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Iraq, election, health, archaeology, arts — issues and experts
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June 29, 2004
Power returns to Iraq…According to SFU political science professor Douglas Ross, the U.S. transfer of governing power to Iraq this week may be largely symbolic, to the extent that the Americans "will still be pulling strings" behind the scenes. "But there is still quite a bit of latitude for the new Iraqi authorities to take initiatives in the way the anti-terrorism struggle is waged," he adds. "Taking control of high profile prisoners like Saddam Hussein should also help to establish some credibility among Iraqis at large." Ross says establishing security and intelligence that works efficiently remains the first task for the new regime. "With little or no role to play in urban security, American forces may be able to provide more effective help by imposing much tighter perimeter control of the country, and some level of enhanced security over the many unguarded weapons and ammunition depots scattered across Iraq."
Liberals back with minority government…It’s back to business for the federal Liberals under Prime Minister Paul Martin but a new stage has been set, after voters elected a minority Liberal government leaving the NDP holding the balance of power. When the dust settles, leadership issues for all parties may unfold. SFU political scientists Patrick Smith and Lynda Erickson, among SFU’s list of election experts (see issues_experts_archives_2003/ for the complete list) can provide an assessment.
Health relations on the mend?…It’s hard to believe that, with all the news of late about dissatisfied health professionals and long waiting lists for surgery, there could be some good news on the health front. SFU political scientist Daniel Cohn can offer some perspective on news that the province’s doctors and the provincial government have struck a tentative working agreement that includes a two-year wage freeze. Cohn can assess whether the tentative three-year deal is a win-win situation for doctors and the government, as the B.C. Medical Association (BCMA) is billing it. Cohn can also talk about why relations between the government and the province’s doctors have suddenly improved.
The story behind ‘long ago person found’…Scientific investigations of the well-preserved human remains recovered from a mountain in Northwest BC (known as Kwaday Dan Ts’inchi, or long ago person found) are now piecing together the life story of the young man, believed to have been an aboriginal. SFU criminologists Gail Anderson and Niki Hobischak, and biologists Bruce Leighton and John Webster, were among the team of scientists, led by professor James Dickson at the Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow. Dickson is in Vancouver this week to begin a summer of speaking engagements in BC and Alaska, followed by another three months of lab work in Victoria at the Royal British Columbia Museum. (He leaves July 4 for the Yukon. Anderson is away until July 9). Details are in a news release issued by the University of Glasgow June 22 at: www.gla.ac.uk
The arts and culture: two sides of the same coin…If we treat the arts as a frill, we will do so at our peril. That will be a key message at a first-of-its-kind conference at SFU on the symbiotic relationship between culture and the arts. "In today’s increasingly multicultural societies, one of the results of cultural interaction is artistic fusion. That can be exciting and productive," notes Sharon Bailin, a SFU professor of drama education and the organizer of the Arts, Culture and Education Institute. The event, July 12-23 at the Burnaby campus, will look at how culture and the arts impact each other. High profile speakers include arts commentator and writer Max Wyman and Richard Anderson, of the Kansas City Art Institute. Live performances and exhibits will showcase Canada’s diverse culture. See www.educ.sfu.ca/acei or contact Loreen Lawrence, lolaw@telus.net.
- Douglas Ross, 604.291.4782; douglasr@sfu.ca
Liberals back with minority government…It’s back to business for the federal Liberals under Prime Minister Paul Martin but a new stage has been set, after voters elected a minority Liberal government leaving the NDP holding the balance of power. When the dust settles, leadership issues for all parties may unfold. SFU political scientists Patrick Smith and Lynda Erickson, among SFU’s list of election experts (see issues_experts_archives_2003/ for the complete list) can provide an assessment.
- Patrick Smith, 604.291.3088; 604.291.1544 (h) patrick_smith@sfu.caLynda Erickson, 604.291.4357; lynda_erickson@sfu.ca
Health relations on the mend?…It’s hard to believe that, with all the news of late about dissatisfied health professionals and long waiting lists for surgery, there could be some good news on the health front. SFU political scientist Daniel Cohn can offer some perspective on news that the province’s doctors and the provincial government have struck a tentative working agreement that includes a two-year wage freeze. Cohn can assess whether the tentative three-year deal is a win-win situation for doctors and the government, as the B.C. Medical Association (BCMA) is billing it. Cohn can also talk about why relations between the government and the province’s doctors have suddenly improved.
- Daniel Cohn, 604.291.5667, daniel_cohn@sfu.ca
The story behind ‘long ago person found’…Scientific investigations of the well-preserved human remains recovered from a mountain in Northwest BC (known as Kwaday Dan Ts’inchi, or long ago person found) are now piecing together the life story of the young man, believed to have been an aboriginal. SFU criminologists Gail Anderson and Niki Hobischak, and biologists Bruce Leighton and John Webster, were among the team of scientists, led by professor James Dickson at the Institute of Biomedical and Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow. Dickson is in Vancouver this week to begin a summer of speaking engagements in BC and Alaska, followed by another three months of lab work in Victoria at the Royal British Columbia Museum. (He leaves July 4 for the Yukon. Anderson is away until July 9). Details are in a news release issued by the University of Glasgow June 22 at: www.gla.ac.uk
- Marianne Meadahl, Media & PR, 604.291.4323; marianne_meadahl@sfu.ca
The arts and culture: two sides of the same coin…If we treat the arts as a frill, we will do so at our peril. That will be a key message at a first-of-its-kind conference at SFU on the symbiotic relationship between culture and the arts. "In today’s increasingly multicultural societies, one of the results of cultural interaction is artistic fusion. That can be exciting and productive," notes Sharon Bailin, a SFU professor of drama education and the organizer of the Arts, Culture and Education Institute. The event, July 12-23 at the Burnaby campus, will look at how culture and the arts impact each other. High profile speakers include arts commentator and writer Max Wyman and Richard Anderson, of the Kansas City Art Institute. Live performances and exhibits will showcase Canada’s diverse culture. See www.educ.sfu.ca/acei or contact Loreen Lawrence, lolaw@telus.net.
- Sharon Bailin, 604.291.5828, sharon_bailin@sfu.ca