NEWS Update 2: Human Rights & Mental Health - 7 July 2006
http://www.MindFreedom.org - please forward
Update 2:
Latest Update on Mad Pride 2006 Celebrations
Events in Canada, Ghana, UK, USA taking place *now*!
by Krista Erickson, chair, Mad Pride International Coordinating Committeee
Mad Pride 2006 events are already well underway this year thanks to the
wonderful and creative work of Gallery Gachet in Vancouver, Canada.
This year, extensive Mad Pride events will also be taking place in Toronto,
Canada Ghana, England, Ireland and the USA among other nations.
Celebrations of Mad Pride are planned from now until September 17, 2006!
BELOW please find the latest listing of Mad Pride celebrations! Spread the
word!
Mad Pride celebrates the creativity, strength and resilience of the human
spirit. Mad Pride provides an opportunity to empower psychiatric survivors
and raise public consciousness about human rights through various
activities such as art, theatre, music, poetry, protests, vigils and more.
All are welcome.
This is the 7th year that MindFreedom has promoted Mad Pride events
internationally. MindFreedom has now established a Mad Pride International
Coordinating Committee to launch Mad Pride around the world. A four-nation
planning teleconference was held recently during which initial planning for
Mad Pride 2007 began, additional teleconferences are being scheduled. If
you are interested in participating in this work please contact MadPride by
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
For information about past Mad Pride events, frequently asked questions
about Mad Pride, ideas for how to have your own Mad Pride celebration and
updates on current Mad Pride events visit:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/madpride/index.shtml
or use this smaller web address:
http://tinyurl.com/n7784
BELOW is the current list of known Mad Pride 2006 events. If your event
isn't listed please let us know.
~~~~~~~~~~
MAD PRIDE 2006 EVENT LISTING
~~~~~~~~~~
FROM VANCOUVER, CANADA
WORLD MAD PRIDE HUMAN RIGHTS + PSYCHIATRY ARTS FESTIVAL!
Mad Pride is a growing international movement which asks the question:
Could madness be a sane response to an insane world?
World Mad Pride Vision
** Build awareness of the connection between war, human rights, and
health. Promote awareness of social determinants of mental health,
linking with impacts of militarism, conflict, economic, and social
insecurity.
** Profile the work of the UN and World Health Organization on mental
health and human rights
** Create links to worldwide campaigns for rights of individuals for
health and security
** Challenge stigmas of people living with mental health issues
** Contribute to dialogue on mental health human rights through the sharing
and showcasing of artistic expression on these themes
Mad Pride events in Vancouver have acomplished these goals and much more!
30 June 2006
Statement for Mad Pride Participants in British Columbia, Canada
by David Oaks, director, MindFreedom International
Congratulations to everyone for your huge array of awe-inspiring Mad Pride
events! Thank you Cherise for your work, and for networking with other Mad
Pride events in other nations.
This year there are events in at least four nations. Certainly, it seems
like because of all the events there you folks up in Vancouver ought to win
some kind of Mad Pride Amazing Lunatics Award!
We all know grassroots activism, particularly in our difficult field, can
be challenging. After seven years, especially because of Mad Pride
activities by MindFreedom Ghana places in Africa, our movement seems poised
to finally move to a new level of international Mad Pride organizing. The
Vancouver events and the way art and celebration have been woven so well
with activism and human rights show this is a movement waiting to happen.
We send our appreciation to all the participants in all the many Mad Pride
events in the Vancouver, Canada area!.... May many more countries join in
the fun. Thank you!
For more information: E-mail: [log in to unmask]
phone: (604) 687-2468
http://www.gachet.org
~~~~~~~~~~
FROM GHANA, AFRICA
MindFreedom Ghana celebrates Mad Pride!
Theme: Free Minds at Ease!
July 2, 2006 -- TV Discussion
July 5, 2006 -- Radio Discussion
July 6, 2006 -- Cultural Event & Symposium
July 8, 2006 -- Presentation To Accra Psychiatric Hospital
July 14, 2006 -- Street March
Dan Taylor, who is the Secretary of MindFreedom Ghana based in Accra,
Ghana, announced, "Our Theme for our Mad Pride event is 'Free Minds At
Ease.'"
Dan explained that, "MindFreedom Ghana is poised to take Ghana and
indeed Africa by storm in July 2006 to highlight the problems and human
rights of users and survivors of the mental health system."
Dan said that bigotry against people diagnosed with psychiatric labels is
common in Ghana: "Our friends and relations have long been stigmatized for
living with or surviving psychosocial disabilities and so we MindFreedom
Ghana will do what it takes to reverse this."
MindFreedom Ghana has joined the MindFreedom Mad Pride International
Coordinating Committee. Dan hopes this will inspire other groups to
participate this year. Dan said, "Let all MindFreedom Groups in the USA and
other parts of the world join in this event to accentuate our cause in
diverse forms!"
You may e-mail your best wishes to MindFreedom Ghana, a leader of Mad Pride
events in Africa and internationally, via their e-mail address
[log in to unmask]
~~~~~~~~
FROM IRELAND:
July 14:
As part of the international MindFreedom Mad Pride events on July 14,
MindFreedom Ireland will organise a petition gathering event in Cork City
in support of the campaign being run by Nuria O'Mahony , Holistic Action
Group, entitled "WE DESERVE TO KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR PRESCRIPTION
DRUGS'.
The petition, when completed, will form part of her submission to the Irish
Government's subcommittee for health which is examining the influence of
the pharmaceutical industry on the island of Ireland.
July 16:
Mad Pride Party in Leeds, Yorkshire
Sunday 16th July at the Commonplace Centre
There will be a party with the title 'Madness Is The Strategy'. This is to
coincide with the launch of a 'Mental Health Strategy' for Leeds. We'll be
having poetry, music, food and film - the first public showing of the film
of An Untimely Death On Paschendale Ward as performed by the Orphans of
Beulah.
FROM ENGLAND -- August 6 to 10, 2006.
For the second year, psychiatric survivors and allies in England will
be celebrating Mad Pride by conducting a "Bed Push." They will start in
Brighton, UK and in pajamas push a bed with a manequin tied down in it
in "restraints" for 50 miles over five days. This creative approach
gains widespread media attention, and the 2005 Bed Push was even
featured in a documentary shown on UK television. The Mad Pride Bed
Push 2006 will end up at the ex-site for infamous Bedlam psychiatric
institution where all are invited to a "mad hatters' tea party." For
more information and photos of Bed Push 2005 see:
http://www.kissit.org
~~~~~~~~~~
USA
IN THE UNITED NATIONS, New York City
August 14 to 25, 2006
MindFreedom's United Nations delegation, led by Celia Brown, will be
participating for a third year inside the UN in the continuing
international negotiations surrounding a proposed treaty on the rights
of people with disabilities, especially focused on trying to keep
language in favor of forced treatment out of the document.
You are urged to call on the USA and other nations to support strong
human rights proposals in this effort, which is formally entitled the
"Ad Hoc Committee on a Comprehensive and Integral International
Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights and Dignity of
Persons with Disabilities." This is the fifth year that MindFreedom is
the only group of its kind with United Nations accreditation as a Non
Governmental Organization (NGO) with Consultative Roster Status. For more
information see this UN web site:
http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/rights/ahc8.htm
~~~~~~~~~~
FROM OREGON, USA -- Saturday July 8, 2006 - 1:00 PM
The Oregon Country Fair (OCF) will include MindFreedom Director David
Oaks as part of its popular "Spoken Word" program. You may hear David
at "Chez Ray's Next Stage" discuss Mad Pride in a talk entitled, "Free
Minds, Madness & Frivolity."
David will also give a brief workshop each day at OCF at 5 pm at the
Doors of Expression booth in the Community Village, which is where you'll
also find MindFreedom material throughout the fair.
These events will include Normality Screenings. Learn to do screenings for
normality wherever you live. For tips about this easy guerilla
theater, plus downloadable "Normal Free" coupons to copy and hand out
(both USA and international versions), see:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/mindfreedom/madpride/index.shtml
or use this smaller web address:
http://tinyurl.com/n7784
For information about OCF, which draws tens of thousands into Oregon's
woods each July, see:
http://www.oregoncountryfair.org
~~~~~~~~~~
FROM NEW YORK STATE, USA
MENTAL PATIENTS TO SET UP
TEMPORARY ASYLUM ON STATE CAPITOL LAWN
TO FOCUS ON CHILDREN'S ISSUES
A group of people who have been labeled mentally ill is camping out on the
East Lawn of the State Capitol Building in downtown Albany, New York from
7:00 PM Saturday, July 8 to 7:00 PM Sunday, July 16, 2006. For the first
time, this 26th annual demonstration will focus on the concerns of young
people.
HELP! Break the Silence About Psychiatric Oppression
HELP! Celebrate the Human Spirit
Activities will include a vigil, memorials, round table discussions,
teach-ins, guest speakers, and much more
- Join us for an hour...or a week!
Support (or participate in) a FAST to oppose the use of shock treatment on
children in New York State.
Be involved with vital issues concerning young people - mental health
screenings, stigma, discrimination, prejudice, culture, pharmaceuticals,
aversive therapies, shock treatments, restraints and seclusion. Last year's
event ended with the New York State Office of Mental Health release of an
ECT Position Statement that significantly restricts the ability and sets
rigid conditions for court-ordered electroconvulsive treatment.
Bastille Days have always been and will be legal and peaceful.
Activities will be educational and informative to highlight human rights in
mental health and to create a vision of what needs to be done for our
future.
This event marks the 26th Annual Bastille Day Celebration/ Demonstration of
the Mental Patients Liberation Alliance.
The Alliance is a statewide self-help, peer support, and advocacy human
rights organization of, by, and for people labeled with psychiatric
disabilities. The Alliance offers a peer support and advocacy center in
downtown Utica and a 24-hour peer support line at 1-800-654-7227.
The event is open to the public. The Alliance has been granted a permit to
demonstrate for this event.
For more information contact:
George Ebert (315) 947-5888
Email:
[log in to unmask]
SUPPORT MAD PRIDE IN NEW YORK STATE -- SIGN THE PETITION
There is a petition you can sign at Petition Spot calling for a ban on
electro convulsive treatment (ECT) on children for both public and private
practitioners.
Sign the petition online at:
www.petitionspot.com/petitions/stopshock
~~~~~~~~~~
FROM CHICAGO, USA --
The 2006 Disability Pride Parade presents
An Open Mic Night
In the spirit of the 2006 Parade Theme,"Celebrating Disability Arts and
Culture," join parade participants, organizers, friends and supporters on
the eve of the parade for an informal evening of poetry, rap, music,
stories and essays.
Friday, July 21 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
The University of Illinois at Chicago
1640 West Roosevelt Road, Auditorium
Attendance is open to everyone, but if you wish to participate,
registration is required. For more information, contact Gary at:
[log in to unmask]
or 312-253-7000 ext 199 (voice), or 312-253-7002 (tty).
Saturday, July 22, 2006
DISABLED AND PROUD 2006: Celebrating Disability Arts and Culture
Disability Pride Parade
Join the MindFreedom Mad Pride contingent as we march in the Third Annual
Disability Pride Parade. This year, the Parade will have a highly visible,
prominent route through Chicago's loop ending in Daley Plaza with a
post-parade celebration. Since its inception in 2004, the internationally
recognized Disability Pride Parade has actively engaged in its mission of
a) changing the way people think about and define disability; b) breaking
down and ending the internalized shame among people with disabilities; and
c) promoting the belief in society that disability is a natural and
beautiful part of human diversity in which people living with disabilities
take pride. The Disability Pride Parade celebrates and strengthens the
pride, power, and unity of people with disabilities. If you're interested
in being in the MindFreedom Parade contingent please contact
[log in to unmask]
For information about the Disability Pride Parade see:
http://www.disabilityprideparade.com
For information on Disability Pride see:
www.disabledandproud.com
~~~~~~~~~~
FROM OHIO, USA
There are all kinds of creative ways to support Mad Pride, small or
large, as an individual or in a group! Of course, there are all kinds
of creative ways... this is about Mad Pride!
Long-time psychiatric survivor activist PAT RISSER of Ohio, USA has
published a new essay today on his web site about the importance of Mad
Pride in his personal recovery from the harm of psychiatric labeling
and segregation. Pat calls on people to support Mad Pride, and is
joining the Mad Pride International Coordinating Committee. See his
essay here:
http://home.att.net/~LetFreedomRing/updates/MadPride.html
~~~~~~~~~~
FROM TORONTO, CANADA
Friday, July 14, 2006 has been proclaimed Psychiatric Survivor Pride Day in
the City of Toronto. To celebrate we are coordinating The Mad Pride 2006
Weekend September 14th to 17th 2006.
In 1993, Toronto Psychiatric Survivors, a burgeoning political and cultural
movement of people whose autonomy had survived the psychiatric system, and
local organizations, primarily West End Survivors (a peer support group),
and Parkdale Community Legal Services began holding a yearly event to
educate each other, and the public about who they were, and the issues that
impacted them. Issues like poverty, psychiatric abuse and assault, and lack
of safe, affordable housing.
Beginning in the year 2000, Pride Day, as this day was known by many
survivor communities in Toronto, aligned itself with its global
counterpart, Mad Pride Worldwide Day, celebrated on July 14th.
Today, the issues of poverty, psychiatric abuse and assault, and lack of
safe, affordable housing are still here, but SO ARE WE!. Therefore, with
true survivor spirit, The Mad Pride Toronto 2006 Organizing Committee and
The Friendly Spike Theatre Band, a company dedicated to producing theatre
with marginalized individuals and communities, Parkdale Community Legal
Services, and Parkdale Activity and Recreation Center announce the official
proclamation of July 14, 2006 as Psychiatric Survivor Pride Day in the City
of Toronto and encourage everyone to support Psychiatric Survivors in their
work for equal rights!
In celebration and recognition of Psychiatric Survivor Pride we will
present THE MAD PRIDE TORONTO 2006 WEEKEND:
** Opening and Awards Ceremony and Rights Forum: 12 noon - 3pm on Thursday,
September 14th at Parkdale Activity and Recreation Centre, 1499 Queen St.
West, hosted by Parkdale Activity and Recreation Center, and Parkdale
Community Legal Services.
** Community Treatment Orders: Imprisoning With Drugs in the 21st Century:
4pm - 5pm on Friday September 15th at The Peace Lounge, 7th floor, OISE
Ontario Institute for Studies in Education 252 Bloor St. West (accessible
from St. George Subway). Presented by Erick Fabris.
In the last few years, psychiatry has brought its commitment powers out
into the community. This research presentation brings forward how
psychiatric inmates have dealt with forced treatment outside of psychiatric
facilities. New psychiatric laws across the US and 3 Canadian provinces,
including Ontario have introduced a law to enforce treatments, monitoring,
and appointments for people released from hospital, supposedly with their
consent. This new legal power is named the "Community Treatment Order" or
"CTO" (or "Involuntary Outpatient Committal" in the US). Many of the myths
about CTO's are discussed in this presentation. Survivors and allies
continue to struggle against these laws, and have even prevented them >from
being passed in New Mexico this year. Horrible experiences by CTO inmates
shed light on how mandatory treatment beyond psychiatric facilities are
being used and abused in Ontario. Treatment orders may be a cheap new form
of institutionalization by use of chemical restraint.
** CAPA Reception 5pm - 7pm Friday September 15th at The Peace Lounge, 7th
floor OISE Ontario Institute for Studies in Education 252 Bloor St. West
(accessible from St. George Subway)
Come and join CAPA (Coalition Against Psychiatric Assault) on Friday
evening to schmooze and enjoy refreshments. CAPA members will be present to
share information of Toronto's antipsychiatry organization and to answer
any questions.
** The Places We Share, a new play by The Friendly Spike Theatre Band, 8pm
to 9:30 pm Friday September 15th and Saturday September 16th at The Alchemy
Theatre, 133 Tecumseth St. (one block west of Bathurst ,south of Queen St.
West). A lighthearted and thoughtful story examining the nature of our
shared existence on the margin of society.
** Scenes from The House on Lippincott: 2pm - 3pm Saturday, September 16th
at The Alchemy Theatre 133 Tecumseth St. (one block west of Bathurst, south
of Queen St. West)
A reading from The House on Lippincott by Bonnie Burstow especially for
Psychiatric Survivors.
** Reception and Open House 4pm - 6pm Saturday September 16th, at CAMH
(Center For Addiction and Mental Health), The Empowerment Office, 1001
Queen St. West. hosted by The Empowerment Council and featuring the work of
PSAT (Psychiatric Survivor Archives Toronto).
** Now, Who's Crazy Now? 10pm - 11pm Saturday September 16th, Alchemy
Theatre, 133 Tecumseth St (one block west of Bathurst and South of Queen
St. West) Written and presented by Elly Litvak. This one woman show from
Vancouver, Canada chronicles Elly's journey from chaos to a fulfilled life
of balance and recovery.
** Writer's Open Stage 2pm - 4pm Sunday September 17th, The Alchemy Theatre
133 Tecumseth St. (one block west of Bathurst and South of Queen St. West)
An open stage will be offered to writers of every ilk whose work uses
experiences of psychiatric survivors, and or madness. Featuring Mel
Starkman - Hope For Change, Lorretta Clark - 3 Rivers of Blood and Destiny,
and Caroline Fei-Yeng Kwok - The Tormented Mind, and many more!.
** Patient Built Wall Tour 6pm - 8pm Sunday September 17th, The Ground of
CAMH Center for Addiction and Mental Health 1001 Queen Street West.
Guided by Geoff Reaume. The purpose of this tour is to remember the
contributions of the men and women who lived, worked and died in the
Toronto Insane Asylum, as is represented by the boundary walls that they
built which stand as enduring testament to their abilities and to use the
past to challenge discrimination experienced today by people who have a
psychiatric history.
** Remembering Patients Past = The Last Harrah - closing reception hosted
by Angel Queen - 8pm - Sunday September 17th, The Garden, The Grounds of
CAMH Center for Addiction and Mental Health, 1001 Queen Street West. We
will gather in the Garden by the wall in remembrance of patient past with
the hope of growing.
For more information contact Ruth Ruth at Friendly Spike Theater at
(416) 516-4740 or by e-mail at
[log in to unmask]
www.friendlyspike.ca
Friendly Spike Theatre Band is a Sponsor Group of MindFreedom
International.
- end Mad Pride 2006 event listing -
~~~~~~~~~~
ACTIONS * ACTIONS * ACTIONS
** Please forward this Public Service Announcement far and wide, both on
and off Internet!
** Hold your own Mad Pride event at any time!
** Sign the petition to ban the use of electroshock on children in New York
state (see above for a link to the petition).
** Want to coordinate your event with others, participate, join in and
support the international MAD PRIDE campaign? E-mail to
[log in to unmask]
~~~~~~~~
Join MindFreedom International, donate, or renew your membership
today!
Do you want to...
* Win human rights campaigns in mental health?
* End abuse by the psychiatric drug industry?
* Support the self-determination of psychiatric survivors?
* Promote safe, humane and effective options in mental health?
You are not alone! MindFreedom is a nonprofit human rights group that
unites 100 sponsor and affiliate groups with individual members, and is
accredited by the United Nations as a Non-Governmental Organization
(NGO) with Consultative Roster Status.
MindFreedom is one of the very few totally independent groups in the
mental health field with no funding from governments, drug companies,
religions, corporations, or the mental health system. While most of
MindFreedom's members are psychiatric survivors, *all* who support
human rights are invited to join and become active leaders.
JOIN, RENEW, DONATE, or give GIFT MEMBERSHIPS to MindFreedom
International today:
http://www.mindfreedom.org/join.shtml
For a MAD MARKET of books and other products to support human rights
campaigns in mental health: http://www.madmarket.org
MindFreedom International Office: 454 Willamette, Suite 216 - POB
11284; Eugene, OR 97440-3484 USA
web site: http://www.mindfreedom.org
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
office phone: (541) 345-9106
toll free: 1-877-MAD-PRIDe or 1-877-623-7743
fax: (541) 345-3737
Please forward.
_______________________________________________
If you are not on the MindFreedom-News alert list already, sign up for this
free non-profit public service here:
http://www.intenex.net/lists/listinfo/mindfreedom-news
~~~~~~
To unsubscribe, send a blank email to
<a href="mailto:[log in to unmask]">
[log in to unmask]
_________________________________________________________________
Windows Live™ Messenger has arrived. Click here to download it for free!
http://imagine-msn.com/messenger/launch80/?locale=en-gb
________________End of message______________________
This Disability-Research Discussion list is managed by the Centre for Disability Studies at the University of Leeds (www.leeds.ac.uk/disability-studies). Enquiries about the list administratione should be sent to [log in to unmask]
Archives and tools are located at:
www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/disability-research.html
You can JOIN or LEAVE the list from this web page.
|
