So, (re)cover inc. hasn’t found a way to make a supper sustainable television set yet— but Craig Kielburger is coming with his own TV crew to film one of the Toronto houses that is being (re)covered !!!!
Tomorrow, our garden sharing program that was implemented at one of (re)cover inc. first projects will be highlighted and we will be interviewed on Craig’s new show.
more to come…
So the flavour of the evening was hopeful with a touch of sugar by Maude Barlow herself finishing with.. “what else should we do with our time if we aren’t going to spend it saving the world”
There was certainly a lot to say about the millions of dollars spent on security and how a comparable amount would run the entire United Nations for one full year. Not to mention the United Nations being the evident appropriate body to lead the discussions that are going on behind the barricades of the G20 summit. The UN, of course, representing the 192 nation states (not only 20) is clearly much more transparent, representative and capable of high level negotiations and this G20 boys club is simply an expensive “drinking binge” that weights heavy on the back of tax payers.
Economic solutions such as a 100 million dollar cap for any corporate environmental mistake or the idea that it makes economic sense to send waste to the third world are the kind of sad realities that build and brake our global economic state. We all wonder if that will lead the discussions at the G20 summit, knowing very well it is the leading power of conversation here at the Canadian Council G20 summit for civil society.
Lets always continue to advocate for a Civil Society Summit; opening up the G20 doors to the 6.9 billion people around the world, the 300 million species in all their multitudes and celebrate earth democracy; at least representationally through the UN.
So, Canada is not in the World Cup but guess who is …..
Twenty Youth Leaders are traveling to Cape Town, South Africa on a cross cultural exchange trip during the 2010 FIFA World Cup for a global citizenship initiative as part of UNA-C’s Sport-in-a-Box. United Nations Association in Canada partners with United Nations Association in South Africa for this youth exchange and leadership development program.
Personally, I have never been a huge fan of sports. To be very honest, I was out dog sledding when Canada won the glorious Hockey Game during this years winter Olympics. This is not to say I am not active, but certainly less active in the competitive organized sport scene. On the other hand, my colleague Sarah played a sport in Uganda, where she grew up, called Net Ball. Oh Boy did she ever hate it! She always wanted to play soccer, but girls were allowed to catch and throw only, but not kick. Girls just didn’t play soccer in South Africa! She dreamed of playing soccer until the day that dream came true here in Canada. It happened when she was enrolling her two girls in soccer, and there was another table for adult soccer neighbouring the registration desk. Now one thing that Sarah can attest to is her determination to always take an opportunity when it arises. When a door opens, she will put her foot in that door; whether it closes on her foot or opens even wider, she will not remove it without advancing. She embraces every opportunity when it is revealed, as she did with her 5 year dream of a soccer career came true. Now to reflect a bit and apply that concept to sports, any chance that one gets on the field to score a goal or pass to a great player, one must take that opportunity! It certainly is a good lesson learned from sports, and if consistently applied to life, it would deliver dazzling results. What else can we learn from Sport?
Sarah Kambites, UNAC’s Director of Education and Community Initiatives, opened my mind today describing how sports is a universal language and how it can be a transformative force to bring about sustainable development for all citizens of our common globe.
She speaks of sport as a vehicle to drive everyday values forward. If the following values were applied from the field to every day life, wouldn’t our communities be brighter, our world be better.
- Playing by the rules
- Supporting one another; providing and trusting in a reliable support system
- Refusal to Quit/Persistence
- Discipline
- Negotiations
- Fair Play
- Winning and Losing with Dignity
- Confidence in our ability
- Field and equipment stewardship
- Interactive Responsibility
- and a good hand shake at the end of the game
In sports, words are redundant, there is a universal paucity of words. In a sea of silent athletes, action is bountiful and it floods us with happiness. Sports teach us to stop talking and to start acting!
Lets take the values of sports and think out the box to identify what we can do locally, to stay informed, transfer knowledge and monitor any progress. Sarah and the UNAC, through Sport-in-a-box is trying to cultivate a generation who are aware, critical thinkers, concerned, not apathetic, and skilled with a vehicle that is not only understood and attractive but promotes a healthy lifestyle.
Six of the twenty Youth will be hosted by His Excellency Dr. Abraham Nkomo at the High Commission on June 18th, 2010.
So, I just got back from the National Art Gallery in Ottawa. Belinda Stronach partnered with ONE (the organization founded by Bono from U2) to bring the United Nations MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS #4, 5; Child Health and Maternal Health issues to the surface in Ottawa. We saw about 17 minutes of Christy Turlington’s new documentary called “no women, no cry“. So what do I have to say about it right….. well I can say a lot of good things such as; the intimacy that was expressed certainly wasn’t Hollywood, it was special. And Christy herself is just gracious in every sense of the word. She is a mother and a woman. She is welcoming and grounded. It was a pleasure meeting her and certanly discussing her future plans and how we can colaborate.
Now, maybe it’s because I have watch an insane amount of documentaries, but the most inspiring part of the evening was meeting a poitician- go figure ! Dr. Keith Martin, MP for Esquimalt is awesome! Not that I know where Esquimalt is but to be honest, I found more inspiration in the one conversation with this man than I found since I have been in Ottawa. And to be even more honest, he made me realize and remember how wonderful politics can be. It’s really a fantastic avenue for change if you have the energy and will power to stay true to yourself. To face the mud, wrestle in it and be able to go home- shower and head right back in the next day…. clean and ready to fight for what you believe is right for the people you love. Even Belinda had mentioned that politics was a tough environment, and I too can attest to that. So, what got me this excited again is Dr. Martin’s all-party conservation caucus. Check it !
Tonight, I am going to meet Belinda Stronach & Christy Turlington at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa for the ONE & The Belinda Stronach Foundation’s reception entitled:
Canada on the global stage: Saving Mothers’ and childrens lives
We will watch, and therefore I will blog about Christy Turlington’s new documentary “No Women, No Cry” stay tuned
A copy of Ban Ki-Moon’s speech
www.un.org/apps/news/infocus/sgspeeches/statments_full.asp?statID=812.
Photo Credit Leroy Schulz www.leroyschulz.com
Follow this link for a picture with the United Nations Association in Canada’s Board Members and H.E. Ban Ki-Moon http://www.unmultimedia.org/s/photo/detail/436/0436491.html
Also, a mention of UNA-Canada in this Ottawa Citizen article: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/business/chief+critical+Canadian+climate+change+policy/3017234/story.html.
and on Zoe Caron’s WWF blog http://blogs.panda.org/climate/2010/05/13/i-want-to-hug-ban-ki-moon/
Photo Credit Leroy Schulz www.leroyschulz.com
Kate White, ED of UNAC opens by announcing the importance of H.E. Ban Ki-Moon’s participation in the G8/G20 summit in Muskoka, Canada this coming June. She continues to describe the grandeur of the contribution civil society has as well as it’s role in governing our country. Civil Society is key to progress, and a way forward for struggling debt loads and other such challenges of today. She finishes with a Thank you for “shouting with your feet” She has witness civil society’s commitment and unflagging pushing of state to meet our commitment on the Millenium Development Goals and she is, of course, honoured to have such great presence here today in Ottawa
Allan Rock to introduce the UNSG Ban Ki-Moon, he who manages the fault lines, finds common grounds for negotiations, finds unity of purpose among member states who too often divide, manages almost 20 peace-keeping missions world-wide and he who shows leadership in all dimensions and takes ultimate responsibility. His deep knowledge of all nations of this world enables him to provide leadesrhip in a time of enormous complexity.
Ban Ki-Moon opens with thanks. Congratulates Canada for the success of the winter olympic games. He announces that it is his 2nd visit to Canada, he was here two years ago for a franco-phone convention and says Canada is one of the greenest and cleanest countries in the world and one of the long standing supporters of the United Nations.
He continues to say, Canada is a champion of the responsibility to protect human rights, fighting for the security and peace on a rough political stage. Canada occupies a special place today, as Canada is hosting the G8/G20 summit meeting and he is here to discuss how the UN can help the poeple who need their support, despite the financial economic crisis. We see the emergencies that require global solutions, solutions portayed as a world free of nuclear weapons- a nuclear free world.
The threat posed by Climate Change is happening much faster than you may realize. We made a substantial agreement in Copenhagen and we must be ready and committed to leave this planet in a much more hospitable way. H.E. Ban Ki-Moon is going to discuss with Harper, leader of G8/G20 and one of the most developed countries in the world, that Canada has a responsibility ! (applaud) We need more support by grassroots, you can’t always have the top down policies-we need the bottom up approach for it to be successful; we need global change through the resources of people. The Copenhagen accord was an important first step, we need action in accelerating litigation and deforestation and adaptation, technology, long-term financial support from developing countries. He congratulates the “ripple Effect” program of UNAC and urges canada to comply fully with the targets from Kyoto protocol. You can join the industrialised countries to contribute funding to be part of global solidarity. Greater catastrophe than climate change is the threat of nuclear weapons. Global Development Emergency, the economic crisis has made it more urgent, for the first time the number of poor poeple has reached more than 1 billion poeple, they go to bed hungry every night. I hope the citizens of Canada, one of the G8 countries, should understand the picture of poverty. It must provide a new resolve and generate commitments at the UN Millenium Development Sum Meeting- we have had a decrease in milaria, school enrolment, in Sept in New York I want to showcase success stories that Aid has made possible. We are not on track due to unmet commitment and lack of political will. There is no excuse- the commitments must be delivered (applaud) Harper must make sure that G8 leaders should come to Muskoka with it should be unacceptable for millions to never have a proper chance for a decent educations, or better standard of living. This is my message for leaders who gather
bold focused commitment i look to G8 to support 20 billion through the security. Congrats to Canadad to join our efforts to the Do Fund for security, it is crucial G* supports effort in concret ways- global fund to fight aids and malaria, G8 promissed universal access to AID treatment in the life and death occord. Full financing for health. I look to G20 to pucsh for a green recovery to the financial crisis.g8 summit to be accountability summit- commitment to aids in africa, g8 are short 20 million $ per year, I can’t think of anyother place to honor the long standing pledge than at the summit. Canada can play a vital leadership role, ambitious agenda but we can get it done.
H.E. Ban Ki-Moon addresses the 8 people who gave their lives to serving the UN in Haiti, at the funeral the flags of canada and the UN where draped together. A picture worth a thousand words about the canadian/UN partnership.
We are measure by the company we keep, this is the company we keep. I thank you for your efforts of the three pillars of the UN.
This is me trying to write a messy blog about the Q/A… Q=Question, A=Answer by He.E. Ban Ki-Moon
Q: This is a world in transition and financial crisis, any thoughts for innovative?
Q: How is it possible that 6 million poeple have been killed in Kongo where the UN has the most peacekeeping numbers: 20 000 peacekeepers, that haven’t been able to stop the violence. The government of Kongo has asked UN to leave so they can find peace locally. Why haven’t they left?
How can we standardized the protection of civilian population, Kongo is a rampant, violent and unacceptable situations, and it has become top priority for the UN. Ban Ki-Moon is meeting the government of Kongo at least 2 times next month to discuss this matter. It is also up to you, the civilians to speak out; talk to your leaders, get them to work together to promote and realize peace and stability.
A: Every one is concerned about the financial crisis. It’s not because of the crisis that we are not moving forward with Climate Change, it’s because of the lack of commitment! That is why I’m hosting the MDG Summit in New York in September. Climate Change is something that cannot wait, the developing countries need funding,.
With regards to the MDG, first we have to identify gaps, we only have 5 years remaining, we want to have a concrete action, we don’t want over commitment but rather concrete physical action. WE want delivery of commitments, if we had the delivery today we would be better off, child mortality- unacceptable injustice, every minute a women dies from complications of child birth, this we can reduce if we pay more attention, 2 children die every minutes from disease, we need more additional funding. CC need’s funding, the leaders of developed countries 10 billion every year for 3 years, then 100 billion dollars a year for the developing countries. I have launched an advisory group who met last month; working very hard to find where the money can be generated and what kind of access could the developing nations have- more comprehensive and broader way- MDG and Climate change and interlinked, if we address climate change and food security we can address all issues comprehensively.
Q: Will you use the research that shows that a comprehensive approach could save 770% of women’s lives. would you show that research to our PM so the G8 can acknowledge it and work towards a comprehensive approach.
Q: How can we ensure that the money given to help haiti go to the people and not the dirty hands of the wealthy.
A: I just spook with the GG about how the UN can further help Haiti for long term and immediate construction. Canada was one of the 1st countries to dispatch 135 million dollars and solders to help haiti. The focus is changed to long term reconstruction of the totaly devastation of Haitian culture. Canada is the most actively supporting country and I thank you, he met with Clinton in his office to discuss how to reconstruct haiti and he beileives he will see a better haiti soon.
MDG 5 concerning maternal mortality is the slowest moving target, that hasn’t had much attention. He is glad Harper will focus on it during G8. This new campaign has become one of the top priorities, we have taken global action plan and he hopes the leaders will discuss it and prevent and stop unnecessary death. This is a very important social justice issue, you can count on the Un for the support.
I can’t believe this ! I just started working with the United Nations Association in Ottawa and into my third week here the Secretary-General is coming to visit. It’s his first time he is in Ottawa ! It’s funny how the stars align sometimes,,, it gets you thinking all these coincidences are linked
I am busting at the seems with all kinds of stuff to do, but I certainly have to take time to thank all my incredible friends, family and supporters who have encouraged and believed in me- without all of you, and I truly hope you know who you are and how much you mean to me, I wouldn’t be here in Ottawa and I wouldn’t have this incredible opportunity to have a conversation with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.Merci MERCI Merci Mille Fois
If any of you very special people are in close proximity to Ottawa, I would love to put you on the guest list for this coming Wednesday- but get back to me as fast as you can ;)
I will try to blog live from the event so stay tuned !
EVENT DETAILS:
On Wednesday 12 May 2010, the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada) will welcome His Excellency Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, to Ottawa to give a presentation entitled A Conversation with the UN Secretary-General on Urgent Global Challenges.
ZAGREB (AFP) - A male stork proved once again that distance is no bar to true love as it flew thousands of kilometres (miles) back to its handicapped mate in a Croatian village, local media said Thursday.
This is the fifth year in a row that the stork, named Rodan, has made the epic journey of some 13,000 kilometers (8,060 miles) from South Africa to the village of Brodski Varos, in eastern Croatia, the Jutarnji List daily reported.
“This year he came a bit earlier,” Stjepan Vokic, who cares for the female stork, named Malena, unable to fly since hunters shot through its wing, told the paper.
Rodan looked rather exhausted, Vokic added.
Every year the couple has raised a brood of chicks which Rodan has taught to fly since Malena cannot, Vokic said. This year is expected to be no different.
In August, Rodan and the young will start to prepare for their long journey to winter in South Africa while Malena remains in Brodski Varos until the return of its mate in the spring.
