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Hancock 2008: The World Is Our Backyard

“The greatest threat facing the world today is war”. Dr. Samantha Nutt is petit and far younger than anticipated, and when she speaks, she speaks with conviction. The whole room grows silent when she mentions that her outwardly exciting career has on several occasions nearly cost her life. As she gives this year’s Hancock lecture entitled The World is Our Backyard: Individual Responsibility for a Global Society, it is clear that Dr. Nutt has seen more than almost anyone in the room.

In 2001, two students along with Hart House’s previous Warden, Margaret Hancock, began the yearly Hancock Lecture Series. This year the Hancock lecture planning committee invited the founder of WarChild Canada, Samantha Nutt. She confessed that prior to the mid-nineties she knew little of the details of war. After finishing medical school and doing some fieldwork in the developing world; her mentor the late Pierce Gerety, contracted her to work alongside his team in Somalia. The contract listed her salary at one dollar. The most shocking aspect of life in her region of Somalia, to the 24 year-old Nutt, was the sheer amount of guns and weaponry. At that point it was a failed state with gangs of young men ruling with impunity. They ran the streets killing, raping and pillaging anyone who stood in their way. The AK-47’s these boys dealt with were for the most part manufactured in the 1950’s and sold to them for about six dollars a piece. When Dr. Nutt asks the audience to guess just how many AK-47’s there are floating around in the world today, no one estimates the roughly 200 million she states. Continue reading “Hancock 2008: The World Is Our Backyard”

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Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Way of The Tosser

Hart House is screening the hilarious comedy Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Way of The Tosser on April 1st. This film shines a spotlight on the current, fast-growing obsession with competitive Rock, Paper, Scissors. The free screening takes place at in the Arbor Room in Hart House at 8pm on April 1st. But the best part is… Hart House is also hosting its own Rock, Paper, Scissors tournament with the film’s stars Gary Brewer and Holly Brewer. The winner from each campus will receive $100 plus a chance to appear in the Tossers’ next feature film! Prizes will also be awarded for the best dressed and the most Tosser Spirit!

Check out the facebook page for more info.

When: April 1st
Film Screening of
Rock, Paper, Scissors: The Way of The Tosser @ 8pm
Tournament @ 9:30
Where: Arbor Room in Hart House
Cost: Free!!!

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War Child – Free Lunch and Learn!

warchild

After hearing Samantha Nutt’s lecture at Hart House on March 25th – The World is our Backyard: Individual Responsibility for a Global Society – we know that you’ll probably be thinking about what you can do to make a difference in the world. That’s why Hart House and War Child will be hosting a free “lunch and learn” where you can find out how to get involved in development work. There are many things you can do to help war-affected children across the world and work towards putting an end to global poverty and conflict; from raising awareness, to working in your community, or even travelling overseas. Join Hart House for a free lunch and take the first step in changing the world/

WHAT: War Child – lunch and learn
WHEN: Wednesday March 26th from 12pm – 1pm
WHERE: Debates Room, Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle
COST: Free! Free! Free!

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U of T’s FOOD SERVICES NUTRITION WEEK 2008

Nutrition Week

As part of Nutrition Month, this Campus-wide celebration features an array of exciting events and healthy meals every day of the week next week. Food outlets across campus are participating in NUTRILICIOUS, a take on the Toronto favourite, “Winterlicious,” where eateries from across campus will be offering healthy (and tasty!) five dollar meals all week long, so you can dabble in the diversity U of T’s food services have to offer. Here’s a taste of what to expect for NUTRITION WEEK 2008: EVENTS

  • Healthy Eating Tips + Q&A with dietitian, Laura Coxson
  • Slow Cooking in a Fast Food World
  • A hands-on community kitchen
  • A Five Buck Lunch at Hart House
  • Film screening of Fast Food Nation- Cooking Demo
  • Healthy Comfort Foods on a Budget (Middle-Eastern theme)

One Time Only Lunch Specials at…

  • 89 Chestnut Residence
  • The Hot Yam! Vegan Café
  • New College Cafeteria

There are also healthy $5 lunch specials all week at various locations on campus. For a schedule of all the events, check out the Nutrition Week Website HERE.

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Vis Thesis ’08: A n o m a l y

by featured artist Danielle Williams

Although the word anomaly can have a bad connotation, as it is related to deviation or failure, there is no such connotation in the upcoming art exhibition by U of T Visual Studies graduating class. Composed of a wide rage of artwork, the event showcases this year’s undergraduate students’ art theses. For the past seven months, these talented artists have not only created the different compositions, but they have also put together the exhibition in order to reach wider audiences. A n o m a l y positively deviates from other shows by the richness of its program, which includes painting, photography, digital manipulation, video, performance, sculpture, and site installation.

I encourage everyone to attend A n o m a l y, which promises to reveal innovating and fresh conceptions of art. Don’t miss the opening reception on Friday, March 28, featuring music by DJ Aren de Jong and M2J (http://www.vitalevents.net/)

When: Friday, March 28, 2008 at 7:00pm-11pm//Saturday March 29th, 11am-9pm//Sunday, March 30th, 11am- 9pm
Where: The old Adrift skate shop in Kensington Market
Street: 299 Augusta Ave near College, TO
Details: Admision is Free. For more information check out the event’s website a n o m a l y and Facebook Event

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Hart House Hancock Lecture: Samantha Nutt – Founder of War Child Canada

Samatha NuttAre you a visionary? Someone who believes that you can change the world?

If so, you’ll want to check out Dr. Samantha Nutt as this year’s lecturer at Hart House. Founder and Director of War Child Canada, she’ll be presenting THE WORLD IS OUR BACKYARD: Individual Responsibility for a Global Society. Nutt will speak about our role as privileged North Americans and our ability to effect change in war-torn countries. She has helped children in some of the world’s most violent flashpoints, working with War Child Canada (which she founded, and is currently its Executive Director), the United Nations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Iraq, Afghanistan, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Iraq, Burundi, northern Uganda and the Thai-Burmese border. Don’t miss her inspirational story – her willingness to take risks, help those in need and make a difference in the world. This will be a lecture you won’t want to miss!

WHAT: Hart House Hancock Lecture featuring Samantha Nutt
 WHEN: Tuesday, March 25, 2008 at 7:30pm
WHERE: The Great Hall, Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle
COST: Tickets are free but must be reserved at UofT Tix or by calling 416.978.8849