250,000 women raped, mutilated, tortured
10 month old baby raped by 35 year old man
Almost 6 million dead...
Multinational Corporations plundering of Congo's gold, diamonds, coltan, cobalt and other natural resources.
Something must be done
At the beginning of May I attended a "Teach In" organized by the Toronto V-Day campaign. V-day was started by Eve Ensler of Vagina Monologue fame, and each year she shines a spotlight on women from different countries in the world that are suffering from violence, in-equality and hardship. This year the spotlight is on The Democratic Republic of Congo. I was fortunate enough to hear the voices of those working to publicize the atrocities taking place in the Congo and gain a deeping understanding of the origins of the violence.
This past friday I attended another lecture at U of T organized by "Friends of the Congo". There were four speakers, all deeply involved and one who had travelled to the Congo and shared her experiences.
I would like to share what I learned with you...it is so so so important that we educate ourselves outside of this bubble that we live in. Please read as much as you can and visit the links provided. Be AWARE, because another genocide is taking place in the world, with people dying everyday and it CAN be stopped.
The following are the notes that I took, many of which are not my own words, but those of the speakers...
Many would say that the Democratic Repulic of Congo is the heart of Africa. It has a population of 65 million people, is the size of Western Europe and has $24 trillion worth of natural resources. That is total to the GDP of the U.S. and the European Union. It has the largest agricultural capacity of any country in the world! Has the 2nd largest RAINFOREST in the world. The land of the Congo contains every mineral on the periodic table.
As a result there is a resource war taking place, involving many Western nations, including CANADA. Minerals like Coltan are used to make electronics in the Western world. Multinational corporations are providing war lords with weapons to control the mines and seize resourceful land in order to maintain control over manufacturing cheap electronics. Soldiers are coming in from other countries like Uganda and Rwanda to seize control of land. This has resulted in so many people being displaced and killed. The Congo is being destabilized by using women as weapons of war. Women are being raped systematically, not just by one man, but by many. Raped infront of their children, their children getting raped, and not with intercourse, with knives, and guns and foreign objects.
One of the speakers actually showed us pictures of the vagina's of some of the women who had been raped. We saw a 22 year old woman who had been raped by 5 men, a 53 year old woman who have been raped by 7 men. A 6 week old baby, a 10 month old baby and a 6 year old child.
UNBELIEVABLE.
There have been 10 Canadian companies implicated in a UN report of the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources and other forms of Wealth in the Congo.
I invite you to do your own research as this is just a brief introduction to the issue. The Congo has a long history of imperialistic rule, which has played a huge part in the state of the country today.
There is no certified Coltan coming from the Congo ( certified meaning it has been obtained fairly)
Everytime you use your laptop (I am writing on one right now) play a video game, or answer your cell phone, think that there was a Congolese woman who was raped in order to supply you with that luxury.
Foreign countries need to be held accountable for thier company's actions. They should not be allowed to exploit the lack of good governance in the DRC.
Check your investment portfolio to find out what companies you are invested in- specific Canadian companies involved, I will post the names once I get them from the organizers.
Become a "friend of the congo"
Pressure political leaders to practice aggressive diplomacy.
Things that can be done- Spread the word. It is ridiculous that Susan Boyle gets so much media coverage and hardly anything is being said about the 5.4 million that have died and are still being killed in Congo.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Funk'ed
Such a funk...
I am going to sleep so late and not waking up early.
Tomorrow I row again at 4:30am...we shall see how I do.
I am going to sleep so late and not waking up early.
Tomorrow I row again at 4:30am...we shall see how I do.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Hot Docs Film Review - Big River Man
Another gem in the Hot Docs film festival is a movie called Big River Man. The filmmaker John Maringouin chronicles overweight endurance swimmer Martin Strel's quest to swim the Amazon. He has already swam the Yangtze and Mississippi River and now wants to tackle an his longest swim. No one has ever done it.
The film is narrated by his son (who is also his pr person, business manager and confidant), which helps showcase an interesting parent/child relationship.
We are afforded an insight into the Martin's life, a flamenco guitar teacher by trade and endurance swimmer by hobby. He is close with many diplomats within his country and is seen as a national hero of sorts, as well as a giant fan of the United States (he is from Slovenia). As we travel with Martin through his 4000+ mile swim across the amazon, the film takes on a self-reflexivity. The structure becomes increasingly hard to follow as Martin slowly loses his mind from the immense pressure physically, mentally and emotionally being put on his body from the swim.
I won't say much more other than the fact that the film is very funny and entertaining. Martin is truly a character for the ages. We repeatedly see him asking for wine or scotch while swimming instead of water. It also gives us a chance to see the scenery of the amazon, including Martin's interaction with the local people who live along the water's edge and their varied reactions to his swim.
Big River Man premiered at Sundance and is one of the Hot Docs organizer's favourite film in the festival this year. He has seen over 90 films! I have only seen 8 so far, but it is one of my favourites as well!
It is playing:
Thursday May 7th at 7pm at the Isabel Bader Theatre
Saturday May 9th at 6:30pm at the Bloor Cinema
You can check out more at:
http://schedule.hotdocs.ca/index.php/2009/film/big_river_man
The film is narrated by his son (who is also his pr person, business manager and confidant), which helps showcase an interesting parent/child relationship.
We are afforded an insight into the Martin's life, a flamenco guitar teacher by trade and endurance swimmer by hobby. He is close with many diplomats within his country and is seen as a national hero of sorts, as well as a giant fan of the United States (he is from Slovenia). As we travel with Martin through his 4000+ mile swim across the amazon, the film takes on a self-reflexivity. The structure becomes increasingly hard to follow as Martin slowly loses his mind from the immense pressure physically, mentally and emotionally being put on his body from the swim.
I won't say much more other than the fact that the film is very funny and entertaining. Martin is truly a character for the ages. We repeatedly see him asking for wine or scotch while swimming instead of water. It also gives us a chance to see the scenery of the amazon, including Martin's interaction with the local people who live along the water's edge and their varied reactions to his swim.
Big River Man premiered at Sundance and is one of the Hot Docs organizer's favourite film in the festival this year. He has seen over 90 films! I have only seen 8 so far, but it is one of my favourites as well!
It is playing:
Thursday May 7th at 7pm at the Isabel Bader Theatre
Saturday May 9th at 6:30pm at the Bloor Cinema
You can check out more at:
http://schedule.hotdocs.ca/index.php/2009/film/big_river_man
Monday, April 20, 2009
Hot Docs Film Review - Rough Aunties
One of the films showing this year at Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival called Rough Aunties
The film follows a social work enterprise called "Bobbi Bear"that works with children to help them confront their abusers. They use stuffed bears to help the children tell their stories and subsequently work with the police to put their abusers to justice.
The movie was filmed in a completely unconventional style. There was no voice of G-d narration or sit down private interviews. I think this made the film feel more organic and really gave you the clearest view of the sentiments felt when dealing with child abuse.
It was all done off the cuff, following the group of women as they work to help the children of their community seek justice and refuge from abuse. At the same time as we see their tireless work to help others, we also are given a glimpse into their own troubled lives. One social worker's family friend being shot, another having her child drown in the river. The filmmaker Kim Loginotto shows an interesting parallel between the incredibly difficult situations that the Rough Aunties handle with professionalism and compassion and how they deal with and support each other through personal loss.
There was an interesting juxtaposition of the two deaths. The reaction to the death of the white father was to get into the house, clean up and speak with the children about the situation. We are not privy to the funeral and very little of the emotional aftermath. The response to the death of the child was ceremonial. Full of singing and dancing in mourning of the child, but clearly in support of the mother dealing with her loss. We see the entire funeral including the open casket and the burial of the child.
'Rough Aunties" is an incredibly special film. It is an homage to the women who have dedicated their lives to protecting the children in this community in South Africa, and to empower women to fight for their own children. It is refreshing to see a documentary that highlights this issue, as there are many other places in Africa, most notably the Democratic Republic of Congo, where so many get away with rape and murder and inhumane actions. It was great to see these women go after the perpetrators of these actions and put them in jail. Viewing how these women also support each other through their personal problems added an extra dimension to the film. Jackie, the founder of Bobbi Bear, takes an interest in each of her social workers, helping them develop not only as social workers, but as people, empowering them to do more and champion the values of woman's rights that they practice.
The film is screening Tuesday May 5th at 6:30pm at the Bloor Cinema and on Wednesday May 6th at 11:00am at the Isabel Bader Theatre.
You can read more at
http://roughaunties.com/
The film follows a social work enterprise called "Bobbi Bear"that works with children to help them confront their abusers. They use stuffed bears to help the children tell their stories and subsequently work with the police to put their abusers to justice.
The movie was filmed in a completely unconventional style. There was no voice of G-d narration or sit down private interviews. I think this made the film feel more organic and really gave you the clearest view of the sentiments felt when dealing with child abuse.
It was all done off the cuff, following the group of women as they work to help the children of their community seek justice and refuge from abuse. At the same time as we see their tireless work to help others, we also are given a glimpse into their own troubled lives. One social worker's family friend being shot, another having her child drown in the river. The filmmaker Kim Loginotto shows an interesting parallel between the incredibly difficult situations that the Rough Aunties handle with professionalism and compassion and how they deal with and support each other through personal loss.
There was an interesting juxtaposition of the two deaths. The reaction to the death of the white father was to get into the house, clean up and speak with the children about the situation. We are not privy to the funeral and very little of the emotional aftermath. The response to the death of the child was ceremonial. Full of singing and dancing in mourning of the child, but clearly in support of the mother dealing with her loss. We see the entire funeral including the open casket and the burial of the child.
'Rough Aunties" is an incredibly special film. It is an homage to the women who have dedicated their lives to protecting the children in this community in South Africa, and to empower women to fight for their own children. It is refreshing to see a documentary that highlights this issue, as there are many other places in Africa, most notably the Democratic Republic of Congo, where so many get away with rape and murder and inhumane actions. It was great to see these women go after the perpetrators of these actions and put them in jail. Viewing how these women also support each other through their personal problems added an extra dimension to the film. Jackie, the founder of Bobbi Bear, takes an interest in each of her social workers, helping them develop not only as social workers, but as people, empowering them to do more and champion the values of woman's rights that they practice.
The film is screening Tuesday May 5th at 6:30pm at the Bloor Cinema and on Wednesday May 6th at 11:00am at the Isabel Bader Theatre.
You can read more at
http://roughaunties.com/
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Lighten up wind
Finally got out on the water today!!! Hurray!
So nice to go down to the rowing club and actually row!
I have been tweeting like a mad woman as of late. It is kinda fun, and a lot of strange people are following me. But I am now following the mayor and this really cool media guy, as well as some other organizations.
In better news!
I got an internship at Hot Docs!!!!!
So nice to go down to the rowing club and actually row!
I have been tweeting like a mad woman as of late. It is kinda fun, and a lot of strange people are following me. But I am now following the mayor and this really cool media guy, as well as some other organizations.
In better news!
I got an internship at Hot Docs!!!!!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
World Creativity and Innovation Week April 15-21st
I miss being creative. I have had a sketch sitting on my desk, ready to be painted for over a week. Tomorrow I paint!!
I miss making movies. I want to go out, buy a camera, a macbook and final cut and go off and make movies again!
What creative activities do you miss.
I played my guitar today for the first time in months, and have such an erg to go sit on the street and busk to raise money for the rowing club...
EEE!~!!
Get creative, there is so much creativity missing from our lives as we get older. We have to take hold and just do things!
I miss making movies. I want to go out, buy a camera, a macbook and final cut and go off and make movies again!
What creative activities do you miss.
I played my guitar today for the first time in months, and have such an erg to go sit on the street and busk to raise money for the rowing club...
EEE!~!!
Get creative, there is so much creativity missing from our lives as we get older. We have to take hold and just do things!
Row Row
Rode my bike down to the club only to find that it was too windy to row. I can tell you that my bike ride home was brutal! It felt like one big gust could have knocked me right off my bike.
Was nice to erg in front of the water though. I just did a 45 min ss. Am spending time just applying for jobs. I'm not super happy, but am trying to fill my days with stuff from the rowing fundraising portfolio and training.
Rode my bike down to the club only to find that it was too windy to row. I can tell you that my bike ride home was brutal! It felt like one big gust could have knocked me right off my bike.
Was nice to erg in front of the water though. I just did a 45 min ss. Am spending time just applying for jobs. I'm not super happy, but am trying to fill my days with stuff from the rowing fundraising portfolio and training.
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