Anthropologists working in southern France have determined that a 1.5 metric ton block of engraved limestone constitutes the earliest evidence of wall art. Their research, reported in the most recent edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, shows the piece to be approximately 37,000 years old and offers rich evidence of the role art played in the daily lives of Early Aurignacian humans.

The research team, composed of more than a dozen scientists from American and European universities and research institutions, has been excavating at the site of the discovery—Abri Castanet—for the past 15 years. Abri Castanet and its sister site Abri Blanchard have long been recognized as being among the oldest sites in Eurasia bearing artifacts of human symbolism. Hundreds of personal ornaments have been discovered, including pierced animal teeth, pierced shells, ivory and soapstone beads, engravings, and paintings on limestone slabs.

“Early Aurignacian humans functioned, more or less, like humans today,” explained New York University anthropology professor Randall White, one of the study’s co-authors. “They had relatively complex social identities communicated through personal ornamentation, and they practiced sculpture and graphic arts.”

Aurignacian culture existed until approximately 28,000 years ago.

In 2007, the team discovered an engraved block of limestone in what had been a rock shelter occupied by a group of Aurignacian reindeer hunters. Subsequent geological analysis revealed the ceiling had been about two meters above the floor on which the Aurignacians lived—within arms’ reach.

Using carbon dating, the researchers determined that both the engraved ceiling, which includes depictions of animals and geometric forms, and the other artifacts found on the living surface below were approximately 37,000 years old.

“This art appears to be slightly older than the famous paintings from the Grotte Chauvet in southeastern France,” explained White, referring to the cave paintings discovered in 1994.
“But unlike the Chauvet paintings and engravings, which are deep underground and away from living areas, the engravings and paintings at Castanet are directly associated with everyday life, given their proximity to tools, fireplaces, bone and antler tool production, and ornament workshops.”

He added that this discovery, combined with others of approximately the same time period in southern Germany, northern Italy, and southeastern France, raises new questions about the evolutionary and adaptive significance of art and other forms of graphic representation in the lives of modern human populations.

Photo credits: Anthropologists, including NYU’s Randall White, working in southern France have determined that a 1.5 metric ton block of engraved limestone constitutes the earliest evidence of wall art. Their research shows the piece to be approximately 37,000 years old and offers rich evidence of the role art played in the daily lives of Early Aurignacian humans. Pictured above and in the middle of the article are pieces of the discovery, which depict animals in red and black paint. Images courtesy of Raphaëlle Bourrillon.

A US Federal judge has given the status of a class action suit to the claim demanding a revision of the method of street searches employed by New York police.

This decision has become a victory of American human rights activists who always stated that this method had an openly racist nature. Indeed, according to statistics, 9 out of 10 pedestrians searched in New York streets are Afro-Americans or Hispanic Americans.

New York activists have been struggling against law enforcers’ dubious methods for a long time. In 2008, the New York police, the City Mayor and the City Administration as a whole were accused of regular violations of human rights granted by the First and Fourth Constitutional Amendments. The status of a class action suit will allow groups of citizens to join demands of reviewing the legality of such measures.

The City Administration and Police Department tried to appeal against the human rights activists’ demand, arguing that street searches were a necessary security measure. However, in this case, law and criminal experts showed rare unanimity with police opponents. According to statistical data, the number of detentions of Afro-Americans in 2011 exceeded the size of the Afro-American population in New York, while 9 out of 10 detained people were not involved in any illegal actions.

Last month, Judge Shira Scheindlin announced that the evidence of Jeffrey Fagan, a Columbia University criminologist  who discovered that, from 2004 to 2009, police carried out 150,000 detentions contradicting the Constitution, will be included in the case. At the same time, the New York Civil Liberties Union, one of the main opponents to the controversial measure, states that street searches have not even reduced the number of illegal firearms in the city streets.

Still, the city police continue to insist that the practice of random detentions and searches has made New York one of the safest US cities. New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly, who recently called the searches ‘dubious practice’, is now ready to protect them tooth and nail. He states that street searches have drastically reduced the number of murders.

It may be true that random detentions of suspicious subjects can really make potential criminals give up carrying firearms, thus reducing the number of crimes. However, this practice undoubtedly violates citizens’ rights and moreover, plants the seeds of distrust of police and authorities as a whole in US society.

In this context, taking the statistical data into consideration, the public has a serious reason to accuse police of undisguised racism, which is unlikely to promote stability in the dialogue between the authorities and citizens. Moreover, New York law enforcers regularly hear well-founded accusations of race discrimination. Suffice it to remember the shameful incident in 2011 when police shot down a black old man who had called an ambulance and refused to open the door to police which arrived instead of doctors. The murdered man’s niece who lived next door gave evidence that before opening fire the policemen used openly racist epithets addressing their victim.

The unanimity of judges and experts means that this time, human rights activists have won and police will have to give up their dubious practice. Otherwise, the authorities will risk losing city residents’ trust forever.

CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival (WSFF), North America’s largest short film festival, has just announced the line-up of films for its 18^th annual edition. Showcasing the best short films from around the world, WSFF presents a selection comprised of 244 films from 35 countries. This year’s programming was chosen from over 4,700 submissions, surpassing 2011’s total of 4,200.

This year’s collection of short films is comprised of 207 premieres; with 38 World Premieres (an increase over 2011’s 24 World Premieres). Programming includes a variety of genres, made up of live-action, animation, experimental, documentary and music videos.

“With a record number of submissions this year, and films representing 35 different countries, it is clear that WSFF is an established, sought out destination for filmmakers globally,” said Eileen Arandiga, Festival Director. “With thousands of distinctive stories and viewpoints to choose from, our team has selected some of the very finest offerings and brought them to Toronto audiences. Don’t miss out – it may be your only chance to see them on the big screen.”

Not short on talent or celebrity, this year’s festival offerings will feature an all star cast of famous faces including: Michael Fassbender (Shame), John Malkovich (Burn After Reading), Scott Thompson (“The Kids in the Hall”), Chad Michael Murray (“One Tree Hill”), Peter Mullan (War Horse), Michael Cera (Scott Pilgrim vs. The World), Pierre-Luc Brillant (C.R.A.Z.Y.), Rainn Wilson (“The Office”), Emmanuelle Béart (Mission: Impossible), Rita Wilson (Sleepless in Seattle), comedienne Margaret Cho, Tom Hollander (The Hobbit), Stellan Skarsgård (The Avengers), David Duchovny (“Californication”), Rachel Wilson (“The Republic of Doyle”), Aaron Poole (“Living in Your Car”), Charlotte Rampling (Melancholia), Helena Bonham Carter (The King’s Speech), John Hurt (Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy), Tom Wilkinson (Michael Clayton),  Dave Franco (21 Jump Street), Dave Foley (“The Kids In The Hall”),  Christopher Mintz-Plasse (Superbad), and Jake Gyllenhaal (Brokeback Mountain), as well as Academy Award winners Judi Dench (Casino Royale), Anna Paquin (“True Blood”), and Christopher Plummer (Beginners). Appearing behind the camera are such celebrated talents as Spike Jonze (Being John Malkovich), Errol Morris (Tabloid), Theodore Ushev (Lipsett Diaries), and Anne Émond (Nuit #1).

Festival venues include the newly revamped Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, as well as the Isabel Bader Theatre with special programming also taking place at the CN Tower and at The Garrison.  For the first time, festival films will be projected via digital format during the festival, offering filmmakers added flexibility and financial benefits. This evolution in exhibition technology allows filmmakers to showcase their work in the best possible way, ensuring quality projection at every screening.

Expanding on last year’s popular introduction of the TOWERING SHORTS program, WSFF will host a full day of activities at the CN Tower. “Shorts for Shorties” will pair a screening with an animation workshop from the National Film Board of Canada, the “Date Night: Towering Shorts Edition” will couple a screening with a trip to the top of the tower to Horizon’s restaurant for dessert and coffee, while attendees to the “Laughter Without Borders: Towering Shorts Edition” enjoy at post-screening drink and an appetizer at Horizon’s. All tickets to Towering Shorts programs include access to the Look Out and Glass Floor levels of the CN Tower.

Screenings at the 2012 CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival include:

OPEN GALA: AWARD WINNERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Pop the champagne and don your fancy pants, it’s time to put your best foot forward and walk the red carpet in celebration of this past year’s most renowned and acclaimed short films from around the globe.

OFFICIAL SELECTION

Presented in 12 programs, the best short films from every corner of the world are represented in the Official Selection. These films push buttons, boundaries and elevate the art of short filmmaking to new heights. Made by the trailblazers, the originals and the masters of their craft, these shorts are sure to light up the screen with their originality, beauty and finesse.

CELEBRITY SHORTS

Easily (and obviously) our most star-studded line-up of the year, Celebrity Shorts is back and better than ever. Always a festival crowd pleaser, we’ve rounded up a veritable who’s who of some of the most talented people working in film and television today and put them into one big, enjoyable evening!

CFC SHORT DRAMATIC FILMS

Here’s your chance to see the works of the 2011 CFC Short Dramatic Film Program in one complete sitting. Representing four distinct stories and voices from some of today’s brightest emerging storytellers, the CFC Short Dramatic Film Program is not to be missed.

CHRISTMAS IN JUNE

Feeling that yuletide withdrawal? Not to worry! We’ve collected a special stocking stuffer of short films that will put you in the holiday spirit, no matter how high the thermometer gets. Fruitcake not included.

DATE NIGHT

Forget speed dating. Come and see people fall in and out of love again and again. Take a trip around the world with unexpected encounters, eternal promises and intimate moments. Love truly knows no bounds or boundaries in this eclectic collection of shorts that redefine romance.

INDIE COMEDY SHOWCASE – FOR SHORTS & GIGGLES

Toronto’s hottest comedians come together for an evening of live comedy and short films that’s sure to bust a few guts! From Hollywood’s Walk of Fame to Ancient Egypt, and everywhere in between, this night promises to be chock full of jokes you won’t want to miss.

INTERNATIONAL COMEDY – LAUGHTER WITHOUT BORDERS

This year’s comedy offering serves up a healthy dose of confused identity, bumbling Irish bank robbers, politicians caught up in their own spin, scrabble games gone to hell and a hammered underage drinker. Get ready to lose your mind laughing!

THE NIGHT SHIFT

Pull an all-nighter in a dark room full of strangers while the rest of the world sleeps. Presented in three parts, indulge in four hours of depraved insanity. A midnight movie marathon for those who dare, but whatever you do, don’t fall asleep.

SCENE NOT HERD

The 9^th edition of the ever-popular Scene Not Herd program is back with a snapshot of the most theatrical music videos being produced around the world today. Leave the iPod at home and sit back for the ultimate onscreen playlist.

SCI-FI: OUT THERE

Hold on tight time travelers! Grab a seat and shuttle back and forth in time through the magic of storytelling. Time may stand still for an alien abduction and spreading infections, but when the clock resumes, it’s in reverse – back to the 80s, the American Civil War and the Viking age. Who knows how far the rabbit hole will take you…

SHORTS FOR SHORTIES: FLICK-NIC

Family members young and old will love this day at the park with a series of enchanting shorts to serve as the perfect backdrop to your day together. Relax and sit back with this collection of whimsical shorts that will bring to life all the things you love most about spending a day outside.

SHORTS FOR SHORTIES: MISSION TO THE MILKY WAY

Pack your bags and voyage near and far, for adventures big and small, in this collection of animated shorts that will take you on all sorts of journeys from rollercoaster rides to intergalactic space travel!

SLAP ‘N’ TICKLE

WSFF gets down and dirty with the most NSFW program to hit the festival. In an evening filled with penises and popsicles, cougar lesbians, and hot babes with guitars, this year’s most scandalous shorts are sure to heat things up and tickle your funny boner.

SPOTLIGHT ON SWITZERLAND

Presented in two programs, this year’s country spotlight presents just a sample of the filmmaking talent that keeps the Swiss film scene ripe with culture and creativity.

STUDIO FILM BILDER (ANIMATION SPOTLIGHT)

This program shines the spotlight on eight award-winning, groundbreaking shorts from the celebrated Studio Film Bilder animation house. They blend traditional and cutting edge technologies to produce some of the world’s best-loved short animated works.

SUPER 16 ANARKINO (FILM SCHOOL SPOTLIGHT)

What happens when you combine anarchist values with boundless creativity? Super 16, that’s what! Founded in Copenhagen in 1999, Super 16 is a student-run film school operated without administration. The results are unbelievable production values, exceptional writing, and one-of-a-kind characters and stories that stay with you for the rest of your life.

WSFF 2012 FESTIVAL AWARD WINNERS SCREENING

The jury has spoken! Come out and see which films are crowned “Best of the Fest” for 2012.

SHORT FILMS: BIG IDEAS SYMPOSIUM 2012

The Short Films: BIG Ideas Symposium is a four-day conference on the art and business of short filmmaking. This year’s big ticket is a master class with renowned filmmaker Jean-Marc Vallée (C.R.A.Z.Y., Café de Flore). Returning for its sophomore presentation is the Feedback Loop, a rare opportunity for select filmmakers to get advice on their work from a panel of professionals and experts. Other highlights are panel discussions and power hours on a range of topics including: funding & crowd sourcing, the festival selection process, and translating a story from page to screen. The WSFF Symposium is a must-do event for any serious filmmaker.

Please refer to the festival program guide or shorterisbetter.com for full programming and symposium details.

Watch their great trailer:

Greek President Karolos Papoulias will make on Sunday a final push for the formation of a coalition government following the May 6 national polls that gave no party parliamentary majority, the president’s office said on Saturday.

The statement came after Papoulias met with socialist PASOK party leader Evangelos Venizelos who returned the exploratory mandate he had been given on Thursday.

According to the statement, Papoulias will hold a series of meetings with leaders of all seven parties that enter the new assembly, according to the constitution.

The president will receive first the three party chiefs that held the mandate in their hands over the past week, trying to form a national unity administration.

They include Antonis Samaras of conservative New Democracy (ND), Alexis Tsipras of the radical leftist SYRIZA coalition and Venizelos. Their parties ranked first, second and third in Sunday’s elections.

During Saturday’s meeting, Venizelos told Papoulias that PASOK, ND and the smaller Democratic Left party that ranked last in the elections agree on a pro-European interim government with a two-year term to keep Greece in the eurozone and renegotiate some terms of the bailout contracts with international lenders to overcome the severe debt crisis.

He implied that efforts should focus on persuading SYRIZA to join a coalition.

But Tsipras retains a hard line against austerity imposed under the deals signed with other EU countries and the International Monetary Fund since 2010 in exchange of multi-billion euro loans to avoid a Greek default. SYRIZA asks for a drastic review of some tough austerity measures that have made life hard for recession-hit Greeks.

Papoulias expressed hope that his contribution in efforts to set up a government will be positive, as “things are very difficult.”

Local and foreign officials and analysts warn that if Greece misses timetables and goals under the bailout agreements amidst political instability, lenders could stop releasing the next tranches of aid and the country would face bankruptcy and a possible exit from the eurozone.

The Greek constitution does not set a time frame for deliberations under auspices of the president. If this last bid fails, the constitution gives Papoulias the option of appointing a caretaker government headed by the presidents of the Supreme Court or Council of State, before calling new elections when the new parliament convenes on May 17.

According to Greek media reports, a second round of polls could take place on June 10 or June 17

By Boris Volkhonsky

On Friday, as reported by The Washington Post, the Obama administration said it will resume some military sales to Bahrain, while recognizing “a number of serious unresolved human rights issues” and citing increased “polarization” in Bahrain, where arrests and repression against increasingly violent political protests have increased despite the government’s pledges to begin a political dialogue with its opponents.

The decision to lift the restrictions, which had frozen tens of millions of dollars worth of planned arms sales last fall, the story in The Washington Post, goes on was based on “our desire to help the Bahrainis maintain their external defense capabilities, and a determination that it is in U.S. national interest to let these things go forward.”

The logic is wonderful! Human rights issues remain unresolved, polarization is increasing, and so are violent protests, arrests and repressions, but “it is in U.S. national interest to let these things go forward.”

What adds to the ridiculousness of the situation is the fact that Washington’s faithful (and George Soros financed) Human Rights Watch’s Washington director Tom Malinowski gave the administration “credit for pushing very hard” for the Bahraini government to implement its commitments to open the political process. “I don’t think there’s any question about what the administration is trying to achieve in Bahrain or the sense of urgency they feel,” Malinowski is quoted as saying by The Washington Post.

The decision to reopen the arms supply routes to Bahrain was taken shortly after a visit to Washington this week by Bahrain Crown Prince Salman Hamid al-Khalifa, who met Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.

Also, among the recent U.S. activity in the Persian Gulf region  U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton met with the six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council – Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (all of the six being the real standard bearers of democracy and human rights) – in order to reach a new security cooperation agreement. This is especially notable.

One could wonder why, while pressing others on human rights issues and threatening “humanitarian intervention” whenever a country is not ready to follow the U.S.-led guidelines, Washington’s attitude towards Bahrain is so different. In fact, one could, but one shouldn’t.

The core of the issue lies in the fact that Bahrain serves as the most important base for the U.S. Fifth Fleet in the region and that, geopolitically speaking, it serves as one of the most important levers in the U.S. and Saudi hands in their coordinated policy of containing Iran. And remembering that the above-mentioned protesters are mostly Shiites, and therefore give ground for suspecting them in having close ties with Iran, the abuses against them may be easily disregarded.

When it comes to far-reaching national interests, such considerations as human rights do not really matter. The “our SOB” approach has always prevailed in the U.S. policy, and why should the U.S. change its attitudes? As for the human rights watchdog, it has always been a reliable instrument of Washington policies, instigating protests in countries opposed to Washington and hushing them up in countries loyal to the U.S.

Therefore, the humble concerns expressed by Tom Malinowski that “the number one U.S. security interest in Bahrain right now is not making sure they have slightly better F-16 engines, it’s making sure that they implement the reforms needed to make the relationship sustainable over the long term,” should not mislead anybody. His statement that “there’s no question about what the administration is trying to achieve in Bahrain” is much more meaningful.

So long as Bahrain remains faithful to its U.S. and Saudi bosses, it will remain their favorite offspring. And forget about human rights!

The model was first described last year in the journal Science. Comparing nine years of fire data from NASA’s Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Terra satellite, with a record of sea surface temperatures from NOAA, scientists established a connection between sea surface temperatures in the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and fire activity in South America.

“There will be fires in the Amazon Basin, but our model predictions suggest that they won’t be as likely in 2012 as in some previous years,” said Jim Randerson of the University of California, Irvine, and principal investigator on the research project.

Specifically, sea surface temperatures in the Central Pacific and North Atlantic are currently cooler than normal. Cool sea surface temperatures change patterns of atmospheric circulation and increase rainfall across the southern Amazon in the months leading up to the fire season.

“We believe the precipitation pattern during the end of the wet season is very important because this is when soils are replenished with water,” said Yang Chen of UC Irvine. “If sea surface temperatures are higher, there is reduced precipitation across most of the region, leaving soils with less water to start the dry season.”

Without sufficient water to be transported from the soil to the atmosphere by trees, humidity decreases and vegetation is more likely to burn. Such was the case in 2010, when above-average sea surface temperatures and drought led to a severe fire season. In 2011, conditions shifted and cooler sea surface temperatures and sufficient rainfall resulted in fewer fires, similar to the forecast for 2012.

Improvements to the model are possible by incorporating data from the MODIS instrument on NASA's Aqua satellite, accounting for fires that occur in the afternoon when conditions are hotter and drier. (Image courtesy Doug Morton.)

Building on previous research, the researchers said there is potential to adapt and apply the model to other locations where large-scale climate conditions are a good indicator of the impending fire season, such as Indonesia and the United States.

Amazon forests, however, are particularly relevant because of their high biodiversity and vulnerability to fires. Amazon forests also store large amounts of carbon, and deforestation and wildfires release that carbon back to the atmosphere. Predictions of fire season severity may aid initiatives – such as the United Nation’s Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation program – to reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases from fires in tropical forests.

“The hope is that our experimental fire forecasting information will be useful to a broad range of communities to better understand the science, how these forests burn, and what predisposes forests to burning in some years and not others,” Morton said. “We now have the capability to make predictions, and the interest to share this information with groups who can factor it into their preparation for high fire seasons and management of the associated risks to forests and human health.”

To see the 2012 prediction and UC Irvine disclaimer clause, visit:

https://webfiles.uci.edu/ychen17/data/SAMFSS.html

Related story, “Ocean Temperatures Can Predict Amazon Fire Season Severity”:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/fires/main/amazon-fire-season.html

Top Credit: Gauges convey the fire severity forecast for 10 regions in the Amazon Basin where fire activity varies greatly from year to year, and where climate conditions have a significant impact on fire activity. (Credit: Yang Chen/UC Irvine)

Four hundred thousand public workers in the UK on Thursday took to the streets nationwide in a 24-hour strike to protest the plans proposed by the government of David Cameron to reform the pension system.

According to information from the unions involved in the strike, public service employees, including police and immigration personnel, express their dissatisfaction with the new proposal that will  them to work longer and earn less when they retire.

According to the head of the public sector union Unite, Gail Cartmail, dissatisfaction is such that it is the third time in six months they march against the project proposed by Prime Minister Cameron.

Cartmail said that “the government uses employees pensions to carry out their agenda, instead of pointing to the greed of the bankers.”

The UK budget deficit last March reached 6.4 percent of GDP.

“We marched for what we believe is right,” said Cartmail.

The spokesperson for the workers of the Ministry of Interior, Yvette Cooper, told  British media that they joined the march in opposition to government policy  ”they have removed thousands of police stations across the country and this is irresponsible.”

Cooper added that “this government is going too far and too fast, the extent of these cuts is simply harmful.”

Government will continue with the plan

Cabinet Minister, Francis Maude, said Thursday that  there was “no sense” to the strike and recalled that the Government will press ahead with reform, which envisages increased contributions and raising the retirement age from 65 to 67 years by 2028.

“Our reforms ensure that public sector pensions remain the best and can be maintained in the future,” said Maude.

Despite the marches and protests by workers, Queen Elizabeth II confirmed to Parliament that the proposed pension reduction is a priority for this year.

The 11th UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues on Thursday will debate problems related to violence against women and girls from the autochthonous peoples. Participants in the meeting will analyze actions undertaken or unfulfilled by the governments on this matter, including the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples approved in 2007.

The document says that the States will adopt measures, in collaboration with the indigenous peoples, to ensure that indigenous women and children are protected and guaranteed from all forms of violence and discrimination.

The issue on indigenous women and their contribution to the processes of citizenship and governance was the objective of a special session held on Monday to show the results of an experience developed by organizations from Mexico and Central America.

The implementation of that project contributed to the institutionalization of programs that involve, on one side, the Government as a guarantor of rights and, on the other hand, the Academy and indigenous women and civil society organizations.

Violence against women and girls throughout the world is among the priorities of the UN-Women agency, created over a year and led by former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

By Erika Shaker via Behind The Numbers

I went to McGill in the late 80s and early 90s when tuition fees were less than $1,200 a year, so with summer jobs and some parental help I graduated from my first degree debt-free. For my MA, which I took in Ontario, I worked part-time and graduated after one year with a debt of $10,000.

By way of comparison: my partner went to university in Ontario after grants were eliminated, and when the first round of tuition fee hikes were implemented. He completed a BA and then an MA, and graduated with a debt load (and compound interest) requiring monthly payments of $650 for 10 years.

We know we benefited, and are benefiting from, our education. Both of us have found employment that allows us to make use of what we studied, and each of us paid back our loans. But that debt (particularly my partner’s), until it was fully repaid, impacted every major decision we made as a couple and then later as a family. And we still live with those decisions: when we bought a house, when we had kids, how many kids we could afford to have, the fact that we don’t own a car, how often we see our families who live out of town. (The other determining factor is the high cost of child care outside of Quebec.)

“Have you set up RESPs yet?” we’re often asked. Are you kidding—with both kids still in child care? And since we have fundamental issues with the RESP system, the public money it represents and how, like the RRSP system, it’s geared to the wealthiest families who can most afford to save, we’ll be exploring other ways—once child care expenses go down—to save for our kids’ education so that they can start their adulthood as debt-free as possible.

Of course, if our house needs major repairs it promises to throw a huge wrench into “the plan”. Because for many of us, life is as precariously balanced as a three-legged stool: alter one element (like when I broke my leg last year, rendering me immobile for several weeks) and the whole thing threatens to topple.

Our societies are likewise delicately balanced: educated societies are healthy societies; equitable societies are safer societies. There is no one panacea—these elements work together. And they need to work well together—which requires accountability, sufficient financing, transparency, and effective administration. So the question is not “health careor education, what’s it going to be?”; the question is, what do we need in order to create an equitable, healthy, educated and engaged society, and what’s the best, fairest, most efficient way to get it?

It is within this context that we need to examine the rhetorical criticisms levied against the Quebec student strike and the people involved.

Tuition fees in Quebec are the lowest in the country. What have they got to complain about?

It’s less surprising that Quebec students are protesting than it is that students in other provinces aren’t. Perhaps if there had been sustained mass uprisings in other provinces fees wouldn’t be $6,600 in Ontario, or an average of about $5,500 in the rest of Canada. Maybe then we’d have more middle-income families able to avoid the “do we retire, take out another mortgage on the house or watch our kid graduate with upwards of $30,000 in debt” conversation taking place in many Ontario households.

We also need to question the whole “you’ve got it less bad than others, so stop whining” argument that’s used to marginalize anyone fighting for improvements. After Quebec, who’s next? Newfoundland-Labrador’s fees are the next cheapest (and not by much, thanks to a 25% rollback and freeze a few years ago that has according to the Canadian Federation of Students resulted in a 5% increase in participation rates)—do we turn our jealousy on them? Then Manitoba? Until we’re all equally indebted? How is that a solution?

Okay, fine. They want a tuition freeze. Where are they going to find the money? Or what are they going to give up to get it?

Think back to that three-legged stool. Educated societies are healthier. More equitable societies are safer. These things work together to create a better standard of living for all of us. Rather than kicking out one leg of the stool to “afford” the other two, perhaps we should focus on the real threat that is crushing the stool itself (and no, it ain’t socialism!)–government decisions that lead to the consistent underfunding of public social infrastructure.

But while we’re on the subject of “finding” money to pay for Quebec’s social programs, let’s take a look at provincial funding for private schools: $437 million in 2006-07. That’s money being used to “support” middle-income families who want to access education as a private good, rather than putting that money towards improving all public schools so that they better serve the needs of all kids. It would more than pay for a fee freeze at Quebec universities and have money left over for bursaries for low-income students. Or the remainder could be redirected towards public schools. But it does demonstrate that when public money is used to facilitate private access, it’s the public infrastructure and the people accessing it who pay the price.

Why are they inconveniencing my life because of their issues?

The point of a strike is to disrupt—to draw attention to what is going on, and to create public momentum in calling for alternatives. It makes little sense to protest in the middle of nowhere so as not to interrupt day-to-day activity merely to be “polite”. When workers strike one goal is to demonstrate how much the public needs their service and why they should be adequately compensated for their work. When students strike their goal is more nuanced–these are community members and future workers upon whose labour, skills and knowledge we will increasingly depend.

But more broadly: you think you’re inconvenienced because your shopping trip is delayed or because you’re held up in traffic? Just wait for the “inconvenience” society will have to deal with because government policies and priorities are creating an underclass of educated youth with fewer job prospects who are tired of elected representatives paying their concerns lip service at best. Dealing with thoseramifications will be far more expensive and inconvenient for all of us.

Why you do they think they’re entitled to something better than what I got?

This argument is particularly frustrating when it’s voiced by those (yes, even in Quebec) who paid tuition fees a fraction of today’s, who graduated and sailed into their first job (or were even hired right out of high school because a degree was not yet a job requirement) before wages stagnated and when household debt was not at 150%. They may have had debt, but it was nowhere near what we’re currently seeing. And it could be paid off in a fraction of the time it takes today’s graduates to extricate themselves from the weight of student loans (after years of waiting tables). But it seems healthy pay cheques and years of upward social mobility have also bought some convenient amnesia.

And even if the previous generation had it hard too: why blame Quebec students for fighting for a better situation for themselves and those who come after them? If the standards we set are based on how hard we had it, and anyone who follows should have it at least as hard, what does this say for social progress? Social programs were created because people wanted something better for their children and grandchildren than they themselves had—a decent standard of living, accessible education, health care, financial assistance if they lose their job, and the ability to retire with dignity and some financial security.

As for the “entitled” question: these young people are risking their semester; in the case of students in their final year of study, they’re risking it on behalf of future students. Those students, professors, and family members: they’re protesting for other people’skids, for the communities we all live in, for people who are not well-served by political decisions that overwhelmingly privilege a wealthy minority. So here’s my question: How difficult do you want their lives to be, before you can feel vindication for the challenges you faced?

Why are they refusing to pay their “fair share”?

What, exactly, is “fair”? Is it as much as you can afford? Is it a percentage of your family income? Is it based on the salary you’re likely to earn when you graduate? Is it based on what the government says it can “afford”? Or on what the rest of the public stands to gain from an educated society?

Some say that because it is “unfair” to subsidize fees for rich and poor alike, we should fully deregulate tuition fees to make the rich pay more, and gear bursaries to low income students.

Well, of course it’s unfair for the poor to have to pay the same amount as the wealthy. User fees are inherently unfair. We should absolutely pay what we can afford—for higher education, and health care, and public infrastructure, and a social safety net that is there for all of us when we need it. Now, if only there was some national mechanism in place where we could calculate the amount we owe based on our incomes to pay for these programs that are vital to a well-functioning, equitable, healthy, educated society. Perhaps we could record it all in a single form, and set aside a day each year to do this, to make it more coordinated and efficient. I suggest April 30^th.

Because as we know, the most effective, efficient, fair and accountable way to pay for these programs is through a progressive tax system. So while I recognize the need to keep tuition fees affordable, and the importance of a national grants system like the rest of the industrialized world enjoys, it’s a stop-gap measure. If we are truly committed to fairness, the goal must be—in the interests of economic efficiency and social justice, but also in recognition of the importance of a highly educated society—fully public (not to be confused with “free”) higher education.

Why should I pay for their education?

Because these are the kids who will be your doctors, lawyers, teachers, engineers, social workers, health care workers, dentists, architects, librarians….do you get the picture? Even though I have no intention of going to med school, I sure hope the person performing any surgery on me did. And it would be nice to know that the teacher at the front of my kid’s class isn’t exhausted because they’ve been working a second job waiting tables to pay off their student debt. We depend on their work, professionalism, and what they bring to our communities to enrich us all.

Of course, there are “return on investment” arguments: increased incomes earned by those with degrees mean more taxes paid into the system, more disposable income etc. But there are other arguments which are even more substantial: improved health, greater civic engagement and community involvement, more social mobility and increased electoral participation. In other words, societies with better access to education tend to be healthier, more cohesive, more tolerant and more equitable places to live, work, and raise families.

Which means it comes down to this: we’re not paying for “their” education. All of us, including those students in the streets, are paying for the right to live in an educated society. With all of the vast benefits that brings.

A film by Yung Chang

 “I chose to tell this story not only because the subject was boxing, but the story was about respect, honour, and perseverance – virtues at their greatest test in a changingChina…”

 - director Yung Chang

 Opens in Toronto, Friday, May 11^th at Varsity Cinemas

In centralChina, a Master coach recruits poor rural teenagers and turns them into Western-style boxing champions. Through hard work and discipline, these boys and girls come of age, trained in the art of boxing and the game of life.

These young teens arrive with Olympic dreams, hoping to become China’s next amateur heroes.

But the pull of professionalism also weighs upon their shoulders. Their coach Qi Moxiang, hopes to make a storied comeback in a final pro fight, to show them the way. The top student boxers face dramatic choices as they graduate – should they fight for the collective good as amateurs, or for themselves and their own personal gain as professionals? It’s a metaphor for the choices that everyone faces now, in the New China.

“From Up the Yangtze,” says director Yung Chang, “I learned that your subject doesn’t have to say much in order to have depth; I like the story in unspoken silences.”

The film follows young boxing hopefuls,Miao Yunfei and He Zongli who Chang’s crew discovered from a school inHuili County,SichuanProvince,that has produced 200 champions in 20 years.  Miao’s family was quite successful as tobacco farmers and He Zongli’s family were poor subsistence farmers. Their personalities were polar opposites with Miao outgoing and Zongli quiet and introverted, and these traits translated to their fighting personas.

“In China Heavyweight,” says Chang. “I use the genre of boxing to tell a bigger story. Embedded within the human drama unfolding between the two students and the coach, is a commentary on modernChina. InChina, you fight for your country; but with boxing, the bottom line is that you’re fighting for yourself. This story becomes a metaphor for nationalism vs. individualism. But at the heart of the film, it’s really about the relationship between Coach Qi and his students. It’s enough to walk-away with a greater sense of honor, about the role of mentors and teachers, and about perseverance.”

Top picture: Qi Moxiang training in Huili County, Liangshan Prefecture, Sichuan Province.

Photo credit: Sun Shaoguang. 2011