Philippine Canadian Inquirer #459

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pcinews_twt OCTOBER 1, 2021 www.canadianinquirer.net VOL. 8 NO. 459
EXTENDED
Akbayan Youth thanks COMELEC for extending the voters’ registration for the 2022 elections. “We know that this extension comes with mounting challenges for COMELEC and we are glad that
they accepted their duty to ensure no one is disenfranchised. The extension will help thousands of people who had to camp out outside COMELEC just to get a slot for the day,” it said.
AKBAYAN YOUTH
DFA hits China’s restriction 26

on Pinoy fishermen in
Scarborough How to empower older adults
to become digital citizens in our
tech-dependent world
BY JOYCE ANN L. ROCAMORA government’s diplomatic protest, noting
Philippine News Agency that China has illegally restricted Fili-
pino fishermen from conducting legiti-
mate fishing activities in the area. 29
MANILA – The Department of For- Scarborough Shoal, located 124 nauti-
eign Affairs (DFA) on Thursday has pro- cal miles off the coast of Masinloc, Zam- `
Canadians shouldn’t take for
tested China’s “incessant and unlawful” bales, is a traditional fishing ground for
restriction imposed on Filipino fisher- Filipinos and other nationals. granted the recent peaceful
men in Scarborough Shoal or the Bajo de In a series of tweets, Locsin also or- transition after the election
Masinloc. dered the filing of two protests on Chi- Vax and vacation? Why that
PAGE 13 Pacific island holiday will still
Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro mean ‘traveller beware’
Locsin Jr. instructed the DFA to file the ❱❱ PAGE 6 DFA hits China’s
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2 Philippine News OCTOBER 1, 2021 FRIDAY
Comelec extends
voter registration
from Oct. 11-30
BY FERDINAND PATINIO carried out in Comelec offices, Jimenez
Philippine News Agency said registration in malls would continue.
The registration for overseas voters
has also been extended for two weeks,
MANILA – The Commission on from October 1 to 14.
Elections (Comelec) on Wednesday ap- “Note that for overseas voting, the fil-
proved the extension of voter registra- ing of certificates of candidacy (COCs)
tion for more than two weeks from Oc- is not an issue, thus the extension starts
tober 11 to 30. immediately,” Jimenez said, referring to
Comelec spokesperson James the filing of COCs from October 1-8.
Jimenez said the extended voter regis- Secured and orderly elections
tration would be held from Monday to With the extended voter registration,
Friday during office hours. Philippine National Police (PNP) chief,
“Extension is from October 11 to 30; Gen. Guillermo Eleazar, said the public’s
Mon-Friday, no Saturdays, except for eagerness to register and cast their vote
the last day (Oct. 30), 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.,” he in the coming elections only encourages
said in a statement. the police force to step up its measures
For this period, all services will be of- to make sure that the polls will be se-
fered such as reactivation and registra- cured and orderly.
tion for new voters and reactivation. “Our aggressive operations against
In August, the poll body suspended vot- private armed groups and loose firearms
er registration in the National Capital Re- have been intensified in order to deny
gion after it was placed under the strictest any individual and group the opportunity
enhanced community quarantine. to hijack the healthy and clean exercise
Millions of people across

At the time, Comelec offices in the re- of our democratic process on the days
gion were also closed. leading to the May polls and the Election
Ontario have received their

The voter registration was supposed Day,” Eleazar said in a statement.
to end on September 30 but due to He said the PNP will continue to co-
clamor from various groups and some ordinate with Comelec to guarantee a
COVID-19 vaccine. lawmakers, the Comelec extended the
deadline.
peaceful voting registration process. ■
(with reports from Christopher Lloyd T.
While most of the registration will be Caliwan/PNA)
Do your part. Voter registration extension

Get your shot. ‘a positive dev’t’: Palace
Health Canada-approved vaccines BY AZER PARROCHA
Philippine News Agency
ly, and not resort to last-minute registra-
tion, while adhering to minimum public
are conveniently available at hospitals, health standards,” he added.
doctors’ offices, pharmacies and MANILA – Malacañang on Wednes-
On Wednesday, Comelec Spokesper-
son James Jimenez said the extension
mass vaccination sites. And every dose day welcomed as a “positive develop- was “unanimously” approved en banc.
ment” the decision of the Commission “Extension is from Oct. 11 to 30, Mon-
brings us closer to what we’ve missed. on Elections (Comelec) to extend voter day to Friday, no Saturdays, except for
registration until the end of October. the last day (Oct. 30), 8 a.m., to 5 p.m.,”
Presidential Spokesperson Har- he said in a statement.
Book your appointment today at
ry Roque made this remark after the The registration of overseas voters is
ontario.ca/bookvaccine or call 1-888-999-6488 Comelec extended the voter registration also extended for two weeks.
for help in 300 languages. from Oct. 9 to 31. “Registration of overseas voters is
“The resolution of the Commission extended for two weeks-Oct. 1 to 14,”
on Election to extend voter registration Jimenez added.
for the 2022 elections is a positive devel- The extended voter registration
opment in light of the extraordinary cir- among overseas voters will start imme-
cumstances brought by the Covid-19 pan- diately since the filing of certificates of
demic,” Roque said in a press statement. candidacy is not an issue.
He also enjoined Filipinos to exercise Comelec has set the filing of COC for
Paid for by the their right to suffrage. the May 2022 national elections from
Government of Ontario “Having said this, and now that ample Oct. 1 to 8.
time is given, we call on all eligible vot- The voter registration period was sup-
ers, especially the youth, to register ear- posed to end on Sept. 30. ■
www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2021 Philippine News 3
Rice farmers warned of using insecticides

to eliminate pests
BY CHRISTINE CUDIS leaves. Whole areas can die in patches, lings per hill; practice alternate wetting use insecticides.
Philippine News Agency which are said to be affected by “hopper and drying; use 90kg nitrogen/ha during “If you’ve decided to use chemicals,
burn”. It can cause total yield loss when the wet season and 120kg/ha during the use insecticides with contact or stom-
its attack is severe. dry season; and split fertilizer into three ach active ingredient to bring down the
MANILA – With the increasing re- Marquez informed that before resort- applications,” he said. population of adult BPH
ports of brown planthopper (BPH) cases, ing to chemical use, it is important to He added that farmers and use an insecticide
an expert from the Department of Agri- consider other ways to control the BPH should also let the soil with growth regulator ac-
culture-Philippine Rice Research Insti- population. rest for a month, remove tive ingredient to control
tute (DA-PhilRice) is urging farmers to If there is already an infestation, weeds from dikes where BPH nymphs. Always use
check on the severity of insect population Marquez recommended draining water pests may thrive, plow
Diversifying proper personal protective
before implementing control measures. completely from the field for a week and and dry soil after harvest, plants in the equipment during mixing
“Count the number of adults and then irrigating when necessary. and monitor the rice field rice field will and spraying of insecti-
nymphs in 10 hills across a plot to de- “Chemical application may be tempt- regularly. also be helpful. cide,” he said.
termine the severity of BPH infestation. ing because it is readily available and “Diversifying plants in He said chemical use
Visually count in tillers or tap the hills has immediate effect, but it can cause an the rice field will also be when the rice crop is
three times for BPH to fall into the wa- outbreak because beneficial insects that helpful. Plant vegetables younger than 40 days af-
ter. One or more BPH per tiller or 30 per prey on BPH will also be killed,” Mar- and flowering plants. They ter seeding or 30 days after
hill means the population is high and quez said. serve as shelter for bene- transplanting is not advis-
there’s a need for management actions,” He emphasized that it is always bet- ficial organisms such as ground beetle, able because the damage caused by in-
Leonardo V. Marquez, pest management ter to prevent occurrences than manage lady beetle, damselfly, and dragonfly; sects at this stage is not significant.
expert, explained on Wednesday. BPH during outbreaks. and nectar of flowers serves as food for He emphasized that once farmers
BPH is a small brown insect found “Use resistant varieties. Some parasitic wasps. These organisms prey started spraying pesticides, the bene-
mainly on the base of rice plants above BPH-resistant varieties are PSB Rc 2, 10, on brown planthoppers and other pests,” ficial insects will also be killed, which
the water level. Adults and nymphs suck NSIC Rc 212, Rc 222, Rc 224, Rc 226, Rc Marquez said. means follow-up insecticide applica-
the plant sap from leaf sheaths, caus- 298, and Rc 300. Transplant at 20cmx- If it is too late to use other manage- tions are needed to take care of the crops
ing yellowing of lower and then upper 20cm planting distance with 2-3 seed- ment ways, he said farmers may opt to from pests. ■
Over 45M Covid

vax doses
administered in PH
Now is always the best time to BY LADE JEAN KABAGANI Those children with comorbidities
buy cemetery property. Philippine News Agency will be prioritized in the test run of pedi-
atric vaccination.
Purchasing cemetery property today is your best protection against The Philippines has received a total of
rising prices and limited inventory. Whether you choose burial or MANILA – The Philippines has al- 71,324,50 doses of Covid-19 vaccine as of
cremation, we have options for every belief at any budget. Contact ready administered a total of 45,147,477 Sept. 30, with additional 883,350 Pfizer
us today to learn more. doses of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) doses and another 2.5 million Sinovac
nationwide, the government’s task force --both purchased by the government --
FREE planning guide: DignityMemorial.ca on pandemic response said on Thursday. will be delivered on Friday.
Based on the data from the National Galvez said a total of 6,085,170 doses
Covid-19 Vaccination dashboard as of out of the 40 million doses of govern-
Sept. 29, a total of 21,103,317 Filipinos ment-procured Pfizer jabs have been de-
FOREST LAWN OCEAN VIEW have already acquired full protection livered to the country.
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Vax rollout for Duterte ‘concerned’

minors to over AUKUS nuclear
prioritize kids with submarine deal
comorbidities BY RUTH ABBEY GITA-
CARLOS
Philippine News Agency
percent of the strategic water
under its so-called nine-dash line
that has been invalidated by the
telephone conversation with
Australian Defense Minister
Peter Dutton to discuss the
Hague-based Permanent Court AUKUS alliance and Canberra’s
Philippine News Agency old issued by the Philippine of Arbitration’s 2016 ruling. acquisition of nuclear-powered
Food and Drug Administration, MANILA – President Rodri- The pact also aims to pro- submarines.
and equitable access to medi- go Duterte has raised concern vide Australia the technolo- Dutton told Lorenzana the
MANILA – Pediatric vaccina- cal clearance by a physician for over the new trilateral security gy to build nuclear-powered intention to acquire subma-
tion will start among 12-17 years children with comorbidities. pact among Australia, the Unit- submarines, a partnership de- rines is not to be armed with
old with comorbidities as part “We have to ensure that chil- ed Kingdom, and the United nounced by China because of nuclear weapons but to develop
of the A3 priority group, the De- dren have equitable access to States (AUKUS), Malacañang its supposed risks to intensify Australia’s capability to protect
partment of Health (DOH) con- vaccines. Eventually, as we get said on Tuesday. the arms race and undermine its territories as well as that of
firmed on Wednesday. more local experience, we will In a virtual press confer- international non-proliferation its friends in the region.
In a news release, the agency be able to retool our current ence, Presidential Spokesper- efforts. Lorenzana, on the other
said expanding the vaccination vaccinators on the additional son Harry Roque said Duterte On Sept. 17, Defense Secre-
program beyond this group precautionary steps on screen- would meet with his Cabinet to tary Delfin Lorenzana had a ❱❱ PAGE 15 Duterte ‘concerned’ over
would follow once adequate ing and vaccine administra- discuss the AUKUS alliance and
coverage of the A2 priority tion,” Vergeire said. raise the issue, as he worried
group (senior citizens) has been The department empha- the trilateral pact could trigger
achieved and vaccine supply sized the need for a careful and a “nuclear arms race”.
becomes sufficient to include planned rollout of vaccines for “He (Duterte) expressed con-
children. children. cern about a regional nuclear
“For the initial run, we recom- Considering that the risks arms race. But he will discuss
mend that children with comor- of contracting severe Covid-19 this further with the Cabinet
bidities will be vaccinated in se- infection or dying from it is and will come up with a clear
lected sites with clearance from significantly lower for healthy position after the meeting of
their pediatricians or trained children, the benefit from vac- the Cabinet,” Roque said.
doctors, or for far-flung or Geo- cination relative to the risk of a AUKUS alliance is seen to
graphically Isolated and Disad- healthy child is also lower com- counter China’s growing influ-
vantaged Areas (GIDA), with pared to a sick child, adult, or ence in the Indo-Pacific, spe-
clearance from on-site trained senior citizen. cifically in the South China Sea
physicians guided by a checklist The DOH has renewed its where it lays claim on nearly 80 Pres Rodrigo Duterte (ARMAN BAYLON/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
from the Pediatric Infectious call for those eligible among the
Disease Society of the Philip- adult population to get vaccinat-
pines,” DOH Undersecretary ed to also protect children who
Maria Rosario Vergeire said.
The DOH assured that prior
cannot receive the shots yet.
“Like what our DOH All Ex-
SOLUTIONS IMMIGRATION CONSULTING INC.
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consent by the parent or guard- sized, even if we have approved EXPERT ASSISTANCE - ALL CANADIAN IMMIGRATION MATTERS
ian and the child prior would be the recommendation to vacci-
obtained. nate children with comorbidi-
It would also ensure the sup- ties, we still have to increase our
ply availability of US-made vaccination coverage among
Pfizer and Moderna, the only other priority groups, especial-
vaccines with emergency use ly our senior citizens,” Vergeire
authorization for 12 to 17 years said. ■
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FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2021 5
Bar exams reset Palace supports downgrade

to January 2022 in NCR alert level
BY BENJAMIN PULTA and personnel”. BY RUTH ABBEY GITA-
Philippine News Agency “Treat this as an opportuni- CARLOS
ty. Keep your momentum. Re- Philippine News Agency
member that you study not only
MANILA – Aspiring lawyers to pass the Bar Examinations,
would have to wait some more but also so that you will best MANILA – Malacañang on
after the Supreme Court (SC) serve the others, Study well, Thursday expressed support
moved the Bar examinations purposively, and with passion,” to the proposal that will imple-
from November to January next Leonen stated. ment a more lenient alert level
year due to the health crisis. The application period will in Metro Manila.
It will be the first Bar exams not be reopened and prepara- In a virtual press confer-
to be held in multiple sites after tory activities shall continue, ence, Presidential Spokesper-
the SC approved the 24 testing including the selection of venue son Harry Roque backed the
venues in August. of Bar applicants. suggestion of the Metropolitan
The four-Sunday exams were The Bar examinatons were Manila Development Author-
canceled last year due to the moved to the University of ity to place Metro Manila un-
pandemic. Santo Tomas from De La Salle der Alert Level 3, considering
Bar Bulletin No. 28 released University following the 2010 the drop in coronavirus disease
on Tuesday stated the SC “de- bombing along Taft Avenue. 2019 (Covid-19) reproduction LOCKED DOWN. A street at Parklane Subdivision in Barangay San Francisco,
cided to reset the Bar Examina- Nobody died but at least 47 rate. General Trias City, Cavite is under granular lockdown due to several house-
tions from November 2021 to were injured, including two fe- Roque, however, acknowl- holds reporting Covid-19 cases on Sunday (Sept. 5, 2021). (AVITO C. DALAN/PNA)
January 16, 23, 30, and Febru- male Law students that result- edged that the final decision
ary 6, 2022”. ed in the amputation of their would come from the Depart- “Bumaba po ‘yung tina- Sept. 16 to 30.
Associate Justice Marvic legs. ment of Health (DOH). tawag na reproduction rate at Alert Level 4 is imposed in
Leonen, the Bar examinations Bar applicants will se- “Suportado natin iyan pero bumababa ‘yung mga nume- areas in Metro Manila with
chair, said the SC arrived at the lect their local testing center ang desisyon po ay magiging ro ng kaso (Reproduction rate high or increasing Covid-19
decision “after considering the through the Bar Personal Login desisyon ng DOH (We support and (Covid-19) cases are going case counts, as well as high total
Covid-19 situation nationally, Unified System. that [proposal to downgrade the down),” he said. bed utilization rate and inten-
and in all testing sites, as well as Venue-matching will not be alert level in Metro Manila], but Roque said members of the sive care unit utilization rate,
receiving advice from various on a first-come, first-served the decision will be announced Inter-Agency Task Force for according to guidelines ratified
experts”. basis. Instead, applicants from by DOH),” he said. the Management of Emerging by IATF-EID.
The decision was made out of remote areas will be prioritized. Roque said Metro Manila Infectious Diseases (IATF- Under the guidelines, the
“an abundance of caution and The SC advised applicants to could shift from Alert Level 4 to EID) will meet on Thursday af- DOH is tasked to identify the
to assure the highest level of choose the testing center that is Alert Level 3 since it has report- ternoon to discuss the new alert alert level in Metro Manila.
safety for all the Bar applicants closest to their residence. ■ ed lower Covid-19 infections level system in Metro Manila. The DOH earlier said Metro
following the implementation Metro Manila has been Manila may remain under Alert
of the alert level system. placed under Alert Level 4 from Level 4. ■
DFA hits China’s...

❰❰ 1 nese radio challenges year over Beijing’s continued er” in the area.
“unlawfully issued and increased presence within China, the Philippines, and
against Philippine Philippine waters. several other littoral states
maritime patrols” and the con- On Wednesday, Muntinlupa have overlapping claims in the
tinued presence of Chinese Rep. Ruffy Biazon, sponsor of West Philippine Sea.
fishing vessels in the vicinity of the National Security Council’s In a 2016 arbitral ruling, the
Iroquois Reef. (NSC) 2022 budget, confirmed Hague-based Permanent Court
The top diplomat, however, that some 150 Chinese fishing of Arbitration ruled that Bei-
did not disclose further details vessels were sighted in the West jing’s nine-dash line, a demar-
about the latest Chinese incur- Philippine Sea. cation that covers almost 80
sions. Citing information from the percent of the South China Sea,
The fresh diplomatic protests NSC, Biazon said the vessels is illegal. ■
follow a flurry of notes verbales were “doing fishing operations,
(MIKE GONZALEZ (THECOFFEE) – OWN WORK, CC BY-SA 3.0)
lodged by the DFA early this moving from one spot to anoth-
FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2021 Philippine News 7
2022 budget certified as urgent to

avoid delayed public service
BY AZER PARROCHA reading,” Roque said. po ng pandemya (We cannot ment operations following the 2022 General Appropriations
Philippine News Agency Roque said Duterte intends allow a delay in public service end of the current fiscal year, to Act (GAA) by December to pre-
to “give priority” and “to expe- in the time of a pandemic),” he expedite the funding of various vent a reenacted budget that
dite the passage of the budget added. programs, projects, and activi- could slow economic growth
MANILA – President Rodri- law” which is expected to sus- In the letter read during the ties for FY 2022, and to ensure and hamper the delivery of gov-
go R. Duterte has certified as ur- tain the country’s Covid-19 re- House plenary session on Sept. budgetary preparedness that ernment services.
gent the proposed bill contain- sponse efforts. 29 , Duterte said the spending will enable the government to Currently, Congress is still
ing the 2022 national budget to “Hindi po pupuwede maanta- measure must be immediately effectively perform its constitu- deliberating on the proposed
avoid delays in public service la yung mga serbisyong ibibigay enacted to “address the need to tional mandate.” PHP5.024 national budget for
amid the prevailing Covid-19 natin sa taumbayan sa panahon maintain continuous govern- “I hereby certify to the im- 2022.
pandemic, Malacañang said on mediate enactment of House Next year’s budget is 11.5
Thursday. Bill No. 10153 entitled An Act percent higher than this year’s
This, after Duterte’s letter Appropriating Funds for the PHP4.506 trillion.
calling for the immediate en- Operation of the Government The social services sector,
actment of House Bill 10152 or of the Philippines from January including health-related ser-
the General Appropriations Bill 1 to December 31, 2022,” Duter- vices and education-related
was read during the House’s te’s letter read. programs, will receive the larg-
plenary session on Wednesday. House Speaker Lord Allan est share of PHP1.92 trillion, or
Presidential Spokesperson Velasco said the House aims to 38.3 percent of the total 2022
Harry Roque said with Duter- pass its version of the 2022 na- budget.
te’s certification, the House will tional budget by September 30, Meanwhile, the economic ser-
be able to pass its version on or before Congress suspends vices sector will receive the sec-
second and third reading on the session on October 17 to No- ond-highest allocation at 29.3
same day. vember 15 for the filing of certif- percent or PHP1.474 trillion for
“Well ang certification icates of candidacy for the May the implementation of flagship
naman po will have the effect 2022 elections. projects under the administra-
of doing away with the hiwalay Velasco said the overall ob- tion’s Build, Build, Build infra-
na (a separate) second and third Pres. Spokesperson Harry Roque (YANCY LIM/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO) jective is for Duterte to sign the structure program. ■
Covid-19 jabs for teens ‘very different’

from Dengvaxia: NTF
BY RAYMOND CARL DELA but this is very different. Naki- in March, he said the vaccina-
CRUZ ta natin na nagamit muna ang tion for teens and children in
Philippine News Agency mga vaccine na ‘to sa mga mily- the country will be cautious,
on-milyon na mga bata globally with only five to six select hos-
(I know that many are worried pitals specializing in comorbid-
MANILA – A ranking govern- about Dengvaxia, but this is ities to be allowed to vaccinate.
ment official said coronavirus very different. We have seen “For example sa [Philippine]
disease 2019 (Covid-19) jabs for this vaccine used in millions of Heart Center [PHC], sa [Philip-
adolescents will be both “safe children globally),” Galvez said. pine] Children’s [Medical] Cen-
and effective,” noting that sev- He noted that some counter (PCMC), sa NKTI (National
eral other countries have Kidney and Transplant
already safely adminis- Institute), at sa UP [Phil-
tered these vaccines in ippine] General Hospital
their younger population. I know na marami (UP-PGH) -- yan yung
During the arrival of mga tinitignan natin na
over 1.2 million doses talagang nag-aalala pwede mag-open muna
of the Moderna vaccine sa Dengvaxia, but in the meantime (For ex-
at the NAIA Terminal 1 this is very different. ample at the PHC, PCMC, Vaccine czar, Secretary Carlito Galvez, Jr. (KARL NORMAN ALONZO/ PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO)
on Thursday, National NKTI, and the UP-PGH --
Task Force (NTF) against that’s where we’re think- ang gagawin natin (if it flows “I would like to appeal to the
Covid-19 chief imple- ing to open in the mean- well, what we will do is) we will public na gagawin po namin la-
menter Secretary Carli- time),” Galvez said. go to other cities in Metro Ma- hat to make sure na our vacci-
to Galvez Jr. said the country’s tries have even begun vaccinat- Initially, he said adolescents nila,” Galvez said. nation will be safe, yung safety
children and adolescent pop- ing those aged 5 to 11 years old. -- aged 14 to 17 or 15 to 17 -- with He called on the public to measures i-implement po natin
ulation, or Category C, will be Similar to the rollout of comorbidities or those whose avoid being “over-cautious,” (we will do everything to make
vaccinated “slowly, surely and Covid-19 vaccines to the Cat- parents are health care workers noting that Covid-19 vaccines sure our vaccinations will be
closely monitored.” egory A population -- those in will be prioritized. used in the country have al- safe, we will implement safety
“I know na marami talag- the frontlines, senior citizens, “And then we would observe, ready been proven to be “very measures),” Galvez said. ■
ang nag-aalala sa Dengvaxia, and with comorbidities -- back kung maging maganda ang flow, safe and effective.”
PH-US Mutual Defense Treaty

revisions ‘tricky’: Lorenzana
BY PRIAM NEPOMUCENO extent with Taiwan and asked whether game? President Xi Jin Ping during his
Philippine News Agency such arrangements are better than mul- last bilateral meeting with President
Correspondent/Hosts tilateral ones. Duterte said, in his words, ‘after the
Bea Kirstein T. Manalaysay
Joanna Belle Deala “Are bilateral agreements better than latter invoked the arbitral ruling’. And
Kathleen Mae Guerrero MANILA – The question on whether multilateral ones? Is it time to create a I quote, ‘Mr. President...I do not think
Arianne Grace Lacanilao to revise or not the Philippines’ 70-year- NATO-like arrangement? Not to pre- we will resolve this issue in our lifetime,
Violeta Arevelo
Babes Newland old Mutual Defense Treaty (MDT) with pare for war but to address the concerns maybe our children or our grandchil-
Matte Laurel the United States is tricky as it has se- previously enumerated. How does the dren will have better solutions’. These
Graphic Design
curity implications, Department of Na- newly formed alliance AUKUS (Austra- words speak volumes on China’s strate-
Shanice Garcia tional Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin lia, the United Kingdom, and the United gy on the South China Sea,” he added.
Ginno Alcantara Lorenzana said Thursday, States) fit into the large picture, will it Lorenzana said many proposals were
Arlnie Colleene Talain Singca
“I go back to my previous question, is contribute to peace and stability, or ex- brought forward, such as joint manage-
Account Manager the MDT still relevant or does it need to acerbate current problems?” Lorenzana ment in the area, joint development of
Kristopher Yong be appropriated, replaced, or revised? pointed out. its resources, and turning it into a global
Director/Producer
This question is tricky as it has implica- And at the micro-level, the DND chief commons, among others.
Boom Dayupay tions for the security of both parties and said smaller countries will have to find “But one thing is clear, the Chinese,
individually,” he said during an online a way to manage the relationship with having embedded themselves with the
Photographers/Videographers
Ginno Alcantara
Stratbase ADR Institute for Strategic China as it has disputes with most na- artificial islands, are not in a hurry for
Hannah Dela Cruz and International Studies forum titled tions in the region. any resolution that is not in its favor.
“70 Years of the 1951 Philippine-US Mu- “How would disputes in the South How do other states deal with this strat-
Operations and Admin
Victoria Yong
tual Defense Treaty”. China Sea play out? What is the end egy?” he added. ■
Amelia Insigne Lorenzana also admitted that while
the US is open to the idea of revisiting
Management
Alan Yong
the MDT, an outside party is not.
“When I first brought up the idea of
revisiting the MDT, a former Chinese
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(including opinions expressed in ads herein) are those BY PRIAM NEPOMUCENO fense) expressed his appreciation for the During the meeting, both sides ex-
of the authors named, and are not necessarily those of
Philippine Canadian Inquirer Editorial Team. Philippine News Agency US Government’s support to the Philip- changed views on recent developments
PCI reserves the right to reject any advertising which
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agrees the publisher shall not be liable for damages MANILA – Department of National particularly in facilitating the continued between the Philippines and the US.
arising out of error in any advertisement. Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lo- delivery of vaccines in support to the “They also discussed updates on up-
renzana has expressed his appreciation Philippines’ national immunization pro- coming bilateral defense activities, lo-
Member to the United States government’s sup- gram,” DND spokesperson Arsenio An- gistics cooperation, particularly on the
port for the country’s efforts in con- dolong said in a statement Tuesday night. capability upgrades of the Armed Forces
taining the coronavirus disease 2019 Both sides also reaffirmed their com- of the Philippines (AFP), and the way
(Covid-19) pandemic. mitment to the Philippines-US alliance ahead for the Philippines-US defense
Lorenzana personally thanked US through the Mutual Defense Treaty. relations,” Andolong said.
Chargé d’Affaires Heather Variava during “CDA Variava emphasized that both The meeting with Variava was Lo-
their introductory meeting where he also countries enjoy deep and long-standing renzana’s first official face-to-face en-
officially welcomed the US official to the bonds, with the alliance at the center gagement after completing his 14-day
Philippines on September 28. of the US’ relationship with the Philip- mandatory quarantine from his official
“The SND (Secretary of National De- pines,” Andolong added. travel to the US early this month. ■
Canada News
The federal government is out of excuses:
It’s time to get serious about pharmacare
BY HASAN SHEIKH, Canada is the only high-in- excuse that pharmacare re-
University of Toronto come country in the world with quires more study. Report af-
The Conversation a universal health care system ter report has recommended
that doesn’t include universal publicly funded universal phar-
drug coverage. One in four Ca- macare.
Sometimes, politicians in- nadians has difficulty taking Before 2019, it was the Parlia-
advertently tell us the truth, medications as prescribed due mentary Standing Committee on
as former prime minister Kim to cost. One in 20 hospitaliza- Health in 2018. And the Roma-
Campbell famously did in 1993 tions can be attributed to peo- now Commission in 2002. And
when she said that an election ple not taking their medica- the National Forum on Health
is no time to discuss serious is- tions. The lack of pharmacare in 1997. It goes as far back as the
sues. Unfortunately, Canada’s harms the health of our com- Hall Commission in 1964.
2021 election further proved munities, strains our health- However, reports don’t pay
her point. care system and encumbers our for life-saving insulin for peo-
But if elections aren’t the economy. ple living with diabetes.
time to discuss serious issues, The Liberals, Conservatives Federal mandate
then Parliament must be. We and NDP have all acknowledged We must not accept the ex-
need Canada’s 44th Parliament that access to medications is cuse that pharmacare is only
to focus on building a stronger, a serious issue. The Liberals within provincial jurisdiction.
more balanced frame for Cana- themselves commissioned a The Liberals plan to lead a na-
dian society’s collective house report on pharmacare in 2019 tional daycare program, tradi-
after COVID-19 exposed its rot- — the Advisory Council on the tionally a provincial issue. The average and businesses saving had it or desperately needed
ting planks. Implementation of National case for federal leadership on $750 per employee. And when income if they didn’t. Nation-
There’s an obvious place to Pharmacare — which recom- pharmacare is even stronger. you provide essential medica- al pharmacare ensures that no
start, and it’s a policy that was mended a single-payer phar- The 2019 report explains that tions at no charge out-of-pock- Canadian must choose between
shockingly absent from the macare system. Canada pays more for the same et, people improve control over feeding their family or heating
narrative in this election, aside Despite this, the Liberal elec- drugs than any other country, their medical conditions and their home and paying for pre-
from one question during the tion platform was completely except for the United States are more likely to be able to scriptions.
English language debate. It’s a silent on funding or implemen- and Switzerland. National phar- make ends meet. Just like medicare, phar-
policy that nine in 10 Canadians tation. The Conservative Party macare gives us the negotiating Multiple priorities macare supports small busi-
support, and one where federal platform included a plan to ne- power to keep costs down. The We must not accept the ex- nesses by enabling them to com-
leadership is the only viable gotiate with industry to cut drug federal government must set cuse that there are other pri- pete with larger employers that
way forward: Pharmacare. prices. The NDP, who continue standards so that every Canadi- orities for this Parliament. offer drug benefits. A pandem-
The pandemic revealed two to hold the balance of power, put an has access to high-quality, eq- There’s no limit on the number ic-related economic slowdown
important truths. First, com- forward a plan to establish uni- uitable and efficient health care. of smart public policy decisions is exactly the right time to make
munities are only as healthy as versal drug coverage by 2022, That includes medications. a government can make — they the investment in individual Ca-
the individuals within them. promising an annual federal in- Affordability needn’t ration their good ideas nadians and businesses.
And second, when it comes to vestment of $10 billion. We must not accept the ex- over multiple elections. Now that the election is over,
health, speed counts and delays If all the parties agree there is a cuse that pharmacare is un- Now is the time for phar- it’s time for our federal leaders
cost lives. We must learn these problem, why is the obvious solu- affordable. Pharmacare will macare. More workers were en- to get serious about health. Ca-
lessons now and ensure that tion — universal pharmacare — require an investment from tering the gig economy before nadians are serious about phar-
every Canadian has access to still an unrealized dream for Ca- federal and provincial govern- the pandemic, leaving many macare, and they cannot afford
essential medications. nadians? Because, for too long, ments, but it’s an investment without job-related extended to wait any longer. ■
No more excuses we have accepted excuses from with a high return. health benefits. Pandemic-re-
When it comes to national our federal leaders. Pharmacare will save Cana- lated job loss has made a bad This article is republished
pharmacare, there are no more The research is clear dians roughly $5 billion a year, situation worse, with workers from The Conversation under a
excuses. We can no longer accept the with families saving $350 on losing drug coverage if they Creative Commons license.
10 Canada News OCTOBER 1, 2021 FRIDAY
The solution to homeless encampments is

making them unnecessary, not illegal
BY JESSE JENKINSON, ing where they are? to the same locations can help
University of Toronto, Encampment life is difficult. people combat social isolation,
STEPHEN HWANG, Year-round exposure to the stay housed and support their
University of Toronto elements and lack of running mental health.
The Conversation water or sanitation can make Some incredible work has
daily survival an enormous already been done. In Sep-
challenge. Yet, some do not feel tember of last year, the federal
The number of people vis- safe in the shelter spaces they government announced a goal
ibly living in encampments are being offered. to end chronic homelessness.
has increased throughout the In Toronto, the number of vi- During the pandemic, federal,
COVID-19 pandemic. This has olent incidents in shelters has provincial and municipal gov-
led to cities — including To- more than doubled from 120 ernments mobilized resources,
ronto, Victoria and Vancouver incidents in 2016 to 368 in Jan- developed solutions and co-
— to work with encampment uary 2021. And in April 2021, ordinated efforts in unprec-
residents to move them into there were COVID-19 out- Homeless Encampment (DANIEL MOSKOWITZ/FLICKR, PUBLIC DOMAIN)
edented ways — including in
shelters, hotel spaces and more breaks across 20 shelters. encampments — and bolstered
rarely, stable housing. Although the city of Toronto as a solution. However, forci- in housing supply and related investments in affordable hous-
When those offers are de- reports that 1,670 people have bly displacing people from en- supports — the encampment ing development.
clined, the next step can be the been referred to inside spaces campments destroys trust with evictions must stop. We need Some cities, such as Victoria,
removal of residents’ belong- since April 2020, only nine per service providers and actually to make encampments unnec- have committed to full-scale
ings, and sometimes — such as cent of those people have been makes it harder to convince essary. transformation of the home-
recent events in Toronto and moved into stable housing. The people to move into shelters or Building trusting relation- less-serving system, rooted
Halifax — violent evictions by rest are still in shelters or hotel hotel spaces. ships in a right to housing and hu-
police. rooms. With little hope of mov- For Indigenous people liv- We can make encampments man-rights approach.
As researchers who work to ing into stable housing, people ing in encampments, forced unnecessary with a trauma-in- Our hope is that the unprec-
improve the health and well-be- may be skeptical of leaving en- evictions can be linked to informed, person-centred ap- edented efforts from govern-
ing of people who experience of campments only to get stuck in tergenerational memories and proach that builds trusting ments and community groups
homelessness, we are deeply the shelter system. trauma of residential schools, relationships between service are just the beginning of a more
concerned about the long-term Other encampment resi- the ‘60s Scoop and other co- providers and clients. Not humane, consistent and evi-
consequences of this approach. dents may feel that their mental lonial practices. Exacerbating all individuals have the same dence-based approach to ad-
Not only is it morally question- health and well-being depends trauma and breaching trust can needs, and we need to offer dressing chronic homelessness
able to punish the most vulner- on the support systems they’ve push people further away from people a range of options: hotel in Canada. There is momen-
able, it isn’t an effective strategy established in their encamp- the very services we are trying spaces, rent supplements, case tum now, and with it the newly
for addressing homelessness. ments. Being homeless comes to connect them to — includ- managers, peer support work- elected federal government has
Criminalizing poverty doesn’t with powerful stigma and social ing housing programs, mental ers and other social and health an opportunity and responsi-
work. exclusion — but an encamp- health support and COVID-19 supports. bility to move people off the
Encampment life is difficult ment can be a place to belong. vaccination efforts. When offering people spaces, streets and into safe, perma-
The first step in addressing Destroying trust The end-goal is stable hous- we must recognize that people nent homes. ■
this problem is understanding Encampments are not long- ing. Encampments are a result are part of existing communi-
the answer to this basic ques- term options. People cannot of a national housing and af- ties and these connections are This article is republished
tion: Why are some people in live in public parks indefinitely, fordability crisis. As we push vital to their well-being. Allow- from The Conversation under a
encampments insisting on stay- and no one is arguing for that for a real solution — an increase ing people to move in groups Creative Commons license.
Reckoning with the truths of unmarked

graves of Indigenous children, education
systems must take action
BY LISA KORTEWEG, to help teachers address, repair in June on anti-Indigenous rac- mitted in the name of education in light of these tragedies and
Lakehead University, and heal education towards and ism in curriculum to promote through the Indian Residential ensuing mass grief.
PAULINE TENNENT, beyond reconciliation. Indigenous cultural safety in School (IRS) system. With no official mandate
University of Manitoba, TESA “It’s clear that there will be schools. Even as the number of un- from ministries for systemic
FIDDLER, Coordinator of more unmarked graves found When we hear these types marked graves continues to reform through training pro-
Indigenous Education at at residential schools, but what of questions, we are reminded rise and school flags remain grams, regular discussion fo-
Thunder Bay Catholic District are we (educators) supposed to of our research that has docu- lowered, there is little to no di- rums and gatherings, the edu-
School Board do? How are we supposed to fix mented a range of affective re- rection by the education system cation system runs the risk of
The Conversation this?” sponses by settler educators in — by ministry officials, school cultivating more apathy and
These were questions posed understanding Canada’s history district leaders or teacher fed- burnout among teachers, more
by non-Indigenous teachers of genocide against Indigenous eration advocates — on how to
The education system needs during a workshop we delivered children and communities, com- respond, process and educate ❱❱ PAGE 12 Reckoning with the
FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2021 Canada News 11
Meng for the two Michaels: Lessons for the

world from the China-Canada prisoner swap
BY DAVID WEBSTER, it wants to be feared, respected Hostage diplomacy, in other ton has argued, those closed- the U.S., the U.K. and Australia
Département d’Histoire, and to possess the same ability words, is nothing new. door conversations were ut- aimed at reining in the Chinese
Bishop’s University to bend and change the rules. Diplomatic ties established terly ineffective in promoting in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Conversation Canadian policy-makers would Canadian efforts since then human rights. Yet they were But what’s really needed is
be wise to understand China have aimed to bring China highly effective in sidelining a policy informed by history
seeks equality and respect, and into the “rules-based interna- human rights groups. and an understanding of China
As Canada celebrates the re- learn from history to forge a tional order.” Pierre Trudeau’s Canada declined to push that’s as astute as Canada’s un-
turn of the “two Michaels,” it’s more effective China strategy. government defied American China on human rights partly derstanding of its neighbour to
worth asking what this hostage Getting along with the Amer- wishes when it established dip- because it was in competition the south.
diplomacy saga tells us about icans has been central to Ca- lomatic relations with the Peo- with other countries for what History matters to Chinese
Canada-China relations and nadian foreign policy for more ple’s Republic of China in 1971. had become its primary China policy-makers. Historical analo-
global affairs more broadly. than a century. It’s time to Canadian aid had largely priority: trade. Canada began gies often telegraph Chinese in-
Michael Kovrig and Michael learn how to apply the lessons been aimed at remaking China, making huge trade missions to tentions. Following the Chinese
Spavor were airborne soon af- learned to effectively manage similar to the efforts of Cana- China, happy to snap up scraps Revolution, China sought sought
ter Huawei executive Meng the relationship with what is dian missionaries who tried to tossed to it by a greater power. a return to respect and to the
Wanzhou, held in Vancouver, now the world’s other Implied impunity centre of the global economy.
reached a deferred prosecu- superpower. Is it any surprise that It’s emerged in a strong po-
tion agreement with the United A look back in time in 2018, Chinese offi- sition after the “century of hu-
States government. reveals that tit-for-tat cials felt they could ar- miliation” that allowed West-
Both China and Canada can hostage diplomacy did rest Canadians with im- ern powers to dictate to it.
claim to have achieved their not start with Meng’s Both China and Canada punity and hold them What can Canada do?
goals — the two Michaels flew arrest. without reprisals? De- Canada could consider re-
back to Canada to be greeted by In 1967, British au-
can claim to have cades of Canadian poli- storing the position of an em-
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau thorities cracked down achieved their goals... cy had shown them they bassy “Sinologist” (China ex-
while Meng Wanzhou had a tri- on protesters in Hong had little to fear. pert) in Beijing. Universities
umphant return to China. Kong. They banned China arrested Ca- could do more to teach future
But China has emerged the three pro-Communist nadian citizen Huse- leaders about Chinese history.
big winner after quietly signal- China newspapers and yin Celil in 2006 and The media could report on Chi-
ling its willingness to exchange jailed some of their brushed aside Cana- na in more depth, as it does on
prisoners for some time. Bei- workers, including Chinese change China in the late 19th dian “quiet diplomacy” easily. U.S. affairs.
jing retaliated for Meng’s 2018 citizens. and early 20th centuries. Canada’s ambassador cared so At the same time, Canadian
arrest by detaining Kovrig and Chinese authorities immedi- Since the 1970s, Canada’s little for the case that he even policy-makers must stop say-
Spavor in short order. When ately retaliated by targeting the China policy has veered be- forgot Celil was Canadian. ing one thing and doing the op-
Meng was freed, so was the Ca- only British journalist in China. tween a missionary impulse Canadian diplomats clearly posite. Chinese officials study
nadian duo, surprising pundits Reuters correspondent Antho- to transform the country and pulled off a clever solution to Canada, too. Successive Cana-
and experts. It was tit for tat, ny Grey spent 777 days under a merchant impulse to make the two Michaels dilemma, but dian prime ministers and other
Meng for the Michaels. house arrest. After the Chinese money. Both were about “en- it was hardly an integrated ap- leaders have shown the world
Many experts had expected newspaper workers completed gagement,” trying to have Chi- proach given two-way trade has they’ll holler about human
China to wait a few months to a two-year jail term, Grey was na follow international norms. continued apace. rights to domestic audiences
maintain the claim that the two quickly set free as well. But in 1997, Canadian did an Today, there are already calls while begging China for more
Canadians had been arrested Chinese premier Zhou Enlai about-face when Jean Chré- in Canada for a return to busi- trade. They’ll talk and tweet
for real crimes. even told The Globe and Mail tien’s government stopped ness “as usual” (literally) with about feminist foreign policies
The swiftness of the Chi- correspondent in China (my supporting a United Nations China. while shipping weapons sys-
nese action signalled, instead, a father, incidentally) that Grey resolution on human rights in But there are also demands tems to Saudi Arabia.
more important message to the would be welcome to resume China in favour of “bilateral hu- for a much tougher stand Rather than behaving like a
world from the governing Chi- his Reuters duties. Zhou openly man rights dialogues” with the against China, and calls for Can- “paper tiger,” Canada needs to
nese Communist Party: Don’t joked about his ability to jail or Chinese. ada to be allowed into the new embark on a consistent rights-
mess with us. free the reporter at will. As China expert Charles Bur- AUKUS security pact between based policy, integrated into
China seeks the same glob- all aspects of foreign policy and
al privileges the United States trade as well as domestic policy.
currently has and takes for After all, both Canada and Chi-
granted. When it comes to the na have abysmal human rights
“rules-based international or- records on Indigenous people
der” so beloved by Canada and — whether Cree or Uighur, Ti-
like-minded states, the U.S. gov- betan or Atikamekw — and have
ernment is both proponent and committed historical, ongoing
periodic abstainer. genocide against them.
In other words, the U.S. plays It’s time for Canada to con-
by the rules when it’s in the sistently match rhetoric to
American national interest actions. Perhaps celebrations
to do so. It breaks those rules about the return of the two Mi-
when it wants to. chaels will lead to new policies
Playing by the rules when that would avoid a repetition. ■
it’s convenient
China’s government wants This article is republished
the same privilege. After its from The Conversation under a
“peaceful rise” to world power, Michael Spavor (left) and Michael Kovrig (right) (PAEKTU CULTURAL EXCHANGE/FACEBOOK; @MICHAELKOVRIG/TWITTER) Creative Commons license.
12 Canada News OCTOBER 1, 2021 FRIDAY
Canadian populism got shut out this

election — but it’s still a growing movement
BY DJAMILA MONES, Saskatchewan and Alberta, and Western Independence Party.
Université du Québec à made personalities of people It aims to gain political power
Montréal (UQAM) like William Aberhart, the first the way the Bloc Québecois has
The Conversation Social Credit premier of Alber- managed to do in Québec.
ta, and former Reform Party But the Mavericks only won
leader Preston Manning. 35,278 votes in the election,
Canada’s multiculturalism Over the course of Canadian mostly in Alberta (25,718) and
policies make it appear Ca- history, populism has been as- Saskatchewan (7,250).
nadians could be immune to sociated with a wide variety of The populist movement in
populism. Could a country ideologies — from socialism to western Canada is driven by the
committed to preserving and neoliberalism, represented by persistent feeling of “western
enhancing its multicultural parties ranging from the pro- alienation” — the continued
heritage be seduced by popu- gressive, socialist Co-operative impression that the West lacks
lism, so often associated with Commonwealth Federation control over the federal polit-
nativism and nationalism? (CCF) founded in the 1930s to ical agenda. Some in the West
Even though the People’s the right-wing, western Cana- feel they’re poorly represented
Party of Canada (PPC) failed to da-based Reform Party. Popu- in federal politics and that east-
win a single seat in the recent lism’s foundation is the opposi- ern Canada takes advantage of
federal election, it still tripled tion between ostensibly moral and benefits from their natural
its share of the popular vote. citizens and corrupt elites. resources.
That requires a serious discus- During the 2021 federal elec- The rhetoric of western
sion about contemporary Cana- tion, populism was clearly asso- alienation is used to denounce
dian populism, since it’s posing ciated with the anti-vax move- federal or eastern control over
risks to the tenor of Canadian ment, and linked mostly to the provincial affairs and the sup-
politics and the unity of the PPC led by former Conserva- Maxime Bernier, leader of the People’s Party of Canada (MAXIME BERNIER/FACEBOOK) posed obstacles the federal gov-
country. tive cabinet minister Maxime ernment places in the way of
First we need to clarify what’s Bernier. between Canadians and cor- Canada) founded by Alberta sep- the West’s economic develop-
actually meant by the term While the PPC only got five rupt establishment parties or aratist Peter Downing in 2020 ment — from the carbon tax to
populism. Often conflated with per cent of the popular vote bureaucrats. and led since then by former equalization programs.
its far-right proponents, popu- (842,969 ballots), that was a Wexit: Another form of Conservative MP Jay Hill. There’s also resentment fu-
lism in Canada has historically marked increase from the 1.6 Canadian populism The party and its provincial elled by the perception that
allowed its adherents to gain per cent it won in the 2019 elec- The Wexit movement is an- branches draw on a long histo- Québec is privileged at the ex-
visibility on the political stage. tion. The party received more other current and ongoing exam- ry of separatism in the West — pense of the West.
Populism, as a strategy, gave than half its votes in Ontario ple of Canadian populism, repre- from the Reform Party to the Again, true to most populist
rise to parties like Social Credit and Québec. The PPC platform sented by the federal Maverick Western Canada Concept, the
that was particularly popular in draws on the supposed divide Party (formerly known as Wexit Western Block Party and the ❱❱ PAGE 13 Canadian populism got
Reckoning with the...

❰❰ 10 ignorance from Cana- But when teachers receive cussing its legacies, truths and and authority for determin- address ongoing harms against
dians and more harms little to no direction from their responsibilities by coming to- ing what is best for Indigenous Indigenous students.
of settler colonialism ministries or school boards, gether to talk with Indigenous children. They should be deter- If the leadership of min-
and anti-Indigenous racism in they are alone in classrooms, educators, leaders and advo- mining what all students need istries, school districts and
schools. disconnected from their peers cates. Decolonizing education to learn on Indigenous Land. teacher unions aren’t willing
This silence by the educa- in processing these colonial is a long process that requires Former senator and Truth to discuss the unmarked graves
tion system is potent and the atrocities and many revert to an systemic shifts to address ongo- and Reconciliation Commis- of Indigenous children as leg-
message clear: reckoning with individualized null response. ing cultural harms, anti-Indig- sion (TRC) chair Murray Sin- acies of colonialism and geno-
genocidal truths and the ongo- Some are reluctant to devel- enous racism and oppression clair has emphasized that ed- cide that continue in education,
ing impacts of these harms in op genuine relationships with against Indigenous children. ucation is the way towards then teachers will individual-
present day classrooms is not Indigenous students or make This systemic approach re- reconciliation, and we believe ly turn off, drop out and end
a priority but rather a personal connections with Indigenous quires a co-ordinated mandate teacher education is the means up silent on these harms that
decision left up to the individu- Peoples, preferring to be a per- by education ministries, school for disrupting the system’s ig- continue to be reproduced in
al teacher. fect stranger. Others become boards/districts, teacher col- norance, settler colonialism schools.
Settler teachers cannot tack- hesitant to engage with or teach leges and teacher federations to and white normativity. But ed- When ministries are not
le reconciliation alone the difficult knowledge of colo- take a healing path forward with ucation can only implement mandating this work of reck-
Many teachers long for a nialism, preferring settler in- Indigenous partners, to move the TRC’s Calls to Action when oning, repairing and heal-
transformation of the edu- nocence. While others centre towards a collaborative, rela- it acts as a collective system fo- ing by the whole education
cation system towards more themselves as the baffled teach- tional and culturally responsive cused on transformation. system, the momentum for
respectful relationships and er, unable to critically examine system that is accountable to Teachers cannot do this teacher accountability in edu-
equitable partnerships with their own complicity in the set- Indigenous Peoples and com- transformation alone in their cation-as-reconciliation risks
Indigenous communities. They tler colonial structure of educa- munities. classrooms. We need to hold being lost, buried and forgot-
hope for a systemic effort that tion. Settler educators need to ministries, school districts and ten. ■
will concretely improve Indig- What does the education sys- decentre themselves in these teacher federations to account
enous students’ lives and make tem need to do? partnerships so Indigenous for space and funding to train This article is republished
reconciliation a daily commit- The education system must people can speak more, take up the whole system to recognize from The Conversation under a
ment in schools. resist shying away from dis- space and reclaim their place anti-Indigenous racism, and Creative Commons license.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2021 Canada News 13
Canadians shouldn’t take for granted the

recent peaceful transition after the election
BY JACK L. ROZDILSKY, presidency would be a refusal to with anti-democratic incidents. stream science and the creep- ti-vaxxers in different parts of
York University, Canada commit to a peaceful transition Incidents ranged from small- ing influence of extremism in Ontario. And on Aug. 27, a Lib-
The Conversation of power, culminating in a siege er instances of intimidation to public discourse. eral campaign event in Bolton,
on the U.S. Capitol. larger acts of outright violence. During a campaign stop in Ont., was cancelled due to safe-
Repeatedly underestimat- In total, these incidents did London, Ont., the incumbent ty concerns.
Prime Minister Justin ed as a wild card or silly show- not threaten the integrity of Prime Minister Trudeau was The election ended with sen-
Trudeau is back in power and man, Trump muscled his way the election or undermine the pelted by gravel as he boarded timents that a “deeply polar-
the makeup of Parliament re- into power. In the meantime, peaceful transition of power — a bus after a campaign stop. Af- ized” brand of politics has been
mains similar to how it was a permissive environment was this time. ter the incident, Trudeau dis- brought to Canada’s doorstep.
prior to the federal election. created for various violent ex- Nonetheless no matter how missed the incident by saying: What’s next?
In the wake of the vote, the tremists to attempt to halt the small or isolated these inci- “There was little bits of gravel … With the election past, what
caustic protest language and peaceful transition of power. dents were, a red flag is waving It’s no big deal.” will those people who fervent-
aggressive actions that were di- Are Canadian wild cards that cannot be ignored. Police have since laid charges ly protested candidates do now
rected at candidates during the waiting in the wings? The agitators protesting of assault with a weapon on the that they no longer have an
campaign has raised questions The insurrectionist attack during the federal election alleged stone thrower, a man election at which they can di-
around whether this was “a new on the Capitol was not spon- were part of an anti-vaccine who had been a local riding as- rect their fervour. Will another
brand of Canadian political vio- taneous. Existing anti-govern- movement emerging from dis- sociation president for the Peo- iteration of this movement ma-
lence.” ment groups, hate groups and content with the management ple’s Party of Canada. terialize in the future to harass
With the final tallies of the adherents of far right ideolo- of the COVID-19 public health The gravel-throwing inci- candidates in the next election?
votes confirmed, a series of gies overlapped with groups crisis. This movement’s char- dent was in the context of what Should malcontents build
constitutional, conventional protesting COVID-19 vaccina- acteristics include: distrust of was referred to as a “rocky on their limited success and at-
and practical steps are current- tions and lockdowns. Merging the government and other in- start” to Trudeau’s campaign. tempt to mess up the outcome
ly taking place to provide for under the umbrella of support- stitutions, animosity towards Challenges of electioneering of future elections, an indeco-
the peaceful transition of pow- ing Trump, the more militant experts and authorities, cultur- were compounded with intense rously contested race can result
er. It is taken for granted that members of these groups con- al grievances, rejection of main- and vitriolic protests from an- in electoral chaos. It has been
after each and every election, a verged to violently obstruct suggested that Canada’s con-
peaceful transfer of power will congressional procedures to stitution leaves gaps on how or
take place. certify the results of the 2020 when a prime minister assumes
The 2020 United States pres- election. or leaves office, allowing com-
idential election challenges The final weeks of the Trump peting theories of precedent
and the subsequent capitol in- presidency featured unprec- and propriety to fill the vacuum.
surrection serve as reminders edented attacks on one of the While the outcomes of the
that democracy is fragile. While world’s most visible and influ- 2021 federal election main-
not approaching the levels of ential democracies. The cau- tained the status quo, the dis-
dysfunction in the U.S., the tionary tale is that it did hap- content took a few baby steps in
2021 federal election revealed pen, and the peaceful transfer the direction of serious threats
that Canada is also subject to of power was threatened. to the democratic process. One
pressures of anti-democratic Red flags in Canada hopes this does not mature into
threats from within. For Canada to shrug off elec- a future election-related insur-
A cautionary tale tion violence as a threat that rection attempt taking place at
In the days following the died along with Trump’s presi- the Centre Block of Parliament
June 2015 golden escalator dency, or as a purely American in Ottawa. ■
ride when Donald Trump an- ailment, is as dangerous as it is
nounced his run for the presi- apathetic. While nowhere near This article is republished
dency, it was not imagined that the scale of the election chaos from The Conversation under a
five years and seven months in the U.S., the Canadian 2021 Creative Commons license.
later the capstone of the Trump federal election was marred (DENNIS SYLVESTER HURD/FLICKR, PUBLIC DOMAIN)
Canadian populism got...

❰❰ 12 movements, western ous employment issues. Since rowly held views like anti-vac- necessarily with its workers. It between environmentalist and
alienation draws on 2014, 23 per cent of jobs in the cination, and consequently links popular resentment with “energy citizens,” between an-
a supposed opposi- oil and gas industry in Cana- distract from issues Canadians a powerful industry’s interests. ti-vaxxers and those who favour
tion between upstanding citi- da have been lost. Alberta and most care about, like income As illustrated by the Confed- COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
zens (the resource-producing, Saskatchewan, dependent on inequality, job creation and cli- eration of Tomorrow surveys — It’s true that Bernier failed to
hard-working, dispossessed oil-extractive industries, have mate action. annual studies conducted by an get re-elected in his own Qué-
people of the West) and the been particularly hard hit. They can destabilize and have association of Canadian public bec riding and that the Mav-
elites who they believe steal The state of populism an impact on the platforms of policy organizations — Canada erick Party only gained a scat-
from them (the federal govern- post-election conventional, mainstream par- is a divided nation. The main tering of votes. But that hardly
ment, the liberal elites of Otta- So what did Canada’s current ties and influence the popular areas of tension concern, nota- means populism is defeated in
wa, but also multiculturalists populism movement achieve vote. bly, the nature of the values that Canada.■
and environmentalists). during the election campaign? Finally, some forms of con- Canadians believe they share.
Of course, contemporary It showed today’s populists temporary populism in Canada, Contemporary Canadi- This article is republished
populism in the West doesn’t can disrupt campaigns, some- like Wexit, are closely aligned an populism reinforces these from The Conversation under a
come from nowhere — the times using violence. with the interests of the oil in- moral divides — between west- Creative Commons license.
region has experienced seri- They can fuel debate on nar- dustry and its expansion — not erners and eastern Canadians,
14 World News OCTOBER 1, 2021 FRIDAY
Who is Fumio Kishida,

Japan’s new prime minister?
BY CRAIG MARK, Kyoritsu Japan’s ally, the US. leading Japan’s post-pandemic this would anger neighbouring Forces – including developing
Women’s University After Kono replaced him as recovery. China and South Korea. longer-range missiles – to de-
The Conversation foreign minister, Kishida was During his leadership cam- How about foreign affairs? ter China’s incursions in the
briefly defence minister, and paign, Kishida pledged to spend In foreign affairs, little is like- East China Sea. He also backs
then took the post of LDP pol- tens of trillions of yen to stim- ly to change. Kishida will likely Taiwan’s application to join the
Fumiko Kishida will become icy chief. ulate the economy, prioritising continue Japan’s promotion of Comprehensive and Progres-
the next prime minister of Ja- As a leader of one of the LDP’s those on lower incomes, strug- the Quad – the security group- sive Agreement for Trans-Pa-
pan after winning a dramat- powerful factions, which were gling regional areas and cific Partnership (CPTPP)
ic runoff in the ruling Liberal instrumental to his victory in the tourism industry. This — a major trade agreement
Democratic Party (LDP) lead- the leadership vote, Kishida is would take Japan further China is also seeking to join.
ership vote today. perceived as more able to build from Abe’s neo-liberal eco- However, Kishida regards
He will be Japan’s third prime consensus than the headstrong nomic policies – nicknamed Kishida is maintaining stable relations
minister in just over a year, re- Kono. “Abenomics” – which wors- with Beijing as a priority, as
placing the deeply unpopular Unlike Kono and his similarly ened income inequality in perceived China remains Japan’s larg-
Yoshihide Suga, whose fortunes abstinent predecessors Abe and society. as more est trading partner.
began to fall after he followed Suga, Kishida does enjoy a drink, While committed to hav- Does the opposition
Shinzo Abe into the prime min- having once reportedly chal- ing Japan reach net-zero able to have a shot in the elec-
ister’s office last September. lenged Russian Foreign Minis- carbon emissions by 2050, tion?
In a surprise result, Kishida, ter Sergey Lavrov to a drinking Kishida has supported rebuild Even though the LDP is
a former foreign minister, nar- contest of vodka and sake. starting the country’s idle consensus favoured to win the national
rowly beat his main rival, Taro Critics say Kishida is too in- nuclear reactors, investing election, Kishida’s elevation
Kono, the popular vaccine min- decisive, which could leave him in small modular reactors than the to prime minister will give a
ister, 256–255 in the first round open to influence by the par- and fusion technology to do bit more hope to the opposi-
of voting by party members. ty’s faction chiefs, particularly so. headstrong tion parties, who would have
The two female candidates, ul- those from Abe’s more hardline Although Kono made the Kono. feared campaigning against
tra-nationalist Sanae Takaichi nationalist group. surprising move to come the high-profile Kono.
and liberal Seiko Noda, mean- This could result in a push to out in support of same-sex The main opposition
while, were eliminated. alter Japan’s constitution to al- marriage during the cam- Constitutional Democratic
In the second round of voting, low a more belligerent defence paign, Kishida is noncom- Party has formed an agree-
which is dominated by the LDP’s policy and further delay re- mittal on the issue. ment with the Japanese
members in the Diet (Japan’s forms to gender equality, which He also does not favour fe- ing made up of Japan, the US, Communist Party and two
parliament), Takaichi’s sup- would go against the majority of male imperial succession, but he Australia and India — and may other minor parties not to run
porters, with the backing of Abe, public opinion. does support changing the law even adopt Kono’s proposal to against each other in order to
threw their weight behind Kishi- Where does Kishida stand to allow women to keep their develop nuclear-powered sub- maximise their chances of un-
da and secured his election. on major issues? family names after marriage. marines. seating marginal LDP mem-
Kishida’s rise through the Kishida will be designated Ja- As a member of the nation- Japan may also seek to join bers.
ranks pan’s 100th prime minister by alist lobby group Nippon Kaigi, the Five Eyes intelligence-shar- This alliance is still unlikely
The mild-mannered Kishi- a special session of the Diet on Kishida says he will “consid- ing alliance, another of Kono’s to defeat the LDP, but it may be
da, 64, comes from a family of October 4, and then formally ap- er” visiting the controversial suggestions. enough to substantially reduce
parliamentarians — both his pointed by Emperor Naruhito. Yasukuni shrine dedicated to Kishida will continue to
grandfather and father were He is then expected to an- Japan’s war dead, even though boost Japan’s Self-Defence ❱❱ PAGE 20 Who is Fumio
members in the Diet. nounce his new cabinet. Many
As a child, Kishida spent three party heavyweights are likely
years in New York when his fa- to stay in place, such as dep-
ther was posted to the US as a uty Prime Minister Taro Aso,
senior trade ministry official, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu
where he attended public school Motegi and Defence Minister
in Queens. After graduating Nobuo Kishi, Abe’s younger
from prestigious Waseda Uni- brother.
versity in Tokyo, Kishida had a Takaichi and Noda may also
short stint in banking before be- be returned to the cabinet to
coming a member of the House boost gender equality, with
of Representatives in 1993. only two women in the outgo-
As Japan’s longest-serving, ing Suga cabinet. Kono will also
post-war foreign minister in likely be kept in the cabinet, if
Abe’s government from 2012– only to keep his ambitions in
17, Kishida helped arrange US check.
President Barack Obama’s his- Kishida will then immediate-
toric visit to Hiroshima Peace ly lead his party into a national
Memorial Park in 2016. election, which must be held
Despite representing Hiro- before November 28.
shima in parliament, he defend- Assuming the LDP retains
ed Japan’s policy of remaining power, which is highly expect-
out of the Treaty on the Pro- ed, Kishida will face the chal-
hibition of Nuclear Weapons, lenge of completing Japan’s
citing the need to rely on the much-criticised COVID-19
extended nuclear deterrence of vaccination rollout and then Fumio Kishida in 2015 (UN DRR/FLICKR, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2021 World News 15
Global Britain is becoming a stooge of the US

BY VICTORIA HONEYMAN, fighting for the ideals the UK By 2016, with the arrival of
University of Leeds holds dear. But when push Donald Trump in the White
The Conversation came to shove in Afghanistan, House, many observers of Brit-
here were the British, again fol- ish foreign policy recognised
lowing the US’s lead. that the heady days of the
The scenes as American and In his first official private Thatcher-Reagan or Blair-Bush
British troops withdrew from meeting with US president Joe partnerships were gone. In the
Afghanistan were heartbreak- Biden since Biden took office, short term, Britain’s priorities
ing. People desperate to leave Boris Johnson was keen to were the Brexit negotiations
the country they love, offering leverage the “special relation- and to build a relationship with
up their children for transpor- ship” to build Britain’s inter- Trump, beginning with a state
tation to a more peaceful coun- national status and cement its visit to the UK. While the rela-
try, being crushed to death for a position as the ally of choice tionship between Theresa May
chance at freedom. for the US. But a closer look at and Trump may not have been
Those horrific scenes were the status of this relationship perfect (nor the relationship
also visual confirmation of suggests the UK has, instead of between Johnson and Trump)
Britain’s waning influence in taking a step towards becom- it did at least keep the train on
the world, despite hoping to ing “Global Britain”, traded its the tracks as far as the relation-
become “Global Britain” in the leading role in the EU for a sub- ship was concerned.
wake of Brexit. Tom Tugend- ordinate one in the shadow of The election of Biden, the UK PM Boris Johnson and US Pres. Joe Biden (PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN/FACEBOOK)
hat, a Conservative member of the US. Obama-era vice president and
parliament and chair of the for- The “special relationship’” a Democrat, promised some- working on and the success was ceived decline they see in the
eign affairs select committee, is built on military coopera- one perhaps more level-headed counted, in both London and UK’s global influence.
described the departure from tion and the sharing of intelli- than Trump. Still, there were Brussels, as a sign of improving As happened in Suez, the UK
Afghanistan as “the biggest for- gence and the complementary concerns over Biden’s – an relations with Washington. has been reminded that it is an
eign policy disaster since Suez”. elements of the US and UK in- Irish-American Catholic’s – However, the UK govern- – but not the only – important
The 1956 Suez crisis – which telligence services allow valu- views on Northern Ireland and ment would be foolish to be- country internationally. It isn’t
ended with the US pressuring able information to travel in the Brexit negotiations, com- lieve their own hype. The “spe- in the big leagues, and therefore
the British and French to end both directions. Any problems pounded by some objection- cial relationship” is far more it will need to ensure it remains
their invasion of Egypt – was a or issues within the relation- able comments Johnson made special in London than it is in allied to a much bigger player if
turning point in British foreign ship, such as the repercussions about Obama when Biden was Washington and the election it wants to see its influence bear
policy. It held up a mirror to the of the tragic death of Harry vice president. of Biden will not change that. fruit.
British political establishment, Dunn after being hit by a vehi- Moving forward While a post-Brexit Britain That could have been the EU
showing the public very clearly cle driven by the wife of a US So far, we have seen very little needs the US more than ever, perhaps, or even the UN se-
how Britain’s overseas influ- intelligence officer, are quickly of that “specialness” between the US needs the UK consid- curity council or Nato. But as
ence had declined. compartmentalised and largely Biden and Johnson, but ten- erably less, and benefits come Britain has done before, it has
The Leave campaign pitched forgotten about to maintain the sions and complaints over Af- with costs. looked to the US – an example,
post-EU Britain as an out- working practices of the two ghanistan were eased with two After his meeting with Biden, perhaps, of what French foreign
ward-looking world leader, partners. recent initiatives. Johnson claimed he hadn’t minister Clement Beaune de-
The first was AUKUS, the been asked about Northern scribed as Britain’s “accepted
deal between the US, UK and Ireland and the issue of Brexit. vassalisation”.
Australia to provide nuclear The White House transcripts Britain in the 1950s was
submarines for use in the Pacif- disagreed, demonstrating that wedded to the US, acting as a
ic region. the US are unafraid to demand partner rather than leading the
Beyond its immediate finan- action and the UK can do very charge. Now, while the UK con-
cial benefits for the UK, this little to frustrate them. While tinues to support the US, the in-
deal builds a stronger relation- Johnson may be able to ignore fluence it has seems negligible.
ship with Australia, where Brit- Biden’s demands in private, he While it may bring comfort to
ain is very keen to sign a trade will be far less able if they ever the UK to feel it is a partner to
deal, and it demonstrates some become loudly public. a superpower, being its stooge
closeness between the UK and The US has always been able or subordinate is an unpleas-
the US. Being able to “get one to shout “jump” and the UK ant place to be, no matter how
over” on the French is, for some, ask “how high?” but the public much you tell yourself it values
just an added benefit. humiliation which goes with your opinion. ■
The second was the easing of that does not fit well with the
travel restrictions between the post-Brexit rhetoric of a strong, This article is republished
US and the UK (and large parts “global” Britain. Voters may from The Conversation under a
of the EU). This was some- well hold the Johnson govern- Creative Commons license.
thing the UK and EU had been ment responsible for any per-
Duterte ‘concerned’ over...

❰❰ 4 hand, acknowledged partnership, citing its benefit to Treaty, an agreement inked by
Australia’s right to im- maintaining peace and security the 10-member Association
prove its submarine in Southeast Asia. of Southeast Asian Nations in
defense capability. Roque on Monday expressed 1995 to preserve the region as a
Last week, Foreign Affairs hope that the trilateral pact nuclear weapon-free zone and
Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. would not violate the Southeast free from all other weapons of
also welcomed the AUKUS Asia Nuclear Weapon Free Zone mass destruction. ■
16 World News OCTOBER 1, 2021 FRIDAY
China will no More guns, pandemic stress

longer build and a police legitimacy crisis
overseas coal created perfect conditions
power plants for homicide spike in 2020
– what energy BY JUSTIN NIX, University of
Nebraska Omaha
sparked a police legitimacy cri-
sis. In short, this means citizens’
son effect” as a factor in the 17%
hike in homicides recorded in
projects will it The Conversation trust in police was diminished.

The ‘Ferguson effect’
When trust in the police falls
U.S. cities after Michael Brown
was shot by a police officer in the
Missouri city in 2014.
invest in instead? Homicides in the U.S. spiked

by almost 30% in 2020.
That was the main take-
as dramatically as it did follow-
ing Floyd’s murder, the general
public may become less likely to
More guns = more gun ho-
micides
There is also evidence that
away from figures released on call 911 to report crimes or oth- gun carrying increased in 2020.
Sept. 27, 2021, by the FBI that erwise engage with the criminal Crime analyst Jeff Asher and
showed almost uniform in- justice system. Indeed, research data scientist Rob Arthur found
creases across America in the by Desmond Ang at Harvard that in 10 cities, although police
murder rate. University suggests that after made fewer arrests in 2020, the
The fact that big cities, small Floyd’s death, 911 calls dropped number of gun seizures went
cities, suburbs and rural areas significantly in the eight cities up. This suggests more people
– in both blue and red states – he and his colleagues studied. were illegally carrying guns in
experienced similar increases High-profile cases of police 2020. And research has long
in homicides suggests that na- brutality are also associated confirmed that gun ownership
tionwide events or trends were with what has become known as is linked to higher rates of fire-
behind the rise. the “Ferguson effect,” in which arm homicides.
The COVID-19 pandemic police officers make fewer stops When there are more guns
would be one obvious explana- that occasionally result in il- in the hands of emboldened of-
tion given its pervasiveness in legal guns being taken off the fenders, then the likely result is
China Pres. Xi Jinping (PAUL KAGAME/FLICKR, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) 2020. But as a criminologist, I streets. more attempted and completed
know that homicide rates are Research shows that a small murders. That this all happened
BY YIXIAN SUN, University to renewable energy – or simply affected by a number of factors. number of people are dispro- during the height of a pandem-
of Bath disappear? And what happened in 2020 portionately involved in violent ic means 2020 was a perfect
The Conversation Chinese support for renew- was a confluence of events that crime. If this small group felt storm of factors that proved ca-
ables abroad created the perfect conditions emboldened as a result of the pable of producing the largest
One positive sign came in the for a spike in murders. legitimacy crisis, then it might single-year homicide spike on
Chinese President Xi Jinping same speech to the UN, when Xi Stress and a lack of support help explain the increase in ho- record. ■
recently announced at the UN indicated that “China will step COVID-19 likely did have micides.
General Assembly that China up support for other developing an impact. People were under Richard Rosenfeld, a crimi- This article is republished
“will not build new coal-fired countries in developing green increased psychological and nologist at the University of Mis- from The Conversation under a
power projects abroad”. and low-carbon energy”. financial pressure during the souri-St. Louis, cited the “Fergu- Creative Commons license.
Chinese banks have already China’s overseas energy pandemic. Criminologists have
swung into gear. Three days after investments grew as part of long pointed to “strain theory”
Xi’s speech, the Bank of China de- the belt and road initiative. to explain criminal behavior.
clared it would no longer provide Launched in 2013, Xi’s signature Stressors – such as unemploy-
financing for new coal mining foreign-policy effort increased ment, isolation and uncertainty
and power projects outside Chi- China’s cooperation with the about the future – can lead to
na from the last quarter of 2021. rest of the world through infra- increased frustration and an-
Xi’s statement is expected to structure development, unim- ger. People experiencing these
affect at least 54 gigawatts of peded trade, financial integra- negative emotions are more
proposed China-backed coal tion and policy coordination. prone to turn to crime when
plants that are not yet under China has continued to provide they lack access to more posi-
construction. Shelving these finance for the belt and road tive coping mechanisms. And
would save CO₂ emissions initiative during the pandem- previous research has shown
equivalent to three months of ic, and investment in renew- how financial stressors and a
global emissions. ables made up most (57%) of lack of social support work to-
This pledge from the world’s the country’s financial support gether to influence the overall
largest public financier of over- for overseas energy projects in homicide rate.
seas coal plants could usher in a 2020 – up from 38% in 2019. But the pandemic wasn’t the
new era of low-carbon develop- Beijing has supported wind only major event of 2020 that
ment. But that depends on what and solar projects in more than likely contributed to the in-
happens in the countries where 20 developing countries since creased homicide rates. In May
China had funnelled money 2013, including Ethiopia and of that year, George Floyd was
into coal power. Many of these Kenya. And Chinese banks and murdered by a police officer in
places urgently need new ener- companies have also expanded Minneapolis.
gy infrastructure. Will China’s Floyd’s murder and the large-
investments here be redirected ❱❱ PAGE 22 China will no longer scale protests that followed
FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2021 World News 17
Germans have voted to replace

Angela Merkel – here are 7 ways
to understand the results so far
BY MATT FITZPATRICK, about succession. ties with names that often stem
Flinders University In the last few years, the par- from the colours associated
The Conversation ty had experimented with two with the parties.
Merkel-style centrists. The These include another
first, Annegret Kramp-Karren- “grand coalition” of the two
On Sunday, Germans went to bauer, quit the leadership in biggest parties, the SPD and the
the polls to decide who will suc- 2020 after a state election in CDU, “Kenya” (SPD, CDU, and
ceed retiring Angela Merkel as Thuringia saw her party court Green) or, perhaps less likely,
chancellor. far-right votes. “Jamaica” (CDU, Green and the
With a very close result as After another destabilising free marketeer Free Democrat-
counting continues, it could be party ballot, Armin Laschet — ic Party (FDP)). A “traffic light”
weeks or even months before a the pick of party apparatchiks — coalition (SPD, Green, and
government is formed. This is was chosen as leader. Many CDU FDP) is also possible.
what we know so far: voters would have preferred the Some had tipped that the so-
1. Progressive parties were Bavarian state premier Markus cialist Left Party (Die Linke)
the big winners Söder, who pulled out of the might have been brought into
Both the centre-left So- leadership race in April. a ruling coalition of left-wing
cial Democrats (SPD) and the Laschet’s avuncular style of parties for the first time at the
Greens added more than 5% to politics failed to gain traction federal level, a so-called “Red-
their vote. during the campaign, while the Red-Green” coalition. Even
It looks like the CDU has deadpan gravitas of the SPD’s with them, however, Scholz still
ended up with their worst per- Scholz and the urgent politics wouldn’t have enough seats to
formance of the post-war pe- of the Greens seemed to have govern.
riod, scoring just 24.1% of the struck a chord in sombre times. Coalition talks have already
popular vote. This means that 3. Even the winners didn’t begun behind the scenes. The
the SPD, currently on 25.8%, get what they wanted. main parties also began declar- Angela Merkel (ARNO MIKKOR VIA EU2017EE ESTONIAN PRESIDENC/FLICKR, CC BY 2.0)
will have the right to try and Talk of SPD “triumph” and ing their conditions for joining a
form a government. CDU “failure” is all relative. In ruling coalition during the elec- normal 5% of votes required. which saw the CDU and FDP
Few would have suggested 12 reality, the two parties are less tion coverage on Sunday night. 6. The far-right vote flirt with making use of Alterna-
months ago the SPD under Olaf than 2% apart and between 5. The minor players re- slipped overall tive for Germany votes to sup-
Scholz would be in a position them only hold about 50% of main minor But at 10.5% nationally, it is port them in state government.
to build a government. Having the national vote — scarcely In the last coalition discus- worryingly high in some areas, 7. Green politics is main-
endured a long, grinding period enough for another grand coa- sions of 2017, the free marke- particularly the eastern states stream
as the junior party in a “grand lition. teer FDP infamously chose to of Thuringia, Saxony and Sax- At one stage, the Greens had
coalition” with Merkel’s cen- In the last televised debate preserve their doctrinal purity ony-Anhalt. The far-right Al- entertained hopes of winning
tre-Right Christian Democrat- before the election, Scholz rather than take up a role as a ternative for Germany party the election. Even thought they
ic Union (CDU), pundits (in- made it clear if he had the junior partner in government. are the greatest threat to Ger- fell well short of this with 14.6%
cluding myself ) had wondered chance to build a coalition gov- It would be unsurprising to man democracy, and their vot- of the vote, the election was
whether the SPD could survive ernment, he would prefer to do see them do the same again, ers are not, as some imagine, fought on their territory, with
the serious challenge to their that with the Greens. with their leader already seem- pensioners who remember the all of the parties forced to ex-
base from the German Greens But the SPD won’t be able ing to have ruled out a so-called certainties of the old Commu- plain their plan for taking Ger-
and a more centrist CDU. to form government with the “traffic light” coalition with the nist regime fondly. Rather, they many to net zero emissions and
This weekend’s election has Greens alone. They will need a SPD and the Greens because it are young and middle-aged a green economy.
shown the party’s resilience in a third party. wouldn’t deliver the tax cuts East Germans who have voted Their success on the week-
fragmenting electoral landscape. 4. Coalition-forming talks the FDP want. against migration, anti-COVID end means Germany seems set
2. The CDU paid dearly for will be tricky Meanwhile the Left Party had measures and “the system”. to continue its support of these
fumbling their post-Merkel While coalition governments a horror night, losing almost All other parties have com- goals. ■
succession plan are the norm in Germany, half of their votes, and relying pletely ruled out political coop-
Merkel announced her re- forming a government won’t on complicated electoral rules eration with this pariah party, This article is republished
tirement in 2018, so the CDU be straightforward. There are a to be able to sit in the German an encouraging sign after the from The Conversation under a
had plenty of time to think number of coalition possibili- parliament with fewer than the debacle in Thuringia in 2020, Creative Commons license.
18 OCTOBER 1, 2021 FRIDAY
Entertainment
The music industry is
booming and can afford to
give artists a fairer deal
BY ANDREW WHITE, versal stands to reap substan- live performances. But this has
University of Nottingham tial rewards from this situa- been severely curtailed by the
The Conversation tion. Indeed, the company’s pandemic, which has affected
double-digit growth in revenue not only ticket sales, but also
over the last year indicates the merchandise and record sales
Shares in Universal Music strong financial health of the at concert venues.
Group surged after its US$40 music industry. Out of this fertile soil of dis-
billion (£29.5 billion) flotation The streaming platforms contentment have grown musi-
on September 21, suggesting themselves, though, have so far cian-led campaigns like Broken
many people think the music struggled to become profitable Record and Keep Music Alive,
business has a strong future. businesses – partly due to the whose influence in the UK led
One of them, Lucian Grainge, expensive licensing deals they to an official government inqui-
the company’s chief executive, have to pay the record com- ry in 2020 looking into the eco-
believes expansion will be driv- panies. Spotify has made sub- nomics of music streaming.
en partly by changing consum- stantial losses throughout its One of the main recommen-
er habits and the exploitation of existence. (Others, like Amazon dations of its recently released UK, as the world’s third-largest only come from increased rev-
undeveloped markets in some and Apple, use music streaming report is for the government to music market (after the US and enue. One answer to this prob-
of the world’s largest countries. as just part of their portfolios, establish a mechanism for de- Japan), it could still prove influ- lem would be to reconsider how
Industry statistics appear to making it difficult to identify its livering “[equitable remunera- ential elsewhere. much money we are prepared to
support Grainge’s optimism, precise contribution.) tion]” to musicians. This would A different tune spend on accessing music.
with total global revenue in the Musicians, meanwhile, re- aim to give them something like But big questions remain Monthly subscription fees
music industry increasing by main in the most precarious a 50/50 split with record labels about the future direction of for some of the major streaming
54% between 2014 and 2020. position, even while the indus- from royalties, as opposed to the music industry. Relations platforms hover around £9.99,
The upswing, after more than a try they work in is booming. In the current roughly estimated between record labels and the which is extremely good value
decade of decline, is being driv- the UK, 62% of musical artists 55/30/15 split between label, streaming platforms will need for access to most of the music
en by online streaming, which earned no more than £20,000 platform and artist respectively. to be continually scrutinised, that has ever been recorded.
now has a healthy share (62%) in 2019. The UK’s competition regu- especially where there are con- This price point has been
of overall revenue. In the past, they were able lator is now set to investigate cerns of potential monopolies. maintained for more than a
Most of that revenue ends to add to what they made in the power of the companies that And while fairer distribution of decade, perhaps because of the
up with the record labels, and streaming royalties – it takes dominate the UK’s music indus- revenue among labels, platforms general feeling that easy ac-
as one of the “big three” (along around 250 plays on Spotify to try. And while any recommen- and musicians will improve the
with Warner and Sony), Uni- make US$1 (£0.74) – through dations would relate only to the artists’ position, real change can ❱❱ PAGE 20 The music industry
Arjo Atayde topbills newest international

project of ABS-CBN
ABS-CBN Patrol” tonight (September 28) “He has a proven track-re- proud to be part of it. Hopeful- series entirely shot in the Phil-
that Arjo will lead the all-star cord of giving justice to the di- ly, the Cattleya Killer could be ippines co-produced by ABS-
cast of their upcoming series verse roles he has portrayed one if not the possible door to CBN and Hollywood’s Electric
Production to start within the titled “The Rebirth of the Cat- through the years. His depth ABS-CBN stepping into the for- Entertainment.
year tleya Killer.” and range as an actor will defi- eign industry,” shared Arjo, who “The Rebirth of the Cattleya
The world will once again wit- “The Rebirth of the Cattleya nitely give a fresh take on this last brought pride to the coun- Killer” is also one of the cho-
ness the world-class talent of Fil- Killer” is based on the 1996 Star 1996 classic,” he said. try with his performance in the sen participants in the 2021
ipinos in the newest international Cinema movie “Sa Aking Mga “First of all, ABS-CBN never critically-acclaimed iWantTFC Full Circle Series Lab, a talent
project of ABS-CBN that will star Kamay,” which is about a seri- fails to surprise me all the time original series “Bagman.” development program led by
2020 Asian Academy Creative al killer preying on unfaithful with all these characters. It’s “The Rebirth of the Cat- Matthieu Darras and Izabela
Awards Best Actor Arjo Atayde. wives previously portrayed by one hell of a story. It’s one hell tleya Killer” will be directed Igel with the Film Develop-
Director Ruel S. Bayani, head Aga Muhlach. of a character, and it’s not nor- by award-winning filmmaker ment Council of the Philippines
of ABS-CBN International Pro- Ruel said Arjo is the best mally done here. This is one of Dan Villegas, and helmed by (FDCP). It was selected along-
duction and Co-Production choice to lead the series, which the most powerful stories that the same local producers of “Al- side concepts from other coun-
division, announced on “TV will start filming this year. they’re gonna remake. I am most Paradise,” the first U.S. TV tries in Southeast Asia. ■
FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2021 Entertainment 19
How Miles Davis electrified jazz

BY BJÖRN HEILE, University energetic and accentuated rap- been more auspicious. In 1945, When Lights Are Low (1955). Davis. Parts of the jazz commu-
of Glasgow ping on the track Super Sticky. having failed to finish his ed- There was also the rise of “modal nity have never forgiven him for
The Conversation Listen, and after the velvet tones ucation at the prestigious Jul- jazz”, using scales as the basis for what they saw as “selling out”.
of John Coltrane’s tenor sax, liard School in New York City, melodic invention, rather than However, beyond jazz, his repu-
you’ll hear the instantly recog- he replaced Dizzy Gillespie in the underlying chords. The result tation has steadily grown.
Thirty years after his death, nisable plaintive wail of Davis’s a recording session for saxo- was Milestones (1958), one of his In 1975, Davis withdrew
the music of Miles Davis is go- muted trumpet from his song phonist Charlie Parker – the masterworks, which was soon from the public sphere. He had
ing strong. Davis defined the Flamenco Sketches – one of the most highly regarded jazz long been plagued by ill-
sound – and sounds – of modern most famous tunes from Kind of musician of that, if not any health, which was exacer-
jazz like no other in the way he Blue (1959), the best-selling jazz other time. Dizzy Gilles- bated by drug abuse. In-
integrated the electrical instru- album of all time. pie’s A Night in Tunisia is credibly, he re-emerged
mentation of genres like rock, Hip-hop artists like The a good example from this in 1980 and managed to
funk and soul. He is one of the Roots, Mobb Deep, The Beat- session. continue his career right
most influential musicians of nuts, Black Moon, Heavy Da Though Davis’s school- beyond jazz, his up to his death on Sep-
the 20th century, in any genre. and The Boyz, Notorious BIG, ing in the fast-paced, reputation has tember 28, 1991.
One way this can be seen is Diddy, Outkast, Queen Latifah aggressive bebop of the In this time he re-
just how often he is sampled by – to name just a few – have all 1940s proved essential, it steadily grown. mained open to new
modern musicians. sampled the jazz trumpeter. is his subsequent work as influences, including
For example, Davis can be Innovating jazz bandleader for which he is hip-hop, which he incor-
heard providing the smooth, Davis seemed destined for primarily remembered. porated in his last studio
laid-back accompaniment to greatness from the start. His He formed a Nonet album Doo-bop(1991).
Trademark Da Skydiver’s more recording debut could not have (group of nine musicians) So he would almost cer-
with an unusual line-up, tainly have approved his
including French horn and followed by the legendary Kind work being sampled.
tuba. Although the recordings of Blue. His unique skill as a composer
were not immediately success- These works cemented his and bandleader consisted of col-
ful, they heralded the “cool reputation, arguably making lecting an often diverse group of
jazz” that would prove popu- Davis the most admired jazz uniquely talented, often young,
lar with musicians dissatisfied musician of the 1960s. It is musicians and feeding off their
with the formulaic nature of characteristic that Davis wasn’t ideas – to the point that the au-
bebop and its emphasis on vir- satisfied with this adulation but thorship of many of his best-
tuosity. It would be the 1957 is- continued to experiment. known tracks is contested.
suing of the album Birth of the Electrifying jazz For example, many believe
Cool containing recordings dat- Fascinated by rock, funk and that the pianist Bill Evans com-
ing back to 1949, which brought soul, he added electric instru- posed “Blue in Green” from
the music to wider recognition. ments – electric guitars, pia- Kind of Blue. However, even if it
In those heady years, one style nos and keyboards – as well as is not always clear who contrib-
quickly followed another and a driving beat to his music. The uted which note, the results are
Davis was at the leading edge result was “fusion” and from almost always unmistakably
of most of them. After cool jazz that came the album In a Silent Miles. ■
came “hard bop” – a return to the Way(1969). Then came the “jazz
edginess of bebop combined with rock” of Bitches Brew(1970). As This article is republished
the emerging “rhythm ‘n’ blues”. it did for folk artist Bob Dylan, from The Conversation under a
Davis performing in 1971 (JPROCHE/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 4.0) This can be heard in the song electrification proved risky for Creative Commons license.
Kathryn and Daniel mark

TV comeback in “2G2BT”
ABS-CBN kind story that their fans will together in blockbuster films
surely love. “Can’t Help Falling In Love”
“2G2BT” is one of the surpris- and “Crazy Beautiful You.”
The Philippines’ premiere es Kathryn and Daniel have in Under the production of
loveteam and box-office roy- store for their fans for their 10th the RGE unit of ABS-CBN En-
alties Kathryn Bernardo and anniversary after they released tertainment, “2G2BT” offers
Daniel Padilla will make their a special documentary recently, another series that will etch
TV comeback in the roman- which featured the two remi- in the viewers hearts follow-
tic-drama series “2G2BT” in niscing the milestones they have ing the success of its previ-
time for their tenth anniversary achieved together and how their ous shows,”Bagong Umaga,”
as a loveteam. love story started. “Ipaglaban Mo,” “Nang Ngumiti
After starring in the hit se- Aside from their small-screen Ang Langit, and “Pamilya Ko.”
ries”Got 2 Believe,” “Pangako return, the series also marks the Watch out for this series
Sa ‘Yo,” and “La Luna Sangre,” much-awaited reunion of Kath- on Kapamilya Channel,A2Z,
KathNiel will be showing their Niel and renowned director TV5, Kapamilya Online Live,
acting prowess in this one-of- Mae Cruz Alviar after working iWantTFC, and TFC.■ Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla (ABS-CBN)
Lifestyle
Cold showers are said to be good for you –
here’s what the evidence shows
you eat and drink into energy,
BY LINDSAY BOTTOMS, work due to sickness. low-up period, they found that it gave a slight boost to their im- so a higher metabolism roughly
University of Hertfordshire A group of over 3,000 people the groups that had cold water mune system. However, more equals more energy burned.
The Conversation was split into four groups and had a 29% reduction of self-re- and larger studies are needed to Aside from the physical ben-
asked to have a warm shower ported sick leave from work. confirm these findings. efits, cold showers could have
every day. But one group was Interestingly, the duration of Cold water also appears to mental health benefits too.
A cold shower in the morn- asked to end it with 30 seconds the cold water did not affect the activate the sympathetic ner- There is a school of thought that
ing is a pretty unpleasant way of cold water, another with 60 sickness absence. vous system, the part of the ner- cold water immersion causes
to start the day. Yet many have seconds of cold water, another The reason a blast of cold vous system that governs the increased mental alertness due
been tempted to take up the with 90 seconds of cold water. water might stop people from fight-or-flight’ response (an au- to the stimulation of the previ-
habit because being immersed The control group could mere- getting ill is not clear, but some tomatic physiological reaction ously mentioned fight-or-flight
in cold water has many pur- ly enjoy a warm shower. The research suggests it may have to an event that is perceived as response. In older adults, cold
ported health benefits, both participants were asked to fol- something to do with boosting dangerous, stressful or fright- water applied to the face and
physical and mental. low this protocol for a month. the immune system. A study ening). When this is activated, neck has been shown to im-
Cold showers were first ad- (Although, 64% continued with from the Czech Republic showed such as during a cold shower, prove brain function.
ministered for health reasons the cold-water regimen because that when “athletic young men” you get an increase in the hor- A cold shower may also help
in the early 19th century when they liked it so much.) were immersed in cold water mone noradrenaline. This is relieve symptoms of depres-
doctors designed them for use After a three-month fol- three times a week for six weeks, what most likely causes the in- sion. A proposed mechanism is
on asylum and prison inmates crease in heart rate and blood that, due to the high density of
to “cool hot, inflamed brains, pressure observed when people cold receptors in the skin, a cold
and to instil fear to tame impet- are immersed in cold water, and shower sends an overwhelming
uous wills”. is linked to the suggested health amount of electrical impulses
By the mid-19th century, the improvements. from peripheral nerve endings
Victorians realised that the Cold water immersion has to the brain, which may have an
shower had other uses, namely also been shown to improve cir- anti-depressive effect.
washing people – and it would culation. When exposed to cold There is a fair amount of ev-
be better if the water was warm. water, there is decreased blood idence that cold water immer-
So the shower went from being flow to the skin. When the cold sion or having a cold shower
a device used to inflict unpleas- water stops, the body has to is good for your health – even
antness for an hour and a half to warm itself up, so there is an in- if the reasons why are still a
one that was very pleasant and crease in blood flow to the sur- little unclear. But before you
lasted about five minutes. face of the skin. Some scientists start turning the cold tap on
And yet the practice of taking think that this could improve towards the end of your show-
a cold shower for health bene- circulation. A study that looked er, you should know that there
fits never truly went away, and, at cold-water immersion after are some risks to a cold shower.
indeed, seems to be enjoying a exercise found that, after four Because a sudden gush of cold
resurgence. Especially among weeks, blood flow to and from water shocks the body, it can be
Silicon Valley types. muscles had improved. dangerous for people with heart
But what does the evi- There is also some evidence disease and could precipitate
dence show? that a cold shower can help you a heart attack or heart-rhythm
A large study from the Neth- lose weight. A study found that irregularities. ■
erlands found that people who cold-water immersion at 14oC
took a cold shower were less increased metabolism by 350%. This article is republished
likely than those who took a Metabolism is the process by from The Conversation under a
warm shower to take time off which your body converts what Creative Commons license.
The music industry... Who is Fumio...

❰❰ 18 cess to “freemium” ite artists directly, suggest that for a fairer way of paying art- ❰❰ 14 its current two-thirds cumbs to one of the LDP’s fre-
models, particularly consumers are becoming more ists for their work. For what- majority in parliament quent political scandals, or
YouTube Music, has aware of the need to support ever business model for music (which it enjoys with like Suga, fumbles policy badly
placed a ceiling on the cost of musicians. lies ahead, it cannot survive its coalition partner, Komeito). enough that he is driven to an
subscriptions. Streaming is likely to con- without providing fair financial Kono, meanwhile, is certain- early resignation, keeping the re-
But the rise in vinyl sales in tinue to dominate the music backing to sustain the creativity ly willing to bide his time and volving door of leaders going. ■
recent years, alongside the in- industry. But there are changes, of new musical talent. ■ cultivate his already prominent
creasing popularity of stream- driven both by political inquiry profile for yet another attempt This article is republished
ing platforms like Sonstream and consumers’ habits, which This article is republished at the party leadership, due to from The Conversation under a
and Bandcamp, which enable will hopefully establish a more from The Conversation under a be held in three years. Creative Commons license.
listeners to pay their favour- equitable ecosystem, and allow Creative Commons license. That is, unless Kishida suc-
FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2021 Lifestyle 21
What is dust? And where does it all come from?

BY MARK PATRICK tion for fabrics and carpets, and reproductive systems, great- renewed exposures concerns can be towelled down at the door
TAYLOR, Macquarie some packaging and other er susceptibility to disease and about silicosis dust for trades- and dusty work clothes should
University, CYNTHIA sources. damage to the nervous system. people, and asbestos dust from be removed upon entering.
FAYE ISLEY, Macquarie Dust from inside your Chemicals used in pesticides home renovation. We can choose wisely what
University, KARA FRY, home and in our clothing and furni- Excessive use of disinfectants chemicals we allow into our
Macquarie University, MAX Some estimates suggest one ture also combine with dust in and antibacterial products has homes and how they are used.
M GILLINGS, Macquarie third of trace element contam- our homes. Toxic flame retar- been linked to the increased Reducing our use of plastics,
University inants in household dust origi- dants are used in countless do- prevalence of antibiotic resis- pesticides and waterproofers
The Conversation nate from sources inside your mestic products including chil- tant genes, which we can detect will help to reduce the chemical
home, with the rest migrating dren’s pyjamas and can make in our dust. load. Quit unnecessary antibac-
from outside via air, clothes, their way into dust. Nearly one in five Australians terial products. A damp cloth
Everything in our homes pets, shoes and the like. Dust also contains micro- have allergic rhinitis (hay fever), with soap or a detergent is just
gathers dust. But what exactly You and your pets are con- plastics from clothes, packag- caused by dust related allergens as useful to clean a surface.
is it? Where does it come from, stantly contributing skin cells ing, carpeting and furnishings. such as dust mites, pollen, pet Regular vacuuming helps
and why does it keep coming and hair to dust. Dust is also They’re easily inhaled and in- dander and skin particles. enormously. Vacuum cleaners
back? Is it from outside? Is it fi- made up of decomposing insects, gested, especially by children Take action against dust! fitted with a fine particle filter
bres from our clothes and cells bits of food, plastic and soil. who often put their hands in House dust is part of life. (such as HEPA filter) are more
from our skin? their mouth. Even in closed-up homes, it effective at removing aller-
Yes, but it’s a lot more Pefluorinated chemi- will still settle from the indoor gen-causing dust.
than that. cals or PFAS — known as atmosphere, leak from the ceil- Dusting with a dry cloth or
People from all around the “forever chemicals” ing cornices and attic spaces, feather duster is likely to recir-
Australia have been send- — are used in many do- and seep into your living areas culate the dust back into the air,
ing their dust to Macqua- mestic products includ- through cracks around win- so use a damp cloth instead.
rie University’s DustSafe Some dust is ing cosmetics and some dows and doors. Wet mopping of hard floor
program. Instead of emp- non-stick surfaces. These Any particles of dirt, smoke, surfaces also removes fine dust
tying the vacuum cleaner natural, coming chemicals are in our fibres or crushed materials that left behind by sweeping or vac-
into the bin, they package from rocks, soils house dust, too. go into the air eventually come uuming.
it up and we analyse it. As Dust from outside down as dust. To find out more about your
a result, we are getting to and even space. your home But there’s much you can do. dust, send a sample to DustSafe. ■
know the secrets of your About two-thirds of We can try to stop dust get-
dust! In total, 35 coun- household dust comes ting inside. Use door mats and This article is republished
tries are part of this pro- from outdoors. take your shoes off indoors. from The Conversation under a
gram. Garden soil and road Mud-covered children or pets Creative Commons license.
Here’s a taste of what dust gets tracked in on
we know so far. your shoes or blown in on
Dust is everywhere Intuitively, one might think windy days. Outdoor dust par-
Dust is everywhere. It settles having pets transporting a va- ticles get in on the hairs of your
on all surfaces in the natural riety of organic contaminants pets. Vehicle exhaust dust also
environment as well as inside including faeces into homes gets inside.
homes and buildings — where is somewhat gross. However, Recent dust storms have
we spend about 90% of our there is emerging evidence that transported topsoil from farm-
time, even before COVID. some “filth” is beneficial as it ing lands and desert regions to
Some dust is natural, com- may help your immune system our homes in the city.
ing from rocks, soils and even and reduce allergy risk. Bushfires create fine partic-
space. But the DustSafe pro- Cooking, open fireplaces ulate atmospheric dust, which
gram is revealing Australian and smoking indoors adds very can contain toxic components
house dust can include nasties fine dust to your home along from past pollution.
such as: with contaminants of concern, Dust from nearby mines and
• trace metals which are associated with poor industry can result in toxic ex-
• radioactive elements health outcomes. posures to children.
• antibiotic resistant genes Dust contains a wide collec- Poor air quality and damp
(genes that make bacteria resis- tion of chemicals, including homes are a source of disease
tant to antibiotics) those listed on the UN’s Stock- and death.
• microplastics and holm Convention on Persistent By deduction, dust would also
• perfluorinated chemicals Organic Pollutants, which are contribute to adverse health
(PFAS) found in fire-fighting linked to certain cancers, birth outcomes. Certain types of dust
foams, stain and water protec- defects, dysfunctional immune are particularly bad; there are
22 Lifestyle OCTOBER 1, 2021 FRIDAY
Bright skies named colour of the year –

here’s why there’s so much more
to the heavens than blue
BY DANIEL BROWN, molecules, they scatter it in all The whiter it appears, the more mosphere to reach us (like when levels, our eyes lose their colour
Nottingham Trent University different directions. This effect extra particles are present. it travels from beyond the hori- vision and merely see a grey
The Conversation is called Rayleigh scattering. A tool to measure just how zon). The ozone then strongly blackness.
In this process, more of the many particles are suspend- absorbs red and orange light, In these ways, the colours of
bluer light, which has shorter ed in the sky was developed by making the small amount of light the sky show us ways light can
The colour of 2022 will be wavelengths, is scattered, re- Horace Bénédict de Saussure, we see in the twilight sky blue. interact with our atmosphere.
“bright skies”, according to sulting in the sky becoming blue an 18th-century Swiss geologist Red and blue-green night And through this science, we’ve
paint manufacturer Dulux. wherever you look. Meanwhile, and alpine explorer. Called a Venture out at night in a even learnt how to recognise
This mellow light blue may the Sun becomes more yellow cyanometer, it is a colour wheel place free of light pollution and and explore signs of life in the
certainly seem familiar. Depend- looking since the light from it is featuring 53 different colours its orange sky glow and you skies of planets beyond our
ing on where and at what time now missing those longer blue for the observer to compare to might notice that, despite the solar system (exo-planets) by
of the day you look at the sky, wavelengths. the sky. lack of sunlight, the nighttime analysing the light from them.
you might well expect to catch a Adding white Ozone blue at twilight sky is not black at all. Instead, Traces of an atmosphere were
glimpse of a similar colour. But the daytime sky isn’t the If you skywatch at dusk, we can sometimes observe first measured in 2001 for the
Yet take the time to watch the same blue all over. You’re more you’ll see a brilliant display of what is called air glow, which is exoplanet HD 209458 b – some-
sky from the horizon to the ex- likely to find the Dulux bright colour that captures intense red our own atmosphere radiating a times called Osiris – in the con-
panse above your head, during skies colour closer to the hori- tones especially close to the di- faint light. This is caused by at- stellation of Pegasus. In 2019,
all weathers and from dawn to zon where the blue is more rection of the setting sun. Since oms – mainly oxygen and nitro- scientists even discovered trac-
nighttime, and of course you’ll washed out or lighter. the Sun’s evening light travels gen - forming molecules at an es of water in the atmosphere of
see that it is filled with many co- This is the impact of Mie scat- through much more of our at- altitude of 100km-300km. an exoplanet (K2-18 b) that has
lours. Over hundreds of years, tering, which is a similar pro- mosphere than when the Sun This glow is always present temperatures that could sup-
physicists have worked to un- cess as Rayleigh scattering but is higher in the sky, by the time but usually too faint to see. But port life as we know it.■
derstand why the sky holds so caused by larger particles (such it reaches us it has lost much it contributes to the sky turning
many shades, from a myriad as water vapour or fine pollu- of its blue component through a very dark red or blue-green This article is republished
blues to red and even green. tion particles in little droplets). Rayleigh scattering. If aerosols colour. You can capture it with from The Conversation under a
Here’s what we’ve learned, These types of particles remove are present higher up in the at- cameras that are more sensitive Creative Commons license.
and what to look out for while the red, yellow and blue colour mosphere – for example caused than the eye. But at low light
contemplating “bright skies” components from a white light by volcanic eruptions –
and immersing yourself in sky- beam in equal measures and this can become far more
watching. do not alter the colour of the extended and colourful.
The Sun’s light is made up light passing through the atmo- Once the sun is below
of different electromagnetic sphere or being scattered back the horizon, you will see
waves, and their various wave- to an observer. This leads to the a strong blue colour in
lengths are associated with a sky turning whiter in addition the sky again. This can-
different colour. Shorter waves to the blue caused by Rayleigh not fully be explained by
are seen as blue, slightly longer scattering. Rayleigh or Mie scatter-
waves as yellow, and even lon- The influence of white with- ing. Instead, this is due
ger as red. in the blue of the sky becomes to the presence of ozone
When these waves are seen stronger towards the horizon (a colourless or pale blue
together they look white. But where the light has to pass gas), which does not scat-
this light has to travel through through much more atmo- ter the light but absorbs
our atmosphere before it gets to sphere to arrive at the observer. it and breaks it apart.
our eyes, and atmospheric mol- The various tones and shades of Its impact is only no-
ecules are much smaller than blue observed become nature’s ticeable when the rays
the wavelength of the Sun’s visualisation of what the atmo- of the sun have to pass The sky seen directly above and explored from within the Deer Shelter Skyscape
light. As the light hits these sphere is currently composed of. through even more at- installation by James Turrell in the Yorkshire Sculpture Park. (AUTHOR PROVIDED)
China will no longer...

❰❰ 16 their overseas invest- Research shows that Chi- development. In Indonesia, build renewable energy proj- countries to increase their en-
ments in renewable na’s finance for coal in Asia business leaders and politicians ects outside China. ergy generating capacity with
energy over the last was largely driven by demand formed pro-coal lobby groups Chinese energy developers financing, affordable technol-
decade. in recipient countries. This is to influence the design of Chi- are often wary of investment ogy and quick project delivery.
While the trends are positive, because the domestic policies na-backed projects. risks in developing countries China has taken the first step to
challenges remain. China’s over- of these countries prioritised China’s new pledge tells pro- due to their unfamiliarity with stop funding coal. It’s now time
seas investment policy remains improving energy access over spective recipient countries local politics. The Chinese gov- to adopt policies that support
guided by the non-interference reducing emissions, and coal that coal finance is no longer ernment can help by increasing the overseas activities of its re-
principle. This means that Bei- was a cheap and proven source. an option. China must now coordination between Chinese newable energy developers. ■
jing is supposed to let host coun- Inadequate grid infrastruc- promote its offer of investment companies and local govern-
tries determine the type of en- ture and politicians sceptical in renewables. Drawing on its ments, businesses, and commu- This article is republished
ergy projects, and only requires of renewable energy in coun- domestic experiences, Beijing nities in host countries. from The Conversation under a
Chinese firms to comply with tries receiving Chinese in- should provide subsidies or tax Over the past decade, China Creative Commons license.
host-country regulations. vestment have also hampered cuts to companies willing to has supported many developing
Sports
PH Olympians urge learners to pursue
dreams amid pandemic
Philippine News Agency degree. Someday or next year, eryone that she could be on the port Services’ School Sports delegates to the Tokyo Summer
sana magkaroon na ako ng de- podium through hard work. Division and Youth Formation Olympics, particularly the med-
gree (I would like to tell to our “Sobrang blessed po na binig- Division under the administra- alists who made history and gave
MANILA – Weightlifter Hid- students that the life we are yan ako ni Lord ng pagkakataon tion strand of Undersecretary the Philippines its best Olympic
ilyn Diaz, the country’s first-ev- going through is really difficult. na ipakita sa lahat na kung ano Alain Del B. Pascua to motivate showing ever. The youth for sure
er Olympic gold medalist, and Learn to adapt. I’m also a stu- ang kaya kong gawain, [at] kung learners and student-athletes would be inspired with their ex-
other members of the Olympic dent, I’m struggling but I did ano ‘yong kaya kong patunayan amidst the pandemic. periences and stories, from their
team in Tokyo provided inspi- not give up because I want to hindi lang sa sarili ko kundi sa “Speaking of world-class ath- humble beginnings to their suc-
ration to aspiring student-ath- finish my degree. Someday or lahat ng tao kaya sobrang saya letes, with the recent accom- cess in their respective sports,”
letes during the recently-held next year, I hope I will get my ko po at proud po ako [na i-rep- plishments of our country’s Pascua said. ■
Pinoy Sports Heroes: The Ul- own degree),” Diaz said. resent ang Pilipinas] (I am so
timate Balik-Eskwela Pinoy She urged the learners to be blessed that the Lord gave me a
Sports Con of the Department consistent with what they are chance to show to everyone what
of Education (DepEd). doing to achieve their dreams. I can do, what I can prove not
During the virtual sports “Sumunod sa teachers kasi only to myself but to everyone
convention, Diaz imparted how alam nila kung alin ang tama and I’m so proud to represent the
sports changed her life while (Follow your teachers because Philippines),” Petecio said.
encouraging learners to contin- they know what is right). Then, Boxing Olympic silver win-
ue pursuing their dreams amid surround yourself with people ner Carlo Paalam and bronze
many challenges, including the that will help you, ‘yong may medalist Eumir Marcial, final-
prevailing Covid-19 pandemic. good influence sa ‘yo (those ist Carlos Edriel Yulo (gymnas-
“Gusto ko lang pong sabi- who have good influence to tics), Margielyn Didal (skate-
hin sa lahat ng mga estudyante you)... Then, trust God. Trust boarding), and EJ Obiena (pole
na alam kong mahirap, mahi- in yourself and trust the people vault), and Paralympic swim-
rap ang pinagdadaanan natin. behind you,” she added. mer Gary Bejino also related
Learn to adopt. Estudyante rin Nesthy Petecio, the coun- the journey of their respective
po ako [ngayon], at nahihirapan try’s first female Olympic sil- careers.
din po ako pero ako kasi hindi ver medalist in boxing, said the The Pinoy Sports Heroes ac-
ako sumuko [sa mga pagsubok] 2020 Olympic stint gave her a tivity is a collaboration project Tokyo Olympics medalists Carlo Paalam, Hidilyn Diaz, Nesthy Petecio, and
kasi gusto kong magkaroon ng chance to prove herself to ev- of the Bureau of Learner Sup- Eumir Marcial (@MARCEDWARDVELASCO VIA @HIDILYNDIAZ/INSTAGRAM)
Perez named PBA Player of the Week

Philippine News Agency steals in the Beermen’s last two Week for the period Sept. 22- scored in San Miguel’s 101-100 June Mar Fajardo, and Chris
wins which ended dramatical- 26, bridging the tail-end of the win over Alaska with 20 points, Ross, Meralco’s Mac Belo, Al-
ly behind the game-winners of eliminations and the start of six rebounds, four steals, and vin Pasaol, Allein Maliksi, and
MANILA – San Miguel Beer veterans of Marcio Lassiter and the quarterfinals. three assists, including the Bong Quinto for the weekly
is one win away from a return Alex Cabagnot. Perez is seeing action in his clutch corner swing pass to Las- honor being handed out by the
trip to the PBA Philippine Cup Behind his steady numbers, first playoffs appearance since siter for the game-winning trey. group regularly covering the
semifinals, and though it had Perez, a native of Pangasinan, emerging as the top pick in the The win sealed the Beer- PBA beat.
a number of capable closers to was adjudged the Cignal Play– 2018 draft. men’s spot in the upper bracket Magnolia’s Paul Lee and Ian
thank for, a neophyte silently PBA Press Corps Player of the The third-year pro top- of the standings at No. 4, put- Sangalang, Northport’s Rob-
and steadily stepped up to bring ting themselves in the prime ert Bolick, Barangay Ginebra’s
it closer to a place once familiar position of reclaiming lost glory Stanley Pringle and Christian
to the team. after an early quarterfinal exit Standhardinger were also con-
Playing his first conference in last year’s all-Filipino considered for the weekly citation.
with the Beermen, quick-fire ference. Overall, Perez stamped his
guard CJ Perez did not disap- In the Beermen’s thrilling class in the league anew as he
point and served as the qui- 88-87 win in Game 1 of the landed at no. 6 in the race for the
et but lethal operator for the playoffs over fifth seed North- Best Player of the Conference
team’s resurgence after being port behind Cabagnot’s clutch award, averaging 17.2 points,
dethroned in the Clark bubble game-winner, Perez also made 5.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.4
last season. his mark with 14 points, six re- steals at the end of the elimina-
Perez, the two-time scoring bounds, and two assists as they tions while teaming with Ross
champ from Terrafirma, av- moved on the cusp of a semifi- in filling up the roles of the in-
eraged 17.0 points on 44 per- nals return. jured Cabagnot and Terrence
cent clip from three-range, 6.0 Perez beat out teammates Romeo at different stretches of
rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 2.0 CJ Perez (@CJAYP7/INSTAGRAM) Mo Tautuaa, six-time MVP the tournament. ■
Business
Digitization fuels PH contact center sector
firms’ resilience to outpace global growth
during pandemic in 2021
BY JOANN VILLANUEVA “So it was really quick for us to BY KRIS CRISMUNDO Among the growth drivers for During the pandemic, 59
Philippine News Agency move to a fully digital platform Philippine News Agency the local industry include coro- percent of workers choose the
because we already have made navirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) work-from-home arrangement
the investments in those places vaccine rollout, positive busi- while 49 percent are still re-
MANILA – Companies have cit- earlier,” he said, underscoring MANILA – Riding the pace ness sentiment, digital ac- porting to their offices.
ed technological innovations and the need for people’s readiness of the global industry, the Phil- celeration, pent-up demand, The industry has support-
the shift towards digitization be- to embrace technology and new ippines contact center sector is rising cost optimization re- ed employees and provided
fore the pandemic as key to build- ways of doing things. forecasted to rebound this year. quirements, and potential fiscal incentives for on-site contact
ing resilience during the coro- Littaua said the pandemic According to the Contact stimulus across demand geog- center workers, including tem-
navirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) has made people realize the im- Center Association of the Phil- raphies. porary housing, transportation
pandemic, while noting the impor- portance of life insurance. ippines (CCAP), revenues of the Hernandez said contact cen- arrangements, and Covid-19
tance of government measures to- He noted that previously, local industry will increase by 9 ter workers continue to work screening.
wards digitalization. people considered life insur- percent, higher than the 7 to 8 amid the pandemic whether
In a virtual briefing on Tues- ance as “a need that people percent global growth. on-site or at home. ❱❱ PAGE 26 PH contact center
day, Insular Life (InLife) presi- don’t want to want.” Full-time employment of
dent and chief executive officer However, with the uncer- Philippine contact centers will
(CEO) Raoul Littaua said “it tainty brought about by the also grow by 8 to 9 percent, out-
was a challenge” for their op- pandemic, the insurance sec- growing the global growth of 6
erations when the government tor in general “has to rise to the to 7 percent.
implemented lockdowns to occasion to make sure that the “The Philippines is rebound-
arrest the rise of Covid-19 in- protection needs of Filipino ing together with the market
fections as life insurance sales families are met,” he added. but because we are highly dif-
traditionally depend on face- In his presentation, Littaua ferentiated, no other country
to-face interactions. said the company registered ro- could do contact center better
“We have to conduct our bust sales in the first quarter of than the Philippines. We are
business digitally. It’s a good 2021, with gross written premi- enjoying faster growth than the
thing that the Insurance Com- ums rising by nearly 53 percent global market and fueling our
mission recognized this very year on year to PHP3.5 billion. business growth is the creation
quickly and left many things, He said the new business an- of jobs,” CCAP chair Benedict
the conduct of business, digi- nual premium equivalent also Hernandez said during the vir-
tally. And in the case of Inlife, increased by almost 42 percent tual Contact Islands ’21 hap-
it’s also fortunate thing that we to PHP422.2 million. pening from September 27 to
have made investments in tech- Littaua said the second-quar- October 1.
nology, in digitization, way be- ter and third-quarter figures are
fore, way before the pandemic showing “stronger performance.”
spark,” he said.
Littaua said InLife was the first
insurance company in the coun-
“And I think that’s going to be
sustained. We’re going to have
a very good turnaround this
Support companies that
advocate recycling: DTI
try that automated underwriting. year,” he added. ■
BY KRIS CRISMUNDO Valdez II said consumers must moting sustainable products and
Philippine News Agency take action and demand for more businesses among consumers.
sustainable alternatives from One wellness shop and drug
businesses and government. store vowed to reduce the use
MANILA – The Department “The consumers can re-eval- of plastic in their packaging by
of Trade and Industry (DTI) uate their consumption habits 50,000 kilogram of plastic bot-
is encouraging consumers to to minimize plastic use (and) tles or equivalent to 2.5 million
patronize businesses that are refuse unnecessary plastic bottles in a year.
promoting sustainability like whenever possible,” Valdez The shop said it is the compa-
reduced use of plastic products said. “We must reduce plastic ny’s vision to eliminate unnec-
for packaging. waste towards sustainability essary packaging, minimize use
DIGITIZATION. Digitization is helping the company operate strongly amid the In a webinar on Friday, Con- consumption and production.” of recycled plastic at 20 per-
pandemic, Insular Life (InLife) president and CEO Raoul Littaua said Tuesday sumer Policy and Advocacy Bu- Private sector stakeholders cent, and promote recyclable
(Sept. 28, 2021). (INLIFE) reau Director Melquiades Marcus have partnered with DTI in pro- and reusable packaging. ■
FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2021 Business 25
Energy transitions: The role of institutions

and market structures
BY ROULA INGLESI-LOTZ, impact on carbon emissions. In
University of Pretoria turn this might impact policy
The Conversation suggestions.
The Fostering Effective En-
ergy Transition 2021 report
Many studies indicate that shows that 92 out of 115 coun-
the root causes of climate tries increased their energy
change are mostly human ac- transition index over the last
tivities. The 2021 Intergov- decade. But only 13 showed
ernmental Panel on Climate consistent improvement over
Change (IPCC) report warns the period. This was defined as
that many of these climate consistently above average per-
changes are already irrevers- formance improvements on the
ible. But there’s still hope. The index. These include Denmark,
message of the IPCC report is Finland and the UK, which owe
crystal clear: we have to raise their improvements to:
the ambition level of mitiga- a stable regulatory environ-
tion. ment, diversified energy mix and
This means that drastic cost-reflective energy pricing.
changes are needed to mitigate Countries with rising energy
environmental degradation. demand registered the largest Wind turbines at the Mehrum coal-fired power station in the Peine district in Lower Saxony, Mehrum. The phase-out of
These are radical structural gains. These included China, coal is planned by 2038. (X1KLIMA/FLICKR, CC BY-ND 2.0)
changes that will accelerate the India and Sub-Saharan African
fight against climate change. It’s nations. But their energy tran- The concept of institutions ment. market structure for a country
clear from the IPCC report that sition index scores remain low is widely used in the literature. • Rule of law. This captures plays a major role in the per-
time is not on humanity’s side. in absolute terms. But it’s a multi-faceted one. It is particularly the quality of con- formance of the energy sector.
When policymakers discuss What matters less understood as it lacks tan- tract enforcement, property It affects decisions and policy
and promote the just energy A recent literature review gibility. However, economist rights, the police, and the courts implementation on prices, effi-
transition, they do so within shows there is a plethora of Douglas North has given a com- (that is, the enforcement of the ciency, supply and innovation.
each country’s institutional determinants of renewable en- prehensive but still straightfor- rules of society). Governance mechanisms play a
characteristics. The just ener- ergy adoption globally. There ward definition: • Control of corruption. The direct role in market structures,
gy transition refers to the move is no consensus on the quanti- … the formal and informal stronger the controls on cor- influencing investment deci-
from fossil fuels to cleaner al- tative factors and their magni- rules of the game and their en- ruption, the more economic sions. Bad market structure de-
ternatives with the minimum tude. But there is agreement on forcement characteristics. success as a function of effort signs and policy decisions may
negative consequences for soci- the following: Then there’s the quality of and competence, rather than increase the costs of the sector
ety and the economy. • Support policies and pro- institutions. Economist Allard connections and bribery. unnecessarily. They can also
Economies with better qual- grammes as well as interna- Bruinshoofd says institutional • Ease of doing business. This impact negatively on the wel-
ity institutions do better in tional commitments and agree- quality consists of the following captures a multitude of aspects fare of consumers.
managing the transition. This is ments have positive effect. An dimensions: that determine the extent to The South African economy
because these institutions can, example is the Kyoto Protocol. • Voice and accountabili- which the regulatory environ- is no exception. It also faces
among other things, encourage • Lobbying pressure from ty. This captures the extent to ment is conducive to business the challenge of balancing eco-
innovation and efficient alloca- traditional and pre-existing which a country’s citizens can operations. nomic growth and minimising
tion of resources. energy sources has a negative select and challenge its govern- Policymakers international- environmental degradation.
The question that I pose here effect. ment, thus limiting executive ly are in pursuit of sustainable Conclusion
is how institutional quality and • The development and ex- power. solutions for the environmen- In general, energy transi-
market structures influence the pansion of a local financial • Political stability and ab- tal crisis. The value of good gov- tions have focused on energy
energy transitions, within all sector, and the quality of insti- sence of violence. The lower the ernance should be seen as the technologies, in particular their
the interactions in the econom- tutions, have a mostly positive probability of political instabil- first and main tool for achieving use in combination to minimise
ic and ecological systems. influence. ity or politically-motivated vio- climate change mitigation. Part costs. Social foundations and
Pathway to a clean future In addition, the Internation- lence, the more a country’s cit- of the literature considers the human behaviours are also im-
The International Renew- al Renewable Energy Agency izens are incentivised to invest energy transition’s regulatory portant components for the fu-
able Energy Agency defines en- notes that the energy transition in their own prosperous future. context, stressing the need for ture sustainability of the plan-
ergy transition as: to renewable energies will be • Government effectiveness. public intervention to promote et. Within this, the rules of the
a pathway toward transfor- enabled by information tech- This refers to capturing the renewable energy use. game (institutions) can set ours
mation of the global energy sec- nology, smart technology, pol- quality of public services and Research has found that re- – and future – generations up
tor from fossil-based to zero-car- icy frameworks and market in- the degree of its independence newable energy projects like for success or failure. ■
bon by the second half of this struments. from political pressures. In any other investment, benefit
century. Therefore, it is technology turn this fosters a benign con- from general political stability, This article is drawn from the
Measuring the progress of and institutional and market text for private investment. sound regulatory frameworks, author’s inaugural lecture, In-
clean energy transition is not conditions that stand out. Some • Regulatory quality. This effective governance and secure ternational energy transitions
an easy task. The complexities of my research has already refers to the ability of the gov- property rights. and the role of institutions and
of the phenomenon are consid- made some contribution to ernment to formulate and im- In addition, investment in market structures, at the Uni-
erable. understanding how innovation plement sound policies and renewable energy projects can versity of Pretoria on 31 August
Our research paper shows and technology in its various regulations that permit and be held back by complex and 2021.
that the choice of a renewable aspects and outcomes interact promote private sector devel- lengthy bureaucratic proce- This article is republished
energy indicator might alter with the natural environment opment. This lays down uni- dures and corruption. from The Conversation under a
the results when examining the and energy. form rules of economic engage- Designing an appropriate Creative Commons license.
Technology
How to empower older adults to become
digital citizens in our tech-dependent world
BY RACHELLE PATILLE, logical resources and education Technology can improve
Simon Fraser University, on how to use them; there is a quality of life
ATIYA MAHMOOD, Simon clear need to empower them to As a society we assume older
Fraser University, PRISCILLA be digital citizens. adults are not interested in var-
RUTH CHYRVA, Simon Finding housing in an in- ious technologies, not because
Fraser University ternet-dependent world they’re resisting but because
The Conversation Overall, older adults are of- technologies that currently ex-
ten excluded from using the ist were simply not created with
internet because they lack de- them in mind. Failing to include
Living in a technology depen- vices and connectivity, or are older adults as technology users
dent world means we all want inexperienced in using it. So further perpetuates the social,
to stay connected, regardless when it comes to finding hous- information and digital exclu-
of age. And the COVID-19 pan- ing, they’re often left behind. sion they experience.
demic was a major catalyst for A decade ago, it was possible This leaves very few oppor-
increasing our technological to walk through the streets, sift tunities for them to access ed-
dependence. through newspapers, notice ucation and awareness. Oppor-
It became normal to do week- boards and discover apartments tunities that do exist to learn
ly online grocery shops, attend for rent, but this is increasing- are often found in schools or
doctors’ appointments or work ly uncommon. The platforms at work — which are environ-
via Zoom and FaceTime family themselves — like Kijiji, Pad- ments many older adults no
and friends. The reality is how- Mapper and Facebook Mar- longer frequent.
ever, that not everyone is for- ketplace — are not made with Technology can improve the
tunate enough to have access older adults in mind; meaning quality of life for older adults by
to the technological devices or the ability to navigate and ac- We don’t want to suggest that scious and cautious attitude on- providing ease, inclusion and
skills to operate in our online cess these resources makes it finding an apartment is impos- line, promote the use of trusted comfort by making the essen-
world — some of the most im- even more difficult for them to sible but, if you are an older websites and avoid disclosing tials, like finding housing, more
pacted by this are older adults. find housing. On top of having adult lacking technological re- personal information such as accessible.
This magnified the pandemic to search through unfamiliar sources and digital literacy, it SIN and credit card informa- It’s time we draw on the re-
for them, especially in terms of platforms, they’re also faced may feel overwhelming. tion. This can actively enable sources and educational ini-
isolation. Older adults were left with finding an apartment on a Making technology more older adults to feel more com- tiatives in place and reach out
without the main resource that limited budget. accessible fortable and confident online. to the ones who have been left
has been keeping many of us Imagine you don’t know How can we move forward in We are a part of the Aging in behind. Let’s empower older
connected — technology. housing websites exist. Or know this digital world, when so many the Right Place (AIRP) Proj- adults to be digital citizens.
But that’s not all the pandem- how to navigate online ads. Or are being left behind? We should ect which looks at the causes of As digital citizens, they will
ic has laid bare for older adults. have a device to access the in- at least make technology accessi- homelessness for older adults in have more opportunities to se-
A large number of them are also ternet. You’re put at a serious ble, so the choice is up to the user. order to evaluate current prom- cure housing and tools to prevent
either experiencing, or are vul- disadvantage when it comes to When it comes to older ising practices in place, such as homelessness. These supports
nerable to homelessness. Older accessing housing. adults, having the liberty to temporary housing that support will not only give them a sense
adults have become one of the In North America “large choose their involvement with older adults who are at risk of of involvement in a technologi-
groups most at-risk for housing portions of the rental housing technology can provide inde- experiencing homelessness. cally dependent world, but also
insecurities during the pan- market have moved online … pendence and autonomy. When An integral part of this proj- provide a sense of belonging and
demic. And one of the largest more renters in urbanized ar- the decision is theirs to make, ect is to not only be in close con- inclusion in today’s society. ■
barriers to housing, is low so- eas found their current homes their quality of life tends to in- tact with the people working
cioeconomic status. through a site like Craigslist crease, especially regarding so- towards supporting this popu- Diana Juanita Mora, an un-
Our technological depen- than through any other infor- cial isolation. lation, but also with older peo- dergraduate research assistant
dence has created new chal- mation channel.” Meaning the While older adults are more ple experiencing homelessness from Simon Fraser University,
lenges for older adults, and majority of rental properties vulnerable to phishing and themselves. In our preliminary helped research and co-author
helped solidify pre-existing are accessible through online scams and may have trouble client interviews of those living this piece.
ones, like navigating online platforms. Older adults who recognizing fake housing ad- in the temporary housing, we’re This article is republished
platforms to secure housing. are not part of this digital world vertisements, having support often told how invaluable tech- from The Conversation under a
Older adults face housing bar- have limited opportunities to and educational resources can nology is when searching for Creative Commons license.
riers due to the lack of techno- find housing. promote the adoption of a con- stable housing.
PH contact center...
❰❰ 24 CCAP president industry, however, the increas- “While the number of total vaccination program has ad- local government units to en-
Jojo Uligan said the ing delivery of Covid-19 vac- Covid-19 cases continues to ministered over 43 million total sure vaccinations for employ-
current situation still cines in the country brings op- rise nationwide and is so far at doses so far. CCAP has entered ees,” Uligan said. ■
presents uncertainties for the timism to industry players. about 2.4 million, the national into partnerships with various
FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2021 Technology 27
Japan’s love affair with the fax machine –

a strange relic of technological fantasies
BY HANSUN HSIUNG, in many Japanese offices, where Blade Runner’s aesthetic and forced by an “ideology of domi- a term largely understood to be
Durham University there remains an insistence on Neuromancer’s television-co- nance based on technology”. synonymous with overcoming
The Conversation paper documents bearing per- loured skies. In response, technological de- the West.
sonal seals. But rather than But look further back, and velopment became the corner- Reality bites
asking why Japanese business- there’s a deeper history, entan- stone of Japan’s national agen- This national fantasy, a pro-
With Japan riding the crest of es have patiently stood by their gled with modern imperialism, da. As encapsulated in slogans jection of what Japan could or
its postwar economic miracle, buzzing fax machines, perhaps that feeds into our idea of con- such as “oitsuke oikose” – “catch should become at the level of
Sony chairman Akio Morita and we should really be asking: why temporary Japan. The fantasy up and overtake” – the goal was state and industry, persisted
Japan’s Minister of Transport do we find it so surprising? Why of advanced technological de- to create native industries, in- through Japan’s 1980s techno-
Shintarō Ishihara unleashed do representations equating Ja- velopment has long been fun- frastructure and military capac- logical ascendancy – just as the
a manifesto. The document, pan to high technologies persist damental to defining Japanese ity that would eventually offer fax machine was enjoying its
published in 1989, contained a so tenaciously, despite evidence national identity – as “mod- Japan parity with, or even supe- heyday. But the exuberant post-
prophecy that propelled it to to the contrary? ern”, relative to both its Asian riority over, the west. war bubble would burst.
domestic bestseller status, and An obvious culprit is “tech- neighbours and the west. This “techno-nationalism” During the “lost decade”
into the concerned hands of of- no-orientalism”. One applica- Japanese identity also served as a fundamental of the 1990s, Japan’s econo-
ficials at the CIA. tion of the term orientalism It was no accident that when motive for Japan’s imperial my entered a recession, then
At the time, the authors not- has been in describing the ro- Akio and Shintarō spoke in 1989 expansion. By the late 1930s, shrank. An ageing population
ed, the American and Soviet manticisation of the east, in of Japan’s rise, they framed it as Japanese engineers referred to and marked gender and income
superpowers had become “de- the eyes of the west, as a place “the end of modernity devel- their work in the puppet state inequality became the matter
pendent on the initiative of the of exoticism and mystical wis- oped by Caucasians”. Japan en- of Manchuria (an area covering of daily headlines. From this
Japanese people” in developing dom. Japan’s booming micro- tered the modern international Northeastern China and parts perspective, slow digitalisation
new technology, as exempli- electronics industry opened a order staring down the barrels of neighbouring Russia) as “gi- is merely one index of a gener-
fied by the country’s dominant new possibility for orientalist of cannons mounted on Amer- jutsu hōkoku”, or “service to the al malaise gripping the country
production of semiconductor fantasy: techno-orientalism, or ican steamships. In negotiating country through technology”. since the end of its economic
chips. For Morita and Ishihara, the idea that the east could rep- the country’s opening, western One of Japan’s earliest and miracle. Nevertheless, even as
this signalled “the end of mo- resent an exotic, technoscien- imperial powers impressed most significant investments in the gap between fantasy and re-
dernity developed by Cauca- tific future. Think here of how upon Japan their overwhelm- faxing occurred in 1936, on the ality widened, Japan’s high-tech
sians” and the emergence of “an neon-lit Tokyo helped inspire ing mechanical might, rein- occasion of that year’s Berlin image remained an integral part
era of new genesis” led by Jap- Olympics. A telephotograph- of the popular imagination.
anese technological supremacy. ic network was established The persistence of this image
Fast forward to 2021, and Ja- between Tokyo and Berlin to in the face of contradictory ev-
pan’s high-tech image is peeling transmit not only pictures of idence is less surprising given
away. “Japan needs a software the event, but also an illustrat- how technological prowess has
update”, the New York Times ed photoletter from Hitler to been a fundamental part Japa-
tells us. The country’s octoge- Nippon Electric. nese national identity for over
narian IT minister, Naokazu Shortly after, in 1941, the a century. If renewed attention
Takemoto, has been mocked Japanese Planning Agency out- on Japan’s love affair with the
for his inability to maintain a lined a vision of how Japanese fax machine tells us anything,
functioning website. Japan, it engineering combined with raw it’s perhaps less that Japan is
seems, is lagging behind in the materials from its Asian empire mired in the pre-digital past,
global race to digitise, despite might create an autonomous but rather that the age when
being the home of Panasonic zone free from domination by Japan defined its relation to
and Mitsubishi, of bullet trains Western technologies. Fore- modernity through advanced
and neon-lit urban life. shadowing the words of Morita technology may be coming to
And nowhere is this better and Ishihara half a century lat- an end. ■
symbolised than in the coun- er, this vision of a “new order”
try’s ongoing love affair with intersected with broader war- This article is republished
the fax machine. The 20th-cen- A fax machine from 1999 employing inkjet printing, which was modern for fax time debates about how Japan from The Conversation under a
tury technology is still a fixture machines at that time. (PITTIGRILLI - OWN WORK/WIKIMEDIA COMMONS, CC BY-SA 4.0) might “overcome modernity” – Creative Commons license.
Modern technology cited as big help for

families amid pandemic
BY MARY JUDALINE nology during this challenging that digital technology has each other through technology the family and actively work for
PARTLOW time of the coronavirus disease helped families meet their indi- despite their distance. its total development,” he said.
Philippine News Agency 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic. vidual and communal needs. He highlighted the impor- Families no longer feel lone-
As resource speakers during George Gilvero, the chair- tance of modern technology’s ly even though they are miss-
a “Kapihan sa PIA” forum here person of the Dumaguete City role in strengthening the fam- ing their loved ones in other
DUMAGUETE CITY – Fami- on Wednesday in line with the Family Life Council, noted ily, which is “the foundation of countries as they can contact
ly life ministries in Negros Ori- government’s 29th National that communication plays an the nation”. them in real-time through var-
ental have acknowledged the Family Week celebration, lead- important role in society with “So it is the policy of the gov-
importance of modern tech- ers of faith-based groups agreed people connecting easily with ernment to fortify solidarity in ❱❱ PAGE 32 Modern technology cited
Travel
Looking for transformative travel?
Keep these six stages in mind
BY JACO J. HAMMAN, and “how” demand deeper dis- feel exploring new experiences or sexual, while hosts may see justices and inequities they
Vanderbilt University cernment. and leaving home, which can af- travelers as rich, ignorant and witness or the way their trav-
The Conversation In writing “Just Traveling: fect how they travel. exploitable. els contribute to the unfolding
God, Leaving Home, and a Spir- Some travelers leave with Going beyond such stereo- climate crisis. Ethically, “em-
ituality for the Road,” I studied excitement, while others expe- types requires that travelers be pathy” is not enough; travelers
After a cooped-up year, Amer- travel stories in sacred scrip- rience hesitation or guilt before mindful of behaviors that can must pursue solidarity, as an
icans are hungry to travel. Pass- tures and researched findings the relief and excitement of de- add tension to their interac- act of “caring with.” That might
port offices are overwhelmed from psychologists, sociolo- parture. Mindfulness about the tions – knowing conversational mean hiring local guides, eating
with applications. In July, air- gists, ethicists, economists and stages of travel can help people topics to avoid, for example, or in family-owned restaurants
lines scheduled and operated tourism scholars. I argue that manage anxiety. following local dress codes. and being mindful of the re-
the highest number of flights meaningful travel is best un- 3. Surrendering In many parts of the world, sources like food and water that
since the pandemic began, ac- derstood not as a three-stage Travelers cannot control those challenges are intensified they use.
cording to the U.S. Bureau of rite but as a six-phase practice, their journey: A flight is can- by the legacy of colonization, 6. Returning
Transportation Statistics. Re- based on core human experi- celed, or a vehicle breaks down; which makes it harder for peo- Travels do end, and returning
cord numbers of travelers vis- ences. These phases can repeat the weather report predicts ple to meet in authentic ways. home can be a disorienting ex-
ited the U.S. national parks this and overlap within the same sunshine, but it rains for days Colonial views still influence perience.
summer, after a nearly 28% drop journey, just as adventures on end. To some extent, they Western perceptions of non- Coming back can cause re-
due to the pandemic. twist and turn. have to surrender to the un- white groups as exotic, danger- verse culture shock if travelers
But why do we travel in the 1. Anticipating known. ous and inferior. struggle to readjust. But that
first place? What is the allure of Traveling begins long before Modern Western cultures Starting to overcome these shock can diminish as travelers
the open road? departure, as we research and tend to see “surrendering” barriers demands an attitude share their experiences with oth-
As a professor of religion, plan. But anticipation is more as something negative – as known as cultural humility, ers, stay connected to the places
psychology and culture, I study than logistics. The Dutch aptly hoisting a white flag. But as a which is deeper than “cultural they visited, deepen their knowl-
experiences that lie at the inter- call it “voorpret”: literally, the therapeutic concept, surren- competence” – simply know- edge about the place and culture,
section of all three. And in my pleasure before. dering helps people let go of ing about a different culture. anticipate a possible return trip
research on travel, I’m struck How and what people an- inhibiting habits, discover a Cultural humility helps travel- or get involved in causes that
by its unsolvable paradoxes: ticipate in any given situation sense of wholeness and experi- ers ask questions like, “I don’t they discovered on their trip.
Many of us seek to get away, in has the power to shape their ence togetherness with others. know,” “Please help me under- I believe that reflecting on
order to be present; we speed experience, for better or worse The perfectionist learns that a stand” or “How should I…” these six phases can invite the
to destinations, in order to slow – even when it comes to preju- changed itinerary doesn’t mean 5. Caring kind of mindfulness needed for
down; we may care about the dice. Psychology experiments, a diminished travel experience Caring involves overcoming transformative, ethical trav-
environment, but still leave car- for example, have shown that and lets go of their fear of fail- “privileged irresponsibility”: el. And amid a pandemic, the
bon footprints. when children anticipate great- ure. The person with a strong when a traveler does not rec- need for thoughtful travel that
Ultimately, many people hope er cooperation between groups, sense of independence grows ognize their own privilege and prioritizes host communities’
to return transformed. Travel it can reduce their bias in favor in vulnerability as they receive take responsibility for it, or well-being is clear.■
is often viewed as what anthro- of their own group. care from strangers. does not recognize other peo-
pologists call a “rite of passage”: But phenomenology, a In fact, some psychological ple’s lack of privilege. This article is republished
structured rituals in which in- branch of philosophy that stud- theories hold that the self longs Travel becomes irrespon- from The Conversation under a
dividuals separate themselves ies human experience and con- for surrender, in the sense of lib- sible when tourists ignore in- Creative Commons license.
from their familiar surround- sciousness, emphasizes that eration: letting down its defen-
ings, undergo change and return anticipation is also “empty”: sive barriers and finding free-
rejuvenated or “reborn.” our conscious intentions and dom from attempts to control
But travelers are not just con- expectations of what’s to come one’s surroundings. Embracing
cerned with themselves. The could be fulfilled or dashed by a that view can help travelers cope
desire to explore may be a defin- future moment. with the reality that things may
ing human trait, as I argue in my With that in mind, travelers not go according to plan.
latest book, but the ability to do should try to remain open to 4. Meeting
it is a privilege that can come at uncertainty and even disap- Meeting, traveling’s fourth
a cost to host communities. In- pointment. phase, is the invitation to dis-
creasingly, the tourism industry 2. Leaving cover oneself and others anew.
and scholars alike are interested Leaving can awaken deep All cultures have uncon-
in ethical travel, which minimiz- emotions that are tied to our scious “rules of recognition,”
es visitors’ harm on the places earliest experiences of sepa- their own ingrained customs
and people they encounter. ration. The attachment styles and ways of thinking, mak-
The media inundate tourists psychologists study in infants, ing it more difficult to forge
with advice and enticements which shape how secure peo- cross-cultural connections.
about where to travel and what ple feel in their relationships, Carrying conscious and uncon-
to do there. But in order to meet continue to shape us as adults. scious stereotypes, travelers
the deeper goals of transforma- These experiences can also af- may see some people and places Indonesia has reopened tourism after intensified vaccination campaigns have
tive, ethical travel, the “why” fect how comfortable people as uneducated, dangerous, poor helped control the spread of COVID-19.
FRIDAY OCTOBER 1, 2021 Travel 29
Vax and vacation? Why that Pacific island

holiday will still mean ‘traveller beware’
BY APISALOME MOVONO, the hope of joining the Cooks el (such as New Zealand’s cur- ger delays. Zealand, Japan, Canada, Korea,
Massey University, REGINA and Nuie if and when travel re- rent quarantine requirement Similarly, New Zealand has Singapore and parts of the US),
SCHEYVENS, Massey sumes within a contained New for re-entry). taken a cautious approach with with visitors needing to be fully
University Zealand-Pacific bubble. After opening to quaran- Fiji after declaring it a high-risk vaccinated and testing negative
The Conversation With vaccination also gain- tine-free travel with New Zea- country and limiting travel for for COVID before departure.
ing traction in the Solomon land in May this year, then clos- the foreseeable future. For its But the eagerness to re-open
Islands, Vanuatu and Fiji, tour- ing the borders again due to a part, Fiji is relying on mass vac- isn’t shared by all, including the
Pacific Island countries are ism officials are hopeful a ful- largely Auckland-based COVID cination and compliance with country’s opposition leader,
betting big on vaccination as ly vaccinated population will outbreak in August, the Cook COVID guidelines, including Bill Gavoka, who has said:
a strategy for resuming tour- allow them to reopen borders Islands has chosen to adopt a stringent enforcement of vacci- We have got to have our pri-
ism by Christmas and bringing while protecting the health and cautious approach. nation for certain workers. orities right — health first over
much needed relief for their safety of citizens. In future, it will allow in- And despite its devastating the economy. I don’t believe Fiji
struggling economies. But some tourism-depen- bound travel only for fully vac- recent outbreak, Fiji’s govern- is ready.
For much of the Pacific, tour- dent states that opened earlier cinated people and only when ment has claimed it is showing Who wants to travel?
ism has long been the goose are now struggling. Guam had there has been zero community regional leadership in man- Ultimately, given these many
that laid the golden egg. But to suspend a “vacation and vax” transmission in New Zealand. aging tourism recovery. The uncertainties, the fate of tour-
the pandemic has underlined programme – which allowed in- Given the stubbornly long tail aim is to offer quarantine-free ism-dependent Pacific nations
how fragile and temperamen- ternational visitors to receive a of Auckland’s current Delta travel to visitors from “green will hinge less on government
tal tourism can be. It relies on bonus COVID shot in an effort outbreak, this could mean lon- list” countries (Australia, New proclamations than on the risk
stable social and economic con- to jump-start tourism – after a calculations of tourists them-
ditions at both destination and Delta surge caused deaths and selves.
source — the opposite of what mass hospitalisations. Elsewhere in the world, tour-
has happened since early 2020. With some 278,000 resi- ism destinations have tried to
While border openings depen- dents, French Polynesia has reassure travellers while also
dent on vaccination rates might recorded more than 40,000 protecting their own popula-
seem hasty, some Pacific leaders COVID cases and over 600 tions. Greece, for example, en-
see it as the only viable path for- deaths. With just 54% of the acted Operation Blue Freedom
ward for economies that have population having received with the aim of vaccinating all
nosedived because of COVID. their first vaccine dose, tourism resident adults on specific is-
As the South Pacific’s second is now largely quarantine-free lands such as Corfu and Crete
pandemic summer approaches, for fully vaccinated visitors. by the end of July. Subsequent
the question is how to balance In Fiji, despite the virus hav- Delta surges have disrupted
the risk of further outbreaks with ing spread to tourism spots re-opening plans, however.
a return to tourism and some such as the Yasawa islands, Pacific nations could poten-
kind of economic normality. Beqa and Kadavu, tourism tially implement similar poli-
Race to vaccinate stakeholders are optimistic the cies in selected locations. But
Against a backdrop of hes- country (which has begun to it remains to be seen how much
itancy and misinformation, ease local restricitions) will re- vaccine “passports”, currently
vaccination rates in some parts open its international borders being touted as a prerequisite
of the Pacific are now breaking on November 1. for international travel, will be
world records. Niue and the Caution versus desperation the crucial circuit breaker.
Cook Islands have almost fully The other side of the coin, The ability to track and trace
vaccinated all eligible citizens of course, is how prepared and visitors is also important, with
this year. willing tourists will be to plan a some countries wanting tight
Samoa is also ramping up Pacific holiday — and what con-
its vaccination programme in ditions are placed on their trav- ❱❱ PAGE 30 Vax and vacation?
Tourism industry in PH to ‘build back

better’: DOT chief
BY RAYMOND CARL DELA Monday, DOT Secretary Berna- tive toward resilient, inclusive, “We are preparing for the United Nations Sustainable De-
CRUZ dette Puyat said this goal can and sustainable growth,” Puyat return of inbound tourism, en- velopment Goals, particularly
Philippine News Agency be achieved by “deepening the said. suring that our destinations are referring to having decent work
roots of community engage- She said the DOT will also safe and our programs are sus- and economic growth.
ment, capitalizing on the coun- continue to push for the vacci- tainable,” Puyat said. “Tourism has the power to
MANILA – The Department try’s strengths” through activ- nation of its tourism workers, The message was released in change and uplift lives, and as
of Tourism (DOT) is aiming to ities from 2021 until the first the enforcement of health and celebration of World Tourism we head towards national eco-
rebuild the local tourism indus- half of 2022. safety guidelines, and the devel- Day and its theme, “Tourism for nomic recovery, we are com-
try to be more resilient and pro- “This crisis has highlighted opment of “tourism products Inclusive Growth.” mitted to leaving no one be-
tect livelihoods and the work- the opportunity for the Philip- and circuits” for the changing She said the theme supports hind,” she said. ■
force. pines’ tourism industry to build preferences of tourists amid the the DOT’s vision for a “better
In a message to the media on back better, shifting its narra- Covid-19 pandemic. normal” and aligns with the
Food
3 ways restaurant staff and customers can
communicate to prevent food allergy reactions
BY TIMOTHY WINGATE, the risk of allergic reactions at messages pass from custom-
University of Calgary, restaurants and improve the ers to servers to kitchen staff.
JOSHUA BOURDAGE, customer experience. As in telephone, mistakes can
University of Calgary, Allergy information can be happen at any stage, and giv-
MALIKA KHAKHAR, communicated in written and en enough time, mistakes are
University of Guelph, verbal forms. Written commu- bound to happen. Unlike tele-
SAMANTHA JONES, nication happens on a restau- phone, though, mistakes can be
University of Calgary rant’s website, posters in dining anticipated, avoided or fixed.
The Conversation rooms, menus and ingredient Recommendation #1: Ask
lists. It also happens among about allergies
staff, such as on order forms and Most miscommunications
Public health researchers point-of-sale (POS) machines. happen when customers forget
have called food allergies “a Still, most food orders in- or are too shy to disclose their
growing public health epidemic volve verbal conversations be- allergy. We suggest that servers
in Canada” affecting around one tween customers and servers. ask customers to disclose their
in 13 Canadians and one in five In these conversations, cus- allergies when introducing
Canadian households. Dining tomers and servers get a sense themselves: “Hello, my name
out can be risky and stressful of one another and decide to- is Sam and I’ll be your server.
for people with allergies, in part gether how best to manage the First off, does anyone at the ta-
because many restaurant em- customer’s food order. ble have food allergies?”
ployees lack the training, skills We collected examples, or To be clear, we are not sug- Recommendation #2: Dou- telephone is easier with few-
and confidence to manage food critical incidents, of restaurant gesting that allergy disclosure ble-check er people playing. In the same
allergies safely and effectively. staff handling a food order for is the server’s responsibility. Staff and customers can in- way, it can be helpful to reduce
These are challenges that ex- an allergic customer. We re- Quite the opposite: most people tegrate double-checks to catch the number of people that have
isted before the COVID-19 pan- ceived 107 successful incidents we asked (staff and customers and reverse miscommunication to pass along a message. Restau-
demic and will surely persist and 61 failed incidents from a alike) agreed that disclosing al- before it leads to disaster. Dou- rants that do this well often
after it. In recent years, news variety of restaurants. Failed lergies is primarily the custom- ble-checking involves repeating designate a staff member, man-
outlets across Canada have incidents involved things like er’s responsibility. information back to the speaker ager or chef to directly oversee
reported several cases of peo- an allergic reaction, staff having We suggest that servers ask and asking for confirmation. For orders for allergic customers.
ple suffering extreme, some- to remake a meal and/or an up- customers about allergies sim- example, when a customer dis- No one likes fakers
times fatal, allergic reactions set customer. ply because that’s the most closes an allergy, the server can Both allergic customers and
to restaurant food. Accidents For each incident, staff re- effective approach. A typical repeat the allergy and accom- staff raised the problem of aller-
like these are most often due to ported who was involved, what server deals with far more food modations back to the customer, gy “fakers” — people who claim
miscommunication. went right, what went wrong orders than a typical customer. and ask the customer to confirm a food allergy that is really just a
As researchers in the field and how. Based on these, we So, staff may not only be more that this information is correct. preference. These fakers aren’t
of industrial-organizational mapped the process of allergy apt to develop the habit of start- In the diagram above, we high- just annoying. They muddy the
psychology, we analyzed how communication, from custom- ing conversations about food lighted four points where dou- waters of allergy communica-
and why information about er to server to kitchen staff and allergies, trained servers have ble-checking is most helpful. tion, making it more difficult
food allergies gets communi- back, and pinpointed where the opportunity to lead the con- Of course, it might not be re- for customers and staff to trust
cated, and miscommunicated, mistakes commonly happen, as versation. alistic to include double-checks one another. This is one more
at restaurants. We approached illustrated in this diagram. In the same interaction, at all of these points. Still, each reason that customers need
allergy communication the way Aside from these incidents, some customers mention their additional double-check could to be clear about the severity
we might approach communi- we also asked 138 people with allergy but leave out important improve your chances of catch- of their allergy, and for staff to
cation among a flight crew or a moderate-to-severe food aller- information, like how serious ing an error and saving a life. treat all allergies seriously, even
surgical team: by isolating the gies to describe their own en- the allergy is. According to staff Recommendation #3: In- when in doubt.
make-or-break behaviours in counters dining at restaurants. we surveyed, customers should volve fewer staff Many restaurants already
the communication process. As you can see, communica- not just state their allergy; they Again, the allergy commu- follow some or all of these rec-
Based on this research, we tion at restaurants works like should also describe the severi- nication process works kind of
offer some guidelines to reduce a game of telephone, where ty of the allergy. like a game of telephone, and ❱❱ PAGE 32 3 ways restaurant
Vax and vacation?...

❰❰ 29 oversight of tourist gies in the Pacific because they and phones often cannot pro- challenge on their hands, espe- the tourism goose can get back
itineraries, while oth- rely on people owning and car- vide sufficiently detailed loca- cially given their weak public to laying its golden eggs. ■
ers hope voluntary use rying a mobile phone, having tion information to determine health systems. Having gam-
of tracer apps will be enough. sufficient data and GPS perma- virus exposure. bled hard on tourism being a This article is republished
However there are limita- nently enabled. Network cover- Whatever the measures, Pa- mainstay of their economies, from The Conversation under a
tions on using such technolo- age is very poor in some places, cific governments have a major they must now live in hope that Creative Commons license.
OCTOBER 1, 2020
JULY 17, 2021 31
28
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32 Food OCTOBER 1, 2021 FRIDAY
The UK is adding fluoride to water –

but what effect will it have?
BY DAMIEN WALMSLEY, Preventing tooth decay serious harm, such as cancers, ed ones, nor greater levels of report any detrimental effects
University of Birmingham, Around 25 countries world- birth defects, thyroid prob- dissatisfaction with dental ap- of fluoridation. In the UK, chil-
ALEXANDER JOHN wide already add fluoride to lems and neurological damage. pearance. Problems with bone dren living in fluoridated areas
MORRIS, University of drinking water. In the UK, 6 While some studies have pur- development (called skeletal such as Birmingham and New-
Birmingham million people have a water ported to show a link between fluorosis) may happen. But this castle have lower rates of dental
The Conversation supply with fluoride in it – ei- fluoridation and a range of is only in places with very high decay and fewer hospital ad-
ther because of local water flu- harms, these studies haven’t natural levels of fluoride in the missions for dental problems.
oridation schemes or because held up to academic scrutiny water – sometimes as much as Tooth decay remains a signif-
The UK government recently the drinking water in their area largely because they have not ten times the levels seen in flu- icant burden for people and the
announced plans to add fluo- naturally contains higher levels carefully taken other factors oridation schemes. Neither of NHS. Adding fluoride to water
ride to water to cut tooth decay. of fluoride. into account that may influence these conditions is a concern in in other parts of the UK will be
A bill is proceeding through Fluoride is a naturally occur- the results – such as smoking, countries where the level of flu- a safe and effective way of im-
parliament to support this. ring mineral found in water in obesity or age. oride in water is controlled. proving dental health for many
Tooth decay is a very com- varying amounts depending on There is no credible scientific Over 400 million people people. ■
mon disease. In England, it’s the where you live. It makes teeth evidence that adding minimal globally drink water contain-
most common reason for hospi- stronger and is shown to re- amounts of fluoride to water ing fluoride including Canada, This article is republished
talisation in children aged six to duce tooth decay, which is why can cause cancer or other dis- Australia, New Zealand and from The Conversation under a
ten. Tooth decay is caused by it’s often added to toothpaste eases. But we do have good ev- Ireland. These countries do not Creative Commons license.
eating too much refined sugar and mouthwash. It has also idence that fluoride is effective
and not brushing teeth enough, been added to drinking water in reducing tooth decay and is
which leads to plaque build-up. in some parts of the UK since a safe way to do so. In England,
It can lead to holes in the teeth 1964. Research shows that as the government is required to
(caries), dental abscesses and little as 1mg of fluoride per li- regularly report on the health
tooth loss. While anyone can tre of water is needed to tackle of people living in fluoridated
experience tooth decay, it dis- tooth decay. areas. The most recent report
proportionately affects people Research shows adding flu- on fluoride’s safety has again
on low incomes. Tooth decay oride to water reduced tooth found significant benefits to
also means nearly 40,000 chil- decay by 28% in five-year-olds using fluoride in water – and no
dren require tooth extraction living in deprived communi- evidence that it’s bad for your
a year – at a cost to the NHS of ties – making them around 50% health.
£65 million. less likely to need to have their That said, fluoride in drink-
Addressing tooth decay will teeth removed in hospital. In ing water (and in toothpaste,
not only mean fewer people suf- wealthier areas, fluoride in wa- if swallowed) may lead to mot-
fer from complications, it will ter reduced tooth decay by 17%. tling (fluorosis) of developing
also reduce the burden on NHS But alongside proposals to permanent teeth. This is gen-
services and allow money to be add fluoride to more people’s erally mild and studies carried
redirected to other services. drinking water, concerns have out in England have not shown
Expanding water fluoridation been raised about fluoride’s greater levels of severe dental
schemes is one effective way of safety – especially among peo- fluorosis in fluoridated areas
doing this. ple who believe it could cause compared with non-fluoridat-
3 ways restaurant... Modern technology cited...

❰❰ 30 ommendations, but ❰❰ 27 ious technological ad- tions and limitations due to the Without advanced technolo- “These are all made possible
many don’t. Every vancements, Gilvero pandemic, they managed to gy, that would have been impos- with modern technology,” the
restaurant, every staff said. continue their regular prayer sible, he said. pastor said.
member and every customer is New technology also helps meetings through various vir- For his part, Pastor Fran- This year’s National Family
different, so these recommen- families cope with the pandem- tual platforms. cisco Abella of the Pentecostal Week celebration carries the
dations are meant as a sug- ic, providing access to education “It is important that these Church said they are also thank- theme “Pamilya at Teknolohi-
gested starting point. We kept for students, work-from-home activities continue to have ful for new technology because ya: Magkabalikat na Mapag-
our recommendations simple arrangements for workers, vir- sustained communication be- it enables their members to tagumpayan ang Hamon ng
so that they’re easy to adopt or tual conferences and meetings tween members and the lead- connect with others from other Pandemya”.
adapt. in real-time, masses and similar ership,” he said while admitting parts of the world and have op- On Monday, Malacañang sus-
Good habits can reduce aller- church activities, and even food that not all have access to tech- portunities for virtual sharing pended work in government of-
gic reactions, improve custom- delivery services, he said. nology as some people reside in during the pandemic. fices at 3:30 p.m. to allow work-
er experience and strengthen Gilvero, however, advised remote areas. A healthy community and ers to spend time with their
staff confidence to manage al- parents to guide their children Jurlano specifically men- a healthy church come from families and celebrate “Kain-
lergies. What’s more, people on the proper use of gadgets, tioned one event online where healthy families, he noted. ang Pamilya Mahalaga Day”.■
with allergies can be loyal cus- considering the many negative Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, The Pentecostal Church, he
tomers to restaurants they con- influences and false informa- the Filipino prelate appointed said, managed to hold weekly
sider safe. ■ tion circulating online. by Pope Francis as the Prefect apostolic fellowship of fathers
For his part, Dr. Vicente Jur- of the Congregation for the as providers for the family,
This article is republished lano, Ph. D., representing the Evangelization of the Peoples while other activities were also
from The Conversation under a Couples for Christ (CFC) here, in the Vatican, officiated mass for the mothers who are the
Creative Commons license. said despite quarantine restric- in Rome, Italy for them. homemakers, he said.

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7

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The UK is adding fluoride to water –

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