rabble.ca - Current Affairs

More bike commuters on the road

redeye — Wed, 30 May 2012 01:06:36 +0000

Vancouver has made big strides in recent years to make it easier for cyclists to get around the city safely. Bike Hub is a member-based organization that works to remove barriers to cycling. Every year Bike Hub organizes Bike to Work Week. Steph Gray is Bike Education Manager at Bike Hub.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

New monopoly capitalism

redeye — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:36:50 +0000

Over the past 30 years power and money has become concentrated in fewer and fewer hands. Barry Lynn explores how a small number of corporations have destroyed their competition while maintaining the illusion of a free market. Lynn is the author of Cornered: The New Monopoly Capitalism and the Economics of Destruction.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

Doctors protest cuts to health care for refugees

redeye — Tue, 29 May 2012 00:49:05 +0000

On May 11, about 30 doctors marched into the Toronto office of the Federal Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver and occupied the office while another 50 doctors waited outside. It was one of several protests across the country against a planned reduction to the health care coverage for refugee claimants. Dr. Meb Rashid was one of the doctors who occupied Joe Oliver's office. He is director of the recently opened Crossroads Clinic, a refugee health clinic run out of Women's College Hospital in Toronto.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

Issue 38.3: Art and Media

altrpn — Mon, 28 May 2012 17:27:26 +0000

Podcast for Alternatives Journal Arts and Media issue. Interviews with:

Justin Langlois - Research Director and Founder of Broken City Lab (15:05)

Iain Baxter& - Conceptual Artist and Professor Emeritus at the School of Visual Arts at the University of Windsor (12:30)

Nicole Rycroft - Activist and founder of Canopy, interviewed by Anna Bowen (10:49)

18 workers die in a fire in the Philippines

asia pacific currents — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:53:24 +0000

Labour news from the Asia-Pacific region. Interview with Noel Colina, executive director of the Filipino OHS group IOHSAD, about a shopping centre fire that killed 18 workers in Mindanao, Philippines. Asia Pacific Currents in produced at 3CR radio, Melbourne, by Australia Asia Worker Links.

A conversation with the Conversationalist

Adam Bemma — Fri, 25 May 2012 17:28:40 +0000

A conversation with the globe-trotting conversationalist, Daniel Baylis, by the #CityTalk travel enthusiasts on CKUT FM Friday Morning After.

Azawad: Can this breakaway African state work?

Africafiles — Thu, 24 May 2012 21:00:47 +0000

A Tuareg group declared the independence of northern Mali in April.

With looming famine and a coup in the south, it is unclear whether this breakaway state can — and should — survive.

Africafiles speaks to Professor William Moseley about the future and implications of an independent Azawad.

Escalating migrant and refugee repression in Canada - Panel

migrant matters — Thu, 24 May 2012 07:03:16 +0000

The panel of the May Day potluck, which has been celebrated in Guelph, Ontario for four years now, illuminates the experiences of working-class migrants and immigrants in relation to Canada's continually failing immigration and labour legislation. Guest speakers at this year's celebration include: Juan, Melissa Paciulan, Lizzie Neale and Teresa Edge.

Juan works as a migrant farm worker in Waterloo, Ontario. He talks about his experience living and working under Canada's Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program.

Repression of Bersei protests in Malaysia

asia pacific currents — Sat, 19 May 2012 01:03:10 +0000

Labour news from the Asia-Pacific region. Followed by an interview about the recent Bersei demonstrations for clean and free elections in Malaysia, with Arul from the Socialist Party of Malaysia. Asia Pacific Currents is produced at 3CR radio in Melbourne, by Australia Asia Worker Links.

#CityTalk: Downtown Projects

Adam Bemma — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:44:54 +0000

This week's urban affairs report talks downtown social-public housing projects in North America. In Montreal, community groups in Cote-des-Neiges are calling on the city to create 2,500 social housing units in a new development on the Hippodrome (former Blue Bonnets) site in the north-end.

Refugee and Immigrant rights groups demand Bill C-31 be scrapped

johnbon — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:20:39 +0000

Members of No One is Illegal Toronto and Occupy Toronto protested outside Conservative MP Joe Oliver’s office on Wednesday morning, demanding that the Conservatives cancel, what has come to be known as, the Refugee Exclusion Act.

Listen to an interview with Katie Berger of Occupy Toronto and Syed Hussan of No One is Illegal Toronto.

From the press release:

Occupy Toronto and No One Is Illegal Toronto have shut down MP Joe Oliver’s office at 511 Lawrence Avenue West to demand that the Refugee Exclusion Act, Bill C-31, be discarded.

Simultaneously occupations at Conservative MP offices are underway in London, ON, while a banner was dropped in Ottawa as part of a coordinated and escalating campaign.

Movie: Big Boys Gone Bananas!

redeye — Mon, 14 May 2012 05:08:35 +0000

Big Boys Gone Bananas! documents the campaign Dole waged against Swedish filmmaker Fredrik Gertten to try to prevent him from showing his film Bananas! from being distributed in the United States. This first film documented the struggle of Nicaraguan workers to take Dole to court for health problems suffered as a result of use of a banned pesticide.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

Mayday: A Graphic History of Protest

redeye — Mon, 14 May 2012 04:20:54 +0000

Mayday: A Graphic History of Protest is the title of a new comic produced by the Graphic History collective. It traces the history of Mayday from its beginning in the late 1800s to its expression in Canada today. Writer Robin Folvik and illustrator Sam Bradd talk about the comic and the process of creating it.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

The big banks' big secret

redeye — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:57:30 +0000

In 2008 Stephen Harper said that Canada has the only banks in the western world that were not looking at bailouts. But a new report says that several banks did need extra money - billions of dollars, in fact - to stay afloat. David Macdonald is a senior economist with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and author of the report.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

Movie: A Separation

redeye — Sun, 13 May 2012 01:06:30 +0000

Asghar Farhadi directs this award-winning drama about a woman who wants a divorce from her husband so she can leave Iran with the couple's child. Film critics Martha and Marty Roth saw the film and share their differing opinions on the movie.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

The false paradigm of peace: Revisiting the Palestine question

redeye — Sat, 12 May 2012 02:33:55 +0000

Ilan Pappe is an Israeli historian and activist currently teaching at the University of Exeter in Britain. In May 2012, he toured Canada speaking about his current research. Redeye spoke with him in advance of his talk in Vancouver. Ilan Pappe is author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

Japan labour movement: issues and challenges

asia pacific currents — Sat, 12 May 2012 02:02:59 +0000

Labour updates from the Asia Pacific Region

Interview with Chie Matsumoto, trade unionist and journalist about the major issues facing the Japan Labour Movement at the moment.

Asia Pacific Currents is the program of Australia Asia Worker Links

Asia Pacific Currents is produced in the studios of 3CR Community Radio in Melbourne Australia

Privatization of oil and natural resources in Afghanistan

asia pacific currents — Sat, 12 May 2012 01:49:24 +0000

Labour updated from the Asia Pacific region

Interview with Anonia Juarez, oil and energy analyst and activist about the privatisation of Afghanistan's oil supplies and natural resources under foreign occupation.

Asia Pacific Currents is the program of Australia Asia Worker Links

Asia Pacific Currents is produced in the studios of 3CR Communit Radio in Melbourne

Jane's Walks: Retracing Stop Spadina to the Turcot interchange

Adam Bemma — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:37:59 +0000

This week's urban affairs report looks at the annual Jane's Walks, focusing on community-led tours in Toronto and Montreal. The CKUT Friday Morning After crew, Josh Hind, Rana Alrabi and myself discuss Jane Jacobs' work fighting expressway development and how she was able to organize opposition to Robert Moses' Lower Manhattan expressway and Metro Toronto's Spadina expressway. Also, how Jacobs' memory and spirit lives on in the fight against Quebec's Turcot interchange highway project.

Global March to Jerusalem: Ken Stone

ProgressiveVoices — Fri, 11 May 2012 14:12:00 +0000

On this week's episode of Progressive Voices, we speak with Ken Stone, treasurer of the Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War and member of the international central committee of the Global March to Jerusalem. The success of this global day of mobilization for Palestinian rights, the response of the Israeli government to the March, and the dim prospects for a change in Canadian foreign policy under Thomas Mulcair and the NDP are discussed.

Alert! Radio #214: Special May Day episode

tommyallen789 — Thu, 10 May 2012 22:41:38 +0000

On May Day, Noam Chomsky urges activists to focus their attention not simply on the economy and the environment, but how the market system underlies the fiscal and environmental crisis. Clayton Thomas Muller discusses the diverse strategies of First People's against colonial structures that destroy their livelihoods and their environment. Mae Burrows describes the successful living-wage campaign in British Columbia.

Yinka Dene Alliance Freedom Train arrives in Toronto

johnbon — Wed, 09 May 2012 22:05:16 +0000

Listen to speeches from the pre-rally press conference, the rally and one-on-one interviews during the march from Metro Hall to Le Meridien King Edward Hotel on King Street where Enbridge was holding its Annual Shareholders Meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

From the website:

The Yinka Dene Alliance is taking a Freedom Train across Canada to enforce their legal ban on the Enbridge Northern Gateway oil pipelines and tankers project, and to stand up for their freedom to choose their own future.

Tony Black: Imperialism, a coup d'etat, and the Rwandan genocide narrative

ProgressiveVoices — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:10:52 +0000

On this week's episode of Progressive Voices, independent journalist Tony Black dissects the mainstream narrative on the Rwandan genocide, highlighting past and current massacres by the Western-backed Rwandan Patriotic Front, the role Romeo Dallaire and UN peacekeepers played in allowing the coup to take place, and more.

Kinder Morgan pipeline would increase tanker traffic into Vancouver

redeye — Thu, 03 May 2012 15:44:27 +0000

In April, Kinder Morgan announced that they were planning to expand an existing pipeline that carries crude oil from Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C. The new pipeline would mean a tanker a day would be navigating the waters of the Burrard Inlet. Ben West is with the Wilderness Committee.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

Harper budget a disaster for environment

redeye — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:02:46 +0000

The Conservative budget for 2012 will weaken environmental standards across the board. This is especially concerning when it comes to corporations seeking approval for major industrial projects. Gwen Barlee is policy director for the Wilderness Committee.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

Reimagine the CBC

redeye — Thu, 03 May 2012 01:16:34 +0000

One of the casualties of Finance Minister Jim Flaherty's 2012 budget was the CBC. The network faces a 10 percent cut in funding over the next 3 years. In anticipation of the cuts, OpenMedia.ca and Leadnow.ca launched a project to encourage Canadians to discuss what they valued about the CBC and what they would like to see change. Tyler Morgenstern is spokesperson for Reimagine the CBC.

To find more about Redeye, check out our website.

Lester Pearson's Peacekeeping: The Truth May Hurt

redeye — Thu, 03 May 2012 00:50:28 +0000

A new book by activist Yves Engler says that far from being a peacekeeper, former prime minister Lester Pearson was a dedicated cold warrior and an ardent supporter of NATO. Engler takes a close look at key moments in Pearson's in foreign policy. Engler is author of Cars and Capitalism and Canada and Israel: Building Apartheid.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.

Protesters rally outside Barrick Gold shareholders' meeting

johnbon — Wed, 02 May 2012 22:18:50 +0000

Click here to see more photos from today's rally in Simcoe Park across from the Metro Convention Centre in Toronto.

Listen to speeches from the rally.

Rally organizer Sakura Saunders is the co-editor of Protest Barrick, a website dedicated to tracking and exposing the violations of human rights and the environment by mega gold mining company, Barrick Gold.

She is also involved with the Mining Injustice Solidarity Network in Toronto, and is a volunteer and board member with the Prometheus community radio project based out of Philadelphia.

Montreal's mega-projects and mega-mistakes

Adam Bemma — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:02:37 +0000

On this week's urban affairs report, I speak to Montreal urban planner Jason Prince about highway mega-projects and the mega-mistakes made by Quebec's ministry of transportation in the past up until today. We also discuss his upcoming Jane's Walk around the MUHC super-hospital in NDG.

Film: Bear 71

redeye — Wed, 02 May 2012 01:46:52 +0000

An innovative multimedia projects documents the life of a female grizzly bear in Banff National Park. The story of Bear 71's life is told from the bear's perspective and is illustrated by hundred of trail cam images of wildlife in the Rocky Mountains. Filmmaker Leanne Allison is bringing Bear 71 to the DOXA documentary film festival.

To find out more about Redeye, check out our website.