Tag: Human rights

Myth Busting

There are an alarming number of myths about SOGI education in our schools that are being passed around in our neighbourhoods and around the nation. Misinformation, disinformation, distortions and lies are rampant. Here are some links to resources to find out more about what is happening in BC Schools and to learn more about why SOGI inclusive education is so important.

SOGI Inclusive Education Myth Busting

Surrey Schools SOGI-Inclusive Education

SOGI-PSST (Protecting Surrey Schools Together)

Government of British Columbia: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

SOGI 123

Information for Parents from Canada’s Paediatricians

We live, study and work in a diverse gender society. Today’s children and youth are growing up in a new gender world. It is important to acknowledge and create an environment that respects and celebrates our differences in gender identities and sexual orientation and expression. Creating an inclusive culture prevents children and youth from experiencing distress, discrimination, bullying and ultimately negative health outcomes. Creating a respectful environment helps transgender and gender creative children lead happy, healthy and confident lives.

Fraser Health

World Press Freedom Day

May 3rd is World Press Freedom Day, as established by UNESCO / United Nations. The freedom of the press is essential to the establishment and health of democracy.  In our world of social media, misinformation, disinformation, fake news and conspiracy theories, more than ever we need a free, independent, professional and ethical press.

source: UNESCO

Find out more:

source: UNESCO

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is coming up next week. Every year on March 8 the world takes a day to recognize the ongoing fight for women’s equality. All month long you are invited to join with us in the School Library as we focus on issues related to IWD, including feminism, women authors, equal rights, women’s suffrage, and influential women from history and today.

Freedom to Read Week

Do you believe that you should be able to choose what you read? Or should other people be able to decide for you what you can read? Freedom to Read Week celebrates our fundamental freedoms as citizens of democracies and our fundamental rights as human beings. Freedom to Read Week also asks to to beware of the forces at work which erode and seek to destroy your rights and freedoms.

Do you take your Freedom to Read for granted? These are books that are available in our libraries which have been challenged, and in far too many cases, removed from shelves, and banned. Many of the books pictured here are on the list of the top 20 most banned books in the U.S. for the 2021-2022 school year.

This isn’t just happening in authoritarian states such as North Korea, Iran, China or Russia. This is happening in the so-called free world. This is happening in the United States. So far it hasn’t been as bad in Canada, but challenges are growing here and there are too many who want American censorship to come to Canada.

Find out more:

Freedom to Read Week

Banned in the USA: The Growing Movement to Censor Books in Schools

Challenged Works List

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is essential for all people. Until women are truly equal and free, the world is not as it should be for any human being.

Find out more:

International Women’s Day

UN Women

Amnesty International

United Nations

Join us all month long, in person, and online, as we learn more about the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality for women in Canada, and around the world.

Freedom to Read Week

Do you see any common themes amongst all these books?

These are just some of the books that have been challenged, banned and removed from school libraries in the USA, just this year. The freedom to read what you want to read is a fundamental cornerstone of democracy. However, just as democracy itself is under siege around the world, the freedom to read cannot be taken for granted. Anti-democratic forces are always at work to undermine your freedom to read and other democratic rights. You must stand up for those rights.

Is it a coincidence that the books seen above deal with themes such as discrimination, racism, and oppression, or have central characters that come from marginalized groups?

What do you think?

Find out more: FreedomtoRead.ca

Coming Soon: Freedom to Read Week

February 20-26 is Freedom to Read Week in Canada.

While this is always an important week on the calendar, this year it seems more vital than ever that we understand and celebrate our freedom to read. South of the border books are being banned at an alarming rate. Throughout the world, the freedom of journalists continues to be threatened. As authoritarian and fascist movements rise around the globe, they attack such things as libraries, a free press, and other cornerstones of democracy and human rights.

Look for more to come on this vital topic, as we prepare for Freedom to Read Week.

Books for Black History Month

Here is just a small sample of books that we have to help you learn more about Black Canadians, African-Americans, and other people in the African Diaspora, as we observe and celebrate Black History Month.