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Articles from non-mainstream as opposed to corporate for profit sources.

The British Election and Political Crisis: Corbyn versus Johnson

Details: Published on Tuesday, 10 December 2019 01:02; Written by editor

LeftStreamed — Recorded in Toronto, 8 December 2019

The British Election and Political Crisis: Corbyn versus Johnson

Having recently returned from canvassing in the British election in Yorkshire and London (and after earlier attending the Labour Party Conference and speaking at The World Transformed, Momentum and Unite the Union events), Leo Panitch addresses the strategic orientations, pitfalls and dilemmas faced by the Jeremy Corbyn leadership of the Labour Party in attempting to dislodge the Conservative Party government led by Boris Johnson. Britain goes to the polls on December 12, bringing the political crisis over Brexit to a head, and with Labour offering the most direct challenge to neoliberal policies in the UK since Margaret Thatcher came to power 40 years ago.

Leo Panitch is co-author of The End of Parliamentary Socialism and co-editor of the Socialist Register.

Moderated by Niko Block. Recorded in Toronto, 8 December 2019.

Click here to view presentation

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(((( LeftStreamed Production ))))~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Produced by the LeftStreamed Collective. Viewers are encouraged to
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Green Jobs Oshawa and a Just Transition

Details: Published on Monday, 09 December 2019 00:10; Written by editor

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(((( T h e B u l l e t ))))~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Socialist Project e-bulletin ... No. 1951 ... December 9, 2019
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Green Jobs Oshawa and a Just Transition

Rebecca Keetch

One year ago, GM announced the closure of the Oshawa Assembly Plant. Workers in the community faced the crushing reality that their livelihood was being stolen. At a time of record profits, in the billions of dollars, GM showed a complete disregard for thousands of workers and their communities.

Out of this devastation Green Jobs Oshawa was born. Green Jobs Oshawa is a coalition of workers, environmentalists, academics, and community members. We recognized, in the midst of a climate crisis requiring immediate action and a community facing massive job loss and disruption, the need for a bold idea: bring the plant under democratic control through government ownership and build battery electric vehicles or other products that meet community need instead of corporate greed.

Green Jobs Oshawa recognizes we must take on both climate justice and social justice. The environmental movement and the labour movement must come together and demand with a united voice a Workers Green New Deal that fights the climate crisis and...

Invasion Screenings in Victoria and Seattle this Monday and Tuesday!

Details: Published on Sunday, 08 December 2019 13:18; Written by editor

Come to an Invasion Screening This Week!

Online Store
Order Gifts from the Online Store by December 10th for items to arrive by Christmas!

Join Sleydo Molly Wickham of the Gidimt'en clan at a screening and discussion of Invasion tomorrow in Victoria and local leaders in Seattle on Tuesday.

Monday December 9th, Victoria BC
Location: Lkwungen Territory, Openspace, 510 Fort St 2nd floor
7-9 PM
Discussion with Molly Wickham of the Gidmt'en Clan

Tuesday December 10th, Seattle WA
Location: Duwamish Territory,
Washington Hall, 153 14th Ave, Seattle WA 98122
6:30-8 PM
Screening followed by discussion with local indigenous leaders resisting LNG development in Washington.

Want to host a screening of Invasion in your own community? Send us an email and we can help you get started!

-Unist'ot'en Solidarity Brigade

Only once a year

Details: Published on Wednesday, 18 November 2020 13:22; Written by editor

Inhuman Power: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Capitalism

Details: Published on Saturday, 07 December 2019 23:52; Written by editor

LeftStreamed — Recorded in Toronto, 22 November 2019

Inhuman Power: Artificial Intelligence and Future of Capitalism

Book launch with authors Nick Dyer-Witheford, Atle Mikkola Kjøsen and James Steinhoff’s, Inhuman Power: Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Capitalism (Pluto Press, 2019).

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has seen major advances in recent years. While machines were always central to the Marxist analysis of capitalism, AI is a new kind of machine that Marx could not have anticipated. Contemporary machine-learning AI allows machines to increasingly approach human capacities for perception and reasoning in narrow domains.

This book explores the relationship between Marxist theory and AI through the lenses of different theoretical concepts, including surplus-value, labour, the general conditions of production, class composition and surplus population. It argues against left accelerationism and post-Operaismo thinkers, asserting that a deeper analysis of AI produces a more complex and disturbing picture of capitalism’s future than has previously been identified. Inhuman Power argues that on its current trajectory, AI represents an ultimate weapon for capital. It will render humanity obsolete or turn it into a species of transhumans working for a wage...

Peace Brigades update

Details: Published on Wednesday, 18 November 2020 13:22; Written by editor

WE WON Nestlé v. Michigan

Details: Published on Friday, 06 December 2019 04:58; Written by editor

We just dealt a massive blow to Nestlé’s water sucking ways in Michigan -- and we literally couldn’t have done it without SumOfUs members like you.

On Tuesday, a court overturned a decision that would have forced the Michigan township of Osceola to issue a permit to Nestlé to build a massive water pumping station. This is a huge win for Michiganders who are against Nestlé’s attempt to suck the state dry, all to bottle water for profits.

This legal decision couldn’t have happened without SumOfUs members like you, who banded together to chip in over $50,000 to pay for the legal and administrative fees for the legal challenge.

Not only that, you saved a township from bankruptcy. Osceola Township, with a population of 2,000, was running out of options to pay to fight back against Nestlé’s water sucking ways. Until you came in.

For over three years, generous SumOfUs members from around the world have chipped in to the fight against Nestlé’s attempt to increase its water intake in Michigan. Over 375,000 SumOfUs members around the world, and tens of thousands of Michiganders, have time and time again taken action against Nestle's water sucking ways in Michigan.

You've also fought back against water giants...

Rally for Justice : Dec 16 Vancouver

Details: Published on Friday, 06 December 2019 04:46; Written by editor

Rally for Justice : Dec 16 Vancouver r1 ...

The Vilification of Jeremy Corbyn

Details: Published on Friday, 06 December 2019 02:26; Written by editor

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(((( T h e B u l l e t ))))~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Socialist Project e-bulletin ... No. 1950 ... December 6, 2019
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The Vilification of Jeremy Corbyn

Leo Panitch

The vilification of the leader of the UK Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, as an antisemite has intensified in the run up to the December 12 election in Britain. What makes this especially troubling, not to say bizarre, is that since he first became a member of parliament in 1983 Corbyn has been the most consistent campaigner against all forms of racism.

In fact, while still a local councillor in London in 1977 Corbyn had already organized a defense of the Jewish population of Wood Green from a neo-Nazi march. A recent compilation of the number of early day motions he advanced in Parliament to defend Jewish people, alongside other public stances he took to tackle antisemitism – to denounce Holocaust deniers, to commemorate Jewish resistance to fascism, to pressure the police to do more to protect synagogues against vandalism – came to well over 50. And he did all this not only in support of Jewish communities in the UK but also in Iran, Turkey, France, Russia...

Double Standards & Hypocrisy

Details: Published on Thursday, 05 December 2019 19:48; Written by editor

Friends,

At our last Social Justice Film Night the following was stated. One of our supporters asked that it should be sent out to our listserve. It may help to spread some truth. So here it is.

Victoria Friends of Cuba

Double Standards & Hypocrisy

13 years ago Evo Morales was elected president of Bolivia. Although Bolivia's population is composed 2/3 of indigenous people, he was the 1st indigenous president to be elected.

Morales won in 2005 with 53.7% of the vote, followed by re-elections in 2009 with 64.2% and 2014 with 61.3%.

The accomplishments under his leadership in Bolivia are incredible and too numerous to mention all, but I will mention just a few to give us some ideas of how much was accomplished with an honest government that had the will to work for its people and country.

A Happy Story About a Sad Little Fact

Details: Published on Thursday, 05 December 2019 19:40; Written by editor

© 2019 by Jonah Winter and Pete Oswald Sometimes the most pointed social commentary is best delivered by a giant-eyed, blue-bodied, huggable cartoon character.

In just over two minutes, the animated short A Sad Little Fact asks tough questions about the future of truth itself. Do facts matter in a world where some politicians and pundits lie so regularly and without any accountability? The answer is—and must be—yes, but restoring a public debate grounded in truth is going to take time. And it’s going to require some challenging conversations.

There are big issues raised by this charming and accessible little short; questions that may not have simple answers. But with A Sad Little Fact, families, teachers, and friends have a new tool for starting a conversation that could not be more important.

Will they deliver on today's big promises?

Details: Published on Thursday, 05 December 2019 13:54; Written by editor

Friends,

Today marked the opening of the 43rd Parliament. All of our newly elected MPs took their seats in the House of Commons, they elected a new Speaker of the House, and the Governor General, Julie Payette, delivered her Throne Speech.1

The Throne Speech is a road map meant to communicate the new Parliament’s governing priorities to people across the country. We heard many things in today’s Throne Speech but as we know from 4 years of a Liberal government, their words mean little if they’re not followed up with action.

Here’s our take on what we heard today and how it lines up with the actions this government’s taking:

Climate change is (apparently) a top priority: In speaking to the mandate that Canadians delivered to the newly-elected government, Julie Payette listed climate change first. "Canada's children and grandchildren will judge this Parliament by their action or inaction on the defining issue of our time— climate change,” she noted, adding that a “clear majority of Canadians voted for ambitious climate action now.” This is a massive victory. And it’s all thanks to...
Read more: Will they deliver on today's big promises?

"The smellscape was richer than ever."

Details: Published on Thursday, 05 December 2019 07:06; Written by editor

"The smellscape was richer than ever." r1 ...

From Uberization to Enhanced Public Mobility for All

Details: Published on Thursday, 05 December 2019 01:46; Written by editor

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(((( T h e B u l l e t ))))~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Socialist Project e-bulletin ... No. 1949 ... December 5, 2019
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From Uberization to Enhanced Public Mobility for All

Sean Sweeney and John Treat

We have shown that the defense, improvement and expansion of public transport is essential if we are to help control and then reduce transport-related emissions. We have also shown how the current neoliberal policy framework must be rejected in order for public transport is to fulfill its true potential. This applies to both transport policy specifically (and the obvious shortcomings of the public-private partnership approach, alongside pressures to privatize part or all of public transport systems) and it applies at the level of macroeconomic management. The neoliberal framework has failed to impede the rise of emissions and will continue to do so until it is completely rescinded.

We have also shown how the rapid proliferation of small, individually owned EVs is by no means guaranteed to take place at the speed and scale necessary to make a major contribution toward decarbonization. The disproportionate attention given by policy makers reflects a car-centered approach to transport policy, and this approach is seldom influenced...

Just hours left: D O U B L E your donation to save the Internet!

Details: Published on Tuesday, 03 December 2019 15:24; Written by editor

OpenMedia r1

Paov—You have just a few hours left to have your #GivingTuesday donation to save the Internet doubled. Will you chip in to OpenMedia? All donations will be MATCHED 100% until midnight tonight.

Paov,

Our digital rights are in serious danger.

Bell is...

Unapologetic and people-powered

Details: Published on Tuesday, 03 December 2019 15:06; Written by editor

Hi again Paov,

I wanted to make sure you saw my message from this morning. There are just a few hours left of Giving Tuesday and we're behind on our goal. All donations made today will be put right to work planning big, bold climate campaigns in 2020. We must ensure that next year is the biggest year yet for climate action.

Chip in before midnight tonight and your gift will be matched dollar for dollar, thanks to a generous donor.

Thank you for your support,
Amara

My original message is below:

Dear Paov,

We’ve worked tirelessly this past year to build a bold, unapologetic people-powered movement in support of a made-in-Canada Green New Deal.

And, Paov, it’s paying off. 17 new Members of Parliament have already pledged to champion bold climate action. Last month, one of them even filed a historic motion in support of Canada’s Green New Deal. These are huge wins for our movement. To keep up the pressure and plan for big bold actions next year, we need your help.

Today, on #GivingTuesday, will you make a donation to 350.org? Anything you can give today...

ACT NOW: DOUBLE your #GivingTuesday donation to save the Internet!

Details: Published on Tuesday, 03 December 2019 10:10; Written by editor

OpenMedia r1

Paov—We're halfway through #GivingTuesday, and we haven't met our goal. Will you chip in to OpenMedia and help save the Internet? All donations up to $3,000 will be MATCHED 100%.

Paov,

Our digital rights are in serious danger.

Bell is fighting the...

Nestlé

Details: Published on Tuesday, 03 December 2019 07:04; Written by editor

In just a few days Florida officials will meet to debate the fate of Ginnie Springs.

Can you flood officials’ inboxes with messages demanding they vote NO on Nestlé’s plan to suck up nearly half a billion gallons of the spring each year?

Write a message

Thank you for signing the petition to stop Nestlé from plundering Florida’s drinking water for pocket change.

Your support gives locals a much better chance of stopping Nestlé’s plan to drain 1.2 million gallons of water a day from Ginnie Springs. And that is why we need you to speak out once again.

Florida officials are meeting on December 10th to debate letting Nestlé threaten a small town’s water supply.

We need you to submit a comment right now to help drown out Nestlé’s slick lobbyists and make sure Florida officials are flooded with the truth before the meeting.

Send a message to protect Ginnie Springs now.

Ginnie Springs’ waters feed the Santa...

Short. Sharp. Strategic.

Details: Published on Tuesday, 03 December 2019 05:12; Written by editor

Short. Sharp. Strategic. r1 ...

Unapologetic and people-powered

Details: Published on Tuesday, 03 December 2019 05:06; Written by editor

Dear Paov,

We’ve worked tirelessly this past year to build a bold, unapologetic people-powered movement in support of a made-in-Canada Green New Deal.

Today, on #GivingTuesday, will you make a donation to 350.org? Anything you can give today will be matched dollar-for-dollar immediately!

Thanks to you, we made sure that the climate crisis was front and center in the 2019 federal election. Here are some of our highlights:

We worked with our partners to support the largest climate mobilization in history during the September 27th Global Climate Strike. In Canada, we helped bring nearly 1 million people to the streets.
We organized over 50,000 people in support of a leaders’ debate on the climate crisis. Thanks to our pressure, climate was the most discussed topic at all the federal leaders’ debates.
We activated a youth-led network of organizers that...
Read more: Unapologetic and people-powered

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