Eco-Journal, v.17.3 May/June 2007Eco-Journal, v.17.3 May/June 2007
Participants at YAR 2006 collide into a group hug. Photo by Bram Adey
By Shelagh Pizey-Allen
Planning has begun for this year´s Youth Activist Retreat, which will be held from August 13 to 17, in Clearwater, Manitoba. The Youth Activist Retreat (YAR) has been an annual event since 1999, and brings together young people who are interested in activism and social change. YAR is a free weeklong retreat that uses workshops, skill building working groups, and other activities to help improve participants´ organizing skills and develop their knowledge of contemporary social, political and economic issues. The retreat is geared towards youth aged 16 to 20.
Ecological Justice theme
The theme of this year´s retreat is Ecological Justice, and will focus on how the environment is related to social justice issues. Participants at the retreat will hear about labour, indigenous, women´s, and economic issues, and how they are connected with environmental damage.
Workshop topics in past years have included Unlearning Patriarchy and Sexism; Worker´s Rights, Unions, and Activism; Political Ideologies; Current Issues in Global Justice; Anti-Racism Education and Action; Globalization; Non-Violence Theory and Skills; and Gender/ LGBTT issues.
For the second year in a row, YAR will be held in Clearwater, Manitoba, home of the Harvest Moon Society and the Harvest Moon Festival (http://www.harvestmoonsociety.org). We are excited about the possibilities for local programming and a focus on rural and local food issues that this will create. Last year, members of the Harvest Moon Society made a presentation about the learning centre that they are creating, and some participants interviewed town residents for a radio documentary.
One of the most exciting parts of YAR is the Open House at the end of the week, when participants get to present what they´ve created during the retreat. Last year´s presentations included a radio documentary, a video, a theatre piece, spoken word performances, and the distribution of a zine. This year´s Open House will take place on Friday, August 17th, and is tentatively scheduled to be at the newly opened Rudolf Rocker Cultural Centre on the 3rd floor of 91 Albert St. YAR is hoping to attract more folks to the event by including some local musical acts.
Get involved!
People interested in getting involved with the planning of YAR 2007 can get in touch with us by email at youthactivistretreat@graffiti.net or call 944-9408. People interested in attending the retreat as participants can download a registration form available at http://www.youthactivistretreat.ca or can get in touch with us at the info above. To stay tuned for details about the Open House, you can check YAR´s website, http://www.youthactivistretreat.ca.