Searching for Porn?

31 01 2011

I ask this question because, astoundingly, the statistics collected for this web page tell me that among the top search phrases that lead people to this page are those of people looking for porn. “Illegal girls” is one such phrase. “Young porn” is another. There are search phrases in Russian and others that include graphic references. Ironic isn’t it? A search for illegal images or pornographic content relating to children connects you to the web site of a consultant whose work includes partnering with the very agencies trying to stop child porn and support its victims!

If you found this page “by accident”, take a moment to look around this site before you continue your search for child pornography (you won’t find any here). Read some of my past posts about the damage done to children by our sexually toxic environment, and think about the part you are playing in inflicting that damage. Read about the agencies who are struggling to keep up with waiting lists for trauma treatment services that are in such huge demand. Ask yourself if you’ll still be interested in the same search parameters 3 or 5 years from now, and then (assuming the answer is no) think about whether a passing interest is worth the pain it causes (child porn + fans = kids + trauma). If the answer is yes, on the other hand, please seek help.


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Categories : child abuse, crime and violence, EnMark Associates, media, technology

Talking About Mental Health

28 01 2011

Clara Hughes

You may have seen Canadian Olympian Clara Hughes on television recently promoting Bell’s “Let’s Talk Day” (February 9th). To find out more about this day in support of mental health, check this site:

http://letstalk.bell.ca/?INT=CORP_BAN_bellhmpg_bltd_011711_LM_en

The campaign is described as one aimed at raising awareness and encouraging dialogue about mental health. It is reported that 1 in 5 Canadians will experience some form of mental illness during their lifetime. It’s an important conversation. Hughes has offered up her own personal experiences as one of those affected by mental illness in order to strengthen the dialogue. The site includes a video with her story.

Also of interest, the Canadian Journal of Mental Health has published a special issue devoted to the recent Service Enhancement Evaluation Initiative (SEEI). It details four years of evaluation inside Ontario’s mental health system and specifically the impact of more than $160 million invested by the province. Dr. Lindsey George, Mental Health Program Director at the Hamilton Family Health Team, was one of the principal investigators and is a guest editor for this special issue.

To access the issue follow this link: http://www.metapress.com/content/t3487j06486q/?p=f751c446a3384cb29116b024e1f61f34&pi=1.

 


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Categories : EnMark Associates, philanthropy, research, social media, systems, technology

Food, Glorious Food

26 01 2011

All things organic, local and sustainable are on the agenda for the upcoming Hamilton food policy conference (a first). “Hammering Out a Food Policy for Hamilton: Preparing the Ground” is set for Thursday, February 10th at the Royal Botanical Gardens and will feature speakers (including Gord Hume, author of Local Food Revolution), presentations, workshops and networking. Registration deadline is February 4th. Cost for the full day event is $30 including refreshments and lunch (local and healthy, of course!).

The event is hosted by the Community Food Security Stakeholders Committee, Hamilton Eat Local, and Slow Food Hamilton. These groups may not be particularly well known but are part of an increasing movement to connect local residents with the foods they eat. They will mark February as Farm Month, for example, with various events (for details go to www.environmenthamilton.org) including a gathering at the newly-renovated Hamilton Farmers’ Market and a food film festival on Locke St.

Growing your own vegetables this year? Interested in ways to eat local all year round? Or just wondering what sustainable agricultural policy looks like? These events are for you. A nice opportunity to escape winter and think about seeds, soil and Savoy cabbage instead of snow and shovels for a bit. And, if you’re a parent, these promise many teachable moments…how far, for example, did the items on your dinner menu tonight have to travel before making it to your table? Do your teens know where they can get a locavore pizza? Did you know you can volunteer for a local fruit tree project to pick (and share) fruit that would otherwise go to waste? Fun to find out, and important information for community members who agree that  local food is better food.


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Categories : community development, EnMark Associates, Hamilton Ontario

Safer Internet Day

22 01 2011

Check out the link below to receive information from the Canadian Centre for Child Protection  about Safer Internet Day, February 8, 2011 (including a reminder closer to the date if you’d like one):

http://www.saferinternetday.ca/app/en/

CCCP’s web site also offers valuable information and tools, so check that too:

http://protectchildren.ca/app/en/home

You’ll find education, awareness and prevention materials as well as research, a parent survey and access to CyberTip!ca, a tipline for reporting online sexual exploitation of children.

Resources for children and teens of all ages are provided, and are suitable for passing along to young people who use the Internet or text messaging, or are otherwise active online. A wealth of valuable information to be shared.


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Categories : child abuse, crime and violence, EnMark Associates, social media, technology, youth

New year, new Act for Ontario Not-For-Profits

18 01 2011

The Corporations Act, which has applied to Ontario non-profits since 1907, was replaced in October with the Not-For-Profit Corporations Act. If you missed it, here’s a brief wrap-up of the pertinent content changes and a link to the new Act.

Legislative Assembly of Ontario

The Act is a legal framework, setting out rules for many of the same issues and requirements as the previous Corporations Act. The updates, however, were long overdue and address current issues and realities. Here’s what stands out among the highlights of Bill 65:

  • harmonizes regulations with other Canadian jurisdictions (including Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act of 2009)
  • simplified incorporation process (potentially from previous several weeks to just a few days)
  • directors now have statutory duty of care (act honestly, in good faith/best interests of the corporation, exercise the care, diligence and skill of a reasonably prudent person, and comply with Act and all by-laws)
  • liability protection provisions for directors (with certain conditions)
  • allows commercial activities if revenues used for the organization’s non-profit purpose
  • increases financial transparency (from changes in annual reporting to rules for accessing  records)

To access the Act at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario web site, use this link:

http://www.ontla.on.ca/web/bills/bills_detail.do?locale=en&BillID=2347&detailPage=bills_detail_the_bill&Intranet=


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Categories : EnMark Associates, governance, philanthropy, volunteers