Conference Reports Montreal July 2011
t
Montreal International Convention July 2011
Top line photos
1 Adrienne Clarkson
2 Dr Samantha Nutt
3 Maude Barlow
Above: The usual suspects take a break from coffee for a photo opp
Margaret, Kathleen, Peggy, Johanna, Yinka and Jenny take time out from a quick coffee break for a photo op at the excellent Montreal Convention.
The convention was opened by the Right honourable Adrienne Clarkson Former Governor General of Canada who hit the right note with an uplifting, inspirational speech (See above).
Highlights included:
- a stunning and moving talk by Dr Samantha Nutt who had spent 16 years working with women and children in war zones – and could still smile! She is also founder www.warchild.ca/about_founder and Executive of War Child, Canada www.warchild.ca
- Maude Barlow, who among other roles is a senior advisor on water to the President of the UN general Assembly and gave a fascinating (if rather chilling) account of the importance and fragility of water supplies but she retained the hope that belief that we had to act to preserve our world and that despire its dire stat we could and should still do this. She comments on her website:
“Do not listen to those who say there is nothing you can do to the very real and large social and environmental issues of our time. There are serious problems that beset our world. I’m not now talking about a false sense of optimism based on ignoring the very real crises we face, but there is so much room for hope. And such a need to bring joy and excitement to our commitment to a different future. I swear to you this is true. The life of an activist is a good life because you get up in the morning caring about more than just yourself or how to make money. A life of activism gives hope, which is a moral imperative in this work and in this world. It gives us energy and it gives us direction. You meet the nicest people, you help transform ideas and systems and you commit to leaving the earth in at least as whole a condition as you inherited it.”
- Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the Council of Canadians,
addressing Trent University after receiving an honourary Doctor of Laws, June 2009.
- Hilary Ratcliffe and Anousha Santhirasthipam Reporting on our programme focus from 2011-2015. As expected they were interesting and succinct. An excellent report appears on their SIGB website.
Much of the information will be placed on the SI International Website shortly and I will put the links on the Chiltern and Bedford websites for ease of use.
Earlier Conferences
SIGBI 2010 Annual Conference in Manchester Post Conference Information is available on the Conference website: www.soroptimist-gbi.org/manchester-conference/
SIGBI 2009 Annual Conference in Cardiff
Please click on the link below to view the report:
SIGBI 2008 Annual Conference in Barbados
Please click on the link below to view the report: