Health as a Bridge to Peace (HBP) is a student club at York University, Toronto, founded in 2007. The club was established by a group of students, staff, and faculty members in the university who wanted to encourage dialogue on campus and create an environment where members in our community could explore perspectives related to health, peace, community, culture, identity, resilience.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
May 14 event a success
On May 14, students, faculty and members of the community gathered to partake in a panel discussion of global mental health. The event entitled "Mental health mental illness: Does culture matter?" was a success. Representatives from the Canadian center for diversity created a workshop in which groups discussed ideas about diversity and its importance to Canada. The HBP executives look forward to more successful events in the future, and we want to thank all those that attended.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Health as a Bridge to Peace Initiative
HBP: Health as a Bridge to Peace Student Club
York University
The 2008 -2009 academic year at York University has been a turbulent one. Starting in November 2008, the university was closed as issues of labor were argued. After about three months, classes resumed in February 2009. As it has been apparent in the news, other events transpired on the York University Campus that caused upheaval. Students were met with issues of racism and discrimination due to their religion and ethnicities. The purpose of this article is not to discuss who was right and who was wrong. Rather, the most important aspect to be dealt with is positive directions that the university has taken to promote diversity on campus.
Recently, a group of York students, faculty members and the Dean of Health gathered to discuss ways to promote respect for diversity on campus, and to create a safe space for the development of a dialogue among diverse groups. The group calls themselves ‘Health as a Bridge to Peace’ or HBP. A key issue the group hopes to address is mutual respect and listening at public events. Too often, whenever a rally or political issue arises on campus a yelling match among opposing groups ensues. The rallies primarily take place in Vari Hall at the York campus and result in disturbing classes, promoting hate on campus – rarely resulting in anything positive.
The mission statement of a Canadian university is pluralism of ideas and people. York University’s 50,000 students are a diverse group comprised of many cultures, ethnicities, and religions. Whenever a topic of sensitivity arises on campus, there are two ways to go about dealing with the issue. The first way, and the way the university has seen it happen too often, is where groups of students gather in Vari Hall and yell until no one is interested in yelling anymore. The second way, one that has not occurred frequently enough, is to gather both sides and create a dialogue whereby members of the York community, who otherwise have little or no idea about the issues, can listen and learn from each other in a positive manner.
HBP is working with the university leaders to endorse a day on campus for a “Dialogue on Diversity.” This day would be the alternative to the yelling and screaming. The aim is to have not only a day for education, but also an opportunity to encourage other quieter groups to promote their own concerns. For example the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one key matter yelled about on campus, which consequently results in Jewish students getting harassed and discriminated against, and pro-Palestinian students finding themselves heavily criticized for their methods of discussion. Fascinatingly, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not the only important global issue that has to be discussed and dealt with. If the university is a medium for great minds to gather and discuss ways in which to solve global instabilities, then dialogue is the best most peaceful method for confidence building to see a brighter future for addressing all-important issues.
Especially regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, open dialogue has to be a viable alternative to yelling matches. In 2009, it is incumbent on every single Canadian to promote diversity and change dealing with sensitive political issues from a manner that treads in waters of questionable racism and discrimination to a positive climate of dialogue, mutual respect and cooperation. HBP therefore is taking a stance to create a brighter student friendly forum for learning about important global issues including diversity. By working on promoting a day of dialogue on campus, HBP hopes to change the image of the hateful community at York University to the wonderfully diverse and accomplished university it actually is.
York University
The 2008 -2009 academic year at York University has been a turbulent one. Starting in November 2008, the university was closed as issues of labor were argued. After about three months, classes resumed in February 2009. As it has been apparent in the news, other events transpired on the York University Campus that caused upheaval. Students were met with issues of racism and discrimination due to their religion and ethnicities. The purpose of this article is not to discuss who was right and who was wrong. Rather, the most important aspect to be dealt with is positive directions that the university has taken to promote diversity on campus.
Recently, a group of York students, faculty members and the Dean of Health gathered to discuss ways to promote respect for diversity on campus, and to create a safe space for the development of a dialogue among diverse groups. The group calls themselves ‘Health as a Bridge to Peace’ or HBP. A key issue the group hopes to address is mutual respect and listening at public events. Too often, whenever a rally or political issue arises on campus a yelling match among opposing groups ensues. The rallies primarily take place in Vari Hall at the York campus and result in disturbing classes, promoting hate on campus – rarely resulting in anything positive.
The mission statement of a Canadian university is pluralism of ideas and people. York University’s 50,000 students are a diverse group comprised of many cultures, ethnicities, and religions. Whenever a topic of sensitivity arises on campus, there are two ways to go about dealing with the issue. The first way, and the way the university has seen it happen too often, is where groups of students gather in Vari Hall and yell until no one is interested in yelling anymore. The second way, one that has not occurred frequently enough, is to gather both sides and create a dialogue whereby members of the York community, who otherwise have little or no idea about the issues, can listen and learn from each other in a positive manner.
HBP is working with the university leaders to endorse a day on campus for a “Dialogue on Diversity.” This day would be the alternative to the yelling and screaming. The aim is to have not only a day for education, but also an opportunity to encourage other quieter groups to promote their own concerns. For example the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one key matter yelled about on campus, which consequently results in Jewish students getting harassed and discriminated against, and pro-Palestinian students finding themselves heavily criticized for their methods of discussion. Fascinatingly, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not the only important global issue that has to be discussed and dealt with. If the university is a medium for great minds to gather and discuss ways in which to solve global instabilities, then dialogue is the best most peaceful method for confidence building to see a brighter future for addressing all-important issues.
Especially regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, open dialogue has to be a viable alternative to yelling matches. In 2009, it is incumbent on every single Canadian to promote diversity and change dealing with sensitive political issues from a manner that treads in waters of questionable racism and discrimination to a positive climate of dialogue, mutual respect and cooperation. HBP therefore is taking a stance to create a brighter student friendly forum for learning about important global issues including diversity. By working on promoting a day of dialogue on campus, HBP hopes to change the image of the hateful community at York University to the wonderfully diverse and accomplished university it actually is.
Health as a Bridge to Peace
Dialogue on Diversity
Health as a Bridge to Peace Student Club
May 14, 2009
What do we have in common?
• Has your culture been discriminated against? Mine has.
• Has your culture experienced travesties? Mine has.
• Has your culture been on the front page of a newspaper? Mine has.
Do you know what culture I represent?
All cultures have experienced tragedies and for this reason, I encourage you to get to know me so we can analyze our similarities and differences, discuss controversial topics and work towards a common goal.
Recently a group of students, administrators, faculty and the Dean of Health gathered to discuss and postulate ways of promoting diversity on campus. The group is called Health as a Bridge to Peace (HBP). Health as a Bridge for Peace strives to encourage cooperation by getting people to work towards a common goal. The club uses health to foster peaceful cooperation both at the campus and international level through various events, shared projects and networking. Using the principles of the Canadian International Scientific Exchange Program (www.cisepo.ca) and Global Youth Voices (www.globalyouthvoices.org), the club hopes to build positive relations on campus and internationally.
HBP has organized an event for May 14, 2009 from 4:30 to 7:30 in 305 York Lanes to discuss Mental Health – Mental Illness: does culture matter? At the event, three distinguished professors will dialogue the role of culture in mental health. Following the panelists, attendees will participate in a workshop organized by the Canadian Centre for Diversity. Through open discussions, we can assess stereotypes, openly talk about covert and overt assumptions and learn something about ourselves and others.
If you would like to become an active member of HBP or receive information on upcoming events, please contact hbpclub@gmail.com The time has come for everyone to promote diversity and deal with sensitive issues respectfully. Take a stance and make a difference.
Health as a Bridge to Peace Student Club
May 14, 2009
What do we have in common?
• Has your culture been discriminated against? Mine has.
• Has your culture experienced travesties? Mine has.
• Has your culture been on the front page of a newspaper? Mine has.
Do you know what culture I represent?
All cultures have experienced tragedies and for this reason, I encourage you to get to know me so we can analyze our similarities and differences, discuss controversial topics and work towards a common goal.
Recently a group of students, administrators, faculty and the Dean of Health gathered to discuss and postulate ways of promoting diversity on campus. The group is called Health as a Bridge to Peace (HBP). Health as a Bridge for Peace strives to encourage cooperation by getting people to work towards a common goal. The club uses health to foster peaceful cooperation both at the campus and international level through various events, shared projects and networking. Using the principles of the Canadian International Scientific Exchange Program (www.cisepo.ca) and Global Youth Voices (www.globalyouthvoices.org), the club hopes to build positive relations on campus and internationally.
HBP has organized an event for May 14, 2009 from 4:30 to 7:30 in 305 York Lanes to discuss Mental Health – Mental Illness: does culture matter? At the event, three distinguished professors will dialogue the role of culture in mental health. Following the panelists, attendees will participate in a workshop organized by the Canadian Centre for Diversity. Through open discussions, we can assess stereotypes, openly talk about covert and overt assumptions and learn something about ourselves and others.
If you would like to become an active member of HBP or receive information on upcoming events, please contact hbpclub@gmail.com The time has come for everyone to promote diversity and deal with sensitive issues respectfully. Take a stance and make a difference.
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