First paragraph (Teaser):

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CONFERENCE AGAINST WAR, IMPERIALISM and RACISM

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MAY 9-12, 2002

IN MONTREAL

(this is simply the reproduction of a press release received from the conference organising committee, with slight changes)

Rest of the text:

From May 9th to 12th 2002, Montreal will host a North American Anti-War Conference. Initiated by the Concordia University Student Union and organized with the help of a coalition of community and activist groups,

the bilingual conference will bring together 90 speakers and over 1000 participants to strategize against war, imperialism and racism. The conference is, of course, open to the public.

Groups active in Fiji, Palestine, New Zealand, Philippines, Colombia, Guatemala, India, the United States and across Canada will be present to make connections between social justice movements.

Over the course of the Conference, workshops will examine the systemic effects of militarism, particularly on people of Color and Indigenous people world-wide. Presentations will make links between such pressing issues as the human toll of the bombing of Afghanistan and the massacre

of Palestinians in Jenin; nuclear-testing in the Pacific and low-level NATO flights over Innu land; Canadian oil companies and their relationship to militias in Sudan and Colombia.

A FEW OF THE WORKSHOPS WILL BEAR SPECIFICALLY ON IRAQ, WITH THE PARTICIPATION OF CANADIAN WAR VETERANS FROM THE "GULF WAR", IRAQI ORGANISATIONS IN CANADA, AND VOICES OF CONSCIENCE AS WELL AS KEY NOTE SPEAKERS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE INCLUDING AFRICA, ASIA, SOUTH AMERICA, MIDDLE EAST AND OTHER..

A speakers list and the schedule of events are available at

www.awag2002.com

The conference begins at 9 AM on May 9th, 2002. Workshops, caucuses, and registration are at 1455 de Maisonneuve Ouest, Hall Building, Concordia University (metro Guy-Concordia), except for the keynote speakers presentation during the evenings:

- Thursday, May 9th, 7 PM Leacock 132 McGill University

- Friday, May 10th, 7 PM at Adams Hall McGillUniversity

- Saturday,May 11th, 7 PM at Leacock 132 McGillUniversity

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

- for billeting 1-2 persons

- to work at the daycare

- for translation

- for putting up posters

If you can help, PLEASE communicate with

THE CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT

(514) 848-7970

anti...@yahoo.ca

PEOPLE TO CONTACT FOR THE MEDIA:

English media: Riel Dupuis-Rossi (514) 583-2209

Harsha Singh

French media : Veronique Methot (514) 270-9104

GROUPS ENDORSING THE CONFERENCE:

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-AGIR (action contre la guerre, l'impérialism et le racisme

-Alternatives

-African Women's League- Manitoba

-CERAS

-Centre for Phillippine Concerns

-Canadian Federation of Students-Quebec

-Conseil central de la CSN

-Concordia Student Union

-Council of Canadians

-CKUT

-CKLN

-CMAQ

-GRILA (Groupe de Recherche et d'Initiatives pour la Liberation de l'Afrique)

-Immigrant Workers Center

-Indigenous Sovereignty Network

-Jewish Alliance Against the Occupation

-Kabataang Montreal (Filipino Youth)

-McGill Students Against War and Racism

-Montreal Coalition Against Racism and War Hysteria

-Montreal Sikh Students Association

-National Action Committee on the Status of Women

-Pro Libertad Freedom Campaign

-PAJU (Palestinian and Jewish Unity)

-Quebec Public Interest Research Group

-Quebec Legal Collective

-Quebec Public Interest Research Group-Concordia

-Quebec Public Interest Research Group-McGill

-Peacemedia

-Peace and Justice Publishing Initiative

-Pro Libertad Freedom Campaign

-Philippine Women Centre of British Columbia

-Filipino Workers Support Group

-Pinay-Filipino Women's

-South Asian Women`s Center (SAWCC)

-Simone de Beauvoir Institute

-Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights

-TPAC (Toronto Peace Action Coalition)

-Teesri Duniya Theater

-The Working Group on Puerto Rico (FS-NY)

-The National Capital Region Council of the Public Service

-United Nations Platform for Action-Manitoba Chapter

-Voices of Conscience

-Vieques Support Campaign