The Big Bad Wolf: Canadian Mining Companies in Peru
By: Georgette Gorn, Grade 12
By looking up this topic on government websites, I learned that the Canadian Government recently stated that they are “working closely with Peru to ensure sound mining practices in key mining communities”. Percan, the “key component” in these so-called efforts, aims to improve the contribution of mining companies to sustainable development mining in Peru. Mining in Peru for gold and other resources has been ongoing for the past ten years in the Andes and its foothills, as it is considered to hold “significant potential” for Canadian Companies. Bright picture if not a fairy tale, indeed. Yet how has this affected those that actually live in Peru?
Once upon a time, better said 1999, the Tambogrande region and its surrounding areas were to be developed by Vancouver-based Manhattan Minerals Corporation. This region contains agricultural lands and tropical forests on which thousands of farmers and townspeople alike feared would be destroyed; causing ecological damage to human health, agriculture and endangered species. The proposed mines would also displace communities.
OJ Simpson’s Story
by Georgette Gorn
Orenthal James “O.J.” Simpson was born July 9, 1947. He was an accomplished football player in the NFL and even acted in films, such as The Naked Gun Trilogy. But let’s face reality; he is most famous and known for his 1995 trial in which he was accused of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown and her friend Ronald Goldman.
Simpson married Brown in 1985, had two children together, and later divorced in 1992. On June 12, 1994, Brown and Goldman were found dead outside of Brown’s condominium. Simpson was charged, but he failed to turn himself in to authorities. His actions led to a low speed pursuit of him in his car in which he was eventually arrested. On October 3, 1995, a jury found him not guilty. In a civil trial later in California, Simpson was found liable for the murder of Goldman and for battery against his ex-wife and so was ordered to pay $33, 500, 000 in damages. Simpson only surrendered $500, 000 from an auction, and payment from his appearance in a video game.
Spending Wisely
by Georgette Gorn
Our money, let’s face it, is scarce. As students, we must save money for post-secondary education, fees, and other necessities. (No, those cute shoes and/or books from the Twilight series don’t count.) On top of that, we face the temptation to spend every day: the vending machine that calls to us with its food, the bus that can take us home even though we only live fifteen minutes away, and for our lady readers, Edward Cullen posters or Twilight movie tickets. Sure it seems harmless to spend a little bit here and there, but the collective amount we spend on them can be staggering. For instance, if a student were to buy a bag of chips every school day for a year we would spend about $202.50. Or what if we bought a drink to go along with those chips? $243.00 a year. Something sweet wouldn’t hurt… another $243. An entrée… oh, oh.
So how can we spend our money wisely while on a budget? Here’s how:
