The Elimiation of HIV/AIDS in BC

original article:

http://www.ctvnews.ca/health/vancouver-hospital-aids-ward-transformed-by-treatment-advances-1.1841682

When the AIDS ward in St. Paul’s General hospital was first opened, it was “so stigmatized it was only referred to by its code name C10.” Now, it has reached the point where cases of people affected by the AIDS have reached an all-time low, allowing the wards to expand care towards other viral infections. This is a huge victory for BC, in which nearly all individuals affected with AIDS or the HIV virus are receiving proper treatment, and preventing the spread of the virus. On the other hand, however, Dr. Julia Montaro criticizes the failure of the federal government to do what BC has done so well. “Some 70 per cent of new cases in Saskatchewan and 40 per cent of new cases in Manitoba are among First Nations people, who rely heavily on the federal government,” so the spread of the disease among such communities can partly be blamed on the government. Originally, when BC launched its campaign to treat and stop the spread of the HIV virus, Ottawa outright declined its proposal to do so federally. Now, however, seeing the positive results in BC’s campaign, the federal government is investing more in research and treatment of the virus.

It is finally good to finally write a post concerning good news. My sister worked as a student nurse in the HIV ward at St. Paul’s the past semester as a part of her coop program at BCIT, so I am aware of the challenges that people working in the ward have to face. The doctors and nurses have done a great job in treating the individuals that have been affected by the virus, as well as educating them in how to contain the disease. This is apparent by the decline of people diagnosed with HIV, which has been greatly reduced in BC. More often than not, individuals who have encountered the virus come from at-risk communities and families. The fact that such huge percentages of HIV patients in other provinces are of First Nations descent shows the lack of care from the federal government. This, however, delves into a much more complicated, controversial topic of care for the First Nations Peoples. It is fortunate that the federal government has finally realized the existence of this problem and are taking measures to tackle it.

Catecean Captivity in the Vancouver Aquarium

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/vancouver-aquarium-s-beluga-breeding-indefensible-says-jane-goodall-1.2655675

Renowned conservationist Jane Goodall recently sent a letter to the board of the Vancouver Aquarium, asking for the termination of the Aquarium and SeaWorld’s cetacean breeding program. In her letter, which is included in the article, she expresses her concerns regarding the high mortality rates of the belugas in this program. She claims that scientific evidence shows that there are “implications of captivity on such species.” She claims that since cetaceans are such complex animals, which usually live in a “highly social environment,” their captivity in small areas such as the Vancouver Aquarium can greatly increase their mortality rate. John Nightingale, the Aquarium’s director and senior vice-president animals operations, showed “surprise at this letter.” He says that the research supporting Goodall’s scientific evidence comes from activists, hinting that it is therefore irrelevant. He also states that  "The current science is clear that beluga whales live as long, if not longer, while in human care. Scientific and behavioural evidence shows that cetaceans at the Vancouver Aquarium are content and thriving."

A beluga whale in the Vancouver Aquarium

I cannot help but be slightly confused by this controversial matter. How can scientific evidence claim that cetaceans’ mortality rates are lowered when in a limited environment, yet at the same time claim that “cetaceans at the Vancouver Aquarium are content and thriving?” It seems that either one of the two individuals is using false evidence to make their claim, or the studies conducted were performed in a biased environment. The latter is quite possible, as Goodall’s evidence apparently comes from “activists”, while Nightingale’s studies were likely supported by the aquarium. This would allow for the study to be conducted with a bias, affecting the results. Although people often think that a statement is concrete because it has been “experimentally proven”, they often fail to realize that experiments can easily be swayed by a biased hypothesis or by misinterpretation of data. Although it is possible that belugas’ life spans are not affected by their captivity in human care, they are still not able to reach their social potential in such environments. After all, these animals have not evolved to live in human care, but to survive in nature. Keeping them from socializing is equivalent to wasting their potential in the ability to thrive in their natural habitats.

The Rise of Neo-Fascism in Europe

Original article: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2014/05/26/far-right-europe-election_n_5391873.html?1401104084&just_reloaded=1

The Huffington Post’s article reveals a truth many people are scared to see: the rise of far-right and neo-fascist parties in Europe is real. This article notes such far-right parties in nearly every country, which have been gaining support over the past several years. This includes countries such as Britain, France, Greece, Denmark, Germany, Finland, the Netherlands, Hungary, Austria, and Italy. The rise in support for such parties was most apparent after the recent European Parliament election, in which far-right parties received more votes than ever before. Most of these parties are quite nationalist-minded, wishing to limit or eliminate immigrants from their countries. The leader of the Netherlands’ Freedom party even went as far as stating “I hate Islam.” Moreover, the Hungarian Jobbik party has called for the registration of Jews and people with Jewish ancestry simply to “keep a record.”

Every great disaster has its roots somewhere. Hitler could not have risen to power if it were not for the Great Depression that created a crisis, which allowed him to take power. An economic downfall can create a crisis, in which people begin feeling helpless. In such situations, many of them look to blame others for causing these problems. This in turn leads to nationalism. Unfortunately, we recently experienced a similar economic crisis: The 2007 economic downfall was the largest since the Great Depression. Similarly to the 1930s, nationalistic-minded groups have gained wide public support from populations that are simply looking for someone to blame and simple solutions. It is a frightening reality that such far-right parties are gaining public support. It is hard not to think of the possible consequences when a party leader claims he “Hates Muslims” and when another starts recording all Jews and those with Jewish ancestry. I, along with many others, hope that Europe finds a state of stability soon that would keep events as extreme as World War II from taking place once more.

An Attempt to Ban Road Cycling

original article: http://www.montrealgazette.com/travel/Letter+Roads+cars+bike+paths+bikes/9870529/story.html

Murray Hickman wrote a letter to the City of Montreal, hoping to ban cyclists from using public roads. His controversial letter was recently in the Montreal Gazette, angering many cyclists. In his letter, he claims that cyclists are “as dangerous as drunk drivers” and that they often make the roads unsafe for cars. He complains that he often has to undergo dangerous maneuvers in order to pass or evade cyclists. He also claims that cyclists are a very small percentage of the population, but keep gaining attention and depriving motorists of their rights. Overall, the man seems to be angry with cyclists in every sense, wanting to completely ban them from using public roads.

I think this man comes across as senseless and one who lacks empathy. Bikers have as much a right to use roads as cars. They should not be discouraged from using this healthier, more environmentally-friendly means of transportation. Clearly, the man who wrote this article has never tried riding a bike to work. I do agree that there are safety concerns that go with biking, which should be taken care of. Additionally, bikes indeed should not be allowed to go on highways as Murray requests, since there is no way that the average cyclist can go 80-100 km/h, and their being present on such roads is definitely a risk when turning tight corners on narrow stretches. However, rather than banning cyclists from using roads, better bike lanes should separate cyclists from motor vehicles. Cycling should be encouraged, as drivers will get more used to cyclists if more of them are present on the roads. It would create a greener, less polluted environment. This would also make the city feel that they are addressing a wider population group in building the bike lanes. Society would only be going a step in the backwards direction if they ban cyclists from using roads.

Thailand Coup d'Etat

Original article: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-27517591

 

Thailand announced a military coup today (in Thailand time), May 23. The country has been undergoing political turmoil since November, with protests taking place since November. Many opposition camps were formed, asking the prime minister to step down and calling for reform. Last month, the country’s prime minister did step down, but the protests continued. On Tuesday, the army declared martial law amid talks with the government. On Thursday morning, the army announced that a military coup will be taking place. Since then, they have taken the prime minister and several government officials, and declared themselves the head of state. army chief Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha “vowed to restore order and enact political reforms” and hopes to bring tranquility back to the country. The army has also set a national curfew, under which no citizens are allowed on the street between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Perhaps the most striking of the army’s moves has been their suspension of the Thai constitution, which they wish to re-write.

This military coup has been condemned by many countries, including the United States and European powers like Germany and France. They have declared that it was unnecessary and radical, but the army claims otherwise. It is possible that order could have been restored by other means, but months of peaceful protests have led to nearly no progress. When the prime minister stepped down last month and called for an election, it got broken up by a violent clash of anti-government and pro-government protesters. To a large extent, this shows why the army was so willing to take power in order to restore order. Surprisingly, however, the coup underwent very little opposition and little bloodshed has been reported. At this point, it seems that the army is the only group that has the power to restore order. At the same time, however, martial law allows the army to do as they wish. This leaves them the power to potentially cause a lot of harm, as citizens’ rights can be ignored. Either way, the military coup will face a great challenge in the way it will hinder Thailand’s most profitable industry: tourism. It remains unknown how the government will function under the army’s power, as it could go both ways - either towards peace and order or toward violence and mayhem.

 

Hip Hop on Trial

Original article:

http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/hip-hop-is-on-trial-in-America

 

This article reflects on the ability of juries to use hip hop lyrics as evidence in court trials. In several cases, the prosecutor of a trial has used the defendant’s hip hop lyrics as supportive evidence towards a crime that had allegedly been committed. This has helped lock up many rappers over the years, including the likes of Lil Boosie and C-Murder. The prosecutors claim that since the suspect has been caught writing lyrics that suggest a violent nature, they are likely to have committed the crime. However, the article suggests that such practice is not always just because it is presented to the jury and judge with considerable bias.

It is true that a person’s poetic creations, in the form of hip hop lyrics, can often reflect the personal nature of the artist. However, as all forms of art, it is up to the reader to interpret the lyrics. Although hip hop lyrics can often seem straightforward, they are often metaphoric and not spoken from the point of view of the artist. In addition, hip hop culture tends to feature a considerable amount of violence and criminal affiliation. Such lyrics, however, are often a misrepresentation of the artist. Many hip hop “emcees” often rap about such subjects due to the presence of such factors in the many urban neighbourhoods that are often home to hip hop artists. It should also be noted that most judges and lawyers come from more “well-off” backgrounds, and have not been exposed to the urban culture that is often featured in hip hop. This prevents them from interpreting the lyrics in the manner that the artist meant for them to be understood, and can form a biased misrepresentation against the artist. An artist’s lyrics should be able to be used in court to form some representation of their character, but this must be done carefully. Similarly, lyrics should not be able to be used as the main source of evidence that would incarcerate an individual.

The NFL's First Openly Gay Player's Future in Question

original article: http://www.ibtimes.com/michael-sam-drafted-will-first-openly-gay-nfl-player-make-st-louis-rams-roster-1584806

Several months ago, just before the NFL draft, Michael Sams came out with the news that he was homosexual. Since then, a lot of controversy has gone on with the media and NFL teams. According to polls, there have been players on teams that have claimed they would be uncomfortable with having a gay individual in the locker room. Some say this kept the player from being drafted in the earlier rounds, as he was eventually drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round of the draft. Recent reports claim that Sams might not even make it to the roster. The St Louis Rams reported that Sams would have to try out for the team along with all the other drafted players, and that he will have to work hard in order to make the team. The article also notes that the odds are not in Sams’ favour, as statistics show that only about half of all players are a part of the team roster in week one of regular season play.

The controversy that was raised over a player coming out has been little but excessive. At first, I thought the player would gain support by declaring he was homosexual right before the draft. However, media reports a great deal of controversy over this matter. It makes sense that the player would have to try out for the team along with the other rookies and will not receive special treatment due to his media attention. Many players have claimed they would be uncomfortable with a homosexual individual present in the locker rooms, while fans have been even more blunt in their dislike for Sams. Last year, Michael Collins became the first openly gay NBA player. Although the player did receive some hate from angry fans, the response was generally supportive. Michael Sams has received mostly hateful comments from disrespectful fans, who seem to be quite homophobic. At this day and age, with an increasing number of states legalizing gay marriage, II would expect people to be more tolerant of differing sexualities. Unfortunately, the matter shows how slow many people are in adjusting to the social progress our society is making.

How Your Government is Spying on You

original article:

https://news.vice.com/article/canadas-new-cyberbullying-bill-will-give-it-unnecessary-surveillance-superpowers

 

For the past several years, governments have been extending their powers concerning the security of individuals in our society. This specifically addresses their power to access people’s media accounts and records. This movement was started by George Bush’s administration following the 9/11 attack, founding the American National Security Agency. This agency has since been granted the powers to virtually “spy” on all its citizens, and has been reported to spy on people in overseas countries, as well. Undoubtedly, the Conservative Government has been pressured by the United States’ government to follow in their tracks. Recently, the Canadian government used the issue of cyber bullying to pass its C-13 Bill, allowing any government agent to freely request data about people from telecom companies.

This issue is viewed as controversial by many, and should be viewed this way by many more. Unfortunately (and as expected), the government has not made an effort to inform the public about this bill. I am sure that most people, if asked, would not know that this change is taking place. However, it affects nearly every individual, as each person’s privacy is now being breached. It seems as if the government is using the issue of cyber bullying to pass a bill that they would have likely tried to pass regardless. They are claiming that this is to be a “preventative” measure towards cyber bullying, but I tend to disagree. Policing agencies previously had the right to request such information in order to track down a possible “cyber bully,” but all government agencies now have the right to ask for this information without even necessarily providing a reason. In order to stop cyber bullying, young people need to be educated to treat people with respect and empathy. They should also be taught how to deal with such issues in instances where it comes up. Accessing people’s information would allow for easier prosecution, but would not necessarily prevent such instances from taking place. On the other hand, the Canadian government is now following in the US’ lead in breaching people’s privacy for “security measures.”

 

Clinton-Lewinski Scandal Revived

original article:

http://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/monica-lewinsky-returns-regrets-affair-with-bill-clinton/article1-1216227.aspx

In 1998, a huge scandal broke out in the White House. Bill Clinton, President of the United States at the time, was revealed to have had an affair with his secretary, Monica Lewinski. This news surfaced the world media for a substantial length of time, creating a great deal of problems for the president. It is said that Clinton was close to being thrown out of office for his actions. Recently, Monica Lewinski has resurfaced the affair, stating she feels deep regret over the matter. Sources are unsure why she brought the matter up after such a long time, although some believe it has to do with Hilary Clinton’s upcoming election campaign.

Whenever a politician’s past actions are brought up after a lengthy period of time, there is a fair amount of controversy. In this article, Monica Lewinski claims she came forward to the news with feelings of remorse “because it was time to stop ‘tiptoeing’ around her past.” However, it puzzles me that she would bring up such a controversial topic when it seems to no longer have any significance. After all, this issue would only resurface whatever problems she might still encounter concerning the matter. It is quite likely that there are unknown motives behind her actions. Quite possibly, she might still feel angry over the issue and all the challenges it might have entailed. Therefore, she could be attempting to place an obstacle in Hillary Clinton’s upcoming election campaign. She might hope that bringing up this matter might “muddy up” Clinton’s image in front of the public, possibly keeping her from winning the campaign.

Will the Fatah-Hamas Deal Delay the Middle-Eastern Peace Process?

original article: http://www.vice.com/en_ca/read/hip-hop-is-on-trial-in-America

This article discusses the effect that the Fatah-Hamas treaty would have on the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. The treaty was signed between the Hamas, an organization that has been in power in Gaza for the past seven years. The Fatah used to be the governing political party in Gaza, but had been overthrown by the Hamas. Since then, the Fatah has largely governed the west bank, with many conflicts arising between the two parties. This deal was signed in order to unite the two parties in the common goal of creating a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

The controversy of this article exposes the effect that the Fatah-Hamas deal will likely have on the ongoing peace talks with the state of Israel. It is very likely that this treaty will either stall all altogether bar the peace process from taking place. This is due to Hamas-Fatah having the goal of “Creating an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.” It is important to note the Hamas’ involvement in the “liberation” of Palestine, which is generally done through acts that are regarded as terrorism in most of the non-Muslim world. The two parties take on a rather hostile attitude towards the state of Israel, which will likely stop the peace talks between the Palestinians and Israelis for some time.