Independent media changes everything

Details: Published on Sunday, 28 February 2016 12:45; Written by editor

25 Feb 2016

Hello rabble readers!

This week, Avi Lewis called rabble.ca "our cherished, venerable, fierce and principled source of truly independent media in Canada." He's right, you know. That's why we're offering a free copy of his incredible, groundbreaking film This Changes Everything to anyone who becomes a monthly supporter or increases their donation. Like Avi, Naomi Klein and the thousands of other signatories to the Leap Manifesto, we want to make 2016 a "Leap Year" for climate justice. And to do that we need a strong, vibrant independent media more than ever. Will you chip in a few bucks today to help us get there?

Because it's clear that corporate media isn't getting the job done. Who else but rabble.ca will hold Ottawa to account in the face of the Liberals' disappointing collusion with the Conservatives over the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement? Canada's own official position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is in line with the demands of BDS. Our Parliamentary Bureau, with our award-winning correspondent Karl Nerenberg, rely on your support to remind Prime Minister Trudeau of his promises and his obligations to Canadians.

rabble's Labour Beat Reporter Teuila Fuatai completed her remarkable series on Canada and the minimum wage this week, with an uplifting story on progressive businesses like B.C.'s Vancity credit union rolling out living wages for all its employees. As rabble.ca expands the conversation on the "Fight for $15," living wage legislation and guaranteed annual income, we can expect more corporations -- and governments -- coming over to the right side of history.

rabble was in Vancouver Tuesday night for an incredible discussion titled "African refugees: A panel highlighting excluded and forgotten people," featuring rabble contributor Daniel Tseghay, and his co-panelists Juliane Okot Biket, Josiane Anthony and Samson Nashon. While Syrian refugees dominate headlines -- often as supporting cast for feelgood stories of Canadian patriotism or politician photo-ops -- Black African refugees have been rendered invisible and have not received the same level of support or compassion. rabble correspondent Roshini Nair was there to cover the remarkable conversation.

This Tuesday is Super Tuesday in the United States, where 11 Democratic caucuses and 13 Republican ones decide on their candidate for president. It's hard to recall a more unpredictable campaign -- or one with more at stake. Donald Trump has been alarming even hard-right Republicans with his racist fearmongering and bullying, while the race between liberal establishment candidate Hillary Clinton and the wild-haired self-described socialist Bernie Sanders is neck-and-neck. rabble columnist Duncan Cameron outlines five barriers to Sanders' bid for the nomination.

And Vancouver rabblers! Don't forget this upcoming event with leading media reform theorists Robert McChesney and John Nichols as they discuss their exciting new book, People Get Ready: The Fight against a Jobless Economy. It will take place Sunday March 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Vancouver Public Library. For more details and to RSVP go here. The event will raise some much-needed funds for our friends at OpenMedia.

This week's top news

The cost of privatized food in public institutions
Regina hunger strike highlights the intense politics of private food in public institutions. How does privatization of food affect those who consume and how can we improve the system?
By Cory Collins

Forgotten African refugees: Canadian nation-building through exclusion
"In Canada, the refugee crisis has become synonymous with the Syrian refugee crisis," said Daniel Tseghay. While Canada pats itself on the back, we must adovcate for refuge in Canada for all refugees.
By Roshini Nair

#OscarsSoWhite transcends borders: Five diverse Canadian films you must see
Controversy struck the Academy Awards again this year when the list of nominees were predominantly white. Is this exclusion of people of colour also happening in the Canadian film industry?
By TK Matunda

The business of the living wage
Paying employees a living wage will always increase labour costs for businesses relying on low-wage workers. Despite this, fairer wages often translate to benefits and savings in other areas.
By Teuila Fuatai

This week's top blogs

Liberal and Conservative collusion on BDS a blow against free speech and human rights
The Liberal-Conservative motion to denounce the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement is a destructive and irresponsible step backwards.
By J. Baglow

Literature through the eyes of Indigenous writers and readers
A list of books by Indigenous writers recommended by Indigenous writers and academics. Writers recommended include Richard Van Camp, Lee Maracle, and Leslie Marmon Silko.
By various

Saudi Arabia isn't the only despotic Gulf state Canada is helping oppress human rights
Not only is Ottawa arming Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait, a Canadian tech firm is censoring human rights and dissent information on the internet.
By Shenaz Kermalli

Nine things Jason Kenney said during the BDS debate that should make you rage
Logging the best lines lodged by Jason Kenney in the debate on BDS.
By Nora Loreto

This week's top columns

Here come the hearables
Hearable are the next step in wearable electronics. It is a private and relatively distraction-free device that could prove revolutionary for some and down right frightening for others.
By Wayne MacPhail

Five challenges Bernie Sanders must overcome to win the Democratic nomination
When Sanders first announced for the presidency, his support level was three per cent. Now some polls show him a better choice for the Democrats. Here are five challenges that await Sanders.
By Duncan Cameron

Last call for Big Alcohol: Pushing back against the power of drink
There are 200 different diseases and problems caused by or exacerbated by alcohol consumption. We've drunk the spiked Kool-Aid when it comes to our casual acceptance of preventable death and illness.
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

Promoting peace in the face of rampant militarism
Jamie Swift and Judi Wyatt talk about the work of PeaceQuest to promote peace and jusitce.
By Scott Neigh

Is it too extreme to talk about climate change and human extinction?
Leaders say they accept climate change, but don't act like they understand it. We recap the worst threats, and talk about how bad could it get if we keep going as we are.
By Daryn Caister

A human history of the Ottawa River Watershed
A look at the role of the Ottawa River in the history of the Algonquin Nation, with Peter Di Gangi.
By Victoria Fenner

This week's top rabbletv

Take the Leap on February 29: a Google Hangout with Naomi Klein, Bill McKibben, and more
A conversation with Naomi Klein and Avi Lewis (This Changes Everything), Bill McKibben (350.org) and Asad Rehman (Friend of the Earth UK) and special guests
By rabble staff

This week's top books

'The Anatomy of Giving' tackles the celebrification of charitable aid
When is charitable giving actually harming the cause instead of supporting it? In her new book, Augusta Dwyer looks into international development and the "celebrification" of aid.
By Augusta Dwyer

'Between the Cracks She Fell' explores urban landscapes and the ghosts that haunt us
Are you looking for an adventure story with a lively heroine and urban backdrop? 'Between the Cracks She Fell' blends mystery and exploration in this fascinating read.
By Sarah Hipworth

In this issue

Upcoming events

OttawaOctopus Book Club Celebrating Women and Literature!
On every Monday this March, we will introduce and discuss a book by a woman writer! This initiative is inspired by a talk by Lee Maracle on Women and Literature.
By Octopus Books

VancouverWho will Win the Digital Revolution?
Join us for a conversation on how best to steer the open web in the right direction with leading thinkers on media reform, Robert McChesney and John Nichols.
By Openmedia.ca

TorontoInternational Women's Day Lecture Islands of Decolonial Love: Exploring Love on Occupied Land with Leanne Simpson
A lecture given by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson.
By Women and Gender Studies

This week's top in cahoots

For-profit plasma clinic goes against report on patient safety
Saskatchewan is opening the first for-profit plasma donation clinic in the country. But this isn't even the first attempt by the private company Canadian Plasma Resources to set up for-profit clinics.
By Unifor

PR 101 and unpacking ranked ballots
The new Liberal government has promised that 2015 was the last election using first-past-the-post. Fair Vote Canada invites you to join a two part webinar on voting Sunday February 21 at 7 PM EST.
By Fair Vote Canada

A federal plan to tackle poverty and inequality
The fight to eliminate poverty and inequality is far from over and Justin Trudeau's election proposals are inadequate to accomplishing the task. This CCPA paper is a real poverty reduction plan.
By Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives

Active babble topics

The 'Green Book'
By NorthReport

NDP motion: Fix broken EI system
By mark_alfred

Indications Canada may buy overbudget F-35 lemon jets?
By NDPP

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Support our work

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This week's top tool

Know the facts: Missing and murdered women
Native Women's Association of Canada's eye-opening factsheet.

Poll

How does this new BDS motion change your approach to activism?

The Liberal government voted to support a Conservative motion that condemns Canadians who support the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement against Israel. Twelve Liberal MPs refused to vote and two Liberal MPs voted no.

The Liberals, Conservatives and NDP all have announced support for Israel and opposition to BDS, however, NDP leader Tom Mulcair made clear that this motion limits topics of discussion for debate, which is not a role the government should take and his party would vote against it.

On the same day, the McGill Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) Action Network passed a motion in support of BDS.

How does this new BDS motion change your approach to activism?

Choices It doesn't. This motion is an attack on free speech and human rights. Well, it has cemented that the Liberals aren't as progressive as they claim and activists need to push harder for change. I'm a little concerned about the ramifications: let us all remember Bill C-51. It doesn't, but I'm getting seriously disillusioned with Canadian politics. I'm going to hold back my public support of BDS. None of the above.