News in Review Resource Guide
May 2008 Credits Resource Guide Writers: Jill Colyer, Sean Dolan, Peter Flaherty, Jim L’Abbé Copy Editor and Desktop Publisher: Susan Rosenthal Resource Guide Graphics: Laraine Bone Production Assistant: Carolyn McCarthy Resource Guide Editor: Don Quinlan Supervising Manager: Karen Bower Host: Carla Robinson Senior Producer: Nigel Gibson Producer: Lou Kovacs Video Writers: Nigel Gibson, Mark Harrison, Jennifer Harwood Director: Ian Cooper Graphic Artist: Mark W. Harvey Editor: David Smith
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News in Review, May 2008 1. Rising Food Prices Threaten Millions (Start: 00:25; Length: 13:23) 2. Changing Canada’s Immigration Rules (Start: 13:59; Length: 12:50) 3. Tibet, China, and the Olympics (Start: 27:03; Length: 15:56) 4. Making Money by Going Green (Start: 43:12; Length: 14:59) Contents In This Issue ...... 4
RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONS...... 6 Introduction ...... 6 Video Review...... 7 A Global Crisis...... 9 Understanding the Crisis...... 11 Impact in Canada...... 13 Ethanol and Biofuels...... 14 Debate: Food or Fuel?...... 16 CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULES...... 17 Introduction ...... 17 Video Review...... 19 Activity: Statistical Analysis ...... 21 Immigration Facts...... 23 Point and Counterpoint...... 24 Citizenship Test ...... 26 Activity: Assessing the Changes...... 28 TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICS...... 29 Introduction...... 29 Video Review...... 31 Tibet: A Profile ...... 33 A Tibetan Timeline...... 36 Two Views of the Tibet Protests ...... 38 The Troubled Olympic Torch Relay ...... 40 Activity: Considering a Boycott...... 42 MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREEN ...... 43 Introduction...... 43 Video Review...... 44 A Huge Challenge...... 46 Responses...... 48 Great Green Ideas...... 50 Making Green by Going Green...... 52 Activity: Greening Your World...... 54
News in Review Index...... 56
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page In This Issue . . .
NiR Study RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONS (Start: 00:25; Length: 13:23) Modules The prices of basic food like wheat, corn, and rice have been soaring all over the Using print and world. In many poor countries millions of people are facing hunger and malnutrition. video material In this News in Review story we’ll look at what’s causing this global crisis. We’ll from archival issues also show you how rising prices are helping Canadian farmers but hurting people in of News in Review, countries like Pakistan. teachers and students can create NiR Study Modules Related CBC Videos thematic modules Taking Off: Canada’s Soaring Dollar Aral Sea: Hospital at the End of the Earth for independent November 2007 Betrayed: Water Trust assignments, and small group study. A New Plan to Save Africa Big Thirst: The Coming Drought September 2002 China Rises Coffee with a Conscience Related CBC Cuba: The Accidental Revolution Videos Other videos available from CBC Learning; see the back cover for CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULES (Start: 13:59; Length: 12:50) contact details. In late March, Stephen Harper’s Conservative government announced that it wanted to make some major changes to Canada’s immigration laws. The changes would give the government the power to fast-track some applications, while refusing to even consider others. In this News in Review story we’ll look at the proposed legislation and why it is so controversial.
NiR Study Modules Harper’s Throne Speech Challenge Uniting the Right: Federal Politics December 2007 Transformed, November 2003 The Budget: Countdown to an Election? Steven Harper: Leading the Alliance April 2007 May 2002 The Liberals Choose a New Leader Refugees in Canada: Getting Through the December 2006 Door, March 1994 Taking Over: Canada’s New Government June 2006 Related CBC Videos Stephen Harper: The Path to Power Broken Border March 2006 Canada Now: A Diverse Landscape Winter Vote: The 2006 Federal Election The Fifty-Sixers February 2006 Human Cargo Canada Votes: A Liberal Minority Karen Refugees: Fleeing Burma’s September 2004 Forgotten War The Conservative Party Chooses a Leader Prairie Dreams: Blacks in Western April 2004 Canada
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICS (Start: 27:03; Length: 15:56) In March anti-government riots erupted in Tibet, an autonomous region of China. When the Chinese government cracked down, there were protest demonstrations in many countries around the world. In this News in Review story we’ll look at the violence in Tibet. We’ll also show you how the demonstrators targeted China’s preparations for this summer’s Olympic Games. NiR Study Modules Beijing 2008: A Momentous Decision Special Olympics: Taking Part, April 1997 September 2001 Deng Xiaoping: China at the Crossroads, The Salt Lake City Olympics, March 2002 April 1997 U.S.-China: The Risks of Spying The Olympics: Games People Play May 2001 September 1996 The Sydney Olympics: Re-assessing the The UN Women’s Summit: Two Weeks in Costs, November 2000 China, October 1995 Tibet: A Rare Look, September 1999 China Today: A Correspondent’s View Olympic Corruption: Cleaning Up the September 1994 IOC, April 1999 The Winter Olympics: Canada Does Well Related CBC Videos March 1998 China Rises Hong Kong: Back to China Red Capitalism September 1997
MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREEN (Start: 43:12; Length: 14:59) As Canada struggles to control its greenhouse gas emissions, some Canadian businesses are leading the way. They are coming up with new and exciting ways to use greener or less polluting energy sources. In this News in Review story we’ll look at three Canadian companies that are going green and making money.
NiR Study Modules Going Green To Fight Global Warming Cutting Emissions: New Fuels for Cars October 2007 February 1998 Dangers of Global Warming, May 2007 Global Warming: A Progress Report A Call for Action on Climate Change May 1995 March 2007 Disappearing Ozone: Danger in the Sun? The Big Melt: Canada’s Changing Arctic March 1992 September 2006 The Clean Air Act, December 1990 After Kyoto: Trying to Cool the Planet February 2006 Related CBC Videos Kyoto: The Battle Lines Are Drawn Build Green December 2002 Canada’s Brands: Can They Compete? Canada’s Long, Hot Summer Climate Change I: An Uncertain Future September 2002 Climate Change II: Hot Times in the City Ice Station SHEBA: The Warming Arctic Earth Energy September 1998 Eco-preneurs: Business Goes Green Polar Bear Fever
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CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONS Introduction
The stories are hard to believe. People programs to support the poor and Focus The prices of basic are rioting over rice in the Philippines. starving. There are no food banks. If you foods like wheat, Food is so scarce in Haiti that people are don’t have money to buy food, you don’t corn, and rice have eating “pancakes” made of butter, water, eat. been soaring. This salt, and dirt. In Egypt, people stand in Canada has so far been spared the has resulted in lines monitored by armed guards for six impact of these steep price increases. riots and violence hours for one loaf of bread. Sam’s Club Our strong dollar has absorbed much of in many parts of and Costco have placed limits on the the impact of the increases. Plus, most the world. People who are worried amount of rice consumers in Canada and Canadians spend only a small portion of about starvation the United States can purchase. What is their daily income on food. So most can are panicking. going on? afford the impact of price increases and In this News in We are in the midst of a food crisis. still continue to eat. Review story we’ll Food prices have been skyrocketing, and Furthermore, because Canadian look at what’s experts anticipate the trend will continue farmers produce much of the world’s causing this global crisis. We’ll also for some time. Since 2005, the prices of wheat and cereal grains, the increased show you how some staple foods have risen by 80 per value of these grains has resulted in rising prices are cent. In March 2008, rice prices hit a a cash windfall for most large-scale helping Canadian 19-year high, and wheat prices rose to a farmers. For the first time in decades, farmers but 28-year high. These price increases are Canadian farmers are making big hurting people in resulting in starvation and malnutrition profits and are able to reinvest money poor countries. for millions of people around the globe. in their farms and equipment. This has As usual, those who are poor are resulted in a boom for companies that Update suffering the most. The poor already make agricultural equipment, seeds, and As this issue of spend up to 80 per cent of their daily fertilizer. News in Review income on food. When the price of In this story, you’ll explore the reasons was being basic staples rises, those who are poor for the current crisis, as well as steps that prepared, a simply have to eat even less. In most can be taken to reduce the impact of the terrible cyclone hit Burma. poor countries, there are no government crisis. Estimates suggest 15 000 people Activity died. As well, Form a small group and discuss the following questions: flooding in two important rice- 1. Have you ever gone hungry? What is the longest you’ve gone without growing regions food? threatens exports to impoverished 2. Is it possible for citizens of wealthy nations like Canada to truly understand nations such as the suffering of starving citizens in poor nations? Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. With rice in 3. Have you seen any evidence of the global food crisis in your community such short supply, (for example, higher gas prices, or shortages of rice in the supermarket)? natural disasters have even more 4. How would poor Canadians cope if there were no food banks or other impact than in support mechanisms to assist them? What might it be like to live in a previous years. country without such supports?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONS Video Review
Watch the video and respond to the following questions. Did you know . . . The global food 1. Record the reasons given in the video for the food crisis. shortage is so desperate that the poor in El Salvador eat one half the amount they consumed in 2006.
2. Why is this situation considered to be a food “crisis”?
3. Describe some of the images of hunger and desperation you see in the video.
4. What steps does the United Nations believe need to be taken to avert an even greater crisis?
5. a) Describe the situation in Pakistan.
b) What are some of the specific reasons that Pakistan is in crisis?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page c) What can parents in Pakistan do to feed their children if they do not have enough money for food?
6. In what ways has Canada benefited from the food crisis?
7. a) What is the world’s current population?
b) What is the population projected to be by the year 2050?
c) What impact might this have on the food crisis?
Follow-up With a partner, discuss your answers, and revise or update your notes if necessary. Join with one other pair and role-play a family who is unable to afford enough food. This can be a family from a poor or wealthy nation. Discuss what you would have to do without, how your daily life would be affected, and ways you could cope with the food crisis.
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONS A Global Crisis
The global food price index published of the Mexican diet, had risen by 400 Note If food prices rise by the United Nations indicates that food per cent in the previous three months. by a third, they prices rose by over 37 per cent in 2007, Despite being the world’s fourth largest will reduce living and prices are expected to continue to corn producer, millions of Mexicans standards by three climb for the next five years. As food found that the one source of cheap per cent in rich prices increase, it is the poorest people nutrition available to them was out of countries and more in the world who suffer most because reach. than 20 per cent in food takes up a bigger share of their In Mexico, tortillas made from corn poor ones. daily shopping bill than it does for richer flour are a dietary staple. On average, people. For example, a poor family Mexicans consume about 10 tortillas a Further Research living on $5 a day typically spends $3 of day. In some regions of the country, the To learn more that on food. When food prices rise by price of tortillas had risen more than 50 about this 50 per cent—as it has over the past five per cent. This meant that many Mexicans developing years—another $1.50 has to go toward were surviving on smaller amounts of global crisis, the cost of food. That leaves the family food than they had even six months ago. consider a visit to the following with 50 cents a day to pay for all of their Naomi Lopez is a good example. Web sites: Food other needs. Lopez cleans a building in Mexico City and Agricultural The need for food and water is and earns 1 400 pesos a month. Her Organization the most elemental of human needs. family of five used to consume about of the United When people are hungry they become 30 tortillas a day. Now she can only buy Nations, www.fao. desperate. Around the world, signs of two-thirds that amount, and her kids org; World Bank, www.worldbank. this desperation are evident. People are always hungry (Christian Science org; UN World are hoarding food out of fear that Monitor, February 2, 2007). Food Program, supplies will run out. Some suppliers Ironically, most of the corn produced www.wfp.org. are hoarding food in the hopes that by Mexico is sold to the United States prices will continue to rise and they will where it is being turned into biofuel. This make more profit. In many countries, means that less corn is available as a Definition Biofuel is fuel property crimes are on the rise as people food source, and this pushes prices even derived from break into other homes searching for higher. For Mexicans, a country founded organic matter food. Looting of stores is common. In by people who worshipped corn gods such as corn, many nation-states, police officers and and who produce huge amounts of corn, wheat, and the army are being asked to control the fact that they can’t purchase enough agricultural waste bread lines and ensure the safe and fair corn flour to make tortillas is seen as a instead of from distribution of food. matter of injustice. fossil products such as coal, oil, and As you read the following examples, natural gas. consider the desperation that people must The Philippines be feeling. This Southeast Asian nation is one of the world’s biggest importers of rice. Mexico Citizens consume about 33 000 tonnes One of the first countries affected of rice a day. As supplies dwindle and by rising food prices was Mexico. prices soar the government has had to In January 2007, protests and impose a number of measures to try to demonstrations broke out across the avert a crisis. One of these measures is country. The price of corn, the staple assigning army troops armed with
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page M-16 rifles to supervise the distribution citizens live on less than $2 a day. Not Did you know . . . of subsidized rice. surprisingly, rising food prices have The top rice producers in the President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo led to chaos in the country. Looting has world are China, has also asked fast-food restaurants broken out, and rioters have taken to the India, Indonesia, to serve half-portions of rice to cut streets. Bangladesh, down on wastage and is threatening to The unrest began in the first week of Vietnam, Thailand, jail anyone caught hoarding food with April when Haitians burned cars and Burma, and life imprisonment. Justice Secretary attacked a United Nations police base the Philippines. Rice is grown in Raul Gonzalez said: “The magnitude in the southern city of Les Cayes. At 114 countries of hoarding is very big; it will affect least five people were killed there. The worldwide. not only the national economy, but the demonstrations reached the capital on stomachs of thousands of Filipinos and Monday, April 7, 2008, as thousands that is economic sabotage” (The Globe marched past the National Palace. On Did you know . . . and Mail, April 4, 2008). April 8, United Nations peacekeepers The recent rise in fired rubber bullets and tear gas into a the price of rice Egypt crowd trying to break down the gates of has meant that some farmers in In Egypt, bread is the main staple of the presidential palace in Port-au-Prince, Vietnam have life. Consequently, Egypt is one of the the Haitian capital. taken to sleeping world’s largest importers of wheat. One personal example of the impact in their fields But soaring prices have driven many of the food crisis can be seen in the life during harvest Egyptians to the brink of starvation, and of Hernite Joseph. For years she earned time to protect riots have broken out. A teenager injured a meagre living by selling imported their crops from chicken parts in the markets of Port-Au- thieves. in the clashes in a northern Egyptian city died from his wounds. Prince’s seaside slums. The three dollars An Egyptian man said: “People are or so she made each day used to be fighting. Killing for bread, some are even enough to take care of her unemployed pulling out knives. What is happening? husband and three children. But now, the What is this? Famine?” Another woman, family is facing starvation. waiting at a government bakery, said: “Everything has changed,” says “I’ve been standing here from 7 a.m. It’s Joseph, stabbing at a half-frozen chunk now 2 p.m. and I can’t get hold of even of poultry with a screwdriver. “My kids one loaf of bread. I have five children. are like toothpicks. Before, if you had What am I supposed to do? You now $1.25, you could buy vegetables, some need to bribe someone to get bread, if rice, 10 cents of charcoal and a little you do not want to get trampled on” (Al cooking oil. Right now, a little can of Jazeera, March 13, 2008). rice alone costs 65 cents, and it’s not good rice at all. Oil is 25 cents. Charcoal Haiti is 25 cents. With $1.25, you can’t even Haiti is one of the poorest countries make a plate of rice for one child” (Al in the world. The majority of its Jazeera, April 15, 2008).
Analysis Write a fictional first-person account of a person trying to cope with the food crisis. You can write from the perspective of a child, teenager, or a parent. Be prepared to share your account with the class.
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 10 RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONS Understanding the Crisis
The United Nation’s World Food Quote Biofuel Production “The decline in Programme states that the global food An increasing number of crops are being food supplies is crisis has placed 100 million to 130 diverted to make biofuel. Somewhere steeper than any million people at greater risk of death between 30 and 50 per cent of corn time since the and malnutrition than they were eight produced in the United States is being Second World months ago. Food-related violence diverted into ethanol production. The War—maybe the has broken out in more than a dozen government of China has become so past century.” countries. As a result, UN Secretary- — Darrin Qualman, concerned about the diversion of food research director General Ban Ki-moon is forming a to produce fuel that it has banned the for the National global task force to address the crisis that construction of new refineries that use Farmers Union includes the World Bank (worldbank. corn or other basic foods. (Maclean’s, March org), International Monetary Fund 10, 2008) (www.imf.org), and the World Trade Rising Fuel Prices Organization (www.wto.org). Very high energy prices make it much But how did the crisis reach such more expensive to produce food and to proportions? Like all complex issues, a transport and distribute food. As well, number of factors have come together as the price of oil rises it makes it more to create the current crisis. Although attractive to use food as a fuel source. experts disagree over which of the So at a time when the world needs to factors has had the greatest impact, they reconsider the way it produces and all agree the following have played a distributes food—for example, returning significant role. to buying locally produced food—we are simply dealing with the high cost of Booming Economies of India oil by trying to create cheaper sources of and China fuel. As the economies of India and China continue to develop, more and more Cost of Fertilizer citizens are becoming wealthy. These Because global grain stocks are at citizens consume more food than those critically low levels, there is huge who have less money, and in particular pressure on farmers to produce more they consume more meat. When more grain. To produce more grain farmers meat is consumed, more animals have must use greater amounts of fertilizer. to be produced for market. Animals This intensive farming has the greatest bred for human consumption are fed chance of producing higher yields. large amounts of grain so that they grow However, the increased demand for quickly. As demand for meat rises, more fertilizer has pushed the price of fertilizer forests and grasslands have to be cleared to record highs. Some parts of the world to create grazing land for animals. have seen the price of fertilizer increase Both of these factors place pressure on by 130 per cent over the previous year. the world’s ability to produce enough This increased cost to farmers results in grain and have a negative impact on the higher prices for grain. environment.
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 11 Bad Weather and Special compared to a real tsunami should set Circumstances the authorities in DR Congo thinking. A number of special circumstances have . . . Empty stomachs do not have also played a role in the current food ears. Hungry people cannot take part crisis. Last year, Bangladesh was hit effectively in the process of developing with a cyclone and serious flooding that our country” (BBC News, April 30, wiped out most of the country’s stocks of 2008). food. A significant drought in Australia In Zimbabwe, inflation of more than resulted in the loss of a great deal of 7 000 per cent and a collapsed economy wheat. And flooding in many parts of mean that the country is unlikely to be West Africa resulted in destroyed and able to withstand the added pressure of rotted crops. rising food prices. The African paper In addition to problems with weather, The Herald reported: “Of course in this political unrest and military conflict have country, the few products available on compounded the current crisis. In the the local market are selling at prices Democratic Republic of the Congo, for beyond the reach of many. The fact that example, mismanagement of resources some, if not most, of our foodstuffs are by a corrupt government has created imported from neighbouring countries anger among citizens. The newspaper can only mean that steeper price reviews La Nouvel Observateur stated that: “The are on the way (allAfrica.com, April 17, food crisis that is currently affecting 2008). the world and that the experts have Analysis Josette Shereen is the executive director of the United Nation’s World Food Programme. She sees the impact of the world food crisis every day and is involved in trying to get food to the worlds’ poor. Although she calls the current situation a crisis, she also sees it as an opportunity. She says: “In a way, this current challenge is hopefully a wake-up call to the world about how interconnected all these factors are.”
With a partner, or in a small group, create a web diagram that links the contributing factors to the current food crisis. Place the words “global food crisis” in the centre circle. Then discuss the factors and try to rank them according to those that are most responsible for the current crisis. Write a concluding statement that addresses Shereen’s comment.
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 12 RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONS Impact in Canada
Canada has so far been spared the impact consumption in Asia of milk, cheese, Did you know . . . While much of the of these steep price increases. Our strong and yogurt. In addition, rural land that is world is scrambling dollar has absorbed much of the impact suitable for grazing in New Zealand and to find affordable of the increases. Plus, most Canadians other areas will continue to increase in sources of food, spend only a small portion of their daily price. the Canadian income on food, so most can afford some Canadian farmers and Canadian government level of price increase. manufacturers of agricultural equipment recently launched Furthermore, because Canadian are also benefiting from rising food a $50-million program to pay farmers produce much of the world’s prices. After years of struggling, farmers Canadian pig wheat and cereal grains, the increased are getting very good prices for the grain farmers to cull value of these grains has resulted in and dairy products they produce. Much 150 000 breeding a cash windfall for most large-scale of the spaghetti and pasta consumed sows. This program farmers. For the first time in decades, around the world is made from Canadian should result in Canadian farmers are making big durum wheat. the reduction of three million pigs profits and are able to reinvest money The boom in agricultural production from the Canadian in their farms and equipment. This has means a boom in the sale of farm market. The resulted in a boom for companies that equipment. Canadian-made tractors, destroyed sows make agricultural equipment, seeds, and combine harvesters, air seeders, and are not to be part fertilizer. balers are selling well. And if forecasts of the commercial Small-scale farmers in developing are correct, sales of Canadian-made farm food chain. This countries do not own enough land or equipment may well set new records if program is to help farmers crushed by produce enough food to benefit from Canadian manufacturers are able to break low prices for their the increase in food prices. In fact, into the Russian market. It is estimated hogs and rising small-scale farmers often buy more that Russia will need tens of thousands prices for feed. food than they sell. But big farmers in of combines and other types of heavy rich countries are benefiting from the equipment, but Russian companies will increases in food prices and will continue only be able to supply a small portion to do so. of the equipment needed. One analyst Corn producers in the United States predicts that if Canadian manufacturers have seen the price of their crop increase can capture just 10 per cent of the by 50 per cent since 2000. Major dairy Russian tractor market, sales would be producers, such as New Zealand, are worth $1-billion. also benefiting because of increasing To Consider How might farmers feel about getting wealthy at a time when others are starving? Would this bother you? Why or why not?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 13 RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONS Ethanol and Biofuels
In the past few years, the world has converted to high-yield corn and soy Did You Know. . . Ethanol distilleries become more concerned with global production, leading to increased fertilizer will consume 146 warming. Although some governments use, which has a very negative impact million tons of have been slow to react to climate on the environment. In March 2008, corn in the 2008 change, public concern over the issue the National Academy of Sciences crop year. This has forced governments to take steps reported that if the current rate of biofuel is about half of to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. production continues in the U.S., the the entire United Developed nations like Canada and “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico would States crop. the United States began to produce increase by 10 to 19 per cent by 2022. biofuels as a way to improve their energy The “dead zone” is an area so polluted independence by reducing reliance on by fertilizer runoff that no aquatic life fossil fuels, and to produce cleaner fuel as can survive there (Kitchener-Waterloo a way to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Record, April 26, 2008). Known as the “food to fuel mandate,” Because biofuels are so profitable, the use of crops to fuel cars seemed forests and grasslands are being cleared like a win-win-win scenario. Farmers at an alarming rate to boost production would enjoy high demand for their crops. of corn and soybeans. As a result, critical National security would be enhanced habitat for a range of species is lost, because countries like Canada and the as is the world’s largest “carbon sink.” United States wouldn’t have to rely as When forests are cleared, huge amounts heavily on oil from the Middle East. of carbon are released into the air—so And the deterioration of the environment much so that in February, Science would be slowed through the use of a magazine concluded that corn ethanol cleaner fuel. and soy biodiesel produce twice the However, experts like Lester Brown emissions of gasoline when deforestation of the Earth Policy Institute (www. is factored into the equation. earth-policy.org) and Jonathan Lewis And finally, critics argue that biofuel of the Clean Air Task Force (www.catf. production is not having a significant us) are drawing attention to the fact that impact on Western dependence on ethanol—created from corn—actually Middle Eastern oil. In the United States, creates a negative energy imbalance. for example, although one-quarter of the What this means is that more energy country’s corn supply was burned as fuel, is needed to produce ethanol than is this led to only a one per cent reduction contained in the final product. As a in the country’s oil consumption. result, the production of ethanol actually creates more carbon dioxide, rather than The Position in Ontario less. Furthermore, the production of Despite rising concern over the impact ethanol creates a number of hazardous of biofuel production, Ontario Premier byproducts—some of which are dumped Dalton McGuinty says he will not into local water sources. reconsider his government’s ethanol The move to biofuels has helped program. Ontario launched a 12-year, to drive up the price of agricultural $520-million plan in 2005 that required staples. In the United States this has at least five per cent ethanol in all resulted in hundreds of farms being gasoline sold in the province. To date,
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 14 more than $26-million in capital grants Biofuel Facts Quote to producers have been approved. “While many are • Number of days one person could worrying about The incentives are luring investors be fed on the corn needed to fill an filling their gas into the ethanol business, and there are ethanol-fuelled SUV: 365 tanks, many others fears that production of the additive • Acres of Brazilian rainforest cleared around the world could eventually consume virtually all in the last six months of 2007 for crop are struggling to of the province’s corn production of 250 production: 750,000 fill their stomachs, million bushels a year. As well, critics and it is getting • Number of biofuels that are efficient continue to argue that biofuel production more and more enough to cut greenhouse gas is pushing up the price of corn. difficult every emissions by more than it takes to But in April 2008, McGuinty stated day.” —World produce the fuel: 1 (sugarcane-based Bank President, that the production of ethanol is not the ethanol) Robert Zoellick dominant factor driving up the price of (Toronto Star, April corn and other commodities. He said: • Amount of U.S. corn and soybean 14, 2008) “A whole bunch of circumstances are crop that needs to be turned into fuel driving up food prices” (The Globe and to offset 20 per cent of on-road fuel Mail, April 16, 2008). consumption: 100 per cent Analysis Identify the main points of disagreement between supporters and critics of biofuel.
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 15 RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONS Debate: Food or Fuel?
Quote This growing food crisis was the top issue at a meeting of finance ministers in Washington on April 12, 2008. Warning that the food crisis posed a threat to the “The competition for grain between survival of democracy in many countries, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing the world’s 800 director of the International Monetary Fund, said, “We need to devote 100 million motorists per cent of our time to these questions.” World Bank president Robert Zoellick . . . and its two was even more direct: “We have to put our money where our mouth is now billion poorest so that we can put food into hungry mouths. It is as stark as that” (Editorial, people who are The Toronto Star, April 17, 2008). On April 30, 2008, Ottawa announced it will simply trying to pledge an extra $50-million to combat the global crisis. The additional money survive is emerging will mean Canada will contribute a total of $230-million to the UN’s World Food as an epic issue.” Program in 2008. —Lester Brown, economist, Earth While increased aid money will help those who are starving right now, the Policy Institute world’s nations need to look for other solutions to the food crisis. One proposed (The Globe and solution to global warming is increasingly being blamed as a major contributor Mail, January 23, to the food crisis: the production of biofuels. 2007) Prepare to debate the statement: Food like corn should be used to feed the world, not fuel the world.
The class will be divided into groups of four. Two students in each group will argue in support of the debate statement, while two will argue against it. Your teacher will give you time to prepare your debate points. You may wish to view the News in Review video again as you prepare your arguments, or review the points in the section of this guide entitled “Ethanol and Biofuels” (page 14). Try to predict the arguments your opponents will make and prepare points to refute those arguments.
Arguments Supporting Biofuels Arguments Against Biofuels
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 16 CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULES Introduction
Canada’s population has grown by over Focus Conservative Proposals In the spring five per cent since 2001, fuelled by the For their part, the Conservatives believed of 2008, the influx of 240 000 immigrants per year. they were tackling the issue head-on. Conservative In fact, the massive influx of immigrants The system clearly needed some sort of government is changing the face of Canada, with one a change, and the Tories claimed they changed Canada’s in five Canadians coming from visible were rising to the challenge. Minister immigration rules minority groups, and over six million of Citizenship and Immigration Diane in order to speed people living here who were born outside up the application Finley told Canadians, “We have to make process for Canada. In many ways, Canada is the it easier to get more people here faster” skilled workers, immigration capital of the world, with (Toronto Star, March 24, 2008). Skilled expanding the an immigration rate that exceeds all workers are desperately needed across powers of the other G8 nations. However, being an Canada, particularly in Alberta, and the immigration immigrant-friendly nation doesn’t come processing of applications in the order minister in the without its challenges. Canada seems in which they’re received is interfering process. This News in Review to be constantly searching for ways to with Canada’s economic growth. story examines improve the selection and processing of Prime Minister Stephen Harper put his the controversy the vast numbers of new Canadians who perspective on the situation when he surrounding Prime make the decision to come to our nation. said, “Frankly, this is becoming a crisis. Minister Harper’s Currently the backlog of immigrants And, if we do not fix this, the long-term plans to change awaiting entry into Canada is over performance of our economy will be the system. 800 000 people, with a wait time of 10 to affected” (Toronto Star, April 19, 2008). 15 years in some cases. Conservatives proposed changes to the Further Research system that would allow the immigration To stay informed Changing the System minister to direct immigration officers about the position In March 2008, the Harper Conservatives to target skilled workers for priority of Canada’s major tabled a budget implementation bill (Bill entrance to Canada for economic sectors political parties C-50) that included a set of changes to that desperately need their expertise. on this important the Immigration and Refugee Protection issue, consider a visit to their Act. The main changes would give the Backdoor Politics? official Web sites: Minister of Citizenship and Immigration While politicians in Ottawa agreed Conservative the power to fast-track applications that changes needed to be made to the Party, www. for candidates to help key sectors of immigration system, many critics not conservative.ca; the economy. The current system has only disagreed with the Tories’ plans, Liberal Party, www. immigration officers process applications they also didn’t like the way Harper liberal.ca; New Democratic Party, on a “first come, first served” basis, was trying to push through his reforms. www.ndp.ca; Bloc without consideration for bringing in The opposition parties claimed that Québécois, www. immigrants to fill jobs that need to be the Conservatives were trying to sneak blocquebecois.org; filled. The Conservatives claimed that the changes to the immigration system and Green Party, the changes—along with a cash infusion through a procedural back door by www.greenparty. of $190-million would give the system tacking the reforms onto the budget ca. the boost it needed to alleviate the implementation bill. In other words, backlog. At a glance the changes looked because the changes were brought reasonable, but opponents of the changes forward in an omnibus budget bill, were quick to voice their concerns. the rest of Parliament would not have
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 17 the opportunity to debate the bill’s parties, would force a spring election. Definition key provisions before the House of When the bill was put before the House, Omnibus bill refers to a proposed Commons committee that oversees the Liberals chose to vote with the law that tries to immigration. Instead, MPs with concerns Conservatives in favour of Bill C-50, accomplish many about Bill C-50 would have to appear while the NDP voted against it. The different, often at the finance committee meeting on the Harper minority government lived to unrelated, things implementation of the budget to voice govern another day. and contains their concerns. To the opposition parties, many separate items in one the whole process seemed a bit slippery. What does it all mean? package. Normally, Immigrant advocacy groups also voiced parliamentary bills The Crucial Vote their concerns. While some applauded are focused on one Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion claimed Harper’s choice to put the economy issue. that the Conservatives weren’t playing first, others wondered if humanitarian fair and that Canadians should be applications would be ignored in favour concerned about Harper’s apparent of skilled-worker applications. Others “hidden agenda on immigration” (The wondered if the changes gave too much Globe and Mail, April 3, 2008). Backing power to Immigration Minister Diane him up, deputy Liberal leader Michael Finley, who could seemingly accept or Ignatieff asserted, “With a stroke of the reject applications at her whim. Finally, pen, the minister has written fairness some opponents questioned the fairness and justice out of the immigration of letting skilled workers jump the queue system” (Toronto Star, April 4, 2008). over people who had been waiting in the Meanwhile, NDP immigration critic immigration line—in some cases, for Olivia Chow added that the Conservative years. It is unclear whether the changes changes would, at best, not be able to will lead to the economic prosperity survive a Charter of Rights challenge promised by Harper or the doom and and, at worst, could destroy the entire gloom predicted his by opponents. Only immigration system (CBC News, April the implementation of the changes will 9, 2008). Harper countered by making determine whether Canada has hit or Bill C-50 a confidence motion that, missed the mark on immigration. if rejected by the all the opposition Questions 1. List the changes to the immigration system proposed by the Conservative government.
2. What did the Conservatives hope to achieve by changing the system?
3. Why were the opposition parties concerned about the changes?
4. What other concerns did people have about the changes to the immigration system?
5. What is your personal response to the suggested changes? Explain fully.
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 18 CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULES Video Review
Watch the video and answer the questions that follow. Did you know . . . Of all the foreign- 1. Who is the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration? ______born persons living in Canada who are 2. What new powers do the changes to the immigration system give the eligible to become Minister of Citizenship and Immigration? citizens, 85.1 per cent complete the process. This is the highest percentage of new citizenship 3. Why do some critics think that the changes concentrate too much power in in the world. the hands of the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration?
4. a) How many potential immigrants are caught in the backlog of people
trying to get into Canada? ______
b) How many new Canadians arrived in 2007? ______
5. What criticisms have political and community opponents of the changes directed toward the government?
6. Describe some of the issues that Standens Limited had to deal with when trying to recruit immigrant labourers.
7. Why is Sima Sahar Zerehi worried that the Conservatives are hijacking the immigration system?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 19 8. a) What concern does Elizabeth Lim have for humanitarian cases in light of the upcoming changes to the system?
b) How did Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley respond to this concern?
9. Why is immigration considered an important part of Canada’s past and future?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 20 CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULES Activity: Statistical Analysis
Review the following information from the Canadian census of 2006 and complete the activity that follows.
Chart #1: Population by Immigration Status – 2006 Region Total population Non-immigrant Immigrant population population Canada 31 241 030 24 788 720 6 186 950 Newfoundland and Labrador 500 610 490 855 8 385 Prince Edward Island 134 205 129 150 4 785 Nova Scotia 903 090 854 495 45 190 New Brunswick 719 650 690 695 26 400 Quebec 7 435 900 6 535 430 851 560 Ontario 12 028 895 8 512 020 3 398 725 Manitoba 1 133 510 974 735 151 230 Saskatchewan 953 850 901 080 48 155 Alberta 3 256 355 2 702 225 527 030 British Columbia 4 074 385 2 904 240 1 119 215 Yukon Territory 30 195 26 990 3 005 Northwest Territories 41 055 37 985 2 815 Nunavut 29 325 28 820 455
Chart #2: Percentage Population by Immigration Status – 2006 Region Non-immigrant Immigrant population population Canada 79.3% 19.8% Newfoundland and Labrador 98.1% 1.7% Prince Edward Island 96.2% 3.6% Nova Scotia 94.6% 5.0% New Brunswick 96.0% 3.7% Quebec 87.9% 11.5% Ontario 70.8% 28.3% Manitoba 86.0% 13.3% Saskatchewan 94.5% 5.0% Alberta 83.0% 16.2% British Columbia 71.3% 27.5% Yukon Territory 89.4% 10.0% Northwest Territories 92.5% 6.9% Nunavut 98.3% 1.6%
Source: Statistics Canada (www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights)
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 21 Chart #3: Visible Minority Groups in Canada Region Total Total South Chinese Black Filipino Latin Southeast population visible Asian American Asian minority population Canada 31 241,030 5 068 090 1 262 865 1 216 570 783 795 410 695 304 245 239 935 Newfoundland and Labrador 500 605 5 720 1 590 1 325 905 305 480 120 Prince Edward Island 134 205 1 830 130 250 640 30 215 30 Nova Scotia 903 090 37 680 3 810 4 300 19 230 700 955 815 New Brunswick 719 650 13 345 1 960 2 450 4 455 530 720 440 Quebec 7 435 905 654 355 72 845 79 830 188 070 24 200 89 505 50 455 Ontario 12 028 895 2 745 205 794 170 576 980 473 765 203 220 147 135 110 045 Manitoba 1 133 510 109 095 16 560 13 705 15 660 37 790 6 275 5 665 Saskatchewan 953 845 33 900 5 130 9 505 5 090 3 770 2 520 2 555 Alberta 3 256 355 454 200 103 885 120 275 47 075 51 090 27 265 28 605 British Columbia 4 074 385 1 008 855 262 290 407 225 28 315 88 080 28 960 40 690 Yukon Territory 30 195 1220 195 325 125 210 95 145 Northwest Territories 41 060 2270 210 320 375 690 85 355 Nunavut 29 325 420 80 80 100 75 25 10 Source: Statistics Canada (www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights) Activity Using three different highlight markers, complete the following task: 1. In one colour, highlight the line for Canada in all three charts. In a few sentences, outline one or two conclusions from the data. 2. In another colour, highlight the statistics for your province in all three charts. In a few sentences draw one or two conclusions from the data related to your province. 3. In a third colour, highlight the province with the largest immigrant population in Chart #1, the two provinces that have the highest immigrant population percentage in Chart #2, and the three provinces with the lowest number of visible minorities in Chart #3. Based on the highlighted information, answer the following questions: 1. Why do you think the province with the largest immigrant population attracts so many new Canadians? Be specific? 2. Why do you think the two provinces with the highest percentage of immigrants have such large immigrant populations? 3. Why do you think the three provinces you highlighted in Chart #3 have the fewest number of visible minorities? (Hint: Think in geographic terms.) Extension Activity Based on the information you have gathered from the three charts, write a 300-400 word report called “The Changing Face of Canada.” What trends do you notice? What do you think Canada is going to look like in 50 years as immigration continues and the cultural mosaic develops?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 22 CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULES Immigration Facts
Review the following immigration facts • The Conference Board of Canada Did you know . . . As a mark of and complete the activity that follows. estimates that 350 000 immigrants have Canada’s increasing • Canada is the fastest growing G8 taken jobs below their qualifications. multiculturalism, nation, adding 1.6 million people By their estimates, this unutilized the CBC broadcast to its population from 2001 to 2006 expertise is costing the Canadian a Hockey Night in (a growth rate of 5.4 per cent). economy between $3-billion and Canada show in Approximately 1.2 million of those $5-billion per year.** Mandarin. people were immigrants. Experts • Statistics Canada determined that the predict that, by 2030, the only source of daughters of immigrant parents earn 15 population gain for Canada will come per cent more than their Canadian-born from immigration.* counterparts. Meanwhile the sons of • Of the 1.2 million immigrants who immigrant parents earn 38 per cent less came to Canada between 2001 and than their Canadian-born counterparts. ^ 2006, half settled in Southern Ontario, • The top five places of birth for immigrants with the rest heading to other urban arriving in Canada between 2001 and centres like Montreal, Vancouver, and 2006 were: China (155 105), India (129 Calgary.** 140), Philippines (77 880), Pakistan (57 • Canada welcomes an average of 630) and the U.S. (38 770).^^ 240 000 immigrants per year.* • The foreign-born population of Canada • Immigrants suffer a 30 per cent earning is 6.2 million.~ disadvantage compared with Canadian • The number of people waiting to get citizens and will only improve their lot into Canada is currently over 800 000 by three per cent in their first five years people.~~ in Canada.** Sources: The Globe and Mail, March • Statistics Canada determined that when 14*, 21**, May 26***, October 30^, a wave of immigrants boosts the labour December 5^^, December 10, 2007~, supply by 10 per cent, wages fall across March 15, 2008~~ the board by between three and four per cent.*** Activity Choose what you believe are the five most significant points listed above. In your own words, explain the meaning or significance of each of the points you selected.
Example: Statistics Canada determined that when a wave of immigrants boosts the labour supply by 10 per cent, wages fall across the board by between three and four per cent.
Immigrant worker earn less than Canadian-born workers. When an influx of immigrant workers enters the labour force, the average earning level will drop based on the fact that one in 10 workers is earning considerably less money. While this may not be fair, it may be one effect that bringing immigrant workers into the labour force has on the economy.
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 23 CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULES Point and Counterpoint
The Conservatives introduced changes to Richard Kurland (Toronto Star, March the Immigration and Refugee Protection 14, 2008) Act via a budget implementation bill (Bill C-50) tabled in March 2008. Bill C-50 “We have to make it easier to get more was considered a confidence motion. In people here faster. We have a backlog other words, the government would fall right now that the previous government if the opposition parties teamed up to ballooned from 50 000 to 800 000. It has defeat it, thus forcing an election. The since grown to 900 000.” — Citizenship immigration bill passed with Liberal and Immigration Minister Diane Finley support on April 9, 2008. Read the quotes (Toronto Star, March 24, 2008) and complete the activity that follows. “We’ll want to examine what’s in the “By 2011, 100 per cent of Canada’s bill with great care because it seems to labour force growth will come generally make our immigration policy from immigration. Why does the less tolerant, less generous, less fair. [immigration] minister believe that It also concentrates a huge amount of shutting the door on immigration is unilateral power in the hands of the the answer?” — Maurizio Bevilacqua, minister.” — Liberal MP Ralph Goodale Liberal immigration critic (Canadian (The Globe and Mail, March 31, 2008) Press, March 13, 2008) “It is unfair to immigrants, unfair to “Instead of allowing families into Canada. That is why it is a confidence Canada, the Conservative government measure. That is why it is a part of the seems intent only to bring in massive budget, and we appreciate the support numbers of temporary foreign workers of the Liberals to that goal.” — Prime who are vulnerable to mistreatment and Minister Stephen Harper (The Globe and abuse.” — NDP MP Olivia Chow (CBC Mail, April 1, 2008) News, March 14, 2008) “Canadians have every right to be “Immigration should not be just about concerned about this government’s bringing people to work in Canada. hidden agenda on immigration. Why You cannot just treat immigrants as is the government attempting to make an economic unit and not care about radical changes to the immigration developing citizenship, a sense of system through the back door instead of commitment, belonging, and ownership bringing forward independent legislation among the people we bring into this and being honest with Canadians?” — country.” — Debbie Douglas, Executive Liberal leader Stéphane Dion (The Globe Director of the Ontario Council of and Mail, April 3, 2008) Agencies Serving Immigrants (Toronto Star, March 14, 2008) “The community would feel betrayed if the Liberals don’t oppose this bill. “It’s a win-win for everyone. People They’re going to be complacent or can come first, live, work, and pay taxes complicit if they permit the bill to be here, and apply to get landed from within passed.” — Immigration lawyer Amina Canada later.” — Immigration lawyer Sherazee (Toronto Star, April 4, 2008)
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 24 “The instructions are about making the useful.” — Sima Sahar Zerehi of the immigration system more responsive. immigration advocacy organization Our objective is to continue to ensure Status Now (Canadian Press, April 9, that families are reunited and that 2008) qualified workers get here sooner, while respecting the fundamental “Frankly, this is becoming a crisis. principle of fairness.” — Citizenship And, if we do not fix this, the long-term and Immigration Minister Diane Finley performance of our economy will be (Ministry News Release, April 8, 2008) affected. . . . Without the government’s changes, the backlog will explode to one “. . . it’s not a right to come to Canada. and half million in the next five years. It’s a privilege. I think Canadians want Wait times will rise to 10 years.” an immigration system that gets the — Prime Minister Stephen Harper people we need here when we need (Toronto Star, April 19, 2008) them.” — Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley (The Globe and “We think the government has struck Mail, April 9, 2008) the right balance with these reforms to clear the backlog and prioritize skilled “Immigrants are being stripped of immigrants to Canada.” — Naresh their humanity and viewed as strictly Raghubeer, National Policy Director for economic units—and they can be the Canada-India Foundation (Toronto discarded when they are no longer Star, April 19, 2008) Activity Write a 250-word newspaper report that highlights the debate surrounding the issue and the eventual passing of the bill. Use at least three quotes in your
report and make sure you comment on the passing of the bill in April 2008.
10.d; 11.b; 12.c; 13.c; 14.a; 15.b; 16.a; 17.a; 18.c; 19.b; 20.b 20.b 19.b; 18.c; 17.a; 16.a; 15.b; 14.a; 13.c; 12.c; 11.b; 10.d;
: 1.d; 2.d; 3.d; 4.d.; 5.a; 6.b; 7.a; 8.a; 9.b; 9.b; 8.a; 7.a; 6.b; 5.a; 4.d.; 3.d; 2.d; 1.d; : Answers to Citizen Test on page 26 page on Test Citizen to Answers
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 25 CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULES Citizenship Test
Each year thousands of immigrants apply for Canadian citizenship. One of the requirements for citizenship is successful completion of the citizenship quiz. The following is a sampling of 20 questions from the citizenship quiz. Take the quiz and see how you do. (See page 25 for answers.) 1. Who are the Aboriginal peoples and freedoms of all Canadians? of Canada? a. Meech Lake Accord a. First Nations b. Canadian Charter of Rights b. Métis and Freedoms c. Inuit c. Charlottetown Accord d. All of the above d. The Constitution Act, 1867
2. What did the government do to 7. Name two fundamental make immigration to Western freedoms protected by the Canada much easier? Canadian Charter of Rights and a. Created delegate team to Freedoms. assist immigrants to the West a. freedom of association; b. Developed roadway to ease freedom of conscience and immigrant travel religion c. Free land given to any who b. freedom of thought, belief, made the journey opinion and expression, d. Built the Trans-Canada Railway including freedom of the press and other media of 3. What year was Confederation? communication; freedom of life, a. 1871 liberty and security b. 1777 c. freedom of peaceful assembly, c. 1967 freedom of livelihood d. 1867 d. freedom of conscience and religion; freedom of residence 4. Which four provinces first formed Confederation? 8. What are the two official a. British Columbia, Prince languages of Canada? Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario a. French-English b. Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, b. Spanish-English Nunavut c. Mandarin-English c. Manitoba, Alberta, Quebec, d. German-English Nova Scotia d. New Brunswick, Ontario, 9. Which province has the most Quebec, Nova Scotia bilingual Canadians? a. British Columbia 5. Who was the first Prime Minister b. Quebec of Canada? c. Nova Scotia a. John Alexander Macdonald d. Ontario b. Charles Tupper c. Pierre Elliott Trudeau 10. Which animal is an official d. William Lyon Mackenzie King symbol of Canada? a. Moose 6. What part of the Constitution b. Black bear legally protects the basic rights c. Canadian loon d. Beaver
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 26 11. What is the tower in the centre b. Jean Chrétien of the Parliament buildings c. Michaëlle Jean called? d. Wayne Gretzky a. Maple Leaf Tower b. Peace Tower 17. What do you call a law before it c. Ottawa Tower is passed? d. Canadian Tower a. Bill b. Ordinance 12. What is the capital city of c. Act Canada? d. Draft a. Toronto b. Halifax 18. How many electoral districts are c. Ottawa there in Canada? d. Montreal a. 101 b. 211 13. Where are the Parliament c. 308 buildings located? d. 176 a. Halifax b. Quebec City 19. When does an election have c. Ottawa to be held according to the d. Vancouver Constitution? a. Every two years from previous 14. Which province in Canada is the election day. smallest in land size? b. No longer than five years from a. Prince Edward Island previous election. b. Quebec City c. Within 10 years of obtaining c. Nova Scotia office. d. British Columbia d. There is no time limit.
15. What country is Canada’s largest 20. Name the Prime Minister of trading partner? Canada and his party. a. China a. Ralph Klein - Progressive b. United States Conservatives c. South Africa b. Stephen Harper - Conservative d. England Party of Canada c. Paul Martin - Liberal 16. Who is Canada’s Head of State? d. Stockwell Day - Canadian a. Queen Elizabeth II Alliance
Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (www.cic.gc.ca/english/citizenship/ cit-test.asp); CBC News In Depth: Immigration www.cbc.ca/news/background/ immigration/citizenship-quiz.html)
Your Score: /20
Discuss Do you think this is a good way to test future Canadian citizens? Explain.
Follow-up Visit the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Web site at www.cic.gc.ca/ english/citizenship/index.asp. Review the rules for becoming a Canadian citizen. Did you find the application process to be straightforward and fair or overly difficult? Write your conclusions in a 7-10 sentence paragraph.
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 27 CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULES Activity: Assessing the Changes
Further Research Your task is to pretend you are part of a parliamentary committee looking at the proposed changes to the immigration system. Your job is to review the changes To explore the actions and listed below and discuss them with your fellow committee members. Your goal is to concerns of clarify and, if necessary, amend the statements. In the end, you are trying to make the Ministry of the changes work in the best interests of both immigrant applicants and Canadians. Citizenship and Immigration, visit The Process the official Web Form a group of five or six and review the immigration information found in site at: www.cic. this issue of News in Review. Keep the objectives of the Conservatives and the gc.ca. key criticisms of their plans in mind while you review the following information from a news release (“Immigration to be governed by fairness, consultation”) delivered by Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley on April 8, 2008. The text of Bill C-50 is available at http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/ Publication.aspx?DocId=3365116&Language=e&Mode=1.
The Government of Canada is changing the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act in order to: • Identify priority occupations based on input from provinces and territories, the Bank of Canada, Human Resources and Social Development Canada, employers, and organized labour. • Ensure fairness by making decisions on cases faster, while meeting immediate labour market needs. • Respect the goals of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, which are to support Canada’s economy and competitiveness, support family reunification, and uphold Canada’s humanitarian commitments. • Comply with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, which prevents discrimination based on factors such as race, country of origin, and religion. • Respect commitments to the provinces and territories on the basis of previous federal and provincial agreements. • Complement commitments made in Advantage Canada, the Government of Canada’s economic plan, to align the immigration system with labour market needs. • Be published in the Canada Gazette and Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s annual report, which is tabled in Parliament.
Discussion Review the news release and list the pros and cons for each point. Try to find the rationale behind each point and potential trouble that may arise as a result of some of the changes. Decide whether more consultation is needed with Parliament or immigrant advocacy groups. Practically speaking, how can these reforms be implemented in a reasonable and just fashion? Some points will warrant more discussion and clarification than others. Final Product On the basis of your discussions, rewrite the proposed changes into statements that clarify what you and your committee think should be the new immigration rules. Try to clarify some of the statements in an effort to deal with some of the criticisms you observed in your research. Share your revised statements with the class.
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 28 TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICS Introduction
China has controlled Tibet since 1959. In end to Chinese rule. They also called on Focus This News in March 2008, a wave of violent protests the international community to use its Review story erupted in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, and in influence to pressure China to change focuses on the other parts of the country. Ethnic Tibetans its policies toward Tibet. Some went so ongoing conflict took to the streets to vent their long- far as to urge an international boycott of between Tibet and pent-up fury over China’s heavy-handed the Games as a means of indicating the China. Tibetan occupation and their lack of freedom. world’s displeasure with China’s actions. activists who want Chinese settlers in the region were As the torch relay made its way to independence from China have targeted for especially harsh treatment. other world cities, the protesters grew targeted China’s Many of the protesters were Buddhist in numbers and determination. Tibetan preparations for monks, followers of the Dalai Lama, the exiles were joined by others in Australia, the 2008 Summer religious leader of the Tibetan people and India, Europe, and North and South Olympics. These a Nobel Peace Prize winner. He has lived America who sympathized with their protests have in exile in India ever since Chinese leader cause and criticized China’s poor human placed concerns about repression Mao Zedong ordered his troops into Tibet rights record in Tibet and elsewhere. in Tibet and other to consolidate China’s control over the In San Francisco, the demonstrations Chinese human long-rebellious territory. The Dalai Lama were so large that the torch relay had to rights abuses in has always maintained a policy of non- be rerouted through another part of the the international violent resistance to Chinese rule and city, where crowds were thinner. Paris, spotlight. But has not demanded total independence for London, and New Delhi were also scenes many Western Tibet. However, many younger Tibetans, of serious protests in the streets. nations, including Canada, are both inside and outside the region, have But along with the Tibetans and their reluctant to grown tired of waiting and have seized on supporters, the relay also attracted a boycott the Games the occasion of the 2008 Beijing Summer number of people of Chinese descent who and risk damaging Olympics, scheduled to open in August were there to show their support for the trade relations 2008, to draw the attention of the world Games. To them, the demonstrations were with China, an to their cause. a mark of disrespect for their country’s increasingly One of the most important preliminary plans to host the world’s athletes in important trading partner. Olympic activities is the torch relay. The Beijing in the summer of 2008. Winning torch is lit in Olympia, Greece, the home the right to hold the Summer Games of the original Olympic Games, and is was a tremendous boost to China in its then relayed around the world, making a efforts to establish itself as a major world ceremonial appearance in selected cities power. Its leaders wanted to use the before completing its long journey at the occasion to showcase their country as a host country’s Olympic stadium at the modern industrialized nation reaching official opening of the Games. The torch out to the world for increased cultural is then used to light the Olympic flame and commercial ties. Canada, along with that burns continuously in the stadium many Western nations, regards China as a for the duration of the contest. On March significant market for its goods. 30, as Chinese Olympic officials proudly While China’s rulers are opening up watched their country’s athletes light their country to international commerce the torch in Olympia, a group of Tibetan and radically reforming its state- exiles and their supporters disrupted controlled economy along capitalist lines, the proceedings, loudly condemning they are reluctant to extend significant China’s repression and demanding an political freedoms to their people. China
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 29 remains a single-party communist regime, China. At the same time, however, Further Research where opposition to the government is not violations of human rights, both against Learn more about Falun Gong and permitted, and strict limits continue to be groups like the Tibetans and the Chinese the reasons why imposed on the media. Religious groups people themselves, have been difficult to the Chinese that have incurred the disfavour of the ignore. government communist rulers, such as the Falun Gong Many important political figures, such outlawed this sect, have been severely persecuted. Most as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, religious group. of the international criticism of China’s have publicly endorsed the Dalai Lama’s The Web site of the organization poor human rights record is directed at its call for complete religious and cultural Religious ongoing repression in Tibet, which has autonomy for Tibet and have harshly Tolerance at www. become a popular international human condemned China’s policies there. religioustolerance. rights cause embraced by a number For its part, the Canadian government org/falungong. of prominent celebrities in the United expressed concern about the suppression htm is one place to States and elsewhere. But other non- of demonstrations in Tibet, but the Prime start. Chinese national minorities, such as the Minister was also publicly skeptical about Uighurs, an Islamic people who live in the possibility that this country would Quote the western province of Xinjiang, also support a boycott of the Olympics. With “I don’t anticipate live under harsh occupation and long the Summer Games only a few months any kind of a for greater autonomy, largely ignored by away, it appeared highly unlikely that boycott of the international public opinion. many countries would keep their athletes Games themselves. China’s enormous potential as a home as a gesture of solidarity with the . . . Experience global economic, political, and military Tibetan protesters. But with the torch would suggest superpower in the 21st century is one of relay about to enter neighbouring Nepal, that such boycotts are generally the most important factors in international where a large Tibetan exile community not effective and relations today. Many countries are lives, the potential for mores serious really, in the end, anxious to increase their commercial protests remained great. It was quite only harm the ties to this emerging giant that contains likely that Tibetans, and others opposed athletes involved the world’s largest market for consumer to China’s policies, would continue to who have trained goods and is also becoming a major use the pre-Olympic activities as a venue for so many years exporter of manufactured products. to vent their anger and frustration. And to compete in these events.” For this reason, they are extremely how all this would affect China’s hopes — Prime Minister reluctant to place their lucrative business to stage one of the best Summer Games Stephen Harper connections with the country in jeopardy in the history of the modern Olympics (Canadian Press, by orchestrating an Olympic boycott remained to be seen. April 8, 2008) that would surely prompt reprisals from To Consider 1. Why are many people around the world angry with China over its policies toward Tibet?
2. How have they used the Olympic torch relay as a means of indicating their displeasure?
3. Why is China such an important player in the international community today?
4. Why are some Tibetans and others calling on the world to boycott the Beijing Olympics in August 2008? How likely is this to happen?
5. Why are the Olympics such an important event for China and its rulers?
6. What are your personal views on the Olympics and the China-Tibet issue?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 30 TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICS Video Review
Respond to the following questions as you watch the video.
1. Record the reasons why China is pleased to be hosting the Olympics.
2. Record some of the reasons why protestors tried to disrupt the Olympic torch relay.
3. How did Tibet come to be controlled by China?
4. How has Chinese control hurt Tibet and Tibetans?
5. In what ways has China helped Tibet?
6. How are Olympic athletes affected by the protests and calls for a boycott?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 31 7. Summarize the Dalai Lama’s position on China hosting the 2008 Olympic Games.
8. Briefly outline your personal views on an Olympic boycott of China.
Follow-up In a small group, list the arguments for and against a boycott of the Olympics. Consider some of the following questions:
1. Who would a boycott hurt?
2. What would be the short- and long-term impact of a boycott on China?
3. What other options could be used to encourage China to reform its human rights record?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 32 TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICS Tibet: A Profile
Tibet is a mountainous country that Today, Tibet is officially known as occupies one of the world’s most the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) forbidding terrains, the rugged and is a province of China. But many Himalayan Mountain range. Mount Tibetans, including the large exile Everest, the highest mountain in the community opposed to Chinese rule, world, is located on the border of Tibet consider that their traditional homeland and Nepal. It has long been regarded as includes significant territories that once a mystical, mysterious place, home to a formed part of Tibet but have since been distinctive form of the Buddhist religion incorporated into China proper. Tibetans led by a legendary figure known as the call their country Bo, while the Chinese Dalai Lama. In the 1930s, a popular name for the area is Xizang. The Tibetan novel and film calledLost Horizon language, which contains a number of portrayed it as Shangri-la, a utopian regional dialects, is completely different society where everyone lived a life of from Han Chinese, and variations of perfect contentment and spiritual health. it are also spoken in the neighbouring Tibet’s average altitude is 4 000 metres countries of Nepal, Bhutan, and the above sea level, and it is sometimes northern parts of India. The total land known as “the roof of the world” because area of Tibet is 1.2 million square of its high elevation. kilometres. Tibet’s climate is harsh and severely dry, with limited rain and snowfall, despite its high elevation. This is a result of the rain shadow effect of the high mountains that restricts precipitation in the region. Vegetation is sparse. The capital city is Lhasa, where the magnificent Potala Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site that was once the home of the Dalai Lama, is located. There are many important Buddhist temples in the city, which Tibetans regard as their spiritual capital. Tibet is one of the poorer parts of China, with an annual GDP of 13.9 billion Chinese yuan, or USD$1.8-billion in 2001. To stimulate the economy and raise living standards, the Chinese government exempts Tibetans from paying taxes and subsidizes 90 per cent of government expenditures. The Tibet is located in western China. How economy is largely agricultural, and might the country’s location contribute because of the lack of arable land, animal to its distinct culture and traditions? husbandry is the main activity. Sheep, cattle, goats, camels, horses, and yaks
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 33 are the most important livestock raised Chinese residents of Tibet is vastly Did You Know . . . in Tibet. Crops such as barley, wheat, disproportionate to their numbers. This Two Hollywood films about the buckwheat, rye, potatoes, and some is especially true in Lhasa and other Dalai Lama and fruits and vegetables are grown where main cities, where Han Chinese control Tibet increased conditions permit. most of the businesses and important the popularity In recent years, Tibet has become governmental positions. For this reason, of the region for an increasingly popular international they were especially targeted for violent Westerners. But tourist destination. Many in the West reprisals at the hands of ethnic Tibetans the films,Kundun and Seven Years in are fascinated with its religion and during the March 2008 riots. Despite Tibet, were banned culture, and a number of films have been the fact that Han Chinese immigration in China. made about the region. Many Tibetans, to Tibet is continuing at an increasing especially in Lhasa, now make their pace, the ethnic Tibetan birth rate is far living from the hospitality industry, higher than that of the Chinese, whose working in hotels and restaurants and population increase is restricted by the selling traditional handicrafts such as government’s “one child” policy, which clothing, jewellery, rugs, and wooden does not apply to Tibetans. carvings. However, tourists are limited to Many Tibetans, especially the large visiting only a few parts of the TAR, and exile community that followed its leader, Chinese officials strictly limit contact the Dalai Lama, to India following the between foreign travellers and native Chinese invasion of 1959, strongly Tibetans, whose traditional culture is oppose the presence of Han Chinese showcased in a “folkloric” manner, as a residents in their land, believing them relic of a distant past. to be agents of a foreign and uninvited In 2006, the Chinese government occupation. But Chinese officials claim inaugurated the Golmud-Lhasa railway, that their rule has actually benefited making travel between China and Tibet ethnic Tibetans, who mostly lived much easier. Chinese officials promote as nomads in dire poverty before the the link, claiming it will lead to greater Chinese occupation. Schools were economic development in Tibet. But practically non-existent, health care many Tibetans oppose it because they was of very poor quality, rates of infant believe it will enable many more Han mortality were high, and life expectancy Chinese settlers to reach the region and was low. Women were treated in a establish permanent residency there. For very subservient fashion. In addition, over a decade, it has been the policy of the rule of Buddhist lamas, or monks, the Chinese government to encourage including the Dalai Lama himself, had ethnic Chinese immigration to Tibet, done practically nothing to encourage in order to promote greater economic the development of the economy or the development. Many Tibetans, however, modernization of Tibetan society. Even regard this as a move to dilute and the present Dalai Lama, who strongly eventually eliminate their culture and opposes Chinese cultural dominance traditions by swamping the region with in Tibet and restrictions on Buddhist Chinese settlers. religious observances, concedes that According to the most recent the occupation has led to significant census, taken in 2000, ethnic Tibetans economic and social advances for his constituted about 93 per cent of the people, which he does not want to see TAR’s total population of 2 616 329. reversed in the future. However, the political, commercial, Tibetan Buddhism is a distinctive and economic influence of the Han form of the religion that arrived from
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 34 India during the seventh century CE. The from Tibet in 1959 in the wake of the Further Research current Dalai Lama, the 14th person to Chinese invasion. The official web site of the 14th hold this exalted religious title, was born The Dalai Lama is regarded by his Dalai Lama of Tenzin Gyatso in eastern Tibet in 1935. followers as the “Ocean of Wisdom,” Tibet can be As a young boy, he was recognized as or the embodiment of compassion accessed at www. the reincarnation of the previous Dalai and Buddhist holiness. He has many dalailama.com. Lama and taken from his village to the followers worldwide, among Tibetans On this site you’ll Potala Palace in Lhasa, where he was and Westerners who find his message find a collection of recent speeches instructed in Buddhist teachings and of spiritual tranquility and non-violence and teachings. formally installed at the age of four. in the face of oppression extremely During the Second World War, two attractive. But to some younger Tibetans, Austrian mountaineers, Heinrich Harrer his perceived willingness to accept and Peter Aufschnaiter, befriended the Chinese rule over Tibet in return for young Dalai Lama and imparted to him cultural and religious freedom and his an extensive knowledge of European total opposition to violent forms of language and culture. This was to stand protest remain a problem. him in good stead following his exile
Inquiry With a partner, respond in your notebook to the following questions. Be prepared to share your work with the class.
1. Why has Tibet exerted such a fascination over the minds of many people in the West since the 1930s?
2. Why do many Tibetans, both inside and outside the country, resent the Chinese occupation of their homeland?
3. What benefits do the Chinese claim they have brought to Tibet since assuming control over it in 1959?
4. Why is Tibet such a poor region of China, compared with other parts of the country?
5. Why is the Dalai Lama such a significant figure to many Tibetans? What disagreements do some Tibetans have with his approach to dealing with China?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 35 TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICS A Tibetan Timeline
7th-9th century Namri Songzren and family in northeastern Tibet. At the age his family unite Tibet and conquer of two he is declared the reincarnation of neighbouring territories, signing a peace the 13th Dalai Lama and taken to Lhasa. treaty establishing the borders with 1949 Communist forces under Mao China in 822. Zedong take power in China and vow to 1624 The first contact between Tibetans “liberate” Tibet. and Europeans occurs as Portuguese 1950 China enforces its claim to Tibet, missionaries establish a church in Lhasa; while the Dalai Lama, now 15 years old, they are expelled by the lamas in 1745. becomes the head of state. 1724 The Chinese appoint a resident 1951 Tibet is forced to sign a treaty commissioner to administer Tibet and with China, called the “Seventeen assume direct control of the two eastern Point Agreement,” permitting the provinces of Kham and Amdo. establishment of Chinese governmental 1750 A rebellion breaks out against and military headquarters in Lhasa in the Chinese commissioners, which return for a guarantee of Tibetan cultural is suppressed, resulting in a Chinese autonomy and religious freedom. military occupation. The Dalai Lama 1950s Armed resistance to Chinese rule is permitted to administer the region begins in eastern Tibet. under the supervision of the Chinese commissioner. 1954 The Dalai Lama holds talks with Mao, who refuses to honour his part of 1788-91 China sends troops to Tibet the Seventeen Point Agreement. to repulse invaders from neighbouring Nepal. 1959 Chinese troops invade Tibet to end the growing resistance, causing 1850s As Russia and Britain vie for thousands of deaths. The Dalai Lama control of Central Asia, the Chinese and his officials flee to Dharamsala in government expels all foreigners from northern India, where they establish Tibet and closes the border. a government in exile. They are soon 1904 The Dalai Lama flees a British followed by thousands of other Tibetans. military expedition led by Colonel 1965 China establishes the Tibetan Francis Younghusband. Britain forces Autonomous Region (TAR) in the areas Tibet to sign a trade deal eliminating it had not previously incorporated into Russian competition. China proper. 1907 Britain and Russia recognize 1966 Many Tibetan monasteries Chinese authority in Tibet. are destroyed and monks and nuns 1908-9 The Dalai Lama flees to India persecuted as the anti-religious “Cultural after China dispatches troops to Tibet. Revolution” unleashed by Mao reaches Tibet. 1912 The Dalai Lama returns to power, proclaiming his country’s independence. 1971 Foreign visitors are permitted to No foreign government recognizes Tibet. travel to Tibet, after an eight-year ban. 1935 The man who will become the 14th 1970s and 80s Following the end of Dalai Lama is born to a poor peasant the Cultural Revolution, China’s more
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 36 moderate rulers ease repression in Tibet, regard it as a threat to their culture, since but also promote greater Han Chinese it will enable more Chinese immigrants immigration into the region. An open- to arrive. door policy is introduced to reform the 2007 Tibet enjoys a record tourist economy but block any moves toward boom, with over four million foreigners greater autonomy. visiting. 1989 The Dalai Lama is awarded the 2008 Five months before the opening Nobel Peace Prize and uses the occasion of the Summer Olympic Games in to call for a dialogue with Chinese Beijing, the worst riots in two decades leaders to resolve the Tibet problem erupt in Lhasa and other Tibetan peacefully. cities. Mobs of ethnic Tibetans attack 1995 The Dalai Lama names a six-year- government offices and assault Han old boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the Chinese residents. Meanwhile, exiled reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, the Tibetans and their supporters disrupt second most important figure in Tibetan the progress of the Olympic torch relay, Buddhism. China places the boy under an important preliminary event to the house arrest and names another child, Games, in an effort to draw attention Gyancain Norbu, as their officially to Chinese repression in Tibet and their approved Panchen Lama. demand for greater freedom. In response to growing international protests, China 2006 The new Golmud-Lhasa railway is announces that it is willing to hold talks opened, which Chinese officials promote with representatives of the Dalai Lama in as a step toward greater economic order to resolve their differences. development for Tibet. Many Tibetans Analysis 1. What are the long-term historic roots of the current conflict between China and Tibet?
2. Why do some Tibetans believe they have a legitimate right to be recognized as an independent state? Why does China reject this claim?
3. What role has the Dalai Lama played in efforts to resolve the China-Tibet dispute without resorting to violence? How successful has he been to date?
4. How have Tibetan exile groups used the occasion of the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing to draw international attention to the Tibet issue?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 37 TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICS Two Views of the Tibet Protests
When violent protests erupted in Tibet “I support my government on this issue. against Chinese rule, there were a variety The Dalai Lama is the main cause of the of responses to the events. The quotations suffering of both Tibetans and Chinese in that follow reflect very different opinions Tibet. He could stop the protesters but he on the events. Read each carefully and doesn’t. He gave the people who remain respond to the questions that follow. loyal to him the wrong ideas and asked kind-hearted people to risk their lives for “I am inside a monastery right now. his political interests. Our government had The telephone lines have been cut off. to send in the troops to protect our people The monks outside the monastery were and make society stable.” — Zhang Yi shouting ‘Long live the Dalai Lama!’ Fan, student, Beijing This morning the students of a middle school went out and protested. There were “I think Tibet is a small problem that arrests, and many Tibetans went to the can be resolved. The Chinese economy police station to demand the release of and Chinese society is very stable now. those detained. Two girls were shot and The economy is growing fast. Life for wounded. It is tense and frightening . . .” people all across China and all its regions — anonymous Tibetan, Hongyan County, is getting better and better. I think China Sichuan province, China needs its stability and so I think it is fine for the army to go into Tibet. Every “We did this to symbolize the hopes and government should show its force and its aspirations of Tibetan people from under ability to control troubled situations . . .” — the dark period of Chinese rule. During Yu Fu-Ming, company manager, Beijing the vigil, the police came and dispersed us. We are protesting for many reasons. We “The timing is very sensitive. China is due know this is the Olympic year for Beijing. to have the Olympic Games this year. I Nations will come to China to represent think this is why those people chose this themselves. We are protesting like this to time to riot. Many are unsatisfied with the express our national identity.” — Tibetan Chinese government and the country. They who wishes to remain anonymous, Lhasa want to cause riots, maybe even engage in some terrorist activities before, during, or “The situation feels very tense, and there after the Olympic Games. These people is a heavy military presence. I saw large know that it is a huge thing for China to convoys moving toward Lhasa. . . . We have the Olympics. The world’s attention are very worried about arbitrary arrests. is on us. It is a good opportunity for We believe that the people recorded on them to take advantage. Honestly, I think Chinese television will be arrested. We are these are the actions of a small number very worried about the lack of Western of people. But it makes me angry. I think people and journalists around Lhasa.” — it makes most Chinese people angry. Tibetan who wishes to remain anonymous, Everyone has their own problems, but I do outside Lhasa not think that such violent acts are a good Source: “Tibetans describe continuing option.” — Jin Jie Chen, lawyer, Shanghai unrest,” BBC News, March 17, 2008: http:// Source: “Chinese react to violence in Tibet,” news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7300312. BBC News, March 17, 2008: http://news.bbc. stm co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7301222.stm
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 38 Analysis 1. Why do you think the Tibetans commenting on the recent demonstrations asked to remain anonymous, while the Chinese respondents gave their names?
2. How do the responses of the Tibetan and Chinese commentators differ in their views?
3. With which of the arguments do you most agree/disagree? Why?
Notes:
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 39 TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICS The Troubled Olympic Torch Relay
The Olympic torch relay is one of the supporters in various countries used Note Renowned German most important events leading up to the the arrival of the torch to demonstrate filmmaker Leni opening of the Summer Games. It began their opposition to China’s occupation Riefenstahl, prior to the Berlin Olympics in 1936, of Tibet and other human rights abuses. infamous for her when Nazi officials in Germany wanted The initial lighting ceremony itself in glorification of to highlight the ancient Greek heritage Olympia was dramatically disrupted the Nazi regime, of the Games for propaganda reasons. by three members of the human rights began her epic This was the first time the torch was lit in group Reporters Without Borders (www. documentary of the Berlin Games, Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic rsf.org), who eluded tight security to Olympiad, with Games, and relayed by athletes from interrupt a speech by Liu Qi, the head the torch-lighting different countries to the stadium of the of the Beijing Olympic Organizing ceremony. What host country—in this case Germany. Committee. In Athens, during the is ironic about the Much has changed for this ceremony official hand-over of the torch from fact that the first since 1936. In 2008, the torch was lit in Greek to Chinese officials, a group torch relay took place prior to the Olympia on March 28. A famous Greek of demonstrators unfurled a banner opening of the actress, Maria Nafpliotou, dressed as proclaiming “Free Tibet,” leading to Nazi-sponsored an ancient Greek high priestess, ignited many arrests. These protests touched Berlin Olympics in the torch of the first bearer, Alexandros off other, more violent incidents, most 1936? Nikolaidis, a Greek silver-medal winning notably in Nepal, home to a large Tibetan athlete from the 2004 Athens Games. exile community. He then handed it to Luo Xuejuan, a As the torch relay continued through Chinese Olympic swimmer, symbolizing a number of major world cities, the the transfer from Greece to China. From protests grew in intensity. In London, there, the torch was to be relayed across the official route was changed to avoid six continents, covering a total distance demonstrators. In Paris, protesters of 137 000 kilometres, the longest in the succeeded in extinguishing the torch, history of the event. a highly symbolic act. San Francisco After the official lighting of the torch, was the scene of more protests, with it went to Beijing on March 31, to begin celebrities such as actor Richard its route around the world. On the way, Gere and Nobel Prize-winning it was to visit the cities of the fabled Silk South African human rights activist Road, an ancient trade route that once Archbishop Desmond Tutu leading the linked China with the Middle East and demonstrations. Again, the route was Europe. There were also plans to carry changed at the last minute to prevent the flame to the peak of Mount Everest, clashes between pro-Tibet activists and the world’s tallest mountain. The theme Chinese-Americans who were there of the relay was “Journey of Harmony,” to show their support for the Games. symbolizing the goal of promoting world When the relay reached New Delhi, peace through athletic competition. This India, the country where the Dalai was one of the original ideas behind the Lama has established his government in creation of the modern Olympic Games. exile, officials shortened the route and But the early stages of the relay were restricted the activities of the “Olympic marked by controversy and serious Holy Flame Protection Unit,” an elite protest, as exiled Tibetans and their guard of Chinese People’s Liberation
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 40 Army soldiers assigned to defend the other Asian locations, including Hong Further Research torch from attacks. Kong and Macau, two former British Visit CBC News at www.cbc.ca/news/ By the time the torch relay reached and Portuguese colonies that had been interactives/map- Asia, pro-Chinese groups had been able transferred to Chinese rule in 1997. olympic-torch/ to to organize counter-protests to show However, negotiations to permit the view the Olympic that not everyone opposed the Games torch to enter Taiwan had broken down torch route and and took the side of the Tibetan exiles over disagreements between Chinese and view photos taken and their supporters. On April 24, as the Taiwanese officials regarding the playing of the protestors and supporters. flame was carried through the streets of of the two countries’ national anthems Canberra, Australia, it was met by cheers at the ceremonies. China claims Taiwan from the large Chinese community there, as part of its territory, but the current although pro-Tibet demonstrators were government regards it as a separate also in attendance. From there, the torch country. relay was scheduled to visit a number of Questions 1. Why is the Olympic torch relay such an important symbolic preliminary event to the opening of the Olympic Games?
2. How have protesters succeeded in disrupting the torch relay since it began in Greece?
3. Do you agree with the protesters who are trying to disrupt the relay? Why or why not?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 41 TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICS Activity: Considering a Boycott
Despite the wishes of many competing athletes and followers of the Olympic Definition Games that the contest should remain focused on sports and be above politics, A boycott is a previous Olympics have been affected by boycotts over international political method of protest disagreements. In 1976 Canada felt the effects of one of the first boycotts when that involves it hosted the Summer Games in Montreal. A number of African countries chose abstaining from participation not to send athletes to participate in protest over the fact that the New Zealand without causing team had been involved in contests with South Africa, then under an Olympic direct damage. ban because of its racist apartheid system. A boycott is way Four years later, practically every Western country, led by the United States, to demonstrate boycotted the Moscow Olympics to demonstrate their condemnation of the opposition to a Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan a few months earlier. In retaliation, policy or event and when the next Olympics were held, in Los Angeles in 1984, almost every country to increase public awareness for belonging to the then-Soviet bloc also declined to send teams. These Olympics the cause of the were tarnished by political disputes, and those attending the Games were protest. cheated of the opportunity to see the world’s very best athletes in competition. Since that time, the Games held in Seoul, Korea (1988), Barcelona, Spain (1992), Atlanta, Georgia (1996), Sydney, Australia (2000), and Athens, Greece (2004), Web Sites have been free of boycotts. In fact, the number of participating countries has Here are some actually increased due to the break-up of the former Soviet Union into 15 Web sites that different republics and the fact that South Africa is now permitted to compete may be useful to after finally ending the apartheid system. you in researching the topic and Because of bitter memories of past Olympic boycotts, and also fearful of preparing your displeasing China, an emerging global superpower, most Western countries, letters: including Canada, are extremely reluctant to even consider a boycott of the • Official site August 2008 Beijing Games over the Tibet issue and concerns about China’s of the Tibetan human rights record. Even though many of these countries have been very government in critical of Chinese policies in Tibet and its restrictions on political, cultural, and exile, www.tibet. religious freedoms at home, there is some doubt that an Olympic boycott would com have any influence on that country’s leaders and communist regime. In fact, • Official site of there are concerns that such a move might trigger serious economic and trade the 2008 Beijing consequences at a time when many Western nations are looking to China as an Olympics, http:// important new commercial partner. en.beijing2008.cn • Official site Despite this hesitation, pro-Tibet groups in many Western countries have loudly of the Chinese called for a boycott of the Games. The Dalai Lama, the exiled leader of the government, Tibetan people, does not support such a move, but many younger Tibetans and http://english.gov. their supporters abroad have urged it as a matter of conscience. cn • Official site of the Canada’s official policy, stated by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as of the end Canadian Olympic of April 2008 was that it was unlikely to support or participate in any planned Committee, www. boycott of the Beijing Games. Do you agree with this position? olympic.ca Your task is to write a letter to the Prime Minister, stating your views on the • CBC Archives, www.cbc.ca/ issue of China’s occupation of Tibet and its human rights record, and whether archives or not you think that a boycott of the Beijing Summer Olympics would be an appropriate response on the part of Canada to these issues. Show your letter to your teacher before you e-mail it to the Prime Minister at [email protected] or mail it to Office of the Prime Minister, 80 Wellington Street, Ottawa K1A 0A2. No postage is necessary.
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 42 MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREEN Introduction
We may finally be at a breakthrough 50 per cent by 2050—a minimum target Focus North Americans point in the battle against greenhouse scientists widely agree we must meet.” seem on the verge gases. Fortunately, all three major of embracing a To date, North American (and presidential candidates in the 2008 U.S. green culture—the especially U.S.) environmentalists election process are proponents of a understanding battling to develop measures to cap-and-trade system to place a limit on that dealing with lower levels of carbon dioxide in carbon emissions in the United States, climate change is the atmosphere have largely fought and to significantly reduce them by 2050. not an option, but a necessity. This on the grassroots level, encouraging A bill is currently before the U.S. Senate News in Review individuals to personally find ways proposing such a plan. And a strong story looks at the to lower their own carbon footprints. initiative in this area by the U.S. will economics of Federal governments in both Canada and likely encourage Canada to take similar climate change: the U.S., however, have been reluctant measures. the potential to enact tough measures to enforce On a truly positive note, many costs of bringing climate change emission limits. Both governments corporations in both Canada and the under control and have argued that deep cuts would have U.S. have been anticipating government the economic too great an impact on the nations’ measures to put a price on greenhouse advantages to economies. Unfortunately, grassroots gas emissions and have taken steps on companies that efforts, while desirable, cannot solve the their own. As we shall see in the video do so. problem on their own. and other sections of this guide, they The problem of dealing with global are finding ways to reduce their own Quote warming is far more complicated than emissions and to help individuals and “Carbon any environmental problem with which other corporations to do so as well. In dependence we have previously dealt. It is much other words, for innovative companies, has eroded our bigger in scope and involves almost global warming is as much an economic economic power, every country in the world. opportunity as it is a challenge. destroyed our moral authority, “Even if every household in the U.S. Booming economies in developing diminished our screwed in an energy-efficient light bulb countries will place yet more demand on international today, the savings in greenhouse gas traditional energy sources, even as they influence emissions would be wiped out by fewer become scarcer and more expensive. and prestige, than two medium-sized coal plants – the Enterprising corporations in Canada and endangered our kind of plant that is being built in China developed countries, working to develop national security, at the rate of one a week,” writes Colin new, energy-efficient technologies, will and damaged our health and Campbell in Maclean’s (April 7, 2008). likely find themselves with huge new landscapes. It “If everyone in North America started markets. is subverting driving hybrid cars tomorrow, it would Going green can be the key to making everything we contribute just a fraction of the overall even more green (money). value.” — Robert reduction needed to cut global emissions F. Kennedy Jr., commenting on U.S. energy For Discussion dependency It is generally conceded that the U.S. and at least parts of Canada are now in (Vanity Fair, May an economic recession. How might a recession or a stagnating economy affect 2008) the battle to bring greenhouse gas emissions under control? What might environmentalists do to keep the issue an important one in the public eye?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 43 MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREEN Video Review
Answer the following questions in the spaces provided. The questions are grouped to assist you in answering them.
1. Between 1990 and 2005, by what percentage did Canada’s greenhouse gas emissions rise? ______% 2. By what date does the federal government hope to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 per cent? ______Geothermal Energy 3. How long will it take for the Burlington, Ontario, homeowners to recover their investment in geothermal energy? ______4. What percentage of Canadian homes is now using geothermal energy? ______% 5. Compared with straight electric or oil systems, what percentage of greenhouse gases does a geothermal system produce? ______% 6. What nation gets almost all its power from underground volcanic activity? ______Paper Production 7. What makes Minas Basin Pulp and Power unique as a paper producer?
8. In addition to the source of raw material for paper production, what other features make this company especially green in the following areas? a) Hydro ______
b) Heat Use ______
c) Fuel Sources ______Zenn Electric Cars 9. What is the biggest problem faced in Canada by the Zenn electric car?
10. In what traffic conditions is the Zenn designed to operate?
11. Why does Transport Canada want to keep the Zenn from mixing with other traffic?
12. What province already allows low-speed vehicles to operate in mixed traffic?
13. What other province seems likely to do so soon?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 44 For Discussion 1. Two of the three green products in the video are aimed directly at individual consumers: Maritime Geothermal’s heat pump and the Zenn electric car. What kind of individual do you think would most likely be interested in geothermal systems? In the Zenn electric car?
2. Zenn is currently seeking certification to operate in mixed traffic on municipal roads throughout Canada. Do you think it should be allowed to do so? Why or why not? You may wish to look at Zenn’s discussion of the issue at www.zenncars.com. Click on “What’s New” and then on “Zenn Canada.”
3. How committed are you personally to “going green”? Explain.
Notes:
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 45 MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREEN A Huge Challenge
There are very few people left who Quote Increased Demand “Green is would argue that global warming is not Most environmental scientists now argue everywhere, and one of the most serious issues facing the that the minimum target we must meet the message planet. by 2050 is a 50 per cent reduction in behind it is as We are all aware of the basic facts: greenhouse gas emissions. This reduction simple as it is • The planet is rapidly growing warmer. has to take place at a time where energy attractive: change demands, especially in developing your day-to-day • Human activity is responsible for a habits, consume good part of this rapid warming, thanks countries, will be rapidly growing. less, and for a to the emission of greenhouse gases. Current trends indicate that worldwide small price, you • Greenhouse gas emissions are likely to energy use will rise over 50 per cent by can save global double in just 21 years. 2030. China and India are expected to warming. The only account for 45 per cent of this growth. • We will have to take drastic action in problem with it The International Energy Agency is this: you can’t. order to stop—or at least slow down— (www.iea.org), based in Paris, calculates In fact, you can’t climate change. even come close.” that meeting this target requires that, • Failure to deal with this issue will — Colin Campbell, worldwide, all the following new energy Maclean’s, (April 7, likely result in an increase in drought, sources must come into operation: 2008) storms, and violent weather in some of • 30 new nuclear plants the most vulnerable areas of the planet. • 17 000 wind turbines As a result of this awareness, many Did you know . . . • 400 biomass power plants individual Canadians are taking steps to Canada’s overall • 2 huge hydroelectric dams (the size of record to date reduce their environmental footprint and is a poor one becoming more “green.” This grassroots China’s Three Gorges Dam) indeed. When environmentalism has become a central • 42 coal or natural gas plants with Canada signed the part of the effort to reduce and control carbon-capture technology. Kyoto Protocol, it global warming. pledged to reduce Not only are all these new sources its greenhouse gas In the April 7, 2008, issue of Maclean’s required, but they would also have to be emissions by six per author Colin Campbell examined the built every year from 2013 to 2030. cent below 1990 issue of global warming and what steps To understand the stress that growth levels by 2010. will be required to meet the challenge. in developing countries will add to The country now His conclusion is sobering: it will take a global warming, one need only look at proposes to lower lot more than individual efforts to make the example of China. In 2008, China is its emissions to a real change. 20 per cent below expected to pass the U.S. as the world’s 2006 levels by “Fixing global warming requires largest emitter of greenhouse gases. 2020. Meanwhile, nothing short of remapping energy About 70 per cent of China’s energy 2008 levels are 30 infrastructures and economies all around is supplied by coal, the worst fuel for per cent higher the world,” writes Campbell. “Instead producing greenhouse gas. From 2007 to than those in 1990! what we’re doing is reducing ecological 2020 the country plans to spend another footprints with light bulbs, awareness $128-billion on coal-based fuels. campaigns, and carbon offsets for the environmental sins of buying books and putting up Christmas lights.”
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 46 An Economic Issue North America has been slow to act on Quote this issue—and federal governments in “There is now a Solutions to the global warming crisis growing awareness are increasingly seen as economic ones. Canada and the U.S. continue to express that global The most effective solutions require the their reluctance. Europe, however, warming is really involvement of governments—and some has a cap-and-trade scheme that sets a fundamental drastic approaches: compulsory limits. In Canada, only economic dilemma: • Carbon emissions must be capped, and British Columbia has placed a price how to make it emitters charged for exceeding those on CO emissions—but these apply to more expensive 2 to emit carbon caps. everyone, with no loopholes. Current dioxide while • Trading schemes must be developed charges are $10 per tonne; these will rise dramatically so emitters that are well below their to $30 per tonne in 2012. reducing the costs caps can sell their credits to those who In the “Responses”section (page 48), of new, alternative exceed their caps. we will look more closely at the key energies to methods governments must use to ensure • Huge public investments in research serve the world’s a drastic reduction in emissions from growing needs.” and development need to be made on fossil fuels—and the one country that is — Colin Campbell, clean energy resources. Maclean’s (April 7, critical to any successful reduction. 2008) Analysis What do you think of the work of the organization 350.org, which is described below? Be specific.
Some organizations do attempt to give grassroots environmentalism global
clout. For example, scientists believe that the safe limit of CO2 in the atmosphere is 350 ppm (parts per million). We are currently at about 380 ppm. The organization 350.org seeks the help of ordinary individuals to meet its goal: “We want to take this number, 350, and spread it all over the world. We want every human, if they know nothing else about global warming, to know that 350 represents safety. We want to use protest and music and art and video and the net to make that number inescapable, ubiquitous. Everywhere. If we do, it will help move the international negotiations in that direction—our target is the international community, which is spending the next 18 months negotiating a follow-up to Kyoto. We may not get another shot at this, so let’s get to work on spreading 350.” You can visit this group at www.350.org.
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 47 MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREEN Responses
The argument against legislated CO fall and the greener companies make Quote 2 “The U.S. produces reductions in greenhouse gas levels is more money. More money is invested in nearly a quarter invariably economic. energy efficiency. of the world’s A total of 174 countries signed the There is a proposal before the U.S. greenhouse gases Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse Senate that would use cap-and-trade each year and gas emissions. Conspicuously absent limits and would aim for a reduction in has stubbornly from the signers is the United States, emissions to 2005 levels by 2012, then made it clear that the world’s largest emitter of these further reduce those levels by 70 per it doesn’t intend to do a whole lot gases. There is universal agreement that cent by 2050. The result has been a bitter about it.” — Bryan without significant action by the U.S., no argument on the cost of such a policy. Walsh, Time (April attempt to reduce these emissions will On one side, the National Association 28, 2008) have the necessary impact. of Manufacturers says that up to four The U.S. government has argued that million jobs would be lost by 2030, and because developing countries, especially there would be an annual loss of $669- Did you know . . . China and India, are exempt from billion in the Gross Domestic Product British Columbia will soon become imposed reductions, the economic cost (GDP). But the U.S. Environmental the first Canadian to the U.S. is too high for them to act. Protection Agency predicts that the cost province to enact However, unless the U.S. does act, there would be no more than one per cent less legislation to place is no incentive for countries like China growth in GDP between 2010 and 2030. a tax on carbon and India to improve their emissions emissions. For output. 2. Increasing Fossil Fuel Efficiency information on the Walsh points out that, largely thanks to British Columbia Fortunately, the U.S. attitude toward carbon tax, go emissions control is changing. All three higher energy costs, Western Europe to www.sbr.gov. major candidates in the 2008 election and Japan are already far more energy bc.ca/individuals/ process for the presidency agree that efficient than North America. Energy Consumer_Taxes/ action must be taken, though they efficiency means less energy use, which Carbon_Tax/ disagree on exactly what action. in turn means fewer emissions. carbon_tax.htm. Bryan Walsh, the environment Walsh suggests that North America writer for Time, presented an action needs to explore methods to increase plan in the magazine’s April 28, 2008, energy efficiency. This would create issue. Noting that, while there is no what he calls an “energy surge,” which comprehensive plan yet developed, there would reduce emissions and help buy is universal agreement on the necessary time for the development of carbon-free components. He suggested three areas of alternative energy sources. concentration. Some of the steps taken could be as simple as turning off the lights in office 1. Pricing Carbon Emissions buildings at night (the recent Earth Hour Walsh proposes a cap-and-trade system observance worldwide demonstrated its for carbon emissions, a system that is effectiveness in saving energy). Other now widely used in Europe. Under this measures could generate big returns for system, the government sets carbon investors. A USD$170-billion investment output limits for companies; those who in green buildings and more efficient emit less carbon than their legal limit can automobiles, for example, could result in sell the credit to other companies that USD$900-billion in savings by 2020. exceed theirs. The result is that levels of
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 48 3. Creating of a New Energy System increasing their scale while equally Further Research dramatically dropping the cost. The An International The ultimate key to effectively cutting Monetary Fund greenhouse gases, however, is the effort required could equal or exceed (IMF) study creation of new clean-technology energy. that needed to put the economy on a has indicated So far, the private sector in North war footing in the Second World War. that, through America has been far more involved in It will also require a huge investment in international this process than has the public sector. research, involving enormous amounts of co-ordination, In 2007, U.S. venture capital funding public as well as private funds. climate change can be controlled put $5.18-billion into clean-technology Walsh estimates that the cost of this without any research—up 44 per cent over 2006. battle to develop clean energy could serious damage Replacing carbon-based energy be as much as two or three per cent to the global sources will not be easy. The key to the of the U.S. GDP. Failure to rise to the economy (www. success of any of the new technologies— challenge, however, could very possibly enn.com/climate/ wind, solar, and hydrogen being three result in the end of global prosperity. article/34121). examples—involves dramatically
Quote For Discussion “Think tanks and 1. Walsh’s arguments are aimed at the U.S. government. Should the three- war colleges have part plan he outlines also be part of Canadian policy? Why or why not? shown that the outcome of any 2. How might Canada play a role in influencing the U.S. government to adopt crisis is usually a plan similar to that described by Walsh? determined by one dominant global 3. Canada’s record on emissions is fairly dismal, with a 30 per cent increase player that has the of emissions in 2008 over those of 1990. How might Canada’s performance innovators who influence any U.S. decision on cutting greenhouse gas emissions? can churn out the technology, the 4. In general are you optimistic or pessimistic about the chances of the world financiers who can cutting greenhouse gas emissions? Explain. back it, and the diplomatic clout to pull the rest of the planet along. That player, of course, exists, and it is, of course, America.” — Bryan Walsh, Time (April 28, 2008)
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 49 MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREEN Great Green Ideas
In many cases it is corporate North construction. One product that has Further Research To learn more America that is leading the way in especially caught the attention of the about these developing new green technologies to construction industry is Hycrete, a liquid innovative ideas, lower greenhouse gas emissions. Both solution of sand, aggregate, cement, and visit the following Canada and the U.S. continue to lack a water that is used to waterproof concrete. Web sites: Finavera comprehensive plan for their reduction. Normally, concrete is waterproofed and wave energy Recognizing this, some companies have through the application of an external technology at stepped in to develop new technologies membrane that contains harmful www.finavera.com/ en/home, Hycrete to reduce environmental impact. Here are chemicals. This concrete cannot be at www.hycrete. four North American examples. recycled or reused; it has to be sent to com, PetroAlgae landfills. Concrete treated with Hycrete, at www. Finavera Renewables however, is chemical-free. Hycrete can petroalgae.com Finavera is a Canadian company with also be mixed into roofing materials to and E-Flex at www. wind energy and wave energy projects make green roofs or used to waterproof autobloggreen. com/2007/01/07/ in several different parts of the world. drywall. detroit-auto-show- Most innovative are their wave energy general-motors-e- projects. The technology uses what PetroAlgae flex-platform. the company calls AquaBuOYs, which Florida-based PetroAlgae is an are positioned several miles offshore interesting company. It is attempting where wave energy is greatest. Each to respond to the world’s increased AquaBuOY is an electrical turbine, demands for biofuels, and specifically and the electrical power it creates is biodiesel. It uses special strains of micro- transmitted to shore by an underwater algae (developed by the Arizona State power line. AquaBuOYs are designed to University) to obtain high yields of oil be clustered in order “to provide clean, that can be processed into other products, renewable energy for large population especially biodiesel. [centres].” The company notes that biofuels Finavera believes that wave have become an important part of many technology has the potential to provide countries’ energy mix, and that land- as much as 10 per cent of world demand based crops are insufficient to meet for electricity—comparable to the demands. The company also notes that amount provided by hydroelectric dams. its “patented algae strains are not only a For a country like Canada, with its miles great natural oil source, but also capable of coastlines, it would seem to be a of being used to absorb carbon dioxide natural fit. from the atmosphere and contaminants from waste water.” As a bonus, the Hycrete leftover material after the algae has been Green buildings have become one of processed for oil can serve as a protein the most important pieces in solving the source for animal feed, fertilizer, or climate change puzzle. Modern buildings biomass fuel. tend to be more energy efficient and At a time when there is increasing are built to have a far smaller carbon concern that food shortages are likely footprint than older buildings. being heightened by the conversion of Significant advances are now being food crops into biofuels, PetroAlgae’s made in the materials used for their efforts seem especially significant.
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 50 General Motors E-Flex Depending on the local fuel source, the General Motors doubts that any one engine would run on gasoline, ethanol, energy source will be developed in the propane, natural gas, or biofuel. near future to power all the world’s Unlike current hybrid gasoline-electric vehicles. GM itself is producing some cars, the E-Flex automobiles are full- hybrid vehicles and has an electric car time electricity driven, since all power called the Volt nearing production. to the engine comes directly from the GM believes that in the future, car’s lithium battery. Eventually, GM energy sources will be based on what is believes, it will be fuel cells that drive available locally. In some parts of the the generator. Carbon-based fuel sources world the internal combustion engine will be completely dispensed with. will continue to be important. In others GM hopes to have the Volt on the hydrogen- or battery-driven cars will be market in 2010. The company notes most common. that anyone with a 64-kilometre-per- E-Flex is a platform that assumes that day commute or less would never have electricity will play some role in the to buy gasoline as long as they own the powering of most future automobiles. car. On the other hand, it would only It includes a high-power lithium ion take about a litre of gasoline to use battery that can power the car for about the Volt for a commute of 200 miles. 64 kilometres per charge. After that, a The Volt will be the cleanest (and small engine is used to provide power most economical) highway-suitable for an on-board generator, which in automobile on the market. turn provides a charge for the battery.
Analysis 1. Which of the above ideas do you believe is likely to be the most successful in the future? Why?
2. Which of the above ideas do you think is most likely to fail in the future? Why?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 51 MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREEN Making Green by Going Green
As we have seen in other sections of example, is one nation that has always Further Research For a thorough this guide, going green is very much an realized this. One of their recent major description of economic issue. government efforts is the “Top Runner” the Top Runner The U.S. and Canadian federal program for energy-efficient appliances. program, go to governments have been extremely slow The government rates all appliances www.eccj.or.jp/ to respond to international demands that for efficiency, and the best model then top_runner/img/32. they reduce their carbon footprints. The becomes the industry standard that all pdf. U.S. refused to sign the Kyoto Accord, manufacturers must meet. The result arguing that it would set its own emission is a permanent competition to improve Quote targets; meeting Kyoto standards would efficiency standards and a competitive “Corporate have too great a negative economic advantage for Japanese appliances all greening is very effect. Canada signed the accord, but its over the world. much about profit. overall emissions have risen rather than Many corporations realize that Forward-looking declined, and the current government has reducing greenhouse gas emissions is companies are beginning to see yet to enact a comprehensive plan for not an option, and that sooner or later the writing on controlling greenhouse gases. Ethanol they will be required to take drastic the wall when it production, the keystone of the Canadian action. Forward-looking corporations comes to global government’s current proposals, is being are anticipating future regulations and warming and increasingly condemned by economists taking steps that will help them profit in understand that and environmentalists alike. the future. they can invest now in green Some jurisdictions have been quick to At NOVA Chemicals near Joffre, technologies and embrace stringent standards, and their Alberta, carbon dioxide emissions are in many cases save economies have been strengthened, collected and pumped underground into money and win rather than weakened. Sweden, for a nearby, aging oil field. The CO2 is customers in the example, has a carbon tax of $150 per used to push otherwise-unavailable oil short term, or pay tonne (compare that with the B.C. tax deposits to the surface; the CO2 remains the price later.” of $10 per tonne), and a per-person trapped underground. The result will be — Colin Campbell, Maclean’s (May 14, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) about one million tonnes of CO2 sequestered 2007) three times that of the United States. (the same as taking about 220 000 cars Iceland, formerly totally dependent on off the road for a year). Four million foreign fuel sources, has made itself barrels of oil will also be taken from nearly 100 per cent energy self-sufficient what was until recently considered a through a combination of geothermal and useless field. hydroelectric power. It is now ranked For many years Wal-Mart was a fourth among the most affluent nations. company despised by environmentalists. In North America, California is easily It is now well on its way to being the the most energy-efficient U.S. state, largest purchaser of green power in with the toughest emission standards Canada. The company has long-term on the continent. California also has the goals: to produce no waste, to be strongest economy in the U.S. powered entirely by renewable energy, So going green can also be and to be a significant retailer of Earth- economically advantageous, especially friendly products. Surveys and studies if the economic sector is innovative have demonstrated to the corporation in achieving green status. Japan, for that this is what its consumers demand.
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 52 General Electric, convinced that high PlascoEnergy Group is an innovative Further Research oil and gas prices are permanent, has Canadian company that takes garbage For more on how NOVA developed a corporate program it calls and turns it into energy. Plasco has built Chemicals manages “Ecomagination.” It believes that high a demonstration plant in Ottawa, where greenhouse gas fuel prices will cause corporations and it takes 85 tonnes of garbage per day emissions, see consumers to invest in efficiency and (seven per cent of Ottawa’s household www.novachem. alternative energy. A General Electric waste) and uses it to generate four com/socialresp/ product certified for Ecomagination has megawatts of electricity. Plasco now docs/GHG_2007. pdf. For more to offer customers both environmental has a tentative agreement to build a 300 on Wal-Mart’s benefits and lower operating costs. These tonne plant near Red Deer, Alberta. environmental products are also expected to pay back More and more, the international policies, see www. any capital investment in an average of consensus is that the time has come newswire.ca/en/ two years or less. In 2007, GE’s revenues for governments and companies to go releases/archive/ from these products were up 20 per green. As the examples above and in the June2007/07/c9848. cent over 2006, at USD$12-billion. GE video have shown us, going green is also html. For GE’s Ecomagination expects this to be USD$20-billion by becoming a very good way to make more program, see 2010. green. ge.ecomagination. com/site/#vision/ Discussion commitments. 1. Why do you think private corporations are going green faster than many For PlascoEnergy, governments? see www.plasco energygroup.com. 2. How might you try to convince the Government of Canada to “go green” faster?
Quote “Whether for altruistic reasons or not, (companies) realize that our sort of 19th-century energy economy that we are currently running on is coming to an end,” says Josh Dorner, spokesman for the Sierra Club. “It’s to their advantage—to their business advantage—to start gearing up for a low-carbon economy.” — www.msnbc.msn. com/id/17969124/ page/2/
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 53 MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREEN Activity: Greening Your World
Part 1: Greening at Home Going green and saving money is something that individuals can do, too. National Geographic recently published the first issue of a new magazine called Green Guide. In it they suggest seven steps—some obvious, some less so—that would save the average four-person household at least $60 per week while they saved energy, saved water, and reduced waste. (Green Guide has a companion Web site at www.thegreenguide.com.) Some steps are simple; others would require more thought.
To Do Review the list with other members of your family to determine which steps you have already taken and those that you might also take. Are there other steps you have already taken that would be good additions to the list?
1. Switch to cloth napkins (saves trees, cuts down on garbage).
2. Turn down the thermostat when you are out or in bed (reduces CO2 and pollution).
3. Eat what you buy (the average American—and likely Canadian as well— household throws out about 14 per cent of its food purchases. The most obvious impact is on landfills).
4. Eat home-cooked food, especially avoiding fast-food restaurants (covers a multitude of sins—the meal is cheaper, no drive to a restaurant is necessary, and there is less packaging to throw out).
5. Rebalance your plate—less meat, more produce and grains (animal protein takes far more resources like water, feed and fertilizer than does vegetable protein).
6. Shorten your showers (a two-minute reduction saves 19 litres of water plus the fuel it takes to heat the water).
7. Group your errands and do them in one place at the same time (this saves on driving costs and means fewer emissions and less pollution).
Part 2: Greening at School To Do Is your school or school board doing everything it can to reduce its environmental impact? Here are some questions to ask the appropriate school authorities. A small group of students should take on each question and do any follow-up research deemed necessary.
1. For your computer specialist: What happens to old computers? Are they thrown in the trash, passed on to other users, or sent to computer recycling specialists? If they are sent to landfills, could they be redirected for proper recycling?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 54 2. For your caretakers: What cleaning products are used in the school? Do they have hazard symbols on their labels? If the staff is not already using green cleaners, would they consider trying them out? (The CBC has a helpful article on green cleaning at www.cbc.ca/news/background/ consumers/green-clean.html.)
3. For your principal: Does your school or school board encourage naturalizing schoolyards? How might a group of interested students plan and develop a naturalized garden at your school? (A good article on naturalized schoolyards is available at www.elements.nb.ca/theme/ education/fallsbrook/edu.htm.)
4. For your cafeteria: Does the cafeteria compost food scraps and leftovers? If not, would they be willing to do so? Would they be willing to try a variety of methods, including vermiculture (using composter worms) to demonstrate to others the various types of composting available?
CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 55 News in Review Index A list of the stories covered last season and to date in the current season is provided below.
The complete chronological index for all 17 seasons of News in Review, and a subject-oriented index listing News in Review stories appropriate for various subject areas can be accessed through our Web site at www.cbc.ca/newsinreview. Hard copies of these indexes can also be obtained by contacting CBC Learning. SEPTEMBER 2006 SEPTEMBER 2007 Lebanon War: Israel Battles Hezbollah The Trial of Conrad Black Toronto Arrests: 18 Face Terror Charges The Seven Wonders of Canada London Bombers: Alienation and Terror Tony Blair’s Ten Years in Power The Big Melt: Canada’s Changing Arctic Omar Khadr: Canadian in Guantanamo OCTOBER 2006 OCTOBER 2007 A Gunman Attacks Students in Montreal The Van Doos Head for Afghanistan A Canadian Rides the Shuttle into Space The Trials of Stephen Truscott Canada Hosts World AIDS Conference The Act that Made Us Canadian 9/11: The Day that Changed the World Going Green to Fight Global Warming NOVEMBER 2006 NOVEMBER 2007 Canada’s Bloody War in Afghanistan Taking Off: Canada’s Soaring Dollar Trying to Stop the Killing in Darfur Defending Our Sovereignty in the Arctic Michaëlle Jean: Our Governor General Selling Canada’s Military to Canadians Canada’s Famous Dinosaur Hunter Helping The Mentally Ill Homeless DECEMBER 2006 DECEMBER 2007 The Liberals Choose a New Leader Harper’s Throne Speech Challenge The North Korean Nuclear Crisis State of Emergency in Pakistan Teaching Children How to Care Quebec’s Big Accommodation Debate Restoring the Parliamentary Library Lake Superior: Where Did the Water Go? FEBRUARY 2007 FEBRUARY 2008 The U.S. Sends More Troops to Iraq The Assassination of Benazir Bhutto Afghanistan: The Dead and the Wounded Cracking Down on Tasers Taking The Right To Play to Ethiopia The Oil Sands and the Environment Visiting Second Life’s Virtual World The Hidden Wounds of War MARCH 2007 MARCH 2008 A Call for Action on Climate Change The Manley Report on Afghanistan The Trial of Robert Pickton Restarting the Chalk River Reactor The Forgotten War in Burma The Campaign for the White House Repression and Fear in Russia Cyber Thieves and Identity Theft APRIL 2007 APRIL 2008 The Budget: Countdown to an Election? Dodging a Spring Election Quebecers Vote in a Provincial Election Kosovo Declares Independence Arrest in a 1964 Mississippi Cold Case Restoring Peace to Kenya Fashion and the Dangerously Thin Coming Home to Newfoundland May 2007 CBC Learning Remembering Vimy Ridge P.O. Box 500, Station A Iran Seizes British Sailors Toronto, Ontario, Canada The Dangers of Global Warming M5W 1E6 Living as a Homeless Person Tel: (416) 205-6384 Fax: (416) 205-2376 E-mail: [email protected]
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