The Bubble Wrapped Child Should go to CAMP!

Today on CBC's "The Current" Radio Show, there was an author in to talk about her new booked called "Nation of Whimps"...here is what I wrote back to the show. Should you want to take a listen: http://www.cbc.ca/thecurrent/2008/200812/20081217.html

“Nation of Whimps” is another book we can add to the long list of books written to slap our parents on the wrist, to point fingers at our fear building and innocence stealing media and to point out that collectively, our communities are not all that healthy. Reminding us again, that the ‘good old days’ are gone. Other popular books on the subject of “what’s different” in the lives of children today include The Last Child in the Woods: Saving our children from Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv (www.richardlouv.com AND www.childrenandnature.org ). Louv says that our children are growing up alienated from natural spaces and that we - our communities, our built environment, our policies (reflecting our collective values), and our life styles are to blame. Jean M. Twenge writes in her book Generation Me (www.generationme.org) that today’s youth are more confident, assertive, entitled – and more miserable than ever. Hmmm. So we have all the theories and reasons why things suck…so what should actually do about it?

I have a prescription for the “the bubble wrapped child”…the doctor is calling for CAMP!

My name is Hannah "Banana" Feldberg and I have about 20 years of summer camp experience, as a camper, as a staff member, as camp leadership staff (administration), as a director and now as someone studying camp in her Master’s degree at University!

What kind of camp you ask? ANY CAMP WILL DO – as long as it is child focused and includes well-trained staff who care about teaching children and youth responsibility.

Genuine Relationships + Campers + Staff = Camp’s Safe Environment:
The best camp programs also focus on encouraging the opportunity for children to take risks in a safe environment. These safe environments can be contributed to the genuine relationships of support that are built among campers and between campers and their mentors (“counsellors”). This can only happen in places where children can interact and practice their social skills!

Camp: for the Love of Learning – not just about your GPA and Graduation Day!
Camp, and other youth focused programs, offers an opportunity for children to enjoy the learning process – where activities are focused on a love of learning instead of on the end result, such as GPA. Summer camp, day camp, march break camp, weekend camp, and if schools should be so lucky – school camp leadership programs or outdoor education centres! They all work!

Learn Skills, Practice Skills
Camps offer a place for children to practice coping skills, without mom and dad. Children and youth have to learn to negotiate, learn about consequences, problem-solving skills and learn to take responsibility. How? Firstly, mom and dad are not around to step in. Its up to the child to take responsibility for their own actions. Secondly, the best camp staffs are trained to help children learn these problem-solving skills – practice them, make mistakes, and try again! “Nation of Whimps” spoke of this today, that children aren't really practicing these skills because others are stepping in before they can spill their own milk. But we do not do children any favours by giving them the answers.

What I have noticed working with parents in the camp world is that some of them seriously lack both the ability and importance in setting and sticking to limits with their children. The most challenging children to work with at camp are those who have inconsistent or completely lack limits at home. I sometimes wish we could invite parents in and run the same training sessions we have with our staff!

WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT??

TOOLS:
Here is one tool counsellors and parents can use to help a child build problem solving skills:

Situation: If a child makes a mistake/does something they were not supposed/has a challenge ahead of them etc…

What you can do: Ask them a serious of questions – and do not fill in the gaps for them…its up to them to take responsibility for their actions!

1. What happened?
(Get the child to tell you the story – collect information)

2. What was that like for you? What do you think that was like for them? (others involved?)
(This is when you teach a child empathy – they can talk about their feelings related to the situation, and then they are asked to reflect on the feelings of the ‘other side’ of the story)

3. What did you want to have happen?
(This is when you get a child to express what they wanted out of their actions…but clearly that didn’t happen – its up to the child to tell you this)

4. So is what you want to have happen, what happened?
(Compare the stories, help the child realize their actions don’t meet their wants)

5. Okay – so what is your plan?
(This is when you might need to remind a child of the LIMIT, that is what is it that they can’t do, but help them understand what they can do. ie “Everyone knows that you can’t hit other people at camp, it’s not an option. You can’t stay at camp if you hit other children, so what is your plan to make sure that doesn’t happen? We want you here at camp, but not if you’re breaking the rules of safety” etc…)

6. How will you stick to your plan? How can I/your counsellor/your friends help you?
(This is when you get commitment form the child and ask/remind them that there are supports to help them be successful!)

SUMMARY:
* Collect the information (from the child)
* Reflect/Encourage Empathy (from the child)
* Compare actions with desired outcomes (from the child)
* Brainstorm ways in which a child can achieve ‘what they want’
(again, this is up to the child, it is THEIR plan, not yours).
* Commitment (from the child to stick to THEIR plan)

In my humble opinion, its just what the doctor ordered!

Now if only camp could be more accessible...like say...through the public school system?! Then we could really make some change in the way children take responsibility!

Thanks for reading!

- Hannah Banana

Poilievre Doesn't Represent Young Canadians

This day our Generation, does Rule the population.

My friend, Michael Marin, would like you to read below and get involved.
I forward this along because I believe that we, the generation of RIGHT NOW, can actually do something about the crap that some people in power decide they have the right to do - be a bad role model that is. If I was this MP's mother I would be ashamed. The key word in ashamed is of course, shame. Shame on Peirre Poilievre. And shame on me if I don't, at least, attempt to do something about this kind of role modeling.

I would with kids - camp kids, and if Peirre was a camper I would have sent him home by now.

Read below. Mike Marin suggests all kinds of ways you can start getting involved to make a change.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does” ~ Maraget Mead

________

MIKE MARIN WRITES:

Hi friends,

I write to you because you are some of the most influential people I know and I need your help. As many of you know, Pierre Poilievre, Canada's youngest M.P., made ignorant and bigoted comments about Aboriginal Canadians last week. His comments are outrageous not only because of their hurtful content, but also because they are being dismissed as simply a product of Poilievre's youth. As young leaders who are making positive contributions in your respective communities, I think it's important that you tell people that Poilievre doesn't represent you.

For those of you who haven't heard Poilievre's remarks, you can listen to them at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ws2Jc5692TY. If you share my outrage for Poilievre's comments and think Prime Minister Harper should fire him as Parliamentary Secretary, here's what you can do:

1. Join the Facebook group I've created at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19933651970 and invite your friends to joing (to the many of you who already have, thank you).

2. Sign one of the form letters on the group and email it to the Prime Minister at pm@pm.gc.ca

3. Forward this email, or write your own, to as many people as possible.

4. Write a letter to the editor or an op/ed column to your local newspaper. For inspiration, you can consult the piece below, which I'm preparing to submit.

5. Follow the discussion of this controversy on your favourite websites and blogs and post comments about this campaign.

6. If any of you want to become administrators of the Facebook group, so that you can post items, please let me know.

7. Do whatever else you can think of to spread our message.

It would be a shame if Poilievre and his defenders were allowed to use his youth as an excuse for his behaviour. Let's work together to denounce these comments and show Canadians that we don't stand for Poilievre's values.

Thanks for your support.

Mike

Poilievre's comments weren't youthful indiscretion

Last Thursday was supposed to a hopeful day for Canada. The stage was set for the federal government to make a historic apology to Aboriginal peoples for the residential schools tragedy, a meaningful gesture that would lead to healing and reconciliation. But, just hours before the delivery of those long-overdue words, Pierre Poilievre, Canada's youngest M.P., shattered the solemnity of the occasion by reviving the same hurtful stereotypes that were behind the assimilation policies of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Poilievre's comments are not, as some of his colleagues have suggested, the product of youthful indiscretion. To blame Poilievre's youth for his ignorant and hurtful words not only diminishes their severity, but also casts young Canadians in a very negative light. Whatever their views on how to address the social and economic crisis facing Aboriginal people, the vast majority of young Canadians do not share Poilievre's bigotry and arrogance. Despite not having the same platform as their outspoken peer, many young Canadians work tirelessly to support minorities in their communities. All Canadians need to know that Poilievre does not represent his generation.

There are two specific features of Poilievre's comments that make them abhorrent to so many young Canadians. First, Poilievre doubted the "value" of financially compensating victims of residential schools. He did this by lumping compensation together with other government spending on Aboriginal affairs and denouncing the whole concept of giving money to Aboriginal Canadians. We mustn't be fooled by Poilievre's deceptive rhetoric. Compensation is not, as he suggests, an investment on which a return should be expected, but a victim's right stemming from the physical, psychological, and sexual abuse they suffered at the hands of the Canadian government.

This distinction is an important one to make because many of Poilievre's defenders argue that it's legitimate to question the effectiveness of spending alone as a solution to the problems in Aboriginal communities. If Poilievre's remarks were so confined, they'd have a point. Sadly, they were not. Since compensation is a function of the harm suffered, his skepticism for the former reveals skepticism for the latter. In other words, Poilievre's comments can only indicate that he either thinks the victims of residential schools haven't suffered enough to be entitled to compensation, or that the federal government isn't to blame for their suffering. Both views are ignorant and wrong.

The second, and more outrageous, aspect of Poilievre's comments is his suggestion that Aboriginal people are to blame for their own misfortunes. According to the youthful Parliamentarian, we need to stop throwing all this money at Aboriginals because it's their lack of "values"—specifically, "hard work... independence and self-reliance"—that's to blame. What's so shocking about this comment is that it mirrors the paternalistic and racist attitudes that were at the heart of the residential schools. The assumption behind these destructive views is that Aboriginal people are inferior and must be forced to adopt majority traditions in order to progress. Or, as Poilievre likes to put it, we need to "engender" them with new "values." These views are not only bigoted on their face, but also demonstrate appalling selfishness and lack of judgment uncharacteristic of young Canadians.

For weeks the whole country was preparing for this historic day. Everyone knew the apology was important for the victims and their families—people who had been ripped away from their parents, stripped of their identities, subjected to unspeakable abuse, and forced to live with the seemingly eternal consequences of their childhood injustice. They had been waiting for this day for so long. Of all the days Poilievre could have chosen to shoot his mouth off, he chose this one. On an occasion that everyone realized was bigger than individuals, Poilievre couldn't resist the urge to thrust himself into the spotlight and reopen the wound that was on the cusp of starting to heal. The mentality that underlies this kind of behaviour is truly beyond description. It would be unbecoming of an elementary school student, let alone Canada's youngest M.P.

I have never met a young person, regardless of political persuasion, who holds views as toxic as those Poilievre expressed. More importantly, I have never met a young person who would be as cruel and calculating as to pick the moment when his audience is most vulnerable to pollute the airwaves. The young people I am honoured to know are tolerant, compassionate, and respectful. While being diligent students, hardworking employees, and devoted relatives, they work selflessly to make their communities better. They are concerned about the welfare of others at home and abroad. They are positive role models. They will be tremendous leaders. They are the antithesis of Pierre Poilievre.

As a result, if young Canadians are to maintain the confidence of elder citizens, we must denounce Poilievre's actions in the strongest terms. Whether we like it or not, as Canada's youngest M.P., he is our face in Parliament. Canadians need to hear about all the positive contributions that our generation is making instead of being misled about us by the carelessness and ignorance of an individual with whom we share only our age.

As is often the case when confronting negative stereotypes, voices will emerge suggesting that the matter be put to rest—the offender has apologized so let's get on with our lives. The response to these calls is that complacency is never the solution to ignorance. The only way to confine the spread of dangerous ideologies is to attack them aggressively, exposing their intellectual bankruptcy and holding accountable those who propagate them. In this spirit, young Canadians need to make their indignation at Poilievre's comments heard and join the people of all ages who are calling on Prime Minister Harper to remove Canada's youngest M.P. from his post as Parliamentary Secretary. In so doing, we will reflect the true values of our generation.

Grow where you are planted

So to be honest, I'm having a little trouble focusing. Not just on my weekly political process actions but also on my general subjects and topics of my given interests and energies. One day I want to change the world through summer camp, the next I want to go back to school for public policy...the next, I want to fix all suburban problems or public transportation in South Western Ontario and the GTA. For those who know me (and who are guilted into reading this blog), my "all over the mapness" does not surprise. I will say though, I have been feeling rather excitingly aimless since September 2008. Ahhhh grad school. A place where I have yet to learn how to turn learning off, but can't seem to focus long enough to pick ONE thesis topic that will be my blood, sweat and tears for the next year of my life. ADD. Aimless Dissertation Denial. Alas, a few things are in common with all my interests however...I want to change the world NOW, I always feel as though I'm not doing enough and I want to improve the quality peoples' lives.

May.

Information Exchanging. iPod style.

I'll try to be discrete here - but my new boss rules. He's pretty much the best thing going since hypo-coloured t.shirts (ha!). I have been finding my new work environment exciting, challenging, comfortable and inclusionary. I'm not sure how many other people can say that 3 weeks into a new job and working environment. What I seem to like most about work, other than the work itself, is the information exchange that goes on with our office. Watercooler talk around issues facing our world on micro and macro levels, from the environment, to the war to websites and companies that are 'out there' doing their thing, and finding a following. And here is the lastest - passing information through podcats and ipod play lists. It makes any commute more exciting and helps build community! I encourage everyone to do it! I've been able to pass on some of the best things I've been listening to and thinking about, and while learning how and what other people listen to. Jam on it. In a big bad way. Building relationships builds stronger communities (this is now new) but getting inside someone's head - like listening to their podcasts or books on CD can bring you closer to what your colleagues are thinking about it. This leads to understanding. And understanding leads to stronger relationships.

Whose coming with me? The fish are coming with me!

Right. Moving right along...

I have a crush on Michael Pollan.

www.michaelpollan.com
Reading something - ANYTHING - this man writes. Its gold. It speaks to my generation, and my lovely developed part of the world that needs to hear what he's writing about. He's passionate, his writing is accessible and he cares. He keeps trying to find ways to get people to consciously think about their lifestlye. The way they EAT. They way they ACT. What they DO.

A few thoughts...

a) go onto your itunes and search "Michael Pollan" - you should find a free 47 minute podcast that University student uploaded when Mr. Pollan was invited to speak about food at a University of Berkley class related to activism. Mr. Pollan is growing activism in his very own garden, on the web, in your local book stores, in the new york times and on the radio waves...and I love it! He's an avid gardener and wants you to think about growing somethings yourself!

* I have encouraged 6 people in my life listen to this lecture and the discussions that I've participated in after listening told me that people were excited about the information Mr. Pollan presents. People get excited about what he talks about. He's talking about FOOD! And I know you eat...so this DOES mean that he's talking about things you care about. Let me know what you think after you listen or read his stuff.

b) Read "In Defense of Food" or "The Omnivore's Dilemma"

c) Read anything on Mr. Pollan's site...but MAKE SURE YOU READ the following articles:

http://www.michaelpollan.com/article.php?id=92
AND
http://www.michaelpollan.com/article.php?id=87

sigh. he's dreamy.

I think people are full of great. AND I think people should be grateful.

I think its important to reflect on things you are grateful for each day. I first was given a grateful journal in high school as a gift. I got into the habit of jotting down notes at the end of each day for things I appreciated or was grateful for each day. And I paid it forward. Just the other night I was with my friend and I asked her "What are you grateful for today?" and she said "Remember when you gave me a grateful journal when I turned 17?"...she brought out the journal I gave her - with a birthday message that was both unedited read and dreadfully late (nice to see somethings don't change) - we showed me that she filled the pages! I realized that I needed to pay it forward again!

I've handed out 5 little books to friends this week telling them that I think they are great, and that I encourage them to take the time to be grateful! Jot notes work, as do little stories. Its an awesome way to take five minutes out of the 24 hours you live, call them yours, and appreciate your experiences, interactions and connections.

Grow.

I was given 3 trees as a gift this month. They were three little trees, ready to be planted from a group of day care children. AWESOME! I then went out and got plants and dirt, and was given another 3 trees! SO...I planted three and gave away 3. Asking the new people to plant the trees as I had. I then thought...this isn't enough. So I went and got little packs of seeds. I asked friends "Do you like clean air?" and all my friends said something like "is this a rehtorical question?" or "Are you being a smartass?" And I said no! I just wondered if they did! Because I do, and I'm doing something about it. I then asked them if they wanted to do something about it. And if they agreed, I handed out the small packs of seeds and asked my friends to please plant their seeds, but to also committ to asking someone else if they liked clean air. And to see if they could convince someone else to plant a seed...and then they could plant a seed...and then eventually...the world will have cleaner air.

MAY I remind you that you started as a seed too.
And I am grateful for that.
I hope you consider being grateful for it as well.

Wear sunscreen!
See you June!

~ Hanban

I paid the artist $20

April has been a bit of a marathon so far, so I'm going to get straight to my top story.

My story starts with a question...
When was the last time you gave money to someone on the street?
Wait...that was an assumption.
Do you ever give money to people on the street?
When was the last time you gave someone on the street money?

My answer is - tonight.

I was walking home through Uptown Waterloo and had stopped to read a menu on a store front wall. I noticed a young man, probably about my age, with a dog, sitting on the street corner. He was wearing a denim jacket and blue sweat pants. He had a cardboard sign.

I looked in my wallet to see what kind of change I had. And like any good middle class student would have it, I was straight out of loonies and toonies - I only had $20 bills. New ones. Fresh from the bank machine.

I said hello and asked "who's this?" as I leaned over to pet the black lab. They do have my heart after all. Josh told me that he's had Rasta for four years. He's been on and off of the streets for about that time too. He's a 26 year old, who no longer uses, and is a framer by trade who has a had a slow winter. He told me about his life in California and how he's waiting to hear about an apartment approval tomorrow. We continue to chit chat. I then lean over and ask, "do you have change for a $20?" Obviously we share a laugh and I gave Josh the bill. He is gracious. I insisted and tried to convince him it is my pleasure.

Rick then walks over to join us on the street corner. Josh and I had been sitting for a while. Rick and Josh have a connection already - Rick has recently broken off his marriage. I asked him what happened, and they asked me how much time I had! It was Rick's birthday after all, we didn't want to spend the last 10 minutes of his 26th birthday talking about her.

Rick tells me about the time he broke some dude's arms because the dude touched his sister. No one touches his family. And he was sentenced to 18 months in dc incarceration. Something I know nothing about. Rick educates me. He tells me that life in jail leads you to two things - 1. working out 2. getting into trouble. So Rick got into reading. He got out in 10.

Rick needs 75 cents for something, so I give him a birthday dollah. He asks me what I do. I tell him that I'm a grad student at waterloo studying recreation and leisure. He asks if I'm studying to be a gym teacher. I tell him no, but I thank him for his stereotype. I tell him I'm into summer camp. I'm into safe places for kids. And learning. Rick then tells me he's always meant to work at camps. I tell him its not too late. He then tells me about a volunteer opportunity he has running workshops on health.

He wants to be a guidance counselor one day.

For now, to pay the bills, Rick is a mechanic. Funny - I had just been telling Josh if he was good with his hands, he might like being a mechanic. We even brainstormed other jobs he might like. Transferable skills! He's got them...he's just never 'framed' his skills like that.

Josh had a sign that said "No Food" presented in a pretty artistic way. Those sharpie markers and cardboard can create magic together I tells ya. I suggest that Josh might also like getting into web design. As we were all getting up to go our seperate ways, Josh said I could keep the sign. He figures he won't need it.

Josh, Rick and I had created community.

I shared a human experience with other people. And I believed. I believed in someone. I believed in some thing. I reached out, and I believed in community.

The common built unity.
So, I'm wondering...what do you give?
What do you build?

http://healthycommunities.uwaterloo.ca/
Today's Key Note Speaker, Dr. Trevor Hancock spoke about how really - everything about what we do should be human centered. After all, its about the people, stupid.
~ this was Dr. Hancock's clever title to his key note address this afternoon.

hannah banana

Two cents from Mr. Pickup...

These past few weeks, I’ve found myself completely submerged in an area of politics that I thought I had escaped when I left Ottawa. For those of you who don’t know, I worked for the Young Liberals of Canada (YLC) for almost two years and I’ve recently found myself almost as submersed in the process as I was just 6 months ago.

This coming November, the Young Liberals will be electing a new executive (a President, and 5 Vice-Presidents) to run the organization. Am I running? No. I am, however, actively involved in a campaign to help elect a president. It may come as a surprise to you, but Young Liberal campaigns are big ordeals. Thousands of people, thousands of hours, thousands of dollars, thousands of beers.

When I first got involved with the Young Libs, I expected the elections to be much like Student Union elections. At face value, they’re similar in the sense that the campaigns are based on ideas and, generally, those who campaign harder will win. The difference comes in the scale of the operation and the length of the campaign. For this particular campaign, it will last roughly 8-9 months, and will involve a campaign structure of hundreds of Young Liberals in every province running a national campaign, all bound together through a national organizational structure. Provincial co-chairs, recruitment chairs, policy chairs, technical directors, fundraisers. The whole nine yards. To boot, you can multiply that by the number of candidates running. It’s some pretty intense and complex stuff. The thought of it right now, to be honest, is making me a little aroused.

So, why have I chosen to get involved with this beast that will inevitably lower my marks and probably lead to some sort of occasional delirium? For me, there are two aspects. 1. The YLC is, and always has been, a really important organization to me and has given me so much. I owe it to the organization to make sure that we have good people to lead the organization once I’ve aged out. 2. For the deliberative value. The campaign is both an opportunity and inspiration to talk about ideas. Ideas for the Young Liberals, ideas for the Liberal Party, and ultimately resolutions for the country. Let me expand...

Let's start with the former. I’ve been with the Young Liberals for years now. I’ve seen good leadership, bad leadership, and leadership that was relatively non-existent. I like to think that by now, I have a really good understanding of the organization and its purpose. Not everybody shares that same understanding, and sometimes these people end up in positions of power. This hurts the organization by disallowing progress. There are, however, lots of great people out there who truly understand the organization and its importance. My motivation in this campaign is helping to ensure that the right people are elected. Luckily, I’ve found people that I truly believe in, and will do what I can to ensure they succeed.

Now, onto the deliberative aspect. For me, the most enjoyable part of a campaign like this is the discussion of ideas. Public policy ideas. YLC organizational ideas. Constitutional ideas. Campaign strategy ideas. Creative ways to drink beer ideas. Idea ideas. You get the point. So, why is this type of deliberation important? Well, the act of deliberation in itself is important, regardless of the outcome. Here we have a group of Young Canadians actively talking every night about policy ideas that are consistent with a vision for Canada that we, as a group of friends, share. We’re thinking critically and trying to offer solutions. Fortunately (but not surprisingly), the deliberation is yielding great results. We have a group of bright people who are excited about our project and willing to put in some effort (probably more than is healthy). The further we go with our deliberations, the more excited people become and our work refines itself. It’s truly amazing, and inspiring.

At the end of the day, we have a large group of young people across the country sending dozens of emails a day, making hundreds of phone calls a week—all in the name of our country. Sure, some may consider the Young Liberals to be a very small part of our political process, but we DO make a difference. Remember the little thing called same-sex marriage in Canada? We can certainly thank the Young Liberals for their 10 years of fighting for its legalization. For an organization that “doesn’t make a difference” we’ve sure had some famous alumni go on to do pretty well: P.E. Trudeau, J. Turner, J. Chrétien, and P. Martin Jr.

My apologies, as this piece got way longer than I had expected. Hannah, this is a really great forum and I hope it will remain active. You’re a superstar.

If anybody has any feedback on my little rant, I’d love to hear it. Lets start a conversation.

All the best,
Scott P.

March Madness!

MARCH 'Participation in the Political Process' MADNESS...

Here's what I did this month...

ALUMNI LOVE:

Acadia University - my Undergraduate Alma Mater has my heart...sigh. I sure do miss that place.

This month, I sent a letter to the University President Search Committee -- just my two cents about someone I think the committee should look into as a prime candidate to heal the Acadia broken heart. Just like we all need Ben and Jerry's to get through a break-up, so too does Acadia need a little community TLC.

I might have also sent the letter to the Acadia Students' Union...pfff. Whatever. They're my people.

Bottom line: Sometimes Alumni need to have a voice too!

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

The National Portrait Gallery should stay in OTTAWA!
I sent a letter to my MP telling him I thought so.

CHECK IT OUT: http://www.pauldewar.ca/en/node/249 -- SIGN THE PETITION!

CANADIAN ALLIANCE OF STUDENT ASSOCIATIONS (CASA)

Not only did I get to vote on this puppy in a recent Univeresity of Waterloo Graduate Students' Association meeting -- that is CASA is now taking on GRAD students in their membership and we're of the first on the roster! Grad students should be lobbying the government along with Undergraduate students. Bring it!

-- But I also contacted the CASA crew in relation the recent Federal Budget and what it has to say about Post Secondary Education...they were of COURSE on it. I just wanted to follow up with the people who work for us, the students.

Read on and educate your post secondary self! (or who ever you are haha).
http://www.casa.ca/index.asp

Here is what the Director of CASA wrote about it:

Dear Students,As you may be aware, the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation (CMSF), which is set to expire in 2009, was not renewed by the Conservative Government in this year's federal budget. The fact that the CMSF has not been renewed is clearly a disappointment to us, our members, and the hundreds of thousands of students that the Foundation has helped and had the potential of helping. The good news, however, is that the government has committed to maintaining the $350 million dollars of non-repayable student financial assistance currently provided through the CMSF, and will increase this amount to $430 million by 2012-13. Now is the time to show leadership to ensure that this new program truly benefits students. CASA has a history of affecting real change and now is the time for us to do it again.

The government's new Canada Student Grant Program will provide non-repayable assistance to students based on their level of family income, and has the potential to be a very successful program. Although this wasn't exactly what we, or any other student group in the country, were looking for, this new income-based grant model does reflect CASA's message that targeted assistance for underrepresented students in our post-secondary system is the best way to promote access to higher education. On this front, CASA and our partners are the only groups in the country who have been pushing for targeted assistance.

That said, the details of this new initiative have yet to be released, and we do have some serious concerns about the program. Though this new grant program will distribute the same amount of money as the CMSF, it will be distributed to more students. This means that the students who do receive grants will be receiving significantly less money. This new program also lacks some of the major benefits that the CSMF offered students, such as targeted support and outreach to Aboriginal and rural communities. Further, because the program is based solely on income and not financial need, those students with high levels of financial debt will receive little or no assistance. Millennium was also the only national organization engaged in research on issues pertaining to access, and so far there is no indication from the government that any group will be continuing with this essential work. As students in Quebec have also pointed out, they and their province stand to lose the funds that were being distributed by Millennium, depending on whether or not the Government of Quebec chooses to opt-out of the new program. These are all serious concerns.

With the government's commitment to work in partnership with students, CASA is optimistic that we can help shape the future of this program, and ensure that any potential flaws are addressed. This is not a time to despair. As a result of the work of student groups across the country, this government has committed to continue to invest in students. Considering that this was a ‘fiscally conservative' budget, and that this government was mindful to avoid infringing on areas of provincial jurisdiction (education being one of these); the amount of money that this budget allocated for students was itself a victory for students. This is a time of opportunity, a time when we have the ability to work with the government to develop a new system of student financial aid; one that has learned from the mistakes of the past and one which ensures that all aspiring students in this country have the opportunity to pursue a higher education. And as always, I assure you that CASA will continue to be there to serve you as the voice of reason and progress when it comes to improving post-secondary education in this country.

Yours truly,
Zach Churchill, National Director

Also check out CASA representing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knI5G4HhSEo
Boo-ya!!

EARTH HOUR http://www.earthhour.org/

The idea is for everyone in the world to turn off their lights from 8pm - 9pm on Saturday night.

Sydney, Australia did this last march and 2.2 million residents turned off their lights for an hour, along with over 2000 businesses. And guess what?! They saved 10.2% of their average energy! Just in that hour! It will certainly be an interesting world experiment.

Check out (and register) at www.earthhour.org -- right now Canada is the number 2 country (next to our friendly neighbourhood Americans) registered for the event. If you register, the WWF can track their particiaption. Break out the candles and flashlights!

That was March!
What did you do each week?
If you want to join the blog, let me know and I'll add you!

~ Hannah Banana

Banana Publishes

http://imprint.uwaterloo.ca/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2249

Same article, but its a little more 'out there'!!

~ hb

Baby Got Barak

-- I sent this to a few Newspapers.

Baby got Barack
February 12, 2008
By Hannah Feldberg

Buzz buzz buzz. Hear that? Yes, we can. It’s the sound of Barack Obama and the noise he’s been creating south of our border. The Presidential hopeful is asking the American people to believe in the political process, not by finding a way to agree on policy change but rather by finding common ground in the foundation of humanity. I would argue that this young, gifted leader is changing attitudes across cultures, races, languages, and boarders. He does not just speak to Americans but to the world. You see, Mr. Obama is asking us to have hope. Surely, this message is not just about red, white, and blue but rather it is about looking eachother in the eye, no matter what flag backs us.

So I’m taking this democrat’s lead. Why not? He believes we can, and it starts with me if the message is true. I clear my throat and proclaim that this is a call to action! As Obama’s declaration speaks beyond borders, he is asking us to consider the political process as our next project. This time, we shouldn’t take on a new house renovation or other such extra-curricular activity. This time, we won’t let celebrities speak for us, politicians spend for us and tax-breaks give for us. No - this time we should consider investing ourselves into democracy. A new democratic movement that reminds us while the kids were at public school pursuing spelling bees and degrees, and while we found a way to put dinner on the table after a hard days work, we still had time to participate in the political process. You can go to bed thinking that you wanted to be apart of your community but really - your community needed you to be apart of it.

If you have an issue in your neighbourhood, at your child’s school, or in regards to a policy you read about in the newspaper – do something about it. Come on, I dare you. Maybe you don’t know enough about Afghanistan to form an educated opinion, so you form nothing. Maybe global warming gives you chills, but you don’t think there’s anything you can do about the temperature. You stand in the shadow of democracy and expect to get a tan while the sun has already gone down. Or maybe you just want to stay indoors - out of the sun and out of your community altogether. But today, consider my challenge. I challenge you to somehow change your daily life to include active participation in the political process. The fun part is that you get to define active participation for your own life – as long as you’re doing more than what you have been.

Barack says “nothing can stand in the way of the power of millions of voices calling for change”. Should you accept my challenge, and I hope you do - expect critics. Tell them you want change and you’re actually doing something about it. The idea of millions of people caring about politics is daunting when we live in such an arguably apathetic world. So if you want change, show your change. Mr. Obama asks you to consider his message for a better life simply by having hope. This same political underdog says there has never been anything false about hope. And this proud Canadian says there has never been anything better than agreeing with him.