Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Arguments for supporting the family farm appear to be plentiful among both urban and rural folks. However, paying more for food is not one of them. This type of farming has in the past been the lifeblood of the rural society economy, but driven by many different factors, the landscape is changing. What was considered an “industrial farm” 30 years ago is now the norm and as technology expands, chances are, so will the size of family farms.

The speaker will argue that despite variable government subsidy programs around the world, which often makes it difficult for Canadian farmers to compete, the family farm can survive. However, efforts to make it more attractive for the younger generation to replace the aging majority of present family farm owners are paramount. Related to that, farmers needs better marketing opportunities for their products, which often are handicapped by obstructive regulations, frequently involving the Canadian Wheat Board. The speaker will further relate how farm policies can affect food and environmental safety.

Speakers: Brian Otto

A third generation farmer, Brian Otto has been a grain, oilseeds and special crops grower for 38 years. He also holds a teaching degree (1971) from the University of Calgary. Brian, his wife Carolyn and family operate a 4,000-acre farm near Warner, AB.

Otto has been a director and vice-chair of the Alberta Barley Commission where he helped develop the Commission’s governance policy. In the 1980s, Brian helped start and was an executive on the board of directors serving the Alberta Winter Wheat Association (which later became the Alberta Winter Wheat Producers Commission) and the Alberta Safflower Growers Association.

Brian Otto served on the Western Grains Research Foundation for 12 years and is the current president of the Western Barley Growers Association. His community work includes coaching school sports and he volunteered on the Warner School Parent Advisory Council from 1984 to 1998. Brian was a founding director of the Warner Girls Hockey School.

Delegate’s from all 194 countries except one agreed to cut carbon emissions and assist developing countries tackle climate change as part of a "historic" deal in Cancun to help stop global warming. The deal falls far short of what many scientists, environmentalist and the country of Bolivia claim is needed to stop catastrophic global warming. But it represents a step towards the eventual goal of many, a legally binding treaty aimed at preventing temperatures rising more than 2C this century.

For the first time all countries are committed to cutting carbon emissions under an official UN agreement. As well, rich nations have to pay a total of £60 billion annually from 2020 on, into a "green fund" to help poor countries adapt to floods and droughts. The money will also help developing countries, including China and India, switch to renewable energy sources. The speakers will offer their opinions on the deal and whether it’s too little, too late or a good start.

Speakers: Richard Mrazek, George Gallant and Stephen McGlenn

Rick Mrazek is a Professor of Science Education in the Faculty of Education and Associate Dean. He earned his B.Sc. and B.Ed. from the University of Lethbridge before going on to obtain his Masters and Ph.D. in Science Education at the University of Alberta. Rick was a Canadian Wildlife Federation delegate who presented at Cop 15 in Copenhagen and COP 16 in Cancun and has been internationally recognized as a leading science, technology and environmental educator.

George Gallant has been an independent producer for the past 13 years working on various projects including broadcasting daily live video back to Canada from Nepal for CBC Newsworld during the successful Everest 2000 Expedition. His work has earned him awards for Best Educational programming and in 2005 George was the Director and one of the Producers of the 7 part series Water Under Fire which exposed our nation’s water crisis. Since 2007 he has been teaching TV production at Lethbridge College and working with the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

Stephen McGlenn is a recent graduate of the University of Lethbridge, completing his BA with Honours and Distinction in Native American Studies. Stephen recently attended COP16 in Cancun as part of the Canadian Youth Delegation, a non-governmental organization of youth leaders from across the country that has been sending delegations to the UNFCCC meetings for several years to present the perspective of youth on the issue of climate change. Stephen is an advocate for social justice issues, in particular those associated with climate change and indigenous rights. Stephen currently works as a nature interpreter at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre.

The Galt Museum & Archives is committed to sustainability within its own organization. 2011 marks the second year it is participating in Earth Hour [March 26, 8:30 pm] and it will be host to the traveling exhibit “Earth’s Climate in the Balance” from January 21 – April 22, 2012.

Eight Student competitors kicked off the 2011 U of L Student Speaker Challenge on January 18, 2011. Robbie Rolfe and Thomas Fox, Brittany Kocken and Taylor Webb, Channing Stenhouse and Sara Ortiz Ospina, Alex Masse and Rory Tarant competed in the preliminary rounds with Thomas Fox and Taylor Webb, Channing Stenhouse and Rory Tarant squaring off in the semifinals.

A wide variety of solutions were offered, ranging from globalization to climate justice to upholding human rights and the rule of law. Acceptance and respect regarding diverse cultures was also cited as important, as was the possibility of forming a representative world governing body specifically metering out global justice. It was generally felt however, that “Global Justice” in terms of total equality among people, most likely is unachievable, not only globally, but also within nations.

Speakers: Channing Stenhouse and Thomas Fox

Channing Stenhouse was born in Peace River and raised with two brothers and a foster sister in McLennan, AB. In 2006 she moved to Lethbridge to study music. Since then, she has been an active member of the Lethbridge music community, and has organized several different types of benefit concerts in order to bridge the gap between music and meaningful contribution. Channing is currently in her fifth and final year of study at the U of L (Bachelor of Music program) and intends to continue her studies in conducting at the post-graduate level.

Thomas Fox is a long-time Lethbridge resident. Born in Winnipeg, Thomas took some time off for traveling between high school and University. In his last semester at U of L, Thomas will only be taking one class, but will also be working on the University's first Environmental Science Honors Thesis, analyzing glacier flow dynamics using a GIS. His interests include science, music, chess, cycling and activism. Thomas is currently on the board of directors for both LPIRG and Amnesty International Lethbridge. He is planning to eventually enter grad or law school.

Eight Student competitors kicked off the 2011 U of L Student Speaker Challenge on January 18, 2011. Robbie Rolfe and Thomas Fox, Brittany Kocken and Taylor Webb, Channing Stenhouse and Sara Ortiz Ospina, Alex Masse and Rory Tarant competed in the preliminary rounds with Thomas Fox and Taylor Webb, Channing Stenhouse and Rory Tarant squaring off in the semifinals.

A wide variety of solutions were offered, ranging from globalization to climate justice to upholding human rights and the rule of law. Acceptance and respect regarding diverse cultures was also cited as important, as was the possibility of forming a representative world governing body specifically metering out global justice. It was generally felt however, that “Global Justice” in terms of total equality among people, most likely is unachievable, not only globally, but also within nations.

Speakers: Channing Stenhouse and Thomas Fox

Channing Stenhouse was born in Peace River and raised with two brothers and a foster sister in McLennan, AB. In 2006 she moved to Lethbridge to study music. Since then, she has been an active member of the Lethbridge music community, and has organized several different types of benefit concerts in order to bridge the gap between music and meaningful contribution. Channing is currently in her fifth and final year of study at the U of L (Bachelor of Music program) and intends to continue her studies in conducting at the post-graduate level.

Thomas Fox is a long-time Lethbridge resident. Born in Winnipeg, Thomas took some time off for traveling between high school and University. In his last semester at U of L, Thomas will only be taking one class, but will also be working on the University's first Environmental Science Honors Thesis, analyzing glacier flow dynamics using a GIS. His interests include science, music, chess, cycling and activism. Thomas is currently on the board of directors for both LPIRG and Amnesty International Lethbridge. He is planning to eventually enter grad or law school.

January 18 – March 15, 2011

Ballroom A in the SU building

and at Andy’s Place (AH 100)

University of Lethbridge

The third annual Student Speaker Challenge will kick off on Tuesday, Jan. 18 with a total of eight students competing in this year’s event, addressing the question: What is global justice and how can it be achieved?

The Student Speaker Challenge is a collaboration of SACPA, LPIRG and the U of L Students Union, with financial and promotional support from the University of Lethbridge.

A panel of judges will determine who wins the competition, with a prize of $500 going to the overall winner. Second place will receive $300 and $100 prizes will be awarded to the two students not advancing past semifinals.

Student Speaker Challenge Preliminary Session Schedule at the University of Lethbridge is: Session 1 - Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 12:15 p.m. in Ballroom A, Students Union Building

Speakers - Robbie Rolfe and Thomas Fox Session 2 - Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 12:15 p.m. in Ballroom A

Speakers - Brittany Kocken and Taylor Webb

Session 3 – Tuesday, Feb 1 at 12:15 p.m. in Ballroom A

Speakers - Channing Stenhouse and Sara Ortiz Ospina

Session 4 - Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 12:15 p.m. in Ballroom A

Speakers - Alex Masse and Rory Tarant

Semifinal Session Schedule

Tuesday, March 1 at 4:30 p.m. in Ballroom A Tuesday, March 8 at 4:30 p.m. in Ballroom A

Final Session - Tuesday, March 15 at 7 p.m. in Andy’s Place (AH100)

The two Finalists will present at SACPA’s regular session, Thursday, March 17, noon-1:30 at CKC

January 18 – March 15, 2011

Ballroom A in the SU building

and at Andy’s Place (AH 100)

University of Lethbridge

The third annual Student Speaker Challenge will kick off on Tuesday, Jan. 18 with a total of eight students competing in this year’s event, addressing the question: What is global justice and how can it be achieved?

The Student Speaker Challenge is a collaboration of SACPA, LPIRG and the U of L Students Union, with financial and promotional support from the University of Lethbridge.

A panel of judges will determine who wins the competition, with a prize of $500 going to the overall winner. Second place will receive $300 and $100 prizes will be awarded to the two students not advancing past semifinals.

Student Speaker Challenge Preliminary Session Schedule at the University of Lethbridge is: Session 1 - Tuesday, Jan. 18 at 12:15 p.m. in Ballroom A, Students Union Building

Speakers - Robbie Rolfe and Thomas Fox Session 2 - Wednesday, Jan. 26 at 12:15 p.m. in Ballroom A

Speakers - Brittany Kocken and Taylor Webb

Session 3 – Tuesday, Feb 1 at 12:15 p.m. in Ballroom A

Speakers - Channing Stenhouse and Sara Ortiz Ospina

Session 4 - Wednesday, Feb. 9 at 12:15 p.m. in Ballroom A

Speakers - Alex Masse and Rory Tarant

Semifinal Session Schedule

Tuesday, March 1 at 4:30 p.m. in Ballroom A Tuesday, March 8 at 4:30 p.m. in Ballroom A

Final Session - Tuesday, March 15 at 7 p.m. in Andy’s Place (AH100)

The two Finalists will present at SACPA’s regular session, Thursday, March 17, noon-1:30 at CKC

Alberta appears to be moving towards a serious water crisis. Climate change is causing rapid melting of the glaciers and decreasing snowpack on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, the source of most Alberta's water. Alberta has the fastest growing population in Canada and this growing population is centered in the southern most, driest region of the province. Industry and agriculture continue to thirst for more water to expand their operations; but as rivers are beginning and expected to continue to decline, the water limits are becoming evident.

An Our Water Is Not For Sale (OWINF) working group came together in 2010 when it became apparent the Alberta government was planning on changing Alberta's current water allocation system to a market based system. The proposed water market system could give wealthy and powerful individuals and companies better access and control over Alberta's already over allocated water resources. OWINF believes the proposed water markets would have insufficient conservation tools and would promote the use of nearly all flowing water. Furthermore, the market system gives those with the most money such as industry, including oil and gas explorations and large-scale agriculture, the ability to compete with municipalities for water. This could leave rivers and streams with very limited amounts of clean water flow.

Speakers: Julia Dalman and Kevin Force

Julia Dalman is currently the Environmental Intern for Public Interest Alberta working on the Our Water Is Not For Sale campaign. She has a Bsc with a major in Biology and a minor in International studies from the University of Alberta. Julia believes in community engagement and volunteer work and has a passion for gardening and cooking food believing it to be a 'gateway drug' to community engagement and activism. At U of A, Julia became a volunteer with the Sexual Assault Center on campus and is still involved now. She is also part of a youth leadership program called Next Up.

Kevin Force is a water educator for the Sierra Club. Kevin has been active in student politics with the Council of Canadians University of Alberta Chapter helping to build awareness and advocacy for progressive energy, trade and water policies. Passionate about environmental and social justice, Kevin is taking his talents and expertise to community groups in Alberta, building awareness about OWINF network and how water in Alberta is affected by climate change, over-allocation and pollution, while advocating for provincial protection that prioritize water rights for human needs and future generations. He has his Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and a Certificate of Globalization and Governance from the University of Alberta.

Alberta appears to be moving towards a serious water crisis. Climate change is causing rapid melting of the glaciers and decreasing snowpack on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, the source of most Alberta's water. Alberta has the fastest growing population in Canada and this growing population is centered in the southern most, driest region of the province. Industry and agriculture continue to thirst for more water to expand their operations; but as rivers are beginning and expected to continue to decline, the water limits are becoming evident.

An Our Water Is Not For Sale (OWINF) working group came together in 2010 when it became apparent the Alberta government was planning on changing Alberta's current water allocation system to a market based system. The proposed water market system could give wealthy and powerful individuals and companies better access and control over Alberta's already over allocated water resources. OWINF believes the proposed water markets would have insufficient conservation tools and would promote the use of nearly all flowing water. Furthermore, the market system gives those with the most money such as industry, including oil and gas explorations and large-scale agriculture, the ability to compete with municipalities for water. This could leave rivers and streams with very limited amounts of clean water flow.

Speakers: Julia Dalman and Kevin Force

Julia Dalman is currently the Environmental Intern for Public Interest Alberta working on the Our Water Is Not For Sale campaign. She has a Bsc with a major in Biology and a minor in International studies from the University of Alberta. Julia believes in community engagement and volunteer work and has a passion for gardening and cooking food believing it to be a 'gateway drug' to community engagement and activism. At U of A, Julia became a volunteer with the Sexual Assault Center on campus and is still involved now. She is also part of a youth leadership program called Next Up.

Kevin Force is a water educator for the Sierra Club. Kevin has been active in student politics with the Council of Canadians University of Alberta Chapter helping to build awareness and advocacy for progressive energy, trade and water policies. Passionate about environmental and social justice, Kevin is taking his talents and expertise to community groups in Alberta, building awareness about OWINF network and how water in Alberta is affected by climate change, over-allocation and pollution, while advocating for provincial protection that prioritize water rights for human needs and future generations. He has his Bachelors of Arts in Political Science and a Certificate of Globalization and Governance from the University of Alberta.

The Tea Party is an American populist political movement, which is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009. Reduced government spending, opposition to taxation in varying degrees, reduction of the national debt and federal budget deficit are on the Tea Party’s agenda, as is adherence to an originalist interpretation of the United States Constitution.

The name "Tea Party" is a reference to the Boston Tea Party, a protest by colonists who objected to a British tax on tea in 1773 and demonstrated by dumping British tea taken from docked ships into the harbor.

The present Tea Party movement in the US arose seemingly out of nowhere. Yet within two years, it moved from being a fringe right-wing movement to one of some prominence. What is the Tea Party movement really aiming to achieve? Who are its supporters? Is it an Astroturf or a grassroots movement? What was its real impact on the 2010 American midterm-elections? Is there the chance of a comparable movement in Canada? These are a few of the questions examined in this talk.

Speaker: Trevor Harrison

Trevor Harrison is a Professor of Sociology and Associate Director of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economics at the University of Lethbridge. In 1996, he also co-founded Parkland Institute at the University of Alberta. Trevor is best known for his studies in political sociology, political economy, and public policy.

In addition to numerous journal articles and book chapters, Trevor is the author, co-author, or co-editor of seven books, and a frequent contributor to public media. During the fall of 2010, he was a visiting Fulbright Research Chair at Kennesaw State University in Georgia.

The Tea Party is an American populist political movement, which is generally recognized as conservative and libertarian and has sponsored protests and supported political candidates since 2009. Reduced government spending, opposition to taxation in varying degrees, reduction of the national debt and federal budget deficit are on the Tea Party’s agenda, as is adherence to an originalist interpretation of the United States Constitution.

The name "Tea Party" is a reference to the Boston Tea Party, a protest by colonists who objected to a British tax on tea in 1773 and demonstrated by dumping British tea taken from docked ships into the harbor.

The present Tea Party movement in the US arose seemingly out of nowhere. Yet within two years, it moved from being a fringe right-wing movement to one of some prominence. What is the Tea Party movement really aiming to achieve? Who are its supporters? Is it an Astroturf or a grassroots movement? What was its real impact on the 2010 American midterm-elections? Is there the chance of a comparable movement in Canada? These are a few of the questions examined in this talk.

Speaker: Trevor Harrison

Trevor Harrison is a Professor of Sociology and Associate Director of the Prentice Institute for Global Population and Economics at the University of Lethbridge. In 1996, he also co-founded Parkland Institute at the University of Alberta. Trevor is best known for his studies in political sociology, political economy, and public policy.

In addition to numerous journal articles and book chapters, Trevor is the author, co-author, or co-editor of seven books, and a frequent contributor to public media. During the fall of 2010, he was a visiting Fulbright Research Chair at Kennesaw State University in Georgia.