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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:
Tags: canadian politics, capitalism, crime & punishment, direct action, human rights, media, protest
Is rights-based activism a step in the wrong direction?
It’s the end of October in Montreal. About 20 of us have stepped away from what could be the year’s last sunny autumn evening for an opportunity to hear from one of Canada’s most important elder activists and thinkers. Brewster Kneen is in town to talk about his new book, The Tyranny of Rights (Ram’s Horn, 2009).
I remember gathering not far from this room on McGill’s campus nearly a decade ago when Brewster was on a road show for his previous book, Farmageddon. That book tore a strip off the overhyped biotech industry and laid plain how our government was colluding with companies like Monsanto to dramatically alter our food system for the sake of corporate profit. The room was packed that night – testimony to the mass food movement that had been building across the country – a movement which Brewster played a critical role in shaping.
But now, 10 years later, it’s a much smaller crowd. Those who are gathered are an eclectic bunch, and probably wouldn’t identify with any single movement. The topic this time isn’t food, and the familiar following of food activists is notably absent.
This time, Brewster’s book is about rights. The connection with his previous work is not obvious. Why would Brewster leave the comfort of a blossoming movement for a lonely struggle to take on what he calls “the tyranny of rights?”
Tags: activism, direct action, environment, food politics, human rights
NOTICE: CANADA AND QUEBEC ARE ORCHESTRATING A COUP USING THE SQ TO REPLACE OUR CUSTOMARY CHIEF AND COUNCIL WITH A DISSIDENT GROUP IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF SIGNED AGREEMENTS WITH OUR FIRST NATIONUrgent Request-March 13, 2008
CALL FOR SUPPORT
We are known as the Algonquins of Barriere Lake (also known by our Algonquin name, “Mitchikanibikok Inik”) we are a First Nation community of approximately 500 people, situated in the province of Quebec, 3 hours drive north of Ottawa, Canada.
Tags: Aboriginal/settler relations, canadian politics, direct action, quebec
Call and Write Governor General Michaëlle Jean:
Demand that She Refuse Royal Assent to Secret Trials Bill
BRIEF BACKGROUND AND ACTION ITEM
February 12, 2008 — Following the shameful passage last week in the House of Commons of a new bill that will perpetuate secret trials, two tier justice, indefinite detention without charge, draconian house arrest control orders, and deportation to torture (thanks in large part to Liberal Party cheerleading), the legislation then rapidly moved to the chamber of “sober second thought,” the Senate of Canada.
Yet after hearing from eight hours of witnesses on Monday who unanimously informed a special Senate committee that the secret trials legislation was a human rights disaster that would not survive a court challenge and would condemn the secret trial five, their families, and their communities to many more years of fear and misery, the Liberal-dominated Senate acted more like the chamber of thoughtless, drunken irresponsibility and rushed the bill through on Tuesday, sending it on to the third and final piece of Canada’s Parliament, the office of Governor General Michaëlle Jean.
The Governor General has the power to grant Royal Assent, which makes Acts of Parliament law.
Tags: canadian politics, civil liberties, direct action, take action
By Jeff Halper
Israeli Committee Against Housing Demolitions
January 23, 2008
The people of Palestine have done it again, taking their own fate in their hands after being let down by their own “moderate” political leadership and, indeed, the entire international community in their struggle for freedom. Early this morning they simply blew up the wall separating Gaza from Egypt, breaking a siege imposed on them by an Arab government in collaboration with Israel.
Tags: direct action, Israel/Palestine
Thanks to Marc Spooner for this photo of a sign spotted on the overpass at the intersection of Albert St. and Sask Drive, Regina, on the way to North Central.
As he points out, it’s a perfect advertisement for the functional and economic apartheid that sullies this fine city.
Hard to imagine a more powerful use of political street theatre than this.
Tags: anti-war, direct action
