FFWD Weekly
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| NEWS Film funding won't be at expense of arts The Klein government has put some minds in the arts community at ease with its announcement that help for the beleaguered Alberta film industry won't come at a cost to the rest of the arts in this province. An extra $5 million of lottery money is being earmarked for a new Alberta Film Development Program, which filmmakers in this province can now apply to for grants. The increase will be tagged onto the budget for the Alberta Foundation for the Arts beginning April 1, 1999. The news comes as a relief to many in the arts community who were concerned that the provincial Conservatives were planning to use funds from the existing arts foundation to help the film industry without increasing the size of the pot, thereby pitting artists from different disciplines against one another. It's estimated that Alberta's film industry has lost millions of dollars to other provinces since the Alberta Motion Picture Development Corp. - the original funding body for film and television in this province - was killed by the Klein government two years ago. Health authority won't take part in fluoride debate The Calgary Regional Health Authority will not participate in Healthy Calgary's water fluoridation panel discussion scheduled for October 15, But the show will go on, insists a spokesperson for the non-profit group. "We are disappointed that the CRHA decided not to attend, but the invitation remains open," says Healthy Calgary director Julia Lyons-Wood. The panel discussion, to be moderated by Calgary Herald columnist Peter Stockland, will have internationally recognized physician and author Dr. John Lee, Calgary dentist Dr. Cam MacLean of the Dorchester Health Centre, and Elke Babiuk of the Health Action Network Society. The panel discussion, which is open to the public, will be held at 7 p.m. on October 15 at the Cliff Bungalow Community Association (2201, Cliff Street SW). Anti-racist group plans rally Anti-Racist Action Alberta is calling for residents to join a protest demonstration October 16 at the Leduc Inn. The group plans to rally at a park just of 52nd Street and 56th Avenue in Leduc at 5 p.m., then march to the Leduc Inn to confront the Canadian League of Rights, which has been referred to as "Canada's leading anti-Semitic organization" by the Canadian Jewish Congress. According to an ARA media release, the CLR has brought up people identified as racists and Aryans Nations supporters as part of an expansive speaking tour. The CLR seminar includes Jack Mohr, a major Christian Identity leader, and CLR founder Ron Gostick, who has supported holocaust deniers Ernest Zundel and Jim Keegstra. The ARA also states that the CLR has been the major distributor of extreme-right propaganda in Canada for many years. The anti-racist group asks demonstrators to dress in plain black and bring pickets with anti-racist slogans. To get to the rally, take Highway 2 north to the 50th Avenue exist at Leduc, then take 52nd Street north to the park just past 56th Avenue. Carpooling is being coordinated for those who need or can offer a ride. For more information, e-mail ARA at , or visit the Web site. |