Rafeef Ziadah - ‘We teach life, sir’, London, 12.11.11
RAFEEF ZIADAH is a Canadian-Palestinian spoken word artist and activist. Her debut CD Hadeel is dedicated to Palestinian youth, who still fly kites in the face of F16 bombers, who still remember the names if their villages in Palestine and still hear the sound of Hadeel (cooing of doves) over Gaza.
OCCUPY IN THE SNOW BY IAN FERRIER
You probably know this already, but the Occupy Montreal site is on borrowed time. There is one big rally planned at the tent city in Victoria Square this Saturday at noon. And after that nobody knows what will happen. It will probably not stay there.
A crazy idea to think of managing in the snow. Who would do that?
These kids would. The ones dancing and chanting to keep their spirits up and the cold away. The ones asleep beneath their tarpaulins and tents crusted in snow. The ones trying to decide by consensus, all hearing everyone speak.
The ones wondering how much longer they should or can last. Who have no place to go. Who greet me and try to convince me of nothing. The ones trying to stay healthy for the end in sight. The ones listening politely to the homeless and half crazy,
The ones standing in an empty yurt in the darkness as we beam a light on the beauty of the painted woodwork holding up the ceiling.
Who took the time to paint the lovely designs on each wooden support? Was it the three young men descending from the Saguenay, dresssed like 20s anarchists in scarves and thrift store tweeds. Tonight as I walked down one of the pathways on the outside of the encampment I realize some of the things I love about this place:
There is nothing for sale here.
It costs nothing to join.
Each tries to make room for the craziness of others.
No one is turned away.
At the foot of a forty story office tower, these nylon tents seem so fragile. Fragile because their inhabitants are young and no one believes one idea is enough to solve anything. Fragile because they remain here in the snow and the police are certainly coming. Fragile because they have slept little and no one knows what will happen.
How is it the mainstream can find them so threatening? To want to tear this down?
It is an easy choice to join the demonstration on Saturday. This tent city is humane and lovely and has problems and complexities that mirror our own lives. Its inhabitants live in hardship, and dream of a society not more comfortable, but more just. They dream and live in a place that welcomes everyone and requires little. Where the rich don’t keep getting get richer. Where everyone gets to speak.
The Antidote to Apathy by Dave Meslin at TEDTalks
“people do care, but we live in a world that actively discourages engagement”
On leadership: “heroic effort is a collective effort. #2. it’s imperfect it’s not very glamorous it doesn’t suddenly start and suddenly end. it’s an ongoing process your whole life. but most importantly it’s voluntary… it comes from within, it’s about following your own dreams uninvited and then working with others to make those dreams come true.”
How can we encourage YOU, your friends, your family, your classmates, your professors to get engaged?
Everybody get your people together!
Revolution starts in the mirror! Stand UP now! Courtesy of Moez Melon & Dose Trace.
http://www.youtube.com/user/MoezMelon1
WATCH MONTREALERS SLAM 4 CHANGE IN ENGLISH, FRENCH AND SPANISH DURING THE LARGEST POETRY EVENT IN THE WORLD! Next event is SEPTEMBER 29-2012. Subscribe and MAKE CHANGE PART OF YOUR LIFESTYLE!
CLICK HERE:
http://www.cutvmontreal.ca/shows/artsculture/cutvaplusc-100-thousand-poets-change
About me
SAVE THE DATE FOR MONTREALER`S 2ND EDITION OF 100 Thousand Poets For Change - SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2012. 100 TPC is a global movement that came to life on September 24, 2011 in 700+ individual events in 650 cities and 95 countries. Check out details for your city event here : http://www.100TPC.org Can't find your city? No worries! Join us by hosting the event.
Sign up or volunteer. 100TPCMontreal@gmail.com
LIVE HIP HOP Performance by: The Virtual City includes 'IT'S THE BIG BANG" as featured in the WORLDWIDE 100 THOUSAND POETS FOR CHANGE VIDEO.
Urban Graffiti-Artists submit your tags, words, art!
DATE: SATURDAY-SEPTEMBER 29 2012
TIME: 8:00PM TO 11:00PM
PLACE: HURLEY'S IRISH PUB
1225 Crescent Street, 2nd Floor
Montreal, QC
http://www.hurleysirishpub.com
*Note: MONTREALERS- We need you! All humanitarians, organizations, non-profits, concerned citizens, bloggers, poets, students, writers, rainmakers, dancers, musicians, activists, onlookers and artists are needed. Submit your ideas and make a difference! Let our thoughts become words to fight apathy. Make a difference one word at a time! Starting with: CHANGE!
Info: Betty Esperanza (Organizer)
100TPCMontreal@gmail.com
(514) 591-8256
"There is no way to peace, peace is the way.” A. J. Muste
