Unpacking Development

Yesterday I went to a Global Health Discussion Forum, a “monthly forum for members of the healthcare and educational communities to learn more about international projects around Toronto.” This particular one highlighted the brand new Textbook on International Health: Global Health in a Dynamic World, written by Anne-Emanuelle Birn (a former professor of mine), Timothy [...]

This week I went to an research event called Urban Youth and the Determinants of Sexual Health put on by the Centre for Urban Health Initiatives and several other partners.  Toronto seems to have a rad group of research that focus on youth, sexual health, participatory action research, and social determinant. One of the presenters [...]

This week’s a busy week with lots of diverse events, including some dealing with technology and volunteerism, media for social change, art and AIDS, just to name a few. Volunteer Toronto is hosting a film evening on Thursday with a new British film that asks questions about how Web 2.0 technology can change democracy and [...]

I meant to post this for a while, but didn’t get to it until now…it was still bike season when I read it! In her 2008 book, The Wisdom Of Whores, Elizabeth Pisani manages to piss everyone off.  The result is a compelling read about what she refers to as the “bureaucrats, brothels and the [...]

After a brief absence due to Unpacking Development getting hacked last week, we’re back up and ready to go again. This week in Toronto there are a bunch of conferences and speakers around international development, health and politics:

One of my favourite things about my apartment building is the informal recycling program in the lobby.  There’s a certain corner where you can leave behind slightly used goods for use by the next person, or find treasures of your own. In a weird coincidence, the other day, as I leafed through a pile of [...]

A recap seems to be the thing to do in the blogosphere, although I’m a few days too late.  I got my inspiration here: Blood and Milk and Global Health Report.  So, here are the top five most popular posts on my blog in its first year – its a surprising mix! Ethiopian Nativity of [...]

I’ve been thinking about The Global Health Movement this week, after a chat on the topic with the team over at Change.org.  Is there such a thing, and where does it “live” online? Thirty years ago, at the International Conference on Primary Health Care, a movement was born.  With principals outlined in the Alma Ata [...]

There is lots going on in Toronto this week, from a Fair Trade Holiday Shopping Festival to a Schools Without Borders music event to a Cafe Scientifique night on Gender Inequities in Health.  As well, in the lead up to World AIDS Day on December 1, there are a lot of AIDS-related events for you [...]

Here are some really interesting recent links on how people are tracking and tackling health issues through computer and cell-phone based technologies.  Some of them are better ideas than in practice, but I appreciate the potential! Project Masiluleke “Project Masiluleke is a path-breaking effort that harnesses the power of mobile technology to address one of [...]