The McGill International Review

MIR Meets: Chris Gibbs

Contributor Mathieu Lavault sits down with Chris Gibbs, an experienced soybean farmer from Western Ohio, former chair of his county Republican party. Having worked at the United States Department of Agriculture for many years, he voted for Donald Trump in 2016 on the promises he made to American Farmers of revitalizing the agriculture sector - which never happened. Since leaving the Republican party in 2019, Mr. Gibbs discusses populism, agriculture, and how Trump has failed American farmers.

MIR Meets: Daryl Davis

In this episode of MIR Meets, contributor Mathieu Lavault sits down with Daryl Davis, a renowned black musician with a unique interest in infiltrating hate groups. Having converted over 200 KKK members to leave and denounce the organization, he discusses how racial tensions and the KKK have shaped America today and poses the question: how can you hate me if you don't know me? 

Spotlight: Tour de Virus

This week on Spotlight, host Naomi Shi sits down with MIR Writer of the Week, Sajneet Mangat, to discuss her two-part series titled “Tour de Virus”, where she analyzes how the bicycle is an inherently political symbol and why it represents a unique prism in understanding privilege and inequality in the age of COVID-19.

Dig Deeper: Reimagining Political Lobbying to Enhance Democracy

In this episode of Dig Deeper, host Ashwin Nair talks to Dave Meslin, author of "Teardown: Rebuilding Democracy from the Ground Up", about the links between corporate lobbying, grassroots political influence, and the strength of democracy in Canada.

Spotlight: Why COVID-19 Won’t Mean the End for China’s Belt and Road Initiative

This week on Spotlight, host Naomi Shi sits down with MIR Writer of the Week, Emma-Jane Ni, to discuss her article “Debt, Masks, and Tech: Why COVID-19 Won’t Mean the End for China’s Belt and Road Initiative”, in which she explores how China has continued to increase its influence abroad despite the setbacks posed by COVID 19.

MIR Meets: Arthur Rizer

In this episode of MIR Meets, contributor Mathieu Lavault sits down with Arthur Rizer, the director of justice and national security policy for the R Street Institute, where he heads institute programs dealing with a variety of issues related to crime, policing, intelligence and privacy. Discussing in-depth the issue of police brutality and the Black Lives Matter Movement, Mr. Rizer examines critical factors that have shaped the status quo, including the role of police culture and America's history of slavery.

Spotlight: Lettre à mon Québec antiraciste

This week on Spotlight, host Naomi Shi sits down with MIR Writer of the Week, Louise Toutée, to discuss her Op-Ed titled "Lettre à mon Québec antiraciste", in which the province's sensitive relationship with racism is explored through an analysis of Quebec's history with oppression.

 

 

Dig Deeper: Basic Income

In this episode of Dig Deeper, host Ashwin Nair looks at the Basic Income debate in two countries: India and Canada. Dr Sarath Davala, the Vice-President of Basic Income Earth Network and Coordinator of the India Network for Basic Income and Sheila Regehr, Chairperson of Basic Income Canada Network join our host to provide some expert analysis. Before diving into these discussions, Ashwin examines the increasing relevance of a basic income in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic with Matthew Green, the New Democratic Member of Parliament for Hamilton-Centre and former Hamilton City Councillor for Ward 3.

Dig Deeper: Should the police be abolished?

In this first episode of Dig Deeper, host Ashwin Nair talks to Alex S. Vitale, Professor of Sociology at Brooklyn College and author of the book "The End of Policing" on the impact of police brutality on marginalized communities in North America, why police reform simply doesn't work, and the need for abolishing policing as it exists today.

Clarifications Surrounding McGill's Response to COVID 19

This is a podcast aimed at the McGill community to clarify how the university is responding to COVID 19. MIR Media Editor Bilal Virji, sat down with SSMU president, Bryan Buraga, to discuss concerns raised by students. Listed below are some important resources for everyone effected by this. 

World Health Organisation - https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Canadian Government Updates - https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

Quebec Government Updates - https://www.quebec.ca/en/health/health-issues/a-z/2019-coronavirus/

McGill University Updates - https://www.mcgill.ca/coronavirus/

Mental Health App - https://www.facebook.com/notes/students-society-of-mcgill-university-ssmu/mental-health-resource-notice-keepmesafe/2726807420689270/