SYPHILIS ALERT: EDMONTON EXPERIENCING OUTBREAK OF SYPHILIS AND OTHER STDS
By Sara Boisson
February 21, 2008

Edmonton -- Many things might come to mind when people think of Edmonton – West Edmonton Mall, North America ’s largest Fringe festival, perhaps even the Oilers’ headline-grabbing Stanley Cup run in 2006. But a syphilis outbreak? The unfortunate reality is that syphilis, one of the oldest diseases around, has come back with a vengeance in the last couple of years. There were 216 cases in Alberta last year, with 75 percent of those in Edmonton . This compares to zero cases in 1996, which Dr. Ameeta Singh, director of Capital Health’s STD Centre, calls the “expected normal” rate (in fact, Health Canada in 1996 set a goal of eliminating syphilis completely). Although final numbers are not yet available for 2007, the number of cases is expected to be up from 2006.

With the syphilis outbreak also comes an increase in the rates of other sexually transmitted diseases. Dr. Singh explains that “what happens is that if you have one STD, it breaks down your normal skin barriers, basically. Your skin, including the skin on the genital area, is actually a pretty good barrier against getting infections. But if you have one infection already, that barrier is broken down.” This could explain why along with higher rates of syphilis, Alberta is also seeing increased rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia. The provincial rates of all three infections are higher than the national average. More disturbingly, because one of the first symptoms of syphilis is an open sore on the genitals or mouth, having syphilis triples one’s risk of contracting HIV. While the outbreak has affected marginalized populations, including sex-trade workers and the homeless, it is being seen in all socioeconomic backgrounds, ethnicities, and age groups – the youngest victim was a 15-year-old, and the oldest an 81-year-old.

There are 3 STD centres that provide testing, information, and free condoms in Alberta ; one in Edmonton , one in Calgary , and one in Fort McMurray . To find one near you, call 1-800-772-2437.

Leaderless Jihad
Terror Networks in the Twenty-First Century
Marc Sageman

208 pages | 5 1/2 x 8 1/2
Cloth Dec 2007 | ISBN 978-0-8122-4065-8 |

In the post-September 11 world, Al Qaeda is no longer the central organizing force that aids or authorizes terrorist attacks or recruits terrorists. It is now more a source of inspiration for terrorist acts carried out by independent local groups that have branded themselves with the Al Qaeda name. Building on his previous groundbreaking work on the Al Qaeda network, forensic psychiatrist Marc Sageman has greatly expanded his research to explain how Islamic terrorism emerges and operates in the twenty-first century.

In Leaderless Jihad, Sageman rejects the views that place responsibility for terrorism on society or a flawed, predisposed individual. Instead, he argues, the individual, outside influence, and group dynamics come together in a four-step process through which Muslim youth become radicalized. First, traumatic events either experienced personally or learned about indirectly spark moral outrage. Individuals interpret this outrage through a specific ideology, more felt and understood than based on doctrine. Usually in a chat room or other Internet-based venues, adherents share this moral outrage, which resonates with the personal experiences of others. The outrage is acted on by a group, either online or offline.

Leaderless Jihad offers a ray of hope. Drawing on historical analogies, Sageman argues that the zeal of jihadism is self-terminating; eventually its followers will turn away from violence as a means of expressing their discontent. The book concludes with Sageman's recommendations for the application of his research to counterterrorism law enforcement efforts.

NEW SURVEY REVEALS HOW ALBERTANS VIEW THE FUTURE OF THE OIL SANDS

Cambridge Strategies Inc and Policy Channel designed and conducted the discrete choice modelling survey late in 2007. 

The study reveals that Albertan's aspirations for the future of oil sands development must have a greater environmental focus than economic growth dynamics.

There are some perceptions of misalignment between what is actually happening in oil sands development compared to the aspirations Albertans have for the development of their oil sands resources.

Albertans are in a state of flux and transition in their attitudes about how things are being handled around oil sands development. The bipolar almost equal distribution results on how well Albertans perceive that their interests are being served by government's management of their resources and managing the growth are an indication that there is no clear Alberta consensus on these issues.

Despite all the economic growth and wealth creation, Albertans are significantly less optimistic about improvements in their own prospects for quality of life improvements in the short term. 

As for whom do they see as most able to responsibly manage the growth in Alberta, no one leader or political party has a lock on the confidence of Albertans to do the job.

This, and the immediate prospects of an election where the future of the oil sands is potentially a ballot question that determines voter choices, we can expect more flux, volatility and uncertainty in Alberta's politics and policy direction.

Click to read the full report (pdf)