February 3, 2006
Event: Voice Your Views on Poverty online chat
From the good folks over at Taking IT Global:
It's official, Voice Your Views on Poverty has been set in motion and will be up and running until February 11, 2006. TakingITGlobal invites you to join other youth from across Canada and around the world as they connect to actively discuss and voice their views on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the issue of ending poverty.
Two dates you won't want to forget:
On both Saturday, February 4th, 2006 and Saturday, February 11, 2006 at 1:00pm EST take part in a Live Chat!
--> Want to be reminded 3 hours before each chat? Send a blank e-mail to mdgchatremind-subscribe@tiggroups.org and you'll get a reminder!
Take part in the Live Chats and engage with featured guests including:
Alex McClelland - Toronto Local Host for the International AIDS Conference
Amil Husain - United Nations Millennium Campaign
Ben Peterson - Journalists for Human Rights
Carmela Prinzo - Youth Outreach Officer Youth and Educational Outreach Canadian International Development Agency
Charlton Tsodzo - Millennium Development Goals Youth Editor (Zambia)
Christian Robittaille - Coordinator of the Youth Forum of the Quebec City
Cynthia Lacasse – Canadian Commission for UNESCO
Julie Larsen - United Nations Youth Unit
Latif Mbengue - Millennium Development Goals Youth Editor (West Africa)
Marie Abbott - Butterfly 208 Contest Winner
Pierre Girardier – VP of External Affairs, World Bank Paris
Romi - Millennium Development Goals Youth Editor (Vietnam)
Terri Willard - International Institute for Sustainable Development
To learn more about the Live Chats and the featured guests, visit http://www.takingitglobal.org/themes/mdg/chat.html
Let the discussions begin - Share your thoughts at http://www.takingitglobal.org/themes/mdg/chat.html/discuss right now!
Posted by Jason at 8:22 AM
February 2, 2006
Event: Hip Hop for Africa
FYI
On Friday, *Feb 3rd,* Nelson Mandela Children's Fund will be hosting a
fun-filled *Hip Hop for Africa* fundraiser at the Rivoli (334 Queen W).
Cost is $20, or $15 with student ID. Proceeds go to the relieve those
affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa.
Doors open at 9PM
MC is George Stroumboulopoulos
Artists include: Melanie Durrant, Divo, DJ Dalia, Poizunus....
Posted by Jason at 6:13 PM
December 1, 2005
World AIDS Day - December 1st
Despite all the awareness and research, the struggle continues...
Links to help you help those in the struggle:
World AIDS Campaign
Address: http://www.worldaidscampaign.org
The World AIDS Campaign believes that we, as a global community, can stop the spread of this pandemic if committed and compassionate people are able to unite their efforts together.
Global Coalition on Women and AIDS
Address: http://womenandaids.unaids.org
The Global Coalition on Women and AIDS is a new initiative, a movement of people, networks and organisations supported by activists, leaders, government representatives, community workers and celebrities, to raise the visibility of issues related to women, girls and AIDS and lead to concrete, measurable improvements in the lives of women and girls.
The Stephen Lewis Foundation
Address:
http://www.stephenlewisfoundation.org/
Posted by Jason at 10:00 PM | TrackBack
October 24, 2005
Combating Compassion Fatigue
"I am alone. All my children and grandchildren are dead. Who will care for me now?"
- Farooq Khan, Pakistani earthquake survivor
50,000 people are dead as a result of the earthquake that rocked Pakistan earlier this month. Unfortunately, the hurricanes that have pounded the Carribean, Mexico and the U.S have diverted the world's short attention (I know I've felt that way) but this is when we need to dig deep.
Winter is approaching in Pakistan and the impact of the earthquake could be magnified. These folks need our support just as the tsunami victims did, the flood victims in Mumbai, and the countless hurricane victims. We need to make our depth of compassion as vast as our appetite to consume. Do the world a favour and forego that latte so that you can give to your favourite charity.
Here's a link to the article in which the quote above is found.
I've also included this link to an interesting article on post-disaster myths. An interesting article that could truly connect global supporters of disasters to those in need.
Have a great week.
Posted by Jason at 1:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
June 6, 2005
Mapping the Tobacco Industry's New Roadshow
Here's a press release from the Harvard School of Public Health. A new report in the journal ADDICTION, uncovers the continued lengths the tobacco industry has gone to expand its market. The release mentions a newer focus on "product design" as opposed to marketing as a way to encourage smoking among women and girls.
Some of the design changes tobacco researchers have explored include adding appetite suppressants (so they could promote cigarettes as a weight control method), reducing sidestream smoke (less smoke equals healthier product), improving the flavour as well as playing with the shape to make cigarettes "longer and slimmer" in order to "create the illusion of a "healthier" [cigarette]".
To a certain degree, the tobacco industry's actions don't really surprise me; like many North Americans, I've become that jaded. What is disconcerting however is the impact the industry's research could have on women in developing nations. As the release states, female smoking rates are expected to reach 20 percent by 2025...primarily as a result of increased smoking among women in developing nations. Sensing defeat in the U.S and Canada, the tobacco industry is clearly poised to pitch its tent elsewhere where people, especially women, are much less jaded.
Posted by Jason at 9:29 PM
January 28, 2005
Stupid.ca : Anti-Smoking Campaign Targets Youth
Saw a television ad the other day that caught my attention. A young woman rolls around in a pile of dog sh*t likening it to people who smoke. A fairly disgusting approach to making a point yet effective. The ad was for Stupid.ca, Canada's answer to the US-based anti-smoking campaign The Truth. I've always been a big fan of The Truth and its approach to anti-smoking campaigning for youth. I know it's debatable whether or not these campaigns are actually effective BUT one should fight the good fight, right? Hmmm...I smell a future post idea: Are anti-smoking campaigns truly effective?
Anyway, please pass these urls around to friends and loved ones who can't kick the habit (or might be thinking about starting one).
Posted by Jason at 2:48 PM | Comments (1)
January 13, 2005
A place to give
Related to yesterday's post: A friend asked where she could donate to help support the fight against the HIV-AIDS pandemic in Africa. My friend has been a consistent supporter of HIV-AIDS organizations in Toronto but wanted to expand her influence to harder hit regions like Africa.
There are many organizations doing great work but I'll quickly add one: The Stephen Lewis Foundation. An amazing man, a wonderful org.
Please feel free to add any other organizations you might know of that support the fight against HIV-AIDS.
And to my friend...Big Up!
Posted by Jason at 12:55 PM
January 12, 2005
Let's not forget: AIDS Pandemic in Zambia
Sobering...
More than a quarter of Zambia's population is infected with HIV-AIDS.
The average life expectancy of citizens of Zambia is now 33 years of age. I'm 34.
Nuff said.
*Zambia statistics courtesy of the Globe and Mail 01.11.05
Posted by Jason at 8:40 AM | Comments (4)
January 1, 2005
Tsunami Relief: Some more places to give
As you probably know, the death toll is now over 100,000 people. If you haven't done so already, please, please give what you can to help in the relief effort. This IS one of the worst natural disasters in recorded history.
A friend suggested a few other organizations who are helping with the relief effort:
Médecins Sans Frontières, Canada:
https://securemsf.ca/forms/donateNow/main.aspx?lng=en
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies:
http://www.ifrc.org/helpnow/donate/donate_response.asp
You can make a difference!
Posted by Jason at 2:28 PM
December 29, 2004
Tsunami Relief
70,000+ human lives have been lost. Thousands more will follow.
We are all global citizens. This is OUR time of NEED, OUR time to show our HUMANITY.
Give generously.
Canadian Red Cross
Oxfam Canada
UNICEF CANADA
World Vision
CARE Canada
Posted by Jason at 1:58 AM
December 20, 2004
Raising the Roof: The battle against homelessness
Okay, today with the windchill factor it was -32 degrees Celcius!!!! As I settled into my cozy Toronto home, popped open a bottle of wine and chilled with my cats to Coltrane, I couldn't even begin to imagine a life on the streets. And yet this is the reality for thousands of Canadians each day.
Raising the Roof, is a Canadian organization dedicated to eliminating homelessness in Canada. They run the Toque Tuesday Campaign, a campaign where Canadians are asked to purchase a Raising the Roof toque (a winter hat) to support its social endeavours. Canadians are really into this campaign, with many proudly collecting toques over a number of years.
The Raising the Roof website has tons information on all aspects of homelessness. For instance, did you know that over 80% of Canada's homeless are actually "underhoused" meaning living in transitional housing or are about to be evicted? I'd love to learn more about what organizations in your city or country are doing to eliminate homelessness. Drop me a line and let me know. jason@akaactvist.org
Posted by Jason at 9:48 PM