Yes, the last two posts were written while at A's apartment pre-drinking before one of our many nights out of dance.
This time we went to a bar in the Q and Ossington area - different stomping ground than our normal Shake a Tail environment.
The music was hilarious, tons of 90s pop which was super fun to dance to. A nice change from the oldies we hear each weekend at Clinton's. BUT.... the guys were sleaaaaaaazy.
Like inappropriately sleazy. I won't get into any of it, but let's just say their was some lift ticket fondling that was not wanted.
It has truly been forever since I have posted anything life related. Basically the rest of 2009 consisted of working 3 film festivals, racing again in the summer with some great women and a butt-load of fundraising. I ran a Trivia Night, a Silent Auction, a Clothing Sale, an Annual Campaign, the December 6th Vigil (this year was the 20th anniversary) and now I am grant writing up a storm before I leave for my trip.
I spent the summer and early fall working for TIFF, which was a great experience. Still it taught me that I like out of office work environments the best. I got to see 15 films, meet and work with some great people and rock my organizational and sales skills to the max!I also worked for the Regent Park Film Festival, once TIFF was over.
I have been teaching First Aid, volunteering at the Toronto Botanical Garden, and doing a lot of ice skating. Ice skating makes me SO happy.
I have been determined to learn to skate backwards, and do backwards crossovers, and today I was successful doing them on one side! It may seem ridiculous that I am so happy about this, but I have worked hard over the last couple of months to make it happen and it feels good to develop skills!
Although the last couple of months have been really hard...ie telling a workaholic to be unemployed...I have filled my spare time with good friends. I have danced a lot, run a lot, skated a lot, taught people a great life skill (First Aid) and cleaned out a lot of my room at my parents house. The last thing being a huge step for someone who is a sentimental schmuck. Now all of my posters are making their way to a recycling plant.
It actually felt good to let go of my "highschool self" through the purge of all of my notes, posters, notebooks, programs and other junk that I had saved for no reason other than to re-live all of those moments again and again and again...
On to bigger and better things!
On Wednesday I am headed to Tanzania! WOOOOOT!!!!!
I am so excited to embark on this adventure.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Friday, January 15, 2010
Dancing Hoo Ha!
Am going dancing with my film girls
They rock my socks
Love dancing. I am so happy we have gone out so much this year (ie, October 31st)
Kisses
They rock my socks
Love dancing. I am so happy we have gone out so much this year (ie, October 31st)
Kisses
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Killing in the Congo
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.
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.
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/
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