Fighting Pollution in India

As India’s capital city chokes under a thick blanket of smog, the city government announced on Monday that it was heavily restricting the use of personal automobiles in New Delhi to combat air pollution in the city.

The policy, known as the “odd-even” scheme, is an emergency measure that the Delhi government puts in place when air quality plummets to dangerous levels. The rule, when in place, means only vehicles with odd-numbered licence plates are allowed to drive on one day and only even-numbered ones the day after, alternating days until restrictions end.

The current round of odd-even restrictions will be put in place starting Nov. 13, the day after the Hindu festival of Diwali when many light firecrackers to celebrate.  READ MORE...

On Strike in Canada

Quebec public sector workers holding a one-day strike today over lagging contract negotiations with the provincial government say they will be off the job for another three days later this month if a new deal isn’t reached.

Workers represented by four unions say their members will strike again from Nov. 21-23.

Schools, health-care facilities and social services are disrupted today as four unions representing a “common front” of some 420,000 workers protest the province’s latest contract offer.

The unions are promising a historic fight to preserve their purchasing power during a time of high inflation.  READ MORE...