Market externalities of Canadian mining operations

 1.      Human rights violation. Canadian mining companies operate their mines outside Canada and are accused of human rights violations. External actors often influence the absence of adequate mining laws, especially in South America, causing violent deaths and severe injuries to mineworkers. For example, 5,000 persons will be displaced by the activities of Gran Colombia Gold. In addition, there is disregard for the rights of indigenous and tribal peoples. These companies' attitudes are like those of the colonial era. They are only concerned about earning money, with no space for human rights. The Canadian Government needs to make some strict laws and implement them to fix this problem. In the long run, this attitude will cause human migration towards North America. 

2.      Poverty. The mining projects change the sources of income and livelihood, resulting in increased poverty. These companies buying lands from the farmers, sometimes by force, are taking those lands with minimal money. These people have nowhere to go or no other way to earn money. They had to join the mining company to survive, and though the payment was very low, they couldn’t have a healthy life with their family. Because of their poor lifestyle and poverty, their health condition is in danger of malnutrition. 

3.      Serious environmental harm concerning air, water, and ground pollution, whether actual or potential. Human health in that area is in danger. Polluted and contaminated air and water directly harm their health. This ecological condition also directly affects the livestock and agricultural livelihoods of communities, such as decreased water for irrigation, deaths of animals, and contamination of ground, water, and air. The productivity of the soil is in danger, which also economically affects the local farmers. 

4.      Socio-economic conflicts: 148 socio-economic conflicts in Latin America because of Canadian Mining Operations. For example, irrigators of Valle de Huasco signed an agreement with Barrick Gold, stipulating payment of US$ 60 million over 20 years as compensation for harm to the image of the area’s agricultural products because of the gold deposits. In time, that money divided the irrigator group, as there were complaints of corruption in managing the funding.

5.      Cultural harm. Before the mining started, the areas were mainly agricultural land. The communities and their culture were based on agriculture. After mining started, their forced labour and abusive behaviour changed the total culture of that area. People are not happy mentally, physically, or economically. They are losing their cultural activities, peace, and everything related. 

6.      There is a violation of various rights, including the right to life, humane treatment, health, and property of the neighbouring communities. It looks like a colonial process is going on. 

7.      Criminalization of rights advocacy and closure of institutional spaces for dialogue, in addition to the exacerbation of violence, threats, harassment, deaths and serious injuries. Not only the mining company but also the community is involved in different criminal activities because of the cultural change. 

8.      Aggressive police behaviour: The rich mining companies use police to continue their violations. For example, in Panama, Penonomé police anti-riot units entered the camps on May 26, 2009, without any prior attempts at dialogue with protesters; officers threw teargas canisters at those present and arrested 19 farmers, who were beaten and jailed in the town of Coclesito. In Oaxaca state, Mexico, 23 persons were detained in May 2009 after evicting residents who had spoken out publicly against groundwater contamination in the area. On November 27, 2009, Mariano Abarca Roblero was murdered after receiving threats and after being arrested in August of that year for participating in peaceful protests against the project. 

The Canadian embassy failed to respond to complaints about these acts. The Canadian government provides broad support to the extractive sector without requiring sufficient guarantees from Canadian companies that they will not harm the environment or cause human rights violations abroad.

A poem about hearts

Yes, I am in your heart.

I will stay there forever,

even when your heart stops beating.

So don’t try to hurt me.

It will only hurt your heart.

You want to know about my heart?

No, nobody is in there,

I kept it clean and clear, and I would like to maintain that level of clarity.

Biography 276: Qurbani meat and prayer for people.

 A Bangladeshi couple was working at Walmart together. I knew both of them, but didn't know they were husband and wife. One day, the wife told me she would like to give me some Qurbani's meat (beef). It was a couple of days before Eid. I became so happy. Though I do not touch beef, but my son will be able to eat some Qurbani meat which makes me happy.

On Eid day, I guessed that the woman became very busy with Eid preparations, including meat preparation and distribution. I didn't feel like reminding her to give me some, as she said.

But she didn't forget. She called me and asked me to come near her house and take some. I didn't feel good to give her trouble, but I really wanted to have some Qurbani meat, so I went to stand in front of her house. She came with a small bag of meat. She was exhausted and busy, but still she kept her word. I felt bad. I apologized for disturbing her in this way. But she said, no, in her mind she decided to give me some a long time ago, so she did. She asked to pray for her.

I pray to Allah to grant her peace of mind and a life of tranquillity.

Sometimes people come to me with a big hope. They asked me to pray for them. Like, if I pray, Allah will make it happen immediately. I wish that would happen. I pray with a full heart. I hope people get some benefit from my prayers.

Questions

 There are/were a few people with whom I stopped talking or never spoke. But I had so many questions in my mind. Which I could never ask. Because they died.

If you have any questions in your mind, I think you should ask. Sometimes direct questions minimize a lot of misunderstanding or make things very clear. No need to worry about what will happen. What's worse can happen, you guys have already stopped talking with each other.

I may ask someday. Or not.

Something different than others

 I have joined some FB groups. In one group, people are together who passed their SSC exam in 1992 (Grade 10 final exam).

I don't contribute much over there, as I don't have anything to post. However, I sometimes read others' posts. In this group, people are the same age. So, sometimes they flirt with each other, or make posts by mentioning how other girls or other's wives became so attractive to them, just for fun.

Here one person's post I found a little different. He also posts on love (mostly), but his love action was with his wife. I would like to discuss Bangladeshi culture here. In Bangladesh, people can easily express their feelings of love in public with anyone but their wife. I don't know why, but nobody likes to see someone love their wife. No one believed that, and if anyone showed any respect or love, all the others started making fun of him, until he stopped loving his wife.

So, I started reading all his posts because he was open about his love for his wife. Some people didn't like it as it was a little more open. Some felt it's looks like porno (mentioning about physical activity with his wife). I won't support opening too much, but it was somewhat good. So, people should understand that they can love their wives too.

But then he changed. He became like others. Started flirting with other women. I lose interest. He is also the same as others. I don't know why he changed himself. Maybe people were taunting him too much, or he found flirting with other people's wives attracted more people to his post. I don't know.

I believe if you have something different, don't try to change it. That differentiation makes you different from others. You become unique.

Video: What is Roxham Road

 

Based on this video:

a)    The current situation facing refugees in the chosen example. 

Roxham Road is a county road located on the border between the United States and Canada. More specifically, it is between Vermont, a state in the USA, and Quebec, a province in Canada. This is a narrow dirt road. It is popular for an unofficial entry to Canada from the USA. Generally, a person needs to obtain a visa or permission to enter Canada or any other country. When people enter a country, they must request asylum in that country, not in another country. Along this route, individuals can enter Canada unofficially and request asylum or immigration.

 The current situation is that the road is closed. Police have established a permanent camp on this corridor to prevent human flow to Canada. When people arrive at this point to enter Canada without a visa, the police ask them to return. If they still try to enter, police arrest them in Canada. 

b)    What factors led to these people becoming refugees? 

The refugees had used Roxham Road for years. The flow of people increased when the president of the USA, Donald Trump, said in a meeting in the Oval Office why the USA is welcoming people from the “shit hole countries.” This is a very disgraceful comment to any human from any country. The comment was made when many people moved from Haiti to save their lives. Those people are scared that they might be sent back to their home country, where the situation remains very stressful. In the meantime, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted a message welcoming all people in need of help. So, the people who were refugees in the USA from the Caribbean or African countries tried to flee once again to Canada in the hope that Canada would be a better country that would treat them well. 

c)    Your analysis of Canada's response to these populations and what it should be. 

Canada needs more people to work for their country. It is a well-known country that easily accepts different kinds of immigrants, including refugees, and grants them Permanent residency. For many people living in other countries, Canada is often their first choice for relocation and starting a new life. 

However, Canada has limited funds for asylum seekers. Additionally, its infrastructure needs to improve to accommodate and integrate the new population. This means that Canada needs more hospitals, roads, houses, schools, shelters, and recreation centers for newcomers. Without improving these infrastructures, Canada is taking in more refugees, when the shelters and funds are not enough. 

Moreover, the funds available are used first for European refugees and then for Caribbean and African people. That’s why these people often struggle to find space in shelters or receive sufficient help to survive. Some of them died waiting outside the shelter on the road. This is not an acceptable situation. 

Canada should have an excellent plan to accept new populations and distribute them among the different provinces according to their needs and skills. The country should prepare sufficient infrastructure to accommodate its current population. The government should allocate enough funds to handle the refugees properly.

Biography 275: Gifts

 I like to receive gifts. I enjoy giving gifts to others, hoping that it brings them happiness as well. Maybe not.

When I started my job, I spent all of my first month's salary in four days, just by buying gifts for my parents and siblings. I hope they liked it. Maybe not.

As I had expended all my money, I had to take care of my daily expenses from my dad, just as I used to in my student life. My mom told me that Dad didn't like that. As I have started working now, I should have taken my responsibility by myself.

I understood. I never asked my dad for money again. Next time, I asked my mother for a loan when I started preparing to move to Canada. I have returned her money. Tried to send gifts to her and to my siblings whenever I could. I tried to send my mom monthly pocket money.

I hope they liked it. Maybe not. 

But my mom liked it. Though she didn't spend that money on herself. She wanted to save those for me, in the hope that when I visit Bangladesh, she will spend on us.

I also tried to give gifts to others. Friends and families. In most cases, I felt they didn't like my gifts. Maybe not.

Everybody has something positive in them.

 I focus on positivity in everything, especially when I don't like some people. I know they must have something positive, which is challenging to find out from my side. My anger and irritation cover up their positive qualities. Even if I couldn't find any, I still believe they have some positivity.

Closing Facilitator

 By Hali, Shawn, Shahana, and Sharon.

Biography 274: Sometimes you like someone without any reason; you just feel like that.

 Favouritism,

I have heard from all parents. They love their children equally. And I have seen that they all have their own favourite child. In most cases, parents love their older kid more than others, and in some cases, the youngest one.

My parents have their own way of favouritism. They loved their older daughter the most. Whatever she asked for, they always tried to bring it to her. She is very gentle and good in her education, which made our parents love her more.

In my childhood, because of my happy mood and smile, I caught my parents' attention. Later, I proved I was not gentle like the older one and not good at education like her. So, my parent had no hope for me; I couldn't become their favourite. But for all the work and sacrifices they asked me to do. For example, if my parents needed to go out, sometimes for other children, they asked me to cancel my school and stay home. Sometimes, I had to go out with my mom to help her. I did. Then I noticed no one else was doing this kind of thing; it only came to me.

If my younger sister woke up late and the regular breakfast had finished, my mom made her special food for breakfast. I thought maybe because I always came to the table on time, I never got it. One day, I intentionally woke up late. But no, I didn't get the special treat. I never had that.

On the weekend, we all used to sleep longer. But sometimes, my mom woke me up to go to the nearby grocery store to buy something. None of my other siblings had to do this.

My younger sisters like a special part of the chicken. If they don't get it, they start screaming. I wanted those parts, too. If I somehow took one, my mom used to take it from my plate and give it to them.

One day, my mom was making paratha and put it on the plate. I sit on the chair to have my breakfast. My mom came running to me and took the plate away from there. And put it on my older sister's spot. She ate that later. My mom gave me paratha from leftovers of the previous day's breakfast; she warmed it up for me. I didn't say anything. But on that day, I cried in my room. Then I thought, It always happens to me, so why would I cry that day?

In my childhood, I thought about it many times. Why do they not like me? Not only them, but I found that people around me don't like me. They make distances with me, don't want to go out with me or see me in their happy moments. I always keep thinking, why? Maybe I did something that they couldn't tolerate, just being jealous, feeling insecure, or anything else. Each time, I try to fix myself, but it never works.

I always tried to listen to my parents and help them as much as possible. I have always done it, and I am trying to do it now, too. My dad started liking me when he was old. He knew I was trying to help him without any expectation; it's just me. I couldn't do much for my mom because I was far away from her. She hoped I would do more for her. I couldn't, but I will whenever I can.

Now I think I am the best. If you don't like me, it's your issue; you can live with that. I recommend staying away from me if you don't feel good with me. I will live as I am. Love me or leave me.