A local authority in North West England has recently been pursuing compensation for a six year girl who has “growth retardation” thanks to the alcohol consumed by her mother during pregnancy. This case could lead to the criminalization of drinking during pregnancy. While at first glance this may seem like a good idea, it is actually being criticized due to the fact that it could lead to the legalization of taking medication, and refusing a caesarean section. Furthermore, compensation for this crime would be paid for by the taxpayer, not the mother. Personally I don’t believe that passing this law will have any effect with changing whether or not mothers drinking during pregnancy. Generally speaking, making something illegal doesn’t stop people from doing it (e.g. prohibition). According to this news article, the problem is usually caused either through ignorance, or a drinking problem. Therefore I don’t believe that the solution will come in the form of a law, but with counseling and education.
One of the headlines which I noticed talked about how Scotiabank is cutting over 1500 jobs, yet is still making more than enough money to support their employees. On Tuesday the Bank of Nova Scotia, more commonly known as Scotiabank, set aside nearly half a billion dollars, covering the costs to shut down oversea banks; getting rid of 1500 jobs in the process. However, it is not as if Canada hasn’t been good to the Bank of Nova Scotia. When the bank had a struggle during the international credit crunch, the taxpayers were the ones who payed to get them out of the situation. The third largest bank in Canada transferred billions in risky loans to the taxpayers, leaving the money free to lend at a profit. Scotiabank is also benefiting from big businesses which can’t seem to lose any profits. Many Canadians find it annoying to watch companies who earn billions repeatedly cut staff. The issue here that the bank seems to be cutting jobs to increase their profit. However, the purpose of the company giants should be to ensure that citizens have reliable safe employment.
This is my weekly post... Earlier this week in Oregon, Alaska, and Washington, D.C, US citizens voted to make marijuana legal.(1) In 2012 Colorado and Washington voted yes to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Retail shops in Oregon, Alaska, and Washington, D.C will be ushered in to sell specialized marijuana goods. Not only does this affect the states involved in the legalization of marijuana, it affects everyone in North America and beyond. Personally, I predict that in about 5 years pot will be legal, or at least decriminalized almost everywhere. Here in Canada, as much as I hate Justin Trudeau and almost everything he represents I wish the conservatives would take a harder look at legalizing marijuana, and it’s one of the reasons people will sadly elect Trudeau in the next election. (2) However if you become aware of how much we pay as taxpayers to keep people locked up for small amounts of possession you’ll be amazed. It’s even worse in the states. One marijuana arrest happens every 42 seconds in the US. (3) I believe people will start to look at weed on the same level as alcohol. There of coarse needs to be restrictions however the government would benefit too. People would also be able to start businesses around the farming and selling side of pot. Most drug wars would stop because you could get it freely and more safe. By no means is pot actually good for you, so you can stop pretending that you are smoking to cure your glaucoma you might get in 5 years. Some people would like to think that it is a health drug and it’s not. But it can do some good, there is a reason you can get medical marijuana. If you actually have glaucoma then pot is ok, and it also relieves the pain of cancer. To wrap it up I don’t think the government should just start handing out marijuana, but at least stop putting people in jail for having some pot in their pockets. There are good sides and bad sides, if you look outside the auditorium at central you can see what happens when your entire life revolves around pot. However there are plenty of people who prove the opposite. So let’s stop putting people in jail, not letting them cross the border and stop destroying career opportunities because they got caught trying to have fun.
This is my weekly post Remember Luka Magnotta? If you do that’s the problem. Everyone knows what this SOB did a few years back and if you don’t know, I’ll tell you. Magnotta is a strange and twisted man. About two years ago he was involved in some serious things. Magnotta killed and dismembered Jun Lin, a chinese citizen studying in Montreal. Sounds pretty gruesome right? It gets worse, He didn't just dismember him, he filmed it all, where he molested Lin's tied up body and cut him up1. Still think it stops there? It dosen't he mailed the body parts to offices and schools over Canada. Magnotta originally did this two years ago and was found shortly after in a different country, so why am I bringing this up now? This story has hit the news again in a really dumb way. Magnotta and his doctor are saying he was in a psychotic state when he killed Jun Lin2. No way? I wouldn't have guessed that!, here's the problem, Magnotta has obviously been locked up but how long will he stay? With this news coming out it sounds like it's going to become an excuse for Magnotta to get off scotch free, even though we all know he is guilty. I love Canada but why do we let criminals live? I get the point if they actually are innocent or if it is a harmless crime, but murder, if it is not accidental, like drunk driving etc, the criminals involved should be killed, like Luka Magnotta. Now when you read this i'm not 100% for the death penalty or anything like that,I just think Magnotta was one we shouldn't have let slip and shouldn't still be cleaning up now. I think that the system could be justified with proper laws. What are your thoughts? 1 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/who-is-luka-rocco-magnotta-1.1200147 2 http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/11/06/christie-blatchford-luka-magnotta-was-schizophrenic-during-killing-but-knew-it-was-wrong-psychiatrist-says/
On Friday, November 7, a 22 year old caucasian man, was accidentally released from the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility, a week before his hearing. Eliahs Knudsen Kent, was on trial for multiple charges layed against him, which included attempted murder, home invasion and robbery, stemming from a break-in back in September. A 75 year-old resident awoke to find two male intruders, one of them being Kent, who were attempting to steal rifles from a storage cabinet. The man tried to stop the invaders, but was injured after being hit in the head with the butt-end of one of his own guns (Source 1). After his mistaken release on Friday, the public was warned by officers in a Public Notification, to stay away from the convict, as he is considered "very dangerous" (Source 2). On Saturday, November 8, Kent was, again, apprehended by police officers in Halifax after a short footchase at around 2:00 PM, now facing charges of escaping lawful custody.
The main concern I have with this case is the possible dangers the public faces as a result from the officers careless mistakes. Nova Scotia's Minister of Justice, Lena Diab, feels the same when she said, "An offender was released that shouldn’t have been released. I’m angry. I’m appalled. I don’t know how this could possibly happen”(Source 3). It turns out that this is not the first case where inmates at the Nova Scotia Correctional Facility have been set free accidentally. Over three years between 2007 and 2010, there has been 8 cases of accidental release of prisoners in Nova Scotia(Source 4). I personally believe that the number occurances is shocking, and something needs to be done to prevent the numbers from rising.
In the case when we are looking at a man who has been convicted for such violent crimes, the problem becomes much more serious. The potential risks that could result from such mindless mistakes are too high to accept, and something needs to be done within the force to ensure more safety from these criminals.
In Muscat, Oman, high-level negotiations are taking place between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Javad Zarif, concerning Iran’s nuclear program. The talks seek to curb Iran’s capacity to potentially create nuclear arms in exchange for the easing of Western sanctions. Progress has been made, but some, including US President Barack Obama, fear that it is not enough to meet the November 24th deadline (1).
Iran has been attempting to ameliorate its enrichment capabilities by implementing an extensive enrichment program consisting of 20,000 gas centrifuges at three major facilities (2). This has led many world powers to believe that Iran is attempting to create highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons. Despite Tehran insisting that their nuclear program is peaceful in nature, many states have condemned the program and imposed sanctions on Iran (). These sanctions have had detrimental effects on Iran’s economy. The most difficult issues that are being negotiated include determining how much enrichment capacity Iran could keep, and how quickly international sanctions would be reduced. Another possible factor that could hinder progress in the talks is the contents of an International Atomic Energy Agency report. According to the report, Iran has failed to provide information regarding suspected covert activities at some of their nuclear facilities, despite the nation promising to cooperate with the IAEA last year (1).
If the deadline is not met in time, more sanctions could be imposed on Iran. None of the world powers are interested in extending the November 24th deadline, but if the major issues are dealt with, negotiations could go beyond the original date.
I am posting this week on the issue of "fad charities" in the west. By this I'm referring to how people jump from one charity case to the next, and lose interest in worldwide issues after some time, even if the issue is still continuing. We talked in class about how everyone has lost interest in the Ukraine and I found an article with an interview with the Ukrainian ambassador to Canada who is upset with the west's lack of interest in the still war-torn Ukraine. In March, the Canadian government made a promise to loan $200 million to the Ukraine in support, but as interest in Ukraine has been mostly lost, Harper has still not delivered on this promise (1). People seem to always move from country in need to another, after the most exciting incident has died down, or when something more interesting comes along. In the case of the Ukraine, most people lost interest once the events surrounding ISIS escalated.
In 2012, people were extremely concerned about Kony and the issue of child soldiers. But just two years after, nobody talks about Kony anymore even though the issue was never solved. Social media was used to get people involved and there were rallies and flyer posting, but people got bored and moved on to the next issue. Just yesterday, dozens of children were killed in a suicide bombing in Nigeria (2). But this story isn't being pulled into the media craze because the focus is all on ISIS right now. People need to keep focus on the world as a whole, in order to actually support countries in need, rather the providing short term support them leaving them behind.
From Hannah, My weekly post will be talking about the prostitution bill the conservatives proposed. The bill is aimed at restricting the sex industry passed senate, which is one step away from becoming law. This law could be found unconstitutional as it violates workers' rights to safety as protected in the Charter. Although bill C-36 focuses largely on the buying of sex, it could still criminalize those selling it through the way they communicate transactions and such. Many sex workers have come forward saying that this law could put them in a lot more danger because they'd have to be more underground about the act, which could potentially lure in predators over legitimate clients.
My personal opinion on this is that I hope the bill gets struck down because the lives of sex workers are more important than the conservative agenda. Making the sex industry illegal will not stop it from happening, and is very hypocritical if the law specifically targets workers yet allows pornography and other media sources to sell their products. If the law starts to specify what kinds of sex you can sell, you are going down a prejudicial path. Instead of restricting those trying to support themselves and family in a consensual manner, you are therefore taking away their chartered right to live, liberty and security.
A local authority in North West England has recently been pursuing compensation for a six year girl who has “growth retardation” thanks to the alcohol consumed by her mother during pregnancy. This case could lead to the criminalization of drinking during pregnancy. While at first glance this may seem like a good idea, it is actually being criticized due to the fact that it could lead to the legalization of taking medication, and refusing a caesarean section. Furthermore, compensation for this crime would be paid for by the taxpayer, not the mother. Personally I don’t believe that passing this law will have any effect with changing whether or not mothers drinking during pregnancy. Generally speaking, making something illegal doesn’t stop people from doing it (e.g. prohibition). According to this news article, the problem is usually caused either through ignorance, or a drinking problem. Therefore I don’t believe that the solution will come in the form of a law, but with counseling and education.
ReplyDeletehttp://news.sky.com/story/1366952/drinking-in-pregnancy-could-be-made-illegal
One of the headlines which I noticed talked about how Scotiabank is cutting over 1500 jobs, yet is still making more than enough money to support their employees. On Tuesday the Bank of Nova Scotia, more commonly known as Scotiabank, set aside nearly half a billion dollars, covering the costs to shut down oversea banks; getting rid of 1500 jobs in the process. However, it is not as if Canada hasn’t been good to the Bank of Nova Scotia.
ReplyDeleteWhen the bank had a struggle during the international credit crunch, the taxpayers were the ones who payed to get them out of the situation. The third largest bank in Canada transferred billions in risky loans to the taxpayers, leaving the money free to lend at a profit. Scotiabank is also benefiting from big businesses which can’t seem to lose any profits.
Many Canadians find it annoying to watch companies who earn billions repeatedly cut staff. The issue here that the bank seems to be cutting jobs to increase their profit. However, the purpose of the company giants should be to ensure that citizens have reliable safe employment.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/business/why-scotiabank-is-cutting-jobs-while-earning-billions-don-pittis-1.2823140
This is my weekly post...
ReplyDeleteEarlier this week in Oregon, Alaska, and Washington, D.C, US citizens voted to make marijuana legal.(1) In 2012 Colorado and Washington voted yes to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. Retail shops in Oregon, Alaska, and Washington, D.C will be ushered in to sell specialized marijuana goods. Not only does this affect the states involved in the legalization of marijuana, it affects everyone in North America and beyond. Personally, I predict that in about 5 years pot will be legal, or at least decriminalized almost everywhere. Here in Canada, as much as I hate Justin Trudeau and almost everything he represents I wish the conservatives would take a harder look at legalizing marijuana, and it’s one of the reasons people will sadly elect Trudeau in the next election. (2) However if you become aware of how much we pay as taxpayers to keep people locked up for small amounts of possession you’ll be amazed. It’s even worse in the states. One marijuana arrest happens every 42 seconds in the US. (3)
I believe people will start to look at weed on the same level as alcohol. There of coarse needs to be restrictions however the government would benefit too. People would also be able to start businesses around the farming and selling side of pot. Most drug wars would stop because you could get it freely and more safe. By no means is pot actually good for you, so you can stop pretending that you are smoking to cure your glaucoma you might get in 5 years. Some people would like to think that it is a health drug and it’s not. But it can do some good, there is a reason you can get medical marijuana. If you actually have glaucoma then pot is ok, and it also relieves the pain of cancer. To wrap it up I don’t think the government should just start handing out marijuana, but at least stop putting people in jail for having some pot in their pockets. There are good sides and bad sides, if you look outside the auditorium at central you can see what happens when your entire life revolves around pot. However there are plenty of people who prove the opposite. So let’s stop putting people in jail, not letting them cross the border and stop destroying career opportunities because they got caught trying to have fun.
Sources:
1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/29/one-marijuana-arrest-occu_n_2041236.html
2. http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/07/24/justin-trudeau-wants-to-legalize-marijuana-in-order-to-keep-it-out-of-the-hands-of-our-kids/
3. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/29/one-marijuana-arrest-occu_n_2041236.html
This is my weekly post
ReplyDeleteRemember Luka Magnotta? If you do that’s the problem. Everyone knows what this SOB did a few years back and if you don’t know, I’ll tell you.
Magnotta is a strange and twisted man. About two years ago he was involved in some serious things. Magnotta killed and dismembered Jun Lin, a chinese citizen studying in Montreal. Sounds pretty gruesome right? It gets worse, He didn't just dismember him, he filmed it all, where he molested Lin's tied up body and cut him up1. Still think it stops there? It dosen't he mailed the body parts to offices and schools over Canada. Magnotta originally did this two years ago and was found shortly after in a different country, so why am I bringing this up now? This story has hit the news again in a really dumb way. Magnotta and his doctor are saying he was in a psychotic state when he killed Jun Lin2. No way? I wouldn't have guessed that!, here's the problem, Magnotta has obviously been locked up but how long will he stay? With this news coming out it sounds like it's going to become an excuse for Magnotta to get off scotch free, even though we all know he is guilty. I love Canada but why do we let criminals live? I get the point if they actually are innocent or if it is a harmless crime, but murder, if it is not accidental, like drunk driving etc, the criminals involved should be killed, like Luka Magnotta. Now when you read this i'm not 100% for the death penalty or anything like that,I just think Magnotta was one we shouldn't have let slip and shouldn't still be cleaning up now. I think that the system could be justified with proper laws.
What are your thoughts?
1 http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/who-is-luka-rocco-magnotta-1.1200147
2 http://fullcomment.nationalpost.com/2014/11/06/christie-blatchford-luka-magnotta-was-schizophrenic-during-killing-but-knew-it-was-wrong-psychiatrist-says/
This is my weekly post...
ReplyDeleteOn Friday, November 7, a 22 year old caucasian man, was accidentally released from the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility, a week before his hearing. Eliahs Knudsen Kent, was on trial for multiple charges layed against him, which included attempted murder, home invasion and robbery, stemming from a break-in back in September. A 75 year-old resident awoke to find two male intruders, one of them being Kent, who were attempting to steal rifles from a storage cabinet. The man tried to stop the invaders, but was injured after being hit in the head with the butt-end of one of his own guns
(Source 1). After his mistaken release on Friday, the public was warned by officers in a Public Notification, to stay away from the convict, as he is considered "very dangerous"
(Source 2). On Saturday, November 8, Kent was, again, apprehended by police officers in Halifax after a short footchase at around 2:00 PM, now facing charges of escaping lawful custody.
The main concern I have with this case is the possible dangers the public faces as a result from the officers careless mistakes. Nova Scotia's Minister of Justice, Lena Diab, feels the same when she said, "An offender was released that shouldn’t have been released. I’m angry. I’m appalled. I don’t know how this could possibly happen”(Source 3). It turns out that this is not the first case where inmates at the Nova Scotia Correctional Facility have been set free accidentally. Over three years between 2007 and 2010, there has been 8 cases of accidental release of prisoners in Nova Scotia(Source 4). I personally believe that the number occurances is shocking, and something needs to be done to prevent the numbers from rising.
In the case when we are looking at a man who has been convicted for such violent crimes, the problem becomes much more serious. The potential risks that could result from such mindless mistakes are too high to accept, and something needs to be done within the force to ensure more safety from these criminals.
Source 1: http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/dangerous-inmate-mistakenly-released-from-n-s-jail-1.2091524
Source 2: http://novascotia.ca/news/release/?id=20141107001
Source 3: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/eliahs-kent-mistakenly-released-from-burnside-jail-back-in-custody-1.2828866
Source 4: http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/dangerous-inmate-back-in-custody-after-mistaken-release-1.2093274
This is my weekly post
ReplyDeleteIn Muscat, Oman, high-level negotiations are taking place between US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Javad Zarif, concerning Iran’s nuclear program. The talks seek to curb Iran’s capacity to potentially create nuclear arms in exchange for the easing of Western sanctions. Progress has been made, but some, including US President Barack Obama, fear that it is not enough to meet the November 24th deadline (1).
Iran has been attempting to ameliorate its enrichment capabilities by implementing an extensive enrichment program consisting of 20,000 gas centrifuges at three major facilities (2). This has led many world powers to believe that Iran is attempting to create highly enriched uranium for nuclear weapons. Despite Tehran insisting that their nuclear program is peaceful in nature, many states have condemned the program and imposed sanctions on Iran (). These sanctions have had detrimental effects on Iran’s economy.
The most difficult issues that are being negotiated include determining how much enrichment capacity Iran could keep, and how quickly international sanctions would be reduced. Another possible factor that could hinder progress in the talks is the contents of an International Atomic Energy Agency report. According to the report, Iran has failed to provide information regarding suspected covert activities at some of their nuclear facilities, despite the nation promising to cooperate with the IAEA last year (1).
If the deadline is not met in time, more sanctions could be imposed on Iran. None of the world powers are interested in extending the November 24th deadline, but if the major issues are dealt with, negotiations could go beyond the original date.
1. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-29974953
2. http://www.nti.org/country-profiles/iran/
3. http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/high-level-talks-underway-iran-nuclear-program-26786780?page=1
4. http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/11/09/us-iran-nuclear-talks-idUSKBN0IT07L20141109
5. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/us-iran-continue-nuclear-negotiations-amid-pessimism-for-deal/article21515948/
This is my weekly post.
ReplyDeleteI am posting this week on the issue of "fad charities" in the west. By this I'm referring to how people jump from one charity case to the next, and lose interest in worldwide issues after some time, even if the issue is still continuing. We talked in class about how everyone has lost interest in the Ukraine and I found an article with an interview with the Ukrainian ambassador to Canada who is upset with the west's lack of interest in the still war-torn Ukraine. In March, the Canadian government made a promise to loan $200 million to the Ukraine in support, but as interest in Ukraine has been mostly lost, Harper has still not delivered on this promise (1). People seem to always move from country in need to another, after the most exciting incident has died down, or when something more interesting comes along. In the case of the Ukraine, most people lost interest once the events surrounding ISIS escalated.
In 2012, people were extremely concerned about Kony and the issue of child soldiers. But just two years after, nobody talks about Kony anymore even though the issue was never solved. Social media was used to get people involved and there were rallies and flyer posting, but people got bored and moved on to the next issue.
Just yesterday, dozens of children were killed in a suicide bombing in Nigeria (2). But this story isn't being pulled into the media craze because the focus is all on ISIS right now. People need to keep focus on the world as a whole, in order to actually support countries in need, rather the providing short term support them leaving them behind.
1.http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/vadym-prystaiko-says-west-losing-interest-in-ukraine-1.2827717
2.http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/11/05/nigeria_boko_haram_goodluck_jonathan_bring_back_our_girls
3.http://www.cbc.ca/newsblogs/yourcommunity/2014/08/ice-bucket-challenge-charity-success-story-or-damaging-fad.html
From Hannah,
ReplyDeleteMy weekly post will be talking about the prostitution bill the conservatives proposed. The bill is aimed at restricting the sex industry passed senate, which is one step away from becoming law. This law could be found unconstitutional as it violates workers' rights to safety as protected in the Charter. Although bill C-36 focuses largely on the buying of sex, it could still criminalize those selling it through the way they communicate transactions and such. Many sex workers have come forward saying that this law could put them in a lot more danger because they'd have to be more underground about the act, which could potentially lure in predators over legitimate clients.
My personal opinion on this is that I hope the bill gets struck down because the lives of sex workers are more important than the conservative agenda. Making the sex industry illegal will not stop it from happening, and is very hypocritical if the law specifically targets workers yet allows pornography and other media sources to sell their products. If the law starts to specify what kinds of sex you can sell, you are going down a prejudicial path. Instead of restricting those trying to support themselves and family in a consensual manner, you are therefore taking away their chartered right to live, liberty and security.