As long as fossil fuel companies exist, we are all vulnerable to wildfires

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February 21, 2025

Photograph of a forest with charred trees and thick smoke. — PHOTO: Joanne Francis / Unsplash

By: Yildiz Subuk, Staff Writer

We are all susceptible to the volatility of the climate. January 7 marked the beginning of one of the most devastating wildfires that would eventually grow and spread across Los Angeles. Starting in the Pacific Palisades, the climate disaster displaced more than 100,000 people. While the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, experts claim it was the result of hydroclimate whiplash — worsened by climate change. Hydroclimate whiplash occurs when a period of heavy rain, which leads to the growth of more vegetation, is followed by long periods of drought which kills the vegetation. When there is a large amount of dead vegetation, then there is an increased likelihood that vegetation is more vulnerable to catching and spreading fire. Along with this phenomena, the Santa Ana winds made the fires more uncontrollable, as they resemble the effect of a light hurricane. Fighting fires with such wind present is not only difficult but dangerous, as the winds cause the fire to spread further.

These wildfires are a bleak, yet urgent reminder that climate issues are a lot closer than we think they are. It’s not just LA that has seen a devastating wildfire season, but BC as well. The scale of destruction from the 2023 wildfire season rivals that of the 2003 Okanagan Mountain Park fire, marking it as one of the most catastrophic in recent history. There are many compelling aspects such as burning of fossil fuels and a lack of preparation that could potentially cost many communities within the province their livelihoods.

Wildfires are already an issue in BC

BC’s wildfire season in 2023 was the province’s most severe. Over 2.8 million hectares (or 28,000 square kilometers) were burned during this period and tens of thousands of individuals were displaced.

The largest wildfire the province has seen, which happened that year, took place in Donnie Creek. The fire spread rapidly and ended up being the same size as Prince Edward Island. The fire was supposedly started by a lightning strike, becoming visible on May 12. The night time usually cools down wildfires, but in this case, it was a warm night. Aside from being the most devastating period for wildfires, 2023 was also the province’s hottest and driest year on record. This factor intensified the grounds for wildfires, causing them to spread more quickly, and allowing for more dead vegetation to pose a risk of catching fire.

While not every single part of the province was directly impacted by the wildfire smoke, there was a lapse in air quality, and the smoke from the fires spread across closer regions. According to the government of BC, wildfire smoke affects every demographic as “during wildfire conditions producing heavy pollution, everyone is at risk regardless of their age or health.” It can cause inflammation in the lungs, which weakens the immune system, and breathing in the smoke can make a person more prone to “eye, throat, and nose irritation.” Headaches are also a symptom of inhaling too much smoke. People most at risk from wildfire smoke include those with pre-existing heart conditions and asthma, seniors, and pregnant individuals.

Although 2024 was not as severe, there were still over one million hectares burned in the province, making it the fourth largest season for wildfires. The constant occurrence of larger-scale wildfires indicate they are no longer a lingering threat. They are unpredictable, difficult to manage, and often exacerbated by components of climate change. Wildfires have become an issue of the present day.

The government can prepare all they want for mitigating wildfires, but their actions clearly outline their priorities are not the people.

How does the burning of fossil fuels tie into all this?

Climate change plays a significant role in shaping the severity of wildfires. While wildfires can occur naturally, such as those caused by lightning, climate change has pushed them to the extreme. Wildfire seasons have increased in length and frequency between 1996 and 2013 compared to 1979–1996, which “amounted to a doubling in the total global burnable area affected by long fire weather seasons.”

It is well documented that fossil fuels are the largest contributor to climate change. The burning of fossil fuels (which include coal, natural gas, and oil), produces greenhouse gases which then trap heat in the atmosphere. This results in the climate heating up. Climate scientist and activist, David Suzuki states, “Fossil fuel funding is an investment in disaster.”

Canada’s oil and natural gas industry contributes over $70 billion to the country’s gross domestic product, with just three oil and gas reserves (Kearl, Montney BC, Spirit River) alone contributing to over 50 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions. According to Statista, the top 10 fossil fuel companies in Canada alone have a carbon footprint of 135 million carbon dioxide equivalents of greenhouse gases emitted in 2022. To put this in perspective, “One million metric tons is roughly equal to the average annual emissions of 35 commercial airliners, 216,000 passenger vehicles, and 115,000 homes in the US.”

While large fossil fuel companies like FortisBC continue to pollute — promoting natural gas through misleading greenwashing campaigns — the government stays silent. These companies do not take accountability for their actions, nor do they listen to research for more sustainable energy. Instead they dodge accountability and spread misinformation about their actions. One way they spread misinformation is through rebranding their practices. For example fossil fuel companies brand natural gas as the “cleanest fossil fuel,” an attempt to placate the public into thinking these are eco-friendly practices. However, that might not be the case at all. Natural gas is actually made up of methane, which can trap 84 times as much heat than carbon dioxide within a 20 year span.

Imperial Oil (owner of the Kearl site) was responsible for a toxic wastewater spill in Alberta’s oil sand. There were over five million metric tonnes of toxic wastewater spilling into local Indigenous communities. The spillage affected “members of the Mikisew Cree, the Athabasca Chipewyan and Fort McKay First Nations, the Fort Chipewyan Metis, and other downstream communities all the way to the Northwest Territories.” The company hid this from the Indigenous communities for nine months, putting entire communities at risk — an action which should be grounds for closure. Instead, Imperial Oil is only facing nine charges for failure to report the spill and take reasonable cleanup measures, causing a major impact on the environment, and for “causing the loss or damage of public land.” For a similar incident involving waste water they were only charged with $50,000. Imperial Oil is worth over $35 billion, so this fine is the equivalent of ticketing someone for arson. In 2023, the federal government invested $18.6 billion into the fossil fuel industry. It is clear the government would never let Imperial Oil or similar companies take such hefty penalties for putting people’s lives at risk.

The government can prepare all they want for mitigating wildfires, but their actions clearly outline their priorities are not the people. While firefighters risk their lives to stop the flow of fires, and many communities are displaced, millions of dollars and property damages are lost, and many fossil fuel companies continue to operate in Canada, evading any form of true punishment for their actions. Unless the federal government truly prioritizes the adequate punishing of fossil fuel industries, they will remain complicit in prioritizing profits over people. Until the interest of people and not revenue is prioritised, then the population of BC as well as the rest of Canada remains vulnerable to wildfires.

The “right” has the wrong ideas about sexual health

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February 21, 2025

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political cartoon, pierre poilievre using an IUD as a toothpick — ILLUSTRATION: Victoria Lo / The Peak

By: Michael Morris, SFU Student

Whether it’s blocking contraceptives, stigmatizing or removing abortion, those who are the most impacted by the right’s attack on sexual health are often left out of the conversation, and decisions are made for them. The right wing’s attack on sexual health is not exactly overt, but it is rooted in old Evangelical Christian values about the morality of sex. While there is nothing inherently wrong about religious values, right wing politicians want to enforce their interpretations of faith onto others while completely neglecting that their actions are discriminatory, controlling, and have serious negative implications. They have shifted from outright shaming of what they deem “impure” as an attempt to distance themselves from the blatant ideological roots of conservatism, and instead resort to being as vague as possible to further their agenda.

An early North American example of the right wing’s attack on sexual health was the Comstock Act of 1873. The act is named after Anthony Comstock, “a devout Christian” man who pushed an anti-sex agenda in America during the 1870s. He began by supplying the police with information on what he deemed as obscene or immoral, including sex work, pornography, and contraceptives. He drafted his own law outlining the “obscenity” of contraceptives for Congress, and they passed it in 1873 — a law that is still brought up by the US Supreme Court today. So much for a party “free from ideology.”

The right’s attack on sexual health is not only a problem in America, but one that presents itself in Canada as well. Abortion is not regulated by a law, but part of the Canadian Healthcare Act, which ensures that access to abortion is a human right. However, this does not mean that Canadian right wing politicians are obligated to care about sexual health or bodily autonomy; in fact, they are unclear about their sexual health agenda here.

“They have shifted from outright public shaming of what they deem as impure as an attempt to distance themselves from the blatant ideological roots of the party, and instead resort to being as vague as possible to further their agenda.”

During May of 2024 Pierre Poilievre was criticized by Leah Gazan, an NDP member of parliament, for voting “against free birth control for nine million Canadians.” This willingness to police contraceptives is hidden from Poilievre’s agenda. While he tirades about making Canada a free country, he seems to have some inconsistent stances when it comes to controlling sexual health and bodily autonomy. He’s suggested that he is pro-choice, but his actions are contradictory. In 2012, Poilievre voted in favour of motion 312, which The Abortion Rights Coalition described to be anti-choice, as it would redefine the term “human being,” roping fetuses into the definition. This type of redefinition has been consistently used to justify controlling abortion. Poilievre, despite apparently being insistent on individual freedoms, also claimed that “pro-life Canadians are welcome in [the Conservative] party,” a group which actively tries to take away an individual’s right to choose. Poilievre’s actions raise some serious alarm about the access to sexual health freedoms.

Albertan premier Danielle Smith has also raised some serious concerns when it comes to accessing safe abortions in the province. In September 2024, the premier expressed interest in moving some of Alberta’s healthcare away from the responsibility of the provincial government. This would instead allow private companies with their own terms of service, like Covenant Health, to take over. Covenant Health is a Catholic health provider and notably does not perform abortions, provide emergency contraceptives, or gender affirming care. Rural communities could specifically be impacted by this, as Smith claims “we just need different operators in the smaller communities so that we can get back to delivering that level of care.” While abortion is a human right in Canada, provinces are allowed to outsource healthcare to faith based organizations even if their values reject certain life-saving procedures.

Through vague stances and subtle interests in shifting policies, the Conservative party manages to dodge an explicitly “pro-choice party” label while pretending to care about the health of constituents. The Conservatives will not advertise their disregard for sexual health, instead they will claim they have people’s interests in mind as they slowly begin to block access to adequate sexual health care. While not every Conservative member or voter may necessarily be against proper sexual health, it is important to note this rhetoric runs rampant within the party. There should be no room for political leaders to project their own personal values, especially if it is rooted in faith, onto an entire population filled with diverse people with different needs. Do not be fooled; if the party cared about such a crucial right, especially the disproportionate amount of women it affects, they wouldn’t hide behind unclear positions and feel the need to avoid the issue.

Opinion: BC not free from culture wars as trans VIU athlete harassed on and off the court

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February 18, 2025

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A basketball wrapped in a trans flag. — ILLUSTRATION: Bithi Sutradhar / The Peak

By: Kaja Antic, Sports Writer

Content warning: descriptions of discrimination and harassment.

On October 30, 2024, Vancouver Island University (VIU) Mariners women’s basketball player Harriette Mackenzie posted a video to her Instagram account, alleging targeted verbal and physical harassment from Columbia Bible College (CBC) Bearcats players and coaches. This came after the Mariners hosted the Bearcats in Nanaimo, where the Vancouver Island team won both games on October 25 and 26.

Mackenzie, who is a trans woman, drew ire from CBC’s coaching staff for simply existing on the court. After the game, Mackenzie alleged that CBC head coach Taylor Claggett cornered a member of the VIU athletic staff and “went on a tirade” about Mackenzie’s involvement on the team.

Throughout the next game, Mackenzie was targeted by the opposing CBC players with increasing violence — including a moment in the third quarter when Mackenzie was dragged onto the hardwood court by a Bearcat. While Mackenzie was still on the ground in pain, Claggett could be seen on the bench applauding the action from her team.

CBC later released a statement supporting Claggett, claiming that she was “concerned about the safety of the female athletes.” However, it’s more likely that trans women face harsher violence in sports compared to cis women due to discrimination and “gender policing.” The Pacific Western Athletics Association (PACWEST) then began an investigation, which was concluded as of February 4, 2025. While the conference itself did not disclose its decision, VIU released a statement saying they were “pleased with the results of the investigation.” In response, CBC expressed their disappointment with the results: “We do not believe that a proper process was followed or that the results were fair. As a result, we are taking steps to have PACWEST’s decision reviewed.”

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport commissioned a scientific review on trans participation, which found that biological data gathered on the topic was limited and “often methodologically flawed,” and the trans-exclusionary policies continue “a long history of exclusion of women from competitive sport.”

The Mariners were due to play two games at CBC’s Columbia Place this January, though the games were postponed after all 13 VIU women’s basketball players signed a letter claiming their team felt “unsafe” competing at the Abbotsford institution. CBC disputed the letter, claiming that accusations of CBC-affiliated teams, coaches, and fans creating an unsafe environment are “untrue and misinformed.” On February 10, it was also announced that CBC would no longer be hosting the PACWEST women’s basketball provincials.

The Canadian Centre for Ethics in Sport commissioned a scientific review on trans participation in sports, which found that biological data gathered on the topic was limited and “often methodologically flawed,” and that trans-exclusionary policies continue “a long history of exclusion of women from competitive sport.” For example, these studies incorporating biological data often approach the topic with an essentialist ideology, which does not consider the proper measurement of sex chromosomes. Despite these findings, there is still a push to restrict trans athletes from athletic competitions, further marginalizing trans and gender diverse individuals in a society that already favours cis and heteronormative structures. According to the American Civil Liberties Union, there are 53 bills attacking trans inclusion in school sports across the US alone.

This incident is just one localized example of the ongoing culture war involving trans athletes in sports. The Government of Alberta put forth a bill last fall, named the “Fairness and Safety in Sport Act,” which specifically looks to bar trans women and girls from competing in sports with cis women and girls. This bill, which Premier Danielle Smith’s government looks to enact in fall 2025, would create issues for USports and CCAA competition. This would require collegiate organizations to create divisions with “biological female-only” stipulations, rather than keep their own respective policies regarding trans athletes.

The argument that these restrictive policies are “protecting” women and girls in sports by limiting competition based on assigned sex at birth is unfounded at best and massively harmful at worst. Moreover, there is little concrete evidence proving that individuals assigned male at birth are better at sports, as athletic prowess varies from person to person. Canadian Women & Sport argue that removing trans and gender diverse athletes from women’s sports does not address any of the actual barriers that prevent girls from continuing in sports.

The importance of revitalizing Africville

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February 18, 2025

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photo of africville before demolition — PHOTO: Halifax Municipal Archives / Wikimedia Commons

By: Mason Mattu, News Writer

Content warning: forced displacement and racial violence are central topics in this article.

Imagine sitting at home one day and looking outside your window. There, you see a garbage truck parked outside. A city employee raps loudly on the door and demands you leave your home. This home has been in your family for generations and is a cornerstone to your connection to your heritage. It would probably be one of your worst nightmares; your entire livelihood taken away from you. For the residents of Africville, who were forced from their homes during the massive destruction of the neighbourhood, this nightmare was reality.

Africville was a “close-knit Black community” established in 1848 on Mi’kmaq territory at what is colonially known as Halifax, Nova Scotia. Following the American Revolution and War of 1812, Canada experienced a large influx of Black British loyalists — those who had fought for Britain in the War of 1812 and were promised freedom in return. Canada was supposed to be a “haven.” When they arrived in Nova Scotia, however, they arrived to white settlers who didn’t think them worthy. Black Canadians then settled into an area together to produce collective security.

For more than 120 years, the community served as a cultural hub for Black Nova Scotians; to thrive, live, and work in an environment where they were equally appreciated by members of their own community who understood the challenges they faced. After World War II, upwards of 400 Black Canadians lived in this community, and the Halifax municipal government treated them as subhuman. They refused to provide basic amenities like “access to clean water and garbage disposal,” and functional sewage.

In 1964, instead of improving infrastructure and providing necessities to residents of Africville, the Halifax City Council voted to relocate residents to supposedly “improve [their] standard of living.” To the very few residents who were able to prove a land deed for their home, the city paid them the value of their houses. However, many residents did not have any proof and were offered a measly $500. The last house was demolished in 1970.

Residents of Africville and their descendants are alive today and harmed by the dissolution of their community, and it is up to the sitting City Council and impassioned allies to purposefully hold space for Black Canadians.

Let’s call this what it is. The painful loss of Africville paints a broader picture of the patterns of expropriation of racialised peoples and their communities. Losing Africville was not isolated or accidental. Vancouver’s very own Hogan’s Alley, a community that was home to a prominent immigrant and Black population, was continuously destroyed beginning in 1967 to make room for a freeway that was never built. From Vancouver to Halifax, institutionalized racism has deprived Black Canadians of their individuality, communities, and right to life.

Nearly 55 years after the last home in Africville was destroyed, conversations about revitalization have just started to begin. The City of Halifax is in the midst of phase one of their community revitalization plan. Earlier in 2024, public open houses were held to “focus on topics such as active transportation, land use, and possibilities for the future.”

It is absolutely essential that these revitalization plans do not fall out of focus, and that the voices of former residents of Africville are heard. In an interview with CBC, a former resident called for the community church to hold faith services once again. The original church was demolished one night in 1967, and the rebuilt standing building is used as a museum. Other community members have alternative perspectives on land use which are equally important and pertinent to the future of Africville. For instance, Irvine Carvery of the Africville Genealogy Society suggests returning the land that was made into the national historic landmark “Africville Park” and letting former residents determine the future of developments. “They’re the ones who are going to tell you what it was, what it could be, and what it should be.”

As for funding, it is essential that the City of Halifax and even the Nova Scotian governments remain a key role in keeping the community alive through funding. For many years, Black Canadians in these communities paid income tax to the government and saw no returns. It is now time for money and support to be promised and secured for revitalization in Africville so that it does not become a bygone historical artifact. Residents of Africville and their descendants are alive today and harmed by the dissolution of their community, and it is up to the sitting City Council and impassioned allies to purposefully hold space for Black Canadians.

For more information about Africville and to make a donation to their museum, visit africvillemuseum.org.

The Green party is missing in action

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Peak Web

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February 18, 2025

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Illustration of someone with a magnifying glass and their eye is super big cause its magnified while they look at the reader. — ILLUSTRATION: Cliff Ebora / The Peak

By: Mason Mattu, News Writer

In 2019, I watched Green Party leader Elizabeth May stand her ground in the Federal Leaders Debate and thought to myself, “Wow, she is on fire.” This feeling has since dissipated. It’s clear the current Green Party is no longer a viable federal option and needs to completely reform their identity, leadership, and organization. If they want to stop being a failure of a political party, it is time for some changes.

The Green Party of Canada was once a champion of local activism and politics, encouraging grassroots candidates to make their mark in their respective federal ridings. When May declared her retirement just after the 2019 federal election, we began to see the decline of the Green Party as we know it. Once a party with spirit and impassioned environmentalism, the Greens have faced an identity crisis ever since. Under new leadership in the 2021 federal election, the Green Party received a miniscule 2.3% of the federal vote. This election result was so painful that May had to come out of leadership retirement to try and save them.

Even with an experienced leader, the Green party faces immense challenges with their party’s identity. Environmentalism, a topic once neglected by Canada’s big three political parties, is now recognized by the NDP and Liberal parties. Though they haven’t prioritized the environment at a level sufficient enough to actually save it, Canadians are no longer under the impression that climate issues deserve a party of their own.

Although climate is an important issue, let’s face it. Canadians are struggling to put food on the table right now and pay for their bare bone essentials.

Let’s face it. Canadians are struggling to put food on the table and pay for bare bone essentials. They care about policies such as healthcare reformation, a way to lower the cost of living, and to create an equitable future for their children. The Green Party of Canada follows Green politics, a concept which approaches policy through “sustainability, non-violence, social justice, respect for diversity, ecological wisdom, and participatory democracy.” Are Canadians hearing anything other than climate, though? In the last provincial election, the BC Green party led by political superstar Sonia Furstenau proposed policies such as free transit, approaches to foster walkable/liveable cities, and more support for people experiencing mental health hardships. The best thing about this? These policies were detailed with a transparent budget and actually achievable.

It is time for a new vision for the federal Green party that looks to take the NDP’s shortcomings and create a bold, progressive outlook for Canadians. This will include creating an actual costed platform that is backed by economists, something that the Green Party lacked in the last federal election.

Part of this reformation of identity will have to come from the top — a new, bold sense of leadership. Returning Green co-leader and former human rights investigator Jonathan Pedneault is a visionary voice for the party who could bring a new generation of Greens onto the ballot in the looming spring election. Pedneault should take over leadership immediately if the Green’s wish to stand any chance in the next election, however, the rest of the party must re-organize too. As of July 2024, they had yet to shift away from an online-based approach to organizing membership and advocacy efforts. They’ve got to go in person, they have to organize, and they have to actually show up in the ridings that they want to win.

A new leader could encourage those willing to stand up and join the Green party as candidates. For BC, the party has only confirmed only four candidates to run in the next election, as of writing this piece. This is likely a result of disengagement from Canadians, from both climate issues and politics, as well as a lack of organization from the party. If the Greens can complete the tasks that I have outlined, they might have a chance of surviving future federal elections. They can organize, they can show up, and although they still have a very low chance of winning new seats, they can make a mark. Until then, voters like myself will continue to ask: where the heck is the federal Green party?

The benefits of being Black in a mostly non-Black community

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Peak Web

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February 18, 2025

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A Black person with an afro is trying to prevent a white person from touching their hair. The white person is saying “OMG! How do you get your hair to do that!” — ILLUSTRATION: Yan Ting Leung / The Peak

By: C Icart, Humour Editor

Kendrick performed at the Super Bowl last week, and while I didn’t watch the performance (I refuse to watch men crash into each other for fun), that didn’t mean I was exempt from seeing all the whining about it online. Some called it a “DEI halftime show,” while others complained, “DEI only goes one direction.” All this is code for, “I saw too many Black people on my TV, make it stop.” As you know, racists are hardwired to get suspicious and jumpy when they see more than five Black people in the same space. Which is something I rarely get to experience since I moved here. Did you know only one percent of BC’s population is Black? That basically makes me a mythical creature when you think about it. But it’s not all bad. There are, in fact, benefits to being Black in a mostly non-Black community.

1. You get compliments on your hair no matter what No matter how often I explain that my hair does just grow out of my head like that, people are still staring in awe and asking me what I did to it. I can keep my braids in for too long, and people will still be wowed. Apparently, non-Black people almost never change their hair (not sure why, seems like a sad way to live), so it’s always so notable to them when I sport a new hairstyle. Once, I was getting off an airplane and a bald white man, who I assume was the pilot standing at the entrance, stopped me to tell me he wished he could have his hair like mine. I laughed, pretending it was the first time I’d ever had an interaction like that with a bald white man. I’m pretty sure the lady who searched my fro at the airport security also told me she liked my hair.

2. You get to practice your impersonation skills

People always tell me I should do stand-up. Which I’m not gonna do. I’m a grad student. I’m already getting screwed over financially, why would I try to get other poorly paid gigs? So instead of impersonating people on stage for very little money, I do it for free every time I get mistaken for literally any other Black person. Once, a Black girl came up to me in a café like, “Are you (random name)?” and I said no and she looked at me in shock and said, “What are the odds there’s more than two Black people in here!” Homegirl didn’t even know what the person she was looking for looked like. She just assumed she would get to the location and whichever Black person was there would be the one. I was attending a keynote last year and one of the organizers thought I was the guest speaker. I should’ve committed and claimed the real speaker was impersonating me!

Welp, that’s it! What? You thought the list would be longer? There’s only so much I can say when the Caribbean food here is lacking, the DJs are playing god knows what in the club, and seemingly only a handful of salons will accept to do my hair. At least I can count on always having people reach out to me to organize Black History Month things! And sometimes they even pay!

Travel the world in music with International Guitar Night

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February 18, 2025

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Four performers wave out to a stage while lit up in purple spotlights. — PHOTO: Izzy Cheung / The Peak

By: Izzy Cheung, Arts & Culture Editor

When one mentions the guitar, you may think of it as an accompanying instrument — a twinkle in the background of a singer’s vocals. But as proven on February 1 by International Guitar Night’s stop in New Westminster, there’s more to this instrument than what meets the eye. The tour, which will be making stops all across North America until the end of March, features the string-based artistry of Latin swing guitarist Lulo Reinhardt, romantic musician Alexandra Whittingham, the Soukous sound-inspired Niwel Tsumbu, and the enchanting Sönke Meinen and his folk-based ballads.

“The idea behind this festival — it’s such a beautiful thing — is trying to get together four musicians from very different musical universes,” Meinen told The Peak prior to their first concert.

“All the guitar players doing this professionally would aim to be a part of this,” he explained the significance of the tour to him. “We have 43 concerts in 10 weeks, which is a massive tour. It’s the longest tour of my life — I took my whole April off just to be safe.”

This is Meinen’s first time on the tour, as well as his first time meeting his fellow performers. Despite not working together before, their sounds have been seamless, weaving together as artfully as the threads of a large tapestry.

“Niwel is doing his traditional African influences. You hear the classical music of Alexandra in the other corner of the room, and then Lulo is playing his Latin swing. I think it will be very inspiring.”

Inspiring, it was. I entered New Westminster’s Massey Theatre with no expectations, as I’d never been to a show that strictly focuses on one instrument. Upon sitting in my seat, I noticed that the stage looked simple, hosting only four chairs, four guitars, and a few microphones scattered around. Nothing else.

“It’s just a wooden box with six strings. It’s such a simple concept, but there are so many different musical universes in there.” — Sönke Meinen, guitarist and composer

The show began with a dramatic ballad by Reinhardt, written for an old friend he met on tour who he exchanged letters with before she passed away. The deft plucking of the strings wove the smell of burnt oak wood through my nostrils, creating the visual of a desolate plain where I was the only visitor. This was quickly followed up by Whittingham’s solo set, which reminded me of walking through Van Dusen Botanical Garden during the spring. Hearing her guitar’s delicate, harp-like preens made me want to put on my cutest summer dress and have a picnic among pink-petaled tulips.

Meinen started the second-half of the solo performances by perching himself atop his trademark wooden stool. He knocked his hands against the guitar with poise as he drew the audience into a fiery performance reminiscent of crackling flames. Startlingly, he followed this up with a composition best suited to stories of a faraway island home to graceful mermaids. With ripples like those from a lyre, he conjured the feeling of cold seawater and thick fog amid an audience dressed for the snow.

Tsumbu wrapped up the solos with songs that whisked the audience away to a beachfront vacation. I felt the mist of the salted ocean splash against my face as he lulled the audience into singing “na na na” alongside him. If I closed my eyes, I would have imagined I was sitting in a wooden boat while being serenaded with the rich tunes of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The duo and quartet performances were just as impressive as the artists’ solos. Meinen had talked about the group’s goal with this performance, and as each pair took turns spinning the theatre into a different story, it was clear they did exactly that.

“Music is there to tell stories, and that’s what we do onstage. If people are touched by it, then we achieved everything we wanted to achieve,” Meinen told me. “If we are able to move the people and they feel better when they leave the concert compared to when they came, then we achieved everything. That’s the goal of every concert, to just get people out of their everyday life. It doesn’t matter if it’s a small concert or a big one.”

As a finale, Tsumbu took the helm by teaching the audience some lyrics to an African song that he said would take us to a jungle in Congo. Guitar strings reminiscent of the beats of steel drums echoed throughout the small theatre as every guitarist contributed to the song. Along with the hums of “ma ma ma” from the audience, every person in attendance seemed to be part of the lush, inspiring peace.

When I settled back down at home, mind still churning in a sea of musical mastery, I thought back to something that Meinen had told me about the guitar a couple of weeks before. “It’s just a wooden box with six strings. It’s such a simple concept, but there are so many different musical universes in there.” As a settler in kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, I experienced how Latin, British, German, and Congolese influences can take you to a completely different world of musical complexity with just one insturument.

The intersections of colonialism and the climate crisis in Western Sahara

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February 18, 2025

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This is a photo of a Western Sahara flag with the blue sky in the background. — IMAGE: Gudrun Wai-Gunnarsson / The Peak

By: Kiana Montakhab, SFU Student

On January 17, Embark Sustainability, the Centre for Comparative Muslim Studies, and Spheres of Influence e-zine hosted a presentation titled “Western Sahara is a Climate Justice Issue” on the Burnaby campus. The talk focused on the intersections of climate justice and the ongoing struggle for self-determination of the Sahrawi people. Parsa Alirezaei, an SFU research assistant, managing editor at Spheres of Influence, and former intern at the International Court of Justice, was the event’s featured speaker. He highlighted Morocco’s exploitation of Western Sahara’s natural resources and its contribution to climate injustice.

Western Sahara is a long-disputed territory in North Africa. It not only has the largest phosphate reserves in the world but also some of the richest fishing waters globally, making the region highly valuable for its natural resources. This has made Western Sahara a focal point for colonial agendas, starting with Spain in the 20th century.

In 1973, the Polisario Front started to rise. Primarily composed of the Sahrawis, the Indigenous people of Western Sahara, the organization initially sought to liberate Western Sahara from Spanish colonial control and establish self-determination. After Spain withdrew in 1975, the territory became occupied by Morocco and Mauritania through the Madrid Accords. The situation escalated with the launch of the Green March, as 350,000 unarmed Moroccan civilians marched into Western Sahara and claimed the region as part of Morocco. This pressured Spain to cede control, marking the start of Morocco’s illegal occupation.

The Polisario Front shifted its focus to opposing Moroccan dominance, resulting in a 16-year-long guerrilla war that displaced thousands. Many Sahrawis remain in refugee camps in Algeria’s Tindouf region. According to the UN Refugee Agency, “more than 173,000 people need humanitarian assistance in five camps” and economic opportunities available to Sahrawi refugees are “extremely limited.” Alirezaei explained that the jobs available are “low-wage labour jobs in agriculture,” small-scale “illicit trade,” and refugee tourism. He said that despite a 1991 UN-brokered ceasefire promising a self-determination referendum, it has “never came about.”

“People who are least responsible for the emissions and climate change itself are most vulnerable to its consequences.” — Parsa Alirezaei, SFU research assistant, managing editor at Spheres of Influence, former intern at the International Court of Justice

Alirezaei also explained that since the Green March, Morocco has sponsored settler colonial schemes, wherein Moroccan citizens relocate to Western Sahara under the promise of “economic incentives” and “national conquest.” In the process of greenwashing the land, he said Morocco has invested heavily in infrastructure projects, such as “wind farms and solar panels,” exploiting the region’s resources.

“With the help of North American, Chinese, and European corporations,” Morocco has illegally exploited Western Sahara’s abundant natural resources, said Alirezaei. According to estimates from the Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW), Morocco’s revenue from Western Sahara’s phosphate reserves alone could have reached as much as $655.5 million USD in 2022.

Canada is deeply established in this extraction enterprise. According to WSRW, from 2013 to 2017, Canadian companies Agrium and PotashCorp accounted for “49.5% of the total trade” of phosphate rocks from the occupied Western Sahara. After merging in 2018 to form Nutrien, the company ceased importing phosphate from Western Sahara due to international pressure and criticism over supporting Morocco’s occupation.

Alirezaei stressed, “People who are least responsible for the emissions and climate change itself are most vulnerable to its consequences.” He said that “the particular region that the Sahrawis are living in, and trying to make their living in, in this hyper precarious circumstance, is one of the most vulnerable areas to climate change in the world.”

Struggles of minority groups across the world continue to share patterns of colonial expansion, exploitation, and displacement. At the end of the presentation, Alirezaei stated, “There’s no way that you look at Palestine and then you look at Kurdistan and then you look at Western Sahara as completely discrete events happening, separate from common historical critical junctures.”

Horoscopes February 17–23

By

Peak Web

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February 17, 2025

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An illustration of a girl, stars and astrological signs strewn in her hair. — ILLUSTRATION: Marissa Ouyang / The Peak

By: C Icart, Humour Editor

Aries
March 21–April 19

“It’s private, but no.”
The stars think you should spend more time telling nosy people to mind their business, and then still answer their questions.

Taurus
April 20–May 20

“Um, Shabana. Would you like to speak, Shabana?”
You are the centre of attention whenever you walk into a room, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be humble. Behind every great woman, there’s a Shabana. Don’t forget to shout out yours.

Gemini
May 21–June 20

“I’m launching a Bitcoin under Onijah Styles LLC.”
The stars foresee big financial success for you. Once you lose all your money buying meme coins, you’ll have no choice but to learn financial literacy!

Cancer
June 21–July 22

“I would like to clear the air. Anything that you hear that’s not true, that’s not true. OK? Thank you.”
The stars need you to know that haters will make up lies about you, but you shouldn’t pay attention to them at all. It’s all a distraction, and you’re too booked and busy to pay attention.

Leo
July 23–August 22

“I’m here to open up real estate and build houses in the back and pools for the people.”
Did you know there’s an atrocious amount of brokerage reality TV shows? The stars call it the Selling Sunsetification of Netflix and they recommend that you tune in. You won’t learn anything about real estate, but once in a while someone wears a cute outfit.

Virgo
August 23–September 22

“I’m getting my Pakistani passport and Pakistani ID. I’m getting it. Do y’all agree?”

Interacting with literally any government agency is a pain in the butt, but not for you. The stars predict you will get every document you need with ease. You just need to walk in there and tell the employee you’re getting it.

Libra
September 23–October 22

“I demand from the government more than $5,000 USD to make Pakistan a better place. Goodnight.”
Libra, your assertive era begins today. You know what you want and it’s time to demand it from one branch of government at a time.

Scorpio
October 23–November 21

“I’m from here, now.”
Identity, citizenship, and belonging are all deeply personal and complex things. You know where you’re from and you know where you’re going. Don’t let anyone use your passport against you ever.

Sagittarius
November 22–December 21

“I’m Muslim and it’s against my religion to tell you my business. Have a nice day.”
Regardless of your religion, the stars do advise that you stop telling people your business. You’re not famous enough for it to ever come back and bite you, but still, spare us.

Capricorn
December 22–January 19

“I don’t live here, I’m chilling. It’s none of your business. Now, go home.”
Have you been getting an increase in spam/scam calls recently? Well, if putting your number on a Do Not Call List does not work (it doesn’t we tried), consider answering the phone with this quote moving forward.

Aquarius
January 20–February 18

“I’m asking for $100K or more. I need $20K by this week, in my pocket, in cash.”
Manifest that money Aquarius! If you do not ask, you will not receive. Ask your boss for a raise, ask your mom for allowance, ask your little sister for her piggy bank, or more!

Pisces
February 19–March 20

“I’m not talking, unless y’all giving me land and $2,000 or more every week. You hear me?”The stars need you to know your worth, Pisces. The spirit of collaboration is OUT! That guy who never comes to class is asking you what he missed in yesterday’s lecture? Don’t give it for free! NAME YOUR PRICE!

Need to Know, Need to Go: Black History Month events

By

Peak Web

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February 17, 2025

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A film projector shines a light through a dark space. — PHOTO: Alex Nitvin / Unsplash

By: Manal Kashif, SFU Student

February is Black History Month so here is a curated list of events everyone can attend while learning about the history of struggles, successes, and perseverance of Black people all over the world. These events range from being held by SFU clubs/societies to throughout Vancouver.

SFPIRG Movie Night Screening

SOCA Lounge, SUB 1430 (SFU Burnaby)
Monday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m.
Price: free

Enjoy an evening of lively discussion as SFU Students Of Caribbean and African Ancestry (SOCA), Canada-Philippines Solidarity for Human Rights (CPSHR), and Simon Fraser Public Interest Research Group (SFPIRG) present a screening of Black August (2007). This movie follows the journey of prison inmate, George Jackson, as he becomes a political activist for prisoners’ rights in San Quentin prison during the 1960s. Be sure to RSVP for this event at the link in SFPIRG’s bio (@SFPIRG on Instagram).

Sounds and Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land Series

North Vancouver City Library, 120 W 14th St.
Wednesday, February 26, 7:00 p.m.
Price: free

Sounds and Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land (2024) is an anthology consisting of five short films. The National Film Board of Canada has put this series together to showcase the talent of some of the best Jamaican artists as they take Canada’s music scene in the reggae genre by storm. Don’t miss out the chance to view this free screening of this musical collective at the North Vancouver City Library! If you aren’t able to make it to the screening, be sure to watch the films online for free at nfb.ca.

Community Kitchen: Celebrating Black Heritage with SOCA

SUB Community Kitchen, room 2125 (SFU Burnaby)
Thursday, February 27, 5:30 p.m.–9:30 p.m.
Price: free

Embark Sustainability’s Community Kitchen, located at the SFU Burnaby campus, is a great place for students to connect and learn to cook healthy meals. It is also where SFU SOCA members, Stacy and Mekeil, will be coming by to teach delicious and easy-to-make recipes. Take this cultural dive into Jamaican steamed callaloo (leafy green side dish) and Kenyan ugali (cornmeal porridge) as you learn how to make various foods while learning about the diverse flavours of East Africa and the Caribbean.

African Cinema Now!

VIFF Centre, 1181 Seymour St., Vancouver
Dates throughout the month
Price: ranges from $11–16

If you are interested in broadening your knowledge of Black history, the Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF Centre) is presenting films throughout February as part of a collective called “African Cinema Now!,” created by Akojo Film Collective. This collection will feature films such as Atlantics (2019), Chez Jolie Coiffure (2018), Dilli Dark (2023), and Tori and Lokita (2022).

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