Episode Details

In this episode, I welcome back Beau Shaw, an advocate for human rights and a candidate for MP in Calgary Centre with Canada’s New Democrats. Beau discusses his involvement in Palestine solidarity movements, his political aspirations, and his commitment to addressing issues like trade wars, healthcare, and environmental protection. He highlights the importance of civic participation and the need for political will to enforce existing laws for environmental and social justice. The conversation also touches on the challenges of running a grassroots campaign and the significance of supporting candidates who prioritize human rights and community well-being.

The Gravity Well Podcast, hosted by Jenny Yeremiy, delves into complex issues to foster understanding and improve the world.

Re-Intro to Beau Shaw and His Candidacy for the Federal NDP

Alex:

Welcome to the Gravity Well Podcast with Alex and Jenny here. You break down heavy ideas with us to understand their complexities and connections. Our mission is to work through your dilemmas with you in conversation and process making our world a better place for all.

Jenny:

We acknowledge that we live on the traditional territories of treaties, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 10. The ancestral homelands of diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Metis. Peoples whose ancestors have walked this land since time immemorial and whose histories, languages, and cultures continue to influence our vibrant communities. We pay respect to indigenous people through our ethical relationship building efforts. Our community agreement asks for genuine conversations, real hearts, open minds, and different perspectives in conflict. Let’s rely on our six W system and live participant feedback. What matters most is finding common ground.

Alex:

We dedicate this podcast to our children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and all future generations. The gravity well is on YouTube and streaming wherever you get your podcasts. Join us@thegravitywell.net.

Jenny:

Welcome back to the show, Beau Shaw. So if anybody remembers, Beau was with us back in, geez, I want to say it was like May or June of last year, episode 20 of our show. You can check that out. We had a very good conversation around standing up for human rights in the world. Beau has been very active in the Justice for Palestine movement from a Jewish perspective, if I will. But I’ll let you introduce yourself properly and explain why we’re chatting today. First, please.

Beau:

Yeah, yeah. Thanks for having me, Jenny. I was also here for the year end wrap up, just saying

Jenny:

Thank you, vo. Oh my goodness. I’m so sorry.

Beau:

Yeah, of course. I’ve been involved in Palestine solidarity movements from a Jewish perspective. I think one thing that’s really important to me is that both Jewish safety and Palestinian safety rely on taking the air out of conversations that are about identity rather than human rights, right? Human rights are universal and everyone deserves the right to life. Safety and security under the UN conventions and also our domestic laws and international laws and all that fun stuff. A little bit about myself, of course, I’m running to become the next MP in Calgary Centre with Canada’s New Democrats. I’m running in the 2025 general election. I am originally from Thomson, Manitoba, but I moved to Calgary in about 2017. Been a lifelong volunteer with veterans, disabled folks, human rights organizations across Canada. And I’m also a labour organizer with my local union chapter. I co-chair two grassroots organizations, and I’ve been organizing and participating in protest movements in Calgary for the last five years.

Jenny:

If I can just summarize to say, this is a person that has genuine interest for your community. You dedicate your time in three ways on the labour side, the human rights side, and now on a political front. Wow, thank you ver