Future-Proof – Future-Proof Development

STOP the Wolf Cull in Western Canada: Re-visiting Human-centric Development

Many of us may consider ‘development’ to be a human problem consisting of economic issues and focusing on economic growth. But what about the environment? If academics and policymakers continue to frame ‘development’ as human-centric, we risk severe consequences. Let’s consider the current wolf cull in Western Canada, specifically in British Columbia and Alberta. It is completely legal, encouraged and funded by the provincial governments to slaughter wolves in Western Canada through methods such as poisoning and shooting these animals from helicopters. The reasoning behind this cull is that the wolf populations are apparently causing a decline in caribou populations in these areas. Research tells us that this reasoning is inaccurate and highlights the issues that arise with ignoring the environmental dimensions of ‘development’.

Police Brutality in Kenya: A Deadlier Threat Than COVID-19?

Dozens of protests against police brutality emerged across major American cities in 2020. These protests have evolved in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, which gained momentum with the murder of George Floyd. Yet, these protests have long existed in other parts of the world. People in Kenya, for instance, have been fighting against similar injustices for decades. These uprisings have gathered a growing following and have united with the Black Lives Matter movement in the United States. In Nairobi, hundreds of people have taken to the streets to condemn the brutal acts of violence inflicted by the police. However, this conflict has been accentuated and simultaneously side-swept by a new, headline-dominating threat: The Coronavirus pandemic.

Brazil: The Return of Colonialism

The impacts of colonialism are still felt around the world. For the most part, the descendants of colonizers occupy the wealthier (formerly ‘Mother’) nations and settler states, while the areas that were historically exploited persist in their struggle to overcome poverty and underdevelopment. Within settler states, minority populations—such as racialized communities, immigrants, migrant workers, and Indigenous Peoples—face obstacles that stem from colonialism. In the Americas, racism and discrimination against native populations are particularly prevalent. Some countries, such as Canada, have only recently taken steps towards reconciliation in an effort to acknowledge and address a dark history of oppression and forced assimilation tactics. Despite criticism that efforts towards reconciliation can be slow, the overarching goal is to ensure that the worst of colonialism is in the past. Other countries, however, appear to be regressing, rather than moving forward. Since the inauguration of current Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro (2019-present), many of Brazil’s policies that affect the Indigenous Peoples of the Amazon have been more reflective of a return of colonialism—unbridled and blatant in the 21st century.

A Future Clean Energy System

Anthropogenic climate change is one of the most pressing issues driving transformational change in the 21st century. In 2015, the United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals including Goal 13 which aims to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.

Community and COVID: Tackling the pandemic from the grassroots level

After almost a year, COVID-19 still has a significant impact on our lives. In Canada, the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Quebec and Ontario have recorded some of their highest case numbers in the past month. Globally, COVID-19 cases have almost hit 50 million at the time of writing. With rising misinformation and a second wave well underway, it is clear that we must take a critical look at the global COVID-19 response.

Women’s Empowerment in Saudi Arabia: Free at Last?

On June 24, 2018, worldwide headlines shared the news of Saudi Arabia’s lifted ban on female drivers. However, some of the most influential Saudi Arabian women’s rights activists could not be found celebrating; they were instead, behind bars. In a gross violation of human rights, Saudi Arabian leaders authorized the imprisonment of a multitude of activists prior to the implementation of the new driving laws. This secondary narrative demonstrates the corruption that still exists in this country: those who dare to defy the monarchy are exposed to continued restrictions on their human rights.

Economy before equality: China’s Uighur Population Ignored in COVID-19 Response

In 2014, the BBC revealed that the Chinese government had initiated a mass persecution and detention of the Uighur minority in Xinjiang in April 2013. The Uighurs act as an ethnically, culturally, religiously, and economically independent group in China, where the majority of population is ethnically Han Chinese. Religiously, the Uighurs adhere to Islam, while ethnically, they are more comparable to that of Turkish customs and traditions. This has caused strong linguistic, cultural, and religious divisions between the Uighurs and Han Chinese.

Revisiting Social Democracy: Imagining a Different World As a Response to COVID-19

COVID-19 caught the world by surprise at the end of 2019. With now over four million cases globally, the short-term consequences are far-reaching and profoundly negative. Both the containment and treatment of this disease are extremely dependent on the individual rather than using government-enforced preventative measures to stop the virus from spreading (at least in the West).

Thailand’s Fishing Industry: Caught in the Net of Human Trafficking

In March 2018, the deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Chatchai Sarikulya, sent special teams to survey and arrest offenders, who were committing human trafficking crimes in the fishing sector. Thai and non-Thai vessels were investigated for violating the fishing labour laws, and 50 cases were prosecuted. After this unusual event, the Thai police announced they were determined to continue surveying sea vessels to stop the illegal labour practices occurring in the fishing industry.

The Cape Town Drought – Looking Beyond the Lack of Water

When a crisis hits, it is crucial to shine a light upon the various factors that led to the issue, exacerbated its impacts, and hindered its resolution. An insightful example of this is the Cape Town water crisis in South Africa, which received a lot of media attention in 2017 and 2018. The crisis was so pressing at the time, it was anticipated that Cape Town would run their water reservoirs completely dry.