Rock, a poem by Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland
This month’ excellent poem is Rock, by eco-poet, writer and theater artist Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland. It was written as part of a residency at the Joggins Fossil Institute in Parrsboro.
Month: June 2021
Media release: Emergency rally for Palestine
Today, Saturday, June 26 at 5pm, an Emergency Rally for Palestine is being held. At Halifax’s Grand Parade Square, Free Palestine Halifax and activists will be calling on the media in Halifax to commit to fair coverage of Palestine and the federal government of Canada to stop selling weapons that are being used to harm and kill Palestinian civilians. We call for the right to self determination, and the right to sovereign rights in a supposed democratic state.
Jamie Livingston: Let’s take a closer look at Nova Scotia’s mental health crisis line
Crisis line call centres are a core element of Nova Scotia’s mental health crisis response. We should know how well they are meeting the needs of people experiencing mental distress, their support network, and the broader community. But independent evaluations of the Nova Scotia mental health crisis line have not been produced or made available, writes Dr. Jamie Livingston.
Media release: PSAC members employed by Harbour House reach bargaining impasse
Media release: Members of the Public Service Alliance of Canada employed by Harbour House, a transition house that provides temporary housing for women and their children who are victim of abuse, reached impasse while trying to bargain a new collective agreement. The employee’s collective agreement expired on September 30, 2019 and they could begin strike action in the coming weeks.
Kendall Worth: Lives on welfare – Nathan’s story
Kendall Worth profiles Nathan (not his real name), who tells Kendall about his tiny income assistance budget, his loneliness and his fragile mental health.
Judy Haiven: Hateful crimes should be classified as hate crimes
“Though hate crimes happen in Nova Scotia, they are seldom termed called hate crimes.” Judy Haiven presenting to the Define Defunding of Police sub-committee.
The Youth Project: A lot of our youths talk about the feeling of waiting
“Queer and trans youth understand that reporting sexualized violence is not a safe option for them because they feel, and rightfully so, that they will not be believed and that their cases will not be understood within the current legal system.” Carmel Farahbakhsh of the Youth Project addresses the Subcommittee to Define Defunding the Police.
Wellness Within: Defunding the police requires changing how we think about security
Martha Paynter in her submission to the Define Defunding the Police working group on behalf of Wellness Within: “Defunding requires changing how we think about security. It means removing these responsibilities from police and returning them to government and community resources offered by individuals trained in supporting our most vulnerable. Defunding should respond to the needs of the community and could look like support for local safe injection sites, sobering centres, restorative justice programs, and mental health crisis teams.”
“If you can’t lend a hand, stay out of the way” – Haligonians rally in support of the crisis shelters
On Sunday about 150 people weathered the afternoon heat to participate in the Rally to Save the Shelters at the vacant old library on Spring Garden Road. Stephen Wentzell was there to tell you all about it.
Jamie Livingston: Mental health crisis responses without police
Yesterday afternoon Dr. Jamie Livingston presented to the members of the Subcommittee to Define Defunding the Police. ” I believe that the majority of crisis calls in Halifax can and should be diverted to non-police-involved teams, ideally led by trained peer support workers since health professionals possess coercive powers that may replicate police-like approaches.”