Social Justice Archives - Page 3 of 6

Christy Clark should be ashamed for appealing the Teachers Union case

As both a parent and a lawyer, I am embarrassed by our governments decision to appeal the BC Supreme Court ruling of January 27 that said the province has grossly violated the bargaining rights of teachers and Canada’s constitution since 2002. Here is the Observer Magazine’s summary of the event: “The ruling by Justice

New book Scientific Parenting

I just read about a new book by Nicole Letourneau and Justin Joscho called Scientific Parenting. This is interesting because it’s about making parenting easier based on what we know from research. Not just popular culture. One of the things it suggests is to use policy like tax incentives for grandparents who take care

This is an amazing video on how empathy is the answer

I love Jeremy Rifkin’s talk. He is a modern day philosopher and well worth listening to. He suggests that the number one human drive is belonging. I agree. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7AWnfFRc7g&feature=player_embedded

Ten dollar day care is the answer

I totally support Sharon Gregson and Stephanie Smith in their fight for $10 a day childcare. Please go to www.cantaffordchildcare.ca and donate. As I see it, childcare not only helps women raise kids AND have a career that is meaningful but it also makes more sane and balanced families. It also saves about $600 million in absenteeism,

Jailed mothers can now be with their babies

Justice Carol Ross (a woman) on the BC Supreme Court declared that the liberal government’s decision to remove the “mother-baby program” in BC prisons was unconstitutional. It only takes reading “Orange is the New Black” to realize that keeping mothers and babies together is a smart, decent and money saving thing to do. An to compound matters,

I just read Orange is the New Black and like it

I would recommend this book for many reasons such as: It shows real healthy relationships with women. It shows how absurd our prison system is. It shows that punishment does not prevent crime (food, money and education does). It shows how women suffer so much as human beings in this society we have created. Read it! As

By listening to real people we can grow empathy

The Vancouver Public Library in conjunction with the PuSH festival opened a “living library” in January for a few weeks. It is a brilliant idea that enhances human empathy! Anyone can walk into the library and “sign out” a real person from a list of people who have offered to tell their life story. I will have

A great short animation on the harm of child brides

Women with young children commit suicide with no support

I recently read about the increase in mother suicides. The article said that many women kill themselves and their children long after they are out of the hospital. Dr. Kirsten Patrick (in an editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal) said we should monitor this more closely. In my opinion, its easy to blame post partum depression, depression

The most amazing words ever are by bell hooks

If you read nothing else this year, read these words by bell hooks on forgiveness and Trayvon Martin. Here is an excerpt: “The growing number of gated communities in our nation is but one example of the obsession with safety…. The person who is really the threat here is the home owner who has