Where the Great Plains Begin...

Not everyone in the West is grazing on astroturf and bleating about 'we need a law'.

I present a Venn overlap between the feminist and godless spheres from 'the heart of the new west'<i>(Calgary has a motto yaknow...which marketers keep trying to change to something amazingly cluelessly crappier about once every two years...when they're not trying to market us as Calgary City instead of City of Calgary--because we're totally like New York City--but that's another topic)</i>

Woodworth's wank of M312 and conscience rights to refuse contraception are discussed for the first 25 minutes of the latest Calgary-based Legion of Reason podcast. It's informal chat between locals.

As a side note, I'm pleased there will be an official Canadian overlap of women's rights, actual science and the godless, May long weekend in Kamloops, BC.  Joyce Arthur of ARCC will be one of the featured speakers at the *sold out* INR2. Feminism proponent, PZ Myers (on DJ!'s blogroll; who,as a biologist, has had much to say on his 'Pharyngula' blog about favouring replicating cells over an extant womb owner), will also be featured.  He'll be bringing his White Hat he received in Calgary earlier in the year at a speaking engagement hosted by the Royal Astronomical Society. Derned Minnesotan actually looks good in it.

It's a fact that being an atheist is no immunization against being a misogynistic dork.  It's good to see strong voices and international efforts being organized from that angle to support women, educate those willing to listen, and counter fallacies.

Just Plain Spite

Here is Katimavik's reaction to Stevie Spiteful's axe (bold added).

It is with extreme disappointment that we learned today that the Government has decided to end its funding commitment to Katimavik. 

Today’s announcement comes as a surprise, since we are entering the third year of a funding agreement whose terms end March 31st, 2013. The decision is even more surprising considering that the recently made public Canadian Heritage summative evaluation of our programs makes very clear how Katimavik’s programs are not only relevant, important and valuable, but also how the organization attains its targets and the programs tie in with government-wide priorities and the department’s strategic objectives.

For the past 35 years, Katimavik has helped shape a civically responsible Canada by harnessing the power of our young volunteers to help those in need in communities across Canada. In that time, over 30 000 Canadian youth have made a difference in communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast. They participated in our program gaining valuable work, life and leadership skills all the while fostering community development and civic engagement. Their parents had peace of mind knowing that their sons and daughters were participating in a structured, time-tested program, while they navigated the transition from emerging adulthood to adulthood.

In the coming days, our Board of Directors and management staff will be convened to plan the next steps.  

We appreciate the ongoing support of the thousands of Canadians and community organizations that have been touched by our programs. At a time when civic-engagement and voter turnout are at an all-time low, when youth unemployment rates are double the national average, this is clearly the worst time to cut Katimavik. Our mission to promote and instil long-term social responsibility and civic involvement and provide job skills to our young people is now needed more than ever; as is the tangible help to our not-for-profit work partners in communities all across Canada so they can deliver essential services to those that need them the most.

There is still time to reverse the government’s decision. In the weeks and days to come, we hope we can count on Katimavik’s many supporters to speak with their elected officials about their experiences and articulate the value and benefits of a strong Katimavik for Canada.

My best friend's youngest brother was something of a screw-up as a teen. Not a bad kid, just aimless and drifting. My friend did some research and convinced bro to try Katimavik. Bro loved it and came back a different kid.

MT “@althiaraj: A Tory told me they view #Katimavik as a Liberal recruiting ground.” Because it produces smart & caring people #cdnpoli

— Stephen Lautens (@stephenlautens) March 30, 2012

 

But we can't have that, can we?