The year is drawing to an end and the highly anticipated UTSG TSA Charity Boat Cruise - “Alaipayuthey” is on its way to give this amazing year a grand finale. We’ve done so much this year and we’re so proud of everyone of you who came out to all our events, supported the rallies and cheered at the top of your lungs for the Phoenix dance team’s power team victory at the Kalaikal ’09 Inter College/University Dance Competition.
This year has been a great feat for the Tamil community as a whole. We’ve had our FAST FOR HUMANITY on our campus to bring attention to the devastating plight of the IDP Crisis in Sri Lanka; we’ve stood out in the freezing cold together with all of you all over Toronto in solidarity; screaming out at the top of our lungs about the Genocide the Sri Lankan government is committing against Tamils and their blatant disregard for human rights which has only escalated over the years and especially the past couple of months.
It has been a memorable journey and your TSA has been right there every step of the way. Another school year is coming to an end but there will always be lots to do with TSA...
Think you’ve got what it takes to keep TSA making a difference in our community, giving our youth a voice , as well as letting our students have something fun to look forward to - aside from midterms and exams???
Then what are you waiting for?!
If you want to be a committed member of the UTSG TSA Executive Team for the year of 09-10, and think you’ve got what it takes to be the perfect candidate, send us your nominations and inquiries to: utsgtsa@gmail.com
The Positions open to all registered UTSG students for the election are the following:
President
VP Internal
VP External
Treasurer
Secretary
Promotions Coordinator
Public Relations Coordinator
Sponsorship Coordinator
Awareness Coordinator
Cultural Coordinator (2)
Webmaster
Athletic Coordinator (1 male, 1 female)
Social Coordinator (2)
All you have to do is sent us an email at utsgtsa@gmail.com with your:
-First, Last Name
-Year of Study
-Contact Info
-and the position you are interested in
THEN show up on Thursday, April 9 at 7pm (Location TBA) and
be prepared to make a brief speech!
You don’t need to be Obama to MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN!
So come on out for the election and let YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!
Sincerely,
UTSG TSA 08-09
Note: The Newly Elected 09-10 TSA Exec Team will step into power at the end of the 08-09 term.
**If you wish to run your election campaign on facebook, please do so by creating your own facebook groups rather than using the election event page. **
Tamil Students' Association, University of Toronto - St. George Campus
Sri Lanka - Emergency Rally
Posted by: Administrator on 11/03/2009
Sri Lanka - Emergency Rally
What: Sri Lanka - Emergency Rally
When: Thursday, March 12, 2009 from 11am -2pm
Where: King’s College Circle -
University of Toronto
(St. George Campus)
As the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka continues, the bloody genocide of the Tamil people is conveniently hidden beneath the false banner of war on terrorism. There is no one holding the government accountablewhile the humanitarian crisis only worsens. From January to February 2009 alone, it has been estimated that nearly 5,150 civilian casualties and more than 2000 Tamil civilians were killed during the bombings that occurred in Vanni. Among the victims caught in the cross fire, 700 were children. During this time of crisis, only 2.2% of the humanitarian support entering the island nation has reached the severely affected Vanni region.
The Sri Lankan governments’ attempts to appease the international community by setting up ‘safe zones’ and ‘welfare camps,’ have only resulted in a continuing pattern of human rights abuses. The occupants of these internment camps are still struggling without access to the necessary food, water and sanitary supplies fundamental for survival.Reports of sexual abuse and severe restrictions on freedom of movement have come to show that the concept of human dignity is not of concern to the government of Sri Lanka.
From Aushwitz to Rwanda, the world has stood by while horrific events have been allowed to take place. Let’s not let Sri Lanka’s conflict get any worse. We, as the international community have a responsibility to become actively involved in pressuring for a permanent and stable solution for the citizens of Sri Lanka. A solution that hears the voices of all those who have suffered the tortures of war and who have seen their grievances ignored time and time again.
Come out and stand in solidarity with the Tamil Students' Association and the UTSU to stop the genocide and call for a lasting political solution for the struggle of the Tamil people.
We respectfully ask that those attending this rally do not display the Tamil Eelam flag. Although the flag is a symbol of the Tamil people, it has also become of tool to incite fear used by those working to delegitimize the concerns of the Tamil people.
General Meeting/Discussion Panel
Posted by: Administrator on 12/02/2009
UTSG TSA is holding a general meeting and a discussion panel where you can voice your concerns about issues at hand, share your ideas and help us move forward in unity as your TSA.
Free Pizza will also be provided.
So don’t miss out!
Help us with our ongoing work as TSA.
To Break the Silence, To Bring the Change and so much more...
What: General Meeting/Discussion Panel
When: Wednesday, February 25,2009 at 6pm
Where: UC183 (Croft Chapter House)
Act now! Stop the genocide of Tamils!
Posted by: Administrator on 29/01/2009
Act now! Stop the genocide of Tamils!
EMERGENCY RALLY
Thursday, January 29
6:00pm
United States Consulate
360 University Avenue
Toronto
TTC: Osgoode or St. Patrick
- and -
CANDLE-LIGHT VIGIL
Wednesday, February 4
5:30pm to 7:00pm
Sri Lankan Consulate
40 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto
TTC: St. Clair
Pressure the Government of Sri Lanka:
End immediately the genocidal campaign launched on Tamil civilians in the Northern regions!
On January 26 alone, over 300 Tamils were killed in indiscriminate artillery attacks by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) on a village in the Northern district of Mullaithivu in Sri Lanka. These brutal attacks have left thousands seriously injured; many injured have bled to death on the streets as there are no emergency medical supplies and treatment facilities in these government-declared so-called "Safety Zones".
New reports indicate that civilians have been left to die as the army continues to engage in artillery attacks, including on hospitals.
"In a scene of carnage of untold proportion on civilian targets hit by hundreds of Sri Lanka Army-fired artillery shells, more than 300 people have died and several hundreds are bleeding to death within the last 24 hours, amidst pouring rain inside the 'Safety Zone' declared by the Colombo government. Houses and vehicles burn for a stretch of three kilometers between Va'l'lipunam Kaa'li temple and Moongkilaa'ru towards Paranthan road, reports from Vanni said on Monday. Unattended bodies and injured people unable to move are lying around everywhere, while a remaining doctor fled and helpless ICRC officials virtually cried at the scene from their bunkers."
- TamilNet.com, January 26, 2009
TAKE ACTION!
Demand that Canadian Members of Parliament, policy-makers, and the media exert pressure on the Government of Sri Lanka to immediately:
1. Halt the war and seek a negotiated political solution to the conflict.
2. Allow local and international NGOs and other humanitarian workers to provide much needed assistance to those displaced.
3. Lift the embargo on food, medicine, and other essential items.
4. Stop the indiscriminate bombings and shellings of civilians.
Demand immediate action by the United Nations to immediately:
1. Adopt a United Nations Human Rights Council Emergency Resolution calling for an end to the massive human rights violations against Tamils.
2. Establish a United Nations monitoring mission in Sri Lanka with a mandate to report on all human rights violations and humanitarian issues.
Stop the genocide of Tamils!
For more information, please contact:
CanadianHART (Canadian Humanitarian Appeal for the Relief of Tamils)
Phone: 416-838-9637
Email: info@canadianhart.org
Web: www.haltgenocide.org and www.tamilIDPcrisis.org
Toronto rally and vigil are organized by:
Toronto Coalition to Stop the War
Endorsed by:
CanadianHART
To endorse the Stop the Genocide of Tamils campaign, please e-mail info@canadianhart.org.
The Toronto Coalition to Stop the War is Toronto's city-wide anti-war coalition, comprised of more than 70 labour, faith and community organizations, and a member of the Canadian Peace Alliance. www.nowar.ca stopthewar@sympatico.ca 416-795-5863
Please donate! Send a cheque or money order payable to TCSW Canada to:
TCSW, 427 Bloor St W, Box 13, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1X7
FAST FOR HUMANITY - Break the Silence. Bring the Change.
Posted by: Administrator on 22/01/2009
FAST FOR HUMANITY
Break the Silence. Bring the Change.
In the past couple months, the war in Sri Lanka has intensified and the situation has been getting progressively worse each day. The aggressive stance the Sri Lankan Army has taken shows no concern for the basic human rights of the civilians caught in the cross fire. The ongoing aerial and bombardment over Tamil areas has displaced over 300 000 people. As the attacks are coming from all fronts, the displaced population has been cornered into concentrated areas creating further problems. Hygenic concerns are a major one of these problems because survival has been reduced to living under trees without even the shelter or supplies that a refugee camp may offer. Also, the highly concentrated nature of the population means that each time the area is bombed or shelled (which is happening routinely), the attacks result in the killing and wounding of many innocent lives.
As the strife continues the voices of the people have fell upon deaf ears. The Sri Lankan government has silenced the voices of its own citizens. If the government ignores the pleads of its own people, who then can speak for them? It's upon us, the students, whom are the future, to act. TSA's across Ontario are organizing 24 hour fasts to protest against the atrocities committed against the innocent.
UofT's TSA will hold their fast on:
Tuesday January 27th from 11 a.m. to Wednesday January 28th 11 a.m.
We will begin our fast on Tuesday at Bahen in the main lobby
and then end our fast at the Med Sci lobby Wednesday morning.
We are hoping for your support during this crucial time period.
More information can be found at the Gerstein lobby
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