The Amazon rainforest is burning, right now. In fact, about 12 football fields worth of rainforest will have burned by the time you’re done reading this article. By 2020, the entire rainforest will be gone if action isn’t taken immediately. Over 75,000 wildfires are currently burning in Brazil, with around[Read More…]
Commentary
Use your own words
As classes begin anew, the term ‘fake news’ has re-entered the vocabulary of many liberal arts students and professors alike. Even in legitimate contexts—such as calling out doctored journalism or describing viral conspiracy theories—the use of the term is deplorable. Over the past few years, arguments have been made for[Read More…]
Bill 21: Impractical on paper and in practice
Bill 21, a law enacted by the Quebec government that prohibits public sector employees from wearing visible religious symbols, caused public outrage by disproportionately affecting religious minorities such as Muslims, Jews, and Sikhs. Introduced this past May, there was no shortage of speculation concerning how problematic the implementation of this[Read More…]
It’s time to end the era of wasteful and overpriced textbooks
The beginning of each school year is a time of fresh excitement and a newfound enthusiasm to study for many students. This inevitably leads to either furiously stalking Facebook Marketplace for a specific set of textbooks, or giving up and waiting in line at Le James or Paragraphe. No matter[Read More…]
Frosh sends troubling messages about drinking culture
Following a significant backlash in past years regarding the toxic nature of many Canadian Frosh weeks, McGill has made attempts to improve the experiences of incoming students. Frosh coordinators across faculties have, in consultation with staff and the administration, implemented new policies that seem to have improved student well-being and[Read More…]
Remembering McGill’s past to progress its future
With the new school year starting, many students prepare to fall back into their routines on McGill’s campus. Among the new classes and experiences to be had, many look forward to a fresh start in the Fall semester. While it may be tempting to leave the issues of last year[Read More…]
Suffering in silence: The media’s neglect of the Sudan massacre
On April 15, every news channel blared with the breaking story about the fire that damaged the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Within days, 900 million euros in donations were pledged, at least $500 million from notable billionaires, to help rebuild the cathedral. The media has the capacity to spread[Read More…]
Missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls deserve justice, not language debates
On June 3, the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG) released its final report. The volume, which is over 1000 pages long, concludes that Canada’s treatment of Indigenous people amounts to genocide and requires immediate action. Since the findings were released, much of the surrounding[Read More…]
Canada’s plastic ban could intensify the climate crisis
A week prior to declaring a national climate emergency, the federal government announced a ban on single-use plastics starting in 2021. While bans like this aid in protecting aquatic ecosystems and improving sustainability, they may serve more as a distraction than an effective solution. Announcing a state of emergency serves[Read More…]
In defense of spending the summer outside Montreal
In the weeks leading up to the end of the Winter semester, many students field questions regarding their summer plans and the answers often only come after long months of searching for the right job or internship. As in every city, a long list of factors can influence where Montreal[Read More…]