Ideas

Delve into the significance of Articles 18 and 19 from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, emphasizing the ongoing struggle for free expression worldwide. Explore contrasting narratives from apartheid-era South Africa and Canada, revealing the complexities of group rights and individual representation. Personal stories highlight the importance of historical context in shaping today's freedoms. Discussions stress the need for critical reflection on our responsibilities to uphold these rights amidst modern challenges, urging individuals to consider their legacies.

Nahlah Ayed, an insightful journalist known for her work in human rights and displacement issues, dives into the critical topic of the right to leave, return, and seek asylum. The discussion unveils the tragic realities faced by migrants today, including crises at the US-Mexico border and in Libya. Ayed highlights the gap between human rights ideals and their implementation, while uncovering the dehumanization in migration policies. The episode urges a reevaluation of resource allocation towards humanitarian approaches, advocating for civic engagement and support for refugees.

The panel dives into the historical context and implications of Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, stressing the importance of privacy in the modern world. A shocking revelation about a Canadian traveler surveillance program sparks a discussion on government overreach and tech companies. The conversation highlights how marginalized communities experience increased surveillance, underlining the need for robust privacy protections. They also explore privacy's evolution amid technological challenges and compare Canada's legal landscape with the EU's strides towards better data regulation.

Dive into a spirited discussion on the right to life, liberty, and security. Panelists share personal stories and historical insights, revealing how these concepts have evolved over 75 years. Explore the harsh contrasts between urban prosperity and homelessness in Toronto. Unpack complex interpretations of human rights and the tension between state security and individual freedoms. Plus, confront the climate crisis's impact on our understanding of security and highlight the role of love and youth activism in driving societal change.

<p>For millennia, human beings along with their domesticated animals have travelled to bring sheep, goats, cattle, and other animals to better grazing areas. The ancient practice, known as transhumance, has been dismissed as an outdated mode of animal husbandry. Yet the practice holds promise for a sustainable future. <em>*This episode originally aired on Nov. 25, 2022.</em></p>

<p>Robert Macfarlane says his writing is about the relationship between landscape and the human heart. His books share his encounters with treacherous mountain passages, mammoth glaciers flowing perceptibly into the sea, and harrowing descents into fissures inside the Earth. <em>*This episode originally aired on Oct. 25, 2023.</em></p>

<p>The Arctic and the Amazon may be far apart geographically, but art connects them intimately. As part of a public art project bringing Indigenous artists from both regions together, Inuk artist Niap and the Shipibo artist Olinda Silvano worked on a mural that now graces the campus of Toronto Metropolitan University. They share their inspirations and their collaboration. <em>*This episode originally aired on Oct. 23, 2023.</em></p>

Hilary Peach, a welder turned boiler inspector, poet, and memoir author, discusses the challenges and joys of being an outsider inside the trades. Topics include historical labor exploitation, women breaking barriers in male-dominated trades, and the need for cultural shifts towards equity and inclusion in the workforce.

Stephon Alexander, a physicist and jazz musician, and Katie Mack, a cosmologist, bridge the gap between music and science. They explore how jazz improvisation echoes quantum mechanics, revealing art's role in scientific innovation. Alexander shares insights on how harmony in music parallels cosmic structures, while Mack unpacks dark matter's mysteries, influencing galaxy formation. Their discussion highlights the creative threads tying together these seemingly disparate fields, captivating listeners with the symphony of science.

<p>Unlike humans, cats aren't burdened with questions of love, death and the meaning of life. They have no need for philosophy at all. English philosopher John Gray explores this "unexamined" way of being in his book, <em>Feline Philosophy: Cats and the Meaning of Life</em>. <em>*This episode originally aired on May 6, 2021.</em></p>