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Thursday December 8, 2011
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Ted Talks
Cheryl Hayashi: The magnificence of spider silk
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Biologist Cheryl Hayashi is fascinated with spiders and their silks, and for good reason. Made of a mix of proteins, spider silks come in thousands of variations; there are over 40,000 species of spiders, with many spiders capable of producing half a dozen types. Some silks have the tensile strength of steel -- and often are much tougher. |
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Guest Column
“Enjoy the Ride” and Other Tips for Recession Investing
By Clinton Douglas IV
We never outgrow cotton candy. However, for most of us, extreme roller coaster rides lose their thrill and appeal around age 18. We may not want to go back to the kiddie coaster, but unexpected upward jolts and never-ending falls can only stir excitement so many times before you have to say ‘enough is enough’.
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Student Forum
Kinesiology Lab Days at University of Waterloo helps high school students explore health and movement
WATERLOO - Imagine being able to propel an electric model car around a classroom using only the electrical signals from your muscles. That’s just one of the intriguing health and movement lab applications that more than 1,000 Ontario high school students will experience at the University of Waterloo's Kinesiology Lab Days taking place weekdays from today to Dec. 16.
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Environment
Friends of the Earth Canada releases "Plug and Play" model regulation to help Canada reduce greenhouse gas pollution
Friends of the Earth donates its services to help Canada in its time of embarrassment
Ottawa - They say Canada's international environmental reputation is at rock bottom, this based on the Durban climate negotiations, a UN Climate Summit, Friends of the Earth Canada has decided to help move Canada forward.
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Grade 10 Students
Preparing for the Future
Waterloo - The University of Waterloo will be hosting Grade 10 Family Night for high school students and their parents on Thursday, January 12, 2012, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in the Humanities Theatre of Hagey Hall.
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Politics
Ontario ’s Speech From The Throne - Liberal review
The following is a statement from the Premiers Office.
Queenspark - The Speech from the Throne was passed in the Ontario legislature yesterday. Its passage means the government’s plan to create a stronger, more competitive economy that protects and creates jobs for families is moving forward.
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Environment
Environmental Commissioner says more work is needed on energy conservation
Toronto - The Environmental Commissioner of Ontario says the government's energy conservation achievements are substantial, but incomplete. In releasing volume two of his 2010 Energy Conservation Progress Report, Managing a Complex Energy System - Results , Gord Miller says "the government achieved two-thirds of an electricity conservation target that it had set. It's a respectable showing given that Ontario's targets are among the most ambitious in North America".
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Global Youth - Future
World Economic Forum Launches the Global Shapers Community in Switzerland
Fifty per cent of the world’s population is under the age of 27, but the voice of youth has been largely absent from global decision-making platforms and processes. Global Shapers are 20 to 30 years of age, with great potential for future leadership roles in all sectors of society.
Switzerland – The World Economic Forum has launched the Global Shapers Community in Switzerland. The aim is to tap into the potential of the youth generation; the community will provide talented 20 to 30 year olds with a global platform to shape the future and develop their leadership potential to serve society.
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Environment
BBC reports "Climate talks 'lacking urgency'"
by Richard Black Environment correspondent, BBC News, Durban
Lack of urgency in the Durban meeting halls and pressing issues elsewhere threaten to block progress as the UN climate summit enters its final days.
Some delegates said there was no clear process for bridging divides. Others suggested that the EU summit on Thursday and Friday would see European leaders "thinking of the euro crisis, not the climate crisis". Most nations appear to want a strong deal - but the exceptions are some of the world's most powerful countries.
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Guest Column
How to Create a Bully-Free Work Environment
By Israel “Izzy” Kalman
The job of a leader has become more difficult and dangerous than ever courtesy of anti-bullying laws. State governments have been caving in to public pressure to pass tough anti-bullying laws to make the workplace safer for employees. However, they are a Catch-22: the harder you try to comply with them, the worse the bullying gets.
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Border Crossing
Concerned About Implications For Privacy Rights
Toronto - CCLA Reacts To Canada-U.S. Border Deal and released a statement that speaks to the new details revealed yesterday with regards to the border security deal between Canada and the United States.
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Global Standards
Review Safety Records and Practices Before Allowing Chinese-Owned Coal Mines in B.C., Steelworkers Say
BURNABY - British Columbia must conduct a full inquiry into the mine safety standards of Chinese-owned coal mining companies before allowing them to operate in the province, says the United Steelworkers (USW) union.
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Light Rail Transit
TriTAG will not support LRT operated by a private-sector monopoly
WATERLOO REGION – In light of the release of preliminary Waterloo Region plans for LRT procurement, the Tri-Cities Transport Action Group (TriTAG) made clear yesterday that it will not support a privately-operated LRT system for Waterloo Region. While TriTAG has been one of the key supporters for Light Rail Transit (LRT) for Waterloo Region, it will not stand for a 30-year private sector monopoly on LRT operations.
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