BCCIC News

International Development Week 2010 Success!

International Development Week (IDW) took place from February 6 - 13, 2010. This year, BCCIC profiled eight youth, ages 15-26, from around British Columbia who are acting as global citizens in their communities. The youth were profiled on our webpage and each youth had an article, podcast and YouTube video produced which outlined their achievements.

Visitors to our webpage increased three-fold, our YouTube videos and podcasts were downloaded widely and our followers and fans on our social media websites increased dramatically. To learn more about the successes of International Development Week 2010, please read the full report at bccic.ca/thank-you-successful-international-development-week-2010.

We would also like to congratulate Myrie Eaton of Cumberland, BC for providing BCCIC with her feedback from IDW and winning the FLIP!  When asked if the profiled youth and their stories inspired her and what action she will take because of them, she answered. "I think it's great that young Canadians are aware of global issues and that they are trying to create change where they think it's needed. I would love to become more involved with some of the issues discussed in these videos and interviews and hope that I too can be part of this change."

Thanks for your response Myrie! We hope you enjoy the FLIP and hope that it will allow you to create some inspiring videos of your own.

International Women's Day (IWD) Celebration

BCCIC would like to invite you to this year's IWD Celebrations in Vancouver on Saturday, March 6.

Women's Voices at the Table
A diverse group of community organizations is inviting you to the large Vancouver community event for this year's International Women's Day (IWD) celebration in Vancouver. This year, the International Women’s Day Rally at the Art Gallery will be followed by a Conference at the Vancouver Public Library.

IWD Rally
This Rally will highlight the lack of women's voices at the G8/G20 meetings. Featured Speakers include Semhal Getachew, a leading Ethiopian lawyer, women's advocate and researcher. Live entertainment, including well-known Aboriginal Hip Hop artist JB The First Lady and others.

IWD Conference
This Conference features 15 roundtable discussions, with conclusions and recommendations presented to the group in plenary. Excellent speakers are featured at each table in moderated discussion groups. There will be live entertainment including Solidarity Notes and more. Refreshments will be provided.

Watch the event website for more information.

March 9 - BCCIC Membership Meeting and Social Media Training Day

March 25th International Development Drinks in Vancouver



BCCIC is pleased to announce that we will be hosting another International Development Drinks night on March 25 at Ceili's Irish Pub. The theme of this International Development Drinks is Africa.  Join us for a night of chating, debating, socializing and connecting with others who are passionate about working, volunteering and learning more about international development. For more information or to RSVP, please contact Nicole at info@bccic.ca.

 

Member News

Emmanuel Ole Kileli, Chairman of Ereto Maasai Youth [EMAYO] from Kibirashi, Tanzania, has arrived in Canada this past month. EMAYO is a partner organization of the Kesho Trust and Emmanuel will be working with them during his 6 month stay in Canada to develop new cooperative project initiatives. He is also keen to present the work of his organization to others interested in community development in Africa. If your organization would like to host Emmanuel at a meeting or event, please contact The Kesho Trust at: info@thekeshotrust.org

Rick Craig Joins Governor General's State Visit

Rick Craig, the Justice Education Society’s Executive Director, was invited by Governor General Michaëlle Jean to join her State Visit to Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica from December 6-16. The invitation was a recognition of the Society’s work to strengthen effective justice systems in the region.

The Canadian delegates interacted with their Mexican, Guatemalan, and Costa Rican counterparts as well as played an active role in Their Excellencies’ meetings with civil society organizations. Craig published blog postings about the trip on the Governor General’s website that detailed Guatemala’s struggle with an extremely high level of violence and documented his experience speaking on a panel about the rights of indigenous women in Chiapas, Mexico.

FH Canada sends medical response teams to Haiti

When the 2004 tsunami struck Indonesia, FH Canada mobilized medical teams of experienced doctors and nurses as part of its relief efforts. In the response to the earthquake, FH Canada is proud to again be sending teams of nurses and doctors, some of who served on those first teams. The teams of volunteers have been invaluable to the growing need for medical professionals. FH Canada’s specialized contribution to certain major disasters is to send teams such as these. Join this group and share in updates, and learn what it’s like to serve while being stretched emotionally and physically.

The first team treated over 4,000 Haitians during their two weeks in Port-au-Prince, and the second team continued to treat approximately 500 patients each day. Treatments were made for injuries suffered from the quake as well as stomach flu, viral illnesses, and sexually transmitted diseases. Locals kindly assisted the team with interpreting, allowing them to treat people more efficiently.

MCC Responds to the Haiti Earthquake

The Mennonite Central Committee continues to respond to the earthquake that struck Haiti in January. MCC has 20 international and national staff who responded with courage and compassion to their neighbours in need, despite having been affected by the earthquake themselves. In BC, MCC brought in over $1.2 million, which will be matched 1:1 by CIDA. An assessment team is on the ground in Haiti now to determine what shape MCC’s long term recovery response will take. MCC has been at work in Haiti since 1958.

On March 20^th, a benefit concert called Hope for Haiti, will benefit the work of MCC in Haiti. The concert begins at 2 pm and will go until 10 pm. Details are still coming together, so visit bc.mcc.org for all the details!

Got a couple minutes for malaria?

Africa – and you can influence their choice.

Please vote now and encourage Kiwanis to choose malaria.

Community News

Ashoka’s Changemakers is looking for your great ideas that are catalyzing the economic advancement of women through technology.

Join Ashoka for Women | Tools | Technology: Building Opportunities & Economic Power, a collaboration in partnership with ExxonMobil and the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW).

There is an Early Entry Prize Deadline coming up on March 1st, 2010 for a chance to win one of two early entry prizes. In addition to winning a digital camera, early entry prize winners will be featured in the Women in the World summit on March 12-13, 2010, and highlighted in Ashoka’s Changemakers marketing materials.

Enter by the final competition deadline on April 14th, 2010 and have the chance to vie for one of three $5,000 prizes. Winners will also be invited to participate in a collaboration workshop with Ashoka’s Changemakers and ExxonMobil during summer 2010.

Learn more at www.changemakers.com/en-us/technologywomen.

News Flash

Please consider writing a letter urging the Guatemalan authorities to ensure the safety of CCDA members, and to investigate these recent threats against them.

Please view the backgrounder on the situation, as well as a request for letters in solidarity with the CCDA, addresses to send them to, and a sample text.

Here is a brief summary of what is provided in the backgrouder:

On February 2, 2010, in a national press conference, the CCDA presented a report denouncing violence against labour, indigenous and campesino sectors. One week later, the CCDA discovered that over 18,000 lbs of their coffee had been stolen from their coffee processing mill the night before.

On February 13th, the CCDA received letters at their offices in Quixaya and at their coffee processing mill threatening Leocadio Juracán, National Coordinator of the CCDA. On February 14th, another letter was delivered to the home of Leocadio's daughter in Guatemala City threatening both her and Leocadio. 

Leocadio and his family are currently in hiding, and are not sure when they will be able to return to their community. Read more...

For more information, please contact Kirsten Daub of Cafe Etico, etico@etico.ca.