OPIRG Working Groups 2006-2007

York Animal Rights Group

Are you interested in mobilizing against issues of animal cruelty? This working group's objective is to increase awareness about animal rights through organized events and workshops at York University and in the broader community.

For information, please visit the York Animal Rights Group webpage.

Animal Rights Resources

Off the Grid

This environmental based Working Group is attempting to raise awareness at York about energy conservation and efficiency in Ontario. Working from the recognition that the current usage of energy is unsustainable and inefficient, this over consumption must be countered with strong organization around education. In addition to educating and raising awareness, Off the Grid,  the is also looking at building solar panels at one (or all) of the colleges on the Keele campus.

Energy Conservation Resources

ProPIRGanda / Media Activism

This Working Group is a broad based effort to provide the space and support to York activists to write and publish articles about important political issues and social struggles. Believing that words can be extremely powerful, proPIRGanda envisions a creative environment to write about what matters in Zines, Excalibur, Critical Times, and our own activist publication, proPIRGanda. This Working Group would also work on OPIRG’s radio show, video activism and the general creation of art.

Media Activism Resources

GRAIN - The Grass Roots Anti-Imperialist Network

GRAIN aims to be a voice and an active participant in the struggle for fairness, dignity, and equality, and against the many manifestations of oppression and empire. We aim to offer concrete, active solidarity to communities, worker movements, and others targeted by corporate or state institutions which are active on campus - by researching, educating, and taking direct action against these oppressive institutions at York.

As a network, we welcome new members and representatives of other groups concerned about issues of oppression and imperialism.

Anti-Imperialism Resources

No Sweat

No Sweat is part of a larger initiative, the Sustainable Purchasing Coalition (SPC) which is attempting to promote the values of sustainability and social justice into the purchasing and investment practices of the York University community. The No Sweat Working Group, in particular, has been working on two major projects. The first is working with the administration to develop a No Sweat policy on campus. The second project focuses on supporting students who organize events that would raise awareness about labour rights and exploitation in the textile industry.

Sustainability Resources

Books to Prisoners

Books to Prisoners (B2P) is part of a larger network across North America of organizations focused on providing access to books and other printed media to those incarcerated. In the case of Canadian federal institutions, inmates are often deprived of reasonable access to even the most rudimentary of communication privileges, educational resources and libraries.

Prison Justice Resources