What's the best punishment for rapists?

Feminist icon Germaine Greer recently sparked a controversy by suggesting the punishment for rape should be reduced. Today in The Conversation Canada, Lucia Lorenzi of McMaster University takes issue with Greer’s comments, saying she has added “troubling fuel to the fire” around the debate about what should be the appropriate punishments for acts of sexual violence.

Legalized marijuana is only a couple of months away, but there are many unanswered questions on how the rollout will take place. Michael Armstrong of Brock University looks at how each province is prepared – or not prepared – to sell pot to the public.

Vegan businesses are cropping up across the country and Kendra Coulter of Brock University says that’s a laudable development. But she argues vegan businesses should also operate ethically by supporting fair treatment for workers across the production chain, “including the migrant workers whose labour makes so much plant-based food possible.”

And finally…there’s been so much in the news lately about the terrible problem of plastic pollution in our oceans. Max Liboiron of Memorial University writes about research that shows, contrary to conventional wisdom, there are many species of fish that don’t ingest plastic.

Regards,

Scott White

Editor

Today's Featured Articles

Activists protest in Barcelona, Spain on June 21, 2018. A Spanish court triggered a new wave of outrage by granting bail to five men acquitted of gang rape and convicted instead on a lesser felony of sexual abuse, a case that has shocked Spain. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Rethinking the penalties for rape

Lucia Lorenzi, McMaster University

Germaine Greer's recent comments about the punishments for rape show the need for more complex, evidence-based discussions about trauma and the criminal justice system.

Workers produce medical marijuana at Canopy Growth Corporation’s Tweed facility in Smiths Falls, Ont., in February 2018. The company wants a a “greenhouse outlet” to sell its products. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

Provinces prepare to push pot

Michael J. Armstrong, Brock University

Provincially owned cannabis retailers have a lot to do before cannabis goes on sale in Canada on Oct 17.

The commitment of vegan businesses to animal welfare is laudable, but are they being sheep in their labour practices by doing things the old way? Researchers are asking questions about their labour standards and commitment to social justice. (Shutterstock)

It's not business as usual for vegan businesses

Kendra Coulter, Brock University

While the commitment of vegan businesses to animal well-being is laudable, is that where their ethical commitments stop? Are they reproducing bare-minimum labour standards, or aiming higher?

A whale shark moves towards a piece of plastic in the ocean. (Shutterstock)

Not all marine fish eat plastics

Max Liboiron, Memorial University of Newfoundland

If we are truly invested in addressing the issue of marine plastic and offsetting the potential harms, we have to understand which fish eat plastic and which ones don't.

Health + Medicine

Politics

  • Trump isn't the first leader to rattle the world order

    Kelly McFarland, Georgetown University

    NATO leaders meet in Belgium today; many are worried about US President Trump's habit of breaking diplomatic norms. History is filled with other leaders acting bullishly, often with poor results.

Science + Technology