Earth on its way for Eco 'crunch'

Globally known, the world will eventually "overpopulate." Studies from the Global Footprint Network shows that overpopulation or ecological debtors will lead to a world where natural resources will not be available to all. Ecological Debtors are those who consume or overuse lands and resources to satisfy their own needs. A member of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) states that by 2030, the needs must extend to another planet in order to appease the average's "ecological footprint." A footprint is essentially the amount of Earth's land and sea needed to provide the resources used by a person. On Earth, the available amount of hectares per person is 2.1. Canada alone requires 7.83 hectares per person.

Not only does an overpopulation affect the daily needs of an average human, lack of resources will influnce stocks and the economy as a whole. An ecological recession will evidently devastate the world as resources and lands will become scarce and little. For example, international president of WWF, Emeka Anyaoku,claims that more than 2 trillion dollars lost on stocks and shares was raised to 4.5 trillion dollars worth of resources destroyed forever each year.Such dangerously potential futures must be countered and actions done in order to prevent an ecological downfall.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7696197.stm

When to use Aspirin?

As it is commonly known, aspirin is used for decreasing the risk of coronary artery disease, heart attacks and strokes by about 25%. As a result, those with diabetes believed to have a great chance of having a stroke and heart attack, take these pills hoping to minize the chances. However, these pills have their bad side. Study leader Professor Jill Belch, from University of Dundee, said aspirin was infamous cause of hospital admission for gastrointestinal bleeding. In addition, study showed that those who have not already had a heart attack or stroke and take aspirin, does nothing to the chances of disease. "We need to think again about using it for primary prevention." Unfortunately, aspirin's characteristics is overviewed by many and thousands buy it over counters. Judy O'Sullivan, a British Heart Foundation cardiac nurse, concludes:"This study adds weight to the evidence that aspirin should not be prescribed to prevent disease of the heart and circulation to people with diabetes, and other high risk groups, who do not already have symptoms of the disease."

Evidently, many people believe that aspirin is beneficial and hardly do they realize that there are severe effects. For instance, those who have diabetes fear a stroke or heart attack thus taking aspirin, yet they do not neccessarily have the disease. As a result, they eventually get gastrointestinal bleeding, a common cause for admission to hospital. Should there not be a stronger warning? I believe that the studies found should be told to the doctors as so they can ensure that patients especially with diabetes are aware and conscious of the dangers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7673587.stm

Dion's Signficant Loss and Harper's minority

On October 14, 2008, Stephane Dion expierenced the most pressing defeat in history
by the Conservatives who were led by Stephen Harper. The dramatic diffence in the loss of seats compared to the previous elections, may eliminate Dion and cause him to step down from his position. Already, the Liberals are planning to prepare a vote for Dion's step down. Dion's losses were due to his lack of insight in his decisions to improve the economy. In addition, the Quebecers did not appreciate Dion from previous years of John Chretien. However, Harper is not in a perfect position despite his win. Steven Harper had not recieved a majority mandate and may face troublesome times if other parties confront Harper's minority government

Clearly, Harper's win in the election will not keep him smiling for too long. As Harper has only achieved a minority government, trouble may find him fighting for his seat once again. As a minority government, Dion and Jack Layton have the chance of beginning of a coalition. One wrong move by Harper will possibly start a coalition and remove him from his seat he happily recieved. It is to my belief, that regardless of Harper's actions, Dion will find a chance to strike back at the Conservatives.

http://www.thestar.com/federalelection/article/517641

A "new" listeriosis outbreak at Maple Leaf Plant

The massive cleanup assigned to prevent the listeriosis outbreak seems to have been rendered useless. The re-opening and tight inspection of the foods seem to be flawed, as there is "new" listeriosis at the Maple Leaf Plant. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency states that there have been 4 samples tested positive out of thousands of samples. Already, listeriosis has killed 20 people worldwide. The plant was originally closed on August 20, until it re-opened on September 17. Fortunately, no products were sold to the public. With information that only 4 products were tested positive out of five thousand, the company and Canadian Food Inspection Agency will withhold the distribution of products, quarantine related products and improve their sanitation efforts.

It is fortunate that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency carries out their jobs respectfully. Without the help of this agency, another major outbreak of listeriosis could have devasted the society resulting in an addition of deaths. As a citizen of Canada, the Maple Leaf Plant was expected to have improved their sanitation and meat products. Their actions of nearly allowing yet another outbreak of listeriosis products may completely lose the society's trust for any of meat products sold in Canada. It is apparent the consumation and business of meats will slide down in Canada drastically.




http://www.healthzone.ca/health/article/514585

Man charged in bus slaying to go in trial

In late July, Mr. McLean,a young carnival worker was stabbed to death and his head severed, a second-degree murder by Vincent Li. The murder took place on a Greyhound bus in Alberta when Mr. Li suddenly stood up and began attacking Mr. McLean. “If someone commits an offence while suffering a disease of the mind and they don't know their actions are wrong, they can't be held criminally responsible," said defence lawyer Allan Libman. To ensure that Mr. Li is indeed mentally ill, Mr. Li has been co-operating with doctors and consenting to treatment. Although there will be results on his mental state of mind, details of the psychiatric assessment will not be released as it may violate Mr. Li's rights. A trial is soon expected on November 6. If he is criminally responsible, he would receive treatment and be instituionalized. Clearly upset with the news, Mr. McLean's family is suing Greyhound, the federal government, and Mr. Li


Does the fault truly lie in the man with a diseased mind who had no intention to kill? Although Mr. Li may be one of the many victims to murder others upon the mental state of mind, any murder relating to the reason of mental illness should be punished accordingly. The excuse of mental illness gives no rights to kill an innocent person. If Mr. Li was to have been charged falsely, this instance is essentially showing that anyone with mental issues are legal to murder anyone by "accident." It would be only right for Mr. Li to be placed in an asylum under watch for the same amount of time that should be done in a prison.







http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20081006.wgreyhoundtrial1006/BNStory/National/home?cid=al_gam_mostview

Court extends driving ban to seven years

Two young men who have killed a taxi driver while speeding, avoids jailtime after the Ontario Court of Appeal rejected the Crown's attempt to overturn their conditional sentences. Although the two 20 year olds will not do time in jail, they will have to spend the rest of their sentences under house arrest. In addition, they will be banned from driving for 7 years. Originally, in March 2007, Justice John Moore sentenced each to a year of house arrest and curfew and two years of probation. The decision was the fuel to a fiercesome uproar from the public as the decision was extremely looked down upon. This was because the victim was an immigrant of Pakistan and was about to become a citizen when he was killed the night of Jan 24, 2006. Moreover, his family, would be living without a father or husband.


The fact that two teens can evade jail time with the actions of murder is simply wrong and unjust. Their actions have affected the victim's family severely and set an example to the society's teens that actions such as theirs can be let off. Rather than house arrest, these teens should do their respective time in jail instead of becoming "conditioned." Such decisions from the court raises the question, would the teens have been let off if they had killed a pregnant women rather than an innocent man?





http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/510928