A pause- Conflict Minerals

We think and hear a lot about fair trade, and the conditions under which our clothing is made, and our food is brought to us (well, some do), and yet another pertinent issue that tends to be less at the forefront is the issue of Congo’s conflict minerals.

You may have seen the film ‘Blood Diamond,’ and are now recalling the phrase ‘conflict diamonds.’ Conflict minerals are essentially the same. A quick internet search allows one to discover that conflict minerals used in our electronics are mined in a conflicting manner, hence the name, and are mine in a way that violates human rights.

Time magazine online published a story entitled, ‘’First Blood Diamonds, Now Blood Computers?,’’ in which author Elisabeth Dias informs the public about this issue. She is better versed and has better verse than I do, so you can read the article here: http://www.webcitation.org/5v1B1lxV6 . There are countless articles about the issue throughout the internet.

This is not breaking news, by any means. Organizations and groups have been working for years trying to raise awareness. Change is slow, but that doesn’t mean it’s non-existent. The organisation ‘Raise Hope for Congo’ published an extremely user-friendly overview of which companies are actually working towards using conflict-free minerals. There are none yet who provide entirely conflict-free products, but, according to ‘Raise Hope’s’ findings, companies such as ‘Dell,’ ‘HP,’ and ‘Motorola,’ are “on the right track.” You can visit their website and see all of this for yourself, here: http://www.raisehopeforcongo.org/content/conflict-minerals-company-rankings?tier=4#list


Now, I know in the face of all the shit (pardon my language) in the world today, it’s so much easier to tune it all out. Caring about things that may seem so far removed from our daily lives takes a lot of energy, and we’re tired, and have other problems. I’m not saying that overnight we can all stop buying computers and cell phones, and that’s not the point. Personally, I don’t think it’s too much to ask that we have transparency and a clear view into the things we buy, and we realize that we are part of the problem if we all collectively turn a blind eye to horrors committed in the name of saving money.
I believe that some of us in this world are lucky enough to come from places where we have voices, both with the right and privilege to speak out, and with our purchases. Just like with fair trade, if a consumer demands that a product meet certain ethical standards, and enough consumers share this demand, companies look into alternatives.
Basically, information empowers us. So read up on conflict minerals. The conditions under which these minerals come into the hands of companies are appalling. Follow the links to see if you can lend your voice to an important cause. It’s about empathy, and about doing what we can for those who are powerless.

Also, if you didn’t feel like reading, here is a youtube clip.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF-sJgcoY20

Escape to Italia - photos

For family/friends (Mishy) who don't have the timewaster also known as bookface,
here is the link to the photos I have posted.

https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2359346&id=121501242&l=36d79bb547

If you re-paste that in a new window, it SHOULD show you some of the photos, which include:

me with food
me in the sun
me with food and in the sun.


Only around 8 more weeks till the next vacay!

Back in Black(ness)

Dear loyal followers in Canada, the U.S, and the world over,

after a week travelling around Italy, we have returned to Borås.

The week was spent meeting new people, seeing beautiful things, sleeping on buses, eating delicious things, and remembering that I am, after all, only twenty three years old, and my heart is in travelling.

In the upcoming months I'll try to hit Copenhagen, Oslo, Belgium, fucking Bruges, Paris, much of the U.K, and central/southern/whatever it's classified Europe (Prague, Dresden, Munich, Budapest? etc etc). Eyes on the prize.

Also, it's a great possibility that I can make it home for Bluesfest, which would keep the streak alive and well.

In other news, something delicious in Sweden keeping me going is Risifrutti. It is tapioca pudding with a side compartment for different flavours of jam. I work tirelessly to never exceed one per day, which sometimes feels like an insurmountable feat, let me tell you.

Aussi, je regarde le film Amélie! Comment j'ai passé tout ce temps sans l'avoir vu, je n'ai aucune idée! Mais, c'est fantastique, et c'est bien aussi car j'essaye d'améliorer mon francais. (French pun, what what).

Ok, c'est tout pour maintenant.

Salut

Derailed On the Edge of Italia

Break time! Five short weeks after going back to school, we get a break. I am definitely not complaining.

I'll be headed down to Sicily and wherever else the wind takes me/us. Nothing booked beyond the first night, which means the expectations are unknown.

Today there was a small epiphany moment at school. What I love about teaching is that you get to interact with so many people everyday. Speaking to students from all over the world is by far one of my favorites things about being at the school I am. Kids who are twelve have incredible life stories and such unique perspectives on life. A far cry from only knowing the country of Carp.
Anyways, the epiphany moment came when I was speaking to some students in grade nine I don't teach. They were asking me about Canada and French, and then one of the girls looks at me and says, 'So, why are you a French teacher?' Then I paused for a second, and asked her what she meant. She continued, 'You know, was it always your dream job to be teaching French?'

There are a few reasons why this is still sticking out in my brain. First, it was probably the last thing I expected to be asked. Second, I obviously didn't have any semblance of a satisfying answer. I mean, of course I didn't dream of it, but I said that I shifted the conversation to teaching English. I do love English and teaching English because I love people and communication. That's part of the truth. English is just so objective. Reading a book or a poem or seeing an image is never the same for two people. Taking something from inside you and putting it out into the world in an attempt to connect, or share, or preserve. . . is life, as far as I'm concerned. Is it my dream job? Well, no.

Anyways, this is just rambling. I'm probably catching the sickness that's been passing through our school. Basically, what I do love about teaching is that there is an x factor. You can't predict a day at school, and young people should never be underestimated. They always have the ability completely stop you in your tracks, and derail you for a moment.

Beautiful Swedes

How many people can say they've been a room of a seventy ish people and known for a fact that every other person is without argument more attractive? It really is worth a try!

I think I can firmly say that Swedish people are just made of superior physical genes:
blonde, tall, stylish, tall, blonde. Okay, they aren't all blonde, but MANY are still tall, or at least attractive.

The stereotype, although not 100% accurate, is pretty damn close to being true, at least in Borås.

Sometimes I look around at my dwarfish self and laugh. Unreal!

Take me back to ugly Canada, please, where the people are friendly and significantly less movie-star esque!