VOLUME 137 ISSUE 4 JAN 29 2022
@XAVERIANWEEKLY
Protecting the Enviornment since 1895
HIGHLIGHTS SPORTS AND HEALTH
NS Men’s Health Barber Shop Talks PAGE 4
ARTS AND COMMUNITY
Standing with pride at StFX University!
FEATURE
W/ Aimee MacDonald
PAGE 2
HOCO CLEANUP & CLIMATE ACTION W/ Angus Kennedy & Franny MacGregor PAGE 4
FEATURE
Editor: Halle Cordingley Contact: xw.eic@stfx.ca
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What is Recycling and How Does it Happen? ANGUS KENNEDY & FRANNY MACGREGOR, Guest Writers What happens to everything we use? All the plastic bottles, tin cans, and cereal boxes must go somewhere when we are done with them. Likewise, they also need to come from somewhere. It takes resources and energy to produce these things which means extraction and pollution. So then, what is the best way to deal with our things when we no longer want them, so that they don’t just go to waste? One way is to recycle. In Antigonish we have waste management programs that divert these things aways from landfills toward recycling plants, where things are broken down and remade into other things we can use. However, all these things are different and evidently are processed in different ways. In this article, we are going to get into it. Plastic for instance, while often advertised as recyclable, is notorious for being difficult. There are many different plastics that all have different characteristics, so they are all treated differently when they wind up at recycling plants. To identify the different kinds of plastics, products of this material often brandish small triangle symbols that are made up of three arrows ( just like the recycling symbol) and a number in the middle. A plastic milk jug, for example, is a number 2 plastic. However, not all plastics are recyclable. Filmy plastics, for instance, like plastic wrap or the former plastic grocery bag, are usually made of plastics 3 or 4, which are not actu-
ally recyclable and often gunk up the sorting machines at recycling plants. All in all, the only three types of plastics that are recyclable are numbers 1, 2, and 5. Paper on the other hand is much more recyclable than plastic. Everything from cardboard and construction paper to loose leaf and unused paper napkins can be recycled, as long as they aren’t wet or covered in grease, food, or something else that would make the paper act un-paper like. Paper is perfectly recyclable. Unfortunately, however, the fibers that make up the paper products become weaker after every trip to the recycling plant. Thankfully though, since it is organic material, it can all be composted when it is done with. Metal and glass products however, like clean aluminium foil or glass wine bottles, are infinitely recyclable. Metals and glass, because they are either pure compound or elements, don’t loose their integrity when they are broken down. So, that tin can you put in the recycling can keep being used again and again, as long as it is returned to the recycling. Unfortunately, glass seems to be a very ecological, natural product because it is made of sand which comes from the earth. It is much more challenging and environmentally costing than we might realise. To recycle glass, it must be melted down to a liquid, this process requires extremely high temperatures and lots of energy.
Interview with Angus Kennedy from Antigonish League of People for Climate Action HALLE CORDINGLEY, Editor & Staff Writer
With this month’s theme being ‘The Environment’ I found it perfect to talk with Angus Kennedy, leader of Antigonish League of People for Climate Action or for short ALPCA. Angus grew up in Antigonish. He decided to go to StFX because he cares about the community and felt like he could have a positive impact on the student body by staying in a place he knew. Angus takes his interest in caring about the environment from growing up on a farm and his mother being a biology teacher. Angus started ALPCA because he was listening to the radio this summer and he heard that globally we are going to feel the effects of the climate emergency. Although we will feel these effects, there is still further damage that we can prevent. Angus wanted to know what he could do to make positive impacts locally. He believes that the way to make the most change is through social action, this made him have the idea to get together with friends on the rowing team and start ALPCA. Angus says that they want to solve small problems, while also having their eyes on the big problems. For example, a small problem they hope to solve is MacIsaac Hall not having any cold-water options on their washing machines, this is something they hope to advocate for in time. Larger things include Nova Scotia progressively getting more renewable energy. So far ALPCA has organized a few climate strikes and a town-cleanup after homecoming. During the clean-up local members of Antigonish honked their horns, thanked them, and even praised them on social media for their work. They have many future goals, like writing letters to MP’s, spreading climate policy and they are hoping to do acts of solidarity with first nation communities. They’ve also worked with another environment group in Antigonish who they hope are going to help them find educational speakers to possibly work with StFX. If people are interested in joining ALPCA they should follow their social medias. You can find them on Twitter @a_l_p_c_a_, on Instagram @climateaction.antigonish and on Facebook @Antigonish League of People for Climate Action. On their social media you can find them post meeting times and locations. Due to Covid they may switch to online meetings, but they are still working through the details at this time. Angus ended the conversation by saying since we are all students time is the hardest thing for us to find and so the more people who come together and are a part of this, the easier it is for us to accomplish our goals. He ended by highly encouraging students who want to make a change to check them out on social media and get involved.
Recycling’s benefits are threefold. It reduces waste in our landfills, the need to extract resources, and often reduces emissions. Recycling plastic, a petroleum product, also reduces our fossil fuel use, something essential to fighting the climate crisis. Things don’t need to be remade repeatedly when we can use what we already have. Speaking of reuse, while recycling is great, it still has downsides. Recycling takes time and energy and for some products, like plastics and paper, it cannot go on forever, so to keep supplying the demand the resources will still need to be extracted. Thankfully, the other two of the three R’s, reduce and reuse, cost literally nothing to do and, with exception to things that are harming the environment simply by existing or operating, have an ecological footprint of zilch. A good rule of thumb is to reduce what you buy, reuse what you have, and recycle whatever you can when you must get rid of stuff. There are other ways you can reduce your ecological footprint when disposing of waste, like composting and recycling refundables. If you would like to find out more about those, check out @climateaction.antigonish on Instagram, and help work toward a greener Antigonish.
Interview with Aimee MacDonald, StFX’s Gender and Diversity Advisor HALLE CORDINGLEY, Editor & Staff Writer
Since it is Pride Month at StFX, I decided to speak with Aimee MacDonald who is StFX’s Gender and Diversity Advisor. Aimee grew up in Cape Breton and went to StFX herself, she has been married to her wife for five years and they have two children together, a 14-year-old daughter and her three-yearold son. Aimee wanted this job for many years, being a queer person herself she saw the challenges she has faced throughout her life. When she came out, she had a community that supported her, and she understands that not everyone has the same experience. Aimee wanted to give support to people and wanted people in the community to know that they are not alone. Aimee’s role as StFX’s Gender and Diversity Advisor is very diverse, she advocates for students who fall into the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, she provides necessary resources for students that are culturally relevant to help them succeed both academically and socially, and she educates the campus community on current issues that the 2SLGBTQIA+ community is facing. Aimee says that to her pride means being able to be together as a community, being visible, being safe, remembering those who paved the way for her to be able to live her life the way she lives it, and it also means people are free to be loved and to love somebody else without fear. So far there has been several activities throughout pride month at StFX. Aimee says they’ve had a flag raising, a vigil where the community came together to remember the siblings they have lost and recognize their contribution to the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, trivia night, a ‘spill the tea’ activity by Dr. Chris Fraser, activities with the StFX art gallery, and of course the popular sex toy bingo! Once there is less restrictions Aimee is hoping to turn their tradition of a rainbow party that normally happens at the end of pride month to a queer prom! Students who are not a part of X-Pride or the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are still welcome to attend events if they come with an open mind. Students and staff should call out misgendering, not allow for homophobic and transphobic comments, and stand up to bullying, the more students who do this the less it will happen, it is important as students to be active allies! Aimee concluded by saying “everyone experiences the community in their own way no matter how they identify. Gender identity, sexuality, is all fluid people change and that’s okay. My role is to support people in helping them understand themselves and understand the resources that are available to them, so no matter who you are you have a community in my office, within X-Pride executives and in X-Pride society. We are much larger than people know, and I think the more people that come together the bigger, stronger and more visible the community will be.”
NEWS
Editor: Halle Cordingley Contact: xw.eic@stfx.ca
The Saint Mary’s River vs. the Cochrane Hill Gold Mine Project PETER MACGREGOR, Staff Writer
The Saint Mary’s River is most widely known for being Nova Scotia’s longest river. This river represents far more than this. It is an incredibly important home to several endangered species such as the wood turtle, mainland moose and most importantly, the Atlantic salmon. The amount of biodiversity that is supported within and surrounding the Saint Mary’s ecosystem is often overlooked but is necessary for maintaining the health of the Saint Mary’s River and the community it supports. The Saint Mary’s River Association are a group of community members taking action to protect and preserve the river. There has been a major ongoing project to restock the river with Atlantic Salmon, which over the past few years has been showing genuine promise in returning the Atlantic Salmon to their prime. The Mckeens drainage basin is an especially productive area with rare footage recently being recorded of Salmon spawning here. The Salmon is slowly getting back to their prime in this river because of the incredible biodiversity that it holds and the help of the Saint Mary’s community. Unfortunately, the biodiversity that this river supports does not garner the recognition that it deserves. Despite the millions of dollars that the Saint Mary’s group has invested into the restoration of the Atlantic Salmon here, all their work is at risk. Atlantic is proposing a Gold Mine to be put in place on Cochrane Hill. This proposal is for about 600 acres of land directly above the Archibald Lake drainage basin (which creates a cold-water refuge site for salmon when it runs into the Saint Mary’s) and more importantly the Mckeens drainage basin. A large chunk of this proposal is for a tailings pond that would be 70m tall and 2km long above some of the most productive salmon spawning area in the river, that’s in the Mckeens drainage basin. This tailings pond would potentially leach into the drainage basins on either side of Cochrane Hill, creating an imminent threat for the Salmon of the river. Making matters worse is the fact that the community that must face the environmental devastation of the mine will gain no monetary compensation. A few short-term jobs will be generated within the community, but the company does not even make the promise of hiring 10% of it’s employees from the community. The provincial benefits are only marginally better, with a 1% royalty on the project. What is astounding about this number is how other provinces such as British Columbia have a 13% royalty for gold mining. In comparison, Nova Scotia is essentially giving away it’s land for free and mining companies are coming in hand over fist to pick up all the mining contracts available. These mining companies are going into rural Nova Scotian towns, with the promise of creating much needed jobs and leaving the community with environmental degradation that will last far longer than the brief economic relief. Atlantic Gold says “This is not your grandfather’s mine” to try to appease the community members fighting this mine. The irony in this is palpable, as the mining done a century ago with mine shafts was certainly safer ecologically than the open pit mine being proposed at Cochrane Hill. I interviewed Scott Beaver, the president of the Saint Mary’s River Association, and he had a hard time conceiving the scale not only of the mine but the impact that it would have on this beloved river. The Saint Mary’s River Association has hired environmental consultants to come and assess the potential effects of the Gold Mine on the community. Their findings have been overwhelming. “Significant risk and minimal benefit” is how Scott Beaver summarized it. Scott Beaver has been president of the Saint Mary’s River Association since 2016. He has devoted countless hours to the community and to the health of the river. Unfortunately, since the Cochrane Hill Gold Mine was first proposed in 2017 by Atlantic Gold Corporation, most of his time has been spent fighting for the health of the salmon that he has come so far to recover. One of the mines proposed by Atlantic Gold has already been put in place. The Touquoy Mine in Mooseland is a cautionary tail for what Cochrane Hill could one day become. Even worse is that the odds are stacked in favor of the Gold Mine. The process for determining whether the mine should be allowed to go through is called an approval process. The key word is “approval” because the entire process is centered around approving the mine to go ahead with their plan. Even if there is community pushback for the mine, in scenarios such as the Cochrane Hill Gold Mine, at best the mine may be delayed for a few years and must make some small changes to their plans. Even if their plans are rejected, they can resubmit another proposal a few years later. After speaking with Scott, he said that the only way to generate real change is to change the archaic mining laws in Nova Scotia. One strategy could be increasing the royalties that mining companies must pay, this would help to decrease the number of mines in Nova Scotia. The Saint Mary’s River represents a battle ground for the recovery of the Atlantic Salmon and the health of the ecosystem it signifies. We are in the middle of a climate crisis, and it is battles that the Saint Mary’s group is fighting that will create a positive impact today and for generations to come. If you are interested in learning more, please visit “The Gold Mine Conversation: Cochrane Hill Gold Mining in NS”. If your interested in helping the Saint Mary’s River Association in their fight against the proposed gold mine, go to stmarysriverassociation.com and donate today!
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The UN’s Sixth Annual Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Report ISABELLE VAUTOUR, Staff Writer
Discourse around climate change is nothing new. Protesters have been taking to the streets for decades in the fight for both climate change and global warming. Politicians have made empty promises and made the environment a key issue in their campaigns, all while building new pipelines and pursuing economic interests, at the peril of the environment. Scientists have been ringing the alarm bells for ages, and yet, companies still fail to change towards a more sustainable future and economy. Some politicians even deny that climate change exists at all. In 2021, the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released their AR6 report on the state of the global climate and the fight against climate change. They have been releasing yearly reports for 6 years. The panel’s findings are grim to say the least. Scientists have been warning the general population that we must keep our rising global temperature below 1.5 degrees Celsius or we will run the risk of encountering very dangerous living conditions in the future. According to the IPCC’s report, the earth is warming very quickly. As set out in their report, we are already approaching the 1.5°C threshold. Humans have been estimated to have caused a rise of approximately 1.07°C of our current global warming trend. By staying below the 1.5°C threshold, we could prevent some of the irreversible consequences of climate change, but we will still face some scary stuff. By staying under 1.5°C of warming, according to the report, it is still likely that the Arctic will continue to warm quickly. Furthermore, if we fail to meet this threshold, the consequences will worsen, every additional 0.5°C of global warming will have some very serious side effects on the climate. The more we warm the planet, the less the environment can absorb all the greenhouse gases we emit. This would only worsen the effects of the climate changes occurring. As outlined by the IPCC, unless we cut our emissions of greenhouse gases drastically and soon, we are on track to warm the global temperature by at least 2°C. We are already at the halfway point. The IPCC’s report includes 5 scenarios of the severity, the Arctic could warm before the end of the 21st century. In all scenarios, the threshold of 1.5°C is at least reached. In other scenarios, the increase is at over 4°C. Staying within the range of 1.5°C is our best-case scenario. Despite the scary possibilities outlined, there is hope. By reducing our greenhouse gas emissions now, we can prevent anything more than a 1.5 degree rise from happening in the future. The reports from the UN are not meant to scare us, but to push us to take climate change seriously and to act while we still have the luxury of time. We still have time, at least a decade, to move to a cleaner and sustainable future. Let’s use this time wisely.
Come check out the African Heritage Month Launch!
SPORTS& HEALTH NS Mens Health Barber Shop Talks AIDAN AHERN, Staff Writer
The Barber Shop Talks was an event hosted at Dennis Hall, Coady West, for two hours at the end of last November. Its goal was to provide a Safe Space for Black men to talk about Race, and mental health, all while receiving a free professional cut, fade, or shave. Hosted by Black student advisor, Tara Reddick, in collaboration with the NS Men’s Health League (NSMHL), the event was well received, and a total of eleven Black men attended it. The NSMHL has hosted similar initiatives, mainly across the greater Halifax region. But, for Antigonish, it was definitely the first time that a mental health talk has ever been incorporated into a pop-up barbershop.
Editor: Jack Milbank Contact: xw.eic@stfx.ca
November successfully included one professional from Halifax, as well as two StFX students: Armando Pascual de la Cruz, and Wankunda Bwalya. Since there remain no professional Black barber shops in Antigonish, often times, students capable of providing amateur cuts are relied upon, as Reddick states “We have some very talented Black students who fill the gap in essential hair services for our Black student population”. Some, she comments, “end up perfecting their skills over their academic career here at StFX”.
Mental health and hair care, it may go without saying, are among the many services that have been tested and exasperated by this pandemic. But, for members of Antigonish’s Black community, these specific two are hardly more scarce now than they were prior to Covid.
Black health care professional Dr. Ron Milne was also present at the event, offering discussions on various issues pertinent to mental health in The Black community. Among the notable topics covered was how the lack of medical data on African Canadians, relative to white or Caucasians, affects Black Men’s health. From this, discussions were raised on issues which included misdiagnosis, deficits in cultural understanding, and, the fact that Black people are generally unable to see African Canadian therapists.
Antigonish has plenty of places to get a haircut, but it is not easy to find ones which cater to the unique needs of Black students. In previous years, the host of the Barber Shop Talks invited Black barbers from Halifax to improve the situation. And, providing services at the Talks this
The sharing circle made for a steady vibe wherein everyone was on the same level. Questions discussed here by Dr. Milne included: What happens when you start to feel down? What is a stress response? And, who would talk to if you had mental health issues? Two quotes
ARTS& COMMUNITY Standing with Pride at StFX! PREET BANGA, Staff Writer
This year, 7 January marked the 15th anniversary of the pride flag raising at StFX. Aimee MacDonald, the Gender, and sexual diversity advisor at StFX, started the event by sharing with the audience, the history of pride at StFX. She said, “For the last 15 years, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community on campus has always kicked off pride month by raising the pride flag. This year is no exception. While COVID has pushed our events into a virtual format, we will still be raising the flag in celebration of our community. Diversity, inclusion, acceptance, and visibility are so important to our community, not just during pride month, but every day.” MacDonald said, “Education is a key component of this and over 700 people both on campus and in the local community have completed module one of the positive space training and I have an extensive list of people who are waiting to receive the training in the winter term.” MacDonald rightly said, “There’s no one way to celebrate pride and that’s one of the beauties of it. Pride can be having the courage to be authentic and live your truth, to find community, to be unique, to show up, and be visible when you feel safe to do so, to be unapologetically you, to take time for self-discovery, to celebrate not only yourself but the people around you whom you love to find family, to love and to be loved.” StFX President, Andy Hakin joined the event and added some remarkable words. “Today we are proud to raise the pride flag and highlight the importance of pride month for our campus and throughout the broader community.” The StFX President stressed that with education, “we can make a difference in support of our gender and sexual diversity initiatives. We can
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from the responses that day are: “It can be tough for Black males to admit they need help or have a mental health problem”, and “There needs to be more people to talk to on campus and in the community”. Regarding these sentiments, Reddick comments: “StFX is trying to make mental health a priority and has partnered with the people’s counselling clinic to provide Black staff, students, and faculty with culturally relevant counselling services”. The NS Men’s Brotherhood has also recently hosted a similar event for females which included related discussions along with free mini manicures. Evidently, the format works. It is a creative asset in breaking the stigma of talking about mental health in the Black community; particularly during this pandemic. Due to the latter, however, it is not clear when the next Barber Shop Talks will be. Reddick informs that the NSMHL plans to do more of them on other campuses as well as X in the future. Reddick, herself, hopes that our campus will feature another Talks before the pandemic’s end, noting that this first one was certainly well received.
Editor: Sarah Laffin Contact: xw.eic@stfx.ca
share resources and best practices to promote a safe and respectful campus by working together. We can make STFX a safe and productive space for all. I challenge all within our community to make a difference, deepen your understanding of LGBTQ issues, and be an ally.” Megan Fogarty, the human rights, and equity manager at StFX, said, “Self-expression shouldn’t be dictated by the norms of social convention. It should be an expression of our hearts.” Fogarty emphasised that “the spirit of pride that everyone deserves to be their true authentic selves should not be contained within 31 days. It should be an everyday reality.” Fogarty stressed that it is crucial that “we take the time to educate ourselves, challenge others and support one another so that we can create an environment where we can all be who we are truly meant to be.” Among the other esteemed guests was Andrew Murray, Antigonish town councilor, who lauded the role of community during the pandemic. “I would like to talk about a very positive word which has been used a lot in the past year: ‘community’ and how Nova Scotia coped with disastrous tragic events with Covid. We all came together, and we live in a community minded province.” Recalling his time in Toronto in the early 1980s, Murray said. “During my time to Toronto when I was working in theatre, I went to the village and saw people walking hand in hand, two men, two women kissing, hugging, just being just being themselves in this little square block quite which actually was the highest concentrations of gays and lesbians in North America at the time. The comfort and sense of belonging that I personally felt in that community is very empowering and very comforting.”
Pride flag raising at StFX, 01.07.2022 demic, and find new friends, but as a group, “we are strong people and as a community, we remain even stronger.” Chris Frazer, Associate Professor at StFX recalled the first ever pride event at StFX and said, “broadly, those events happened as a response to an ongoing wave of homophobia and transphobia, both on campus and in the town, more broadly speaking and in that context we had to choose to stand our ground or to move further back into the closet and we chose to stand our ground and not only that but to up the ante.” Dr. Frazer said, “we decided to ramp up the visibility of queer culture here at StFX and also in and Antigonish with a bigger Priscilla queen of the Highlands, with a add on a talent show the night before. We also chose to have the flag raised.” The event ended with last few words by the Gender and Sexual Advisor of Dr. John High Gillis High school, Antigonish who extended congratulations to the X-pride and the student society as as it raises the pride flag at StFX
Pride flag raising at StFX, 01.07.2022 He said, it must be stressful for some of the young students to learn and study during a pan
5 From Stonewall to X-Pride, with Dr. Chris Frazer PREET BANGA, Staff Writer
January is pride month at StFX but organizing the celebrations amid the new wave of the pandemic has been challenging. However, Amy Macdonald, the Gender and Sexual Diversity Advisor at StFX has been relentlessly leading the efforts towards organizing a virtual series of pride events at StFX. The event “Spill the Tea-From Stonewall to X-Pride” began with an introduction of Dr Frazer, the Professor of History at the StFX, who is an icon with powerful and important presence in the 2SLGBTQIA+ plus community both on and off campus. Chris has also produced “Priscilla, queen of the Highlands” which is our local drag show for over 18 years. Chris is a well-respected faculty member on campus, being a professor at the department of history in the Faculty of Arts. Chris has also published two books. When not teaching or writing, being a politician or engaging in activism you will catch Chris on stage. In their introductory remarks, Dr Frazer said, “I am a historian but I’m also a member of the community, so I have a personal investment in coming to understand the history and how people like me come to be and how we improve our lives and those of our community. I am a political activist also and so when I look back, the whole reason for studying history is really to understand why things have happened and what has to happen in order to make the world better and that’s a material process we need to be able to lay our hands on the world around us in order to be able to change it. None of us can do this on our own, we’re social beings - human beings - and so in the end of the day it’s necessary for us to rely on each other and to help each other through moments of crisis and also for us to share a common vision for what this world could be like.” “I just want to say historically as well as politically is that it’s about the roots of our impression as 2SLGBTQIA+ people or queer people if you want use that shorthand. First thing I will say is that is that we are oppressed, we’re still oppressed, we have a wider menu of rights than our predecessors did, but we still have not arrived at the promised land and there’s still a way to go. So, we need to understand how it is and why it is that that we still continue not have a full membership in the society in which we are born into or into which we arrive at, by another means. So, the truth at least from my perspective is that we live in a pretty exploitive world and in order to exploit, you need to find people to exploit and then you have to oppress them. So, we are oppressed. The roots of our oppression I think are intersectional. I work with an intersectional analysis, but I have to add that my approach to intersectional analysis is never on a personal level, so I don’t look at somebody and try to figure out what their intersections are to me. It’s issues and movements that are intersectional and we always have to look at how things that affect us also have effects on other people. The first assertion, Dr Frazer makes is that the “oppression of queer people or 2SLGBTQIA+ people has its roots in the oppression of women or the identification of women and their subsequent oppression by people who identify as men mainly because in the emergence of private property and the accumulation of wealth it became important and necessary in order to be able to transfer that wealth from one generation to another… It’s all about regulating sexuality. It’s all about controlling people’s bodies and one of the aspects of controlling women’s bodies is to ensure that there had to be some way of certifying what was acceptable form of sexual activity, which worked… So, almost at the same time that women are being reduced to the secondary status, in fact I would say becoming the vessels
through which property gets transferred from one generation to another, there’s also a more or less systematic imposition of prohibited sexual practices was wrapped up in the term sodomy. It is not what we think it is today.” They said, anti-homosexual laws in Canada were anti-sodomy laws. The laws that prohibit homosexual activity still exist in some states, for example Texas still has anti-sodomy laws on their books. It’s illegal in Texas, it was illegal in Rhode Island when I did my graduate work there and they were all referred to as the sodomy laws. These laws actually refer to a wide range of sexual activities and commonly defined originally as laws that prohibit any sexual activity that does not lead to procreation. The second assertion that Dr. Frazer makes is that in periods of radicalization and even revolution, sodomy laws are among those to be the first cost. When people are tired of living under exploitative and oppressive regulations they tend to take a pretty close look at how their relationships with other people are defined and they want to rebuild them, and this also includes how we relate to people on very personal physical, sexual terms too. It did not mean that they were encouraging sodomy, but they didn’t see the point of controlling and regulating people’s bodies. This was a period of feeling of freedom. Dr Frazer explains that those laws, and the early French code in 1791, which abolished sodomy then gets wrapped up into the Napoleonic codes which then becomes the first civil law across all of Europe and that’s what led to actually a recession in the oppression of queer people in Europe. It’s not until the rise of nationalism in the last half of the 19th century in Europe that we see a very focused attempt to reassert sodomy laws and pretty much begins in in Germany after it gets established as a nation around 1870-71. With the collapse of that German Republic and the aftermath of Germany’s defeat World War Two, which is a very radical moment in German history that we see the rise of the modern 2SLGBTQIA+ movement of resistance. Its birthplace is in Germany. By 1929 the queer community in Germany was on the verge of forming their own political party to begin campaigning politically, legally democratically in Germany to achieve the abolition of the sodomy laws in Germany which were known as paragraph 175 they were very close to succeeding and then suddenly this guy Hitler comes to power and crushes everything in Germany. So, this is the rise and then the absolute complete defeat of queer liberation movement in the 1930s. Dr Frazer further traced the beginning of modern queer oppression in North America and Europe and the pattern of organized public resistance. In 1969, it was just a matter of time… it was only it was only two years after the riots at the black cat and it was a similar kind of story, it’s centered around the stonewall which was not much by the way, it was a bar that catered to gay people that it was owned and run by the mafia. Explaining the “rebellion” or the “protest” against the police there, he said that Stonewall was not that different from any other rebellion or resistance or riot or protest. I just think it was the time and it resonated across the country and by the next year we had the first gay liberation march. That was the beginning of a pride, really and it just took off. It was as much timing as anything else. People were ready for it and especially the younger generation were ready for it. Dr. Frazer said, “I’m so impressed with the younger generation these days. I just think they
do the most amazing things and so we get all the support in the world. Explaining about the movement in Canada, Dr. Frazer said, three years later after Stonewall, that wave starts in Canada, and we see it and it in Nova Scotia in 1972 with the formation of the gay alliance for equality. In 1972 on June 4th, so the very first thing they did was to establish something called the gay line which was a phone hotline and they staffed it with volunteers and circulated a number in the personals of publications like the Herald and so on for as long as they could. The idea of this help line was for people who were in distress or needed help in some way, who were queer would have somebody finally to reach out to and to offer a sympathetic ear. It is maybe hard to imagine these days but 1972 that was just like a miracle, a really vital service this organization was offering. They also established a publication. So, they began publishing and this was the origins for what we have now in the form of Waves you know, but we still have a publication that speaks about our community. They also decided to begin a fund-raising campaign in order to purchase their own building as which would then serve as a broader Community Center in Halifax… That was also by the way the moment when we had a stable performance space for those of us who were drag performers.” Dr Frazer said, “I arrived in Antigonish in 2004 and I was coming to Antigonish from Providence, Rhode Island. I went to university doing my PhD work at Brown University.” Dr Frazer recalls how he eventually became president of the Queer Grad body and got a chance to organize the very first pride month, which actually lasted six weeks. Dr. Frazer also recalls their meeting with Leslie Feinberg there at an event they organized, and shared their experience of “a whole other level of learning about myself, and about the approach to organizing.” Dr. Frazer said he carried all that experience to Antigonish. “I had intended to behave myself when I got here I wasn’t gonna raise a fuss. I wanted to get my tenure I wanted to be in a secure job and finally make some decent income for the first time in my life.” He recalls that November there was a gay student from the Bahamas who was hospitalized after a home assault. After that in February, a well-known gay man in the community was also attacked and hospitalized. In March, I got attacked. There were three attacks in a time of six months, and it was pretty queer that something had to be done, he said. “At that time, I was involved with an ad hoc group on campus called the committee against misogyny and homophobia which was mainly feminists and supporters. Again, I come back to this notion about our oppression being intersectional and our necessity to rely on each other as allies That’s when the idea was hashed out to have an LGBTQ advisor at StFX. The then Vice President, Students asked me if I was willing to take on that job and “I think I thought about it for a few minutes and said, yeah I’m gonna do it. As much as I wanted to play it safe and to make sure that I got tenure, there would be no point to it if Antigonish and StFX never became a place that I could live in without having to look over my shoulder or how could I raise my kids in an environment like that. So, you can’t. You have to roll up your sleeves and you have to get to work. Well, I was a drag performer, and I was a bit political. So, I knew how to do two things one was to organize protests and the other thing was how to organize shows. I decided I would rely on those talents and so that led to the to the formation of X Pride and the very first Priscilla in 2005.” “We have been growing ever since but still have a long way to go, says Dr. Frazer and we’ve been going ever since, and we’ve been growing every year we have a still a long way to go but an awful lot has been accomplished,” Dr Frazer said.
OPINIONS
Editor: Halle Cordingley Contact: xw.eic@stfx.ca
The United Nations’ Annual Framework Convention on Climate Change ISABELLE VAUTOUR, Staff Writer
From October 31st to November 13th, 2021, leaders of various countries across the globe met up for the United Nations’ annual climate conference, dubbed COP26. In 2021, the conference was held in Glasgow, Scotland, where a new climate agreement was created and signed by participating countries. There have been other climate agreements signed in the past the Paris Climate Accord, and the Kyoto Protocol. It seems that these were not enough for participating countries to take the fight against climate change seriously. The Kyoto Protocol was signed in 1997 by 147 of the same countries who also signed the Paris Climate Accord and the Glasgow Pact in later years. According to the UN, the Kyoto Protocol was created to reduce emissions from industrialized countries and other countries based on their proportion of greenhouse gas emissions. The Paris Climate Accord was signed in 2016 by virtually all the same signatory countries as
the Glasgow Pact. It was signed during the UN’s COP21. These climate conventions are held annually to assess the state of climate change and come up with solutions according to the UN. The Paris Agreement’s main goal was to keep global temperatures from rising above 2°C, preferably even under 1.5°C. The Glasgow Pact, created and signed in 2021, promises to keep emissions below 1.5°C as well, asks countries to limit the use of coal and the number of subsidies given to oil companies. It is difficult to believe that the government will reduce its subsidies to companies such as Irving in favor of the greater good. Having a wealthy company in your pocket to fund your campaigns is seemingly much more promising for politicians than social change. It is surprising that we need multiple accords and agreements with the same purpose to achieve an outcome. If the previous two agreements did not work to motivate countries to make big changes in their industries and emissions, why will a
Causes of Climate Change and How Students Can Help KRISTINA DANYK, Staff Writer
Climate Change is defined as a long-term shift in weather or temperature patterns. Although this can happen naturally, the current shift is the result of hundreds of years of burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and gas. The burning of these materials emit greenhouse gases which get caught in the Earth’s atmosphere, trapping the sun’s heat. As a result, the Earth’s temperature has raised approximately 1.1oC from its usual levels. Consequences such as extreme weather, severe fires, intense droughts, flooding and rising sea levels as a result of melting polar ice will be seen. One cause of climate change is the increased rate of deforestation. A lack of trees means that there is less vegetation to pull carbon dioxide—the primary greenhouse gas emitted through human activities—from the air. Increased levels enhance something called the greenhouse effect. This is when greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, absorb solar energy, keeping heat close to the Earth’s surface. Another cause of Earth’s rising temperatures includes our cities’ connections to greenhouse gases and pollution. The reliance of these dense populations on fossil fuels makes them the highest greenhouse gas emitters. 60% of the world’s greenhouse gases are released by cities, even while they make up a mere 2% of the Earth’s surface. The lack of green spaces within cities only exacerbates the issue. Over-consumption is a large factor in climate change. Use of power, how an individual moves around, what they throw away, and what they eat all contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, consumer goods such as clothing or electronics increases them as well. Not only do many humans create a lot of waste, but the fossil fuels needed to manufacture all the goods and services produces large amounts of greenhouse gases. But what can students do to help? There are, in fact, many opportunities for individuals who wish to do something to slow down the rate of climate change. Things such as walking or riding a bike instead of driving, while small on the individual scale, can have a large impact if many make the effort. The well-known saying of “reduce, reuse, recycle” is a great proverb to take advice from. Single use plastics are very harmful to the environment, so reuse what you can and recycle what you can’t. Throughout campus many waste-bin areas are available where garbage can be sorted into different categories for more effective recycling. Additionally, obtaining consumer goods from sustainable sources is a great way to make sure the production of a product doesn’t directly harm the environment. It also is a way to support companies that try to limit their effects on surrounding ecosystems and habitats. On a larger scale, it is important to make one’s voice heard to local politicians and lobby groups. Climate protests outside of City Hall have been ongoing throughout year and are likely to continue into the new semester. Organized by local activists, community members and students come together to make known their desire for change. Such requests include the use of more renewable energy, as well as demands for governments to set better targets for to combat global warming. As the saying goes, the more the merrier! These groups, while effective, can always use more support. StFX has a society called the Antigonish League of People for Climate Action (ALPCA) where students looking to get involved in the community can meet and rally for their goals. This group is a great way to step into the climate action community.
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third agreement change that? Canada is a signatory of the Paris Climate Accord and of the Glasgow Pact, but in 2011, Canada left the Kyoto Protocol during the Stephen Harper administration as per the UN. Despite having committed to the goals outlined by the former two agreements, the federal government continues to fight Indigenous peoples for the use of their lands to install pipelines in the West and has done very little to fight climate change except ban plastic bags and straws. How will another empty promise drive down our greenhouse gas emissions? Despite big promises and speeches, it is unclear whether the government is truly sincere in its goals this third time around. Let us hope that the government is finally motivated to act. The country has all the resources it needs to make meaningful shifts in our economy and our way of conducting business. Our country needs a serious shift from profits to the wellbeing of all citizens.
Enviornmental Racism, and the Ecological Grief That Comes With it Jack Milbank, Staff Writer & Editor
As climate change becomes more of a pressing issue each year, many environmentalists are starting to look for patterns and trends surrounding the environmental damage. Environmental Racism is the concept not many people are aware of. Environmental racism is the exploitation of natural resources that are detrimental to the surrounding environment and the people who live there. These projects are usually led by private businesses or governmental action. (Emanuel and Wilkins 2020) puts it very well, “We use this understanding of environmental injustice to support our definition of environmental racism. Environmental racism focuses on the relationship between BIPOC communities and harmful environmental issues outlined under environmental injustice.” These actions cause a negative response, Ecological Grief. This is the emotional/physical response to the loss/damage of the environment to anyone that may be affected. Note that it does not just have to be people just in close proximity. Ecological grief can happen to anyone when the environment is concerned. Some have noticed that Nova Scotian BIPOC communities that have been victim to environmental discrimination. There are three communities that should be mentioned. The first community is a Nova Scotian-African community in Shelburne, Nova Scotia where there has been an undressed problem of contaminated well water caused by a nearby toxic dump. This has led to an extraordinary amount of people in this community to develop cancer. The next case is in Pictou County, home to Mi’kmaq, a town that was taken advantage of in the late 60’s. Northern Pulp Mill Company used a sacred body of water that was called A’se’k in Mi’kmaq language but is now referred to as Boat Harbour. The town was told it would have no environmental impacts on the water source. Which happened to be the complete opposite. The third community was located in stewiacke, a small region called Alton. There is a Natural Gas company that is trying to gain access to a salt reserve to store natural gas. This will end up polluting the Shubenacadie river which is home to the Mi’kmaq and the ecosystem that it thrives on. For more information about these stories, watch the Netflix special “There’s something in the water” This documentary follows Elliot Page and Ian Daniel on their journey to uncover the truth about these three stories and how the communities are affected.
7 Our Mental Health, the Value of Treatment, and the Ignorance of our Society SHARMILA GHANEKAR
As a species it is undeniably true that our health and overall wellbeing is complicated. Throughout history, our medical understanding of health has twisted and changed into that of which we know now. As of today, our physical and mental health are treated as sperate entities. They are mutually exclusive, with no interaction between the two categories. That is completely false, and a result of stigmas, misnomers and information spread by uneducated individuals. In reality, as individuals we are the result of our combined mental and physical wellbeing. We are the centre point, the middle of the Venn Diagram, whatever way you wish to interpret it. We are not 2-dimensional beings. We are complicated and beautiful, but our society does not allow that. Our society is still built upon the concept that our physical well being holds more value, and our mental health need not be addressed. Our society is one of fools. In more recent years, mental health has been on the forefront of everyone’s mind. At least in my case, tips and ticks on dealing, living and in some cases treating one’s mental health problems are all over social media. However, many of these are unrealistic. Mental health treatment is not something one can walk into with the ideation that you will be cured quickly. It is a slow and grueling process and more often than not, the so called “antidote” is never found. Mental health treatment is about learning to live with all your flaws and mistakes, its about learning to love yourself and let yourself live. And yet, despite all of this information and education being spread, those that are still living in the medieval ages are allowed to speak. Those loud, arrogant and uninformed individuals often have the loudest voices. As such, on a broader scale, mental health is still stigmatized. It is often still seen as a phase, particularly in younger individuals. It is often still seen as a need for attention as opposed to a cy for help. It is often written off as a “bad day”, despite the fact it’s often been a bad life. Our mental health issues are being brushed aside and mistreated, and personally I’ve had just about enough. On the contrary, society has taken our physical health in stride. If you’re ill, you can go see your general practitioner for 5 minutes and walk out with a prescription. If you have an injury, you can call 911 and receive immediate treatment, or visit the ER and be treated with respect. If you have a common cold or the flu you can take time off of work or school in order to rest. So can someone please tell me why you can’t do the same if you can’t move because your depression has decided to take residence on your shoulders. Why, if you walk into the ER and say you’re feeling like you’re a danger to yourself they’ll make you wait for 3 hours. Why if you call the NS mental health line you get put. on. hold. Please, someone - anyone tell me. In actuality, there is an incessant overlap between our physical and mental health conditions. In recent years, the mental aspects of physical health are being more addressed. The concept that when a patient is diagnosed, they are anticipated to got through a series of emotions and states to cope with the weight of said diagnoses. The same understanding and reasoning is not given to mental health patients. Despite the fact that there are physical aspects to mental health issues. Those that suffer from mental health conditions are much more susceptible to physical chronic illnesses and pain. In a number of cultures, mental health is still regarded as something “taboo”, and as such there is often very limited, realistic information regarding the symptoms of mental health. I have been clinically diagnosed with moderately severe, major depressive disorder. So let me tell you, depression hurts. As a collective, the emotional aspects of depression are those that are mostly talked about. The physical ones however, are rarely mentioned. Deposition can impact one’s sleep, appetite, and
pain tolerance and can cause muscle aches, headaches, stomach pain and vision problems. There are so many physical aspects of depression, and that’s just one mental health disorder. On the search to learn more about how our society has treated and informed individuals about these overlapping aspects of our health I reached out to Sebastien Harenberg, a sport and exercise psychology professor who teaches here at StFX Professor Harenburg was a breath of fresh air in the midst of the devasting research I had gathered for this article. He provided a series of enlightening opinions on the matter and proceeded to partake in one of the most interesting and academic conversations I’ve ever encountered. I prepared a series of questions for Sebastian, and his responses were not only heartfelt and empathetic, but also logical and well though out. In your opinion, how should a professor respond to a student that approaches them seeking support for mental health issues? “It’s a really good question, as to, how someone should respond to someone with mental health issues (…) For me, one of the fundamental realisations is that high school teachers or university professors or coaches, are not trained to diagnose or treat, or for anything with these issues. Referral, is the most important thing to do once you find out someone is struggling. (…) In my opinion, one of the things when it comes to mental health is that mental issues are not necessarily visible, and (as such) a lot of times it requires the student to self disclose and that requires a basis of trust” Do you believe there is a difference in severity, or the treatment of physical health in comparison to mental health? “Well to me, they are not entirely separable. To me if you’re having an injury there are mental components that come with it and if you have a severe mental injury there are physical components that come with it.” Should mental health treatment be insured in Canada? “It quite obviously should be in Canada, but I think what were seeing, and its quite remarkable that in a country as civilized and as rich and as progressive as Canada is, is that there’s not more support for mental health.” Following these questions, we engaged in an interesting conversation regarding the impact upon the professor when a student seeks support for there mental struggles. “If you are not trained, or have not experienced it, it can put you into situations that you are uncomfortable with” One of the most notable points he shared with me was in regards to the role a professor should play when a student is struggling. “It is not my job to dig into something and say, Hey! You tell me what’s going on, but my job is to say hey! How can I support you right now? How can I help you be okay? That is the number one priority, that you are okay, we can talk about academic performance after.” As a closing point, I asked whether Sebastian had any advice or wisdom he would be willing to share with the StFX student body. “StFX is here, and StFX cares. If you’re struggling, don’t assume that your professor is uncaring and know that you have support. You always have
the option of going to the counselling centre, and you always have the option to take advantage of the multitude of services available.” Professor Harenburg was a delight to speak to. The amount of care and respect he has for each of his students is astounding and wonderful to see. We had a wonderful conversation regarding the difficulties of implementing change within our society, the financial struggles associated with it, and generational stigmas that impact our mental wellbeing. At StFX, we are profoundly lucky with the number of services provided to us, however that does not mean we cannot improve. While StFX has a wonderful foundation, the rest of our country does not. Within Canada, the number of reliable mental health services out there is laughable. There is an abundant lack of resources available to those who need them, and those that are available are not properly funded, nor are they accessible to all. In the North, particularly the Northwest Territories there is an extreme lack of mental health professionals available, resulting in an obscenely long wait list if you are seeking support. Hence, very few can actually receive treatment out of fear that they are taking someone else’s spot or just lack of time. In a number of provinces and territories including the Yukon, Nunavut, British Columbia and Manitoba, therapy is only covered through health insurance if one is institutionalized. This can not continue, and quite frankly is atrocious. Representing StFX University, we as a community hold more power than we realize. The purpose of this article is not to berate or target you as individuals. It is to inform and educate you on the severity of these issues from someone they are directly affecting. I want to be treated with respect, I want to be able to receive the help I need. I understand that I am incredibly lucky, with the financial capability and familial support to seek proper treatment, but I am deeply discouraged by the fact that not everyone can do so. Mental health treatment is invaluable, equally so to that of physical health treatment. To the reader, I implore you to further educate yourself on this topic, be empathetic to those suffering around you and try to understand the severity of this issue. If you as a reader are willing to share your story, please contact me, and I will ensure that is told. You deserve to be heard, you deserve to be respected and you deserve to be valued. Contact information: email me at x2021cto@stfx. ca or text me at 902-324-997
8 A Review of Netflix’s Don’t Look Up SARAH BREEN, Staff Writer
Netflix’s recent Don’t Look Up features a cast of prolific actors and actresses, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, and Jonah Hill. When a new movie has a lot of A-listers, it makes me a bit suspicious. I’ll describe a very shortened version of the plot; Kate Dibiasky (Lawrence) an astronomy PhD candidate at Michigan State University discovers a comet inside of Jupiter’s orbit. Her professor, Dr. Randall Mindy (DiCaprio) calculates that it will impact earth in around six months and cause mass extinction. Is this star-studded cast a way to compensate for the mediocrity of the film? Just because a movie has excellent actors, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily going to be good. They attempt to warn the press and government about the impending doom, but no one listens. Don’t Look Up was directed by Adam McKay, who is known for creating some of this generation’s most popular comedies. I expected to enjoy Don’t Look Up, but unfortunately, it just fell flat for me. This received generally positive audience ratings but was somewhat of a flop with critics. Usually, I couldn’t care less what film critics say, some of my most beloved movies have bad Rotten To-
mato scores, but in this case, I must agree with them. This movie is a disaster movie, and not just because it’s about an earth-destroying comet hurtling towards us in six months. Many say that critics dislike this film, but scientists love it. You may think I’m snobby and pretentious by criticizing this movie, but I’m not being critical of the overall message, I’m simply judging it as a piece of art. I enjoy how its satiric elements are aimed at politicians who ignore the very real climate crisis, but that’s it. While it may not be a terrible movie, it’s simply not a good one either. I thought it would be a case of an objectively bad movie that is still enjoyable, but I found it far too blunt to be watchable. It could be argued that there’s no more need for subtlety, but that’s not true when the film’s message is constantly smacking us in the face. We get it. Just because something is about a serious and important topic, doesn’t mean it can’t be criticized. The central theme of Don’t Look Up is relatable to our current environmental situation. Politicians seem apathetic of what’s going on and are refusing to help implement changes necessary for saving our planet. This
Is Veganuary a Big Missed-Steak? ZOEY PHILLIPS, Staff Writer
The month of January isn’t over yet, but the Veganuary movement can already be considered a resounding success. For those unfamiliar with the challenge, participants must commit to eating strictly vegan throughout January. That’s right. Absolutely no meat, dairy, eggs, or other animal byproducts for an entire month. Students might recognize the trend’s source of inspiration, Dry January, wherein those who partake are alcohol-free for the whole month. Launched in 2014, a record number of participants have opted-in to this now-viral challenge. According to The Independent, 610,000 registrations were accounted for this 2022 edition—an optimistic increase from last year’s impressive 580,000 registered participants. Of course, we can’t determine how many people actually committed to their vegan pledge, but the movement is undeniably gaining awareness and support for the vegan community. Veganism is dedicated to animal welfare and the meat industry’s harmful impacts on the environment. Considering that many New Years’ resolutions are health-oriented, people can consider Veganuary as a good starting point to improving their diet. Nutritionists have been encouraging the public to consume less meat and eat a more plant-based diet for years, after all. Additionally, the environmental advantages to going vegan are undeniable. A study conducted in 2021 by researchers at the University of Oxford concluded that eating a vegan diet could be “the single biggest way” a person could reduce their environmental impact. Incorporating vegan meals into their week is an impactful way for people looking to reduce their carbon footprint. Unfortunately, I don’t think this challenge can be reasonably done at StFX. While discussing veganism with fellow students, the consensus reached was that going vegan was impractical for first-year students dependent on Morrison Hall. While there are technically vegan options, I, for one, would struggle on the diet of soup, salad, and the occasional stir fry that Morrison offers for vegan students. Barriers to Veganuary also persist off-campus. Most daunting: eating vegan is expensive. You’d think the big V on the packaging stands for “very expensive” when you discover that vegan burgers are $9.99 for a mere two patties. Most students rely on Sobeys for their grocery shopping. When the price of blueberries can be more expensive than an entire rotisserie chicken, it is unreasonable to guilt strapped-forcash university students into buying food they can’t afford. Finally, is participating in Veganuary even sufficient for the environment’s sake? Suppose you commit to a vegan diet for January. In that case, you still contribute to climate change, pollution, and the depletion of our planet’s resources for the remaining eleven months of the year. Of course, the effort is commendable, but one should not use it to justify their behaviour for the rest of the year. I’m not suggesting that those who participate in Veganuary must commit to veganism for the rest of their lives, but participants should continue their efforts to be environmentally conscious year-round. It may do more harm than good if you consider completing this challenge as effectively “letting you off the hook” for the rest of 2022. So, is participating in Veganuary a good idea? If you have the interest, resources, and a passion for undertaking the challenge, by all means, go for it. I applaud your commitment! We should, however, acknowledge that Veganuary is exceptionally difficult for university students. Those who opt out should not be judged and can still be considered environmentally conscious. And, a reminder as the month wraps up: this challenge is just the veganning ;)
doesn’t absolve the fact that this film just not good, and I’m not going to pretend that it is good or even enjoyable. Adam McKay has tweeted “If you don’t have at least a small ember of anxiety about the climate collapsing (or the US teetering) I’m not sure Don’t Look Up makes any sense. It’s like a robot viewing a love story.” The thing is, I have lots of anxiety about the climate collapsing, far more than an ember, more like a whole, raging fire. This has nothing to do with my opinion of the film, it still sucks. The reason why I think it sucks is because it fails as a comedy film. Yes, I can still appreciate some of the satirical elements, but that doesn’t mean they work together as a whole. The clumsy metaphor of the comet being the looming climate crisis is, as I mentioned before, being drilled into our brains throughout the film. I dislike how it comes off as condescending, not only the movie, but the response to critics. I hate how there is a critics versus climate scientists narrative. Just because you don’t like the movie, must mean you deny the realities of climate change. Just because I dislike this film, does not mean I disagree with the message, I just hate how the message was delivered.
Thrifting: Promoting The Fallout of Fast Fashion? GRACE STILL, Staff Writer
I walk through my front door carrying a sizable brown paper bag filled to the brim with articles of clothing salvaged from my local Value Village. Spilling out its components, I am proud of the work I accomplished. When I say work, I mean the hours spent searching through the racks on racks of clothing. There is nothing more exciting than a successful thrift shopping trip. If you’ve never tried, I encourage you to. The thrill one gains from rummaging through the thousands of clothing articles, searching for that perfect item is unmatched. Truly, the feeling of going inside a thrift store and not knowing what you are going to find is unlike any other. I began thrifting a few years ago when influencers and celebrities were promoting the trend. To many (myself included), thrifting is like a scavenger hunt. You often go in looking for certain items and if you’re lucky, you will find what you’re looking for, if not more. Oftentimes, I end up leaving with more than I intend. Is this bad for my wallet? Probably. Is it superior to fast fashion? Absolutely. Rather than walking inside your average fast fashion clothing manufacturer, thrift stores are filled with anything and everything. It is this excitement that keeps avid thrifters like myself coming back for more. Unlike fast-fashion companies that fill up malls and empty shoppers’ wallets, thrift stores are more sustainable and cost-effective. Mainstream fashion companies persuade buyers to continue purchasing the newest and most “fashionable” pieces, filling social media feeds and flooding famous magazine shelves. Trends come and go, but the timeless pieces that one can find in a thrift store will last longer. Some of my past purchases include leather jackets and blazers, chunky knit sweaters, Levi’s straightleg jeans, and quite possibly too many flannels. Fast fashion could never compete. In fact, I could buy five sweaters at a thrift store for the price of one cheaply made sweater at H&M or Zara. If my predictions are correct, I’ll only get to wear that sweater several times throughout the season before it falls out of fashion or quite literally falls apart. If the price and quality benefits aren’t enough, thrifting is the collateral force needed to collapse the cycle of fast fashion. Not only is it vital to break this cycle, but promoting past trends allows the old to become new again. Thrifting promotes the demolition of fast fashion. With this destruction of the fast fashion industry, thrifting emanates immense environmental benefits and allows shoppers to purchase cost-effective pieces. Limiting our contribution to fast fashion is not a tough task. I promise. Once you discover your local thrift store, you will never go back to crowded malls or want to wait weeks for that dress you bought online. Instead, you will be benefiting your wallet, wardrobe, and, of course, the fallout of fast fashion.
HOROSCOPES It’s a new year! Happy New Year everyone! In astrology, each of the 12 Zodiac signs are associated with one of the four elements: fire, earth, air, and water. The horoscope for this month is dedicated to all newbies out there who are unsure of what their zodiac signs are and which elements they are associated with. Fire Signs: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius Sizzling and hot would best describe the fire signs. Fire signs are irresistible and majestic, but are usually uncontrollable and catastrophic when they are placed in a situation where they feel like they’re being tested. However, they are also known to be warm and passionate when they are in the right crowd. Fire signs need to be nurtured and managed carefully because a single spark can set off a forest fire. In relationships, they go after their object or person of affection with a lot of intensity. It is very important for fire signs to take their time in love because it could burn out. When it comes to money, fire signs usually have a “they see it, they want it, they get it” mentality. They are very impulsive when it comes to shopping. Since fire signs are very competitive, they enjoy a lot of sports and they can be impatient at times. They need a lot of physical activity, movement, spontaneity, and variety since they have a lot of energy. Finally, fire signs tend to get overstimulated and they take on a lot of projects, overscheduling themselves or even consuming too much caffeine. Fire signs have to cut down on doing these too much and take it slow at times. Ø Aries (March 21-April 19): Competitive, bold, and ambitious are the three words to best describe an Aries. They love to be number one, and they dive headfirst into the most challenging situations and they always make sure to come out on top! Ø Leo (July 23-August 22): Leos are the kings and queens of the celestial jungle. They are passionate, loyal and are infamously dramatic. They are essentially royalties and everyone can just bow down. They love to bask in spotlight and celebrate… well, themselves. Ø Sagittarius (November 22-December 21): This sign knows no bounds. They are always on a quest for knowledge and they always chase after adventures that are geographical, intellectual, and adventurous. Earth Signs: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn The realest would have to be earth signs. They are down to earth people and will always remind others to start with a solid foundation. Loyalty and stability would best describe these signs because they would always stick by their people even though hard times. They can be practical on good days but can be materialistic on bad days. In relationships, they are very dependable lovers and they are very focused on physical attraction and shared values. Splurging on luxury items is what earth signs do, however, they are capable of planning, saving and budgeting as well. Thinking about long-term and return on investment is what earth signs are good at. Routines are also very important for earth signs, for example, they really do well with regimented sleep schedules. They stick to what they think is working well for them. The downside is that, they can also get stuck on bad patterns and behaviours more than other signs. Don’t let earth signs fall into laziness or stagnation. Ø Taurus (April 20-May 20): Taurus’s enjoy relaxing in serene, bucolic environments surrounded by soft sounds, soothing aromas, and succulent flavours. Don’t disturb a Taurus enjoying their six-hour baths. Instead, serve them with a luxurious Swedish massage and a decadent dessert! Ø Virgo (August 23-September 22): “If you want something done, give it to a busy person, aka, Virgo.” They are logical, practical, and systematic when it comes to approaching life. Consistency and practice is what drives a Virgo’s heart. Ø Capricorn (December 22-January 19): Time is of the essence according to Capricorn. This sign recognizes that patience, perseverance, and dedication is the only way to life. Capricorns are very skilled at navigating both the material and emotional realms. Air Signs: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius These signs are the “winds of change” and they are all about action, ideas, and motion. Some air signs can be true-life “airheads”, while others can be as powerful as gravity defying G-force. When things start to get stale, these signs can bring others a breath of fresh air. You can’t quite catch these signs because they can be very “breezy” and you’ll never know where they’ll drop you. You can always expect an adventure with them though! Communication is very important for these signs in a relationship. They feel the need to connect through conversation and feel a mental connection. They don’t like to be rushed into making decision and they approach relationships in a very free-spirited manner. They can be impulsive when it comes to spending money but it is mostly directed towards going out or meeting up with friends. Air signs thrive in being social and relationships are well-maintained for an air sign’s health. Fitness classes or a workout partner they can get along with is usually what keeps an air sign motivated. When out of balance, these signs prioritize grounding and getting out of their head. Seeking meaningful connections with others balances these air signs. Ø Gemini (May 21-June 20): This sign wishes they can clone themselves because they can get hella busy. Spontaneous, playful and adorably erratic—that is Gemini in a nutshell. Geminis are driven by their insatiable curiosity. This air sign is interested in so many pursuits that’s why it had to double itself…you know, twins? Ø Libra (September 23-October 22): Libra can be so obsessed with symmetry and
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they always strive to create equilibrium in all areas of life—especially love. Balance, harmony, and justice is the reason why Libras are represented by scales. Ø Aquarius (January 20-February 18): Don’t let it confuse you—despite the “aqua” in its name, it is the last air sign of the zodiac. Aquarius’s are innovative, progressive, and revolutionary. It is the most humanitarian sign and they are very dedicated to make the world a better place. Water Signs: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces Like water, these signs can be refreshing, or they can drown you in their depths. Intuitive, emotional, and ultra-sensitive, they are the most mysterious signs. These water signs often have intense dreams and borderline-psychic intuition and security is a very important aspect to them. Although they are very emotional, they are grounded and do not impulsively spend their money. Attachment is what defines these signs and you can tell because they are very home and family oriented. When in love, they’re terrible at casual dating because they fall in love quickly. They can get anxiously attached or idolize people but they are very loving partners. Keeping healthy for these signs means that there is a mind-body-spirit connection in their day-to-day activities. When they feel out of balance, they can feel oversaturated by their own emotions—it could be sadness, anger, or anxiety, they do things that keep their emotions moving. Ø Cancer (June 21-July 22): This sign has the ability to exist in both emotional and material realms. They are highly intuitive; however, they can be hard-shelled and willing to do whatever it takes to protect themselves emotionally. Trust is very important to Cancers! Ø Scorpio (October 23-November 21): Scorpios are often misunderstood because they are very elusive and mysterious. They use emotional energy as fuel to cultivate powerful wisdom. This sign is the most complicated and dynamic out of all the other zodiacs. Ø Pisces (February 19-March 20): They are the most sensitive and empathetic sign because they are the final sign. Pisces has absorbed all the lessons—joy and pain, hopes and fears—learned by all of the other signs. Pisces are represented by two fishes swimming in opposite directions because their attention between fantasy and reality is constantly divided.
EARTH DAY WORD SEARCH!
Hallie Pirie
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Hi, My names Microsoft. Can I crash at your place?
Bitcoin plummeting as sand dollars rise above sea levels. Mermaid pinup poster banned @NYSE as non-collegial
History is not looking for friends. Neither is change
Boxing squids, meeting mermaids. Kraken hooch from the source.
To whoever discovered milk ... what on earth were you doing?
Hey, I got you a frog
Rules to learning English: Their our know rules.
“who hurt you”, me bestie - I make bad decisions
You’re gonna look at me and tell me that I’m wrong? SHE CAME DOWN IN A BUBBLE BRO
If the coronavirus can improve itself, so can you
The government is running out of money? Just get a new job its not that hard
The chicken run sequel: “Dawn of the nugget” is coming 2023
2021-2022 MAIN XAVERIAN STAFF
THE VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY CATHERINE POAG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF SHARMILA GHANEKAR
GRAPHICS DESIGNER
JACK MILBANK
SECTION EDITOR
SARAH LAFFIN
SECTION EDITOR
HALLE CORDINGLEY
SECTION EDITOR
PREET BANGA
SECTION EDITOR
KALI BEATON
SOCIAL MEDIA
ZOEY PHILLIPS STAFF WRITER GRACE STILL STAFF WRITER ISABELLA VAUTOUR
STAFF WRITER
SARAH BREEN STAFF WRITER KRISTINA DANYK STAFF WRITER AIDAN AHERN STAFF WRITER HALLIE PIRIE
STAFF WRITER
BLANCH PAGOBO STAFF WRITER