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Free the Children
The WE Pledge isn't just about us. When I take the Pledge, I'm not just making a promise to our organization. I am making a commitment to my family, my community, my country and the world. I am committing to make a difference through my daily actions.
I dream of a world where every child, no matter where they're from, has an opportunity for education. And if I had a super power, it would be teleportation, so I could share the lessons of travel and exploration with everyone. There is so much to learn about the world, each other and ourselves -- and travel is the best way to do it.
Traditions are an important part of family life. Research shows maintaining customs makes families stronger and more stable, and gives children a feeling of comfort and security. But I don't simply want to build traditions for traditions' sake. I want to think about how I can use these family rituals to fulfill my pledge to live WE, to make a difference with my actions every day. Here are some ideas to start a tradition that gives back -- from my family to yours.
"I had lost that real passion for music. But it's so back again."
We Day makes the case that Indigenous issues should matter to the youngest Canadians.
"Now, for both girls and boys, instead of going to the bush to take care of animals, we are going to school."
In 2014, alone, almost 8,000 youth ages 15 to 19 were injured on the job in Canada. Another 13 lost their lives, according to the most recent statistics from the Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada. Many parents don't realize their children may not legally be old enough to do some jobs.
A staggering 85 per cent of our collective apparel ends up in a landfill -- that's over 10.5 million tons of clothing, according to the popular second-hand store Value Village. In a single year, Canada produces enough textile waste -- clothing and other goods like upholstery -- to create a mountain three times the size of Toronto's Rogers Centre stadium. Reduce, reuse and recycle has become the mantra of socially conscious consumers. Now we need to extend that philosophy to our old accoutrements.
From Asia to South America, insects have long appeared on the menu in many cultures. But what's truly epic about the edible bug trend is its potential to not only provide a healthy source of food, but also boost incomes among people in developing countries who could never afford chicken or beef from a grocery store.
Hitch hiking across Canada as a teen, Paul Martin took a summer job as a deckhand on a tug boat in Canada's far north, toiling elbow-to-elbow alongside Dene First Nation, Inuit and Métis crew. When the work was done, he'd talk with them late into the night. His mates were friendly and smart, but the young Martin saw a sense of hopelessness in them. Most had been crushed by years in residential schools.
