Voting is a privilege

As elections approach, it is critical to remember the impact of community voice and the strength of a vote, even on a municipal level.

People around the world rally, campaign and fight for the right to vote. To have a voice that is recognized within their government. They are fighting for the right to contribute to the decision making process of their country.

In places like Canada and the United States, the right to vote is devalued and taken advantage of. People don’t take this opportunity to practice their rights, as members of a democratic society, to ask for answers and demand change from their municipal, provincial and national leaders.

In developing countries the right to vote can be a cause of death. It is a privileged to have a voice that is recognized within a political structure and be given the right to demand change.

Practice your rights of freedom. Use your voice, demand your rights, strengthen your community and vote.


Change happens in small steps, one community at a time.

Related Sites:

Vote! It's your Agenda An online information tool for election information in the Belleville, Quinte Area.

A good use of social media!

Have something to say to your mayoral canditates?

Belleville running NDP candidate Jodie Jenkins announced he would be using YouTube to engage voters for the upcoming provincial election, reports The Shield.

This is a great example of using social media to strengthen community voice and encourage participation.

Get involved, ask questions, get answers, get results.

Young voters to ask questions via YouTube

For an example of what to expect: YouTube Debates

“The Women United.”

What do they want? Freedom. When do they want it? Now.

On September 30th women around the world gathered together in solidarity to stand up, speak out, demand dignity and march the streets to take back the night.

Take back the night is an international awareness campaign that has been taking place around the globe for over 30 years. Locally, this event has been running for over 18 years and more than 75 women, children (and male supporters) met in market square downtown Belleville to rally in support of the fight to end violence against women.

Elise Hineman of the Sexual Assault Centre for Quinte and District says the purpose of the march is to bring awareness to these issues and for women to gain the confidence to stand together in solidarity and take back their rights.

“Sometimes women are forced to hide in fear and tonight we are taking back our rights… we are marching together to end violence against women.”

The rally included music by local musicians, presentations on the history of the event and a special word from author and poet Karen Dack who is a survivor of abuse and sexual assault.

Dack read her poem called “It's time” where she speaks of living in fear as a victim of assault and of the time she gained the strength and support to recover.

“Why should I be ashamed of what happened to me?” Dack says. “I didn’t choose it and I was lucky to have the support I did to recover from it.”

Dack shares her experience as a victim of sexual assault and has written numerous books to provide other women with the strength to stand up for their rights.

Every day women around the world are forced to walk the streets in fear and are in a constant state of vulnerability because of their gender. Each year hundred of women are victims to sexual, physical and mental assault. In 2004, one hundred and ninety eight women were victims of homicide within Canada alone.

Mary Jane Breault, a past chair of the Sexual Assault Centre for Quinte and District, participated in the awareness campaign and says the purpose of these marches is to remind people that abuse exists and is still out there. Creating awareness is the first step to prevention and walking together in unity and in support of these victims is an opportunity to take back what was lost and make sure it is put to an end.

Numerous local organizations including Three Oaks, Women Foundation, and the Sexual Assault Centre for Quinte and District were all essential partners in the awareness campaign and fight to end violence against women. Many of these members have been involved for numerous years and together with the community, are making the streets safer for all women.



Photo Credit: Liam Kavanagh-Bradette

Global Harmony Gift Show

Friends, fans and extended family, we've got something else for you!

Arthur Frederick Community Builders is hosting a Global Harmony Gift Show this Saturday, September 25th at market square in downtown Belleville. The event will include different local non-profit organizations involved in international development and will show case quality goods from around the world.

Items available for purchase range from arts, crafts, jewellery, baked goods and snacks to fair trade coffee, Mexican silver and you can even get your face painted. Organizations you can expect to see, including members of the hosting organization Arthur Frederick Community Builders, are Quinte Grannies for Africa, Sleeping Children Around the World, Calcutta Rescue, Zatoun, members of the International Support Worker program from Loyalist College and more.

Not only is this a great opportunity to get outside, make some interesting purchases and have fun, it's an opportunity to meet the faces behind these organizations and connect with the people who are making true the notion of a Global Community.


So, if you're interested in international development, looking to get involved with your local community or wanting to learn about local and global non-profit organizations and innitiatives think glocal, and check it out!

See you there :) !!


Photo Credit: Member of Arthur Frederick Community Builders Paul Poirier, middle, smiles with new friends made in Mexico. AFCB is an independent not-for-profit volunteer organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for indigenous people in North, Central and South America.

Has expanded to new territory

As fall quickly approaches we at -Think Glocal- are excited for some new changes! We believe with change comes growth and when opportunity knocks you answer. In the light of this, we are also committing ourselves to a new one year program at Loyalist College in International Support Work.

We would like very much to make this a learning and growth opportunity for all of our readers, friends, fans and supporters and ask you join of us this journey. We will be regularly posting updates, news, articles, related information, photos, events, ideas and magical thoughts over the next year and welcome and encourage feedback and involvement from all interested.

For more information on the program check out International Support Worker program or click here.

What's going on ?!

BASEBALL TOURNAMENT!
SUNDAY, AUGUST 1st, 2010
GRAFTON Diamonds, Highway 2.
...COST is $150 per team
REGISTRATION starts 9:00am

_______________________


Hey every buddy - grab your glove, your beer and all your friends and head out to Grafton for a fun day of baseball !

This tourney is only as competitive as you want it to be, everyone is welcome whether you play all the time, every now and then or never before in your life!

Registration will start at 9:00am and all players must be ready to start the tournament at 9:30am at the Grafton Ball Diamonds on Highway 2.

Cost of early bird registration is $100 a team or day of event $150 a team; please try to field your own team or let us know in advance and we'll organize smaller groups or individuals together.

Captains please let me know who you are in advance !

Creative team names and uniforms are encouraged! Go wild and have fun with it!

The games will be 3 pitch with a minimum of four girls per team (if not the batting list will go male, female, etc. rotating the ladies in wherever necessary).

Please bring your own glove, bats if possible, refreshments and positive attitude and see you all there!

This event is brought to you by Think GLOCAL, a non-profit media distribution outlet focused on non-profit organizations, community involvement and global awareness ---- in support of Quest Internacional, a non-profit organization based out of Belleville, Ontario that works to educate youth and promote international human rights and inclusiveness.

Join us on facebook ! CLICK HERE.

Human Rights Docfest, huge success!

A huge CONGRATULATION goes out to all involved in last weekends Human Rights Docfest, hosted by University of Toronto's Journalist for Human Rights School Chapter. The festival was a great success with sold out seats and amazing panels from guest speakers, jhr staff and documentary directors.

Congratulations to Karen Cho, first place winner and director of the documentary "Seeking Refuge." Cho did a phenomenal job portraying the relentless efforts and struggles of 5 refugees in Canada. To read a full summary of the documentary click here.

Friends of - Think G L O C A L - wake up the streets of Leogane, Haiti with a little bit of dance and a lot of soul

Members of Hands on Disaster Response, and personal friends of - Think G L O C A L -take a break from their strenuous volunteer work helping rebuild communities in Haiti, to do a little dance and make some magic in the streets of Leogane.

Way to go folks, we salute you !


Photo journalist and friend of - Think G L O C A L - Gage Love, is featured in the video above dancing on the streets of Haiti. Love, in the yellow Brazil jersey, graduated from Loyalist College in 2009 and has spent the last three months working in Haiti as a member of Hands on Disaster Response. To read about Love's adventures check our his personal blog at LoveinHaiti

For more information on Hands on Disaster Response check out their website at www.hodr.org

Journalists for Human Rights invites you to Human Rights Docfest 2010

The University of Toronto's Chapter for Journalists for Human Rights (jhr) presents a national documentary film festival

The festival serves to highlight human rights abuses around the world and here at home on July 23, 24, and 25, 2010 at the National Film Board of Canada's Toronto Mediateque @ 150 John Street, Toronto.

Early bird tickets are available from June 21 to July 9, 2010 at a price of $10 for 2 tickets, or $15 for the full 3-day festival pass. Regular ticket prices are $10 for 1 ticket, and $7 for students/seniors and will be available from July 9th onward until the festival starts.

Pick-up locations for tickets can be found at:

* UTSU (University of Toronto Student Union), 12 Hart House Circle, across from Hart House
* NFB Mediateque Toronto, 150 John Street (at Richmond St. W, Osgoode Subway Stn)

For ticket purchases and information, contact:

Kirsty Hong, HR Docfest Promotions Coordinator:
kirsty.hong@utoronto.ca, 647-883-9727

Michelle Newlands, -Think G L O C A L -
michellenewlands@hotmail.com
289.251.3122

For further information on HR Docfest:

Sophie Langlois, HR Docfest Director: sophie.langlois@utoronto.ca;
416-797-9444


Please visit www.hrdocfest.com for ticket details

G20 brings out the best in all -

until chaos hits the streets

- Think G l o c a l - staff report from the streets of Toronto's protests

What started out as a peaceful rally and march by activists, unions, non-profit organizations, student groups, community churches, international advocacy groups, international media and families of all ages, turned into disappointment for many.

Early in the day of Saturday, June 26th, over 10, 000 people gather at Queens Park and around the City of Toronto in the rain, to speak out about corporate control and issues related to the G8/G20 meetings, style, agenda and illegitimacy.

Thousands of people marched the street chanting, singing, and dancing, waving their flags, clapping their hands, drumming, playing instruments and shouting out against injustices.

For some blocks the protest remained peaceful, positive, non-violent and inspirational for many areas. Streets were lined intensely with armed police as people marched from Queens Park to Spadina Street, while other protests pushed further south.

Police tasks forced the march to a halt at the corner of Queen and Spadina and acts of vandalism, disrespect and uncivil behavior slowly began throughout the streets of Toronto.

For many hours of the march many protesters remained respectful and police monitored the streets with intimidation but little to no force in specific areas. Protesters attempted to move south to the fence line, declaring they would stop at the official boundaries. At times police and protesters were face- to-face but kept it at a heated standstill with neither side using forced actions of violence.

As the march continued the atmosphere shifted and protesters of specific activist groups began setting off flares and vandalizing public and corporate property in a destructive, harmful and unhumble fashion.

As many as six police cars were set on fire and the windows of stores lining the streets of Queen, Younge, University and many other in Toronto were smashed. American Apparel’s window smashed; possessions dismantled and covered in feces with others experienced similar things.

Protesters, individuals and media walked the streets of Toronto gathering in groups for demonstrations. Police suited in riot gear and kept things at a standstill. At times inappropriate force of violence, wrongfully accusations and threatening of innocent protesters and media also took place around the city.

As the chaos and mayhem continued into the night, what started as a peaceful march transformed into a disgrace to the streets and people of Toronto.

Shame.