- Nancy Pelosi has left Taiwan, but the crisis is just beginning
Friday, August 5th 2022
Guest: Joanna Chiu, staff reporter
U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi became the highest-ranking American official to visit Taiwan in 25 years earlier this week. The visit lasted only 19 hours but was long enough to infuriate the Chinese government. Hours after Pelosi landed, Beijing announced unprecedented military drills off the coast of Taiwan. The standoff continued on Friday, with China suspending dialogue with the U.S. on a range of issues from climate change to military relations to cross border crime. Star reporter Joanna Chiu, Toronto Star staff reporter and author of author of the book “China Unbound,” explains the significance of this week’s visit, why there are worries about war and what an ensuing conflict could mean for Canada.
This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn
Clip sources: CNN, The Sun, Yahoo News, Bloomberg, The Print
- How the B.C. coast is a cruise ship dumping ground
Thursday, August 4th 2022
Guest: Anna Barford, Canadian Shipping Campaigner with Stand.earth
While cruise ship lines took a hit during the pandemic, business is back in full swing. Cruise ships are floating cities on the water and generate all kinds of waste. Surprisingly, U.S. rules around dealing with such waste are much more stringent compared to Canada where we have lax regulations. According to a recent report from Stand.earth and B.C.-based West Coast Environmental Law, ships travelling along the Canadian West Coast are incentivized to dump waste in Canadian waters as it is cheaper and easier.
This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.
Audio sources: CNN and NPR
- If routine Pap tests are becoming a thing of the past, why is Ontario lagging behind?
Wednesday, August 3rd 2022
Guest: Olivia Bowden, staff reporter
There has been global momentum to end Pap tests for cervical cancer and replace them with less intrusive and more effective HPV testing. As countries around the world and even some provinces in Canada start this transition in reproductive health care, medical professionals say Ontario is lagging far behind. The stakes go well beyond comfort. Star reporter Olivia Bowden explains why Ontario has delayed making the change and what it says about how we talk about the safety and pain of those with female reproductive organs.
This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Alexis Green and Matthew Hearn
- What the Nova Scotia shooting reveals about survivors of domestic violence
Tuesday, August 2nd 2022
Warning: This podcast contains graphic content
Guest: Farrah Khan, manager of Consent Comes First at Toronto Metropolitan University
The inquiry into Canada’s worst mass shooting has put a spotlight on how survivors of intimate partner violence often face anger and backlash. After Lisa Banfield was brutally assaulted and held captive by her common-law husband one night in April 2020, 22 people were killed as he went on a murderous shooting rampage. Countless people were impacted by devastating trauma, pain and anger as a result of the gunman’s actions, and Banfield was put under a harsh spotlight. Gender rights advocates say Banfield was unfairly criminalized, criticized and accused of abetting the shooter, and her own trauma as a victim of abuse was never acknowledged. There are now concerns the reception to Banfield will deter other women from reporting abuse.
This episode was produced by Saba Eitizaz, Brian Bradley and Matthew Hearn
- Housing correction: How far will the market fall?
Friday, July 29th 2022
Guest: Jacob Lorinc, business reporter
As prices fall and listings get pulled off the market, experts are projecting a historic correction to come for the Canadian housing market. There already was limited supply, but the confounding thing is that with rising inflation rates, housing affordability will remain a challenge for many people despite lower home prices. Now the two big questions are: How long will it last and how far will the market fall?
This episode was produced by Alexis Green, Paulo Marques and Raju Mudhar.
Audio sources: CBC, Global News, CityNews
