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Issues & Experts Archive > Week of April 8 – 15, 2002
Week of April 8 – 15, 2002
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Apr 10, 2002
A no-win situation…There seems to be no end in sight to the deadly game of chess being played out in the Middle East. More violence, deaths and international tension are the spiraling outcomes of Israel and Palestine continuing to back each other further into their respective corners. Israel’s attack on Palestine is aimed at ending Palestinian suicide bombings. SFU history professor Bill Cleveland, an expert on Middle East politics, is watching the play-by-play closely. He believes the Israelis and Palestinians had mapped out their strategies long before the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S. Many political analysts have wondered whether the Americans’ bombardment of Afghanistan in an effort to stamp out terrorism has inspired Israel’s current aggression. "Palestinians presumably want an end to Israeli occupation and settlement expansion in areas they claim to be theirs," says Cleveland. "Israelis want security; but do they think that they can have both security and settlements? This is probably an unrealistic set of goals." Cleveland predicts Israeli efforts to exile Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat would spark "even greater Palestinian resistance to the occupation."
Bill Cleveland, 604.291.5815, william_cleveland@sfu.ca
Referendum sparks resistance…As the Liberal government’s native treaty referendum package is delivered to B.C. residents, opposition appears to be mounting. While the Anglican Church has given its resistance a high profile, SFU business professor and ethicist Mark Wexler, who is also chair of the Canadian Jewish Congress, says similar messages are being delivered from the pulpits of various religious denominations, including his own. "As an issue of social justice, many parishioners will be looking for guidance," says Wexler. "Like a lot of others, I’m feeling uncomfortable about how to respond." Wexler says the discomfort is being sparked by everything from the wording of the document to questions surrounding how binding the outcome will be. Meanwhile, colleague Gary Mauser says the referendum is an important way that people in B.C. can help the government settle land claim treaties. "It’s the first time the people of B.C. have been asked what they think about how to settle land claims. They will be asked to pay for these claims. It’s appropriate that they be asked to participate in settling them." The business professor and marketing expert says the referendum targets basic principles. "The government has to negotiate on behalf of all of us," he says. "It should not be punitive on natives, nor profligate with our tax money."
Mark Wexler, 604.738.2366 (h); mark_wexler@sfu.ca
Gary Mauser, 604.291.3652; mauser@sfu.ca
Tracking the myths of traditional medicine…SFU psychology professor Barry Beyerstein and other members of the BC. Skeptics will unravel mysteries of traditional Chinese medicine with the help of author Donald Mainfort, when he presents a lecture on the Physician-Shamen: Origin and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine, from early inscriptions to modern wizardry, on Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Halpern Centre, Burnaby campus. Beyerstein, who can look at the myths behind traditional medicine, says the discussion will be "a friendly but critical look" at the history and current status of the concept of Qi and its central importance in the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine. Mainfort has lived, taught and traveled extensively in China. He will also report on his investigations of fraudulent Qi Gong masters in China and North America.
Barry Beyerstein, 604.291.3743; beyerstein@sfu.ca
Bill Cleveland, 604.291.5815, william_cleveland@sfu.ca
Referendum sparks resistance…As the Liberal government’s native treaty referendum package is delivered to B.C. residents, opposition appears to be mounting. While the Anglican Church has given its resistance a high profile, SFU business professor and ethicist Mark Wexler, who is also chair of the Canadian Jewish Congress, says similar messages are being delivered from the pulpits of various religious denominations, including his own. "As an issue of social justice, many parishioners will be looking for guidance," says Wexler. "Like a lot of others, I’m feeling uncomfortable about how to respond." Wexler says the discomfort is being sparked by everything from the wording of the document to questions surrounding how binding the outcome will be. Meanwhile, colleague Gary Mauser says the referendum is an important way that people in B.C. can help the government settle land claim treaties. "It’s the first time the people of B.C. have been asked what they think about how to settle land claims. They will be asked to pay for these claims. It’s appropriate that they be asked to participate in settling them." The business professor and marketing expert says the referendum targets basic principles. "The government has to negotiate on behalf of all of us," he says. "It should not be punitive on natives, nor profligate with our tax money."
Mark Wexler, 604.738.2366 (h); mark_wexler@sfu.ca
Gary Mauser, 604.291.3652; mauser@sfu.ca
Tracking the myths of traditional medicine…SFU psychology professor Barry Beyerstein and other members of the BC. Skeptics will unravel mysteries of traditional Chinese medicine with the help of author Donald Mainfort, when he presents a lecture on the Physician-Shamen: Origin and Development of Traditional Chinese Medicine, from early inscriptions to modern wizardry, on Tuesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Halpern Centre, Burnaby campus. Beyerstein, who can look at the myths behind traditional medicine, says the discussion will be "a friendly but critical look" at the history and current status of the concept of Qi and its central importance in the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine. Mainfort has lived, taught and traveled extensively in China. He will also report on his investigations of fraudulent Qi Gong masters in China and North America.
Barry Beyerstein, 604.291.3743; beyerstein@sfu.ca