Briarpatch articles from May 2002

Briarpatch archives from May 2002

Letters.
May 1, 2002... Dear Briarpatch, I have discovered a book that I heartily recommend for review in your magazine: The New Intifada (Verso 2001), edited by Roane Carey. It even contains an up to date map of the Israeli "final status" demand for the West...

Free advice for the Aspers. (Censored).(newspaper publishing company should not defend practices for which it punishes its employees)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... In the Quebec sovereignty referendum of 1980, Montreal's The Gazette played a key role as defender of the federalist option. But a small group of Gazette employees got a lot of attention by forming a pro-sovereignty committee at the paper - and...

The changing face (voice) of the press. (Censored).(censorship practiced by management of CanWest Global Communications on its own employees)
May 1, 2002... These lines are from March 19, 1883, the first issue of the Regina Leader Post, then called The Leader. More than the style of language has changed at the paper since then. The Leader Post has been under fire recently for decisions made...

Like here in Canada, our comrades south of the border are turning their backs on the establishment's charade of democracy. The director of Project Censored shares his thoughts on how we can transform the media as we develop a true democracy. (Real News).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Fifty-five million non-voters in the USA cynically understand that it takes money to access our two-party system and have opted out of the national voting charade. They sense that citizen participation means little in the current political...

The survival of Stupid White Men: the creative American producer and star of hit shows like TV Nation, the awful truth and the big one has a good-news story about overcoming censorship of his new book. (Censored).(publishing of 'Stupid White Men...And Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation')
May 1, 2002... While standing in downtown Flint outside the commuter college that I dropped out of because I couldn't find a parking space one day, I learned that my book, "STUPID WHITE MEN... and Other Sorry Excuses for the State of the Nation" is now the #1...

Planning for a better future: the alternative budget released by Saskatchewan's new Branch of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives calls on government to help communities.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A coalition of community activists released an alternative provincial budget that calls on the Saskatchewan government to stop its irresponsible tax breaks to corporations and the wealthy and to re-invest in social programs. The sixth annual...

Maintaining the status quo by suppressing education.(educational costs rise in Saskatchewan, making it harder for lower income people to attend college)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... In 1976 the Canadian government, as well as all of the provincial governments, signed the United Nations Covenant on Economic, Cultural and Social Rights. By signing this document, these governments agreed to the principle that education is a...

The new racism: New criteria like "culture" or "civilization" are being used to replace the out-dated or unacceptable categories and labels linked to racism, but the goals remain the same.
May 1, 2002... When Abee Carter Goodloe came to Canada at the turn of the 20th century she stated: "the Indians standing around look like aliens, like visiting strangers. The Englishman doesn't insult or bully the Indian. He simply ignores him, and by...

Beyond our borders: a look at what Canada could and should be doing.(international assistance for social issues)
May 1, 2002... On September 11, 2001 an appalling crime against humanity occurred. Thirty-thousand children died. There were no media there to document it, there were no speeches made against it, and it was not followed by mass public outcry. It was not...

Scout's honour: a humourous look at a disturbing new trend in corporate sponsorship.(Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts in Canada eligible to receive badge for investing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... For today's youth, born into an age of online trading, building campfires and practicing first aid no longer makes the heart sing. So Canada's 200,000 boy and girl scouts can now earn a badge in "investing." The new badge was unveiled this week...

Wag the dog... on steroids: As the spin unravels on the official stories, will dubya be looking for a rock to crawl under?(the Enron mess and the presidency)
May 1, 2002... Some time just before January 7th, 2002, an asteroid capable of pulverizing a good-sized nation flashed through the void, passing perilously close to Earth. Had it struck our planet, the impact would have had global consequences. The energy of...

The Palestinian - Israeli conflict: a primer.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Do you find the Palestine-Israel conflict difficult to figure out? If you can talk hockey trades, team standings and players' records, you can figure this out too. But it does require a frame of reference to hold the details together. The...

MediaThink. (Book Review).
May 1, 2002... by James Winter Black Rose Books, 2002 www.web.net/blackrosebooks Long before the Asper family arrived on the media scene to openly shatter the illusion of a free press, there was (and still is) a very effective collection of...

Bounty hunters in Afghanistan? (My Opinion).(Canadian troops in combat missions)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Reports that Canadian combat troops are involved in heavy fighting in eastern Afghanistan near Gardez will hopefully raise some tough questions in the minds of Canadians. This action and the ongoing defense of the perimeter of the air base at...