This weekend, a coalition of Canada's foremost social justice and environmental groups are hosting Peoples' Summits in Toronto and Vancouver to give everyday Canadians the opportunity to learn about and address the issues of the upcoming G8/G20 meetings. To photo at left depicts Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, during an oil spill action a few days ago.

In Toronto, the weekend kicks off on Friday night with "Stories and Solutions from North and South", where we'll hear from organizers and activists from around the world who are working in their communities to find sustainable, transformative alternatives to the G8/G20 agenda. This remarkable event will be hosted by Mary Walsh and is headlined by Maude Barlow of the Council of Canadians. On Saturday and Sunday, over 100 civil society groups from around Canada and the world (including your very own 350.org) will offer workshops, skillshares, panels, plenaries, strategy sessions, art, performance, and plenty more at the Peoples' Summit at Ryerson University. Sessions will be structured around five thematic streams: Global Justice, the Environment and Climate Change, Human Rights and Civil Liberties, Economic Justice, and Building the Movement.

In Vancouver, on Sunday June 20th, the Peoples' Summit will take place on 3 blocks of Main St. in tandem with Vancouver’s Car Free Day and will build off of the momentum of the Make Poverty History and At The Table campaigns. The day will feature 3 miniature summits involving notable local speakers and elected members of the public engaging in discourse concerning G8/G20 issues. Day-of programming includes exhibits by Oxfam Canada, Amnesty International, David Suzuki Foundation, Greenpeace, Voters Taking Action on Climate Change, Canada’s Wilderness Committee, Ecojustice, and many more. There will be live musical talent from the area (solar powered by eatART), street theatre, and street art. The day will also feature an “Eat In” on climate change – a live 3 course meal in the middle of Main St. by local Chefs Hunter Moyes and Taylor Corrigan, with organic donations from Whole Foods.

Join these great events to learn, be inspired and meet some of the movers and shakers in the environmental and social justice movements. See you there!