[sust-mar] 18 Upcoming events: Venezuela solidarity, neutrality, disarmament, Pakistan, arms embargo & more

Mon Jan 19 19:42:29 UTC 2026

Hello Sust-Mar,

Hope everyone is well and your new year is off to a great start.

The No to War, No to NATO Network has released an important, international manifesto and invites groups and individuals to sign to endorse it, please read it here and consider adding your name and support:
https://www.no-to-nato.org/2025/11/manifesto-no-to-global-nato-yes-to-common-security/

It is crazy that Canada’s new federal budget is massively increasing military spending to 2% of GDP this year and 5% of GDP by 2035 (that $150 billion/year) and ramping up weapons production and arms transfers as we are in the midst of a poverty crisis and climate breakdown, read more about the budget here: https://budget.canada.ca/2025/home-accueil-en.html (No one in Parliament is speaking out against this. This militarism will harm women and children at home and abroad).

Please see below a list of 18 upcoming events in-person and online. Feel free to share widely.

ICYMI: Must watch Dr. Jeffrey Sachs at the UNSC “Sachs exposes US Regime Change in Venezuela” on Monday, January 5 (8 minutes, worth watching!): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I110EFJLw4U
*Canada is complicit in this with the Lima Group.

In solidarity for peace, earth & justice,
Tamara
***

UPCOMING EVENTS
(1)
WEBINAR: U.S./Canada Hands Off Venezuela! U.S. Imperialist Attacks VS Venezuela’s Self-Determination, Sovereignty & Global Solidarity. Be sure to attend the important webinar on Venezuela with excellent speakers organized by the Canada Wide Peace and Justice Network on Tuesday, January 20. 4pm PT / 5pm MT / 6pm CT / 7pm ET / 8pm AT. Register at: https://tinyurl.com/Venezuela-webinar.
Featured speakers:

  *   Camila Escalante: Journalist, co-founder and Editor of Kawsachun News (kawsachun.com) and a Latin American correspondent for Press TV.
  *   Andreína Chávez Alava: Venezuelan journalist based in Caracas, Venezuela who has been reporting about Venezuela’s struggle against U.S. imperialism for over a decade.
  *   María Páez Victor: Venezuelan-born sociologist based in Toronto, Canada. For several years, she taught the sociology of health and medicine, as well as health and environmental policies at the University of Toronto.
Alison Bodine: Social justice activist and author based in Vancouver, Canada. Founding member of the Venezuela Solidarity Network (venezuelasolidaritynetwork.org) and author of the book “Revolution and Counter-Revolution in Venezuela” (Battle of Ideas Press). Organized by Canada-Wide Peace & Justice Network (CWPJN)https://peaceandjusticenetwork.ca/webinar-us-canada-hands-off-venezuela/

(2)
WEBINAR: Ukraine War: End it Now or Lose Much More Later. Tue January 20 @ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm EST. Attendees of this webinar will hear Matthew Hoh discuss the military, economic and political state of the Ukraine War as it nears its 4th anniversary.  He will discuss the ongoing negotiations to end the Ukraine War and why ending the war is an imperative for all sides. He will summarize the current military, economic and political realities for Ukraine and Russia, as well as Europe and the US, and provide his thoughts on what a successful negotiated settlement may look like. Speaker: Matthew Hoh is a disabled Marine Corps veteran of the Iraq War and former Afghan War State Department Officer. In 2009, after being appointed to the Foreign Service, Hoh resigned his post in Afghanistan over the Obama administration’s escalation of the Afghan War. He is now an analyst and commentator on foreign and military policy issues as a senior fellow with the Eisenhower Media Network. He serves on the advisory boards of many peace organizations, including Veterans for Peace and World Beyond War, and is an associate member of Veteran Intelligence Professionals for Sanity.https://masspeaceaction.org/event/ukraine-war-end-it-now-or-lose-much-more-later/

(3)
CJPME NDP LEADERHIP CANDIDATE DEBATE ON PALESTINE: Next Wednesday, January 21, we will be hosting a debate with the NDP leadership candidates that puts Palestine at the forefront. Disturbingly, Canada’s largest pro-Israel lobby group the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs has attacked the event on social media, attempting to discourage candidates from participating. Right-wing voices like the Toronto Sun’s Brian Lilley and the Zionist webpage “The J” have also argued that the NDP should not “allow” us to host this discussion. Register now – for free or by donation – to help us discourage the Israel lobby and make this the biggest event of the NDP leadership race: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/ndp-leadership-debate-on-palestine-registration-1979999119667

(4)
FILM SCREENINGS IN TORONTO – Canadian premiere of the new, important documentary by American journalist & filmmaker Abby Martin “Earth’s Greatest Enemy” about the environmental and climate destruction of the U.S. war machine. Two showings: Friday, January 23 at 4pm and 7pm at 1006C Bloor St. W., Paradise Theatre. Buy tickets early, we expect the screenings to sell out! Don’t miss it! More info: https://earthsgreatestenemy.com/

(5)
IN-PERSON & ONLINE WEBINAR: 25 Years of UN Resolution 1325
Splane Lecture in Social Policy
Date: Thursday, January 22, 2026
Time: 5:00–6:30 PM (refreshments at 4:30 PM)
Join us as we mark the 25th anniversary of UN Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security with four leading voices shaping global peace efforts. This lecture centers women’s perspectives on conflict, resilience, and human security.
Speakers: Katrina Leclerc, Angela Marie MacDougall, Megan MacKenzie, Ellen Woodsworth
Location: Hybrid (in-person & Zoom); In-person location: Jack Bell Building, room no. 125
To RSVP: https://socialwork.ubc.ca/events/event/2026-dr-richard-b-splane-lecture-in-social-policy/

(6)
WEBINAR: Women and War: U.S. Militarism and Camptowns in South Korea.
On Monday, January 26 at 8:30pm ET (Jan. 27, 2025 at 10:30am KT), join us for a webinar on the history of U.S. militarism and camptowns in Korea, and the impact on Korean women. RSVP at bit.ly/wwmc
Organized by @WomenCrossDMZ
Studies have long shown that in war and militarism, women are disproportionately harmed and sustain severe human rights abuses. For decades in South Korea, military camptowns surrounding bases have been the site of harm and human rights abuses against Korean women. In 2022, the South Korean Supreme Court found that sex trafficking and illegal prostitution economies existed at U.S. military camptowns from at least 1957 to 2008, and held the Korean government liable for operating and encouraging such prostitution to sustain the South Korea-U.S. military alliance. This past fall, Korean organizers filed a new lawsuit building on that ruling. The 117 plaintiffs are suing the South Korean government for gender-based human rights abuses inflicted by U.S. forces stationed in Korea (U.S.F.K.). This is yet another chapter in the long history of the disproportionate impact and harm sustained by women in Korea as a result of U.S. militarism.
In this webinar, organizers of the lawsuit as well as scholars will discuss the history of camptowns, human rights abuses against Korean women, and how Korean women have organized to fight for justice. We will hear from South Korean organizer Ko Mira, director of Sae-oom-teo, and human rights lawyer Ha Ju Hee, in a conversation moderated by Professor Ji-Yeon Yuh. U.S. Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib @reprashida will provide remarks. English and Korean translation will be provided. #koreapeace #koreapeacenow

(7)
WEBINAR: Militarism vs the Care Economy and Degrowth
Mon January 26 @ 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm EST
More info and to register: https://events.worldbeyondwar.org/event/webinar-militarism-vs-the-care-economy-and-degrowth/

(8)
WEBINAR SERIES: Labour for Palestine Canada is launching a 3-part webinar speaker series examining Labour Zionism and the struggle for Palestine — past and present.
Join us this Sunday at 1pm EST for the first webinar in our three part education series!
We will be hosting Jeff Schuhrke, author of No Neutrals There: U.S. Labor, Zionism, and the Struggle for Palestine (Haymarket Books) as he discusses his newly released book on labour and Zionism.
This series will dig into the historical and ongoing role of the labour movement in relation to Palestine — challenging myths, confronting complicity, and centering international solidarity.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OaUz1zC2RpeqIe9ERSPUVA

(9)
ONLINE CONFERENCE: Invest in Minds not Missiles
Reducing the Threat of Nuclear War - online conference
Saturday, Jan 31, 3:00 pm-5:30 PM EDT
Organized by Massachusetts Peace Action.
More info and register: https://secure.everyaction.com/crDHlSwmE0CjsFIDMiZqGQ2?ms=email-260109&emci=3e77298e-0fec-f011-8195-000d3a1d58aa&emdi=3e51f190-d2ef-f011-8194-000d3a11f903&ceid=272926

(10)
HYBRID: Climate Impacts on War and Human Rights: A Panel Discussion
January 26 @ 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm ET
Hybrid - Zoom and at the Balsillie School of International Affairs.
room 142 67 Erb Street West, Waterloo,
Lunch provided but you must RSVP: https://balsillieschool.ca/event/climate-impacts-on-war-and-human-rights-a-panel-discussion/#rsvp-now

(11)
WEBINAR: U.S. Role in Pakistan: Repression, Imperialism & Control
Monday, January 26, 2026 at 8:00pm - 9:15pm (EST): https://www.codepink.org/pakistan126
Join CODEPINK and the Community Alliance for Peace and Justice for a special two-part webinar series to deepen awareness and analysis of the current situation in Pakistan. As the current U.S. administration moves toward renewed political engagement with Pakistan, many are seeking a clearer understanding of how these shifts impact democracy and civil society, with special reference to the role of the military’s crackdown on political dissent. (Second webinar details to be confirmed soon!)
In this webinar, we will explore the following questions:
Historically, how has U.S. policy sustained and legitimized authoritarian rule in Pakistan?
Why is the Trump administration actively courting Pakistan’s army chief at this moment?
What are the consequences of renewed U.S.–military ties for Pakistan’s democratic movements, journalists, and civil society today?
Hosted by members of CODEPINK and CAPJ, this webinar will include a guided discussion with our speakers, followed by a Q+A.
Guest Speakers:
Dr. Moeed Pirzada, TV anchor, political commentator, geo-strategic analyst, and Editor of Global Village Space
Erik Sperling, Executive Director, Just Foreign Policy
Dr. C. Christine Fair, Professor at Georgetown University

(12)
WEBINAR: Join the International Online Mass Rally: Stop the War With Venezuela
Sunday January 25, 11am PST / 2pm EST / 7pm GMT
Register here: tinyurl.com/handsoffvenezuelarally
Organized by the United Antiwar Coalition: https://nepajac.org/unac_011026.html

(13)
WEBINAR: Health Coalition: “Protecting and Advancing Public Universal Health Care”
by Anne Lagacé Dowson
Saturday, January 31, 2026, 1pm Eastern, 10am Pacific
REGISTER per ZOOM in Advance now: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/DO8YuaaMTKaW3VuN6sxWKw
Then ZOOM will send you a PERSONALIZED link to the Jan 31st Meeting.

(14)
WEBINAR: Global Dialogues for Change: Building Safety Together
January 29th, 11am-12:30pm EST. To register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/7ZdzAlVGSY25QldSqauNgw
Join us for the third and final webinar of the series 'Global Dialogues of Change', where we have explored alternatives to punitive and carceral “justice”, as well as feminist strategies for preventing gender-based violence. This closing conversation will focus on practical, community-based approaches to moving beyond criminalization, with organizations from different regions sharing how they are already building safety outside policing and punishment. This session will also create space to identify shared priorities for future action as we continue imagining feminist responses to harm grounded in care and social transformation.

(15)
WEBINAR: Neutrality as a Peace Project
Date 24th January 2026. Time: 6.30 pm - 8.00 pm London time.
Register on this link https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vLKRoTq0RuSASxeNwEUgGg
Once you register we will send you a recording of the webinar  the following day.
Organized by Global Women for Peace United Against NATO: https://womenagainstnato.org/

(16)
WEBINAR: Movement Briefing: From Venezuela to Palestine, Canada must cut off the flow of weapons to the U.S.
Start: Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at 7:00 PM EST
https://actionnetwork.org/events/movement-briefing-from-venezuela-to-palestine-canada-must-cut-off-the-flow-of-weapons-to-the-us/
Organized by Arms Embargo Now! https://armsembargonow.ca/

(17)
HYBRID: Celebrate International Women’s Day with VOW! Attend our Awards Ceremony & International Women’s Day for Peace gala in Toronto on Mar. 7. Learn more and get your tickets before they sell out here: https://vowpeace.org/2026vowpeaceawards/

(18)
HYBRID: 4th International Environmental Peacebuilding Conference
Ottawa, June 16-19
https://www.environmentalpeacebuilding.org/conferences/4th-international-conference

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