Why Brigette DePape is more thoughtful than David Akin

Why Brigette DePape is more thoughtful than David Akin

If you don’t know the name, Brigette DePape, you should. She risked, and lost, her job to say what most Canadians believe. Maude Barlow thinks she is “courageous and committed.” Elizabeth May thought that she undertook an act of personal courage. And, importantly, DePape’s press release and other publications are thoughtful and articulate. But my…

More reflections on the G20 and Canada Day
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More reflections on the G20 and Canada Day

It’s mid evening of July 1st, 2010, and I’m just reflecting on my many ambivalent feelings about Canada day. Today, when I reflect on what Canada means, I can’t help but think of police, patriarchy, Harper, poverty, white supremacy, Christian supremacy, gendered violence, oppression and colonization. I think there are good things too. I do….

Coalition governments can play an important part in democracy

Coalition governments can play an important part in democracy

We don’t elect a prime minister here in Canada. We vote in our own constituencies for a representative. Government is usually formed by the party with the most representatives. But sometimes, government is formed by a coalition of parties. No big deal. We elect a parliament, not a particular party. Parliament sorts it out. 1…

Making Tim Ball

Making Tim Ball

This is a story about one of my moments of glory. Some of you know that some years ago I was fundraising for Greenpeace. One particularly cold winter day, I engaged a passerby in a conversation about global warming. The man who stopped to talk was quite charming but he clearly had no sympathy for…

Fossil awards for Harper-Prentice Government
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Fossil awards for Harper-Prentice Government

Jim Prentice and the Harper Government have earned Canada several Fossil Awards for the positions they have been putting forward in negotiations at Copenhagen. Actually, we’re currently leading the scoreboard for total points. Hell. We took first place and second on Friday, December 11. We took Second place for trying to argue that our target…

Bumper stickers

Bumper stickers

Bumper stickers and car magnets are an interesting window into human identities and human values. Generally people aren’t paid to put these kinds of things on their vehicles so we know they’re authentic. And in our culture, a car or truck is a serious reflection of who we are. We’re generally very careful about what…