Apathy is Boring - News

Volunteer with AisB = Free Registration for GYA Conference

2009-07-17T15:15:01Z

We are looking for one fun and dynamic volunteer to help coordinate a group of volunteers in Edmonton to help spread the word about Apathy is Boring exhibition booth at the conference between July 30th and August 1st 2009.
We will provide 1 free registration to the GYA conference taking place between July 30th and August 2nd 2009 in Edmonton. (Value: $200)

Please send an email to info@apathyisboring ASAP for all the details.

Apathy is Boring proud to be a partner of the Global Youth Assembly in Edmonton. Check out their website for all the details.

The Ignite Change Now! Global Youth Assembly is an awesome social forum for youth (16-28) from Canada and around the world to move from awareness to action. Express yourself. Connect with like-minded youth, artists and global citizens from around the world. Make new friends and partnerships.

Become part of the movement and ignite change now!

BLOG: If only it were raining jobs in Montreal...

2009-07-17T13:14:01Z

It’s not uncommon these days in Montreal to find oneself trapped indoors to escape the rain. Yesterday, for instance, I had just stepped inside a café down the street from our office when the skies unexpectedly opened once again. I, umbrella-less, resolved to stay until the rain stopped, and shuffled into the nearest available table, stopping to pick up that day’s Globe and Mail.

My attention was quickly drawn to a feature article, the summer of student discontent, which analyzed the current job prospects for students, coupled with rising tuition costs and limited national bursary programs. In short, the article found that students across the country are facing the worst summer job market in a decade. I probably didn’t to open the newspaper to figure that out.

If you want to get into statistics, unemployment rates for students ages 20 to 24 land at 14 per cent, but those rates have climbed to 18 per cent for first- and second-year university students, according to Statistics Canada.

My summer job hunt this year was a slog; I was definitely expecting that my case would be representative of those disturbing statistics. Even though I spent months of sending out CVs, making phone calls, pumping personal contacts, and scouring jobs listings, I still had no employment as the first days of summer were cresting.

This experience was not uncommon among my friends. Most of my third- and fourth-year university acquaintances struggled to find a decent and satisfying job. Those who count themselves fortunate to have found work, are largely doing menial, low-skill tasks at entry-level workplaces: restaurants, stores, cafes, bars, manual labour, or office administration. Many of us filled our under-employed days with summer classes too. Still, I have friends who just simply don’t have work, and predict that they will emerge from their summers with a dismal bank account and no work experience. As I too was fearing the prospects of a deadbeat summer with nothing to do, I shifted gears and started looking exclusively at unpaid positions. By an incredible stroke of luck, I found myself happily volunteering my time here at AisB.

The team here at AisB would unanimously extol the benefits of volunteering one's time. In fact, Ilona, our executive director, just spent her weekend giving a workshop entitled "How volunteering will get you a job." It's not just about making yourself a free asset, but rather, it's like a secret back-door entry into when the formal calls for employment are closed.

It can be really hard as a student to think long-term about why working without any immediate financial compensation is beneficial. That's understandable, since the student life is virtually synonymous with low-budget lifestyle; we students count on our summer paychecks to cover our tuition and cost of living. But, to murder a cliché here, the value of tangible work experience (especially with a sweet organization like AisB) is pretty much priceless.

So, to you unemployed Montrealers I say: get on your rainboots and come visit us at our volunteer orientation! Or, of course, head to your local volunteer bureau .

Alison from Apathy is Boring

Media Advisory: Governor General to Talk Hip Hop, Violence Prevention and Solidarity With Youth in Edmonton

2009-07-17T10:29:01Z

Media Advisory: Governor General to Talk Hip Hop, Violence Prevention and Solidarity With Youth in Edmonton

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 16, 2009) - As part of her 2009 Youth Dialogues series, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaelle Jean, Governor General of Canada, is hosting a youth dialogue in Edmonton on July 31, 2009. During the event, over four hundred youth will focus on building peace and solidarity to combat social exclusion, gangs, gender-based violence and youth alienation.

In collaboration with the national youth organization Apathy is Boring and Edmonton's John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights, the event will take place at the Ignite Change Now! Global Youth Assembly (GYA) 2009, in Edmonton, on July 31, 2009 at 6:30 p.m., in the NAIT Campus Gym, Main Campus (11762 106th St., Edmonton). The dialogue will bring together youth from across Canada and around the world, giving them a unique opportunity to have their voices heard by Canada's Governor General, community leaders, philanthropists and decision makers alike.

Participants of the GYA and the GG's Youth Dialogue will also engage with members of Montreal's Nomadic Massive hip hop group, as well as with local Edmonton artists and other musicians.

Those not already registered for the GYA and wishing to participate in the GG's Youth Dialogue in Edmonton must send an e-mail to rsvpEdmonton@gg.ca .

About the Governor General's Youth Dialogues

Having made youth one of the priorities of her mandate, the Governor General inaugurated the Youth Dialogues series in 2007, providing young Canadians with a space to voice their opinions on social transformation, and to pursue this dialogue on the Citizen Voices Web site. The Governor General's Youth Dialogue is part of a nationwide series of high-energy discussions that focus on galvanizing youth across the country to become catalysts of hope. With the collaboration of Apathy is Boring, dialogues have featured such artists as K'naan, Arianne Moffat, Jully Black, Samian, Ill Scarlet.

Her Excellency then shares the ideas and perspectives presented during the dialogues with decision makers. Past Youth Dialogues have covered such themes as the elimination of racial discrimination; youth involvement in the democratic process; women shaping democracy; and the historic inauguration of U.S. President Barack H. Obama.

For more information on the Governor General's Youth Dialogues, please visit www.citizenvoices.gg.ca/en/themes/youth_dialogues.

About Apathy is Boring

Apathy is Boring is a national charitable organization that uses art and technology to educate youth about democracy. Apathy is Boring accomplishes this through concerts and events that encourage youth to get involved in their communities while creating an opportunity for dialogue between community leaders and youth. A youth-friendly program includes workshops, tools and resources to engage youth in decision making.

Apathyisboring.com is an interactive platform providing youth with information, 'how-to' guides and encouragement to get involved in democracy, as well as a space for dialogue. It is also a space for election campaigns to reach out to youth and give them the knowledge they need to make an informed vote. For more information on Apathy is Boring, please visit www.apathyisboring.com.

About the Global Youth Assembly

The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights is presenting the Global Youth Assembly at NAIT from July 30 to August 2. Over 500 young people from over 34 countries, between the ages of 16 and 28, and will participate in a forum to explore the theme "Building Community" and how they can make a difference in their communities and the world. Participants from different socio-economic, cultural and educational backgrounds will have four full days of access to inspirational keynotes, skill development workshops, social activities and networking time to learn from one another. For more details go to www.youthassembly.ca .

About the John Humphrey Centre

The John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights is a non-profit organization dedicated to human rights education using the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a framework. For more information, please visit www.jhcentre.org. The GYA is made possible by funding support from the Government of Canada, the City of Edmonton and in partnership with the Rights and Democracy Network, under the patronage of the Canadian Commission for UNESCO.

For more information, please contact
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-993-8158
www.gg.ca
www.citizenvoices.gg.ca

Ilona Dougherty
Apathy Is Boring
514-844-2472
www.apathyisboring.com

Mandy Siu
Global Youth Assembly
780-453-2638
mandy@jhcentre.org

Rotting whale carcass haunts Northern Peninsula community

2009-07-17T09:44:01Z

People in Pines Cove, N.L., say a rotting whale carcass that the province had towed out to sea months ago has come back, and the stink is unbearable.

At the end of April, a 10-metre long whale carcass rolled up on a beach near the community on the province's Great Northern Peninsula.

Audrey Parrill says it was exactly 37 steps away from her door. She counted.

"I figured that was too close for comfort for a whale here, 35 feet [10 metres long], to rot next to my house," said Parrill.

She called to have it taken away and the provincial Department of Government Services paid a contractor to remove the whale. It was towed to an uninhabited island.

See link for full article!

Taser warning would have eliminated element of surprise in Hyde case: officer

2009-07-17T09:39:01Z

The Canadian Press - HALIFAX, N.S. - A special constable who Tasered a mentally ill man who later died in custody says he would not always issue a warning when using the weapon because it would take away the element of surprise.

HALIFAX, N.S. - A special constable who Tasered a mentally ill man who later died in custody says he would not always issue a warning when using the weapon because it would take away the element of surprise.

In testimony today at an inquiry into the death of Howard Hyde, Greg McCormick said it's also his experience that warning someone who is upset that they could be zapped could further inflame them.

See link for full article!!

Annual inflation rate turned negative in June

2009-07-17T09:36:01Z

Lower gasoline prices helped Canada's annual rate of inflation turn negative in June for the first time since 1994.

Statistics Canada reported Friday that the 12-month Consumer Price Index fell to minus 0.3 per cent last month. The June decrease matched the expectations of economists.

"The decrease was due primarily to a 12-month decline of 19 per cent in prices for energy products, particularly gasoline,"Statistics Canada said, adding that the CPI actually rose 2.1 per cent in June when energy costs are factored out.

Gasoline prices dropped 24.3 per cent between June 2008 and June 2009, following a 12-month decline of 25.1 per cent in May.

See link for full article.

Apathy is Boring and the Governor General at the Global Youth Assembly!

2009-07-16T15:01:01Z

There are no shortages of ways to be an active citizen..because democracy is sexy and apathy really is boring.

We'll be crisscrossing Canada with the leading lady of Canada, Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada for our annual concert series.

On July 31 2009, we're hitting up Edmonton during the Global Youth Assembly, organized in collaboration with the John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights to host a Hip-Hop Youth Dialogue on peace building and solidarity followed by a concert featuring Nomadic Massive, The People's Poets, Mother Peace, Tzadeka and more......

The Ignite Change Now! Global Youth Assembly being held at NAIT in Edmonton from July 30th to August 2nd, 2009. Keynote speakers include Sol Guy and Josh Thome from 4Real, Deve Aujla from Dream Now, Craig Kielburger, a Shop 4 Change Show...check ou the full schedule here

IT'S DEFINITELY A GIG WORTH CHECKING OUT!

But hey, don't take our word for it, come see for yourself ; )

Details

Dialogue and Concert with the Governor General

Date: July 31st, 2009

Location: NAIT Main Gym in Building E

Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm - Youth Dialogue w/ Governor General
8:30pm to 10:30pm - Concert (feat. Nomadic Massive, The People's Poets, Mother Peace, Tzadeka and more......)

Cost: Free for GYA delegates and the general public

RSVP: rsvpedmonton@gg.ca

To attend the conference: Save 10% on your GYA Registration!

Use promo code "SPGG" to register and receive 10% off the complete GYA experience. Register today and have access to all events over the four fabulous days of the GYA.

www.youthassembly.ca

A huge thanks to all our major partners, you are amazing!

Croatian war criminals may be entering Canada

2009-07-16T09:28:01Z

OTTAWA -- Border officials warned earlier this year that Canada would have to be on guard for war criminals trying to get into the country, after the Conservative government ended visa requirements for Croatian citizens.

The government in March lifted the contentious visa requirement after heavy lobbying by the Croatian government and Croatian-Canadian community.

It is feeling similar pressure from Mexico and the Czech Republic for suddenly slapping visas on their citizens this week, in response to the large volume of refugee claims from those countries.

In the case of Croatia, a visa requirement was applied in 1996 to counter the threat of war criminals coming to Canada after the breakup of the former Yugoslavia.

An internal intelligence report, prepared for the Canada Border Services Agency shortly after the visa requirement was ended, notes that Croatia passed an amnesty law in 1996 affecting approximately 14,000 people who had been involved in armed aggression and conflict.

"Notwithstanding this law, there will still be a need to screen Croatian arrivals at ports of entry to determine whether individuals are inadmissible for having committed or being complicit in war crimes or crimes against humanity," says the report.

The document, dated April this year, was released to The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act.

Those concerns were echoed in the changes to immigration regulations published in March.

Click on the link to read the full article.

54% of Canadians oppose Afghan mission: EKOS poll

2009-07-16T09:19:01Z

(EKOS)

A slim majority of Canadians oppose the country's participation in the war in Afghanistan, with the strongest opposition coming from Quebec, an EKOS poll suggests.

The poll, commissioned for the CBC and released Thursday, asked: "Do you support or oppose Canadian military participation in Afghanistan?"

Nationally, 54 per cent said they opposed it, while 34 per cent said they supported it, according to the poll. Twelve per cent were undecided.

Opposition was decisive in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada, while Western Canada had a narrower gap between those who support the mission and those who oppose it, EKOS found.

The survey suggests the strongest opposition exists in Quebec, with 73 per cent of those polled saying they didn't support Canada's participation. Fifteen per cent offered their support.

Alberta had the strongest support for the mission, at 42 per cent, while 45 per cent were opposed, the poll suggested. In British Columbia, opposition was at 49 per cent while 40 per cent offered support.

The sample size for Saskatchewan/Manitoba was considered too small to be conclusive.

Opposition was very high among women across the country, with 60 per cent saying Canada should not be involved in Afghanistan and 27 per cent saying it should.

Click on the link to read the full article,

Facebook breaches Canadian privacy law: commissioner

2009-07-16T09:15:01Z

Facebook shares personal information with developers who create games and quizzes in a way that breaches Canadian privacy law, the office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has found.

The office released a report Thursday on the popular social networking site found Facebook continues to breach the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act in three other ways:

It keeps information from accounts deactivated by users indefinitely and does not make it clear that users can also choose to delete their accounts rather than just deactivate them. Nor does it explain the difference in its privacy policy.
It keeps the profiles of deceased users for "memorial purposes," including this in its terms of use. That means users cannot opt out.
It allows users to post personal information about non-users without their consent. For example, it allows them to tag photos and videos of non-users with their names, and provide Facebook with their email addresses to invite them to join the site. It keeps the addresses indefinitely.

Click on the link to see the full article.