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The AIH Transcript for July 3, 2020

Hosts: Duncan McCue and Chris Howden

Prologue

DUNCAN MCCUE: Hi. I'm Duncan McCue, sitting in for Carol Off.

CHRIS HOWDEN: Good evening. I'm Chris Howden. This is As It Happens.

[Music: Theme]

CH: Tonight:

DM: Forcing the issue. Canada says China overstepped by imposing a harsh new security law on Hong Kong. Our foreign affairs minister tells us what his government's doing to push back.

CH: Hell and high water. A man realizes the only way to reach his elderly parents during the pandemic is to jump in his small sailboat and cross the Atlantic. 85 days later, he tells his story from dry land.

DM: Eastern provinces are bubbling with excitement as the Atlantic bubble opens. But before the joyous reunions are the joy-less lines at provincial borders.

CH: Spelunking bee. A Canadian diver squeezes into a remarkable underwater world in Mexico and finds traces of human activity dating back thousands of years.

DM: Joy Ride. With campuses closed, a Harvard professor fulfills his dream of cycling across the United States. But as a black man, his journey takes on new meaning when protests against police brutality begin.

CH: And they called it pub-by love. Just before bars reopen in the UK, one bar named after an infamous slave trader rechristened itself Ye Olde Pubby McDrunkface. As It Happens. The Friday Edition. Radio that's not afraid to name names or rename Namey McNamefaces.

[Music: Theme]

Part 1: Canada may take 'additional measures' against China over national security law: Champagne

Champagne Hong Kong

Guest: Francois Philippe-Champagne

CH: Today, Francois Philippe-Champagne announced that Canada is suspending its extradition agreement with Hong Kong and blocking exports of military goods. Canada's foreign minister says the measures are a response to the new security law that China has imposed on Hong Kong. The law criminalizes most forms of dissent. Minister Champagne says it ignores the one country two systems commitment that China made when it took over Hong Kong. But dissidents have already begun to leave Hong Kong, and Canadian allies are taking steps to let them in. We reached Francois Philippe-Champagne in Shawinigan, Quebec.

DM: Minister Champagne, what message are you trying to send to China?

FRANCOIS PHILIPPE-CHAMPAGNE: Well, there are three very simple messages. The first one is that Canada's taking action following the imposition of the national security law. The second thing is that Canada will stand up for the people of Hong Kong. And that we are also prepared to consider additional measures.

DM: You say Canada is taking action. How much does this President Xi Jinping care whether Canada suspends our extradition treaty with Hong Kong or not?

FRANCOIS PHILIPPE-CHAMPAGNE: Well, I think if I was in Beijing, I would listen (that) Canada is in good company. I have been talking to the UK foreign secretary, we exchanged views this morning -- also with the Australian foreign minister. We have been consistent in our approach in telling Beijing to change course because that would undermine the foundational pillar that made Hong Kong what it is. Liberty and freedom have made Hong Kong a vibrant hub of global trade and finance and not what we have seen with the imposition of the national security law. That's a significant step back for the liberty and freedom of the people in Hong Kong. Obviously, we saw the text of the law. We'll have to see how they decide to interpret and apply it, because it's only 48 hours. But certainly we will monitor the situation as it evolves. And I would say, you know, we're in pretty good company when it comes to standing up and speaking up for the people of Hong Kong.

DM: You say Canada's in good company. But again, does Xi Jingping listen to what Canada's saying on Hong Kong or on the two Canadians who are being held in custody?

FRANCOIS PHILIPPE-CHAMPAGNE: Well, the people in Hong Kong obviously listen. You know, we have a vested interest. We have more than or about 300,000 Canadian citizens currently living in Hong Kong based on our latest estimate. So we have a vested interest in what is happening in Hong Kong. I would say when it comes to the two Michaels, I hope they're listening because I can tell you that the international community see Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor not only as two Canadians which are arbitrarily detained in China, but they see these two citizens of a liberal democracy which are arbitrarily detained. They see coercive diplomacy in action. And it's sending a chilling effect, because I can tell you, in a number of capitals, people are reflecting that today they are Canadians, tomorrow they could be citizens of another country.

DM: Prime Minister Boris Johnson has agreed to extend residency to millions of people who are eligible for overseas UK passports. The Australian government is working on immigration measures to welcome Hong Kongers who need to leave. Will Canada provide safe harbour for residents from Hong Kong who feel that they're no longer free?

FRANCOIS PHILIPPE-CHAMPAGNE: I think the prime minister has been clear this morning that the measures we're taking today were to protect people, but that we were prepared to consider additional measures. And that's what we're doing in consultation with our international partners to see as this situation warrants and evolves.

DM: What kind of immigration measures are you considering?

FRANCOIS PHILIPPE-CHAMPAGNE: Oh, there's a range of options that we have at our disposal. That's why I spoke to Minister Mendicino and that we as Canada are reviewing the various options we have. We will have more to say in the days and weeks ahead.

DM: Will you modify work and study visa programs, for example?

FRANCOIS PHILIPPE-CHAMPAGNE: Well, there's a range of options. As I was saying, there's a range of options that we are considering. It's a very live discussion going on now, both in Canada but also with our international partners. And we will have more to say as the situation evolves. Because this is only 48 hours after the law was implemented. We want to see how the law is going to be interpreted and applied. We've already seen recent examples which are worrying, and that's why we are considering additional measures that we're prepared to admit. And that's the message we're sending. Today, we're taking actions, we're setting up with the people of Hong Kong, and we're prepared to take additional measures in consultation with our international partners.

DM: There are a group of senators here in Canada who are saying that the government should use the Magnitsky Act to sanction Chinese officials who are responsible for abusing human rights in Hong Kong. Is that something your government would consider?

FRANCOIS PHILIPPE-CHAMPAGNE: Well, that's only one option that we have among many options that we have in front of us. Like I said, today was a first set of measures which should come as no surprise to Beijing, because this is what we had signal already when we made different statements that we'll review the arrangements if they decided to go forward and that we would review the different arrangements in place. So, you know, we will consider appropriate measures as the situation evolves and as we see the law being applied in Hong Kong.

DM: So would the Magnitsky Act and use of it be on the table then?

FRANCOIS PHILIPPE-CHAMPAGNE: Well, it's one of the options that we have. Again, like I said, Duncan, we came out today with measures to protect people. That was first and foremost for us -- how can we ensure the protection of people? We've done that. And then the prime minister has alluded to additional measures that we're prepared to take with respect to immigration. There's other measures that we could take, but every measures that we will be taking would be looking at the best interests of Canada, but that we stand up and speak up for the people of Hong Kong and call it for what it is.

DM: Guy Saint-Jacques, the former Canadian ambassador to China, told As It Happens a couple of weeks ago that the detention of Michael Spavor and Michael Kovrig has forced Canada to pull its punches on this issue in Hong Kong. What would you say to Mr. Saint-Jacques?

FRANCOIS PHILIPPE-CHAMPAGNE: Well, I respect his opinion. I think Canada has been standing up. I mean, I said there is no more important priority than to stand up and speak up for Canadians. There's no higher duty for any government to ensure the health and safety of its citizens. And that's what we are most concerned about. I appreciate getting a lot of advice from different people as to the best course of action. I think the prime minister has spoken on that recently. And we will continue to advocate. And like I said, this case is not only the case of two Canadians, it's the case of two citizens which have now been facing arbitrary detention. And it is of most concern to a lot of people in different capitals around the world.

DM: We'll leave it there minister. Thank you for your time.

FRANCOIS PHILIPPE-CHAMPAGNE: Thank you very much. It was a real pleasure.

CH: Francois Philippe-Champagne is Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister. We reached him in Shawinigan, Quebec. And you can find more on this story on our webpage: cbc.ca/aih.

[Music]

PEI Bridge

Guest: Kyle Forbes

CH: Starting today, Atlantic Canadians can now travel among Canada's four eastern provinces without self-isolating, which is some long awaited good news for people who've been separated from their families during the pandemic. Janice Thebeau has been unable to visit her daughter, P.E.I. since March, which meant she wasn't able to meet her new grandson until this morning. Ms. Thebeau and her daughter, Kristie Simpson, spoke with Island Morning host, Laura Chapin, shortly after their reunion.

KRISTIE SIMPSON: I was up at five 30 with the baby. And I was like oh they are probably just hitting the road. So I waited about an hour and I texted at 6:30. I was like "How's it going?" And she's like, "We're in your driveway." [Laughter] Oh! I'll come get you. I didn't expect to cry. And then, yeah, just like, when we hugged I just didn't let go. It was a very overwhelming feeling.

LAURA CHAPIN: So what has this been like for the two of you? Because it's been, what, three months since you've seen each other?

JANICE THEBEAU: Four months.

KRISTIE SIMPSON: It's been really strange. I mean, just being pregnant and having a pandemic hit, that was strange enough. And then not really having, you know, your mom, who is usually your main support around, that was really strange. Not something I ever thought I would really experience. For three long months of Facetime and sending photos and stuff, it was just a really strange way to start a new baby's life.

JANICE THEBEAU: It was really hard not to be here for the second one and knowing everything that's going on. And she had to go to the hospital and you don't know what's going on in there and not being able cross the border...it was awful. Had it not came to bubble we were going to try to apply to get over with compassionate care leave or something of the sort. We're here now, though, and she's just a little doll. Just a little doll. He looks like my husband. [Laughter]

CH: Kristie Simpson and her mother, Janice Thebeau on CBC Radio today. Kyle Forbes of Halifax is also looking to reconnect in the new Atlantic bubble. But he's faced long lines at provincial border checkpoints. We reached Mr. Forbes just after he crossed into New Brunswick.

DM: Kyle, you've just crossed the provincial border. How does it feel to get out of Nova Scotia?

KYLE FORBES: It's definitely pretty wild. I'm feeling almost a little agoraphobic out here. I'm out on the Tantramar Marshes so I can kind of see in every direction. And yeah, I really feel like I just kind of broke through the gate.

DM: Why was it so important for you to get to New Brunswick?

KF: Well, it's been six months since I've been able to be home, New Brunswick being where I'm from. And about four months, I believe, since I've seen my parents. So I was definitely really itching to get there.

DM: You were itching to get there. So how long did you have to wait in line today to get across the border?

KF: I started my stopwatch as soon as my car kind of came to a stop in the line. And I was in that line for almost exactly four hours.

DM: Four hours waiting to get from Nova Scotia to New Brunswick. Did you expect it was going to take that long?

KF: No. I was accounting for, like, worst case scenario, two hours. You know, like you listen to a couple podcasts or whatever, and you're done. And I ran through all my podcasts very quickly. [Chuckles]

DM: Paint a picture for me. I mean, what were people doing lined up at the border for that long?

KF: Well, it was standstill for a lot of periods. Like there were times where you could really kind of store your car into park and you would not move 15 minutes. So there were people getting out, just sort of walk the shoulder of the road for a little while, come back. People were taking their dogs out to pee. I saw one woman reading what looked to be a book of poetry or recipes in the front seat of her car -- in the driver's seat. She wasn't moving, but she was definitely reading. [Chuckles]

DM: Presumably a lot of people are trying to visit their relatives in New Brunswick like you. Is there anything else that's driving these long lineups to get from province to province?

KF: I think it's just an eagerness to go somewhere else as well. You know, I think people that maybe necessarily are into camping they're just itching for a new bit of scenery. Or I imagine families are big drivers. I know a lot of families that are sort of split between at least Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

DM: Of course, the borders have been closed for a reason. Are you worried at all about opening up this bubble and whether or not it could lead to more spread of COVID-19?

KF: I am yeah, definitely. I'm very conscious of the fact I'm coming from Nova Scotia, where we have, I think, around three cases now, and New Brunswick has somewhere in the range of 20 last time I checked. So there's definitely like I'm aware of that, you know, there's definitely going to be transmission between at least the two provinces I kind of move between. But I'm just trying to be as careful as I possibly can. You know, I'm really only here to see my parents. You know, I'm not going to go shopping. I'm not going to really socialize all that much. So I'm kind of trying to personally do as much as I can, but help others do the same.

DM: There have been stories of people getting 'plate shamed' it's called. You know being shamed for for having Nova Scotia license plates. Do you blame New Brunswickers who might be concerned about welcoming people like yourself from Nova Scotia?

KF: I understand where they're coming from. I don't really agree with them. But I do understand the sort of the anxiousness of letting people from outside the province in, you know, it can be seen as kind of scary. And I think that, you know, whether or not we were necessarily ready for this Atlantic bubble is maybe a different question. But I'm not necessarily worried that it's going to happen to me. But I wouldn't be surprised if someone I know was plate shamed.

DM: You pulled over for us, thank you for doing that. You've got a couple more hours on the drive. What's the first thing you're going to do when you get to see your parents?

KF: Definitely hug my parents. Definitely going to feel weird to hug a person, I think. Physical contact is definitely [chuckles] a thing that I have not experience in a real long time. So that'll be nice. And probably a jump in a lake. I have been in a hot car for many hours, I think I'm ready for a swim.

DM: Kyle go jump in a lake.

KF: All right. Great. Thank you so much. Have a good weekend.

KF: Kyle Forbes is taking advantage of the new Atlantic bubble. He was near Sackville, New Brunswick. Provincial borders are one thing, but Canada's chief public health officer wants Canadians to think twice about opening their personal borders. Here's Dr. Theresa Tam answering a question about whether it's possible for Canadians to safely have sex during the pandemic.

THERESA TAM: Never got that question. I think, again, like anything to do with social interactions in the sort of COVID era, do everything to reduce your risk. Don't date if you're sick. And I'm not a dating expert, but maybe start virtually where you meet them for the first time could be in a safer place, such as being outdoors, picnic in the park, I guess, separated by others. Everyone knows COVID-19 is spread by respiratory droplets. So if you were, you know, kissing someone, of course, this is a potential route of transmission through which you are now in a social contract, in a social bubble for which that is to be, I think, something to be taken seriously. I don't know what else to say except carefully, slowly, like all other advise on reopening social and economic activities.

CH: Canada's chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam.

[Music]

Cave Find

Guest: Fred Devos

CH: In Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, in the middle of the jungle, there's an entrance to an underwater cave which would make me sob in claustrophobic terror just to be anywhere near. But in 2017, Canadian cave diver Fred Devos and his partner put on their gear and started exploring it. And went further than anyone had been before. As they swam through tight crevices into the horrible muck, they noticed that the environment had been unnaturally altered. In a study released today, experts say those changes were made by people who lived thousands of years ago when the caves weren't underwater. The researchers in the journal Science Advances. We reached Fred Devos in Puerto Aventuras, Mexico.

DM: Mr. Devos, in that video of you and your diving partner we can see you squeezing your bodies through this tiny crevice under water with all your diving gear on. What did you find on the other side of that small space that was so exciting?

FRED DEVOS: One of the motivations for even going through this space was the fact that we saw some evidence that this restriction had been manipulated. In fact, originally, I think before speleothems, stalactites and stalagmites were broken, we probably wouldn't have been able to fit through. But we noticed that, you know, these formations had been broken. And that sort of tweaked our curiosity to go further and see what's on the other side. So luckily, we managed to squeeze through with the equipment we had. And what we found on the other side was nothing less than the first indisputable evidence of what people, prehistoric people, were doing in the caves.

DM: What was your reaction with your partner?

FD: To give it some context, I've been doing this for 20 years, but this particular dive and that particular find out what we found on the other side of the restriction was, you know, a jaw dropping moment for both of us. And, you know, we don't want the regulators to fall out of our mouths, but, you know, we just looked at each other and had that look like, you know, oh, my gosh, look what we've just discovered here.

DM: Why was it so obvious to you that humans had been in the cave thousands and thousands of years ago?

FD: Yeah. So when we're diving in these flooded caves, we know that they weren't always flooded and we know that humans had been in there before. But any humans that are a certain distance or any skeletal remains or any evidence of human beyond, you know, near the entrance, we know that that happened at least 8000 years ago because that's the last time the caves were dry. So without scuba equipment, no one would have gotten through the cave now that it's water filled. So, you know, we automatically knew we are talking about prehistoric people. And later the dates, you know, revealed that it was between 10,000 and 12,000 years the activity of humans in lamina.

DM: What kind of artifact did you find?

FD: So one of the first things we noticed was, like I said, just damage. So, you know, manipulated. And, you know, we've seen this before, but animals were back in here, prehistoric animals, and humans had been back there. But now was evidence really of what they were doing. And we saw marker cairn -- so, you know, a rock piled up on top of another rock with a speleothem on top of that and another rock on top of that. And unless gravity was different in the past, then we know that someone stacked that up there.

DM: And there were also digging tools.

FD: Yes. So, you know, some of the speleothems that had been broken were all rounded and chipped and lying right beside a broken piece of the floor. And then some of these broken pieces of the floor and their tools were piled up on the ledge and down below all the sediment had been removed. And you could see sort of the lines of where the sediment was before. And now there's nothing there.

DM: And I understand that the experts and archeologists have suggested that they were extracting ocher, that these were ocher mines. So what were they doing trying to get the ocher out?

FD: Ocher, I guess I've learned a lot about it. But it's been used by humans since really the beginning of time, the beginning of humans. And there's been different uses of it. Some have been, you know, ceremonial in nature. Other uses have been sort of as mosquito repellent or even medicinal purposes. So we're not really sure what their use of the ocher was, but it's clear that they had to go into the caves to get that quality of ocher. And they must have really valued it because they spent a lot a lot of energy removing tons of it, literally tons of this ocher was brought up to the surface.

DM: One of the remarkable things watching the video of you and your partner is that all this evidence seems to be so well preserved. Why didn't the water just wash it away?

FD: Yeah, it's quite remarkable. And I think it really highlights the importance of these caves in terms of archeology. And if you look at other areas of the world where, you know, prehistoric archeology is done, it's almost always in caves because it's quite protected from the elements. But once you've filled a cave with water, it's even more protected. So you've got a very dark, low oxygen environment which preserves things very well. And we've been able to find skeletons in these caves and been able to even extract DNA from teeth of prehistoric humans. You know, so it's an incredible environment, you know, for archeology. You know we're lucky in that way, if this was a dry cave, I don't think we would be able to realize what had happened here. But it really looked like the miners left yesterday and, you know, turned off the lights and left everything intact, their tools and everything. So it's really the first evidence of what the first peoples of the Americas were doing. We know that they have been going into these caves. We found skeletons in the past. And we hypothesized on why they were going in. But none of these guesses really were about ocher. And this is really the first time where there's insight into what the people of that area were doing.

DM: It's fascinating stuff. Thank you for sharing it with us.

FD: No, not at all. Thank you.

CH: Fred Devos is a cave diver. He's also an author of a study published today about ancient ocher mines in Mexico. We reached Mr. Devos in Puerto Aventuras Mexico to see pictures from his cave diving visit our website: cbc.ca/aih.

[Music]

Ye Olde Pubby McDrunkface

CH: Tomorrow, for the first time in three months, people in the U.K. will be allowed to go down the pub. They're calling it Super Saturday. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged pub goers to drink responsibly. But Super Saturday will very likely involve a lot of overexcited people, overdoing it, and then being overhung. Well if the idea is moderation, you might be disappointed to see the sign on a pub in Bristol, England. It reads The Clearly Temporarily Named Ye Olde Pubby McDrunkface. That might seem like an irresponsible temporary name, but it's obviously a joke. And its previous name was not: The Colston Arms. Like dozens of things in the city of Bristol, it was named for Edward Colston, an extremely wealthy philanthropist who became extremely wealthy because of his long and lucrative involvement in the slave trade. It was the statue of Edward Colston that was recently pulled down by protesters and thrown triumphantly into Bristol Harbour. So The Colston Arms had a choice continue to be named after a man whose fortune was built on horrific human suffering or rename itself in honour of the world's most famous autonomous underwater vehicle Boatie McBoatface. For the pub's owners, it was no choice at all. And Pubby McDrunkface probably won't be the pub's permanent name, but it's a sign that the winds of change can include a selection of drafts.

[Music]

Part 2: What it's like to be a Black ornithology professor cycling across the U.S. right now

Covid Sailor

Guest: Juan Manuel Ballestero

CH: After the coronavirus was declared a pandemic back in March, expats around the world started to make their way back home. Among them was Juan Manuel Ballestero. But unlike those who rushed to book last minute flights, Mr. Ballestero took a more unconventional route home from Portugal to Argentina, one that involved an 85 day journey sailing solo across the Atlantic. We reached Juan Manuel Ballestero in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

DM: Juan after so many days at sea what was that moment like when you finally made it home?

JUAN MANUEL BALLESTERO: Well, that was mission accomplished. All my thoughts and all my effort and everything just became true that day -- really happy. Lot of joy.

DM: Take us back to March. The pandemic hit. What made you decide to attempt this journey?

JUAN MANUEL BALLESTERO: I just want to be home. I want to be with my parents. It had been a year and a half since I had not seen them. And everything telling me that just get the boat and go. So I boarded with food and started trip home.

DM: Your gut was telling you that just get in the boat and go. But authorities in Portugal were telling you that if you ran into trouble, that you wouldn't be able to re-enter again. So what was your response to that?

JUAN MANUEL BALLESTERO: Well, I say thank you. I don't plan to come back anyways. I know once I started this voyage, it was a one-way ticket. I cannot stop anywhere else because all the ports were close at that moment. So I said okay good, I'm leaving tomorrow. [Chuckles]

DM: But Juan, I mean most sailors that are crossing the Atlantic they'll stop along the way to get supplies or gas. Were you able to make any stops?

JUAN MANUEL BALLESTERO: Yes, definitely. In our normality from before the pandemic, I planned this one-way trip because the virus and the possibility of infection and they are closing harbours. Actually, I pass through the Canary Islands, but they don't let me come in. You know, it was very hostile. They crash me with their police boat and all that. So I just pack and leave. And I didn't buy diesel or any more fruits.

DM: Which is amazing. I mean, you set out for your destination, again, without being able to stock up on diesel, did you run into any other troubles?

JUAN MANUEL BALLESTERO: Well, yes. After that, I run in a lot of troubles because to pass through the calm area of the Atlantic that is near Ecuador, is the intersection of tropical winds. So there is no wind. We all know that if I will have the diesel, I will pass it in one day. You know, it's about to make 120 or 150 miles by engine or 200 miles by engine...

DM: Through the doldrums.

JUAN MANUEL BALLESTERO: Because we're talking about a calm, a flat that come in the middle of the ocean. No wind at all. It is like a mirror -- you are in a huge mirror and there's no way you can get away, there is no wind. So yes, I was stuck there for 10 days just moving along the ocean with all the ocean, you know. So it takes a really long time.

DM: I imagine, Juan, that that sailing solo is lonely at the best of times. Was it different for you this time during a pandemic with all of the uncertainty that you were facing?

JUAN MANUEL BALLESTERO: Well, yes, definitely. I have to be really determined of what I was doing, because I realize that the world has changed. You know, this is really bad. The long term calm, just sitting there without doing anything is a big challenge for their mind. You know, I don't know how I did that because I don't have any training in this. I imagine if an astronaut goes to the moon, someone would tell him how to manage this kind of stuff. Me, I was totally alone there by myself without any training. And on this I lost the control. So that was very tough on me. And I make it through and then start sailing. And after I broke something that holds the mast -- the long extension just popped so I couldn't sail any more in a safe manner because I got to lose my mast. So that was another stressful situation. Thanks to God, the Brazilians let me go in and I fix my boat. And I made it to Argentina after.

DM: Just an incredible journey and sailing without a mask at one point, which I mean, you started at that point to post your journey on Instagram. So what was it like when you finally arrived?

JUAN MANUEL BALLESTERO: It was amazing. When I finally arrived, how they welcomed (me) my life, it was amazing and how they support me. You know, when I go in Brazil, and I read all the message from the people that send me goodbyes and keep going. They made me keep going. They made me very strong. And when I see the shape of my hometown, my city, when I saw the port -- that I learn how to sail and all this began, it was a really really good feeling. And I start to flavor that in my mouth like I made it. And then when I see my parents -- my mom and my brothers, and everybody.

DM: And what was it like to see your parents? Were they okay? Were they healthy?

JUAN MANUEL BALLESTERO: Yes. Yes. My dad is healthy. He just turned 90 year old on the 15th of May. So I didn't reach that day, but I reached Father's Day here. So that was pretty cool. He looks good. He's great. He's happy I'm here. So we're all together now.

DM: And I understand you've tested negative for coronavirus and you're quarantining now. So thank you for sharing your story with us.

JUAN MANUEL BALLESTERO: Thank you guys to look at this sailor's journey with all their big things are happening in the planet right now. I hope God bless us all -- with all this pandemic. Now, just a question, is this radio going to Calgary also?

DM: It will go to Calgary, yes it will. [Laughs]

JUAN MANUEL BALLESTERO: Oh I want to say hi to Andrea. Andrea, you listen to me -- send you a big hug. She's a very good friend of mine so I send her a big hug and a kiss.

DM: Indeed. You take care. Thanks.

JUAN MANUEL BALLESTERO: Thank you. Thank you. Bye bye. Bye bye.

CH: Juan Manuel Ballestero recently completed a solo sailing journey across the Atlantic from Portugal to Argentina. We reached Mr. Ballestero in Mar del Plata, Argentina.

[Music]

Carrie Kollias

CH: Carrie Kollias used to be a doctor in Alberta. Today, she practices in Australia. And Dr. Kollias says it's precisely that move that empowered her to speak up about the indifferent response she saw to a racist incident at an Alberta hospital. Dr. Kollias is one of several health workers who sounded the alarm after a doctor named Wynand Wessels taped a noose to the door of an operating room in a Grand Prairie hospital back in 2016. According to another physician who tried to intervene, Dr. Wessels who is white, said the noose was for a black Nigerian born surgical assistant whom the CBC has agreed not to name. Now, four years later, Alberta's health minister has ordered an independent investigation. But for Dr. Kollias and many others, the damage is already done. She says she reported the incident repeatedly, but Dr. Wessels was never suspended and faced no formal discipline. And yet, when Carrie Kollias wrote to the CEO of Alberta Health Services just last week, she was told the incident had been fully investigated and appropriate action taken.

CARRIE KOLLIAS: It was it was pretty disappointing, I got to say. I mean, I'm not a person of colour. But I know that this has caused a lot of pain to many physicians, especially physicians of colour in the province of Alberta. The actions of Alberta health services are know by appearances so duplicitous. It's just demoralizing for the physicians that still work in that province. So, you know, we know that in health care systems where, you know, we have high levels of intimidation and harassment, that affects patient quality and safety. And so this is in the public interest for the patients of Alberta to know about this. I think the other thing that has been really demoralizing is, you know, essentially that this was tolerated. What does that say to any other physician, health care worker, hospital housekeeper, porter in that province -- in the province of Alberta? It says that you are a victim of an equal or lesser injustice, that don't bother reporting because nothing's going to happen. And so that is, you know -- the fact the incident occurred, yes, that was atrocious. But the lack of action, I think is equally atrocious.

CH: Carrie Kollias is an Alberta doctor who is now practicing in Australia. She was speaking with the CBC's Charles Rusnell.

[Music]

BLM Cyclist

Guest: Scott Edwards

CH: When university campuses closed because of COVID-19, one Harvard Ornithology professor thought it would be the perfect moment to fulfill his dream, a dream of cycling across the U.S. from the Atlantic to the Pacific. But just before he set out on June 6th, the landscape shifted pretty dramatically as thousands of protesters took to the streets demanding justice for George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and others. Scott Edwards is a black man himself. And after almost a month on the road, he says his trip has been quite different from what he envisioned. We reached Scott Edwards during a rest stop yesterday near Henry, Illinois.

DM: Professor Edwards, how was the riding today?

SCOTT EDWARDS: It was great. I actually had a bit of a tailwind today, so very thankful for that. And yeah, I've been going west, started in the town of Wenona, Illinois today and so far about 45-46 miles. Got another 19 or 20 to go.

DM: I understand you've had this dream of cycling across the country for years now. Why?

SE: [Chuckles] Well, it's a dream a lot of folks have, actually. I'm certainly not the first one. And, you know, bicycling slows you down, allows you to look at stuff, allows you to talk to people and allows you to see the landscape in a way that you'd never ever see from a car, or I would argue, even for a motorcycle. So that is why I'm bicycling again. Yeah, so far it's gone really well.

DM: You were able to hatch this trip because things slowed down on the Harvard campus because of the pandemic. When you started to plan the trip, how did your feeling about it change after the police killed George Floyd? And then also the incident involving a Black Birder in Central Park? Did it change your plans for your trip?

SE: Well, you know, when I started out from Newburyport on June 6th, Newburyport, Massachusetts, this was strictly a let's have a great time cycling with Scott. And, you know, about three or four days into the trip, I was planning on a homestay through this organization. And, you know, the woman I was going to stay with looked at my profile online and she immediately reached out and said, hey, are you involved with the Black Birders Week? And I was intrigued by that because honestly, whether you're black or white, most people had never even heard of the Black Birders Week. And so the next day, you know, it just dawned on me that I might be able to ask this lady to make a few signs for me so I could contribute in a small way to the expressing the outrage of African-Americans and other people of colour. And I knew that she could do it. You know, she was in Schenectady. She was hip through the whole thing. And, my goodness, she just went to town and within 24 hours, we had beautiful signs made. We put grommets on at her place. And after that, you know, I guess my ride took on a bit of a larger purpose. You know, you get all kinds of reactions, most of them positive. But I can definitely say it's allowed me to connect with people.

DM: How easy is it as a black man in America for you in some of these smaller communities where there may not be a lot of black folks?

SE: You know, I think a lot of the tension and anxiety that I sometimes feel, for example, when I walk into a small pub in a small town and, you know, all the people in the pub are white and most of them are over 60 or 70. And as the only black person in the room, yeah I'm a little nervous. I suspect a lot of that is unfounded. These are nice people. And as isolated as some of the communities may be, they're hip to the world. They know what's out there. You know, I would just challenge some of my white friends to walk into a bar that had 100 percent black people in it and just see how you feel. I mean, you know, maybe some folks are better at it than I am. I don't think you can be too careful travelling alone as a black person. But on the other hand, you don't want to see danger wherever you look. You know, it's a balance, I would say.

DM: And a lot of the Black Lives Matter protests have been taking place in the big cities, Minneapolis, St. Louis. You've been sticking to rural roots, you know, taking pictures of cows and historic sites. Is the conversation different off the beaten track than what we've been seeing in the media?

SE: I mean, I think I've seen some of the themes that we see in the media. For example, a lot of people I've talked with recently, you know, they kind of associate Black Lives Matter with mayhem, with looting, with the chaos that's come in the wake of some of these otherwise peaceful protests. And that's unfortunate. You know, one guy said to me that this Black Lives Matter movement, well, you know, it's being funded by the Democrats. So you do hear a little bit of that sort of crazy stuff. But in the same breath, they will tell you that, you know, it doesn't matter what your color is, we're not racist here. And so what's hard, I think, for me is to convey to folks in rural communities who, you know, may never have -- they may not have any black friends at all -- you know how important this is. But they're going to necessarily see it through the lens of rural and urban. And for many of them, it very much is one of these pathologies that happens in big cities. And, you know, the farther away you stay from it, the better. But in the same breath, as I say, they're super nice, super generous. You know, at some level maybe it's just the urban rural divide. But it's been interesting to see that sort of play out and see it close at hand.

DM: And the journey is continuing. Last question for you, have you seen any special birds?

SE: Seen a lot of good birds, yeah. Some like red headed woodpeckers, which we don't get much of in Massachusetts. I got a few dickcissels which are kind of a prairie bird. And what I pretty sure was an upland sandpiper, which is, again, kind of an inland shorebird that you wouldn't find close to water. So that always lightens it up. You know, I feel so fortunate. There's a famous quote, I think, by this guy, Thomas Henry Huxley, who is a 19th century biologist, who said, you know, 'If you don't know natural history, it's like going to a museum and looking at paintings and all the paintings are blank.' I feel fortunate to be able to connect to nature, at least through birds and to sort of know who my neighbours are as I'm traveling through their landscape. And that really does bring a sense of community and fulfillment.

DM: A day you see an upland sandpiper is a good day. Thank you very much for your time.

SE: Thank you so much Duncan. I appreciate it.

CH: Scott Edwards is an ornithology professor at Harvard University. We reached him in Henry, Illinois. And you can find more on this story on our webpage: cbc.ca/aih.

[Music]

Louise Berard

CH: Louise Berard wasn't sure she'd ever see her lost change purse again. She'd misplaced it running errands back in March and had pretty much made her peace with its disappearance. So she was shocked when a Winnipeg shop owner recently returned it to her, thanks to some intel from an intrepid postal worker who helped track her down. But it turned out that surprise was nothing compared to what was to come. Earlier today, Louise Berard told the CBC's Ismaila Alfa about the moment she discovered that the contents of her recovered change purse included a winning lottery ticket.

LOUISE BERARD: Well, this is it, he kept going in the back, he went in the back twice and I thought, "what's with this guy, you know?" And the last time he came in, I saw how much did I win? And he says, 100,000. And I said, Oh, you shouldn't do that. I said, that's not very nice. I said, you don't say things like that because I didn't believe him.

ISMAILA ALFA: You thought he was joking? [Laughter]

LOUISE BERARD: Yes. And he said, no, madam, you've won a 100,000. And I said "I won a 100,000." I started to cry. [Laughter] I've never earned that in my lifetime. I always had to work it up. But I'm acting like an idiot and he is taking a video of this all this time. [Laughter] Now I have to prove that it's my ticket.

ISMAILA ALFA: How did you prove that?

LOUISE BERARD: Well, they ask an awful lot of questions, I'll tell you. And you have to be on the ball. So I knew all the answers. I'm definitely going to put a lot of money in my house. I'm going to get somebody to paint it this time, because at 82, who the hell wants to paint? [Laughs] I've had enough. Now I can enjoy it and I want to get an outside gazebo.

ISMAILA ALFA: Oh nice.

LOUISE BERARD: And then I want to get a new bathtub. And my son said, Why? What's wrong with that one? I said, it's 43 years old or 44, it's time to get a new one. [Laughs]

CH: Louise Berard lost her change purse with a winning lottery ticket in it back in March. She spoke with the CBC's Ismaila Alfa earlier today.

[Music]

SpARROW SINGING

CH: There's nothing quite as transporting as Sparrow song.

[SOUND: Sparrow singing]

CH: Now, some say they hear that as "Old Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody." Others with a more nationalistic bend here, "Oh my sweet Canada, Canada, Canada." Either way, it's a cheap and cheerful forest classic, but it's starting to change. Scientists have been tracking a new twist on that tune. The white throated sparrows of western Canada have a new version that sounds more like, "oh my sweet can a can a can...Canada." [SOUND: Sparrow singing] It's not unusual for birds to develop a kind of regional dialect. But this remix has spread farther, wider and faster than has ever been documented. Here's a reprise. [SOUND: Sparrow singing] And now sparrows from Yukon to Ontario are singing the same song. And it's spreading south of the border, challenging all prevailing theories about how this usually works. One researcher told The New York Times, It's kind of like an Australian person coming to New York and all the New Yorkers start suddenly deciding to adopt an Australian accent. They say their best guess is that it has something to do with impressing potential mates who might be sick of hearing the same old song. [SOUND: Sparrow singing] The new Sparrow song, our sound of the day, a real ornithological earworm.

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July 3, 2020 Episode Transcript

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