Global Call to Action - Create a Project for Peace

 1.     Lights Out Canada is the first challenge.     www.lightsoutcanada.org     Keleigh Annau lightsoutcanada@gmail.com

This is an international event taking place on April 22 – Earth Day.  We are asked to turn out our school lights and incorporate ideas on Global Warming into our lesson plans that day – Why is it occurring? How can one person make a difference?  This would happen differently at every school, but could EVERY SCHOOL get involved in this awareness program at some level?  Last year over 100 000 students in 10 countries participated; perhaps this year, on April 22, we could join them.  Although there is much more you can do if your school wishes, we are proposing that all schools at least -

     ·         pick one staff member to coordinate and communicate the event

·         one teacher in every school plan or follow the provided lesson plans to share ideas on Global Warming with their students.  Some lesson plans are provided on the website

·         for one hour the school shut out all lights where ever possible, reduce to half-lighting wherever possible, and shut off all electronic devices that drain electricity (perhaps only running those computers that are absolutely necessary for the one hour.) We hope to get a meter reading of how much this reduces electricity.

·         register your school at http://www.lightsoutcanada.tpweb.ca/documents/enroll_your_school.html

·         email us at peacejam@psd70.ab.ca to let us know what you did (High Park School)

·         resource package from Lights Out also available on their website

 2.     Global Action Week 2009: THE BIG READ

www.campaignforeducationcanada.org   supported by the Canadian Teachers’ Federation

Dwayne Hodgson, National Coordinator dhodgson@cgce.ca or info@cgce.ca or 613 232 3569 x 238

This is a global action campaign asks us to read with our students to “tell politicians and journalists that we need to provide quality education to the 75 million children and 774 million adults who do not have this basic human right.” During the week of April 20 to 26, join us in promoting this theme of literacy by participating in the BIG READ.  Again, at a minimum, we would ask all schools to –

·         pick one staff member to coordinate and communicate the event

·         pick a time or range of class periods where all teachers commit to share stories of literacy with their students (provided on the website for all grade levels; some videos are also provided)

·         register your school at http://www.campaignforeducationcanada.org/gaw/en/ and you’ll immediately receive a resource package. It contains the online readings you might use, posters and more. (link to French language resources also on site)

·         email us at peacejam@psd70.ab.ca to let us know what you did (High Park School)

This group also asks us to fill in a validation form and online petition after you participate.

Do you accept the challenge?                      

On behalf of PeaceJam – Albertans Heading for Peace

Marianne Rogers, High Park School

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Students Challenge Teachers to Commit to a Peace Project On Wednesday, November 05, six Parkland students presented their peace promotion project to the Parkland Teachers’ Local 10.  With great enthusiasm, the students challenged the teachers to commit acts of peace.  They invited all teachers to join them in making Alberta a leader in understanding that peace is an option if we all do our part. Ashley, Ashleigh, Megan, Tate, Natalie and Stefan told of their partnership with Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams, who provides them with inspiration and support. Through their affiliation with PeaceJam, a group formed by ten Nobel Peace Laureates, every act of peace registered will contribute to the Global Call to Action – to have youth of the world commit One Billion Acts of Peace by the year 2018.