The much anticipated Day 3 of the #CDC2013 #FNhealth conference has finally arrived!
We were looking forward to Day 3 because the presentations today covered the topics of HIV/AIDS and harm reduction. Kathy Wrath talked about doing harm reduction in small communities, and a lot of the stigma and misinformation about harm reduction that exists in communities. She pointed out an interesting fact that drug users are often the biggest opponents to harm reduction! So in order to "do" harm reduction effectively in communities, we have to consider how and where people are receiving care. Who are they listening to and where are people going to receive help? Kathy explored a part of grassroots outreach that is fundamental to reaching people - using peer groups. By using existing social networks, we can meet people where they are.
David Ng is a Hello Cool World veteran with experience going back a decade. David first worked with us when he was just 14 years old as a participant in the youth advisory group for the sexual health education program Condomania. Now an accomplished videographer passionate about the issues of gender and power, he is currently on sabbatical in South Africa while he pursues a Masters in Gender Studies with a focus on international development.
The latest edition of Point of View magazine is hot off the press! Hello Cool World is quite literally all over it. First of all, check out the fantastic cover. The Surviving Progress artwork was mastered and created by Hello Cool World's very own designer Terry Sunderland.
Surviving Progress, a Canadian feature documentary executive produced by Mark Achbar (director of The Corporation) and inspired by Ronald Wright’s A Short History of Progress that looks at the deep-seated habits within human behavior that threaten our very survival. The film examines the consequences of economic and technical growth, and describes ‘progress traps’ – modes of action in pursuit of prosperity and security that lead to famine, bankruptcy, and the threat of human extinction.
This latest issue is all about the Toronto International Film Festival, making Raw Opium’s feature ad a natural fit. Raw Opium is a phenomenal documentary that looks into the American war on drugs, and sheds light and awareness on critical issues around addiction. While Raw Opium is not in this year’s festival, the film is being self distributed by Kensington Communications and a feature ad in Point of View offers fantastic exposure for the film. Check out Colette’s previous blog entry for more on this incredible project.
Also, take note of the inside back cover of this issue and you will see another beaming example of Mr. Sunderland’s immense talent and Hello Cool World’s strategic ad placement.
Hello Cool World is thrilled to be a communty partner for the upcoming DOXA screening of Raw Opium on May 7. We think this film is a timely and much-needed look at the impacts of the war on drugs, from our own DTES 'hood to the case study of Portugal as a decriminalization success story.
And of course we also are big supporters of InSite Safe Injection Site. Now that Harper's conservatives are in again, we really need to go to battle keep InSite open. the story of insite is woven through the film Raw Opium, and we hope the film will spark debate over this issue. And of course we hope people will want to take action!
To this end we are working with the filmmakers to engage audiences as the film launches. Please JOIN US and help us in getting the word on the street by printing and distributing some flyers:
Katherine Dodds AKA "Kat" is the founder of Good Company Communications and HelloCoolWorld.com. Trained in renegade advertising & branding through her work with Adbusters in the '90s, Kat's early induction into the possibilities of the web-world was inspired by the term hypertext, which she immediately found comforting. She is dedicated to cause-related communication and to the development and use of tools that promote democratic processes.
David Ng is a Hello Cool World veteran with experience going back a decade. David first worked with us when he was just 14 years old as a participant in the youth advisory group for the sexual health education program Condomania. Now an accomplished videographer passionate about the issues of gender and power, he is currently on sabbatical in South Africa while he pursues a Masters in Gender Studies with a focus on international development.
Surviving Progress, a Canadian feature documentary executive produced by Mark Achbar (director of The Corporation) and inspired by Ronald Wright’s A Short History of Progress that looks at the deep-seated habits within human behavior that threaten our very survival. The film examines the consequences of economic and technical growth, and describes ‘progress traps’ – modes of action in pursuit of prosperity and security that lead to famine, bankruptcy, and the threat of human extinction. 
Kevin Young is Hello Cool Worlds media buyer - and loves his job! He enjoys working with the media community and everyone here at Hello Cool World.
Katherine Dodds AKA "Kat" is the founder of Good Company Communications and HelloCoolWorld.com. Trained in renegade advertising & branding through her work with Adbusters in the '90s, Kat's early induction into the possibilities of the web-world was inspired by the term hypertext, which she immediately found comforting. She is dedicated to cause-related communication and to the development and use of tools that promote democratic processes.
