Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) McMaster

Visitors to OPIRG's annual Open House in the resource centre Wednesday, enjoying food, hot apple cider and fair trade coffee and good conversation.We met new and old friends, and OPIRG is donating a twoonie for every visitor to the McMaster First Nations Student Association's "New Toy Drive."Of course, the annual event had "The Minstrels" singing holiday songs with a progressive twist.  Thanks everyone who contributed and who dropped by.

OPIRG is a proud member of the Anti-Violence Network at McMaster.

Disclaimer: this is notan official opirg mcmaster sponsored event, and is posted for informationpurposes only. Please contact the event organizers with any questions orconcerns

Is consumerism out of control? Check out OPIRG's JUST STOP! working group.

Hi - if you have skills laying out a newsletter full of great articles and images relating to social justice and the environment, consider joining the OPIRG McMaster newsletter committee. We aim to put together a beautiful print newsletter by the beginning of December. If you have used Indesign, consider that a bonus!Contact randy.opirg@gmail.com to get involved!

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2011 THE SILHOUETTE • C5thread work clothing swap, photo courtesy thread workSwap a top and move shoes for free Threadwork and MacGreen host annual Clothing Swap event Chris Erl The Silhouette “Hang on, I have to show you the coat,” she said, running to the ‘Outerwear’ pile. She returned a minute later wearing a baby blue blazer, strips of fur lining the hood and stuck aimlessly all over the front of the ensemble. The inside of the coat was even more fabulous, lined entirely with an audacious leopard print. The coat in question was a mere sampling of the selection at this year’s Clothing Swap, organized by OPIRG working group Threadwork and the MSU’s MacGreen. Over 90 people participated in the event, which was organized by third-year Arts and Science students Alexandra Epp, Alice Cavanagh and Isabelle Dobronyi, as well as MacGreen Co- ordinator Davey Hamada. Cavanagh, the enthusiastic model of the ambitious blue coat, summarized goal of the movement. “Basically, our aim is to support a sustainable cloth- ing economy on campus,” she said “I don’t want to say it’s about ‘anti-consumerism,’ but that kind of attitude towards reducing our consumerist needs,” Epp noted, shedding light on the principle of the movement: lessening the need to pay for what is available through alternative means. The system is simple. A call for clothing items was sent out prior to the event. Everyone who contributed during the week- long collection period received points, which would be redeemable for other items of cloth- ing. On-the-spot swap-day exchanges were a possibility as well, with one participant at- tempting a rather spontaneous transaction. “We actually just had someone swap the shoes off his feet,” Epp said, though later, the would-be swapper noted that the desired shoes were not his size, but he was intrigued by the potential for footwear that was already broken in. OPIRG working group Threadwork and the MSU’s MacGreen teamed up for this year’s Clothing Swap. “My goal is to have someone swap the entire outfit they’re wearing,” Epp continued with a laugh, prompting Cavanagh to note the changing-room tents in which participants could try on items. The methodology was such that Threadwork attempted to get as many people interested in the project as possible. Particularly, they targeted those who would be opposed to the idea of donning someone else’s blue blazer if it was hanging on a rack in a vintage store. “We bring it to people who would never go to Value Village and buy used clothes,” Epp said. An alternative suggested was to simply allow people to take clothes without contributing any of their own, but the group agreed that the point system was a better way to combat the negative perceptions associated with used clothing without compromising their ideals surrounding sustainability. “It makes it more appealing to people who wouldn’t necessarily want to take free clothes from someone else,” Cavanagh explained. “We’re continually looking at alternative methods of clothing-swapping.” There is an element of economic justice that accompanies an event like this, but the organizers are taking a realist approach toward any larger aims. “Last year, one of our slogans was ‘Working Toward a Sustainable Clothing Economy on Campus,’ which is obviously hugely ambitious and unachievable, but its kind of nice to have those underlying goals,” Epp said. The working group soldiers on re-gardless, planning a second swap for the spring, as well as organizing a knitting work- shop, hashing out plans for a similar sewing event and working on ways to improve awareness around initiatives that work to- wards a more sustainable way to change your wardrobe. Their goals are ambitious, but they approach a serious issue in a fun and en- gaging way. It would seem that Threadwork’s Clothing Swap has you covered, from outrageous blazers to already broken-in shoes, no matter what your style is.

OPIRG's Guatemala working group and Hamilton Students for Social Justice working group are showing this film that documents Mayan indigenous groups in Guatemala, who courageously resist the imposition of a gold mine owned by Canadian trans-national company.http://www.cinemapolitica.org/screening/opirgmcmaster/opirg-mcmaster-film-nightTonight, in Burke Science Building room 106, McMaster Medical Centre, Ewart Angus 1A3, McMaster University. Free. Starts at 7pm

Check out more photos on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/OPIRG.McMaster

Trade in the old for some new-old with OPIRG's THREADWORK working group's twice a year Clothing Swap, Monday, Nov. 14 in the Student Centre Atrium. Look sharp and save bucks and the environment!

Occupy McMaster UniversityA call for McMaster University students, faculty, and staff to stand in solidarity with the Occupy movement occurring around the planet to address the systematic injustices engrained in our society.Follow the facebook page for information on the upcoming General Assembly, to be held on Wednesday, November 9th at 6:00pm in the MUSC Atrium. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-McMaster-University/251475544900266Email: OccupyMcMasterU@gmail.comTwitter: @OccupyMcMasteroccupymcmasteru@gmail.com*Please forward*Disclaimer: this is not an official opirgmcmaster sponsored event, and is posted for information purposes only. Pleasecontact the event organizers with any questions or concerns.

Check out some original and thought provoking research by OPIRG McMaster volunteer Preeti Nayak here.Can the university be a space for diverse ways of knowing?Read it and feel free to comment on the work on this blog.Disclaimer: this is not an official opirg mcmaster sponsored event, and is posted for information purposes only. Please contact the event organizers with any questions or concerns.

Michael Parenti: Imperialism Today and the 99%TimeBegins at November 3rd 7:00 PM EDTending on November 3rd 9:00 PM EDTLocationITB AB-102, McMaster UniversityOrganizersHamilton Haiti Action CommitteePosted byHaiti Action NetworkMcMaster Campus groups in conjunction with partners in the community are pleased to bring you America’s Foremost Political Scientist, Professor Michael Parenti , author of the recent book "The Face of Imperialism," which “meticulously exposes the disastrous consequences of the greed of multinational (mostly U.S.) corporations, and it documents how and why they control our government, which claims to foster democracy but systematically supports the dictatorships that cater to the profit motives of those corporations." - John GerassiDr. Parenti's lecture unites the study of U.S. foreign policy with the domestic consequences of permanent war.

Cootes Paradise – Lectures and Volunteer EventsAncaster Creek Clean UpWe will be helping the Bay AreaRestoration Council clean up the garbage and shopping carts that litterAncaster Creek behind Metro at University Plaza. Food provided by MetroSaturday October 22, 9:30 – 12 noon –meet at Railtrail bridge behind University PlazaCootes Paradise lecture: TheNiagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve is in Your Backyard.Learn more about the incredibleecosystem and natural area adjacent to McMaster University with Tys Theysmeyer, Head of Natural Landsfor Royal Botanical GardensNov 4 – 7-9pm Location – JHE 376Cootes Paradise - Native Shrub Planting and InvasiveSpecies ClearingWe will clear out Invasive Species suchas Honeysuckle and Buckthorn while we plant native species of plants to helpthis wonderful natural area rehabilitate itselfNov 6 – 10am-2pm – Meet at Alpine Towerfacility – McMaster University behind Ivor Wynne CentreCootes Paradise - Native Shrub Planting and InvasiveSpecies ClearingWe will clear out Invasive Species suchas Honeysuckle and Buckthorn while we plant native species of plants to helpthis wonderful natural area rehabilitate itselfNov 12 – 9am-12 noon – Meet at ChurchillPark in Westdale near Ravine Road trail, off of Marion Ave N.FOR ALL EVENTS PLEASE RSVP IF POSSIBLETO :terryber@mcmaster.caFor trail work and clean up daysDress for the weather and be prepared to get dirty.Gloves and equipment will be provided.Please wear closed toed shoes, bring a portable lunch and water bottle.Water and snacks will be provided.These events will occur rain or shine, but pleasecheck our website for cancellation if adverse weather conditions occur.

Sustainability Day andIT Collection, Reuse and RecyclingWednesday, October 19, 2011 Join us on October 19th to take part in McMaster’s 4th annual Campus Sustainability Day event and the 6th round of our twice-annual IT Collection, Reuse and Recycle event.***************************************************Campus Sustainability Day 201111:00am - 2:00pmMUSC Marketplace The Office of Sustainability hosts the McMaster University Campus Sustainability Day event each October. The McMaster community is invited to come and celebrate the efforts and achievements made in continuing to evolve and enhance our culture of sustainability here at McMaster. Free apples and coffee will be available while supplies last.Please remember to bring your reusable mug as single-use cups will not be provided.Click here for full event details***************************************************IT Collection, Reuse and RecyclingVarious locations and timesIf you have outdated or unwanted IT equipment, please take this opportunityto champion sustainability in your area by taking it to one of four collection locationson Wednesday, October 19th to be fully recycled.Locations include:1.  Main Campus Grassy Mall across from University Hall 2.  Ewart Angus Centre located in the Health Sciences Centre 3.  Downtown Centre in the underground parking lot 4.  Ron Joyce Centre in the main lobby Click here for full event details.

Volunteers with OPIRG working group MI Water attend to the bake table in MUSC, raising money for a water project in Guatemala. An assortment of baked goods to tempt you to donate to a great cause, today only!