upcoming events and calls for support
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- Published on Thursday, 23 April 2015 11:00
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Dear Friends of SJS,
Community unites for Earth Walk on Saturday
April 22, 2015
VICTORIA, BC — More than 70 community organizations have pledged their support as co-sponsors of the 35th Annual Earth Walk for Peace and the Planet, happening this Saturday, April 25 beginning at 11:00 am at the BC Legislature Lawn for a walk to Centennial Square for speakers and live music.
The walk and festivities will feature 11-year-old Rupert Yakelashek, champion of the Blue Dot movement for environmental rights, as Master of Ceremonies, joined by his 8-year-old sister Franny.
"Earth Walk is a good time to get inspired to keep helping the earth as it is our only home," says Rupert Yakelashek, who spearheaded the regional movement to secure declarations of environmental rights in municipalities from Victoria and Saanich and Sooke to communities up Vancouver Island and on the mainland. "I hope to see many... children at Earth Walk this year. It is important for them to attend because they are the ones that will inherit this planet and they need to start getting involved in making the world that they want and need."
From the Raging Grannies and the Wilderness Committee to the Greater Victoria Teachers' Association and the Victoria Presbytery of the United Church, a broad cross-section of neighbourhood associations, faith groups, businesses, labour unions and environment organizations have come together to co-sponsor the 2015 Earth Walk.
"The Earth Walk has deep roots in Victoria and around the world," says Melissa Farrance, spokesperson for the Victoria Earth Walk Committee. "We hope to continue the fine tradition of bringing people from varied backgrounds and organizations together, to show our commitment to peace and the planet. Events like this are hugely important in demonstrating and vocalizing our collective resolve to demand equitable and environmentally sustainable policies to bring about a safer, healthier and more inclusive future."
The Walk will feature the band Samba du Soleil accompanying the parade from the Legislature, followed by a performance of Marimba Mufaro and speakers at Centennial Square.
The media and public are encouraged to join this year's Earth Walk for Peace
and the Planet, with signs, banners, flags and flowers!
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For further information, please contact:
Rupert Yakelashek, Blue Dot volunteer and Earth
Walk 2015 Master of Ceremonies, 250-661-1375
Melissa Farrance, Victoria Earth Walk Committee, 250-882-3630
from the YES2SCS campaign:
During the week of June 15th the YES2SCS campaign will be organizing a week of events under the banner of “Streets Deaths are Preventable Deaths”. It is our belief that it is immoral to allow our neighbours to die on our streets from preventable causes such as poverty, lack of shelter, or drug overdose. We are hoping you will join with us to bring this issue to the fore by considering hosting your own event during this week and/or co-hosting several events and actions with us.
On Wednesday April 29th the YES2SCS campaign will be hosting a luncheon over the noon hour at the Odd Fellows hall (1315 Douglas street) to bring you up to speed on some of our plans for that week and about building support for the release of a report to the coroner on street deaths, and to hear your ideas about how your group might be interested in doing an event or collaborating on an event to move this broad issue forward. (Please RVSP).
During this week of events the YES2SCS campaign with be speaking out and raising the alarm around street deaths in our community and demanding action on all fronts. From Island Health to the provincial and federal governments, we are seeking a collective responsibility to end this disgraceful reality.
We have plenty of ideas, and we know you do to. You are receiving this email because you have been identified as someone who is doing what you can to end poverty in our community. It has been too long since we have taken a collective stand and we ask that you stand with us during the week of June 15th.
Further, are working with members of the UVic law faculty on the release of a report demanding that the BC coroner service properly and thorough investigate the cause of death of those who die on the street and to accept that poverty, more often than not, is a leading contributor to the untimely demise of too many members of the street community. We hope you will join us in making this call.
Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday April 29th, noon at the Odd Fellows hall (1315 Douglas street)!
As we are providing lunch we would love an RSVP, and we really hope to see you for this critical move forward.
In solidarity,
YES2SCS campaign peeps.
A Paradox of Engagement? The Discursive Politics of Reproduction in Canada’s Chemical Valley
Dr. Sarah Marie Wiebe, SSHRC Post-doctoral Fellow/Assistant Teaching Professor, Department of Political Science
Wednesday, April 29, 2015, 12:00 pm
David Turpin Building, Room A357
All Welcome!
On March 13th, 2015, Cyclone Pam, a category 5 storm, hit the southern region of Vanuatu. The storm is regarded to have been the worst to have ever hit the region, and has left the country devastated. Victoria has deep ties to Vanuatu, and in response to this disaster a group of Victoria based CSO’s including Pacific Peoples’ Partnership, ViVA (Victoria Vanuatu Physicians Association), Disaster Aid Canada, the Williams Family, and Pearson College UWC, have united to assist with relief and reconstruction efforts.
There will be some important events taking place this weekend that we would like to bring to your attention:
On Saturday, April 25th, from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm, a drop-off center will be set up at Lumberworld (3955 Quadra St, Victoria, BC). The Victoria Vanuatu Physicians Association (ViVA), Disaster Aid Canada, and Compassionate Resource Warehouse are collaborating to fill a container of goods that will be shipped directly to Vanuatu. Donations of items such as water bottles, flip flops, crocs, solar powered flashlights and batteries, laundry soap, work gloves, etc. will be greatly appreciated. Donations towards the cost of shipping the container would also be welcome.
On Sunday, April 26th, more than 100 Pearson College UWC students and community members will be running the Times Colonist 10 Kilometre race (TC10K) to draw attention to Vanuatu. They will run with flags and flyers, and break out in impromptu performances in order to raise awareness. An information booth will also be set up on the sidewalk across from the Empress Hotel, offering information and various ways to help. The race will start at Government and Belleville Street, at 7:55 a.m. The information booth will be set up all morning.
A gala event entitled Vanuatu, We Are With You! A Gala Supporting Cyclone Pam Relief Efforts will be held on Sunday, April 26th from 6:30pm-10:30pm at the Sea Cider Farm & Cider House (2487 Mt. St. Michael Rd. Saanichton). Tickets are $75, and the programme includes cider tastings, appetizers, entertainment from the South Pacific Islander community including dance group Pearls of the South Pacific and musical group Tradewinds, as well as performances from Pearson College’s production of One World. Tickets can be purchased at: https://eventbrite.com/event/16522368850/
There will also be a silent auction taking place at this event – if you, or anyone you know, might consider donating an item to the auction, please get in touch a.s.a.p. All funds raised will be channelled directly to our trusted grassroots partners delivering aid provisions, and to long term recovery efforts in Vanuatu.
Those interested to contribute but unable to attend are encouraged to donate via: http://www.pacificpeoplespartnership.org/cyclone-pam-how-help
Please share this information with your networks – together, we can work to help those in need.
In solidarity,
Your Friends at Pacific Peoples’ Partnership
And The Victoria – Vanuatu Consortium
(Includes ViVA, Disaster Aid Relief Canada, Pearson College and the Williams Family)
April Ingham
Executive Director
Pacific Peoples' Partnership
Suite 407, 620 View Street
Victoria, BC V8W 1J6
Healing the Self, Healing the Earth: A Buddhist Perspective on the Eco-Crisis
A Public Talk with author and Zen teacher David R. Loy
Tues, May 19th, 7 p.m.
Victoria Shambhala Meditation Centre1-2033 Belmont Ave, Victoria, British Columbia V8R 3Z7
regards, Margo
Margo MatwychukDirector
Social Justice Studies ProgramUniversity of Victoriaweb.uvic.ca/socialjustice/@UVicSJS on TwitterUVicSJS on FacebookUVicSJS on YouTube
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