After working for years in youth development internationally (Ethiopia and Kenya), last year I worked with a group of youth in the Rexdale area of Toronto for the first time. As I worked with these youth in this marginalized and impoverished community, I began to ask myself the question, what does “development” mean to youth? Especially youth who are being “developed”.
My job as a Youth Program Manager had me working with youth to understand issues of poverty, racial discrimination, confidence building and mentorship last summer.  The more involved …

Tuesday January 19
FILM: Earth 2100 Film screening and discussion on climate change, peak oil and population growth. 6:30 pm. Free. Annette LIbrary, 145 Annette. green13toronto.blogspot.com.
Wednesday, January 20
LECTURE: Build Social Capital with Robert Campbell. 6:00pm-9:00pm. Centre for Social Innovation, Suite 120.
LECTURE: Allies In Protecting The Environment: First Nations And The Land Lecture by Six Nations Eco Centre manager Paul General. 7:30-9:30 pm. $12. Toronto Botanical Garden, 777 Lawrence E. nanps.org.
LECTURE: Canada’s Role In The Global Water Crisis Lecture. 4:10 pm. Free. U of T Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks. environment.utoronto.ca.
Thursday, January …

A couple of interesting articles designed to help Canadians deal better with the Haitian tragedy came out this weekend.  It may sound silly - why do we need help to deal with a situation from which we are so far removed?  These articles look at what the best way for us to give is, and also how we can take advantage of this teachable moment for our kids:
The Haiti Talk: How to Discuss Disasters with your Kids
So You Want to Help Haiti…
I decided to support Partners in Health, a health …

My day started with a very cool Event which happened right in my living room! I watched people from over 124 countries participate by giving their voice to fight HIV/AIDS with Starbucks. Singing “All you need is love” and submitting a video to the Starbucks Love website. Starbucks (Red) Campaign is contributing money to the global fight against AIDS using various marketing campaigns, drink donations and in store purchases.
Events This Week:
Monday, December 7:
50 Comics In 60 Minutes (Toronto Food Bank):
Comedians perform. 9 pm. $5. Dominion on Queen, 500 Queen E. …

WORLD AIDS DAY 2009 EVENTS:

BENEFIT: Voices Of Hope (Casey House) World AIDS Day concert with Dr Draw, Julie Michaels and others. 7 pm. Free (donations appreciated). Metropolitan United Church, Queen and Church. caseyhouse.com.
LECTURE: Climate Change And Food Security Panel discussion on how climate change will undermine global food production. 7 pm. Free. OISE, rm 3311, 252 Bloor W. climatechangeiscomingtotown.net.
2009 World AIDS Day Event: HIV, Housing and Health. Join the a series of presentations on HIV, Housing and Health on Tuesday, December 1, 2009 from 2 - 3:30 pm in the …

FEATURED EVENT OF THE WEEK:
EVENT: Empower: Youth, Arts And Activism
World AIDS Day launch of an HIV/AIDS activism manual for youth with drag shows, visual art and more. Thursday, November 26. 6:00-9:00 pm. Free. William Doo Auditorium, 5 Willcocks. cuhi.admin@utoronto.ca.
CONFERENCE: Ivey Global Health Innovation Conference
Tuesday, November 24, 2009. 7:30 am -5:00 pm. The Fairmont Royal York. 100 Front St. W. Toronto. www.ivey.ca/ichil
SEMINAR: Research 2 Receptor Series - BioMass and Green Energy
Tuesday, November 24. 11:30 am - 6:00 pm. University of Guelph, Ridgetown Campus. Guelph Ontario. www.research2receptor.com/ridgetown.html
SUMMIT: Cultural Knowledge and the …

Sometimes you find EXACTLY what you were looking for.  Remember when I wrote about the 5 ways to get involved in a new city?  Well, one of the best ways to do that is to meet someone who’s in the know.  Three months into my semester in Vancouver, and I’ve just found the go-to person for what’s hot in world changing in this city.
Ajay Puri, aka @masalapuri has the jackpot google calendar of awesome social justice and global issues events in Vancouver, hosted on his blog East of Main.  He’ll …

THIS JUST IN:
LIVE CHAT: On-line Volunteering. Wed, November 18, 9:30am – 10:30am @ http://www.tigweb.org/connections/chat/
LECTURE: YOUTH FOR YOUTH INITIATIVES. Wed. November 18, 12:00pm – 1:30pm. OISE, room 12-199 (map). For more information see the Unpacking Development Events Calendar
FUNDRAISER: Bar Philanthropy. Thu, November 19, 6:30pm – 11:30pm. Czehoski (678 Queen Street West, Toronto) (map) http://barphilanthropy.com/
LECTURE: 34 Million Friends of the United Nations Population Fund (Jane Roberts). Fri, November 20, 12pm – 1pm. Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Room 208 (map). For more information see the Unpacking Development …

LECTURE: The Global Economy Discussion
A post-Keynesian analysis of current events. Tuesday, November 10. 7:30 pm. Free. OISE, 252 Bloor W. 416-340-1865.

BOOK LAUNCH: Harvest Pilgrims
Mexican And Caribbean Migrant Farm Workers In Canada Launch of a book of photographs by Vincenzo Pietropaolo. Tuesday, November 10. 7-9 pm. Free. Stephen Bulger Gallery, 1026 Queen W. 416-535-9914.

FILM SCREENING: How Do We Stop Capitalism From Destroying The Planet?
Video screening and talk by John Bell of Stop Climate Chaos Coalition. Tuesday, November 10. 7:30 pm. Free. Bahen Centre, 40 St George. socialist.ca.
…

Before travelling to Africa with Belinda Stronach a couple of summers ago, Rick Mercer vowed never to “come back from Africa like one of the arseholes on TV who won’t shut up about Africa”.  After reneging on that promise (which is fine with me!) the two of them started Spread the Net, a charity (obviously) focused on reducing the incidence of malaria through the purchase of bed nets (also obvious).
Mercer was here in Vancouver this week to promote Spread the Net’s Student Challenge, pitting high schools and universities against each …