toronto globalist vol 3 issue 1

CLOSE TO HOMEis diabetes your friendly new neighbour?

An Undergraduate International Affairs MagazineDECEMBER 2007

Volume III Issue 1

THE EXPLOITATION

OF SUGAR WORKERS then and now BITTERSWEET

SUGAR environment at risk as

productions rise

The Toronto GlobalistThe Toronto Globalist

IN THE RAWsugar exposed

VOLUME III, issue 1

14

Features: Sugar

the toronto globalist december 2007

CONTENTS

Columns and other articles

6

14

8

9

10

16

2 3 4

19

20

22

24

28

18

Letter FrOM tHe eDItOr

tHe LIgHter sIDe

gLObaL HappenIngs

bLackwater wOrLDwIDe anD prIvatIzeD warNick Dalla Guarda

regions in perspectiverOManIa anD tHe eU: a new perspectIve FrOM a new generatIOnAmy Stupavsky

FOUr presIDentIaL FOreIgn pOLIcIesJosh Xiong

cLasH OF eMpIresJade Colbert

rebIrtH anD rejUvenatIOn: a reactIOn tO DavID reMnIck’s Lenin’s TombJonathan Bright

tHe sUpra-natIOnaL: gLObaLIsatIOn, cOrpOratIOn, anD tHe eUMatt Clasper

Sugar Leaves Bad Taste in Mouth of ConsumersNatalie Krajinovic

Diabetes Epidemic Warrants a Day of RecognitionSteven Thorne

regions in perspective

The Bitter Effects of Sugar on MexicoLaura Elmhirst

Close to Home: Is Diabetes your friendly new Neighbour? Farheen Shaikh and Harisha Sivalinkam

the globalist photographic report

Redpath: The Road to RefinementAmanda Boyce

Bittersweet Sugar: Environment at Risk as Productions RiseFarhana Rahman

The Exploitation of Sugar Workers: Then and NowCatherine Tsalikis

26

ABOUT THE COVERThis photo by Alexandra Tkatcheva represents the human struggle with sugar addiction. Self-taught award winning photographer and University of Toronto student, Alexandra has participated in a number of photo exhibitions as well as having a solo exhibit in the Distillery district this fall. Examples of her photos can be found at www.urtica.name.

december 2007 the toronto globalist 1

Letters to the editorPlease send your comments, questions, and opinions to:

The Toronto Globalist7 Hart House Circle

Toronto, ONCanada, M5S 3H3

[email protected]/toronto

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities, please email:Sanam.Goudarzi @utoronto.ca

Dear Readers,

Welcome back and thank you for joining us again this year! I am absolutely delighted to present our first issue of the year. Before I introduce this issue, I’d like to take a moment to thank all the members of the 2006-2007 Editorial Board for their hard work and commitment, and welcome our new team of Editorial and Administrative board members. To start off this year, we will be examining a sweet theme that will cater to scientists, economists and sweet-tooths alike! Craved by many and traded in every region of the world, sugar has had a pervasive, wide-ranging impact on areas such as human health, global economics, and world history. We begin this issue with an article by Steven Thorne which introduces diabetes – an on-going health issue relating to the consumption of sugar. The impacts of sugar and socioeconomic status on human health are further analyzed by Farheen Shaikh and Harisha Sivalinkam in our cover story “Close to Home: Is Diabetes your friendly new Neighbour?” To continue our popular Regions in Perspective mini-series, we will take you to Mexico, where Laura Elmhirst examines how a nation which profits from sugar exportation is now struggling to meet the increasing costs of healthcare in her article “The Bitter Effects of Sugar on Mexico.” Shifting gears, Catherine Tsalikis considers the plight of sugar workers in her article “The Exploitation of Sugar Workers : Then and Now,” while Farhana Rahman discusses the impacts of sugar on the environment in her article “Bittersweet Sugar: Environment at Risk as Productions Rise.” Finally, we will also feature an opinions piece by Natalie Krajinovic entitled “Sugar Leaves Bad Taste in Mouth of Consumers,” and a photographic report by Amanda Boyce on the Redpath Sugar Factory in Toronto. As always, we hope that you will enjoy this issue as much as we have enjoyed producing it. We welcome any comments and feedback, and encourage interested readers to join The Toronto Globalist by emailing us at [email protected]. A heartfelt thanks goes out to the University of Toronto’s Student Union, the Hart House Good Ideas Fund, the New College Student Council, and to all our staff, writers, and supporters for making this issue possible. Happy reading!

Sincerely,

Alexander LimEditor-in-Chief and Executive DirectorThe Toronto Globalist

VOLUME III, issue 1

This magazine is published by students of the University of Toronto. The Toronto Globalist reserves the right to edit, modify, or exclude articles at its discretion. Views/opinions expressed within reflect

those of the writer(s) only. The University of Toronto takes no responsibility for the contents.

The Toronto Globalist Editorial Board

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF and EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Alexander Lim

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF andEDITORIAL DIRECTOR

Jonathan C. G. Bright

PUBLISHERSanam Goudarzi

PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGERColleen Fox

SENIOR EDITORChristina Jabbour

PRODUCTION EDITORLaura Cook

NEWS EDITORAnita Li

OPINIONS EDITOREileen A. McCurdy

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHERHana Dhanji

ASSOCIATE PRODUCTIONEDITOR

Cari Mason

Administrative BoardASSISTANT PUBLISHERS

Brunilda Cimo Natalie Krajinovic

STAFF EDITORCecile Ko

STAFF WRITERJosh Xiong

ASSISTANT PRODUCTIONEDITOR

Stephanie Tan

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHERAlexandra Tkatcheva

Donald Ainslie Associate Professor and Chair,

Department of Philosophy

Andrew CoyneNational Post Columnist

Marcel Danesi Professor, Department of Anthropology

John DuncanDirector, Ethics Society & Law Program

Advisory Board

2 the toronto globalist december 2007

the lighter side

A Sugar High!Sugar is more addictive than cocaine,

according to a recent study presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Researchers found that rats preferred water sweetened with saccharin to cocaine, highlighting the addictive nature of sweets. Scientists indicated that this may explain the recent rise in human obesity, caused in part by an over-consumption of sugary foods.

Canadian researchers promote chia pets

The type of grain that grows from a Chia pet’s head actually provides health benefits, according to a University of Toronto study. Salba, a variant of the grain used for these little clay heads, has been shown to decrease blood pressure, reduce inflammation, and thin blood. So next time you hear that annoying jingle on TV, remember that this funny little character that grows grass hair may actually provide health benefits for diabetes patients! A new reason to cry, Ch-ch-ch-chia!

Word birthsAbout 900 new words, or neologisms,

enter the English language every year, according to John Ayto, author of The Oxford Dictionary of Modern Slang. New words become established through a very clear process, according to Ayto. A new word is born when people in influential positions start using the neologism. Gradually, this word becomes adopted by a large number of people. The word finally becomes established once it enters the realms of media. Despite the number of new words established

Colleen Fox is a third-year New College student double-majoring in Human Biology and Political Science.


annually, people have yet to come up with a good word for an unmarried couple, the current decade, or a word to replace “he or she” in today’s gender neutral world.

The cat came back…A twelve year old cat is baffling his

owner with a newly established routine. The cat, Sgt. Podge, disappears from his home each evening, only to be retrieved 2.4 km away the next day. After dropping off her son at school, the owner goes to pick up her cat at the same time and place every morning before driving home. Tired from a night on the town, the cat has breakfast before going to sleep by a warm radiator.

Space cookies soarCanadian researchers have developed a

special cookie for astronauts and dubbed them “Canasnacks.” These bite-sized cookies, developed by researchers from Agriculture Canada for the Canadian Space Agency, were sent with Canadian astronaut Dave Williams onboard the shuttle Endeavour for an August 2007 mission to the International Space Station. The cookies were developed to be tasty, healthy, small, light-weight, and vacuum-sealed, with an un-refrigerated shelf life of twelve months. As well, the goal was for them to contain all Canadian ingredients. After the public unveiling at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair this fall, their popularity has skyrocketed. "We didn't know this was going to happen," said creator Ted Farnworth. "We didn't get into the cookie business. This was a research project. They are being made individually by hand, one at a time, so it's really labour-

intensive. I had to take two people off my research project last week to make cookies." There has been no word as to whether these cookies will be made commercially available to Canadians in the future.

Joint custody for a legAn amputated leg has become the centre

of a bizarre custody battle. John Wood’s amputated leg, kept to be buried with him some day, was inadvertently sold to Shannon Whisnant when it was auctioned off with his belongings after he failed to pay the rent to the storage facility where it was being kept. Refusing to return the leg to its rightful owner, Whisnant is using the leg to gain national attention and money. After meeting with a lawyer, both parties have now agreed to share custody of the leg. Yuck!

Miracle food aids starving childrenPlumpy'nut, a peanut-based paste, has

been credited with rescuing malnourished children from starvation in many African countries. The paste, developed by a French inventor in 1999, is loaded with calories and vitamins. Today, it is saving lives in countries including Ethiopia, Niger, Malawi and Sudan. The paste needs no preparation, and can be administered at home, putting the responsibility back into the hands of the parents, while freeing up health facilities. UNICEF offers Plumpy'nut as a stocking stuffer in their Gift of Magic catalogue (check out www.unicef.org), where a donation of $13 purchases 27 packages. Last year, the organization distributed US$9 million of the paste.

ALEXANDRA TKATCHEVA ELEKTRA NOELANI FISHER DAN MCKAY

global happenings

Instability in PakistanIt is a Pakistani crisis featuring Pakistani

politicians, all of whom are trying to strengthen their hold on this unstable, nuclear-armed nation in a manner that will not provoke the Pakistani people to rise up against them.

President Gen. Pervez Musharraf suspended Pakistan’s constitution and deployed troops in the capital on November 3, 2007, declaring that rising Islamic extremism had forced him to take emergency measures that included replacing the nation’s chief justice and blacking out the independent media that refused to support him.

His leadership, threatened by an increasingly defiant court and an Islamic movement that has spread to Islamabad, was at a dangerous stage, and extremists had directly challenged t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s a u t h o r i t y .

A three day detention order was served on former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, after she tried to cross the heavy police cordon set up outside her home on Friday.

Bhutto has been negotiating a power-sharing deal with Musharraf that would enable her to return to Pakistan and seek a third term as prime minister, even though this

would require a constitutional amendment.

Musharraf's announcement t o h o l d parliamentary elections by Jan. 9 has won warm welcome abroad, but garnered only a cool response from within the country.

Bhutto said the promise fell short, given the president's

refusal to set a date for the repeal of emergency rule, the restoration of the constitution and the reinstatement of deposed judges.

A Bright Light in DarfurA doctor who treats victims of torture

and sexual violence in Sudan's Darfur region received the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Abdallah, a community leader who runs a human rights group in Darfur's capital, was also praised for his efforts to forge peace in the troubled region.

Ahmed's work to bring hope and healing to countless victims was cited as the reason for the award.

Violence erupted in Darfur (western Sudan) in February 2003, when rebels from Darfur's ethnic African Muslims took up arms against the Arab-dominated government.

More than 200,000 people have been killed in the violence, and an estimated 2.5 million civilians have fled to refugee camps in Darfur and neighboring countries.

Dalai Lama officially visits CanadaStephen Harper became the country's

first prime minister to hold formal talks

STEVE EVANS


with the Dalai Lama this fall, in defiance of China's warnings on harming relations. The Dalai Lama said his visit was "non-political." "My main interest or my main commitment is promotion of human value, promotion of religious harmony," he said.

The 72-year-old spiritual leader arrived in Canada on the final stop of a North American tour to promote Tibetan autonomy and the preservation of its Buddhist culture. It was the second-last day of a month-long North American tour for the exiled Tibetan.

The Dalai Lama's visit with Prime Minister Stephen Harper predictably drew the wrath of the Chinese government, which considers the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner a traitor. The meeting with Harper in his Parliament Hill office prompted China to condemn Canada for "disgusting conduct" and "gross interference" in internal Chinese affairs. China has occupied Tibet since invading it in 1950. The Chinese Government is threatening economic sanctions against Canada in response to the meeting between the Dalai Lama and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in India since staging a failed uprising against Chinese rule in 1959. To this day, the Dalai Lama is revered in Tibet, embodying his people's resistance against efforts to suppress their culture, religion and language. While the Dalai Lama did press for Tibetan independence for decades, today at 72, he preaches a moderate "middle way" of "meaningful autonomy" under Chinese sovereignty. In talks with Beijing, his officials have claimed the right to run their own monasteries, to preserve their language, and to have some say over education.

Climate Change Wins Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore

was awarded the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize, sharing it with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - a United Nations network of scientists. The Norwegian Nobel

Global happeninGs

global happenings


Colleen Fox is a third-year New College student

double-majoring in Human Biology and Political

Science.


Committee praised both “for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change.”

The prize lends further credibility to Mr. Gore, who, after releasing his film 'An Inconvenient Truth,' was denounced as alarmist. This film, about the consequences of climate change, later won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Documentary, even though Gore's detractors claim to this day that it presents exaggerated evidence.

The award also served as a validation for the United Nations panel, which was previously vilified by those who disputed the scientific case for a human role in climate change. In New Delhi, Indian climatologist and Chairman of the IPCC, Rajendra K. Pachauri, said that science had won out over skepticism.

In its formal citation, the Nobel committee called Mr. Gore “probably the single individual who has done the most to create greater worldwide understanding of the measures that need to be adopted.” Considered the world’s leading authority on climate change, the 2000-member IPCC was praised by the Nobel committee for creating “an ever-broader informed consensus about the connection between human activities and global warming.”

Canadian vs U.S. DollarFor the first time in over 30 years, the

Canadian dollar is worth more than the American dollar. While the decline of the American dollar bodes well for Canadian consumers hoping for a bargain south of the border, it is also potentially bad news.

Topping the list of reasons for the U.S. dollar’s recent decline is the belief that the American economy has overextended itself. As a country, the U.S. imports more goods than it exports. As individuals, Americans spend more than they earn. This has resulted in a ballooning foreign debt that has multiplied at alarming rates ever since the Bush presidency and the war in Iraq.

With continuing uncertainty over the global economy, China and Japan, the largest holders of U.S. bonds and treasury bills, have signaled an intention to diversify their assets and/or dump the U.S. greenback.

And this is the danger for Canada. As a resource-exporting nation, Canada depends on a stable international financial system based on a stable international currency, which has traditionally been the U.S. dollar. The implication of a declining U.S. dollar has meant that local manufacturing industries are now struggling to survive.

So forget the minor ups and downs of the loonie. Sure, it matters if the Canadian dollar sits at $1.08 (U.S.) or $0.88. But

what matters more is if the U.S. dollar itself is under stress. The key development is not the fact that Canada's dollar closed down slightly from the day before. It is the fact that, relative to the Euro, the U.S. dollar has hit a record low. In a foreboding sign of worse times to come, everyone from sports celebrities to OPEC have started adopting the Euro as their preferred international currency.

A Path for PeacePalestinian Authority President Mahmoud

Abbas said that he believes the path to peace with Israel is now open and that a Palestinian state can be achieved before the end of the Bush administration in January 2009.

Abbas said that an upcoming peace conference in Annapolis, MD, by the end of the year would launch negotiations over core issues in the conflict: the status of Jerusalem, the physical borders of a Palestinian state, the removal of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the fate of Palestinian refugees who left their homes at the time of the 1948 war that established the Israeli state.

The establishment of a Palestinian state would be a major accomplishment for U.S. President George W. Bush at a time when his foreign policy legacy remains in question. The Annapolis conference could be a launching pad for the negotiations that have long been sought.

Abbas' statement comes a day after Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said that Israel is ready to put "all basic questions, all the substantive problems, all the historical questions"about Palestinian statehood on the table.

STEVE EVANS

opinion

Sugar LeaveS Bad TaSTe in The MouTh of ConSuMerS

Sugar is undoubtedly one of the most sought after commodities in the world. Its appealing taste offers a desirable alternative to the blandness of typically nutritional foods; it also provides an often much-needed yet artificial energy boost. From the earliest forms of sugar cultivation, up to the present, working conditions surrounding the extraction of sugarcane have gone almost unchanged. Harsh conditions for workers exist in the most

extreme of ways, characterized by long hours, low wages and a complete lack of benefits. Yet the focus of global concern tends to be based overwhelmingly on the individual health concerns of consumers rather than the workers. Only in recent years has Western society taken an interest in the serious social repercussions of sugar-related cultivation. In doing so, the West has somewhat revealed the poor conditions of sugarcane workers, And the awareness of sugarcane workers can be seen as the result of negative feedback from consumers. Yet, even with the awakening of society, little is being done to correct the conditions that plague the lives of sugarcane workers.

Natalie Krajinovic

In many ways, the workers who actually cultivate, extract, and produce sugarcane products do not reap the monetary results that the owners of sugarcane plantations receive. Thus, they work in the midst of fruitful economic return, without the chance of obtaining any form of it. Consumers in the west, however, are solely concerned with their own independent health issues, not with social issues of the people whose sugar they consume. As a result, the majority

of media attention is still focused on the health related issued surrounding sugar, making the rise of awareness regarding humanitarian concerns a relatively slow one.

In terms of health, sugar is generally attacked for its negative effects on the

developing human body. Dental associations are some of its greates detractors, showcasing only the negative dental aspects of consuming sugar. Particularly in the west, problems of obesity have monopolized mainstream concern. However, even though the reduction of sugar consumption is a constant message in the media, sugar is still one of the most prominent commodities in the global market. It is used in the preparation of most foods through various processes that take away from its natural state. While the direct effect of sugar upon consumers is an outstanding fixture in the media, focus is slowly being directed to the conditions of sugarcane workers. It is only in the past decade that the concern for the physical state of humans was extended to the deteriorating state of the sugarcane workers. Media outlets have begun to take notice of the harsh conditions in which sugar cultivators have to work, which ultimately lead to various health problems not caused by the consumption of sugar, but rather by the extraction of it.

Currently, the world’s largest sugarcane producer is Brazil. Brazil – known for its large gap between a miniscule wealthy population and an overwhelmingly large impoverished population – is a prime target for sugar cultivation. The often undisputed power of wealthy sugarcane corporations leaves few options for their employees. The choice to be employed in the sugarcane industry is typically an unfavourable option for poor populations, yet there is often little choice but to take a job as a sugarcane worker. In doing so, they are forced to work in conditions that foster workers’ rights violations. These

PATRICK BOURY


“Consumers in the west, however, are solely concerned with their own independent health

issues, not with social issues of the people whose sugar they consume.”

harsh conditions lead to health related problems that, in many ways, stem from the process of cultivation itself. Primitive forms of machete use comprise the primary technique of cultivation for individual workers. In addition, sweltering heat and insufficient amounts of food contribute to the poor physical state of sugarcane workers.

Large-scale production of sugarcane is established through incentives given to the wealthy by the government. The Brazilian government exhibits obvious encouragement of sugarcane growth, through such means in order to spark economic growth in general. It is only through grass-roots media attention that sugarcane corporations in Brazil can be revealed as the rights abusers that they are.

Amidst the continuous humanitarian

violations that exist in sugarcane producing countries such as Brazil is the ever present fear of environmental decay. The growing loss of biodiversity due to heavy water irrigation, chemical and pollutant use is yet another side effect of the cultivation of sugar. These environmental concerns are hidden among the economic motivations of sugarcane producers. Environmental deterioration is occurring at a rapid pace, yet due to individual monetary concerns, and the ignorance that exists in societies distant from the direct effects of sugarcane cultivation, there is little to no attention paid to this aspect of sugarcane. The damage to the environment is extensive and, at times, irreversible. Yet, media attention is focused not on this form of environmental damage and instead publicizes more popular types of pollution. The hidden dangers of sugarcane growth are hardly recognized in Western

opinion

“The rapid growth of sugarcane industries points to the reality that their obscene

practices will remain until there is a

large scale social uprising against their

products.”


Natalie Krajinovic is a first-year New College student

majoring in English.


culture, as the repercussions are not of immediate concerns of consumers. Instead, consumers accept – to a wasteful degree – the sugarcane produced, without recognizing the serious consequences in doing so.

Although the ultimate goal is to limit the amount of overall environmental pollution, there should be a wider scope of concern in bringing forth environmental awareness. Within this scope, sugarcane extraction should be paid the attention it requires. The rapid growth of sugarcane industries points to the reality that their obscene practices will remain until there is a large scale social uprising against their products.

Sugar is undoubtedly the single most desired commodity, as it is present in almost everything consumed, in terms of food. However, with the high demand for sugar comes the need for viable methods of obtaining it, and safe cultivation practices do not exist. In order for positive change to occur, there must be governmental regulations to monitor the increasing number of sugar producers. If these restrictions are not in place, and the demand for sugarcane continues to rise, environmental and humanitarian violations will also increase

in number. Consumers possess selfish, autonomous identities as they continue to purchase sugar products without realizing the malevolent events that have taken place in order to supply their needs. The

only way in which societies can become aware of sugarcane corruption is through media attention; it is the responsibility of media outlets, therefore, to uncover the truth behind this modern form of slavery. Although health concerns are of great importance, the individual attitudes of consumers must be altered in order to allow for wider recognition of this truth.

Ignoring the facts of sugar production surely cannot continue. It is only through the education of society that the blatant taste of corrupt sugar can be removed.

PATRICK BOURY

news

DIABETES EPIDEMIC WARRAnTS A DAY OF RECOGnITIOn

On November 14, 2007, the world celebrated the first official World Diabetes Day, which attempts to draw public attention to a chronic and debilitating disease. This year alone, diabetes and its health-related complications will kill the same number of people that die from HIV and AIDS. As the first United Nations observed World Diabetes Day, this day symbolizes the international communities’ growing recognition of the threat diabetes poses to the world.

In 1985, there were an estimated 30 million people with diabetes. Today, the disease affects more than 230 million people – nearly six percent of the world's adult population – and has been labeled as an epidemic by the American Center for Disease Control. Formerly, diabetes had only been thought of as disease affecting affluent countries, but with rising levels of sugar consumption around the globe, it is estimated that by 2025, 80 percent of all new cases will emerge in the developing world.

Diabetes is characterized by a disordered metabolism. The body develops dangerously high levels of sugar in the blood, while the digestive system is unable to produce enough insulin to consume the sugar. There are three types of diabetes with which people can be diagnosed. Diabetes Mellitus type 1 occurs randomly in otherwise healthy individuals, but there are no known measures to prevent acquiring the disease. Diabetes Mellitus type 2 is a chronic, progressive disease that is responsible for 90-95 percent of all new diabetes cases in the world. The rarest form of diabetes is Gestational Diabetes, as it occurs only during pregnancy. Diabetes has no known cure and once diagnosed, individuals will

Steven Thorne

live with the disease for the rest of their lives. It is the staggering growth in type 2

diabetes that has caused concern in the developed world. Previously classified as Adult-Onset diabetes, type 2 diabetes was believed to be confined to the adult population. But with the proliferation of sugary junk food combined with decreasing physical activity, it is childhood obesity that

has driven these large increases in diabetic rates. With a growing proportion of sugar in their diets, children are only eating 50 percent of their daily requirement of vegetables. This decrease in intake of healthy food depletes a young body of vital minerals. The resulting depletion increases the likelihood that children will develop diabetes at a younger age. As this unhealthy lifestyle spreads among children in affluent nations, the already rising percentage of people living

with diabetes will continue to increase.The developing world is faced with the

dual challenge of treating both individuals who acquire diabetes, and feeding individuals who suffer from malnutrition. Indeed, there has been a steady rise in sugar consumption by developing nations, which correlates with the rise of diabetes. But documenting this rise is difficult, as less then half the population who

develop diabetes will be diagnosed, forcing health care providers to estimate the actual number of those who live with diabetes. Furthering complicating the situation, individuals who develop type 1 diabetes in the third world often die before they are diagnosed due to inadequate access to treatment.

But even those who are fortunate enough to receive medical treatment and a diagnosis often encounter obstacles. Most individuals are unable to afford medical assistance, and even those who can afford it pay 25 to 60 percent of the costs out of their own pockets. This predicament forces people in the developing world to choose between receiving life-saving treatment or purchasing food and clothing for their families.

The challenges confronting the global community, as it deals with a growing diabetes epidemic, will

strain societies around the world. In the developed world, failing to respond to the causes and symptoms of diabetes in children will create a generation of diabetes-sufferers. In the developing world, governments are forced to allocate resources among its healthcare challenges – of which diabetes is just one of many. The hope is that through World Diabetes Day, these terrible realities will soon be addressed and ultimately resolved.


Steven Thorne is a fourth-year Woodsworth College student jointly specializing in Political Science and History.

ALEXANDRE DURET-LUTZ


Mexico’s relationship with sugar has become an increasingly vicious cycle. Many of the nation’s people, who are dependent on the sugar industry for income, are developing serious medical conditions due to a high national dependency on sugary goods. Mexico, a nation that profits from the exportation of sugar, is now struggling to meet the increasing costs of health care, which is necessary to combat sugar-related diseases.

Sugar is one of Mexico’s leading industries. According to the Sugar and Alcohol National Bureau (Camara Nacional de la Industry Azucarera y Alcoholera), it employs approximately 2.5 million people and manages the country’s sugar harvest, which occupies over 600 hectares. Mexico’s sugar harvest now occupies twice as much land as traditional harvests such as potatoes and corn.

Just as the sugar crop now dominates the fields of Mexico, the sugary products that it produces are dominating the typical Mexican diet. Over the years, Mexicans have been altering their diets, substituting a traditional diet of corn and beans with sugary alternatives. A government study of income and spending showed that from 1984 to 1998, Mexicans spent 29.3 percent less on fresh produce and 37.2 percent more on soft drinks. As the 6 August 2007 issue of Time Magazine revealed in the article, “We Are What We Eat,” a middle class Mexican family’s typical food budget allocated over 20 percent for soft drinks alone.

Soft drink consumption has increased dramatically as a result of diminishing potable water supplies. According to Mexico’s National Water Commission (Comision Nacional de Agua), approximately 14 million Mexicans did not have residential access to potable water in 1992. It is revealing that the people of Mexico, who generally lack free access to water, are also the world’s leading consumers of Coca-Cola; this is according to the World Health Organization, which states that Mexicans were each drinking more than 400 milliliters of the soft drink per day in 1998. When faced with the choice of purchasing water or soft drinks, they often select the latter, as soft drinks are sweeter and sometimes less expensive than water. Since Mexico’s potable water supply continues to diminish due to poorly regulated industrial practices – often in the sugar industry

itself –soft drink consumption is expected to increase even further.Increased consumption of sugary goods is destroying the health of

the Mexican people. According to Mexico’s 2006 National Public Health Survey, 70% of the nation’s adults are overweight or obese, which makes Mexico the most overweight country in the world. This rate is expected to rise unless the nation’s high-sugar consumption is scaled back.

This increasing rate of obesity poses a major challenge for

“ a middle class Mexican family’s typical food budget allocated

over 20 percent for soft drinks alone...”

The BiTTer effecTs of sugar on Mexico

Laura Elmhirst


PATRICK BOURY

the Mexican government. A growing number of overweight Mexicans are developing medical conditions triggered by this disease such as cardiovascular illnesses, hypertension, and diabetes. According to the Mexican Health Secretary, Jose Cardova, around 6.5 million Mexicans are diabetic, and as the obesity rate continues to rise, this number will likely reach 11 million by 2025. “SUGAR” CONTINUED ON PAGE 25

cover article

Close to Home: Is DIabetes your frIenDly new neIgHbour?

We live in a country that regularly claims to have one of the highest standards of living, and one of the most stable economies. This stability, however, is being tested by several new conditions that increasingly characterize the makeup of our society: inactivity and nutrition – and their relation to socioeconomic status – all of which have become significant contributors to what many are calling the two most alarming threats to public health care: diabetes and obesity. The political and economic implications of diabetes and obesity have become a health problem to be reckoned with, which has taken on monumental proportions, reflected by the increase in health care expenditure: a whopping $9 billion strain on the system.

We often overlook the importance of proper nutrition and diet practices. Particularly concerning is this dietary negligence when coupled with a sedentary

Farheen Shaikh and Harisha Sivalinkam

lifestyle that involves very little physical activity and exercise. It is no surprise, then, that the occurrence of diseases and medical afflictions associated with poor diet and exercise are on the rise. One such disease is Type II Diabetes.

Diabetes is a condition characterized by abnormally high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) resulting from various causes. Diabetes can be a congenitally-acquired condition in which the beta cells in the pancreas (the body’s insulin producing organ) are destroyed in an autoimmune reaction. This is known as Type I diabetes. The patient has to supply the body with an exogenous supply of insulin to meet the body’s needs for glucose; without insulin the cells cannot absorb glucose from the blood stream. Insulin is the key hormone in terms of the absorbtion of glucose, which is an essential energy source.

Alternatively, diabetes can also be a

The political and economic implications of

diabetes and obesity have become a

health problem to be reckoned with, which has taken on monumental

proportions, reflected by the

increase in health care expenditure: a whopping $9 billion strain on the system.

ALEXANDRA TKATCHEVA


ALEXANDRA TKATCHEVA

“Compared to 1995, Toronto has seen a 69% increase in diabetes levels compared

to a predicted 23% by the World Health Organization.”

cover article

10 the toronto globalist december 2007 december 2007 the toronto globalist 11

developed condition that confers resistance to pancreatic beta cells against insulin, effectively limiting insulin from effectively executing its function in cellular glucose absorption; this is commonly referred to as Type II diabetes. Here, the lack of insulin or resistance to insulin causes high blood glucose levels – a condition that can be aggravated by a diet rich in processed foods and sugar. High blood glucose imposes additional strain on kidney filtration, eventually exceeding the kidney’s capacity to reabsorb. This causes frequent urination and the excess outflow of urine also causes excessive thirst. How insulin resistance leads to obesity, however, is a link that is currently unknown.

The Institute for Clinical Evaluation Sciences (ICES) has determined that there are 225,000 Torontonians with diabetes; this is alarming, considering that this number is currently on the rise. Compared to 1995, Toronto has seen a 69% increase in diabetes levels compared to a predicted 23% by the World Health Organization. This is more than double the increase seen within the last twelve years and a cause for concern that demands a re-evaluation of health measures used to tackle what could quickly become an epidemic. ICES’s recent and novel study on diabetes in Toronto neighbourhoods paints a bleak picture: the occurrence of Type II diabetes is most profound in socio-economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods.

This link between the prevalence of

diabetes and certain neighbourhoods has previously not been studied; this study claims that such a localized occurrence of diabetes begs for further analysis and attention on the organization of our neighbourhoods and communities. Such an occurrence, as emphasized by the researchers, is not a causal relationship: low socio-economic status does not cause diabetes. Instead, this relationship is one that is part of a myriad of factors that collectively contribute to the occurrence of diabetes. The interplay of socio-economic status and lifestyle is a classic indicator of the need for a multi-dimensional approach to assessing our current social issues.

The incidence of diabetes, according to the ICES study, is strongly correlated with socio-economic status – a fact which, in turn, determines access to quality resources. The assumption is that those at the bottom of the social hierarchy tend to eat less nutritious food because junk food simply is more affordable and thus accessible to families in precarious financial situations. This problem is evident in restaurants and school cafeterias where healthier foods are priced higher than unhealthy foods. Take, for example, the cost for a bottle of water. Because a bottle of water is more expensive than a carbonated beverage, individuals are more inclined to drink carbonated beverages not simply for its taste but because of its lower price point. It is easy to envision how this “economical” choice can lay the foundation for the future – with approximately 1/3 of a cup of sugar in each

ALEXANDRA TKATCHEVA

ALEXANDRA TKATCHEVA

“The Institute for Clinical Evaluation Sciences (ICES) has

determined that there are 225,000 Torontonians with

diabetes.”

cover article

bi-weekly groceries seems fairly obvious. The alternative to a gym membership then, seems to be a daily routine of a walk around the block. But how realistic is such an alternative when your neighbourhood is not safe?

The solution to these interrelated issues has to come from within our health and social systems. The issue of this rapidly increasing incidence of diabetes in our cities goes beyond threatening the general population’s physical health – it also poses a severe threat to the economy. Obesity places a great strain on our already skeletal health care system as it costs “the health-care system $9 billion annually,” to treat – a number that is only expected to increase. These expenditures cover the cost of diagnostic services and treatment; though many Canadians are in support of public health, they are dismayed at the conditions that characterize our health care system. The high demand of physician and medical services have Canadians facing conditions that are below any reasonable standard of decency, characterized by long wait times and crowded emergency rooms.

Furthermore, the economic impacts of obesity in Canada are staggering, as cost exceeds the current $1.8 billion budget, or 2.4% of all annual health care expenditures for this disease. Additionally, a 2000-2001 survey conducted by Braun and Heal for the Journal of Health Policy and Economics indicates that 3.2 million – or 1 in 10 Canadians – had unmet health care needs, confirming that

diabetes and other preventive diseases in Canada are contributing to a strain on the system that is beyond its limits to withstand. Citizens and policy makers alike should be concerned about the implications of diabetes and obesity, simply because if the problem continues to persist citizens will bear the burden of increased taxation in

order to fund a viable health care system. Therefore, governments have to respond

to this urgent need for reform. We can, however, be optimistic that the government will respond to this growing concern simply because it has intervened in health-related

“Furthermore, the economic impacts

of obesity in Canada are staggering, as cost exceeds the current $1.8 billion

budget, or 2.4% of all annual health care expenditures for this

disease.”


ALEXANDRA TKATCHEVA

ALEXANDRA TKATCHEVA

can of soda, a daily choice like this could easily contribute to the potential onset of diabetes.

In addition, it seems wrong to classify the factors that contribute to a sedentary lifestyle as individual laziness. For many, the problem of incorporating an active lifestyle into their daily routine is not simply a motivation issue – some individuals are motivated to exercise but simply do not have the means to do so. For example, gym memberships can be costly, and the choice between paying $150 for a gym membership vs. allocating $100 for

“... the occurrence of Type II diabetes is most profound in

socio-economically disadvantaged

neighbourhoods. “

bridge the socio-economic disparity. As citizens of this bountiful nation, we should be able to live in and be a part of healthier and safer communities that collectively help shape and define a future that is not a product of current health-related trends.

cover article


Farheen Shaikh is a fourth-year New College student

double-majoring in Human Biology and Biology.

Harisha Sivalinkam is a fourth-year UTSC student

double-majoring in Political Science and History.


issues in the past. One such intervention was the increase of cigarette prices to deter sales as well as placing the public ban on smoking. In addition, they have intervened in injury prevention, such as encouraging bicyclists to wear helmets. In fact, policy makers deserve ample credit for their past efforts. At present, policy officials are making a significant effort to find cost-effective methods of containing costs, in the form of health promotion, public health education, and awareness programs.

But is this enough? In light of the current trends and their implications in the future, more action needs to be taken to effectively control the situation in its early stages.

Governments and policy makers alike must invest time and funding into policy initiatives that place more emphasis on healthy living. This means that the structure of our city needs modifications. City officials must work concurrently with health officials to design healthier cities that promote walking, cycling, rollerblading, and using public transportation, all of which lead to a healthier lifestyle and increased well-being. In addition, governments need to

increase their use of media outlets to further health promotion. The goal is to increase greater awareness about personal health and perhaps encourage those dependent on transportation to consider alternatives such a riding a bike or walking short distances.

Type II diabetes is largely preventive and requires a concerted effort from not only our health professionals, but also our city officials and planners. Sedentary lifestyles and poor nutrition choices established at such a young age are a strong indicator of trends in the future for our generation. Coupled with the societal infrastructure of neighbourhoods that have little opportunity for walk-trails, bicycle lanes, etc, the outlook for obesity and diabetes is one that is unfortunately very promising. This is clearly not the future we want to aspire to. Healthy nutrition can be possible for everyone regardless of affordability; health shouldn’t have to be purchased, it should be fundamentally available for all. Healthy active living should not be restricted by fear of personal safety; there should be increased official intervention to make our neighbourhoods safer and increased efforts to

ALEXANDRA TKATCHEVA

ALEXANDRA TKATCHEVA

“... health shouldn’t have to be purchased, it should be fundamentally available for all.”

photospread


REDPATHthe road to refinement

Amanda Boyce

photospread

december 2007 the toronto globalist 1514 the toronto globalist december 2007

“Ride the subway to Union station and take the streetcar one stop to the end of Bay Street. As you walk along the waterfront you’ll notice a large industrial building at 85 Queens Quay west; that’s us.” So I was told by Richard Feltoe, curator of the Redpath Sugar Museum. Sitting where it has been since 1959, though operating with much more modern technology, the Toronto refinery is also home to a small museum documenting the history of sugar and the links between the Redpath Sugar Company and Canada’s historical development.

Throughout the ages, sugar has been an integral part of the medical and culinary arts. Seen as a social status symbol in Europe, it became an important focus of international trade and policy. However, in the early days of colonization, Canada had to rely on the United States and Europe for expensive, refined “Loaf ” sugar imports. An industrialist named John Redpath, who had

previously been a civil engineer on such important national projects as the Lachine and Rideau canals and Montreal’s Notre Dame Cathedral, seized on this opportunity in 1854, filling the gap in the Canadian market with the “John Redpath Canada Sugar Refinery.” Originally located in Montreal, Quebec, on the banks of the Lachine canal, the company continues to prosper today after having undergone numerous mergers and challenges while being handed down from generation to generation in a family of enterprising men.

Amanda Boyce is a third-year Trinity College student double-majoring in Criminology and Ethics Society & Law.A

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opinion

Bittersweet sugar: environment at risk as Production rises

Sugar – a simple, everyday item considered sweet, delectable, and an undeniable source of pure gratification when consumed. But as we sit in our privileged, first-world homes sipping a cup of sweetened tea, we quickly forget about the not-so-sweet side of sugar. The increased consumption of sugar products over the past few decades has gradually

brought to light the negative environmental impacts of sugar production, which continue to worsen. In a 2005 review entitled Sugar and the Environment, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and CABI-Bioscience reported that, “More than 145 tonnes of sugar (sucrose) is produced per year in 120 countries.” For countries in Asia and Africa, where sugar production is at its peak, there is no question that environmental concerns only add to the existing web of social issues.

As with the cultivation of any crop, the demand for land is of utmost importance. To cater to this demand, a significant amount of land has been cleared resulting in the loss of habitats and biodiversity. According to the WWF’s 2005 review, “Sugarcane plantations in many tropical and sub-tropical countries

Farhana Rahman

have led to perhaps the largest losses of biodiversity caused by any single agricultural product.” In terms of area, approximately ten to fifty percent of land is used for sugarcane plantations. With such a high percentage of land use, there is little question that significant environmental degradation is taking place. Many of us are unaware of this issue.

Habitat loss, however, is not a top priority for environmentalists. In recent times, the development of new technologies and farming techniques has introduced a host of new concerns, especially those related to water and air. The world’s water shortage is at a record high, with agriculture demanding a high percentage of the world’s water supply. Although focused on major development projects to improve sugar production through various irrigation methods, the environmental impacts are too quickly overlooked. Evidence of this is found in the sugar industry in the state of Maharashtra, India where land usage for sugarcane is a mere three percent. While this may not seem like a lot, the amount of water needed to maintain these plantations is truly startling. With the irrigation system used there, consumption is at a high of approximately sixty percent. Sugar plantations are “the greatest consumer of water” according to a 2007 report by the South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers & People. However, the crisis does not end there. Agricultural production coupled with excessive water consumption has resulted in the increase of both water and air pollution. In addition to sugar

According to the World Wildlife Fund’s 2005 Review, Sugar and the Environment, fifteen

countries around the world use between ten and fifty percent of their land area for sugar

cultivation, with seven of these countries cultivating more than fifty percent of the land. These plantations result in a significant decline

in biodiversity, habitats, and arable land, alongside a considerable increase in water

consumption and waste.


Pollution from a sugar factory. JUSTIN C.

it is crucial that all tools, resources, and technologies are implemented efficiently in a collaborative effort to ensure the preservation and sustainability of our environment.

Some action steps have been proposed by the World Wildlife Fund, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and partnering NGOs. However, according to the WWF’s 2005 review, organizations such as the EU Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) and the US Farm Support “encourage overproduction of sugar in rich countries.” With two large organizations from the developed world doing little to address the growing environmental concerns of sugar cultivation, there is no saying how long it will take for sugar production demands to decrease.

So will we remain blind to the effects of sugar production on our environment, or take a stand and provide a solution? We have the means to make a difference. It is simply a matter of converting awareness into action. Only then, can there be hope for this bittersweet issue to become sweet again.

opinion


Farhana Rahman is a first-year New College

student jointly specializing in International Relations

and Peace & Conflict Studies.


plantations, sugar mills also contribute to the processing of sugar. Unfortunately, as the WWF’s 2005 review points out, mills also play a large role in the release of “a tremendous amount of organic matter.” The runoff of these polluted effluents spread into water sources in the surrounding areas, resulting in contamination. Sugar production also contributes to air pollution, which occurs because of ‘pre-harvest cane burning’. Cane burning is done to make cane cutting easier. However, the fires that burn the cane increase the levels of carbon monoxide and ozone in the atmosphere.

For the sugar plantations, the continuous water consumption, intertwined with the use of sugar mills and pre-harvest cane-burning methods, allow for more sugar production. This in turn meets the growing demands of the sugar industry. However, the failure to see past the developmental aspects of these irrigation projects has an unfortunate consequence: water scarcity and contamination, as well as air pollution. Without any direct connection to the cultivation and production of sugar, the ‘privileged few’ of the developed world cannot comprehend the extent to which the environment is affected. The environmental impacts of sugar cultivation and production ultimately concern the people who drink the water and breathe the air. This is where considerable initiatives, such as efficient irrigation methods and effective milling techniques must be taken in order to overcome the issues surrounding water scarcity and contamination.

However, these initiatives cannot be taken without the collective awareness of all involved. On small-scale farms in countries such as Pakistan and Barbados, where farmers are the primary maintainers of sugar plantations, the execution of Better Management Projects (BMPs), which aim to establish environmentally friendly methods of sugar production, is ultimately in the hands of the farmers. But without the necessary education, tools, and resources, farmers cannot be expected to undertake the complete organization of such extensive projects. Instead, a clear dialogue between farmers and organizations with the means to provide the necessary aid must occur. This first step is crucial if any significant change to available resources, facilities, and methods of production is to take place. Whether or not this change occurs will

determine the well-being of the environment.Once a dialogue between farmers

and organizations regarding the various environmental concerns has been established, developing effective methods of production is the next step. There are a number of alternatives. The concept of BMPs is closely related to an ‘eco-friendly’ initiative that deals with farmland planning, where specific areas that consist of ‘riparian zones’ are set out. Riparian zones contain diverse vegetation grown alongside waterways, which act as barriers between land and water. When cultivated, the vegetation aims to conserve water and reduce chemicals flowing into neighbouring bodies of water. WWF’s 2005 review highlights the importance of this method to “[provide] habitat for wildlife, and [influence] water quality and temperature, stream morphology, and ecosystem dynamics.” With restrictions and clear guidelines of land usage, the farmland planning system becomes much more effective in terms of the preservation of natural habitats. This leads to a decrease in the loss of biodiversity. Furthermore, as water shortages during sugar production continue to rise, ecologically aware irrigation systems have been developed to provide for effective use of water. Based on an analysis carried out by Water Use Efficiency (WUE), the ‘drip irrigation system’, which provides water straight to the root of the crop rather than distributing water to unnecessary places, proves to be the most water-efficient and crop-healthy method. Once a substantial amount of water is conserved from agricultural purposes, other water needs, such as cleaner drinking water can be addressed.

With pollution playing such a noxious role in environmental decay, alongside a host of social issues, the need to address these crises has increased in recent years. Sugar mills, which contribute largely to the increased levels of pollution in the atmosphere, must be involved in initiatives to ensure that chemical runoff and effluents are reduced. According to the Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) at the U.S. Department of Energies, “[A] closed-cycle mill would produce virtually no effluent, saving chemical feedstock, energy, and water.” With the implementation of this method, with which no water is taken to the sugar mills, coupled with the reduction of effluent-emissions, it is possible for pollution levels to decrease significantly. Therefore,

Deserted sugarcane mill. RHETT FARRIOR

opinion

The exploiTaTion of Sugar WorkerS: Then and noW

The delectable carbohydrate known as sugar is as equally prized by those with a sweet tooth as it is deplored by dentists and dieters. Whether it be cane or beet, syrup or honey, sugar is the main sweetener used in a wide variety of foods and beverages, from ice cream to Coca-Cola. While everyone can enjoy the sugary benefits of this additive, many of us might overlook its not-so-sweet history.

The sugar cane plant traces back an impressive 8,000 years to the area of Polynesia, where it then spread towards India and China. The Crusaders encountered the cane on their travels, and brought it home to Europe in the 11th century A.D. In 1493, Christopher Columbus introduced sugar to the New World, planting trial crops on the island of Santa Domingo, which is now Haiti. Following this, more sugar-bearing plants were brought to Brazil by the Portuguese, and then from South America to the rest of the Caribbean islands by the Dutch. By the 1800s, the Caribbean region had become the world’s greatest producer of sugar, consumed by the rich and poor alike in jams, candy, coffee, tea, and processed foods. However, the

operation of the sugar plantations required to fulfill this demand were in need of great man-power. This need was met through exploitation in the form of the slave trade, one of the greatest blemishes on human history.

The transatlantic slave trade, lasting from the 16th century to the 19th century, was inexorably linked to the production of sugar. Millions were enslaved, particularly in Africa, and brought over to the New World for the purpose of working on sugar plantations. The voyage itself was treacherous. Slaves were chained together and subjected to disease, exhaustion and famine. Those who

Catherine Tsalikis

were able to make it to their destination faced a life of degradation, hunger, pain and subservience, not to mention the abhorrent working conditions. Slaves were often worked to death because they could be replaced quite easily and readily.

Eventually, abolitionists began to make their voices heard and the outcry against such intolerable treatment of human beings resulted in favourable changes. The Slavery Trade Act was passed in 1807, making it illegal to buy or sell slaves anywhere in the British Empire. Subsequently, the Slavery Abolition Act was created in 1833, outlawing the practice itself and emancipating all the slaves in the Empire. Paradoxically enough, plantation owners in the Caribbean were granted compensation for the loss of their workers, but the slaves themselves received not so much as a pardon for their generations of oppression. Regardless, the abolitionists had won – the cultivation of sugar would have to be done without the blood, sweat and toil of demoralized slaves.

Almost two hundred years later, sugar remains a thriving business. Many

activists claim that the industry is not yet absolved of its dark past, and that the working conditions in the plantations today are akin to those of previous centuries. Can we really say that the exploitation of sugar workers is a thing of the past?

Unfortunately, we cannot. Bill Haney’s documentary, The Price of Sugar, reveals the environment of Haitian farmers working in plantations across the border in the Dominican Republic. The employment conditions of the Haitians are tantamount to slavery – they work fourteen hours a day, seven days a week, while being

paid less than a dollar a day. Even worse, children born in the plantations are not even recognized as Dominican citizens, and therefore have no state to call their own.

These conditions are not unique to the Dominican Republic. For thousands of the world’s sugar workers, the harvesting of sugar cane involves gruelling manual labour, blistering temperatures, and dangerous wildlife. Fortunately, the spirit of the abolitionists lives on in the Fair Trade movement of today. Fair Trade workers, among other activists, work tirelessly to bring just wages, scholarships and health centers to those who deserve them. This is a right and noble cause. While sugar may bring great sweetness to us, the idea of modern day slaves being forced to produce it leaves a sour taste behind. Without supporting Fair Trade and the rights of workers, sugar becomes, quite literally, very difficult to swallow.

“While sugar may bring great sweetness to us, the idea of modern day slaves

being forced to produce it leaves a sour taste behind. ”

Sugar production on street in India. DIMITRY CHATROV

Catherine Tsalikis is a third-year Trinity College student double-majoring in Political

Science and International Relations, with a minor in

French.


news

Blackwater worldwide and Privatized war

On September 16, 2007, a Private Security Detail of Blackwater Worldwide, while accompanying a convoy of United States (US) State Department vehicles, exchanged fire with alleged insurgents at Nisoor Square in Baghdad, Iraq. The event resulted in 41 casualties, including 17 civilian deaths. Iraqi accounts of the incident – such as that of Brigadier-General Abdul-Karim Khalaf – accuse Blackwater of firing “…randomly at citizens…” and killing one Iraqi policeman. The State Department, however, reports that the convoy was under heavy attack from insurgents dressed in civilian and police clothing and returned fire accordingly. An anonymous US military witness has provided a report corroborating the Iraqi story of Blackwater’s actions.

Blackwater Worldwide, formerly known as Blackwater USA, was founded in 1997 by former Navy SEAL Erik Prince. The company provides services ranging from private security to disaster relief and even elite combat training. They have been contracted to perform tasks ranging from training the Naval Sea Commando regiment of Azerbaijan, to rescue missions during Hurricane Katrina, to personal security in Iraq, to guarding radar systems in Japan.

After a short hiatus caused by public backlash about the circumstances surrounding the events on September 16, Blackwater was allowed, on September 22, back into normal operations throughout Iraq due to their perceived necessity in terms of providing protection for US civilians and diplomats.

The Nisoor Square shootings have been labelled “terrorist acts” by Iraqi officials, and have led the Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to call for the United States to end its contract with Blackwater and for Blackwater to pay the families of the victims $8 million each. Charges laid by Iraqi officials carry no weight due to “Order 17” of the Coalitional Provisional Authority led by L. Paul Bremer, which claims that sub-contracted organizations

Nick Dalla Guarda

are immune to Iraqi law. Nevertheless, the US Congress passed a bill on October 4 that makes all organizations such as Blackwater working for the US overseas subject to American law under what is called the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act.

The event is a recent poignant example of the controversy that surrounds Blackwater and the thousands of operatives it contracts to the United States for work in Iraq. Blackwater has been paid over $1 billion USD since 2001 for its contracts, ranging from training to personal security, and each operative costs approximately $445,000.00 per annum – far more than an average member of the United States Armed Forces. And, in addition to what many consider to be exorbitant prices, its conduct – such as in the Nisoor Square shootings – has been repeatedly called into question.

Many of Blackwater’s employees are non-US citizens, which would typically define them as traditional “mercenaries”, and around 60 of its Chilean employees were trained under Augusto Pinochet’s military regime. Moreover, beyond its role in increasing numbers of civilian casualties and in the murder of a personal security guard for the Iraqi vice-president on December 24, 2006, its operatives are currently under investigation for supposedly smuggling arms to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, a Kurdish nationalist group designated as terrorists.

On October 2, 2007, Blackwater founder Erik Prince was at a US Congressional Investigation to account for the events of September 16. New rules for Blackwater’s armed employees require that State Department officials accompany all Blackwater units in and around Baghdad, that video surveillance be installed in their armoured vehicles, and that all radio transmissions be recorded.

Currently Blackwater is facing a US lawsuit from the Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR) on behalf of a few of the victims of September 16.


“BLACKWATER” CONTINUED ON PAGE 21


For Iulia Miu, New Year’s Eve, 2007, was a celebration like no other. Even thousands of miles away in Canada, she could sense the palpable excitement of the street parties across Romania as January 1, 2007, marked the country’s accession, along with Bulgaria, to the European Union’s growing family.

“I was celebrating more about Romania’s entrance to the European Union than the actual New Year,” she said. “It’s definitely one of the most important events in Romania’s history.”

After 17 years of negotiations, the Union took a further step eastward, boosting its membership to 27 with the addition of the two former Communist bloc countries.

“This is a giant chance for the new generation to depend solely on itself and on nobody else,” said President Traian Basescu, addressing a jubilant crowd in

Bucharest’s University Square during an EU-admission celebration. “Entry into the European Union guarantees you the freedom of deciding for yourselves.”

Beyond the sparkl ing bashes

and celebrations, Basescu’s remark ra i ses an important ques t ion : What does EU membership mean to younger generations of Romanians?

Miu, 22, was born in Bucharest. She came to Canada at 17, and is currently pursuing a degree in Developmental Biology at the University of Toronto. She beams with Romanian pride when she talks about her favourite dish, sarmale, a form of cabbage roll, or her love for anything written by Mihai Eminescu.

“He’s our answer to England’s Shakespeare or Germany’s Goethe,” she said.

Miu also avidly supports Romania’s EU membership. “I definitely support it, considering that in the long run, it will benefit the country and the people.”

Miu is not alone in her sentiments. The

people of Romania believe overwhelmingly that their entry to the EU is a positive step.

Mark Laszlo-Herbert, 32, was born in Transylvania, a mixed-ethnic area in Romania. He is of Hungarian and German

heritage. He is working to complete his PhD in European History at the University of Toronto. Although he does not view himself as an ethnic Romanian, he visits the country several times a year and has a keen perception of what EU membership will mean for Romania’s future.

“I see tremendous potential in Romania,” he said. “For the first time you see an enthusiasm and a hope at the level of the population. The hope is alive because they started from so low, as a country with one of Europe’s lowest income per capita and lowest GDP per capita, but they have made great strides.”

With a population of around 22 million, Romania is the EU’s seventh largest member. It is also one of the poorest, with per capita wealth at only one-third of the EU average.

Romania is set to receive € 1.7 billion during their first year after entry. Miu hopes that the generous financial support from the EU will ease the country’s economic problems.

“My biggest hope for Romania is to see less

“My biggest hope for Romania is to see less poverty nationwide.”

Romania and the eU: a new PeRsPective fRom a new GeneRation

Amy Stupavsky




Amy Stupavsky is a fifth-year St. Michael’s College

student specializing in English and majoring in

European Studies.

poverty nationwide. For the wealthier people who live in the cities, it’s not so much of an issue, but the system is poor. At the core of it is a money problem. There’s no real middle class. There is the very rich and the very poor. In small villages and in the country, there is not a lot of money.”

“Romania is doing very well if you compare its progress to its past” said Laszlo-Herbert. “I expect t h a t f o r e i g n i n v e s t m e n t i n R o m a n i a w i l l g r o w tremendously, especially in land.”

His assessment isn’t far from the truth. Bulgaria’s real estate sales already represent some of Europe’s most sought-after properties. Romania’s property market is expected to closely follow suit.

There is widespread hope that EU membership will usher in an era of stability and prosperity to a country once ravaged by one of Eastern Europe’s most vicious Communist regimes and Nicolae Ceausescu.

They are accused by the CCR of sponsoring “…a culture of lawlessness amongst its employees, encouraging them to act in the company’s financial interests at the expense of innocent human life.”

In Iraq today there is much dispute over authority, legitimacy, and rights. Apart from civil war or religious hostilities, as long as the United States is involved in contested

Miu believes membership solidifies Romania’s break with its corrupt Communist past.

“There’s still a lot of corruption in Romania. For example, a doctor will give you better care if there’s a bribe involved. Hopefully now that will change.”

Both Miu and Laszlo-Herbert agree that the biggest change for Romania will be in the mentality of the people. “I think Romanians are going to start to see themselves

differently,” said Miu. “They’re going to feel that other countries know that they exist and that they have a voice.”

Laszlo-Herbert echoes her sentiments exactly. “Romanians are going to realize that they are not just a part of the EU, they are the EU. They can shape the EU as an organization. That’s a tremendous opportunity for the young generation.”

When asked if he would move back to Romania, Laszlo-Herbert didn’t hesitate. “I would move back, if there was a good reason,”

he said. “I see a definite potential in Romania.”While Miu still holds on to her Romanian

identity, she’s found a niche in Canada.“When I first came to Canada, I wrote

a poem about Romania calling me back to it like a mother,” said Miu. “I couldn’t really find my place here. I had a deeper connection to Romania. But in the poem I also wrote that I was still under the same sky and the same moon. Now that I’m beginning to get adjusted [to Canada], I realize that here is as much home as Romania.”

Romania, too, has now found a home in the European Union.

“Romania now belongs to a family of countries that is trying to foster a strong European identity within its member states,” said Laszlo-Herbert. “It’s the first time, I think, that Romania’s had this chance. They will feel like Europeans. Before they felt like outsiders, lost somewhere between the EU and Russia, but now they’re rooted in Europe.”

intervention in Iraq, Blackwater Worldwide will likely maintain its presence there. The US Military is simply not designed for protracted conflict at its current level of involvement in Iraq and, as a result – for better or for worse – Blackwater will always have a job to do.

the PRivatiZation of waR“BLACKWATER” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 19

Nick Dalla Guarda is a second-year New College student double-majoring in Political Science and European Studies

with a minor in Sociology.

“There’s still a lot of corruption in Romania.

For example, a doctor will give you better care if there’s a bribe involved. Hopefully now that will

change."

opinion

Four presidential Foreign policies

Rudy Giuliani The former New York Mayor generally touts two things about himself in his campaign – the “miraculous” turn-around of New York City under his leadership, and his seemingly endless ability to imitate Jack Bauer. The latter is what we can consider the basis for his foreign policy – a Bush-like Manichean world view without the liberal, hard Wilsonian tendencies to democratize other countries. In some ways, the case could be made that Giuliani is a militant realist who has adapted to the 21st century, post-9/11 framework. Giuliani makes it clear in his Foreign Affairs essay that, whether we like it or not, there are a few inalienable truths about the world we’re living in: Islamist fascism (or whichever term tries to describe the extremist, fringe elements of Islam in PC terms) constitutes a grave threat to our current world system and civilization, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are vital to US strategic interests, and the current liberal world order of American hegemony ought to be preserved. So, look for Giuliani’s brand of realism to break ranks with realist Brahmin Lee Hamilton and James Baker by calling for a continued and significant military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. Provided the state of public opinion does not get worse than it already is, it is likely that Giuliani will follow the Petraeus strategy of counter-insurgency for the long haul in Iraq.

At the same time, Giuliani has been asked many times about the threat of a nuclear Iran, and he has repeatedly spoken about using force in a more cautious manner than the current Bush administration. It is likely that Giuliani’s foreign policy will be vigilant and ruthless, but also humble. It will agitate for victory against terrorists who see “defeat as weakness”, but it won’t seek out solutions for more problems than it can handle. Since Giuliani likes the system as it is, he will press for more free trade, more globalization, more covert operations, and less systematic democratization.

Josh Xiong


John McCain If Giuliani is the realist version of George W. Bush, John McCain is the neoconservative Bush never was. This isn’t surprising given that his foreign policy advisors include Max Boot and Bill Kristol. We can see McCain pursuing the same policies in Iraq and Afghanistan as Giuliani and Bush. After all, in the case of the Petraeus counter-insurgency, McCain has been widely credited as its main advocate and the forceful proponent of the Kagan-Keane surge strategy back in 2006. But unlike Bush, McCain will be more prone to managerial caution. He has made it a hallmark of his campaign, and his Foreign Affairs essay, that he will not over-commit to foreign interventions without adequate troop numbers, as the Bush administration did in the case of Iraq in 2003. Contrary to Giuliani, McCain possesses a more cogent framework for his foreign policy: liberal democracy, democratic peace, international capitalism, and American ‘Exceptionalism.’ So McCain’s justification for victory in the war theatre is neoconservative, not realist. While he considers the strategic interests in Iraq vital, he also stresses the need for a successful Iraq reconstruction to buttress the cause of democratization in the Middle East. Indeed, when asked in a presidential debate if McCain would continue the Bush Doctrine of democracy promotion, McCain answered resoundingly in

the affirmative. Moreover, look for McCain to stress his “League of Democracies” to replace the increasingly illegitimate institution of multilateral legitimacy that is the UN. Finally, it is likely that energy policy will be tied to foreign relations. While military strikes on Iranian nuclear reactors are still unlikely in McCain’s case, there is a sense that his emphasis on domestic energy independence, through methods like nuclear fuel, will also extend to multilateral sanctions on weakening Iranian oil production and refining capacity.

opinion


Joshua Xiong is a second-year University College student majoring in International Relations and Economics.


Hillary Clinton Although Hillary and Bill are often contrasted in style and persona, the couple seems to have grown increasingly identical in their political views. The triangulation of Bill Clinton – the deep introspection on issues, the overly cautious approach to foreign conflicts, the uneasy balance between idealism and realism – is likely to rub off on Hillary. Indeed, Hillary is as centrist and neoliberal as they come. She will likely follow the Lugar plan and draw down troops in Iraq in the near future, but keep a small contingency in the country to fight Al-Qaeda and respond to emergency crises. The feasibility of this plan remains to be seen. To accompany this pullout, Hillary will probably engage diplomatically with Syria and Iran in ways the Bush administration has been reluctant to pursue. But despite critical differences with many Republicans on Iraq, Hillary emphasizes disagreements on style, rather than substance, on other issues. In her Foreign Affairs essay, she stresses the importance of a fully reconstructed Afghanistan and a need for better international intelligence, neither of which are substantially different from current Bush administration policies. Though she is critical of Bush era unilateralism and waxes poetically about the need for more investment in multilateralism, her prescriptions look like mirror images of second term Bush initiatives: repairing

UN legitimacy and rebuilding the trans-Atlantic alliance. The only real distinction lies with attitudes towards the Palestinian leadership. Look for Hillary to be more ready to talk to Hamas while strengthening Fatah than the government status quo.

Barack Obama Barack Obama is many things to many people. There was a brief period earlier in 2007 when various neoconservative and hawkish pundits, such as John Podhoretz and Robert Kagan, were speculating about Obama’s PNAC potential in the pages of the Washington Post. Nonetheless, there is much reason to believe Obama’s foreign policy will be sensibly liberal. Like Clinton, he plans to draw down troops from Iraq. Though he tries to distinguish himself from his more moderate counterpart by being more confident in his pullout plans, the exact timing and execution of such a proposal is still very unpredictable. At the same time, Obama will probably recommit the withdrawn troops to Afghanistan and other political theatres. Of course, he will likely face an uphill battle of political will if he is to convince a war weary American public to engage in new operations. One such humanitarian intervention could possibly be Darfur, where Obama, within his Foreign Affairs piece, has considered sending a peacekeeping contingency. Like the rest of his party, Obama will be more willing to talk to rogue states that Bush has purposely ignored: Iran, Syria, and Hamas-led Palestine. But there is a hawkish streak to Obama of which neoconservatives may have accurately caught a glimpse. For one, he has stated that if Pakistan were fully unable

to deal with the Al-Qaeda elements in the country he would unilaterally act to take them out. Moreover, he has talked explicitly about increasing the size of the American military and defense forces to better handle more operations in the world.

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Below is an analysis of four US presidential candidates and their potential foreign policies beginning in 2008.

They include two Republicans, Rudy Giuliani and John McCain, and two Democrats, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

All Foreign Affairs essays referenced below can be found on the Foreign Affairs journal homepage at www.foreignaffairs.org

news

When Stephen Harper made his July tour of South America and the Caribbean –visiting Colombia, Chili, Haiti, and Barbados – he followed close on the heels of another representative of Canada, whose trip made fewer headlines in the Canadian press; the two trips were planned as part of the same initiative, dubbed the “Americas Strategy.” Although Governor General Michaelle Jean’s ten-day visit to Brazil had a different flavour to it than Harper’s trip, the purpose for both was the same: ensure that Canada remains prominent in the race, quietly underway, for free trade with South America. Canada’s resource empire has plenty of competitors in the region.

As commentators noted at the time, Canadian Prime Ministers have a history of interest in the continent, if for merely a season or two. It may be too early to tell whether Harper’s interest will wane, but there are some signals out of Ottawa that the Conservative government considers relations with South American countries a

top priority. At the G8 summit in Germany over the summer, Harper announced that Canada will maintain its engagements in Africa, but will focus anew on the Western Hemisphere. South America is now one of the three “key priorities” – alongside rebuilding Afghanistan, and increasing prominence in the emerging markets of China and India – identified on the Department of Foreign Affairs website.

For her part, Jean was characteristically charming on her trip. She chose Salvador over Brasilia, the capital of Afro-Brazilian culture over the actual capital of the state, for her first stop. “That really helps in connecting,

the Canadian perspective and the Brazilian perspective,” she said. “Starting in Salvador was quite interesting because for them to see a person like me, a black woman, a person of African decent, being in the position of Governor General...speaks highly to the minds and hearts of people. It inspires them a lot, I've heard that so many times.”

It was a strategic move, considering Brazil – with its 120 million people of African descent – contains the largest portion of the worldwide African Diaspora. As the popularity of Brazil’s President, Luiz Inacio Lula, has shown, what Brazilian elites say or feel is, these days, irrelevant – political power is with the masses. When Jean did meet with Lula in Brasilia, she noted the ties that bind Canada and Brazil: filmmaking relationships and academic exchanges, as well as a number of Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) development

projects in the country. And then there’s trade. Canada and Brazil are competitors within a number of sectors, and in the 1990s there were high-profile disputes between the two countries over aerospace contracts and bans on Canadian beef. Jean tried to put that in the past. “There's something really important that's happening right now in Latin America. You have some countries that are really emerging as the new global powers, and Brazil is certainly the leader in that new synergy and new energy in Latin America.” But Brazil’s interests, as a regional power, have at times conflicted with Canada’s own plans for the continent. Perhaps the Prime

Minister’s office felt that a friendly mission was necessary before any talks between Harper and Lula could begin. Ergo, her majesty’s representative dances in Salvador. In his two terms in office, Lula has yet to visit Ottawa, but Jean expects him early next year.

Unlike in many regions, Canada is a major player when it comes to trade with South America, where it is the third-largest foreign investor through a few sectors: oil and gas, hydroelectric, telecommunications, and mining. “Our government wants to ensure that Canadian business has continued access to this growing market,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Maxime Bernier in a speech given to Parliament on October 19, 2007, noting also that the Minister of Natural Resources will play a large role in the trade negotiations currently underway with Peru, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, the 15 Caribbean countries that compose CARICOM, as well as the Central American Four.

Canada’s strongest hold on South America is in mining. Canada’s mining industry in the largest in the world, some even go so far as to call it an empire, but Canada is far from having control over the continent. On his tour, Stephen Harper became fond of calling the hemisphere “our neighbourhood,” but there is a long history of others making the same claim. France

“Canadian interests in Latin America are self-interested interests...

The interest is profit.”

Clash of empires: Why stephen harper didn’t visit Brazil—

and miChaelle Jean did Jade Colbert


JENNY MEALING

news


Jade Colbert is a fifth-year Victoria College student

specializing in English, and majoring in Canadian

Studies, with a minor in Geography.

invented the name ‘Latin America’ in 1860 to assert its dominance there, and remains the second-largest foreign investor in the continent, after the United States. Informed in large part by the Monroe Doctrine of 1823, Roosevelt’s “Good Neighbour” policy marked relations with South America, especially in the creation of the Office of Inter-American Affairs (OIAA) in 1940. The OIAA sent waves of goodwill missions to Brazil between 1940 and 1943, and the affects of its policy on domestic culture were many and far-reaching. If, for example, you are familiar with cartoons of a certain vintage, you may remember Zé Carioca, Brazilian parrot and good friend of Donald Duck.

Today, though, while the United States is recognized as the world’s superpower, South American countries are questioning its neighbourly intentions. A number of U.S. activities – in Iraq, in Guantanamo Bay, and in officially supporting the overthrow of the democratically elected Chavez and Aristid governments – are seen as aggressive, and are immensely unpopular in South America, where a recent Zogby poll of South American elites’ opinion on the United States put the disapproval rate at 86 per cent. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s status as a populist leader, and the riots that greeted President Bush on his recent trip to Brazil are indicative of the current sentiment. A 2006 report by Aon Corporation tracked rising risks to American businesses operating in South America. What is more, the United States has placed a high tariff on a key Brazilian

resource – ethanol. Brazil dominates the world’s ethanol supply, and the United States was the destination for two-thirds of the 3.2 billion litres of ethanol Brazil exported in 2006, yet the United States tariffs Brazilian ethanol at 54 cents per gallon. The tariff is in place in order to assuage the powerful U.S. corn lobby – corn being the more expensive, less efficient base for producing ethanol. If placed on a level playing field with sugar cane – based Brazilian ethanol, corn-based ethanol would not be able to compete. So now ethanol is added to the two countries’ other trade contentions: orange juice, sugar, and cotton among them.

As the Governor General noted while visiting the country, Brazil holds the balance of power in South America. Brazil’s is the fifteenth-largest economy in the world and the country produces 30 per cent of South American output. The country has been flexing its muscle as a regional power of late, forming the Mercosur trade block with Argentina, Paraguay and Uraguay, and contributing 1,200 troops to the peacekeeping mission in Haiti, the command of which it took in 2004. In 2003, Goldman Sachs selected Brazil as one of the four developing countries that will share economic dominance in the world by 2050. Of these four, Brazil has had the slowest growth. Yet, as The Economist noted in 2004, “Unlike China and Russia it is a full-blooded democracy, unlike India it has no serious disputes with its neighbours. It is the only [one] without a nuclear bomb.” Samuel Pinheiro Guimareas, understood to be the chief ideologue in Brazil’s foreign ministry, has been quoted as saying that Brazil will “react to the political initiatives of the hyperpower” by “promoting political alliances with the states of the periphery.” That was the notion underlying the development of Mercosur, which counteracts the pan-American alignment of the Free Trade Agreement of the Americas (FTAA).

According to many analysts, Canada will realign itself along a twofold path. First, the negotiation of bilateral agreements with individual countries in an attempt to isolate the regional power. “You won’t get them with Brazil, but you can get other countries, to try and isolate Brazil,” says Todd Gordon, a Canadian Studies professor at the University of Toronto. The second is the tactic Harper used in his recent trip, often referencing Canada as a “third way” to the development models proposed by the United States and extreme nationalism. This “third way”

will be a tough sell, though. Opponents to Canadian mining developments have been threatened and killed by the paramilitary death squads tied to the Colombian government, for example. “Canadians like to think that Canada is a lot different from the United States, including people on the left. Left nationalism is a very entrenched tradition in Canada, but it’s very unhelpful in understanding the role Canada is playing in the world today,” says Gordon. “Canadian interests in Latin America are self-interested interests…There’s no interest in the impact it has on people and the environment. The interest is profit.” Michaelle Jean might dance in the favelas, but it may be a while before Zé Carioca visits Chilly Beach.

JENNY MEALING

The increasingly large number of Mexicans who have obesity-induced conditions also presents a challenge to the nation’s budget. Cardova expects that the cost of diabetes care, which is currently over 30 percent of the nation’s social services budget, will double every five years. Unless dietary changes are made, this means the country’s social services budget may become overloaded by diabetes-related costs within the next ten years.

Mexico, a nation that has enjoyed both the financially beneficial and the tastefully delicious aspects of sugar, is now experiencing the bitter consequences of this product. Hopefully, an awareness of sugar’s distasteful impacts will motivate the nation to overcome its sweet tooth, and establish a more balanced relationship with sugar.

Laura Elmhirst is a third-year Civil Engineering student.

“SUGAR” CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

a BittersWeet affair

book review

rebirth and rejuvenation:a reaction to david remnick's Lenin's Tomb

I must admit that when I open a book having been told to read it, my approach is entirely different than when I read for leisure. I therefore approached Lenin’s Tomb by David Remnick with a mix of slight disinterest and reluctance. However, his opening – whether intentionally or not – grasped my immediate attention, with its gruesome imagery and cheerless commentary on the Soviet regime and its actions throughout seven decades of communism. It seemed to me that

Remnick’s focus throughout Lenin’s Tomb was twofold; first, it was directed at the concept of communism as a collaborative effort and its ultimate disintegration into often highly spirited individualism. Second, it fell upon a recurring theme of renaissance – a societal and personal rebirth for the citizens of the Soviet Union. Moreover, whereas many speak of the fall of the Soviet Union as having occurred in the early 1990s, Remnick manages to make it seem much more likely that the collapse of co l laborat ion i n t h e U S S R b e g a n m a n y y e a r s e a r l i e r .

He recounts a story told to him by Flora Litvinov, a friend of his, about her son Pavel who, in the early 1950s, was recruited to be an informer by the Timur Society – what Remnick calls the “Bolshevik Cub Scouts” (14) – in order to spy on his parents. This story, while revealing the fabric of society during the Stalinist era, highlights Remnick’s focus, as it shows how easily a society theoretically based on cooperation can become fiercely individualist. Instead of the family unit being cohesive and supportive, the parents are afraid of the child and vice versa.

What struck me most about Flora’s story was the intensity with which the young Pavel was involved in political life – an unwitting

Jonathan Bright

member of what amounts to the secret police, recruited by people he respected in order to spy on people he was supposed to trust. A situation such as that – a veritable Hobson’s Choice – can only be distressing for a child. Furthermore, the government’s willingness to use Pavel and children like him as means to a political end shows its lack of concern for the individual citizen. Remnick captures the moment by simply stating that “Pavel was frightened” (14), an intensely confusing fear that drove Pavel Litvinov to become one of the first truly defiant anti-Communist activists in the Soviet Union.

As a 13-year-old in 1953, Pavel was affected deeply by the death of Stalin, his childhood idol. Less than ten years later, he was reading Solzhenitsyn and releasing confidential information about political prisoners to western journalists. Many years later, Pavel spoke of his ideological shift as “…the experience of waking up after years and years of sleep” (17). It was this kind of renaissance – a rejection of childhood fantasies and misguided ideologies – that began to shape the lives of Russian intellectuals and political thinkers for the last thirty years of the Soviet era.

Throughout my reading of Lenin’s Tomb I was constantly aware of the different ways in which Russians dealt with the Soviet

system – be it defiance, acceptance, complicity, denial, or escape – and it occurred to me on not a few occasions that despi te the Soviet government’s b e s t e f f o r t s t o

maintain the concept of a politically, spiritually, and ethnically homogenous society, it is impossible to unify ten people, not to mention an entire state population. Nina Andreyeva’s support of the regime (77), Aleksandr Yakovlev’s quiet dissent (294), and Anatoly Shcheglov and the Siberian miners’ loud and highly visible strikes (412) were just three ways in which the Russian people reacted to and handled living under the Soviet regime.

Later on in Lenin’s Tomb, Remnick takes a closer look at the theme of renaissance in discussing Aleksandr Yakovlev’s story. His political life began on the battlefields of World War II, fighting – in his own words – “For Stalin! For the Motherland!” (291). By the late 1980s,

“The once-all-powerful hold that the Soviet machine seemed to have over the people of its empire was fatally weakened by a simple

human instinct: the desire to question."

RANDOM HOUSE


book review

however, Yakovlev had rejected Stalinism and, in the process, had become the closest advisor to the General Secretary, Mikhail Gorbachev. Remnick says that “from the moment Gorbachev took power, Yakovlev was an essential, if not lead, player in every progressive idea, policy, or gesture coming from the Kremlin” (296). Despite this, Yakovlev had to be guarded with the terminology he used so as to avoid contradicting his leader. Nevertheless, he was respected as one of the only top-ranking officials whose real intent was an increased d e m o c r a t i z a t i o n and reform of the S o v i e t s y s t e m .

It took people like Yakovlev to speak their mind and to challenge author i ty on an intellectual and rational basis in order to bring around reforms that the Soviet system so desperately needed for years. Instead of u n q u e s t i o n i n g l y towing the party line and accepting its view of a collaborative structure that had all but collapsed, the reformers’ course of action was one of fervent – if somewhat secretive – individualism. The very democratic idea that an individual’s power is as great as he or she wants it to be was what drove these people to defy and to decry the oppressive Soviet regime.

In order to highlight my reactions and responses to Lenin’s Tomb, I have gone into much detail with regards to certain crucial moments


Jonathan Bright is a fourth-year University College student jointly specializing in Political

Science and History.


in Remnick’s account of contemporary Russian history. Each of the cases that I have outlined helps to underline my overall impression of the time period through Remnick’s lens. The story of Pavel Litvinov’s intense fear in the face of two equal pressures underlines many of the reasons why people began to question t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s legitimacy, and Aleksandr Yakovlev’s renaissance is only one of millions experienced by Russians everywhere in the final years of the Soviet era.

Remnick’s account of the Soviet Military Prosecution Officer Aleksandr Tretetsky and his duty for the 19th of August, 1991 – “digging…for…bullet-shattered skulls [and] worm-eaten boots” (3) – serves not only as a reminder of the many atrocities committed by the Soviet regime, but as a metaphor for the cause of the USSR’s ultimate demise. The once-all-powerful hold that the Soviet machine seemed to have over the people of its empire was fatally weakened by a simple human instinct: the desire to question. It was when the Russian people began to ‘dig’ for the truth about the Soviet government

that the proverbial house of cards began to topple. Although the official fall of the USSR was not until September 1991, the façade began to crack and crumble more than thirty years before, when the likes of Pavel Litvinov and Aleksandr Yakovlev began those first few tentative steps towards democracy.

Lenin’s name in Cyrillic GUTTORM FLATAB

exchange piece

The Supra-NaTioNal: GlobaliSaTioN, CorporaTioN, aNd The eu

Recent advances in trade and communication between nations have resulted in a much increased role for international organisations. However, the problems of coordinating these across the entire globe have left the “Bretton Woods institutions” impotent in some areas and out of touch in others. This has created a need for regional supra-national organisations such as the African Union or ASEAN, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The oldest and most powerful of these is the European Union; it is therefore disappointing that, despite some positive developments, the European Union is failing to address the issues which concern it most and is instead often distracted by special interest groups.

The potential benefits of globalisation and closer integration across member states have become obvious in recent years. As economic models predicted, lowering trade barriers has allowed production to move to wherever it can be completed with the fewest resources expended. The cheap mass-produced goods from China that are currently lowering prices throughout the world, and allowing people to live lives of unprecedented material luxury, and the massive production of consumer electronics from Korean giants like Samsung and Daewoo are both examples of this phenomenon. Simultaneously British companies export their goods and services internationally, and banks in the City of London are involved in financial deals around the world. This does not mean that globalisation and free trade should be allowed free reign. The forces of globalisation still have to be monitored, and decisions still need to be made at group rather than individual level. What goods will be traded? How much pollution will we accept? How much inequality will we stand for? These are all decisions that used to be made under domestic policy, but this approach has clearly become inadequate in an era championed by interdependence and geopolitics, as Blair might say.

Countries introducing stronger labour standards in an attempt to improve the

Matt Clasper

welfare of their poorest citizens find production moving elsewhere. This affects both the large and the small; even the mighty German economy has been hit hard. Siemens issued an ultimatum to its employees in 2004: ‘work longer hours for the same pay or your jobs will be relocated

abroad’. The trade in goods and services is increasingly being administered by the World Trade Organisation – agreements such as TRIPS (Trade Related International Property Rights) have affected the use of generic AIDS drugs in Africa and more recently India. Pollution standards are also an increasingly international issue as countries that reduce their carbon emissions could still suffer from climate change brought about by others. If these areas are to be regulated and controlled, they must be done at a higher-than-national level.

The current system in the IMF, the World Bank and the UN is based on a country’s economic power at the end of World War II, and is a meeting solely of representatives from these countries’ treasuries and finance ministries with little public scrutiny. It is therefore unsurprising that these organisations suffer from a lack of understanding of local conditions in many areas of the world, with stories

of reports produced simply by changing the name of one country for another.

The European Union is not perfect. Despite directly electing a Parliament in the second largest democratic process in the world, the EU is not allowed to implement legislation, nor can it accept or reject individual commissioners. The EU consistently spends about 45% of its income on agriculture and rural development. Aside from the cost to consumers and poorer farmers in developing countries, this does not seem to be an area where a strong justification for supra-national action exists; at least, not compared to the environmental arena, which receives less than 3% of the budget.

The EU does have the potential to be a force for improvement. The Lisbon Agenda has begun to present solutions to the problems of engaging with a globalising world whilst retaining control. It pushes for improved human capital, co-ordinated across member states. This will allow strong labour regulation and support for the impoverished in society, in a world where firms can move production abroad with ease. The European Union is also taking steps to reduce pollution, with the emissions trading scheme allowing the market to find the most efficient methods for regulation and reduction. Furthermore, the EU has recently announced that carbon emissions would be cut unilaterally by 20% before 2020.

Many have criticised these initiatives for not going far enough, but they are at least a start. They represent some important areas where the EU can make a difference. The EU does, however need to change its priorities, focusing on areas where collective work is required and leaving the areas in which loosely coordinated action between nations is still effective.

RICARDOMARTINS

MattClasperisatQueens’CollegeatCambridge

UniversitymajoringinEconomics.

28 thetorontoglobalist december2007

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sugar addiction

bittersweet sugar environment

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friendly new neighbour

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