The university has some stuff going on for International development week, and they want us to participate We’ve got a couple ideas that we are going to work on, and we are definitely going to need alot of participation from our members. Following are some ideas that we are going to be working on. If you are interested in helping with any of them, please reply and let us know your availability. Also, Im sure many of you have ideas, and it would be great if you could bring them to the meeting on Friday. Here are our ideas so far:

Haiti:

Im sure that by now, everyone’s heard of the disaster in Haiti. We’ve got to help out, and we’ve got some ideas:

• Clothing/non-perishable food drive. We have to work on the most efficient way to get stuff there, so that would be something we work on more at the end of this week.

Btw, theres a bit of a rumour going around that UPS is willing to ship relief packages to Haiti for free. Thats just a rumour,
but regardless, people are putting alot of pressure on them. Clearly, we should also work on that, so if you get a chance,
send them an email!

• Theres a couple of really easy ways to donate money: First, you can text “HAITI” to 90999, and $10 will be added to your phone bill. Super easy! Another great option is to donate to doctors without borders. Its really easy, check out https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org if you are interested. Anyway you choose to help, just let people know how easy it is!

Panties for Peace:

• Last year, we worked on the Panties for Peace campaign, but weve still got some work to do! We still have to package up all of the …proceeds… and send them out.

Olympics:

• The opening ceremony is (correct me if Im wrong) February 13, which is a Saturday. A couple of the delegates are thinking of going to the ceremony to protest {or attend, depending on your stance on the Olympics:) }.

• Sweatshop Fashion Show: The University wants us to do another Sweatshop fashion show. This is good news, because they are a ton of fun, we know how to do them, and they are so much fun! Will talk about this more at the upcoming meeting. If you are interested but you cant make the meeting, just send us an email and we’ll send you more info!
• Simulation thing: Lise has been working on a version of this political debate that was done by Caroline Brodeur at the free trade/fair trade conference. It was alot of fun, and everyone learnt alot from it.
• Info tabling/promoting: The usual. Its a great way to spread the word to other students, and also a great time to bond with other Rights and Democracy members.

For the 5th consecutive year, the University of Vancouver Island Delegation presents the Student Film Award, in conjunction with the Nanaimo Global Film Fest and the Malaspina Media Studies Department. The award, given to a Malaspina student interested in creating a film on a human rights issue, includes a media mentor, $1000 for the production of the film, and the necessary equipment to produce it. The film then has its premiere at the following Nanaimo Global Film Fest that will take place a year later. This year’s recipient will also receive a scholarship to the Gulf Island Film and Television School on Galiano Island. Last year’s recipients, Chad Schroter-Gillespie and Nick Middleton are currently finishing the film, ‘Be the Media: A local approach to establishing an alternative voice’, which explores independent media on Vancouver Island and will screen at this year’s festival.

ome join the Delegation at Vancouver Island University in Nanaimo for a reality check on trade from February 19-22, 2009. The Delegation is offering an awareness-building, inspiring weekend that will be sure to get you thinking outside of the box. The topics of free trade and fair trade will be explored interactively, through workshops, games, films, a sweatshop simulation and sweatshop fashion show. Renowned speakers will help us to understand how our consumer choices impact the lives of others on a global scale.

If you would like to attend, please submit the application form below by Tuesday, February 10, 2009. If you have any questions about your regional event, do not hesitate to contact Elana Wright at ewright@dd-rd.ca.

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Attached documents

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• 2009 Western Mingler Registration Form (Word – 72.5 kb)




• 2009 Western Regional Event Pamphlet (PDF – 72.3 kb)
  Including full schedule

A presentation by Mika Lévesque, Rights & Democracy’s Asia Regional Officer Hosted by the University of Vancouver Island Delegation

When? 3:30 p.m.

Where: location to be confirmed

More information about the Campaign on our Burma page, as well as on the Campaign’s website : www.pantiesforpeace.ca