This oppression of our Indigenous culture is still being perpetuated in todays society, only manifested in different ways. One example of this would be cultural appropriation. In mainstream society, Indigenous culture is being reduced to fragments of history and mythology.

The city is considering outside proposals and putting the history of the site in jeopardy. We believe the building will not be preserved and we will loose another Old Town Peoria Historical Building. We have very few original buildings left.

Please sign our petition to have the City of Peoria give the Fire station #1 to the Historical Society of Peoria AZ.

Don't let another piece of our past go!

"...a great writer of the past who speaks to the present in a voice brilliant, clear, honorable, blackly funny, and prophetic." Kurt Vonnegut

His house in Prague is up for sale by its owner. The interior remains largely like it was during the writer’s short lifetime, including his desk with an unfinished crossword puzzle.

So far, the Czech government has not decided whether to purchase this property for preservation as a national landmark.

If there are no funds to pay the market price (roughly $2.5 million), which the property owner should get, I would like all the interested parties in this matter, both public and private, to agree on a short moratorium regarding the sale. I believe that 3 months is a reasonable time to see if the people who value the works and legacy of Karel Capek can create a private foundation able to purchase this house and preserve it for future generations.

Zachraňte dům velkého českého spisovatele Karla Čapka, (1890-1938)

Karel Čapek vynalezl výraz “robot”. Psal novinové sloupky, divadelní hry a knihy s náměty jako jsou život štěněte, zkáza lidstva, žena stará 337 let na začátku 20. stol., jak natočit film a proč je Bůh při přijímacím řízení do nebe svědkem, ne soudcem.

"...velký spisovatel minulosti co mluví k přítomnosti hlasem brilantním, jasným, počestným, černě humorným a prorockým." Kurt Vonnegut

Čapkovu pražskou vilu její vlastník nabízí k prodeji. Interiér domu je v podstatě ve stavu v jakém byl během spisovatelova krátkého života, včetně jeho psacího stolu s nedokončenou křížovkou. Česká vláda zatím nerozhodla jestli má tuto nemovitost koupit a zachovat jako národní památník.

Pokud chybí fondy nabídnout tržní cenu zhruba 55 miliónů Kč, kterou by měl majitel dostat, rád bych kdyby se všechny zúčastněné vládní a soukromé strany dohodly ve věci prodeje na krátkém moratoriu.

Věřím že 3 měsíce jsou rozumná lhůta poznat jestli lidé co si váží Čapkova dědictví dokáží založit soukromou nadaci která by mohla tento dům vykoupit a zachovat pro příští generace.

The ROC Campaign seeks to promote and support any development plans by any parties or individuals who are keen to revive the Oriental City food court and shopping mall, as it was, without dilution nor change of its original purpose. Oriental City's purpose was to cater for the specific cultural, culinary and social needs and well-being of London's Asian and Oriental communnities. Demographically, the 10 mile radius around Colindale in North London is home to almost 70% of Greater London's Asian and Oriental peoples. Oriental City has had in the past, been a key social focal point for many of these peoples.

Oriental City was set up in 1998 and was the only indoor Oriental and Asian themed shopping centre, which is home to specialist Far Eastern businesses, services and community facilities. Oriental City had become a focal point for Far Eastern communities to meet, social and gather for community support and celebrations and has enjoyed the patronage and support of many of the Asian embassies and high commissions.

Oriental City had also acquired the status of a community meeting and activity focal point for many of the oversea commmunity people living and working in London, seeking to maintain their links with their country of birth or origin.

The Oxford Christmas Market is a German-style Christmas Market that was established in 2009 by NiRa Events, a small local business.

The market has been located at Oxford Castle since 2009, however discussions have been held each year with Oxford City Council to host it in Broad Street – our preferred location. Various issues and regulations have always stood in the way of the application being successful.

Unfortunately, despite different marketing approaches and great supporters such as Jack FM, First Great Western, Oxford City Guide, Oxford Times and Oxford Mail the footfall during the weekdays at Oxford Castle remained too low to make the market a viable option for 2012.

We therefore contacted the Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council in early 2012 and handed in a new application to move to Broad Street.

After a considerable amount of work by ourselves and Council officers we were given to understand that our plans had met with approval.

But on 27th September we received an email from the Council stating that our "application has been turned down on the basis that there are no strong grounds to support a move away from the Oxford Castle site."

We appealed against the decision, but were told that it "is the Council's intention to re-open discussions with stakeholders about the use of Broad St for market events and to seek to draw up a fresh agreement with them. But that will not happen until next year (2013)."

After many emails supporting the Oxford Christmas Market, we have set-up this petition to support our final application for next year.

Please support the Oxford Christmas Market by signing this petition if

- you have been to the Oxford Christmas Market in the past 3 years or

- you intended to visit the Christmas Market this year

and would like the Oxford Christmas Market to return in 2013 on Broad Street.

Many thanks!

A full month of recognition would provide those aware of our ancestry and heritage a fair opportunity to teach our children and others a vast, rich culture, that has lead many civilizations to success through many innovations, inventions and social structuring.

Another benefit of a month’s recognition is that it would also bring attention to other days important to Americans of Scottish heritage, such as Tartan Day, Robert Burns’ Birthday, and St. Andrew's Day, as well as many others. It would be the perfect opportunity to inform the general public of this heritage.

Many other groups have months to teach and recognize their achievements. For instance; June-Caribbean-American Heritage Month; March-Irish-American Heritage Month; May-Jewish-American Heritage Month; May is also Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month; February-African-American History Month”. There are others which can be seen at The White House website-whitehouse.gov, then, “proclamations”. But, it seems the Scottish and Scots-Irish are about the only group left out. In today’s world we must be aggressive, teach or be forgotten. We must be heard.

We have been working toward the establishment of the month of April as “National Scots, Scots-Irish Heritage Month” for over six years and through that time many states have joined in the observances, although some states have acknowledged other months (on a state level), we seek a uniform national month as April and this would clarify some confusion. Many Scottish Societies, Clan societies and (as mentioned) states and municipalities support this.

We all know that strength in numbers gets things done. We ask that if your organization has not joined, to do so, with a simple “Letter of Support”, stating the support for the month of April as such and there’s no other obligations involved. We ask your help in the propagation as well. We’re also glad to assist states/mayors/municipalities in acquiring Proclamations and Resolutions. Any questions feel free to contact us and for more information, you can also “Google”-“national scots scots-irish heritage month” and we look forward to hearing from you.

March 20, 2012

Dear Minister Moore,

The BC Touring Council is a not-for-profit organization serving presenters and touring professional artists for over 35 years. Included in BCTC’s purposes is to support the work of regional performing arts presenters through a networking marketplace, and to promote and support the coordination of tours for primarily BC and Canadian artists.

The vitality of the presenting and touring sector is demonstrated with nearly $1,000,000 to be paid to BC artists, and another $746,000 going to Canadian artists, in this current season. The vitality of presenting is clearly demonstrated during the 2011-12 season when BC presenters paid $1.8 million in artist fees for over 500 performances in their communities. The revenue is anticipated to exceed $5.25 million.

The BC Touring Council works with more than 90 presenters in every part of British Columbia. These include volunteer organizations, festivals, municipalities, universities and schools, all of which share a common passion of supporting and developing artists, and building community.

With continued support for 20 years from Canadian Heritage, the BC Touring Council has hosted its signature event, Pacific Contact; a 3-day annual trade show and booking conference bringing together over 200 presenters, performing artists and artist management and agencies.

The conference includes:
• Over 40 juried live performing showcases;
• The ‘Contact Room’ where the buying and selling of shows occurs;
• Professional development;
• Networking opportunities with peers from across the province and the country.

In January, with less than three months before Pacific Contact, the BC Touring Council was informed that our funding request to the Canada Arts Presentation Fund was not approved. This represents a cut of approximately 25% of the budget. After a long history of funding, and without forewarning, the complete cut was a blow to the organization and members.

As a testament to the recognized value of this conference and the work of BC Touring Council, many supply companies and individuals offered deep discounts and personal donations to ensure the March 2012 event will be successful. The BCTC board and staff also adopted a number of cost-reducing measures. This is not a sustainable situation.

BC Touring Council Directors and staff have taken steps to understand the rationale for the withdrawal of funding including several meetings with officers from Canadian Heritage. We would like to know what funding criteria we did not meet this year that we have been meeting since 1992.

The real beneficiaries of the work of the BC Touring Council are the communities and residents of BC. Located in smaller communities throughout BC, our many members are volunteer organizations that wholly depend on the work of the BC Touring Council to introduce them to new performing artists, and to support their efforts in providing a variety of professional artistic experiences in their communities.

The BC Touring Council is one of a number of presenting and touring art service organizations across the country. The BC Touring Council is the only provincial presenting arts service organization in the country to have its Canadian Heritage funding withdrawn. With provincial arts funding already one of the lowest in the country, this cut will further impact the ability of the BC Touring Council to support presenting in the communities throughout the province. The loss of funding in BC also weakens the entire Canadian touring and presenting sector.

Funding support to the BC Touring Council from Canadian Heritage is vital and essential and we believe continues to meet the CAPF program objective which is to give Canadians access to a variety of professional artistic experiences in their communities. We ask that you reconsider our application and to restore Canadian Heritage funding to the BC Touring Council so that we can continue to support the work of artists across Canada and presenters in communities in British Columbia.

Sincere regards,

Margo Gram
Chair, BC Touring Council
Manager, Centennial Theatre North Vancouver

www.golspievillage.com/gala.

thank you

The Golspie Gala Week wheelbarrow race could be scrapped, after complaints from drivers caught up in the traffic.

The traffic which is only stopped for about an hour, could easily be diverted over the back road.

This event only happens once a year, and with it being in its 35th year in 2008, lets hope we can keep it going.

Dear friends of DOXA,

We are extremely happy to announce that the Department of Canadian Heritage has reinstated DOXA’s funding for the next two years.

The DOXA staff, and Board of Directors would like to take this opportunity to personally thank the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages for his immediate and incisive action. We applaud Minister Moore for his commitment to the Arts in Canada.

We would also like to thank our many ardent and passionate supporters -- audience members, filmmakers, distributors, festival colleagues, and people all over the world who champion the art of documentary film. The immediacy of your response was overwhelming, and we are deeply touched by the outpouring of support, messages and testimonials that so clearly and eloquently speak to the critical role that the arts play in Canada.

Please join us in Vancouver May 4-13, 2012 for what promises to be the very best DOXA Documentary Film Festival that we have ever had the pleasure of offering.

Sincerely,

DOXA Board and Staff
DOXA Documentary Film Festival

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Dear Minister Moore,

In 1998, the Documentary Media Society was founded with a mandate to educate the public in the art of documentary. Canadian Heritage was one of DOXA’s first funding organizations on a national level, which helped launch the first-ever DOXA Documentary Film Festival held in 2000.

With the continued support of Canadian Heritage for over a decade, DOXA grew into an annual six-day festival in 2004, and in 2009 expanded from six days to ten days. In 2011, DOXA offered its largest and most successful festival ever, with an audience attendance of over 10,300, a 20% increase from the previous year. In the previous three years, DOXA has increased its annual attendance by some 120%.

We cite these statistics to demonstrate DOXA’s remarkable success. Since the festival’s inception, growth has been consistent and strong, resources strategically allocated, and long-term planning undertaken with consideration and care. DOXA has grown to become Western Canada’s largest documentary film festival. As a flagship event, DOXA presents an annual 10-day festival in Vancouver, as well as year-round programming in communities outside of Vancouver, including rural communities that are not served by any other film festival in Canada. DOXA also actively participates with a number of other arts and community organizations, co-presenting films with Capilano University, Vancouver Latin American Film Festival, Vancouver Asian Film Festival, Powell Street Festival, Sunshine Coast Film Society, Projecting Change Film Festival, Vancouver Queer Film Festival, Kay Meek Centre, and Shadbolt Centre for the Arts.

In the previous year, through the festival, Motion Pictures Film Series screenings, as well as a variety of other co-presentations, DOXA presented over 100 films at over 70 different screenings, with upwards 12,000 people in attendance. The organization also presented 23 outreach events during the past year, many at the 2011 festival itself. These events, including receptions, public forums and filmmaker lectures, were attended by close to 6,000 people.

This growth and development would not have been possible without the funding support of government organizations like Canadian Heritage. Thus, it was with shock and disappointment that we at DOXA received the news that Canadian Heritage was withdrawing its support for this year’s festival, particularly given that no clear rationale was offered for the withdrawal of this long-standing support, the decision was made without any direct consultation at all between Canadian Heritage and DOXA staff and it comes at a time when the organization is well advanced in the planning process for this year’s festival in May, 2012 and ill-positioned to replace, on short notice, the funding that Canadian Heritage has traditionally provided.

DOXA staff has sought, but to date has failed to obtain, a meeting with your office to seek a clear explanation of the rationale for this decision. After much thought and careful consideration, we are writing this open letter to you, Minister Moore, in order to ask, on behalf of the audiences and artists that we serve, why Canadian Heritage’s support of DOXA has been withdrawn? What Canadian Heritage funding criteria has DOXA been meeting for the past 14 years that it no longer meets? If Canadian Heritage’s funding criteria have suddenly changed, how have they changed?

We feel DOXA’s level of activity reflects not only an urgent need for the programming that DOXA presents to Canadian audiences, but is an indication of DOXA’s role as an important community player across B.C. and Canada that is worthy of support. The level of activity that DOXA has managed to maintain and develop despite ongoing and sustained funding cuts to arts organizations in B.C. (support for the arts in B.C. ranks last in Canada in per-capita funding) speaks to the level of energy and engagement we engender with the cultural landscape in the communities we serve and to our audiences’ appetite for content, discussion, and artistry. As Canadian documentary films and filmmakers continue to attract attention on the international stage, the idea that there are fewer opportunities to see these films in Western Canada, and engage directly with the filmmakers who made them in Canadian festivals, is both short-sighted and illogical.

The power of documentary film to facilitate the examination of ideas and issues is only one small aspect of what the genre currently encompasses. Given the potential impact that documentary film has had, DOXA feels a great deal of responsibility to seek out the very best in contemporary nonfiction cinema. We actively seek out Canadian and international films that offer awareness about perspectives not commonly given a voice by the mainstream media – a voice which Canadians have amply demonstrated that they want.

DOXA has been an engine of economic growth and development. Since 2000, DOXA’s total budget has increased by more than 800%. This growth, based on a diversified funding base, represents an economic stimulus with far-reaching benefits including strong professional and industry development platforms, and economic growth in ancillary areas (i.e., hospitality, small business, etc.,). The loss of Canadian Heritage’s investment will jeopardize the festival’s ability to generate sustained returns on a local and regional level.

We are aware that a number of arts organizations across the country are being similarly affected by funding cuts. The level of attrition created by these cuts, and the potential loss to Canadian artists and audiences is profoundly troubling.

We ask that you meet with us at your earliest possible convenience to discuss your rationale for withdrawing the funding that Canadian Heritage has provided, and that DOXA has relied upon, for the past 14 years and the potential damage that this withdrawn funding is likely to inflict upon an organization that the Canadian public demonstrably supports. We also respectfully ask that you reconsider your decision and reinstate your financial support for DOXA so that we can continue to present relevant, timely works of documentary filmmaking to Canadian audiences.

Yours truly,

Steve Robertson
Chair, Board of Directors