Brampton reaches $5,000!

Friday March 5, 2010, marked St. Thomas Aquinas (Brampton) first ever THINKfast, fundraising over $5 000.00. 

The Music students opened the evening with a magical performance of ‘I believe’, followed by a heartfelt presentation from the students who traveled to Nicaragua. 

The THINKfasters then participated in a community building workshop facilitated by Rising Stars and student-led workshops about Development and Peace and Social Justice.  Together they learned about the struggles of those less fortunate, and they learned about the impact our lifestyle here in North America has on the Developing World.  They felt the hunger pains, the headaches, the nausea, and the fatigue that millions of people have accepted as a normal part of their every day existence. 

And knowing that these feelings are not normal they began to understand how together they can help empower those who desperately need support in their fight for human rights, land rights, and equity.  This realization also led those who participated to a greater awareness and appreciation of the opportunities that exist here in Canada.  So, they signed petitions. 

And after Fasting for 25 hours, they gathered for a meal prepared by our Hospitality students and our Aquinas Community prayed in SOLIDARITY with those in our Global Community. 

Our Youth believe and hope to make a difference one choice at a time, one action at a time, and one prayer at a time.    

- Cathy Rizzo   

Movie Review – Food Inc.

Our Just Youth group at Carleton University in Ottawa hosted a screening of the documentary Food Inc on campus last week.

I had never seen the film before. After having familiarized myself with the D&P campaign on food sovereignty, I figured I was fairly up-to-snuff on where my food was coming from and the injustices that are perpetuated by the way we, especially in the Global North, eat. But whoa! Is there ever a lot to learn!

Even in North America, the lack of control that farmers have over their land and the way that they use it is astonishing. Seed patents prevent farmers from being able to save their seed from year to year. The incessant corporate desire to increase “efficiency” forces farmers to construct the dankest, most poisonous environments possible in which to raise their livestock.

What a world we live in. Traditional farming practises are so undervalued.

The seemingly endless web of connections between big agri-business and government agencies that regulate food policy was astonishing as well. The sheer number of people doubling as government advocates for fewer restrictions on corporate farming and higher-ups in the actual corporations is wild.

How it came to be that farming elites with virtually no connection to on-the-ground production can exert so much control over national and international food policies is beyond me. These monetary hierarchical structures need to be changed.

The consensus within the group was that the film is really calling us to take a good, hard look at the way we eat. Every day, we vote with our dollar in grocery stores and local farmers markets.  

But in addition to purchasing more organic, local food, we must also advocate for political change. Because so much of big agri-business relies on subsidies from the government (especially in the United States), we must continue to advocate for change at the policy level as well as at the local level.

Finally, the film presented an interesting perspective on the affordability of food. Essentially, the cheapest food is often also the unhealthiest. This puts people with a lower income in a severely disadvantaged position, especially health wise. In North America, the highest rates of obesity are found in poorer demographics because good quality food is simply too expensive. We must be aware of and work to correct the structures of power and privilege that are present within our society and, by extension, within our food systems.

by Kaitlyn Duthie-Kannikatt, Eastern Ontario Youth Rep

THINKfast 2010 is rockin’ it!

This year’s THINKfast campaign is rockin’ it all over the web! 

Students are creating their own videos (way to go Thomas Aquinas in Brampton!) or link their online fundraising page to their local parish to promote their THINKfast (nice site!).

It’s great to see that so many young people are participating in this campaign and are supporting and spreading the word about the work of Development and Peace and its partners in the Global South.

Over 150 participants are using our new online fundraising tool (click here for direct access) to collect their pledges.

Organizers and participants can easily set up their group and personal profiles and reach out to family members and friends who live further away via e-mail or social media applications like facebook and twitter.

AND, this tool also allows D&P to save on staff and mailing costs because tax receipts are emailed out immediately to donors.

Go check it out and we wish all participants and organizers a great time at their THINKfast 2010!

Resist, Persist and Insist!

I didn’t know what to expect when I applied to be a participant in the Development and Peace exposure trip to Guatemala. I went with uncertainties and questions about the prospects for sincere solidarity in the struggle for justice. I returned inspired by the many people I met and with a deeper appreciation their struggles, which I can sum up in three words: resistance, persistence and insistence.

Resistance

Nuevo Horizonte is a community of ex-guerrilla combatants, linked to the Public Education Centre, a Development and Peace partner. While the root social-economic problems that forced them to take up arms in the first place continue, the weapons they use to resist have changed. They run alternative economic initiatives, such as co-ops, that support the well-being of the individuals of the community.

Persistence

Forced off their land, the community members of San Basilio set up tents in the face of the army. Their persistence led them eventually to recuperate their lands, though they continually face threats.

Insistence

The people’s insistence reminds me that the time to live, to change, to demand and to enjoy is now. Insistence is a significant part of the struggle for justice in Guatemala, because nothing will be given to people seeking justice without it.

These three words represent the invaluable lessons I learned from Guatemalan communities capable of transformation. Learning about their struggles has given me a deeper perspective on the struggles I face in my own life.

by Angela Mooney: Angela participated in a solidarity trip in 2005 and was a Development and Peace member at Carleton University, Ottawa, where she studied human rights and political science while working for justice on many fronts. 

Solidarity Trip 2010 applications are available. Join us in the Philippines this August.

Winnipeg Social Justice Day

Hey Canada,

We want to tell you about the Bead Game (or we called it the “Chip Game”) – a simulation game we played as part of our Catholic Schools Social Justice Day in Winnipeg/St. Boniface.

In this game, global realities are simulated on a small scale. Participants have an opportunity to experience some of the dynamics of the global economy.

The game is from the United Church of Canada Websight program: here is the link to the Bead Game, here is the link to more games from Websight.

 Here is some on-site blogging on what we thought about our game…

Andy, Zach, Jayden, Jacob, Chris, Darian, Shane:

The hardest part of the game was trying to pay taxes, help friends, and still be able to benefit for yourself. The easier part was that the taxes were not as much as people expected in real life. It really helped people see the true difference between classes.

trading during the bead game

Karl, Michelle, Marina, Ula, Ludvika, Matt, Sam:

The best part was getting all the chips and cheating. It felt like the silence, the not talking and not getting caught cheating was the hardest part. But we would do it again because it was FUN and a CHALLENGE. And some felt it was good to cheat while others found it hard giving away chips and students who were sad and thought it was unfair.

Lindsay, Emily, Jessica, Marissa, Tiahna, Abigail, Karima, Adan:

The best part of the global economy game was being able to survive. The hardest part was not being able to communicate and some people were lacking specific instructions. We all enjoyed the game and would probably play again. It was very quiet and at times it was nerve-racking because we didn’t want to be caught talking.

Robert F. Hall Students Support Haiti Relief Efforts

On the Road with Development and Peace: by James Dempsey

Robert F Hall students present cheque of $17,000!

Since Haiti was rocked by a 7.0 earthquake on January 12^th, many people have been opening both their hearts and their wallets to give what they can to the struggling nation. This selfless sense of Catholic charity is seen marvelously in Caledon, Ontario, where the Robert F. Hall Social Justice and Haitian Relief Committees worked towards providing a $17,000 donation to aid relief efforts through Development and Peace.

After a long drive out to Caledon with Luke Stocking and his daughter Amy, we were greeted in the school’s office by a secretary proudly sharing the remarkable stories of the school’s dress down days and educational displays all geared towards the need for a Catholic sense of giving.

One story that caught my attention was that of a young man who donated $100 of his own money to the cause. Take this story into consideration, as chances are as a high school student he’s working a part-time job at a minimum wage, making this donation the equivalent of 10 hours of his hard work. It’s stories like these that exemplify the altruistic nature of our Catholic faith.

As the student leaders for this project gathered in front foyer to make the donation presentation, it was evident to me that this cause was more than just a moral obligation to these young people. There was a definite excitement in the air as the culmination of a dedicated effort approached; as if passing that novelty sized check to Luke represented more than just a job well done, but lives changed. That perhaps is the beauty of such a selfless focus, as these efforts to make a difference, once transferred into the care of Caritas Internationalis, will impact a struggling people in a way that nothing else can.