TIGblogs - Country - Canada

Offering for a proposal being drafted toward Africa

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 04:16:00 EDT

Here's a letter that I wrote today to 2 yahoo groups of the Internet lab called Minciu Sodas. The letter is pasted from:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistichelping/message/3456

Janet, Andrius and all,

As I read about aiming the empowerment of the proposal toward the women in Africa, I am wondering if we could take on the approach of Health-Education-Correction at the heart of the application.

The 3 can be joined as one social policy designed to link the individual and the community in the training of decision-making.

Democracy is the wisdom of agreeing as equals, for the utmost benefit to all.

Leadership of this kind needs to get consolidated by cultivating decision making from home to school, to work, at play and back home by a participation in the Spirit Who teaches that the greatest in our midst are the servants of the others.
Conflict resolution and peaceful political renewal is then possible, because the changes are decided by the people, in accordance to their needs locally.
Such empowerment could be the means by which to convey the message that democracy is a way of life, applicable and needed in every decsion that affect more than one person.

Democratic maturity is found in the simplicity of deciding with care and of doing with complete dilligence, what is best for the majority so that the majority gets to extend its benefits in all simplicity to all minorities

Inspiration is at the heart of democratic participation.

How do we tap into inspiration and do we get on to channel inspiration?

By embodying the simplicity of love comminted in action and in truth in our daily lives. Healthy inspiration reaches out to all ages. With it, we get to be invigorated in the present with hope.

Again, this is where communities need to realise that school is the middle ground of personal and communal cultivation and that it is crucial to develop the framework of functional democracy, grown around the heart of Health-Education- Correction.

Here is a piece I wrote in 2002, in an attempt to describe how we could approach and deploy such a school policy at the personal and communal level:

MUTUAL PENETRATION WITH HISTORY/
A NATIONAL RETREAT TO ENTER THE LIFE OF OUR COLLECTIVE DESTINY

History is generally understood by young people, as this boring academic chore required of them by the education system.
The intent and purpose of the curriculum in teaching history, is to cultivate the relevancy of the past to the present, thereby preparing students in what provides them with the awareness of continuity.
Because of such a low level of interest for history among students, a new approach could be tried. Instead of academically bringing the past to the present, why not equip each student with what is needed to explore the past, starting from their own personal present.
By bringing the students to explore what brought about their own life, it will generate the ability for the in-depth look needed to understand their present.
Such transparent movement of clarity will gradually connect our lives with the past and thereby, eliminate the irrelevancy of a constant promise of a better future that never comes from generation to generation.
This method of personal and communal apprenticeship to journey together as one,would motivate by inspiring as opposed to go on force-feeding the memory for the sake of the curriculum's aproval.

Because of the state of stress and terror in which we live locally and globally, anyone with noble concerns for education is aware of the massive need to heal the individual identity’s growth process, by tuning in the dynamics of inter-personal activity with reconciliation and co-operation. History of the whole human race is screaming to remind us of that.

It doesn’t make much sense to teenagers to learn that their parents, teachers, governments and authorities at large, are going on repeating history without any alternative being offered other than: “That's the way things are”, type of responses.
If the history courses were to bring together the sciences relevant to the healing of personal and ancestral history, such as sociology, psychology and all the way to psycho-neuro immunology, there could be a path getting paved to develop the learning method from play school on, with the parents and child, serving the need to assemble the relevancy of each along with all, so as to bridge school solidly with home life, work life and re-creational's regenarating energies with purity of soul and body.
History classes would then become a time in school when one is given a chance to assemble the components of his or her existence, where one learns to assimilate each life experience in a maturing perspective of his or her life.
It would develop the sense of rationality from understanding the path of their own life and identity.

By entering history in such a personal manner, school would evolve to provide a forum for the apprenticeship of communicating in the comfort of intimacy and in the confidence of trust.
It would gradually lead the “I am” of each student into the relevancy between their life and the flow of history in the riverbed of time.
Once well rooted, such a method could even become key to open the doors of the community, reaching out through the cultural and social walls of divisions, by entering the dimension where academic theory and practice find trust and harmony with each other.
In practical terms, it would be the neutral ground to bridge and to complete the distance and the incompatibilities between home and community life.
This approach also provides the opportunity to embark on a massive research and development movement into the human faculty of living.
The faculty of living is an expression I use to describe the holy grail aimed at by all people of good will through out humanity’s history.
It is the initial and final frontier to experience the solemn beauty of being human to emerge.
The faculty of living is what brings each individual to be penetrated and to penetrate the meaning of existence, while providing guidance and nourishment to live in the state of justice, peace and joy.

Historically, this faculty has been painfully growing through millenniums of dark, fearful and evil resistance on the part of those who hold on to knowledge, intellectually acquired, as opposed to spiritually acquired knowledge, so that theory and experience do not get seperated from their togetherness.
Such resistance is present in all human beings and is responsible for the perpetuation of the never-ending power struggle and misery among humanity.
The faculty of living is the healthy state of spiritual human living in all that it means and separated apart from all the lies that it never meant and yet, that are still upheld today in various forms.

Destiny is calling each and all to the citizenship that expresses the solemn beauty of being human. This is, after all, what the ancient voice of humanity’s youth has been longing for throughout the ages, feeding and reverberating the growth of common sense.

Yes, the history curriculum can indeed become a safe and yet potent tool for the authorities of care to cultivate our individual and collective growth into the stability of well-being.

In time, as the cultivation takes root, we could attain the point at which we begin the process of harnessing the lessons of the past and learn to live, with great contagion across all of the Earth, in the solemn beauty of being human, cheered on by the ancient voice of humanity’s youth and enjoyed in the health of common sense.

Offered to all the moms, dads and children who seek inner justice, peace and joy within and amongst us all...

...may all blessings be with us all...
Benoit Couture

Offering for a proposal being drafted toward Africa

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:41:00 EDT

Governor General Michaëlle Jean at WYC Opening Ceremony

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 17:18:00 EDT

GG Michaëlle Jean makes the keynote speech at the WYC Opening Ceremony.

Bienvenue!

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:59:00 EDT

Bonjour à toutes et à tous,

Bienvenue sur l'espace Groupe TIG blogue pour Plan Nagua.

Au plaisir de vous lire!

Kanonhweratónhtshera

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:28:00 EDT

Kanonhweratónhtshera - Giving greetings, love and respect

(Tyowennatyerénhton tsi ní:yoht entehsatáhsawen)

Ne káti kenh nón:we tsi niwathá:wi táhnon ken’ nikentyohkò:ten, ne káti rawè:ron ne

Shonkwaya'tíson nè:ne niya’tewenhniserá:te ne aetewátka’we ne Kanonhweratónhtshera ne tsi

ní:yoht rawè:ron akwé:kon kén:tho rokehrontátyes onkwahentónhshon nè:ne í:i

onkwaya’takehnháhtshera, ne káti tentshitewanonhwerá:ton táhnon taetewanonhweratónhseke tsi

nahò:ten rotkà:wen kén:tho tsi yonhwentsyá:te. Ne káti akwé:kon tetshitewanonhwerá:ton, nè:ne

tewana’tónhkwa ne ohén:ton karihwatéhkwen.

(Tyowennatyerénhton nó:nen enhsehnhó:ten)

Ó:nen kentyohkwakwé:kon entisewatahonhsí:yohste nè:ne shé:kon énhska ón:ton ne

onkwa’nikonhra’shón:’a. Ó:nen entewérheke tsi akwé:kon wa’tetewarihwayé:ri’te tsi ní:yoht ne

shonkwá:wi ne Shonkwaya’tíson. Ne káti ó:nen nón:wa entsitewahtentsyón:ko tsi nón:we

yonkawahskwáhere, ne káti entshitewarihwa’né:ken’se nè:ne enwá:ton akwé:kon skén:nen

entsítewawe. Táhnon ne káti wáhi tentsitewaterihwatihéntho tsi nahò:ten tehshonkwá:wi ne

kanonhweratónhtshera.

(Niya’teyorí:wake)

Ne káti rawè:ron tayethinonhweratónhseke ne káti ne nya’tehá:ti ne onkwe'shón:'a tsi

yenákere tsi yonhwentsyá:te. Ne kati ne nón:wa ayethiyehyá:rake tsi

nihá:ti yah thahatikwé:ni kén:tho ahonnè:seke, tókat nón:wa rotinonhwáktani. Ne káti né:’e

etshitewarihwa’né:ken’se ne Shonkwaya’tíson nè:ne ahshakoténnyehte nè:ne ka’shatsténhsera

nè:ne aonsahatiye’wén:ta’ne. Ne káti né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke tsi nihá:ti

ronatka’wenhátye nè:ne raotiyo’ténhsera nè:ne enwá:ton aetewà:ronke tsi niyonkwawennò:ten, ne káti né:’e ó:ni ayonkwateryén:tarake tsi niyonkwarihò:ten. Ne káti né:’e akwé:kon

tenyethinón:weron ne onkwe’shón:’a tsi yenákere tsi yonhwentsyá:te.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne káti né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke ne yethina’tónhkwa ne yethi’nihsténha tsi

yonhwentsyá:te. Ne káti né:’e enwá:ton aytewarahsi’ta’kenserahtahkwénhake tsi

teyakwatawénrye kén:tho tsi yonhwentsya:te ne tsi ní:kon ne yawenhniseratenyóntye. Ne ki’

nen’né:’e niya’té:kon nahò:ten wahshakorihontónnyon ne Shonkwaya’tíson. Ne káti né:’e

ayakotka’wenháhseke nè:ne ako’shatsténhsera ne káti né:’e enwá:ton skén:nen

aetewanonhtonnyónhseke táhnon aetewata’karitéhake. Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron ne

yethi’nihsténha tsi wató:ken ó:ni nen’né:’e niyakotka'wenhátye nè:ne ako’shatsténhsera. Ne káti

akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron ne yethi’nihsténha tsi yonhwentsyá:te.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne káti né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke nè:ne akwé:kon ne kahnekahrónnyon yonkwá:yen

kén:tho tsi yonhwentsyá:te. Ne káti nen’né:’e kanyatarakè:ron ne konwatikowá:nen. Ne káti

né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke ne kanyataraténnyonhs, ne káti né:’e ó:ni ne

kahnekowá:nens, ne káti né:’e ó:ni tsi tkahyonhaténnyons, ne káti ne ó:ni ne

yothnekahtentyonkwen, ne káti ne ó:ni tsi yotnawerotónnyon táhnon né:’e ó:ni tsi

yotsina’ahtaténnyon nè:ne onhwentsyò:kon. Ne akwé:kon yonatkahwenhátye nè:ne enwá:ton

akwé:kon ayonkwaya’taná:wenhte. Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron, tsi wató:ken ó:ni

nen’né:’e tsi yonatkahwen’hátye. Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron ne kahnekahrónnyon.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne káti né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke ne káti ne kentsyon’shón:’a nè:ne awèn:ke

kontì:teron. Ótya’ke konwatikowá:nen, ótya’ke nikonnà:sas, niya'té:kon nahò:ten

yonaterihontónnyon. Nè:ne ótya’ke nè:ne kontinóhares tsi kahnekahrónnyons, nè:ne ótya’ke

yonatkahwenhátye nè:ne aoti’wà:ron nè:ne enwá:ton tyonnhéhkwen ayonkwá:ton’se. Ne káti

akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron ne kentsyon’shón:’a tsi wató:ken ó:ni nen’né:’e niyotiyerenhátye,

wató:ken tsi yonatkahwenhátye. Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron ne kentsyon’shón:’a.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne káti né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke ne káti ne yothontón:ni, ne káti né:’e ne

kanó:ta né:’e konwatikowá:nen. Ne káti né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke ne ohtehra’okón:’a,

niya'teyohón:take, onerahta’okón:’a, niya’tekakwirò:ten, ne káti né:’e rawè:ron ne

Shonkwaya’tísone’tho ki wáhi ní:yoht wahshakorihontónnion nè:ne ayonatkahwenháhseke nè:ne

onónhkwa ayonkwá:ton’se. Ne káti wáhi nó:nen enyethinyáhese, e’tho ki wáhi nón:we

entewatshén:ri ne ata’karitáhtshera. Ne káti ne akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron ne yothontón:ni tsi

wató:ken ó:ni nen’né:’e tsi yonatkahwenhátye ne aoti’shatsténhsera.

Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron ne onohkwa’okón:’a.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne káti né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke nè:ne otsi’nonwa’shón:’a. Ne káti né:’e enskáhne

teyonaterihwayenawa’kónhake ne kén:tho tsi yonhwentsyá:te ne nenwá:ton akwé:kon skén:nen

enwahtén:ti. Nya’té:kon nahò:ten wahshakoterihontónnyon ne Shonkwaya’tíson. Ne káti né:’e

konwatatenón:tons nè:ne niya'tekaryò:take táhnon ne enskáhne teyotirihwayenawá:kon. Ne káti

akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron ne otsi’nonwa’shón:’a tsi wató:ken nen’né:’e tsi yonatkahwenhátye

nè:ne skén:nen enwahtén:ti tsi yonhwentsyá:te. Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron ne

otsi’nonwa’shón:’a.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne káti né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke nè:ne tyonnhéhkwen. Ne káti né:’e

tewana’tónhkwa áhsen nikontate’ken’okón:’a, né:’e konwatikowá:nen nè:ne ó:nenhste, ohsahè:ta

táhnon onon’ónsera. Niya’té:kon nahò:ten yonkwá:yen tsi kahehta'kéhshon tsi nón:we

yonkwayenthóhseron, ne káti né:’e akwé:kon yonatkahwenhátye nè:ne tyonnhéhkwen

ayonkwá:ton’se kén:tho tsi yonhwentsyá:te. Ne káti né:’e í:i onkwaya'takehnháhtshera né:’e

aeyonkwata’karitéhake táhnon skén:nen aetewanonhtonnyónhseke.

Ne káti akwé:kon teyethinonhwerá:ton tsi wató:ken tsi ní:yoht yonatkahwenhátye. Ne káti né:’e

akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron ne tyonnhéhkwen.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne káti né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke ne káti nè:ne wahyaniyóntha . Ne káti nè:ne

niyohontéhsha niyohshonnò:ten, né:’e konwatikowá:nen. Nè:ne tyotyerénhton enyotonníhseke

nè:ne kenkwité:ne nikahá:wi, né:’e ayethinyáhehse nè:ne onónhkwa ó:ni ayonkwá:ton’se. Ne

káti enwá:ton aetewake, ne káti ne ó:ni enwá:ton entewahnekónnya’te, ne káti ne ó:ni enwáton

entewátyehste ne tyonhéhkwen. Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron nè:ne wahyaniyóntha tsi

wató:ken ó:ni nen’né:’e tsi ní:yoht yonatkawen’hátye aoti'satsténhsera. Ne káti akwé:kon

tenyethinón:weron ne wahyaniyóntha.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne káti né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke nè:ne akwé:kon ne kontíryo nè:ne

kontitakhenóntyes tsi karhakónhshon. Ne káti né:’e konwatikowá:nen nè:ne ohskennón:ton

niyohsennò:ten. E’tho ki wáhi ní:yoht wahshakorihontónnyon ne Shonkwaya’tíson ne káti né:’e ayonatkahwen’háhseke nè:ne aoti’wà:ron ne káti ne enwá:ton tyonnhéhkwen ayonkwá:ton’se.

Ne káti né:’e tayethinonhweratónhseke tsi wató:ken ó:ni nen’né:’e niyotiyerenhátye, shé:kon

yonatkahwenhátye tsi nahò:ten yonaterihwayentáhkwen. Ne káti akwé:kon teyethinonhwerá:ton

ne kontíryo.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Né:’e ó:ni rawè:ron ne Shonkwaya’tíson tayethinonhweratónhseke ne akwé:kon ne

tsi’ten’okón:’a tsi kontinákere, kontityenóntye’s tsi karhakónhshon. Ne káti né:’e

konwatikowá:nen nè:ne atónnyon niyohsennò:ten. Nè:ne a’é:ren è:neken kentskwáhere nè:ne

ohstonteri’tshera’kó:wa, né:’e í:non tewaká:nere nè:ne enyonkhihronká:ten kátke nón:we tá:we

nè:ne yotteronhtéhnyon. Ne káti né:’e ó:ni ne tsi’ten’okón:’a, ótya’ke ne ratihá:wi nè:ne

kontirenní:yos nè:ne enwá:ton enyonkhi’nikonhrakétsko tókat yonkwa’nikonhrèn:ton. Ne káti

né:’e ó:ni ótya’ke yonatkahwenhátye ne aoti’wà:ron ne enwá:ton tyonnhéhkwen ayonkwá:ton’se.

Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron ne tsi’ten’okón:’a ne tsi wató:ken ó:ni nen’né:’e

yonatkahwenhátye.

Ne káti né:’e tayethinonhweratónhseke ne tsi’ten’okón:’a

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke nè:ne akwé:kon ne karonta’okón:’a ne yotonnihátye. Ne

káti né:’e konwatikowá:nen ne tewana’tónhkwa nè:ne owáhta niyohsennò:ten. Niya'té:kon

nahò:ten yonaterihontónnyon. Ne káti né:’e é:so tewátstha, aetewatenonhsónnya’te tsi nón:we

yonkawahskwáhere, ne káti ne ó:ni tewátstha aetewaya’tataríha’te nó:nen enwathó:rate kén:tho

tsi yonhwentsyá:te. Ne káti né:’e ótya’ke niya’té:kon nahò:ten yonatkahwenhátye. Ne káti nè:ne

ona’watsíhsta né:’e tewátstha nè:ne onónhkwa ayonkwá:ton’se.

Né:’e ó:ni tewátstha ne ona’watsíhsta nè:ne aetewa’therónnya’te. Ne ki wáhi ne ó:ni ne

yonerahton’tónnyon né:’e á:se enshonnón:ni tsi yowerarátie’s nè:ne enwá:ton skén:nen á:se

aetewatónrie. Ne káti né:’e tayethinonhweratónhseke tsi wató:ken ó:ni nen’né:’e tsi

yonatkahwenhátye nè:ne í:i onkwaya’takehnháhtshera. Ne káti akwé:kon

teyethinonhwerá:ton ne karonta’okón:’a.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke nè:ne tyowerawénrye. Ne káti nè:ne othorè:ke, entyè:ke, tsi

ya'tewahsóthos táhnon tsi tkarahkwínekenhs nonkwá:ti nityowerénhen. Ne káti ratihá:wi nè:ne

ó:nen tentkawíshtohte tsi yonhwentsyá:te né:’e ratihá:wi ne kenrá:ken tenkahsirawén:’eke ne

yethi’nihsténha tsi yonhwentsyá:te. Ne káti enwá:ton né:’e ayakó:ta’we táhnon

ayako’shatstenhserayén:take tsi niyó:re entkawisaná:wenhte. Ne káti né:’e ó:ni tsi

yonhwentsyá:te ne káti né:’e enwá:ton nó:nen akwé:kon á:se enyotonníhseke tsi ní:yoht

yakwatkahthóhseronhs kén:tho tsi yonhwentsyá:te. Ne káti akwé:kon teyethinonhwerá:ton nè:ne

tyowerawénrye tsi wató:ken né:’e niyotiyerenhátye. Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Né:’e ó:ni rawé:ron tayethinonhweratónhseke nè:ne yethihsotó:kon ratiwé:ras nè:ne

ratiwenotátyes,yonkhihronkà:tha kátke’ nón:we entyonkwakenhón:ti, ne káti né:’e ó:ni á:se

enshonnón:ni tsi kahnekarónnyon kén:tho tsi yonhwentsyá:te. Ne káti akwé:kon

tenyethinón:weron nè:ne ratiwé:ras. Ne káti shé:kon yonatka’wenhátye tsi ní:yoht

wahshakorihontónnyon ne Shonkwaya’tíson. Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron tsi wató:ken

niyotiyerenhátye ne tsi nahò:ten yonaterihwayentáhkwen. Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron

ne yethihsothó:kon ratiwennotátyes.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne káti né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke ne yethina’tónhkwa ne teyonkhiyà:taton, ne káti

né:’e kayé:ri niyonkwè:take né:’e wahshakoténnyehte ne Shonkwaya’tíson nè:ne

ahonwahronká:ten ne Skanyatarí:yo, ne káti wáhi ne karihwí:yo waharihwayé:na, nè:ne

akwé:kon ne kayanerenhsera’okón:’a tsi ní:yoht aetewaterihwahténtya’te tsi niya’tekyátere ne

onkwe’shón:’a.Ne káti né:’e ó:ni aetewáhsere ne nenwá:ton skén:nen aetewanonhtonnyónhseke

táhnon ne ó:ni ka’nikonhrí:yo aétewatste. Ne káti né:’e tayethinonhweratónhseke ne

teyonkhiyà:taton tsi wató:ken ó:ni nen’né:’e niyotiyerenhátye, nè:ne yonkhiya’takéhnhas ne

kátke nón:we yonkwa’nikonhrèn:ton. Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron, tsi wató:ken ó:ni

nen’né:’e yonatkahwenhátye ne nahò:ten yonaterihwayentáhkwen.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke nè:ne yethina’tónhkwa ne yethihsótha

ahsonthenhnéhkha wenhni’tarátyes. Nè:ne teyakohswathè:ton niya’tewahsón:tehs. Ne káti wáhi

kontíhsere ne konnón:kwe né:’e yakehyá:rons ne yeksa’okón:’a. Ne káti yorihowá:nen oh

nahò:ten yerihwayentáhkwen. Yotshennónnya't tsi shé:kon wató:ken tsi niyakoyerenhátie ne oh

nahò:ten yerihwayentáhkwen. Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron ne yethihsótha

ahsonthenhnéhkha wenhni’tarátyes.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra

Ne káti ne ó:ni tetshitewanonhweratónhseke nè:ne etshitewahtsí:’a entyehkè:ne karáhkwa.

Nè:ne wáhi tehohswathè:ton, ne káti ó:ni ro’tarihà:ton, né:’e rotennyehtonhátye ne

rao'shatsténhsera nè:ne enwá:ton akwé:kon á:se enyotonníhseke kén:tho tsi yonhwentsyá:te. Ne

káti nen’né:’e akwé:kon nahò:ten yotehrón:ni rati’shatstenhserénhawe nè:ne skén:nen

aetewanonhtonnyónhseke.

Ne káti akwé:kon tetshitewanonhwerá:ton tsi wató:ken ó:ni nen’né:’e nihoyerenhátye ne oh

nahò:ten rorihwayentáhkwen. Ne káti akwé:kon tetshitewanonhwerá:ton ne etshitewahtsí:’a

entyehkè:ne karáhkwa.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne káti né:’e ó:ni tayethinonhweratónhseke nè:ne yotsihstohkwahrónnyon, né:’e

yonya'tahseronnya’tahkwénhake tsi karonhyatátyes. Niya’teyorì:wake yonaterihontónnyon.

Né:’e káti ne yonkhihronká:tha kátke niwathá:wi entewaterihwahténtya'te, ne ó:ni oh

niyotyerá:ton entewatyé:ra’te nó:nen yonkwaya’tahtón:’on. Ne ki né:’e ó:ni ne

yonkhihsotshera’kénha né:’e teyonahswathè:ton tsi karonhyatátyes. Akwáh é:so nón:wa yah

tetsyonkwateryèn:tare oh nahò:ten yonaterihontónnyon, ne ok tsi shé:kon teyethinonhwerá:tons

tsi wató:ken niyotiyerenhátye nahò:ten

wahshakorihontónnyon ne Shonkwaya’tíson. Ne káti akwé:kon tenyethinón:weron ne

yotsihstohkwahrónnyon

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne káti nón:wa nó:nen è:neken entewakónhsatyé:ra’te nè:ne raonhà:ke nonká:ti ne

Shonkwaya’tíson, ne káti entewehyá:rake tsi akwé:kon raónha rotkà:wen kén:tho tsi

onhwentsyà:te ne í:i onkwaya'takehnháhtshera. Ne káti ne raónha tetshitewanonhwerá:ton

ne tsi akwé:kon rohsa’áhnyon nahò:ten yonkwá:yen kén:tho tsi yonhwentsyá:te. Ne káti

nen’né:’e akwé:kon rokehrontátyes onkwahentónhshon ne enwá:ton skén:nen

aetewanonhtonnyónhseke. E’tho niyó:re shonkwanorónhkwa tsi shé:kon wató:ken

nihoyerenhátye. Ne káti tetshitewanonhwerá:ton ne Shonkwaya’tíson tsi e’tho nihoyé:ren. Ne

káti akwé:kon tetshitewanonhwerá:ton ne Shonkwaya’tíson.

E’tho káti nenyohtónhake ne onkwa’nikòn:ra.

Ne káti nón:we e’tho niyó:re í:i wa’katerihwatkwé:ni. Tókat othé:nen nahò:ten í:i

takaterihò:ktahse, í:se ki wáhi sewaya’tátshon, í:se ensewatahsónteron, í:se ensewátkahwe ne

Kanonhweratónhtshera.

Táhnon e’tho nikawén:nake,

Ta’ e’tho.

Two Degrees of Separation Between Hope and Despair: A Young People's Summary of the United Nations Human Development Report 2007/2008

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 15:20:00 EDT

Two degrees of separation between hope and despair

A young people's summary of the United Nations Human Development Report 2007/2008

The young people of the world have produced a Youth Booklet that includes drawings, poems and human stories on climate change and development, entirely made by and for young people!

The booklet has been developed by Peace Child International jointly with HDRO, and launched on Youth Day 2008.

The booklet is available for download and as an online draft version where you can watch the publication come together on Peace Child International's website.

Two Degrees of Separation Between Hope and Despair [5,483 KB]
Deux degrés de séparation entre espoir et désespoir [6,392 KB]
Dos grados separan la esperanza de la desesperación [6,776 KB]

Isn't It Ironic?

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:16:00 EDT

From 17-20 August 2008, during the 4th World Youth Congress' (WYC) action segment, delegates departed from Congress venue Laval University in Québec City, and travelled within 250 kilometres of Québec's capital to participate in local action projects. Participants worked on forty projects, all of which were in collaboration with various local organizations, to contribute to community development.

In collaboration with Vidéo Femmes, a centre that independently produces and distributes films and videos, my clan (group) members and I created a 1-minute video project that engages the issue of wasting resources—a subject that affects not only youth, but also the world at large.

The video centres on the concept of "putting words into actions," and involves a contradictory male character who—despite advocating for civil responsibility and fighting against environmental degradation, poverty and apathy—does not put his words into actions by implementing those changes in his daily life.

The Floor

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 14:15:00 EDT

Now you have something to picture as you read all these posts about the UNFCCC convention in Accra, Ghana!

Footprints on TorontoTV: Japan

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:34:00 EDT

Take a look at my online travel show, Footprints. In this episode, we explore Japan:

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=217036585006483975hl=en

For more information on TorontoTV, please visit: www.torontotv.net

Footprints on TorontoTV: Honduras and Belize

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:32:00 EDT

Take a look at my online travel show, Footprints. In this episode, we explore Honduras and Belize:

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=8271445338748268795hl=en

For more information on TorontoTV, please visit: www.torontotv.net

Footprints on TorontoTV: Florida

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:29:00 EDT

Take a look at my online travel show, Footprints. In this episode, we explore Florida, USA:

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=-4166971160833271969hl=en

For more information on TorontoTV, please visit: www.torontotv.net

TorontoTV - Interview

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 13:28:00 EDT

This is a video of my interview/introduction with TorontoTV:

http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=6939299784580646260ei=LJ-1SKHJFYaq-wHWvrjcDAq=torontotv+anita+

For more information on TorontoTV, please visit: www.torontotv.net

KP Day 5: All Parts

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:54:00 EDT

Before we get to the LULUCF groups (which actually achieved something on Tuesday), a quick update on the flex mechanisms and 'other issues'.

The flex group continued to debate the list of possible improvements to the mechanisms. They stressed the need for further elaboration and so parties will be making submissions till October 17th on the matter. Draft conclusions and amendments were also presented, which included the use of nuclear activities under Joint Implementation (CDM contained in the developed world), as well as three options related to the eligibility of CCS (carbon capture and storage).

Other issues continued to push their items onto the Poznan agenda, claiming lack of consensus and in the case of greenhouse gas inventories, information.

Luckily, the LULUCF informal consultations and contact group made some headway. The five options around forest management that were presented at the beginning of the week were condensed to four (yippee!). They also included an explicit statement that Article 3.4 activities (additional activities) other than forest management would be discussed in due course. Things are getting simpler and not being left behind!

Some clarifications are also underway in relation to natural disturbances, gross-net vs. net-net accounting, and differentiating between emissions from harvesting and those from harvested wood products (remember the furniture conversation?).

So good times for LULUCF. Back tomorrow with a wrap of of the closing plenaries, and check back later this week for a full recap of the convention.

Rhiya

LCA Day 5: Parts 3 4: Tech and Finance and 2009's Work Programme

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:15:00 EDT

Concerning finance, the same issues surrounding sources, methodologies, recipients, insurance mechanisms, and governing bodies arose.

As far as sources are concerned, Norway's proposal to auction off AAU's (assigned amount units, 1 = 1 tonne carbon dioxide emissions, the things Kyoto Protocol caps are made of)) and use the proceeds to fund mitigation and adaptation remains the strongest. Parties still proposed however, using voluntary contributions and other market mechanisms.

The advantages of the Norwegian plan however, is that it is constant, reliable, and would contribute to reduction targets at home (AAU's can only be auctioned of if a country reduces its emissions and has credits left over). Many of the other proposed plans are at the whims of international governments, and based on historical responsibility (which adds ambiguity) or deregulated market prices (which as we all know now, are thoroughly unpredictable).

Having an executive board to develop and monitor activities on tech transfer and a global insurance mechanism were also tossed around.

Despite only ratifying the drafting of a 2009 work programme yesterday, parties have already requested an extension to the deadlines for submissions. Headway was made however, as two workshops on developed country mitigation commitments and developing country mitigation actions would be held during the first session of 2009.

Back shortly with goings on in the KP.

Rhiya

LCA Day 5: Part 2 - Adaptation

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:56:00 EDT

Things were certainly better in the adaptation session of yesterday's LCA, with three concrete proposals from major groups:

1. The EU outlined possible elements of a Copenhagen deal which included integration of adaptation into national decision making and planning, the scaling up of resources for adaptation, and support for the least developed countries when developing their own adaptation plans and programmes.

2. The African Group presented an African regional adaptations implementation initiative, which would include: a network of African centers of excellence, a three year pilot phase of adaptation activities (implemented cooperatively, of course) and a pilot project of stand-alone adaptation activities.

3. And AOSIS (Alliance of Small Island States) suggested an adaptation framework which would contain mechanisms to ensure timely flows of new and additional resources to address both short and long term adaptation needs, to enhance national capacity to incorporate adaptation issues into national planning, to build up a resistance to the anticipated effects of global warming, and to adapt to unavoidable climate impacts.

With concrete proposals like these, headway is inevitable. Thanks to the ENB (Earth News Bulletin) for providing such detailed info on the day's work.

Rhiya

LCA Day 5: Part 1 - Mitigation

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:16:00 EDT

The mandate squabbling within the mitigation contact group continued early Tuesday morning. A1 parties pitted against non-A1 nations to debate possible amendments to the Convention that would require mitigation targets and actions from developing countries.

In particular, Australia and Japan pursued the notion that any country with high GDP should join A1, and the US rounded out this escapist argument by stating that unmanaged growth of emissions from developing countries would negate mitigation efforts already undertaken by developed countries. Now would be the logical time to ask - what mitigation actions from developed countries?

The EU (emerging from their slumber - they've barely contributed in the past week) listed types of actions that developing countries should undertake, such as energy efficiency measures, promotion of renewable energy, and sectoral crediting and trading. Then they proceeded to scold the developed world for lack of implementation in non-A1 parties. Bottom line: everybody got roasted.

South Africa continued to stress the linkages between climate policies and development, but Uganda noted the need to address the spillover or adverse effects of response measures.

Looking forward and recognizing that time has just about run out in Accra, Norway proposed a REDD workshop in Poland. Seeing as the one held in the opening days of this conference was so successful, future REDD endeavors will hopefully bring more concrete solutions and actions to the mitigation potential of the LCA.

A-1 countries have got to stop looking to the global south for solutions to the mounting climate crisis. It's just flat out not fair, nor is it achieving anything.

Be back soon with updates on the rest of the day's LCA stuff: Adaptation, Tech and Finance, and more on the 2009 Work Programme.

And while we've been distracted by all of this crazy UNFCCC stuff, that little guy in the top right - the American pika - might be extinct soon. Thought you should know in case any of you are inspired by their cuteness. :(

Rhiya

Dark Humour is Sometimes the Best Medicine

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 08:08:00 EDT

Irsquo;m a big fan of laughing and fun in general. Often I donrsquo;t understand why we canrsquo;t laugh at how messed up lives or world seems because I like to laugh at how ridiculous things can be seen. Readerrsquo;s Digest has an article on how we can use laughter to get through tough times.

The worse things get, the funnier I think they arendash;thatrsquo;s just how I grew up, how I learned to handle things,rdquo; she says. ldquo;But aside from that, I think you have to be funny so that other people donrsquo;t freak out. I mean, itrsquo;s fine to be going lsquo;Oh my God, I have cancerrsquo; with your closest friends. But you canrsquo;t do that with everyone; you canrsquo;t ask the entire world to buoy you up.rdquo;

Dark humor is also, for Rich, a thumb in the eye to pain. ldquo;With cancer, itrsquo;s saying lsquo;You can take my body, but yoursquo;re not taking my mind,rsquo;rdquo; she says. ldquo;Therersquo;s a form of macho defiance there I really like.rdquo;

Humor also puts people at ease. Robert Reich is terrific at this. The former Clinton Labor secretary is four feet ten inches tall, born with a congenital disorder that stunted his growth. When he was running for governor of Massachusetts a few years ago, hersquo;d start his speeches with ldquo;They told me to be short.rdquo; Or, standing on a step stool, hersquo;d announce, ldquo;Irsquo;m the only candidate with a real platform.rdquo; His audience was comfortable with his height because he was comfortable. Itrsquo;s a sophisticated form of consideration.

A twisted sense of humor, I realized recently, is the common denominator among the most loving, considerate people I know. A few years ago, my friend Spencerrsquo;s father died; this year, Spencer spent much of his time at the bedside of his mother, who was waging a long battle with heart disease. He loved her deeply, but hersquo;s not exactly a sensitive New Age guy. A theater fanatic, he said only this in the e-mail announcement when his mother died: ldquo;Well, I can finally join the chorus of Annie.rdquo;

Love it

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 07:58:00 EDT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8R8Qvm24dbU

Intimate Reinforcement

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 06:08:00 EDT

My two best friends are Behaviour Analysts - so this is an apology to them if I get this all wrong.

Renita made a freudian slip last week and said the words, Intimate Reinforcement. I forgot what she was supposed to say but that phrase stuck with me.

Intimate Reinforcement - I am going to loosely define as the change in response due the addition or removal of an emotional (maybe unknown, like flirting) response.

For example, the doorman at Holt Renfrew always greets me with a smile, so I always feel welcome at the department store.

The ladies at Beestung Lingerie call me by my first name when entering their store, and I feel welcome and my trust level with them and their service increases.

For the online world, an example could be entering a site, going through a series of strategic pages and it giving me a great offer due to my path. Or, being an online brand contributor and getting 'perks' for being a fan...

This is still a thought-process in progress so let me know what you think.

Penny Arcade Expo

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 05:08:00 EDT

Having now successfully returned from Toronto without DHS dragging me off into a dungeon, time is largely sunk into being at work and getting the new Xbox Live Experience ready to go. I will however, be at PAX this weekend, so if yoursquo;re going, let me know.

Major Nelson will be there showing off the new Xbox Live Experience, so if you donrsquo;t want to talk to me, you should at least go check that out and talk to him. Hersquo;ll be in booth 412 at 10:30 and 3:30 on both Sat. and Sun.

How would you change the world? Video contest

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 02:40:00 EDT

At Global Agents for Change we believe that no dream is too big and nothing is impossible, that inspired and motivated young people can truly change the world. This summer 26 of our friends are embarking on an epic, 3000km (2000 mile) cycling tour to raise funds and awareness about how trust-based microcredit can empower the world's most disadvantaged families to escape poverty.

We want to hear from you! What would YOU do to change the world? Send us a video clip of your inspiring idea or project for a chance to win $500 to support the cause or organization of your choice. Win the chance to make a positive impact on our world.

Create a short video of your own footage explaining an idea you've dreamed up or a real-life project you've taken on, which truly changes the world for the better. Be creative and original but most importantly inspire and be inspired!

Remember, you have from May 31, 2008 to October 31, 2008 to submit your video entry. Winners will be announced November 15, 2008.

To enter visit: www.memelabs.com/globalafc
For more information about Global Agents for Change visit: www.globalafc.org

KP Day 4: LULUCF and Other Issues

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 12:37:00 EDT

The group on LULUCF within the KP has begun to move forward, as they held a fairly intense debate on Monday concerning what kind of institutional framework is needed to meet Kyoto standards.

The chair of the group presented a document early on that focused the day's work. The text explored possible options for amendments to definitions, modalities, rules and guidelines for LULUCF. The five options presented each held different versions of forest management accounting and additional activities that parties could undertake, depending on their LULUCF budgets.

Parties stressed the need for recognition of non-forest management issues (a.k.a land use) and that elements from all five proposed options should be amalgamated into one, super LULUCF plan. There was however, an argument about whether or not "additional activities" (which are usually optional) could be made mandatory if written into a first commitment period. As flexible as Parties seemed they were getting, they still managed to show old, non committal tendencies in this way.

Similarly, an A1 party proposed a removal of emissions caps on these additional activities. Huh?

The chair plans to write up a new text based on the discussion, and it will be open for re-negotiations on Tuesday.

The "other issues" group also met within the KP, but all they managed to do was push everything on their agenda to Poland. So expect spillover effects, greenhouse gases, and methodological issues to all come up in December.

A delegate was quoted after the day's work to say that "with all [they] have to do, [he's] surprised at the lack of urgency." As you can probably tell, "discussions are very much still in the collecting and clarifying mode."

I guess we could always say, maybe tomorrow will be better.

Rhiya

Advances on Adaptation and a 2009 Work Programme

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:42:00 EDT

The adaptation session within Monday's LCA resembled yet another brainstorming session, as Parties put all of their desired criteria and contentious issues straight on the table.

Scaling up financial and technological conduits between the global North and South and incorporating climate change into all poverty related policy (since the two are now inextricably linked) were two major non-A1 issues. Also, the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) called for adaptive technology specific to their region.

All Parties agreed that the distinction between immediate climate shocks and long-term climatic changes needs to be drawn and incorporated into policy and action.

And concerning funding, coherence to ensure effectiveness and plentiful resources was stressed. Also, a new idea concerning an insurance mechanism that would manage climate risk was tossed around. Finally, regional bodies were proposed to identify financing, tech transfer, and capacity building needs in some of the world's hardest hit regions.

Generally speaking, these are good ideas, and I know you're probably tired of hearing this, but we need to get beyond this clarification stage. Besides, do you think a time will come where all 192 countries in the Convention will agree and be clear on everything?

On this note, informal discussions were held concerning a work programme for 2009. The focus was orientated towards negotiating, since 2008's programme had a firm foothold in the exchange of ideas. The chair of the LCA presented three options by which a draft programme could be drawn up:

1. Compiling proposals from any and all Parties on their ideas in a new agreement
2. A non-paper containing possible elements of a Copenhagen deal
3. A draft negotiating text

You can see that as you go down the list the level of commitment and solidification ramps up. Sadly however, parties chose option 1. Workshops for next year were also proposed along these lines: sectoral approaches, agricultural mitigation, greenhouse gas inventories, impacts of response measures, and developed country mitigation commitments and developing country mitigation actions. Note: a good sign is that the workshops are getting more specific in relation to the most contentious issues, so this will hopefully ensure some level of success.

Up next is Monday's sessions in the KP.

Rhiya

PS Meet Yvo de Boer over there on the right. He's the UNFCCC Secretariat (based in Bonn) and an all-around important guy to know about.

Mitigation Mania

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:16:00 EDT

Whether or not to amend the Convention in terms of differentiating mitigation actions by developing countries was a heated issue [again] in the LCA on Monday.

The Umbrella Group (Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, the Russian Federation, Ukraine and the US) wants new, legal mitigation obligations from all parties, and since the Convention only really applies to A1, this would require amendments. Hence, the majority of developing parties are attempting to halt the controversy and get the group focused on the implementation of what is already written.

Japan, citing the evolution of many developing economies, is calling for a re-evaluation of major polluters in non-Annex 1, and claiming that the 'polluter pays' system applies to them (China and India). The EU came to the aid of emerging economies however, stating that the Least Developed Countries (LDC's) have nothing to do with the current negotiations, and what we really need is at least a 30% in developed country emissions from 1990 levels by 2020.

Clearly, things are still in the clarifying stages, but the debate over whether to stay [and amend] or go on the Convention is beginning to cripple the group. A1 parties need to take the lead and say that they will work with what is already written and stop trying to involve non-A1 parties on everything. They need to face the facts of their historical obligation to this monumental problem.

Rhiya

Electronic System for Travel Authorization

Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:08:00 EDT

I am presently at MIT for the Emergent Gravity Conference, a trip that was as smoothly as could be, partly because I didn't bother to hand in my I-94 when I left California only a week earlier. Nevertheless, complains about travel to the USA always makes a good topic at any conference, the best is trying to avoid the country as far as possible since even transit only is an extremely annoying procedure.

Since it occurred to me many people don't seem to know about improvements to the pleasures of travel to and through the USA, here is an update on the visa waiver program (VWP). (Your country is participating in the visa waiver program if you have usually filled out a green form with your passport information, travel dates and so on - this is the I-94W, the Visa Waiver Arrival-Departure Record.)

Effective January 12, 2009, all VWP travelers will be required to obtain an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the U.S. under the VWP.

It's called the "Electronic System for Travel Authorization" (ESTA) and you find more information on this website and is supposed to work as follows:

Log onto the ESTA Web site and complete an on-line application in English. Travelers are encouraged to apply early. The web-based system will prompt you to answer basic biographical and eligibility questions typically requested on a paper I-94W form.

Applications may be submitted at any time prior to travel, however, the Department of Homeland Security recommends that applications be submitted no less than 72 hours prior to travel.

So say good bye to last minute trips.

After January 12, 2009, VWP travelers who do not apply for and receive travel authorization via ESTA prior to travel may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing or be denied admission at a U.S. port of entry.

That's the bad news. The good news is that an approved travel authorization is valid for up to two years, or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first (the I-94 was so far good for 90 days only), and valid for multiple entries into the U.S. (as previously).

What stuns me about this is that US officials seem to assume everybody has the possibility to access that website in a timely manner.

"You do not really understand something unless you can explain it to your grandmother." ~ Albert Einstein