Went to the first of what will likely be more “Interesting Vancouver”
events Friday night at the Vancouver Rowing Club.
It was a good showing, with 152 in attendance, for a local version on an
event that's brought people together all over, London, Amsterdam, New York,
South.
Kudos to event planner extraordinaire Brett MacFarlane and the volunteers
who helped make it happen.
There were 15 speakers, discussing topics of interest for anywhere from 3
minutes to 20. The common thread of storytelling, creativity, and the use of
multi-media to connect with the audience and their interesting topics made
this a feast for the eyes and ears.
It was interesting to see the high degree of comfort, articulation, literacy,
expertise and spontaneity of most of the speakers. Topics included:
- local, found food - local sustainability and adventure in feeding self and
others
- living X, working Y - travel and adventure living and working abroad
- community culture
- mash media and storytelling
- literacy rights and statistics
- museums in the lower mainland
- life and fearlessness in the Downtown Eastside
- cloudscape comic collective
- givemeaning.com- $5 philanthropy, following dreams, passion and creativity
- climate change policy - why we should all care about it. Interesting show of
support for the disliked carbon tax.
- shades of green living - here's to the middle, where shift hits the fan and
leads to runaway climate change
- Ballard fuel cell racing - zero emission car racing in the Utah salt flats
- socialactions.com - social entrepreneurialism
- science literacy - truth and facts about biodiversity
- brief history of great places, leading to Vancouver as the next great place
Some Random thoughts jotted down:
Public space, voice and information and knowledge sharing
Multi and social media, Runaway Social Change,
Multi-culturalism, diversity, blending and acceptance
Inspiration, change agents, artists, shared creativity
Connecting dots , local and global, personal stories and meaning-making,
theirs and ours
Small steps to BIG change, Perspective, Memes.
It was also cool for audience members to be offered the chance to
contribute their own thoughts, pictures, or what have you to add to
the mix. It's always great to have more opportunities to be Interesting
in Vancouver and learn about other interesting people.
To see it all for yourself, go here:
For streaming live on Ustream (archived on Vimeo) and the Flickr Group
Miss 604 also live blogged here and has more in depth coverage about each speaker.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Canada's Integration with the European Union (EU): What Harper isn't Telling Us
Canada's Integration with Europe
I want to know why the Canadian government has not released
the details of the agreement, how about even the title?
I'm not opposed to "cooperation" but lets see what this cooperation
means for Canadians, don't we have a right to know who will be
coming to Canadato work? What other pieces of "cooperation"
has Harper signed Canada upfor? What is this about an "open skies"
agreement? What does this meanand how will it impact our lives
as Canadians? Will we retain the right to regulate our goods, services
and industries? Or will that too be sacrificed to the lowest common
denominator?
What kind of "harmonization" can Canadians expect in our:
health care, labour standards, border security, military procurement
policy, bulk water exports, and corporate licensing?
How about our economic regulatory and financial systems?
Is this really the right time to be tying Canada to nations where
banks are going under across the EU? Or being nationalized in
the name of "stability."
What does Harper and his neoCon government have to
hide from Canadians?
Why the secrecy and lack of transparency if this is all
so great for Canadians?
Here is what we know just from different media reports:
- The Harper government did not bring this up during the election,
nor has he provided any details to Canadians about what changes
this will introduce to our country and our sovereignty.
- Harper has not allowed Canadian citizens to see the
study or the draft text, but he has shared this with large
corporations: "Proponents, including all of Canada's major
business-lobby organizations, are in favour of the deal..."
I bet they are, they have much to gain, what do Canadians
have to gain and lose?
Who is really running Canada, because apparently
Canadian citizens rate far lower than CEO's in Harper's
Canada?
Canadian American Business Council (CABC)
Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE)
The Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) is a not-for-profit,
non-partisan organization composed of the CEOs of Canada's
leading enterprises. We engage in an active program of public
policy research, consultation and advocacy.
CCCE Chairman Gordon M. Nixon, our CEO members
- Labour mobility will open up - Europeans will be able to come to
Canadato work and possibly Canadians will be able to go work in
Europe. What are the processes, parameters, policies around this?
Where do people apply and who will have responsibility for scrutinizing
people coming to Canada? Do people have to have jobs lined up before
they come? Will these be temporary foreign workers? What citizen
status will they have? What access to Canadian programs, such as
Employment Insurance, welfare, CPP,provincial medical programs...?
- Canada, probably THE most stable economic system amidst a stormy
sea, is going to be tied to the European Union, which is steeped in
economic chaos and instability.
- Canada will be opening up "new markets."
For what? Why hasn't Canadabeen able to successfully offer our products
to the EU prior to this agreement?
- Bilateral trade and investment will increase by at least $40 billion
a year, mainly in trade in services.
What services? Where? In Canada, in Europe?
- Unrestricted trade in goods, services and investment
and the removal of tariffs
What goods, service, investment? Does the agreement have any
caps on foreign investment? Tariffs on what? Is that both ways?
Say goodbye to our natural resources. When we look back
and wonder what happened toour oil, our gas and our water and
why our children can't afford heat, we can look back and remember
when our government actually operated in our nation's best
interests, not those ofthe global corporate elite.
- The free movement of armies, and navy
Does this mean Canada will now have foreign military forces with
open permission to be operating in Canada whenever they want?
Many Canadians missed it, but Harper signed the Civil Assistance
Plan (CAP) with the United States, so American and Canadian
armed forces can go back and forth across the border in times of
civil emergency, hmm, martial law anyone?
- An open market in government services and
procurement
Now any corporation from the EU can bid on providing provincial
government services in Canada. How much do you want to bet that
there will be a clause that the corporationc an sue the province if
they award contracts locally.
Excerpt:
Canada, EU working towards 'historic' agreement: PM
Updated Fri. Oct. 17 2008 9:27 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that Canada is working
towards a "comprehensive and truly historic" economic partnership
with the European Union.
Harper made the comments at a press conference Friday, after
meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the president
of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.
Harper said that Canada and the European Union had agreed
"to define the formal mandates for an ambitious, deeper and
comprehensive and truly historic economic partnership agreement."
"Without question, these times call for closer economic co-operation
among key players in the global economy," Harper added.
No details were given on the plan.
Transportation Minister Lawrence Cannon told Mike Duffy Live
that Canada "has to seek out new markets" in these times of
economic uncertainty.
Cannon said they are working on an "open-skies" agreement
with the EU.
... the French leader has cut short his visit and will not attend the
closing ceremonies of the summit -- a first for any French president.
Instead, Sarkozy will travel to Camp David in Maryland on Saturday
for meetings with U.S. President George Bush.
***************************************
CANADA SECRET AGENDA TO JOIN THE EU!
The pact would "increase bilateral trade and investment by at least
$40 billion a year, mainly in trade in services," This will ne collected
by the Ultra Elite. An agreement to integrate Canada's economy
with the 27 nations of the European Union, with preliminary talks
be launched at 17 summit in Montreal three days now after the
federal election."
"The proposed pact would far exceed the scope of older agreements
such as NAFTA by encompassing not only unrestricted trade in
goods, services and investment and the removal of tariffs, but also
the free movement of skilled people, army, navy and an open market
in government services and procurement – which would require
that Canadian governments allow European companies to
bid as equals on government contracts for both goods and
services and end the favouring of local or national providers
of public-sector services.
For more, see this:Election Issue Alert: Canada's Integration
with the EU & United States
Vancouver-Kingsway 2008
Canada-EU trade proposal rivals scope of NAFTA
DOUG SAUNDERS. On-line 18/09/08 02:00 AM
Ottawa officials say they have overcome what they see as their
biggest hurdle: the resistance of provincial governments to an agreement
that would force them to allow European corporations to provide
their government services, if their bids are the lowest.
ACTION ALERT: Release the Canada-EU 'deep economic
integration' text!
DEAL WOULD EXCEED SCOPE OF NAFTA
The article states, "The proposed pact would far exceed the
scope of older agreements such as NAFTA by encompassing
not only unrestricted trade in goods, services and investment
and the removal of tariffs, but also the free movement of
skilled people and an open market in government services
and procurement – which would require that Canadian
governments allow European companies to bid as equals on
government contracts for both goods and services and end the
favouring of local or national providers of public-sector services."
BIG BUSINESS BACKS THE DEAL
While the public has not been allowed to see the study
or the draft text, apparently large corporations have.
The article notes, "Proponents, including all of Canada's
major business-lobby organizations, are in favour of the deal..."
Integrate This: Stop the Security & Prosperity Partnership (SPP)
Council of Canadians
I want to know why the Canadian government has not released
the details of the agreement, how about even the title?
I'm not opposed to "cooperation" but lets see what this cooperation
means for Canadians, don't we have a right to know who will be
coming to Canadato work? What other pieces of "cooperation"
has Harper signed Canada upfor? What is this about an "open skies"
agreement? What does this meanand how will it impact our lives
as Canadians? Will we retain the right to regulate our goods, services
and industries? Or will that too be sacrificed to the lowest common
denominator?
What kind of "harmonization" can Canadians expect in our:
health care, labour standards, border security, military procurement
policy, bulk water exports, and corporate licensing?
How about our economic regulatory and financial systems?
Is this really the right time to be tying Canada to nations where
banks are going under across the EU? Or being nationalized in
the name of "stability."
What does Harper and his neoCon government have to
hide from Canadians?
Why the secrecy and lack of transparency if this is all
so great for Canadians?
Here is what we know just from different media reports:
- The Harper government did not bring this up during the election,
nor has he provided any details to Canadians about what changes
this will introduce to our country and our sovereignty.
- Harper has not allowed Canadian citizens to see the
study or the draft text, but he has shared this with large
corporations: "Proponents, including all of Canada's major
business-lobby organizations, are in favour of the deal..."
I bet they are, they have much to gain, what do Canadians
have to gain and lose?
Who is really running Canada, because apparently
Canadian citizens rate far lower than CEO's in Harper's
Canada?
Canadian American Business Council (CABC)
Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE)
The Canadian Council of Chief Executives (CCCE) is a not-for-profit,
non-partisan organization composed of the CEOs of Canada's
leading enterprises. We engage in an active program of public
policy research, consultation and advocacy.
CCCE Chairman Gordon M. Nixon, our CEO members
- Labour mobility will open up - Europeans will be able to come to
Canadato work and possibly Canadians will be able to go work in
Europe. What are the processes, parameters, policies around this?
Where do people apply and who will have responsibility for scrutinizing
people coming to Canada? Do people have to have jobs lined up before
they come? Will these be temporary foreign workers? What citizen
status will they have? What access to Canadian programs, such as
Employment Insurance, welfare, CPP,provincial medical programs...?
- Canada, probably THE most stable economic system amidst a stormy
sea, is going to be tied to the European Union, which is steeped in
economic chaos and instability.
- Canada will be opening up "new markets."
For what? Why hasn't Canadabeen able to successfully offer our products
to the EU prior to this agreement?
- Bilateral trade and investment will increase by at least $40 billion
a year, mainly in trade in services.
What services? Where? In Canada, in Europe?
- Unrestricted trade in goods, services and investment
and the removal of tariffs
What goods, service, investment? Does the agreement have any
caps on foreign investment? Tariffs on what? Is that both ways?
Say goodbye to our natural resources. When we look back
and wonder what happened toour oil, our gas and our water and
why our children can't afford heat, we can look back and remember
when our government actually operated in our nation's best
interests, not those ofthe global corporate elite.
- The free movement of armies, and navy
Does this mean Canada will now have foreign military forces with
open permission to be operating in Canada whenever they want?
Many Canadians missed it, but Harper signed the Civil Assistance
Plan (CAP) with the United States, so American and Canadian
armed forces can go back and forth across the border in times of
civil emergency, hmm, martial law anyone?
- An open market in government services and
procurement
Now any corporation from the EU can bid on providing provincial
government services in Canada. How much do you want to bet that
there will be a clause that the corporationc an sue the province if
they award contracts locally.
Excerpt:
Canada, EU working towards 'historic' agreement: PM
Updated Fri. Oct. 17 2008 9:27 PM ET
CTV.ca News Staff
Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that Canada is working
towards a "comprehensive and truly historic" economic partnership
with the European Union.
Harper made the comments at a press conference Friday, after
meeting with French President Nicolas Sarkozy and the president
of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso.
Harper said that Canada and the European Union had agreed
"to define the formal mandates for an ambitious, deeper and
comprehensive and truly historic economic partnership agreement."
"Without question, these times call for closer economic co-operation
among key players in the global economy," Harper added.
No details were given on the plan.
Transportation Minister Lawrence Cannon told Mike Duffy Live
that Canada "has to seek out new markets" in these times of
economic uncertainty.
Cannon said they are working on an "open-skies" agreement
with the EU.
... the French leader has cut short his visit and will not attend the
closing ceremonies of the summit -- a first for any French president.
Instead, Sarkozy will travel to Camp David in Maryland on Saturday
for meetings with U.S. President George Bush.
***************************************
CANADA SECRET AGENDA TO JOIN THE EU!
The pact would "increase bilateral trade and investment by at least
$40 billion a year, mainly in trade in services," This will ne collected
by the Ultra Elite. An agreement to integrate Canada's economy
with the 27 nations of the European Union, with preliminary talks
be launched at 17 summit in Montreal three days now after the
federal election."
"The proposed pact would far exceed the scope of older agreements
such as NAFTA by encompassing not only unrestricted trade in
goods, services and investment and the removal of tariffs, but also
the free movement of skilled people, army, navy and an open market
in government services and procurement – which would require
that Canadian governments allow European companies to
bid as equals on government contracts for both goods and
services and end the favouring of local or national providers
of public-sector services.
For more, see this:Election Issue Alert: Canada's Integration
with the EU & United States
Vancouver-Kingsway 2008
Canada-EU trade proposal rivals scope of NAFTA
DOUG SAUNDERS. On-line 18/09/08 02:00 AM
Ottawa officials say they have overcome what they see as their
biggest hurdle: the resistance of provincial governments to an agreement
that would force them to allow European corporations to provide
their government services, if their bids are the lowest.
ACTION ALERT: Release the Canada-EU 'deep economic
integration' text!
DEAL WOULD EXCEED SCOPE OF NAFTA
The article states, "The proposed pact would far exceed the
scope of older agreements such as NAFTA by encompassing
not only unrestricted trade in goods, services and investment
and the removal of tariffs, but also the free movement of
skilled people and an open market in government services
and procurement – which would require that Canadian
governments allow European companies to bid as equals on
government contracts for both goods and services and end the
favouring of local or national providers of public-sector services."
BIG BUSINESS BACKS THE DEAL
While the public has not been allowed to see the study
or the draft text, apparently large corporations have.
The article notes, "Proponents, including all of Canada's
major business-lobby organizations, are in favour of the deal..."
Integrate This: Stop the Security & Prosperity Partnership (SPP)
Council of Canadians
Events: Media Democracy & Re-Imaging Health Services
From the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
(CCPA)
Dear CCPA-BC members and friends, I'd like to let
you know about two upcoming events at which CCPA
research associates will be speaking.
This Friday October 24, at the BC Library Association's
Information Policy Conference
Ellen Gould will be speaking on the Trade, Investment
and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA).
And Leslie Regan Shade will be discussing telecommunications
policy. Full conference details follow below.
On Saturday October 25, SFU professor and "Remaking Media"
author Robert Hackett will be speaking at Media Democracy
Day at the Vancouver Public Library. Further information below.
Finally, a reminder that we have extended the registration deadline
to Friday October 24 for our upcoming conference, Re-Imagining
Health Services: Innovations in Community Health,
November 6-8 in Vancouver.
The conference kicks off with an exciting free event open to the
general public: Community Health Stories: Local Health Heroes,
November 6 at 7:00 PM in the Alice MacKay Room of the Vancouver
Public Library, 350 West Georgia St.
This will be an evening of storytelling and sharing about community
health innovators and initiatives. The rest of the conference will be
held at the UBC campus. Please see the end of this email for further
information.
As always, feel free to pass this along to your networks.
All the best, Seth Klein...
Jump-Starting the Public Sphere: Information Policy Issues
for the 21st Century
October 23-24, 2008
Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch350 Robson St, Vancouver BC
Presented by the British Columbia Library Association's Information
Policy Committee
==> quick link to registration and full details:
www.bcla.bc.ca/jumpstarting <==
With debates over information policy issues all over the news, the
question of who controls and who has access to information has
never been more timely. Many people have heard of things like
Bill C-61, TILMA, media concentration, information access, and
net neutrality but may be unsure about what the implications of
these terms are how they relate to information, libraries, and the
public sphere.
On the evening of October 23, Michael Geist, Canada Research
Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, will give a keynote address
on "Why Copyright? The Fight for Canada's Digital Future"
(synopsis below). His speech will set the tone for Friday morning's
panel discussions in which presenters will give conference attendees
the background information they need in order to spend the afternoon
discussing issues more deeply and coming up with creative ways of
defending the public sphere from privatization and corporate control.
We are fortunate to have Dr. Sam Trosow give the Friday afternoon
keynote talk to close off the conference. Dr. Trosow is Associate
Professor at the University of Western Ontario jointly appointed to
the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Information and Media Studies
(FIMS) and author of "Canadian Copyright: A Citizen's Guide".
Please join librarians and interested community members to discuss
these pertinent issues and help come up with ideas for what you can
do about them!
Thursday October 23 - 7 PM, Alice MacKay RoomKeynote address:
Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law
"Why Copyright? The Fight for Canada's Digital Future"
In June 2008, the Canadian government introduced Bill C-61, new
copyright legislation that closely followed the U.S. Digital Millennium
Copyright Act. The public response to the bill was both immediate
and angry - tens of thousands of Canadians wrote to the Minister and
their local Members of Parliament, leading to town hall meetings,
negative press coverage, and the growing realization that copyright
was fast becoming a mainstream political and policy issue.
The "Canadian copy-fight", which includes many new advocacy
groups and the Fair Copyright for Canada Facebook group
that has over 90,000 members, has attracted considerable attention
from the mainstream media, with many wondering how copyright had
emerged as a contentious policy issue. This talk will assess both the
legislative proposals and the Canadian copyfight experience in an effort
to answer the oft-asked question "why copyright?"
***********
Friday October 24 8:30 AM, VPL Lower Level
Friday's informational speakers will be:
*Ellen Gould, Trade Analyst - speaking about TILMA and
trade agreements
* Paul Holden, BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
(BC FIPA) - speaking about net neutrality
*David Loukidelis, BC Privacy Commissioner - speaking about access
to information
* Leslie Regan Shade, Concordia University - speaking about
telecommunications policy
* David Skinner, York University - speaking about media concentration
* Paul Whitney, City Librarian, Vancouver Public Library - speaking
about intellectual property
Closing keynote: Samuel Trosow, University of Western Ontario
***********
To register for the full conference, or for more information about
speakers and times, please visit www.bcla.bc.ca/jumpstarting
Student and low-income conference rates are available.
Michael Geist's talk is free, but registration is required
(www.bcla.bc.ca/geist for more information).
Attendance at Geist's talk is included in full- conference registration.
Great big thanks to the British Columbia Library Association,
Vancouver Public Library, BC Electronic Library Network,
Simon Fraser University, Vancouver Island University, and the
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives for their support.
Questions or comments? Please write to Sabina Iseli-Otto (sio@vcn.bc.ca).
---
Speaking For Ourselves: Media Democracy Day
2008October 25th, 2008
Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia Street
12:00pm – 6:00pm
FREE - With media concentrating into fewer and fewer hands, and
Internet Service Providers quickly emerging as online gatekeepers,
a public forum on media issues like Media Democracy Day takes on
a new sense of urgency.
MDD 2008 includes a series of exciting panels, workshops and speakers.
Some of the confirmed speakers include:
*Rex Weyler - World Renowned Author and Co-founder of Green Peace
*Deborah Campbell - Award Winning Independent Journalist
*David Beers - Publisher – The Tyee
*Michael Tippett - Co-founder of Nowpublic.com
*Marika Swan - Redwire Native Youth Media
*Charlie Smith - Editor of the Georgia Straight
*Robert Hackett - professor at SFU and author of "Remaking Media"
*Andrea Hayley - president of the Epoch Times Vancouver
*Robert Scales – CEO of RainCity Studios
*Dawn Paley – The Dominion Newspaper
*Gurpreet Singh - Broadcaster on Radio India, freelance columnist for
Surrey Now, freelance reporter for South Asian Post
*Matt Thompson - Campaign Strategist for FreePress, Co-Founder of
SaveOurNet.ca
*Kate Milberry - Media and Technology Commentator and many more!
Panels and Workshops include:
*Big Media Clamp Down: Taking stock and fighting back
*Free Your Computer, Free Yourself - Practical steps to get you
on the road to liberation with free and open source software
*Journalism in a time of Big Media Domination
*The Battle for New Media and Open Communication
*Community Organizing and Media
*Open Source Journalism
Full programme pasted below and more information at:
http://mediademocracyday.org/vancouver
Join the MDD Facebook Event
Find info and tools to promote MDD here:
http://mediademocracyday.org/press08
MDD Multi-Media Extravaganza After Party/Fundraiser
9:00 pm – 1:00 am
VIVO MEDIA ARTS CENTRE
1965 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 3C1
Media Democracy Day presents the multi-media artist Jackson 2bears
and guests! Inspired by electronic music and dj/vj culture, 2bears
uses the remix as a tool for cultural critique, reflecting on issues of:
racism, colonialism, discrimination, Indigenous subjectivity and Native
stereotypes. These Live Cinema/Scratch Video remixes incorporate
digital images as well as video and sound, with samples taken from film,
television, the news and advertising and then cut-up, looped, and scratched
to the rhythmic patterns of hip-hop breaks and drum n' bass sequences.
There will be a bar at the event.
MC: Ifny - FreeGeekmore at: http://mediademocracyday.org/vancouver
Others can sign up to this mailing list at:
http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/mddvancouver
Visit the website: http://mediademocracyday.org
Get independent news at: http://coanews.org...
Re-Imagining Health Services: Innovations in Community
Health Conference
November 6-8, 2008
Registration deadline: Friday October 24
Canadians hear a lot about crisis in our health care system —
but we rarely hear about solutions. This conference will explore
how community health care can:
- Take pressure off hospitals;
- Allow people to manage their health while living at home and in
their own communities;
- Improve the health of vulnerable groups, such as frail seniors,
people living with mental illness, and people with disabilities or
chronic conditions; and
- Address the socio-economic determinants of health.
- Academic and community-based researchers, community groups,
health service providers, health professionals, health authorities,
labour organizations, policy-makers and students are all invited to
attend.
Details and links to program and registration form...
******
Digital Copyright Canada- find out more about Bill 61.
(CCPA)
Dear CCPA-BC members and friends, I'd like to let
you know about two upcoming events at which CCPA
research associates will be speaking.
This Friday October 24, at the BC Library Association's
Information Policy Conference
Ellen Gould will be speaking on the Trade, Investment
and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA).
And Leslie Regan Shade will be discussing telecommunications
policy. Full conference details follow below.
On Saturday October 25, SFU professor and "Remaking Media"
author Robert Hackett will be speaking at Media Democracy
Day at the Vancouver Public Library. Further information below.
Finally, a reminder that we have extended the registration deadline
to Friday October 24 for our upcoming conference, Re-Imagining
Health Services: Innovations in Community Health,
November 6-8 in Vancouver.
The conference kicks off with an exciting free event open to the
general public: Community Health Stories: Local Health Heroes,
November 6 at 7:00 PM in the Alice MacKay Room of the Vancouver
Public Library, 350 West Georgia St.
This will be an evening of storytelling and sharing about community
health innovators and initiatives. The rest of the conference will be
held at the UBC campus. Please see the end of this email for further
information.
As always, feel free to pass this along to your networks.
All the best, Seth Klein...
Jump-Starting the Public Sphere: Information Policy Issues
for the 21st Century
October 23-24, 2008
Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch350 Robson St, Vancouver BC
Presented by the British Columbia Library Association's Information
Policy Committee
==> quick link to registration and full details:
www.bcla.bc.ca/jumpstarting <==
With debates over information policy issues all over the news, the
question of who controls and who has access to information has
never been more timely. Many people have heard of things like
Bill C-61, TILMA, media concentration, information access, and
net neutrality but may be unsure about what the implications of
these terms are how they relate to information, libraries, and the
public sphere.
On the evening of October 23, Michael Geist, Canada Research
Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law, will give a keynote address
on "Why Copyright? The Fight for Canada's Digital Future"
(synopsis below). His speech will set the tone for Friday morning's
panel discussions in which presenters will give conference attendees
the background information they need in order to spend the afternoon
discussing issues more deeply and coming up with creative ways of
defending the public sphere from privatization and corporate control.
We are fortunate to have Dr. Sam Trosow give the Friday afternoon
keynote talk to close off the conference. Dr. Trosow is Associate
Professor at the University of Western Ontario jointly appointed to
the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Information and Media Studies
(FIMS) and author of "Canadian Copyright: A Citizen's Guide".
Please join librarians and interested community members to discuss
these pertinent issues and help come up with ideas for what you can
do about them!
Thursday October 23 - 7 PM, Alice MacKay RoomKeynote address:
Michael Geist, Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law
"Why Copyright? The Fight for Canada's Digital Future"
In June 2008, the Canadian government introduced Bill C-61, new
copyright legislation that closely followed the U.S. Digital Millennium
Copyright Act. The public response to the bill was both immediate
and angry - tens of thousands of Canadians wrote to the Minister and
their local Members of Parliament, leading to town hall meetings,
negative press coverage, and the growing realization that copyright
was fast becoming a mainstream political and policy issue.
The "Canadian copy-fight", which includes many new advocacy
groups and the Fair Copyright for Canada Facebook group
that has over 90,000 members, has attracted considerable attention
from the mainstream media, with many wondering how copyright had
emerged as a contentious policy issue. This talk will assess both the
legislative proposals and the Canadian copyfight experience in an effort
to answer the oft-asked question "why copyright?"
***********
Friday October 24 8:30 AM, VPL Lower Level
Friday's informational speakers will be:
*Ellen Gould, Trade Analyst - speaking about TILMA and
trade agreements
* Paul Holden, BC Freedom of Information and Privacy Association
(BC FIPA) - speaking about net neutrality
*David Loukidelis, BC Privacy Commissioner - speaking about access
to information
* Leslie Regan Shade, Concordia University - speaking about
telecommunications policy
* David Skinner, York University - speaking about media concentration
* Paul Whitney, City Librarian, Vancouver Public Library - speaking
about intellectual property
Closing keynote: Samuel Trosow, University of Western Ontario
***********
To register for the full conference, or for more information about
speakers and times, please visit www.bcla.bc.ca/jumpstarting
Student and low-income conference rates are available.
Michael Geist's talk is free, but registration is required
(www.bcla.bc.ca/geist for more information).
Attendance at Geist's talk is included in full- conference registration.
Great big thanks to the British Columbia Library Association,
Vancouver Public Library, BC Electronic Library Network,
Simon Fraser University, Vancouver Island University, and the
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives for their support.
Questions or comments? Please write to Sabina Iseli-Otto (sio@vcn.bc.ca).
---
Speaking For Ourselves: Media Democracy Day
2008October 25th, 2008
Vancouver Public Library, 350 West Georgia Street
12:00pm – 6:00pm
FREE - With media concentrating into fewer and fewer hands, and
Internet Service Providers quickly emerging as online gatekeepers,
a public forum on media issues like Media Democracy Day takes on
a new sense of urgency.
MDD 2008 includes a series of exciting panels, workshops and speakers.
Some of the confirmed speakers include:
*Rex Weyler - World Renowned Author and Co-founder of Green Peace
*Deborah Campbell - Award Winning Independent Journalist
*David Beers - Publisher – The Tyee
*Michael Tippett - Co-founder of Nowpublic.com
*Marika Swan - Redwire Native Youth Media
*Charlie Smith - Editor of the Georgia Straight
*Robert Hackett - professor at SFU and author of "Remaking Media"
*Andrea Hayley - president of the Epoch Times Vancouver
*Robert Scales – CEO of RainCity Studios
*Dawn Paley – The Dominion Newspaper
*Gurpreet Singh - Broadcaster on Radio India, freelance columnist for
Surrey Now, freelance reporter for South Asian Post
*Matt Thompson - Campaign Strategist for FreePress, Co-Founder of
SaveOurNet.ca
*Kate Milberry - Media and Technology Commentator and many more!
Panels and Workshops include:
*Big Media Clamp Down: Taking stock and fighting back
*Free Your Computer, Free Yourself - Practical steps to get you
on the road to liberation with free and open source software
*Journalism in a time of Big Media Domination
*The Battle for New Media and Open Communication
*Community Organizing and Media
*Open Source Journalism
Full programme pasted below and more information at:
http://mediademocracyday.org/vancouver
Join the MDD Facebook Event
Find info and tools to promote MDD here:
http://mediademocracyday.org/press08
MDD Multi-Media Extravaganza After Party/Fundraiser
9:00 pm – 1:00 am
VIVO MEDIA ARTS CENTRE
1965 Main Street, Vancouver, BC V5T 3C1
Media Democracy Day presents the multi-media artist Jackson 2bears
and guests! Inspired by electronic music and dj/vj culture, 2bears
uses the remix as a tool for cultural critique, reflecting on issues of:
racism, colonialism, discrimination, Indigenous subjectivity and Native
stereotypes. These Live Cinema/Scratch Video remixes incorporate
digital images as well as video and sound, with samples taken from film,
television, the news and advertising and then cut-up, looped, and scratched
to the rhythmic patterns of hip-hop breaks and drum n' bass sequences.
There will be a bar at the event.
MC: Ifny - FreeGeekmore at: http://mediademocracyday.org/vancouver
Others can sign up to this mailing list at:
http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/mddvancouver
Visit the website: http://mediademocracyday.org
Get independent news at: http://coanews.org...
Re-Imagining Health Services: Innovations in Community
Health Conference
November 6-8, 2008
Registration deadline: Friday October 24
Canadians hear a lot about crisis in our health care system —
but we rarely hear about solutions. This conference will explore
how community health care can:
- Take pressure off hospitals;
- Allow people to manage their health while living at home and in
their own communities;
- Improve the health of vulnerable groups, such as frail seniors,
people living with mental illness, and people with disabilities or
chronic conditions; and
- Address the socio-economic determinants of health.
- Academic and community-based researchers, community groups,
health service providers, health professionals, health authorities,
labour organizations, policy-makers and students are all invited to
attend.
Details and links to program and registration form...
******
Digital Copyright Canada- find out more about Bill 61.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Demand action from our Municipal politicians!
SURROUND CITY HALL: Oct 18 1-2 pm
This is a finale of a week long vigil and fast to end homelessness at City Hall
& Homeless Awareness Week (Oct 13-18) Will you take one hour on
Saturday, October 18 at 1:00 pm to surround our city hall and demand
an end to homelessness in Vancouver?
Join the CityWide Housing Coalition and take a stand on homelessness.
We need a broad base of support from the community demanding action on
homelessness.
Bring your union banners and signs!
Homeless action week has been amazing - a five day vigil and fast
at Vancouver city hall will culminate with our joint Vancouver wide housing
stand on Saturday, Oct. 18. Now we need a very large crowd to pressure
aspiring candidates for our new city council. This action has
widespread support from churches, unions and community groups
but we need bodies on the street to demonstrate our determination to end
homelessness and create affordable homes in Vancouver.
Please join us!
********************************************************
Random Stuff:
What is the Bureau of Public Debt? The Bureau of Public Debt is an
agency of the United States Treasury which is responsible for borrowing
funds to run the United States government. The Bureau also keeps
track of American public debt, and administers the sale and
management of Treasury securities such as T-Bills and savings bonds.
Many Americans are customers of the Bureau of Public Debt; anyone who
has purchased a Treasury security has taken advantage...
SURROUND CITY HALL: Oct 18 1-2 pm
This is a finale of a week long vigil and fast to end homelessness at City Hall
& Homeless Awareness Week (Oct 13-18) Will you take one hour on
Saturday, October 18 at 1:00 pm to surround our city hall and demand
an end to homelessness in Vancouver?
Join the CityWide Housing Coalition and take a stand on homelessness.
We need a broad base of support from the community demanding action on
homelessness.
Bring your union banners and signs!
Homeless action week has been amazing - a five day vigil and fast
at Vancouver city hall will culminate with our joint Vancouver wide housing
stand on Saturday, Oct. 18. Now we need a very large crowd to pressure
aspiring candidates for our new city council. This action has
widespread support from churches, unions and community groups
but we need bodies on the street to demonstrate our determination to end
homelessness and create affordable homes in Vancouver.
Please join us!
********************************************************
Random Stuff:
What is the Bureau of Public Debt? The Bureau of Public Debt is an
agency of the United States Treasury which is responsible for borrowing
funds to run the United States government. The Bureau also keeps
track of American public debt, and administers the sale and
management of Treasury securities such as T-Bills and savings bonds.
Many Americans are customers of the Bureau of Public Debt; anyone who
has purchased a Treasury security has taken advantage...
International Day for the Eradication of Poverty - October 17
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Press release17 October 2008
Statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Navi Pillay
On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, I would like
to pay tribute to those who strive to defend the rights of some 1.4 billion
people still living in abject poverty and exclusion around the world.
This year marks not only the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, but also the 10th anniversary of the Declaration on
Human Rights Defenders. In 1987, a year after the Declaration on the
Right to Development was adopted by the General Assembly, more than
100,000 human rights defenders from all over the world gathered on
this day to express their solidarity in the fight against extreme poverty
and their commitment to ensure that everyone's dignity and freedom
are respected. Those human rights defenders are at the forefront in sounding
the alarm and protecting the rights of the poor.
Our collective responsibility is to ensure their efforts are matched with
concrete action and accountability. Poverty and inequality often exacerbate
abuse, neglect and discrimination, denying millions the enjoyment of their
civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, and ultimately, their
right to development.
Our efforts to fight poverty and to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals must be firmly grounded in the universal values and principles
enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and international
human rights instruments. There have been some significant development
gains over the years, but these cannot be sustained, if rights are not
anchored in laws and institutions, and if those in power are not aware of
their responsibilities to uphold people's rights, and are not held accountable
for their failures.
The current financial crisis, and the huge challenges posed by climate change
and systemic problems in the global food supply, make it essential for us to
act beyond narrow national interests, in the spirit of global cooperation laid
down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the numerous
other international laws and guidelines that it spawned.
Operationalizing the right to development would offer better prospects for
reducing poverty and enhancing accountability at both the national and
global levels. Poverty exists everywhere – as do human rights challenges –
and they are often inextricably linked. International days such as this often
stimulate fine words, but they need to be backed by deeds.
The philosophy and structures for combating poverty at the international
level exist. But a true commitment to translate that philosophy into
effective action, which will improve the actual day-to-day life of almost
one quarter of the world's population who live in poverty, is still far from
evident. Reducing poverty is an achievable goal. What we need is to bring
the rights and dignity of those who are suffering most to the centre of our efforts.
Learn more about the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
*******************************************************
Poverty Reduction Steps in BC:
$10 Now - Increase the Minimum Wage Campaign
First Call BC Child & Youth Advocacy Coalition:
Vancouver Living Wage Campaign
Living Wage Calculation Report - Excerpt:
The Growing Gap in Incomes:
Although Canada’s economy has been very robust for the last several
years only the top 20% of families (and primarily the top 10%) are
doing better as a result of Canad’a improved economic performance
1) debt levels have doubled for the poorest 20% of families between
1984 and 2005 – most of it non-mortgage related
2) In the 1970s the bottom 50% of Canadians had 27% share of the
total earnings in Canada. By 2004 the earnings of the bottom 50% of
Canadians had slipped to only 20.5% of total earnings in Canada
3) British Columbia has the highest child poverty rate in Canada
[Ed. for 5 YEARS IN A ROW]
4) 52% of children living in poverty in British Columbia live in families
where at least one parent works full-time/full/year
Universal Child care - Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC
CODE BLUE for Child Care - National project
Precedent setting BC Supreme Court Case, re: rights of the homeless
Victoria (City) v. Adams, 2008 BCSC 1363
Court strikes down Victoria bylaw against homeless camping
Excerpt:
The B.C. Supreme Court has struck down a Victoria bylaw aimed at
preventing homeless people from setting up tents and sleeping in city
parks.
The court ruled Tuesday the bylaw deprives the homeless of life,
liberty and security in violation of the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms.
In her ruling, Justice Carol Ross found that due to insufficient capacity
in Victoria's shelters, hundreds of homeless people have no choice but
to sleep outside.
Ross said Victoria's bylaw prevented the homeless from protecting
themselves from the elements, something that could lead to potentially
fatal health risks.
"Let's be clear," Carter said. "The problems in our community are directly
related to mental health and addictions and the lack of services to meet
the needs in our community."
Stophomelessness.ca - Homelessness Action Week - Oct. 12 - 19
Quick Facts about Homelessness
- Street homelessness is growing fastest in suburban areas of Metro Vancouver.
- There are 10.000 people on the list for subsidized housing in Metro Vancouver.
- The average cost of a 1 bedroom apartment in Vancouver is $800 per month.
Learn about the causes of homelessness
Understand why it makes sense to solve homelessness
Take action to support people who are homeless
A Dozen Days, A Dozen Ways Campaign by submitting your ideas about
solving homelessness.
Visit our ideas page to see your submissions about how to solve homelessness.
Press release17 October 2008
Statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human
Rights, Navi Pillay
On this International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, I would like
to pay tribute to those who strive to defend the rights of some 1.4 billion
people still living in abject poverty and exclusion around the world.
This year marks not only the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration
of Human Rights, but also the 10th anniversary of the Declaration on
Human Rights Defenders. In 1987, a year after the Declaration on the
Right to Development was adopted by the General Assembly, more than
100,000 human rights defenders from all over the world gathered on
this day to express their solidarity in the fight against extreme poverty
and their commitment to ensure that everyone's dignity and freedom
are respected. Those human rights defenders are at the forefront in sounding
the alarm and protecting the rights of the poor.
Our collective responsibility is to ensure their efforts are matched with
concrete action and accountability. Poverty and inequality often exacerbate
abuse, neglect and discrimination, denying millions the enjoyment of their
civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights, and ultimately, their
right to development.
Our efforts to fight poverty and to achieve the Millennium Development
Goals must be firmly grounded in the universal values and principles
enshrined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and international
human rights instruments. There have been some significant development
gains over the years, but these cannot be sustained, if rights are not
anchored in laws and institutions, and if those in power are not aware of
their responsibilities to uphold people's rights, and are not held accountable
for their failures.
The current financial crisis, and the huge challenges posed by climate change
and systemic problems in the global food supply, make it essential for us to
act beyond narrow national interests, in the spirit of global cooperation laid
down in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the numerous
other international laws and guidelines that it spawned.
Operationalizing the right to development would offer better prospects for
reducing poverty and enhancing accountability at both the national and
global levels. Poverty exists everywhere – as do human rights challenges –
and they are often inextricably linked. International days such as this often
stimulate fine words, but they need to be backed by deeds.
The philosophy and structures for combating poverty at the international
level exist. But a true commitment to translate that philosophy into
effective action, which will improve the actual day-to-day life of almost
one quarter of the world's population who live in poverty, is still far from
evident. Reducing poverty is an achievable goal. What we need is to bring
the rights and dignity of those who are suffering most to the centre of our efforts.
Learn more about the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
*******************************************************
Poverty Reduction Steps in BC:
$10 Now - Increase the Minimum Wage Campaign
First Call BC Child & Youth Advocacy Coalition:
Vancouver Living Wage Campaign
Living Wage Calculation Report - Excerpt:
The Growing Gap in Incomes:
Although Canada’s economy has been very robust for the last several
years only the top 20% of families (and primarily the top 10%) are
doing better as a result of Canad’a improved economic performance
1) debt levels have doubled for the poorest 20% of families between
1984 and 2005 – most of it non-mortgage related
2) In the 1970s the bottom 50% of Canadians had 27% share of the
total earnings in Canada. By 2004 the earnings of the bottom 50% of
Canadians had slipped to only 20.5% of total earnings in Canada
3) British Columbia has the highest child poverty rate in Canada
[Ed. for 5 YEARS IN A ROW]
4) 52% of children living in poverty in British Columbia live in families
where at least one parent works full-time/full/year
Universal Child care - Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC
CODE BLUE for Child Care - National project
Precedent setting BC Supreme Court Case, re: rights of the homeless
Victoria (City) v. Adams, 2008 BCSC 1363
Court strikes down Victoria bylaw against homeless camping
Excerpt:
The B.C. Supreme Court has struck down a Victoria bylaw aimed at
preventing homeless people from setting up tents and sleeping in city
parks.
The court ruled Tuesday the bylaw deprives the homeless of life,
liberty and security in violation of the Charter of Rights and
Freedoms.
In her ruling, Justice Carol Ross found that due to insufficient capacity
in Victoria's shelters, hundreds of homeless people have no choice but
to sleep outside.
Ross said Victoria's bylaw prevented the homeless from protecting
themselves from the elements, something that could lead to potentially
fatal health risks.
"Let's be clear," Carter said. "The problems in our community are directly
related to mental health and addictions and the lack of services to meet
the needs in our community."
Stophomelessness.ca - Homelessness Action Week - Oct. 12 - 19
Quick Facts about Homelessness
- Street homelessness is growing fastest in suburban areas of Metro Vancouver.
- There are 10.000 people on the list for subsidized housing in Metro Vancouver.
- The average cost of a 1 bedroom apartment in Vancouver is $800 per month.
Learn about the causes of homelessness
Understand why it makes sense to solve homelessness
Take action to support people who are homeless
A Dozen Days, A Dozen Ways Campaign by submitting your ideas about
solving homelessness.
Visit our ideas page to see your submissions about how to solve homelessness.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Change & Transformation: The Mothers of Necessity
Welcome to Westcoast Indie News (WIN)
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has. - Margaret Mead
As citizen journalism, indie media and communications rise
up, it cannot be denied that there is a hunger for independent
news for citizens to feast on, amidst the suppression and abuse of free
speech by the corporate press from the neoConservative forces at work
in Canada and abroad.
Westcoast Indie News wants to help fill the gap and provide timely,
current and diverse opinions, critiques, information and news about
what is happening out there in the world, both locally and at larger level.
Most of us realize we are global citizens and it is impossible to see
ourselves in any other way at this point in human evolution. What
happens in Mumbai, or Beijing impacts us here in Canada, whether
we're aware of what caused the ripples.
We encourage the active participation and dialogue of fellow
citizens and journalists, citizen, or professional. We value diversity,
multi-culturalism, equity and strive to offer voice and free
speech to those who are not well represented by the present system
of the corporate and neoConservative media and the mainstream
political system.
We will take submissions from citizen and professional journalists,
with the final say of publishing and editing resting with the Editor of
Westcoast Indie News.
E-mail your submission to: westcoastindienews@gmail.com
Authors will be clearly identified if they are published, unless they
wish to remain anonymous, or publish under a pseudonym. We also
support the promotion of professional journalists and social
entrepreneurs.
Writers must be clear that there is no renumeration for publishing,
as WIN is a non-funded, volunteer grassroots initiative.
However, involvement and publishing with WIN is a way for
individuals to promote their commercial, academic and professional
work and expertise.
We also encourage submissions of interviews with change
makers, social entreprenuers and other interesting parties to
provide a forum for those blocked by traditional, and/or suppressive
corporate media, which often creates barriers to bringing important
information and opinions to wider audiences.
*******************************************************
"It is clear that the freedom of expression and opinion is a
fundamental right, the mother of all rights."
Abid HUSSAIN
Speech in Sri Lanka, 1999
UN Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Information
*******************************************************
We will also promote Westcoast events that are in keeping with the
spirit of WIN and are aimed at community development and
capacity building and free speech.
Also, send us your links, or blog, so we can promote and
enhance the network of social and grassroots activists, change
makers and social entrepreneurs who are working for social and
economic change and justice.
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed
citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing
that ever has. - Margaret Mead
As citizen journalism, indie media and communications rise
up, it cannot be denied that there is a hunger for independent
news for citizens to feast on, amidst the suppression and abuse of free
speech by the corporate press from the neoConservative forces at work
in Canada and abroad.
Westcoast Indie News wants to help fill the gap and provide timely,
current and diverse opinions, critiques, information and news about
what is happening out there in the world, both locally and at larger level.
Most of us realize we are global citizens and it is impossible to see
ourselves in any other way at this point in human evolution. What
happens in Mumbai, or Beijing impacts us here in Canada, whether
we're aware of what caused the ripples.
We encourage the active participation and dialogue of fellow
citizens and journalists, citizen, or professional. We value diversity,
multi-culturalism, equity and strive to offer voice and free
speech to those who are not well represented by the present system
of the corporate and neoConservative media and the mainstream
political system.
We will take submissions from citizen and professional journalists,
with the final say of publishing and editing resting with the Editor of
Westcoast Indie News.
E-mail your submission to: westcoastindienews@gmail.com
Authors will be clearly identified if they are published, unless they
wish to remain anonymous, or publish under a pseudonym. We also
support the promotion of professional journalists and social
entrepreneurs.
Writers must be clear that there is no renumeration for publishing,
as WIN is a non-funded, volunteer grassroots initiative.
However, involvement and publishing with WIN is a way for
individuals to promote their commercial, academic and professional
work and expertise.
We also encourage submissions of interviews with change
makers, social entreprenuers and other interesting parties to
provide a forum for those blocked by traditional, and/or suppressive
corporate media, which often creates barriers to bringing important
information and opinions to wider audiences.
*******************************************************
"It is clear that the freedom of expression and opinion is a
fundamental right, the mother of all rights."
Abid HUSSAIN
Speech in Sri Lanka, 1999
UN Special Rapporteur on the Freedom of Information
*******************************************************
We will also promote Westcoast events that are in keeping with the
spirit of WIN and are aimed at community development and
capacity building and free speech.
Also, send us your links, or blog, so we can promote and
enhance the network of social and grassroots activists, change
makers and social entrepreneurs who are working for social and
economic change and justice.
We always welcome inside information, or scoops to look into.
One of our primary goals is to continue to build momentum and the movement of real social change many of us are involved in.
Democracy, liberty, freedom, social and economic justice and equity are the fundamental values, foundation and organizing principles underlying Westcoast Indie News.
We look forward to collaborating with all of you, whether you are a
journalist, author, reader, and citizen and providing quality writing,
information and media.
Thanks in advance for helping spread Westcoast Indie News to all of your contacts and networks.
In the immortal words of Duke Nukem:
"Its time to kick ass and chew bubble gum and I'm all outta
gum."
Editor
Westcoast Indie News
Grassroots
1. The common people thought of as having practical and highly independent views or interests.
2. Society and the local level as distinguished from the centres of political leadership.
3. Of and or involving the common people as constituting a fundamental political and economic group.
4. Of, pertaining to, or involving the common people, especially as contrasted with, or separate from, an elite.
*******************************
Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game.
Free speech is life itself."
Salman RUSHDIE
Indian-born British novelist (1947-)
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