21 November 2012

THE UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA STUDENTS’ NEWSPAPER

Is it easy being green? pages 10-15

n e ws

co m m e n t

s c i e n c e & t e c h n o lo g y

It Gets Better

Deep divide

RCMP join campaign of support for LGBT youth

Current regime hurting chance for peace in Middle East?

Carl Sagan Day! Abstraction

page 4

page 8

Honouring he who brought the cosmos to the masses page 16

a rts & c u lt u r e

ARTlab gallery showcases homegrown abstract artists page 18

Vo l 9 9 ½ · N o 1 4 · N ov e m b e r 2 1 , 2 0 1 2 · w w w.t h e m a n i to b a n .co m

s p o rts

A good cause NHLPA players raise funds for charity at Max Bell

page 22

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Index

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 14 November 21, 2012

News

Science & Tech

| pa g e s 2 – 5

4

Campus news briefs

5

Fifty shades of more pleasure

Editorial

| pa g e 7

20

| pgs 16

Climate change and the community

Arts & Culture

| pgs 17–20

cover image

Ceramic bowl by Peter Tittenberger

Comment

| pa g e s 8 – 9

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Photo and ceramic bowl by Peter Tittenberger, taken for the University of Manitoba Ceramics Club Exhibition and Sale, which runs from November 20th - 22nd, 9:30am-3:30pm daily at the Gallery of Student Art in University Centre.

For more information about upcoming events, please visit us online at facebook. com/UMCeramics

Take it or leave it, we don't give a shit

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Going deep with Jodie Layne

Diversions

Letter to the editor

Features

19

| pa g e 2 1

| pa g e s 1 0 – 1 5

Sports

| pa g e s 2 2 – 2 3

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Salad days

22

Handing out the hardware

12

Keep it organic?

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Following the Herd

Toban Talkback

Q:

Devin Edwards

Michelle Mark

Dahla Thara

Ryan Jones

“Obama seems like a cool guy.”

“It was what I expected. I just thought that it would be the same person elected again.”

“I expected that he would be elected again. The states seem happy with him as a president.”

“It was what I expected because of the way the U.S. economy has gone since Obama took office.”

Did the results of the US election surprise you or was it what you expected?

Jill Patterson, staff

f acul t y o f science

f acul t y o f science

f acul t y o f agricul tural business

univer si t y 1

3

Senior News Editor: Rachel Wood News Editor: Jill Patterson Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

News

Back to business with U.S. election concluded Issue of fiscal cliff kicks off Obama’s new term Jill Patterson, staff

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fter much campaigning and anticipation, Barack Obama was re-elected as President of the United States on Nov. 6 with approximately 332 electoral votes to his Republican opponent Mitt Romney’s 206 electoral votes.

It was projected leading up to the election that the results would be very close and that there was a likely chance either candidate could be the winner. However, even before the votes for some states had been tallied, Obama was declared the winner.

Celebration erupted in Chicago as the news broke out, with people chanting “four more years, four more years.�

Obama addressed the cheering crowd, saying to the American people, “We are an American family and we rise or fall together as one nation, one people. We have fought our way back [ . . . ] and we know in our hearts, that for the United States of America the best is yet to come.�

Obama won eight out of the nine swing states, which included: Florida, Ohio, Virginia, Iowa, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Colorado, and Nevada. He lost only North Carolina.

Many commentators have claimed that Obama’s victory came from winning the majority of votes from marginalized groups, including 75 per cent of the Latino vote, over 90 per

cent of the African American vote, 73 per cent of the Asian American vote, and approximately 39 per cent of white non-Hispanic voters.

According to polls conducted by the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People,

in deciding their vote.

Following the end of the election, Romney was quoted as saying that he had lost the election because Obama had been handing our bribes during his campaign. “It’s a proven political strategy, which is, give a bunch of money from the government to a group and guess what? They vote for you.� “We are an American Soon after the results were family and we rise revealed discussions on how to navigate around the issue of the upcoming or fall together as “fiscal cliff� have taken centre stage. one nation, one The fiscal cliff is the simultaneous introduction of both tax increases people. We have and deep cuts in government. It is estimated that upcoming fiscal cliff fought our way in January could drain the economy back [ . . . ] and we of approximately $500 billion.

The next big struggle for Obama know in our hearts, will be negotiating with lawmakers to that for the United come up with a plan to tackle the fiscal cliff and alleviate some of the danStates of America gers posed by it. On the issue of the the best is yet to fiscal cliff, Obama said that economic damage is possible but only if there is come.� – President no cooperation from Congress. “Obviously we can all imagine a Barack Obama scenario where we go off the fiscal cliff, [which would be due to] too much stubbornness in Congress.�

National Coalition for Asian Pacific Many commentators have said American Community Development, that the main issue standing in the and Latino Decisions, the majority of way of cooperation between the voters cited issues around the econ- White House and Congress are issues omy and jobs as their main concern surrounding taxation.

umanitoba.ca/distance

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News

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 14 November 21, 2012

Message of hope for LGBT youth RCMP releases “It Gets Better” video to show support Alycia Rodrigues, staff

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he “It Gets Better” campaign, nomenon, sparking more than 50,000 which supports lesbian, gay, videos on YouTube, which have been bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) viewed approximately youth, is reaching further with a 50 million times. video from the RCMP. Celebrities, politiRCMP officers from Surrey, B.C., cians, organizations, posted the video on YouTube on Nov. activists, media per6. The ten-minute video contains 23 sonnel, and now RCMP RCMP employees explaining their employees are among experiences of growing up while the many individuals identifying as LGBT. Many tell that have endorsed the their stories of hiding their identity campaign. in their youth, but explain the relief Sargent Shelley that came with coming out to their Jacobson of the Surrey families, urging the youth that “it Youth Unit told the gets better.”

Manitoban that the “Life is worth taking the chance RCMP deals with all and knowing that it will get better,” kinds of bullying. This said Maya, a 911 operator featured in includes psychological the video. bullying, such as ostraThe campaign, led by columnist cization or name calland author Dan Savage and his part- ing, or physical bullying ner Terry Miller, began in September through harassment.

2010 as a response to increasing sui“Whether it is physicides of LGBT youth. Since this time cal bullying or social the project has become a global phe- bullying, all kinds of

bullying are hurtful and have a lifelong impact,” said Jacobson.

Bullying itself is not against the law, explained Jacobson, but many of the behaviours associated with bullying are.

The goal is prevention and intervention, but when a situation escalates to extreme bullying it manifests as a criminal offense. She stated that a perpetrator can be charged with a hate crime if they go after an individual specifically because they are LGBT. “Harassment, assault, and uttering threats are all in the Criminal Code and can be dealt with in the courts. It doesn’t matter if the offender is under 18, as long as they are over 12 they can be charged,” said Jacobson.

The video is intended

to show positive role models of those who are gay and live on to have happy, fulfilling lives with successful careers.

When asked if the video has been successful, Jacobson described the support the video has received from the LGBT community and that it lead to a 50-year-old man to coming out.

“To me that is powerful,” said Jacobson.

Jacobson said fear of diversity could be a reason why people may not accept LGBT individuals. Now that diversity is more the norm, society is becoming more accepting, but Jacobson claims there is still a long way to go.

“Diversity is all around us and we need to celebrate it more and judge less [ . . . ] I don’t imagine that the first gay RCMP officer had the same experience that one today would have,” said Jacobson.

Illustration by justin Ladia

Agriculture student competing for award in New York U of M student represents Canada at Global Student Entrepreneur Awards Quinn Richert, staff

U

niversity of Manitoba student sustainable business practices and Brett Sheffield made it to the ambitious expansions. final round of the Global Student A statement released by ACE Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) president Nicole Almond stated, competition in New York City on “Our national judges were incredibly Nov. 16. impressed by Brett’s determination Sheffield, a student in the faculty to build sustainable businesses that of agriculture, progressed to the New have potential for growth.”

York competition after taking first “Brett embodies Canada’s entreplace in the Student Entrepreneur preneurial spirit. We are very proud National Competition, which of his success at home and on the is held yearly by the Advancing international stage.”

Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) ACE is a charitable organization organization. that aims to promote and advance In New York, Sheffield competed entrepreneurship among young against 30 other student entrepre- Canadians. Its two main programs neurs from around the world. As are the annual competition, which the owner of Sheffield farms and Sheffield won, and the Enactus Stay Fit Health Club, Sheffield is program. often noted for his commitment to According to Almond, “ACE’s

flagship program is Enactus, which introduced to ACE and then went enables progress through entrepre- back to the University of Manitoba neurial action. Participating stu- and initiated an Enactus program,” dents form teams on their university explained Almond. “He saw the campuses and apply business con- impact teams across the country cepts to develop outreach projects were having on their communithat improve the quality of life ties and he wanted the University and standard of living for people of Manitoba to be involved in this in need.” powerful network.”

National entrepreneur competiAs of this year, the U of M has tions, “provide a forum for Enactus become an enrolled institution with teams to present the results of their ACE. projects.”

Sheffield is the first Manitoban The U of M was not registered as to ever represent Canada at the an “enrolled school” with ACE in GSEAs. Only once has a Canadian the spring of 2012, when Brett won won f irst place. According to the annual national championship, Almond, that was in 2009 when thereby securing his place in the Milun Tesovic won the competiglobal finals. tion – Tesovic created the website “It was actually Brett who was MetroLyrics, which was eventually

sold to CBS. “Student entrepreneurs face challenges that other entrepreneurs do not, but they also have some extra resources. On most campuses there are professors who are more than happy to share their expertise.

Student entrepreneurs spend their time in school surrounded by potential mentors and they ought to take advantage of those opportunities.”

Almond encouraged all student entrepreneurs to register for the next Student Entrepreneur National Competition, held at ACE’s 2013 National Exposition in Toronto from May 6 to 8. Registration remains open on ACE’s official website until Nov. 23.

Campus news briefs Rachel Wood, staff U-Pass referendum results show support for universal bus pass

November 13 - December 21, 2012

The counting of the UMSU U-Pass referendum took place on Nov. 16 and saw 73.82 per cent of student voters in support of the initiative. 29.17 per cent voted against the U-Pass.

The voter turnout was 26.59 per cent, a total of 6,897 voters, while 32

voters spoiled their ballots.

UMSU.ca hacked by group with claim of supporting oppressed Muslims

The University of Manitoba Student’s Union (UMSU) was hacked on Nov. 15, causing the site to be disabled and visitors being automatically redirected to the UMSU Facebook page.

The hackers claimed that they invaded the site, not for the purpose of sabotage, but to show “support [for] our Muslim brothers oppressed politically and to show you the real message of Islam.”

The name “SaHrAwI_HaCkEr” was listed under the heading, “By The Name Of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful.”

Senior News Editor: Rachel Wood News Editor: Jill Patterson Contact: news@themanitoban.com / 474.6770

Fifty shades of more pleasure Sex seminar responds to Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy Alycia Rodrigues, staff

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r. Reece Malone, Winnipeg sial topics such as masturbation, sexologist and sex educator, which she explained, always came held a seminar that was the first with feelings of being ashamed for of its kind on Nov. 10 to discuss “being dirty down there,” despite sexual empowerment, drawing over being expected to know all about 150 women who were eager to hear “down there.”

She also explained contradicabout sex, love, and relationships.

Clinical therapist Vicki Enns, tions such as the pressure to know also based in Winnipeg, joined all about male pleasure while simulwith Dr. Malone delivering fac- taneously being labelled as “a slut” tual information to empower and for expressing or experimenting enlighten women who may have with sexual desire. read the Fifty Shades of Grey trilStatistics show that by age of 15, ogy or want to learn more about 53 per cent of girls in the U.S. are sexuality. unhappy with their bodies. This The seminar, which took place at number jumps to 78 per cent by the the Radisson Hotel, attracted spon- age of 17. Most women, a number as sors such as Smitten, O’My Lube, high as 75 per cent, do not experiCoco Boudoir, Rudy’s, Mona Lisa’s, ence orgasm from penetration alone, Provici Cosmetics, and Hypnotic. while 5-15 per cent of women will To start off the seminar Malone never experience an orgasm at all. and Enns highlighted the back- Meanwhile, all females are physiground of women’s sexuality dat- cally capable of having multiple ing all the way back to Plato and orgasms. the wandering womb. Malone Malone recognizes a need for a and Enns explained that scholars new sex mantra that deals with conoften attributed hysterical mania centrating on pleasure such as sight, smel l, a nd of women to touch rather religious and “All of us have than focusing other animison receiving an tic reasons. body image issues.

T hey preorgasm.

Honour the fact Despite the sented Plato’s criticism the argument that we’re not perfect Fifty Shades of hysteria was and come to terms Grey trilogy due to psychohas received, logical conwith that.” – Dr. f lict, which Malone views its popularity arises from Reece Malone as an outlet for sexual desire female fantasy. thwarted by Fantasy has often been associated frustration.

Malone and Enns stated that with feelings of guilt and shame.

“For many women, the book hysteria was one of the most common disorders females were facilitates the comfort and self-perdiagnosed with during what was mission to talk about their fantasies, referred to as the sexually repressed perhaps to bring some of those fanVictorian era. This eventually led tasies to life despite the criticisms doctors to prescribe manual stim- of the book’s content. Our seminar ulation of the female genitals by provides that space and opportunity use of either a pelvic massage or to discuss sexuality, a kind of Sex Ed. for adults,” said Malone. vibrator.

According to the presenters, the The key to sexual empowerment, history of women’s sexuality has according to Malone, is mindfuloften been a taboo and controver- ness, which deals with awareness of sial subject. Mainstream media has feelings. He explained that this will often held negative messages con- lead to an understanding of limits, taining faulty beliefs about women’s to know what is permissible and bodies. Malone explained the huge what is not, and will facilitate betimpact culture and society has on ter communication for both singles and couples. sexuality.

Malone left the group of females Enns went over the double standard and difficulties associated with exercises to help one come with growing up as woman. These to terms with body issues and to difficulties included pressure for recognize how tension in different women to have long hair, which is parts of the body represent differoften considered more pretty than ent stressors. short hair. In addition, homosex“All of us have body image issues. uality has always had a negative Honour the fact we’re not perfect connotation. and come to terms with that,” said Enns touched on controver- Malone.

News

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International Education Week recognizes students from abroad Brazilian students here on Science Without Borders scholarships Quinn Richert, staff

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he fourth annual International Education Week was held across Canada last week in order to recognize the importance of international students to “Canada, to Canadian educational institutions, and to all Canadians.” The Canadian event was held in conjunction with similar events taking place in over 85 countries.

The Manitoba Council for International Education (MCIE) held a reception in conjunction with the provincial government at the Manitoba Legislature for international students.

MLA Erin Selby announced the creation of a new scholarship program for international students at the reception. The award will honour the “international students of the year,” with the first winners being announced at next year’s banquet, according to Colin Fraser, marketing coordinator for MCIE and marketing and recruitment coordinator for English language studies at the U of M. The University of Manitoba contributed in its own way to international education appreciation by accepting 80 Brazilian students this fall to study at the university, as part of the Science Without Borders program.

According to the MCIE, the U of M has received the second greatest number of students among Canadian post-secondary institutions involved in the program, exceeded only by the University of Toronto.

Despite the name of the program, Brazilian students will not only be studying in the faculty of science, but also pursuing programs in the faculties of medicine, dentistry, engineering, and nursing, among others.

Brazilian students that arrived at the U of M this fall are beneficiaries of a program initiated by the

Brazilian government that will run over the next four years.

According to MCIE, “the Brazilian government will spend $2 billion to help send more than 100,000 of its best students to study

are headed to English speaking countries.

“I wouldn’t say that the primary goal of the program is to improve Brazilian students’ ability to speak English, but it certainly is high up on the list,” mentioned Rice.

“Today lots of Brazilian under“One of the graduate students or secondary students lose scholarship opporstrengths I’ve seen tunities because they do not have good English proficiency [ . . . ] from the University English classes are now mandatory of Manitoba is that at public schools, but many of them do not provide sufficient guidance people are very to prepare students to study abroad accommodating, and improve their skills in foreign languages,” said Simone Cristina from faculty Da Silva Rosa, a nursing student members to studying at the U of M with the SWB program. students, and I Colin Fraser, who is involved in supervising the language partner think that extends program for international students to Manitoba as at the university, reports that thus far students have been very enthuwell.” - Colin Fraser siastic about their time in Manitoba and the program is off to an excellent start. The welcoming commuinternationally in science, technol- nity on campus can largely account ogy, engineering, and mathematics for that successful transition, says faculties around the globe.”

Fraser.

Of the 100,000 students, about “One of the strengths I’ve seen 12 per cent will be heading to from the University of Manitoba Canada – the second biggest share is that people are very accommoof all participating countries. The dating, from faculty members to U of M will be upping its share of students, and I think that extends that 12 per cent in January, when, to Manitoba as well.” according to Fraser, 36 more stuThe language partner program dents will be begin their studies at that Fraser oversees is a popular the U of M. method for students to practice Steven Rice, a student advisor English one-on-one with a native with extended education, explained speaker, while simultaneously that the Science Without Borders becoming accustomed to Canadian (SWB) program is broken down cultural life. into three main parts. “Students “[Participants in the program] are required to do two academic meet with that student at least once terms, and an industry or research a week to practice their conversaplacement. However, some are also tional English,” says Fraser. “A lot required to partake in additional of the time it evolves beyond that.

English language study.”

A lot of really genuine friendships It was noted that all students come from it.”

Crime beat Rachel Wood, staff

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ctober saw several accounts of criminal activity at the University of Manitoba.

Ten thefts were reported from Oct. 1 to 31, nine of them being missing laptops taken from unattended spots or lockers. A male who does not attend the U of M has been arrested and charged.

Three acts of vandalism occurred in October. One incident included damage to a parkade gate. The remaining two incidents involved vandalism to tunnel cameras and signs. These acts occurred during socials on campus.

Alcohol played a large factor in criminal activity at the university,

with seven incidents linked to alcohol consumption occurring. Three of the events led to medical treatment for the intoxicated individuals. Due to intoxication and refused entry to a campus social, Security Services took one male to the Main Street Project.

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Senior News Editor Rachel Wood

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Editorial

In defense of theatrics Why Greenpeace is tricky, though not without value Bryce Hoye, Staff

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T

he imagery and messages of large activist groups like Greenpeace can be problematic. It’s easy to see why.

Hume observed, and this is now a wellestablished phenomenon in social psychology and the social sciences, that we often “feel” more viscerally through exposure to the emotional expressions of others than we might if we were actually the ones experiencing those emotions first hand. This happens subconsciously, often uncontrollably; we assume the perceived emotional state of the individual(s) we’re witnessing go through this emotional experience.

It’s all very cyclical. It’s as if we are unthinkingly aping those emotions, and one could speculate that this increases our level of empathy and connection to the person or group or animal or thing we’re viewing go through its perceived emotional or mental experience.

Of course, there are exceptions. Some religious and cultural and neurological conditions modulate or even hinder this process of empathizing with the “other.” But often, when we witness someone elate or sob, we adopt their pain or elation as if it were our own.

So when we look at the current Greenpeace campaign focused on raising awareness over the plans of several oil companies to develop offshore drilling outfits in the Arctic, there are a couple things we need to consider.

This summer Greenpeace began ramping up efforts to inform the public perception of, and thwart heavily funded PR campaigns by companies like Shell, on the basis of Shell’s arctic drilling campaign. Shell’s slogan: “arctic ready.” This was allegedly meant to reassure the public, in a fairly trivial way, of Shell’s confidence that it wouldn’t have any major offshore oil drilling disasters like BP did in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

Greenpeace’s opening salvos centered on

to the apparent message of gender equality.

That is, until it was made painfully clear how stupid they were for denying women the very same privileges they’d always enjoyed.

Taken on its own, the Greenpeace video might rightly be criticized as just one more vane and ineffective attempt to vilify otherwise innocent, shadowy, amoral energy exploration corporations. However, any active engagement with that campaign as a whole requires acknowledgement of the series of other interrelated efforts that were carried out by Greenpeace.

For instance, they purchased the “arcticready.com” domain, something Shell PR and administration forgot to do, I suppose.

On the website they impersonated Shell and invited the public to produce ads demonstrating why they thought “we need arctic drilling.” Entries range from a bird’s eye view of a pod of narwhals (an arctic whale species) with the text “Narwhals are the unicorns of the ocean. We provide the rainbows via oil slicks, LET’S GO” to an image of melting sea ice with the text, “Why go solar when you can go polar? LET’S GO,” and other such subversive brilliance.

Before the site was revealed to belong to Greenpeace and The Yes Men (the latter a sardonic, subversion-driven activist team), it didn’t go over too well with the public, as illustration by silvana moran its uninhibited “let’s drill the arctic!” imagery and messages were read as an official a commercial and a series of protests which marketing campaign by Shell. Shell hasn’t followed, using the implied inevitable suf- sued Greenpeace for defamation or imperfering of cuddly and iconic polar bears as one sonation. Some speculate this is because in of their instruments of persuasion. suing Greenpeace, Shell would simply be The commercial was shot in a gloomy empowering them and appear as if threaturban landscape, with the melancholic ened by their efforts.

Following the release of the polar bear though convincing animatronic polar bear shuffling through the streets, confusedly video, dozens of Shell gas stations around rummaging through loads of rubbish in Europe were stymied by Greenpeacers in back alley ways near polluted, manmade polar bear suits, in many cases being forced canals. The commercial is set to Radiohead’s to shut down gas stations for a time. This “Everything in its right place,” and ends with was a minor success for them, a minor inconthe polar bear slouching against a tree, then venience for Shell, but it was the series of finally falling down in exhaustion with its photographs that hit different media outlets afterward that scored face landing at the edge of Greenpeace a real point of another pile of trash. publicity. The photographs This is set to the familAdmittedly, it contained scenes of police iar, British, god-like tones evoked feelings handcuffing these humanof some actor everyone recoid, bipedal polar bears, ognizes but can’t quite put of pity and escorting them to police a name to, softly proclaimsadness in me. cars. There were even a few ing “nobody will listen to brilliantly absurd photos her, but they’ll listen to you: For I am not captured of polar bears join the movement, save in the back of squad cars the arctic.” Admittedly, made of stone. pressing their paws and it evoked feelings of pity noses against the back and sadness in me. For I windows. am not made of stone.

However remote, the thing that unites What do polar bears and the suffragGreenpeace’s Arctic awareness campaign ettes have in common?

Many know Nellie McClung as a major and McClung’s tactics is that they exploit force in the suffragette movement: the the motives and rationale behind their oppofight for a woman’s right to vote in the early sition, and they do this by pointing out how 1900s. McClung is remembered for famously absurd or flawed said rationale was through exposing the absurdity of a men-only voting comedy and subversion.

Greenpeace can be associated with the system in a mock parliament she and her female comrades staged in Winnipeg in 1914. cult of celebrity from time to time, and the The premise of this subversive-theatre: a media caricature of their ilk as vainglorious parliament made up of only women, arguing hippie activists might have some truth to it.

Unlike a group like PETA, however, which against giving men the right to vote.

Many men in parliament at the time rail- seems more concerned with appropriating ing against these women and their cause and using imagery of oversexed female bodwere present for McClung’s troop’s theatri- ies to appear “subversive,” Greenpeace might cal performance, and were said to be rather have a little more worth listening to. entertained throughout the show, oblivious

Comment Editor: Spencer Fernando Contact: comment@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Comment

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The legacy of the fallen Our inheritance of peace Spencer Fernando, staff

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n Remembrance Day, like This is great to see, because many many Canadians who attended of those who lost their lives were ceremonies across our country, I younger than you or I. Think of our had the opportunity to attend a day to day struggles and concerns, Remembrance Day Ceremony in St. and think of how they pale in comNorbert Cemetery. parison to those faced by students During the ceremony, the stu- who went off to war. It’s good to see dents from a nearby school read the folks from our generation acknownames of soldiers who lost their lives ledging this. in battle. Current members of the Many made the ultimate sacrifice, Canadian Armed Forces were there and their legacy is all around us. It is as well, carrying on the tradition of felt in every moment we live without service and heroism MÊtis soldiers fear. It is felt in every opportunity were remembered for their sacrifice we can chase after because we live and people from across the commun- in peace. ity were in attendance.

This legacy is not limited just On campus, there has also been to our own country. Millions of great effort to remember our veterans people in Europe are free because and those who lost their lives in ser- of Canadian soldiers and our allies. vice. The Arts Student Body Council Because of our efforts in the Korean put up a board so that students could War, millions of Koreans were spared post their remembrances of sacrifices the brutality of the Communist made by their family members who regime. In Afghanistan, a generaserved, or just to post their thoughts tion of women— though still facing on Remembrance Day. Adam tremendous challenges—will have Peleshaty wrote a wonderful article the opportunity to go to school. about athletes who left the playing These are the big ways we can witfield to enter the field of battle. ness the legacy of those who served;

yet, we can also see it in more subtle ways. We can see their legacy

even in this paper itself, where people are free to share their views and opinions safely. Of course, this legacy—our inheritance of peace and security—does not come without a price. It is a price paid not only by those who have lost their lives, but by mothers who have lost their sons, and fathers who have outlived their daughters. It is paid by the sister who grows up without her brother and the spouse who has lost their

loved one. who gave their lives for us, and it was Among those not inevitable that our society would who sur v ive turn out the way it has. There were the ravages leaders of other countries who saw a of war, many very different and much worse future are changed for Canada and allied nations. Had for life. As they gotten their way, many of us our soci- might not be here today. ety learns So when it comes to our Veterans more and those who gave their lives for us, about we owe them everything. We owe post-trauthem our remembrance, not just on matic stress Remembrance Day, but every day of disorder, we the year. are realizing that We can all hope that one day our just because someone world will solve all problems peacedoesn’t have physical fully. But until that day comes, as long injuries, doesn’t mean as there are some who are willing their mind is not scarred to use violence to impose their will and battered. Our veter- upon others, there will be those who ans walked through hell step up to protect our rights and our on Earth, braving death way of life. and witnessing the darkThat is why we remember. est expressions of human Spencer Fernando is the Comment nature. They faced death so Editor for the Manitoban. that we wouldn’t have to.

Our society is held up illustration by philipp fisch on the shoulders of those

Stop the rockets Dump Hamas!

Chris Hearn, volunteer staff

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woke up recently to see that prominent Hamas armed wing leader Ahmed Al-Jaabari had been assassinated when an Israeli missile hit his car in the Gaza Strip. This has come after at least a week of escalation in violence between Israel and Gaza militants that have seen an increase in rockets being fired into southern Israel and retaliation by Israel.

So, Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, may I ask, how has firing rockets indiscriminately into Israel worked out for you and the people of Gaza? At what point will you see that these rockets are suicidal? How many times must Gaza be struck by

Israel before the point is made that the rockets achieve nothing? How many people must die? For some reason, there are those in Gaza and those who support Palestinians who believe that these rockets are justified. They are seen as an act of defence instead of what they really are, which is an act of offence that leads to retaliation. And, when Israel does retaliate because rockets are fired at them, the world screams, “Israel is attacking Gaza!� Well, no kidding! They are trying desperately to stop these rockets! You can’t fire rockets into Israel and expect no response.

The common argument is that

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these rockets are just small, crude of Gaza as a whole and diverting it devices and Israel is showing dispro- towards militants or Hamas supportionate force. The answer then: porters. How is this helping Gaza? don’t fire rockets! There are those This is just one example of the kind who say that Gaza has been treated of actions that Hamas takes part in poorly. Yes, I can see that. However, that I find appalling. the grip tightened significantly— Am I a firm supporter of Israel? and understandably—when Hamas No. I support its existence; I see it as took over power of the strip. Hamas an independent country. But at the has virtually dedicated itself to the destruction of Israel.

Can people not see the connection here? Again, what is Israel to do? At what point will people s e e t h at Hamas is not helping Palestinians as a whole in any way, shape, or form. They are not offering security, that’s for same time, I believe that it has done sure. They are not offering a better many wrongs over the years that are life for the people of Gaza. They are intolerable, such as extending beyond offering war and destruction. And for its borders. Israel is no angel and in all the talk of Israel’s iron grip, there this conflict there truly are two sides is little mention of the grip Hamas doing ridiculous, horrible things. But has over its people - who take part for Gaza, I believe strongly that the in, for example, stealing UN sup- answer to progress is to get rid of plies that are meant for the people Hamas, get rid of Islamic Jihad, get

rid of rockets, and work on becoming a state that Israel can live beside peacefully, like it does with most of its other neighbours. At the same time, Israel has a responsibility to stop expanding beyond its borders.

I have little faith that we will see peace in the Middle East anytime soon. Divisions are so deep, polarized and steeped in a cycle of violence.

Both sides in the Israel/ Palestine conflict have shown to be stubborn and hot headed.

There are solutions.

I believe I have presented a few. There is, however, much more to do beyond that. But, as long as rockets are being shot off into Israel indiscriminately and Hamas is in power, there is little hope of peace, little room for negotiation. It’s time for Gaza and Palestinians to step back and rethink their futile strategy. photo by Rahuldlucca

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 14 November 21, 2012

Comment

9

Liberal America What Canadians can learn from the American election Matt Abra

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omeone once said, “The only time has spoken, and now Republicans it’s enjoyable to watch Fox News must regroup.” But they didn’t. is right after a Democrat has won the Instead, they called Americans hopeWhite House.” less, cowardly, and, in the words of OK, it was actually me who said one Bill O’Reilly, a bunch of moochthat, a couple days ago to a friend, ers who just “want stuff” from the but it was based on a number of government. They don’t waste any similar sentiments that have been time, I’ll give them that. making the rounds in wake of the But something else has occurred U.S. Presidential election. With their to me in the weeks since the election. strict partisanship, their faulty back- Yes, it was a close election, and yes, peddling, and their utter detachment the House of Representatives remains from reality, Fox News, the most firmly in Republican hands, but at conservative punditry in America, least symbolically Nov. 6 should be is looking rather whitewashed these remembered as a fairly substantial days, even pathetic. victory for liberalism. Conservatives Forget that Barack Obama was screamed to the heavens that Barack just re-elected; it’s great to be a lib- Obama was a socialist, a religioneral right now simply for the bliss hater, even an immigrant, but rational of watching hardcore conservatives Americans were not fooled. Toss in become so unhinged. And before some landmark decisions to legalize you accuse me of gloating, let’s get both marijuana and gay marriage in one thing straight: they brought it on a handful of states and suddenly it felt themselves. They could have played it like the U.S. was finally moving into safe and not made such out-there pre- the 21st century. dictions about a Republican landslide, It stands to reason that when and they could have taken the defeat you witness Republicans take to in stride and said to their audience their soapboxes and holler with loud something dignified like, “America voices, as they have done the past

couple weeks, it means that progress is winning. What else could conjure such overblown reactions? It’s exactly why they call them “reactionaries.” It got me thinking – maybe our neighbours to the south aren’t as inherently conservative as I once thought.

And when I say “conservative,” I mean that in conjunction with Canada. It used to be said that a liberal in the U.S. was the same thing as a conservative in Canada. That trend seemed to dissipate in 2006 when Stephen Harper entered office as Prime Minister, and it all but vanished in 2011 when his party won a majority government. Harper has since used that majority to enact farright policies that have put Canada on a regressive path, and now with this glimpse of forthcoming progress in the States, it had me asking: has Harper finally achieved his goal? Are we the new America? The fact that two states legalized pot before us is mind-blowing in and of itself.

If the answer is “yes” I truly think Canadians need to take a lesson from this American election. We need to

use our next election for a landmark of our own. To be blunt: we need to get rid of Stephen Harper.

There, wasn’t that simple?

Indeed, sometimes introspection works best when it is kept simple. If, for example, the Republicans are to take a lesson from this election, let’s hope it is just as simple. I’ll even give them a hint: the American people are tired of sensationalism. Canadians should be feeling the same.

You can choose a specific reason if you’d like: maybe Harper’s relentless insistence that we are a welfare state and his resulting cuts to social programs; or how ‘bout just the plain fact that he resides over the only government to have been found in contempt of parliament in Commonwealth history. Sure, why not? But at the end of the day, it’s the broader implications of continued Harper governance that are the most daunting, like many liberals’ demoralizing suspicion that he has been gradually Americanizing us for years now.

But those fears were in reference to the backwards America – the

America that was the only developed country in the world without some form of universal healthcare, the America that constantly mistook the term “defence budget” for “imperial budget,” the America that thought the preamble of their own Declaration of Independence applied only to heterosexuals. Don’t you miss the days when things like that made Canadians feel, if not superior, at least darn good about themselves?

Yet strangely this most recent election has me second guessing myself.

From a liberal perspective, the U.S. still has a long way to go but they are at least moving forward, however slowly. Canada, with its private sector loving, power hungry, anti-equality Prime Minister, seems to be the one now headed in the wrong direction.

Hence, we need to make him go away, or soon we are all going to wake up and find Canadians being bankrupted by heart attacks while gay couples in the U.S are smoking joints on their way to the altar.

LeTters to th e Editor Send your letters to editor@themanitoban.com or drop them off at 105 University Centre

Re: “We are more than the colour of our skin” by Spencer Fernando - November 7, 2012

I

’d like respond to Spencer a) single out students of colour and future. This might mean giving Fernando’s opinion piece, “Why unfairly lump them together, and b) priority to some people in hiring to we are more than the colour of our deny white students an opportunity. ensure that non-privileged groups skin.” To be clear, I hadn’t heard He thinks that the best way to main- are not underrepresented or left out about the creation of the racialized tain and continue striving for equal- entirely. Our own Canadian Charter rep position before reading his article ity is to treat everyone exactly the of Rights and Freedoms, the part of and I don’t have any personal stake same, to place no parameters around our Constitution that protects our in the issue. I simply wish to disagree any position and let democracy do human rights, contains an excepwith the analysis Spencer uses to sup- its own thing. He points to impor- tion to its equality provision that port his opinion. tant historical events like the civil specifically allows the government From the outset the notion of rights movement to say, “look, we to treat people differently, so long “racialization” or identifying as “racial- stopped treating people differently, as it is for the purpose of rectifying ized” is insufficiently defined. The and we’re better off for it.” And he’s disadvantage. concept is more nuanced than sim- right, partly. But stopping the bad In my view, having a disabilities ply describing people as non-white, kind of differential treatment is only rep doesn’t mean that all students as the article suggests. Instead, it’s half of the story. with disabilities face the same chalabout understanding race as a social The other extremely important lenges. Having a status of women construct, as a series of generaliza- part of this story is to recognize that director doesn’t mean that all women tions and assumptions that are pro- sometimes we need to treat people necessarily have identical interests jected by those with privilege (and differently in order to obtain the most and concerns. I’m sure the same therefore power) onto those without equal result. One example of this is would be true of a racialized student it. It’s often closely related to stereo- to look at affirmative action policies. rep. These kinds of positions are types and histories of marginalization, These policies recognize that, even about acknowledging that a higher oppression, and violence. Saying that once laws that prevent some groups degree of care may be needed in order identifying someone as racialized is from filling certain jobs are discon- to ensure that the needs of some stuall about focusing on skin colour does tinued, the prejudicial attitudes of dents are not overlooked because they this powerful concept a disservice; it’s the past that informed those laws fall outside of the privileged, domifar less about biological characteris- persist (even if unintentional or sub- nant group. tics and far more about the attitudes conscious), and something additional and assumptions of others and the needs to be done. Programs and poliharms that can result. cies are then created to acknowledge Spencer’s concern seems to be that the historic disadvantage and to Sincerely, creating a racialized rep position will try to avoid perpetuating it in the Elizabeth Mitchell

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Managing Editor: Chuthan Ponnampalam Contact: me@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

Features

the

10

GREEN

feature

Chuthan Ponnampalam, staff

S

omething’s happening. For some time now, there have been efforts all around steering us in a direction—to be healthier, more sustainable, and kinder to the environment—to be “green.”

If you disagree begin by considering organic foods, they are no longer niche products found in specialty shops. Now they are featured in their very own aisle at Superstore and many other grocery stores. After you’re done with the organics—if you might be so inclined—take a stroll down the aisle of cleaning products, if only to admire all the bright green labels boasting of their environmentally friendly contents.

Stay vigilant of those “V”s on the menu when you tell the waiter what you’ll be having, because vegetarian isn’t the only alternate option when dining-out. And how about toilets nowadays, they’re starting to come with options too, so take care to choose your flush wisely.

Things have changed. Trans-fat free chips have become the norm, while foods fried in hydrogenated oils are the exception.

Earth Hour isn’t much of a grassroots initiative anymore – it’s become a tradition. And, electric cars are no longer confined to

sketchbooks, showrooms, or whispers of conspiracy theorists.

Green options are sprouting-up around us, as unhealthy and unsustainable conventions are being weeded out. Perhaps it’s not by choice for all of us, and maybe some of us don’t even like it, but we’re turning green.

Notions have changed and our vocabulary has expanded to adapt. Green, organic, energy-efficient, sustainable – these aren’t freshly minted words, but they are remarkable for how thoroughly they’ve saturated our lives in recent years.

For many of us, our education on these words has come from the various streams of information we encounter in our day-to-day life – conversations, the media, advertising, etc.. For this reason our understanding of these notions and words are built on an eclectic mix of knowledge (that is often tinted with opinion) continuing to be refined.

For this reason, the topic of being green and all that it entails is controversial because many have great faith in it, while others remain skeptical of its virtues. To slant the topic either way as

wholly good or bad is a great generalization.

Some time ago, while sifting through pictures of cats on Reddit, I happened upon an interesting anecdote about “organic” firewood. The title of the post read: “My buddy sells firewood; he took half of it and labeled it as ‘organic’ and managed to sell it at a 50 per cent price increase. What vacuous marketing gimmick has worked for you?” Since it was Reddit, the story should be taken with a grain of salt, but even so a contentious point about organics has been raised. Do products labeled as organic really have any merits that make them better? Are those organic apples really healthier?

In this feature, the Manitoban examines some of these questions. This is by no means a comprehensive look at the green movement, and it’s not meant to draw an absolute conclusion on it, but rather partake in the conversation about what being green entails. This conversation is an important one to have, because whether you agree or disagree, or never really gave it consideration – the green movement is happening, and it is only going to continue to grow and permeate our lives further, that much is assured.

GREEN FACTS - Manitoba was the first province to ban plastic bags at liquor stores - 61 per cent of Canadians report lowering their thermostat temperatures when asleep during the winter season - Manitoba saw the number of farms reporting certified organic products more than double from 90 to 196, from 2001 to 2006 - 88 per cent of Canadians report having at least one type of energy-saving light - Manitoba has led the prairie provinces in pesticide use, however, since 1994 pesticide and chemical fertilizer use is on the decline overall - 15 per cent of Canadian households with a lawn or garden have used chemical pesticides, compared to 31 per cent in 1994 - 22 per cent of Canadian households with a lawn or garden have used chemical fertilizers, compared to 47 per cent in 1994.

- 66 per cent of Canadians report drinking tap water, while 24 per cent report drinking bottled water, and nine per cent drink both - 64 per cent of Canadians report using a clothesline or drying rack to dry clothes - 80 per cent of Canadians report putting on more clothing instead of adjusting the temperature - In 2010, Canada’s average annual renewable freshwater supply, or water yield, was 3,472 cubic kilometres (or 3.47200 × 1015 litres).

All data is curteousy of Statisitics Canada. Unless otherwise stated, studies are from 2009.

illustrations by silvana moran

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 14 November 21, 2012

Features

11

Salad days A five-day experiment in the world of healthy eating Rachel Wood, staff

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’ve never been a healthy eater. That’s actually an understatement. I’ve been known to intake approximately one poutine per week. As I’ve “matured,” I’ve seen the value in healthy eating: people seem to be happier, more intelligent, livelier, more energetic, and generally more well off. I decided to see what all the hype was about. So I went to Organza, an organic food store near Confusion Corner, and dove into an organic experiment.

Day 1

The experiment began tonight after my shopping trip. I searched for healthy, organic recipes and was most successful on the Disney website, confirming my suspicion that I haven’t fully matured into an adult yet. I found a lovely rice casserole recipe that intrigued me—mostly because of the copious amounts of cheese—and ventured to the shop.

I then found out the cost of organic eating. My poor, tired, depressed Visa card took a hard hit tonight. However, my excitement over the prospect of not feeling terminally lethargic, overpowered my over-spending guilt. I ate a wonderful ready-made salad from Organza for dinner, and I’m ready for my first full day tomorrow.

Day 4

More oatmeal.

More rice leftov eating takes ti ers. Organic me and effort – time and eff that I don’t alw ort ays have while working full-tim However, the e. one large meal I have made di leave me with le d ftovers for the entire week. M partner cooked y up a tast y orga ni c dish tonight: quinoa stir-fry w ith tofu, ka le , broccoli, and asparagus. This meal has improv ed my organic outlook for th e week. It was filling and I fe energized for th el e rest of my nigh t. The pessimism is slowly evapor ating.

last il l be my r d ia ry, w a e run d e y, av a h d I Well to because ly in a M . ited food ng day organic eati groceries and my lim this week. nic out of orga llow me to shop again ’t a bled eggs budget won ful break fast of scram , der se for lunch I had a won grilled chee y M ed t. ll ri as g to A d . with kale an mething to be desired so ft singles. ft ra le , K t er u o ev h w it ho w e m sa yogurt, isn’t the ack of Greek ek. cheese just sn n o o n er re an aft all things G I then had ome, as are es aw s a w which

Day 5

Day 2

I have spent most of the day hungry. I ate for breakfast, a vege oatmeal table potpie for lun ch, and pecked like a bird at pumpk in seeds all afterno on. By the time I got home I was shak ing from weak ness. I NEED SATURATED FA TS! I made a kickas s “green greens rice casserole” with a shit ton of cheese , enough said. I topped it off with ba ked potatoes and fre sh multigrain bread. I served this wonderful meal to my parents—I think they worry ab out me less now that they see I can hold my own in the kitchen­— while m y two-year-old nephew enthusias tical ly ate organic macaroni and cheese.

Another plus: I ha ven’t felt like vom iting all day, which I usually fee l like after I eat an entire bag of jalapeño chips in 10 minutes. Point orga nic diet. Now, I am going to go m unch on leftover ka le roots because that’s all I’m allow ed to eat.

l. a l oatmea h the usu it w u ff yo o ll fi y toda esn’t I sta rted oatmeal do , nt organic a McMuffin st e in g y sa tl u n sa ’s ld a Appare n ce as a McDo then ate ri up as much by noon. I re g o in m rv n a o st s ed wa nd snack a ch because I n lu th r t ghou e ftovers fo chips throu up the d ee casserole le aw se fr y eds and iment and pumpk in se ed to exper ts ­– I’ve gathered id ec d I . n afternoo s chard roo it of le and Swis use ever y b to d w o cr leftover ka ic n ves this. in the orga nite in me lo nite o n en that it’s hip M p o le. The chea aving Menn the vegetab the meat-cr ft fried le a , h er it ev w w o off today ed The roots, h d en I . rn opco . pointed d organic p n a in me disap se ee ch with egg on toast

photo by rachel wood

Day 3

There we have it, thoughts straight from the mind of a junk food deprived woman. All in all, it was an interesting experiment. I walked away from the five days with some revelations about organic eating: It is expensive – like I mentioned in many of the diary entries, the $90 grocery bill that only lasted me five days is not sustainable for my lifestyle and budget. I have been told, however, that I chose the wrong place to shop. Places such as Safeway and Superstore have a large selection of organic produce at a more economical price.

It is time consuming but worth the effort – the time it took to make the one main meal was significant, however, the meal lasted several days and allowed for already prepared lunches at work.

It does indeed give you more energy – I never felt lethargic

or too full after eating an organic meal. I often felt lighter and more energized. This was the most notable change I saw with the experiment.

Cooking is not as difficult as I had made it out to be – as a self-proclaimed kitchen hater, I was anxious about making my meals from scratch, but I learned to enjoy it and realized the benefits of spending time in the kitchen, letting your creative juices flow.

In conclusion, the experiment taught me the benefits of not just organic eating, but healthy eating in general. While I cannot say that I will be a devoted organic eater from now on, I can say that my diet has taken a turn for the better. I can also say that I no longer fear a premature death from an overdose of preservatives and poutine gravy.

12

Features

Managing Editor: Chuthan Ponnampalam Contact: me@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

Keep it organic?

Study suggests organics no more "nutritious" than conventional foods Bryce Hoye, Staff

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re organic produce and animal products more “nutritious” the two options. than conventional counterparts?

Regarding organic products being healthier than conventional In September of this year, a study entitled “Are Organic products, in an interview with the Manitoban Holley remarked, Foods Safer or Healthier Than Conventional Alternatives?” was “There are no legal claims that can be made with regard to that released by a group of Stanford medical researchers. Crystal effect that I am aware of. In fact, I’m pretty certain it would be Smith-Spangle et al concluded, “The published literature lacks illegal to make a health claim based on nutritional content of strong evidence that organic foods are significantly more nutri- an organic product versus a conventional product.” tious than conventional foods.”

Holley has a background in both industrial and governThe study is what is known as a meta-analysis: the statistical ment research, though he’s been in the U of M’s Food Sciences technique of pooling data from independent studies in order department for the last 18 years, looking at the impact of animal to identify large-scale overarching trends in “the published management systems on foodborne illness and the spread of literature.” One limitation to meta-analysis is that there is often bacteria to food. high “heterogeneity” between the pooled studies. This means According to Holley’s experience and familiarity with research that while it is possible to track select variables of interest (i.e. in the organic/conventional foods debate, the case has already nutrient content) across independents studies, one runs the risk been established elsewhere, and this study is “confirmatory work” of overgeneralization, sacrificing detail in the name of finding more then anything. illustration by caroline norman a common trend amongst studies.

Holley went on to explain that other studies have had similar Smith-Spangle et al scanned archives and found nearly 6,000 outcomes with respect to the measurable nutrient differences relevant scholarly research articles. Around 240 of the studies between organic and conventional foods, with the “balances the difference in risk for contamination exceeding maximum “met inclusion criteria” – 223 of which concerned nutrient con- going towards organics.” But, in Holley’s words, that’s been allowed limits may be small.” centration differences between organic and conventional food explained by the fact that “organic produce grows more slowly According to professor Holley, when toxicologists establish products, while 17 focused on clinical health differences resulting than conventionally raised produce. the maximum residue levels they are “based on lower levels of from conventional and organics-based diets in populations.

“What happens is you have products grown organically that tolerance that are established in terms of weight of component per One of the main and much publicized elements of the study, seem to contain a little less water and so the nutrient content unit weight of an individual: [that’s] micrograms per kilogram of again, was the reported finding that the “comparative health [appears] a little higher per unit of vegetable or fruit.” bodyweight, each day for the entire life of the individual.” outcomes, nutrition [italics added], and safety of organic and “The USDA has done work in this area as well to establish conventional foods identified limited evidence for the superiority Organics less “contaminated?” what baseline levels of [pesticide and antibiotic] residues might of organic foods.”

“It’s the media that really made health claims about organics in be in food products,” Holley continued.

The research was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine the first place,” stated U of M Plant Sciences professor, Martin on Sept. 4, and was quickly picked up by various media outlets Entz, in an interview with the Manitoban.

Are organics ever “less” healthy?

– including the local CBC Radio One. A weekday afternoon “The organic movement really started as an environmental “Having these meta-analyses are helpful in some ways. In other program featured host Larry Updike interviewing University movement, as a political movement, and as a social justice move- ways they do gloss over [important details],” maintained Entz. of Manitoba professor, Rick Holley, about the study’s find- ment. It really didn’t start out as a food quality movement. So Entz took issue with the study’s conclusion, describing it ings. Despite admitting to the positive environmental impacts the media is kind of having a discussion with itself there.” as a little naïve [ . . . ] given the parameters looked at.” Entz of organic versus conventional farming and food production Entz has been studying organic agriculture around the world noted that researchers mainly measured nutrient content, but systems, Holley sounded otherwise unsurprised by the finding for over 20 years and is part of the U of M’s Natural Systems that there are other nutritional elements in food that may have that nutritional content differences were negligible between Agriculture project conducted at the Glenlea Research Station, been overlooked. located 20 kms south of the U of M’s Fort Garry campus.

Offering as an example the levels of secondary plant metaboPerhaps one of the lesser-publicized details of the study was lites present in produce, Entz reflected, “what we’ve learned in the finding that organic produce had less exposure to antibiotic- reductionist science is that a little stress is very good for plants; resistant bacteria and pesticide residues. Organic produce was on it actually increases their antioxidants because they’re increasing average 30 per cent less likely to contain detectable amounts of [the activity] of self defense mechanisms.” contaminants (pesticide residues) than its conventional counterThe “stress” Entz mentioned results from the lack of pesticides part. In addition, conventional pork and chicken products carried present in organic farming. According to Entz, these increased a 33 per cent greater risk of containing bacteria resistant to “three stress levels lead to “increases [in the plants’] phenolic compounds, or more antibiotics” than did the same organic products. which are healthy for us.”

Though these organic food products did not hit the magic “Organic crops, because they’ve been subjected to more [envi“zero tolerance” levels many would hope to see, they still contained ronmental] stress, are actually higher in these beneficial secondlower levels of pesticide residue on average. However, from a ary plant metabolites.” Entz added, “that is also part of ‘nutrition,’ toxicology perspective, the researchers added that the effect of and that is something they didn’t measure.” detectable contamination levels found between organic and Entz concluded, “Is organic food any less healthy? Never. Is conventional food-consuming populations was “unclear because organic food ever in some way better? Often.” illustration by Mathieu Boulet

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Wednesday, November 28 6:00 – 7:00 PM 224 Education Building, U of M, Fort Garry Campus RSVP to 204-474-9004 or bachofed@umanitoba.ca

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 14 November 21, 2012

Features

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Beyond animal rights, the search for a sustainable and ethical vegan diet Jodie Layne, staff

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t seemed so simple at first; I was an empathetic person, so I became vegetarian. Little did I know that my journey to ethical and socially just eating was only beginning – and it was a much more paradoxical road to get there than I thought.

Growing up near my godparents’ farm and bonding with the beasts that produced our dairy was a formative experience. The moment I knew that I was cut out to never eat animals came much later, though. It was during a three-week-long family road trip through the United States when I was 12 that my sister asked what was in a large transport truck. She was confused, they looked like cows – but why would cows be in a truck? Where were they going? My mother, never one to insult our intelligence or maturity, explained to my sister how hamburgers actually worked. A few years later I still couldn’t shake the image in my mind and became vegetarian. I went vegetarian on-and-off until I was 19 years old – I gave up meat for good and became a vegan not long after.

As with many vegans, I thought the ethical choice was simple – don’t kill other things to eat them, don’t eat the products of animals cruelly confined and exploited for food. While animal rights are a good starting point, a truly ethical diet must take other factors into consideration. Plant-based diets are touted as being an environmentally-friendly choice – 18 per cent of total global climate-changing emissions are from livestock production (more than all forms of transportation combined).

It takes 227 litres of water to produce a pound of potatoes and 908 to produce a pound of soybeans, but 45,459 litres to produce a single pound of beef. In a world with increasingly less fresh

water security, it seems that conserving water seems like the obvious sustainable choice.

Organic fruits and vegetables, however, only make up 11.4 per cent of all U.S. fruits and vegetable sales. Organic food sales in total only make up 3.7 per cent of all food sold in the U.S..

If one’s diet is plant-based, this means that chances are that it is likely heavily comprised of non-organic plants. According to the USDA, the detrimental effects of non-organic farming include, but are not limited to: soil erosion and dysfunction, water scarcity, water pollution, destructions of forests and loss of wildlife wetlands, and reduced genetic biodiversity. It’s not just the environment that suffers – conventional farming also harms farm workers.

An estimate from the World Health Organization puts the total cases of pesticide poisoning worldwide at between two and five million workers each year. Forty thousand of those workers will die due to pesticide poisoning. Animal rights are important, but what about human rights?

Child labour is rampant in agriculture. The International Labour Organization estimates that 10 per cent of the workforce in developing countries is made up of children between the ages of five and 14, 70 per cent of which are working in the agricultural industry. In a country with a short growing season as our own frozen home, we rely on produce to be imported from many of those developing countries, meaning that we are financially supporting these industries. In America, there are an estimated 300,000 to 800,000 child labourers according to the National Centre for Farmworkers health. The numbers are hard to extract, but many children of the many migrant labourers who come to North America accompany their parents to work in the fields.

This problem is not exclusive to conventional farming.

Pickled Beets

• • • • • • • • • • •

By Jodie Layne, staff

You can still find local beets around, thanks to their late harvest and long shelf life. Pickling these earthy, vibrant vegetables will help them last all winter long.

While a certified organic sticker may mean that the farm follows environmentally sound practices, it says little of the labour standards of the farm. The labour standards in Canada’s Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program have not changed since 1966 and organic and conventional farms use the program alike.

In fact, organic farming requires human labour to do the job that pesticides and herbicides cannot, and it is a much more labourintensive growing process. Although many organic farmers are trying to create a new food system and do avoid using migrant labour, there are some that do.

While in search of a diet whose politics line up with mine, I have found I will almost nearly fall short. I literally cannot fathom killing and butchering an animal for food and so I will continue to abstain from meat. As a vegan living in Manitoba, the only way for me to realistically eat the ultimate sustainable and socially just diet would be to eat only local, organic, produce and spend my summer days preserving enough vegetables to get me through the winter months, so as not to rely on food produced with questionable labour practices that is shipped miles and miles.

This is not financially or realistically feasible, but I haven’t given up – if we all made one or two changes to our diets regularly, we could begin to refine the system.

My friend Janessa says that every dollar you spend is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in. I think that is a true and important statement. I buy from the farmer’s market in the summer – fresh organic vegetables from people I know. I buy organic when possible, year-round. I try to eat more in-season vegetables in the winter – root vegetables and squashes. I buy specialty organic and vegan products from local specialty stores to keep money in our community and support local businesses.

I buy fair trade wine, coffee, and chocolate. In search of a truly ethical diet, it’s not about being perfect but being aware of what goes in our bodies and how it got there.

3-1/2 lb (1.6 kg) small red beets 2-1/2 cups cider vinegar 1 cup water 1/2 cup brown sugar 3 tsp sea salt 2 tsp brown mustard seeds 3 tsp yellow mustard seeds 2 tsp black peppercorns 6 whole cloves 2 coriander seeds 3 tsp fennel seeds

Boil water and cook beets for 30 minutes or until tender. When tender remove from water and drain, rinsing with cool water.

Slide off beet skins and quarter or halve peeled beets.

In large saucepan, boil water, vinegar, sugar and salt until the solids have dissolved completely.

In your largest pot, boil water to sanitize jars and lids. When boiling, use tongs to place jars and lids in water and boil for 5 minutes. Remove with tongs and place on a towel to dry until cool.

Mix herbs into the boiling liquid and remove from heat. Let sit for 5 minutes. Fill four mason jars with beets and ladle liquid evenly into the jars, leaving an inch of space.

Cover with prepared lids and screw on tightly. When lids are secure, turn upside down and let rest until a seal is created.

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Features

Managing Editor: Chuthan Ponnampalam Contact: me@themanitoban.com / 474.6520

Pondering pesticides Poison is bad for you Tom Ingram, staff

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pesticide is a substance used to kill or control plants or animals that we consider to be pests. In agriculture, when we talk about pesticides we are usually talking about herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides – chemicals meant to kill plants, insects, and fungi, respectively.

We use pesticides to protect crops: weeds compete with crops for resources; insects can feed on crops; and fungus can damage them. A secondary, but economically important, function of pesticides is to make produce look pretty. The flawless apples that we can find in abundance at our grocery stores are quite rare in nature.

Pesticides are, obviously, poisonous. They are designed to kill things. These “things” are supposed to be insects, weeds, and fungi that are damaging to crops, but agriculture is not an exact science and we can’t make a chemical that is perfectly deadly to all and only those organisms we want dead. A 1999 estimate from the World Wildlife Federation (WWF) says that 70 to 90 per cent of ground-applied pesticides and 25 to 50 per cent of aerially applied pesticides reach their target area. Moreover, the large-scale killing of these organisms (which are, after all,

a natural part of the ecosystem) can have unpredictable effects, including new outbreaks of otherwise minor pests.

Pesticides can accumulate in the environment and cause harm to other species that we may not intend to kill. For example, the bald eagle used to be an endangered species, in part because poisoning from the insecticide DDT caused their eggshells to thin and become more breakable. Since the banning of DDT, they have been removed from the American endangered species list.

Another example more close to home: humans. Three fairly recent American studies have associated prenatal pesticide exposure with lower IQs at age seven. A 1998 study from Mexico found that children from a region where pesticides are in wide use, when compared with children from a relatively pesticide free-area, had worse physical stamina, hand-eye coordination, memory, and, frighteningly, the inability to draw anything resembling a human figure. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 20,000 agricultural workers die yearly from pesticide poisoning.

Quite a lot of agricultural research goes on at the U of M,

and some of it focuses on pesticides and related topics. Martin Entz, a professor in the U of M’s department of Plant Science, maintains a website about “natural systems agriculture.” One aspect of natural systems agriculture is its reduction of the use of chemicals. Entz and his team have experimented with a project called “Pesticide Free Production.” The project seeks to produce

Three fairly recent American studies have associated prenatal pesticide exposure with lower IQs at age seven.

crops that have not been treated with pest-control products without sacrificing yields, and has proved successful.

The problem with talking about pesticides is that it gets us into a complex realm of knotty political, moral, and economic doctrines that affect how the science is presented. It is, for example, unbelievably difficult to get a straight answer from experts about the dangers of pesticide exposure through food.

There is not much the lay person can say with confidence on the subject of pesticides, but it’s reasonably safe to avow that, all else being equal, less pesticide use is better. Measures like Pesticide Free Production are a promising step in this direction.

Figure 1: Representative drawings of a person by 4-year-old Yaqui children from the valley and foothills of Sonora, Mexico

Figure 2: Representative drawings of a person by 5-year-old Yaqui children from the valley and foothills of Sonora, Mexico

Anthropologists Elizabeth A.Guillette et al used A Rapid Assessment Tool for Preschool Children (RATPC) to measure various developmental aspects of two populations of Yaqui children – one from the foothills and one from the valley of Sonora, Mexico. This assessment contained an exercise

where children were tasked with drawing the human form: figure 1 contains drawings done by four-year-olds while figure 2 contains those done by five-year-olds from the two sample populations (images and article hosted by the National Centre for Biotechnology Information).

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 14 November 21, 2012

Features

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Eat healthy, save money, reduce waste!

Start composting and plant a garden Kara Passey, staff

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think we all get the concept that vegetables are good for so I can kick that garden’s butt next summer.

Now you can buy compost bins from the city, or you can dig you, right? It is pretty much common knowledge these days; vegetables good, fast food bad. The problem isn’t that people through your basement and find some of those busted up old don’t know what to eat, it’s that fresh vegetables aren’t cheap Tupperware storage containers and use those. You only need and aren’t as readily available. one bin and its matching lid—size is really up to you and how People who live in Winnipeg’s core, North and West Ends much you think you are going to compost—a hammer and nail are living in what are called “food deserts.” These are areas where (or a power drill if you are fancy), and a sharp knife or X-Acto people have little or no access to grocery stores. Ever notice blade.

Start by punching holes all over the container and lid, pretty how chain grocery stores seem to have “abandoned” the North End? Bussing a couple hours once a week just to lug groceries much as many as you can fit, about two inches apart. If you doesn’t sound like fun to anyone – especially in the middle of are using a hammer and nail it can be a tedious task, but your compost needs to be able to breathe without holes big enough your typical Winnipeg winter.

So what are your options for affordable healthy eating? Well, for rodents to get in. Use the knife to cut some slots along the you can check out winnipegfoodsharecoop.org and take advan- bottom edges to allow drainage. If you have a second lid you tage of their Good Food Box program, or if you have the space can put it underneath the container to catch the drainage and use it to feed your garden as well. If it isn’t obvious, you want to and ability you could pick up gardening!

I’ve been living on the cheap for a while now—six years as keep the bin outside – it will get stinky. a student and now as a broke graduate—sometimes dabbling Personally, I have an old cat litter bucket in my kitchen and in veganism and vegetarianism, so I’ve learned some tricks on I empty it into the bin outside every couple days. I put up a how to make cooking vegetables delicious, easy, and cheap. crudely written sign so my roommates know what they can But at the end of the day, when you work three jobs you don’t compost, it reads: Hey mother fuckers! Lets be conscious of our shit. Here’s what you always have the time and energy to stir fry some veggies, and vegetables have a time limit. So more often than not I end up can compost: Raw vegetables and fruit, plant waste, wood ashes, small pieces of chucking rotten vegetables – not only am I wasting money, I am making waste. cardboard, coffee grounds and filters, dryer lint, egg shells, hair, news So this brings me to my new project: turn my ugly West End paper, tea leaves and yard waste.

Let’s plant a garden so we can stop killing ourselves with back yard into a plentiful and sustainable garden! Eat healthy, save money, and reduce waste! Oh wait – it’s about to drop to McDonalds.

Turn the compost every once in a while; in three to six weeks below zero temperatures and cover everything with snow? What can I do to get started now? Well I’ll tell you what I did, I built it is ready to fertilize your garden. Plant some tasty veggies and myself a compost bin and started collecting my organic waste herbs, share them with your friends and family, and be happy.

illustration by Aichelle Sayuno

Talking the green talk Companies, consumers, and misleading environmentalism Stephanie George

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hen I hear the phrase “false advertising,” I think of those companies and consumers. As horrible as it is that companies use diet ads where the before and after pictures are clearly their “green card” as a business strategy, Wan says that consumers not the same person. Greenwashing is one of the more popular are part of the problem. It is not just companies that are creating forms of false advertising, or “branding strategies,” around false green identities but consumers as well. For example, Wan these days. explains that the majority of Winnipeggers say that supporting Jay Westerveld coined the term greenwashing in 1986 when local brands is important to them, yet most of these people are he wrote an essay motivated by a placard he found in his hotel planning on running to IKEA, a global brand, as soon as Nov. room about saving towels to save the environment. Westerveld 28 comes around. So, are we the hypocrites? thought it was a load of crap. It’s not that he wasn’t into the Greenwashing is a fairly new area of scholarship. Wan says environment—he was actually studying tooth-billed pigeons that more research can be done in regard to differentiating comin Samoa at the time of the incident—he just didn’t appreci- panies that greenwash from those that truly have environmental ate that his hotel made it seem like their sole purpose was to initiatives. Furthermore, it would be helpful to learn just how protect the planet when really, less towels to wash meant less capable consumers are in recognizing greenwashing. If you would like to learn more about different ways companies greenwash, money spent.

In this case, the hotel is really helping the environment but I would suggest checking out TerraChoice, “an environmental misleads naive guests into believing that this factor solely moti- marketing and consulting firm.” TerraChoice has published a vates their decisions. However, greenwashing is a spectrum and series of studies on greenwashing, which are collectively known there are examples of companies that twist the truth in different as the “Sins of Greenwashing.” According to the 2010 report ways. Fang Wan, who teaches at the Asper School of Business, by TerraChoice, “more than 95 per cent of consumer products co-wrote an article with Kent Walker on the topic, in which claiming to be green were found to commit at least one of the they define greenwashing as, “a strategy that companies adopt ‘Sins of Greenwashing.’”

From global warming and resource extraction to the burnto engage in symbolic communications of environmental issues without substantially addressing them in actions.” The article ing of fossil fuels and good old pollution, the environment has uses the analogy of talking and walking to better explain the enough to deal with these days! I’m thinking that Mother Nature concept. Greenwashing is the difference between green talk doesn’t want to be the face of a branding strategy, unless the (what companies say about their environmental initiative) and companies that back such marketing have pure environmental green walk (what companies actually do about their claims). Wan intentions. As for consumers, we can’t just pat ourselves on was surprised to find that green talk has no impact on financial the back for purchasing “environmentally friendly” products success and, in fact, it may even hurt a little (talk + walk = no anymore.

We must identify our value system as consumers and if “green” financial affect; talk – walk (greenwashing) = negative financial is really part of our identity, then we gotta grab our magnifying affect). Wan concludes, “talk alone doesn’t do it!”

Global consciousness is a new but increasingly important glasses and do a little sleuthing! concept in the business world – social responsibility defines both

illustration by Bradly Wohlgemuth

Science & Technology Editor: Bryce Hoye Contact: science@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Science & technology

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Carl Sagan Day Eloquent popular scientist remembered, fifteen years after his death Tom Ingram, staff

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wo weeks ago, the Center for Inquiry of Fort Lauderdale in Florida celebrated the fourth annual Carl Sagan day.

Since 2009, they have hosted educational events on Nov. 9 including a science fair for local schoolchildren and speakers on topics including astronomy, skepticism, and the life of Carl Sagan. Many of us were very young when Sagan died prema-

understanding of Venus’ atmosphere), it was clear from the beginning that his great talent was his ability to explain and popularize without simplifying. He was good at broad, conceptual thinking and rough preliminary calculations.

“Some persons work best in specializing on a major program in the laboratory; others are best in liaison between sciences. Dr. Sagan belongs in the latter group,” said thesis advisor Gerard Kuiper when Sagan received his doctorate.

Because of his expertise in astronomy and planetary sciences, Sagan worked as an advisor to NASA from the beginning of the U.S. space program. He was a member of the science teams for the Mariner 2, Mariner 9, Viking, Voyager, and Galileo missions. NASA scientists valued his ability to challenge what was (often prematurely) accepted as conventional wisdom in planetary science.

If this was all Carl Sagan was about, he wouldn’t be of interest to anyone but students of space exploration. Fortunately for the rest of the world, Sagan also applied his trade outside the government and academia, working in the much-maligned field of popular science as a writer and TV presenter. His non-fiction books turely in 1996. A whole generation won numerous honours, including has grown up without him and there the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonare quite a few people today who Fiction (for The Dragons of Eden). have never heard of him at all. So in He even wrote a novel: Contact, the honour of what would have been his basis for the 1997 movie starring Jodie seventy-eighth birthday, here’s a brief Foster. introduction to the man, the legend, But Sagan will always be known the institution of Carl Sagan. primarily for one achievement: Though Sagan had some signifi- Cosmos, a PBS documentary series cant research accomplishments (such with an accompanying book. In its as his important contributions to our thirteen episodes, Sagan explained

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the universe from the ground up. every hero and coward, every creator There’s a famous moment at the and destroyer of civilization, every beginning of the ninth episode with king and peasant, every young couSagan sitting alone in an opulent ple in love, every mother and father, Cambridge banquet hall. A finely hopeful child, inventor and explorer, dressed waiter sets down a pie in front every teacher of morals, every corof him and Sagan turns to the cam- rupt politician, every 'superstar,' every era and says, “If you wish to make ‘supreme leader,’ every saint and sinan apple pie from scratch, you must ner in the history of our species lived first invent the universe.” He uses there – on a mote of dust suspended in this apple pie as a jumping-off point a sunbeam [ . . . ] To me, [astronomy] to discuss the nature of atoms and underscores our responsibility to deal very large numbers. Inevitably, this more kindly with one another, and to leads to one of the recurring themes preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, in Sagan’s work as a science writer: the only home we’ve ever known.” the universe’s sublime vastness and Sagan’s acute awareness of humanthe comparative insignificance of ity’s smallness led him to get deeply humanity. involved in advocacy for various social In Douglas Adams’ novel The issues. He was a strong opponent of Restaurant at the End of the Universe, nuclear warfare and the militarization there is a machine called the “Total of space. He led a quixotic and ultiPerspective Vortex” that is used as a mately doomed effort to unite the US torture device. It shows the victim a and Soviet space programs with the 3D scale model of the entire universe, goal of sending a manned mission to with a tiny dot labelled “you are here.” Mars. He promoted science and skepThe victim, faced with such a stark ticism without holding those on the illustration of their place in the uni- fringe in contempt – and, as the most verse, goes insane. During Sagan’s prominent supporter of the Search for lifetime, we saw a real-world TPV Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), in the “Pale Blue Dot” photograph he occasionally found himself on the from the Voyager 1 spacecraft in 1990. fringe.

It showed the Earth from the edge of It is as a spokesman for science the solar system, just barely visible. In that he was most successful. In recent 1994, Carl Sagan wrote a book, also years, several skeptics and science called Pale Blue Dot, which included advocates have become major pop this famous passage: cultural forces. Carl Sagan got in on “Look again at that dot. That’s here. the ground floor of this movement, That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone around the same time as the simiyou love, everyone you know, every- larly well-spoken Richard Dawkins, one you ever heard of, every human with whom he has much in common. being who ever was, lived out their With this worldview and eloquence, lives. The aggregate of our joy and Sagan brought the gift of science to suffering, thousands of confident millions of people during his life and religions, ideologies, and economic continues to do so more than fifteen doctrines, every hunter and forager, years after his death.

Climate change and the community Participate in local discussion on the effects of climate change.

Willard Anderson

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or thousands of years humans have taken for granted that we would have winter and summer, a planting season and harvest season.

Suddenly we’re finding climatic variations are changing that conception of seasonality.

Winnipeg’s 2011/2012 winter was one of the warmest in the city’s record, challenging all time highs for the month of January and even breaking the all time high for Jan. 5 at 6.3 degrees C. Looking to the south, the U.S. has had a serious drought throughout the 2012 growing period. Specifically in the central and midwest regions of the country, states have experienced

exceptionally severe droughts.

Local residents of Elie, MB will recall what in 2007 the CBC described as the most powerful tornado in Canadian history: "Environment Canada analysts recently examined fresh video evidence of the June 22 storm that helped confirm it as the only officially confirmed tornado in Canada to be rated F-5 on the Fujita scale."

Yet another troubling manifestation of a global warming-influenced natural disaster is visible in the damage incurred to the U.S. East Coast

by Hurricane Sandy.

Collectively, the increased frequency and severity of incidences

like these might be best viewed as precursors to much more serious climatic changes in the coming years, further impinging upon things like agriculture and the ability to maintain food security.

Concerned citizens interested in getting involved in the fight against climate change are welcomed to join in the discussion: Date: Nov. 26, 2012 Time: 5:30 p.m.

Place: Third floor, Mountain Equipment Co-op building, 303 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, MB.

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Arts & Culture Editor: Kara Passey Contact: artsculture@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Arts & Culture

A one-man rock ‘n’ roll band Mark Sultan to play the Windsor Hotel on Nov. 22 Jenna Diubaldo, staff

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ark Sultan is coming to a town near you to rattle your brain and show you what rock and roll is really about.

Starting out releasing music under the name “BBQ ,” Sultan is one of the hardest working acts in rock and

roll, churning out a constant stream North American tour, and here’s of releases and not at the expense of what was said. quality. Sultan’s music is simple, to the point, in your face rock and roll The Manitoban: with a soul influence that will have You have solo releases both under you dancing all night long. the names Mark Sultan and BBQ – Not only does Sultan bash away at what do you feel are the differences a guitar with his hands and a drum between these two personas? set with his feet to create his own solo music, he has been known to team up Mark Sultan: with some of rock and roll’s greatest There aren’t really any differheavyweights to create some unfor- ences in the personas. I started as gettable super groups. Sultan is one BBQ in like 2002 or 2003, and did half of the King Khan & BBQ show, two albums before starting the King pairing up with garage rock sensation Khan & BBQ Show in 2004 or 2005. and long-time friend King Khan in With Mark Sultan as my moniker, I 2005 to create eight albums over the just thought that it would be a means course of four years and counting. to explore fuller instrumentation on More recently, Sultan recorded an record, so as not to confuse it with album with Montreal rock and roller the simplicity of the one-man band Bloodshot Bill to release a collabora- sounds. tive album in 2010 under the name the Ding Dongs.

M: I recently had the chance to chat You’re teaming up with King Khan with Sultan about his upcoming for a number of the dates on your

North American tour, and recently in a blog post you stated that during your European tour you were able to stay with him for a couple weeks, reconnect, and write some new songs.

How was that experience and can we look forward to a new King Khan & BBQ album in the near future?

favourites out of your catalogue— how did you find working with Bill, and can we look forward to more from this duo in the future?

MS:

Bill is a good friend. I have known him a long time. He’s a classic. It’s great playing with him for many MS: reasons. Mostly I love exploring 50s New album? No idea. We will rock‘n’roll with him [and] playing probably record some stuff in the sounds I love so much, but with spring. The experience... I mean we someone who has a complete grasp are old friends. I think anyone could of its intricacies. I think we have imagine what it’s like having a major mostly been able to play within the falling out and then hangin’ again. tiny window of pure 50s rock‘n’roll It’s a relief and like seeing your family —not R&B or rockabilly, so much— again after floating in a submarine for and that is difficult. a few years.

Do yourself a favor and catch Mark Sultan at the historic Windsor Hotel M: on Nov. 22 with Rock Lake and the In 2010 you teamed up with Electrics.

Bloodshot Bill to release a collaborative album under the name the Ding Dongs—which is one of my personal

Celebrating Indigenous film, video, and storytelling The 11th annual Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival Jenna Diubaldo, staff

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he Winnipeg Aboriginal Film ists, but the festival is also organized the state of Arizona, and Smoke people with passion. Come out, take information on the Winnipeg Aboriginal Festival (WAFF) is excited to and facilitated entirely by Aboriginal Traders, a documentary explaining it in – it’s an incredible five days!”

Film Festival please visit the event webcelebrate its 11th year in the making, staff. the stronghold that the Mohawk The Winnipeg Aboriginal Film site at www.waff.ca. If you are interested and it continues to gain momentum “Our festival is 100 per cent staffed peoples have over the tobacco trade Festival takes place from Nov. 21 to 25 in volunteering for the festival please call each year. The WAFF is one of the by Aboriginal people but most in Eastern Canada. at the Garrick Event Centre. For more (204) 774-1375. largest festivals in North America to importantly we share our stories, The WAFF also features activishowcase and celebrate Indigenous our culture, and our experiences at ties geared towards Aboriginal youth film, video, and storytelling.

WAFF,” said Rajotte. “Every year we including a Youth Education Day “WAFF celebrates the scheduled to take place best in Indigenous filmmakthe day before the festival ing from around the world,” begins on Nov. 20. The stated Coleen Rajotte, the Youth Education Day will Artistic Director for the provide a venue for young festival. “There is always filmmakers to screen their a buzz leading up to the work, as well as provide festival and while it’s a lot learning opportunities of work, to see it all come for aspiring young arttogether is very rewarding ists through workshops and exciting!” and peer presentations The festival will kick from established youth off on Nov. 21 with the filmmakers.

Canadian premiere of the The festival depends film Shouting Secrets, which largely on volunteer supstars First Nations celebrity port and organizers are still heartthrob Chaske Spencer recruiting volunteers for – best known for playing the this year’s festival. Students role of “Sam Uley” in the interested in volunteering Twilight Saga. Spencer will are encouraged to contact 1921 Pembina Hwy be in attendance for the the WAFF to lend a hand (204) 275 1000 screening as the keynote and experience the festival speaker on opening night. in a behind-the-scenes Other celebrities schedway. uled to make appearances at If you have not attended the WAFF include Dances the Winnipeg Aboriginal With Wolves star Tantoo Cardinal, build relationships with our audience Film Festival in the past, then this who co-stars in Shouting Secrets along- and we look forward to making new year is a perfect opportunity to supside Spencer, and everyone’s favourite friends.” port this important event, and learn Manitoba-born actor Adam Beach, The festival will span five days in to about Indigenous culture, film, who will be appearing at the screen- length, and feature screenings of films and artists.

We are located on the corner of Pembina and ing of his new film Path of Souls. such as More Than Frybread, a come“A lot of planning goes into this Bishop Grandin—close to the University.

Not only does the festival feature dic documentary featuring a frybread event,” said Rajotte. “We are a nonthe work of many Aboriginal art- championship between 22 tribes in profit arts group that is powered by

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18

Arts & Culture

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 14 November 21, 2012

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ith the Winnipeg Art Gallery’s recent exhibition Winnipeg Now showcasing contemporary Winnipeg artwork and the Plug In ICA’s series of exhibitions titled My Winnipeg, Mary Reid feels that Winnipeg’s strong history of abstract artwork has been overlooked and wants to shed light on some of Winnipeg’s contemporary abstract artists. “My intention was to show an alternative or different perspective of contemporary art created ‘right now’ that is connected to Winnipeg in some form,� says Reid, curator of the School of Art Gallery at the University of Manitoba. “For this most part the work being exhibited in [the WAG and the Plug In] can be characterized as being figurative and narrative driven. I wanted to counter this notion and show a contrasting side to the story.�

The show is titled Re-Configuring Abstraction and boasts four artists who are established and have shown work internationally. They all have either grown up in Winnipeg or have settled here to work, some have done both. Krisjania Kaktins-Gorsline, Holger Kalberg, Dil Hildebrand, and Derek Dunlop are all known Kaktins-Gorsline’s work in the past for their work in abstract painting. contain figures and other recogniz“Winnipeg and the U of M has a able shapes such as birds, the paintstrong background in abstract paint- ings showcased in Re-Configuring ing,� says Reid. “While still students Abstraction are completely abstract.

Kalberg hails from Dinslaken, at the School of Art, Tony Tascona, Bruce Head, Winston Leathers, Germany but now lives in Winnipeg and Frank and works as an Mikuska assistant profesSometimes they sor at the U of M were explorSchool of Art and ing a nd physically scratch teaches painting. experimenti ng w it h Born in 1967, he out chunks of abstract received his MFA the paintings from Emily Carr painting in in 2001. t he ea rly or block them Kalberg 1950s. Many out with paint, prominent works with colabstract lage and sculpcircling prominent ture as well as painters painting. His such as Ken intersections of painting proLochhead lines and shapes. and Diane cess begins with Whitehouse experimentation with colhave a lso lage made from been Professors and Directors of the painted and cut paper, sometimes School of Art through the years.� focusing on sections and progressing Born in 1980, Kaktins-Gorsline into abstract paintings. His current grew up in Winnipeg’s north end. work explores the use of grounding to He completed his BFA (Hons) degree give his compositions weight, and his at the U of M in 2006, and his MFA use of negative space is just as promfrom Columbia University in 2008. inent as his architectural shapes.

After graduate studies he returned to â€œďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ All [the] work deals with the fundamentals of painting,â€? says Reid.

Winnipeg to live and work.

Kaktins-Gorsline draws inspira- “[They] are coming out of represention from the natural sciences and tational imagery and moving into the way that forms are generated abstraction – and a very particular through the systems and processes type of abstraction, one that conof the material world. While some of flates the figure and the ground, the

inspector by Krisjanis Kaktins-Gorsline

subject and the object.�

The work of both KaktinsGorsline and Kalberg show the importance of process in abstract painting. Imagery is selected, studied and abstracted. They work in layers, and add and subtract shapes.

Sometimes they physically scratch out chunks of the paintings or block them out with paint, circling prominent intersections of lines and shapes.

Kaktins-Gorsline’s earlier and more representational work is what gave him critical recognition but recently his work shifted into abstraction. He now finds inspiration in the newsprint he used to blot his past work and uses the shapes created to make stencils. He works with patterns and overlay, and his new work still manages to echo his past. â€œďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ďż˝ Process is a means [ . . . ] to investigate the way the medium of paint works: how it lays on the canvas, how it can be built up, how is can shift and change an image,â€? says Reid. “Process is also about thinking through a problem, how to represent an idea, how to communicate meaning – both what the work is and what the work is about is imbedded in the process.â€?

Re-Configuring Abstraction is on display until Jan. 11 at the School of Art Gallery in the ARTlab building on campus at the U of M.

Arts & Culture Editor: Kara Passey Contact: artsculture@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Arts & Culture

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Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry The first film in Cinematheque’s human rights series Michelle Saromo, volunteer staff

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eginning this month and running till February, the Cinematheque will be showing several films as part of their new series called We Rise Above: New Films on Human Rights. The series showcases six different films that revolve around themes of political and human rights issues around the world. The first of the series to be shown is Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry, a documentary about China’s most controversial artist and the Chinese Communist Party’s most vocal critic.

Ai Weiwei, who helped design the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing for the 2008 Olympics, is known for being unabashedly frank when it comes to conceptualizing his art. His body of work consists of acts such as taking pictures of himself “flipping the bird” in front of landmarks such as Tiananmen Square and the White House, to breaking vases dating from the Neolithic age and painting the Coca-Cola logo over them – just to name a few. But Ai doesn’t do it just

for the sheer “shock factor” of it all, he uses his art as a way of pushing the boundaries and commenting against the censorship imposed on society.

Along with his artwork, Ai actively expresses his dissent for the Chinese government system by using social media. He boycotted the Beijing Olympics on his blog and became the first Chinese citizen to speak

Take it or leave it, we don’t give a shit Review: Nova’s debut album, Midnight Midnight Jenna Diubaldo, staff

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here’s something really refreshing about listening to a band that creates uncontrived, unadulterated music without apology – music created for the sole purpose of creating music.

This is the feeling that I get when listening to Nova’s debut album Midnight Midnight. I get the feeling that this band really could not care less about what others think about their music—whether it’s catchy enough, or edgy enough—but rather they write this music because they over on lead vocals such as “Big City like this music and that’s really all Couple,” and “Selkirk.” However, the that matters. They present their music album often takes a much darker turn as if to say, “Here’s our music. Take it during songs sung by McCracken or leave it. We don’t give a shit.” such as “Pontiac” and “Most Days,” Midnight Midnight contains with haunting melodies and backmuch of the same angsty folk-rock ground tracks that at times mimic a that one would expect from a band spooky sounds tape that you would that contains singer/songwriter hear on Halloween.

Greg MacPherson, but with the Nova is definitely an act to watch addition of Jackie Hogue and Molly in years to come, and if you haven’t McCracken to form this indie rock already then do yourself a favor trio MacPherson’s songwriting has and pick up a copy of Midnight been brought to a new and exciting Midnight. place.

For more information on Nova, or to Many of the tracks feature purchase their debut album, Midnight MacPherson’s upbeat, Bruce Midnight, visit the Disintegration Springsteen-esque style especially Records website at www.disintegraon tracks where McPherson takes tion.ca.

out against the Games. Ai also uses Twitter as a way of communicating with the public and calling them to action. In the devastating aftermath of the Sichuan province earthquake of 2008, Chinese authorities refused to publicly disclose the number of people who died in the catastrophe.

Many of those who had died were children in government-built school

buildings that were speculated to act more brave, because I know the have been built poorly. Appalled danger is really there. If you don’t act, by the government’s unwillingness the danger becomes stronger.” to take responsibility, Ai turned to Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry not only Twitter to ask for volunteers to help highlights the impact that one indihim gather as many names of the vidual can have on society, but it deceased as possible. On the one- also shows how use of social media year anniversary of the earthquake, sites like Twitter can inspire people Ai posted a list of over 5,000 names to connect with each other and join on his blog. However, the govern- the reform. Despite China’s heavily ment would eventually shut his blog imposed censorship on its citizens, down. the existence of social networking Even for a world-renowned artist sites allows people to communicate with an enormous number of fans and with other like-minded individuals followers, going against the system much more easily than ever before. is still no easy feat. The film shows The film is an optimistic portrayal of the trials that Ai has to face for his how technological advancements can activism, from authorities install- pave the road for social change. ing surveillance cameras around his Ai Weiwei: Never Sorry runs at the house, to being stalked as he travels Cinematheque until Nov. 22. The next around Beijing, and even being physi- two films in the We Rise Above series cally beaten and detained by police. are Haiti: Where Did the Money Go?, At one point in the film, Ai is asked which investigates improper funding how he remains so fearless amongst use and is showing on Nov. 22; and all the danger he faces.

Tahrir Liberation Square, a film about “I am more fearful, really, than the Egyptian revolution and protests, most people,” Ai says. “That’s why I showing on Dec. 13.

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Arts & Culture

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 14 November 21, 2012

are only for women—a few of the common misconceptions around all things pleasurable. However, sex toys are for everyone of every gender and orientation. If you have parts, there is something to make them feel nice – or naughty if that’s what you’re into. They can enhance your

Babes in Toyland Jodie layne, staff

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f you’ve been reading my columns, then you know I think masturbation is great and we should all be doing more of it. I also think sex is great and we should all be having as much of it as we please. I know it doesn’t seem possible, but here’s how to make a good thing even better – sex toys. You may have endured

an awkward passion party or scuttled into a skeevy adult shop or perused the offerings online and wondered if these things were really for you.

There are some weird attitudes people have about sex toys—they are for people who can’t have the real thing, you won’t be able to orgasm with a partner if you use them, they

If you have parts, there is something to make them feel nice – or naughty if that’s what you’re into. solo or partnered pleasure. In the weeks and months to come, I will be showcasing the many types of toys, some of my favorites, and different ways to incorporate them into solo or partnered play. But first you have

to buy a toy. upstanding establishment, I can tell 1) Research! Look up what kinds you that we know what we are talking of toys are out there and see what about. The staff are usually sex nerds might tickle your fancy/what you and well educated on their products. find interesting. Reading about dif- They are trained to deal with talking ferent products or watching reviews to strangers about sensitive and intion YouTube can be a great way to find mate topics and are familiar with the out what the possibilities are. products they carry. If you can, and 2) Experiment! What kinds of you feel comfortable, go to an adult sensations and stimulation do you boutique near you. It also helps to like? Do you like a feeling of penetra- hold and feel the item and see how tion? G-zone stimulation? Clitoral? it rumbles and what it feels like. If Prostate? Figure out what gets you off not, there are plenty of online stores and then look for a toy to help you do that carry a variety of quality prodthat in a different way. ucts they will ship discreetly right to 3) Find body and environmen- your door. tally safe materials. For things that Sex toys can be not only provide are going in or on our most delicate you self-pleasure, but allow for exploparts, they sure make toys out of some ration and discovery in relationships scary things. Look for items that are too. phthalate and PVC-free and are You can confidentially submit a quesideally non-porous and made from tion or topic to jodie.m.w.layne@gmail. materials like silicone or glass. com.

4) Go find out! Hopefully you have a friendly neighbourhood adult boutique. As a staff member of an

Doom-soul

Cold Specks to play the Park Theatre on Nov. 26 Jodie Layne, staff

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l Spx of Cold Specks offers up her most intimate inner-workings on the band’s first album, the Polaris Prize Nominated I Predict a Graceful Explosion – but she hides behind a pseudonym.

The paradox of deep intimacy and a stage name seems fitting for Spx who sings in a style heavily influenced by southern-style gospel, yet is backed by a single finger-picked guitar or booming drums. She calls

it doom-soul and it seems to be the only fitting title.

I Predict a Graceful Explosion is enchanting and dark, beautiful and revealing – touching on themes of loss, depression, and struggling with

god. If you are to believe Spx, the attempt at college while she secretly album is too honest. snuck around to make music.

“If I would have Spx’s next album, known how many though, will be a people would have little less about her “Playful heard it, I would have and quite a bit less is about made it less honest honest. and more playful.

“I want to make performance, Playful is about perpeople dance, I want it’s more formance, it’s more to tell other people’s fun and less stressstories,” says Spx. fun and less ful than baring your “People tend to latch heart every night, but onto songs that are stressful than no regrets,” says Spx. honest. The audibaring your “There is no harm in ence has an attachlearning and improvment to [personal heart every ing from there.” songs] because they night, but Her songwriting get to know the artis brutally honest and ist a bit more, people no regrets.” bare, but it is her soulfind that appealing. ful and earnest voice I don’t care about that sells those lyrics that. I can only hope and shows weariness, wisdom, and people appreciate the sounds and the capability beyond her twenty-some- songs, really.” thing years. As a child of immigrant Cold Specks is playing Park parents who valued education and Theatre on Monday, Nov. 26 with her religion, Spx struggled with band who she calls, “A bunch of both god and schooling good peeps” and this show in youth – even going is not to be missed. so far as to fake an

Graphics Editor: Silvana Moran Contact: graphics@themanitoban.com / 474.6775

21

Diversions

emilie st. hillaire

lauren boulet

PHOTO —of the—

WEEK

Capuccino for Winter

By Fayassir Haqna

Do you have a super awesome photo that you want the world to see? No matter if you took it using your camera or your smart phone, send your “PHOTO OF THE WEEK” to PHOTO@THEMANITOBAN.COM. curtonbummings.tumblr.com

Sports Editor: Marc Lagace Contact: sports@themanitoban.com / 474.6529

Sports

22

Handing out the hardware Predictions for the 2012 CFL Player Awards Adam Peleshaty, volunteer staff

Most Outstanding Player Chad Owens, WR, Argonauts ✔ Jon Cornish, RB, Stampeders

For the first time since 2006, both finalists are not quarterbacks.

Cornish is also the first Canadian to be nominated for MOP since former Stampeders slotback Dave Sapunjis in 1995. While both players had tremendous seasons, Owens managed to set a new pro football record for all-purpose yards in a single season (3,863), a record previously held by Argos legend Mike “Pinball” Clemons since 1997. The total is almost 1,200 yards greater than the nearest competitor, B.C. Lion Tim Brown (2,687) and includes a league-leading total of 1,328 yards receiving. In his first season as a starting tailback, Cornish had the best rushing season by a Canadian with a league-leading 1,457 yards breaking Normie Kwong’s 56-yearold record.

Owens’ numbers really stand out and are indicative of his versatility. As for Cornish, the only other Canadians who have won MOP are

CFL legends Russ Jackson and Tony Gabriel. Cornish does not belong with those players – yet.

Most Outstanding Canadian Jon Cornish, RB, Stampeders ✔ Shea Emry, LB, Alouettes

Outstanding Defensive Player.

Sherritt broke a CFL record with 130 tackles this season, surpassing former Argonaut Calvin Tiggle who had 129 in 1994. Sherritt also had five interceptions this season, which led all linebackers in the category and tied for second most in the CFL. It appears Emry may go home empty-handed when the ceremony is finished.

Cornish is a double nominee this year and, logically, is also up for Most Outstanding Canadian. As for Emry, he missed most of the 2011 season with a concussion but came back this Most Outstanding year with career-highs in tackles (87) Special Teams Player and sacks (7) and is ranked fifth in Chris Williams, WR/ the CFL in both categories. On his KR, Tiger-Cats ✔ only interception of the season, he Tim Brown, RB/KR, Lions also scored his first ever CFL touchLast year’s Most Outstanding down. Emry’s season was impressive Rookie did not have a sophomore given his comeback from injury, but slump in 2012. By Labour Day, Cornish became the first Canadian Williams had six return touchdowns to lead the league in rushing since – five from punt returns, one from Ottawa’s Orville Lee in 1988. a missed field goal. He became the first player in CFL history to score Most Outstanding that many return touchdowns in a Defensive Player single season as well as the first to J.C. Sherritt, LB, Eskimos ✔ have punt return touchdowns in Shea Emry, LB, Alouettes three straight games. Brown was Emry is also nominated for Most second in the league for combined

return yards and all-purpose yards, trailing Chad Owens in both categories, as well as scoring two return touchdowns. Brown had a great season, but Williams’s season was more outstanding.

Most Outstanding Rookie Chris Matthews, WR, Blue Bombers ✔ Jabar Westerman, DE, Lions

Despite an anemic Winnipeg passing offense, Matthews led his team with 81 catches for 1,192 yards and seven touchdowns, surpassing

veteran WR Terrence Edwards and making Bomber fans forget about now-Saskatchewan Roughrider Greg Carr. Meanwhile, Westerman is the first Canadian nominated for this award since Etienne Boulay for the Alouettes in 2006. However, with four sacks but only 14 tackles, it looks like the Bombers may get one trophy this year.

Most Outstanding Lineman Jovan Olafioye, OT, Lions ✔ Josh Bourke, OT, Alouettes Both players are nominated for the second straight year with Bourke winning the award in 2011. Both the Lions and the Alouettes allowed a league-low 30 sacks in 2012 but the Lions gain the edge in rushing yards, pass attempts, and for allowing fewer tackles for losses over the Alouettes.

Those categories are what voters may look for when determining a winner this year and this year may be Olafioye’s turn. photo by marc lagace

NHLPA stars play on campus, score Goals For Dreams Charity wins in fundraiser game at Max Bell Centre Derek Gagnon, staff

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ith the lockout dragging on in the NHL, hundreds of lucky Winnipeg hockey fans took in the Goals For Dreams charity hockey

game Nov. 17 at the Max Bell Arena.

The event featured some big names from the NHLPA playing alongside members of the Winnipeg Police

Services Patrolmen hockey team.

The game would finish with a 14-8 score line with Team Ladd prevailing over Team Stuart, but anybody would tell you that the real winners on this day were the charities that received over $80,000 thanks to a sold out crowd, silent auction and 50/50 draw. The Dream Factory, a charity dedicated making dreams come true for children battling life threatening illnesses, and The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba were the organizations associated with the event.

The game was a very entertaining affair, with referee and MC Ron Hoggarth keeping things lively with his continued commentary and tendency to award penalty shots for no reason. There was a lot of “aww”-ing going on when Timbits hockey players were brought out to play against the pros, with these little players being dwarfed by beasts like 6’4”, 232 lb. Shea Weber.

There were five Winnipeg Jets on the ice with one another; Zach Bogosian serving as an Honorary Coach as he recovers from wrist surgery. Captain Andrew Ladd, Bryan Little, and Jim Slater suited up for Team Ladd, while Mark Stuart and new signing Olli Jokinen played for Team Stuart. Tanner Glass and Chris Mason, Jets players in the 2011-2012 season, were also on hand for the event and received a very warm welcome from the fans.

photo by matthew giesbrecht

Talking about a failed attempt at really won on the day. a “GST” chant, Glass divvied up the “It turned out good, we had some blame. fun. I don’t think it really mattered “Maybe I’m to blame for that, what the score was, the charities were maybe [Chris] Thorburn’s to blame really the ones that won the game.” for that because he wasn’t here,” said Prior to the game, newly sworn-in Glass, noting the absence of his line- Winnipeg Police Service Chief of mate from last year.

Police Devon Clunis spoke of the Other Winnipeg-born NHLers importance of the game: were in attendance, including “This is just a great example of Jonathan Toews of the Chicago the NHLPA and the WPS getting Blackhawks. together and trying to do some“The fans were great, you could tell thing very serious for a very vulnerthey were very excited to watch some able sector of society in terms of our hockey,” said Toews, adding “It feels children.” good to go out there and play in front “I think its just a small piece of of the fans again.” what we can do collectively as a city, When asked about his team pre- as a community, for the community vailing over Mark Stuart’s team, at large.”

Ladd was quick to point out who

Sports

VOL. 99 ½ NO. 14 November 21, 2012

23

FOLLOWING THE HERD MEN’S

W-WIN

L-LOSS

OTL-OVERTIME LOSSES

x = CLINCHED PLAYOFF SPOT

HOCKEY

W-L-OTL

ALBERTA SASKATCHEWAN UBC REGINA MANITOBA CALGARY MOUNT ROYAL LETHBRIDGE

11-3-0 9-3-0 8-3-1 6-4-2 6-4-2 6-6-0 3-11-0 1-9-2

BISON STARTING GOALIE JESSE DECKERT WAS NAMED THE HUSKY-WHL GRADUTE OF THE MONTH FOR SEPT / OCT

NOV. 23 7:00 PM VS REGINA MAX BELL ARENA NOV. 24 7:00PM VS REGINA MAX BELL ARENA

VOLLEYBALL ALBERTA TWU MANITOBA BRANDON MOUNT ROYAL UBC WINNIPEG

HOCKEY

W-L-OTL

CALGARY REGINA ALBERTA UBC MOUNT ROYAL LETHBRIDGE MANITOBA SASKATCHEWAN

9-2-1 8-4-0 8-4-0 6-3-3 6-4-2 4-5-3 4-6-2 3-6-3

OTL-OVERTIME LOSSES

W-WIN

L-LOSS

T-TIE

x = CLINCHED PLAYOFF SPOT

JAN. 4-5 THATS THE NEXT TIME THE BISON WOMEN WILL PLAY A CONFERENCE GAME AT HOME

NOV. 23 7:00PM

@ REGINA

NOV. 24 7:00PM

@ REGINA

VOLLEYBALL 8-0 7-1 6-1 6-2 4-4 4-4 3-4

SASKATCHEWAN TRU CALGARY REGINA UBC OKANAGAN

3-5 3-5 2-6 1-7 0-8

NOV. 22 8:00 PM

VS THOMPSON RIVERS

INVESTORS GROUP AC NOV. 23 8:00 PM

VS THOMPSON RIVER

INVESTORS GROUP AC

BASKETBALL PRAIRIE ALBERTA MANITOBA SASKATCHEWAN WINNIPEG LETHBRIDGE CALGARY BRANDON REGINA

WOMEN’S

TWU UBC ALBERTA MOUNT ROYAL UBC OKANAGAN MANITOBA BRANDON

7-1 7-1 6-2 6-2 6-2 4-3 4-4

CALGARY WINNIPEG REGINA SASKATCHEWAN TRU

3-5 2-5 1-7 1-7 0-8

NOV. 22 6:00 PM

VS THOMPSON RIVERS

INVESTORS GROUP AC NOV. 23 6:00 PM

VS THOMPSON RIVER

INVESTORS GROUP AC

BASKETBALL 5-1 4-2 4-2 4-2 3-3 2-4 1-5 1-5

PACIFIC UBC VICTORIA UNBC UFV MOUNT ROYAL TRU TWU UBC OKANAGAN

5-1 5-1 4-2 3-3 2-4 2-4 2-4 1-5

NOV. 23 10:00 PM @ UFV

NOV. 24 9:00 PM @ TWU

PRAIRIE CALGARY REGINA ALBERTA LETHBRIDGE MANITOBA SASKATCHEWAN WINNIPEG BRANDON

6-0 5-1 4-2 3-3 2-4 2-4 2-4 0-6

PACIFIC UFV TRU UBC VICTORIA UNBC UBC OKANAGAN MOUNT ROYAL TWU

6-0 4-2 4-2 4-2 3-3 2-4 1-5 0-6

NOV. 23 8:00 PM @ UFV

NOV. 24 7:00 PM @ TWU

Catching up with the Bisons Brief summary of the past two weeks Marc Lagace, staff

Men’s basketball

Nov. 9 @ Brandon W 3-2 (25-20, 25-18, 25-27, 23-25, 17-15) Nov. 10 @ Brandon L 3-2 (25-23, 22-25, 25-19, 21-25, 12-15) Nov. 16 @ UBC Okanagan W 3-0 (25-20, 25-8, 25-15) Nov. 17 @ UBC Okanagan W 3-0 (25-19, 25-17, 25-23)

Nov. 9 @ Brandon L 78-76 Nov. 10 @ Brandon W 81-63 Nov. 17 @ Regina W 87-61 Nov. 18 @ Regina W 104-91 The Bisons men are on a roll, having won three of their last four games.

They currently sit tied for second in the Canada West Prairie division.

Both the Bobcats and Cougars sit at the bottom of the standings, but it was important for the Bisons to perform their game plan properly and make the shots as they became available. The Bisons will hope to keep rolling as they travel west to play Fraser Valley and Trinity Western.

Women’s basketball Nov. 9 @ Brandon W 62-61 (OT) Nov. 10 @ Brandon W62-53 Nov. 17 @ Regina L 83-32 Nov. 18 @ Regina L 104-51

Bison forward, Brittany Koop

The Bisons struggled in Regina after winning a pair of games in Brandon. Brittany Koop was the Bison of the weekend in Brandon, earning a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in the overtime victory, following up with another stellar performance the following day. With 16 points, Koop was just three rebounds shy of recording back-to-back double-doubles.

Men’s volleyball

Nov. 16 @ UBC Okanagan L 3-2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-21, 25-18, 11-15) Nov. 17 @ UBC Okanagan L 3-0 (10-25, 20-25, 9-25)

UBC swept the Bisons, with Manitoba earning one point due to an overtime loss

Women’s hockey

The Bison women’s volleyball team has fallen from near the top of the Nov. 16 vs UBC W 2-1 conference to the middle of the pack Nov. 17 vs UBC L 2-1 (OT) after a disappointing road trip, their Despite suffering their first loss of first of the season. Picking up just one The Bisons women came off the the season against a tough Brandon win, the Bisons return to the comfort- bye week and took three of a posteam, the Bisons men’s volleyball able confines of the Investors Group sible four points out of a tough continues to be among the top of the Atheltic Centre, where they hope to matchup at home against the UBC Canada West. get their season back on track against Thunderbirds.

The top four teams in the confer- Thompson Rivers University.

In the second game, Meagan ence are Alberta, Trinity Western, Vestby scored the game tying goal Manitoba and Brandon, so close Men’s hockey late in the third period that forced results like the above are to be overtime. expected.

Nov. 9 vs Lethbridge W 4-1

Women’s volleyball Nov. 9 @ Brandon L 3-0 (23-25, 17-25, 18-25) Nov. 10 @ Brandon W 3-1 (25-21, 21-25, 25-19, 28-26)

Nov. 10 vs Lethbridge W 4-2 Nov. 16 @ UBC L 5-2 Nov. 17 @ UBC L 2-1 (2OT)

After picking up a pair of wins at home against Lethbridge, the Bisons travelled out West, where they were up against a formidable foe in UBC.

photo by Chris Zuk

Beauty

The Beast

We all need to manage the waste we create. If you’re like 90% of Manitobans, you already recycle. But one third of us admit we still throw into the trash some items that could be re-used or recycled into useful materials. Let’s manage to do better!

More than half of all household garbage can be recycled.

Are you recycling all you can?

CLEAN UP YOUR ACT SimplyRecycle.ca MMSM Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba

MMSM

Multi-Material Stewardship Manitoba Industry funding recycling

MMSM