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The Soapbox

A rotating stable of community members share their thoughts on anything and everything, the only criteria being that it be thought-provoking. Got something on your mind to share with readers in Greater Sudbury? Climb aboard our Soapbox and have your say. Send material or pitches to [email protected].  

The Soapbox: Protecting children means letting them be queer

The Soapbox: Protecting children means letting them be queer

As we move through Pride Month, Alex Tétreault, former chair of Fierté Sudbury Pride offers a reminder about a major reason Pride is so important: ‘This isn’t about a culture war, it’s not a friendly debate or a difference of opinion. For us, and for every other marginalised population, hate is a matter of life and death’
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The Soapbox: Who exactly owns the Art Gallery’s collection?

The Soapbox: Who exactly owns the Art Gallery’s collection?

The question of ownership of the art collection curated by the Art Gallery of Sudbury, but held in trust by Laurentian University, is caught up in the insolvency proceedings? Historian Dieter Buse exhaustively tracks the history of the art collection and poses a question: does something held in trust imply ownership?
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The Soapbox: Cutting through the noise to spur climate action

The Soapbox: Cutting through the noise to spur climate action

In the second of a four-part series, author André Clement describes how in an age of information, information itself has become noise. But spurring action on climate change requires focus and critical thinking, things social meda directly assaults
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The Soapbox: Leaving no greenhouse gas behind

The Soapbox: Leaving no greenhouse gas behind

Cathy Orlando of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby relates a story of how her husband, an anaesthesiologist, figured a way to reduce Health Sciences North’s carbon footprint and save it money
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The Soapbox: Laurentian’s greenspace must be protected

The Soapbox: Laurentian’s greenspace must be protected

‘The community is intent on protecting this area now and for future generations’
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Soapbox: Reptiles at risk need intact Laurentian greenspace

Soapbox: Reptiles at risk need intact Laurentian greenspace

Turtles, like other Sudbury residents, need to be sure the wildlands around the university are preserved and protected
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The Soapbox: The horrid possibility of a sixth extinction event

The Soapbox: The horrid possibility of a sixth extinction event

Sudburian André Clement spent the past few years writing a book on climate change. This is the first part of a four-part series he has written exploring climate change and what humanity can do about it
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Opinion: Saving the North’s vanishing Lake Superior caribou is right and good

Opinion: Saving the North’s vanishing Lake Superior caribou is right and good

For thousands of years, caribou lived around Lake Superior until logging and other land use changes made the ecosystem there unable to sustain them – a process repeated elsewhere that is leading to the steady decline of the species in North America.  A group of scientists and conservationists have been pushing to bring them back
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Soapbox: This year, make writing pysanky an act of resistance

Soapbox: This year, make writing pysanky an act of resistance

Dorothy Pawluch, a Sudburian of Ukrainian descent, shares a bit of the history of what many call ‘Ukrainian Easter eggs’ and how these symbols of rebirth have taken on a new meaning in the wake of the Russian invasion
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The Soapbox: There’s a very good reason you likely don’t watch Canadian film

The Soapbox: There’s a very good reason you likely don’t watch Canadian film

And that reason, argues Sudbury Indie Cinema programmer Beth Mairs, is the movie theatre monopoly that keeps Canuck flicks off most big screens
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