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What events/issues/policies/people do you think should be covered by the Halifax Media Co-op in July/August?
The site for the Halifax local of The Media Co-op has been archived and will no longer be updated. Please visit the main Media Co-op website to learn more about the organization.
Commentaires
La Déportation des Acadiens
On the 28th of July, les Acadiens commemorate their expulsion from the Maritimes. On this date in 1755, Governor Lawrence signed the Order to deport the population of over 12,000 men, women and children. Many events and ceremonies are held throughout the Maritimes to commemorate the events of 1755, to honour the survival of the Acadian People, and to work towards restoring right relationships with First Nation’s peoples.
In Grand Pré, there is a noon-hour wreath laying remembrance ceremony, a church service at 5:55pm, and a walk of solidarity at 7pm.
Although this is an annual event, and nothing groundbreaking in terms of `news`, it would be nice to see the HMC cover this or related Acadian events that touch on this history neglected in anglo-Nova Scotian memory. Incidently, la Fête National des Acadiens is August 15th.
p.
AIMS, crime rates
2 ideas, both a bit vague:
- The Atlantic Institute for Market Studies (AIMS) is a local think-tank funded by, and generally espousing the interests of, big business. I think it would be good to keep tabs on AIMS, as it tends to have a fair bit of influence on public opinion and policy. In the media it's often quoted as "a Halifax-based think-tank" or some similar neutral term, when its conclusions nearly always represent the interests of its funders.
I think it would be good to do a feature on AIMS and what it stands for. Alternatively (or as well), it would be good to monitor the kinds of studies AIMS releases to the media and provide some critical analysis of them. For example, AIMS recently did a 'National Municipal Performance Report' where they gauged 'efficiency' of 31 cities in providing services. What was the methodology used to arrive at its conclusions?
- Today's Herald (July 22nd) reported that the crime rate in NS has declined again this year. A deeper look at the concept of the crime rate, and the tough-on-crime political stances associated with it, could be interesting. One question that is actually mentioned in the Herald is that of who gets convicted of crimes and who are the victims of crimes (i.e. members of particular ethnic groups, etc.) This deserves more attention; but also, sociologists talk about 'street crime' as compared to 'corporate crime' and how the latter - things like fraud, tax evasion, etc. - actually cost much more to the public than things we normally think of as 'crime.' How does this play out in Nova Scotia?
a couple more ideas...
The Africville reunion is happening the last weekend in July. Its the 26th annual reunion, and people come from all around to camp and reconnect at the old Africville site (now known as Seaview Park). It'd be great to see some coverage of this event!
I second Susanna's suggestion of covering the current status of Midwifery in Nova Scotia. Lots of changes happening there right now, it'd be great to have someone following the story over the next while. onthe topic of birth, the single parents resource centre in spryfield runs a volunteer doula program, offers free training to people who want to be volunteer doulas, as well as a number of other great programs. a story about the different parent resource centres in the city and what they offer would be great.
Also, i'd love to see some covereage on the ongoing issues of bedbugs - especially in public housing. What is Metro Housing doing to address these issues, and is it working, how are people being affected by living with ongoing bedbug problems, what is being done about bedbugs in public housing in other cities? anything that is working better?
i'll post more if i think of it!
Lindsay
Cancer in NS
Hi
1. The Conservation Council of New Brunswick recently did a study called Cancer: The Environmental Connection. They studied the link between local environmental risks and cancer rates. As I understand it, as a rule cancer rates are usually presented at the level of the province or regions and not usually broken down to smaller geographic areas, eg. Halifax, New Glasgow, etc. As a result researchers are not able to link cancer rates to environmental exposures. Would be interesting to profile NB study and explore this approach in NS.
http://conservationcouncil.ca/files/PDF/Health_Watch/Cancer-report_1-may...
2. Anything related to economic stimulus, bail-out, and shovel ready projects in NS. Anything that explores economic issues. Perhaps a story on status of GPI in this province.
How about a look at the land
How about a look at the land that supplies Halifax's drinking water and the forestry practices that go on there?
New York City is spending millions to protect the forests that supply its drinking water - I'm curious what Halifax is / isn't doing.
Brainstorming
I would love to see coverage of the speakOUT series at the Spring Garden Library. It will be held Tues - Friday, and I can't make it. :(
I'm irritated at the "Buy Local" push going on right now, because it ignores how inaccessible many small shops are in Halifax. And how little aid there is to those shops if they want to do something about it. Right now Frog Hollow is trying to get funding together just so they can put in a ramp after their recent move. Why isn't there assistance for this, Federally, Provincially, and Locally?
IWK / midwives and other stories
Hi there -
1) A story that needs covering is the inability of IWK / Capital Health employed midwives to provide for home births. In other areas of Nova Scotia where midwives are practicing as part of the regulated healthcare system, they can offer a full range of services to their clients. Not in HRM. Given that there are several other provinces that have midwives, that home births are a safe and cost effective alternative to hospital births, and that now women do not have equal access to home births in areas where midwives are practicing...one has to wonder what the hold up is. A little media on this story would be a great thing to show that there is public interest in the lack of equal care.
2) this is one I don't know much about, but interests me...what is the new NDP government going to do about mental health care? Will the plan change from what the previous government had planned? Are there best practices that can be learned from other places? How does the mandate of Health Promotion and Protection overlap with mental health services?
I'll keep sending ideas...
Susanna
hmmm...
Here's some suggestions for coverage:
1. Queer and Rebel Days, and the Camp Out event. These would be great to cover, in light of struggle for queer rights across the continent, and focusing on local initiatives that demonstrate queer activism.
2. Urban gardening and local farms. What initiatives are happening in agriculture in Halifax and/or Nova Scotia, that address the changing global power dynamic; local food, organic farming and solidarity economies.
More from marginalized communities
I'm most interested in what's happening in communities we rarely hear from in the mainstream press. For example, the black community, aboriginal community, those living with disabilities, those living in poverty, LGTBQ stuff....I don't have specific ideas around any of these topics (that's why we need the HMC!) but I'd love to see some news.