McMaster Global

Citizenship Conference March 10th,

2012Activism is Not Dead

FEEDBACK FORM 16

1. How did you find out about the conference? (Please circle answer)a) Friend b) Poster c) MSU club: ____________ d) Website e) Facebook f) Other: __________

2. How was the overall organization of the conference? (Please circle answer)Poor Fair Good Very good Excellent

3. How was the venue for the conference (Burke Science Building)? (Please circle answer)

Poor Fair Good Very good Excellent

4. Which sessions did you attend? a. Morning panel:

_________________________________________________________b. Workshop 1: _________________________________________________________c. Workshop 2: _________________________________________________________

5. Which parts of the sessions and keynotes did you enjoy? (i.e. discussion, video, presenters, etc.)

6. Which parts of the sessions and keynotes did you think could be improved? (i.e. content, presenters, organization, discussion, etc.)

Other Feedback/Questions/Comments

Please put your email down if you are interested in being a part of our executive committee:

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McMaster Global Citizenship Conference

March 10th 2012

Activism is Not Dead

Delegate Handbook

Table of Contents

Welcome……………………………………………………………………………………..……3About the GCC………………….……………………………………………………………….4GCC Organizing Committee..……………………………………………………………..4Conference Schedule…………………………………………………………………………5Opening Keynote……………………………………………………………………………...6Morning Workshop Choices………………………………………………………………7Morning Panel Series ………………….…………………………………………………...8Middle Keynote…………………………………………………………………………………9Afternoon Panel Series…………….………………………………………………………10Closing Keynote……………………………………………………………………………….11Arts Dinner and Show………………………………………………………………………12Venue Map………………………………………………………………………………………13Sponsors………………………………………………………………………………………….14Notes……………………………………………………………………………………………….15Feedback Form……………………………………………………………………………..…16

NOTES 15

WELCOME 3

Dear Delegate,

It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the 7th annual McMaster University Global Citizenship Conference. Together with our executive team, we have developed a program that we hope will spark original thought and honest discussion about how we define our responsibilities as global citizens.

This year’s conference theme is “Activism is not Dead”. As active participants in today’s dialogue, you will be challenged to consider the issues affecting our global community from a multitude of perspectives. Whether you decide to advocate for a particular position or aim to derive a fuller understanding of all sides on an issue is entirely up to what you think would create a more meaningful experience.

The GCC is very much a collaborative effort, drawing upon the expertise of a number of student groups to hold innovative workshops and panels. This unique approach gives students the opportunity to learn from other students; promoting a more globally conscious campus to last long after the conference ends.

On behalf of the Global Citizenship Conference Executive Team 2012, we thank you for spending the day with our global community at the forefront of your mind. We hope that your GCC experience is truly exceptional.

Sincerely,

Alessandra Robertson, Shanthiya Baheerathan and Siobhan StewartConference Co-Chairs

Third Floor

SPONSORS

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McMaster University’s Department of History

ABOUT THE GCC 4

EXECUTIVE

Our VisionThe aim of the McMaster Global Citizenship Conference 2012 is to promote the idea of a global conscience as we tackle the

challenges facing our global community. Delegates will use their roles as socially conscious global citizens to empower themselves towards learning, collaboration, and ultimately, positive social change. Delegates are active participants as they

define and discuss the key issues in our global society.

The Global Citizenship Conference has attracted hundreds of delegates annually since its inception in 2006. Now in its sixth year, the Global Citizenship Conference has evolved from a student-driven aspiration to inspiring commitments of youth for

the betterment of their local and global communities.

Goals To create a platform that facilitates a greater understanding of the roles and responsibilities we possess as global citizens To oppose apathy and inaction in ourselves and our peers To underscore the interconnectedness of our global community To inspire delegates to be proactive about tackling the challenges in our contemporary society

Co-Chair Programming

Co-Chair Logistics

Co-Chair Networking Directors of Programming

Directors of LogisticsExternal Sponsorship

External Sponsorship

High School Mentorship

IT Coordinator

Director of Networking

First Floor

Second Floor

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ARTS NIGHT (5:00 pm) @ Bridges Cafe

Sapno Ritmo AKA Dream Rhythm is a multicultural band formed in Hamilton in the begining of 2010. Its members come from all around the world including Mexico, India, Indonesia, Egypt, Colombia, Canada and Brazil. The music we play is as diverse as our ethnicity from latin to bollywood to afro beats to r&b to instrumentals we are open to anything and everything. Our philosophy is that although we are all different we respect that each of us brings

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Jason Erlich has been involved as a musician performing for various charities for over 6 years at McMaster. He has focused most of his energy being involved with War Child @ McMaster, having performed, and MC'ed many shows. In his involvement with WarChild, he was in charge of planning events, and was Co-President of the club for a year each. He now enjoys a volunteer role with WarChild Canada as a Community Catalyst, trying his best to promote War Child's philosophy's and fundraising initiatives everywhere he goes..He is currently working on an album that is a tribute to a dear friend who passed away last year, and most if not all of the lyrics of this album will be his lyrics. There will be a lot of

The McMaster Improv Team is a group of students that are dedicated to the practice of Improvisational Comedy in a warm, friendly and fun environment. They meet once a week to practice improv theory and technique through different games. They also encourage people to come out and watch, as audience participation is a vital part of Improv and sketch comedy.

Watch members of EWB bring their moves to the GCC for the first time! Get ready for an exciting evening of great dancing, great music and a great cause!

Co- Hosted by McMaster Humanities Society

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Shawn Holden Cheung has held the role of Founder and Executive Director for Raising the Village since its inception in 2006. He is responsible for overseeing operations in Uganda and Canada, and ensuring Raising the Village continues to build its reputation as an efficient and effective organization providing leadership in the development community. Raising he Village has established itself an innovator and leader of the paradigm shift within the international development space.ROOM: 302

OPENING KEYNOTE (9:30 – 10:25 am)

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END KEYNOTE (4:05 – 5:00 pm)11

As a young executive, Boris Martin is serving as Director of African Programs for Engineers Without Borders (EWB) Canada, and is leading the redesign of EWB’s strategic focus toward becoming an incubator of systemic innovations.From 2007-2010, he created and led EWB’s Agriculture team in Burkina Faso. Within two years, the team had developed national level influence in small holder farmer aggregation, and farming extension services – two key systemic challenges to Burkina Faso’s agriculture systems.

As a community leader, Boris was a founder of the Global Citizenship Conference at McMaster. The conference gathered 600 students for three days in 2005: its first year. Since then and yearly, the conference has been a rallying point for McMaster and Hamilton’s social matters groups, and constitutes a strong marker of McMaster students’ experience.Boris holds a PhD in engineering from McMaster University. His leadership was recognized with multiple prizes for excellence and community service. He is married with one son. When he isn’t working, Boris enjoys family, canoeing, running, rock climbing and passionate conversations on complexity, economics, world politics, leadership and education.

WORKSHOP SERIES (10:30 – 11 am)

Awareness and Apathy: Why do they coexist? Room: 102This workshop focuses on dissecting the association between awareness and apathy. Aid organizations often focus on spreading awareness of global issues assuming that this will lead to support. Unfortunately this is not always the case. Where apathy is stemming from and how organizations and programs can better address it in the future?Electronic Waste Unplugged: A Global Health Advocacy Workshop, Room: 207

The Global Arms Trade and its Effects on Children: A Call to Action, Room: 312The global arms trade is one of the biggest causes of human rights abuses and loss of life in the world today. In some countries, governments spend more on military expenditures than on social development, communications, infrastructure and health care combined. While it is true that nations have a right to security and border protection, the arms trade is one of the most corrupt industries in the world;.  Furthermore, the arms trade is responsible for social instability and underdevelopment in many nations of the global South. Along with the millions of casualties that result directly from weapons, the arms trade also indirectly contributes to increased rates of hunger and disease around the world, and deteriorates the quality and quantity of health care Sustainability at McMaster, Room: 305Catherine Lau, a fourth year Honours Psychology student, and Janine Wong, a fourth year Honours Life Science student, will both be running a workshop on sustainability initiatives on the McMaster University campus. They are both interns with the Office of Sustainability under the supervision of Kate Whalen, the office manager. They will provide a general overview of the different projects that have been and are currently being pursued by the sustainability office as well as conduct a discussion on what projects should be pursued in the future. This is the perfect opportunity for students, staff, faculty and community members to voice their opinion on the The Starfish Blog: Sweet Sixteen, Enviro. Edition, Room: 217The sweet sixteen game is a debate-like activity where students will be able to engage in heated discussions with their peers about a variety of environmental topics. Not only will they be exposed to new and interesting information, they will also be able to express their opinions in a comfortable setting. As a mock panel, the sweet sixteen game will allow students to work together to decide on the most important issue facing humanity today. They will learn how resource allocation, policies, economics, and compassion work together to govern the way we live. Not only will this activity open your eyes, it will also open your heart..giving you some ‘food

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Andrew Nisker: Documentary Screening, Room: 302

Engineers Without Borders: Fair Trade, Room: 104Come on a journey with members of EWB as we take you through the supply chain products go through to get from farmers half a world away to our super markets and stores. More specifically we will be looking at the journey of fair trade products through the use of visual descriptions, a real world case study, and discussion of the pros and cons of fair trade as well as the current efforts EWB and members of the McMaster community are involved in to have McMaster become the 2nd Fair Trade certified campus in Canada (& first in Ontario)!

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MORNING PANEL (11:05 am – 12:40 pm)

Arab Spring PanelThe series of revolutions that took place in the Middle East following December 2010 took the world by surprise.  How did this shift towards democracy come about?  Could it have been predicted?  Will coveted change come with new leaders and new political systems? Dr. Atif Kubursi, Amal Abuzguya, and Dr. John Colarusso will weigh in on the reasons, realities and the repercussions of the Arab SpringModerator: Shawn Fazel (VP Finance at McMaster’s Engineers Without Borders)Room: 302 (55 minutes)

Indigenous RightsDespite the overall high standard of living enjoyed by most Canadians, Indigenous peoples experience widespread impoverishment and deprivation. The panel analyses the issues of violence against Indigenous women, land and resource disputes and the challenges that Indigenous communities are currently facing. The panel also discusses some strategies and policies that can be implemented by the Canadian government, First Nations communities and NGOs to address these issues. Speakers include Dr. Nancy Doubleday, who holds the Hope Chair in Peace and Health at McMaster University, and Dr. Jeffrey Dennis, an Assistant Professor of Sociology at McMaster University.Moderator: Brianna Smrke (Co-Chair of World University Service of Canada, McMaster Chapter)

8AFTERNOON PANELS (2:30-4:05 pm)

Taking Over Wall Street: #Occupy’s Legacy and the Future of the Financial District The Occupy Wall Street Panel explores the underlying tensions of the 99% vs. 1% phenomenon, which began in Zuccotti Park, New York, and has since extended worldwide. Dr. Nancy Doubleday (Peace Studies), Dr. Stephen Jones (Economics), and Dr. Don Wells (Labour Studies) will weigh in on the causes and consequences of the Occupy Wallstreet movement in our time and beyond.Moderator: Room: 302 (55 minutes)

Environmentalism in a High-Tech World This panel will aim to discuss the connections and tensions between environmentalism and technology. In this high-tech, capitalist world, does sustainable living matter? How can government policies affect change? Why do people deny global warming? Can capitalism, technology and sustainability co-exist, or do we need to change? Dr. Michael Egan, an environmental historian, Andrew Nisker, an activist and a filmmaker, John Chadwick, a geoscientist with Cole Engineering’s Environmental Management Group, along with Dr. Lynda Lukasik, the executive director of Environment Hamilton will weigh in.Moderator: Jeff Wyngarden (MSU Speaker)

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Cathy Crowe is a Street Nurse in Toronto. She has worked in the area of homelessness since 1988. She prefers to be called a Street Nurse.  She points out that at that time there were only 4 or 5 street nurses in Toronto, perhaps even Canada, compared to probably 100 now, from Victoria to Halifax.  That, in itself, makes a powerful statement about the extent of homelessness.

In 1998 she co-founded the Toronto Disaster Relief Committee (TDRC) which declared homelessness a National Disaster. The disaster campaign is a three level campaign targeting federal, provincial and municipal solutions to the homeless disaster and housing crisis.  Its signature 1% slogan refers to the demand that all levels of government commit an additional 1% of their budgets to affordable housing. From 2004-2009 she was the recipient of the Atkinson Charitable Foundation’s Economic Justice Award and worked both locally and nationally on issues related to homelessness.  During her fellowship she authored Dying for a Home: Homeless Activists Speak Out

Dr. Stephen Jones will be looking at Occupy Wall Street from an economic perspective by comparing the distribution or wages and hours of different workers. Room: 305 (30 minutes)

Thomas  Ambrozaitis, a McMaster University student who is a part of the Occupy McMaster movement, will be giving a presentation about his personal experience in the movement at the Occupy Toronto community of St. James Park. He will focus on what happened at the park and what was important about that. He will describe the unique community and way of communicating and sharing space that took place and why that, in and of itself, is important to the movement as it addresses global, political and

Building Community Power Co-Operatively

You’ll be introduced to the idea of community power: decentralized, locally-owned and generated renewable energy systems.

Renewable energy generation (solar, wind, bio-energy, hydro) gives communities greater control over their power system in an era of rising energy prices and climate change. By owning our own community power projects we can decrease Hamilton’s reliance on fossil-fuels, while increasing our self-sufficiency and resiliency. The co-operative (co-op) is one way to own community power projects.Co-ops  are  formed  when  a  group  of individuals  come  together  to  meet  a common  need.Since renewable are currently far too expensive to be accessible to most people,

Foreign Direct Investments in Africa’s Farmlands: Threat or Opportunity? with Omar Saif and Water Without BordersRoom: 305 (30 minutes)

No Nature: The Problem with Environmental Sustainability Sustainability has gone mainstream. It now serves as the universally accepted cornerstone of political and economic guidelines for dealing with the planet’s ecological and social crisis. Just as environmental issues are now entrenched within the popular media, sustainability and sustainable development have become global buzzwords that unite environmentalists, legislators, and industry the world over. Here’s the rub: sustainability is a fairly new concept and one that highlights the environmental transition from civilization protecting wild nature to a much broader exercise in saving civilization from itself. In the aftermath of this transition—and with “sustainability” in the ascendency—there seems little room spared for sophisticated discussion of nature’s intrinsic rights (nature is strictly a resource) or what Albert Schweitzer famously referred to as the “reverence for life.” This workshop seeks to shine some light

Indigenous Rights Roundtable with Sarah Olutola, Chelsea Gabel, Rick Monture and Jennifer Adese

Room: 104 (40 minutes)

Water Governance PanelThis panel will explore the complexities inherent in our use of water. It will look at water from three aspects – health, management and sustainability as water is a crucial resource for survival and is of great importance globally. Dr. Velma Grover, Dr. Susan Watt and Dr. Richard Thomas will each address these topics as well as give their positions on water rights and water scarcity from their respective backgrounds.  Moderator: Omar Saif (Sustainability Assistant with research interests in water scarcity)

Arab Spring: Causes and Consequences with Dr. KubursiRoom: 302 (30 minutes)