Amy Miller
Encyclopedia
Amy Miller is a filmmaker and social justice
activist. She is the director of two films, Myths for Profit (2009) and The Carbon Rush (2012). Miller is a producer/director with Wide Open Exposure, the production company she founded. She attended Carleton University in Ottawa.
consisted of an occupation of an abandoned privately-owned building at 246 Gilmour Street in Ottawa by "anti-poverty activists, homeless youth and anti-G8 protestors." The squat was so named because of the reported seven year delay faced by those on a waiting list for subsidized housing in Ottawa. Police used tear gas to force protesters to leave the building.
After her arrest, Miller and her co-defendants mounted a defence which consisted of necessity
and Colour of right
. In a 2004 interview, Miller explained: "How much do we tolerate direct action as a society? And that was our big defence. What do we tolerate? We’re going to get so upset about people taking over an abandoned house and using it, and in the same blink of an eye, we tolerate how many homeless people sleeping in our streets every night?"
Miller was mentioned in a 2010 Maclean's Feature on "middle aged anarchists," which profiled the activities of Seven Year Squat Participants.
Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, Amy's testimony was referenced by Member of Parliament
Maria Mourani: "She was told that they would have a lot of 'fun with her' and that she would never want to come to Toronto again."
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Social justice
Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...
activist. She is the director of two films, Myths for Profit (2009) and The Carbon Rush (2012). Miller is a producer/director with Wide Open Exposure, the production company she founded. She attended Carleton University in Ottawa.
Seven Year Squat (2002-2004)
Miller was arrested in 2002 for her involvement in a protest known as the Seven Year Squat. The squatSquatting
Squatting consists of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or building, usually residential, that the squatter does not own, rent or otherwise have permission to use....
consisted of an occupation of an abandoned privately-owned building at 246 Gilmour Street in Ottawa by "anti-poverty activists, homeless youth and anti-G8 protestors." The squat was so named because of the reported seven year delay faced by those on a waiting list for subsidized housing in Ottawa. Police used tear gas to force protesters to leave the building.
After her arrest, Miller and her co-defendants mounted a defence which consisted of necessity
Necessity in Canadian law
Canadian criminal law allows for a common law defence of necessity. The leading case for the defence is Perka v. The Queen [1984] 2 S.C.R. 232 in which Dickson J...
and Colour of right
Colour of right
Colour of right is the legal concept in the UK and other Commonwealth countries of an accused's permission to the usage or conversion of an asset in the possession of another. In New Zealand Crime's Act, colour of right "means an honest belief that an act is justifiable..."...
. In a 2004 interview, Miller explained: "How much do we tolerate direct action as a society? And that was our big defence. What do we tolerate? We’re going to get so upset about people taking over an abandoned house and using it, and in the same blink of an eye, we tolerate how many homeless people sleeping in our streets every night?"
Miller was mentioned in a 2010 Maclean's Feature on "middle aged anarchists," which profiled the activities of Seven Year Squat Participants.
Myths for Profit
Myths for Profit (2009) was Miller's feature directorial debut. The film's narrative is structured around debunking three myths about Canada's role in the world. It uses interviews and animations to argue that Canada is not a "global good guy". Miller embarked on a nine-week tour, holding screenings in 45 communities across Canada.G20 controversy
Miller was the subject of heated controversy during the 2010 G20 protests after she told journalists about treatment of detained women by police officers. In a press conference held after she was released Miller told journalists that she and other women had been threatened with rape. She said that some detained women had been sexually assaulted. In a meeting of the parliamentaryParliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security, Amy's testimony was referenced by Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
Maria Mourani: "She was told that they would have a lot of 'fun with her' and that she would never want to come to Toronto again."
The Carbon Rush
The Carbon Rush, which examins carbon trading projects around the world, is Miller's second feature film. The projects highlighted include "hydroelectric dams in Panama," "incinerators burning garbage in India," "biogas extracted from palm oil in Honduras," and "eucalyptus forests harvested for charcoal in Brazil."Other projects
Miller also directed the short film, Outside of EUrope, which applies a critical perspective to European immigration policies. She was also involved in the Coalition for Justice for Adil Charkaoui, which advocated for the rights of those detained using security certificateSecurity certificate
In Canadian law, a security certificate is a mechanism by which the Government of Canada can detain and deport foreign nationals and all other non-citizens living in Canada...
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