2015 Season Wrap

Capture Queue is wrapping up for 2015 with a wish for a Happy Holiday Season to all CQ readers and participants. This year I was fortunate to cover a wide range of topics in great depth with some the the most informed, and passionate individuals I now know.

In the spotlight were discussions on sourcing food locally, urban farming, and traditional plant medicines. We took a look at long-lasting reconciliation, the truth about drugs and addiction, and the targeting of marginalized communities in a surveillance state. Covering the voices of the people and the duty of true journalism was a heavy focus, while activism took stage with an NYC woman fighting landlord extortion and another fighting tar sands expansion through her city's backyard. An award winning filmmaker highlighted this same struggle of both oil and ethics. We also took a look at how storytelling through film can prompt us to consider justice, in place of activism.

We then opened the discussion on the dichotomy of conscious capitalism versus hegemonic capitalism, took a journey on architectural design for social connectivity, and discussed how social movements shift political discourse. Policing with a focus on community consultation was campaigned for, as was more effective individual counselling that breaks down the stigma of mental health. Increasingly important is how journalistic endeavours like Capture Queue are able to exist because of those fighting to keep our media open, and our online freedom of speech.

There's even more to come in June 2016 with a new CQ season that will launch with conversations on global housing markets and affordability for young families, what we should all know about autism and social connection, the science behind meditation and the benefits of mindfulness, and what a small, non-profit law organization is doing for disenfranchised individuals who are finally offered a place to turn.

“Go to where the silence is and say something.”

- Amy Goodman

"My philosophy about journalism is simple: that we have a job to hold those in high power accountable, to give voice to the voiceless, and to provide people with information that they can use to make informed decisions about what policies they want enacted in their name and what policies they don't." 

- Jeremy Scahill

A huge thank you to all of those who took the time to sit down and discuss some of today's most pressing issues and ideas with me, and who offer hope and inspiration for us all. The endless hours they put in each day are undeniably making this world more aware, more just, and much more enjoyable for everyone to live in. I'm fortunate to have met each and every one of you.

Additional thanks to Chambar restaurant's staff for the endless hours of great service while these conversations and their editing took place, Toby's Estate, Fat Radish, and Little Park in NYC, along with Brent Allen and HQ Pixel for their beautiful photo studios. And of course, a huge thanks to my love Spencer for encouraging me through all the endless hours of work CQ takes, and for doing some last look editing as well!

For everyone else if there are issues or ideas you would like to read more on, individuals who inspire you that you'd love to see featured, or if you simply want to say hello, please don't hesitate to send me a message, and I'll be more than happy to hear from you.

Happy Holidays!

Tracy Giesz-Ramsay