Victoria groups pursue supervised injection site

http://martlet.ca/martlet/article/victoria-groups-pursue-supervised-injection-site/

Harm Less AGM

Annual General Meeting - Monday, October 24th at 6 p.m. in room D131 of the Clearihue Building at UVic.

- Introduction

- Warm up

- Reading of safer spaces guidelines

- Reading of Constitution

- Proposed amendments to constitution

- Election of Signing officials

- Proposals

- Group Discussion

Montreal seeks drug injection sites at hospitals, clinics

http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/10/20/montreal-seeks-drug-injection-sites-at-hospitals-clinics/

Top court rules Insite drug injection clinic can stay open

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2011/09/29/bc-insite-supreme-court-ruling-advancer.html

http://www.pivotlegal.org/pivot-points/blog/the-historic-insite-decision-in-a-nutshell

http://www.cna-aiic.ca/CNA/news/releases/public_release_e.aspx?id=296

http://www.cpha.ca/en/about/media/insite.aspx

Harm Less Event

Thanks all for coming out to the event on March 9th.

Harm Less Event - March 9th at 4:30pm

On March 9, the UVSS Harm Less Club, in cooperation with local anti-poverty and social justice organizations, invites you to participate in a discussion centered on participatory action and harm reduction.

The event will be held from 4:30-6:30pm in the Michele Pujol room in the Student Union Building at the University of Victoria.

This event will create space for students to gain insight and use our skills to promote solidarity in our community! Our overall goal is to generate networking opportunities among students and community members, to engage students with what is happening in our larger community and to provide a space for students to connect with local anti-poverty and social justice organizations.

Harm Less will feature guest speakers including:

• Jill, representing S.O.L.I.D. (Society of Living Intravenous Drug Users): A personal account of harm reduction

• Connie Carter: Harm reduction policies and the local context

• Gordon O'Connor (Facilitator): Environmentalism and harm reduction

There will be a diversity of organizations presenting their specific projects followed by dialogue and discussion including Harm Reduction Victoria (HRV), Victoria Coalition Against Poverty (VCAP), Society of Living Intravenous Drug Users (SOLID), Vancouver Island Public Interest Research Group (VIPIRG), The Beddow Center, The Dogwood Initative, and many more.

Refreshments and snacks provided!

"Rig Dig" Documentary Now Available

The short video documentary "Rig Dig", directed by Tamara Herman, that was presented at the event at UVic on February 8th as part of Anti-Stigma week in Victoria, is now available at the following link:

http://vimeo.com/20231620

Harm Reduction Videos

If you missed the event at UVic on February 8th as part of Anti-Stigma week in Victoria, here are links to two of the videos we presented:

- Liverpool: Back to the Roots of Harm Reduction

- Nurses to Stephen Harper: "Keep Insite Clinic Open!"

And here are links to other harm reduction videos:

- International Network of People who Use Drugs (IPUD)

- The Prague Declaration - 7 Principles for Urban Drug Policies

- Under the Rug

Anti-Stigma Week - February 7-14th, 2011

On Tuesday, February 8th, from 11:30-12:30pm, in Hickman Building (HHB), Room 110, at the University of Victoria, there will be harm reduction videos, speakers, and dialogue as part of Anti-Stigma Week in Victoria.

For more information about Anti-Stigma Week including other events, visit Harm Reduction Victoria.

What is Harm Reduction?

Here are comments that were posted on the canvas we put up in the SUB from November 15th to December 3rd. We're planning to use the input to organize a speakers forum this semester.

Bike helmet - Bike light - Not getting up for class - Expansion of food donations - Don’t OD - Being safe - Mental health in 1st year - Art - Listening to what’s needed - More needle exchanges - More condoms - Friends don’t let friends have unprotected sex - Being sex-positive - Think ahead and be safe - Absolute allegiance to the land - Hugs - Using filter in joints - Screens in pipes - Planning ahead - Listening to your intuition - Non violence - Satyagraha–truth-force! - Spreading positive thoughts - Having good posture - Education is better - It is about reducing harm. Environmental and social - Uninhibited information and knowledge - Non judgement - Tao - Erasing stigma and oppression - Taking drivers ed - Wearing a rain jacket - Ahimsa–empathy! - Challenging media, stereotypes and social “norms” - Harassment issues - Insight - Education - Hugs - Looking out for your friends - Never wear 2 pairs of socks with a hole in your shoes - Accountability - Self-care - Non-violence and safety - Remove Stephen Harper - Don’t be stupid - Think about the stuff you buy/might buy has/could have caused - Meet people where they are at–what’s your addiction? - Knowledge over ignorance - Ninja’s - Safe needle injection sites - Winter coats - Respect - Not using plastic bottles and bags - Respect and understanding - Promoting equality of all people, places and creatures - …… it’s a good thing? - Treat others as you would want to be treated - Knowing one’s self - Sunscreen