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Murder spree, climate-change study
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February 4, 2009
Criminology head slams gov’t over murder spree
Police are investigating three new slayings – all in the span of 24 hours – prompting exasperation from Robert Gordon, director of SFU’s School of Criminology, over governments’ apparent inability to address gang activity underlying the violence.
“It's just more of the same: illegal drug-trade wheelings and dealings that go off the rails, disputes and conflicts among components of the industry usually over market share or breaches of ‘contracts’, followed by disciplinary action and retaliatory shootings.
“We have been talking about this for several years now and government seems unable to address the situation despite clear signals that the problem has been growing steadily.
“The drug trade is getting bigger and more profitable – it is a recession-proof industry – while the related criminal business organizations are getting bolder and the police are becoming increasingly disorganized and ineffective, despite their musings to the contrary – musings echoed by a provincial Solicitor General who doesn't seem to get it.”
SFU criminologist Neil Boyd, an expert on murder, can also comment.
Robert Gordon, 604.418.6640 cell; 778.782.4305; robert_gordon@sfu.ca
Neil Boyd, 778.782.3324; 604.947.9569; neil_boyd@sfu.ca
Joint approach on climate would aid business
A joint Canada-U.S. approach to cutting carbon emissions is needed to ease the impact on Canada’s energy-driven business sector, according to a study for the C.D. Howe Institute by SFU environmental experts. Nic Rivers, one of three study authors, says the approach would address potential competitiveness issues and others related to companies seeking to relocate, if Canada goes ahead with stiff measures. An SFU doctoral student, Trudeau scholar and member of the Energy and Materials Research Group, Rivers is investigating how much relocation could happen and what measures Canada can take to reduce it.
For the study go to: http://www.cdhowe.org/pdf/commentary_280.pdf
Nic Rivers, 604.683.1452; nic_rivers@sfu.ca
Police are investigating three new slayings – all in the span of 24 hours – prompting exasperation from Robert Gordon, director of SFU’s School of Criminology, over governments’ apparent inability to address gang activity underlying the violence.
“It's just more of the same: illegal drug-trade wheelings and dealings that go off the rails, disputes and conflicts among components of the industry usually over market share or breaches of ‘contracts’, followed by disciplinary action and retaliatory shootings.
“We have been talking about this for several years now and government seems unable to address the situation despite clear signals that the problem has been growing steadily.
“The drug trade is getting bigger and more profitable – it is a recession-proof industry – while the related criminal business organizations are getting bolder and the police are becoming increasingly disorganized and ineffective, despite their musings to the contrary – musings echoed by a provincial Solicitor General who doesn't seem to get it.”
SFU criminologist Neil Boyd, an expert on murder, can also comment.
Robert Gordon, 604.418.6640 cell; 778.782.4305; robert_gordon@sfu.ca
Neil Boyd, 778.782.3324; 604.947.9569; neil_boyd@sfu.ca
Joint approach on climate would aid business
A joint Canada-U.S. approach to cutting carbon emissions is needed to ease the impact on Canada’s energy-driven business sector, according to a study for the C.D. Howe Institute by SFU environmental experts. Nic Rivers, one of three study authors, says the approach would address potential competitiveness issues and others related to companies seeking to relocate, if Canada goes ahead with stiff measures. An SFU doctoral student, Trudeau scholar and member of the Energy and Materials Research Group, Rivers is investigating how much relocation could happen and what measures Canada can take to reduce it.
For the study go to: http://www.cdhowe.org/pdf/commentary_280.pdf
Nic Rivers, 604.683.1452; nic_rivers@sfu.ca