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Wednesday Night Salon
#1311 18 Apr 2007 Page 2
Introduction
Harry Mayerovitch R.I.P.
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On the Wednesday closest to the third anniversary of Comrade Harry's death on Friday, April 16, 2004, his characteristic tweed hat sat on the table in front of his empty chair to remind us of the Sage of Wednesday Night who contributed so much wit and wisdom to these gatherings. As Derek Drummond wrote for the memorial held at Victoria Hall: "he was always perceptive, passionate, provocative and playful". His death came in the early hours of his ninety-fourth birthday, some 36 hours after his last appearance at Wednesday Night.
- Had Harry been here, he would have said that he always feels like dying after Wednesday Night
OWN Awards
Kimon Valaskakis and André Pasternac, who were absent for the induction ceremony on February 21, were officially inducted as 2007/25th anniversary members of the Order of Wednesday Night. Peter Trent read the following citations:
Ambassador Kimon Valaskakis
In recognition of your important contribution to maintaining the quality of discourse of Wednesday Night in the traditions of The Akademeia, reminding participants that the roots of Democracy are to be found in the Greek language and culture, and your skillful injection of international and global considerations into topics of more local – even mundane – character
By these presents we do appoint you Honoured Companion and Global Governor of said Order and authorize you to hold and enjoy the dignity of such appointment together with membership in the said Order and all privileges thereunto pertaining
André Pasternac, M.D.
In recognition of your adherence to the principles of the Wednesday Night debate, your consistently outstanding contribution of facts, figures and personal experience related to the practice of medicine and more especially cardiology, combined with your high level of interest in and support to discussions of international developments, and your loyal commitment to the health and well-being of fellow Wednesday Nighters
By these presents we do appoint you Honoured Companion of said Order and Custodian of the Heart of Wednesday Night and authorize you to hold and enjoy the dignity of such appointment together with membership in the said Order and all privileges thereunto pertaining
Global Governance – the School of Athens
The Club of Athens has evolved into the School of Athens. In addition to holding a series of conferences and being a think tank, there is now a plan to make it a physical monument to Hellenism in Athens. The New School of Athens will serve as a school of management of globalization with emphasis on concrete strategies, workable solutions and positive outcomes – "not just a think tank, but a 'do' tank where working strategies can be taught and a world government in the style of the European Union - as opposed to the United Nations* - can be born, to implement the strategies. Funding for the project from governments has been insufficient to bring it to life, but large private foundations have the capacity and increasingly, the will to bring this plan closer to reality.
[*: Some 541 politicians, academics and business leaders from Europe and around the world have signed an appeal for the creation of a UN parliamentary assembly to overcome the "democratic deficit" in global affairs and give citizens a bigger voice. ... The Israeli peace campaigner Shimri Zameret said ... "On global warming, it has become obvious that without some sort of global democracy, it will be impossible to solve this problem." /world/politics/]
Climate change revisited
The lengthening, brightening post-equinox April days appear to favour the physical reawakening of hibernating beasts and reflective reawakening of humans. The winter, though not severe in this part of the world, has borne witness to the deterioration of the habitat of both. Although there is still some debate on whether climate change is merely a continuation of the great ice-age meltdown, or whether, if some humans profit from it other humans have the right to interfere, there is increasing acceptance of its existence and danger to life on earth. Conflicting hypotheses concerning melting ice abound. Think tanks have discussed the issue and increasingly recognize its importance but the time for discussion with little action is rapidly running out.
It is questionable whether the world can afford to await the organization of world government that might have the capacity to put us on the road to effective measures. The only glimmer of hope is the measures that some countries have already initiated, particularly in Europe and significantly, to some extent, in China. It is interesting that, although as Canadians, we have chided the United States for not signing the Kyoto protocol, the initiatives in that country, at the state and municipal levels, have by far, exceeded measures taken at any level of government in our country.
- It's not about Kyoto, it's about what we are doing about climate change
- At the government level it comes down to creating a climate of policy certainty so businesses can get ahead of the curve and take advantage of the economic opportunities
- Some parts of the world will benefit from climate change (warming)
- What is the social responsibility for the people who will suffer?
[Editor's note,: On Earth Day, April 22, Mayor Bloomberg unveiled a wide-ranging plan including 127 projects, regulations and innovations for New York and the region. The plan is intended to foster steady population growth, with the city expected to gain about 1 million residents by 2030, and to put in place a host of environmentally sensitive measures that would reduce the greenhouse gases it generates. tinyurl.com/3an72v]
Al Gore's climate change "boot camp"
Al Gore's goal is to train 1 000 (mainly) Americans who will help to spread the truth about climate change by presenting the slideshow of An Inconvenient truth to a minimum of 10 different audiences each year. Désirée McGraw was one of a handful of Canadians who attended the sixth training session in Nashville last week.
Few people appreciate that it took 18 years to develop the slideshow and one of the interesting aspects of the training was to see the evolution of the presentation along with the science, while hearing Mr. Gore's personal anecdotes.
Désirée is translating the presentation to French and will also be adjusting its focus to take into account that most people in Québec are quite convinced that climate change is happening, but now want to hear solutions. She has already received a number of requests for presentations locally.
- The one problem I had with the film was that after presenting a detailed apocalyptic vision of the effects of climate change, only in the very last minutes were there any solutions proposed, such as changing incandescent for fluorescent light bulbs – I found this a total disconnect
Reflections on the Virginia Polytechnic Institute slaughter
The cruelty of the Crusades, the Armenian genocide, as well as many equivalent but almost forgotten historical human tragedies, appear to pale in our minds in contrast to random killing of students or the pointless killing of close to two hundred people in Baghdad or even the “partial birth” abortion issue in the United States. It is estimated that close to a half million Iraqi civilians have been killed during the current conflict. In addition to the increased literacy of the world’s population, the ubiquitous nature of digital cameras and the rapidity with which news of human torture and death is disseminated throughout most of the world provides the appearance of deteriorating civilization and hopelessness.
- I couldn't help but think back to October 3 1990 when 2 or 3 million people celebrated the fall of the Berlin Wall in front of the Brandenburg Gates – it was such an optimistic moment in history. I cannot think of a more pessimistic moment in my entire life than the time we are living through right now
- With instant communications we have become desensitized to horror. There is no time to reflect and thus our ethics and moral compass are being lost – the way we find light is to turn off the TV and the Internet
[Editor's note: David Mitchell, who had posed the question: "if something happens and a TV camera was not there, did it really happen?" subsequently forwarded the following, unfortunately without attribution, for our consideration: "… what we saw at Virginia Tech was just a concentrated node of a larger, nationwide killing spree that goes on day after day in the USA. Eighty thousand Americans take a bullet from a handgun in any year. Thirty thousand die. That's one thousand shooting deaths off-camera for each victim at Virginia Tech."]
The right to possess firearms
Whether it is the fact of, or the rapid reporting of human-induced death that has jogged the conscience of the western world, the enigma of the desire to possess firearms, especially on this continent, stands out. Those supporting the possessions of firearms claim it as a right, apparently offering very little support for their argument other than the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America (written in the 18th century when muskets were the arms of the day and no revolvers or semi-automatic firearms existed) or the ability to kill those who would kill us. Those who would ban guns except for the military and police point out that although knives, automobiles and other potential weapons can kill, it is only guns that are manufactured solely for that purpose. In addition, guns offer the killer the advantage of the capacity to kill rapidly, effectively and at a distance, enhancing the ability to remain anonymous, as well as being less distasteful and safer than manual slaughter with an instrument, possibly not intended for that purpose. Those who point to murders by firearms in Canada despite the existence of an expensive gun registry ignore or consider insignificant data indicating that the number of per capita gun-induced deaths in the United States is five times greater than in Canada. Gun control, while useful in controlling gang violence and some crime is not, however, the solution to rampages by crazy persons. Bombs made of readily available household products can kill as many or more than did the VPI murderer.
Some blame the entertainment media for presenting violent films and video games without showing the consequences of violence. This is a possible explanation but if so, one must also accept that in these presentations even the good guys frequently act violently even when not engaged in killing scenes.
- While the NRA argues that gun control infringes on civil liberties, think about the schools with metal detectors, the museums and public places no longer open to the public without security measures
- We worry about crazy people with guns – what happens when there are high-tech crazy people with high-tech weapons
- There's rarely a negative consequence for the good guys in Hollywood films; in Japanese films violence is always portrayed alongside drastic consequences for the good guys
The Charest Cabinet
Prime Minister Charest has announced the first balanced-gender cabinet in North American history and the appointment of the first black female Cabinet Minister (Yolande James). News that Monique Jérôme-Forget will serve as both Minister of Finance and Chairman of the Treasury Board has been greeted with enthusiasm. Health Minister Couillard’s continuing acceptance of that portfolio will provide the Charest government with the capacity to ameliorate what appears to be a sagging health care system. However, the reduction of Anglo representation to one and the continuing exclusion of Pierre Paradis mitigate the general applause.
Selection of candidates
In a parliamentary democracy there is an inference that with an occasional exception, seats are held by people residing in the riding. However, it appears to have become the custom for Prime Ministers and party leaders to assign their personal choice of representative in what is considered a safe riding, regardless of that candidate’s place of residence. While not necessarily universally unhappy about the quality of candidates so imposed in their area, Westmounters show signs of dissatisfaction with the process and [curiously] would prefer to exercise their democratic right to select a candidate representing their personal choice rather than that of the leader of the political party that they support. Rumour has it that Stéphane Dion has reserved 6 "safe" ridings for appointed candidates, four of whom would be women. Informal canvassing indicates that there are several competent candidates-in-waiting in Westmount who would infinitely prefer an open nomination process that would allow for discussion and debate. As it seems less and less likely that the writ will be dropped before summer, is there anything that the citizens can do to provoke such a process?
Healthcare
In health, introducing a human gene into the safflower plant to produce insulin opens the door to an eventual medical cure for diabetes in humans. Health care professionals are now thinking in terms of inducing people to live healthier while young, thus minimizing very expensive treatment at the end of their lives.
Radio
Like the report of Mark Twain's death, reports of the death of radio –at least FM – are greatly exaggerated.
Ségolène Royal
The meeting of the socialist candidate for the presidency of France, Ségolène Royal, with André Boisclair has caused yet another France-Québec dust-up, and one that has been reported widely. It has afforded Jean Charest the opportunity to tell the world that the future of Québec will not be decided beyond our borders, but more significantly, the incident has highlighted an unfortunate series of gaffes on international matters by this otherwise attractive candidate. However, reports from friends in France indicate a feeling that matters are spiralling out of control and the governing UMP party candidate, Nicolas Sarkozy, is much more likely to impose control. Offsetting that is that the Conservative candidate represents a more pro-Atlantic viewpoint, which is unpopular in much of France. [non wvent]
The presidential race in the U.S.
In the United States, despite Barack Obama’s current popularity, and depending on the choice of Republican candidates, some Wednesday-Nighters see Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton being nominated over Obama, however others believe that the U.S. may not be ready to elect a woman, while still others believe that Senator Clinton has made too many enemies, perhaps by being too strong.
Private clinics and Québec healthcare
It is unfortunate that the Québec health care system which is excellent in quality, lacks adequate access. The failure of the government to provide timely access to the system has led to a small but expanding number of private clinics, which, if left unchecked, will ultimately erode the public system. It is to be hoped that the message will become clear to the government and that steps will be taken to provide us with the accessible, quality medical care that we expect, deserve and pay for. It is indispensable that we learn how to harness ideas and practices from the private system to make the public sector work better (something that the McGill Faculty of Management is addressing). Patient-centered collective bargaining would contribute to an efficient system. There is much to be learned from both the British and Australian systems. MediCare
Canadian dollar is expected to decline against its U.S. counterpart.
The economy
See also JACQUES CLEMENT: Pages ON THE ECONOMY
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