Straight Outta Edmonton

An Afternoon With Andrew Nikiforuk

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:49:00 +0000

Video from Andrew Nikiforuk's talk on Fort Chipewyan, held last Wednesday at the University of Alberta. The event was hosted by Stand with Fort Chipewyan. Kudos to Paula E. Kirman for videotaping the talk.

"Downstream" Showing and Stand with Fort Chipewyan

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 06:31:00 +0000

Stand with Fort Chipewyan and the U of A's Aboriginal Students' Council will be presenting "Downstream" this Friday, October 9. The acclaimed documentary film (33 minutes in length), followed by a free potluck, will be shown in Business Building 4-13 at 2:15 p.m. Invite friends, family and others to the showing, which will kickoff a series of events that Stand with Fort Chipewyan will be hosting this year.

Stand with Fort Chipewyan is a non-partisan, campus advocacy organization located at the University of Alberta. The organization is dedicated to raising awareness to the concerns expressed by the people of Fort Chipewyan, as well as lobbying the government to engage in actions to firmly establish the effect of oil sands development on the health of residents.

Over the course of the year, the organization will be hosting documentaries, speakers and other presentations in order to highlight the concerns of Fort Chipewyan residents, as well as the impact of nearby oil sands developments. Further, they will be providing an opportunity for students on campus to directly engage their elected provincial representatives, in order to express their concerns regarding the situation.

Follow Stand with Fort Chipewyan on facebook, twitter, flickr, youtube, or check out their website.

Stay tuned for further information and events.

Canada:

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 04:08:00 +0000

"Let me put it this way. Canada is not so much a country as a holding tank filled with the disgruntled progeny of defeated peoples. French-Canadians consumed by self-pity; the descendants of Scots who fled the Duke of Cumberland; Irish the famine; and Jews the Black Hundreds. Then there are the peasants from the Ukraine, Poland, Italy and Greece, convenient to grow wheat and dig out the ore and swing the hammers and run the restaurants, but otherwise to be kept in their place. Most of us are still huddled tight to the border, looking into the candy store window, scared by the Americans on one side and the bush on the other. And now that we are here, prospering, we do your damn best to exclude more ill-bred newcomers, because they remind us of our own mean origins in the draper's shop in Inverness or the shtetl or the bog."

- Tim Callaghan, Solomon Gursky Was Here.

Towards the Dignity of Difference

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 00:03:00 +0000

This weekend, the University of Alberta will be hosting "Towards the Dignity of Difference," an international conference which "examines the impacts and implications of the most recent iteration of the Western-centric discourse represented in Samuel Huntington’s The Clash of Civilizations and Francis Fukuyama’s The End of History theses." In addition to this, the conference aims to advocate a third approach in tackling radical extremism, one that acknowledges “the dignity of difference” and promotes “dialogue among civilizations."

What's worth noticing, and definite reasons for attending, is the conference's all star academic line up, which includes the likes of Benjamin Barber (Jihad vs McWorld), Canadian Robert Cox (considered to be the father of the British School of International Political Economy Studies, as well as for first applying Gramsci to International Relations Theory), Hassan Hanafi (one of the world's leading experts on 'modern' Islam), and Akbar Ganji (the leading Iranian dissident and award winning journalist). In addition to this, the conference includes some very interesting panel discussions and topics, including the current situation in Iran and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Considering the cheap entrance fee, especially for UofA students, the conference is worth attending. Props to Dr. Mojtaba Mahdavi and Siavash Saffari, as well as others, for setting it up.

Canada, Land of Opportunity

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 00:10:00 +0000

Engineer

Doctor

Iggy Eye's the West

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 01:39:00 +0000

“The big issue for me is I don't want to be a party of Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto, which is what this party is, because you can't be a good prime minister unless you represent all Canadians.”

“I think sometimes we tried to establish our environmental bona fides by running against the oil sands, and I just think: This is a national industry. It's pumping something like $8-billion into the federal treasury. So it's slightly bad faith to beat the goose that lays the golden egg over the head with a stick. The goose is a little messy. The goose needs to be cleaned up. The goose needs to make better use of the yard, but let's make this a sustainable industry that all Canadians can be proud of.”

"Frankly, I think it's condescending to westerners that being a so-called intellectual is some big liability. People out here are as devoted to the life of the mind, and the life of culture, as anybody else in the country. ”

- Federal Liberal Leader Michael Ignatieff in today's Globe and Mail. Definitely promising, but as is always the case, let's keep an eye on the follow through.

(h/t @macleansmag)

Three Hot Meals a Day...

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:57:00 +0000

A very special hat tip to Tyler Butler for posting this hilarious Fry & Laurie video. Tyler asks whether the video is simply a hilarious sketch or relevant Alberta political commentary (pertaining to Bill 44).

I say both.

Check it for sure.

Fort Mac MP's Thoughts on Fort Chipewyan's Health Concerns

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:50:00 +0000

Brian Jean, MP for Fort McMurray-Athabasca (which includes Fort Chipewyan) shares his thoughts regarding Fort Chipewyan's health concerns in a recent issue of Slave River Journal (h/t George Poitras via facebook):

Chip Health Concerns Inconclusive: Jean
By SHAWN BELL, SRJ Reporter
The MP responsible for Fort Chipewyan says while concerns about cancer in the community are valid, information is inconclusive and further studies need to be done.Brian Jean, MP for Fort McMurray-Athabasca, says he has been keeping close watch on the health concerns in Fort Chipewyan for the past three years but hasn’t heard anything conclusive enough to warrant immediate action.
“Right now the studies have not proved anything, including health effects,” Jean said. “I’ve looked closely at the statistical data, and overall the numbers are very close to the Alberta average.”While he acknowledges the federal government’s responsibility for First Nations in Fort Chipewyan, Jean pointed out the responsibility for industry rests on the province, making it difficult to determine who is responsible overall. Besides, the MP said there needs to be further examination of the potential causes.“We don’t know what the causation is,” Jean said. “Is it Uranium City, or what has been happening across the lake, or the Bennett dam, or the oilsands that have been leaking for 10,000 years before we got here? The evidence is inconclusive.”
Jean said he was promised a new report that would conclusively describe health problems in Fort Chipewyan during his meeting with community stakeholders two weeks ago, but hasn’t received it. Yet he emphasized the federal government is taking the issues of water and air pollution very seriously. “This is of great concern to us,” he said. “We’ve acted very aggressively on water and air quality.”And he assured that no matter the discussion of government responsibility in Fort Chipewyan, if environmental issues are shown to be directly related to health, action will be taken immediately.
In the meantime Jean believes better records of health concerns must be kept.“I think good records have not been kept in Fort Chipewyan,” he said.

Jean is right in the sense that no study exists that conclusively proves causation between environmental toxicity and the community's health. Currently, a government study indicates an abnormal cancer and rare cancer rate among residents, and industry and independent assessment of toxicity levels in and around Fort Chipewyan indicate toxins far exceeding safe and acceptable levels. These studies, as Jean readily admits, validates the community's concerns, but does not compel the government towards any immediate action to address the situation.

However, the residents of Fort Chipewyan are well aware of this. That is why they have been calling for a comprehensive, independent and peer reviewed study that assesses the link between the environment and the community's health for years. But, the provincial and federal government has not yet responded to their requests.

Let's work through this again slowly.

Jean claims that immediate action is unwarranted because there is no evidence indicating causation. In order to obtain evidence of causation, a study needs to be conducted. However, both the provincial and federal government (of which Jean is a member) refuses to initiate in any such study. So, lacking the expertise and resources, the community is left to demonstrate causation itself, as both level of governments refuse to carry out this task themselves.

Humour me for a moment.

Can you imagine that if government, independent and industry studies indicated that residents of a Calgary neighborhood nearby a toxic dump, were reporting abnormal cancer and rare cancer rates, as well as toxicity levels far exceeding safe and acceptable levels, the community would have to demonstrate a causal link on its own? There would be no way. The government would step in to conduct a study and do all that it could to address the concerns of the residents. Just the way it should be. There is enough evidence, as Jean himself suggests, to warrant a a comprehensive, independent and peer reviewed study, but the government has been less than forthcoming to initiate one.

So, what makes Fort Chipewyan different? This is the most important question. How come politicians can claim that the community's concerns are valid, yet not legitimate enough to warrant a comprehensive environmental-health study, even though government reports call for one? Is it Fort Chipewyan's lack of political significance? The fear over what might be discovered? Or is it something more legitimate?

Answers that can only come from our elected officials and must be provided before they refuse to address Fort Chipewyan's concerns. Or question the community's health records.

Canadian Church Leaders Raise Alarm Bell Over Alberta's Oilsands

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:59:00 +0000

After recently conducting a tour through northern Alberta to learn more about the oilsands, Canadian Church leaders have added their voice to a growing chorus of individuals and groups calling for the Alberta government to change its current oilsands development policy. Although their recommendations and findings are not new, the delegation of 10 Church leaders plans to raise their concerns with federal government officials this fall.

Among the issues that the delegation plans to raise are the concerns of the northern Alberta community of Fort Chipewyan. Residents believe that surrounding oilsands development projects have contaminated their ecosystem, which has led to rare and abnormally high cancer rates within the community. Subsequent government, industry and independent studies corroborate the view of residents. However, the Alberta government maintains that northern Alberta oilsands development projects are not polluting their surrounding ecosystems and the abnormal cancer rates among Fort Chipewyan residents are not the result of environmental factors.

The study released by the delegation of Canadian Church leaders expressed grave concern regarding what is occurring within Fort Chipewyan:

“In Fort Chipewyan, people told us of rare illnesses, the growing number of deaths from cancer and frightening changes to local ecology. We saw how rapidly the graveyard is filling up. People in Fort Chipewyan need answers about why this is happening and how it can be prevented.”

Currently, leaders are contemplating whether to ask “the federal government to conduct an independent review of how Alberta's oilsands are affecting people and the environment,” something that the community and other groups have been demanding for. The pressure for an independent review will likely increase, as the Federal Court has ordered oilsands companies to disclose their pollution data, something these companies were previously not required to do.

For the community, and Albertans as a whole, these should be welcomed developments. A sustainable oilsands development strategy and understanding the environmental consequences of oilsands development are likely the major policy issues facing the province, and certainly the ones that have caused the most controversy. However, the provincial government has been unwilling to engage in either. Perhaps increased pressure at the federal level will lead to some much needed change.

Edmonton Tamil Forum Hosting Public Forum

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:46:00 +0000

Edmonton's Tamil Forum will be hosting a Public Forum concerning the recent humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka. Speakers include an array of human rights and humanitarian experts (including: Ms. Karen Parker, Chief Counsel of the Association of Humanitarian Lawyers and Mr. John Argue, Amnesty International Canada's Coordinator for Sri Lanka), as well as influential Tamil-Canadians. The forum will be held Saturday, June 27 at the Raddisson Hotel Edmonton South in the Jubilee Ballroom (4440 Gateway Blvd. NW), beginning at 10:00 a.m. and ending at 4:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided.

Tory Ethnic Pandering Hurts Canada on World Stage

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 19:34:00 +0000

An interesting article by CanWest's Peter O'Neil regarding the Conservative government's recent attempts to win over influential ethnic communities in Canada by reshaping Canadian foreign policy to their liking, which has the potential to lead to detrimental international consequences for the country. Of note was Carleton University professor David Carment's discussion concerning 'diaspora politics.' Carment claims that 'diaspora politics is the No. 1 issue that Canada will have to confront in the 21st Century.'

Check it out.

Picture Post: Edmonton's Persian Community Holds Candlelight Vigil For Slain Iranian Pro-Democracy Demonstrators

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 06:44:00 +0000

I attended today's candlelight vigil, held by Edmonton's Persian community, for those Iranians slain in recent pro-democracy demonstrations. Although I unfortunately missed the speech portion of the event, I had the opportunity to speak to some Persian-Canadians in attendance. They relayed to me stories from friends and relatives in Iran, as well as their fears concerning the lives of those friends and relatives. But, they also remained committed to raising awareness to what's happening in Iran and support those in the country protesting against last week's election results. A rally is set to be held tomorrow (Saturday, June 20) at the legislature from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Brown Guys Have No Game

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:04:00 +0000

Check out this hilarious short film my good friend Shawn Kanungo made. He released it at this year's Edmonton Mosquers, and won the top comedy prize. Here it is, "Brown Guys Have No Game":

Iran and Twitter

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 05:07:00 +0000

Like many of you out there, I have been following the events transpiring in Iran extremely closely. Yet, rather than using mainstream media sources as my primary source for news updates, I am consulting sources such as Youtube and Twitter (especially Twitter: #IranElection) much more frequently. This is because these sources provide updates quicker than the traditional sources, but also the opportunity to actively participate in the movements.

For example, when mainstream networks were still speculating whether anyone was hurt during a recent rally, Iranians had already tweeted this fact along with videos of gunmen firing into crowds and people who had been shot being rushed to hospitals. Further, Iranians had tweeted that they needed help from outsiders, to disseminate information, find proxy servers, and even donate bandwidth. And numerous people outside Iran helped out. Thus, Twitter has allowed for people outside of Iran to actively participate in the movement.

And according to Clay Shirky during a Q&A with TED, this is what makes the movement in Iran unprecedented, and to me, phenomenal. I suggest you read Clay's thoughts, as he provide more depth and clarity on the issue than I can.

Here is a little sample:

"I'm always a little reticent to draw lessons from things still unfolding, but it seems pretty clear that ... this is it. The big one. This is the first revolution that has been catapulted onto a global stage and transformed by social media."

(h/t: @journalistjeff @DuncanKinney)

The Aga Khan's UofA Convocation Address

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 20:12:00 +0000

In case you missed it, here is Aga Khan’s U of A convocation address, which was delivered last Tuesday and was partially reprinted in today’s Edmonton Journal. The Aga Khan discussed major challenges the world, which has become increasingly interconnected, faces today. What stood out to me was his discussion of pluralism. He argues that increased understanding of other peoples and cultures, can reduce the ignorance that has led too much of the problems we currently face today, with educational institutions playing a central role in combating this ignorance.

I thought it was a phenomenal address, eloquently crafted and containing some deep insight.

WORTH A READ, FO SURE.

Edmonton's Nine Silent Lambs

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:42:00 +0000

I read Maurice Tougas' "great and scathing take on Edmonton's Conservative silence" (as Michael Janz - a hat tip to you for providing me this article via facebook - described it) during the last provincial session, with particular emphasis placed on Bill 44 and the province's sliding economic situation (which is looking better than before thanks to rising oil prices).

It's worth a read, check it out.

Thanks for the Postcard Stephen!

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:28:00 +0000

Did you get the postcard from Prime Minister Stephen Harper yet?

The one where he threatens that Michael Ignatieff will hike taxes, raise the GST, and introduce a "job-killing" Carbon-Tax?

I got mine today.

It's good to know that Stephen Harper and the Conservative's will be working super hard this summer to ensure that these "facts" will be known to as many Canadians as possible.

Rather than you know, deal with a $50 Billion deficit that continues to grow.

Or address the EI issue.

Or any other unimportant government responsibility.

A New Beginning

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:34:00 +0000

An eloquent, honest and thought provoking speech by American President Barack Obama in Cairo today. Intended to initiate a new relationship with the Muslim World, based on shared principles and understanding, after "years of mutual distrust." Obama was extremely straightforward, addressing major grievances of the Muslim World head on, including torture, democracy promotion and Israel/Palestine. Further, he showed excellent knowledge of the region's history and people, citing historical examples of American/Muslim cooperation and verses from the Qur'an.

The speech also highlighted America's intentions in the region, with particular emphasis placed on Afghanistan, Iraq, Israel/Palestine, multilateral-regional cooperation and aid. If anything, the speech provided insight into the Obama Administration' s foreign policy orientation. With actions and objectives framed along issues of "national interests," "sovereignty of nations," and "the rule of law," as well as repeatedly claiming that peace and democracy cannot be imposed, Obama seems to be reversing back to a more traditional, realist American foreign policy approach. A stark contrast from the Bush Administration and from some of his own cabinet members/advisers' own past (Condi Rice, Sam Powers, etc).

The speech was a step in the right direction, particularly if one considers the poor image of the United States in the Middle East, and the diminishing political clout it and its allies have in the region. The speech also comes at a crucial time, with Benjamin Netanyahu (not the most liked man by Muslims in the Middle East) leading Israel, Lebanese elections a few days away, and first round of voting in the Iranian Presidential Election commencing shortly.

Ultimately, the speech provided hope that there will be a change in the US's policy towards the region, to one that would be more appealing to the majority of its residents. But this is nothing new, Obama's short political career has been one of inspiring hope and change for the better. Time will tell if he can deliver.

Lebanese 2009 Election

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:09:00 +0000

On June 7, Lebanon will be heading to the polls in what is being considered as an election that could have dramatic implications for the Middle East. Polls indicate that the Hezbollah led coalition - the March 8 Alliance - is on the verge of winning a legislative majority. Such a result would be significant, as the groups and religious sects that have traditionally controlled Lebanese politics could, for the first time, lose their dominance of the nation’s formal political sphere.

As is always the case when it comes to Lebanese politics, these results would have significant consequences to the region’s power distribution. The Hezbollah led coalition is backed by Iran and Syria, while the Movement of the Future, comprised of Lebanon’s traditional power holding communities, is staunchly pro-Western. With the United States' weakened position in the Middle East after eight years of the Bush Administration, such a result would further erode its’ and its regional supporters’ power.

With the stakes so high and polls indicating a narrow difference between the two sides, massive amounts of money is being spent by both to ensure that their side prevails. For example, both sides are offering to pay the transportation costs of dual citizens living abroad, so they can travel back to Lebanon to vote (absentee ballots are not allowed for dual citizens). In Edmonton, with its large Lebanese population, the Future Movement alone has apparently offered to pay for the flights of 600 dual citizens – which would total over $1.5 million.

The high stakes, powerful political players, and close nature of the Lebanese election, makes it every political aficionado's dream. Especially so if you happen to live in Canada, where we've been fortunate to have stories such as Nanny-Gate and EI Reform dominate the headlines. I'll be posting on the results, but if you're interested in learning further, check out these link:

- Lebanese Political Primer

- A preview by the Economist (Dear Sir, I believe its 18 rather than 16 recognized sects)

- Lebanese Election Blog

Edmonton Stories

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:37:00 +0000

Check It.

My Poet Laureate...

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:35:00 +0000

Cadence Weapon... "more dangerous than Millwoods"

Back With A Rant

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Fri, 08 May 2009 05:25:00 +0000

Those of you following this blog (all three of you, hi mom) would have noticed a substantial decrease in the number of posts over the last few months – largely due to increased school and advocacy work. However, during these last few months Alberta has managed to capture the national media’s attention, by news stories that range from the vigilante farmer in Tees to delisting sex change operations to the changes proposed to Alberta’s human rights legislation (otherwise known as Bill 44, which, despite the significant opposition, only had 3 people in the Legislature’s gallery yesterday for its second reading and debate). These stories tend to reinforce Alberta’s conservative, gun-toting, bible-thumping hick image (stereotypes that blogs such as this, and on a much more effective level, Alberta: Get Rich or Die Trying attempt to combat).

Although these stories are true, they fail to represent the true diversity within this province. We do have gun-toting farmers that won’t hesitate to “pop-a-cap-in-yo-ass” and a fair (and powerful – yes, you Ted Morton) number of social conservatives. But, along with these aspects, Alberta is also home to large urban centers (with a diversity of languages, religions, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, etc), one of which is considered among the nation’s top 5 gay friendly cities (Edmonton of course).

Yet, the diversity within Alberta fails to come across to those living in other parts of the country. Rather, it’s the province’s “traditional” image that people tend to identify with. Ultimately, to change things, the onus falls on those of us within the province, who do not identify with the traditional image, to continue to challenge it. Also, people outside of the province need to recognize that there is in fact more to Alberta. All they have to do is come to Edmonton or Calgary and visit Whyte, 17th Ave, Millwoods, or Chinatown. Or at the very least check out the blogs – likely the easiest way to gauge Alberta’s diversity.

10 things you might not know about Prime Minister Stephen Harper

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 01:36:00 +0000

I was creeping Prime Minister Steven Harper's website and stumbled across "10 things you might not know about Prime Minister Stephen Harper."

Obviously I clicked.

I was impressed. Even while being Prime Minister he is writing a book, and learning to speak Spanish.

But this was shocking.

Among his favourite movies are Raising Arizona, Lost in Translation, and Crimes and Misdemeanours.

Movie's made by the Coen Bros., Sofia Coppola, and Woody Allen....

Yeah... that fits.

A Picture Worth A 1000 Words

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 19:30:00 +0000

It turns out that today ends Robert Mugabe's extravagant birthweek celebration, and the BBC posted (and the AP snapped) this excellent photo:

The imagery is perfect, considering the context.

Alberta Budget Reaction

straightouttaedmonton@gmail.com (Avnish) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 04:30:00 +0000

Dave Taylor's reaction to the Alberta Budget and the return to deficit budget.