'Summer School' for grown-ups at UQAM

From August 22 to August 25, non-partisan, non-profit organization, the Institut du Nouveau Monde, is organizing a four-day event aimed at young people, 15 to 35 years of age. The organization's goal is to raise awareness about some of the biggest problems facing the world today, provide in-depth information by experts in their respective fields and, together with participants, hopefully find legitimate and long-term sustainable solutions.

For example, discussions will be had on the Kyoto Protocol, on the influence of the pharmaceutical industry on clinical research in Quebec, on how sustainable development can be integrated into our daily lives, on Canada's foreign policy and whether or not protecting others is really our responsibility.

A number of well-known international speakers will be present; among them, Hervé Kempf, author and a specialist in environmental questions, Thomas Mulcair, former Quebec Environment Minister, Stephen Lewis, former U.N. representative, extensively involved in AIDS relief in Africa.

A variety of speakers from Quebec's political arena will also be present, to share their views on a number of pressing issues; among them, ADQ leader, Mario Dumont, and new PQ leader, Pauline Marois. The Bouchard-Taylor Commission on reasonable accommodations, a "hot" topic these days, will also be on the agenda. There's no shortage of topics to interest a young politically-minded, socially-conscious young Montrealer and all this is taking place a few minutes away from L'Ile-des-Soeurs, in downtown Montreal.

The event takes place at the Université du Québec in Montreal, at the Pavillon Sherbrooke of the Pierre Dansereau Science Complex (200 Sherbrooke West). The nearest metro is Place-des-Arts. Some speeches will be open to the general pubic; go their website, to find out more.

For all information on the Institut du Nouveau Monde and their four-day "École d'été", including how and where to register, you can simply log on to: www.inm.qc.ca