rabble radio

Historian Howard Zinn once said that dissent is the highest form of patriotism. In this episode we will hear from a number of dissenters. First, sign of the times. We'll hear how a placard holding woman near parliament hill drew an unwelcome visit from the RCMP. And, a group of folks in Regina, Saskatchewan are resisting private control over their water. Then, an announcement of a different kind of labour union, whose leaders say that their dissenting voices will be heard. And Inter Pares founder Ian Smillie about whether development work is working. In our democracy holding a protest sign is a pretty basic right of freedom of expression. Or is it? Redeye host Jane Williams gets the story from one woman who was stopped by the RCMP for doing just that – holding a sign. Hear the whole interview here. Citizen advocacy group Regina Water Watch has forced a referendum to keep their wastewater facility public. Scott Neigh spoke with activist Jeremy Campbell about the campaign. Hear the whole interview here. Over the labour day weekend a new union was formed in Canada. It is named "Unifor," and it is made up of the members of Canadian Auto Workers union and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union. UNIFOR is now the largest private sector union in Canada. It represents more than 20 sectors. That's over 300 000 workers. The leaders of the new union say UNIFOR will do things differently. Here is Inaugural Unifor President Jerry Dias making the opening statement at his first Unifor press conference. To hear the whole press conference listen here. Does development work? Ian Smilley has some thoughts on the matter. Smiley has been an international development practitioner, consultant, teacher and writer for many years. He has lived and worked in Asia and Africa, was a founder of Inter Pares and Executive Director of CUSO. This month, a new podcast called face 2 face, hosted by David Peck joined the network. Here is David Peck talking with Ian Smilley. Hear the whole interview here. Finally, please support our campaign to put Karl Nerenberg back on the on Parliament Hill beat.

Dateline: Vancouver. 2011. The city's landscape and skyline is rapidly changing. Height restrictions have been removed from Vancouver's historic Chinatown. This change is affecting, among other things, the Night Market., where Chinatown businesses and vendors take their work outdoors and sell their wares every weekend. Fast forward to 2013, and Vancouver's Night Market is 18 years old. It is the only night market in North America, and the changes continue. Co-op Radio's Tanya Hill is capturing the sounds and stories of the new era of the Night Market in a series of short documentaries. Here is the first tasty report. Canada has issues – food security issues. In fact, almost 10 percent of Canadians face challenges when it comes to obtaining healthy food. If Vancouverites can't come to the food, one Vancouver community is taking the food to them. We'll hear from one anti-poverty activist working with a Toronto neighbourhood. They're organizing. Not just to improve their situation but to change the system itself. Movie companies and film festivals spend millions of dollars promoting their films, from ads to product tie-ins. But what if you had a festival where that refused to disclose its film lineup? Spoiler alert: people will line up for the show.

We hear from Onur Bakiner on the situation in Turkey, Chris Hedges on a pending revolution, Henry Giroux on social movements and youth, plus a comic book and the live in care giver program, and troubles with an important psychology book. The world watched this month as protestors in Turkey were met with extremely strong police crackdowns. There were plenty of images of police brutality, but not a lot of information about who was protesting and why. Onur Bakiner, is an Assistant Professor of International Studies at Simon Fraser University. He spoke with Irwin Oostindie about what he sees is going on in Turkey. The United States is on its way to a revolution, according to Chris Hedges. The Pulitzer prize-winning reporter has written and reported around the globe. For his latest project, he traveled to some of America's most economically depressed areas with co-author Joe Sacco, then wrote about what he found. The book is called Days of Destruction, Days of Revolt. The author, educator, journalist and activist to spoke in Ottawa in June at the Southminster United Church. The lecture was hosted by Octopus Books. Dr. Henry Giroux is a world renowned writer and thinker. He has done work in public pedagogy, cultural studies, youth studies, higher education, media studies, and critical theory. He is currently the Global television Network Chair in Communications Studies in Hamilton, Ontario. he is the author of over 50 books including Youth in Revolt: Reclaiming a Democratic Future. Dr. Giroux spoke to Riaz Sayani-Mulji about the Quebec student movement, Occupy and the struggles of youth facing a world made by neoliberalism. The live-in caregiver program in Canada is part of Canada's temporary worker program and has come under fire. There have been many accusations of abuse: Low basic wages, non-stop work schedules, and a lack of freedom for employees. The stories that haven't been told as much is how women are resisting the exploitative structure of the Live-in-Care program and creating community. Toronto based artists Althea Balmes and Jo SiMalaya Alcampo are making comic book in collaboration with workers to tell the stories of how they resisted. The project is called Kwentong Bayan[Kwen ton buy on]: Labour of Love. Marycarl Guiao spoke to the artists. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (or as it is sometimes know as "the DSM") is published by the American Psychiatric Association. The publication of the new DSM-5 this spring has some mental health professionals worried. Brent Dean Robbins is Director of Psychology at Point Park University and co-chair of the International DSM-5 Response Committee. He spoke with Lorraine Chisholm about his concerns with DSM 5, beginning with how important this book is.

We began with an excerpt of an interview with Judy Rebick about Dr. Henry Morgentaler and the impact he had on her and on the pro-choice movement. Franke James is an artist. Her art often focuses on environmental issues, including her concerns about the Tar Sands. Her work got to the attention of the Harper government who pulled her tour funding. We hear her story. It has still got a way to go, but the mental health system in Canada has changed for the better since the 1970s. And it was political organizing by people who had experienced the system that made change happen. Activists lobbied and protested through the 80s. Then, in the 90s they decided they needed to party a little and started a festival called Psychiatric Survivor Pride Toronto. That festival, under a new name, is celebrating its 20th year in 2013 and Talking Radical Radio's Scott Neigh caught up with some festival organizers to talk about its new name and what it means to them. Here are Elizabeth Carvahlo, Jeremiah Bach, Peter and Alisa. Kate Braid has a lot of firsts under her toolbelt. Braid was one of the first women in British Columbia to get her journeyman's carpentry ticket. She was the first woman to join the Vancouver local of the Carpenters' Union. She was also the first woman to run her own construction company in the province. She has a new book out Journeywoman: Swinging a Hammer in a Man's World and the F-Word caught up with Braid to hear about her experiences. Finally, if you enjoy this show please become a supporting member – www.rabble.ca/membership

The hockey playoffs are here and that means it is serious hockey time for a lot of fans across Canada. This episode, we skate past the hockey headlines and instead hear about a women's league in Toronto. Putting a microscope on this question: do you have to be a scientist to do science? Citizen scientists don't think so. If you filed your taxes on time, you'll have time to think about this: A new book argues there is a tax cut scam going on that is hurting us all. Climate Justice advocates say that the fight against the climate crises has to involve other struggles. In this episode, one advocate advocates for direct action.

First we turn to a journey – the journey of Nishiyuu. Aboriginal youth recently trekked over 1,500 kilometers on foot through extreme conditions to promote solidarity and action around the issues facing indigenous peoples. We hear words from Isaac Kawapit also known as the "The White Wizard" and an interview by Lorraine Chisholm from RedEye Radio with Matthew Mukash. So, are you a feminist? What does that even mean? Artist, activist, and educator Kim Crosby says there are many different feminisms. With International Women's Day on March 8th Riaz Sayani –Mulji met with Kim Crosby to talk about feminism, organizing and more. Here's part of their conversation. For this story we turn to Halifax. In the 1960's the municipal government, against the wishes of residents, razed the historic Black settlement of Africville. Now once again there is a struggle over space and community. This time the fight is over what could be a community centre. Talking Radical Radio's Scott Neigh [Ni] spoke with Rev. Rhonda Britton of Cornwallis Street Baptist Church in Halifax, Nova Scotia about the struggle to preserve the closed St. Patrick's-Alexandra school building as a community space. We have just passed the two year anniversary of the Fukushima nuclear power plant disaster. Chie Matsumoto is an anti-nuclear and labour activist in Japan who gave an updated on the situation to Asian Pacific Current's Jiselle Hanna. Finally Bob Wiseman is the man that wrote and peformed our theme song. He also has a new album out and we get to share with you a great song called "The Reform Party at Burning Man."

More than 20 years ago the Tsilhqot'in Nation used blockades and court action to halt plans for clear-cut logging in the heart of their territories. B.C. Justice David Vickers ruled on that case in 2007. His ruling had widespread implications for future consultation, land title, and compensation in land claims cases across Canada. The federal government did not agree with the ruling, and appealed it. Over a decade later, the case is about to be heard at the Supreme Court of Canada. rabble.ca's Redeye called up one of the lawyers for the Tsilhqot'in First Nation. Here is Redeye's Lorraine Chisholm talking to David Rosenberg. Royce White is a professional basketball player. An excellent player. He is also a person with Generalized Anxiety Disorder. The disorder has made it difficult for him to play professional basketball. He says that professional sports could not, or would not, accommodate his mental illness. In a controversial interview, White spoke out about a subtle war between the business of professional sports and the health of the players. Nathan Kalman-Lamb is an academic who writes about social inequality and sports. He says that White's activist statement makes him the most important athlete since Muhammad Ali. rabble.ca's Progressive Voices podcast interviewed Kalman-lamb. Here's their conversation. This one is for all of Canada, except Toronto. Maybe you heard a loud groan coming from that big city. You heard it when the Chair of Toronto's Parks and Environment committee, Councillor Norm Kelley, claimed that he didn't accept the scientific consensus on climate change. Soon after, at a climate justice rally, rabble's John Bonnar caught up with another city councillor, who is also an environmentalist. Gord Perks was glad to talk about the challenges facing Toronto around the climate crisis. Here's their conversation. Finally, we finish, as we all must, with death. More specifically, how we deal with death. Pashta Marrymoon is one person who provides alternatives to modern palliative care practices. She calls herself a "death midwife." Marymoon spoke with Lynn Thompson on changing the death journey and began by explaining what is meant by the term "death midwife."

Judy Rebick is a long-time activist, writer, broadcaster and founding publisher of rabble.ca. Not only has she been part of social movements for years, she has written and taught extensively on the topic. She's been an avid participant and analyst of the Idle No More movement in Canada. And she recently joined rabble.ca editor Derrick O'Keefe, who hosts a program called W2 Media Mornings on Coop Radio 100.5FM in Vancouver. Here's part of their conversation. Union of B.C. Indian Chief's Grand Chief Stewart Phillip also appeared on the program, and Jahanzeb Hussain took on some of that interview. Political Science professor David McNally has monsters on the mind. In his new book Monsters of the Market Zombies, Vampires, and Global Capitalism (published by Haymarked) McNally draws on popular culture, folklore and literature to better account for our understanding of capitalism and labour. Whatever you do, don't turn out the lights when listen in to his conversation with Ali Mustafa. Madeline Schwartz wrote a piece for Dissent Magazine entitled Opportunity Costs: The True Price of Internships. In the article, she said that a feminist perspective is needed to understand internships. Then Rabble.ca podcast Feminist Current called her up. Here is Madeline Schwartz in conversation with Feminist Current host Meghan Murphy. Human trafficking is recognized as a modern day version of slavery. It has a tremendous impact on the poor. But human trafficking affects all of us, not just the people directly involved. Lila Shahani made that point as part of a lecture about human trafficking in a Phillipine, Canadian, and Global Context at the University of British Columbia this month. Shahani is the Assistant Secretary at the National Anti-Poverty Commission and the Human Development & Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster of the Philippine Government. Remember to please support shows like this at: rabble.ca/donate.

Clayton Thomas-Muller and Keira-Dawn Kolson on climate change and climate justice, Joanne Dallaire discusses Attawapiskat, and Deb Singh on resisting violence against women. Please support rabble.ca during our donation drive! You can support right here! Idle No More. That's the slogan under which Aboriginal groups across Canada are rallying for social justice and indigenous sovereignity. As thousands rally across Canada, Attawapiskat Chief Theresa Spence is entering the second week of a hunger strike. She it attempting to get a meeting with the Prime Minister to talk about substandard housing and other issues on Attawapiskat. Last year, Meagan spoke with Joanne Dallaire, an educator and healer from Attawapiskat about how we should all be responding to the crises in First Nations communities across Canada. In late October this year 1000 youth from across the Canada participated in a climate justice conference in Ottawa called Powershift 2012. The goal of the conference? To train a generation of climate justice activists so they can work to usher in a clean energy revolution. Clayton Thomas-Muller is an indigenous and environmental justice activist. Who has been organizing grassroots efforts to create environmental change for a decade. He is currently working with the Indigenous Environmental Network. When he took the podium at Powershift 2012, he spoke about what climate justice means. Another speaker at the Powershift 2012 Conference was Keira-Dawn Kolson. Her community has faced pipelines, water shortages, changing climate and a dwindling supply of their traditional food supply: caribou. At the opening of the Powershift conference, the multi-disciplinary artist, motivational speaker, singer-songwriter, leader, dreamer and educator spoke about how her community has been affected by resource development. December 6th in Canada is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. It is also known as White Ribbon Day. The National Day of Remembrance and Action was established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada to mark the anniversary of the 1989 murders of 14 young women at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal. The victims in the shooting were killed by one man who called them feminists before he shot them. This year on December 6, an event called Speaking Up was held in Toronto. Toronto City Councillor Mike Layton spoke about his work organizing against gender-based violence, in particular with the White Ribbon Campaign an organization which aims to prevent men's violence against women. Also presenting at the event was Deb Singh. Singh is a survivor and an activist. She's a counsellor with the Toronto Rape Crisis Centre: Multicultural Women Against Rape. At speak up, she addressed the role of language and its relationship to violence in our culture.

Ali Abunimah is a journalist and the founder of the electronic intifada. That's an independent online news publication and educational resource focusing on Palestine, its people, politics, culture and its place in the world. In the days after the recent ceasefire in Gaza, he joined rabble.ca's Redeye podcast to share his viewpoint on the conflict and the ceasefire. Host Mordecai Briemberg began by asking him about why he thought Israel attacked. An international boycott of businesses profiting from illegal Israeli settlements is needed. Dr. Richard Falk made that assertion in a report to the United Nations this October. His recommendation for a boycott led Canada, the United States, and Israel to call for his resignation. Dr. Falk is a professor emeritus of International Law at Princeton. He is also the special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian Territories for the UN. And Dr. Falk has not resigned. rabble.ca's Redeye podcast has been covering the conflict in Gaza over the last month, and they invited him to join them on their podcast. Here he is, explaining why he made the call for a boycott. You've had a few weeks to recover from the U. S. presidential election coverage. It's safe now to pull your fingers out of your ears as the 24-hour-a-day horse-race coverage is thankfully over. Now is the time for a little more reasoned coverage. Kevin MacKay is a professor of social sciences at Mohawk College, and executive director of the Skydragon Co-operative is a non-profit worker-coop dedicated to the goals of progressive social and environmental change. Here he is, speaking with Riaz Sayani-Mulji from rabble.ca's Progressive Voices Podcast about the difference between the parties. Rape jokes, creepshots, and a slut memes about 12 year olds. They're all there on Facebook. Talk about Facebook privacy concerns abounds in the media. But there's not much in the news how the site deals with misogyny. Soraya Chemaly writes for Alternet, Fem 2.0, The Feminist Wire, and the Huffington Post, which is where she took on Facebook's failure to shut down misogynist posts and pages. Here she is on rabble.ca's Feminist Current podcast, after host Meghan Murphy asked about when she first noticed Facebook's misogyny problem. It comes up in many conversations about feminism. This comment: "I'm not a feminist, I'm a humanist." But what if a person could be a feminist AND a humanist? It's a radical thought. Dr. Sikivu Hutchinson is one person who believes that it is both possible, and necessary. She calls it radical humanism. Hutchison is the founder of the Black Skeptics Los Angeles and a senior fellow with the Institute for Humanist Studies. The F Word collective invited Dr. Hutchinson onto their podcast to talk about faith, feminism and radical humanism. When rabble radio produced our 100th episode, we thought it would be a good idea to check in with a centenarian. Anne McPhee was 100 at that time, and she graciously agreed to talk with me about her life and the changes a century had brought to Nova Scotia. Anne McPhee died this month. She was 103. McPhee was well-known in Nova Scotia. She had a head for business and for years she ran a clothing store in Mulgrave. Here she is, talking about changes to the business and life in the Maritimes.