Article on ideas for staying physically active in winter if you don't want to or can't be outdoors --
Statistics Canada analysis gives clearer picture of Canadian literacy needs
On January 9th Statistics Canada released its analysis of a 2005 follow up study of an international literacy survey. The International Study of Reading Skills (ISRS) study reassessed about 2,000 Canadians who had participated in the initial study, with a focus on individuals whose literacy scores in the initial survey fell into levels 1 or 2, the lowest of five. http://voluntarygateway.ca/en/node/18393
Homelessness Marathon Returns
Info and posters etc, at: http://ckut.ca/homeless.html Rebroadcasts across the country listed below the initial announcement
******************
here at ckut 90.3fm in Montreal, we are gearing up for the 6th anniversary of our Homelessness Marathon. since 2002, ckut has been broadcasting a national radio marathon on homelessness and its possible solutions. this broadcast is carried by more than thirty stations annually and always happens from sunset to sunrise in the middle of winter. this year we are scheduled to go live for 14-hours on February 20th.
--gretchen king
coordinator, homelessness marathon
marathon@ckut.ca / 514.448.4041 x6788
:::::::::::: ANNOUNCEMENT
February 20th / 20 février 2008
TUNE-IN ALL NIGHT LONG FOR THE HOMELESSNESS MARATHON
on CKUT 90.3 fm or http://www.CKUT.ca/homeless.html
1.866.763.4136 CALL TOLL-FREE
Why do a nationwide homelessness marathon? Because homeless people should have access to the media where they can freely speak out. Because only the homeless know the reality of living on the streets. Because it is the homeless who are best able to educate people on the issue of homelessness.
This 14-hour broadcast will begin at sunset (5pm in Montréal) on February 20th and continue through sunrise the next day in front of the Native Friendship Center of Montreal - 2001 rue Saint-Laurent. Hot food and drink will be served free on site all night.
This year more than thirty stations are carrying the Homelessness Marathon.
POSTEr : http://www.ckut.ca/hm/hmposter2008EN1.pdf
http://www.ckut.ca/hm/hmposter2008FR1.pdf
HOMELESSNESS MARATHON TOPICS 2008 THEMES
Set to broadcast WED February 20th, 5pm (EST)
:: HOUR 1, 5pm - Homelessness by Numbers
:: HOUR 2, 6pm - Disabilities in the streets
:: HOUR 3, 7pm - Indigenous Hour
:: HOUR 4, 8pm - Refugees and homelessness
:: HOUR 5 9pm - A critical look at services
:: HOUR 6, 10pm - Poverty on the move - from downtown to the suburbs
:: HOUR 7, 11pm - theater in the streets
Take Part in the Online Consultations (go to www.fin.gc.ca and select "What's New" and look a few items down list for 2008 prebudget consultations)
Any organization or individual may respond. The deadline for applications is 12 midnight (EST) on February 11, 2009.
This is your chance to ask the government to include funding for issues important to EMCN in the federal budget, issues such as expanded and better services for immigrants (for example, dedicated funding for health services for survivors of trauma), more commitment to housing security for all, faster processing of immigration applications, etc. The process is simple and only takes a few minutes.
The consultation starts with ranking a series of structured options but the final question allows you to list a different priority and to give that the highest ranking.
Recommended by Pauline Kay, from KAIROS:
FREE BOOK DOWNLOAD
Rise of Islam By Harun Yahya. Excellent analyses during the most recent period (10 - 25 years) for the rise of Islam in the USA, Europe, Russia, and China. This is an excellent read. Download and read it at your convenience.
Dear Make Poverty History supporter,
Congratulations to all who signed the Make Poverty History petition to the Canadian Senate to act on the Better Aid Bill without delay. More than 11,000 supporters signed up within a week! And it worked!
With your support Bill C293 was moved to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee where it is now being considered. After the Senate Committee deals with this bill it goes back to the whole Senate for a third and final vote.
But it is still a race against the clock. The Better Aid Bill will die on the order paper if an election is held before the final vote in the Senate. And it is now widely believed that an election is coming soon.
Please ask your MP in Ottawa to help with the final steps in passing the Better Aid Bill Bill C293
Your elected MP is not (of course) in the Senate, but Members of Parliament do pay attention to voter opinions, and Senators may pay attention to them.
You can make sure your Member of Parliament does his or her best to get the Better Aid Bill through the Senate, ask your MP to act right away to get Senate colleagues to give final approval to this important new law.
Click on the website below to sign the petition and send an e-mail to the Senators. There are guidelines on the site to help you.
Stephen Lewis
Professor in Global Health,
Faculty of Social Sciences, McMaster University,
former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa
For more information on the Better Aid Bill, visit http://makepovertyhistory.ca/e/betteraid
Strengthening Volunteer Boards - SPACE STILL AVAILABLE!
Saturday, February 9th, 2008, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Grant MacEwan College Room 5-137, City Centre Campus
10700 - 104 Avenue / Registration Fee: $21 GST included
Pre-registration with payment is required.
As a board member, do you know what you're legal & ethical responsibilities are? What role do to play in governing your organization? How can your board organize it's work fairly/efficiently to avoid volunteer/staff burnout? How can you develop policies that will help make consistent decisions? How to encourage teamwork between the board & staff?
If you're a new board member wanting to learn more about your role, or an experienced board member wishing to enhance your skills/work more effectively as a team member, this workshop is for you. Its content focus on incorporated & non-profit organizations, but it's not appropriate for advisory boards. Note: Limit of three board members per organizations, please.
For more information go to: www.rcvo.org
Registration form is available at:
http://www.rcvo.org/events_files/events.html#Fund
Sponsored by: The Board Development Program, Alberta Tourism, Parks, Recreation & Culture; The Resource Centre for Voluntary Organizations, Grant MacEwan College; The Muttart Foundation.
Lyndsey Ford
Event Coordinator
Resource Centre for Voluntary Organizations
Grant MacEwan College
5-132, 10700 - 104 Avenue
Edmonton AB T5J 4S2
Phone: (780) 497-4780
Toll Free: 1 877 897-5616
Fax: (780) 497-5634
VoluntarySectorEvents@macewan.ca
Encouraging Democratic Activity at Election Time
Elections are an important aspect of democratic politics. It is important for an organization like EMCN that is committed to the full participation of people in Canadian life to encourage understanding and participation in this part of community life. The decline in such things as membership in political parties and percentage of eligible voters who vote is a cause of concern. It is also important that EMCN be clearly seen in the community as non-partisan—strongly supportive of democracy but not actively supporting any specific political party. This guide is intended to assist staff to determine how to best support democratic activity. It there is any situation that arises where a staff person is uncertain it is vital to consult the Executive Director or another director before acting or speaking.
- Individual staff should be familiar with the human resources policy on partisan politics that describes permitted activity for employees of the agency.
- The agency has an ad hoc staff committee to discuss ideas and plan activities related to elections. Contact the Executive Director to get involved or find out more about it.
- Opportunities to provide general information about political processes, the party system, the electoral system, and all other aspects of democratic process to those coming to the agency should be developed. All staff should have contact information about such matters as voting registration and provide it whenever there is opportunity.
- It is important in providing information or presenting candidates in any context that involves the agency to use a process that is fair to all parties and candidates. Normally this will involve inviting the same participation from all political parties. It does not mean that if all do not respond, those who do respond will not be permitted.
- Displays of information related to an election in areas of the agency other than those designated by the agency for this purpose should not include partisan information unless it is for a specific activity of clearly defined and limited time (such as a single class discussion).
- Individual candidates should not normally be invited or provided with opportunities to have direct access to people at the agency, in classes or other settings, except when a director has approved this.
- Staff may want to consult a director regarding requests for contact with the agency and people at the agency by currently elected people, since they have a right to act in their elected office but not in their electoral candidacy.
- While the agency will maintain a strictly non-partisan stand it has a responsibility to make statements and take positions on specific issues that are relevant to its work, such as immigration policies or funding of services important to immigrants. Only the Chair of the Board of Directors and the Executive Director have authority to communicate publicly on these matters unless that authority is extended further by one of them. If the agency issues a written statement all staff can express the same information, but not comment on it or add to it in any way.
- People coming to the agency or taking part in activities at the agency are entitled to display partisan information (such as lapel buttons or t-shirts) as long as the size and nature is not disruptive of the situation in which they are participating. They are entitled to talk about partisan matters as long as they do not impose against the will on others or disrupt activities. They are not permitted to leave materials accessible in areas of the agency.
When We Write From Experience We Harvest Our Lives
Second Languages Matter - 2008 PD Day with Justin Trudeau
ArtStart - Connect - Inspire – Create
From Dietary Intake to Policy Advocacy - Studies of food insecurity in lone mothers
Policy Manual Update - Alberta Alcohol and Drug Abuse Commission Per Diem Increase
Emergency Petition
Dear friends,
The people of Gaza are being squeezed to death. This week's blackouts have finally reached the attention of the world -- and the international community could help end the blockade. Our obligation is clear. This isn't about Israel vs Palestine or Hamas vs Fatah: this is about 1.5 million human beings locked up in the biggest prison on earth. The siege of Gaza is a collective punishment violating international law, and far from ensuring Israel's security, it is only stoking rage and desperation.
Incredibly, the UN, European Union and Arab League have so far failed to act. We must seize this moment with an emergency campaign: demanding that the international community step in to end this blockade, ensure the free flow of supplies, and help broker the ceasefire which civilians on all sides desperately need. Please click below to sign the emergency petition
-- we'll deliver it to the UN, EU and Arab League when we reach 100,000 signatures, so sign and tell everyone you know:
http://www.avaaz.org/en/gaza_end_the_siege/8.php?cl=50690827
The humanitarian crisis of sealed-off Gaza is only getting worse, and a rain of missiles is falling. No genuine peace talks will be possible while the siege continues. In the Israel-Lebanon war of 2006, we saw how global pressure and assistance can help stop a crisis and protect civilians from harm -- we cannot stay silent about the crisis in Gaza.
Please add your name now at the link above, and forward this message widely.
With hope and determination,
Ricken, Paul, Galit, Esra'a, Pascal, Ben and the whole Avaaz team
For more about the crisis:
- Associated Press article including Red Cross report
- Former Clinton official calls for ceasefire, ending siege
- UN reports on the humanitarian crisis, including background to the blackouts
- Deepening medical crisis in Gaza (UN)
In a global interactive poll, tens of thousands of Avaaz members helped to set our direction for campaigning on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and achieving a reciprocal ceasefire were both supported by over 90% of respondents
ABOUT AVAAZ
Avaaz.org is an independent, not-for-profit global campaigning organization that works to ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making. (Avaaz means "voice" in many languages.) Avaaz receives no money from governments or corporations, and is staffed by a global team based in London, Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, Washington DC, and Geneva.
Arte Preta: Edmonton Black Film and Art Week, February 1-8, 2008
Friday February 1, 2008
7:00pm
Metro Cinema
9828 101A Ave (Inside the Citadel Theatre)
Bamako
(2006) Mail/USA/France 112 Min, Dir: Abderrahmane Sissako
Mele is a bar singer, her husband Chaka is out of work and the couple is on the verge of breaking up. During all this drama, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are put on trial in their small African community by those who blame these two organizations for Africa's problems. The trial is fictional but the witnesses are real. Bamako mixes drama with parable, and challenges the conventional depiction of African poverty and Western guilt. (Co-produced by Danny Glover).
Saturday February 2, 2008
7:00pm
Metro Cinema, 9828 101A Ave
Dana INKSTER Documentary Films Series
24 Days in Brooks
(2007) Canada, 42 min
"In a decade, tiny Brooks, Alberta has been transformed from a socially conservative, primarily Caucasian town to one of the most diverse places in Canada. Hijabs have become commonplace, downtown bars feature calypso and residents speak 90 different languages.Immigrants and refugees have flocked here to work at Lakeside Packers - one of the world's largest slaughterhouses.Centring on the 24 days of the first-ever strike at Lakeside, this film is a nunaced portrait of people working together and adapting to change. They are people like Peter Jany Khwai, who escaped war in Sudan, wears an African shirt and a cowboy hat, and affirms his Canadian identity as well as his determination to fight for his rights. Or Edil Hassan, a devout Muslim born in Somalia, who counts her hours of organizing and picketing among her proudest moments.As 24 Days in Brooks shows, people from widely different backgrounds can work together for respect, dignity, and change - even though getting there is not easy". (NFB)
Filmmaker Dana Inkster will be present to talk about her work as a documentary filmmaker. There will also be discussion about the struggles, challenges, and joys of being an immigrant worker in Alberta. The topic of worker rights will also be addressed. Sponsored in part by the Anti-Racism and Decolonization Network (ARDN).
For a full listing of all movies and events visit: www.artepreta.com http://blackfilmandart.blogspot.com
or email: artepreta@gmail.com
