rabble radio

There's an election, but we say: no depression. Murray Dobbin comes back to rabble radio to shed a bit of light in the electoral darkness. He's a lot more hopeful than last episode! Seriously. Recorded on the eve of the leader's debate, Dobbin talks about the campaign road ahead.

In this podcast: terrifying yet boring — the Canadian election. A new rabble radio contest. Cracking the cover of human books. Fukushima Daichi and alt power. An ode to the ipad deux. Canada is enduring its fourth election in seven years. While the NDP and the Liberal Parties grapple for the vote from the Left, the Conservative Party of Canada is reaching for a majority government. As polls stand now, though, they aren't going to get it. For the NGOs and government watchdogs that have seen their funding go unrenewed under a government dominated by the Conservative Party, that could provide a bit of welcome relief. But voting day isn't here yet. Murray Dobbin is a political commentator and on the board of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. We thought we'd check in with him about what he sees happening in the 2011 election campaign. If I had $1,000, 000. The song is relatively well-known in Canada. But a million dollars sounds like pocket change when you compare it to the 30 BILLION dollars that Canada paid for a few fighter jets not too long ago. So rabble.ca is rewriting the lyrics to the tune, hopefully with some help from you. Tell us what you'd spend 30 billion dollars on and we'll put your suggestions our version of this song. So what do you think? A national Childcare program? Funding for KAIROS? Solar power for the parliament buildings? Internet connectivity in the North? Candy for all? You tell us, and we'll put it in song. You can email billion@rabble.ca with your suggestions, or you can phone them in at 1-360-566-2214. Obviously, we take mp3 files too. Understanding breeds justice. That's the philosophy behind the human books project. The project is open to libraries all over the world. Here's how it works: Library visitors sign out a Human Book, and can ask their book any question they want. The books are volunteers who are willing to answer all kinds of questions about their lives. The Human Book Project recently came to Winnipeg. That's where Noreen Mae Ritsema stopped by the branch, and sat down with the human books there. She asked them what they're sharing and what kinds of questions they're fielding. The first human book she signed out was all about organic farming. Here's part of their discussion. Election aside, all eyes have been on Japan for the last month. The tsunami that swept away hundreds of thousands of people has passed, but the nuclear reactors on the countries east coast are still pumping radiation into the atmosphere and the water. Bottled water shortages and rolling blackouts have become facts of life in cities across the country. rabble.ca's redeye podcast had a few questions about Fukushima-Daiichi, so they called up Gordon Edwards, President of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. At the end of the interview, they talked about what the disaster will mean for the nuclear industry and other power generation options here at home. Here is that part of that conversation. The ipad 2 had only been in Canada a few days when Wayne used it to record a multi-track segment of Online Tools for the 21st century. Wayne says I'm crazy not to own one of these. Here's his column.

In this International Women's Day episode, we hear from Nahla Abdo on the continuing uprisings, and Palestinian Activist Reem Yumis talks about women's role in the current protests. Happy IWD, all! Nahla Abdo is an Arab-Canadian feminist. She took the time to call in her comments about the protests sweeping the Middle East and North Africa. Reem Yumis is a Palestinian Activist. She took spoke to the Asia Pacific Currents podcast about women's role in the continuing uprisings. In this episode of Online tools for the 21st century, Wayne finds two non-google ways to get your queries quelled. It's a Q and A from Wayne, and brought to you by the letter Q. Take it away, MacPhail.

Jase Tanner was in Tahrir square when pro-Mubarak forces came to break up the demonstrations. Code Pink's Medea Benjamin was in another part of the square. In this podcast, we hear their stories.

Tighe Barry was in Cairo as part of a Codepink delegation on its way to Gaza when the protests started. In this special edition of rabble radio, he describes his experience in the protests. By now most people have seen pictures of the pro-democracy protests in Egypt. The government has closed internet and cell phone access in the country. However, peace activist and blogger David Swanson managed to get in touch with one American taking part in the process. Tighe Barry part of activist delegation organized by CODEpink. The group was on its way to Gaza, but had stopped in Cairo when the protests started. Here is Tighe Barry, speaking with David Swanson earlier today.

In this episode of rabble radio: transit police in Vancouver accused of violence, a new report recommends protection for women and girls in Haiti, and Canada's government continues attempts to eject war resisters. Music this episode: Bad Cop. The lawyer working on the case of transit riders facing violence from Vancouver Transit Police talks about the case. You'll be shocked. Wayne's got some new webtools to help you get your photos online fast when it matters most. A report from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights said that the Haitian Government has failed to provide adequate protection for women and girls in those camps. While a ruling might not make a difference, Brian Concannon believes that the report is going to make a difference. He talks about why. The Canadian government is developing more and more complex ways to stop Iraq war resisters from entering Canada. Allyssa Manning is a lawyer for Iraq War Resisters, and she spoke at a Day of Action for Iraq War Resisters. Here's some of what she said. Bad Cop are part of the final installment of a feature on ROIR records, brought to you by The Ruckus. The song is called Daylight.

June Swadron is a successful writing coach, author, and therapist. In this interview with Lyn Thompson from rabble.ca's Living on Purpose podcast, she talks about learning to write about one of her most secret truths, living with bi-polar disorder. The Reel Women have a spy movie for you that you might not have heard of. It is a good one for long winter nights. Loud Fast Rules. It's a rerelease of The Stimulators' 1982 album. And if watching a movie on the couch doesn't get your blood pumping, this song just might: Loud Fast Rules OS Chrome is an operating system for cheap, fast netbooks. And it is coming out later this year, but there is a cheap fast alternative. Wayne MacPhail tells us what it is. Getting more eco-conscious is a new year's goal for many. rabble.ca's Alternatives podcast has an interview to inspire you. Andrew Heintzman is a venture capitalist who's book The New Entrepreneurs: Building a Green Economy For the Future, talks about why the environment and the economy don't need to be at loggerheads.

Velcrow Ripper reports from the Cancun climate summit. A woman living with mental illness and addiction talks about how supportive housing has kept her from dying. Julian Assange's words after being released on bail. The open Internet provides a safe space for feminist ideas. Blogger Amanda Marcotte speaks to the interviewers at The F Word.

Report from the daily podcast from the UN Climate Summit, post-election checkin in Haiti and George Galloway answers tough questions.

Should we be able to criticize war on Remembrance Day, Aung San Suu Kyi — what does her freedom mean, and demanding better food for the poor.