Amazing News!! And lots of events...

Hey Everybody!

This will be the last e-mail you'll be getting from me for the next couple of weeks as I am leaving on Tuesday to attend the World Social Forum and Feminist Dialogues in Nairobi, Kenya. So exciting!!! We'll be giving a presentation on our adventures at SMU when we get back, so I'll be sure to let you all know about it :)

While I'm away however, Jane Hebert will be in the centre and available to assist anyone that needs something from the centre. Her email address is janehebert@hotmail.com.

There will be a lot going on over the next little while, so make sure you mark these dates on your calenders!

1- Vagina Monologues- Auditions and dates
2- International Women's Day
3- Essay contest
4- Tshirt logo design contest
5- Zine- call for submissions
6- Open house
7- Women's Studies textbooks
8- Workshops
9- AMAZING NEWS!!!

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1- Auditions for the 2007 production of The Vagina Monologues will be held next week . If you are interested in auditioning you can sign up on the door of the Women's Centre, or by emailing smuvagimons@hotmail.com. We will include anyone that wants to be a part of the show, so don't be intimidated! It's going to be a blast!

The show will be taking place on March 9th and 10th at SMU, and then on March 11th at The Khyber.

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2- Organization is also currently in progress for this year's celebration of International Women's Day. Although the official schedule has not been finalized yet, the tentative plans are as follows:

There will be an event including speakers and theatre at SMU, followed by a march and rally at Victoria Park, concluding at The Khyber where The Radical Vulvas performance will take place. Sounds like an evening of awesomeness to me :)

Stay tuned for details.

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3- This year's writing contest is now open, and the deadline for submissions will be Monday, February 26st. The topic is "Why does Feminism Matter". In light of recent and current circumstances surrounding the treatment of feminists in Canada, it is especially important to be thinking about this right now.

The winner will be given the opportunity to read their essay at the Vagina Monologues, and win some awesome prizes, such as a $50. gift certificate at Venus Envy, a Women's Centre tshirt, tickets to The Vagina Monologues and rad vagina earrings. The paper should be 500 words in length.

Submissions may be dropped off at the Women's Centre or sent by email to halifeminist@yahoo.ca.

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4- We are also currently holding a contest for a logo to print on our new tshirts. If you wish to enter, your design should contain the following information:

Saint Mary's Women's Centre
5th Floor Student Centre
496.8722

The winner will receive a tshirt with their design printed on it, tickets to The Vagimons and a $50 gift certificate to Venus Envy. Deadline for submissions is Thursday, February 1st.

Submissions may be left at the Women's Centre, or sent to halifeminist@yahoo.ca.

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5- We are now asking for submissions for our next zine. The theme is "Women and Relegion".

Again, the submissions may be left at the Women's Centre or sent to halifeminist@yahoo.ca.

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6- The Women's Centre will be holding an Open House on Thursday, February 1st. Friends, new and old , are invited to attend. If you've never been to the centre before, there's never been a better time to check it out. The open house will run from 12:00- 4:00, but the doors are usually open, so feel free to stop in anytime.

Yet another chance to win a $50. Venus Envy certificate just for stopping in!

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7- Just a reminder that our library is now stocked with SMU Women's Studies textbooks, so stop in to do your reading anytime!

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8- There will be breakdancing and capoira workshops for women being held on Fridays starting this week. Watch for posters around campus for details or email janehebert@hotmail.com.

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9- This is the most exciting news of all! As of April of this year, The SMU Women's Centre will be located in the former Travel Cuts space on the 5th floor of the Student Centre!!!

A very special thank you to Leah Bilodeau and Zach Churchill for recognizing the importance of our work on campus, and showing their support by making this happen. Thank you Leah and Zach!!!

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<3

Oxfam and Women's Rights

Meeting: Oxfam and WOMEN’S RIGHTS
Where: Oxfam office, 2099 Gottingen St.
When: Tuesday, January 16, 7 – 9 PM

Oxfam Canada is embarking on a five-year program on women’s rights, comprising the focus of both project and advocacy work overseas and campaigning and lobbying in Canada.

Here in the Maritimes, Oxfam wants to work with groups and individuals who are interested in and committed to women’s equality. Listed below are a number of elements that Oxfam’s work will embrace, starting this year. Oxfam wants to determine how best it can integrate its overseas perspectives on women’s rights with local issues, events and actions.

Kicking off Oxfam’s 5-year program on Women’s Rights, Oxfam Canada has decided that 2007 will be a ‘Year for Action on Women’s Rights’. This most critical issue for international development will have a number of elements:
· A gendered focus on Essential (public) Services, such as public access to water, education and health care;
· Women’s Rights and HIV/AIDS;
· Women’s Rights and Labour Rights (including sweatshop issues);
· Violence Against Women, or Gender Based Violence

The meeting on January 16 will have three parts:
1. A brief discussion on the links between local and global action on women’s rights.
2. How local actions can support the global struggle for women’s rights and how Oxfam, with its experience and connections as an international development agency, can strengthen local struggles.
3. In the short term, Oxfam wants to engage volunteers to help with organizing events for International Development Week (Feb. 4 – 10) and International Women’s Day (March 8).

If you are interested in attending the meeting – either as a ‘one-off’ to contribute to the content of the discussion or to possibly become further engaged in Oxfam’s Women’s Rights work – please contact Brian O’Neill at briano@oxfam.ca, or 425-7877.


Brian O'Neill
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Brian O'Neill, Canadian Program Officer, International Financial Institutions Oxfam Canada 2099 Gottingen St. Halifax NS B3K 3B2 Tel.: (902) 425-7877 e-mail: briano@oxfam.ca web: www.oxfam.ca
Join the Big Noise and help Make Trade Fair www.maketradefair.com

Oxfam Canada e-Alerts is a periodic email service providing notice of urgent Oxfam news, campaign actions and updates. Join the e-Alerts Community and become part of virtual campaigning force that is tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice around the world. To subscribe visit http://www.oxfam.ca/eSubscriptions/index.htm

The Vaginas are Coming!!

It's that time of year again!!

If you are interested in being a part of this year's production of The Vagina Monologues (onstage or behind the scenes) come to the first planning meeting on Friday, January 12th in the SMU Women's Centre, 526 Student Centre.