Saturday night alright for fightin - Archived Student Publications from
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Saturday night alright for fightin - Archived Student Publications from
Focus: NEW BEGINNINGS Pages 5 - 17 Snowboard enthusiasts hit the streets of Halifax at Urban Butter Showcase. Page 3. Gifts, talents send poor Zimbabwean kids to school. Page 6. DJ Kid Koala filled Marquee Club to brim Saturday night. Page 20. ee fr Halifax commoner published by the university of king’s college school of journalism H friday, January 18, 2008 Saturday night alright for fightin’ Mixed martial arts fighting grows in popularity “I would argue that standing a fighter up for an eight-count round after round is where the real damage is going to occur.” One of the big differences between the two sports, he believes, is the submission techniques that play a prominent role in mixed martial arts. Fighters can “tap out” if they find themselves in an inescapable pin or about to lose consciousness. “I’ve seen fights end without anyone being hurt in any way,” Covey says. “Just make your opponent say ‘uncle’ and you win.” By RICHARD NORMAN Shayne Daley thuds head-first into the mat in a brutal body slam. The crowd cheers. Daley’s opponent, Chris Currie, pumps his fist in the air as the fight is stopped. The crowd goes quiet; Daley isn’t moving. Doctors race into the cage. A spinal board is brought out and Daley is wheeled away on a gurney. “Ladies and gentlemen,” says the MC, “we’re just going to take a fiveminute break for the next ambulance to arrive.” So it started at New Year’s Restitution, last Saturday’s mixed martial arts fight at the Halifax Forum. The controversial sport—a combination of ruthless fighting styles—has been staged half-a-dozen times in the nearly two years since it was sanctioned by the Nova Scotia Boxing Authority. The first event, Extreme Cage Combat 1, in April 2006, drew a rare sell-out crowd to the Forum and inspired much hand-wringing from editorialists and sports columnists who called mixed martial arts “human cockfighting.” Since then, as the sport’s popularity has grown, controversy in Nova Scotia appears to have died down or at least switched focus to unsanctioned fighting. Last month Corben Matthew MacDonald, 24, of Dartmouth, was charged with 42 counts of allegedly organizing street fights. “. . . standing a fighter up for an eight-count round after round is where the real damage is going to occur.” - Darren Covey MARTIAL ARTS TRAINEE Richard Norman Vartan Pour Nick and Peter McGrath face off in one of the night’s early bouts. Although some tried half-heartedly to connect MacDonald’s productions with the rise of mixed martial arts, proponents of the sport were quick to explain the differences. “Mindless brawls” are very different than mixed martial sports, Peter Martell, a mixed martial arts event promoter, said in an interview with The Daily News last month. “Mixed martial arts is a legitimate sport with highly trained athletes and is highly regulated,” he said. Although Daley’s injury last Saturday appeared serious, proponents of the sport stress it is generally safe and argue strongly Page Editor/Layout: Denis Calnan in its favour. Darren Covey, a computer programmer by day who trains in two mixed martial arts disciplines—Muay Thai and Brazilian ju jitsu—at a Dartmouth gym, says people who believe boxing is safer than mixed martial arts are wrong. Whether people agree with Covey’s assessment or not, the sport is growing in Nova Scotia. “Within 18 months of the first mixed martial arts event being legalized and with only a few resources, the Nova Scotia scene has produced a number of elite national level competitors,” says Jordan Breen, a Halifax student and leading commentator for Sherdog.com, the sport’s largest online community. “Things have come a tremendous way in a short amount of time,” Attendance at fights is impressive, with Adam Richardson, a sports reporter for The Daily News, calculating the average turnout at around 3,000 people—second only to Mooseheads hockey games. Although critics seem to have please see FIGHT Page 2 page 2 news the halifax commoner Friday, January 18, 2008 Fight fight continued from page 1 given up on their crusade against mixed martial arts in Nova Scotia—last Saturday’s event didn’t even warrant a mention in The Chronicle Herald, for example—others involved in the martial arts scene are still ambivalent about the sport’s rise. Ross Burns was inside the cage twice during last Saturday’s event at the Forum—but as a capoeria performer not as a fighter. Capoeria, a traditional Brazilian combination of dance and martial arts, puts an emphasis on fluid feints over the physical grappling and guillotine chokes of mixed martial arts, says Burns. Restitution promoter Scott MacLean invited members of Halifax’s Pernam Buldao Dance Studio to demonstrate their sport at the beginning of the fight card and at the intermission. “I probably wouldn’t go as a spectator,” Burns says, “but I did see interesting things last Saturday. I can understand why people like it and how the visceral aspect appeals to people. “Still, we looked at the event as an opportunity to get some exposure for a different kind of martial arts—one with less emphasis on violence.” [email protected] Richard Norman About 3,000 people packed The Forum for New Year’s Restitution. EDITORIAL New beginnings It’s January and the gym is packed with fresh faces trying to burn off that second-helping of grandma’s stuffing and those extra few rum and eggnogs. For the most part, these are fleeting resolutioners. They’ve invested in exercise until about February or March. Right about the time Lululemon’s new VitaFish line – formulated to release omega-3 into the skin – starts distracting the wannabe exercise gurus. But, despite the short-lived nature of their regimes, resolutioners are trying to make 2008 better than 2007. And that’s more than we can say about some other facets of life. Maybe it’s time Halifax started thinking about its own New Year’s resolutions. If 2007 was the year Celine Dion refused to play here, 2008 should be the year Halifax resolves to bring in more diverse, big-name acts. Maybe even ones that reflect its university-aged demographic, such as Sufjan Stevens or Daft Punk. Even Halifax Harbour could stand to go on a diet – a sewage-free one. In November 2007, the city began operating one of three sewage-treatment plants, two years behind original projections. Halifax Regional Municipality promised all three would be running by this summer. Let’s stop feeding the harbour pollution and get these plans on track. Last year, Halifax also saw a lot of youth-related violence. In August alone, three girls beat a senior with metal table legs in the Commons and a boy stabbed a security guard at a dance. And while Mayor Peter Kelly held round-table discussions on violence throughout 2007, maybe in 2008 the municipality can resolve to actually do something. More youth programs and free after-school activities might be a start. Halifax could look to Nova Scotia for inspiration. The province has already set its own resolutions. By April, people won’t be allowed to use hand-held cell phones while driving. And Premier Rodney MacDonald has taken on his own personal resolution: getting David Letterman to visit Nova Scotia, one tempting fiddle solo at a time. In this week’s Commoner, we look at “new beginnings” in a wider context: What do new beginnings mean for immigrants to Halifax? Will the bar scene have its own new beginning after the near riot at The Dome on Christmas Eve? What will the 2008 municipal election mean for Halifax’s leadership? Even I know my renewed interest in the gym probably won’t last long. So maybe we Haligonians can re-focus some of our energy away from diet fads and temporary exercise regimes to improving the city we live - Sarah Towle [email protected] the halifax commoner Vol. 10 #6 The Halifax Commoner is published 10 times a year – five weeks in October/November and five weeks in January/February. It is written and edited by students at the Newspaper Workshop at The School of Journalism, University of King’s College, Halifax, N.S., B3H 2A1. Phone (902) 422-1271 (ext. 143) Fax (902) 423-3357. We invite your feedback. Please drop us an e-mail at [email protected] Issue Editor Sarah towle assignment editor erin fitzgerald Photo Editors/STREETLEVEL Allison macneil | Mairin Prentiss Faculty advisors and instructors: Dean Jobb Reporting/writing/editing Kate Ross Production/Design MichaEl Creagen Photos H Printed by Acadie Presse, Caraquet, NB H coming soon the commoner online blogs.ukings.ca/commoner Page Editor/Layout: Denis Calnan the halifax commoner Friday, January 18, 2008 news page 3 NEWS Extreme winter riding hits Halifax By COLLEEN COSGROVE A crowd of colourfully dressed snowboard enthusiasts came to Halifax’s Granville Street Saturday to support the city’s first Urban Butter Showcase. The event transformed the street into a haven for 80 Maritime snowboarders to show off their skills and win prizes. Construction of the snowy halfpipe and surrounding stage rivaled the area’s tallest buildings and blocked the street for three days prior to the event. The showcase was the first of its kind for Halifax and its local snowboarding community. “The name comes from the urban location and to win this event the riders have to be really smooth,” says Dwayne Schofield, the man behind the idea. Previously a snowboarding coach for Canada’s national development team, Schofield left that gig to create Urban Butter. He said he’s seen similar events and immediately thought it was something Halifax should host. Justin Smith, a commercial surfing gear representative in Nova Scotia for Dakine and Ripcurl, was part of the behind-the-scenes team. He said the event was a good way to get the snowboarding community out together throughout the year. “We have premiere snowboarders coming out of this city … the location could not be any sicker.” Smith said the event was originally planned for Argyle Street, but organizers ended up choosing Granville after a slew of permit issues arose. The Urban Butter team judged competitors on their cleanest two out of three rides. Competitors were also scored according to the level of difficulty of the jump. The top 20 moved into the finals and followed the same format. Jason Cohanim of Halifax didn’t advance to the finals, but was impressed with the amount of work the Urban Butter team put into the event. “It’s pretty sick they can get all of these skiers and snowboarders in here to throw down,” said Cohanim. ColLeen Cosgrove Snowboarders showcased their soaring skills on Granville Street last Satuday. “And they are throwing down … the finals will be something to see.” A few businesses on the street took part in the event and were happy to see the large and enthusiastic crowd. Sam’s Cappuccino expanded to the street, selling barbecued hotdogs and hamburgers. Tony Faddoal helped barbecue and said he was impressed with the large half-pipe and the number of snowboarders competing. “I’ve only seen this on television … What a generous man,” Faddoal said of Schofield’s decision to allow spectators to watch the event for free. Schofield and the Urban Butter team ended up losing money on the event. Hidden costs, extra snow and non-paying spectators all added up. Due to the mild weather, three times the amount of snow originally needed had to be hauled in from Martock Ski Resort on Saturday morning. But Schofield said money wasn’t the point. He’s organizing another event for next month’s East Coast Music Awards in Fredericton and plans to continue traveling and hosting Urban Butter events. “It wasn’t intentional (to lose money), but it’s a learning thing,” said Schofield. “Right now we’re just concentrating on making this event go off without a hitch and getting people excited about our next appearance.” [email protected] Oxycontin victims looking for payback By JAY HEISLER More than 80 Nova Scotia residents have added their names to a growing list of Canadians suing pharmaceutical giant Purdue Pharma for allegedly failing to warn them about the risks of addiction to the painkiller Oxycontin. Six Nova Scotians have signed on to the class action suit within the past month, bringing the total number of litigants being represented by the Halifax law firm Wagner & Associates to 170. The lawsuit accuses Purdue of misleading physicians about the drug – used mainly to treat cancer patients – by claiming it is less addictive than other opiates if prescribed in low doses, says the group’s lawyer, Ray Wagner. The steady rise in the number of plaintiffs was expected, he added in an interview, due to the damage the drug has caused. “Some people got into a very bad situation after taking the drug for a long time,” said Wagner. “People have lost their jobs, their homes and their families.” Purdue, he pointed out, maintained the drug had a low risk of addiction until May 2007, when the company pled guilty to criminal charges of misleading the public and was forced to pay $634 million in Virginia. The company had sales of $4 billion in 2002. “We can’t comment on any legal matters,” said Randy Steffan, director of corporate affairs for Purdue Pharma Canada, adding that “the company will vigourously defend itself against the claims.” The lawsuit seeks general damages, special damages to cover medical costs and punitive damages, but no dollar figure has been attached to the claim. The suit was launched last September and refiled last month to add further accusations against Purdue. Wagner & Associates has partnered with two Ontario law firms, which filed similar suits in that province last summer, to pursue the revised claim. The U.S. Food and Drug Page Editor/Layout: Andrew Robinson Jay Heisler A class action lawsuit targets the makers of Oxycontin. Administration approved Oxycontin in 1995 and Health Canada gave its approval the following year. It has become a widely-used street drug, known as “hillbilly heroin.” In Cape Breton, which was severely shaken by a wave of Oxycontin addiction, dispensing of the drug has dropped dramatically. The Cape Breton Post reports that roughly seven million milligrams were prescribed in 2007, down from 14.8 million mg in 2004. Health Canada’s website notes that previous painkillers contained 2.5 to 10 mg of the opiate oxycodone. Oxycontin pills contain up to 80 mg of oxycodone. [email protected] page 4 news the halifax commoner Friday, january 18, 2008 Nova Scotia goes public for green ideas Province aims for one of most sustainable environments by 2020 By Kate Churchill-Smith In a bid to make Nova Scotia one of the world’s cleanest environments, the provincial government has a valuable resource at their fingertips: dozens of public submissions. “I think it will take a real diversity of opinion because that’s the nature of this energy puzzle,” says Matt Lumley, communications advisor with the Nova Scotia Department of Energy. Last Friday was the deadline for written submissions the province will use when renewing its energy strategy and climate change action plan. The strategy is intended to help Nova Scotia become one of the most sustainable environments by 2020, as outlined in the Environmental Goals and Sustainable Prosperity Act passed in the spring of 2007. “We’ve hit a real threshold of awareness in the last year,” he says. Whether it’s a combination of strange weather, awareness of the science, or Al Gore’s documentary An Inconvenient Truth, many events have conspired to bring the environment into everyone’s radar, Lumley said. “I think that makes this process meaningful.” The province received more than 60 submissions from a variety of sources: energy companies, environmental watchdogs and engineers, to name a few. All the submissions will be read; however, the content, practicality and technical expertise varies. “Some options are real, and some aren’t actually that possible,” Lumley said. A new energy strategy will mean different things for businesses, and many state their cases in the submissions. For example, the Seafood Producers Association of Nova Scotia expressed concern over the province’s priorities; it’s worried gas and oil royalties are going to overshadow protection of oceans and the fisheries. The Maritime Tidal Energy Corporation encouraged targets involving tidal power, and reports that the province “has a tidal energy resource second to none in North America.” Other submissions came from individuals who suggested a variety of modifications such as more bike lanes, rail transportation and the protection of agricultural land from development. The 2020 goal is challenging. “Nova Scotia is in a difficult place because we’re primarily coal-fired electricity,” Lumley said, compared to many other provinces that are fortunate enough to have cleaner energy sources such as hydro. “A lot of this is about energy security,” he said, and “we need to have new green sources: wind, tidal, solar and bio-mass.” The Ecology Action Centre contributed a lengthy and precise submission, with specific targets. It wants to see greenhouse gas emissions reduced in a way that elicits public support and is fair to all income groups, said Brendan Haley, energy co-ordinator at the centre. “There’s a sense of urgency in getting this out and moving towards action,” said Haley, who is concerned that prolonged planning will put off actual implementation. “We’ve had numerous international, national and provincial climate change targets that have been promised and not been met,” he said. That’s why the centre emphasizes regulations in their submission. “We’ve had two decades of voluntary targets and that doesn’t work.” In its submission, the centre suggested taking a “small baby-step towards putting a price on carbon.” It would like to see a $3 tax per tonne like in Quebec. Though Lumley said it requires a larger tax of $20 to $50 a tonne to curb carbon use, a small tax would still have benefits and “could provide immediate funding for sustainable transportation, and energy efficiency in our province.” Quebec is the only province to have a carbon tax, though British Columbia is considering it. The energy strategy and climate change plan will incorporate the submissions as well as information gleaned from public workshops that occurred in December. An internal team will work on it for release this spring. “The pieces are all there,” said Haley. “What is required is political leadership to take us towards that future.” [email protected] 250 QUEBEC (89) SASKATCHEWAN (71) bRITISH COLUMBIA(66) nova scotia (23) new Brunswick (21) manitoba (20) PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND (2) 50 YUKON (0.5) 100 NWT/ NUNAVUT (2) 150 Newfoundland /LABrador (10) 200 albERTA (233) ontARIO (201) Nova Scotia pledges to reduce greenhouse gases, but the rest of Canada has work to do, too. 0 Statistics from Environment Canada * carbon dioxide emissions per 1,000 metric tonnes Page Editor/Layout: sarah towle the halifax commoner Friday, JANUARY 18, 2008 FOCUS: New Beginnings The race is on... Fougere aims for top job By ANNEKE FOSTER Halifax doesn’t need a new beginning, just a kick-start says city councillor, Sheila Fougere. It’s only been three months since Fougere announced her candidacy for mayor of Halifax in the 2008 election and already, she’s tired of planning. “We have gone through a period, I’ll call it, ‘the planning period.’ We have some fantastic plans and they have all transpired in the last several years. We have a cultural plan, we have an immigration plan, we have community plans, we have an economic strategy. Enough with the plans ... We need to do something with the plans we’ve already got.” Not that she’s disillusioned. Fougere has spent the past 10 years as a councillor representing District 14, Connaught – Quinpool. And even though a political career isn’t something she initially imagined for herself, she believes in heeding the call to greater service. “I never thought I’d be doing this in a million years. It’s not something I got into because I wanted to be in politics … I decided that if you don’t like the way things are you have to do something about it. And I ran.” This time she’s running to promote the plans she’s aided and developed in council. A sensitive balance, she says, between preserving the old and embracing the new. “We’re at the stage now where things are starting to be a little worn at the edges. We need a boost. We need a lift to get to that next level. This is a great place and it’s one of these places that people don’t want it to change but they want it to be better. They want it to be a lot better and I think it can be a lot better.” “We’re surviving, not thriving. The city needs to grow up a bit. Keeping all the charm and delight that it has and all the good things that it has but maturing and I think, that’s what we’re not seeing. The city’s not maturing at the rate that it can and should.” -Sheila Fougere city councillor Fougere is the antithesis of the typical politician. Perhaps due to the diversity of her background as a school planner, soccer coach and two-time marathoner or more likely, because she’s lived in Halifax for 50 Sheila Fougere, HRM councillor and candidate for mayor, is officially busy. Page Editor/Layout: Matt Sheffield years and understands the intricacies of the municipality. Fougere says the role of Halifax’s mayor is often confused. People expect the mayor to single-handedly effect great change, as Rudy Giuliani did in New York City. Halifax’s government however, isn’t designed that way. “It is a system where the mayor’s responsibility is to chair the meetings and to be the collective spokesperson for council. They’re one vote on council … The person at the top doesn’t have the right of veto, they don’t have the opportunity to tell everybody else what to do, like they do in the American system of government.” Still, Fougere feels she knows how to govern effectively within these confines. “The power that you have is the influence that you have over people and your ability to get people to work together towards common vision. And right now we don’t have that kind of leadership. We don’t have a team builder, a team player.” Anneke Foster page 5 In 2004, Fougere ran in the federal election against Alexa McDonough and lost by 1,100 votes. Although Fougere is proud of coming so close, she’s thankful to have stayed in municipal politics. Fougere is interested in participatory government. Putting herself on the same level as the residents, she serves and actively looking for ways to improve and sustain Halifax. She emphasizes pragmatism and doesn’t make promises. Fougere is focused, however. She’s invested herself in the initiatives she stands behind, proving her consideration and realism. “I never thought I’d be doing this in a million years.” -Sheila Fougere In many ways, Fougere is the quintessential neighbour: a mother who frequently walks to work, participates in committees and coalitions and still points out her bike-cop husband, Joe Fougere, on the street and says, “there goes my hubby.” For Fougere, politics has never been about “fame and fortune.” She doesn’t showboat or show up for events just to be noticed. She works dutifully at the details, improving infrastructure long-term and not just temporary fixes, she says. “We’re surviving, not thriving,” says Fougere. “The city needs to grow up a bit. Keeping all the charm and delight that it has and all the good things that it has but maturing and I think, that’s what we’re not seeing. The city’s not maturing at the rate that it can and should.” One of Fougere’s greatest passions, bikeways, has seen considerable improvement under her leadership. Instead of “just painting a bunch of white lines on the street” Fougere has studied bike policy and prides herself on making important, albeit slightly under-the-radar improvements that will make development more sustainable. Bike infrastructure is now on the map, and subsequently, now a factor in city development. “We want to improve, we want people who immigrate here to stay here, we want public art and a cultural life that’s not scraping every time for a dollar. We want … our downtown to be vibrant, get rid of some of those ugly vacant lots that are there, build beautiful buildings on them. We want to have things going on all the time. We want the place to be clean and safe and easy to get around,” Fougere says. “And, I think we can do that. We’ve got the potential and I don’t think it’s far away.” [email protected] page 6 New Beginnings the halifax commoner Friday, January 18, 2008 Student, 18, seeks office as mayor By ANNEKE FOSTER He’s a first-year journalism student who lives in residence and now he’s running for mayor of the Halifax Regional Municipality. Eighteen-year-old Chad Bowie has officially announced his intention to run in the 2008 election provided his Cochran Bay room at the University of King’s College will count as the official HRM address he needs to become a candidate. Bowie, originally from Antigonish, believes his inexperience, as well as his permanent residence has become a barrier preventing him from officially entering the race. “I really don’t think my candidacy – my potential candidacy – is being taken serious enough by city hall.” Still, he’s running with purpose, even if it’s not the purpose most voters would expect. His bid for office is “more of an example to show that youth can affect the democratic process.” He’s frustrated by low voter turnout in youth. “To me, that’s really a sin. It’s almost a social experiment in a way. If a young person runs, will they vote?” While 30 per cent of Halifax’s population is under 24, Bowie doesn’t know if a record turnout in youth voters would even benefit his campaign. “I’d like to see just if my candidacy will influence the number of voters at all and in what demographic.” As for issues, Bowie has yet to put together a campaign platform but his main concerns are the environment and keeping Halifax young. “It really is a beautiful city but there’s a lot of work that needs to be done when it comes to preserving it … We need something to offer young people that will make them want to stay in Halifax … there’s a lot that can be done at the municipal level that will encourage people to stay here. We have a young city. Let’s keep it that way.” While Bowie doesn’t know what these offerings could be, he does suggest a developed waterfront, and increased job opportunities would help. “There’s been a lot of talk on development on the waterfront and … a development like this, which could employ potentially hundreds and, they’re going to be looking for young people. They’re not going to hire seniors to do these jobs.” Bowie is expecting an answer within the next week about whether ANNEKE FOSTER Bowie hopes to encourage youth vote in the 2008 election. his address will be approved. And though he’s optimistic, he remains realistic about his goals. “A victory for me wouldn’t necessarily be a win. A victory for me would be if I can get the mainstream candidates to talk about my issues… that would show that I made a difference. Somehow, [I] influenced the race.” Bowie’s political experience is limited to interest, though he did serve as a legislative page last fall. He’s only been to one council meeting and he doesn’t know what he’ll do about school if he’s elected, but Bowie does know one thing. “I just want to shake things up.” [email protected] Ending poverty through education By KATIE KIRKHAM “I didn’t have any shoes, but my dad could pay our school fees,” says Shelly Muchayi, director of a Halifax based organization called Runyararo Zimbabwe Children Charity. The main focus of the charity is to educate. Many Zimbabwean families cannot afford to send their children to school because of the rising cost of tuition fees and school supplies. The money raised by the charity goes to disadvantaged children in grades one to seven, to cover the cost of basic education. This includes, tuition fees for one year, two textbooks (math and English), and school supplies. It costs $35 a year to “Every day (songs) come to my head. I don’t know where they come from, but they come.” -Shelly Muchayi Director, Runyararo Zimbabwe Children Charity KATIE KIRKHAM Shelly Muchayi sings to raise money for her organization. educate one child. Zimbabwe is a landlocked South African country. President Robert Mugabe has been in power since the country achieved independence in 1980. Under Mugabe’s rule Zimbabwe has suffered political turmoil and economic crisis. Growing up in Harare, the capital, Muchayi saw the desperation caused Page Editor/Layout: allison Macneil by poverty. She saw many families unable to afford basic necessities. These memories are one of the reasons she decided to create this charity. Muchayi’s belief that education can break the cycle of poverty, and possibly lead to a more peaceful existence is the motivation behind the charity, but it is her many talents that has raised much needed money to send the children to school. She makes jewelery, composes and writes music and is working on several books. She always carries a recorder with her, so when a song comes to mind she can record it. “Every day (songs) come to my head. I don’t know where they come from, but they come.” So far, she has released two CDs and one single. Her single, “Mama Africa,” talks about the conflicts that exist within Africa. It urges Africans to love and find a higher place where peace can exist. Her first CD, Ishe Makatipa Zimbabwe, was released in 2006. Her second, Yahweh, was released in 2007. Last year Muchayi was able to send 20 Zimbabwean children to school. This year the organization will send another 80. Ernest Muchayi, her brother-in-law and the assistant director of the charity, still lives in Harare. He has been able to meet some of the children who were sponsored last year. The children “get very excited,” when they find out they will be able to go to school. Shelly Muchayi sets up a table every Saturday at the Farmers Market on Lower Water Street to sell her jewelery, crocheted hats and CDs. All proceeds go to the charity. On Jan. 27 Muchayi will return to Zimbabwe for five weeks. The main focus of the trip is to see her mother and other relatives she has not seen in 15 years. She will also meet with the headmasters of schools to donate scholarships funds and spend some time recording traditional African music. For more information on the Runyararo Zimbabwe Children Charity, you can go to their website at www.runyararozimbabwecharity.org. [email protected] Zimbabwe at a glance • Life expectancy - 39.5 years • Population – 12,311,143 • People living with HIV/AIDs 1.8 million • Independence - April 1980 • Unemployment rate 80 per cent • Population below poverty line - 68 per cent SOURCE: CIA WORLD FACT BOOK the halifax commoner Friday, january 18, 2008 New Beginnings page 7 Learning Kitchen serves up a fresh start By ERIN FITZGERALD Two weeks ago there was nothing to wake up to. His days were filled with hours in front of the television, anticipation creeping in only when he would leave the house to buy groceries. Brian David Johnson has just marked a year of sobriety, but the challenge of getting back into the job market was glaring. “It was depressing, it was boring and bad on my self esteem. I wasn’t feeling good about myself,” the 52year-old says. It turned around when his counsellor referred him to a Feed Nova Scotia training program called The Learning Kitchen. The program was started in October 2005 and classes are open to adults recommended through mental health centres, food banks and social services. Students attend classes for 14 weeks at the Nova Scotia Hospital in Dartmouth to learn culinary and life skills. Two weeks are spent at a work placement, allowing students to gain work experience and possibly a job following graduation. There are only two other programs like it in Canada, one in Vancouver and the other in Toronto. Thirty-two graduates have completed the program in Nova Scotia since its inception and some are working in kitchens in local hotels, restaurants and retirement homes. Students graduate with nationally recognized certification in food handling, customer service, tourism and first aid. The program’s creator, Dianne Swinemar, executive director of Feed Nova Scotia, recently received a call from a graduate who completed the first cycle of classes and is now working. “She called to say thanks and to let us know that she didn’t need to use the food bank anymore,” she says. This is the goal of the program. However, success is relative depending on the individuals in each class, Swinemar says. “The group that graduated in August is 100 per cent employed, but some people are still working on other things,” she says. “Success for one of our graduates meant going to a job interview. People are coming to this course with different and varied barriers.” Three women and four men, including Johnson, gather in a small classroom on Monday morning in the bowels of the hospital’s basement. Four wooden tables are set up in a square topped with measuring cups, spoons and a scale. The teacher, dressed in a chef ’s shirt and black pants, is talking about converting a soup recipe to a higher yield. Chef Busch Dubay, the culinary instructor, spends his mornings teaching students about proper food handling, sanitation techniques and recipe conversions. In February the class will start practical training in the hospital’s industrial-size kitchen to prepare 140 meals per day. These will be distributed to a Dartmouth soup kitchen and the remainder will be delivered to patients on site. Dubay sees the program as a win-win situation. “We are giving them some inspiration that what they’re learning here is something the industry is looking for,” he says. “This is a viable venture to fill the shortage we are having of cooks in the workplace.” Project manager Krista Christie leads the life-skills portion of the class in the afternoon. She teaches lessons on stress management, self esteem and resume writing. “These soft skills are necessary in order for students to maintain a job,” she says. Student Stan Martin, 46, is a recovering addict. He was sober for nine years until he began feeling depressed and relapsed. Feb. 1 will mark his third month of sobriety. He was in rehabilitation when he heard about the program. “I want a job that will get me off of disability,” he says. “All I used to do was work and take my money and spend it on drinking or drugs. Social services is no way of living. I am grateful it was there to help me, but you can’t live on it.” It is this cycle that Feed Nova Scotia is trying to break through by offering The Learning Kitchen. erin fitzgerald Chef Busch Dubay teaches students how to convert recipe measurements. project manager. Each student is paid a stipend of $150 a month to cover transportation and childcare costs. Swinemar created the program “Social services is no way of living. I am grateful it was there to help me, but you can’t live on it.” - Stan Martin Student Each month more than 40,000 Nova Scotians rely on their local food banks and shelters and 62 per cent of food bank recipients are individuals already living on income assistance, Feed Nova Scotia estimates. “As long as we are passing out bags of groceries we’re just meeting immediate need over and over again. We are not changing the long-term solutions” says Swinemar. She is unsure of the exact cost of each Learning Kitchen cycle, but estimates the program receives $300,000 in-kind donations from the Nova Scotia Hospital, including classroom and kitchen space. Proceeds also come from the Department of Community Services in order to pay for the curriculum, a chef instructor and a with the realization that people want to work, but can’t get into college because they don’t have the skill level or educational requirements. “Graduates may or may not want to work in the food services industry, but it is a routine and the life skills component is a practical one,” Swinemar says. “It’s really about getting people to take the first step.” Johnson is hoping his training will allow him to find a job so he can stop collecting Canada Pension disability cheques. “I am keeping a real open mind and not limiting myself to anything,” Johnson says. “I know I have time on my side. “ [email protected] Page Editor/Layout: katherine barton Feed Nova Scotia Fast Facts • Of those who used food banks in Nova Scotia in 2006, 62 per cent received social assistance, 9.4 per cent represented the working poor, 13.3 per cent received disability support. • Children represent about 1/3 of those using food banks in Nova Scotia. • Feed Nova Scotia distributes food to a network of approximately 150 member agencies province-wide. • In 2006-07 Feed Nova Scotia distributed 2.2 million kilograms of food to hungry people throughout Nova Scotia. The food was valued at $16.6 million. • A fleet of nine delivery vehicles traveled 341,864 kilometres in 2006-07, equivalent to driving around the earth more than eight times. Source: www.feednovascotia.ca The Radio Room airs on CKDU Mondays and Wednesdays at 5 p.m. Tune in to 88.1 FM page 8 New Beginnings the halifax commoner Friday, JANUARY 18, 2008 Halifax’s long-term shelters give women, children second chance By Janet Shulist Joanne Bernard reached a turning point three years ago when a domestic abuse victim and her three young children sat in her office at Alice Housing. “I had a young mother with three boys under the age of six, and her three-year-old son was in her arms,” she said. “She wasn’t paying attention to him because she was speaking to me, and he turned around and slapped her across the face and called her a fucking bitch.” That incident was enough for Bernard to develop a program to help children cope with being exposed to domestic abuse. “That day I knew we had a duty to do something for these women.” Bernard is executive director of Alice Housing, which has been providing safe housing and support for women and children leaving domestic abuse for 25 years. It offers second- and third-stage housing—longer-term housing that is generally provided after a six-week to the point for some women that it becomes lethal—there’s a high risk for death,” Eeler says. “They will come to the shelter when they realize how serious it’s getting.” Along with a place to stay, Bryony House provides counselling and in-house programs for women and children and will also help families find safe, affordable housing, legal assistance and support. Alice Housing is the only second-stage housing facility in the city. It’s also the only third-stage housing facility in the country—a program established in 2005. The organization provides 19 units with affordable rent in five anonymous locations within the city. Women can stay at second-stage locations with their children for two years and third-stage housing for up to four. Bernard says the women who come to the facility are generally high-risk, meaning they are at risk of lethal abuse from their partner. “That day I knew we had a duty to do something for these children.” - Joanne Bernard Alice Housing executive director stay at a shelter, Bernard says. For many women and children living with domestic violence, shelters and transition houses like Alice Housing provide a new beginning. Laurie Eeler is the executive director at Bryony House, an emergency shelter located in the Halifax Regional Municipality that has been around for 30 years. The exact location of the shelter remains anonymous, to help protect the women and children staying there. Bryony House has 24 beds— along with six cribs—and allows women and their children to stay “Each unit is individually alarmed,” she says. “Women are given strict instructions when they come to Alice Housing and they must agree to not disclose where they are living.” Along with not disclosing their address, the organization has a strict policy that prohibits men from being on its properties—a standard for second-stage housing across Canada, Bernard says. She says the organization has three third-stage housing units— similar to traditional tenancies. These units aren’t alarmed and men are allowed on the properties. “Most of these women have some family origin of abuse and they grow up and they don’t know any different.” for up to six weeks and, in certain instances, longer. It is one of three emergency shelters in the city. Women arrive at the shelter to escape violence—whether sexual, physical or verbal—they experience at home. “A lot of times the violence gets Workshops are optional for women in third-stage housing, but mandatory for second-stage housing. “When women come here, there are two criteria that they must agree to,” she says. “They must attend counselling and must attend the workshops.” Joanne Bernard’s program at Alice Housing is unique in Canada. There are two counselling programs: one for women, and more recently, one for children. “Most of these women have some family origin of abuse and they grow up and they don’t know any different,” she says. “One of the big things with the children’s program is stopping that cycle.” As well, women are expected to attend monthly workshops on self-esteem, healthy parenting, healthy cooking and women’s abuse education. “The counsellors and myself are tremendous proponents of education for women. Get yourself educated, because it will help you in Page Editor/Layout: Mark burgess the long run.” Eighty-three per cent of women who leave the facility in their first year will not go into an abusive relationship, Bernard says. “The national average is 69 per cent,” she says. Alice Housing fundraises 45 per cent of its operating costs, which were $380,000 last year. A portion of their funding comes from the government and organizations like United Way, Bernard says. Women who leave second-stage housing have more self-confidence, can make long-term plans and often decide to go back to school, Bernard says. Janet Shulist She points to her bookshelf, where colourful greeting cards sit. “I’ve got a whole shelf of cards from women who have moved on.” Alice Housing has helped more than 700 women with secondstage housing since 1983 and many women go on to have healthy relationships and successful careers. “I just talked to a woman in Moncton who lived with us for a year and a half, who’s off welfare and in a healthy relationship,” Bernard says. “I said, ‘Are things going well?’ and she said, ‘Yes, because if it wasn’t, I would leave.’” Bernard smiles. [email protected] the halifax commoner Friday, January 18, 2008 Halifax’s nightlife changing New Beginnings Page 9 By MEAGAN ROBERTSON If you stroll through Pizza Corner late on a Saturday night, you would normally expect to see couples kissing, students laughing and people ordering food – but now you’ll see at least six police officers as well. The Halifax nightlife scene has changed a fair bit since the days of carrying your beer down Spring Garden Road, stealthily hidden under your jacket. Since 38 people were arrested after the brawl that took place at The Dome in the early morning on Christmas Eve, more security measures have been put into place. The bar, agreed to new terms to ensure its doors could open again. But in doing so, they may have opened doors to its patron’s discomfort. The terms of its re-opening were set out in its order of reinstatement, with some major adjustments. The most notable were rises in drink prices from one dollar to $2.50, more staff on hand and only being allowed to fill up to 80 per cent capacity. But the most substantial change has been the 64 surveillance cameras that can be monitored by police. According to Const. Jeff Carr, heightened security measures are not a new trend in downtown Halifax. There have been four full-time beat cops on foot since the fall of 2006 and two more were put in place in the spring of 2007. Halifax Regional Police have been pushing for a minimum set drink price throughout the province for some time now, because security measures can only go so far. “Our intent (with the extra security) is that eventually the ‘drunkenness’ will decrease, but first will obviously lead to more arrests,” says Carr. Adrian Molder, a 22-year-old student at the University of King’s College, has been living in Halifax for four years. He is also head of the Early Modern Studies Department Society and head of the grad committee. Yet based on his comments, police might feel that he’s the type of guy they’re after. “Coming to Halifax, you hear all about how great the nightlife is and I was not disappointed, “ says Molder. “There are drink deals every night of the week and it makes the trip downtown worth it.” “It’s definitely much more student-friendly, or was,” says Molder. “And not just with bar deals but when you go downtown it’s easy to find others who want to have a good time.” Molder spent six months studying in Salamanca, Spain and found there were some essential differences that Canadian authorities would never approve of but that seemed to work well in that environment. “The drinks are even cheaper than in Halifax, you can drink in the streets, Meagan Robertson The face of Halifax nightlife is changing after the bar brawl on Christmas Eve. people are crazier when they go out and you can stay out until 8 a.m. People are drinking and partying and just having a good time in general.” Yet Molder only saw one minor fight during his stay. Mallory Waterson, a Vancouver local who visited Halifax for the first time last year, couldn’t believe the amount of students downtown. “It’s a really almost tight-knit community,” says Waterson, “all the stu- dents seem to know one another and be in the same age group.” “Not that many young people can go out every night in Vancouver, it’s not nearly as affordable.” Molder feels that this clamping down of security is ruining Halifax’s welcoming vibe. “At times when you go out here in Halifax you feel like you’re being corralled like you’re an animal when you’re in line. Or, when you go through Pizza Corner and there’s four cop cars, you almost feel like a criminal just being there.” Carr gave no indication that Halifax will follow Spain’s lead. “Eventually we would hope that people going downtown will adjust their behavior,” says Carr. “Right now all problems stem from their drunken and disorderly conduct.” Last Saturday night, after getting a call about a bar fight outside Rain, four police cars with sirens blaring and all six beat cops were on the scene within minutes. “Coming to Halifax, you hear all about how great the nightlife is and I was not disappointed.“ -Adrian Molder Meagan Robertson New surveillance cameras have been installed downtown to be monitored by police. Page Editor/Layout: Katie kirkham after that?” Molder also addressed Carr’s idea of imposing a standard minimum throughout the province. He feels it’s not a fair solution to the problem; it’s too general. “You just can’t really compare the vibe at a bar like The Dome to the vibe at a bar like the Split Crow,” says Molder, “even if they both offer cheap drinks. One promotes short skirts and dirty dancing while the other promotes conversation and singing along with a live band.” Despite the ban on dollar drinks at The Dome, the country-wide website, ClubVibes.com, still boasts dollar drinks two days a week, and The Palace still offers them on Wednesdays and Sundays. [email protected] Student Between the surveillance cameras, the beat cops on foot and the quick reaction times, Halifax student Genny Whelan says, “you really feel the Big Brother effect.” Whelan doesn’t have Facebook because she feels that it invades one’s privacy, so the thought of being watched while dancing and socializing bothers her. “It’s kind of gross to me,” says Whelan, “I don’t feel that on a night out and off from school I should be scrutinized – where are the limitations Meagan Robertson page 10 New Beginnings the halifax commoner Friday, January 18, 2008 Cubans find new fidelity to Canada Recent immigrants praise benefits of Canadian jobs, healthcare, education By MATT SHEFFIELD Ignacio Piedrahita, 21, wakes up at 5 a.m. He catches the No. 20 bus from Spryfield to downtown Halifax and cleans floors and empties garbage cans in the Ralston Building from 6:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. He goes home, eats lunch and returns to life as a janitor from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. He takes the bus home and goes to bed by midnight. Then he wakes up and does it all over again. That’s the schedule of an immigrant trying to get ahead. But you won’t catch Piedrahita complaining about a 65-hour work week. Before moving to Canada in 2006, he made 550 Cuban pesos per week (about $20). There’s a difference between working in Cuba and working in Canada, he says. “Here, you make money; there, you don’t make money.” Piedrahita’s father came to Halifax in 1992. He married a Dartmouth woman and later started sending papers to the Canadian embassy in Havana in hopes of bringing his son here. “My father was looking for something different because he wanted a future,” Piedrahita says. “There is no future in Cuba.” Raul Rodriguez, 42, came to Canada for similar reasons. “Me and my wife felt we had no opportunities. We didn’t like how things are done in Cuba … political things.” After eight years of regulations and red tape, the Cuban government finally granted Rodriguez and his 15-year-old son permission to emigrate last March. His wife and eightyear-old daughter were left behind, awaiting their papers, for another 40 days. “That was a stressful time,” Rodriguez says. “We didn’t know how long it would take.” Rodriguez started looking for work, any work, immediately. “My first job was cleaning in the night at the Halifax Shopping Centre … the night shift,” he laughs, “the hard way.” In August, the Metro Immigrant Settlement Association (MISA) helped Rodriguez land an interview with a company in his field, information technology. He’s been working for Borderless Communications Inc. ever since developing a program to manage safety data. Piedrahita also had some help upon arrival. “MISA supported me in everything you know, any situation I have, they would help me.” The association set him up with four months of English classes at Queen Elizabeth High School followed by a six-month work program at Pier 21, the historic gateway to Canada. The program, called Welcome Home to Canada, gives immigrants experience in the culture of Canadian work. “When you are working here, it is different than other countries, especially Cuba. There,” Piedrahita says, “if you go to the hospital, you won’t get good service unless you bring a present for the doctor … this is the government’s fault. There is no incentive to work hard.” In Cuban socialism, Piedrahita says, “good ideas transfer into bad ideas.” “If some Canadians say they love Cuba, why don’t they go live in Cuba? They should go and start living there for just one week. When they get their first paycheque, they will say ‘this is a big mistake in my life.’” “It’s an example of a different system,” Rodriguez says. “But is it (Cuban socialism) good? Surely, not. People only like it because it’s different. This political system sucks. I don’t know enough bad words in English, but some Spanish words come to mind.” The education system is one of the reasons Rodriguez and his wife wanted out. “They expect students to behave in a certain political way,” he says. “That’s the only one that is accepted there. If not, you won’t get into a good school.” Raul Rodriguez found a job in his field, IT “Many Cubans talk of going back someday, but not me. I never want to go back, even though my mom is there. I know how that sounds, but I “I’m supposed to call him ‘Fidel’ like he is some sort of close friend. He’s no friend of mine.” -Raul Rodriguez Cuban immigrant “People are not free. In their minds, they are slaves,” Rodriguez says. While he doesn’t want his son to be materialistic, “I do want him to know the value of money … in Cuba they expect you to work for free or ‘voluntarily’ and that’s completely false.” Nor does Rodriguez buy into President Fidel Castro’s personality cult. “I’m supposed to call him ‘Fidel’ like he is some sort of close friend. He’s no friend of mine,” Rodriguez scoffs. don’t want to go back ever.” Piedrahita misses his mom and his girlfriend, Yaneisy, too much to stay here permanently. He also misses the openness of the Cuban people. “We dance and drink, not drink like here because nobody has money, but we enjoy dancing and drinking. For example, the pig on the wood and you put the stereo on maximum volume and nobody cares.” But it’s clear that Canada is home now. Here, Piedrahita says, it’s much easier to get ahead. “First thing in Matt Sheffield Canada, study English. After you learn English, start working hard. Then go to university. If you can’t go to university, find a college and take a course. After that, you start doing want you want … easy … that will take you a little bit of time and sacrifice. In Cuba, you stay in the same hole for 20 to 30 years.” Rodriguez’s plans for the future are “nothing special,” he says. “Work, make a living, have my family not lack a decent life. Things I couldn’t think of in Cuba.” Piedrahita is patient and committed to his long-term plan: he’ll marry Yaneisy in April; then, in three years, her immigration papers should come through. They’ll have kids, and he’ll get certified as a physiotherapist assistant. “My dreams can be fulfilled someday,” he says. But, for now, it’s back to the mop and bucket. [email protected] streetLevel Suman Jha Student Hugh McKervill Writer Daniel Taylor Marquee Staff Molly Shepley Student Kathryn Corrigan Tutor Clinton: American politics are really messy but she knows how to regulate and keep things calm … but without a huge revolution nothings going to happen in America. Obama: He’s not part of the old establishment, while Clinton is. It’d just be more of the same. All the same old connections, little circles within circles. On the whole racial issue it would promote a greater sense of participation of minorities. Clinton: Because then my sister’s boyfriend’s dad will get a new job. Obama: I think the United States is kind of sick of Bush-Clinton, BushClinton. I think Obama presents a new face. Obama: Very affable, likeable fellow. I think people can connect with him. He does what he does so effortlessly. Page Editor/Layout: Mairin Prentiss the halifax commoner Friday, January 18, 2008 New Beginnings page 11 Eye on Cuba A look at today’s political landscape Professor and author John Kirk teaches a course in Cuban history. Matt Sheffield John Kirk, a Dalhousie professor, has written a number of books on Cuba and has been traveling there since 1976. “There’s been a change in the last 18 months,” Kirk says. “Fidel Castro is sidelined from power since he gave control to his brother in July of 2006.” “In cultural terms, in economic terms, under Raúl Castro the Cuban government is trying to make the country less corrupt, more efficient and to allow people to earn more money and to have things to spend money on. Raúl Castro has basically laid down the line and said, ‘we’ve got to change … the traditional, paternalistic form of government no longer cuts it.’” The younger generation has already started to take power. When the Castro era ends, Kirk says, “I suspect there will be a convention to choose a new leader.” partly depends on politics in the United States. “In the short term, the U.S. election won’t change relations,” Kirk says. Common sense has never been a U.S. policy toward Cuba.” “The only candidate that is vaguely encouraging is Obama who said he thinks Americans should be allowed to travel to Cuba.” Fidel Castro once described tourism as “a pact with the devil,” but the sector has become central to the economy providing over 300,000 jobs in a country of less than 12 million people. “Cuba is neither hell nor paradise,” Kirk says. “Leftists tend to glorify it and right-wing hardliners say it’s a diabolical hole.” “It’s a third world developing society, which has had to reinvent itself,” Kirk says. “It has major problems, but so do we.” “Cuba is neither hell nor paradise. Leftists tend to glorify it and rightwing hardliners say it’s a diabolical hole.” -John Kirk Cuba at a glance Matt Sheffield Ignacio Piedrahita dreams of raising a family in Canada. Dalhousie professor Kirk points to three main candidates: Carlos Lage, 56, the vice president; Felipe Pérez Roque, 42, the foreign minister; and Ricardo Alarcón, 70, the president of the National Assembly. The future in Cuba, however, [email protected] Date of Revolution: January 1, 1959 Population: 12 million Acting President: Raúl Castro GDP per capita: $4,100 After the fall of the Soviet Union people began to emmigrate from Cuba in greater numbers. Who would you like to see as the next president of the U.S.? Bill Wood Writer Timothy Blackwood Model Ron Paul: Because he believes in freedom! Obama: I think he’s pretty solid and genuine. He put the united back in the United States of America. Kathleen Sinclair Sunday Shopper Obama: Because he matches up with more of my beliefs. Page Editor/Layout: MAirin Prentiss Neil Patterson Research Assistant Obama: Because of his foreign policy David Bannerman Teacher at NSCC Obama: Because the U.S. needs to change direction and boy, he’s probably going to take it in a whole new direction. page 12 New Beginnings the halifax commoner Friday, January 18, 2008 Everything you wanted to know about bar policy (but were too drunk to ask) By MARK BURGESS If you used the gentlemen’s room in an Alberta bar last summer, you probably saw a mock fight poster featuring a champion’s belt that read, “Ultimate Bar Fighting Stupidity.” If you’re between the ages of 18 and 24, it was meant to change your ways. The posters were part of a $630,000 campaign, sponsored by the Alberta Liquor and Gaming Commission, to discourage violent behaviour among young men drinking alcohol. It’s the kind of marketing strategy that Halifax men could find staring back at them from above urinals, after a Christmas Eve melee at The Dome saw 38 people arrested. Nova Scotia’s chief public health officer, Dr. Robert Strang, is leading a committee drawn from five government departments to examine the public safety issues that alcohol creates. The first meeting was held Wednesday. Cage Your Rage, the name of Alberta’s campaign, resulted from two provincial round tables on alcohol-related violence, which brought government, police, counsellors, researchers and bar owners together to share ideas. “We wanted to educate the public as patrons,” said Marilyn CarlyleHelms, communications director for the Alberta commission. “We wanted to let them know that what may seem like a nothing experience at a bar can escalate into something very serious.” A survey of the targeted age group showed many said it made them think twice about violent behaviour at bars and reconsider how they would respond in situations similar to those depicted in the ads. “So I think it showed great intent for behaviour change, which for us was the key,” Carlyle-Helms said. The next step is to complete a province-wide training program for bouncers that will teach methods on “how to de-escalate bar violence.” The Alberta commission will also be exploring some of the 48 other proposals born from the roundtable, including banishing glass ware, staggering closing hours, changing the designs of bars and imposing a minimum drink price. “There’s a lot of concern around happy hour and cheap drinks. We’ll be looking to see if minimum drink prices worked in other jurisdictions.” As will Nova Scotia. Right now only three provinces – Newfoundland, Manitoba and Saskatchewan – set minimum prices for liquor. Newfoundland’s policy was the result of the industry policing itself as much as any top-down strategy. “There was so much competition between bars,” said Lloyd Penny, vice president of corporate services at the Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation. “Ninety-nine cent drinks, $20 value all-you-can-drink. It got to the point that some licensees were down to zero cost.” While the liquor board had discussed the problem, Penny says the impetus for change came from owners who realized they couldn’t survive with unbridled competition. Brett Loney, spokesman for the Nova Scotia Health Promotion and Protection Department, said drink prices were one of the five priorities to be reviewed by Dr. Strang’s committee. The others are advertising discounted drinks, hours of operation, and training bar and security staff. Loney said the committee will be gathering information on these issues from various community members. The Nova Scotia Alcohol Strategy, a report released last fall, recommended the committee’s creation. The report said that alcohol abuse costs Nova Scotians $97.3 million in direct heath-care costs and $78.1 million in law enforcement each year. Loney said the committee’s work will only be the beginning of the greater alcohol strategy. “This is the kind of ‘issue-dujour’ now, but obviously there will be other issues as well that we’ll have to deal with on the alcohol front.” The provincial strategy, entitled Changing the Culture of Alcohol Use in Nova Scotia, also had five key areas: community partnership in solving problems, marketing like Alberta’s, stronger prevention and early intervention, policy that includes the interests of health workers, police, and businesses, and better research and evaluation. But for now, the battles are being picked in terms of urgency. “The issues that arose from (the brawl) kind of jumped to the front of the queue,” Loney said. And that, of course, is unacceptable bar etiquette. [email protected] Meagan Robertson Drinking policies from coast to coast NEWFOUNDLAND Legal drinking age: 19 Percentage Current Drinkers (2004): 73.9 Controls: Minimum pricing established in 2001 of $1.65 per standard serving for all beers, wines, spirits, and refreshment beverages. NLLC retail employees are taught through Working SMAART (Strategies for Managing Age and Alcohol Related Troubles, originally developed by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario) to identify and deal with underage customers, second-party purchasers. PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Legal drinking age: 19 Percentage Current Drinkers (2004): 70.2 Controls: No minimum price Mandatory training for licensees and employees under the It’s Our Business program within 30 days of the date of employment. ONTARIO Legal drinking age: 19 Percentage Current Drinkers (2004): 78.7 Controls: No minimum price All LCBO retail employees take the SMAART training program, and staff at licensed premises take Smart Serve for responsible serving. Page Editor/Layout: Jay HEisler Stating the obvious Link found between alcohol, violence The International Center for Alcohol Policies, a Washington, DC-based thinktank, suggests that alcohol causes violence because of its “p s y c h o p h a r m a c o l o g i c a l effects.” This means that alcohol affects the cognitive processes that determine one’s awareness of consequences, judgment, communication, and evaluation of facilitation and inhibitory cues. If a bar “provides an environment that promotes public disorder, the more alcohol one consumes in that venue, the more effective will be the cues promoting disorderly behaviour.” The think-tank suggests simple changes to a bar’s layout can make a tremendous difference. Changing music and lighting to encourage conversation removes the central focus away from drinking. Creating partitions, rearranging seating to avoid crowding and maintaining proper restrooms can all assist in defusing violent behaviour. Source: Alcohol Policy Network MANITOBA Legal drinking age: 18 Percentage Current Drinkers (2004): 76.5 Controls: Minimum price of $2.25 per ounce of spirits, 12 ounces of beer/cider/cooler, five ounces of table wine, or two ounces of fortified wine. No mandatory training. BRITISH COLUMBIA Legal drinking age: 19 Percentage Current Drinkers (2004): 79.3 Controls: No minimum price. The responsible server training program, Serving It Right, is mandatory for all staff involved in alcohol sales. SASKATCHEWAN Legal drinking age: 19 Percentage Current Drinkers (2004): 78.2 Controls: Minimum price $2.25 per ounce of spirits and the same amount for bottled or canned beer (assuming 12 ounces per container). The minimum price for draught beer is $0.16 per ounce, and for wine the minimum price is $0.35 per ounce. No mandatory training. NOVA SCOTIA Legal drinking age: 19 Percentage Current Drinkers (2004): 76.0 Controls: No minimum price. No mandatory training. ALBERTA Legal drinking age: 18 Percentage Current Drinkers (2004): 79.5 Controls: No minimum price. Alberta Server Intervention Program introduced in 2004 as a mandatory, province-wide certification program for liquor industry staff who sell or serve alcohol in liquor stores, bars or restaurants. QUEBEC Legal drinking age: 18 Percentage Current Drinkers (2004): 82.3 Controls: No minimum price. Promotions such as “2 for 1” offers, cocktail hours and happy hours are tolerated, but all advertising for these events is prohibited. No mandatory training. NEW BRUNSWICK Legal drinking age: 19 Percentage Current Drinkers (2004): 73.8 Controls: No minimum price. No mandatory training. the halifax commoner Friday, January 18, 2008 New Beginnings page 13 Early education coming to N.S. Cut-off age moving up for students entering Primary By COLLEEN COSGROVE In September Nova Scotia’s elementary schools will open their doors to a potential 2,100 new faces ready to start Primary. The change comes after years of the Nova Scotia School Board fielding phone calls from parents urging the provincial government to push back the cut-off date from Oct. 31 to Dec. 31. Nova Scotia is the eighth province to bump the cut-off date, leaving behind P.E.I., Quebec and the Northwest Territories. However, the decision to send children to school potentially three months earlier still lies with the parents. “Changing the date goes with the ebb and flow of the province. If a family is moving here from Ontario, and all of the sudden their child can’t attend school, it’s difficult.” -Peter McLaughlin Dept. of Education spokesman The change is important for Nova Scotia’s education system and a good stride towards a national standard, says Department of Education spokesman Peter McLaughlin. “We have such a mobile work force and a high concentration of military families who are constantly moving,” he says. “Changing the date goes with the ebb and flow of the province. If a family is moving here from Ontario, and all of the sudden their child can’t attend school, it’s difficult.” The assistant director of Happy Tots Preschool in Halifax, Anna-Marie Young, works with children aged three to five. She doesn’t support the change and urges parents to sit down and consider the decision before sending their four-year-olds to school with kids up to 16 months older. “Children aren’t emotionally developed at four,” Young says. “They don’t know how to socialize properly, and at four they’re still working out how to solve conflicts. She says the formal school setting would be too much for kids even though seven other provinces have the same cutoff date. A 2005 Statistics Canada study shows that girls and boys differ in their readiness to learn as they enter school at the age of five. It shows girls outperforming boys in several areas, such as communication, as early as age three. “Nobody knows their child as much as the parents,” Young says. “They have to be able to evaluate their child and picture them interacting with other children in that formal setting.” McLaughlin says the decision is an important one for parents, especially when considering milestones for their child later on in life, such as applying for university. Amber Cheverie, who also works at Happy Tots Preschool, says many children aren’t ready to enter the formal education system at four. She hopes children will be tested before enrolment. But McLaughlin says testing is not necessary. “We have trained professionals dealing with children with different learning abilities every day,” McLaughlin says. “There is the potential for a wider range of learning capabilities, but the class sizes are capped at 25. Students will get the same attention.” Space, staffing and the availability of facilities is a potential issue for schools, but before changes are made the department must wait until enrolment is complete at the end of February. A large concentration of students in one area isn’t expected, but McLaughlin says about 150 new teachers and support staff will be hired in September. Brian MacInnis, principal of Inglis Elementary School, says his school is prepared to receive more Primary students in the fall and welcomes the change. He’s confident Nova Scotia’s school boards will provide the appropriate tools if there is an influx of young students. “It’s more of a philosophical change. In any given year we could have more students than the last … we’ll just have to wait and see what enrolment brings.” [email protected] COLLEEN COSGROVE Sophia Andriopolous, six, enrolled at Ecole LeMarchant St. Thomas School this year. Her birthday is Oct. 30 and her father says if the new cut-off date was in place last year, Sophia would have started primary then. Page Editor/Layout: RICHARD Norman page 14 New Beginnings the halifax commoner Friday, January 18, 2008 Video gamers get a Wii bit active Dance Dance Revolution, Wii Sports games give players virtual exercise By KATHERINE BARTON Richard Eisner takes a few steps towards the screen, just as he would approach the lane at the bowling alley. He bends down and swings the controller and his Mii – the bald, glasses-wearing character he created for himself – sends the ball down the lane. He gets seven strikes in a row. The cartoon crowd cheers. By the end of the third string, his breathing is getting heavier. “What made this game fascinating was that it got me up out of my seat and allowed me to do some exercise. That’s one of the main reasons for having it,” says Eisner, a biologist and avid video gamer, about Wii Sports. It’s not your average video game. Using a wireless controller, players have to actually swing the bat in baseball and throw the punch in boxing. Nor is Eisner the average player – he’s 59 years old. Video games such as Wii Sports and Dance Dance Revolution are getting players off the couch and onto their feet. “I think that you can internalize very easily that you’re there. You can relate to it, you get really excited … you’re reinforced, like in baseball, it tells you how fast your ball is going, you get constant reinforcement of the motions,” Eisner says. He feels like he’s getting a workout when he plays. “Your heart rate goes up, you definitely are engaged, your muscles are sore. And it’s not just your thumbs – you’re throwing, wanted it. “Mainly I bought it to have something to make me a little more active … it makes being active fun,” she says as she jumps to the next step. She uses Dance Dance Revolution to work out. “If I play for half an hour, or 40 minutes, I definitely feel it the next day.” The game has a workout mode that calculates the calories burned after each song, so MacKinnon can track the progress she is making. She has the Wii as well, which costs $270. She bought Wii Sports, which retails for about $20, but not for fitness. It still gets her going though. “I liked that (Wii Sports) wasn’t a game where you’re just sitting there, pressing buttons … you constantly have to be moving, no matter what game you’re playing.” Stephen Hodder, 29, agrees. The mill labourer also has both Dance Dance Revolution and Wii Sports. “The other systems claim to have good graphics and stuff, but the Wii kind of has the market cornered on interactivity and that’s something I really wanted to try,” he said. “Fitness didn’t have much to do with it … as far as workout and fitness are concerned, Dance Dance Revolution covers that.” All that could change with the Wii Fit. The new game features an array of activities, such as aerobics, yoga and games like hula hoop. A Japanese financial newspaper, Nikkei, reported that Nintendo sold more than one million units of the “I think that you can internalize very easily that you’re there. You can relate to it, you get really excited ... you’re reinforced, like in baseball, it tells you how fast your ball is going, you get constant reinforcement of the motions.” -Richard Eisner Melissa MacKinnon burns calories playing Dance Dance Revolution. Katherine Barton Gamer you’re tossing, you’re jumping.” Dance Dance Revolution demands even more from its players. They have to move their feet on a dance pad to a set pattern, follow the dancer on the screen and keep the beat. “Where exercise gets fun!” reads the slogan for the game, which costs about $50 and can be bought for various gaming consoles. That is exactly why Melissa MacKinnon, a 24-year-old accounts payable clerk, Wii Fit in Japan only a month after its Dec. 1 release. The game will be available in North America in the first half of 2008, a Nintendo press release says. Game bikes, such as the Cateye Interactive Game Bike for the PlayStation 2, are also gaining popularity. The player uses the pedals and handlebars to control racing games. The faster you pedal, the faster your virtual vehicle goes. The bike costs about $400. Interactive games could reduce Canada’s obesity rate, especially in children. In the past 25 years the obesity rate for 12- to 17-year-olds tripled, from three per cent to nine per cent, Statistics Canada reports. Eisner thinks interactive games are great for his age. The games not only exercise his body, but his mind too. More than anything though, “it’s entertainment,” he laughs. “It’s better than TV.” [email protected] Page Editor/Layout: JEFF LAWTON Gamers feel the burn - Study Researchers at Liverpool John Moores University in the United Kingdom studied 11 teenagers while they played a sedentary video game and Wii Sports bowling, tennis and boxing. The children burned about 60 calories more per hour playing the Wii Sports games. The study concluded that interactive video games significantly increase players’ energy use compared with sedentary games, but not to the same extent as the actual sport. However, the exercise is only about 25 per cent less than the energy that would be used playing the sport. Source: British Medical Journal, December 2007. the halifax commoner Friday, JANUARY 18, 2008 new beginnings page 15 Gaming ‘the carrot’ to lure kids to gym Bull Dog Fitness turns childhood obesity problem into a solution By KATE CHURCHILL-SMITH “Work, play, it’s all the same,” is etched on the walls in bold black capitals, and at this gym for children it might just be true. Television screens with webcams, a custom-designed climbing wall and colourful floor pads for dancing are all just part of the work-out at Bull Dog Interactive Fitness. “The gym opened on the premise of interactive fitness, where (kids) would play video games while they were exercising,” said Chris Tremblay, Bull Dog’s director of programming and training. Bull Dog is a gym designed specifically for children aged three to teens, and could be part of the solution to curbing childhood obesity, he said. Other gyms tailored to children are often gymnastic-oriented, and most adult gyms, like Nubody’s, have a cut-off age of 15. “Obesity is absolutely a very primary concern for our population, both for children and adults,” said Natasha Warren, physical activity co-ordinator at Health Promotion. A recent study published by four local universities found that children were spending an average of 4.79 hours a day playing video games, surfing the Internet, or watching television, she said. The gym has incorporated one aspect of the problem behind childhood obesity – playing video games – and made it part of its solution. “It’s kind of tragic at this point that you have to make kids play video games to be active, but you have to do what it takes,” Tremblay said. After all, 26 per cent of Canadians aged two to 17 were overweight or obese in 2004, Statistics Canada reports. The interactive gaming demonstrates the need to be innovative in order to compete with the lure of sedentary activities like television and video games. “That’s the carrot Bull Dog Fitness offers interactive ways for kids to get up off the couch and exercise. “That’s what drew him in,” said Paula Hewey, about her 11-year-old son. “I can’t wait to try it on parent day.” Jamie Ferguson, CEO of Sport Nova Scotia, knows his provincewide athletic programs need to be creative to attract kids. They “It’s kind of tragic at this point that you have to make kids play video games to be active, but you have to do what it takes.” Chris Tremblay Director of Training and Programming, Bull Dog Fitness to get them in,” Tremblay said. The gym uses video game bikes where “the pedals are your gas” as well as the popular Dance Dance Revolution (“that you’ve probably seen in arcades”). There is also a climbing wall that acts like a treadmill, moving downwards as children climb up. have 160,000 members, plus more unregistered members Ferguson said. “You need to make sure you have something that is adaptable, something that’s fun and engaging.” By looking at the data on obesity, Type 2 diabetes and blood pressure among the young, the need for a specially designed gym is there, Tremblay said. “The world is changing and we’ve kind of filled the niche of accommodating that change.” The Dartmouth location has about 100 members. It has been open for three years, and the idea seems to be catching on. With a Calgary location opening this month, it will have nine franchises across Canada. Circuit training and personal trainers are also part of the package Bull Dog offers. The new models also include a gymnasium space, where a variety of classes like yoga and pilates take place, as well as traditional sports like basketball. While interactive gaming is fun, “they always go back to the old-fashioned play,” Tremblay said of the kids. The facilities act like a regular gym, encouraging visitors to purchase memberships. Three months costs $115, which entitles members to an hour and a half every day of Page Editor/Layout: Erin fitzgerald the week. Dalhousie University’s gym has a student membership fee of $145 for three months. Nova Scotia’s childhood obesity rate is higher than the national average reported by the Kidsport Nova Scotia website, which states thousands of young Nova Scotians can’t afford athletic programs. So while Bull Dog may work for some, the costs may be prohibitive for others. Sport Nova Scotia could be a Kate Churchill-Smith potential source for children seeking fun and healthy exercise but whose families might not be able to afford Bull Dog membership fees. “There are all sorts of programs, at the recreational level, that are very affordable or free,” said Ferguson. “We try to make sure that our programs are broad enough, and come in all sorts of shapes and sizes so there’s something for everyone.” [email protected] page 16 New Beginnings the halifax commoner Friday, january 18, 2008 How much are you willing to lose? New marketing campaign aims to convince problem gamblers to seek help ANDREW ROBINSON Government maintains that gambling problems are not a thing of the past. By Andrew Robinson Problem gamblers in Nova Scotia continue to lose money to video lottery terminals, but a new marketing campaign launched by the government will encourage them to seek help. The $425,000 campaign will feature advertisements telling the stories of how gambling has affected the lives of Nova Scotians. They will also provide the phone number for the province’s Problem Gambling Help Line, which is staffed by trained clinicians who can offer counselling and provide referrals to staff at Addictions Services. The help line received fewer calls in 2007 than in any of the last three years. “The fact that there are fewer people making phone calls to our helpline is exactly the reason why we’ve made the investment in this program,” said Barry Barnet, minister of Health Promotion and Protection. The campaign will aim to keep problem gamblers from feeling isolated because of their addiction, Barnet told reporters at the campaign’s launch Tuesday at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. “We heard directly from problem gamblers that gambling leads to feelings of shame, embarrassment, hopelessness, and feelings of being alone. We want them to know they are not alone and there is help out there for them.” In 2005 the province launched a gaming strategy which drew attention to the issue of problem gambling, said Robert Graham. But the manager for Problem Gambling Services saw a significant drop in calls to the Problem Gambling Help Line, with 2,800 calls received in 2007 compared to 5,500 in 2005. He called 2005 a “banner year for discussion around gambling. We had advertisements out, the gaming strategy was released, and it received an enormous amount of media attention ... I think all those elements coming together made people much more comfortable in reaching out and gathering information.” The gaming strategy from 2005 included removing 800 of the 3,900 VLTs in Nova Scotia. The government will be able to learn what impact these measures had when the data from a new gambling prevalence study is analyzed, said Graham. He said field work on the study has been completed, with data analysis now taking place. A 2003 study found that 86 per cent of respondents with personal connections to someone with a gambling problem cited VLTs as the cause. When some VLTs were removed in 2005, the provincial government said it expected to lose $19 million in revenue. Barnet said the government will examine the results of the new study before deciding on any further reduction in the number of VLTs. He was adamant that an all-out ban on VLTs would be counterproductive. “If we moved in the direction where VLTs would be banned in the province, I don’t think we would provide the kind of protection that’s necessary for Nova Scotians. That void would be picked-up in an unregulated environment. And I think that would be a mistake,” said Barnet. Graham said that the budget for Problem Gambling Services is about $4.3 million. That figure accounts for two per cent of the $160 million in estimated revenue received by government from the Nova Scotia Gaming Corporation in 2007. [email protected] Suck it up and wait Head of taxi committee warns deregulation may lead to safety issues on the road By JAY HEISLER Cab drivers and politicians are speaking out against city hall’s free market deregulation of Halifax’s taxi industry. Many people have found themselves shivering by the side of the road in downtown Halifax, waiting for a taxi on a busy night. Mayor Peter Kelly says that more taxis need to be on the road and that deregulating the taxi industry in Halifax is the answer, but deregulation has received a chilly reception from many taxi drivers. “They hate it,” says Deputy Mayor Steve Adams, chair of the Halifax Taxi and Limousine Advisory Committee, who says that taxi drivers see deregulation as unnecessary and a threat to their wages. Adams strongly opposed the staff report recommending deregulation that gained city council’s approval in principle on Jan. 8. The report recommended that the city remove restrictions on the number of people who could become licensed taxi drivers and the zones in which they could operate. In a Jan. 14 press release, Daryl Downey, president of the Halifax Taxi Drivers Association, described deregulation as “disruptive and impractical.” “Many people’s lives will be adversely affected if there is a flood of new taxis on the road,” Downey said, “and for the life of me I can’t see how deregulation will improve the quality of driver or vehicle or how it will decrease waiting times overall.” Local businesses in the hotel and restaurant industry will see Kelly’s support of a free market solution to a perceived taxi shortage as good news. A letter to council from the Downtown Halifax Business Commission expressed frustration that “countless times, customers have complained to us that they cannot get a taxi on busy nights or even days when the weather is inclement.” Under the current regulation, the number of taxi drivers is restricted, and drivers are assigned to certain zones in which to work. There are 610 taxis operating in Halifax. After deregulation, that number would rise with no limit. JAY HEISLER One taxi driver scoffs at complaints about wait times for taxis, but not for drinks. Adams disagrees with deregulation as a solution. He says that the public may be less safe if taxi drivers, earning less from unrestrained competition, must “choose between putting food on their tables or replacing their wheel.” He explains that the deregulation of zoning means that those who need cabs in Sackville, Cole Harbour, and other remote areas will be stranded when downtown is busy and Page Editor/Layout: MEAGAN ROBERTSON local drivers head where there is more work. Adams, who has been chair of the committee since 1991, says that regulation encourages “stability” and that he has been criticized for trying to protect drivers. “I don’t know what personal benefit people think I’m getting from this,” Adams says. He claims that if the city cared about getting people out of downtown at night, Metro Transit buses would run until 3 a.m. Brian Allen, a driver for Casino Taxi, is also opposed to deregulation. “We’re just the scapegoats,” says Allen, who has been driving taxis for ten years. “It’s the same in any city. You have to wait for everything these days. The same people who wait half an hour for a drink then walk outside and expect a taxi right away.” [email protected] the halifax commoner Friday, January 18, 2008 New Beginnings page 17 What and “Y” Questioning the expectations for our generation Viewpoint Jeff Lawton University students, and young people in general, are constantly preached the same advice, generation after generation: this is the time to start thinking about our future and our “new beginnings.” In the 90s, Generation X took an unusual stance on such planning. In his 1993 novel, Trainspotting, Irvine Welsh sarcastically told people to “Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers,” and the list goes on. Kevin Smith’s 1994 film, Clerks, demonstrated that you can work at a convenience store well after university, with your annoying friends, and still be fulfilled. Our preceding generation was that of the slacker; an anti-establishment group of late teens and twentysomethings who admired a heroin addict like Kurt Cobain more than the usual astronauts and doctors. Their mentality could be described as disguised laziness, but there was also an undeniable, admirable ideology behind the cigarettes, flannel shirts and unwashed hair. They were denouncing the myth of a successful, mainstream, North American life by refusing to conform to the established guidelines. Their biggest flaw was that they became too lazy and amoral. Doing nothing was indeed disrupting societys norms, but it was also doing nothing. It’s easy to form opinions on a generation in hindsight, but what about doing so while the wheels are still in motion? Young people under 26 are loosely labeled generation Y. This could mean either that we are second-string X-ers, or that we are simply a product of the time that included Y2K. Regardless, we are being put through the meat grinder, being tugged and strained into different directions of career and family, with a desperate, nagging, and underlying feeling of “what the hell am I going to do?” The burning question is, in comparison with our preceding generation, how do we approach the new opportunities and expectations before us? It is, unquestionably, a new day and age with an overwhelming technological influence and increased global awareness. However, the hangover of the 90s is also ever-present in our minds, maybe because of older brothers and sisters, or because of the decade’s influence on today’s popular culture. We’ve become a melting pot of style and attitude, mixing hip-hop with hippie, punks and activists. Amorality is present in the gangbeating you see on one side of the street, while social awareness is present at the war protest on the other. Consumerism is running rampant as young people everywhere (now put your iPhone down before you read this) are buying way too conflicting qualities that define our generation can also guide us at this point in our lives. It’s obviously true that you can go through life working at a fast-food joint and still be happy, but a 50-year career, a wife and kids, a big house, car, cats and dogs, televisions and the like, is OK too. Planning your whole future right now is fine if that is what you want, but we should take a lesson from the 90s and realize that it is not the be-all and end-all. Laziness and indifference are unacceptable human traits, but indecision isn’t. So, when you’re sitting in your macroeconomics class wondering where your life is going, consider The burning question is, in comparison with our preceding generation, how do we approach the new opportunities and expectations before us? much stuff. At the same time, the practice of recycling and re-using is also gaining prevalence. It is too difficult to determine any kind of concrete, singular characteristic of our generation, other than contradiction. Maybe such varying and that you might be happier with your bartending job, regardless if that’s the “normal” thing to do. The future is yours to define, and new beginnings are found in all sorts of places. [email protected] The case for space Redefining Dartmouth’s Main Street “For every action there is an equal and opposite government program.” - Bob Wells, Editor, Windows and Net magazine Wander on past the downtown, dodge a couple of lakes, go up and down a few hills, go on past Highway 111 and voila, you’ve arrived on Main Street, Dartmouth, home of the big box store, strip malls and adult entertainment. Cars rush between the parking lots creating an intimidating environment for any pedestrian or cyclist who dares venture here. It’s a place where if you want to go to a store a short walk away, you’ll probably hop in your car and drive. Councillor Andrew Younger and residents of the area are hoping to soon change that. Despite the stormy weather, the Stevens Road United Baptist Church was packed on Monday night as residents gathered to see how their neighbourhood could become a community. Remaking Halifax is on many minds lately with projects such as Vision HRM and HRM by Design. For the most part everyone agrees on what they want Halifax to look and feel like. We want a liveable city, a city with more trees, less concrete, sidewalks that are busy and roadways that are calm. Now the challenge is to make that change. To get to the meeting Monday night I took my primary mode of Common spaces denis calnan transportation, my bike. Pulling up to the church at Tacoma Drive and Main Street during the snowstorm I quickly spotted a place to park. That wasn’t the case for most who came to the meeting. The parking lot was filled and cars were spilling out onto the street. I locked my bike to a signpost right beside the church. Monday night’s meeting was surprisingly packed with residents from the area interested in seeing their community become more than just a series of strip malls lining the streets. They came to see the 30-year plan championed by Younger and Rob LeBlanc, of Ekistics Planning and Design. Everyone’s interested in making this community a “village centre.” The plans are progressive and follow the Jane Jacobs mantra. “The Main Street area,” reads the report, will be a “dense, mixed use village core with great pedestrian spaces, goods and services, and facilities that invite residents to walk or bicycle to obtain daily needs and in so doing informally interact with their neighbours.” The summary of the report suggests that the first nine years be spent Designer Rob LeBlanc explains his thirty-year plan to transform Main Street improving pedestrian infrastructure and greening the streets. The following 21 years is when the major renovations of the commercial centres would happen and bike lanes would be installed. LeBlanc, who has been working on this proposal for just over two years, explained that the rationale behind the timeline is budgetary restrictions. He said that planning staff can budget for roughly $300,000 every year over the next 30 years to meet the roughly $8 to $9 million the city will have to invest. That it will take nine years to make the community walkable and 30 years to make it bikeable seems like a long time to me. Citizens in other cities have taken infrastructure Page Editor/Layout: Anneke Foster into their own hands, painting their own bike lanes and laying sod on the road. One resident raised the point that most of the audience members, who were of an elderly persuasion, may not be around in 30 years to see their new community. Another asked about what happens if Younger is not around to ensure this plan gets carried through. Younger argued that the timeline is realistic. One issue raised repeatedly at the meeting was the concern about the adult entertainment establishments. Contrary to the majority of opinions voiced, one elderly couple, who raised their children in the area, said establishments such as Ralph’s Place Denis calnan and Excitement Video never bothered them. “A lot of these people who are complaining here,” the gentleman said to me after the meeting, “maybe they should go to Excitement Video and spice their life up a little bit.” Once the meeting was over I ventured back out into the stormy weather and unlocked my bike as others scrapped their windshields clear of frozen rain. If the city government is serious about implementing this plan along with the other visions, we need to get serious about change now. Each week Denis will explore public space issues in the city. [email protected] page 18 Opinion the halifax commoner Friday, january 18, 2008 Political affairs: When a network falls in love Obama and objectivity VIEWPOINT ANNEKE FOSTER On Jan. 7, Lee Cowan should have been out of a job. After 20 years as a broadcast journalist he admitted, on national television, that it is difficult for him to remain objective when covering Barack Obama’s campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. Not because of the Senator’s policies, ideas or even, historic run, but rather, because of big crowds, bright lights and high energy. The remark was brazen, not apologetic or even private. In fact, the admission was in an on-camera interview with NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams. Even Williams was unfazed, moving on to suggest that newspapers are now reporting that we are “seeing something special” with this campaign. Seeing something? Like what? A blatant disregard for journalistic integrity or professionalism? A reporter who has sacrificed the objectivity of his reporting? Bias exists. It is no longer an argument. Every major American network has, at one time or another, been criticized for purposeful leaning. It’s human nature. And while humanism and personal inflections can often create some of the most worthwhile journalism, these elements should never be confused or replaced with a lack of objectivity. There is a place for emotion, but emotion coupled with infatuation is a lethal combination. The existence of bias in no way justifies its disregard – or worse, as Cowan demonstrated, its acceptance. Cowan (and by extension, Williams) committed several fundamental errors, any of which, should have prompted NBC to excuse Cowan from covering Obama’s campaign. Combined, they should have ended his journalism career. First, Cowan admitted he’s been swayed by the hype of the events and the emotion of the crowds where parents are “hoisting their children on their shoulders.” In turn, Williams praises Cowan’s statement as “courageous.” When did admitting to being a poor and ineffective journalist become admirable? Every major American network has, at one time or another, been criticized for purposeful leaning. To make matters worse, the excuse was just as bad as the admission. Cowan could have redeemed himself had he offered the statement as an invitation to scrutinize and hold his reporting (and NBC) responsible for promoting good journalism. That would have been courageous – admitting error and then inviting critique. Instead, he suggests the Obama campaign is some sort of authenticating experience, something people show up for without knowing why except because they know something is “happening” and, well, they should be a part of it. Obama’s message then becomes superfluous. What matters is the electricity and that people believe they are witnessing “something.” It ceases even to matter what that “something” is, provided it feels good. The words become meaningless, the connectedness is greater than the reality, and worst of all, the reporter himself is now incapable of distinguishing the real from the sensational. Thereby making his role purposeless and deceptive. Objectivity isn’t a maybe thing. Journalism is either objective or it isn’t. Something can’t be true and untrue simultaneously. Herein lies the primary reason Cowan should have been, in the very least, embarrassed. What does objectivity mean and what exactly makes it so difficult to stick to? If Obama is so charismatic and so untouchable, then covering and reporting the facts, however good, is still objective. Saying it will be difficult to remain objective is essentially suggesting that because of this charisma, it will be difficult to report truthfully on political blunders, questionable actions or other errors. What Cowan is actually saying is that he’ll have difficulty telling the truth. The truth is, NBC has fallen in love. Love can cloud clear vision and love often clouds sound journalism. In place of reporting the truth, they’ve applauded sensationalism and inadequate coverage. Moreover, they’ve done the Obama campaign a disservice by focusing on the attention and not the content and worse, diminishing his followers’ commitment to Cowan’s interpretation. NBC has allowed its reporter’s infatuation with a candidate to supersede his responsibilities as a journalist. Even though neither NBC nor Cowan invited critique, viewers should not merely accept the news they watch but put it to the test. As faltering journalists and charismatic politicians of the past can probably attest, the love affair is exactly that; a trespass on truth and unlikely to stand the test of time. To see the exchange between Cowan and Williams: http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=26294 [email protected] Tidal power: A double-edged sword? IT’S NOT EASY BEING GREEN ... windmills; tidal currents rotate the turbine’s blades and generate electricity. The devices will connect to a power grid and generate one to two megawatts of power each, enough to power between 200 and 400 Nova Scotian homes. But how eco-friendly are these turbines? SARAH TOWLE Tides in the Bay of Fundy are some of the highest in the world, rising at a rate of six to eight feet an hour. And now they might be the greenest, too. Last week the Nova Scotia government announced it would bolt three in-stream tidal turbines to the bay’s seabed at a cost of about $8 million. The turbines work like underwater Government officials and the media are touting tidal power as a clean, renewable resource. “The more we move away from coal-based electricity, the more we protect our environment,” Premier Rodney MacDonald said last week at the press conference announcing the project. But how environmentally friendly are these turbines? In a March 2007 interview with The Globe and Mail, Chris Garrett, a professor of physics and earth and ocean sciences at the University of Victoria, said tidal generators can prevent the passage of large ships and fish and can even kill marine mammals. These are big concerns for the Bay of Fundy – home to the North Atlantic right whale, shipping ports and passenger ferries to New Brunswick. Tidal generators also change the way sediment forms on the ocean floor, according to a report from the U.K. Parliament. But – as far as I can tell – researchers haven’t tackled what this means for crustaceans such as lobsters who live in the murky Page Editor/Layout: Kate churchill-smith bottoms of the Bay of Fundy. And while tidal generators do not burn greenhouse gases, researchers often coat the devices with “anti-fouling agents,” chemicals that prevent the growth of barnacles, algae Tidal power may leave a smaller ecological footprint than coal, oil or even hydrobased power. But let’s keep in mind that it’s a new technology. and other marine life and keep the turbines running efficiently. A 2002 B.C. Hydro report states the coatings are “extremely toxic” and have to be “carefully selected with the implications of their use fully considered.” Clean Current, a company installing one of the turbines in the bay, wouldn’t discuss what coatings it uses because of possible competitors stealing the formula. “We’re not telling you,” said Glen Darou, president of Clean Current. He did mention the coatings are silicone-based, so critters slide off when they try to attach to the turbines. A 2007 article in the Marine Pollution Bulletin says silicone from anti-fouling agents can remain un-dissolved in the water and suffocate marine organisms. Nova Scotia is heeding these warnings. The government is only installing three turbines so far and isn’t ready to move to a commercial scale yet. “That’s exactly why we’re doing this test site,” says Matt Lumley of the Nova Scotia Department of Energy. “We’re going to put some of the devices in and monitor the effect of the devices on the environment.” Tidal power may leave a smaller ecological footprint than coal, oil or even hydro-based power. But let’s keep in mind that it’s a new technology; we need to know all of its potential drawbacks before we start marketing it as a miracle green solution. [email protected] the halifax commoner Friday, JanUARY 18, 2008 page 19 REVIEW Keeping it reel Book review Joplin revisited Alice Echols, Scars of Sweet Paradise: The Life and Times of Janis Joplin JANET SHULIST Canadian documentary breaks the ice Believe it or not, the Canadian North was the backdrop for the first successful documentary. Honest. Robert J. Flaherty made Nanook of the North in 1922 in the snowy flatlands of Inukjuak, near Hudson’s Bay in Quebec. Flaherty follows Nanook and his family as they live and navigate in the harsh arctic conditions. Flaherty’s first film became known as an example of ethnographic documentary—an educational exploration of another culture, his specifically about the Inuit (referred to then as Eskimo), but he received a lot of criticism about the un-reality of the scenes. Nanook—whose real-life name was Allakariallak—was encouraged to use a harpoon to kill a walrus, even though he normally went hunting with a rifle. In another scene in an igloo, Flaherty couldn’t get the equipment to fit inside, so he constructed a three-sided igloo to make room for his camera. Regardless of his take on reality, the film is interesting, and from a technological perspective, Flaherty did a lot despite the klunky and awkward equipment. It’s a silent film—but I promise you won’t even notice. Besides, the interactions between Nanook and his family speak volumes. That’s right, I went there. So don your fur trapper hat and embrace the North and Canada’s role in documentary history. Other favourites from the Canadian North: - Atanarjuat: The Fast Runner - Between Two Worlds - Qallunaat Each week, Janet Shulist, a film studies grad, explores a classic film from the past that you need to see. And don’t worry—she makes sure they are available somewhere in Halifax. [email protected] DISC REVIEWS Spin me right round RADIOHEAD: IN RAINBOWS NEIL YOUNG: CHROME DREAMS II By JEFF LAWTON Most critically lauded bands will eventually have some sort of misstep if not in a poor album, then at least in a few mediocre songs. Radiohead, on the other hand, is one of those rare exceptions that’s never expected to make a false move. Such praise attests to the greatness of the band, but it also slightly hinders the impact of an album like In Rainbows. If this was another band, or if this was Radiohead’s first album, Rainbows would be considered one of the most astounding pieces of art this decade. Because of the expectations for the band, though, the listening experience lacks the newness or the surprise it could have otherwise had. Still, taken on its own, Rainbows is more than impressive. The group’s experimental side is toned way down here and replaced by meticulously structured pop-rock songs. On tracks like “Bodysnatchers” and “Jigsaw Falling Into Place,” the group takes the rock genre where Coldplay only dreams it could, adding complicated crescendos and ethereal backgrounds. “House of Cards” and “Videotape” are able to pull off some of the most beautiful melodies you’ll ever hear, without falling into sweeping over-dramatics. Putting out an album this good at this point in a career may actually be dangerous for the music industry. Other bands may break up after hearing it, knowing that they’ll never be this great. The only problem for Radiohead though, is that this is predictable greatness. By MAIRIN PRENTISS This is the sequel to an album that never came to be. In 1977, Neil Young tossed Chrome Dreams aside just prior to its intended release. That album fell victim to his ever-evolving musical style. With Chrome Dreams II, Young revives his classic folk rock sound of Harvest and After the Gold Rush. Yet the charmingly messy, drowsy songs fall flat lacking that extra jolt that from the good old days. [email protected] Page Editor/Layout: COLLEEN COSGROVE By ALLISON MACNEIL It’s hard to imagine the queen of rock ’n’ roll pleading with a music critic to agree that her singing was improving and that she was, in fact, a good singer. But few looked beyond the tough veneer of the intoxicating woman onstage to the tortured girl shooting up backstage to numb the pain of a harsh review – an act that resulted in her untimely death in 1970 at the age of 27. Through hundreds of interviews with those closest to Janis Joplin, Echols illustrates the tenuous balance between her public persona as the loud, ballsy hippie chick who didn’t give a shit and the fragile, vulnerable girl whose ultimate desire was simply to feel validated, both as a singer and as a lover. Echols does more than write about Joplin’s involvement in the sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll atmosphere which inevitably surrounds any mention of the sixties. The singer is more of a case study in the author’s examination of the The first three tracks were dredged up from Young’s cutting room floor. “Beautiful Bluebird” and “Boxcar” are a promising open to the album and go straight to the heart of any Young fan. But, that’s followed by the audacious single, an 18-minute long yarn, “Ordinary People,” Young’s salute to the work-a-day fellow. The extended song has worked before. Crosby Stills and Nash (preYoung days) recorded “Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.” The fact that the song is seven minutes long weighs small on the scale because its pacing, rhythm and vocals change throughout, resulting in separate pieces that could stand alone. “Ordinary People” is more repetitive than a Daft Punk song but with none of the fun. If you’re still listening past the halfway point, then I will humbly admit that Young knows more about the ordinary people than I do. The rest of the album consists of new songs. “The Believer,” an upbeat tune with call-and-response beatnik and hippie counterculture pervading the United States at this time. Echols attempts to move beyond the limiting yet dominating perceptions of peace and free love to underlying problems such as racial tension and the rampant drug use that inspired yet ruined many talented musicians. She also writes of the rise of rock in the predominate folk music scene of the sixties and Janis’ strenuous struggle to join the all-boys rock ‘n’ roll club. [email protected] GOOGLE IMAGES.COM backing vocals, and “Dirty Old Man,” a throw back to his grunge days, pop out from the wreckage of the gloomy, earthy spiritual songs. The album sounds like indulgence in unfinished business, as if he just wants to move product. Unlike his other triumphs, it’s not the kind of record you can throw on and have it knock your socks off every time. My socks, dear Mr. Young, remain in place. [email protected] page 20 Lifestyle the halifax commoner Friday, January 18, 2008 Another live venue closes doors By Andrew Robinson There will be one more “last call” hollered by the bartender on Saturday night at The Attic. One last chord strummed on a guitar. One last mass-exodus of show-goers onto Grafton Street. The Attic is closing for good, and musicians are wondering what this means for Halifax’s music scene. The loss of the venue, which was to celebrate its 10th anniversary this fall, leaves Halifax with one less club where bands can perform. The club was not generating enough business, says Gary Muise. The Vice President of Operations for Grafton Connor Group says the company plans to reuse the property for “a new concept” it is still working on. In a year that has witnessed the closure of other live music venues, like Stage 9 and One World Café, musicians are becoming increasingly concerned about finding places to book shows. Josh Kogon is a member of VKNGS, and Jon McKiel’s backingband. Kogon found The Attic to be a fun place to perform, and was always impressed with its professional sound system. He says that the venue’s closure will limit the number of places where independent groups can get gigs. Kogon enjoys playing shows at Gus’ Pub and churches, but he laments the fact that you have to find your own sound gear to play. He says the Seahorse Tavern tends to only host a specific mix of local bands. “Unless we get an opening slot for a touring band at The Marquee, we’ll be stuck at Gus’,” says Kogon. Touring bands will also have a harder time booking shows in the city, says Kogon. “The Attic was a great place for a touring band to get on a decent bill, if they were a group that a few people had heard of but didn’t have a huge following. That was where promoters would first direct them,” he says. Kogon has witnessed the closure of venues happening across the country. Cities where he has performed in the past are now becoming harder to play in because the clubs he was familiar with have been shutdown. Loukas Crowther has performed at The Attic both with his band Easy Tiger and as a DJ. He found the club served as the perfect middle ground between smaller venues like Gus’ Pub and larger ones such as The Marquee. The Attic can hold up to 400 people. Crowther says that where most venues either limit themselves to hosting bigger acts or bands that appeal to a bar’s regular clientele, The Attic went for a broader appeal. “Lloyd Smith, The Attic’s entertainment director, is good at booking slightly less mainstream acts and taking the risk, while The Marquee goes for less risk-free ventures,” he says. In a posting on the halifaxlocals.com messageboard, Smith said that The Attic played host to more than 700 artists. As one of those artists being involved in the Halifax music scene, Josh Kogon says he finds it disheartening everytime he hears that a good venue is closing. “When you’re involved in the music scene you only really see other people who love it. So when a place closes, everybody is like ‘what?’ It catches you off-guard, but it’s very real.” [email protected] Kid Koala spins his way into Halifax’s hearts with sold-out show By Meagan Robertson Kid Koala, whose real name is Eric San, is known around the world for his incredible turntable and DJ skills. He was born in Vancouver and is based in Montreal. He has been touring worldwide for the past year, and has a distinct style. He performed at The Marquee Club on Saturday night, where he also played two years ago, but to a much smaller crowd. His popularity has drastically increased, considering this year it was a hassle to try and get tickets in time. All the advance tickets were sold out by Saturday morning, and the lineup for door tickets was around the block by the time doors opened just after 10 p.m. “The place was only half full back then,” says Ian McIlwain, a university student who attended the first show, “and now look at it.” Despite the cold, McIlwain was in line at 9 p.m. and there were already about six people ahead of him. Tickets at the door were sold out within a half-hour, bringing the total to 800 sold tickets. Kid Koala works with three turntables, and combines elements of his favorites movies and news items into his work. He has recorded with artists such as the Gorillaz, Deltron 3030, Coldcut and Bullfrog, as well as shared acts with Radiohead and Björk. Before any song he mixes, he tells the crowd who the original song is by, thus giving credit where it’s due before warping a classic into a whole new creation. He has been known to incorporate samples of music from Charlie Brown television specials, old comedy sketch routines and even people sneezing. He is also an illustrator and designs his own album covers. “You just can’t even try and compare him to other DJs,” says McIlwain. “He has a really unique style.” Kid Koala had the crowd on their feet and moving the entire show, and there was no pushing your way to the front. Though he played a lot of his own stuff, the majority of the night was spent mixing with good dance music. Mark Jackson is a Saint Mary’s student from Calgary and he has been Page Editor/Layout: janet shulist a fan of Kid Koala for three years. He didn’t stop dancing during the performance, and shared his knowledge with all those around him who would listen. “There are three reasons why I love Kid Koala,” says Jackson, “creativity, originality, and performance.” “He puts on a stellar performance, it’s off the hook. He manages to incorporate the music that he enjoys with his own stuff and just look at the reaction from the crowd!” Kid Koala has been on the road throughout the past year promoting his latest album, Your Mom’s Favorite DJ. He has done concerts throughout North America, Europe and Russia and plans for the release of his new album, Mosquito Book, in the near future. Kristen Welsh is a Halifax resident who saw Kid Koala for the first time when he last played in the city, and she was excited to go again. “It’s awesome to have the chance to see him in Halifax,” says Welsh, “he’s pretty popular all around the world so people should take the opportunity to go and check it out.” “I feel like it represents a shift in the music scene here in Halifax,” says McIlwain. “It used to only be indie acts that would pack The Marquee like that, but now people seem to be finding electronic music.” [email protected]