Questioning Canada’s contribution to NATO’s proxy war is “hate” that must be shut down according to some Ukrainian groups mimicking Zionist organizations by promoting an identity politics laced cancel culture. A Ukrainian student group sought to cancel my talk at Kings College in London, Ontario, on Thursday. In “Western Ukrainian Students’ Association Statement on The... Continue Reading →
Standing up against war requires principles and courage
Almost everyone says they oppose war in principle, but few are willing to face the opprobrium that comes with confronting militarist nationalism. Ten days ago one of Canada's leading antiwar activists protested Canada’s contribution to the US/NATO proxy war with Russia. Tamara Lorincz interrupted a talk by Defence Minister Anita Anand with a sign reading: “Trudeau, Freeland,... Continue Reading →
Anarchist Bookfair bans anarchist publisher
Some of those overseeing Montréal’s Anarchist Bookfair have lost the plot. They have banned the city’s only English language anarchist publisher from participating on the grounds they’ve published my recent books. On Friday Black Rose Books informed me that they have been blocked from tabling at Montréal’s Anarchist Bookfair on Sunday because of their association... Continue Reading →
How activists thwarted Canada’s bid for a UN Security Council seat
A year ago today, Canada’s ambassador to the UN effectively confirmed that a half dozen unpaid activists had derailed the government’s multi-year Security Council lobbying campaign, which included the prime minister flying to various countries. On June 10 Marc André Blanchard sent a private letter to other UN ambassadors defending Canadian policy on Palestinian rights.... Continue Reading →
Palestine solidarity delivers blow to JNF colonialism
Score a small, but symbolically significant, victory for pro-Palestinian and anti-racist forces. The Jewish National Fund of Canada has been forced to rebrand and distance itself from its Israeli parent organization. Under pressure from Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) and others the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) instigated an audit of the JNF in 2018. The audit... Continue Reading →
Israel lobby attacks progressive internationalism
On Wednesday the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs attacked the left wing of the NDP. In a release titled “Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) appalled that disgraced former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn invited to spread toxicity in Canada”, CIJA CEO Shimon Fogel noted: “Jeremy... Continue Reading →
Trudeau faces series of setbacks to corporate, imperial policies
As much as some Canadians would like to believe their country is a force for good in the world, the truth is more sobering. Extreme inequality is rampant and the Canadian government is an important supporter of corporate power and imperialism in global affairs. The good news is that the pushers of the unfair, unjust... Continue Reading →
The movement to abolish nuclear weapons
The movement to abolish nuclear weapons has been around for a long time, taking a torturous path through highs and lows. Another high will be achieved next week when the UN Nuclear Ban Treaty enters into force. On January 22 the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) will become law for the 51... Continue Reading →
Time for nuclear disarmament movement to ruffle government feathers
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.” ― Frederick Douglass “Tell no lies, claim no easy victories.” ― Amílcar Cabral To win any social justice victory of import you will invariably ruffle some feathers. The individuals who dominate Canada’s main nuclear disarmament organizations don’t appear to understand that.... Continue Reading →
Green leadership candidates to debate foreign policy
Debate is the lifeblood of democracy and a good one is fun to watch or listen to. Hopefully an upcoming Green Party debate will accomplish that while simultaneously strengthening progressives’ foreign policy expectations and infrastructure. On September 10, Rabble and the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute are organizing a Green Party leadership debate on “Canada's Place... Continue Reading →
Trudeau’s Centre for Peace, Order, and Good Government is a sham
Should peace groups challenge Canadian militarism by pushing clear, principled, demands or by promoting a militarist government’s bid to rebrand itself through a “peace” institute? In a recent blog headlined “New Peace Centre needed to balance defence industry-funded think tanks”, the Rideau Institute promoted the proposed Canadian Centre for Peace, Order, and Good Government. Since... Continue Reading →
Challenging the NDP on Palestine during the election campaign
Last week I interrupted Jagmeet Singh at a public event to criticize the NDP’s suppression of Palestine solidarity activism. Holding a placard with the words “Jagmeet, Palestinian Lives Matter”, I demanded the NDP leader apologize for overturning the vote of members who elected Rana Zaman to represent the Dartmouth-Cole Harbour ridding because she defended Palestinians... Continue Reading →
Liberals use RCMP in attempt to silence critics of their foreign policy
On Tuesday two RCMP agents came to my house. Two large men in suits asked for me and when my partner said I wasn’t there they asked who she was. Why didn’t they email or call me to talk or set up a meeting? If they have my address, the RCMP certainly has my email,... Continue Reading →
Time for direct action international solidarity
How do we make people question the lies they have been told? How do we make our voices heard? Direct action democracy is required. In order to show politicians, the media and even many progressives that some of us are hostile to Canadian foreign policy we need to raise our voices and be disruptive in... Continue Reading →
Canada’s leading apologist for Israeli war crimes disrupted
Last week members of Quebec Movement for Peace disrupted a speech by Irwin Cotler on “Canada as a Human Rights leader” (at the last-minute ‘deputy’ foreign minister, Rob Oliphant, canceled his participation). With “Free Palestine” signs in hand, filmmaker Malcolm Guy and I took the stage to denounce Cotler’s anti-Palestinian positions and support for intervention... Continue Reading →
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