Other Contributors

The abuse of children–physical, sexual, or otherwise–is a terrible wrong that cannot be tolerated by society. The problem certainly isn’t going away, as evidenced by the heart-wrenching stories that still pop up in the media from time to time. Stories too horrible to believe imaginable. And as is often the […]

Last week, I attended the launching meeting of a major long-term regional planning project. It was inspiring! Here are some key points from the main speakers. “First, economic growth within the region is vital for our success and the quality of life we lead. “Imagine if just 10 percent of […]

One of our great northern resources is the forest. But controversy about it continues: Who should get how much of it? What can we do to both use and keep it? Resource use fluctuates with perceived value. The value usually depends on competition for it, and on what substitutes are […]

The year was 1933. The deep, dark Depression still hadn’t abated. And a young man, who had dreamed of being a mathematics teacher since childhood, graduated from the City University of New York with a master’s degree in his field. But sadly, there was no work. Schools couldn’t afford to […]

“Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones.” Remember the old spiritual? Well, bones aren’t dry at all. Rather, they are really quite complex–and remember they are living tissue. Just because they seem sturdy and firm doesn’t mean that they don’t need nutrients and oxygen, just like all the rest of […]

Through history, different preoccupations have shaped human life. It was agriculture for a thousand years, industrial development for several hundred. The information age dominated for about 70, and now we are entering the bio-economy. Each kind of activity remains with us. But the dominant forces change. What will be next, […]

The World Future Society prepares an annual “round-up” of forecasts at the start of each year. Here are some items from “Outlook 1999” (but the predictions go well beyond the year!) To emphasize opportunity, I’ve picked some positive points from the various categories. Do these apply to Northwestern Ontario, and […]

As the earth makes its majestic circle around the sun, it gives us the seasons. I bet a lot of you here in the north figure that the earth gets cold because it is further from the sun in the winter–right? Well, wrong! As a matter of fact, the earth […]

Before World War Two, a particular plant was grown in different parts of the world. It was prized mainly for the quality of its fibre–long and strong, good for rope and textiles. Recognize it? It is coming into vogue again, having battled a “bad rap” although it has not won […]

How much difference do you think there is between representative and participative democracy?How about a world of difference! We’ve had representative democracy for longer than all our lifetimes. It means designating or voting for someone to represent our views in government. That also works in the institutions through which society […]

U.S. President Bill Clinton’s private affairs affect not only U.S. politics and economy but reverberate right around the globe. The poor economy of eastern Germany has helped oust one chancellor, install another, and keep Europe favourable as an investment climate for Canadians. Problems of governance in Latin America and the […]

One hundred years ago, Dry Caribou Bones was a stop-off for nomadic Ojibwa, and for the odd trapper or prospector. A picturesque river wended its way along a valley floor. On this site was to spring up Atikokan–Ojibwa for Dry Caribou Bones. Atikokan is a special northern town. It has […]