Global City

Evolution vs. Creationism

The theory of evolution is often at conflict with several religious views.  It is for this reason that the issue of its presence in the public school system is a controversial one.  The question of whether or not schools should teach creationism, evolution, or neither continues to be debated internationally.  Canada is one of the most diverse countries in terms of multiculturalism and consequently, religion.  This chart displays the population division of religious viewpoints in Canada, focusing specifically on certain provinces and territories. 

Population by religion, by province and territory (2001 Census) (Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick)
	Canada	N.L.	P.E.I.	N.S.	N.B.
	number
Total population	29,639,035	508,080	133,385	897,570	719,710
Catholic	12,936,905	187,440	63,265	328,700	386,050
Protestant	8,654,850	303,195	57,080	438,150	263,075
Christian Orthodox	479,620	365	245	3,580	635
Christian not included elsewhere	780,450	2,480	3,205	10,105	8,120
Muslim	579,640	630	195	3,545	1,275
Jewish	329,995	140	55	2,120	670
Buddhist	300,345	185	140	1,730	545
Hindu	297,200	405	30	1,235	475
Sikh	278,410	135	0	270	90
Eastern religions	37,550	110	105	565	330
Other religions	63,975	135	100	1,155	790
No religious affiliation	4,900,090	12,865	8,950	106,405	57,665
Source: Statistics Canada, Census of Population. Last modified: 2005-01-25.

 

A story recently published in the <a href="http://www.canada.com/montrealgazette/news/story.html?id=599a0685-8aad-4ad8-8ee9-24718f61b09e&k=16353">Montreal Gazette</a> reported that a High School teacher stirred up controversy for his “vow” to continue teaching the theory of evolution to his Salluit students.  Despite many complaints in regards to this issue, education officials in Northern Quebec confirm that the teaching of evolution is simply a component of the physical-science curriculum.  This issue has many people torn between religious beliefs and evolution—including the principal at Ikusik High School who has told many teachers not to inform students of evolution so as to avoid disrespecting the religious beliefs that any of the student’s may have.  In terms of local, national and international arousal, this topic is highly debated and it is for this reason that I am interested in exploring the topic.  

FIFA all tangled up
by Danielle Wong [Read More]

Is reality TV taking over Canada? by Ann Pirvu
At any time of day, no matter what channel  you're on, chances are you're watching reality TV. Within the last five years especially, the reality TV craze has gripped the world and doesn't plan to ease up any time soon - and Canadan broadcaters are loving it, says Johnny Kalangis, Producer  of Television and New Media in the Arts and Entertainment department at the CBC.
     The simple truth is that preference of reality TV is "a straight cash thing," Kalangis explains. The whole point is that those reality shows are much cheaper to produce, with less drawbacks. A show that might cost the CBC $150,000 per episode, as an example, employing professional actors, crew, sets, effects etc…would be much more of a hassle than, by comparison, spending$15,000 for an episode of reality TV for which you don't pay any actors and your major expense is the rental of camera and sound equipment. Reality TV does not need to hire writers (although lots do) and they will generate high, or higer, ratings guaranteed.
    "Creating high ratings for low cost is much more economical," Kalangis says, and original Canadian content suffers as a result since tried and true shows like America's Next Top Model and American Idol enjoy so much success in their spin-off Canadian versions. The onus is no longer placed on quality or original programming as long as the costs can be reduced. And since Canadian producers don't have much funding to begin with, the thought of shooting  "a drama that can cost me a significant amount more per episode and get not even one tenth of the reality tv viewer numbers," is descouraging to Canadina filmmaking Kalangis explains.
    The real question is how does this new treand affect the Canadian film and television industry? I personally get tired of flipping channels and seeing the same types of shows over and over again, with different people from different countries vying for the same kinds of things. I do watch Canadian Idol or Canada's Next Top Model sometimes, but it doesn't feel right...it desn't feel authentic sometime. But then you realize that Amercan Idol was a rip-off, so to speak, of Simon Cowell's British "Pop Idol."You shake your head and feel a little better...but then there's anotehr problem.
    Nowadays, everyone can get their 15 minutes of fame on a reality TV show. You get on one of those shows and you're an instant celebrity. What does that say for professionally trained actors that are barely making a living trying to crack into an industry already saturated with hundreds of people trying to do the same thing, but for a totally different reason- because they love it and can't imagine doing anythig else with their lives?
    As an actress, these are the kinds of things I'm always thinking about, but Canadian Filmmakers Festival director Bern Euler has a completely different take on it. "I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that, "Euler says, because "you know you do your own version of it…If it’s a good idea why not do it?"
   The is a catch however, he explains. TV and film have never been an easy medium to make money in. It is hard to predict what kinds of shows people will watch more and how they will respond to programming in general. The whole realm is very subjective. Even some Hollywood films are rejected and end up flopping at the box office.
   "If a show does well, or a movie , it means people are watching and people like it. And really, that’s what it boils down to, right. Whatever people like to watch they like to watch."
    I never thought of it that way before, but it does make sense. If a show does well, even if it is reality, it means Canadians are working and the industry is thriving...right? Maybe, but if I see "Canada's Got Talent" is coming to Global, I'm changing the channel.


image courtesy of deanish.com
 
Related Links:

Relity TV Magazine (who would have thought one existed??)
Canadian Idol 4
Canada's Next Top Model, Season 2
Deal or No Deal Canada

Toxic Water Bottles By Caroline Shaheed

Last week I went by The Cycle Shoppe on Queen St., to ask the guys some questions about tuning up my bike, Jolene. After a long winter she was looking and feeling a little worse for ware, it was time to fix her up. But when I walked in the door, the first thing I saw was a sign that read, “Your Nalgene May be Toxic.” I did a double take, and read the sign again.

 

What? My pretty sea foam-green, environmentally friendly, re-usable, plastic-water-bottle-that-I-use-EVERYDAY might be toxic? And leaching dangerous endocrine-disrupters into my body? Could this really be true?

 

In the midst of asking questions about cleaning my derailleur and de-greasing my chain, the words blurted out of lips, as they so often do, before my brain had a chance to edit what was coming out. “What’s the story with the sign in the front? I use my Nalgene every-(insert not-so-nice word here)-day!”

 

“Yeah those things can kill babies,” said Chris Allcorn, the shop manager. Excuse me, what? “The plastic Nalgene uses is toxic and they’ve known it for years, it mutates your genes,” said Allcorn.

 

Could this really be true? Could a company like Nalgene, which many environmentally conscious people, and hikers rely on for their outdoor adventures and daily travels be turning us into some sort of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?

 

I left the shop with my heads spinning, my pretty half-full Nalgene wasn’t looking so pretty anymore, actually it was looking rather suspect. So I did what any horrified person would do, I googled “Nalgene” and “Toxic.”

 

Over 72,000 hits came up. I didn’t read them all, but I read a lot. My pretty sea foam-green, environmentally friendly, re-usable, plastic-water-bottle went into the garbage can that Sunday night. And I just bought it a few months ago. But, what was even scarier is that some of the articles I read dated back to 2003.

 

Nalgene bottles, and many plastic baby bottles, are made of Lexan, which is a polycarbonate plastic that leaches the chemical compound bisphenol A. Any Nalgene or plastic bottle with the number one or seven on the bottom of the bottle is potentially dangerous.  BPA, itself is a part of the process of polycarbonate manufacturing, and has been implicated as a source of cancer and birth defects.

 

But what’s even worse is very few people know about it, I found out only by chance, and it is used to make things like baby bottles. All I could think was Marlon Brando and his infamous words in Apocalypse Now: “The Horror…The Horror…”

In our valiant efforts of keeping healthy, and to be environmentally conscious, we are in fact slowly poisoning ourselves. A recent Globe and Mail article likened BPA to “an eerie modern version of the vaunted lead water pipes by which ancient Romans were unknowingly poisoned.”

 

                This stuff is everywhere too, it’s not just in Nalgene bottles and baby bottles; it lines the insides of pop cans and canned food. Virtually everyone in Canada has been exposed.  

 

Environment Canada and Health Canada selected BPA as one of “200 substances that a preliminary review deemed potentially dangerous and in need of thorough safety assessments.” But it hasn’t been banned yet, and who knows how long it will take.  I might be acting a bit prematurely, but I say toss those pretty plastic bottles. As much as I loved the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a kid, I sure as hell don’t want to be one of them.

Green tea chocolate, anyone?

Jenelle Rupchand

 

 

Tea isn’t just a beverage of infused leaves of the camilla sinensis (the tea bush), or fruit, herbs, and spices steeped in boiling water. Since the popularity of tea is rising, people are looking for creative ways to use tea rather than downing the traditional hot cuppa.

 

Iced tea and bubble tea are already becoming mainstream. But now you can have your tea and drink it too at the gym as a smoothie or in a martini at a dinner party.

 

It’s a growing trend to use tea in cooking-- yes, the spices, fruit, and herbs used in tisanes, like honey, cinnamon, and ginger, are already used in cooking, but have you tried using green tea powder to bake cupcakes? Loose-leaf and powdered teas give baked goods new flavour, and pack the cakes, cookies, and buns with vitamins and amino acids.

 

The Tea Association of Canada suggests some unusual ways to maximize the benefits of tea. Apparently splashing chilled tea on sunburns alleviates the soreness, and mint tea makes an invigorating facial cleanser. I don’t think I’d like having tea residue on my skin all day, though.

 

Don’t throw out your used tea bags. Place them in a small bowl in the fridge to absorb odors in a way Arm & Hammer can’t. Toss them in your watering can when you water house plants to perk them up. Relieve soreness from bee stings and poison ivy rashes by patting the area with used tea bags. They also make great frozen compresses-- use them to soothe aching eyes.

 

Loose-leaf tea is ideal for pot pourri. Try stuffing a small pillow with tea leaves and other herbs and spices so you can feel further rejuvenated after a nap. Or just let a small pot of tea simmer on the stove to fill your home with the aroma of Matcha, Chai, or Sencha.

 

I don’t know if anyone has tried smoking tea leaves yet.

Our Royal Fascination - By Chris Glover

You’d be hard pressed to find anyone in Canada who couldn’t name one member of the British Royal family. William, Harry (as seen in the Globe and Mail photograph), Elizabeth and Charles are four of the most famous people here in Canada and throughout the world. But, why are they so popular and do they deserve the fame?

            

Sure they happen to be from a famous bloodline that has sat as head of the British Empire for centuries, but is that bloodline enough to make the modern global city bow to them wherever they go?

The fact is, a monarchy is an ancient tradition that carries little legal relevance in today’s society. In the past, the Royal family was said to be of a superior breed of humanity; above “the rest of us”. Monarchs from Britain and all across the world reigned over their societies with power and intellect. They demanded the respect of their minions and were rewarded with the people’s admiration and praise.

Today however, few people actually believe this famous family is superior by blood, yet people still want to know what they’re doing, where they’re going and why they’re doing it.

The interesting thing is that these people who were once famous for their power and authority, are now famous for a different reason. In the eyes of people all across the world they have become celebrities. British tabloids and entertainment news shows continue to capture their every step on camera. Just type ‘British Royal Family’ in google and you’ll get 11,300,000 hits, an incredible number that shows that this ubber-famous family sparks the attention and fascination of our global community.

But is this fame justifiable?  It is true that they represent the entire British Commonwealth, but since they no longer have any real power, do they still deserve our ceremonial respect and admiration?

Yes. There’s nothing wrong with ceremonial respect every once in a while; it’s called tradition.  In an age where traditions are consistently flouted for the newest gadgets and the latest fads, we should try to cling to this tradition.

Additionally, many people think, despite the fact that the nature of the job of the King or Queen of England has changed, the job itself is still important. According to the official website of the British Royal Family, instead of reigning over vast populations like in the olden days, the modern British Royal family is more concerned with humanitarian efforts. “The Royal family plays an important role in supporting and encouraging the public and charity sectors,” the website touts.

        

In fact the British Royal Family is so involved in global humanitarian efforts, that 3000 organizations in the “public and charity sectors” are affiliated with the Royals, many of whom list a member as president. 

Also, the Family reports that they receive and answer more than 100,000 letters of admiration each year, an amount that would surely rival many North American superstars.

So it appears that, for the most part, it doesn’t matter that the British Royal Family doesn’t have the same authority they once did. Even though the fascination and admiration for these public figures has changed, it remains high and always will.

Related Links:

The British Monarchy Official Website

British Tabloids attack Prince Harry and Prince William

Official Website of the British Empire

Prince Harry's Charity work

The Globe and Mail's Day in Pictures - photo collection of the best pictures from the last 24 hours!!

 

Canada has a "military"

 

WHAT ARE WE DOING THERE?

90 years. . . It's been a long time since Canada stepped up its game and whooped some serious German ass in 1917 at Vimy Ridge, bringing a nation together and giving it respect in the international community.

Looking at a photo of a Canadian soldier standing solemnly in front of the National War Monument in Ottawa can't help but raise a couple of questions about how our proud nation has evolved since.

One thinks, "if he's in Ottawa, then who's liberating Afghanistan?" Canada's military has, admittedly, fallen from grace and decreased in size since its huge and efficient win during World War I. The words "Canadian" and "military" when placed back to back in a sentence often garners scoffing from Canadians - it's an oxymoron in this day in age. So what are the conservatives trying to prove?

The Canada that I know has always taken pride not in vast reserves of nuclear bombs, nor an ability to protect itself. We're the sexy and progressive little sister to the United States. There is room for Canada to be petulant in terms of war and social policy. Why would we listen to the dumber, jockier older bro' that the U.S. has come to represent for us. We didn't have to send troops to Afghanistan, and we really shouldn't have. Stephen Harper's decision to buckle under U.S. pressure to send our troops, who formerly spent there time either (a) Peacekeeping or (b) Helping my grandmother cross the street, is something that Canada will have to live down for years to come. When the fallout and inevitable retrospective avalanche of criticism arrives at our doorstep, what are we going to say? 

The greatest thing about Canada is our lack of a need for a military. People like us. Sorry, people liked us. It is unfortunate that to people in countries all over the world, we look, sound and act like Americans. You are American until proven innocent, and up until Canada's participation in Afghanistan, Canadian's could play the, "but I'm a canuck" card and explain that Canada is a liberal and wonderful utopia where gay sex and soft drugs are cool. Those days are gone.

Canada's great social intelligence at home and the complete lack thereof abroad has transformed us into a nation of hypocrites. We value things like choice and freedom and non-violence at here in, say, Toronto. And maybe our snake-faced (I'm sorry, but he looks like a snake) leader was merely trying to bring said freedoms to the people of Afghanistan. To him I say, why now? 

It needs to be said that this is the ramblings of a young and crazy NDPer who is extremely disappointed in our P.M.'s behavious this past year. Skipping the AIDS conference and the Out Games and attempting to turn the press into his own personal and wide-scale P.R. machine were low blows to Canada's progressive community.

I don't know what came over my beloved Canada when the votes poured in in favour of Harper last year. But I do know that we are smarter this and inherently more passive than this. Is passive such a bad thing?    

 

Links: CBC

 

 

Metropolis is an Eye-sore - Renee Tsang

Good news, the blue sidewalk scaffolding on the corner of Yonge and Dundas will be torn down by spring 2007, the bad news; it’s going to reveal an obnoxious and tacky complex which has already been anticipated to be a Toronto landmark eye-sore.

 

Over the past ten years, there has been some sort of construction brewing on the corner of Yonge and Dundas. No one really knew what was happening until recently, as a building started to take shape, and as the assembly started to quicken in pace. Named, Metropolis, the office, retail and entertainment complex erecting across from Dundas Square was set to be built for 2000, however, after setbacks and delays, construction under developer, PenEquity, is now under way with a finish date set for late 2007.

 

The City of Toronto is hoping that Metropolis is going to be a great addition to the city because it will be unlike any other shopping complex in Ontario. According to developer, PenEquity, “Metropolis is developing a different type of shopping area, one dominated by billboards and video screens as well as high density buildings in an outdoor shopping area similar to Times Square in New York City.” The corner of Yonge and Dundas is a passage-way for 14- million vehicles and 18-million pedestrians annually. 20-million Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) passengers get on or off at Dundas station. 56-million people visit, eat, shop or play around the district and 25,000 full-time and 61,000 continuing education students attend the city’s major universities around the quarter. The area is just a corner away from the hipster stores on Queen St., across the road from the famous Eaton Centre, and down the street from restaurants such as the Hardrock Café and amusement attractions such as Massey Hall and the Canon Theatre.

 

PenEquity representatives describe Metropolis to be in the “perfect location” and, “a hot spot for tourist revenue,” however, with prospective exterior plans up on the metropolis website, people are finding it hard to look at, appreciate or want to visit. Large advertisements spanning a block with gaudy lights for corporate capitalist chains leave Torontonians with their hands over their mouths while shaking their heads in disbelief.

Food Fight: biotechnology versus biodiversity
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TML FOR LIFE
Another season, another dissapointing finish, will your leaf flag fly come September of next year? [Read More]