June 24 UNESCO Chair GACER News

Hello Friends,

Just past the summer solstice in British Columbia, the longest day of the year.  As in all the Northern parts of the world, this is a time of celebration and hope and the extra energy from all the hours of light.  Some pessimists note that this marks the beginning of the shortening of the days…not us!

Some alerts and some interesting items.

Warmly,

Budd and Rajesh

Co-Directors

UNESCO Chair in Community-Based Research and Social Responsibility of Higher Education

ACTION ALERT Re Science and Society Unit

Norbert Steinhaus and Claudia Neubauer have alerted us that the progressive European Commission research funding envelope, Science and Society, that has been funding among other groups, the Living Knowledge Network and other science shop initiatives is under review for possible elimination as a stand alone secretariat.  There will be a meeting with the EC next week and some brainstorming about how to save the identify and the resources of this leading edge unit.

Collective Wisdom – Interview with Claudia Neubauer

Claudia Neubauer is the founder of Sciences Citoyennes.  This is an interview that she has given in support of keeping the Science and Society portfolio. 

Honourary Doctorate for Aung San Suu Kyi

Oxford University conferred an honurary Doctorate on the celebrated Burmese human rights and democracy leader who had in fact been a student at Oxford earlier in her life.  Our colleague David Watson, Principal of Green Templeton College, was on the platform for the occasion and sent the BBC clip. Cick here for the full acceptance speech video

Forty Year Anniversary of the Publication of How Europe Underdeveloped Africa by Walter Rodney

Forty years ago, Walter Rodney published one of the most exciting books ever of resistance and hope with the publication of his well researched polemic and the nature of capitalism and its role in colonialism and African oppression.  This Guyanese historian (SOAS, University of London) taught for years in Tanzania and returned home to Guyana where he was born and raised.  Thirty two years ago he was assassinated during his campaign to bring Afro Caribbean and Indo Caribbean people together.  Pambazuka Press is bringing out a new print run of the original as part of the celebrations of his work.  Here is a speech by the Barbadoes poet and novelist George Lamming on the impact of Walter's work. All proceeds from sales go to the Walter Rodney Foundation which is headed up by Patricia Rodney, a distinguished scholar in gender and health.

The Poetry of Resistance! Poetry vs Oil Power in Canadian Pipeline struggle

A recently released volume from Creekstone Press, The Enpipe Line, presents a poetic manifestation of resistance. Written in opposition to Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipelines and similar projects around the world, the collected works resonate as series of insurgent gestures. The collection projects a wave of words intended to surround, submerge and suffocate the pipelines.

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