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🌹 May Day Party 🌹 "The worker must have bread, but she must have roses, too" - Rose Schneiderman (1882 - 1972) Workers deserve fair and equitable working conditions, but they also deserve joy, art, and beauty. On May Day, 2022 we gathered with the Worker Action Network at Bannerman Park for a celebration of workers rights. Hover over the photos below to see what brought these party-goers out. Click to open them in large view, and to see image descriptions. Photos by Tania Heath.

Sex Worker Solidarity Mar 6, 2021 In March of 2021, we participated in the Safe Harbour Outreach Project's (SHOP) "Stories of Sex Worker Solidarity" in recognition of #InternationalSexWorkerRightsDay . Below is a video submission by our Volunteer Coordinator. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5G4B22JrhI Another one of our members sent a mesage of solidarity too! SJC member Heather says that... "Sex workers are often members of other marginalized groups that don’t need any more barriers in front of them to get the services they need. When they are survivors of violence, they should have their complaints taken seriously, regardless of what they do for a living. They should be able to exist without fear of repercussions or victimization just for existing. And, above all else, sex work is valid work and should be treated as such. Self-determination exists in other work, and it should not be kept from sex workers because some people are uncomfortable with their chosen occupation." Thank you to SHOP for all your crucial work in the community, for championing the dignity and rights of sex workers, and for inviting us to be part of this iniative. Previous Next

Our Roots The climate crisis is here. Every day animals go extinct, more land is flooded or becomes too dry to grow crops, storms grow bigger, wildfires become stronger, and the ice caps are melting under our feet. The problem feels insurmountable but humans created this problem—and it’s up to us to fix it. The Social Justice Co-operative NL formed in 2013 to continue the 50+ year tradition of speaking out for social justice, connecting the local with the global, and working with like-minded agencies for common social change goals. Oxfam Canada set up a regional office in St. John’s in 1964 at the instigation of a group of local activists and with staff members dedicated to build support and connections between projects in developing countries and our own communities. Learn more About: About Us Our Team Check out our Board of Directors and Staff See list of Directors and Staff here! Our Vision The struggle against patriarchy, white supremacy, colonialism, imperialism, climate change, and our corrupt economic system can feel overwhelming. It’s not a struggle we can take on alone. That’s why the Social Justice Co-operative is building a grassroots movement centred on creating caring communities and fostering friendships between activists based on caring for each other. Read Our Vision For Change Here Our Finances Here's all the information presented at our Annual General Meetings, plus our Financial Oversight Policy and Community Update on 2023 Theft in SJCNL See information here

Build Safer Communities Aug 1, 2020 The Social Justice Co-op is a signatory of the ' Choosing Real Safety: a Historic Declaration to Divest from Prisons and Policing and Build Safer Communities ', collaboratively developed and authored by the Abolition Coalition and its allies. Show your support, and join us in signing the declaration! https://www.choosingrealsafety.com/ Previous Next

Project Nujio'qonik Sep 22, 2023 What is Project Nujio'qonik? Project Nujio'qonik is also known as the Port-au-Port & Stephenville Wind Power & Hydrogen Generation Project. It's a wind-to-hydrogen mega-project being proposed by World Energy GH2 for construction on the Port-au-Port peninsula and in the area around Stephenville. The project, if approved, would see 164 wind turbines built on the Port-au-Port peninsula and a Hydrogen Generation Plant built in Stephenville. Who is World Energy GH2? World Energy GH2, founded in 2022, is a NL based subsidiary of a US company called World Energy LLC, one of the USA's biggest suppliers of biodiesel. The CEO of World Energy GH2 is Sean Leet, whose previous appointments include Director and CEO of two Maritime Transportation companies, KOTUG and Horizon Maritime.The chairman of Project Nujio'qonik is Nova Scotian billionaire John Risley, founder of Clearwater Seafoods. (Notice that no one here has any previous experience in wind energy or hydrogen generation) Why are people concerned? A group of local residents called the Environmental Transparency Committee (ETC) outline many reasons for concern in their August 29th media release. Read the release in full by clicking here, or check out some highlights below: "We were already worried when this project was sprung on us last summer," says Marilyn Rowe, Chair of the Sheaves Cove Local Service District. "It was obvious then that trying to crowd 164 giant turbines onto our little peninsula would threaten our environment, our communities and our way of life. The preliminary work on roads and test towers has already caused significant destruction. The EIS [Environmental Impact Statement submitted by World Energy GH2] shows that the impacts will be even worse." The EIS, required by the Province, represents the proponent company's version of the impacts they anticipate and how they will address any problems. It is a massive multi-volume document detailing their technologically complex and economically questionable plan to use the area's wind energy to transform water into hydrogen and then into ammonia for shipment overseas from the port of Stephenville. Like Muskrat Falls before it, this mega-proposal suffers from an extreme form of optimism bias, apparently shared by the provincial government. The Port au Port Peninsula is home to some 4,000 people, a majority of Mi'kmaq descent, and is known for its relatively unspoiled natural environment, its rare and endangered species, and its unique blend of Indigenous, French and English cultures. A year ago when word began to spread there about the proposed mega-project, local people formed the Port Au Port Environmental Transparency Committee to demand a say in the decision-making and an end to the secrecy and conflicts of interest surrounding the project. "We've performed our due diligence, talked to the company, taken part in their staged 'consultations' and challenged their experts," says Nadine Tallack of the ETC. "All during that time, the proponent was continuing their preliminary work, while meeting with the provincially-appointed committee of government employees to make the drastic changes and additions to their original proposal that they have now entrenched in their EIS." With members locally throughout the Peninsula and supporters across Newfoundland and Labrador, the ETC has received formal letters of support from provincial and national organizations, including EnviroWatch NL, the Social Justice Co-operative of Newfoundland and Labrador, CLEAN NL and the Council of Canadians. "This World Energy mega-project is not 'green energy' at all," says Helen Forsey of the Council of Canadians Avalon/NL Chapter. "Its construction alone will require huge amounts of fossil fuels and earth minerals, and its operation will rely on power from the provincial grid to cover fluctuations in the wind source. Moreover, nothing even partially 'green' will stay here in the Province: the ammonia will be shipped overseas to European markets, generating further emissions and wasting more energy to reconvert it to a usable form. Newfoundland/Ktaqmkuk will be left with the devastating environmental and social consequences of the whole profiteering venture." The ETC worked hard to push Minister Guilbeault to designate the project for Federal Impact Assessment. Unfortunately despite the comprehensive case they made, and the many letters of support contributed by groups like the SJC, Council of Canadians, and the FFAW, the minister decided not to designate the project for a federal impact assessment. Instead he left the environmental and impact assessment in the hands of the province. The provincial process is not as comprehensive as the federal one and does not provide any funding for public intervenors, which is how concerned residents get their voices heard in the assessment process. The ETC is now considering setting up a parallel community-run impact assessment process. If you're interested in being involved in this shoot us an email at SocialJusticeCoopNL@gmail.com and we'll put you in touch. A second west coast based group working to ensure concerns about the potential negative impacts of Project Nujio'qonik and others like it get heard is the South Coast Alliance. We had the great pleasure of meeting with Brenda from the South Coast Alliance this week. They are advocating for a "six-month pause, with time extension possibilities, on approving industry projects on the Southwest Coast until proper Cumulative Effects Assessment studies and meaningful consultations are concluded ". This includes the wind-to-hydrogen mega-project proposed by World Energy GH2, Project Nujio'qonik. If you're on Facebook, you can join their group "Protect NL" to stay updated on their activities. Brenda came all the way to St. John’s to bring flyers, petitions and protest signs to raise awareness. Send us a message at SocialJusticeCoopNL@gmail.com to get some flyers and petitions! You can also email the South Coast Alliance at ProtectNL@outlook.com Join the Conversation The SJC will be discussing Project Nujio'qonik at our Monthly General Meeting on: October 12 from 7-9pm NT | 6:30-8:30pm over zoom. Email us at SocialJusticeCoopNL@gmail.com for the invite. All are welcome! Check out our meeting accessibility details here: bit.ly/sjc-access Below is some footage from the rally that took place on September 22nd in St. John's. Protestors gathered in solidarity with the ETC to demand a federal impact assessment. Project Nujio'qonik Incompatible with Revolution of Care https://video.wixstatic.com/video/d3d867_12b29aa5a07a4c1bb1cac87fd17ada6d/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 SJCNL Volunteer Coordinator, Lea Movelle, opens Sept 22nd Rally for Federal Impact Assessment of Project Nujio'qonik by calling out provincial government for greenwashing, drawing parallels to Muskrat Falls, thanking Environmental Transparency Committee for raising their voices, and encouraging a Revolution of Care. Jude Benoit shares concerns about Work Camps, Noise Pollution, Environmental Racism https://video.wixstatic.com/video/d3d867_503afe92037c4e6db045a02a021d866e/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Jude Benoit, Two Spirit Mi'kmaq activist, co-founder of the Indigenous Activist Collective and member of the SJC shares concerns about the impacts of Project Nujio'qonik on their home and family. Helen Forsey says Current Assessment Process is largely Managed by and for the Proponent (World Energy GH2) https://video.wixstatic.com/video/d3d867_a17acc47e438401eb8e6b1adcea686b1/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Rally for Federal Impact Assessmentfor Project Nujio'qonikEnds in Group Chant: https://video.wixstatic.com/video/d3d867_9061303ebd624575983e79b048495147/1080p/mp4/file.mp4 Protestors chant, "We're here to fight for the future we need, the elites won't save us from their own greed" Additional photos below! Big thanks to Kassie Drogde for capturing all the video and photos. Previous Next

Acerca de SJC Grant Approval The Revolution of Care is dynamic, flexible, inquisitive, and courageous. It requires many moving parts to respond to the complexity of community and how we can live sustainably and kindly on this land. To build a movement, we need to envision and support an ecosystem of change, which can include partnering with outside organizations to fund project goals. In 2020, for every $1 that the SJC spent, we were able to leverage $0.92 in grants from external organizations thanks to the dedication and determination of our members To support the brilliant ideas and inspirational activities needed to craft a Revolution of Care, the SJC encourages our members to apply for external funding and can help connect you with different opportunities.. SJC can lend institutional support to external grant applications since this can: a) be a funding requirement and; b) help solidify confidence in the application to an external funder. However, as a largely volunteer organization with limited resources, the Board is charged with assessing our co-operative capacity to take on new projects and whether the external funder aligns with our values. A few of our favourite grants include: Rising Youth (for 30 and under) Community Grant Program (within City of St. John's) Quick Start Fund for Public Engagement (need partner from Memorial University) RULES TO SUBMIT Applications will be reviewed by the Board based on the following considerations: To maintain political independence, the SJC will not accept outside funding for permanent staff positions. The organization will take funding from non-profits, academic institutions, unions, religious organizations, and government for short-term positions and project costs. It will not take funding from corporations and industries that exploit and extract from people and the planet, even if it is filtered through a different organization. We reserve the right to deny any funding from organizations that do not share our values. Notice of approval for grants will be 7 days for grants under $1,000 and up to 60 days for grants greater than $1,000. We encourage members to fill out the form as early as possible to ensure that we can do our best to support the success of the project. APPLY HERE! Submissions may be made by through email or the web form below. Email submissions can be sent to socialjusticecoopnl@gmail.com . Applications can be downloaded here. Name Email Are you a member of SJC? * Required Yes No Unsure How will you identify the project in your grant application and any promotional material? * Required As an SJC project As an SJC action team or working group project As an external project through another organization with SJC as a partner As an external project as an independent social citizen with SJC as a partner If this is a partnership, do you have the consent of the other organization(s) to partner with SJC? Yes No How will SJC be recognized by the project? * Required As a partner: the project will give equal billing to SJC and use its logo As a supporter: the project will acknowledge the contribution(s) or role(s) of SJC but will not use its logo As a participant: the project will invite SJC members and the SJC community to participate in the project if the external grant is successful, but will not use its logo Which of the following SJC Objectives from our Bylaws does your project fulfil? Check all those that apply. * Required To research, analyze and speak to the structural causes of social injustice locally and globally; To provide policy alternatives to all levels of government that will address and redress matters of social, economic and political inequality in Newfoundland and Labrador; To develop and provide public education on the link between the global and the local structural causes of poverty and increase awareness of the need for and the value of social justice in Newfoundland and Labrador and around the world; To be an example of an active and engaged citizenry, initiating and supporting campaigns and activities that give voice to people and the environment that become the victims of social injustice; To develop partnerships with other social justice groups and collaborate with them to achieve common social justice goals; To provide social justice related educational/training services and any other relevant services to our members and other interested parties; To promote membership and active participation in the Social Justice Co-operative; To create and maintain a physical symbol and focal point for social justice activities in Newfoundland and Labrador; To engage in any and all activities that will enable the Co-operative to achieve its general mandate and objectives. Briefly describe the grant application Who is the funder? Please include link to website When is the application due? Some projects may require hiring staff and/or financial reporting. Would the project require administrative support from SJC? * Yes. The budget for the grant proposal contains an administrative fee for SJC that represents 5% of the total budget. No Some projects may require in-kind or sweat-equity support from partnering organizations. Would the project require in-kind labour from SJC board members, action teams, working groups, and/or individual volunteers? * Yes. The project will independently build relationships within SJC and plan and execute recruitment of in-kind contributions of volunteer labour within SJC. No Some projects may require social media promotion and/or public relations work. Would the project require promotional support from SJC? * Yes. The project will supply SJC volunteers with a scheduling plan, images, text, and image descriptions for all promotion work. No Is there anything else you would like to add? Send Thank you for your submission! We will contact you when a decision has been made.

Land Back Fest with the Indigenous Activist Collective Jul 1, 2022 Land Back fest 2022 and 2023 grew out of Cancel Canada Day YYT 2021, which was organized by the Indigenous Activist Collective, Anti-Racism Coalition NL, Black Lives Matter NL, and SJC NL in response to Idle No More's call to Cancel Canada Day and show # NoPrideInGenocide Land Back Fest is a community gathering and feast with the Indigenous Activist Collective in Bannerman Park on July 1 to celebrate Land Back Movements and Indigenous Peoples. Why celebrate colonial genocide when we can come together to celebrate and demand the return of Indigenous lands to Indigenous hands!? Check out some Land Back fest photos here: sjcnl.ca/lbf Previous Next

Teams We are so thankful for all of the volunteers and partners working on many fronts in the Revolution of Care. This page shows some of the teams that have formed within the SJC over the years. Some of these groups are still active and meeting (AxA Book Club, Challenge Car Culture, Prison Pen Pals, 2SLGBTQ+ Mutual Aid Pod. Transformative Justice Working Group) and others are less active or dormant at this time (Coalition for a Green New Deal, Food Sovereignty, Zero Waste). There may still be content updates on team pages that aren't currently meeting or active, if the SJC participates in something that fits into one of the sub-group themes. While sub-group activity and meetings ebb and flow, the work continues on many fronts, and you can learn more about the projects and initiatives the SJC is involved in on the Social Justice Spotlight section of the website. Challenge Car Culture Challenging the idea that cars are the default way to get around. Advocating for accessibility, pedestrian safety/rights, public transit, and mobility justice. Learn More Anti-Capitalist x Activist Book Club Reading together for revolution! Learn More Prison Pen Pals Connecting and building solidarity through letter writing with incarcerated community members. Learn More Our Work: Programs 2SLGBTQ+ Mutual Aid Pod Organizing mutual aid efforts within the 2SLGBTQ+ community Learn More Transformative Justice Working Group Thinking through how to address conflict and harm in transformative, restorative, non-punitive ways that recognize the value, dignity, and potential of everyone Learn More Climate Action + Coaliton for a Green New Deal Confronting climate crisis and working towards a sustainable and just future Learn More Food Sovereignty Thinking critically and eating ethically Learn More Poverty Elimination Working to improve the well-being of low/no income people in NL Learn More Zero Waste Working toward a world without waste Learn More

Our Objectives To research, analyze and speak to the structural causes of social injustice locally and globally; To provide policy alternatives to all levels of government that will address and redress matters of social, economic and political inequality in Newfoundland and Labrador; To develop and provide public education on the links between global and local structural causes of poverty and increase awareness of the need for and the value of social justice in Newfoundland and Labrador and around the world; To be an example of an active and engaged citizenry, initiating and supporting campaigns and activities that give voice to people and the environment that become the victims of social injustice; To develop partnerships with other social justice groups and collaborate with them to achieve common social justice goals; To provide educational/training services in social justice issues and any other relevant services to our partners and other interested parties; To promote membership and active participation in the Social Justice Co-operative; To create and maintain a physical symbol and focal point for social justice activities in Newfoundland and Labrador; to engage in any and all activities that will enable the Co-operative to achieve its general mandate and objectives Our Objectives: Welcome

Our Roots Our Roots: Welcome The climate crisis is here. Every day animals go extinct, more land is flooded or becomes too dry to grow crops, storms grow bigger, wildfires become stronger, and the ice caps are melting under our feet. The problem feels insurmountable but humans created this problem—and it’s up to us to fix it. The Social Justice Co-operative NL formed in 2013 to continue the 50+ year tradition of speaking out for social justice, connecting the local with the global, and working with like-minded agencies for common social change goals. Oxfam Canada set up a regional office in St. John’s in 1964 at the instigation of a group of local activists and with staff members dedicated to build support and connections between projects in developing countries and our own communities. Oxfam Canada focused on the needs and concerns of communities in the developing world. Increasingly this was challenged by NL people and communities demanding that Oxfam recognise the links between the struggles of communities in NL and in the so-called “developing world”. Spurred by questions and demands from the local grassroots, the local Oxfam office on Duckworth Street became the hub of activism and progressive thinking. The crucial ingredients of success were dynamic and well informed staff, strong support from the national office and an activist community in support. Faced with funding cuts and a Conservative government, Oxfam Canada closed down most of its regional offices and ceased their focus on the connections between local and global issues. The activist group in St. John’s argued vociferously against this change , while also pointing out that the building on Duckworth St had been bought and maintained by the community and should remain a community resource. The Social Justice Cooperative of NL was formed to take over the building and to continue what we saw as the most important work of Oxfam in NL - its focus on the urgent need for social justice for everyone and on the connections between local and global. The particular form of the SJC came about because of the Harper era strictures and limitations on the political work of “charities”. While it makes us somewhat of an “oddball” in the context of the formal structures of the Federation of Cooperatives, our membership in the Federation helps us to think seriously about what “cooperation” means in terms of equality and justice for everyone. Since 2019, the SJC has been leading a campaign to address the climate crisis in Newfoundland and Labrador by connecting with activists and organizing a wide range of actions with a vision of anti-racism, anti-colonialism, and international worker solidarity. In the past few years, we have done important groundwork to build a movement in our province around social and environmental justice by building strong and respectful partnerships with allied organizations, and creating space for new people to get involved and champion causes. By organizing around a broad issue like climate change, we have integrated many related issues into a cohesive vision for how to transform our province into a more environmentally and socially just place. A key aspect of our strategy is to let members lead our work and use our staff to support them. This has created space for volunteers to pursue their passions and take initiative organizing events or action teams. We are always looking for more people to get involved and if you would like to learn more about our work, please reach out at socialjusticecoopnl@gmail.com . To strengthen our base and independence from government, we are also seeking individuals to donate to support our work. Please consider becoming a financial ally and supporting our Resources for Revolution campaign here . Our Roots: Text The climate crisis is not an easy problem and will need a multi-pronged solution to fix, but as this pandemic has shown, we can do hard things. By working together, we can overcome anything. Our Roots: Text

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Get Involved! Join The Movement Get Involved: Welcome Come Say Hi! We are happy to provide a variety of ways to start getting involved, from our Monthly General Meeting to a personalized chat with our Welcoming Committee. We also have numerous monthly meetings and public events that anyone is welcome to come to! Lunch 'n Learn with Lea Join our staff, Lea, for lunch every week on Wednesdays for 2pm NT / 1:30 AT to say hi or discuss projects further. Email Us Monthly General Meeting Find out what we're up to! We meet online on the 3rd Thursday at 7:00pm NT/6:30pm AT every month Email Us Welcoming Committee Looking for the best place to volunteer your skills? Book a session with our Welcoming Committee! Email Us Get Involved: Programs Not sure where to start? We're here to help! Volunteer Form Help us get to know you better by completing our volunteer form & our Volunteer C oordinator will reach out to you. Community Calendar Subscribe To Our Calendar Become A Member The SJCNL is a not-for-profit, member-owned co-operative. Become a member and vote at our upcoming AGM! Join Get Involved: Welcome Donate You can help us keep momentum going by sponsoring our work. Independent donors allow us an uncompromising political voice! Over the coming decade, we will need to educate, advocate, and organize with as much courage, conviction, and independent funding as we can muster! Donate Here