Teresa Gambaro, the opposition's citizenship spokeswoman, has raised interesting issues regarding new migrants. She differentiates between them and ''Australians'', saying new migrants need to be taught about Australian culture on issues such as health, hygiene and lifestyle. She also says recent arrivals are not integrating into the community.
What research is she privy to that leads her to this conclusion? Does the Coalition, if voted into office, plan to give all new migrants a bag containing deodorant, toothbrush, soap, etc, and a guide to the acceptable norms of behaviour?
Gambaro's comments, which rely on a crude racial stereotype of migrants being smelly foreigners, are deeply offensive.
The first thing we must remember is that we are all migrants here, unless you are Aboriginal. Gambaro, whose parents were migrants from Italy, would do well to learn from their experiences.
Instances of prejudice against people of other ethnic backgrounds are not uncommon. Most migrants ''integrate'' very well with the passage of time. The majority are hard-working and resilient. Is it fair to focus on the few that may have problems and use that to promote prejudice? A spokesperson for a major political party has responsibilities, one of which is not to allow debate to sink to such a level that the real issues are ignored and sound bites become the only thing that is heard.
English language programs for new migrants and refugees are important and necessary to help them lead a productive life in their adopted country. If there are ways to improve delivery of these services, then by all means it should be done. I think most people would agree that knowledge of the local language is a necessity. I have not met any new migrants who were not appreciative of the English language courses available to them.
The majority have benefited immensely from them. Multiculturalism need not be a divisive policy. Many corporations have programs teaching cultural awareness to overseas workers, just as Australian corporations train their workers in local norms when they work overseas.
2012年1月12日星期四
No Plastic Bag Ban Currently In Canada
Plastic shopping bags are progressively being banned around the world. In Britain, the plastic bag is symbolically viewed as actions of a “throw away society.” Even China, who is consistently fingered as one of the world’s two worst polluters, has placed a ban on them. But there are no such widespread bans in either Canada or the US, although many American cities have taken the step to eliminate their usage.
Seattle had banned plastic bags in December in order to cut down on the detrimental effects they have on the environment due to the use of petroleum as well as to protect the marine life around Puget Sound. Portland had eliminated plastic bag usage earlier in October. Canadians who are traveling south of the border should no longer expect that they will have a plastic bag with their store purchases but instead should keep this in mind when traveling to the US and either bring their own bags – preferably canvas – along with them.
Vancouver City Councilor Tim Stevenson claims that he had pushed hard for bans on plastic bags four years ago when the city and Metro Vancouver Regional District had contemplated getting rid of them. To Stevenson’s disappointment, there wasn’t enough support to do so as Allen Langdon, the vice-president of sustainability for the Retail Council of Canada, stated consumers still demand plastic bags at the counters, even though retailers are taking the steps to educate customers by offering canvas bags as an alternative. There are no definitive planned bans on plastics bags in Canada, although in 2008 there was a pledge made by industry groups of BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores, as well as the Retail Council of Canada to reduce the amount of plastic bags distributed by 50% by 2013.
Unlike cities in the US, Canadian cities cannot impose a city-wide ban without the support of the provincial government, and shoppers who are still demanding plastic bags at the grocery checkout counters. Stevenson has stated that about 1.3-1.4 billion plastic bags are annually used in BC. He is counting on a promise that Metro Vancouver will be able to recycle all plastic bags by 2015. Langdon has stated that there are plenty of opportunities to recycle them at numerous outlets which include London Drugs, Safeway, Save On Foods, and Walmart. An upcoming progress report is scheduled to be due out this January.
Seattle had banned plastic bags in December in order to cut down on the detrimental effects they have on the environment due to the use of petroleum as well as to protect the marine life around Puget Sound. Portland had eliminated plastic bag usage earlier in October. Canadians who are traveling south of the border should no longer expect that they will have a plastic bag with their store purchases but instead should keep this in mind when traveling to the US and either bring their own bags – preferably canvas – along with them.
Vancouver City Councilor Tim Stevenson claims that he had pushed hard for bans on plastic bags four years ago when the city and Metro Vancouver Regional District had contemplated getting rid of them. To Stevenson’s disappointment, there wasn’t enough support to do so as Allen Langdon, the vice-president of sustainability for the Retail Council of Canada, stated consumers still demand plastic bags at the counters, even though retailers are taking the steps to educate customers by offering canvas bags as an alternative. There are no definitive planned bans on plastics bags in Canada, although in 2008 there was a pledge made by industry groups of BC, Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers, the Canadian Association of Chain Drug Stores, as well as the Retail Council of Canada to reduce the amount of plastic bags distributed by 50% by 2013.
Unlike cities in the US, Canadian cities cannot impose a city-wide ban without the support of the provincial government, and shoppers who are still demanding plastic bags at the grocery checkout counters. Stevenson has stated that about 1.3-1.4 billion plastic bags are annually used in BC. He is counting on a promise that Metro Vancouver will be able to recycle all plastic bags by 2015. Langdon has stated that there are plenty of opportunities to recycle them at numerous outlets which include London Drugs, Safeway, Save On Foods, and Walmart. An upcoming progress report is scheduled to be due out this January.
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