The Food Project visit May 11, 2011

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Saturday April 30th 2011 Rachel, Amelia and Matt went to volunteer with the Food Project at one of their farms. This one was in Dorchester so we took the redline from downtown and then a bus to get out there – to 40 West Cottage Street.
Once we got off the bus there were a few businesses then houses and more houses….and then a farm! At the Food Project farm we met youth staff members who led crews to get beds ready for the planting season. Everyone was really young, super friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable about our food system. It was a really fun day and a great hands on experience at a farm in Boston. The Food Project staff invited us back to volunteer with them in the future and we all agreed we would love to!

Farm in Dorchester

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World Water Week – discussion panel April 23, 2011

For World Water Week on Emerson campus – our latest event, a discussion panel!

Liquid Gold: The World Water Crisis
Wednesday, April 6
Charles Beard Room
10:00am – 12:00pm

The World Water Crisis is what experts label as the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century. The world’s supply of clean, fresh water is steadily decreasing yet demand is increasing. Considering issues of economic necessity and water rights, panelists from various disciplines will address questions of global distribution and the privatization of water. This dialogue is aimed at raising consciousness of the global debate and encouraging critical thinking about how our personal relationship with water affects others worldwide. This event is cosponsored by the Office of Service Learning and Community Action, the Office of Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies and Earth Emerson.

Moderator: Binsen Gonzalez, Communication Studies Major ’11

Bill Weinberg is an award-winning 25-year veteran journalist in the fields of human rights, indigenous peoples, ecology and war. He is the author of Homage to Chiapas: The New Indigenous Struggles in Mexico (Verso Books, 2000), and War on the Land: Ecology and Politics in Central America (Zed Books, 1991). He is a producer at WBAI Radio in New York City and editor of the online journal World War 4 Report. He is currently at work on a book about indigenous and peasant movements in the Andean nations.

Kristin Urquiza is the campaign director for Corporate Accountability International’s “Think Outside the Bottle” campaign. The campaign works to promote, protect and ensure public funding for our public water systems and challenges the social and environmental impacts of bottled water through public education and grassroots action. Think Outside the Bottle has mobilized tens of thousands of individuals, hundreds of public officials, faith groups, restaurants, celebrities, and college campuses to support public systems by opting for tap over bottled water.

Nejem Raheem is an Assistant Professor in the Marketing Communication Department at Emerson. He brings with him 10 years of experience as an environmental economist and teacher. His work includes ecosystem service valuation projects in Labrador, Canada, north-western Alaska, and northern New Mexico. His expertise is in the economic analysis of natural resource and environmental issues, with a focus on common-pool, water, and marine resources in traditional or indigenous economies.

Sharmila Murthy leads the Right to Water Initiative at the Carr Center. Through research, publications, and dialogue among practitioners and academics, the Carr Center’s Right to Water Initiative uses a human rights framework to examine global inequalities in access to clean water and sanitation. By examining the scope and meaning of the human right to water under international and domestic law, the Right to Water Initiative endeavors to support the work of the independent expert on the issue of human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation.

Mirele Goldsmith is a consultant to non-profit organizations, environmental psychologist, educator and activist. At the City University of New York Graduate Center she studied human dimensions of environmental change, completing a PhD in environmental psychology. Her research explored grassroots citizen participation in New York City’s water policies. Mirele later went on to found Green Strides Consulting, allowing her to enable her clients to bring insights from psychology to their efforts in order to make changes that are good for them and for the environment.

Amnesty International NE Regional Conference November 27, 2010

We made it to the Northeast Regional Conference this year!!

The theme this year was “Shine A Light” 50 Years of Activism

http://www.amnestyusa.org/regional-conferences/northeast/page.do?id=1691095

We learned about activism and oppression in Iran, Guantanamo prisoners’ delayed (and unjust) trials, using theater to be active in effecting social change, The Counter Terror with Justice Campaign, and the International Violence Against Women Act (IVAWA)

Harvest Fest Oct. 26, 2010 November 14, 2010

Apples of 6 different kinds, donuts, pumpkins, and cider – all from the local Copley farmers market!
EAT LOCAL – reduce your carbon footprint and get to know your producer!

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Falling Whistles November 14, 2010

Through the use of storytelling and a telling power point slide show, Sean and Yves came with the stories of their experience in the Congo. Falling Whistles tells the story of the young boys kidnapped and forced to become soldiers in the Congo. The whistles they wore represent their job as to warn the others that enemy was coming until he enemy heard them…

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Cultural Survival Bazaar – Give While You Gift! December 9, 2009

Cultural Survival Bazaars: A Festival of Indigenous Arts and Culture
2009 Cultural Survival Winter Bazaar Schedule

December 12th & 13th, 2009
Harvard University
Center For Government and International Studies Building-South
1730 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA.
10am to 6pm

December 19th & 20th, 2009
The Shops At Prudential Center
Belvidere Arcade,
800 Boylston Street
Boston, MA.
Saturday-10am to 9pm
Sunday 11am to 6pm

Volunteer opportunities available. Email: dave@cs.org
http://www.culturalsurvival.org/bazaar/cultural-survival-bazaar

ABOUT: Cultural Survival Bazaars
The Cultural Survival Bazaars are a series of cultural festivals that give Indigenous artists, their representatives, and fair trade companies from around the world the chance to sell their work directly to the American public. They also expose over 35,000 Americans each year to Indigenous art, music, and culture, while giving visitors a chance to talk with Indigenous artists directly.

In the past six years alone the bazaars have generated over $3 million for indigenous artisans, fair trade businesses, indigenous communities’ programs, and Cultural Survival’s work on behalf of indigenous peoples. Every year, hundreds of artists and their representatives sell traditional crafts, artwork, clothing, jewelry, carpets, and accessories.

The bazaars also offer a wide assortment of cultural performances, from the live music of Ecuadorian Band Yarina (yarinamusic.com) to the Native American (Nipmuc) Flute Performances of Hawk Henries (hawkhenries.com), traditional Native American storytelling by Leonard Fourhawks, telar (loom) demonstrations by Zapotec weaver Jose Buenaventura Gonzalez, Algonquin/Abenaqui artist Lenny Novak, Henna, and craft-making demonstrations by Zimbabwe’s Shona artisan Bernard Domingo. Also enjoy our two short films about Cultural Survival’s own Guatemala Radio Project and our Endangered Native American Language Project.

What Items will I find at this winter’s bazaars
Handmade Jewelry, décor, weavings, tribal rugs, clothing, carvings, masks, instruments, music, as well as other fairly traded arts and crafts from around the world. Also enjoy a variety of musical performances, cultural presentations, craft-making demonstrations, films, and much more.

Make Your Holidays Fair Trade December 9, 2009

Fair Trade Night
Wednesday, December 9 (TONIGHT!!)
The Beard Room
6:00pm-8:00pm

COME LEARN ALL ABOUT FAIR TRADE ISSUES, PLAY, HAVE FUN, DO CRAFTS, EAT CHOCOLATE, DRINK COFFEE, BE MERRY AND TAKE A BREAK FROM FINALS CRAZINESS!

FREE Fair Trade Coffee
FREE Fair Trade Chocolate
FREE Raffle Ticket For Fair Trade Related Goodies
more FREE Fun!

Learn how to make your holiday Fair Trade by creating ornaments and learning about great Fair Trade gift ideas and products available near you!

Have your picture taken as the Trans Fair Certification symbol (like face in the hole…but actually cool, and IN REAL LIFE!) which we will post on our facebook group for your tagging pleasure.

Get your questions answered by Liz Green from Fair Trade Boston.

Also, don’t forget to BRING YOUR OWN MUG and get an extra raffle ticket!

LOTS OF FREE FUN! LOTS OF CHOCOLATE! LOTS OF FREE FUN! LOTS OF COFFEE! LOTS OF FREE FUN!

Sleep-Out for Clean Energy with Bill McKibben November 13, 2009

Come Sleep Out on the Boston Common! This Sunday, November 15 at 5:00pm.

 Bill McKibben, mastermind of 350.org, Step It Up! and inspiration for activists across the globe, will be marching to the Common from the Massachusetts Climate Action Network conference in Cambridge. Join in the march, or gather first on the Common. McKibben will be speaking when the march arrives and sleeping out as well.

Join student activists from across the state to take a stand for 100% clean electricity by 2020. We will Sleep Out right in front of the State House and those who are able to will stay and lobby in the morning. 200 people attended the night of November 8th, when James Hansen was our honored guest.

Students, community members, clergypeople – all are welcome.

We will be bringing tents and can get you a sleeping bag too. But if you’ve got one, bring it!

Coordinated by The Leadership Campaign
http://www.theleadershipcampaign.org

http://theleadershipcampaign.wordpress.com

Petition! http://globalwarming.change.org/actions/view/the_leadership_campaign_nothing_less_than_100_clean_electricity_nothing_more_than_350_ppm_co2

Photos from past Sunday sleepouts:
Oct 25: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43981165@N02/sets/72157622546460645/
Nov. 1: http://www.flickr.com/photos/43981165@N02/sets/72157622604653353/

A sampling of press hits:
Nov 8: http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2009/11/climate_campers_on_common_to_g.html

http://www1.whdh.com/news/articles/local/BO127891/

http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/10/27/students-sleep-out-for-clean-energy-bill/

Join the Facebook Event: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=169730642547#/event.php?eid=169730642547&ref=ts

Join Bill McKibben to the March Beforehand! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=318778355511&ref=share

INVITE EVERYONE!
MEETING WITH GOVERNOR PATRICK ON THE 17TH, WE NEED BIGGER CROWDS THAN EVER!

For more information contact: Brittany_Filker@emerson.edu (Emerson campus coordinator for the Leadership Campaign)

Honk! Fest 2009 October 14, 2009

This past Friday, October 9th EPSJ participated in Honk! Festival on the Boston Common in conjunction with Food Not Bombs. Over the weekend, Honk! brought together 30 bands from the United States, Canada, and Europe to converge in Boston and perform in public spaces around the city. All of the mobile bands are inspired by various folk music traditions and combine music with social activism. The grassroots, non-profit festival is dedicated to social change, the reclamation of public space and the celebration of local communities. To find out more go to www.honkfest.org.

EPSJ in a Press Release

Boston Herald Article

Photos from Honk! on Flickr

…Our own photos from the Common coming soon!

Under Construction October 11, 2009

This blog is currently under construction. Thank you for your patience.