Community Organizing and Anti-Poverty Work: The OCAP Story
7.30pm Mon 13 Sept
Out of the Blue Drill Hall, 30-36 Dalmeny Street (off Leith Walk near Pilrig church), Edinburgh EH6 8RG
Edinburgh Coalition Against Poverty are organising a public meeting with the dynamic Canadian group, Ontario Coalition Against Poverty. This will be an excellent opportunity to hear about how large numbers of people have successfully taken direct action against poverty, and to discuss what lessons can be learnt for our activity here in Scotland.
OCAP write:
“The Ontario Coalition Against Poverty has fought for justice and dignity for poor people for 20 years. Using direct action we have won individual cases including social assistance benefits, housing repairs, and withheld wages. Through mass mobilization, we have won housing and millions of dollars for poor people in Ontario.
We mount campaigns against regressive government policies as they affect poor and working people. In addition, we provide direct-action advocacy for individuals against welfare and ODSP (disability benefits), public housing and others who deny poor people what they are entitled to. We believe in the power of people to organize themselves.
We believe in the power of resistance.”
This meeting will discuss OCAP’s model of fighting back against the harsh ways that neo-liberal capitalism plays out in the lives of poor and working class people.
More about OCAP on their website www.ocap.ca
The OCAP speaker will also be talking at a meeting in Glasgow on Sunday 12th September, as part of their tour of Britain. For info on the Glasgow meeting contact glasgowsolnet@gmail.com
