This week @ rabble.ca: Tools to help take our country back!
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- Published on Thursday, 27 August 2015 13:30
- Written by editor
27 Aug 2015
Hey rabble readers,
Since forming government, Harper and his Conservatives have worked hard to suppress the vote. Now, rabble.ca has lined up its most extensive editorial plan ever to cover the federal election and provide you with tools and information to help take our country back! This week we're launching GoVote, a new project of rabble's Activist Toolkit. Our GoVote page brings together all of the get-out-the-vote tools out there in one convenient location. Help us keep tools like these growing by donating to rabble right now!
In election news this week, the coalition group Up for Debate cancelled its planned debate on women's issues after organizers were unable to secure the participation of all five leaders of the major political parties. Are women's issues up for debate? The question is not "whether" to debate women's issues, but "how" and "when." Read Christopher Majka's blog to learn what's at stake.
The August 6 leaders' debate shed some light on oil pipelines but other environmental issues seemed to be missing. Which environmental issues should be on the table this federal election? What are parties going to do about climate change? Columnists Ole Hendrickson and Brian Iler explore these questions in their rabble columns this week.
Saturday, August 22 marked the fourth anniversary of Jack Layton's death. On the day we remember Jack and his life, what do you think about? What will you resolve to do? In a special feature, Libby Davies shares reflections on Jack's life and his vision for building a better Canada. Find it here.
Our new Indie Inside artist this month is singer-songwriter Nick Sherman! His latest album "Knives and Wildrice" continues the storytelling tradition of his Ojibway roots. Check out the feature here and for a chance to win a free copy of his album, retweet @rabbleca with hastag #indieinside or answer the following question: What is Nick's guitar strap made of in the video? Email answers to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Check Your Head and Vancouver Design Nerds invite you to a facilitated discussion on democracy design flaws in Canada tonight at the Heartwood Community Cafe, 317 East Broadway in Vancouver from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Using design thinking, we will brainstorm and re-imagine how the democratic process may be innovated and made more accessible to youth, as well as everyone else, with featured guests Brigette DePape and Tessica Truong.
This week's top news
Protesters threatened after mobilizing against anti-woman blogger Roosh V
On August 15, demonstrators gathered in Toronto to protest the arrival of a self-professed "pick-up artist" who has claimed rape should be legal on private property.
By Ashley Splawinski
Powerful reflections on the Oka Crisis at Red Post Art Exhibit
Onekwenhtara Kanehtsote - the Red Post Art Exhibit commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Crisis of 1990, also known as the Oka Crisis, by demonstrating its impacts through art.
By Jennifer Dales
Remember Jack Layton and build a better Canada
Saturday August 22 marks the fourth anniversary of Jack Layton's death. On this day we remember Jack and his life, what will you think about? What will you resolve to do?
By Libby Davies
Trudeau's jabs at Mulcair show gaping holes in Liberal platform
If Trudeau wants to remain a strong player in the election, trying to out-progressive Mulcair is a losing strategy. The Liberals need to start making commitments and stop flip-flopping on others.
By Dan Darrah
This week's top blogs
'The more we get together' -- to build a national child-care program
If Canada is ever to have a workable, high-quality, universal national child-care program, it will take all levels and stripes of governments across the country working together to build it.
By Martha Friendly
Canadian doctors divest from fossil fuels
The Canadian Medical Association has voted to divest, calling attention to climate health and urging climate action
By Jesse McLaren
Fact-checking the Liberals: Tax credit for school supply purchases
Will educators benefit from a new Liberal tax credit?
By Nora Loreto
Navigating the new election rules
Some key changes to Canada's election rules since 2006, and what to do about them.
By Maya Bhullar
We need a national food policy so no one in Canada goes hungry
Canada doesn't have a national food policy. Without one the federal government cannot adequately address health, education, economic and environmental issues as they pertain to food insecurity.
By Doreen Nicoll
In Harm's Way: First Nations leader, activists speak out against Energy East
In Toronto in July, we explored how residents would be affected by the Energy East pipeline proposal, despite living hundreds of kilometres away from the pipeline's proposed route.
By Sabrina Bowman
What is The Bonnie Burstow Blog all about? Getting a sense of the territory
An introduction to The Bonnie Burstow Blog, which is committed to antipsychiatry and the expansions of the commons. Psychiatry is foundationless and we need to grapple with problems together.
By Bonnie Burstow
This week's top columns
A single-issue election: The anti-Harper vote
Pollsters and pundits are trying to isolate the issues. Is the economy top of mind? Health care? But there is really only one ballot-box question: Do you want four more years of Stephen Harper or not?
By Marc Zwelling
Climate in election 2015: The time for action is now
A broad range of programs and policies will be essential to achieve meaningful reduction in emissions and, at the same time, ensure that the burdens and benefits of climate action are fairly shared.
By Brian Iler, Pro Bono
An eye for an I: Trying to understand selfies
Selfies capture an odd behaviour -- having a camera in hand and using it as a mirror, not a window on the world. Treating it, as it were, as "an eye for an I."
By Wayne MacPhail
Pipelines are not the only environmental issue in the 2015 election
While the August 6 leaders' debate shed some light on pipeline issues, this represents a remarkably narrow slice of the environmental issues that the next federal government will face.
By Ole Hendrickson
Calgary artist explores public space, cultural interactions
Artist Hye-Seung Jung's work on the dynamics of culture and public space spans Canada, Europe and Asia, bringing together cultures, ideas and urban muckraking.
By June Chua
Taking back our country from the scourge of Harperism
A sinister culture of fear and control has been created that runs through the vital organs of Canadian public life. To overcome it, we need a cleansing of the scourge of a corrosive ideology.
By Ralph Surette
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
Project Slut: Young women challenging rape culture, slut shaming, and high school dress codes
Andy Villanueva and Kerin Bethel-John talk about student organizing against dress codes in Toronto high schools.
By Scott Neigh
Japan's debt to 'comfort women'
This program excerpts testimony and judgments from the December 2000 Women's International Tribunal on Japan's Military Sexual Slavery.
By Frieda Werden
Workers organizing in the Asia Pacific region
This episode features stories on the Tianjin warehouse disaster in China, Sri Lankan labour solidarity in Australia, and upcoming democracy demonstrations in Malaysia.
By Piergiorgio Moro
This week's top rabbletv
Watch: Suitably dressed? How women's choices become symbols of belonging or exclusion
Prime Minister Stephen Harper famously said women who wear the face veil while taking their citizenship oath should know that it "isn't the way we do things here" in Canada. Amira Elghawaby explores.
By Amira Elghawaby
This week's top books
The right to ride: Everything you need to know about urban cycling
Does urban cycling strike a chord of fear in you? Fear not, Yvonne Bambrick's Urban Cycling Survival Guide will show you the rules of the road and how to put them to good use.
By Kaitlin McNabb
In this issue
Upcoming events
VancouverCreative Publics
Creative Publics is a roving, pop-up, voter engagement project bringing together artists, students and community members in Vancouver to make art inspired by political issues.
By Creative Publics
BramptonRide 4 Real Food
The Ride4RealFood is a fundraising event that supports a fantastic food security program.
By Ride4Real Food
OttawaWhat Kind of Citizen? Educating Our Children for the Common Good Book Launch with Joel Westheimer
How can schools teach the skills required for a strong democracy to flourish? "What Kind of Citizen?" asks readers to imagine the kind of society they would like to live in.
By Octopus Books
This week's top in cahoots
Proportional representation and women
Using some form of proportional voting increases better representation of women in government. We need to stop clinging to an outdated first-past-the-post system.
By Fair Vote Canada
Vote for health care for all this election
Your vote is powerful -- in this federal election use your vote to defend and expand public health care in Canada.
By Canadian Health Coalition
Federal election 2015: Don't lose your right to vote!
Earlier this year, the Conservative government made changes to the requirements for voting. Even if you have voted in past elections, you may not be registered.
By Public Service Alliance of Canada
Protecting public services in Saskatchewan
A grassroots campaign, made up of labour and community groups, has come together in Saskatchewan, with a call for people to protect and take back their public services.
By Socialist Worker
Active babble topics
Anne Lagacé Dowson running against Justin Trudeau in Papineau
By NorthReport
Time to divest from fossil fuels
By Unionist
Defacing political placards
By alan smithee
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Support our work
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This week's top tool
Sign the petition for a debate that speaks to women
Take action if you want a debate on women's issues in the 2015 federal election.
Poll
What do you think of Trudeau's three-year fiscal plan?
Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau announced, if elected, his government would not balance the budget for three years and instead double spending on infrastructure to increase economic growth.
The $125-billion investment would focus on public transit, green projects and social infrastructure (affordable housing and senior centres).
What do you think of Trudeau's three-year fiscal plan?
Choices Investing in infrastructure is more important than balancing the budget. Great plan. Is this going to be another situation like when Trudeau said he was against something and then voted for it? #C51 There are no concrete plans yet, just words. Let's wait and see. I prefer the NDP's focus on affordable child care and balancing the budget. I believe it can be done. The Green Party's vision on green projects is far better than anything Trudeau could come up with. It's a good election platform, but I still don't trust the Liberals and won't vote for them. None of the above.Forward to a friend
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