Open Space: It’s not as easy as just giving

Events like the World Day of Giving portray that things are changing for the better. You know, as though the world is becoming a better place because people from countries around the world are making small donations to help those in need. I’m a little skeptical. Isn’t this just a Band-Aid? Think about it: sitting […]

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Open Space: Canada’s future in our hands, not looking good

What does it mean to be Canadian? If you’ve ever asked yourself that question and thought about it, I’m betting you found there’s no good answer. Individually, it’s hard to define what my identity is as a Canadian. Pancakes? Beavers? Maple syrup? Economically, Canada is the globe’s resource prostitute: it’s always there, ready to provide, […]

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Open Space: United Canada or American takeover

Quebec is one of my favourite provinces. It’s our country’s leading example of passion and Frenchness, two things I love deeply. Whether it’s through cultural preservation, students protesting tuition costs, or general indignation about goodness knows what, Quebec represents much of our nation’s vivre and spirit. It’s a riot! However, sometimes we err in thinking […]

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Open Space: The naked truth

I went to my first nudist parade last year. It was a naked bike ride in Victoria protesting carbon gas emissions… at least I think that’s what it was for. The truth is, I just thought yelling in front of our government legislature completely nude was a great idea, no matter what it was for. […]

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Open Space: Gay Shame not all rainbows

This year, in a haze of rainbow flags and sparkly confetti, I participated in my very first gay pride parade. With a big smile and a multicoloured parasol, I hid my urge to vomit while waving to all the people lining the streets enthralled in the extravagant floats and outrageous costumes. I was uncomfortable, and […]

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Open Space: Rape: a part of our heritage

In Canada, we often hear “rape culture” defined as something that’s a problem only in countries abroad. But a few weeks ago major headlines began to tackle this touchy issue when student organizers at St. Mary’s and the University of British Columbia were called out for their welcome chants with lyrics that promoted non-consensual, underage […]

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Open Space: E-waste poisoning e-workers

With the advent of electronic devices, our life has become more and more convenient. For example, because of smartphones, we don’t have to remember a lot of information. To enjoy the convenience of electronic devices, we replace our electronic products more and more often. But what we do we do with the old ones? Some […]

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Open Space: Canada’s commercial flight scene dismal

Have you ever noticed how Canada has absolutely no decent commercial airlines? First of all, it seems more than half the staff on Air Canada flights are old enough to be my grandmother and have probably been working there since the company started. Though, I have to give it to them, making it through countless […]

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Anti-injection site article spews venom, misses point

An article in The Calgary Herald by Licia Corbella on July 26, “Vancouver’s easy drug access may have helped kill Monteith,” linking the death of Glee star Cory Monteith to a safe injection site in Vancouver, was as disturbing as it was ridiculous. On the one hand, lazy writing should be against the law, but […]

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Open Space: Buying local foods has many rewards

Let’s stop destroying our world, the local market, and our bodies: it’s time to focus on eating local foods. Yes, it’s very hard to resist going to large corporate stores such as Wal-Mart, Costco, and Safeway, because it’s cheaper and more convenient than buying local. Most students are tied to budgets, but how many students […]

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