Mount Allison University Delegation

Zimbabwean Election Simulation

delegation_mau — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 21:16:37 +0000

In October, members of Rights and Democracy from Mt. Allison participated in a Zimbabwean election simulation, which was meant to be a re-enactment of the 2008 presidential elections in Zimbabwe. Using props and printed materials provided by Rights and Democracy, particpants were given a different identity and interacted with others over the course of voting and election run-ups. Afterwards, particpants had a brief discussion of their experiences of the election in their identities.

With the upcoming presidential elections in Zimbabwe early this year, the group may try to hold another simulation to raise awareness of the issues of corruption and coercion that people have experienced.

First Meeting of Second Semester!

delegation_mau — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 01:47:58 +0000

Monday January 9, 2012

5:30PM

Dunn 111 (right across from the mini-Wu)

Debate on the Omnibus Crime Bill

delegation_mau — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 01:41:03 +0000

With Bill C-10 (the omnibus crime bill) set to pass through Parliament with little debate, our delegation decided to host a debate on the merits and demerits of the bill and its impact on youth, indigenous peoples, and women. On October 5, 2011 we teamed up with the Eurhetorian Debate Society and focused on the issue of mandatory minimum sentencing.

The omnibus crime bill blends nine previous bills that did not pass before the spring 2011 election: mandatory minimum sentencing is one component of the new bill and will force judges to impose a defined minimum sentence for specific offenses. Proponents argue this will be an effective deterrent for potential criminals, particularly those charged with production or trafficking of drugs. Critics protest that this removes judges’ ability to use their own discretion and rule on the specific circumstances of the case.

The event opened with a formal debate and rebuttal by the Debate Society. A more open discussion with all attendees followed.

Fair trade campaign

delegation_mau — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 12:47:21 +0000

Fair trade is very relevant to today and everyone in North America either eats or drinks something that could be bought with Fair trade certification. About 80 percent of people consume some form of chocolate each day and chocolate is the worst thing for child labour in the world. We can’t stand around and just say this is not good; something must be done; and so our campaign began two weeks ago. We plastered campus with questions, provoking discussion about who produces the goods that we buy and their rights; making the analogy that it could just as well be our little sister or brother up in that tree picking cocoa pods to make our chocolate. Following that up, a couple of days after, we put little facts, stats, and questions on the desks in the big auditorium (Wu centre) so that when you pulled up the desk it caught your eye. We also put a ½ pager of questions in the napkin dispensers in meal hall so that people saw them when they ate.

We decided to base our campaign around Easter, raising awareness of the human rights abuses associated with chocolate in particular and then trying to get them to make different choices over Easter and not buy unfairly traded chocolate even though it may be shaped like a bunny or wrapped in a pink and purple paper. Aside from the numerous posters we made talking about having a “Fair trade Easter”… We held a “Fairly Traded Chocolate Easter event” on the morning of Easter Sunday. We booked the whole first floor of the Dunn (Math and Physics) building and then took over the place. The child (which went in the tree by the student centre for Monday and Tuesday) was set up on the window sill with the poster predominantly displayed above it for all to see as they entered. All of the fair trade questions were still up on the walls and we supplemented them with some Easter balloons and woven coloured paper. We had an “Easter hunt” where people searched for cocoa camino minis as well as some different Fair trade facts. The fair trade facts were also written on all of the white boards so you saw them and could use them to spark conversation wherever you went. We also made Easter bread and had it set up with butter, juice, and tea for people to eat. Children from the community, MtA students and even faculty came out, searched for chocolate and stood around and discussed the lives of the people who produce our chocolate. Fair trade is forever current and everyone should know about the rights that are being violated as people produce the goods that we buy and eat.

Hunger Banquet and Philosopher’s Café

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:25:30 +0000

The Mount Allison delegation hosted a Philosopher’s Café in collaboration with an Oxfam hunger banquet to stimulate critical thinking on ethical questions and world issues.

Silver Spoons and AK47s- How Youth Understand Conflict around the World: Eastern Regional Event

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:24:43 +0000

This three-day event brought together experts working in the field from Sierra Leone to the Hague to provide participants with a solid understanding of the experiences of youth and children in conflict situations. The event included a refugee camp simulation and a film screening about the work of the President of Rights and Democracy Rémy Beauregard on child soldiers, and a presentation by young Indigenous Embera lawyer Patricia Tobón on youth living in conflict-ridden Colombia.

L’évène

2008 John Humphrey Freedom Award Speaking Tour – Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:23:52 +0000

Delegation members travelled to Halifax to hear John Humphrey Freedom Award winners Irene Petras and Andrew Makoni speak on the topic “Prosecution as a Tool of Persecution” in Zimbabwe.

Panties for Peace Campaign

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:22:49 +0000

Wrapping up a week of panty-covered trees, an Amnesty International petition calling for the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, and a presentation by Rights and Democracy`s Asia Regional Officer Mika Lévesque, the Mount Allison delegation sent off 270 pairs of panties and thirteen boxers (both real and paper) to the Burmese embassy in Canada.

Avec

100% Student Voter Turnout Campaign

admin — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 14:21:54 +0000

In collaboration with several campus groups, the Mount Allison delegation participated in awareness campaigns to encourage student voter turnout in the federal election.

Rights & Democracy Network Eastern Regional Event : Silver Spoons and AK47s: How Youth Understand Conflict Around the World

admin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:47:00 +0000

The Rights and Democracy Delegation at Mount Allison University presents the conference “Silver Spoons and AK47s: How Youth Understand Conflict Around the World” from February 5-8, 2009. This three-day event will bring together NGOs and experts working in the field from Sierra Leone to the Hague to provide participants with a solid understanding of the experiences of youth and children in conflict situations. The conference features speakers including the President of Rights and Democracy, Rémy Beauregard, who will speak about his work with ex-child soldiers and child survivors of sexual violence in Northern Uganda, and young Colombian lawyer Patricia Tobón who has worked extensively with indigenous youth who live in a country which has been in conflict for generations. Participants will also participate in a simulation of a refugee camp, and in practical workshops which will teach skills from running a radio show to discerning the role of the media in conflict situations.

We encourage you to download the registration form, fill it out, and submit it to: silverspoonsandak47s@gmail.com before Thursday, January 29, 2009. Also, join us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=47122157981#/event.php?eid=47122157981&ref=mf

Registration Form (2009 Eastern Regional Event) (Word – 74 kb)

Conference Press Release (Word – 26.5 kb)

UPDATED Full Schedule of Events (Word – 599 kb)