Education and Health Communique #4
Cecile Miller, Chairperson
September 3, 2009

Sub-committee Chairpersons
Literacy and continuing education – Doreen MacDonnell
Wellness and sickness/disease – Pat Battensby
Environment – Heather Kolla
Genetics – Betty Colaneri

Greetings from North East Margaree!
Welcome to the new education and health provincial chairpersons, and welcome back to those of you in your second year. It was good to see some of you at the Monday luncheon in St. John’s!

International Literacy Day − September 8, 2009 (Doreen MacDonnell)
International Literacy Day was established in 1965 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and is celebrated around the world each year on September 8th. This year, International Literacy Day put the spotlight on “the empowering role of literacy and its importance for participation, citizenship and social development.” A resource package is available from literacy@unesco.org.

Literacy is at the heart of learning. It is a broad-based issue that touches every aspect of peoples’ lives. Increasing literacy skills leads to better health because individuals can access health information. They are more apt to earn decent wages to support themselves and their families. Finally, better health makes it easier to learn.

Members too must recognize the importance of literacy. Support the goals of International Literacy Day by promoting and partaking in literacy activities at learning centres, libraries, book clubs, museums, etc. Celebrate the “learners” and thank the volunteer tutors for their commitment.

For more information and resources on literacy the following Web sites are available: Frontier College at www.frontiercollege.ca and Human Resources and Skills Development Canada at www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/oles/olesindex_en.shtml.

Resolutions Forwarded for Action
Three resolutions were forwarded to the education and health standing committee for further action. One was Reducing the Use of Disposable Products. Monday, October 19th to Sunday, October 25th is Waste Reduction Week. Challenge members across Canada to show how they are good stewards of the environment. How can members promote this week in their communities?
Ÿ         Approach municipal governments and urge them to implement/focus on programs to increase public awareness concerning recyclable versus disposable products.
Ÿ         Investigate companies/retailers that could be encouraged to use recyclable products.
Ÿ         Take a more active role in minimizing or eliminating personal use of disposable products.
Ÿ         Promote reusable products in communities and workplaces.

To get resource material, visit www.wrwcanada.ca. Plan awareness sessions and activities, take pictures and do a write up on what was accomplished. Send the write up and pictures to national office as Spotlights on Projects, so others will see what can be/has been done. Let’s not end with this one week but continue to reduce the use of disposable products in our everyday lives.

Palliative Care Survey
In my second communiqué, I sent a survey to be completed by councils across Canada. As you will see in my oral report, some provincial councils did not respond and some sent incomplete reports. I am asking parish councils to please do the survey and report the responses to their diocesan education and health chairperson who will then pass them on to the provincial chairperson. I would like to receive them no later than October 31st. Also, write to your member of parliament urging him/her to press the federal government for quality palliative care for everyone in need of such care.

Genetics
Betty Colaneri has agreed to provide some information for members who are experiencing difficulty with this sub-committee. Genetics is the study of how living organisms inherit features from their ancestors; for example, children often look like their parents. It seeks to identify which features are inherited and explain how these features are passed on from generation to generation.

Genetic engineering is the process by which scientists change an organism by adding new genes or deleting genes from its genome (its set of chromosomes containing all of its genes). Since traits come from the genes in a cell, putting a new gene into a cell can produce a new trait. This is how genetic engineering works. For example, crop plants can be given a gene from an Arctic fish, so they can produce an antifreeze protein in their leaves to prevent frost damage. Other genes that can be put into crops include a natural insecticide that kills the insects that eat the plants but is harmless to people. In these plants, the new genes are put into the plant before it is grown, so the genes will be in every part of the plant, including its seeds. The plant’s offspring will then inherit the new genes, something which has led to concern about the spread of new traits into wild plants.
Ÿ         Something to research: Which foods in our diet have been genetically engineered?
Ÿ         Something to discuss: What are the pros and cons of genetic engineering?

Fr. Mark Miller’s DVD – Ethics for the Journey
Fr. Mark Miller gave an inspiring talk, Caring for the Dying: A Gospel Call for Catholics, at the convention in St. John’s. In his presentation, he explained to attendees how they should see their role in palliative care as a ministry that flows from an understanding of the gospel. For those who would like to explore this topic further, Fr. Miller has a two-part DVD series entitled Ethics for the Journey which can be purchased either online at cathhealth@sasktel.net or by phoning (306) 655-5330.  The cost is $42.00.