The first-ever Twitter Moot will examine the impact of social media on the justice system.
justice system
Taking Liberties: Revelations in Hassan Diab case highlight major faultlines in extradition process
The multi-year extradition saga of Ottawa university professor Hassan Diab -- sought by the French for his alleged role in a 1980 Paris bombing that claimed four lives -- has taken yet another bizarre turn with the news that Diab has not even been formally charged. He is merely sought for questioning, with no guarantee that a trial would ensue.
Despite this astounding discovery -- no doubt discomfiting to the Ontario judge who presided over Diab's two-year extradition hearing -- Justice Minister Rob Nicholson has signed a surrender order committing Diab to years of French detention without charge while the 32-year investigation into the crime continues.
Lack of science and consultation on Bill C-10
A few years ago I attended an event where science reporter Bob MacDonald, of CBC Quirks and Quarks fame, spoke passionately about the importance of science. He gave examples about how we thought the world was flat but science proved otherwise, and how ideas about how the body worked were proven wrong as we discovered more about biology. The value of science is to show us that what we believe is true is actually not true. It expands our understanding of our world.
Social media is an opportunity to discuss law, endangered caribou and First Nations rights
The Supreme Court of Canada's Chief Justice, Beverly McLachlan, raised many virtual eyebrows on January 31 when she expressed concern about the impacts of social media on Canada's justice system. Her worry is that people using social media as their main information source may be getting an inaccurate impression of the justice system.
Especially timely -- at least to West Coast Environmental Law -- was her question: "How can a medium such as Twitter inform the public accurately or adequately, in 140 characters or less, of the real gist of a complex constitutional decision?"
New approaches to youth crime and gang violence
Last week, I was on the subject of youth/drug/gang crime, which gives every impression of being out of control in many places despite official, and arguably misleading, statistics showing that crime is dropping. I also bemoaned the right-left straitjacket into which the issue is locked and which prevents it from being properly ventilated at the political level.
Since we're into new beginnings in Nova Scotia with the NDP government, the time is right for a new shot at it. And here's something to think about: an eye-opening movement afoot in the U.S. that might well have some application here.
Taking on the Canadian justice system for the wrongfully accused
This is a promotion spot for the new documentary "This Can Happen To You," with Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter.
Dr. Carter takes on the Canadian justice system in this fast-paced look into the case of wrongly convicted banker Ronald Dalton. Carter and Dalton spent more than 30 years in prison between them for crimes they did not commit.
This Can Happen to You is written and directed by Peter Thurling (Floating Over Canada) and produced by Joan Schafer, for Red Car Productions. It was made under contract for CBC-TV, with participation of the CTF, Canada film production tax credit and OFTTC.
