Brava Amanda. I would add only a short family anecdote. My daughter and I use the same financial advisor- the only difference is that she made him create her a portfolio with only ethical investments (she vetted each and every one). He wasn't sure he could do it, but did it anyway. Year after year, her ethical portfolio did significantly better than our conventional one. The advisor is now looking at offering this to all his clients as a value-added option. It can be done.
Hi Amanda. Thank you for your fabulous, empathetic, comprehensive, hopeful, well-worded, inclusive and brilliant commentary on the Giller/Scotiabank issue.
I really appreciate your article. As you note, there is a tendency these days to either/or thinking and choosing sides. This is a complex issue and each author with a Giller eligible book must wrestle with their own ethical decision. I struggled but have decided to withdraw my book. Yes, events and prizes that support writers need sponsors. Yes, many of those sponsors may be in the position to offer funds because they have profited from enterprises that directly harm people. Is it fair for artists to be forced into correcting other people's unethical behaviour? Absolutely not. I see all of this. But in the end, my decision was motivated by stupid blind hope. I choose to believe in a better world, one in which innocent children and families are not killed. This may be one of the few times in my life when my voice can have some influence on making that happen. It’s a gamble at best, but worth it to me. That Scotiabank cut their investment in Elbit Systems by half due to author protests over the last year gives me hope that if pressured further they might do even more... or the prize might choose other funding sources. I also dare to hope that arts events can continue to thrive without taking sponsorship from companies who invest in weapons used for war. It’s an imperfect and messy world. That we are currently driven by capitalism and greed does not mean that we have to continue. Artists are rebels. We push back. This is my hope. It is an impossible decision for any artist and I respect us all.
You're welcome. There are so many people writing good material on Substack that it is hard to choose which ones I should read. Yours stands out for its depth of thought and relevance. Our son died eight years ago and grief? Well, it is never far.
I'm late to this terrific essay, but I wanted to say how much I appreciate it. This issue has so many parts, many of which you've identified here. Two more I'd add: we have only a handful of private/foundation supporters of the arts, unlike the US where it's almost commonplace, so the question of where the money comes from for arts funding here is more concentrated. But there, too, is ickiness: where did that family money come from for those generously funded US arts institutions and organizations? Just scratch the surface and you know someone was harmed in the making of it.
The other issue as this discussion continues is the extremely understandable frustration of those who have withdrawn their books and who know that this only really works if we act together. But we're non-joiners by disposition and profession, so it's almost failed from the start. I spent some time trying to help establish a freelance writers union about 15 years ago so that individual writers wouldn't be so vulnerable to exploitation by periodicals. Did it work? Nope. We couldn't even get critical mass, and the power of a union comes from collective action. Attempts to form a freelance union have failed repeatedly.
As you eloquently note, we have differing levels of fight energy available to us at any given time, depending on our life circumstances. We must allow for and expect individual levels of resources to differ as we engage in the fight for better justice. As you do, I have faith that eventually things will get better, little bit by little bit, but it will be a messy, frustrating, and long journey.
Brava Amanda. I would add only a short family anecdote. My daughter and I use the same financial advisor- the only difference is that she made him create her a portfolio with only ethical investments (she vetted each and every one). He wasn't sure he could do it, but did it anyway. Year after year, her ethical portfolio did significantly better than our conventional one. The advisor is now looking at offering this to all his clients as a value-added option. It can be done.
This is wonderful to hear, Ron. One more point for hope!
Hi Amanda. Thank you for your fabulous, empathetic, comprehensive, hopeful, well-worded, inclusive and brilliant commentary on the Giller/Scotiabank issue.
H. Wilson, Kingston ON
Thank you so much for reading, Hladini!
YES. YES. YES. Here for the hope, for the nuance and the difficult conversations.
Thank you so much for reading, Ruth!
This is so perfectly said. Thank you for putting into (beautifully structured) words what I’ve been turning over in my mind. ❤️
Thank you so much, Chelsea. ❤️
I so appreciate your nuanced consideration here. Thank you!
Thanks so much for reading, Heidi!
I really appreciate your article. As you note, there is a tendency these days to either/or thinking and choosing sides. This is a complex issue and each author with a Giller eligible book must wrestle with their own ethical decision. I struggled but have decided to withdraw my book. Yes, events and prizes that support writers need sponsors. Yes, many of those sponsors may be in the position to offer funds because they have profited from enterprises that directly harm people. Is it fair for artists to be forced into correcting other people's unethical behaviour? Absolutely not. I see all of this. But in the end, my decision was motivated by stupid blind hope. I choose to believe in a better world, one in which innocent children and families are not killed. This may be one of the few times in my life when my voice can have some influence on making that happen. It’s a gamble at best, but worth it to me. That Scotiabank cut their investment in Elbit Systems by half due to author protests over the last year gives me hope that if pressured further they might do even more... or the prize might choose other funding sources. I also dare to hope that arts events can continue to thrive without taking sponsorship from companies who invest in weapons used for war. It’s an imperfect and messy world. That we are currently driven by capitalism and greed does not mean that we have to continue. Artists are rebels. We push back. This is my hope. It is an impossible decision for any artist and I respect us all.
So many (belated) thanks for reading, Debbie! ❤️
You're welcome. There are so many people writing good material on Substack that it is hard to choose which ones I should read. Yours stands out for its depth of thought and relevance. Our son died eight years ago and grief? Well, it is never far.
It IS never far away, is it. But I am finding that those who understand are never far away either. ❤️❤️❤️
I'm late to this terrific essay, but I wanted to say how much I appreciate it. This issue has so many parts, many of which you've identified here. Two more I'd add: we have only a handful of private/foundation supporters of the arts, unlike the US where it's almost commonplace, so the question of where the money comes from for arts funding here is more concentrated. But there, too, is ickiness: where did that family money come from for those generously funded US arts institutions and organizations? Just scratch the surface and you know someone was harmed in the making of it.
The other issue as this discussion continues is the extremely understandable frustration of those who have withdrawn their books and who know that this only really works if we act together. But we're non-joiners by disposition and profession, so it's almost failed from the start. I spent some time trying to help establish a freelance writers union about 15 years ago so that individual writers wouldn't be so vulnerable to exploitation by periodicals. Did it work? Nope. We couldn't even get critical mass, and the power of a union comes from collective action. Attempts to form a freelance union have failed repeatedly.
As you eloquently note, we have differing levels of fight energy available to us at any given time, depending on our life circumstances. We must allow for and expect individual levels of resources to differ as we engage in the fight for better justice. As you do, I have faith that eventually things will get better, little bit by little bit, but it will be a messy, frustrating, and long journey.