Open Sources Guelph - August 13, 2020

This week on Open Sources Guelph, we've got protests. In Lebanon, people are protesting the incompetency and corruption of their government that lead to disaster. In Canada, people are protesting [checks notes] the best advice of public health to protect them from a deadly pandemic (?). And, in Guelph, people are protesting the potential alteration of a major public park. These week, we'll try and shed some light on all these issues.

This Thursday, August 13, at 5 pm, Scotty Hertz and Adam A. Donaldson will discuss:

Into the Blast. Last week, about 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate confiscated from a cargo ship six years ago exploded in the port city of Beirut, killing over 200 people, injuring 7,000, and leaving about 300,000 people homeless. While it was not an attack, it was not an accident either, and the blame fell immediately on the corrupt Lebanese government who aren't even being trusted by the international community to manage the funds raised to fight the devastation. We'll talk about the politics that led to this terrible event.

Son of the Mask Debate. Last weekend in Kitchener, there was a "Hugs Over Masks" protest in Victoria Park, one of a series of nation-wide protests by people who supposedly think that mask orders infringe on their freedom, but have also attracted all kinds of conspiracy-minded people. We'll talk about how the media should be covering these kinds of protests, how seriously we should take them, and how they're a sign of encroaching QAnon-like movements.

Mike on Margaret. There's a disturbance in the west end, and it has everything to do with Metrolinx plan to electrify the Kitchener GO Train line with the placement of a traction power substation in Margaret Greene Park, and the neighbours are furious. This week, we will be joined by Ward 4 City Councillor Mike Salisbury, who will talk about how he heard about the issue, and what he's doing to make his constituents' concerns front and centre, plus the latest on City Hall's COVID fiscal crunch, and more.

Open Sources is live on CFRU 93.3 fm and cfru.ca at 5 pm on Thursday.