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News in ReviewResource GuideMay 2008

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CreditsResource Guide Writers: Jill Colyer, Sean Dolan, Peter Flaherty, Jim L’AbbéCopy Editor and Desktop Publisher: Susan RosenthalResource Guide Graphics: Laraine Bone Production Assistant: Carolyn McCarthyResource Guide Editor: Don QuinlanSupervising Manager: Karen BowerHost: Carla RobinsonSenior Producer: Nigel GibsonProducer: Lou Kovacs Video Writers: Nigel Gibson, Mark Harrison, Jennifer HarwoodDirector: Ian CooperGraphic Artist: Mark W. HarveyEditor: David Smith

News in Review, May 20081. 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)

CBC News in Review • May 2008 • Page 3

ContentsIn This Issue . . . ......................................................................................... 4

RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONS ........................... 6Introduction .............................................................................................................6Video Review ...........................................................................................................7A Global Crisis .........................................................................................................9Understanding the Crisis ........................................................................................11Impact in Canada ...................................................................................................13Ethanol and Biofuels ..............................................................................................14Debate: Food or Fuel? ............................................................................................16

CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULES ..................... 17Introduction ...........................................................................................................17Video Review .........................................................................................................19Activity: Statistical Analysis .................................................................................21Immigration Facts ..................................................................................................23Point and Counterpoint ..........................................................................................24Citizenship Test .....................................................................................................26Activity: Assessing the Changes ............................................................................28

TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICS ...................................... 29Introduction ............................................................................................................29Video Review .........................................................................................................31Tibet: A Profile ......................................................................................................33A Tibetan Timeline .................................................................................................36Two Views of the Tibet Protests ...........................................................................38The Troubled Olympic Torch Relay .....................................................................40Activity: Considering a Boycott ............................................................................42

MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREEN .................................... 43Introduction ............................................................................................................43Video Review .........................................................................................................44A Huge Challenge ..................................................................................................46Responses ...............................................................................................................48Great Green Ideas ..................................................................................................50Making Green by Going Green ..............................................................................52Activity: Greening Your World ..............................................................................54

News in Review Index ............................................................................ 56


NiR Study ModulesUsing print and video material from archival issues of News in Review, teachers and students can create thematic modules for independent assignments, and small group study.

NiR Study ModulesTaking Off: Canada’s Soaring Dollar

November 2007A New Plan to Save Africa

September 2002

Related CBC VideosAral Sea: Hospital at the End of the EarthBetrayed: Water TrustBig Thirst: The Coming DroughtChina RisesCoffee with a ConscienceCuba: The Accidental Revolution

CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULES (Start: 13:59; Length: 12:50)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.

Related CBC VideosOther videos available from CBC Learning; see the back cover for contact details.

RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONS (Start: 00:25; Length: 13:23)The prices of basic food like wheat, corn, and rice have been soaring all over the world. In many poor countries millions of people are facing hunger and malnutrition. In this News in Review story we’ll look at what’s causing this global crisis. We’ll also show you how rising prices are helping Canadian farmers but hurting people in countries like Pakistan.

In This Issue . . .

NiR Study ModulesHarper’s Throne Speech Challenge

December 2007The Budget: Countdown to an Election?

April 2007The Liberals Choose a New Leader

December 2006Taking Over: Canada’s New Government

June 2006Stephen Harper: The Path to Power

March 2006Winter Vote: The 2006 Federal Election

February 2006Canada Votes: A Liberal Minority

September 2004The Conservative Party Chooses a Leader

April 2004

Related CBC VideosBroken BorderCanada Now: A Diverse LandscapeThe Fifty-SixersHuman CargoKaren Refugees: Fleeing Burma’s

Forgotten WarPrairie Dreams: Blacks in Western

Canada

Uniting the Right: Federal Politics Transformed, November 2003

Steven Harper: Leading the Alliance May 2002

Refugees in Canada: Getting Through the Door, March 1994


Sections marked with this symbol contain content suitable for younger viewers.

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 ModulesBeijing 2008: A Momentous Decision

September 2001The Salt Lake City Olympics, March 2002U.S.-China: The Risks of Spying

May 2001The Sydney Olympics: Re-assessing the

Costs, November 2000Tibet: A Rare Look, September 1999Olympic Corruption: Cleaning Up the

IOC, April 1999The Winter Olympics: Canada Does Well

March 1998Hong Kong: Back to China

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.

Related CBC VideosBuild GreenCanada’s Brands: Can They Compete?Climate Change I: An Uncertain FutureClimate Change II: Hot Times in the CityEarth EnergyEco-preneurs: Business Goes GreenPolar Bear Fever

Special Olympics: Taking Part, April 1997Deng Xiaoping: China at the Crossroads,

April 1997The Olympics: Games People Play

September 1996The UN Women’s Summit: Two Weeks in

China, October 1995China Today: A Correspondent’s View

September 1994

Related CBC VideosChina RisesRed Capitalism

NiR Study ModulesGoing Green To Fight Global Warming

October 2007Dangers of Global Warming, May 2007A Call for Action on Climate Change

March 2007The Big Melt: Canada’s Changing Arctic

September 2006After Kyoto: Trying to Cool the Planet

February 2006Kyoto: The Battle Lines Are Drawn

December 2002Canada’s Long, Hot Summer

September 2002Ice Station SHEBA: The Warming Arctic

September 1998

Cutting Emissions: New Fuels for Cars February 1998

Global Warming: A Progress Report May 1995

Disappearing Ozone: Danger in the Sun? March 1992

The Clean Air Act, December 1990


FocusThe prices of basic foods like wheat, corn, and rice have been soaring. This has resulted in riots and violence in many parts of the world. People who are worried about starvation are panicking. In this News in Review story we’ll look at what’s causing this global crisis. We’ll also show you how rising prices are helping Canadian farmers but hurting people in poor countries.

RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONSIntroduction The stories are hard to believe. People are rioting over rice in the Philippines. Food is so scarce in Haiti that people are eating “pancakes” made of butter, water, salt, and dirt. In Egypt, people stand in lines monitored by armed guards for six hours for one loaf of bread. Sam’s Club and Costco have placed limits on the amount of rice consumers in Canada and the United States can purchase. What is going on?

We are in the midst of a food crisis. Food prices have been skyrocketing, and experts anticipate the trend will continue for some time. Since 2005, the prices of some staple foods have risen by 80 per cent. In March 2008, rice prices hit a 19-year high, and wheat prices rose to a 28-year high. These price increases are resulting in starvation and malnutrition for millions of people around the globe.

As usual, those who are poor are suffering the most. The poor already spend up to 80 per cent of their daily income on food. When the price of basic staples rises, those who are poor simply have to eat even less. In most poor countries, there are no government

programs to support the poor and starving. There are no food banks. If you don’t have money to buy food, you don’t eat.

Canada has so far been spared the impact of these steep price increases. Our strong dollar has absorbed much of the impact of the increases. Plus, most Canadians spend only a small portion of their daily income on food. So most can afford the impact of price increases and still continue to eat.

Furthermore, because Canadian farmers produce much of the world’s wheat and cereal grains, the increased value of these grains has resulted in a cash windfall for most large-scale farmers. For the first time in decades, Canadian farmers are making big profits and are able to reinvest money in their farms and equipment. This has resulted in a boom for companies that make agricultural equipment, seeds, and fertilizer.

In this story, you’ll explore the reasons for the current crisis, as well as steps that can be taken to reduce the impact of the crisis.

ActivityForm a small group and discuss the following questions:

1. Have you ever gone hungry? What is the longest you’ve gone without food?

2. Is it possible for citizens of wealthy nations like Canada to truly understand the suffering of starving citizens in poor nations?

3. Have you seen any evidence of the global food crisis in your community (for example, higher gas prices, or shortages of rice in the supermarket)?

4. How would poor Canadians cope if there were no food banks or other support mechanisms to assist them? What might it be like to live in a country without such supports?

UpdateAs this issue of News in Review was being prepared, a terrible cyclone hit Burma. Estimates suggest 15 000 people died. As well, flooding in two important rice-growing regions threatens exports to impoverished nations such as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. With rice in such short supply, natural disasters have even more impact than in previous years.


RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONSVideo ReviewWatch the video and respond to the following questions.

1. Record the reasons given in the video for the food crisis.

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?

Did you know . . . The global food shortage is so desperate that the poor in El Salvador eat one half the amount they consumed in 2006.


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-upWith 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.


RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONSA Global CrisisThe global food price index published by the United Nations indicates that food prices rose by over 37 per cent in 2007, and prices are expected to continue to climb for the next five years. As food prices increase, it is the poorest people in the world who suffer most because food takes up a bigger share of their daily shopping bill than it does for richer people. For example, a poor family living on $5 a day typically spends $3 of that on food. When food prices rise by 50 per cent—as it has over the past five years—another $1.50 has to go toward the cost of food. That leaves the family with 50 cents a day to pay for all of their other needs.

The need for food and water is the most elemental of human needs. When people are hungry they become desperate. Around the world, signs of this desperation are evident. People are hoarding food out of fear that supplies will run out. Some suppliers are hoarding food in the hopes that prices will continue to rise and they will make more profit. In many countries, property crimes are on the rise as people break into other homes searching for food. Looting of stores is common. In many nation-states, police officers and the army are being asked to control bread lines and ensure the safe and fair distribution of food.

As you read the following examples, consider the desperation that people must be feeling.

MexicoOne of the first countries affected by rising food prices was Mexico. In January 2007, protests and demonstrations broke out across the country. The price of corn, the staple

NoteIf food prices rise by a third, they will reduce living standards by three per cent in rich countries and more than 20 per cent in poor ones.

of the Mexican diet, had risen by 400 per cent in the previous three months. Despite being the world’s fourth largest corn producer, millions of Mexicans found that the one source of cheap nutrition available to them was out of reach.

In Mexico, tortillas made from corn flour are a dietary staple. On average, Mexicans consume about 10 tortillas a day. In some regions of the country, the price of tortillas had risen more than 50 per cent. This meant that many Mexicans were surviving on smaller amounts of food than they had even six months ago.

Naomi Lopez is a good example. Lopez cleans a building in Mexico City and earns 1 400 pesos a month. Her family of five used to consume about 30 tortillas a day. Now she can only buy two-thirds that amount, and her kids are always hungry (Christian Science Monitor, February 2, 2007).

Ironically, most of the corn produced by Mexico is sold to the United States where it is being turned into biofuel. This means that less corn is available as a food source, and this pushes prices even higher. For Mexicans, a country founded by people who worshipped corn gods and who produce huge amounts of corn, the fact that they can’t purchase enough corn flour to make tortillas is seen as a matter of injustice.

The PhilippinesThis Southeast Asian nation is one of the world’s biggest importers of rice. Citizens consume about 33 000 tonnes of rice a day. As supplies dwindle and prices soar the government has had to impose a number of measures to try to avert a crisis. One of these measures is assigning army troops armed with

Further ResearchTo learn more about this developing global crisis, consider a visit to the following Web sites: Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, www.fao.org; World Bank, www.worldbank.org; UN World Food Program, www.wfp.org.

DefinitionBiofuel is fuel derived from organic matter such as corn, wheat, and agricultural waste instead of from fossil products such as coal, oil, and natural gas.


M-16 rifles to supervise the distribution of subsidized rice.

President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo has also asked fast-food restaurants to serve half-portions of rice to cut down on wastage and is threatening to jail anyone caught hoarding food with life imprisonment. Justice Secretary Raul Gonzalez said: “The magnitude of hoarding is very big; it will affect not only the national economy, but the stomachs of thousands of Filipinos and that is economic sabotage” (The Globe and Mail, April 4, 2008).

EgyptIn Egypt, bread is the main staple of life. Consequently, Egypt is one of the world’s largest importers of wheat. But soaring prices have driven many Egyptians to the brink of starvation, and riots have broken out. A teenager injured in the clashes in a northern Egyptian city died from his wounds.

An Egyptian man said: “People are fighting. Killing for bread, some are even pulling out knives. What is happening? What is this? Famine?” Another woman, waiting at a government bakery, said: “I’ve been standing here from 7 a.m. It’s now 2 p.m. and I can’t get hold of even one loaf of bread. I have five children. What am I supposed to do? You now need to bribe someone to get bread, if you do not want to get trampled on” (Al Jazeera, March 13, 2008).

HaitiHaiti is one of the poorest countries in the world. The majority of its

citizens live on less than $2 a day. Not surprisingly, rising food prices have led to chaos in the country. Looting has broken out, and rioters have taken to the streets.

The unrest began in the first week of April when Haitians burned cars and attacked a United Nations police base in the southern city of Les Cayes. At least five people were killed there. The demonstrations reached the capital on Monday, April 7, 2008, as thousands marched past the National Palace. On April 8, United Nations peacekeepers fired rubber bullets and tear gas into a crowd trying to break down the gates of the presidential palace in Port-au-Prince, the Haitian capital.

One personal example of the impact of the food crisis can be seen in the life of Hernite Joseph. For years she earned a meagre living by selling imported chicken parts in the markets of Port-Au-Prince’s seaside slums. The three dollars or so she made each day used to be enough to take care of her unemployed husband and three children. But now, the family is facing starvation.

“Everything has changed,” says Joseph, stabbing at a half-frozen chunk of poultry with a screwdriver. “My kids are like toothpicks. Before, if you had $1.25, you could buy vegetables, some rice, 10 cents of charcoal and a little cooking oil. Right now, a little can of rice alone costs 65 cents, and it’s not good rice at all. Oil is 25 cents. Charcoal is 25 cents. With $1.25, you can’t even make a plate of rice for one child” (Al Jazeera, April 15, 2008).

Did you know . . . The top rice producers in the world are China, India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma, and the Philippines. Rice is grown in 114 countries worldwide.

Did you know . . . The recent rise in the price of rice has meant that some farmers in Vietnam have taken to sleeping in their fields during harvest time to protect their crops from thieves.

AnalysisWrite 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.


RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONSUnderstanding the CrisisThe United Nation’s World Food Programme states that the global food crisis has placed 100 million to 130 million people at greater risk of death and malnutrition than they were eight months ago. Food-related violence has broken out in more than a dozen countries. As a result, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is forming a global task force to address the crisis that includes the World Bank (worldbank.org), International Monetary Fund (www.imf.org), and the World Trade Organization (www.wto.org).

But how did the crisis reach such proportions? Like all complex issues, a number of factors have come together to create the current crisis. Although experts disagree over which of the factors has had the greatest impact, they all agree the following have played a significant role.

Booming Economies of India and ChinaAs the economies of India and China continue to develop, more and more citizens are becoming wealthy. These citizens consume more food than those who have less money, and in particular they consume more meat. When more meat is consumed, more animals have to be produced for market. Animals bred for human consumption are fed large amounts of grain so that they grow quickly. As demand for meat rises, more forests and grasslands have to be cleared to create grazing land for animals. Both of these factors place pressure on the world’s ability to produce enough grain and have a negative impact on the environment.

Biofuel ProductionAn increasing number of crops are being diverted to make biofuel. Somewhere between 30 and 50 per cent of corn produced in the United States is being diverted into ethanol production. The government of China has become so concerned about the diversion of food to produce fuel that it has banned the construction of new refineries that use corn or other basic foods.

Rising Fuel PricesVery high energy prices make it much more expensive to produce food and to transport and distribute food. As well, as the price of oil rises it makes it more attractive to use food as a fuel source. So at a time when the world needs to reconsider the way it produces and distributes food—for example, returning to buying locally produced food—we are simply dealing with the high cost of oil by trying to create cheaper sources of fuel.

Cost of FertilizerBecause global grain stocks are at critically low levels, there is huge pressure on farmers to produce more grain. To produce more grain farmers must use greater amounts of fertilizer. This intensive farming has the greatest chance of producing higher yields. However, the increased demand for fertilizer has pushed the price of fertilizer to record highs. Some parts of the world have seen the price of fertilizer increase by 130 per cent over the previous year. This increased cost to farmers results in higher prices for grain.

Quote “The decline in food supplies is steeper than any time since the Second World War—maybe the past century.” — Darrin Qualman, research director for the National Farmers Union (Maclean’s, March 10, 2008)


Bad Weather and Special CircumstancesA number of special circumstances have also played a role in the current food crisis. Last year, Bangladesh was hit with a cyclone and serious flooding that wiped out most of the country’s stocks of food. A significant drought in Australia resulted in the loss of a great deal of wheat. And flooding in many parts of West Africa resulted in destroyed and rotted crops.

In addition to problems with weather, political unrest and military conflict have compounded the current crisis. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, for example, mismanagement of resources by a corrupt government has created anger among citizens. The newspaper La Nouvel Observateur stated that: “The food crisis that is currently affecting the world and that the experts have

compared to a real tsunami should set the authorities in DR Congo thinking. . . . Empty stomachs do not have ears. Hungry people cannot take part effectively in the process of developing our country” (BBC News, April 30, 2008).

In Zimbabwe, inflation of more than 7 000 per cent and a collapsed economy mean that the country is unlikely to be able to withstand the added pressure of rising food prices. The African paper The Herald reported: “Of course in this country, the few products available on the local market are selling at prices beyond the reach of many. The fact that some, if not most, of our foodstuffs are imported from neighbouring countries can only mean that steeper price reviews are on the way (allAfrica.com, April 17, 2008).

AnalysisJosette 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.


RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONSImpact in CanadaCanada has so far been spared the impact of these steep price increases. Our strong dollar has absorbed much of the impact of the increases. Plus, most Canadians spend only a small portion of their daily income on food, so most can afford some level of price increase.

Furthermore, because Canadian farmers produce much of the world’s wheat and cereal grains, the increased value of these grains has resulted in a cash windfall for most large-scale farmers. For the first time in decades, Canadian farmers are making big profits and are able to reinvest money in their farms and equipment. This has resulted in a boom for companies that make agricultural equipment, seeds, and fertilizer.

Small-scale farmers in developing countries do not own enough land or produce enough food to benefit from the increase in food prices. In fact, small-scale farmers often buy more food than they sell. But big farmers in rich countries are benefiting from the increases in food prices and will continue to do so.

Corn producers in the United States have seen the price of their crop increase by 50 per cent since 2000. Major dairy producers, such as New Zealand, are also benefiting because of increasing

consumption in Asia of milk, cheese, and yogurt. In addition, rural land that is suitable for grazing in New Zealand and other areas will continue to increase in price.

Canadian farmers and Canadian manufacturers of agricultural equipment are also benefiting from rising food prices. After years of struggling, farmers are getting very good prices for the grain and dairy products they produce. Much of the spaghetti and pasta consumed around the world is made from Canadian durum wheat.

The boom in agricultural production means a boom in the sale of farm equipment. Canadian-made tractors, combine harvesters, air seeders, and balers are selling well. And if forecasts are correct, sales of Canadian-made farm equipment may well set new records if Canadian manufacturers are able to break into the Russian market. It is estimated that Russia will need tens of thousands of combines and other types of heavy equipment, but Russian companies will only be able to supply a small portion of the equipment needed. One analyst predicts that if Canadian manufacturers can capture just 10 per cent of the Russian tractor market, sales would be worth $1-billion.

Did you know . . . While much of the world is scrambling to find affordable sources of food, the Canadian government recently launched a $50-million program to pay Canadian pig farmers to cull 150 000 breeding sows. This program should result in the reduction of three million pigs from the Canadian market. The destroyed sows are not to be part of the commercial food chain. This program is to help farmers crushed by low prices for their hogs and rising prices for feed.

To ConsiderHow might farmers feel about getting wealthy at a time when others are starving? Would this bother you? Why or why not?


RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONSEthanol and BiofuelsIn the past few years, the world has become more concerned with global warming. Although some governments have been slow to react to climate change, public concern over the issue has forced governments to take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Developed nations like Canada and the United States began to produce biofuels as a way to improve their energy independence by reducing reliance on fossil fuels, and to produce cleaner fuel as a way to cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Known as the “food to fuel mandate,” the use of crops to fuel cars seemed like a win-win-win scenario. Farmers would enjoy high demand for their crops. National security would be enhanced because countries like Canada and the United States wouldn’t have to rely as heavily on oil from the Middle East. And the deterioration of the environment would be slowed through the use of a cleaner fuel.

However, experts like Lester Brown of the Earth Policy Institute (www.earth-policy.org) and Jonathan Lewis of the Clean Air Task Force (www.catf.us) are drawing attention to the fact that ethanol—created from corn—actually creates a negative energy imbalance. What this means is that more energy is needed to produce ethanol than is contained in the final product. As a result, the production of ethanol actually creates more carbon dioxide, rather than less. Furthermore, the production of ethanol creates a number of hazardous byproducts—some of which are dumped into local water sources.

The move to biofuels has helped to drive up the price of agricultural staples. In the United States this has resulted in hundreds of farms being

Did You Know. . . Ethanol distilleries will consume 146 million tons of corn in the 2008 crop year. This is about half of the entire United States crop.

converted to high-yield corn and soy production, leading to increased fertilizer use, which has a very negative impact on the environment. In March 2008, the National Academy of Sciences reported that if the current rate of biofuel production continues in the U.S., the “dead zone” in the Gulf of Mexico would increase by 10 to 19 per cent by 2022. The “dead zone” is an area so polluted by fertilizer runoff that no aquatic life can survive there (Kitchener-Waterloo Record, April 26, 2008).

Because biofuels are so profitable, forests and grasslands are being cleared at an alarming rate to boost production of corn and soybeans. As a result, critical habitat for a range of species is lost, as is the world’s largest “carbon sink.” When forests are cleared, huge amounts of carbon are released into the air—so much so that in February, Science magazine concluded that corn ethanol and soy biodiesel produce twice the emissions of gasoline when deforestation is factored into the equation.

And finally, critics argue that biofuel production is not having a significant impact on Western dependence on Middle Eastern oil. In the United States, for example, although one-quarter of the country’s corn supply was burned as fuel, this led to only a one per cent reduction in the country’s oil consumption.

The Position in OntarioDespite rising concern over the impact of biofuel production, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty says he will not reconsider his government’s ethanol program. Ontario launched a 12-year, $520-million plan in 2005 that required at least five per cent ethanol in all gasoline sold in the province. To date,


more than $26-million in capital grants to producers have been approved.

The incentives are luring investors into the ethanol business, and there are fears that production of the additive could eventually consume virtually all of the province’s corn production of 250 million bushels a year. As well, critics continue to argue that biofuel production is pushing up the price of corn.

But in April 2008, McGuinty stated that the production of ethanol is not the dominant factor driving up the price of corn and other commodities. He said: “A whole bunch of circumstances are driving up food prices” (The Globe and Mail, April 16, 2008).

Quote“While many are worrying about filling their gas tanks, many others around the world are struggling to fill their stomachs, and it is getting more and more difficult every day.” —World Bank President, Robert Zoellick (Toronto Star, April 14, 2008)

Biofuel Facts• Number of days one person could

be fed on the corn needed to fill an ethanol-fuelled SUV: 365

• Acres of Brazilian rainforest cleared in the last six months of 2007 for crop production: 750,000

• Number of biofuels that are efficient enough to cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than it takes to produce the fuel: 1 (sugarcane-based ethanol)

• Amount of U.S. corn and soybean crop that needs to be turned into fuel to offset 20 per cent of on-road fuel consumption: 100 per cent

AnalysisIdentify the main points of disagreement between supporters and critics of biofuel.


RISING FOOD PRICES THREATEN MILLIONSDebate: Food or Fuel?

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 survival of democracy in many countries, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, managing director of the International Monetary Fund, said, “We need to devote 100 per cent of our time to these questions.” World Bank president Robert Zoellick was even more direct: “We have to put our money where our mouth is now so that we can put food into hungry mouths. It is as stark as that” (Editorial, The Toronto Star, April 17, 2008). On April 30, 2008, Ottawa announced it will pledge an extra $50-million to combat the global crisis. The additional money will mean Canada will contribute a total of $230-million to the UN’s World Food Program in 2008.

While increased aid money will help those who are starving right now, the world’s nations need to look for other solutions to the food crisis. One proposed solution to global warming is increasingly being blamed as a major contributor to the food crisis: the production of biofuels.

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.

Quote“The competition for grain between the world’s 800 million motorists . . . and its two billion poorest people who are simply trying to survive is emerging as an epic issue.” —Lester Brown, economist, Earth Policy Institute (The Globe and Mail, January 23, 2007)

Arguments Supporting Biofuels Arguments Against Biofuels


CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULESIntroduction

FocusIn the spring of 2008, the Conservative government changed Canada’s immigration rules in order to speed up the application process for skilled workers, expanding the powers of the immigration minister in the process. This News in Review story examines the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Harper’s plans to change the system.

Further ResearchTo stay informed about the position of Canada’s major political parties on this important issue, consider a visit to their official Web sites: Conservative Party, www.conservative.ca; Liberal Party, www.liberal.ca; New Democratic Party, www.ndp.ca; Bloc Québécois, www.blocquebecois.org; and Green Party, www.greenparty.ca.

Canada’s population has grown by over five per cent since 2001, fuelled by the influx of 240 000 immigrants per year. In fact, the massive influx of immigrants is changing the face of Canada, with one in five Canadians coming from visible minority groups, and over six million people living here who were born outside Canada. In many ways, Canada is the immigration capital of the world, with an immigration rate that exceeds all other G8 nations. However, being an immigrant-friendly nation doesn’t come without its challenges. Canada seems to be constantly searching for ways to improve the selection and processing of the vast numbers of new Canadians who make the decision to come to our nation. Currently the backlog of immigrants awaiting entry into Canada is over 800 000 people, with a wait time of 10 to 15 years in some cases.

Changing the SystemIn March 2008, the Harper Conservatives tabled a budget implementation bill (Bill C-50) that included a set of changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The main changes would give the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration the power to fast-track applications for candidates to help key sectors of the economy. The current system has immigration officers process applications on a “first come, first served” basis, without consideration for bringing in immigrants to fill jobs that need to be filled. The Conservatives claimed that the changes—along with a cash infusion of $190-million would give the system the boost it needed to alleviate the backlog. At a glance the changes looked reasonable, but opponents of the changes were quick to voice their concerns.

Conservative ProposalsFor their part, the Conservatives believed they were tackling the issue head-on. The system clearly needed some sort of a change, and the Tories claimed they were rising to the challenge. Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Diane Finley told Canadians, “We have to make it easier to get more people here faster” (Toronto Star, March 24, 2008). Skilled workers are desperately needed across Canada, particularly in Alberta, and the processing of applications in the order in which they’re received is interfering with Canada’s economic growth. Prime Minister Stephen Harper put his perspective on the situation when he said, “Frankly, this is becoming a crisis. And, if we do not fix this, the long-term performance of our economy will be affected” (Toronto Star, April 19, 2008). Conservatives proposed changes to the system that would allow the immigration minister to direct immigration officers to target skilled workers for priority entrance to Canada for economic sectors that desperately need their expertise.

Backdoor Politics?While politicians in Ottawa agreed that changes needed to be made to the immigration system, many critics not only disagreed with the Tories’ plans, they also didn’t like the way Harper was trying to push through his reforms. The opposition parties claimed that the Conservatives were trying to sneak the changes to the immigration system through a procedural back door by tacking the reforms onto the budget implementation bill. In other words, because the changes were brought forward in an omnibus budget bill, the rest of Parliament would not have


the opportunity to debate the bill’s key provisions before the House of Commons committee that oversees immigration. Instead, MPs with concerns about Bill C-50 would have to appear at the finance committee meeting on the implementation of the budget to voice their concerns. To the opposition parties, the whole process seemed a bit slippery.

The Crucial VoteLiberal Leader Stéphane Dion claimed that the Conservatives weren’t playing fair and that Canadians should be concerned about Harper’s apparent “hidden agenda on immigration” (The Globe and Mail, April 3, 2008). Backing him up, deputy Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff asserted, “With a stroke of the pen, the minister has written fairness and justice out of the immigration system” (Toronto Star, April 4, 2008). Meanwhile, NDP immigration critic Olivia Chow added that the Conservative changes would, at best, not be able to survive a Charter of Rights challenge and, at worst, could destroy the entire immigration system (CBC News, April 9, 2008). Harper countered by making Bill C-50 a confidence motion that, if rejected by the all the opposition

parties, would force a spring election. When the bill was put before the House, the Liberals chose to vote with the Conservatives in favour of Bill C-50, while the NDP voted against it. The Harper minority government lived to govern another day.

What does it all mean?Immigrant advocacy groups also voiced their concerns. While some applauded Harper’s choice to put the economy first, others wondered if humanitarian applications would be ignored in favour of skilled-worker applications. Others wondered if the changes gave too much power to Immigration Minister Diane Finley, who could seemingly accept or reject applications at her whim. Finally, some opponents questioned the fairness of letting skilled workers jump the queue over people who had been waiting in the immigration line—in some cases, for years. It is unclear whether the changes will lead to the economic prosperity promised by Harper or the doom and gloom predicted his by opponents. Only the implementation of the changes will determine whether Canada has hit or missed the mark on immigration.

DefinitionOmnibus bill refers to a proposed law that tries to accomplish many different, often unrelated, things and contains many separate items in one package. Normally, parliamentary bills are focused on one issue.

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.


CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULESVideo ReviewWatch the video and answer the questions that follow.

1. Who is the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration? ____________________

2. What new powers do the changes to the immigration system give the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration?

3. Why do some critics think that the changes concentrate too much power in 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?

Did you know . . . Of all the foreign-born persons living in Canada who are eligible to become citizens, 85.1 per cent complete the process. This is the highest percentage of new citizenship in the world.


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?


CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULESActivity: Statistical Analysis Review the following information from the Canadian census of 2006 and complete the activity that follows.

Chart #1: Population by Immigration Status – 2006Region Total population Non-immigrant

populationImmigrant 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 – 2006Region Non-immigrant

populationImmigrant 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)


Chart #3: Visible Minority Groups in Canada

Source: Statistics Canada (www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/highlights)

ActivityUsing 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 ActivityBased 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?

Region Total population

Total visible minority population

South Asian

Chinese Black Filipino Latin American

Southeast Asian

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


CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULESImmigration FactsReview the following immigration facts and complete the activity that follows.• Canada is the fastest growing G8

nation, adding 1.6 million people to its population from 2001 to 2006 (a growth rate of 5.4 per cent). Approximately 1.2 million of those people were immigrants. Experts predict that, by 2030, the only source of population gain for Canada will come from immigration.*

• Of the 1.2 million immigrants who came to Canada between 2001 and 2006, half settled in Southern Ontario, with the rest heading to other urban centres like Montreal, Vancouver, and Calgary.**

• Canada welcomes an average of 240 000 immigrants per year.*

• Immigrants suffer a 30 per cent earning disadvantage compared with Canadian citizens and will only improve their lot by three per cent in their first five years in Canada.**

• 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.***

• The Conference Board of Canada estimates that 350 000 immigrants have taken jobs below their qualifications. By their estimates, this unutilized expertise is costing the Canadian economy between $3-billion and $5-billion per year.**

• Statistics Canada determined that the daughters of immigrant parents earn 15 per cent more than their Canadian-born counterparts. Meanwhile the sons of immigrant parents earn 38 per cent less than their Canadian-born counterparts. ^

• The top five places of birth for immigrants arriving in Canada between 2001 and 2006 were: China (155 105), India (129 140), Philippines (77 880), Pakistan (57 630) and the U.S. (38 770).^^

• The foreign-born population of Canada is 6.2 million.~

• The number of people waiting to get into Canada is currently over 800 000 people.~~

Sources: The Globe and Mail, March 14*, 21**, May 26***, October 30^, December 5^^, December 10, 2007~, March 15, 2008~~

Did you know . . . As a mark of Canada’s increasing multiculturalism, the CBC broadcast a Hockey Night in Canada show in Mandarin.

ActivityChoose 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.


CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULESPoint and CounterpointThe Conservatives introduced changes to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act via a budget implementation bill (Bill C-50) tabled in March 2008. Bill C-50 was considered a confidence motion. In other words, the government would fall if the opposition parties teamed up to defeat it, thus forcing an election. The immigration bill passed with Liberal support on April 9, 2008. Read the quotes and complete the activity that follows.

“By 2011, 100 per cent of Canada’s labour force growth will come from immigration. Why does the [immigration] minister believe that shutting the door on immigration is the answer?” — Maurizio Bevilacqua, Liberal immigration critic (Canadian Press, March 13, 2008)

“Instead of allowing families into Canada, the Conservative government seems intent only to bring in massive numbers of temporary foreign workers who are vulnerable to mistreatment and abuse.” — NDP MP Olivia Chow (CBC News, March 14, 2008)

“Immigration should not be just about bringing people to work in Canada. You cannot just treat immigrants as an economic unit and not care about developing citizenship, a sense of commitment, belonging, and ownership among the people we bring into this country.” — Debbie Douglas, Executive Director of the Ontario Council of Agencies Serving Immigrants (Toronto Star, March 14, 2008)

“It’s a win-win for everyone. People can come first, live, work, and pay taxes here, and apply to get landed from within Canada later.” — Immigration lawyer

Richard Kurland (Toronto Star, March 14, 2008)

“We have to make it easier to get more people here faster. We have a backlog right now that the previous government ballooned from 50 000 to 800 000. It has since grown to 900 000.” — Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley (Toronto Star, March 24, 2008)

“We’ll want to examine what’s in the bill with great care because it seems to generally make our immigration policy less tolerant, less generous, less fair. It also concentrates a huge amount of unilateral power in the hands of the minister.” — Liberal MP Ralph Goodale (The Globe and Mail, March 31, 2008)

“It is unfair to immigrants, unfair to Canada. That is why it is a confidence measure. That is why it is a part of the budget, and we appreciate the support of the Liberals to that goal.” — Prime Minister Stephen Harper (The Globe and Mail, April 1, 2008)

“Canadians have every right to be concerned about this government’s hidden agenda on immigration. Why is the government attempting to make radical changes to the immigration system through the back door instead of bringing forward independent legislation and being honest with Canadians?” — Liberal leader Stéphane Dion (The Globe and Mail, April 3, 2008)

“The community would feel betrayed if the Liberals don’t oppose this bill. They’re going to be complacent or complicit if they permit the bill to be passed.” — Immigration lawyer Amina Sherazee (Toronto Star, April 4, 2008)


“The instructions are about making the immigration system more responsive. Our objective is to continue to ensure that families are reunited and that qualified workers get here sooner, while respecting the fundamental principle of fairness.” — Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley (Ministry News Release, April 8, 2008)

“. . . it’s not a right to come to Canada. It’s a privilege. I think Canadians want an immigration system that gets the people we need here when we need them.” — Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley (The Globe and Mail, April 9, 2008)

“Immigrants are being stripped of their humanity and viewed as strictly economic units—and they can be discarded when they are no longer

useful.” — Sima Sahar Zerehi of the immigration advocacy organization Status Now (Canadian Press, April 9, 2008)

“Frankly, this is becoming a crisis. And, if we do not fix this, the long-term performance of our economy will be affected. . . . Without the government’s changes, the backlog will explode to one and half million in the next five years. Wait times will rise to 10 years.”— Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Toronto Star, April 19, 2008)

“We think the government has struck the right balance with these reforms to clear the backlog and prioritize skilled immigrants to Canada.” — Naresh Raghubeer, National Policy Director for the Canada-India Foundation (Toronto Star, April 19, 2008)

ActivityWrite 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.

Answers to Citizen Test on page 26: 1.d; 2.d; 3.d; 4.d.; 5.a; 6.b; 7.a; 8.a; 9.b; 10.d; 11.b; 12.c; 13.c; 14.a; 15.b; 16.a; 17.a; 18.c; 19.b; 20.b


CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULESCitizenship 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 of Canada?

a. First Nations b. Métis c. Inuit d. All of the above

2. What did the government do to make immigration to Western Canada much easier?

a. Created delegate team to assist immigrants to the West

b. Developed roadway to ease immigrant travel

c. Free land given to any who made the journey

d. Built the Trans-Canada Railway

3. What year was Confederation? a. 1871 b. 1777 c. 1967 d. 1867

4. Which four provinces first formed Confederation?

a. British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Ontario

b. Quebec, Ontario, Alberta, Nunavut

c. Manitoba, Alberta, Quebec, Nova Scotia

d. New Brunswick, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia

5. Who was the first Prime Minister of Canada?

a. John Alexander Macdonald b. Charles Tupper c. Pierre Elliott Trudeau d. William Lyon Mackenzie King

6. What part of the Constitution legally protects the basic rights

and freedoms of all Canadians? a. Meech Lake Accord b. Canadian Charter of Rights

and Freedoms c. Charlottetown Accord d. The Constitution Act, 1867

7. Name two fundamental freedoms protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

a. freedom of association; freedom of conscience and religion

b. freedom of thought, belief, opinion and expression, including freedom of the press and other media of communication; freedom of life, liberty and security

c. freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of livelihood

d. freedom of conscience and religion; freedom of residence

8. What are the two official languages of Canada?

a. French-English b. Spanish-English c. Mandarin-English d. German-English

9. Which province has the most bilingual Canadians?

a. British Columbia b. Quebec c. Nova Scotia d. Ontario

10. Which animal is an official symbol of Canada?

a. Moose b. Black bear c. Canadian loon d. Beaver


11. What is the tower in the centre of the Parliament buildings called?

a. Maple Leaf Tower b. Peace Tower c. Ottawa Tower d. Canadian Tower

12. What is the capital city of Canada?

a. Toronto b. Halifax c. Ottawa d. Montreal

13. Where are the Parliament buildings located?

a. Halifax b. Quebec City c. Ottawa d. Vancouver

14. Which province in Canada is the smallest in land size?

a. Prince Edward Island b. Quebec City c. Nova Scotia d. British Columbia

15. What country is Canada’s largest trading partner?

a. China b. United States c. South Africa d. England

16. Who is Canada’s Head of State? a. Queen Elizabeth II

b. Jean Chrétien c. Michaëlle Jean d. Wayne Gretzky

17. What do you call a law before it is passed?

a. Bill b. Ordinance c. Act d. Draft

18. How many electoral districts are there in Canada?

a. 101 b. 211 c. 308 d. 176

19. When does an election have to be held according to the Constitution?

a. Every two years from previous election day.

b. No longer than five years from previous election.

c. Within 10 years of obtaining office.

d. There is no time limit.

20. Name the Prime Minister of Canada and his party.

a. Ralph Klein - Progressive Conservatives

b. Stephen Harper - Conservative Party of Canada

c. Paul Martin - Liberal d. Stockwell Day - Canadian

Alliance

DiscussDo you think this is a good way to test future Canadian citizens? Explain.

Follow-upVisit 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.

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


CHANGING CANADA’S IMMIGRATION RULESActivity: Assessing the Changes

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 listed below and discuss them with your fellow committee members. Your goal is to clarify and, if necessary, amend the statements. In the end, you are trying to make the changes work in the best interests of both immigrant applicants and Canadians.

The ProcessForm a group of five or six and review the immigration information found in this issue of News in Review. Keep the objectives of the Conservatives and the 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 ProductOn 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.

Further ResearchTo explore the actions and concerns of the Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration, visit the official Web site at: www.cic.gc.ca.


TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICSIntroduction

FocusThis News in Review story focuses on the ongoing conflict between Tibet and China. Tibetan activists who want independence from China have targeted China’s preparations for the 2008 Summer Olympics. These protests have placed concerns about repression in Tibet and other Chinese human rights abuses in the international spotlight. But many Western nations, including Canada, are reluctant to boycott the Games and risk damaging trade relations with China, an increasingly important trading partner.

China has controlled Tibet since 1959. In March 2008, a wave of violent protests erupted in Lhasa, Tibet’s capital, and in other parts of the country. Ethnic Tibetans took to the streets to vent their long-pent-up fury over China’s heavy-handed occupation and their lack of freedom. Chinese settlers in the region were targeted for especially harsh treatment.

Many of the protesters were Buddhist monks, followers of the Dalai Lama, the religious leader of the Tibetan people and a Nobel Peace Prize winner. He has lived in exile in India ever since Chinese leader Mao Zedong ordered his troops into Tibet to consolidate China’s control over the long-rebellious territory. The Dalai Lama has always maintained a policy of non-violent resistance to Chinese rule and has not demanded total independence for Tibet. However, many younger Tibetans, both inside and outside the region, have grown tired of waiting and have seized on the occasion of the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, scheduled to open in August 2008, to draw the attention of the world to their cause.

One of the most important preliminary Olympic activities is the torch relay. The torch is lit in Olympia, Greece, the home of the original Olympic Games, and is then relayed around the world, making a ceremonial appearance in selected cities before completing its long journey at the host country’s Olympic stadium at the official opening of the Games. The torch is then used to light the Olympic flame that burns continuously in the stadium for the duration of the contest. On March 30, as Chinese Olympic officials proudly watched their country’s athletes light the torch in Olympia, a group of Tibetan exiles and their supporters disrupted the proceedings, loudly condemning China’s repression and demanding an

end to Chinese rule. They also called on the international community to use its influence to pressure China to change its policies toward Tibet. Some went so far as to urge an international boycott of the Games as a means of indicating the world’s displeasure with China’s actions.

As the torch relay made its way to other world cities, the protesters grew in numbers and determination. Tibetan exiles were joined by others in Australia, India, Europe, and North and South America who sympathized with their cause and criticized China’s poor human rights record in Tibet and elsewhere. In San Francisco, the demonstrations were so large that the torch relay had to be rerouted through another part of the city, where crowds were thinner. Paris, London, and New Delhi were also scenes of serious protests in the streets.

But along with the Tibetans and their supporters, the relay also attracted a number of people of Chinese descent who were there to show their support for the Games. To them, the demonstrations were a mark of disrespect for their country’s plans to host the world’s athletes in Beijing in the summer of 2008. Winning the right to hold the Summer Games was a tremendous boost to China in its efforts to establish itself as a major world power. Its leaders wanted to use the occasion to showcase their country as a modern industrialized nation reaching out to the world for increased cultural and commercial ties. Canada, along with many Western nations, regards China as a significant market for its goods.

While China’s rulers are opening up their country to international commerce and radically reforming its state-controlled economy along capitalist lines, they are reluctant to extend significant political freedoms to their people. China


remains a single-party communist regime, where opposition to the government is not permitted, and strict limits continue to be imposed on the media. Religious groups that have incurred the disfavour of the communist rulers, such as the Falun Gong sect, have been severely persecuted. Most of the international criticism of China’s poor human rights record is directed at its ongoing repression in Tibet, which has become a popular international human rights cause embraced by a number of prominent celebrities in the United States and elsewhere. But other non-Chinese national minorities, such as the Uighurs, an Islamic people who live in the western province of Xinjiang, also live under harsh occupation and long for greater autonomy, largely ignored by international public opinion.

China’s enormous potential as a global economic, political, and military superpower in the 21st century is one of the most important factors in international relations today. Many countries are anxious to increase their commercial ties to this emerging giant that contains the world’s largest market for consumer goods and is also becoming a major exporter of manufactured products. For this reason, they are extremely reluctant to place their lucrative business connections with the country in jeopardy by orchestrating an Olympic boycott that would surely prompt reprisals from

China. At the same time, however, violations of human rights, both against groups like the Tibetans and the Chinese people themselves, have been difficult to ignore.

Many important political figures, such as U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, have publicly endorsed the Dalai Lama’s call for complete religious and cultural autonomy for Tibet and have harshly condemned China’s policies there. For its part, the Canadian government expressed concern about the suppression of demonstrations in Tibet, but the Prime Minister was also publicly skeptical about the possibility that this country would support a boycott of the Olympics. With the Summer Games only a few months away, it appeared highly unlikely that many countries would keep their athletes home as a gesture of solidarity with the Tibetan protesters. But with the torch relay about to enter neighbouring Nepal, where a large Tibetan exile community lives, the potential for mores serious protests remained great. It was quite likely that Tibetans, and others opposed to China’s policies, would continue to use the pre-Olympic activities as a venue to vent their anger and frustration. And how all this would affect China’s hopes to stage one of the best Summer Games in the history of the modern Olympics remained to be seen.

Further ResearchLearn more about Falun Gong and the reasons why the Chinese government outlawed this religious group. The Web site of the organization Religious Tolerance at www.religioustolerance.org/falungong.htm is one place to start.

Quote“I don’t anticipate any kind of a boycott of the Games themselves. . . . Experience would suggest that such boycotts are generally not effective and really, in the end, only harm the athletes involved who have trained for so many years to compete in these events.” — Prime Minister Stephen Harper (Canadian Press, April 8, 2008)

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?


TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICSVideo 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?


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-upIn 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?


TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICSTibet: A Profile Tibet is a mountainous country that occupies one of the world’s most forbidding terrains, the rugged Himalayan Mountain range. Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, is located on the border of Tibet and Nepal. It has long been regarded as a mystical, mysterious place, home to a distinctive form of the Buddhist religion led by a legendary figure known as the Dalai Lama. In the 1930s, a popular novel and film called Lost Horizon portrayed it as Shangri-la, a utopian society where everyone lived a life of perfect contentment and spiritual health. Tibet’s average altitude is 4 000 metres above sea level, and it is sometimes known as “the roof of the world” because of its high elevation.

Tibet is located in western China. How might the country’s location contribute to its distinct culture and traditions?

Today, Tibet is officially known as the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) and is a province of China. But many Tibetans, including the large exile community opposed to Chinese rule, consider that their traditional homeland includes significant territories that once formed part of Tibet but have since been incorporated into China proper. Tibetans call their country Bo, while the Chinese name for the area is Xizang. The Tibetan language, which contains a number of regional dialects, is completely different from Han Chinese, and variations of it are also spoken in the neighbouring countries of Nepal, Bhutan, and the northern parts of India. The total land area of Tibet is 1.2 million square 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 economy is largely agricultural, and because of the lack of arable land, animal husbandry is the main activity. Sheep, cattle, goats, camels, horses, and yaks


are the most important livestock raised in Tibet. Crops such as barley, wheat, buckwheat, rye, potatoes, and some fruits and vegetables are grown where conditions permit.

In recent years, Tibet has become an increasingly popular international tourist destination. Many in the West are fascinated with its religion and culture, and a number of films have been made about the region. Many Tibetans, especially in Lhasa, now make their living from the hospitality industry, working in hotels and restaurants and selling traditional handicrafts such as clothing, jewellery, rugs, and wooden carvings. However, tourists are limited to visiting only a few parts of the TAR, and Chinese officials strictly limit contact between foreign travellers and native Tibetans, whose traditional culture is showcased in a “folkloric” manner, as a relic of a distant past.

In 2006, the Chinese government inaugurated the Golmud-Lhasa railway, making travel between China and Tibet much easier. Chinese officials promote the link, claiming it will lead to greater economic development in Tibet. But many Tibetans oppose it because they believe it will enable many more Han Chinese settlers to reach the region and establish permanent residency there. For over a decade, it has been the policy of the Chinese government to encourage ethnic Chinese immigration to Tibet, in order to promote greater economic development. Many Tibetans, however, regard this as a move to dilute and eventually eliminate their culture and traditions by swamping the region with Chinese settlers.

According to the most recent census, taken in 2000, ethnic Tibetans constituted about 93 per cent of the TAR’s total population of 2 616 329. However, the political, commercial, and economic influence of the Han

Chinese residents of Tibet is vastly disproportionate to their numbers. This is especially true in Lhasa and other main cities, where Han Chinese control most of the businesses and important governmental positions. For this reason, they were especially targeted for violent reprisals at the hands of ethnic Tibetans during the March 2008 riots. Despite the fact that Han Chinese immigration to Tibet is continuing at an increasing pace, the ethnic Tibetan birth rate is far higher than that of the Chinese, whose population increase is restricted by the government’s “one child” policy, which does not apply to Tibetans.

Many Tibetans, especially the large exile community that followed its leader, the Dalai Lama, to India following the Chinese invasion of 1959, strongly oppose the presence of Han Chinese residents in their land, believing them to be agents of a foreign and uninvited occupation. But Chinese officials claim that their rule has actually benefited ethnic Tibetans, who mostly lived as nomads in dire poverty before the Chinese occupation. Schools were practically non-existent, health care was of very poor quality, rates of infant mortality were high, and life expectancy was low. Women were treated in a very subservient fashion. In addition, the rule of Buddhist lamas, or monks, including the Dalai Lama himself, had done practically nothing to encourage the development of the economy or the modernization of Tibetan society. Even the present Dalai Lama, who strongly opposes Chinese cultural dominance in Tibet and restrictions on Buddhist religious observances, concedes that the occupation has led to significant economic and social advances for his people, which he does not want to see reversed in the future.

Tibetan Buddhism is a distinctive form of the religion that arrived from

Did You Know . . .Two Hollywood films about the Dalai Lama and Tibet increased the popularity of the region for Westerners. But the films, Kundun and Seven Years in Tibet, were banned in China.


India during the seventh century CE. The current Dalai Lama, the 14th person to hold this exalted religious title, was born Tenzin Gyatso in eastern Tibet in 1935. As a young boy, he was recognized as the reincarnation of the previous Dalai Lama and taken from his village to the Potala Palace in Lhasa, where he was instructed in Buddhist teachings and formally installed at the age of four. During the Second World War, two Austrian mountaineers, Heinrich Harrer and Peter Aufschnaiter, befriended the young Dalai Lama and imparted to him an extensive knowledge of European language and culture. This was to stand him in good stead following his exile

from Tibet in 1959 in the wake of the Chinese invasion.

The Dalai Lama is regarded by his followers as the “Ocean of Wisdom,” or the embodiment of compassion and Buddhist holiness. He has many followers worldwide, among Tibetans and Westerners who find his message of spiritual tranquility and non-violence in the face of oppression extremely attractive. But to some younger Tibetans, his perceived willingness to accept Chinese rule over Tibet in return for cultural and religious freedom and his total opposition to violent forms of protest remain a problem.

Further ResearchThe official web site of the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet can be accessed at www.dalailama.com. On this site you’ll find a collection of recent speeches and teachings.

InquiryWith 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?


TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICSA Tibetan Timeline

7th-9th century Namri Songzren and his family unite Tibet and conquer neighbouring territories, signing a peace treaty establishing the borders with China in 822.

1624 The first contact between Tibetans and Europeans occurs as Portuguese missionaries establish a church in Lhasa; they are expelled by the lamas in 1745.

1724 The Chinese appoint a resident commissioner to administer Tibet and assume direct control of the two eastern provinces of Kham and Amdo.

1750 A rebellion breaks out against the Chinese commissioners, which is suppressed, resulting in a Chinese military occupation. The Dalai Lama is permitted to administer the region under the supervision of the Chinese commissioner.

1788-91 China sends troops to Tibet to repulse invaders from neighbouring Nepal.

1850s As Russia and Britain vie for control of Central Asia, the Chinese government expels all foreigners from Tibet and closes the border.

1904 The Dalai Lama flees a British military expedition led by Colonel Francis Younghusband. Britain forces Tibet to sign a trade deal eliminating Russian competition.

1907 Britain and Russia recognize Chinese authority in Tibet.

1908-9 The Dalai Lama flees to India after China dispatches troops to Tibet.

1912 The Dalai Lama returns to power, proclaiming his country’s independence. No foreign government recognizes Tibet.

1935 The man who will become the 14th Dalai Lama is born to a poor peasant

family in northeastern Tibet. At the age of two he is declared the reincarnation of the 13th Dalai Lama and taken to Lhasa.

1949 Communist forces under Mao Zedong take power in China and vow to “liberate” Tibet.

1950 China enforces its claim to Tibet, while the Dalai Lama, now 15 years old, becomes the head of state.

1951 Tibet is forced to sign a treaty with China, called the “Seventeen Point Agreement,” permitting the establishment of Chinese governmental and military headquarters in Lhasa in return for a guarantee of Tibetan cultural autonomy and religious freedom.

1950s Armed resistance to Chinese rule begins in eastern Tibet.

1954 The Dalai Lama holds talks with Mao, who refuses to honour his part of the Seventeen Point Agreement.

1959 Chinese troops invade Tibet to end the growing resistance, causing thousands of deaths. The Dalai Lama and his officials flee to Dharamsala in northern India, where they establish a government in exile. They are soon followed by thousands of other Tibetans.

1965 China establishes the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR) in the areas it had not previously incorporated into China proper.

1966 Many Tibetan monasteries are destroyed and monks and nuns persecuted as the anti-religious “Cultural Revolution” unleashed by Mao reaches Tibet.

1971 Foreign visitors are permitted to travel to Tibet, after an eight-year ban.

1970s and 80s Following the end of the Cultural Revolution, China’s more


moderate rulers ease repression in Tibet, but also promote greater Han Chinese immigration into the region. An open-door policy is introduced to reform the economy but block any moves toward greater autonomy.

1989 The Dalai Lama is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize and uses the occasion to call for a dialogue with Chinese leaders to resolve the Tibet problem peacefully.

1995 The Dalai Lama names a six-year-old boy, Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, as the reincarnation of the Panchen Lama, the second most important figure in Tibetan Buddhism. China places the boy under house arrest and names another child, Gyancain Norbu, as their officially approved Panchen Lama.

2006 The new Golmud-Lhasa railway is opened, which Chinese officials promote as a step toward greater economic development for Tibet. Many Tibetans

regard it as a threat to their culture, since it will enable more Chinese immigrants to arrive.

2007 Tibet enjoys a record tourist boom, with over four million foreigners visiting.

2008 Five months before the opening of the Summer Olympic Games in Beijing, the worst riots in two decades erupt in Lhasa and other Tibetan cities. Mobs of ethnic Tibetans attack government offices and assault Han Chinese residents. Meanwhile, exiled Tibetans and their supporters disrupt the progress of the Olympic torch relay, an important preliminary event to the Games, in an effort to draw attention to Chinese repression in Tibet and their demand for greater freedom. In response to growing international protests, China announces that it is willing to hold talks with representatives of the Dalai Lama in order to resolve their differences.

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?


TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICSTwo Views of the Tibet Protests When violent protests erupted in Tibet against Chinese rule, there were a variety of responses to the events. The quotations that follow reflect very different opinions on the events. Read each carefully and respond to the questions that follow.

“I am inside a monastery right now. The telephone lines have been cut off. The monks outside the monastery were shouting ‘Long live the Dalai Lama!’ This morning the students of a middle school went out and protested. There were arrests, and many Tibetans went to the police station to demand the release of those detained. Two girls were shot and wounded. It is tense and frightening . . .” — anonymous Tibetan, Hongyan County, Sichuan province, China

“We did this to symbolize the hopes and aspirations of Tibetan people from under the dark period of Chinese rule. During the vigil, the police came and dispersed us. We are protesting for many reasons. We know this is the Olympic year for Beijing. Nations will come to China to represent themselves. We are protesting like this to express our national identity.” — Tibetan who wishes to remain anonymous, Lhasa

“The situation feels very tense, and there is a heavy military presence. I saw large convoys moving toward Lhasa. . . . We are very worried about arbitrary arrests. We believe that the people recorded on Chinese television will be arrested. We are very worried about the lack of Western people and journalists around Lhasa.” — Tibetan who wishes to remain anonymous, outside Lhasa

Source: “Tibetans describe continuing unrest,” BBC News, March 17, 2008: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7300312.stm

“I support my government on this issue. The Dalai Lama is the main cause of the suffering of both Tibetans and Chinese in Tibet. He could stop the protesters but he doesn’t. He gave the people who remain loyal to him the wrong ideas and asked kind-hearted people to risk their lives for his political interests. Our government had to send in the troops to protect our people and make society stable.” — Zhang Yi Fan, student, Beijing

“I think Tibet is a small problem that can be resolved. The Chinese economy and Chinese society is very stable now. The economy is growing fast. Life for people all across China and all its regions is getting better and better. I think China needs its stability and so I think it is fine for the army to go into Tibet. Every government should show its force and its ability to control troubled situations . . .” — Yu Fu-Ming, company manager, Beijing

“The timing is very sensitive. China is due to have the Olympic Games this year. I think this is why those people chose this time to riot. Many are unsatisfied with the Chinese government and the country. They want to cause riots, maybe even engage in some terrorist activities before, during, or after the Olympic Games. These people know that it is a huge thing for China to have the Olympics. The world’s attention is on us. It is a good opportunity for them to take advantage. Honestly, I think these are the actions of a small number of people. But it makes me angry. I think it makes most Chinese people angry. Everyone has their own problems, but I do not think that such violent acts are a good option.” — Jin Jie Chen, lawyer, Shanghai

Source: “Chinese react to violence in Tibet,” BBC News, March 17, 2008: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7301222.stm


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:


TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICSThe Troubled Olympic Torch Relay The Olympic torch relay is one of the most important events leading up to the opening of the Summer Games. It began prior to the Berlin Olympics in 1936, when Nazi officials in Germany wanted to highlight the ancient Greek heritage of the Games for propaganda reasons. This was the first time the torch was lit in Olympia, the site of the ancient Olympic Games, and relayed by athletes from different countries to the stadium of the host country—in this case Germany.

Much has changed for this ceremony since 1936. In 2008, the torch was lit in Olympia on March 28. A famous Greek actress, Maria Nafpliotou, dressed as an ancient Greek high priestess, ignited the torch of the first bearer, Alexandros Nikolaidis, a Greek silver-medal winning athlete from the 2004 Athens Games. He then handed it to Luo Xuejuan, a Chinese Olympic swimmer, symbolizing the transfer from Greece to China. From there, the torch was to be relayed across six continents, covering a total distance of 137 000 kilometres, the longest in the history of the event.

After the official lighting of the torch, it went to Beijing on March 31, to begin its route around the world. On the way, it was to visit the cities of the fabled Silk Road, an ancient trade route that once linked China with the Middle East and Europe. There were also plans to carry the flame to the peak of Mount Everest, the world’s tallest mountain. The theme of the relay was “Journey of Harmony,” symbolizing the goal of promoting world peace through athletic competition. This was one of the original ideas behind the creation of the modern Olympic Games.

But the early stages of the relay were marked by controversy and serious protest, as exiled Tibetans and their

supporters in various countries used the arrival of the torch to demonstrate their opposition to China’s occupation of Tibet and other human rights abuses. The initial lighting ceremony itself in Olympia was dramatically disrupted by three members of the human rights group Reporters Without Borders (www.rsf.org), who eluded tight security to interrupt a speech by Liu Qi, the head of the Beijing Olympic Organizing Committee. In Athens, during the official hand-over of the torch from Greek to Chinese officials, a group of demonstrators unfurled a banner proclaiming “Free Tibet,” leading to many arrests. These protests touched off other, more violent incidents, most notably in Nepal, home to a large Tibetan exile community.

As the torch relay continued through a number of major world cities, the protests grew in intensity. In London, the official route was changed to avoid demonstrators. In Paris, protesters succeeded in extinguishing the torch, a highly symbolic act. San Francisco was the scene of more protests, with celebrities such as actor Richard Gere and Nobel Prize-winning South African human rights activist Archbishop Desmond Tutu leading the demonstrations. Again, the route was changed at the last minute to prevent clashes between pro-Tibet activists and Chinese-Americans who were there to show their support for the Games. When the relay reached New Delhi, India, the country where the Dalai Lama has established his government in exile, officials shortened the route and restricted the activities of the “Olympic Holy Flame Protection Unit,” an elite guard of Chinese People’s Liberation

NoteRenowned German filmmaker Leni Riefenstahl, infamous for her glorification of the Nazi regime, began her epic documentary of the Berlin Games, Olympiad, with the torch-lighting ceremony. What is ironic about the fact that the first torch relay took place prior to the opening of the Nazi-sponsored Berlin Olympics in 1936?


Army soldiers assigned to defend the torch from attacks.

By the time the torch relay reached Asia, pro-Chinese groups had been able to organize counter-protests to show that not everyone opposed the Games and took the side of the Tibetan exiles and their supporters. On April 24, as the flame was carried through the streets of Canberra, Australia, it was met by cheers from the large Chinese community there, although pro-Tibet demonstrators were also in attendance. From there, the torch relay was scheduled to visit a number of

Further ResearchVisit CBC News at www.cbc.ca/news/interactives/map-olympic-torch/ to view the Olympic torch route and view photos taken of the protestors and supporters.

other Asian locations, including Hong Kong and Macau, two former British and Portuguese colonies that had been transferred to Chinese rule in 1997. However, negotiations to permit the torch to enter Taiwan had broken down over disagreements between Chinese and Taiwanese officials regarding the playing of the two countries’ national anthems at the ceremonies. China claims Taiwan as part of its territory, but the current government regards it as a separate country.

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?


TIBET, CHINA, AND THE OLYMPICSActivity: Considering a BoycottDespite the wishes of many competing athletes and followers of the Olympic Games that the contest should remain focused on sports and be above politics, previous Olympics have been affected by boycotts over international political disagreements. In 1976 Canada felt the effects of one of the first boycotts when it hosted the Summer Games in Montreal. A number of African countries chose not to send athletes to participate in protest over the fact that the New Zealand team had been involved in contests with South Africa, then under an Olympic ban because of its racist apartheid system.

Four years later, practically every Western country, led by the United States, boycotted the Moscow Olympics to demonstrate their condemnation of the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan a few months earlier. In retaliation, when the next Olympics were held, in Los Angeles in 1984, almost every country belonging to the then-Soviet bloc also declined to send teams. These Olympics were tarnished by political disputes, and those attending the Games were 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), have been free of boycotts. In fact, the number of participating countries has actually increased due to the break-up of the former Soviet Union into 15 different republics and the fact that South Africa is now permitted to compete after finally ending the apartheid system.

Because of bitter memories of past Olympic boycotts, and also fearful of displeasing China, an emerging global superpower, most Western countries, including Canada, are extremely reluctant to even consider a boycott of the August 2008 Beijing Games over the Tibet issue and concerns about China’s human rights record. Even though many of these countries have been very critical of Chinese policies in Tibet and its restrictions on political, cultural, and religious freedoms at home, there is some doubt that an Olympic boycott would have any influence on that country’s leaders and communist regime. In fact, there are concerns that such a move might trigger serious economic and trade consequences at a time when many Western nations are looking to China as an important new commercial partner.

Despite this hesitation, pro-Tibet groups in many Western countries have loudly called for a boycott of the Games. The Dalai Lama, the exiled leader of the Tibetan people, does not support such a move, but many younger Tibetans and their supporters abroad have urged it as a matter of conscience.

Canada’s official policy, stated by Prime Minister Stephen Harper, as of the end of April 2008 was that it was unlikely to support or participate in any planned boycott of the Beijing Games. Do you agree with this position?

Your task is to write a letter to the Prime Minister, stating your views on the issue of China’s occupation of Tibet and its human rights record, and whether 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.

DefinitionA boycott is a method of protest that involves abstaining from participation without causing direct damage. A boycott is way to demonstrate opposition to a policy or event and to increase public awareness for the cause of the protest.

Web SitesHere are some Web sites that may be useful to you in researching the topic and preparing your letters: • Official site of the Tibetan government in exile, www.tibet.com• Official site of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, http://en.beijing2008.cn• Official site of the Chinese government, http://english.gov.cn• Official site of the Canadian Olympic Committee, www.olympic.ca• CBC Archives, www.cbc.ca/archives


MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREEN IntroductionWe may finally be at a breakthrough point in the battle against greenhouse gases.

To date, North American (and especially U.S.) environmentalists battling to develop measures to lower levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have largely fought on the grassroots level, encouraging individuals to personally find ways to lower their own carbon footprints. Federal governments in both Canada and the U.S., however, have been reluctant to enact tough measures to enforce emission limits. Both governments have argued that deep cuts would have too great an impact on the nations’ economies. Unfortunately, grassroots efforts, while desirable, cannot solve the problem on their own.

The problem of dealing with global warming is far more complicated than any environmental problem with which we have previously dealt. It is much bigger in scope and involves almost every country in the world.

“Even if every household in the U.S. screwed in an energy-efficient light bulb today, the savings in greenhouse gas emissions would be wiped out by fewer than two medium-sized coal plants – the kind of plant that is being built in China at the rate of one a week,” writes Colin Campbell in Maclean’s (April 7, 2008). “If everyone in North America started driving hybrid cars tomorrow, it would contribute just a fraction of the overall reduction needed to cut global emissions

50 per cent by 2050—a minimum target scientists widely agree we must meet.”

Fortunately, all three major presidential candidates in the 2008 U.S. election process are proponents of a cap-and-trade system to place a limit on carbon emissions in the United States, and to significantly reduce them by 2050. A bill is currently before the U.S. Senate proposing such a plan. And a strong initiative in this area by the U.S. will likely encourage Canada to take similar measures.

On a truly positive note, many corporations in both Canada and the U.S. have been anticipating government measures to put a price on greenhouse gas emissions and have taken steps on their own. As we shall see in the video and other sections of this guide, they are finding ways to reduce their own emissions and to help individuals and other corporations to do so as well. In other words, for innovative companies, global warming is as much an economic opportunity as it is a challenge.

Booming economies in developing countries will place yet more demand on traditional energy sources, even as they become scarcer and more expensive. Enterprising corporations in Canada and developed countries, working to develop new, energy-efficient technologies, will likely find themselves with huge new markets.

Going green can be the key to making even more green (money).

FocusNorth Americans seem on the verge of embracing a green culture—the understanding that dealing with climate change is not an option, but a necessity. This News in Review story looks at the economics of climate change: the potential costs of bringing climate change under control and the economic advantages to companies that do so.

Quote“Carbon dependence has eroded our economic power, destroyed our moral authority, diminished our international influence and prestige, endangered our national security, and damaged our health and landscapes. It is subverting everything we value.” — Robert F. Kennedy Jr., commenting on U.S. energy dependency (Vanity Fair, May 2008)

For DiscussionIt is generally conceded that the U.S. and at least parts of Canada are now in an economic recession. How might a recession or a stagnating economy affect the battle to bring greenhouse gas emissions under control? What might environmentalists do to keep the issue an important one in the public eye?


MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREENVideo ReviewAnswer 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?


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:


MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREENA Huge ChallengeThere are very few people left who would argue that global warming is not one of the most serious issues facing the planet.

We are all aware of the basic facts:• The planet is rapidly growing warmer.• Human activity is responsible for a

good part of this rapid warming, thanks to the emission of greenhouse gases.

• Greenhouse gas emissions are likely to double in just 21 years.

• We will have to take drastic action in order to stop—or at least slow down—climate change.

• Failure to deal with this issue will likely result in an increase in drought, storms, and violent weather in some of the most vulnerable areas of the planet.As a result of this awareness, many

individual Canadians are taking steps to reduce their environmental footprint and becoming more “green.” This grassroots environmentalism has become a central part of the effort to reduce and control global warming.

In the April 7, 2008, issue of Maclean’s author Colin Campbell examined the issue of global warming and what steps will be required to meet the challenge. His conclusion is sobering: it will take a lot more than individual efforts to make a real change.

“Fixing global warming requires nothing short of remapping energy infrastructures and economies all around the world,” writes Campbell. “Instead what we’re doing is reducing ecological footprints with light bulbs, awareness campaigns, and carbon offsets for the environmental sins of buying books and putting up Christmas lights.”

Increased DemandMost environmental scientists now argue that the minimum target we must meet by 2050 is a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This reduction has to take place at a time where energy demands, especially in developing countries, will be rapidly growing. Current trends indicate that worldwide energy use will rise over 50 per cent by 2030. China and India are expected to account for 45 per cent of this growth.

The International Energy Agency (www.iea.org), based in Paris, calculates that meeting this target requires that, worldwide, all the following new energy sources must come into operation:• 30 new nuclear plants• 17 000 wind turbines• 400 biomass power plants• 2 huge hydroelectric dams (the size of

China’s Three Gorges Dam)• 42 coal or natural gas plants with

carbon-capture technology.Not only are all these new sources

required, but they would also have to be built every year from 2013 to 2030.

To understand the stress that growth in developing countries will add to global warming, one need only look at the example of China. In 2008, China is expected to pass the U.S. as the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases. About 70 per cent of China’s energy is supplied by coal, the worst fuel for producing greenhouse gas. From 2007 to 2020 the country plans to spend another $128-billion on coal-based fuels.

Quote“Green is everywhere, and the message behind it is as simple as it is attractive: change your day-to-day habits, consume less, and for a small price, you can save global warming. The only problem with it is this: you can’t. In fact, you can’t even come close.” — Colin Campbell, Maclean’s, (April 7, 2008)

Did you know . . . Canada’s overall record to date is a poor one indeed. When Canada signed the Kyoto Protocol, it pledged to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by six per cent below 1990 levels by 2010. The country now proposes to lower its emissions to 20 per cent below 2006 levels by 2020. Meanwhile, 2008 levels are 30 per cent higher than those in 1990!


An Economic IssueSolutions to the global warming crisis are increasingly seen as economic ones. The most effective solutions require the involvement of governments—and some drastic approaches:• Carbon emissions must be capped, and

emitters charged for exceeding those caps.

• Trading schemes must be developed so emitters that are well below their caps can sell their credits to those who exceed their caps.

• Huge public investments in research and development need to be made on clean energy resources.

North America has been slow to act on this issue—and federal governments in Canada and the U.S. continue to express their reluctance. Europe, however, has a cap-and-trade scheme that sets compulsory limits. In Canada, only British Columbia has placed a price on CO2 emissions—but these apply to everyone, with no loopholes. Current charges are $10 per tonne; these will rise to $30 per tonne in 2012.

In the “Responses”section (page 48), we will look more closely at the key methods governments must use to ensure a drastic reduction in emissions from fossil fuels—and the one country that is critical to any successful reduction.

Quote“There is now a growing awareness that global warming is really a fundamental economic dilemma: how to make it more expensive to emit carbon dioxide while dramatically reducing the costs of new, alternative energies to serve the world’s growing needs.” — Colin Campbell, Maclean’s (April 7, 2008)

AnalysisWhat 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.


MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREENResponsesThe argument against legislated reductions in greenhouse gas levels is invariably economic.

A total of 174 countries signed the Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Conspicuously absent from the signers is the United States, the world’s largest emitter of these gases. There is universal agreement that without significant action by the U.S., no attempt to reduce these emissions will have the necessary impact.

The U.S. government has argued that because developing countries, especially China and India, are exempt from imposed reductions, the economic cost to the U.S. is too high for them to act. However, unless the U.S. does act, there is no incentive for countries like China and India to improve their emissions output.

Fortunately, the U.S. attitude toward emissions control is changing. All three major candidates in the 2008 election process for the presidency agree that action must be taken, though they disagree on exactly what action.

Bryan Walsh, the environment writer for Time, presented an action plan in the magazine’s April 28, 2008, issue. Noting that, while there is no comprehensive plan yet developed, there is universal agreement on the necessary components. He suggested three areas of concentration.

1. Pricing Carbon EmissionsWalsh proposes a cap-and-trade system for carbon emissions, a system that is now widely used in Europe. Under this system, the government sets carbon output limits for companies; those who emit less carbon than their legal limit can sell the credit to other companies that exceed theirs. The result is that levels of

CO2 fall and the greener companies make more money. More money is invested in energy efficiency.

There is a proposal before the U.S. Senate that would use cap-and-trade limits and would aim for a reduction in emissions to 2005 levels by 2012, then further reduce those levels by 70 per cent by 2050. The result has been a bitter argument on the cost of such a policy. On one side, the National Association of Manufacturers says that up to four million jobs would be lost by 2030, and there would be an annual loss of $669-billion in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency predicts that the cost would be no more than one per cent less growth in GDP between 2010 and 2030.

2. Increasing Fossil Fuel EfficiencyWalsh points out that, largely thanks to higher energy costs, Western Europe and Japan are already far more energy efficient than North America. Energy efficiency means less energy use, which in turn means fewer emissions.

Walsh suggests that North America needs to explore methods to increase energy efficiency. This would create what he calls an “energy surge,” which would reduce emissions and help buy time for the development of carbon-free alternative energy sources.

Some of the steps taken could be as simple as turning off the lights in office buildings at night (the recent Earth Hour observance worldwide demonstrated its effectiveness in saving energy). Other measures could generate big returns for investors. A USD$170-billion investment in green buildings and more efficient automobiles, for example, could result in USD$900-billion in savings by 2020.

Quote“The U.S. produces nearly a quarter of the world’s greenhouse gases each year and has stubbornly made it clear that it doesn’t intend to do a whole lot about it.” — Bryan Walsh, Time (April 28, 2008)

Did you know . . . British Columbia will soon become the first Canadian province to enact legislation to place a tax on carbon emissions. For information on the British Columbia carbon tax, go to www.sbr.gov.bc.ca/individuals/Consumer_Taxes/Carbon_Tax/carbon_tax.htm.


3. Creating of a New Energy SystemThe ultimate key to effectively cutting greenhouse gases, however, is the creation of new clean-technology energy. So far, the private sector in North America has been far more involved in this process than has the public sector. In 2007, U.S. venture capital funding put $5.18-billion into clean-technology research—up 44 per cent over 2006.

Replacing carbon-based energy sources will not be easy. The key to the success of any of the new technologies—wind, solar, and hydrogen being three examples—involves dramatically

increasing their scale while equally dramatically dropping the cost. The effort required could equal or exceed that needed to put the economy on a war footing in the Second World War. It will also require a huge investment in research, involving enormous amounts of public as well as private funds.

Walsh estimates that the cost of this battle to develop clean energy could be as much as two or three per cent of the U.S. GDP. Failure to rise to the challenge, however, could very possibly result in the end of global prosperity.

Further ResearchAn International Monetary Fund (IMF) study has indicated that, through international co-ordination, climate change can be controlled without any serious damage to the global economy (www.enn.com/climate/article/34121).

Quote“Think tanks and war colleges have shown that the outcome of any crisis is usually determined by one dominant global player that has the innovators who can churn out the technology, the financiers who can 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)

For Discussion 1. Walsh’s arguments are aimed at the U.S. government. Should the three-

part plan he outlines also be part of Canadian policy? Why or why not?

2. How might Canada play a role in influencing the U.S. government to adopt a plan similar to that described by Walsh?

3. Canada’s record on emissions is fairly dismal, with a 30 per cent increase of emissions in 2008 over those of 1990. How might Canada’s performance influence any U.S. decision on cutting greenhouse gas emissions?

4. In general are you optimistic or pessimistic about the chances of the world cutting greenhouse gas emissions? Explain.


MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREENGreat Green IdeasIn many cases it is corporate North America that is leading the way in developing new green technologies to lower greenhouse gas emissions. Both Canada and the U.S. continue to lack a comprehensive plan for their reduction. Recognizing this, some companies have stepped in to develop new technologies to reduce environmental impact. Here are four North American examples.

Finavera RenewablesFinavera is a Canadian company with wind energy and wave energy projects in several different parts of the world. Most innovative are their wave energy projects. The technology uses what the company calls AquaBuOYs, which are positioned several miles offshore where wave energy is greatest. Each AquaBuOY is an electrical turbine, and the electrical power it creates is transmitted to shore by an underwater power line. AquaBuOYs are designed to be clustered in order “to provide clean, renewable energy for large population [centres].”

Finavera believes that wave technology has the potential to provide as much as 10 per cent of world demand for electricity—comparable to the amount provided by hydroelectric dams. For a country like Canada, with its miles of coastlines, it would seem to be a natural fit.

HycreteGreen buildings have become one of the most important pieces in solving the climate change puzzle. Modern buildings tend to be more energy efficient and are built to have a far smaller carbon footprint than older buildings.

Significant advances are now being made in the materials used for their

construction. One product that has especially caught the attention of the construction industry is Hycrete, a liquid solution of sand, aggregate, cement, and water that is used to waterproof concrete. Normally, concrete is waterproofed through the application of an external membrane that contains harmful chemicals. This concrete cannot be recycled or reused; it has to be sent to landfills. Concrete treated with Hycrete, however, is chemical-free. Hycrete can also be mixed into roofing materials to make green roofs or used to waterproof drywall.

PetroAlgaeFlorida-based PetroAlgae is an interesting company. It is attempting to respond to the world’s increased demands for biofuels, and specifically biodiesel. It uses special strains of micro-algae (developed by the Arizona State University) to obtain high yields of oil that can be processed into other products, especially biodiesel.

The company notes that biofuels have become an important part of many countries’ energy mix, and that land-based crops are insufficient to meet demands. The company also notes that its “patented algae strains are not only a great natural oil source, but also capable of being used to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and contaminants from waste water.” As a bonus, the leftover material after the algae has been processed for oil can serve as a protein source for animal feed, fertilizer, or biomass fuel.

At a time when there is increasing concern that food shortages are likely being heightened by the conversion of food crops into biofuels, PetroAlgae’s efforts seem especially significant.

Further ResearchTo learn more about these innovative ideas, visit the following Web sites: Finavera and wave energy technology at www.finavera.com/en/home, Hycrete at www.hycrete.com, PetroAlgae at www.petroalgae.com and E-Flex at www.autobloggreen.com/2007/01/07/detroit-auto-show-general-motors-e-flex-platform.


General Motors E-FlexGeneral Motors doubts that any one energy source will be developed in the near future to power all the world’s vehicles. GM itself is producing some hybrid vehicles and has an electric car called the Volt nearing production.

GM believes that in the future, energy sources will be based on what is available locally. In some parts of the world the internal combustion engine will continue to be important. In others hydrogen- or battery-driven cars will be most common.

E-Flex is a platform that assumes that electricity will play some role in the powering of most future automobiles. It includes a high-power lithium ion battery that can power the car for about 64 kilometres per charge. After that, a small engine is used to provide power for an on-board generator, which in turn provides a charge for the battery.

Depending on the local fuel source, the engine would run on gasoline, ethanol, propane, natural gas, or biofuel.

Unlike current hybrid gasoline-electric cars, the E-Flex automobiles are full-time electricity driven, since all power to the engine comes directly from the car’s lithium battery. Eventually, GM believes, it will be fuel cells that drive the generator. Carbon-based fuel sources will be completely dispensed with.

GM hopes to have the Volt on the market in 2010. The company notes that anyone with a 64-kilometre-per-day commute or less would never have to buy gasoline as long as they own the car. On the other hand, it would only take about a litre of gasoline to use the Volt for a commute of 200 miles. The Volt will be the cleanest (and most economical) highway-suitable automobile on the market.

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?


MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREENMaking Green by Going GreenAs we have seen in other sections of this guide, going green is very much an economic issue.

The U.S. and Canadian federal governments have been extremely slow to respond to international demands that they reduce their carbon footprints. The U.S. refused to sign the Kyoto Accord, arguing that it would set its own emission targets; meeting Kyoto standards would have too great a negative economic effect. Canada signed the accord, but its overall emissions have risen rather than declined, and the current government has yet to enact a comprehensive plan for controlling greenhouse gases. Ethanol production, the keystone of the Canadian government’s current proposals, is being increasingly condemned by economists and environmentalists alike.

Some jurisdictions have been quick to embrace stringent standards, and their economies have been strengthened, rather than weakened. Sweden, for example, has a carbon tax of $150 per tonne (compare that with the B.C. tax of $10 per tonne), and a per-person Gross Domestic Product (GDP) about three times that of the United States. Iceland, formerly totally dependent on foreign fuel sources, has made itself nearly 100 per cent energy self-sufficient through a combination of geothermal and hydroelectric power. It is now ranked fourth among the most affluent nations.

In North America, California is easily the most energy-efficient U.S. state, with the toughest emission standards on the continent. California also has the strongest economy in the U.S.

So going green can also be economically advantageous, especially if the economic sector is innovative in achieving green status. Japan, for

example, is one nation that has always realized this. One of their recent major government efforts is the “Top Runner” program for energy-efficient appliances. The government rates all appliances for efficiency, and the best model then becomes the industry standard that all manufacturers must meet. The result is a permanent competition to improve efficiency standards and a competitive advantage for Japanese appliances all over the world.

Many corporations realize that reducing greenhouse gas emissions is not an option, and that sooner or later they will be required to take drastic action. Forward-looking corporations are anticipating future regulations and taking steps that will help them profit in the future.

At NOVA Chemicals near Joffre, Alberta, carbon dioxide emissions are collected and pumped underground into a nearby, aging oil field. The CO2 is used to push otherwise-unavailable oil deposits to the surface; the CO2 remains trapped underground. The result will be one million tonnes of CO2 sequestered (the same as taking about 220 000 cars off the road for a year). Four million barrels of oil will also be taken from what was until recently considered a useless field.

For many years Wal-Mart was a company despised by environmentalists. It is now well on its way to being the largest purchaser of green power in Canada. The company has long-term goals: to produce no waste, to be powered entirely by renewable energy, and to be a significant retailer of Earth-friendly products. Surveys and studies have demonstrated to the corporation that this is what its consumers demand.

Further ResearchFor a thorough description of the Top Runner program, go to www.eccj.or.jp/top_runner/img/32.pdf.

Quote“Corporate greening is very much about profit. Forward-looking companies are beginning to see the writing on the wall when it comes to global warming and understand that they can invest now in green technologies and in many cases save money and win customers in the short term, or pay the price later.” — Colin Campbell, Maclean’s (May 14, 2007)


General Electric, convinced that high oil and gas prices are permanent, has developed a corporate program it calls “Ecomagination.” It believes that high fuel prices will cause corporations and consumers to invest in efficiency and alternative energy. A General Electric product certified for Ecomagination has to offer customers both environmental benefits and lower operating costs. These products are also expected to pay back any capital investment in an average of two years or less. In 2007, GE’s revenues from these products were up 20 per cent over 2006, at USD$12-billion. GE expects this to be USD$20-billion by 2010.

PlascoEnergy Group is an innovative Canadian company that takes garbage and turns it into energy. Plasco has built a demonstration plant in Ottawa, where it takes 85 tonnes of garbage per day (seven per cent of Ottawa’s household waste) and uses it to generate four megawatts of electricity. Plasco now has a tentative agreement to build a 300 tonne plant near Red Deer, Alberta.

More and more, the international consensus is that the time has come for governments and companies to go green. As the examples above and in the video have shown us, going green is also becoming a very good way to make more green.

Further ResearchFor more on how NOVA Chemicals manages greenhouse gas emissions, see www.novachem.com/socialresp/docs/GHG_2007.pdf. For more on Wal-Mart’s environmental policies, see www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2007/07/c9848.html. For GE’s Ecomagination program, see ge.ecomagination.com/site/#vision/commitments. For PlascoEnergy, see www.plasco energygroup.com.

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/

Discussion 1. Why do you think private corporations are going green faster than many

governments?

2. How might you try to convince the Government of Canada to “go green” faster?


MAKING MONEY BY GOING GREENActivity: Greening Your World

Part 1: Greening at HomeGoing 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 DoReview 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 SchoolTo DoIs 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?


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?


SEPTEMBER 2006Lebanon War: Israel Battles HezbollahToronto Arrests: 18 Face Terror ChargesLondon Bombers: Alienation and TerrorThe Big Melt: Canada’s Changing Arctic

OCTOBER 2006A Gunman Attacks Students in MontrealA Canadian Rides the Shuttle into SpaceCanada Hosts World AIDS Conference 9/11: The Day that Changed the World

NOVEMBER 2006Canada’s Bloody War in AfghanistanTrying to Stop the Killing in DarfurMichaëlle Jean: Our Governor GeneralCanada’s Famous Dinosaur Hunter

DECEMBER 2006The Liberals Choose a New LeaderThe North Korean Nuclear CrisisTeaching Children How to CareRestoring the Parliamentary Library

FEBRUARY 2007The U.S. Sends More Troops to IraqAfghanistan: The Dead and the WoundedTaking The Right To Play to EthiopiaVisiting Second Life’s Virtual World

MARCH 2007A Call for Action on Climate ChangeThe Trial of Robert PicktonThe Forgotten War in BurmaRepression and Fear in Russia

APRIL 2007The Budget: Countdown to an Election?Quebecers Vote in a Provincial ElectionArrest in a 1964 Mississippi Cold CaseFashion and the Dangerously Thin

MAY 2007Remembering Vimy RidgeIran Seizes British SailorsThe Dangers of Global WarmingLiving as a Homeless Person

News in Review IndexA 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.

CBC LearningP.O. Box 500, Station AToronto, Ontario, Canada M5W 1E6Tel: (416) 205-6384Fax: (416) 205-2376E-mail: [email protected]

SEPTEMBER 2007The Trial of Conrad BlackThe Seven Wonders of CanadaTony Blair’s Ten Years in PowerOmar Khadr: Canadian in Guantanamo

OCTOBER 2007The Van Doos Head for AfghanistanThe Trials of Stephen TruscottThe Act that Made Us CanadianGoing Green to Fight Global Warming

NOVEMBER 2007Taking Off: Canada’s Soaring DollarDefending Our Sovereignty in the ArcticSelling Canada’s Military to CanadiansHelping The Mentally Ill Homeless

DECEMBER 2007Harper’s Throne Speech ChallengeState of Emergency in PakistanQuebec’s Big Accommodation DebateLake Superior: Where Did the Water Go?

FEBRUARY 2008The Assassination of Benazir BhuttoCracking Down on TasersThe Oil Sands and the EnvironmentThe Hidden Wounds of War

MARCH 2008The Manley Report on AfghanistanRestarting the Chalk River ReactorThe Campaign for the White HouseCyber Thieves and Identity Theft

APRIL 2008Dodging a Spring ElectionKosovo Declares IndependenceRestoring Peace to KenyaComing Home to Newfoundland

news in review - curio.ca · 2014-04-15 · news in review index ... in march anti-government riots...

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