URGENT RELEASE to all attendees of “An Evening with Vandana Shiva” and to all Calgarians and the media

Dr Vandana Shiva event will proceed... The Show Will Go On!!

Calgary Community Rallies to support Consortium for Peace Studies event @ Mac Hall tonight... 1000 expected to attend

Dr. Vandana Shiva, respected environmentalist, activist, philosopher and author was scheduled to speak to a sold out audience of 1000 people at Mac Hall this evening. Her visit to Calgary was prompted by the awarding of the 2011 Calgary Peace Prize, which was to be presented to her by Mayor Nenshi tomorrow evening.

With great misfortune Vandana has been unable to cross the U.S. border and enter into Canada as officials claim her Visa has expired.



However we are working extremely hard with Immigration Canada to have her arrive in Calgary.

THE SHOW WILL GO ON... Calgary Community Rallies to support Consortium Peace event

A diverse line up of local eco/food/peace celebrities has volunteered to speak at the event.

Kris Vester, Paul Hughes, Wade Sirios, Chris Turner & Hugo Bonjean will each address the audience for 10 minutes, followed by a panel discussion. Numerous local agencies will also be participating and information booths will be set up so audience members can have their questions answered about local food justice & peace issues. We are also working with the Mayor Nenshi’s office to have him come and speak at the event.

The Consortium for Peace Studies at the University of Calgary had planned to honor Dr. Shiva for her commitment to social justice, empowerment of women in developing countries, her advocacy of human rights and her scientific analysis of environmental sustainability.

Her talk was to address elements of the global food crisis and its relation to democracy, gender justice and the environment.

We are trying our best to bring Vandana Shiva over to Calgary by March 11, 2011. We will reschedule a public lecture with her and if you have bought a ticket to the event, you will get free entry to the lecture by her and the public event for tonite. If you want a ticket refund, please contact the Consortium for Peace Studies after March 14th, 2011.

Reply from event organizers:

When Dr Shiva was boarding her flight to Calgary from Salt Lake City (she was transitting through the US), officials there found out that her 10 year multiple entry visa to Canada had just expired. Before any contact was made to our office, she was obligated to return to India in the next possible flight. We tried our best to interject her on her return flight which stopped at Detroit. Many Calgarian including influential people like Nexen's government relations, Gary Mar in Washinton, various MLA's all stepped up to an emergency mode to get her Canadian visa to come in. Unfortunately she was unable to leave the Detriot airport to go to the Canadian Consulate in Detriot to get the approved visa. Her lay over at Detriot was only for 45 mins (too shot a time) and she needed a US visa to get out of the airport which we are assuming she did not have.



However last night at the Peace Prize dinner she was able to join us via Skype and even take a few audience Q and A. Even though she wasn't there, the 250 people including Mayor Nenshi who came in to recognize her and the efforts of the Consortium for Peace Studies, said the event was a big success!



We are now working with her to bring her back at her earliest availability once she sorts her visa issues with the Canadian Consulate in New Delhi.



Thank you.



Saima Jamal

Program Manager

Consortium for Peace Studies

University of Calgary

