I know that we have been away for a while…both of us are working on other projects (Mel’s busy with Lady Atelier , CrisisCommons and her new job at AWID, and I’m busy with HealthyHousing.ca and blogging for the Because I am a Girl Campaign).  So, if you’ll forgive us for being a bit absent, we’d like to ask you to help us out with something close to our hearts:
Our friend Zahra over at archiTEXT, a design think tank dedicated to social change, is in the running for two Pepsi …

FEATURED EVENT:
FILM FESTIVAL: The 7th annual Toronto Human Rights Watch Film Festival takes place February 24 to March 6, 2010 in Toronto, Canada. All films, excluding the Opening Night Gala screen at Jackman Hall, Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas Street West, Toronto.

http://humanrightsfilmfestival.ca/schedule/

Monday, February 22
LECTURE: Financial Crisis And Opportunity Forum on forging a new global order of peace and justice with KAIROS’s John Dillon. 7 pm. Free. Dovercourt Baptist Church, NW corner Bloor and Dufferin. davenport4peace.ca.
Tuesday, February 23
LECTURE: Energy Security in the Asia-Pacific region: beyond the security of supply …

February 7-13, 2010.
It’s International Development this week in Canada. Join in Toronto, for lots of Interesting and Challenging discussions, films and of course plenty of benefits for you to go and donate your money to a worthy cause while having a fun time!
FEATURED EVENT:

TED 2010 live at CSI
Join us at CSI for three promising days and listen to world visionaries’ dreams, fears and hopes for the year ahead. TED 2010 features an amazing line up of speakers including Jamie Oliver, Bill Gates, Andrew Bird, David Byrne, Eve Ensler, Ken …

People are being so generous in supporting the people of Haiti and the relief work going on there. I would encourage individuals interested in providing support to consider becoming monthly donors with charities rather than giving larger one-time gifts.
In a nutshell, sign up to be a monthly donor because:

it allows charities to provide immediate relief when an emergency occurs
it helps the charity budget effectively
the admin fees are as low as possible
small amounts every month are affordable for the donor

Allow me to explain.
Small monthly gifts provide stable, reliable funding for the …

Learning about all the stuff that’s happening around text message donations during the Haiti crisis.  It seems to be getting a lot of press!
This is the first humanitarian disaster where this type of micro-donating is taking a really big roll.  Plan Canada (who I work for blogging at Because I am a Girl) have raised over $3000 using Text to Donate technology so far.  This is nothing compared to the millions that the American Red Cross has managed to raise since Jan 12 using the same technology.
I’m not sure that …

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 …

Tuesday December 15
The Future of the Internet: Networking in a Spontaneous Age. 3:30 PM - 5:30 PM 108N, North House. Munk Centre, University of Toronto. http://webapp.mcis.utoronto.ca/EventDetails.aspx?eventid=8352

Wednesday, December 16
Green Drinks Toronto Holiday Party Celebrate the season with other green-minded folks. 5:45 pm. Free. Grace O’Malley’s, 14 Duncan. greendrinks@gmail.com.

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 …