A big force in my life...

You know the critical people you meet in your life? Well, I’m gonna miss Fred Kirby - he was a mentor to me…

In 2005, I was living a contradiction. I was an environmentalist working for a nuclear company and Fred was more than happy to point that out. He challenged me, asked me how much I needed materially and philosophized about priorities. He got through… I was off to Manitoba for a new life.

In my first summer back from Manitoba, again Fred challenged me… this time with a massive woodpile. I don’t know if any of you have been chastised by a man in his late seventies while stacking wood, but some familiar phrases were, “I could have done that in half the time as you when I was your age” or “If I was a younger man, you would be embarrassed”. Obi Wan Kenobi would have taken notes.

Some of the most formative social, political and justice-oriented discussions I have had in this life took place while breaking my back stacking wood for Fred. We talked about theory, places and people. Indeed, Fred loved people and foremost, his community. He catalyzed me, taught me the importance of keeping power honest and of putting others first. Most significantly, he taught me to challenge injustice when I saw it.

My first columns were written with heavy guidance from Fred. They came back full of red ink and nasty comments… but always tempered with a pat on the back. He felt I had something to say… and I did. But without Fred’s guidance, I might not have found that voice.

I wasn’t the only one. Fred loved youth and inspired countless young people in his time to work for justice and think beyond themselves. To be cliché, if there were more people like Fred, we would have justice in this world. I will miss him - mentors come into our lives, but it is up to us to keep learning after they are gone.

A quote for you my friend, I will miss you very much. Love you Fred.

“The world is too dangerous for anything but truth and too small for anything but love”, William Sloane Coffin, Jr.

Community and the Collapse... thoughts from Edmonton

Went and watched Michael Moore’s ‘Capitalism: A Love Story’ the other day with some Edmonton folks. Once we navigated the irony of IMAX and saturated our senses with fake butter and popcorn, I gotta say, the film was pretty good (minus the Catholic/Obama worship stuff). Moore manages to breech ‘isms’, highlights the power of resistance and cultivates an appeal for action that both resonates and empowers. However, Moore’s empowerment is rooted in disempowerment by the state, and while socialism certainly appeals to the alternative, Moore misses a critical element of resistance: the culture of resistance itself.

Narratives of collapsing ‘civilizations’ dominate environmental and social justice discourse today and are strange paradoxes given we implicitly mourn our ‘fall from grace’ while criticizing corporate statism. Indeed, Moore prefaces his film with Roman collapse… I think we need to look bigger: the collapse has already happened – we have one billion hungry and can light water on fire from pollution – it’s been happening for a while. Moreover, narrative of collapse disempowers individuals and small communities, allowing the commodification of ‘green’ and ‘justice’ to gain popular support.

I think it is important to celebrate who we are. Many folks working on social movements are actively decolonizing, learing skills of community and have picked up some legitimate earth skills. Seriously, many folks can plant and maintain a garden, some can hunt, fish or keep livestock and most importantly: many have a deep appreciation for our place with nature (not to get too new age-ish). If we acknowledge the voices saying a collapse is coming, then arguably, we have been preparing some. I am not downplaying the severity of a collapse, nor suggesting we start a new cult in Texas or something… but having awareness of how ‘things’ operate has given us all something unique.

Three Canadian cities have shown me how vibrant and healing these communities are. But there are important movements going on in rural places as well. Please take the time to watch this clip and see one community, Clearwater, Manitoba that still has my heart. This is what community can look like ☺.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LaPJSXMM7B4

First night in Edmonton

And we know that our eyes are
not windows,
that indeed we do not
“see” the world at a distance,
that our “seeing” is within
our heads, within our minds.
~ Jack. D. Forbes

Had a great discussion last night about Jack Forbes ‘Columbus and Other Cannibals’ with a couple fine folks from e-town. Was nice to reflect on the book as it was indeed formative (published 1978) written by a founder of the Native American Movement (later AIM). Forbes identifies that Western culture operates as a Wiendigo; it consumes without thought and through colonialism ‘cannibalizes’ both itself and others. Forbes highlights how greed, indoctrination and sedation allow atrocities to manifest, all characterized by a religious belief in the superiority of Western thought. But Forbes also provides spaces of hope. His writing itself is decolonial as he illustrates optimism and frustration through the narratives of others. Through sharing stories, Forbes weaves academia with oral tradition to produce a text both accessible and critical. Moreover, Forbes last chapter is a rich summary/analysis of previous chapters presented as a poem. As Zinn notes, “A poem can inspire a movement. A pamphlet can spark a revolution…when we stand up and speak out together, we can create a power no government can suppress.”

Our conversation then switched to the role of community in struggle. How can organizations receive better direction from affected peoples? In the spirit of Zinn, a quick glance at Canadian history informs us that indeed, much community organizing has happened here on the prairies. Figures like Big Bear, Louis Reil and Tommy Douglas show how a strong sense of community can ultimately remapped how Canadian culture exists and that while the victories have come with pain, struggle has a strong tradition in Canada. I suggest that spirit is still strong in rural spaces all over Canada. Indigenous peoples and rural Canadians have increasingly recognized commonality, as witnessed by important victories at Akwasasne and Dump Site 41 this summer – moreover, these spaces are becoming the decolonization we have been seeking. Urban folks (which, alas I am coming to accept as a part of my identity) can provide resources/skills to these struggles, but we should let the rural spirit inspire us. It is not to say that urban places have no spirit, but to highlight there are important differences in how community develops in rural places, thus differential spirits. When I heard 200 farmers on their feet shouting for treaty rights this summer, I know that spirit is strong in rural spaces.

We also flushed out some of the problems of academia. I am in a weird space here. I represent a colonial capitalist patriarchal institution and define myself personally as opposed to that construct. I have tried to use the privilege of academia to facilitate my greater participation in social movements, but it remains: what I am doing is extremely colonial. Personally, I view social movements as part of my decolonization, yet have become increasingly cognizant that these movements themselves can be colonial. However, rather than being lost in a panopticon of colonialism, I suggest colonial paradoxes can be mitigated with intent and spirit. As Forbes notes, we need the Wiendigo to teach us, but lets not have it consume us.

On a personal note: First night in Edmonton was a bit overwhelming as I realized how ‘teedot’ I have become. Before leaving, I did not bother to check the weather as I felt that surely Edmonton was an extension of the southern Ontario clime. But there was snow on the ground and all… (addable sigh from the Winnipegers). As such, I was freezing. Luckily Edmonton people have a soft spot for stupidity and drove me to a Sally Anne where I got a nice warm jacket. Love and miss you all. d

Afghanistan and Canada's Occupation

Hello all,

I have started posting the column i have been writing for the Kincardine Independent over the last 3 years in blog form. I am new to the whole blog thing, so please be patient with me. This blog has been set up to email some listserves that i have been a part of in the past, so if it is inappropriate to email them - let me know and i will remove them. However, traffic will be low and i will only be posting about once a week.

Hope you enjoy and please, provide feedback so that i can grow as a writer! (column below).

Thanks and take care,
Dave

After eight years of occupation, Afghanistan remains in shambles. Little progress has been brought to rural areas and no eradication of so called ‘terrorist’ organizations achieved. The Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission reports only 3% of girls are enrolled in education; most not allowed to progress past the sixth grade. Researchers report ‘development’ money is being funneled to rich Canadians and Afghans, while the poor starve outside of embassy doors. Further, just 29% of people have access to safe drinking water. Nonetheless, after nearly a decade, Canada has maintained a military presence in Afghanistan. But, if humanitarian aid is not working, why are our soldiers sacrificing themselves?

An important factor is Afghanistan’s resources. The World Bank estimates undeveloped mineral deposits could profit over $250 million annually, up from the current $60 million – high-grade iron deposits alone are estimated to be 1.8 billion tones. In addition, rare metals such as tantalum, lithium and cesium, used to manufacture electronics, abound. Canada, the largest global mining economy with over 60% of the world’s mining companies, has major interest in exploiting these resources. Further, recent reports place Afghanistan’s natural gas reserves at 15.7 trillion cubic feet and oil reserves at 1.6 billion barrels – three times Alaska’s reserves.

Transports of gas reserves between central Asia and Pakistan through the proposed Trans-Afghan pipeline project stands to directly benefit Canadian politicians economically. Former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, advisor to Bennett Jones, a Calgary-based energy law firm, has advocated for construction of the 1500 km pipeline to facilitate gas transfers from Turkmenistan. In addition, Harper’s first Defense Minister, Gordon O’Connor, was a lobbyist for military contractors until his election in 2006. Canada is now the sixth largest arms manufacturer in the world. Clearly, Afghanistan represents big money to Canadian interests.

These development projects proceed at great cost to Afghan’s people and environment. Most mining projects will occur in fragile ecosystems, disrupting the sustainable agriculture practiced there for countless generations. In addition, lax environmental regulations will allow mine tailings to contaminate water sources in already arid ecosystems. The Trans-Afghan pipeline will disrupt a huge amount of natural habitat and disturb ecosystem processes.

Most Canadians have questioned our military involvement with little information about Canada’s economic gain from the mission. If more people knew of Canada’s obvious exploitation of a vulnerable country, there would be even less support. Let’s bring our troops home.

Gaza and water rights

Written - 4 January, 2009

The conflict in Gaza is not only about social justice, but also environmental justice. Democratically elected leaders in Palestine have continually been portrayed as ‘extremist’ or blatantly ‘terrorist’ with little attention given to the massive disparities in access to natural resources that exist between Israeli and Palestinian people.

An under-discussed result of the 1967 Arab-Israel war is the disproportionate control of water that Israel gained by occupying (illegally) the West Bank, Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and Golan Heights. Much of the rich agricultural land that kibbutz (Israeli) settlements have developed with pride depends on Israeli military and political control of water resources within occupied territory. The West Bank has been identified as the primary source of water for consumption in the Israeli cities of Beersheba, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. At the border of the West Bank, Israeli pumps operate 18 hours a day, depleting underground reservoirs in the region. Israel consumes 85% of Palestine’s water supply each year, representing 25% of Israel’s total water use. Individual water consumption is also extremely disproportionate: the average Israeli consumes 8 times the amount of water of an average Palestinian.

With the election of Hamas in 2007, Israel exacerbated tensions in the region by creating embargoes that blocked water treatment equipment and agents from entering the Gaza region. In February 2008, the Israeli blockade resulted in a shortage of hypochlorite, a chemical used to disinfect drinking water, causing 52 of 140 wells to be shut down due to bacterial contamination. These wells were so contaminated that the water was unfit for human consumption even after boiling.

While there is no excuse for the loss of life from Hamas’ rocket fire into Israel, it is important to note that rather than being ‘extremists’ or ‘terrorists’, Hamas is responding to the resource injustices that Israel has perpetuated. I imagine that if we were forced to be thirsty while a rich neighbor, through military control, was consuming our water, we might also be upset. The Canadian government maintains that Hamas’ rockets instigated the current conflict, but this statement reflects either an absence of memory or of critical thought. It is important to recognize that more than just rockets can create terrorism.

Christmas 2008

Written - 15 December, 2008

The holiday season is a time for reflection, as well as celebration. This year has witness the beginning of major changes to economics worldwide, leaving some in Canada without the means to have a holiday such as they may have enjoyed in the past. However, times of change are also times for reimagining our greater community, as well as ourselves and the collapse of the automotive industry creates interesting opportunities, should we change the frame of the how the industry, government and economy operate.

Today, rich executives make millions for themselves by engineering the collapse of companies through mergers and creating vast monopolies. These monopolies in turn impoverish rich countries by removing manufacturing jobs and replacing them with part-time service jobs, which cannot unionize due to high turn over and fragrant anti-union campaigns by management. The manufacturing jobs exported to poor countries have followed a policy of paying workers the minimum amount possible and creating extreme working conditions, often for women and children. In addition, the communities where these plants open often become dangerously polluted as companies select locations with minimum environmental standards to cut costs for production.

This system works to benefit only rich executives, corrupt governments in poor countries and shareholders in rich ones. But these people are not the majority of the population. During this time of change, we need to seriously look at redistributing wealth and rethinking democracy. Instead of trusting the big three automotive executives at the cost of $3.3 billion to not sell out Canada when the US offers its bailout packages, why not buy out the Canadian assets and change it to green manufacturing? While nationalizing operations is not in itself an end, surely it is better than executives walking away with millions while thousands face unemployment. At least with government control there is some accountability to the Canadian population.

Further, there is a need to reframe what we manufacture in this country. Canada has been embarrassed on the international scene by inaction over climate change and the sell off of most of our companies/resources. By switching automotive manufacturing to wind or solar generation, southern Ontario could supply the US mid-west with much needed green technology during a presidency that promises new strategies.

These ideas are not the whole answer, but they might be a start and new answers are needed now more than ever.

Declining Economy

Written - November 10, 2008

The past few weeks have seen major changes in world politics, the dust of which has yet to settle. The election of President Obama has captured the collective imagination as new period of change, social justice and American moral revitalization. However, Obama has inherited the crumbling structure of a global economic system, driven into the ground through exploitation and environmental degradation. For environmentalists, this economic collapse represents both the best and the worst of times.

One of the benefits of the economic decline is the halt to industrial projects that have been deemed destructive to environment. In Alberta, the lower price of oil has forced the tar sands industry to slow down expansion, a position environmentalists have been lobbying for years. While the halt will undoubtedly be temporary, there have been other parallels in extraction slow downs in environmentally destructive industries such as mining. Obviously the loss of these sectors is detrimental to the regional economies where they operate, however, a decline allows for community innovation and small business re-imagination… unfortunately, this in not where government bailouts are directed.

So far, there has been over a trillion dollars collectively shelled out by governments to protect the economy during its period of decline. Governments that have slashed social programs, ignored environmental protection as to expensive and allowed agriculture to approach crisis are able to gather billions to bail out banks. Consider this: with that amount of money, we could have provided education to every person in the world, ended world hunger, cleaned up ecological disasters and given clean drinking water to all peoples. In fact, each of these projects individually would have cost just a fraction of the money that has been undemocratically handed over in the name of the economy.

It is important to note that banks are not Crown institutions and do not provide meaningful service to most people globally. While they provide some wealth to people in rich countries, but they also impoverish the majority of global peoples through overcharging and exploitive procedures. However, giving money for education, food and water would actually alleviate and directly save peoples lives – something that the world has been calling on the rich countries to mobilize on for decades. While it is important to not have an unmediated economic collapse, so are social and environmental issues – seems that governments have shown where their loyalties lie. Lets hope Obama becomes the change that everyone imagines.

Elections 2008 - Aboriginal justice

Written - September 28, 2008

Aboriginal relations and ‘issues’ have been virtually non-existent during this election, not that they were prominent in past ones. However, their exclusion from this campaign reinforces the notion that the residential schools apology from the Canadian government was a token one and not genuine. Published in 1996, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples ‘found’ that self-government and sovereignty would be the most beneficial policy for Aboriginal communities. However, a look at the platforms finds that the dominant parties aren’t listening to past expertise.

The Liberals and Conservatives, who adopt nationalist policies, do not want to see Aboriginal peoples achieve sovereignty, because of fears that Quebec would then have political grounds to do that same. However, Quebec was a willing participant in confederation, Aboriginal peoples were not. Sovereignty for Aboriginal communities would restore the nation-to-nation relationship under which treaties were presented. Nevertheless, the federal government (whether Conservative or Liberal) has not wanted sovereignty, as it would challenge the context of ongoing land disputes. If Aboriginal peoples achieved sovereignty in Canada, they would be able to appeal to the international community when dealing with land claims.

In Canada, there are about 800 ongoing land claims, many of which have been caught in bureaucracy for decades. To all parties credit, a bill was passed that will try to expedite the process through tribunal review panels. However, the legislation proposed by Harper has been criticized for excluding the largest settlements and thus continuing to stall them indefinitely. Also, past governments have failed to pay for claims that were considered valid.

Moreover, Harper and cronies may have alternative motivations for getting land claims settled quickly. In Alberta, disputes launched by the Beaver Lake Cree may halt the development of tar sands, obviously a priority project for the Conservatives. An expedited settlement process would benefit industry in this and other cases, so it is difficult to see whom this legislation was designed to help. Let’s keep in mind that as Harper was ‘apologizing,’ one of his backbenchers was on the radio saying that survivors needed to ‘get over it.’

Without a dedicated commitment to resolving the injustices of the past, land claims and strained relationships will continue to haunt Canadian and Aboriginal relationships. Canadians need to recognize that the wealth of the country has been made at the expense of Aboriginal peoples. In an election focused on economy, one would hope such a thought would be discussed.

Elections 2008 - agriculture

Written - 21 September, 2008

Family farms have been devastated by agriculture policies that have favoured corporations rather than people, particularly since the 1970s. Over the last five years, average farm income has actually been negative, though it has been below the poverty line for the last twenty. Those who produce food in Canada are of the most impoverished, yet bailouts are directed at large producers or agribusiness companies. An immediate change in policy is required so that the rural crisis gets more attention than a brief headline during election time.

The Conservative Party’s language on agriculture states, “The agriculture industry is of strategic importance to Canada.” There is a level of honesty here as Conservatives explicitly support agriculture industries, but certainly not farmers. Before the house fell, Harper made it clear that he intended to dismantle the Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) in order to ‘open markets up’ and ‘remove government regulations’ for grain producers. However, the removal of collective marketing for grain producers will do nothing to open markets. Rather, it will allow large agribusiness companies to favor large-scale operations with contracts and push small farmers out of production.

By favouring large-scale producers, agribusiness companies will drive down grain prices and bankrupt small operations. The CWB has been able to protect smaller operations by paying an equal rate per bushel to all grain producers and thus leveling the playing field. In addition, collective marketing has taken the larger fluxes out of grain prices. However, agribusiness companies thrive on lower produce prices and those familiar with the cattle industry can attest to the pathology of these policies.

The other parties appear to be campaigning on platforms that favour small-scale and local production. While the NDP and Greens can probably be trusted with such a platform, many of the policies affecting farmers today were passed with Liberal majorities. Regardless, these parties have all vowed to allow farmers to determine the CBW’s fate, not the government.

In an era of uncertainty and change, it is of critical importance that our food producers have the most stable economy in the country; however, agriculture is the most volatile sector we have. While the CBW is only one issue in agriculture today, it certainly can tell us a lot about the philosophy of the major parties. Sadly though, not one of the parties has agriculture identified as their top national priority – perhaps this is the most telling statement of all.

Elections 2008 - environment

Written - 13 September, 2008

If economics are at the top of the agenda for this election, environmental issues are a close second. Interestingly, it seems that most parties, with a notable exception, have concluded that environment and economics are not mutually exclusive. Each of these parties has discussed the idea of taxing the use or extraction of our resources. This transition in popular politics reflects the interests of academics, non-government organizations and most importantly, the voice of a younger generation genuinely concerned with the future.

A long-term vision is required now more than ever as the expectations placed on future Canadians are phenomenal. Given the current situation, it is difficult to foresee a comfortable lifestyle characterized by the affluence of today continuing in the future. Government and industry have created a huge pension program for baby boomers set to retire in the next 10 years and pension funds require continual input. However, these funds are losing value because our economy is based fundamentally on oil – the most volatile commodity and a dwindling natural resource.

By 2015 there will be more retired people than people under the age of 15. By 2031, the population over the age of 65 is expected to be 24% of the total population, nearly double what it is today. If the tax system continues to depend on personal income taxes and offloading government expenses to taxpayers continues, workers will be too overburdened to invest in themselves, as they pay to maintain social infrastructures. This is not a youth issue, but should be a common concern. With no pension stability the hard work of the boomers could amount to poverty in their retirement.

So, even if we suddenly discover a gazillion barrels of oil (highly unlikely), the tax system must be shifted to other areas of the economy or workers will be unable to maintain the Canadian system in less than 25 years time. Therefore, when Mr. Harper and his cronies say that it is irresponsible to begin shifting taxes to carbon or resource extraction in an era of economic decline, they are not thinking beyond the next fiscal year. And lets not forget that Harper was an oil executive … though he doesn’t bring that up too often.

Ultimately, the other parties green tax plans are similar with some differences in the detail. While shifting taxes to resource extraction is risky, it is a sure failure to stick with the status quo.

Elections 2008

Written - 7 September, 2008

Canadian politicians are off to the races and it seems the economy is going to be top agenda for most voters. Quite understandable, most Canadians are beginning to feel the crunch of a changing economic landscape. Political promises will be championed from the four national parties (and one provincial one); however, each needs to articulate its weaknesses to give a balanced picture, though it is doubtful any will do so.

Expect the Liberal and Conservative parties to focus economic discussions around creating more diverse export markets and reducing trade barriers with these partners. While this approach is conventional, it is completely unstable and will do little to create a sustainable Canadian economic system. By further integrating into the world system, Canada essentially will continue to outsource its resource base to other countries for manufacturing.

This approach assumes oil prices will remain low and transportation networks will function as they have in the past. However, oil depletion is making global transportation systems highly expensive and therefore mass exports from Canada, thus probably reducing the number of long-term trade partners. Further, most foreign manufacturing is done by poor nations where workers rights are ignored and corporations export profits. Therefore, this economic approach will be a direct contradiction for political parties championing language like human rights and justice.

The NDP will focus on orienting markets to national ones, with localized stability. While this system is more stable than a global one, the NDP fails to address how national integration will occur as Canada is now oriented north-south rather than east-west. Where the national plan weakens is again on transportation: the railways in Canada have largely been removed, the steel sold to foreign markets and unfortunately, recreating this network may not be unachievable.

The Greens will discuss tax incentives to orient markets to more local and recyclable economies. While local economies are definitively more stable than global ones, the Greens fail to note that these local economies may be hindered by an obviously huge reliance on bureaucracy to implement tax programs of this scale. Should economies become locally oriented under the Green system, there would be a long-term danger of reverting back to personal income taxes to support this bureaucracy.

While these are the positions of political parties, it is important for voters to recognize their own position. The affluence we have enjoyed has been at the cost of the environment and the human rights of poor nations. We are now entering an epoch where we can no longer ignore these realities, whether it is for the rights of people today or generations from now. When listening to political parties we should realize that politicians promising riches is an illusion and that change will come from us, not them.

Clearwater Course summary 2008 (University of Manitoba)

Written - 29 August, 2008

This year marked the forth return of the University of Manitoba’s Rural Communities and Living Environments course led by Dr. Stephane McLachlan to the Clearwater area. Along with Colin Anderson and Alexis Knispel (with Troy Stozek as the ‘busdriver’), twenty-three students engaged in learning, sharing and community to better understand the anatomy of a small prairie town through a whirlwind ten-day visit.

Through precedence by previous years, students ate an almost exclusive diet of food produced by the community and thus the first priority was to visit the Koslowsky’s garden and harvest meals for themselves. The bounty consisted of tomatoes, zucchini, beans, beats, potatoes, peppers, onions and way too many carrots to eat in a week. Fortunately for the group, the Anglican Church group provided a delicious meal after the garden harvest and further chores were left for another day.

On the Saturday, the group spent time with Roy McLaren, who shared some of Clearwater’s rich history and stories of its inhabitants, after which Jan McIntyre explained how the Harvest Moon Society emerged to educate people about food, rural culture and environment. The students were genuinely interested in learning of how a small community had struggled to establish itself and more recently, to preserve itself.

Later that day, the group visited two gardens: Val Pogson’s and Louise Johnson’s, where they learned a bit of the art of gardening, but more importantly about a way of life that is largely absent in the urban landscape. After a long day, the United Church provided a delicious meal and in the evening, the group learned to make jelly with Louise, while Jean Gardiner demonstrated the art of her canned tomatoes and fresh bread was baked in the adobe oven under the tutelage of Carol Guilford. While the group may have learned some about food culture, Carol and Jean learned that students would be quiet at night if their bellies were full of fresh bread and jelly.

On Sunday, the group explored a different conception of land, which was shared with them by Elder’s Richard and Dennis Morrison from Red Gut Bay, Ontario. Richard and Dennis led the group in a Sweat Lodge ceremony and spent the day speaking with the group about Anishnabae spirituality. The Sweat was extremely hot, as was the day, and several students ran to the creek for a dip before a dinner largely prepared by the instructors. Despite the instructor’s food, the Elders were happy to visit Clearwater again and hope to return soon.

The following morning, the Senate spent time with the group and discussed how the community had changed and grown over the years. The wise voices of the women elders was reinforced that evening by Jan McIntyre and Jo-Lene Gardiner with her daughter Haley, who spoke of the changing role of women in rural communities. Collectively, the women demonstrated the pride they felt for their community and showed that the next generation of women in Clearwater would be as beautiful and strong as those that preceded them.

Next day, the group experienced a diversity of farming techniques by visiting the Windy Bay Hutterite colony, Guilford’s Farms and ended the night with a seed saving workshop with Mrs. Koslowsky. The students were impressed on many levels, but quickly learned that the Guilford Farm tour didn’t really end until Dave had extinguished the last embers of the campfire.

Wednesday marked the halfway point for the students, and despite a couple of late night campfires, the group was keen to explore holistic management on a planed tour with the McIntyres and a surprise one with Don Guilford. On Thursday, the group explored some of the shocking realities of the global food system through discussions with Les McEwan, Dan Deruyck and Fred Tait. For some students, the discussions were a wake up call about agricultural issues in Canada and helped them better appreciate where their food comes from.

One week in, the group visited the Caver’s farm and learned how a young family has uniquely adapted their operation to be sustainable for themselves and their land. The students played with the Caver livestock and gorged themselves on fresh bacon the next mourning. One vegetarian was so impressed with the Cavers farm that he has reconsidered his diet (though hasn’t ate a hamburger yet). Robert and Celia Guilford served dinner that evening and discussed urban-rural linkages in the food movement and the role of the Harvest Moon Society. Later that night, the Griffin family talked of their move back to farming after living in the city and how it has fulfilled their lives, though changed it significantly.

On last day of touring, the group visited the Paddock’s ranch where they learned that donkeys were friendly, but bison were less so. Rounding out the farm visits was the magical Room to Grow where the Nuefeld’s showed their straw-bale constructions and discussed sustainable, small living in the country over a delicious meal.

On the last Sunday, the students prepared a feast for the community, which was as rich and diverse as the group. International students held workshops on cooking East Indian cuisine, as well as Chinese dumplings. A smorgasbord of desserts and dishes were served, as the students developed into a community to serve the one that had taught them so much. The night’s entertainment was the ‘Farmer’s Olympics’ where the rural folks took all the strength events, but the urban folks cleaned up in less strenuous events like tearoom edict (ask Carol, Jo-Lene or Clint for details).

All in all, it was another great year and for myself, as a 2007 Clearwater alumni, I was glad to spend my last days in Manitoba with the great folks of both communities. I know I speak for everyone when I say I will carry these memories in my heart and travels. Thanks again Clearwater, we will miss you!

China's 'green' Olympics

Written - 11 August, 2008

China’s ‘green’ Olympics have turned out to be an embarrassment not only for the country but the world. The air pollution index in Beijing has been temporarily reduced by extreme coercion from the government to levels just slightly more toxic than the World Banks maximum. Unfortunately, air is only one component of the many Olympic related environmental (and social) disasters.

The beautiful hardwood floors that decorate the venues in Beijing are ancient Indonesian rainforest. This choice was not poor taste, but rather reflects China’s stranglehold on the Indonesian export market. For Indonesia, it is more economical to clearcut and convert ancient stands to hardwood floors than to protect them for things such as improved air quality. Of the $40 billion invested in the Olympics, $1 billion has gone towards clearcutting.

To make space for the massive development required for the events, China has also displaced farmers and their crops. Displacing farmers is not new; over 13 million were removed to make way for the Three Gorges Dam. However, China has increasingly been relying on the foreign market for food security and the combination of growth with lost land will both contribute to a looming food crisis. Yet rather than support the displaced, Yang Chunlin is facing 5 years in prison for collecting the signatures of 10,000 ‘dissident’ farmers who merely asked to have their livelihoods back.

Yet as the West denounces these tragedies, our political regime does little to discourage them and our industrial complex actively promotes them. The Olympics are a reflection of our global political economy where China mimics the West, but receives all the criticism. Perhaps a new approach is needed – the Olympics are shared by the world, as much by Indonesia and farmers (and Rwanda and Tibet) as by urban China, so why must some suffer and some benefit?

Perhaps we should realize that it is not only China that is on the world stage, but the global community and our definition of a ‘green’ Olympics. If ‘green’ is social suffering and lost rainforest, we have some tough questions to ask ourselves.

Railways lost

Written - 20 July, 2008

All over Canada, a quiet tragedy is occurring. Over the past few months, CN has been tearing up railway tracks (or the lifeline of the nation, depending upon your vantage). CN can hardly be blamed, as a company, profits have been in decline for decades and the price of steel is skyrocketing. However, a look at gasoline prices shows that tearing out the lines for quick cash might be the most shortsighted decisions made by the crown in our times.

The decline in use of the rails has been due to the automobile, but railways in Canada remained a viable part of the economy until the 1990’s through government support of the Crow rate (ended 1983) and later Western Grain Transportation Act. Both were a subsidy for western farmers to transport their grain to ports in the Pacific. However, following the implementation of the NAFTA agreement, transportation subsidies were deemed an unfair practice by the US and thus cancelled.

The loss of the Crow rate and later subsidies altered grain production on the prairies as agricultural companies favored the use of trucking, which in turn forced CN to raise its rates to meet the bottom line. An economic loser, CN has had to justify funding to the crown, but with smaller cargo loads this has been difficult. During the past decade, CN has seen ‘slimming and trimming,’ which has resulted in the loss of over 50% of its jobs.

Selling the tracks is not ‘slimming and trimming,’ it is more like an eating disorder. GM workers can attest that the automotive industry is in a nosedive and gas prices are increasingly making driving a luxury for the rich. Environmental groups have been lobbying the government for decades to increase rail transport by providing incentives to users. However, government has left CN to the ravages of market capitalism (though massively subsidizing oil development… funny, the US doesn’t mind that one) and one of the most reliable alternatives to an oil economy is being destroyed.

The nation-state of Canada was built by rails and may poetically dissolve because them. If transportation networks collapses with oil price increases, there will be little glue to hold a nation built on economics rather than shared history. Perhaps a government as fiercely patriotic as our own should look into this…

G8 Summit

Written - 13 July, 2008

The G8 summit last week demonstrated the absolute disconnect that government leaders have between economics and environment. During the summit, ‘leaders’ turned up the rhetoric about taking strong action on climate change, but in the same breath demanded an increase in oil production to help ‘stabilize’ the economy. The responsibility for climate control was again delegated to developing nations, not rich ones and the result is predictable: a lot of politics and no action.

What is morbidly fascinating about these meetings are the parallels that they have with climate change scenarios that incorporate social and economic factors into future environmental conditions. Several scenarios exist; in one, governments continue to focus attention on economic production and environmental considerations are given marginal priority. To deal with increasing unrest in developing countries, military budgets are increased and economic barriers create ‘high walls’ where rich nations isolate themselves from the rest of the world. Sound familiar?

In June, Harper announced that Canada’s military budget would increase to $30 billion per year from the current $12 billion over the next 20 years. In contrast, environmental budgets have totaled less than $3 billion over 7 years, the majority of this being rebates to consumers who purchase ‘eco-friendly’ cars. Parallel this with the US spending of one billion per day on war economics and it begins to look like pretty high walls for North America indeed.

Of course in the models, this scenario does not produce great results for curbing climate change and global emissions continue to climb because of global mistrust and lack of consensus. Researchers consider this the worst possible scenario for mitigating climate change, and in it the more disastrous climatic effects are accelerated from the already immanent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change timelines.

However, both Bush and Harper are skeptics about climate change and who cares about environment anyway – the economy is the most important thing today… way more important than the rights of the developing world to demand that rich countries take the lead in emissions reductions. But we won’t worry about that too much because we have invested heavily in our military to protect ourselves (or secure resources) if things go bad. Quite a philosophy to govern by, unfortunately this seems to be reality.

Local Food Trip - part 2

Written - 29 June, 2008

The wild, western trip is getting me further down the rabbit hole of food politics and grassroots agricultural initiatives in Canada. In British Columbia, we went to the now cooperative Mecca of Nelson, where the largely urban community has ensured that local farmers are being provided for through community supported agriculture or CSA’s. Though still a developing model, CSA’s represent a genuine hope for community and rural pride, while generating funds for farmer’s pocketbooks.

A CSA is unique because customers and farmers enter into a relationship where both take on the inherent risks of agriculture. CSA’s sell crop shares cooperatively and customers determine the number of shares required to meet their personal needs. The benefit to farmers is that share prices are negotiated collectively, where a reasonable wage for producers is factored into costs. Further, farmers are guaranteed the share value, regardless of crop failure or market fluctuations.

The customer benefits because they are able to make requests for produce at the start of a season and customize their share. The resulting crop biodiversity ensures that the farm operations involved will have production of some crops, even if others fail. All food is distributed equally amongst shares; therefore, the community, not individual, shares in bounty or failure. Economically, years of bounty represent a significant investment and customers are insolated from food price inflation during years of decline because of diversity.

The farmers we spoke with were overwhelmed by the support these models had brought to their operations. Some were near tears when speaking about prices that considered their living needs rather than corporate profit. Also, CSA’s are transparent and members are encouraged to visit operations during the growing season to learn more about their food, strengthen relations and reduce the isolation that farmers feel from customers in centralized systems.

CSA’s require a commitment from several farmers in order to be viable. The workload for an individual would be too great and the impact of crop failure magnified with small numbers of operations. However, having producers come together can be difficult given the competitive culture that industrial agriculture has encouraged. Nonetheless, recognition by urban residents of the importance of farmers can make cooperation easier to facilitate and reinvigorate rural culture and pride.

Importantly, the farmers involved in CSA’s were positive and saw them as a tool to allow the next generation of farmers to make a go of it. Perhaps there is hope for rural culture after all.

Local Food Trip - part 1

Written - 22 June, 2008

Over the last week, I have become inspired. As part of a research trip for the University of Manitoba, I have been traveling the prairies with two companions interviewing good folks doing good things. Being immersed in social and ecological issues constantly can be about as uplifting as cheering for the Leaf’s during the playoffs (when they make it), so it is nice to get recharged from a new generation of farmers.

The centralization and mechanization of agriculture has driven most rural residents to urban centers. Canada has become a heavily urbanized country – about 80% of people live in cities and only 2% of folks are farmers. On the prairies, this trend has led to major social issues for small towns such as school closures, health care inaccessibility and importantly, loss of traditions. The culture of small prairie farms and cooperation has been replaced by industrial ‘farms’ where monocrops of 10, 000 acres are not unheard of.

However, a new generation of farmers and thinkers is emerging on the prairie landscape. The new model focuses on small farms producing food in a traditional manner. Market gardeners are immensely popular in urban centers where freshness and superior taste appeal to not only local food eaters, but also elders and chefs. Rather than considering themselves innovative, market gardeners see themselves as preserving a skill that was once commonly held.

Also, pastured livestock production has become revived for both health and taste. Pastured livestock are fed and finished on grass, with less emphasis on grain feeding. The fats of animals feed on grasses are higher in omega-3 acids and grass systems require less input from the farmers – therefore there are less costs and chemicals. The animals take longer to reach market weight, but the higher meat quality results in greater profits for the farmers in a local market.

Importantly, these farmers are not working in isolation. Rural-urban linkages have created conscientious cooperation and these folks are marketing together, rather than working in isolation. Interestingly, these traditional farming practices are being reintroduced by ‘back to the land’ urbanites that have lost interest in the ‘rat race.’ These individuals have found that working the land has fulfilled them emotionally, spiritually and physically more than any job could.

While not solving all the world’s problems, it is a start. Perhaps the best things we can do is support these new farmers and start to relearn the traditions ourselves.

Residential Schools

Written - 15 June, 2008


Last week the Canadian government not only acknowledged the atrocities perpetuated in Indian residential schools but also apologized for them. While seen as a historic moment in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal relations, the apology requires more than a scripted statement by Harper to heal the injustices of forced assimilation. The Canadian government must reaffirm its apology by adopting current world standards regarding indigenous rights and put these rights before industrial interests.

In September 2007, Canada was one of four nations to vote against the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. However, Canada was in the extreme minority as 143 nations ratified the motion, with 11 abstaining. The document itself was not overtly liberal in that it was a compromise between recognizing Indigenous rights and allowing governments the power to operate. But for Canada, several of the Articles were clearly in conflict with an archaic policy that has been (and is) used to interact with Aboriginal Peoples.

Article 4 called for the provision of self-government and autonomy for Indigenous peoples, which was venomously opposed by the Canadian government. Aboriginal communities have advocated self-government for generations and academics and government inquiries have as well for over two decades. The creation of Nunavut was seen as a monumental step to achieving self-government in Canada, but in the south, the government has opted to rely on the bureaucracy of Indian Affairs to govern Aboriginal Peoples.

As well, Article 26 explicitly stated that Indigenous peoples have the right to the lands they traditionally occupied and called on governments to honour past treaties. Canada has obviously been reluctant to put past treaties in a modern context – as noted by First Nation peoples who still receive a $5 pittance each year. Further, land claims are backlogged into the decade range and government often allows development on these disputed lands despite these claims – see Caledonia and Grassy Narrows for example.

However, signing the declaration may be inconsequential anyway. Canada has a poor track record of signing international agreements and then ignoring them (as with Kyoto but interestingly not NAFTA). In order to heal these injustices, Canadians themselves need to ask questions about what happened in our history in an honest way and rethink what it means to be Canadian. Do we really want short-term business projects and government incompetence to overrule our humanity?

UN and Agriculture

Written - June 7, 2008

This week the United Nations announced that agriculture was in crisis and to avert starvation for the worlds poor, food production increases and trade systems integration need to be better supported by global funds and strategy. Unfortunately, the UN missed the point. Agriculture is in crisis because of demands for increases in production by a centralized system. Moreover, the starvation of the poor has more to do with consumption by the rich than with lack of local food in the affected countries.

The UN suggested that decreasing barriers to trade such as agricultural subsidies and tariffs would facilitate better international trade in food stuffs, however, there are few instances where reducing barriers to trade have helped poor people – rather they defeat the ability to maintain any form of a local or regional economy and are replaced by global corporations with no responsibility except to rich shareholders. It should be no surprise that corporations in rich Western countries are the primary advocates of this solution.

Further, the ability to increase agricultural production is a myth. Whether its topsoil loss, freshwater contamination/loss, oil depletion or increasing agricultural fragility because of monoculture cropping – farming is at a maximum on the most productive land in the world. Well, that is not entirely true, 10% of arable land in the US has been paved over by cities. However, developing the world’s remaining land for agriculture means destroying the last areas of biodiversity for generally unproductive land, an option that is ludicrous for several reasons.

This is not to be callous to the poor and starving, indeed starvation is one of the most appalling realities of global capitalism, or rather ‘globalization.’ However, in order to do something effective about this requires a real awakening and commitment on from the North and West. Poor people exist because we over consume and demand cheap products/foods from our leaders, be they government or corporate (assuming there is a difference). In order to really help the global poor - over 2 billion people - we need to stop taking their resources at ridiculously cheap prices and stop supporting the companies that do so, whether through stocks or purchases. The agricultural crisis doesn’t have a technical fix – it requires a cultural fix.

Bill C-51

Written - 18 May, 2008

The Canadian government has created an embarrassing revolving door policy through the Ministry of Health. Tony Clements, a former 25% shareholder in the Toronto pharmaceutical company Prudential Chem Inc., has shamelessly rewarded cronies with contracts and most recently introduced amendments to the Food and Drug Act that endanger the democracy of health choices for consumers through Bill C-51. While proposed to regulate fraudulent claims, the actual intent appears to be concentrating corporate control of all forms of medicine.

Bill C-51 proposes radical changes to the monitoring of holistic, herbal and Traditional medicines and would essentially remove up to 70% of these products from public consumption. In order for these products to be sold under the bill, they would have to undergo scientific validation. However, rarely are there isolated compounds within herbal medicines that can be evaluated, rather the medicines are holistic, which includes emotional support from the practitioner. Alternative medicines have been validated through millennia of human use and experimentation, though conventional science does not recognize this long-term knowledge as legitimate.

Importantly, many people have begun to rediscover alternative medicines as over reliance on pharmaceuticals has been characterized by unknown and disastrous side effects, such as the creation of superbugs. These characteristics reflect an economic approach to medicine where products are rapidly assessed in order to get them on the market quickly and profit motivates rather than healing. Regulating agencies are often overburdened with evaluating new products and thus some of the onus for clinical trials is left to the manufacturer rather than a neutral third party.

The Fraser Institute recently reported that 54% of Canadians use alternative forms of medicine and that 10% rely on herbal products, which translated into $2.2 billion in sales. Often these products are collected and processed by small businesses, which would not be able to incur the huge costs associated with scientifically validating these medicines. However, major pharmaceuticals could do so and a growing market with that much revenue would be an important investment. Perhaps it might not be much of a leap to suggest that Minister Clements sees the economics of it too?

Made in Canada legislation

Written - 25 May, 2008

The Canadian government recently announced plans for new regulations to ensure products labeled ‘made in Canada’ are actually made in Canada. The regulation is welcome news as interest in supporting local producers has increased for ethical, environmental and economic reasons. Given the choice, Canadians support their own farmers, however, it is unclear how far the new labeling will go in putting dollars in farm families pockets.

Under current regulations, if 51% of production costs are incurred in Canada, an item can be labeled as ‘made in Canada’ and therefore, produce or livestock grown in foreign countries can be labeled as such. Under the new regulations, nearly all the product, with the exception of spices and minor additives would have to be grown in Canada in order to be labeled ‘made in Canada,’ a much stronger and honest reflection of production.

However, if BSE taught us anything, it was that buying Canadian produce does not necessarily translate into farmer income. During the crisis, Canadians increased beef consumption in hopes of supporting struggling farmers, however, the increased purchasing lined the pockets of middlemen while income plummeted on farms. This was a reflection of the reality of agriculture today – a powerfully concentrated retail and agribusiness sector that controls the flow of money in farm systems, not consumers and certainly not farmers.

Regulations aimed at supporting domestic consumption are largely superficial if little is done to protect Canadian farmers from international companies and foreign subsidies that devalue the price of commodities and increase the price of inputs. Harper suggests that given the choice, Canadians will support farmers and therefore tariffs to protect agriculture are unnecessary. But consumers cannot ensure that agricultural suppliers and processors are ensuring fair prices for farmers when they purchase at grocery chains.

Therefore, while all welcome the ‘made in Canada’ amendments, the most effective means of getting money into farmers’ pockets is by supporting them directly in the community. Not only will you can be assured that the produce is made in Canada, but you can ensure that the right people are getting paid.

Chocolate

Written - December 5, 2007


Chocolate and holidays are virtually synonymous. However, chocolate turns out to be not only bad for health, but also human rights. Few of us question how cocoa is produced, but a quick analysis highlights some disturbing facts. As with most of the commodities in Western countries, cocoa is produced in regions that are economically advantageous to corporations. West Africa is the predominant global region of cocoa production and enslaved children the labourers.

In 2002, Save the Children Canada issued a report which observed that over 200,000 children sold into slavery worked on cocoa farms in Cote d’Ivoire. Following the report, the Ivorian government agreed to address issues of child labour, however conflict in the region has limited any progress on these issues and enslaved children continue to work plantations. Working conditions are terrible. Cocoa plantations rely heavily on chemical pesticides and only 40% of the child workers wear any protective gear.

Cote d’Ivoire accounted for 37.5% of global cocoa production in 2006. Within the country, over 600,000 small farms produced cocoa, thus making it very difficult to regulate child labour practices. Farmers sell their crop to the local (but internationally owned) corporate market board where beans are exported for processing and manufacture. Farmers are paid for their crop from the board, and as one would expect in West Africa, profits are negligible.

In November, 2007, Canadian chocolate producers including Nestle, Cadbury, Hershey’s and Mars were accused of price fixing the chocolate market. Dubbed the ‘chocolate cartel,’ price fixing works to undermine West African producers by ensuring that production costs are kept low from a corporate perspective. This in turn likely means the continued use of child slave labour since low production prices encourages farmers to favour cheap labour.

Western demand for chocolate is insatiable. In the US, Americans spend $13 billion dollars on chocolate each year; Canadians spend about $2.3 billion on chocolate and candy – that’s about $76 per person. The health effects of this level of consumption have been noted in studies of rising obesity rates, however, Canadians often identify chocolate as a comforting indulgence. Regardless, during this holiday season, we should be mindful that the treats we enjoy come with baggage and as an alternative, buy organic, fair trade chocolate. The price might be an inconvenience, but the cost to Africa is much worse otherwise.

GM Wheat and Biofuel

Written - 25 October, 2007

Genetically modified crops have found a new partner in Canada, the biofuel industry. Bans have been placed on Canadian agricultural produce in Europe and Japan because of genetic modification and therefore GM has found an alternative market to further its sales. However, the focus of GM biofuel research is on a crop that was overwhelmingly rejected by farmers for genetic modification: wheat.

The GM industry has received significant criticism for its policy and procedures regarding the implementation of GM crops. The seeds are sold pesticide ready, ensuring that the GM companies are making money from selling the seed and the treatment. Regardless, many farmers still found the technology to be useful and GM has been widely adopted in Canada. In 2004, 5.4 million hectares of GM crops were planted in Canada.

There has been considerable debate regarding the health implications of GM food, both sophisticated and not. However the most tangible problem with GM crops has been largely overlooked. When GM crops are planted, they often return as ‘volunteer’ crops the next year. This means that GM crops grown one year will return in future crops. This is particularly troublesome for farmers because the GM volunteer is pesticide resistant and therefore becomes a pest that cannot be removed by conventional methods.

Farmers were aware that GM pesticide resistant traits were cross breeding amongst crops, creating ‘super-weeds’ that required multiple (expensive) treatments. It was because of the GM volunteer issue that GM wheat was overwhelmingly rejected by farmers as a future crop. If grasses and broadleaves were pesticide resistant crop control would become extremely difficult.

Today, GM wheat has taken an alternative route rather than the garbage bin. Wheat is being manipulated so that the sugars can be more easily converted to ethanol for gasoline. Sounds exciting; however there are dangers with this new modification.

Conversion of sugars could seriously affect the way in which wheat is digested in feed for cattle, should it crossbreed or become a volunteer. In addition, cattle farmers have opposed the development of GM wheat for biofuel because of the economic impact of price inflation of wheat on cattle operations. In the face of opposition from farmers again, it will be interesting to see whether GM wheat makes it onto the market or not. The track record of big industry suggests that the product will be forced on farmers one way or another.

Wetlands

Written - July 25, 2007

There has been a spotlight in Canada on treating drinking water for biological hazards, but less capacity to treat chemical ones. Though monitored (mostly), it is often too expensive to eliminate chemical pollutants from drinking water. The result: our water has become a brew of chemicals and toxins.

In 2004 Environment Canada was alarmed to find detectable levels of anti-depressants, pain killers and hormones in drinking water from Southern Ontario. It was found that the levels of these chemicals increased when water treatment plants were located downstream from sewage treatment plants.

Pesticide contamination has been documented in Ontario’s water since the 1970’s. In addition, industrial chemicals and metals are monitored routinely in drinking water. Although these chemicals do not pose an immediate hazard, chronic exposure effects are not well understood. Further, few studies have investigated the combined effects of toxins; each one is usually studied in isolation.

For metals and other inorganic compounds, removal options are expensive and often require chemical treatment to remove chemicals. Therefore little is done to eliminate these toxins as long as they are below regulated levels.

A major problem with treating drinking water for different pollutants is that each toxin has properties that require different treatments. For example, organic chemicals like pesticides can be removed with carbon filtration. However, chlorine is also removed by carbon filtration and carbon residue in water could inhibit the effectiveness of chlorine.

Moreover, it has come to light that treatment of water with chlorine presents hazards. The by-products of chlorine can be quite toxic to human health. However, the benefits of chlorine in treating biological pathogens support its use. Yet not all is doom and gloom, China has put a new twist on a reliable water treatment system.

In Shanghia, fifteen square kilometres of suburbs are being set aside to be restored as wetlands to help treat the city’s water. Wetlands are the most effective filters for removing any type of chemical from water, and the cheapest… all they require is land.

This is promising news for conservationists. Over two-thirds of Ontario’s wetlands have been lost to urban and rural development. Perhaps as the quality of water becomes paramount, Ontario can begin to look at wetland restoration as well. Sometimes the best technology is nature.

Climate Change Debates

Written - April 5, 2007


Criticism is what makes science strong. When a group of scientists publish a new idea their peers carefully weigh in to critique methods, data and conclusions. The scrutiny that an idea must undergo to be accepted within the scientific community is possibly the most meticulous thought process humans have developed. There is, however, a flaw in the process – people will often report scientific ideas that support their ideals without looking for scientific criticism.

In Africa, a series of malaria epidemics began in 1988 in an area that had not experienced frequent epidemics before: the East African highlands. The IPCC stated in 1998 that climate change in Africa could increase the range of mosquitoes and therefore lead to increased epidemics. In any highland area climate changes are more easily observed; higher elevations are naturally cooler, therefore changes in temperature related to a species habitat are more dramatic.

However, a group of scientists published in 2001 that there had not been any statistically significant changes in climate in the East African highlands area. They concluded that other human factors like drug resistance, increased travel or crumbling health infrastructures were more likely causes of malarial increases. The idea that there was no observable climate change in East Africa was published far and wide.

There was immediate criticism of the 2001 findings. The statistical method used was questioned, as well as the data set, which only included observations until 1995. The highlands region in East Africa has a highly variable climate, therefore more study was required.

In 2006, a group of scientists revisited the 2001 study using a different statistical method and weather observations up to 2002 rather than 1995. They found that indeed there was a significant warming trend in East Africa responsible for increasing the range and numbers of mosquitoes in the highlands. Rather than ignoring the human factor involved in malaria spread, the authors suggested both humans and climate change contributed to the epidemics.

There is no doubt that there are deniers of climate change. However, studies such as this show that when held up to scrutiny using recent data, denials fall apart. There exists little debate in the scientific community that climate change is happening. Rather the debate exists in the media, where ideals are supported by old ideas.

Canadian Clean Air Act

Written - October 25, 2006

The Conservatives have just introduced the Clean Air Act in Parliament. Among other problems, the targets of the legislation are so remote that the legislation provides at best a theoretical approach to dealing with climate change. By setting the date for greenhouse gas reduction at 2050, it allows the politicians of today to focus their attention elsewhere, and leaves the actual implementation of targets to the next generation of Canadians. There are some measures in the legislation that are valid; but overall, this is an insult to the international community, and to Canada’s commitment to mitigating climate change.

The Kyoto Accord mandated that there be a 5% reduction below 1990 carbon dioxide emission levels in Canada by 2012. In 1990 carbon emissions were 599 mega-tonnes, in 2003 emissions were 754 mega-tonnes. Embarrassingly, Canada’s emissions are 32% above the proposed targets, with emissions from the energy sector increasing substantially during the past 15 years.

Prime Minister Harper and Environment Minister Ambrose have often repeated the jargon that Canada’s Kyoto commitment is unachievable. Other countries give a different picture. The European Union has met its Kyoto targets. The UK is already 12.5% below 1990 levels and will achieve 25% below target reductions by 2010. Germany is 18.5% below 1990 levels and has proposed targets of 40% below by 2020 with the cooperation of other nations.

The valid points in the Clean Air Act point to personal motor equipment that must meet more stringent standards immediately. While this is a suitable goal, it is ridiculous that the onus is placed on small engines to deal with greenhouse gas emissions, while Alberta keeps pouring out gases at an exponential rate through the exploitation of the tar sands.

Let’s not leave this problem to the next generation of Canadians. The next generation of Canadians is already going to be burdened with depleted and expensive oil sources. The next generation will be facing water quality problems and the illnesses that are a result of poor water. The next generation will also be dealing with climate change and its effects. What the next generation of Canadians needs today is a voice, a voice that does not cater to industry, but to the stability of the future.

The Food We Eat

Written - August 30, 2006

Cargill is not only a small community located near Walkerton (where I lived for several years), it is the name of a powerful corporation. Cargill Inc. declared revenues of $75.2 billion dollars in 2005. If compared with the GDPs of countries, Cargill would be ranked the fifty-fifth largest economy in the world, ahead of most of Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Incredibly, the descendants of the founders of Cargill own 85% of the company. It is a private company that is not legally required to share information about its operations.

Cargill feeds billions of people worldwide. The company is the main supplier for Coca-Cola, Pepsi, McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut – the list is extensive. The problem is that Cargill does not feed people because of humanitarian idealism; it feeds people to make money – at any cost.

A summary of the strategy for Cargill’s business goes as follows: the farmer is sold Cargill seed (or chicks, etc.), and then sold Cargill fertilizer (or hormones, etc.). Exact specifications are given for the way that the product is to be grown, and then Cargill buys the product from the farmer. If the crop fails, then Cargill is not liable and the farmer is indebted to Cargill. If the crop succeeds, Cargill controls the market and dictates what price the farmer will receive, as Cargill also own the processing plants for the crop. For Cargill Inc. it is all profit and no risk, the farmer takes the risk.

Cargill is an open proponent of free markets and globalization. It also supports mono-cropping agriculture and mechanized (therefore expensive) agriculture. The corporation is a major cause of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. In Indonesia, thousands of acres of rainforest have been burned to plant crops for Cargill.

The revenues do not stay in the economies that desperately need them; they are horded by Cargill. The company is not often held liable for its environmental abuses; the farmers it ‘employs’ bear that responsibility. In a world that is striving to eliminate world hunger and environmental destruction, it would be prudent to question why one family controls most of the world’s food.

Canada should boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Written - March 30, 2008

Canada should boycott the 2008 Beijing Olympics not only to help Tibet, but to help Darfur as well. Images of Tibetan protestors have dominated news over the last week, but China’s other major human rights violation remains largely unheard. China has been the major arms supplier to the Sudanese government since the 1990’s and also Sudan’s largest market for oil exports. In reality, the genocide in Darfur has not simply been a case of ethnic tensions in Sudan, but also been a case of Chinese economics.

Since the early 1990’s, China has been heavily invested in the oil producing regions of southern Sudan and currently benefits from the 500 000 barrels a day production. China needs Sudanese oil in order to help buffer itself from the expenses of a declining world oil reserves and human rights don’t seem to influence China’s economic decisions, to put it politely. China has flaunted its veto power at the UN Security Council in order to protect the Sudanese government from international sanctions and has supported the government in blocking UN troop deployment while genocide has continued.

The context of this oil dependence is that China seems to have completely immersed itself in the ‘race to the bottom’ economy of high personal consumption based on non-renewable resources. That isn’t to say that Western countries aren’t responsible for this trend – China’s boom has been a result of supplying cheap commodities to the West. However, a recent report has highlighted that SUV sales in China for 2007 were up 58 percent over 2006 levels, representing 370 000 new vehicles on the road and new personal status symbols.

However, boycotting the Olympics today is more than government’s taking a political stance. Corporations invest heavily in the Olympics for marketing campaigns and see little benefit in halting the games to save non-marketable regions of the world. We all know these corporations influence government decisions and besides, the West doesn’t intend to upset China right now anyway. However, enough genocide has been committed over the past 100 years that it is time for citizens in every nation to say enough is enough. We know our athletes train hard and we want to support them, but the world has brutal realities at times and the China’s human rights are one of them.