Body & Mind – Page 181 – Things Are Good

Toronto Hosts 16th Annual Aids Conference

This year Toronto is the proud host of the largest HIV/AIDS conference in the world. Beginning this Sunday, the event will have an estimated 20,000 participants and wil include such keynote speakers as Bill Clinton and Bill and Melinda Gates (who recently donated $500 Million dollars to the global fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria).

People venture from all over the world to attend the conference which includes a film festival of HIV/AIDS-themed movies, related visual art and photography exhibitions, poetry and prose readings, theatrical performances, author sessions and panel discussions. There will also be art events in galleries and museums all around the city and live performances by Alicia Keys, Barenaked Ladies, Blue Man Group and many others. It is awesome to have this event happening in our own city and may not be back in Toronto again for a long time. So go on out this week and share in the awareness.

Alley Jaunt

garage This weekend in Toronto Alley Jaunt is happening. It’s an event that looks at local art in local garages and a chance to go down laneways and alleys that you might normally ignore. Run by some local artists, the event wants to bring the community of Trinty Bellwoods and artists together.

“Follow the path of chalk drawings and flags to guide you to the participating garages and join the local community in turning these private spaces into public gatherings!”

Be sure to check the pictures from last year. (I can’t link to it because their site uses frames.)

India Blows Coke

Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola can no longer be purchased in some states in India. This is after the Centre for Science and Environment, a Delhi-based NGO, discovered that pesticides were inside the drink. The level of pesticides in the drink are technically legal, but also against voluntary standards set in India.

It’s good to see that some states in India are taking this public health issue seriously and banning the poisonous drinks. Still, it is not a complete ban; however it is very symbolic. Banned is the selling of colas a certain distance around schools because of health concerns for children.

“The sale of Pepsi, Coca Cola, Mirinda, Mountain Dew, Diet Pepsi, Pepsi Blue, Fanta, Limca, Sprite, Thums Up, and 7up will be banned within 100 metres of all schools, colleges and hospitals across the state, they said.”

This is getting a lot of media attention and should pave the way for more stringent health and environmental concerns in the country.

Boiling Point Reached in Global Warming

Global warming is happening, whether we like it or not. For the most part, corporations, politicians, and “scientists” have been proclaiming that global warming isn’t happening, and that if it is happening, humans are not to blame. Well, the good news is that this is changing!

New York State Governor has called for a 25% reduction in oil consumption over the next 10 years.

The Philadelphia Inquirer has had enough of politicians ignoring the truth of global warming. Now the paper is demanding action to protect the environment.

The best article is from the Montreal Gazette. They have an article written to show how some politicians, like Arnie and Blair, and some corporations are making change right now.

I know all of this is not perfect, but we are here to celebrate the good that is happening in the hopes that people don’t get discouraged.

Good Shirts

The Spacing Wire is a blog that is all about public space. It’s a Toronto-based magazine that has some great coverage on public space in Toronto and around the world. The only comparable public space organization that I’ve found is the Project for Public Spaces in New York.

Anyway, over at the Spacing Wire there is a post on some cute and fun pro-pedestrian and cycling shirts.