MAUDE BARLOW AT LOYALIST CONVOCATION

Maude Barlow was the speaker at the convocation today. The International Support Worker (ISW) graduands in attendance had an opportunity before the event to chat with Maude. She was quite approachable and enthused about and supportive of the ISW program.

In our chat and in the convocation address, Maude reminded us that the UN resolution on the right to water and sanitation had passed (July 28, 2010). A more recent initiative explaining the implications of this resolution for governments has also been put into effect. Maude revealed that she is presently writing an account of this significant advance in protecting the right to water. I am looking forward to reading her account; the website for her activities is http://www.canadians.org/.

Meanwhile, Gary Warren is hoping that the ISW program will be advertised widely and attract many students. So the invitation goes out to you and all your friends interested in employment in agencies with international outreach. Consider the Loyalist program for both learning about development and for a six week immersion experience in another country.

Cathy was invited to say the invocation prayer at one of the Loyalist convocations and she asked to do the one at which I was graduating. People liked her prayer and I include it here:

"Holy Creator, Source of all knowledge and wisdom We ask for your blessing on those who have completed their courses of study at Loyalist College. We thank you for all those parents, teachers, partners, friends and mentors whose support and encouragement have helped make today possible for these graduates. May their graduation mark the beginning of a quest to be life long learners. May they ask the right questions, seek the best answers, test and exceed the accepted standards in their chosen fields of study and work. May their formation here in this community of learning, help to reform and reshape our community and the whole of the world. Fill them and us with hope and courage in the possibilities of goodness, the pledges of service, and the promises of justice. Amen and Amen. "

In other news, Cousin Owen Duggan is visiting us while on sabbatical from his work in Japan. He is kindly helping us with planning a deck to extend out the back of our home into the yard. He has also come with slides of his work helping clean up after the Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan.

There was a celebration this evening of 86 years since the foundation of the United Church. Belleville's Central Zone churches gathered at Eastminister United for a service and Owen had his slides running during the reception after the service. It worked well since the speaker at the service was the Program Coordinator for the Partners in Mission Unit of the United Church, Pat Elson. Pat is heading off to Japan soon and had a good chat with Owen about the situation of some of the areas affected.

And let me not forget over a hundred turtles sunning themselves on floating tires at the mouth of the Moira River. I've never seen anything remotely like this. We were in our canoe and we didn't have our camera with us.