, which is organizing the event '2010: year of resistance by our Indigenous Nations' Saturday, Dec. 6, 7 pm in the Birge Carnegie Reading Room, 95 Charles St. W. (Just east of Museum Station, UofT Campus). Contact them at: wccc_98hotmail.com.

Discussed the rally on Monday Nov 23 @ Noon and the situation at Streat Health, where longtime anti-poverty activist Gaetan Heroux is being transferred to Scarborough after supporting the unionizing drive. Supporters ask 'What's Up with Street Health?', and note the loss of staff, apparent union busting (18 months and still no contract for workers), loss of services (i.e. Hep C program & ID services if Gaetan is moved) and evicting Gaetan. We played a podcast interview of Katherine Hardill, Getean Heroux and John Clark (by John Bonnar). There is a community forum on Wednesday, Dec. 9th 6-8 pm, John Innes Community Center, (Nothwest corner of Queen and Sherbourne) and listeners can contact friendsofstreethealth@gmail.com. Friends of Street Health is an ad hoc coalition of former staff and other allies who are fighting for a return of Street Health's integrity and former reputation as a progressive organization.

Played music by Faith Nolan

November 22nd Show

This week's show featured a talk by Malalai Joya an Afghanistani (not Afghan) MP who is calling for the troops out of Afghanistan.

Here's the link in case you missed it.

Watch and remember that in war torn countries "truth is always the main casualty".

And... We're Back

FF-WPR is returning from hiatus with our unique range of perspectives on women's issues, current events and toronto politics.

Check-in here for show recaps, updated links and resources as well as further discussion on the topics that matter.

Tune in here to Frequency Feminisms online...