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February 22, 2005
Gesundheit! Kleenex vs Ancient Growth Forests
Found this on the CorpWatch site.
Last November, Greenpeace Canada and the Natural Resources Defence Council launched a campaign against Kimberly-Clark, producers of the Kleenex brand. The issue at hand is Kimberly-Clark's wasteful practices in developing paper products and the impact on Ancient Forests such as Canada's Boreal Forest.
If you get inspired to make a change, considering purchasing brands like Cascades. The Canadian company has committed to using sustainably managed forests for use in its paper supplies.
Posted by Jason at 8:30 PM
February 15, 2005
Jan 16th: Countries Start Your Engines! (Just kidding)
After eight years, the Kyoto Accord finally takes affect.
Notable absentees: U.S.A (accounting for over 20% of the world's carbon emissions), China and India (accounting for approx. 14% of the world's emissions combined). Note: India and China get a free pass until 2012 because they are developing nations.
Analysis to follow shortly (I promise).
Posted by Jason at 11:18 PM
February 9, 2005
Quote of the Day
"Be the change you wish to see in the world."
- Ghandi
Posted by Jason at 10:28 AM
February 8, 2005
"The Debt Relief Summit"
Led by UK chancellor Gordon Brown, the G7 finance ministers have agreed to back a plan to write off 100% of the debt accrued by some of Africa's poorest nations. Of course, the US declined to support this plan.
I must admit that I'm skeptical of the G7's sincerity. The following point is particularly troubling,
Some 37 countries could benefit after a case-by-case review by bodies including the World Bank and the IMF.
Arguably, the World Bank and the IMF are a part of the problem. Having them review a country's eligibility for debt relief is tantamount to the fox guarding the hen house. In some ways, this is reminiscent of the Kyoto Protocol and a country's ability to voluntarily opt-in and set their own policies using the protocol as a guide. For all of its world changing potential, the Kyoto Protocol is far from successful and the excuses for its failure continue to roll in. If sincere commitment and arms-length enforcement don't exist, doesn't this become an exercise in political posturing? I hope I'm wrong.
Check out this BBC article to learn more. Also, check out the comments section related to this article. You'll find some interesting, misinformed and shocking perspectives on Africa and its future.
Posted by Jason at 11:28 AM | Comments (1)
February 3, 2005
ThinkProgress.org: Rushing to Pull the Race Card
Many thanks to Benchley for hipping me to this blog. Think Progress is a relatively new blog that "seeks to provide a forum that advances progressive ideas and policies." Warning: Those with a right-wing perspective might find the views of Think Progress offensive.
With that being said, I thought a post on Donovan McNabb and Rush Limbaugh was rather interesting; especially in the context of Black History Month. If you got a chance to see the PBS documentary, "Unforgivable Blackness", you would have learned that there was a time when "whites" considered themselves athletically superior to all other races; and we're not just talking about Hitler's Aryan agenda. Jack Johnson, the heavy weight champion of the world at the time, and African-American, challenged this notion with every victory. Flash-forward sixty years and the idea of a black quarterback in the Super Bowl was considerd a BIG deal. The prevailing thought at the time was that black athletes were not intelligent enough to handle this "highly-skilled" position. When faced with challengers to this misguided view (e.g. Doug Williams, eventual Super Bowl MVP), "journalist" searched for an explanation.
I remember CBS commentator, Jimmy the Greek arguing that African-Americans were athletically superior to whites stating that this "fact" was the result of 'selective breeding' -- a biproduct of slavery. Jimmy was promptly fired but make no mistake that his views were generally accepted by a significant percentage of the sports viewing population.
Flash-forward another fifteen or so years and Rush Limbaugh attempts to argue that political correctness is to blame for the perceived success of black quarterbacks like Donovan McNabb. The result: Limbaugh resigned over his statement and McNabb and his team are now poised to unseat the defending Super Bowl champions.
So what do we make of this? If we use athletics as a lens to view history, history has shown us that progress has been made in the area of race-relations. Probably not enough but some. As an African-Canadian, I'm certainly proud of the accomplishments of black athletes such as Donovan McNabb, although to be honest, I don't really think of Donovan's accomplishments in the context of race. It is a testament to our progress as a society that our general reaction to overtly racist comments by the media is to denounce them. With that being said, I worry about the subtle racism that still pervades athletics and the media. What's that you ask? Well, as you watch the Super Bowl this Sunday, pay particular attention to the descriptions made of both MVP-calibre quarterbacks. Undoubtedly, McNabb will be hailed for his athleticism whereas Tom Brady (a white quarterback) will be hailed for his leadership and "good decision-making". A subtle but powerful distinction. Maybe we haven't come that far at all.
Posted by Jason at 10:42 AM | Comments (1)
Quarters From Kids on MTV's TRL
Today, Quarters From Kids will appear in the guest audience of MTV's popular show Total Request Live (TRL). I wonder how they pulled this off? In any case, what a powerful way to get the word out about your organization and its cause.
Unfortunately, Canada doesn't have MTV hence I can't watch today's TRL. Maybe someone out there can tell me how this special edition of TRL comes off. Thanks.
Some more details...
Dear Friends of Quarters From Kids,
I want to share some exciting news regarding Quarters From Kids!
Thursday at 5 p.m. EST/PST, 40 Quarters From Kids youth from 10 different coalition partner organizations will make up the audience of a special edition of MTV's Total Request Live.
As you may know, TRL is one of MTV's most popular programs, and Thursday they are airing a special episode on the tsunami. Quarters From Kids was chosen to fill the studio audience so that MTV could highlight the efforts of youth nationwide that are raising money to help the relief and rebuilding efforts in tsunami struck countries.
Organizations representing Quarters From Kids include City Heroes Alumni, City Year New York, College Summit, Do Something, Family, Career & Community Leaders of America, Henry Street School , High School for Global Citizenship, NetAid, and Youth Philanthropy Worldwide.
I am writing to personally urge you to watch tomorrow's TRL, to urge your friends to watch, and if you haven't already done so, to urge everyone you know to sign up at the Quarters From Kids website ! Thank you so much for all you've done to help relieve suffering, save lives and aid in the long-term recover of the children and adult survivors of the tsunami.
We have already accomplished much and, with your help, the coalition is growing every day.
Yours in service,
Rick Jakious
Quarters From Kids Coalition
www.quartersfromkids.org
617.927.2415-direct
360.608.6534-cell
Posted by Jason at 10:02 AM
February 2, 2005
HeadsUp: TakingITGlobal/CIDA Online Chats
This one is time sensitive, folks:
TakingITGlobal and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) present:
TWO ONLINE CHATS ON INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND RELIEF EFFORTS
To coincide with International Development Week in Canada, TakingITGlobal and CIDA are hosting a week-long online campaign to encourage youth to share their thoughts and questions on International Development and relief efforts from a Canadian perspective.
On February 2 and 3, there will be two live online chats with speakers directly impacted by the tsunami, or involved in international development issues. An hour long chat in French will start at 5:30 p.m. EST, followed by English at 6:30 p.m. EST. Join the chats on these days at:
http://www.takingitglobal.org/tsunamichat/
Wednesday, February 2
Chat with Tanya de Silva, member of York's Sri Lankan Student Alliance and co-coordinator of the Tsunami Relief Effort Coalition, and Nelly Desrosiers, Communications Officer of CARE.
Start: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (French) and 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm (English)
Thursday, February 3
Chat with Jill Mills who will speak on the United Nations' Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Start: 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm (French) and 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm (English)
If you are interested in receiving a reminder one hour prior to the chat, please subscribe to: tsunamichat-subscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org
Participate in our discussion boards any time of the day. Post your questions and comments at:
http://discuss.takingitglobal.org/afterthetsunami
en francais...
TakingITGlobal et l’Agence Canadienne de Développement International (ACDI) présentent ;
2 DISCUSSIONS EN LIGNE ‘’CHATS’’ SUR LE DEVELOPPEMENT INTERNATIONAL ET LES EFFORTS DE SECOURS
Dans le cadre de la Semaine du Développement International, TakingITGlobal et l’ACDI présentent une campagne virtuelle d’une semaine, afin d’encourager la jeunesse à partager leurs opinions et leurs questions, sur le Développement International et les efforts d’assistance et de secours du point de vue Canadien.
Le Mercredi 2 et le Jeudi 3 Février, deux « chats » en direct (discussions en ligne) auront lieu en présence de personnes directement touchées par le tsunami ou impliqués dans les questions de développement international.
A 17h30 (heure standard de l’Est), un « chat » ( discussion en ligne) débutera en français, suivi par un autre en anglais à 18h30 (heure standard de l’Est). Rejoignez les chats l’un ou l’autre de ces 2 jours à l’adresse suivante :
http://www.takingitglobal.org/tsunamichat/
Mercredi 2 Février 2005
«Chat » avec Tanya de Silva, membre de de l’Alliance des Etudiants Sri Lankais de York et co-coordinatrice de la Coalition Effort Assistance pour le Tsunami et Nelly Desrosiers, Chargée de Communication à CARE-CANADA
De 17 h 30 à 18 h 30 (Français ) et de 18 h 30 à 19 h 30 pm (Anglais )
Jeudi 3 Février
« Chat » avec Jill Mills qui parlera du Développement des Objectifs du Millénaire des Nations Unies (MDG’s)
De 17 h 30 à 18 h 30 (Français ) et de 18 h 30 à 19 h 30 (Anglais )
Si vous souhaitez recevoir un rappel une heure avant le « chat », veuillez souscrire ;
tsunamichat-subscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org
Participez à nos espaces de discussion à n’importe quel moment. Envoyez vos questions et commentaires à l’adresse suivante :
http://discuss.takingitglobal.org/apresletsunami
Posted by Jason at 9:59 AM