News Compilation: April 2023



SPPGA in the news:

April 1, 2023
A Mongolian boy has been declared an important leader for Tibetan Buddhists
Associate Prof. Julian Dierkes is interviewed by NPR on Mongolia-China relations following the official announcement of a Mongolian boy deemed as a forefront spiritual figure for Tibetan Buddhists. via NPR

April 2, 2023
Moltex vows to help Canada recycle its nuclear waste. Critics say the byproducts would be even worse
Prof. M. V. Ramana comments on the feasibility of Moltex Energy’s nuclear waste recycling proposal, utilizing a prospective 300-megawatt reactor: the Stable Salt Reactor-Wasteburner. via The Globe and Mail

April 4, 2023
Why Investing in Water Storage Matters in Mongolia’s Gobi Desert
Bolormaa Purevjav, IAR publication award winner and PhD Student, explains why Mongolia’s sustainable water solutions should be prioritized as one of the world’s highest-water-risk countries. via The Diplomat

April 5, 2023
Renewing America Series: A Nuclear Energy Comeback? 
An expert nuclear policy panel, including SPPGA Prof. Allison Macfarlane, delves into the future of nuclear energy in the US and Europe in this transcribed discussion. via Council on Foreign Relations

April 5, 2023
China’s Panda Diplomacy is Not Breeding Conservation
MPPGA student Charlotte Bull examines the credibility of panda conservation efforts in China, as well as a more hidden trade agenda. via The Diplomat

April 6, 2023
On the Subject of Corruption: “Community Contributions” and the Labour of Infrastructural Development in Post-Earthquake Nepal
Associate Professor Sara Shneiderman (SPPGA; Anthropology) navigates the subjects and systems of labour exploitation in development projects implemented by the Nepali state in her open access article published in the Public Anthropologist.

April 6, 2023
Land Grabs and the Cost of Mining in Mongolia
IAR publication award winner and MPPGA student Elena Gordillo comments on the growing harm between large-scale industrial development and human rights in Mongolia. via The Diplomat

April 6, 2023
Could the Human Security Frame Derail Hard-Won Progress on Gender?
MPPGA students Panthea Pourmalek, Samantha El-Ghazal, and Nicole Johnston address the disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women, particularly when gender-blind policies are engaged. via CIGI

April 10, 2023
Squeezed between Russia and China, Mongolians fight for their democracy at minus 30C
SPPGA Associate Prof. Julian Dierkes weighs in on Mongolia’s broader strides towards democracy in context of the 2022 protest, comprised of over 20,000 young people demanding accountability. via The Times

April 12, 2023
Debate intensifies over using reprocessed spent nuclear fuel in small modular reactors
SPPGA Profs. Allison Macfarlane and M.V. Ramana advise that Canada should tread carefully in its consideration of using reprocessed fuel, keeping political and environmental concerns in mind. via Research Money Inc.

April 12, 2023
Taking a close look at the benefits and risks of small modular reactors
The climate crisis is rising, but are small modular reactors the solution? Prof. Allison Macfarlane weighs tradeoffs associated with increased nuclear energy adoption. via Research Money Inc.

April 12, 2023
Canada’s proposed supply chain law is weak on human rights and environmental rights
MPPGA students Celine Ng, Julia McKenzie, Oliver Zhang, and Rutu Patel examine the shortcomings of Bill S-211’s narrowly proposed human rights objectives. via Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives – The Monitor

April 13, 2023
Gender-blind policies ignore the disproportionate effects of water crisis on women
IAR fellow Bolormaa Purevjav and MPPGA students Adiya Baratova Tudiyarova and Elena Gordillo Fuertes argue that women’s vulnerabilities from natural disasters need to be addressed. via Philippine Canadian Enquirer

April 13, 2023
Success of Urban-to-Rural Migration Hinges on the Consideration of Urban Planning in the Expanding Cities in Mongolia
MPPGA students Alyssa Brochu, Paola Matha, Nellie Kamau and Niloufar Vahid-Massoudi assess considerations of Mongolia’s reverse migration proposal to remove stress from its capital city. via International Organization for Migration Mongolia

April 15, 2023
The AUKUS subs and the nuclear waste we’ve never stored
Prof. Allison Macfarlane joins an expert panel to discuss Australia’s first venture into nuclear territory after entering a new security pact with the US and UK. via ABC Radio National

April 15, 2023
KPP-Parliamentarian Delegation Celebrates 60th Anniversary of Canada-Korea Diplomatic Ties
SPPGA Prof. Kyung-Ae Park was interviewed on the potential role that Canada can play in inter-Korean relations, peace, and security. The visit-related reports appeared across more than 100 media outlets and government news portals in Korea, the US, and Canada, including The JoongAng IlboYonhap News AgencyYTNNews1Radio Free AsiaThe Korea Daily, Newsis, the South Korean National AssemblyMinistry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Unification, and Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy.

April 18, 2023
Investing in small modular nuclear reactors is a ‘waste of money’: Professor
Prof. M. V. Ramana speaks on the major drawbacks of SMR adoption with BNN Bloomberg. via BNN Bloomberg

April 19, 2023
India projected to pass China as country with world’s largest population
Assistant Prof. Veena Sriram speaks with Global News about population trends that predict India’s accelerated growth. via Global National News

April 21, 2023
Does India have enough insurance coverage for a nuclear disaster?
­Prof. M.V. Ramana raises concern for India’s lack of preparation and accident insurance coverage for both current and developing nuclear power plant operations. Via Aljazeera

April 24, 2023
Discovery | Nuclear, a solution to climate change
Découverte | Le nucléaire, une solution contre les changements climatiques
SPPGA Director Allison Macfarlane discusses nuclear solutions, risks and considerations in the global arena. Via Radio Canada Info

April 25, 2023
A Canadian strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean
MPPGA students Bianca Batacan, Genevieve Varelas, Jose Villagra and Gustavo Villela conducted a review of Canada’s relations with Latin America and the Caribbean and suggest Ottawa should re-prioritize its engagement in the region. Via Open Canada

April 25, 2023
Does Reimagining WPS mean Reimagining Pedagogy?
MPPGA grad students Samantha El-Ghazal, Nicole Johnston, Jasmine Mastracci, Delali Oforiwa, Panthea Pourmalek discusses the value of experiential learning in Women, Peace and Security (WPS) pedagogy, using insight from their capstone Global Policy Project. Via McGill University

April 26, 2023
Explainer: Canadian Nature-Based Climate Solutions
MPPGA students Alex Noseworthy, Hannah Bugas, Hadi Ahmadi, and Utkarsh Khare delve into the potential of Canadian nature-based climate solutions, highlighting their significance in addressing global climate change.

April 26, 2023
How to Fix Mongolia’s Mining Industry
IAR Fellow and PhD student Bolormaa Purevjav explains that poor management of Mongolia’s mineral wealth are a symptom of larger management issues. via the Diplomat

April 27, 2023

Coverage of Illegal Fishing in the Galapagos Wins the IMarEST Kevin Tester Award for Marine Journalism 

Prof. Philippe Le Billon (SPPGA, UBC Geography) and journalist Christ Arsenault jointly win this award for excellence in marine journalism. via Eco Magazine

April 28, 2023
A PARTNER IN FOOD SECURITY: Canada’s Opportunity for Agri-Food Trade with ASEAN
MPPGA grad students Oliver Boucher, Mia MacKechnie, Khanh Pham and Karine Kfoury address the deeply underutilized potential of Canada’s agri-food trade with ASEAN. Via CABC

April 2023
Infeasible: Nuclear Energy as a solution to Climate Change
Prof. M. V. Ramana weighs the economic and peripheral costs of using nuclear energy to combat the rapidly-approaching climate crisis, and whether there is time for any environmental remedy. via American Physical Society

April 2023
Addressing violence against women through social protection: A review of the evidence
Assistant Prof. Tara Cookson (SPPGA; Geography) considers anti-violence interventions following COVID-19’s “Shadow Pandemic.” Via UN Women