Should the ignorant be urged to vote?

Should the ignorant be urged to vote? Declining voter turnout (voter apathy) is worrying since it reduces the legitimacy of democratic outcomes. But a growing number of Canadians (60%, in 2007) now don`t understand how our parliamentary democracy works. Also, more people respond emotionally to (and vote based on) slogans, misinformation, and fear-mongering than actually spending the time to analyze facts and make rational decisions. So...should these people be encouraged to vote? Do we really want a government elected by people who were only harassed to "do their civic duty" but who know little of the actual issues?

(or does this point to the need to increase public education and awareness of issues?)

Are corporate tax cuts helping societies?

Are tax cuts for corporations helping societies as a whole?

The reasoning behind corporate tax cuts is to give businesses a boost so that they can hire more workers and reduce unemployment.

But, according to a leading US economist, Jeffery Sachs, corporate tax-cuts largely create negative effects on society (reduces govn't revenue that reduces healthcare/education/social welfare funding).

Countries are now caught in a "negative-sum game", each trying to lower their corporate taxes more than other countries to attract businesses, but in doing so each is spending less and less on education/healthcare/social welfare/etc.

Sachs thinks this is atrocious, what do you think?
-YY

"I've done enough!"

Unfortunately, this is one of the main reasons why many companies today support "green week" or "green day" or "earth hour"...

This is something to watch out for - that striving to be sustainable in one thing doesn't turn into a feel-good excuse for society/companies/etc to be unsustainable in everything else.

When the future of society is at stake, there is no such thing as "enough".

(From Yan Y)

Growing number of patient complaints - a symptom of something worse?

"A sign of discontent with Canada's health system is the growing number of complaints made from patients to Alberta MDs about unsatisfactory healthcare experiences. What is also alarming is that the College, when it does pay attention to the complaints, does not appear to address the root causes of the problem (the possible flaws in the medical system itself). Rather, a short-sighted "band-aid" approach has been used to temporarily put out the fire, which may lead to more complaints. With the Health Accord expiring in 2014 and federal elections around the corner, Alberta's issue may be signal Canadians to push for a re-structuring of the medical system that reflects patient-centered care that acknowledges and uses the valuable feedback from patients to improve care."

(From Mike Y)

First ever ISH issue (March 28th, 2010)

Happy belated 1st birthday, ISH!

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It Starts Here 1 - March 28th, 2010

Dear all,

As mentioned, I will be experimenting wish a newsletter format, basically, once a week, I sent out something with capped 3 articles or whatnot to cover the best news. If you have anything to submit to me, please let me know, this is subject to grow! For those not present at yesterday's meeting, this newsletter is a crude means of keeping us (people who are doing about something about the world's problems) in touch.

Fact of the week: CRT Monitors (the big computer screens) contain lead in their glass screen to counter the radiation the device emits

Innovation of the week: Lifestraw, stick it into any body of water, and it will filter out 99% of the nasties in there. Only costs $3 a pop, a savior in the developing world where 1 million die annually due to the lack of clean drinking water:
http://www.vestergaard-frandsen.com/lifestraw.htm

LOCAL
Queen's solar project: QBACC and AMS Sustainability office are heading up this campaign. QBACC will do direct action and AMS will encourage administration to file the RFPs. If you want information on this, or to get involved, please talk to Yan, Kenneth or Myself.

GLOBAL
South Korean Warship Sunk: North Korea is suspected, but this has not been officially state yet by the South Korean government. North Korea has threatened to Nuke any country that makes a move on it. Worries grow due to Kim Jung-Il's failing health. His death could lead to a power vacuum, destabilizing the country, and potentially putting the Nukes into the wrong hands
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/South+Korea+resumes+hunt+missing+warship+sinking/2736561/story.html

HANDS ON
Build a rocket stove: A highly effective method of cooking using just twigs. These stoves just need twigs to run, and emit fewer particulates into their environment. Good for conserving fuel at home while cooking, or for the developing world where thousands of people succumb to lung disease as a result of burning coal bricks indoors to cook.
How to: http://boingboing.net/2008/06/26/rocket-stoves-use-tw.html

Yours in action,
Mark

First North Pole Ozone Hole Forming?

Get your sunscreen on this summer! Sadly, the first-ever ozone hole in the North Pole is forming! Apparently, as the lowest-layer of the atmosphere (the troposphere) warms (due to increased greenhouse gas content), higher atmospheric layers (the stratosphere, containing our protective ozone) cools, enhancing the effect of ozone-destructive chemicals like CFCs....thus leading to this mammoth hole that may stretch as far south as New York. 

Link from Cody O

How the G-20 can prevent a food crisis

A well written, extremely ambitious and concise outline of an impending food crisis. The only problem is, it doesn't address how we are going to co-operate more effectively internationally, when each country has its own geopolitical worries regarding this issue to bear in mind. 
What strategies do you think should be employed to facilitate international cooperation in tackling the global food crisis?

From Ralph Y.