Direct Action

The Way Wants to Show you The Way

- Adam Clare 1 Comment

A group of recent graduates from York University have written a fun play about modern western civilization’s current obsessions. The writers of the play, The Way are concerned about the lack of social and environmental awareness in North America and warns us that this will come back to haunt us.

Obviously they want to change that; the play sends the message that people must become more aware of their surroundings.

For an in-depth review of the play check out my post on it at blogTO.com. The play is running this week in Toronto more information can be found at the SummerWorks Festival website.

Protest With Style

- Adam Clare


rtMark has been around for awhile, so long that they are now 10 years old. rtMark specializes in challenging the capitalistic ideal through pranks and creative exploitation of the system already in place, like media hype.

Protesterâ„¢ is one of their latest offerings which provides a place for activists to convene and share their ideas/skills/experinces.

Check out the projects section to easily get involved.

Parties start again in Uganda

- Adam Clare

Nineteen years ago Ugandan President Ypweri Museveni seized power in Uganda and imposed a single political party on the country. In a recent referendum which he endorsed other political parties can now exist freely, the first time since 1986.

Critics are arguing that this is to appease donors and solicit more money from donor nations. Regardless of the motives behind the move to permit more political parties this is a step for improvement for the people of Uganda.

Canadian Political Transparency

- Fraser Birt 1 Comment

Transparency in democratic politics is not only a good thing, it is necessary to the process. In Canada, there are strict rules in place for the recording and reporting of donations during an election campaign. We like to know just much a corporation or rich citizen has donated, and to what party. However, what most people don’t pay attention to, or even know, is that the myriad of smaller donations given to local candidates are also strictly regulated, and scrupulously recorded. Individuals and local businesses give surprising amounts of money to their preferred local candidate. And now, thanks to Elections Canada, you can easily find out the details.

Searchable by candidate, contributor, party or location, see who supports what in your riding. There are also options for searching contributions to party leadership races and even candidate nomination contests. Things are good when you can see.

Parliament wants the government to stop supporting destructive mining projects overseas

- Fernando

Parliament has called on the Government of Canada to take action to end the devastating social and environmental impacts of Canadian mining operations overseas.

A recent Parliamentary report calls on the Government to: (i) stop using taxpayer money to support destructive Canadian mining projects abroad; (ii) hold Canadian mining companies legally accountable for environmental and human rights violations in other countries, and; (iii) force the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund to respect international human rights standards.

The Government has about 60 days left to respond and, not surprisingly, it would like nothing more than to sweep the report under the carpet. So, like most of the good things that happen, the changes demanded will only take place as the result of many people’s efforts. Our participation is needed, as always, to pressure the Government to adopt Parliament’s recommendations and to address ongoing international scandals associated with the Canadian mining industry.

What can we do to help make this happen? The websites of Friends of the Earth Canada and Mining Watch have a lot of info on these issues and ways to take action.

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