Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver at TheCommentary.ca.

Dr. Steven Lee from the University of British Columbia joins me now. He’s on to promote a couple of appearances he’ll be making on the Korean War. His talk is called ‘The Forgotten War and Its Aftermath.’ It’s part of the latest show put on by Screaming Weenie Productions. In November they’ll be presenting a new play, Falling in Time. It’s by the playwright C.E. Gatchalian. Visit www.screamingweenie.com for more information on the show, which is a play set in Vancouver in 1994, and takes the audience back to the Korean War and explores themes of war, masculinity, sexuality, and more. Dr. Lee will be giving his talk as part of the show, providing context and perhaps deepen the engagement of the audience. Dr. Lee will be speaking next Wednesday, 26 October 2011 at the Central Branch of the Vancouver Public Library downtown. That’s at 7.00pm. And there’ll be a roundtable discussion Sunday, 06 November 2011 at the Rhizome Café at 317 East Broadway. That’s at 6.30pm. We’ll get Professor Lee to preview his talk, the show, Falling In Time, and remind us about the Korean conflict. Why is it forgotten? Steven Lee is an associate professor of history at UBC. He’s written a couple of books, one called The Korean War, and Outposts of Empire: Korea, Vietnam, and the Origins of the Cold War in Asia, 1949-1954. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Steven Lee; Good morning, Professor Lee.

In the Fabled East by Adam Lewis Schroeder. (Douglas & McIntyre 2010) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: In the Fabled East

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Adam Lewis Schroeder has been described as a young author worth watching, and his new book, In the Fabled East is already a much talked about release of the spring. It is his second novel, and is a sweeping literary saga set against the backdrop of French Indochina. It is said to be a rich and sensual depiction of Southeast Asia, echoing Graham Greene and Joseph Conrad. Adam Lewis Schroder joins me now. He grew up in Vernon, and has completed an MFA in Creative Writing at UBC. His previous books include a short fiction collection, Kingdom of Monkeys, and his first novel was The Empress of Asia, which was a critical hit. He is a columnist for CBC Radio One, and is a Creative Writing instructor at UBC Okanagan. He also has a piece in Darwin’s Bastards: Astounding Tales from Tomorrow. His website is www.adamlewisschroeder.com. In the Fabled East is published by Douglas and McIntyre. He joins me from here in Vancouver. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Adam Lewis Schroder; Good morning, Mr. Schroder.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

In the midst of these Olympic Games, we look at how the media has covered them and Vancouver. Joe Cutbirth is an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Journalism at UBC. He is an award winning journalist and media critic, appearing regularly on the Huffington Post. He is the author of a forthcoming book, Fake News, Real Politics, which looks at satire on late night television, and its effect on politics. So, who better to ask about Stephen Colbert and his recent taping of programs here at these games. In fact, his dissertation looks at Jon Stewart’s impact on the 2004 campaign. His website for more is www.joecutbirth.com. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Joe Cutbirth; Good morning, Professor Cutbirth.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Kirk LaPointe is the Managing Editor of the Vancouver Sun, and an adjunct professor at the graduate School of Journalism at the University of British Columbia. He’s got a great website at www.themediamanager.com, where he blogs regularly. We’ll talk about the Olympics among other things. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Kirk LaPointe; Good morning, Mr. LaPointe.

Les sables mouvants / Shifting Sands by Hubert Aquin; Translated by Joseph Jones. (Ronsdale Press, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Shifting Sands

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

We look at the life of the novelist and activist, Hubert Aquin now. The Quebec born writer died in 1977, but his work remains oft-studied and discussed. In 2003, his novel Next Episode, the English translation of Prochaine épisode was the winner of the Canada Reads thing on CBC Radio. Now, his novella, Les sables mouvants / Shifting Sands is translated for the first time in a bilingual edition. Marie-Claire Blais, says that this novella is worthy of Kafka’s Metamorphosis. Joseph Jones joins me now to discuss Aquin and this book. Mr. Jones is librarian emeritus at the University of British Columbia. Originally from the Carolinas, he was in Quebec during the October Crisis. He’s long been interested in Aquin’s life and work. He found this novella in its original manuscript form and translated it. It’s published by Ronsdale Press. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Joseph Jones; Good morning, Mr. Jones.

A Bitter Pill: How the Medical System is Failing the Elderly by Dr. John Sloan. (Greystone, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: A Bitter Pill

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

A much needed book is out now, A Bitter Pill: How the Medical System is Failing the Elderly. It’s written by Dr. John Sloan, who is a senior academic physician in the Department of Family Practice at the University of British Columbia. He provides a view onto elderly care, filling in the knowledge gaps we might have on how older patients are cared for. The anecdotes and case studies are fascinating to read and an instructive way to understand these issues. Dr. Sloan has spent well over 30 years caring for the frail elderly, many years conducting his practice outside an office, doing house calls, one of the few doctors who did so. A Bitter Pill is published by Greystone. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, John Sloan; Good morning, Dr. Sloan.

Who Owns the Arctic? Understanding Sovereignty Disputes in the North by Michael Byers. (Douglas & McIntyre, 2009) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Who Owns the Arctic?

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

The Arctic is a hot topic nowadays, but there are knowledge gaps and some misinformation out there. A good primer on Arctic sovereignty and more is Who Owns The Arctic?: Understanding Sovereignty Disputes in the North. Its author, Michael Byers joins me now. The book asks and illuminates many important questions, like who controls the Northwest Passage? Who controls the oil and gas beneath? And how does climate change factor in all of this?

Michael Byers was on last, a couple of years ago for his very fine book, Intent for a Nation. He is the Canada Research Chair in Global Politics and International Law at the University of British Columbia. He was the NDP’s candidate in Vancouver Centre in last year’s federal election campaign. And he’s a widely respected expert on the north and more. This book is published by Douglas and McIntyre. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, Michael Byers; Good morning, Professor Byers.

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

Last week, I got a press release in the e-mail announcing that 15 young PhD students were to receive scholarships from the Trudeau Foundation. The scholars will be using the funding to advance research on crucial topics. One subject that one of the scholars is pursuing intrigued me, and not just because I’m a second generation Filipino-Canadian. Mark Lawrence Santiago, a PhD student in the Department of Geography at the University of British Columbia, will be looking at contributing to improved policies toward the ethical and sustainable recruitment of Filipino health workers in Canada. Mr. Santiago has graciously taken time out of a busy schedule to talk to us today. We’ll discuss his work, his forthcoming research, this scholarship, and how we’re doing in this country. The working title of his work is: Made for Canada, Product of the Philippines: Global Nurse Migrations and the Geopolitics of Global Justice. He studied philosophy at the National University of Singapore, where he was a Research Scholar, and at the Ateneo de Manila University. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Lawrence Santiago; Good morning, Mr. Santiago.

Weblinks:

Trudeau Foundation: http://www.trudeaufoundation.ca

British Columbia: Spirit of the People by Jean Barman. (Harbour, 2008) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: British Columbia: Spirit of the People

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

The historian Jean Barman joins me now. She’s just written a remarkable history of British Columbia in a splendid looking new coffee table book, British Columbia: Spirit of the People. Commissioned by the provincial government, it explores the history of BC’s ten diverse regions. With neat historical and lush photographs in colour, it captures not only the landscape, but also the people of this province from its early days through to today. Jean Barman is professor emerita at the University of British Columbia, and has written six previous books including the indispensible The West Beyond the West, and most recently Stanley Park’s Secret. She is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. British Columbia: Spirit of the People is published by Harbour and retails for $49.95. The foreword was written by the Premier, Gordon Campbell. It is a great way to look back at BC as it turns 150 this year. Please welcome once again to the Planta: On the Line program, Jean Barman; Good morning, Professor Barman.

Five Ring Circus: Myths and Realities of the Olympic Games by Christopher A. Shaw. (New Society, 2008) Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Five Ring Circus

I am Planta: On the Line. This is THECOMMENTARY.CA.

There’s new book out that looks at the 2010 Olympic games and their preparations. My next guest is its author who contends that no longer are the Olympics about athleticism and fair play-rather they’ve become a sleazy cesspool of greed and corruption, along with a wholesale trampling of civil liberties. In Five Ring Circus, Christopher A. Shaw details the history of how Vancouver/Whistler won the 2010 Games, who was involved, and their motives. Christopher Shaw is a professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences at the University of British Columbia. He is the spokesperson for 2010 Watch, and the Work Less Party. He previously sat on the provincial council of the BC Green Party. The full title of the book is Five Ring Circus: Myths and Realities of the Olympic Games. It is published by New Society, and retails for $19.95. Please welcome to the Planta: On the Line program, Christopher Shaw; Good morning, Professor Shaw.

2010 Watch: http://www.2010watch.com

Work Less Party: http://www.worklessparty.org/