This week on Open Sources Guelph, we’re back to our regularly scheduled program and what a program! As we start the new decade, we’ve got one crisis seemingly averted (for now) in the Middle East, and another crisis that’s seemingly being ignored in Australia. In matters that are not crisis-like, but still pressing, we’re going to talk about the start of the Weinstein trial, and the latest on the pipeline fight in British Columbia.
This Thursday, January 9, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:
The Warring 20s. Starting off the decade on a dark and ominous note, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, the most powerful military leader in Iran. The reasons why are nebulous, and the lack of justification is concerning, but the Iran counterattack seemed to go out of its way to avoid American casualties, so has this concerning moment about another Middle East war now passed, or has it just paused?
Damned Down Under. A constant specter in the news the last month has been the unrelenting wildfires in Australia that have had a literal choking effect across the continent and is even turning the skies in New Zealand a sickly orange. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is struggling to respond, even as people are attacking him for not just his initial inaction, but his climate change denialism too. Meanwhile, first responders are struggling to not just keep the fire contained, but get the resources they need to keep up the struggle. Are we ignoring this crisis too easily?
Blight Court. Disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein finally got his day (or days) in court starting this past Monday as jury selection for his trial got underway. Immediately, Weinstein’s attorneys started issuing complaints about not getting a fair trial, but Weinstein’s numerous victims have been waiting for years to see their alleged abuser exposed and facing justice in a system that Weinstein exploited to his benefit. Is this the last chapter for Weinstein, and where does #MeToo go next?
Eviction Opus. The Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs have been pushing back against Coastal GasLink, who are building a pipeline on their traditional territory. It was this time last year that there were arrests on site to stop the First Nation from interfering with the project, but even after another court ruling saying that they have to allow Coastal GasLink proceed with construction, the Wet’suwet’en are still fighting to get their voices heard. Are we listening?
Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.
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