My father and I are bicycling across Canada this summer. We hope to raise some money and awareness for Amnesty International (AI).
AI is a worldwide movement dedicated to the protection and promotion of human rights. AI takes action to stop grave abuses of the rights to physical and mental integrity, freedom of conscience and expression, and freedom from discrimination. We campaign to free prisoners of conscience, protect refugees, abolish the death penalty, and end political killings, "disappearances" and torture. AI seeks to expose human rights abuses accurately and quickly. We systematically and independently research the facts of individual cases and pattens of human rights abuses. These findings are publicized, and members, supporters and staff then mobilize persistent public pressure on governments, armed political groups, companies and others to prevent and stop these violations.
An ancient Japanese legend states that anyone who folds 1,000 origami cranes will be granted a wish. This legend was popularized by Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who contracted leukemia as a direct result from the atomic bombing at Hiroshima. She died after folding 600 cranes. Today, tens of millions of cranes are folded in that country and others every year. These symbols have come to represent hope for a better world. I have folded 1,000 cranes and we will give these out in exchange for donations.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

School's Out (Almost)

We had a few busy days, selling cranes at the high school on Saturday and then presenting our project to 6 different groups at diversity day on Monday, also at the high school. Today, (Tuesday) our local paper, the Bulletin, came out with a good article that Keith Corcoran wrote about our adventure. Thanks Keith. If you want to have a look at the article: http://www.southshorenow.ca/archives/2009/052609/news/index011.html
We also received a call from Al Heubach at the Bike Barn in Lunenburg offering to donate some bike equipment to our cause. Thanks Al. We also received an unexpected email from Alex Neve, secretary general of Amnesty Canada, wishing us well. I hope to meet him at the Human Rights College next week. Bob is busy getting the garden planted and fixing the fencing for the turkeys that arrive the same day we leave. Mum will have to look after them this summer. There seems to be a lot to do in preperation to leave home for that long. Only 5 days of school left, and 2 weeks until we leave!!

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Car Wash






It was a cold, drizzly Nova Scotia day but we washed a lot of cars and got more than $200 in donations! The Katimavik bunch were a huge help, in fact, there wouldn't have been a car wash without Josh, Jeremy,Ele, Angie, Frederique, Laura, Eli, Matt, Greg and Julia.