Cesar Ramirez

The failures of the elite democracy that returned in 1986, such as unsuccessfully addressing ongoing corruption and inequality, have nurtured disillusionment amongst the populace that lends itself towards a more sympathetic view of the…
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While existing drug policy has clearly failed to prevent or resolve the ongoing crisis, a flawed decriminalization plan may inadvertently exacerbate the current situation and become a bungle that ultimately sets back the endeavour for more…
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As the Philippines continues to be emblematic of broader trends towards populism and democratic backsliding, the anniversary of democracy’s return offers an opportunity to remember the Marcos dictatorship and reflect on the legacy of People…
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Vancouver has only dipped its feet into the waters of approaches that have produced positive outcomes for addicts and the communities in which they live. What’s becoming clearer now is that we have to jump in the deep end and accept the…
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Still, as tempting as it may be to believe in Nancy Reagan’s “just say no” campaign, much of what is disseminated about addiction is incomplete at best, if not outright false.
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Discussion and dialogue are undoubtedly necessary for affecting change in our society, but simply exposing ourselves to other people and opposing views is not enough to truly overcome prejudice or polarization.
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In this edition of Blackout, writer Cesar Ramirez speaks with Kai Ostwald, Assistant Professor and Director of UBC’s Centre for Southeast Asia Research, about Myanmar’s transition to democracy and future challenges. This…
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In this edition of Blackout, staff writer Cesar Ramirez speaks with Tyrell Haberkorn, Associate Professor of Southeast Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin, Madison about democracy and press freedom in Thailand following the…
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As a part of her tour across Canada, Rappler journalist and 2019 Marshall McLuhan Fellow Patricia Evangelista came to McGill University to lecture on "Reporting the Voiceless: Mainstreaming marginalized issues in the media." As a reporter…
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However, despite the apparent warming of relations with China, it would appear that circumstances have prevented Duterte from completely entrenching himself within Beijing's sphere of influence.
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The past of stigmatizing and marginalizing people struggling with addiction has provided nothing but a perpetuation and intensification of the problem.
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While it is fair to keep in mind that such abuses are not confined to the Catholic Church, the abuses remain a disgrace to a supposedly moral and righteous institution.
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It is clear that the problems, and the drugs that have caused it, will not just fade away. The time for alienating or vilifying addicts and users has passed.
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The acquisition of territory has historically played a prominent role in the history of geopolitics and has been a benchmark for a state asserting its power. While the territorial conquests of the past no longer serve as legitimate means of…
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"Today we challenge ourselves to end street homelessness by 2015." - Gregor Robertson in his mayoral inauguration speech on December 8, 2008. When Vancouver's outgoing mayor Gregor Robertson was first elected ten years ago, he did not…
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Typhoons are a consistent occurrence that devastates countries like the Philippines every year, yet government responses to disasters have been historically poor. With the year's most severe storm over, the question must be asked whether…
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