Posted by: Mees | January 26, 2010

When digital advocacy sends a clear message

I was quite surprised when I saw the amount of traction and media attention the Facebook group Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament was getting. Stephen Harper proroguing parliament hardly seemed like an issue that would attract over 200,000 members in less than a month since it was created on December 30, 2009.

How many people know what prorogue means anyway?

The group’s founder Christopher White doesn’t call himself an activist or identifies with a particular party. He is an anthropology major at the University of Alberta who was frustrated that Harper prorogued Parliament for the second time. By proroguing Parliament:

  1. All 37 bills being debated in Parliament are thrown in the trash. Discussion on bills starts from scratch in March, wasting months of hard work by all parties. These bills included new crime legislation, limits on credit card insurance rates, etc.
  2. Committees investigating accusations of torture of Afghan detainees stop working
  3. Discussions and decisions about the pension crisis affecting Canada’s seniors stops
  4. Questions about Canada’s inaction at the Copenhagen climate-change summit are silenced. Opportunities to move forward with Canada’s plan for sustainable development are stalled for over a month.
  5. Your MPs cannot raise your concerns in Ottawa

One of the successes of this group is that the message was clear to Members of Parliament: “Get Back to Work.”

Some people study effective public relations tactics and try to carefully craft campaigns the tiniest detail. While many of these strategies have been effective and ideally planned to some extent, there are many occasions where a clear message with an engaged public is enough to spark an interest⎯even if it’s through a click of a mouse.

Organizing done right

I’m not trying to hype up a Facebook group just because it has many members. Right now the group “I FLIP MY PILLOW TO GET TO THE COLD SIDE” has 982,941 members. Case and point.

It’s not hard for people to click and join a group. Part of the effectiveness of “Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament” are the rallies across the country that were organized.

The No Prorogue! website picked up on the momentum of the Facebook group to provide a forum for people to blog about the issue. The site is easy to navigate because it provides concise information about the impacts of proroguing Parliament and lists all of the cities holding rallies.

Sean Devlin organized the January 23, 2009 rally in Vancouver. He said, “The Facebook group is the first step in the engagement ladder. Showing up at a rally is the next step.”

When social media is used effectively, it can be a great political organizing tool.


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Posted in Advocacy, Lessons in communication | Tags: , ,

Posted by: Mees | January 19, 2010

Social Change in Cambodia

Kids we passed during our ride. Photo credit: PEPY

I just came back from a very fulfilling two-week bike ride across Cambodia.  A group of us participated in the Riding to Break the Cycle: Cambodia 2010 tour with Global Agents for Change in partnership with PEPY to fundraise for the two organizations.

On a personal level, this trip was a chance for me to at least have a preview of development work since I had never seen any projects first-hand. I had only read articles of development work and criticisms of the approaches of many NGOs around the world. The successes and criticisms that I’ve read were similar to some of the situations that PEPY encountered throughout the course of their work.

The ride is designed to educate participants and benefit the communities the organization operates in. From our experience, they lived up exactly to what they said they would offer.

PEPY invests time and resources in people, because we believe that improving education, providing training and stimulating ideas builds capacity for people to better solve their own problems.

Results > Adapt > Demand

Water pump at one of PEPY's schools. Photo credit: Melissa Chungfat

Before we began bike riding, we had a chance to visit one of PEPY’s schools in Chanleas Dai Commune with the organization’s executive director Daniela Papi.

We get so caught up in technologies and constant change that we often forget that the most complex and effective solutions may not necessarily be the most effective.  Writing notes on a board during a lecture can be more engaging nowadays after seeing endless cluttered PowerPoint presentations throughout our academic years.

Some people and organizations apply this mentality to development work. But as Daniela correctly said, “Technology is useless without education.”

Education is an essential aspect of their programs and development projects. Sometimes the most effective solutions cost the least. One of PEPY’s educational programs, for example, costs $1,500 a year to educate groups of kids as opposed to spending $55,000 to build a new school.

Education in the context of development must go beyond handing out leaflets and information sheets like some other NGOs have done in the past. Some think that people will just magically adopt the “gifts” given by organizations and integrated it in their lives.

No.

Daniela said they had to do more than just outreach⎯they had to prove concepts. When they were trying to get people to use a water filter, it took a full year for people to adopt them.

One school principal said that the water filters was the best thing PEPY did for education because the filters helped increase school attendance because there was less illness. “You can’t force people to change results. They will see the results, adapt and demand,” Daniela said.

A big problem many NGOs cause is that they assume community needs as opposed to understanding them and involving the community in a participatory way. So we often hear stories of organization handing out drugs not realizing that a big part of their target population can’t read instructions or don’t have access to the food they need to take the drug and so on.

When PEPY began their literacy camp,  there was a much bigger increase in the use of the books at the school once they were taught how to use the books.

They don’t just give away books, they show them how to use it. They don’t just give away filters, they sell them at an affordable price so people take real ownership of it and are educated on how to use it.

Results > adapt > demand

Your role in social change

Christina Wu biking across Cambodia! Photo credit: Melissa Chungfat

Daniela lives by Howard Thurman’s quote: “Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” This was the most unexpected, but useful, thoughts that I took away from the entire trip.

If I had read this quote by itself outside of our meetings with PEPY, I wouldn’t give it a second thought. What intrigued me was that she and some of her friends live by this idea in relation to development.

When I asked her one of the most vague questions you could ever ask: “What route should I take if I want to get development experience. I want do do something to help people.”

Instead of telling me to do an internship,  get more skills and so on, the first question she  asked was, “What are you passionate about?”

One of Daniela’s friends runs a restaurant and works with non-profits in the community to help them with fundraising and other projects. That way she has the freedom to explore her interest in development and other issues.

If you’re motivated to do what you’re passionate about, you’ll have the energy to integrate your passions with social change.  The non-profit route isn’t the only option to make a positive impact.

Another example is one rider who wanted to open up a bike shop to provide quality service at an affordable price in his town. Biking is his passion and he wants to help people fulfill their interests.

There are many lessons to learn about development. It’s just as important to continuously educate yourself as it is to educate others.

Useful links


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Posted in International development | Tags: , , , , ,

Posted by: Mees | December 25, 2009

Don’t forget to remember in 2010

I asked my roommate what resolutions she will make for 2010. She replied, “I don’t make annual resolutions. I set goals for myself every day.”

That’s a better approach.

We often break the commitments to ourselves to lose weight or reduce our consumption of [insert indulgence here] before the month is even over. Yes, to hold a promise to yourself for a whole year does seem like a long time. But setting short-term goals for yourself will make these promises more attainable.

I’m glad I’ll be kicking off 2010 in Cambodia in one of three Riding to Break the Cycle tours. My friend and I can only prepare so much mentally and emotionally for both the beauty and horrors we are about to experience. I am only hoping that this two-week exploration will help me fulfill my resolution to be more sensitized to social and environmental issues, educated and engaged.

Remembering the past for a better future

I just finished reading A Cambodian Prison Portrait. One Year in the Khmer Rouge’s S-21 by Vann Nath. He was one of the few to survive Pol Pot’s genocidal regime Khmer Rouge, who took over Cambodia from 1975 to 1979 after the U.S. left Vietnam.

When the Khmer Rouge took power, Pol Pot wanted to transform the country into a Maoist, peasant-dominated, agarian cooperative. Hundreds of thousands of people were relocated to the countryside into labour camps. Women, men and children were tortured, starved to death or killed. From 1975 to 1979 almost two million Cambodians died during the genocide.

Nath survived the S-21 prison, now called the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, where he, like tens of thousands of other prisoners, was starved and tortured in the most gruesome ways. What saved him was his talent for painting. The prison guards and authorities asked him to paint portraits of Pol Pot and labourers.

It’s disturbing that in Nath’s stories, the authorities force the prisoners to call them “brothers.” Our understanding of brother beyond biological bonds is someone who supports you, someone who is a mentor and someone you look up to for protection. But in Nath’s experience, you call the person who oppresses you, beats you and tortures you a “brother.”

It’s frightening to learn about people’s indifference to acts of torture and oppression during past genocides. Now I can see if people can feel little to nothing or—even worse—find it entertaining to torture people, I can imagine how people in high positions around the world can feel little empathy to the innocent people who make their products to create and sustain a financially wealthy elite.

I’ve been so influenced by Western movies and the “heroes” of movies who escape, save lives or have a happy ending. But the reality is most people don’t have a happy ending. And while there is hope in the shadows, the focus of many Western films on “happy endings” too often creates unrealistic expectations of the future that makes reality that much more difficult to accept.

Just when I thought Nath had his happy ending when he reunited with his wife, nieces, nephews and brother, she told him that his five-year-old son and six-month-old son had been killed.

History through art

Nath communicates and commemorates the horrific past through his paintings. In 1979, Nath helped organize a Museum of Genocide on the grounds of the former S-21 prison. He said, “The idea of returning to that horrifying place filled me with dread but it was my decision to return. I worked as a painter there, preparing scenes of life in S-21 to let Cambodians and visitors from other countries know what had happened.”

On January 7, 1980, the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum was opened to the public. One woman who saw the pictures said, “I’ve been separated from my family for ten years. I have been trying to search for news about them. And finally, I have just found out now.”

It’s amazing how Nath’s talent for painting was used by the most ruthless people  to glorify a cruel leader Pol Pot as well as a very noble purpose in educating the public in past tragedies in an effort to create a better future for coming generations.

Nath was passionate about keeping the museum open. “I want to keep the memory alive so foreign visitors and the new generation of Cambodians can understand what happened during that time. Our children must learn never to treat human beings like animals, or lower than animals.”

Pol Pot died unpunished and never admitted to his crimes. When I read this, I immediately thought of Omar Al-bashir, the Sudanese president and commander of the genocide in Sudan, who also refuses to admit his crimes. There are many people out there who have not been held accountable for their irresponsibility towards humanity.

2010

Nath said according to Bhuddhism, “Good actions produce good results, bad actions produce bad results.” We all need to make resolutions that will produce more good actions. It doesn’t matter whether you take action on new year’s or after your birthday.

Make genuine commitments and be persistent. Write letters to your Member of Parliament every week, join an advocacy group, question a company on unethical business practices—produce good results.

For 2010, I will consistently make efforts throughout the year to be involved in work that enables me to remain sensitized, mobilized and to simply be educated.

When we visit the Museum of Genocide on our route, I’ll be thinking of Nath and his real brothers and sisters who experienced hell in the S-21 prison.

For Nath, the people who have suffered in the past, and current victims, we will produce good results.

Happy new year.



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Posted in Advocacy, Community initiatives, Humanitarian causes

Posted by: Mees | December 9, 2009

Happy Anniversary Human Rights

My friend Christina and I recently met with two wonderful people who worked with the non-profit PEPY for six months in Cambodia. We will be riding across Cambodia for two weeks at the end of the month to fundraise for PEPY’s Child-to-Child program, which empowers children to be leaders in their community.

One thing Christina and I discussed was whether we should ever give money when children come up to us and beg. We don’t know if they are working for someone, but there is a chance they could use that money for food.

When we brought the issue up with our friends who worked with PEPY, they told us, “I know it’s hard not to give, but when you meet with PEPY, they will explain how that feeds the problem. If kids can get money begging throughout the day, the parents will think ‘Why send them to school when they could make money?’ This why you are doing this tour−to focus on education and longer term solutions.”

While our time in Cambodia is short, I chose to do this Global Agents for Change tour with PEPY because of their approach to empowering communities. Local Cambodians are involved in the process of shaping their future.

Tomorrow is Human Rights Day. December 10th is the anniversary of the Assembly’s adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. The General Assembly said that respect for human rights and human dignity “is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace in the world.”

While it is the ideal that many of us are working towards, we have a long way to go to holding people and companies who are committing human rights abuses and advocating for longer term solutions. Human Rights Day is an opportunity to be one step in global solidarity and focusing on long-term solutions than simply being an annual ritual.

In the next few weeks, Christina and I are learning about Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge and keeping on open mind. We cannot fully prepare for both the beauty and horrors we are about to see. We’ve been told that we will encounter children begging, prostitution and extreme poverty.  But I hope to return more sensitized, engaged, persistent and educated.

If it’s hard to listen and witness horrific stories, imagine living those horrors every day. We have a responsibility to at least know about the realities about other people. We never know when we can be in their situation one day. If that day ever comes, would we not want support?

Success Stories

To be silent is to consent. People can show support and incite change in many ways.

Yes, we hear all the time that small actions can make a big difference. But challenge yourself to do more and try and live out your values. We can be creatures of habit and until you push yourself to do more, you may never realize your potential impact.

Write letters, question a company about their purchasing policies, attend rallies, push for policy changes. Whatever actions you choose to engage in, you are working with other people pushing for the same goals, whether you realize it or not.

Here are just a few success stories resulting from effective advocacy and accountability initiatives.

Ibrahim Essandoh

One of my friends, Dr. Clement Apaak, single-handedly saved the life of Ibrahim Essandoh who needed a life-saving kidney transplant from his brother in Ghana. But the Canadian government denied his brother a visitor’s visa to do the transplant. Dr. Apaak said, “We are not going to let him die because of government bureaucracy.” He mobilized enough people to get the government to reverse their decision. Because of Apaak’s efforts, I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Essandoh alive and well at an event last week.

Amnesty International Letters

People’s letters have saved many lives and advanced human rights policies around the world. Here is one example:

Bu Dongwei was released about four months before the end of his term of re-education through labor in China. Bu Dongwei was serving a two-and-a-half year sentence in connection with his activities as a member of the Falun Gong movement, which is banned in China.

He believes international attention, including Amnesty International’s campaign, protected him during his ordeal, and he thanked all Amnesty International activists who took action on his behalf and on behalf oft human rights in China. During the 2007 Global Write-a-thon, and continuing throughout 2008, Amnesty International activists aggressively campaigned for Bu Dongwei’s release.

Read more of their successes here.

What you can do for the International Human Rights Day

  1. Write for Rights with Amnesty International
  2. Write hand-written letters to your MP and Prime Minister Harper on any human rights issue the concerns you
  3. Participate in vigils the upcoming vigils (12 p.m. to 2 p.m.) to send a message to the Canadian Government to take bold action at Copenhagen, protect our planet from climate change and cut Canada’s emissions by half by 2020:
  • Dec-10 North Vancouver (Andrew Saxton, Conservative) 102 W3rd St: Rhian Walker
  • Dec-11 Ministry of Environment Offices, 401 Burrard St: Belinda B
  • Dec-12 Library Square, Vancouver, 11 a.m. on: Bob Worcester
  • Dec-13 Canadian Memorial United Church, 2pm Burrard and 15th: Rev Bruce Sanguin
  • Dec-14 Port Moody-Westwood-Coquitlam (Hon James Moore, Conservative) 2605 St John’s St: Alex Nataros
  • Dec-15 South Surrey-White Rock-Langley (Russ Hiebert, Conservative) 106A-2429 152nd: Meg Watson
  • Dec-16 Fleetwood-Port Kells (Nina Grewal,Conservative) 201-15957 84th ave
  • Dec-17 Langley (Mark Warawa, Conservative) 101-6830 216th st
  • Dec-18 Chilliwack-Fraser Canyon (Chuck Strahl, Conservative) 102-7388 Vedder Rd Christine Shepard

If you have any other events or actions, please suggest too.

Happy Human Rights Day.


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Posted in Advocacy, Community initiatives

Posted by: Mees | November 23, 2009

Home-made yummyness

This month is the last foodie outing of the year with my friends. Every month we try a non-chain restaurant in Vancouver because there are so many flavours to try around this lovely city.

I was speaking to some colleagues about Vancouver’s food culture and it seems that many people eat out rather than inviting people into their space. It’s an interesting cultural contrast from when I was visiting loads of family in my home island country Mauritius, which is close to South Africa. You can remember the country by saying “Delicious Mauritius.”

In Delicious Mauritius, if people come over to your place, you’re expected to provide the food. I was talking to one of my family members about potlucks and they didn’t know what that was. When I explained what a potluck was they said, “Oh, we call it bring and share here. But we don’t do that much because if we invite people over, we cook for everybody.”

I felt like I was living in 1950 when I stayed at one of my aunt’s place. Every day, she would take about two hours to prepare meals. Even before she went to work, she would take at least an hour to cook a full meal for the kids for breakfast.

I had some of the best meals in Mauritius.

Bonding with Food

I visited my cousins this weekend and they made amazing food for lunch. I pretty much had three meals in one. They came from Mauritius a year ago and they have both been cooking since they were teenagers.

Just before I left, I invited them over to my place for dinner and warned them that I only have a three-item menu and can get self-conscious when I make food for people who are great at cooking. I immediately declined when they offered to bring something for the dinner. But when they said they can show me how to make something, I said okay.

There is something appealing about cooking with people and for people. Besides my parents, I have only cooked with friends twice. But those two times were relaxing, fun and a good way to spend time with people you care about.

Ministry of Food

So the Brits went from having their own empire to having no clue on how to boil an egg. True story, grocery stores started selling pre-cooked eggs not because people were lazy, but because people “lacked the required knowledge.”

This kind of problem is not restricted to the UK, but certainly America and Canada. When the recession hit last year, as expected, fast food sales went up. But what many people don’t realize is that cooking is still cheaper than eating fast food. Superstar chef Jamie Oliver said in an interview, “There is not one fast food item that you can name that I couldn’t cook for cheaper.”

It is our severe disconnect from food that drove Jamie to start a food revolution to get people cooking again to improve their health and change the way they interact with people. He calls this movement Ministry of Food.

I caught his show on how he’s getting people to cook on the Food Network just when I started thinking a lot about the great things that come along with cooking with people.

Jamie wanted to begin his movement in the town of Rotherham in the UK because the area is the best reflection of the country’s demographic make-up. He believed if the movement could work there, it could work anywhere.

When he first set out to do this, he didn’t really have a plan to get the entire town cooking. He said, “I’ve got a lot of learning and listening to do.”

He began teaching eight people over the course of a few months and they would learn 10 recipes by the time all of their lessons were done. Part of the deal is that Jamie asked them to teach two other people the ten recipes after they mastered it themselves. It’s “mates teaching mates,” as he describes.

Cooking changes the way people interact with food and their social network.

Natasha was one of the people he was teaching. She was a 22-year-old mother with two children who were five and two years old. Until Jamie came, she had never cooked a meal for her children and relied completely on take-out food.

She wanted to learn how to be healthy because she worries they will be obese.

It was amazing to see how emotional Natasha got when she learned how to cook a pancake and the response from her child when he ate it for the first time. She quickly got hooked on cooking and also became a very good teacher for her friends.

“Natasha has a naturalness with food that she never knew about,” Jamie said. She’s natural and quick to the point when she’s teaching people.

When Jamie described Natasha’s newly-discovered passion, I immediately thought of the opportunities we give to kids and development. Everyone has a right to have access to the tools and environment to discover their passions and become better at the things they like.

That’s why Jamie opened a Ministry of Food Centre to give non-cooks a place to make simple foods and basic kitchen skills. Now it’s run by the Rotherham Council.

Natasha said she likes the feeling of being complimented and way her kids respond when they like her food when she cooks. Who wouldn’t?

Food and Social Change

Many of the posts I’ve been writing about have been about social change regarding heavier topics like humanitarian crisis. But social change can be sparked by one person with a big idea to at least try something and finding new ways of bringing people together.

People can cook for an hour and a half and finish eating in 10 minutes. But when you cook with someone else and a group of people, the process is much more enjoyable.

Once I have good hosting space and a big enough kitchen, I’ll turn the foodie restaurant club into a cooking club.

Bon appetit!


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Posted in Food | Tags: , ,

Posted by: Mees | November 10, 2009

Forgiving for yourself

My friend and I are preparing for our biking fundraiser in Cambodia. We don’t want to go to the country completely ignorant, so we’re trying to learn as much about the culture and history as we can.

I was lucky enough to be introduced to a new friend who is from Cambodia and she recently traveled to the country last year. Three of us went for coffee a few days ago to hang out and our discussions led to accountability for murder and forgiveness. You know . . . normal coffee shop talk.

I was asking about the Khmer Rouge and she said she has family who was killed during the regime. I wanted to know what kind of accountability and justice has been done or should be done. We soon got into a conversation about forgiveness after someone has done something so atrocious to your loved ones.

I said, “I think it’s easier said than done. I’ve only read accounts of murders and genocides and I feel enraged just reading about them. It’s easier to be rational about morals when you’re not experiencing the situation.”

She replied, “Yes, they should be accountable but if even if they were all put to death, what would that do? Forgiveness is also for yourself.”

I asked if people deserve to be forgiven if they feel no sorrow for their actions. Then my Cambodian friend talked about the Khmer people on trial who were bragging about the number of people they killed.

Then our other friend said, “I think a big misconception is that forgiveness is for the other person. But it’s also for yourself and not holding that anger with yourself.” She then told a story of a teacher who gave each of his students a bag with potatoes. He told them to walk around the room with the potatoes. When he asked his students how they feel, they said, “Tired, frustrated and heavy.”

They continued to walk with the bag. When he told them to put the bag down, he asked them how they felt and they said, “Relieved and better.” He said, “That’s what forgiveness is.”

My friend said forgiveness is about letting go of that anger and moving past the hatred for your own sanity and healing.

Forgiveness After a Genocide

After the Rwandan genocide, many of the genocidaires were released into the community. In 2003, 20,000 of the prisoners were released and returned into their communities. Many of the victims of the genocide had to live side by side with the people who massacred their children and family members, as documented in the film My Neighbour, My Killer.

When I saw the film, my heart wrenched hearing the mothers describe the brutal hacking and murder of their children. I could only imagine my own reaction yelling and plotting vengeance if I ever came face to face with the people who wiped out my loved ones.

Yet, when the government established the Gacaca Tribunals, open-air hearings with citizen-judges meant to try their neighbors and rebuild the nation, many people were emotional but also controlled and profoundly wise.

One of the elders told one of the victims, “Rwamfizi, if you don’t want this weight on your heart, if you really want to be freed of it, reach  out to me, let us speak in trust. In a real discussion, who knows where words will lead.”

This type of tribunal was an experiment in reconciliation where confessed genocide killers are sent home from prison, while traumatized survivors are asked to forgive them and continue living side-by-side.

Before the sessions began, one of the women asked her friend, “What if they come back to finish off the rest of us?” Her friend replied, “He might as well kill me. I was already dead when he killed my children.”

One of the people leading the session said, “The State is concerned with what happened in this country. Your lawyer will will be your neighbour. Your prosecutor will be your neighbour. Your judge will be your neighbour. We must build a new Rwanda, like it or not.  So as not to leave a cursed legacy to our children.”

It was disturbing to me how the murderers spoke in a calm and descriptive voice about their crimes. The ones who were portrayed in the film didn’t seem to be extremely sorry for what they have done. Maybe people can turn off their emotions if they can do such horrific things do other humans, especially children.

It’s an interesting way to live your life to use your neighbours as your judge. How well do you treat other people and are people hurt by what you say or do?

I hope many of the victims found some peace and have the ability to continue to live their lives with less heavy hearts.

Forgiving a Family Member

Today I saw Oprah interview a family who suffered the loss of their family members after teir relative Eric Wrinkles murdered them. Kim and Matt were only nine and three years old when their uncle murdered their parents. Their cousin Tracy was also living with the family at 19 years old when Eric killed their family members.

I’m talking about this story because I saw this today only days after I had the conversation with my friends about forgiveness. I mainly wanted to see if any of these kids or family members would actually forgive their relative.

Tracy said, “I forgave Eric Wrinkles for killing my family. It was time to start healing, and that’s where I wanted to start from. … I don’t want him to be out of prison, but I don’t want him on death row.”

Moments before that, Kim was talking about all of the events and holidays in her life that her parents couldn’t be there for. Every Mother’s Day, other kids would be making things for their parents and she would be making something for her grandma.

Yet, despite all of these hardships, she too forgave Eric even though she doesn’t trust his apology. She said, “Seeing him die won’t bring our parents back. I forgave him a long time ago. I don’t want to carry that hate with me for the rest of my life.”

Social Change

I’m writing about this because of my newly discovered perspective on forgiveness and its contribution to social change.

Many of us engage in projects that have a positive impact in some way rather than just constantly criticizing and complaining about all of the wrongs we come across. Social change is not about fixing isolated problems. It’s about a different way of living and working with each other to achieve communal goals.

My friend was right, even if you kill all of the guilty people who participated in a genocide, you can’t kill the ideology. Killing the guilty does not address the social conditions that led to a tragedy or humanitarian catastrophes.

Perspectives take time to change and there are actions that we can take to begin that process. Maybe in the certain situations, forgiveness is one of them.


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Posted in Lessons in communication

Posted by: Mees | November 1, 2008

Seeing the end before beginning

What are you trying to achieve with your writing?

My tagline is “writing with an end in mind” because good writers always think about what they are ultimately trying to achieve with their writing. Whether you are writing a brochure or website content, always think about the goal of your content.

Before you start writing, ask yourself these questions:

1.    What are you trying to achieve with your writing?
2.    Who is your audience?

The goal

Your writing will be more focused and direct when you have a specific goal. For example, your goal can be, “I want this campus newspaper article to increase our program enrollments.” The more specific your goal is, the better. If you just say, “I want to make people aware about our program,” then a writer may just give general information about a program and how students can apply; basically writing an informational article rather than a persuasive one.

When your ultimate goal is to increase enrolments, a writer can give more reasons why people should apply such as telling stories of people benefiting from the program or how their experience has given participants a head start in their careers.

The audience

Who are the people reading your writing? The more you know about your audience, the better you can tailor your content. Are you going to deliver the same message to a middle-class mother with three children and a high school student? Probably not.

Let’s say you are part of an organisation that is looking for donations to feed needy children in Rwanda. Your ultimate goal is to get donations, but the way you package your message to different audiences will vary.

Your main message to persuade the middle-class mother with three children could be:

What would happen if you couldn’t feed your children? It’s unimaginable, yet so many children in Rwanda do not have enough food to eat. You can be the one to save these children by simply giving a dollar a day.

The main message to the high school student could be:

You don’t have to have a high-powered career to save needy children. You can make a world of difference by fundraising!

$500: feed 100 children three meals a day

$1000: feed 200 children three meals a day

$10,000: feed 2,000 children three meals a day

See the difference?

Your audience determines how you write your content in order to achieve your goal.


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Posted in Writing tips | Tags: , , , ,

Posted by: Mees | November 3, 2008

The conservation message from a Nobel Peace Prize winner

There aren’t too many people who directly link the wellbeing of the environment with democracy. But Dr. Wangari Maathai does, and she applies this concept with the Green Belt Movement (GBM). She began the organisation in 1977 to address deforestation, soil erosion, and lack of water in Kenya. Not only is the movement helping a variety of African societies, but it’s also empowering women by helping them “become stewards of the natural environment.”

Today, over 40 million trees have been planted across Africa. As a result, biodiversity-rich indigenous forests have been restored, soil erosion has been reduced, and families are standing up for their rights in their communities. The organisation’s endless stream of achievements continues as they work towards their goal of planting one billion trees worldwide.

Dr. Maathai was the first African woman to receive the 2004 Nobel Peace Prize for the GBM. Other awards she has received include the 2007 World Citizenship Award and the 2007 Indira Ghandi Prize.

Communicating conservation

Dr. Maathai’s unstoppable advocacy for the environment and democracy empowered people in true grassroots-style. In her book The Green Belt Movement: Sharing the Approach and the Experience, she shares how she communicated the conservation message to a community; particularly those who are illiterate or semi-literate. Here are some tactics and advice she discusses to deliver the “conservation message in a way the audience will understand.”

  1. Ask community members to list ways families used biodiversity. It’s important that they “perceive the environment as a real and living part of community life.”
  2. Run initiatives with honesty and people will support the cause.
  3. Having solid values are the energy that sustain an organization.
  4. Repeat and internalize abstract ideas.
  5. Enable the community to own the project because community development takes commitment.
  6. Developing short and long-term objectives will create momentum for a project.
  7. Building trust from the beginning is important and democratic administration management is key.
  8. Create an atmosphere where views can be expressed in a participatory manner.

It’s remarkable how these international development approaches can be applied to your causes and corporate environments.

Related post: “Seeing the end before beginning”

If you’ve come across people or organisations who have valuable lessons in communication, email me at melissa.chungfat(a)gmail.com and I’ll post it.


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Posted by: Mees | November 5, 2008

Winning an election on “hope” and “change”

There are a lot of reasons why Obama’s path to victory is so unforgettable: the consistency of his key messages, the mobilization of young voters, the record numbers in campaign donations, and the list goes on.

So how did he get to his powerful, political, rock-star status?

Well, there are a lot of reasons. But what I want to focus on is how Obama’s key messages of “hope” and “change” were consistently communicated to achieve a specific goal.

Obama speaking in Iowa emphasizing these two themes:


Communication lessons from “Obamarama”

It doesn’t matter whether you agree with his politics or not; we can all learn a few fundamental lessons on nailing the right messages. Here is a brief rundown on how they did it:

1.    They identified key issues that were affecting voters the most
2.    They chose the message of “hope” and “change” as the basis of their campaign
3.    They connected with their target audiences with tailored stories
4.    They called them to action

Lesson #1: Knowing your audience

Before you develop your campaign message, it’s important to know as much as you can about the people you’re talking to.

The diverse segments of the voting public (young voters, undecided, red voters, etc.) each have their own set of problems. The public has become increasingly frustrated over time as indicated by Bush’s continuously declining approval ratings, now said to be as low as 10%, according to The Guardian.

Obama’s team understood the problems that many Americans were facing. Each city, county, and state had both common and unique challenges in their everyday lives that had to be addressed.

Lesson #2: Identifying the right messages

After the Obama team understood voters’ key issues, the creation of the messages began. And once they got the right messages, they built the rest of the details from there.

But before the “change” message began rolling through the campaign, Obama focused on his foundational message of hope even before he announced his run for the presidency.

When he first talked about his belief in hope, he may have sounded naïve and came off as someone who just had wishful thinking. But hope has proven to be a sincere motivator and a solid foundation for Obama. In one of his speeches in Iowa, he said:

Hope is not blind optimism. It’s not ignoring the enormity of the task before us, or the roadblocks that stand in our path…I know that hope has been the guiding force for the most improbable changes this country has ever made…In the face of slavery, it’s what fueled the resistance of the slave and the abolitionist; and what allowed a president to chart a treacherous course to ensure that the nation would not continue half slave and half free.

Then, from the beginning of his campaign 21 months ago, Obama’s team stuck with the message of “change” right from the beginning. It is this message that captivated people and helped carry him to success.

Lesson #3: Tailoring the message to the audience

“Change” was the key message that was woven through Obama’s speeches. He first connected with the audience by telling them stories of people’s everyday struggles during his tour. He talked about everything from people who couldn’t afford prescription drugs to Maytag workers who have had their jobs shipped overseas. Once he hooked the crowd with the stories of the challenges so many Americans face everyday, he integrated the change message. He has said:

You understand why we can’t afford to settle for the same old politics…We can’t afford to be so worried about losing the next election that we lose the battle we owe to the next generation… And you know that’s a risk we can’t take. Not this year. Not when the stakes are too high…In seven days, it is time to stand for change.

Lesson #4: The call to action

Quite simply, once people were engaged with the change message, he called them to action. “Vote early…check our website to see where to cast your vote…and work like our future depends on it, because it does.”

The impact

And that’s how it’s done.

yes-we-did

See shantomo’s post on the design and social media aspects of Obama’s campaign.


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Posted by: Mees | November 6, 2008

Green Printer Blog

Green Printer is a fast-growing print company that gives people the choice to print on recycled and treeless paper. People can make a big difference by simply choosing green printing methods because it eliminates a lot of waste in the printing process from the choice of non-toxic inks to dry offset printing.

I’m pleased to work with Olga Orda, Principal of EQUO3 Strategies, as a weekly contributor to Green Printer’s blog. Check out the blog to find out how easy and cost-effective it is to switch to green printing without sacrificing quality and the environment.

The blog posts are also published on Green Options or Ecopreneurist. Green Options is a community and network of blogs focused on helping people figure out their understanding of sustainability. Ecopreneurist provides news and advice on sustainable and social entrepreneurship.

Posts


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Posted by: Mees | November 14, 2008

Canning the car

Remember when people were freaking out when oil prices were getting close to a dollar per litre because that was too expensive? After increasing oil prices the past few years, a dollar per litre ain’t that bad now.

The mainstream news were constantly reporting on the ups and downs of oil prices and tips on how to save on gas. But rarely did they speak about how oil is finite, peak oil, or its history in the 30-second or five-minute news stories.

Strombo explains peak oil in a nutshell:

I’ve grown up in the suburbs and I couldn’t get to the grocery store conveniently without driving. If I wanted to transit to the grocery store or the mall, it could take about 45 minutes by bus as opposed to a 10-minute drive.  The area I grew up in is a classic car-dependent community that exists around North America.

Compare this way of traveling to getting around by foot or bike. A few of my friends lived in Denmark and Amsterdam on exchange and they were able to move around easily to get their groceries, go to school, and visit their friends by bike. In Amsterdam, the bike capital of the world, 40% of all traffic movements are by bike.

Between North American car-based freedoms (except when we’re stuck for endless hours in traffic) and bike-friendly European cities, which is a more sustainable and cheaper mode of transportation?

America isn’t necessarily addicted to oil. North America developed a car-dependent society, and this unsustainable form of transportation that used to be the primary driver of the economy, is now contributing to the economic downturn.

The latest calls for the next round of bailouts for the automotive industry is another example of the need for a more proactive and sustainable economy. Understandably, there are a lot of pressures by being a publicly traded company because your loyalty lies with shareholders; those companies are legally required to maximize profit for them.

But GM and other car companies had a tremendous opportunity to become leaders in the market for electric vehicles, as shown by the documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?” The film talks about electric cars that began appearing on California’s roads in 1996. These beauties were fast, quiet, had no exhaust, and didn’t need gas. They just had to be plugged in overnight. That’s right; just like your cell phone.

Other car companies, including Toyota, began making electric cars and even began complying with strong environmental regulations on pollution. But later on, the mix of pressures from oil companies and the thought that the companies may not have been able to make enough money off the electric car, among other factors, led the car companies to work together to kill their own product. The death of the electric car happened even with proof of strong consumer demand.

A confidential memo even revealed that the Automobile Manufacturer’s Association wanted to hire a PR firm to carry out a “grassroots and educational campaign” to repeal California’s Zero Emissions Vehicle Mandate set in 1990. The challenge was “greater consumer acceptance of electric vehicles.” Then came the hummer—and we all know how great that was for the environment.

I won’t go so far as to say had they continued to make electric cars, they wouldn’t have had to lay off the thousands of people who helped them make their profits. But car companies had to have seen this coming. Oil is not an infinite resource and with the continued rise in oil prices, it’s hard to believe that the car execs didn’t think that the day would come that gas prices would be so expensive that the demand for cars and heavy gas-guzzlers would fall.

In the mean time, we’ll see if the car companies will get their monay, monay, monay.


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Posted by: Mees | November 14, 2008

Without the environment, there is no economy

Environmental economist Herman Daly said, “The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment.” Without the environment, there would be no economy. Oil is made of organic matter, our furniture comes from trees, diamonds form in the earth’s crust, and the list goes on.

There is a growing movement and pressure towards a green economy, which the Green-Collar Jobs Campaign defines as “A rapidly growing billion-dollar sector that includes renewable energy sources, organic produce and products, green buildings, alternative fuel vehicles, and more.”

The United Nations Environment Programme introduced a Global Green New Deal that’s been gaining increasing support by environmental and sustainable business leaders.
The department said that the following sectors will likely generate changes in economic returns, environmental sustainability, and job creation:

* Clean energy and clean technologies
* Rural energy
* Sustainable agriculture
* Ecosystem Infrastructure
* Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation
* Sustainable cities

The UN Environment program will bring a variety of stakeholders together, including policymakers, business executives, and NGOs on December 1, 2008 to launch the Green Economy Initiative.


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Posted by: Mees | November 26, 2008

Investing in the future

Thomas Friedman has been popping up quite a bit on tv talking about his latest book Hot, Flat, and Crowded. For those who aren’t as familiar with his work, he is a world-renowned author and journalist who has written for the New York Times since 1981 and is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner. How’s that for street cred?

The book title refers to the convergence of global warming, the rise of the middle class, and the growth of the population. And it is these factors that, he says, have driven the following trends over the tipping point:

  • Energy & resource
  • Petro dictatorship
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Climate change
  • Energy poverty

He essentially says that the U.S. has to be the leader in clean technology for the next global industry. He said:

In a world that’s hot, flat and crowded, clean power is going to be the next great global industry. Because in time, the world is going to force everyone to pay the true cost of the energy they’re using, the climate change their causing, the biodiversity loss they’re triggering, the petro dictatorships they’re supporting, and the energy they’re sustaining.

The fact that the U.S. is not currently the leader means that there are other countries that are taking the lead in terms of environmental policies and have been for decades. Seven of the ten most environmentally-friendly countries are in Europe, according to Yale University’s Environmental Performance Index. These countries include Finland, Switzerland, and Austria. The non-European countries are Costa Rica, New Zealand, and Columbia. No Canada? Shucks!

Since “An Inconvenient Truth” helped sparked a green englightenment among a massive audience, the media has focused so much on what everyone’s been doing wrong from individuals to the highest levels of government. But we don’t hear as much about what people, organisations, and governments around the world are doing right.

Countries like Sweden have had very proactive environmental policies and a lot of companies have saved a lot of money over the decades from strong regulation. Contrary to what free-market advocates tell us, regulation doesn’t necessarily hinder economic growth.

It’s a crucial time for Obama to be in office. (Notice how he’s referred more as “Mr. Obama” now that he’s president?) As part of his recent announcement of his economic plan, a significant portion of the package includes investment in green innovation, clean energy, and renewable energy. We’ll have to wait and see how much of these initiatives can and will be implemented. In the meantime, Mr. Obama’s plans seem to be on track with what Gore and Friedman have been urging leaders to do to tackle the activites that are causing global environmental problems.

If you have any stories of successful green business initiatives, environmental projects, or thoughts on the emerging green economy, please share.


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Posted by: Mees | November 29, 2008

Speak in stories, not stats

I’m watching Al Gore on Oprah now (yes I do watch Oprah sometimes and I’m not ashamed of it), educating the public about the continued catastrophes global warming could likely cause within a generation. Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” film is among the top five highest-grossing documentaries of all time.

Part of why his film was so effective is because he disproves many of the global warming deniers with strong evidence. Many environmentalists have been warning about these problems for decades; but their urgent message never seemed to have had an impact the way the film did.

Gore picked among the most compelling statistics. But even before he gets into the nitty-gritty numbers, he begins with a personal story. And it is stories that most people can connect with, no matter what the topic. Whether you are watching the news, seeing a movie, or reading an article, people are most connected by a well-told story.

Stephen Lewis, former UN Special Envoy for HIV/AIDs in Africa, is one of the masters of storytelling. He appeared on The Hour on Wednesday to talk about his most recent projects. Whether you see him speak in a lecture hall or reading Race Against Time, you notice that he often speaks in stories.

When you first pick up Race Against Time, it’s hard to believe that this thin, light book contains such powerful narratives to depict a devastating and prevalent problem that has ravaged populations around Africa. He doesn’t just list the statistics including the 23 million people who live with AIDS in Africa (33 million living with AIDS in the world) and 61% of those who are infected are women. He also talks about the young girls who are yanked out of school to care for their parents, the countless children he met at overcrowded orphanages, and the disturbing number of rape victims he encounters. He talks about the grandmothers who bury their adult children and begin parenting their grandchildren at the age of 60 to 90 years old. Then, he links all of his stories to the prevalent and relentless impact of HIV/AIDS.

“The single most important struggle on this planet is the struggle for gender equality. You can’t continue to marginalize 52% of the world’s population and expect ever to achieve a quotient of social justice and equity. Women are disproportionately vulnerable to the virus in Africa.”

What I’m saying is that even the most distinguished intellectuals use stories to get their message across and it is effective. If they can do it with to convey some of the world’s most complex issues, you can do it with your messages for your causes too. While every message you want to convey will ideally be grounded in research, the statistics should act as the context around your stories.

For the many people who work in social and environmental justice, one thing that they are good at is having solid research in their issues and causes. That’s the first step. But conveying those issues as a story is not always practiced.

We all live in this world and there are a variety experiences every one of us can draw upon that other people can relate to.

When I wrote an article about Uganda’s Night Commuters, the many children who walk every night to avoid abduction by the Lord’s Resistance Army, I opened the article with stories about my niece and the act of walking. A lot of people have experienced the innocence of children and of course, walking. From there I dive into the stories of Uganda’s children and then weave in the statistics later to give the story more context.

Key lesson: engage your audience with stories and use statistics as the context for your stories.

Do you have any good stories? If so, do share.


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Posted by: Mees | December 4, 2008

Drying yourself clean from greenwashing

It’s great that environmental issues are finally a part of mainstream conversation. Unfortunately, there are going to be people and organisations who simply try to sell green or treat it like a mere fashion statement because it’s the in thing right now.

Not too long ago, any discussion of environmental issues was often brushed aside as a “left wing” issue or an issue of “special interest groups.” Then, since “An Inconvenient Truth” became a big hit, greenspeak has become normal.

Watch a little TV, and you will hear green tips or see Leonardo DiCaprio on Oprah talking about global warming. Walk to your local grocery store and you can likely see an organic section for food and products. Companies left and right talking about new “green” products or environmental steps they are taking in their business.

When it comes to public image, legitimately environmentally-conscious or environmentally-driven companies are, unfortunately, talked about in the same category as megalith companies who still have widespread human rights  and environmental abuses. Having one wing of some environmental progress doesn’t excuse the other parts of their business that they still need to improve. So how can people tell who’s greenwashing and who isn’t?

Futerra Sustainability Communications is a communications agency that created the Greenwash Guide that shows people and organisations how spot and prevent greenwashing. They say, “Greenwash is an environmental claim which is unsubstantiated (a fib) or irrelevant (a distraction).”

Some of the signs of greenwashing they identified are fluffy words, irrelevant claims, or no proof. The guide also talks about why companies greenwash and the history of the word. Greenwashing isn’t new but the degree to which people and organisations are using it is.

Having third-party certification is a great way people can judge the credibility of a company. At least you can check out the guidelines of certification companies. More people have been seeing Fair Trade Certified labels at their coffee shops and bananas, which ensures that developing world farmers get at least a living wage, good working conditions and no child labour.

Forest Stewardship Council is a non-profit organisation that certifies timber and paper products “to assure consumers that they come from forests that are managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.”

In the US, Carbonfund.org certifies individuals and organisations who are offeting their carbon emissions. And you can actually give the gift of carbon neutrality. How would you like to see that under your tree?

I would love to hear your thoughts on buying socially or environmentally responsible products.


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Posted by: Mees | December 5, 2008

Recurring genocides

When I see Bill Clinton dedicating so much time helping people around the world through the Clinton Foundation—especially Africa—my gut was telling me he was doing as much as he can to make up for his lack of action during the Rwandan genocide.   Eight hundred thousand people were killed in 100 days in 1994.

Then, Clinton made a powerful admission in an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on December 3, 2008. When he was asked what he regretted during his presidency, he said, “I wish I had intervened in Rwanda and I will spend the rest of my life making it up to them.” As part of humanitarian work, he established a memorial for the genocide’s victims, strategic support for HIV/AIDS, and health care delivery.

The past two years we’ve been bombarded with up-to-the-second updates on the presidential race. If the news isn’t timely or hot, it’s not worth talking about.  And while part of the news’ purpose is to give people the latest updates on stories, most of the public is oblivious to the history of issues. Global warming and homelessness can be covered in five minutes and sound perspectives will “allow the public to form their own opinions.” Bull.

That’s why I really love the good documentaries that are aired on some networks. I find the timing interesting when Bill Clinton talked about his regrets on Rwanda and the next day, CNN airs “Scream Bloody Murder”. CNN’s Christiane Amanpour did a fantastic job with this documentary.

“Scream Bloody Murder” showed the repeated history of genocides and profiled the Holocaust, Bosnia, Cambodia, Rwanda, and the current genocide in Darfur. They discussed a pattern of inaction, excuses, and the punishment people faced when they spoke out against the genocide not only by the players who are committing the atrocity, but by their own governments.

History has shown us that Western nations usually stay out of it while the fighting is going on unless there is something they can get something out of it (eg. oil). But they don’t mind going and helping with relief after hundreds of thousands have been tortured or died.

Raphael Lemkin was a lawyer of Polish-Jewish descent. He was interested in the Armenian Genocide and was the one who coined the term “genocide” in 1943. Lemkin is also a  Holocaust survivor and unfortunately lost 49 of his relatives. He then went to the U.S where he lectured at several universities and continuously campaigned for international laws defining and forbidding genocide.

After approaching many countries to get them to sponsor the resolution for a Genocide Convention treaty, it finally went before the General Assembly with the support of the United States. On December 9, 1948, the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide adopted. This Convention provided a legal basis for nations to act if genocide is occurring.

In the present Convention, genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group genocide means any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such:

(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.

Lemkin wrote a memorable truth that continues to happen today: “A double murder was taking place. . .It was the murder of the truth.” People who were in the middle of the genocides pleaded with the international community and politicians to take action. Instead of getting help, they were told to shut up and faced a backlash. The people who spoke up risked their careers and status for doing the right thing.

When politicians in the United Nations are looking at issues in their comfortable environment or office, they don’t feel a sense of urgency and level empathy unless they are on the ground. Most of them would refuse to use the word genocide because the 1948 Genocide Convention would require states to take action.

I’m on the board for the Association for Canadian Students for Darfur. We had a woman from a humanitarian organisation talk about her experience in Sudan. Of all the stories, the most disturbing was about a young girl they encountered. The aid worker told us that “the statistic that the youngest child to be raped is eight years old is not true. The child that we met was raped at six years old.”

The young girl was traumatized, tranquil, and scared when she met the aid worker. After some time, the innocent girl exposed the physical damage that has been done to her to the workers by one of the militiamen.

These stories are all too common in Darfur and the other genocides that have been committed. If it’s hard to listen to or read about, the experience is unimaginable.

That is why we do what we do. Many of us are among the luckiest people in the history of the earth to be born in the time and place that we are today. At the same time, too few of us in the world have the freedoms and comfort that we do. People risk their lives to help others, to vote, or work relentlessly just to survive.

Governments have a responsibility to protect their own citizens. In this globalized world, the world is getting smaller and we have better access what’s going on in other countries.  But too often, richer nations get involved with the poorer countries are for business.

We need to go beyond business and use our privileges to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Governments will not voluntarily act unless the people demand it.

Whatever your cause is, it’s time to make some noise.


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Posted by: Mees | December 9, 2008

List your messages

lie

You may have seen the counter ad against clean coal claims. It’s a funny and creative way to get people’s attention. Al Gore also responded by saying, “clean coal is like healthy cigarettes. It doesn’t exist.”

The strength that many non-profit organisations have is solid research to backup their claims; they have research from evidence of global warming to effective poverty reduction policies. Now the challenge is packaging that information to the public, whoever the target audience may be.

The communicator’s job is to convey key information in a way that’s understandable to the people you’re talking to. First decide if you are trying to inform or persuade. Whether you are informing or persuading, write clearly and concisely.

If you’re informing people about something, you will write in a more descriptive style. “The organisation raised $3,000 from last night’s fundraiser.” If you’re trying to persuade people to do something or change their belief about something, then you’ll write a little bit differently. In an ad you could write, “Like good food? Dine out for a great meal and a great cause. Half of the proceeds from your meal will go to building a primary school in Ethiopia.”

Many non-profit and advocacy organisations are persuading people to act a certain way or change people’s perceptions on issues. Myth lists are one example of a good format that can change perceptions about a specific topic.

Using clean coal as an example, the organisation Coal is Dirty listed the Top 5 “Clean Coal Myths”.  Lists are easy to read and quick to the point. This way, people can also check the sources and judge the information for themselves.

Other examples include the Green Printer blog debunking the myths about recycled paper and the Guardian’s “The 10 big energy myths.”

Top 5, 10, 100 (pick your number) lists are quite popular and many people respond to them well. Again, like the myth list, they are scannable and easy to read when you’re trying to get your messages across.

Key lesson: once you decide if you are going to inform or persuade, write readable lists to get your message across to your audience.


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Posted by: Mees | December 17, 2008

The next envirolution

It’s hard to go a week without talking to someone who hasn’t been affected by the economic challenges. People are penny pinching and many more are just trying to figure out how to meet their basic needs, let alone enjoy the holidays this month.

What’s happening in the U.S. is having a significant impact on Canada’s job market. In the U.S., over 1.5 million jobs have been lost over the past six months. As for Canada, Global Insight managing director Dale Orr said Canada will lose 100,000 jobs in the first three months of 2009.

Speeding up the development of a new green economy is a big part of Obama’s plan to create 2.5 million jobs by 2011. We’re so used to the rhetoric and lack of action in politics. So far, Obama seems to be pretty serious about taking immediate action to combat global warming and working towards more energy independence. But we’ll have to see what happens once he’s in office.

What gives me the most hope for change in the U.S. was not Obama’s picks for his “dream green team”; it was actually his  statement in yesterday’s press conference. He said, “There is not a contradiction between economic growth and sound environmental practices. I think that the future of innovation and technology is going to be what drives our economy into the future. A new energy economy is going to be part of what creates the millions of new jobs that we need.”

The belief shows a much deeper level of understanding between the connection between the environment and the economy that hasn’t been expressed at the federal level for a long time, if ever. In one of my previous posts, I talked about the mutually dependent relationship between the environment and the economy.

Think about the construction of a building. You need a strong foundation and the right tools before building a fifteen-story structure. Otherwise, it doesn’t matter how much money you put into the electricity, office design, and technology for the building; if the foundation is weak, your building will eventually fall apart.

Similarly, the policies created at the highest levels begin with a person’s foundational worldview. All of the related elements have to be considered when you’re working to build a policy on environmental progress.

Let’s say someone is constructing a policy on biofuels in a country. Their foundational philosophy is focused on economic growth, but they neglect the social and environmental consequences. An increase in biofuel production satisfies the market demand, but the environmental damage raises food prices and has social consequences.

It’s like a building that increases in market value but will eventually collapse because the material used was weak. The builder isolated one positive aspect of the building process and overlooked the foundational elements working as a whole.

When Biden spoke at the press conference, he said, “The office of the Vice-President will no longer be an obstacle to environmental protection. But it will be a force for leaping ahead.”

Of course this is rhetoric and the ultimate credibility will be based on their actions. One of my acquaintances, Mark Masongsong, has worked as a professional speech writer at the federal level in Canada. He said himself words are cheap. A person should ultimately be judged by their actions.

“We can’t afford complacency, nor accept more broken promises. We won’t create a new energy economy overnight . . . but we can began that work right now . . . Now we must have the will to act and to act boldly,” Obama said.

While we still have to see how these words will transform into action, acknowledging the connection between the environment and the economy is a great step forward.


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Posted by: Mees | December 21, 2008

Add permanence with green cards

Love or hate Oprah, you can’t deny that what she says can influence the behaviour of a mass audience. So when she gives eco-holiday tips like sending electronic cards to save paper, people are on it.

So many things have moved online to the point where your birthday e-cards are sent from the same medium as the HOT or NOT websites. Kind of loses its personal touch.

For people like me who have grown up with the internet, you tend to appreciate printed hand-written cards when you receive them. It’s so easy to send the same e-card to 100 people wishing them a happy New Year with a Facebook link from last year’s unflattering debaucheries. Then you realize you accidentally sent the card to one of your ultra-conservative relatives. Oops.

You can’t really make that mistake with a hand-written card. So what are your options when you want to help the environment and give people hard-copy cards?

Environmental printing.

More  companies like Green Printer are popping up around North America. There are many examples of how companies and people can save money in the short and long term by having good environmental practices.

I talked to Greg Barber from the Greg Barber Company in New Jersey and he specializes in environmental printing.

There are a lot of different paper products that say they are made of recycled content yet some say they are made of 30% consumer waste and others are 100%. What is the difference and how will people know which packages are really green?

Good question. To be a recycled paper, you must have 30% post-consumer waste content in the new paper. Post-consumer waste is material that has served its intended purpose as a consumer item and can be recycled into a new product. If the new paper is all made from post-consumer waste, then it is considered 100% post-consumer waste, saving a lot of junk going to our over crowded landfills.

Have any of your clients saved money by choosing environmental printing over traditional printing?

Yes. Many clients think environmental printing is more money, but we have 100% post-consumer waste  recycled paper that is comparable to non-recycled papers. In some cases, we have a lower price. For instance, my Enviro line of 100% post-consumer waste is less money than opaque grades like Finch Opaque, Hammermill Opaque,  and Cougar Opaque.

Have you seen an increasing number of businesses wanting to reduce paper use or use recycled paper over the past few years?

I have been an environmental printer since the 20th anniversary of Earth Day, and I am amazed at the difference in the past year. I see Gobal Warming, Al Gore, Katrina, and stockholders forcing the corporations to switch to environmentally friendly printing.

If you want to revive that personal touch with cards this holiday without harming the environment, at least you can go to a green printer.

Happy holidays and a merry new year.


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Posted by: Mees | December 25, 2008

NASDAQ down, educational shares rise for a lifetime

Happy holidays everyone!

If you’re in Vancouver, BC we haven’t seen this much snow for a damn long time. I’m sure many kids are enjoying the holiday sledding, snowboarding, or just having the luxury to sleep in before school starts again in the new year.

There are unfortunately too many kids in the world who don’t have the privilege of going past primary school, especially girls. School fees and gender discrimination are huge barriers to countless young girls.

CBC recently aired a touching story about thousands of young girls in Kenya who are receiving an education thanks to the sponsorship of Canadians.

New Westminster Councillor Lorrie Williams visited Kenya 25 years ago and had never seen such high levels of poverty before. She wanted to do something and discovered how many young girls often didn’t go past grade 7. Their society thought girls weren’t clever or the family often preferred to send the boys to school if they couldn’t afford to send all of their children to study.

The very first student Lorrie sponsored was Margaret Maywaka. Thanks to Lorrie’s support, Margaret graduated in nursing with distinction and now works as a nurse in Kenyatta National Hospital.

Since Lorrie began the Canadian Harambee Education Society, Canadians have sponsored over 3,000 young girls. Margaret emphasizes how education is key to breaking the cycle of poverty and despair for young girls in Kenya.

World Education says, “Educating girls and women translates to higher economic opportunity and productivity, reduced child mortality, improved family nutrition and health, and increased prevention of HIV and AIDS.” Investing in women also means investing in increased stability and security.

One of my friends Shawn Smith, President of Global Agents for Change, also serves as a Director for Operations for Education Generation. The organisation also allows people do invest directly in children’s education. When I saw the profile of a young girl in Pakistan who only needed $40 of the $80 to go to school, I immediately contributed.

People can donate to Education Generation the same way people donate to Kiva, a microlending organisation that allows people to lend small amounts of money online to empower people to lift themselves out of poverty.

You don’t have to be rich to make a difference. The small amounts that people donate have collectively changed countless lives around the world. There’s plenty of research showing that middle-class and lower-income groups often give more than those who are financially wealthier.

While NASDAQ shares are going down, think about investing in children. Your investment will grow beyond your imagination.


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Posted by: Mees | December 31, 2008

Recommended resolutions

note

Ahhh it’s that time to make promises for 2009 that we may or may not keep. While some fantastic events have happened in 2008, we’re still lagging behind in many areas. We can’t afford to break some essential promises that still have yet to be made for people and the environment.

These recommended resolutions are a little bit different (but necessary) than vowing to shed 20 pounds or saving more money. Individuals, non-profits, businesses, and government have to work together to make our local and global communities stronger in 2009.

There are many ways and levels that people can get do their part. For 2009, I challenge myself, and all of you, to increase your commitments to other people, the environment, and causes. We can’t afford to take action only when it’s convenient.

I’ll make the pledge with you if that’s any incentive.

Write letters consistently

Write to your MP and any other relevant politicians about causes you believe in. Politicians will care when you care. You’ll be amazed, but don’t be surprised, about the power of letters.

BC’s Senator Mobina Jaffer used to be Canada’s Special Envoy to the Peace Process in Sudan. She encouraged citizens to hand-write letters to their MP every week; even if the letter simply said, “Stop the genocide in Darfur.”

Why? When former Prime Minister Paul Martin received a little over 600 letters demanding action in Darfur, Senator Jaffer’s budget as Special Envoy increased from $6 million to $256 million.

Consistency can pay off and this is just one of many examples.

We witnessed what can happen at home and around the world when there aren’t enough people who speak up. The removal of gay rights in the U.S. during the presidential election is just one of many consequences.

In 2009, I, Melissa Chungfat, promise to write to my MP and other relevant politicians on causes I am passionate about at least bi-weekly.

Donate to causes you believe in

Donate when you can. I’m not talking necessarily big bucks; whatever you can give can advance causes beyond your imagination.

I just interviewed New Westminster City Councillor Lorrie Williams today about the Canadian Harambee Education Society. A hundred per cent of donor funds sponsor Kenyan girls to attend high school. Since the organsation formed in 1985,  over 5,000 girls have been sponsored and many of these girls have become doctors, nurses, and teachers. I will post the full interview soon.

When everyone pitches in a little, contributions can go a long way.

People who have less tend to give more. Research has shown that the majority of donations come from middle-class and lower-income groups. I’m not saying that people have to penny-pinch to donate to a cause. I simply admire the people who contribute what they can when they barely have enough for themselves.

For 2009, I, Melissa Chungfat, will continue to support my sponsor child Rachel in Rwanda through World Vision and make modest sacrifices in my entertainment budget to give more to worthy causes.

Donate your time

If you can’t contribute financially, your time is priceless. Many effective non-profits are completely volunteer-run.

Global Agents for Change and World Univeristy Service of Canada committees in Canada are just a few examples of the organizations who have made a tremendous difference from the work of volunteers.

Make a great impact by giving your time.

Pick up environmentally-friendly habits

There are so many things you can do to reduce your footprint. Do as many as you can.

I have made a habit bringing reusable bags when I go grocery or clothes shopping, print on scrap paper, take public transit as much as possible, and buy environmentally-friendly products as much as I can.

When I was in Luxembourg, few grocery stores even have plastic bags. The government gave every family these big, reusable grocery bags. Even when the bag broke, they gave the family another free one to replace it!

“Where will I put my garbage?” you ask. I’ve used reusable bags 97% of the time and our household still has no shortage of plastic garbage bags. If anyone has any suggestions to help on the garbage front, please let us know.

For 2009, I, Melissa Chungfat, will buy more reusable items and buy carbon offsets when I travel.

Let’s work towards a culture of sustainability and away from a culture of material convenience. Once you, as a citizen and consumer, keep demanding it, the government and businesses will listen.

Other recommended resolutions

•    10 Resolutions to Green your Technology
•    Scientists’ Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions
•    Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for 2009 for Sarah Palin

Got any other good resolution tips?

Happy 2009!


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Posted by: Mees | January 5, 2009

The plan for 2009

plannerWhy not kick off 2009 with a communication plan?

I know. Geeky communication resolution. But that’s how I started off my year and it’ll make 2009 easier for at least one project I’m working on.

I’m collaborating with a good friend of mine to help build a volunteer-run organisation. The goal is to fundraise money to sponsor a refugee family from Malawi. Part of my role is to write and edit several communication materials.

Writing and editing doesn’t necessarily take a long time. But before I work with my colleagues to produce these communication tools, we can’t really do that properly without referring to a communication plan to articulate the organisation’s goals, messages, and strategies.

When I write the brochure and web content, I  have to keep in mind who I’m trying to target and our key messages.

Which organisations need a communication plan?

All of them!

A plan outlines not only your goals, but also the steps that explain how you’re going to reach your goals. Yes it’s more time-consuming to do this background work and working with key decision-makers to outline these details. But it certainly does pay off; especially in the long term.

Brochures, websites, and press releases are all great publicity tools when they’re used and produced properly. But all of these tools help achieve a specific objective with specific messages that are ideally outlined in a communication plan.

I’ve worked with both non-profit and private organisations that start projects and end up straying from their main goals and purpose. Starting up projects on a whim and throwing thousands of dollars on initiatives because they seem like a good idea at the time is not good for efficiency or the long-term sustainability of an orgnisation. There’s too much strain on volunteers or staff . Some people don’t even evaluate the projects to see if they work!

It’s great to try new ideas to keep things fresh. But doing it under the umbrella of a strategic plan will keep your organisation focused.

The elements of the communication plan

I’m going to do a five-part series of posts on the basic elements of a communication plan in the “Lessons in communication” category. Each post will focus on the following aspects:

1.    Identifying need and opportunity
2.    Audiences and messages
3.    Goals and objectives
4.    Strategies and tactics
5.    Measurement

I’m going to source good examples along with recommended books, great links, and blogs from experienced communicators.

I am doing this because all of the writing projects I do, whether it be a website or a handout, can’t exist without the context of strategies. I admit I only have enough experience to talk about the basic elements. But I’ve worked with enough senior professionals and orgnisations to witness and experience the difference when an organisation has a plan.

Most of this material comes from the International Association of Business Communicators and the teachings of consultant Silva Tenenbein.

Watch for these posts on Wednesdays and Saturdays starting this week.

Good luck in ‘09!

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Posted by: Mees | January 7, 2009

Part 1 in communication planning: identifying the need or opportunity

lineupI talked about the importance of communication planning in my previous post. As a basic example, I will use my experience with World University Service of Canada’s Student Refugee Program and other projects I’ve been involved with to take you through all of the steps of communication planning.

A communication plan can be used for a specific project within an organisation or when you are going to build an organisation. Even though the size and scope of the projects varies, the basic elements are the same.

Identify the need and opportunity

Why did you begin this project? Does it solve a problem or allow you to meet one of your goals?

People need to have a clear purpose for starting a project; they may want to make their workplace more efficient, or there could be negative consequences if they don’t implement a project.

World University Service of Canada (WUSC)

I began a communication project with my WUSC colleagues at Simon Fraser University (SFU) when we identified the need to do enhance the transition of sponsored students in the Student Refugee Program and the sustainability of the organisation. But before I talk about the need, it’s useful for you to know a bit more about WUSC.

WUSC is a leading Canadian international development agency made up of a network of individuals and post-secondary institutions. The mission is to foster human development and global understanding through education and training.

WUSC has over 50 local committees in colleges and universities across the country and is headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario. WUSC’s award-winning projects address local needs and strive to reduce poverty.

One of the programs the organisation runs is the Student Refugee Program, which allows former refugees to continue their post-secondary education. Today, over 1,000 students have come from camps straight to campus.

I have been involved with WUSC for four years since 2004 and Co-chaired the Simon Fraser University Local Committee for two years. Since 1980, SFU has sponsored at least one student to continue their post-secondary education. Our alumni have gotten their PhDs, earned their Masters, or have found professional jobs after being sponsored through WUSC.

WUSC’s need and opportunity

The SFU WUSC committee is completely run by student volunteers. The success of the committee and the integration of sponsored students rely completely on the work of volunteers.

Former refugees have been sponsored since 1980. From 2000 to 2006, the WUSC sponsorship covered their  tuition and living costs that were paid for by student levies and university waivers. Afterward, students often took loans to complete their education. Despite the short sponsorship period, the overwhelming majority of then students have completed their degrees.

Our committee and sponsored students believed that future sponsored students could have a better transition into Canada if the one year sponsorship was extended to two years. Adjusting into a completely new culture and place was already difficult enough.  And to ask them to begin to be financially independent after just one year was too much.

We wanted ease the transition for former refugees by sponsoring two students for two years annually and expand the core volunteer base.

Recap

Identify your needs and opportunities by articulating why you want to begin a project or what the consequences will be if you don’t implement the project.

For WUSC, I provided context to the opportunity of expanding our support for sponsored students by explaining the program’s positive impacts. I also explained the consequences of not providing increased support for future students.

Try writing a need or opportunity for a past project or something that you want to work on.

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Posted by: Mees | January 10, 2009

Part 2 in communication planning: audience and messages

Would you tell the same stories to your mother as you do to your friends?

Likely not—unless you really are that close. We’re always filtering and being selective about what we say depending who we’re talking to. I can talk to certain friends about politics; but I would probably not have those kinds of discussions with my uncle who mainly likes to talk about sports.

When it comes to your communication projects, tailoring your messages to your audiences is not that different. You would convey your messages a certain way depending on the people you are trying to target.

Your audience

I talked about thinking about your goal and your audience in a previous post. The more you know about your audience, the better you can customize your messages. How old are the people you’re trying to target? Where do they shop? How much do they donate to charitable causes? What are their values?

Whenever possible, it’s good to get demographics (such as age, sex, gender, geography, income) and psychographics (such as attitudes, values, and opinions).

I worked on a consulting project with a team for Salt Spring Coffee Company. The company’s goal was to reduce waste by encouraging their customers to bring reusable mugs. We were tasked to come up with strategies to help the company achieve their goal. But before we came up with any strategies, we sent out a survey to find out people’s coffee consumption habits and the circumstances that would motivate them to buy a reusable mug.

Our primary audience was the coffee shop customers that sell Salt Spring Coffee in 65 shops in British Columbia. But we had more information about about coffee consumers; the 442 survey respondents indicated the following characteristics:

  • 70% female
  • Majority are between 18-35 years old
  • Majority grabs coffee-to-go
  • Majority are motivated by coffee discounts to change behaviour

Once you know your audience to the best of your ability, you can begin crafting your messages.

Messages

For Salt Spring Coffee Company, the key messages were:

  • Get a 10% discount on your coffee when you bring a reusable mug
  • Help the environment by bringing a reusable mug

Finding about your audiences is more work. But once you have all of those details, developing the most effective messages is a much easier process.

Other resources

The following sites give great advice and details about identifying your audience.

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Posted by: Mees | January 13, 2009

Part 3 in communication planning: goals and objectives

Once you’ve outlined the purpose of your project and identified the audiences you’re talking to, state your goals and objectives.

Some people confuse a goal with an objective. The goal is the ultimate achievement. You only need one or a few goals and they don’t have to be measurable. For example a goal can be “to create a supportive network for new immigrants” or “to create a stimulating environment for the staff.” Think about the big picture.

The objectives are measurable statements that are results-oriented and support the goal.  The most effective objectives have measurable targets and deadlines. I’ve seen projects from organizations and companies that are missing a measurable target, a deadline, or both.

See which of the following objectives sounds stronger:
•    To increase the number of volunteers
•    To have 15 active volunteers by April 15, 2009

Here are some examples from World University Service of Canada (WUSC). The background for WUSC is in my previous post.

Goals

  • To create a sustainable volunteer base with an enhanced communication process
  • To increase financial support to sponsor two students for two years annually

Objectives

  • To double the annual budget to $16,000 to support two students for two years by April 2006
  • To recruit seven active volunteers and three general volunteers by August 2008

See the difference?

Having a measurable objective with a deadline keeps your project focused. Can you imagine if an organization had no deadline for a magazine to be published or if a company didn’t set out financial goals for the year?

Communication projects are no different. Even if you may not have shareholders, you do have stakeholders; and they will be better served when you have specific targets and specific deadlines.

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Posted by: Mees | January 17, 2009

Part 4 in communication planning: strategies and tactics

Now that you have your purpose, audiences, goals, and objectives, it’s time to come up with the strategies and tactics. This is where your creativity really kicks in.

There are some differences between strategies and tactics. Strategies are longer-term plans that are fulfilled by a variety of specific tactics. Pearce and Robinsons’ Strategic Management: Formulation, Implementation, and Control (2003) discusses the following differences between business strategies and what they call functional tactics:

1. Time horizon
Strategies focus on an organization’s position over the course of several years whereas functional tactics are activities that are executed in the immediate future.

2. Specificity
Business strategies provide a general direction whereas functional tactics are more specific.

3. Participants who develop them
Within a business, the general manager often takes the lead in developing business strategies and delegates the development of functional tactics to people in the operating areas of business.

For non-profits, someone in a leadership position can coordinate the development of strategies to achieve the goals and objectives in the communication plan.

It’s very important to make sure you come up with the right strategies; otherwise the tactics, no matter how creative or good they are, will not be effective. If you have a building, it doesn’t matter how pretty you decorate it, if the foundation is not right, it’s going to fall. The same consequence can happen if you don’t have the right strategy; your tactics may be awesome, but they could be useless if the strategies fail to meet the objective.

Most organizations, whether they are non-profits or businesses, jump right into tactics because they often seem like a good idea at the time. “Let’s create a blog and run a few events this month. While we’re at it, let’s create a template for a presentation for the event that we can use for the next events.” After working in various organizations and speaking with senior communication consultants, the recurring pattern is that many tactics are reactive than proactive.

EXAMPLES

Let’s continue with our communication planning for WUSC. We’ll keep it simple:

Goal

  • To increase financial support to sponsor two students for two years annually

Audience

  • Undergraduate students at Simon Fraser University

Messages

  • Vote “yes” to increase the student levy by $0.50 to enable former refugees to continue their post-secondary education for two years instead of one year
  • Make a lifelong difference ever year by simply voting “yes” to increase the student levy by $0.50 for the Student Refugee Program

Objective

  • To double the annual budget to $16,000 to support two students for two years by April 2006

Strategies and tactics

Strategy 1: Raise funds through a referendum
Tactics: Make a presentation to the Simon Fraser Student Society board to get the referendum on the ballots

Strategy 2: Educate the student body about the WUSC referendum
Tactics: classroom presentations to undergraduate students, flyers, posters, tabling, inform personal networks, campus articles

Many people often go straight to tactics without thinking of the objectives they are trying to achieve. Yes, I know it’s easier to take good ideas and go with it. But your effort and time will be more effective if the short-term tactics are fulfilling long-term strategies.

Here are some other examples by a restaurant owner who wanted to himself from his competitors in Strategic Management: Formulation, Implementation, and Control:

Strategy: Provide delightful customer service
Tactics: Personality training, menu training, motivation awards, daily meetings, coaching process

Strategy: Offering a delightful ambiance
Tactics: Theme, color scheming, floor materials, table materials

All of the writing I do for clients are tactical communication pieces that are part of a wider strategy. So always remember that your initiatives are a piece of the overall picture.

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Posted by: Mees | January 20, 2009

Wishing I was in Washington

I, like millions around the world, have been hooked on coverage leading up to the long-awaited inauguration of Barack Obama.

For many, Obama’s mixed heritage has been the most discussed topic in this race. But judging from some of the research, many people who voted for Obama said his ethnicity didn’t affect their vote. When I was following the campaign, as someone who has grown up in a very ethnically mixed area in British Columba, it irritated me how much the media was talking about race. I felt like the media was causing an unnecessary distraction from the issues and the candidates’ positions.

But it wasn’t until I saw peoples’ reaction to Obama’s win on November 4, 2008 that I realized the significance of the victory to many people in the black community. I did not live through the dark years of segregation; a time when police were called when black students refused to leave school steps because they wanted to study; when black people were refused service by white restaurant owners; when black people were lynched by the hatred of white bigots. From segregation to the first African-American president . . . yeah, that’s a big deal.

My lack of experiences with this level of discrimination is a testament to how far some of our communities have progressed. But the majority of the world still has a long way to go before we see a mix of ethnic communities living peacefully side by side.

Today is Martin Luther King Day in the U.S. For the first time, I watched his speech in its entirety. I think more about his bravery and that of many people who risked their lives, fought, bled, and died for social justice.

What is irritating to hear are news anchors asking if Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream has been fulfilled because Obama was elected; as if the KKK has suddenly vanished; as if coloured communities in the U.S. have escaped the ghettos; as if coloured people have equal access to jobs as Caucasians. There is still much work and education that need to be done.

But Obama’s election is definitely a massive leap forward to empowering people of colour. What is also significant about his election is his unique ability to inspire people, to move crowds to tears, to have disciplined dialogues with people who disagree with him, and to call upon citizens to work with in the movement for change.

A few months ago I was cautiously optimistic about how much Obama will fulfill is promises. I have been too cynical after witnessing not only the immature and short-sighted actions of U.S. politicians, but Canada’s elected “leaders” as well. But as I learned more and more about Michelle and Barack, unlike former high-ranking officials, the Obamas worked their way up rather than inheriting  privilege. That gives me more confidence in his words.

Obama’s ability to move people to act before he has even began his first day is astounding. For Martin Luther King Day, he called citizens to serve by volunteering. It’s largely because of Obama’s encouragement that resulted in 2009 being the largest King Day of Service.

His request is likely the first of many that he will be making throughout his term(s). In his victory speech on November 4, 2008, Obama said, “I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it’s been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.”

I don’t believe the Obamas bring their kids to serve to homeless people on Thanksgiving or paint a shelter for homeless youth just for photo ops. They’re not auto executives. They have been serving in the community throughout their adult life when they could have easily continued to make six-figure jobs as lawyers; but they chose to serve the community instead. When Michelle Obama spoke in Delaware, she said that her father told her that you can judge a person’s character by how they act when no one is watching.

I don’t think of them as perfect people who will never make mistakes in their actions and policies. I am simply fascinated by a grassroots movement that has conquered deep pockets, fear mongering, racist rhetoric, and politics-as-usual.  That is certainly worth celebrating.


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Posted by: Mees | January 20, 2009

Getting past the hatred

It’s been an amazing day. The crowds, the ceremony, and Obama’s speech will be carved in the memories of hundreds of million around the world.

After all of the coverage of the campaign, the election, and the inauguration today, there is one recent story that has stayed with me. One news reporter interviewed a young African American boy no older than ten years old. The reporter asked the young boy what the biggest change will be now that Barack Obama was elected. The child said, “People will stop hating black people.”

It is so sad to see that after so many centuries of exploitation and cruelty against not only black people, but marginalized people of all ethnicities around the world, there are still mental barriers that need to be broken down.

Obama’s speech rightly acknowledged the significance of his win but also reminded people that we are only on the path to a society that is devoid of prejudice. We’re definitely not there yet.

But hopefully, this young boy will one day live in a world where “people stop hating black people” and people of all backgrounds. Preferably in his lifetime.


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Posted by: Mees | January 21, 2009

Part 5 in communication planning: seeing what worked and what didn’t!

Evaluating your results is likely the practice that is most neglected by the majority of organizations.

I have worked with senior communication consultants who judge communication plans regularly. Every year they see plans that talk about these lofty grandioso projects and don’t even evaluate to see if they work. One of my former bosses said she’s seen companies spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on projects without evaluating to see if their investment is making a difference.

Remember, when you’re writing your objectives, they must be measurable. Once you have tangible numbers to include in your objectives, your results will come easy.

When you have a vague objective such as “increase awareness about our cause,” how will you know if you have or have not increased awareness after you’ve carried out your tactics? But when you have a specific objective such as “have 2,000 pledges to reduce energy consumption at home by February 28, 2009,” then you can evaluate your results. You either achieved 2,000 pledges or not; simple as that.

For World University Service of Canada, we measured our results by seeing if our objectives were met.

Objective 1: To double the annual budget to $16,000 to support two students for two years by April 2006.

Result 2: We measured this objective in May 2007 because student levies are collected every semester, and there are three semesters at Simon Fraser University. We surpassed our target and collected  $16,706.

Objective 2: To recruit seven active volunteers and three general volunteers by August 2008.

Result 2: After outreaching to undergraduate students through tabling, email lists, classroom presentations, and networking, we had nine active volunteers and five general volunteers by September 2008.

It doesn’t matter how much money you put into a project or how big it is. If you don’t establish a way to see if your tactics are working from the get-go, you can end up wasting a lot of resources.

My next post will outline some excellent resources on communication planning.

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Posted by: Mees | January 22, 2009

Giving girls a chance: an interview with Lorrie Williams

I used to Co-chair the non-profit World University Service of Canada (WUSC) at Simon Fraser University. Through our Student Refugee Program, the university sponsors two former refugees to continue their post-secondary education.

We’ve had this program on campus since 1980. Every year, our volunteer committee shortlists candidates to attend Simon Fraser University. In the four years I’ve been involved with WUSC, I’ve noticed that there are unfortunately few female candidates in the pool of eligible students every year. And the female students who have been sponsored have been very successful; some have received their Master degrees while others have helped communities in Canada and their home countries. We now have one woman from Ethiopia who is currently on her way to becoming an engineer.

Thousands of refugees apply to receive the opportunity of a lifetime to attend university through a WUSC scholarship. And the sad reality is that there are not nearly as many girls who complete high school than boys.

In many parts of Africa, misconceptions about girls’ abilities and traditions prevent many of them from going to school. There is still much work to be done to have more female students realizing their potential.

One day, while I was flipping through the TV, I came across a documentary that re-aired on CBC called “Educating Margaret.” The documentary featured the Canadian Harambee Education Society (CHES), an organization that is filling the gap in girls’ education.

I’ve talked about CHES in one of my previous posts because I am incredibly impressed by the thousands of girls they have helped by securing sponsorships for them to attend high school.

CHES founder Lorrie Williams is currently a City Councillor in Nest Westminster, B.C. and has been an active educator for over 20 years. She was also the former Vice Principal at Lord Kelvin elementary school. She established CHES in 1985; to this day, the organization has sponsored over 5,000 girls to attend high school.

The very first student CHES sponsored was Margaret Maywaka who now works as a nurse in Kenyatta National Hospital, thanks to Williams’ sponsorship. Margaret’s accomplishment is an inspiration to many young girls in her community.

Williams’ diverse experience as an educator went beyond country borders. She first went to Kenya after she read a letter in a teacher’s magazine looking for someone to help run a high school in the country.

Williams kindly took the time to talk to me about CHES and the success of the countless girls they have helped.

Can you tell me what drove you to begin CHES?

During my trip, I was Deputy Head of the school. Ironically, one of my jobs was to kick out the school kids who couldn’t pay. That was the first spark to take on this initiative.

Margaret was the first student I sponsored while I was working as Deputy Head. But because she had no money, I was supposed to stop her from going to the school. I thought to myself, “I can’t do it. This girl is too bright.” So I began reaching out to my friends to send money to pay for her school fees.

Which organizations do you work with on the ground to manage the sponsorships?

We set up two organizations run by volunteers to help select the students. We also send retired teachers, who use their own money to travel, to pay the school fees, collect letters, and all that. We always have two agents on the ground.

Have you seen changes in cultural perceptions on the capability of women since CHES was established?

Absolutely. We have poured over one million dollars [in Kenya]. When we started, the girls would creep in the schools quietly and wouldn’t talk. Now, they don’t do that and they say, “I want to be a teacher…I want to be a doctor.” There’s a certain amount of self-confidence.

People always ask me, “Why do you only sponsor girls?” On our website there is an African saying that says, “If you educate a man, you educate an individual, but if you educate a woman, you educate a family.”

For us, at the very least, the organization prevents them from being pregnant, and keeps them in school for four more years. Those few years make a big difference in their lives.

Are there any success stories that really stick out in your mind since you began the organization?

We have a doctor, quite a few teachers, and quite a few nurses.

Actually, there was one woman and her family who was trying to catch up with me and she was one of the CHES girls. There are so many girls that have gone through our program that I don’t remember all of them, and I couldn’t remember this particular woman. She came up to me and said, “I wanted to tell you your education has made my life like this. A good husband, with good children, with a good job.”

It was an amazing moment to see this woman be in the position she’s in. Not only because she has a good job, but because she only has two children and a good husband. This situation is not common for many women in Kenya.

Why has CHES been so successful?

We can’t do everything, but we can do something. When you get over to Africa, you can easily be pulled in so many different directions. We’ve had girls dying in schools, but how were we going to pay for the medical bills? We’ve had students who were hungry, but how can we pay to feed them?

The success of CHES was having focus. If our organization was going to be sustainable, we had to have focus and not be stretched too thin by trying to accommodate all of the other challenges that the children were struggling with. Don’t take your eyes off the prize.

How do you respond to people who question why so many people help with causes overseas while there are so many problems in Canada?

My response to them is charity does begin at home but it doesn’t end there.

Thank you so much for your time.


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Posted in International development | Tags: , , , , ,

Posted by: Mees | January 28, 2009

Communication planning resources

I’ve gone through the basic steps of the communication planning process in a series of posts to show the importance of being focused and strategic in your organization.

Too many organizations begin projects in reaction to a changing environment as opposed to being proactive. I strongly recommend looking into the following resources⎯largely from the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC)⎯for case studies and detailed research in strategic and communication planning:

If you have any good resources you’ve come across, please leave a comment.


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Posted by: Mees | February 8, 2009

The economic king is dead while a green queen awaits

The weakening economy continues to dominate the headlines as more layoffs are announced every day. As I watch, listen, and read about the “economic crisis” in the mainstream media in Canada and the U.S., it seems like the economy is this almighty king that everyone is scrambling to save, no matter what the cost. Where was this sense of urgency on a mass scale when the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was sure that climate change was driven by human activity?

I guess they didn’t inject enough fear with that story. “Global environmental crisis” or “dying planet” wasn’t the feel-good story the media was hunting for at the time.

But even when the economy was strong, there were still environmental crimes and widespread poverty growing every day. In B.C. alone, our province has the highest rate of child poverty in Canada for the fifth year in a row. Not exactly a top five list you want to be in. So what’s the point of having a growing GDP when you have children living with asthma under city smog and large part of the population struggling to survive?

The U.S. stimulus bill that is likely to pass in the Senate is at least addressing the environment and many other problems that have not been dealt with even when the U.S. was enjoying their economic boom. The bill appears to be a triple-bottom-line style of government that will not only provide necessary services for children, low-income and middle-class families, but also set a foundation for a much-needed green economy.

Bush abandoned and criticized the Kyoto protocol on the basis that, “The Kyoto treaty would have wrecked our economy, if I can be blunt.” Of course he, like many fundamentalist economists, did not see the link between the economic benefits of having a sustainable environment.

When I was reading Obama’s The Audacity of Hope, his conversation with billionaire Warren Buffet was memorable. Buffet said:

I’ll pay a lower tax rate this year than my receptionist. In fact, I’m pretty sure I pay a lower rate than the average American under the Bush administration . . . The free market’s the best mechanism ever devised to put resources to their most efficient and productive use. The government isn’t particularly good at that. But the market isn’t so good at making sure that the wealth that’s produced is being distributed fairly or wisely. Some of that wealth has to be plowed back into education, so that the generation has a fair chance and to maintain our infrastructure, and provide some sort of safety net for those who lose out in a market economy.

It will be very interesting to see the impacts once this bill rolls out. While I am mocked for being “Obama-obsessed,” I really am paying attention to the communication aspects and the more holistic philosophy of his administration.

Obama has a nothing-to-hide attitude and I find it very impressive that they not only released their donors on their transition website, but will also keep people updated on how the Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be spent at http://recovery.gov/.

While there is never going to be a perfect bill with the perfect solutions, the focus on long term social and environmental investments is, at the very least, commendable.


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Posted by: Mees | February 15, 2009

Apologies

Hi everyone.

I recently got a full-time job as a proposal writer at a consulting company, so that’s why I haven’t been posting as often. I will continue to make at least one post a week on writing advice, good news stories, and day-to-day experiences.

Thanks to everyone who have made comments. Let’s keep talking.

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Posted by: Mees | February 15, 2009

Before you organize your web content . . .

I’m working with a web developer to create a new site for the Association of Canadian Students for Darfur. My colleague and I made a presentation today about the site layout and content. We talked about how it ties into our organization’s goals and objectives.

I will constantly repeat that no communication piece, whether it be a brochure or website, should exist without a clear objective. While it doesn’t necessarily take long to write content, finding out an organization’s goals and objectives takes more time and directly influences what I write. I outlined the basic steps of communication planning in a recent blog series on understanding the basic elements of a communication plan.

It’s useful to know a bit about how our organization operates. The mission of the Association of Canadian Students for Darfur is to engage youth to take action in Darfur by pressuring the Canadian government to be involved in resolving the crisis and by supporting humanitarian work in the region. We are a registered non-profit and are completely volunteer-run with five board of directors and chapters across Canada. Our success is completely dependent on the work and organization of volunteers.

We kept the organization’s mission in mind when we created our website goals. Otherwise, our site’s content would not be as relevant to our volunteers and the public as it could be. It’s better not to have a site than to have a site that gets outdated quickly and becomes irrelevant to the people you’re trying to talk to.

Tying the website goals with the organization’s goals

Our website goals support the organization’s goals the same way a communication plan would ideally be designed to support a business plan. Like a handout, a manual, or a poster, a website is one of many tactical tools to support a larger organizational strategy.

The goals of the Association of Canadian Students for Darfur are the following:

  1. Educate Canadians on the issues facing the people of Darfur and engage them in discussions around possible solutions to the crisis.
  2. Promote a national fundraising campaign to support aid agencies that are doing relief work for the people of Darfur during the present conflict as well as continuing support in post-conflict situations.
  3. Pressure the Canadian government for continuous involvement in the resolution of the humanitarian crisis in Darfur.
  4. Urge the international community to hold accountable those responsible for the crimes against humanity committed against the people of Darfur.

Our website goals were the following:

  1. Clearly tell people what actions they can take to help victims in Darfur.
  2. Act as a comprehensive resource for people to educate themselves about Darfur.
  3. Update the public on the organization’s events, financial status, and positions.
  4. Make it easy for people to write letters to relevant politicians and donate for humanitarian work in Darfur.

The content on our site will tell people how they can act to meet our organizational goals.

Layers of content

Every communication medium has a different amount of content. Newspaper articles are, for the most art, concise with very short sentences while books can contain much more information. With websites, it’s not good to have big blocks of text on every page; especially when social media, pictures, and video are becoming more integrated. An increasing number of people are getting their news online instead of television and print newspapers.

That’s not to say you can’t have a lot of information on your site, especially if it’s relevant. Because one of our website goals is to act as a comprehensive resource for people to learn about Darfur, we want to compile a lot of information that people can easily navigate. But you can organize the content in a way that’s easy for people to sift through by creating sub-pages and integrated links.

For example, we have a Darfur 101 page for people who want to learn about different aspects of the conflict. The page includes the following questions:

•    How did the conflict start?
•    What is the Sudanese government doing?
•    How are civilians affected?
•    How many Darfurians have perished?
•    What is the significance of the Genocide Convention?
•    How has the government hindered humanitarian aid?
•    What is China and Russia’s role in the conflict?
•    How are companies funding genocide?
•    Is anyone trying to stop the fighting?

Each of these questions links to its own page.  And with each question, we include a link to a YouTube video about that specific topic. With this page format, people can learn more detail about different aspects of the conflict. For the rest of the site, we have the main menu with categories such as About, Actions, and Volunteer and their respective sub-pages.

For the homepage, we will make the two priority actions we want people to take to stand out: donations and writing letters. We will be featuring any campaigns on the homepage, like other organizations do on their websites. World Vision is currently running a Vancouver campaign to sponsor 3,000 children by March 16, 2009 while the Stephen Lewis Foundation is featuring a Grandmothers to Grandmothers campaign.

In sum, make sure your organization has clear objectives and then outline your website goals. From there, you can develop the layers of information on your site and make it as visual and as interactive as possible.


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Posted by: Mees | February 22, 2009

Speaking to the world every week

Congratulations to Obama for passing what appears to be a long-term and holistic recovery and reinvestment plan.

Yes there are definitely parts of the plan that got cut that would have helped children, environment, and families more. Unfortunately, the restrictions of politics prevented the majority of Democrats to pass a more aggressive bill. Whether you agree with parts of the bill or not, leaders of organizations of all types and all sizes can learn how important stakeholder communication is to the success of implementing change.

The International Association of Business Communicators’ Communication World published an article by TJ Larkin and Sandar Larkin called “The secrecy trap.” What they were basically saying is executives make a big mistake when they keep secrets from their employees when they are planning to implement changes such as outsourcing, downsizing, mergers, or restructuring. Secrets always get leaked and rumors spread to employees. And when they expect their leaders to say something, there is only silence. What you don’t say reveals a lot about your leadership abilities; or sometimes lack of abilities.

Imagine if you’re in a relationship and everything seems to be going great. Then there’s a period where you feel left in the dark because your partner is quieter than usual and unresponsive when you ask simple questions. You’d think something was up right? Employer-employee relationships are not much different.

The article mentioned that about 25% of the following attempts of corporate changes failed as a result of poor employee communication:

  • 66% of IT outsourcing attempts resulted in business benefits that were only partially realized or not realized at all
  • 10% of cost-cutting initiatives maintain cost reductions after three years
  • 64% of mergers fail
  • 67% of spin-offs under-perform on the stock market

So what can people learn from Obama when it comes to communication in bad times? Well being the first “social media” president, he has been talking to the public in his weekly YouTube address on the government site to update them on the government’s plans, decisions, and anything the public needs to know since he was elected in November 2008.

Yes of course he speaks on YouTube within a staged setting with a script; but that’s what leaders do whether they are community leaders, CEOs, or executive directors. They have control of the message and the public can interpret it however they want. But when there is no message, stakeholders are left to guess and they rely on rumors. Leaders lose control of the communication.

Leaders are encouraged to talk to their stakeholders about what’s happening and keep people in the loop, whether the news is good or bad. In Obama’s election victory speech, he didn’t paint a rosy picture about all of the problems the country and the world was facing; he had a good mix of optimism and realism for the future when he said, “The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term. But, America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there.” The Obama campaign had strong control of their message and that was a big factor in their victory.

TJ Larkin and Sandar Larkin say that the solution is to “Begin communicating when you begin planning.” Talk to people even when information is uncertain, what you are working on, or the range of possible outcomes. Employees don’t trust their managers not because their boss told them something bad, but because they were told nothing at all. And that’s why 40 to 70 per cent of big changes fail to deliver financial benefits.

The Obama team also told the public what they were planning to do even before the recent $787 billion stimulus bill passed. Obama told his team that he wanted to add another level of transparency by posting how the money was being spent at recovery.gov. Until the bill was passed, the site simply said to check back to the site after the bill was passed to monitor where taxpayers’ money was going.

Selling this bill to the public was no easy feat; especially when people were fed up with unaccountable and disorganized bailouts. But the government had good communication with the public and face time through town hall meetings and public appearances.

I guess the cliche can be true, honesty can be the best policy.


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Posted by: Mees | March 1, 2009

How our phones connect to the Congo

I went to a Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) vigil yesterday that was organized by one of my great colleagues, Simon Child. He is 16 years old and has done a lot for human rights causes through his persistent advocacy, events, and involvement with a variety of effective organizations. He is somehow able to do all of this and win prestigious awards while continuing to do well in school.

Simon read a quote that really stuck out in my mind: being silent knowing crimes are being committed is to consent to those crimes. He said that every girl who is raped and every innocent person who is killed is our problem. If you witness a neighbour being attacked outside your house and you go back to watching television instead of calling 9-1-1, you’re allowing the crime to continue. The same idea applies on a global scale; even though the people who are suffering are on the other side of the world, we have a responsibility to speak out against the crime in an effort to stop it.

To be silent is to consent.

Michelle Hassen, a former manager of Humanitarian Issues Department at the Canadian Red Cross in the Lower Mainland, asked how many of us have cell phones and iPods. Many of the minerals that are used in these gadgets come from the Congo and other parts of Africa. It is the revenues from these minerals that fund the warlords and lawless militias who commit these crimes against innocent people in the region.

While we can easily point fingers at companies, we have to look at ourselves and acknowledge that companies are able to do their business because people demand it. One of the speakers said that when someone points a finger, you have to look at where the other three fingers are pointing.

This event and post is not meant to guilt people or demand ethical consumer purity. This is especially true if you’re working towards progress in humanitarian, social, or environmental fields because it’s very easy to be a hypocrite to some degree or fall into paradoxes. Hell, I’m writing this post on my Macbook and I saw people taking pictures of the event on their iPhones. But that’s no excuse to do nothing.

To be silent is to consent.

David Suzuki talked to The Hour’s George Stroumboulopoulos and responded to people criticizing him for working with Wal-Mart to improve their environmental policies or buying a pair of underwear at The Gap. He said it’s ridiculous to demand that people either be abosultely perfect or do nothing. People have to be realistic and not everyone can truly live as an ethical purist. But everyone can do something.

Representatives from the Africa Canada Accountability Coalition were at the event and they provided information to help people write letters to their MP. These are some of the realities happening in the DRC:

  • The DRC is the most dangerous place in the world to be a woman
  • The war in the DRC is fueled by greed as armed groups battle for the abundant natural resources at the expense of civilians
  • The conflict is the largest war since WWII
  • Canada is one of the largest investors in the DRC’s mining industry
  • Many alien rebel groups, including the Lord’s Resistance Army and Rwandan rebel groups associated with the genocide, are exploiting the DRC’s instability to establish strongholds, recruit child soldiers and launch attacks on neighbouring countries

So we have all the bad news, so what do we do about it? People can write to their MPs to recommend that Canada take the following actions:

  • Legislate the recommendations of the Corporate Social Responsibility Roundtables to ensure Canadian values are consistently upheld by our companies abroad
  • Continue to support MONUC, the UN Mission to the DRC through funding, personnel, and equipment donations and actively encourage international partners to contribute personnel and equipment to MONUC
  • Canada must make the DRC one of the top five development recipients given the potential of human security and heavy investment in its mining industry

If companies respond quickly to consumer demand to make products, they will respond just as much to citizens’ demand to conduct themselves responsibly. One commentator in the documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car?” said, “Companies would make cars run on pig shit if people demanded it.”

To be silent is to consent.

Simon said the reason he organized the event is to commemorate the lives that have been lost and to not lose sight about a conflict that has received little to no attention. We have a responsibility to act because we are more directly connected to this conflict through our purchases and consumption.

Dr. Apaak, founder of the Association for Canadian Students for Darfur and professor for African studies at SFU, said that we are able to live so comfortably and enjoy the products we have because of the rich resources taken from Africa. As a result, we have a responsibility to, at the very least, use our privileges and freedoms to speak on behalf of the innocent people who can’t protect themselves.

If it takes only 10 minutes to write a letter to my MP each time to help the horrific events in the Congo, I’m game. I hope you will join us in the advocacy on behalf of the people of the DRC.

To be silent is to consent. I do not consent.

Do you?


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Posted by: Mees | March 11, 2009

How to convert complex issues to memorable narratives

Yesterday I met up with a friend of mine who’s doing great work to educate people about the importance of local food. She asked me, “How do I take such a complex issue with so much information and engage people about local food?”

I answered, “Stories.”

Some of the most effective campaigns tell stories that people can relate to.  It is those stories that are layered with history, sociology, economics, and other factors. I wrote a blog post about speaking in stories, not statistics.  A recent article by two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Nicholas Kristof is a great example of how the right story can have the impact you want to achieve.

Kristof has covered the overly neglected genocide in Darfur that broke out in 2003.  In his recent article, “Kristof: Sisters, victims, heroes”, he highlighted the story of a courageous woman in Darfur in another persistent effort to get world leaders “to summon some of the same moral courage that Darfuris show all the time.”

He spoke about a 27-year-old woman named Suad.  She fled from Darfur to a refugee camp in Chad five years ago with her husband and younger sister, Halima. Her sister is now 12 years old and Suad doesn’t know if Halima is alive or not. Government-backed militias called the Janjaweed have been unleashing the most brutal attacks against black Africans and Suad, and her loved ones are among the hundreds of thousands of people who have been victimized.

Kristof met Suad two years ago when she was gathering firewood with Halima. A group of Janjaweed fired into the air and yelled at them to stop. Suad, who was married with two children and another on the way, ordered Halima to run back to camp to make herself a decoy. She ran loudly in the opposite direction, making sure that the Janjaweed saw her. After the Janjaweed had left that evening, the men from the camp found Suad semiconscious in the bush, brutally beaten and raped.

The sacrifice she made for her sister was only one of her acts of courage. When she spoke publicly with Kristof, he warned her over and over about the dangers of publicity from stigma to revenge. When he asked why she insisted on taking the risk after already being attacked and raped, she simply said, “This is the only way I have to fight genocide.”

Suad’s bravery haunted Kristof; a journalist who has written on Darfur, sex trafficking, and human trafficking since 2001. He told a powerful story that depicts the ruthless genocide in Darfur.

People may gloss over straight statistic of the 300,000 plus victims who have died in Darfur since 2003 and the 3 million people who have fled from conflict. But they can’t overlook the Suad’s tremendous sacrifices and loud cry for help to end the genocide against her and her people.

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Posted by: Mees | March 22, 2009

The return of green printer posts

I’m back to writing a few posts for the Green Printer blog. There are great interviews and articles designers have published every week on design, sustainability, and marketing.

Here are my latest posts that have been cross-published on Ecopreneurist.

Happy greening.


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Posted by: Mees | April 1, 2009

“When there is silence, there can be no justice”

The past month I’ve attended the Engineers Without Borders’ Bridging The Gap conference with keynote speaker Dr. James Orbinski and Global Agents for Change’s 3rd annual gala. Both events covered many aspects of international development, advocacy, and projects that have had a great impact on global and local projects. The success stories that resulted from persistent action among naysayers never fails to inspire people.

Bridging the Gap

Dr. James Orbinski has experienced some of the most unimaginable horrors that have been inflicted on people. He is a Canadian physician and humanitarian activist who served as president of Médecins Sans Frontières and lived through the Rwandan genocide, Somalia during the civil war and famine, Baidoa, Goma, and the Democratic Republic of Congo during his humanitarian assignments.

Yet, despite all of the horrors he has experienced among the innocent victims in many countries, he continues to do the tedious, hard, but necessary work as an activist to do everything he can to help some of the world’s most vulnerable people. Throughout his speech at the Engineers Without Borders conference, he repeated, “Change is possible with the application of the mind, reason, and appropriate values.”

You can see what people value by their actions from the most individual level to the highest levels of government. If you always take the time to talk to everyone in a room, you value inclusion. If a community feeds homeless people everyday, they value charity. If the federal government invests in efficient public transit, they value the environment.

Orbinski spoke about what many pharmaceutical companies value: profit over saving lives. The World Trade Organization and some pharmaceutical companies created barriers to access generic drugs for HIV/AIDS victims in poorer countries. By giving poorer countries access to these drugs, it violated their patents and reduced their financial profits. The pharmaceutical industry is the most profitable industry ever because of patents, not because of the prioritization of health needs.

Many people have the perception that private pharmaceutical companies are the main source of research and innovation because of their resources. The reality, as Orbinski explained, is most of their expenditures are in marketing. Research and development is just an illusion. Most research is funded by tax dollars and antiretroviral drugs is the result of public research, not private.

In response to the misplaced values of much of the pharmaceutical industry, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) was established in 2003 and comprises seven organizations from around the world: the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation from Brazil, the Indian Council for Medical Research, the Kenya Medical Research Institute, the Ministry of Health of Malaysia and France’s Pasteur Institute; one humanitarian organization, Médecins sans Frontières (MSF). When they were told they wouldn’t have the resources to develop new drugs, they wouldn’t have enough finances, and on and on and on, they released three new drugs in less than four years with over 300 scientists.

“Change is possible with the application of the mind, reason, and appropriate values.”

Orbinski also told a story of a 9-year-old girl who witnessed her father being murdered and her mother’s arm get cut off, falling in her dad’s blood. She cried silently in the bathroom. He said, “If there is silence, there can be no justice” and called on everyone to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

He closed his speech saying: “All movements began with the refusal to accept the unacceptable; unafraid to challenge core assumptions . . . I have hope . . . I have never doubted the power of engaged citizenship.” The key is to choose the right focus and do the right thing.

His simple words have a depth of complexity and command that tells us we can’t solve everything quickly. We need to be selective, persistent, and strategic about our causes.

“Change is possible with the application of the mind, reason, and appropriate values.”

Global Agents for Change

Global Agents for Change was created in 2007 and supports sustainable solutions to global poverty and inspire youth to create a better world. In their short existence, they have raised over $150,000 that are distributed to entrepeneurs around the world to lift themselves out of poverty, have 200 active volunteers, and are on track to raising at least $100,000 with their fundraising initiatives this summer. What’s the fundraiser? Two bike rides: one from Vancouver, B.C. to Tijuana, Mexico, and one from Amsterdam to Istanbul.

Once again, the key message that comes out of the inspiring stories of people who have changed lives is taking action when the majority of people around you are indifferent or telling you it’s impossible.

A definite highlight of the annual gala are the Young Agents Awards. This part of the evening recognizes incredible young people who witnessed an injustice and did something about it. There were two types of awards: Youth Acting Globally Award and Youth Acting Locally Award. First place winners received a $750 project grant, second place winners received $500, and third place winners received $100.

There were five winners for the local category. One of the winners was Krista Cameron, a 20-year-old who danced for almost half of her life. In the fall of 2008, she began The Heart Dance Program which offers free lessons to children in Vancouver’s downtown eastside. In her acceptance speech, she mentioned how expensive dance lessons can be and also how dance can develop people’s confidence. Krista plans to be a Dance Major at Simon Fraser University to help her open The Heart Dance Center, a non-profit Arts Studio in the downtown eastside of Vancouver.

Another local winner was Janny Ke, an 18-year-old woman who founded NOW! Organization. She promotes sustainability and encourages creative and holistic problem-solving strategies in elementary and high school students. Janny uniquely fuses the strenghts of arts and social sciences to solve problems. Her NOW What? Conferences have reached more than 6,00 students and she has organized a social change themed playwriting competition.

As for the global category, there were six winners and two of the projects focused on Uganda. Abdeslam Boubia is a 17-year-old who established Rising Above Poverty (RAP). Their goal is to help orphans around the world by delivering sports equipment, toys, and clothing to children in a variety of places including Algeria, Uganda, and India. So far, RAP has raised $2000 and hundreds of pounds of donated sports equipment.

Another global category winner was Seb Roberts, a 19-year-old who founded Bavubuka All*Sports based on the belief that group sports promote cooperation, improve health, develop self-confidence and provide much-needed leisure time for youth in developing countries. Since 2006, Seb has visited Uganda three times, shipped over 2,000 pounds of sports equipment and clothing to people in Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Algeria, and Cuba.

An increasing number of youth around our communities, the province, and the country are acting on their intuition to do what is right. Several of the award winners ended their acceptances speeches saying the only barrier to a person’s ability are the ones that we impose on ourselves.

The common trait all of the speakers and youth at the Engineers Without Borders and Global Agents for Change events have is relentless persistence. Some of them have literally failed hundreds of times in their efforts, but they continue to push for change. And when they do succeed, the difference they make for people and communities is profound.

Positive change is often slow. In our culture of convenience and haste, it’s easy to be frustrated. The people who have made a positive impact don’t spend countless hours on their causes to instigate revolutions; they are working to inch closer to their goal. That goal may be to raise enough money to organize a trip for at-risk youth or reduce HIV/AIDS transmission rates by 25% in a region.

One of my communication professors, Martin Laba, traveled to Pakistan and worked with a human rights activist who has had his office repeatedly bombed and raided while he has been continuously threatened in his 25 years of work. And yet he continues to work for social change. Martin asked him, “You’ve been doing this for so long and there has been so little change in Pakistan. How do you keep going?” And he responded, “You Westerners are so impatient. Change takes time. You have to see the river beyond the ripple.”

“Change is possible with the application of the mind, reason, and appropriate values.”


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Posted by: Mees | April 9, 2009

A victory in the midst of endless problems

There’s enough bad news to go around in the world. But this week, there was another victory in the movement for equal rights. The Iowa Supreme Court struck down a legislative ban on same-sex marriage. Even more amazing is it was a unanimous ruling!

“We are firmly convinced that the exclusion of gay and lesbian people from the institution of civil marriage does not substantially further any important governmental objective,” said Justice Mark Cady. He also said there was no constitutional justification to exclude gay couples from marrying.

This victory for equal rights comes soon after Vermont became the first state to legislate same-sex marriage earlier this week when the Senate and House of Representatives got the two-thirds majority they needed to override Republican Governor Jim Douglas’s veto of the legislation.

Nice work.

It sometimes takes at least a few catastrophes to really show people that gay marriage is not a threat to humanity as opposed to nuclear threats or poverty. These victories demonstrate that while the struggle is long and hard, change is doable.

I have close friends who are gay and some of them will likely get married in the next two years. We were all anxiously waiting for the Prop 8 results in November 2008 during the presidential election. When one group struggles, we fight together. Our ideals are necessary to sustain collective persistence.

Congratulations. Bring on the next victory.



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Posted by: Mees | April 26, 2009

How to keep the youngens without spending a nickel

I’ve been speaking with my friends about work lately. We’ve been talking about how difficult it is to find the kind of work people like or the consistent problems we’ve all had in our previous jobs.

I too am a member of Generation Y (born between 1982-2000). Some of our common characteristics in the work context are that we are always looking for a challenge at work, seeking detailed feedback, and will pick up and leave for a better job if we are not treated decently. Let’s call us Gen Y keeners.

Many of us grew up with a lot more than our parents because of their sacrifices. They have a very resilient “suck it up” attitude and many have been at their jobs for decades. There are company veterans and boomers who complain that we look for too much recognition and have no loyalty. That’s true to an extent but I don’t think we should have to settle for inadequate work conditions if we have the opportunity to contribute our skills elsewhere and build our loyalties in places with a great work environment.

It’s expensive to run an organization with high turnover. It takes time to train someone new and fix their mistakes when there is no formal training and transition process. There’s also a learning curve that can take at least a few months before someone finds their groove with their job. But it’s even more costly when a new employee doesn’t stay happy and leaves for a more fulfilling and the cycle starts again. So how do you keep the Gen Y keeners?

Respect.

That is the not-so-big secret for employers who want to keep people like myself from leaving. And on top of that . . . it’s free!

Respect for me doesn’t mean constant recognition, overtime pay, five-week vacations, as nice as all of that would be.  I can only speak for myself and some of my fellow Gen Y keeners.  Here are a few tips for employers who want to build company loyalty to keep us Gen Y keeners:

1.    Challenge us

I get quite bored after I get comfortable with my role and tasks. Of course I have to play my part first to prove I can do the core job duties before I can take on more responsibility. I do well with positions where I’m always learning something and can take on bigger projects once I’ve proven myself with routine tasks. By allowing me to expand and apply my other skills in addition to my core job duties, I can contribute more to an organization.

While I was working and studying at university, I had a lot more responsibility chairing an organization as a volunteer than when I was working for a multinational company.

Let us help you.

2.    Give clear instructions

I’ve wasted countless hours working on tasks and projects because I wasn’t given clear instructions or the wrong instructions. Mistakes happen, no doubt. However, when I follow-up for clarification and I’m given the go ahead, I have consistently run into problems because the person in charge did not fully think about the whole process before delegating tasks.

I’m not harping on people that make occasional mistakes. It’s a different story when this is a pattern of behaviour. Advanced planning will save organizations countless hours and money.

3.    Give holistic feedback

It’s unfortunately not the norm for managers to give detailed feedback on the progress of their employees no matter how little or long they’ve been working there. I’m not talking about constantly telling us when we’re doing a good job. Nor am I suggesting they only tell us when we’re doing something wrong. Giving good feedback makes us better workers. Tell me when I’m on track, did at least a decent job, or what I can do to do better.

Myself and other friends have sometimes been demoralized when we only hear about the things we do wrong. This is misleading and can leave leaves us bitter. I certainly don’t put my best effort when I’m only told what a bad job I’m doing.

I have a good friend who always put in unpaid overtime and she couldn’t even bank those hours for days off to meet unrealistic deadlines. She did this because she had high standards and always wanted to do a great job for the organization and their stakeholders.

She was a huge asset for the company and because the only time they gave her feedback, sometimes unnecessarily harsh feedback, was when she made a mistake. So she left and now they’re stuck with someone who doesn’t put nearly as much effort to produce quality work.

The main reason she left was because she was not commended at least once in awhile when she sacrificed much of her own time to produce quality work and got some not-so-nice comments after putting so much time into some projects. All it took to keep her their longer was a simple “good job” once in awhile or some clues to how she was doing. Pricey mistake.

4.    Have staff socials

If I’m spending most of my week with the people I work with, I better at least be able to get along with them. I’ve been pretty lucky to work with people who are collaborative, supportive, helpful, and fun in every place I’ve worked. I’m more upbeat and put more effort into my work when I like the people around me.

I know managers can’t control who gets along with who, but having the occasional staff social at lunch or dinner is a nice break from work to get to know each other better or hang out.

When I got to know my co-workers outside the workplace, we enhanced our working relationship, we got things done faster, and people created a great work environment. My relationship with my colleagues  really influences the way I work.

5.    Music will not ruin my productivity

There are organizations than don’t let people listen to music. If I’m doing research or occasionally doing menial tasks, music won’t make me work slower. On the contrary, I work faster because I’m not drifting away mentally when I’m listening to music.

I turn it off and edit materials in a quiet area  because I can’t fully concentrate when I’m editing. I know when I can and cannot focus, so leave it up to the employees to decide how they’d like to work as long as they are not ruining the image of the company in front of clients or customers or slowing down anyone else’s work. Relax a bit.

A little goes a long way

I work ten times harder than I need to and have done voluntary unpaid overtime for organizations that treat me and my co-workers with respect. Why? Simply because the respect is mutual. Treat me with decency and dignity and I will want to naturally give back to the organization that challenges me and allows me to grow.

Programs and incentives are now a billion dollar industry to retain employees. I personally think organizations don’t have to spend a lot financially.  It doesn’t cost anything to treat people with respect but it can go along way to producing quality work.

There is going to be a massive labour shortage in Canada across industries over the next few years with baby boomers retiring.  If organizations are having trouble keeping Gen Y keeners now, you better get your employee relationship in check soon while options open up for us in the next few years.

Just a heads up.


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Posted in Lessons in communication | Tags:

Posted by: Mees | May 3, 2009

How our habits can help the environment . . . even with pizza!

I never thought some of my life passions could merge: pizza and the environment.

One of my friends, Aaron Cruikshank, passed on this video on a green pizza box. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love pizza and I tend to go for the slice pizza in Vancouver. Pizza lovers like me go through a lot of disposable plates and boxes and I often wondered if there is a reusable plate that can be folded for me to reuse.

It’s nice to see products like these popping up more and people can make a big difference through their habits. It’s easier to als change our purchasing habits in Vancouver because the city has a good variety of green businesses.

Our culture of convenience is often a barrier for many people to change their behaviour patterns. It’s a hell of a lot easier to order fatty food to go and chuck our garbage than to make a homemade meal; or go through a drive-through instead of walking for less than a minute to go outside to make a bank transaction.

I believe most people are decent and I’ve helped out with enough social and environmental events to witness that. I, and former colleagues, have spoken with people who simply weren’t aware about fair trade products, the connection between their electronics and the conflict in the Democratic Repulic Congo, or how they can live healthier without spending more money. But after speaking to them, many of them ask, “What can I do to help?’

We live in a bubble of convenience and advocacy, non-profit groups, and holistics businesses can be effective in popping that bubble whether it’s by selling fairly traded crafts or a green pizza box. You’ll be surprised how easy it is to change habits to reduce our environmental impact.

Take plastic bags. I find it more convenient to bring re-usable bags for food and clothes than flimsy plastic bags. There are under-reported actions towns and cities across Canada that have taken great environmental actions. Leaf Rapids in Manitoba, for example, became the first municipality in Canada to ban plastic shopping bags. Apparently Fort McMurray, yes the oil hub, plans to banned in 2010. Who would have thought?

Ikea is canning their plastic bags starting July 1 this year. Given Ikea’s  size, this will greatly reduce the impact harmful of plastics on the environment and people.  There was a noticeable drop in plastic bag use when the company introduced a five-cent fee in October 2007. If municipalities and businesses do not move to a ban, a plastic bag tax works. Their website survey showed that 82% of respondents supported getting rid of plastic bags.

I used to love beef and pork. Since my early teens, it was always at the back of my mind to become vegetarian for animal’s sake and for environmental reasons. I fully converted at 19 years old after I read Peter Singer’s Animal Liberation, a book about the practices of laboratory testing on animals and torture involved with factory farming.  The transition was easier than I thought because cutting meat out of my diet simply became a habit and I lost my cravings.

Change takes time, especially when it comes to cultural habits. But there are many people and businesses taking their own initiative to prioritize the environment and people before their ultimate comfort. And often these changes aren’t more difficult, it’s just a change of behaviour.

Our values are ultimately reflected by our actions.


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Posted in Enviro products | Tags: , , ,

Posted by: Mees | May 12, 2009

So many choices: Work Less Party, BC Marijuana Party, The Sex Party . . .

It’s election day in British Columbia and so far, these are the reasons people have told me why they don’t vote:

  1. They don’t support any of the dominant parties
  2. They are not familiar with the province’s politics because they’re new to the area
  3. They simply don’t care

As many people say, you can’t complain if you don’t vote.

Take a simple comparison of voter turnout in completely different states:

  • 2008 federal election in Canada: 59.1% per cent of registered voters turned out to vote
  • 2005 election in Iraq: 60% of the eligible electorate chose their own government in spite of numerous suicide bombings and other attacks by insurgents on polling stations. “Dying was a sacrifice they were prepared to make, said voter after voter.”

Millions of people around the world do not have a risk-free voting environment in their countries. In some countries, any mention of “democracy” or “human rights” can get them tortured.

I made a presentation with two of my colleagues from the Association of Canadian Students for Darfur at Walnut Grove High School in Langley two days ago. We have the freedom to tell the stories of the dangers people in Darfur endure every day because, unlike the victims, we have rights to protect us from harm.

I wrote a post about the story of Suad, a Sudanese mother who sacrificed her safety by using herself as a decoy for the Janjaweed militia. These men are funded by the Sudanese government committing the genocide in Darfur. Suad was raped and attacked by the Janjaweed so her sister could run back safely to the camp in Chad.

After being tortured, she still bravely allowed journalist Nicholas Kristof to publish her name with her story. After he grilled her and warned her about the risks of doing revealing her name, she said, “This is the only way I have to fight genocide.”

This is a woman who had everything to lose if she spoke out; but she did.

These horrific situations are extreme to us because it is not our reality. But it is the reality for millions of people outside our bubble.  People risk their lives around the world just to have a say in how they are governed.

We already have the freedoms, so use them. If you don’t support the dominant parties in BC, take the five minutes to vote for The Sex Party or the BC Marijuana party to at least exercise your right. I don’t think it’s futile even if they won’t win. At least you won’t be risking your life.

If that’s not enough reason to vote, then the BC-STV is. No STV is not a disease; it’s the single-transferable vote system. Rather than have me explain how it is a more representative system, check out this video.

Happy voting.


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Posted in Current events | Tags: , ,

Posted by: Mees | May 13, 2009

Getting them hooked

I’m holding $675 cash in my hand and going to head out to deposit the money for humanitarian work for Darfuri victims. Most of this money was raised by our Simon Fraser University Chapter of the Association of Canadian Students for Darfur.

When the chapter executive gave me the money to be deposited, I immediately thought about the stark difference between our volunteers and the former Enron elite.

This past week, CBC aired Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room, a documentary about the fall of the multi-billion dollar corporation. It’s the story that’s unfortunately all too common in big companies: excessive greed, betrayal, dishonesty, and selfishness. It’s the ultimate example of an unhealthy attachment to material wealth and the false belief that money is the only thing that motivates people.

Enron created a cut-throat culture to fuel financial profits and cut people on a whim when “necessary.” Executives and traders with bottomless bank accounts continuously wanted more and did whatever they could to convince investors their financials were healthy; particularly by committing fraud and setting up “creative accounting” methods.

When I compare these guys to our volunteers, it’s like the difference between Mother Theresa and Darth Vader. Our volunteers  always reinspire me with their determination to help people when they have enough to worry about in their own lives. Students devoted many hours around their busy school schedules and jobs to raise money for genocide victims on the other side of the world.

I have also found an increasing number of high school teachers educating students about social and environmental issues.  Many of these students become engaged citizens and leaders. The dedication that young students quickly develop after simply learning about important issues that affect them and people around the world brings much hope for the future.

Before I collected the money from our chapter executive, I did a presentation with two my colleagues at Walnut Grove high school in Langley on Darfur. When we do these kinds of presentations and engage one active volunteer out of 70 students, it’s worth it. Even when new volunteers are a little afraid to go out and have n impact, they look for ways to get around their fear.

After the presentation one student emailed me and said, “You guys really caught my attention in class today. I’ve really wanted to get into doing something like helping build or possibly teaching in other countries. But since I’m only grade 11 I’ve felt limited to what I can do. So if you have any ideas or any opportunities of how I can help or get involved that would be amazing.”

After my colleague and I emailed her back with our contacts and acting as a resource for her, she was more excited.

That evening I also went to a David Suzuki Foundation volunteer appreciation event. It was great to meet many of the volunteers who put in countless hours of their own time into the organization.

Their work trumps the belief that money is the only thing that drives people. Why would a physiologist spent many hours stuffing envelopes? Clearly a sense of collective responsibility also motivates people.

Peter Robinson, CEO of the David Suzuki Foundation, said that new information doesn’t change behaviour. Change happens when people witness others changing their behaviour.

Be the example to show people that positive change is not only possible⎯it is absolutely necessary.


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Posted in Humanitarian causes | Tags: , , , ,

Posted by: Mees | May 27, 2009

The world’s issues at your fingertips

“My blog became popular. Part of me wants to believe that it was because of my writing. But that’s not it. It is because people are hungry to be closer to the world. I went to Sudan and I’m writing about it again. Because I believe that what separates action from inaction is that same thing that separates my friends from Sudan. It’s not indifference. It’s distance.” – Dr. James Maskalyk,  www.sixmonthsinsudan.com

This statement shows the importance effective communication in social change. Communication is used to engage people to take action on our local and global community’s issues.

Our culture of comfort and convenience creates an obstacle for effective communication because people have to continuously be sensitized to issues. Instigating positive actions can be challenging, but it is definitely possible.

My recent post discussed how much people, especially younger people, have instantly gained interest in social issues once they learned a bit about a specific topic like Darfur.

People who become involved in causes or pick up more ethical purchasing habits often go through the same steps as consumers do before they buy a product or service. Those who have studied marketing are already familiar with AIDA: attention, interest, desire, action.

If a communication strategy is effective, the people you are targeting will follow through with all the steps. If you only get people’s attention, then more work needs to be done.

I will use my conversion to fair trade coffee as an example of my AIDA phases.

I went to a workshop that was put on by Oxfam a few years ago. The facilitator took a few volunteers and each of us had a part in the supply chain of coffee under the “free trade” system. Essentially there was a lot of exploitation and unfair bargaining in the process.

Then we acted out the supply chain process under the fair trade system and immediately saw the benefits of fair trade. Under this system, farmers who grow our products, such as coffee and cocoa, receive at least a living wage with safe conditions and child labour is prohibited. On top of that, we get better quality products and pesticides are not used to grow the products.

That got my attention.

Since the workshop, I had a growing interest to learn more about fair trade and did a project on it in university. I had a desire to support these products so I took action by purchasing fair trade products regularly and educated other people about fair trade.

Effective communication does not necessarily refer to fancy videos or pretty-looking print materials. It is whatever communication tool helps you achieve your objectives. In my case, it was a free hour workshop that got me hooked on fair trade.

The internet and other technologies have enabled people to get closer access to remote areas of the globe through images, videos, and audio. These communication tools have been used to shed light on problems around the world that would otherwise have received little or no attention. There are many cases where attention has incited enough international pressure to save lives.

Nazanin Afshin-Jam is a Human Rights Activist and a former Global Youth Educator for the Red Cross. She is more well-known as the former Miss Canada, singer, model, actress, and songwriter. Oh, and she’s a pilot.

She uses her celebrity to shed more attention to human rights abuses in Iran, particularly with younger kids. She opposed the death penalty that was applied to 18-year-old Nazanin Mahabad Fatehi, who was charged for stabbing one of three men who tried to rape her and her niece in Karaj in March 2005.

When she started a campaign to help save her life, she received 350,000 signatures around the world. As international pressure grew, Nazanin Fatehi was cleared of murder charges and was released on January 31, 2007.

I saw Nazanin Afshin-Jam speak several years ago at a human rights conference in Vancouver. She said that the young Iranians they spotlighted in their campaigns prevented their executions. Unfortunately, there were many young people executed when when did not receive media coverage.

Communication brings issues closer to home.

This is just one example of how effective communication is instrumental in social change. There are many green businesses in Vancouver that bring social change with their products and services.

However, if people’s efforts don’t result in people going through all the AIDA phases, they won’t meet their goals.

I don’t support people who use violence or block bridges to get their point across because it’s ineffective. While you get people’s attention, you won’t get their interest, desire to help, and actions that work in your favour. All you may get is a punch in the face.

Our job as communicators is to close the gap between our community’s problems and our sense of responsibility.

Communicate for change.

Resources

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Posted by: Mees | June 5, 2009

Going from four wheels to two

A year ago, we had fall weather with a good dose of rain and fog in Vancouver, BC. Thanks global warming.

Now that the weather has been pretty decent, I’ve been rollerblading every few days around Vancouver, apparently Canada’s fittest city.

I often stray off the seawall and zip around the suits in downtown while I run my errands. A few days ago,  I challenged my not-so-great stamina to blade for another hour across the bridge and through the residential areas to get back to Commercial Station. I switched from the sidewalks to the road to the limited bike lanes as necessary.

One of my good friends said, “There is a hierarchy of hate on the road. The drivers hate the bikers, the pedestrians hate the bikers, and the bikers hate cars.”

Yes, I admit, I have been the hater in every one of those situations at some point. While I was skating through the residential areas, I saw a bike lane and thought, “Awesome! I can sail through the road.” But the bike lane lasted only two blocks. What’s the point of that?

Unlike Denmark and Holland, we don’t have a bike-centered infrastructure. A third of Danes get to work by bike every day and the rest of the people take public transit or their cars. On top of that, they’re rated the “happiest place on earth.” Yes, even with their 50 to 70 per cent tax.

When I was watching a TV special on Denmark, people chose to bike because it was healthier and more enjoyable, even when they could afford cars. Guess the hummer wouldn’t really fly there.

There was a dispute last month between cyclists and drivers over a trial one-lane closure for the growing number of cyclists and pedestrians on the Burrard bridge. There was a one-lane closure in 1996 that was closed down after only five days when drivers and businesses complained after traffic was backed up by 15 minutes. Yes, let’s accommodate the most unnatural form of transportation as opposed to getting around with our own legs.

TransLink is currently seeking feedback from us on funding sources and services. Your opinions will be presented to TransLink’s Board of Directors and the Mayors’ Council. Take advantage of it!

In the mean time, enjoy the June bike month and get psyched for a critical mass at the end of the month.


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Posted by: Mees | June 11, 2009

The truth is the best PR

“Credibility rests in good actions, not good PR.”-James Hoggan

Yesterday I volunteered for the 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. shift for the Canadian Public Relations Society conference. I don’t know how I mustered up enough discipline to wake up that early.

I was working as a book host selling books by several of the event speakers, including David Suzuki and James Hoggan from Hoggan and Associates. Yes, that’s the guy that started DeSmogBlog to report on climate PR.

I began reading his latest book Do the Right Thing and it is a very genuine account of the role the public relations industry can play in doing harm as well as good. When it comes to honest PR, the key is to do the following:

  1. Do the right thing
  2. Be seen doing the right thing
  3. Don’t get #1 and #2 mixed up

The role of communication is very similar to power: it can be used for good or for bad. Effective communication has been used to convince people that smoking is good for you to instigating genocides.

But effective communication has also enabled global collaboration to serve the public, held corporations accountable, and saved the lives of people around the world.

Hoggan used communication for good with DeSmogBlog. In his book, he talks about why he began the influential site.

When he began reading the analysis of the science, he was surprised to find that professional scientists, with few exceptions, agreed that humans are the cause of global warming.

But there were different conversations happening outside of the scientific community that was giving the impression of confusion and debate. Hoggan as convinced that, “The public argument about climate change had little to do with science and a great deal to do with public relations.”

He became angry and was offended the fossil fuel and car companies were investing so much in districting the public.

Here are some of the outcomes of DeSmogBlog since they lanched the site in 2005:

  • Became one of the 12,000 most popular blogs out of 62 million.
  • Became popular for mainstream journalists by summer 2006.
  • Became a trusted information source and database for the mainstream media.

One of the most interesting outcomes of DeSmogBlog was when they posted a leaked document that was about to be released by the industry-funded think tank Fraser Institute.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was about to release its Fourth Assessment Report in Paris, a document that would help the IPCC win a Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. The blog team learned that the Fraser Institute was about to release a counter report called the “Independent Summary for Policy Makers,” filled with summaries from so-called experts that were paid to criticize the reports.

When the team posted the leaked document, the traffic when up by a factor of 20 and they were receiving media calls from mainstream media across the continent.

Hoggan’s main message is that actually doing the right thing is priority and that honesty is the best PR. He said, “People will forgive almost anything but deceit.”

When he worked for a client that made huge mistakes, they spent hours coming up with the usual PR tactics to the point of exhaustion. Then Hoggan finally asked, “What is the right thing to do?”

Then the conversation changed, even though it was awkward. They finally decided to be honest about the mistakes and tell the public. What happened was the stocks actually went up after they told the truth.

Hoggan works as the Chair of the David Suzuki Foundation. Anyone who knows Suzuki knows how honest he is and will call out politicians and companies in public. Before Hoggan introduced Suzuki for the keynote address, he spoke about how Suzuki has sometimes gotten him in some heat.

Hoggan attended a conference in Alberta where everyone else was from the oil industry except him. Someone went up to him and said, “Are you the PR guy for David Suzuki?” Then he was given a newspaper on the front page quoting Suzuki saying that Ralph Klein wasn’t fit to be premier because of his position on the tar sands.

He spoke about how Suzuki’s honesty and convictions defies many PR tactics.  Yet he consistently ranks highly as being among the most trusted Canadian by the public and the polls keep going up in his favour. Hoggan said that Suzuki proves that, “Big reputations doesn’t come from big PR. It comes from big values.”

During the keynote address at the CPRS event, Suzuki’s key messages were:

The economic system is so fundamentally flawed that it is destructive. Triple bottom line won’t help if we have the current system as our dominant system. We need to change the economic structure instead of trying to save an old one that doesn’t work.

Economic growth alone should not be equated with progress. If we destroy the very things that keep us alive like our waters and trees, you can’t buy the services nature provides.

Harper is wrong to say that we can’t meet Kyoto targets because it will destroy our economy. Sweden has consistently reduced their emissions with strong environmental regulations, including very high fuel taxes that keep growing, but their economy has had double-digit growth in the past decade.

Good ol’ Dave.

There is much power that comes with the ability to collaborate and hold people accountable. Organizations have no choice but to be honest because the truth can be revealed in the click of a mouse.

I think we can and need to handle the truth.

Check out:


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Posted by: Mees | June 15, 2009

A carless party on four streets

Yesterday I went to Car-Free Day in Vancouver for the first time.  The day was a great mix of fearless dancing, playful kids, music, and street vendors. And we didn’t have to worry about being run over by a car.

The Commercial Drive Festival (in East Vancouver) launched the first community-driven car-free festival in 2005. The event was run completely by 30 core oraganizers and 300 volunteers with 25,000 people partying on the street.

As more people attended the following years, organizers initiated the first annual Car-Free Vancouver day in June 2008 in their “evolution toward healthy communities, authentic cultural celebrations, and car-free streets.”

These events are supported by many citizens, The City of Vancouver, staff, and election officials.  .

I just finished reading Do the Right Thing and one of the many useful tips James Hoggan shares is, “People are likely to change behaviour if they think they are working in a community of like-minded individuals.”

We can learn a lot from successes of other efficient transportation systems around the world.  While our infrastructure is not nearly as sophisticated as other places, we can and must demand a more sustainable and efficient transit system in Vancouver with more bike lanes, pedestrian walkways, and cleaner buses.

Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) and its government partners are about to open the Central Valley Greenway on June 27. The 24-kilometre pathway will accommodate cycling, jogging, walking, wheelchairs, skateboarding and blading.

BEST received the $1 million Vancity award in 2001 for the project and soon it will be open for all of us to use.

I have been rollerblading around Vancouver at least once a week. The seawall, bike lanes, and pedestrian walkways are filled with a variety of people. I see families, couples, excessively fit people, and people trying to impress their partner. Healthy public spaces is a right for everyone.

We have the liberty to demand services from politicians and the tools to work together to enhance our communities.  Let’s use them.

What you can do

  • Use the bike lanes and pedestrian walkways to show the need for these spaces
  • Voice your opinion on TransLink in Be Part of the Plan
  • Write letters to the editor in your community paper about transit in your area
  • Get involved with organizations like BEST and the Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition

Car-Free Vancouver Day 2009

Main Street, Vancouver

Main Street, Vancouver

Part on the Streets!

Party on the Streets!

What a skill!

What a skill!


Bike valet

Bike valet

It's beginning to look a lot like Europe

It's beginning to look a lot like Europe

The dance party

The dance party

Got a full detox just from one fruit cup

Got a full detox just from one fruit cup

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Posted in Community initiatives | Tags: , , ,

Posted by: Mees | June 21, 2009

“What are you doing?” . . . Tweeting on an uprising

AP Photo/Ben Curtis

AP Photo/Ben Curtis

The images and Tweets inside Iran are riveting.

I didn’t follow much of what was happening after the election in Iran on June 12 until many media outlets, especially online, were covering the sea of people on the streets. Persistent solidarity quickly developed after people spoke out against the election results.

In case you haven’t been following this story, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed presidential victory over Mir Hossein Mousavi soon after the polls closed. Mousavi accused Ahmadinejad of fraud. The interior ministry announced that Ahmadinejad won with 63% of the vote while Mousavi won 34%. Voter turnout was a record 85%.

(Psst . . . our  last federal election in Canada had a measly 58.8%. And we didn’t even have to risk our lives.)

Mousavi’s supporters immediately protested the results and many demanded that their vote be counted.

While most people use social media to post drunken pictures of their friends and document other regrettable moments, these online tools have great power in enabling people to hold powerful institutions accountable. Live blogging, Tweets, and YouTube videos from Iran have engaged countless people around the world and incited a global solidarity for the people in Iran.

The most authoritarian regimes in the world, including China, ban a variety of communication because they understand its power. Being able to connect with people around the world reduces a group’s chances of getting away with human rights abuses and corruption.

But there is business to be done of course.  Microsoft, Yahoo, and Google bowed down to China’s demands to censor websites, including search terms like “human rights” and “Dalai Lama.”

Knowledge is power.

Similarly, the Iranian authorities have banned foreign media and networks are now relying on social media content for updates. CBC profiled an Iranian woman who lives in Vancouver. Her family is still in Iran and she is their only source of information because the government took away their satellites. Iran made several attempts to block communications including:

  • Blocking access to many websites inside the country, including social-networking sites, even before the June 12 vote (Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty)
  • Blocking access to Facebook temporarily across the country on May 23, 2009 in response to the use of Facebook by candidates running against Ahmadinejad (Egypt News)
  • Ordering the Revolutionary Guards,  Iran’s most powerful military force, to warn online media of a crackdown on their coverage of the country’s election crisis (London Evening Standard).
  • Disrupting satellite connections

Many Tweeting citizens are at risk if they are caught by authorities. Yet, despite these attempts to block communications, Twitter prevails.

These are some of many sources that outline what happened during the elections and current events in Iran. If you have other reliable sources, please share.

The world is watching. Literally.

Sources


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Posted by: Mees | June 25, 2009

Running on feet and two-wheelers

Great news for cyclists!

The City of Vancouver will be building two bike lanes on the Burrard bridge beginning July 13, 2009. This is a six-month trial and city staff will report back about the project after three months.

In 1996, a trial bike lane was removed because businesses and drivers complained about being in traffic for an extra 15 minutes. Though I’m pretty sure there are thousands more people who complain about being in traffic too long every single day. So hopefully this bike lane lasts longer than it did a decade ago.

I went blading around Vancouver two days ago and was inches away from getting hit by a car even when it was my way to cross the street. I get anxious when I see parents taking their kids around behind their bikes, even on the seawall.

Many of us take risks when we go out to do errands, take our family members out, or simply enjoy the scenery of our beautiful province. But being able to move around without using a car can be safe and accessible with designated lanes and public space.

This is the time for cyclists  to take advantage of the new bike lane on the Burrard bridge to show the need for more cycling, pedestrian, and blading space.

Also the Central Valley Greenway, a 24-kilometre bike path for cycling, jogging, walking, wheelchairs, skateboarding and blading, will open this Saturday, June 27th and it is a great step forward. They’ll have a ribbon cutting, dance performances, and yes, even a unicyclist!

Take your feet and wheels and I’ll see you on the path.


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Posted in Environment in the news | Tags: , ,

Posted by: Mees | June 28, 2009

Let the messenger represent the cause

I received a letter written by a woman who is a Darfur survivor. She is part of the Save Darfur Coalition.

She wrote:

[Women] are the targets of a systematic campaign of rape and sexual brutality whose terror words cannot convey.

I am among the fortunate ones. I escaped the genocidebut in my heart, I can never leave the women and girls of Darfur. Helping them to surviveand to repair, as best they can, the shattered pieces of their livesis my work.

Our work is hard, and it is frustrating. But it is working. The signs are all around usfrom the recent indictment of President Al-Bashir, to the global pressure on his regime to the number of UNAMID peacekeepers in the region.

I have read endless statistics and letters about Darfur. But I will remember this letter because a woman is speaking from her experience as a survivor and demanding our attention.

The person telling your message often carries more weight than the message itself.

Are you more likely to believe a random advertisement about a product or your friends? Most times, I’d say my friend. Except the one who told me a Caesar cocktail was delicious . . . not.

People may be able to argue philosophies, but it’s hard to argue against someone’s experience. Some people try to discredit someone by spinning a story. But if you are the first to “frame the story” to the target audience and speak from experience, the spinners will have a more difficult time changing perceptions.

At this year’s Engineers Without Borders Conference, James Orbinski Canadianphysician, humanitarian, and activist was the keynote speaker. One person working for a tech company asked him about his perspective on patents in fostering creativity.

Dr. Orbinski essentially said he is not against patents. However, it is immoral when patents are used to prevent much needed medicines from reaching the world’s most vulnerable people. He called out pharmaceutical companies who put financial profits before public health priorities.

That is why he helped establish Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). As their website states, DNDi is an “independent, not-for-profit Product Development Partnership working to research and develop new and improved treatments for neglected diseases such as malaria, leishmaniasis, sleeping sickness, and Chagas disease.”

Hard to argue with credibility against that experience.

One of the main rules in public relations is you need a credible person to get the message across. The medium, preconceptions, and biases all come into play when your audience is listening to you.

When I go to events and friends tell me about their lives, struggles, and sense of community in a refugee camp, those stories stick with me.

I am almost done reading James Orbinski’s An Imperfect Offering. One of his colleagues, Jose Antonio Bastos, was working with him in Rwanda and said:

Even if it is impossible to help the refugees, we must keep trying, and find the truth of what is happening, and we must speak. Sometimes speaking is the only action that is possible. To not speak is to fail the possibility of humanity. No, all is not fair in love and war.

Quite poetic considering he was in the middle of the Rwandan genocide.

People don’t have to do 12-day fasts for Darfur to make a difference. But if you’re up for it . . .great!

It is consistency that is key. I have been writing to my MP at least once every two weeks, if not more, since I made my 2009 resolutions.

People who live their values as much as possible during their daily routines, business, or work carry the most credibility.


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Posted by: Mees | July 2, 2009

The not-so-hidden history of Canada

Yesterday I went to check out some of the Canada Day events with a friend on Granville Island and in downtown. As we do every year, we wore our crazy Canada hats attracting attention among locals and tourists.

Towards the end of the day, we passed a man who wished us a “happy Native oppression day.” I replied, “I agree with you.”

I was expecting to see some performances or displays honouring Aboriginal people in at least some of the locations. But we didn’t see anything.

Like many topics, quite a few people rely on stereotypes or any available information to make sense of things or people. I’ve heard repelling comments when I talk about the past wrongdoings against the people who, let’s face it, were on this land long before us.

When I mention the genocide committed against Aboriginal people—you know, normal coffee conversation—someone responded by saying, “Ahhh they need to get over it and move on.”

I’ve also heard the usual, “They get free tuition and welfare with our tax dollars. I didn’t do anything to them. How is that fair?”

Some of the people I know who have made these comments grew up poor so they’re not completely out of touch with struggle. But they haven’t endured the physical, emotional, and systematic abuse many Aboriginals have gone through in the past and continue to face today.

I admit, I am not completely in tune with the history of Aboriginal people and I am making an effort to learn more. I’ve come across enough stories of residential schools and the abuses children and families have had to go through since Canada was “discovered” to at least have a basic understanding of the challenges they face today.

One of the images that I remember most regarding residential schools was from a documentary that was shown to our class while I was in university. The film focused on children who were yanked away from their families and placed into residential schools run by Catholic nuns to “civilize” the children from their roots.

One girl had her period and she told the nun. Instead of excusing the young girl, the nun made her stand in front of the class and wear her stained underwear on her head. To degrade an emotionally beaten child in a repressive environment for something that is so natural says a lot about the daily realities they endured.

So far, the Anglican Church, the Presbyterian Church, and the United Church have apologized for the abuse at residential schools. But the Catholic Church, who administered three-quarters of residential schools across Canada, haven’t apologized to the many students who suffered. Ninety thousand of the former students are still alive.

Apology is only the first step. I’m not sure how I would react if someone just told me, “Sorry for abusing your parents when they were young and traumatizing your family,” without doing anything afterwards.

Every child is entitled to be fed healthy food every day, to have access to a good education, and to live in an environment where they can explore their interests and potential. I don’t consider that a controversial statement. But to work towards a Canada where this is a reality for everyone is often blocked by a lack of political initiative, an increasingly apathetic public, and political labels like “left-wing propaganda.” Funny how some words stir up raw emotions.

Suicide rates among First Nations youth are five to seven times higher than for non-Aboriginal youth. Endless studies coming from universities and government agencies are great at identifying problems. We are trained to do research, analyze, write reports, and “be objective,” if there is such a thing. Among these thousands of pages of information, people often miss the question, “Why is this happening?” or “What can we do about it?”

In the case of Aboriginal communities and many other marginalized people, socio-economic factors contribute to the suicide rates including high rates of poverty, barriers to education, limited employment opportunities, inadequate housing, and deficiencies in sanitation and water quality.

It’s only in the last 15 years that we’re getting the ball rolling with the apologies. Prime Minister Stephen Harper also apologized in June 2008 for the abuses of residential schools while the church denominations did so beginning in the early nineties.

The acknowledgement is definitely significant. But if you are in a position of power and say you care about the wellbeing of ostracized people without any policy changes, I’m not thinking so much about your words.

Everyone deserves an equal playing field. Where people go from there is up to them. Yes of course personal responsibility is necessary. Keep in mind that people’s understanding of responsibility and commitment to not doing harm to other people depends on how they were raised and where they grow up.

Talking heads and mainstream opinion often tell the average person or people in poorer communities to take “personal responsibility.”  But rarely do they make the same demands to people in suits (corporate executives, politicians, and so on) even when they sometimes act as accomplices to murder and theft through their policies and practices.

Personal responsibility applies to many people and specific circumstances. If a homeless eight-year-old steals to survive, is he a thief without a conscience? Is a nine-year-old child soldier in Uganda a cold-blooded killer?

We all need to fulfill our responsibilities to solve community problems and do more than apologize. An apology is only step one.

There’s a reason they say actions speak louder than words.


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Posted by: Mees | July 9, 2009

What do cows do? “Lay eggs”

Watch Food Inc trailer here.

Thanks to The Tyee, I went to the screening of Food Inc yesterday.

Sometimes when you’re relatively familiar with certain issues and you watch documentaries on them, you don’t learn many new facts. But Food Inc showed a variety of aspects of our industrial food system.

The film profiled a family who believed that fast food and burgers were healthy for their two kids. For one or two bucks, you can get a burger and fries. Why spend the same amount for only a small portion of broccoli when you’re on a tight budget?

The husband is taking medication for his health problems, which drains a big chunk of their income. So they can’t afford to buy healthier food. Yet the “cheap food” contributes to his deteriorating health.

It’s a vicious cycle.

McDonald’s, or McDicks as many of us call it, does well in good times and bad times. I wasn’t surprised when their sales went up when the recession first hit the world. It’s “cheap” food.

However, in a CBC interview with Jamie Oliver, he said, “There is no fast food that you can name that I can’t make cheaper by cooking.” Jamie was frustrated that we don’t teach kids how to cook when they’re young. And because they are not given those tools, the fast food chains do very well.

Price wise, organic food is often more expensive than mass-produced factory food. In reality, the current industrial, pesticide-spraying, cow-living-in-their-own-manure system is more expensive an unsustainable. But the environmental and social cost is not reflected in the price at the supermarkets.

All of the pollution, health impacts on our bodies, and oil that goes into our food are “externalities” as conventional economists call it. Those consequences aren’t relevant in our economic model for growth.

Local and organic food have often been called food for the privileged and the rich. But healthy, natural food should not be a privilege. It should be a right for everyone. Right now in many places, consumers are paying the high cost of cheap food with their deteriorating health and our increasingly toxic environment. And we are also the ones who pay more financially if we want healthier local or organic food.

I know people who live paycheque to paycheque, and yet they still choose to buy organic food. Of course it’s understandable if they can’t always afford to do so. But some of the people I know prioritize their health before buying a $300 purse or booze. They are committed to supporting local farmers.

Like many communities in industrialized nations, veggies and healthier foods are more financially expensive than processed foods, including those yummy burgers. That’s because the government subsidizes the industry as opposed to supporting local family farms.

If the price of all of the oil, pesticides, excessive environmental degradation, and human exploitation were reflected in the food price, it would be much more expensive than the local food system.

I remember a news special on poorer communities in America. One woman had to travel 30 minutes by bus just to be able to get a tomato. Fresh food is simply not accessible in many communities around North America.

The hidden farmer and workers

One statistic that I hear every now and then is the high percentage of city kids who think milk comes from the supermarket, not cows. Even more shocking are the kids who think cows lay eggs. Wow.

One of the many hidden costs of our products are the farmers and workers who grow and process our food. Food Inc discussed the growing number of undocumented workers from Mexico and other countries who do hard and dangerous labour on the farms. They are exposed to manure, heavy machines, and pesticides. Some people have had infections on their hands that were so severe, they lost their fingers.

There are many fierce advocates against illegal immigrants, yet they are passionate about deregulation in order to increase profits. Many off them don’t see the connection between poverty and their economic system that fuels the influx of “illegal aliens.”

But who are the ones who get in trouble? Not the companies who constantly “hire and fire” the undocumented people working on the farms. It is the workers who get in trouble.

These companies love and thrive on people who will work for an unfair wage. Little money is better than no money at all. The film showed several arrests of people who had been in the U.S. for over 10 years.

Little-known Luxembourg

Many people here don’t know much about Luxembourg. I didn’t know anything about this small country until my family went to visit my cousin and his family last year for a few days. It was a culture shock for me to see how clean the country is and how healthy the people are.

I’m a vegetarian (pescetarian to be exact). But if I had to eat meat, I would eat it in Luxembourg. The country has the highest per capita consumption of organic products in the EU. I can even see cows among beautiful landscape in farmers’ backyards from my cousin’s house.

Organic food is the norm in grocery stores. You won’t even find fast food in the malls. Instead, you’ll pass coffee shops and sandwhich shops.

Here is a run down of other reasons why Luxembourg is environmentally awesome:

  • The government gives every family a reusable grocery bag that can be replaced for free if it breaks
  • The more fuel efficient your car is, the less tax you pay
  • Industrial farming is not the norm
  • Every village in Luxembourg is walkable and has everything you need including a grocery store, school, pharmacy, and doctor
  • Kids are required to live within 15 minutes walking distance from their house, otherwise a government-run shuttle can come and pick them up
  • Kids must either go home for a full meal for a two hour break or eat at the school cafeteria that provides a wholesome meal

On top of that, the average adult in the country knows four to six languages.

Luxembourg, like Denmark and Sweden, has a culture of sustainability. I learned a lot in the four short days I was there. I would also be daring to say that their pastries are as good, if not better, than France’s pastries.

Let the taste tests begin.

Influencing change

Food Inc told the story of Stonyfield Yogurt. The company was founded on the basis of environmental principles and working towards a sustainable agricultural system.

One of the company’s founders gets a lot of heat from his progressive friends for selling his organic product on Wal-Mart shelves. When he and his friends argue, the tone changes because his friends can’t deny that by selling a million dollars worth of their organic product to the company, they’re literally reducing environmental impact because of Wal-Mart’s global size. A greener Wal-Mart is better than the former Wal-Mart.

The company certainly didn’t begin selling organic food options out of the goodness of their non-existent heart or for moral reasons. It is because people demanded it. One of the best lines in Who Killed the Electric Car was, “If the consumer wanted a car that ran on pig shit, GM would make it.”

The owner of Stonyfield Yogurt made a very practical point. Capitalism isn’t going away anytime soon. However, consumers do have a lot of power because we “vote three times a day” through our purchases.

That’s why you see more local and organic sections in supermarkets. Before the recession, organic food sales grew significantly in Canada over the past few years. British Columbians enjoy organic food more than any other province. Woo!

What you can do to phase out our morphed food

We are very lucky to have access to local and organic food in Vancouver. But there is more we can do to improve the quality and access of our food.

  • Buy local food
  • Buy organic food
  • Get fresh food from your farmers’ market
  • Go to a local market and ask them if they have local food options directly
  • Educate yourself and others about what we eat

Resources

There are many people who know a lot more about food than I do. I’m just good at eating it.

So if you have any other resources, success stories, or any thoughts, please share.

I am what I eat. I don’t want to be a GMO/pesticide/antibiotic-filled human thank you very much.


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Posted by: Mees | July 9, 2009

Egg problems in the UK

I was listening to the radio today and the DJ said that she came across pre-packaged boiled eggs that were stripped in the supermarket when she traveled to England.

She said, “I can understand that. It takes awhile to boil eggs and it’s great if you want to make an egg salad sandwich. But I found out that the reason they made these in the first place is because so many people didn’t know how to boil eggs.”

I double-checked the story and it’s sad but true. Supermarkets began selling four pre-boiled eggs for £1.49 because too many people “lacked the required knowledge” to boil their own eggs.

Yesterday I wrote a post about how we are disconnected with our food. But this is really disconnected.

I’m not sure what’s happening with the Brits. As I mentioned in the last post, a survey showed that “2% of city kids in the sample survey thought that eggs come from cows, and that bacon is from cows or sheep.”

And I thought the U.S. had it bad.


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Posted by: Mees | July 16, 2009

Shedding light on life on the streets

Someone looking at the photos during the street vote on East Hastings. Photo credit: Pivol Legal Society

Someone looking at the photos during the Hope in Shadows street vote on East Hastings. Photo credit: Pivol Legal Society

I’m apartment-sitting for a friend in downtown Vancouver this week. The restaurants are busy, people are enjoying the seawall,  and shoppers are buying stuff . . . whether they can afford it or not. Life can be bliss in this part of the city.

Cross over right next door to East Hastings⎯it’s a completely different world. Many people are “afraid” or “creeped out” to even walk through the area in the daylight.

I’ve walked there plenty and helped out at the soup kitchen years ago. One of my high school teachers brings his students every year to give out blankets and winter gear every year. They’re fine. As I’ve said before, I’m much more likely to get molested in the clubbing area in downtown than poked with a heroin needle in the east side.

While big cities are progressive in many ways, I feel like city people are sheltered in other ways. After passing beautiful farmland around the U.S. and Europe the past year, I’ve seen how disconnected we are from our food and where our stuff comes from. This was a key point in Food Inc.

The stereotypical image of North American farm life is a burned white guy with a heavy accent. But the land, the areas, and the people are spectacular.

Like food issues, homelessness is another problem that is masked by our comforts and convenience. One of the strategies being implemented now to tackle this problem is to basically push them out of sight before the Olympics. When Miloon Kothari, the U.N.’s special reporter on adequate housing, examined the Downtown Eastside, he said, “Much more needs to be done, both as an emergency response and a longer-term response–more housing options for people, including more transitional housing and social housing.”

As I will continuously demonstrate, communication brings issues closer to home. Pivot Legal Society runs the Hope in Shadows project and it is a perfect example of how communication tactics can be used to engage people in social issues.

Pivot Legal Society’s mandate is to “take a strategic approach to social change, using the law to address the root causes that undermine the quality of life of those most on the margins.” The organization believes that everyone, regardless of income, benefits from a healthy and inclusive community where values such as opportunity, respect, and equality are strongly rooted in the law.

The Hope in Shadows project began in 2003 and it includes a photography contest for residents in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. It shows people an “on the ground” perspective of life in the eastside and the top three winners also get a cash prize.

Collecting street votes. Photo credit: Pivot Legal Society

Collecting street votes. Photo credit: Pivot Legal Society

A few weeks ago, I did a four-hour shift with a few other volunteers to collect street votes. Anyone passing by chose their top three pictures among the shortlisted pictures that were taken by people in the eastside.

During the shift, some of the pictures really grow on you. One of the most powerful images was the image of girl who was five or six years old sleeping in a box on the street.

The good majority of people who voted and spoke with us were strung out in the daytime. It’s unbelievable to see people in this state in such a prosperous city. They were still easy to talk to, responsive, and friendly.

Pivot printed 13,000 calendars for 2009 and it sold out in February. Anyone in the eastside could also sell calenders and they would get $10 for each one they sold. Overall the sellers made $130,000 for themselves.

The 2010 calendars will be available in the fall.

I realize it’s weird to say that these calendars bring issues closer to home because homeless people are everywhere in our communities. But I think this project does shed light because most people ignore the problem. Hope in Shadows is a way of showing people the realities of their daily environment.

One Pivot’s volunteers said the people in the Downtown Eastside “take pictures of what they see, through their lens, and share them with the world in the paper and on the news, to their friends and family.They say it is like this, and like that, and a lot of the time what they portray is negative, and what they show is just the surface.”

The hidden stories

I have a friend who makes a six figure salary now and his revenues continue to grow every year. He spoke about situations where his family could have gone under while he was growing up. He said, “poverty is not a life choice.” No one is really immune and a few strings of bad luck can send someone on the streets.

Everyone on the street has a story. Yes, I do think there are people who don’t want to get their act together and end up on the streets for bad choices. But it’s certainly not everyone.

A third of Canada’s homeless population (65,000 people), are youth.

I highly doubt they want to live on the streets if they could avoid it. Abuse and neglect are two of the major reasons why young people leave home. Several studies show that nearly 70% of homeless youth have experienced some form of sexual, physical, or emotional abuse.

Let’s be realistic.

If I lived on the streets, and day in and day out I could only survive from people’s charity, I’d likely resort to drugs to have some escape from that reality. The majority of society wouldn’t care about me even if I wanted to try and get a job. People would view me as “lazy” or think I’m “annoying” if I asked for change. What other escape would I have?

Also, about 30% of prostitution workers in Vancouver’s Eastside are survival sex workers. Your choices are limited when you are poor.

Poverty is not a life choice. And as the Salvation Army says, “Poverty should not be a life sentence.”

Pivot Legal Society shirt

Pivot Legal Society shirt

For more information on homelessness, check out the following links:


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Posted by: Mees | July 20, 2009

Pirates and poop . . . for a good cause

Mr. Floatie preparing for the first Victoria Toilet Regatta in Victoria, B.C. Photo Credit: The Spokesman-Review

Mr. Floatie preparing for the first Victoria Toilet Regatta in Victoria, B.C. Photo Credit: The Spokesman-Review

Would you not stop if you saw a talking, seven foot tall piece of poop on the street?

It would at least get your attention. Advocates are using smart and sometimes theatrical tactics to get attention for worthy causes.

Keep in mind when it comes to advocacy for social change−unlike celebrity world−bad publicity is not necessarily good publicity. Make sure your tactics don’t offend a big chunk of your main supporters.

Everyone will have critics; even the world’s greatest philanthropists have them. The important objective is getting your main message across to the people you want to reach and follow how you are perceived by your target audience.

Mr. Floatie

I have been to many rallies and one of the publicity-generators that was most memorable was actually a character I saw on television.

A few years ago, our television was on in the background and I saw a cartoon-like piece of poo being interviewed in Victoria.

Turns out it was non other but Mr. Floatie. He has been speaking out for several years to encourage Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, to stop pouring millions of gallons of untreated sewage into the marine waters between Vancouver Island and Washington state.

While Mr. Floatie lost his run for mayor of Victoria, in early June 2009, regional politicians approved a 1.2 billion plan to build four water treatments.

Mr. Floatie was effective because he was funny, different, and most importantly persistent.

Pirates for Justice

More recently, advocates called “Pirates of Justice” wanted to educate people about the lesser known labour substandard labour conditions on cruise ships.

I was speaking to a friend this week about a cruise he went to recently. In addition to being too self-indulgent, when he went to the lower deck, he saw minorities doing the crappy work in bad conditions. I didn’t realize they were so visible even among passengers.

Pirates of Justice invited people to come to Canada place dressed as pirates to raise awareness about the labour conditions in cruise ship industry. Event organizer, Craig Greenfield, or ‘Blackbeard,’ said, “I think we’re all kind of tired of the sober-faced protests and they don’t seem to make a great deal of impact. We just wanted to make this a fun family event.”

Any excuse to dress up as a pirate in the middle of the year. And it’s for a good cause, so why not?

Lessons from Greenpeace

Greenpeace is famous for their “bearing witness” approach to environmental advocacy. If we’re talking about unique ways of getting attention, they were hardcore.

The coalition has a section on their website called “Ships.” Today they continue to sail to remote areas to “bear witness and take action against environmental destruction.”

The ship approach originated in 1971 when a small group of activists sailed from Vancouver, Canada in an old fishing boat to “bear witness” to the U.S. underground nuclear testing in Amchitka, off the West Coat of Alaska. Amchitka was where 3,000 endangered sea otters lived and it was home to bald eagles, peregrine falcons, and other wildlife.

Even though their boat was caught and the U.S. still detonated the bomb, their journey brought huge public interest.

The most recent example of their in-your-face, non-violent approach is their stunt on Mt. Rushmore.

Banner displayed by three Greenpeace advocates on Mt. Rushmore. Photo Credit: Buzz Builder

Banner displayed by three Greenpeace advocates on Mt. Rushmore. Photo Credit: Buzz Builder

Three Greenpeace advocates climbed Mt. Rushmore and put up a giant banner with Obama’s picture with the messages, “America Honors Leaders, Not Politicians. Stop Global Warming.”

Patrick Galvin, Principal of Galvin Communications marketing and public relations firm, said the stunt was effective. “It appears as if the Greenpeace publicity stunt served its purpose,” he said. “The apparent lack of damage to Mt. Rushmore and quick release of the Greenpeace activists who carried out the stunt did not engender any long term negative consequences for the organization.”

Resulting media coverage:

  • Media organizations throughout the country quickly picked up the video and still images supplied by Greenpeace
  • Advocates tweeted hours before climbers unrolled the banner to generate discussion
  • Traffic to the Greenpeace website spiked as the story was reported around the world in thousands of blogs and media outlets

When it comes to advocacy, different communication methods need to complement each other. While a website exposes you to the world, the information gets drowned out by the infinite number of other sites. That’s why live events and other communication strategies work as a whole system to achieve your goals.

Advocacy tips from lifelong advocates

I came across an old article “How Greenpeace Changed the World Forever” from the Georgia Straight.

There are valuable communication lessons from Greenpeace’s actions.

Rex Weyler was an American draft resister who participated in Greenpeace’s first antiwhaling campaign in 1975. He said, “Greenpeace was really good at delivering succinct messages. A boat on a nuclear test site–that’s a clear message. Ecologist in Zodiacs between whales and harpoons–that’s a clear message.”

We often think of messages as written content or words that are spoken to us. But words mean little to nothing until you act on them.

Weyler says that it is more effective to win the hearts of the public with images than facts. While all communication for social change must be grounded in solid research, people will be more engaged with visuals and emotion.  “Science is complicated and inexact and the opposition will always try to sow doubt: ‘There’s no clear evidence that people will die.’” You may be able to deny claims but you can’t deny what’s in front of you or a person’s experience.

He notes that a challenge today is activists getting clever at delivering a message in the midst of thousands of message we’re exposed to every day. Advocates need to pick their targets well and be specific about identifying perpetrators. He gives the example of identifying who benefits from globalization and the war in Iraq.

Weyler points to the Ruckus Society as an example of effective activism. They parodied the U.S. military’s famous deck of cards featuring Iraq’s most-wanted. “The Ruckus Society puts out a deck of cards with the 52 war profiteers. This is smart. Now the message is clear.”

If you have other stories of successful advocacy tactics, please share.


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Posted by: Mees | July 23, 2009

Now that I’m depressed, what can I do?

Image used to engage people support a climate change bill in the UK. Photo credit: UNICEF

Image used to engage people support a climate change bill in the UK. Photo credit: UNICEF

I always respect organizations that work around the clock to produce solid research and base their advocacy on grounded knowledge. Not all organizations do this.

Stephen Lewis is  a distinguished activist, politician, and the U.N.’s former Special Envoy for HIV/AIDS in Africa. He currently directs the Stephen Lewis Foundation.

In 2006, Lewis spoke at the International Association of Business Communicator’s International Conference about the important role communication plays in bringing attention to the world’s most pressing issues.

Lewis’ speech demonstrated the most important elements of effective advocacy: research and communication.

I often come across information from websites, academic articles, magazine articles, and other material that talk in depth about problems but completely leave out any actions that people can take to mitigate or solve those problems.

When my friends and I read these kinds of material, we look at each other and say, “WTF, so what do we do about it?”

Research is only one part of the puzzle. So you find out we’re consuming the earth’s natural resources at an unsustainable rate, there are 300,000 child soldiers in the world, and your industrial meat is made from cows living in their own manure. How do you feel?

Either helpless, depressed, or many people just roll their eyes and continue on with life. What’s the point of having endless pages of statistics about a problem without using that as a basis to come up with actions we can take to tackle that problem?

For every problem identified (no matter how large or small), actions must be included. Below are a few examples of organizations that have solid research and tangible actions people can take.

100 mile diet

The 100-Mile Diet began as an experiment to understand where our food comes from, supporting food with much less socially and environmentally harmful impacts, and supporting the local economy, among other reasons.

Their website and events clearly outline the many problems with industrial food production and the different steps people can do to change their diet for the good of their health, their farmers, and the environment.

The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers

The coalition was formed in 1998 by leading human rights and humanitarian organizations to stop the use of child soldiers. Their purpose is to secure children’s demobilization and promote their rehabilitation and reintegration through advocacy, research, monitoring, network development, and capacity building.

The organization’s website clearly organizes the statistics with categories such as “Why children join” and “Voices of young soldiers.” Their “Get involved” section lists the different ways people can help ranging from buying a football to raise funds to letter-writing.

David Suzuki Foundation

The foundation is a very influential science-based organization that has is an action machine. David Suzuki Foundation’s mission is to work through science and education to “protect the diversity of nature and our quality of life, now and for the future.”

Because the organization focuses on many areas in their environmental advocacy, they have share a variety of actions people can do to at home, at work, and other ways they can help the movement. They continuously conduct and publish research that ground their advocacy.

Tips for communicating action

  • Have a clear section on your website that people can’t miss such as “action” or “how you can help”
  • Make the action stand out with bold or bigger font and put the statistics after so people don’t have to look for ways to do their part
  • Have a range of actions people can do
  • Place the action first and then place the rest of the statistics, citations, and publication documents after
  • Keep your paragraphs online to no more than six lines

If you’ve come across any good websites or videos with good research and effective actions, please share.


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Posted by: Mees | August 4, 2009

Has Vancouver strayed from the purpose of Critical Mass?

Critical Mass Vancouver, July 31, 2009

Critical Mass Vancouver, July 31, 2009

“Remember that Critical Mass is supposed to be a celebration of cycling, not your opportunity to see how much inconvenience you can cause to others.”−Critical Mass San Francisco

This past Friday, July 31, I went to critical mass in Vancouver, B.C. It’s been about a year since I went last time. As much as I have enjoyed the few times I have participated, not all progressives agree with this form of advocacy.

It was not until this ride that I realized how divided people were on this monthly celebration of cycling in Vancouver. Before coming to my own opinions about Critical Mass in Vancouver, I read the origins of critical mass, the measly mainstream coverage the monthly event receives, social media posts, and some alternative media articles.

Before getting into the different perspectives on the ride, let’s look into the origins and purpose of Critical Mass.

How Critical Mass began

The name “Critical Mass” came from Ted White’s 1992 documentary film Return of the Scorcher on bike culture and lifestyles around the world. One scene set in China showed cyclists who often could not cross intersections because there were too many cars and no traffic lights.

Then, as enough cyclists gradually came together waiting to cross the road, they created what world famous bicycle designer George Bliss called Critical Mass. They were able to move together with the power of their numbers to get traffic to yield while they crossed the road.

Using this concept, the first Critical Mass ride took place in San Francisco in September 1992 with 48 people. The ride increased approximately 75% each month. By 1993, Critical Mass had almost 500 cyclists.

The monthly celebration now occurs in hundreds of cities around the world.

How to start a critical mass ride

The organizers of the original rides give guidelines on how to begin critical mass in a city.

Critical Mass has a decentralized structure. There are no leaders because it is an event, not an organization. In every city that has critical mass, one or a few cyclists pick a day and time and begin handing out flyers.

To be effective, advocacy must be involved. The event is only effective when cyclists lobby local and state governments for bike lanes and progressive legislation. Otherwise you’re basically riding around, having a good celebration, and of course pissing some people off along the way. But the purpose is to ultimately influence positive and sustainable transportation in communities.

Consistent advocacy is key. The ride occurs at a consistent time and place each month so everyone knows where and when it is.

Biking is a right, not a privilege. Cyclists do not get permits for Critical Mass because it is public space and the rationale is if cars don’t need permits to ride on the streets, neither do cyclists. Several cyclists in different cities, including Austin and New York, have been arrested for refusing to have permits but ultimately won in court. It is up to cyclists to participate or not if there is a risk of arrest. Read why cyclists should not get a permit for Critical Mass.

Routes are organic. Whoever leads the way sets the route. Most Critical Mass rides don’t have a set route.

Critical mass is a celebration of cycling. Few people know that these guidelines say that the line, “We’re not blocking traffic, we ARE traffic,” is “obviously pretty silly.” The author(s) compared it to saying, “I didn’t kill that human, I AM a human!” They say that just because cyclists are legitimate road users, they do not have the right to slow down other road users.

The author also said, “Remember that Critical Mass is supposed to be a celebration of cycling, not your opportunity to see how much inconvenience you can cause to others. It’s about asserting our right to use the road, not denying others their right to the road.”

Be respectful to motorists. Being an asshole to drivers adds no value to the cause.

I personally agree with all of the guidelines, particularly the tie in with advocacy for sustainable transportation policies, respect for other motorists, and holding the event monthly. Of course like any movement that involves many people, there are always people who just want to cause trouble for the sake of it, including heckling motorists, riding around recklessly, and making noise for fun.

Like drivers and pedestrians, people and systems much encourage respect for other people and safety as much as possible. But it is ultimately up to people to follow these rules and you can’t force people to do so. It is the responsibility of cyclists to act decently and also encourage other Critical Mass participants to be safe and respectful.

In my conversations with self-identified progressives after this ride, we both agree that we need sustainable transportation and support these kinds of events. But they don’t agree with not being told the route ahead of time, having it every month, and blocking motorists.

Firstly, it is publicly announced that the last Friday of every month, critical mass will happen at the Art Gallery at 6 p.m. And it is not the fault of the cyclists that the mainstream media does not cover it.

For the July 31, 2009 ride, CTV ran an article warning commuters about critical mass. They refer the celerbation as a “protest ride.” Yes, the dog being carried at the back of the bike and the five-year-olds riding with their parents on a tandem bike REALLY caused a havoc when I was there.

Secondly, creating critical mass every month allows for consistent advocacy that is often missing in Vancouver. Some people I spoke with understandable questioned the effectiveness of having it every month. As an advocate, I have heard progressive politicians at every level of government emphasize the importance of consistent advocacy for causes to influence change.

Write your MP every week, go out to events, and be relentless for a cause. As long as you are respectful, grounded in facts, and persistent, people will be receptive. I emailed the City of Vancouver, info(a)vancouver.ca, thanking them for having the trial lane on the Burrard bridge. But I also emphasized the importance of having these kinds of lanes as permanent solutions to our transportation problems as opposed to temporary projects. Demand action.

Finally, in terms of blocking motorists, I think cyclists are entitled to have a few hours a month of safe cycling. Like I said, if people know it’s coming, you’re safe if you steer clear of downtown and East Vancouver along E 12th. I myself thought, “What if an ambulance or police need to rush through an emergency?” Then I read a Facebook post from a cyclist who said:

In terms of allowing ambulances and fire trucks to pass, you should see how quickly us cyclists move to the side of the road, like a swarm of bees I tell you. I remember the [Critical Mass] in June 2008 on Robson Street. An ambulance wanted to get through on the “wrong” side of the road, and we opened up a lane in about 4 to 5 seconds. You wouldn’t be able to do that with cars.

Vancouver has a lot of potential to have more integrated bike paths and networks. The current system is pretty much car-oriented, which hasn’t even created efficiencies for cars because there are too many of them and there are insane amounts of rush hour every day. Our car-based system creates daily risks for cyclists who have to try and safely weave through cars or often have no choice but to anger some pedestrians because there are incomplete bike paths and networks around the city.

Even cyclists who obey every traffic law run into problems with careless drivers or drivers who neglect to blind-spot check before opening their doors. So having a few hours of bike-dominated roads a month is justified in my opinion.

Critical mass participants must be respectful to motorists, wear helmets, be safe, promote the purpose or celebrating cycling, and educate people about practical policies for more sustainable transportation. Of course there will be a few people who will cause trouble, and the same can be said for drivers and pedestrians.

Everyone must respect the rules of the road and there should not be a double standard for kind of commuter. Cars should not try and outspeed pedestrians crossing the street and cyclists should not weave aimlessly between cars.

For the Critical Mass rides I’ve been on, almost all of the cyclists, which includes many families, are respectful and obedient. I would guesstimate about half to three quarters of the motorists are also supportive and wait patiently for riders to pass through. The motorists who pick a fight and heckle cyclists are the ones who already have short tempers and despise cyclists already.

Yes there have been a few disruptive riders, but they are barely a fraction of the severeal hundred to thousands of riders who come out each month.

I would love to hear more perspectives on Critical Mass. In the meantime, have a safe ride.


July 31, 2009

July 31, 2009

A passenger enjoying the event

A passenger enjoying the event

Damn good talent

Damn good talent

On the Lions Gate bridge

On the Lions Gate bridge

See other Vancouver Critical Mass pictures.

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Posted by: Mees | August 8, 2009

Using social media effectively

Many organizations have effectively used social media to reach their objectives. Yes, even with the existence of highly ranked celebrity gossip and technology blogs. Non-profits are competing for worthy attention against Sarah Palin’s latest screw ups and American Idol controversies . . . not that I follow them of course.

BOTTLE PR concisely defines social media as “software tools that allow groups to generate content and engage in peer-to-peer conversations and exchange of content.” The key features of social media is participation and interaction. Media consumers now have the ability to be media producers, sometimes creating YouTube celebrities out of the everyday person.

Common examples of social media tools include blogs, wikis, social bookmarking, video sharing, photosharing, and Q&A pages. Wikipedia has more examples of social media tools.

An organization doesn’t have to necessarily try to get the highest blog hits to reach their goals. The key is that the social media tools you are using are reaching the specific audience you are trying to target. But of course, if you manage to be ranked in the Top 20 on Technorati like TreeHugger, it doesn’t hurt.

A growing number of adults are using social media. In January 2009, iStrategyLabs wrote that the fastest-growing demographic on Facebook was the 35-54 year old demographic with a 276.4% growth rate the past six months. Yes, my mother too has a Facebook account.

Advancing causes

Different forms of social media has helped organizations achieve their goals. Here are examples:

Fundraising

Donating to charities is easier than ever through online platforms. You can sift through databases to search different causes and sort by region, group, and issues on many websites.

Firstgiving is one social media tool that helps nonprofits raise money online. Nonprofits can make their own fundraising page and people can donate by debit or credit card. The organization began in 2003 and in their short history, they have raised over $68 million for over 13,000 nonprofits.

Other examples of people fundraising through social media include Facebook’s Causes feature, Give Meaning, and creating individual webpages and blogs that integrate other social media tools.

Jeff Wiedner was part of a Pledge to End Hunger campaign to raise money. In an interview with consultant John Haydon, Wiedner said, “You really need good relationships to make fundraising work in social media. In both instances, the strength of the networks drove the strength of the fundraising.”

Remember that social media fundraising is one of several tactics that can complement other fundraising initiatives. Just because you have a website that’s open to the internet world, that alone doesn’t necessarily guarantee increased sales and viewing. The same goes for social media. A strategy is necessary to be effective such as making connections with other organizations, attending events in person, and participating in other reletant discussion forums.

Saving lives through mobile technology

DataDyne’s EpiSurveyor program has been using mobile technology to track and contain disease in developing nations since 2007. The program is funded by the United Nations Foundation and the Vodafone Foundation.

When there was a polio outbreak in Kenya, EpiSurveyor’s mobile platform was used to track virus carriers and immunize affected children. The campaign targeted around two million Kenyan children. Because the technology was so effective, it will be used for nationwide initiatives in children’s healthcare. The World Health Organization also made EpiSurveyor the standard for data collection in sub-Saharan Africa.

Health officials can get data quickly and respond more immediately to health crises.

ReadWriteWeb also reported on a study done by the United Nations Foundation on relief, advocacy, and development organizations using mobile technology to accomplish their goals.

Among 560 NGO workers who responded in the study, 85% used mobile technology to do their work. Almost a third of them said it would be difficult to accomplish their goals without the technology. Mobile phones have helped workers overcome humanitarian challenges.

Timothy E. Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation, said, “It can connect families separated by disaster, help emergency relief workers respond more quickly, empower health workers with data to help combat disease and epidemics, track the impacts of climate change, and even help in the resolution of civil conflicts.”

The full Wireless Technology for Social Change: Trends in NGO Mobile Use report can be downloaded here.

Tweets on social issues

One of the most remarkable examples is when Twitter became the main news source after the recent election results in Iran from the country’s citizens. People around the world rallied in support of the people in Iran and were able to interact with people connecting by providing live updates.

I follow “vanpoverty” updates on Twitter and they provide regular updates on homelessness articles. Their followers can easily be updated on different initiatives and issues on homelessness. Other organizations use Twitter to increase their profile and specific issues.

Taking IT Global

While many people, including myself, use Facebook to promote events and important causes, it can be time-consuming to reach the people you know will be engaged in the issue.

That’s why Taking IT Global was created. It is “the social network that connects you to the global issues that affect us all.” Groups and individuals can easily connect with people around the world for specific causes, and in many languages as well.

The website has the usual connection features as Facebook, but also provides members with action tools, publications on a variety of issues, petitions, and virtual meeting capability.

Tips for nonprofits using social media

Have a strategic reason for using social media.

Organizations, including companies of all sizes, have hopped on the social media bandwagon, with few strategic reasons in mind. When asked why people are using social media, the common answer “because everyone else is using it.” That is not a good reason for organizations to be using social media.

Every tactic must fulfill a measurable objective. So if your objective is to recruit 30 new members for your organization by September 15, 2009, having a presence on Facebook and Twitter is a tactic to help you achieve that objective.

Tactics are least effective when they lack a specific purpose. Here are other examples of tactics fulfilling specific objectives:

Objective: To raise $10,000 by November 1, 2009. Tactics: Create an online fundraising page on relevant social media sites and increase the organization’s profile by creating a Facebook and Twitter account.

Objective: To have 20 active volunteers by December 15, 2009. Tactics: Have monthly recruiting events in public spaces and at relevant community gatherings, provide role training, and organize bi-monthly socials.

Seth Godin, marketing guru and author of the most popular marketing blog in the world, provides a cheat sheet for non-profits to use social media. He elaborates on why non-profits need to do the following:

1.    Put yourself on YouTube
2.    Get Found on Technorati
3.    Measure your traffic. Free.
4.    Tap the blogs
5.    Donationd with Squidoo
6.    Digg It!

These are just some of the effective ways organizations can use social media effectively.

Have fun.

Articles on social media

Blogs worth following


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Posted by: Mees | August 11, 2009

Doing more than showing the “occassional” bursts of outrage

Photo Credit: International Rescue Committee. www.irc.org

Photo Credit: International Rescue Committee. www.irc.org

“In my experience, there is never a failure of opportunity to affect change. It’s that too often we are paralyzed by our unwillingness to even try.”-Dr. Samantha Nut, Founder and Executive Director of War Child Canada.

After I read an article on Kathy Griffin taking Bristol Palin’s baby daddy to the Teen Choice Awards, I spent some time watching YouTube videos of Kathy Griffin and unique acts on Britain’s Got Talent.

I like to be entertained just as much as the next person and it’s so easy to find distractions. Our entertainment culture, both in Hollywood and politics, creates a challenging environment to bring important issues to the forefront, especially when the stories aren’t much of a moneymaker.

That’s why I appreciated Brian Stewart’s coverage of Darfur and the overly-censored  catastrophes in the Democratic Republic of Congo this past Sunday on CBC’s Our World.

Darfur

Stewart interviewed Dr. Samantha Nut, Founder and Executive Director of War Child Canada. She recently returned from Darfur and spoke about the impacts of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir’s expulsion of 13 aid organizations working in Sudan and the pleas from the people on the ground. She said that the organizations that were expelled were responsible for over half of all of the humanitarian assistance, particularly basic needs such as health, water, and food.

Omar al-Bashir followed through with this threat to kick out aid organizations after the International Criminal Court indicted him. The court issued a warrant for his arrest for war crimes and crimes against humanity, which is a historic step in bringing a criminal to justice for the horrific systematic abuses against Darfuris, particularly women.

Unlike mainstream portrayals of conflict and “helpless” people in Africa, Dr. Nut spoke of the hope people have for themselves and especially their children in the midst of chaos.

While she was in Darfur, she spoke with Nadia, who is 23 years old with five kids. Nadia was in one of War Child’s educational programs. Before going through War Child’s program, she was completely illiterate. A few years ago, Nadia’s father, mother, husband, uncles, and brothers were gunned down in front of her while she was hiding in the bush with one of her babies.

Dr. Nut asked Nadia, “What can we possibly do to help you? Has our program even been helping you?”

Nadia didn’t say anything and just wrote her name in the sand. Then she looked up and said, “Now that I know how to write my own name, I want to learn to write the names of all of my children.”

Hope among the horrors.

“You see people who want to rebuild their lives and advance themselves and make sure their children want to have schooling,” said Dr. Nut. “I’m always amazed by people’s resilience and capacity to try to rise above the horror of their lives.”

During the interview, she also emphasized the importance of educational programs in development and the need to have a vision for the longer term, even in the case of conflict. Many of the groups that provided psychological support programs and educational programs were hit the hardest when they were expelled and those programs were the first to close.

Thousands of people asked Dr. Nut if War Child could step in and replace those services, which is of course challenging with limited resources. War Child already works with over 100,000 displaced people and to expand would put the organization and staff at risk.

Necessary Actions

Dr. Nut said the following actions among international governments can help with the conflict:

  • increasing the aid budget
  • financial investment
  • applying pressure for a peace process

Despite the many horrors she has seen and working with limited resources, she said, “In my experience, there is never a failure of opportunity to affect change. It’s that too often we are paralyzed by our unwillingness to even try. And we see that at the level of government and we see also at the level of individuals.”

Brian Stewart rightly said that with Darfur and other conflicts, the public has “occasional bursts of outrage” and then lose their attention. Dr. Nut said that the longer a crisis drags on, the easier it is for people’s attention to sway. But organizations like War Child need to make sure it stays on the radar.

He also commented on the persistence of aid organizations, even in times where resources dwindle. She responded by saying, “I have talked with hundreds of women about our work. They look me in the eye and say, ‘please don’t give up please stay. We need War Child here, you need to keep doing what you’re doing.’”

Dr. Nut couldn’t imagine giving up and throwing her hands up in the air to say they have to stop their work. Organizations exist to serve their stakeholders and it is their responsibility to go back to stay connected with them whenever possible.

What we can do

Hand-write letters to your MP consistently to encourage the Canadian government to support humanitarian work in Darfur, apply pressure for the peace process, and contribute to the under-equipped African Union force.

Letters may seem simple but they can be effective. B.C.’s Senator Mobina Jaffer is Canada’s former Special Envoy to the Peace Process in Sudan. She encouraged citizens to hand-write letters to their MP every week, even if the letter simply said, “Stop the genocide in Darfur.”

When former Prime Minister Paul Martin received a little over 600 letters demanding action in Darfur, Senator Jaffer’s budget as Special Envoy increased from $6 million to $256 million.

You can also circulate the latest policy paper by the Association of Canadian Students for Darfur titled Canadian Options in Darfur: A Discussion Paper.

Let’s not forget the Congo

I’m guilty for not paying as much attention to the Congo than I, any many people, should have. It is a genocidal war that has killed over six million people at a rate of 45,000 people per month. It is the deadliest war since WWII.

Like all conflicts, it is very complex. The root of the problem, however, is the scramble over the rich resources in the Congo, including diamonds, gold, and Coltan. All that bling.

About 70% to 80% of coltan is in the Congo and it is required for modern technology for access to this mineral. All of us are benefiting from the mineral for our cell phones and lab tops. I’m writing this post from my Macbook. How ironic.

The censorship in the Congo deserves more attention and I’m currently doing more research on the crisis.

Hillary Clinton is making a historic visit to the Congo today. It’s fantastic she is going because she can’t be like her husband and claim that she didn’t know what was happening the way Bill Clinton did during the Rwandan genocide.

Tom Rhodes, the Africa Program Coordinator at the Committee to Protect Journalists, demands that Clinton call an end to Congo’s media censorship.

Here are some of the things I will cover in the next few weeks:

Stay tuned, remain engaged, and take action.


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Posted by: Mees | August 14, 2009

Nominate game changers using new media to “change the world”

I actually prefer to say “making a positive impact in the world” than changing the world. “Changing the world”  sounds like there is a magic solution to solve all of the world’s problems with a wave of a wand.

Nevertheless, Huffington Post is inviting us to nominate “innovators, visionaries, and leaders” for the HuffPost Game Changers awards. They are going to honour 100 people who are using new media to reshape their field and “change the world.” Sorry, can’t resist putting that in quotes.

Nominate someone as a Game Changer in the comments section of their post.

They will announce the HuffPost 100 in September.

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Posted by: Mees | August 16, 2009

Being a global witness in the Congo

Photo: Mark Craemer, Treehugger

Photo: Mark Craemer, Treehugger

Hillary Clinton’s visit to the Democratic Republic of the Congo on August 10th as U.S. Secretary of State is a great first step to at least shed some attention to some of the country’s many issues—even if it is temporary.

She called Congolese on university students to lead nationwide protests against massive corruption and rampant sexual violence. She said, “Speak out to end the corruption, the violence, the conflict that for too long have eroded the opportunities across this country. Together, you can write a new chapter in Congolese history.”

But what about condemning and speaking out against the companies and consumers who are financing the militiamen?

Western companies are contributing to the violence in the Congo by buying the country’s minerals without checking their origins. The Congolese army and other armed groups control much of the mining and trade, including coltan, gold, and diamonds, often through forced labour.

The rape in the Congo has been systematic over the last 15 years. Human rights groups say that the Congolese army is the single largest perpetrator of sexual violence and they are so widespread.

So for Clinton to ask students to stand up and rise up against the militiamen alone seems a little inadequate, as good as her intentions were. It ain’t like here where you actually have rights to do so . . . yes even outside imposed “free speech zones” in some areas.

Global Witness

I focus on highlighting effective communication media for social and environmental change. Knowledge can give people the power to influence change. Lives can be, and have been, saved when even the most violent and unethical organizations know the world is watching them. Global Witness is one of the organizations that enable people to bear witness to restricted atrocities.

Global Witness exists to expose the corrupt exploitation of natural resources and international trade systems, corrupt exploitation of natural resources, and international trade systems, and to drive campaigns that end impunity, resource-linked conflict, and human rights and environmental abuses.

The organization has staff who regularly visit the Congo and neighbouring countries to do field research and advocacy with Congolese activists and international actors, including UN agencies, international institutions and companies.

The organization has advocated for companies to ensure that minerals they buy do not finance armed groups or contribute to human rights abuses at any point along the supply chain. Their demands include:

  • Finding out where the minerals were produced, who produced them, and under what conditions
  • Refuse to buy minerals if they cannot find out where their minerals were sourced
  • Demonstrate the exact origin of mineral supplies, the routes, and the identity of third parties who have handled with them with credible written evidence
  • Have federations, associations, and other trade bodies to adopt an explicit policy not to buy or handle minerals that are likely going to benefit armed groups in eastern Congo.

Recommendations to our dear government:

  • Insist that companies conduct the highest level of due diligence on the entire supply chain
  • Ensure steps are taken to prevent funding of armed groups in neighbouring countries such as Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania because some of the minerals in the Congo sometimes originate from these countries
  • Promote international trade standards such as OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises
  • Carry out detailed investigations by government bodies if a company is suspected to be financing armed groups
  • Prosecute or sanction individuals or companies contributing to human rights abuses in teh Congo

Read the full report here.

Take action

One of the most paralyzing effects of “objective” news coverage is they give all the horrific statistics and the detailed problems about rapes and then it ends there. Here are the last three paragraphs of the guardian.co.uk’s coverage of Clinton’s visit:

Because of its sheer size and geographical spread, the Congolese army is the single largest perpetrator of sexual violence.

The problem has worsened since January, when the army began a campaign against the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR) – Hutu militias who escaped to Congo after the 1994 genocide in Rwanda.

Rape cases have doubled or tripled in the north and South Kivu provinces of eastern Congo, with the perpetrators of sexual violence including the army, the FDLR, and Congolese rebel groups.

Lovely. Now what?

There are actually a host of things you can do:

Children and other innocent people are attacked every day and live in fear. The very least we can do is take a few minutes to say we condemn these actions and demand that companies do not contribute to the sexual and brutal violence in the Congo.

Strength in numbers.


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Posted by: Mees | August 25, 2009

What a concept! Meeting face to face

Believe it or not, there are people who use the internet to meet face to face⎯sometimes for social change.

One of the people I volunteer with for the David Suzuki Foundation organizes a monthly meet up called Vancouver Net Tuesday for social media and web innovators to share stories, ideas, and build new relationships.

Some of the previous get togethers covered online fundraising for social change and podcasting for social change.

If you’re a changemaker, we hope to see you there.


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Posted by: Mees | September 1, 2009

Wiping my ass without feeling guilty

I just moved to a pretty central location in Vancouver a few days ago. I try and buy sustainable and enviro-friendly products whenever I can and will start writing about some of the great products that are out there on an ongoing basis.

A few months ago I wrote about Food Inc, a fantastic documentary about our current industrial food system. One of the reasons healthier foods, including local food, are more expensive is because the “cheaper” and more processed foods are subsidized.

Unfortunately buying the healthier products and food takes a big hit on your income; at least in Vancouver. Like many other things, the poorest people are hit the hardest and are more likely to consume unhealthy food.

The Harmonized Sales Tax, a lovely announcement the B.C. Liberals surprised us with, is a 12% harmonized tax from the 7% provincial sales tax. That’s a great gift back to the majority of people who voted for them in a tight provincial race with the New Democratic Party.

This basically means, beginning July 1, 2010, we will pay more for a haircut, school supplies, and non-prescription medicines, among other goods and services we buy. Again, the poorest people will be hit the hardest.

So with the current system, people will have to prioritize their needs and wants to get healthier food. This past week I bought Seventh Generation toilet paper that’s made of 100% recycled paper and a minimum 80% post-consumer material. Post-consumer material is basically material that can be reused to make another product instead of being thrown into the garbage. For example, office paper can be used to make other paper products like napkins and paper bags.

A pack of 12 rolls of toilet paper cost me $12. While this is more expensive than other brands of toilet paper, I don’t feel as guilty wiping my ass. This is not to say people should feel guilty because they don’t buy these kinds of products. Not everyone can afford to do so.

At the same however, there are people who can afford to buy these products but choose not to. Some of my friends are certainly not the most financially well-off people in Vancouver. But they choose to buy local and more sustainable products when they can. We prioritize.

While I spend more on products with more post-consumer material and recycled content, I don’t buy $120 name brand sneakers, clothes I wear only once, and cars. According to Seventh Generation’s website 332,983 trees have been saved from their products. I think this is a better solution than Jason Mraz and Sheryl Crow’s approach to sustainability: use only a few squares of toilet paper for each bathroom trip.

We need to advocate for better food policies and also better conditions for B.C. farmers. The exploitation and illegal work conditions that are imposed on farmers doesn’t just happen abroad; it’s right here at home too.

One group you can get involved with is the Vancouver Food Policy Council, an advisory group that supports the development of a just and sustainable food system. The group meets monthly and the next meeting is on Wednesday, September 9 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Vancouver City Hall in the Strathcona Room.

Don’t forget to check out your farmers markets. After all, if I buy an apple that’s grown in B.C. as opposed to one that was flown 3,000 km away, shouldn’t it be cheaper?


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Posted by: Mees | September 7, 2009

Staying organized with wikis

Many people have problems managing emails and often find their inboxes overloaded when they go to work in the morning. I worked with someone who didn’t even want to take a two-week holiday because it was more stressful to go away with the thought of a flooded inbox when she came back.

Not cool.

There are now loads of online tools that can reduce the email load and make online collaboration much easier, especially for non-profits or advocacy groups. One wiki site I’ve been using is PBWorks. It’s a free online collaboration tool that allows permitted users to create checklists, cross off “to do” items, upload documents, and create pages for different purposes.

I created a PBWorks wiki site for the Simon Fraser University chapter of World University Services of Canada. One of the programs the organization runs is the Student Refugee Program where former refugees are sponsored to study at the university.

There was a lot of information the Student Refugee Program team had to know when they were preparing for students to arrive. There were many tasks that included setting up the student with a bank account, getting their permanent resident card, and so on.

We used the PBWorks wiki and uploaded all relevant documents such as immigration forms, contact lists, and expense claim templates. It made life easier for everyone involved.

Wikis should not replace face-to-face meetings by any means. It is a useful resource to keep everyone in the loop, have access to relevant documents, and manage projects. But don’t let it replace the irreplaceable experience of meetings in person.


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Posted by: Mees | September 14, 2009

A source for affordable local, natural, and organic B.C. food

My friend recently told me about a food co-operative close to our place called the Home Grow-In Grocer. The store sells and delivers organic food from B.C. only.

She said when someone buys a share, you get fresh food delivered to you twice a week for four months for the good price of $250 in total. At that price, that’s $62.50 a month for a weekly supply of local and organic food. Nice deal! People who cook lots of veggies can easily spend at least $20 a week alone.

So we went to check out the store and found it very homey and welcoming. The owner Deb Reynolds was there and she is a very warm and helpful woman who answered everyone’s questions about the co-operative. She is a certified organic farmer and she told us that their co-op supports seven B.C. farms. People who buy shares from the store are getting food at a cheaper price than other grocery stores.

When you buy shares, it means you are ordering enough food to feed the number of people you select between June 1, 2010 and September 30, 2010. These are your share options:

  • single share: $250
  • couple’s share: $400
  • mini-family (2-3 persons): $500
  • full family (4 or more): $600

If you want shares, you better get them as soon as you can because they’re going quick. This year, she has 200 shares and she sold 150 in one week! If you sign up for shares, you will be able to opt out until May 2010 if you change your mind and don’t want to participate for whatever reason.

While Deb and I were talking, she said, “I said to myself if I have ten people coming to the store each day and play with my granddaughter the rest of the time, I’ll be happy.” That’s a very realistic goal that has far been exceeded since they set up shop only five months ago.

Before my friend and I left, she gave us a survey with a checklist of foods we would likely buy if we bought shares so farmers will know which foods will be in demand. There is a hell of a selection.

I will hopefully be speaking with Deb in the next few weeks to discuss her relationship with farmers and how they can make organic food so affordable. Our discussion will be shared in a future post.

Check out her story on how she transitioned from living an affluent life to becoming a certified organic farmer.


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Posted by: Mees | September 22, 2009

“You don’t need a degree to make a difference”

One of my friends is raising money to sponsor a family from the refugee camp in Malawi, where she used to live. She is now studying in Health Sciences at Simon Fraser University, working part-time, volunteering, and making tons of friends since she arrived here two years ago. She  came through a sponsorship program run by World University Service of Canada.

I went to one of her meetings and while she was giving a background of her organization, she said a few things that really struck me. She said when she first arrived, she was focused on school and settling into her new home in Canada.

But at the back of her mind, she kept thinking about her family and community and wondered how she could use her opportunity to give back to them. At first she thought she should focus on school first, get that done and then help. Then she said, “You don’t need a degree to make a difference.”

It’s so easy to keep our noses in the books because that’s how we’re set up to learn in university. But if we really want to experience the world, we need to go beyond the pages and connect with people. There is always an excuse not to be engaged with activities or causes that interest you because school is first. I was definitely one of those people.

My friend and other people I know remind me that it is possible to prioritize causes that are important to you without necessarily having to sacrifice your academic career and work. The people who instinctively work for the causes they are passionate about  are best meeting the needs of the people they are accountable to.

Focus on making a difference. Your experience as a student will be much richer when you go beyond the books.


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Posted in Humanitarian causes | Tags: ,

Posted by: Mees | September 25, 2009

Hello world! It’s me [insert name]

“I went to Sudan and am writing about it again, because I believe that which separates action from inaction is the same thing that separates my friends from Sudan. It is not indifference. It is distance. May it fall way.”–Dr. James Maskalyk, Médecins Sans Frontières

I’ve been quoting him a few times already in my blog. I’m probably breaking some of blog rule by doing that, but whatever. It’s worth it.

Dr. James Maskalyk wrote his book Six Months in Sudan to tell stories—stories about people and his experience in their environment. He fills a gap between us and another part of the world through communication. He originally started the blog to stay connected with his family and friends. But it became so popular that it engaged people around the world.

He was in downtown yesterday doing a book signing. He first spoke about his first assignments with Doctors Without Borders. Like other humanitarians who have witness unbearable crimes committed against innocent people, he asked himself and his colleagues, “Why care about the people in Brazil or Cambodia? Why do we do this kind of work?” His colleague replied, “Because it’s your bloody duty to care.” He pretty much said ok and carried on with his duties.

As I hear people speak and go to these kinds of events, a common theme often emerges. When people “bear witness” to horrific crimes, it can pressure people to release hostages, stop brutal executions, and sometimes make cities safer. More often than not, it doesn’t change tragic outcomes, but it’s not impossible. And if it’s possible, then it’s worth trying.

Maskalyk mentioned, “What makes a city safe are the number of eyes that get placed on them. So if we can get more attention, maybe the city can be safer.” His blog were the eyes that enabled the world to see what was going on in a part of Sudan.

Given all of the emotional extremes he experienced from saving lives, the uncertainty of the future, the hope among the people, and seeing children die, his main message was for people to be engaged with the world no matter what form we chose.  He said, “You have once chance to know the world you live in. To know where your food comes from to where your shit goes into the lake to the people in Sudan—it’s the truth.”

I am most struck by how calm, but gripping, his presentation was. It was a very controlled, yet emotional talk. I think I’m surprised that his closing quote was not related to humanitarianism and the sense of collective responsibility. Instead, he quoted Joan Didion who said:

I’m not telling you to make the world better, because I don’t think that progress is necessarily part of the package. I’m just telling you to live in it. To look at it. To try to get the picture. To live recklessly. To take chances. To make your own work and take pride in it. To seize the moment.

As he read this quote, I imagined my bungee jumping moment that I “seized” earlier this week. I went because I wanted to begin having new experiences and do random things that I’ve never done before. For some people, a new thing may be approaching a stranger because the thought is terrifying. For another person it can be scary to lead a team.

None of these relate to humanitarian work but they relate to connecting with our environment and people. And that is ultimately the message that Maskalyk was conveying.

One woman asked him, “Why did you choose to specialize in emergency medicine?” He replied, “Because I was afraid of it. I believe in doing things that you are afraid of, then there’s nothing left to fear.”

I always find it amazing when humanitarians who work in some of the  world’s most neglected places encourage people to connect with their local community.

Maskaly’s blog said, “You don’t have to travel the world to engage with it (though, why wouldn’t you).  There are places in your city, maybe on your street, that do worthwhile work and could use more hands.”

Do what you can. More importantly, do what you must.


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Posted in Advocacy, Humanitarian causes | Tags: , , , , ,

Posted by: Mees | October 5, 2009

Get your blog on

Register your blog for Blog Action Day ‘09 Climate Change. Every year, bloggers post on the theme on the same day to raise awareness and have a global discussion.

Collis & Cyan Ta’eed started Blog Action Day in 2007. On October 15, 2007, they recruited over 20,000 bloggers to write about an issue of Environment.

In 2008, people around the world blogged about Poverty, including my friend Aaron Cruikshank on his Friuch blog.

So get your blog on!


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Posted by: Mees | October 7, 2009

Social and environmental films at the Vancouver International Film Festival

There are some fantastic films playing from now until October 16 for the Vancouver International Film Festival. See movie descriptions here.

Around the World with Joseph Stiglitz: Perils and Promises of Globalization (Africa)
Wed, Oct. 7, 6:30 p.m., Empire Granville (formerly Granville 7 Cinemas)
Mon, Oct. 12, 12:20 p.m., Empire Granville

A Blooming Business (Africa)
Wed, Oct. 14, 6:00 p.m., Empire Granville
Thu, Oct. 15, 12:40 p.m., Empire Granville

In Comparison (Africa)
Mon, Oct. 12, 7:00 p.m., Vancity Theatre
Wed, Oct. 14, 4:30 p.m., Vancity Theatre

My Neighbour, My Killer (Africa)
Tues, Oct. 13, 10:45 a.m., Pacific Cinemathique

Reporter (Africa, featuring journalist Nicholas Kristof)
Tue, Oct. 13, 6:45 p.m., Pacific Cinemathique

Sweet Crude (Africa)
Thu, Oct. 8, 9:00 p.m., Empire Granville
Fri, Oct. 9, 11:00 a.m., Vancity Theatre
Tues, Oct. 13, 12:40 p.m., Empire Granville

At the Edge of the World (Animals)
Fri, Oct. 16, 12:40 p.m., Empire Granville

Burma VJ—Reporting from a Closed Country (Buddhist Interest)
Wed, Oct. 14, 9:00 p.m., Empire Granville

Tibet in Song (Buddhist Interest)
Sun, Oct. 11, 6:30 p.m., Empire Granville
Mon., Oct. 12, 1:50 p.m., Empire Granville

Afghan Star (Economics & Globalization)
Thu, Oct. 15, 9:15 p.m., Empire Granville

The Age of Stupid (Economics & Globalization)
Fri, Oct. 9, 11:00 a.m., Empire Granville
Sat, Oct. 10, 9:15 p.m., Empire Granville

Crude (Economics & Globalization)
Tue, Oct. 13, 1:30 p.m., Pacific Cinemathique

The Damned Rain (Economics & Globalization)
Thu, Oct. 8, 11:40 a.m., Empire Granville

Let’s Make Money (Economics & Globalization)
Thu, Oct. 8, 12:40 p.m., Empire Granville

Mammoth (Economics & Globalization)
Mon, Oct. 12, 10:30 a.m., Empire Granville
Thu, Oct. 15, 9:00 p.m., Ridge Theatre

The Market—A Tale of Trade (Economics & Globalization)
Fri, Oct. 9, 11:40 a.m., Empire Granville
Wed, Oct. 14, 7:00 p.m., Ridge Theatre

Petropolis: Aerial Perspectives on the Alberta Tar Sands (Economics & Globalization)
Thu, Oct. 15, 11:00 a.m., Vancity Theatre
Fri, Oct. 16, 7:00 p.m., Vancity Theatre

Under Rich Earth (Economics & Globalization)
Thu, Oct. 8, 12:20 p.m., Empire Granville

We all Fall Down (Economics & Globalization)
Mon, Oct. 12, 7:15 p.m., Empire Granville

Dirty Paradise (Environment)
Fri, Oct. 9, 7:15 p.m., Empire Granville
Sun, Oct. 11, 3:30 p.m., Empire Granville
Fri, Oct. 16, 10:45 a.m., Pacific Cinemathique

H2Oil (Environment)
Sun, Oct. 11, 6:30 p.m., Empire Granville
Mon, Oct. 12, 1:15 p.m., Vancity Theatre

Home (Environment)
Sat, Oct. 10, 4:00 p.m., Ridge Theatre

HomeGrown (Environment)
Thu, Oct. 8, 10:45 a.m.

1999 (Human Rights)
Wed, Oct. 14, 6:30 p.m., Empire Granville
Thu, Oct. 15, 3:45 p.m., Empire Granville

The Inheritors (Human Rights)
Tue, Oct. 13, 11:00 a.m., Vancity Theatre

Kimjongilia (Human Rights)
Sat, Oct. 10, 12:30 p.m., Empire Granville
Tue, Oct. 13, 6:00 p.m., Empire Granville

Letters to the President from Petr Lom (Human Rights)
Sat, Oct. 10, 8:45 p.m., Empire Granville
Mon, Oct. 12, 11:20 a.m., Empire Granville
Thu, Oct. 15, 10:45 a.m., Pacific Cinemathique

My Tehran for Sale (Human Rights)
Sun, Oct. 11, 11:20 a.m., Empire Granville

Petition (Human Rights)
Fri, Oct. 9, 12:20 p.m., Empire Granville
Mon, Oct. 12, 9:15 p.m., Empire Granville

Prom Night in Mississippi  (Human Rights)
Sun, Oct. 11, 6:00 p.m., Empire Granville
Tue, Oct. 13, 1:30 p.m., Empire Granville

Amreeka (Immigration)
Fri, Oct. 9, 7:00 p.m., Empire Granville
Fri, Oct. 16, 11:00 a.m., Empire Granville

Backyard (Immigration)
Sun, Oct. 11, 12:00 p.m., Empire Granville

It Came from Kuchar (Queer Interest)
Thu, Oct. 8, 9:15 p.m., Pacific Cinemathique

Queer China, ‘Comrade’ China (Queer Interest)
Fri, Oct. 9, 9:15 p.m., Pacific Cinemathique

Let me know if I’m missing anything.

Enjoy!


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Posted in Advocacy, environment | Tags: , ,

Posted by: Mees | October 15, 2009

Blog Action Day: Communication and Change

So far I’ve seen ten movies at the Vancouver International Film Festival. My favourites have been documentaries, which I tend to watch in my spare time.

I’ve met some great people volunteering at the festival. When I tell them some of the documentaries I’ve seen on climate change or human rights, they often say, “Oh that’s too depressing.” One of my fellow volunteers just laughs when I mention some of the movies and asked me, “What’s up with you and these intense movies?”

Despite the heavy subjects and bleakness of some of the films, every one I’ve seen also showed innovative actions and people’s boldness towards positive changes.

Communication is very broad but it plays a highly influential role in getting people to act whether it is through film, telling stories, theatre, articles, or a mix of media. Because communication is powerful, it can be used for good or for bad.

There are unfortunately far too many examples where communication has been used for bad from the tabacco industry convincing people that smoking was healthy to public relations companies for creating the illusion of a climate change debate.

DeSmogBlog was started by public relations guru James Hoggan to call out people in the public industry and the lobbyists for manipulating the public on scientific facts on climate change. Hoggan was ashamed that the people in his profession were distracting people on a global crisis.

Many people remember the statistic Al Gore presented in An Inconvenient Truth. In a study of every peer-reviewed article on global warming, which made up a sample of 928 articles, the number of articles that disagreed with the statement that humans are causing global warming was zero. Yet in a sample of 636 articles from the popular press the last 14 years, 53% of the articles had doubt that humans were the cause of global warming.

This statistic says a lot about the lack of access to accurate information most people have. Mainstream media is clearly influential in shaping public opinion.

The movies I’ve seen have done exactly what they should be doing by giving the public facts and, yes, sometimes making people a bit uncomfortable to get them to act.

Keep in mind what one child photographer in India featured in the film Born into Brothels said when he was displaying his pictures of poor people in his community at an art gallery: it is hard to look at these problems, but it is the truth. And with knowledge comes responsibility.

The Age of Stupid


Pete Postlethwaite plays as a man living alone in the destroyed future world in 2055. Throughout the film, he looks at old footage from 2008 and asks, “Why didn’t we stop climate change when we had the chance?”

The director did a fantastic job in conveying the most devastating impacts of climate change by showing the damage that has already been done from news reports from around the world including forest fires, record high temperatures and intensified hurricanes.

The film portrayed three stories that show how globalization, persistent poverty, and environmental impacts interrelate. One story featured a bright girl in Nigeria who wanted to be a doctor. She lived in a community grossly affected by the operations of Western oil companies, including Texaco and Shell. Oil companies are reaping obscene profits while the locals have next to nothing, drink contaminated water and had have less food because fish have died from oil extraction operations.

The other story followed a businessman in India opening a low-cost airline company during the rising economic prosperity of the country. Finally, another story was of an American who  saved the lives and helped several people on his both after New Orleans was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. The irony is that he spent his life working in the oil industry, which caused much of the global warming that tends to intensify the impact of hurricanes.

The stories of the the two men show the contradictions in their working life and the impacts of their industries. At the same time, in order to pay the bills or thrive in a country that has not historically had the opportunities the West has, are they justified to do what they do?

While this information may come off as fear mongering, the impacts are already visible. They may be invisible to many in our urban and surburban areas because as usual, the poorest people are hit the hardest. Farmers are among many of the people most affected because they rely on the seasons for their crops. When that goes wonky, our food supply is disrupted too.

We have little time left to curb our emissions and change the way we live before we reach a point of no return.

Home [watch full movie]

“In 50 years, in a single lifetime, the earth has been more radically changed than by all previous generations of humanity.”

This film summed up the history of the planet and our impacts with one of the most unique visuals I have ever seen.

Oil is one of three fossil fuels and a precious resource that formed over 300 million years ago. It is made of organic matter after trees and plants died and fell to the bottom of the swamp. For several hundreds of years through natural cycles, oil and natural gas formed in different layers of the earth.

Oil is a finite resource and must be consumed at a sustainable rate. The film magnificently showed the interconnections of nature’s systems on a micro and macro level. Individualistic values of greed and unsustainable activities cause disruptions to nature’s balance.

Nevertheless, the narrator said, “It’s too late to be pessimistic.” Similar to The Age of Stupid, the message was we must act now while we still can.

Reporter


This film is about Nicholas Kristof, a two-time Pulizter Prize winning columnist for the New York Times. He travels in the world’s most dangerous places in an attempt to engage people in neglected problems including the genocide in Darfur and the humanitarian crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

While this movie didn’t discuss climate change, the role of the media and research mentioned on compassion is relevant to environmental advocacy techniques.

With every article, Kristof’s goal is to get people to care, have compassion, and act. What he found was as soon as he puts in statistics, people disengage. He tries to tell a story but from many different angles.

Like many industries including health, the problem with journalism is the profit factor. Only stories that will get the biggest audience or those that won’t offend advertisers will be covered as opposed to what the public really needs to know. Infotainment.

Kristof played a big part in putting Darfur on the world map. In the film, while news organizations are always looking for “new” stories, Kristof is consistent in finding different angles of the same story. He’s not out to make money. He’s out to tell the truth.

The film pointed to some interesting research on compassion that influences much of how Kristof writes his stories. One challenge in engaging people is psychic numbing: a deprivation of compassion, a deadening of feelings, when one is confronted with appaling images, facts, or statistics.

In one experiment, psychologists asked ordinary people to contribute $5 to alleviate hunger abroad. In one version, the money would go to a particular girl, Rokia, a 7-year-old in Mali. In another, the money would go to 21 million hungry Africans. In the third project, the money would go to Rokia, but she was presented as a victim of a larger tapestry of global hunger.

It isn’t surprising that people were less likely to give to anonymous millions than to Rokia. What is surprising is people were less willing to give to when Rokia’s suffering was presented as part of a broader problem.

Kristof’s friends and colleagues describe his work as “bearing witness” to some of the world’s greatest atrocities.

His work is influential because his articles are read by the President to citizens.

When it comes to climate change advocacy, tell stories about the impacts on farmers, kids with asthma, hurricane victims and so on. Once you’ve hooked them in, tell people what they can do.

What We Can Do

Don’t just do the bare minimum and feel greet about making a difference. The biggest impact happens when people act together and consistently.

Please share any other actions we can participate in for the sake of our future.


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Posted by: Mees | October 22, 2009

Going on the Bridge to Cool a Planet

This Saturday, October 24 at noon on the Cambie Bridge in Vancouver, B.C., citizens, politicians and communities are coming together to call on governments to fight global warming for the International Day of Climate Action.

The people and groups coming to this celebration are one of the most diverse we’ve seen in the city for awhile. Elementary school children have helped make the banner that will be displayed on the bridge and politicians have also shown their support for this event.

Come and dress as your favourite endangered species or dance around in your shiny dinosaur suit . . . whatever makes you happy.


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Posted in Advocacy, environment | Tags: , , , , ,

Posted by: Mees | October 25, 2009

350 in Vancouverland

Photo Credit: Melissa Chungfat

Photo Credit: Melissa Chungfat

I went to the rally in Vancouver, B.C. for the International Day of Climate Action and it was great to see thousands of people from all ages and backgrounds to demand that government leaders take meaningful actions to tackle global warming.

There were over 4,000 events in over 170 countries. Participants around the world portrayed the number 350 in many ways. 350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for parts per million carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. 350 is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change.

See this short video on 350:

The pressure needs to be maintained for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark from December 7-18, 2009.

Check out some amazing pics from 350 events around the world.

Pics from Vancouver

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IMG_2866

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Posted by: Mees | November 6, 2009

Riding to Break the Cycle⎯2010 Cambodia

I’m happy to announce that I’ll be going on Global Agents for Change’s Riding to Break the Cycle bike tour across Cambodia to fundraise for Cambodian-based non-governmental organization Protect the Earth, Protect Yourself (PEPY).

The money we raise will support PEPY’s Child-to-Child Program aimed to empower young people to become agents of change in their own villages. In this program, children work in groups to identify health or environmental problems in their community, develop a plan of action and implement the plan.

The goal is for students to become equipped with important life skills while being proactive problem solvers on issues they identify in their daily lives.

We’ll be witnessing the projects we are supporting during the tour, learn about the horrors people went through during the Khmer Rouge regime and embrace the culture.

The Route

Day 1: We arrive in Siem Reap and get our first taste of Cambodian cuisine.

Day 2: We cycle around Baray Tuk Tlay, the 700-year-old water supply for the Angkor Empire. The ride will take us through the rarely visited western entrance of Angkor Thom and allow guests to ride around the perimeter of the ancient city.

Day 3: From the seat of our mountain bikes we have the freedom to explore the highlights of the Angkorian temples including the iconic Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom and Ta Prohm.

Day 4: We bike through the Cambodian countryside until we reach the lost temple of Beng Mealea, the titanic of temples.

Day 5: We explore Siem Reap and have the opportunity to visit the Landmine Museum, the local markets or relax with a massage.

Day 6: Enjoy the early morning cycling to the Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia. The Tonle Sap has a rich eco-system that was declared ‘Biosphere Reserve’ by UNESCO in 1997.

Day 7: We cycle dirt roads to Oudong Mountain, the spiritual center and capital of Cambodia from 1618 to 1866.  We will see a number ofstupas housing the remains of various past kings.  The remains of a large Buddha are here, and are now being rebuilt after the Khmer Rouge blew them up in 1977.

Day 8:  As we ride, the dirt roads transform into a bustling highway and we’ll arrive in Cambodia’s vibrant capital, Phnom Penh.

Day 9: We have the opportunity to visit the Resource Development International Cambodia (RDIC) to see the work they do with agricultural technologies, affordable home water treatmentand many other projects. Or we can take tai chi classes.

Day 10: We take a sobering look at the history of the Khmer Rouge. The Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, also known as S21, is located in a quiet Phnom Penh suburb.  This group of buildings was once a school, but was turned into a prison and torture centre by the Khmer Rouge. We will also visit the ‘Killing Fields’ or Cheoung Ek.

Day 11: We head out of Phnom Penh along a river embankment and arrive at Chuuk.  Chuuk is a small town where the only noise pollution is the serenade of crickets.

Day 12: Enjoy a beautiful cycle, finishing in the unspoiled beachside town of Kep.

Day 13: Our journey ends in the laidback riverside town of Kampot. Here we will have a chance to unwind and reflect on our two week adventure across Cambodia.

Day 14: Say our goodbyes and continue on our own adventures in Cambodia or elsewhere in the world.

Thanks

I am very grateful to everyone who has supported this cause so far and future fundraising events. The sincerity and compassion of people is a powerful quality in a predominantly depressing and often cruel world.

This is a very unique trip and I’m glad to have the opportunity to explore another part of the world, see development projects for the first time and be ultimately sensitized to the genocide and pain people went through with the Khmer Rouge.

I am not expecting anything and will embrace the culture and the beauty of the country and the people.


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