Search Results

The Act to improve the legal situation of animals, unanimously adopted in 2015, is the last major legislative evolution in Quebec animal law. This law changes the legal status of animals, from property to sentient beings, and introduces a stricter legal framework for the welfare and safety of domestic animals. Despite these legal changes, many animals are still denied their sensibilities and their biological needs, especially on farms, creating situations that are more than absurd: a pet pig must be protected from excessive heat under penalty provided by law while on the farm, pigs die of heat, literally, during heat waves. How to explain such a shift? Why are sentient animals not all protected in the same way? The interest-convergence theory provides that a social change in favour of a minority group can only take place when the interests of the majority and those of the minority “converge” similarly toward that change. Interest-convergence is a plausible explanation for this legal gap. This article focuses on the context that led to the adoption of the Act to improve the legal situation of animals. The content analysis carried out on parliamentary proceedings shows that besides a concern for the animal, economic and social reasons are also at the source of the new legislation, and that economic interests explain its limits, thus confirming the presence of the phenomenon of interest's convergence during its creation.

Keywords: Situation juridique, animal, convergence des intérêts, droit animalier, analyse de contenu, travaux parlementaires, Legal status, animal, interest convergence, animal law, content analysis, parliamentary proceedings

Short food supply chains are of great interest because they highlight the emergence of an agricultural system that is less industrial, is geographically embedded, and provides food for local communities. In this article, we examine the economic, social, and spatial importance of such supply chains in Quebec today. While still representing a small share of the total food supply and demand, short food supply chains, nevertheless, play an important role in establishing new farmers. Contrary to expectations, farms that market through these channels are not only found in peri-urban areas, but are spread across all regions of Quebec and have even contributed significantly to the re-emergence of agriculture in so-called remote regions. However, keeping such farms afloat is a daily struggle. Although viewed as instrumental in spearheading the socioecological transition in agriculture, farms within short food supply chains continue to face many challenges that limit their ability to offer practical alternatives to consumers. Overcoming these challenges is not only the responsibility of farmers who choose this marketing path. Consumers, communities, and the State, each in their way, can do their part to support the development of such farms.

Keywords: Short food supply chains, Circuits courts alimentaires, vente directe, Direct marketing, vente indirecte, International food channels, Local food systems, systèmes alimentaires locaux, Québec (Province), Québec (Province)

This article deals with the shift from the building up of cultural heritage to the building up of tourism. The example of olives and olive oil has been selected because of the contemporary worldwide craze for olive tree products ( Olea europaea l.). Festive events enhancing olive by-products for new urban audiences and tourists are described first. Then the article focuses on the processes that accompany the shift from cultural heritage to tourism. It shows how the products' status varies according to the spatial, social, symbolical, and sensorial level.

ABSTRACTControversial topics which are a source of sharp divisions between Jews and Christians could be addressed in the context of debates similar to the old disputationes, although conducted in a spirit of communion and mutual respect. To exemplify his point, the author explores four questions : 1) How can the statement “ the kingdom of God will be taken away from you” (Mt. 21 :43) be compatible with the admission by the Church, of the irrevocable character of the covenant between God and the Jewish people ? (2) Will the messianic kingdom be established on earth or in the heavens ? (3) Can Jesus be considered as the Messiah promised to the Jews, since so many prophecies have not been fulfilled and the expected return of Elijah (Mal. 4 :5) has not taken place yet ? (4). Is the State of Israel a mere political reality, without any connection with the history of salvation, or the « first fruits of the opening of Israel's redemption » ?