Read this information from Stand For Health Freedom (below) before you form an opinion set in stone. And remember, as Emerson said, “A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds.” Here is my brief letter, sent just now to my local Member of Parliament: Coercing anyone into taking any
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Writings of J. Todd Ring: Know Your Rights, And Exercise Them, Now – Or We Will Lose Them All
Here are some important documents you might want to read, reflect on, save to USB, and share. The Magna Carta – the foundation of Western law and all constitutional rights, signed 800 years ago, and being burned now https://www.bl.uk/magna-carta/articles/magna-carta-english-translation# The US Constitution and Bill of Rights – shredded by the
Continue readingwmtc: family and friends reunion road trip: some things I’ve seen
Seen on many lawns and in many windows: I saw a few in my mother’s senior community, which made me happy. * * * * Seen on a front-yard fence near the Ashland Dog Park: Seen in the approach to every town and city so far: tent encampments. Whole
Continue readingPaul S. Graham: The Nakba Continues – Palestine and Turtle Island
There are many parallels between the struggles of Palestinians and the indigenous peoples of the Americas. Chandni Desai and Ali Abunimah reflect on some of these in this presentation. Chandni Desai teaches at the University of Toronto. Her research and writing focus on Palestinian resistance culture and the politics of
Continue readingwmtc: thoughts on not celebrating canada day #cancelcanadaday
If it wasn’t clear why we should not be celebrating Canada Day this year, by now it should be. Three days after the discovery of 215 skeletons of children were found at the site of a former residential school in Kamloops, the remains of approximately 750 adults and children in
Continue readingPaul S. Graham: Canada’s Mining Industry Bullies
Canadian mining companies dominate the sector in many parts of the world. Largely unregulated, they are able to profit from weak protection for the environment, workers, indigenous peoples and human rights in many countries. Two thirds of the value of Canadian mining assets is overseas, in 96 countries, and the
Continue readingcentre of the universe: Pride
June is Pride month, a time when we recognise some of the glorious human diversity in the world. We celebrate being able to be openly who we are, and specifically, Pride is about remembering the riots in Stonewall in 1969, when LGBTQ+ folks fought police brutality against our community. There
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: I Have A Dream
I Have A Dream: surely, and unquestionably, that great speech by the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., is one of the most important, and most beautiful, uplifting, empowering, ennobling, visionary and inspiring speeches ever given. Listen again to these words. These words were never more relevant than now. Unity
Continue readingViews from the Beltline: Kudos to Maria Ressa
Among the numerous seriously unpleasant men leading countries in the world today, Rodrigo Duterte, president of the Philippines, must be included. Perhaps his most odious policy is his support for the extrajudicial killings of “undesirables.” When mayor of the city of Davao, he was accused by the Philippine Commission on
Continue readingwmtc: topsy-turvy land: u.s. states make protest illegal and driving into protestors legal
It seems that state lawmakers in several U.S. states need a refresher course on the First Amendment. It’s a very simple amendment, really. Amendment I Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the
Continue readingwmtc: george floyd + 1,000 others annually: justice is not possible, but accountability might help
Derek Chauvin, the police officer who murdered George Floyd, was found guilty on all charges. At long last, after millions protested around the country and the world, a police officer was held accountable for murder. Or as one of the memes says, we only had to burn down the country
Continue readingwmtc: wondering what to do with all that privilege and surplus good luck? try #write4rights 2020
Here we are in the middle of a global pandemic, and I feel (to paraphrase my favourite baseball player) like the luckiest person on the face of the earth.* I’m healthy, my partner is healthy, and no one in our extended families has gotten covid. Thanks to my union, and
Continue readingwmtc: robert fisk, rest in power
I was very saddened to hear of the too-young death of Robert Fisk, veteran war journalist, author, and truth-teller. Fisk was often criticized for “politicizing” war reporting, or for not being “objective”. Most war journalists are little more than propaganda mouthpieces for the wealthy countries that invade and
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Wednesday Afternoon Links
Miscellaneous material for your mid-week reading. – Dimitri Lascaris argues that while Donald Trump has lost the presidential election, the unfair society which allowed him to take power in the first place remains. And Susan Delacourt offers her take on the spread of Trumpism to Canada. – The Star’s editorial
Continue readingAccidental Deliberations: Saturday Morning Links
Assorted content for your weekend reading. – Alisha Haridasani Gupta discusses how the anti-mask movement has developed from a culture of toxic masculinity. And Umair Haque points out the economic and cultural factors that have resulted in the U.S. and the UK standing out among wealthy countries in their woeful
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Sundre hospital renamed to honour MP Myron Thompson, long-time foe of equality for same-sex couples
“They’re trying to take away our culture, they’re trying to take away our history,” Donald Trump complained back in 2017 about activists who call for the removal statues of Confederate and colonialist heroes. Mr. Trump’s supporters have been loudly making their agreement known ever since, including here in Alberta where
Continue readingwmtc: international safe abortion day: abortion is healthcare
September 28 is International Safe Abortion Day, a day to reflect on how many women around the world do not have control over their reproduction — that is, do not have control over their lives. Abortion is the sine qua non of women’s liberation. Without the ability to choose whether and
Continue readingWritings of J. Todd Ring: Averting Fascism
Fascism is rising – here is how to avert it. A short video talk, linked below, sparked these thoughts, which I will share. May they bless us with the courage, and the presence of mind, to avert the rising of fascism once again – which, make no mistake, is indeed
Continue readingwmtc: which side are you on: the unprecedented strike by nba players is a watershed moment for justice
First of all, it’s not a boycott. It’s a strike. And a wildcat strike to boot. When the players on the Milwaukee Bucks chose not to play in the NBA playoffs — joined by their baseball counterparts, the Brewers, with other teams quickly following — they became part of a tradition
Continue readingwmtc: the deadliest organized-crime and terrorist enterprise in the history of humanity: the catholic church
In the entire history of human beings on this planet, has there ever been a criminal enterprise more devastating — to as many people, over as long a period of time — as the Catholic Church? The largest empires of the world — Roman, Spanish, Dutch, British, American — lasted
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