tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-370487942024-03-14T04:05:24.841-07:00Sacred Social JusticeThoughts and musings from a writer, editor, photographer, activist, and musician in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. I believe that faith and social action are intertwined in efforts to positively motivate change in the society around us. We need to be actively involved in our communities to try to effect this change locally and globally. I also love the local Arts scene. Warning: alternative perspectives and strong opinions ahead. Intimidated yet? Good - read on.Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.comBlogger388125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-85002163186524240972021-03-31T11:27:00.002-07:002021-03-31T11:28:00.657-07:00Celebrating Social Justice on Good Friday<p><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0.01); font-family: "Helvetica Neue", HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">The Edmonton Good Friday Outdoor Way of the Cross brings together members of the Christian social justice community, with a message for everyone, regardless of faith. Once again, this year's event had to be done in video form because of the pandemic, and once again I was happy to help with directing, filming, and editing. In the video, local leaders contribute reflections on environmental justice, homelessness, immigration and systemic racism, Indigenous issues, and more. The video will premiere on YouTube at 10 a.m. this Friday, April 2.</span></p><p><br /></p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Wo8IhrqjSkE" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-6062693827810457562020-11-23T08:08:00.002-08:002020-11-23T12:35:07.719-08:00ANNOUNCING JEWISH EDMONTON STORIES ONLINE PROJECTI am happy to announce that I will be working on the following project in collaboration with #YEGFilm and the cooperation of several community organizations. <div><br /></div><div><b>JEWISH EDMONTON STORIES ONLINE PROJECT SEEKS PARTICIPANTS<br /></b><br />Jewish Edmonton Stories Online, a project for Jewish and non-Jewish Edmontonians alike to learn and connect with the stories and places of our community’s past, will launch in the fall of 2021. We are seeking remarkable stories and memories from interested members of Edmonton’s Jewish community that connect to a particular place in the City. Stories do not have to be submitted in a complete format. At this point, we're looking for story ideas and summaries. We will follow up with you once the stories are selected for sharing on our coming interactive storytelling website. Stories will be recorded via audio, video, and/or written transcription via an interview process.<br /><br />We intend for the stories to represent diversity within the Jewish community, including, but not limited to elders, Sephardim and Mizrahim, women, LGBTQ individuals, and people with disabilities. All recording will be carried out safely with COVID-19 protocols in place. The storyteller will be paid a small honorarium. At this time when we are physically isolated due to COVID-19, it’s important to reach out in as many ways possible to connect and share our community’s knowledge, history, and experiences.<br /><br />This project is being made possible with the support of the Edmonton Heritage Council, JAHSENA, <a href="http://WordsPicturesMusic.com">WordsPicturesMusic.com</a>, <a href="http://yegfilm.com">#YEGFilm</a>, and the Jewish Federation of Edmonton. To share your story, or for more information, feel free to connect with us at <a href="mailto:stories@jewishedmontonstories.ca">stories@jewishedmontonstories.ca</a>. Deadline for stories: March 1, 2021.</div>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-65661497251121608302020-09-29T13:22:00.002-07:002020-09-29T13:22:14.319-07:00Fifteen Years of Radical Citizen MediaIn September of 2005, I attended my first peace march, and afterwards launched what has become RadicalCitizenMedia.com to document progressive social movements and citizen engagement. 15 years later, it has almost 50,000 photos, 3400 videos with over 4 million views, and 4500 subscribers. And YouTube still won't monetize me, LOL!
<a href="https://www.radicalcitizenmedia.com" target="_blank">https://www.radicalcitizenmedia.com
</a>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-63690211708032004132020-07-06T13:51:00.002-07:002020-07-06T13:51:39.540-07:00Problematic Monuments: Educate, Don’t CelebrateI've been investigating the Ukrainian far-right for a number of years, particularly a couple of monuments in Edmonton that pay tribute to Nazis. Here is an article I wrote for the Canadian Jewish Record about one in particular:</p>
<a href="https://canadianjewishrecord.ca/2020/07/06/kirman-problematic-monuments-in-edmonton-force-us-to-question-our-communitys-core-values/" trget="newwindow"><b>KIRMAN: Problematic monuments in Edmonton Force Us to Question Our Community’s Core Values</b></a>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-33267071818801070382020-05-30T18:37:00.001-07:002020-05-30T18:37:28.850-07:00Why He Cries<p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I wrote this song almost 20 years ago. It’s a bit over the top, but I think it’s still relevant in light of current world events. You can give a listen here: <a href="https://paulaevekirman.bandcamp.com/track/why-he-cries" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-image: linear-gradient(rgba(68, 68, 68, 0) 50%, rgba(68, 68, 68, 0.25) 0px); background-position: 0px 1.15em; background-repeat: repeat-x; background-size: 1em 2px; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: black; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0.15em; text-decoration-line: none; vertical-align: baseline;">https://paulaevekirman.bandcamp.com/track/why-he-cries</a></i></p><p style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", HelveticaNeue, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 15px 0px 0px; outline: none 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As the dawn brings a new day<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />Seems like no one has something good to say<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />Building walls around our hearts<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />Where’s the love when lives are torn apart?<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />Shouting names we can’t repeat<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />To those who we think are incomplete<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And then somehow the truth gets masked in lies<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And He watches<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we wonder why He cries<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we speak our words of hate<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we cast our cloak of fear<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we cut our hearts with pain<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />As our own demise draws near<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we neatly seal our fate<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And no words of love we hear<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we beat and kill and maim<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />As He gently sheds His tears<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />Flip the channel to the news<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />It’s enough to give anyone the blues<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />I can’t bear to watch this pain<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />All this fighting just seems so insane<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />They say the war has to be won<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />But who wins when all is said and done?<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />Broken dreams, broken hearts, broken lives<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And He watches<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we wonder why He cries<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we speak our words of hate<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we cast our cloak of fear<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we cut our hearts with pain<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />As our own demise draws near<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we neatly seal our fate<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And no words of love we hear<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we beat and kill and maim<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />As He gently sheds His tears<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />It’s the way we choose to live<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />We can choose to take or choose to give<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />It’s what we have to demand<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />Come to grips with what we don’t understand<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />Never say it’s not their fault<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />They’re just acting upon what they’ve been taught<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />Bloody footprints on the ground and in our lives<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And He watches<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we wonder why He cries<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we speak our words of hate<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we cast our cloak of fear<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we cut our hearts with pain<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />As our own demise draws near<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we neatly seal our fate<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And no words of love we hear<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we beat and kill and maim<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />As He gently sheds His tears<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we rationalize our words<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we turn our heads in shame<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we think of all we’ve hurt<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we try to spread the blame<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we struggle with our deeds<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we try to hide our fear<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And we’re sowing the wrong seeds<br style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; -webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; outline: none 0px;" />And He gently sheds his tears</p>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-10553318366658196772019-12-02T08:30:00.000-08:002019-12-02T08:30:32.217-08:00Our Digital Future, C'est Ici <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcwh6zt9qXKU2gD4yPSwHX-VFEpY9T2vhijy_QTSke9pRgoK06azLChyphenhyphencBKWpYyek9CdgoBPyn1nEmZ_Zx30X5q0Q9IfBoJvE-b_VzgBmv9abD-3JhUJdm_a0KB5-oSHd3Wncng/s1600/IMG_9966.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDcwh6zt9qXKU2gD4yPSwHX-VFEpY9T2vhijy_QTSke9pRgoK06azLChyphenhyphencBKWpYyek9CdgoBPyn1nEmZ_Zx30X5q0Q9IfBoJvE-b_VzgBmv9abD-3JhUJdm_a0KB5-oSHd3Wncng/s320/IMG_9966.jpg" width="320" height="240" data-original-width="1600" data-original-height="1200" /></a></div>
On November 29 and 30, Studio 96 became home for about 30 young people, mostly in their late teens and early 20s, who took part in a 24-hour “Thinkathon.” </p>
“Our Digital Future, C'est Ici” was organized by the Goethe-Institut Montreal, as well as the Goethe-Institut Toronto, Edmonton's NextGen, European Union in Canada, and the CJD NDG, a non-profit organization in Montreal that helps young people enter the job market. </p>
The Edmonton event was the second in a series of Thinkathons in six Canadian and six European cities between now and the end of 2020.
The project offers young citizens (18-30) an open, inclusive platform for a debate on our digital futures. During the 24 hours, participants co-created videos and social media campaigns, as well as recommendations, for Canadian and European politicians. The work took place both on-site and online, connecting with a Thinkathon happening at the same time in Milan, Italy.</p>
The first Thinkathon took place in October in Montreal and Brussels, Belgium on the topic of Digital Citizenship 4.0.</p>
I was especially excited to be asked to be one of the guest expert speakers at the Edmonton event. I was asked to speak because of my work in community and digital media, as well as community organizing. My topics were online hate, hate groups, and bullying in the digital age, particularly how to deal with it when encountered online and how to protect themselves (and each other) from such behaviours. I was also asked lots of questions about the current state of the media, and how the digital age has changed how we get our information and how we interact with social media and the Internet. </p>
After introducing myself and explaining my work (focusing in particular on documenting social movements at <a href="http://www.radicalcitizenmedia.com/" target="newwindow">RadicalCitizenMedia.com</a>), I gave a very general overview on online hate and bullying. Some of my major talking points included:</p>
<li> The digital age can give anyone a public platform, which can be good - it means people who are marginalized but have access to electronics can have a voice - but there is a dark side.
<li> People can feel emboldened behind a keyboard, and can even be anonymous, and say things they would never say in person.
<li> Online media can also make recruiting people for hate groups easier, because people who are lonely, disenfranchised, vulnerable can be easier to reach.
<li> Arguing with haters doesn't work. It just amplifies whatever was posted.
<li> Block, delete, report, repeat. If reported enough, person/group may get banned from the service. They may come back with a different name, so be vigilant and keep reporting.
<li> Same for bullying: report behaviour, and support the person being bullied. Send them public and private words of support.
<li> Protect yourself: keep social media locked down to friends only, be particular about who you accept to friend/follow you, use a false name, don't use a photo of yourself as a profile picture.
<li> Doxxing = posting a person's photo and personal information online with the intent of causing harassment. If you are doxxed report it to the online service, to authorities. Keep a record of all harassing calls, emails, posts.
<p>
The questions and comments that followed were excellent. Here is a summary of the outcomes of those questions and comments:</p>
<li> While "block, delete, report, repeat" might seem like a band-aid solution, it's the first step. The goal is to get the groups/individuals off the Internet. This has been achieved through continuous reporting, but also posting about the people/group and their behaviour on public platforms, including screenshots/quotes.
<li> Emotions cannot be banned. But if someone is posting harmful, inappropriate things, they have to be stopped. It would be great to channel that energy into something positive, but that usually comes from a person's work on themself and the intervention of the people around them. They also may not see their actions/words/ideology as negative. They think they are standing up for their country, their culture, or whatever. It's very difficult to have a rational discussion with someone of that mindset.
<li> There are no laws specifically against doxxing (that I am aware of), but there are laws against criminal harassment. Document everything.
<li> Social media has changed the way people do community organizing and activism, in terms of organizing events but also how they participate, to capture very visual or vocal multimedia posts to use on social media.
<li> Social media has grown in importance in terms of allowing people to become citizen journalists, especially now when traditional media is dwindling.
<li> It's important to be positive, even when social media is very sad and dark. Post about people in your community doing things to make the world a better place. Don't engage with the negativity if it is hate speech or trolls - work to get rid of it as described above, and add posts that are more positive in nature to your social media.
<li> What should be done about "cancel culture" and/or "call-out culture"? If a person has made a mistake or done something inappropriate and you have access to them, talk to them first. Calling out as a first step is generally reserved for people to whom one doesn't have access, such as celebrities being called out as part of the #MeToo movement. Every situation is different and you need to use your own judgement, but in general, calling out should be a last resort.
<li> How has documenting local activism changed since I began in 2005? When I started, I was one of the few doing it, but now since so many people have smartphones, lots of people are taking photos and shooting video and posting on social media.</p>
More information about the Thinkathons is <a href="https://thinkathon.agorize.com/en" target="newwindow">here</a>.
Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-82166947384670505502019-03-22T17:50:00.002-07:002019-03-22T17:50:40.617-07:00A School Visit for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial DiscriminationOn March 21, I was invited for the second time as a guest speaker for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21 at Balwin School in north Edmonton. My talk was very similar to the one I <a href="http://sacredsocialjustice.blogspot.com/2018/03/speech-international-day-for.html">gave last year</a>, focussing on anti-bullying, anti-Semitism, and activism.</p>
This year, I added am emphasis on calling out and stopping racist and prejudicial comments immediately, to prevent them from becoming normalized and becoming the start of a path of hatred. We've seen what unchecked hatred can do with the recent terrorist attack at the mosque in Christchurch, New Zealand, and at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh last year.</p>
Some of the young people in the multiracial class shared their experiences encountering racism, but also asked me a lot of questions about being Jewish, mostly about cultural and religious practices. I was apparently the first person most of them had ever met who self-identified as being Jewish. Even their teacher and the student teacher were asking me questions.</p>
Opportunities like this are really important because these young people now could put a face and name to the word "Jewish." Much racism and prejudice often comes from fear of the "other." Now, a Jewish person is no longer an "other" to them. When we get to meet people from different backgrounds, and we sincerely seek to learn about their lives and traditions, it helps to build intercultural understanding, peace, and harmony in our society. Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-80819260619854232472018-10-29T19:02:00.000-07:002018-10-29T19:02:22.879-07:00A Safe Space for Activism: Talk and Music<i>I was invited to be the guest speaker and performer at the Unitarian Church of Edmonton for its quarterly "Social Justice Sunday" on October 28, 2018. The topic was "A Safe Space for Activism." Below is a video of my talk and performance of four songs, as well as my notes. I ad libbed a bit in my talk as well, because I was responding to the previous speaker and adding a few things here and there as well.</i>
<hr>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4yOj-D_bviM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<b>Safe Spaces and Self-Care</b></p>
I come from a Jewish background. In Judaism, as some of you probably already know, there is a concept called <i>tikkun olam</i>, which translates to healing or repairing the world. Much of my activism is rooted in this belief. </p>
There is a lot of talk about safe spaces in the activist community and beyond, especially now in light of the #MeToo movement. When it comes to establishing and maintaining my safe spaces, of course, the support of my family, friends, and community is important. Being able to confide, ask for advice, share experiences, and the opportunity to be accountable and hold others to account is part of having a healthy community. But like every part of society, the activist community is not immune from bullies and predators, which is why having a network of support is so important.</p>
Having safe spaces also includes finding a place and time for self-care. Activists often get so wrapped up in organizing and attending events, that they neglect their own needs, leading to burnout and mental and/or physical health issues. Not being at the best we can be physically and mentally can make us more vulnerable. We need to be safe to say no when we are stretched, and to have the space to explore our own self-care needs.</p>
Music is an integral part of my safe space and my self-care. Like my faith, music also was a formative part of my activism. Through my mother, I grew up listening to a steady stream of Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Peter, Paul and Marie. The folk music of the 60s helped shape my political beliefs and my own musical style, when I began learning how to play the guitar and write songs as a teenager. Music is part of my activism, writing songs about social justice issues and performing at rallies and protests (and events like this).</p>
For me, music is both a creative expression and a place of mental retreat. Putting on my headphones helps take me away from the stress of daily life, can calm anxiety, and sometimes even help me concentrate. Writing and performing music, whether in front of an audience or in the privacy of my home, also cuts through stress and helps me focus. I find that if I go more than a few days without playing music, I get very tense and feel incomplete. Then, as soon as I pick up a guitar and start singing, my sense of grounding and balance is restored. There are proven health benefits of singing, both physically and mentally (these can be researched online), and I can attest to many of them from first hand experience. </p>
Besides being a part of my safe space, music helps me reach out to audiences with messages of peace and love and social justice. I will be sharing some of these songs with you today, and I welcome you to join me in my place of sanctuary.
Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-23661907434429497552018-10-01T17:35:00.000-07:002018-10-01T17:35:35.660-07:00#HateFreeYEG Lanches<a href=:https://www.facebook.com/pg/hatefreeyeg/" target="newwindow">#HateFreeYEG</a> is a new grassroots community initiative to work towards eradicating Edmonton of hate and racism. The initiative launched on September 30, and I was asked to speak at the launch as a community organizer about how we can eliminate hate, as well as my own experiences with anti-Semitism. Here is a video of my talk, as well as my notes.</p>
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Shalom and thank you for inviting me to speak this afternoon and to join my voice with all of us here who proclaim that hate is not welcome in Edmonton. I am with the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ecawar" target="newwindow">Edmonton Coalition Against War and Racism</a> and the <a href="http://www.edminterfaithcentre.ca/" target="newwindow">Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education</a>. I am also a Jewish woman. </p>
As a Jewish woman, the growing resurgence of ultra right-wing hate groups concerns me greatly. My own community has been affected recently, with swastikas being spray painted on buildings in several southwest neighbourhoods. It stands to reason that the same kinds of people who would express hate towards immigrants, Muslims, and people of colour are the same kinds of people who would be anti-Jewish. Also, as a Jew I feel a need to stand up against hatred because of my roots and my faith. Many Jewish people of my generation are the descendants of immigrants and refugees. I am also vigilant against Islamophobia not only because hatred is just plain wrong, but also because of the shared Abrahamic roots of our faiths.</p>
In fact, my commitment to social justice and human rights stems largely from my Jewish background. In Judaism, there is a value called <i>tikkun olam</i>, which translates to healing or repairing the world. We all have that potential within us, regardless of our background, to make the world a better place. It doesn't have to be through grand gestures or high-profile acts – every day, we all have opportunities to make the world around us safer, and to fill it with more compassion, hope, and love.</p>
At various times in my life I have had experiences with anti-Semitism. It's often been a subtle undercurrent, sometimes taking the form of jokes or comments perpetuating various stereotypes like being cheap, or being part of some kind of power conspiracy. Anti-Semitism has sometimes crossed over into sentiments that are misogynist, like body shaming, or calling a Jewish woman a nag, or the ubiquitous Jewish mother jokes. I've been told at times I don't “look” Jewish, as though that is a compliment. It isn't. Some anti-Semitism I have faced or witnessed also crosses a line into been ableist, like being referred to as neurotic or controlling – attributing to one's culture symptoms of mental illness which may or may not actually be real. After all, you don't always know what someone might be struggling with.</p>
I recall when I was accosted by a man on an isolated street in the inner city. He had seen my Star of David around my neck, and thought it was appropriate to stop me – a complete stranger – and ask if I was Jewish. I said yes, keeping a wide physical distance from this person. He then proceeded to interrogate me, asking where I was from, and not accepting Edmonton as the answer. He finally backed off when I gave him some general response about my distant Eastern European heritage. After that experience, I have found myself feeling defensive when someone asks about my choice of jewelry. I enjoy meeting new people and talking about myself and learning about them, but being “othered” time and time again can sometimes make a person overly sensitive to inquiries about their background, which is unfortunate because having conversations about ourselves can lead to greater understanding.</p>
Planting the seeds against racism and hate need to start early. We also all know that kid from school who was always being picked on, pushed around, made fun of, teased, beaten up, and pushed around some more. I know – because I was that kid. I believe that a lot of my values towards kindness, love, and being against racism and hate comes from the fact that I was badly bullied as a child and teenager and I don't want to see that happen to anyone. When we see bullying, when we see people being made fun of because they are somehow different, when we see hatred in our midst we have an obligation to stand up, intervene and say that this is wrong. </p>
In closing, I also wanted to say that I am a board member with the <a href="http://www.edminterfaithcentre.ca/" target="newwindow">Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action</a>, and what we do is to seek to achieve peace and harmony and an end to racism in the world through teaching about different faiths, not from a religious point of view, but from an educational one. I encourage you to look us up and see what we have to offer, and to become a member and get involved. </p>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-52475372598294724772018-07-02T09:37:00.000-07:002018-07-02T09:37:46.103-07:00Families Belong Together<i>I helped organize the #FamiliesBelongTogether solidarity rally in Edmonton on June 30. Here is my speech and a video of my introductory words and chants.</i></p>
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Thank you for coming this afternoon. We respectfully acknowledge that we are located on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional gathering place for diverse Indigenous peoples including the Cree, Blackfoot, Métis, Nakota Sioux, Iroquois, Dene, Ojibway / Saulteaux / Anishinaabe, Inuit, and many others whose histories, languages, and cultures continue to influence our vibrant community.</p>
My name is Paula Kirman, and I am with the <a href="http://www.wmwyeg.org" targe="Newwindow">March On Edmonton Collective</a> and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ecawar" target="newwindow">Edmonton Coalition Against War and Racism</a>, the co-organizers of this event. We would also like to give thanks to the Alberta Federation of Labour for help with logistics, as well as Women for Rights and Empowerment, and No One Is Illegal.</p>
Please tweet and Instagram and Facebook from today and join the cities around the world who are all standing up for the rights of refugees and families today. The hashtags are #KeepFamiliesTogether #FamiliesBelongTogether #RefugeesWelcome as well as our local city #Yeg hashtag.</p>
We are here today to call upon the Canadian government to demand that the U.S. end child detention and to stop criminalizing refugees! Families belong together, and those who have been separated must be reunited. But we are hearing disturbing news that the location of many of these children who have been detained is unknown, that they are not receiving comfort or care, and are likely to be in physical danger due to lack of proper oversights. The emotional scars that these children are receiving will affect them for life. </p>
And the new Executive Order that was signed is not going to make things better. While supposedly ending detention of children, it has brought in indefinite detention of families – and indefinite detention is against international law. We are calling for an end to all refugee detention - not just those of children. </p>
Today and every day, we must call on Canada's federal government to:</p>
<li>Condemn the US's exclusionary, racist, and unjust detention and deportation policies in the strongest terms.
<li>Scrap the Safe Third Country Agreement
<li>Scrap the Designated Country of Origin list, and end the quota restrictions on refugee claimants and asylum seekers
<li>End immigration detention and deportation in Canada.
<li>Grant Permanent Resident Status to all undocumented and migrant people in Canada, including everyone who has crossed over from the United States.
<li>Reckon with all its historic and current practice of family separation of Indigenous, Black and Brown children from their families through slavery and colonization. </p>
Indeed, we also stand here today to acknowledge Canada's role in separating families, through the history of residential schools, the 60s Scoop, and the continued practise of removing children from Indigenous families and placing them into foster care. In addition, we must examine our country's own treatment of refugee children. In 2016-2017, Canada jailed 162 minors, 11 of whom were unaccompanied. In 2015-2016, the number was 201, 20 of whom were unaccompanied. At least six people have died in immigration detention custody since Prime Minister Trudeau came to power.</p>
As well, today we have live-in-caregivers in Canada who are bureaucratically separated from their children back in the Philippines. Confusing changes were made in 2014 to Canadian immigration rules which has resulted in permanent resident status for live-in caregivers converting to possible citizenship being blocked, thus preventing family reunification. These changes were devised and implemented by Jason Kenney when he was in Stephen Harper's cabinet.</p>
What can we do? We need to keep pressure on our Prime Minister, Immigration Minister, and our MPs. Several people are here today handing out letters that you can sign and send. We also have sample wordings and links to the email addresses of federal politicians on our social media and Facebook event for today – we are @WMWYEG on all platforms if you want to connect and get more information.</p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Vc8vHUsy_V4" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-638494497089946922018-03-21T15:39:00.000-07:002018-03-21T15:39:43.185-07:00Speech: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination<em>I was invited as a guest speaker for the first annual student conference for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21 at Balwin School (Belvedere School also participated). The event was organized by Chris Nielsen, MLA Edmonton-Decore. Below is my speech, which was geared to the grades 5-8 age group.</em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">It's not often that I get to talk to people your age. Usually it's old people like me. But I am so happy to have this opportunity. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Something I find really exciting is how young people have a chance to make a difference. You have the chance to make a difference in other people's lives. If you want to change the world, you need to start with the world around you. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I am an activist who believes in peaceful and non-violent ways of protesting. I have been interested in issues like human rights and peace since I was as young as you are. I never liked it when someone was treated unfairly or was bullied. I was bullied when I was a child. So, I don't like to see other people hurting because it reminds me of how I felt when other people treated me badly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Sometimes I was lucky and had a friend who would help me when someone was making fun of me. If you see someone being bullied, you can be that friend. Even when we become adults, we still have to look out for each other, because adults can be mean to each other too, and we need to stand up and say when someone's behaviour is wrong.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I eventually wanted to get involved with organizations that had values I have, and work for social justice and human rights. I got on the Internet and searched until I found local groups to connect with. I was an adult when I did this – we didn't have the Internet when I was a kid. We didn't have phones that could take pictures and send emails and play movies. The phones just made phone calls. Yeah, kind of boring. You're very fortunate that you have a lot of resources literally your fingertips and you can stay informed about what's going on in the world almost any time. Social media like Facebook and Twitter make it easy to support an idea by sharing and liking. In the activist community, we call that “clicktivism.” It's great because it is easy and helps people feel involved, like they are doing something important. But it is also important to be active in real life and take part in things with people face to face. And that begins with getting to know each other. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">When I was in elementary school, I was the only Jewish kid in my class. It made me feel like an outsider. In grade one, my father (who is now a retired university professor) would visit our classroom a few times a year to explain Jewish customs and traditions, usually around the time of a Jewish holidays like Chanukah in winter or Passover in the spring. Those visits were really important because for most of the other kids in the class, I was the first Jewish person they had ever met and it gave them the opportunity to ask questions about why I celebrated different holidays or couldn't eat certain kinds of foods. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">I was always very shy. In high school, I hung out in the computer lab a lot and became good friends with the other people who hung out there too. One person was also friends with my older brother, and we're still friends now. He told me that when he was growing up, he used to use the word “Jew” in a very bad way – to mean that someone was cheap with money. But in the social circle he was in, that was considered perfectly fine. He didn't know that was a anti-Semitic thing to say. He also didn't know any Jewish people. Then he met my brother, and then me, and suddenly “Jew” had a face and a name. And he realized that you can't call people that, because it's wrong. When you get to know people from other cultures and religions, it can open your eyes to just how much racism and anti-Semitism there is out there. Many people simply don't know any better until they are corrected and they learn.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">One of my jobs is editing a community newspaper in the Boyle Street and McCauley neighbourhoods. Much like here, the neighbourhoods are very multicultural. Children who grow up in neighbourhoods like this are very lucky because you get to know people from different backgrounds, and this will help you throughout life as you meet and interact with others in school, work, or wherever you may go. I mentioned earlier that I was the only Jewish kid in my elementary school class. Otherwise, most of the kids in that same class were white. I remember at one point we had a new student who was Lebanese. Sometimes he was made fun of because of the colour of his skin, I am thankful we had a teacher who put a stop to this right away. Racism had no place in her classroom. And I have never forgotten how she dealt with that situation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We need to treat everyone with respect, dignity, and kindness. It is wrong to make fun of someone for any reason. I mentioned earlier that I was bullied a lot as a child. People made fun of all sorts of things about me: the way I walked, the way I talked, how I dressed, the music I listened to. I had really bad skin when I was a teenager and they made of that – something I had absolutely no control over. I felt terrible all the time, but I refused to change who I was to try to get other people to like me. I think what I went through is a reason I became an activist because I don't like to see people treated unfairly, because of their religion, the colour of their skin, who they love, differing mental or physical abilities, or any reason. We are all unique, beautiful people and we deserve to be accepted for who we are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">But even when we become adults, we still make mistakes. Nobody is perfect or acts perfectly all the time. We say or do things that hurt other people's feelings. The important thing is to be strong enough to apologize and learn and grow from the situation. Sometimes the other person may not want to hear an apology or talk about it, and that is their choice and you have to respect that too. Reconciliation cannot be forced. But as long as you are open to it, then you're on the right path.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">In my faith tradition, which is Judaism, we have a value that in Hebrew called </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><i>tikkun olam</i></span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">, which translates to healing or repairing the world. I want to make the world a better place, and I want to show others how to make the world a better place – that's you. And then, on your life journeys, even while you are still learning, you can teach others as well by how you treat each other and making a decision that you're always going to try to do your best in every situation.</span>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-33080567632787645902018-02-17T09:31:00.000-08:002018-02-17T09:31:13.312-08:00Presenting at the NDP Federal Convention 2018<i><a href="https://marchoncanada.ca/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">March On Canada</a> was invited to give a workshop on grassroots, cross-country organizing at the 2018 NDP Federal Convention in Ottawa. I recorded a video that was included in the presentation, about organizing the women's march in Edmonton in 2017 and 2018, as well as <a href="http://www.completingthestory.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">Completing the Story</a>, a partner campaign of March On.</i><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Hi everyone. I hope you are enjoying the presentation from Sam and Bianca! I wish I could be there with you. My name is Paula Kirman, and I am an NDP member from Edmonton Centre. I am also one of the grassroots organizers locally with March On. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">4000 people outside the Alberta Legislature on a cold January day in Edmonton. It was a sight that was overwhelming and unforgettable. There was an energy in the air that was palpable, and many of the people in the crowd had never been to a such a gathering before. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We were there to proclaim that Women's Rights Are Human Rights, and that we had reasons to gather that were specifically Albertan: to raise the level of public discourse and stop the bullying of women in political office and public life. To support survivors of gender-based violence and the families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls. And, to continue the struggle for equal pay in the workforce. Since January 21, 2017, the March On Edmonton Collective has continued to be active in amplifying the voices of women and other marginalized groups through our social media, our presence at events, and our continued organizing. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">For me personally, I have had the opportunity to lead workshops and mentor others, as well as speak to a variety of groups about grassroots activism and the importance of making our voices be heard. I am also very involved with Completing the Story which March On Canada took on as a campaign. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Completing the Story seeks to increase and improve the visual representation of women in public spaces – things like public art, statues, monuments, murals, and place names. This is important because representation matters. Lack of visibility leads to marginalization. Girls need to learn from an early age that they can be and do anything. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">On a local level we are also gearing up for International Women's Day, to be a presence at several events as participants and speakers. And we are currently organizing a #MeToo rally to support survivors and look at ways to go beyond the hashtag. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">March On Canada organized anniversary events in cities throughout the country on January 20, 2018. In Edmonton, 1000 people came out on another very cold day. March On is continuing to keep women's rights at the forefront by raising awareness and initiating important discussions about what a safe and equitable society should look like, and how we can all work towards those goals. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you very much. Enjoy the rest of the presentation. March On!</span></span></div>
Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-51610844421187888232018-02-03T08:35:00.000-08:002018-02-03T08:35:35.638-08:00Documenting Activism at International WeekI was invited to present Documenting Activism during the University of Alberta’s International Week 2018. I have posted my notes and a video of the presentation at my main website, <a href="https://wordspicturesmusic.com/2018/01/22/documenting-activism-a-practical-guide-for-organizers-u-of-a-international-week/" target="newwindow">Words, Pictures, Music</a>.Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-68872816855233367382017-12-14T10:23:00.001-08:002017-12-14T10:23:17.050-08:00Speech at Hands Off Jerusalem Rally<i>I was asked to speak on December 5, 2017 by the organizers of an emergency rally to protest the announcement of the intention to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem, and declaring Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Here is the text of my speech as well as the video from the event.</i></p>
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I am a human rights activist. I am a Jewish person. I am a global citizen. But most of all I am someone who wants to see peace for all peoples of the world. The world became a more dangerous place this past week, and we cannot sit idly by. </p>
The decision to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem and to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is nothing less than an act of war, a provocative move that will further destabilize the region and result in unnecessary and inhumane suffering. </p>
It is a decision that is being criticized by people from all three Abrahamic faiths. This is no surprise since Jerusalem is an international city that is sacred to Muslims, Jews, and Christians in Israel, Palestine, and around the world. Resolution 476 of the United Nations Security Council says that altering the character and state of Jerusalem is a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention and has no legal validity.</p>
Such a move will only deepen the oppression of the Palestinian people by giving the Israeli government a clear signal that the US will continue to support and aid the immoral and illegal occupation of Palestine. It will do nothing to achieve a just and lasting peace in Palestine and Israel. Demonstrations have already been happening in the West Bank. Festive lights are being dimmed and seasonal celebrations are being cancelled in Bethlehem, which is the occupied West Bank town where, according to the Christian faith, Jesus was born.</p>
Today is the United Nations' Human Rights Day. How appropriate that we gather here to protest how both Palestinians and Israelis – the majority of whom want peace for themselves and their children – are being used as political pawns. In Judaism, we have a value called <i>Tikkun Olam</i>, which means to heal or repair the world. We cannot support that which will further tear the world apart. In the name of a just and lasting peace, we must say no to the US embassy in Jerusalem, and an end to the occupation. </p>
<p align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/KdtmXNdvEX4" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-68218371557071234642017-12-13T13:36:00.000-08:002017-12-13T13:36:03.914-08:00Explaining Chanukah to AtheistsIs Chanukah really the "Jewish Christmas"? Why do we light candles and eat oily food? If a man converts to Judaism, it's going to hurt in the end, right? These, and other questions, were addressed during my presentation about Chanukah to the Society of Edmonton Atheists on December 5. (Spoiler: the answer to the last question is "most likely, yes.").</p>
<p align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aJVSQ6I4DTk" frameborder="0" gesture="media" allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-40372155361080784552017-09-18T13:59:00.001-07:002017-09-18T14:31:27.732-07:00Reconciliation at Garneau United Church<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>On
September 17, 2017, I was invited to speak to Church in the World
monthly session at Garneau United Church. This is a session over
lunch following a Sunday morning service, dealing with some aspect of
social justice. My topic was Reconciliation and what Edmonton United
Churches are doing to address the Truth and Reconciliation
Commission's Calls to Action. I presented my short talk in the
context of Moving Forward with Reconciliation, a group I have been
involved with for a couple of years. Below is a video, as well as the notes from my
talk and a summary of the responses to the questions I was
asked afterwards.</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>--</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>My
work:</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> I
have an interest in documentation and communication, particularly
bringing groups together that have a common cause or interest. To
that end, I have been documenting local activism in Edmonton and
posting on social media, which is building greater awareness of
progressive movements in the city. This extends to Indigenous issues
and Reconciliation. </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I've
been involved with a group called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/movingforwardwithreconciliation" target="_blank">Moving Forward with Reconciliation</a>
for a couple of years. It's a ministry of Edmonton Presbytery and we
have members from a number of Edmonton United Church congregations. I
got involved with the group through a woman named Debbie Hubbard.
Debbie and I knew each other through Palestine solidarity work, and I
later found out she had formed the Moving Forward group and was
facilitating it at the time. I was also writing for an Indigenous
newspaper (I'm a multi-media journalist by profession) and was
following what the group was doing, which was working on building
bridges between the United Church and Indigenous communities, through
meetings, events, dialogues – all of this was in the planning
stages at the time but I started to attend planning meetings of the
working group. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A
large part of Moving Forward was the building of an email list to
send out announcements concerning events relating to Reconciliation
and Indigenous education that are open to non-Indigenous people. Last
summer, Debbie moved to Kelowna with her husband, and needed someone
to take over the list. She felt I was the natural person to that
given my background with communications and, although I am not of a
United Church background, I am involved with the United Church on a
professional basis as Marketing Project Coordinator with Mill Woods
United Church, where I assist the congregation with its website and
social media. So, I did indeed take over the email list after she
moved.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>What
I have built:</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
The email list has grown quite a bit since last year. I send out more
event notices than in the past, although I try to limit to one per
day because it is quite a large list. I also built a Facebook page
where the events, which mostly have Facebook event pages associated
with them, are also posted. People were requesting this, particularly
younger people who tend to check Facebook more than their email. Some
kind of list of events was also requested, so that people did not
have to go back-tracking through their email to look something up, so
I built a Reconciliation Calendar as part of the Mill Woods website.
(I am paid an honorarium for my Moving Forward work through a grant
that is administrated through Mill Woods, hence it being the logical
connection). Many of the events I post I find on Facebook – I spend
time searching through pages of Indigenous and Reconciliation-related
organizations – and also I am contacted personally with request to
post information and events. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Ongoing
work/integration:</b></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
The working group itself continues to be dynamic and finding its way
in terms of mission and purpose, while its members are a presence at
many events as participants and volunteers. Why are we doing this? As
we know, the United Church has been responding to the Calls for
Action and there is an excellent section of the main United Church
website that deals with Reconciliation:</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.united-church.ca/social-action/justice-initiatives/truth-and-reconciliation-commission" target="_blank">http://www.united-church.ca/social-action/justice-initiatives/truth-and-reconciliation-commission</a></span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The
response to the email list is overwhelmingly positive. A resource
such as the Moving Forward list is a relatively simple, inexpensive
way to make church people aware of events and bring people out in
greater numbers. Reconciliation can't happen in a vacuum – it's
definitely great to have church-based discussion groups because there
are many things that need to be discussed on a church level in terms
of what the role in Reconciliation should be, and people's
experiences and such, but in order to take it to the next level (so
to speak), we really need to be out there at events and learning and
volunteering and taking part. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Speaking
of which, we need people from Garneau to be involved. The church is
on the email list, as are a number of you, and I notice a number of
the items I post make it into your weekly newsletter, but the only
person who was attending meetings regularly was Jim Graves, who as we
all know was very passionate about reconciliation. Since he passed
away in April, there has been no official representation from
Garneau. We miss Jim terribly, and know that he would want someone
from Garneau to be a part of Moving Forward.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here
are some issues and information that have been raised in previous
talks I have given on this topic. </span></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>The
Calls to Action pertaining to the Churches are 58-61.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">58.
</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
call upon the Pope to issue an apology to Survivors, their families,
and communities for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the
spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of First
Nations, Inuit, and Métis children in Catholic-run residential
schools. We call for that apology to be similar to the 2010 apology
issued to Irish victims of abuse and to occur within one year of the
issuing of this Report and to be delivered by the Pope in Canada.</span></i></span></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">59.
“</span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
call upon church parties to the Settlement Agreement to develop
ongoing education strategies to ensure that their respective
congregations learn about their church’s role in colonization, the
history and legacy of residential schools, and why apologies to
former residential school students, their families, and communities
were necessary.</span></i></span></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>60.
We call upon leaders of the church parties to the Settlement
Agreement and all other faiths, in collaboration with Indigenous
spiritual leaders, Survivors, schools of theology, seminaries, and
other religious training centres, to develop and teach curriculum for
all student clergy, and all clergy and staff who work in Aboriginal
communities, on the need to respect Indigenous spirituality in its
own right, the history and legacy of residential schools and the
roles of the church parties in that system, the history and legacy of
religious conflict in Aboriginal families and communities, and the
responsibility that churches have to mitigate such conflicts and
prevent spiritual violence.</i></span></span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">61.
</span></i></span></span></span><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
call upon church parties to the Settlement Agreement, in
collaboration with Survivors and representatives of Aboriginal
organizations, to establish permanent funding to Aboriginal people
for:</span></i></span></span></span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">i.
Community-controlled healing and reconciliation projects.</span></i></span></span></span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">ii.
Community-controlled culture- and language revitalization projects.</span></i></span></span></span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">iii.
Community-controlled education and relationship building projects.</span></i></span></span></span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">iv.
Regional dialogues for Indigenous spiritual leaders and youth to
discuss Indigenous spirituality, self-determination, and
reconciliation.</span></i></span></span></span></em></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Apologies
need action.</b></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Saying you're sorry and acknowledging what you did wrong is the first
step – but what are you going to do, moving forward, to effect
change?</span></span></span></span></span></em></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Go
to events and listen and learn.</b></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;">
Offer to volunteer, where appropriate.</span></span></span></span></em></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Have
conversations.</b></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Get to know people as individuals, where they are at. We all have
different backgrounds and stories. When we get to know people, we
stop seeing them as “other.”</span></span></span></span></span></em></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Ask
questions.</b></span></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
If you are unsure if something is cultural appropriation, or if you
can take photographs, or in any situation where you don't know how to
proceed – ask. Asking shows respect.</span></span></span></span></span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Questions/Answers</b></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I
made my main presentation short on purpose, because Reconciliation
needs to have discussions, not some white person talking non-stop for
an hour. Several people in the congregation spoke about their
experiences learning about residential schools and with Indigenous
people, such as a retired physician who worked for a time in an
Indigenous community and witnessed a high rate of tuberculosis there.
</span></span>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I
was asked what churches are doing specifically to address
Reconciliation in Edmonton, and the answer is that it is really a
church-by-church sort of thing. Each congregation is doing different
things, some more than others, in terms of events and such.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I
was also asked about how seminaries and theological schools are
addressing Call to Action #60. I am definitely not in the loop when
it comes to what is being taught in seminaries, but I did say that
when I was growing up as a student in Edmonton's public school
system, I never learned anything about residential schools. It was
only more recently, when I attended the final TRC event in Edmonton
in 2014 on assignment for a newspaper I was writing for at the time,
that I learned about them. My mind was blown when I found out that
the last residential school closed in the mid-90s. And I felt angry
that such a gap existed in my education, and that what I received was
a sanitized version of history. A younger man in the audience said
that he learned about residential schools, so this is something that
is changing with the generations. Someone added that this has indeed
been added to the curriculum.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The
conversation shifted at one point to the current controversy
surrounding the removal of monuments and the changing of place names
because of a historical figure's attitudes and actions towards
Indigenous people and others. I acknowledged that this is a
complicated issue, and that one way to deal with it is, instead of
removing something, to add to a monument by indicating those negative
actions and beliefs – complete the story, so to speak, instead of
replacing it. Also, the practise of naming places and things after
people is inherently flawed, because in many cases people have
beliefs or have done things that do not stand the test of history. I
discussed this in the context of my involvement with <a href="http://www.completingthestory.com/" target="_blank">Completing the Story</a>, which seeks to increase the visual representation of women in
public places.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Finally,
someone mentioned about having to be careful when it comes to
building things where it is known there are sacred burial grounds, as
well as building tributes to Elders. My response is that any project
that is about Indigenous people should involve Indigenous people.</span></span></blockquote>
Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-72654705109379308282017-09-04T19:46:00.002-07:002017-09-04T19:46:56.791-07:00Journeys of Faith - Paths of Resistance: Reflection at Mill Woods United Church<i>I am the Marketing/Social Media Coordinator for <a href="http://www.millwoodsunited.org" target="newwindow">Mill Woods United Church</a>. On September 3, I presented a reflection on my faith journey and the work I do for the church.</i></p>
<hr>
<b>Subtitle:</b> Activism and Spirituality, or, “What’s a Nice Jewish Girl Doing In the United Church?”</p>
I was asked to make a presentation about my spiritual journey, activism, and accomplishments, in the context of what exactly I do for Mill Woods United, in approximately 20 minutes or less. So, please fasten your seat belts. Here we go.</p>
I recall my job interview in the spring of 2016 with Ian, Brian, Mary-Anne, and Janice. It was going pretty well, but there was something I had to fess up to: I wasn’t from a United Church background. In fact – get ready for it – I’m Jewish. “That’s okay,” replied Ian, “So is our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” I tell this story quite often and it always elicits laughter.</p>
Many of you also know me as being involved as the email list and social media coordinator with the Moving Forward with Reconciliation group which is comprised of members from a number of Edmonton’s United Churches. So, how did a nice Jewish girl end up working with the United Church?</p>
I was raised in a fairly traditional Modern Orthodox family. Saturday was the Sabbath. We observed all of the Jewish holy days: the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana (also known as the “Jewish New Year”) and Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement and the holiest day on the Jewish calendar), but also Passover and the other feasts and festivals as well. It was fun – I got to take a lot of days off of school for “religious observance.” We also strictly observed the dietary laws, the most well-known of which are no pork products and no shellfish (Levitical restrictions), both of which I still observe to this day.</p>
Then came the teenage years of rebellion, and I, like many of my peers, fell away from the faith of my family. I still always identified as being Jewish but stopped being as observant. Saturday became just another day. I considered myself secular. I didn’t need a spiritual life as such. And so my teens became my 20s and I started to feel a spiritual longing that led me on a path that included everything from east to west, from Buddhism to even a time spent in the Messianic Jewish movement, which is basically Evangelical Christians who celebrate the Jewish roots of Christianity, and Jewish people interested in exploring Christianity in a Jewish context.</p>
It was ironically during my time in this extremely right-wing, Zionist movement that I became interested in getting involved in Edmonton’s activist community – and by activist, I mean of the politically progressive kind. I had always been interested in issues of human rights and social justice but never found a way to connect. Enter the Internet, which I had been spending a lot of time on since my university days. I taught myself how to make web pages, and was starting to learn the ways of what was going to be known as social media.</p>
Eventually, I connected with local groups that dealt with independent media, peace, the environment, women, and Indigenous issues, and as I left organized religion behind yet again I felt more affirmed in my Jewish identity as ever. There is a value in Judaism called <i>Tikkun Olam</i>, which roughly translates to “healing or repairing the world.” In many ways, activism has become a form of spiritual expression for me.</p>
My role as an activist has largely been documenting local social movements through photography and video, posting my work online on my blog <a href="http://www.radicalcitizenmedia.com" target="newwindow">RadicalCitizenMedia.com</a> as well as on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and more recently, Instagram. As a result, I have gained a large following online while learning the ins and outs of social media, which I have been able to apply to my work as a communications consultant who works largely with non-profits and NGOs.</p>
For example, in my (just a little over a) year with Mill Woods, I have helped fix up the website, make sure it is updated regularly, while ensuring timely and relevant posts on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mwuc2" target="newwindow">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/mwuc1" target="newwindow">Twitter</a>, and the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/millwoodsunitedchurch" target="newwindow">Instagram account</a> that I set up for the congregation. Ian’s reflections go up every week, announcements are posted, events are promoted, and at the same time I curate material to go online that pertain to the work of the congregation and the wider United Church, particularly concerning Reconciliation and LGBTQ issues, since we are an affirming congregation. Numbers on social media are growing and hopefully this is translating into both communication to congregational members, and inspiring others to attend. In addition, I help proof newsletters and print/promotional materials when required. You get all of this and more, packed into what is now five hours per week.</p>
I heard about the position, which was called Marketing Project Coordinator but is now simply referred to as Social Media, through my involvement with the <a href="http:/www.edminterfaithcentra.ca" target="newwindow">Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action</a>, where I am a board member. The building that hosts the Interfaith Centre’s office also houses Garneau United Church, where I occasionally attended as a guest, particularly to video the sermons of a friend of mine who occasionally led services as a layperson. Quite simply, I saw a posting for the job on the communal bulletin board and I applied. And so, here I am.</p>
Last summer I also began working with the group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/movingforwardwithreconciliation/" target="newwindow">Moving Forward with Reconciliation</a>, which is made up of people from several Edmonton United Churches. I took over the email list announcing events in Edmonton and area pertaining to Reconciliation and Indigenous educational opportunities when the original founder of the group moved to another province. I wanted to enhance and augment the position, and created a Facebook page for the group, as well as a <a href="http://www.millwoodsunited.org/truth-and-reconciliation/reconciliation-calendar/" target="newwindow">Reconciliation calendar</a> that is now part of the Mill Woods website.</p>
My work in social media, combined with my involvement in activism, started to receive recognition from my community in 2012, when I received the Salvos Prelorentzos Peace Award, an award annually given by Project Ploughshares Edmonton (historically an ecumenical Christian peace organization), to an individual or organization in Edmonton working for the cause of peace, who has not previously been honoured for their work. Around this time I began working with the founding steering committee for the annual Daughters Day event, held in City Hall to honour women and girls for their achievements, the first Daughters Day being held in September of 2012. In 2014, I was named one of the Daughters of the Year at that year’s Daughters Day event for my leadership and being an example to women in activism. Most recently, I was named a Human Rights Champion by the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights in December of 2016, and was a co-organizer of the Women’s March on Washington Edmonton “sister march” on January 21, 2017, which saw over 4000 people converge at the Alberta Legislature grounds to proclaim and affirm that women’s rights are human rights.</p>
Most recently, I have become involved with an initiative called <a href="http://www.completingthestory.com" target="newwindow">Completing the Story</a>. We’re a grassroots group of women who came together last year to address the lack of visual representation of women in public spaces, not only in Edmonton, but throughout Canada and elsewhere. It was a logical move from my experiences with Daughters Day and the Women’s March, to work on projects that work towards an equitable society.</p>
So even though I don’t come from a United Church background, I have always been attracted to the United Church of Canada’s commitment to social justice and a better world. I’ve often told people that if I was Christian by birth, I would have chosen the United Church as my spiritual home. From peace to reconciliation with Canada’s First Nations, to a just resolution to the conflict in Israel/Palestine, the United Church has been a part of all of these struggles, and I am very grateful to have been welcomed into this congregation and to be able to serve you in the capacity of Social Media/Marketing Coordinator.</p>
<p align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/V5BvaPQTKZo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-45130023776117451542017-08-24T08:24:00.001-07:002017-08-24T08:51:36.484-07:00Documenting Activism: A Practical Guide for Organizers<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>On August 22, 2017, I presented this workshop on Documenting Activism for the conference Ignite Change: Global Gathering for Human Rights, organized by the <a href="https://www.jhcentre.org/" target="_blank">John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights</a>. The session was attended by people from Edmonton, Vancouver, and Toronto. Below is a video recording of my presentation, as well as my notes.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>---</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vsbEyYVYmoE?ecver=1" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Ignite
Change Presentation</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Documenting
Activism: A Practical Guide for Organizers</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Overview
of Me and My Work</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>How
and why I started doing this</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I
showed up to my first peace rally in September of 2005 and asked
permission to take photos. I just thought it might be an interesting
thing to do. I posted the photos later on, on a blog I had, and the
reaction to them online was so huge, the server crashed. I realized
that I might be on to something – that no one at that point was
documenting the local activist scene and that there was a demand for
it – a desire to see photos from events afterwards. I got a better
website with more server space, and began to hone my skills in
photography and social media, and a short time later, videography. I
document through photography and videos, and share my work using
social media.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Why
documentation is important</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The
importance of documentation has several facets. First of all, it is
capturing history, perhaps a part of Edmonton's history that is not
and has not been widely examined. It keeps a record of what happened,
when, and why. It creates something tangible that can be shared with
others, both locally and elsewhere, and perhaps even help to form
connections between organizations and individuals. I also view what I
do as having an artistic element to it – art and activism are very
closely connected in my beliefs, as both communicate messages in
visual ways. Also, documenting visually, unless someone intentionally
sets about using photoshop or some other program in nefarious ways,
are ways of presenting the truth of what happens. For example, I
videoed Jane Fonda's talk during a panel discussion on pipelines. A
number of people expressed their dismay to local media that a
celebrity should come up here and be disrespectful, and were
basically criticizing what she said, without actually listening to
what she said. I gave them that opportunity.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>What
I use</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I
use YouTube and Flickr for videos and photos, respectively. I find
them both intuitive to use and make my work easy to share. I post my
work, then share it on Twitter and Facebook. The sharing/retweeting
capacities of these social media platforms help spread my work to a
wide number of people in a relatively short period of time. I have
been using Instagram more and more, because I like how it enables
someone to take a photo then send it out to a number of social media
platforms at once. For blogging and simple websites, I really like
Wordpress because it is so intuitive, but I have also used Blogger.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Documentation
conversations</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There
have been conversations about the efficacy of the use of social media
when it comes to activism. There is agreement about it being a great
way to get messages out, but also it's important to be cautious: such
as, not accepting any and all friend requests, being careful about
sharing personal information, and issues of privacy and permission
(photographing people in public places taking part in public events
in fair game in Canada (mostly – laws are different in Quebec), but
there may be times when it would be appropriate to ask permission.
Also, photographing the police is fine as long as you're not
interfering with their ability to do their work. Laws can be
different in different parts of the world – be sure to research and
know before you whip out a camera at a protest somewhere else, to
avoid getting into legal trouble.). And there have been conversations
about the subject matter itself, discussing different sides of the
issues, which is really what we want to do: foster discussion about
issues concerning conflict and human rights.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Concrete
examples of my work and its impact</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">a)
In June of 2015 Justin Trudeau was in Edmonton to help launch the
campaign of Amarjeet Sohi, who was running for MP as a Liberal in
Edmonton-Mill Woods (he was subsequently elected). The Edmonton
Coalition Against War and Racism (ECAWAR for short), of which I am a
part, was organizing a series of pickets against Bill C-51, which the
Liberals voted in favour of, with the promise that if elected, they
would revise some of the more problematic parts of the bill (we're
still waiting for this to happen). All of the media was inside the
banquet hall – except me. I was filming the protest. All of a
sudden, I heard a lot of screaming coming from behind me, and I
turned around, and there was Justin Trudeau himself. He engaged in an
argument with Peggy Morton, and ECAWAR organizer, and I got the whole
thing on video and it went viral across the country – I was doing
interviews about it with media outlets, and that video is still doing
well. This experience really hit home to me the importance of what I
was doing – no one else captured this moment – and also how a
large part of doing this job I am doing is simply showing up and
being in the right place at the right time.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_2069594620"><br />
</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://youtu.be/wmLwjjcvIeQ?t=6m30s" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/wmLwjjcvIeQ?t=6m30s</a></span></span></span></span></u></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">b)
I was a co-organizer of the Women's March on Washington – Edmonton
Solidarity Event on January 21. If anything shows the power of social
media, it is this. Combined with the international media coverage the
sister marches were getting (the main march was in Washington, of
course), our event page, Twitter, and Instagram went viral.
Documenting this was also important to us, so I was doing triple duty
as an emcee, videographer, and photographer (we did have an official
photographer as well). We saw the numbers on Facebook getting bigger
and bigger up until the day itself, when over 4000 people packed the
north side of the Legislature grounds. I and one of the other
co-organizers, have decided to try to keep the momentum created by
the march going and are using social media with a new Facebook page,
new Twitter and Instagram accounts (@wmwyeg), and a website
(wmwyeg.org).</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://youtu.be/ojY-PG7vFoQ?t=4m58s" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/ojY-PG7vFoQ?t=4m58s</a></span></span></span></span></u></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: navy;"><span lang="zxx"><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://youtu.be/373lc__Q2lg" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/373lc__Q2lg</a></span></span></span></span></u></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>How
documentation impacts the community</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Documentation,
the way that I do it, gives every day citizens a voice and a platform
they may not otherwise have had. Mainstream media often does not
cover progressive and activist events at great length, if at all. I
am putting up entire speeches or at least more than just 30-second
soundbites. This also impacts the community in that it creates
resources for future actions and the ability to start dialogues on
the different issues presented.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Documentation:
The Practical Stuff</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Why
document?</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">To
have an historical record</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">To
protect yourself/colleagues by having recorded details that the
memory may otherwise lose</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">To
share your movement and experiences online and connect with
like-minded groups/individuals and grow beyond your borders</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Helps
build grassroots community locally and beyond through the sharing of
resources.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Helps
attract others to the movement by presenting who you are and what
you do. Pictures (and videos) speak volumes beyond just written
descriptions (but writing is important too, as we will discuss
later).</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Be
the media: cover important gaps in coverage. Citizen journalism is a
“thing” - there are unprecedented opportunities in today's world
for our voices to be heard.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">For
yourself: just like there are those people who always take pictures
at family gatherings, events and protests can make important
memories for us as well.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Photos
and Videos</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Can
be an issue of access/privilege (equipment – you need a camera,
and ideally you need a computer)</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">However,
one does not need a fancy camera – a smartphone/tablet can
suffice. Technology has come a long way.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Most
phones can also take video, most cameras (DSLR and point-and-shoot)
can take video, and some video cameras can also take decent stills.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Benefit
of the above: items can be shared immediately via data or wifi (be
careful about eating up data plan). You can even edit in your phone
or tablet now with apps.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Instagram
& Flickr, Facebook & Twitter, YouTube – all places to post
immediately. Don't forget to tag and add hashtags. Tags are like
keywords; hashtags use the # symbol and also work as keywords that
can be clicked on to be taken to materials using that same term. Eg.
#yeg in Twitter for Edmonton-related posts.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photos
should tell a story. Include backdrops, crowds. Don't always focus
in one individuals without context or else you end up with photos
that look like they could have been taken anywhere. Eg. Festival
photo of family on grass that could have been taken anywhere.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">No
issues in Canada taking photos and videos at and posting photos from
public gatherings on public space. However, respect it if a
colleague does not want his/her photo taken and posted. Could be a
job-related issue, family issue etc. Or, maybe they just don't like
their picture being taken. Legal issues vs. moral/ethical issues in
this case err on the side of caution.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Children:
if singled out in a photo, always a good idea to get permission from
parents/guardians. Again, morality/ethics should take precedence
over legality.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">In
Canada, police/law enforcement can be photographed. They, nor anyone
else, have the right to tell you to delete photos.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I'm
not a lawyer – my information comes from my experience and what I
believe to be true, but don't take anything I have said here as
legal advice.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Editing:
I try to shoot in a way that would require minimal editing, if at
all, afterwards. Depends what you are trying to do. Documentation,
to me, means being true to what I see, so I don't want to change or
enhance it much. You can crop and make some adjustments right in
your phone. Most computer operating systems come with a basic photo
editor (as well as a video editor).</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Writing</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Captures
the moments, describes them, another way of sharing information.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo
captions/descriptions</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Blogs:
Wordpress, Blogger. Wordpress is better for making full-fledged
websites. If you just want a plain blog, Blogger might be more
intuitive to use for some.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Facebook
posts: keep succinct, add hashtags (a more recent development on FB)</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">You
don't have to be an English major or wonderful writer.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Be
descriptive, be succinct.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Letters
to the Editor at newspapers – don't be surprised if you don't get
published or it gets edited way down. Keep as short as possible –
increases chances of getting printed.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Contributions
to activist websites. Usually are hungry for submissions because
they can't pay.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Work
as a team; have someone edit your work</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Be
careful what you write: “say it and forget it, write it and regret
it.” Nothing ever really permanently vanishes from the Internet
(eg. Deborah Drever). You don't want something coming back at you
down the road.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Published
work online usually has a unique link that can be shared on social
media.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Best
Practices</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Photos:
General (this can be applied to video as well)</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Seems
like common sense: make sure batteries in phone and cameras are
charged.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carry
charger and battery packs for phones.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Some
camera batteries are proprietary; have a spare (if economical)
and/or make sure it is charged in advance.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Photos:
Instagram</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Good
descriptions</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lots
of hashtags</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Settings
to share on other social media like FB and Twitter</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Photos:
Facebook</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Don't
tag people who are not in photos. Pet peeve of many; good way to get
defriended.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Respect
it when people don't want to be tagged. Easier now that people can
remove tags themselves.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Photos:
Flickr</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Same
as the above with regard to descriptions, keywords, sharing, adding
people (the equivalent of tagging).</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Writing/Blogging</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Keywords</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Have
someone else edit your work</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fact
check</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Share
links to your work on social media</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Questions
& Answers</b></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Workshop:</b></span></span></span><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
Ask how many people have smartphones. Break into pairs, with those
who don't have smartphones teamed with those who do, where
applicable. Take pictures of the room, each other, whatever is going
on, video each other talking about what aspects of social justice are
important to them. Upload to the social media platforms of your
choice, with the hashtag #ignitechange2017. </span></span></span>
</div>
Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-27749106486571409912017-06-18T16:25:00.000-07:002017-06-18T16:30:15.265-07:00Talking About Reconciliation at Robertson-Wesley United Church<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>On
June 18, 2017, I was invited to speak to the Mission and Outreach Pod
at <a href="http://www.rwuc.org/" target="_blank">Robertson Wesley United Church</a>, a group that meets periodically
after the service on Sundays. My topic was Reconciliation and what
Edmonton United Churches are doing to address the Truth and
Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. I presented my short
talk in the context of Moving Forward with Reconciliation, a group I
have been involved with for a couple of years. Below are the notes
from my talk, as well as a summary of the responses to the questions
I was asked afterwards.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>My
work:</b> I have an interest in documentation and communication,
particularly bringing groups together that have a common cause or
interest. To that end, I have been documenting local activism in
Edmonton and posting on social media, which is building greater
awareness of progressive movements in the city. This extends to
Indigenous issues and Reconciliation. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">I've
been involved with a group called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/movingforwardwithreconciliation/" target="_blank">Moving Forward with Reconciliation</a>
for a couple of years. It's a ministry of Edmonton Presbytery and we
have members from a number of Edmonton United Church congregations. I
got involved with the group through a woman named Debbie Hubbard.
Debbie and I knew each other through Palestine solidarity work, and I
later found out she had formed the Moving Forward group and was
facilitating it at the time. I was also writing for an Indigenous
newspaper (I'm a multi-media journalist by profession) and was
following what the group was doing, which was working on building
bridges between the United Church and Indigenous communities, through
meetings, events, dialogues – all of this was in the planning
stages at the time but I started to attend planning meetings of the
working group. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A
large part of Moving Forward was the building of an email list to
send out announcements concerning events relating to Reconciliation
and Indigenous education that are open to non-Indigenous people. Last
summer, Debbie moved to Kelowna with her husband, and needed someone
to take over the list. She felt I was the natural person to that
given my background with communications and, although I am not of a
United Church background, I am involved with the United Church on a
professional basis as Marketing Project Coordinator with Mill Woods
United Church, where I assist the congregation with its website and
social media. So, I did indeed take over the email list after she
moved.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>What
I have built:</b> The email list has grown quite a bit since last
year. I send out more event notices than in the past, although I try
to limit to one per day because it is quite a large list. I also
built a Facebook page where the events, which mostly have Facebook
event pages associated with them, are also posted. People were
requesting this, particularly younger people who tend to check
Facebook more than their email. Some kind of list of events was also
requested, so that people did not have to go back-tracking through
their email to look something up, so I built a Reconciliation
Calendar as part of the <a href="http://www.millwoodsunited.org/" target="_blank">Mill Woods United Church</a> website. (I am paid an honorarium
for my Moving Forward work through a grant that is administrated
through Mill Woods, hence it being the logical connection). Many of
the events I post I find on Facebook – I spend time searching
through pages of Indigenous and Reconciliation-related organizations
– and also I am contacted personally with request to post
information and events. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>Ongoing
work/integration:</b> The working group itself continues to be
dynamic and finding its way in terms of mission and purpose, while
its members are a presence at many events as participants and
volunteers. Why are we doing this? As we know, the United Church has
been responding to the Calls for Action and there is an excellent
section of the main United Church website that deals with
Reconciliation:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.united-church.ca/social-action/justice-initiatives/truth-and-reconciliation-commission" target="_blank">http://www.united-church.ca/social-action/justice-initiatives/truth-and-reconciliation-commission</a></span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The
response to the email list is overwhelmingly positive. A resource
such as the Moving Forward list is a relatively simple, inexpensive
way to make church people aware of events and bring people out in
greater numbers. Reconciliation can't happen in a vacuum – it's
definitely great to have church-based discussion groups because there
are many things that need to be discussed on a church level in terms
of what the role in Reconciliation should be, and people's
experiences and such, but in order to take it to the next level (so
to speak), we really need to be out there at events and learning and
volunteering and taking part. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">So,
I am going to leave it at that and just through the discussion open,
in terms of where we're at and where we may be going.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i>In
the discussion that followed, I was asked numerous questions about
the United Church and Reconciliation. Here is an attempt to summarize
them for future reference.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><b>The
Calls to Action pertaining to the Churches are 58-61.</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">58.
<i><span style="font-weight: normal;">We call upon the Pope to issue
an apology to Survivors, their families, and communities for the
Roman Catholic Church’s role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional,
physical, and sexual abuse of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis
children in Catholic-run residential schools. We call for that
apology to be similar to the 2010 apology issued to Irish victims of
abuse and to occur within one year of the issuing of this Report and
to be delivered by the Pope in Canada.</span></i></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">59.
“</span><i style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">We call upon church parties
to the Settlement Agreement to develop ongoing education strategies
to ensure that their respective congregations learn about their
church’s role in colonization, the history and legacy of
residential schools, and why apologies to former residential school
students, their families, and communities were necessary.”</i></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">60.
</span></i><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">We call upon leaders
of the church parties to the Settlement Agreement and all other
faiths, in collaboration with Indigenous spiritual leaders,
Survivors, schools of theology, seminaries, and other religious
training centres, to develop and teach curriculum for all student
clergy, and all clergy and staff who work in Aboriginal communities,
on the need to respect Indigenous spirituality in its own right, the
history and legacy of residential schools and the roles of the church
parties in that system, the history and legacy of religious conflict
in Aboriginal families and communities, and the responsibility that
churches have to mitigate such conflicts and prevent spiritual
violence.</span></i></span></span></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">61.
</span></i></span></span><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">We
call upon church parties to the Settlement Agreement, in
collaboration with Survivors and representatives of Aboriginal
organizations, to establish permanent funding to Aboriginal people
for:</span></i></span></span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">i.
Community-controlled healing and reconciliation projects.</span></i></span></span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">ii.
Community-controlled culture- and language revitalization projects.</span></i></span></span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">ii.
Community-controlled education and relationship building projects.</span></i></span></span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-weight: normal;">iv.
Regional dialogues for Indigenous spiritual leaders and youth to
discuss Indigenous spirituality, self-determination, and
reconciliation.</span></i></span></span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Apologies
need action.</b></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Saying you're sorry and acknowledging what you did wrong is the first
step – but what are you going to do, moving forward, to effect
change?</span></span></span></span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Go
to events and listen and learn.</b></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Offer to volunteer, where appropriate.</span></span></span></span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Have
conversations.</b></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
Get to know people as individuals, where they are at. We all have
different backgrounds and stories. When we get to know people, we
stop seeing them as “other.”</span></span></span></span></em></blockquote>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><b>Ask
questions.</b></span></span></span></em><em><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-style: normal;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">
If you are unsure if something is cultural appropriation, or if you
can take photographs, or in any situation where you don't know how to
proceed – ask. Asking shows respect.</span></span></span></span></em></blockquote>
</div>
<blockquote style="margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0cm;">
<br /></blockquote>
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<br />
I wanted to share something relating to Reconciliation and Easter that came to my attention this morning.<br />
<br />
A friend of mine admitted that she said some hurtful things to a friend of hers, and she was reflecting upon it today on her way to Easter services, and this Scripture verse came to her:<br />
<br />
Matthew 5:23-24 "Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift."<br />
<br />
It reaffirmed my position that in order to have Reconciliation on a larger scale, we need to work towards Reconciliation in our own lives. Today, on Easter, and I hope at all times throughout the year, we remember those we may have hurt and wronged, and do our best to try to mend those relationships.<br />
<br />
I hope you all have a Happy and Meaningful Easter.Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-36409741345489550402017-03-24T09:49:00.002-07:002017-03-24T09:49:48.741-07:00The Language of Resistance<i>As one of the organizers of the Women's March on Washington - Edmonton Solidarity Event, I was invited to speak on "The Language of Resistance" at the Sociology Undergraduate Students' Association Speakers Series on March 5, 2017. Here is a video of my talk, as well as my notes.</i>
<hr>
<li>I've been an activist for over a decade (synopsis of how I got involved with #WMWYEG).
<li>How I've seen and heard language change.
<li>With the rise of the "alt-right," language is more divisive, more vicious, and often misleading.
<li>"Alt-right" is itself a misnomer, deceptive. "Alternative" can be seen as a good thing (alternative music or films).
<li>What it really is: racism, xenophobia, Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism, hatred.
<li>Has led to what we've seen in AB, threats against women who are politically active, either in office or who are prominent. An irony is that a motivation for me to get involved with #wmwyeg was because of women being threatened, to find myself the target of such threats in the days following the march.
<li>We on the Left have shifted to greater inclusion. Used to talk about "gay" or "queer" community, now LGBTQ with more added.
<li>Use of pronouns (asking what pronouns a person wants used, for eg.).
<li>Making a conscious choice to have People of Colour involved (we wanted a short, but diverse program at #wmwyeg and we achieved that).
<li>All About LOVE! The Language of resistance is the language of love.</li></p>
<p align=center><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/MjZGvJJQWaM?ecver=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-43757507092848873782017-02-08T14:36:00.001-08:002017-02-08T14:36:05.161-08:00Documenting Social Movements - John Humphrey Centre Peacebuilders Talk<i>I was invited to address the Peacebuilders group of the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights at their meeting on February 7, to discuss documenting social movements to further discussion about peace and non-violence. Here is a video of my talk, as well as my notes.</i><br />
<ol>
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Why
did you start documenting events in your city?</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I
showed up to my first peace rally in September of 2005 and asked
permission to take photos. I just thought it might be an interesting
thing to do. I posted the photos later on, on a blog I had, and the
reaction to them online was so huge, the server crashed. I realized
that I might be on to something – that no one at that point was
documenting the local activist scene and that there was a demand for
it – a desire to see photos from events afterwards. I got a better
website with more server space, and began to hone my skills in
photography and social media, and a short time later, videography. I
document through photography and videos, and share my work using
social media.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br /></div>
<ol start="2">
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Why
did you think it is important?</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The
importance of documentation has several facets. First of all, it is
capturing history, perhaps a part of Edmonton's history that is not
and has not been widely examined. It keeps a record of what happened,
when, and why. It creates something tangible that can be shared with
others, both locally and elsewhere, and perhaps even help to form
connections between organizations and individuals. I also view what I
do as having an artistic element to it – art and activism are very
closely connected in my beliefs, as both communicate messages in
visual ways. Also, documenting visually, unless someone intentionally
sets about using photoshop or some other program in nefarious ways,
are ways of presenting the truth of what happens. For example, I
recently videoed Jane Fonda's talk during a panel discussion on
pipelines. A number of people expressed their dismay to local media
that a celebrity should come up here and be disrespectful, and were
basically criticizing what she said, without actually listening to
what she said. I gave them that opportunity. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<ol start="3">
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">What
are your favourite platforms on social media to use? Why?</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">I
use YouTube and Flickr for videos and photos, respectively. I find
them both intuitive to use and make my work easy to share. I post my
work, then share it on Twitter and Facebook. The sharing/retweeting
capacities of these social media platforms help spread my work to a
wide number of people in a relatively short period of time. I have
been using Instagram more and more, because I like how it enables
someone to take a photo then send it out to a number of social media
platforms at once. For blogging and simple websites, I really like
Wordpress because it is so intuitive, but I have also used Blogger.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<ol start="4">
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">What
kinds of conversations have started due to your documentation?</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">There
have been conversations about the efficacy of the use of social media
when it comes to activism. There is agreement about it being a great
way to get messages out, but also it's important to be cautious: such
as, not accepting any and all friend requests, being careful about
sharing personal information, and issues of privacy and permission
(photographing people in public places taking part in public events
in fair game, but there may be times when it would be appropriate to
ask permission). And there have been conversations about the subject
matter itself, discussing different sides of the issues, which is
really what we want to do: foster discussion about issues concerning
conflict and human rights. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<ol start="5">
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If
you could provide 2 examples of your documentation (mini case
studies) that have greatly impacted the work that you do?</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">a)
In June of 2015 Justin Trudeau was in Edmonton to help launch the
campaign of Amarjeet Sohi, who was running for MP as a Liberal in
Edmonton-Mill Woods (he was subsequently elected). The Edmonton
Coalition Against War and Racism, of which I am a part, was
organizing a series of pickets against Bill C-51, which the Liberals
voted in favour of, with the promise that if elected, they would
revise some of the more problematic parts of the bill (we're still
waiting for this to happen). All of the media was inside the banquet
hall – except me. I was filming the protest. All of a sudden, I
heard a lot of screaming coming from behind me, and I turned around,
and there was Justin Trudeau himself. He engaged in an argument with
Peggy Morton, and ECAWAR organizer, and I got the whole thing on
video and it went viral across the country – I was doing interviews
about it with media outlets, and that video is still doing well. This
experience really hit home to me the importance of what I was doing –
no one else captured this moment – and also how a large part of
doing this job I am doing is simply showing up and being in the right
place at the right time.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">b)
I was a co-organizer of the recent Women's March on Washington –
Edmonton Solidarity Event on January 21. If anything shows the power
of social media, it is this. Combined with the international media
coverage the sister marches were getting (the main march was in
Washington, of course), our event page, Twitter, and Instagram went
viral. Documenting this was also important to us, so I was doing
triple duty as an emcee, videographer, and photographer (we did have
an official photographer as well). We saw the numbers on Facebook
getting bigger and bigger up until the day itself, when over 4000
people packed the north side of the Legislature grounds. Myself and
one of the other co-organizers, have decided to try to keep the
momentum created by the march going and are using social media with a
new Facebook page, new Twitter and Instagram accounts (@wmwyeg), and
a new website (wmwyeg.org). </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<ol start="6">
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Do
you think the voices of everyday citizens through your documentation
have impacted the community? In what do you think the community has
been impacted?</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">My
documentation gives every day citizens a voice and a platform they
may not otherwise have had. Mainstream media often does not cover
progressive and activist events at great length, if at all. I am
putting up entire speeches or at least more than just 30-second
soundbites. This also impacts the community in that it creates
resources for future actions and the ability to start dialogues on
the different issues presented.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<ol start="7">
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">How
important is the freedom of speech for you in Canada?</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">For
all of our protests and rallies, I do acknowledge that we are lucky
to be living in a country like Canada where there is freedom of
speech. I think that what I am doing amplifies that – by taking
words and actions, and bringing them to different and wider
audiences. </span></span></span>
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</div>
<ol start="8">
<li><div style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Any
words of advice for people who are wanting to start creating
dialogues or using social media as a platform to create a more
peaceful and respectful community?</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ol>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Here
are some best practices I always encourage. I already mentioned being
careful about accepting friend requests and giving out too much
personal information.</span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0.5cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Photos/Videos</b></span></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Seems
like common sense: make sure batteries in phone and cameras are
charged.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Carry
charger and battery packs for phones.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Some
camera batteries are proprietary; have a spare (if economical)
and/or make sure it is charged in advance.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-style: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Instagram</b></span></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Good
descriptions</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Lots
of hashtags</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Settings
to share on other social media like FB and Twitter</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-style: normal; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Photos:
Facebook</b></span></span></span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Don't
tag people who are not in photos. Pet peeve of many; good way to get
de-friended.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 140%; orphans: 2; padding: 0cm; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Respect
it when people don't want to be tagged. Easier now that people can
remove tags themselves.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<div style="font-style: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Writing/Blogging</b></span></span></span></div>
<style type="text/css">
<!--
@page { margin: 2cm }
P { margin-bottom: 0.21cm }
-->
</style>
<br />
<ul>
<li><div style="border: none; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Keywords</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Have
someone else edit your work</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; line-height: 140%; margin-bottom: 0cm; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fact
check</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; line-height: 140%; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Share
links to your work on social media</span></span></span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="border: none; line-height: 140%; padding: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Keep
your emotions in check: say it and forget it, write it and regret
it.</span></span></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div align="center">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1S6JFDWHSiw" width="560"></iframe></div>
Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-52908929874614492872017-02-05T16:15:00.001-08:002017-02-05T16:16:55.207-08:00Caring Community Film LaunchesMy new short film <a href="http://www.caringcommunityfilm.com" target="_blank"><em>McCauley: A Caring Community - Conversations on Social Housing</em> </a>launched on January 31 at Studio 96 - which is located in McCauley. About 40 people saw the film for the first time, followed by a discussion about social housing in Edmonton. Global TV came out for a segment on that evening's late night news, and I did interviews to promote the film on <a href="https://youtu.be/VnzASvRRtDw" target="_blank">CFWE Radio</a> and <a href="http://www.dinnertelevision.ca/videos/5307268411001/" target="_blank">Dinner Television</a>. Then, the film launched online for all to see. It deals with the concentration of social housing in McCauley, and why housing needs to be dealt with on a city-wide level.</p>
<p align="center"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ooZIafyzA30" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-63070852261177816802017-02-05T16:09:00.002-08:002017-02-05T16:09:48.388-08:00Reflections on Being an Active Citizen<em>I was invited by Southminster-Steinhauer United Church to speak as a guest during the service on February 5. I was asked to speak about my experience as an organizer of the Women's March on Washington - Edmonton Solidarity Event, as well as activism in general. The theme of the service was "The Spirituality of Activism." My talk was entitled, "Reflections on Being an Active Citizen." Here is the text of my talk, as well as a video.</em>
--
<p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b>Reflections on Being an Active Citizen</b></span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In September of 2005 I showed up to my first peace march. I happened to have a camera with me, and I asked the organizers if it would be okay to take some photos. They said yes. I posted the photos that evening on some website space I happened to have, and announced that I had done so on an email listserv (remember those?). The response was so great that the website crashed. It was at that moment I realized the importance of documenting the activist and social justice movement in Edmonton not only for historical purposes, but as a way of communicating messages of peace, environmental stewardship, gender equality, LGBTQ rights, Indigenous issues, and so on.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I also became involved with a few groups as an organizer, such as the Edmonton Coalition Against War and Racism, and so did double-duty at events on photos and videos, as well as sometimes being a musician or emcee. </span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Flash forward to November of 2016. I heard about a Women's March on Washington to happen the day after Trump's inauguration. The friend who told me about it, asked if something similar would happen in Edmonton, since, after all, I am quite connected to the activist community. My inqueries online led me to a national organizing group overseeing the creation of “sister marches” in cities throughout the country, and I signed up to help with organizing in Edmonton. I was put in touch with two other women who had expressed similar interest, and together we organized one of the biggest rallies held in Edmonton in recent history: reports of 4000, maybe more, people crowded the north side of the Alberta Legislature on January 21, 2017. The experience for me was exhilarating. The energy was palpable. Even though I have never addressed a crowd that large before, any nervous feelings just slipped away when I got to the microphone. It was definitely a day I will never forget.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">What was my motivation for getting involved with the Women's March in the first place? It's similar to that which motivates me to be involved in social justice in general. From a faith perspective, I was raised in a Jewish household, and while I am not religiously observant in a traditional sense, save for some of the dietary laws, there are some aspects of the Jewish culture and philosophy that continue to shape my life. There is a Jewish value called </span></span></span><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>tikkun olam</i></span></span></span><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">, which means healing or repairing the world, and this has been a guiding force for me in activism. </span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">More specifically, I viewed the need for a Women's March in Edmonton in a very local context. I have been appalled by the messages of hate and violence directed towards women politicians in this province. I recoil in horror at stories of Islamophobia directed at women who wear hijabs. In our world today, building love and hope and cooperation between people of all faiths and cultures and genders is more important than ever. </span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That being said, we, the organizers, worked very hard to make the Edmonton sister march less about Trump himself, and more about the need for a society with civil discourse, where people can disagree without resorting to hate speech, and where there is equity for all people. What was so heartening about the event, was seeing so many men and boys there, standing in solidarity with their partners, daughters, sisters, and mothers.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The question, which, of course, followed the march was: where do we go from here? I, and one of the other organizers, decided to keep the momentum going by building a Facebook page as an offshoot of the main event page, using it to promote local women's initiatives and related events, and for any future events we may organize. The reaction was strong, and within a few days we had over 700 “likes” and it continues to grow – we're close to 1000 at the time that I am preparing this talk. When people ask, “what is the lasting effect of something like the Women's March?” I point out that the simple fact that so many people responded to the event and turned up, is proof in itself that more and more people are not willing to be complacent. That they want a world where gender-based violence, racism, and hatred of all kinds are not acceptable. </span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I have been involved in activism and attending protests and rallies for over a decade. The main comment I get from naysayers is that protesting has no effect, no lasting result. From all early indications, when it comes to the Women's March, this is simply not true. Also, “protest” does not necessarily mean standing in the street with a placard. It can mean taking action by writing letters, making phone calls, and being active online in promoting the kind of social justice and change you want to see in the world. </span></span></span></p>
<p align="LEFT"><span style="color: #000000;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">If we want a world with gender equality – or any other form of social justice – we have to be willing to make a stand and put ourselves out there, in whatever way seems appropriate. Recent events in the world continue to demonstrate why we needed to march. To summarize, and to elaborate on a meme I saw recently on Facebook: sometimes we look back at history and think what we would have done had we been there. But we are here now. Whatever we're doing at this point in history, is what we're doing because we're present. Don't wait until you are looking back and wondering what you could have done. We all have a choice to be active citizens now.</span></span></span></p>
<p align="center"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Gr1VF9gNlQ" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37048794.post-12537178697486608642016-12-12T18:21:00.000-08:002016-12-12T18:21:10.396-08:00Human Rights Champion AwardOn December 11, I was honoured to receive a Human Rights Champion Award from the <a href="http://jhcentre.org/" target="_blank">John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights</a>. I was described in the awards brochure as "a pioneering media artist in Edmonton and a community organizer." Many of my colleagues from the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ecawar/" target="_blank">Edmonton Coalition Against War and Racism</a>, the <a href="http://www.edminterfaithcentre.ca/" target="_blank">Edmonton Interfaith Centre for Education and Action</a>, and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/movingforwardwithreconciliation/" target="_blank">Moving Forward with Reconciliation</a> working group, as well as many of my general activist friends, were there to support me.<br />
<br />
Here's my acceptance speech, in writing and video:<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">When I showed up at my first peace march in September of 2005, camera in hand, I had no idea that 11 years later I would be standing here receiving an award like this. </span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I firmly believe that we all have a role to play when it comes to peace and human rights, and that every contribution has significance. Our voices count, whether it is helping organize events, connecting communities, or simply showing up to support an equitable society, to say no to racism, and to say yes to peace and an anti-war government.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">I also hope that my example will help influence others to get involved with the peace movement and human rights. We need your voices and talents. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">Thank you to the John Humphrey Centre for holding these awards and for bestowing this honour upon me. And to all of my friends and supporters over the years: peace, shalom, thank you.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qnTk9tgyJjY" width="560"></iframe>Paula E. Kirmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05525909060268135159noreply@blogger.com0