My students alerted me to a website, www.freerice.com, wherein you attempt to select the correct definition to a series of increasingly difficult words. Each correct answer results in 10 grains of rice being donated to the United Nations World Food Program, the largest food aid agency in the world. Advertising on the site generates income to buy the rice.
I played for the first time this morning. I made it to level 42. The highest level is 50.
Have fun and feed the world.
C
Showing posts with label changing the world. Show all posts
Showing posts with label changing the world. Show all posts
Friday, January 25, 2008
Friday, June 8, 2007
Tracking candidates stands on the issues
Waiting for me in my inbox this morning was an email from ONE, the campaign to make poverty history. (You can access the ONE website through the rotating banner at the top of this page.) The message was an invitation to sign up for a teleconference to discuss the launch of a campaign to "make every 2008 presidential candidate take a clear position on extreme poverty and global disease. "
According to the email: "We are just days away from launching an aggressive field effort, placing ads on the air, and launching a new website that will track the '08 candidates on the ground and on the issues like AIDS, malaria, access to clean water, and universal basic education.
"But to reach the widest audience possible, we need to tap in the power of the ONE community. I need you to share your vision for an America that leads the global fight to end extreme poverty and disease. So on Monday I'll be kicking-off ONE Vote '08 by hosting a conference call with Senator Tom Daschle, Senator Bill Frist, and you."
Whether you're interested in the ideals of ONE or not, the notion of tracking candidates stands and making those public is a great idea. It accomplishes a couple of things. It provides a focal point for public interest; it keeps the issue in the media; it allows people to easily compare candidates stances; and it makes the candidates aware of public interest.
If you're interested, Sign up for the conference call Monday, June 11th at 7:30 pm eastern time.
Colleen
According to the email: "We are just days away from launching an aggressive field effort, placing ads on the air, and launching a new website that will track the '08 candidates on the ground and on the issues like AIDS, malaria, access to clean water, and universal basic education.
"But to reach the widest audience possible, we need to tap in the power of the ONE community. I need you to share your vision for an America that leads the global fight to end extreme poverty and disease. So on Monday I'll be kicking-off ONE Vote '08 by hosting a conference call with Senator Tom Daschle, Senator Bill Frist, and you."
Whether you're interested in the ideals of ONE or not, the notion of tracking candidates stands and making those public is a great idea. It accomplishes a couple of things. It provides a focal point for public interest; it keeps the issue in the media; it allows people to easily compare candidates stances; and it makes the candidates aware of public interest.
If you're interested, Sign up for the conference call Monday, June 11th at 7:30 pm eastern time.
Colleen
Monday, June 4, 2007
BBC poll on world influence
Earlier this year the BBC World Service conducted a poll of 28,000 people in 27 countries to determine how 12 countries lined up in terms of their negative and positive influence on world events.
Canada was ranked the most positively influential country in the world. (It tied with Japan in positive votes but had fewer negative votes.)
This is important because we Canadians don't often see ourselves as leaders of world opinion. It's time that we begin to not only recognize the influence we can have and to wield this influence with vigour.
Canada has made the mistake of aligning too closely with the U.S. of late and we need to pull back from this position and return to one of friendly distance.
At the current G-8, as one example, the environment stands to take a hit if Canada backs the U.S.' desire to forgo caps on carbon emissions. Canada has already backed out of its support of Kyoto. It's not too fantastic to state that continuing along this trajectory would be fatal.
Canada has always been a strong player on the international stage. It's time to get back there.
Colleen
Poll chart
Full poll results
Canada was ranked the most positively influential country in the world. (It tied with Japan in positive votes but had fewer negative votes.)
This is important because we Canadians don't often see ourselves as leaders of world opinion. It's time that we begin to not only recognize the influence we can have and to wield this influence with vigour.
Canada has made the mistake of aligning too closely with the U.S. of late and we need to pull back from this position and return to one of friendly distance.
At the current G-8, as one example, the environment stands to take a hit if Canada backs the U.S.' desire to forgo caps on carbon emissions. Canada has already backed out of its support of Kyoto. It's not too fantastic to state that continuing along this trajectory would be fatal.
Canada has always been a strong player on the international stage. It's time to get back there.
Colleen
Poll chart
Full poll results
Monday, May 21, 2007
The Girl in the Café
Saw a really good movie on DVD last night, The Girl in the Café with Bill Nighy and Kelly MacDonald. Nighy was perfect as the tightly-bound, lonely, vacillating civil servant. How I ached for him and his inability to emote. When he says: "I know a lot about certain things. Transport. Development. But sod all about everything else. Including, obviously, real life" you want to, I don't know, inject him with something, some colour, some chutzpah, something.
What's brilliant about the movie is that it doubles as a bit of propaganda for the issue of world poverty. The tag line: Love can't change what's wrong with the world, but it's a start, doesn't do it justice, but it gives you an idea.
I become horribly angry when I watch or read anything about the unfairness that is our world. I want to immediately race out and fix something. I feel so frustrated with my uselessness, my inability to make a difference.
As I lie awake in bed thinking about what I could do, I began thinking art and its potential to make us think... to make us feel.
Oddly, my brain flipped to The Scream by Edvard Munch. Let me begin by saying how much I hate this picture. If I come across it in a book, I will flip by the page trying not to look at it. If it's on a wall somewhere, I will look away and be very conscious about not looking back. The Scream fills me with despair. It makes me think of concentration camps, of insane asylums. In his diary, Munch wrote about his inspiration for the piece: "I was walking along a path with two friends—the sun was setting—suddenly the sky turned blood red—I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence—there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city—my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety—and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature."
It is the image of this painting that came to me as I was thinking of the agony of parents who cannot feed their children or keep them safe. Who can see those images in the news and not be moved to think "what if...?"
(Perhaps, by definition, The Scream, is for me the greatest painting ever. It's impact on me is tremendous.)
I think our feelings of helplessness keep us from doing anything. It keeps us focused on those things we can do something about. Mundane things like preparing a meal or ridding the garden of weeds. Accomplishable, realistic goals.
The thing of it is, I think we can do something concrete to make a difference. One of the most effective actions is to make our voices heard. Politicians do what we require of them to do. Was the environment on the political radar in any serious way even five years ago? Now, every political party in Canada is arm-wrestling to be seen as greener than the others.
We can do the same on the issue of poverty. Get involved. Write a letter. Sign a petition. Give of your time. There comes a point when critical mass weighs in our favour and world leaders can no longer ignore the voices of the masses.
It's a matter of political survival.
Colleen
What's brilliant about the movie is that it doubles as a bit of propaganda for the issue of world poverty. The tag line: Love can't change what's wrong with the world, but it's a start, doesn't do it justice, but it gives you an idea.
I become horribly angry when I watch or read anything about the unfairness that is our world. I want to immediately race out and fix something. I feel so frustrated with my uselessness, my inability to make a difference.
As I lie awake in bed thinking about what I could do, I began thinking art and its potential to make us think... to make us feel.
Oddly, my brain flipped to The Scream by Edvard Munch. Let me begin by saying how much I hate this picture. If I come across it in a book, I will flip by the page trying not to look at it. If it's on a wall somewhere, I will look away and be very conscious about not looking back. The Scream fills me with despair. It makes me think of concentration camps, of insane asylums. In his diary, Munch wrote about his inspiration for the piece: "I was walking along a path with two friends—the sun was setting—suddenly the sky turned blood red—I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence—there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city—my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety—and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature."
It is the image of this painting that came to me as I was thinking of the agony of parents who cannot feed their children or keep them safe. Who can see those images in the news and not be moved to think "what if...?"
(Perhaps, by definition, The Scream, is for me the greatest painting ever. It's impact on me is tremendous.)
I think our feelings of helplessness keep us from doing anything. It keeps us focused on those things we can do something about. Mundane things like preparing a meal or ridding the garden of weeds. Accomplishable, realistic goals.
The thing of it is, I think we can do something concrete to make a difference. One of the most effective actions is to make our voices heard. Politicians do what we require of them to do. Was the environment on the political radar in any serious way even five years ago? Now, every political party in Canada is arm-wrestling to be seen as greener than the others.
We can do the same on the issue of poverty. Get involved. Write a letter. Sign a petition. Give of your time. There comes a point when critical mass weighs in our favour and world leaders can no longer ignore the voices of the masses.
It's a matter of political survival.
Colleen
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Canadians and hockey
Whoever said that Canadians are apathetic haven't been to a town hall meeting in Bible Hill on the topic of equal ice time for young hockey players.
For those of you who aren't aware, Bible Hill is a small community in northern Nova Scotia. With a population of slightly less than 6,000, it is proud to be the home of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, the only agricultural university in Atlantic Canada.
It may be less proud of having booted the Mi' kmaq off the Salmon River and buying the land (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) from the tribe, but that's another story.
Last night there was a meeting on the discussion of equal ice time for hockey kids and the hall packed in 200 vocal parents. 200. I bet if you attended a meeting on the environment, town planning or housing, almost anywhere in Canada, you'd be a lonely participant. But last night, in Bible Hill, the hall was packed.
The equal ice time rule is to ensure that coaches give all players an opportunity to play, not just the stars. It was implemented as an approach to the game rather than as a rigidly-enforced law.
But, wouldn't you know it? There are parents out at games with stopwatches timing, to the second, the ice time their kids get.
You may have guessed by now that the meeting was heated. Some parents argued that equal time should be strictly enforced and others called for coaches to give more play time to better players leaving beleaguered coaches to shake their heads over something that was meant to let kids learn the game and get to play. But for those parents, the issue of the century was, quite obviously, at hand.
Now, if only Canadians would pour this much passion into say, feeding the homeless or cutting down on carbon emissions.
Wow, what a country this could be!
Colleen
For those of you who aren't aware, Bible Hill is a small community in northern Nova Scotia. With a population of slightly less than 6,000, it is proud to be the home of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, the only agricultural university in Atlantic Canada.
It may be less proud of having booted the Mi' kmaq off the Salmon River and buying the land (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) from the tribe, but that's another story.
Last night there was a meeting on the discussion of equal ice time for hockey kids and the hall packed in 200 vocal parents. 200. I bet if you attended a meeting on the environment, town planning or housing, almost anywhere in Canada, you'd be a lonely participant. But last night, in Bible Hill, the hall was packed.
The equal ice time rule is to ensure that coaches give all players an opportunity to play, not just the stars. It was implemented as an approach to the game rather than as a rigidly-enforced law.
But, wouldn't you know it? There are parents out at games with stopwatches timing, to the second, the ice time their kids get.
You may have guessed by now that the meeting was heated. Some parents argued that equal time should be strictly enforced and others called for coaches to give more play time to better players leaving beleaguered coaches to shake their heads over something that was meant to let kids learn the game and get to play. But for those parents, the issue of the century was, quite obviously, at hand.
Now, if only Canadians would pour this much passion into say, feeding the homeless or cutting down on carbon emissions.
Wow, what a country this could be!
Colleen
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Ashamed to be Canadian
I am usually proud to wave the Maple Leaf, but not today.
Last night was the closing gala for the Viewfinders International Film Festival for Youth. I was fortunate to attend many of the films, which I've blogged about on my other site, as my son was one of the youth jurors who selected which films won awards.
Last night, we saw God Grew Tired of Us, a movie about the Lost Boys of Sudan and, more specifically, follows the lives of three who relocated to the U.S. over a four year period. Their adjustment to the west was, at times, comical, but mostly heart-wrenching.
The U.S. had a program that allowed 3,800 of these boys to relocate in the States. I was rather annoyed to learn that the program only covered their living expenses for three months and the boys had to repay the cost of their flights to the U.S.
I was annoyed, that is, until I discovered that my country has done even less than that.
Jacob Deng, a Lost Boy who has settled in Nova Scotia, spoke to us after the film and took a few questions. That was when I discovered that my own lovely country's contribution to helping young refugees is to select 50 per year to come to Canada. It's like picking grains of sand from the shore. The only other avenue to them, these people, who have already suffered beyond my ability to imagine, must apply through the regular immigration process. It is through this later process that Jacob came here.
One of the traits that Jacob, like many of the other Lost Boys, demonstrates is the desire to help those back home. Jacob has an organization and website you can go to if you'd like to help. Last year, donations allowed him to purchase goats for refugees who were able to return to their homeland. This year he is generating money to build a school.
Here is the link to his site: http://www.wadeng.org/
You can also check out: http://godgrewtiredofus.com/charities.html for other opportunities for action.
In addition to this, I believe that Canada must do more. It is incumbent upon all of us to write to the media and to government to pressure our government to do more for the many Lost Boys who are still (many years later) living in a refugee camp -- a camp that runs out of food every month, a camp that allows little hope of a future for these young men.
Won't you help?
Colleen
Last night was the closing gala for the Viewfinders International Film Festival for Youth. I was fortunate to attend many of the films, which I've blogged about on my other site, as my son was one of the youth jurors who selected which films won awards.
Last night, we saw God Grew Tired of Us, a movie about the Lost Boys of Sudan and, more specifically, follows the lives of three who relocated to the U.S. over a four year period. Their adjustment to the west was, at times, comical, but mostly heart-wrenching.
The U.S. had a program that allowed 3,800 of these boys to relocate in the States. I was rather annoyed to learn that the program only covered their living expenses for three months and the boys had to repay the cost of their flights to the U.S.
I was annoyed, that is, until I discovered that my country has done even less than that.
Jacob Deng, a Lost Boy who has settled in Nova Scotia, spoke to us after the film and took a few questions. That was when I discovered that my own lovely country's contribution to helping young refugees is to select 50 per year to come to Canada. It's like picking grains of sand from the shore. The only other avenue to them, these people, who have already suffered beyond my ability to imagine, must apply through the regular immigration process. It is through this later process that Jacob came here.
One of the traits that Jacob, like many of the other Lost Boys, demonstrates is the desire to help those back home. Jacob has an organization and website you can go to if you'd like to help. Last year, donations allowed him to purchase goats for refugees who were able to return to their homeland. This year he is generating money to build a school.
Here is the link to his site: http://www.wadeng.org/
You can also check out: http://godgrewtiredofus.com/charities.html for other opportunities for action.
In addition to this, I believe that Canada must do more. It is incumbent upon all of us to write to the media and to government to pressure our government to do more for the many Lost Boys who are still (many years later) living in a refugee camp -- a camp that runs out of food every month, a camp that allows little hope of a future for these young men.
Won't you help?
Colleen
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Just answer the question
Given the topic of this week's blog, I was fortunate to catch a CBC interview with Jim Prentice, the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, this morning.
I have six words.... you have got to be kidding!
The reporter asked the Minister if he agreed with Paul Martin and Brian Mulroney that life on reserves was shameful or some such thing. His response was to explain that he has spent more time on reservations than most non-Native people and went on to complain that he had inherited a mess from the previous government.
Really? How insightful. (Although I'd prefer to spell that inciteful.)
For someone with his background, you'd think he could do better.
I'm sure that he has inherited a mess. Imagine how badly he'd feel if he was living there. What an inheritance that would be.
The thing is that every government has inherited a whopping challenge. The reason for that is because each government does its best to ignore the issue.
I mean it's not really mainstream, is it? Not a heck of a lot of votes there.
But, here's the thing.
Let's pretend for a second, that aboriginal peoples wanted to sell their lands and that Europeans wanted to buy it. (I said, let's pretend... I didn't say it was going to be easy.)
Now, let's pretend that a negotiated deal was made to purchase the land... say like when you go to buy a car. You say, I'd like this one in red. The salesperson says great. That'll be $25,000. You say: Whoa! Too much. Would you take $19,900? And so on. Eventually, an agreed upon price is reached. You pay this amount and drive away in a new car.
So, let's say instead of cash, we pay for the land in agricultural equipment, livestock, domestic supplies and a promise to supply education, housing, and access to other land in perpetuity.
Papers are signed. Hands are shaken. A deal is struck.
The purchasers take the land. The retailers receive payment.
How difficult a concept is this?
Quit frigging around!
If successive governments would stop wasting taxpayers' money on fighting land claims and other agreements -- which they inevitably lose -- we could all live happily ever after.
Think of the millions upon millions of dollars spent fighting losing battles while people continue to live in poverty. Here, in Canada. Your neighbours are living in poverty with no hope of anything better.
And this has an impact on our reputation internationally.
Many Canadians took pride in being ranked as the best place in the world to live for most of the 1990s. The rankings (The Human Development Index) are published annually by the UN, and rates countries according to quality of life rather than just economic achievements. The criteria include life expectancy, educational attainment, and adjusted real income.
Did you know that 2000 was the last year that Canada ranked number one in the HDI? In 2001, Canada slipped to third place and in 2003, to eighth . In 2004, we recovered slightly and placed fourth.
Want to know why?
Let's have a look at findings in the U.N. report for 2004. (http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2004/07/15/UNlisting_040715.html)
Does this scare anyone aside from me? That Canada is being compared to South Africa and Guatemala in terms of how we treat our marginalized groups?
In April 2006, the UN issued a news release that warned Canada its ranking would drop to 48th if judged on the "economic and social well-being of its First Nations people."
“Economic, social and human indicators of well-being, quality of life and development are completely lower among aboriginal people than other Canadians,” said UN special investigator Rodolfo Stavenhagen , who also warns the housing, health and suicide situation is reaching crisis proportions.
Stavenhagen said the condition of aboriginal people in the country was : "the most pressing human rights issue facing Canada.”
I have six words.... you have got to be kidding!
The reporter asked the Minister if he agreed with Paul Martin and Brian Mulroney that life on reserves was shameful or some such thing. His response was to explain that he has spent more time on reservations than most non-Native people and went on to complain that he had inherited a mess from the previous government.
Really? How insightful. (Although I'd prefer to spell that inciteful.)
For someone with his background, you'd think he could do better.
I'm sure that he has inherited a mess. Imagine how badly he'd feel if he was living there. What an inheritance that would be.
The thing is that every government has inherited a whopping challenge. The reason for that is because each government does its best to ignore the issue.
I mean it's not really mainstream, is it? Not a heck of a lot of votes there.
But, here's the thing.
Let's pretend for a second, that aboriginal peoples wanted to sell their lands and that Europeans wanted to buy it. (I said, let's pretend... I didn't say it was going to be easy.)
Now, let's pretend that a negotiated deal was made to purchase the land... say like when you go to buy a car. You say, I'd like this one in red. The salesperson says great. That'll be $25,000. You say: Whoa! Too much. Would you take $19,900? And so on. Eventually, an agreed upon price is reached. You pay this amount and drive away in a new car.
So, let's say instead of cash, we pay for the land in agricultural equipment, livestock, domestic supplies and a promise to supply education, housing, and access to other land in perpetuity.
Papers are signed. Hands are shaken. A deal is struck.
The purchasers take the land. The retailers receive payment.
How difficult a concept is this?
Quit frigging around!
If successive governments would stop wasting taxpayers' money on fighting land claims and other agreements -- which they inevitably lose -- we could all live happily ever after.
Think of the millions upon millions of dollars spent fighting losing battles while people continue to live in poverty. Here, in Canada. Your neighbours are living in poverty with no hope of anything better.
And this has an impact on our reputation internationally.
Many Canadians took pride in being ranked as the best place in the world to live for most of the 1990s. The rankings (The Human Development Index) are published annually by the UN, and rates countries according to quality of life rather than just economic achievements. The criteria include life expectancy, educational attainment, and adjusted real income.
Did you know that 2000 was the last year that Canada ranked number one in the HDI? In 2001, Canada slipped to third place and in 2003, to eighth . In 2004, we recovered slightly and placed fourth.
Want to know why?
Let's have a look at findings in the U.N. report for 2004. (http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2004/07/15/UNlisting_040715.html)
"The paper also highlighted the creation of Nunavut as an example to follow. It applauded Canada for negotiating "self-governing territories."
"Canada did get a few black marks. The report criticized the country's 'inequalities in income, education and health' and said that it was detrimental to marginal groups. Canada was lumped in with in South Africa and Guatemala in this case."
Does this scare anyone aside from me? That Canada is being compared to South Africa and Guatemala in terms of how we treat our marginalized groups?
In April 2006, the UN issued a news release that warned Canada its ranking would drop to 48th if judged on the "economic and social well-being of its First Nations people."
“Poverty, infant mortality, unemployment, morbidity, suicide, criminal detention, children on welfare, women victims of abuse, child prostitution, are all much higher among aboriginal people than in any other sector of Canadian society,” said the report issued by the UN Human Rights Commission.
“Economic, social and human indicators of well-being, quality of life and development are completely lower among aboriginal people than other Canadians,” said UN special investigator Rodolfo Stavenhagen , who also warns the housing, health and suicide situation is reaching crisis proportions.
Stavenhagen said the condition of aboriginal people in the country was : "the most pressing human rights issue facing Canada.”
Among the problems highlighted in the report:
- Poverty affects 60 per cent of aboriginal children.
- The annual income of aboriginal people is “significantly lower” than other Canadians.
- Unemployment is very high among aboriginals.
- 20 per cent of aboriginal people have inadequate water and sewer systems.
- Aboriginals make up 4.4 per cent of the Canadian population but account for 17 per cent of the people in prison.
- Cases of tuberculosis are six times higher than the rest of Canada.
These are our people. Our neighbours. Our family.
Do you think we can stop whining about whose fault it is and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT?
Today?
Get involved. Visit the Assembly of First Nations website (link on right of page) and sign the petition against poverty. Write to Jim Prentice (address two postings down).
Let's get things going. Votes and voices count.
Colleen
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Draft letter for your consideration
NOTE: This letter refers to the previous post.
To make it easier for you to find time to post a letter to Mr. Prentice, I have cobbled together a few words for your consideration. Please feel free to copy and paste and make whatever changes you see fit.
Thank you for taking the time to do this one important thing...
Your name and address here
Date
The Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H4
Dear Mr. Prentice:
I was disheartened this morning to learn that although Bill C-292 or the Kelowna Accord Implementation Act, was passed by a majority of votes in the House of Commons, it may not be implemented by your government.
As you are aware, the Kelowna Accord is an agreement to bridge the socio-economic divide between aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples. It was signed off by the prime minister, all provincial premiers, territorial leaders, leaders of the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Metis National Council, the Native Women's Association of Canada and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples – an extraordinary achievement in terms of federal-provincial-territorial and stakeholder cooperation.
Given the intent of the Accord and the depth of agreement reached, I ask that you and your government honour Bill C-292. While a private member’s bill cannot compel the government to allocate funding, there is a moral obligation to live up to the standards of democracy.
If Bill C-292 is not honoured, neither Canadians nor history books will remark kindly on your tenure as Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs.
I hope that your government reconsiders its position on the Accord and begins its implementation today.
Sincerely,
XXX
To make it easier for you to find time to post a letter to Mr. Prentice, I have cobbled together a few words for your consideration. Please feel free to copy and paste and make whatever changes you see fit.
Thank you for taking the time to do this one important thing...
Your name and address here
Date
The Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H4
Dear Mr. Prentice:
I was disheartened this morning to learn that although Bill C-292 or the Kelowna Accord Implementation Act, was passed by a majority of votes in the House of Commons, it may not be implemented by your government.
As you are aware, the Kelowna Accord is an agreement to bridge the socio-economic divide between aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples. It was signed off by the prime minister, all provincial premiers, territorial leaders, leaders of the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Metis National Council, the Native Women's Association of Canada and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples – an extraordinary achievement in terms of federal-provincial-territorial and stakeholder cooperation.
Given the intent of the Accord and the depth of agreement reached, I ask that you and your government honour Bill C-292. While a private member’s bill cannot compel the government to allocate funding, there is a moral obligation to live up to the standards of democracy.
If Bill C-292 is not honoured, neither Canadians nor history books will remark kindly on your tenure as Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs.
I hope that your government reconsiders its position on the Accord and begins its implementation today.
Sincerely,
XXX
Kelowna Accords: Express yourself. No stamp needed.
Background and Issue
In 2005, when Paul Martin was Prime Minister of Canada, the Liberal government signed the Kelowna Accord with all provincial premiers, territorial leaders, leaders of the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Metis National Council, the Native Womens’ Association of Canada and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. The Accord committed $1.5 billion over 10 years for aboriginal peoples to improve education, living standards and employment opportunities.
The Accord was created to bridge the social and economic gaps between aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples. It would also be the first time that, according the Mr. Martin, "all governments, aboriginal and non-aboriginal, are to hold themselves accountable to reporting publicly on progress." http://www.paulmartin.ca/speech-20061109-1.html
Then there was an election and the Conservatives came to power. In its May 2006 budget, the new government indicated that it was committed to meeting the targets of the Accords.
Paul Martin, introduced a private members bill in the House in June 2006 calling on the government to implement the agreements under the Accords. That Bill (Bill C-292 or the Kelowna Accord Implementation Act) passed yesterday.
Here's the glitch.
The current government has fallen out of love with the Accord.
Even if the Senate signs off on the Bill, the government doesn't have to implement it.
What the...?
"All three opposition parties voted in favour of the bill by Martin, MP for the Montreal riding of LaSalle-Émard. But the Conservatives were uniformly opposed and have indicated they will ignore the measure. A private member's bill cannot compel the government of the day to spend money," said the CBC morning report. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/03/21/replacement-workers.html
According to that news report, the current Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, Jim Prentice, -- I know it's hard to keep track... this is one portfolio that has changed numerous times in the past two years, making it even more difficult for aboriginal peoples to make progress -- said that more money is not the answer.
So, let's have a look at the 2007 Federal budget announced last week to see what the government does plan to do for aboriginal peoples instead of implement the Accord.
2007 Federal Budget
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/features/budget2007/index.html?gclid=CJ6Y1_amiIsCFQw7gQod8XyoEg
From the Budget Overview, I have pulled this paragraph:
[The Budget supports] "Aboriginal Canadians by taking action to provide training and job opportunities for Aboriginal Canadians, helping First Nations members own their own homes, improving the quality of drinking water and enhancing the Aboriginal Justice Strategy."
Hmmm. Okay, what does this mean and, since this is a budget, where is the commitment of money as is evident in each of the other commitments in the budget?
Here's the breakdown as in the full Budget document.
Aboriginal Labour Force Participation
Given the relative youth of the Aboriginal population, it is particularly important to take immediate measures to increase sustainable Aboriginal employment through the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership initiative, which will more than double in size in the next five years. More details on this initiative are provided in Chapter 5 [of the Budget.]**
** In Chapter 5, there are no measures outlined specifically for aboriginal peoples. Perhaps the notion is that, like all other Canadians, aboriginals too will be able to benefit from whatever measures are being put into place. It would be a transcendence of history, were this to be the case.
Aboriginal Justice Strategy
Canada’s New Government will expand the strategy in order to significantly increase the number of Aboriginal communities and people that have access to community justice programs. This will lead to a further reduction in crime and have positive impacts at the community level as Aboriginal communities take greater responsibility for the administration of justice. To do so, Budget 2007 dedicates $14.5 million over the next two years.
Housing in First Nations Communities
Innovative First Nations have already implemented plans to help people own their own property, and to earn rental income. To build on these successes, Canada’s New Government, in consultation with First Nations, will develop approaches to support the development of individual property ownership on reserve, encourage lending for private housing, and increase accountability, both institutional and personal. To this end, $300 million will be dedicated to the development of a housing market in First Nations communities.
First Nations Participation in Integrated Atlantic Commercial Fisheries
Budget 2007 provides $20 million over the next two years to ensure that First Nations in the Maritimes and in the Gaspé region of Quebec have the capability to more efficiently manage and maximize their existing access to the commercial fishery. This amount includes the reduction in licence revenues collected by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans following the transfer of licences to First Nations under the Marshall Response Initiative.
Specific Claims
The Government is committed to achieving fair and timely resolution of First Nations claims for compensation relating to unfulfilled lawful obligations. Currently, specific claims take years to deal with, causing frustration for First Nations communities, and too often result in uncertainties and conflict. In the coming year, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians will work with First Nations leadership to move forward an action plan to accelerate the resolution of specific claims and will explore alternatives such as providing for independent adjudication of claims that cannot be settled by negotiations. Canada’s New Government is committed to ensuring that settled claims are paid promptly. $0????
Conclusion
It appears that despite statements to the contrary, the government does believe that more money is needed. The issue may be a simple disagreement on the amounts to be spent and on what.
C'mon people.
The Kelowna Accord was discussed and debated and agreed to by political leaders (governing and aboriginal.) I don't claim to know whether the Kelowna Accord will do what it intends -- to reduce the socio-economic divide between aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples. What I do know is that an agreement was reached with the participation of those affected and now we have a moral obligation to see that it is put into action.
Please express your support of the Kelowna Accord by spreading the word and by writing to:
The Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H4
If mailed in Canada, you don't even need a stamp.
There is no direct e-mail address for the minister or for the communication department, so, if you'd prefer to e-mail, general inquiries will have to do. InfoPubs@ainc-inac.gc.ca
Colleen
In 2005, when Paul Martin was Prime Minister of Canada, the Liberal government signed the Kelowna Accord with all provincial premiers, territorial leaders, leaders of the Assembly of First Nations, the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the Metis National Council, the Native Womens’ Association of Canada and the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples. The Accord committed $1.5 billion over 10 years for aboriginal peoples to improve education, living standards and employment opportunities.
The Accord was created to bridge the social and economic gaps between aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples. It would also be the first time that, according the Mr. Martin, "all governments, aboriginal and non-aboriginal, are to hold themselves accountable to reporting publicly on progress." http://www.paulmartin.ca/speech-20061109-1.html
Then there was an election and the Conservatives came to power. In its May 2006 budget, the new government indicated that it was committed to meeting the targets of the Accords.
Paul Martin, introduced a private members bill in the House in June 2006 calling on the government to implement the agreements under the Accords. That Bill (Bill C-292 or the Kelowna Accord Implementation Act) passed yesterday.
Here's the glitch.
The current government has fallen out of love with the Accord.
Even if the Senate signs off on the Bill, the government doesn't have to implement it.
What the...?
"All three opposition parties voted in favour of the bill by Martin, MP for the Montreal riding of LaSalle-Émard. But the Conservatives were uniformly opposed and have indicated they will ignore the measure. A private member's bill cannot compel the government of the day to spend money," said the CBC morning report. http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/03/21/replacement-workers.html
According to that news report, the current Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, Jim Prentice, -- I know it's hard to keep track... this is one portfolio that has changed numerous times in the past two years, making it even more difficult for aboriginal peoples to make progress -- said that more money is not the answer.
So, let's have a look at the 2007 Federal budget announced last week to see what the government does plan to do for aboriginal peoples instead of implement the Accord.
2007 Federal Budget
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/features/budget2007/index.html?gclid=CJ6Y1_amiIsCFQw7gQod8XyoEg
From the Budget Overview, I have pulled this paragraph:
[The Budget supports] "Aboriginal Canadians by taking action to provide training and job opportunities for Aboriginal Canadians, helping First Nations members own their own homes, improving the quality of drinking water and enhancing the Aboriginal Justice Strategy."
Hmmm. Okay, what does this mean and, since this is a budget, where is the commitment of money as is evident in each of the other commitments in the budget?
Here's the breakdown as in the full Budget document.
Aboriginal Labour Force Participation
Given the relative youth of the Aboriginal population, it is particularly important to take immediate measures to increase sustainable Aboriginal employment through the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership initiative, which will more than double in size in the next five years. More details on this initiative are provided in Chapter 5 [of the Budget.]**
** In Chapter 5, there are no measures outlined specifically for aboriginal peoples. Perhaps the notion is that, like all other Canadians, aboriginals too will be able to benefit from whatever measures are being put into place. It would be a transcendence of history, were this to be the case.
Aboriginal Justice Strategy
Canada’s New Government will expand the strategy in order to significantly increase the number of Aboriginal communities and people that have access to community justice programs. This will lead to a further reduction in crime and have positive impacts at the community level as Aboriginal communities take greater responsibility for the administration of justice. To do so, Budget 2007 dedicates $14.5 million over the next two years.
Housing in First Nations Communities
Innovative First Nations have already implemented plans to help people own their own property, and to earn rental income. To build on these successes, Canada’s New Government, in consultation with First Nations, will develop approaches to support the development of individual property ownership on reserve, encourage lending for private housing, and increase accountability, both institutional and personal. To this end, $300 million will be dedicated to the development of a housing market in First Nations communities.
First Nations Participation in Integrated Atlantic Commercial Fisheries
Budget 2007 provides $20 million over the next two years to ensure that First Nations in the Maritimes and in the Gaspé region of Quebec have the capability to more efficiently manage and maximize their existing access to the commercial fishery. This amount includes the reduction in licence revenues collected by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans following the transfer of licences to First Nations under the Marshall Response Initiative.
Specific Claims
The Government is committed to achieving fair and timely resolution of First Nations claims for compensation relating to unfulfilled lawful obligations. Currently, specific claims take years to deal with, causing frustration for First Nations communities, and too often result in uncertainties and conflict. In the coming year, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians will work with First Nations leadership to move forward an action plan to accelerate the resolution of specific claims and will explore alternatives such as providing for independent adjudication of claims that cannot be settled by negotiations. Canada’s New Government is committed to ensuring that settled claims are paid promptly. $0????
Conclusion
It appears that despite statements to the contrary, the government does believe that more money is needed. The issue may be a simple disagreement on the amounts to be spent and on what.
C'mon people.
The Kelowna Accord was discussed and debated and agreed to by political leaders (governing and aboriginal.) I don't claim to know whether the Kelowna Accord will do what it intends -- to reduce the socio-economic divide between aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples. What I do know is that an agreement was reached with the participation of those affected and now we have a moral obligation to see that it is put into action.
Please express your support of the Kelowna Accord by spreading the word and by writing to:
The Honourable Jim Prentice
Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0H4
If mailed in Canada, you don't even need a stamp.
There is no direct e-mail address for the minister or for the communication department, so, if you'd prefer to e-mail, general inquiries will have to do. InfoPubs@ainc-inac.gc.ca
Colleen
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Do something nice for someone
I'm not a YouTube afficionado, but was browsing there today -- avoiding work -- when I spotted this video challenge and thought I'd pass it along.
Watch this and do something nice for someone today...
http://youtube.com/video_response_view_all?v=PVY5IpSDUYE
Be part of the revolution!
Colleen
Watch this and do something nice for someone today...
http://youtube.com/video_response_view_all?v=PVY5IpSDUYE
Be part of the revolution!
Colleen
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Isn't this what we asked for?
Here's a real quick post...
First, my sister gets out of hospital today! Yeah!
Second, I've had a breakthrough on the book and now know what's wrong with it. Very exciting. Thanks VS!
Third, just heard an interview on CBC with Liberal leader and leader of the official opposition, Stéphane Dion. In the intro, the reporter quoted a political strategist as saying that Mr. Dion hasn't been getting the press that most leaders would because he is focusing on talking about his platform and isn't being negative about the party in power.
Wait a second. Could this be right? Could it be that we have a leader of a political party who has ideas to put forward rather than taking the easy route of attacking others, someone who refuses to participate in mud-slinging or conducting a negative campaign? Could it be that and we're criticizing him for that?
I confess that I've been so turned off politics that I've been ignoring it lately, but I'm going to check this guy out a little more closely. If he is the kind of guy we've been asking for, he's someone I can get behind.
His website is at stephanedion.ca, if you're interested.
Colleen
First, my sister gets out of hospital today! Yeah!
Second, I've had a breakthrough on the book and now know what's wrong with it. Very exciting. Thanks VS!
Third, just heard an interview on CBC with Liberal leader and leader of the official opposition, Stéphane Dion. In the intro, the reporter quoted a political strategist as saying that Mr. Dion hasn't been getting the press that most leaders would because he is focusing on talking about his platform and isn't being negative about the party in power.
Wait a second. Could this be right? Could it be that we have a leader of a political party who has ideas to put forward rather than taking the easy route of attacking others, someone who refuses to participate in mud-slinging or conducting a negative campaign? Could it be that and we're criticizing him for that?
I confess that I've been so turned off politics that I've been ignoring it lately, but I'm going to check this guy out a little more closely. If he is the kind of guy we've been asking for, he's someone I can get behind.
His website is at stephanedion.ca, if you're interested.
Colleen
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
More about changing the world
You may be wondering whatever happened to my own "one little thing to change the world." It seems that I've been blogging about everything but the topic that was my original intention for this space.
Let me begin by sharing my idea for making the world a better place. The thing that I have chosen to do is to help change mainstream society's view of aboriginal peoples. It seems to me that we in the Western world who decry the atrocities taking place in other parts of the globe have managed to turn a blind eye to the third-world we have created in in our own backyard. I believe that we can do better and that we want to do better, but don't know what to do.
Part of my attempt to succeed at my goal, will be to highlight bits of history, share information about treaties and -- when I am lucky enough to get these -- stories about Native peoples in modern times. I will also share ways that we can all help, as I find opportunities for this.
There are two books that I highly recommend you read.
The first is the classic, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. Written more than 30 years ago, the book presents a compelling tale of the settlement of the U.S. and the failure of the conquering society to live up to its own promises. Wounded Knee is exceptionally well-written and includes accounts from official government records and first-hand accounts as evidence.
The second book is I Have Lived Here Since the World Began, by Arthur J. Ray. Ray is a professor of history at the University of British Columbia and works as a consultant on Native claims cases. His book looks at the impact of European settlement on Native peoples from first contact to modern times.
Reading both books gave me a better appreciation of native cultures, treaties and how poverty on reserves has been created and perpetuated. It is on this last point that I think many white North Americans are ignorant. How would we know? It's something that has been left out of most of our history books. Instead, we drive by reservations, see decrepit housing, hear about welfare levels and think poorly of the people who live there.
The truth is that the realities of Natives would have provided endless fodder for Kafka.
Did you know, for example, that native peoples were not allowed to participate in emerging economies following the fur trade? That, at certain points in history, it has been illegal for Native peoples to hire lawyers to argue on their behalf in Court? Or that the education offered in the residential school system was geared toward creating labourers and domestics rather than providing the same educational opportunities that white children were given?
But for those of us who haven't been impacted by this bit of history, how can we know about it? It is part of our past and present that isn't taught in school.
When my son was studying ancient history last year, I was delighted that, in the section on Sparta, the author pointed out that Sparta got the short-end of the stick historically speaking. As we know, Athens -- Sparta's enemy -- was the eventual winner of the battles and -- again as we know, the winner gets to write the history books.
It's a lesson that has been repeated continuously since early times and should teach us all to view history books with an analytical eye.
I hope you check out the above-noted books or visit a few web pages to develop your own understanding of what's going on in our neighbourhoods. I'll provide links to sites as I find them.
Hope you continue to tune in.
Colleen
Let me begin by sharing my idea for making the world a better place. The thing that I have chosen to do is to help change mainstream society's view of aboriginal peoples. It seems to me that we in the Western world who decry the atrocities taking place in other parts of the globe have managed to turn a blind eye to the third-world we have created in in our own backyard. I believe that we can do better and that we want to do better, but don't know what to do.
Part of my attempt to succeed at my goal, will be to highlight bits of history, share information about treaties and -- when I am lucky enough to get these -- stories about Native peoples in modern times. I will also share ways that we can all help, as I find opportunities for this.
There are two books that I highly recommend you read.
The first is the classic, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown. Written more than 30 years ago, the book presents a compelling tale of the settlement of the U.S. and the failure of the conquering society to live up to its own promises. Wounded Knee is exceptionally well-written and includes accounts from official government records and first-hand accounts as evidence.
The second book is I Have Lived Here Since the World Began, by Arthur J. Ray. Ray is a professor of history at the University of British Columbia and works as a consultant on Native claims cases. His book looks at the impact of European settlement on Native peoples from first contact to modern times.
Reading both books gave me a better appreciation of native cultures, treaties and how poverty on reserves has been created and perpetuated. It is on this last point that I think many white North Americans are ignorant. How would we know? It's something that has been left out of most of our history books. Instead, we drive by reservations, see decrepit housing, hear about welfare levels and think poorly of the people who live there.
The truth is that the realities of Natives would have provided endless fodder for Kafka.
Did you know, for example, that native peoples were not allowed to participate in emerging economies following the fur trade? That, at certain points in history, it has been illegal for Native peoples to hire lawyers to argue on their behalf in Court? Or that the education offered in the residential school system was geared toward creating labourers and domestics rather than providing the same educational opportunities that white children were given?
But for those of us who haven't been impacted by this bit of history, how can we know about it? It is part of our past and present that isn't taught in school.
When my son was studying ancient history last year, I was delighted that, in the section on Sparta, the author pointed out that Sparta got the short-end of the stick historically speaking. As we know, Athens -- Sparta's enemy -- was the eventual winner of the battles and -- again as we know, the winner gets to write the history books.
It's a lesson that has been repeated continuously since early times and should teach us all to view history books with an analytical eye.
I hope you check out the above-noted books or visit a few web pages to develop your own understanding of what's going on in our neighbourhoods. I'll provide links to sites as I find them.
Hope you continue to tune in.
Colleen
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Race and Sexuality: A Rant
I feel a rant coming on.
I've just read an Associated Press piece by Melissa Rayworth in our local newsflyer, Out and About. (Or if you live here in Nova Scotia that's Oot and Aboot.) The heading was So you're coming out! Who cares? The answer, according to Ms. Rayworth, is Hollywood.
It seems that casting agents are still pretty nervous about casting gay people in straight roles.
For the love of god!
Has anyone heard of acting? It's that thing that some people do for a living that involves pretending to be a character in a story. It isn't hiring say, Julia Roberts to be Julia Roberts (oops, excuse me, in her case, well, that is the case.) Let's say we're referring to an actual ACTor. Say Judi Dench or William H. Macy. Would you let Mr. Macy act as though he were disabled? Because he isn't you know. But he can act that way... and earn critical acclaim in the process. And Judi Dench, well she isn't really a queen although pretending to be one earned her an Oscar.
And now we have colour-blind casting -- considered to be a major breakthrough. Imagine that. Not specifying that a certain a role must be played by an actor of a specific race.
Actors should be able get roles based on skill not on the basis of skin tone or sexual orientation.
And on the issue of sexuality... Did anyone, way back when,know that Rock Hudson was gay? No. He was an actor and women swooned over him. Does anyone care that T.R. Knight is gay and acting as a straight man. No.
And we shouldn't.
We have absolutely no business in other people's bedrooms any more than we would want someone in ours. (Granted some of us do, but exhibitionism is another issue.)
We have got to get over the whole I'm better than you because my ancestors beat yours, or enslaved yours or burned yours at the stake. Or whatever other dreadful things we did to become the dominant society in the West.
We are all one species (yes, there is some discussion on this point regarding our males, but, again, that's another issue.) One human race on one planet. Not a new idea. As a matter of fact, it's rather old. So, why can't we just get it together?
You know, we all came from Africa.
Colleen
I've just read an Associated Press piece by Melissa Rayworth in our local newsflyer, Out and About. (Or if you live here in Nova Scotia that's Oot and Aboot.) The heading was So you're coming out! Who cares? The answer, according to Ms. Rayworth, is Hollywood.
It seems that casting agents are still pretty nervous about casting gay people in straight roles.
For the love of god!
Has anyone heard of acting? It's that thing that some people do for a living that involves pretending to be a character in a story. It isn't hiring say, Julia Roberts to be Julia Roberts (oops, excuse me, in her case, well, that is the case.) Let's say we're referring to an actual ACTor. Say Judi Dench or William H. Macy. Would you let Mr. Macy act as though he were disabled? Because he isn't you know. But he can act that way... and earn critical acclaim in the process. And Judi Dench, well she isn't really a queen although pretending to be one earned her an Oscar.
And now we have colour-blind casting -- considered to be a major breakthrough. Imagine that. Not specifying that a certain a role must be played by an actor of a specific race.
Actors should be able get roles based on skill not on the basis of skin tone or sexual orientation.
And on the issue of sexuality... Did anyone, way back when,know that Rock Hudson was gay? No. He was an actor and women swooned over him. Does anyone care that T.R. Knight is gay and acting as a straight man. No.
And we shouldn't.
We have absolutely no business in other people's bedrooms any more than we would want someone in ours. (Granted some of us do, but exhibitionism is another issue.)
We have got to get over the whole I'm better than you because my ancestors beat yours, or enslaved yours or burned yours at the stake. Or whatever other dreadful things we did to become the dominant society in the West.
We are all one species (yes, there is some discussion on this point regarding our males, but, again, that's another issue.) One human race on one planet. Not a new idea. As a matter of fact, it's rather old. So, why can't we just get it together?
You know, we all came from Africa.
Colleen
Friday, February 16, 2007
An open letter to young people -- to all people
I just composed a letter to my niece, a lovely 24-year old woman, who is following an untraditional path (at least for the fast-paced 21st century) and it strikes me that we humans have gotten it all wrong. Or much of it anyway.
Historically, we may have gone off the rails about the time of the industrial revolution. I'm certainly no socio-whatever-expert, but that hasn't stopped me from developing more than a few opinions on the topic of humanity, rationalism and consumerism.
(Not that I would turn my nose up at a great pair of pumps or a richly-coloured hangbag.)
That said, and the shot at my own limitations notwithstanding, it seems to me that we just need to SLOW DOWN. Take a breath. Smell the roses or whatever else it is that turns our individual cranks and that we might want to smell. Could it be that after years of eschewing clichés, that the clichés had it right all along?
Some of you may have tuned into Oprah last week when she unveiled The Secret. The Secret is the 2,500 year old belief in karma. Yes, a little tip of the hat to Hinduism and Buddhism would be in order. Basically, what goes around, comes around or, if you send out negative messages, negative things will befall you.
Apparently, if the show's advertising is to be believed, people have gone crazy over the information from that segment.
It appears that we can't help our consumerist-selves. If we decide to evaluate our reliance on things to make us happy, and to place more emphasis on inner growth, we begin to gobble up philosophies in much the same manner that we shopped. Our appetite for the silver-bullet of happiness is frighteningly voracious. But we want our beliefs packaged for us. It has to come in a dust-jacket or on a DVD, and it better have no more than 10 steps (give or take.)Even in our quest for meaning, we go about it superficially.
Calm down, everyone.
The Secret isn't much of a secret, at least it doesn't seem so to me.
We just need to get back to a more humane existance. Some would say to faith. Our faith needn't be explained by science, but it should be something that sustains us. Each of us, individually. Whatever works for each of us.
It is the timeworn story of following your own path and learning to accept ourselves and each other for who we are.
Be kind. Be gentle. Leave the world a better place than it was when you entered it in one way. Just one way.
How about it?
Historically, we may have gone off the rails about the time of the industrial revolution. I'm certainly no socio-whatever-expert, but that hasn't stopped me from developing more than a few opinions on the topic of humanity, rationalism and consumerism.
(Not that I would turn my nose up at a great pair of pumps or a richly-coloured hangbag.)
That said, and the shot at my own limitations notwithstanding, it seems to me that we just need to SLOW DOWN. Take a breath. Smell the roses or whatever else it is that turns our individual cranks and that we might want to smell. Could it be that after years of eschewing clichés, that the clichés had it right all along?
Some of you may have tuned into Oprah last week when she unveiled The Secret. The Secret is the 2,500 year old belief in karma. Yes, a little tip of the hat to Hinduism and Buddhism would be in order. Basically, what goes around, comes around or, if you send out negative messages, negative things will befall you.
Apparently, if the show's advertising is to be believed, people have gone crazy over the information from that segment.
It appears that we can't help our consumerist-selves. If we decide to evaluate our reliance on things to make us happy, and to place more emphasis on inner growth, we begin to gobble up philosophies in much the same manner that we shopped. Our appetite for the silver-bullet of happiness is frighteningly voracious. But we want our beliefs packaged for us. It has to come in a dust-jacket or on a DVD, and it better have no more than 10 steps (give or take.)Even in our quest for meaning, we go about it superficially.
Calm down, everyone.
The Secret isn't much of a secret, at least it doesn't seem so to me.
We just need to get back to a more humane existance. Some would say to faith. Our faith needn't be explained by science, but it should be something that sustains us. Each of us, individually. Whatever works for each of us.
It is the timeworn story of following your own path and learning to accept ourselves and each other for who we are.
Be kind. Be gentle. Leave the world a better place than it was when you entered it in one way. Just one way.
How about it?
Friday, January 26, 2007
Down but not out
So, I have made my first pass at my one little thing to change the world and was shot down. OK, that's a rather dramatic representation of what actually happened. I made a small foray into another world and was thanked and told, very politely, to run along. Not one to give up, I have responded, in a way that I hope is interpreted as being respectful, that I think I have something of value to contribute and am open to exploring the options if ever the person I have contacted deems it appropriate.
Is that sufficiently obscure?
Here's my dilemma.
I'm a white girl (At 47, it may be impolitic to refer to myself as being a girl, but using woman seems more formal than I am feeling in this context.) wanting to apply my area of expertise (public relations) in an area of great interest to me and, I think, in great need of strategic communication support -- First Nations' issues.
How does someone like me get her manicured foot in the door without offending anyone or seeming like a dilettante?
I am of the belief that if First Nations peoples have to wait another 300 years for some semblance of justice to prevail it will be not only make a mockery of western civilization, but will cause untold hardship to so many and quite unnecessarily.
Is there a person on our planet who can intelligently argue that First Nations peoples have not survived through hundreds of years of the most horrible depredations at the hands of European settlers? The horrors that have been visited upon these groups are well documented by the governments who sanctioned and lead the atrocities so it how could it be argued otherwise?
That these peoples have survived at all is a magnificent testimony to endurance, patience and fortitude.
It is time for us, all of us -- for in a democracry we are the government -- to do better.
But, I don't mean to lecture or preach. I do get carried away sometimes.
In short, I am hoping to be able to help. The only way I know how to do so is by using what I know -- communication strategies and tactics -- to raise awareness, increase mainstream society's opportunities to educate itself, and to help get public support to force politicians to listen and act.
In other words, to help people do the right thing.
Wouldn't that be a great "one little thing to do?"
Advice would be appreciated.
Stay tuned.
Is that sufficiently obscure?
Here's my dilemma.
I'm a white girl (At 47, it may be impolitic to refer to myself as being a girl, but using woman seems more formal than I am feeling in this context.) wanting to apply my area of expertise (public relations) in an area of great interest to me and, I think, in great need of strategic communication support -- First Nations' issues.
How does someone like me get her manicured foot in the door without offending anyone or seeming like a dilettante?
I am of the belief that if First Nations peoples have to wait another 300 years for some semblance of justice to prevail it will be not only make a mockery of western civilization, but will cause untold hardship to so many and quite unnecessarily.
Is there a person on our planet who can intelligently argue that First Nations peoples have not survived through hundreds of years of the most horrible depredations at the hands of European settlers? The horrors that have been visited upon these groups are well documented by the governments who sanctioned and lead the atrocities so it how could it be argued otherwise?
That these peoples have survived at all is a magnificent testimony to endurance, patience and fortitude.
It is time for us, all of us -- for in a democracry we are the government -- to do better.
But, I don't mean to lecture or preach. I do get carried away sometimes.
In short, I am hoping to be able to help. The only way I know how to do so is by using what I know -- communication strategies and tactics -- to raise awareness, increase mainstream society's opportunities to educate itself, and to help get public support to force politicians to listen and act.
In other words, to help people do the right thing.
Wouldn't that be a great "one little thing to do?"
Advice would be appreciated.
Stay tuned.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
It's time to take over the world
I have discovered the meaning to life.
Silly that it's taken me this long, really. It's been flitting about in front of me for years. But this morning, in the shower, there it was. Clear as a bell.
I do some of my best thinking in the shower and, of late, I've had a lot to think about.
Of course, you may put it down to my mid-life crisis. I prefer to think of mid-life as providing me the wherewithall and opportunity to get a few things figured out.
Mid-life is a funny time. (As in funny: ha-ha and funny: weird.) A balancing act. Half your life already on the scale, weighted by the choices made in the past, good bad and indifferent; half your life ahead wide open to possibilities that will balance the scale.
That's where I am. Mid-life. Half gone; half still to come.
Some days that can be depressing, but on better days I recognize how long it took me to get here and see that there is much still to come and I feel like an explorer charting a new course.
Mid-life is one of those milestones like adolescence or becoming an adult. For women, like me, it's also a time of raging hormones and a sort of insanity. (God, remember adolescence!)
The combination of these things drives many of us who have reached this point in life to seek meaning for our existance, justification for our choices, and change. For me, this desire for change is rooted in a life spent making disasterous choices and working far too hard at things that, in the long run, don't mean a damn thing. Perhaps this journey of discovery is nothing more than the selfish pursuit of an admirable epitaph, one's mortality becoming suddenly real. The light now visible at the end of the tunnel.
But I choose to see the desire for change differently.
I used to read a book to my kids. It was called Miss Rumphius. The moral of the story was that we all had a job to make the world a more beautiful place.
And that's it.
The meaning of life.
After, superficially, pondering the tenets of Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism and Islam; after looking over racks of self-help books in the local bookstore; after witnessing the horror that is the evening news; after focussing on how to improve myself and what's wrong with me; and after living through and living alongside depression, I've come to the conclusion that the only thing wrong with me is my inability to see outside of myself. To get over myself, so to speak.
And it's not just me.
We spend a ton of cash and a lot of time seeking meaning -- pursuing happiness.
We explore different faiths, we turn to angels, consult psychics, clear our chakhras, watch Dr. Phil, spend millions of dollars on discovering the eight ways for this or the 10 steps for that. For what purpose?
To feel happy. To feel like we matter.
Upfront, I should say that I am not a religious person. That is to say I belong to no religious order. I have never been baptised and tend to a good deal of cynacism about organized faith. But, like the analyst I tend to be, I am curious about what religions teach. It seems to me that religions speak, in one way or another, about charity, about being good to others, about kindness. Of course, there is other stuff, but these are the words that speak most clearly to me.
And I take some of the blame for humanity getting off track with these lovely tenets. It was my generation, afterall, that decided that being a good person meant being good to oneself.
It's time to change all that.
And so, I have decided that changing the world, one idea at a time, is something I can accomplish in my lifetime. Totally achieveable.
So that's what I'm setting out to do. Choose one thing and make a difference. Just one thing is all it takes.
I hope you're going to come along for the ride. Maybe even choose your own one thing to change the world.
Till next time,
C
Silly that it's taken me this long, really. It's been flitting about in front of me for years. But this morning, in the shower, there it was. Clear as a bell.
I do some of my best thinking in the shower and, of late, I've had a lot to think about.
Of course, you may put it down to my mid-life crisis. I prefer to think of mid-life as providing me the wherewithall and opportunity to get a few things figured out.
Mid-life is a funny time. (As in funny: ha-ha and funny: weird.) A balancing act. Half your life already on the scale, weighted by the choices made in the past, good bad and indifferent; half your life ahead wide open to possibilities that will balance the scale.
That's where I am. Mid-life. Half gone; half still to come.
Some days that can be depressing, but on better days I recognize how long it took me to get here and see that there is much still to come and I feel like an explorer charting a new course.
Mid-life is one of those milestones like adolescence or becoming an adult. For women, like me, it's also a time of raging hormones and a sort of insanity. (God, remember adolescence!)
The combination of these things drives many of us who have reached this point in life to seek meaning for our existance, justification for our choices, and change. For me, this desire for change is rooted in a life spent making disasterous choices and working far too hard at things that, in the long run, don't mean a damn thing. Perhaps this journey of discovery is nothing more than the selfish pursuit of an admirable epitaph, one's mortality becoming suddenly real. The light now visible at the end of the tunnel.
But I choose to see the desire for change differently.
I used to read a book to my kids. It was called Miss Rumphius. The moral of the story was that we all had a job to make the world a more beautiful place.
And that's it.
The meaning of life.
After, superficially, pondering the tenets of Judaism, Christianity, Buddhism and Islam; after looking over racks of self-help books in the local bookstore; after witnessing the horror that is the evening news; after focussing on how to improve myself and what's wrong with me; and after living through and living alongside depression, I've come to the conclusion that the only thing wrong with me is my inability to see outside of myself. To get over myself, so to speak.
And it's not just me.
We spend a ton of cash and a lot of time seeking meaning -- pursuing happiness.
We explore different faiths, we turn to angels, consult psychics, clear our chakhras, watch Dr. Phil, spend millions of dollars on discovering the eight ways for this or the 10 steps for that. For what purpose?
To feel happy. To feel like we matter.
Upfront, I should say that I am not a religious person. That is to say I belong to no religious order. I have never been baptised and tend to a good deal of cynacism about organized faith. But, like the analyst I tend to be, I am curious about what religions teach. It seems to me that religions speak, in one way or another, about charity, about being good to others, about kindness. Of course, there is other stuff, but these are the words that speak most clearly to me.
And I take some of the blame for humanity getting off track with these lovely tenets. It was my generation, afterall, that decided that being a good person meant being good to oneself.
It's time to change all that.
And so, I have decided that changing the world, one idea at a time, is something I can accomplish in my lifetime. Totally achieveable.
So that's what I'm setting out to do. Choose one thing and make a difference. Just one thing is all it takes.
I hope you're going to come along for the ride. Maybe even choose your own one thing to change the world.
Till next time,
C
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