Items related to Catalyst: A Collection of Commentaries to Get Us Talking

Catalyst: A Collection of Commentaries to Get Us Talking - Softcover

Sangha, Alex

 
9781481754880: Catalyst: A Collection of Commentaries to Get Us Talking
Softcover
ISBN 10: 1481754882 ISBN 13: 9781481754880
Publisher: AuthorHouse, 2013

Synopsis

"Alex Sangha has an impressively broad range of knowledge on issues that affect the world, and challenges problems that most people have come to accept. Sangha doesn't just point out the troubles in this world, but thinks of bold solutions for them" - Jenny Uechi, Managing Editor, Vancouver Observer Alex Sangha has produced a critical, yet positive, book that covers a range of topics, from environmental conservation to reconciling religion and sexuality to depression and arranged marriage. He believes every person should be informed and should have their say on subjects that matter. Catalyst is a collection of 40 short commentaries about problems facing Canada and the world in the 21st century. It is filled with topics for social discussion for the informed citizen, as well as for parents and teachers who want to get young adults thinking critically about the world around them. Catalyst is an excellent conversation starter. Each article includes questions for the reader, which can be a great springboard for critical discussion. "Alex writes clearly, concisely and with a non-judgmental view point. Alex is clearly a world citizen who disseminates on a wide variety of issues with amazing clarity. His refreshing views on a wide range of subjects are written with elegance and a light touch that does not cloud the issues" - Veeno Dewan, Former Editor, Voice Newspaper

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

CATALYST

A Collection of Commentaries to Get Us Talking

By ALEX SANGHA

AuthorHouse

Copyright © 2013 Alex Sangha
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4817-5488-0

Contents

Introduction...............................................................
We Are One.................................................................1
Our World..................................................................
The Occupy Movement........................................................5
The Peaceful Protest.......................................................9
A Kinder Capitalism........................................................13
A Bunch of Fat Greedy Cows.................................................17
A Better Balance...........................................................21
The Law of Mother Earth....................................................25
A Toxic Gooey Mess.........................................................29
Eating to Save the Planet..................................................33
Our Country................................................................
Social Finance.............................................................37
Reducing Canada's Debt.....................................................39
Creating Jobs..............................................................43
Welfare Reform.............................................................47
More Meaningful Support....................................................51
Student Loan Forgiveness...................................................55
More Doctors Please........................................................57
Sustainable Immigration....................................................61
The Seven Wards of Surrey..................................................65
The End of Big Money in Politics...........................................69
Canada Minus Quebec isn't Canada...........................................73
Respect our Elders.........................................................77
An Aboriginal Parliament...................................................81
The Red Chamber............................................................85
Employment Equity..........................................................89
Girl Power.................................................................93
Everybody Deserves a Chance................................................97
Our Flawed Prison System...................................................101
The Death Penalty..........................................................105
[Lifting Seniors out of Poverty............................................109
Dignity House..............................................................113
Diversity Versus the Church................................................117
Our Life...................................................................
When Sadness Never Fades...................................................121
What About the Sex Trade?..................................................125
Gay and Brown in the Burbs.................................................129
Living a Double Life.......................................................133
Sexual Attraction: Nature or Nurture?......................................137
The Arranged Marriage......................................................141
A Primer on Sikh Philosophy................................................145
Free Will or Fate..........................................................149
Afterlife..................................................................153
Seeing the Light...........................................................157
Conclusion.................................................................
And Finally................................................................163
About the Author...........................................................165
Endnotes...................................................................167


CHAPTER 1

The Occupy Movement


"It's the 24th day of the Occupy Wall Street protests, alsoknown as the largest homeless slumber party in the world."

~ Jimmy Kimmel


In the past, North American and European economies depended on athriving automobile sector, decent wages, and population growth forstability. They relied on consumers who kept spending to keep the economygoing. This is no longer the case. The gap between the rich and thepoor is growing, the population is aging, and there are fewer workingpeople to fund government programs. Wealthy countries are tighteningimmigration rules, and new opportunities for economic growth are justnot happening.

Corporations are outsourcing jobs to countries like China and India.`No strings attached' free trade agreements don't address sustainablelabor, social, cultural, and environmental issues. Long hours and lowpay and the dumping of toxic chemicals and pollutants – all in the nameof cheap goods – reduce the quality of life in both the developed anddeveloping worlds.

People are no longer earning $30 an hour (except those with governmentjobs). This means reduced consumer spending, little or no savings,and increased debt. We're scrambling for minimum wage jobs with minimalhours and no benefits. Buying a house or paying off a mortgage is theimpossible dream these days.

The Occupy movement is a reflection of this anxiety. It is demandingchange and gaining support. People are tired of seeing 1% of the populationsuck up 99% of the wealth. If governments fail to respond there's agood chance that protests, revolutions, and crime will be the order of theday for basic survival. The rich will hide behind big walls and hire privatesecurity to protect themselves from the growing masses of the hungry anddesperate poor. It's happening in a lot of countries already.

How do you think the Occupy movement could be more effective?

CHAPTER 2

The Peaceful Protest


"I mean, there's a hell of a lot of grounds forprotest, but you don't do it through music."

~ Chico Hamilton


The US and Europe are facing huge financial problems. In the MiddleEast, the uprisings now known as the Arab Spring started when aTunisian fruit vendor set himself on fire to protest mistreatment by apolice officer. Since then, bloody revolts across the Middle East haverailed against dictatorships, corruption, economic decline and extremepoverty. They want the basic rights that we take for granted: democracy,free speech, a fair trial.

But what about a peaceful protest? What could that possibly achieve?I think peaceful protests here could help Canada become a countrywhere:

• Profitable corporations redistribute a portion of profits to theirfront-line employees as productivity incentives and bonuses.

• All levels of government adopt a living wage policy to boost consumerspending and saving, and reduce debt and poverty.

• The government introduces a national pharmacare, vision, anddental program as an investment in preventative healthcare.

• The government flies Canadians in need of urgent medical treatmentto hospitals in the US to eliminate waiting lists.

• Student loans are replaced with student grants and students whoearn good marks and complete their courses enjoy a loan forgivenessprogram. This would be an incentive for students to studyand innovate without the big financial barriers.

• Low-income families and single parents receive a direct cashtransfer from the government to help them out of poverty.

• First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people set up an Aboriginal parliamentwithin Canada to more effectively manage and governtheir lands, waters, resources, and people.

• Local governments adopt a mixed at-large and ward system togain the benefits of both citywide and neighborhood politicalrepresentation.

• Provincial and federal governments adopt some form of a proportionalrepresentation system so the government is actuallyrepresentative of how the electorate voted.

• All high school students are required to take a course in medialiteracy so they can critically evaluate the messages they get fromvarious sources, whether through the press or social media. Thiswill enhance our democracy with an enlightened electorate.


What are your top ten reasons for a peaceful protest?

CHAPTER 3

A Kinder Capitalism


"The basic law of capitalism is you or I, not both you and I."

~ Karl Liebknecht


Countries all over the world, including Western governments, arebeing forced to cut spending and balance budgets at a time whena fiscal stimulus would really help. Social programs, the glue that keepspeople content with the status quo, are usually the first to go. Starved ofbasic necessities, people find a way to get back what they've lost, one wayor another. We saw what happened in England when riots erupted due, inpart, to that government's economic policy and social program cutbacks.So what is our government to do?

I think it's time for a kinder way to do business: compassionatecapitalism. Compassionate capitalism refers to a mixed economy withprivate and public ownership but where the capitalist mode of productionremains intact. Unlike traditional capitalism, compassionate capitalismincludes the promotion of human rights and ethical decision-making. Itsupports the creation of clean, green industry and encourages continuedinvestment in social programs, protection of workers and the creationof new jobs. Compassionate capitalism helps to moderate the boomsand busts of the free market through government intervention and viathe development of new government departments to provide securityin key sectors of the economy. This approach would help all Canadiansenjoy a better quality of life and preserve the socio-economic base of ourcountry.

The government should encourage the wealthy and the corporateelite to wipe out the debt and deficit and help stabilize the economy.This is in everyone's best interests, especially the rich who have a lot tolose if Canada defaults on its debt and the Canadian dollar becomesworthless.

What are some of your ideas for a kinder "compassionate" capitalism?How would you help people to help themselves?

CHAPTER 4

A Bunch of Fat Greedy Cows


"To prevent famine, one plow is worth a million sermons,and even patent medicines will cure more diseases than allthe prayers uttered since the beginning of the world."

~ Robert Green Ingersoll


It's hard to imagine, comfortable as we are, that people are starving todeath in many parts of the world. It's even harder to imagine when youthink about how many North Americans and Europeans die of diabetes,cholesterol, and obesity each year. Western countries are consuming toomuch food at the expense of the rest of the planet. Just to satisfy our appetitefor meat requires vast swaths of agricultural land to fatten livestockanimals. If we are what we eat, we are fast becoming fat cows and pigs.

Too many children suffer every day from hunger and malnutritionand die from a long list of preventable diseases. Children are still abused:They are used as slaves, as cheap labour, as sex trade workers, even assoldiers. The end result is potential lifelong trauma and damage to thedevelopment of our next generation. Humanity is destroying humanity.

Food isn't the only thing that's unevenly distributed: money and otherresources remain in the hands of a few while millions still live on a fewdollars a day in primitive conditions and without basic necessities. It's fairto say that unfettered capitalism, consumerism, multi-national corporations,and power-hungry egotists have caused this global social disaster.We are on a downward spiral. Our pet rocks, gardens, and dogs receivebetter care than many people in developing nations.

And yet western powers rush to intervene in Afghanistan, Iraq, andLibya, all in the name of democracy, freedom, and human rights. If thisis really why we're there, why has the west not intervened in Zimbabweand sent Mugabe packing? From where I sit, it seems pretty clear thatdecisions at this level come down to money, power, and privilege or, moreaccurately, the control of oil and resources.

This approach is so short-sighted. World leaders need to work togetherto build a better planet and make a positive difference. Social developmentand concern for humanity need to become top global priorities. Weneed to ensure that every child has a chance to live up to their potential,to thrive, and to enjoy a childhood unmarred by the greed of others.

The world can be a better place. Humans are supposed to be the mostintelligent species on the planet. Political leaders just need to apply commonsense and look toward a longer-term vision. This means sacrificingself-serving, narrow interests for the greater good, but it's an investmentthat would pay huge rewards for everyone over the long-term.

Can you suggest reasons why children are used as cheap labour, sexworkers and soldiers? What are some ways we could stop this?

CHAPTER 5

A Better Balance


"The major trend is globalization.A new world order is rapidly emerging."

~ Peter Pollak


A spiritual leader once said that the purpose of life is to be happy, helpothers, and be kind. I believe if you incorporate these values intoyour life you can reach a higher level of inner peace and find purpose inlife. I think if this happened on a global scale we'd end hunger and maybeeven experience world peace.

A spiritual connection – whether through meditation, prayer or beliefin a higher power – can give you hope for the future. It is an excellent antidoteto anxiety, depression, insecurity, and loneliness. Even the famousMayo Clinic recommends spirituality as a route to stress relief.

Sadly, the world today is ruled by individualism and suffers from aspiritual void. Well-known physicist Stephen Hawking argues there is noCreator. I disagree. If you believe in a higher power you have everythingto gain and nothing to lose.

Today, people are focused on making money and accumulating materialgoods. The world has become a very selfish place. Rich countries havefailed to respond to the needs of the suffering around them and see nopoint in helping others to the extent that help is needed. I believe we allpay a price for our lack of compassion towards those in need. We are allconnected and part of the same Earth. If one part of the world is suffering,it impacts another, whether through the outbreak of disease, massmigrations, or pollution to name just a few.

Each and every person has the potential to be a productive memberof society, but they can't do it without access to the opportunities andresources that we in the West take for granted. Too many people never geta chance to live out their dreams. Their daily existence is built on doingwhatever it takes to survive. Millions of people spend their days lookingfor clean water and food. Why is this? It is a product of our global economicsystem, which has led to extremes in wealth between the rich andthe poor and the creation of huge corporate oligopolies and monopolies.The system is kept in place through military dictatorships, torture, andhuman rights abuses. Democracy is little more than a façade in manyparts of the world.

The world needs a kinder, gentler form of capitalism to help moderatethe extremes and suffering imposed on people through free markets andglobalization. It takes a lot of effort and will, but it can be done. It tookmany years to develop adequate social programs and redistribute wealthin Britain, for example, and while it's still not a perfect system it has gonea long way to ensuring the distribution of wealth and providing equalopportunities for its citizens.

Technology can be used to complete routine, repetitive work.Governments can improve wages, benefits, and working conditions ofour most marginalized workers. Even in Canada, right here in our ownbackyard, we are taking advantage of thousands. Have you ever seen howfarm workers are treated here? Competition in the marketplace is puttingdownward pressure on farm workers' rights.

Life is short. Most of us have to work hard to make life enjoyable.It's unfair that some children are born with a silver spoon in their mouthwhile others are dying of starvation. We need more fairness and equality.We need resources and global wealth to be distributed fairly. We need toinvest in people, including our most vulnerable, in Canada and abroad.

Did you know that if Wal-Mart were a country its revenue would putit on par with the gross domestic product of Norway, which is the 25thlargest economy in the world?

What measures would you put in place to even things up betweenthe rich and the poor?

CHAPTER 6

The Law of Mother Earth


"Nature provides a free lunch, but onlyif we control our appetites."

~ William Ruckelshaus


In October 2012 the government of Bolivia passed the world's firstlegislation that grants nature equal rights to humans. They call it the"Law of Mother Earth".

This law contradicts a long-held belief that man has dominion overthe land. Our old ways caused the degradation of our planet and the exploitationof our plants, animals, and resources. Nature is part of creation.We are all connected and dependent on nature for our existence. Theearth, water, wind, flowers, trees, animals, and birds help us find balancewithin ourselves as well as peace of mind, health and wellness.

The Aboriginal and indigenous people of this world have alwaysembraced nature as an essential part of their spiritual beliefs. For centuries,they lived in harmony with the environment, making use of plantsfor medicines and respecting their fellow creatures. They built a culturearound respect for elders and people who are different. They introducedtalking circles, drumming circles, and sweat lodges into their communityto facilitate relationships, understanding, healing, and a connection withtheir Great Spirit. We could learn a thing or two from our Aboriginalancestors.

When we accept that we are not above creation and the diversity oflife that surrounds us, we can start to take steps to rebuild and respect ourworld. To bring more caring, sharing, and environmental guardianshipand stewardship to this planet we need to reconnect with nature. Wecan focus on what we have in common and learn to protect our sharedenvironment. A concern for nature can help us reach a higher level ofrespect for people and our planet.

We would all benefit from more connection, community, relationships,and respect. We could start by filling ourselves with an appreciationfor nature and all its generous gifts to us.

Do you think its okay to take resources (like gold or oil) out of theearth regardless of the consequences?

What law would you put in place to protect the planet?

CHAPTER 7

A Toxic Gooey Mess


"There is an average of over 500 oil spills a year on AlaskanNorth Slope, and over 4,000 spills in the last 10 years. Let'snot pollute one of the great last refuges of America."

~ Maria Cantwell


Oil and the tankers and pipelines that move it are environmentaldisasters waiting to happen. Millions of birds and marine life areput at risk when oil spills occur. Their bodies become coated in oil, whichaffects their temperature levels and many die of hypothermia. Others sinkand drown because oiled feathers weigh more. Still others ingest the oiland die a slow and painful death as their organs shut down one by one.

Oil spills around the world should be a wake-up call for all of us.We are all quick to point blame at oil companies, and they are partly toblame of course, but so are we: Our demand for oil drives oil tankers intoharbour cities and keeps full pipelines criss-crossing the continent. Oilcompanies are just responding to our thirst for oil.

As long as oil companies continue to profit through our use of oil,why would they turn to cleaner burning fuels? It would be a costly, time-consumingexpense for them. If we want to protect our waters and marinelife, we need to turn to alternative energy sources. Solar, wind, andwater-based energy needs to be developed and put into mass usage. Thetechnology is available, but the market has yet to respond to the needs ofour fragile ecosystem.

Most of us tend to be reactive and not proactive. This means thatuntil the oil has run out, or the planet has turned black, we're not likelyto make any meaningful change to our consumption and productionhabits. This is why it's important for governments to play an active roleand create incentives for the energy sector to produce clean, safe, andtoxic-free alternatives.


(Continues...)
Excerpted from CATALYST by ALEX SANGHA. Copyright © 2013 Alex Sangha. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse.
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"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.

Publisher
AuthorHouse
Publication date
2013
Language
English
ISBN 10 
1481754882
ISBN 13 
9781481754880
Binding
Paperback
Number of pages
184