m

info@canadianinquirer.net
sales@canadianinquirer.net

facebook.com/
Philippine
CanadianInquirer CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER FORD TO.CA
twitter.com/
pcinewsofficial JULY 2, 2021 www.canadianinquirer.net VOL. 8 NO. 446

VOTER REGISTRATION

Qualified registrants troop to the local Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Dasmarinas City, Cavite near City Hall on Wednesday (June 30, 2021) for the voter’s registration. The voter’s
registration will run until Sept. 30, 2021.
GIL CALINGA/PNA

Voters told to shun 15

politicians engaged in
premature campaigning How colonialism’s legacy makes
it harder for countries to escape
poverty and fossil fuels today

BY FERDINAND PATINIO of good candidates. There are candidates

Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Commission on Elec-
tions (Comelec) and election stakehold-
ers on Tuesday urged the electorate not
to support politicians engaged in prema-
ture campaigning.
“Don’t vote for them. Don’t reward
bad behavior. We don’t have a shortage
who follow the rules,” Comelec spokes-
person James Jimenez said in a forum. 21
Based on Comelec’s calendar of activ-
ities for the May 9, 2022 elections, the
period for filing of certificates of candi- Consciously Coupling
dacy (COCs) will be held from Oct. 1 to and How it Works!
8 this year.
“Make sure that we will choose those Queer people’s experiences
PAGE 20 during the pandemic include new
possibilities and connections
❱❱ PAGE 8 Voters told to

Advanced equipment and testing available

We direct bill most insurance companies:

Square One
Sun Life Green Shield
Manulife Blue Cross
Great-West Life Claim Secure Valid only at
Located in Square One Industrial Alliance Square One
inside Pearle Vision
If you are 19 years old and under or 65 years old
905-277-3052
and older, you are covered under OHIP**

visit www.drshekari.com *Eye exams available by Independent Doctors of Optometry inside Pearle Vision.
to schedule your eye exam*
12/31/2021.
2 Philippine News JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY

IATF okays
hosting of Israeli
swimming team’s
training in PH
BY RUTH ABBEY GITA-CARLOS Roque also took pride in the country’s
Philippine News Agency hosting of the training of Israel’s nation-
al swimming team.
“Mantakin ninyo po ha. Dati tayo ang
MANILA – Israel’s national swim- nagti-train sa ibang bansa dahil wala
ming team has been given the green light tayong facilities. Ngayon, ang mga dayu-
to conduct its pre-Olympic training in han po ang nagti-train sa ating mga facil-
Capas, Tarlac. ities (Imagine, we were training abroad
This developed after the Inter-Agen- before because we did not have facilities.
cy Task Force for the Management of Now, foreigners are training in our facil-
Emerging Infectious ities),” he said.
Diseases (IATF-EID) In May, the IATF-
approved the Philip- EID also approved the
pine Swimming, Inc.’s PSI’s request to host
(PSI) request to host the 2021 Swimming
the Israeli National Kailangan National Selection
Swimming Team for Meet at the New Clark
their training at the nilang City Aquatics Center.
New Clark City Aquat- The IATF-EID also
ics Center in Capas, sumunod allowed athletes who

Millions of people across

Tarlac.
In a virtual press
Ontario have received their
conference, Presiden-
tial Spokesperson Har-
ry Roque said Israeli
COVID-19 vaccine. swimmers would un-
dergo training in Tar-
lac from July 8 to 21
will participate in the
sa health Tokyo Olympics and
at safety
the Southeast Asian
(SEA) Games to resume
protocols... their training under a
“bubble-type” setting.
The 2020 Tokyo
Olympics have been

Do your part.
under a “sports bubble postponed because of
format.” the pandemic.
Israeli swimmers, Roque said, must The global sporting event will official-

Get your shot.

Health Canada-approved vaccines
also comply with strict health and safety
protocols amid the prevailing coronavi-
rus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.
“Kailangan nilang sumunod sa health at
safety protocols (They have to follow the
health and safety protocols),” he said.
ly resume on July 23 and will end on Au-
gust 8 this year.
On the other hand, the 31st SEA
Games is scheduled to take place in Ha-
noi, Vietnam from November 21 to De-
cember 21 this year. ■

are conveniently available at hospitals,

doctors’ offices, pharmacies and
mass vaccination sites. And every dose
brings us closer to what we’ve missed.

Book your appointment today at

ontario.ca/bookvaccine or call 1-888-999-6488
for help in 300 languages.

Paid for by the

Government of Ontario
Pres. Spokesperson Harry Roque
YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO

www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021
Solidum says haze in NCR
due to Taal, ‘human activities’
BY MA. CRISTINA ARAYATA
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Philippine Institute
of Volcanology and Seismology (Phi-
volcs) acknowledged on Wednesday that
the Taal volcanic smog (vog) has reached
Metro Manila and nearby provinces,
aside from “human activities” that con-
tributed to the haze observed in these
areas.
On Tuesday, Phivolcs released a state-
ment, saying the haze in Metro Manila
was not from Taal Volcano. On Wednes-
day, however, it said that based on open
satellite data information for volcanic
sulfur dioxide (SO2), it was learned that
plumes have actually spread over Batan-
gas, Laguna, Cavite, Rizal, Bulacan,
Pampanga, Bataan, Zambales, and the
National Capital Region.
“Satellite detection on June 29, 2021
showed an even larger coverage of Lu-
zon.” it added.
Canadian firm
eyes vaccine
manufacturing
plant in PH
BY FILANE MIKEE CERVANTES
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Negotiations are already
in progress between the Philippine
government and a Canadian biophar-
maceutical company to set up a vaccine
manufacturing plant in the country,
Philippine Ambassador to Canada Ro-
dolfo Robles disclosed Monday.
In an online Palace briefing, Robles
said the negotiations with Medicago
would proceed “more rapidly” and for-
mally after getting the non-disclosure
agreement approved by the Philippine
government through the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST).
“I offered our pharmaceutical eco-
zone in Bulacan I think, and I gave them
all the perks of having a manufacturing
(plant) in the Philippines like trade free
taxes, free capital importations, and the
“In view of the scientific data from the
above satellite platforms, the DOST-Phi-
volcs stands to acknowledge evidence
of the wider extents that volcanic SO2
have actually spread over the NCR and
adjoining provinces and gives credence
to the many observations that the pub-
lic have communicated,” Phivolcs said
Wednesday.
In an interview with the Philippine
News Agency, Phivolcs Director Renato
Solidum, Jr. noted the timing of the oc-
currence of smog in Metro Manila and
when the SO2 got dispersed from the
volcano.
“It is clear that vehicle emission and
other human activities significantly con-
tribute to the occurrence of pollution in
urban areas. (It was) clearly seen that
smog was rising from the ground up. We
could see this especially in the morning
when smog was all over Metro Manila,”
he said.
The pollution in Metro Manila due
to vehicle emissions and other human
like,” he said.
Robles said the Philippines has also
expressed interest in getting some of
the excess coronavirus disease 2019
(Covid-19) vaccines of around 100 mil-
lion doses from Canada.
He said Canada has 180 million
Covid-19 vaccine doses with a popula-
tion of only about 40 million.
“I had the Philippines listed among
those who are interested to get the ex-
cess of Canada,” he added.
Robles said Canada is expected to
have its population fully vaccinated by
the middle of the fourth quarter this
year.
“So before the end of the year, we will
know already how many excess Canada
will have. And I am really watching with
an eagle eye on the prospect of getting
some excess directly from Canada,” he
said. ■
www.canadianinquirer.net
Philippine News 3
activities was worsened by the presence last June 28 over NCR and nearby prov-
of warmer air as a result of temperature inces contributing to the hazy condition
inversion which, he said, started last in the air mass above the ground,” Sol-
June 26 and ended June 30 based on the idum said.
weather bureau’s record. He also clarified that Phivolcs has
“This warm air prevents the rise of based its statements on actual observa-
cold and heavier air with pollutants. The tion of smog in Metro Manila, and data
pollution and smoke have been trapped that they have on hand.
from the ground and below the warm air “With recent data gathered, there was
layer helping promote the accumulation a need to provide a complete scenario,
of smog over NCR and nearby provinc- with smog due to pollution made worse
es,” Solidum explained. by temperature inversion, and addition-
The official added the air quality in al contribution to haze with SO2 gas dis-
NCR has worsened starting June 26 persed over NCR and other provinces,”
even though there was no SO2 disper- Solidum said.
sion over Metro Manila as seen in satel- Vog is a type of air pollution caused
lite images. by volcanoes. It consists of fine drop-
“SO2 emission from Taal Volcano last lets containing volcanic gas such as SO2
June 28 measured 14,326 tonnes per which is acidic and can cause irritation
day and the volcanic plume reached 3 of the eyes, throat, and respiratory tract
kilometers and drifted to the northeast in severities depending on the gas con-
based on observations. However, sat- centrations and durations of exposure.
ellite information from NASA released Phivolcs on Monday and Tuesday said
yesterday afternoon and evaluated last vog has been observed over the Taal cal-
night showed that SO2 was dispersed dera. ■
Now is always the best time to
buy cemetery property.
Purchasing cemetery property today is your best protection
against rising prices and limited inventory. Plan today and save
money while providing peace of mind for the next generation.
ACT NOW! LIMITED-TIME SAVINGS EXPIRE JULY 29, 2021
+
Save up to on 20% 0%
cemetery prearrangements* interest for 60 months**
Call or visit today to take advantage of this special offer:
604-328-6079 | DignityMemorial.com/LowerMainland
FOREST LAWN OCEAN VIEW
FUNERAL HOME & MEMORIAL PARK FUNERAL HOME & BURIAL PARK
3789 Royal Oak Ave. | Burnaby, BC V5G 3M1 4000 Imperial St. | Burnaby, BC V5J 1A4
VICTORY MEMORIAL PARK
FUNERAL CENTRE & CEMETERY
14831 – 28th Ave. | Surrey, BC V4P 1P3
*Limited-time discounts valid only for select cemetery property through July 29, 2021. Applies to new purchases only. Terms and conditions
apply. See an associate for details. | **0% interest-free financing for 60 months valid only with 10% down payment through July 29, 2021.
Alternatively, you may be eligible for additional financing options. Terms and conditions apply. See an associate for eligibility details.
A division of Service Corporation International (Canada) ULC.
 4 Philippine News JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY

PH extends travel SOLUTIONS IMMIGRATION CONSULTING INC.

EXPERT ASSISTANCE - ALL CANADIAN IMMIGRATION MATTERS

ban to India,
6 others over Delta CARI GOMBINSKY SOL GOMBINSKY ANNABELLE MIGALBIN

variant
Owner/Licensed Consultant President and Licensed Consultant Immigration Services Manager
R411207 ICCRC ID: R411199 SERVICE IN PILIPINO
carig@immsol.com Immigration Specialist Since 1967 annabellem@immsol.com
Former manager, 647-765-1580
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
sollyg@immsol.com 416-661-6376

BY RUTH ABBEY GITA-CARLOS
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Philippines has ex-
tended the travel ban for travelers
from India and six other countries un-
til July 15 to prevent the possible entry
of the Delta coronavirus disease 2019
(Covid-19) variant, Malacañang an-
nounced on Tuesday.
The extended travel ban covers India,
Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,
Oman, and the United Arab Emirates
(UAE), Presidential Spokesperson Har-
ry Roque said in a virtual presser.
“Isa itong proactive measure sa pat-
uloy na pagpapatupad ng international
border control dahil sa Covid-19 Del-
ta variant (This is a proactive mea-
sure amid the implementation of in-
ternational border control because of
Covid-19 Delta variant),” Roque said.
The announcement came a day before
the travel restrictions are set to lapse.
Roque clarified that outbound pas-
sengers, including overseas Filipino
workers (OFWs), are still allowed to go
to India and six other countries where
the travel ban was extended.
“Merong din pong mga OFWs na pap-
unta siguro sa ilang lugar diyan. Hindi
naman po sila pinagbabawalan pero
pinag-iingat lang po (There are OFWs
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA)
who will also go to some places there.
They are not prohibited but they should
be careful),” he said.
On June 20, Malacañang said Filipi-
nos in countries covered by temporary
travel ban will still be allowed to return
home, so long as they are covered by the
government’s repatriation efforts.
This is the fourth time the country
has extended travel restrictions on India
and the six other countries.
The travel ban on India was first im-
posed from April 29 to May 15.
The Philippine government later de-
cided to expand the travel restrictions
by including Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri
Lanka, Oman, and UAE.
The Philippines has so far reported a
total of 17 Delta cases which originated
in India.
The country initially detected 13 cases
of Delta Covid-19 variant, all involving
returning Filipino travelers. The four
new cases are also returning Filipinos.
Delta coronavirus variant is found to
be 60 percent more infectious than the
Alpha variant and apparently behind the
surge in cases in other countries, accord-
ing to reports.
Dr. Alethea de Guzman, offi-
cer-in-charge director of the Department
of Health’s epidemiology bureau, noted
that a person who contracts the Delta
variant can infect five to eight people. ■
RISINGTHERMALS/FLICKR, CC BY-NC 2.0
www.immsol.com
1183 Finch Avenue West Suite 508, Toronto M3J 2G2
IN CANADA SERVICES
• Family Class
• Extensions/Change of Status
• Permanent Residence
• Hearings and Appeals
• Humanitarian and Compassionate
• Caregiver Programs
• Citizenship Applications
NTF, Makati apologize
over tired volunteer
nurse’s lapse
BY LADE JEAN KABAGANI
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The viral video of a Makati
health care worker who allegedly forgot
to inject the Covid-19 jab to a female re-
cipient, after inserting the needle into
her arm, was an “isolated case”.
National Task Force (NTF) Against
Covid-19 Deputy Chief Implementer
Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday ap-
pealed for understanding and said the
incident was unintentional.
“It was clearly an isolated case of a
health care worker whom I think was re-
ally very, very tired at that time,” Dizon
said during an interview at the Valenzu-
ela Astrodome where he witnessed a
vaccination activity.
Dizon said the Department of Health
(DOH) and the vaccine task force imme-
diately probed the violation of vaccina-
tion protocol caught on video.
The incident was also reported to the
Makati Mayor’s Office.
The patient went back to the vaccina-
tion site the day after and got her dose,
Dizon added.
“You have to understand our health
care workers are working round the
clock. They are really very tired,” Dizon
said.
Apologies
Makati Mayor Abigail Binay likewise
apologized, saying it was a “human er-
ror” that “was immediately corrected”.
OUT OF CANADA SERVICES
• Permanent Residence
• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Worker
• Skilled Trade Programs
• Visitors Visa
• Business
• Family Class
• Work Permits *Student Permits
“We acknowledge the video. It was
human error on the part of the volun-
teer nurse. Volunteer po siya na nurse.
That was immediately corrected. This
happened June 25, and June 26 bumalik
po siya (vacinee) sa aming tanggapan at
pinakita po ang video at nakita naman
po na hindi ho nga siya nabakunahan
kung kaya’t binigyan ho siya agad ng ba-
kuna (the person went back to our office
and showed the video to us and as soon
as we saw that no vaccination happened,
we immediately gave the person a shot),”
Binay said during the media briefing.
Binay likewise appealed for under-
standing and emphasized all front-lin-
ers are working hard to continue provid-
ing services amid the pandemic.
She also pleaded that netizens stop
bashing the nurse, especially without
enough evidence.
“Maawa naman po kayo sa nurse na
nagkusang-loob na nag-volunteer ng
kaniyang oras para lang po magsilbi sa
ating mga kababayan. Tao lang po ang
ating front-liners, napapagod, nagkaka-
mali (Have pity on the nurse who volun-
teered her time just to serve our coun-
trymen. Our front-liners are humans,
get tired, can make mistakes),” Binay
said.
“Humihingi po siya at kami ng pa-
tawad, at nagbibigay din po kami ng as-
surance na hindi na po ito mangyayari
muli (The nurse has already apologized
and we are giving assurance that it will
not happen again),” she added.■
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021 5

www.canadianinquirer.net
6 Philippine News
Addressing teenage pregnancies
declared as ‘national priority’
BY RUTH ABBEY GITA-
CARLOS
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – President Ro-
drigo Duterte has declared the
prevention of teenage pregnan-
cies as a “national priority.”
Under Executive Order (EO)
141 issued on June 25, Duterte
stressed the need to implement
measures that will address the
root causes of the rising num-
ber of adolescent pregnancies.
“The State shall mobilize
existing coordinative and le-
gal mechanisms related to the
prevention of adolescent preg-
nancies, and to strengthen the
adolescent’s capacity to make
autonomous and informed
decisions about their repro-
ductive and sexual health by
ensuring access to comprehen-
At-large drug
kingpin Lim on
Interpol list
BY BENJAMIN PULTA
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Fugitive Peter
Go Lim, wanted for illegal drug
trafficking, has been on the In-
ternational Criminal Police
Organization (Interpol) list of
fugitives at-large for more than
two years now.
According to the Philip-
pine Center for Transnational
Crime, Lim has been included
in the Interpol’s Red Notice list
since March 2019.
“Still no information on his
whereabouts,” Department
of Justice (DOJ) Secretary
Menardo Guevarra told report-
ers on Tuesday.
Guevarra said they are hop-
ing Interpol assistance, along
with intensified intelligence
operations, would finally locate
Lim, who went missing in 2018
after the Makati City Regional
Trial Court Branch 65 issued a
warrant for his arrest and a hold
sive sexuality education and
reproductive health and rights
services,” the EO read.
Duterte made the decision,
as he acknowledged that child-
bearing in adolescences carries
“increased” risk of health prob-
departure order.
The Bureau of Immigration
(BI) earlier said Lim has no re-
cent departure records.
BI spokesperson Dana San-
doval said records would bare
if Lim had left via airports or
seaports.
“If he used a fraudulent pass-
port, then our equipment would
be able to detect it,” she said in a
statement after Local Govern-
ment Secretary Eduardo Año
said in a recent radio interview
that Lim may already be out of
the country.
The DOJ also filed two counts
of the non-bailable offense of
conspiracy to commit illegal
drug trade against Lim, in viola-
tion of Republic Act No. 9165, or
the Comprehensive Dangerous
Drugs Act of 2002.
Self-confessed drug lord Ro-
lando “Kerwin” Espinosa and
his associate Marcelo Adorco
were likewise charged, along
with Ruel Malindangan who
also went into hiding. ■
lems for both mother and child,
such as anemia, sexually trans-
mitted infections, and postpar-
tum hemorrhage.
The Philippines has record-
ed a total of 180,916 live births
among adolescents aged 10 to
Japan sending 1M doses
of AstraZeneca vax to PH
BY JOYCE ANN L.
ROCAMORA
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Philippines is
set to receive 1 million doses of
AstraZeneca vaccine manufac-
tured in Japan through a gov-
ernment-to-government dona-
tion, the Japanese Embassy in
Manila announced Tuesday.
“We are working double time
so these vaccines reach Philip-
pine shores without delay. We
hope this donation would help
make the Philippines one step
closer to its goal of herd immu-
nity,” the Embassy said.
In a tweet, Japanese Am-
bassador to the Philippines
Koshikawa Kazuhiko said the
shipment will arrive in Manila
“tentatively on July 8”.
The donation was formalized
with the signing and exchange of
notes between Embassy Chargé
d’affaires ad interim Nakata Ma-
sahiro and Foreign Affairs Assis-
tant Secretary Nathaniel Garcia
Imperial on June 29.
According to the Embas-
www.canadianinquirer.net
19 in 2019, according to the data
from the Civil Registration and
Vital Statistics System of the
Philippine Statistics Authority.
The figure is equivalent to
495 live births per day in the 10
to 19 age group.
Only three percent of all live
births within the adolescent
age group are fathered by men
of the same age group, based on
the January 2020 Policy Brief
by the United Nations Popu-
lation Fund Philippines. Such
pregnancies, according to the
briefer, may be a result of “co-
ercion and unequal power re-
lations between girls and older
men.”
A 2016 study by the United
Nations Population Fund Phil-
ippines found that adolescents
lose an aggregate lifetime earn-
ings of about PHP33 billion due
to early childbearing.
sy, this was based on a request
from the Philippine govern-
ment and will be “outside of the
COVAX arrangement”.
“[A]fter the necessary ar-
rangement to donate via CO-
VAX is done, we will seek for
donation via COVAX. How-
ever, until then, we seek for a
government-to-government
arrangement like as this time.
That’s because we need prompt
JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY
“The number of adolescent
pregnancies are expected to
rise, as girls already living in
dysfunctional homes spend
more time with their house-
holds as a result of the [corona-
virus disease 2019] pandemic
and are thereby more exposed
to abuse,” EO 141 said.
To address teenage pregnan-
cies, all government agencies
and instruments are directed to
identify and implement prac-
ticable interventions such as
comprehensive sexuality edu-
cation, education and employ-
ment opportunities for young
people, and health promotion
through media and communi-
cations.
“In the implementation of
the identified programs and
interventions, all concerned
❱❱ PAGE 9 Addressing teenage
response to the situation of
short supply of vaccines and
the current serious situation of
Covid-19,” it told the Philippine
News Agency.
Japan is among the four
nations donating Covid-19
vaccines directly to the Phil-
ippines. The three others are
China, the United States, and
Australia. ■
ARNE MÜSELER, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021
Duterte signs employment
recovery agenda
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – President Ro-
drigo Duterte has signed Ex-
ecutive Order (EO) No. 140 of-
ficially adopting the National
Employment Recovery Strat-
egy (NERS) as the Philippine
government’s master plan for
the revival of the labor market.
The EO institutionalizes the
20-agency strong NERS Task
Force (TF) that will imple-
ment the strategy until 2022
in response to the effects of the
Covid-19 pandemic.
The NERS 2021-2022 is an
employment recovery plan
using the whole-of-society ap-
proach and anchored on the
Updated Philippine Develop-
ment Plan 2017-2022 and Re-
Charge.PH expanding the “Tra-
baho, Negosyo, Kabuhayan”
( jobs, businesses, livelihood)
initiative in consideration of
the changes in the labor market
brought by the pandemic and
the accelerated adoption of new
technologies.
Under EO 140, the NERS is
to precipitate the recovery of
the labor market through the
creation of a policy environ-
ment that encourages genera-
PH one with global coalition in
stamping out ISIS
BY JOYCE ANN L.
ROCAMORA
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – There can be
no strategy for addressing the
Islamic State or ISIS except
stamping it out.
This was the declaration
of Foreign Affairs Secretary
Teodoro Locsin Jr. as he reaf-
firmed Manila’s commitment
to fighting ISIS together with
other nations during the Min-
isterial Meeting of the Global
Coalition Against Daesh/ISIS
in Rome on June 28.
In a statement posted by the
Department of Foreign Affairs
tion of and improved access to
employment, livelihood, and
training opportunities; the im-
provement of employability,
wellness, and productivity of
workers; and the provision of
support to existing and emerg-
ing businesses, ensuring the
preservation of employment.
Composition
NERS will be chaired by the
Department of Trade and In-
dustry, with the Department of
Labor and Employment and the
Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority as co-
chairs.
Members of the inter-agen-
cy task force include the De-
partments of Transportation,
Tourism, Public Works and
Highways, Science and Tech-
nology, Social Welfare and De-
velopment, Agriculture, Agrar-
ian Reform, Interior and Local
Government, Information and
Communications Technology,
Environment and Natural Re-
sources, Education, Finance,
and Budget and Management.
Included are the Commission
on Higher Education, National
Security Council (NSC), Office
of the Cabinet Secretary, and
National Economic and Devel-
opment Authority.
(DFA) on Tuesday, Locsin un-
derscored that ISIS is about
nothing but submission, not to
God nor religion but ISIS.
“ISIS is not an idea in action
like Shining Light and the for-
lorn insurgencies of the Cold
War. ISIS propounds no ideas.
It doesn’t preach; it just prac-
tices murder, rape, and destruc-
tion,” he said.
“It is said an idea cannot be
destroyed. Not true. All that’s
needed is to destroy the ves-
sel that holds it when the idea
consists only of murder, rape,
and destruction. There can be
no strategy for addressing ISIS
except stamping it out.”
In 2017, the Philippine city
The NERS TF has the follow-
ing powers and functions:
a. Formulate the NERS Ac-
tion Plan, and make the neces-
sary changes thereto, in order
to address the recovery of the
labor market, and the prevail-
ing employment issues therein;
b. Harmonize the employ-
ment, livelihood and training
projects and programs of the
National Government towards
the preservation and creation
of more jobs;
c. Foster strong partnerships
that will complement and sus-
tain efforts for stakeholders to
recover, secure and preserve
employment, as well as rebuild
the labor market;
d. Tap the private sector
employers’ groups, the Inter-
national Labour Organization
Country Office, and other part-
ners, where mutually feasible,
for joint programs and techni-
cal cooperation initiatives to
augment and expand employ-
ment generation and livelihood
projects;
e. Identify existing relevant
programs of the. member-agen-
cies of the Task Force for har-
monization with the NERS;
f. Engage in promotional ac-
tivities to expand the reach of
of Marawi was added to the list
of cities left in ruins when mili-
tant groups affiliated with ISIS
overran the area. It was only
after six months of fierce battle
that the government was able to
retake the city.
The United States-led global
coalition reported that ISIS no
longer controls territory and
nearly 80 million people have
been freed from its control in
Syria and Iraq, but “the threat
remains.”
It noted that the resumption
in Daesh/ISIS activities and its
ability to rebuild its networks
and capabilities to target both
security forces and civilians in
areas in Iraq and Syria where
www.canadianinquirer.net
Philippine News
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte
the national and local employ-
ment campaign;
g. Oversee the implementa-
tion of the NERS Action Plan,
ensure the attainment of its ob-
jectives, and recommend mea-
sures to address gaps in imple-
mentation; and
h. Perform such other func-
tions as the President may direct.
When it started
The NERS TF was first or-
ganized on Feb. 5, 2021, during
the ceremonial signing of the
NERS Joint Memorandum Cir-
cular constituting the group.
On Feb. 22, President Dute-
the coalition is not active, “re-
quires strong vigilance and co-
ordinated action.”
In a joint communiqué, the
83-member coalition reiterated
“shared determination to con-
tinue the fight against Daesh/
ISIS, and to create conditions
for the enduring defeat of the
terrorist group.”
The ministers also empha-
sized the protection of civil-
ians as a priority and affirmed
that international law, includ-
ing international humanitarian
law and international human
rights law, must be upheld un-
der all circumstances.
They also expressed com-
mitment to strengthening co-
7
KING RODRIGUEZ/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO
rte approved the NERS during
the 52nd Cabinet meeting and
ordered the development of an
EO institutionalizing the plan
and the task force.
The EO was originally ex-
pected to be signed on Labor
Day on May 1 during the TGER
(Task Group on Economic Re-
covery)-NERS Job Summit but
it was still undergoing further
review and improvements at
the time.
EO 140 is expected to
strengthen the NERS Task
❱❱ PAGE 13 Duterte signs
operation to  ensure that the
Daesh/ISIS Core in Iraq and
Syria, and its affiliates and net-
works around the world are un-
able to reconstitute any territo-
rial enclave.
Since 2014, the global coali-
tion has carried out a compre-
hensive strategy to destroy ISIS.
Among its milestones is the re-
moval of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi
in October 2019 and scores of
ISIS leaders.
It has also destroyed “100
percent of ISIS’s territorial ca-
liphate,” liberating more than
42,000 square miles and sup-
porting the safe and voluntary
return of nearly eight million
people from ISIS’s brutal rule. ■
8 Philippine News JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY

Law allows civilians to carry

guns: DOJ chief
BY BENJAMIN PULTA Over the weekend President Duter- when a criminal resists arrest or threat-
Philippine News Agency te said he welcomed the idea of issuing ens the arresting person.
Correspondent/Hosts firearms to qualified volunteers to help The President said they must famil-
Bea Kirstein T. Manalaysay
Joanna Belle Deala the government enforce the law. iarize themselves with the law and ar-
Kathleen Mae Guerrero MANILA – Department of Justice “If you are qualified, get a gun and rest procedures.
Arianne Grace Lacanilao (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra on help us enforce the laws,” Duterte said The newly formed coalition includes
Violeta Arevelo
Babes Newland Tuesday said there is nothing legally during the launch of the Global Coali- volunteer village watchmen, environ-
Matte Laurel amiss in the announcement of President tion of Lingkod Bayan Advocacy Sup- mentalists, representatives from wom-
Graphic Design
Rodrigo Duterte to allow qualified civil- port Groups and Force Multipliers in en and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
Shanice Garcia ians to bear arms as force multipliers Camp Crame, Quezon City, stressing transgender) groups, riders and motor-
Ginno Alcantara Except during a martial law, Guevarra that using firearms is applicable only ists, and the religious sector. ■
Arlnie Colleene Talain Singca
told reporters that civilians have always
Account Manager been free to arm themselves for their
Kristopher Yong protection, provided they comply with
Director/Producer
all existing laws and regulations on the
Boom Dayupay ownership, possession, and carrying of
firearms outside residence, including
Photographers/Videographers
Ginno Alcantara
the requirement to pass a neuro-psychi-
Hannah Dela Cruz atric test.
A mandatory drug test is also required.
Operations and Admin
Victoria Yong
The DOJ chief, however, expressed
Amelia Insigne misgivings about allowing civilian
groups to be armed legally and said the
Management
Alan Yong
Philippine National Police (PNP) has
sufficient manpower and resources to
combat crime.
For photo submissions, please email
“Allowing them to band together and
editor@canadianinquirer.net act like a vigilante group, however, is a
totally different matter. I believe that
For General Inquiries, please email
info@canadianinquirer.net
the PNP is strong enough to perform this
duty. Besides, except for a few high-pro-
For Sales Inquiries, please email file incidents of violence, criminality on
sales@canadianinquirer.net
or visit
the streets is at an all-time low, due in DOJ Sec. Menardo Guevarra
‘www.canadianinquirer.net/advertise-with-us/’ part to the pandemic,” he said. PCOO

Philippine Canadian Inquirer is located at

#1820-666 Burrard Street
Vancouver BC V6C 2X8 Canada Voters told to...
Email: info@canadianinquirer.net, ❰❰ 1 who are not vitiating the rules Congress has not acted on it. Legal Network for Truthful Elections
sales@canadianinquirer.net while the race is not yet on. “A lot of electoral reforms that have (LENTE), said it is always part of their
Make sure to apply that same to be done are with Congress. But they campaign not to support candidates who
standard whether you are with or you don’t act on it because they are benefi- are not following the rules.
like the candidate,” Jimenez said. ciaries to the established laws,” he said. “People should not support those who
Eric Alvia, Secre- He said one of the violate even as the campaign period has
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/
channel/UCGvCxcZGXZVbAWhNLRJIfTw
tary General of the reforms is the strict not started yet. It is always our campaign
National Movement submission of the not to support or not to vote for such
Philippine Canadian Inquirer is published weekly
every Friday.
for Free Elections statements of contri- candidates,” she said.
(Namfrel), support- butions and expendi- She said premature campaigning “will
Copies are distributed free throughout Metro
Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary, and Greater Toronto. ed the call of the tures (SOCEs). always transcend to transparency and
Comelec. “Comelec can governance.”
The views and opinions expressed in the articles
(including opinions expressed in ads herein) are those
of the authors named, and are not necessarily those of
“We should not Don’t vote probably strengthen Rosales said what the people can do
reward bad behav- or strictly enforce is to document and to support different
Philippine Canadian Inquirer Editorial Team.
ior. This is already for them. the SOCE submis- initiatives such as capturing premature
PCI reserves the right to reject any advertising which
it considers to contain false or misleading information a portent of things Don’t reward sion by asking can- campaigning.
or involves unfair or unethical practices. The advertiser
agrees the publisher shall not be liable for damages to come. If now, a didates to file state- “At the same time, we can always sup-
arising out of error in any advertisement. particular candi- bad behavior. ment that they have port the institutionalization of what we
date taking advan- not spent six months want. What we can do is support the
Member tage, what more if or a year before Cer- pending bills that can restore the candi-
he’s public office, tificate of Candidacy date’s definition,” she added.
where there are a (COC) filing on elec- The campaign period for candidates
lot of temptation. tion related matters. for national positions is set to begin on
We can already see a When they file for February 8 until May 7, 2022 or 90 days
glimpse of this kind their SOCE, they before the polls.
of leadership or kind of integrity this should do it periodically until end of Those who are running for local posi-
person has,” he said. election period. So the people can tract tions have 45 days to campaign which will
Alvia said many electoral reforms are them as well,” he said. start on March 25 until May 7, 2022. ■
needed to lessen election violations but Brizza Rosales, project director of

www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021
Pope Francis appoints Pabillo PRC launches
as vicar apostolic in Palawan mobile vaccination
BY FERDINAND PATINIO
Philippine News Agency with Ube Xpress
MANILA – Pope Francis has
appointed Manila Auxiliary
Bishop Broderick Pabillo as Vicar
Apostolic of Taytay in Palawan.
Also given a new assignment is
Rev. Fr. Noel Pedregisa as Bishop
of Malaybalay in Bukidnon. The
bishop-elect is the Diocesan Ad-
ministrator of Malaybalay.
Their appointments were
made public at the Vatican at 6
p.m. local time on June 29.
Pabillo has served as the Ap-
ostolic Administrator of Manila
for more than a year, before the
Addressing teenage...
❰❰ 6 agencies and instru-
mentalities shall max-
imize the use of digital
and online platforms to reach
adolescents and young people,
and raise awareness on the pro-
tection and promotion of re-
productive health and rights,”
the order read.
State departments and offic-
es are also directed to empower
their regional and field offices
and strengthen coordinative
mechanism with local govern-
ment units, and civil society
organizations to reach adoles-
cents in geographically-isolat-
ed and –depressed areas such
as island municipalities, upland
communities, hard-to-reach ar-
eas, and conflict-affected areas.
Youth councils are also en-
joined to develop interventions
and implement programs to
prevent all known causes of ad-
olescent pregnancies.
The Human Development
and Poverty Reduction (HPDR)
Cabinet Cluster and other rel-
evant agencies are tasked to
assist youth councils in imple-
Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo
installation of Manila Arch-
bishop Jose Cardinal Advicula
on June 24.
menting programs aimed at ed-
ucating the youth on adolescent
sexual and reproductive health,
providing youth-friendly and
rights-based measures, formu-
lating retention strategies, and
following-up on pregnant girls
or young mothers.
Under EO 141, the National
Youth Commission is directed
to establish a forum for con-
tinuing dialogue between the
government and the youth
sector on the proper planning
and evaluation of policies, pro-
grams, and projects affecting
the youth.
The Philippine Commission
on Women and Commission on
Population and Development
(POPCOM) is also ordered to
educate leaders, parents, and
other community members
about evidence-based strate-
gies to reduce, if not eliminate,
adolescent pregnancy, and im-
prove adolescent reproductive
health.
“The POPCOM shall consol-
idate a Comprehensive Action
Plan Towards the Prevention
CBCP
The dates for their installa-
tion to their respective new po-
sitions have yet to be set. ■
of Adolescent Pregnancies the
different initiatives of all gov-
ernment agencies and institu-
tions,” it said.
Sixty days after the issuance
of EO 141, the HPDR Cabinet
Cluster is mandated to report
to the Office of the President
(OP) the mechanisms effected
to implement the order.
The HDPR Cabinet Cluster is
also required to submit annual
reports to the OP on the imple-
mentation of EO 141.
The funding for the imple-
mentation of EO 141 will be
charged against the allocation
for Gender and Development in
the respective budgets of con-
cerned agencies, and as may be
warranted, against sources that
will be identified by the Depart-
ment of Budget and Manage-
ment, as may be necessary.
EO 141, which was made pub-
lic just on Tuesday, takes effect
immediately upon its complete
publication in the Official Ga-
zette or in a newspaper of gen-
eral circulation. ■
www.canadianinquirer.net
Philippine News
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Philippine
Red Cross (PRC) introduces the
mobile vaccination for Covid-19
to serve senior citizens and per-
sons with disabilities who do
not have access to the different
“bakuna” centers.
PRC’s goal is to make the vac-
cination program more accessi-
ble due to the low turnout rate.
According to Pulse Asia Sur-
vey, six out of 10 Filipinos do
not want to get vaccinated.
This mobile vaccination will
increase vaccine confidence as
PRC will bring the mobile vac-
cination right to the doorstep.
These buses were previously
used in the vaccination of more
than one million children against
polio and measles-rubella.
PRC pioneers the mobile
vaccination clinics in the coun-
try. The buses are also equipped
with a cold chain system, mo-
bile refrigerator, and vaccine
cabinet for administering vac-
cination against Covid-19.
“Nagawa natin ito noong
pagbabakuna kontra polio at
measles. Magagawa din natin
kontra Covid-19 (We have done
9
the vaccination before against
polio and measles. We can also
do it against Covid-19),” PRC
Chairman and CEO Senator
Richard Gordon said in a media
release on Tuesday.
Three days ago, the PRC mo-
bile vaccine clinic was show-
cased in Marikina with the sup-
port of the local government
unit to vaccinate industrial
workers in the city.
Marikina Mayor Marcy Te-
odoro attended the event and
was very grateful for the initia-
tive of the PRC head and the
Red Cross to reach more com-
munities with this innovation.
PRC deployed the mobile
vaccine to Navotas as the hu-
manitarian organization aims
to vaccinate fisherfolk in the
night markets and fishing ports.
“The mobile vaccination will
be there where we are needed.
Our goal is to reach the last mile
upang mas marami ang maba-
kunahan lalo na ang mga nan-
gangailangan. Lahat ng Pilipino
may laban. Lahat ay protektado
(to have more people vaccinat-
ed especially those who need it
most. All Filipinos have a fight-
ing chance. All are protected),”
Gordon said.■
PHILIPPINE RED CROSS/FACEBOOK
10
Canada News
Indigenous self-government in Yukon
holds lessons for all of Canada
BY GABRIELLE A. SLOWEY
Policy Options
Few know the story of Yukon’s jour-
ney toward self-government. But if Can-
ada is serious about reconciliation, it
should take notes on the process.
The Yukon government and a com-
mittee of First Nations chiefs reached a
significant milestone early this summer.
On June 3, 2021, they struck an agree-
ment to establish a First Nations School
Board, which will allow First Nations
communities in the territory to assume
greater authority and control over how
children are educated and responsibil-
ity for the eventual operation of local
schools.
“We are excited to be on the doorstep
of creating a Yukon First Nations School
Board, which will provide Yukon First
Nations with greater control, authority
and responsibility over the education of
their citizens and support self-determi-
nation,” said Dana Tizya-Tramm, chief of
Vuntut Gwitchin First Nation, one of the
signatories to the agreement, and chair of
the Chiefs Committee on Education.
The accord was also the latest step in
a journey toward Indigenous self-gov-
ernment in Yukon that’s been decades
in the making. Yet most Canadians are
unfamiliar with it and its ramifications.
Since 1993, 11 of Yukon’s 14 First Na-
tions have had land-claims and self-gov-
ernment agreements, accounting for al-
most half of such agreements in Canada.
These agreements are constitutionally
protected modern treaties that outline
First Nations’ rights within their tra-
ditional territories. They describe how
the federal, territorial and First Nations
governments interact with each other
and define First Nations ownership of
and decision-making powers on settle-
ment land – addressing everything from
fish and wildlife to education.
In my recent IRPP report – Indig-
enous Self-Government in Yukon:
Looking for Ways to Pass the Torch – I
argue the agreements have redefined
the relationship between First Nations
and non-First Nations people, and have
fundamentally altered Yukon society.
They also serve as a model for Indige-
nous-state relations throughout Cana-
da, and as a guide for modern-day trea-
ty-making.
A movement begins
Unlike many of their counterparts in
southern Canada, First Nations com-
munities in the Yukon had no treaties
before 1993. The land settlement and
self-government agreements struck in
that year define First Nations’ self-gov-
ernment powers, including law-making
and taxation. Self-government means
that a First Nation no longer falls under
the jurisdiction of the federal Indian
Act. The territorial government must
work side-by-side with First Nations
governments on matters such as educa-
tion reform and land-use planning.
The first stirrings of a self-govern-
ment movement in Yukon emerged
during the gold rush of the late 1890s,
when tens of thousands of would-be
prospectors rushed to the Klondike to
seek their fortunes. In 1902, Chief Jim
Boss of the Ta’an Kwäch’än First Nation
wrote to Ottawa demanding compensa-
tion for loss of land and the effects on
wildlife by non-Indigenous hunters and
gold prospectors. “Tell the King very
hard we want something for our Indi-
ans, because they take our land and our
game,” the letter said.
Although ultimately unsuccessful, he
set the stage for a concerted campaign
in the 1950s and 1960s to organize First
Nations in the territory, which led to the
creation in 1968 of the Yukon National
Whitehorse, Yukon
www.canadianinquirer.net
Brotherhood and the Yukon Association
for Non-Status Indians two years later.
A blueprint for action
Growing political awareness among
Yukon First Nations, as well as land
claims negotiations underway in neigh-
bouring Alaska, led to the drafting of
Together Today for Our Children To-
morrow, a manifesto that laid out the
terms identified by Yukon First Nations
as necessary for settlement. The docu-
ment, drafted by Chief Elijah Smith and
other Indigenous leaders and citizens,
was a statement of grievances and rec-
ommendations for “a fair and just” set-
tlement. It outlined demands for greater
First Nations inclusion and input about
types of Northern development, greater
control over education, and other pro-
posals for reform. It was, in essence, a
blueprint for action.
Smith and other Indigenous leaders
travelled to Ottawa in 1973 to present
the manifesto to then-prime minister
Pierre Trudeau, marking the start of
land claims negotiations. After two de-
cades and several false starts, the land-
mark Umbrella Final Agreement was
signed in Whitehorse on May 29, 1993,
by the Council of Yukon Indians (now
the Council of Yukon First Nations) and
the federal and territorial governments.
Over the next 13 years, 11 subagreements
were negotiated and signed with First
JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY
Nations communities.
The subagreements provide for three
categories of land settlement, and stip-
ulate possession of surface and subsur-
face rights. They also created a category
of land settlement known as traditional
territories, and gave First Nations the
right to be involved in the management
of the lands, as well as specific rights
and benefits such as hunting, fishing,
economic development and co-manage-
ment of parks and cultural heritage sites.
To put the Umbrella Final Agreement
into practice, an implementation work-
ing group was formed. The group, which
still functions today, includes represen-
tatives from each of the self-governing
First Nations, and the territorial and
federal governments.
Self-government agreements are
significant
Three Yukon First Nations – the
White River First Nation, the Liard First
Nation and the Ross River Dena Coun-
cil – have yet to finalize self-government
and land-settlement agreements.
Nevertheless, the 11 self-govern-
ment agreements negotiated so far are
groundbreaking and far-reaching. They
protect and enhance Indigenous cul-
ture, economy and lifestyle, and have
made First Nations equitable partners
in the governance of Yukon society.
Tizya-Tramm has noted that self-gov-
ernment has given Yukon First Nations
the tools to address climate change. In
May 2019, the Vuntut Gwitchin of Old
Crow declared a state of emergency
over the effects of climate change in the
North, a declaration that could lay the
groundwork for a climate-change accord
between Indigenous nations around the
word.
Self-governance also paved the way
for the establishment of the First Na-
tions School Board, giving First Nations
communities control over one of the pil-
lars of self-government identified in the
1973 manifesto.
But the story of the Yukon treaties
and Indigenous self-government in the
territory remains largely unknown in
Canada. If Canadians are serious about
reconciliation, they need to learn more
about this important work. ■
This article first appeared on Policy
Options and is republished here under a
Creative Commons license.
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021
Pop-up shops can help revitalize hard-
hit business districts and main streets
BY HONG YU
Policy Options
Temporary retailers can
help the recovery, but business
groups, commercial landlords,
property managers and civic
leaders need to be supportive.
Commercial activities are
the engine of an economy and
the backbone of socially vibrant
communities. The impacts of
the COVID-19 global pandem-
ic on the retail sector are dev-
astating, especially for small
businesses in urban centres,
gentrifying neighbourhoods,
less-privileged areas and down-
town main streets in predomi-
nantly rural areas. Even before
the pandemic hit, many vacant
retail spaces and “for lease”
signs were distinctly visible in
some of these business clusters.
In any neighbourhood, empty
storefronts indicate declining
activities, reduce aesthetic ap-
peal, increase safety concerns
and discourage walk-by traffic.
How can we revitalize these
business districts and rebuild
the economy of our towns and
cities? Pop-up shops – tempo-
rary stores that “pop up” for a
few hours, days or months – can
offer a relatively low-cost solu-
tion. The “here today, gone to-
morrow” feature has a unique
appeal for customers.
The global pandemic has cre-
ated unique opportunities for
pop-up retail to blossom across
Canada. Pop-ups these days
tend to concentrate primarily
on food and restaurants in out-
door spaces (empty parking lots
and patios), in contrast to the
focus on fashion-related prod-
ucts in malls and stores before
the onset of the pandemic.
Leveraging pop-up shops
for community revitalization
requires the efforts of many
stakeholders, such as Business
Improvement Areas (BIAs),
landlords, property managers,
civic leaders and retail entre-
preneurs. How can various
stakeholders play an active role,
and what are the challenges?
Recommendations for action
A Retail Main Streets study
led by the City of Toronto offers
many proposals in this regard.
Its recommended framework
for action includes providing
assistance for small business-
es, property tax reform and
community economic develop-
ment. One example is a “small
business advocate” to serve as
a point of contact between city
hall and small businesses. The
advocate would also provide
one-on-one assistance with
navigating city rules, policies
and regulations, as well as act-
ing as a liaison for other units in
city hall to develop strategies to
better service small businesses.
Another concrete example of
helping small businesses con-
trol their operating costs would
be for cities to continue to cap
annual property tax increases.
The pandemic has made it a
priority to nurture innovation
and address vacancy levels. One
initiative focuses on cultivat-
ing and financially supporting
digital and technological in-
novations to enable business-
es to survive and grow, while
ground-level vacancy-rate
challenges can be addressed by
establishing a web portal for
listing commercial leasing op-
portunities and BIA-organized
pop-up retail programs. All of
these action items are critical
for main street retail (including
pop-up shops) to sustain and
prosper post-pandemic.
One critical stakeholder af-
fecting pop-up success is land-
lords. Naturally, commercial
property landlords prefer long-
term tenants and resist the idea
of short-term pop-up leases.
How to pitch to a landlord the
idea for a short-term lease is
discussed in the 2018 edition of
the open-access book Pop-up
Retail Strategies in an Omni-
channel Context. It was written
by a group of retail researchers
and practitioners (including
this author) and provides many
valuable tips. In a nutshell, en-
trepreneurs need to be able to
convince landlords of the ben-
efits beyond rent. For example,
increased street traffic provides
publicity and exposure to entice
long-term tenants. Pop-ups can
make store spaces more aes-
thetically pleasing and easier to
rent, and they may help poten-
tial long-term tenants visualize
the space as an operating store.
Challenges and opportunities
Before life returns to normal,
pop-up operations must address
the challenges of limited space
and maintaining social distanc-
ing. In addition to following
public health guidelines, pop-up
retailers can utilize technologies
to enrich the shopping experi-
ence and streamline traffic flow
within the indoor environment.
For example, they can promote
products via digital screens on-
site and/or social media, and
provide product ordering infor-
mation via QR codes for online/
mobile ordering outside the
store.
Pop-up retailers should con-
sider an area’s demographics
when setting up their store
layout. Racetrack layouts are
common because they ensure
that the customer can easily
browse the entire store. For
pop-up shops, the most robust
marketing channel is usually
social media. Additionally, pop-
up retailers can connect with
new customers as they come
in by asking them to follow the
store’s social media pages and
channels. The main client base
for main street pop-up retailers
comes from the local communi-
ty, friends and online custom-
ers. Creating buzz around the
pop-ups via social media, email
lists, flyers, signage and word of
mouth can also help draw traffic
from outside the local area.
Point of sale (POS) systems
and Wi-Fi can be difficult to
establish as a service interface
because they conflict with the
short-term nature of pop-up
shops. Retailers can use data
hot-spotting from cell phones
to run Wi-Fi in the store, and
www.canadianinquirer.net
Canada News
handheld POS systems such
as Square or existing online
store-payment systems.
For a heightened temporal
retail atmosphere, products of-
fered by pop-up retailers usu-
ally are locally made artisanal
products and unique products
not sold by other retailers in the
area. Due to the short-term na-
ture of the pop-up shops, prod-
ucts need to be overstocked and
readily available, and usually
focus on customers’ immedi-
ate needs such as gifts, current
seasonal merchandise and ev-
eryday items. Oy’s joys micro
bakery’s pop-up shop offering
old-fashioned baked goods right
off its production site is an excel-
lent example. Another popular
pop-up shop offering is enter-
tainment-themed, such as To-
ronto’s Metallica pop-up shop.
Pop-up shops can create
more foot traffic in an area as
their customers explore a new
retail mix. However, sales can
be impacted by many situation-
al factors, such as weather, sea-
son and the day of the week. For
example, sales volumes vary
drastically before and after the
Christmas and New Year’s hol-
idays, and there is more foot
traffic in the warmer months
of the year. Weekends have sig-
nificantly more foot traffic than
weekdays, but weekday morn-
ings and after-school times also
have heavy foot traffic as many
consumers drop off and pick up
kids from school. As a result,
research in the pop-up area,
such as traffic count, and de-
mographic and psychographic
11
profiling, should be a first step
in the planning process.
The COVID-19 pandemic has
in many ways changed our lives
and how businesses operate.
While the long-term economic
and health impacts are still to
be seen, business communities
have shown impressive resil-
iency in the face of a global cri-
sis. Some small retailers have
expanded their digital presence
to connect with local shoppers.
Square reveals that 61 per cent
of Canadian businesses are
selling online, up from 41 per
cent pre-pandemic. Others
have turned to innovative ac-
tivations, evidenced by pop-up
markets in Vancouver, Calgary
and Edmonton.
Some observers say pop-up
retail was made for the pandem-
ic and can serve as a powerful
path for regions to reopen. The
time is now for policy-makers,
business community leaders
and other stakeholders to sup-
port and facilitate pop-up shops
as they contribute to economic
recovery, reduce storefront va-
cancy rates, promote local shop-
per engagement and attract new
business concepts in the journey
toward community revitaliza-
tion and prosperity. ■
This article is part of the Re-
shaping Canada’s Cities After
the Pandemic Shockwave special
feature.
This article first appeared
on Policy Options and is repub-
lished here under a Creative
Commons license.
12
Decriminalizing drug use
is a necessary step, but it won’t end the
opioid overdose crisis
BY ALISSA GREER, Simon
Fraser University
The Conversation
Media, policy-makers, advo-
cates and the public claim that
decriminalization will make
drug use safer and save lives.
But can it?
Decriminalization has been
somewhat of a policy buzzword
in recent years, with ample
media coverage. It comes with
both public and government
support.
A 2020 survey of more than
5,000 Canadians showed that
the majority (59 per cent) favour
the decriminalization of drugs.
The Canadian Association of
Chiefs of Police has also public-
ly supported decriminalization,
along with British Columbia’s
chief public health officer.
Such support has also come
with action. This year, the City
of Vancouver submitted an ap-
plication to Health Canada for
an exemption from Canada’s
Controlled Drugs and Sub-
stances Act — a policy reform
referred to as the Vancouver
Model of decriminalization.
An alternative response
In the simplest terms, de-
criminalization is an alterna-
tive response to criminal penal-
ties for simple possession. The
most recent data shows there
were over 48,000 drug-relat-
ed offences in Canada in 2019,
most of which were for posses-
sion for personal use.
The criminalization of drugs
results in significant health,
social and economic harms,
particularly to those who are
homeless, experiencing men-
tal health issues, racialized or
Indigenous. By eliminating a
criminalized response to drug
possession, drug policy reform
efforts can minimize the con-
tact between people who use
drugs and the criminal justice
system, and may increase their
connection to health and social
systems.
However, alongside recog-
nition of the ineffectiveness of
criminalization and support for
an alternative model, we need
Canada News
to be realistic with our expecta-
tions of what decriminalization
can do.
Decriminalization versus
regulation
Decriminalization does not
mean that people can buy co-
caine and heroin at the store as
they would alcohol and tobac-
co. Only legal regulation can do
that. Legal regulation, which
drug policy advocates endorse
, includes rules to control who
can access what drug and when,
as opposed to a free market or
full legalization.
An example of legalization is
Canada’s Cannabis Act, which
provides a legal framework to
control the production, sale and
possession of cannabis.
Unlike legal frameworks ap-
plied to the supply of drugs,
decriminalization does not pro-
mote a “safer supply” of drugs.
The overdose crisis is driven by
an unpredictable, illegal drug
supply that is marked with
adulterants, contaminants and
other substances. Decriminal-
ization won’t directly impact
this supply of drugs, they will
continue to be made in unregu-
lated ways and places.
The illegal drug market will
continue to be criminalized,
unpredictable and precarious,
and people will continue to be
unsure of what’s in their drugs
(in lieu of better drug checking
services or how potent they are.
Under a decriminalized model,
the overdose risk will inevitably
remain high.
That said, decriminalization
is still a necessary step in ad-
dressing the crisis.
The benefits of decrimi-
nalization
Decriminalization chang-
es the way we think about
drugs. Drug use will no longer
be treated as a criminal issue,
but instead a health and social
one. This means that instead
of addressing drugs through
handcuffs, the focus will be on
the root causes of drug use, in-
cluding inequities rooted in
housing and health care.
Decriminalization saves
governments money. A large
proportion of the justice sys-
tem — police, courts, prisons
— are occupied with drug-re-
lated crimes. As seen in other
decriminalized jurisdictions
such as Portugal, it can reduce
the demands and costs to this
system.
Considering the demonstrat-
ed need for addiction and men-
tal health resources, the money
saved could be well spent else-
where, such as community-led
responses, health care, housing
and social programs.
Decriminalization posi-
www.canadianinquirer.net
tively impacts people’s lives.
Especially for those targeted by
drug law enforcement, namely
poor, homeless and racialized
people who use drugs, decrim-
inalization can have a positive
impact.
For example, eliminating
criminal records related to drug
possession offences promotes
opportunities for people to ac-
cess employment and housing.
Interactions between people
who use drugs and police can
also be reduced or, better yet,
won’t happen at all.
Decriminalization reduc-
es stigma. Negative views to-
wards drugs and people who
use them is a major factor in the
overdose crisis. By reshaping
the way our family, friends and
the medical profession think
about drugs, drug use can be
talked about more openly and
honestly.
Reducing stigma can also en-
courage people who use drugs
to talk to their doctors about
prescription-based therapies.
At the very least, it will help
bring drug use out from isola-
tion, where fatal overdoses tend
to be the highest.
Decriminalization encour-
ages people to call 911 at the
scene of an overdose. Fear of
police is currently a barrier to
this. Although people cannot be
JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY
charged with simple possession
at the scene of a drug overdose
under drug-related Good Sa-
maritan laws, fear of the police
is still a deterrent. Legislation
that decriminalizes drug pos-
session can reassure people
that they will not face criminal
penalties. And police will no
longer need to respond to calls
about overdoses.
Decriminalization is harm
reduction. Although some
people fear that decriminaliza-
tion may increase or encourage
drug use, this concern is simply
not supported by evidence. We
know from dozens of countries,
states and cities that have de-
criminalized drugs that use
does not significantly increase.
In some places, it has actually
decreased.
Decriminalization also low-
ers overdose and disease rates,
while increasing people’s access
to social services and health
care. In this way, a decriminal-
ization model is a basic harm
reduction approach, mitigating
the harms experienced by peo-
ple who use drugs by eliminat-
ing or minimizing the source of
those harms: criminalization.
A critical step
Overall, the notion of de-
criminalization is not a panacea
or a standalone solution to the
harms of drug prohibition — but
it is a critical step in the right
direction. It will have a positive
impact on the lives of so many
people who are harmed daily
from criminalization.
However, in recognizing the
limitations of decriminaliza-
tion models, governments and
other stakeholders can refocus
efforts on what does directly
impact the overdose crisis: a
safer supply. Decriminalization
must be paired with greater
access to safer pharmaceutical
alternatives to the toxic and il-
legal drug market.
That’s what will save lives. ■
Caitlin Shane, staff lawyer at
Pivot Legal Society, co-authored
this article.
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021
The NDP turns 60: It’s never truly been
the political arm of organized labour
BY LARRY SAVAGE, Brock
University
The Conversation
The New Democratic Par-
ty turns 60 this summer.
Throughout its entire history,
media pundits and political
opponents have lambasted the
party as the puppet of orga-
nized labour. This characteriza-
tion, however, no longer holds
water — if it ever did.
The widely held yet deeply
flawed assumption that the NDP
is the political arm of Canada’s
labour movement has been held
up by voices on both the left and
right of the political spectrum.
The history and reality of the
party-union relationship, how-
ever, is much more complex.
The Canadian Labour Con-
gress played a key role in of-
ficially launching the NDP in
August 1961 as a new progres-
sive electoral vehicle for work-
ing-class voters.
The party’s pro-union archi-
tects anticipated that the cre-
ation of the NDP would squeeze
out the Liberals and establish the
party as the primary alternative
to the Conservatives. However,
that much-hoped-for electoral
realignment has never really ma-
terialized at the federal level.
From the start, union lead-
ers struggled to convince their
members to support the NDP.
That created a dynamic char-
acterized by close relations be-
tween union and party leaders
without an equivalent relation-
ship at the rank-and-file level.
Formal union affiliation to
the party peaked in 1963 at just
Duterte signs...
❰❰ 7 Force’s implementa-
tion of its 8-Point Em-
ployment Recovery
Agenda.
The PHP 1.14-trillion plan
is expected to generate at least
220,000 jobs and assist over
1.4 million Filipinos struggling
with unemployment and in-
come losses.
The Job Summit, which
brought together over 500 em-
ployer and worker groups rep-
resented by over 2,000 partic-
14.6 per cent of union members,
before facing a steady decline
over the next few decades.
And union members, despite
the best efforts of some labour
leaders, have never formed a re-
liable and consistent NDP vot-
ing bloc.
Why aren’t unions loyal to
the NDP?
Although important seg-
ments of the union movement
continue to hold special status
as key party stakeholders, and
even though unions continue to
be an important source of NDP
candidates, organized labour’s
formal ties and influence over
the party have diminished con-
siderably in recent decades.
How do we account for this?
There are several contributing
factors.
First, the labour movement
has undergone significant
changes since the 1960s. The
NDP was really the creation of
private sector industrial unions
that dominated the labour
movement in the immediate
post-Second World War period.
However, the rise of public sec-
tor unionism has significantly
altered the composition of the
labour movement and, by ex-
tension, its political priorities.
While the NDP does main-
tain some ties with specific pub-
lic sector unions, the uneven
track record of provincial NDP
governments as employers has
generally undermined the de-
velopment of reliable electoral
alliances. The ghost of Ontario
NDP Premier Bob Rae’s infa-
mous anti-union wage restraint
legislation still looms large.
Second, the federal NDP’s
ipants, forms part of the task
force’s commitments under the
agenda, and demonstrates its re-
solve to engage the whole of so-
ciety in its approach to recovery.
“We thank President Duterte
for signing the landmark NERS
2021-2022, which is aimed at
bringing back jobs and further
strengthening the local work-
force. This recovery plan also
helps Filipino workers regain
lost opportunities in the labor
market since the onset of the
lack of electoral success has
undermined its union ties. Like
most groups that try to influ-
ence the outcome of election
campaigns, unions must con-
cern themselves with the ben-
efits, but also the drawbacks,
of supporting a party that may
share their values but can’t get
voted into power.
The third factor is financial.
Historically, unions were an
important source of funding for
the party until their donations
were severely curbed and then
altogether banned by federal
campaign finance legislation
between 2004 and 2006. This
severing of financial ties un-
dermined the party-union re-
lationship by limiting the direct
ways unions could fund the par-
ty’s activities and, by extension,
influence its priorities.
All of these factors have led to
Tommy Douglas, c. 1971; leader of the newly formed New Democratic Party in 1961
WINE GUY/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 3.0
pandemic,” NERS Task Force
Chair and Trade Secretary Ra-
mon Lopez said.
Other items in the recovery
agenda include the passage of
legislations and policies that
strengthen economic and em-
ployment recovery; promotion
of retooling and upskilling of
workers; implementation of
youth employability programs;
provision of assistance to busi-
nesses in the form of loans, de-
ferment of fees, upgrading of
www.canadianinquirer.net
Canada News
weaker ties between organized
labour and the NDP.
While the Canadian Labour
Congress is still officially on
record as supporting the NDP,
the views of its affiliates and
other unions are decidedly
mixed. Some continue to work
closely with the party, while
most have sought alternative
political strategies, including
issue-based third-party cam-
paigns and tactical endorse-
ments of rival party candidates,
usually as part of union-led, an-
ti-Conservative strategic voting
campaigns.
What’s next?
The changing dynamic be-
tween the NDP and unions has
shifted the landscape of labour
politics in Canada, but in unan-
ticipated ways.
At the turn of the 21st cen-
tury, loosening ties to the NDP
processes, and the like; provi-
sion of social protection to vul-
nerable groups; and the contin-
uous monitoring and support to
programs with high impact on
employment.
Next in the pipeline is the ap-
proval of a proposed wage sub-
sidy program for private sector
workers. The PHP24-billion
safety net program can help
retain as many as one million
workers. Aimed at saving jobs
and promoting employee re-
13
was promoted by some unions
as the key to developing a more
independent and left-wing
brand of working-class politics.
However, it appears the oppo-
site has occurred, evident in
the widespread support among
unions for anti-Conservative
strategic voting — a tactic that
has primarily benefited the fed-
eral Liberals.
The NDP’s perceived grip on
union voters seems more tenu-
ous than ever as parties jockey
for the votes of union mem-
bers with populist cultural and
economic appeals and targeted
commitments to pursue pro-
union initiatives.
The implications of a weak-
ened NDP-union relationship
for the future of labour and
working-class politics in Cana-
da are significant. If unions are
more likely to pursue indepen-
dent political strategies, will the
NDP show less interest in cham-
pioning labour movement prior-
ities in the House of Commons?
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s
recent push to woo small busi-
ness owners may provide a clue
to the party’s evolving priorities.
Whether the labour move-
ment’s ties to the NDP will
continue to weaken remains
to be seen, but there can be no
doubt that the political muscle
of unions that helped to launch
the NDP in 1961 was never that
strong in the first place. Even
worse for the party, it’s atro-
phied considerably over the
course of the last 60 years. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
tention, the program would
provide workers with a month-
ly subsidy of PHP8,000 for up
to three months.
The TF must “conduct a joint
evaluation of the policies and
effectiveness of the NERS” ev-
ery three months.
The Task Force is likewise
directed to submit periodic re-
ports on the results of the joint
evaluations and the implemen-
tation of NERS to the Office of
the President. ■
14
Why couldn’t India’s health system cope during
the second wave? Years of bad health policies
BY RAMA V BARU, Professor,
Centre of Social Medicine and
Community Health, Jawaharlal
Nehru University
The Conversation
COVID-19 has exposed the
inherent fault lines in India’s
public health system. This year,
as the pandemic’s deadly sec-
ond wave began raging across
the country, hospitals ran out
of beds, oxygen cylinders, ven-
tilators, and key drugs used in
managing the disease.
Even as families of COVID-19
patients struggled to find de-
cent hospital care, black marke-
teering of drugs and life-saving
equipment such as oxygen con-
centrators and cylinders was
reported across several cities.
Desperate to save their loved
ones, citizens were forced to
not only incur high costs of
treatment at private hospitals,
but also buy essential supplies,
sometimes, at several times
their original price.
For many, these efforts failed,
as hospitals ran out of oxygen
supplies and lives were lost.
The misery was compounded
by high costs of firewood need-
ed to cremate dead bodies. Un-
able to bear those costs, many
Killer-cop of George Floyd gets 22.5 years
TASS
Philippine News Agency
MINNESOTA – Former Min-
neapolis police officer Derek
Chauvin was sentenced on Fri-
day to 22.5 years for the murder
of George Floyd, a death that
touched off international out-
rage.
Chauvin showed no reaction
as the verdict was announced
by Judge Peter Cahill.
Reaction outside the court-
house, where about a hundred
people gathered was muted at
first, then turned a little more
hostile.
Chauvin could have been sen-
tenced to as many as 40 years in
prison and the prosecution had
requested 30 years.
“I thought it was going to be
World News
were forced to bury the bodies
on shallow riverbanks or dump
them in rivers.
Rural India, particularly, has
borne the brunt of the deadly
virus, with several villages lack-
ing even basic testing facilities
and medical care.
None of this is surprising,
though.
Underfunding
A study published in the
medical journal The Lancet in
2018 compared South Asian
countries on access to health
services and health care quality.
It ranked India the lowest, de-
spite the fact countries such as
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have
much lower GDPs.
The answer to India’s current
health crisis lies in over four de-
cades of under-investment in
health at the federal and state
levels, and rampant commer-
cialisation.
Health is primarily a state re-
sponsibility in India, with some
funding coming from the feder-
al and local governments. Pub-
licly funded schemes support
the poor and government work-
ers, and people who are private-
ly employed pay for their own
health insurance.
However there is great vari-
ation on spending between
40,” said Ashley Dorelus be-
tween sobs. “I thought they
were going to give us a little bit
of hope.”
Dorelus said she flew from her
home in California for a month
The intersection of Chicago Avenue and E. 38th Street on May 30. Floyd was
killed just left of the awning.
FIBONACCI BLUE/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 2.0
states. And most of that spend-
ing goes to hospitals in urban
areas. This has meant that over
the years, regional areas and
services like general practice
and paramedicine have been
neglected.
Several government com-
mittees have acknowledged the
need to increase spending to
strengthen public systems. And
the pandemic has provided an
urgent case. But despite this,
funding has not increased.
Private profits over public
health
An underfunded public
health system opened opportu-
nities for private players. Since
the late 1970s, private business-
es have been flourishing in all
aspects of health care in India.
Private players are now dom-
inating medical research, medi-
cal and paramedical education,
and drug and tech manufactur-
ing and development.
In the 1990s, market princi-
ples were introduced into to the
health system.
This included the introduc-
tion of fees for consultation,
diagnostics and drugs; hiring
doctors, nurses and paramedi-
cal workers on non-permanent
contracts; and encouraging
public-private partnerships for
to watch the trial, even though
no spectators were allowed.
The sentencing was, she said,
“white privilege at its finest.”
Floyd family attorney, Ben-
jamin Crump, said the sentence
www.canadianinquirer.net
developing health infrastruc-
ture and diagnostic services.
This resulted in competition
between the government-fund-
ed health sector, and an unreg-
ulated and aggressive private
sector. Soon, a mixed economy
of the health system with an
increasingly large presence of
the private sector became the
norm. This worsened regional,
class, caste and gender inequi-
Stranded migrant workers during fourth phase of the lockdown in Delhi
SUMITA ROY DUTTA - OWN WORK/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 4.0
was “historic”, the longest pris-
on sentence ever for a Minne-
sota police officer, and that it
would bring the nation “one step
closer to healing by delivering
closure and accountability.”
The sentencing was emotion-
al at times.
Floyd’s seven-year-old
daughter, in a videotaped inter-
view, spoke of missing her fa-
ther and the games they played
together.
Floyd’s brother, Philonise,
spoke tearfully in court of hav-
ing nightmares while watching
endless replays of the infamous
cellphone video that showed
Floyd pleading for air under
Chauvin’s neck.
Another Floyd brother, Ter-
rence, sighed and looked direct-
ly at Chauvin.
“Why did you do it? Why did
JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY
ties in access and utilisation of
health services.
Since the 2000s the govern-
ment has also been investing
in populist health insurance
schemes for the poor.
The poor are a large voter
base so you can see the appeal,
but the schemes create demand
for high-end medical services,
❱❱ PAGE 16 Why couldn’t India’s
you stay there on his neck?” he
demanded.
The answer did not come.
Chauvin, not wanting to
influence federal civil rights
charges he was facing, only
spoke briefly during the sen-
tencing to offer his condolences
to the Floyd family.
“I do want to give my condo-
lences to the Floyd family,” said
Chauvin.
He also said there would be
other information eventually
coming out that would be of in-
terest to the Floyd family.
In a surprise, Chauvin’s moth-
er Carolyn Pawlenty testified to
her son’s character, calling him a
“good man with a big heart”.
Outside the courthouse, her
testimony, played on a loud-
speaker, was greeted with
groans and cat-calls. ■
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021
How colonialism’s legacy makes it
harder for countries to escape poverty
and fossil fuels today
BY PATRICK GREINER,
Vanderbilt University
The Conversation
While fossil fuels were pow-
ering wealthy nations’ eco-
nomic growth in the 19th and
20th centuries, many countries
across the Global South re-
mained largely impoverished.
Today, all that burning of
oil, coal and natural gas has
warmed the planet toward
dangerous levels, and science
shows that fossil fuel use must
decline to slow climate change.
At the same time, more than
40% of the global population
survives on less than US$5.50
a day, primarily in developing
countries.
Fossil fuels are still among
the cheapest ways to power
economic growth, making them
hard for developing countries
to ignore.
So, can we find a way to lift
nearly half of the world out of
poverty and still reduce fossil
fuel use? As an environmental
social scientist, I believe there
can be no sustainable devel-
opment, and likely no energy
transition, if poverty is not ad-
dressed too. Current interna-
tional efforts, like the chron-
ically underfunded U.N. Green
Climate Fund, whose board
meets this week, aren’t doing
enough.
Shadows of colonialism
The fact that nearly half the
world’s population is still strug-
gling to escape poverty while
the thermometer’s mercury
hurtles upward is not a coinci-
dence.
Since the Age of Discov-
ery, when European explorers
began expanding trade and
claiming colonies in the 1400s,
problems of resource scarcity
have been managed through co-
lonial conquest and economic
integration. These approach-
es impoverished Global South
nations, robbing them of their
natural wealth. The introduc-
tion of international financial
institutions after World War II
further locked them into a cycle
of uneven exchange.
For hundreds of years the
natural resources that south-
ern nations exported to coun-
tries like Germany and the
United States have been sold at
a lower cost than the finished
products they import for their
own consumption. The result
has been development in the
Global North, destabilization
and impoverishment in much
of the Global South and climate
change for all.
Fossil fuels have been a cen-
tral element in development
history because they have pro-
vided a cheap, mobile source
of energy. They still predomi-
nantly boost wealthy countries’
growth. In 2019, the 37 nations
belonging to the Organization
of Economic Cooperation and
Development, which represents
industrialized economies, still
accounted for a staggering 40%
of energy consumption. The re-
maining 60% was spread across
158 countries whose combined
populations were 5.83 times as
large as those of Organization
of Economic Cooperation and
Development nations.
Without a rapid transition
to renewable energy, it is un-
likely that populations outside
the Organization of Economic
Cooperation and Development
will be able to use energy as
freely as others have while still
keeping global temperature in-
creases below 1.5 C (2.7 F), the
goal countries set under the
Paris climate agreement.
‘Development is not a
right’
The inequalities born of
these processes make stopping
the drivers of climate change a
real challenge.
Southern nations rightly
insist that viable climate solu-
tions must include a realistic
pathway for them to contin-
ue to develop. This resulted in
three principles included in the
1992 Rio Declaration on En-
vironment and Development:
that countries have a right to
development, that the develop-
ment needs of developing coun-
tries should be prioritized and
that nations have a “common
but differentiated responsibil-
ity” to address the dual prob-
lems of global development and
climate change.
The U.S. famously reject-
ed these principles during the
George H.W. Bush administra-
tion, stating that “development
is not a right.” That statement re-
flected a general concern among
wealthy nations that they might
be held financially responsible
for ensuring the continued de-
velopment of poorer nations.
The Green Climate Fund
In 2010, the recognition of
ongoing injustices resulted in
the creation of the Green Cli-
mate Fund.
The U.N. launched the fund
with the goal that wealthy
countries would voluntarily
mobilize $100 billion a year
to support climate projects in
developing countries and help
enable them to pursue their
development interests. But the
Green Climate Fund has never
been funded at more than $9
billion a year.
While the Biden adminis-
tration’s pledge to provide the
Green Climate Fund with $5.7
billion annually is a dramat-
ic improvement, in my view it
is still far from adequate. The
wealthy G-7 nations, at their
Renewable energy has increased access to electricity in poor countries, but it generally hasn’t displaced fossil fuels.
www.canadianinquirer.net
World News
meeting in June 2021, recom-
mitted themselves to the $100
billion goal, but that is only a
statement so far.
Historically, it has been diffi-
cult to displace cheap and read-
ily available energy sources like
fossil fuels in the presence of
poverty and systematized eco-
nomic inequality. Instead of
energy transitions, countries
made energy additions. My re-
search with Julius McGee has
found that nations with great-
er economic inequality have
used renewable energy to carry
electricity to underserved pop-
ulations, increasing access to
electricity, but they have not re-
duced overall fossil fuel use.
With more support to help
cover the high upfront invest-
ments, the falling costs of re-
newable energy could help
developing countries take
meaningful steps toward the
eradication of poverty with-
out relying on carbon-packed
sources of energy to do so. But
that alone will not be enough.
Trying to set limits in a
fair way
The most effective path for
allowing poorer countries to
develop while the world reduc-
es greenhouse gas emissions
15
may be what’s known as con-
traction and convergence.
First introduced by India in
1995, the framework is meant
to encourage the adoption of
policies that would lead to an
overall contraction in global
emissions. Wealthier nations
would cut their emissions,
while poorer countries could
continue increasing their emis-
sions as they build the social
and economic infrastructure
to lift their populations out
of poverty. Eventually, poorer
nations would begin to reduce
their emissions as well.
Ultimately, helping poorer
countries develop in sustain-
able ways is in the interest of
wealthier populations too, be-
cause climate change will affect
lives everywhere. Ignoring the
glaring social inequalities of
past development and current
responses to climate change
ensures that much of the globe’s
population will believe they
have little choice but to lean on
fossil fuels as they develop, and
slowing global emissions may
come far too late. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
 16
Has the door finally opened for
Samoa’s first female prime minister,
after weeks of constitutional crisis?
BY PATRICIA A. O’BRIEN,
Georgetown University
The Conversation
Samoa’s constitutional crisis
has entered yet another phase,
just over a month after the na-
tion’s first woman prime minis-
ter-elect, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa,
was locked out of parliament and
sworn into office in a tent.
Samoa’s Supreme Court has
today found the May 24 swear-
ing in was unconstitutional —
on the face of it a win for care-
taker prime minister Tuilaepa
Sa’ilele Malielegaoi.
However, the court also or-
dered that parliament convene
within seven days from June
28. This is a win for Fiame’s
Fa’atuatua I Le Atua Samoa Ua
Tasi (FAST) Party, which has
been pushing for this outcome
for some time.
The much anticipated deci-
sion came with a clear warn-
ing for Tuilaepa and those who
have acted on his behalf to
disrupt democracy’s course. If
they act to prevent parliament
convening by July 5, the oaths
of office taken on May 24 will be
reinstated “so that the business
of the nation can proceed”.
This is just the latest of many
rounds in the legal fight that
erupted after Samoa’s April 9
general election.
Fiame secured a one seat ma-
jority with the help of indepen-
dent candidate, Tuala Tevaga
Iosefo Ponifasio, who will formal-
ly join the FAST Party once parlia-
ment is convened. He was named
Fiame’s deputy on May 24.
But when Tuilaepa (Samoa’s
political leader since 1998) re-
Why couldn’t India’s...
❰❰ 14 mostly in the private
sector. As a result,
government subsidies
have been flowing into strength-
ening private health-care.
Those who need health
care the most, get the least
The consequences of these
trends have been devastating,
World News
Fiame Naomi Mata’afa
UN WOMEN PACIFIC/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 2.0
fused to concede, the Pacific’s
oldest democracy was plunged
into dangerous waters.
Power games
In the following weeks, an er-
ratic Tuilaepa, with the critical
assistance of key officials, pushed
Samoa to the brink of autocracy.
In stark contrast, an unflappable
Fiame has repeatedly asked Sa-
moa’s people for patience as the
courts worked through the del-
uge of cases caused by the elec-
tion stalemate.
The Supreme Court’s case-
load since April 9 has included
28 petitions disputing electoral
results. These are gradually be-
ing heard, and on June 18 the
court awarded an additional
seat to Fiame’s FAST Party (the
particularly for populations al-
ready marginalised because of
their caste, class, gender, region
or religion.
These marginalised groups
bear the direct cost of treat-
ment as well as the indirect
costs: transport, loss of wag-
es, and the prohibitive cost of
HRPP candidate’s election was
voided when he was found guilty
of breaching election rules).
A great deal of the court’s
time, however, has been spent
working through the repercus-
sions of an extraordinary chain
of events that began on April 20.
In order to cancel FAST’s
one seat majority, Head of State
Afioga Tuimalealiifano Vaaletoa
Sualauvi and Samoa’s Elector-
al Commission announced on
social media that a 52nd parlia-
mentary seat had been created.
The move was justified on the
grounds that a constitutionally
mandated 10% minimum of
parliamentary seats reserved
for women had not been met.
Five women had won seats,
drugs and diagnostics.
Government underfunding of
public health causes the poor to
suffer, and the middle class who
don’t earn huge wages but have
to pay for their own health insur-
ance also bear a heavy burden.
In cases of both acute and
chronic illnesses, people have been
www.canadianinquirer.net
and heading into the election
it had been agreed the 10%
threshold equated to five seats.
Now the Electoral Commis-
sioner was saying six women
should have seats, and a can-
didate from Tuilaepa’s Hu-
man Rights Protection Party
(HRPP) was appointed.
Gender politics
It is one of many ironies in this
political saga that Tuilaepa was
using the gender quota to pre-
vent Samoa’s first female prime
minister from assuming office.
With this move, the election re-
sults were again deadlocked.
The manoeuvre was one of the
tactics designed to run down the
clock on the constitutionally des-
ignated 45 days for a new govern-
ment to be sworn in. If the May
24 deadline was broken it would
trigger another election.
Then, as the courts consid-
ered the merits of the sixth seat
for women, the head of state
revoked the April 9 election
results on the basis of the tied
parliament and called for a fresh
election to be held on May 21.
But a week before the May 24
deadline, the Supreme Court
found the head of state did not
have the powers to void the
April 9 election results and the
appointment of the HRPP mem-
ber to the 52nd seat was illegal.
Those decisions gave Fiame
back her one seat majority and
plans were on track for parlia-
ment to be sworn in by Monday
May 24. (The court did subse-
quently decide that a sixth seat
for women was required, but
that parliament must sit before
the seat is filled by election.)
Stronger democracy
In another twist, on the eve-
forced to pay for medical care and
have incurred huge debts, becom-
ing a driver of poverty.
These trends have only been
amplified during the COVID-19
pandemic. The complete lack of
state protection for its citizens
in the midst of a humanitarian
crisis reveals its lack of com-
JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY
ning of Saturday May 22 the
head of state suspended parlia-
ment until further notice and
left Apia for his home village
some distance away.
Although the Supreme Court
ordered on May 23 that parlia-
ment sit the next day, the par-
liament building was locked by
order of Tuilaepa. The FAST
Party resorted to the unoffi-
cial swearing in ceremony in a
tent erected on the parliament
lawns, presided over by FAST
lawyers in what they argued
was the “principle of necessity”.
As it stands now, FAST holds
a two seat majority in Samoa’s
Legislative Assembly, which
will increase by one when Tuala
formalises his move.
If the Supreme Court’s latest
ruling is complied with, all 51
members will be sworn into of-
fice and Fiame will be Samoa’s
next prime minister within
seven days. The question is, will
Tuilaepa abandon the power
play that has tested Samoa’s de-
mocracy like never before in its
59 years since independence in
1962?
Australia has called for the
convening of parliament in its
first robust statement on the
crisis. Other democracies are
now likely to quickly follow suit.
So far, Samoa’s own democ-
racy has been tempered and
strengthened in the fires of this
crisis. But it remains to be seen
whether a political leader who
embodies tomorrow’s woman
has finally made Tuilaepa yes-
terday’s man. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
mitment to the basic values of
democracy. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021
North Korea food shortage: Kim Jong-un’s
COVID-19 policy could lead to mass starvation
BY SOJIN LIM, University of Central
Lancashire
The Conversation
North Korea’s Kim Jong-un has stated
publicly that the country is facing a food
shortage, a rare admission for the coun-
try’s leader, who blamed the pandemic
and a recent typhoon.
Last year, speaking at an anniversary
event of the Workers’ Party of Korea,
Kim urged his people to “remain firm
in the face of ‘tremendous challenges’
posed by the pandemic”. One such chal-
lenge Kim has warned of is the poten-
tial for a famine echoing the “arduous
march” of the late 1990s, when the coun-
try faced a period of mass starvation that
reportedly killed millions.
Kim’s response to COVID-19 has
made North Korea even more isolated,
leading to food shortages that are like-
ly to impact millions. His slimmer look
may also indicate Kim’s own lack of ac-
cess to the food he used to have.
Is North Korea on its way toward an-
other arduous march?
A country isolated
North Korea was one of the first coun-
tries to respond to the COVID-19 out-
break by closing its borders in January
2020. North Korea still claims zero pos-
itive COVID-19 cases, which no one can
really confirm.
There have been signs of a devastat-
ing economic situation in North Korea
associated with the closed border, which
entirely blocked existing illegal trades.
Due to existing sanctions, there were
not many legitimate trade activities in
North Korea, apart from with China, but
smuggling has sustained supply and de-
mand chains in general.
At the moment, North Korea is facing
its toughest international sanctions yet,
imposed in 2017 over its sixth nuclear
test. The first such sanctions were put
in place by the UN in 2006 over North
Korea’s ballistic missile tests, and were
expanded when the country conducted
its first nuclear test that same year.
It is believed that the COVID-19 bor-
der closure has affected the North Korean
economy even more than the sanctions,
� �� ����
���������
������
resulting in a more than 50% decrease in
��������������������� �
trade with China compared to 2018.
The border closure has resulted in a
lack of access to agricultural materials
such as fertiliser and machinery, making
it hard for North Koreans to have a suf-
ficient grain harvest. Additionally, food
imports and humanitarian aid are not
being allowed due to the lockdown.
Vaccination troubles
During the initial arduous march,
North Korea received a massive amount
of food aid from the international com-
munity. It is a reasonable assumption
that it is in need of more aid this time.
But despite calls from the international
community to provide humanitarian aid
to North Korea, Kim’s regime has not al-
lowed them into the country.
When Kim Jong-un became leader,
he promised his people that they “would
never have to tighten their belt again”.
Now, he has decided to announce an-
other arduous march rather than engage
with the international community, risk-
ing a hit to his credibility.
There seem to be two main reasons
why North Korea is hesitant to reopen
its borders while people suffer from se-
rious lack of food nationwide.
First, there is a huge risk of a
COVID-19 outbreak with current mea-
sures. The country lacks capacity to deal
with the pandemic, so massive and effec-
tive vaccination will be the only solution
for North Korea to control the spread
of the virus in the country. North Korea
was initially approved to receive nearly
2 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines
from Covax, the global vaccination dis-
tribution programme. However, this
number has been reduced to 1.7 million
which covers only about 3.3% of its en-
tire population.
On top of this, delivery has been de-
layed as North Korea did not participate
in the required consultation process. The
international community seems to be
ready to provide more vaccines once Kim
agrees to cooperate on vaccine supply.
Jangmadang and cultural influx
The second reason why Kim is willing
to risk his credibility over accepting in-
ternational aid is his fear of continuous
information influx.
During the first arduous march, North
Korean political leaders observed hu-
manitarian workers sharing external in-
formation with local people, which was
then prohibited by authorities. Howev-
er, this was not a significant problem for
leadership as ordinary North Koreans
did not have access to the outside world,
and were effectively brainwashed by
state propaganda.
This time, North Koreans have more
access than ever to the outside world.
They have wider use of mobile phones,
and USBs and SD cards containing
K-Pop and South Korean films and dra-
mas have been smuggled into the daily
life of North Koreans through jang-
madang (grey markets – literally, “out-
door market” in Korean). Higher levels
of information influx combined with
less ideology education has caused peo-
ple to rethink their regime, and domes-
tic discontent has developed as a result.
Jangmadang became a core part of
www.canadianinquirer.net
World News
North Koreans’ survival system when
the government was unable to provide
rations and necessities during the 1990s.
For the jangmadang generation, daily
life survival was more important than
regime survival. They could not attend
school, and thus were not subject to
intense state ideology education. Jang-
madang and younger generations now
tend to place more value on money and
South Korean cultural influence than
Jucheism – North Korean state ideology
– weakening their loyalty to the regime.
Fortunately for Kim, this phenom-
enon has slowed due to the current
border closure. But once the border is
reopened, there will be a surge of infor-
mation into the country again. Thus,
Kim would want to ensure the revival of
strong state ideology before he reopens
doors to the international community.
He has conducted strong punishments
against those who possess and/or spread
foreign media among people, and em-
phasised the need for enhanced ideolog-
ical education. In April, Kim sent a letter
to the Youth League aiming to “root out
Global Talent Loans Program
17
anti-socialist and non-socialist practic-
es, and improve ideological education”.
Kim’s isolation may have successfully
blocked the spread of COVID-19 and ex-
ternal cultural influence among the pop-
ulation, but it has also blocked the chan-
nels to basic necessity. Kim will need
to reopen the borders in order to avert
the second arduous march, but it will be
hard for him to find immediate alterna-
tives to mitigate the risks to his regime.
There are signs of gradual resumption
of trade between North Korea and Chi-
na, but it has been limited. As Kim has
announced that North Korea needs to
prepare for “both dialogue and confron-
tation” with the US, the international
community could take this as an oppor-
tunity to approach North Korea again,
but with more productive and practical
solutions for its isolated people.■
This article is republished from The
Conversation under a Creative Commons
license.
Are you an
Internationally
Trained Professional
in need of financial
support for your
Foreign Credential
Recognition?
For more information contact:
778-372-6609
globaltalentloans@issbc.org
issbc.org/globaltalentloans
���� �������������
���������������
����������
������������������������������
�������������������
18 JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY

Entertainment
How Cinderella lost its original
feminist edge in the hands of men
BY ALEXANDER
SERGEANT, University of
Portsmouth
The Conversation
In the words of its publici-
ty department, Andrew Lloyd
Webber’s new production of
Cinderella offers audiences
nothing less than “a complete
reinvention of the classic fairy-
tale”. Written by Emerald
Fennell (Oscar-nominated for
Promising Young Women), the
production promises a feminist
revision of the classic fairy tale,
updating the well-known story
to reflect contemporary atti-
tudes towards gender.
But Cinderella has always
been a feminist text. You might
have heard of figures like
Charles Perrault, the Brothers
Grimm and Walt Disney, each
playing a key role in popular-
ising the folk story for a new
generation. But behind their
versions of the classic fairytale
lies an untold story of female
storytellers like Marie-Cather-
ine D’Aulnoy and the Comtesse
de Murat.
Before the Grimms, these pi-
oneering women were drawn to
Cinderella not because they felt
the story needed updating or
revising, but because they were
attracted by the culture that
birthed it – a storytelling net-
work created by and for women.
Cinderella’s origins
Cinderella began its life as
a folk tale, passed orally from
household to household. The
earliest recorded copy dates
back to China in 850-860. This
version of the story probabl
At a time when only men
could be writers or artists,
women used folk tales as a
means of expressing their cre-
ativity. Female labourers and
housewives passed the stories
onto one another to dispense
shared wisdom, or else to break
up the boredom of another
working day as they toiled away
from the prying eyes of men.
These storytelling traditions
echo to this day. It is where we
get the notion of the old wives’
tale. According to feminist
writers like Marina Warner, it
is also why we have to come to
associate gossip with women.
Cinderella reflects these cus-
toms. It is a story about domes-
tic labour, female violence and
friendship, and the oppression
of servitude. Perhaps most sig- potential and making it instead Méliès. In his hands, the char-
nificantly, it is a story about about enchantment over repre- acter became little more than
female desire in a world where sentation. a passive, frightened waif, her
women were denied any role in Cinderella goes to the cin- job seemingly to stand in the
society. ema corners of the shots and look
The precise story of Cinder- These traditions continue amazed at the latest special ef-
ella has always been in flux. In in Cinderella’s cinematic ad- fect appearing on screen.
some, she still has a mother. In aptations. The first person to Decades later, Walt Disney
others, the stepsisters resort to adapt Cinderella for the big used Cinderella as part of the
slicing off their heels to win the screen was the French magician
heart of the prince. But whatev- turned film director Georges ❱❱ PAGE 29 How Cinderella lost
er incarnation, Cinderella has
historically been a story about
women and for women. So what
happened to poor Cinders to
make her so powerless?
Well, men. As the story be-
came increasing popular, male
writers and artists became in-
terested in adapting the tale.
But in doing so, they found in
Cinderella not a story of female
wish-fulfilment but a more gen-
eral sense of escapism.
It was Perrault who intro-
duced the famous pumpkin and
the glass slipper, giving the tale
its two most iconic features.
The Grimms turned the step-
sisters ugly, as well as removed
the fairy godmother in favour
of a magical wishing tree. These
adaptations reflected uncon-
scious misogyny, stripping the
story of much of its feminist Cinderella illustrated by Warwick Goble in “The Fairy Book” (Macmillan, 1923)

Elha Nympha sings environment-

themed “Magkaugnay”
ABS-CBN
New song premiered on “G
Diaries”
“G Diaries” Season 8, “Change
the World 2gether” closed out
the environment month with a
special song performed by “The
Voice Kids” Season 2 champion
Elha Nympha.
The song “Magkaugnay” was
especially composed to be fea-
tured as a music video to show
the highlights of the four envi-
ronment advocacy episodes of
the award-winning program.
“Magkaugnay” premiered
on the June 27, 2021 episode of
“G Diaries,” where the theme
is bird and wildlife conserva-
tion. The episode, titled “The
Song of the Myna” culminated
a series of environment-related
episodes aired in June, covering
topics like water conservation
and sustainability, marine life
and biodiversity conservation,
and native and endemic tree
protection and propagation.
“I had goosebumps the first
time I heard the song”, said
Nympha of the original com-
position by Jenie Chan. “It is
a very timely song now that
we are in the midst of climate
change. It opens up our envi-
ronmental consciousness. We
are given the choice – pagyaya-
manin ba o pababayaan natin
ang kalikasan?”
Chan composed and thought
of Nympha as the perfect artist
to sing the song “Magkaugnay.”
She said, “Aside from having
the range and tone that is per-
fect for the song, she is a good
role model for the youth. I am
confident that she will be able
to carry the message of love for
the environment effortlessly.”
“G Diaries” is produced by the
ABS-CBN Foundation, with the
support of the Energy Develop-
ment Corporation. It is hosted
by ABS-CBN Foundation Direc-
tor of Advocacy Ernie Lopez and
his wife Michelle Andrea Arville.
“G Diaries” airs Sundays at
8:30 am on Kapamilya Online
Live, 9:10 am on Kapamilya
Channel. Replays are on the
Metro Channel and ANC. You
may also watch it on the “G Di-
aries” Facebook page and on
the ABS-CBN Foundation You-
Tube Channel.
Watch “Magkaugnay” sung
by Elha Nympha on “G Diaries”
Facebook and on YouTube ■

www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021
Theatre, live music and other performing arts
should be a priority in COVID-19 reopening plans
BY JANNE CLEVELAND, Carleton
University
The Conversation
Before COVID-19 shutdowns in
March 2020, my drama students and I at
Carleton University were scheduled to
attend a live theatre production of Daisy,
by playwright Sean Devine, that opened
(and promptly closed) at the Great Ca-
nadian Theatre Company in Ottawa.
Prior to the pandemic, as part of the
Ottawa theatre community and the
co-ordinator of Carleton’s Drama Studies
program, I would typically attend a pro-
duction of the performing arts — theatre,
dance, opera — on average once a week.
While missing live events due to clo-
sures, I have been among the many
members of the public who turned to
online arts and culture events. I also in-
tegrated these into my teaching.
There were innovative productions
shared by many arts companies through-
out the past year, such as the series
Grand Acts of Theatre which engaged
14 theatre companies to create and per-
form works in front of live audiences
outdoors, and then shared video perfor-
mances online. These were co-curated
by National Arts Centre’s English artis-
tic director Jillian Keiley with Sherry J.
Yoon, artistic director of Boca del Lupo.
These kinds of collaborations that
straddle live performance and online con-
tent may well have welcome permanent
effects on how the arts engages audiences
and how diverse cross-Canada audiences
and creators access theatre resources.
But we must remember that online
experiences not a replacement for live
performance. Our policy-makers need
to pay closer attention to the critical role
of the arts in healthy and vibrant societ-
ies and do a much better job at prioritiz-
ing live arts in COVID-19 reopenings.
Sectors at risk
As the OECD notes, arts and enter-
tainment are among the sectors most at
risk due to the effects of COVID-19 clo-
sures. The downsizing of creative and
cultural sectors would have “a negative
impact on cities and regions not only in
terms of direct economic and social im-
pact but also in terms of well-being, the
vibrancy of cities and communities and
cultural diversity.”
Economists like Annie Tubadji have
similarly argued that the cultural sector
is “predominantly a public good for pre-
serving mental health” and that as such,
there is justification for much more pub-
lic spending to support this sector which
includes venues and producers devoted
to arts like music and theatre.
But now as Ontario moves into re-
opening following the most recent
lockdown, live arts are being treated as
a luxury instead of something critical.
According to provincial guidelines, in-
door arts events, except for rehearsals,
remain closed in Stage 2.
Yet, religious services, rites or cere-
monies are allowed 25 per cent room
capacity for indoor activity during the
same stage. As Mitchell Marcus, artis-
tic and managing director at The Musi-
cal Stage Company, told CBC: “Theatre
actors are going to work in a parking
lot outdoors in the hot sun, while their
equivalent peers in film are working 50
people indoors, while their equivalents
in the athletic world are practising for
their games indoors.”
Outdoor open events are permitted in-
cluding live music, with spectator capac-
ity at 25 per cent and other restrictions.
If, as the OECD and others suggest, the
culture and creative sector promotes a
strong economy by supporting the men-
tal, and by extension, physical health of
the country’s workforce, then allowance
should be made for small numbers of au-
dience to gather, with full safety proto-
cols in place starting in Stage 2.
Arts and social cohesion
Having lived through the isolation of
lockdown, there can be little doubt now
of the value of the arts to heal, soothe, in-
vite thought, entertain, share our stories
and to allow us to be part of a community.
The idea that there is a connection
between the performing arts and the
psychosocial is not new. There are many
signs that audiences are feeling starved
for live arts.
When Toronto’s Musical Stage Com-
pany recently put tickets on sale for its
Porchside Songs series, back after its
www.canadianinquirer.net
Entertainment
success last summer, tickets for all 60
shows — presented outdoors to groups
of 10 — sold out within an hour.
Across the country, many arts com-
munities are ready to speak to audienc-
es’ hunger for arts that speaks to these
challenging times. Companies like the
National Arts Centre in partnership
with local theatre companies are devel-
oping live performances that will later
be shared online titled Grand Acts of
Great Hope.
Live performance and performers need
our support to make the works we crave.
Prioritize arts re-openings
In response to the Ontario reopening
guidelines, the Canadian Live Music As-
sociation (CLMA) has circulated a peti-
tion demanding that the provincial gov-
ernment allow live performance venues
to open to smaller audiences with safety
protocols in place and is advocating ways
for communities to have a “thriving music
economy that is recognized, promoted and
receiving the benefits of music through an
increase in jobs created, tax revenue and
spending in the community.”
Arts organizations have diligently re-
searched what it takes to open safely. Be-
yond Ontario, the NAC has collaborated
with some 40-plus arts cross-Canada or-
ganizations to outline practical ideas to
support for safe reopening of the Canadian
performing arts sector. These companies
have gathered best practices and share
19
health and safety protocols, how to audit
for risk assessment and even case studies
relevant to music, theatre and dance.
Five ways to support performing
arts now
For those asking how we can support
the performing arts and ensure that they
can continue to buoy us up as we look
hopefully to the end of the pandemic,
here are some suggestions:
1) Sign the petition circulated by the
CLMA or create one of your own!
2) If you are able, make a cash dona-
tion to your favourite arts organization.
3) If you can, donate tickets for an
event to others whose circumstances are
less secure than your own.
4) Post messages of support on social
media to let artists know their work is
valued.
5) Where events are announced,
whether in-person or online, buy tick-
ets if you’re financially able, even if you
can’t attend.
I know that the first time we enter
the theatre or concert hall for a perfor-
mance it will be emotional, and I look
forward to sharing that with audience
and the performers who have managed
to hang on. It will be a celebration and
we all need to look forward to that. ■
This article is republished from The
Conversation under a Creative Commons
license.
20
Consciously Coupling
and How it Works!
BY MATTE LAUREL
Maria in Vancouver can’t
help but reflect on what is the
secret to a lasting relationship?
Is there really a happily-ev-
er-after? How do couples main-
tain that spark? How do cou-
ples stay in love with each other
amidst a pandemic, a financial
loss, a third-party involvement,
an illness, and through life’s
many other sorrows? How does
consciously coupling work?
Maria has been in enough re-
lationships to realize that the
best relationships entail cou-
ples who are transparent and
honest with each other. There
must be a lot of respect and ac-
ceptance between both parties.
We’re all born differently with
unique preferences and needs
hence being understanding to-
wards each other goes a long
way. Then of course, there must
be trust — tons of it!
Maria is in a serious and
long-term relationship with
Mr. S.O. (Mr. Significant Oth-
er). Oh, they are also together
24/7. Their relationship is not
picture-perfect, but it’s defi-
nitely stable and solid. Perhaps,
it helps that she was lucky to
end up with a partner who un-
derstands her and her needs as
a woman and as a partner. Per-
haps, it helps that her partner is
a decade and years ahead of her
which explains why her partner
is so patient with her. Perhaps,
it also helps that both have
been in two failed serious rela-
tionships prior to meeting each
other — there’s definitely some
major lessons learned between
the two of them.
Here are a few love hacks that
Maria has learned with her bet-
ter half:
The Importance of the
Three C’s in relationships:
Commitment, Communica-
tion, and Compromise.
Maria and Mr. S.O. ‘s first date
lasted a lengthy seven hours!
What started as a brief coffee
date turned into cocktails that
led to a four-hour dinner date.
They were both transparent
with each other. They both laid
down their cards on the table
— they discussed their expec-
tations and what they’re both
looking for. At the end of their
first date, they established that
they both wanted commitment.
On their second date, they
both walked their talk: during
dinner, they deactivated their
dating site accounts. Ma-
ria closed her Tinder, Match,
Bumble, eHarmony, and she
called her matchmaker agent
from Vancouver’s Executive
Search Dating to close her pro-
file. Whew. Maria felt a ton of
weight was lifted off her shoul-
ders. Dating has been an ex-
hausting experience for Maria!
Mr. S.O. closed his Tinder pro-
file — it was him who suggest-
ed they deactivate their dating
profiles. It was a blessing that
Maria and Mr. S.O. had a mutual
friend who introduced them to
each other.
Fast-forward to a year after
dating, they took their commit-
ment to the next level, they de-
cided to work and live together.
Three years later, between the
coronavirus pandemic and the
stress of having to go through
an emotionally exhausting di-
vorce (Maria’s partner was go-
ing through divorce when they
first met) — Maria and Mr. S.O
are still very much together,
and stronger together.
How did their relationship
survive the pandemic and the
divorce drama? The secret
was healthy communication
and the art of compromising.
Maria and Mr. S.O. had lots of
disagreements and heated ar-
guments because they are both
Alphas. However, with time,
they both realized that through
healthy communication and by
arguing constructively, they are
able to listen to each other and
understand each other better.
With time, they both learned
that criticizing, yelling, and
insulting each other are more
likely to be the cause of heading
towards splitsville.
Instead, they are learning
how to actively listen to each
other, discuss issues calmly,
and compromise with each
other. They are both works-
in-progress. They both know
that it is important to have an
environment in which both
parties can freely share their
emotions, their thoughts, their
fantasies, their complaints and
pains, without the fear of being
judged, lectured, withdrawn, or
worse, attacked.
Practicing your partner’s
love language on a daily basis.
Maria and Mr. S.O. ‘s love lan-
guages are words of affirmation,
acts of service, quality time, and
physical touch.
Before going to sleep and
when they wake up, they say
these three things to each oth-
er: “Good morning/good night,
I love you, and thank you.”
Throughout the day, they con-
stantly say, “I love you” and
“thank you.” At work, when Ma-
ria achieved higher than normal
sales for the day, her partner
thanked her and acknowledged
her by saying: “Great job, baby!
Thank you for an awesome day
at work!” In turn, when her
partner successfully closed a
deal, Maria lavished praise on
him: “You’re brilliant, baby!
Well done!” These are exam-
ples of their words of affirma-
tion. Ok, Singletons, I can see
your eye rolls and hear your
contemptuous sighs over these
saccharine words of affirma-
tion; but when you’re a couple
in love, you do tend to go O.T.T.
(over the top).
Maria and Mr. S.O. are to-
gether 24/7 because they work
together. This doesn’t mean
they take each other for grant-
ed. They genuinely enjoy be-
ing together. They like to learn
from each other. Maria’s part-
ner has become her mentor and
life coach when it comes to run-
ning a business. In turn, Maria
has become a loyal companion
to her partner. When not work-
ing together, they go for a drive
around Vancouver. They go for
walks along the seawall. They
always have date nights during
weekends. They have fun do-
ing things together — even as
mundane as grocery shopping
or watching Friends or Sex and
the City reruns. These are ex-
amples of their quality time to-
gether.
With regard to acts of ser-
vices, Maria and Mr. S.O. do
www.canadianinquirer.net
household chores together. Ma-
ria does the daily laundry while
Mr. S.O. prepares their morning
daily rituals: coffee, green tea,
and hot lemon water. Maria
prepares dinner daily while her
partner washes the dishes. At
work, Maria does the sales, and
her partner oversees the daily
operations. Maria combs her
partner’s hair every morning
and in turn he makes sure that
Maria’s phone is charged every
night. These little acts of kind-
ness really make the difference
in a relationship. You must be
kind to each other. It really is
not a difficult act to do.
When it comes to physical
touch, Maria and Mr. S.O. find
time in always giving each other
hugs at the end of the day. Ma-
ria likes to touch. She runs her
fingers through her partner’s
hair or back. Her partner likes
to hold hands with her when
they walk. In every relation-
ship, there comes a time when
the Oxytocin wears off. That’s
a fact. Sex is an integral part of
a relationship. It’s an effective
and fun way to keep your re-
lationship healthy and happy.
The sweet spot is to have sex at
least once a week. A good pre-
lude to sex is hugging and cud-
dling. And definitely, foreplay!
Oh dear, Maria would hate to
see her son’s expression when
he reads this stuff! She could
see him squirming. Or gagging.
Remain positive with each
other and inject humour in
your relationship.
Not every day is a sunny day.
JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY
There’s gloom and doom too.
Even the most successful busi-
nessman can be prone to bouts
of insecurity. It is Maria’s duty
to remind her partner that he’s
a legend and an achiever even
though he’s grumpy. Whenever
Maria feels fat and bloated, her
partner reassures her that she’s
stunning even if she needs to
lose weight around her waist!
Maria and her better half are
positive but honest with each
other. And that’s the way it
should always be.
It also helps that they don’t
take themselves seriously. They
both know how to laugh at
themselves. Laughing together
reduces stress and tension. A
good joke makes tough times
a helluva easier. Maria finds
it hard to stay mad with Mr.
S.O. for far too long because he
will always pull funny faces or
does his monkey dance each
time she’s mad at him. On the
other hand, when her partner
is stressed out, Maria says the
funniest things and his frown
turns upside down. Having a
sense of humour in your rela-
tionship is by far the best cou-
ples therapy.
Working and living togeth-
er as a team to achieve short
or long-term goals.
Happy couples always have
something to look forward to
in their journey together. Maria
and her partner have drawn up
a plan for their short-term and
long-term goals. Don’t waste
❱❱ PAGE 32 Consciously Coupling
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021
Queer people’s experiences during the
pandemic include new possibilities
and connections
BY JESSICA FIELDS,
University of Toronto, JAMES
K GIBB, University of Toronto,
SARAH A. WILLIAMS,
University of Toronto
The Conversation
Like much of Canada, many
queer people have spent the
last year at home, trying to keep
safe in a world marked by risk
and uncertainty.
For some queer people, time
at home has meant time away
from communities and friends
who recognize and support their
gender and sexual identities. For
others, time at home has brought
opportunities to build new queer
communities online — commu-
nities that offer a sense of belong-
ing and recognition.
Our team of student and fac-
ulty researchers at the Univer-
sity of Toronto Scarborough
surveyed 366 queer people
about their experiences during
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Survey responses indicate
that living with family during the
pandemic was significantly asso-
ciated with elevated depression,
anxiety and loneliness. This was
particularly true for cisgender
women and for non-binary or
two-spirit participants.
To learn more about these
experiences of depression,
anxiety and loneliness, we also
interviewed 46 of our survey
respondents at length about
the last year and a half. In those
interviews, we heard about not
only loneliness but also new
connections that will shape
their return to community and
public life.
Struggling to receive support
Our study is one of sever-
al that looks at the ways pub-
lic health responses to the
COVID-19 pandemic — espe-
cially social distancing and stay
at home orders — may have es-
Lifestyle
pecially adverse consequences
for queer people’s well-being
and health.
This research consistently
points to the ways intersecting
structural and cultural inequal-
ities shape COVID-19’s impacts
on queer people.
For example, COVID-19
threatens queer people’s
long-standing vulnerability to
anxiety, depression and other
mental health concerns. Older
queer people may be especial-
ly vulnerable to loneliness and
isolation because of already be-
ing twice as likely to live alone.
Like these studies, we have
found that many young queer
people have struggled to secure
the support they need, particu-
larly from their families.
Young queer people have
less access to secure and sta-
ble housing under the best of
circumstances (about 1 in 10
of our survey respondents had
experienced homelessness at
some point in their life). During
COVID-19 this has meant many
young queer people have moved
back in with families of origin.
Though these living arrange-
ments may have afforded young
people some stability in an un-
certain time, that stability has
come at a cost. As a Black, agen-
der and bisexual interviewee in
their 20s explained: “I live with
relatives who constantly threat-
en to kick me out of the house
and render me homeless.” This
interviewee feels compelled
to be “in the closet” when with
their family, for fear of being
among the many queer young
people living on the streets in
urban North American centres.
Even those queer people who
don’t live with a constant threat
of homelessness may contend
day-to-day with low-level hostil-
ity in their families and homes.
A 19-year old interviewee
who described themselves as a
“non-binary trans femme” ex-
plained, “[Family members] say
they support me, but they really
don’t. (T)hey don’t respect my
chosen name, or preferred name,
pronouns … I guess the best way
I could describe their attitude to-
wards me is, like, tolerant.”
Research indicates tolerance
is not a strong enough stance to
meet the needs of queer young
people or to imagine broadly
the lives and worlds queer peo-
ple want to build.
Such imagination requires a
valuing of queer life and a recog-
nition of the particular costs of
COVID-19 for queer young peo-
ple. Family settings that offer
only lukewarm support may ex-
acerbate feelings of loneliness.
For queer young people, the best
possibilities and connections
may sit outside the family in
community and public life.
Connecting amidst isolation
Some of the people we spoke
to worried that queer young peo-
ple have lost out on important
experiences of exploring their
queerness and building queer
community. An interviewee in
his late twenties remarked, many
queer young adults will either
delay for “quite some time” or
miss altogether the opportunity
to explore their sexualities and
genders in a vibrant queer com-
munity because of the pandemic.
As we return to public life, for
some young and newly out queer
people, the interviewee contin-
ued, “That window of time where
they may be open to participat-
ing in that kind of community
will have come and gone.”
However, others described
finding new communities on-
line during the pandemic. They
expect those relationships and
connections will help them
build more caring and sustain-
ing communities as the world
reopens.
Young queer people’s best
www.canadianinquirer.net
Lifestyle
For some queer people, time at home has meant time away from communities
and friends that recognize and support their gender and sexual identities.
ZACKARY DRUCKER/THE GENDER SPECTRUM COLLECTION, CC BY-NC-ND
chance may lie in the care and
support that more experienced
members of their queer com-
munities can offer.
In our interviews, those
young queer people who’ve
managed to connect with oth-
ers online during the pandemic
look forward to the return to
public life with greater hope.
A bisexual cis woman in their
30s belongs to an invitation-on-
ly online group that began as a
few people watching movies
and playing video games to-
gether. A year later, the group
has grown to nearly 50 people
who share ideas about not only
films and video games but also
their genders and sexualities.
This interviewee described
feeling “more comfortable for
the future now … I know these
people and this great communi-
ty, and they will all tell me, ‘Oh,
no, we got you. When things re-
open, you’re going to be invited
to our parties. We’re going to go
to these things together.’ And
it’s like, yeah, they got me under
their wing.”
This community is integral to
this person’s sense of possibility:
“Meeting those people, even if
everything’s on hold right now,
is actually making me comfort-
able … It’s almost better this way
because we get to know each
other virtually. And now it’s like,
cool. I have a group of friends
21
that, you know, we’re going to go
do stuff together.”
As cultural critic Roxane Gay
recently reminded readers,
“We still need people who will
show us different ways we can be
and what might be possible and
what we should fight for.”
For queer people, those peo-
ple are often outside our home,
in our communities, holding up
the light of possibility. As our
communities emerge from a
year marked by loneliness and
new possibilities, our task will
be to sustain those new connec-
tions, support one another, and
remind ourselves of the differ-
ent ways we might be. ■
This article, and the research
behind it, would not have been
possible without the work of
Laura Beach, Jada Charles,
Danii Desmarais, Leela McK-
innon, Kaspars Mikelsteins,
Jennifer Peruniak, Zarin Parisa
Tasnim, and Pamela Tsui.
Jessica Fields, Professor,
Health and Society, University of
Toronto; James K Gibb, Visiting
Scholar, Department of Health
and Society, University of Toron-
to, and Sarah A. Williams, As-
sistant Professor, Anthropology
and Gender Studies, University
of Toronto
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
22
A pediatric nurse explains the
science of sneezing
BY MEG SORG, Purdue
University
The Conversation
Why do we sneeze? – Nao-
mi, 9, San Francisco, California
Why do people sneeze with
their eyes closed? Is there a
way for people to sneeze with
their eyes open? – Carlos, 11,
Riverview, Florida
Why do adults make a loud
noise when they sneeze? –
Artie, 8, Brooklyn, New York
Aaaaa-choo! While your first
thought may be to say “Gesund-
heit!” your second might be to
ask: “Where did that sneeze
come from?”
Sneezing is a phenomenon
that occurs in both people and
animals. It happens when your
body forcibly expels air from
your lungs through your nose
and mouth.
Most of the time, sneezing
happens when something in-
fectious, like a virus or bacteria,
or irritating, like an allergen or
chemical, enters your nostrils.
Your body uses sneezing as a de-
fense mechanism to clear your
nose of mucus – also known as
snot – and prevent foreign ob-
jects and particles from enter-
Race on to phase out plastic straws, stirrers
BY CATHERINE TEVES
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Efforts are under-
way to fast-track the signing of
the draft National Solid Waste
Management Commission
(NSWMC) resolution phasing
out plastic coffee stirrers and
softdrink straws nationwide for
being non-environmentally ac-
ceptable products (NEAPs).
The draft of the country’s
initial NEAP list is already be-
ing hand-carried to heads of
NSWMC member-agencies
for their signing even if the
Covid-19 pandemic is still af-
fecting the country, noted Un-
dersecretary Benny Antiporda
who also serves as Department
of Environment and Natural
Resources (DENR) Secretary
Lifestyle
ing your airway.
But sneezing can also occur
as a reaction to more unusual
stimuli.
Chemicals like piperine or
capsaicin found in foods like
black pepper and chili peppers
can irritate the nerve end-
ings inside your nose’s mu-
cous membranes and lead to a
sneeze.
Another type of sneeze is psy-
chogenic, meaning it’s caused
by something more mental
than physical. Though not ful-
ly understood, researchers be-
lieve it occurs when a strong
emotion triggers your brain to
send a chemical signal to your
nose that makes you sneeze.
And finally, about one in four
people experience something
called photosneezia, or a photic
sneeze reflex, where light, par-
ticularly sunlight, can trigger a
sneeze.
Is it possible to sneeze
without closing your eyes?
Despite a popular myth that
sneezing with your eyes open
will make them pop out, it’s
actually possible to keep your
eyes open when you sneeze.
Closing your eyes during a
sneeze is an autonomic reflex.
This means that your body
does it without you needing to
Roy Cimatu’s alternate in the
commission.
“We hope they’ll sign the doc-
ument before the end of July,”
Antiporda said Monday during
consciously think about it. Sci-
entists believe that your body
makes your eyes close when
you sneeze to decrease the like-
lihood of germs getting into
them.
It’s possible to fight that re-
flex and intentionally keep your
eyes open. But it might be bet-
ter to keep them closed to avoid
getting the germs you expelled
into your eyes.
Why do you make noises
when you sneeze?
Some people have very loud
sneezes, while others have
more delicate sneezes.
The noise you make when you
sneeze is a result of air escaping
your mouth or nose. Generally,
the more air you breathe in, the
louder your sneeze will be. Like
closing your eyes, inhaling pri-
or to a sneeze is largely a reflex
but could be consciously con-
trolled as well.
Some people even hold in or
“swallow” their sneezes, though
health experts don’t recom-
mend this due to potential risk
for injury. Some sneezes can be
so powerful they expel mucous
droplets as forcefully as 100
miles per hour!
What is proper sneezing
etiquette?
Although sneezing is some-
a virtual press conference.
If that happens, he said
stakeholders in the industry of
plastic coffee stirrers and soft-
drink straws will have a one-
www.canadianinquirer.net
times just a reflex, or the result
of an allergy or chemical irri-
tation, sneezing can also be a
symptom of a contagious illness
or upper respiratory infection.
When you feel the urge to
sneeze, best practice is to sneeze
into a tissue or your sleeve to
catch the germs that may come
out with the air you expelled. If
you caught your sneeze with a
tissue or touched your nose and
mouth, good hand hygiene, like
washing with soap and water or
using hand sanitizer, is espe-
cially important to help prevent
spreading germs.
Whether you sneeze with
your eyes open or closed, loudly
or quietly, covering your mouth
year grace period to phase out
these items.
He provided the update on
the draft resolution amidst
reports marine conservation
group Oceana Philippines is
threatening to sue NSWMC for
allegedly being remiss in im-
plementing Republic Act 9003
(Ecological Solid Waste Man-
agement Act of 2000) which re-
quires preparation of the NEAP
list.
“We welcome that group’s
notice to sue,” he said.
Antiporda said he is opti-
mistic the Oceana’s notice will
serve as motivation for serious-
ly addressing the country’s sol-
id waste problem.
According to RA 9003’s im-
plementing rules and regula-
tions, NEAPs are “products or
packaging that are unsafe in
JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY
and nose when you sneeze and
washing your hands for 20 sec-
onds after can help protect oth-
ers from getting sick. ■
Hello, curious kids! Do you
have a question you’d like an
expert to answer? Ask an adult
to send your question to Curi-
ousKidsUS@theconversation.
com. Please tell us your name,
age and the city where you live.
And since curiosity has no age
limit – adults, let us know what
you’re wondering, too. We won’t
be able to answer every question,
but we will do our best.
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
production, use, post-consum-
er use, or that produce or re-
lease harmful products.”
The NSWMC must annually
review and update the NEAP
list, the law added.
“That’s in the law but it
wasn’t done until now,” Anti-
porda said.
He said Department of Sci-
ence and Technology (DOST)
is already studying several plas-
tic items for possible inclusion
in the list which already covers
plastic straws and coffee stir-
rers.
RA 9003 established
NSWMC, designating 14 pub-
lic sector representatives and
three private sector represen-
tatives as members of the com-
mission.
❱❱ PAGE 32 Race on to phase
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021
From UFOs to COVID conspiracy theories,
we all struggle with the ‘truth out there’
BY MEG ELKINS, RMIT
University, ROBERT
HOFFMANN, RMIT
University
The Conversation
For ufologists the US gov-
ernment’s eagerly anticipated
report of “unidentified aerial
phenomena” may be a major
disappointment. It goes fur-
ther than any previous report
in admitting unknowns. But
conspiracy theorists will likely
dismiss it as a cover-up.
But they aren’t alone in tend-
ing to dismiss anything that jars
with their accepted narrative.
Take the “lab leak theo-
ry”. In January, for example,
the Washington Post not only
called the idea that COVID-19
was man-made a “debunked
fringe theory”. It also called the
theory it originated from the
Wuhan Institute of Virology a
“disputed fringe theory”.
Facebook banned claims the
virus was made in a lab for be-
ing false and debunked in Feb-
ruary. It has now reversed that
ruling, with US president Joe
Biden ordering his intelligence
experts to “bring us closer to a
definitive conclusion” by the
end of August.
The issue has been compli-
cated by hyper-partisan media
conflating Facebook’s ban with
censorship of the lab-leak the-
ory. But many also dismissed
the lab-leak theory too easily by
Justice facility dogs:
The quiet, skilled heroes helping child victims
BY KENDRA COULTER,
Brock University
The Conversation
When you’re a victim of
crime, especially interpersonal
abuse, sharing the truth about
what happened is often terri-
fying. Imagine how much more
difficult it is for children.
But today, in many communi-
ties, child victims and witnesses
are being supported by a quiet,
talented and empathetic group
of workers — dogs. Justice facil-
conflating it with other conspir-
acy theories.
We’re all prone to accepting
one narrative and sticking to
it, no matter the evidence. This
problem isn’t just “out there”.
Behavioural research offers
some lessons for all us to keep
front and centre.
Seeing what we want to see
Even if we pride ourselves on be-
ing independently minded we can
still fall prey to cognitive biases.
Part of this is due to over-
confidence in our own deci-
sion-making skills.
This isn’t just the result of
the phenomenon known as
the Dunning-Kruger effect –
in which we tend to overesti-
mate our competence in areas
in which we are incompetent.
Highly intelligent people are
also susceptible to believ-
ing highly irrational ideas, as
ity dogs, to be precise.
The idea of enlisting dogs’ dis-
tinct skills and abilities is reflect-
ed in different kinds of canine
care work. Specialized service
dogs perform life-changing and
life-sustaining work around the
clock, helping people with many
kinds of disabilities. Therapy
dogs work part-time supporting
people in hospitals, long-term
care facilities and libraries.
American prosecutor Ellen
O’Neill-Stephens and veteri-
narian Celeste Walsen want-
ed to enlist highly trained and
demonstrated by the list of
Nobel prize-winning scientists
who have embraced scientifi-
cally questionable beliefs.
Part of it also has to do with be-
lieving what we want to be true.
We settle on most of our
opinions through nothing bet-
ter than snap judgement or
instincts. Our internal “press
secretary” – a mental module
that convinces us of our own
infallibility – then justifies our
reasons for holding those opin-
ions after the fact.
Behavioural scientists call
this motivated reasoning –
when your personal preferenc-
es cloud your grasp on reality.
As Malcolm Gladwell writes
in his book Blink: The Power
of Thinking Without Thinking
(Little, Brown, 2005): “Our se-
lection decisions are a good deal
less rational than we think.”
accredited service dogs to as-
sist children within the justice
system, so they co-founded the
Courthouse Dogs Foundation
in the United States in 2008.
The practice has since spread
globally.
Dogs can help bolster pub-
lic safety
Kim Gramlich of the Delta
Police Victim Services in Brit-
ish Columbia created Justice
Facility Dogs Canada and now
more than 50 accredited dogs
are at work around the country.
Not only are these dogs doing
www.canadianinquirer.net
Lifestyle
How long is a piece of
string? You tell me
One cognitive bias that is espe-
cially amplified by social media is
good old-fashioned conformism.
The potency of conform-
ist thinking was graphically
demonstrated by psychologist
Solomon Asch in his classic
1956 study showing we can even
disregard the evidence of our
own eyes when it contradicts
the majority view.
Asch assembled groups of
participants and had them
judge which of three numbered
lines had the same length as a
target line.
Which numbered line is the
same length as the one on the
left? The answer should be easy.
But in Asch’s group only one
person was a real participant.
The six others were “stooges”,
instructed to sometimes give
the same, patently wrong an-
swer before the subject of the
experiment answered.
The result: about a third of
the time subjects went along
with the majority view, though
it was clearly wrong. The painful
lesson: we are social creatures,
swayed by the group, even willing
to sacrifice the truth just to fit in.
Locked in the echo chamber
Facebook, Twitter and other
social media sites can reinforce
all the above instincts through
creating “echo chambers” that
validate what we chose to believe.
Exposure to different ideas
does not fit well with the econom-
impressive and important work
supporting victims, but they are
also facilitating more thorough
investigations and prosecutions,
thereby bolstering public safety.
The dogs sit and walk with
children to support them. Han-
dlers have countless moving
examples of children who were
initially too scared to speak to
social workers or investigators,
but who gained confidence and
found their voices once they in-
teracted with the dog.
When permission is ob-
tained, the dogs can also sit di-
23
ics of online media – in which
platforms, and content creators
on those platforms, fight for limit-
ed attention by appealing to pref-
erences and prejudices.
We enjoy echo chambers.
According to psychologist Jon-
athan Haidt, we appear to be born
with a “self-righteousness gene”
– an inherent need to be right.
We are more prone to defend our
opinions by criticising others. We
find comfort in validation.
Once we have made our opin-
ion known to others, we are
doggedly reluctant to change
course. Seeming consistent can
become more important than
seeming right, so we will go to
great lengths to shore up opin-
ions that come under scrutiny.
These foibles might be en-
dearing if they didn’t have such
serious implications. Believing
in misinformation is an unde-
niable problem.
But we are going to need a
different way to deal with con-
spiracy theories than simply
trying to ban them. Seeking to
enforce a single accepted narra-
tive is not the solution.
If Facebook or mainstream
media are the arbiters of who
gets heard and who does not,
then we will be pushed more
towards our own filter bubbles,
and conspiracy theorists to-
wards theirs. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
rectly with children as they tes-
tify in trial to provide strength
and comfort for this intimidat-
ing experience.
The damage done by abuse is
widespread and multifaceted,
and justice facility dogs can also
help with some of the lived ef-
fects of violence and harassment.
A particularly affecting ex-
ample a handler shared with me
involved a boy in a small town
whose father had murdered his
mother. The boy was scared to
❱❱ PAGE 32 Justice facility dogs
 24
Pacquiao camp 2020 Summer Olympics
unperturbed to take place in shadow
by US lawsuit of pandemic
BY BENJAMIN PULTA
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – On Sunday when
news broke out that he is being
sued for breach of contract and
his August fight is in danger of
cancelation, boxing superstar
and Senator Manny Pacquiao did
not issue a personal statement.
He let his lawyer -- and his
world-famous fists -- do the
talking.
He merely posted a photo on
his Facebook, Instagram, and
Twitter accounts, showing him
sparring and wearing a headgear
with the caption: “55 days to go”.
The lawyer of Pacquiao in the
United States denounced the
“frivolous” lawsuit filed against
the senator and said it is “with-
out a leg to stand on”.
In a statement sent to news-
men late Sunday, Dale Kinsel-
la said the complaint filed by
Paradigm Sports in California
on June 25, 2021 “is a frivolous
effort to interfere with Man-
ny Pacquiao’s upcoming me-
ga-fight” and predicted that “it
can and will fail for numerous
reasons”.
“Had Manny Pacquiao
known that Paradigm Sports
appears to have had no inten-
Sports
tion of fulfilling its contractu-
al obligations, he never would
have entered into any relation-
ship with them,” he stated.
“Should this matter actually
proceed beyond Friday’s filing
in a court of law, Mr. Pacquiao
will vigorously defend this
action, assert his own claims
against Paradigm Sports, and
seek to recover his attorney’s
fees as well,” he added.
Paradigm claimed it has ex-
clusive rights to negotiate the
lawmaker’s next two fights but
his upcoming bout on August 21
in Las Vegas, Nevada with un-
defeated World Boxing Coun-
cil and International Boxing
Federation welterweight Errol
Spence Jr. was brokered with-
out the firm’s knowledge.
The firm, which also rep-
resents Irish mixed martial
arts superstar Conor McGre-
gor, said Pacquiao received a
$3.3-million advance payment
which he has yet to return and it
requested an injunction to stop
the Pacquiao-Spence fight.
Pacquiao, who at 42 is 12
years older than Spence, will
finish his six-year term in the
Senate next year.
He will leave for the US on
July 3, a week after the Senate
resumes sessions. ■
MANNY PACQUIAO/FACEBOOK
JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY
ANADOLU The Games have been held The US led the largest boy-
Philippine News Agency twice each in Greece -- 1896 cott in the history of the Games
and 2004 (Athens); France with more than 60 countries
-- 1900 and 1924 (Paris); Ger- protesting the invasion. But
ISTANBUL – The long-de- many -- 1936 Berlin and 1972 that triggered a boycott during
layed 2020 Summer Olympics Munich; and Australia -- 1956 the next tournament.
will take place in Tokyo from Melbourne and 2000 Sydney. Athletes from the Soviet
July 23 to Aug. 8 in the shadow Two Games took place under Union and Eastern Bloc coun-
of coronavirus, without inter- the shadow of political tensions tries did not participate in the
national spectators. where countries did not send 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles
More than 11,000 athletes athletes for political reasons. in retaliation for the previous
from 205 nations will compete Moscow hosted the 1980 boycott by the US.
at the games, which were post- Olympics shortly after the Sovi- Phelps clinches most
poned for one year due to the et Union’s invasion of Afghani-
pandemic. It was canceled three stan in 1979. ❱❱ PAGE 27 2020 Summer Olympics
times in the past because of wars.
The 1916 Olympics during
World War I and the 1940 and
1944 Games during World War
II were canceled.
On April 6, 1896, the inaugu-
ral Games kicked off in Athens.
For the next nine days, a to-
tal of 241 competitors from 14
countries will compete in events
from running to rope-climbing.
The US has hosted the Sum-
mer Games four times -- 1904 St.
Louis, 1932 and 1984 Los Angeles
and 1996 Atlanta. Great Britain
has been the host three times --
1908, 1948, and 2012 London).
6 countries’ Olympians
required to take Covid-19
tests for 7 days
XINHUA letes and all other members entering Japan, which is not a
Philippine News Agency of delegations from India, Ne- pre-condition for athletes from
pal, Pakistan, the Maldives, Sri other delegations.
Lanka and Afghanistan will All overseas teams should
TOKYO – The Japanese gov- face stricter countermeasures have members tested twice
ernment has asked participants because of the spreading Delta within four days prior to depar-
at the Tokyo Olympic Games variant, which was first identi- ture, and every day in principle
from six South Asian countries fied in India. after arriving in Japan.
to take Covid-19 tests every day NHK added that the mea- The latest step also requires
for seven days prior to their de- sures would take effect on July 1. participants from Egypt, Viet-
parture for Japan. Participants from these nam, Malaysia, Britain and Ban-
Japan’s state broadcaster countries have already been re- gladesh to be tested every day for
NHK said on Sunday that ath- quired to be vaccinated before three days prior to departure. ■
www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021
SMC turns new basketball hall into
Covid-19 vaccination hub
BY IVAN STEWART
SALDAJENO
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The San Miguel
Corporation (SMC) is making
the most out of its new basket-
ball center in a nice way.
The so-called “SMC Sports
Complex” has been converted
into a vaccination site for the
SMC employees who are looking
to be protected from the corona-
virus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
About 1,252 employees took
part in a two-day vaccination
event recently, in which they
were inoculated with the first
dose of Sinovac vaccines.
“To help decongest [Pasig]
City’s vaccination venues and
reduce the strain on health work-
Tour de France: How many calories
will the winner burn?
BY JOHN ERIC GOFF,
University of Lynchburg
The Conversation
Imagine you begin pedaling
from the start of Stage 17 of this
year’s Tour de France. First, you
would bike approximately 70
miles (112 km) with a gradual
increase in elevation of around
1,300 feet (400 m). But you’ve yet
to hit the fun part: the Hautes-
Pyrénées mountains. Over the
next 40 miles (64 km) you would
have to climb three mountain
peaks with a net increase of a
mile (1.6 km) in elevation. On
the fittest day of my life, I might
not even be able to finish Stage 17
– much less do it in anything re-
motely close to the five hours or
so the winner will take to finish
the ride. And Stage 17 is just one
of 21 stages that must be com-
pleted in the 23 days of the tour.
I am a sports physicist, and
I’ve modeled the Tour de France
for nearly two decades using ter-
rain data – like what I described
for Stage 17 – and the laws of
physics. But I still cannot fathom
the physical capabilities need-
ed to complete the world’s most
famous bike race. Only an elite
few humans are capable of com-
ers, we volunteered our new bas-
ketball facility and enlisted our
own doctors and nurses to help
Pasig City personnel in conduct-
ing vaccination here. We are very
grateful to the Pasig city govern-
ment for enabling some of our
workers to already receive their
vaccines,” SMC president Ra-
mon Ang said on Monday.
He also said the conversion of
the basketball hall into a vacci-
nation hub is one way of SMC in
helping the Philippines achieve
population protection from
Covid-19 as soon as possible.
“Vaccinating as many Filipi-
nos as we can is important to
reaching herd immunity and
getting our economy back up.
That is why we have been help-
ing our LGUS (local govern-
ment units) with their vaccina-
pleting a Tour de France stage in
a time that’s measured in hours
instead of days. The reason
they’re able to do what the rest
of us can only dream of is that
these athletes can produce enor-
mous amounts of power. Power
is the rate at which cyclists burn
energy and the energy they
burn comes from the food they
eat. And over the course of the
Tour de France, the winning cy-
clist will burn the equivalent of
roughly 210 Big Macs.
Cycling is a game of watts
To make a bicycle move, a Tour
de France rider transfers energy
from his muscles, through the
bicycle and to the wheels that
tion rollout, in whatever way we
can. We have been hiring and
deploying medical profession-
als to LGU vaccination sites.
We’re also setting up vaccina-
tion sites both for the public
and our A4 workers. The sports
facility is one of the sites for our
essential workers,” Ang said.
Situated inside the San Mi-
guel Foods complex along Car-
los P. Garcia Avenue in Pasig,
the 5,013-square-meter build-
ing, which was opened last May,
has three basketball courts that
can host the SMC’s three Phil-
ippine Basketball Association
teams, the San Miguel Beer-
men, Barangay Ginebra, and
Magnolia Hotshots, all at once
in practice.
It also has a fitness gym with
separate male and female lock-
push back on the ground. The
faster a rider can put out energy,
the greater the power. This rate
of energy transfer is often mea-
sured in watts. Tour de France
cyclists are capable of generating
enormous amounts of power for
incredibly long periods of time
compared to most people.
For about 20 minutes, a fit rec-
reational cyclist can consistently
put out 250 watts to 300 watts.
Tour de France cyclists can pro-
duce over 400 watts for the same
time period. These pros are even
capable of hitting 1,000 watts for
short bursts of time on a steep
uphill – roughly enough power to
run a microwave oven.
www.canadianinquirer.net
Sports
VACCINATION HUB. With sports activities restricted during the pandemic, San
Miguel Corporation utilizes its SMC Sports Complex for its P1-billion Covid-19
vaccination program.
ers and shower rooms, as well as
three viewing decks with toilets
on the second floor.
“We are proud of this facil-
ity and the excellent job that
our architects, engineers, and
workers have put into building
it and ensuring that it adheres
to international standards. We
are even prouder of this facili-
But not all of the energy a
Tour de France cyclist puts into
his bike gets turned into forward
motion. Cyclists battle air resis-
tance and frictional losses be-
tween their wheels and the road.
They get help from gravity on
downhills but they have to fight
gravity while climbing.
I incorporate all of the phys-
ics associated with cyclist pow-
er output as well as the effects
of gravity, air resistance and
friction into my model. Using
all that, I estimate that a typical
Tour de France winner needs to
put out an average of about 325
watts over the roughly 80 hours
of the race. Recall that most
recreational cyclists would be
happy if they could produce 300
watts for just 20 minutes!
Turning food into miles
So where do these cyclists get all
this energy from? Food, of course!
But your muscles, like any
machine, can’t convert 100%
of food energy directly into en-
ergy output – muscles can be
anywhere between 2% efficient
when used for activities like
swimming and 40% efficient
in the heart. In my model, I use
an average efficiency of 20%.
Knowing this efficiency as well
as the energy output needed to
25
SAN MIGUEL CORPORATION/FACEBOOK
ty now because even it can’t be
used by the teams yet, it is serv-
ing a meaningful purpose--pro-
tecting lives during the pan-
demic,” Ang said.
The SMC plans to continue
utilizing the SMC Sports Com-
plex as a vaccination center serv-
ing 800 employees per day. ■
win the Tour de France, I can
then estimate how much food
the winning cyclist needs.
Top Tour de France cyclists
who complete all 21 stages burn
about 120,000 calories during
the race – or an average of near-
ly 6,000 calories per stage. On
some of the more difficult moun-
tain stages – like this year’s Stage
17 – racers will burn close to
8,000 calories. To make up for
these huge energy losses, riders
eat delectable treats such as jam
rolls, energy bars and mouthwa-
tering “jels” so they don’t waste
energy chewing.
Last year’s winner, Ta-
dej Pogačar, weighs only 146
pounds. Tour de France cyclists
don’t have much fat to burn for
energy. They have to keep put-
ting food energy into their bod-
ies so they can put out energy at
what seems like a superhuman
rate. So this year, while watch-
ing a stage of the Tour de France,
note how many times the cy-
clists eat – now you know the
reason for all that snacking. ■
John Eric Goff, Professor of
Physics, University of Lynchburg
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
26
BSP sees more foreign
investments in digital
banking
BY KRIS CRISMUNDO
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Bangko Sen-
tral ng Pilipinas (BSP) is seeing
more investment inflows from
foreign banks for digital bank-
ing in the country.
Governor Benjamin Diok-
no said in a press conference
Friday that since the start of
the country’s digital banking
framework in December 2020,
the central bank anticipates
growth in foreign investment in
digital banking.
“In fact, a number of new and
incumbent foreign banks have
expressed intent to establish
a new digital bank or convert
their existing license to a digital
bank license,” Diokno said.
BSP Policy and Specialized
Supervision Sub-Sector man-
aging director Lyn Javier said
the central bank has received
queries and interest from for-
eign banks in Europe and Asian
regions.
At least three banks have com-
PH to correct deficiencies after landing
on ‘dirty money’ list
BY KRIS CRISMUNDO
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Philippine gov-
ernment commits to correct its
deficiencies after the country re-
turned to the gray list of the Finan-
cial Action Task Force (FATF), an
international watchdog that aims
to combat money laundering and
the financing of terrorism.
“This means we as a country
made commitments to correct
Business
BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno
pleted phase one of the licensing
process for digital banks, Javier
said, adding that the BSP will
continue to evaluate other ap-
plications upon submission of
complete documents.
Moreover, Diokno said aside
from opportunities in digital
banking in the Philippines, for-
deficiencies within a particular
timeframe. Hence, it is under
increased monitoring,” Finance
Secretary Carlos Dominguez III
told reporters in a text message.
Aside from the Philippines,
Haiti, Malta, and South Sudan
also landed on FATF’s gray list.
These countries now need
to submit progress reports to
FATF thrice a year -- in Janu-
ary, May, and September.
In a separate statement,
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
DEPARTMENT OF BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT
eign banks have huge prospects
in partnering with the private
sector in promoting invest-
ments in infrastructure and
sustainable finance.
“Foreign banks have the ca-
pacity to pool funds to finance
❱❱ PAGE 27 BSP sees more
Governor Benjamin Diokno said
the country will submit its first
report in September this year.
“The Philippines has adopted
compliant laws and regulations,
(b)ut it is not sufficient. The Phil-
ippines need time to implement
them to demonstrate the effec-
tiveness of anti-money launder-
ing and counter-terrorism fi-
nancing measures,” Diokno said.
He cited efforts of the gov-
ernment to address the 70 ac-
tion plans identified in the 2018
www.canadianinquirer.net
Largest fast
food chain
optimistic of
2022 economic
recovery
BY KRIS CRISMUNDO
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The country’s
largest fast food chain is con-
fident that economic recovery
is underway this year and even
stronger in 2022.
Jollibee Foods Corp. chair-
man Tony Tancaktiong said
during the company’s annual
stockholders’ meeting Friday
that the company is “encour-
aged and confident that the
Philippine economic recovery
will be underway within 2021”
with the increasing vaccination
rate.
More than 8.5 million dos-
es of Covid-19 vaccines were
already administered in the
country.
Tancaktiong said many of
Mutual Evaluation, which is
now down to 18.
“The National Anti-Money
Laundering/Combating the Fi-
nancing of Terrorism Commit-
tee or NACC is also addressing
the remaining ICRG (Inter-
national Co-operation Review
Group) action plans,” he added.
The central bank chief also
echoed that the government re-
mains “strongly committed to
swiftly resolve the deficiencies
identified in the 2018 Mutu-
JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY
the employees of the Jollibee
Group have been vaccinated
through their respective local
governments, but the company
will also provide free Covid-19
vaccine to those who have yet to
be inoculated as well as giving
vaccine access to their depen-
dents.
“Close to 90 percent of our
employees will be vaccinated.
We, in Jollibee Group, is one
with the country’s efforts in
addressing the pandemic,” he
added.
With the firm’s optimism in
economic recovery this year, Jol-
libee Group chief executive of-
ficer Ernesto Tanmantiong said
the company will be opening 450
stores this year, spending a re-
cord-high PHP12.2 billion.
❱❱ PAGE 29 Largest fast food
al Evaluation even amidst the
Covid-19 (coronavirus disease
2019) pandemic”.
He added that although the
Philippines was reverted to
the ‘dirty money’ watchlist, the
country will not face any sanc-
tion for being a “jurisdiction
under increased monitoring”.
“The Philippines will be del-
isted from ‘gray list’ upon suc-
cessful completion of all action
plans -- hopefully on or before
January 2023,” Diokno said. ■
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021
House prices: the risks of a fall are
higher than most people think
BY GEOFF MEEN, University
of Reading
The Conversation
At the start of the pandemic,
many analysts believed that the
prices of owner-occupied hous-
ing would be heavily affected.
After all, owner-occupation is a
market and is influenced by the
economy. It therefore seemed
highly likely that house prices
would fall, remembering that,
across the UK, prices fell by ap-
proximately 20% from peak to
trough during the global finan-
cial crisis of 2007-09.
Since UK GDP fell by “only”
6% between the first quarter of
2008 and the third quarter of
2009, the 20% fall in GDP in the
second quarter of 2020 alone
might have been expected to
trigger an even larger housing
response.
The UK government’s Of-
fice for Budget Responsibility
(OBR) was of a similar view: in
its November 2020 forecast,
it projected a 9% fall in house
prices between the end of 2020
and the beginning of 2022 (be-
fore stripping out inflation).
However, in its most recent
projections (March 2021), price
growth has been revised up-
wards; although prices are still
expected to fall slightly through
2022, they are forecast to re-
main well above 2020 levels. So
what’s going on?
The surprise rise in prices
The OBR’s revision to its
forecast reflects the fact that
BSP sees more...
❰❰ 26 infrastructure proj-
ects in key sectors
such as renewable en-
ergy, low carbon transport, sus-
tainable water management,
and sustainable waste manage-
ment,” the BSP chief said.
He added that foreign banks
have financing opportunities
for big-ticket and long-term
projects under the Build Build
Build program.
There is also a growing accep-
tance for green and sustainable
finance in the country, Diokno
said.
“With global market exper-
tise, foreign banks can facilitate
there has been a rise in UK
house prices recently. At ap-
proximately 9%, the annual
rise in prices in the first four
months of 2021 is the highest
since 2014.
On one level, such forecasts
should not have been so wrong,
since the key influences on
house prices are fairly well un-
derstood as a result of decades
of research. They are household
incomes, interest rates, the
availability of credit, the supply
of homes, and any tax advantag-
es to ownership.
However, a problem for fore-
casting is that house prices are
highly sensitive to changes in
incomes and interest rates.
Therefore, small errors in pre-
dicting these variables lead to
even bigger errors in forecast-
ing house prices. Consequently,
considerable caution is needed
the underwriting of green, so-
cial, or sustainability bonds or
develop innovative sustainable
finance instruments. Given
their global market expertise,
foreign banks can facilitate un-
derwriting of green, social, or
sustainability bonds or finance
infrastructure projects in key
sectors such as renewable en-
ergy and low carbon transport,”
he said.
With the liberalization of the
entry of foreign banks, there are
now 29 foreign banks operat-
ing in the country, of which, 12
are included in the 2020 list of
Global Systemically Important
with any short-term house-
price forecasts.
One view is that prices have
been saved from falling during
the pandemic by the combina-
tion of low interest rates and a
stamp duty holiday. Both points
certainly have merit. There is
strong empirical evidence that
low interest rates have a major
effect on prices if supported by
adequate mortgage credit. And
when transaction costs were
lowered by the suspension of
stamp duty in July 2020 and its
later extension in March 2021,
housing sales rose sharply,
which is also likely to have driv-
en up prices.
However, this doesn’t tell
the complete story. Household
disposable income is one of the
main determinants of housing
demand and prices. As you can
see from the graph below, it was
Banks.
Diokno said that as of end-
April 2021, the combined assets
of these foreign banks amount-
ed to PHP1.4 trillion, or 7 per-
cent of the banking system’s
total assets.
Deposits in foreign banks
grew by 43.4 percent since the
liberalization of the banking
sector in 2014, “indicating trust
and confidence in foreign banks
even amid the pandemic”, Dio-
kno added.
He said investment activi-
ties of these banks also reached
PHP377.5 billion as of end-
April this year. ■
www.canadianinquirer.net
Business
much less affected than GDP
in 2020, having been support-
ed by the government furlough
scheme. By the end of the year,
it had returned to its pre-pan-
demic level.
As an approximation, a 1%
reduction in real income has
historically led to about a 2%
reduction in house prices. So if
incomes had fallen at the same
rate as GDP, we may have experi-
enced a double-digit fall in prices.
What happens next?
So are we safe from a future
slump? There are numerous
conventional reasons to at least
expect some slowdown in the
growth of prices. These would
include the potential for rising
inflation and higher interest
rates, the ending of furlough
in September, the end of the
stamp duty holiday on July 1,
and public spending limitations
2020 Summer Olympics...
❰❰ 24 Olympic medals
American Michael
Phelps holds the re-
cord for the most medals won
by any athlete at 28, including
23 gold medals and 13 individ-
ual gold.
The 35-year-old competed in
his first Olympics at the age of 15,
as part of the swimming team.
He was the first American
male swimmer to earn a spot on
five Olympic teams and made
history as the oldest individual
gold medalist in Olympic swim-
ming history at 28.
Phelps won six golds at 19, a
record eight at 23, and went out
27
as a result of the pandemic
overspend.
But there is a further rea-
son for concern – the nature of
house-price risk. Housing is an
asset with both risk and return,
and it is surprising that limited
attention is generally paid to
the former in forecasts.
The fact that house prices
have been rising quickly over
the last year makes the market
more vulnerable to external
shocks to the economy such as
a financial crisis or a sharp rise
in the price of oil. This is be-
cause when housing comprises
a higher proportion of the av-
erage household’s wealth than
usual – it’s usually around 60%
excluding pensions, but will
be higher now because of ris-
ing house prices – the market
is more prone to slow down in
response to an external shock.
This is because some proper-
ty investors, particularly those
with more than one property,
will stop buying, which reduces
demand.
By their nature, unexpected
shocks are largely unpredict-
able. This is a further reason
why forecasting the housing
market is so difficult. Just be-
cause we have not observed a
major downturn in prices so far
as a result of the pandemic, com-
placency is not in order. It may
mean that house-price growth is
being over-predicted. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
with five more at age 31.
‘Pocket Hercules’
Turkish weightlifter Naim
Suleymanoglu was the first
weightlifter to bag gold at three
Olympic Games.
Nicknamed “Pocket Hercu-
les,” for his 1.47-meter (4-foot,
10-inch) frame, Suleymanoglu
made history, clinching gold in
three successive Games: Atlan-
ta 1996, Barcelona 1992, and
Seoul 1988.
Suleymanoglu was named
the best athlete on the planet by
the International Weightlifting
Federation Media Commission
in 1992. ■
28
How a virtual placenta could help
with early detection of at-risk babies
BY ALYS CLARK, University
of Auckland, JO JAMES,
University of Auckland
The Conversation
None of us would be here
without our placenta, the re-
markable fetal organ that nour-
ished and sustained us before
birth. But despite its impor-
tance, the placenta is among
the least studied organs and we
don’t fully understand how it
grows and functions.
This is problematic, because
in one in ten pregnancies, the
placenta functions poorly,
leading to pregnancy disorders
such as fetal growth restriction
(FGR), when a baby’s growth
slows dramatically or stops.
Across Australia and New Zea-
land, this affects more than
30,000 pregnancies each year,
and growth-restricted babies
are four times more likely to be
stillborn.
Modern ultrasound imaging
tools and new technologies such
as fetal DNA testing in maternal
blood cannot yet predict which
pregnancies are at risk of fetal
growth restriction until after the
baby’s growth slows down.
To help improve early detec-
tion and prediction of at-risk
pregnancies, we have developed
a virtual placenta – a comput-
er-based representation of the
organ – by piecing together a
wide range of clinical and lab-
oratory data from pregnancies
that go well and those that don’t.
The placenta has several
functions. It delivers nutrients
Technology
and oxygen from the moth-
er’s blood to the baby, removes
wastes from the baby back to
mum, and produces important
hormones that adapt mum’s
body to pregnancy. Māori have
always understood its value,
referring to the placenta as
the whenua, which nourishes
the baby as the whenua (land)
nourishes the people.
We know there are some
important factors, including
smoking, that can affect a baby’s
growth. But pregnancy disor-
ders can occur in healthy wom-
en with no risk factors, and in a
culture where mothers are often
quick to blame themselves, it’s
important for women to know
that growth restriction hardly
ever occurs because of some-
thing they did or did not do.
The most common way to es-
timate fetal growth is by a tape
measure on mum’s stomach,
but the technique is only 10%
sensitive, and even less so in
patients who carry more body
fat. More than half of the babies
struggling to grow well are not
detected before delivery.
Virtual organs to detect
health issues
We need to do better at de-
tecting fetal growth issues. The
earlier doctors know these ba-
bies are at risk, the better. While
treatment options are current-
ly limited, doctors can monitor
the pregnancy more closely and
make informed decisions about
when to deliver.
This is not straightforward,
as both the mother’s and baby’s
physiology can change quickly
JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY
in pregnancy, and we can’t ask is critical for good exchange. only if started before 16 weeks
pregnant mothers to have more Only recently has technolo- of pregnancy.
tests, or ultrasounds, or to un- gy allowed virtual placentas to As we cannot predict FGR
dergo procedures that might include the detail of this blood in early pregnancy, much of
put the pregnancy at risk (like flow and exchange, which can’t what we know about restrict-
using radiation in a CT scan). be measured directly. This is al- ed growth in utero comes from
The virtual placenta allows lowing scientists to make strides studies in late pregnancy, and
us to look more closely at preg- towards understanding how fea- assessment of placentas after
nancy without adding to the tures of placentas that restrict a delivery. Applying our anatom-
burden of tests an expectant baby’s growth show up in imag- ical understanding of earlier
mother needs to undergo, and ing like ultrasound or MRI. stages of placental development
without costing the healthcare Finding cost-effective ways allows us to virtually “turn back
system an excessive amount. to predict and detect fetal the clock” and consider early
Virtual organs, or indeed growth restriction will go a long contributors to poor placental
virtual humans, are not a new way to helping our smallest function, and how we can mea-
concept. For several decades babies. Predicting which preg- sure these by ultrasound.
scientists have been combining nancies are at risk in early preg- We hope to use this knowl-
anatomical knowledge with the nancy is especially important, edge to develop new ways to
principles of physics to predict as this is when the placenta is predict at-risk pregnancies, so
how changes in anatomy affect growing rapidly, and therapies we can help prevent growth is-
organ function. An example delivered in early pregnancy sues, and give all babies a better
includes how changes in blood are more likely to bolster pla- start to life. ■
vessels affect how hard a heart cental function. For example,
has to pump to circulate blood simple and safe therapies such This article is republished
around the body. as aspirin are effective at reduc- from The Conversation under a
Simple virtual pregnancy ing fetal growth restriction, but Creative Commons license.
models have guided interpre-
tation of ultrasound since the
start of routine use in pregnan-
cy in the 1980s.
Virtual clinical trials are also
emerging where it is possible
to experiment on a comput-
er-based organ to predict out-
comes before new treatments
are trialled on real people. This
reduces animal testing and the
cost of clinical trials.
Earlier detection of problems
The placenta is like a dense
forest of trees. The baby’s own
blood vessels are inside the
branches of these trees, while
blood from mum’s uterus flows
around the outside. How blood
flows in both these circulations
www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021
Robot farmers could improve jobs and help fight
climate change – if they’re developed responsibly
BY DAVID ROSE, MARC
HANHEIDE, SIMON
PEARSON
The Conversation
Farming robots that can
move autonomously in an open
field or greenhouse promise a
cleaner, safer agricultural fu-
ture. But there are also poten-
tial downsides, from the loss of
much-needed jobs to the safety
of those working alongside the
robots.
To ensure that the use of au-
tonomous robots on farms cre-
ates more benefits than losses,
a process of responsible devel-
opment is required. Society as
a whole needs to be involved in
setting the trajectories for fu-
ture farming.
We are part of a project called
Robot Highways, which is cur-
rently demonstrating multiple
uses for autonomous robots
made by Saga Robotics on a
fruit farm in south-east En-
gland. Robots are now treat-
ing plant diseases in fields and
glasshouses, and will be map-
ping terrain, picking, packing,
and providing logistical support
to workers over the course of
the project. This is achieved by
attaching different tools to an
autonomous “base robot”.
In this way, autonomous
farming robots have the poten-
tial to do some of the laborious
agricultural work for which
farmers in some countries often
struggle to find employees at a
cost that keeps food prices com-
petitive. Our project has pro-
How Cinderella lost...
❰❰ 18 studio’s strategy of
mining European folk
tales for popular en-
tertainment, a tradition begun
with Snow White and the Seven
Dwarfs (1937).
Released in 1950, Disney’s
Cinderella reflected the con-
servative values of US society at
the time. The figure of the wick-
ed stepmother took on a super-
villainesque quality in the form
of Lady Tremaine. While the
figure of the stepmother had
been the antagonist in most ver-
sions of the folk story, Disney’s
Tremaine was a villain to rank
duced an estimate that robots
may eventually help reduce the
number of human farm workers
needed by up to 40%.
At the same time, robots
could help create new jobs. The
UK’s National Farmers’ Union
argues that increasing use of
digital technologies in farms
will attract younger, skilled
people to a sector struggling
with an ageing workforce.
There could also be envi-
ronmental benefits. Swapping
traditional, fossil fuel-powered
farm machinery for electric
robots charged from renew-
able sources will cut farming’s
carbon emissions. Robots
equipped with ultraviolet lights
that can kill mildew on plants
could reduce fungicide use by
up to 90%.
Machines like those produced
by the Small Robot Compa-
ny can navigate in tight spac-
es between objects like trees,
so could potentially be used in
agroforestry systems to perform
weeding, disease treatment and
mapping. They could also help
reduce chemical use on farms
by targeting individual plants,
rather than whole fields.
However, unrestricted use
of autonomous farming robots
could also create problems. In
parts of the world where there
is not an agricultural labour
shortage, reducing the demand
for human workers means peo-
ple will need resources and op-
portunities to retrain in other
sectors. They may just end up
moving into dull, dangerous
and underpaid jobs in other in-
among the studio’s many infa-
mous examples of monstrous
women. In Disney’s hands, an
often nuanced character within
the original tale was turned into
a vivid caricature of feminine
power and greed.
The most recent live-action
remake starring Cate Blanchett
as Tremaine did little to change
these preconceptions of the
folk tale, as Cinderella became
a nostalgic symbol not only for
childhood storytelling but for
Disney as its most popular sto-
ryteller. The role of women in
the creation of Cinderella as we
Thorvald: an autonomous robot from Saga Robotics
MATT MUNRO, SAGA ROBOTICS, AUTHOR PROVIDED
dustries such as mining, which
will be needed to produce the
materials to make the robots.
Humans who are left on the
farm – or walkers on footpaths
– will face health and safety
concerns from having to work
alongside the robots. The possi-
bility of someone hacking a farm
robot and forcing it to do their
bidding cannot be overlooked.
And poorer farms that can’t af-
ford robots at all are likely to be
left at a disadvantage.
There are also concerns over
the ownership of the data col-
lected by robots operated by
commercial companies – and
whether that data will be used
for the benefit of those compa-
nies, rather than the farmers.
Responsible development
To make sure farming robots
are developed responsibly, we
need to get those people who
might be affected by the tech-
know it was lost to animation
and special effects.
So what is the moral of the
story of this particular fairy
tale? If anything, it’s that Cin-
derella is not a story that needs
a complete reinvention. In-
stead, the story needs reclaim-
ing from the hands of those who
would dismiss it as just a fairy
story or would use it as a vehicle
for spectacle at the expense of
the story buried beneath. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
www.canadianinquirer.net
Technology
nology –- from manufacturers
and regulators to rural commu-
nities -– thinking about all its
possible implications.
This might include so-called
“Wizard of Oz” studies, in which
remote controlled robots are
tested alongside human users in
order to simulate what reactions
and consequences fully auton-
omous robots might produce
once the technology is ready.
This would allow robot design-
ers to save money and manage
expectations by studying user
experience at the early stages of
development. Another option is
hosting “robot movie nights” to
help show the public how robots
on the farm would behave.
Once countries allow auton-
omous robots to be used on
farms, safety and data-owner-
ship regulations will need to be
swiftly updated. In Australia,
a code of practice for such ro-
Largest fast food...
❰❰ 26 Tanmantiong said
its international busi-
ness will drive the
Group’s expansion, especially
in China, Vietnam, and North
America.
“With the positive outlook
for China and USA given their
earlier recovery from the pan-
demic, and the Philippines’ re-
covery underway as restrictions
are lifted and vaccination roll-
out, we will accelerate our new
stores expansion in the months
ahead,” he said.
The executive added that in
2022, Jollibee Group expects to
29
bots has been developed in the
crop sector and similar work is
underway in the UK. This will
set out robots’ obligations, state
the conditions in which robots
can be used, and determine who
is responsible for worker and
public safety.
The stakes of getting things
wrong are high. Injured work-
ers, hacked or unreliable robots,
or negative consumer percep-
tion could all stand in the way
of the promises of autonomous
robots being realised. To help
avoid this, governments can
start providing rural digital and
internet infrastructure, train-
ing, and financial support so
that farmers can hit the ground
running if autonomous robots
hit the market.
Will we see autonomous ro-
bots picking fruit across Britain
by 2025 – or even sooner? That
depends: not on the quality of
our technology alone, but also
on our ability to work together
to listen, learn and respond to
the needs of farmers and soci-
ety alike. ■
David Rose receives funding
from UKRI (Innovate UK).
Marc Hanheide receives
funding from UKRI and the EU
Commission, and owns shares in
SAGA Robotics.
Simon Pearson receives fund-
ing from UKRI. He is Co-Chair
of the DEFRA Automation and
Robotics Review for Horticul-
ture
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
open at least 500 stores similar
to its expansion rate prior to
the pandemic and even higher
than 500 stores in the succeed-
ing years.
“The global crisis made more
apparent the advantages of the
geographical diversification
of our business. We continued
to invest for long-term growth
even amid the pandemic in
countries that presented oppor-
tunities,” Tanmantiong said.
Jollibee Group has 17 brands
in 33 countries, with 5,815
stores worldwide as of end-May
2021. ■
 JULY
JULY 17,2,2020
2021 30
28

CANADA

PINOY EXPRESS DELIVERY

TRUCK OR CARGO AVAILABLE FOR RENT WITH A DRIVER.
Driver will help: Load-Pack-Unload

Perfect for: *Furniture Pick-up *Online Purchases

Room * Bachelor * 1-2 Bedroom
No More Hassle and Headache of going out to Rent.
Just pick up the phone and will show up at your door.
Let your Kababayan help you!!! We Speak your language
Maraming Salamat

Call: (416) 841-0244 for more details.

Leave a Message and we will call you back.

Electronic Technicians Needed

Experience in Low Voltage
Electrical System
installation and Servicing
Computers with Networking
Email resume to suda@alarmboss.com
Call 416-432-1902

CHRISTMAS SIGNING BONUS!!! TIN TIN DIM SUM Spectrum Health Care is Hiring
Do you have:
Proudly serving fresh
Personal Support Workers
Cleaning, sweeping and moping experience (Outside Retail)
Experience in using a power washer & leaf blower
Enjoy Working Outdoors
and not frozen dim sum all day who want more!
Good time management skills and can work unsupervised
Have your own transportation $10.99 only More hours
Iron Platter Style (with rice & veg in soup)
Competitive Pay Rates Tonkatsu Combo (Chicken or Pork)
Pay Via Direct Deposit Spicy Ramen Pot

6455 Macleod Trail SW, Unit 192A, Calgary, AB T2H 0K9

$500 Signing Bonus
(Located inside Chinook Mall)
Please email your resume to SecuredGroup
info@securedsecuirty.com or fax 604-239-0251 securedsecurity.com
(403) 253-7742 Learn more at www.spectrumhealthcare.com

www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY JULY 2, 2021 31

Rooibos tea: EU protection is good news
for South African agriculture
BY ENRICO BONADIO,
University of London,
MAGALI CONTARDI,
Universidad de Alicante
The Conversation
The European Union recent-
ly added rooibos (red bush) tea
to its register of products with a
protected designation of origin.
The iconic tea is the first Afri-
can product to receive such sta-
tus in the EU, and the 40th from
a non-EU country.
Rooibos is in good company
– this is the same kind of protec-
tion given to champagne, pro-
sciutto di Parma, feta and many
other iconic foods. This designa-
tion contributes to a product’s
global standing, and is likely to
have benefits – economic and
beyond – for the region.
Protected status is given
to products whose quality is
strictly linked to the local area
and peculiar manufacturing
techniques.
Rooibos is obtained through
the infusion of dried leaves or
stems of Aspalathus linearis.
The plant grows in Cederberg,
a mountain region with a fertile
soil north of Cape Town, and in
harsh microclimate conditions
with hot dry summers and wet
winters. Once harvested, the
bushy plant is grown following
a specific process to produce a
tea that is fruity, woody, spicy in
taste and naturally caffeine free.
Café de Colombia was the first
ever non-EU product protected
under this scheme in 2007, fol-
Food
lowed in 2011 by others such as
Indian tea Darjeeling and Chi-
nese green tea Longjing cha.
Part of the EU legal frame-
work for protecting regional
foods is that they have acquired
a strong reputation among con-
sumers. Favourable climates
and centuries-old manufactur-
ing techniques rooted in their
designated areas have contrib-
uted to this renown.
These protected designa-
tions identify “products with a
story”. Rooibos tea is now one
of them. Its new EU status will
“signal its unique quality to
consumers, not only in Europe
but all over the world”, Western
Cape Minister of Agriculture
Ivan Meyer said.
Authenticity matters
Such legal protection matters,
as attempts to misappropriate
the rooibos brand have occurred
in the past. In 2013 a French
company tried to register the
trademark “rooibos” for skin-
care products in France (one of
the health benefits of this tea is
its rich antioxidant content that
may improve skin health).
The new EU designation is
likely to offer rooibos producers
and farmers a valuable market
advantage, because only infu-
sions produced in the local area
north of Cape Town and ac-
cording to specific rules can be
labelled “rooibos”. This ensures
that tea produced in other areas
cannot be sold in the EU – one
of the biggest markets in the
world – under the name rooi-
bos/red bush. Evocative uses
of such designations by third
parties (for example, “Rooibos
kind”, “Red Bush type”, “Rooi-
bos style” or “Red Bush imita-
tion”) are also prohibited.
This brand monopoly in the
EU will arguably enhance the
economic development of the
Western Cape and the whole of
South Africa. The region already
produces an average of 14,000
tonnes of rooibos per year, and
in 2019-20 expanding global de-
mand resulted in an increase to
about 20,000 tonnes.
The South African Rooibos
Council estimated that the total
rooibos sales in 2020 equalled
6 billion cups of tea – close to
one cup per human on Earth.
It also reported that half the
production is consumed local- low geographical name protec- the drink made with rooibos
ly, whereas the other half is ex- tion as a result of consumers’ for centuries. The name itself
ported to more than 60 coun- recognition of the product’s derives from the Afrikaans
tries. In 2019, the biggest export quality. This is exactly what language, meaning “red bush”
markets were Germany (28%), farmers and the entity that and referring to the plant’s red-
Japan (22%), the Netherlands manages the rooibos brand (the brown leaves.
(9%) and the UK (8%). South African Rooibos Council) Employment could be boost-
The global herbal tea mar- now expect. ed, too. As confirmed in the roo-
ket is growing at 7% per year. Beyond economics ibos council report, the rooibos
With rooibos’ new EU status, The rooibos EU designation industry is already the biggest
not only is the global demand could also contribute to further employer of people from the
for this product expected to in- promoting South African gas- rural provinces of South Afri-
crease, related sectors, such as tronomic heritage and genetic ca, with direct income and em-
agritourism, are also likely to resources. As Mogale Sebop- ployment given to more than
benefit. In 2021, an EU report etsa, head of the Western Cape 8,000 farm labourers, and many
revealed that European food Department of Agriculture, put others in the supply chain (pro-
products listed on the EU reg- it, “in this way, we safeguard our cessing, packaging, retailing).
ister of all protected geograph- heritage for posterity”. With more production and in-
ical names generated in 2017 The use of the dried leaves ternational sales in sight, this
an estimated sales value of €77 and stems of rooibos as a tea trend will probably increase. ■
billion (£66 billion). was first reported in 1772, al-
As the example of Darjeeling though Khoisan indigenous This article is republished
tea shows, premium pricing and people from western South from The Conversation under a
more robust revenues often fol- Africa have been consuming Creative Commons license.

Mooove over, cows: You might have real competition

in NotMilk, a vegan milk product that tastes like dairy
THE COUNTER dairy enough to be mistaken as
actual milk. Enter NotMilk, a
vegan product that uses pine-
Alternative milks using oats, apple, cabbage, and more than
nuts, and soy have risen in pop- a dozen other ingredients that
ularity in recent years. But none claims to “taste, cook, and froth
have been able to impersonate like cow’s milk,” reports Emily
Codik in The Washington Post.
Codik used four tasters to try
out the milk-imitator: In a side-
by-side taste test comparing it
to cow’s milk, NotMilk tasted
slightly sweeter and had the
texture of dairy. All four tasters
agreed that the product tasted credibly well” at Whole Foods.
“far more like dairy than other Mooove over, cows. It seems
plant milks.” One drawback? like you might have a real com-
NotMilk didn’t always mix well petitor. ■
into coffee unless you used a lot
of it. Even so, NotMilk’s chief
executive says it’s selling “in-

www.canadianinquirer.net
 32
Consciously Coupling...
❰❰ 20 your precious time on
things that don’t mat-
ter. It’s all superficial
nonsense and stop trying to live
up to society’s standard of hap-
piness. Instead, create your own
standard of happiness. You do
you. Don’t compare yourselves
to the Jones’ couple. When you
set goals as a couple, it solidifies
your relationship. When you
share a dream together, you
start bonding and connecting
with your partner on a deeper
level. It’s all about creating and
re-creating your lives together.
Learn to forgive and forget.
Anyone can fall in love easily,
but keeping the music playing
in your relationship is always
based on hard work. Maria’s re-
lationship with Mr. S.O. is not
quite a walk in the park for both
of them. They both have to work
hard on their relationship every
day. Environmental and psy-
chological factors, rollercoast-
Race on to phase...
❰❰ 22 “The government
sector shall be repre-
sented by the heads of
the following agencies in their
ex officio capacity: DENR; De-
partment of the Interior and
Local Government; DOST;
Department of Public Works
and Highways; Department of
Health; Department of Trade
and Industry (DTI); Depart-
ment of Agriculture; Metro Ma-
nila Development Authority;
League of provincial governors;
League of city mayors; League
of municipal mayors; Asso-
ciation of barangay councils;
Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority; and
Philippine Information Agen-
cy,” RA 9003 said.
The NSWMC’s private sec-
tor members, according to the
law, are a “representative from
non-government organizations
(NGOs) whose principal pur-
pose is to promote recycling
and the protection of air and
water quality; a representative
from the recycling industry;
and a representative from the
manufacturing or packaging in-
dustry.”
RA 9003 designated the
DENR Secretary and a pri-
vate sector representative as
NSWMC’s chairperson and
vice-chairperson, respectively.
Cimatu, DTI, and the NGO
representative already signed
er emotions, work stress levels,
life events, and present circum-
stances are the challenges that
Maria and her partner have to
overcome on a daily basis.
It is natural to have fights
and disagreements over these
challenges. It’s how you solve
your difficulties and how you
react towards each other that
helps you overcome your fights.
During arguments, think before
you speak. Your words can de-
stroy a person and ultimately,
your relationship. Even in the
thick of a heated discussion,
take a deep breath and quickly
ask yourself, will my words be
kind? Believe me, it’s a lot eas-
ier said than done, especially
when tempers are flaring, but
you must both exert an effort
and make it a habit to be kind to
each other.
Learn to also shut up and lis-
ten to your partner. Whatever
difficulties you may both have,
the draft resolution, Antiporda
said.
Not all NSWMC members
need to sign such draft for the
phaseout of plastic straws and
coffee stirrers to be mandatory
nationwide, he added,
He said the government will
implement the phaseout if ma-
jority of NSWMC will sign the
draft.
Preparation of the NEAP list
is long-overdue as RA 9003 or-
dered NSWMC to do so within
one year from effectivity of this
law.
The NSWMC must prepare
the list in consultation with
stakeholders concerned, how-
ever, RA 9003 clarified.
RA 9003 also prohibits ban-
ning NEAPs unless NSWMC
first finds alternatives available
to the public at costs that are
not more than 10 percent high-
er than corresponding prices of
items these will replace.
The law likewise said that
“notwithstanding any other
provision to the contrary,” its
section on NEAPs “shall not ap-
ply to (a) Packaging used at hos-
pitals, nursing homes or other
medical facilities; and (b) Any
packaging which is not envi-
ronmentally acceptable, but for
which there is no commercially
available alternative as deter-
mined by the Commission.” ■
try to resolve it and reach a bet-
ter understanding before you
end your day. Don’t go to bed
with a heavy heart. Kobe Bry-
ant’s death taught Maria and
Mr. S.O. to always say “I’m sor-
ry, I love you, and I forgive you”
to each other before they go to
Justice facility dogs...
❰❰ 23 return to school and
worried about what
other kids would say.
When the facility dog was per-
mitted to join him on his first
day back at school, the boy felt
comfortable returning and the
dog became a shield, a source of
comfort and a beacon for pos-
itive interest from other chil-
dren.
The dogs can assist survivors
of intergenerational trauma,
as well. Gramlich walked with
Puma and people of the Tk’em-
lúps te Secwépemc First Nation
and the Adams Lake Band to
honour the 215 children whose
bodies were found outside a res-
idential school in Kamloops, B.C.
Dogs approach people un-
der stress
The dogs are partnered with
human professionals in vic-
tim services, children’s aid and
law enforcement. The human
partners are the dogs’ handlers
and caretakers, at work and at
home. But often the dogs will
work independently and even
approach people proactive-
ly who are experiencing great
stress to offer comfort and care.
I have witnessed this first-hand.
The dogs’ ability to understand
us and our true feelings is re-
markable.
The positive impact of these
dogs is undeniable, but some
people wonder about how this
www.canadianinquirer.net
sleep or leave their flat. Maria
and her partner are grateful for
every time they are together
and the mere thought that they
might never know if the other
one will come back home safely
or wake up alive the following
day, and thus, it is important
work affects the animals. This is
an essential question when we
ask animals to work with and
for us. It is particularly signifi-
cant since we know dogs expe-
rience what is called emotional
contagion — their stress levels
often increase when they hear
and see people in distress.
In fact, not only do we need to
take animal well-being serious-
ly while they are working, we
also need to respect their work
lives in the fullest sense — that
is, to pay attention to what hap-
pens to them before and after
their formal careers, and during
their time away from work, on a
daily basis.
Justice facility dogs are se-
lected from carefully managed
litters whose members are
intended to become service
dogs of different kinds. As the
dogs age, they proceed through
well-monitored phases of
growth, learning and socializa-
tion. These dogs are accredited
by Assistance Dogs Interna-
tional and placements are intri-
cately assessed to ensure good
human-canine matches and
that the dogs are both suited for
and interested in the specifics
of the work. They are assessed
initially and throughout their
careers.
Justice facility dogs must
be highly people-oriented, ex-
tremely calm, stress-averse and
JULY 2, 2021 FRIDAY
for them to just want to for-
give each other after a fight and
move on without grudges.
And just like that, Maria
found her answers to her ques-
tions about love and relation-
ships: commitment, effective
communication, practicing the
act of compromise and your
love languages on a daily basis,
working and living together as
a team, and yes, learning to for-
give and forget at all times.
Maria also discovered that
there are no happily-ever-afters
— only contently consciously
coupling.■
Matte Laurel is a former
restaurateur and hotelier, a
mother, a partner, health and
wellness aficionado, food and
wine enthusiast, a dog-lover, and
lifestyle columnist exclusively
for Philippine Canadian Inquir-
er (PCI).
comfortable in many kinds of
environments. They are both
wise and gentle. Handlers pay
close attention to the dogs to
ensure they are comfortable,
physically and mentally. And
mandated requirements in-
clude exercise, leisure and min-
imal time without human care-
givers nearby.
The dogs’ careers normal-
ly last a few years and then
they are assured a relaxing and
well-deserved retirement.
Many of us benefit from the
informal care work animals
provide in our homes. But be-
cause of the frequency and in-
tensity of the human emotions
involved, not just any dog is
appropriate for justice facility
work. These are specialized and
special dogs.
The work of the justice facil-
ity dogs makes it unequivocally
clear that animals take care of
us in powerful ways — and we
need to take care of them in re-
turn. It’s about reciprocity, and
a compelling way to approach
relations with other species —
including our own. ■
Kendra Coulter, Chair of the
Department of Labour Studies;
Fellow of the Oxford Centre for
Animal Ethics, Brock University
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.