Here is something I hope you know about, but is not getting a lot of press in western media.
I do not have much commentary to add, only that there are at least two major intertwined stories one of hunger, and a second of a collapsing nation state. Other then that I'll let the news do the talking.
Here at the UN the situation in the Sahel is very much on people's radar. NGOs are concerned with the worsening humanitarian crisis, both hunger and refugees/internally displaced persons. Nations are concerned about the development of a geographical location that will harbor "terrorists". African nations are concerned about a further destabilization of the region.
So why talk about this? Information is the first step to action. Financial giving is directly correlated to how much media coverage a topic receives. If you feel compelled write to an MP. Let them know you are concerned, tell them people are watching the situation and their country's response.
In light of the Olympics (wait, can I say that without being
sued??), I thought I would show my Can-pride by posting my Top 5 Canadians.
5. Michael Snow: The Everything-Artist. I cannot
help but hear his name now that cultured-me listens to CBC radio. Also, his name even testifies to the land he
lives in. Plus, he went to Upper Canada College. Seriously.
How much more Canadian can you get?
3. Diana Krall: Making jazz even more
beautiful with her sensual singing and articulate piano playing. You go, girl (although I don’t really get the
Elvis Costello thing…).
2. David Suzuki: I have heard that it is a
regular occurrence for Vancouverites to spot Mr. Suzuki (can I call you Dave?)
on the bus around the city. I have not
yet had that pleasure and quite frankly feel a little ripped off. I have much admiration for what he is doing
to help educate us on how we all can live and make this world a more beautiful
and sustainable place. He’s also
extremely adorable.
And the Ultimate Miss. Canada?
1. Margaret Atwood, of course. There are countless reasons why Margaret
Atwood is my favourite woman in the world.
These include the fact that she is a successful woman, an informed
individual, a creative artist, and an intelligent thinker (all things I want to
be when I grow up…). Many people do not
like her and I say that’s a crying shame (but then I would probably apologize
afterwards). My current recommendations
for her are:
The
Handmaid’s Tale (in fact, BBC radio has made an amazing dramatization of
this on audiobook, that I highly recommend).
Survival:
A Thematic Guide to Canadian Literature – This is a fantastic survey of
Canadian literature.
I know I missed other awesome Canadians (sorry, Celine) so
post your homage to them in the comments section.
If you haven't been following Christy Clark and her band-wagon style attempt at recovering her ever dwindling support in the polls, you should be. More often than not, political drama enthralls me; but this just irks me in a whole new way.
Recently, Clark and the BC Liberals announced 5 demands that must be meet before they consider giving the go ahead to Enbridge's infamous Northern Gateway Pipeline. If you're not from BC - or if you've been living under a rock for the past couple of years - the Northern Gateway Pipeline is a proposed pipeline that would carry bitumen oil from the Alberta tar sands to Kitimat BC. From Kitimat, it will then be loaded on to super tankers and shipped down BC's precious, fragile, and perilous coast. The pipeline has faced a great deal of opposition from BC residents for a number reasons: a fear of the pipeline bursting and destroying the world's largest intact temperate rainforest, increased tanker traffic along BC's coast and the ensuing damage to the precious ecosystems along the way, and increased development of the tar sands and the environmental and economic concerns surrounding that. Furthermore, a staggering number of First Nations communities along the pipeline's proposed route have stated their adamant opposition to the entire project- while pointing to their exclusion from talks between Enbridge and the Government.
While other political parties have come out and declared their support for or against Enbridge's pipeline, Clark has remained fairly quiet on the issue - that is until recently. As previously mentioned, the Liberals have announced 5 demands that must be meet before they approve this project. They include a full environmental review, a detailed plan for oil spill response, another detailed plan for oil spill prevention, a recognition of first nations legal rights and their inclusion in the economic benefits from the pipeline, and greater compensation to the BC Government for the economic and fiscal benefits Enbridge will receive.
Although I applaud our premier for finally taking a stance on an issue she's avoided for quite sometime now, I wonder if her demands go far enough. An environmental review is a great place to start, but doing an environmental review does not ensure that Enbridge and the BC Government will follow through with the recommendations of the review. Furthermore, having plans for oil spill recovery and prevention does not excuse the number of spills Enbridge is already responsible for. Even further - and despite conflicting reports - Enbridge claims to already have support from 60% of the First Nations communities along the pipeline's proposed route. All 60% have supposedly signed agreements with Enbridge. These claims go against what First Nations leaders have been stating in the media calling Enbridge's claim a sham.
There is one demand, however, that Christy Clark seems to be focusing on; Clark would like to see a bigger share of the profit - that will presumably flow from this pipeline - in the province's hands.
While BC is expected to receive $6.7 billion in revenue over 30 years, Clark argues that this is not enough compared to the $32 billion Alberta would receive and the $36 billion Ottawa would receive. The whole obsession on this point has sparked a political drama between BC's premier, Clark, and Alberta's premier, Alison Redford. Clark has gone as far as walking out of meetings at the gathering of premiers in Halifax, during the Council of the Federation.
Clark's tantrums and verbal spats are silly and ultimately a distraction. I would like to argue that no amount of fiscal compensation and no amount of emergency spill planning and preparation is enough to gamble with BC's wilderness and the lives of the people who live there. No amount of money is worth forgoing the rights and sovereignty of the First Nations people who inhabit the areas along the pipelines proposed route. We have the largest intact temperate rainforest, the Great Bear Rainforest, and one of the most beautiful coastlines that is home to such amazing sea life, including humpback whales and orcas. No amount of demands, no matter how high the standard, is worth gambling away these precious ecosystems.
I pray that you don't get distracted by such silly political dramas.
1) Growing sprouts in a mason jar on the kitchen counter.
2) Dancing for hours on end in the garage, my backyard, the kitchen, and to the beat of the office photocopier.
3) Making one of the best purchases of my life, a German-made mandolin slicer, for $2 at a thrift shop. Admire the fancy cuts. Today I made eggplant and zucchini chips using the finest slice.
4) Playing mom for a day caring for a 20 month old and spending time with one of my mom friends.
5) Receiving confirmation that Interfaith work will carry on in Abbotsford until December 2013.
6) Reading a feminist magazine from Portland.
7) Sharing Turkish coffee with a new friend
8) Discussing the ethics of cross-cultural adoption and poverty reduction with colleagues and friends.
9) Watching Delhi to Dublin preform live at the Fusion Festival.
I am working for the Mennonite Central Committee’s United
Nations Liaison Office. In which there is the director, a program associate,
and myself. Together we attempt to act as intermediaries between MCC’s
personnel in the “field” and those creating the policies at the UN.
So what that looks like on a day-to-day basis?
For me it has looked like skimming about a hundred news
articles a day, mainly focusing on Africa as well as the highlights from the rest of the world. Knowing the contexts,
the relevant developing events, and the limitations of the
countries/governments where MCC is working.
It also looks like skype calls with MCC personnel, getting
updates on the local perspective.
It looks like working with missions to the UN from various countries, and
their Ambassadors; editing, critiquing, and advocating for changes in upcoming UN resolutions.
It looks like participating in a food-security working
group, made up of representatives from other NGOs, which lobbies for
agricultural practices that are environmentally sustainable, small scale, local market, enabling women, and
productive.
It looks like attending briefings, hearing directly from
Special Representatives to the Secretary General or Ambassadors from various
countries. Getting the inside scoop on various world issues.
Highlights so far:
After a skype call with MCC Haiti, Kayon (the program
associate) and I met with Ambassador Noel Sinclair of the Caribbean Community - Caricom. We
discussed talking points he would bring to his evening dinner the next day. By
the end of the meeting, he was taking seriously the integral human capital and
knowledge that Caribbean countries could offer Haiti, which large western counties are unable to offer.
Sitting in an off-the-record meeting with the Ambassador
France.
Two lunch briefing with the Special Representatives of the
Secretary General - Burundi
and Libya.
Beyond that, I have a few projects I am working on:
I am working on compiling a short paper that will be given
to college students who are coming to visit MCC UN in October. The topic of
this year’s conference is, “Where do we go from here? Refugees, Internally
Displaced Persons, and Migrants”.
I also am editing, adding to, and fact checking a paper that
will be presented in Winnipeg
in October. It is on the how human rights, specifically the responsibility to
protect, has become a new justification for war.
I am also writing an article for Global Scholarly Journal
called, “A Mennonite Vision for Tolerance and Global Peace”. Global Scholarly
Journal is a publication that focuses on the globalization of knowledge,
bringing together eastern and western thought. It is putting together a journal in
honour of an Islamic Shia scholar, in which the essay I am working on will be a
part.
Just for fun, here are three of my favourite New York songs.
As a follow up to my last post: Branding - this news item caught my eye...
Once you have created a brand and you have trademarked it and own it... You must now defend it and destroy all who would seek to infringe upon it for personal benefit.
The London 2012 Olympic committee has organized their own enforcement army, clothed in purple, which is in the midst of investigating, fining, prosecuting or intimidating into submission the likes of 81 year old grandmothers, local florists and butchers, long established English businesses have been forced to change their names or face fine up to $60 000.
French fries have been banned at over 800 retailers at the behest of McDonalds who hold exclusive rights.
The the imperial (based on their purple uniforms) international corporate olympic army and are not only attacking local business but are investigating the British 'Royal family'... Kate Middleton's parents business, an online retailer is selling unofficial olympic themed merchandise that has caused concern.
Here is the list of banned/controlled words/symbols:
The Olympic Symbol (the five interlocking rings)
The Olympic Motto (Citius Altius Fortius' / 'Faster Higher Stronger' Olympic (s)
Olympiad (s)
Olympian (s)
The Paralympic Symbol (the three 'agitos')
The Paralympic Motto ('Spirit in Motion')
Paralympic (s)
Paralympiad (s)
Paralympian (s)
London
Games
Summer
Two thousand and twelve
2012
Twenty Twelve
Medals
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Sponsors
One clever owner has avoided prosecution and is being hailed as a hero for this clever work around:
The Olympics was once a celebration of human achievement, international peace and camaraderie... The games were reborn from ancient Greece, as an idea for social reform in Victorian Britain...
It has become the most blatant example of corporate harlotry and fascism: thus perfectly reflecting our narcissistic consumer culture. In perfect unity with the prevision of goodwill and clean sports to corporate profit, the mascots of the games are two giant one eyed monsters...
That's right penises.
Apparently that mascots charge 1000 British pounds to attend school events... but somehow marketing these abominations for bachelorette parties seems more profitable.
Why the nearly bankrupt country of Greece has not sued the IOC for usurping their moral and historical ownership of the Olympics or at least the name Olympics is beyond me... If it is possible to own single words certainly Greece should have a claim on that one.
Woe to you daughters of England! For the language you birthed in your youth has been sold into slavery in Egypt, it has been exiled to whore in the palaces of Babylon and bleeds for the pleasure of Rome. As you find your tongue and your pen bound and silenced, only your sword will stand between you and the corporate apocalypse.
What makes a great musician?In my opinion, it is creativity – pushing the boundaries of the musical
genre or even the instrument itself.Oh,
it also helps if they are Canadian.Ok,
so Colin Stetson was not born Canadian, but he is one on paper, having become a
Canadian resident as a result of falling in love with a certain Sarah Neufeld
(Vancouver-born violinist of Arcade Fire).I can accept that – a Canadian in the name of love.
Stetson is a prodigy saxophonist and has found his success
through playing with various artists such as Arcade Fire, Bon Iver, Feist, and
has recently broken out as a solo artist in 2008 with his album entitled New History Warfare, Vol.
1 and a follow up in 2011 with New History Warfare, Vol 2: Judges.Here is an example of Stetson’s solo
work from his most recent album.Some love it (myself included), others hate it.
