For a long time, many campus and community stations have considered themselves to be a force for social change in their communities. So, once again, they’re using their airwaves towards that end.
1. Facts are Free is a collection of public service announcements that are being aired on campus and community radio stations across the country in the weeks leading up to the election. The non-profit and charitable radio sector in Canada has launched a campaign to raise awareness about climate change and environmental issues facing Canadians. The campaign is called Facts are Free and it’s been created in cooperation with with Environmental Defence and the VX3 Exchange. Luke Smith is a learning and development officer with the National Campus and Community Radio Association. He talked to Victoria Fenner.
2. Canada’s youth have the opportunity this election to shift the political landscape considerably. For the first time in Canada’s history, millennials and Gen Z make up the largest voting bloc — 37 per cent of the electorate — so there is a lot of opportunity to force politicians to focus on youth issues that are otherwise ignored. If youth come out to vote, there could be far reaching consequences. Whether they’ll take advantage of the opportunity remains to be seen. Future Majority is an organization set up to work towards that end.
Shreya Kalra is working as a field organizer with Future Majority. As a part of this campaign, she’s been speaking to about 100 students everyday at Seneca College’s Newnham campus about the issues that are affecting their everyday lives. She took a break from organizing to talk to rabble radio on October 2, 2019.
Image: Victoria Fenner
