Art in Action, QPIRQ Concordia

Just a short note to mention an up-coming art show that I'm participating in, "ART IN ACTION: Creative student and community contributions related to social and environmental justice." The show runs from Novembers 11-15, 2012 (10am to 8pm) and is located 1455 de Maisonneuve West, 7th floor (métro Guy-Concordia) Montreal.  The vernissage is Sunday, November 11, 5pm-7pm, and if you follow the above link, you can learn all about the various activities running in conjunction with this event over the course of the show.

My contribution to the show is a modest collection of lino-cut prints that I did for a summer drawing class, which I've called "Oh, Canada..."

Punishing participation: the rise of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and Academic freedom

Thought I'd post this invitation to a public lecture, as it might be of some interest...

The Special Individualized Programs of the School of Graduate Studies and

the Department of Geography, Planning and Environment are pleased to present:

Punishing participation: The “reputation” of Canadian mining companies, the rise of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and Academic freedom

A talk by Dr. Alain Deneault (Department of Political Science. Université de Montréal)

Wednesday, April 3, 2012, 1:30-2:30 PM

Sir George Williams Campus, Hall Building, Room H 1269

Corporations increasingly use litigation to suppress criticism by citizens.  Known as Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), these lawsuits also target scholars.  Drawing on the legal sociologies literature and the case of Canadian mining companies, this talk will examine the disciplining effect of SLAPPs on academic freedom and on democracy more broadly. 

Elementary Math: Alberta Oil Sands

I would like someone to explain this for me. From the above fact sheet we learn on the one hand that "almost 136,000 Albertans are employed in Alberta's mining and oil and gas extraction sector."

On the other hand we learn that "about 1,700 First Nations were employed by oil sands explorations - about 10% of the oil sands workforce."

Granted I'm not a mathematician, but based on my calculations 1,700 is 10% of 17,000 and 10% of 136,000 is 13,600.

So which is it - are there only 17,000 people working in this sector - or do First Nations people represent something more like 1.25% of the workforce in this industry?

My rough calculation  of the numbers around First Nations and Metis populations in Alberta suggest that they make up around 10% of the population. Thus, a 10% employment rate in this sector would seem "fair" (despite the fact that the impacts of these projects are arguably disproportionally felt by those living in the relatively remote areas in northern Alberta, frequently First Nations people), so I can see why a 10% employment rate would be a positive number to put forth as say, a goal. But a goal does not a fact make.

Update: I received this link via twitter, on the Labour Market Workforce Stats:  http://woodbuffalo.net/November%202009/upstream-production-oil-san.jpg - it appears that the number of 136,000 posted on the Alberta Oilsands Factsheet may a bit deceiving, as these people might not all be counted as participating in the Oil Sands Workforce, but rather in the entire gas and mining sector (p.s. that's not what the fact sheet is about).

It's that time! Another Federal Election!

I don't know why I love these kind of things, but I do - so here is my first attempt at one. Meme template available here: http://obligatoryharpermeme.blogspot.com/ . Go to it. Make your own, spread the bile.