Campaigns
The Co-op is currently involved in a number of campaigns, some in collaboration with other groups and organizations, and some as initiatives originating in the Co-op. One consequence of a world in which politics happens at a fast pace is that an organization like SJC needs to be responsive to events and issues as they happen, and so some of our campaigns and activities have happened "on the fly," so to speak, while other campaigns have evolved more deliberately over time. We are always interested in new campaigns and in getting new people involved in our work, so get in touch if you have an idea or want to help.
Refugees Welcome
SJC members have been involved in a number of initiatives around the ongoing Syrian Refugee crisis and the global refugee crisis generally. We have hosted a Teach-In with expert panelists, organized public demonstrations, and some of our members are involved with other groups and individuals in the private sponsorship of refugees. Along with this, SJC has been critical of the Canadian immigration and refugee system broadly. Part of our organizing on this issue has been in co-ordination with an ad hoc national organization called Refugees Welcome, made up of groups in cities throughout the country..
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Climate Justice
In the last number of years, the SJC has organized and participated in a number of events to do with Climate Change and Climate Justice, including the yearly (unfortunately) Climate Marches. For a video of the 2014 Climate March, click here. Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of this century, and in many ways Newfoundland and Labrador -- a hub of activity for the oil industry -- is on the front lines of this struggle.
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Fracking
The Co-op has been working in solidarity with west coast groups like the Bay St George/Port au Port Fraking Awareness Group and NL Fracking Awareness Network. to getting fracking banned across the province. Due to sustained grassroots efforts, the provincial government mandated a review panel to decide whether to go ahead, and after nearly 600 submissions from the public, it seems likely that our vocal opposition to the unconventional means of fossil fuel extraction will keep NL frack free. For a video of an event SJC helped organize in Corner Brook featuring a panel of speakers, click here.
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Palestinian Solidarity
Our organization has been involved with other groups in NL and with Palestinians in the community in recent years, specifically when conflict has broken out or intensified in Gaza and the West Bank. SJC has organized public events like demonstrations and vigils in coordination with local faith groups and with individuals concerned about the ongoing plight of the Palestinian people.
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Tax Fairness
Inequality is a core concern of SJC. Tax fairness involves a deeper look at who benefits from neoliberal economics -- the way profits are privitized and debt is socialized. A working group of the Co-op has focused on tax fairness and issues of inequality generally speaking for the last number of years. For more info, see a SJC blog post at this link.
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Independent Media
SJC has formed a strategic partnership with Newfoundland and Labrador's only independent media outlet, The Independent NL. This partnership has involved a financial commitment to the Indy, and also regular op-eds on issues pertinent to the work of the Co-op. Visit the Indy at this link.
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Democracy
The Co-op is committed to the highest ideals of democracy, including ideas of democracy that go beyond our current system of representation. A past workshop on forms of democracy called Demo-X modeled direct democracy -- such workshops are portable and repeatable, and can be held for other community groups as requested. Some media coverage on Demo-X at this link. The Co-op has also recently been involved in actions to oppose the dangerously undemocratic Bill C-51, among other pro-democracy activities.
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Anti-Pesticides
In collaboration with groups such as Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides (CAP-NL) and Friends of Grand River/Mistashipu, the Co-op took part in a campaign to ban the herbicide Tordon 101. We held public events and canvassed communities to sign petitions. You can learn more about this issue on the campaign website. Spray season (for various pesticides) takes place in the spring/summer each year, and so these campaigns to bring public attention are ongoing.
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