Toronto-based photographer Ian Willms captured some very compelling images from the G20 protests — full of raw emotion, ugly contradiction and creative beauty. These photos offer a much richer and more textured perspective of the protests than you’ll get from any mainstream news source.

Check them out here:

http://www.ianwillms.com/g20.html

By Joyce Green and Darlene Jushka
Rabble.ca

On March 23, 16 University of Regina professors, including us, signed a letter to our president, Dr. Vianne Timmons, asking that she review her decision to join the U of R to “Project Hero.”

We wrote: “In our view, support for ‘Project Hero’ represents a dangerous cultural turn. It associates ‘heroism’ with the act of military intervention. It erases the space for critical discussion of military policy and practices.”

What followed was a media feeding frenzy that mostly misrepresented our position, and a week of the worst sort of national attention for us and for the university. Despite several of us doing numerous interviews, most media focussed on the erroneous notion that our opposition is to soldiers being considered heroes and to parentless children being given education assistance.

Those of us who signed the letter have been subjected to virulent hate mail and argument by decibels and epithet. The language of many of our critics would make a stevedore blush and a grammarian wince. Always helpful, local Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski poured gas on the fire at every media opportunity, repeating his claim that we oppose help for the bereaved and honour for the dead and demanding our public apology (boiling oil not being available) for something we didn’t say and didn’t intend.

It seems that some of his fellow travellers have created Facebook groups to maintain that focus and invite people to put pressure on us and on our university. We could be pardoned for thinking that much of the furore has political fingerprints all over it.

On Sunday evening, the local CTV news again ran the story, framing it on our alleged opposition to calling dead soldiers “heroes,” with Lukiwski as the talking head, again demanding an apology from us.

What to do? Well, as one elder advised one of us, “Stand firm. Repeat your message. You’ve argued for peace your whole life.”

Here goes, one more time:

Our objection to the Project Hero program arises from its language, which we think glorifies war. We object to its adoption without institutional discussion. It has financial and political implications for our university, as universities contribute tuition and scholarship monies and, in so doing, sign on to the notion of war as heroic. We think war is a problem to be solved, preferably by diplomacy and peace.

We also note that the federal government can, and does, provide for education assistance for families of soldiers; we have no problem with that.

The benefits listed in the “Children of Deceased Veterans Education Assistance Act C-28″ provide for additional educational expenses beyond tuition. Although the act should be consulted for the most accurate information, the Veteran Affairs Canada website provides a quick summary:

“We have a program to help children carry on with their education past high school if they have a CF parent who dies as a result of military service; or was pensioned at a medium or high level at the time of his or her death.

“Under the program, full-time students can qualify for grants of about $6,700 a year to help pay for their education and living expenses. This amount may change over time to allow for increases in the cost of living.

“To qualify for the program, students must be under the age of 30 and attend a post-secondary school in Canada. Former students who went to school after 1995 can also apply to have some of their education costs reimbursed.”

There was no policy gap and no need for “Project Hero.” We continue to think our university should not adopt a program that effectively endorses the glorification of wars — one of which now is in Afghanistan. Some of us consider that imperialism. That word bothered a lot of people.

We think it fits, but surely, the difference of opinion can be tolerated. After all, Malalai Joya, an Afghan woman politician in the current government, considers Canadian troops as unwelcome imperialists, and wants the troops to leave.

We also think that now, when the U of R is rationalizing its budget, when tuition fees are going up, following the recent provincial budget, when First Nations University is fighting for its financial life against an indifferent federal government — surely, now, we can argue that all of our students are worthy of funding.

One of our concerns with the language of “Project Hero” is that such language normalizes militarism, and shuts down democratic and academic space for discussion. Our experience proves us right.

Joyce Green and Darlene Juschka are professors at the University of Regina; Green in political science and Juschka in women and gender studies, and religious studies.

A great new video from our comrades at Making the Links radio:

Voices of Union - Voices of Young Workers - A compelling short documentary about the importance of unions to young workers. This video documentary shows not only why young workers want to be unionized, but also the challenges of involving young workers in the labour movement -  how they could be the new leadership incorporating their hopes and concerns.

A report by Macdonald Stainsby and Dru Oja Jay

Download the report at http://www.offsettingresistance.ca

A movement is building to shut down the tar sands, one of the most destructive projects in human history. Decisions are being made about the strategies that will be used and the goals that will be pursued.

But as the number of people opposing the tar sands grows larger, the number of people making the crucial decisions is getting smaller — and closer to the oil and gas industry.

A small, secretive group of insiders has been collaborating with large American foundations and industry to concentrate decision-making power concerning anti-tar sands campaigns. Headed by Michael Marx, one of the architects of the Great Bear Rainforest deal in northwestern British Columbia, these groups have a track record and a documented trail of funding relationships that steer them–whether they intend to or not–into closed-door, backroom deals with industry and government.

The lack of transparency, the absence of any democratic structures, the questionable sources of funding, and the track record of these corporate and foundation-funded Environmental NGOs are the subjects of a new report by Macdonald Stainsby and Dru Oja Jay. Offsetting Resistance: The effects of foundation funding from the Great Bear Rainforest to the Athabasca River examines the role of ForestEthics and other Environmental NGOs in the Great Bear Rainforest deal and in the Northwest Territories Protected Areas Strategy. From there, it reveals the hidden structures behind the emerging “North American Tar Sands Coalition,” which seeks to keeps its decision-making body “invisible to the outside,” while funnelling millions of dollars to its preferred groups — to the potential detriment and sidelining of community organizers across North America.

“After researching the history of these foundation-driven organizations,” says report co-author Macdonald Stainsby, “the thing that stands out is the repeated use of temporary structures where transparency and democratic input is non-existent. Worse, funding may be used to force a specific agenda on the communities who are at immediate risk from tar sands extraction.”

“The other thing we found,” adds Stainsby, “is that the communities who win battles with industry tend to do so despite the work of these groups.”

“We’re at an important point,” says report co-author Dru Oja Jay, “where we have to decide what kind of anti-tar sands movement we’re going to build.”

“We can choose to become beholden to secret puppet-masters, funded by massive American foundations and industry, or we can choose a process that’s accountable to the communities who are fighting for their lives, a process that’s democratic and transparent.”

“Everything depends on which way it goes,” Jay adds. “We’re trying to provide relevant information so that people can make informed decisions. Will money be used to silence more critical voices, or will grassroots initiatives be placed at the forefront of the struggle?”

–

For more information or interviews, contact: info@offsettingresistance.ca

Chris Shaw’s Briarpatch articles about the Olympics:

Christopher A. Shaw and Alissa Westergard-Thorpe, “Class War Games: The financial and social cost of securing the 2010 Olympics“, May/June 2009

Christopher A. Shaw, “Olympic Profits: The 2010 Games vs. Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside,” August 2008

Rafe Mair’s apology:

Chris Shaw Was Right!

My apologies to the early 2010 critic, now stalked by cops. He tried to tell me the Olympics were a bad bet.

By Rafe Mair, Oct,. 18, TheTyee.ca

Check out this powerful visualization of the impact of the great recession (and of Hurricane Katrina).

(Don’t forget to push play.)

Stephen Harper’s assertion last Friday that Canada has “no history of colonialism” has attracted widespread anger and ridicule. Calls for a retraction and apology (not to mention for Canada to finally sign the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples) continue to build:

Harsha Walia, “Really Harper, Canada has no history of colonialism?”

Jorge Barrera, “Prime Minister needs to apologize for colonialism denial: Native groups.”

By Raquel Brown, Media Consortium Blogger

Green jobs czar and racial justice advocate Van Jones resigned from his position as environmental adviser to the White House over Labor Day weekend. Many believe that Jones’ departure is a significant setback in environmental policy, racial equity, and another reminder that pundits can destroy credibility with very little ammunition in today’s political climate. Fox News host Glenn Beck and several Republican Congressmen criticized Jones for “controversial” past activism and called for him to step down. Jones was particularly smeared for signing a petition that requested more information on the 9/11 attacks and a derogatory comment toward Republicans, both of which he apologized for publicly.

Jones’ commitment to a sustainable environment and a green economy was especially influential on progressive youth. Kristina Rizga of Wiretap explains that Jones’ vision really resonated with young people from marginalized communities and encouraged them to get involved. Additionally, Jones played a key role in ensuring that underprivileged Americans reaped the benefits of clean energy investments and green jobs training initiatives in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“Jones—the first African-American to write a best-selling environmental book—helped inspire these hard-to-reach communities. It’s hard to think of another individual on the Hill who spent as much time talking and listening to disenfranchised youth,” Rizga writes.

But would Jones still have his job if the Obama administration had stood up for him? In a strong piece for The Nation, John Nichols argues that Obama succumbed to the media, and “in so doing, allowed Glenn Beck to define the administration.” Jones signified that Obama was dedicated to green jobs and protecting the environment. Without Jones, however, those objectives may never be realized.

“This won’t make the Obama presidency stronger; nor will it position the president to work more effectively with Congress on issues such as health care reform – let alone “green jobs” initiatives,” says Nichols.

Air America’s Beau Friedlander calls Jones’ resignation an example of “mutually assured distraction;” another attempt for partisans to take down their opponents’ point man over a non-issue. This infantile and baseless behavior shifts lawmakers attention away from important issues at hand, such as the climate change bill, economic recovery and health care reform. Friedlander characterizes Van Jones as someone who  is “100% committed to creating the conditions for an improvement in society. He is dedicated to progress, and solution-oriented activism. He is a team player. He knows how to follow the leader, and how to be the leader.”

While many see his departure as a deep loss, Don Hazen of AlterNet has “5 Reasons Why Van Jones and Progressives are Better Off with Jones Out of the White House.” First, Jones was an unsung hero for the environment and progressive activism. Now, he is a household name, and has increased his visibility and influence. Second, Hazen argues that Jones’ position limited his scope of influence. By stepping down, Jones was rescued from obscurity. Third, Jones can now help lead and shape the progressive movement. Fourth, Jones is now free to express his views and speak the truth, something he was criticized for while in the White House. And lastly, Jones can now provide real vision, explain his ideas and mobilize people to curb climate change. Ultimately, Jones’ fame will outshine any controversy or scandal. Hazen remains confident that this situation will only make Jones a stronger and more effective leader.

Finally, to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks today, President Obama called for a national day of service on major legislative issues. Wiretap’s Jamilah King notes that environmental organizations like Green for All and Green the Block are sponsoring events that promote green jobs and climate justice.

The message is clear: Van Jones’ resignation will not intimidate us from working towards important environmental endeavors. We must use this “opportunity to reinvigorate the movement toward equitable and economically sustainable green jobs.”

This post features links to the best independent, progressive reporting about the environment and is free to reprint. Visit Sustain.NewsLadder.net for a complete list of articles on the environment and sustainability, or follow us on Twitter. And for the best progressive reporting on critical economy, health, and immigration issues, check out Economy.NewsLadder.net, Healthcare.NewsLadder.net and Immigration.newsladder.net.

This is a project of The Media Consortium, a network of 50 leading independent media outlets, and was created by NewsLadder.

Illustrator Nick Crane, whose brilliant artwork regularly grace the pages of Briarpatch (he’s produced cover art for the Nov/Dec 2008 & the Sept/Oct 2009 issues), has just launched a “drawing-a-day” blog. Check it out — today’s piece on Curious George (Goorge?) is great.