Philippine Canadian Inquirer #617
Philippine Canadian Inquirer #617
Philippine Canadian Inquirer #617
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2 PHILIPPINE NEWS FRIDAY November 22, 2024
1
Adhere to House protocols, VP Sara told
By Filane Mikee Cervantes This prompted the House natin sa ating mga aksyon (For
Philippine News Agency leadership to impose a "lock- me, since we are officials, we
down" as a precautionary secu- should be careful with our ac-
rity measure. tions. We should look into this
MANILA – Leaders of the The House leaders empha- because it will show our char-
House of Representatives on Fri- sized the importance of ad- acter; our character is reflected
day sounded the alarm over what hering to security protocols, in our actions),” Chua said.
they described as a breach of se- regardless of rank or position. On Wednesday, the House
curity after Vice President Sara "Gusto naming ipaalala sa Good Government and Pub-
Duterte remained at the Batasang lahat, lalo na sa mga opisyal lic Accountability cited Lopez
Pambansa complex overnight on ng gobyerno, na may mga pa- for contempt over her "undue
Thursday and refused to leave de- takaran at protokol kaming si- interference" in the panel's
spite repeated requests. nusunod sa Malaking Kapulun- proceedings investigating the
In a joint statement, Senior gan para tiyakin ang seguridad OVP's use of confidential funds.
Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gon- at kaayusan (We would like to ACT Teachers Party-list Rep.
zales, Majority Leader Manuel remind everyone, especially France Castro, who moved to
Jose Dalipe and Deputy Speaker government officials, that we cite Lopez for contempt, cited
David Suarez said Duterte stayed have policies and protocols Vice President Sara Duterte (OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES/FACEBOOK)
the letter sent by the OVP to the
beyond official visiting hours fol- that we follow in the Bigger Commission on Audit, requesting
lowing her visit to Office of the Chamber to ensure security honor the greater responsibil- mabantayan ang pangalawang the commission to disregard a
Vice President (OVP) Undersec- and order)," they said. ities entrusted to them by the pangulo (to protect the Vice congressional subpoena for audit
retary Zuleika Lopez, who is cur- "Hindi ito basta-basta nilala- people?)," they said. President)," Chua said. reports on the office's confiden-
rently detained at the complex. bag, kahit sino pa ang tao. Ka- The House leaders pledged to In her initial letter, Duterte tial expenses in 2022 and 2023.
“Binuksan namin ang pinto pag hindi nasunod ang mga ito, strengthen its security measures appealed to Chua on humani- The OVP's Aug. 21 letter said
ng malasakit para sa kanya, para na rin nating sinira ang re- to prevent similar incidents. tarian grounds, citing Lopez’s the subpoena should not be
binigyan siya ng espesyal na speto sa institusyon na nagsis- “Sisiguraduhin namin na health and well-being. complied with, citing reasons
pahintulot na bisitahin si Atty. ilbi sa taumbayan (These rules hindi na mauulit ang ganitong “For humanitarian reasons, I such as a potential violation of
Zuleika Lopez (We opened the cannot simply be violated, no insidente (We will ensure that request for consideration of her the constitutional principle of
door of compassion for her and matter who you are. If these are such incidents do not happen situation,” Duterte wrote, list- separation of powers.
gave her special permission to not followed, it's as if we have again)," they said. ing six circumstances, including Castro pointed out that Lopez
visit Atty. Zuleika Lopez)," the also destroyed the respect for Duterte plea rejected Lopez’s chronic back problems, signed the letter, violating House
House leaders said. the institution that serves the House Good Government nausea and fears for her safety. rules on undue interference in
"Pero pagkatapos ng oras people)," they added. and Public Accountability Com- Duterte further claimed, the conduct of proceedings.
ng pagbisita na natapos nang They said the House of Repre- mittee Chair Joel Chua, mean- “She has requested me to join Lopez, meanwhile, said the
10:00 ng gabi, hindi siya um- sentatives serves the Filipino peo- while, disclosed in a press con- her so she may have peace of letter was not intended to un-
alis (After the visiting hours ple and must not be treated as a ference that the panel rejected mind and get adequate rest.” dermine Congress.
ended at 10 p.m., she did not private space for personal use. Duterte's request to join Lopez Chua, however, rejected the “The premise is that hindi pa
leave)," they said. "Hindi ito lugar para abu- in detention until Nov. 25. request, citing the strict guide- po final 'yung findings ng audit
According to House Ser- suhin o gawing personal na es- “Hindi naman po natin pa- lines of the Office of the Ser- investigation (findings of the
geant-at-Arms Napoleon Taas, pasyo, kahit pa sino ka. Kung payagan kasi hindi naman po geant-at-Arms. audit investigation are not yet fi-
Duterte arrived at the complex walang respeto sa mga sim- siya detainee (We will not al- Chua also criticized Duter- nal), so we feel that it was not the
at 7:40 p.m. and was allowed pleng patakaran, paano tayo low her [to stay in the deten- te's actions as a “lack of respect right time to release it. It was in-
to stay with Lopez until the fi- magtitiwala na kaya nilang tion premises] because she is for the institution” and its em- conclusive,” Lopez told the panel.
nal cutoff time at 10 p.m. igalang ang mas malalaking not a detainee)," Chua said. ployees, urging her to adhere Lopez appealed for the con-
However, instead of leaving, responsibilidad na iniatang ng Chua further said that given to established protocols. tempt order to be lifted, main-
the Vice President reportedly pro- taongbayan sa kanila? (This Duterte's "high-profile" status “Para sa akin lang, kasi taining that it was just a "re-
ceeded to the office of her brother, is not a place to be abused or as Vice President, ensuring her opisyal tayo, dapat careful spectful request" to the COA.
Davao City Rep. Paolo Duterte, turned into a personal space, security within the complex re- tayo sa ating mga aksyon. However, the panel ruled
and stayed there overnight de- no matter who you are. If there quired considerable resources. Dapat ito ay tinitignan natin that Lopez be detained for five
spite multiple appeals from Taas is no respect for simple rules, "I do not know if we have kasi it will show our character, days, or until the committee’s
to leave the House premises. how can we trust that they can enough security dito para nagre-reflect ‘yung character next hearing on Nov. 25. ■
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FRIDAY November 22, 2024 5
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FRIDAY November 22, 2024 PHILIPPINE NEWS 7
Philippine Canadian Inquirer is located at Children line up for free ice cream during a culminating activity of the Regional Children's Month at
200-13888 Wireless Way, Pasig City Rainforest Park on Saturday (Nov. 23, 2024). (JOAN BONDOC/PNA)
Richmond, BC PAGE 10 Passage of Magna
•••
CANADA NEWS
Adios amigos? What Trump 2.0 means for
Canada and Mexico
By Asa McKercher, St. trans-shipment of Chinese goods “would appear to equate the divide its two North American imagined than real — the
Francis Xavier University, — especially auto parts and ve- relations between the Unit- trading partners. Trump administration could not
Adam Chapnick, Royal hicles — through its country in ed States and Canada and the When faced with an over- replace NAFTA with a bilateral
Military College of Canada order subvert tariffs imposed by United States and Mexico.” whelming aggressor, she argued, arrangement without congres-
The Conversation the American and Canadian gov- For Ottawa, it was essential it’s best not to stand alone. sional approval — but Canada
ernments against China. to preserve the notion of a spe- U.S. made side deal still had to move quickly to re-
If Mexico won’t act to pre- cial relationship between Can- This position was backed store a trilateral solution.
United States President-elect vent trans-shipments or im- ada and the U.S. by other ministers as well as CUSMA subsequently came
Donald Trump has vowed to pose its own tariffs on Chinese Even though the three lead- by Ottawa’s trade negotiators into effect on July 1, 2020.
implement an across-the-board goods, Ford explained, “they ers eventually met in Warm even as prominent Canadians The CUSMA negotiations
tariff of at least 10 per cent on shouldn’t have a seat at the ta- Springs, Ga., the “summit” ul- — including former prime min- should offer Ford and the en-
all imports into the country. ble or enjoy access to the larg- timately consisted of separate ister Stephen Harper — called tire Canadian negotiating team
While there could be some ex- est economy in the world.” U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico for ditching the Mexicans. a warning.
emptions for American imports Ford’s comments drew bilateral meetings. At first, the Canadian ap- If Canada is prepared to
of oil, gas and other natural immediate criticism from Four decades later, Canada proach appeared to succeed. leave Mexico behind, Canadi-
resources, it’s not pressed to be in- Freeland herself earned a fear- an officials should be prepared
yet clear wheth- cluded in what some reputation among Amer- for their Mexican counterparts
er Canada will became the North ican officials, with Trump at- to do the same. And while it
be protected by American Free tacking her as a “nasty woman.” seems right now that the U.S.
the Canada-Unit- Trade Agreee- Later, however, Canadian ne- has problems with Mexico and
ed States-Mexico ment — known gotiators thought they saw an its management of America’s
Agreement (CUS- as NAFTA — not opening and offered the Ameri- porous southern border than
MA).
... it’s not yet clear whether because of any cans a bilateral deal without no- it does with Ottawa, under the
In fact, when Canada will be protected by fellowship with tifying their Mexican colleagues. mercurial Trump, the situation
the deal comes up Mexico, but to en- Not only did Washington can can change in an instant.
for a mandatory
the Canada-United States- sure that its newly reject the offer, American offi- It’s therefore probably not
review in 2026, Mexico Agreement (CUSMA). won market ac- cials approached Mexico City in Canada’s interest to throw
Trump has said: cess to the Unit- and concluded a separate side Mexico under the bus. ■
“I’m going to have ed States (thanks deal of their own. This time, it
a lot of fun.” to the 1988 Free was Canada left unaware. This article is republished
Given that more Trade Agreement Warning signs from The Conversation under a
than 77 per cent between the U.S. The threat of being cut out Creative Commons license.
of Canada’s ex- and Canada) was of a trade agreement was more
ports go to the United States, Mexican trade officials, but not undercut by a bilateral
Canadians have understandably Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s Mexico-U.S. deal.
viewed Trump’s declarations deputy prime minister and Common front?
with alarm. finance minister, was more As we document in our new
And against the likely tor- sympathetic. Concerns about book, Canada First, Not Cana-
rent of American protection- Mexican handling of Chinese da Alone, even if Canada’s sus-
ism, Canada has few good op- goods “are legitimate concerns picions of Mexico about trade
tions. Responding in kind, for for our American partners and matters aren’t out of the ordi-
example, will likely lead to a neighbours to have. Those are nary, they must be considered
rise in inflation. concerns that I share,” she said. against the notion that in deal-
Kicking out Mexico? This is not the first time Ca- ing with the U.S., there can be
One idea, recently floated by nadians have expressed wari- strength in numbers.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, is ness about including Mexico Throughout the early phase
to abandon CUSMA’s trilateral in common North American of the CUSMA negotiations
framework and seek a bilater- arrangements. during the first Trump pres-
al Canada-U.S. trade deal. As Canada’s position on Mexico idency, Freeland herself was
Ford put it: “We must prioritize In 1956, when U.S. Presi- adamant that Canada not
the closest economic partner- dent Dwight D. Eisenhower abandon Mexico in favour of a
ship on Earth by directly nego- proposed a trilateral summit bilateral deal.
tiating a bilateral U.S.-Canada with Prime Minister Louis St. Rather, she pointedly em-
free trade agreement.” Laurent and Mexican President phasized the need to work
The premier’s specific com- Adolfo Ruiz Cortines, Canadi- alongside Mexico to present President Donald J. Trump is joined by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and
plaint is that the Mexican gov- an diplomats expressed their a common front against the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the USMCA signing ceremony Friday, Nov.
ernment has failed to prevent the opposition to anything that Trump administration’s efforts 30, 2018, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. (TRUMP WHITE HOUSE ARCHIVED/FLICKR, PUBLIC DOMAIN)
www.canadianinquirer.net
10 CANADA NEWS FRIDAY November 22, 2024
Passage of Magna..
8 ing more than 1 mil- framework for child protection The Civil Registration Bill, ap- ing the integrity of civil records. protect its youngest citizens.
lion children, accord- and welfare. proved by the House Committee Romualdez called on law- “On this day, let me express
ing to the Philippine “Universal birth registration on Population and Family Rela- makers in both chambers of the 19th Congress’ firm com-
Statistics Authority (PSA). is a cornerstone of equality and tions and now pending in the Congress to act swiftly on these mitment: We will do every-
This bill complements the opportunity. It is unacceptable Committee on Appropriations, transformative measures, em- thing in our power to break the
Magna Carta for Children by that so many of our children proposes accessible and inclu- phasizing that the Magna Carta prevalence of violence, end the
ensuring that all children have remain invisible to the State, sive birth registration services. for Children and the Civil Regis- neglect, and create a safe and
legal recognition and access deprived of access to educa- It aims to remove barriers that tration Bill represent the nation’s equitable Philippines for our
to essential services, there- tion, healthcare, and legal pro- disproportionately affect margin- commitment to fulfilling its con- children. Their future is our
by forming a comprehensive tections,” Romualdez said. alized communities while improv- stitutional and moral duties to legacy,” he said. ■
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FRIDAY November 22, 2024 CANADA NEWS 11
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12 CANADA NEWS FRIDAY November 22, 2024
WORLD NEWS
Climate entropy: reflections on the ground
from COP29
By Isabela del Alcázar, IE their portfolios and transition- tance, often framed as a NIMBY We are still waiting for the Kyoto Protocol and seeks to es-
University ing to more sustainable business (not in my backyard) cause, is magic “commitment number” tablish clear rules to deter fraud
The Conversation models. The current market is not only an aesthetic or territo- – the figure that developed and double emission counting.
not, however, designed to make rial issue – it also houses deeper countries decide to allocate The entropy lesson
clean energy as profitable as concerns about the preserva- to developing nations to fund COP29 offers a clear lesson:
If I had to sum up COP29 in a oil and gas – complex systemic tion of unique ecosystems that their climate transition. tension and complexity are in-
single word, it would be entro- issues present roadblocks to a could be lost forever. Why is this so important? herent to the climate challenge.
py. Borrowed from thermody- competitive transition. As industries grapple with Because many of these coun- Much like entropy itself, the en-
namics, this concept describes The cost of solar energy being competitive, the stakes tries lack the resources to im- ergy transition is a constantly
the delicate balance between has plummeted by 88% since are even higher for countries plement renewable energy shifting system with opposing
order and disorder, a principle 2010, and onshore wind by themselves. China and India projects and adapt their infra- forces that need to be balanced.
that governs both natural and 68%. While this has helped are heading the technological structures to reduce climate Solving this puzzle demands
human systems. An ecosystem, to foster key industries such race, so falling behind could change. However, this funding more than just funds and techno-
much like the climate negoti- as electric vehicles and solar lead to economic disaster. This is not just a matter of charity. It logical breakthroughs. It requires
ations, is not static; it is con- panels, clean energy is still far is the main reason why figures is also a way to ensure that all bold leadership, international
stantly evolving, adapting and from being self-sufficient. Its like ExxonMobil CEO Darren countries, regardless of their cooperation, and the ability to
reconfiguring itself. success depends on a much Woods are encouraging Don- resources, can contribute to the navigate a system where tensions
In a curiously organic way, a more complex interplay be- ald Trump to join the climate fight against climate change. – decarbonisation vs conserva-
COP also works like this, as a tween industry, governments negotiations – not out of altru- In this sense, Article 6.4 of tion, efficiency vs climate justice
chaotic yet seamless gathering and infrastructure. ism, but as a strategic necessity. the Paris Agreement represents – have to be carefully managed
of voices, interests and per- In Spain, for instance, renew- The energy transition re- a step towards a more orderly and balanced.
spectives. ables account for 61.5% of in- quires more than just invest- system by setting out a global Energy is the driving force
The endless summit corridors stalled capacity, with 78,968 MW ment in renewables; it also framework for carbon credit behind this process, not only in
are packed with almost 60,000 of production, yet the stark real- means designing a system that trading, under UN oversight. It the physical sense, but also in
participants, each navigating ity is that there are 130 GW of can combine efficient grids, aims to prevent double count- the political and social realms.
their way to uncertain outcomes renewable projects waiting to be streamlined processes, stable ing and fraud, as well as to The question is whether we can
at predetermined destinations: connected to an electricity grid public policies, conservation restore confidence in a mar- channel COP29’s chaos into a
a negotiating table, a round- that is not ready to handle them. efforts and the needs of local ket that fell to $723 million in more sustainable and orderly
table discussion or a profound Outdated infrastructure and communities. Ignoring any of 2023 after multiple scandals. future. Entropy may be a chal-
conversation on the future of slow bureaucratic processes these elements will not only Under this system, countries lenge, but it is also an opportuni-
the climate. In this global mi- are creating a bottleneck that further delay the transition, it will be able to trade carbon ty, a reminder that there is room
crocosm, where governments, prevents clean energy from will also expose us to fresh en- credits produced by projects to build something extraordi-
businesses, NGOs and academ- being monetised, undermining vironmental and social crises. anywhere in the world, gener- nary, even within disorder. ■
ics converge, the interplay of its profitability and slowing its There are no easy solutions to ating revenue to fund their own
interests is never stable, yet the uptake. The complexities don’t these complex problems. transitions. It replaces the for- This article is republished
wheels of the system remain stop there – further progress is The price of saving the mer Clean Development Mech- from The Conversation under a
constantly in motion. also sorely needed in energy planet anism established under the Creative Commons license.
My watch (and feet) can attest storage and data management,
to the sheer scale of this gather- as well as in building optimised
ing. During my time here I have distribution networks.
been clocking over 25,000 steps Renewable energy vs bio-
per day, roughly half a mara- diversity?
thon, in my efforts to keep up There is a paradoxical ele-
with the rushing, incessantly ment to the climate struggle. As
conversing human tides. we move towards decarbonisa-
The energy transition tion, some renewable projects
maze: complexity and inter- are having a highly detrimental
dependence impact on the environment, af-
It is easy to point fingers at fecting precisely one of the oth-
the more than 1,700 represen- er major global challenges: the
tatives from the oil and gas sec- recovery of biodiversity.
tors attending COP29, yet their The Maestrazgo Cluster in
role in the energy transition is Castellon, Spain, which envis-
absolutely crucial. After COP28, ages the installation of over 125
even giants like ExxonMobil and wind turbines in Natura 2000
Shell acknowledged that their protected areas, is a clear exam-
future depends on diversifying ple of this conflict. Local resis- COP29 (IRENA/FLICKR, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
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14 WORLD NEWS FRIDAY November 22, 2024
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FRIDAY November 22, 2024 WORLD NEWS 15
ENTERTAINMENT
"Hello, Love, Again" reaches P566M in Philippine
box office, pledges support to typhoon victims
ABS-CBN ing mahihiling pa,” Kathryn said. The first collaboration of ABS- Filipino film in America. tralia, New Zealand, Guam, and
“Maraming salamat sa CBN’s Star Cinema and GMA Directed by Cathy-Garcia Saipan. It will also premiere
pagmamahal at suporta na Pictures opened at no. 8 in the Sampana, the romantic drama in Singapore, Malaysia, the
Kathryn and Alden’s film binibigay niyo sa amin at sa US box-office top 10, grossing film is showing in over 1,000 Middle East, Cambodia, Hong
sets new box-office record with pelikula. No words can express $2.4 million and setting the re- cinemas worldwide including Kong, and Macau this month.
P131 million single-day gross how grateful we are for the cord as the biggest opening for a the US, Canada, Europe, Aus- Witness the continuation
“Hello, Love, Again,” the hit turnout and we’re very happy of Joy (Kathryn) and Ethan’s
film starring Kathryn Bernardo na maraming naka-appreciate (Alden) story in “Hello, Love,
and Alden Richards, has shat- nito,” Alden added. Again” now showing exclusive-
tered another box-office record, Part of the proceeds of the film ly in cinemas worldwide. For
grossing an unprecedented will go towards helping the vic- more details, follow Star Cin-
P131 million in a single day last tims of Typhoon Pepito. Mean- ema on Facebook, X (formerly
Saturday (Nov 16). The film while, Kathryn and Alden will Twitter), Instagram, YouTube,
has now reached P566 million attend the Asian World Film Festi- and TikTok.
as of Monday (Nov. 18). val, wherein “Hello, Love, Again” For other updates, follow
“We’re so blessed because bini- will serve as the closing film. @abscbnpr on Facebook, X
gyan ng mga tao ng chance yung The record-breaking film (Twitter), Instagram, and
pelikula namin at lahat ng na- made history with the biggest TikTok, or visit www.abs-cbn.
re-receive namin. Wala na kam- opening day at P85 million. Kathryn Bernardo, Alden Richards, and Cathy Garcia-Sampana (ABS-CBN)
com/newsroom. ■
www.canadianinquirer.net
18 ENTERTAINMENT FRIDAY November 22, 2024
LIFESTYLE
Reading dark romance:
The ambiguities of a fascinating genre
By Magali Bigey, Université resenting a significant portion. where young women are often
de Franche-Comté – UBFC Once relegated to the fringes, subjected to paradoxical ex-
The Conversation the genre is now widely avail- pectations. Dark romance pro-
able in bookstores, libraries, and vides a space to examine these
even boasts its own event – the tensions without real-world re-
A literary subgenre that Festival New Romance in Lyon. percussions, making emotional
emerged in the 2010s and Central to dark romance’s suc- engagement the cornerstone of
gained widespread popularity cess is the role of online literary the reader’s experience.
in the 2020s, dark romance communities. Platforms such One of the reasons dark ro-
falls under the umbrella of un- as TikTok amplify these novels’ mance maintains its popularity is
healthy love stories. These nov- visibility through thousands of its ability to offer a sense of re-
els often depict relationships videos featuring recommenda- assurance amid the complexities
that challenge moral and legal tions, excerpts, and emotional of real-world relationships. The
boundaries, raising questions analyses. Enthusiastic readers recurring theme of the heroine
about their growing appeal. become influencers, driving in- “healing” her abuser or gaining
What does the success of these terest and propelling titles to control over the relationship pro-
provocative stories, frequently success – sometimes even before vides a redemptive arc that ap-
marked by violence and com- official publication. Viral sensa- peals to readers seeking resolu-
plex power dynamics, reveal tions like Captive owe much of tion. While the initial depictions
about contemporary society? their popularity to this digital of violence may be troubling, the
Fueled by social media plat- word-of-mouth model. eventual mastery and closure
forms such as TikTok – particu- The allure of emotional in- provide a controlled space for
larly under the hashtag #Book- tensity readers to explore challenging
Tok – the meteoric rise of dark Dark romance explores the emotions without endorsing such
romance underscores a shift in murky areas of love and desire, behaviours in real life.
how narratives about love and often characterised by fraught In many households, the in-
desire are consumed. The genre’s power dynamics and implicit Contrary to fears that dark al tools to process such content troduction to dark romance
ability to provoke intense emo- or explicit violence between romance promotes violence or effectively. This underscores comes from familial connec-
tional responses has captivated protagonists. Yet, these stories unhealthy relationships, many the importance of providing tions, such as mothers or older
a predominantly young, female, typically have a positive, albeit readers engage critically with guidance and fostering environ- sisters sharing their own discov-
and highly engaged audience. complicated, conclusion. these narratives. A 2024 study ments where young people can eries. These shared experiences
While controversial, these novels Protagonists in these novels of high school students revealed discuss these narratives openly, often lead to discussions, fos-
allow readers to explore forbid- are often young women in sub- that young readers often in- whether with trusted individ- tering critical thinking and re-
den or complex emotions within missive roles paired with dom- terpret such content through uals or within critical reading flection on the content. In more
a controlled, fictional environ- inant male characters. Despite a lens of awareness, acknowl- communities. Such approach- open-minded environments,
ment. How can society better un- frequent criticism for their por- edging the troubling dynamics es mitigate risks of superficial such exchanges transform read-
derstand this phenomenon, and trayal of toxic relationships, while recognising their fictional interpretations or unchecked ing into a communal and ana-
more importantly, guide young these narratives resonate with nature. “It’s good to show read- immersion, especially on plat- lytical activity, steering readers
readers toward critical engage- readers by offering an emo- ers the violence of these acts so forms like Wattpad, a collab- away from simplistic or poten-
ment without dismissing their tional intensity unmatched by they can understand how absurd orative storytelling site where tially harmful interpretations.
preferences? other romance subgenres. it is,” one student told Arnaud moderation can be minimal. Toward a more nuanced
A genre on the rise For many, the appeal lies in Genon, a professor at INSPÉ in Dark romance often serves approach
The success of Fifty Shades the safe exploration of extreme Strasbourg. This sentiment un- as a form of catharsis, allowing Rather than condemning
of Grey by E.L. James in the emotions within a fictional derscores the idea that reading readers to engage with power- dark romance, society should
early 2010s helped establish framework. Similar to the thrill these novels can foster a critical ful and conflicting emotions in a focus on guiding its reader-
new romance as a dominant of horror movies, readers can ex- awareness of harmful behaviours controlled and safe environment. ship. Demonising the genre
force in publishing, paving the perience fear, tension, or desire, rather than normalising them. The genre enables readers to nav- risks alienating young readers,
way for subgenres like dark knowing they remain in control Far from being a mere in- igate themes of control, freedom, while fostering open dialogue
romance. Series such as 365 of the story. This emotional ca- citement to violence, dark ro- and submission – concepts many encourages critical reflection.
Days by Blanka Lipińska and tharsis may reflect broader soci- mance can serve as a tool for young women grapple with amid Teenagers often engage with
Captive by Sarah Rivens have etal unease, particularly among introspection and emotional societal pressures. Within these these stories as a form of experi-
garnered millions of readers, young people navigating con- processing – though its impact fictional realms, readers remain mentation, rather than a desire
cementing dark romance as a versations around gender equal- varies significantly based on in control of the narrative, cre- to emulate the characters or
popular niche. ity, consent, and power dynam- the reader’s maturity and age. ating a boundary that separates relationships depicted. Social
By 2023, romance account- ics in the post-#MeToo era. Concerns often arise regarding fantasy from reality. media reactions like “Oh, Ash
ed for 7% of the French book Recognising excess with- very young readers, particularly This exploration is partic-
market, with dark romance rep- out normalizing it girls who may lack the emotion- ularly relevant in a society PAGE 21 Reading dark romance:
www.canadianinquirer.net
20 LIFESTYLE FRIDAY November 22, 2024
SPORTS
Are professional footballers overworked? Their
performance and wellbeing are definitely at risk
By Wasim Ahmed, University and Kane – should maybe give called up by their country. ered as a “moderate” workload Hernández (Rodri) claimed that
of Hull, Ronnie Das, The those players the benefit of the A report by FIFPro, which over a season, and that players players were seriously contem-
University of Western doubt. For the demands of the represents 65,000 profession- should not participate in more plating strike action. A few weeks
Australia modern game in an overloaded al footballers across the world, than 55. This season, a star after making that statement he
The Conversation football calendar are having a suggests the difference for na- player like Phil Foden (Man- suffered a serious injury which is
serious impact on players’ well- tional team players is stark. chester City and England) is expected to see him sidelined for
being and performance. According to its calculations, a expected to play a total of 77. the rest of the season.
For some professional footbal- For example, one official re- club player who participated in A sporting chance Of course, there may be some
lers, the ultimate sporting hon- view indicates a rise of 11% in Euro 2024 spent 88% of their Footballers too have been who struggle to sympathise with
our is to play – and hopefully player injuries in the Premier days that season on footballing vocal about the demands they the work load of extremely well
win – for their country. A place in League during the 2023-24 commitments. For a player who face. Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid paid football players. It is im-
the international squad is highly season compared to the pre- didn’t take part in the Europe- and Spain) has argued that it is portant to recognise that play-
prized and hard fought for. vious one. And aside from the an tournament, it was 81%. impossible to play more than 70 ers at this elite level are athletes
But for the men’s England physical damage, those injuries The same report cites ex- games a season at full capacity. who put huge strain on their
team, perhaps some of the (most of which occur during perts who believe that 25 to And Manchester City (and bodies, under extreme pressure.
shine has come off. Captain the first half of the game) cost 39 matches should be consid- Spain) midfielder Rodrigo And the governing bodies
Harry Kane has openly crit- Premier League clubs £266 responsible for the sport and
icised his fellow players for million on salaries for players its players should be mindful
excusing themselves from in- who were unable to play. of this. The impact of travel,
ternational duty before match- The new Champions League different time zones and men-
es in November 2024 against format has also introduced tal burnout should all be tak-
Greece and Ireland. controversy in terms of the ad- en into account to protect the
A total of nine players ruled ditional number of games it de- players’ health.
themselves out, including Cole mands. Under the new system, Squad depth is extremely
Palmer (Chelsea) and Trent teams are required to play eight important in protecting players
Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), first-round matches instead of career longevity, but clubs are
who both withdrew from the six. Some will then need to play restricted by financial regula-
squad citing injuries. additional play-off games to tions. Meanwhile, FIFPro has
And of course, injured play- reach the round of 16. filed legal claims against Fifa
ers cannot perform as well as And while some analysis con- for alleged violation (through its
they or their fans might wish. cludes that there has been no calendar of fixtures) of players’
But the implication seems to be significant increase recently in fundamental employment rights
that the players are not priori- the number of matches played including freedom of work and
tising the national team. at club level, it can be a differ-
Yet data suggests that fans – ent story for individual players PAGE 30 Are professional
www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY November 22, 2024 23
BUSINESS
Why Donald Trump’s election win
fuelled a stock market surge
By Daniele D'Alvia, Queen bonds. Promises of corporate tax related to COVID lockdowns
Mary University of London cuts and deregulation tend to collided with the 2021 Ameri-
The Conversation encourage financial innovation, can Rescue Plan Act (a US$1.9
making markets more active. trillion government package to
These and others can be support workers in the pandem-
Following Donald Trump’s defined as “Trump trades” – ic) to send costs shooting higher.
victory in the US presidential financial market trends influ- This combination of high-
election, Bitcoin was one of enced by the president-elect’s er inflation and interest rates
the assets that surged in val- win. These trends emerge as could make many of the ideas
ue. This was widely felt to be investors adjust their strategies Trump talks about either riski-
a response to Trump’s promise based on the economic poli- er or more costly than before,
to establish a strategic Bitcoin cies, regulatory changes and especially as unemployment values. But stocks will stay high Trump’s unpredictability
reserve – essentially holding a geopolitical impact associated is very low. When more peo- only if Trump follows through and controversial character
large stock of the cryptocur- with a Trump presidency. ple are employed, increased with a light-touch approach to might seem like red flags for
rency as a security. On Novem- When Trump last became consumer demand can lead to regulation to scale back some of investors. Yet markets often
ber 13, the week after Trump’s president in 2017, prices for higher prices amid competition the reforms undertaken by Presi- take a pragmatic approach, fo-
win, Bitcoin broke through the consumer goods had risen al- for goods and services. dent Biden’s administration. cusing more on outcomes than
US$90,000 (£71,340) price most 5% over the previous four But markets are in euphoria Since 2021, the regulatory personal traits. For example,
threshold for the first time, and years. By contrast, since Janu- territory right now. The word burden faced by the finance in- Trump’s potential trade war
the value of the global crypto ary 2021 those same prices are speculator comes from the Lat- dustry has increased. Agencies with China might spark mar-
market topped US$3 trillion up by around 20%. This is a in “speculum”, meaning mirror. like Securities and Exchange ket volatility. But investors will
for the first time in three years. dramatically different econom- Hence, investors and specula- Commission and Consumer Fi- adapt as they see tariffs as part
US stock markets the Dow, ic backdrop in which inflation tors in the US capital market nancial Protection Bureau have of a broader strategy to secure
S&P 500 and Nasdaq also hit has been a global phenomenon today are simply mirroring introduced enforcement cam- better terms for US businesses.
record levels, with investors since the onset of the COVID Trump’s promises of economic paigns against financial firms in By contrast, even if markets
expecting to price in Trump’s pandemic in 2020. growth and protectionism. order to protect consumers from become volatile or fall (as hap-
promises of tax cuts and tariffs, Supply chain issues, shifting Trump is definitively market bad practice. This challenged pened with the US bond mar-
fuelling the dollar and spark- consumer spending patterns, the and economy-friendly – and this things like private equity deals
ing a sell-off in US government cost of living and other quirks creates short-term surges in stock and cryptocurrency trades. PAGE 30 Why Donald Trump’s
www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY November 22, 2024 25
TECHNOLOGY
AI feels like an unstoppable force.
But it is not a panacea for businesses or society
By Akhil Bhardwaj, as “how to drive an automatic ter its size, can provide training tography. Innovative photog- ing bullets prohibitively expen-
University of Bath, Anastasia car”. It is unlikely to complete for every potential action a pe- raphers were able to change sive. By suggesting a remedy
Sergeeva, University of Bath it with “how to drive an aero- destrian could take. AI cannot the way in which the business that involved “bullet control”
The Conversation plane”. Google establishes this yet compete with human dis- was done – the history of pho- rather than gun control to curb
by looking at the history of cretion in situations like these. tojournalism is an example of violence, Rock got laughs tap-
what words come after “how But more worryingly, AI can how something that started as ping into the cultural zeitgeist
In Greek mythology, Pro- to drive”. The larger the data- diminish human capabilities to a way of illustrating the news and presenting an innovative
metheus is credited with giv- set upon which it has been the extent that the ability to de- gradually acquired storytelling solution. In doing so, he also
ing humans fire as well as the trained, the more accurate its termine when to intervene might power and was elevated to the highlighted the absurdity of the
“spark” that spurred civilisation. prediction will be. be lost. Researchers have found status of an art form. situation – something that re-
One of the unintended conse- Variations of this logic are that use of AI leads to skill de- Similarly, fashion designers quires human perception.
quences of Prometheus’s “gift” used in all of its current appli- cay – a particular concern where such as Coco Chanel modernised AI shows its shortcomings
was that the need for celestial cations. AI’s strength, of course, workplace decisions involve life- women’s clothing, freeing them when what previously worked
Gods diminished. Modern hu- is that it can process untold or-death consequences. from uncomfortable long skirts loses its relevance or prob-
mans have been up to all sorts of amounts of data, and extrapo- Amazon learned the hard and corsets that lost their rele- lem-solving power. AI’s past
things that present similar unin- late it to apply to the future. way about letting “prediction vance in the post-war world. success means it will roll out in
tended consequences, from us- But this strength is also its machines” make decisions The founder of sportswear ever-widening circles – but this
ing CFCs that led to a hole in the weakness – it makes it vulnera- when its internal hiring tool manufacturer Under Armour, itself constitutes a confidence
ozone layer to building systems ble to a phenomenon manage- discriminated against women former college football player trap that humans should avoid.
that they do not understand or ment scholars refer to as the as it was trained on a database Kevin Plank, used the discom- Prometheus was ultimately
cannot fully control. “confidence trap”. This is the spanning a ten-year period fort from sweaty cotton un- rescued by Hercules. No such
In dabbling with artificial in- tendency to assume that since that skewed towards males. dershirts as an opportunity to god stands in the wings for hu-
telligence (AI), humans seem earlier decisions have led to These are, of course, examples develop clothing using microfi- mans. This implies more, rather
to have taken on the role of positive outcomes, continuing that we are aware of. As LLMs bres that draw moisture away than less, responsibility rests
Prometheus – apparently gift- in the same way in future will get more complex and their from the body. AI can improve on our shoulders. Part of this
ing machines the “fire” that continue to be OK. inner workings become more on these innovations. But be- includes ensuring our elected
sparked civilisation. Consider an example: the in- opaque, we might not even re- cause of how it operates in its representatives provide regula-
Predicting the future is best tervals between maintenance alise when things go astray. current form, it is unlikely to tory oversight for AI. After all,
left to shamans and futurol- of critical aeroplane parts. If Looking backwards be the source of novelties. we cannot let the technocrats
ogists. But we could be better increasing the intervals in the Because AI mirrors the past, it Simply put, AI is unable to play with fire at our expense. ■
informed about the dangers past has worked out fine (no might also be limited in its abil- see or show us the world in a
that follow from how AI op- failures), these might be ad- ity to spark radical innovation. new way, a shortcoming we This article is republished
erates and work out how to opted widely and there might By definition, a radical innova- have termed the “AI Chris Rock from The Conversation under a
avoid the pitfalls. be a push to increase the in- tion is a break from the past. problem”, inspired by a joke the Creative Commons license.
First, we must recognise that tervals further. Yet, it turned Consider the context of pho- comedian cracked about mak-
AI holds immense promise for out that this was a recipe for
human society. AI is becoming disaster. Alaska Airlines flight
ubiquitous – from mundane 261 crashed into the Pacific
tasks such as writing emails to Ocean killing all 88 people on
complex settings that require board because – perhaps influ-
human expertise. enced by previous success – a
AI – by which we mean large decision was made to delay the
language models (LLMs) that maintenance of a critical part.
appear to “understand” and AI might just exacerbate this
produce human language – are tendency. It can take attention
prediction machines. They are away from signs that there are
trained on large datasets that problems as AI analysis feeds
enable them to establish sta- into the picture to inform deci-
tistical associations between a sion-making.
huge number of variables and Or AI can extrapolate the
to predict what is next. results of the past and take
If you have used Google, you decisions without human in-
might have experienced some tervention. Take the example
version of this through its pre- of driverless cars, which have
dictive prompts. For example, been involved in more than a
you might type “how to drive” dozen cases of pedestrians be-
and Google will complete it ing killed. No dataset, no mat-
www.canadianinquirer.net
26 TECHNOLOGY FRIDAY November 22, 2024
www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY November 22, 2024 TECHNOLOGY 27
TRAVEL
From Julefest to Gingerbread Grove:
Christmas Market Destinations to Sleigh For
BOOKING.COM mark attractions and newly fering stunning views of the city, el along the village streets. Learn cozy up to the fire pit for extra
trending spots. to Singapore Zoo, which holds more about Danish traditions warmth and comfort. Surround-
Where to stay: The Luxury a Christmas set lunch at Forest and Solvang history whilst sing- ed by a variety of vineyards and
The season when the world Panoramic Vilnius Apartment Lodge during the festive period. ing carols during a candlelight wineries, part of Santa Barbara’s
turns merry and sparkly is ap- is a great base. Featuring one After a wander round the city’s tour. The main event, Christmas wine country, are also within a
proaching, so now’s the time bedroom and a terrace offering Christmas happenings, head to shopping, takes place in the short drive of this hotel.
to book those festive escapes! views over the Neris River, the the Marina Bay Sands complex to Maker’s Market, offering unique Trento, Italy
With so many places hosting apartment boasts modern inte- shop the plethora of retailers and gifts and treats under the stars Nicknamed ‘Città del Na-
Christmas markets, we have riors, providing a homely feel tick off some gifts on Santa’s list! of Solvang Park. If travelers stick tale’ or ‘Christmas Town,' the
shortlisted some of the great for guests to settle into. This Where to stay: A great choice around long enough, they can snow-dusted peaks of the sur-
spots beyond the usual clas- property is located near popu- if looking for some winter sun witness the Christmas Tree Burn, rounding Dolomite mountains
sics that pull in the crowds. lar points of interest, including after some market strolling, a fire safety demonstration mark- peeping out from behind Tren-
The perfect activity for a long the Museum of Occupations and Park Royal Collection Marina ing the end of Julefest. Take time to’s grand Romanesque Gothic
weekend getaway, travelers can Freedom Fights, Vilnius Gaon Bay is perfect to enjoy some to also explore the wonders of Cathedral are magical at any
experience different traditions Jewish State Museum and Vilni- R&R. Offering elegant rooms this slice of Denmark in Califor- time of the year, but especially
at a Christmas market, from us Church of St Michael & Con- with dramatic views of the city, nia, with Danish architecture and so at Christmas. The Christmas
sampling local food and drinks, stantine, and of course, the city’s a wide range of dining options four wooden mills to explore, not Market itself offers a lively at-
browsing the artisan crafts or popular Christmas markets. from a fresh seafood buffet to forgetting authentic local baker- mosphere, with wooden huts
purchasing bespoke gifts to sur- Singapore City, Singapore international delights served ies to sample delicious foods. For throughout the village adorned
prise friends and family. With Singapore’s biggest merri- up at the halal-certified Pepper- those who fancy a break from with colorful lights. Featuring a
over a third (38%)* of travelers ment, the Christmas Wonder- mint Restaurant, and a luxuri- all the Christmas activities, this wide range of local produce, in-
keen to have a day dedicated land at Gardens by the Bay, is a ous mineral water pool, this ho- Solvang Showdown Scavenger cluding handicrafts, Christmas
to shopping on their next trip, must-see experience in an un- tel has it all. Situated in a great Hunt is an immersive adventure decorations, candles and nativ-
a Christmas Market getaway is likely festive climate. Much like location, Gardens by the Bay, where travelers can discover an ity scenes, it’s the ideal place
the ideal solution to ring in the Singapore itself, the celebrations where the Christmas Market is alternate reality, featuring locals’ to wander around and pick up
festivities and kick start the fes- include larger-than-life displays, held, is just a short walk away. favorite hidden gems off the festive gifts and keepsakes to
tive shopping season. attractions and activities, with Solvang, California beaten trails and creatively inter- take home. Visitors should sam-
Vilnius, Lithuania the ambition of bringing people Solvang is the Danish capi- pret fun art, history, and culture ple the local specialities, such as
While a hidden gem all year together. From Mistletoe Alley to tal of America, and although an clues - for points! Tortel de Patate, an iconic dish
round, Vilnius truly sparkles the Gingerbread Grove, there is unexpected combination to be Where to stay: Located in the of Trento cuisine containing only
during the holiday season with plenty to see, do and eat, with a found in California, it is the place heart of Solvang, The Landsby three ingredients: potatoes, oil
its magnificent Christmas tree fantastic spread of stalls offering to be at Christmas. Hosting a boutique Californian hotel offers and salt. Wash delicious snacks
nestled between the Cathedral food and gifts under twinkling month-long merry extravaganza, Scandinavian-inspired rooms, down with some mulled wine,
Bell Tower and Gediminas' Christmas lights. This is a great Julefest, Solvang’s Christmas cel- with hand-crafted furnishings hot chocolate or parampampoli,
Tower. Lithuania’s capital city is spot to kick off the festive feel- ebration makes a sparkling start and is within walking distance a traditional Italian winter drink
known for hosting the city’s fes- ing, but don’t forget to make the to the season with a Tree Lighting to the town’s shops and restau- made with coffee, wine and
tivities, with multiple Christmas most of more super sights and Ceremony, followed by a parade rants. Guests can relax in the honey. For the real foodies, take
markets taking place through- attractions, from the Singapore where visitors can watch floats, hotel courtyard after a long day a small group Pasta and Tira-
out December, offering tradi- Flyer, an observation wheel of- marching bands and horses trav- of exploring the markets, and misu class and learn how to roll
tional food, crafts and enter- 'sfoglia' (fresh pasta) by hand
tainment to visitors. For those and how to prepare two simple
who are looking for unique kinds of pasta (filled pasta and
presents, the markets based in fresh pasta) from scratch.
a former prison courtyard and Where to stay: Boasting city
another in Design Square of- and mountain views Casa Trenti-
fer beautiful handmade gifts. ni - Atemporary Art Apartments
Alongside shopping, travelers is a picturesque central base
can also enjoy the stunning in Trento. This property offers
light and window displays in guests a spacious one-bedroom
the Glass Quarter, showcasing apartment to tuck into, following
elaborate installations and fairy a busy day of exploring the great
lights while a Christmas train sights and markets, while on
runs from Cathedral Square to its doorstep the Piazza Duomo,
City Hall. Soak up the sights Buonconsiglio Castle and Torre
amongst all the merriment on Civica are must-visit attractions.
this Bike Tour, which offers a
combination of must-see land- PAGE 30 From Julefest to
www.canadianinquirer.net
FRIDAY November 22, 2024 29
FOOD
Eating less sugar would be great
for the planet as well as our health
By Paul Behrens, University Another alternative is to use supply chain. Sustainable agri-
of Oxford, Alon Shepon, Tel the redirected sugar to produce culture is being discussed at the
Aviv University bioplastics, which would replace UN’s climate summit, Cop29, in
The Conversation around 20% of the total mar- Azerbaijan this week. Sustain-
ket for polyethelyne, one of the able sugar production should
most common forms of plastic factor into these global talks
Sugar addiction is on the and used to produce anything given the many environmen-
rise. Globally, sugar intake has from packaging to pipes. Or to tal problems and opportuni-
quadrupled over the last 60 produce biofuels, producing ties from changing the way we
years, and it now makes up around 198 million barrels of grow and consume sugar.
around 8% of all our calories. ethanol for transportation. We also suggest that groups
This sounds like sugar’s Brazil already produces of countries could come to-
keeping us fed, but added sug- around 85% of the world’s eth- gether in sugar transition part-
ars are actually empty calories anol and they produce it from nerships between producers
– they are bereft of any nutri- sugar, but instead of having to and consumers that encourage
ents like vitamins or fibres. The grow more sugar for ethanol a diversion of sugar away from
result is massive health costs, we could redirect the sugar peoples’ diets to more benefi-
with sugars linked to obesity from diets instead. This estima- cial uses. This could be coordi-
around the world. Some es- uated sugar’s environmental gest opportunity is using sugar tion is based on a world where nated by the World Health Or-
timates suggest that half the impacts and explored avenues to feed microbes that make we reduce dietary sugar to the ganization which has called for
global population could be for reducing sugar in the diet protein. Using saved sugar for maximum in dietary recom- a reduction in sugar consump-
obese by 2035. to recommended levels either this microbial protein could mendations (5% of daily cal- tion. Some of the money to
A limited 20% reduction through reducing production produce enough plant-based, ories). The benefits would be fund these efforts could even
in sugar is estimated to save or using the saved sugar in en- protein-rich food products to even larger if we reduced sugar come from part of the health
US$10.3 billion (£8.1 billion) vironmentally beneficial ways. regularly feed 521 million peo- consumption even further. savings in national budgets.
of health costs in the US alone. By phasing out sugar, we ple. And if this replaced animal Supply chain challenges We can’t hope to transition
Yet, sugar’s impacts go far be- could spare land that could be protein it could also have huge This sounds like a big win- the way we produce and eat
yond just health and money. rewilded and stock up on car- emission and water benefits. win: cut sugar to reduce obe- sugar overnight. But by explor-
There are also many en- bon. This is especially import- We estimate that if this pro- sity and help the environment. ing other uses of sugar, we can
vironmental problems from ant in biodiverse tropical re- tein replaced chicken, it could But these changes present a highlight what environmental
growing the sugar, like habitat gions where sugar production reduce emissions by almost huge challenge in a sugar sup- benefits we are missing out on
and biodiversity loss and water is concentrated such as Brazil 250 million tonnes, and we’d ply chain spanning more than and help policymakers map a
pollution from fertilisers and and India. But a different, see even bigger savings for re- 100 countries and the millions resource-efficient path forward
mills. But overall, sugar hasn’t more politically palatable op- placing beef (for reference, the of people that depend on sug- to the industry while improv-
received a lot of attention from tion might be redirecting sugar UK’s national fossil fuel emis- ar’s income. ing public health. ■
the scientific community de- away from diets to other en- sions are around 300 million National policies like sugar
spite being the largest cultivat- vironmentally-beneficial uses tonnes). Given sugar has a taxes are vital, but having in- This article is republished
ed crop by mass on the planet. such as bioplastics or biofuels. far lower climate impact than ternational coordination is also from The Conversation under a
In a recent article, we eval- Our study shows that the big- meat, this makes a lot of sense. important in such a sprawling Creative Commons license
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