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Probably every Canadian remembers the horrific disaster in Lac-Mégantic in the summer of 2013. Especially shocking were the images of a town literally in flames after a train hauling oil crashed in the heart of the small Québec community and incinerated it.
Today in The Conversation Canada, we’ve got a disturbing warning from Bruce Campbell, a professor of environmental studies at York University, who wrote a book about the tragedy: more disasters like Lac-Mégantic and devastating airplane crashes involving the Boeing 737 Max 8 likely loom on the horizon. That’s because of the erosion of regulations in both the United States and Canada over the past decade in the aerospace and railway industries. Cutting red tape, lowering costs and pleasing investors has taken precedence over safety, and there’s no evidence the trend is reversing any time soon.
Also today:
All the best.
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In this March 2019 photo, rescuers work at the scene of an Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max crash south of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Deregulation is playing a role in transportation disasters.
AP Photo/Mulugeta Ayene
Bruce Campbell, York University, Canada
High-profile rail and aerospace disasters of recent years have been the deadly consequence of the systematic erosion of safety precautions due to deregulation.
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Pedestrians wear protective masks as they walk in Toronto in late January 2020.
THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn
Peter Hall, University of Waterloo
We have a strong tendency to overreact emotionally and underreact behaviourally to news of infectious diseases.
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The carbon cost of beef is about 20 times more per gram of protein than it is for beans.
(Shutterstock)
Kathleen Kevany, Dalhousie University
Plant-rich diets can help tackle the climate crisis, prevent disease and improve mental health.
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Writing cards, notes and love letters contributes to well-being and happiness.
(Shutterstock)
Hetty Roessingh, University of Calgary
Handwritten letters enhance relationships among people of all ages, and help children become empowered and inspired through the power of the pen.
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La militante végane Élizabeth Viola tient une pancarte durant une manifestation à Montréal. Le mouvement est diversifié dans ses actions mais prône la même idée: un refus de normaliser la consommation de produits animaliers.
Shutterstock
Alexia Renard, Université de Montréal
Le mouvement végane est multiple mais il converge vers une idée : un refus de normaliser la consommation de produits animaliers et l'exploitation des animaux.
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Health + Medicine
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Frederick Cohan, Wesleyan University; Kathleen Sagarin, Wesleyan University; Kelly Mei, Wesleyan University
Some of the world's worst diseases have come from animals. Bats, cows, camels and horses have all contributed. Now, scientists are working to know which animal introduced the new coronavirus.
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Science + Technology
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David James Robertson, University of Strathclyde ; Alice Towler, UNSW; Jet Sanders, London School of Economics and Political Science; Robin Kramer, University of Lincoln
Forget Halloween masks: these things let you become a whole new person.
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Politics
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Gabrielle Lynch, University of Warwick
Moi’s financial generosity, skills in the vernacular, frequent tours of the countryside, and excellent memory for names and faces kept him popular with many.
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