OTTAWA [August 5, 2011] - Friends of Burma and local supporters in Halifax are planning to
welcome Rod Germaine who has been cycling a cross-Canada for Burma. A welcoming
event is planned in front of Dalhousie Law School (University Ave.) at 5pm on
August 9 and a reception will follow at JUST US COFFEE's Community Room (5896
Spring Garden Rd.) at 7pm.
Rod and Soe Naing, a fellow cyclist and
pro-democracy activist from Burma, started the ride on June 2, 2011 from
Vancouver to raise awareness on the situation in Burma and funds vital for
refugee and migrant children on Thai-Burma border. They both are key members of
Just Aid Foundation (http://www.justaid.ca/) that raises funds in
Canada for Mao Tao Clinic on the Thai-Burma border and Back Pack Health Workers
Team (BPHWT) that provides cross-border aid to hundreds of thousands of
Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in eastern parts of
Burma.
They have been welcomed by a number of
communities and supporters across the country. Daily biking note can be read at
http://www.justride2011.com/ and
online donation can be made there as well.
What explains the recent surge in corporate
investment in prairie farmland and farm production? Rural sociologist Andre Magnon will explore this
issue by highlighting the case of One Earth Farms, a corporate
mega-farm, and new prairie farmland investment trusts. His talk, 'The Land Grab Comes Home,' will take place Tuesday, August 9 from 12:15 to 1:15 p.m. at Regina's Neutral Ground creative space on Scarth Street, as part of the U of R's Profs in the City lecture series. For the full August line-up, visit http://www.arts.uregina.ca/general-public/public-lectures/profs-park
Regina anti-violence rally and BBQ
Written by IMC Sask
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Regina's first annual Anti-Violence Rally/BBQ will feature speakers sharing their experiences, a free BBQ and face-painting. Organizers Kelly Quewezance and Lani Elliott say the event is meant to create awareness and challenge societal norms regarding street violence in North Central and, more importantly, across the province. It will take place at Parkdale Park, 4th Ave. and McIntosh Street, across from the Rainbow Youth Centre on Thursday, July 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Parkdale Park. For more information
.
Profs in the Park July line-up
Written by Faculty of Arts/Centre for Continuing Education
Wednesday, 06 July 2011
The Faculty of Arts and the Centre for Continuing Education present Profs in the City, a summer-long public lecture series, to be held at Neutral Ground (1856 Scarth Street, 2nd floor).
Our July line-up offers interesting topics for everyone:
July 5 - Dr Brenda Anderson (Women's & Gender Studies/Religious Studies) presents "Muslim Canadian Citizenship: Champions and Challengers"
July 12 - Dr Rick Ruddell (Justice Studies) presents "Current Trends in Policing"
July 26 - Dr Katherine Arbuthnott and her Psychology students present " Conservation Psychology, Environment, Well-being, and Food"
Instalments of the Profs in the City will take place Tuesdays 12:15 pm – 12:45 pm, until August 30 (with the exception of July 19) at Neutral Ground. For a complete schedule of events, visit: http://www.arts.uregina.ca/general-public/public-lectures/profs-park.
Burma cyclists battle Saskatchewan rain and floods
Written by Trish Elliott
Wednesday, 22 June 2011
Burma activists Soe Naing and Rod Germain reached Regina yesterday, June 22, on Day 21 of their cross-country tour to raise awareness about the situation in Burma and funds for the Mae Tao clinic on the Thai-Burma border. They dined with local Amnesty International and Friends of Burma activists, bringing them up to date on initiatives like the clinic's Back Pack Health Worker Team.
Soe Naing said he had only ridden a bicycle around his neighbourhood before taking on the daunting 7,125 km challenge. The first few days brought trouble to his knees, which he attributes to not enough advance training.
The biggest challenge in Saskatchewan has been long stretches between towns on Highway 1, which makes planning stops difficult. They've also been challenged by the rain, and were drenched on the road to Moose Jaw. Today they plan to go as far as Indian Head, hoping they will be able to make it through the flood waters the following day. A detour of one hour by car amounts to a full day for cyclists, Rod Germain noted.
Germaine, a mediation/arbitration lawyer by profession, said he expects to reach Halifax in August in time for his Dalhousie graduating class reunion. Soe Naing, a university information technology specialist, will likely need to return to his job a few weeks before that. They anticipate they will be able to travel a distance of 120 kilometers per day provided that weather and route conditions cooperate.
Please join me on Tuesday, June 28th between 12:15 pm – 12:45 pm for "ONE Prof in the Park"! I’ll be in Victoria Park sharing: “Thoughts on Homelessness, Permanent Temporary Shelters, the Charity Model, and What Needs to be Done…”.
In the spirit of fairness and presenting a balanced view, if any of you know of someone who would like to present the "PRO" side of the homelessness issue, please invite.
WHAT: "One Prof in the ParK" WHERE: Victoria Park, Downtown Regina WHEN: Tuesday, June 28th between 12:15 pm – 12:45 pm TOPIC: “Thoughts on Homelessness, Permanent Temporary Shelters, the Charity Model, and What Needs to be Done…”.
The establishment of a community hub school will be discussed at a public meeting this Tuesday in Regina. Residents of the River Heights neighbourhood have teamed up with University of Regina researcher Dianna Graves to explore a proposal to establish a community hub school. Residents decided to take action after the public school board ordered the closure of Athabasca School effective June 24. The school-aged population in the surrounding neighbourhood is projected to increase dramatically over the next three years. A community hub school is directed by the community and typically includes a variety of integrated services, including daycare, adult education and community programming. The meeting will be Tuesday, June 14 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30, with pizza provided. For background information, visit www.realrenewal.org
Saskatchewan’s resources royalty rates are ridiculously low. As economist Erin Weir writes: “Every time I check the numbers, I am again shocked by how low they have fallen.”
The Potash Corporation of Saskatchewan (PCS), now American-owned, generated about $1.6 billion on its Saskatchewan potash mines in 2010. But it only paid $77 million to Saskatchewan in royalties.
It only “paid a nickel in provincial royalties for every dollar of gross margin it made on potash,” says Weir. In contrast, Saskatchewan used to charge potash royalty rates of 25 – 31 per cent less than a decade ago. To find out what Saskatchewan people could accomplish with fair royalty rates, visit Imagine What We Could Do.
Regina events coordinator resigns in protest over censorship
Written by IMC Sask
Saturday, 11 June 2011
Regina citizens got a glimpse of the 'new downtown' this week after a public lecture was cancelled under pressure from city hall. The Leader-Post is reporting that city councillor Michael Fougere, who sits on the board of the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District, was influential in the cancellation of Dr. Emily Eaton's scheduled talk on Palestine and economic sanctions. Now RBID's event coordinator Neil McDonald has resigned, telling the prairie dog that censorship of the Profs in the Park lecture series is something his personal beliefs cannot accept. It is a brave stand, and McDonald has far more to lose than the professors, who promptly and unanimously withdrew from the series. The Faculty of Arts, RBID's partner for Profs in the Park, announced it will move the series away from downtown and indoors. This is a great loss to citizens, who otherwise would have had easy lunchtime access to discussion on issues of public interest. The logical extension is that City Hall's vision of the new downtown and Victoria Park - historically the city's gathering point for protest and debate - is to become controversy-free space that no longer belongs to the public domain. Read Neil McDonald's full statement to the 'dog Leader-Post report
All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owners. Opinions expressed in articles within this site are those of their owners and may not reflect the opinion of ActUpInSask.org, its staff, or its associates.
Burma activists Soe Naing and Rod Germain reached Regina yesterday, June 22, on Day 21 of their cross-country tour to raise awareness about the situation in Burma and funds for the Mae Tao clinic on the Thai-Burma border. They dined with local Amnesty International and Friends of Burma activists, bringing them up to date on initiatives like the clinic's Back Pack Health Worker Team.