September 30th, 2011 to October 6th, 2011
Punjabi Patrika
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Abbotsford Hits Highest Daily Opening up gender option on passports Water Use in 2011 Passports — Issues, Experts & Ideas
Two SFU experts on gender agree that Australia’s precedent-setting move to add a third gender option called indeterminate on passports will pave the way for gender free passports for everyone in the future. SFU sociologist Ann Travers, and Helen Leung, an associate professor in the department of gender, sexuality and women’s studies, expect the U.K. to go even further, offering a gender free option.
T
he City of Abbotsford and the District of Mission reached the highest level of water consumption this season on September 7, 2011, announced Abbotsford Mayor, George W. Peary, Chair of the Abbotsford Mission Water Sewer Commiswas one of the hottest sion (AMWSC). Septembers on record “Abbotsford residents for the region. Abbotsused 27% more water ford and Mission had than average on that nine days in a row with day,” said Peary. temperatures above 25 “For the most part, Ab- C. Increased water use botsford and Mission correlates closely to residents have done a higher temperatures. good job conserving The highest use of wawater this summer,” ter was in 2007, when said Peary. water use hit 139.2 Environment Canada megalitres per day has indicated that this (MLD) on July 12 ,
Leung believes making gender options more flexible or eliminating them completely will help protect passport holders from border harassment if there is a perceived mismatch between “their presentation and identity on their documents.” Travers adds: “In the short term though, individuals who choose to identify their sex as X rather than F or M are likely to be put at greater risk should they encounter the border policing of many other national boundaries.” Ann Travers, 778.782.6630, atravers@sfu.ca Helen Leung, 778.782.5518, helen_leung@sfu.ca
2007, putting the water supply system dangerously close to its 143 MLD capacity. In the last 20 years the average day water demand has almost doubled. It is expected that water use will hit 160 MLD by 2016, even with 20 percent water conservation.
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