Author: Skye Legault

Categories
News

Climate emergency themed conference to be postponed until next year

Concordia University’s fourth annual Sustainability Across Disciplines Conference, “Sustainability and Climate Crisis,” has been postponed amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Following Premier Francois Legault’s announcement on March 13, all schools, universities, and CEGEPs will be closed for the coming two weeks.

The event was to be hosted by the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre and the Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability, from March 16-18.

“The conference [usually brings] together student and faculty researchers across disciplines at Concordia to discuss their work on sustainability in general and the climate crisis in particular,” said Rebecca Tittler, Ph.D., Coordinator of the Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability and the Loyola Sustainability Research Centre.

The conference was to be held in Concordia’s John Molson School of Business (JMSB) for the first two days and at the Jesuit Hall & Conference Centre on Loyola Campus for the final day. The conference was to include keynote speakers, panels, a poster session, workshops, a student film festival, and even “Climate Geopardy”—an interactive presentation designed to teach players about the climate crisis in a fun and engaging way.

“I think that conferences like these are important because they allow people to share ideas and discuss possible changes,” said Mai Pradhan, a communications student at Concordia who was looking forward to the event.

Moreover, the many topics to be discussed ranged from climate change and its effect on biodiversity, individuals’ carbon footprint, careers in sustainability, and much more. “The goal is to foster conversation and collaboration across disciplines on these issues,” Tittler told The Concordian.

Although the conference has been cancelled, students can still read up on the various subjects on this website. They remain relevant, as the effects of global warming are being seen across the globe.

“It is everyone’s duty, the administration just as much as the students, to raise awareness on our climate crisis,” said Alexis Deleon, a journalism student who was planning to attend the event.

Loyola Sustainability Research Centre and the Loyola College for Diversity and Sustainability hope to revisit this theme at next year’s conference, in March 2021.

 

Graphic by Sasha Axenova

Categories
Opinions

The importance of being informed about politics

I remember not really caring about politics when I was younger. I wasn’t fazed by the faces of political candidates plastered on posters all around my area, and didn’t understand why party leaders were shouting at each other during a debate on TV. This was before I was of age to vote, so consequently I wasn’t super involved. My family members seemed pretty passionate about who they were voting for, and I was eager for the day I’d be old enough to understand their interest and partake.

We all know that one person who backs out of a conversation involving politics because they claim “they just aren’t political people.” Well, I’ve got news for you: everything in your life is political whether you care to be aware of it or not. If you aren’t taking part in the decisions being made for your country, someone else will make those choices for you, and it will directly affect your life.

I think I am right to assume that an intelligent, cognizant person would want to know what is going on around them — to understand the events that affect their way of living; from the fluctuating gas prices to healthcare costs for them and their family. When one isn’t aware of their country’s political situation, they are accepting the terms that have been set for them. They are refusing to question, and challenge the institution in place; admitting defeat in a sense. In other words, ignorance isn’t bliss, and if it is then that means you are most likely in a privileged position. Realizing that you are privileged makes it just as important for you to fight for others who are not as fortunate.

Now, however, I would say I am much more involved in politics. Even if I didn’t want to be, it’s kind of hard not to when the media incessantly bombards you with the topic. Though, as I got older I began to realize that political opinions are sensitive things to discuss. People share different views, come from diverse backgrounds and are just as defensive over their beliefs as they are of their children. It can cause arguments, relationships to end or in the extreme, instigate war. When talking about politics with loved ones, convincing them to support your political views can sometimes feel like converting someone to a religion.

However, that shouldn’t mean that people who don’t share your political ideologies need to be cut out of your life, quite the opposite actually. Although you may be tempted to go right ahead and cyber-block that one family member who constantly posts political content you disagree with, hold off. In fact, as a journalism student who needs to practice impartiality, my professors encourage us to read material that is wildly contrary to our beliefs at least once a day. It allows you to break out of your echo chamber and see things from another perspective. It truly makes you realize that not everyone thinks like you.

It isn’t good to shield yourself from opposing views and only allow partisan news organizations to feed your already solid conviction. Personally, I believe social media was intended to open up the world to us, not seal us more firmly inside our own narrow groups.

Politics is about you and your community. It’s as simple as that. Deciding to opt out of the conversation is opting out of your own life, and your own future. It’s signaling that you don’t really care about people who are less fortunate than you. Growing up means taking responsibility for your life, and assuming your role as an educated citizen in society is a part of that.

 

Graphics: Victoria Blair

Categories
News

Dignified Dying: Supreme Court of Canada’s life-altering decision

“You do not need to have a fatal or terminal condition to be eligible for medical assistance in dying,” reads the eligibility criteria for medically assisted dying on the Government of Canada’s website. However, other criteria poses a limitation to this statement.

In a decision reached last Wednesday, the Quebec courts struck down the restriction limiting assisted dying, deeming it unconstitutional.

According to the CBC, Justice Christine Baudouin of the Supreme Court of Canada was largely in agreement with the court case of two Montrealers with degenerative diseases, Jean Truchon, 51, and Nicole Gladu, 74. They were seeking access to Quebec and Canada’s assisted dying laws, and challenging the current Criminal Code, which states that one must “be at a point where your natural death has become reasonably foreseeable” to receive aid to die.

This restriction on the assisted dying law is flawed in that it “forces [Truchon and Gladu] to endure harsh physical and psychological suffering,” according to Justice Baudouin’s judgement. Both Truchon and Gladu sought to have a dignified and serene death as they know their diseases are incurable.

With that, Baudouin agreed it was a violation of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Her decision gave governments six months to come up with something new before suspending that provision of the law.

Quebec’s end-of-life care law appeared in late 2015 and required patients to be at the end of their life. A new law was created after the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in Carter v. Canada that parts of the Criminal Code would need to change to satisfy the Charter Rights. In June 2016, the federal assisted dying law was passed.

Nevertheless, medically-assisted dying can seem like a moral battle. Some members of the Advocates for Canadians with Disabilities say the Quebec judgement would diminish the value of some lives and pushes a societal view that it is better to be dead than disabled, according to the Globe and Mail.

According to the same Globe and Mail article, the Council of Canadians with Disabilities added: “It is telling people with disabilities that simply having a disability is reason enough for us to want to die.”

Moreover, there is an ongoing tension between the rights of vulnerable patients and the religiously based policies of many hospitals operating across Canada that do not agree with assisted-dying, according to the Globe and  Mail.

The federal and provincial governments still have a lot to consider in the next six months and could decide to appeal the decision. In the meantime, it grants an exemption for Gladu and Truchon that allows them to apply for medically assisted death immediately.

According to the National Post, the government is reviewing the decision before deciding its next steps.

 

Graphic by @sundaeghost

Categories
Music

Travis Scott takes us to Astroworld

Rapper Travis Scott performs on middle stage at the Bell Centre March 5 for his Astroworld: Wish You Were Here Tour. Photo by Skye Legault.

Travis Scott’s unique rapping style hyped up the crowd Tuesday night

It seemed like all of Montreal piled into the Bell Centre to see Travis Scott perform live on March 5 for his sold out show, Astroworld: Wish You Were Here Tour. His latest album, Astroworld, was released last year and merch featuring the “Wish You Were Here” tagline was being sold to promote it.

It’s impossible not to hear his songs “Antidote,” “Butterfly Effect” and “SICKO MODE” during a night out. The 26-year-old rapper is known for his use of voice effects and adlibs that create an eccentric, distinct sound that can almost be described as mumble rap. Born in Houston, Texas, he later moved to New York to pursue music after graduating high school. He later released his first untitled EP on MySpace in 2008.

Scott is a part of GOOD Music, Kanye West’s music label. The two artists are practically family. Scott has released three studio albums: Rodeo, Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight, and Astroworld. He also formed a duo group with Quavo of Migos called Huncho Jack, and they released their debut album Huncho Jack, Jack Huncho in 2017.

Rapper Sheck Wes, who is featured on Scott’s new album, was the opening act for the Montreal show and performed his biggest hit “Mo Bamba.” The main act, following Wes, was a wild ride from start to finish—literally, since two rollercoasters were set up above the crowd. People on the floor were invited to wait in line for a ride on the roller coasters. They climbed up, were strapped in by security, and enjoyed a slow coaster ride as the crowd cheered.

Scott energized the audience while shouting “Montreal!” as he was suspended upside down in his roller coaster seat. Pyrotechnics added to the wow-factor.

Astroworld is inspired by a now-closed theme park Scott used to go to in Texas. It meant a lot to him and was a place of fantasy and imagination. He captures that sense of wonder in his show, with trippy visuals and huge blow-ups of his head and an astronaut.

Scott moved between the main and middle stages throughout the night. The crowd on the floor matched his energy with massive mosh pits. One guy was especially excited, as he jumped onstage with Scott and then crowd-surfed. The mood changed with a slower song off his mixtape Days Before Rodeo, “Drugs You Should Try It.” The audience’s cheers were replaced with phone lights illuminating the room. The night proved to be lit. Scott closed the show with crowd favourite “SICKO MODE,” featuring Drake, hyping up the audience one last time.

Scott will be ending his Astroworld Tour at the Firefly Music Festival on June 22 in Dover, Delaware.

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