This week @ rabble.ca: Black Lives Matter in Canada
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- Published on Saturday, 20 December 2014 22:00
- Written by editor
s17 r18.
19 Dec 2014
Hey rabble readers,
As the #BlackLivesMatter movement spreads across the U.S., many Canadians have been quick to point fingers at systemic racism south of the border -- but in doing so, overlook anti-Black racism in Canada. In her latest column, Harsha Walia outlines why our institutions, communities, and movements need to be accountable for our own racism. As Naomi Klein makes clear, the racialized discounting of certain lives is built into our economic order -- and informs our entire response to the climate crisis.
The need to hold ourselves accountable is underlined in an important piece by The Belle Jar on the White Saviour complex and the woman portrayed by Sandra Bullock in the popular film, The Blind Side. It's been read over half a million times -- you should read it too.
Harper is attacking unions again. Bills C-525 and C-377 are yet another example of the Harper government pushing through highly contested and blatantly ideological legislation. Find out more in Karl Nerenberg's latest report from the Hill, and please donate to keep our Parliamentary reporting going!
Need a book recommendation? We've got a few in our best book reviews of 2014 list! rabble's books coordinator Kaitlin McNabb shares her favourites from the past year. Find them all here!
There's a new Indie Inside out now, featuring Kimmortal! The album "Sincerity" delves into topics often untouched by popular music artists -- like race, queer love, ancestry, and social justice. Check out the feature here, and for a chance to win a free download of the new album, retweet @rabble.ca with hashtag #indieinside or answer the following question: at what point in the video do you see a lock? Email answers to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
This week's top news
International Migrants Day: Canada's exclusionary immigration practices have got to go!
Today is International Migrants Day. We need to reflect on Canada's current exclusionary immigration policy and demand changes.
By Amy Cohen, Elise Hjalmarson
No justice, no peace. Revolutionary advocacy is everywhere, but D.C.
There is a tension at the #BlackLivesMatter protests in D.C., not between police and protester, but between grassroots and local activists and the liberal agenda.
By Tiffany MacLellan
Climate talks face a long, hard road to crucial Paris meeting next winter
UN climate negotiation talks in Peru were extended by two days, but still delegates from 194 countries failed to resolve many key issues.
By Nick Fillmore
Last three members of Cuban Five released
Three members of the so-called Cuban Five have been released by the United States. Their release signals a new change in direction for diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States.
By Francella Fiallos
Harper and Couillard: A dangerous combo for Quebec
The anti-austerity protests in Quebec at the end of November were just the beginning. The Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN) will keep fighting for equality as election 2015 approaches.
By Jacques Létourneau
Why more than 125,000 demonstrators in Montreal and Quebec City chanted 'no to austerity'
We want a fair, egalitarian, democratic society that cares for the needs of its people.
By Say No to Austerity collective
Across Canada, worker compensation systems are in crisis
Advocates across the country report that the experience rating system rewards employers for hiding workplace injuries.
By Ella Bedard
Hundreds in downtown Toronto protest systemic, state-sanctioned violence
A group of Black Torontonians organized a protest in response to the systemic abuse experienced by the Black community. 800 people gathered in downtown Toronto to share their stories and heal.
By Jesse Robitaille
This week's top blogs
A culture of memes and private suffering: Mental health in Canadian universities
We need a more nuanced approach when talking about anxiety in an academic context.
By Jessica Prupas
The time has come to start policing Canada's police
Many police officers and departments across the country act as if they are above the law and answer to no one. When is anyone with any political power or authority going to do something about it?
By Michael Laxer
Canadian indie publisher: Gerbil Meets Mouse
Gerbil Meets Mouse is a Canadian children's book publishing company that publishes books specifically about gerbils, that aim to bring certain social issues to light in a fun and relatable way.
By Lauren Scott
Playing Secret Santa this year? Why not try Crypto Santa?
Here's a fun way to learn about how Internet anonymity tools like the Tor Project work!
By Bob Chandler
Dear Ryan: The tragedy of the Yukon's commons
The controversy over the land use plan for the Peel River Watershed is broadly divisive. But the Yukon Government is moving full steam ahead with forsaking the commons for the profit of a few.
By Linda Leon
Hatched in secret, today's expected mass Wildrose defection to PCs brings party to pathetic end
I'd sure as hell rather have an Alberta NDP-style "moral victory" than suffer a collapse of principles and moral fibre the way the Wildrose Party just has!
By David J. Climenhaga
'The Blind Side' woman does something racist, gets retweeted by white people
Leigh Anne Tuohy profiles and accosts two black teenagers who were sitting alone and completely minding their own business and gets heralded as a white saviour. Something is wrong here.
By Anne Theriault
This week's top columns
What does #BlackLivesMatter mean for climate change? Everything.
The reality of an economic order built on white supremacy is the whispered subtext of our entire response to the climate crisis, and it badly needs to be dragged into the light.
By Naomi Klein
Taking the fight for housing rights to court
Last week, the Ontario Court of Appeal released its decision on a landmark Charter application on housing rights. Safia Lakhani considers what it means for the housing rights struggle in Canada.
By Pro Bono, Safia J. Lakhani
The U.S. Senate report and Canadian complicity in torture
The Harper government has noted that Canada doesn't torture people -- but ducks the question about whether Canadian authorities have used information obtained by others through torture.
By Linda McQuaig
U.S. and Cuba: Is it the start of a new relationship?
The failed United States policy against Cuba, which has stifled relations between these neighbouring countries and inflicted generations of harm upon the Cuban people, may finally be collapsing.
By Amy Goodman
Do Black Lives Matter in Canada?
As events in Ferguson and beyond unfold, many Canadians have been quick to distance ourselves from the systemic racism that plagues the U.S. -- but in doing so, overlook anti-Black racism in Canada.
By Harsha Walia
Harper is election ready. Are his opponents?
With 10 months to go before the expected October 19, 2015 election, the Harper Conservatives are running full out for re-election. Their strategy is simple.
By Duncan Cameron
MORE FROM...
Naomi Klein, Linda McQuaig, Rick Salutin, Duncan Cameron, Wayne MacPhail, Murray Dobbin and others! Read columns...
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This week's top podcasts
Episode 160: Eggnog edition
No news, no protests or letters to write to politicians. Instead, some philosophical ideas to mull over in front of the fire. Your holiday break.
By Victoria Fenner
Building solidarity between migrant and Canadian workers
Chris Ramsaroop and Melisa LaRue talk about a grassroots effort to build relationships and solidarity between temporary foreign workers and Canadian workers.
By Scott Neigh
Eyewitness report from Mount Polley mine disaster site
Two activists from Vancouver Island travelled to a Secwepemc camp at Mount Polley to bear witness to the destruction following the collapse in August of the dam holding back a tailings pond.
By Redeye Collective
Building the feminist agenda
A panel discussion from the Women's Forum in Ottawa, October 2014.
By Victoria Fenner
Fat politics part 1: Fat politics 101 and health
The F Word's Pragya Esh and Carissa Ropponen speak to Kalamity Hildebrandt of Fat Panic! about fat politics. Part one of a two-part series.
By The F Word
This week's top rabbletv
Not Rex: The lethal over-policing problem
Why are police forces expanding and militarizing while crime is at its lowest in decades?
By Humberto DaSilva
This week's top books
Best book reviews of 2014
Book reviews! Get your book reviews here! We reviewed numerous books in the book lounge this year and here are a few of the standouts.
By Kaitlin McNabb
In this issue
Upcoming events
Vancouver21st Annual Women's Winter Faire
Featuring over 50 talented B.C. women artisans, a wide variety of gift items, set in a social and vibrant village atmosphere with an indoor café.
By Women's Winter Faire
TorontoCelebrate the Freedom of the Cuban Five
The Cuban Five are free! Join the Toronto Forum on Cuba this Sunday for an afternoon of celebrations, presentations and more.
By Toronto Forum on Cuba
Halifax2014 Yalda Night
Join us for Yalda, the commencement of Persian winter solstice, the longest night all year according to the Iranian calender.
By Iranian Cultural Society
This week's top in cahoots
Bill making it harder to unionize passed by Senate despite errors
The Senate has passed Bill C-525, a law that will make it harder for workers to unionize in the federal sector.
By Public Service Alliance of Canada
Labour and the fight against austerity
Are trade unions still relevant in the fight against austerity?
By Socialist Worker
Residential care program for vulnerable youth needs overhaul
The lack of oversight and proper planning in the existing system puts children at risk of abuse from unsuitable caregivers and of being placed in unsuitable accommodation.
By B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union
Active babble topics
Wildrose caucus to meet to discuss merging with provincial Conservatives
By robbie_dee
American Apparel's Dov Cherney sacked
By lagatta
New Halifax Central Library is an architectural marvel
By NorthReport
Cuba Adelante!
By sherpa-finn
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Support our work
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This week's top tool
#FergusonSyllabus: Talking and Teaching About Police Violence
Resources to help educate folks about Ferguson, police violence and the prison industrial complex.
Poll
What is the Harper government's biggest transgression in 2014?
Peter Mansbridge and Stephen Harper sat down for their annual chat on Wednesday Dec. 17, and we learned some hard-hitting truths about politics in Canada like apparently Canada's emissions are going down, and we need to protect Big Oil.
This all leads to the biggest question of 2014: What is the Harper government's biggest transgression in 2014?
Choices The blatant lies and neoliberal agenda pushing. (Big Oil! Right-wing think tanks! Austerity!) The attacks on freedoms and civil liberties. (Immigration changes! Muzzling! Voter suppression!) The awful foreign policy. (War! War! War!) The disastrous re-making of Canada. Period. (Privatization! Public service cuts! Everything! Ah!) None of the above.Forward to a friend
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