Satire

It's Wednesday, October 25th.

Last week, a judge found the secrecy provisions in the anti-terror legislation unconstitutional and yesterday another judge struck down parts of the law that infringe on freedom of religion and thought protected by the Charter.

Currently...here's what remains of the legislation: Under the provision of BLANK an officer may BLANK with the consent of BLANK for the express purposes of BLANK, if there is sufficient BLANK that a BLANK took place.

This is The BLANK (hey wait a minute!!!)

Terrorism Act – Greenspon

Canada's anti-terrorism act has been taking quite a beating lately. Yesterday, an Ontario Superior Court threw out a provision of it that defined terrorist activity as crimes that have religious, political or ideological motives. Justice Douglas Rutherford said it infringes on our fundamental freedoms and, he added, it cannot be justified in a democratic society. The judgment follows a ruling last week that struck down secrecy provisions of the law in the case of the RCMP's raids on the home of an Ottawa journalist.

To find out more about the significance of yesterday's decision, we were joined by Lawrence Greenspon. He is the lawyer for accused terror suspect Mohammed Momin Khawaja, who is charged with helping to plot attacks on British power stations, nightclubs and trains---in fact---the first to be charged under the act. And Mr. Greenspon has now successfully challenged its definition of terrorist activity. He joined us this morning from Ottawa.

Terrorism Act –Forcese

We asked the minister of public safety, Stockwell Day, to comment on the judgment in the Khawaja case, and were told that the file falls under the Justice minister's purview. Vic Toews refused our request for an interview.

But we dug into the audio vaults, and came up with tape recorded last June when Minister Toews was speaking to a special senate committee examining the anti-terror legislation. At that time, he said he felt that the clause defining terrorist activities was problematic.

o talk more about the implications of that ruling, and what it will mean for the government currently reviewing the act, we were joined by Craig Forcese in Ottawa. He is a professor who teaches national security law at the university of Ottawa.

Listen to The Current: Part 1

(Due to various rights issues some segments may be edited for internet use)

The Current: Part 2

Salvia Talk Tape

Things aren't boding well for marijuana enthusiasts in Canada. Last month, the federal government cut four-million dollars in funding meant to research the therapeutic properties of cannabis.

To pot advocates, the cuts are a harbinger of the Conservative Party's national drug strategy which includes longer prison terms for traffickers, reversing the Liberal push to decriminalize marijuana, and spending big bucks to educate young Canadians about the dangers of all illegal drugs…not just pot.

So while the war on drugs continues to be fought in the courts and on the Hill, there will always be those who not only enjoy drugs, but believe the act of getting high is a human right. We'll hear arguments for and against that notion, but first Current producer Aaron Brindle---who has the drug beat----joined Anna Maria in studio to talk about a growing trend---tripping on legal drugs you can buy at your local head shop and they're drugs that pack a real psychoactive punch.

Listen to The Current: Part 2

(Due to various rights issues some segments may be edited for internet use)

The Current: Part 3

Skin Author

Imagine being defined by the colour of your heart or lungs--if indeed these organs came in shades other than red. If indeed we could see them. It's not such a rhetorical question if you consider that skin, one of the body's largest organs, is the primary way by which we're defined. We are considered black or white or any hue in between, meaning skin---our body's protective barrier--can also be a personal, social and political barrier as well.

In this half hour, we talked about skin...its evolutionary history, and the contemporary connection between skin, race and politics. First, a look back at the 300 million year history of skin. Nina Jablonski is the author of the new book, Skin: A Natural History, and heads the anthropology department at Pennsylvania State University. She was in the city of State College, Pennsylvania.

Skin – Academic

Well, if how we adapt to our environment determines the colour of our skin, then the modern idea of race is a human construct as is the scourge of racism.

Shahin Sayadi left Iran 20 years ago and now lives in Halifax. What bothers him most is the way he's treated when he's with his daughter Azat .

To talk about the idea of race, and how it was created, we were joined by Paul Taylor. He is the author of Race: A Philosophical Introduction. Mr. Taylor is also a fellow with the New America Foundation and the founder of The Jamestown Project at Yale University, a think-tank on democratic citizenship. He was in Philadelphia.

Music Bridge

Performer: The Sadies
CD: “Precious Moments”
Cut: CD17 “Clear a Path”
Label: Bloodshot Records
Spine #: BS 034

Last Word: Madonna/Oprah

Speaking of skin and controversy, Madonna has certainly dabbled in both over the years. Today she's hoping to quell further controversy over her adoption of a Malawian baby as she bares her soul on the Oprah Winfrey Show.

Apparently there are rumours that the father of the baby had no idea about the implications of a foreign adoption. Oprah has become an important forum for celebrities to connect to their audiences, clear up misunderstandings, and speak directly to the masses. So we asked our comedy team to ponder beyond Madonna, to consider other guest possibilities. And we ended the show with their less-than-immaculate conception.

Listen to The Current: Part 3

(Due to various rights issues some segments may be edited for internet use)

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