Single Issues

	August 2008: Olympics, anti-racism, despair, etc. From an investigation of the impact of the Olympics on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside to an exploration of Buddhism’s looming schism, from an in-depth look at the confrontational tactics of anti-racist activism in urban Alberta to Derrick Jensen’s thoughts on the liberatory potential of despair, this issue of Briarpatch seeks out tales of grace and courage in the unlikeliest of places. . More Details table of contents features the two buddhas By Don Sawyer A philosophical storm has been brewing (in its quiet, Buddhist way) in sanghas, meditation groups, magazine articles, and monasteries across the continent. ‘it’s tremendous fun to fight back’ Dave Oswald Mitchell interviews Derrick Jensen In the struggle between civilization & the planet, which side are you on? going dutch: reflections on nation, race & privilege By Sadiqa Khan Claiming to be Dutch, I’ve found, can draw out something ugly lurking below the surface of an interaction. When I suspect its presence, I say Dutch. scars are the new diamonds (poem) By Daniel Scott Tysdal The dystopian future of bleeding-heart consumerism gaming the system By Christopher A. Shaw The Olympics vs. Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. fighting fire with fire By Ava McDougall The strategy & tactics of anti-racist organizing in Alberta. . departments letter from the editor Drinking deeply from a half-empty cup letters to the editor Settler Treaty Card response, decolonizing the classroom reviews William Marsden’s Stupid to the Last Drop: How Alberta is bringing environmental armageddon to Canada (and doesn’t seem to care) Reviewed by Lorne Brown Jim Harding’s Canada’s Deadly Secret: Saskatchewan uranium & the global nuclear system Reviewed by Bernadette Wagner quotes from the underground James Baldwin, Ward Churchill, Slavoj Zizek, Ta-tanka Yotanka (Sitting Bull), Nicholas Johnson, Henry Adams & John Pilger parting shots Manufacturing a Crisis: Organized labour & the Canadian auto industry. By Bruce Allen luz: girl of the knowing “Local-motive” by Claudia Dávila $4.95
	June/July 2008: Indigenous/settler relations Starting from the belief that all Canadians bear a responsibility to work for justice in indigenous/settler relations, Briarpatch assesses the sorry state of this troubled relationship and the emerging prospects for change. From examining the genocidal legacy of Canada’s Indian Residential Schools policy to seeking an antidote to teen suicide in the Mohawk cultural resurgence in Tyendinaga, Briarpatch calls for indigenous and settler activists alike to make common cause in the struggle to decolonize this land. More Details table of contents features learning from the land By Sylvia Smith & Evan Thornton Towards a pedagogy of the colonized ‘we can no longer be sacrificed’ By Lori Theresa Waller First Nations resistance to tar sands development is growing stone by stone, rail by rail By Jonah Gindin What does the Mohawk cultural resurgence at Tyendinaga have to teach us about Aboriginal youth suicide prevention? healing begins when the wounding stops By Ward Churchill Indian Residential Schools and the prospects for “truth & reconciliation” in Canada ‘listen, take direction & stick around’ By Zainab Amadahy A roundtable discussion of relationship building in indigenous solidarity work. the settler treaty card By Tyler McCreary & Dave Oswald Mitchell “You can’t live here without it!TM” departments letter from the editor Forging a new relationship letters to the editor Lost magazine, McIvor fund, homeschooling luz: girl of the knowing “Petrol Prophet” by Claudia Dávila review: Taiaiake Alfred’s Wasáse: Indigenous Pathways of Action and Freedom Reviewed by Brent Erickson quotes from the underground: Leonard Peltier, Anna Mae Pictou Aquash, Sitting Bull, Gitxsan Sm’oogyet, Subcomandante Marcos, Vine Deloria, Jr., Lame Deer, and Taiaiake Alfred parting shots Atoning for the sins of the parents: Thoughts on living with colonial legacies. By Na’cha’uaht (Cliff Atleo, Jr.) $4.95
	The May 2008 issue: Money & Debt With Canadians’ debt levels at record highs and the U.S. economy in the midst of a massive housing/credit deflation, Briarpatch takes a sorely needed critical, radical look at the politics of money and debt in this issue. From exposing the spectre of diabolical materialism to offering “concrete” investment strategies and tools for getting out of debt, from profiling alternative currencies to outlining the options for conscientious objection to military taxation, Briarpatch puts its money where its mouth is. More Details table of contents features das crapital By Don Sawyer A spectre is haunting the suburbs of North America -- the spectre of diabolical materialism! freedom 25 By Calvin Neufeld One couple's quest to achieve financial independence in the first quarter-century. debt cemetery By Geordie Gwalgen Dent Will the carnage in the U.S. housing & credit crises spread northward? 'weird money' (a tale of two currencies, part I) By Shayna Stock Making friends with the Saugeen Trading Community. trading favours (a tale of two currencies, part II) By Erin Mulligan Calgary Dollars in action. not in my name, not on my dime By Jan Slakov Conscientious objectors to military taxation make the connections between taxes & war. 4 reasons to get out of debt & 9 ways to do it By Dave Oswald Mitchell We've become a nation of debt slaves -- so what are we going to do about it? departments letter from the editor The politics of debt film review The rising interest in debt: a review of In Debt We Trust and Money as Debt. By Brent Erickson quotes from the underground from Edward Abbey, Eduardo Galeano, Alan Stang, Saint Jerome, Stan Goff, Saul Alinsky, Bill Rees & Georg Lukacs parting shots A concrete investment plan By Kubate Baba Edward luz: girl of the knowing "Tiny Beginnings": Claudia Dávila's peak oil comic. $4.95
	The March/April 2008 issue: Gender & sexuality In this issue, Briarpatch embarks on a decidedly anti-essentialist exploration of gender politics, covering everything from feminist homeschooling to feminist porn to partiarchy’s harmful effects on men’s health. Grounding our analysis in a revolutionary feminist approach that seeks to involve people from across the gender spectrum in this discussion, this issue challenges all our readers to take responsibility for their gender politics. More Details table of contents features won't get schooled again By Becky Ellis Feminist home-schoolers are creating new ways of living & learning. any Indian woman marrying any other than an Indian, shall cease to be an Indian by Barbara Barker & Tyler McCreary Sharon McIvor's fight for gender equality in the Indian Act. strange bedfellows Nikko Snyder interviews Chanelle Gallant How feminism & porn get it on at the Feminist Porn Awards. what progress for Afghan women? by Michael Skinner The use & abuse of feminism to sell Canada's war in Afghanistan warlords to the left of me, druglords to the right Asad Ismi interviews Malalai Joya Afghan Member of Parliament Malalai Joya is stuck in the middle with Canada. finding his better half By Calvin Sandborn The Boy Code & the modern man--adapted from the first chapter of Sandborn's book Becoming the Kind Father: A Son's Journey a heroine's herstory By Norman G. Walker The legacy of Harriet Tubman departments letter from the editor Gender politics in theory & practice reviews Getting Off: Pornography & the End of Masculinity Reviewed by Nikko Snyder Alpizar Duran, Payne & Russo's Building Feminist Movements & Organizations: Global Perspectives Reviewed by Jen Peirce quotes from the underground from Adam Hochschild, Sunera Thobani, Lisa Jervis, bell hooks, Crimeth.Inc, Sarah van Gelder & Doug Pibel, Paul Goodman & the Red Sunshine Gang parting shots Criminalizing the sex trade does sex workers no favours by A. E. Franzen luz: girl of the knowing Claudia Dávila's peak oil comic. $4.95
	The February 2008 issue In this issue, Briarpatch’s intrepid contributors “go Dutch” to make the case for cannabis coffeeshops in Canada, brave the front-line violence of Guatemala’s recent elections, mark the 10th anniversary of the Mine Ban Treaty with South Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia, assess the fighting words of shock troops Jeremy Scahill and Naomi Klein, and still make it home in time for dinner. More Details table of contents features retracing our steps By Dariusz Dziewanski South Sudanese refugees prepare to return home, while landmine activists mark the 10th anniversary of the Ottawa Treaty. a dover with two right wings by Simon Granovsky-Larsen The story behind the power struggles in the 2007 Guatemala elections. da's toch dope, man! The Dutch drug decriminalization debate moves to the "back door". liquid assets by Brent Erickson Rights vs. needs & the trickly-down economics of water privatization remembering Maria Fischer by Edith Mountjoy A Briarpatch alumnus reflects on the lasting contribution of the magazine's founding editor. Journey departments letter from the editor reviews Jeremy Scahill's Blackwater Reviewed by Jon Elmer Naomi Klein's The Schock Doctrine Reviewed by Roger Annis quotes from the underground parting shots The CLC stands poised to take a stand against asbestos by Bob Sass luz: girl of the knowing Claudia Dávila's peak oil comic. $4.95
	The December 2007/January 2008 Issue - Trail-blazing In this issue, Briarpatch reflects on a coast-to-coast tour of intentional communities, contracts malaria on the Thai-Burma border, takes a critical look at the colour of environmentalism in Canada, investigates the recent introduction of genetically modified yeast into Canadian wine, and more. More Details table of contents features trail-blazing By Shayna Stock & Dominique Fenton Notes from a cross-Canada community roadtrip. blind drunk by Aruna Handa What the label on a Canadian wine bottle doesn't tell you. malaria as a weapon of war By Robert Semeniuk A veteran photojournalist reports on the daily struggles of life on the Thai/Burma border. 'green' prospects by Tyler McCreary Exploring the conflicting priorities between environment & development in B.C.'s northwest. green is not the only colour by Beenash Jafri & Karen Okamoto Two activists reflect on the state of anti-racist environmentalism in Canada. departments letter from the editor luz: girl of the knowing Episodes 1-3 of a peak oil comic by Claudia Davila reviews Canada in Afghanistan: The war so far Reviewed by Richard Alan Leach quotes from the underground parting shots New Government, Old Problems: New expectations weigh heavily on Saskatchewan's new government by Paul Beingessner $4.95
	The November 2007 Issue - Precarious Work The concept of precarity has emerged in recent years as a useful description of daily life under neo-liberal globalization, as well as a potential banner for uniting various movements in the fight against it. This issue of Briarpatch dives into the shallow end of the labour pool to investigate the increasingly precarious nature of work in Canada, and highlights a number of sites of struggle where workers are beginning to challenge this growing precarity. More Details table of contents special focus on Canada's invisible workforce building 'the World's Most Flexible Workforce' By Karl Flecker A critical analysis of Canada's Foreign Worker Program. voices from the front lines By Don Kossick & Rosa Kouri Profiling three sites of struggle against precarious work in Canada. free trade's refugees By Martha Jane Robbins Why the U.S. immigration debate - & Canada's Mexican workforce - have everything to do with NAFTA. bikes without borders By Carrie Sinkowski What do Fred Eaglesmith, a rape crisis centre & an anti-poverty group have in common? Bike safety for migrant workers, that's what. out of their labours By Adam Perry An intimate glimpse into the lives of some of Canada's migrant workers. features 'each day of our lives is dedicated to surviving' By Aaron Lakoff The harsh realities of life on welfare in Quebec. enough to live on by Jim Mulvale Why a guaranteed income system would benefit both the people & the planet. working for a ban By Bob Sass Canada continues to export asbestos to the Global South while insisting it can be handled safely. What gives? departments letter from the editor reviews Workplaces That Work: A Guide to Conflict Management in Union & Non-Union Work Environments Reviewed by Patricia W. Elliott The Deserter's Tale: The Story of an Ordinary Soldier Who Walked Away from the War in Iraq Reviewed by Ken Sailor quotes from the underground parting shots Seizing the Advantage: Making the Supreme Court collective bargaining ruling work for working people by Roger Couvrette $4.95
	The September/October 2007 Issue - Mental Health It’s the great paradox of our time: poverty makes us more susceptible to mental illness, while affluence drives us to depression. Exploring these topics and many more, Briarpatch takes a fresh and fearless look at the state of our mental health in an age of growing inequality. More Details table of contents features 101 things to do before you die An interview with Kate Bornstein Tracey Mitchell discusses tame & extreme alternatives to suicide with gender outlaw Kate Bornstein. the social sources of madness by J. F. Conway Why neoliberalism is making us crazy. ideas, dreams, struggles & vision An interview with Tania Willard Briarpatch talks to Vancouver artist Tania Willard about the "Crazymaking" exhibit of art by young First Nations artists? "le monde a bicyclette" By Mike Ford Canadian folk musician Mike Ford pays tribute to the legacy of activist Tooker Gomberg. buying happiness By Peter Dodson Having more stuff doesn't make us any happier. the journey back to where I began By Stanford Sinclair Adopted into a white family at the age of one, First Nations author Stanford Sinclair makes peace with the past. departments letter from the editor reviews Psyched Out: Why Bush's mental health isn't the point Reviewed by Tracey Mitchell Sounding the Pharma Alarm Reviewed by Angela Bischoff quotes from the underground parting shots I, Mutant: Learning to use my dangerous gifts by Sascha Scatter $4.95
	The August 2007 Issue - Urban Guerrilla Art Cover story: Guerrilla Traffic Control: Using public art to stick it to car culture Also in this issue: Haiti’s political prisoners; how the ethanol craze will suck us dry; the one-state solution for Israel/Palestine; a critical look at the “naturals” industry, and more… More Details table of contents features alternative routes By Shayna Stock & Dominique Fenton Kicking off a coast-to-coast search for intentional community. justice denied By Chris Scott Investigating the links between Haiti's political prisoners & Canadian development dollars. guerrilla traffic control By Michelle Deines Using public art to stick it to car culture. the one-state solution By Hassan Husseini An interview with scholar & activist Joel Kovel on overcoming Zionism & the prospects for justice in Israel/Palestine. bursting the ethanol bubble By Larry Powell Making the case against food-based fuels. naturally suspicious By Cristina Bianchi-Melchin Does the rise of the "naturals" industry represent a small step in the right direction, or a toxic distraction from a much larger problem? departments letter from the editor reviews Unrepentent: Kevin Annett & Canada's Genocide Reviewed by Brent Erickson A Great Restlessness: The Life & Politics of Dorise Nielsen Reviewed by Ruth Latta quotes from the underground parting shots Dinner Plate Ethics: In defence of killing your own food by Joe Schmutz $4.95
	The June/July 2007 Issue - Media Propaganda, gutted newsrooms and grassroots alternatives: In this issue, Briarpatch exposes the Canadian Armed Forces’ battle for Canadian hearts and minds, tunes into community radio, takes a hard look at the “labour of love” that is alternative journalism, and more. More Details table of contents features community radio & the frequency of struggle By Sharmeen Khan Challenges & opportunities on Canadian airwaves. propafghanda By Antony Fenton The battle for Canadian hearts & minds: If maintaining Canada's Afghan occupation requires a "perception war" on Canadian soil, then are Canadians now the enemy? the power of imaginative media By Ashley Walters Film, TV & video games and their real-world consequences. covering fallujah By Andrew Kenais The silence from North American newsrooms was deafening as the bombs fell on Fallujah. better zine than herd By Tracey Mitchell Personal and political revolutions in do-it-yourself media. love's labour lost By Nicole Cohen Why labouring for love in the alternative press is no alternative at all. deep integration buried deep in the back pages By Lori Waller Citizens' groups want to make an issue out of the North American Security & Prosperity Partnership - but will the media bite? departments letter from the editor reviews Viva Zapatero! Reviewed by Melanie Redman and Phillip Smith quotes from the underground parting shots Can social media be a tool for social change? by Murray Dobbin $4.95
	The May 2007 Issue Bolivia's social revolution, nuclear power's 800-generation gamble, the dirty truth about bottled water, getting tough on "tough on crime," the high price of Colombian coal, images of post-war Lebanon and more. More Details table of contents features tough luck By Dawn Moore & Diana Young Does getting "tough on crime" work? Challenging the dangerous popularity of heavy-handed justice. out of the frying pan, into the fire By Jim Harding There are many reasons to oppose the nuclear industry. Here are five of the most compelling. bolivia rising By Jorge Uzon Documenting the challenges and hopes of Bolivians through President Evo Morales's first year in power. from the rubble By Jon Elmer Images and words from a war-torn Lebanon. coal comfort in an upside-down world By Chris Arsenault Canadian homes are powered by the world's biggest open-pit coal mine, and Columbian farmers are paying the price. tapped resources By Ashley Walters The dirty truth about bottled water: how private companies are profiting from public concern about water quality. departments letter from the editor "Men's rights" and the political uses of victimhood letters to the editor review: Bleeding AfghanistanReviewed by Richard Allan Leach quotes from the underground: parting shots The Agricultural Emperor Has No Clothes! By Paul Beingessner $4.95