Category Archives: Disability Justice & Mental Health
The Four Pillars Revisited: A Look at Vancouver Drug Policy
In 2001, after much campaigning by activists, academics and public health officials, Vancouver’s municipal council approved the boldest, most progressive drug policy in North America: A Framework For Action: A Four-Pillar Approach to Vancouver’s Drug Problems. The Four Pillars‘ philosophy was simple but revolutionary: the government should lessen the harms associated with drug use, even […]
Why I Didn’t Report
Our society has created the perfect platform for violation of female or feminized bodies, as it is founded upon violence, colonialism and the sexual power and privilege of cisgender heterosexual men.
Soundtrack to the Revolution: A Term Paper Season Self-Care Mix
Welcome to The Talon’s ‘Soundtrack to the Revolution.’ After I posted this lovely Iron & Wine album on my Facebook wall, describing it as “ritualistic posting of healing songs,” the brilliant Lucia Lorenzi responded by suggesting that The Talon editors write up a playlist for their “soundtrack to the revolution.” Lucia is a PhD candidate in the Department […]
Social Justice Synonyms #4: “Retarded”
Welcome to the fourth segment of Social Justice Synonyms, a column at The Talon that discusses harmful and discriminatory language embedded in our culture and provides ways to unlearn this language. This week’s word is retarded. The word “retard” is derived from the Latin word retardare, meaning “to make slow, delay, or hinder”. It was […]
Two Days, One Night: When Film Confronts Anxiety & Depression
I so rarely cry if I am not watching a film. Unless I am completely devastated, it verges on being impossible. But to begin with, I think I probably came in feeling a little emotional. I got teary just watching the Vancouver International Film Festival’s (VIFF) intro clip that thanks its volunteers. Actually, I swelled […]
Meet the Editors: Jane Shi
my english teachers in china assigned me with the name jane. under most circumstances i’m okay with being called jane, though sometimes I can’t help but think of the more famous english janes (Eyre, Austen, Goodall, Grey), all of whom surely owned its meaning – “Yahweh is gracious/merciful” – far better than i, a chinese […]
Social Justice Synonyms #1: “Crazy”
Welcome to Social Justice Synonyms! This will be a regular piece that highlights not-so-cool words, explains the reasons why they are problematic, and provides some alternatives. Here at The Talon, we firmly believe in the importance of anti-oppressive politics. As such, we would like to ensure that our language reflects these values. Language is a powerful […]
