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QUOTE

C-484 at 2110

New tactics by pro-lifers show that the movement is perhaps not as moribund as those aging picketers at the ceremony to induct Henry Morgentaler into the Order of Canada may have appeared. Bill C-484, which is currently awaiting adoption by Parliament, would amend the Criminal Code so that anyone who attacks a pregnant woman would not only be responsible for the damage they do to her, but also to the foetus she is carrying. "It's part of a new strategy to recognize the foetus as a citizen, rather than as a baby,? says Maryruth Stine of Concordia's 2110 Centre for Gender Advocacy. In order to expose the new clothes of the pro-life movement, the centre is organizing No Choice Is Illegal, which features a screening of the film Democracy on Trial: The Morgentaler Affair, followed by an open discussion. "The film is interesting because it takes the angle of civil rights,? says Stine. "Now that the rightsbased rhetoric used by Morgentaler is being co-opted [by pro-lifers], we need to be more creative and vigilant in our engagements.? No Choice Is Illegal takes place Thursday, July 24 at 7 p.m. at Concordia's De Sève Theatre (1400 de Maisonneuve W.). For details, e-mail centre2110@ gmail.com. -MATT JONES

Soccer and satire

Giving standard protest tactics a rest, the Coalition Justice for Adil Charkaoui is turning to sports, satire and theatre with the National Security Cup, a soccer match designed to parody the injustices of security certificates. When the Supreme Court ruled certificates unconstitutional last year, the Conservative government introduced a virtually identical law, Bill C-3, keeping national security suspects detained under certificates in the dark about their charges and the purported evidence against them. Charkaoui, despite being released after two years' imprisonment in 2005, remains subject to strict conditions on his movements. "We want to creatively get it into people's heads that this struggle is far from over,? says Mary Foster, an organizer with the Coalition. "The first round was a draw, with Parliament coming back with the same law. Now it's round two, and we're starting from scratch.? Adil Charkaoui, playing himself, will be joined by other players representing security certificate detainees, and will square off against the likes of Stephen Harper, Stockwell Day and a crew of CSIS and RCMP agents. Federal Chief Justice Allan Lutfy, refereeing, is expected to issue unfair penalties and make arbitrary calls. The match kicks off at 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 26, at Lafontaine park. For more info, see www.adilinfo.org. -MARTIN LUKACS

A N G E L & I N S E C T

ANGEL: Wiring rural Canada The federal government is set to rake in $4.25-billion following an auction of wireless spectrum licenses, and is wondering what to do with it. The Prime Minister mused about paying down the national debt, or cutting taxes, but Liberal MP Scott Brison had another idea: why not spend it on providing affordable high-speed Internet to rural communities? Running a business without e-mail or a Web site is just about impossible, and the wireless companies-those who've just shelled out the big bucks to stay in the game- say extending services to distant regions isn't affordable. With a little federal largesse, that could change. INSECT: Gas price collusion The Federal Competition Bureau charged 13 individuals and 11 companies over allegations of gas pricefixing last month, but it seems the problem isn't limited the Eastern Township merchants now before the courts. Court documents show that police believe the problem extends to other regions across the province as well. Three of the companies and one of the people charged have already pleaded guilty and fined a total of over $2-million. So while the Bureau considers pressing additional charges against merchants elsewhere in Quebec, consumers are still likely getting screwed. Ah, oil. It certainly brings out the best in humanity. OF THE WEEK: "The one with the least amount of seniority.? -Montreal police constable Laurent Gingras, on the which cop held the escaped python in a Pine Ave. apartment while awaiting rescue from Berger Blanc. MORE HOTEL WOES: Striking workers from the Hyatt Regency on Jeanne Mance, annoyed at the slow pace of contract negotiations, began their first day on the picket line on Monday, calling for changes in working conditions, pay increases and hiring practices. The CSN says 5,500 Quebec hotel workers are currently negotiating new contracts, which, combined with a lousy tourist season, are giving the industry serious headaches. PHOTO BY JASON FELKER

Consent, STI and perversity

Pervers/Cité, which bills itself as an alternative to an over-corporatized Divers/Cité, will again be holding a series of events, workshops and discussions parallel to the city's big gay fest. One workshop in particular, "Harm Reduction for the Rest of Us,? will deal with sexual consent, assault and abuse issues, the HPV vaccine, STI and HIV transmission politics, and their impact within queer communities. The workshops' facilitators say they wanted to provide an alternative to a harm-reduction and sexual consent discourse that they felt wasn't addressing their reality. "There's a strong myth that sexual assault, abuse, rape is really a heterosexual issue-and it's a really fucked up one,? says workshop participant Nora Rohman. "We have to take accountability for consent in the queer community.? The workshop will draw on participants' own knowledge through frank talk about safer play. As well, participants can expect a return to basic sex ed, a bit of sex-toy DIY and a bevy of tips about alternative natural health courses of treatment for certain STI symptoms. The workshop takes place on Wednesday, July 30, at the Co-op Café Touski (2361 Ontario E.), 6 p.m., free. For more info, see www.perverscite.org. -LINA HARPER

Santropol Vice BBQ

This summer, if you choose to attend just one fundraising-barbecue with a bad 1980s TV show as its theme, make it the one being hosted by Santropol Roulant atop their rooftop garden, right across from McGill University's Burnside Hall (805 Sherbrooke W.) on Thursday, July 31 from 5-10 p.m. This year's theme is "Miami Vice,? and all proceeds go to help Santropol Roulant's meals-on-wheels program, so slick back your hair, put on your ugliest sunglasses, suitjacket and t-shirt and come out to help a worthy cause. As if the satisfaction gained from helping a good cause, lowpriced beer, burgers (both veggie and meaty-and all organic!), spiked watermelon and non-alcoholic punch weren't enticement enough, attendees will be treated to live bluegrass music from Halifax's Smokin' Contra Band. "The annual barbecue is our main source of fundraising for the meals-on-wheels program and it's always a lot of fun,? says Santropol Roulant sustainability coordinator Tim Murphy. "This time of year the garden is in full bloom, so it will be an especially nice environment. The garden really is a great example of how you can turn what was once a kind of drab, gray space into a beautiful and functional green space.? -STEVE ZYLBERGOLD

REAR-VIEW MIRROR

13 YEARS AGO - JULY 27-AUG. 30, 1995 On the cover: Four people dressed as the Village People, for Divers/Cité. One article looks at the World Ball for Unity and other Village events, another at whether queers would be better off in an independent Quebec (doubtful, seems the consensus). ? A new UdeM survey reveals that 50 per cent of dentists would not work on someone who is HIV-positive. AIDS activists launch a petition. ? Ricky Rigby of Montreal's Shine Like Stars! admits the band smokes a lot of dope. "But we're not junkies. I think you cross that line at heroin and Lysol.? ? "So just how avant-garde is Kids?? asks the review. "Not very. We learn that young adolescents swear, have sex and do drugs. You don't say!? Harmony Korine's dialogue is described as "crude.? ? A letter-writer complains about the perception of McGill students in Mirror articles. "Why is it that in most articles, some dummy always has to put down McGill students? Is it because they are so stupid that they were not accepted?? ? MONTREAL MIRROR JULY 24 - JULY 30 2008 5

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