RCI | English : Interviews

Most of us--certainly a very great many of us--have been there: struggling to fall asleep, struggling to stay asleep--tossing, turning, venting--as the bedside alarm clock moves relentlessly forward.

It is neither a pleasant nor a healthy experience.

And repercussions abound the next day--for your family, for your co-workers and--more likely than not--for the place where you work.

It's no fun going to work after a long night of no sleep. Nor is it productive or healthy. (Chun Photographer/Shutterstock)

Zombies are not a particularly appealing--or productive--tribe.

Fortunately, there are a lot of people studying why those long, restless nights occur and what to do about them.

Many of them are currently in Vancouver at the World Sleep Congress.

One of them is Dr. Ram Randhawa, a psychiatrist at the University of British Columbia's Sleep Disorders Program, who delivered a paper on the use of medications for insomnia to the congress on Saturday.

I spoke by phone with Dr. Randhawa at his office at Vancouver General Hospital on Tuesday.

ListenEN_Interview_4-20190924-WIE40

A new study for the first time has quantified the number of birds that have disappeared from our skies.

The  study (and website) note there are now almost 3 billion fewer birds than there were in 1970

Adam Smith (PhD) was one of the lead researchers. He is Senior Biostatistician, Environmental Stewardship Branch, Canadian Wildlife Service and Environment and Climate Change Canada

Co-author of the study, Adam Smith (PhD) of the Canadian Wildlife ServiceEN_Interview_1-20190923-WIE10

The study of 529 bird species gave a reliable estimate that there are almost 30% fewer birds than just a few decades ago.

The study does not detail specific reasons for this huge decline, but suggests habitat loss, pesticides, window strikes and even domestic cats as contributing factors.

White crown sparrow (with transmitter wire). Sparrows are among the common species showing declines. A Canadian study showed neonicotinoid pesticide can play a role in songbird decline (Margaret Eng)

The report was published in the journal Science under the title, “Decline of the North American avifauna”  (abstract here)

Smith says the loss of such as huge segment of the ecosystem shows that on one hand the ecosystem no longer seems to be able to support the previous number of birds and animals, but also that removing such a huge segment is changing the ecosystem in terms of such things as insect control or the spreading of plant species through their seeds.

RCI: Sep 2019: Study: Neonicotinoids and decline in songbirds

The study shows some shocking declines in relatively common birds; 19 common species have lost 50 million individuals each. These include warblers, blackbirds, sparrows, larks, finches and others.

Cornell Lab of Ornithology (3billionbirds.org)

On a brighter note, it also showed that species of raptors and some waterfowl numbers have increased.

The latter he says is the result of people and governments listening to science, and eliminating the toxic chemical DDT from the environment. Smith says on an individual basis, people can mitigate the loss by such things as making windows safer by installing screens or making them less reflective, avoid using insecticides, and keeping domestic cats indoors.

Additional information

Science: E. Pennisi: 3 Billion fewer birds since 1970

3billionbirds.org: website

CBC: E.Chung: N. America has lost 3 billion birds

CBS News (U.S.): Sep 20.19: How N. America lost 3 billion birds

National Geographic: J.Bittel: Sep 19/19: 3 billion birds lost in 50 years

There's a new music book out--not one of those coffee table doorstops, nor an in-depth look into a what made this or that singer great, or at least memorable, or even a collection of sheet music from Broadway shows you might have once picked up at Colony Music in Manhattan or Archambault Musique in Montreal.

No, this one is called Music For Women (Survivors of Violence): A Feminist Music Therapy Interactive eBook

It's by Sandi Curtis, who recently retired from Concordia's music therapy program.

The official launch was last week and a for a lot of people it may not come a moment too soon.

Sandi Curtis is Professor Emerita, Creative Arts Therapies Department, at Montreal's Concordia University. (Courtesy: Concordia University)

Curtis is a music therapist who believes there are curative powers in the acts of listening and making music.

Her eBook combines both text and links to appropriate music aimed at helping survivors of male violence.

Curtis's aim is to help victims break the social isolation many suffer from at the hands of their abusers, then to get the women to recognize that they are not alone and not to blame and then to help them to begin writing songs.

I had the pleasure of speaking by phone with Dr. Curtis on Monday.

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As students take to the streets around the world to demand action on climate change, Canadian architects are also engaged in the fight against this global issue.

Today, the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada’s (RAIC) Committee on Regenerative Environments is calling on Canadian architectural and design firms to commit to combating the climate crisis by signing a new Canadian Architects Declare pledge.

Architects all over the world support students in the Global Climate Strikes, some even take part in them or let their employees do so.

These demonstrations come ahead of the UN Climate Action Summit in New York next week.

In Canada, a nationwide demonstration is scheduled for September 27, during which students and adults will go on strike to demand climate action. Young Swedish activist Greta Thunberg will be in Montreal to participate in the march.

To understand what the declaration, titled Canadian Architectural Professionals Declare Climate and Biodiversity Emergency and Commit to Urgent and Sustained Action, meant, we spoke to Mona Lemoine, MRAIC, chair of the committee and an architect based in Vancouver, BC.

(Photo: Mona Lemoine)EN_Interview_2-20190920-WIE20

Concrete actions to be taken

As Lemoine explains, architects have a real power of change in the face of climate change. I asked her what they can concretely do: 

An example of sustainable project: the VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre in Vancouver (Photo: Nic Lehoux / Courtesy: Perkins and Will)EN_Interview_4-20190920-WIE40

Lemoine's firm already is already working on sustainable projects such as the VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre in Vancouver. 

The declaration also gives specifications as to the actions architects can take and should take if they sign this declaration, including:

Design for holistic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Advocate for investments in a rapid transition to resilient climate-positive alternatives.

Eliminate waste and harm and support a quick transition to circular economies.

Design for holistic health, resilience, and regeneration; respecting the rights and wisdom of Indigenous Peoples.

Adopt regenerative design principles and practices to design and develop projects and environments that go beyond the standard of net zero in use.

Advocate for the rapid systemic changes required to address the climate and ecological health crises, as well as the policies, funding priorities, and implementation frameworks that support them.

“Our interconnected crises of climate breakdown, ecological degradation, and societal inequity are the most serious issues of our time,” says the Canadian statement.

WATCH - Project consisting of a mixed-use transit-oriented development in Vancouver by Marine Gateway (Courtesy: Perkins and Will).

https://vimeo.com/182088448

The design, construction, and operation of our built environment accounts for nearly 40% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, and pervasively impacts our societies and the health of the living systems that sustain us.Canadian Architectural Professionals Declare Climate and Biodiversity Emergency and Commit to Urgent and Sustained Action

This idea of creating a Canadian declaration for architects is the first of its kind, as Mona Lemoine explained to me:

Interior of the VanDusen Botanical Garden Visitor Centre (Photo: Nic Lehoux / Courtesy: Perkins and Will)EN_Interview_6-20190920-WIE60

RAIC's committee encourages architects, designers, but also architectural firms to sign the declaration.

If you are interested, you can go to ca.architectsdeclare.com. There you can register your practice or your organisation.

Many see this extract of cannabis to be a magic bullet for a wide variety of health issues.

Unlike THC which is another cannabis extract, cannabidiol (CBD) is non-psychoactive and anecdotally has been reported to have beneficial effects for pain, anxiety, depression and other ailments. However there has been little scientific proof to verify its health related properties.

And so the journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings recently published a guide for clinicians on authorizing patient use of CBD.

Dr. Hance Clarke ( MD PhD FRCPC) is a staff anesthesiologist and the Director of pain services at Toronto General Hospital.

Dr Hance Clarke, pain specialist, University hospital network (UHN), Toronto,speaks on growing use of CDB oilEN_Interview_1-20190919-WIE10

In Canada, CBD is not a prescription drug, although doctors can authorize patients to have it, however in the U.S. a version of CBD has been approved as a prescription drug for treatment of paediatric epilepsy. Other countries are also looking at its use in treatment.

Dr. Clarke notes that people are taking CBD, or perhaps a mix of CBD and THC to treat various chronic pain ailments, but he says there is still much to be learned about CBD, including dosage levels.

An oral administration syringe loaded with CBD hemp oil for treating a severely-ill child is shown at a home in Colorado Springs, Colo., in 2014. (Brennan Linsley/The Associated Press)

However he also says people are using it for things where there is no evidence of benefit such as treating cancer, neuro-degenerative diseases, or even irritable bowel symptoms.  He says medical professionals are concerned that such self-medicating cases patients may be substituting CBD and foregoing the pharmaceuticals their doctor has prescribed.

Another concern also involves the quality of the products currently being sold. This is both in terms of ingredients and in percentages which can vary greatly not only from source to source, but even batch to batch.  He says that makes it difficult for clinicians, but also for users to gauge dosages.

He notes that in Canada, funding has been approved to begin work on using cannabis as a way to wean people off opioid dependence. He aslo says research needs to be done to get hard data in relation to helping people with PTSD and anxiety to develop cannabinoid drugs. He also says that going forward, there will need to be more suppliers whose products have been tested, verified and trusted products for quality

additional information

CBC: Sep 18/19:”Be Careful” Commons questions about CBD claims for pain and other conditions

Mayo Clinic guidelines for CBD

Medical News Today: J Johnson: Jul 29/18: Does CBD work for pain management

According to indicators, and the current government, Canada’s economy is doing well, and unemployment is at all time lows. Yet, national surveys have repeatedly shown Canadians don’t feel secure about their financial future or prospects.

In spite of the figures, the cost of housing is rising in many cases beyond people’s reach, with food, transportation, daycare, pharmaceuticals and more continuing to rise.

To look at the disparity and at politicians promises on the campaign trail we’ve reached Sheila Block, Senior Economist, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, a non-partisan think tank.

Sheila Block, senior economist, for a non-partisan think tank examines political promises relating to voter concerns about increasing cost of livingEN_Interview_1-20190918-WIE10

The issue of affordability is emerging as a top concern among Canadian voters.

The various political leaders have been criss-crossing the country and in their various speeches have been making quite a number of promised solutions to the concerns, but those promises are coming without real explanation of how these will be funded or the effects on government budgets in terms of revenue versus spending.

While housing costs in terms of purchase or even renting is becoming a very serious concern, a variety of other expenses for Canadians has increased, clothing costs, heating costs, and of course food costs. (CBC)

Experts say that explanations are needed in order to evaluate the true benefits-to-cost ratio, along with how the many programmes promised by the various party leaders will be funded.

So far, Block says there have been some seemingly good ideas in these promises, and some seemingly not so good.  Much also depends on a party’s position after the election in terms of the number of seats held and ability to carry through with its promises.

A group of Canadian, British and Chinese scientists have discovered new species of Chinese giant salamanders, the world's largest amphibians.

For a long time, biologists believed that all Chinese giant salamanders were part of the same species, Andrias davidianus.

Until now, as a genetic study of museum specimens spread across Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States reveals that there are actually three different species that live in three different river systems and mountain ranges in China.

For example, the largest specimen of Chinese salamander ever found - a 1.8-metre-long individual bigger than most humans - could be a member of a new species living in the Pearl River system in southern China. This specific species is now known as the South China giant salamander and has been given the scientific name Andrias sligoi, scientists report this week in the journal Ecology and Evolution.

Robert W. Murphy, Senior Curator of Herpetology at the Royal Ontario Museum and Professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Toronto, participated in this study. He explained that not only have scientists discovered three new species, but there could be even more:

Photo: Amy Lathrop EN_Interview_2-20190917-WIE20

The second species retains the original name given to all Chinese giant salamanders, Andrias davidianus, but applies only to animals in the Yangtze River system.

The third one was identified using samples collected by Bob Murphy in the Yellow Mountains of China in the 1990s. He gave us more details on how the team studied these samples:

Photo: Karlo, a 158 cm long Chinese giant salamander in its enclosure at the Prague Zoo in the Czech Republic. (David W Cerny/REUTERS)EN_Interview_4-20190917-WIE40

However, since Murphy's samples represented only parts of animals rather than whole specimens, it could not be officially designated as a new species.

Also, the fact that scientists have mainly treated dried-up specimens makes it difficult to know what the animals originally looked like. Thus, researchers cannot really determine the physical differences between each species.

Rare animals

A paper published in 2018 suggested that most population of Chinese giant salamanders were gone or extinct but according to Bob Murphy "efforts since that time in China have found quite a few different populations."

"But these are giant animals, and of course they never occur in extremely high density so in very remote areas they still occur broadly across China although not in great numbers", notes the professor.

Species are also rare in the wild, partly due to poaching. They are raised on farms to be sold later as delicacies. Murphy told us more about this phenomenon:

Photo: Nature.Catcher/FlickrEN_Interview_6-20190917-WIE60

As the professor explained, the problem with farmed Chinese giant salamanders is that it is very difficult to trace their lineages because the animals have been moved to many different places.

That's why the research team looked at museum specimens collected in the early 20th century, before the giant salamander breeding industry began.

Good news for conservation

The fact that scientists have been able to identify these three species is nevertheless good news, as it could help to preserve them in the future. Murphey explained why:

Photo: Ben Lai / FlickrEN_Clip_3-20190917-WME30

Today, thanks to ongoing efforts in China, where the authorities are involved in the preservation of this animal, the database has significantly increased in terms of geographical coverage to find wild genetically pure populations, Murphey said.

The number of documented animals has increased from 17 in the current paper to hundreds and hundreds throughout China, explains the professor. The team will now review this new database and assess whether...

Two Saudi oil refineries suffered a surprise attack on Saturday by drone or small cruise-type missiles. The U.S is blaming Iran and rattling its sabre. The regional Houthi rebels in Yemen however are claiming responsibility.

World oil prices are affected, as is regional stability, seemingly always tenuous at best.

James Devine, associate professor in political science and international relations at Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, specialises in the politics and foreign policy of Iran.

James Devine, Mt Allison University talks about the effects of the drone attacks on Saudi oil refineriesEN_Interview_1-20190917-WIE10

The major attack was on the Abqaiq refinery, the largest processing facility in the world which processes about seven million barrels of crude per day.  At least 17 hits on various portions of the refinery were carried out. Two other hits were seen on infrastructure at the Khouris plant which processes about a million barrels of crude per day.

Thick smoke fills the air at Abqaiq from the many fires. Abqaiq was one of two refineries attacked on Saturday. The extent of damage at the two refineries is not yet known, nor the eventual effect of oil prices and world economy. (Reuters)

Saudi production has been halved which represents about 5% of the world’s supply.

This has resulted in an immediate spike in oil prices, but which also seems so far not to be long-lived.

In July, Houthi officials unveiled their locally produced version of the Quds-1 cruise type drone missile. These are believed to be used in the oilfield attacks. (Houthi media- via bulletin of the atomic scientists)

Professor Devine says that if indeed Iran is behind the attack it could be their way of demonstrating that if the U.S with its sanctions is attempting to harm Iran’s economy, they have ways of fighting back and affecting the U.S and its allies.

Analysts from the Saudi bank ANB follow oil prices on the world markets on Monday following the refinery attacks as prices initially jumped. (Reuters-Stringer)

He also says if it was the Houthis, it could be as a proxy for Iran, or perhaps for their own purposes as retaliation for Saudi support of their enemies in the Yemeni civil war.

While oil prices may stabilize, experts are uncertain about stability in the region as a result of the attacks. For the moment everyone seems to be taking a “wait and see” position.

Meanwhile analysts are suggesting that this could provide some pressure in the U.S to approve the Keystone XL pipeline to Canada’s oilfields, promoted by many, including Alberta’s Premier, as the most secure source of oil in the world.

Additional information-sources

BBC: Sept 16/19: Images show details of damage

Financial Times: H Warrell: Sep 17.19: Attack highlights drone wars in Middle East

CBC: T Seskus: Sep 17/19: What the attacks could mean for Canada's oilpatch and Keystone XL pipeline

Al Jazeera: Sep 16/19: updates on refinery attacks

France 24 (English): Sep 15: video report-YouTube

Arms Control Wonk: analysis of Quds-1 and oil attacks

In 2017, astronomers made a remarkable discovery by locating and studying the very first interstellar object, a strange space rock called 'Oumuamua.

Now, a second object from another solar system has recently been located by the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope. But this time, it could be a comet, making it the first interstellar one ever observed by humans.

More importantly, it could help us better understand our solar system and its origins.

A comet is a celestial body moving around the sun, usually in a very eccentric orbit, consisting of a central mass surrounded by an envelope of dust and gas that can form a tail that moves away from the sun.

It is not unusual to observe comets, but this could be the first time we see one coming from another star system.

Named C/2019 Q4 (Borisov), the object was first spotted by amateur astronomer Gennady Borisov on August 30, 2019 at the MARGO Observatory in Nauchnij, Crimea.

Astronomer Karen Meech was one of the scientists who discovered 'Oumuamua. She is also one of the first scientists to take a closer look at C/2019 Q4. She explained to us how it happened:

Photo of astronomer Karen Meech (Credit: Karen Meech)EN_Interview_2-20190916-WIE20

A major discovery

Now, Meech's team, which includes two Canadian researchers, has been able to obtain a first colour image of C/2019 Q4. This allowed them to identify a comet tail, which is the product of gas escaping from the surface of the object.

If researchers can prove that C/2019 Q4 is an interstellar entity, this could have major consequences on our understanding of how our solar system was formed, as Meech explained:

EN_Interview_4-20190916-WIE40

In 2017, scientists were not able to study 'Oumuamua properly as they had only one week to observe it. What is interesting about C/2019 Q4, however, is that by measuring the light signature surrounding the comet, astronomers will be able to obtain a lot of information about it.

At the moment, we are only in the early stages of analysis. Karen Meech told us what scientist know and don't know about this new object:

(Photo: Karen Meech and Jan Kleyna (University of Hawaii)/© Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope)EN_Interview_6-20190916-WIE60

From her observations and some work by astronomer Javier Licandro and his colleagues at the Canary Islands Institute of Astrophysics, C/2019 Q4 seems quite similar to the spectra of a class of objects in our solar system. This could mean that these known objects and interstellar visitors are more or less made up of the same components.

One year to study it

We still need to define where C/2019 Q4 comes from to be sure that it is of interstellar origin. To do this, astronomers will have about a year to examine the object and try to calculate its orbit. Meech gave us more details about her plans for the future:

Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, Mauna Kea, Hawaii (Credit: Generic1139/wikicommons)EN_Clip_3-20190916-WME30

Astronomers will try to determine the eccentricity of C/2019 Q4, or how extreme its orbit is. Based on this, we can tell if the object comes from outside our solar system. For the time being, initial data suggest that yes. A few more months and we may be able to know its origin and composition, which would help us better understand where we come from.

With files from Space.com

In recent years, several political hopefuls have had their plans cut short, often due to old social media posts. These often espouse positions or opinions expressed as private citizens, but which are deemed as being racist, sexist, politically extreme, or other views no longer acceptable in today’s world.

Political parties try to check their candidates for suitability, but sometimes, the opposition finds things, the candidates party does not.

So far in Canada’s election, there have already been a handful of cases where candidates have had to withdraw.

Peter Graef is a professor of political science at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario

Vetting process of political candidatesEN_Interview_1-20190916-WIE10

The problem for a political party, especially during an election campaign, is that the party message, their platform and proposals get derailed by the  “scandal” of an improper social media post, or having associated with someone generally deemed socially unacceptable, such as a former criminal or having extreme views.

In this first week, there have been candidates kicked out, or who have withdrawn for a variety of reasons in order to avoid alleged disruption to the party. In other cases some candidate's old postings, associations, or statements have resulted in harsh questions directed at the party leaders from the press and from the public during speeches.

It is the scandal or incident that gets the news and later corrections or clarifications get little attention as the news cycle moves on

Professor Graef notes that with several hundred candidates for each party, the internal investigation- vetting- of a candidates is a long and complicated process, especially if the candidate forgets or deliberately avoids revealing all social media accounts and past associations, and opinions.

Graef points out that each party also has another group who’s job it is to seek out such things to be used against their rivals.

He says out that political parties spend an enormous amount of money for each day of campaigning, and it becomes a wasted effort if the focus of an event is not on the party platform but rather some apparent or alleged unacceptable action from a candidate.

Replacing a candidate at a last minute can also be disrupting and even possibly weakening the chances for the party in a particular riding.

In Canada, the second week of intense campaigning has just begun leading up to the vote on October 21.