So long as one operates within the discourse of ‘history’ produced at the institutional site of the university, it is not possible simply to walk out of the deep collusion between ‘history’ and the modernizing narrative(s) of citizenship, bourgeois public and private, and the nation-state. ‘History’ as a knowledge system
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: Newt Gingrich Thanks Harper for Being a Pro-American Conservative
Rick Santorum may get his fashion tips from Stephen Harper, but Newt Gingrich likes the whole package. The first truly pro-American prime minister of Canada. What’s not to love? What Newt doesn’t understand is the power of the people, who are just as determined to stop the Northern Gateway Pipeline,
Continue readingForeign influences on Harper government revealed!
Sometimes playing the nativist card can get you trumped. Harper ministers honking on about “foreign influences” stalling the construction of environmentally destructive pipelines (while they ignore foreign oil lobbyists and Sinopec) must be a little red-faced today. A Canadian Press journo, Steve Rennie, has found that several of those same
Continue readingPinheirinho
As I write this, a violent eviction of 9,000 people is taking place in Brazil by a reported 2,000 military police. People are being shot down as they defend their homes. The federal Brazil government and a federal judge have ordered that the eviction be stopped. The local military commander
Continue readingCanada II: Stop Whining and Fight Back
This is great advice but a little hollow. In fact, Warren’s column essentially does the same thing it decries: Stop Whining about Political Impudence They’re doing to Rae what they did, so successfully, to Stephane Dion and Michael Ignatieff: They’re shaping impressions about Rae before Rae does. The best strategy,
Continue readingCanada II: Stop Whining and Fight Back
This is great advice but a little hollow. In fact, Warren’s column essentially does the same thing it decries:
Stop Whining about Political Impudence
They’re doing to Rae what they did, so successfully, to Stephane Dion and Michael Ignatieff: They?…
Canada II: Stop Whining and Fight Back
This is great advice but a little hollow. In fact, Warren’s column essentially does the same thing it decries: Stop Whining about Political Impudence They’re doing to Rae what they did, so successfully, to Stephane Dion and Michael Ignatieff: They’re shaping impressions about Rae before Rae does. The best strategy,
Continue readingThose Emergency Blues: Karma Sweet Karma
The latest instalment of Nurses Behaving Badly featured the night charge and the day charge (i.e. me) getting a status asthmaticus organized in Resus 1 a few minutes after shift change. It’s probably reasonable to wonder why the two Resus Room nurses weren’t attending (and attentive to) the situation, especially after we
Continue readingPushed to the Left and Loving It: Moving Beyond Politics by Empowering the People
What if Environment Canada issued a tornado warning for your area? And what if along with that warning they offered suggestions to keep you safe? Things like moving into the basement; covering yourself with blankets and staying away from your windows. You would certainly heed their advice, since it’s based on scientific
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Sunday Morning Links
Miscellaneous material to end your weekend. – As Thomas Walkom notes, it’s an open question as to who will take up the cause of defending universal public health care in Canada – but easy to figure out who poses the greatest threat to it: Writing in The Globe and Mail
Continue readingThe Happy Wanderer: The Gingrich who stole South Carolina
Now I don’t actually want to sound mean, but I just couldn’t resist. Well so far we have three candidates who won a state. Rick Santorum after some recounts in Iowa, Romney with his neighboring state New Hampshire and now Gingrich after getting endorsed by Rick Perry wins South Carolina. One Candidate in the whole
Continue readingFar and Wide: Kinsella Is Half Right
Warren Kinsella knows more about politics on his little pinkie than I do on my entire body, so when he offers “advice” to Liberals, it’s always worth consideration. In today’s column Kinsella actually mirrors Bob Rae, Liberals need to fight back, stand up and respond to the Conservatives, their smear
Continue readingCopyright law abuse: an Egyptian case in point
Human rights campaigners in Egypt are under attack—by Blogger, Flickr and YouTube. Fearless Egyptian citizens have been recording military abuses—torture, gender-based violence—but their work is being suppressed by these popular Internet vehicles. Even captured photos of secret police torturers have been subject to a “takedown notice” and removed. Anyone with
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Britain – Difficult Dry Days Ahead
It’s the 21st century’s double-whammy – population growth coupled with global warming – and even soggy old Britain isn’t immune. Britain’s Environment Agency has released a study on what lies in stores for rivers in England and Wales by 2050. It warns that some rivers could see summer river levels
Continue readingNorthern Reflections: Labour In The Crosshairs
The day before thousands of people gathered in London to support Electro-Motive’s locked out workers, Jim Stanford wrote in the Globe and Mail that labour is facing a brave new world: In the current bargaining environment, companies (especially multinational firms) hold the best cards. And executives are increasingly willing to
Continue readingwmtc: a call to obama: end detentions at guantánamo
Ten years, and still the concentration camp at Guantánamo Bay remains open. Ten years, and still 150 human beings remain imprisoned without charges, without trial. There have been deaths from torture, and cover-ups. There have been medical experiments. Child prisoners have come of age. Prisoners have been quietly released. And
Continue readingwmtc: bradley manning support network is asking for our help
If you’re interested in taking part in some activism against the US military and in support of Bradley Manning – without leaving the comfort of home – go here as soon as possible. The Bradley Manning Support Network is trying to get one of most egregious charges against Manning, “Aiding
Continue readingDead Wild Roses: The DWR Sunday Disservice – The Golden Rule Sounds Nice. What’s Your Problem?
All too frequently when the horrible/insane/incoherant practices/beliefes/consequences of religious dogma are pointed out, one hears responses that try to dodge the point rather than address it directly. One of the most common of these dodges takes this approximate shape: “Why do you even bother? It’s not like religious people ever
Continue readingPolitics and its Discontents: The Voice of Labour Roars
Although those in the embrace of neo-liberalism would have us believe that unions and worker solidarity are but a quaint historical artifact, the size of yesterday’s rally in London, Ontario protesting the predatory practices of Catterpillar Inc. suggests otherwise. In response to the company’s attempt to halve the wages of
Continue readingDemocracy Under Fire: Prime Minister Dad
In case you missed itRick Mercer latest “rant” once again says what others,myself included, say in a page full in just a few sentences, and onceagain he is right on the money. RicksRant as broadcast 17,01,2011 Democracyis very messy. In fact on paper it doesn’t even make a heck of alot
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