People First Media program archive
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Can empathy be taught?

November 10th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Can empathy be taught?)

Empathy, compassion, understanding, awareness—what happens when we try to put ourselves into others’ shoes?

Empathy is a relatively common word, but it’s also a concept that is poorly understood. It’s sometimes confused with sympathy, pity, or feeling sorry for someone. According to Edith Stein, a German phenomenologist, empathy can be facilitated. It also can be interrupted and blocked, but it cannot be forced to occur. When empathy occurs, we find ourselves experiencing it, rather than directly causing it to happen. [Reference here in PDF] (more…)

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Saying yes in my backyard

September 29th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Saying yes in my backyard)

An online YIMBY toolkit from Vancouver’s Pivot Legal Society may be coming soon to a neighbourhood near you

NIMBY is an acronym for “not in my backyard” used to describe a person who objects to something they perceive as unpleasant or potentially dangerous in their own neighborhood. YIMBY—“yes, in my backyard”— is a lesser known antonym to NIMBY. The term YIMBY first emerged in the late 1980s and is used to describe people who understand the value of addressing homelessness, addictions, and mental illness in a proactive and positive way and are active in welcoming new projects and people into their neighbourhoods. (more…)

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Preserving restorative justice

September 29th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on Preserving restorative justice)

Advocates fear the federal government’s strong emphasis on incarceration and punishment will push healing to the side

The federal government’s emphasis on incarceration and punishment in response to crime has created concern that restorative justice approaches are being pushed to the background. The government describes restorative justice as “one way to respond to a criminal act” but a former federal ombudsman for victims of crime says “In reality, there’s no interest from this government (in restorative justice).” What does this mean for the future of restorative justice in Canada?

We speak with three people who have experienced—and studied—restorative justice. (more…)

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A world without hate

August 4th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on A world without hate)

Rais Bhuiyan forgave the man who tried to kill him in a hate crime, then campaigned to save him from the death penalty

Ten days after the September 11th attacks in the U.S., Texan Mark Stroman entered the gas station where Rais Bhuiyan was working, asked “Where are you from?” and then shot him in the face.  Rais, who is from Bangladesh, was one of three victims shot during Stroman’s revenge attacks on “Arabs,” and the only one to survive.

Rais Bhuiyan went on to forgive Mark Stroman for trying to kill him, and to campaign vigorously—and internationally—for Stroman’s sentence to be commuted from death, to life without parole. Mark Stroman was executed in Texas on July 20th, 2011. (more…)

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Death with dignity back in focus

July 21st, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (0 Comments)

Russel Ogden—and the Farewell Foundation—prepare plans for Canada’s first facility to offer legal assisted suicide

Last November, sociology professor Russel Ogden offered to accompany a small group of Canadians to Switzerland’s Dignitas centre and to act as a witness to the assisted suicide of a severely ill family member. When he saw the effects of Canada’s criminal code on the family and their loved one, the social scientist became a legal activist. Russel Ogden and several associates formed an organization called the Farewell Foundation, which believes its members should have the right to receive assistance to end their lives, and that members should have the right to provide assistance. (more…)

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“A country full of opportunities”

July 14th, 2011 | Posted by pfmarchive in uncategorized - (Comments Off on “A country full of opportunities”)

Aden Ahmed settles into life in Nanaimo, far away from his Somalian origins, in a “country full of opportunities”

Aden Ahmed is the second student brought to Nanaimo through the World University Service of Canada Student Refugee Program, which has helped more than 1,000 young men and women pursue education and resettle in this country as permanent residents. He has just completed a year in business studies at Vancouver Island University. VIU students have contributed financially to make Aden’s education there possible. (more…)

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