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( MENAFN - USA Art News) In the vast tapestry of American art, women artists have historically played a vital role in shaping the narrative, yet their contributions have often been overlooked or undervalued. From the early colonial period through to the contemporary art scene, female artists have broken barriers, challenged societal norms, and carved out unique spaces for their voices within the art world. As we celebrate their contributions, it is essential to understand how these talented women continue to influence modern art movements and redefine the landscape of American art. The journey of women artists in America dates back to the colonial period when figures like Anna Mary Robinson started to gain recognition through their portraiture. However, it wasn't until the 19th century, with the rise of the women's suffrage movement, that women's roles in art began to shift. Artists such as Mary Cassatt and Georgia O'Keeffe emerged, gaining prominence for their explorations into modernism and social issues. Cassatt, known for her intimate depictions of women and children, challenged traditional representations of femininity, while O'Keeffe broke ground with her abstract, evocative interpretations of the American landscape and its flora. The early 20th century gave rise to the feminist art movement, which further highlighted the significance of women in art. This movement aimed to address the gender disparities within the art world and encouraged women to express their experiences through their work. Feminist art has continued to evolve, with artists like Judy Chicago and the Guerrilla Girls who emerged in the 1970s and 1980s actively working to raise awareness of the underrepresentation of women artists and the misogyny prevalent in the art industry. Their impact is still palpable today, as evident in art institutions and galleries that increasingly strive to include diverse voices in their programming. The feminist art movement has undoubtedly been a catalyst for change in American art. Artists affiliated with this movement used their creative expressions to confront societal norms and advocate for women's rights. Judy Chicago's monumental installation The Dinner Party (1979) remains a pivotal piece in this dialogue and has become an iconic symbol of female empowerment in art. This collaborative installation featured place settings honoring significant women in history, simultaneously celebrating their achievements and shedding light on their historical marginalization. Another notable figure, the Guerrilla Girls, shined a glaring spotlight on the gender and racial disparities within the art world. Through provocative posters and performances, they challenged institutions to recognize and celebrate women and artists of color. Their work compelled galleries and museums to reassess how they curate, often leading to increased representation of women artists and marginalized groups in exhibitions. The feminist art movement not only legitimized women's experiences in the art world but also inspired future generations of female artists to embrace their identities and navigate the chaotic territory of gender and power. Groups such as the Wavelengths Collective, formed in the 1990s, worked alongside the feminist art movement, blending activism and art while championing diverse and underrepresented artists. As the art scene expands in the 21st century, the conversation surrounding women artists continues to evolve. Institutions are increasingly prioritizing inclusivity and representation, resulting in a renewed focus on providing platforms for women artists in the USA. Initiatives such as the Brooklyn Museum's A Woman's Work: A Midsummer Night's Dream and Other Works by Female Artists exhibition exemplify the art world's commitment to honoring female talent. Additionally, non-profit organizations like the Women's Caucus for Art (WCA) strive to support women artists, advocate for gender equality in the arts, and bolster the representation of female artists through community engagement, awards, and exhibitions. Their work highlights the ongoing systemic issues women continue to face and emphasizes the importance of collaborative efforts to reshape the art world into a more equitable space. The Contemporary Landscape Today's American art scene boasts a wealth of female talent that is redefining boundaries and constantly pushing the envelope. Artists like Kehinde Wiley, who explores themes of race, identity, and representation, often collaborate with women artists to ensure diversity in their narratives. The rise of social media also plays an essential role in democratizing access to art, allowing women artists to reach wider audiences and gain recognition beyond traditional galleries. Artists like Amy Sherald and Njideka Akunyili Crosby have taken center stage, using their art to reflect on identity, culture, and race. Their work challenges conventional notions of beauty and representation, showcasing the depth and complexity of modern societal issues while giving visibility to previously unrepresented perspectives. Furthermore, the ongoing rise of queer and trans artists who identify as women is reshaping the conversation surrounding gender and identity in contemporary art. Artists like Juliana Huxtable actively interrogate the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality, pushing for expanded dialogues within art communities. Their work contributes to a broader understanding of the multiplicity of women's experiences and identities. The impact of women artists in American art can no longer be ignored; their contributions have been pivotal in shaping the art landscape throughout history. From the early pioneers who redefined femininity in art to the contemporary voices challenging societal norms, the journey of female artists continues to inspire and provoke change. As the art world progresses, it becomes increasingly essential to elevate and celebrate the stories of women artists, recognizing not only the barriers they have broken but also the innovative pathways they continue to forge. The future of American art lies in this commitment to inclusivity, paving the way for a more diverse and representative narrative that honors the invaluable impact of women artists in shaping the creative landscape of our time. Breaking barriers is more than a campaign; it is a call to action to recognize and amplify the voices of women who have always been at the forefront of American culture and expression. 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GitLab CFO Brian Robins sells $675,895 in stockBy DEE-ANN DURBIN and MANUEL VALDES, Associated Press SEATAC, Washington (AP) — Background music is no longer an afterthought at many airports, which are hiring local musicians and carefully curating playlists to help lighten travelers’ moods . London’s Heathrow Airport built a stage to showcase emerging British performers for the first time this summer. The program was so successful the airport hopes to bring it back in 2025. Nashville International Airport has five stages that host more than 800 performances per year, from country musicians to jazz combos. In the Dominican Republic , Punta Cana International Airport greets passengers with live merengue music. Tiffany Idiart and her two nieces were delighted to hear musicians during a recent layover at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport . “I like it. There’s a lot of people here and they can all hear it,” said Grace Idiart, 9. “If their flight got delayed or something like that, they could have had a hard day. And so the music could have made them feel better.” Airports are also carefully curating their recorded playlists. Detroit Metro Airport plays Motown hits in a tunnel connecting its terminals. Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas has a playlist of local artists compiled by an area radio station. Singapore’s Changi Airport commissioned a special piano accompaniment for its giant digital waterfall. Music isn’t a new phenomenon in airport terminals. Brian Eno’s “Music for Airports,” an album released in 1978, helped define the ambient music genre. It’s minimalist and designed to calm. But Barry McPhillips, the head of international creative for Mood Media, which provides music for airports and other public spaces, said technology is enabling background music to be less generic and more tailored to specific places or times of day. Mood Media – formerly known as Muzak – develops playlists to appeal to business travelers or families depending on who’s in the airport at any given time. It might program calmer music in the security line but something more energizing in the duty-free store. “We see it as a soundscape,” McPhillips said. “We design for all of these moments.” There’s a science to Mood Music’s decisions on volume, tempo, even whether to play a song in a major key versus a minor one, he added. “How do we want to affect their mood at that moment?” McPhillips said. “It’s not just like, ‘Here’s a load of songs.’ It’s a load of songs for that 10-minute segment, and then we move to the next 10 minutes.” At the same time, many airports are going low-tech, hiring local musicians to serenade travelers and give them a sense of the place they’re passing through. Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports have more than 100 live performances each year. Phoenix’s Sky Harbor International Airport began a live music program five years ago and now has two stages featuring local artists. Tami Kuiken, the manager of airport music in Seattle, said the Seattle-Tacoma airport launched its live music program about a decade ago after a city commissioner heard live music at the airport in Austin, Texas . “The idea was like, ’Man, why doesn’t Seattle have music? We’re a music city too,” Kuiken said. At first, the airport created a playlist featuring emerging artists along with famous ones like Pearl Jam . Then it decided to try live musicians for a 12-week trial. It was so successful that the airport now features live musicians daily and is building new performance spaces. “People’s anxiety levels are very high when they’re traveling,” Kuiken said. “The feedback that we started getting was that once they got through the checkpoint and they were greeted with music, all of a sudden their anxiety and stress levels dropped.” The programs also benefit musicians, who get paid to perform and gain wider exposure. When Colorado Springs Airport announced a live music program in March, more than 150 musicians applied. It now hosts two two-hour performances each week. David James, a singer and guitarist who plays at Seattle’s airport about once a week, said waking up in time for a daytime gig took some adjustment. But he’s gained new fans from all over the world. “I get really sweet responses from people all the time, saying, ‘That was so soothing to be able to just sit and listen to music in between flights,’” James said. “So it feels like it’s especially therapeutic for people.” Country stars like Blake Shelton and Keith Urban have come through Nashville’s airport and interacted with local musicians, said Stacey Nickens, the airport’s vice president of corporate communications and marketing. Shelton even gave one his guitar. Otto Stuparitz, a musicologist and lecturer at the University of Amsterdam who has studied airport music, said airports should think carefully about their selections. Music that’s meant to be actively listened to – like live music or catchy pop songs – can be very distracting in an already chaotic environment, he said. He has noticed some airports – especially in Europe — turning off piped melodies altogether. But McPhillips said big spaces like airports can feel cold and unwelcoming without background music. “A well-crafted audio strategy is one that people aren’t particularly cognizant of,” he said. “They just know they’re having a good time and that it’s appropriate.” Durbin reported from Detroit.Diamcor Mining Inc. ( CVE:DMI – Get Free Report )’s share price fell 16.7% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as C$0.03 and last traded at C$0.03. 566,948 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 793% from the average session volume of 63,466 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.03. Diamcor Mining Price Performance The company has a market capitalization of C$4.22 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.63 and a beta of 1.38. The company has a 50-day moving average price of C$0.03 and a 200-day moving average price of C$0.04. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 617.97, a quick ratio of 0.13 and a current ratio of 0.05. About Diamcor Mining ( Get Free Report ) Diamcor Mining Inc, a junior mining and exploration company, identifies, acquires, explores for, evaluates, operates, and develops diamond-based resource properties. It holds interests in the Krone-Endora at Venetia project that consists of Krone 104MS and Endora 66MS farms covering a combined surface area of approximately 5,888 hectares located in South Africa. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Diamcor Mining Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Diamcor Mining and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter .Montréal has a new healthtech venture capital (VC) firm on the block, backed by a Québec government fund that targets pre-seed investments. The Eurêka investment fund, funded by Québec’s Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Energy (MEIE) and administered by Investissement Québec (IQ), has doled out $5 million to , an early-stage healthtech fund with ties to the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC). “Québec’s early-stage VC landscape is largely generalist or deep-tech-focused, leaving a gap for pre-seed healthtech startups.” The firm told BetaKit that Eurêka’s support is a standalone co-investment mandate and not part of a larger fund. Glen Ventures currently invests in companies through special purpose vehicles (SPVs), but stated it has plans to raise a dedicated fund in the new year. Across the board, it targets pre-seed and seed-stage companies, writing cheques ranging from $250,000 to $1 million with reserved capital for extensions. “This approach allows us to begin investing right away, building our track record and positioning ourselves effectively for the future fund while adapting to the market,” Glen Ventures co-founder Michael Goodman wrote in an email to BetaKit. Glen Ventures said it would use the money to support early-stage healthtech startups through product development and go-to-market efforts. In addition to financial support, the VC aims to connect founders to potential investors and prepare them for Series A rounds. The firm plans to invest in four companies with the Eurêka money, which according to the investment mandate, must have intellectual property (IP) originating from Québec public research institutions and be raising their first financing rounds outside of friends-and-family rounds. For its investments outside of the Eureka mandate, Goodman said he wants to back entrepreneurs seeking to “reshape healthcare through technology at home and on a global scale.” In addition to his role as founding partner, Michael Goodman sits on the MUHC Foundation board of directors. Managing partner Samuel Ohayon completed a master’s thesis in molecular pathology, then shifted to entrepreneurship before co-founding Glen Ventures, according to his . Glen Ventures’ MUHC affiliation supports the firm’s healthtech focus, giving it access to “large-scale piloting” and “top clinical expertise” for its portfolio companies, the firm said. According to Goodman, this edge sets Glen Ventures apart, allowing them to guide founders through challenges in getting their products into clinical settings. Glen Ventures maintains that it is the province’s only VC focusing exclusively on healthtech. “Québec’s early-stage VC landscape is largely generalist or deep-tech-focused, leaving a gap for pre-seed healthtech startups struggling to find lead investors,” Goodman said. Indeed, investments at the seed stage in Québec have lagged this year, according to a joint Canadian Venture Capital Association and Réseau Capital . In November, IQ put a key early-stage investment-matching program on , pulling the rug out from some startups on the program to close funding rounds. The investment fund is a $100-million initiative that injects capital into early-stage funds and directly invests in healthtech startups, as part of the province’s . The startups must be located in Québec, at the pre-seed stage, and referred by designated public research institutions. In a recent interview with BetaKit at the , Conseil d’innovation du Québec executive director Luc Sirois lauded Eurêka as one of the government’s highlights of the year. He said it helped to better bridge the gap between academic research and industry, which he called a key driver of innovation. Québec’s ecosystem has seen large funding rounds recently for , , and , but fewer at the pre-seed stage. A Réseau Capital report that the Québec ecosystem establish a working group to grow its life sciences sector. “Glen Ventures fills a gap between the advanced scientific research happening in public institutions and the marketplace,” Benoit Leroux, chair of Eurêka’s board of directors, said in a statement. Glen Ventures recently led and closed a $1.5-million CAD round in an undisclosed digital therapeutics company. Goodman said they expect to close a first co-investment under the Eurêka mandate in the coming weeks.
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VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP) — Brayden Point scored twice and added two assists, and the Tampa Bay Lightning edged the Vancouver Canucks 4-2 on Sunday. Nikita Kucherov had a goal and two helpers for the Lightning, while Jake Guentzel scored on a power play late in the third period. Captain Quinn Hughes and Kiefer Sherwood found the back of the net for the Canucks. Tampa Bay’s Andrei Vasilevskiy stopped 22 of the 24 shots he faced and Kevin Lankinen made 28 saves for Vancouver. Lightning: Kucherov, who returned to the lineup Sunday after missing two games with a lower-body injury, added another potent piece to Tampa’s red-hot power play. The Lightning were 2 for 4 with the man advantage and scored a power-play goal for the sixth straight game. Canucks: Hughes took a stick to the face 55 seconds into the game, missed more than 11 minutes, then returned to open the scoring 16:08 into the first period. It was the 50th goal of the defenseman’s career and extended his points streak to seven games with three goals and 10 assists across the stretch. Tampa took the lead 6:29 into the second when Kucherov sliced a pass to Point at the bottom of the faceoff circle and the Lightning winger blasted it in past Lankinen for his 17th of the season. Kucherov put the visitors on the board just a minute and 49 seconds earlier. Point scored his league-leading 10th power-play goal of the season. He’s one away from becoming the third player to score 100 power-play goals for the Lightning. The Canucks continue a six-game homestand Tuesday against the St. Louis Blues. The Lightning visit the Oilers on Tuesday. AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/hub/NHLA federal appeals court Friday upheld a controversial law banning the U.S. operations of TikTok – the massively popular video-based social networking app owned by Chinese company ByteDance – unless it finds a U.S. buyer. That gives the company just six weeks to keep fighting before the ax falls. We have our issues with TikTok, but we won’t be cheering that outcome. This impacts a lot of Americans, as there are 170 million U.S. users, about half the total population of the country and more than the combined numbers who voted for Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. The most dangerous aspect of TikTok, a potential Chinese state weaponization, is speculative. Lawmakers and the Department of Justice are arguing that the platform could be compelled to share data on users with authorities in Beijing, or used to gather information on potential spies or any number of other schemes running the gamut from plausible to Tom Clancy novel. Yet there’s no public hard evidence that any of this has actually happened or even been attempted; we specify “public” because these officials have insisted that there is secret evidence to suggest that these are real and present threats, and are acting on that secret evidence. We understand that there are sensitive techniques and information that must be classified for reasons of national security and safety – a principle, by the way, that the incoming president does not himself seem to grasp, and is skirting consequences for violating – but this isn’t how we should be doing things in this country. Effectively banning the operation of an entire company based on secret evidence that our political leaders simply assure us exists is not really in keeping with our principles of due process and transparency. We present no defense of TikTok, which previously has been caught censoring views that Beijing doesn’t like, and it is undoubtedly designed to be addictive and appeal in particular to kids and teens, who can get sucked into the endless scroll. It has been used to push harmful content and misinformation around things like eating disorders and vaccines, and its sheer breadth and reach make this information often spread before it can be moderated. If you’re thinking that could just as well be true of Meta and its Facebook and Instagram platforms, or Alphabet with YouTube, then you can see what we’re driving at. But what makes TikTok different is that those parents aren’t foreign owned, and owned by an unfriendly country. There are plenty of things to be concerned about with TikTok, just as there are plenty of things to regulate around all of these social media companies. At least these are attempting some kind of evenhanded moderation, unlike the platform formerly known as Twitter, which has become the cesspool of X under Elon Musk’s ownership. Moving to completely ban TikTok on what seems like thin and largely speculative national security grounds is a red herring drawing attention away from the fact that all these social media platforms have been allowed to run roughshod over our social and political fabric with a very light touch from regulators. We’d all be better served dropping this effort and taking aim at the broader system.
President-elect Donald Trump honored former President Jimmy Carter upon hearing of his death at age 100, graciously remembering him as a man who did his best “to improve the lives of all Americans.” The president-elect honored the now-deceased former president in a post on his Truth Social account Sunday. “I just heard of the news about the passing of President Jimmy Carter. Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History,” Trump wrote. The president-elect then graciously characterized Carter’s tenure, which followed President Nixon’s Watergate scandal and the fall of South Vietnam under President Gerald Ford, as one that came “at a pivotal time for our country.” “The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude,” Trump wrote. “Melania and I are thinking warmly of the Carter Family and their loved ones during this difficult time. We urge everyone to keep them in their hearts and prayers,” he concluded. As Breitbart News reported , Jimmy Carter lived longer than any other president in U.S. history and led a political legacy that lasted several decades past his single term from 1977 to 1981 before he was defeated by Ronald Reagan in a landslide election. Carter was the first president to embrace an outlook that focused on America’s flaws. He installed solar panels on the White House, and tried to set an example of frugality, donning a sweater instead of turning up the heat. His approach was typified by what became known as the “malaise” speech in 1979, in which he encouraged the nation to consume less. His dour demeanor and his zeal for continued sacrifices caused voters to turn away. Reagan defeated Carter in 1980 by hammering the incumbent Democrat on the state of the economy, by promoting a foreign policy of “peace through strength,” and by offering a more optimistic outlook on America. Carter’s death came just a little over a year after his wife, Rosalynn Carter, passed away at 96. Paul Roland Bois directed the award-winning Christian tech thriller , EXEMPLUM , which has a 100% Rotten Tomatoes critic rating and can be viewed for FREE on YouTube , Tubi , or Fawesome TV . “Better than Killers of the Flower Moon,” wrote Mark Judge . “You haven’t seen a story like this before,” wrote Christian Toto . A high-quality, ad-free rental can also be streamed on Google Play , Vimeo on Demand , or YouTube Movies . Follow him on X @prolandfilms or Instagram @prolandfilms .Carlsquare Advises Boomi on Acquisition of Data Integration Provider Rivery
NoneDonald Trump on Sunday attacked someone he said he considers a "friend," calling out former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy for what the president-elect says is "one of the dumbest political decisions made in years." McCarthy was booted from his position heading the House Republicans after former GOP lawmaker Matt Gaetz and others voted for his removal. After an extended process of votes for a new Speaker, the Republicans ultimately selected Mike Johnson , who was relatively unknown at the time. On Sunday, Trump weighed in on a move by McCarthy when McCarthy was still in power. ALSO READ: Poor Trump supporters are about to get a rude awakening — but we shouldn't be celebrating "The extension of the Debt Ceiling by a previous Speaker of the House, a good man and a friend of mine, from this past September of the Biden Administration, to June of the Trump Administration, will go down as one of the dumbest political decisions made in years," Trump said. "There was no reason to do it - NOTHING WAS GAINED, and we got nothing for it - A major reason why that Speakership was lost." Trump then added, "It was Biden’s problem, not ours." "Now it becomes ours. I call it '1929' because the Democrats don’t care what our Country may be forced into. In fact, they would prefer 'Depression' as long as it hurt the Republican Party," he said next. "The Democrats must be forced to take a vote on this treacherous issue NOW, during the Biden Administration, and not in June. They should be blamed for this potential disaster, not the Republicans!"OTTAWA — Former foreign minister Lawrence Cannon says he denied an emergency passport to Abousfian Abdelrazik in 2009 because he considered the Montreal man a possible threat to national security. Cannon told a Federal Court hearing Tuesday he did not want Abdelrazik to return to Canada from Sudan and "put any Canadians in jeopardy." The Sudanese-born Abdelrazik settled in Montreal as a refugee and became a Canadian citizen in 1995. During a 2003 visit to his native country to see his ailing mother, he was arrested, imprisoned and questioned about suspected extremist connections. Abdelrazik, who denies involvement in terrorism, says he was tortured by Sudanese authorities during two periods of detention. He is suing the Canadian government, claiming officials arranged for his arbitrary imprisonment, encouraged his detention by Sudanese authorities and obstructed his repatriation to Canada for several years. The suit also names Cannon, Conservative foreign affairs minister from October 2008 to May 2011. Federal lawyers argue Abdelrazik is an author of his own troubles, saying Canada did not urge Sudan to keep him in detention or mistreat him, or create a risk that these things might happen. Abdelrazik's second release from Sudanese custody came in July 2006. However, his inclusion on a United Nations security watch list complicated his efforts to return to Canada. At various times he was also on U.S. and Canadian no-fly lists. In response to a query from Canada's foreign ministry, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service and the RCMP said in November 2007 that neither agency had current and substantive information to support Abdelrazik's continued inclusion on the UN list. But Abdelrazik remained stuck in Sudan. In April 2008, he sought safe haven at the Canadian Embassy in Khartoum. He lived there in makeshift conditions for over a year. Canadian officials stated on several occasions the federal government would issue him an emergency passport if he were able to arrange air passage to Canada. In March 2009, Abdelrazik obtained a ticket to Canada for the following month. A March 12, 2009, email message filed in court indicates Cannon's office was questioning the authority to issue an emergency passport to Abdelrazik while he was on the UN list. Cannon seemed to know little about the inquiry, suggesting one of his staff was seeking more information, "as much as we were all looking for information." In early April 2009, Cannon refused Abdelrazik an emergency travel document under a section of the Canadian Passport Order that said he could refuse or revoke a passport if "such action is necessary for the national security of Canada or another country." Cannon told the court Tuesday that responsibility for national security is one of the important roles a minister plays. "I took that responsibility very seriously," Cannon said. "I did not want to put any Canadians in jeopardy or have Mr. Abdelrazik come back to Canada and pose a threat to the security and livelihood of a number of Canadians." Paul Champ, a lawyer for Abdelrazik, said during cross-examination of Cannon that Passport Canada had been quite ready to issue the document before the minister's decision. "I'm suggesting someone from your office pumped the brakes and said, 'Wait, do not issue that, because Mr. Cannon wants to review it. I'm suggesting to you, that's what happened." "I can't confirm what you're suggesting," Cannon replied. "I don't know." Abdelrazik has told the court the passport refusal was like "a mountain falling down on my head," causing great distress. He returned to Canada in late June 2009 after a judge ruled Ottawa violated his Charter right to enter Canada in denying him a temporary travel document. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 10, 2024. Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press
Carlsquare Advises Boomi on Acquisition of Data Integration Provider RiveryThings are ramping up here at the RDS as the first ballots are coming through this Saturday evening. And the excitement is building too – an eager scrum of photographers have been waiting in angst all day for the arrival of a certain Dublin central constituent. But first to pip Gerry Hutch to the post with her arrival to The RDS was Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. While speaking to awaiting media, she talked about ‘breaking the two-party system’, but have things really been positive this weekend for Sinn Fein, and where does another term on the sidelines leave the party’s future? Garry Gannon discusses his red line issues and why he's keen for a seat at the table regardless of who is sitting beside him. And what about celebrity candidates? Well things have not been going well for Gráinne Seoige in the West of the country, as she looks unlikely to claim a seat. Today on this Indo Daily Election Extra, Ellen Coyne is joined by The Irish Independent’s political editor Philip Ryan, and by Election Extra royalty Finian McGrath, to discuss the latest on a hectic Saturday evening here at the RDS.
Gabriel, Hunter, Jeanty, Ward named Heisman finalistsAt a press conference on Dec. 17, the Canadian federal government announced proposed new measures to expand its management of Canada’s border with the United States. These measures were intended to appease the incoming Trump administration and to avoid a threatened 25 per cent import tariff . The proposal includes expansions of border technologies, including RCMP counterintelligence, 24/7 surveillance between ports of entry, helicopters, drones and mobile towers. But what will this mean for people seeking asylum? If the U.S.-Mexico border is any indication, it will mean more death. Criminalizing migration At the press conference, Dominic LeBlanc, the minister of finance and intergovernmental affairs, reaffirmed Canada’s relationship with the incoming Trump administration . Framed around politics of difference, and relying on the fearmongering trope of migration as a “crisis,” Canada’s new border plan will also cost taxpayers $1.3 billion. Read more: Fearmongering about people fleeing disasters is a dangerous and faulty narrative During the press conference, LeBlanc’s remarks conflated migration with trafficking and crime, relying on “ crimmigration ,” or the use of criminalization to discipline, exclude, or expel migrants or others seen as not entitled to be in a country. LeBlanc also made direct reference to preventing fraud in the asylum system, with the driving forces behind this new border plan being “minimizing border volumes” and “removing irritants” to the U.S. However, these framings weaken the global right to asylum, which is an internationally protected right guaranteed by the 1951 Refugee Convention and sections 96 and 97 of Canada’s own Immigration and Refugee Protection Protection Act . Canada’s own courts have also found that the U.S. is not a safe country for some refugees . Read more: Canadian court correctly finds the U.S. is unsafe for refugees Deadly borders Since 2018, I have been researching technology and migration . I have worked at and studied various borders around the world , starting in Canada, moving south to the U.S.-Mexico border and including various countries in Europe and East Africa, as well as the Palestinian territories. Over the years, I have worked with hundreds of people seeking safety and witnessed the horrific conditions they have to survive. Read more: Deadly border technologies are increasingly employed to violently deter migration The Sonoran Desert containing the U.S.-Mexico border has become what anthropologist Jason de Leon calls “ the land of open graves .” Researchers have shown that deaths have increased every year as a result of growing surveillance and deterrence mechanisms. I have witnessed these spaces of death in the Sonoran Desert and European borders, with people on the move succumbing to these sharpening borders. Canadian borders are not devoid of death. Families have frozen and drowned attempting to enter Canada . Others, like Seidu Mohammed and Razak Iyal, nearly froze to death and lost limbs as a result of frostbite; they later received refugee status and became Canadian citizens in 2023. ‘Extreme vulnerability’ Throughout the press conference, a clear theme emerged again and again: Canada’s border plan will “expand and deepen the relationship” between Canada and U.S. through border management, including both data sharing and operational support. The border management plan will include an aerial intelligence task force to provide non-stop surveillance. The mandate of the Canada Border Services Agency will also expand, and include a joint operational strike force. In November, president-elect Donald Trump named former Immigration and Customs Enforcement director Tom Homan as his administration’s “border czar.” Homan explicitly called out Canada after his appointment, calling the Canadian border “ an extreme vulnerability .” Trump has also made pointed comments directed at Justin Trudeau , referring to him as “governor” and to Canada as the 51st state. And with Trump’s aggressive “America First” policies and the 25 per cent tariff threat, appeasing the incoming administration by strengthening border surveillance at the Canada-U.S. border is the lowest hanging fruit for the Trudeau administration to strengthen its hand. Creeping surveillance Border surveillance technologies do not remain at the border. In 2021, communities in Vermont and New York have already raised concerns about possible privacy infringements with the installation of surveillance towers . There are also fears of growing surveillance and repression of journalists and the migrant justice sector as a whole. And surveillance technologies used at the border have also been repurposed: for example, robo-dogs first employed at the U.S.-Mexico border have appeared in New York City and facial recognition technologies ubiquitous at airports are also being used on sports fans in stadiums . The big business of borders Taxpayers will foot the bill of this new border strategy to the hefty tune of $1.3 billion. This amount is part of a growing and lucrative border industrial complex that is now worth a staggering US$68 billion dollars and projected to grow exponentially to nearly a trillion dollars by 2031. But taxpayers do not benefit. Instead, the private sector makes up the market place of technical solutions to the so-called “problem” of migration . In this lucrative ecosystem built on fear of “ the migrant other ,” it is the private sector actors and not taxpayers who benefit. Instead of succumbing to the exclusionary politics of the incoming U.S. administration, we should call for transparency and accountability in the development and deployment of new technologies. There is also a need for more governance and laws to curtail these high-risk tech experiments before more people die at Canada’s borders. Instead of spending $1.3 billion dollars on surveillance technologies that infringe upon people’s rights, Canada should strengthen its asylum system and civil society support. Canada should also remember its international human rights obligations, and resist the U.S. political rhetoric of dehumanizing people who are seeking safety and protection.
DAN DA DAN RETURNS FOR A JULY 2025 SEASON 2 RELEASE!China stocks back on the menu as Xi Jinping signals major stimulus in Politburo meeting
