Repeat after me: Roméo Dallaire is not progressive. And paying Dallaire to speak at your meeting does not further the cause of international peace and a just system of international relations. I was reminded yet again of how many supposed “progressive” organizations seem confused about Dallaire and what he represents after learning he and Irwin... Continue Reading →
Rwanda’s tragedy used to fool people, slander others
Rwanda’s tragedy has been exploited for many purposes. Add slandering a pro-Palestinian activist to the list. Since I wrote this article about the Jewish Defense League last month, Toronto’s Alex Hundert has repeatedly labeled me anti-Semitic. The self-declared “anti-fascist” tweeted at Pacific Free Press, Rabble, the NDP and others to “cut ties” with me. In... Continue Reading →
Snowbirds so much more than just pilots and planes
Canada’s massive military cultural outreach effort suffered a blow last week. The Snowbirds aerobatic team was forced to cancel a half-dozen scheduled appearances because they require “additional practice and training.” Each year the famed Snowbirds participate in some 60 air shows across North America. Over the years they’ve flown more than 2500 shows and cultural... Continue Reading →
Kay’s journey from Islamophobia to defender of cultural appropriation
Jonathan Kay’s resignation from the Walrus for his role in promoting a prize for a writer who engages in cultural appropriation is a relief for the magazine. But, Canada’s leading liberal magazine can’t say they didn’t know Kay was intolerant when they hired him to be editor-in-chief two years ago. Kay has repeatedly smeared Arabs... Continue Reading →
Are corporations only responsible for making money?
Imagine if a corporation had to justify its existence beyond making money for capitalists. What would happen if a social balance sheet, as well as financial one, had to be filed every year and companies continually in a deficit position would eventually disappear? Consider Barrick Gold. Would the world be better off if the world's... Continue Reading →
Media ignores Canada’s role in suppressing Palestinian protests
The Canadian media has mostly ignored recent Palestinian efforts to non-violently disrupt a half-century old occupation. They've barely reported on a prisoners' hunger strike and associated solidarity protests, let alone Canada's effort to suppress popular protests in the West Bank. Around 1,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons have been on hunger strike since April 17. In the... Continue Reading →
Global Affairs Institute pushes right wing, militarist foreign policy
A registered “charity” with buckets of donations from arms manufacturers and other corporate sources is aggressively trying to push Canadian foreign policy further towards militarism and the use of violence. And the right wing Canadian Global Affairs Institute seems to be growing in influence, or at least media prominence. Since last month’s federal budget senior... Continue Reading →
Victims of Canadian colonialism celebrated for joining imperialist war
Amidst an orgy of martial patriotism that is finally over, there was a sad irony. In recent days the Canadian Forces, banks, politicians, sports TV networks, private foundations, the news media, etc. have all promoted the idea that the centennial of Canadian troops capturing some high ground in France during a minor Word War 1... Continue Reading →
NDP leadership hopefuls should debate foreign policy
Is the NDP establishment scared to have party members discuss Canada’s international posture? At the party’s first leadership debate last weekend there wasn’t a single foreign policy question despite a host of contentious recent party positions on international affairs. Certainly at a time when the mainstream media is giving prominence to militarist voices, many members... Continue Reading →
The plunder of Africa: A Canadian connection
As Black History Month draws to an end it is important to reflect on the European conquest of Africa. Is there a connection between colonial rule and the continent’s impoverishment today? Should the beneficiaries of European imperialism pay reparations or at least acknowledge the injustices committed? When thinking about these questions it’s important to look... Continue Reading →
Media bias is real, and everywhere
Can you trust any media outlet to tell the truth about foreign affairs? Or are they all part of some propaganda system? Perhaps the best we can do to understand what’s really happening in the world is read/listen/watch a variety of sources, but assume they are all biased in one way or another? These questions... Continue Reading →
Israel apologists claiming to support refugees are hypocrites
It is strange how supporters of Israel are responding to Donald Trump’s Muslim and Syrian refugee ban. Some have applauded it, effectively acknowledging that Israel cheerleading is a right wing cause. Others have sought to be seen taking the side of anti-racism and religious tolerance, all the while ignoring Israel’s terrible treatment of Palestinian, Syrian... Continue Reading →
Canada’s largest PR machine troubled by a few ‘toxic’ stories
The media is unfair to the military, according to the Chief of Defence Staff. During a speech to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade last week General Jonathan Vance slammed "very toxic narratives" in reporting on the Canadian Forces. "If you're paying attention to the news today, there are some very toxic narratives about the armed... Continue Reading →
Strange bedfellows at ‘anti-racism’ forum
Why would one of Toronto’s leading anti-racist writers share a stage with three individuals who support an explicitly racist institution? Recently radio host and Toronto Star columnist Desmond Cole spoke at a forum put on by the Mosaic Institute titled “Canada in a Trump World”. It was about “increased racist and xenophobic attacks” and offered a “dialogue for communities... Continue Reading →
Toronto Star leaves readers ignorant of Canada’s real role in Africa
The media’s foreign affairs motto often seems to be ignorance is bliss. The Toronto Star, for instance, has devoted significant attention to the Trudeau government’s plan to dispatch 600 soldiers to Africa, but it has largely ignored the most relevant information. In a recent installment of its “Should Canada go to Africa?” series the Star quoted former Royal Military College board member... Continue Reading →
Putting Palestine into the NDP leadership race
To the sound of crickets chirping from opposition benches Justin Trudeau’s government has once again isolated Canada on Palestinian rights. But, recent developments suggest this shameful chapter in Canadian diplomacy is past its political best before date. On November 21 Canada joined the US, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau in... Continue Reading →
Canada opposed Cuba’s key role in ending apartheid
Did Canada lead the international charge against apartheid and white rule in South Africa or criticize a country that, in fact, did? Recent commentary about Canada’s policy towards southern Africa’s liberation struggles distorts history that should inform debate over Canada’s planned military deployment to the continent today. A Globe and Mail article last month described “Canada’s strong support... Continue Reading →
Greens stand firm in face of Israeli bullying
In a major self-inflicted wound, Israeli nationalist groups recently turned support for a BDS motion targeting Israel's occupation into overwhelming approval. In addition, the resolution also demanded action to address the plight of Palestinian refugees and Palestinian citizens of Israel. In a further bizarre twist, Elizabeth May and others within the Green Party leadership have... Continue Reading →
Israeli nationalists undermine meaning of ‘remembering the Holocaust’
Is "remembering the Nazi Holocaust and where anti-Semitism can lead" a good thing? Unfortunately, thanks to people who constantly cite this horrible genocide in order to justify the illegal, immoral and anti-human behaviour of the Israeli state, one must answer, "it depends." Drawing attention to the Nazi Holocaust and anti-Semitism in Canada today often reinforces,... Continue Reading →
Liberals isolate Canada as a result of blind support for Israel
How can you identify a Canadian Liberal? They talk to the left, but walk to the right. Under Justin Trudeau, "Canada is back" to isolating itself from world opinion on Palestinian rights. On Monday Canada joined the US, Israel, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Federated States of Micronesia and Palau in opposing a UN Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee... Continue Reading →
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