Upcoming Events

WHAT IS A WORKING GROUP?

Working groups are semi-autonomous groups of students and community members who organize around specific issues relating to the environment and social change. OPIRG engages students interested in critiquing, researching and acting on pressing social/environmental issues.

Working Groups receive funding from the OPIRG office, as well as ongoing support and training.

Working Groups use a CONSENSUS DECISION MAKING model to ensure equal access to power within groups, and are expected to take an ANTI-OPPRESSION workshop, offered for free each term.

EXAMPLES OF OPIRG MCMASTER WORKING GROUPS

• For the current list of working groups, view the sidebar menu under Working Groups and click on the group name to view a detailed description and contact information.
• Previous and ongoing working groups include  Transportation for Liveable Communities, Waste Reduction, Recycle Cycles, Food Not Bombs, Guatemala, Community Volunteer Action, Fair Trade, and many others.

START A WORKING GROUP!

OPIRG accepts applications for Working Groups in the fall and again at the start of the winter term. Applications are reviewed by our Board of Directors who meet with applicants to ask questions about the proposal before deciding which groups will be accepted.

• Start by reading the OPIRG McMaster WORKING GROUP POLICY (Read it here)
• Fill our our online application here. (Please read the working group policy before applying.)
• You will meet with our Board of Directors for an interview, after which the Board will approve or deny your proposed group

IMPORTANT DATES

• 1st term application deadline – Monday, September 27, 2010. Fill out the online application
• 2nd term application deadline - January  2011 - application form here
• ANTI-OPPRESSION WORKSHOP: Saturday, September 25, 2010, 10am to 12pm in Togo Salmon Hall room 719.  Free, but please pre-registration required with randy(dot)opirg(at)gmail(dot)com or 905-525-9140 ext. 26026
• CONSENSUS DECISION MAKING WORKSHOP, Saturday, September 25, 2010, 1:00pm to 3:00pm in Togo Salmon Hall room 719..  Free, but please pre-registration required with randy(dot)opirg(at)gmail(dot)com or 905-525-9140 ext. 26026
• WORKING GROUP ORIENTATION (for approved groups) Sunday, October 17, 2010, 11:30am, Room 230, McMaster University Student Centre)

To find out more, please contact the OPIRG office in the Student Centre room 229, randy(at)opirg(dot)ca or call 905-525-9140 ext. 26026.

Take Back the Night is an annual event for women all over Canada to raise awareness on the issue of
violence against women and children. In Hamilton, women meet at a set location downtown for a rally
and to begin a walk through downtown. This year, it will be held on Thursday, September 16, 2010.

In order to prepare for the community event, and bring awareness to the campus community
on the importance of this annual event, the Anti-Violence Network is hosting a Take Back the Night Rally in the
McMaster University Student Centre Atrium from 11am – 2pm on Monday September 13th, 2010.

Through this awareness event, we hope to provide staff, students and faculty with the knowledge of
the prevalence of the issue of violence against women and children in our community, as well as the
importance of dialogue around this issue on campus throughout the year.

OPIRG Resource Centre OPEN HOUSE!

Come check out our great books, publications, films and documentaries.
Enjoy some excellent vegetarian food and good conversation.
Connect with working groups and activists.

We have over 1800 resources on topics such as social justice, environment, education, peace, economy/politics, urban development, and health, among others.

We also have some new additions to our library this year, and if there's something you'd like to recommend, we're always looking to expand our catalogue.

Whether you're a dub-professional, newly dubbing or interested in the dub, come out to see Hamilton's finest Klyde Broox and D-Lishus perform and transmit some dub-ability.

Dub poetry is a form of spoken word performance poetry originating in the West Indies.  Dub artists will perform and facilitate a workshop on dub poetry and will then leave the stage open for anyone who wants to perform a poem, a song, a dance, or any other form of creative expression.  Bring an instrument if you'd like!

Free event!

OPIRG McMaster will be setting up our portable display in the lobby of the McMaster University Student Centre to raise awareness of our organization, to let people know of our upcoming workshops and the opportunity to start or join a working group, and to pick up some useful information and join our weekly events e-mail list.

We are looking for volunteers to take a shift at the table, so if you have an hour or more free during the day, please get in touch with randy(dot)opirg(at)gmail(dot)com or 905-525-9140 ext. 26026.

Don’t use that storebought crap, making your own is cheap, easy and healthy.  Workshop exploring various hygiene products and their effects on our health and the health of the environment.

Facilitated by Devon

There’s a freakin’ forest in your backyard! Learn about who lives there and who’s threatening it.  

Facilitated by Devon.

Your bike is so good to you, come learn how to make it happy in return.  Will be demonstrating basic bike maintenance.

Basic, introductory workshop facilitated by Alex.

Come find out about what OPIRG McMaster is all about - our action-oriented Working Groups - our student Board of Directors - our Resource Library - and much more - OPIRG McMaster aims to get students active on issues important to the public interest - whether it be sustainable transportation, waste reduction, or any number of pressing social and environmental issues.

OPIRG's Coordinator of Volunteers will give you a tour of the ways you can contribute to OPIRG's work in the public interest.

Come find out about what OPIRG McMaster is all about - our action-oriented Working Groups - our student Board of Directors - our Resource Library - and much more - OPIRG McMaster aims to get students active on issues important to the public interest - whether it be sustainable transportation, waste reduction, or any number of pressing social and environmental issues.

OPIRG's Coordinator of Volunteers will give you a tour of the ways you can contribute to OPIRG's work in the public interest.

Waterlife is a documentary film about the Great Lakes that follows the flow of the lakes' water from the Nipigon River to the Atlantic Ocean. The film's goal is to take viewers on a tour of an incredibly beautiful ecosystem that is facing complex challenges.  Discussion afterwards facilitated by Chelsea Cox. Movie night!
 

http://waterlife.nfb.ca/

Most of us will be tenants during our lives, especially while students.  Come learn what your rights are and what to do if your landlord is hassling you.

Facilitated by Meaghan from the Housing Help Centre.

Find out how you can volunteer with OPIRG McMaster

Sex work is work!
People have been making their living by introducing others to sexual possibilities and sexual expression for millenia.  They currently face criminalization and all sorts of barricades.  Come learn more about sex workers.

Facilitated by Meaghan and Sarah from Hamiltonians Against Neighbourhood Displacement and Big Susie’s.
HAND is a group working against gentrification in Hamilton.  Big Susie's is a Hamilton organization by sex workers for sex workers.

The Hamilton Friendship Association with Cuba (HFAC) is pleased to announce that Jorge Soberon, Consul General of Cuba in Toronto will be presenting as part of OPIRG McMaster's Alternative Welcome Week. We are inviting all McMaster University students, faculty, staff and members of the Hamilton community to join us for this evening lecture followed by discussion on the current situation in Cuba post-recession in the context of the ongoing illegal U.S. blockade of this Carri bean island.

Discussion will also take place on the importance of principles of non-aggression and non-interference between countries in the context of Cuba and the region, as enshrined in international law. Hamiltonians of all ages and from all walks of life are always eager to hear from their Cuban friends on the basis of people to people friendship and learning. The HFAC is pleased to be a part of facilitating locally this long-standing tradition of friendship which is vital in ensuring continued positive relations between our two countries. Such friendly relations between Canada and Cuba are a factor for peace as is the affirmation of Cuba's right to live free of U.S.-led aggression.

Mr. Soberon first came to Canada in December 2008, when he assumed the position of the Consul General of Cuba in Toronto. Before coming to Toronto, he was the Deputy Director of the North America Department (U.S. and Canada) at MINREX, the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He was previously posted at the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, D.C. Mr. Soberon has a Masters Degree from the Higher Institute for International Relations (ISRI) of Cuba and a Law degree from the University of Havana.

Find out how you can become an active volunteer on important social and environmental issues with OPIRG McMaster

The Women & Liminal Committee and the Well's Trans Peer Support Group,
both organizations of Hamilton's LGBTQ communities, welcome everyone
to join us for a film screening on Stonewall followed by open

trans-identified individuals. The discussion welcomes the expression
of differing perspectives concerning this historic event which is

internationally. This discussion allows us to learn from history and
how it relates to our struggle today. We encourage everyone's
participation!

Transgender? Transvestite? Transsexual? What do all these mean?

In Trans 101, participants will explore terminology, implications of transitioning, transphobia, and how to create trans-inclusive environments.  Come broaden your understanding of gender.

Facilitated by Will from Hamilton's Trans Peer Support.

We are all affected by sexual assault. Learn practical skills and strategies for how to support those directly affected.

Facilitated by members of the Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton.

The way that the word "feminism" is used in most popular media is in a context where it is made to sound stupid, archaic, or scary.

Come learn about the revolutionary ideas that have come from feminism(s).  Bring your questions and thoughts!

Take Back the Night is an annual event organized by SACHA - Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton & Area). It is our chance to join with other women, trans-women and children to speak out about violence in our community.

This year we will be gathering at Hamilton City Hall - 71 Main Street West on Thursday, September 16th at 6:30pm.

Our theme for 2010 is Home, Work, Play - Right to Be Safe.
...
As in year's past there will be plenty of fun activities - sign & noise maker making, face painting, henna tattoos, laughter yoga, zumba - and exciting performers too.

If you have any questions or would like to help out please contact SACHA at 905.525.4573 or sacha@sacha.ca.

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Those attending from campus will be leaving as a group at 6pm from the Mills Library plaza (area outside of Mills and the Student Centre).

Men-identified folks are welcome to attend the Male Allies Discussion Group, take place at 6:30pm at the SkyDragon Centre (27 King William St).

Come join us as writer Aric McBay speaks on the topic of "Becoming an Ally" in the struggle for gender equality and against sexual assault.
Talk will be followed by a short discussion and will continue on to cheer for the women marching.
The Take Back The Night march is intended to be a space for women and children, this discussion event is meant to be a space for male allies.

Event is free, bring a supportive sign for the cheering if you'd like.  All men-identified folks welcome.

Join Common Cause during alternative welcome week for a "Tour of Struggle" in Hamilton.  We'll be taking you to some of the hot spots around town that formed and are forming progressive change in Hamilton.  Meet us at 5:30 p.m. at Wentworth house by the big rental van.  Don't live up to the joke that Mac students never get east of the 403 and know nothing of Hamilton radical history.  Join us!  Please let us know if you have any accessibility issues ahead of time.  Our last stop will be the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre for Dance! Dance! (and Revolution).

Spots are limited so please register for this event by contact Chris at cshannon9(at)cogeco.ca or by phone at 905.524.3993

B-boys, b-girls, dance crews and hip-hop heads be on alert, D!D!(+R) is back. Bring your boogie shoes and celebrate the closing of Alternative Welcome Week.

featuring the musical stylings of:

Red Slam
http://www.myspace.com/redslamcollective

Unidentified Funky Objects

Drop D

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Free show, all ages, donations accepted for G20-related support
doors at 8, music at 8:30.
For students coming from campus, we will be leaving together at 6:30 from MUSC 229 and getting a tour of the Workers Arts and Heritage Centre before the show.

www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=102041759856328&index=1

Join us for a convergence of people willing to share insights around the implications of the G20 Economic Summit and the protests that ensued.

This is an opportunity for engaged parties to offer a diversity of perspectives in the form of a creative knowledge exchange.  Folks are welcome to present their opinions and the views of their organizations in the form of poster and display boards, collages, visual art, music, theatrical pieces, ‘zines, short speeches, as well as preview video and photo footage.

To all others, come and bear witness to the stories that have evolved out of the latest summit.  Let us use this opportunity to learn from the experiences of our communities, while we rediscover our solidarity and construct deeper understandings of what transpired, and where we can go from here.

As a presenter, please send an email describing your artistic medium to g20unfair@gmail.com so that we can best accommodate you.

This event is hosted by the Hamilton Centre for Teaching Peace and endorsed by the Hamilton Coalition Against the G20 and the OPIRG Alternative Welcome Week, all striving for safe and inclusive spaces. 

Students on campus will be leaving together at 5:15 from MUSC 229.

Find out how you can take action on important social and environmental issues as a volunteer with OPIRG McMaster

Learn how to recognize and deal with oppression in your life and community with this introduction to anti-oppression workshop.

Facilitators Cat Cayuga and Rosemary Aswani will lead this participatory and interactive workshop using theatre and games to help participants gain insight and understanding.

The workshop is open to all McMaster students, and OPIRG McMaster volunteers and working group members are strongly encouraged to take this workshop. OPIRG Volunteers who complete the Anti-Oppression and the Consensus Decision Making workshop will recieve a certificate in OPIRG CORE VALUES.

Please pre-register with randy(dot)opirg(at)gmail(dot)com or 905-525-9140 ext. 26026

Learn about how to use Consensus Decision Making in small groups - create dynamic discussion in this democratic form of decision making.

Through group discussion, this interactive workshop will help you discover the benefits of Consensus.

Please pre-register for a space in the workshop with randy(dot)opirg(at)gmail(dot)com or 905-525-9140 ext. 26026

Those taking the Anti-Oppression AND the Consensus Decision Making today will be provided with a light lunch. Please bring your own drinks, and if possible cutlery/plate. Please indicate to randy(dot)opirg(at)gmail(dot)com if you have any special dietary requirements.

Father and Son Sarod Duet.  Plus, interactive Q & A session and hands on with musical instruments.  In celebration of Culture Days in Canada, celebrating Arts and Culture from Coast to Coast.   Free concert.  Donations Welcome.

Featuring Pandit Alok Lahiri and Abhisek Lahiri on Sarod and Kiran Morarji on Tabla.

The Malhar Group is a non-profit arts organization dedicated to the presentation and promotion of Indian classical music.

OPIRG accepts applications for Working Groups in the fall and again at the start of the winter term. Applications are reviewed by our Board of Directors who meet with applicants to ask questions about the proposal before deciding which groups will be accepted.

• Start by reading the OPIRG McMaster WORKING GROUP POLICY (Read it here)
• Fill our our online application here. (Please read the working group policy before applying.)
• You will meet with our Board of Directors for an interview, after which the Board will approve or deny your proposed group

IMPORTANT DATES

• 1st term application deadline – Monday, September 27, 2010. Fill out the online application
• 2nd term application deadline - January  2011 - application form here
• ANTI-OPPRESSION WORKSHOP: Saturday, September 25, 2010, 10am to 12pm in Togo Salmon Hall room 719.  Free, but please pre-registration required with randy(dot)opirg(at)gmail(dot)com or 905-525-9140 ext. 26026
• CONSENSUS DECISION MAKING WORKSHOP, Saturday, September 25, 2010, 1:00pm to 3:00pm in Togo Salmon Hall room 719..  Free, but please pre-registration required with randy(dot)opirg(at)gmail(dot)com or 905-525-9140 ext. 26026
• WORKING GROUP ORIENTATION (for approved groups) Sunday, October 17, 2010, 11:30am, Room 230, McMaster University Student Centre)

To find out more, please contact the OPIRG office in the Student Centre room 229, randy(at)opirg(dot)ca or call 905-525-9140 ext. 26026.

The Westmount Secondary School Social Justice Class is visiting OPIRG McMaster to meet some of our working group and board volunteers who work for social justice.