OVER THE EDGE December 5, 2007-January 9, 2008 Academic Freedom and “Buy Nothing Day’ Nem LETTINGA UNBC inteRFairH CHAPLAINCY The UNBC InterFaith Chaplaincy encouraged stu- dents to participate in “Buy Nothing Day” this past Nov- ember 23. A green-board dis- play proclaimed “Buy Noth- ing Day” in general with the line “encouraged by the interfaith chaplaincy” at the bottom of the board. On the table in front of the chalk- board there were small fliers which included these words: “Buy Nothing Day is a moment to pause and reflect about the relentless con- sumerism our culture often encourages. For some, its focus is largely environment- al. For others, it is a political or psychological statement. We'd like to encourage you to also think of it from a spiritual dimension: * a moment of liberation from the advertising pres- sures that want to define us by our purchases * a moment of recognition — our identities come from God, not from what we buy. Later we received an an- onymous note reading, “No one should be identi- fied by anything except their own actions. God is a cop- out. I support BND. But there is really no need to make it about god. It is appalling to me to see god in the hallways of a school. I will be report- ing this.” This person seems to feel that “God-talk” is offensive and should be banned at UNBC. I think this is a great moment for a conversation. What kinds of words and ideas are permissible at UNBC and what kinds of words and ideas are not per- missible? What motivations can be acknowledged in the halls of UNBC? Presumably it would not raise anyone’s hackles if I suggested that I participate in Buy Nothing Day because I love my mother who was committed to social activism. Does the situation change when someone suggests a re- ligious rather than a familial motivation for participating in BND? How much space are we willing to give people to express motivations that are different than ours? How much of a venue should people have to talk about mo- tivations that we don’t like? Atan educational institution like UNBC many (though not all) ideas are tolerated in the rough and tumble of conver- sation, dialogue and debate. The question is where should that line be drawn? Talking about God as one possible motivation for par- ticipating in BND clearly of- fended an anonymous person. But does that kind of offense mean that such motivations should be censored? Is the university a place in which we not only permit varied motivations, but in which we encourage discussions about what the motivations imply and how they should be articulated? We hope so. The InterFaith Chaplaincy appreciates knowing _ that someone was cross because of the: small connection we made between participating in BND and God. We'd like to talk with them — they pre- ferred to be anonymous. We regret it if they felt we were trying to co-opt. BND. We didn’t mean to. We meant to affirm a variety of mo- tivations for participating in BND — and we share a var- iety of motivations ourselves. But for us, one of those is our perspective on who God is and who God calls humans to be. We would argue that motivations ought to be ex- plored and openly discussed tather than censored. Over the Edge has published ideas, words and images which seem to have offended lots of people. The chaplains have certainly found Over the Edge’s articles rude and abra- sive at times. But we want to be quick to say that this seems normal — even healthy -- for a student newspaper. It forms part of a conversa- tion that ultimately seeks to discover what is appropri- ate, what is right, and what is permissible in a community like our university. It is good to use words carefully — we wish people would do that more. But censoring opinions is a bad idea at a University. Better to debate them, con- test them, and call them into question. If we disagree, let’s talk; let’s not quickly call for a campus censor. 13 Canada needs a stronger military By Anorew MiLLeKeR THE Carition (University oF Reaina) REGINA (CUP) -- A recent study by the Canadian Cen- ter for Policy alternatives shows Canada’s level of military spending is equal what it was at the height of World War II and greater than what it spent on deterrence policies during the Cold War. Current spending is just over $18 billion per year, making its military expenses the sixth highest in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization alliance. Bill Robinson, co-author of the report said, “It doesn’t accord with the general impression the public is given, which is supposedly that we’re not spending all that much on the military.” Why do these statistics seem shocking to us? We are at war, after all, and that costs money. As members of NATO we are bound by international law to use force to support fellow NATO members under attack. If Canada didn’t increase its spending, the country would hardly be globally responsible and that’s something Canadians seem to take pride in. The rea- son for the shock is for the latter half of the 20th century, Can- adians have been relatively without open conflict. As many as two generations have grown up unaccustomed to warfare and what it takes to make a formidable resistance to it. Even if you don’t agree with Canada’s mission in Afghan- istan, increased military spending will only serve to better our peacekeeping efforts in other parts of the world. When Lester B., Pearson envisioned Canada as a peacekeeping nation, Can- ada had a well-funded military with adequate equipment for its time. Before Trudeau systematically destroyed the capacity of our military, Canada actually had a hope of being able to enforce a global standard of behaviour. Now our military lacks even basic transportation resulting in the majority of deaths in Afghanistan due to improvised explosive devices and roadside bombs. Canada faces threats to its economic interests abroad, arctic sovereignty and most of all, the threat of terrorism at home. The country has reached a turning point in its history where we can ask ourselves if we want to be a passive player in the world and let the Americans (whom we seem to be terrified of) protect us, or if we want to come into our own and be truly self-sufficient. An increase in military spending gives us more credibility at the global bargaining table and with our most val- ued trading partners. Diplomacy will only work if the military is able to enforce its agreements. Canada is gradually becoming an economic power, as evi- denced by recent surge of our dollar passing parity with its American counterpart. Canada has a vast amount of land left virtually unprotected and is lucky that have maintained its sovereignty for this long. With both the Russians and Danes moving to make a claim to the North, Canada must be decisive in its handling of hostile situations. With a stronger military it will be able to do just that. Re: Tim | British Columbia: Hortons Epidemic Nigeria North? Press Release from www.dogwoodinitiative.org The video “British Columbia: Nigeria North” documents the oil giant’s ef- forts to turn the Sacred Headwaters basin into a massive coalbed methane field, dividing communities and precipitating protests and arrests among the Well for one thing, an epidemic has to do with a DISEASE not coffee...second of all it’s a Canadian owned company and we as Canadians should support it...and you also forgot to metion that there are also healthy choices at Tim Hortons and a_person can call so order a drink other than coffee!!! Also in my opinion a good reporter should not make fun of other peoples and their daily habits. Although they maybe made up people, it still might apply to someones lifestyle and feel ashamed about themselves. Is that how you want people to know you as? Yes I am aware that coffee is addictive and dounuts are sugary and bad for the health but did it clue into you about that per- sons lifestyle they maybe just stopping in for a snake and later on that day go to the gym? Even though some of the food choices on the Tim Horton’s menu may seem a bit sugery or addictive there are just as many healthy choices. And I am sure if you asked you can find a health chart!!!! I think that you should get your facts right before you right about a cer- tain thing such as this, next|time actually interview someone and find|out their life- style!!! Then make your assumption then, and not 10 minutes before) you have to have this “article” in! Sincerly, Proud Canadian Stikine. Christmas.” treatment of stone. indigenous Tahltan people. According to creation myths of the Haida, Nisga?a, and Tahltan First Nations of BC, the Sacred Headwaters is where the world began. It is also the shared birthplace of three of Canada?s most important salmon rivers: the Skeena, Nass and Dogwood Initiative teamed up with Monty Basset, an award winning docu- mentary filmmaker from Smithers to produce the video. “Monty has been a passionate advocate for the protection of the Sacred Headwaters and Skeena watershed for over 30 years,” says Charles Campbell, Communications Co- ordinator for the Dogwood Initiative. “Monty had total creative control of the project, and his intimate knowledge of the area and issues show through in his work. Dogwood Initiative’s job was to link the video into the larger campaign to keep Shell out of the Sacred Headwaters.” The video was launched last June, after which Dogwood Initiative began promoting it by e-mail to supporters and some press. “We had no budget and little experience,” 5 says Campbell. “We were pretty pleased when we hit 1000 views after a couple of days we never imagined over 100,000 people would watch it by The video has proved an effective campaign tool for Dogwood Initiative.” Shell is worried that increasing numbers of people are beginning to link their the Tahltan people of Northern BC to the fight of Ken Saro Wiwa, who lead a movement opposing Shell in Nigeria.” Remarks Campbell, “They don’t want this to turn into another international issue.” However, it may be too late for that. Dogwood Initiative has already teamed up with such international campaigners as Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and Natural Resources Defence Council to block Shell from drilling in the Sacred Headwaters. Efforts are also underway to translate “British Columbia: Nigeria North” into French, Spanish and Dutch. If Shell is the Goliath of corporations YouTube may be the new sling and British Columbia-Nigeria North? http://whatcounts.com/t?ctl=1 A504EF:0DE2EB4D5BA238ED35217C004 EC4DD07F00033FB7F76608E& Contact: Charles Campbell (250) 370-9930 ext. 22, ccampbell@dogwood- initiative.org. Eric Swanson (250) 370-9930 ext. 27, eswanson@dogwoodinitiative.org DVD quality version of YouTube video “British Columbia-Nigeria North?” available on request.