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Issues & Experts Archive > Week of July 7-13, 2003
Week of July 7-13, 2003
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Jul 09, 2003
Addressing the plight of Africa…With reports of violence escalating in Africa, and famine and diseases such as AIDS wiping out whole populations, there seems to be little hope for the birthplace of humanity. In its just released 2003 Human Development Report, the United Nations says 30 out of 34 sub-Saharan African countries are at the bottom of its annual index of human development. Michael Markwick, a lecturer at SFU's communication school, says a new lecture series in honour of a late human rights activist with ties to SFU couldn't be more timely against this backdrop. Rosemary Brown, the first black woman elected to a Canadian legislature and a former Ruth Wynn Woodward chair in women's studies at SFU, was fiercely proud of her Jamaican roots. She spoke passionately about rescuing Africa from skyrocketing poverty and health woes. At the inaugural lecture of the Rosemary Brown Memorial Lecture series, Madonna Larbi, the executive director of MATCH, will present Brown's report on her last visit to Africa in early 2003. MATCH is an advocacy group for women's development, which works closely with similar groups in Africa and other third world blocks. Women, Citizenship & the Future of Africa will be presented Thursday, July 10, 2:30 p.m. to 4:20 p.m. at SFU's Harbour centre campus. Markwick, a long-time colleague and friend of Brown's, can discuss her views on Africa.
An old tradition reborn in a new legal reality…A court decision that has fast-tracked the ability of same-sex couples to marry in BC is being widely viewed as a victory for gay rights. The BC Court of Appeal overruled a lower court ruling that would not have made same-sex marriages legal until July 2004. Don Grayston, a member of the Anglican Church and the director of SFU's institute for the humanities, has been following closely the debate over same-sex marriages in the Anglican Church. He can speak on the impact of this ruling within his church, and on other issues such as gay divorce. "I think there is a real parallel between what is happening now with gays and lesbians and what happened when former slaves could marry," reflects Grayston. Ann Travers, an assistant professor of sociology and the founder of a new advocacy group for gay faculty and staff at SFU is also available to comment.
Making education more accessible through imagination… SFU's Imaginative Education Research Group (IERG) is hosting what is believed to be the first conference (July 16-19) anywhere to examine the link between imagination and education. The three-day event at the Coast Plaza Hotel in Vancouver will feature 120 presentation by several high profile education researchers. SFU education professor Kieran Egan, IERG's founder and director, can talk about the presentations and what is revolutionary and groundbreaking about his group's research.
- Michael Markwick, 604.925.2864, 604.710.9300 (cell), mrm@sfu.ca
An old tradition reborn in a new legal reality…A court decision that has fast-tracked the ability of same-sex couples to marry in BC is being widely viewed as a victory for gay rights. The BC Court of Appeal overruled a lower court ruling that would not have made same-sex marriages legal until July 2004. Don Grayston, a member of the Anglican Church and the director of SFU's institute for the humanities, has been following closely the debate over same-sex marriages in the Anglican Church. He can speak on the impact of this ruling within his church, and on other issues such as gay divorce. "I think there is a real parallel between what is happening now with gays and lesbians and what happened when former slaves could marry," reflects Grayston. Ann Travers, an assistant professor of sociology and the founder of a new advocacy group for gay faculty and staff at SFU is also available to comment.
- Don Grayston, 604.291.5516; grayston@sfu.caAnn Travers, 604.268.6630; ann_travers@sfu.ca
Making education more accessible through imagination… SFU's Imaginative Education Research Group (IERG) is hosting what is believed to be the first conference (July 16-19) anywhere to examine the link between imagination and education. The three-day event at the Coast Plaza Hotel in Vancouver will feature 120 presentation by several high profile education researchers. SFU education professor Kieran Egan, IERG's founder and director, can talk about the presentations and what is revolutionary and groundbreaking about his group's research.
- Kieran Egan, 604.291.4671; kieran_egan@sfu.caIsabelle Eaton, 604.291.4479, 604.986.2390; ieaton@sfu.ca