THEVOICE | 6 spotting fake news up to the consumer n an age when fake news and propaganda are rampant and the world of social media makes these all too easy to share, it’s up to the con- sumer to stay vigilant and pay attention to the source of their information. Since the election of President Don- ald Trump in the United States, there has been a rise in whining on- line about biased media and un- founded, salacious stories. People on every point of the political spectrum, from conservative through to liberal, complain they are OPINION — being misled. CHELSEA Well, what do POWRIE you expect if the only media you consult are outlets that merely echo back the viewpoint you already decided on? According to the most recent Sta- tistics Canada survey on the subject, which was published in 2013, one in four Canadians use one type of media exclusively to get their news. Also, only 40 per cent of Canadians expressed confidence in the Canadian media If all you read is The Tyee, don’t be surprised when the government ap- proves pipeline projects. If you're ex- clusively devoted to The Rebel, don’t feel outraged when the government an- nounces plans to expand immigration policies. Worse, if you rely only on what your like-minded friends share on Facebook, don’t go off the rails when you encoun- ter someone with a different opinion in the real world. You're spending too much time in an echo chamber and not enough time seeking new viepoints. If you're only consulting one source that already shares your inherent bias towards current events, of course you're going to feel like you were lied to when things don’t work out the way you wanted them to. Case in point: Donald Trump’s election. It’s up to consumers to curate their news diet responsibly. Unless you're consulting a wide range of news sourc- es, you don't get to complain about bias or propaganda. FRIDAY, FEB. 10,2017 | EDITOR CHELSEA POWRIE Viewpoints Fake booze all cost, no reward Icohol-free booze is the lat- est craze from Britain to come t oO North America, but it may not be as popular with to- day’s youth as the Beatles were. Seedlip is a non- alcoholic, organic, distilled spirit made to taste like gin. It originated in 2015 in Eng- land, after a man OPINION SHOJI WHITTIER named Ben Branson decided to provide a non-alcoholic option for high-end cocktail connoisseurs. The idea caught on at upscale bars across London, and has now arrived on Vancouver's craft cocktail scene. At face value, Seedlip appears to be the ultimate fad drink. According to the British Office of National Statis- tics, millennials are drinking less than previous generations, and in a culture obsessed with organic products, Seed- lip could easily become as cliché as the man-bun. There’s only one problem: the price tag. According to South Vancouver dis- tributor Mikuni Wild Harvest, a 700 millilitre bottle of Seedlip will set you back $50, and a comparatively sized bottle of Beefeater gin costs only $23. While many of my friends and I are drinking less because we appreciate not killing our brain cells, most of us are just too broke to spend money on alcohol, fake or otherwise. Many millenials are in the same boat, according to Dr. Monya De of the Cen- ter for Health Journalism. "Millennials are saddled with debt and living in apartments that might cost 60 per cent of their monthly sal- ary, while 20 years ago, the apartment would have cost 30 per cent of their sal- “There's only one problem: the price tag.” ary,” De said. Seedlip might not grow here, since millennial soil lacks richness. It’s too expensive, and gives you the taste of gin without the reward of being drunk. I mean seriously, who drinks gin for the flavour? CASS LUCKE COMIC Kindness an Vancouver company’s elemen- tary school performances, which are teaching children the values of kindness and tolerance, are important for kids who feel left out or different. Green Thumb Theatre has been pro- viding educational theatre for young audiences for over 40 years. In their 2015/16 season alone, they performed in 66 communities across Canada. Their most recent show, Celestial Being, ended compassion are Celestial Being is about a girl named Celeste who is having — difficulty making _ friends and fitting in at school because, as Celeste — explains to the audience, her brain works a little differently from those of her OPINION impact on children’s lives, whether they know it or not. I know this from my own experience. A hastily created mu- sical on basic English grammar rules helped my Grade 1 class, which was made up of primarily Spanish speak- ing children, learn the material quickly. I still remember some of the songs to this day. The same principle applies to Green Thumb Theatre’s productions. When kids are invested in social issues through to apply it. The company engages children in plays about a wide range of sensitive “Art has a great impact on children's lives, whether they know it or not.” key values for the next generation tism spectrum and teen homelessness. ‘The company cares deeply about keep- ing arts programs alive in schools. But the most important aspect of Green Thumb Theatre is that they don’t believe sports or any other branch of education should be undermined to fa- vour the arts. They advocate for a well rouded breadth of subects. Green Thumb offers kids the chance to learn important social skills while also enjoying the treat of a fun show at its tour on Feb. 1 at Queen Elizabeth classmates. CASSANDRA _ entertainment, they are more likely to subjects such as bullying, alternative school. This seems like the perfect way Elementary. Art has a great OSBORNE remember what they have learned and ways of learning, mental illness, the au- _ to educate a new generation. HOW TO DROP-IN PAGE EDITORS PAGE 6 WEB EDITORS Kurtis Gregory Za ~~ 7 REACH US Room A226 Chelsea Powrie Kristyn Anthony Evan Hagedorn WE WANT TO HEAR FROM Langara College PAGE 1 PAGE7 Lauren Boothby Violetta Kryak PHONE Cheryl Whiting Bonnie Lee La Alyse Kotyk Sasha Lakic YOU The Voice is pub- government and 604-323-5396 SNAIL MAIL PAGE 2 Madeleine Caitlin O'Flanagan Cass Lucke Online lished by Langara administration. We The Voice Stuart Neatby PAGE 8 Michelle Paulse Sydney Morton langaravoice.ca College’s joumalism welcome letters to E-MAIL 100 West 49th Ave. PAGE 3 Bala Yogesh Emelie Peacock Sam Mowers , department. Editorial © theeditor. Theymay — thevoice@langara. Vancouver, B.C. 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