Terry

Sam Sullivan’s Salons

Gordon Katic — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 22:01:22 +0000

Green College and Global Civic Policy Society Event
Public Salon: Ideas That Move the City
Hosted by Sam Sullivan, Former Mayor of Vancouver
The Vancouver Playhouse Theatre (Southeast corner of Hamilton and Dunsmuir Streets)
May 16 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Former Vancouver Mayor, Sam Sullivan, hosts another season of salons featuring short presentations by Vancouver’s leaders and thinkers on ideas they think you should know about. Mr. Sullivan’s goal is to present a cross-section of the most interesting people in Vancouver and the ideas and insights they have about our city. What is in store for May 16?

Charles Barber, City Opera
Jim Bolger, Environmental Ocean Researcher
Carolyn Chan and Clancy Dennehy, Metal Dog
Hal Gunn, Inspired Health
Jas Johal, Global TV Journalist
Unjali Malhotra, Women’s Health
Chip Wilson, Founder of Lululemon

These outstanding individuals will speak for seven minutes each on subjects that they are passionate about. Please join us and enjoy a fast-paced evening of ideas and experiences from people who are making a difference in our community.

Tickets are available online for $16; $20 at the door. Tickets for the salon and pre-salon dinner/reception with the speakers are $90.

Green College is a co-sponsor of the salon and has a limited number of complimentary tickets available for UBC faculty, staff and students. For complimentary tickets, contact gc.events@ubc.ca.

Save Water, Pee in the Shower

Dave Semeniuk — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 21:39:18 +0000

The Terry Project in 2011/2012: A Year of Change

Gordon Katic — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 08:09:40 +0000

The past academic year has been a tremendous one for the Terry Project. We have met innumerable people who are passionately involved in the pursuits that inspire them — be that climate justice, gender inequality, journalism, history, graphic design, or slam poetry. We have been humbled, captivated, and challenged; but more than anything, we have learned. In the past year, we have learned that there is hope to affect change on the global issues that The Terry Project cares for so deeply.

Change, however, is not easy. It does not happen because we say that it should, or because it is so obviously right, fair, just, or appropriate. Change happens because people are willing to join each other across disciplines and across generations, and do whatever it takes to make it happen–march, write, invest, research, sing, paint, picket, protest, and struggle.

What follows is an outline of our year of change: the issues we have tackled, the changes we have undergone, and the people we have met along the way.

First, we had to do a little work so people could better understand us. What is the Terry Project? No, it has nothing to do with Terry Fox… We knew we had to better define ourselves.

With the help of Aaron Rolick (who draws cool things for UBC Enrollment Services) and Tierney Milne (who designs cool things all over campus), and Dave Ng (who does cool things all over the internet), we rebranded ourselves–new website, new logo, new graphic designs.

This is what the website looked like when I started in May.

We took outreach a step further, increasing our social media presence creating a smartphone application, and a bi-weekly podcast on iTunes and CiTR 101.9FM. Check out our interview with Canadian TV personality George Stroumboulopoulos, below:

Then, we spent weeks thinking about what issues would be most important to our students this year, and which speakers could best address those issues for our Global Speakers Series. As you could imagine, this was no easy task. Just think of the year we had: rising popular discontent in the form of Occupy and the Arab Spring; a shifting global power balance thanks to the rise of states like China, India, and Brazil; the eurozone crisis and continued financial instability; the climate crisis and the ineffectual response of our international governance institutions.

Who would speak at this year's Global Speakers Series?

Ultimately, we decided our first speaker would be environmentalist Bill McKibben. McKibben, who wrote the first book on global warming and founded the environmental organization 350.org, is perhaps the world’s most important environmentalist.

It could not have been a better choice for our first Global Speakers Series engagement. The November 16th talk was just days after Bill McKibben lead thousands in forcing President Obama to delay the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline project. By circling the White House with 10,000 strong, McKibben brought the pipeline to the forefront of national attention; it commanded the front pages of all the major newspapers and TV news stations, even the Colbert Report.

Shortly before our Global Speakers Series engagement, Bill McKibben was arrested for leading protests against the proposed Keystone XL pipeline. We were worried he might not make it across the border, but luckily he did.

The victory gave some hope to the environmental movement, but it shifted the battleground to our backyard. Immediately after halting Keystone XL, and days before Bill’s visit, the Harper government claimed that this “may mean that we move quickly to ensure that we can export our oil to Asia through British Columbia.”

The moment Bill arrived, he told us how important BC would be to the future of the climate. The government would try to get dirty tar sands oil out through the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline, and it was our duty to stop it. Rather than check into his hotel after a long and exhausting trip, he urged us to drive him downtown to visit Occupy Vancouver (the day after Occupy Wall Street was forcefully ejected from Zuccotti Park).

Appreciating the gravity of this moment, we had a packed two days. We held an interview, hosted a panel discussion, had a working breakfast with student and faculty leaders, and hosted a rousing keynote to a nearly-packed Chan Centre.

In Bill, we saw both an activist and an intellectual, and framed our engagements as an effort to bring together the activists and intellectuals of our community.

It worked. At breakfast, before the Global Speakers Series engagement even began, UBCC350.org was formed. This group of students and faculty vowed to unite across faculties, across disciplines, and across generations–they would put academia’s legitimacy to work, and take a stand on the most pressing issue of our time.

In such a short time, this formidable group has already received a tremendous amount of attention. UBCC350 has been noticed by the likes of the CBC, the Vancouver Sun, Global TV, and BC Premier Christy Clark.

We are impressed by the work that they have already done, and so proud that we could play some role in providing the spark that was necessary.

For our other flagship event, the TEDx Terry Talks, it might have been our best year yet. Thanks to inventive, effective, and downright strange marketing, it was our first ever sellout.

And what a powerful day it was! There were standing ovations, uproarious laughter, tearful moments, innovative ideas, and inspiring visions. We heard talks about choral music, obesity and body image, journalism, HIV/AIDS, alternative medicine, bi-polar disorder, and even a satirical piece about privatizing Canadian history. We got creative, too. There was a new set design, a sing-along, and some slam poetry. For a full recap of the day’s events, see Dave Ng’s blog post and listen to our highlights podcast (episode #6).

Last but not least, we closed our year with another amazing Global Speakers Series engagement. In keeping with our theme of change, Kavita Ramdas, former president and CEO of the Global Fund for Women gave a touching speech on how women are at the forefront of progressive social change. She spoke to how women all over the world have taken leadership against all kinds of global injustices–from climate change, to structural injustice, to development, to religious tolerance and gender equality–while at the same time battling oppressive patriarchal structures in their own communities. More on that to come, when video and audio is available.

Kavita Ramdas signing the wall at Freddy Wood Theatre, just under Ben Kingsley.

To all our partners, volunteers, listeners, readers, audience members, and supporters, we couldn’t thank you enough for a wonderful academic year. We recognize that change is not the gift of some enlightened scholar, high-profile speakers series, podcast, or viral video–change is made through passionate individuals uniting around their convictions, committing themselves to making a difference. Going forward, we will continue to do our part in bringing these people together, from faculty and staff to students and alumni. We hope that you will join us.

Oh and one more thing, our next Terry Global Speakers Series speaker. You might have heard of her?

Novemeber 22nd, 2012, the Terry Project will bring Margaret Atwood to UBC's Old Auditorium. Stay Tuned for details.

The Terry Podcast #9: George Stroumboulopoulos

Gordon Katic — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 20:11:10 +0000

On this week’s Terry Project Podcast, we have the very special pleasure of sitting down with CBC’s George Stroumboulopoulos. We talk about radio, the CBC, hockey, and how The Clash changed his life.

Sorry for the slight buzz in the mic.

Outro music: White Riot, by The Clash

—

Hosted by: Gordon Katic
Produced by: Sam Fenn and Mollie Deyong

Download it from iTunes, stream it from our smartphone application, or tune in every other Wednesday at 1PM on CiTR 101.9FM.

Novartis and “evergreening.” Sneaky way to extend an old drug patent. Kind of (literally) a killer move in the developing world.

David Ng — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:37:43 +0000

In short:

Novartis wants to allow “evergreening” in India. This is an IP trick that allows a drug patent, about to expire, a pseudo extension due to slight structural modifications. i.e. very sneaky. Currently, India doesn’t abide by this, and hence is a major source of generics for the developing world. If Novartis wins, this would be good for those of you with Novartis stock, but bad if the drug that’s keeping you alive is now off the shelf or priced way too high.

In essence, the issue before the court is this: Novartis wants to patent a formulation of a leukemia drug called imatinib mesylate, which it markets as Gleevec in North America and Glivec in the rest of the world. In 2006, the Indian Patent Office denied that patent, saying that it was not a new medicine but a salt formulation of a known drug. Novartis took that decision to court, and has lost twice on appeal; judges said the company had not shown the drug would have greater “efficacy” than the already-patented molecule, as required by the patent law. Novartis says that efficacy clause is discriminatory. This is the last showdown in a long battle.

At stake is India’s $26-billion (U.S.) generic drug industry, which supplies not only most all of the medicines used domestically but also acts as “the world’s pharmacy” and helped to fuel major gains in public health around the developing world over the last 15 years. Countries such as Zambia are able to treat hundreds of thousands of people with HIV in their public sector health programs because they buy generic Indian anti-retrovirals that cost $120 per patient per year, rather than the brand name versions that cost $12,000 per patient per year.

More here.

If this seems kind of wrong to you, then do head over here and sign the petition.

Jonathan Franzen

Lisa — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 05:38:19 +0000

Start with a fun fact. Did you know: trust fund hipsters (allegedly there are a few different types) are sometimes looked down upon for converting real capital into cultural capital?

Onto much more sinister things.

Jonathan Franzen, speaking at a graduation, exposes some of the seductive trappings of our electronics.

Consumer technology products would never do anything this unattractive, because they aren’t people. They are, however, great allies and enablers of narcissism. Alongside their built-in eagerness to be liked is a built-in eagerness to reflect well on us.

I do think that smartphones these days are suspicously attractive.

The simple fact of the matter is that trying to be perfectly likable is incompatible with loving relationships. Sooner or later, for example, you’re going to find yourself in a hideous, screaming fight, and you’ll hear coming out of your mouth things that you yourself don’t like at all, things that shatter your self-image as a fair, kind, cool, attractive, in-control, funny, likable person. Something realer than likability has come out in you, and suddenly you’re having an actual life.

The Terry Project Podcast #8: Food and Power

Gordon Katic — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 04:10:13 +0000

On this episode of our podcast: we speak to historian Marcy Norton about the role of chocolate and tobacco in the colonial experience, nutritionist Gwen Chapman about the choices we make in the grocery store, and close with local Vancouver restauranteurs le Crocodile and the Eatery.

Download it from iTunes, stream it from our smartphone application, or tune in every other Wednesday at 1PM on CiTR 101.9FM.

Music:

1. I’m Lost in the Supermarket – The Class

2. Be Our Guest, from Beauty and the Beast.

3. Japanese Boy – Aneka

4. Eat it – Weird Al

Truth

Lisa — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 04:42:06 +0000

As Professor Dumbledore once said: A beautiful and terrible thing.

Reaching it is either delightfully or devilishly tricky. (The pursuit of it keeps UBC running, anyways.)

Recently, one of the crafters of the Broken Windows theory passed away. His theory was picked up by one William J. Bratton, who has served as police chief in both New York and Los Angeles in his career.

During Bratton’s years in New York in the 1990s, serious crimes dropped 33% citywide and homicides by 50%. During his tenure in Los Angeles, killings were down by half and robberies by a third in 2009 compared to 2002, the year Bratton began the broken windows approach here. Arrests for the lesser crimes emphasized by the broken windows theory — such as disorderly conduct, prostitution, small-scale drug offenses — had increased 30% over the same period.

But what is the cause of this effect? How do we get to the truth?

All credit to Nicoletta's Photostream

Switch subjects: microcredit. In my mind, microcredit–> empowerment / less poverty. I believed strongly in a microcredit cause would lead to an empowering effect.

A NYT article from awhile ago made me think that maybe I wasn’t looking for the truth when I constructed my little belief. Maybe I just liked how the story sounded in my head.

The Terry Global Speaker Series Presents: Kavita Ramdas

Mollie Deyong — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:01:54 +0000

Kavita Ramdas will be speaking at the Frederic Wood Theatre at the University of British Columbia, 12:30pm on Monday, March 26.

Tickets are free at http://kavitaramdas.eventbrite.com/

Check the facebook event for more information.

In partnership with the Centre for Women’s and Gender Studies, Allies at UBC, and the Office of the President.

Who?

As former President and CEO of the Global Fund for Women, Kavita employed her entrepreneurial skills and unique vision to turn the Fund into the world’s largest public foundation for women’s rights. Connecting over 4,200 feminist organizations in 172 countries, the fund empowers women everywhere in struggles for social, political, and economic rights.

Kavita Ramdas is the current Executive Director and co-founder of Ripples to Waves, Stanford University’s program on social entrepreneurship and development. By forging links between grassroots activism, philanthropy, academia, and the private sector, Kavita is a powerful advocate for positive social change.

What?

Lecture and Q&A.

When?

Monday, March 26 at at 12:30 pm.

Where?

Kavita Ramdas will be speaking at Frederic Wood Theatre at the University of British Columbia.

Why?

From climate change to gender equality to global development, Kavita will share stories to demonstrate that women are at the forefront of progressive social change. A passionate philanthropist, accomplished entrepreneur, and visionary leader, Kavita Ramdas is the embodiment of her belief that women are propelling the world forward.

A Mid-March Night’s Dream

Mollie Deyong — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 05:47:13 +0000

March is the time of year when we all start to fantasize about summer… it’s so close, and yet so far. In the middle of March, Green College presents you with the perfect opportunity to ignore the rainy spring and experience Shakespeare’s mystical summer…

March 14, 15, and 17 at 8 pm Green College Players will perform A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Graham House in the Great Hall. The performance is free, but rsvp to book tickets, and please bring 5$ or a non-perishable food item for charity. Free comedic theatre + a bit of philanthropy = the best way to beat the spring doldrums.