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CanadianInquirer CANADA’S FIRST AND ONLY NATIONWIDE FILIPINO-CANADIAN NEWSPAPER FORD TO.CA
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pcinews_twt SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 www.canadianinquirer.net VOL. 8 NO. 458

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A call center agent answers calls from clients in his “office” inside his house in Cogeo Gate 1, Antipolo City, Rizal on Tuesday (Sept. 21, 2021).

RICO H, BORJA/PNA

Why minority 20

governments have been

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There’s a lot to like about a governing
party having a minority of seats in the `
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Duterte OKs pilot
it work with opposition parties. in-person classes in
Minority government tempers the ‘minimal risk’ areas How ‘engagement’ makes you
chronic problem in the parliamenta-
PAGE 2 vulnerable to manipulation and
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❱❱ PAGE 11 Why minority governments

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2 Philippine News SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY

Duterte OKs pilot in-person classes in

‘minimal risk’ areas
BY MA. TERESA their children to join the pilot
high schools would be limited suring that class schedules are been prepared by the DepEd
MONTEMAYOR classes,” Briones said. to 20 learners. arranged equitably so that all and Department of Health,
Philippine News Agency Only about 100 public At the start of the pandemic qualified learners have the op- with the support of the World
schools nationwide located in last year, schools and learn- portunity to attend in person. Health Organization, the Unit-
minimal risk areas and a limit-
ers adopted remote learning, “While the public schools ed Nations Children’s Fund and
MANILA – President Rodri- ed number of learners would bechanging the way students are have already undergone a selec- other organizations specializ-
go Duterte has approved the allowed to participate. educated. When the propos- tion process, the private school ing in children’s health.
pilot implementation of face- “So we could see how it al to hold face-to-face classes participants will still undergo It also lists steps to prepare
to-face classes in popped up, sever- selection,” the statement read. school personnel, learners
areas classified al groups and par- The operational guidelines and the community before the
with “minimal ents were against for the face-to-face classes have school reopening. ■
risk” for the coro- it, fearing for
navirus. their children’s
In a televised Local governments must health and safety.
public briefing, allow it because they will The DepEd,
Education Sec- in a statement,
retary Leonor host the face-to-face classes. assured that “no
Briones said the learner shall be
schools for pilot forced to attend
in-person class- the pilot imple-
es, expected to mentation of
begin in two months, should works, and then we add 20 pri- face-to-face classes.”
pass the Department of Educa- vate schools that they submit The pilot implementation
tion’s safety assessment qualifi- plans for this,” Briones said. will be a combination of face-
cations. Briones said for kindergar- to-face classes and distance
“Local governments must al- ten, only 12 learners will partic- learning modalities for two
low it because they will host the ipate and 16 learners for Grades months.
face-to-face classes. There also 1 to 3. Face-to-face classes will be
must be written consent from Those attending technical or held half-day every other week,
the parents that they will allow vocational classes in five senior with participating schools en-

Recovery plan to bring PH economy to

pre-pandemic level
BY LADE JEAN KABAGANI
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Implementation
of a recovery plan along with
the vaccination of more Fili-
pinos is necessary to bring the
Philippine economy back to
its pre-pandemic level, Mala-
cañang said on Monday.
This, after the National Eco-
nomic and Development Au-
thority (NEDA) reported that the
Philippine economy is expected
to return to its pre-pandemic lev-
el in 2022 or early 2023.
“Kinakailangan po talaga na
magpabakuna pa tayo ng mas
marami nating mga kababayan,
buksan pa po natin ang ating
ekonomiya, ipagpatuloy na po
natin itong pilot face-to-face
schooling at mag-implement
po tayo ng recovery plan (We
need to vaccinate more of our
countrymen, open the econo-
my, continue this pilot face-to- areas classified with “minimal face-to-face classes. There also
face schooling and implement a risk” for the coronavirus. must be written consent from
recovery plan),” Roque said in a Briones said the schools for the parents that they will allow
virtual press briefing. pilot in-person classes, ex- their children to join the pilot
In the same media briefing, pected to begin in two months, classes,” Briones said.
Education Secretary Leonor should pass the Department of She said only about 100 pub-
Briones announced that Pres- Education’s safety assessment lic schools nationwide located
ident Rodrigo Duterte has ap- qualifications. in minimal risk areas and a lim-
proved the pilot implementa- “Local governments must al- ited number of learners would
tion of face-to-face classes in low it because they will host the be allowed to participate.
Roque said the conduct of
pilot face-to-face classes is not
only an issue of education but
issues of mental health of stu-
dents and of the economy.
“Sisimulan na po natin ang
ating pilot face-to-face. Ito
po ay isang maliit na hakbang
pagbalik po sa buhay ng nala-
man natin bago ang pandemya.
Kinakailangan po kabit-bisig,
magtulungan. Makakaraos din
po tayo (We will now start our
pilot face-to-face classes. This
is a small step back to the life
we know before pandemic. We
Pres. Spokesperson Harry Roque (OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL SPOKESPERSON/FACEBOOK) need to help each other. We
will survive) and we will heal as
one,” Roque said.
Socioeconomic Planning
Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua
earlier reported that the coun-
try’s recovery program has been
in place since last year.
“Implementing this will help
the economy recover and busi-
nesses to get back to their feet,”
Chua said.
Chua noted the government
has installed a three-pillar
strategy to facilitate the econo-
my’s recovery by 6 to 7 percent
in 2021 and return to pre-pan-
demic levels by 2022.
The implementation of the
economic recovery package is
the second component of the
abovementioned three-pillar
strategy, which consists of a
combination of fiscal, mone-
tary, and financial instruments
totaling about PHP2.8 trillion,
or 15.4 percent of the country’s
gross domestic product. ■

www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
Australia’s security
pact with US, UK to
benefit SEA: Locsin
BY JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Philippine govern-
ment has welcomed Australia’s decision
to establish a trilateral partnership with
the United States and the United King-
dom, citing its benefit to maintaining
peace and security in Southeast Asia.
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro
Locsin Jr. said the proximity of an ally to
the Association of Southeast Asian Na-
tions (Asean) allows it to respond timely
to threat or even a challenge to the sta-
tus quo in the region “if only for the ad-
ditional time it affords all protagonists
for reflection before reacting.”
“Proximity breeds brevity in response
time; thereby enhancing an Asean near
friend and ally’s military capacity to
respond in timely and commensurate
fashion to a threat to the region or a chal-
lenge to the status quo. This requires en-
hancing Australia’s ability, added to that
of its main military ally, to achieve that
calibration,” he said in a statement.
Locsin said Asean member states,
“singly or collectively, do not possess the
military wherewithal to maintain peace
and security in Southeast Asia, discour-
age the sudden creation of crises there-
in, and avoid disproportionate and hasty
responses by rival great powers”.
“There is an imbalance in the forces
available to the Asean member states,
with the main balancer more than half
a world away. The enhancement of a
near abroad ally’s ability to project pow-
er should restore and keep the balance
rather than destabilize it,” he said.
AUKUS (Australia, the United King-
dom and the United States), unveiled
last week, is seen to counter China’s
growing influence in the Indo-Pacif-
ic, particularly in the South China Sea
DFA Sec. Teodoro Locsin Jr. (@DFA/PHL/TWITTER)
Philippine News 3
where it lays claim on almost 80 percent
of the strategic water under its so-called
nine-dash line that has been invalidated
by a Hague-based arbitral tribunal.
It will also provide Australia the tech-
nology to build nuclear-powered sub-
marines, a partnership denounced by
China, which says it risks intensifying
the arms race and undermining interna-
tional non-proliferation efforts.
Australia’s actions reflect its concerns
about the “geographic imbalance” in the
Indo-Pacific and its desire to help main-
tain regional peace and security, Locsin
said.
“That is its prerogative. Absent actual
presence of nuclear weapons, we cannot
infer violation of the Southeast Asia Nu-
clear Weapons Free Zone Treaty. We are
open to discussing this with other gov-
ernments,” he said.
“We appreciate Australia’s continued
and absolute commitment to meeting its
obligations under the Non-Proliferation
Millions of people across
Treaty and to the highest standards of
nuclear stewardship,” he added.
Ontario have received their
Locsin recognized that the dynamics
and wide geographic reach of the In-
do-Pacific require multilateral group-
ings that are “flexible and adaptable.”
But for the Philippines, he said es-
COVID-19 vaccine.
sential is Australia’s commitment to the
Do your part.
primacy of the Asean Outlook on the In-
do-Pacific and Asean-led mechanisms.
“None of these mechanisms are com-
Get your shot.
promised, weakened or in conflict with
the enhancement of Australia’s ability to
respond; quite the contrary,” he said.
“The Philippines aspires for the South
China Sea to remain a sea of peace, se-
curity, stability, and prosperity. We are
acutely aware of great power dynamics;
Health Canada-approved vaccines
with a sharp eye we will engage in practi- are conveniently available at hospitals,
cal and mutually beneficial cooperation
aligned with the priority areas of the
doctors’ offices, pharmacies and
Outlook,” he added. ■ mass vaccination sites. And every dose
brings us closer to what we’ve missed.
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ontario.ca/bookvaccine or call 1-888-999-6488
for help in 300 languages.
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www.canadianinquirer.net
4 Philippine News
DSWD poverty Covid-19 vaccines admin-
alleviation istered in PH hit 42.1M
program flourished
under Dinky
BY CHRISTINE CUDIS
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Department
of Social Welfare and Devel-
opment’s (DSWD) communi-
ty-driven development (CDD)
approach has helped improve
the lives of more than nine mil-
lion Filipino households since
its implementation in 2013.
There are currently 31,051
sub-projects or community
projects that were completed
under the Kapit-Bisig Laban
sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive
and Integrated Delivery of So-
cial Services (Kalahi-CIDSS),
which the late Corazon “Dinky”
Soliman fully implemented as
DSWD Secretary.
“Para sa nasabing bilang ng
proyekto, ang DSWD ay nakag-
amit ng higit PHP45.6 bilyong
piso na pondo para sa bene-
pisyo ng 9,189,237 na pamilya sa
iba’t-ibang parte ng bansa (For
this project, the DSWD utilized
more than PHP45.6 billion for
the benefit of 9,189,237 family
beneficiaries in various parts of
the country),” the DSWD said
in a statement sent to the Phil-
ippine News Agency (PNA) on
Monday.
Kalahi-CIDSS is one of the
poverty alleviation programs of
the government under DSWD.
It uses the CDD approach,
a poverty alleviation strategy
that gives citizens the power
and the responsibility to an-
CONTINUING DEVELOPMENT. The late Corazon “Dinky” Soliman led the
implementation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Ka-
pit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social
Services, one of the poverty alleviation programs of the government. (DINKY
SOLIMAN/FACEBOOK)
alyze and address local issues
that impede their development
through participatory deci-
sion-making.
In July 2002, Kalahi-CIDSS
pilot tested in Dolores, Que-
zon with PHP1.8 M allocated
for community projects. Six of
its villages -- Cabatang, Mang-
gahan, Putol, Pinagdanlayan,
Bulakin 1, and Dagatan -- par-
ticipated.
It was officially approved
in 2003 with funding support
from the World Bank and Soli-
man served as its first National
Project Director.
“Secretary Dinky was a bril-
liant social worker and a devot-
ed champion of social change.
She was at the helm of the
DSWD twice, during the terms
of former Presidents Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo and Benigno
Aquino III,” the DSWD said in a
statement.
Apart from KALAHI-CIDSS,
Soliman also championed the
enactment of milestone laws,
such as the Magna Carta of So-
cial Workers, Magna Carta for
Women, and Anti-Trafficking
in Persons Act, among others,
during her term.
“The DSWD family will tru-
ly miss Secretary Dinky. Apart
from her notable accomplish-
ments for the Department, she
will also be remembered for
her sunflower greetings,” the
DSWD added.
Soliman passed away on Sun-
day at the age of 68. ■
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY
BY LADE JEAN KABAGANI
Philippine News Agency
The average daily jabs admin-
istered in the last seven days
slightly slowed down to 371,671
es to be delivered on Thursday.
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr.,
National Task Force against
MANILA – The Philippines
has administered a total of 42.1
doses, compared to 407,696
jabs recorded on Sept. 15.
The government has ex-
Covid-19 chief and vaccine
czar, earlier said 61.91 percent
of the total delivered jabs were
million doses of Covid-19 vac- panded the vaccination drive to procured by the national gov-
cine as of Wednesday, accord- health care workers, the elderly, ernment, 24.74 percent were
ing to the government’s task adults with comorbidities, eco- donated by various countries
force for coronavirus pandemic nomic front-liners, and the in- through the COVAX facility,
response. digent population nationwide. 7.74 percent were purchased by
Data from the National To date, the Philippines has the private sector and local gov-
Covid-19 vaccination dash- a total of 64,942,000 doses of ernment units (LGUs), and 5.60
board showed 42,131,771 doses Covid-19 vaccine, with addi- percent were donations from
have been given to eligible Fili- tional 951,210 doses of govern- bilateral partners.
pinos, with 23,107,813 receiving ment-procured Pfizer vaccines “We are continuously work-
their first dose and 19,023,958 arriving on Wednesday night ing on increasing our vaccine
fully vaccinated. and another 806,130 Pfizer dos- inventory to achieve our goal of
completely inoculating 77 mil-
lion of the country’s total popu-
lation by year-end,” he said.
Galvez said the Philippines is
seen to have monthly deliveries
of up to 30 million doses by the
fourth quarter this year.
The Philippines has secured
a total of 187.6 million doses for
this year, 129 million doses of
which are procured and rest are
donations. These are composed
of 42 million Sinovac, 40 mil-
PAPERWORK. Medical front-liners check the documents of the vaccinees lion Pfizer-BioNTech, 20 mil-
before they are given the second dose during the Covid-19 vaccination drive lion Moderna, 17 million Astra-
on the second floor of the Cinema hallway, SM Dasmarinas City, Cavite on zeneca and 10 million Sputnik V
Wednesday (Sept. 22, 2021). (GIL CALINGA/PNA) vaccines. ■
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www.canadianinquirer.net
6 Philippine News
‘I will be a healing president’:
Isko formally declares prexy bid
BY MARITA MOAJE
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Manila May-
or Francisco “Isko Moreno”
Domagoso formally announced
on Wednesday his bid for the
presidency in the 2022 nation-
al elections with Dr. Willie Ong
as his running mate under the
Aksyon Demokratiko party.
Domagoso, who made the
announcement at the city’s Ba-
seco Housing project, said he
would be a “healing president”.
“I will be a healing president.
While ours will be a government
of national reconstruction, it
will also be a government of na-
tional reconciliation, based on
justice and rule of law,” he said.
If given the chance to lead the
Duterte says PH willing to aid Afghan,
Rohingya refugees
BY RUTH ABBEY GITA-
CARLOS
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – President Rodri-
go Duterte vowed Wednesday
that the Philippines is willing
to extend assistance to Afghan
and Rohingya refugees.
While the Philippines has
limited resources, it will do its
best to “uplift human dignity,”
Duterte said in a prerecorded
speech delivered during the
76th session of the United Na-
tions (UN) General Assembly.
“The imposition of one’s will
over another -- no matter how
noble the intent -- has never
worked in the past. And it never
will in the future,” Duterte said.
country, Domagoso promised
to apply an open governance
policy by accepting suggestions
from all sectors.
Saying he would be open to
criticisms, he promised to lis-
ten to the public to craft better
policies and provide improved
services.
Domagoso is the third pol-
itician to announce his presi-
dential bid. The first two were
Senators Panfilo Lacson and
Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao.
In the same event, Ong said
he initially did not intend to run
for any public office and even
rejected the offer to run for the
second highest post in the land,
but was eventually convinced
by Domagoso.
“Wala po talaga sa plano ito.
Wala po sa plano. Handa lang na
Duterte said the Philippines’
doors are open to Afghan na-
tionals fleeing Afghanistan to
escape the Taliban’s rule.
“The Philippines, in line with
its longstanding humanitarian
tradition, has opened its doors
to Afghan nationals, especial-
ly women and children, fleeing
from conflict. As one global
community, we must do our ut-
most to help the Afghan people
and all those who continue to
suffer,” he said.
On Sept. 8, Foreign Affairs Sec-
retary Teodoro Locsin Jr. con-
firmed that the Philippines has
welcomed the first Afghan ref-
ugees to the Philippines, which
include women and children.
Duterte said the Philippines
would also continue to host Ro-
tayong manahimik, tumulong.
Kaya lang maraming coinci-
dence, pagkakataon na nang-
JOINING THE FRAY. Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso
throws his hat into the 2022 presidential race, with Dr. Willie Ong as his
running mate. Moreno made the formal announcement on Wednesday (Sept.
22, 2021) at the Baseco Housing project of the City of Manila. (ISKO MORENO
DOMAGOSO/FACEBOOK)
hingya refugees fleeing war and
persecution in Myanmar.
He said he has already direct-
ed the Department of Justice
(DOJ) to work closely with the
UN High Commissioner on Ref-
ugees to “prepare a cooperation
program for a specific number
of Rohingyas,” consistent with
the Philippines’ capacities.
The Philippines has a long
history of extending aid to for-
eign nationals forced to flee
from their home country.
Its open-door policy can be
traced back to the end of World
War I when the government
welcomed “White Russians”
fleeing persecution from “Red
Russians” or supporters of the
Socialist Revolution of 1917.
This was followed by the ar-
yari (This is not my plan. I was
just here, silent and helping.
But then, many coincidences
rival of 1,200 Jewish refugees
escaping Nazi persecution in
World War II; the Spanish re-
publicans fleeing the end of
the Spanish Civil War in 1939;
Chinese immigrants evading
the grasp of newly-formed
Communist People’s Republic
of China in 1940; and the Viet-
namese “boat people” or refu-
gees from the Vietnam War.
The country also accommo-
dated Iranian refugees in 1979,
Indo-Chinese refugees escaping
regime changes in Laos, Cam-
bodia and Vietnam in 1980, and
East Timor refugees in 2000.
DOJ Secretary Menardo Gue-
varra said his office will commu-
nicate shortly with the UN on
how to assist Rohingya refugees.
“As instructed by the Presi-
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY
happened),” Ong said.
Ong ran for a Senate seat in
the 2019 mid-term polls but
lost. He ranked 18th in the sena-
torial polls receiving over seven
million votes.
The coronavirus pandemic
and the current situation of the
health system prompted Ong to
decide and run for next year’s
polls.
Once elected, he promised to
improve the health system and
the plight of health workers.
Domagoso said more an-
nouncements would be made in
the days to come.
“I will release the platform
of our governance. Yes, they
are grand, but I assure you they
are also granular. Many of them
have been pilot tested in the
city of Manila,” he said. ■
dent, the DOJ will coordinate
with the Office of the High
Commissioner for Refugees to
find out how we can help,” Gue-
varra told newsmen.
Guevarra, meanwhile, said
there are still no applications
with the DOJ for the grant of ref-
ugee status to Afghan nationals
fleeing from their country.
“Right now, we have admit-
ted only a handful (Afghan na-
tionals), but they are here only
for temporary shelter until they
are permanently resettled else-
where. The Afghan nationals
who are here are slated for re-
settlement in another country.
So, they need not apply for ref-
ugee status in the Philippines,”
Guevarra said. (With reports
from Benjamin Pulta/PNA) ■
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
Comelec accepts senators’ Duterte renews
plan to slash its 2022 budget call to put an end
BY FERDINAND PATINIO
Philippine News Agency to Kafala system
MANILA – The Commis-
sion on Elections (Comelec)
on Tuesday said it will accept
whatever the decision of the
lawmakers with regards to the
poll body’s proposed budget for
next year.
Comelec spokesperson
James Jimenez said Congress
has the power to slash, main-
tain or increase the poll body’s
proposed PHP41.922 billion
budget for 2022.
“Congress unquestionably
holds the power of the purse,”
Jimenez replied when asked by
the media regarding senators’
plan to either file a one-sen-
tence bill or slash its budget to
pressure Comelec into extend-
ing voter registration.
He said the Comelec will con-
tinue to do its task which is to
hold electoral exercises in the
country.
“For its part, Comelec - as the
sole government entity tasked
with the conduct of elections -
can only do its utmost to ensure
that it fulfills its mandate to
hold secure, accurate, and free
and fair elections,” he said.
Jimenez said the Com-
mission is firm with its earli-
House adopts resolution
extending voter registration
BY FILANE MIKEE
CERVANTES
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The House of
Representatives has adopted a
resolution urging the Commis-
sion on Elections (Comelec) to
extend the deadline for voter
registration in the country and
abroad to prevent voter disen-
franchisement amid the coro-
navirus pandemic.
During Monday’s plenary
session, the chamber adopted
House Resolution 2231, which
calls for the extension of the
September 30 deadline in view
of the health and safety mea-
Comelec Spokesperson James Jimenez (AVITO C. DALAN/)
er decision not to extend the
September 30 deadline of the
nationwide voter listing.
“The Commission has, thus
far, not amended its position
not to extend the deadline for
voter registration,” he added.
Meanwhile, Jimenez said
they take note of the Depart-
ment of Health’s (DOH) state-
ment that antigen test is not
recommended as a screening
method during events includ-
ing the filing of the certificate of
sures and travel restrictions
adopted to prevent the spread
of Covid-19.
“Comelec could not have an-
ticipated the adverse impact of
the pandemic on voter registra-
tion and must make the neces-
sary adjustments to allow more
unregistered potential voters to
register,” the resolution read.
The resolution noted that
the five-and-a-half-month sus-
pension of voter registration
across the country, as well as
the weeks-long suspensions in
areas under the enhanced com-
munity quarantine (ECQ) and
modified ECQ (MECQ).
It said that the Supreme
Court recognizes Comelec’s
candidacy (COC) that will kick
off next month.
“The Comelec notes the
DOH’s statement, but also
notes that antigen tests are ac-
cepted by the House of Repre-
sentatives as a requirement for
entry into their premises,” he
said.
The filing of COC of those
who intend to participate in the
May 9, 2022 national and elec-
tions will take place from Octo-
ber 1 to 8. ■
power to set the deadline of vot-
er’s registration provided that
no registration may be done
during the period starting 120
days before a regular election.
“While the Comelec needs
ample time to prepare the final
list of voters, which is a prereq-
uisite for the preparation of the
Project of Precincts (POP), ex-
tending the deadline for voters
registration will neither unduly
hamper nor delay the Comelec’s
preparation of the POP,” it said.
It also cited instances where-
in Comelec set deadlines that
are on or beyond October 31 of
the year before the elections. ■
www.canadianinquirer.net
Philippine News
BY RUTH ABBEY GITA-
CARLOS
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – President Rodri-
go Duterte on Wednesday hit
the continued existence of the
controversial Kafala scheme
that monitors and restricts the
movement of migrant workers.
In his taped speech deliv-
ered during the 76th session
of the United Nations General
Assembly, Duterte renewed his
call for the total abrogation of
the Kafala in the Middle East.
“The Kafala system is one
such behemoth that chains the
weak, the desperate, and the
voiceless to the existence of un-
imaginable suffering. Nothing
can justify the continued ex-
istence of this unjust system,”
Duterte said.
Duterte said any scheme that
paves the way for the “exploita-
tion and oppression” of migrant
laborers must be dismantled.
Duterte made the call, as he
acknowledged that millions of
Filipinos are working overseas
“under the most difficult and
inhumane of circumstances.”
“The Philippines seeks stron-
ger partnerships to protect the
rights of Filipinos and realize
the full potential of our nation,”
he said. “While reforms have
been made, the Kafala system
must be dismantled -- sooner
Pres. Rodrigo Duterte (PRESIDENTIAL PHOTOS)
7
rather than later -- in the name
of justice and basic decency.”
In April this year, Duterte
called for the “complete” abo-
lition of the “unjust” and “ex-
ploitative” Kafala system in
order to end inequities and suf-
fering of migrant workers.
Duterte, in his sixth and final
State of the Nation Address on
July 26, threatened to order the
repatriation of overseas Filipi-
no workers from Arab nations,
if the controversial Kafala
scheme is not dismantled.
Kafala originated from the
Arabic word which means
“sponsorship.”
The Kafala system is a mech-
anism in the Gulf countries
used to monitor migrant labor-
ers, usually unskilled workers
through a sponsor, including
household service workers,
construction workers and ser-
vice industry workers.
Under the scheme, the spon-
sor is usually the employer who
is responsible for the immigra-
tion status and visa of the mi-
grant worker. The worker can-
not leave sans his employer’s
consent, making him vulnera-
ble to abuse.
On April 23, Presidential As-
sistant on Foreign Affairs Un-
dersecretary Robert Borje said
Duterte is “quietly” working
with state leaders in the Mid-
dle East for the scrapping of the
Kafala system. ■
8 Philippine News
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Member
House starts deliberations on
P5-T 2022 national budget
BY FILANE MIKEE CERVANTES
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The House of Representa-
tives on Tuesday started its plenary delib-
erations on the proposed PHP5.024-tril-
lion budget for 2022.
Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Dalipe,
who delivered the sponsorship speech
on behalf of House appropriations com-
mittee chair Eric Yap, said the proposed
2022 budget would be crucial towards
the country’s path for recovery from the
impact of the global pandemic brought
about by Covid-19 and its emerging vari-
ants on the economy and the people.
Dalipe said an amount of PHP395.59
billion has been allocated for Covid-19
response measures including infrastruc-
ture in the proposed budget for next year.
“We will not be deterred by the threat
of this unseen enemy, Covid-19, from per-
forming our solemn duties to our country
and our people to provide an effective
pandemic response through this budget,”
Dalipe said.
He said Congress shall ensure that the
government’s battle strategy on health
and nutrition, social protection, gover-
nance, and development are carried out
in this budget.
“We must act swiftly, efficiently, effec-
tively to win the fight against Covid-19
in the coming years. Therefore, we urge,
the timely passage of the General Appro-
priations Bill, which will ensure that our
government through its programs and
projects will be able to sustain and recov-
er our lost momentum,” he said.
Vaccination major factor in
decreased active Covid-19 cases
BY FILANE MIKEE CERVANTES
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Department of Health
(DOH) has reported that some areas,
including the National Capital Region
(NCR), have exhibited a slowdown or
downtrend in active coronavirus disease
2019 (Covid-19) infections.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III
said the average daily case of 19,709 last
week showed a 5-percent decrease com-
pared to the previous weeks.
“Bagama’t umaasa tayo na ito na ang
simula ng pagbaba ng ating mga kaso,
oobserbahan pa rin natin sa darating na
mga linggo kung talagang bumababa na
www.canadianinquirer.net
Dalipe said the social services sector
will receive the largest share of PHP1.92
trillion or 38.3 percent of the total 2022
budget.
He said the economic services sector
will receive the second largest share at
29.3 percent or PHP1.474 trillion; 17.2
percent or PHP862.7 billion to general
public services; 10.8 percent or PHP541.3
billion to debt burden (including net
lending); and 4.5 percent or PHP224.4
billion to defense.
Speaker Lord Allan Velasco earlier as-
sured there would be no reenacted bud-
get for next year as he vowed a swift and
smooth passage of the proposed spending
measure for 2022 by the end of September.
“We, in the House of Representatives,
need to get our act together to ensure
the swift and smooth passage of the 2022
national budget in order for the govern-
ment to continue operating and provide
(HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PHILIPPINES/FACEBOOK)
ang mga kaso (While we are hoping that
this would be the start of the reduction
in our cases, we will still observe it in the
coming weeks if the cases are really de-
creasing),” Duque reported during Presi-
dent Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People
aired on Monday night.
Secretary Vince Dizon, deputy chief of
the National Task Force (NTF) Against
Covid-19 and testing czar, attributed the
downward trend to the expedited vacci-
nation program.
“I think all the data from the experts
point to the fact that it is really the vac-
cination program, especially in key cities
where the vaccination rate is already very
high, that is saving us from the Delta vari-
ant,” he said.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY
much-needed services to the Filipino
people as it is expected to,” Velasco said.
The House aims to pass its version of
the 2022 national budget by Sept. 30, or
before Congress suspends session on Oct.
17 to Nov. 15 for the filing of certificates of
candidacy for the May 2022 elections.
He said the overall objective is for Pres-
ident Rodrigo Duterte to sign the 2022
General Appropriations Act by Decem-
ber to prevent a reenacted budget that
could slow economic growth and hamper
the delivery of government services.
The proposed budget for next year
is 11.5 percent higher than this year’s
PHP4.506 trillion.
It is guided by a strategy supported by
three main pillars -- Building Resilience
amidst the Pandemic; Sustaining the
Momentum towards Recovery; and Con-
tinuing the Legacy of Infrastructure De-
velopment. ■
Dizon emphasized that the high vac-
cination rates are “really protecting” in-
fected people from getting severe symp-
toms of the disease.
“Therefore, they do not require the
kind of hospital care that was previously
required whenever someone gets Covid
without the vaccine. That is really the
main driver,” he said.
As of September 20, about 67.54 per-
cent of the NCR’s target population are
fully vaccinated, while 84.6 percent have
received the first dose.
The NTF said the vaccination drive
would be ramped up in other regions and
provinces while intensifying the Pre-
vent-Detect-Isolate-Treat-Reintegrate
strategy. ■
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
Empowering public servants through
effective career management
BY LISA TAYLOR, TARYN
BLANCHARD
Policy Options
Encouraging recognition and
career growth would revamp the
culture of Canada’s public ser-
vice, improve retainment and
help employees do better work.
As Canada’s pandemic re-
covery continues, the shifting
nature of the relationship be-
tween employers and employ-
ees is coming into sharper fo-
cus. Forecasts about a “great
resignation” have been growing
for months, and companies and
policymakers are gearing up
for potentially record-setting
labour shortages. The compe-
tition, real or perceived, to at-
tract and keep quality talent is
forcing employers to rethink
their hiring and management
practices.
There are mixed messages
about these practices coming out
of the federal public service, one
of Canada’s largest employers.
Focusing on public servants’
entire careers, rather than only
their core work responsibil-
ities and promotions, might
mean the difference between
the public service rising to the
challenges facing it or seeing
its talented workforce leave for
more equitable, forward-think-
ing, greener pastures.
Fostering an organizational
culture that focuses on its peo-
ple won’t decrease the public
service’s commitment to serv-
ing Canadians. In fact, it will in-
crease it. When employees are
engaged in their workplaces,
they do better work.
The latest Public Service Em-
ployee Survey (PSES) found
that employee engagement in
2020 improved from 2019. Yet
only one-third of respondents
strongly agreed they receive
recognition for work well done,
only 35 per cent have full confi-
dence in their senior manage-
ment and only 27 per cent feel
their career development is ful-
ly supported.
Canada News
The 2020 PSES data, released
in May, has also been bracketed
by media reporting about work-
place toxicity, discrimination
and misconduct in a number of
federal departments and agen-
cies. This includes the Canadi-
an Armed Forces, the former
governor general’s office, the
Royal Canadian Mint and more.
A class action lawsuit against
the federal government alleging
anti-Black racism in its hiring
and promotional practices has
also been filed.
Overall, the federal public
service is in a moment of reflec-
tion and reckoning. However,
the time to act is now, as Cana-
da comes out of the pandemic’s
work-from-home experiment
and gives deeper and more
widespread attention to soci-
ety’s unjust treatment of Black
people, Indigenous people and
other marginalized groups.
This is precisely what the
Privy Council Office acknowl-
edged in its recent call to ac-
tion on anti-racism, equity and
inclusion in the federal public
service. The call also highlight-
ed the key role that career de-
velopment can play in building
equitable, inclusive and re-
warding workplaces for all pub-
lic servants.
Our own research and discus-
sions with public service organi-
zations match the PSES findings
that employees believe greater
recognition would go a long way
to ensuring both their day-to-
day work engagement and their
long-term career growth.
Employee recognition can
take many forms. Sometimes, it
means a formal pay raise or pro-
motion. Other times, it means
a manager taking informal
steps to support and motivate
their employees. This could be
calling attention to someone’s
achievement, performance or
expertise in an internal news-
letter or at a team meeting. It
could be expressing apprecia-
tion in a one-on-one conversa-
tion or private email. It could be
selecting someone to represent
9
the organization at an event or
to have them participate in a than transactional introduc- necessary, rebuild its culture –
special project. tions or invitations to events. one relationship at a time.
Not all employees want the Networking opportunities are Our new playbook, Retain
same type of recognition. The not the same as connections and Gain: Career Manage-
mark of a good leader is the that come from mutual rela- ment for the Public Sector, is
willingness to think about what tionships between the mentor/ designed to help public sector
their employees and teams mentee and others brought into leaders improve the engage-
need to thrive, to listen for cues, the relationship based on deep- ment of their employees and
and to embrace trial and error. er understanding of common teams. Published by the na-
Similarly, not all employ- values. tional charitable organization
ees want to walk the same ca- Our own work with leader- CERIC, the playbook offers
reer-advancement path. Some ship development and employ- practical activities for boost-
set out to become leaders of ee engagement has shown us ing employee recognition and
people, while others set out the usefulness of triadic men- engagement, having career
to become technical or sub- toring structures. Groupings of conversations and much more.
ject-matter experts. But in three are stabilizing. They build Activities that are reusable and
some federal departments and supportive structures that easy to implement on a day-to-
agencies, advancement is more can bear weight from multiple day basis should not be under-
often associated only with in- sides, contributing to stronger estimated. Sweeping cultural
creased people-management relationships, perspectives and impact is made possible when
responsibilities. This can leave growth. Career programs are an organization commits to its
technical and knowledge spe- sustainable over the long-term employees’ career growth and
cialists at a loss as they try to when as much investment is when frontline managers have
chart a fulfilling career path in made in the sustaining struc- effective career-management
the public sector. tures as in program content or resources that they can put to
This can result in employ- curriculum. immediate use.
ees leaving for other sectors or Cultivating a deep interest This will only become more
jobs that offer a better fit with in, and understanding of, ca- crucial as Canadians – employ-
their career aspirations or, for reer development as a body of ers and employees alike – con-
those who remain, becoming knowledge that offers organiza- tinue to make their way toward
disengaged or getting stalled tions a foundation for success- pandemic recovery. Already the
in positions they don’t want – ful sustaining structures can structural barriers that hinder
even when they’ve successfully help Canada’s public service re-
climbed the organizational lad- flect on, reckon with and, where ❱❱ PAGE 17 Empowering public
der. We call this a broken talent
escalator.
Being willing and able to help
employees when there are no
clear opportunities that align
with their interests, skillsets
and aspirations is another mark
of a good leader. While not ev-
eryone wants the same type
of recognition or engagement
from their leaders, everyone
deserves the opportunity to
thrive, grow and enjoy the work
they do. Everyone deserves a
leader who understands this.
The public service is putting
promising new focus on men-
torship programs that empha-
size sponsorship, especially for
members of underrepresented
groups. This new focus should
be grounded in the structure of
the mentorship program. Spon-
sorship requires more social
capital, demanding much more
www.canadianinquirer.net
10
Canada’s lost gamble in Afghanistan,
and the call to return
BY JULIAN SPENCER-
CHURCHILL
Policy Options
All Ottawa can do now is
exonerate the military effort,
highlight the tremendous gains
made, and prepare to pragmati-
cally negotiate with the Taliban.
The catastrophically abrupt
collapse of the Western-spon-
sored Kabul government has led
to a demand for renewed inter-
vention or at least non-recogni-
tion of the Taliban regime by a
generation of aid workers, dip-
lomats and soldiers who have
worked in Afghanistan. Emo-
tions run high for lost friends
and colleagues, the abandon-
ment of especially vulnerable
communities, incomplete aid
projects and the agony of what
to do next. However, it is dan-
gerous when political and public
leaders use the spectacle of the
betrayal of our soldiers to con-
vince the public to sanction a re-
turn to Afghanistan or isolation
of the Taliban regime there.
One-hundred-fifty-nine Ca-
nadian soldiers and one dip-
lomat, Glyn Berry, were killed
during Canadian operations
in Afghanistan. (I met Berry
in Islamabad in 2001, when he
helped obtain a Czech visa for an
academic colleague.) The issue
cannot be rendered cut and dry
by clear foreign policy impera-
tives. Canadian foreign policy
has always been an uncomfort-
able contortion of liberal ideals
and realpolitik. The liberal im-
pulse, given certain social pre-
conditions, is a powerful one,
and the desire to share it – even
impose it – is noble.
Liberalism, broadly stated,
came to influence former Soviet
leader Mikhail Gorbachev, with
the Warsaw Pact evaporating in
a matter of days. Many Afghans
Canada News
would make ideal Canadian cit-
izens, having lived with liberal
ideas for two decades.
The principal cause of the
Afghan collapse, previously
opaque, is now clearly the com-
plete failure by the foreign aid
community to create robustly
legitimate state structures in
Kabul, without which no Af-
ghan army could long prevail.
This was in part due to the ne-
glect of the religious legitimacy
of the state, the over-prioriti-
zation of social-development
projects and the exclusion of
Pakistan.
This public inclination to de-
mand some sort of action is, in
fact, a violation of war theorist
Carl von Clausewitz’s dictum
that “war is politics by other
means,” and that it is danger-
ously dysfunctional for mili-
taries to influence public policy
based on their losses.
MIT professor Fred Iklé’s in-
fluential book Every War Must
End demonstrates the perverse
outcomes that occur when mil-
itaries are permitted to partic-
ipate in wartime propaganda
and influence policy. He uses
the First World War as an ex-
ample, arguing that mounting
war deaths led the anguished
electorates of all European par-
ticipants to irrationally and ir-
reversibly inflate their war aims
from negotiated minor territo-
rial adjustments to impossibly
high demands for reparations
and unconditional surrender,
which locked the combatant
states into a forever war. Iklé
likened it to a gambler desper-
ate to recoup losses.
Clausewitz’s logic is simple:
the military is an instrument of
the state, typically the device of
an elected body. This body has
the sovereign responsibility for
the creation, provisioning and
retirement of this instrument,
the selection of its goals and the
beginning and ending of wars,
as they achieve the interests of
the state. Militaries, on their
own, choose inexorably to ex-
pand war aims until victory is
achieved, regardless of cost.
Columbia University profes-
sor Richard Betts found that
militaries embedded in consti-
tutional processes become far
more reluctant than civilians
to seek war. Like a great many
soldiers, I signed on the dotted
line, committing to risk my life
in defence of Canada. But doing
so is not an entitlement to di-
rect the ultimate aims of a war.
Disagreement over this fact has
led to civil wars. The majority of
historical wars are not victories
or defeats, but painful stale-
mates and compromises. Worse
still, many states have switched
allies for foes under short no-
tice, confusing soldiers as to the
purpose of the fighting. Soldiers
do receive a vote, and it is here
www.canadianinquirer.net
they exercise their influence.
This, then, raises the im-
portant question of what were
Canada’s strategic interests in
Afghanistan?
There is a convincing theo-
ry by UQAM professor Justin
Massie, who argues that Can-
ada’s principal diplomatic and
military activity since the end of
the Second World War has been
to counterbalance the possible
U.S. threat to Canadian auton-
omy by seeking to entangle the
U.S. in multi-state internation-
al coalitions. Canada selectively
joins a foreign campaign only in
the instance that the other par-
ticipants represent powerful
independent European states.
Since the U.K. often aligns with
the U.S. to counterbalance Eu-
ropean influence, this disquali-
fies it as a candidate.
Canada will therefore join
the U.S. on a foreign campaign
on the condition that France, as
the surrogate of Europe, is also
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY
involved. Canada will forego
participation if France foregoes
it as well, calculating that ab-
sent European support, the U.S.
will not single out and retaliate
against Canada.
So Canada participated in
Korea and Congo, against Iraq
in 1991 and in the late 2010s,
Somalia in 1993, against Libya
in 2011, and did not participate
in the Cuban Missile Crisis of
1962, the Vietnam War, in in-
terventions against Grenada in
1983, Libya in 1986, Panama in
1989 or against Iraq in 2003.
I have found evidence for this
cynical theory in my consultan-
cy over two decades with Con-
servative and Liberal members
of Parliament and senators,
none of whom were interest-
ed in achieving the conditions
of victory in Afghanistan, but
would explicitly ask me about
flaws in their opponents’ plat-
form. It would be going too far
to say that Canadians sacrificed
years and themselves to main-
tain sufficiently good relations
to enable Ottawa to negotiate
a decent agreement on soft-
wood lumber, but that does cor-
relate with one of the payoffs
of achieving relative autonomy
from U.S. influence.
The painful truth of the fail-
ure to create a stable govern-
ment in Afghanistan and the
absence of a quick solution re-
quires a sober estimate of the
feasible to avoid the gambler’s
dilemma. It also requires three
policy thrusts:
First, the Canadian govern-
ment needs to exonerate the
military effort, and undercut
desperate calls for precipi-
tous action, which are driven
by the understandable search
for justice. The 2001 to 2014
counter-insurgency campaign
❱❱ PAGE 11 Canada’s lost gamble
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
Why minority governments...
❰❰ 1 ry system of a prime
minister and senior
political staff having
an excess of power. Instead of
barrelling forward with public
policy, or taking members of
Parliament for granted, there is
a need to spend more time con-
sulting widely.
In a minority government,
backbenchers matter more.
The average MP’s votes have
more impact; the government
could fall if it lacks their sup-
port. Parliamentary commit-
tees are no longer dominated
by the governing party. Instead,
committees have more freedom
to monitor the government,
and to question what ministers
and the Prime Minister’s Office
are trying to do.
In short, a minority govern-
ment gives more power to the
legislative branch, which acts as
a check on the executive branch.
This is precisely what Justin
Trudeau was trying to avoid
when he determined that an ear-
ly election was warranted.
A win is a win
From Trudeau’s point of view,
and that of his key political staff,
a minority government is still
a win. He is still prime minis-
ter, most of his ministers were
re-elected and the Liberals won
enough seats that there are un-
likely to be threats to his leader-
ship from within anytime soon.
But Trudeau wanted a major-
ity government for a reason.
The prime minister and his
team will be stymied if they at-
tempt to ram things through
Parliament, like they did at the
height of the pandemic.
If parliamentary committees
investigate his government’s
ethical lapses, like they did over
the WE Charity scandal, his
main recourse is to shut things
down by asking the governor
general to prorogue Parliament.
The next time he wants to go
to the polls early, his attempted
Canada’s lost gamble...
❰❰ 10 around Kandahar was
highly skilled tech-
nically despite the
decision at the policy level in
Ottawa to not apply a civil ac-
tion plan of dispersal of troops
to the villages. The military
mission’s aim was to provide
security to police and recon-
struction teams and conduct
military training, not to build
power grab will still be fresh on
Canadians’ minds.
Yet we know from recent his-
tory that Canadians are likely to
grow weary of the political games
that occur during a minority gov-
ernment. From 2004 to 2011,
Paul Martin headed a Liberal mi-
nority government, and Stephen
Harper presided over two Con-
servative minorities.
The acrimony that played out
during that tempestuous period
climaxed with the Conservative
government being declared in
contempt of Parliament for not
disclosing information, which
led to it falling on a non-con-
fidence motion in 2011. Unde-
terred, Harper then campaigned
on a message of the need for a
“strong, stable, Conservative
majority government.”
Many Canadians agreed, and
initially were relieved to put
the political fighting of minori-
ty governance behind them. It
was a reminder that prime min-
isters know that what happens
in Parliament rarely ignites
voter outrage on the campaign
hustings.
Rough waters ahead
We can expect rough waters
with a minority government.
There will be constant politick-
ing. The parties will be in a per-
petual election mode as they try
to win every communications
battle, every public opinion
poll and every fundraising drive
as though the election never
stopped.
The media and pundits will
constantly speculate about
whether the government will
fall, or if there will be a snap
election. The Liberals will at-
tempt to box in the opposition
to call their bluff on political de-
mands, and will pressure their
own MPs into supporting bills
and motions under the threat
of everything being a matter of
confidence.
Opposition parties will try
the Afghan state, which is per-
manently beyond its skill set.
Second, the Canadian gov-
ernment needs publicly to
highlight the tremendous gains
made. Canada’s foreign policy
can only ever be a reflection of
its domestic values. In 2001, 90
per cent of Afghanistan’s bud-
get was covered by aid grants
and loans, and this is down to 50
to embarrass the government
at every opportunity, and there
will be a steady diet of drama
and controversy for the media
to report. The only thing that
will truly unify the parties is
fear of an election that could
cost them seats and money.
Canadians may be
in for a rough polit-
ical ride, but some-
times good things
happen when politi-
cal parties are forced Is this good or bad for
to collaborate.
Pearson minori- Canadian democracy?
ties
Proponents of mi-
nority governments
look fondly at the
1960s when Lester B.
Pearson won back-to-back mi-
norities that forced deal-brok-
ering with the New Democratic
Party. That era was the bedrock
of the Canadian social safety
net, with the Pearson Liberals
advancing national medicare,
Canada student loans and the
Canada Pension Program.
People forget, or may not
know, that opposition parties
lobbed countless accusations of
per cent. Since 2001, under-five
child mortality has dropped
by more than half. Impressive
gains have been made in urban
commerce and infrastructure,
a prerequisite for continued
growth because of Afghani-
stan’s cripplingly low per capita
productivity levels compared
with its neighbours. In other ar-
eas, such as literacy, which has
www.canadianinquirer.net
Canada News
political wrongdoing and mis-
management, or that the news
was filled with stories of contro-
versy and chaos.
The debate over creating
the Canadian Maple Leaf flag
was especially divisive. Yet half
a century later, the disagree-
ments are largely forgotten,
and most Canadians are rightly
proud of those programs and
their flag.
There is one looming prob-
lem with minority govern-
ments: they tend to spend lots
of money. Worried about los-
ing power, the governing party
wants to curry favour — and
doesn’t want to stoke political
unrest.
not moved much in 20 years
because of the large increase in
population, there is much work
still to be done.
Third, Canada needs to pre-
pare for the next challenging
task: pragmatically negotiating
with the Taliban to continue the
Afghanistan development pro-
gram. China has indicated its in-
terest in extending its “Belt and
11
Since 2019, the Liberals
have found support from the
NDP, and as a result, hundreds
of billions of dollars has been
spent to combat the pandemic,
to support Canadians and to
stabilize the economy. Anyone
worried about the government
avoiding running
massive deficits and
the legacy of mount-
ing financial debt
has reason to be con-
cerned.
Prime ministers
do not like minori-
ty governments, or
limits on their pow-
er. As Canada works
its way through the
pandemic, we’re
lucky there will be a greater
role for Parliament and MPs in
trying to figure out the way for-
ward. ■
Alex Marland, Professor, Po-
litical Science, Memorial Uni-
versity of Newfoundland
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
Road Program” into Afghani-
stan from across the border in
Pakistan. The opportunity for
continuity in the development
program is available.■
This article first appeared
on Policy Options and is repub-
lished here under a Creative
Commons license.
12
What’s standing in the way of teaching
about residential schools?
BY PAUL W. BENNETT
Policy Options
Ontario’s curriculum now in-
cludes the history of residential
schools, but the status quo still
prevails in Indigenous educa-
tion.
Unearthing the unmarked
children’s graves on or near
former Canadian Indigenous
residential schools could well
be the tipping point. Since the
June 2021 revelations at Ka-
mloops Indian Residential
School, the broader public has
finally been engaged and it has
injected a sense of urgency
into the movement to integrate
that shameful legacy into so-
cial studies K-12 curricula from
province-to-province across
Canada.
Newly awakened citizens are
now realizing that their educa-
tion never included curriculum
or discussion about residential
schools and their horrible leg-
acy. That was definitely true
25 years ago, but less common
today because of gradual, incre-
mental changes in provincial
social studies curricula. The
massive Truth and Reconcil-
iation Commission of Cana-
da (TRC) report in 2015 made
teaching this history one of its
highest-priority calls to action
– a move that inspired a wave of
First Nations, Métis and Inuit
(FNMI) curriculum initiatives.
Gauging the actual reach and
effect of such projects is worthy
of much closer scrutiny.
Mandating curriculum
change does not necessarily
lead to effective, consistent or
discernable modifications in
teaching practice. Implemen-
tation challenges can thwart
policy guidelines and directives
(as Michael Fullan’s book illus-
trates) and it’s critical to assess
the gaps between the official
curricula, the recently com-
missioned teaching resources,
compulsory course offerings
and the actual received curric-
ula. The Ontario experience in
integrating First Nation, Métis
and Inuit (FNMI) perspectives
and content into the curricu-
lum is a case in point.
Since the TRC report, provin-
cial and territorial governments
have been entrusted with a very
Canada News
specific mandate – to make the
history of residential schools,
treaties, and historical and
contemporary contributions of
First Nations, Métis and Inuit
a mandatory educational re-
quirement for all kindergarten
to Grade 12 students. While it
emanated from the TRC, the
whole idea of teaching indepen-
dent, elective FNMI-focused
courses and cross-curricular
perspectives was hardly new to
most people familiar with social
studies curricula.
The Ontario Ministry of
Education has invested con-
siderable time, energy and re-
sources into the creation and
implementation of a native
studies high school curricu-
lum from the early 1970s on-
ward. Its initial iteration, the
1975 People of Native Ancestry
(PONA) curriculum guide and
documents, was largely part of
the Indigenous cultural reviv-
al that swept Canada after the
first wave of closures of the res-
idential schools. That curricu-
lum was also created after the
passage of the Charter of Rights
and Freedoms, in collaboration
with Indigenous advisers and
educators.
The fundamental shortcom-
ing of Ontario’s PONA initiative
was that it was entirely focused
on creating and implementing
a self-standing set of optional
social studies courses. It was
never a required component of
the curricula and it was never
mandatory and never integrat-
ed with other parts of Canadi-
Kamloops Residential School Memorial, May 30th 2021 (GOTOVAN/FLICKR, CC BY 2.0)
an history. By the fall of 1999,
the provincial curricula had
expanded to a suite of 10 indi-
vidual native studies courses
spanning grades 9 to 12. While
the initial native studies cours-
es were innovative at the time,
they were offered in only 39 On-
tario high schools and in signif-
icant numbers of actual courses
in only four of those schools
between 1999 and 2006. Fur-
thermore, proposals to offer
several of the courses, in part,
in the Indigenous language
were essentially shot down by
federal authorities in Indian
and Northern Affairs Canada
(INAC), which was more com-
mitted to advancing English
literacy and raising graduation
rates.
Faced with growing public de-
mand in Ontario for improved
Indigenous education, the Min-
istry of Education responded in
2006 with a new, broader strat-
egy known as the Ontario First
Nation, Métis and Inuit (FNMI)
Policy Framework intended to
expand native studies content
in schools across the province.
It proposed the implementa-
tion of “quality Native Studies
education,” to Indigenous and
non-Indigenous students, with
the aspirational goal of raising
the awareness of all Ontarians
of Indigenous perspectives, his-
tories and cultures.
Indigenous residential
schools began to pop up in
Ontario classroom resources.
From 2000 onward, Ontario’s
core history textbooks such as
www.canadianinquirer.net
The Canadian Challenge start-
ed to include short references
to the Indigenous residential
schools, and that expanded fol-
lowing then-prime minister
Stephen Harper’s 2008 formal
apology for the abuses that stu-
dents suffered in Canada’s resi-
dential schools.
One of the most widely used
textbooks, Creating Canada:
A History of Canada – 1914
to the Present, identified the
abuses, referenced the 2006
financial compensation pack-
age, featured Harper’s apology
and gave expression to rising
demands for further initiatives
addressing unresolved prob-
lems affecting Canada’s Indige-
nous peoples.
Yet Ontario’s 2007 FNMI
curriculum initiative fell short
of achieving its rather lofty ob-
jectives. No target dates were
set for implementation in all
schools and critics pounced
on the policy’s more-explicit
commitment to raising Indig-
enous student outcomes and
graduation rates. Nurturing of
the revitalization of Indigenous
cultures took a back seat to
what were labelled “neo-liber-
al” educational goals for FNMI
students. The policy’s stated
key priority lent credence to
such claims. That was to, in the
words of the document, “close
the gap between Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal students in the
areas of literacy and numeracy,
retention of students in school,
graduation rates, and advance-
ment to postsecondary studies”
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY
by the year 2016.
Educating students about In-
digenous concerns and foster-
ing cultural sensitivity may have
been goals of the FMNI curric-
ulum, but there was no explicit
commitment nor benchmarks
for assessing progress. Greater
funding from 2006 to 2010 did
increase the number of schools
offering native studies courses
to 267 from 51, with course of-
ferings jumping to 478 from 75,
and more school boards pro-
viding the courses. The num-
ber of students enrolled in the
courses rose from slightly more
than 2,200 in 2007-08 (or 0.31
per cent of all high school stu-
dents) to 716,103 or 1.14 per
cent by 2009-10. But that’s still
less than the proportion of On-
tarians of Indigenous origins,
which is estimated at 2 per cent.
Training teachers to work
collaboratively with Indige-
nous communities also became
a problem. Small enrolment
courses did not prove finan-
cially sustainable, so in 2011
the minimum number of en-
rolled students per course was
doubled to 12 from six. Even
academic allies such as Queen’s
University researcher and Mé-
tis scholar P.J.A. Chaput mused
about whether the courses were
still too dependent on provin-
cial funding to be sustainable
long term in Ontario.
The pattern of implementa-
tion and uptake was remark-
ably similar in Alberta. The
Alberta Education Department
made the teaching of Indige-
nous perspectives a key pillar of
the 2005 social studies curric-
ulum. Provincial mandates like
this are often met with teacher
ambivalence, if not passive re-
sistance. One 2013 small-sam-
ple study of the FNMI initia-
tive, conducted by University
of Calgary education professor
David Scott and involving five
teachers, demonstrated that
they had mostly brushed aside
the mandate.
A more recent July 2018 ar-
ticle, examining Alberta social
studies teachers’ resistance to
teaching Indigenous perspec-
tives provided an assessment
of why, after 18 years, educators
in Alberta were still reluctant
❱❱ PAGE 13 What’s standing in
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
The anti-vax movement is being radicalized
by far-right political extremism
BY SIBO CHEN, Ryerson
University
The Conversation
Vaccine passports have be-
come a major point of conten-
tion in the 2021 federal elec-
tion.
Currently, more than 73 per
cent of Canada’s population
have received at least one dose
of vaccine, and the country’s
response to COVID-19 contin-
ues to be a top priority for vot-
ers. This is likely why current
public health efforts have con-
centrated on expanding vac-
cine access and implementing
communication strategies (like
motivational interviewing) to
increase vaccination rates.
But, as seen through recent
anti-vax protests, especially
those targeting schools and
hospitals, there is a worrisome
convergence of the anti-vaccine
movement and far-right politi-
cal extremism.
And on the frontline of these
anti-vax protests are people oc-
cupied by extreme rage who are
threatening to exert violence
What’s standing in...
❰❰ 12 or resistant to making
the changes. Scott and
Raphaël Gani neat-
ly summarized the three most
common rationales:
• No perspectives can be
identified because of the high-
ly diverse nature of Indigenous
Peoples and their communities;
• Only educators who are
Indigenous can authentically
offer insights into or teach Ab-
original perspectives;
• Prioritizing Indigenous
perspectives is problematic be-
cause “all perspectives deserve
equal treatment.”
Such explanations, accord-
ing to Scott and Gani, actually
masked a more-encompassing
explanation and that is that
most social studies educators
embrace worldviews and ap-
ply curricular frameworks that
preclude integrating FNMI
perspectives. If and when the
history of Indigenous residen-
tial schools is taught, it is in
isolation or simply in passing
because it is not central to the
against whoever they deem as
“outsiders” and “traitors.”
For decades, vaccine hesitan-
cy has been a subject of intense
study in the field of scientific
communication. The issue’s
recent radicalization makes
insights about its root causes
even more important.
Factors contributing to
vaccine hesitancy
A distinction must be drawn
between vaccine hesitancy and
the current anti-vax movement,
as the latter’s agenda has been
hijacked by far-right groups.
Previous study has identified
a variety of factors contributing
to people’s vaccination hesitan-
cy, such as community trauma,
scientific scepticism and polit-
ical beliefs. Some Indigenous
communities’ concerns about
COVID-19 vaccines, for in-
stance, come from instances of
medical experimentation.
Meanwhile, errors made
during pro-vaccine communi-
cations may raise additional
concerns about vaccination
safety and efficacy. Consider
the public uncertainty and out-
rage over the National Advisory
theme or prevailing narrative
in social studies curricula.
Ontario’s latest curriculum
revision in 2018 put renewed
focus on implementing the
TRC calls to action through a
revamped First Nations, Métis
and Inuit (FNMI) Studies cur-
riculum. Beginning in 2019, na-
tive studies was supplanted by
the FNMI curriculum with an
emphasis on a broader range of
learning outcomes, tilting more
to social and emotional well-be-
ing. A new youth development
framework, Stepping Stones,
was adopted that de-empha-
sized improved academic out-
comes. Appropriating such
models from modern social
psychology and youth develop-
ment may well prove equally
problematic because they are
drawn from outside the realm
of Indigenous wisdom and ex-
perience.
Indigenous education re-
searchers Lindsay Morcom
and Kate Freeman of Queen’s
University’s faculty of educa-
Committee on Immunization’s
contradictory messages regard-
ing AstraZeneca.
Research on vaccine hes-
itancy around the world has
demonstrated that a number of
contributing factors to vaccine
hesitation are directly linked
to a persistent decline in public
trust in institutions and gov-
ernment policy. In recent years,
this trend, along with escalat-
ing political polarization, has
shaped the anti-vaccine move-
ment into its current form.
Prior to the pandemic, re-
searchers noted that social me-
dia platforms, like Facebook,
facilitate anti-vaccine messages
and conspiracy theories by en-
abling the diffusion of misinfor-
mation like “pesticides caused
clinical symptoms of polio.”
Fast forwarding to 2020, major
anti-vaccine groups on Face-
book launched anti-vaccine
misinformation campaigns
weeks before the U.S. govern-
ment launched its vaccine de-
velopment program, sewing
seeds of doubt and subsequent-
ly hampering the rollout of
COVID-19 vaccines across the
tion would likely prefer a model
encompassing a more unique
Indigenous philosophy, world-
view, culture, and spirituality.
One such model drawn from
Anishinaabe tradition is known
as the “Medicine Wheel and the
Seven Grandfather Teachings.”
Those seven grandfather teach-
ings are a set of characteristics
that guide us on how we can
live a good life, or mino-bimaa-
diziwin, and embrace a set of
core values: honesty, humility,
respect, bravery, wisdom, truth
and love.
They are also intimately con-
nected to the medicine wheel, a
three-dimensional sacred cos-
mology involving the four di-
rections, the sky, the earth and
the centre. The curriculum ini-
tiatives, however well-intend-
ed, can exemplify teaching that
runs counter to Indigenous
knowledge and ways of know-
ing.
Teaching units including
FNMI topics and perspec-
tives are now more common
www.canadianinquirer.net
Canada News
country.
The radicalization of the
anti-vaccine movement
Since the start of mass
COVID-19 vaccinations in early
2020, the public health sector
has been closely monitoring
an unusually high level of re-
sistance among a small section
of the population. Unlike prior
vaccination hesitancy, the cur-
rent anti-vax movement cannot
be explained by a lack of infor-
mation or illogical thinking,
in mainstream courses in the
latest Ontario curriculum from
grades one to 10. Ontario’s new
FNMI curriculum (grades nine
to 12), revised in 2019, is, in
many ways exemplary because
it offers a comprehensive, de-
tailed, historically sound and
fairly challenging set of 10 high
school social studies and En-
glish courses. The introducto-
ry course, First Nations, Métis
and Inuit in Canada, focusing
on historical inquiry and skill
development, delves into the
history of Indigenous peoples
from pre-contact to the pres-
ent day, including residential
schools. The program culmi-
nates in a very rigorous and up-
to-date set of courses focusing
on Indigenous issues and per-
spectives and a more civics-ori-
ented sequel on Indigenous
governance in Canada.
There’s one big problem –
none of the new courses is man-
datory for Ontario high school
students. While that was the
original intention of the pre-
13
especially in light of the signif-
icant press coverage and public
health initiatives over the last
several months.
Scholars have resorted to the
solution aversion model to ac-
count for the growing political
division around vaccination.
According to this model, indi-
viduals with divergent political
ideologies perceive social is-
sues differently because of their
❱❱ PAGE 17 The anti-vax movement
vious Liberal government of
Kathleen Wynne, incoming
Conservative Education Min-
ister Lisa Thompson reversed
that commitment in May 2019.
While three of the courses may
be substituted for compulsory
credits, those decisions are left
up to regional school boards.
Two decades after the ad-
vent of the initial Ontario na-
tive studies courses, the status
quo still prevails in Indigenous
education. While residential
schools are in the current cur-
riculum, it is still entirely pos-
sible for students to graduate
from high school in Ontario
without exposure to a more-de-
tailed analysis of the residential
school tragedy and its enduring
impact. ■
This article first appeared
on Policy Options and is repub-
lished here under a Creative
Commons license.
14
U.S. to ease travel New Zealand cannot abandon
restrictions for fully its COVID elimination strategy
vaxxed visitors while Māori and Pasifika
XINHUA
Philippine News Agency vaccination rates are too low
WASHINGTON – The Unit-
ed States will no longer prohib-
it foreign visitors from entering
the country starting Novem-
ber if they are fully vaccinated
against coronavirus disease
2019 (Covid-19), the White
House said Monday when an-
nouncing a set of policy chang-
es that will ease the interna-
tional travel bans put in place
to curb the transmission of the
coronavirus.
People who are not U.S. cit-
izens and who plan to travel
to the United States will have
to provide proof that they are
fully vaccinated and a negative
test result taken within three
days of departure as they board
a U.S.-bound flight, Jeff Zients,
the White House Covid-19 re-
sponse coordinator, said during
a press briefing.
Fully vaccinated internation-
al travelers entering the United
States will no longer need to
quarantine for 14 days after ar-
rival, according to Zients, who
also said the new rules will take
effect in early November so as
to give government agencies
and airlines “time to prepare.”
For unvaccinated Americans
returning to the United States,
the coordinator said they will
be “subject to stricter testing
requirements,” including a test
within one day of departure and
proof that they have bought a
test to take after arriving in the
United States.
The specific vaccines that
qualify a traveler as “fully vac-
cinated” will be determined by
the Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention (CDC), said
World News
Zients. Exceptions to the vac-
cination requirements include
children not yet eligible for the
shots, according to U.S. media
reports.
Meanwhile, the CDC will
roll out more stringent con-
tact tracing requirements in
the coming weeks, according to
Zients, including information
on U.S.-bound international
travelers’ phone numbers and
email addresses.
Zients also said existing rules
governing land border cross-
ings with Canada and Mexico
remained unchanged.
Monday’s announcement
will halt a patchwork of bans
imposed by the former Trump
administration since the onset
of the pandemic on travel from
33 countries across the globe.
It will also finally give people
overseas who have been sepa-
rated from family in the Unit-
ed States the chance to reunite
with their loved ones.
In addition to the expect-
ed easing of a major source of
tension between the United
States and Europe -- which
complained about U.S. hesitan-
cy in removing the measures
amid an uptick in vaccination
rates -- the new rules were also
cheered by the travel industry
in the United States, which has
been lobbying the federal gov-
ernment to make the changes.
“U.S. airlines have been
strong advocates for a stringent,
consistent policy and are eager
to safely reunite the countless
families, friends and colleagues
who have not seen each other
in nearly two years, if not lon-
ger,” Nicholas Calio, president
of Airlines for America, the lob-
bying group for the largest U.S.
carriers, said in a statement. ■
BY COLLIN TUKUITONGA,
University of Auckland
The Conversation
Auckland’s move to alert lev-
el 3 has also triggered specula-
tion about whether the national
COVID-19 elimination strategy
has failed or is even being aban-
doned. While the government
denies it, others clearly believe
it is at least a possibility.
The uncertainty is troubling.
If elimination fails or is aban-
doned, it would suggest we have
not learnt the lessons of history,
particularly when it comes to our
more vulnerable populations.
In 1918, the mortality rate
among Māori from the influ-
enza pandemic was eight times
that of Europeans. The avoid-
able introduction of influenza
to Samoa from Aotearoa result-
ed in the deaths of about 22% of
the population.
Similar observations were
seen in subsequent influenza
outbreaks in Aotearoa in 1957
and 2009 for both Māori and Pa-
sifika people. These trends are
well known and documented.
And yet, despite concerns
we could see the same thing
happen again, there have been
repeated claims that an elimi-
nation strategy cannot succeed.
Some business owners, politi-
cians and media commentators
have called for a change in ap-
proach that would see Aotearoa
“learn to live with the virus”.
This is premature and likely
to expose vulnerable members
of our communities to the dis-
ease. Abandoning the elimina-
tion strategy while vaccine cov-
erage rates remain low among
the most vulnerable people
would be reckless and irrespon-
sible. In short, more Māori and
Pasifika people would die.
Far better will be to stick to
the original plan that has served
the country well, lift vaccina-
tion coverage rates with more
urgency, and revise the strategy
when vaccination rates among
Māori and Pasifika people are
as high as possible — no less
than 90%.
www.canadianinquirer.net
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern (NATO NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION/
FLICKR, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
Least worst options
After 18 months of deal-
ing with the pandemic, it’s
important to remember that
Aotearoa’s response has been
based on sound science and
strong political leadership. The
elimination strategy has proved
effective at home and been ad-
mired internationally.
Of course, it has come with a
price. In particular, the restric-
tions have had a major impact
on small businesses and per-
sonal incomes, student life and
learning, and well-being in gen-
eral. Many families have need-
ed additional food parcels and
social support, and there are re-
ports of an increasing incidence
of family harm.
The latest Delta outbreak
has also seen the longest level
4 lockdown in Auckland, with
at least two further weeks at
level 3, and there is no doubt
many people are struggling to
cope with the restrictions. The
“long tail” of infections will test
everyone further.
There is no easy way to pro-
tect the most vulnerable peo-
ple from the life-threatening
risk of COVID-19, and the likely
impact on the public health sys-
tem if it were to get out of con-
trol. The alternative, however,
is worse.
We know Māori and Pasifika
people are most at risk of infec-
tion from COVID-19, of being
hospitalised and of dying from
the disease. Various studies
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY
have confirmed this, but we also
must acknowledge why — en-
trenched socioeconomic disad-
vantage, overcrowded housing
and higher prevalence of un-
derlying health conditions.
More than 50% of all new
cases in the current outbreak
are among Pasifika people and
the number of new cases among
Māori is increasing. If and when
the pandemic is over, the impli-
cations of these socioeconomic
factors must be part of any re-
view of the pandemic strategy.
Lowest vaccination rates,
highest risk
Furthermore, the nation-
al vaccination rollout has
again shown up the chronic
entrenched inequities in the
health system. While the roll-
out is finally gaining momen-
tum, with more and better op-
tions offered by and for Māori
and Pasifika people, their com-
parative vaccination rates have
lagged significantly.
Community leaders and
health professionals have long
called for Māori and Pasifika
vaccination to be prioritised.
But the official rhetoric has not
been matched by the reality, as
evidenced by our most at-risk
communities still having the
lowest vaccination coverage
rates in the country.
Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa
Urutā (the National Māori Pan-
demic Group) and the Pasifika
❱❱ PAGE 17 New Zealand cannot
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
UN chief raises alarm:
‘The world must wake up!’
ANADOLU
Philippine News Agency
WASHINGTON – United
Nations Secretary General An-
tonio Guterres raised the alarm
on Tuesday as world lead-
ers convened in New York
for the 76th General As-
sembly, telling them to
“wake up” in the face of
cataclysmic challenges.
Speaking as the General
Debate opened, Guterres
said the international
community is facing “the
greatest cascade of crises
in our lifetimes.”
“We are on the edge of
an abyss and moving in
the wrong direction. Our
world has never been
more threatened or more
divided,” he said. “The
Covid-19 pandemic has
super-sized glaring in-
equalities. The climate
crisis is pummeling the
planet. Upheaval from Af-
ghanistan to Ethiopia to Yemen
and beyond has thwarted peace.
A surge of mistrust and misin-
formation is polarizing people
and paralyzing societies. Hu-
man rights are under fire, and
science is under assault.”
Guterres blasted searing in-
equity in vaccine access with
the developed world mulling
booster shots for its popula-
tions while many in developing
Our world
has never
been more
threatened
or more
divided,
regions are desperately search-
ing for immunizations.
“This is a moral indictment
at the state of our world. It is
an obscenity. We passed the sci-
ence test, but we are getting an
F in ethics,” he said.
The UN chief further warned
that current national climate
commitments will see emis-
sions go up 60 percent by 2030,
which he said would bring a
“hellscape of tempera-
ture rises of at least 2.7
degrees above pre-indus-
trial levels” as nations
remain “light years away
from reaching our tar-
gets.”
“Instead of humility
in the face of these epic
challenges we see hubris.
Instead of the path of sol-
idarity, we are on a dead-
end to destruction,” he
said.
The stark warning
comes after the UN issued
a report last week that
said the commitments es-
tablished in the 2015 Par-
is climate accord, which
are largely not being met,
would lead to a 16 percent
increase in emissions by
2030 compared to 2010 levels.
A cut of 45 percent by 2030 is
needed to achieve carbon neu-
trality by mid-century, it added.
Guterres continued to warn
Japan to pick new premier
early October
ANADOLU
Philippine News Agency
ANKARA – Japan on Tues-
day decided to pick Prime Min-
ister Yoshihide Suga’s successor
at an extraordinary parliament
session on Oct. 4, meaning a
general election is likely to be
held in November, Kyodo News
reported.
“We need to nominate a next
prime minister after the elec-
tions, so we will convene an
extraordinary Diet session…
this morning in the Cabinet
meeting we have given an ap-
proval for that,” Chief Cabinet
Secretary Katsunobu Kato told
a news briefing in the capital
Tokyo.
www.canadianinquirer.net
World News
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (UNITED STATES MISSION GENEVA/FLICKR, CC
BY-ND 2.0)
of the dangers posed by ongo-
ing great power competition
between China and the US, say-
ing he fears the world is heading
toward “two different sets of
economic, trade, financial and
technological rules; two diver-
gent approaches in the develop-
ment of artificial intelligence,
and ultimately, the risk of two
different military and geopolit-
ical strategies.”
“And this is a recipe for trou-
ble. It would be far less predict-
able than the Cold War,” he said.
The ruling Liberal Demo-
cratic Party (LDP) holds its
own election to pick Suga’s suc-
cessor on Sept. 29. Whoever
is elected is expected to be en-
dorsed in the Diet.
Earlier this month, Suga said
he will not run for re-election
as party leader, signaling the
end of his tenure. He was ap-
pointed to the role just a year
ago following the resignation of
Shinzo Abe.
The decision came amid his
low approval ratings due to the
worsening coronavirus disease
2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. The
world’s third-largest economy
has been badly hit, forcing the
government to maintain liquid-
ity in the markets by pushing
in stimulus packages for busi-
15
Amid the potential global
split, Guterres said the UN’s
powers remain too limited to
address the globe’s challeng-
es and need to be updated to
ensure it could adequately ad-
dress them.
“Today’s multilateral system
is too limited in its instruments
and capacities in relation to
what is needed for effective
governance and managing glob-
al public goods. It is too fixed on
the short-term,” he said. ■
nesses and handing over cash to
households.
Four lawmakers from the
LDP are vying for leadership
of the ruling party that holds
majority in parliament. Vac-
cination Minister Taro Kono,
former foreign minister Fumio
Kishida, former Communica-
tions Minister Sanae Takaichi
and LDP’s Executive Acting
Secretary General Seiko Noda
are campaigning for the top
post. ■
16 World News SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY

From ‘Mädchen’ to ‘Mutti’: as Angela Merkel

departs, she leaves a great legacy
of leadership
BY GABRIELE SUDER,
Federation University
Australia
The Conversation
With Chancellor Angela
Merkel departing as one of the
most significant politicians in
a generation, the German elec-
tions of September 26 will be
very closely watched. This is the
first time since 2005 that na-
tional elections will take place
without her.
This first female German
chancellor has served a record
four terms in government.
While she has her critics, she
has overall been a source of sta-
bility, coherence and consulta-
tion. She has also become a role
model of how to deal with con-
troversy and crisis.
Standing down on her own
terms
Merkel is now dedicated to
making space for the future
generation as Germany, the
EU and the world face acceler-
ating challenges. These range
from the pandemic and climate
change, relations with the US,
Russia, China, and beyond. The
geo-political and geo-strategic
landscape is shifting. Merkel
played a crucial role in pursu-
ing EU-style multilateralism as
a vector of peace and stability.
Some believe Merkel missed
some important opportuni-
ties that can now be picked up
or reinforced. Among those
are bringing other European
Union nations, such as France,
even closer to taking on more
EU leadership, an ambition
strengthened when French
President Emmanuel Macron
was elected. Macron, the fourth
French president elected during
Merkel’s time as chancellor, was
seen as liberal, pro-Europe-
an and reformist. But his ideas
on financial integration and a
multi-speed model for Europe
did not meet the expected en-
thusiasm, including in Germa-
ny, while he was struggling with
reforms internally.
In her 16 years as leader,
Merkel has seen many interna-
tional counterparts come and
go. She has worked with eight
Japanese prime ministers, sev-
en Italian prime ministers, five
UK prime ministers, and four
US presidents – not to mention
six changes of prime minister in
Australia.
Many leaders dramatically
underestimated her, judging
wrongly from her early nick-
name of “das Mädchen” (the
girl) that she might be a politi-
cal neophyte. She soon proved
to be a role model for reliability
and responsibility, and the im-
pact of female leadership.
Merkel’s place in history
Merkel is the first German
chancellor to stand down on
her own terms and timeline
without the political pressures
known by her predecessors.
Importantly, she also does not
have an obvious successor.
This makes this election less
than predictable. Neither the
centre-right’s (CDU) Armin
Laschet – Merkel’s party col-
league – nor the centre-left’s
(SPD) Olaf Scholz (currently fi-
nance minister), nor the Green
Party’s Annalena Baerbock are
seen as charismatic or convincing.
This leads to the question
where the “Merkel voters” will
head with their votes. During
her tenure, women voters, eco-
nomic centrists and ethnic mi-
nority voters in particular vot-
ed for her party in support of
her, rather than for the CDU’s
policies.
This also raises the question
of what legacy she will leave.
Some have called Merkel one
of the most influential world
leaders of the modern era. Oth-
ers recognise her as extraordi-
nary in various ways, at times
with critique.
❱❱ PAGE 30 From ‘Mädchen’ to

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www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
Pfizer, BioNTech post positive vax results
in children age 5-11
ANADOLU
Philippine News Agency
ANKARA – US pharmaceuti-
cal Pfizer and its German part-
ner BioNTech on Monday an-
nounced positive results from
trials of their Covid-19 vaccine
in children age 5-11.
The Phase 2/3 trial showed “a
favorable safety profile and ro-
bust neutralizing antibody re-
sponses,” said a joint statement
by the firms.
The trial had a two-dose reg-
imen of 10 micrograms admin-
istered 21 days apart, or one-
third of the 30 microgram dose
used for people 12 and older.
“Since July, pediatric cases
of Covid-19 have risen by about
The anti-vax movement...
❰❰ 13 inherent aversion to
specific solutions. In
the case of vaccine
passports, its implementation
depends on stringent govern-
ment regulations, which are
deeply unpopular among many
far-right individuals.
Additionally, our fragment-
ed media environment fur-
ther fosters solution aversion
by promoting motivated rea-
soning. With today’s media
audiences being trapped in
algorithm-based digital echo
chambers, it is increasingly typ-
ical for individuals to interact
exclusively with like-minded
media sources and other inter-
net users, resulting in biased
information absorption.
Fixing the broken public
sphere
Admittedly, reconciling the
divided public opinions on
COVID-19 vaccination policies
is not a simple task. As long as
240 percent in the US – under-
scoring the public health need
for vaccination,” Pfizer Chair-
man and CEO Albert Bourla
said in the statement.
“We are eager to extend the
protection afforded by the vac-
cine to this younger population,
subject to regulatory authoriza-
tion, especially as we track the
spread of the Delta variant and
the substantial threat it poses
to children,” he added.
Ugur Sahin, BioNTech’s
co-founder and CEO, said trial
data will be submitted to reg-
ulatory authorities for school-
aged children before the start of
the winter season.
“The safety profile and immu-
nogenicity data in children aged
5 to 11 years vaccinated at a low-
social media platforms contin-
ue to not bat an eye at misin-
formation out of concern for
their click-through rates, and
governments continue to ig-
nore structural injustices driv-
ing political radicalization, it
is unlikely that vaccine resis-
tance will be reduced without
increasing polarization.
The anti-vax movement, like
many other issues that have
emerged during the pandem-
ic, serves as a stark reminder
that our society’s public sphere
is fundamentally broken. The
long yet essential process of
fixing it will require all of us, as
responsible citizens and media
users, to work collaboratively
on restoring public conversa-
tion mechanisms. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
er dose are consistent with those
we have observed with our vac-
cine in other older populations
at a higher dose,” said Sahin,
New Zealand cannot...
❰❰ 14 Medical Association
have repeatedly called
for their communities
to be empowered and resourced
to own, lead and deliver vaccina-
tion rollouts in ways that work
for their communities.
Te Rōpū Whakakaupapa
Urutā have also said Auckland
should have remained at level
4, with the border extended to
include the areas of concern in
the Waikato.
As has been pointed out by
those closest to those commu-
nities, however, their advice has
consistently not been heeded.
The resulting delays only risk
increasing the need for the
kinds of lockdowns and restric-
tions everyone must endure un-
til vaccination rates are higher.
There is a reason we do not
hear many voices in Māori and
Pasifika communities asking
for an end to elimination. Left
unchecked, COVID-19 dispro-
www.canadianinquirer.net
World News
who grew up in Germany from a
Turkish immigrant family.
Companies said they will
share the data with the US
portionately affects minority
communities and the most vul-
nerable. “Living with the virus”
effectively means some people
dying with it. We know who
many of them would be. ■
Collin Tukuitonga, Associate
Dean Pacific and Associate Pro-
fessor of Public Health, Univer-
sity of Auckland
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
17
Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), European Medicines
Agency (EMA), and other regu-
lators as soon as possible.
The Delta variant has pro-
duced a surge of pediatric Covid
cases, and with in-person school
resuming and this fall and win-
ter set to see more people spend-
ing time indoors, there has been
a push to expand vaccination to
school-age children.
Since December 2019, the
pandemic has claimed over
4.69 million lives in at least
192 countries and regions, with
almost 228.6 million cases re-
ported worldwide, according
to the US’ Johns Hopkins Uni-
versity. Vaccine doses admin-
istered total over 5.9 billion, it
showed. ■
Empowering public...
❰❰ 9 marginalized employ-
ees’ career growth
are being reproduced
in hybrid work environments,
with uneven odds for promo-
tion, engagement and network-
ing emerging in new ways.
How might creative tech-
niques for employee recog-
nition, triadic mentoring
programs and other career
management tools be used by
the public service to rethink its
hiring and management prac-
tices? The shifting nature of the
relationship between employ-
ers and employees is not going
to slow down any time soon.
Focusing on employees’ entire
careers might mean not only
better retention rates, but also
a better public service. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
18
Entertainment
ABS-CBN Superview streams classic
Filipino movies, series for free
worldwide on YouTube
ABS-CBN
Fifty years ago, John Lennon
released one of the most beau-
tiful, inspirational and catchy
pop anthems of the 20th centu-
ry: “Imagine.”
Gentle and yet increasingly
stirring as the song progresses,
“Imagine” is unabashedly uto-
pian and deeply moral, calling
on people to live, as one human-
ity, in peace. It is also purposely
and powerfullon and “Imagine”
to blood-lusting atheists like
Stalin and Pol Pot, the over-
whelming majority of godless
people seek to live ethical lives.
For example, studies have
shown that when it comes to
BINI’s timely new single “Kapit Lang”
brings motivation to netizens,
reaches 320K views on YouTube
ABS-CBN
Breakout P-Pop girl group
BINI continues to uplift lis-
teners with their music and
their latest single “Kapit Lang,”
whose vibrant, color-splashed
music video reached over
320,000 views on YouTube.
The upbeat track captured the
attention of netizens, who are
all praises for the track’s time-
ly message about maintaining
a positive mindset and staying
strong amid challenging times.
“Kapit Lang” is the perfect
song to kickstart the day or get
motivated, with BINI plead-
ing to the listener, “Kapit lang,
kaibigan... Minsan ayoko nang
bumangon, nalulunod sa lung-
kot at galit. Pero kahit mahirap,
things like wanting to help ref-
ugees, seeking to establish af-
fordable health care, fighting
climate change and being sensi-
tive to racism and homophobia,
the godless stand out as partic-
ularly moral.
Indeed, secular people in
general exhibit an orientation
that is markedly tolerant, dem-
ocratic and universalistic – val-
ues Lennon holds up as ideals in
“Imagine.”
Other studies reveal that the
democratic countries that are
the least religious – the ones
that have gone furthest down
the road of “imagining no re-
ligion” – are the most safe, hu-
mane, green and ethical.
“Imagine” was not the first
gagawin ang kailangan (Hold
on, friend… Sometimes I don’t
want to get up, drowning in de-
spair and anger. Although it’s
difficult, do whatever needs to
be done).”
Sky Bergara commented on
BINI’s “Kapit Lang” captured the attention of netizens, who are all praises for
the track’s timely message about maintaining a positive mindset and staying
strong amid challenging times. (ABS-CBN)
time Lennon sang his secu-
lar humanism. A year before,
in 1970, he released “I Found
Out,” declaring his lack of belief
in either Jesus or Krishna. Also
in 1970, he put out the haunt-
ing, scorching “God.” Beginning
with a classic psychological ex-
planation of theism – that hu-
mans construct the concept of
God as a way to cope with and
measure their pain – “God”
goes on to list all the things that
Lennon most decidedly does
not believe in: the Bible, Jesus,
Gita, Buddha, I-Ching, magic
and so on. In the end, all that
he believes in is his own verifi-
able personal reality. Arriving
at such a place was, for the be-
spectacled walrus from Liver-
YouTube, “A friend of mine is
currently struggling with his
career and finances. I didn’t
know what to say to console
him so what I did was, I sent
him this music video. He was
very thankful, and he said that
www.canadianinquirer.net
(ABS-CBN)
pool, to be truly “reborn.”
But neither “I Found Out”
nor “God” achieved anywhere
this is exactly what he needs.
Thank you for this powerful
song, girls.”
“This song has the power to
lighten all the heavy feeling that
every Filipino is experiencing
right now. Daming nangyayari
sa mundo and this song can
really help. The message is so
clear and simple, yet it pene-
trates the heart. Share to spread
the message. Deserve ng lahat
na makita at mapakinggan ito!
KAPIT LANG TAYOOO,” said
YouTube user Miss Ma’am.
“Your songs are very timely and
they serve as a big help to your lis-
teners since its theme is inspira-
tional and empowering. You girls
really motivate me so please keep
inspiring us!” YouTube user @
ako_si_misheru said.
For YouTube user Alex M,
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY
near the massive success that
“Imagine” did. No other atheist
pop song has. ■
“This is the song I’m going to
listen to whenever I feel down
or sad. The song is hopeful and
optimistic. My motivation jam.
Thank you for this, BINI!”
BINI, who made their offi-
cial debut as a group in June,
released “Kapit Lang” as their
second single for the “Born to
Win” era. Recently, the group
reached another milestone for
“Born to Win” after the hit de-
but single earned over 500,000
streams on Spotify and over one
million views on YouTube.
Aside from their upcoming
debut album and sibling con-
cert with BGYO this year, BINI
and their brother group are
gearing up for their first live
performance in front of their
❱❱ PAGE 26 BINI’s timely new
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
Nicki Minaj’s COVID-19 vaccine tweet about
swollen testicles signals the dangers of
celebrity misinformation and fandom
BY SARAH R. OLUTOLA,
Lakehead University
The Conversation
Rapper and pop singer Nicki
Minaj made headlines after her
Sept. 13 tweet about her as-of-
yet unidentified cousin’s friend
in Trinidad, who was dumped
at the altar by his wife-to-be
because “the vaccine” — pre-
sumably for COVID-19 — al-
legedly made his testicles swell.
Trinidad and Tobago’s health
minister said two days later the
claim was debunked after being
investigated.
MSNBC political commenta-
tor Joy Reid expressed concern
for Minaj’s 22 million Twitter
followers, arguing Minaj used
her platform “to put people in
the position of dying from a dis-
ease they don’t have to die from.”
Speaking directly to Minaj,
Reid added: “As somebody who is
your fan, I am so sad you did that.”
Minaj’s international an-
ti-vaccine fiasco does more
than reveal the troubling inter-
section of entertainment and
politics. It reveals the life-and-
death stakes at the heart of
normalizing a culture of politi-
cal tribalism.
Debunked claims
Minaj also tweeted on Sept.
13: “They want you to get vac-
cinated for the Met. (I)f I get
vaccinated it won’t for the Met.
It’ll be once I feel I’ve done
enough research.” Vogue ed-
itor-in-chief Anna Wintour’s
event, which Minaj did not at-
tend, required vaccination.
But what began as a tweet
soon dominated headlines as
mainstream media pushed back
against Minaj’s unverified sto-
rytelling. Minaj, (with her fans,
“The Barbz”), pushed back.
While Minaj did tweet that
she would eventually get the
vaccine to go on tour, her rec-
ommendation that others get
the vaccine in order to work
because a “lot of countries
won’t let [people] work w/o the
vaccine” reflects the anti-vaxx
criticisms against vaccine man-
dates created to save lives.
What the fiasco has made
clear is the troubling intersec-
tion of entertainment and po-
litical tribalism, highlighting a
culture where cults of personal-
ity reign and critical thinking is
discouraged.
Sticky emotions in a neo-
liberal age
Unpacking political tribalism
and its spillover into entertain-
ment means understanding
how communities have come
to be shaped under pressures
of uncertainty in a neoliber-
al era of globalization. British
environmentalist and activist
George Monbiot highlights how
neoliberalism has contributed
to a culture of competition by
redefining “citizens as consum-
ers whose democratic choices
are best exercised by buying
and selling.”
As argued by feminist au-
thor and scholar Sara Ahmed,
emotions play a part in building
community spaces and their
boundaries. Ahmed asks: What
happens when one doesn’t be-
lieve in the same set of emo-
tional and cultural ideas that
would make one a “legitimate
citizen” of a given community?
For example, marginalized
They want
you to get
vaccinated
for the Met.
individuals are expected to car-
ry the same beliefs and feelings
as dominant society. As such,
“happiness” and “belonging”
act as forms of emotional coer-
cion. To be happy is to follow
the script. To follow the script
is to belong. Those who can’t
or won’t follow the script can
be seen as strangers or even as
threats to the community.
Economic anxiety, in-
equality, bigotry
Today, growing economic
anxiety, inequality and bigot-
ry has led to a right-wing pop-
ulist movement. People have
become bound together and
aligned through bitter, negative
emotions and anti-democrat-
ic desires. An anti-vaccination
stance has become character-
istic of the alt-right, even at the
cost of lives.
Trumpism has led to the
consolidation of a tribe of po-
litically and culturally affiliated
people.
What we’ve seen until re-
cently among Trump followers
is people who almost unques-
tioningly worship their leader,
believe his words no matter
how untrue and view those who
question him as the enemy.
When Trump himself sheep-
ishly suggested at a recent Al-
abama rally that taking the
vaccine wasn’t so bad, he was
booed. What author Stephen
Hassan called the cult of Trump
has taken on such a life of its
own that the man himself may
be disposable should he shy
away from the policies and
ideas that solidified his com-
munity.
Echo chamber
From Fox News anchors like
Tucker Carlson to Republican
politicians like Florida Gov.
Ron DeSantis, many who
empathize with Trumpian
politics have added to the an-
ti-vaccination echo chamber.
To belong to the fold means
to align with the fold. And the
competitive neoliberal culture
that has divided humans into
winners and losers, outsiders
and insiders underlies enter-
tainment “fandoms” also.
Anti-democratic territory
In today’s era where disin-
formation campaigns and so-
cio-political polarization have
normalized an attack on truth
and facts, what seems like “reg-
ular competition” between fan-
doms leads us into anti-demo-
cratic territory.
As cultural studies research-
er Sascha Buchanan writes:
“Fans will defend their favour-
ite entertainers adamantly, as
well as against other readings,
as a way to authenticate their
status within the fan base and
to mutually recognize each oth-
er’s shared passion.”
This means no form of criti-
www.canadianinquirer.net
Entertainment
(EVA RINALDI/FLICKR, CC BY-SA 2.0)
cism against “the fave” is per-
mitted regardless of how logical
that criticism may be. Just as
Minaj fans can terrorize Toron-
to journalist Wanna Thompson
for critiquing the singer’s mu-
sic, many stand with her against
those criticizing her anti-vacci-
nation tweets regardless of the
danger they pose.
Disrespect for Black wom-
en, self-policing
Now the very same right-wing-
ers who would have looked down
on a Black women in hip hop are
dishonestly upholding Minaj as
one of their fold.
And as Minaj is aligning her-
self with people like Carlson,
who has demonstrated disre-
spect for Black women’s lives,
she has also degraded Joy Reid
when suggesting Reid is an
Uncle Tom and using other ra-
cialized slurs — all because in
a world where you must be ei-
ther for or against, Reid stood
against. Minaj’s weaponization
of anti-Black racism against a
fellow Black woman suggests
the grim reality of her willing-
ness to align herself with the
same systems of oppression that
would just as easily dispose of
her should she fall “out of line.”
The “neoliberal turn” in fan-
dom has seen the cultivation of
a fan culture of policing one’s
self and others. Fans ensure
19
those in the fan community ad-
here to fan orthodoxies. That
Minaj fan flags have been re-
cently shown flying at anti-vac-
cination rallies seems to clarify
how this debacle aligns with to-
day’s political climate.
‘Hatred for outsiders’
The right-wing attack on
COVID-19 vaccinations, which
is costing lives, and the conser-
vative distrust of facts is backed
up by powerful economic actors
and institutional forces.
These attempt to erase the
importance of history, context
and evidence — while manipu-
lating their followers by using
their hatred for outsiders.
Politics professor Lilliana
Mason argues in Uncivil Agree-
ment: How Politics Became
Our Identity that it doesn’t
take much to bring out a sense
of group identity in the average
person, nor does it take much to
get them to hate those they con-
sider outsiders.
Politics is emotional. But so
is fandom. And emotions can be
manipulated. ■
Sarah R. Olutola, Assistant
Professor, Department of En-
glish, Lakehead University
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
20
Love and rockets: We need to figure out
how to have sex in space for human
survival and well-being
BY SIMON DUBÉ, Concordia
University, DAVE ANCTIL,
Université Laval, JUDITH
LAPIERRE, Université
Laval, LISA GIACCARI,
Concordia University, MARIA
SANTAGUIDA, Concordia
University
The Conversation
Houston, we have a problem!
Love and sex need to happen in
space if we hope to travel long
distances and become an inter-
planetary species, but space or-
ganizations are not ready.
National agencies and pri-
vate space companies — such
as NASA and SpaceX — aim to
colonize Mars and send hu-
mans into space for long-term
missions, but they have yet to
address the intimate and sexu-
al needs of astronauts or future
space inhabitants.
This situation is untenable
and needs to change if we hope
to settle new worlds and con-
tinue our expansion in the cos-
mos — we’ll need to learn how
to safely reproduce and build
pleasurable intimate lives in
space. To succeed, however, we
also need space organizations
to adopt a new perspective on
space exploration: one that
considers humans as whole be-
ings with needs and desires.
As researchers exploring the
psychology of human sexuali-
ty and studying the psychoso-
cial aspects of human factors
in space, we propose that it is
high time for space programs to
embrace a new discipline: space
sexology, the comprehensive
scientific study of extraterres-
trial intimacy and sexuality.
The final, intimate frontier
Love and sex are central to
human life. Despite this, na-
tional and private space orga-
nizations are moving forward
with long-term missions to the
International Space Station
Lifestyle
(ISS), the moon and Mars with-
out any concrete research and
plans to address human eroti-
cism in space. It’s one thing to
land rovers on another planet
or launch billionaires into orbit
— it’s another to send humans
to live in space for extended pe-
riods of time.
In practice, rocket science
may take us to outer space, but
it will be human relations that
determine if we survive and
thrive as a spacefaring civiliza-
tion. In that regard, we argue
that limiting intimacy in space
could jeopardize the mental
and sexual health of astronauts,
along with crew performance
and mission success. On the
other hand, enabling space
eroticism could help humans
adapt to spacelife and enhance
the well-being of future space
inhabitants.
After all, space remains a
hostile environment, and life
aboard spacecrafts, stations or
settlements poses significant
challenges for human intima-
cy. These include radiation ex-
posure, gravitational changes,
social isolation and the stress
of living in remote, confined
habitats. In the near future, life
in space may also limit access
to intimate partners, restrict
privacy and augment tensions
between crew members in haz-
ardous conditions where co-op-
eration is essential.
To date, however, space pro-
grams have almost completely
omitted the subject of sex in
space. The few studies that re-
late to this topic mostly focus
on the impacts of radiation and
micro- or hyper-gravity on ani-
mal reproduction (rodents, am-
phibians and insects).
Pleasure and taboo
But human sexuality is about
more than just reproduction.
It includes complex psycholog-
ical, emotional and relational
dynamics. Love and sex are also
pursued for fun and pleasure.
As such, space exploration re-
quires the courage to address
the intimate needs of humans
honestly and holistically.
Abstinence is not a viable op-
tion. On the contrary, facilitat-
ing masturbation or partnered
sex could actually help astro-
nauts relax, sleep and alleviate
pain. It could also help them
build and maintain romantic or
sexual relationships and adapt
to spacelife.
Importantly, addressing the
sexological issues of human life
in space could also help com-
bat sexism, discrimination and
sexual violence or harassment,
which are unfortunately still
pervasive in science and the
military — two pillars of space
programs.
Due to taboos and conserva-
tive sexual views, some organi-
zations may choose to ignore
the realities of space intimacy
and sexuality. They may also
think that this is a non-issue
or that there are more pressing
matters to attend to. But this
attitude lacks foresight, since
producing quality science takes
time and resources, and sexual
health — including pleasure —
is increasingly recognized as a
www.canadianinquirer.net
human right.
More and more, this means
that space agencies and private
companies may be held ac-
countable for the sexual and re-
productive well-being of those
that they take into space.
Thus, space organizations
who submit to their conser-
vative funders will likely pay
the price of their inaction in a
very public and media-fueled
way when disaster strikes. The
hammer may fall particularly
hard on the organizations who
have not even tried addressing
human eroticism in space, or
when the world learns that they
knowingly failed to conduct the
proper research and take the
necessary precautions that sci-
entists have been requesting for
more than 30 years.
Intimacy beyond Earth
To move forward, space or-
ganizations must stop avoiding
sexual topics and fully recog-
nize the importance of love, sex
and intimate relationships in
human life.
Accordingly, we encourage
them to develop space sexology
as a scientific field and research
program: one that not only aims
to study sex in space, but also
design systems, habitats and
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY
training programs that allow
intimacy to take place beyond
our home planet, Earth.
We further propose that,
given its expertise and the so-
ciopolitical climate of Canada,
the Canadian Space Agency is
ideally positioned to become a
world leader in space sexology.
We have what it takes to pave
the way for an ethical and plea-
surable space journey, as we
continue to boldly go where no
one has gone before. ■
Simon Dubé, PhD candidate,
Psychology of Human Sexu-
ality, Erobotics & Space Sex-
ology, Concordia University;
Dave Anctil, Chercheur affilié
à l’Observatoire internation-
al sur les impacts sociétaux de
l’intelligence artificielle et du
numérique (OBVIA), Université
Laval; Judith Lapierre, Profes-
sor, Faculty of Nursing Science,
Université Laval; Lisa Giaccari,
Research assistant, Concordia
Vision Laboratory, Concordia
University, and Maria Santagu-
ida, PhD Candidate in Psycholo-
gy, Concordia University
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
Five ways going vegan could change your
social life – not just your health
BY CATHERINE OLIVER,
University of Cambridge
The Conversation
As veganism grows in pop-
ularity, researchers are docu-
menting its positive impacts on
individual health, public health,
animal welfare and even the
fashion industry.
In 2018, one in six new food
products in the UK was vegan,
and the “Veganuary” campaign
has become increasingly popu-
lar. These market trends attest
to veganism’s staying power.
Beyond the well-document-
ed health and environmental
benefits, going vegan can also
affect our social relationships.
In my recently published re-
search, I interviewed 16 vegans
in Britain about how veganism
changed their lives. I learned
that vegans are constantly
finding that their new lifestyle
choices can clash with their life
before veganism – especially
in social interactions. Here are
five ways this manifests:
Your veganism might be
dismissed as a ‘fad’
Just a few years ago, when
veganism was largely unheard
of, celebrities like Gwyneth
Paltrow were the public face of
plant-based eating.
Celebrities often cite the veg-
an diet as the reason they stay
slim, beautiful and feel good,
but are also quick to give it up.
A widely cited statistic claims
84% of people will give up on
veganism, but these claims have
been refuted. A major investiga-
tion by the World Health Orga-
nization and Oxford University
found almost the reverse to be
true: 85% of people continued
to be vegan after 20 years.
It’s no surprise then, with
these confusing narratives, that
people continue to dismiss veg-
anism as a fad diet. One person
told me:
My sister refers to me as “The
Vegan”, and some people ask: “are
you still doing that vegan thing?”
Veganism challenges the
commonly held idea that a
healthy diet requires animal
proteins. When people go veg-
an, their families and friends
often worry about the impact
of this “extreme” diet – this is a
kind of surveillance that vegans
felt was never directed at the
healthiness of their diets when
they ate animals.
Despite these concerns, a
vegan diet is considered healthy
for people at every life stage,
and has been found to reduce
risk of heart disease, type 2 dia-
betes, stroke and some types of
cancer.
Veganism is a time com-
mitment
People rarely become vegan
overnight. Learning about the
ethical, emotional and practi-
cal implications – researching
where and what you can eat,
finding out about “hidden” an-
imal ingredients in common
foods – can be a long adjustment.
Veganism can also have
time-consuming emotional im-
pacts. I found that vegans feel
guilty for having eaten animals
in the past, or helpless that they
can’t help more animals in the
present.
One interviewee described
the emotional adjustment to
what she was learning about
veganism:
I feel pain when I see animals
that are in pain or have suffered.
That does break my heart. That
is the hardest part of being veg-
an, that empathy, because a lot
of the time you are sad.
Compromise is key
Vegans are hyper-conscious
of the way they are perceived
by society, media, family and
friends. Sociologists Kelly Mar-
kowski and Susan Roxburgh
have called this phenomenon
“vegan stigma”. To maintain
your social network, you may
have to make tough decisions
about how you interact socially.
One person said she no lon-
ger talks about veganism to
friends:
I have a friend who really
loves animals. How can you
love animals if you eat dead ani-
mals? I can’t say that because it
comes across as aggressive, so
we just don’t talk about it.
In these situations, vegans
feel they don’t just represent
themselves, but also the public
image of veganism.
Food isn’t just food
Geographers Allison and Jes-
sica Hayes-Conroy have written
that eating is connected to the
shaping of social identities. This
is certainly true for veganism,
where eating is a public perfor-
mance of changing beliefs.
One person told me about the
spontaneous workplace gather-
ing where there was no vegan
food on the menu, so she nursed
an orange juice. Another told
me that her grandmother for-
got she was vegan at Christmas,
and basted her vegetables in
turkey fat.
Despite trying to fit in, veg-
ans ultimately felt left out and
disconnected from their previ-
ous life. As activist Kim Stall-
wood notes: “I live in my vegan
world … but I live in a meat-eat-
ing universe.”
Dealing with the social con-
sequences of veganism is part of
this lifelong commitment to an-
imals. Vegans often attend social
events where they aren’t catered
for, and smile and try to fit in.
Meat replacements ease
friction
Some try to blend their vegan-
ism in with a meat-eating world.
www.canadianinquirer.net
Lifestyle
This has been made easier by the
proliferation of readily available
meat and dairy substitutions.
These are even being produced
by companies which also sell
meat-based products. KFC’s
vegan chicken burger or Mc-
Donald’s new “McPlant” burger
spring to mind as examples.
For some, this has eased ten-
sions around veganism in their
relationships. One interviewee
said she had previously argued
with friends over her “difficult”
dietary requirements, but “with
stuff like Ben and Jerry’s vegan
ice cream, it feels like you are
eating together”.
Another said that meat re-
placements have made vegan-
ism more “normal”:
There is a misconception
that it’s hard to be vegan and
you have to deprive yourself.
Actually, you can stand next to
your friend who is eating a beef
burger and eat something that
tastes and looks similar without
the cruelty.
This development may also
reduce the potential for advo-
cacy at the table. As vegan food
becomes mainstream, some
have raised concerns that its
21
popularity will dilute the im-
pact of its ethical argument.
Despite these social chal-
lenges, most vegans are satis-
fied with their decision. People
are willing to negotiate their re-
lationships as part of their com-
mitment to veganism. Often,
these relationships can even
become stronger as difficult
conversations improve com-
munication.
The vegans I interviewed re-
ported being comfortable and
confident in the decisions they
were making. Becoming vegan
allows people to feel good – not
just in their health, but in choic-
es that align with their ethics
and make them feel they have a
positive impact on the world. ■
Correction: this article orig-
inally included a link to a paro-
dy article stating that Gwyneth
Paltrow claimed she “invented
veganism.” This has now been
removed.
Catherine Oliver, Research
Associate in Human Geography,
University of Cambridge
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
22
Alzheimer’s disease: measuring brain waves
could diagnose dementia early – new study
BY GEORGE STOTHART,
University of Bath
The Conversation
Our visual memory system
has a phenomenally large ca-
pacity. Flick through the image
gallery on your phone, or fast
forward through a previously
watched movie, and notice how
the briefly presented images
trigger memories with little or
no effort on your part. Well, my
colleagues and I have harnessed
this passive visual memory sys-
tem to develop a test that might
one day be used to diagnose
Alzheimer’s disease.
The person being tested is
fitted with an electroencepha-
lography (EEG) cap to record
their brain activity and shown
a series of images of everyday
objects on a computer screen.
They then watch a stream of
different images, periodically
interspersed with one of the
images they saw initially. The
images are presented on the
screen at a rate of three images
per second (3Hz).
The pictures they were first
shown appear as every fifth im-
age. If the person remembers the
image, the EEG readout shows
a distinct neural response, and
another one five images later,
and so on. By looking at the EEG
Why 7,000 steps a day is the new 10,000
steps a day
BY GEORGE STOTHART,
University of Bath
The Conversation
Many of us have smartwatch-
es or apps on our phones that
count the number of steps we
do. Usually, we aim to reach at
least 10,000 steps a day, which
we are often reminded is the
target to help improve our
health. This target is an arbi-
trary number that seems to
have come from a Japanese
marketing campaign for a pe-
dometer. However, it is now in-
cluded in daily activity targets
Lifestyle
signals for activity at this spe-
cific frequency (0.6Hz), we can
measure the strength of a per-
son’s memory response to previ-
ously seen images.
The beauty of this test is that
it measures memory passively
and objectively. People don’t
provide any response and don’t
even need to understand the
task. They simply watch a series
of pictures while wearing an
EEG cap.
The task takes just two min-
utes. And because it is passive,
it is ideal for using with people
with cognitive impairment who
can’t follow complex task in-
structions.
By the time a person is diag-
nosed with Alzheimer’s disease
– which is the most common
form of dementia – they have
usually had the disease for up
to 20 years. Diagnosis is clearly
not occurring early enough.
Alzheimer’s is diagnosed us-
ing a combination of reports of
memory decline from the pa-
tient and their family or carers,
often involving tests adminis-
tered in a clinic. These tests ar-
en’t ideal because the patient’s
anxiety can interfere with the
result. They also require the
person to be able to speak and
write, which makes them inef-
fective for some people.
We hope that our new test,
by popular smartwatches, such
as Fitbit.
When trying to get more ac-
tive, it can often be demoralis-
ing when you look at your step
count and realise you haven’t
reached that goal of 10,000
steps. In fact, it can even be de-
motivating, especially in times
where many of us are still work-
ing from home and only man-
age to walk from our makeshift
offices to the kitchen to get our
(usually) unhealthy snack.
The good news for everyone
is that the evidence is building
to suggest that doing less than
10,000 steps is still good for your
called Fastball, provides a new
tool that bypasses these biases
and gives doctors and scien-
tists a new way to quantify the
changes that occur in memory
as a consequence of the disease.
Our research, published in the
journal Brain, shows that people
with Alzheimer’s disease show
a significantly reduced memory
response compared with healthy
older adults. Using respons-
es from just a single, passive,
two-minute Fastball task, we
could discriminate 20 Alzhei-
mer’s disease patients from 20
healthy older adult controls to an
accuracy of 86%. This accuracy
increases to 92% when we focus
on a subset of electrodes in visu-
health. The most recent large
study, led by the University of
Massachusetts, followed over
2,000 middle-aged adults from
different ethnic backgrounds
over a period of 11 years. The re-
searchers found that those tak-
ing at least 7,000 steps a day had
a 50 to 70% lower risk of dying
during the study period com-
pared with those taking fewer
than 7,000 steps a day.
Another interesting finding
from the study was that the
risk of dying was not associated
with the step intensity. If two
people did the same number of
steps, the person doing them at
www.canadianinquirer.net
al-processing areas.
We are also conducting a
long-term study using this new
technology in people with mild
cognitive impairment. Early
analyses – which are yet to be
published – suggest that Fast-
ball can pick up early memory
impairment. And we hope that
this passive, objective measure
of memory will be able to predict
which of these people will later
develop Alzheimer’s disease. We
hope to publish our first report
on the data in late 2022.
Benefits of an early diag-
nosis
You may wonder if anyone
would want to be diagnosed be-
fore they are even aware they
a low intensity had no greater
risk of dying compared with the
person doing them at moderate
intensity.
With all research, we have
to consider the design of the
study and determine the limita-
tions of the research to ensure
we draw accurate conclusions.
The study led by Massachu-
setts University collected data
over a period of about 11 years.
However, the step count was
only measured once, over a
three-day period, during 2005-
06. Mortality and other health
measures were followed up in
August 2018.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY
have Alzheimer’s disease? A re-
cent survey shows that, indeed,
they would. Nearly three-quar-
ters of the respondents said
they would want to know if they
had Alzheimer’s disease, even if
they were not yet experiencing
symptoms.
The earlier people know they
are at risk of developing Alzhei-
mer’s, the sooner they can make
simple lifestyle changes, such
as exercising more and cutting
back on alcohol, that can slow
the progress of the disease.
And, in July 2021, the US
Food and Drug Administra-
tion approved Aduhelm, the
first drug to treat Alzheimer’s
disease. The effectiveness of
Aduhelm, and future drugs,
may be aided by an earlier and
more accurate diagnosis of Alz-
heimer’s disease. The effect of
Aduhelm on cognitive function
is not as clear as its effect on the
physical hallmarks of Alzhei-
mer’s disease in the brain. More
sensitive markers of cognition,
such as Fastball, may be better
able to detect the effect a drug
may be having on the brain’s
function.■
George Stothart, Lecturer,
Psychology, University of Bath
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
The step count was not mon-
itored throughout the study pe-
riod, as it would be too onerous
for the participants. Therefore,
there was a large assumption
that people’s daily step count
did not change throughout the
study period. But how much
people can walk can change for
various reasons, such as having
young children, commute time
to work, injury, and many other
reasons, so it’s difficult to draw
too many conclusions from this
type of data.
❱❱ PAGE 30 Why 7,000 steps
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
Jimmy Greaves: English football’s top
goalscorer who blazed a trail of stardom
and redemption
BY JOHN WILLIAMS,
University of Leicester
The Conversation
Watching the surviving film
of the football work of the re-
cently departed England in-
ternational striker, Jimmy
Greaves, is a stark reminder of
the vastly different playing re-
gimes that existed in English
football in the early 1960s com-
pared to the manicured Pre-
mier League era of today.
Greaves played in two win-
ning FA Cup finals for Spurs,
in 1962 and 1967. FA cups were
about the only “live” club foot-
ball available on TV to the Brit-
ish public at the time, but these
were occasions celebrated not
only for the trophies concerned.
These were also among the few
fixtures for which the players
involved could look forward to a
playing surface that did not re-
semble some boggy no-man’s-
land dragged up from a first
world war reconstruction.
ITV is currently broadcast-
ing The Big Match Revisited, a
Palace congratulates Carlo Biado
for ruling US Open
BY AZER PARROCHA
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – Malacañang on
Sunday congratulated Carlo
Biado for winning the US Open
Pool Championship after beat-
ing Singapore’s Aloysius Yapp,
13-8, at Harrah’s Resort in At-
lantic City, New Jersey on Sun-
day (Philippine time).
“We congratulate Carlo Bia-
do for bringing pride and honor
to the country by winning the
2021 US Open Pool Champion-
Sports
highlights’ show from the ear-
ly-1970s. This routinely reminds
us that the science of pitch
preparation and recovery had
barely knocked on the door of
the English game – certainly not
in the months after Christmas.
This was the case even as
Greaves’ career was fast wind-
ing down. He played in a pe-
riod when hulking defenders
had the weight advantage over
Jimmy Greaves training with the England football team at the Bank of En-
gland Sports Ground in 1963 (TONY HALL/FLICKR, CC BY 2.0)
ship in Atlantic City,” Presiden-
tial Spokesperson Harry Roque
said in a press statement.
Roque recalled how Presi-
dent Rodrigo Duterte conferred
the presidential citation to Bi-
ado for winning a gold medal
in the 29th Southeast Asian
Games (SEAG) in 2017.
“Carlo is indeed a world-class
billiards champion. President
Rodrigo Roa Duterte personal-
ly conferred Carlo a presiden-
tial citation for winning a gold
medal in the 29th Southeast
Asian Games (SEAG) in 2017.
high-stepping, slight forwards.
But many contemporaries con-
tend that Greaves could glide
over these muddied fields leav-
ing marking defenders flailing
in his wake. It certainly looks
that way from the few surviving
film clips.
Striker without peer
Like the troubled and bril-
liant George Best – who was at
his peak around the same time
Mabuhay ka, Carlo (Long live,
Carlo),” he added.
Biado, a native of Nueva Eci-
ja, who resides in Muntinlupa
City, has now added US Open to
his collection.
The 37-year-old former golf
caddie became just the second
Filipino to win the US Open,
joining Efren “Bata” Reyes who
ruled the 1994 edition.
Another Filipino, Alex Pa-
gulayan, represented Canada
when he won the prestigious
World Pool Championship title
in 2004. ■
www.canadianinquirer.net
– Greaves would end up having
more than one public persona.
Firstly, there was “Greaves”
the player – the lazy team-mate
without the ball, but a man who
came alive when in posses-
sion and who, single-minded,
thought of only one outcome:
scoring goals. “I often passed
to him”, his Spurs strike part-
ner Martin Chivers ruefully
observed on TV after the news
of Greaves’ death broke on Sep-
tember 19, “but I never expect-
ed a pass back.”
Greed is generally prized
among the very best strikers
even today, though scoring
goals is a team pursuit. And
Jimmy Greaves remains the
top scorer in top-flight English
football, with 357 goals from
516 matches compared with
the next player on the list, Alan
Shearer, who scored 283 goals
in 559 matches. Few would bet
on this record being overtaken
anytime soon.
Then there was “Jimmy”, the
style merchant (he even played
one season in Milan) and play-
ful dressing room joker. A no-
Courtesy call in Philippine Consulate General New York with Congen Elmer G.
Cato (@CARLOBIADOWORLDCHAMPSTV/INSTAGRAM)
23
toriously poor trainer, Greaves
– or so we were told – would cut
corners, or even hitch lifts from
milk floats during cross-coun-
try pre-season stamina work.
Surely not all these tales can be
apocryphal.
“Jimmy” was also a friend
to fans and to the lowliest of
boot-cleaning apprentices – ac-
cessible and charming in equal
measure. He only ever earned
£100 per week during his last
top level playing stint in the ear-
ly 1970s at West Ham United, so
unlike today’s multimillionaire
players, Greaves was never too
far away from the people who
worshipped him.
Alcoholism and redemption
Which brings us to “Greavsie”,
the social animal, the drinker.
There is speculation that it was
being left out of the WorldCup
final-winning side in 1966 that
pushed “Greavsie” into exces-
sive drinking and eventually
alcoholism. This is something
he would always deny, point-
ing out that he went on to top
❱❱ PAGE 28 Jimmy Greaves
24
How to make comparing prices of
an MRI or colonoscopy as easy
as shopping for a new laptop
BY MORGAN HENDERSON,
University of Maryland,
Baltimore County, MORGANE
MOUSLIM, University of
Maryland, Baltimore County
The Conversation
Health researchers have long
argued that the key to reining
in surging health care costs is
to tackle the high prices of ser-
vices, and one potential way to
do this is to provide patients
with price transparency.
That is, if people know how
much a procedure such as a
colonoscopy or MRI will cost,
they’re more likely to shop
around for a better price, just
as they do for a wide variety of
consumer products. This could,
theoretically, increase competi-
tion among health care provid-
ers and result in lower overall
prices for everybody.
A new federal regulation that
took effect in January 2021 is
supposed to do just that by re-
quiring hospitals to post prices
of all their services and proce-
dures. But researchers, includ-
ing us, have found that the vast
majority of hospitals haven’t
been complying with the rule.
This prompted the Biden ad-
ministration to crack down in
July by increasing fines for non-
compliance.
As health policy analysts, we
agree that hospitals need to do
more in order for the new reg-
ulation to succeed. But the reg-
ulation itself needs to be fixed
if comparing the price of an ap-
pendectomy is ever going to be as
easy as shopping for a computer.
Hospital pricing is murky
The Centers for Disease Con-
trol and Prevention estimates
that almost 33 cents of every
dollar spent on health care in
the U.S. goes to hospitals – and
that’s excluding what your doc-
tor bills you separately.
But hospital pricing isn’t just
expensive. It’s also murky.
Business
Typically, patients don’t
pay hospital bills themselves.
Rather, health insurance com-
panies pay most of the bills for
patients’ care at agreed-upon
amounts that are the result of
hospital-insurer negotiations.
Different insurers negotiate
different rates with different
hospitals, which can cause the
price of a single procedure to
vary widely.
For example, Beaumont Hos-
pital-Royal Oak in Royal Oak,
Michigan, bills Blue Cross $728
for a colonoscopy, but makes
Humana pay $1,801. The Uni-
versity of Mississippi Medical
Center, based in Jackson, Mis-
sissippi, charges Cigna $1,463
for the same procedure, while
Aetna pays $2,144.
Numbers like these led law-
makers to demand greater price
transparency when they crafted
the Affordable Care Act in 2009.
But it took a long time for regu-
lators to come up with the rule
and resolve legal challenges.
And finally on Jan. 1, 2021, the
Centers for Medicare & Medic-
aid Services’ price transparency
regulation took effect.
Put simply, the regulation
requires almost all hospitals
in the U.S. – about 6,000 – to
disclose the prices they charge
to insurers for every item and
service they provide in ma-
chine-readable data files.
Instead of a profusion of
confidential, negotiated rates
determining the cost of care
behind the scenes, patients are
supposed to now have informa-
tion at their fingertips to deter-
mine, ahead of time, their cost
of care at a given hospital.
This should, in theory, allow
them to choose the lowest-cost
location for their care. And
self-insured companies and in-
surers themselves could use the
same information to bargain
more aggressively with hospitals.
While the jury is still out on
whether transparency alone
can meaningfully slow the soar-
ing cost of health care in the
U.S., there is some evidence that
it can work.
New Hampshire created a
hospital price transparency
tool in 2005 that resulted in
modest cost savings, according
to a 2019 study.
But any potential policy ef-
fect hinges on hospitals actually
posting their prices – which, for
the most part, they have not.
Hospitals flouting the rule
Several hospital associations
sued the government in 2019,
calling the new rule unconsti-
tutional.
But even after losing their
final appeal in December 2020,
most hospitals have simply ig-
nored the rule or posted very
limited data.
We found that some hospitals
post no data file at all. Others
have posted a data file, but with-
out all the required elements
– such as cash discounts and
prices negotiated with specif-
ic insurers. Others posted data
files with the correct elements,
but only for a handful of items
and services. Finally, still oth-
ers post data files that contain
www.canadianinquirer.net
discrepancies, are not down-
loadable or are very difficult to
find on their websites.
The number of hospitals that
fully comply with all aspects of
the regulation is very small: less
than 6%, according to one re-
cent study.
After the White House said it
would step up enforcement of
the rule, the Centers for Medi-
care & Medicaid Services began
sending out warning letters to
noncompliant hospitals, and it
is currently conducting a com-
pliance audit. Additionally, the
maximum penalty for noncom-
pliance was recently increased
from $300 per day to $5,500 per
day for large hospitals.
Patients need an app for that
But even if the hospitals were
in full compliance, it wouldn’t
matter without a way for con-
sumers to actually compare
prices.
The current regulations do
not require standardization of
the files that hospitals post. As
a result, the files that we exam-
ined use a wide variety of for-
mats, names and terms that are
incompatible.
For price transparency to
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY
work, the data needs to be clean,
standardized and simple to use
so that one can easily compare
prices across procedures, payers
and hospitals – and even over
time. A good example is how the
Affordable Care Act established
insurance marketplaces, which
standardized and simplified
health insurance plans.
But even if the data were
standardized and comparable,
it wouldn’t be much use to pa-
tients unless there’s a website
or app that they can use to see
how much two nearby hospitals
charge for a specific procedure.
The jury is still out on wheth-
er price transparency will lead
to a reduction in hospital pric-
es, but it’ll never work unless
there’s greater compliance and
an easy way for patients and oth-
ers to efficiently use the data. ■
Morgan Henderson, Senior
Data Scientist, University of
Maryland, Baltimore County
and Morgane Mouslim, Policy
Analyst, University of Mary-
land, Baltimore County
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
Neurodiversity can be a workplace strength,
if we make room for it
BY MIRIAM MOELLER,
The University of Queensland,
DANA L. OTT, University
of Otago, Emily Russo, The
University of Queensland
The Conversation
Emma can recognise pat-
terns within complex code.
James can develop several dif-
ferent solutions when faced
with complicated problems.
But it is unlikely either will find
a job where they can put their
specialist skills to work — or
any job, actually.
Emma has dyslexia. James
has been diagnosed with atten-
tion deficit hyperactivity dis-
order. These conditions mean
communicating can be a chal-
lenge, particularly in a stressful
situation such as a job inter-
view. They may also find it dif-
ficult to work in a typical office
environment with noise and
bright lights.
But often the significant
challenges is other people as-
suming they will be less capable
or difficult to work with.
About 15-20% of the global
population are “neurodiverse”.
This term, coined by Australian
sociologist Judy Singer in 1998,
conveys the idea that the neu-
Uptrend in energy demand seen
as economy recovers
BY CARLO LORENCIANA
Philippine News Agency
CEBU CITY – Power demand
is now showing signs of im-
provement, an indication of the
country’s continued economic
recovery amid the coronavirus
disease 2019 (Covid-19) pan-
demic, a top official of Aboitiz
Power Corp. said on Monday.
“Power is picking up this year
coming from a lean demand
last year due to the pandemic,”
company executive vice presi-
dent and chief operating officer
Jaime Jose Aboitiz said during
a virtual briefing with the Cebu
press.
Aboitiz attributed the in-
rological differences shaping
how people think and interact
are natural variations to the hu-
man genome. Neurodiversity
therefore isn’t something to be
“fixed” but understood and ac-
commodated.
But despite this understand-
ing, and the gains made more
generally in promoting work-
place diversity, prejudices keep
the employment prospects
for neurodiverse individuals
shockingly low.
The cost is personal — deny-
ing individuals the chance to
do meaningful work — as well
as social, sending individuals
to the dole queue. It also means
workplaces are failing to benefit
from highly valuable employ-
ees, and missing the opportu-
nity to become better organisa-
tions in the process.
What neurodiversity covers
Neurodiversity is often re-
ferred to as an ‘invisible disabil-
ity’ and covers a range of condi-
tions. The most common are:
• Attention Deficit Hyper-
activity Disorder (or ADHD)
manifests as inattention, dis-
tractability and impulsivity. It
affects about 4% of children and
3% of adults.
• Autism Spectrum Disorder
(or ASD) typically involves de-
creasing energy demand to the
easing of quarantine restric-
tions, which he hopes would be
sustained moving forward as
the country’s economy contin-
ues to recover.
In particular, he projected
that the upcoming 2022 elec-
tions would significantly drive
power consumption in the
country.
Election season like in the
past, Aboitiz said, has always
been a “banner year for elec-
tricity consumption,” and this
should further be driven this
time as economic recovery ef-
forts are underway.
The growth of the Philippine
economy has always been di-
rectly proportional to energy
Autistic art representing the natural diversity of human minds (MISSLUNAROSE12 -
OWN WORK/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 4.0)
grees of difficulty in communi-
cating with others and sensory
overload. About 1% of the global
population is estimated to be
on the spectrum, with higher
rates being diagnosed among
children.
• Dyslexia involves difficul-
ties with reading and spelling.
There is no agreed diagnosis.
Estimates of its prevalence
range from 3% to 20% (with 10-
15% commonly cited).
• Dyspraxia involves chal-
lenges with coordinating physi-
cal movements, including mus-
cles for speaking. About 2% of
the population are severely af-
consumption, and thus entails
a rising demand for reliable
power if the country expects
sustained economic expansion
post-pandemic.
Aboitiz said the power firm
is further transitioning to more
renewable energy sources in re-
sponse to climate-related risks
and in support of the govern-
ment’s efforts to build the re-
newable energy market in the
country.
AboitizPower is now the
country’s largest owner and
operator of renewable energy
based on installed capacity.
Over the next decade, the
company is set to expand its
Cleanergy portfolio in support
of the government’s efforts to
www.canadianinquirer.net
Business
fected, with 6-10% estimated to
be affected to some degree.
• Dyscalculia involves chal-
lenges with numbers. It affects
up to 10% of the population,
with 3-6% commonly cited.
• Tourette syndrome causes
involuntary physical and vocal
“tics”. It affects an estimated
0.6% of the population.
High unemployment
The capabilities of neurodi-
vergent people can vary consid-
erably from severely challenged
to gifted. Some are nonverbal
and fully reliant on care givers.
Others have special abilities in
things such as pattern recogni-
promote renewable energy in
the country and to serve as the
organization’s contribution to
the global renewable energy
25
tion, memory or mathematics.
Yet even those with excep-
tional talents find it hard to get
and hold a job. While unem-
ployment estimates are impre-
cise, they suggest these condi-
tions are the least accepted in
the working world.
For autistic adults aged 16-
64, for example, UK statistics
suggest 78% are unemployed.
This is the highest unemploy-
ment rate of any group, com-
pared with 48% for all disabled
people and 19% for all adults.
Australian statistics put the
unemployment rate for peo-
ple with autism at 34%. That’s
still more than three times the
unemployment rate of 10% for
people with disabilities and al-
most eight times the 4.6% rate
for people without disabilities.
Supporting neurodiversity
at work
One problem, as Joanna Szu-
lc and her fellow researchers at
the University of Huddersfield
have put it, is “management
practices frequently overlook
the relationship between the
above-average human capital
of neurodivergent employees,
their subjective well-being in
the workplace and performance
❱❱ PAGE 30 Neurodiversity can be
targets.
By 2030, it is targeting an al-
most 50:50 Cleanergy and ther-
mal capacity mix. ■
 26
We created holograms you can touch – you
could soon shake a virtual colleague’s hand
BY RAVINDER DAHIYA,
University of Glasgow
The Conversation
The TV show Star Trek: The
Next Generation introduced
millions of people to the idea
of a holodeck: an immersive,
realistic 3D holographic projec-
tion of a complete environment
that you could interact with and
even touch.
In the 21st century, holo-
grams are already being used in
a variety of ways such as medi-
cal systems, education, art, se-
curity and defence. Scientists
are still developing ways to
use lasers, modern digital pro-
cessors, and motion-sensing
technologies to create several
different types of holograms
which could change the way we
interact.
My colleagues and I working
in the University of Glasgow’s
bendable electronics and sens-
ing technologies research group
have now developed a system
of holograms of people using
“aerohaptics”, creating feelings
of touch with jets of air. Those
jets of air deliver a sensation of
touch on people’s fingers, hands
and wrists.
In time, this could be de-
veloped to allow you to meet a
virtual avatar of a colleague on
the other side of the world and
really feel their handshake. It
could even be the first steps to-
wards building something like a
holodeck.
To create this feeling of touch
we use affordable, commercial-
BINI’s timely new...
❰❰ 18 international fans.
They will be taking the
stage along with other
Filipino artists for the 1MX ulti-
mate music festival in Dubai on
December 3.
Meanwhile, fans worldwide
can still get their tickets to “One
Dream: The BINI & BGYO Con-
Technology
ly available parts to pair com-
puter-generated graphics with
carefully directed and con-
trolled jets of air.
In some ways, it’s a step be-
yond the current generation of
virtual reality, which usually
requires a headset to deliver
3D graphics and smart gloves
or handheld controllers to pro-
vide haptic feedback, a stimula-
tion that feels like touch. Most
of the wearable gadgets-based
approaches are limited to con-
trolling the virtual object that is
being displayed.
Controlling a virtual object
doesn’t give the feeling that you
would experience when two
people touch. The addition of
an artificial touch sensation can
deliver the additional dimen-
sion without having to wear
gloves to feel objects, and so
feels much more natural.
Using glass and mirrors
Our research uses graphics
that provide the illusion of a
3D virtual image. It’s a mod-
ern variation on a 19th-centu-
ry illusion technique known as
Pepper’s Ghost, which thrilled
Victorian theatregoers with
visions of the supernatural on-
stage.
The systems uses glass and
mirrors to make a two-dimen-
sional image appear to hover in
space without the need for any
additional equipment. And our
haptic feedback is created with
nothing but air.
The mirrors making up our
system are arranged in a pyra-
mid shape with one open side.
Users put their hands through
cert” happening on November 6
and 7. SVIP tickets are available
for P1,950 or US$39.99, which
includes access to the two shows
and fan meet on KTX.PH. VIP
tickets, meanwhile, will be sold at
P1,490 or US$29.99 on KTX.PH,
iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV and will
provide access to the two shows.
the open side and interact with
computer-generated objects
which appear to be floating in
free space inside the pyramid.
The objects are graphics creat-
ed and controlled by a software
programme called Unity Game
Engine, which is often used to
create 3D objects and worlds in
videogames.
Located just below the pyra-
mid is a sensor that tracks the
movements of users’ hands and
fingers, and a single air nozzle,
which directs jets of air towards
them to create complex sensa-
tions of touch. The overall sys-
tem is directed by electronic
hardware programmed to con-
trol nozzle movements. We de-
veloped an algorithm which al-
lowed the air nozzle to respond
to the movements of users’
hands with appropriate combi-
nations of direction and force.
Pushing a button allows the user to feel pressure which feels like touch. (UNI-
VERSITY OF GLASGOW, AUTHOR PROVIDED)
Fans can also watch the sib-
ling groups’ docu series called
“One Dream: The BINI &
BGYO Journey,” which is cur-
rently streaming for free for
iWantTFC users in the Phil-
ippines. With a new episode
streaming every Saturday at
10 PM, the nine-episode series
www.canadianinquirer.net
One of the ways we’ve demon-
strated the capabilities of the
“aerohaptic” system is with
an interactive projection of a
basketball, which can be con-
vincingly touched, rolled and
bounced. The touch feedback
from air jets from the system
is also modulated based on the
virtual surface of the basket-
ball, allowing users to feel the
rounded shape of the ball as it
rolls from their fingertips when
they bounce it and the slap in
their palm when it returns.
Users can even push the vir-
tual ball with varying force and
sense the resulting difference
in how a hard bounce or a soft
bounce feels in their palm. Even
something as apparently sim-
ple as bouncing a basketball re-
quired us to work hard to model
the physics of the action and
how we could replicate that fa-
presents the pre- and post-
launch journey of both groups –
from the adjustments and sac-
rifices they made while training
and immersing in the idol life,
and their preparations for their
upcoming sibling concert.
Watch BINI and BGYO’s
docu series on iWantTFC and
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY
miliar sensation with jets of air.
Smells of the future
While we don’t expect to be
delivering a full Star Trek holo-
deck experience in the near fu-
ture, we’re already boldly going
in new directions to add addi-
tional functions to the system.
Soon, we expect to be able to
modify the temperature of the
airflow to allow users to feel hot
or cold surfaces. We’re also ex-
ploring the possibility of adding
scents to the airflow, deepening
the illusion of virtual objects by
allowing users to smell as well
as touch them.
As the system expands and
develops, we expect that it may
find uses in a wide range of sec-
tors. Delivering more absorbing
video game experiences with-
out having to wear cumber-
some equipment is an obvious
one, but it could also allow more
convincing teleconferencing
too. You could even take turns
to add components to a virtual
circuit board as you collaborate
on a project.
It could also help clinicians
to collaborate on treatments for
patients, and make patients feel
more involved and informed in
the process. Doctors could view,
feel and discuss the features of
tumour cells, and show patients
plans for a medical procedure. ■
Ravinder Dahiya, Professor of
Electronics and Nanoengineer-
ing, University of Glasgow
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license. Read
the original article.
don’t miss out on their joint
concert this November on KTX.
PH, iWantTFC, and TFC IPTV.
Get regular updates by follow-
ing BINI_ph and BGYO_ph on
Facebook, Twitter, and Insta-
gram, and subscribing to their
official YouTube channels, BINI
Official and BGYO Official.■
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
How ‘engagement’ makes you vulnerable
to manipulation and misinformation
on social media
BY FILIPPO MENCZER,
Indiana University
The Conversation
Facebook has been quietly
experimenting with reducing
the amount of political content
it puts in users’ news feeds. The
move is a tacit acknowledgment
that the way the company’s algo-
rithms work can be a problem.
The heart of the matter is the
distinction between provoking
a response and providing con-
tent people want. Social media
algorithms – the rules their
computers follow in deciding
the content that you see – rely
heavily on people’s behavior to
make these decisions. In par-
ticular, they watch for content
that people respond to or “en-
gage” with by liking, comment-
ing and sharing.
As a computer scientist who
studies the ways large numbers
of people interact using tech-
nology, I understand the logic of
using the wisdom of the crowds
in these algorithms. I also see
substantial pitfalls in how the
social media companies do so in
practice.
From lions on the savanna
to likes on Facebook
The concept of the wisdom
of crowds assumes that using
signals from others’ actions,
opinions and preferences as a
guide will lead to sound deci-
sions. For example, collective
predictions are normally more
accurate than individual ones.
Collective intelligence is used
to predict financial markets,
sports, elections and even dis-
ease outbreaks.
Throughout millions of years
of evolution, these principles
have been coded into the human
brain in the form of cognitive bi-
ases that come with names like
familiarity, mere-exposure and
bandwagon effect. If everyone
starts running, you should also
start running; maybe someone
saw a lion coming and running
could save your life. You may
not know why, but it’s wiser to
ask questions later.
Your brain picks up clues
from the environment – includ-
ing your peers – and uses simple
rules to quickly translate those
signals into decisions: Go with
the winner, follow the majority,
copy your neighbor. These rules
work remarkably well in typi-
cal situations because they are
based on sound assumptions.
For example, they assume that
people often act rationally, it is
unlikely that many are wrong,
the past predicts the future, and
so on.
Technology allows people to
access signals from much larger
numbers of other people, most
of whom they do not know. Ar-
tificial intelligence applications
make heavy use of these popu-
larity or “engagement” signals,
from selecting search engine
results to recommending music
and videos, and from suggest-
ing friends to ranking posts on
news feeds.
Not everything viral de-
serves to be
Our research shows that
virtually all web technology
platforms, such as social me-
dia and news recommendation
systems, have a strong popular-
ity bias. When applications are
driven by cues like engagement
rather than explicit search en-
gine queries, popularity bias
can lead to harmful unintended
consequences.
Social media like Facebook,
Instagram, Twitter, YouTube
and TikTok rely heavily on AI
algorithms to rank and rec-
ommend content. These algo-
rithms take as input what you
“like,” comment on and share
– in other words, content you
engage with. The goal of the
algorithms is to maximize en-
gagement by finding out what
people like and ranking it at the
top of their feeds.
On the surface this seems rea-
sonable. If people like credible
news, expert opinions and fun
videos, these algorithms should
identify such high-quality con-
tent. But the wisdom of the
crowds makes a key assumption
here: that recommending what
is popular will help high-quality
content “bubble up.”
We tested this assumption
by studying an algorithm that
ranks items using a mix of qual-
ity and popularity. We found
that in general, popularity
bias is more likely to lower the
overall quality of content. The
reason is that engagement is
not a reliable indicator of qual-
ity when few people have been
exposed to an item. In these
cases, engagement generates
a noisy signal, and the algo-
rithm is likely to amplify this
initial noise. Once the popular-
ity of a low-quality item is large
enough, it will keep getting am-
plified.
Algorithms aren’t the only
thing affected by engagement
bias – it can affect people, too.
Evidence shows that informa-
tion is transmitted via “com-
plex contagion,” meaning the
more times someone is exposed
to an idea online, the more like-
ly they are to adopt and reshare
it. When social media tells peo-
ple an item is going viral, their
cognitive biases kick in and
translate into the irresistible
urge to pay attention to it and
share it.
Not-so-wise crowds
We recently ran an experi-
ment using a news literacy app
called Fakey. It is a game de-
veloped by our lab, which sim-
ulates a news feed like those of
Facebook and Twitter. Players
see a mix of current articles
from fake news, junk science,
www.canadianinquirer.net
Technology
hyper-partisan and conspira-
torial sources, as well as main-
stream sources. They get points
for sharing or liking news from
reliable sources and for flag-
ging low-credibility articles for
fact-checking.
We found that players are
more likely to like or share and
less likely to flag articles from
low-credibility sources when
players can see that many other
users have engaged with those
articles. Exposure to the en-
gagement metrics thus creates
a vulnerability.
The wisdom of the crowds
fails because it is built on the
false assumption that the crowd
is made up of diverse, indepen-
dent sources. There may be sev-
eral reasons this is not the case.
First, because of people’s ten-
dency to associate with similar
people, their online neighbor-
hoods are not very diverse. The
ease with which a social media
user can unfriend those with
whom they disagree pushes
people into homogeneous com-
munities, often referred to as
echo chambers.
Second, because many peo-
ple’s friends are friends of
each other, they influence each
other. A famous experiment
demonstrated that knowing
what music your friends like
27
affects your own stated prefer-
ences. Your social desire to con-
form distorts your independent
judgment.
Third, popularity signals
can be gamed. Over the years,
search engines have developed
sophisticated techniques to
counter so-called “link farms”
and other schemes to manipu-
late search algorithms. Social
media platforms, on the oth-
er hand, are just beginning to
learn about their own vulnera-
bilities.
People aiming to manipu-
late the information market
have created fake accounts, like
trolls and social bots, and orga-
nized fake networks. They have
flooded the network to create
the appearance that a conspir-
acy theory or a political candi-
date is popular, tricking both
platform algorithms and peo-
ple’s cognitive biases at once.
They have even altered the
structure of social networks to
create illusions about majority
opinions.
Dialing down engagement
What to do? Technology
platforms are currently on the
defensive. They are becoming
more aggressive during elec-
tions in taking down fake ac-
counts and harmful misinfor-
mation. But these efforts can be
akin to a game of whack-a-mole.
A different, preventive ap-
proach would be to add friction.
In other words, to slow down
the process of spreading infor-
mation. High-frequency behav-
iors such as automated liking
and sharing could be inhibited
by CAPTCHA tests or fees. This
would not only decrease op-
portunities for manipulation,
but with less information peo-
ple would be able to pay more
attention to what they see. It
would leave less room for en-
gagement bias to affect people’s
decisions.
It would also help if social
media companies adjusted
their algorithms to rely less on
engagement to determine the
content they serve you. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
 28
The Peninsula, Palawan named
among world’s best hotels, islands
BY JOYCE ANN L.
ROCAMORA
Philippine News Agency
MANILA – The Peninsula
Manila, a five-star luxury hotel
in Makati, has been listed as
one of the world’s best hotels
in the Travel+Leisure’s World’s
Best Awards Survey 2021.
Joining the Philippine hotel
is Palawan, which was hailed as
one of the best islands both in
the Asia Pacific and the world.
The island ranked 19th out of
100 with a score of 88.63 in the
world category and fifth in the
Asia Pacific.
The Peninsula Manila, on the
other hand, ranked 25th with
a score of 98.40 out of the 100
hotels all over the world picked
as best by the travel magazine’s
readers based on facilities, loca-
tion, service, food, and overall
value.
It also placed fifth on the list
of Top 15 Asia City Hotels, the
only Filipino hotel to make it on
the much-coveted lists.
Travel+Leisure said the
properties that made the cut in
2021 “all found innovative ways
to deliver exceptional hospita-
bility to their guests” while the
standouts in the best islands
Jimmy Greaves...
❰❰ 23 score in the league
the following year and
that Spurs won the FA
Cup largely on the back of his
prolific goalscoring.
Though like Georgie Best
– or, more recently, the likes
of Paul Gascoigne, Paul Mer-
son and other talented work-
ing-class showmen – and with
little in the way in those days of
a positive support network and
a secure bank balance, prepar-
ing to depart the elite sporting
stage in 1971 was probably a too
difficult transition to manage,
alone and intact.
Unlike today, players then
could drink with journalists,
Travel
list “suggest a renewed appre-
ciation” for places that offer un-
paralleled natural beauty and
fewer crowds.
“Everyone in the hotel is so
delighted that we have received
this prestigious accolade, espe-
cially when we are celebrating
our 45th anniversary this Sep-
tember amidst these challeng-
ing times for our industry,” said
Masahisa Oba, general manager
of The Peninsula Manila.
“Throughout the 45-year his-
tory of The Peninsula Manila,
we have weathered many highs
and lows. It has been a contin-
ued exercise in resilience, agili-
fans and others without the
constant threat of exposure by
mobile phone. Drinking cul-
tures were part of the dressing
room of all the top British clubs
before global recruitment be-
gan. In 1982, champions Liv-
erpool were on the bevvy on
the afternoon before their final
league game at Middlesbrough.
But, unlike with Best’s fate,
it was another dimension of
Greaves that probably saved
him from an early grave. It was
the knockabout, cartoonish
“Greavsie” who starred along-
side Ian St John, the straight
man in their Saturday after-
noon “Saint and Greavsie”
ty, and constant concern for the
safety and security of our guests
and our employees. I am confi-
dent our continued commit-
ments, coupled with our strong
legacy and exceptional heritage
will enable us to emerge stron-
ger,” he added.
The Peninsula Manila is one
of the 30 multiple-use hotels
(MUHs) in the National Capital
Region (NCR) that are allowed
to accept both quarantine and
non-quarantine guests.
Mariano Garchitorena, di-
rector of public relations at The
Peninsula, said its Ayala Tower
is being used as the quarantine
ITV show from the mid-1980s.
Greaves was the one gently
poking fun at the game and its
conventions.
Today, the blending of sport
and entertainment is ubiqui-
tous and all-too-depressingly
familiar. But this was an early
and novel departure. For those
of us who had caught even a
glimpse of the real Greaves
in his pomp – immaculately
groomed, sharp suits, fast feet,
brilliant finishing – this latest
reinvention was a little difficult
to accept.
But it brought the mid-
dle-aged Greaves something of
a national treasure status and
www.canadianinquirer.net
wing where guests have their
own elevator, menus, ameni-
ties, housekeeping team, etc.
The Makati Tower, meanwhile,
is where they house visitors on
staycation and essential worker
guests.
“Currently, we accept only
those working in essential in-
dustries where, aside from
dining in-room, they may dine
al fresco at our Pool Snack Bar
daily from 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.,” he
told the Philippine News Agen-
cy on Friday.
From Sept. 16 to 30, Metro
Manila has been placed un-
der Alert Level 4 of the pilot
perhaps offered some compen-
sation for a lack of more for-
mal recognition. Scandalously,
he received an MBE only in
2021. When asked about how
he should be announced on the
after-dinner speaker circuit he
often told his hosts: “Just call
me Jimmy Greaves, FA.”
Thanks for the memories
The death of Jimmy Greaves
is another reminder, of course,
of how important public memo-
ry still is in telling stories about
sport’s great performers of the
past. Today, every moment
of the careers of elite football
players is recorded or tracked
in some way. For Greaves and
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY
Covid-19 alert level system
where staycation is prohibited.
The MUHs and six accred-
ited staycation hotels in Met-
ro Manila are only allowed to
accept leisure guests once the
region’s classification has been
downgraded to Alert Level 3,
according to the Department of
Tourism-NCR.
In a statement Friday, Tour-
ism Secretary Bernadette Ro-
mulo-Puyat also welcomed Pal-
awan’s inclusion in the T+L list.
“The award accorded to Pal-
awan speaks for the country’s
tourism destinations, still be-
ing on top of the minds of trav-
elers. The Philippines’ natu-
ral wonders, coupled with the
world-renowned Filipino hos-
pitality, make destinations like
Palawan truly one of the best,
not just in the region, but in the
world, ” she said.
T+L has recommended the
island for unrivaled diving to-
gether with Thailand’s Koh
Samui.
It noted that “when they
arrive, guests find mountains
as well as white sand beaches
washed by the Sulu and South
China seas. Resorts range from
eco-chic stays to the spectacu-
lar Amanpulo resort, accessible
only by private plane.” ■
others of his generation, we rely
much more on our emotions:
how did he make us feel?
And perhaps this is no bad
thing, a welcome escape from
the iron cage of data analysis.
We can all have our own mem-
ories of a true great of the En-
glish game, embroidered, in-
vented or otherwise. ■
John Williams, Senior Lec-
turer, Department of Sociology,
University of Leicester
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license. Read
the original article.
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021
Canadians show appetite for in-person
dining; Restaurants Canada reveals
post-pandemic dining trends
RESTAURANTS CANADA
89% of Canadians are look-
ing forward to eating out with
family and friends; Consumers
twice as likely to order delivery
directly from restaurants vs.
third party apps; 78% of Cana-
dians yearning for comfort food
during pandemic stress
TORONTO — Uncovering
consumer confidence and pref-
erences in an ever-shifting
market as a result of COVID-19
restrictions, Restaurants Can-
ada is shining a light on what
restaurateurs and chefs can
expect with the release of the
2021 Discerning Diner Report.
Based on findings from a sur-
vey hosted on the Angus Reid
Forum on behalf of Restaurants
Canada, the report shares that
on the positive side, Canadians
are looking forward to return-
ing to restaurants, so long as
safety measures are in place.
89% of Canadians are look-
ing forward to eating out with
friends and family, with 64%
going so far as to say that dining
out will be an important part of
their lifestyle post-pandemic.
“Canadians may be ready to
return to restaurants, however
some of their tastes and prior-
ities have changed,” says Todd
Barclay, President of Restau-
rants Canada. “The Discern-
ing Diner report provides our
members with the informa-
tion they need to make choices
around everything from menu
selections and customer service
options, to marketing initia-
tives and possible new revenue
streams that today’s consumer
is interested in. As more Ca-
nadians return to in-person
dining, restaurants will need to
continue adapting to capture
market share.”
The restaurant experience
is one that Canadians cherish,
with 63% of young consumers
Food
(ages 18-34) missing the fun of
eating out, and 61% sharing that
they miss the atmosphere. The
biggest thing that all Canadians
miss about table-service dining
is socializing and connecting
with friends and family (72%).
Despite this, 32% of Canadians
are still tentative about eating
in-person and plan to postpone
their first in-person dining ex-
perience for anywhere between
a few months of reopening, to
sometime in 2022. This poses
a significant challenge for the
industry in the short- to mid-
term as restaurants are unable
to maximize in-person dining
revenues with fewer patrons.
Restaurants Canada has
pulled together the top con-
siderations for Canadians as
the nation reopens its doors to
diners, from food trends and
innovation that consumers are
most excited about. The full
Discerning Diner report can be
read here.
DELIVERING EXCELLENCE
Canadians are picky when it
comes to their food delivery or-
ders – the most important fac-
tors when choosing to order de-
livery range from consistency of
food quality (73%), crave-able
menu items (59%) and whether
they’ve visited in-person before
(51%), to more economical con-
siderations like value for mon-
ey (48%) and whether it has a
low or no delivery fee (43%).
• 78% of Canadians have
ordered delivery within six
months prior to the survey.
• Quebec ordered delivery
the most, with 84% saying they
had ordered within the last six
months.
• Once the pandemic sub-
sides, delivery will be the pre-
ferred choice for 18-34 year
olds when eating off-premise at
a quick-service restaurant.
• For table-service restau-
rants, 39% of young Canadians
said they will prefer to order
29
takeout by going inside and
picking up, while 37% will or-
der delivery. 8% say they plan to
order more once the pandemic
subsides.
• 15% have ordered alcoholic
beverages with food for delivery
or takeout, on par with the 18%
of Canadians that say they’re
likely to do this.
• Cocktails and beer (com-
bined 35%) are the most likely
to be ordered.
• Consumers are twice as
likely to prefer ordering deliv-
ery directly from a table-service
restaurant by phone or restau-
rant app (20%) vs third-party
apps (10%).
Cocktail and beer delivery
stats suggest a greater possible
market for restaurants to pro-
vide unique takeout and deliv-
ery options for consumers. It
is expected alcohol sales will • Almost 25% of Canadians effective as hearing about it in
grow as suppliers and operators are interested in purchasing a commercial or an advertise-
adapt packing and pricing mod- groceries from a restaurant in ment on tv/radio.
els to bolster alcohol sales with the future, just shy of the 28% • Instagram is among the top
delivery. that indicated an interest in factors for 34% of Canadians
“The developments and im- purchasing meal kits. ages 18-34 when choosing to try
provements made to delivery • 41% of consumers ages 18- a new spot.
and takeout containers, food 34 indicated interest in month- • 38% of those 55+ are more
quality and speed have made a ly meal subscriptions, espe- likely to visit a new restaurant
lasting, positive impression,” cially if offered at a discounted if they’ve received flyers or dis-
says Barclay. “Restaurateurs price. counts in the mail.
and chefs will need to continue “These food trends are en- • 37% of Canadians would
to innovate in order to increase couraging for the restaurants choose one restaurant over an-
margins on takeout and deliv- who adapted to pandemic clo- other if it offered contactless or
ery, but they can count on peo- sures by pivoting their business mobile payment options.
ple visiting in-person instead model to include local grocery • 51% of those 18-34 would
of just virtually as restrictions and meal kit options for con- choose one restaurant over an-
subside.” sumers,” says Barclay. “These other if they can order online
SUPPORTING LOCAL findings reiterate the need for through a website or app to pick
The “support local” move- restaurants to look at new reve- up at a restaurant
ment that helped sustain sev- nue streams in order to survive Convenience is key when it
eral restaurants during the and grow.” comes to technological inno-
pandemic won’t be going away ATTRACTING NEW DINERS vations, especially when ap-
any time soon, with more Cana- With Canadians eager to re- pealing to younger audiences.
dians purchasing and ordering turn to in-person dining, what Data suggests that convenience
from their local restaurants di- can restaurants be doing to and clarity go hand-in-hand –
rectly, and for items other than stand out, re-engineer their online ordering ensures that
just takeout or delivery. menus, capture consumer at- there are no miscommunica-
• 87% of Canadians are inter- tention and keep them coming tions in what’s on the list. Word
ested in ordering food sourced back? of mouth continues to be the
from local farmers or using Ca- • Seeing a restaurant on
nadian produce. Facebook is reportedly just as ❱❱ PAGE 30 Canadians show
www.canadianinquirer.net
 30
From ‘Mädchen’ to...
❰❰ 16 Merkel has mod-
ernised Germany
and, to some extent,
liberalised a very conservative
system, always with Germany’s
economic interests at its cen-
tre. She became known to lever-
age Germany’s strong post-sec-
ond world war values-driven
perspective (very much embed-
ded in the promise that histo-
ry should never repeat itself ).
In doing so, she advanced and
modernised the values of de-
mocracy, human rights, equal-
ity, diversity and the value of
partner-level engagement to
solve challenges and find solu-
tions, together.
Merkel’s place in history is
also symbolic. Raised in East
Germany during the period it
was split from the West and
aligned to the Soviet regime, she
Why 7,000 steps...
❰❰ 22 Earlier evidence
points in the same
direction
The results of the Massachu-
setts University study builds on
the results from Harvard Med-
ical School which showed that,
on average, about 4,400 steps
a day is enough to significantly
lower mortality of older wom-
en during the study duration.
However, these participants
were older than the Massa-
chusetts study (average age of
72), which might explain why a
lower step rate reduced study
death rates. Maybe older adults
need less activity to gain similar
health benefits.
Even though we have to be
cautious about how we inter-
Neurodiversity can be...
❰❰ 25 outcomes”.
In other words, with
understanding col-
leagues and a flexible work cul-
ture, neurodiverse individuals
can reach their potential and be
recognised as highly valuable
employees.
One case study demonstrat-
ing this is professional ser-
vices giant Ernst and Young,
which globally employs close to
300,000 people.
In 2016 it established its first
“Neurodiversity Center of Ex-
cellence” as part of a pilot pro-
gram to offer jobs to neurodi-
verse candidates.
The company says it “con-
entered politics during the era
of reunification. Untarnished
by the East’s past, she is a highly
educated, humble woman with
a doctorate in quantum chem-
istry who made it through a ca-
reer marked by a range of roles.
As she has also revealed she has
not been thwarted by misogyny
in politics or life in general.
She became chancellor at
a time when Germany strug-
gled to find cohesion between
the former east and west. She
brought same sex marriage,
and radical policy shifts such
as on nuclear policy after the
Fukushima disaster. She has
advanced a very environmen-
tally conscious society to move
toward a carbon-neutral econo-
my, with Germany aiming to be
carbon neutral by 2045 (the EU
target is 2050). Her welcoming
pret data from these various
studies. It is clear that there
are health benefits to doing less
than 10,000 steps a day.
While the World Health Or-
ganization recommends adults
get at least 150 minutes of mod-
erate-intensity exercise a week
(or 75 minutes of vigorous ex-
ercise), there is no guideline
linked to the easily measured
step count. This is because of
the limited number of studies
showing the relationship be-
tween step count (and intensi-
ty) with health outcomes.
It is clear that more research
is needed to help define the dai-
ly step volume and intensity
to provide people with an easy
quantifiable tool to determine
sidered business metrics only”
in evaluating the program. It
concluded the neurodiverse
employees were comparable to
neurotypical staff in work qual-
ity, efficiency and productivity.
The bonus was “the neurodi-
verse employees excelled at in-
novation”.
Australia’s Department
of Defence has employed
high-performing autistic in-
dividuals in its cyber security
work. Their strengths for this
work include “a remarkable eye
for detail; accuracy and consis-
tency; a logical and analytical
approach to detecting irreg-
ularities; pattern-matching
“we can do this” attitude to ref-
ugees and asylum seekers was
noted around the world.
Under Merkel, Germany
wielded the strongest political
influence in the EU, though it
took this role rather reluctant-
ly, becoming its leading inte-
grating force and its leading
economy.
Symmetry and strength
Merkel’s leadership has not
been without its hiccups, such
as when saving the Euro cur-
rency during the Euro-crisis
and Global Financial Crisis.
Merkel brokered deals during
endless discussion to keep
Greece in the EU and maintain
European solidarity.
She also played a key role in
negotiating a stable transition
through Brexit. There were
times when she pushed through
activity levels. This may help
increase the general physi-
cal activity levels of the public
where currently one in four of
the global population do not
meet the recommended levels.
Next time you see your dai-
ly step count is below 10,000
steps, do not get demotivat-
ed and remember you will get
some health benefits from doing
around 7,000 steps. If you want
to improve your health through
increasing your step volume, re-
search has shown that increas-
ing your daily steps by 1,000 a
day has considerable benefit. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
skills; and a high tolerance for
repetitive mental tasks”.
These lessons are being tak-
en on board by others. In July,
Google’s cloud computing divi-
sion announced its Autism Ca-
reer Program, which includes
training up to 500 managers “to
work effectively and empathet-
ically with autistic candidates”.
We all vary naturally. By un-
derstanding and encouraging
neurodiverse individuals to be
fully engaged in society, we will
all reap the rewards. ■
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
www.canadianinquirer.net
ideas that contradicted the
general consensus on an issue
within Germany and among her
voters, such as in her moderate
stance on China.
But one of the ways she will
be remembered is for standing
tall when her values were chal-
lenged. The most notable ex-
ample of this is her decision to
keep open Germany’s borders
to refugees, after much consid-
eration. This depth of thought
brought the term merkeln
into the German language,
expressing long reflective pe-
riods in decision-making. It
also brought her the nickname
“Mutti” (mother) to reflect her
caring, empathetic and decisive
approach.
She has often been criticised
in Germany for leading without
communicating a larger vision.
Canadians show...
❰❰ 29 most important factor
for Canadians to try a
restaurant for the first
time, but the power of social
media shouldn’t be overlooked.
“With the amount of inno-
vation that’s transformed the
market over the past two years,
there are several new ways to
help bump your business to
the top of someone’s must-visit
list,” continues Barclay. “We’ve
seen restaurants complete-
ly pivot their business model,
market to completely new de-
mographics with great success
and implement new technology
that streamlines efficiency.”
What your business offers is
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 FRIDAY
But her ability to learn and
thrive during challenges while
maintaining integrity, stability
and responsible engagement
shapes her legacy in Germany
and beyond.
Merkel has been much
praised, especially internation-
ally, for her broader crisis man-
agement and her outstanding
ability to maintain engagement.
It is this legacy, combined with
the ongoing importance of Eu-
ropean and international col-
laboration, that remains front
of mind for German voters as
they elect their next leader. ■
Gabriele Suder, Professor.
Dean, New Business Acceleration,
Federation University Australia
This article is republished
from The Conversation under a
Creative Commons license.
also just as important. After a
tough lockdown, 78% of Cana-
dians are interested in ordering
comfort foods from restaurants,
alongside foods that promote
health and wellness (73%),
natural or unprocessed foods
(70%), or culinary cocktails
with savoury, fresh ingredients
(41%). Meatless and vegetari-
an entrée options remain most
popular among Canadians ages
18-34 (54%), compared to those
35-54 (37%) and 55+ (27%).
For more information, or to
read the full 2021 Discerning
Diner Report, visit https://info.
restaurantscanada.org/dis-
cerning-diner-2021. ■
 SPETEMBER 24, 2020
JULY 17, 2021 31
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