Category: Body & Mind

A Small Victory Over AIDS

It’s hard to find good news about AIDS, especially AIDS in Africa. Former UN Special Envoy Stephen Lewis has gone so far as to call it a genocide. But, good news can surface in the most unlikely of places. Through changes in social behaviour and however slowly, Zimbabwe may be starting to turn the tide. Although other factors may be affecting the numbers, a slight increase in condom use seems to mark the first instance of declining HIV infection rates in Southern Africa. Small actions make a big difference.

You can help the fight against AIDS in Africa through The Stephen Lewis Foundation.

Evo likes Teachers

Five days after being elected Bolivian president, Evo Morales announced he would be reducing his salary by more than half in order to allot money towards hiring more school teachers.

This is part of his campaign to rid the government of corruption. He also aims to improve the living standards of all Bolivians, this is definitely going to improve literacy in the country!

Thanks, Greg!

Google’s China Filter Defeated by Typos

Many of us on the web are aware of Google’s censorship deal with the Chinese Communist Party. The computerized censorship is defeated, however by poor spelling. A misspelled query for “Tienamen Square” will bring up some pictures of tanks, and a search for “Falan Gong” will bring up many stories about the human rights abuses suffered by practitioners of Falun Gong in China.

Will the holes in Google’s filters remain unplugged?

Theater for Change

Young actors are telling their stories of life on the street through a theater program called Cobblestone, a performance troupe out of Mixed Company Theater in Toronto. The program, 12 years running, regularly auditions street youth for the opportunity to work with an award winning playwright, Rex Devrell. Together they develop narritives based on real life stories and explore important issues that face street youth.

Deverell is providing the young actors with a place to be heard and the chance to explain the circumstances that brought them to the streets in the first place. In letting the kids know that they are not ignored and are worthwhile the program builds self esteem and has helped street youth get back on their feet. Many kids have gone on to find new jobs and a safe place to live after their experiences with the company.

Cobblestone is acting as a venue for social change while also setting the stage for community awareness. Combine that with the entertaining and interactive nature of their latest production entitled “Voices” and you’ve got one amazing accomplishment in the Toronto theater community.

Voices will have 2 public performances in Toronto on February 9th and 10th @ 8pm at the Alchemy Theater (133 Tecumseth St, 416 515 8080)

Nettwerk says NO to RIAA

Nettwerk Music Group has decided to defend a 15-year-old girl from the Recording Industry Association of America. The teen has been sued by the RIAA for downloading a variety of songs, including one aptly titled “Download this song.”

In a press release from Nettwerk, the CEO said “Suing music fans is not the solution, it’s the problem.”

Good for Nettwerk, a company based in Vancouver, for defending our ability to listen to songs that they want us to listen to.