Southern Alberta Council on Public Affairs (SACPA)

Learning to harness fusion in a controlled way – recreating the sun on earth, as a clean source of energy – is the holy grail of international energy programs. According to Dr. Allan Offenberger “A sustained fusion burn is no longer an academic dream but will be realized in the near future.” Dr. Offenberger will outline several quite promising options and update us on their progress and status. Dr. Offenberger is particularly interested in getting Alberta researchers and industry involved in fusion development. He led an assessment team on behalf of the Alberta Council of Technologies Society (ABCtech) on visits to the major fusion programs around the world last year. He believes Alberta could be a strong contender for the location of the world’s first fusion power demonstration plant and subsequent use for “greener” oil sands applications. Speaker: Dr. Allan Offenberger Allan Offenberger is Professor Emeritus of Electrical & Computer Engineering at the University of Alberta. He received his B.A.Sc. and M.A.Sc. degrees (1962, 1963) from the University of British Columbia and Ph.D. degree (1968) from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research program for more than 40 years has been focused on the development of high power lasers and their application to inertial fusion energy research. He has published extensively and given many invited talks at international conferences, universities, government and industrial laboratories as well as to service and other non-governmental organizations. His involvement in fusion research has led to the Alberta/Canada Fusion Energy initiative – to build a national capability in this important future energy technology based on strong working linkages with international centres. In retirement, he enjoys his grandchildren, reading, live theatre, a good glass of wine, travel (including vineyards) and visiting friends in many countries (Europe, Japan, USA) as well as Canada. Fusion continues to focus much of Allan’s time. Moderator: Duane Pendergast Date: Thursday, April 9, 2015 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea at the presentation only)

From a trans point of view, what are the structural oppressions and barriers cissexism put before trans lives? How can we change structures so that they become more accepting and welcoming of trans and gender non-conforming individuals? How do we make environments safer for trans and gender non-conforming youth? How can we define trans history? What are its roots in civil rights movements? Is the T still relevant in LGBT? What kind of discussion between LGB movements and trans communities do we wish for? Speaker: Sophie Labelle Sophie Labelle was raised in rural Quebec and is an author and cartoonist exploring themes like gender expression and gender identity. She is also an elementary school teacher as well as an activist. In 2014, she was the first openly trans person to run during Quebec's provincial elections. She has published many children's books about gender issues and is currently working on a web-comic focusing on a transgender girl that is drawing worldwide attention, "Assigned Male". Date: Thursday, April 2015 Time:Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea at the presentation only)

From a trans point of view, what are the structural oppressions and barriers cissexism put before trans lives? How can we change structures so that they become more accepting and welcoming of trans and gender non-conforming individuals? How do we make environments safer for trans and gender non-conforming youth? How can we define trans history? What are its roots in civil rights movements? Is the T still relevant in LGBT? What kind of discussion between LGB movements and trans communities do we wish for? Speaker: Sophie Labelle Sophie Labelle was raised in rural Quebec and is an author and cartoonist exploring themes like gender expression and gender identity. She is also an elementary school teacher as well as an activist. In 2014, she was the first openly trans person to run during Quebec's provincial elections. She has published many children's books about gender issues and is currently working on a web-comic focusing on a transgender girl that is drawing worldwide attention, "Assigned Male". Date: Thursday, April 2015 Time:Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea at the presentation only)

In announcing the severing of Canada’s formal diplomatic relations with the government of Iran in 2012, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird described the Persian country of about 80 million people at the crossroads of Eurasia as "the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world". Iranian diplomats in Ottawa were declared “personae non gratae” and compelled to vacate their ambassadorial seat. The University of Lethbridge Professor of Globalization Studies, Dr. Anthony Hall, was recently invited to attend as a delegate to an international conference of Independent Thinkers and Film Makers in Iran’s capital city, Tehran. For several days the conference was a main focus of national news in the host country even as it was the subject of a rather vicious smear campaign mounted by the Anti-Defamation League in the United States and throughout an echo chamber of US news agencies including the Washington Post. While in Tehran, Professor Hall was interviewed with Farsi-language translation on one of Iran’s main Public Affairs shows viewed by about 8 million TV watchers. He will bring us his observations of what he saw and experienced beyond the frontiers of Canada’s formal international diplomacy. Now in his 25th year as a Lethbridge academic, Prof. Hall will explain his views on the situation in Iran considering it is on the receiving end of a barrage of economic warfare, cyberattacks on its nuclear energy program, and Mossad assassinations of several of its nuclear scientists. He will address the question, “Is Canada’s orientation of hostility towards the Islamic Republic of Iran an expression of Canadian interests or is it an expression of the subordination of Canada’s national interests to the foreign policy priorities of the Israeli government”? Moderator: Martin Heavy Head Date: Thursday, March 26, 2015 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea at the presentation only)

In announcing the severing of Canada’s formal diplomatic relations with the government of Iran in 2012, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird described the Persian country of about 80 million people at the crossroads of Eurasia as "the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world". Iranian diplomats in Ottawa were declared “personae non gratae” and compelled to vacate their ambassadorial seat. The University of Lethbridge Professor of Globalization Studies, Dr. Anthony Hall, was recently invited to attend as a delegate to an international conference of Independent Thinkers and Film Makers in Iran’s capital city, Tehran. For several days the conference was a main focus of national news in the host country even as it was the subject of a rather vicious smear campaign mounted by the Anti-Defamation League in the United States and throughout an echo chamber of US news agencies including the Washington Post. While in Tehran, Professor Hall was interviewed with Farsi-language translation on one of Iran’s main Public Affairs shows viewed by about 8 million TV watchers. He will bring us his observations of what he saw and experienced beyond the frontiers of Canada’s formal international diplomacy. Now in his 25th year as a Lethbridge academic, Prof. Hall will explain his views on the situation in Iran considering it is on the receiving end of a barrage of economic warfare, cyberattacks on its nuclear energy program, and Mossad assassinations of several of its nuclear scientists. He will address the question, “Is Canada’s orientation of hostility towards the Islamic Republic of Iran an expression of Canadian interests or is it an expression of the subordination of Canada’s national interests to the foreign policy priorities of the Israeli government”? Moderator: Martin Heavy Head Date: Thursday, March 26, 2015 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea at the presentation only)

Imagine spending years in prison without being charged with a crime or knowing exactly what you're accused of. This presentation is a sobering examination of the Canadian government’s use of security certificates, a Kafkaesque tool that allows for indefinite detention without charges, based on evidence not revealed to the accused or their lawyers. Since 1999, this rare and highly controversial device has been used to detain at least five men for nearly 30 years combined. To date, none has been charged with a crime or seen the evidence against them. Mohamed Harkat was arrested under a security certificate in 2002. He spent 43 months in jail (one year in solitary confinement) before being released under strict house arrest conditions in 2006. Mr. Harkat was the center of the second Supreme Court challenge against security certificates, a challenge that was lost late last year. He presently lives under restrictions in Ottawa with his wife Sophie Harkat. Sophie Harkat a graduate student in Public & Media. She has traveled extensively across the county and to the UK to talk about Security Certificates and granted hundreds of interviews with reporters from around the world about her husband's case. She has been a guest speaker at universities & conferences. One of her most memorable events was when she spoke with Jack Layton at a large rally in front of 20,000 people in 2004. She was given a human rights award by CAIR-CAN in 2004. Date: Thursday, March 19,2015 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea at the presentation only)

Imagine spending years in prison without being charged with a crime or knowing exactly what you're accused of. This presentation is a sobering examination of the Canadian government’s use of security certificates, a Kafkaesque tool that allows for indefinite detention without charges, based on evidence not revealed to the accused or their lawyers. Since 1999, this rare and highly controversial device has been used to detain at least five men for nearly 30 years combined. To date, none has been charged with a crime or seen the evidence against them. Mohamed Harkat was arrested under a security certificate in 2002. He spent 43 months in jail (one year in solitary confinement) before being released under strict house arrest conditions in 2006. Mr. Harkat was the center of the second Supreme Court challenge against security certificates, a challenge that was lost late last year. He presently lives under restrictions in Ottawa with his wife Sophie Harkat. Sophie Harkat a graduate student in Public & Media. She has traveled extensively across the county and to the UK to talk about Security Certificates and granted hundreds of interviews with reporters from around the world about her husband's case. She has been a guest speaker at universities & conferences. One of her most memorable events was when she spoke with Jack Layton at a large rally in front of 20,000 people in 2004. She was given a human rights award by CAIR-CAN in 2004. Date: Thursday, March 19,2015 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea at the presentation only)

Democracy is for all intentional purposes based on mutual respect, which means free and fair elections, human rights, and ethical government. How well are we doing with current standards of ethics in politics and the public service, how successfully are they enforced, and how could they be improved? These standards involve conflicts of interest, lobbying, election financing, whistleblowing, expense claims, and public sector accountability. This presentation will contextualize some of the past and present scandals involving both Canadian public servants and elected politicians. Is there a trend towards less accountability and are ethics being compromised as part of a larger problem within society? The speaker will offer hope and suggestions for the future and argue that democracy is not a spectator sport.….. Voter apathy makes it very fragile. Speaker: Ian Greene, PhD Ian Greene has the title of University Professor at York University in Toronto and as of July, 2013, is semi-retired. He is a member of the School of Public Policy and Administration, and has taught at York University since 1985. Prior to this, he worked for the Government of Alberta for four years, and taught at the University of Lethbridge. He has published seven books, two of them with U of L professor Peter McCormick, and numerous articles. Dr. Greene has taught courses in Canadian public law, the Charter of Rights, judicial administration, program evaluation, political ethics, Canadian government, and public administration. He was the inaugural Director of York's Master’s program Public Policy, Administration and Law. He was an associate dean in the Faculty of Arts from 1997 to 2000. He has been co-director of the professional development LLM programme in administrative law in Osgoode Hall Law School. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the York Collegium for Practical Ethics, and the Centre for Public Policy and Law. From 2003 to 2004, he was Chair of the York University Senate. He has been a frequent media commentator on ethics issues in politics. Date: Thursday, March 12, 2015 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea at the presentation only)

Democracy is for all intentional purposes based on mutual respect, which means free and fair elections, human rights, and ethical government. How well are we doing with current standards of ethics in politics and the public service, how successfully are they enforced, and how could they be improved? These standards involve conflicts of interest, lobbying, election financing, whistleblowing, expense claims, and public sector accountability. This presentation will contextualize some of the past and present scandals involving both Canadian public servants and elected politicians. Is there a trend towards less accountability and are ethics being compromised as part of a larger problem within society? The speaker will offer hope and suggestions for the future and argue that democracy is not a spectator sport.….. Voter apathy makes it very fragile. Speaker: Ian Greene, PhD Ian Greene has the title of University Professor at York University in Toronto and as of July, 2013, is semi-retired. He is a member of the School of Public Policy and Administration, and has taught at York University since 1985. Prior to this, he worked for the Government of Alberta for four years, and taught at the University of Lethbridge. He has published seven books, two of them with U of L professor Peter McCormick, and numerous articles. Dr. Greene has taught courses in Canadian public law, the Charter of Rights, judicial administration, program evaluation, political ethics, Canadian government, and public administration. He was the inaugural Director of York's Master’s program Public Policy, Administration and Law. He was an associate dean in the Faculty of Arts from 1997 to 2000. He has been co-director of the professional development LLM programme in administrative law in Osgoode Hall Law School. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the York Collegium for Practical Ethics, and the Centre for Public Policy and Law. From 2003 to 2004, he was Chair of the York University Senate. He has been a frequent media commentator on ethics issues in politics. Date: Thursday, March 12, 2015 Time: Noon - 1:30 PM (30 minutes each for presentation, lunch and Q & A) Location: Country Kitchen Catering (Lower level of The Keg) 1715 Mayor Magrath Dr. S Cost: $11.00 (includes lunch) or $2.00 (includes coffee/tea at the presentation only)

CKXU began as CKUL in 1972, when a public address system was set up in Section A of University Hall at the University of Lethbridge to broadcast musical content inside the building during the day. The station was managed by the University of Lethbridge Students' Union. The CKUL Radio Society was incorporated in Oct. 1977, to govern the affairs of the station, and a year later the CRTC granted the society a license to broadcast on 530 AM In 2003, the CRTC approved the application to operate a new English language community based campus FM radio station in Lethbridge. CKUL’s call letters were changed to CKXU, and on April 8, 2004, the station began to broadcast at 88.3 FM to the city of Lethbridge and the surrounding area from a 125W transmitter located on top of the Students’ Union Building at the University of Lethbridge. CKXU 88.3 FM now broadcasts for more than 168 hours per week, year-round, with a volunteer core of over 100 members. The importance of community radio and independent media will be discussed in the context of corporate mass media and social media competition as well as issues regarding the need for grass-roots funding to operate. Speakers: Benjamin Maine and Aaron Trozzo Benjamin Maine is an enigma wrapped in a tortilla and served with a side of guacamole. He started with CKXU as a founding member of the Coalbanks Dispatch, a radio collective focused on Social Justice and Human Rights issues. This is his second year as CKXU's Program Director where he trains new DJs, manages the program schedule, and - with the help of our wonderful Technical Director - oversees live broadcasts for the station. Aaron Trozzo is like if Jean Luc Picard and Ned Stark had a baby and that baby was raised to preside over a community radio station. He's a collaborative artist that has worked in a variety of media (music, video, photography) and has been CKXU's Benevolent Overlor-er, Program Director since 2009 and he's transformed the station from a ragtag bunch of hooligans into the well-oiled machine that it is today.