A study that seeks to go behind ideology to study the connections of the powerful has revealed that the global economy only has a handful of players. Conducted by complex systems theorists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich the study “examined the connections between 43,000 transnational corporations [and] has identified a relatively small group of companies, mainly banks, with disproportionate power over the global economy.” Of those companies there is a “super-entity” of 147 even more tightly knit companies. Less than 1% controls 40% of the wealth of the entire network. Some of the companies included in this “super entity” include JP Morgan Chase & Co, Goldman Sachs Group Inc, and Sun Life Financial Inc. Read more in New Scientist.
Year: 2011
Vancouver School Board considers implementing year-round school
The Vancouver School Board may follow in the footsteps of Richmond, Maple Ridge, Langley and implement a year-round school calendar. The motive behind such a move is to keep students engaged so that they don’t forget what they learned the year before. The board has not settled on a model but is considering either including three semesters a year with one-month breaks in between, or six semesters with breaks of two-to-three weeks in between. Before implementing a year-round program the board plans to consult with school staff and parents. Read article in the Tyee.
Hamilton becomes first Ontario municipality to create a climate charter
Hamilton Ontario has created a voluntary climate action charter that can be used by local individuals, businesses and organization to foster communication and commitment on addressing climate change. Signees are expected to keep informed on climate change issues, set targets, show leadership, report annually on climate change measures, and to educate fellow Hamilton residents. A copy of the charter can be found here.
Purple Letter Campaign lobbies for a province-wide policy to make schools safe and inclusive for everyone
A campaign to create a sexual orientation and gender identity policy for all BC schools is underway. The campaign is asking individuals to submit personal letters explaining why they think such a policy is needed. Those in the LGBT community are encouraged to write as are their friends and allies. Letters can be sent to:
Purple Letter Campaign
#376-3495 Cambie St
Vancouver, BC
V5Z 4R3
Or via email to purplelettercampaign@gmail.com
Go to Purple Letter Campaign to find out more.
Report finds P3’s substantially more expensive than the public option
Forensic accountant, Ron Parks has co-authored a report that evaluates four P3 projects completed in BC, The Canada Line, Sea-To-Sky Highway improvements, the Diamond Ambulatory Care Centre and the Abbotsford Regional Hospital for their financial costs. His findings show that P3’s are substantially more expensive than the public option due to hidden costs. While publicly funded projects can include safe guards such as penalizing builders that go over budget, P3’s don’t have the same restrictions and “the costs can go spiraling out of control.” Read more in the Abbotsford News.
Find report backgrounder: Evaluation of Public Private Partnerships: Costing and Evaluation Methodology here.
Download full report here.
The impact of CETA on Hamilton Ontario
Stewart Trew of the Council of Canadians has written a report that outlines some specific impacts the proposed CETA (Canadian European Union Trade Agreement) will have on Hamilton’s job sector as well as the social and environmental impacts. From banning buy local policies to privatizing public services, the agreement will limit the power of municipalities to create jobs, protect the environment and develop their own procurement policies. Unfortunately, many municipalities remain in the dark about CETA and its impacts. Read Stewart Trew’s report.
For more details on CETA click here.
FCM’s survey on sustainable food systems in Canada
The FCM (Federation of Canadian Municipalities) conducted a survey in 2010 to learn whether Canadian municipalities are considering sustainable food systems in their planning process. The results are now in and show that there is a strong interest in developing sustainable food system particularly in urban areas (57%). Find results of the survey here.
Recent decline in health of the Great Lakes is an outcome of climate change, says Gore
Using well documented research to back up his claim, Al Gore is noting the direct link between the large algae blooms and low water levels of the Great Lakes as a direct result of climate change. He is urging governments to address the issue, noting that both the environmental and economic fallout from continued decline will be severe. Read more in Bloomberg Business Week.
BC school program provides students with locally grown food
BC’s Farm to School program is having a transformative effect on student participants. The program provides students with locally grown food served at the school cafeteria, and some classroom time dedicated to learning about local food and nutrition. At participant schools students are enthusiastically lining up at the salad bar and are showing a genuine interest in growing their own food. Read more in the Globe and Mail.
Visit Farm to School BC to find out how your school can participate.
Safe injection sites planned for Montreal and Quebec City
Quebec’s health minister, Yves Bolduc, has offered support and encouragement to the organization Cactus to open two safe injection sites this coming spring. Cactus, based out of Montreal currently offers clean needles and counseling support for drug addicts. Jean-Francois Mary of Cactus Montreal says the decision only makes sense.
“We’ve been really walking in that grey zone of providing the services to these people but saying to them ‘no you can’t use there. You need to go in the back alleys of Montreal’ and which is really hypocritical,” said Mary.” Read more at CTV.
Success of school food program exceeds expectations
A Toronto-based school food program is proving successful in raising academic scores and improving behavior for the students it serves. “Feeding Our Future,” was started after a Toronto student was shot by a fellow student. Some administrators and nutrition experts argued that “hungry kid was an angry kid.” By providing the basics – a meal every morning, administrators and teachers are seeing some dramatic changes. Though the Toronto School Board has done preliminary research through student surveys, more research is needed so that programs like “Feeding Our Future” will have the numbers to prove their success and receive the long-term, stable funding they deserve. Read more in the Globe and Mail.
Where Toronto went wrong
An article in the Walrus talks about the financial decline of Canada’s economic hub. Though Toronto remains a vibrant, diverse and exciting place to live, poor economic and structural decision making have left the city with a crumbling infrastructure, service cuts, and traffic congestion that is creating frustration for everyone. With the current Mayor’s decision to cut several tax-based sources of revenue and to instead further slash programs and infrastructure the solutions to the City’s woes are nowhere in sight. Read “How Toronto Lost Its Groove” here.