Big Pharma is a Big Polluter

When listing off the industries that are major sources of greenhouse gas emissions, where would you put Big Pharma? Well, today in The Conversation Canada, Lotfi Belkhir of McMaster University writes about his research on the carbon footprint of the pharma sector. In terms of emission intensity, the pharmaceutical industry is far from green and produced more pollution than the automotive sector.

Tucked away in the recent Ontario budget were changes to legislation that will restrict people’s ability to sue the provincial government. Legal scholar Erika Chamberlain of Western University explains why the changes will make it more difficult to bring systemic injustice to the public eye.

Michael Mindzak of Brock University looks at another recent move by the Ontario government – changes to the educational system that will lead to fewer teaching positions. He writes that most people assume teaching is a stable occupation when in fact there is “an enormous labour force of educators and education workers who largely function on the margins as precarious workers.

And finally…what do you really know about George Soros? He’s become a favourite target of the far right. Iga Mergler and Neil McLaughlin of McMaster University look at how anti-Semitic conspiracy theories about the Hungarian-American philanthropist are spreading around the world – including here in Canada.

Regards,

Scott White

Editor

Today's Featured Articles

Greenhouse gas emissions from pharmaceutical companies need to be better monitored and regulated. (Shutterstock)

Big Pharma emits more greenhouse gases than the automotive industry

Lotfi Belkhir, McMaster University

The first study to assess the carbon footprint of the pharmaceutical industry finds that it is far from green.

Ontario budget provisions aiming to limit Crown liability would also apply retroactively, thereby extinguishing existing lawsuits, including a class action by juvenile inmates who were placed in solitary confinement. Ye Jinghan/Unsplash

Ontario government seeking to insulate itself from lawsuits

Erika Chamberlain, Western University

Proposed new legislation in Ontario will make it much harder to sue the provincial government for its negligence or bad faith.

Beneath the typical full-time, permanent model of classroom teaching lies an enormous workforce of educators who function on the margins as precarious workers. (Shutterstock)

Precarious employment in education impacts workers, families and students

Michael Mindzak, Brock University

Front-line workers employed both inside and outside of the classroom are an integral part of schooling, yet we deny their work conditions are relevant to quality education.

One of the more destructive conspiracy theories paints Hungarian-American philanthropist George Soros as the puppet master of a vast left-wing and globalist elite. (AP Photo Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Scapegoating George Soros: How media-savvy far-right activists spread lies

Iga Mergler, McMaster University; Neil McLaughlin, McMaster University

Media-savvy, far right-wing activists in the U.S., Hungary and Poland spread white nationalist politics using paranoid Soros conspiracy theories. This new global extremism is coming to Canada.

La Conversation Canada

Un militaire français à Tombouctou. Un règlement du conflit malien à court et moyen terme est aujourd'hui hors de propos, tant la logique militaire a pris le dessus sur une approche de résolution politique des différends. Shutterstock

Interventions étrangères: l'échec afghan se répète-t-il au Mali ?

Arthur Stein, Université de Montréal

Les pays intervenants ont peu appris de leurs erreurs. Leur appui fréquent à des groupes armés non-étatiques exacerbent les tensions interethniques et intercommunautaires.

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  • The American GI in WWII, uncensored

    Edward Gitre, Virginia Tech

    An unprecedented survey of US GIs that began in 1941, preserved on microfilm, provides a raw and uncensored story of average Americans grappling with both national ideals and practical necessities.