17. $50,000 FUND DRIVE - NEWS FOR EQUALITY

The appalling corporate mainstream media was on full display this International Women’s Day. Across Canada, thousands of women and their allies rallied and marched, enduring winter storms in many cities. The Harper government’s blatant attacks against equality rights should have made these events headline news. But virtually everywhere, their actions received at best a few seconds of TV and radio coverage.

What did most media outlets pick as the number one IWD story? That’s right: the so-called “celebration” held under military guard (i.e. occupation) at the Canadian armed forces compound in Kandahar. Instead of covering IWD as a day of militant struggles by working class women for social and economic equality, we were treated to the sight of heavily armed troops and considerable blather about “defending women’s rights” in Afghanistan. Not a word was said about the lack of progress for women in that country since NATO troops arrived over six long years ago (see page 6).

For our part, as we do every year, People’s Voice presented the real story of IWD’s origins, and used our March 1-15 issue to promote the international struggles for equality. We can do this thanks to the generations of working people who have built our press, starting with The Worker in the 1920s. When the ruling class drove women out of the factories following the Second World War, the Canadian and Pacific Tribunes kept up the fight for women’s rights as workers,
not second class citizens. Contrary to some claims, International Women’s Day was always marked across Canada during those Cold War years, and the proof is in the pages of our predecessor publications. Drop by our offices sometime to see for yourself!

This spring we’re keeping up the fight for social change, whether it’s March 21, the International Day for the Elimination of Racism; Earth Day on April 20; or May 1, the most important date on the working class calendar. People’s Voice will be there side by side with the people’s movements, and with our readers.

Of course, to keep doing this, we need your support for our annual $50,000 Fund Drive. Donations are arriving steadily at our business office in Hamilton, and fundraising events are being planned in a number of cities. One of the first is at the Centre for Socialist Education (706 Clark Drive, Vancouver), where the monthly Left Film Night on Sunday, March 30, will start off at 5:30 pm with a Spaghetti Dinner organized by the Vancouver East Club CPC. For just $10, you’ll get spaghetti, salad and garlic bread, and a short documentary on Venezuela. Then at 7 pm, take in Shut Up & Sing, the incredible story of the Dixie Chicks standing up to the Bush regime and the U.S. ultra-right for their anti-war statements.

As reported in our previous issue, we are offering some material incentives in return for your solidarity. This year’s “PV Shopping Bag” includes the following:

“The Gruesome Acts of Capitalism,” a 112-page booklet by David Lester, full of astounding facts and figures about the exploitative system which threatens our planet;
a 12-month complimentary PV sub (keep it or give it to a friend);
People’s Voice 2008 Calendar;
People’s Voice “Karl Marx” Tshirt (tell us what size);
a surprise music CD - pick classical, oldies, or folk.

Here’s how it works. For a $100 donation, you get your choice of one of these items. For each additional $100, choose another item from our Shopping Bag. For a donation of $1000 or more, take the entire Shopping Bag, and receive a lifetime subscription for yourself or a friend.

Remember - People’s Voice is your newspaper, your voice in the information wars. Your donations help us build it bigger and better!

Found at: http://www.peoplesvoice.ca/articleprint14/17.%20$50,000_FUND_DRIVE_-_NEWS_FOR_EQUALITY.html