March is an odd month. With the inauguration of spring and the early start of daylight savings, it’s easy to forget that it’s still parka season for at least another few weeks. This March was a monumental month in hosting not only St. Patrick’s Day, but also the Easter weekend – the last time that happened was in 1913 and the next time will be a whopping 220 years from now in 2228. From the shaping of the U.S. economic meltdown to continued political unrest to attempts at saving our planet while others place its very existence at risk – March was indeed a very strange month. Read on to discover the tidbits of news that occurred during the seasonal change of the month-that-was: March.
Duh… – A couple taking a leisurely evening stroll en route to dinner stumbled upon the blueprints for the upcoming Canadian Armed Forces counter-terrorism building to be constructed in Trenton, which were left in a heap of trash on the side of the street in downtown Ottawa. The blueprints revealed everything from the building layout to the exact location of security measures.
Boom, Then Bust – We’re in a recession. Times are hard. The housing market bubble has burst. One of the most major underwriters of mortgage bonds in the U.S. has collapsed. Confused about what this all means? Then, read this.
Are they laughing at me? – Most of us have fallen victim to bullying in some form or another, whether covert and insidious (to the point where you look crazy for mentioning something so innocuous) or just downright blatantly rude (where you felt like crying in frustration). But if you haven’t, then maybe it’s because you’re the bully. A recent study concludes that workplace bullying is far more common than people think. The three most bullied workplace areas: hospitals, academia, and – you guessed it: law. And the group most likely to bully: women, who bully…other women. Come on, my fellow peeps! How are we ever going to start a revolution and get ourselves elected and be heads of state and rule the world peacefully if we can’t even be civil and supportive of one another in the workplace?!? Solidarity, sisters! Unite!
Tainted Games – There was little doubt that this summer’s Olympic Games in Beijing would be without considerable controversy given the oppressive antics of the ironclad Communist regime – but who knew that escalating ethnic violence in Tibet would take centre stage in global politics even before the start of sandal season? There is the perennial bully (China) and the obvious victim (Tibet) that has continued for generations, but the Chinese government, ever conscious of the world’s watchful eye, is hell-bent on pumping out the propaganda to convince Mainlanders and the rest of the world that China is the victim in this most recent escalation of violence and protest. Granted, the Tibetans involved in senselessly beating Chinese neighbours and merchants is heinous beyond reproach, but China and its brutal history of systemic violence and political oppression of Tibet and countless other groups certainly takes the gold medal. Remember, the world is watching and will continue to even after the Olympic flame is extinguished.
Save Power Hour – On March 29th from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., major cities around the world shut down their lights in honour of Earth Hour – a way to send the message to elected officials that we need to do more to save the environment. But all efforts may be for naught if:
I Don’t Feel Fine – This seems straight from a sci-fi novel, but a lawsuit has been filed in the Federal Court in Hawaii to prevent scientists from operating an $8 billion giant particle accelerator, called the Large Hadron Collider located outside of Geneva that could potentially create a black hole and envelop the earth or turn our planet into a shrunken dead lump. I kid not. Protons in the accelerator collide to recreate conditions that last happened a trillionth of a second after the Big Bang, which would produce results that scientists could analyze for clues into mass and the symmetries of nature. The plaintiffs allege that not enough research has been conducted on the safety of the accelerator and believe that its operation could mean the earth’s demise. Jurisdiction issues remain given the defendant’s base and operation in Europe – but for the love of life, somebody please do something before we all become space dust. 
Aiaiaiaiiii…
And Finally…– JLo gives birth to twins. W00t-w00t!
The Watercooler is a monthly feature written by Ottawa lawyer AAK!