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February 2009
A fair trade Valentine's Day

Message to Members

Is February the shortest month because if it lasted any longer we’d all go crazy? Maybe that’s why they invented Valentine’s Day: to distract us with chocolate and love until it’s all over! Whether you are buying something special for your honey, or for yourself, make it extra sweet by choosing fair trade products this year.

NEW online!
Check out our special Valentine’s Day gift bags, filled with delectable hot chocolates, sensual massage oils, and more. (Available in the store and online)

Liaison Committee Update: Watch this space!
This is where we will give you the scoop on what’s up with our Board of Directors, as well as interesting factoids about our Co-op… For instance, did you know that all co-operatives with 200 or more members are required to have a Liaison Committee? Our job is to act as the liaison (hence the name) between co-op members and the Board, so if there is anything you would like to know, just get in touch with us at liaison@cooplamaisonverte.com.

Thanks this month to: Anne Fournier, Isabelle Berthelot, Julie-Andrée Marcoux, Gilles Rondeau (translation); Johanne Bouthillier, Valérie Michaud (revision); François Blanchette (photography)

Events

Please phone or visit the Co-op to sign up for these events. For more information visit our website.

Eco Logic

Cinema Politica: Reclaiming the big screen

by Aimée van Drimmelen
When I was a student at Concordia University a few years ago one of my favourite things to do was to attend film screenings put on by a new group on campus called Cinema Politica. Each week students and people from all walks of life would take over the school’s main auditorium to watch independent documentary films focusing on anything from the inner workings of corporations to the fight for fair trade coffee. Afterwards there would be a discussion, often involving the filmmakers themselves, on the topics raised – something that rarely occurs at a regular movie theatre.
In a time when mainstream media doesn’t always tell us the full story, it isn’t surprising that more in depth documentary films are growing in popularity around the world. “People are hungry for diverse cinema like political documentaries – films that take a stand on important issues like water privatization for instance,” Cinema Politica organizer and founder Ezra Winton states in a short film posted on their website.

Since those first screenings in 2003 the idea is catching on. Over five short years they have grown from the packed auditorium of Concordia to a network of “locals” that spans Canada and now extends all the way to Mexico City, Burlington, Paris and Berlin. Screenings recently began in Jakarta, Indonesia, and are slated to start up soon in São Paulo, Brazil.

Do you need more political cinema in your neighbourhood? While most Cinema Politica screenings take place in post-secondary institutions, it’s easy for any community to start a group. While there’s not a lot of money to go around, project coordinators offer what they can to each local, including web support, organizational advice, and access to over 100 political documentaries. Hmmmm…sounds pretty easy. Starting a local at La Maison Verte would be a great volunteer activity now wouldn’t it? (Hint hint!)

For more information on Cinema Politica, the films and locations visit:
www.cinemapolitica.org

Here are a few of the films coming up this month at Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Room H-110. (Listings for other Montreal locations were not available by press time):

Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai, Tuesday, February 3, 7:30pm
Lisa Merton & Alan Dater / Kenya-USA / 2008 / 79min
This documentary tells the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai’s tree planting revolution.

The Garden, Monday, February 9, 7:30pm
Scott Hamilton Kennedy / USA / 2008 / 80min
An award-winning doc that chronicles the struggle of the South Central Farmers in Los Angeles.

In Defence of our Treaties, Monday, February 16, 7:30pm
Martha Stiegman / Canada /2008 / 20min
Follows the Bear River First Nation as they stand up to pressure from the Department of Fisheries (DFO) to sell their treaty rights.

Under Rich Earth, Monday, February 23, 7:30pm
Malcolm Rogge / Canada / 2008 / 92min
Ecuadorian farmers fight off violent attacks from militiamen as they battle a Canadian mining company.

Eco Logic is a place for members to write or suggest articles about environment or community-related subjects of all kinds. Email your ideas to: newsletter @cooplamaisonverte.com

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Eco Logic is a place for members to write or suggest articles about environment or community-related subjects of all kinds. Email your ideas to newsletter@cooplamaisonverte.com

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