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HDSB to host virtual Human Rights Symposium Dec. 8 and 9

This year’s theme is environmental rights, highlighting people's collective responsibility to protect the planet
Sustainability
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The Halton District School Board (HDSB) is hosting the fourth annual Human Rights Symposium aiming to spur vital conversations and challenge thinking.

This year’s theme is environmental rights, which highlights the interconnectedness of globalization, environment, Indigenous rights, human rights and people's collective responsibility to protect the planet.

“The HDSB is proud to celebrate and recognize environmental rights at the Human Rights Symposium,” Margo Shuttleworth, chair of the HDSB, said in the HDSB news release. “The trustees are honoured and excited to encourage you to engage, question and reflect on conversations surrounding environmental rights. Through proactive engagement in vital conversations, we are able to challenge traditional thinking and engage in focused learning about environmental rights and sustainability.”

The symposium, which will be a virtual event for HDSB Grade 7-12 students and staff, takes place on Dec. 8 and 9 and will feature two speakers.

Full description of speakers and schedule follows below: 

  • Keynote speaker on Dec. 8 (9 - 10:30 a.m.): Sheila Watt-Cloutier is a Nobel Peace Prize nominee, climate change and human rights advocate, TEDx speaker, author, former Canadian President and International Chair of the Inuit Circumpolar Council. Sheila speaks with passion and urgency on the issues of today — the environment, the economy, foreign policy, global health and sustainability — not as separate concerns, but as a deeply interconnected whole.
  • Keynote speaker on Dec. 10 (9:30 - 10:30 a.m.): Kehkashan Basu, global influencer, educator, environmentalist, champion of women and children’s rights, TEDx speaker, Climate Reality Mentor, author, musician, peace and sustainability campaigner. Kehkashan is the Founder-President of global social innovation enterprise Green Hope Foundation, which works at a grassroots level in 26 countries, empowering over 400,000 young people and women in the sustainable development process through education.

Registration is not required; information on how to access the event will be shared with students and staff, HDSB said in a release. 

HDSB also encourages students and stuff to share what they learn on social media with the hashtag #EnvironmentalRightsHDSB.

“Environmental Rights and protection is our collective responsibility,” says Jennie Petko, superintendent of education with responsibility for human rights, equity, inclusive education and Indigenous rights. “This year’s Human Rights Symposium provides an opportunity for our HDSB community to discuss issues related to environmental preservation, Indigenous Rights and the interconnectedness of our planet.”

“We recognize the importance of participating in vital discussions to challenge our thinking. The Human Rights Symposium provides an opportunity for educators and students to come together to examine important issues and drive actionable change.”

For more information about the HDSB Human Right Symposium, email [email protected]


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