Publications
September 23, 2024
Canada’s platform economy boom is a risk to workers
MPPGA alum Atieh Yekta evaluates how workers are impacted by the labour market’s rise of platform work, noting how it “offers flexibility, but often lacks security”. Via Policy Options
September 19, 2024
Gender Equality at the Summit
SPPGA Policy Practitioner Ginette Azcona writes about the UN’s Summit of the Future, underscoring the importance of gender equality when considering negotiations about sustainable development goals and the global agenda. Via Apolitical
September 10, 2024
The future of new nuclear
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana co-authors an article exploring the future of nuclear technology, noting its decline due to high costs and delayed operations. Governments must resist from further funding amidst rising pressures. Via Bylines Scotland
Media
September 30, 2024
Residential school survivors are still fighting for access to records. They can’t heal, until they know
Prof. Tricia Logan (SPPGA; Institute for Critical Indigenous Studies) speaks on the importance of accessibility to residential school records for survivors and their communities. She notes that “a lot of different pieces and […] records” remain concealed. Via Toronto Star
September 30, 2024
The Grim Truth Behind Microsoft’s Plan for Three Mile Island and A.I.
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana comments on Microsoft’s plans to increase nuclear power usage in the face of AI demands. He explains the unviable nature of the initiative, particularly companies requiring specific foreign fuel imports. Via The New Republic
September 27, 2024
B.C.’s Conservative Party wants the province to reconsider its nuclear energy ban. But does it make sense?
Amidst the Conservative Party’s wishes to lift BC’s nuclear energy ban, SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana denounces the practicality and safety of nuclear power plants, noting that SMRs “will not fix the problems of nuclear energy.” Via The Narwhal
September 25, 2024
Comment fonctionne la taxe carbone pour les industries?
SPPGA Prof. Emeritus George Hoberg explains the carbon tax imposition; though he notes its ability to be “extremely effective”, province-dependent pricing systems act as an obstacle to this initiative. Via Radio-Canada
September 25, 2024
Microsoft vowed to fight climate change — then genAI came along
SPPGA Director Allison Macfarlane comments on the lack of the safe, permanent storage for nuclear waste in response to Microsoft’s empty promises of carbon reduction and climate justice. Via Computerworld
September 19, 2024
India Backs Small Nuclear Reactors to Power Heavy Industry
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana explains how promised high-energy outputs from the nuclear industry allow them to stay in the “public consciousness”, despite consistent failure to deliver. Via IEEE Spectrum
September 17, 2024
Are the World’s Ongoing Conflicts in Danger of Going Nuclear?
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana sheds light on government officials threatening to use nuclear weapons amidst global conflict. He advocates against nuclear power’s usage in warfare, as well as its global endorsement more broadly. Via Inter Press Service
September 12, 2024
Nuclear power emits no carbon dioxide but is ‘anything but clean’ (Your Letters)
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana weighs in on the failure of small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) company NuScale Power, advising that governments steer away from funding “theoretical reactor concepts”. Via Syracuse
September 10, 2024
The U.S. Election Debate Is This Evening
Prof. Maxwell Cameron (SPPGA; UBC Political Science) weighs in on the U.S. presidential debate between former president Donald Trump and Vice-President Kamala Harris, discussing what viewers can expect from the event. Via CTV News
September 9, 2024
John Rustad wants B.C. to go nuclear
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana challenges B.C.’s Conservative Party leader John Rustad’s plans for nuclear reactor development upon his election. “You cannot describe nuclear power as a clean source,” Ramana says, “it has its own pollutants.” Via Canada’s National Observer
September 6, 2024
Why Trudeau’s governing partner just abandoned him | About That
Prof. Maxwell Cameron (SPPGA; UBC Political Science) offers insight on NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh’s choice to leave the supply-and-confidence-agreement with the Liberal party. Via CBC News
September 5, 2024
Why nuclear energy is not the answer
Hear directly from SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana about why nuclear power is destructive to climate justice and listen to more insights from his latest book, “Nuclear is Not the Solution: The Folly of Atomic Power in the Age of Climate Change”. Via CKNW
September 4, 2024
Physicist MV Ramana on the problem with nuclear power
SPPGA Prof. M.V. Ramana shares a deep dive into the consequences of nuclear energy, as elaborated in his latest book. The harmful industry “only survives because of government support,” he says. Via The Guardian
