World BLOG ACTION DAY
When we realized that today was “BAD” Blog Action Day, our thoughts immediately reflected to Environmental damage being done in El Salvador by “Pacific Rim” a Canadian mining company. Shame on us as Canadians!
NO TO CANADIAN MINING COMPANIES IN EL SALVADOR!
A new session has started and we will stay up to date with all the hard work the youth continue to do at Cal-Pipil. Victor and Sarah went to San Salvador this time last year and poured their hearts and souls into creating and starting the programs at this youth centre. There is a huge difference between a youth centre in North America compared to one in Central America. In North America a centre is handed to the youth fully equiped on a golden platter. In Central America, the youth and their families work endlessly, creating such a place as Cal-Pipil, with donations of people like us. Cal-Pipil is a one of a kind and we will always keep close to the heart beat. The following are pictures Karen Aguilar has shared with us. Click on tab “A Creative Journey with Purpose” for the back ground photo story of Cal-Pipil.
Cal Pipil---Two new computers
Shelving Instalation
The Musical Arch to the Key Board Area
Artistic Flavour
Abstract Art Work
Cal-Pipil -Abstract "Tortuga"
Hoisting shelving over the wall
Hard work
Daniela is studying photography and this is a random sampling of a beautiful fall day with her camera. These pictures were taken on Parliament Hill in Ottawa
We are in the planning stages for our second exhibition at The Green Door Restaurant in July 2010. It will be awesome, colourful, musical and exciting. Watch for the rollout of the details. This exhibition is a fundraiser for our beloved “Cal-Pipil” which Victor and Sarah Johnson worked so hard at creating over a 3 months period in the fall of 2008 in San Salvador. We will have raffle tickets for a painting by Daniel and a mini-quilt by Penelope. The draw will take place at the end of the evening of our “OPEN HOUSE” for friends of Harmony Hopes and the ever faithful patrons of “The Green Door”.
Estamos en la planificacion de nuestra segunda exhibicion en el Green Door Restaurant a realizarse en julio 2010. Va a estar muy impresionante, colorido y musical, por lo que les rogamos estar pendientes de nuevos detalles. Esta exhibicion esta dedicada a solidarizarnos con el proyecto juvenil “Cal-pipil” de la Iglesia Bautista Emmanuel en la que Sarah Johnston y Victor estuvieron dando su aporte artistico musical por tres meses en el otono 2008 en San Salvador. Parte de la apertura sera la rifa de dos piezas artisticas por Penny Globe y Victor, para todos nuestros amigos de Harmony Hopes y los clientes del Green Door.
Victor was invited to be a key note speaker at a seminar designed to introduce front line Social Workers to CCIJ. This seminar was invaluable and we encourage everyone to make themselves familiar with this agency. Their web co-ordinates below.
The Canadian Centre for International Justice/Centre Canadian pour la justice internationale is a charitable organization that works with survivors of genocide, torture and other atrocities to seek redress and bring perpetrators to justice.
Atrocities such as torture, rape, mutilation, and the murder or disappearance of family members have been experienced by some 25-30% of refugees and immigrants in Canada. Justice can play a significant role in the healing process, and can help to prevent their recurrence.
If you would like information or support in relation to your own experiences, if you have information about a potential perpetrator in Canada, or if you would like to get involved with the CCIJ, we encourage you to view our website.
I just want to mention that today is Canada Day. That means alot to us. I was born and raised in Canada and I am proud of it. Daniel is a refrugee and Canada became his new country of great opportunities. Canada is an amazingly vast country that can celebrate peace, multiculturism, opportunity, diversity, four seasons, mountains, lakes, rivers not to mention the Atlantic, Pacific and Artic Oceans. Wow, yes we are that big. Daniel and I are very fortunate to live in Canada’s capital Ottawa. It is such a beautiful city. The great Ottawa River, The Rideau River and the ever Historical Rideau Canal. We were invited guests a couple of weeks ago to the World Refrugee Week at the West Block of Parliament Hill. That was very exilerating. We can go on and on about our city of parks and gardens, farms and markets, but we leave you with the desire to come and visit us and find out for yourself what a beautiful country Canada really is. Happy Canada Day!!!!!!!!!!!
The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism and Mr. Abraham Abraham, Representative in Canada of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees held a reception “Voices of Refugees” at the West Block on Parliament Hill. Victor and I were invited along with an elite group of guests on Tuesday, June 16th. This was the “premiere” of Graham Richardson’s documentary on 6 Refugees who now live in Canada, portraying their stories of hardships and torture. Victor was part of this documentary and we will upload Victor’s story when we receive a copy.
This week is World Refugee Week in Ottawa, Canada. The Federal Department of Citizenship and Immigration along with the United Nations have put together a week of focusing on those people how have worked very hard to settle into their new countries and communities. Over the years, Victor has contributed his work to the art exhibition and this year he asked me to do a mixed media with him. Victor was also part of a film and provided some of the original background music for this documentary produced and directed by Graham Thompson .
Painting by Daniel; fabrics hand appliqued and hand quilted by Penelope. Wall hanging prepared for World Refugee Week exhibit in Ottawa, Ontario.. June 15-19, 2009
El pasado primero de julio saboreamos mundialmente el final de la hegemonia politica de la derecha salvadorena; el estadio Cuscatlan prenado de hombres, mujeres, ninos y ninas de todas las edades no fue suficiente para albergar la euforia nacional en un momento historico que marca el principio de un nuevo sistema politico en nuestro querido El Salvador; la celebracion de esta nueva victoria no puede ignorar el trabajo de nuestros heroes y martires que se la jugaron armados de conviccion politico-militar pero que partieron antes que nosotros, a ellos esta victoria, a ellos esta memoria del cambio.
Cabe la pregunta y ahora que? Esta victoria es aun muy fragil en tanto que se da en condiciones economicas muy criticas a nivel mundial, sin obviar la inmisericorde corrupcion de los areneros que sabiendo lo que se avecinaba, incrementaron sus operaciones de desmantelamiento economico, usurpando hasta los limites las arcas de la nacion; los proximos cinco anos son cruciales para garantizar la continuidad y profundizacion de los cambios en nuestro pais; cinco anos no son suficientes para resolver la crisis, pero son suficientes para recuperar la esperanza de este pueblo que ha sido apaleado por muchos anos, cinco anos son suficientes para restaurar la confianza que se perdio despues de tanta impunidad politico-economica; cinco anos son cruciales para comenzar la reconstruccion emocional de este pueblo que se debate en la angustia, la zozobra, el terrorismo impuesto por anos de lideres criminales que encontraron su mina de oro en el narcotrafico.
La solucion de nuestros problemas es muy compleja y requiere de establecer prioridades que deben comenzar desde abajo, desde las grandes mayorias quienes esperan ansiosos salir progresivamente de la miseria, del hambre, del historico desempleo, de los salarios miserables, de la explotacion a todo nivel comenzando por las maquilas; el FMLN tiene una oportunidad unica y no puede darse el lujo de descansar un tan solo minuto; de esa respuesta al clamor popular depende la victoria del 2014.
Todo es posible si predicamos con el ejemplo, si trabajamos con transparencia, si aplicamos la ley al pie de la letra, si evitamos el favoritismo, y por supuesto si no nos dejamos comprar por unos dolares mas.
Al pueblo lo que es de el pueblo, y nuestra nacion va a brillar progresivamente.
Daniel/09.
Harmony Hopes are excited about introducing you to a Salvadorian artisan. We have put together a profile on this great artist who will be taking part in 2010 Exhibition. At the top of the home page you will see the page tab for Jaime’s story and portfolio.
Jaime Oswaldo Guillen
