Community News
Electrical Failure – Unplugging the hype: Why electric vehicles might not be the silver bullet we envision
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
CONSUMER ALERT! CONSUMER ALERT!
In presenting the information about electric vehicles in this article, it is important to acknowledge that certain readers, particularly enthusiasts and fans of electric vehicles, may find aspects of the content challenging, or even disagreeable. Our responsibility, however, is to provide accurate and unbiased information to our readership.
While some may hold strong preferences for electric vehicles, it is our commitment to present the facts surrounding them objectively. It is through a fair and comprehensive examination of the subject matter that we aim to foster informed discussions and empower our audience with the knowledge needed to make well-rounded decisions in the rapidly evolving landscape of automotive technology.
Now, let’s start with a couple stories; a gentleman set off on a road trip to Halifax in his new Ford F-150 extended range vehicle. He topped up his charge in Nipigon and Terrace Bay, but the Petro-Canada app listed the company’s chargers in Marathon in Wawa as out of service. He decided to get his car juiced up instead at the Ivy charger in White River, but when he got there, he discovered the charger was down too.
Our next story is about the owner of a 2023 F-150 Lightning Lariat. First, it’s worth noting that he bought the truck new for approximately $88,000 before taxes, so it’s understandable he had great expectations about it.
While he liked how the electric pickup drives and the fact it is very roomy and luxurious for a truck, there were several things that cast a shadow on his ownership experience. He often had difficulty: charging the vehicle on his drives outside the city and finding fast chargers that worked and weren’t backed up with people waiting to charge.
He also had issues with the main interface, which he said was not very user friendly despite Ford recently updating it to the latest Sync 4 version. He complained about poor phone call quality and the fact the interface did not default back to the map when driving, among other things.
My last story is about an EV owner who had to replace his battery. When he brought his car into the dealership, they looked up the replacement battery cost online and the dealership told him, “You’re not going to like this.” It was about $15,000 for the battery plus labour and taxes. The owner of the vehicle felt like it was not worth it to invest $20,000 in a car that was now over ten years old.
As electric cars and trucks have gone mainstream, they have faced a persistent question: Are they really as green as advertised, and are they worth the money?
A survey published in July, 2023 by J.D. Power found only around a third of Canadians were considering EV’s as their next vehicle purchase, and that number was trending downward. Those who rejected EV’s cite limited range, and lack of charging stations as key reasons. The growth of electric vehicle sales has since slowed sharply. In June 2022, EV sales were growing about 90% year over year. By June of 2023, the 12-month growth rate had slowed to about 50%, and automakers had become increasingly fearful that the pace would weaken further.
What are the reasons for this? There are a few, so please bear with me.
First of all, owners of electric cars will most likely pay more for insurance. Canadian EV owners can expect higher insurance costs in the future. One of the factors is that they cost more, so simply because they cost more, they’ll be more expensive to insure. The higher the value, the higher the cost is to replace if the car is damaged or stolen. It is a risk that the insurance companies will factor into their pricing.
Then there are the costs to replace battery packs, the availability of replacement parts and the scarcity of skilled technicians, all that affect the price of repairs and ultimately insurance rates in the short run.
An October 28th, 2023, Financial Times article stated that British auto insurers increased their rates considerably over the year, with carriers suspending insurance coverage for EVs altogether to enable it to re-evaluate the cost repairs. Also, recent media reports from British Columbia described how the main provincial auto insurer wrote off an entire EV, because to replace the battery would be the same as buying a new car of the same brand and make. Some electric car owners, especially those with earlier models, have been shocked to find out how much it costs to replace their batteries.
Then you have to consider the fact that a higher number of EV’s on the roads inevitably means more of them becoming involved in accidents. There is widespread anxiety over dinged-up batteries since they could in theory compromise the safety of the vehicle, causing: electric shocks, fires, and even explosions. Fires remain extremely rare, though, and are less common on average than in internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
There are defenders of EV’s who have snapped back against the media that they say spreads misinformation about this budding technology. Some media critics have stated that whenever an EV has a problem that apparently is news, but when thousands of gas cars can’t start in the cold or catch fire on the side of the road — well, that’s just life. For some, misinformation about EV’s has become such an issue that the U.K. ‘s House of Lords urged the government to push back against EV misinformation in the British press.
We can’t completely ignore companies like Tesla, whose charging network is the largest on the continent and known for its reliability. It has been reported that EV’s of all stripes will soon have access to Tesla’s robust network as the company’s charging port is fast becoming the North American standard.
I get it; it is new technology, and like anything new, there will be kinks, but it cannot be ignored that EVs may have more problems than conventional cars. Electric vehicles have proved far less reliable, on average, than gasoline-powered: cars, trucks and SUVs. According to a 2023 survey by Consumer Reports, EVs from the 2021 through 2023 model years encountered nearly 80% more problems than did vehicles propelled by internal combustion engines.
The reports said EV owners most frequently reported troubles with battery and charging systems as well as flaws in how the vehicles’ body panels and interior parts fit together. The magazine and website noted that EV manufacturers are still learning to construct completely new power systems, and it suggested that as they do, the overall reliability of electric vehicles should improve.
Like many other batteries, the lithium-ion cells that power most electric vehicles rely on raw materials — like cobalt, lithium and rare earth elements — that have been linked to grave environmental and human rights concerns. Cobalt has been especially problematic. Mining cobalt produces hazardous tailings and slags that can leach into the environment, and studies have found high exposure in nearby communities, especially among children, to cobalt and other metals. Extracting the metals from their ores also requires a process called smelting, which can emit sulfur oxide and other harmful air pollution.
There are many other examples of the emerging problems that come hand in hand with the electrification of cars. While producing an electric car, manufacturers still end up emitting greenhouse gasses into the air.
We have more serious issues. Most of the greenhouse gasses come from aircraft, ships, and heavy traffic vehicles as well as from anti-environmental energy-producing technologies like coal-based thermal power plants.
Although they are marketing the EV as a step in the right direction to decrease climate change, there are obviously challenges that were not conceived, or are being ignored. Before making the decision to go electric, we need to really look at how this technology is serving us, and if we are yet again being taken on a propaganda ride.
REFERENCES:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19486963/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652618335340
https://www-bbc-co-uk.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-68130432.amp
https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/safety-studies/Pages/HWY19SP002.aspx
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-canada-electric-vehicle-consideration-evc-study
https://insideevs.com/features/503689/mustang-mach-e-infotainment-review-guide/
https://www.euronews.com/next/2023/12/26/we-cant-save-the-world-with-electric-cars
https://insideevs.com/news/670422/ford-f150-lightning-owner-explains-sold-6-months/
https://www.wired.com/story/ev-repair-batteries-expensive-insurance/
EV owners likely to pay more for insurance, report says. Here’s why
Rooftop Solar Could Meet 100% of Electricity Needs in Canadian Homes—Technically
BY KHADIJA KARIM
Have you ever forgotten someone’s name, or where you left your phone and thought, “Why can’t I remember anything?” Forgetting might feel frustrating, but it turns out that forgetting things can actually be good for you. Experts believe forgetting might be an important part of human survival and could even have benefits.
You probably think that remembering everything would be better, right? If you remembered every tiny detail, like what you had for breakfast three weeks ago, or the colour of every car you saw today, you would be overwhelmed. Our brains are constantly receiving information, and if we didn’t forget some of it, we wouldn’t be able to focus on what really matters at that time.
Forgetting helps you clear out information you don’t need, and it helps your brain remember the most useful memories. Think about how hard it would be to focus on important things if your mind was filled with random thoughts. Forgetting helps you stay focused and keeps your mind from getting lost.
So, why would evolution make us forget things? Early humans had to deal with dangerous environments that changed quickly. They needed to remember things that helped them survive, like where to find food, or how to avoid predators. They didn’t need to remember every small detail, like what happened last week. Forgetting information, they didn’t need allowed them to make quick decisions based on what was most important at that moment in time.
For example, if you remember a recent storm, you might make sure to stay inside or find shelter. If you remembered every storm you’d ever seen, it would be harder to make decisions about the present. Forgetting irrelevant details helps you stay on your feet and helps you react faster to new situations. This ability to forget likely helped early humans survive and make better decisions in their everyday lives.
Next time you forget something, don’t be too hard on yourself! Forgetting is a natural part of how our brains work and can actually help you stay focused on the important things. It might seem annoying at times, but it’s helping you make better decisions. Forgetting isn’t just something to be annoyed about, it’s a smart way to survive in a world that’s always changing!
Community News
Blink equity dives deep into the gap between people of colour and decision-making roles in Canadian law firms
BY ADRIAN REECE
Representation in the workforce has been a topic of conversation for years, particularly in positions of influence, where people can shift laws and create fair policies for all races. Representation in the legal system is an even more talked about subject, with many Black men being subjected to racism in courts and not being given fair sentencing by judges.
The fear of Black men entering the system is something that plagues mothers and fathers as they watch their children grow up.
Blink Equity, a company led by Pako Tshiamala, has created an audit called the Blink Score. This audit targets law firms and seeks to identify specific practices reflecting racial diversity among them in Toronto. A score is given based on a few key performance indicators. These KPIs include hiring practices, retention of diverse talent, and racial representation at every level.
The Blink Score project aims to analyze law firms in Ontario with more than 50 lawyers. The Blink Score is a measurement tool that holds law firms accountable for their representation. Firms will be ranked, and the information will be made public for anyone to access.
This process is ambitious and seeks to give Canadian citizens a glimpse into how many people are represented across the legal field. While more and more people have access to higher education, there is still a gap between obtaining that higher education and working in a setting where change can be made. The corporate world, at its highest points, is almost always one race across the board, and very rarely do people of colour get into their ranks. They are made out to be an example of how anyone from a particular race can achieve success. However, this is the exception, not the rule. Nepotism plays a role in societal success; connections are a factor, and loyalty to race, even if people are acquainted.
People of colour comprise 16% of the total lawyers across the province. Positions at all levels range from 6% to 27%. These numbers display the racial disparity among law practitioners in positions of influence. Becoming a lawyer is undoubtedly a huge accomplishment. Still, when entering the workforce with other seasoned professionals, your academic accolades become second to your professional achievements and your position in the company.
What do these rankings ultimately mean? A potential for DEI-inclusive practices, perhaps? That isn’t something that someone would want in this kind of profession. This kind of audit also opens law firms up to intense criticism from people who put merit above all other aspects of professional advancement. On the other hand, there is a potential for firms to receive clientele based on their blink score, with higher ones having the chance to bring in more race-based clients who can help that law firm grow.
It is only the beginning, and changes will undoubtedly be made in the legal field as Blink Equity continues to dive deep into the gap between people of colour and decision-making roles in these law firms. This audit has the power to shift the power scale, and place people of colour in higher positions. There are hierarchies in any profession, and while every Lawyer is qualified to do what they are trained to do, it is no shock that some are considerably better than others at their jobs. The ones who know how to use this audit to their advantage will rise above the others and create a representative image for themselves among their population.
BY SIMONE J. SMITH
We are living in a world where promises of health and safety came packaged in a tiny vial, one injection was promoted by powerful governments, supported by respected institutions, and championed by legacy media worldwide. Sadly, beneath the surface, a darker truth emerged.
Reports from around the globe began to tell a different story—one that was not covered in the news cycles or press conferences. Families torn apart by unexpected losses, communities impacted in ways that few could have foreseen, and millions questioning what they had been told to believe.
Those who dared to question were silenced or dismissed (the Toronto Caribbean Newspaper being one of those sources). “Trust the science,” we were told. “It’s for the greater good.” As time went on, the truth became impossible to ignore.
Now, I bring more news to light—information that demands your attention and scrutiny. The time to passively listen has passed; this is the moment to understand what’s really at stake.
I reviewed an interview with Naomi Wolf, journalist and CEO of Daily Clout, which detailed the serious vaccine-related injuries that Pfizer and the FDA knew of by early 2021, but tried to hide from the public. I was introduced to “The Pfizer Papers: Pfizer’s Crimes Against Humanity.” What I learned is that Pfizer knew about the inadequacies of its COVID-19 vaccine trials and the vaccine’s many serious adverse effects, and so did the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA promoted the vaccines anyway — and later tried to hide the data from the public.
To produce “The Pfizer Papers,” Naomi, and Daily Clout Chief Operations Officer Amy Kelly convened thousands of volunteer scientists and doctors to analyze Pfizer data and supplementary data from other public reporting systems to capture the full scope of the vaccines’ effects. They obtained the data from the Public Health and Medical Professionals for Transparency, a group of more than 30 medical professionals and scientists who sued the FDA in 2021 and forced the agency to release the data, after the FDA refused to comply with a Freedom of Information Act request.
It was then that the federal court ordered the agency to release 450,000 internal documents pertaining to the licensing of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. The data release was significantly and the documents so highly technical and scientific that according to Naomi, “No journalist could have the bandwidth to go through them all.”
The “Pfizer Papers” analysts found over 42,000 case reports detailing 158,893 adverse events reported to Pfizer in the first three months The centerpiece of “The Pfizer Papers” is the effect that the vaccine had on human reproduction. The papers reveal that Pfizer knew early on that the shots were causing menstrual issues. The company reported to the FDA that 72% of the recorded adverse events were in women. Of those, about 16% involved reproductive disorders and functions. In the clinical trials, thousands of women experienced: daily bleeding, hemorrhaging, and passing of tissue, and many other women reported that their menstrual cycle stopped completely.
Pfizer was aware that lipid nanoparticles from the shots accumulated in the ovaries and crossed the placental barrier, compromising the placenta and keeping nutrients from the baby in utero. According to the data, babies had to be delivered early, and women were hemorrhaging in childbirth.
Let us take us to another part of the world, where research has been done on other pharmaceutical companies. A group of Argentine scientists identified 55 chemical elements — not listed on package inserts — in the: Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca, CanSino, Sinopharm and Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines (according to a study published last week in the International Journal of Vaccine Theory, Practice, and Research).
The samples also contained 11 of the 15 rare earth elements (they are heavier, silvery metals often used in manufacturing). These chemical elements, which include lanthanum, cerium and gadolinium, are lesser known to the general public than heavy metals, but have been shown to be highly toxic. By the end of 2023, global researchers had identified 24 undeclared chemical elements in the COVID-19 vaccine formulas.
Vaccines often include excipients — additives used as preservatives, adjuvants, stabilizers, or for other purposes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), substances used in the manufacture of a vaccine, but not listed in the contents of the final product should be listed somewhere in the package insert. Why is this important? Well, researchers argue it is because excipients can include allergens and other “hidden dangers” for vaccine recipients.
In one lot of the AstraZeneca vaccine, researchers identified 15 chemical elements, of which 14 were undeclared. In the other lot, they detected 21 elements of which 20 were undeclared. In the CanSino vial, they identified 22 elements, of which 20 were undeclared.
The three Pfizer vials contained 19, 16 and 21-23 undeclared elements respectively. The Moderna vials contained 21 and between 16-29 undeclared elements. The Sinopharm vials contained between 17-23 undeclared elements and the Sputnik V contained between 19-25 undetected elements.
“All of the heavy metals detected are linked to toxic effects on human health,” the researchers wrote. Although the metals occurred in different frequencies, many were present across multiple samples.
I am not going to go any further with this; I think you get the picture. We have been sold wolf cookies, very dangerous ones. These pharmaceutical companies must be held accountable. I am proud of anyone who has gone after them for retribution, and have received it. Regardless, in many ways, there is no repayment for a healthy life.
REFERENCES:
https://ijvtpr.com/index.php/IJVTPR/article/view/111
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/defender_category/toxic-exposures/
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