humanrightsradio

In today's Human Rights Radio, Gord Barnes and Jim Hutchings talked with Ponziano Aluma, author of "We're Here! Now What?", a new book about the experiences of newcomers to Canada when they encounter situations totally different from what they're used to in their home countries.  We discuss the purpose of the book, what prompted its publication, and Ponziano's own experiences as a refugee from Uganda.

Today Tatenda Chikukwa and Gordon Barnes joined Jim Hutchings on Human Rights Radio.  One of the important things Tatenda mentioned was our call for participants in the fourth appearance of the Amnesty International Dragon Boat Team.  We also talked about National Aboriginal Day June 21 and World Refugee Day on June 20. We also discussed Pride Week which happened last week in Regina and this week in Saskatoon. World Pride is in Toronto this year and starts today.  Rob Ford will not attend.

This weekend winds up Pride Week in Regina so we asked Leo Keiser of UR Pride to come and talk to Human Rights Radio about the Pride Parade and we discussed what has been happening in Saskatchewan with regard to Pride awareness and progress.

Jim Hutchings talks with Cindy Bourgeios, chair of the communications committee for Camp fYrefly, a volunteer-based summer leadership retreat for sexual minority and gender variant and allied youth from ages 14 to 24.  They talk about how and why Camp fYrefy started and how we can support its work.

Between May 28 and June 5, Amnesty International Saskatchewan is excited to host a province-wide speaking tour in support of the rights of First Nations children to education, health, and well-being. Craig Benjamin, Amnesty International Canada's Campaigner for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, is touring the province to meet with communities and elders, talk with students, and speak at public events. Jim Hutchings and Gord Barnes talk with Craig about the problems faced by First Nation children accessing education, health, and social services.

On this week's show, hosts, Tatenda Chikukwa and Jim Hutchings talk with Michele Sorensen about a course she teaches at the University of Regina.Using a variety of resources, this course provides a rationale and background into a beginning and continually changing understanding of sexual identity. Pedagogical and instructional implications for teachers are explored, with a view towards creating an understanding of the complexities of sexual identity. We discuss how this affects teachers, the classroom and their students.

Today, Tatenda Chikukwa and Jim Hutchings talked with Rebecca Otitoju and Dr. Jane Ekong about the unprecidented hostage situation in Nigeria in which the extremist organization Boko Haram kidnapped 234 girls from a boarding school then proceeded to burn the school down.  We start off with an interview from a few days ago on the CBC with Amnesty International Canada's Women's Rights campagner Jackie Hansen, then talk with our guests, both of whom are from Nigeria.

Today Tatenda Chickukwa and Jim Hutchings spoke with Tracy Sanden, who is chair of Regina Community Food Assessment.  We covered a number of topics from food security to choices for infant feeding.  Adequate food is a human right and we discuss some of the ways people can get healthy food for their families.

In the first half of the program, we meet Mary McFadyen, Saskatchewan's new Ombudsman and talk about the origins of this office and what the Ombudsman does for the citizens of Saskatchewan.  In the second half, Gord and Jim talk about upcoming events and issues concerning Amnesty Saskatchewan.

Human Rights Radio talks with Brian Banks, former director of the Saskatchewan Office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.  Brian co-authored the report, "A Living Wage for Regina" and we talk about how that report was produced and how it calculates the Living Wage requirements for a family of four with two wage earners.Download the study here.