Report: Trudeau's Use of Emergency Powers was Justified
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's use of the Emergencies Act in February 2022 — to disperse the so-called "Freedom Convoy" movement — was justified according to a report published Friday by Canada's Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC).
The report was submitted to the House of Commons by Justice Paul Rouleau. The release concluded six weeks of public hearings that probed the federal government's unprecedented invocation of emergency powers to end protests occupying downtown Ottawa and blocking Canada-US border crossings.
The 2,000-page document concluded that most of the Cabinet's emergency measures were appropriate and effective in helping return order to the country and preventing any casualties.
Pro-establishment narrative
The radical far-right mob called themselves the "Freedom Convoy" to disguise their true colors. The anti-vax trucker movement was made up of dangerous conspiracy theorists that posed a clear threat to Canadians' safety during an already-dangerous pandemic. The response of government and police was completely justified during a time of an unprecedented uprising.
Establishment-critical narrative
Trudeau was warned by his own intelligence agency that invoking the Emergencies Act would only escalate anti-government sentiment and potentially even prompt violence. While protesters were exercising their right to oppose extraordinary public health mandates, the government decided to enact an assault on civil liberties. Labeling all protesters far-right conspiracy theorists is a deliberate distortion of the truth aimed at justifying this authoritarian crackdown.
Nerd narrative
There's a 60% chance that the Liberal Party will win the most seats in the next Canadian federal election, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
North Korea Tests More Missiles, Warns Of Turning Pacific Into 'Firing Range'
On Monday morning, North Korea reportedly test-fired two short-range ballistic missiles off its east coast, a move the South Korean military condemned as a serious provocation.
In a statement released by state media, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, warned that the extent to which Pyongyang will use the Pacific as a "firing range" depended on the US military's actions.
The US military reacted to the missiles by reaffirming its unwavering commitment to defending South Korea and Japan. Washington also claimed that the launches underscore the "destabilizing" fallout from the North's "unlawful" weapons and ballistic missile programs.
Establishment-critical narrative
Despite the US and its allies blaming Pyongyang for increasing tensions, Washington cannot obscure the fact that it bears the main responsibility for declining diplomatic relations, especially as the Biden administration has switched back to a confrontational course following Donald Trump's efforts at de-escalation. Washington is fueling conflict to force closer ties with Japan and South Korea in order to expand its regional influence.
Pro-establishment narrative
While the North regularly slams South Korea-US drills as alleged invasion rehearsals, it is the desperate regime in Pyongyang that is escalating tensions to consolidate its power. In doing so, the nation keeps violating UN Security Council resolutions by expanding its nuclear and ballistic missile activities, all the while starving its own population. Washington and its allies are obliged to show strength against the ruthless North Korean regime.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that Kim Jong Un will no longer be the leader of North Korea by January 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Day 362: Biden Makes Surprise Visit to Ukraine
US Pres. Joe Biden made an unannounced visit to Ukraine on Monday — his first to the country since Russia launched its invasion nearly a year ago. Biden had been publicly scheduled to visit Poland, but instead traveled through the country to arrive in Kyiv and meet with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
"As the world prepares to mark the one-year anniversary of Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine," said Biden via a White House statement. "I am in Kyiv today to meet with Pres. Zelenskyy and reaffirm our unwavering and unflagging commitment to Ukraine’s democracy, sovereignty, and territorial integrity."
The statement added that Biden will discuss continuing military support for Ukraine, including artillery ammunition, anti-armor systems, and air surveillance, which will formally be announced in a package later this week.
Pro-establishment narrative
Biden's visit to Ukraine — which comes as the war reaches a critical juncture — is a sign of unwavering support for Ukraine and demonstrates that the US is prepared to back Kyiv for as long as it takes.
Establishment-critical narrative
While the Biden administration is publicly announcing it will support Ukraine for as long as it takes, behind closed doors it's a different story. Private discourse suggests that US backing for Kyiv's expensive and, possibly, unachievable military goals may have an expiration date.
Nerd narrative
There is a 2% chance that Ukraine will officially recognize a former Ukrainian territory (Luhansk, Donetsk or Crimea) as independent before 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
Idaho State Lawmakers Propose Ban on mRNA Vaccines
Last Wednesday, two Idaho state Republican lawmakers, Sen. Tammy Nichols and Rep. Judy Boyle, introduced legislation that would make it a misdemeanor to administer mRNA vaccines.
House Bill (HB) 154 was introduced in the House Health and Welfare Committee. It states, "A person may not provide or administer a vaccine developed using messenger ribonucleic acid technology for use in an individual or any other mammal in this state."
As reasoning for the bill, Nichols said she was concerned that mRNA vaccines' development was "fast-tracked," with no "liability," "access to data," "risk-benefit analysis" or "informed consent." She also cited "concerns of blood clots and heart issues."
Left narrative
This is a political stunt aimed at threatening healthcare providers who administer life-saving vaccinations, all to appease the anti-vaxxer faction of the right. Though the CDC, WHO, and various medical journals have all presented facts to the contrary, Idaho's GOP has chosen to ignore the science and punish doctors. If they were truly concerned with health rather than politics, the lawmakers would go after the pharma companies that developed the vaccine.
Right narrative
VAERS reports are made by both individual vaccine recipients and healthcare providers, so these data are not to be taken lightly. States have a right to study, question, and legislate based on vaccine research. This issue has become politicized, but not because of so-called anti-vaxxer right-wingers. Left-wing media outlets and Big Tech have censored reports of vaccine injuries, and it's about time officeholders held the rich and powerful to account.
Facebook, Instagram to Get Paid Verification
On Sunday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook and Instagram users in Australia and New Zealand would soon be required to pay for the verified blue badge.
Meta's premium subscription service starts at $11.99 per month on the Web and $14.99 per month on iOS and Android.
Classified as "Meta Verified," the paid service lets users verify their accounts with a government ID and offers extra impersonation protection. Meta Verified will only be available to users over the age of 18 with prior posting history, not businesses.
Establishment-critical narrative
Though for years Facebook claimed all its services were "free and always will be," the value of users' personal data meant the site was never truly free. Unfortunately, the launch of Meta Verified is a tone-deaf move reinforcing tech greed. By forcing users to pay for services that were expected to be a default offering — such as protection from impersonation — the paid service looks more like a marketing pitch than of actual value to creators.
Pro-establishment narrative
Meta's new offering is fundamentally about increasing authenticity and security by cutting down on trolls, impersonations, and fraud. Though it will undoubtedly also help the social media platform diversify its revenue stream and reduce its reliance on advertising, Meta Verified further benefits users by adding premium value to their account; at $11.99 or $14.99 a month, it's a bargain for the content.
Roald Dahl Edited to Make Language More Inclusive
New editions of famed children's author Roald Dahl's books have been reviewed to alter text referring to weight, mental health, gender, and race for inclusivity. The changes were first reported by the Telegraph newspaper.
Edited passages include swapping the word "fat" to describe Augustus Gloop in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory to "enormous," changing Mrs. Twit's description in the Twits from "ugly and beastly" to simply "beastly," and editing classic text The BFG so that the titular character's coat is no longer black and Mary goes "still as a statue" rather than "white as a sheet." References to being "crazy" and "mad" have also been removed, while "a weird African language" in the Twits is now "an African language."
Hundreds of changes have been undertaken by Puffin so that, the publisher said, the texts "can continue to be enjoyed by all today." A review of Dahl's collection reportedly began in 2020, after a new Hollywood production of The Witches faced backlash over the depiction of the Grand Witch with fingers missing. Paralympians and charities complained the representation was offensive, leading Warner Bros to apologize.
Left narrative
It is very common during print runs of new books to review the language of the text as well as other publication features like cover and page layout. These edits do nothing to diminish the original wit or spirit of the text and, while the original storylines and characters have been left untouched, the considered alterations make the texts far more inclusive and appealing to modern audiences in an age of rising cultural sensitivity.
Right narrative
This decision has rightly prompted widespread condemnation from the literary community. Arguments that Dahl's children's books are in some way bigoted are ludicrous and censoring his satire is nothing short of modern McCarthyism. The review is also an insult to the intelligence of audiences, who should be allowed to interpret and respond to literature on an individual basis, rather than have publishers curate and sterilize their experience of storytelling.
At Least 53 Civilians Killed in Attack in Syrian Desert
Syrian state media reported that at least 53 people were killed southwest of Sukhna in the Homs province last Friday while picking for truffles. State media, as well as Western sources, have attributed the attack to the Islamic State (IS).
The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said on Saturday that the death toll had reached 61 civilians and seven soldiers from the Syrian army. The monitor also reported that IS was taking advantage of the annual truffle harvest season to carry out attacks in remote locations.
IS hasn't claimed responsibility for the attack, which is usually done via associated media channels.
Narrative A
IS is using the earthquake in southern Turkey and northern Syria as a cover to commit atrocities. With the world's attention on other matters, the group was able to undertake a terrible massacre of Syrian civilians. The fight against IS is definitely not over, and all parties involved must continue their effort in liquidating the group.
Narrative B
Though one may assume that an attack like this was obviously committed by IS, there is a possibility that the Fatemiyoun Brigade, an Iran-backed Afghan Shiite militia, actually is the real perpetrator. Iran's sectarian militias are known for their brutality and also have tactically tried to blend in with the local population in the past. Iran continues to meddle in the local politics of the Syrian desert, and one must keep in mind that it is Iran that benefits from chaos in Syria.
Brazil: Dozens Killed in São Paulo Flooding and Landslides
On Saturday, officials said 36 people had been killed in the São Paulo state by flooding and landslides caused by significant rainfall. The death toll is expected to rise.
The state government reported more than 23.6 in. (60cm) of rain inundated the area in one day. The rainfall reached one of the highest amounts ever recorded in the country for that short amount of time. Conditions at Latin America's busiest port in Santos were equally as brutal with wind reports topping 34mph (55km/h) and wave heights exceeding 1 meter.
São Paulo's state governor, Tacisio de Freitas, declared a state of emergency for five coastal towns. Following a visit to the area, de Freitas made $1.5M available for response and rescue operations.
Narrative A
While science has not allowed us to quantify the role of climate change in Brazil's flooding events, we can with certainty say that human-caused climate change is responsible. These catastrophic events are in alignment with climate prediction models and future projections. Based on forecasts, these devastating events will not only continue, but as greenhouse emissions and warming increase, these events will increase as well.
Narrative B
World politicians have been quick to blame climate change for damage to infrastructure and the all-around disruption to daily lives. What they've failed to mention is that climate change wouldn't be that big of a deal if it weren't for their failed policies and poor planning. Without proper building and zoning policies and significant investments in infrastructure, governments have left people vulnerable to flooding and other infrastructure-related disasters. Blaming climate change doesn't fix the problems but makes way for absolving policymakers of their responsibility for the unnecessary loss of lives and property.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that the total damage incurred by climate change during the 21st century will be 8.84% of the world GDP, according to the Metaculus Prediction Community.
Another Earthquake Rattles Turkey-Syria
As the death toll from the 7.8 magnitude earthquake in Syria and Turkey earlier this month rises to more than 46k, another 6.4 magnitude quake hit southern Turkey and Northern Syria on Monday, concentrated in the Turkish province of Hatay, which saw some of the worst damage in the previous earthquake.
Monday's quake — striking at a depth of 2km (1.2 miles) and felt in nearby Syria, Egypt, and Lebanon — was followed by another 5.8-magnitude tremble. According to Turkey's interior minister, at least three people have been killed and a further 213 injured.
Turkey's disaster management agency (AFAD) warned people to stay away from the coastline as a precaution against potentially rising sea levels caused by the quake. Turkish officials have reported over 6k aftershocks since the initial Feb. 6 earthquake and 32 following Monday's quake.
Narrative A
Turkey couldn't afford the first earthquake, let alone a second wave, and this is largely due to Pres. Erdoğan’s neglect. He failed to implement earthquake-safe infrastructure and, in the quakes' aftermath, has abandoned vast regions — specifically those in the southeast that are home to marginalized Kurds — while censoring and arresting journalists who report on his negligence, which has left countless people under the rubble and their surviving family members with little hope for government help.
Narrative B
In the aftermath of this devastating disaster, Erdoğan is doing what he can. 1.68M people have already been provided temporary shelter by the government as they await further assistance, and a 200k apartment rebuilding project — which will see 40k houses built in each of the Hatay, Kahramanmaras, and Malatya provinces — is set to begin in March, showing solidarity between Turkey's institutions despite those seeking to extort the disaster for political gain.
Report: US Prison Deaths Up 50% During 1st Year of COVID
On Sunday, the New York Times (NYT) — citing data collected by researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) — reported that state and federal prison deaths in the US nearly doubled during the first year of the COVID pandemic, with six states seeing prison deaths rise more than 50%.
While the pandemic was cited as a key contributor to the elevated death tolls, inmates also succumbed to other illnesses, suicide, and violence. UCLA data shows that 6,182 people died in American prisons in 2020, up from 4,240 in 2019, despite the prison population declining to around 1.3M from over 1.4M.
According to the NYT's report, ample evidence showed that prisons were COVID hotspots, amplified by an aging inmate population, understaffed correctional facilities, and ill-equipped medical personnel.
Progressive narrative
The mounting deaths in American prisons during the COVID pandemic underscores just how overpopulated US prisons are and why America must decarcerate. System failure turned prison sentences into death sentences, and it's time that the US release non-violent offenders from jail and seek alternative methods of rehabilitation.
Conservative narrative
While it's tragic to see the effects of COVID as it spread through American prisons, prisoners cannot simply be released en masse because of a pandemic, which uprooted the lives of nearly every person in the world. Mass decarceration — which will only lead to social deterioration — isn't the answer.