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EARTH WALK / EARTH WEEK 2001 -- CATCH THE VISION

Last year's Earth Week included over 100 events and thousands of participants. If we're lucky, this April we'll enjoy the 20th Annual Earth Walk once again as its flagship event. 

These initiatives uniquely bring together so many peace, environment and justice organizations and activists thoughout Greater Victoria and the Islands. I think of them as uniters of the movements. The Walk is a wonderful celebration of our great collective adventure in improving this world, during the sunny, warm and happy days of April. 

The Earth Walk and Earth Week never fail to inspire me. For more information, visit the websites at
http://www.islandnet.com/sunshine/walk.htm and http://www.islandnet.com/sunshine/week.htm.

Unfortunately, Doug Koch has retired as Earth Week Coordinator after 11 years, and Roy McFarlane is passing the torch as Earth Walk Coordinator after four years. I worked closely with them both, as did many of you.
Their dedication, vision, inspiration, talent and hard, hard work, will be sorely missed, and hard to duplicate. Thank you both. (For those who wish to add a personal thanks, please send them your thoughts at the email addresses cc'd above.)

To make the Earth Walk or Earth Week happen, new energy is now required.
Your energy. 

Please join us next Tuesday, January 9th if you are interested in becoming involved in this year's Earth Walk or Earth Week. Apologies for the short notice. The meeting will begin at 7 pm and conclude at 9 pm. Together, we'll lay out a plan of action and assign workers for the many different jobs needed to make it all happen. Or if there isn't enough energy, we'll pack it in. 

Join us at 1603 Myrtle Avenue, at the corner of Doncaster (one block south of Hillside, near Shelbourne). Bus numbers 4, 22, 27 and 28 all bring you within easy walking distance. If you need further directions, call 592-8307.

Doug Koch writes: It has been my privilege to serve as Vancouver Island's Earth Day/Week Coordinator for the past 11 years, but now it is time for others to take the lead, as I move on to new endeavours. Every April, thousands of Islanders participate to create the largest set of community activities in the country. New blood is needed to coordinate the program, and our flagship event, the 20th annual Earth Walk... Thanks to the many sponsors, volunteers and participants for ensuring the success of past programs. With your continuing support and commitment, we will fashion a better future together.

If you can't join us, but want to get involved, please email me your thoughts and commitments, or give me a call at 592-8307 any evening or weekend.

Hope to see you next Tuesday.

In Solidarity,

Al Rycroft

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Rycroft & Pringle, Sunshine Communications
Phone/Fax: (250) 592-8307 Canada
Box 8307, Victoria, BC, V8W 3R9

rycroft@islandnet.com
kealey@islandnet.com
http://www.islandnet.com/sunshine/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Thanks to the invigorating energy of the folks mentioned below, the 20th Annual Earth Walk has been revitalized and rechristened as the Walk for Global Justice: Celebrating Resistance.

The Walk will be held Saturday, April 21, starting at 12 noon at Centennial Square, walking down Government Street to the Legislature for an afternoon of speakers, music, tables, displays and Action & Childrens Tents. This year will also include a Critical Mass rally linking in with the Walk. Plan to join us on the 21st and consider what role(s) your organizations can play.

For those who want to get involved in this multi-issue (justice, peace and environment) event, join us Monday, February 5 at 6:30 pm at 2617 Belmont near Haultain. For more info, or to volunteer, call 920-7261.

Al Rycroft

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GENERAL MEETING OF THE MOBILIZATION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE Thursday, February 1st
7:30pm
Fernwood Community Association Hall
1923 Fernwood Road

At this meeting we will be hearing back from the various working groups and discussing our next steps to build opposition to the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) and send people to protest the FTAA/Summit of the Americas meeting happening in Quebec City in April.

All are welcome!

Read Maude Barlow's in-depth analysis of the FTAA at www.canadians.org/campaigns/campaigns-tradepub-ftaa2.html.


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MOBILIZATION FOR GLOBAL JUSTICE
To join the e-mail distribution list to advise opponents of the FTAA (Free Trade Area of the Americas) of related events and initiatives happening in Victoria BC, or for other inquires, please contact

ftaa-no-way@home.com.

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