Advocating for Safer Workplaces

On April 24^th 2013 the collapse of the
Rana Plaza in Savar, Bangladesh meant that hundreds of families have been left unable to sustain themselves. The Plaza, which contained about 3000 workers lost a total (as of May 22, 2013) of 1,127 lives- each one of these numbers represents a lost relationship with a Mother, Father, Daughter, Son, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin and Friend.

What does this mean to you?

For me it was wondering how to support a dear friend of mine. A friend who was feeling horrified by the hundreds of lost lives and the lack of compassion and concern expressed by her peers. It was the feeling that people did not care about a place that she calls her home.

Although many international clothing brands have made the effort to sign onto the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, a contract which mandates safer building practices (for example, including fire exits and utilizing high quality construction materials), many North American Brands did not. These brands include Gap, Walmart, Macy’s, Sears, JC Penny, The North Face, Target, Kohl’s, Made in the Shade, Osh Kosh, Nordstrom, American Eagle, The Childrens Place, Old Navy, Banana Republic and Footlocker.

When I reflect on this, it is easy for me to see where my friend is coming from. It is scary for me to think about the amount of people who shop at these stores- and the fact that this population of shoppers includes myself, my friends and family members. The money that we spend at these stores may at face value appear as baby clothes for a new nephew or a brightly coloured shirt for a night out with friends. But beyond face value, this money represents a vote of confidence for these brands and their practices. These practices include devaluing specific populations including the 1, 127 individuals who were killed. These practices include “forgetting” to put fire exits on buildings and paying employees as little as $38 a month. Is this considerate? Does this show that people care? In my opinion: no. It shows that people, like me, are forgetting that these materials were made by a person with a story and that their story and their life as just as valuable as our own.

So what can we do to address this?

One of the main things is refraining from shopping at stores who have not signed onto the Accord. Another thing would be supporting the stores that advocate for safe work places and respectful conditions. Companies like H&M, PVH Corporation (who owns Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Van Heusen, IZOD, ARROW and Bass), Loblaws and Abercrombie and Fitch (I’m just as surprised as you are) have signed the Accord.

Another thing that would help, in my opinion, is paying attention to the discourse of our actions. The reason I am saying this is because it was a group of individuals who made this decision and it is easy to get lost in the perception of a “company”- where does the accountability go? If these individuals would have put themselves or a loved one into the shoes of one of the Bangladeshi employee’s, I doubt that they would have made the same decision. I personally think that if we all make an extra effort to think about how we are affecting people, this will encourage culture of conscientiousness, which will hopefully make tragedies like this less likely to occur.

Sources:

http://www.sweatfree.org/shopping

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/business/legal-experts-debate-us-retailers-risks-of-signing-bangladesh-accord.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/05/17/bangladesh-factory-safety-accord_n_3286430.html

http://thetyee.ca/News/2013/05/21/Loblaws-Bangladesh-Safety-Accord/

Perception: Our City is How We Confirm It

They gazed into each others eyes, longing. He reflects on this experience and in a deep, burly tone he says,

“She said:  Kiss me somewhere dirty. So we drove to Hamilton”.

This is a piece of artwork by Dave Kuruc, a Hamiltonian designer/artist and co-founder of Mixed Media, an art-shop on James Street North.

Though this piece of art and its double entendre is hilarious, this artwork is simply a jumping off point. When we look at our city, the community we reside in, we as humans have certain stereotypes. For example, Toronto is high-speed, Vancouver is beautiful, Hamilton … is dirty. What is important about these perceptions though is the fact that they are formed, many times, before we actually have personal exposure to the environment ourselves. So, then why is there the stereotype of Hamilton being ‘dirty’, if people haven’t been to it?

The importance of social feedback is emphasized here. By just hearing others talk negatively about a community, we start following these beliefs, if we have no others to feed off of. Newspaper article, friends brining up a negative aspect of an experience in Hamilton – the continual addition alots to the formation of negative perceptions for those listening. On top of this, there is a compounding effect provided by the confirmation bias – a tendency to ignore evidence which doesn’t support a certain belief and only recognizing evidence which supports the belief (Check out the Confirmation Bias article dealing with football/soccer here).

I am challenging you the reader to one simple task. Defy that urge to pay attention to the negatives in your community. Instead, try actively to encounter, seek out and explore the positives. Redefine what Hamilton is for you, by filling your experiences with cool new experiences. Instead of smelling sewage, smell the amazing array of different cuisine along James Street North. Instead of seeing undesirable traits in those that are less fortunate in Jackson Square, see the smiles that many of them bare when you interact. Instead of thinking that all Hamilton has to offer is old steel mills, take a walk in your back yard and find wonderful waterfalls and areas to hike.
They are there, you just need to take a look and
see.

Three things happen when you actively attempt to transform the perception of your environment from one which is slightly negative, to one which is positive. First, you will start to notice that beauty is easier to see and understand in things which may not have been, and it is also easier to find. Second, by talking positively about your community, the perceptions of others around you will start to change as well – their confirmation bias will be challenged with a consistent amount of facts that go against their beliefs, until the bias breaks! Third, you most likely will find yourself making more connections with those with similar views on Hamilton – more positive, forward views.

David Kuruc’s artwork shows us how simple it is to make these changes. By simply making light of a negative association through humor, we as the viewer perceive the stereotype of Hamilton being dirty as more of a joke than a truth. Help to add to the redefinition of your community – help to shift the negative perception into one which is more positive and constructive.

A ‘Running’ Start!

You’re hanging around Hamilton this summer, possibly for your first time. You want to pickup a new hobby, something that adds to the self development portfolio and an activity that will make you feel great throughout. Then all of a sudden you have a flash in your mind of yourself, running on a trail, with your hair blowing in the wind yet situated on your head perfectly – kind of like Baywatch.

Though I can’t help with making this day dream of perfect hair and cosmetic appeal a reality, this post will hopefully give you the foundational tips needed to start running successfully and consistently in Hamilton. Knowledge is power, so here is some basic knowledge to give you the power to work up to a marathon!

What holds us back

The first deterrent can be seen in this flawed reasoning, “There isn’t any stores to get running wear in the Hammer”. So lets scratch this flawed reasoning off the list. Check out these stores, located close by, for shoes and other running wear.

Runner’s Den
Running Room

Second is the standard statement; “Well where can I run, I have no clue!?” Well you’re in luck, because Hamilton has a ton of beautiful running trails. Check out the extensive list of trails here. There are also helpful sites on google that can locate trails for you, like this one here. Also, using the google map tool, you can create your own custom maps, by inputting specific destination points and then adjusting with the on-screen adjustable onscreen tool.

Maybe you need the motivation to push you that extra kilometer, or to make you take those first 100 steps. You might be bummed out, because potential running buddies may be gone for the summer. But not to fear! Both the Running Room & Runner’s Den have running clinics – free group runs weekly to keep you motivated and active!

I’ve noticed over the past few years, that the last factor that holds us back from running marathons, is typically the most important to overcome. You start running – it feels great! But you quickly get off schedule, due to increasing your mileage too quickly, injuring yourself, or loosing motivation because of a lack of structure. I have struggled with this issue, and once again, I fall back on the concept that knowledge is power. I talked with experienced runners, I looked online – I informed myself.
What I got out of it was that scheduling a consistent running week is imperative, keeping you motivated and healthy throughout your self development. Reads like this Globe and Mail article, will assist you in better regulating your running schedule for the best results. Personally, I would suggest a simple 4 day a week run (short, medium, long distance & hills), increasing your distance by increments of 1k or 0.5k a week.

Now get started. The longer we wait, and the more we push back our goals, the less likely we are to ever begin them!

Someone Special

It’s that time of year again- this Sunday May 12th is Mother’s Day!

A time to thank not only biological Mother’s- but also for the women who have consistently supported us and given us strength; the women who have an unconditional love for us. The ones who have mentored us and encourage positive changes within ourselves.

Though one day is simply not enough to say “Thank You” in the capacity it would require, there are lots of things you can do to convey to that special person how much their presence has meant to you.

This is one of my personal favourites:

“A Twist on Flowers”: If you’re the crafty type, this one is for you! Create a bouquet of paper flowers, with each petal of each flower you make noting a compliment, a thank you or something you love about that person. For example, on one petal you might write “Thank you for always knowing when I need a hug”. Click here to find a tutorial on paper daisies- the compliments however, are up to you!

Hamilton also has a couple fun events happening this weekend that you and you Mom could enjoy together:

On Saturday May 11th, the Hamilton Farmer’s Market at 505 York Blvd will be hosting a free Mother’s Day concert. The Bel Canto Chamber Orchestra will be performing from 1:00pm-1:45pm!

On Sunday May 12th, the Royal Botanical Gardens will be holding a Mother’s Day Brunch. This event begins at 10AM and runs until 3PM. Click here for more information on tickets.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Empowerment Squared: Helping Others Help Others

At the age of 15, Leo Johnson was forced to flee Liberia, his native country, due to a brutal civil war. 8 years as a Refugee – 4 in Ivory Coast, 4 in Ghana. Leo kept his head held high and persevered all the way to Canada. Leo continued defying odds and expectations, attending McMaster University for the next four years.

While at McMaster in 2007, Leo founded a club called Empowerment Squared, focused on youth empowerment, literacy and education. This club went on to produce an original production called ShAIDS of Grey, which tackles stigma and stereotypes related to HIV/AIDS. If you are interested in learning more about this MSU club and inspiring change, feel free to inquire about your interest at esqaured@mcmaster.ca, and check here for further information about the chapter.

With a strong passion for empowerment of youth, and with a particular interest in integrating new-coming immigrant youth into their local communities, Leo and fellow Empowerment Squared members have since developed the university group into a charitable organization in the Hamilton community. Local programs, such as a Sports and Recreation Program, Homework Circle, and International Projects such as the Liberian Learning Center, and many other programs and community events have been major successes in Hamilton since ES’s foundation as an organization.

In my personal opinion, this organizations long-term investment principles  and their grassroots methods of assisting the community are all very inspiring.  As a McMaster student, I sometimes find myself forgetting the immense struggles and barriers that immigrants may face – from language to financial barriers, to resources and educational struggles – the list continues, and each factor is intertwined. With so much potential, many times all these youth need is a sport to play, a friend to make them feel comfortable, and a handful of positive, empowering experiences and people to change an their life forever.
Empowerment Squared is always looking for more volunteers and supporters year around, with a range of different needs to be filled to run wonderful events and programs. Check out the empowerment squared website here, and Leo Johnson’s page here, for further information on the history and how to get involved!

Join me this summer or fall in helping to create a warm and comfortable  welcome and transition for someone new!
~ Ben

How bike-friendly is Hamilton?

Well folks, we’re four days into “summer”, and I think we could all agree that those four days have been glorious. The sun’s rays have been unrelenting and the light breeze continues to maintain temperate conditions in Hamilton. With weather like this, who can resist spending time outside?

Thankfully, the termination of our HSR pass has also coordinated nicely with the favourable weather. For me, no HSR pass means that it’s time to take my bicycle out of hibernation and start using it full time. But how will this affect my quest to explore Hamilton?

About 2 weeks ago, I took a dangerous ride to an office at King and Locke. I’ll admit that I didn’t plan my return route very thoroughly, but the entire experience got me thinking. Was it my poor planning or the lack of safe bicycle routes that made me feel uncomfortable on my ride? Should I have to take enormous detours on my bike to navigate the city, or should we be looking for ways to make key locations in the city more accessible for cyclists?

While the City of Hamilton continues to work towards promotion of cycling and improvement of cycling routes, I can’t help but notice that the existing network is rather sketchy. The annual “Hamilton Bike Routes, Trails and Parks” map is comprehensive enough to show that bike lanes are minimal, and often end at dangerously busy sections of road.

For now, the best I can do is continue to educate myself about bike safety and be as vigilant as possible, but this summer I can guarantee that cycling accessibility will be on my radar.

Well that’s a hatchin’

You may have heard that the first bald eagles to be born in Hamilton for decades have recently hatched. With a simple search of the internet, you might find this interesting CBC article, but on a more exciting note, why not see it for yourself. The eagles nest is located in Cootes Paradise and is visible from the boardwalk that runs through the marshland. If you would like to see it and learn more about Hamilton’s naturalist efforts, there is a planned excursion at 5:30 pm today. Led by Jen Baker of the Hamilton Naturalists Club, the group will be meeting at the Nature Interpretative Centre at the Arboretum, Old Guelph Road. This is a rare opportunity and may serve as a wonderful break from exam studying.