This week @ rabble.ca: After Paris, more war will change nothing

Details: Published on Thursday, 19 November 2015 22:45; Written by editor

19 Nov 2015

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The world is mourning in the wake of last week's heinous attacks in Paris. In his reflection on the week's tragic events, Murray Dobbin suggests that instead of more war-mongering, Western nations need to begin examining our role in the Middle East. As human rights journalist Jooneed Khan writes, NATO's wars in the region have horrifyingly hit home. In the face of anti-Muslim backlash, Shenaz Kermalli shares some advice on how not to treat Muslims after the Paris attacks. Read more reflections from rabble contributors on the aftermath in France and around the world.

It has been one month since the 2015 federal election. Now that Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government have been in power for a bit, what have they been up to? Nora Loreto takes stock of the good, the bad and the ugly in her analysis. Check it out on our Canadian politics page, then tell us what you think in our poll!

rabble.ca is heading to the Community Media Convergence in Ottawa November 22-24. This will be the first time that community media practitioners in Canada will gather to learn about the changing role of community media in the digital environment, and to generate best practices and policy proposals to support them going forward. Get all details about this extraordinary event and stop by our table if you're there!

This week rabble welcomes our 2015-16 labour reporter: Chris O'Gorman! This is the fourth year of our innovative labour beat internship. Sponsored by Unifor, the position aims to bring the "labour beat reporter" back into the Canadian media landscape. Learn more here.

This week's top news

Advocacy groups ramp up campaign to repeal Bill C-51
Experts and the public continue to raise concerns about the law but the consultation process remains undetermined.
By Cory Collins

An 'act of war' in a world of war
French President Francois Hollande declared the horrific events that happened in Paris an "act of war." But does that mean there was no war before Paris was attacked?
By Azeezah Kanji

Crossing the digital divide with free Wi-Fi in Vancouver's DTES
Residents in low-income neighbourhoods often have limited access to much-needed Internet services. One team in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside is seeking to address this issue.
By Alyse Kotyk

Our solidarity with Paris is embarrassingly misguided
I mourn for Paris. I also mourn for hypocrisy. I mourn for the world.
By ANTIMEDIA, Claire Bernish

Report from Antalya: Will action follow G20 promises?
The G20 summit yields more hopeful results than the last six meetings. Now it's time to look for the actions that should follow.
By Stephen Price-Thomas

This week's top blogs

Real work for Canadian governments begins after Paris climate conference
Prime Minister Trudeau has raised expectations for Canada's action on climate change. The most important challenge will be meeting the imperative to keep most fossil fuel reserves in the ground.
By John Dillon

The twin tragedies of Paris and Beirut share deep roots
The histories of Beirut and Paris have been intertwined for almost two centuries. The responses to the terror attacks in each city are further testament to that bond.
By Michael Stewart

Paris attacks: Unimaginable horror but imaginable violence
How does violence touch people differently? Naming patriarchy and white supremacy as the problems.
By Nora Loreto

Study with caution: The academic debate around trigger warnings
Trigger warnings: these small notices for questionable content are creating big challenges in Canadian universities. Should they have a place in education? And if so, where do we draw the line?
By Erica Howes, Zoe Chong

Why I can't afford to buy a house
When I read the CCPA's report on the housing bubble, my first thought was: what millennial is buying a house -- and can I have their job, please?
By Davis Ballantyne Carr

This week's top columns

After Paris, now comes the assault on privacy
Having our eyes and hearts opened by the heinous attacks in Paris shouldn't also blind us to the more covert attacks on our civil liberties that may come as a second wave assault.
By Wayne MacPhail

Canada's role at the Paris climate summit
With a new outlook, what role will Canada play at the Paris climate summit?
By Ole Hendrickson

Mandated by the Liberal government: Conservative economics
Working Canadians have been poorly served by the economic performance of the last 40 years. A new direction is needed now.
By Duncan Cameron

NATO's wars in the Middle East hit home in France
"We are at war," declared French President François Hollande after the bloody terrorist attacks in Paris. In reality, the war has hit home, big time.
By Jooneed Khan

Trudeau's boldness test: The TPP
Justin Trudeau has proven to be much more bold in his first couple of weeks than almost anyone imagined. But the real measure of how bold Trudeau will be is how he deals with the economy.
By Murray Dobbin

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

An introduction...
On this first episode of My Personal Canada, TK Matunda sits down with her mom -- Grace Matunda -- to talk about her arrival to Pearson and the challenges of the first years in Canada.
By TK Matunda

The long fight in Quebec for adequate, affordable housing for all
Émilie Joly of FRAPRU talks about the struggle for affordable housing and against austerity in Quebec.
By Scott Neigh

Vancouver group creates app to help refugees find services
A new app developed by the Vancouver organization PeaceGeeks, in partnership with the UNHCR, helps refugees in Jordan find information about the services they need to survive.
By Redeye Collective

Tonje Hessen Schei and Brandon Bryant on drones, whistleblowing and justice
Join in as we talk about Tonje's new important film "Drone," truth, Sun Tzu's "Art of War" and how it's been misunderstood, the greater good, freedom, choice and responsibility.
By Face2Face

This week's top rabbletv

WATCH: Free trade agreements 101
Trade and investment agreements increase corporate power, erode state sovereignty, weaken democratic authority and are central to the neoliberal framework of privatization and deregulation.
By Common Frontiers

This week's top books

Overthrow the system! The fight for women's rights needs a socialist revolution
The historic battles for women's rights are well documented, so why are we still fighting the same fights? If we truly want progressive change, we need a new revolution.
By Faline Bobier

In this issue

Upcoming events

TorontoNational Housing Day in Toronto: The People's Assembly on the Right to Housing
Join the Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario and the Right to Housing Coalition in Toronto for a march and People's Assembly on Friday November 20 to mark National Housing Day!‎
By Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario

VancouverSyria Speaks: 'Return to Homs' film screening
Cinevolution Media Art Society's 6th annual DocuAsia film and forum program turns its lens on expanded notions of "Asia" by taking Syria as our topic of focus.
By Cinevolution Media Arts Society

Ottawa100% Possible: Marching together for Climate Solutions and Justice
Join us in Ottawa on November 29 for 100% Possible: Marching Together for Climate Solutions and Justice.
By 100% possible

This week's top in cahoots

Action-driven education can make stronger, healthier citizens
What's your philosophy of education?
By Upstream

B.C.'s food system relies on vulnerable migrant workers
A new study finds that citizenship status plays a key role in farmworker safety, and recommends significant changes to immigration policies to protect this vulnerable workforce.
By Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

After Paris: No to racism and imperialist wars that breed horror
We must not allow this atrocity to fuel racism and Islamophobia.
By Socialist Worker

Active babble topics

Nov 13 - attacks in Paris (updated)
By pookie

Open letter to PM Trudeau on TPP
By indigo 007

COP21 climate demonstrations banned after attacks
By lagatta

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This week's top tool

Stranded or have space for people stranded due to France's border closures?
Use #strandedinCanada or #porteouverte to find people to help.

Poll

How do you think Justin Trudeau is doing as prime minister so far?

It has been one month since the 2015 federal election when Justin Trudeau and his Liberals won with a majority government.

Trudeau officially came into power on November 5 and has an ambitious to-do list for not only his tenure as prime minister but his first 100 days.

So, how do you think Trudeau is doing as prime minister?

Choices I'm actually pretty surprised and impressed with what he has accomplished and started so far. *fingers crossed* I think he's done some good things, but his approach to free trade and war really worries me. I think he's done some positive things that will distract us for when the other shoe finally drops. I don't think he has done a good job so far and am confused why people think he has. None of the above.