In communities across the nation, there is a growing concern that current development patterns -- dominated by what some call "sprawl" -- are no longer in the long-term interest of our cities, existing suburbs, small towns, rural communities, or wilderness areas. Though supportive of growth, communities are questioning the economic costs of abandoning infrastructure in the city, only to rebuild it further out.
Spurring the smart growth movement are demographic shifts, a strong environmental ethic, increased fiscal concerns, and more nuanced views of growth. The result is both a new demand and a new opportunity for smart growth.
The features that distinguish smart growth in a community vary from place to place. In general, smart growth invests time, attention, and resources in restoring community and vitality to center cities and older suburbs. New smart growth is more town-centered, is transit and pedestrian oriented, and has a greater mix of housing, commercial and retail uses. It also preserves open space and many other environmental amenities.
The Smart Growth Principles and Issues below describe in greater details the various aspects of planning and development that make up smart growth.
The Canadian Commission for UNESCO was proud to work with Parks Canada and other partners in organizing the Youth component of the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee. The World Heritage Committee held its annual meeting in Québec City from July 2 – 10, 2008, coinciding with the city’s 400th anniversary celebration.
The World Heritage Youth Forum brought together 30 young people between the ages of 18 to 25--15 Canadians and 15 others invited by Canada from countries representing the five geographical regions of UNESCO--who spent more than two weeks learning about world heritage and the Convention, undertaking educational visits to Canadian World Heritage sites and attending sessions of the World Heritage Committee. The complete report of the World Heritage Youth Forum will be available shortly on the Canadian Commission’s web site at www.unesco.ca
An outcome of the event is the “Six Billion People, One Common Heritage” dossier, launched through a partnership with the National Film Board of Canada. It contains many photos and texts posted by the youth participants as well as the video they produced and presented at the opening ceremony of the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee. To view the video: http://citizen.nfb.ca/youth-and-world-heritage
Today, the Web site aims at being a platform for exchanges and discussions about World Heritage between youth from all over the globe, and all are invited to contribute.
Further information about the work of the 32nd Session of the World Heritage Committee can be found at https://www.canada2008.ca/en
For information about World Heritage sites in Canada, go the Parks Canada web site at http://www.pc.gc.ca
Source: Canadian Commission for UNESCO www.unesco.ca
La Commission canadienne pour l’UNESCO est fière d’avoir collaboré avec Parcs Canada et d’autres partenaires dans l’organisation du volet jeunesse de la 32e Session du Comité du patrimoine mondial, qui s’est déroulée à Québec du 2 au 10 juillet, dans le cadre de son 400e anniversaire.
Pendant plus de deux semaines, 30 jeunes, âgés de 18 à 25 ans - 15 Canadiens et 15 personnes venant de pays qui représentent les cinq régions géographiques de l’UNESCO - se sont réunis au Canada pour en apprendra davantage au sujet du patrimoine mondial et de la Convention. Ils ont visité certains sites du patrimoine mondial du Canada et ont assisté à des sessions du Comité du patrimoine mondial. Le rapport final de la composante jeunesse sera bientôt disponible sur le site Web de la Commission au www.unesco.ca
L’un des résultats de cet événement est le lancement du site « Six milliards d’êtres humains, un héritage commun » lancé grâce à un partenariat avec l’Office national du film du Canada. Le dossier contient plusieurs photos et articles publiés par les jeunes participants ainsi que la vidéo qu’ils ont produite et qui a été présentée lors de la cérémonie d’ouverture de la 32e Session du Comité du patrimoine mondial. Pour visionner la vidéo : http://citoyen.onf.ca/video-volet-jeunesse-32e-session
God didn't promise days without pain,
laughter without sorrow,
or sun without rain,
But He did promise strength for the day,
comfort for the tears,
and light for the way.
If God brings you to it,
He will bring you through it.
A little girl and her father were crossing a bridge.
The father was kind of scared so he asked his little daughter:
"Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river." The little girl said:
"No, Dad. You hold my hand."
"What's the difference?" Asked the puzzled father.
"There's a big difference," replied the little girl.
"If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."
In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond..So hold the hand of the person whom you love rather than expecting them to hold yours...
You never said I'm leaving
You never said goodbye
You were gone before I knew it,
And only God knew why
A million times I needed you,
A million times I cried
If Love alone could have saved you,
You never would have died
In Life I loved you dearly
In death I love you still
In my heart you hold a place,
That no one could ever fill
It broke my heart to lose you,
But you didn't go alone
For part of me went with you,
The day God took you home
I just spent the morning at the Boys and Girls Club National Conference and wanted to share some highlights. Overall, it was really wonderful to meet many of the boys and girls staff from across Canada and get a better understanding of their priorities and program areas. Emily and I presented on Change That Clicks and generated a lot of interest in the program which is great! The best part of the worshop by far was the Internet Safety activity. We wanted BGCC staff to have a taste for how we are able to address some heavy topics with CTC but in a fun and dynamic manner :) The participants broke out into groups of 3 or 4 and wrote a short song about The Good and Bad one experiences in the digital world. I was super impressed with people's creativity, check it out:
There were some great ideas thrown around that could help us broaden our reach with CTC such as holding a Train The Trainer program for all interested clubs so they can lead the program singlehandedly. Our impact could be so powerful if we build the capacity of BGCC staff to provide educational programming using ICTs. Especially with the technological enhancements that will come through the CanTech Program, i feel our contribution needs to be more substantial than a one off program - we can influence the healthy institutionalization of ICTs. Beyond that, it is clear that our action-oriented approach and focus on community development are encouraged by BGCC staff who ultimately want to see their members driven to be contributors in society. I hope that we will see a greater exchange between our organizations in terms of how we enhance the leadership capacity of children and youth. I am also really interested in learning more about the training process for new BGCC staff in terms of effective ways to communication, interact and build healthy relationships with their members, how to resolve conflicts that arise and how to discipline in a non-threatening and non-oppressive manner. I have been thinking about the importance of equipping the CLC coordinators with anti-oppression and cross-cultural resolution training to build their ability to deal with difficult situations as they arise. What a perfect opportunity to exchange expertise with BGCC!
I had another inspiring experience listening to a speech by a young man who first joined the Boys and Girls Club as a member 11 years back. Currently working for the national office as the leadership program coordinator, he wanted to express his immense gratitude for the unwavering dedication of BGCC staff to raising the quality of life for the youth in their communities. His story was really touching…he felt that his life was completely turned around because of the opportunities and support of BGCC from day one. As he said, to empower youth there are two very important things: opportunity and believing. He felt that the BGCC staff always believed in him, and helped him realize his maximum potential. Today, he is coordinating a leadership program he took part in years ago and feels so honoured and privileged to shape the program that had the greatest impact on him. His speech was so genuine and it truly warmed my heart to know affecting change is as simple in believing and never losing hope in one another.
What kind of Leadership do we need in Government, for Youth, for Families & Businesses?
When Actors, Businesses push big numbers around, money & try to pedle influence, Youth Need Leadership that can say, "No".
Youth Need Leadership that can set goals for the future of Self Reinforcing Native Indigenous AncstraL Community of Well Being.
Communities & Families Need Leadership that meet NEED instead of attrating what Criminals "Want".
When there are immediate NEEDS in any Community of Youth, Families impoverished while there's no Legal Or Economic Justification for Poverty, Youth, Families & Communities need Action, not talk.
You can teach a Young person how to speak in front of crowds on any topic, but a Leader is one who knows how to solve problems.
Constitutional Governments exist to provide for basic needs as entitlements that assure self sustainable KID SAFE Self Reinforcing Native Indigenous Ancestral Communities of Well Being.
Leaders that want to be acknowledged aren't focused on solving problems & most often distract those who are otherwise employed to solve problems.
This type of Leader is called many names, most of those sound like Egoist or Populist. They go about trying to gain attention in any Community while expressly trying to diminish the stature those established Community Leaders.
Native Indigenous Ancestral Leadership acknowledges Community Leadership, shows respect to those in the Community or Organization with Seniority & makes sure to enhance the importance of Community Leaders already in place rather than position or posture as a better leader.
Nigeria A Well Earth builds Communities with Leadership that wants to Reinforce Native Indigenous Ancestral Communities of Well Being, the Native Inidgenous Ancestral Traditions & Languages.
Many Native Indigenous Ancestries reinforce the Natural way of Commerce, Family & Community well being naturally.
Outlandish is the story of a band that insists on the vantage point called "The World We live in," as stated in the band's official site. Quite a bit has happened since Lenny Martinaz, Waqas Qadri, and Isam Bachiri broke ground in 1997 to form Outlandish and launch a career together.
In a live interview with IslamOnline.net, Waqas Qadri described how Outlandish started, "In the beginning, not so many people believed in us; back then hip hop was more looked upon as a 'black' thing, so how could a Pakistani, Cuban, and Moroccan bunch of kids ever do good? Therefore, we were forced at an early stage to take matters into our own hands."
Calling their style 'life music', Closer Than Veins Album marked a departure in this respect, particularly on the socially and politically heavy side the group has called in lyrical reinforcements. This is actually highlighting through one of their most outstanding tracks "Look Into My Eyes" that was principally written by Gihad Ali, a young Palestinian poet.
Lenny, Isam, and Waqas (From left).
Lyric:
"Look into my eyes
Tell me what you see
You don't see a damn thing
'cause you can't relate to me
You're blinded by our differences
My life makes no sense to you
I'm the persecuted one
You're the red, white and blue
Each day you wake in tranquility
No fears to cross your eyes
Each day I wake in gratitude
Thanking God He let me rise
You worry about your education
And the bills you have to pay
I worry about my vulnerable life
And if I'll survive another day
Your biggest fear is getting a ticket
As you cruise your Cadillac
My fear is that the tank that has just left
Will turn around and come back
Yet, do you know the truth of where your money goes?
Do you let your media deceive your mind?
Is this a truth nobody, nobody, nobody knows
Someone tell me...
Ooohh, let's not cry tonight
I promise you one day it's through
Ohh my brothers, Ohh my sisters
Ooohh, shine a light for every soul that ain't with us no more
Ohh my brothers, Ohh my sisters
See I've known terror for quite some time
57 years so cruel
Terror breathes the air I breathe
It's the checkpoint on my way to school
Terror is the robbery of my land
And the torture of my mother
The imprisonment of my innocent father
The bullet in my baby brother
The bulldozers and the tanks
The gases and the guns
The bombs that fall outside my door
All due to your funds
You blame me for defending myself
Against the ways of my enemies
I'm terrorized in my own land
What am I the terrorist?
Do you know the truth of where your money goes?
Do you let your media deceive your mind?
Is this a truth nobody, nobody, nobody knows?
Someone tell me...
America, do you realize that the taxes that you pay
Feed the forces that traumatize my every living day
So if I won't be here tomorrow
It's written in my fate
May the future bring a brighter day
The end of our wait
(pause)
Ohh let's not cry tonight I promise you one day is through
Ohh my brothers! Ohh my sisters!
Ooh shine a light for every Soul that ain't with us no more
Ohh my brothers! Ohh my sisters!"
