A critique of media sensationalism

After more than 35 hours on the streets of downtown Toronto this weekend, I've gained a new appreciation for non-violent protest as a critical component of a functional democratic process. The G20 protests have left me more informed, and feeling more secure, about the ability of real, conscientious citizens to express dissent in a powerful and positive way.

Source: BlogTO, 2010

Whenever 10,000 people gather in downtown Toronto to voice opposition to a governance forum of questionable legitimacy (i.e. the G-20), that is first-page news: a hundred banners, thousands of signs, symbols and slogans expressing a common disapproval for the way our democratically-elected leaders make decisions affecting Human Rights, the Environment, and Gender Equality. So Starbucks and a few other stores had windows smashed, after the official protest was over, and by a handful of young men with their own axe to grind. That is second-page news.

Blazing police cars is an eye-catching image, understandably disturbing to many TV viewers without proper context or a perception of the miniscule scale of these acts in relation to the countless acts of peaceful free speech and collective-expression that took place over three days.

It is unsurprising that corporately-owned news agencies would lead their coverage with footage of violence and property destruction, appealing to their viewers' baser natures in a short-sighted clutch for ratings (=> advertising => profits). The corporately-owned news media, those owned (and influenced) by large corporate interests, do not, CAN not be considered independent media, the Free Press which has been a pillar of functional democracies for hundreds of years. Public news agencies, such as CBC News, are governed by a Board of Directors, who are appointed by government (CBC, 2010). In a political climate such as the one we currently have nationally, CBC loses some legitimacy as its direction comes from a government with a weakly held mandate (oh proroguement...)

Far more disturbing than the burning of police cars and smashed storefronts, are the low standards for national media reporting on the protests. Canadians deserve better; we need better if we're to have a truthful understanding of the issues, if we're to be truly politically engaged and continue to enjoy the benefits of a fair and representative democracy.

Whose roads are less safe?

One of the beautiful things about statistics is the way they can put the lie to stereotypes and popular misconceptions. If I were to ask you, which country has safer roads, South Africa a developing country with a shortage of civil engineers and weakly enforced traffic laws, or Canada?

Before you answer, consider this statement from the BBC's coverage of Zenani Mandela's death in a traffic accident on the eve of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

"South Africa has one of the world's worst road safety records, and there are an average of 42 deaths each day on roads across the country."
-BBC, 2010

See how subtly the statement reinforces perceptions of South Africa's inferior road safety next to the rest of the world, using vagaries like "one of the worst" to link Zenani's death to a general malaise of underdevelopment. I wonder whether, after Princess Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris, any journalists were tempted to make the claim "France has one of the world's worst road safety records".

Now, consider the numbers. 42 people per day is equivalent to 15 thousand annually. This represents 1/3 of traffic fatalities in the US, whose population is 6X larger than that of South Africa. This means that there are in fact TWICE as many deaths in the US (and Canada) relative to the population as there are in South Africa. Again...WHOSE country has one of the worst safety records?

I would expect that with the high proportion of pedestrian and bicycle traffic on South Africa's roads, they may in fact be safer for the average traveler than roads in developed countries.

Blessing of the Bicycles

I recently attended one of those sorts of events you just don't come across all that often, and yet, in the city, strange, profound, serene, grotesque things seem to happen with heartbeat regularity. This was one such event, Blessings of the Bicycles at Trinity St. Paul's United Church (and Centre for Faith, Justice and the Arts.) It's a mouthful! But I suppose this is what it takes, or what it means, to be a thriving Christian institution in the Heart of the City. There is some amount of writing about Blessing of the Bicycles to be found on the web, to which I'll refer you. At this time of night, in this state of calm, all I feel the need to set down is a prayer, printed in a sort of bulletin given out to supplement the ritual blessing of my (well actually, my friend's friend's) bike last Sunday.

Prayer of lament, visioning, and petition

Each petition ends with "God of Life",

and you respond: "Hear our prayer."

Let us pray:

Present in a world groadingin under the excesses of consumption,

we give thanks for the simple beauty of the bicycle. God of Life...

Present in a city filled with traffic aggravation, we pray for

victims of road rage and biek theft. We ask to be mindful as we

ride, and we ask to keep calm in the face of aggression.

God of Life...

We now observe a moment of silence for all who have been injured or who have died while riding. (silence...)

God of Life...

Present in a city needing better bike lanes and respectful sharing of the transportation commons, we pray for all those who propose, design, and vote on bike-friendly roadway commons.

God of Life...

Present in a community filled with children and young people, we pray for those learning to ride. Keep them smart, safe, and visible on their neighbourhood roads. Keep drivers mindful and alert for kids on bikes. God of Life...

Present in a world of work, we give thanks for those who build, repair, and clean our bikes and who rely on bikes to earn their living. We pray for prosperity, abundance, and the sharing of skills in the biking community. God of Life...

Present in diverse and beautiful communities, we ask for Your protection and blessing on all who ride: children, elders, homeless folks, students, workers, atheletes, messengers, eco-activists, wellness enthusiasts, enjoyers of riding, and all those take to the streets, bike paths, and parks. Keep us safe as we ride. God of Life...

Blessing

May the road rise to meet you

May the wind be ever at your back

May all your journeying be joyous

May you and your bicycle be held in God's hand.

Amen.

"There is a fire burning over the Earth, taking with it plants and animals, ancient skills and visionary wisdom. At risk is a vast archive of knowledge and expertise, a catalogue of the imagination, an oral and written language composed of the memories of countless elders and healers, warriors, farmers, fishermen, midwives, poets, and saints. In short, the artistic, intellectual, and spiritual expression of the full complexity and diversity of the human experience. Quelling this flame, and rediscovering a new appreciation for the diversity of the human spirit as expressed by culture, is among the central challenges of our times." Wade Davis, 2009 Massey Lectures

Parsing a "No-Nonsense" Guide to Globalization

Having followed the "globalization" phenomenon for more than ten years, and TA'd a course on the topic, I've started to form an opinion... (yes, just one) that "globalization" should be renamed. Am I asking too much? Here's the trouble, the descriptor "globalization" is simply too general. It could apply equally to any number of global trends, from arts to culture to micro-finance, and yes, to the insidious creep of Western-style capitalism.

I'd suggest a different label, something like "global homogenization and cross-cultural exploitation" as a more accurate label for the cultural and economic trends currently encompassed by "globalization". Not as catchy, but also not prone to linking greater global interconnectedness with the exclusively negative outcomes associated with economic and cultural hegemony.

The danger I see is that if "globalization" is the problem, then "localization" pops out as the apparent solution. Trends towards increased global awareness and interconnectedness are not inherently a problem. However, the superficial concept of "globalization" leads to an apparently obvious panacea of "going local". Yes, re-localizing is part of the solution to global homogenization and foreign exploitation, but so equally is global awareness and interconnectedness. Peter Dicken has written an excellent text book on globally-integrated economies. I highly recommend it as a complement to the No-Nonsense Guide.

Kudos to students at the U. of Waterloo for continued creative activism in the struggle to build climate awareness.

music for the coming holocaust

this is beautiful... what a joy it would be to work on a project like this.