Welcome to the Karlītos Perspective

Coming to you from the Tdot - here you will find essays on politricks, geography, environmental issues, socially conscious art and more.
I have had a life that has forced me to consider a broad range of perspectives. My upbringing amongst the many generations of immigrants and refugees in a unique global metropolis, completing an undergraduate degree in Geography and Environmental Studies, backpacking through South America, learning three languages and befriending people from many walks of life has made me who I am today.
My family history, which has fundamentally shaped my understanding of the world, consists of my ancestors fleeing Stalinist oppression during the creation of the Soviet Union and becoming refugees to avoid being sent to Siberian labour camps. Now, a couple generations down the line, I live in a country that has one of the best reputations in the world, despite a history of genocide that has left many of the First Nations in Canada suffering from intergenerational trauma and living in third world conditions. Canada is one of the world’s top polluters and continues to support corporate interests (especially mining) over human rights, democracy and environmental sustainability. I am supposed to hold the Canadian identity in high regard, however, the more I learn, the less supportive I become of states in general and the national myths that sustain them. I do not share the sense of national pride that I am told to have, especially now, during Canada’s 150th birthday. This is because my sense of empathy tends to extend further than the artificial borders crafted by elites. That being said, I am thankful and recognize the extremely privileged life I have lived so far within this set of borders when compared to the global standard. It is here that I have been exposed to so much of what I know now.
I first became interested in societal criticism when I started to see how various institutions fail us on a daily basis - for some more than others. I remember hearing other worldly stories of police brutality and corruption from friends in high school, something I never experienced personally as a white man. I witnessed the failure of an education system that struggles to engage and inspire most youth while arbitrarily placing children into hierarchical groups that will determine their self worth and future success. I learned about religious institutions that commit the same “sins” they preach against, how governments support brutal dictatorships abroad and oppress people within their own borders. Today, I continue to spend my time studying different perspectives through conversations on the street, travel, books, internet research, film, and art.
On this page, you will encounter many controversial topics - please, don’t get offended. I am not here to tell you what to think, only to inspire conversation and expose undervalued/alternative perspectives on the world. If you disagree with something I write, let’s discuss, not childishly call each other names. I have no interest in bickering, because it will not result in any kind of progress, only polarization, which is already plentiful in our societies. Instead, let’s engage each other and try to better understand this world together, through the sharing of information, ideas and perspectives.

This tune will give you a little sample of what my city is about: