Stephen Lewis: Tomorrow's Past Matters
I had the second opportunity to see, and more importantly, listen to, Stephen Lewis, this past Monday. Lewis, now in his 70s, was the keynote speaker at on Ontario Heritage Trust event, celebrating their 40th Anniversary. In attendance, on his 86th birthday, was the Trust's chairman, Lincoln M. Alexander. Lewis, while stretching his usual répertoire of being the voice of the poor, the underprivileged, and women, especially in the third world, to the cause of preserving the heritage of Ontario -- remained a remarkable speaker as ever. His topic didn't demand his usual appeal to emotion -- but it nevertheless tugged at the strings when he made mention of UNESCO's championing the allocation of millions of dollars for five national parks in the Congo, while the region remain the most dangerous place in the world for women.
To paraphrase the eloquent poetry my youngest daughter used to describe the talk: for Lewis, words are like an artist's palette; it's wondrous to watch and listen to him make use of them; shape them; play with them; and make them respond to his whim. He is a master orator. One should never pass up the chance to listen to him speak. You can see what I mean below. And for another's take on the night, see this link.
Stephen Lewis' Final Address from the XVI International Conference on AIDS, Toronto, August, 2006.
Related links:
The following links to articles describing brutal violence against women in the Congo. The facts are disturbing, but they remain facts.
To paraphrase the eloquent poetry my youngest daughter used to describe the talk: for Lewis, words are like an artist's palette; it's wondrous to watch and listen to him make use of them; shape them; play with them; and make them respond to his whim. He is a master orator. One should never pass up the chance to listen to him speak. You can see what I mean below. And for another's take on the night, see this link.
Stephen Lewis' Final Address from the XVI International Conference on AIDS, Toronto, August, 2006.
Related links:
The following links to articles describing brutal violence against women in the Congo. The facts are disturbing, but they remain facts.
- Rape Epidemic Rasies Trauma of Congo War -- New York Times
- Congo's tormented women -- The Star
- U.N. Says Its Workers Abuse Women in Congo -- The Washington Post
- "Not Women Anymore…" -- MS Magazine
- Our Common Future -- Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development
- On lessons from paradise -- Robert Bateman in the Star on the Island School, a paradise in the Bahamas, where students go to unplug from the world.
- On our greatest treasure -- Stephen Marche in the Star, talking about the Leslie Street Spit.
- On Lake Erie's demise -- Margaret Atwood in the Star, lamenting the slow death of Lake Erie.
The following are part of a Special Section published in the Star, counting down to Earth Hour on March 29. See the special section for more essays.
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