To discover, understand and put Canadian realities into perspective.
With China now being appointed to the Human Rights Council and the ‘consultative group’ there is concern by several countries that human rights abuses will not be investigated or properly condemned. China has itself has regularly been accused of abuse… »
Stock markets are tumbling, people are losing huge value on their investments as panic selling sets in. The drop in value is such that automatic systems have halted trading on at least a couple of stock markets. But what should… »
With the declaration of a Covid-19 pandemic, and the first recorded death from the virus in Canada, the federal government pledged a billion dollars to both fight the virus and mitigate the effects on society. Ian Culbert, is the executive-director… »
For a biology professor in Winnipeg, an interest in history has become almost equivalent to a full-time passion. Gordon Goldsborough (PhD) is a professor of biological sciences at the University of Manitoba, and president of the Manitoba Historical Society. Away… »
For too long, women’s voices and perspectives have been silent in much of world. The Canadian group Journalists for Human Rights is changing that. The group is launching an ambitious multi-year programme in several African countries to train female journalists… »
As the world fights a battle with the Covid-19 virus, researchers point out that deaths from air pollution constitute a lesser realised but very serious chronic threat worse than most diseases. Researchers estimate that some 8.8 million premature deaths annually… »
A U.S.-based conservation group has chosen a site off the Nova Scotia coast to build a retirement home for entertainers who have brought joy to hundreds of thousands at the expense of their own mental and physical health. Ladies and… »
Turkey has said it can no longer support the mass influx of migrants from Syria and elsewhere. It says it will no longer keep them from attempting to cross into Greece and Bulgaria as they seek to head into European… »
The agency which tracks all types of fraud in Canada estimates the cost of mass marketing fraud, (phone, internet, mass mailing, e-mail, personal contact) to be almost $130 million per year. This is what is reported, but apparently only a… »
In Canada where the often bitterly heated debate about firearms has been raging on and off for decades, a federal politician decided he needed to be informed by fact, not opinion. Tako Van Popta is the Conservative Member of Parliament… »
It has been revealed that facial recognition technology is being ‘tested’ by many police agencies in both Canada and the U.S. There are concerns that its use may contravene Canadian privacy laws, and who may be using it beyond police… »
Canadian research and development of a new drug has shown great potential to help patients in their recovery from stroke by reducing brain cell damage. Dr. Michael D Hill (MD MSc, FRCPC) is a professor of Neurology at the University… »
Do you trust government to do the right thing for their citizens? Do you trust the media to tell the story truthfully and fully? Do you trust business on environmental issues, or NGO’s on their claims and efforts. The latest… »
Some of the mysteries of the red planet are going to be uncovered as part of a NASA mission to Mars. A large rover will be sent into space this year with the goal to collect rock and soil samples.… »
Where does food come from? Do kids really know? It’s an interesting question and the fact is that as society becomes more urbanised, more children don’t realize that food, their hamburgers, bread, eggs, milk, breakfast cereal etc, originates on a… »
Open-office and unassigned work desks, i.e., not dedicated to a particular person but open to anyone who needs a spot, are relatively recent office trends. A new survey finds that a majority of workers find such ideas unappealing and that… »
Toronto resident Desmond Cole, is an activist and journalist. He wrote an article in 2015 about the many times he had been stopped by police and interrogated on the street. The article in Toronto Life was a spark that brought… »
In 2011 UNESCO declared February 13th to be World Radio Day, which was adopted by the U.N General Assembly as an ‘international day’ the following year. This year the theme is diversity. Radio Canada International joined with four other broadcasters… »
Its seems that as climate changes, particularly warming in the northern hemisphere, new diseases are also appearing to infect humans. But climate change is not the only reason Dr Courtney Howard (MD, CCFP-EM) is president of the Canadian Association of… »
Does it seem like our politicians are more than ever dressing for a theatrical effect, or have you seen them using props, or employing theatrical gestures and language? In Toronto, Laura Levin (PhD), associate professor in the Theatre Department of… »
Apparently a fungus is attacking coffee trees and reducing the harvest. This is mostly in central and south America where some of the best beans come from. Stuart McCook (MS, PhD), a professor of history, and assistant vice-president international at… »
Around the world countries and companies are rushing to embrace and develop the so-called 5G network. This will be needed for the massive amounts of data transfer as more and more devices become connected to the internet, from cars, to… »
Uses natural antibodies, not drugs A small-scale trial study has shown promise in the fight against HIV. The study involves use of natural white blood cell antibodies to help fight the virus. Dr. Daniel Kaufmann (MD) is a professor in… »
An independent panel reviewing electronic media in Canada has released a long awaited report. Canada’s Broadcast Act hasn’t been updated since 1991, well before the arrival of the internet and streaming services like Netflix, Prime, Crave, Apple, Spotify and Amazon… »
The U.K. has just announced it will permit a partial use of Huawei technology in development of its 5G network. Other countries have banned Huawei over security concerns. Canada is still debating its position on Huawei. Stephanie Carvin (PhD) is… »
This week saw the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, the biggest of the Nazi death camps, camps where a total of about six million Jews were murdered. The hope was that the lesson was learned that myths, mistrust, and… »
While several studies in recent years have highlighted dangerous levels of fishing on many ocean species, they do not include the effects of recreational fishing. A new study by an international team of scientists estimates some 900,000 tonnes of fish… »
While many average earners complain of taxes, a group of the world’s wealthiest is saying they should be taxed more. The disparity in earnings between the wealthiest and the middle and lower classes is such that some of those uber-rich… »
Announced this week, Canada has a new agency to look into the various issues of climate change. Non-partisan and arms-length from the government which is funding it, the agency will partner with experts in a variety of fields of research… »
As usual, he was right on the edge, but in the end he prevailed–pretty much like he always did on a baseball field. Walker becomes the first position player from Canada ever to be elected to the Hall and the… »
China has reported about 200 cases of a new coronavirus originating in the city of Wuhan which has caused the deaths of six people so far. It also is now reportedly spread from person to person, vastly increasing concerns. The… »
A new book is being released called “From the Depths of Our Hearts”. It’s sparked a bit of controversy within the Roman Catholic church. It seems to push a conservative message about celibacy, and includes an essay by retired Pope… »
Viewed by some as ‘too restrictive’, Canadian laws around medically assisted dying are under review. The government is asking Canadians to submit their views on the laws and what might be changed. Arthur Schafer is founding director of the Centre… »
After initially denying they were at fault, Iran quickly backtracked saying the shot down the passenger jet by mistake? But with modern sophisticated systems how could a large, slow moving, and climbing jetliner be mistaken for a “hostile” fighter jet… »
In 2015 and 2016, children in a British Columbia elementary school took part in a First Nations smudging ceremony and prayer. A mother objected saying the school obliged her children to take part in a religious ceremony and a later… »
We’ve all seen it, we all know it when we see it, and we’ve all most certainly wondered just how downright stupid our species can so often be. For most of us, witnessing the insanity of drunken driving, is something… »
With the killing of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, the entire mid-east situation is in turmoil. Hundreds of thousands are turning out in the streets of Tehran and other major centres, to mourn the general. But was there more behind the… »
After the U.S. drone strike on Friday that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, and several other important Iranian military or militia leaders on Iraqi soil. U.S. President Trump said Soleimani’s “reign of terror” was over. The U.S. action appears to… »
Looking back on 2019–a year lacking Olympics, another year missing a Canadian-based Stanley Cup champion, a year with a less than stellar performance by the Canadians at the Women’s World Cup of Soccer. What are we left with? How about… »
Animal rights activists, a determined lot at any time, are looking back at their gains in 2019 and feeling pretty good about both themselves and the animals they seek to protect. The year, according to the executive director of Animal… »
In 2015 a study of over 200 lakes around the world (containing a total of half the world’s freshwater supply) showed a clear warming trend. At the time, it was suggested that this is affecting drinking water quality, fish habitat,… »
A new analysis of hundreds of studies covering two decades of studies related to genetics and about 200 diseases. The result may come as a surprise to many. It finds, in most cases, little correlation between a genetic mutation and… »
The Supreme Court of Canada will not hear a case involving a 44-year-old ailing elephant, dashing the hopes of animal activists and likely confining her to the Edmonton Valley Zoo for the rest of her days. Zoocheck Canada has been… »
It’s a worldwide problem that nets scammers untold wealth from unsuspecting and trusting phone users. Telephone scams, along with simple spam, have been increasing dramatically in the last couple of years, and now the Canadian government is ordering companies to… »
Pretty much every one of us has been there–though likely not to anything resembling this nth degree–so maybe that’s why the plight of Leonard Mawora has touched so many. Mawora, a 26-year-old accounting and finance student, was set to complete… »
A prominent green economy think tank is backing the federal government’s promise to plant two billion trees over the the next 10 years to combat climate change, saying the plan is feasible. A new study by the Smart Prosperity Institute… »
Smart speakers with their voice assistants are becoming more and more common, and many might find their way under a Christmas tree this year. But for all the assistance and helpful information they may provide, they could also be gathering… »
Following the actions of China internationally and in respect of the diplomatic and trade dispute still ongoing with this country, Canada will strike an all party committee to study and recommend policy regarding dealings with China. Colin Robertson is a… »
It’s pretty much conventional wisdom that an afternoon nap is good for you–a credo that a lot of people around the world have lived by for years. A new study published in September of Swiss adults aged 35 to 75… »
Transport Minister Marc Garneau was at Ottawa International Airport today to remind travellers that a new set of airline travel regulations take effect on Sunday. It was a redux of last July when Garneau announced passenger-rights rules that required airlines… »
A new report from the National Farmers Union says that combining new technologies with old-fashioned mixed farming methods would be an effective weapon in the battle against human-driven climate change, as well go a long way toward saving the farming… »