Editorials - Aug. 9, 2024

The ambitious project that France undertook ahead of the Paris Olympics to clean the river Seine is a caveat that the rest of the world should take under advisement. 

 

The Seine may be the darling of tourist photos and is central to the life and culture of the city, but it has been illegal to swim in the river for more than 100 years, after centuries of pollution. Officials have kicked around the idea of cleaning it up since the 1980s, but, until the Olympics bid, nothing concrete was done. France has now spent eight years working on the problem with an ambitious $1.5 billion plan that culminated with ceremonious dips in the river by city and sports officials ahead of the start of the games.

 

Unfortunately, despite the celebrations, a heavy downpour resulted in days of delays for the triathlon test runs and then when the women’s and men’s races finally went ahead, some athletes fell seriously ill. Although the illnesses haven’t categorically been linked to the river, the possibility that the Seine was dirty enough to be the cause resulted in Belgium withdrawing from the mixed relay.

 

If cleaning up centuries of mistreatment of a single waterway takes more than a decade and billions of dollars, solutions to climate change on a global scale are going to take a monumental effort by every country and citizen of this planet. – DS

After calls to turn down the political temperature in the United States after a bonafide assassination attempt, no one, not even the target of that attempt, seems to be heeding the call.

 

An interview with former President Donald Trump as part of the National Association of Black Journalists convention has stirred a lot of pots. First, many were critical of the association to even host Trump, who has, time and again, displayed racist tendencies. Then, veteran journalist Rachel Scott hit Trump with tough questions. He lashed out, calling her line of questioning “rude” and “disgraceful” and then asked aloud if Vice-President Kamala Harris was even Black, returning to the “birther” politics in the vein of asking candidates to produce birth certificates. Some called it disastrous for Trump, which it must have been, as Scott has since faced threats to her life.

 

It’s easy to see this as Trump using a room full of Black journalists not to garner Black support, but to ignite his largely white fanbase, showing them that he’s back, ready to fight and not backing down from dehumanizing language in a room full of those he’s dehumanizing. It’s hard, after all we’ve been through with Trump, to say that, this time, the gloves are off, but, boy... this time, the gloves appear to be off.

 

A combative take on Trump’s famous slogan has pledged to “make racists afraid again”. Trump, in that room, was unafraid - that will ingratiate him to many while infuriating others. A recent poll of Black voters showed 90 per cent willing to vote for Harris over Trump. If Trump doesn’t even try to make peace with Black voters anymore, turning the temperature down could be a concept of the past. – SL 

In Wilmot Township, the atmosphere is charged with intense outrage as the Region of Waterloo’s plan to seize and clear a sprawling 770 acres of rural land has ignited an uproar within the community. This vast swath of land is being designated for conversion into what’s being promoted as a “shovel-ready site.” The Fight for Farmland group, deeply stirred by awful scenes of crops being ruthlessly torn from the earth, has rallied outside a Wilmot Township Council meeting, fervently protesting. 

 

With crops just weeks away from harvest, the destruction not only feels like an extravagant waste, but also an incomprehensible move. The lack of communication from the authorities further fuels the flames of frustration and disillusionment among local residents. 

 

Farmers in the area are in a state of profound outrage, denouncing the action as not only pointless, but a blatant misuse of valuable resources. Some have taken a defiant stance, refusing to partake in the crop destruction, which has forced the region to bring in external labour to carry out the demolition. 

 

The Region of Waterloo insists that this plowing is part of essential due diligence studies. However, many in the community are left scratching their heads, questioning why such drastic measures could not have been delayed just a little longer. The destruction of these crops is viewed as a direct assault on the community, reminiscent of a scorched earth policy. The suspicious silence from Ministers of Rural Affairs and Agriculture only exacerbates the issue, leaving many troubled by the apparent lack of leadership and accountability. 

 

The disregard for land that produces crucial food supplies is a blatant affront to the agricultural community at large. Our leaders owe us a comprehensive explanation for this seemingly reckless and hasty decision. The time for transparency is now. – SBS