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Canadiana for June 16th, 2009
Abetting rainforest destruction
Indigenous people in Peru engaged in protesting the development of the Amazon rainforest have been the target of violent and deadly government repression. Canada is implicated in two ways: Canadian companies are behind some of the oil and gas projects at issue, and Canada is about to sign a free trade deal with Peru. The Council of Canadians is calling on citizens to oppose the free trade agreement:
- ACTION ALERT: Canada must halt free trade agreement with Peru — Council of Canadians
Blowing in the wind
Minister of Natural Resources Lisa Raitt, currently in disgrace for remarks about the “sexy” shortage of isotopes for medical testing that were brought to light by a stray digital recording, commented during the same taped conversation that she suspects money which had been slated for wind energy development was funneled into the tar sands by Environment Minister Jim Prentice. Stephen Maher of the Chronicle Herald reports:
Federal science minister attacks academic freedom
The Canadian Association of University Teachers is calling for the resignation of Gary Goodyear, Minister of State for Science and Technology, the same Minister who made headlines for hedging when asked if he believed in evolution. In question this time is not the Minister’s doubts about evolution, but rather his effort to have the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council defund a York University academic conference on Israel Palestine. CAUT has also criticized the SSHRC President for his complicity. Read the statements:
Open Letter to the President of SSHRC — Canadian Association of University Teachers
CAUT calls for Minister Goodyear’s resignation over political interference and attack on academic freedom — Canadian Association of University Teachers
The dark underbelly of the maple leaf
In his Black Book of Canadian Foreign Policy, author Yves Engler takes the shine off Canada’s image as an international do-gooder. He is interviewed by Sean Mullen on Redeye:
- Black Book of Canadian Foreign Policy —Redeye: Vancouver Cooperative Radio (via Rabble podcast)
GDP poor measure of well-being
Notwithstanding steady increases in GDP, over the last 20 years, housing costs rose, job quality declined and income inequality intensified, according to a study by top researchers headed up by former Saskatchewan premier Roy Romanow. The researchers, who are developing a new index intended to improve on GDP as an overall indicator of how Canadians are faring, found that young people aged 15 to 24 have experienced a decline in both economic and physical health. Globe and Mail Economics reporter Heather Scoffield highlights the study:
- Quality of life declining for young Canadians — The Globe and Mail
Sign of the times?
Leo Panitch and Marxism make the Globe and Mail in an essay by Ian Brown:
- The 18th Brumaire of Barack Obama by Ian Brown— The Globe and Mail
