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Monday, July 21, 2025

OP-ED: Unite for Peace in the World and Taiwan’s Inclusion in the UN

By
Jaushieh Joseph Wu
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Source: United Nations

Jaushieh Joseph Wu is the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a reminder of how autocracies care little about causing death and destruction. The war is a gross violation of human rights and the principle of peaceful settlement of international disputes as codified in the United Nations Charter, which has helped maintain the rules-based international order and kept the world in relative peace since the end of the Cold War.

The war’s humanitarian and economic fallout has also shown that in a globalized world, crises cannot be contained within national borders. It is, therefore, imperative to deter similar threats to global security from happening elsewhere. Taiwan—a democracy that is home to over 23 million people and that I proudly represent—continues to confront enormous challenges posed by China.

Since the mid-20th century, the People’s Republic of China (PRC) has vowed to take control of Taiwan and refused to renounce the use of force, despite never having ruled Taiwan. For decades, the people of Taiwan have remained calm in safeguarding the status quo of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. However, as China’s economic and military might has grown stronger, it becomes increasingly aggressive in flexing its military muscle to intimidate Taiwan, thereby threatening our democratic way of life. This includes sending warplanes and ships across the median line of the Taiwan Strait and encroaching into our air defense identification zones. It has also intensified gray-zone tactics, such as disinformation and economic coercion, in an attempt to wear down our will to fight.

The PRC’s expansionism does not stop at Taiwan. China’s use of gray-zone activities in the East and South China Seas are designed to expand its power and substantiate its hawkish territorial claims. In addition to signing a security agreement with Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, the PRC has been securing ports for future military use in the Indian Ocean. All of these maneuvers are causing grave concerns that peace is becoming more difficult to maintain.

Ensuring peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is in everyone’s best interest. Half of the world’s commercial container traffic passes through the Taiwan Strait each day. Taiwan produces the majority of the world’s semiconductors and plays a key role in global supply chains. Any conflict in the area would have disastrous consequences for the global economy.

In recent years, bilateral and multilateral forums have repeatedly emphasized that the peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait is indispensable to global security. While we can all agree that the war must be avoided, how to best do so requires inclusion, dialogue, and, most of all, unity.

The United Nations remains the best platform for global discourse. UN officials speak often of joint solutions, solidarity, and inclusion in tackling the pressing issues of our time. Taiwan is more than willing and able to take part in these efforts.

However, Taiwan continues to be excluded from the UN due to China’s distortion of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758. This resolution neither states that Taiwan is a part of the PRC nor gives the PRC the right to represent the people of Taiwan in the UN and its specialized agencies. In fact, the resolution only determines who represents the member state China, a fact that the international community and China itself recognized following the relevant vote in 1971. The subsequent misrepresentation of Resolution 2758 contradicts the basic principles upheld by the UN Charter and must be rectified.

The 78th session of the UN General Assembly, which will center on the theme “rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity,” is timely in light of a number of broad global challenges. For example, the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were designed as a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity. Yet the most recent SDG progress report showed that just 12 percent of SDG targets were on track, while progress on 50 percent has remained insufficient. And on more than 30 percent, we have stalled or even regressed.

While there are no easy answers, the first step is dialogue. As a truly global institution, the UN can serve as a champion of progress. We call on the UN to uphold its principle of leaving no one behind by allowing Taiwan to participate in the UN system, rather than excluding it from discussions on issues requiring global cooperation. A good first step would be to allow Taiwanese individuals and journalists to attend or cover relevant meetings, as well as ensure Taiwan’s meaningful participation in meetings and mechanisms regarding the SDGs.

Ukraine’s incredible bravery and resilience have inspired countries around the globe. The war there has forged a new sense of togetherness in the world. Unity is crucial to pushing back against Russia’s aggression and to preserving universal values, such as human rights and global peace, more broadly.

It is vital to make China and other authoritarian governments aware that they will be held accountable and to urge them to settle differences through peaceful means. Allowing Taiwan to meaningfully participate in the UN system would benefit the world’s efforts to address pressing global issues. This would also demonstrate the UN’s determination to unite for global peace at a critical juncture when the future of the world is at stake.

We are stronger together. Now is the time to act on this fundamental principle by including Taiwan.

Study finds paper straws higher in cancer-causing chemicals than plastic

By
Quinn Patrick
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A new study has found that paper straws may contain toxic chemicals that could potentially cause harm to people, wildlife and the environment. 

Plastic straws have been banned in some countries, including Canada, and ditched by many businesses in an effort to reduce pollution and harm to wildlife and ecosystems, with many switching to paper straws as a replacement. 

However, a recent European study published in the Food Additives and Contaminants Journal discovered that 90% of paper straws contain cancer-causing chemicals and other toxins that lead to thyroid and liver problems.

The chemicals are called poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), they are also referred to as ‘forever chemicals’ as they take thousands of years to break down. Once in the body, the PFAS are liable to cause a whole host of health complications such kidney and testicular cancer as well as liver damage. 

“Because PFAS break down slowly, if at all, people and animals are repeatedly exposed to them, and blood levels of some PFAS can build up over time,” said the US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIH). 

The study randomly selected straws made from glass, stainless steel, paper and bamboo selected from various supermarkets, fast food restaurants and shops and two rounds of tests were conducted on them. Only the stainless steel straws were found to be free of PFAS.

A team of Belgian researchers found a total of 18 different PFAS in 27 out of the 39 brands, including perfluorooctanoic acid being the most common chemical detected throughout the study. Perfluorooctanoic acid has been banned internationally since 2020, yet it could be found in 69% of the brands tested.

PFAS are often used in a number of consumer products, including umbrellas. PFAS umbrellas contain a total of almost 15,00 different synthetic chemicals that pose potential harm to humans, wildlife and the environment and 18 out of the 20 different paper straw brands tested positive for them. Bamboo straws contained the next highest amount of PFAS at 80%, plastic straws at 75% with glass straws the lowest at 40%.

PFAS began being used in consumer products around the 1950’s and were used to keep food from sticking to cookware and packaging. They are also used in clothing and carpet to make the material more stain resistant.

“Straws made from plant-based materials, such as paper and bamboo, are often advertised as being more sustainable and eco-friendly than those made from plastic,” said co-author of the study Dr, Rhino Groffen, an environmental scientist with the University of Antwerp.

“However, the presence of PFAS in these straws means that’s not necessarily true.”

Groffen said that the risk of PFAS to humans in paper straws is limited due to its low concentration; however they can result in PFAS accumulating in the body over time. 

“Small amounts of PFAS, while not harmful in themselves, can add to the chemical load already present in the body,” said Groffen.

It also raises questions regarding the long held assumption that paper straws are more eco-friendly than plastic straws.

Groffen advocated for the use of stainless steel straws if need be but said it was best to avoid using straws altogether. 

Media likely won’t be able to reach deals with big tech until 2026 under Bill C-18

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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Despite the sense of urgency behind the Liberal government’s push to implement Bill C-18, the Canadian Radio-television Telecommunications Commission’s (CRTC) newly released timeline suggests that deals won’t be reached with big tech companies until 2026. 

When passing the bill in the House of Commons, the Liberal government rushed to see the Online News Act become active as soon as possible – even introducing an amendment to take effect within 180 days of receiving royal assent. 

However, the CRTC recentlypublished their plans to implement the bill, which includes a public consultation period. 

According to the CRTC, mandatory bargaining between Canadian media companies and social media platforms that continue to share their content will not take place until 2025. 

University of Ottawa Canada Research Chair in Internet and E-commerce Law Michael Geist recently wrote in his blog that the actual date could be even later. 

“Given the bargaining process envisioned by the law (90 days to negotiate, 120 days for mediation, followed by arbitration), if the issue goes to arbitration it is unlikely that there will be any payments before 2026,” wrote Geist. 

“Even if arbitration is avoided – Meta and Google would likely block all news links before that could happen – it will take at least 18 months for any agreements to be considered by the CRTC under the law.”

According to Geist, the current plan “creates the worst of all worlds.” 

“This creates the worst of all worlds: either news link blocking by the Internet companies in order to comply with the law or no deals until the system is fully operational in 2025 and into 2026,” wrote Geist. 

“Moreover, if Google joins Meta in news link blocking, the CRTC will be developing a bargaining system that does not apply to any Internet company. It’s a confusing process, but one thing is clear: Canadian media outlets take a significant hit under a law that has been poorly conceived, badly implemented, and has not made sense from the very outset given options such as independent funds or taxation that could have resulted in actual, more immediate support to the sector.”

Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, has already blocked access to Canadian news content on all of its platforms. 

Poilievre says parents should have final say about what is taught to children

By
Elie Cantin-Nantel
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Conservative Party of Canada leader Pierre Poilievre said parents should have the final say over what is taught to their kids in schools, saying, “parental rights come before the government’s rights.” 

Poilievre’s comments come amid growing opposition to gender ideology teachings and Canadian premiers implementing new parental rights policies requiring that parents consent before children can change their name or pronoun at school.

In an interview with Canadian Urdu – Hindi TV Channel Awaz Entertainment, Poilievre was asked if he had his thoughts on the “Million Person March” and if he would be joining it. The event is a planned nationwide multi-faith and multi-ethnic protest against gender ideology teachings that will take place on Sept. 20.

Poilievre would not confirm his attendance saying, “I don’t know yet enough about it,” adding “I understand that its parents who are frustrated with government imposing contrary values on their children.”

“My view is that parents should be the final authority on the values and the lessons that are taught to children. I believe in parental rights, and parental rights come before the government’s rights.”

This is not the first time that the Conservative leader has spoken out in favour of parental rights.

Back in June, Poilievre called out Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over his criticism of provincial parental rights policies, telling him to “butt out” and “let parents raise kids.” 

“The prime minister has no business in decisions that should rest with provinces and parents. My message to Justin Trudeau is ‘butt out, and let provinces run schools and let parents raise kids,’” the Conservative leader said.

In March, Poilievre also told a voter that he opposes the teaching of gender ideology and sexual orientation to young children.

Poilievre has yet to speak out against the transitioning of children. When asked this week amid a resolution set to be debated at the party’s upcoming convention calling for a ban on life altering and irreversible gender transitions for children and teenagers, Poilievre said he had not taken the time to study it and that he’ll “take a careful look at every proposal and decide whether or not it aligns with our platform.” 

Several conservative premiers have now come out against gender ideology and announced new policies to protect parental rights, involvement and consent.

New Brunswick Premier Blaine Higgs and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe have both mandated parental consent before kids under the age of 16 can change their name or gender at school. 

Meanwhile, Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson pledged to enhance parental rights if re-elected in the fall, saying she agrees parents should be informed if their child wants to identify as a different gender at school.

Pandemic related charges dropped against several Albertans

By
Quinn Patrick
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A number of Albertans who face charges related to violating pandemic restrictions are seeing their charges dropped, following a court decision that ruled Alberta’s health orders were in breach of the Public Health Act. 

Three weeks ago, a provincial court decided that the charges laid weren’t valid under the Public Health Act because it was ultimately politicians who made the final decision on what Alberta’s lockdown restrictions would be and not the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH).

“There is no longer a reasonable likelihood of conviction in relation to Public Health Act charges involving the contravention of the disputed orders from the Chief Medical Officer of Health,” wrote the Alberta Crown Prosecution Service (ACPS) in a statement on Wednesday.

However, there are still 14 prosecutions that remain before the court, according to the ACPS, including Christopher Scott, a cafe owner, rodeo organizer Ty Northcott and pastor James Coates.

Prosecutor Karen Thorsrud said that she won’t be calling any further evidence against pastor Coates or his church, Gracelife, saying in an email to CBC that she will “invite the court to acquit both defendants of all charges.” 

In February 2021, pastor James Coates was charged after he held church services which violated the government-imposed restrictions in place at the time like social distancing and masking. 

Christopher Scott still faces charges for keeping his restaurant, the Whistle Stop Cafe, open during a ban on in-person dining that was implemented in January 2021.

Similarly to Thorsrud, Peter Mackenzie, a Calgary Chief Crown prosecutor said he will ask for the court to issue an acquittal for Scott. 

Ty Northcott organized a “no more lockdowns rodeo rally” in May of 2021 that saw hundreds come out to attend the event which was held south of Red Deer. He and his company, Northcott Rodeo, were found guilty however sentencing has not yet taken place. 

Mackenzie is also prosecutor in Northcott’s case and confirmed that he has told Northcott’s defence lawyer that he will invite the judge to enter a judicial stay. 

The charges being dropped are linked to a lawsuit filed in December of 2020 by Rebecca Ingram, a gym owner and two churches who were forced to close during the pandemic. The plaintiffs argued that the province’s Covid-19 restrictions unlawfully breached Alberta’s Bill of Rights as well the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. 

Court of King’s Bench Justice Barbara Romaine issued a 90-page Ingram decision on July 31 that ruled in their favour, stating that politicians had breached Alberta’s Public Health Act when they made the final decisions over the CMOH regarding the province’s pandemic restrictions. 

Romaine stated that while recommendations were made by Dr. Deena Hinshaw (CMOH at the time), it was the cabinet that had the ultimate authority in decision making. 

She noted that the province’s Public Health Act doesn’t allow for the CMOH to hand over decision-making powers to politicians and even if that was the case, the constitutional rights of Albertans would have still been violated. 

Judge prevents deportation of convicted criminal because of wrong pronoun usage

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
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A judge has stalled the deportation of a U.K. man accused of “serious criminality” because of the wrong pronouns used in a document. 

One day before being scheduled to be deported back to the UK over a conviction of assault causing bodily harm, Colin James Ewen was allowed to extend his stay in Canada by a judge in a surprise decision. 

Justice Richard Bell ruled that the government had referred to Ewen using the gender-neutral pronouns “they/them” instead of “he/him” which potentially violated his rights. 

“One of my questions is this: is gender identification a protected right under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms,” said Bell. 

“If one reads the social science literature on this whole issue of gender identity, some authors go so far as to call this, this misnaming of identity as being a violence committed towards somebody, which is quite shocking to me, but that’s what some of the social scientists say.” 

After questioning Ewen, he stated that the use of the wrong pronouns “kind of” affected his sense of dignity. 

Justice Bell then adjourned the court hearing and asked for representations regarding whether the use of wrong pronouns violated Ewen’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms rights by both parties. 

Ewen will be allowed to remain in Canada until the issue is resolved. 

According to immigration lawyer Stéphane Handfield, he has never seen a case where a judge intervened to bring up a legal argument that neither party raised beforehand. 

“In 31 years of practice, I have never been confronted with a situation where the judge, during a hearing, brought up an argument that neither of the parties had raised in their memorandums,” Handfield told the National Post. 

Government lawyers have since appealed Justice Bell’s ruling saying that the issue was irrelevant to the matter at hand. 

Crown lawyers said that the Federal Court “exceeded its jurisdiction by raising a new Charter issue (and it) does not arise from, and is unrelated to, the matters which were under review.” 

“Any subsequent attempt to remove (Ewen) will require a new removal process and a new date for removal, which would be subject to a fresh application for judicial review and stay motion, should (Ewen) so decide,” they wrote.

The Andrew Lawton Show | Will politicians listen to the people on gender ideology?

By
Andrew Lawton
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People of different faith groups and political perspectives may disagree on a lot, but they are coming together to protect children. Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, Sikhs, and people of no religion at all, have banded together to speak out against gender ideology being foisted on young children in Canadian schools. Dr. Bahira Abdulsalam of Hands Off Our Kids and Kamel el-Cheikh, organizer of the upcoming Million Person March, join True North’s Andrew Lawton to discuss how such a diverse coalition is coming together for the children.

Also, when Conservative Party of Canada members meet at their upcoming convention in Quebec City, they’ll be debating a motion from former Athletics Alberta president Linda Blade calling on the Conservatives to formally adopt a policy to protect single-sex spaces and define a “woman” as a biological female. Blade joins the show to explain why.

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New Brunswick refuses to back down on parent’s rights policy

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Despite blowback from the legacy media and leftist politicians, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, New Brunswick’s Education Minister Bill Hogan says he’s committed to the decision to require parental consent for gender transitions at school. 

Policy 713 has caused quite a stir within New Brunswick and throughout Canada as LGBTQ advocates allege that it harms transgender kids. 

According to Hogan, the policy is simply about respecting the desires of parents who wish to be informed about their children’s welfare while at school. 

“Parents deserve to be respected, and we must recognize the critical role in their child’s life and education,” said Hogan. 

“We stand by the changes we’ve made to Policy 713 and we believe that parents should be involved in every aspect of a young child’s education.”

Some have claimed that Policy 713 violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms but the government disagrees, saying that it’s simply meant to inform parents. 

“If it’s close to their given name, one wouldn’t normally presuppose anything. If it isn’t the name, and they’re wondering about it, a teacher can always ask,” explained Hogan. 

“We’re talking about a name that’s attached to a different gender than what they are identified with, with their parents.”

New Brunswick’s policy has led to similar changes in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. 

Saskatchewan’s Education Minister Dustin Duncan announced this week that they will be standardizing pronoun and naming policies by requiring consent for students under the age of 16. 

“If we are requiring school divisions to get parental consent to a half-day field trip to the science centre, I think we need to be treating this issue with the same amount of seriousness,” said Duncan. 

“Those are all situations and scenarios that we’re going to be working with school divisions so that we can provide clarity to what the policy would look like.”

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe endorsed the policy on social media saying that parents deserve to be included in all aspects of their children’s education. 

“Parents must be included in all important decisions involving their children,” said Moe. 

“Our government has heard the concerns raised by Saskatchewan parents about needing to be notified and included in their children’s education.”

Manitoba Progressive Conservative Premier Heather Stefanson also pledged to enhance parental rights if re-elected this fall, saying parents should be informed if their child is wanting to identify as a different gender at school. 

The Daily Brief | Peterson plans to fight back on court ruling

By
Cosmin Dzsurdzsa
-

Renowned psychologist Jordan Peterson will appeal the Ontario Superior Court’s ruling that he must undergo mandatory social media training in order to keep his licence with the College of Psychologists of Ontario.

Plus, major Ontario universities are offering racially segregated orientation activities for black freshmen students as part of their “diversity, equity and inclusion” (DEI) agendas.

And some Ukrainians are deciding to ditch Canada due to the high cost of living and other factors.

Tune into The Daily Brief with Cosmin Dzsurdzsa and Elie Cantin-Nantel!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE DAILY BRIEF

Sheila Lewis, Alberta woman denied transplant over vaccine status, dies

By
Andrew Lawton
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Rebel News

Sheila Annette Lewis, the Alberta woman denied an organ transplant because she would not receive a Covid vaccine, has died.

Lewis sued Alberta Health Services over its decision to remove her from the transplant list. Doctors argued that vaccination against Covid, for which Lewis said she had natural immunity from a prior infection, was required alongside childhood vaccines, which Lewis had received.

A publication ban prevents disclosure of which organ Lewis needed.

The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, which supported Lewis’ legal challenges, announced her death Thursday.

“Brave Canadian, Sheila Annette Lewis, has sadly passed away today,” the legal charity said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with her family, and all other Canadians who have been denied transplants because of unscientific vaccine policies. We will continue her courageous fight for rights and freedoms.”

Lewis lost her court challenges in Alberta’s lower court and appellate court. The Supreme Court of Canada declined to hear the case.

In July, Lewis’ lawyers said she had reached a confidential “satisfactory settlement” with the Alberta government over a subsequent challenge.

The terms have not been disclosed, but the administrators of a crowdfunding campaign for Lewis said she died without having ever received a transplant.

Lewis received a standing ovation in May for her testimony before the National Citizens Inquiry.

“All I wanted to do was be able to breathe,” she said. “And I did everything that the doctors asked me to do. And I didn’t drink, and I didn’t smoke, and I didn’t do drugs. And I took all my vaccinations and I ate healthy. I’ve lost some weight. You know, I did my exercises. I went to the programs. I did everything. All I want to do is live. I want to see my grandbabies raised. But it’s not going to happen now. They just won’t bend.”

After her court defeat, Lewis had planned to seek a transplant in the United States. A crowdfunding campaign to support her raised US$124,776.

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