Category: news and events

torture in afghanistan: who are our enemies?

my vancouver blogger friend jonathan narvey has a discussion about the current allegations that the canadian military looked the other way when people they had detained in afghanistan were transferred to afghani prisons where the canadian military knew, or should have known, that the detainees would be tortured. please see jonathan’s article and various comments,… Continue reading torture in afghanistan: who are our enemies?

remembrance day: musing on war and sacrifice

remembrance day has always been an ambiguous day for me. good memories : an hour in the rain under a gazillion umbrellas, proudly listening to my daughter singing a song with the girl guides at a remembrance day celebration; or a lovely morning 17 years ago when my then-boyfriend, now-husband were walking up and down… Continue reading remembrance day: musing on war and sacrifice

rising up to end stigma

as you know, i am a proud member of the canadian mental health association. i am even prouder to announce that a participant advisory committee, that is, individuals who are using the services of the CMHA vancouver/burnaby branch, is hosting an event for people living with mental illness and those affected by it to talk… Continue reading rising up to end stigma

how many suicides are ok, mr. minister?

last week, the british columbia government (the one that pumps millions and millions of dollars into the 2-week olympics next year) made cuts “changes” to the budgets of about 90 (ninety!) health agencies in the vancouver coastal health region alone. the changes cuts will mean no harm to services, says minister kevin falcon. it’s hard… Continue reading how many suicides are ok, mr. minister?

blog action day: buddhists and climate change

once again, blog action day and the october buddhist carnival fall on the same date. let me present to you, then, a few colourful strands from that corner of the blogosphere where buddhism and climate change intersect. icebergs are buddhist monks we always start that buddhist carnival with a poem. here is an excerpt from… Continue reading blog action day: buddhists and climate change

canadian thanksgiving: 20 things i’m thankful for

i’m thankful for the smell of the blanket my daughter likes to use on the sofa the dimples in my older grandson’s cheeks the sweet little voice of my younger grandson the particular shade of purple of the asters on my front yard i like thinking about the specifics, somehow it gives my gratitude more… Continue reading canadian thanksgiving: 20 things i’m thankful for

mental illness awareness week 2009

today marks the end of mental illness awareness week. here are some bloggers who wrote about it, and a poem a rant against mental illness awareness week and the desire to decrease stigma around mental illness about childhood schizophrenia, by a blogger who wants to set yo head straight this week appears to be supported… Continue reading mental illness awareness week 2009

blog action day

october 15 is blog action day. blog action day is an annual event that unites the world’s bloggers in posting about the same issue on the same day. the aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion. the goal first and last, the purpose of blog action day is to create a discussion. bloggers… Continue reading blog action day

the dalai lama in vancouver

last week i had the pleasure again to see the dalai lama. the topic of the talk was women and peacebuilding. i’d like to share with you my notes, taken down as closely as possible in his delightful language. this is the third time i’ve seen the dalai lama. one of the things that i… Continue reading the dalai lama in vancouver