Hello everyone! This has been a topsy-turvy week in the world of international and national politics as the BP oil spills continues, General McCrystal was replaced in Afghanistan by General Patreaus, Kevin Rudd, the Prime Minister of Australia was replaced by Julia Gillard who incidentally is also Australia’s first female Prime Minister (let us hope she is more Angela Merkel than Kim Campbell!) and most importantly for Canadians, the G8 and G20 Summits commence amidst protests, weapons charges and a fake lake.
Still, Edmonton has quite a few interesting things going on in which I will cover in this week’s MashUp.
Harbinger of truth sees hope for future
Willie Littlechild, who spoke at the National Aboriginal Day celebrations hosted by Creating Hope Society in partnership with the John Humphrey Centre and the Racism Free Initiative  this past Sunday (June 20th), has words of encouragement for Aboriginal communities about the future of Canada-Aboriginal relations. As the Truth and Reconciliation Commission kicks off the first of its 7 major get-together to discuss the legacy of residential schools and to document
the truth of survivors, families, communities and anyone personally affected by the schools
Which is why, it is more important than ever, that Canada ratifies the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. When it was first signed in 2007, Canada along with Australia, New Zealand and the United States refused to ratify it. Australia reversed this position in 2009 and New Zealand in April 2010. The United States has promised to review their position on the Declaration and Canada also stated it was moving towards endorsement in the Throne Speech.
However, for a country whose record dealing with Aboriginal issues is less than pristine, Canada has a lot of work ahead. As Mr Littlechild said, it’s time for Canada to take action.
These bright young minds are the shape of Edmonton to come
Our friends over at NextGen presented their report to City Council earlier this week called “Engage Your City Your Voice Life in the Urban Core Report” that highlights their ideas for improving Edmonton’s downtown core as a growing urban metropolis. It details the views young people have on our city and the values they see in developing Edmonton. These values are environmental sustainability and urban density and likability and livability.
Go and read the report–it’s a great take on how to combine urban sustainability with social justice to create a city that could attract young people. As Paula Simons pointed out this week, Travel Alberta evidently has no idea where Edmonton is, let alone what makes this place an increasingly great city.
Standing up to Hatred
Community leaders joined activists in Lethbridge on June 24 to encourage citizens to “tear down the barriers of fear and hate” in an anti-hate rally. The mayor, police chief and others joined activists to condemn discrimination and hatred, encouraging everyone to embrace diversity. The anti-hate rally was inspired by an University student’s vandalized vehicle painted with homophobic slurs.
Congratulations on a successful rally and standing up for human rights, Lethbridge!
Governor General lands UN Post and launches Foundation
Michaëlle Jean, the current Governor General of Canada, has landed a UNESCO post as the UN’s Special Envoy to Haiti after her term ends in September and will also be launching her Foundation which focuses on engaging youth, particularly underprivilege, rural and northern communities. As anyone who knows anything about Michaëlle Jean will know, supporting underprivileged and marginalized youth has been one of the keystones of her tenure as Governor General, hosting coast-to-coast youth dialogues for this reason.
Ms Jean’s tenure hasn’t been particularly smooth since she presided over Canada’s rather tumultuous political position for the past 5 years and like almost all Governor Generals, widely praised or widely condemned depending on who you ask. But she was awesome at the 2009 Global Youth Assembly and her cause, both as Special Envoy to Haiti and her Foundation, are well worth supporting.
That’s it for this week’s MashUp. There won’t be a MashUp next week because of Canada Day (unless there is news so massive that we just have to blog about it) so Happy Canada Day everyone a week in advance and enjoy the weather!
