AIESEC Canada supports The Co-operators Group in Developing Youth Sustainability Leaders

The Impact! Youth Conference for Sustainability Leadership took place from Thursday September 15th to Sunday September 18th, and has involved multiple organizations to design a program that not only educates, but also inspires action in youth.

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Sep 15, 2011 - They took flights, trains, buses and even bikes, but the most promising youth sustainability leaders in our country are finally here! After a few years of planning, the most important weekend of Impact! The Co-operators Youth Program for Sustainability Leadership has arrived. Students are traveling to Guelph, Ontario from every part of the country to attend the second Impact! Conference starting today and running until Sunday September 18th.

The Co-operators have consulted with many different organizations, such as AIESEC and The Natural Step Canada, in order to create the best conference possible. AIESEC Canada was asked to participate during the planning of the first Impact! Youth Conference in 2008, and has continued being involved ever since. AIESEC Canada is an expert in leadership development, and organizes 5-10 conferences a year for its membership in Canada to help students students develop their professional skills and personal leadership styles.

The Impact! Youth Conference is a fantastic opportunity for youth that are not only passionate about sustainability, but are looking to inform and create a movement around it. This program is bound to produce another group of innovative youth sustainability leaders that are ready to challenge the status quo and influence others to do the same.

For your chance to participate in the conference or for more information, visit http://www.impactyouthsustainability.ca/

Let’s Celebrate Diwali as an Enviro-Thon! And in its True Essence

Harnoor is demonstrating compost
procedure at Willow Park
Ecology Centre in Norval.JPG

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-
Author:: Harnoor Gill, Grade 8 student, Stewarttown Middle School, Georgetown, Ontario
This shabad “Pawan Guru Paani Pita Mata Dharat Mahatt” that means air is the guru, water the father and earth the great mother. Guru Granth Sahib explored the environmental importance in our lives centuries ago. I never paid attention to this religious context although I heard it every time I went to the Gurdwara. Gurbani has guided us through its priceless teachings since the ages: messages about the environment. I grew up with these teachings and followed through with them as well. In other words, the loyal love to our great mother nature was actual motivation, but now I realize that love to this mother was founded and blended into my personality through this quote, of which I am so grateful. Why don’t we make a pledge this year and help the environment?  It is the perfect Diwali gift to our loved ones. Let’s celebrate this year’s festival of lights in a green way by planting more trees, avoiding fireworks and fulfilling the dreams of our upcoming generations to have this world as a green heaven!

The festival of lights has always been celebrated with pollutant-filled fireworks ever since they were introduced. We do not need the use of fireworks while celebrating Diwali because there are many better and non-polluting ways to celebrate Diwali.

For most people the act of setting off of firecrackers is the highlight of Diwali. The brighter the sparkles, the louder the noise - the greater the thrill!! In fact to many of us, these forms of entertainment seem so appropriate and most essential when celebrating the 'Festival of Lights'.

But little do people realize that in our increasingly populated and polluted cities, the temporary joy of watching the firecrackers is soon replaced by the intense air pollution caused by them. The toxic substances used in the firecrackers release toxic gases that are harmful to the health of all living beings.  

Sadly, very few of us realize that the firecrackers used on Diwali are also made by very young children. Since the substances being handled are extremely toxic many of these child laborers get sick and die at a young age, usually in their early teenage years.

It is actually safer to watch a fireworks display than it is to burn the crackers. Try and mobilize your neighborhood to not organize a fireworks display, as is the practice in most parts of the world but instead light diyas in your home to maintain the spirit of Diwali.

With this practice you will be eco-friendly and you could be helping to save someone’s life.

Because remember folks, safety first!

As my last word, SHOP LOCAL so we can avoid over heavy packaging… and use reusable containers for food, sweets and gifts etc. Make sure we sort our trash into garbage, recycling and compost. The environment will thank us back!!! We should all step forward to protect the environment and our world in which we live in for the future generations!

FILMI 12 showcases the latest of Independent South Asian Cinema

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto, Ontario – The 12^th Annual FILMI: Toronto’s South Asian Film Festival (FSAFF) will be presented September 29^th – October 2^nd , 2011 at the AGO and Revue Cinema. The vision of FILMI: Toronto’s South Asian Film Festival is to discover, introduce, promote and celebrate cinematic endeavours by talented South Asian filmmakers, and to highlight works with South Asian themes that can be brought to a mainstream audience. This year we will focus on two very active filmmakers; Canada’s own Jazz Virk and New York’s Samrat Chakrabarti.

 

Opening Night Film – Toronto PREMIERE – ‘Footsteps to Gangland’–  This gritty independent film written and directed by Vancouver’s Mani Amar about the true events that have shattered the South Asian Community of Vancouver.  Thursday September 29^th, 2011 – Jackman Hall at the ArtGallery of Ontario

 

 

11^th FILMI South Asian Film Festival will also feature:

FILMI Shorts Programme – Filmi is now the premier festival that showcases world and Canadian premieres of future filmmakers from the South Asian Diaspora. October 1^st , 2011 – Revue Cinema

 

World Premiere Filmi Web Series – ‘Guidestones’ starring newcomer Supinder Wraich will showcase the future of filmmaking with this interactive web series. ‘Guidestones’ will launch its World Premiere at Filmi.

 

TORONTO PREMIERE – ‘Big in Bollywood’ – is a documentary of American actor Omi Vaidya’s rise to fame as an Indian celebrity. Omi Vaidya is the co-star of the massive hit film 3 idiots. Shot by Omi’s friends this film takes you on a ride with Omi. September 30^th , 2011 – Jackman Hall at the ArtGallery of Ontario

 

FILMI Music Videos – Preceding each film premiere, FILMI 2011 will also be presenting world premieres of new music videos. This year Filmi will be focusing on the works of UK Based-Canadian Jazz Virk  who will premiere the Music video by Prita Chhabra that was produced by Filmi’s own Raoul Juneja.  FILMI's 5^th annual music video segment programmed by Canadian music personality Raoul Juneja (a.k.a. Deejay Ra).

 

Closing Night Film – Canadian PREMIERE – “Dogs Lie” directed by Richard Atkinson based on the off – Broadway play written by Ronnie Cohen and Jane Beale. “Dogs Lie” is a combination of comedy and murder mystery. The two main characters, played by Samrat Chakrabati and Frank Boyd are truly entertaining to watch.  October 2nd , 2011 – Jackman Hall at the Art Gallery of Ontario

 

Filmi Industry Series – “Documentary Filmmaking”, ‘Web Series’ ‘Music Video Directors’ Workshop for filmmakers and film enthusiasts with the world’s biggest South Asian Music Video Director Jazz Virk. Oct.1st^nd & 2^nd  , 2:30PM at 725 King St W.

 

Filmi 12 is proud to have in attendance UK Canadian Music Video Director – Jazz Virk, New York Actor Samrat Chakrabarti (30 Rock, Deepa Mehta ensemble ‘Midnight’s Children’) Writer-Director  Mani Amar  ( Warrior’s Religion), Richard Atkinson (Dogs Lie), Bill Bowles (Big in Bollywood) and many more …..

 

For more information on FILMI, or to book interviews contact:            

 

 

Dinesh Sachdev, Executive Director

T:             647.406.3269      

e: main@filmi.org

XS BASS IS BACK- WITH AAJA NACHLE London

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-  Call him, Harj, XS BASS or the Asian simon cowell this artist may have many but his passion is music! After judging UK’s Largest Talent Show ‘Brit Asia Super Star, working on the official Remix of ‘’Tonight’’ for Jay Sean and being supported by Jermaine Jackson for his charity single – One Day.

XS- BASS known as Harj D is the man that created and was one of the judges on the Brit Asia Super Star contest which was aired internationally across the world searching for new British Talent.  XS-BASS hit it big in the Late 90’s whilst DJ’ing across the nation and working with the biggest names in the Bhangra Industry with the names like the SAHOTAS, B21, Surinder Shinda, Ranjit Mani, Lehmber Hussainpuri and Malkit Singh. Having launched his 2nd Album ‘Amplified’ in 2008, the chart topping producer is now back with AJAA NACHLE “Lovers Anthem Pt 2’’ FT Jelly Manjitpuri and Maninder Bawa. The singers and production sets a light another fresh Bhangra anthem. Lover’s anthem Pt 2 is a spin off from Lovers Anthem Pt 1 featured on Amplified which topped the iTunes chart and entered the mainstream charts in the Germany.   Lovers Anthem Part 2 out – October 13th 2011 on ITunes 

Trip to the CN Tower - A Story by Anisha Vatti

Anisha Vatti

Anisha is a 9 year old

 up  coming, young &

bright story writer.

She lives in Mississauga

with her parents 

and is a Grade 4 student.

She is also a student of

creative writing program

at LEARNA HEARTLAND

EDUCATION CENTRE

StarBuzz Weekly, Toronto-Jack burst through Annabelle’s room.  Jack is a 7 year old who’s full of energy and very enthusiastic who has an eighteen year old sister named Annabelle.  Annabelle was sitting on her bed putting on nail polish.  “Lets go” Jack shouted from downstairs.  “To where?” she asked.  “Mom agreed for us to go to the CN tower, come on” Jack said.  “Wait” said Annabelle, she grabbed a pair of shoes and ran out to the car bare feet.  It’s time you got here”, Jack said.  “I came as fast as I could, now don’t touch my toes they’re drying.  “Fine” said Jack as soon as the car started.  Soon they were on their way.  “Where are we going again?” asked Annabelle.  “To the CN tower, duh” replied Jack. 

When they got there the two rushed to the ticket center.  There was a very short line for tickets so they quickly got them and went upstairs but it was almost closing time.  “Woah” said Jack “look at the view”.  “I’ll be in the bathroom putting on makeup if you need me” said Annabelle.  The two were paying so much attention on what they were doing, they didn’t hear the announcement that the CN tower was closing down in 5 minutes for summer break.  When Annabelle came out everybody was gone.  “Jack look” said Annabelle “nobody is here”.  “Now look at what you got us into’’ said Jack.  “It’s all your fault, you were looking at the window and not paying attention to what’s happening” said Annabelle.  And before they knew it they were in a fight. 

At the end of the fight Annabelle started to chase Jack.  They ended up in the little corridor when Jack said “na na na boo boo, ouch” and he fell down and broke his arm.  “Ow” he said “it hurts.  “Don’t worry, I know how to fix your arm but you will have to repay me” said Annabelle.  “Anything, it hurts” said Jack.  She put a bandage on his arm from the first aid kit right beside the fire hose.  When Annabelle was finished Jack said” Lets jump out the window”.  “Are you crazy?  That will ruin my makeup.  You are just so annoying” she said.  “I will get us out of hear” he coaxed.  “Fine” she said.  Jack found a hammer and smashed the window.  “Let’s go” he said.  “No” said Annabelle.  Meanwhile their parents were getting worried.  They called a security guard to come look for them.  Then they got hold of them and waited for their parents to come pick them up.  When they came their mom said “Oh my babys are you okay?” and hugged them so tight they couldn’t breath.  Then they hopped in the car and drove home together.