Philanthropist: an individual who seeks to helping out in charitable ways; especially in the way of generous donations of money to causes that will help the greater good. Who qualifies as a philanthropist? Who decides that someone can qualify as a philanthropist? Is it a universal decision? Or do some certain people decide that someone is a philanthropist? Of course, you and I can agree that being beneficial via charitable means is an honor also if the personnel is aiding the education system. The education system, especially something so grand as post-secondary education, should have an organized curriculum that would be of use to a society in the near future by providing well-educated and informed students who are ready to make a change in the world for the greater good.But then why are educational systems turning into corporate takeovers? Surely, a school as esteemed as the University of Toronto would never allow something like this to happen on their watch… What? … They have? The “Munk Centre of Global Affairs”? Peter Munk, is the president and owner of Barrick Gold Mining Corp, the largest mining company in Canada and one of the biggest in the world; with 11 locations in North America, 6 in South America, 1 in Asia, 5 in Africa and 6 in Australia Pacific – which makes it 29 mining locations all over the world. Also take this in:
-approximately 140 million ounces of proven and probable gold reserves
-6.5 billion pounds of copper reserves
-1.07 billion ounces of silver
Don’t believe me? Check it out on the official website:
http://www.barrick.com/GlobalOperations/default.aspx.
Which obviously meant that Mr. Munk has a lot of money to throw around; so he decided to throw some towards UofT – with conditions of his own. There has been a lot of debate occurring at the University in accordance to Munk’s association to the school now. Many conflicts revolve around this donation.
Munk donated $35 Million, which will be donated over an extended period of time. Munk wants his own say with what will be taught in the school and wants “to discuss the programs, activities and initiatives of the School in greater detail.” Basically, what Munk wants to be taught at the school will be taught otherwise there maybe consequences, such as withholding the donation money.
Munk’s mining corporation is accused of human rights violations, labour violations and environmental devastation. Gold mining itself is known to be the most environmentally damaging industry in of itself; they use cyanide and other such harmful chemicals which have connections to diseases, it contaminates the water and disturbs wildlife. Not only this, but destruction of many unspoken villages and displacement of communities, killings of anti-mining activists and destruction of agriculture.
Students are worried about what kind of influence this man will have on the teaching of such an intricate subject of Global Affairs. These factors concerning Munk are shocking, will it actually have an effect on the academia at UofT?
-approximately 140 million ounces of proven and probable gold reserves
-6.5 billion pounds of copper reserves
-1.07 billion ounces of silver
Don’t believe me? Check it out on the official website:
http://www.barrick.com/GlobalOperations/default.aspx.
Which obviously meant that Mr. Munk has a lot of money to throw around; so he decided to throw some towards UofT – with conditions of his own. There has been a lot of debate occurring at the University in accordance to Munk’s association to the school now. Many conflicts revolve around this donation.
Munk donated $35 Million, which will be donated over an extended period of time. Munk wants his own say with what will be taught in the school and wants “to discuss the programs, activities and initiatives of the School in greater detail.” Basically, what Munk wants to be taught at the school will be taught otherwise there maybe consequences, such as withholding the donation money.
Munk’s mining corporation is accused of human rights violations, labour violations and environmental devastation. Gold mining itself is known to be the most environmentally damaging industry in of itself; they use cyanide and other such harmful chemicals which have connections to diseases, it contaminates the water and disturbs wildlife. Not only this, but destruction of many unspoken villages and displacement of communities, killings of anti-mining activists and destruction of agriculture.
Students are worried about what kind of influence this man will have on the teaching of such an intricate subject of Global Affairs. These factors concerning Munk are shocking, will it actually have an effect on the academia at UofT?
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