The Toronto Globalist An Undergraduate International Affairs Magazine
NOVEMBER 2006 Volume II Issue 1
TOO MUCH HOT AIR
does kyoto have a role in the future of canadian environmental policy?
WHY AIDS2006? a look back at the 2006 international AIDS conference
THE FAILURE OF THE BELIEVERS the victory of the tribalists
CANADA IN AFGHANISTAN
how much is too much?
the changing climate
IS IT TOO LATE FOR SUSTAINABILITY?
The Toronto Globalist is a member of
G lobal21 Global21 is a network of student-run foreign aairs publications at premier universities around the world. Sciences-Po France 6,700 students Inducted 2006
Cambridge University United Kingdom 11,600 students Inducted 2005
American University of Beirut Lebanon 5,778 students Inducted 2006 Peking University China 15,001 students Inducted 2005
Toronto University Canada 67,692 students Inducted 2005
Yale University United States 5,242 students Inducted 2005
St. Stephen’s College India 1,100 students Inducted 2006
Bogazici University Turkey 6,740 students Inducted 2006
Hebrew University Israel 12,000 students Inducted 2005
Cape Town University South Africa 14,958 students Inducted 2006
Sydney University Australia 30,143 students Inducted 2005
Current members listed on map; projected three year expansion indicated by shading.
Policymakers
Campuses
Students Think-tanks
Each autonomous chapter produces three issues per year to be distributed on their campus, then translated into English for the website.
For the Annual Publication, each chapter contributes articles on the most pressing topic, to be translated into every represented language.
Government Organizations
The Annual Publication is distributed to campuses, think tanks, and policymakers. Individual exchanges between chapters are facilitated.
www.globalistfoundation.org
november 2006
the toronto globalist
CONTENTS
VOLUME II, issue 1 Features: The Environment
10
18
14
Global Warming: Myth or Reality? May Jeong
8
The Price of Conservation Julien R. Gagnier
9
The Grass is Always Greener - The Economics of Sustainability Jordan Ardanaz and Jordan Shaw-Young
10
Too Much Hot Air - Does Kyoto have a Role in the Future of Canadian Environmental Policy? Jessica Barrett Horwitz
14 16
the globalist photographic report
24
Extinction: Life Without Words Jonathan C. G. Bright and Jonathan Lalich
14
International Trading of Pollution Quotas - Just Another Means of Doing Nothing? Perry Ge
Columns and other articles LETTERS TO THE EDITOR THE LIGHTER SIDE GLOBAL HAPPENINGS WHY AIDS2006? - A LOOK BACK AT THE 2006 INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE
30
3 5 6 18
Alexander Lim and Stefania Moretti CANADA IN AFGHANISTAN
Aisha Ansari
23
THE FAILURE OF THE BELIEVERS. THE VICTORY OF THE TRIBALISTS.
24
EMERGING E-COMMUNITIES WITHIN YOUTH CULTURE
28
WHEN LAW BURNS WORDS
31
Roy Mill
Alexander Lim
Lynn Zovighian november 2006
ABOUT THE COVER Joe Mastroianni/National Science Foundation
The blue ice covering Lake Fryxell, in the Transantarctic Mountains, comes from glacial meltwater from the Canada Glacier and other smaller glaciers. The freshwater stays on top of the lake and freezes, sealing in briny water below.
the toronto globalist
1
VOLUME II, issue 1
Dear Readers,
On behalf of The Toronto Globalist’s editorial board, I am proud to present to you our latest issue, and welcome you back to another year! I would first like to begin by thanking all the members of the 2005-2006 editorial board for their fine work in getting this publication off the ground. Also, I would like to welcome the many new faces we have on this year’s editorial board. The environment has long been an issue of global concern. Now more than ever, we are at a crossroad where the decisions we make as a global community will determine the kind of world we live in tomorrow. Shall we remain ignorant and complacent, or will we take a stand and work at implementing solutions? With headlines worldwide about global warming, extreme weather patterns, high fuel prices, and a depletion of natural resources, the world stands united in our recognition of the problem surrounding environmental sustainability. The disagreement and inaction, however, lies in the innovation and implementation of realistic solutions. In this edition, we will attempt to explore new perspectives and critically analyze the existing framework to shed light on this subject. We begin with a cover story written Jordan Ardanaz and Jordan Shaw-Young which explores the economic and social implications of changing from fossil fuel to sustainable energy. In addition, we have several opinions pieces, including “Global Warming: Myth or Reality” by May Jeong, “The Price of Conservation” by Julien R. Gagnier, and “International Trading of Pollution Quotas - Just Another Means of Doing Nothing?” by Perry Ge, which all serve to raise many of the perspectives found in the environmental debate. In addition, we are pleased to feature a unique photo-spread by Jonathan C. G. Bright and Jonathan Lalich, and an insightful news piece entitled “Too Much Hot Air - Does Kyoto Have a Role in the Future of Canadian Environmental Policy?” by Jessica Barrett Horwitz. The year 2006 also marks the 25th anniversary of HIV/AIDS. In recognition of this, we began last issue by covering theme of global epidemics, which touched briefly on the AIDS crisis in numerous article, and featured a photo-spread devoted to HIV/ AIDS awareness. Continuing our coverage of the crisis in this issue, we are delighted to present a special report by myself and Stefania Moretti, covering the 2006 International AIDS Conference in Toronto from August 13 to 18, 2006. We are also thrilled to share with you many letters to the editor which have come in from readers all over North America, commenting on our last issue. In closing, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our financial sponsors (UofT Department of Geography, UofT Centre for Environment, Professor Donald Ainslie, Exeter Golf Club, Molson Canada, and Hart House’s Good Ideas Fund), the staff at Global21 (especially Beth Dickinson and Alexandra Cavoulacos) for their guidance and support, our advisory board members (Professors Ainslie, Danesi, and Walker), and the entire editorial board for all their hard work in making this possible. We hope this issue will inform, delight, and entertain you mind! Warmest regards,
Alexander Lim Editor-in-Chief The Toronto Globalist
The Toronto Globalist Editorial Board
Jonathan C.G Bright Gunwant Gill
Opinions Editors
Eileen McCurdy Charlotte Powell
Alexander Lim
Production Editors Publisher
Cari Mason Special Events Manager
Sunny Dutt
Assistant Publishers
Conrad Lochovsky Stefania Moretti Jordan Shaw-Young
2
the toronto globalist
Donald Ainslie
Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Philosophy
Editor-in-Chief Managing Editors
Advisory Board
Laura Cook Seulah Lee
William O. Walker III
Professor, Department of History
Marcel Danesi
Department of Anthropology
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR News Editors
Jordan Ardanaz Jessica S. Herschman
Assistant Production Editors
Augustine Kwok Jonathan Lalich Pauline Ngomba
Please send your comments, questions and opinions to: The Toronto Globalist 7 Hart House Circle Toronto, ON Canada, M5S 3H3 alexander.lim@utoronto.ca www.globalistfoundation.org/toronto This magazine is published by students of the University of Toronto. The Toronto Globalist reserves the right to edit, modify, or exclude articles at its discretion. Views and opinions expressed within reflect those of the writer(s) only. The University of Toronto takes no responsibility for the contents.
november 2006
letters to the editor I enjoyed your article “Modern section Medicine: One for All and All for One?” very much. It got me thinking a lot about the problems you pointed out and some possible causes and solutions. I’d like to bring some of those thoughts to your attention. First, I think part of the drug prices problem is the fact that the U.S. drug companies don’t gear their products towards developing nations. These pharmaceutical companies serve the rich American citizens, and therefore sell them for high prices. You kept mentioning that we are a global community, but I don’t think these phar maceutical companies would necessarily agree with that. Their community is where the money is. Second, I’d like to point out that the governments of these “impoverished nations” are themselves always poor. I don’t think that it is entirely the companies’ job to distribute the medications. It’s really the countries’ governments’ jobs. If the task of distribution is too daunting, organizations such as the U.N. should step up and help. Finally, I think the best way to solve the drug price problem is to have the countries’ governments create licensing and patent rules that they deem appropriate for that country and its economy. Your paragraph about India’s production of cheaper generic medicine is a good example of this. After allotting all of these responsibilities to foreign governments, I still believe that the wealthy U.S. should lend a helping hand financially where needed. In conclusion, thank you for your insightful article. As you can see, it really got me thinking about some of the problems you discussed. Hannah Van Sciver, Massachusetts, USA
First off, I would like to compliment how great your newest publication was. This magazine truly offers the latest in happenings across the globe. While reading the article “It’s a Big World After All,” I stumbled upon a common misconception among most people. I strongly disagree with the socalled “correlation” between poverty and obesity. The article mentions that “low-income workers have a great november 2006
incentive to shop for what is cheapest. High energy foods and caloric beverages, encompassing everything from snack foods to a McDonald’s burger, often become the best available means to satiate.” My problem is the mentioning of the McDonald’s burger. For the same price as a Big Mac, one can buy a six-inch sub at Subway, but the difference is that the sub has only 5 grams of fat while the burger has over 30 grams of fat. Obesity is not based on income, but rather, more on the choices you make, and your will-power to maintain a healthy diet. For example, next time you head to MCDonald’s, try choosing a salad or a grilled chicken sandwich instead of a double-bacon cheeseburger. Another option is to buy food from a supermarket or grocery store rather than a restaurant. It costs only $3 US to buy a whole cooked rotisserie chicken. This is less than both McDonald’s and Subway, and the chicken is a lot more filling and full of proteins. Alreadyprepared salads cost only $2 US. For the same price of a hamburger, one can have a whole chicken and a salad and be able to have a well-balanced meal. Also, you don’t need to be a member of a gym to lose weight. It is just as effective to jog a mile around your neighborhood as it is to jog a mile on a treadmill at your local gym. Is it poverty that causes obesity, or is it just the bad choices one makes? Robert Dorfman,
and selling their medicine. Creating new medications is an important and expensive process, and the scientists who do this job should be rewarded. But if all medicine were to be sold at the full American price, many who need it would not be able to get it. The situation of disease, poverty, and medicine is a truly confusing dilemma, and I believe that this article explained much of it, as it relates to today’s diseases. Rachel Larrowe,
The article “Modern Medicine: One for All and All for One?” led me to wonder: is medicine a necessity of life, to be handed out for free like food and a place to sleep? Or is it something to be sold for profit and pleasure, like many of the things people in rich, developed countries buy? It seems that medicine lies on the line between these two worlds. It helps to keep people alive, but it is so much more complicated and expensive than food or beds in a shelter. As the writer points out, poor people too need medicine for life. Generic drugs are an affordable way for them to fulfill this need, but the researchers who develop the drugs need compensation they cannot get from others producing
Mount Allison University, New Brunswick, Canada
Maryland, USA
I am profoundly angry with our government. The new “made in Canada” environmental plan is a joke. It calls on emissions to be limited by fifty percent by the year 2050! What on earth is the government thinking? Ambrose (a so called “libertarian”) said that the government will now enforce tough new regulations on dirty industry, something she says the Liberal government did not do. However, the new “Clean Air Act” isn’t even going to be implemented until 2008. How can Canadians accept a policy like this? It is simply bending over to big business. By 2050, sea levels will have risen to catastrophic levels and our earth will have drastically changed for the worse. It is time for Canada to step up to the plate. Demand much more from our government. Do not let them implement this so called “Clean Air Act”. Instead, demand that our government renew its New Jersey, USA commitment to the “Kyoto Protocol”. Samuel Pikelin,
I really enjoyed the cover article on the April 2006 Issue: “Modern Medicine: One for All and All for One.” I did not realize how much the TRIPS plan would affect the global population and the many victims of infectious disease. I think that the successful pharmaceutical companies need to begin developing programs to grant medications to countries who cannot afford them. Those companies need to stop trying to be the richest and start caring for citizens that are in dire need of help. How can it be that the same medicine in a third-world country the toronto globalist
3
letters to the editor costs ridiculously less than its value in the Western world? If pharmaceutical companies want to maintain the trust of their countless patrons, they betterstop corrupting us and begin to explain their unbelievable longing for monopoly. Thank you for bringing this major issue to my attention. Jenny Koenig,
California, USA
In your recent article “Modern Medicine: One for All and All for One?” (April 2006), the author mentioned a provision of the Agreement on TradeRelated Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) allowing countries to use a process known as “compulsory licensing” to produce patented goods without the patent-holder’s authorization so long as the patent’s owner is fairly compensated. This strikingly parallels the Eminent Domain Clause of the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution, which reads “nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.” “Compulsory licensing” is no more than a specialized term for the use of eminent domain to take (with just compensation) intellectual property for the public good. As even the venerable (and often conservative) Black’s Law Dictionary is willing to admit, eminent domain is considered one of the basic powers of all governments. For one country to disallow another from exercising its most fundamental powers, as opponents of compulsory licensing would like to do, it is not only a threat to global health, but also the very sovereignty of the nation prohibited. Unless the governments of rich countries would like to lose their powers of eminent domain as well, they would behoove themselves not to interfere with those of other nations. Amalia Skilton, Arizona, USA
I agree that pharmaceutical companies are not acting in an ethical manner. However, they are businesses, so it is not their job to give drugs for free or near free. Also, it is not nearly affordable for the companies to provide the drugs
at such low prices. As for TRIPS, I believe that it is right to protect the patents of the companies. Yet, I think it should be revised so that some generic companies would be allowed to distribute drugs to third world countries. Helena Manguerra, Virginia, USA
Your Modern Medicine article provided a convincing insight on where we stand at a socioeconomic, and medicinal viewpoint on the brink of a flu pandemic. It is time the multinational pharmaceutical powerhouses had their deceit and superiority exposed. To have these medical monopolies is unjust, and it is obvious these companies have their goals wrong sought. In an event as serious as the Avian Flu, we must put health over profit. As you well highlighted, human health, in the long run, will be the best profit we as a global family can receive. Avi Chatterjee,
Pennsylvania, USA
This is in response to the article titled “Turkmenistan: A Weak Link in the Chain of Defense.” It surprises me that such cruel dictatorships like Niyazov’s have not been broken up, that a dictator in today’s modern world can have such tight and ruthless control over his people, and that no international action has been taken. With Turkmenistan being such a host for avian flu, it is clear that for the good of the human race, severe diplomatic repercussions must be taken against this dictatorship. Roger Filmyer,
USA
In his article “Modern Medicine,” author Mr. Lim brings attention to some key issues regarding world health and ethics. While many people in the United States bemoan the large wads of cash they must fork over for dayto-day medication, few realize the despairing situations of the poor in 3rd world countries. They have no hope of ever affording a single dose of lifesaving medications they need and drug companies are the perpetuators of these
unfair conditions because they refuse to allow competition from generic brands. In doing so, they choose profit over human lives, and this is highly unethical. However, Mr. Lim barely scratches the surface of the issue in his article, and does not even go as far as suggesting a solution to the global access disparity gap for medications. First, the author suggests that pharmaceutical companies should just allow a laissez-faire market for drugs in developing countries, because big companies with the expensive drugs aren’t making a profit from buyers in third world countries any way. If generic brands are accepted in other countries, people in the US and Europe will clamber for access to generic brands too. And then, the big pharmaceutical companies would lose big money, because who would choose to pay more than they had to? Second, there are more factors perpetuating disease in 3rd world countries besides limited access to medicine and vaccines. Many of these people are uneducated, and some of these refuse to be educated or even accept free Western medication. Third world countries also have poor sanitation practices, few well-trained medical personnel, outdated social attitudes (especially the helpless subjectification of women to the sexual whims of men), minimal infrastructure, and a scattered population between cities and rural communities. Even if we gave them all free medication until the end of time, these countries and their people (many of them also dealing with civil wars and social unrest) would still not be able to take care of themselves. Finally, Mr. Lim fails to point out that our own government (well, my own, I’m American), sets a higher standard for testing new drugs than most generic companies can meet. Big pharmaceutical companies spend millions in dollars and years in time testing new drugs to make sure it is safe for human consumption, just to meet the requirements of the FDA. Mr. Lim is a good writer, but his thought processes could use more depth. Ly Li,
Washington DC, USA
The views and opinions expressed reflect those of the writer only. The Toronto Globalist, the University of Toronto, and Global21 take no responsibility for its content. Letters may be edited/modified at the discretion of the Editorial Board. The previous April 2006 issue of The Toronto Globalist may be found at www.globalistfoundation.org/toronto.
4
the toronto globalist
november 2006
the lighter side sectionThat’s “All the News Not Fit to Print”
After being rushed to Southampton General Hospital and having his chest pains declared to be a false alarm, Flux managed to see the funny side of it. “At least it shows the system works,” he said.
United States
Mason County Jail in Texas, U.S.A., has been painted pink and its inmates forced to wear pink jumpsuits and matching slippers in an attempt to deter subsequent offenses. “They don’t want to wear them,” said Sheriff Clint Low, who pointed out that reoffending has decreased by 70% in the region since the colour change was introduced. Built in 1894, Mason County Jail is one of the oldest in the country, with a working capacity for just five inmates. Currently, it holds four males and one female who, according to Low, “Don’t want people to see them. They would rather stay upstairs.” Low regards this as evidence that the pink jumpsuits will discourage offenders from returning to the prison. “That’s not the Holiday Inn at his home in New they are staying in up there,” he said. Forest, and was scrambled to the emergency after his wife called 999. Great Britain After the ambulance crew arrived and investigated the problem, Flux looked A volunteer community responder at his pager, which according to him, for the Hampshire Ambulance Service instructed him “to attend to a man with was called to aid in his own emergency. chest pains.” He continued, “Then I Roger Flux, 66, felt chest pains in bed looked at the address – it was my own!”
Afghanistan
Canadian troops in Afghanistan stumbled across an unexpected and potent enemy – seemingly impassable forests of marijuana plants more than 10 feet tall. “The challenge is that marijuana plants absorb energy, heat very readily. It’s very difficult to penetrate with thermal devices. ... and as a result you really have to be careful that the Taliban don’t dodge in and out of those marijuana forests,” General Rick Hillier, chief of the Canadian defense staff, said in a speech in Ottawa, Canada. The soldiers on the scene attempted to burn the plants, but “the plants [were] so full of water…that [they] simply couldn’t burn them,” he said. But there were drawbacks even when incineration worked: “A couple of brown plants on the edges of some of those [forests] did catch on fire. But a section of soldiers that was downwind from that had some ill effects and decided that was probably not the right course of action,” Hiller said dryly. China
Ye Fu, a 28-year-old Chinese poet, has caged himself within a lion pen. He aims to remain locked in the cage inside the lion enclosure at Qingdao Forest Wildlife World for ten days. Eating only raw meat and drinking water, Fu will an attempt to live like a caged animal. “This is a form of performing arts,” Fu said, “By swapping positions, I try to feel the feelings of caged animals, hoping this can arouse people’s attention of animal rights.” Fu is also denying himself access to telephones, books, newspapers, radio and television. As a toilet, reports Bandao News, Fu uses plastic bags which are collected daily by the zoo staff. London Bridge, London. november 2006
Jonathan Lalich the toronto globalist
global happenings Germany section Remarks by Pope Benedict XVI during a speech made in Germany provoked outrage throughout the Islamic world in the month of September. Comments which many Muslims regarded as ‘anti-Islamic’ led the pontiff to apologize for his remarks. What was considered by the Pope to be an academic speech contained excerpts from a 1391 speech originally delivered by the Byzantine Emperor Manuel II Paleologus. The specific passage with which Muslims around the world took issue was the following: “Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached.” Although Benedict went on to refute Paleologus’ comments, the damage had been done.
waves of attacks in southern Sudan and around its border with eastern Chad. The Janjaweed militia – the force which was initially responsible for persecuting minority nomad and Christian populations in Darfur – has managed to extend its influence into Chad as well. Villagers confirm that they are now being attacked by both Sudanese and Chadian Arabs, lending credibility to the existence of what some have called
a “Chadian Janjaweed.” Currently, more than 200,000 refugees live in camps in the Chad-Sudan border region. Because of this new threat, those who inhabit the Chad countryside now face a return of fears they thought they had left behind. The current African Union (AU) peacekeeping force has proven to be insufficient and somewhat ineffective; moreover, since the outbreak of violence, Sudan has consistently rejected United Nations (UN) plans for a peacekeeping force in Darfur, citing questions of sovereignty for its refusal. UN humanitarian chief Jan Egeland has called on Arab, Asian and African countries to step up and provide the manpower needed for a possible UN-led peacekeeping mission to Sudan. Last week the UN Security Council suggested that the UN also provide training and logistical support to the AU force.
“Though apologizing for causing offense, the Pope continues to maintain his comments were misunderstood and taken out of context” In the weeks that followed, the Islamic world erupted in mass demonstrations against the speech. Since then, however, the Pope has worked consistently with Muslim leaders to promote open dialogue between the Christian and Islamic faiths. Though apologizing for causing offense, the Pope continues to maintain that his comments were misunderstood and taken out of context. Sudan The violence which began almost three years ago has still not ceased in the troubled region of Darfur. Despite the presence of some 7,000 African Union troops, there were recently fresh
the toronto globalist
Thailand On September 19 2006, there was a coup d’état in Thailand that removed former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra from power. The coup, undertaken by the Royal Thai Army - the country’s first in fifteen years - comes on the heels of a yearlong political controversy that once again involved Thaksin. The ex-PM had already been involved in a number of scandals since assuming power in 2001. Upon the successful removal of Thaksin from power, house elections were cancelled, although scheduled for October. The military also declared martial law, dissolved Parliament while arresting Cabinet members, banned ponovember 2006
litical activities, censored the media and tions openly supported or applauded the before any stronger intervention. He ultimately suspended the Constitution. coup. China expressed neutrality while railed against U.S. stubbornness to Surprisingly, the coup was carried out the U.S. expressed disappointment. negotiate, saying “Even Former U.S.
“For the past year now, North Korea has refused to attend international talks aimed at halting the North Korean nuclear program.” without any casualties. Those currently in power have called themselves the Council for Democratic Reform (CDR), have issued a statement that both covers their reasons for initiating the coup and have also confirmed to the public their commitment to restore democratic government within a year. There is one catch: after democratic government resumes, the CDR will be transformed into a permanent organization, the Council of National Security – no details as to the role and power of this group have yet been released. A retired General, Surayud Chulanont has been appointed as interim Premier. There are suspicions that this coup might be backed by the monarchy itself, but so far no concrete evidence of any royal involvement with the situation has been found. There are also rumours that the military may have acted in order to prevent a coup by Thaksin himself, one which would have ultimately led to a bloody confrontation. Once again, however, there is a lack of proof to substantiate this claim. International responses varied from neutrality to criticism, though no nanovember 2006
North Korea As of October 9, 2006, North Korea claims to have carried out successful nuclear weapons tests by setting off an underground blast. A South Korean seismic monitoring centre recorded the blast, and the quake has been confirmed as a non-natural occurrence. In response, the South Korean military has been put on a higher level of alert. The tests were carried out at the orders of Great Leader Kim Jong-Il in spite of significant international criticism. For the past year now, North Korea has refused to attend international talks aimed at halting the North Korean nuclear program. The issue of North Korean nuclear power arose in 2003, when the country pulled out of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty on the heels of U.S. accusations that it had already undertaken a secret nuclear program. Reports of the successful nuclear test were released shortly after South Korean President Kim Dae-Jung urged the United States to give North Korea one more chance
President Ronald Reagan had dialogue with the Soviet Union, which he branded as an ‘evil empire’ … I can hardly understand why the U.S. does not hold talks with North Korea”. He went on to say that direct U.S.-North Korea talks would be more productive than talks with either China or South Korea, both of which have a vested interest in the situation. Unfortunately, neither China nor South Korea have the ability to influence North Korean decisions.
The Toronto Globalist: bringing the global perspective to you... For subscriptions, donations, or advertising opportunities... Contact Cari Mason (Publisher) at (647) 300-5629 or cari.mason@ utoronto.ca Interested in Writing? E-mail us at toronto.globalist@ utoronto.ca Questions/Comments? Contact Alexander Lim (Editorin-Chief) at (647) 238-5730 or alexander.lim@utoronto.ca To be informed of our upcoming events or to join our e-mail list, please send your contact info to toronto.globalist@utoronto.ca For more information, please visit http://www.globalistfoundation. org/toronto
the toronto globalist
opinion
Global Warming myth or reality? By May Jeong
If there were a hospital for words suffering from overuse and desensitization, ‘global warming’ would occupy an entire wing. It is mentioned on a daily basis by everyone from politicians and academics, to proverbial tree hugging, Birkenstock™ wearing environmentalists. As the hot topic of the day, global warming seeps into our lives through articles, books, and documentaries. All this packaging, however, distracts from the real, tangible dynamics at play. According to ABC News, roughly 15-20% of Americans
findings indicating that constricting ice territory will force polar bears to live within a much smaller habitat. They predict that this will trigger conflicts between the bears, ultimately leading to their extinction within the next century. Nature will lose its momentum and civilization will run out of fuel, both literally and metaphorically. Some effects of global warming are already being documented. The snow-capped summits of Mount Kilimanjaro have suffered a loss of snow. In a cover story last winter, Walrus Magazine reported that Lake Chad, which previously stretched into bordering territories, has dwindled to less than 10% of its former size: it now lies within the confines of Chadian borders. Global warming must no longer be seen as a hippie falsehood or a conspiracy theory. With each new scientific finding, the seriousness of the situation becomes more and more apparent. Many of the effects create a whirlwind of detriments: rise in temperature leads to water scarcity, resulting in a decrease of agricultural production. Another example of this
the top two. Flashing forward to the very near future, a refusal to take action today will mean hell to pay tomorrow. We’re in dire straits. Evidence is vast and the urgency is clear. A leading NASA climate researcher states that humanity has ten years left to compensate for lost time and that, at the end of a decade, we will have reached the point of no return. We must stop relying on politicians and bureaucrats to carry the day. The Kyoto Protocol aims for a 5% reduction in carbon dioxide by 2012. In reality, a 50% reduction is needed. This fact alone shows we still have a long way to go. We are entering unsafe and unknown territory. The Earth is finite: it had a beginning and it will have an end. There is no blanket solution to the problems we now face. It will be a mélange of varying remedies: sufficient vehicle technology, an investment in renewable energy and, most importantly, a willingness to embrace Mother Earth and protect Her. Not everyone can be Captain Planet, but small actions can effect great change. The average Joe
“climate change and global warming have the capacity to bring humanity to catastrophe“ Mount Kilimanjaro with snowcap
©junglephotos.com
still regard global warming as a mere transitory phenomenon: a problem removed from their daily lives and affecting only the icy terrains of the Arctic or the temperatures of the distant Sahara. But this view fails to acknowledge that climate change and global warming have the capacity to bring humanity to catastrophe. What will happen? Over the next hundred years, we will suffer an incremental rise in sea level, engulfing cities with precariously low ground levels. A rise in temperature will melt away the icebergs of the Arctic, which will, in turn, impact Arctic species. In July, the Vancouver Sun published
the toronto globalist
vicious circle is the relationship between oil and water. Emissions from our gasguzzling technologies are heating the Earth’s surface and lower atmosphere, causing the temperature to rise. In turn, this unconventional temperature rise accelerates the drying of our water resources, as in the case of Lake Chad. Bickering over the actuality and validity of global warming is a waste of much-needed time. This is not the time for political clashes and corporate greed. Environmental zealots and corporate CEOs must set aside their differences and understand that, in order to survive, we must go beyond badly beaten paths, and embrace nature. This past summer, Greenpeace released its list of potential causes of future conflicts: ‘climate change’ and ‘competition over resources’ ranked as
can ditch his disposable paper cups and convert to reusable travel mugs. Caught between having too much to do and actually doing something, we can at least try to fix up our corner of the world. If what they teach us in social psychology is true, others will follow. Saving the planet starts with individuals. When individuals accept responsibility and rise to action, nations will listen and reciprocate. Starting with the local, we can build our way to the regional, national, and, ultimately, the global. The way is clear. The path is straight. There is no more time to wait. May Jeong is a second-year Trinity College student double majoring in Ethics, Society and Law, and Peace and Conflict Studies.
november 2006
opinion
THE PRICE OF CONSERVATION By Julien R. Gagnier Where I work, the company has put three dumpsters side by side in the yard. One of them reads ‘scrap lumber’; the other is for recycling cardboard, and the last one, trash. I have never stopped to ask myself where a dumpster full of trash goes every week, much less if that recycling material is really recycled. As I tossed away a styrofoam piece, the same one that served as a cushion for new merchandise barely an hour ago, I remembered something my fifth grade teacher once told me: “it takes a million years for styrofoam to disintegrate.” The average human being has an ecological ‘footprint’ of seven hectares. According to Canadian ecologist William Rees, a ‘footprint’ comprises the landmass, resources and water needed to sustain one’s lifestyle and absorb his wastes, as conducted by available technology. Let’s extrapolate this definition to the typical business. Considering the needs of an average human being, it is hard to imagine how much bigger a company’s ecological footprint really is. If a change of habit cannot happen so easily on the individual level, should businesses take a stand and do it for us instead? For many, this is only a dream. If each of the world’s humans, nearly six billion, had an ecological footprint of seven hectares, ecologists tell us that it would require three planet Earths in order to survive. This just cannot add up. But who is to be blamed? One of the most obvious problems is over-consumption, which leads to an accumulation of disposable waste. However, if the public’s lifestyle or needs cannot be changed overnight, what other steps can be taken in order to reduce the ecological footprint? Some have decided to give this responsibility to corporations who produce ecologically damaging non-recyclable products. The challenge is clear; the only way to force the public into participating in conservation is to encourage the development of sustainable and environmentally friendly enterprises. But according to Joel Bakan, Law Professor at the University of British Columbia, the corporation, although november 2006
instrumental to the economy of the twentyfirst century, often pursues the wrong goals. Bakan raises serious questions about the corporation, tackling topics as colourful as the beginnings of the corporation as a legal entity, its disregard for human rights and most interestingly, its dangerous stance in facing the future of our environmental resources. The quest for privatization in all domains reaches a point of non-return for most businesses. For people in the paper industry, the Amazon forest is slowly disappearing and for the briefcase soldiers of the oil empires, fossil fuels will eventually be extinct. But these are only examples of the variety of industrialists counting on seemingly inexhaustible supplies of natural resources to maintain a momentum of competitiveness for survival. Looking at it closely, we can see the flawed logic of such a standpoint on the classic business model. It seemed that nothing could ever change the state of the corporation as a careless, bipolar “externalizing machine”. In a surprise move, CEO Lee Scott of Wal-Mart Inc. announced not only the prospect of his future environmentally friendly business, but a serious transformation that could change the face of retail industry forever. From Yoga outfits made from organic cotton, to wild-caught fresh and frozen fish from Marine Stewardship Councilcertified fisheries, Wal-Mart plans to “be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy, create zero waste and to sell products that sustain our resources and environment”. Could this be the green revolution so many have been waiting for? Even the Sierra Club, initiator of the 2002 Kingston Declaration on Sustainability is stunned, considering Wal-Mart’s unflattering record surrounding ecological solutions and its reputation as an uncaring retail powerhouse. If businesses are one of the culprits of ecological destruction, albeit not the only one, the sustainable enterprises should at least alleviate the problem. Another CEO has already taken such steps. Ray Anderson, well-known ecologyfriendly President of Interface Inc, explains in his book Mid-Course Correction: Toward a Sustainable Enterprise: The Interface
Model that sustainability does not need to be burdensome or costly. In fact, it was sustainability that saved his company. By recycling a third of all materials used, his carpet manufacturing company saved $43 million in production costs. The idea came through the critical need of a new carpet design that emulated the arbitrary pattern that leaves formed on a grass floor. Such a design not only allowed recycled patterns to be made from older pieces but also became the best-selling model the company offered. It is clear that the success of the new Interface lies in its cyclical nature. “Technology,” he writes, “is part of the problem”, “but that is the technology of the first industrial revolution.” Indeed, Anderson points out a crucial need to reinvent the industrial model. If individual choices cannot lead to environment conservation, should companies take over and ensure sustainability on our behalf? This rosy picture has promise in the hands of Scott and Anderson, but the ghost of greed still haunts the naïve realm of privatization. Private interests could very well save the ecosystem, but they could also easily destroy it. More evident in the last century than in the last sixty-five million years, mass extinctions are on the rise, caused mainly by industry-related pollution. The ongoing battle of sustainability persists and few are ready to take such decisive steps. Private ownership retains absolute control and in many cases, such an advantage could be a deadly blow to our planet. Will green interests ever truly flourish in private hands? Perhaps there will one day be three recycling dumpsters. My styrofoam will be recycled corrugate paper chip, and my company branded fleece jacket will be made of recycled plastic. Now there’s a reason to walk all the way to the yard. Julien R. Gagnier is a secondyear Woodsworth College student double-majoring in Ethics Society & Law and Philosophy.
the toronto globalist
9
cover article
The Grass is Always Greener
The Economics of Sustainability By Jordan Shaw-Young and Jordan Ardanaz The grass is always greener
adoption of new energy efficient technology, renewable energy sources, The scientific data indicating that and cultural shifts in energy consumption unsustainable energy production and practices are all possible solutions, consumption is contributing significantly either individually or in combination. With a seemingly growing consensus to global climate change is persuasive, to say the least. Even those who have among policy makers and citizens that continued to deny that climate change is steps must be taken soon in order to a man-made trend are coming to accept avoid long-term damage to the global that smog-related reduction in quality ecosystem, as well as a range of readily
forestry, metal extraction and refining industries are undoubtedly at least as responsible for pollution as Canada’s energy producers, and we recognize this fact wholeheartedly. This article will focus on the energy production industry and its influence upon Canadian society, particularly because of the current movement towards innovation in the field of new and sustainable sources
“as the developed world lurches uneasily towards environmentally sustainable sources of energy, and with the developing world following closely behind, an important question remains: what will our country look like in a world of sustainable energy production?” available means of achieving sustainability, there is reason to be optimistic that environmentally sustainable energy can eventually be attained. So, as the developed world lurches uneasily towards environmentally sustainable sources of energy, and with the developing world following closely behind, the most important question remaining is, what will our country look like in a world of sustainable energy production? From natural gas, to oil, to nuclear to hydroelectric power, the Canadian economy relies heavily upon its position as a net energy exporter, mainly to her perpetually energy- hungry neighbour to the south. As the global economy shifts towards newer modes of sustainable energy, energy exporting and producing nations, like Canada, will be forced to adapt or flounder. The global ecosystem is just that: a complex and fully integrated system of inter-related biological networks, with each element being directly or indirectly affected by all the others. For this reason, it is difficult to separate and identify certain environmentally damaging practices that impact exclusively Ian Britton upon global climate change. The
of life and the eventual depletion of fossil fuels is an inevitable result of the current energy regime. As committed as we may be to reversing the effects of climate change, there still remain innumerable solutions, each with their own advantages and drawbacks. Kyototype emission reduction agreements,
Oilseed Rape
10
the toronto globalist
of energy. Should such sources be discovered or made viable, the effect upon the Canadian economy and on Canadian society would be enormous. There is not, however, the same sort of development towards eliminating metal extraction or deforestation as such in public policy today. Although these issues are no less important, the wholesale transformation of these industries does not appear to be as imminent. For this reason, this article will examine the role of unsustainable energy production in Canada today, and what a global shift away from such production might entail for the country. Energy Production in Canada’s Economy
In 2005, the energy production industry represented 19.2% of all Canadian exports, fourth only behind machinery and equipment, automotive products and industrial goods. This statistic represents $87 billion dollars (CAD) in revenue for the Canadian economy. In addition to representing a large portion of our exports, along with rising crude oil prices, operating profits in the oil and gas industry have reached record levels, topping $30 billion in 2005. Not only a boon for corporations, november 2006
cover article the federal and provincial governments also reaped $7.5 billion in corporate taxes, up from 65% in the previous year. Undoubtedly, natural resource exports (oil and gas, in particular) represent a large and growing part of our current trade surplus. If a new source of sustainable energy is to emerge, Canada will be forced to adapt to fill in the gaping economic hole left by unsustainable energy production. Some provinces would be much harder-hit than others. In 2005, the oil and gas industries represented the basis of some 48% of Alberta’s gross revenue. The next highest earner was the food industry, representing only 9.6% of revenues. Any movement away from the current energy production regime could
A Refinery
Wolfgang Schlegl
“There appears to be potential for a dramatic shift in fuel production methods, and by extension, a change within the energy industry worldwide.” be expected to face strong resistance from provinces, such as Alberta, whose economic profits rely heavily upon fossil fuels. Conversely, Ontario has a much more diversified economy. The petroleum industry represents a mere 4% of Ontario’s revenue, with other industries such as automotive production and food representing 19.8% and 11.5% respectively. One may accurately point out that any changes in the petroleum industry would have drastic effects on the automotive industry; exactly what these effects would be, however, are a matter of speculation.
An oil rig november 2006
It is entirely possible that even with an upheaval in unsustainable resource production, the automotive industry could survive in an altered capacity. There are encouraging signs that Canada is in a strong position to rebound from potentially revolutionary developments in sustainable energy. Energy production is not a labour intensive industry, comprising relatively few Canadian jobs. While the service industry (representing sectors such as healthcare, finance and education) accounts for 75% of Canada’s jobs, the entire natural resource industry represents only 1.8%. Despite the fact that this number is increasing, there are strong indications that massive unemployment in the natural resource sector could be absorbed in other ways. One could point to the fact that many ser vice industr y, construction and manufacturing jobs are created Gabriel Paulinski as a result of the
involvement of the natural resource industry in Canada’s economy. There is no indication, however, that these jobs would be made obsolete with a shift from oil and gas production to some other form of sustainable energy. There is no reason to believe, for example, that industrial machinery firms currently producing equipment for the oil industry could not easily shift its production to accommodate an emerging solar or wind energy industry. Another indication that the Canadian economy is in a strong adaptive position are her robust service and manufacturing industries. Certainly oil, gas and coal extraction represent a significant percentage of exports, however the diversity of Canada’s economy offers alternatives. Automotive manufacturing, aerospace, and finance sectors represent diversity in the Canadian economy, and would certainly provide cushioning for any blow a departure from oil and gas related energy would have. Contrast this situation with that of Venezuela’s, for example, where crude oil represents a whopping 80% of Venezuelan export revenue. A global shift away from unsustainable energy production would certainly hurt undiversified economies much more severely than it would Canada. the toronto globalist
11
cover article On the Horizon
With the upswing of recent sociocultural movements dedicated to environmentalism, serious consideration must be given to the impact of this public opinion upon technological
and pubic vehicles. Considering the large role of the automotive industry in contributing to harmful emission levels, the fossil fuel dependant paradigm within which we currently operate seems a prime area for the invocation of new sources of cleaner burning energy. Given this, it is not surprising that
Furthermore, in the private sector, nearly 18 automotive companies have been identified by Transport Canada as pursuing the development of fuel cell vehicles and components. This list includes Toyota, DaimlerChrysler, Ford, and General Motors. Though the production and sale of vehicles
“With the integration of some, or any of these new sustainable fuel types, it follows that there will be major shifts in the way we think about the role of energy in society.� developments, as well as the economic implications of an environmentally friendly ideology. Following the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, global resolve was dedicated to decreasing CO2 emission levels worldwide, and a number of countries have since assumed the burden. Irrespective of their direct participation and adherence to agreed upon restrictions, the widespread acknowledgement of a potential environmental crisis was
Hydrogen Powered Ford Focus
understood within these countries. Attention has been focused primarily on the production of fossil fuels and their subsequent industrial usage. In both the industrial and commercial spheres, automotive industries around the world are some of the most excessive producers of greenhouse gasses. According to Transport Canada, as of the year 2000, 25% of all CO2 emissions in Canada were attributed to transportation, 71% of which were the direct result of personal, commercial, 12
the toronto globalist
the problem of automotive pollution has been the focus of much research, receiving substantial amounts of money from governments and technological institutions worldwide. As such, a number of alternate non-fossil fuel developments are peaking over the horizon. Sustainable fuels, such as biodiesel and Ethanol fuels, as well as technologies like the hydrogen fuel cell and electric powered vehicle all seem to be imminent, and some are being integrated around the world. In Canada alone, over $250 million has been dedicated by the government to alternate fuels initiatives, involving the promotion, development and infrastructural integration of new sustainable fuel technologies since 2003. Of these funds, Russell Purcell Transport Canada has designated $11.9 million to the development of biodiesel energy plants, $100 million to its Ethanol Expansion Program, $9.9 million in subsidies to decrease the cost of natural gas for urban business fleets, and $130 million to the development and expansion of hydrogen cell research. Moreover, an additional $250 million has been allocated to Sustainable Development Technology Canada, implemented to help fund scientific development of new sustainable technologies.
and parts only accounts for roughly 2% of the Canadian GDP, this represents a marked shift in outlook from an industry which relies heavily upon the use of fossil fuels in both production and commercial sectors. This environmental outlook can also be found at the federal level in both Canada and the United States. The Canadian government, for example, is currently flirting with the idea of integrating a number of these technologies into the public sphere via a trial program in which biodiesel fuels are being incorporated into public transit. Since 2003, several Canadian cities have taken part in the trial run; biodiesel busses have been tested in Saskatoon, Vancouver, Toronto, and Halifax. Additionally, following the Energy Policy Act of 1992, the United States government has integrated many of these new fuels into several sectors, including the US Postal Service and the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and Defense. Thus, it is not unrealistic to project that within the foreseeable future these environmental technologies will become the norm. Shifting Economic Gears
There appears to be potential for a dramatic shift in fuel production methods, and by extension, a change within the energy industry worldwide. At the current rate of technological development, it will not likely be long before there is a large-scale use of alternative sources of commercial fuel in world markets. In light of these developments in sustainable fuel november 2006
cover article technologies, a new question emerges: is there a place for fossil fuels in the future global economy? In other words, how should an economy that utilizes fossil fuels react to a worldwide reduction in their consumption? With the integration of some, or any of these new sustainable fuel types, it follows that there will be major shifts in the way we think about the role of energy in society. A phasing-in of biodiesel and Ethanol fuels for example, would require the most dramatic divergence from current fuel production methods, as both technologies require massive agricultural crops at the beginning of their production. As such, this paradigmatic shift may manifest itself in a heavier economic reliance on agricultural yield (which accounted for 2.0% of Canada’s GDP in 2004), as well as a redefinition and bolstering of other sectors of the Canadian economy. Specifically, the reallocation of resources dedicated to procuring fossil fuels may motivate new economic dynamics in different sectors, such as technological and industrial manufacturing, which claimed a strong 14.4% of the GDP in 2004. In theory, this section of industry would be motivated by a demand for Hydrogen cells, Lithium Ion batteries, and even solar technology, and would likely inf luence the development of new sub-industries and infrastructures that would be required to accompany these technologies. What this means for local economies that rely heavily upon the production of fossil fuels, is a heavy cut in employment within the oil industry. Despite this, however, whatever deficiency that may occur would be absorbed in the expansion of new industries accompanying the integration of these new sustainable fuels. In such a scenario, Canada’s role as an importer and exporter of fossil fuels will be directly affected by shifting fuel industries. In the case of an increase in international demand, it would seem economically viable to integrate crops intended for use as fuel, or the products of sustainable technology industries, within a country’s import/export economy. This may be done in order to supplement the inevitable decline of fossil fuel trade. For Canada, this means november 2006
replacing an amount of petroleum export with its sustainable equivalent: soy, corn, wheat, barley or a multitude of other base fuel crops, or the products of new sustainable technology industries. In such a case, the cur rent economic strength of Canada’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors An energy plant in the city of Montreal John Goldsmith should be seen as an that converts landfill waste to energy (Waxy Photography) inherent advantage, and provide an avenue for dynamic would become apparent in substantial economic growth. any given country. Correspondingly, the large-scale shift in the economic Global Implications paradigm that would occur may have In any social movement, there is a potentially dramatic effect on the often a shift away from the patterns layout of the world economy, a shift that preceded it. In the case of the that would also infer a change in sustainable fuel revolution, the potential economic power dynamics around to dramatically alter the normal patterns the world. Countries that rely heavily of an industrial country’s economy on the production of oil as a trading is quite large, due to the radically good, but lack substantial development different ideologies motivating the in secondary industries, would suffer production of sustainable and fossil fuels. dramatic social decline. Countries that In Canada, a movement away from are situated to better adapt with this fossil fuel derived resources could changing global economy would flourish. As such, it would seem that what mark a bolstering of agricultural or would be in the best interest for technological industries, depending on oil-trading countries is the gradual the nature of the sustainable fuels that integration of new fuels and the become integrated. As an example for ideologies behind them. By allowing for nations integrated within the global necessary economic modifications and trade of fossil fuels, Canada’s inevitable concurrent infrastructure development, movement towards sustainable energy the slow integration of sustainable highlights the social and economic technologies would reduce the shock felt hurdles that a change energy resources by a sudden and dramatic development. poses for an oil dependant community. By adapting its economic strategy to Jordan Shaw-Young is a fifthincorporate new forms of industry, and marketing them to the world, year New College student Canada has the potential to demonstrate double-majoring in Philosophy itself as a leader in both global and Political Science. Jordan economic and environmental issues. Ardanaz is a fourth-year St. However, with a shifting outlook Michael’s College student on the society of energy production specializing in Anthropology. and its environmental implications, we must take into account the profound influence that this industry has upon our lives and how we must change along with it. By strengthening the production of sustainable fuels at the expense of fossil fuels, an entirely new economic the toronto globalist
13
news
Too much hot air
does kyoto have a role in the future of Canadian environmental policy? By Jessica Barrett Horwitz
In the mid 1980s, when scientists first began to present evidence of global warming, it was easily dismissed as a peripheral concern. But in the decade and a half since, issues of climate change have come to the forefront of public attention: from wildly fluctuating temperature trends in North America and Europe, to the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami in Southeast Asia, and last year’s devastating Atlantic hurricane season. The increasing frequency and magnitude of such environmental disasters has made the threat of climate change tangible, bringing to light the devastating impact it could have on the world’s economies.
action plans and initiatives that have promised much but delivered little. In a report issued on September 28, 2006, Environment Commissioner Johanne Gélinas criticized the former Liberal government’s lack of action on Canada’s Kyoto commitment, and demanded a “massive scale-up of efforts” to confront the issue of global warming. Gélinas pointed out the inefficiency of the current financial mechanisms of the initiative, remarking in the report that “even though $6.3 billion has been announced since 1997, government still has no system to track the spending and results of its climate-change activities.” The majority of funding has gone to
“The increasing frequency and magnitude of environmental disasters has made the threat of climate change tangible, bringing to light the devastating impact it could have on the world’s economies”
Canada in particular is a nation concerned with climate change, having staked out an early position of leadership by convening the first international conference on the issue in 1988. Canada was also one of the first countries to ratify the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Public opinion in Canada strongly supports environmental reform: a September 2006 poll conducted by McAllister Opinion Research found that more than 90 percent of Canadians believe climate change will be a serious issue if not addressed. The environment is currently third on the list of voter concerns in Canada (after health care and governance), and of top concern in the province of Quebec. Despite this high public interest in environmental issues, and despite Canada’s optimistic and enthusiastic cooperation with global initiatives, results in the area of sustainable development in Canada have been evanescent at best. Since the signing of the Kyoto Protocol in 1997, the Canadian government has instituted numerous environmental 14
the toronto globalist
technological development, the report found, but as of yet these investments have not come to any palpable fruition. So what has Canada actually achieved in the past eight years since the Kyoto Convention? The answer is not much. In 2005, six new greenhouse gases were added to the Canadian Environmental Protection Act’s list of toxic substances, giving the government the authority to legislate the release of such substances into the atmosphere. However, the conflicting political demands faced by
Tsunami aftermath
US Navy
former Prime Minister Paul Martin’s minority government precluded any such legislation from coming into effect. Following this, the Montreal International Climate Conference in November 2005 was an important diplomatic landmark, reaffirming the UN multilateral process as the primary forum for negotiation, but resulted in no concrete commitments. The bottom line, as observed by Commissioner Gélinas, is that as of 2004 Canadian greenhouse gas emissions levels remain 24% above 1990 levels and are still rising. The Gélinas report is valuable as one of the only analyses of its kind to come out of the Department of the Environment; however it may also be observed that like government policy, the report is rich with criticisms and prescriptions, yet lacking in concrete solutions to the problems it identifies. The goal for Canada within the Kyoto Protocol is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 6% below the 1990 level, which is 560 million tonnes (Mt). When the protocol was formally ratified by Canada in 2002, the ‘Kyoto gap’ between the current and desired emissions levels was 240 mt. By 2005 when the measures went into force, the gap had grown to 270 mt. (the current level being 830 mt.) That means, as it stands Canada must now cut its greenhouse gas emissions by nearly a third in only seven years in order to fulfill its Kyoto commitments – a daunting responsibility for a government that has yet to enact any sort of concrete reduction plan. The Kyoto goals do not seem to have been too ambitious however for some of the other signatories. A UNFCCC secretariat analysis of reports by industrialized countries, submitted at the beginning of 2006, indicated that many countries have already made significant progress in enacting policies to achieve their Kyoto commitments. Action in the EU, for example, has already yielded reduction emissions of 1.7% below 1990 levels. Without the proactive initiatives put in place as a november 2006
news result of Kyoto, the analysis also notes, emissions would have risen by 20%. So why then is Canada having so much trouble? One of the most crippling barriers to the effective implementation of a climate-change plan in Canada is the fact that the majority of greenhouse gas emissions, as well as revenues from their production, are concentrated regionally. The provinces also control oil and gas and electricity production,
an unstable minority government. Also interesting is that while Canadian greenhouse gas emissions have increased by 24% above 1990 levels since 1992, levels in the United States, a non-Kyoto member, increased by only 16% in the same time period. One contributing factor to this deviation, as suggested by the Sierra Club of Canada environmental advocacy group (SCC), was a shrinking U.S. oil and gas supply coupled with an
was formed”, and it is merely a “club to buy and sell coal and uranium.” Upon their assumption of office in early 2006, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government promptly declared that Canada’s Kyoto obligations as set by the Liberals were unreachable, and discontinued the not-yet-tested Liberal implementation plan. The Conservative government is expected to issue a “Made in Canada” plan for
“The Gélinas report is valuable as one of the only analyses of its kind to come out of the Department of the Environment; however it may also be observed that like government policy, the report is rich with criticisms and prescriptions, yet lacking in concrete solutions to the problems it identifies.” industries which have increased their production of greenhouse gasses since 1990 by 37 and 39 mt. respectively. This not only means that the federal government must cooperate with the provinces to make any sustainability plan possible, but also that the onus of reduction is extremely uneven, making the negotiation of a collective emissions plan extremely difficult. Alberta alone, for example, accounts for nearly onethird of Canada’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with current trends predicting a 40% increase in those emissions by 2010. It is not surprising then that Alberta has been one of the largest opponents of Kyoto, filing a formal objection to the plan in November 2005. Another flaw in Canada’s former Kyoto implementation plan was its voluntary basis. Canada’s largest greenhouse gas emitters are industrial firms, which account for 52 to 63 percent of total emissions. In 1992, Canada signed the UNFCCC, agreeing to stabilize emissions at 1990 levels. However, the government requested voluntary compliance by industry instead of mandating reductions. Though some firms did acquiesce, many more firms chose not to, contributing to the 24% increase that created the daunting 270 mt Kyoto gap. However, politically influential industry and business advocates (not to mention private sources of party funding from individuals in the business sector) can make the legislation of reductions difficult, especially in the case of november 2006
increased American demand for fossil fuels. Canadian fossil fuel production has led to a 37 mt increase in emissions since 1990, primarily to fill the export demand of the United States. Canada began exporting more oil southward, and this shift in production increased Canada’s emissions while U.S. production emissions stayed more or less constant. In the last ten years Canada has also increased its export of hydroelectric power to the States, and arguments have been made that this has led to a “free rider” problem: The U.S. profits from the consumption of clean energy while Canada suffers the emissions increase associated with its production. The fact that the U.S. seems to have done better than Canada in keeping emission growth down leads to the pressing question: Are there better alternatives to Kyoto? In August 2005 the Asia Pacific Partnership for Clean Air and Climate was formed between the United States, Australia, China, India, South Korea and Japan. This forum works on the basis of voluntary emissions targets, and emphasizes the technological development as a means to increase efficiency. Environment Minister Rona Ambrose supports this agreement as an alternative to the Kyoto Protocol, particularly because it includes China and India, two highly industrialized nations that are not bound by Kyoto. However according to the SCC, the contents of the agreement “contain nothing that did not already exist before the group
combating climate-change in October, 2006. Since the government has already renounced its Kyoto obligations, the question remains of what form this new climate-change initiative will take. Will it follow the current U.S. initiative of reducing the ‘intensity’ of emissions (amount of emissions in relation to economic output) to achieve a slowing of increase rather than a reduction? Will it join the Asia-Pacific Partnership to replace Kyoto? Or will it risk the alienation of the Conservative support, whose strongest base is in Alberta by legislating emissions limits on industry? One thing is certain: a practical Canadian climate-change plan has been long in coming, and when it does arrive, it will face a long road ahead.
The environment can David Rydevik devastate regional economies.
Jessica Barrett Horwitz is a fourth-year University College student specializing in International Relations. the toronto globalist
15
photospread
P Grizzly Bear Alain Beauparlant, June 2006 ©
Tundra Trail, Rocky Mountain National Park, Alaska Albert Essa, Oct. 2004 ©
16
the toronto globalist
olar bears are at the forefront of the global warming debate or, to be more precise, the prospect of polar bear extinction has impelled the debate more solidly into the national conscience than any other previous concern has been able to. The scientific correlation between global warming and polar bear extinction is simple: as average temperatures increase each year, the polar ice caps decrease in mass. Moreover, there is a strong consensus on this matter within the scientific community which further asserts that the ice caps at both poles have been melting for a number of years. How does this relate to polar bears? Polar bears inhabit the Arctic ice caps, the reduction of which is tantamount to deforestation for birds – the gradual destruction of their natural habitat. Not only does this result in fewer natural breeding grounds, but it also affects the reproductive patterns of the polar bear’s natural prey, forcing the carnivore further south in pursuit of sufficient food sources. By pushing the already stretched polar bear populations so far from their natural habitats, the mammal’s ability to reproduce has been hindered, resulting in diminishing population sizes. An interesting manifestation of the polar bear’s precarious plight can be found in the April, 2006 discovery of the world’s first polar-grizzly hybrid bear in Banks Island, Canada. Very rarely do the polar bear and grizzly bear migration patterns coincide, further demonstrating how far south this particular mammal must have been. In the context of other serious environmental issues such as air pollution and water supply, the predicament of the polar bear has been somewhat sidelined. If the bears themselves don’t warrant our attention, what their plight points to should: the polar ice caps are melting, and there is seemingly nothing we can do about it.
Exit Glacier. Harding Ice Field, Alaska Alain Beauparlant, June 2006 ©
november 2006
photospread
E
xperts are increasingly coming to agree that, while whales are not directly affected by warmer conditions in their natural habitat – the oceans of the world – their main food supply, krill, is. Today, whales inhabit three separate oceanic regions: the North Atlantic, the North Pacific and the area near Antarctica known as the Southern Ocean. While the southern whale population rests at a healthy level of 8000, the North Atlantic population is frighteningly small: only 300 whales remain. Scientists at the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) suggest that this small population size is caused, in part, by abortive pregnancies among female right whales, a species which comprises a significant percentage of the Atlantic whale population. Under normal circumstances, the average female right whale waits three years between calving. But if the mother aborts or the calf dies, a period of two years is required for recovery, thereby increasing the interval between births to five years. In a recent study, IFAW scientists compared sea-surface temperatures in the southwest Atlantic to their records of yearly calving successes and failures. A correlation was found between the changes in sea-surface temperature and the number of right whale calves born in the autumn of the preceding year. After charting the sea-surface temperature against births between 1983 and 2000, the results of the study became clear: as water temperatures rise, the number of calvings declines. The study goes on to suggest that because krill – the Atlantic whales’ main prey – suffer from these higher temperatures, there is a significant decrease in the female whales’ ability to provide for both herself and her unborn calf when water temperatures are higher than the norm, if only because the november 2006
Lake Calhoun, Minneapolis Albert Essa, Oct. 2006 ©
Mt. McKinley. Simply as Denali, or Great One, Alaska Alain Beauparlant, June 2006 ©
krill population is diminished to such a high degree. While this study is by no means conclusive, it brings to mind the critical nature of this issue: while politicians sit discussing alternatives to Kyoto, entire populations of some of the Earth’s most majestic creatures are slowly being erased. the toronto globalist
17
AIDS timeline This disease 1981 1982 was formally defined as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Correspondingly, three modes of transmission were identified: blood, mother-to-child, and sexual intercourse.
Source: UNAIDS 2006
In June of this year, scientists reported an unusual disease affecting the immune system of gay men, women, and injecting drug users. This disease was first known as a gay-related infectious disease (GRID).
25 YEARS. a look back on AIDS 2003
1984
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is identified as the cause of AIDS by Dr. Robert Gallo, an American scientist.
The Official Mascots of the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico. LISE BEAUDRY/IAS
T h e Wo r l d Health Organization and UNAIDS launch the ‘3 by 5’ initiative. This plan’s prerogative was to grant 3 million people At the UN access to antiretroviral therapy World Summit in New by the end of 2005..
2005
1985
York, world leaders make a The first pledge to strive for universal access International AIDS to treatment by 2010 for those in The Global Conference is held in Atlanta, need. By the end of this year, only Fund to Fight AIDS, 1.3 million people in low to middle Tuberculosis and Malaria GA, with over 2000 people attending. income countries are getting becomes operational Also this year, the notion of a global access to antiretroviral and approves the first epidemic becomes widespread as The Bill and Melinda Gates t h e r a p y . round of grants. cases of HIV have now been Foundation donates $500 million reported in each region The UN to The Global Fund to help of the world. Security Council discusses fight AIDS, TB, and malaria. International AIDS Conference AIDS for the first time. Also, The United takes place in Toronto. the Millennium Development Nations General Goals established this year includes Assembly discusses T h e Jo i n t provisions for reversing the spread AIDS, and the first therapy United Nations of AIDS, tuberculosis and treatment for AIDS, known Programme on HIV/ malaria as one of eight as azidothymidine (AZT), AIDS (UNAIDS) key g oals. is approved for use in
2002
2006
2000
1987
1990
the United States.
Around one million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS.
18
the toronto globalist
1996
1991
The red ribbon becomes the adopted international symbol for AIDS.
becomes operational.
DID YOU KNOW? Every 6.5 seconds, someone is infected with HIV.
Every 10 seconds, someone dies of an AIDS-related illness. Each day, there are roughly 11,200 new HIV infections and about 8,000 deaths. In 2005, 38.6 million people were living with HIV/AIDS. In 2005, 2.8 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses. november 2006
special coverage
WHY AIDS2006?
A LOOK BACK AT THE 2006 INTERNATIONAL AIDS CONFERENCE By Alexander Lim and Stefania Moretti August 13th, 2006 – navigating the vast expanses of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, we stumbled upon what is known as “The Global Village.” Brightly coloured and resembling a multi-cultural marketplace teeming with inquisitive “shoppers”, we were caught off-guard in this new environment. Pondering the fundamentals, we questioned our role within this menagerie. Why did over 26,000 people from around the world decide to descend upon Toronto in order to take part in this conference? Over the course of the conference, we caught up with several delegates from various walks of life to try and unearth the answer to this very question. Among the 26,000 delegates who attended this international event were several global leaders and philanthropists including Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, Richard Gere and Stephen Lewis. Gates stated that such conferences were “critical” and “a symptom of how people have decided that this (the HIV/AIDS crisis) is the worst medical disaster ever in history.” Richard Gere, on the other hand, hoped to lend what he called his “x-quality” to this event. Specifically, this referred to his power as a cultural icon, which he hoped to use in order to convince society that AIDS should be in the forefront of their minds. As admirable as these reasons were, they failed to capture the motivations behind why most delegates attended AIDS 2006. Surely, we thought, there mu s t b e m o r e. Amid the commotion of the Richard Gere speaking at the Opening Ceremonies at the Rogers Centre (August 13, 2006).
LISE BEAUDRY/IAS
november 2006
Youth Pavilion in The Global Village conference’s end. Nina was happy to was Nina Martinez. She looked report that thanks to AIDS 2006, she like most other young adults there, felt better able to critically evaluate the passing the time by wandering through HIV/AIDS literature which would, aisles of kiosks, skimming in turn, aid in her studies pamphlets, occasionally as well as improve her “Let’s agree stopping to view an effectiveness as an interactive display, activist for young that every life or simply watching people living with has equal worth and as hundreds of HIV/AIDS. saving lives is the highest people strolled by. She was also ethical act. If we accept this, impressed by In order to gain some insight as the ability of then science and evidence to why an average the greater – untainted by stigma – can young adult such community to guide us in saving the as Nina, a public a ck n ow l e d g e health student from the exper tise greatest number of lives.” Atlanta, Georgia, of persons living would attend AIDS with HIV/AIDS. MELINDA GATES 2006 in Toronto, we “Its great,” she says, approached her to ask “that mere ‘tokenism’ some simple questions. of people living with Hoping to receive a spontaneous HIV/AIDS is making its way response we asked Nina, “What brings out; we’re not just faces of persons you here?” Her response would prove living with HIV/AIDS, we’re human to be a lot more complex than we beings also with hopes, dreams, ideas could have imagined. As an HIV youth and lives.” Nina said that she would activist, as a person living with HIV/ most definitely pay her way to the AIDS and as a Public Health student, upcoming AIDS conference in Mexico Nina considered her role at AIDS 2006 City 2008, because, as she so eloquently multifaceted. She had come, she said, put it, “Although I’ve been positive for looking for a meaningful way to tie 23 years, I am just now at the age (age these three important, yet non-defining 23) where I can really begin making a aspects of her life together. With the difference. I might be old at HIV, but knowledge that student delegates of I am new to the field of public health the conference paid upwards advocacy.” AIDS 2006, she said, was a of $200 to attend, we still worthwhile investment both for those had to wonder, “Why who have HIV/AIDS and those at risk pay so much?” Nina’s from contracting it. Nina will no doubt answer was swift and go on to contribute to the AIDS struggle thought provoking. in many meaningful ways. We wish her She simply stated, the best of luck in her activism and “As a student living her pursuit of a public health degree. with HIV I couldn’t Nina’s most recent project is the Hope’s afford to come, Voice, “Does HIV Look Like Me? however, I also Campaign” where young human rights knew that I couldn’t leaders stand up to fight misconception, afford not to come”. stigma and inequality with their faces, Curious if Nina voices and statements. You can see Nina found what she was featured in the campaign on page 22. looking for at AIDS 2006, Amidst the mainstream rhetoric of we caught up with her at the optimism, the call for more funding and the toronto globalist
19
special coverage research and the need to fight against motto of ‘Time to Deliver’ misperception and stigma, our attention because it is delivering was piqued by South African AIDS nothing to communities activist Gregg Gonsalves. In his session with HIV.” Gregg went on “25 Years of AIDS – Reflecting so far as to suggest that Back and Looking Forward,” Gregg, we (the establishment) an HIV-positive man who works with have created a system the AIDS and Rights Alliance for that is designed to fail. Re t u r n i n g t o t h e Southern Africa, delivered a somber topic of the conference message that “we are losing the struggle itself, Gregg felt that, “It’s against this disease.” Bringing forth a become a trade fair where voice of dissent, he noted in his speech pharmaceutical companies, that, “We are at a terrible anti-political foundations, NGOs, the AIDS movement right now, where the powersbureaucracy [...] come together to that-be have taken our rhetoric and sort of sell its wares to each other.” told us that everything is fine – we’re As we walked through the Global on your side – you can demobilize and Village among all the colourful booths, leave the epidemic to us. That is the we indeed felt that we were strolling pernicious message of this conference. Don’t believe a word they say.” In utter through a marketplace or bazaar, but one amazement at how negatively he spoke where ideas were mutually exchanged about the conference, we caught up and not commoditized. Greg g’s perspective called into question with Gregg after the session to the true purpose of this find out the motivations convention. Were we b e h i n d h i s s p e e ch . “I think that there to serve ulterior In a one-on-one if the young people motives, or were we interview with Gregg, of the world spoke across truly committed we quickly learned the income divide that is in this fight that he had actually yawning greater and greater against AIDS? been to almost as the days go by and said, ‘We On the presence all the AIDS have the same dreams. Therefore, of high-profile conferences since world leaders and first attending in we deserve the same chances,’ philanthropists, Amsterdam during that would be something really Greg g is quick the early 1990s. worth doing.” to point out that, So why exactly did “It’s not Bill Gates he come to Toronto BILL CLINTON or Bill Clinton who if he did not have a have made a difference positive experience at past in this epidemic despite their conferences? He revealed welcome to this meeting as some sort that he was asked to speak by the of royalty – the seduction of the money Conference, which covered all his and power they represent have blinded expenses. He further noted that he would not have come if he had to us to what they’ve really delivered.” spend his own resources. We asked him Instead, the real heroes in the fight about his expectations for this particular against AIDS, according to Gregg, conference. “My expectations were are all those “who have changed and exceedingly low, but I should have made some who are still changing history, them lower,” replied Gregg. In contrast often at great personal risk, while you to the thousands of delegates who felt were looking elsewhere and took no that the conference provided a unique notice.” In a sense of tragic optimism, networking opportunity and a wealth of Gregg notes that “in the margins of this new information, Gregg found little in system, there remain men and women, the way of new information or valuable yes, heroes for some of us, who are discussion. Referring to the conference largely forgotten, unknown, ignored or as, “AIDS: The Movie,” Gregg explains reviled by those who make this machine that, “It’s high on lofty rhetoric and [the fight against HIV/AIDS] run.” After speaking with numerous other promises, but it sort of mocks the 20
the toronto globalist
T h e G l o b a l V i l l a g e . ALEXANDER L I M
delegates, it would seem that everyone who came to the conference brought with them a set of beliefs, ideas and messages which they wished to share with others. This was the case for Kitso Masi, Coordinator of the South East District Youth Empowerment Football League in Botswana. Kitso, who is also a member of Kicking AIDS Out (an African initiative which uses sports and physical activities to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS and to motivate behavioral change), came to the conference hoping to show the world, “how sports can be used as a powerful tool for development and a vehicle for transporting all forms of messages.” He explained his unique approach, saying that sports and educational games can “encourage peers to discuss issues affecting their lives and their communities, with a focus on developing their life skills.” Upon reflection, Kitso, who was sponsored by Commonwealth Games Canada, stated, “I expected the experience to open my eyes, expose me to new information, allow me to build new relationships and acquire skills and information that will allow me to better serve my community in the future.” Furthermore, he said he was pleased that all his expectations were fully met. He noted, “This is the largest international gathering focusing on a single health issue. So I think the Conference has succeeded in bringing the political leadership, community leadership, medical experts, researchers and most importantly communities from all walks of life. The conference has also succeeded in empowering young people all around the world.” Youth often serve as a strong driving force for change. In his mission to make a difference, Kitso has focused his november 2006
special coverage Posters distributed by the Youth Pavilion for AIDS2006. ALEXANDER LIM
efforts not only u p o n youth, but also upon t h e avoidance of stigma. From his perspective, “The fear of stigma and deep rooted discrimination make young people less likely to adopt preventative strategies such as using condoms, seeking testing for HIV and other STI’s, adhering to treatment or disclosing their HIV status to their sexual partners.” Without a doubt, stigma was definitely one of the largest challenges presented by this conference, and it was Kitso’s hope that this conference will have empowered thousands of people around the world with information t o h e l p f i g h t s u ch p r e j u d i c e s. In retrospect, there is no one simple answer as to “Why AIDS 2006.” The fact is that Gates, Clinton, Lewis, Nina, Gregg, Kitso, and thousands of others all came together in Toronto for different reasons and with different expectations. In this global exchange where paths converge and diverge, each individual will have brought away with them something personal – a feeling, be it positive or negative, which will ultimately be shared with others around the world. While many more will join the fight against AIDS in the upcoming years, the fact remains that all these 26,000 delegates will be inextricably linked through their shared experiences at AIDS 2006. T hroughout the conference, there was an Former UN Special Envoy on HIV/AIDS in Africa Stephen Lewis, with Former US President Bill Clinton, speaking at a press conference. ALEXANDER LIM
november 2006
overwhelming focus on combating male circumcision in reducing new HIV the social stigmas that surround infections. “I know the scientific jury is HIV and AIDS. Time and again, still out, and I know a couple of more doctors, policy makers and activists studies are being done, but should this be shown to be effective, we alike spoke frankly about men will have another means who have sex with men to prevent the spread (MSM), sex-trade workers “We have of the disease and and injection dr ug lost an incalculable to save lives,” users. By addressing number of lives, which notes Stephen these at-risk groups should never have been lost. L e w i s . directly, conference That’s a matter of excruciating A I D S participants pain and unconscionable political 2006 stands attempted to strike at neglect about what historians will apar t from the heart of the real one day write, and nothing will p r e v i ous problem surrounding international stand out more in the judgment HIV/AIDS: stigma. A I D S of history than the toll on The conference conferences, emphasized society’s women, old and young.” due in large part, inadequate response to to its strong antiHIV/AIDS over the past STEPHEN LEWIS ABC (abstinence, be 25 years. Conference officials faithful, condoms) and chose to attack stigma because, as pro-needle exchange mandate. Melinda Gates noted during her keynote speech at the opening ceremonies, Even Former US President Bill Clinton, “Stigma makes it easier for political who had previously opposed the needle leaders to stand in the way of saving lives.” exchange program, admitted that he was In addition to facilitating debate, wrong. “We need to create a climate where the conference was truly informative policy makers in the US and elsewhere and innovative in its approach to new can act on the evidence,” he commented, and existing treatment options both for and the overwhelming evidence those living with HIV/AIDS and those presented at this year’s conference in seeking to protect themselves. Although Toronto shows that needle-exchange a vaccine still seems more than a decade programs drastically reduce HIV away, microbicides are emerging at the transmission by injection drug users. The International Aids Conference forefront of prevention. Microbicides in Mexico 2008 may be the stage where are substances that can substantially the results of microbicide testing, the reduce the transmission of one or more effectiveness of male circumcision in sexually transmitted diseases reducing transmission rates and the (STDs). They work by success of needle-exchange clinics, either inhibiting are revealed to a cong regate of or completely delegates that aims to be even larger destroying d i s e a s e - than that of AIDS 2006 in Toronto. causing Alexander Lim is a 3rd year microbes. New College student doubleCurrently, there are majoring in Ethics Society & Law, five major and Biological Anthropology, advanced with a minor in Bioethics. studies underway in Stefania Moretti is a 4th year microbicide Trinity College student majoring development. in English, with a double minor in Another French and Political Science. exciting advance in preventative m e a s u r e s, i s t h e potential effectiveness of the toronto globalist
21
letters to the editor
22
the toronto globalist
november 2006
news
CANADA IN AFGHANISTANHOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH? By Aisha Ansari
Unprepared and shocked by the enemy, the current Canadian mission in Afghanistan is a classic example of the danger that arises when western military training is exposed to a hostile foreign environment. Currently, there are approximately 2300 Canadian troops stationed in Afghanistan, mainly outside of the nation’s capital, Kandahar. What started out as a small mission reflective of Canada’s status as a NATO member, the current situation in Afghanistan is under intense scrutiny by much of the Canadian population, being cited as inefficient and ill equipped in its ability to fight Taliban forces. Immediately following the attacks of 9/11 Al Qaeda terrorists were characterized as members of a well organized, internationally financed terrorist network. As the attention shifted towards finding Osama Bin
public opinion is divided. However, a rising number of Canadians are standing against the mission. In a recent September 2006 poll of 1000 Canadians conducted by the Strategic Council, it was found that 54 % of participants opposed or strongly opposed Canadian intervention in Afghanistan. This number has risen sharply from 41% in July of 2006. Reflecting this divide of opinion among Canadians, unity within some of Canada’s political parties has been shattered in Afghanistan’s name. While former Liberal Prime Minister Paul MCpl Robert Bottrill, Canadian Forces Combat Camera Martin sent troops to Afghanistan, there is available to the Taliban fighters, is currently a lack of Liberal consensus suggest a level of ingenuity that is a on the issue. Some party members feel real danger to the Canadian military. that Canada must maintain its presence Suicide bombs are packed with more in Afghanistan out of a sense of moral explosives, and Taliban leaders are obligation to help bring stability to a in touch with each other via satellite. country which has suffered through war, uprisings and a religious totalitarian
“To date, thirty six Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died at the hands of Taliban soldiers, and in two controversial “friendly fire” incidents.” Laden, the apparent head of Al Qaeda, the world’s eyes fell on the Taliban. Once thought to be ragtag, inefficient and largely rogue the Taliban has since demonstrated the traits of a well trained military unit. In September of 2006, Canadian Forces Maj. Tod Strickland returned home to Canada after six months of duty in Afghanistan. Having fought in what international spectators have called “the most intense fighting in the last four years” Maj. Strickland, in his description of his enemy, painted an alarming picture of the Taliban’s efficiency as a terrorist group, citing their use of new and more sophisticated tactics. These reports indicate that the Taliban has grown and evolved as a network since the arrival of Canadian troops in 2001. Reports of the development of new military techniques that utilize the limited technology that november 2006
Even more frightening, however, is the fact that the Taliban is adapting its ways to Western military fighting tactics. It is clear that they have no intention of giving into the Canadian troops and are on the offensive as a group. The Taliban’s relentless nature coupled with a new and relatively weak Afghani infrastructure has created a quagmire that Canadian troops simply were not prepared for. To date, thirty six Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died at the hands of Taliban soldiers, and in two controversial “friendly fire” incidents. Initially intended to be a shorter mission, Canada’s commitment to Afghanistan was extended for another two years by Conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper. As a result now, not only is the Canadian military itself ill-equipped in Afghanistan, Canadian politicians are also scrambling to find consensus on the issue. As it stands, Canadian
government. For others however, it is time for Canadian troops to be spared two more years of suicide bombs, guerilla warfare and misery. With daily reports of bombings and booby-trapped military points, as well as the death of soldiers who are parents to young Canadians back home, for many enough is enough. In a mess of Canadian political debate, the grim stories of returning soldiers paint a picture of hardships to come. It is clear to many Canadians that the mission in Afghanistan needs to be seriously re-evaluated. For these, the question is: how much is too much? Aisha Ansari is a second-year Trinity College student doublemajoring in International Relations and Political Science.
the toronto globalist
23
exchange
THE FAILURE OF THE BELIEVERS. THE VICTORY OF THE TRIBALISTS. By Roy Mill
The year was 1995. My friend and I were high school sophomores. The ongoing peace process, and probably the youth spirit too, set the background for a preposterous dream we had. We planned to make a big tour after we graduated from high school – travel to Europe by car and visit Lebanon and Syria on our way there. We never did make the trip, and eleven years later, this dream seems crazy. I met Lebanese people for the first time last summer in a students seminar in Greece. Although there were students from other countries too, I felt the Lebanese – generally speaking of course – resembled us (or we resembled them) the most. Our countries, too, have a thing or two in common. Both are small countries with a mosaic-like social fabric and great cultural and economic potential. Yet a peace agreement seems so far away.
Israel for protecting its northern citizens with time, the Believers of Lebanon by controlling Southern Lebanon. In would prevail and contain Hizbollah, such an environment, Hizbollah, despite and if not, at least Israel would have a strong case to retaliate and deter Hizbollah not to attack us again. Unfortunately, belief and trust are elusive. People need to see signs of goodwill from others in order to trust them. If Believers let trust defeat their fears and doubts, Tribalists exemplify the reverse phenomenon. When trust dissipates, people rely on the ones they know best to protect themselves against potential threats from the people they don’t know. A familiar Arab proverb notes: My brother and I against my cousin, and my cousin and I against the stranger. In a constant war situation, all people tend to abide by that proverb. Some will say that international relations are always a Hobbesian state of nature, but there are plenty of examples Hizbollah Message EPAPE for a different kind of international
“A familiar Arab proverb notes: My brother and I against my cousin, and my cousin and I against the stranger. In a constant war situation, all people tend to abide by that proverb.” Some argue that the lack of peace with Lebanon flows from Syrian and Iranian intervention or the fierce anti-Israeli ideology of Hizbollah. Others put most of the blame on Israel’s involvement in Lebanon in the 1980’s. But I think this current wave of violence is above all the outcome of the failure of the Believers. The ones who believe the “other side” can live in peace with them. Middle Eastern Believers came in all nationalities but all shared the belief that once Israel withdrew from the occupied territories, violence would cease. This reasoning figured prominently among pro-peace or pro-withdrawal Israelis who argued with their compatriots who did not trust Israel’s neighbors. Similarly, Believers from the Arab world plead: “First stop the occupation – then you will have peace.” The United Nations and other international groups repeated this argument and condemned 24
the toronto globalist
Hamas Rally
JONAS MOFFAT
their terrorist tactics and selection of civilian targets, was seen by outsiders as a justified movement for freedom. Even though the Believers of Israel did not think Hizbollah would stop aiming at Israel once it withdrew from Lebanon, they thought that,
relationships. The problem is that the transition between the state of war and mistrust to international political civility is harder than we think. As long as the state of war is in place, Tribalism is a stronger force and its main advantage is the Believers disadvantage: believers need the other side to cooperate with them. Tribalists, on the other hand, need nothing from the other side. Once they attack, their action is completed. If the other side hits back, they can say they proved their point and gives them more strength domestically. Examples for this rule are ample. When PM Rabin made peace with Arafat, both needed each other’s obligations fulfilled, or else the concessions they made would have been useless and make them vulnerable. But when Baruch Goldstein killed 29 Muslim prayers in Hebron, his mission was totally self-reliant. Same thing goes for Hamas who sent suicide bombers to the heart of Israel. november 2006
exchange They did not need Israel to make their action successful. Soon afterwards, the Israeli Believers lost the elections to the Tribalists led by Netanyahu. Tribalism is
to do something to rule out any attack from Israel. The third-party Believers – all the international organizations which now condemn Israel for its
not give up their ideology so easily and try to use force against the Believers of both sides. Without the ability of each side to contain its own Tribalists,
“Tribalism is a default our nations turn to when the Believers on both sides fail to cooperate.” a default our nations turn to when the Believers on both sides fail to cooperate. The same thing happened in Lebanon. Finally, after eighteen years of Israeli presence in Lebanon, the Believers of Israel won the internal debate and Israel withdrew from Lebanon. Ever yone believed that it would bring an end to the vicious cycle of violence these countries experienced. But we already know the Middle East Believers’ coordination resembles two really bad tango dancers stepping on each other’s feet. The Believers of Lebanon could not contain the Tribalists of Hizbollah (neither could the Believers of the rest of the world). They got the tyrannical Syrian regime out of Lebanon by bravely demonstrating against it (though with a Tribalist rhetoric), but they could demonstrate to make peace with Israel. This failure by the Lebanese Believers to demonstrate for the concessions needed for peace (i.e. dismantling Hizbollah’s military power) shows the other problem the Believers face in addition to their lack of coordination. In the eyes of the Tribalists, Believers are either naïve daydreamers or shameful traitors, even if their strategy could usher their country into a whole new era of unprecedented achievements. Israel’s hard Tribalists’ hatred of “the left” is beyond comprehension. They call for the trial of the architects of the Oslo agreements with the Palestinians. On the other side of the border, my Lebanese friends are afraid to write emails to my “.il” domain (internet suffix for Israeli servers) because they fear someone will harm them if their relations with an Israeli will be known. As Tribalists get stronger, the social condemnation of Believers g ets strong er too. I did not expect the Lebanese Believers to fight a civil war, but as they succeeded to get Syria out of Lebanon, I think they could have at least tried november 2006
attack against Hizbollah did not do anything to prevent Hizbollah from
Israel-Lebanon Border
DAVID POE
building its force, exploiting it and using civilians as a shield. They have failed to strengthen the Believers of Lebanon and weaken its Tribalists, and therefore weakened the Believers of Israel, letting Tribalism take over the region. If nobody can assure the Believers of their beliefs – mutual security that will allow all sides to thrive – by making sure the Believers of the both sides have enough strength to take control and move the region forward, then the actions of the first to reach out their hand for peace are futile and, more importantly, dangerous for them. The main criticism now against Barak’s withdrawal from Lebanon is that it’s the reason for our current vulnerability. Once again, the failure of Believers hit both sides and made the Tribalists of both sides say: “We told you so”. I don’t know how this conflict will end. What I do know is that the next attempt to reach out by either side must be accompanied by a collateral ability of the other side to take the next step forward. We should all know that such success by the Believers will only enrage the hard core Tribalists who will
the peace process will be doomed to failure. Nobody – especially not thirdparty organizations that cannot contain the Tribalists either – can pick on the one side that can contain its Tribalists and criticize it for not making the right moves towards peace. One can see how outsiders who try to blame one country or another as a whole are misidentifying the real villains: instead of making an effort to tell the “good guys” from the “bad guys” they conveniently use a ready-made label of nationality to separate the good ones and the bad ones. My g eneration has g rown up watching great promises turn into tragic disappointments. I truly hope for the next generation that the Believers of both Israel and Lebanon will be able to lead the way in transcending Tribalist fears, and coordinate between themselves to fight their own entrenched Tribalist movements. As time goes by, failures mount and disappointments grow, the power of the Believers weakens. Domestic struggles of the Believers against Tribalism must be strengthened by the international community. The Believers must be identified and supported. Tribalists must be condemned and, if need be, fought against. Only when the international community will be able to support Believers on both sides, will lasting peace will become a reality. Roy Mill has graduated this summer from the Politics, Philosophy and Economics program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
the toronto globalist
25
news
morality of profit
The Pharmaceutical Industry and Tropical Diseases By Amin Madani Many of today’s social dilemmas are ultimately caused by a clash between vested economic interests and the public’s insistence for equity. A perfect example of such an issue can be found in the pharmaceutical industry, in which drug companies spend billions of dollars annually in the development of new pharmaceuticals to combat diseases in the world. Yet when doing so, they tend to cater to diseases apparent only in richcountry markets and neglect diseases concentrated in the poorer areas of the world. As a consequence, developing and underdeveloped countries have insufficient access to drugs because pharmaceutical companies do not invest enough money in the research and development (R&D) of drugs targeting tropical diseases, which are among the leading causes of death in third world countries. Therefore, the dilemma arises as to how to reconcile the differences between the economic interests of large pharmaceutical firms and the health needs of citizens in the developing world.
activities. Indeed, there are plenty of unmet medical needs to be addressed by the powerful pharmaceutical companies, whose gaze has shifted disproportionably and selfishly (at least through the eyes of a socialist) towards industrialized countries. This shift of focus has resulted in a lack of vertical equity in which the health needs of populations with a higher socioeconomic status are being attended, while those of poorer populations remain neglected. Many have argued strongly that it is the social responsibility of drug companies to make an effort to resolve this issue, even if it comes at the expense of a high profit. The economically conservative have a different line of reasoning, however, and do not believe that the blame for the lack of equity should be placed on private pharmaceutical corporations. To understand the validity of this perspective, one must consider certain realities of the pharmaceutical business. Many stringent regulations have been implemented by governments in order
answer is simple: profit. Pharmaceutical companies tend to invest large amounts of money only when they gain more from sales in return. As the US accounts for over 40% of global drug sales, it is no wonder that the market is centered on the industrialized world. In comparison, the market in the third world is not as profitable, due to the drastically smaller price per dose of drugs to treat infectious diseases, with most vaccines sold in less-developed countries currently priced at pennies per dose. Furthermore, these illnesses tend to have short-term treatments in contrast to chronic illnesses, meaning that if one were to be treated or vaccinated for such a condition by a pharmaceutical, there would not be many subsequent drug sales by that individual. For
“the dilemma [of] how to reconcile the differences between the economic interests of large pharmaceutical firms and the health needs of citizens in the developing world”
Perspectives
Those who believe in social equality, including Marxists and other social liberals, are cynically opposed to the lack of effort of the pharmaceutical industry to achieve basic equity. Infectious and parasitic diseases, such as malaria, leishmaniasis and Chagas’ disease, are amongst the world’s leading causes of death, affecting hundreds of millions of individuals (500 million from malaria alone). Interestingly, they account for approximately 33% of the disease burden in developing countries, but only 2.5% in rich countries. Despite this drastic asymmetry, less than 1% of the 1,394 newly developed pharmaceuticals between 1975 and 1999 target these illnesses, only four of which have been developed as a result of the pharmaceutical industry’s R&D 26
the toronto globalist
to prevent opportunistic entrepreneurial behavior by pharmaceutical companies, including patent regulations, consumer protection regulations, product licensing, cost-effectiveness pricing, profit regulations and price regulations of drug distribution. Considering the significant monetary loss that can come as a consequence of investing money in a drug whose return profits have very low operating margins, it is therefore not surprising that the R&D of pharmaceuticals is seen to carry huge risks. For instance, a team led by Joseph DiMasi at the Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development in Boston estimated last year that the average cost of bringing a new drug to the US market was a remarkable $802 million. So what has caused this lack of drug access in the third world? The
cheap, simple vaccines can save lives
USHHF
instance, the cost per year of saving a life by a malaria vaccine is $15, whereas this rises to $58,000 per year to treat breast cancer through chemotherapy. From a profit-driven perspective, it is logical that drug companies have focused their R&D budgets towards chronic diseases, leaving illnesses of the developing world neglected due to the lack of a commercially viable market.
Solutions
An ideal solution to any problem fully satisfies both sides of the equation and presents a win-win situation. In the context of this issue, we seek a solution in which enough drugs are provided in order to combat infectious diseases of november 2006
news the third world, even as pharmaceutical companies are presented with a financial incentive to market and invest time and money towards the development of these drugs, all without the emergence of any political repercussions. Solutions and policy reforms have been proposed and implemented in order to tackle the shortage of drugs in developing countries, and in certain cases, have been very successful. But ultimately, the ideal solution can only be achieved through an integration of the different proposed resolutions, where each of their benefits are combined to produce a fulfilling situation for all those involved. One approach that has emerged and grown over the past ten years is the creation of so-called “Public-PrivatePartnerships” (PPP), which are joint ventures: bringing together partners from the public sector, including government agencies and other international political institutions; the private (for-profit) sector, comprising pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies; and the civil society sector, including not-forprofit organizations (such as NGOs), academic and philanthropic institutions. Although their motivations may differ, they all share the common goal of increasing the allocation of resources towards the research and development of pharmaceuticals targeted to tropical diseases. Rather than operating as individuals, all sectors cooperate with one another in a complimentary approach by contributing their own set of expertise and resources to the project. For instance, while universities and other institutions from the civil society sector provide the technologies,
is developing twenty such medicines by working in conjunction with the dr ug company GlaxoSmithKline (GSK); this effort accounts for more than 50% of global efforts to fight malaria through phar maceuticals. These partnership strategies come in response to lessons learned by the scientific community that one
“it is human nature to want to pursue profit, and there is no guarantee that the company’s head members won’t sacrifice the public good for their own individual revenues.”
sector alone cannot close the gap between basic scientific research and the production of a new vaccine. Scientific collaboration on one hand has been successfully employed to advance the scientific knowledge of potential drugs, which would feed into the PPP pipeline, in programs such as: The Tropical Disease Initiative, which brings scientists together via the internet; the Keystone Symposium in 2002, where 130 scientists from 20 countries gathered together to discuss the development of drugs to combat tropical protozoan parasites; and The Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative for combating sleeping sickness, in the form of Trypanosoma brucei. On the other hand, these collaborations have been limited by their inability to translate scientific ideas into practical drugs, a burden that the pharmaceutical companies are unlikely to bear. Although PPPs have shown to promote drug development in a much more efficient, quick and cost-effective manner than independent ventures, they still have problems sustaining funding, since the majority of the financial
“collaborations have been limited by their inability to translate scientific ideas into practical drugs, a burden that the pharmaceutical companies are unlikely to bear.”
ideas and scientific advancements that enable rational drug design, the private sector supplies the tools to translate this scientific knowledge into safe and effective medicine through the pharmaceutical industry. This initiative has succeeded in the case of the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), which is a not-for-profit foundation whose mission is to develop and deliver new affordable anti-malaria drugs to developing countries. Thus far, MMV november 2006
companies in developing countries. The corporations would not have a true owner, but would be run by a board membership which has the objective of pursuing public and community benefits, while maintaining efficient managerial operations that promote the company’s prosperity in the midst of competition with other drug companies.
support is provided by philanthropic organizations (The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, for example, provides over 50% of the MMV’s funding). Nonetheless, these partnerships are a step in the right direction in recognizing that collaboration will be a key feature of any successful solution. Considering the limitations from profit-driven players, a novel idea, though radical and unlikely, is the creation of not-for-profit private pharmaceutical
However, this solution is very difficult to sustain for three reasons. First of all, it is human nature to want to pursue profit, and there is no guarantee that the company’s head members won’t sacrifice the public good for their individual revenues. Secondly, because of the high risk and high profitability associated with the pharmaceutical industry, it is unlikely to find an elite manager that would act as head of such a company rather than that of a private corporation whereby social benefits can be compromised for personal income. And lastly, since it is in a developing country, there is very little money to setup such a corporation in the first place.
Conclusion
Access to drugs in developing countries has been negatively affected by a lack of investment by pharmaceutical companies in the research and development of drugs to target tropical diseases that are very prominent in the developing world. This complex social and ideological dilemma has potential solutions involving different players, from policymakers to drug company CEOs. Ultimately, it must be a combination of these solutions and the integrative collaboration of manpower from different backgrounds that will alleviate the affliction of millions of individuals suffering from neglected diseases. But until all the different players unite to combine their strengths, it is disturbing to acknowledge that tropical diseases will continue to wreak havoc in the developing world. Amin Madani is a fourth-year University College student specializing in Physiology.
the toronto globalist
27
news
Emerging E-COmmunities within youth culture By Alexander Lim
“These networks are changing the way that their users form and maintain friendships – before ever arriving at college, students can already befriend future peers with similar interests and activities, ultimately helping an incoming frosh to 'fit-in.'”
online communities are like virtual mardi gras celebrations where everyone has a mask
infrogmation
In 1962, Canadian scholar Marshall McLuhan remarked that “technological environments are not merely passive containers of people, but are active processes that reshape people and other technologies alike.” Over four decades later, McLuhan’s thoughts are embodied in the form of the Internet. Since its inception, the Internet has had an indelible impact on society by fueling the gears of worldwide economic, political, and social movements at the centre of which stands globalization. Most recently, this has meant connecting today’s youth through a myriad of online networks, and the result has been nothing less than a revolution in the way young people interact, make friends, and create communities. During the 1960s, the Internet was the domain of savvy technophiles and quirky programmers. But with the recent emergence of social networking websites such as MySpace.com and Facebook.com, less tech-oriented youth now have access to a “virtual watering hole.” These online communities are “the unchallenged colossus of adolescent communication that works like the telephone, the back fence, the class bulletin board (and, at times, the locker room), all rolled into one virtual mosh pit,” remarks TIME magazine writer Michael Duffy in a 2006 article. 28
the toronto globalist
Mark Zuckerberg, a student at Harvard University, created Facebook as “a digital version of those little photo guides of incoming college freshmen and quickly expanded to include the student bodies of more than 2,100 colleges,” notes Duffy. These days, Facebook boasts over seven million members. Users are searchable by classes, clubs, interests, and other categories which they voluntarily list in their online profile. Ideally, this fosters a sense of community while also giving students the opportunity to communicate with friends, reconnect with old friends, and expand their social networks. Fo u n d e d by mu s i c i a n a n d entrepreneur Tom Anderson, and marketer Chris DeWolfe, the original purpose of Facebook’s counterpart, MySpace, was to let musicians share their music and converse with their fans. Just two years old, MySpace is a social networking site where millions of people have created unique profile-pages featuring photos, music, and a profile. There are many significant reasons for these sites’ success. One of the most important features is that these sites allow for an individual to freely express his or her personality, by fully integrating photos, videos, music, blogs, and links. Of equal importance are these sites’ constantly evolving nature: by adjusting to current social norms, these sites can maintain the edge in retaining their audience. In a global community, there are various benefits to these sites. Online networks let their members efficiently converse with people from around the world by eliminating geographic and communicative barriers. These networks are changing the way that their users form and maintain friendships – before
ever arriving at college, students can already befriend future peers with similar interests and activities, ultimately helping an incoming frosh to “fit-in.” However, these benefits are balanced by many critiques of this online movement. Several experts, including Dr. Valentina Hlebec, Assistant Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia, believe that virtual relationships are ultimately superficial and less substantial. It has also been argued that the internet cannot replace the traditional face-to-face social networking. Among educators, there has been a constant worry that these sites could be used to post inappropriate material or abused for online bullying. As Deborah Finley, a school counselor from Chesapeake, Virginia, noted in the February 2006 issue of Education Week magazine, “the Web pages give normal adolescent behavior, including bullying and experiments with personality and sexuality, an outsize impact.” Added to this are various personal safety and privacy concerns, and the worry that teenagers are wasting time or becoming addicted to these sites. In a compelling anecdote, Dr. Alan Goodwin, a psychologist and former attorney, said that “under its [social networking sites’] influence, 90 minutes of homework ends up taking four to five hours.” There have also been several documented cases where online friendships have turned violent, or where sites have been used for bullying purposes. In response to the latter concern, Facebook recently revamped its privacy settings to allow members to selectively choose who can view their personal information such as addresses and phone numbers. However, in a February november 2006
news 2006 article found in Education Week magazine, Facebook’s marketing director Melanie Deitch asserts that “most of the people who use Facebook realize that anything you post there is public information.” While stricter regulation would seem prudent, the case is not as simple, as individual freedom of expression is at stake - the very freedom which keeps users coming back. Youth rebellion and opposition to the establishment has always been a highly controversial undercurrent within youth culture. Specifically, the issue of the sacred versus the profane has always existed in this discourse. In an article on the popularity of MySpace written in The New York Times, David Carr wrote that in many internet sites, “the tang of sex bubbles along under the surface.” Neither MySpace and Facebook are immune to this problem. Part of the issue stems from the fact that individuals can either act under a cloak of online anonymity, or invent for themselves whatever identity they choose. Hence, Facebook can be likened to a carnival at Mardi Gras in which youth indulge in promiscuous delights while hiding behind a mask of anonymity. Essentially, this is made possible by the fact that the internet presents a situation whereby everyone can be as nameless and faceless as they choose. In a recent interview with MySpace’s CEO Chris DeWolfe, he notes that
to assume, create, and have multiple identities of themselves. By having the ability to carve out different identities, this challenges the modernist notion that there is a fundamental conception of an absolute truth or identity. In other words, the many versions of one’s digital identity are just vague notions which become manifested in others’ perception of what is in fact one’s real identity. Thus, behind the veil of the computer screen, for all intents and purposes, online users are essentially whatever identity they create or reveal to the recipient on the other side. One final powerful observation which should be noted involves the very nature of social interactions. Social networking sites have made it just as common for youth to meet, play games, and chat online rather than spend time with friends face-to-face. What has occurred, however, is a massive social transformation among youth whereby meeting online, for example, is just as acceptable as meeting at the local pub. As this slowly becomes the norm, the dividing line between online and real-world interactions begins to dissipate. It is now apparent that the youth of today simply ignore these differences by living harmoniously in both worlds at the same time. Since 2000, “computer use for activities such as social networking… has soared nearly threefold… to 1 hour and
phenomenon… evolving into a new form of media, part entertainment, and part communications.” Thus, it is clearly important to recognize and appreciate the fact that these e-communities are here to stay and will continue to evolve, for better or for worse.
massive amounts of information can be made public via online communities such as facebook
“individuals can either act under a cloak of online anonymity, or invent for themselves whatever identity they choose.” “the many versions of one’s digital identity are just vague notions which become manifested in others’ perception of what is in fact one’s real identity.”
“the idea was to create this community where people could create accurate representations of themselves and put their lives online.” However, reality currently fails to reflect such a goal. In essence, the emergence of e-communities among youth can be seen as part of a growing trend toward postmodernism – the notion that truths and absolute identities no longer exist – in youth culture. Given the ability to define your own online profile, youth are thus presented with an opportunity november 2006
22 minutes a day on average,” according to a 2005 Business Week magazine article written by Jessi Hempel and Paula Lehman. Currently, social networking sites are growing exponentially, with MySpace growing at a rate of two million users per month. Today’s youth are now faced with a simple snowball effect which is compounded with every new user. In this context, Steve Rosenbush from Business Week magazine notes, “it’s clear that social networking is becoming a cultural
Related Links - myspace.com - facebook.com - en.wikipedia.org - xanga.com - wordpress.com Alexander Lim is a third-year New College student doublemajoring in Ethics Society & Law, and Biological Anthropology, with a minor in Bioethics. the toronto globalist
29
opinion
INTERNATIONAL TRADING OF POLLUTION QUOTAS – JUST ANOTHER MEANS OF DOING NOTHING? By Perry Ge
price for pollution, it also Air. We breathe it…we destroy it. seems unfair, for example, The emission of harmful substances to have the same price into the air is not a problem contained for quotas in a developed within state borders; it is necessarily a nation such as the USA as in global issue. Tradable pollution quotas a developing nation such as are often cited as a means of reducing India. However, if the price global carbon emissions, and the concept is not the same around the is simple. Pollution quotas set caps on world, then it would make how much an individual actor, state or more sense for rich actors non-state, can pollute. Allowing the SETH ANDERSON to buy cheaper quotas from international trading of pollution quotas poorer ones, rather than to gives actors who surpass their emission actually try and cut down on pollution. amount to global pollution. Can a limits the option to purchase additional Allowing the trading of international global emissions initiative that quotas from other international actors pollution quotas essentially gives an excludes countries such as China who are below their own caps, thus extra option to richer polluters (who and India really be considered an enabling them to pollute beyond are, unfortunately, also the biggest effective way to limit pollution? their initial limit. Though favoured by polluters). It would allow states and many, I will attempt to corporations to avoid taking any actual examine why such schemes measures in reducing pollution. Such might not help at all. actors would be allowed to continue “This ‘way out’ clause really serves Essentially the question polluting by choosing the cheaper option can be broken down to stifle actual development, of purchasing quotas over action such into two parts. First, are innovation or further regulation in the as researching and developing cleaner international pollution technologies. This ‘way out’ clause really area of carbon emissions.” quotas themselves serves to stifle actual development, desirable? And second, innovation or further regulation supposing that they are, in the area of carbon emissions. would the trading of such Granted, enforceable international Supposing, however, that these quotas do more good than harm? pollution quota trading would ultimately initiatives are a good idea, would the There is much reason to believe that result in additional costs being incurred trading of such quotas help to further international pollution quotas themselves by actors who pollute. But ultimately, reduce emissions? Let us assume that this are not very helpful, particularly given allowing such trading might simply applies to both state and non-state actors. their current implementations. The be giving the rich another way to If we consider economic incentives in obvious example is the Kyoto Protocol. avoid reducing emissions, and allowing the current climate, it is perhaps fair to Kyoto itself, as a means of limiting global emissions, faces a number say that if an actor is below their quota, them to once again buy their way of simple but damaging criticisms. they would likely sell their remaining out of caring for the environment. First of all, it is unenforceable. quota. If an actor is above their quota, Perry Ge is a second-year Trinity Without the power to enforce sanctions however, they would likely ignore the quotas, as long as they remain unbinding. College student specializing and without any repercussions for Is this merely a question of non-compliance, states have no reason in Philosophy, majoring in (other than their own goodwill, a rarity enforceability? If international pollution Political Science and minoring in in the political sphere) to adhere to quotas were binding, a polluter who Bioethics. Kyoto’s guidelines. Furthermore, this pollutes above their quota would have unenforceability can lead Kyoto to two choices: to take measures to reduce become a mere political tool, a guise emissions, or to purchase additional that appeases the environmentally quotas. If they were to choose the concerned voter base, behind which lies former, a new problem is presented. no real intention to reduce emissions. How does one set a fair or correct Secondly, Kyoto excludes developing price on international quotas? Not countries, which contribute a huge only would it be extremely difficult to determine a constant global market 30
the toronto globalist
november 2006
Op-Ed
When Law burns Words By Lynn Zovighian
For the past six months, The Beirut Globalist team sweated in a tug of war against the American University of Beirut’s (AUB) administration. On the one side stood a team of young intellectuals proudly shouting out the Global21’s slogan of international dialogue and cultural exchange. The other side was armed with stubborn assumptions, blatant misunderstandings, and an obscure Lebanese law that permitted them to justify their hesitance to endorse such a project. Meeting after meeting, proposal after proposal, and countless sleepless nights finally led to a meeting with a prominent Lebanese lawyer who would provide the Beirut team with one definitive answer. If he said “Yes,” the publication would get its necessary green light to throw itself into a tireless
the same: criminal charges, the degree of which would be determined by a subjective, ill-reasoned, Lebanese
tough fight the Global21 Foundation will have to play out. The world is already fixed and those who are in a position of authority like the status quo because it ensures that they stay in power. When a University administration is given the opportunity to challenge society with new Header for the Beirut Globalist ideas, the easiest, and least noble path, is to ignore such forces. There is no better way judicial court system. This Lebanese to justify such an action than through law, according to various lawyers, the solidity of Law. Law, a system that media experts, and professionals is meant to govern a people in the working with the government, could interests of those people, can be used can be manipulated at will: any act as a weapon against the very change can be distorted to make it seem like these people desire. The system then some form of “collaboration” was becomes corrupted, and what was once taking place. Not once did it cross the Rule Of Law becomes Rule By Law. administration’s mind that the very But, when Law burns Words, it cannot absurdity of such “collaboration” destroy all evidence of its wrongdoings. can result in concrete and convincing The students are still here and are still
Today, The Beirut Globalist no longer exists. The team has become an exiled group of students with no paper or pen. production process. If he said “No,” discussion over the issue would stop and the team would become a mere pool of idealist individuals incapable of influencing a leviathan: the system. Perhaps it was expected. Perhaps these young Lebanese journalists refused to see it coming. Or, perhaps they knew what word would come out of that lawyer’s mouth. But the difference between what is thought and what is said could only be felt when the word actually came out: “No”. “No,” because the participation of the American University of Beirut with a foundation that includes the Hebrew University of Jerusalem could be interpreted as “collaboration with the state of Israel.” Such “collaboration,” whether it is merely perceived or real, makes no difference – the result is november 2006
arguments against such allegations. In effect, the administration chose to abide by an already putrid system that is based on feudal misunderstandings and unsubstantiated claims. Saying “No,” meant that the University decided not to challenge the limitations of this law, and instead, chose to actively side with the legal system’s obscure boycott against intellectualism and freedom of expression. The Freedom House Press Freedom Index for 2006 ranks Lebanon at 60, unchanged from last year. Perhaps that number should be lower. Today, The Beirut Globalist no longer exists. The team has become an exiled group of students with no paper or pen. There is nothing harder for an EditorIn-Chief to do than to tell her team that they are no more. This horrendous incident serves as a testimony to the
committed to fighting the Global21 fight. The Beirut Globalist can no longer exist because something bigger, better, and stronger is in the making. Law burns Words when Law is one step ahead of the game. But Words built Law. When the system does finally crumble, Rule By Law will shatter, and Words will remain, armed with its paper and pen. Lynn Zovighian is a fourth-year political studies student at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. She was the editor-inchief for The Beirut Globalist.
the toronto globalist
31
Advertisements & Sponsors
ADVERTISEMENTS & SPONSORS
Hart House, University of Toronto www.harthouse.utoronto.ca 7 Hart House Circle Toronto, ON M5S 3H3 Canada
HOGG SHAIN & SCHECK
Professional Corporation
It’s not what you earn ... it’s what you keep! Member of MSI Legal & Accounting Network Worldwide 2255 Sheppard Ave. East Suite 404 (Atria I) www.hss-ca.com consult@hss-ca.com
32 the toronto globalist
november 2006
ŠThe Toronto Globalist, 2006 Š Toronto Globalist, 2006