by Michael Biggs

Michael Biggs is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Oxford and Fellow of St Cross College. He researches social movements and collective protest.

Pediatrics just published an article showing that trans-identified children are substantially more likely to report attempted suicide than the general adolescent population. When the results are examined closely, however, we find that the risk extends to kids who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. Emphasis on the exceptional fragility of trans adolescents overlooks the importance of sexual orientation. Indeed, my analysis suggests that gender-nonconforming girls are the most vulnerable, whether they consider themselves to be transgender, bisexual, or lesbian.

Previous evidence on suicide attempts among trans-identified youth has been methodologically flawed, even ignoring the most egregious examples. First, surveys have recruited respondents haphazardly—rather than sampling from a population. Second, respondents have not been asked for their sex, but only for their…

We are urging Brown University and the editors of the peer-reviewed journal PLOS ONE to continue to support the research of Dr. Lisa Littman. Her recently published paper, “Rapid-onset gender dysphoria in adolescents and young adults: A study of parental reports,” explores the possibility that social contagion may cause some teens and young adults to incorrectly conclude they are transgender, and thereby undertake irreversible medical interventions that they may eventually regret.

Since its publication, there has been a concerted effort to suppress Dr. Littman’s groundbreaking study. Complete details can be found below. Readers who share our concern about this activist-driven attack on scientific inquiry and academic freedom are strongly encouraged to sign the petition at this link.

In addition,  please consider telephoning and/or writing a personal letter to the following individuals at Brown University and PLOS ONE. What’s at stake: The future of research into the unexplained…

Article; Michelle Moore

Film-maker

Sustainable Deception

In a historic inter-provincial demonstration on both land and sea, hundreds of people gathered in Pictou Nova Scotia to voice their opposition to Northern Pulp’s plan to build a new effluent pipeline in Northumberland Strait.

For over fifty years Northern Pulp has been pumping treated effluent from the pulp and paper mill into Boat Harbour Lagoon, but the province has ordered that the facility be shut by the end of January 2020.

A clean up operation of what is currently the largest contamination site in the province will begin after it is shutdown. The 140 hectare lagoon is said to contain zinc, cadmium, mercury and organic toxins.

The estimated 133 million dollar clean up will involve draining the coves and basins, dredging the sediment and removing the contaminated soil.

Once complete, the dam that separated it from the Strait would be removed allowing it…