Canadian Author and Activist
Is Roméo Dallaire a genocide denier? After a (question free) talk at Concordia University this week I followed the famous Canadian general out of the room to ask why he still supports ruthless dictator Paul Kagame. Kagame is the individual most responsible for the mass slaughter in Rwanda in mid-1994 since his forces invaded the... Continue Reading →
The Toronto Star should get its facts straight and stop distorting Rwanda’s tragedy. A day after the 25th anniversary of when two Hutu presidents were blown out of the sky, the Star’s editorial board published “There’s no excuse for ignoring lessons of Rwanda’s genocide”. It claims, “on Jan. 11, 1994, Canadian Maj.-Gen. Roméo Dallaire, at... Continue Reading →
It is time to call a technical foul on Toronto Raptors General Manager Masai Ujiri for his ties to one of the world’s most ruthless dictators. Through his Giants of Africa charity Ujiri has bestowed legitimacy on Paul Kagame even as local newspapers document the Rwandan president’s violence. Before their December 5 game against the... Continue Reading →
Now that November 11 and the official “remembering” of our “heroes”, their “bravery” and “greatness” is over, it is a good time to take a deeper, more critical look at Canada’s participation in wars. While on Remembrance Day we are told to “thank a soldier for your freedoms” and the commemorations talk about “defending democracy”,... Continue Reading →
Canadians should express their solidarity with Tanzanians facing politically inspired homophobia. But, we must also be suspicious of journalism that ignores Canadian complicity in the promotion of anti-gay ideology. Last weekend the Globe and Mail and CBC both reported on a Christian politician in Dar es Salaam who announced a scheme to track down and arrest... Continue Reading →
Canada’s paper of record pulled another layer off the rotting onion of propaganda obscuring the Rwandan tragedy. But, the Globe and Mail has so far remained unwilling to challenge prominent Canadians who’ve crafted the fairy tale serving Africa’s most ruthless dictator. Two weeks ago a front-page Globe article added to an abundance of evidence suggesting Paul Kagame’s RPF shot down... Continue Reading →
He’s gone from shaking hands with the devil to promoting Africa’s most bloodstained ruler. Last week Roméo Dallaire attended a screening of Rwanda — The Royal Tourin Chicago. The tourism documentary criss-crosses that country with Paul Kagame and the Rwandan dictator was on hand for the premiere. Six months ago Dallaire met Rwanda’s war criminal... Continue Reading →
The question gets asked often: How can Africa be so poor when it receives so much aid? The answer is simple. The world economic system sucks more out of the continent than it puts in. And tax evasion by Canadian firms plays a significant role in this impoverishment. The May report, Honest Accounts 2017: How... Continue Reading →
If you take a nation's mineral resources do you have a moral responsibility to also accept its people? On Sunday about 40 people rallied outside a Montreal Metro station against deportations to Guinea. The protesters called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to live up to his "Welcome to Canada" rhetoric and allow asylum seekers from... Continue Reading →
The real Rwanda genocide story has no Canadian heroes. Canadian commentators often claim more Tutsi were killed in the genocide than lived in Rwanda. Since it aligns with Washington, London and Kigali's interests, as well as liberal nationalist Canadian ideology, the statistical inflation passes with little comment. A Tyee story last month described the "slaughter... Continue Reading →
Why is the Trudeau government supporting Africa's most ruthless dictator? After amending the constitution to be able to run indefinitely Paul Kagame recently won 98.63 per cent of votes in Rwanda's presidential election. In response, Canada's High Commissioner Sara Hradecky tweeted "Congratulations to Rwandans for voting in peaceful presidential election" and "Canada congratulates Paul Kagame on his inauguration... Continue Reading →
Some good might come in Canada from neo-fascists marching in Charlottesville, Virginia. Taking advantage of media interest in protests over monuments to historical figures with racist views activists in Halifax are pushing to removecommemorations to two individuals who helped conquer Africa. And there’s no lack of other such memorials to target across the Great White... Continue Reading →
While few Canadians could find Zambia on a map, the Great White North has significant influence over the southern African nation. A big beneficiary of internationally sponsored neoliberal reforms, a Vancouver firm is the largest foreign investor in the landlocked country of 16 million. First Quantum Minerals (FQM) has been embroiled in various ecological, labour... Continue Reading →
Imagine if the media only reported the good news that governments and corporations wanted you to see, hear and read about. Unfortunately, that is not far from the reality of reporting about Canada's role internationally. The dominant media almost exclusively covers stories that portray this country positively while ignoring or downplaying information that contradicts this... Continue Reading →
Canada’s 150th anniversary offers a unique opportunity to shed light on some darker corners of Canadian history. One of the dustier chapters is our contribution to one of the most barbarous regimes of the last century and a half. In a bid to extract rubber and other commodities from his personal colony, Belgian King Léopold... Continue Reading →
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 →
When one Canadian mining company goes, violence seems to follow. Last week a police officer and soldier were killed at a Banro Corporation-run mine in the east of the Congo. One "assailant" was also killed at the Toronto-based company's Namoya mine. In February three police were killed at another Banro mine about 200km to the... Continue Reading →
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 →
The recent seizure of phosphate from a Moroccan state company in South Africa and Panama is a blow to corporate Canada and a victory for national independence struggles. It should also embarrass the Canadian media. This month courts in Port Elizabeth and Panama City okayed requests by the POLISARIO Front asking South Africa and Panama... Continue Reading →
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 →
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