HUMAN RIGHTS COMMITTEE

Wednesday December 12, 2007

MINUTES

Present: Andrew Zarebski, Chair (Greenwood Reception Centre), Roger Langen (D12), Lynda Lemberg (OTBU), Javier Davila (Parkdale CI), Robert Kettle (Earl Haig SS), Janice Patterson (Albert Campbell (CI), Walter Schweigel (Oakwood CI), Eunice O’Mahony (Central Commerce CI), David Orenstein (Danforth CTI), Vivian Payne (Western CTI), Goldie Rosenberg (Martingrove CI). Guests: Kim Lehmann,  Farrah Miranda, S. K. Hussan (NOII). Regrets: Tim Heffernan.

1.      MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 4:40 p.m.  Roger to take minutes and also chair the meeting until Andrew Zarebski arrived.

2.      APPROVAL OF AGENDA

NOTE: David Orenstein requested Item 10, Screening of Occupation 101, be struck from the agenda. The Acting Chair (Roger) ruled against. The Committee upheld the ruling of the Chair.

3.      MINUTES FOR OCTOBER 24 2007 – APPROVED subsequent to the amendment that Vivian Payne was present for the meeting. David requested that a report on the Academic Freedom Conference identified in the minutes be written and shared. Agreed.

4.      REPORT OF THE CHAIR – (Roger)

STUDENT ACTION ON HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD – Notice given that the January meeting will focus on preparing the package and schedule for the 2008 awards. Discussion given to strengthening communication, e.g., to Student Super Council (Vivian), through Guidance re: computer access on “scholarships” (Goldie).

5.      EDUCATION NOT DEPORTATION

·        Draft of letter to Guidance & other TDSB admissions personnel not prepared yet. Farrah offered to prepare a draft version.

·        Vivian will work with Farrah on a proposal to the PD Committee for a Workshop.

·        NOII thanked the Committee for submitting its videography proposal to the Province.

·        NOII advised that ETT, OECTA, and the Peel District School Board were being lobbied to adopt DADT policies

6.      NON-UNIONIZED CAFETERIA WORKERS (Robert)

Not all cafeteria workers are CUPE. Many are working under outside contracts without union protection. Yuki’s story was shared. Discussion ensued about related problems and what steps the HRC or D12 might take. David suggested CUPE and ETT should be consulted. Roger will bring concerns forward to the next Executive Meeting.

7.      ACTION ALERT RE: DONNA DILLMAN (Lynda)

MOTION – BIRT that the Human Rights Committee send an e-note of solidarity to Donna Dillman and write a letter to Premier Dalton McGuunity calling for respect of Aboriginal land rights and a moratorium on uranium mining.            CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY

The matter concerned a three-months’ old hunger strike by Donna Dillman at Sharbot Lake, Ontario, protesting efforts to mine uranium on disputed land and with disregard for potential environmental impacts. Lynda agreed to write the e-note to info@ecosanity.org.

8.      EXECUTIVE LIAISON REPORT (Roger) – Materials were distributed, including a copy of the OSSTF Provincial Executive letter to Kathleen Wynne requesting an update of the values language in the Education Act, specifically the reference to “Judeo-Christian values,” recent correspondence, and upcoming conferences. Brief reports were made on events attended: the OSSTF Credit Integrity Symposium, a TDSB Guidance Seminar on OSRs; an Academic Freedom Conference at the U of T; and a related Palestine-Israel event at Ryerson.

9.      TIMED ITEM: Screening of OCCUPATION 101 (90 minutes)

There was no time afterward for discussion, unfortunately. Roger took notes and will try to create a brief report around the content of the film. Lynda advised that copies of the film are available from John Morton of The Student School.

      MEETING ADJOURNED at 7:50 p.m.

Next meeting:  Wednesday, January 23, 2008, 4:30 p.m., Library