Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Thursday, December 17. 2020

Today's schedule is: 

9:15 - 11:50 C Block Social and Environmental Sciences
12:30 - 3:05 B Block Legal Studies 

C Block Social and Environmental Sciences - Room 115 today for a look at coral reefs...


CORAL REEFS ARE PRICELESS; WE CAN’T AFFORD TO LOSE THEM

A billion people rely on coral reefs for food and income
They support a quarter of all ocean life
They contribute $375 billion per year to the global economy
They are a vital source of new medicines
They protect our coastlines

In the last 30 years, 50% of the world’s corals have died and the situation is only getting worse. To save them we need rapid, global action.

Your job today is to design, create, and execute a social media campaign to help further your knowledge, raise awareness, and create possible solutions to the value of and risks to coral reefs with possible solutions. This will be done through an online digital Infographic. An Infographic is a visual digital poster that conveys multiple segments of information typically using words and numbers to represent data. Infographics generally use iconic-type graphic elements for visual design appeal and are typically vertical in orientation, like a wall poster. They are meant to be read, usually from top to bottom. They are created to collect a variety of data about a topic in one place and to communicate it in an interesting and easy-to-read format.
  1. Choose a specific at-risk reef somewhere in the world to research. (Maps)
  2. Consider the following questions:
  • What are the factors that are contributing to the degradation of this reef.
  • How many species require this reef as habitat? (Hint get pictures of some of the cute ones!)
  • How does the human population of the area depend on the reef?
  • Is there any local action being taken to reverse the reef damage?
  • Why should we be concerned about coral reefs?
3) You can use any of the following websites to complete the info-graphic
All Infographics are telling a story and your story is that Coral Reefs are frickin' amazing and we should do something to help them. 

1. Describe the problem...see the points above
2. Develop the social media plan. Remember to consider:
• Shocking, interesting, or horrifying facts you want to share
• Videos and pictures you want to share
• Creating a call to action
3. Please use Coral Reef hashtags and handles to spread the word:
 #underwaterlife #coral #saveourseas #coralreef #ocean #underwaterworld #oceanforever #glowinggone #coralon #natureisspeaking

The Pantone Color Institute announced that the colour of 2019 is “Living Coral.” This launched the start of an interactive campaign dedicated to raising awareness on the destruction of coral reefs due to climate change. This social media campaign paired Pantone and Adobe and used #GlowingGone as the campaign hashtag. But it went further than that. The campaign involved creating a whole website, social media channels and a challenge for designers and individuals to get involved. Check out the campaign at Glowing Gone


B Block Legal Studies - Today in Law we'll examine the Provincial Superior court room, focusing on courtroom organization and then we'll discuss the roles and responsibilities of the judge, the crown prosecutor, defense counsel, the court clerk, court recorder, and sheriff. We'll look at the advantages of trial by jury and understand the methods and challenges to jury selection. For more on juries in BC check out Justice BC - What is Jury Duty?



After, we'll focus on the presentation of evidence (Crown first then Defence), the rules of evidence (including voire dire -  A Voir Dire is usually referred to a "trial within a trial". It is usually held during the Crown's case in order to determine the admissibility of evidence. For example, Voir Dires can be held to determine whether a confession is voluntary and admissible or whether it should be excluded under section 24(2) of the Charter. If the evidence heard in the Voir Dire is deemed to be admissible, counsel can agree not to repeat the evidence and the Voir Dire will form part of the evidence at trial. Two very common Voir Dires are a challenge to the admissibility of items seized in a search and a challenge to the admissibility accused confession to the police), and types of evidence (circumstantial, hearsay, privileged, and character).

Before a trial takes place, at the arraignment hearing, some of the things that will be discussed are:
  • whether the prosecutor is proceeding summarily or by indictment;
  • whether the prosecutor has made full disclosure (given all of the information the defense needs, like witnesses’ statements);
  • the number of police, expert, and other witnesses that the prosecutor plans to call if the case goes to trial;
  • the time estimate for the prosecutor’s case; and
  • whether an interpreter is needed.

The arraignment hearing will likely be handled by a judicial case manager. At the hearing, the judicial case manager will ask how the defendant wants to plead. At this point, the defendant has three options:
  • plead guilty (before a judge),
  •  plead not guilty and set a date for trial, or
  • ask for an adjournment


There are basically seven steps in every criminal trial:
1. The case is called.
2. The trial begins.
3. The judge makes the “exclusion of witness order” if asked by either the Crown or Defense.
4. The Crown prosecutor presents the Crown’s case. Defense may cross-examine (question) each witness called by the prosecutor.
5. Defense presents their case by calling witnesses and possibly the defendant speaking themselves.  The prosecutor can cross-examine Defense witnesses.
6. Both Defense and the prosecutor make closing submissions to the judge.
7. The judge makes a decision.

Witnesses must answer all questions put to them unless it is considered privileged. Privileged information includes:

i) discussions between a client and his or her lawyer in situations when the lawyer was acting in a professional capacity,
ii) any information tending to reveal the identity of a confidential police informant, unless disclosure is the only way to establish the innocence of the accused, and
iii) communication between spouses.

A witness is required either to swear an oath or to solemnly affirm that he or she will tell the truth. Section 16(3) of the Canada Evidence Act permits a witness who is able to communicate the evidence, but does not understand the nature of an oath or a solemn affirmation due to age (under 14 years) or insufficient mental capacity, to testify – as long as he or she promises to tell the truth.

The judge decides whether to admit or exclude evidence, as governed by the laws of evidence, case law, the Charter, the BC Evidence Act, the Canada Evidence Act, and the statute creating the offence. Evidence must be relevant to the facts in issue. The facts in issue are those that go to establishing the essential elements of the offence and any legal defence to that offence. Evidence may be presented with respect to other issues as well, such as the credibility of a witness, provided that the evidence does not offend the collateral evidence rule.

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