Agents of Change

What does the LVR movie Agents of Change show us about social justice?  Record as many thoughts as you can, big and small.  (Be sure you've watched right to the end.)  Are these new ideas?  If not, where have you heard them before?  Is this film an effective method of demonstrating those ideas?  Why or why not?

Poverty:  can we end it?   Why isn't it declining with all of the aid provided, organizations and individuals involved, resources available?  Why should we care?

How do different NGOs, individuals, charities, government agencies apply certain principles to their attempt to achieve personal, local, and global social justice.  Consider the various elements of the social justice lens reviewed in class, and assess one of those individuals or institutions.

An Opportunity to Share

Share any books, videos, films, experiences you have related to social justice.  I'm looking forward to learning a lot from all of you, and expanding my vision.

First Nations

Marilyn James presented an informative and provocative look at the current issues around the Sinixt Nation and the federal government's insistence that for the purpose of The Indian Act, they are extinct.  She spoke passionately, and it was clear that there was a great deal of pain and frustration behind her words.  How would you sound if Rosslanders were declared extinct and thus had no claim to their property in Rossland, to any government funds ( no schools, social institutions, etc), access to cemeteries, or sense of belonging?  What would you do?  What would you want to happen?  How would you feel?

Climate Change

Now that you've watched the video on climate change (http://grist.org/climate-energy/my-tedx-talk-on-climate-pimped-out/), I invite one of you to open discussion on the film itself or the content.

God Grew Tired of Us

This was a very impactful film about three of the 'Lost Boys of Sudan' who fled war in Sudan and recount their experiences as they re-settle in the United States.  The challenges they were forced to face in Sudan, then Ethiopia, and then Kenya were almost beyond belief.  I have read two books on this subject - tens of thousands of boys as young as babies having to travel hundreds of miles, often without food and water, because their Muslim northern government decided to kill all male children from the Christian south end of the country.  I am again trying to understand how people can treat others so horribly, and why they think they can do it in the name of religion or tribe or color, or any other reason that seems so insignificant and yet has resulted in such loss of humanity.

The film also focussed on the difficulty of three of these boys in adjusting to life in the US, as aspect I hadn't really appreciated before.  A good thing for us to keep in mind when Rossland welcomes its two Burmese families next year.  Some of you may want to become active in that process as part of your 'taking action' portion of the course.

If any of you would like to see the film, I will borrow it for you.  I do recommend it.

The Power of Hope

Hope

 

Spiritual melody
Crystallized and creative force
To dispel my terrors
To blend my fears
To dispel my hatred
To see the light

 

They pushed me in to the swamp of terror
They pushed me in to the abyss of hatred
I was cracked by impotence
I could not see the horizon
But now I see the light

 

 

 

It is hope
The teacher of my heart
Who taught to me the virtues of truth

 

 

 

The hope
Throws away my fear of the history of injustice
It releases me 
It is hope
that has rebuilt my being
It is hope
that has given me a home again

 

It is hope 
that has taught me to believe again

 

There were many fears
There was much dread 
There were many pains
That hope
Helped me to overcome

 

Hope is the spiritual melody
That saved a slave of hate
as I

 

I was wandering
In the sloughs of fear
In the darkness of hatred
But now I see the glowing horizon
Now I can see the light again.

Julio Cochoy June 2012 “Year of Hope”

 

This is a poem written and shared with us by the speaker on Monday evening.  He shared a tragic tale of civil war in his community in Guatemala and the effect it had on the victims, their families, and the community at large in a widespread manner.  For example, we may not think about this, but he told of one girl who, because her father had been killed, had to stay at home and work and not attend school. Her dream of becoming a secretary was quashed.  We heard of the journey from hate to hope, and I think that is such a powerful element to consider:  What does hope mean?  How important is it?  What happens when hope is taken from us?  Can hope overcome huge obstacles, or is it simply a diversion?

I am reminded of stories of the Holocaust, in which victims declared that they survived because no matter what the Nazis did to their bodies, they could not control their minds.

Violence

I admit to being very surprised by Randy Jenzen's presentation on October 29, or more specifically, to his conclusion that we are actually living in the least violent time of history.  My perception was quite different.  I was particularly surprised by the fact that men are 9 times more likely to be victims of war than women and children, that the number of refugees in the world is decreasing, and that current wars affect civilians far less than they used to.  The only facts that didn't surprise me was that the world spends approximately 75 times more on war than peace and that the biggest threat to global security is NOT global terrorism.  (I did find it interesting that in every year but 1995 and 2001, more Americans are killed by lightening, deer, peanut allergies, bee stings, and "ignition or melting of nightwear" than terrorism!)

Randy presented a number of theories with suggested factors which might explain why violence is decreasing:  spread of democracy, increasing economic interdependence, declining economic utility of war, growth in international institutions such as the UN, end of colonialism, increase in state capacity, decrease in ethnic discrimination, spread of human rights, proliferations of NGOs, increased participation of women in politics, dominance of US power, and the end of the cold war.

Which of these do YOU think have had the most impact on the decline in violence in our world?  Why do you think we have such a different perception?  Do you accept that violence IS, in fact, declining?  What does that mean for our world?  For you?

Those Big Questions

We looked at some essential questions in class, both in the handout and in our discussion after watching some of the videos.  There are so many important questions, and I personally find it very, very hard to not be able to see the answers.  At times, it makes me feel as though the issues are too big.  I'm hoping that as we all share our ideas, insights, doubts, information, more questions, and plans for action, we will all be able to look at social justice as a big, big issue, but not one that renders us overwhelmed or immobile.

As a way to feel more certain about actually being able to make a difference, I looked at the We Day videos on "shameless idealists".  You might want to check it out!

http://www.weday.com/we-day-u/shameless-idealists/?catid=shameless-idealists&slg=the-dalai-lama-in-conversation-with-craig-kielburger"

What is Social Justice?

What is social justice?   Is it a concept?  A practice?  Is Social Justice something people do, or something achieved? What does "social justice" mean to you?

And why do we study it?  Do you agree with the statement below?

It is our goal to educate youth to become global citizens who are able to think critically about world issues, at home and abroad. Racial discrimination, gender and class issues, war, poverty and inequality among humanity are only a few of the problems that plague the planet. Education is empowerment and with knowledge we can make change    

What are your goals for this course?