The McGill Daily Vol. 109 Issue 2 by McGill Daily

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Content

September 09, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Table of Contents 3

EDITORIAL

NEWS

Support Striking Taxi Drivers, Oppose Bill 17

Manfredi is Up for Reappointment “If you care, carry it” “If not now, when?”

7 8

ESSAY 10 ART Wish You Were Here SCI+TECH 12 .organization

13 14

“Music That Makes People Want to Make Music”

COMMENTARY Algerian Popular Revolt

ARCHIVES!

FEATURES

A Guide to Safe(r) Binding

CULTURE

HOROSCOPES! COMPENDIUM!

Comic + Crossword!

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EDITORIAL

Volume 109 Issue 2

September 09, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

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Published by the Daily Publications Society, a student society of McGill University. The views and opinions expressed in the Daily are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of McGill University. The McGill Daily is not affiliated with McGill University.

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Boris Shedov

Support Striking Taxi Drivers, Oppose Bill 17

n Tuesday, September 3, Quebec taxi drivers began a rotating strike, during which only urgent requests (e.g. medical and assistive calls) will be responded to. Montreal taxi drivers held demonstrations at Trudeau Airport on August 26 and Montreal Casino on September 1 as an immediate reaction to talks concerning Bill 17 which resumed on August 27. Initially considered in March, this bill, proposed by the right-wing CAQ government, seeks to deregulate the taxi industry by eliminating the permit required to drive a taxi and enabling variable rates, which would then be set as a function of demand, mimicking ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft. This new legislation would also remove the requirement for taxi drivers to hold a 4C license, which has specialized requirements such as not allowing any alcohol in a driver’s bloodstream and requiring a medical examination at age 50. Instead, all taxi and ride-hailing drivers will be required to possess a Class 5 drivers’ license, which can be obtained by any individual over the age of 16 and allows drivers to have alcohol in their system up to the standard legal limit. By easing the restrictions on taxi drivers, the Quebec government is pushing taxi drivers into a more precarious position. To make up for the removal of the permit requirement, the bill includes compensation for drivers with taxi licenses, but this is not enough. An elected representative from the Bureau du Taxi de Montreal, Hassan Kattoua, says that the formula used to establish compensation rates is punitive: “Transport Minister Francois Bonnardel […] wants to pay the value that the owners paid for their permit,” regardless of when they bought it. Taxi drivers are demanding to instead be compensated for the market value of their permits in 2014 – sometimes more than $200,000 – which has since plummeted with the arrival of ride-hailing apps in Quebec. Taxi drivers who took out large loans to pay for their permits years ago, or bought them as an investment to compensate for the extremely low wages they make annually, are now unable to resell them. Bonnardel’s compensation plan does not take this into account, and would unfairly offer compensations as low as $5,000 for those who purchased their permits 15 years ago. Moreover, the compensation offered by the provincial government to the taxi drivers is being paid for through royalties. A 90cent royalty fee has been applied to each ride, meaning the government offloads the responsibility to the consumers.

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Julian Bonello-Stauch, Nouedyn Baspin, Leandre Barome, Tony Feng, Boris Shedov, Grégoire Collet, Eloise Albaret, Nelly Wat All contents © 2018 Daily Publications Society. All rights reserved. The content of this newspaper is the responsibility of The McGill Daily and does not necessarily represent the views of McGill University. Products or companies advertised in this newspaper are not necessarily endorsed by Daily staff. Printed by Imprimerie Transcontinental Transmag. Anjou, Quebec. ISSN 1192-4608.

Through this bill, the Quebec government is supporting ride-hailing apps like Uber. These apps, in addition to negatively impacting the taxi industry, are known for their poor treatment of workers. Because Uber has maintained that they are a “technology company” that hires “independent contractors,” Uber drivers are not able to unionize and obtain benefits, nor are they able to protect themselves against unsafe working conditions and biased rating systems. This is a legal maneuver that enables the company to then dismiss workers’ rights, including health care, work hours, and safety standards. While it is important to be critical of ride-hailing apps, the taxi industry is itself monopolized by a few companies and investors who buy most of the set number of government-issued taxi licenses. Taxi drivers are then consequently forced to buy these licences at grossly inflated prices and rent them out to other taxi drivers to compensate for these costs. The added costs of monthly plate rent or loan repayment already render the taxi driver’s work precarious, which Bill 17 does not take into account. Many taxi drivers are thus pressured to leave the taxi industry and seek employment at ridehailing companies with fewer regulations and fees, such as Uber. We must be critical of both the taxi industry and ride-hailing apps, while also supporting labourers. Taxi drivers and ride-hailing app drivers are often pitted against each other. However, in both industries, workers are forced into precarious labour conditions for the profit maximization of their employers. Bill 17 deregulates taxi drivers’ work, privileging ride-hailing apps without any care for fair working conditions. You can support the taxi strike by refraining from both ordering a taxi during the strike and using ridehailing services as an alternative. We encourage you to think about the impact that you have when you use ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft. The reliance on taxi services also comes from a lack of public transit in the province; we must push for massive investment in public transportation infrastructure. If you are travelling at night, keep student-run services in mind, including Walksafe (514-398-2498) and Drivesafe (514-3988040), which are free services offered through SSMU to McGill students.

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NEWS

September 09, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

McGill

Manfredi Up for Reappointment Students Share Their Thoughts

While deliberations continue, The McGill Daily had the chance to speak with members of the community about Manfredi’s tenure, many arlier this summer, Principal of whom were dissatisfied with Suzanne Fortier sent out an his work. email informing students of an advisory committee for the McGill’s Sexual Violence Policy Connor Spencer, a former SSMU possible reappointment of Provost and Vice-Principal (Academic) VP External who was involved in Christopher Manfredi. His five- creating SSMU’s Gender and Sexual year term (which began in 2015) Violence Policy, spoke to the Daily is almost complete, and McGill about her experience working with community members now have the the administration to develop a better chance to voice their comments university-wide policy. She specifically mentioned Manfredi’s rhetoric or concerns. Sitting on the committee towards student activists throughout are Principal Fortier, four their campaign for a better policy, professors, four members of the writing that “his communications to Board of Governors, two student the McGill community [in] April and representatives (including SSMU May 2018 made it very clear he did not VP-University Affairs Madeline take the student demands seriously.” A January 2019 McGill senate Wilson), and the Secretary-General.

Yasna Khademian The McGill Daily

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Phoebe Pannier | The McGill Daily report conducted by iMPACTS, a collaborative organization to address sexual violence on campus, also referenced numerous times the language that administrators – including Manfredi – used when communicating with students. “This issue of language, and of the tone of communication between stakeholders at the university,” the report states, “was raised numerous times, with many

participants expressing the opinion that the McGill administration often employs overly corporate, academic, or legalistic language in its communication with members of the community, which is perceived to be unsympathetic and lacking in empathy.” Indeed, Spencer received a formal, personal letter from Manfredi (in the aftermath of the open letter SSMU wrote in 2018), which she shared

“[Manfredi’s] communications to the McGill community [in] April and May 2018 made it very clear he did not take the student demands seriously.” -Connor Spencer

with the Daily via email. In this correspondence, Manfredi writes to Spencer, “Your letter […] states: ‘The administration has made no attempt to address abuses of power in a meaningful or significant way […].’ This assertion, like many others in your letter, has no basis in fact.” Indigenous Affairs Tomas Jirousek, the Indigenous Affairs commissioner at SSMU and a leader of the campaign to change McGill’s varsity football team name, also spoke with the Daily about his experience with Manfredi. “Indigenous students had clearly expressed our concerns regarding the name, and despite this fact, the Provost and administration failed to take action until we, as Indigenous students, engaged in a grassroots campaign to address this issue,” he writes. [...]

NEWS [...] And while Jirousek tells the Daily he appreciates the Provost’s work in launching the Task Force on Indigenous Education Indigenous Studies, he says that Manfredi has failed to proactively take on the calls to action of the final report. The 2017 report has a number of immediate, medium, and long term recommendations, including increased Indigenous enrollment, increased funding for Indigenous students, K-12 outreach, and an

“McGill requires a proactive Provost who is willing to take positive and concrete action on Indigenous issues without needing to be constantly pressured into doing the right thing,” -Tomas Jirousek

increase in seats specifically for Indigenous students planning to study medicine, among other calls to action. “McGill requires a proactive Provost who is willing to take positive and concrete action on Indigenous issues without needing to be constantly pressured into doing the right thing,” Jirousek writes. “For those reasons I firmly believe that the Provost should not be reappointed.” These complaints regarding Manfredi’s work with students at McGill extend further. In an email to the Daily, Wilson – who sits on the reappointment committee and works with the administration in her role as VP University Affairs – writes that his interactions with student advocates often feel overwhelmingly performative. “If he wasn’t required to consult students on particular issues, I have doubts that he would do it at all,” she says. Specifically regarding the changing of the R*dmen name, Wilson writes that he “preferr[ed] to argue over semantics in a document rather than engaging with the lived

McGill

September 09, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

experiences of students who the well, with one questioning Manfredi in a town hall, asking, “Can we learn name has harmed.” in a big class? You [can talk] to your TA once a week, or […] you [can] Dean of Arts Before his appointment to Provost learn in a small environment with and Vice-Principal Academic, people that really care about teaching Manfredi was formerly the Dean of every time you go to class.” About a Arts. In the Faculty of Arts, he put year after the changes were initially forth one of the most controversial announced, the Art History and budget cuts at McGill – eliminating Communication Studies Graduate 100 arts courses available to students Student Association (AHCS-GSA) adopted a motion of non-confidence in 2013. This budget cut, which in the Provost, garnering around redistributed funds away from 200 signatures. “After a year of official smaller classes and into larger where students, introductory courses with more TAs, ‘consultation’ was heavily opposed. As a matter of faculty, and staff repeatedly fact, the elimination of these courses expressed extensive reservations had a direct impact on temporary about the viability of this plan as course lecturers, who told the both a cost-saving measure and Daily they were not made aware of an organizational strategy, the the cuts until they were publically [Provost’s plan] remains largely unchanged,” the AHCS-GSA wrote announced. “No one from the faculty spoke in the Daily in 2014. with the union that represents course Problems with the lecturers at McGill, even to give us a heads-up, let alone to consult with Committee’s Composition Wilson also shared her thoughts us on this move,” former AGSEM President Lilian Radovac said in 2013. regarding the composition of the Students were firmly opposed as committee. Out of the 12 members

sitting on it, she is the only undergraduate student there. “[Manfredi] oversees McGill’s academic affairs, [...] the whole reason students are at this university. To have only one student on the committee to recommend a decision on his reappointment is a gross misrepresentation,” she says. Jirousek also shared his thoughts on the committee’s composition, writing that, “as Indigenous students we have the right to have our voices heard with regards to the reappointment process, especially considering the Provost’s work with the Indigenous community.” While it’s unclear whether or not Provost Manfredi will be reappointed for another five years, McGill community members are welcome to submit their thoughts to the Advisory Committee. You can send your opinion via email to advisories@mcgill.ca, or via mail to 845 Sherbrooke Street West, Room 313, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4.

Montreal “If you care, carry it” CMHA Launches Opioid Overdose Education Campaign Kate Ellis The McGill Daily

n August 29, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) launched “Carry It Toolkit,” a campaign aimed at post-secondary students to educate them about the role they can take in preventing opioid overdoses. The toolkit consists of a variety of info sheets that discuss topics such as how to develop a campus protocol for addressing drug overdoses and tips for safer drug use. This toolkit was created in response to the growing opioid crisis, which has had a serious impact on young people. According to the CMHA, youth aged 15-24 have the second fastest-growing rates of hospitalizations from opioid harms in Canada, with a 62 per cent increase between 2014 and 2016. In 2018 alone, the opioid overdose crisis claimed 4460 lives in Canada. As CMHA Interim CEO Fardous

Hosseiny elaborated, “it can affect anyone of any socioeconomic background or any age or any gender.” In an interview with the Daily, Hosseiny said that one of the main points of the kit is to educate students on “what naloxone is and how you can get [it].” Naloxone is “a temporary antidote to an opioid overdose. It acts fast, forcing opioids to unbind from the receptors in the body.” In Canada, it is available in two forms: an injectable and a nasal spray called NARCAN. Individuals in Quebec can obtain both forms at their local pharmacy

In 2018 alone, the opioid overdose crisis claimed 4460 lives in Canada.

for free, without identification or a prescription. Promoting naloxone is the same as “EpiPens [...] or defibrillators,” stated Hosseiny — they are a first-aid item and should be treated as such. If members of the McGill community are looking for ways to be better prepared in the event of an opioid overdose, there are resources for naloxone training and education on campus. All of the workshops are hosted by Naloxone & Overdose Response Training for Non-Medical Professionals, founded by McGill Social Work student Richard Davy. PGSS is holding a workshop on naloxone and overdose response training on September 25, and there are two more free workshops happening on September 9 and 18. Following the training, participants receive a free naloxone kit. As Hosseiny concluded, “the worst thing to do in the case of an overdose is nothing.”

Brianna Cheng | Illustrator

NEWS

September 09, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Montreal

“If Not Now, When?”

The Next Steps in Climate Change Activism Kelsey McKeon The McGill Daily

not want to blame people for living in our current system. In the aftermath of the panel, members of the audience had the chance to voice their questions or concerns. On the topic of strategic voting in the upcoming election, one audience member expressed the necessity for this movement to make a conscious decision to back the NDP or the Green party. Another audience member suggested that if people simply voted with their conscience, then perhaps there would not be only two political parties dominating. A third audience member described their loss of faith in Canada’s electoral system as an ally to this movement. Once more, the audience was left asking how are we going to act?

he current climate movement is often described as one of the largest mobilization of youth in recent history. Panelists at Concordia University’s climate talk “If Not Now, When?” on Thursday evening compared the movement’s size and support to other mass movements in the last century such as the women’s suffrage movement and the worker’s rights movement. While the panel began relatively optimistically, commending and empowering the efforts of audience members, cracks in this sentiment of collectivism quickly became evident. Christopher Ragan, Director of the Max Bell School of Public Policy, laid out two questions at the start of the conference: Are we going to act? And if so, how are we going to act?

Christopher Ragan, Director of the Max Bell School of Public Policy, laid out two questions at the start of the conference: Are we going to act? And if so, how are we going to act?

Alongside Christopher were Crystal Lameman (environment and climate policy analyst at the Confederacy of Treaty No. 6 First Nations) and Karel Mayrand (director general at the David Suzuki Foundation). Bill McKibben (co-founder of 350.org and veteran activist) streamed in from his home in Vermont. The panel was moderated by CBC Television’s Montreal host Nancy Wood, who appropriately probed the panelists along. While panelists reached an implicit consensus on the first question, the latter on how to approach climate activism was subject to much debate. Specifically, panelists disagreed

Phoebe Pannier | The McGill Daily on the role of individual action in this movement. Lameman, for instance, saw power in individual action to make small differences and kickstart a massive, yet crucial transition in the way humans consume energy. On the flip side, McKibben suggested that “the most important thing an individual can do is to be a little less of an individual” and condemned the “great premium” humans have put on hyper-individuality at the expense of community. According

to McKibben, “joining together is how civilizations defend themselves.” For Canadians, he imagines this as effectively stopping the pipeline, referring to the expansion of the TransMountain that runs from the oil fields of Alberta to Burnaby, B.C. Ragan, however, disagreed with McKibben regarding his call to discontinue the pipeline. This stance was met with an exaggerated cough from an audience member and a round of slightly uncomfortable

Citing the fires in California, the loss of Arctic sea ice, and record-breaking temperatures in much of the world, McKibben reminded audience members that climate change is an emergency, and in emergencies, “people act with fortitude.”

laughter from the 60 others in the audience. Ragan described stopping the pipeline as an extremely expensive way to reduce emissions, partly because income from the pipeline is significant. Rather, he suggested we look at other options, as he says it is possible to have both a better environment and a prosperous economy. Specifically Ragan is interested in an economy-wide, well designed carbon price similar to France’s model. But this proposition was not without controversy. McKibben described Ragan’s approach as attempting to “have your cake and eat it too.” Citing the fires in California, the loss of Arctic sea ice, and record-breaking temperatures in much of the world, McKibben reminded audience members that climate change is an emergency, and in emergencies, “people act with fortitude.” Ragan later clarified his position, describing that the end goal is, in fact, to get away from fossil fuels. But at the same time, he told the audience to “[not] pretend producing oil is immoral.” He went on to say, “we are all sinners,” and that he does

Despite these concerns, it appears a particular constituency has emerged within the movement – youth activists. As Kamel described them, they have “all to win and nothing to lose.” Despite these concerns, it appears a particular constituency has emerged within the movement – youth activists. As Kamel described them, they have “all to win and nothing to lose.” Event organizer and Concordia student, Patrick GroeneveldMeijer gave the last remark, reminding the audience of the Global Climate Protest occurring on Friday, September 27th and hinting at a rumour that Greta Thunberg, a 16-year-old climate activist, may be marching in Montreal. The panel closed much like how it began, legitimizing the power of the youth in room and calling them to action. Optimistic despite their differences, the panelists seemed to agree on at least one thing: the need to challenge the centers of power in the world.

Archives

content warning: racism, sexism, anti-Semitism, sexual violence, homophobia

September 09, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

September 09. 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

features

A Guide to safe(r) binding nelly wat

illustrations by Phoebe Pannier

content warning: gender dysphoria

quick flashback to the summer of 2016. For my fresh start at university and my inaugural back-to-school rebranding, I wanted to start binding. After a few forays into layering sports bras and wrapping with bandages, I wanted to start wearing a chest binder, and to start dressing in a way that made me feel affirmed as a nonbinary person. I knew very little about binders; in fact, I had no idea where to even buy one or try one on. A quick google search led me to a website that sold one for $50. No instructions, no warning label. Just the promise of feeling comfortable with the way I looked. And it upheld that promise; when I first tried it on, I stared at myself for what felt like ages in the mirror, admiring how I looked in a plain t-shirt, how simple it was, how easy. However, the discomfort of wearing a binder quickly set in; I had trouble breathing and severe back pain, and the constriction of my ribcage exacerbated the poor circulation and dizziness I already experienced from an iron deficiency. Unfortunately, no one ever taught me how to wear a binder safely until long after I had started wearing one. I wore it all day, even when I was at home alone, just so I could look at myself happily every time I strolled past myself in the mirror. They are uncomfortable to wear, yes, but chest binding was a way for me, and can often be a way for trans, nonbinary, intersex, and gender non-conforming people

to mitigate gender dysphoria and present themselves in a way that makes them feel safer and more comfortable. However, it is also incredibly important to avoid binding in a way that is unsafe and potentially harmful to your body. As I explored healthier alternatives to binding, I found more comfortable forms of binding that were both self-affirming and safer than conventional binders. However, this guide is also limited to my own experiences with binding, and is in no way comprehensive; take time to do research and explore other options that work specifically for you. This guide aims to provide information on how to bind safely, more comfortable alternatives, and options for trans and gender non-conforming people to explore safely for themselves. The common forms of binding that this guide explains may or may not work for some individuals, and, ultimately, are dependent on oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mode of gender presentation and what works best for their mind and body.

What are binders? Chest binders are undergarments made of spandex and nylon that flatten oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s chest by compression and are sold commercially, but many people also bind their chest using a sports bra, bandages, ace wrap, tape, or other forms of cling wraps. Binders can come in longer forms, similar to an undershirt,

as well as shorter styles that are similar to a sports bra. For me, the main downside to wearing a binder, also the most common one among my trans and gender non-conforming friends, is back pain. Other negatives include shortness of breath, skin irritation, overheating, lack of circulation, dizziness, pain in the chest and ribcage, and bruising. Binding can also fracture or break ribs, and is never entirely safe for your body. While the discomfort I experienced was balanced by the ways in which binding alleviated some of my anxiety, depression,

and gender dysphoria, my constant physical pain and restricted movement made me more selfconscious about what activities I could comfortably participate in. That being said, for many people, binding regularly, as opposed to what many medical professionals and cis people believe, is not an option but a lived reality. Doctors, or the few that I ever felt comfortable sharing this with, often advised against binding at all, but never considered how it was incorporated into my daily routine as a means of self-affirmation and coping with anxiety and dysphoria,

nor did they provide alternatives or safer ways to bind. Rather, I relied on friends, acquaintances, smaller community groups, and social networks for resources and advice on safer and more accessible alternatives.

Binding Safely There will always be some risks to binding, but there are ways to minimize them. Binders: 1) Wear the appropriate size. For folks with a larger chest, wearing a binder that is a size too small can be painful and also harmful to your ribcage, back, and chest if worn long-term. The right size of binder typically corresponds to oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bra size measurements, and websites also provide sizing charts. If you have difficulty breathing, your binder may be too tight! 2) Avoid layering binders. This puts greater compression on your ribcage, which can lead to side effects like broken ribs. 3) Make sure you get your binder from a reputable source. If buying from an online source, read through the reviews before purchasing (and consider one with a good return policy!) Unfortunately, many reliable brands can be expensive, but buying used binders from local organizations and Facebook groups (see Resources section) is more accessible and can give you a chance to try them on for size.

September 09, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

features

4) Avoid swimming or getting wet while wearing a binder. Binders can constrict when wet, which applies greater pressure on the ribcage. Look into binders made specifically for swimming if you’re planning on getting wet! However, these can be more expensive. 5) Avoid putting your binder in the dryer; dryers can shrink binders, as can hot water. Hand wash in cold water and hang to dry. Wash your binder regularly, because sweat can accumulate and irritate the skin. 6) Take breaks! Sometimes we have long days where we have to wear a binder for extended periods

of time, but taking it off at night or after about 8 hours is strongly recommended and can give your chest some time to breathe. Bandages/Wrap: 1) Avoid using ace bandages! Using ace bandages, cling wrap, or similar forms of compression wrap that go around the chest and back can warp the ribcage or weaken the chest muscles if worn for an extended period of time. These can also irritate the skin, particularly if you have allergies to certain materials. Moreover, ace wrap can tighten after it is stretched or when it

becomes damp from sweat, which compresses the ribcage further. If you do choose to use bandages, be sure to use caution and take breaks from wrapping if you have difficulty breathing or severe pain. 2) Puff out your chest before wrapping to give yourself enough room to breathe. 3) Wear something underneath before wrapping. This can prevent skin irritation or rashes from sweat or friction and also prevent sweat from causing the bandages to tighten. 4) Limit the amount of time you wrap to less than 8 hours a day.

Safer Alternatives 1) Sports bras: If you’re planning on exercising or sweating a lot, a sports bra can be more comfortable and is far less restrictive. Layering sports bras is also somewhat safer than wearing a binder long-term, but take the same precautions as you would with binders. Sports bras can also compress the ribcage if they are particularly tight or layered. 2) Taping: taping, as opposed to wrapping or binding, is a method of flattening the chest by applying tape over your chest and moving tissue to the sides. Taping is far safer than binding, given that it does not restrict the ribcage, does not limit mobility as much as other forms of binding, and, depending on the tape itself, often does not shrink when wet. Tape can also be worn long term, for several days at a time, and even to sleep without causing pain or damage to your ribs. A safer

method of taping is to do so without wrapping the tape around your back by taping each breast back and under your arms separately. However, do use with caution and look into more reputable tapes. Some kinds of tape or adhesives can irritate the skin, especially if you have allergies to latex or certain materials. Moreover, skin irritation or abrasions from tape can cause rashes and infections. Always make a non-adhesive patch to protect the nipple before taping, and soak the tape with oil before removing to avoid damaging your skin. The benefits of tape are also dependent on body and chest size; if you have a bigger chest, taping may not be as helpful as other forms of binding. See the Resources section for more on tape and where to find genderaffirming products.

Resources 1) TransTape is a hypoallergenic, latex-free tape for binding that is backless, safer than traditional binders, and is waterproof. Their website also provides a visual guide to applying the tape, as well as skin care products and accessories for packing. 2) The Centre for Gender Advocacy at McGill has binders available by donation, and also provide free used binders. You can try one on and purchase one at their office at 2110 Mackay Street. They also provide trans workshops, assistance with name or gender-marker changes, and

other resources for trans people. 3) The Union for Gender Empowerment at McGill is a trans feminist organization that provides resources for trans people, including pay-what-youcan gender-affirming supplies such as binders, safer sex toys, menstrual products, finding queer- and trans-friendly health services, and workshops. 4) Projet 10 Montreal is an organization for the empowerment of queer and trans youth. They provide gender-affirming gear, including binders, packers, etc. on a pay-what-you-can basis, as well as resources for finding transfriendly health care and mental health services. They have binders available in their office, and can place orders for any genderaffirming supplies you may need. They also welcome donations, which go toward providing resources for trans youth. 5) Échange Queer is a Montrealbased Facebook group for trans and queer folks in Montreal. This is a safe group where queer or trans people can ask questions, ask for advice, and give or seek resources. 6) Listen to your body. If something doesn’t feel right, seek help from friends or a doctor, or explore other options that make you feel most safe and comfortable. If you need trans-friendly health care, Head & Hands is a queer- and trans-friendly organization that provides health, social, and legal services, including a free weekly drop-in clinic and counselling services.

September 09. 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Wish You Were Here Phoebe Pannier The McGill Daily

content warning: suicide, grief

art essay

September 09, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Sci+Tech

.organization

Meet the Creators Behind Leftist Youtube Willa Holt The McGill Daily

he alt-right thrives online. Forums and social media platforms are notoriously bad at regulating their content, and their reliance on freedom of speech often promotes bigotry and hatred. Especially in the wake of the Christchurch massacre, after which the terrorist explicitly cited internet personalities and “ironic” racist hand gestures created online, it can be easy to view the internet as an unadulterated breeding ground for hate and white supremacy. One of the platforms that contributes to mindsets like that of the attacker in New Zealand is YouTube — a site known for its poor management of both copyright claims and hateful propaganda. YouTube’s video recommendation algorithm has a tendency to promote alt-right videos to a wide variety of users, specifically white men vulnerable to radicalization. This tendency, all too familiar to those who know the platform, actively recruits and indoctrinates neutral, centrist, and even left-leaning viewers into alt-right beliefs. Common themes across this altright content include “the great replacement” – a sneaky term for the supposed “marginalization” of white people by an influx of refugees – and the sorry state of “the West.” The videos tend to rely on doctored or deliberately misleading statistics, faulty logic, and unreliable sources, making them easy to churn out. The videos are cheap, quick, and attractive, and YouTube’s algorithm eats them up. In this apparently rigged system, what could help mitigate this rightwing radicalization?

Many LeftTube creators have a knack for drawing even [...] reluctant people in, which is something many activists struggle with. Enter “LeftTube”: a loose category of leftist content creators whose videos stand counter to alt-right propaganda, explain the terminology, and make leftist stances accessible and easy to

Phoebe Pannier | The McGill Daily understand. Several LeftTube creators produce step-by-step takedowns of some of the altright’s most damaging videos, dismantling their arguments and proving their sources faulty and misleading. These creators are doing the intensive groundwork that is starting to counteract the radicalization machine, providing entertaining and educational alternatives to misleading propaganda. As with many “factions” on YouTube, LeftTube isn’t a clearlydefined group. One creator, known as Lady Columbia, describes LeftTube as “more than a singular genre,” explaining that LeftTube videos “encompass education, activism, satire and experimental artistic works.” Many creators express that while it is not a closeknit community now, LeftTube certainly has the potential to spawn connections. Eric, from the channel Curio, explained that “the thing about YouTube is, it’s not designed to build discursive communities, it’s designed to create rockstar creator/fan dynamics.” Emerican Johnson of the channel NonCompete added that much of the issue is that “YouTube is a capitalist platform, and it’s nearly impossible to build a genuine community in an environment like that.”

Despite these obstacles, leftists are optimistic. When asked about their goals, many creators expressed their desire primarily to make the left more approachable, and secondarily to sway vulnerable people away from the right. Creator Thought Slime explained that, generally speaking, “leftist outreach tends to be preachy and didactic,” and that they “want it to be fun and engaging.” This mindset is a critical aspect of the entire genre, and is a large part of why their work is so important. Leftist stances can be intimidating, especially to privileged populations who tend to feel attacked by arguments that call attention to that privilege. Many LeftTube creators have a knack for drawing even these reluctant people in, which is something many activists struggle with. The rewards of the struggle are worth it, though: many ex-conservative viewers have been given real hope by these creators. Eric from Curio explains that, while he sees education as “absolutely necessary to achieve what [he] want[s] to achieve,” his long-term goal is “to get people to organize both online and in their local spaces IRL to make real change through direct action.” He is not alone in this by any means. Many creators express this same

desire and have been using their platforms to create material change. Harry Brewis, known online as HBomberguy, is one of these people. In mid-January of this year, he ran a charity stream to benefit the UK charity Mermaids, which supports trans youth and their families. Brewis played and beat Donkey Kong 64 over the course of 57 hours, attracting celebrity guests including Chelsea Manning, Alexandria OcasioCortez, and many of Brewis’s LeftTube peers. Ultimately, he raised over $340,000.

“Leftist outreach tends to be preachy and didactic. I want it to be fun and engaging.” -ThoughtSlime The amount of money Brewis raised is a strong testament to the impact these channels and video creators can have as activists beyond their educational roles. Brewis’s work is often cited in leftist

groups as many people’s gateway into leftist theory on YouTube. His success is encouraging, which is especially important given how difficult it can be to survive on YouTube. Several of the creators we had the chance to speak with offered the one thing they’d like to share with those unfamiliar with leftist YouTube. Eric from Curio explained, “these creators are, by a solid margin, the funniest and most entertaining creators on the site. I think it goes without saying that we’ve got some pretty interesting things to say, but the thing that I think was a surprise for me coming in is how hilarious lefty creators are.” Lady Columbia said, “My favorite aspect is our diversity, not just of identity, but of ideology. If I had to say something to the unfamiliar it would be that we’re not a monolith; we’re not all the same person.” Lastly, we heard from ThoughtSlime, who kept up their (and our) optimism. What’s most important, in their eyes? “That now’s a good time to get involved!” We encourage you to check out the channels of all of the creators featured in this article, links to which can be found online at mcgilldaily.com/scitech. Full interviews are also featured in our online catalogue.

September 09, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Culture

“Music That Makes People Want to Make Music” An Interview with Cadence Weapon

Kate Ellis The McGill Daily

“

I want to make music that makes people want to make music.”

Toronto-based, Edmonton-born rapper Cadence Weapon (Roland Pemberton) re-emerged in the popular music scene in 2018 after a

Mark Sommerfeld | Photographer six-year break, returning with a selftitled album and a new passion for discussing social issues within his music. Aptly named, he considers his “cadence [to be his] weapon” — music is his tool to share his thoughts with the world. Edmonton’s Poet Laureate from 2009 to 2011, Pemberton’s lyrics evoke an emotional reaction in

the listener and contextualize issues that many people can relate to. A former resident of Montreal, Cadence Weapon sings fondly of his time growing up in the city in his track “Five Roses.” In an interview with The McGill Daily, he said that he feels like he was a “different person before [he] moved to Montreal and

This art appears on Cadence Weapon’s new album.

[…] a different person when [he] left,” citing the city’s engagement with the arts as inspiring his music. In the song, Pemberton reminisces on how he’d “think about life getting better/ Used to hang around by the train tracks/Wish that we could do this forever.” He revisited his old home this summer, playing Montreal’s Metro Fest. His most popular song, a track called “High Rise,” discusses the impacts of gentrification on marginalized communities. He says that it reflects his experience living in Toronto, where the “market is just totally out of control, and barely anyone can afford to live here, and it just puts so much pressure on every aspect of your life.” The lines “who needs community?/ Not me and you or you and me/ Swimming pools all in our suite/Beats the view on College Street” show the reality of how gentrification strips neighbourhoods of their cultural value and isolates people from the communities that they created. The apathetic tone that he carries as he raps the lyrics truly embodies the exhaustion that comes with financial struggles and watching the things that you care about fade away. As someone who has watched relics of my childhood, like Toronto’s Honest Ed’s, be washed away in rent increases and development projects, I relate to the feeling of pain and helplessness that “High Rise” so perfectly encapsulates. His song “System” discusses the realities of racism,

recounting experiences with police discrimination and microagressions. He expresses a feeling of being unable to escape, singing about how even when he goes to the club, he is confronted with white people using racial slurs, as expressed in the lyrics: “Came to get saved by the rhythm/ Now he’s feeling like a slave to the system.” In March 2019, Cadence Weapon was featured on DJ Shub’s single “Superhero,” a song he describes as being “about how everyone has something that they can use to help other people.” When asked about how he hopes to help people with his music, Pemberton says “I want to make music that makes people want to make music themselves. I want to inspire people […] I want to make people think differently […] I want people to see from a different perspective. That’s what I try to do with my music, is give people another way of seeing.” What’s next for Cadence Weapon? He says that he’s been in the studio working with Jacques Green and getting excited to release a new album. “It’s just been a productive time,” he remarks. We look forward to seeing what issues he tackles next. To stay up to date with his future tour dates and music releases, follow him on Twitter @cadenceweapon. He also hosts a monthly show on ISO radio.

September 09, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

Commentary

Algerian Popular Revolt

Standing in Solidarity with the Protestors in Algeria

Nellia Halimi The McGill Daily

lgerians have now entered the 28th consecutive week of civil disobedience and protests against the corrupt elite government and military regime. The protests started on February 16, following the announcement by former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika that he was running for a fifth consecutive term. Bouteflika, who is often credited with ending the Algerian civil war in 1999, had been in power for 20 years, in what was essentially a dictatorship maintained through the election rigging. The protests, which occur every Friday, have been taking place in symbolic locations all over Algeria. Estimates in March by France24 counted 10 to 15 million protesters in a country of 40 million people. The protests have called for more civil disobedience in the midst of an ongoing political crisis that involves both the government and the army. Protesters of all backgrounds have joined, ranging from students to older activists that were involved in the war of independence against France in the 1960s, like the famous activist Jamila Bouhired. Demonstrations have also been taking place around the globe, usually at Algerian consulates and embassies. In Montreal, demonstrations have been held since February, first at the Algerian Consulate on Saint-Urbain, and now at Place du Canada every Sunday. After facing popular backlash when he filed as a candidate in early March, Bouteflika was forced to resign on April 9. The political elite, along with the Parliament, used Article 102 of the Algerian constitution, which allows for the removal of the President in case of the total inability to perform his duties due to a serious and lasting illness, to justify his resignation. This political move was clearly an attempt to save face for the government, who chose to sacrifice a few members of government to maintain legitimacy in a future election, rather than giving in to the people’s demand for an actual democracy. The Algerian political landscape is dominated by coalitions between politicians, major business actors, and the army, who form an opaque and corrupt power structure which has been in place for decades. Following Bouteflika’s resignation, and in accordance with the Algerian constitution, Abdelkader Bensalah, President of the Council of the Nation (Upper House), was named Interim President by the Parliament, despite being a known ally of the ousted former President. The Algerian constitution stipulates that an interim president can stay in power for up to 90 days, after which a new election must be organized. However, the Algerian

Phoebe Pannier | The McGill Daily popular revolt, also known as the Hirak movement, denounces the rigged and unfair election systems, and opposes another election until the government had been purged of the corrupt elite. On July 9, Bensalah announced he would remain as acting head of state.

The Algerian popular revolt, denounces the rigged and unfair election systems, and opposes another election until the government had been purged of the corrupt elite. Despite Bensalah’s nomination, the real leader of the corrupt Algerian system is General Gaid Salah. He is Algeria’s Vice Minister of Defense, and essentially acts as the head of the army. Over recent months, he has been conducting what has been called a “corruption purge” by the Western imperialist media. In practice, this means the incarceration of some of Algeria’s top officials, who also often happen to be his political rivals. This move is also motivated by the need to maintain some legitimacy in regards to the protesters, despite his involvement

in the corrupt regime. Protesters have called for his deposition, and “Gaid Salah is with the traitors” has become a popular slogan during the Friday protests. The Hirak movement has been largely organized through social media, specifically Facebook and YouTube. Rising stars amongst Algerian youth include Anes Tina and Raja Mezane, two YouTubers who produce content denouncing the corruption of the crony Algerian government. The military and the government are well aware of the influence the internet has had over protesters, and have already cut access to the internet twice since the beginning of the movement. The most recent occurrence happened on August 8, as a former member of the army called for the resignation of Salah, only for YouTube to be shut down by the state-run internet provider Algeria Telecom. The demands of the people have evolved over months of protests. They have been laid out in an international statement of solidarity issued by Algerian Revolt, a group that reports on the Hirak movement on social media; protesters call “for an immediate end to military rule and the establishment of a civilian state; for the release of all political prisoners; to oppose and condemn repression and all forms of state violence.” Many political prisoners have been arrested, most of them for carrying flags of ethnic minorities within Algeria, including that of the Berber people. The Hirak movement has called for their immediate release as a condition for negotiation. The choice to use nonviolent protest and civil disobedience has largely been influenced by the recent memory of the civil war, which took place in Algeria between 1991

and 2002. While the protesters have stuck to this peaceful approach, the military’s response has included the use of tear gas and water cannons to disperse people. The people also call “to oppose and condemn the provision of military, financial, diplomatic, and any other forms of assistance and intervention from imperialist governments and to oppose all concessions and contracts with foreign governments and multinational corporations until a legitimate and representative government is in place.” While Algeria officially gained independence in 1962, France’s imperialist influence in the country is still rampant today. The business and political elite in Algeria have maintained power by cooperating with the neocolonial French elite; most of the corrupt members of the Algerian army and government also own countless assets in France. France’s presence in the country is primarily motivated by unfair and exploitative oil deals which reproduce patterns of colonialism. Protesters have called for a removal of the hizb frança, or Party of France, which includes all the actors they see as key in the imperialist influence of France. The Hirak movement has also denounced the army’s, specifically General Salah’s, subservience to the Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which they see as an extension of US imperialism. The protests have also regularly featured Palestinian flags, despite the edict passed by Salah’s that bans flags that are not the national one. The Hirak movement has expressed solidarity with Palestinian and Sudanese uprisings as a collective movement of liberation that is not limited to Algeria.

The people also call “to oppose and condemn the provision of military, financial, diplomatic, and any other forms of assistance and intervention from imperialist governments...” We must stand in solidarity with the people of Algeria in their struggle for liberation and their call for a return to democracy. Elections have been expected to happen before the end of the year; however, protesters will not tolerate a rigged voting system and corrupt political elite for another 20 years. Western media’s portrayal of these protests as a renewed Arab Spring, or as a disorganized, leaderless movement, is actively harmful. We must remain alert and informed beyond a colonized, archaic way of reporting. You can show your support by going to weekly demonstrations, which happen at Place du Canada every Sunday at 11am. You can also sign and share the international statement of solidarity with the Algerian Popular Revolt.

September 09, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

horoscopes

HECK’in HOROSCOPES Aries (Mar 21 Apr 19)

Listen, it’s not that you’re a bad person,

Cancer (Jun 21 Jul 22)

Have you considered……................... a tiny hat?

Taurus (Apr 20 May 20)

If you’re allergic to soy milk, don’t drink soy milk. It’s that easy.

Leo (Jul 23 Aug 22)

A fun new nickname can do wonders for the health of your relationships.

Libra

Scorpio

(Sept 23 Oct 22)

(Oct 23 Nov 21)

This is a time of renewal and growth. Don’t fight the urge to be different than you have been. Allow others to do the same.

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)

Befriend a woodland creature and introduce it to anti-oppressive politics. Allow yourselves to learn from each other.

Take a three-hour clown class.

Gemini (May 21 Jun 20)

Keep it up, buddy! Don’t even think about it! Don’t even worry about it one bit!

Virgo (Aug 23 Sept 22)

Sometimes… things that aren’t temporary... are worse...

Sagittarius (Nov 22 - Dec 21)

Drop your three-hour clown class.

Aquarius

Pisces

(Jan 20 Feb 18)

(Feb 19 - Mar 20)

Hang in there, champ. I mean that.

Oh no, don’t do that. Definitely don’t do that.

September 09, 2019 mcgilldaily.com | The McGill Daily

compendium!

Lies, half-truths, and politically correct desert sand.

Crossword

Gaby DuPuis | Cartoonist Phoebe Pannier The McGill Daily Match your answers with the right ones posted on the website at: www.mcgilldaily.com/category/sections/compendium/

extradition amendment 36) Two letters that, when said fast, sound like the name of a daytime talk show host 37) Algiers is its capital 41) Invalid OR empty 43) Like essays or readings, abbreviation 44) Name that’s a homonym for a death bell 45) Friere’s most well-known Pedagogy was about this group 47) Genre of fiction often deemed immature or frivolous, abbreviation 49) An herb for remembrance, according to Shakespeare’s Ophelia 51) Brazil’s capital 52) Author of LGBT sci-fi novels such as Babel-17, also a typo of FDR’s middle name 56) Not having this makes me sweaty 57) Friendly neighbourhood superhero 58) Performance artist who wrote Grapefruit 59) I like to think of it as a lowercase apostrophe

Across

1) One of the universities complicit in colonizing the most sacred site in Hawai’i 3) Hairy Himalayan cryptid 5) In American politics, there are several rounds of these before party nominations 9) A handle, or… something else ;) 12) An archduke or an anthomaniac bull

17) per __ 18) A realistic ETA 19) A small trendy dog 20) “I love hair gel because it makes my head so much __” 21) Food that can help a Dementor’s victim 22) It’s the powerhouse of the cell, and the only science word I know 25) Blue-green colour named for a bird of the same name 27) Not a phone, a different

kind of burner 28) Like sashimi or tartare 30) Animation technology responsible for Sonic the Hedgehog and Cats 32) To call, in Spanish 33) Rhythm, tempo, metre (see also: a rapper from Alberta) 34) Author of Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders 35) Chief Executive of Hong Kong who pushed a controversial

Down

2) Typically lasts for eight or twelve months 4) Gum bones 6) You’re sometimes supposed to do this to bibliographies 7) Bolsonaro’s nationalist partido (or party, it’s the same in English) 8) A region which is currently being occupied by three separate states 10) Ke$ha song or app which is similar to Vine but not as good

11) Activism by people who tweet about saving the Amazon but have no problem with capitalism 12) They say Geminis are two-__ 13) ___ Metuktire: Kayapo chief known for his environmental activism 14) Element with atomic number 26 15) “Obamacare” bill 16) NWA “doctor” 23) Some people have six, I have none, singular version 24) Largest empire in preColumbian Americas 26) To capture (think about drums) 29) Pancakes with storage space 30) Having shapely buttocks 31) An older male relative 32) Something a country on stolen land cannot be 33) Niecy Nash stars in this TNT series about nail artists and organized crime 38) Like an epilogue 39) More unwell 40) They close involuntarily when you’re tired 42) The end of a toodle 43) With “back” it means to evoke 46) Lizzo’s flute’s name, also Beyonce’s alter ego 48) Like a handshake or an unripe fruit 50) It’s fun to stay here 52) Perform an action 53) __ and behold 54) US state that uses “first in flight” as their license plate slogan, abbreviation 55) A greeting 56) Not FM nor PM