Freedom Day 2014 in South Africa

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the first democratic elections in South Africa following the dissolution of the National Party's Apartheid regime. On May 10 Nelson Mandela was sworn in as president and the representational Government of National Unity was established.

Read about today's celebrations and some sober reflection by Desmond Tutu on what's left to be done:

http://news.yahoo.com/south-africa-celebrates-20-years-end-apartheid-033029697.html

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/freedom-day-2014-desmond-tutu-says-he-is-glad-nelson-mandela-is-dead-20-years-after-south-africas-first-free-elections-9293196.html

Earth Day, April 22

A tradition that started as a US grass-roots movement in 1970 and now, since 1990, has become an official worldwide celebration of environmentalism on April 22 each year: http://www.earthday.org/

Historians trace that public consciousness to Rachel Carson's bestseller Silent Spring (1962), which raised awareness about the planet as a living organism. One more example (our discussion yesterday!) of how a few small voices can gather up into a roar for change.

Happy Earth Day!

War Child

War Child offers precious insight into the world of refugee life, cultural survival, and art as a powerful response to crisis. The Beijing artist project and the play To Me similarly addressed issues of cultural sustainability through art. This is a space to log your own thoughts after watching the film about the challenges faced by people (very literally "global citizens") seeking refuge in another land.

World Refugee Day 2014

In anticipation on our time thinking about refugees and interculturalism as a local SLC concern, here's a website to discover and a date to mark on your calendars: June 7th is World Refugee Day!

http://utahrefugee.org/world-refugee-day-2014.html

Refugee Law Project

The Refugee Law Project is based at Makerere University in Uganda. The group's mission is to promote human rights in Uganda. They work particularly with refugees and asylum-seekers who have come there to make a new life and face barriers such as ethnic and linguistic discrimination. Like North America--and Salt Lake City, in particular--Uganda is a major refugee and advocacy center on the African continent. You can learn more about this group and their impact through one of their many YouTube videos. I particularly recommend "The New Me" and "Hidden Bruises."

Global Community Summit

The English Skills Language Center is sponsoring the Global Community Summit this week!


An exciting series of events celebrating the amazing diversity that come to our city--sometimes painfully through the gates of exile--and recognizing their struggles to integrate and feel at home.


http://www.eslcenter.org/

http://www.janejacobswalk.org
This is a website to a community/environmental walk that we could host or participate in. Check it out!