“You can change someone’s mind but they can change it again. Change someone’s heart and that is forever” - a Canadian social worker
An overwhelming but optimistic WOW was how I felt after finishing Notes from Canada’s Young Activists: A Generation Stands Up for Change. This book should come with a warning: Do not read this book if you currently feel inadequate, as these emotions may be reinforced with each page turn. Then again, if you are doubting yourself, maybe Notes is the best book for you to be reading.
In Notes, 25 modern-day young activists take us through their stories, and what inspires, motivates, and sustains their activism. These Canadian youth have been involved in a variety of projects, including environmental initiatives, native rights, artistic endeavours, and politics.
Take Ben Peterson for example. A self-confessed “keener” with an upper-middle-class upbringing, Peterson wasn’t into social justice until he took his first job in Ghana. There, he discovered the human rights breaches taking place while many individuals and the media remained silent. As a result of his experiences, Peterson founded Journalists for Human Rights, a non-profit organization whose workers go into African countries and teach journalists how to cover human rights abuses, empowering “average citizens to take control of their lives”.
Then there’s Ahmed Kayssi, an Iraqi who immigrated to Canada in the eighties. Drawing from his experiences growing up in the Middle East, Kayssi founded the Arab Students’ Association at Queen’s University, which was formed to engage the university’s Arab students and provide them with opportunities for campus involvement. In time, Kayssi became the rector at Queen’s, the highest student office at the university. He was the first visible minority to hold the post, and is currently at Queen’s Medical School.
Another great example is D. Simon Jackson. After learning about the struggle of the Spirit Bear in British Columbia, Simon organized a campaign in elementary school to save the bear and its habitat. Writing letters and pressuring politicians eventually developed into the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition which now has a global backing for its wildlife initiatives.
After reading this 214-page book, I realized that although the stories are different, the situations vary, and the actions taken are unique, what binds their stories together is the individual’s decision to act.
Notes also reveal the unglamorous side of being an activist quite vividly and honestly: burnout, lost love, stress, anxiety, and imbalance. Ironically, the activism world can be a very lonely place, and according to many of the stories, it is often through helping others that one loses him or herself. This truthfulness strengthens the text immensely.
As an eternal optimist, I was inspired to read about the powerful work of others, and I think everyone can find motivation in their stories!
Tags: Ahmed Kayssi, Ben Peterson, Cynthia Mackenzie, D. Simon Jackson, Daniel Aldana Cohen, Kris Federickson, Notes from Canada’s Young Activists: A Generation Stands Up for Change, Severn Cullis-Suzuki
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