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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ATTENTION COMMUNITY EDITORS

ETHICS IN ACTION CONFERENCE: ENGAGING YOUTH IN DIALOGUE

Local youth gear up for conference on ethics with session leaders from CIDA, Sierra Club, University of King’s College, Green Solutions North America Inc. and Saint Mary’s University.

Lunenburg, NS, Canada, November 3rd, 2008 — On November 10, 2008 the Global Education Association, in partnership with the Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat and West Island College International-Class Afloat will be holding the first annual Ethics in Action Conference at King’s View Academy in Halifax. The conference will engage local and global youth to foster an enhanced understanding of ethics as it applies to their world today as well as a greater awareness of themselves, of others and of the effects of human action on community life. This is a free conference with lunch provided by Terroir Local Source Catering.

There are very few events in Nova Scotia which focus exclusively on issues of ecological balance, social justice, and global partnership amongst youth aged 15-22 living and studying here. So, in a time when the economy, political spin and the environment are all headline news, the Ethics in Action Conference aims to not just speak at youth but to engage them in an active dialogue about the important opportunities and tools they have to make their community, country and selves more ethical and more responsible.

The Keynote Address will be presented by:
- Cathy Driscoll, Sobey School of Business, Saint Mary’s University on turning ethics in theory into ethics in practice.

The session and session leaders will include:
- Bill Gunn, Atlantic Region Director for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), on why and how Canada should (or can) support international development
- Marie Claire Brisbois, Education Program Coordinator for Sierra Club Canada - Atlantic Canada Chapter, on consequences, intended or not, to our action or inaction on environmental issues.
- Jim Reid (Founder & CEO) and Dr. David Martel, Green Solutions North America Inc., on the ethical (and profitable) choices businesses can make in even today’s uncertain market.
- David Swick, University of King’s College School of Journalism, on the ethics of media coverage and its role in affecting perception of ethics.

Participants include students from:
Dartmouth High School
West Island College International-Class Afloat
GPI Youth
King’s View Academy

The conference is close to capacity but interested individuals or groups are encouraged to contact Andrea Cleland or Justin Isaf at the Global Education Association for details on availability for this year or information about next year’s conference.
Andrea@GlobalEducationAssociation.org
Justin@GlobalEducationAssociation.org
(902) 634-1895

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Formed in 2008, The Global Education Association aims to educate, engage and empower youth to be active leaders in the pursuit of ecological balance, social justice, and global partnership. More information about the Global Education Association, including information on our projects and team members, is available on our website http://www.GlobalEducationAssociation.org (still under construction)

Founded in 1984, Class Afloat offers young people from around the world the opportunity, in the microcosm of a sailing ship and the macrocosm of the planet, to challenge a rigorous programme of academic study while engaging in sensitive and sustainable practices, developing leadership skills and raising cross-cultural awareness. Class Afloat is a truly global educational experience as they challenge students to affect positive change in their local, national and international communities. For more information, visit http://www.classafloat.com

In 1989, the Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat was created with the passage of the Youth Secretariat Act. This Act established an agency responsible for developing effective responses by Government to the needs of the Province’s youth. The Act acknowledges that several provincial government departments serve the diverse needs of young Nova Scotians aged 15-24. However, the Youth Secretariat is the only agency in the provincial government with a mandate devoted exclusively to the youth population of Nova Scotia.

King’s View Academy provides a strong university preparatory program that includes the development of creative leadership skills and self-confidence. KVA enables young people to interact fully with their world and realize their potential. Through a philosophical approach to both curriculum and methodology, KVA supports its students so that they have the means to pursue their individual goals with knowledge, dignity and grace. King’s View Academy employs the GOLDLAKE ^SM Program which emphasizes a guided self-discovery, experiential approach while meeting the curriculum requirements of the provincial education program and beyond. For more information, visit http://www.kingsviewacademy.com

For media inquiries, please contact us at (902) 634 1895 or email andrea {at} globaleducationassociation [dot] org

GEA’s Programs

Andrea Cleland

Program Director

Andrea is the Program Director at The Global Education Association. Her responsibilities include developing and running local and international programs and managing the day-to-day operations of the organization. Her passions include working toward environmental sustainability and social justice and supporting young people as they strive to do the same. Most recently, Andrea has worked as a teacher and residence supervisor for a boarding school in Lunenburg Nova Scotia where she coordinated the community programs and taught upper level humanities. She has also spent two years aboard the international tall ship sailing program Class Afloat teaching and circumnavigating the globe. She has been a residential youth worker for a Canadian youth program called Katimavik, and has worked as an educational consultant for adults with multiple disabilities. Andrea has worked on international projects in Kenya, Paraguay and Bolivia and has traveled widely in South America, Africa and South East Asia. Andrea has her Bachelors in Education and is currently working on her Master in Education with a focus on Social Justice in education.

Justin Isaf

Program Coordinator

Justin Isaf has been working on local and international programing and fund development for the Global Education Association (GEA) since August of 2008. His experience in the development field began in 2001 when he was asked to co-lead a 40 volunteer development group in Maharashtra, India. The group focused on building basic rural infrastructure such as schools and sanitary facilities in cooperation with local stake holders and residents. In 2006 and 2007 he was asked to lead a small international research team in Singapore to develop an health education program for 5th and 6th graders in close collaboration with the students themselves. The results of the research were well received and became part of a pilot program to fight child obesity in Singapore. He has traveled extensively in India, South East Asia and Europe. Justin holds a Bachelors degree in International Development Studies from McGill University and also consults part time on web based community management and development.

Thanks for your patience, and we hope to see you at the grand opening of www.GlobalEducationAssociation.org.