March 1, 2010
Supervised injection sites work—but the feds still don’t get it
The evidence in favour of safe-injection sites is overwhelming, but the federal government appears determined to shut Insite down. Despite ongoing efforts by the Harper government to shut it down, Insite, the Vancouver-based supervised-injection site, is alive and thriving, with over 10,000 registered users and around 800 daily visitors. To Mark Townsend, an Insite representative, it’s a success... [More >>]
February 24, 2010
Review: Dr. Bonnie Henry’s Soap and Water & Common Sense
As the world prepares for H1N1’s much-touted fall resurgence, Dr. Bonnie Henry’s approachable, non-technical guide to flu preparedness fails to deliver on its promise, offering neither protection nor peace of mind. Readers in search of preventative measures won’t find much insight beyond the obvious: wash your hands. True to her title, Dr. Henry, the director of Public Health Emergency Management... [More >>]
February 16, 2010
Midwifery is ready for delivery, but mainstream public health lags
Providing midwifery in a public health system presents challenges, but they're worth it. Creative Commons photo by Flickr user limaoscarjuliet. In March 2009, Nova Scotia became the seventh province to incorporate midwifery into the public health care system. Instead of paying and arranging for the service privately, residents now have it covered and regulated by the provincial government. Midwifery... [More >>]
January 27, 2010
Banned at home, Canada continues exporting deadly asbestos worldwide
Microscopic image of Asbestos. Despite being banned here, Canada remains the West's biggest exporter of the deadly mineral. Over the past two decades, Canada has spent millions stripping asbestos from the walls and ceilings of schools, the Parliament Buildings, and hospitals. The national outcry against asbestos has led to some government restrictions on its use and production, causing many Canadians... [More >>]
December 1, 2009
“Give a Day” campaign makes fighting HIV-AIDS all in a day’s work
Dr. Jane Philpott, founder of the Give a Day to World AIDS campaign. Photo by Molly Crealock. One day’s salary might not mean much to most of us, but to Dr. Jane Philpott, founder of the Give a Day to World AIDS campaign, it might be just enough to save a life. In 2004, the Markham, Ont.-based family physician gave a presentation to her colleagues about the AIDS epidemic. Knowing that she couldn’t... [More >>]
November 19, 2009
Progressive Detective: Am I socially obligated to get the flu shot?
As an elderly person, Santa was fast-tracked for the H1N1 shot. Dear Progressive Detective: I’m afraid of needles. Is it okay if I skip my flu shot? Sorry, but in the Progressive Detective’s opinion, belonephobia, the fear of needles, is no excuse for skipping this oh-so-important vaccination. The obvious reason for getting it is to avoid illness. While it’s easy to scoff at the flu, it’s... [More >>]
November 12, 2009
Support small farms and get tastier cheese — Legalize Raw Milk
Unpasteurized milk is better, argues outlaw milk farm Michael Schmidt, and he’s willing to go all the way to the supreme court to prove it Despite numerous guilty verdicts, rogue milk farmer Michael Schmidt will not back down. He will not pay the $55,000 in fines, and he won’t cease selling his illegal product. “It will go to the next level,” he explains in his thick German accent. “Appeal... [More >>]
November 11, 2009
Crack down on organized crime and save addicts — Legalize Hard Drugs
The misbegotten “War on Drugs” has funnelled billions into the pockets of criminals, and drug use is higher than ever. We’re addicted to policy failure — time to kick the habit Shortly after Vancouver was named the host of the 2010 Olympics, Naomi Klein was seething about injustice again. “The Vancouver-Whistler Olympic bid presented the province of British Columbia as a model... [More >>]
November 9, 2009
Fix the health care system and end suffering — Legalize Suicide
Dying is the one thing that unites us all, yet we do it so badly. Allow us to die on our own terms Dying was so straightforward a few generations ago, or so it seems in gauzy retrospect. We stayed home, surrounded by supportive family; the doctor dropped by and perhaps prescribed some morphine, but usually there wasn’t much else he could do. Soon enough, we died peacefully. These days, we’re more... [More >>]
October 28, 2009
The anti-vaccination movement: just the latest battle in the “Science Wars”
Why are so many radicals rejecting science as a right-wing conspiracy—and embracing irrationality instead? [This article originally appeared in the May-June 2004 issue of This.] Why are so many progressives rejecting science as a vast right-wing conspiracy? Illustration by Dominic Bugatto. If you’ve spent any time in activist circles recently, you’ve probably noticed the rise of the anti-vaccination... [More >>]
