Alert! Radio

As part of our on-going 50th anniversary celebrations, Canadian Dimension hosted an evening with Chris Hedges on Sept 20, 2013 at Bloor Street United Church in Toronto. At the event Hedges details the destruction of the left, the power of the Occupy movement among other topics. The audio includes introductions by Simon Black and Jim Stanford. Thanks to Sean Michael Turrell for the audio and all those who made the evening so wonderful.

On Mayday Noam Chomsky urges activists to focus their attention not simply on the economy and the environment, but how the market system underlies the fiscal and environmental crisis. Clayton Thomas Muller discusses the diverse strategies of First People’s against colonial structures that destroy their livelihoods and their environment. Nae Burrows describes the successful living-wage campaign in British Columbia.

Political Sociologist Trevor Harrison explains why Alison Redford’s PC’s won the Alberta election after all and what it means for Alberta and Canada. Political activist/blogger Richard Fidler updates the Quebec student strike and discusses the importance of the demand for zero tuition fees by the student group CLASSE. Rabble.ca editor Derrick Okeefe talks about the fallout of the NDP victory in two BC byelections last week and the intense resistance to the Kinder Morgan pipeline led by mayors along the BC coastline along with first nations and environmentalists.

Researcher Jack Hicks decries the Conservative governments cut backs to NAHO and other Aboriginal Health initiatives. Trevor Harrison dissects the Alberta Provincial Election race. High school teacher and part time journalist Ben Sichel promotes Fare free transit in Halifax.

Broadcaster/writer Steve Lendman makes a strong case against NATO intervention in Syria. Feminist and community activist Adrie Naylor explains why Harper’s austerity agenda hurts women particularly hard.

Political scientist and Canadian Dimension collective member Dennis Pilon discusses what the federal budget reveals about Stephen Harper’s Plan for Reshaping Canada. Canadian Dimension collective member Andrea Levy talks about CD’s new issue that focuses on de-growth.

From Chiapas Mexico, Vancouver journalist Dawn Paley talks about the murder of Bernardo Vasquez, a community leader who led the protests against a Canadian mining company, Fortuna Silva in San Jose del Progresso,Oaxaco. From the streets of Montreal, Stefan Christoff talks with students and profs about the historic strike against tuition hikes. Judy Rebick explains why she thinks the election of Thomas Mulcair as leader of the NDP is a setback for the NDP and for progressive politics.

Judy Rebick, Murray Cooke and Dennis Pilon compare how the NDP would change under the leadership of Mulcair, Topp, Nash and Cullen. Greenpeace climate change campaigner Keith Stewart responds to the recent report claiming that coal and natural gas, not the tar sands are the real villains of global warming.

This episode of Alert gives a taste of Left Forum, a unique phenomenon in the U.S. and the world, that convenes the largest annual conference of a broad spectrum of left and progressive intellectuals, activists, academics, organizations and the interested public. Over a thousand speakers participate in 300 panels. The conference is held each spring in New York City and takes place this year from March 16 – 18th at Pace University. This year’s theme is “Occupy the System: Confronting Global Capitalism”. We speak with three of the participants about their contributions –Joel Kovel. Barbara Epstein, George Katsiaficas.

Tracking Israel Apartheid Week in Montreal, Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg. Tess Tesalona describes a unique International Women’s Day program sponsored by Women of Diverse Origins in Montreal.

Sara Flounders, Director of the International Action Centre debunks the myth that Iran poses a nuclear threat and reveals that money and oil and containing Iran’s role as a regional Middle East power are the real motives behind the interventions under discussion. Noted Canadian author Yves Engler discusses Canada’s interest in working with other powers to crush Iran.

Lindsey Pinto, Communications manager of OpenMedia.ca. discusses the Harper government’s on-line spying bill and why opposition to it is so fierce. Tom Walkom, national affairs columnist for the Toronto Star, disputes the very premise of he Drummond Report—that Ontario faces an imminent fiscal crisis unless it cuts back its entire government infrastructure and government services including both health and education. He looks at the impact these cuts would have, especially on lower income Ontarians. York University politics professor David McNally who recently visited China, discusses that country’s state capitalist system, its economic successes and its gigantic income inequalities.

Who will make the best leader of the NDP and does it matter? Some surprising answers from Murray Dobbin, Corvin Russell, Simon Tremblay Pepin, Josh Brandon, Herman Rosenfeld, Stefan Christoff.

Micheal Vonn, Policy Director of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association discusses soon-to-be introduced “lawful access” bills to expand police surveillance powers. The federal government has announced that it will soon be introducing legislation to increase the ability of police to intercept private communications and access more personal information stored electronically. Steven Staples, President of the Rideau Institute takes on pro-war lobbyists at the Conference of Defence Associations, part of an increasingly powerful National Security Establishment in Ottawa. Canadian Dimension labour columnist Herman Rosenfeld analyses the anti-union campaign shaping up in Canada and laments about the weak state of the labour movement’s opposition.

Noted health care analyst Pat Armstrong reflects on what lies behind Harper’s new health care policy. It’s not just a matter of numbers. Pensions expert Andrew Jackson shows why Harper’s pension policy is fiscally unnecessary and devastating, especially for low income seniors. Investigative journalist Martin Lukacs talks about Harper’s tar sands agenda and his efforts to sell it in Canada, the USA and Europe. He comments on the counter campaigns led by indigenous resistance movements in alliance with environmentalists, other activists and municipalities.

Carlo Fanelli analyses what was accomplished at Toronto City Hall to limit the regressive measures introduced by Mayor Rob Ford and the shape of the battles still to come. Political scientist Dennis Pilon reflects on the history of municipal amalgamations that bring to power right-wing mayors like Rob Ford in Toronto and Larry O’Brien in Ottawa largely owing to votes from once independent outlying middle class and wealthy suburban communities that swamp the votes of those residing in the city proper. Political economist Sam Gindin unravels the European debt crisis and austerity agendas of governments everywhere and their impact on a stagnating global economy. He examines the limitations of resistance movements as they emerged in 2011 and suggests new strategies for 2012.

The National Energy Board’s Northern Gateway hearings just began and are expected to carry on through the summer and beyond. Ben West of BC’s Wilderness Committee takes us through the process and tells us what to expect. Is the lockout of CAW workers at the Electro-Motive plant in London, Ontario, the beginning of an assault against private sector unionism in Canada? Labour commentator Doug Nesbitt discusses this question and offers some radical strategies for the labour movement, including occupation. What’s the real story behind the accusation that Iran is working to build a nuclear weapons capacity? Reporter Alex Kane comments from New York.

Expectations for 2012—2011 was a tumultuous year in Canadian and world politics. ALERT asked on-the-ground activists to talk about their expectations for 2012: Judy Rebick on Canadian politics; Clayton Thomas Muller on Indian Country; Mathew Brett on the Occupation Movement; Saul Landau on US politics; Sam Bahour on the Middle East.

Stephen Maher examines Egyptian politics on the week of the vote, Gerald Caplan questions why everyone but Iran can have nuclear weapons, Peter Kulchyski on Federal Legislation to disclose the salaries of First Nation Chiefs and Band Councillors.

Patrick Bond dissects international climate talks at upcoming COP 17 conference. Vincent Mosco explains the historical significance of the Occupy movement and where it is headed.

Organizer Matthew Brett addresses the current state of Occupy movement and the Quebec student strike. Gordon Laxer on the consequences of delaying the Keystone XL pipeline. Lesley Hughes on the most censored stories of 2011.

Karen Devito on the Canadian boat to Gaza shares experiences of her group’s detention by Israeli authorities, Toronto Star columnist Thomas Walkom on the Eurozone’s bail-out efforts for Greece and Martine Elois of Échec à la Guerre explains the Remembrance Day White poppy campaign.

Roger Rashi discusses the potential political consequences of alleged ties between the Mafia’s involvement in the Quebéc construction industry and provincial political parties. Regina-based political economist and author, John Warnock, weighs in on Saskatchewan’s upcoming provincial election.

James Petras discusses Greece, austerity and the European economic crisis. The Council of Canadian’s Trade Campaigner, Stuart Trew, updates us on Canada’s most recent rounds of trade talks with the European Union, and Winnipegger Ken Kalturnyk assesses Harper’s agenda for the Canadian Wheat Board.

Murray Dobbin examines the recent provincial election outcomes across the country. Derrick O’Keefe discusses the Occupy Wall Street movement as it develops in Canada. Student activist Dan DiMaggio discusses the movement from the streets of NYC.

Haaretz reporter and author Amira Hass gives her thoughts and perspectives on the Isreali Occupation, the Palestinian resistance and last summer’s Arab Spring. Music is the Weapon features women heroes of the left.

With another economic downturn threatening, York University Professor and author David McNally returns to explain how the decision to bail out banks at the expense of the public sector has lead to the current predicament and what social and labour movements can and should be doing to protect the interests of the working class Labour studies professors, David Camfield of the University of Manitoba and Herman Rosenfeld of McMaster University put into context the elections in Manitoba and Ontario respectively.

As protesters gather on Parliament Hill to mobilize against the TransCanada XL Pipeline, three campaigners address the question of using civil disobedience against the tar sands and other causes: indigenous tar sands campaigner Clayton Thomas Muller, Greenpeace organizer Mike Hudema and political/queer activist Gary Kinsman.

Economist Jim Stanford explains why the economic recovery has stalled, that the causes of the economic crisis of 2008-9 have not really been dealt with, and that only radical restructuring of economic institutions can solve mass unemployment and prevent a return to economic turmoil. Ernest Drucker, of the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York compares the structure of the US incarceration system—which has systematically imprisoned unprecedented numbers of men and women—to well-recognized epidemics from the past. Don’t go there, Canada, he advises.

Alert! discusses Jack Layton’s impact on the NDP and contemplates what the future holds for politics, the NDP, Québec and the Left in his absence. Featuring Judy Rebick, Murray Dobbin, Sam Gindin, and Simon Tremblay-Pepin. Kevin Whittaker talks about the support staff strike at McGill University.

Canadian Dimension editors and regulars reflect on the outcome of the federal election and discuss how we must fight the Harper majority: John Cartwright (Toronto & York Region Labour Council); Eric Darier (Quebec Greenpeace); Leo Panitch (Socialist Register); Dennis Pilon (Political Scientist); Andrea Levy (Historian); Judy Rebick (Rabble.ca); Geoff Bickerton (CUPW); John Clarke (OCAP); Richard Sanders (COAT), Clayton Thomas Muller (IEN).

Toronto Star columnist Antonia Zerbisias reflects on how the social media has transformed public discourse and its likely impact on the federal election. Quebec commentator Pierre Beaudet discusses the NDP surge in Quebec and the future of the Bloc Quebecois and the Liberal Party. South African academic Patrick Bond talks about the upcoming UN Conference on Climate Change in Durban and some of the events being planned by oppositional forces.

Roger Annis, coordinator of Canada Haiti Action Network, exposes Michel Martelly’s questionable background and talks about where Haiti is going under its new president. Economist Dean Baker, co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, D.C., explains how the debt ceiling imposed by the US Congress almost shutdown the federal government and comments on Obama’s concessions to the far right. Saul Landau talks about his new film “Will The Real Terrorists Please Stand Up” and comments on how he got the Cuban exile community in Miami and retired FBI and CIA agents to candidly talk about their efforts over the past 50 years to assassinate Fidel Castro and bomb Cuba in an effort to bring down its government.

Alex Neve of Amnesty International discusses the Harper government’s human rights record. Economist Sheila Block discusses a new study about Canada’s colour coded labour market. Derrick O’Keefe of the Canadian Peace Alliance discusses the controversy over the real purpose of the Libyan intervention.

Political Scientist Dennis Pilon gives Harper’s critique of coalition government a failing grade; Legal authority Paula Mallea gives Harper’s Tough on Crime Agenda a failing grade; Military analyst Bill Robinson looks at Canada’s military spending under Harper in historical perspective; award winning journalist Helen Fallding who broke the story about No Running Water on northern reserves talks to Alert about the conditions she found in northern Manitoba and the efforts by First Nations to pressure the Harper government to correct this racially based injustice.

CAW Economist Jim Stanford discusses the defeat of the Harper government and the electoral options as the election campaign is about to take off. Publisher James Lorimer talks about the likely impact of lifting the ban on foreign investment in the Canadian book publishing industry. Researcher and educator Marita Moll reflects on whether nuclear energy is still an option after Fukushima.

Political Scientist Dennis Pilon explores the prospects of the projected May Federal Election and Why a Liberal-NDP Alliance is NOT in the cards. Sean Smith examines the results of the February Irish elections and the rise of the United Left Alliance which could change the face of Irish Politics.

There’s a widespread consensus that the world is facing another food crisis. The only question is what is causing it and what to do about it. ALERT invited Robert Pollin to discuss these questions. Robert Pollin is a professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst and founding co-director of its Political Economy Research Institute. What is the state of the fightback against the frontal attack on public sector unions in Wisconsin? And can Wisconsin happen in Canada? Canadian Dimension’s labour columnist, Herman Rosenfeld Herman takes up these questions. The proposed Enbridge pipeline that would carry tar sand oil from Alberta across northern BC to a port in Kitimat where it would be transferred onto supertankers and shipped to China is hotly disputed by the 30 First Nations whose territories the pipelines would cross. Alert talks with one of their leading spokesman, Toghestiy, hereditary chief of Fireweed Clan of the Wet’suwet’en nation.

Sarah.k Granke of FemRev gives a short history of IWD on this, its 100th anniversary and talks about the new feminist movement in Canada. York University’s David McNally talks about how the fightback against government meltdown and austerity policy will emerge and the challenges ahead for the revolutionary movements in the Middle East. Andrea Harden Donahue, Energy and Climate Change Campaigner for the Council of Canadians talks about how the campaign again the tar sands is building momentum in Europe and may scuttle the Canada-EU trade deal. Darren Shore, Communications Coordinator of the VOICES-VOIX Coalition talks about the Harper Hit List being compiled of organizations and individuals purged by the Harper administration for advocating ideas that conflict with government policies.

Award winning author and film maker Saul Landau talks about the significance of the attack on Wisconsin public sector unions led by Governor Scott Walker and the importance of the fight-back. Palestinian writer and activist Adam Hanieh gives an in depth explanation of the causes of the Arab revolt, where they are headed and the interest of the US in restricting its aspirations.

CKLN Board Member Joeita Gupta describes the steps the Ryerson radio station is undertaking in its appeal against the CRTC revocation of its licence. Award winning economist John Loxley reviews the issues surrounding the global economy as the G20 nations prepare for the latest round of meetings in Paris next month.

Mordecai Briemberg gives his take on the U.S., Egyptian and Canadian interests in the outcome of the Egyptian uprising. Jim Stanford explains what kind of a federal budget Canada needs and why further cuts in the corporate income tax is the wrong way to go. Steven Staples points out what there is about the perimeter security deal that we should be worried about.

Egyptian Canadian Mustafa Henaway delves into the background of the uprising in Egypt and Tunisia and explores possible outcomes both within these countries and in the region. (NOTE: This interview was recorded hours before the violence broke out in Cairo.) Journalist and blogger Murray Dobbin assesses how Stephen Harper has changed Canada over his five year regime.

Yves Engler shows how the NDP’s Middle East policy is so unbalanced as between Israel and the rights of Palestinians. In Brussels at the latest round of the Canada-EU free trade negotiations, Council of Canadians trade campaigner Stewart Trew talks about how European opposition to the tar sands and GM grain imports could scuttle a deal. JP Laplante explains why the Harper government so vehemently opposes requiring Canadian mining companies to follow Canadian human rights and environmental laws in their operations in the global south. Christine Leclerc describes the unique Enbridge pipeline poetry project.

Murray Dobbin explains what lies behind the sudden surge of CEO salaries and bonuses. Independent Journalist Kai Hasserliis gives a behind the scene report on the Sudan independence referendum. Canadian Labour Congress researcher Chris Roberts brings us up to date on the Harper government’s retreat on pension reform.

Canadian Dimension editors reflect on the critical developments in 2010 what happened and equally important, what did not happen; and look ahead to expectations for 2011. Mitch Podolak uncovers new political songs for Music is the Weapon.

Montreal journalist Paul Jackson says that the Haitian People will not accept election results determined by the USA as Haiti’s most popular party, Fanmi Lavalas, headed by the exiled former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was frozen out of the election. Eco-feminist Terisa Turner on her way to Cancun, discusses what she expects will happen at the UN’s latest conference on Climate Change. James Mulvale of Basic Income Earth Network talks about why the Guaranteed Annual Income has resurfaced as a way to finally eliminate poverty in Canada.

Lucy Sharratt, Coordinator of Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) talks about Monsanto’s new plant breeding program at the University of Manitoba and reviews the impact of genetically modified crops over the past decade. Richard Sanders, coordinator of the Ottawa-based Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade, talks about the failed NATO mission in Afghanistan and predicts that its role there will not end in 2014. Roland Penner, former Attorney General of Manitoba, talks about the highly secretive RCMP espionage operation and internment plan known as PROFUNC (PROminent FUNCtionaries of the Communist Party), which was established in 1950 and ran for over 30 years. The plan to round up 50,000 Canadians believed to be communist sympathizers was exposed on the CBC¹s Fifth Estate in October of the year.

Sarah.k Granke of RebELLEs talks about Canada’s new Feminist Revolution. Grand Chief Ron Evans talks about Third World conditions on Manitoba’s northern reserves with their lack of running water. Diana Bronson of the ETC Group explains why geo-engineering is a false and dangerous solution to climate change. Mitch Podoluk introduces more new and old anti-war songs.

Award winning film maker John Greyson talks about the culture boycott being launched against Israel. Mary Agnes Welch of the Canadian Association of Journalists discusses the re-arrest of G20 activist Alex Hundert. Mitch Podoluk introduces anticapitalist and antiwar music on Music is the Weapon.

The Harper government foreign policy doomed Canada’s bid for a UN Security Council seat according to award winning editor and columnist Haroon Siddiqui. Stephen Shrybman, international trade and public interest lawyer and Board member of the Council of Canadians reveals the pitfalls of the Canada-European Union free trade agreement now being negotiated. Award winning film maker, broadcaster and writer Saul Landau talks about the right-wing swing in American politics and reflects on whether it matters that the Democratic Party will gain at the expense of the Democrats in next week’s Congressional elections. He also ruminates on California’s ballot to decriminalize possession of marijuana.