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