Tuesday, March 9. 2021

Today's classes are:

9:15 - 11:50 D Block Legal Studies

12:30 - 3:05 A Block Physical Geography

D Block Legal Studies - For this week's Criminal Law activity you need to choose two of the eleven hypothetical criminal cases I will give you and provide a minimum one-page memo/letter for each. Each memo (format below) will need to address the questions or directions at the end of each of the cases you choose. So use the bolded section titles below and the explanation after them to help you write the response to the two cases you choose. Each case is a scenario and at the end of each is a question-set of questions you need to try to answer. Take case one as an example...in this case you were specifically asked to

prepare the Crown arguments regarding whether Forrest can be proven on these facts to have aided in the trafficking or the possession of narcotics, or both. The Crown has also asked also to identify and assess any arguments that you think defense counsel might make. In considering whether it is likely that Forrest will be convicted, you may assume that the facts set out in the hypothetical case will be proven in court, and that no other relevant facts arise. NOTE: Please consider that the Crown has a duty to consider whether prosecution is in the public interest (having regard to the harm caused by Forrest’s actions and her degree of moral blameworthiness) and whether there is a reasonable prospect of conviction if the matter proceeds to trial. 

So, you need to explain the reasons why Corley Forrest could be found guilty of the charge of aiding Morgan Height in drug trafficking (remember aiding is the same as actually doing) based on the facts outlined in the story. You'll need to find out what the charge of drug trafficking in cocaine involves and what the Controlled Drug and Substances Act says possession is. Then, you'll need to determine what aiding means so look at the Parties to an offense  at the Canadian Criminal Law notebook & at the Criminal Code (https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/C-46/section-21.html). You'll also need to look at the principles of sentencing, the options for sentencing, and then sentencing for Drug Offences at the Canadian Criminal Law Notebook or at Ron Jourard's chart for drug offenses. You were also asked to look at defense council's options so look at possible defenses for Forrest.

So, using the text and the criminal code, and explain from the facts given to you if Forrest can be found guilty. You will also need to explain how you think the defense lawyer would argue that Forrest should be found not guilty.

Thursday I'll post more on the format/structure of the legal memo for you. Today you should choose two cases and research charges/defenses/exemplar cases/sentencing options and anything else you need to begin your memos.

A Block Physical Geography - Today we look at stream profiles, deltas, and floodplains. We are focusing on the erosive action of rivers along with the land forms that they create. You will need to copy a meandering stream profile (figure 14.15 on p.460 in the Geosystems text) and a diagram on oxbow lake formation (figure 14.16 on p.461 in the Geosystems text).

The Mississippi River Is Under Control—For Now

Diagram from William Galloway of the University of Texas

We'll also focus on coastal processes and land forms. We will look at how water erodes, shapes, and creates coastal landscapes by focusing on long shore current & drift. We'll analyze the differences between an erosional coastline

and a depositional coastline


We'll try to make sense of the hazards of living along depositional coastlines (think Cape Hatteras, North Carolina). Some facts:

1. More than 155 million people (53 percent of the population) reside in U.S. coastal counties comprising less than 11 percent of the land area of the lower 48 states.
2. Roughly 1,500 homes are lost to erosion each year.
3. Nearly 180 million people visit the U.S. coast every year, and coastal states account for 85 percent of U.S. tourism revenues. The tourism industry is the nation’s largest employer and second largest contributor to gross domestic product.
4. 71 percent of annual U.S. disaster losses are the result of coastal storms.
5. Close to 350,000 homes and buildings are located within 150 meters of the ocean. Within 60 years, one out of every four of those structures will be destroyed.

For additional information and help on your questions go to:

University of Regina Geomorphology Class notes
NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Geomorphology from space site
USGS Coastal & Marine Geology program
NOAA: What Threats do Coastal Communities Face?
AGI Interactive Map of Coastal Hazards

There's a great article on the dangers of people moving to coastlines at National Geographic 

There's a great web page on the Graveyard of the Atlantic: Sable Island Nova Scotia. Check out more on Sable Island here 

You can also find some very good before-after photos of the destruction caused to coastal land forms and human infrastructure by Hurricane Sandy at ABC News