Blog - Aneta Tasheva

How I Remember

On the 11th hour of the 11th day on the 11th month, we stop in silence and remember. 2014 marks the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, as Remembrance Day this year proved to be especially poignant for Canadians. Crowds at the nation’s capital witnessed the rededication of the National War Memorial to include Continue Reading...

Animal Conservation: Altruism or Obligation?

The death of Lonesome George in June 2012 brought global attention to the fragile state of some species. Lonesome George was a Pinta tortoise (Geochelone elephantopus abingdoni) from the Galapagos Islands. Scientists theorized that he was the last of his subspecies. The focus on his story shed light on the reality that conservation efforts can be Continue Reading...

Forgiveness

In mid-January, Lance Armstrong admitted that he doped throughout his career, in a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey. For much of his cycling career, Armstrong faced allegations of doping and he persistently denied taking any doping, until this interview. Since then, I have seen much of the public focus on whether he deserves to be Continue Reading...

Pollution in China: The Dark Side of Industrialization

On January 12, 2013, Chinese authorities urged Beijing residents to stay indoors due to hazardous levels of air pollution. A CBC News article reported experts claimed the levels of the fine particulate matter (PM2.5 ) in Beijing were the highest on record, since the city began publishing air quality updates in 2012. Many Beijing residents refused to venture outdoors, following Continue Reading...

A Gift from the Heart

Christmas in the West usually involves gifts and that involves spending money. During my Christmas shopping this year, I spoke to people who resent the money they feel they need to spend on presents every Christmas. It appears that, with the stress from Christmas shopping and the burden of the season’s expenses, it can be Continue Reading...

I’m Dreaming of a *White* Christmas

This weekend, my neighborhood in Toronto witnessed the first real snowfall of the season. For me, it’s a relief to finally have snow this year since I view it as the epitome of winter. However, over the last few years, the essence of winter has been changing as global warming continues to melt the snowflakes Continue Reading...

The Role of Zoos

I often hear debates about whether zoos should exist. Displaying caged animals for the purpose of human entertainment raises concerns about animal rights. However, I believe the role of zoos goes far beyond entertaining visitors. Accredited zoos usually help to support the preservation of endangered species. Most importantly, through zoo trips many people get to Continue Reading...