Briarpatch articles from February 2002

Briarpatch archives from February 2002

Revolutionary Knitting Circle. (Openers).(Revolutionary Knitting Circles protesting against corporatism)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... If you want to protest the G8 meetings in Kananaskis but hesitate to tread on environmentally sensitive areas, then heed this call to action. Starting on June 26 people of diverse ages, genders, countries and classes are gathering in groups at...

Tax the Global Casino. (Openers).(James Tobin's proposed taxation of cross-border financial transfers)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... In March 2002 the United Nations will hold an important International Conference in Mexico on the Financing of Development. This UN conference will present a chance for the Canadian Government to show some leadership and follow through on the...

The Santa Files. (Openers).(British police to set up database on potential child criminals)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... According to The Telegraph in London, British police are setting up a secret national data base on naughty kids. Even preschoolers suspected of having the potential to grow up to become criminals will be under surveillance. Files will be opened...

Golden Leech Award Winners. (Openers).(Consider the Costs Coalition awards)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... In a public ceremony "Golden Leech" awards were recently presented to corporations who have been sucking the blood of Canadian taxpayers through their involvement in privatization of public services. Awards were also presented to "Friends of...

Mail Scrubber. (Openers).(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Briarpatch has received an interesting e-mail offer from an entrepreneur who is willing to "take the anxiety out of opening USA mail." Ernie assured us that "all you do is sign up and fill out a change of address form." He will then take the...

Letters.(Letter to the Editor)
February 1, 2002... Dear Briarpatch, I am a veteran subscriber to Briarpatch as well as a graduate of Sir Williams University, which later on was renamed Concordia, so I read with interest your article entitled "Backlash on Campus," published in the December...

Spanish Civil War Memorial Project in Alberta.(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) Edmonton General Membership Branch has launched a broad based committee to create a memorial for the Alberta Veterans of the Spanish Civil War. This committee is made up of trade unionists, socialists,...

Canada's Globalization, Militarization and Police State Agenda.
February 1, 2002... This article is an excerpt from a presentation to a recent forum sponsored by Scientists for Peace. It offers a legal interpretation of the impact that the antiterrorist legislation will have on our civil liberties. Terrorism is very...

Will the forces be with you?: A peaceful protest against Star Wars shows the heavy hand of the new law and order agenda.(Vandenberg Air Force Base protest, July 2001)
February 1, 2002... The consequences of September 11 and its aftermath are on the minds of activists across the country. Undoubtedly, every action, demo and campaign has been reconsidered in light of the terrorist attacks in the United States. While some activists...

The Crusade Against the Edible Ballot Society.(Elections Canada)
February 1, 2002... Finding Canadian politics unpalatable, they consumed their ballots. Was it political dissent or election fraud... or is criminalization of dissent the real issue? On November 20, 2000 eight m embers of the Edmonton chapter of the Edible...

War, Political Repression...and Resistance.(War on Terrorism, 2001- and civil rights)
February 1, 2002... In the months since September 11, 2001 the Canadian government has committed our country to the Americanled "war against terrorism" which George Bush has declared to be open ended and of indefinite duration and undefined scope. It may involve...

Did the Canadian labour movement turn right again?: When delegates from 34 countries in the Americas and the Carribean met in Havana to prepare an alternative to the global corporate agenda, they weren't there.(Free Trade Agreement for the Americas debate)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Not much changed on September 11 for many of the 800 delegates attending the Hemisphere Conference on the Fight Against the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) in Havana from November 13 to 16, 2001. This is particularly true for those...

Rising from the Roots: The Ontaria Common Front reflects on and plans future direction.(direct action)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... The Ontario Common Front (OCF) fall campaign of economic disruption was initiated almost one year ago with a proposal by the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) to develop a serious and broadly based resistance to the policies of the...

Food Fight!: Organic farmers use the courts to stop the introduction of more genetically engineered c ops into the breadbasket of the world.(Saskatchewan Organic Directorate)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... History was made on January 10 when two Saskatchewan organic farmers, Larry Hoffman and Dale Beaudoin, filed a class action against Monsanto and Aventis on behalf of all certified organic farmers in Saskatchewan. The class suit seeks...

Climbing Trees to Look for Lobster: Unions, science, government and industry team up to monitor lobster population changes before it's too late.(research)
February 1, 2002... Lobster is possibly the icon Maritimers and tourists alike associate most with the East Coast. Once the sandwich meat poor children were ashamed to bring to school, lobster is now highlighted at finer restaurants and reserved by most Maritimers...

From Quebec to Qatar: Voices say "A Better World is Possible".(Common Front on the World Trade Organization)
February 1, 2002... A better world is possible, but not through 'free' trade and not through the WTO!" These words were heard in over 70 communities across Canada by participants in The Common Front on the World Trade Organization (CFWTO) Quebec to Qatar...

The New Politics Initiative tests the Water: A report and reflections on the Federal NDP Convention.(New Democratic Party, Winnipeg)(Statistical Data Included)
February 1, 2002... For a lot of people the recent Winnipeg convention of the federal NDP became "the best of times and the worst of times." It was presented and played out as a clash between "new politics" and "old politics." And at the Winnipeg Convention...

Ralph's Last Show, Live in Santa Cruz by Fred Eaglesmith and the Flying Squirrels Sweetwater Music, 2001. (Music Review).
February 1, 2002... Fred J Eaglesmith and the Flying Squirrels offer up the best blend of country/rock/folk played anywhere today. The music has a country core with harmonies that border on blue grass at times, with enough raucous activity to feel the distinct...

Benefitting from Crimes against Humanity: Do we owe debts for slavery and colonialism? (My Opinion).(World Conference against Racism, 2001)(Brief Article)
February 1, 2002... Lost in the media maelstrom provoked by the dark events of September 11 was much coverage of the mid-September conclusion of the UN Conference Against Racism held in Durban, South Africa. Most of the earlier coverage in North America centered...