Needs No Introduction

The Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences is an annual gathering of scholars, students, policymakers and practitioners to exchange ideas and nurture groundbreaking research. This year's Congress is being held at Concordia University in Montreal, with "connected understanding" as its overriding theme. Jonathan Reinarz, of the University of Birmingham in the UK, spoke on May 29th about medical education during the 1930s and 1940s, as experienced by medical consultants who worked in provincial England during that time. This lecture was recorded by Yuxi Chen.

The Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences is an annual gathering of scholars, students, policymakers and practitioners to exchange ideas and nurture groundbreaking research. This year's Congress is being held at Concordia University in Montreal, with "connected understanding" as its overriding theme. Alejandra Roncallo is an instructor of Politics and Public Administration at York University's Glendon College. Her lecture at the Congress on May 31st asserted the "fourth moment of a new world order", and explained the uniqueness of present-day life in the context of monumental social and political factors -- from Obama, to the environment, to a shift in capitalist accumulation. This lecture was recorded by Tariq Jeeroburkhan.

The Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences is an annual gathering of scholars, students, policymakers and practitioners to exchange ideas and nurture groundbreaking research. This year's Congress is being held at Concordia University in Montreal, with "connected understanding" as its overriding theme. Ed Broadbent is a social democratic politician and political scientist. His lecture, "The Rise and Fall of Economic Social Rights," reviews the connection between human rights (i.e. civil and political rights) and social and economic rights, arguing that the two sets were never meant to be treated separately. Broadbent suggests we have reached a new low since the rise of economic and social rights -- what he deems "a new barbarism" in Canada's approach to human rights and equality. This lecture was recorded by Kim Elliott     

The Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences is an annual gathering of scholars, students, policymakers and practitioners to exchange ideas and nurture groundbreaking research. This year's Congress is being held at Concordia University in Montreal, with "connected understanding" as its overriding theme. Hugues Théorêt is a historian and independent researcher. His lecture, "Irma Levasseur: Femme Médecin Tombée Dans L'Oubli" explores the accomplishments of the first French-Canadian woman allowed to practice medicine in Canada. As Théorêt asserts, however, Levasseur has received considerably less recognition than she deserves for her many contributions to the field (including co-founding Montreal's Hôpital Ste-Justine). This lecture was recorded by Yuxi Chen.

The Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences is an annual gathering of scholars, students, policymakers and practitioners to exchange ideas and nurture groundbreaking research. This year's Congress is being held at Concordia University in Montreal, with "connected understanding" as its overriding theme. Paul Ugor is a professor of English and Film Studies at the University of Alberta. Originally from Obudu, in South-South Nigeria, his work explores the connections between present-day Nigeria's socioeconomic conditions and its youth culture. Ugor argues that through Nollywood cinema, today's young Africans are constructing and expressing a shared identity impacted by the growing influences of globalization and postmodernity as well as an almost imaginary set of inherited traditions. This lecture was recorded by Sven Carlsson.

The Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences is an annual gathering of scholars, students, policymakers and practitioners to exchange ideas and nurture groundbreaking research. This year's Congress is being held at Concordia University in Montreal, with "connected understanding" as its overriding theme. Tabitha Marshall is a military historian specializing in the areas of health and medicine. Her May 29th lecture, "Shrapnel and Sirocco: The No.15 Canadian General Hospital in Northern Africa," provides insight into the work done by the hospital during World War II. In particular, she references the diary and letters of Colonel J.R.D. Farmer, its Commanding Officer.  This lecture was recorded by Yuxi Chen.

The Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences is an annual gathering of scholars, students, policymakers and practitioners to exchange ideas and nurture groundbreaking research. This year's Congress is being held at Concordia University in Montreal, with "connected understanding" as its overriding theme. Alessandra Capperdoni is a professor of English at Simon Fraser University. Her research focuses on the relationships between literature, modernity, gender, and theories of spatiality. Her May 29th lecture on "Space, Culture and the Ecocritical Imagination" explored the complex relation to space that can be observed in post-colonial speaking and writing, with the life and work of assassinated Nigerian leader Ken Saro-Wiwa as an example. This lecture was recorded by Sven Carlsson.

The Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences is an annual gathering of scholars, students, policymakers and practitioners to exchange ideas and nurture groundbreaking research. This year's Congress is being held at Concordia University in Montreal, with "connected understanding" as its overriding theme. Jackie Duffin is History of Medicine Chair at Queen's University. Meryn Stuart is Director of Nursing History Research at the University of Ottawa. On May 29th at the Congress, they spoke about the challenges historically faced by women in the medical profession. Their lecture, “Feminization of Canadian Medicine: Voices from the Second Wave,” looked at the achievements of individual women in the field, based on first-hand accounts. This lecture was recorded by Yuxi Chen.

Resistance Across Borders was held March 2nd in Toronto, as an opportunity to encourage understanding about Canada's involvement in war, as well as the implications of international conflict on security and borders. The event was organized by the Council of Canadians and CODEPINK, with rabble.ca as media sponsor. Its keynote speaker was Colonel Ann Wright, who was banned from entering Canada after leaving the US Army in 2003 because of her disagreement with the war in Iraq. The MC for Resistance Across Borders was Andrea Peloso, coordinator for CODEPINK in Toronto. Speakers: Stuart Trew, Trade Campaigner for the Council of Canadians Patrick Hart, Iraq War Resister Col. Ann Wright Questions: Col. Ann Wright hears audience comments Graciela Flores, No One Is Illegal

This edition of the podcast features the second part of the Diversity of Tactics panel held Feb. 20 at downtown Vancouver’s W2 Community Media Arts Centre, to discuss and reflect on the effectiveness of varied protest methods in light of those used during the Olympics. Put on by rabble.ca and Working TV, the event featured StopWar.ca activist and writer Derrick O’Keefe and No One Is Illegal activist and writer Harsha Walia. The panel was moderated by Charlie Smith, editor for The Georgia Straight, and was followed by a Q&A and audience discussion on the criticisms and benefits of a diversity of protest tactics.

Methods of protest vary, and there has been much discussion between Canadians lately about certain methods employed by demonstrators at the Vancouver Winter Olympics. After media denounced the destruction of property, including the smashing of a Hudson Bay Company window, some activists have suggested that such strategies could harm the greater cause. Others believe that by criticizing diversity of tactics, the movement’s solidarity is undermined. On Saturday, Feb. 20, at the W2 Community Media Arts Centre in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside, rabble.ca and Working TV co-hosted a public discussion on the topic. StopWar.ca activist and writer, Derrick O’Keefe questioned a diversity of tactics. No One is Illegal activist and writer Harsha Walia expressed its benefits. Please stay tuned for audio from the second half of the event, which consisted of a Q&A with O’Keefe and Walia, followed by audience discussion. Click here for Part 2 of the discussion.

While the state of the economy has left a lot of people questioning the security of their pensions, the Canadian Labour Congress sees it to be an opportunity for progressive pension reform. Its "Retirement Security for All" campaign is calling for increased public pensions and workplace pension protection. At CUPE's national pension trustee training session, the CLC's national representative, Joel Harden, described the agenda for action.

On January 23rd, Canadians gathered in cities across the country to protest Stephen Harper's prorogation of Parliament. This week, we bring you voices from the rallies in Ottawa, Whitehorse and Toronto. Speakers: Elizabeth May; Chris Guinchard in Ottawa; Jennifer Ellis in Whitehorse; Singers in Whitehorse; Jack Layton; Two Clowns in Ottawa; Jonathan Allen, Organizer in Toronto; Louise Pritchard in Ottawa; Larry Gray in Whitehorse; Angus in Whitehorse; Michael Ignatieff; Trevor Strong of the Arrogant Worms; Maude Barlow.  "Canadians Against Proroguing Parliament" on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#/group.php?gid=260348091419&ref=ts

This week we're bringing you more from the Blue Summit on water issues. Steven Shrybman practices international trade and public interest law in Ottawa, and he's on the Board of Directors of the Council of Canadians. He frequently speaks and has written extensively on the impact of international trade law on various aspects of Canadian policy. He has also been involved in drafting and promoting conventions on cultural diversity and access to water as a human right. In his presentation on the "next ten years" of public water on November 29th, Shrybman gave his audience seven convincing reasons why it isn't necessarily all doom and gloom ahead.

Over a weekend at the end of November, more than 300 participants came together in Ottawa for the Blue Summit. The event -- organized by the Council of Canadians and CUPE -- marked the 10th anniversary of "Water Watch", and highlighted Canada's place in the growing dilemma over freshwater preservation and ownership. Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow is the loudest voice of the water justice movement. As part of a panel discussion at the summit, moderator Morna Ballantyne asked her how governments are responding to the demand that water be recognized as a universal right. Following Barlow's response, additional opinions and plans of action were offered by other delegates.

John Amaechi (United Kingdom), Retired NBA superstar and Amnesty International Human Rights Ambassador and Brian Dooley (UK), Amnesty International, London spoke on Human Rights and Sports at the International Human Rights Conference associated to the World Out Games, held in Copenhagen in August 2009. Major human rights breakthroughs have been made in the area of sport; Jesse Owens, Muhammad Ali and Martina Navratilova are iconic athletes and human rights figures. Sport can demolish stereotypes and promote diversity but it can also harbour bigotry and discrimination. Some countries are allowed to send only male athletes to the Olympic Games; homophobia and racism remain unaddressed at the highest levels of major sports. This workshop explored the power of sport to both perpetuate and overcome discrimination and share examples of effective human rights activism in sport. Watch a video clip from the workshop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp4jaLCdL5M

Last September, cultural producers from around the world came together in the Toronto Declaration, to protest the Toronto International Film Festival's highlighting of Tel Aviv, as part of a Brand Israel marketing campaign.  In the face of a disinformation campaign that tried to label Declaration signatories anti-semitic, a Celebration of Solidarity Event took place on September 14th, at Ryerson University - around the corner from major film festival venues. The event included solidarity statements from members of the film industry, and a discussion of why the Toronto Declaration came about. Speakers included Mazen Mazri, Elle Flanders, Joslyn Barnes, Elia Suleiman and John Greyson. The discussion was moderated by Judy Rebick. The event begins with audio from Amy Goodman and Naomi Klein, from a Democracy Now interview recorded in New York earlier in the day. This video can be viewed at: http://www.democracynow.org/2009/9/14/no_celebration_of_occupation_1_500 List of testimonials shared the Celebration of S

This week, we bring you the other half of our two-part focus on the Regina Manifesto - a founding document of social democracy in Canada. The Regina Manifesto helped shape the foundation of Canadian social democracy. It was written in 1933 against the backdrop of the Great Depression, representing hope for Canadians in its call for a new, socialized economy, "owned, controlled and operated by the people." On October 17th in Saskatoon, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives held an event to examine the importance of the manifesto today - 76 years after it was written. The forum was called "The Future of Social Democracy in Canada: The Relevance of the Regina Manifesto in the 21st Century", and featured Murray Dobbin as one of its speakers. A long-time author, broadcaster and journalist, Dobbin observed that the manifesto is so in tune with modern concerns, it could almost have been written today. View the full text of the Regina Manifesto here: http://www.connexions.org/CxLibrary/Docs/CX5373-ReginaManif

The Regina Manifesto helped shape the foundation of Canadian social democracy. It was written in 1933 against the backdrop of the Great Depression, representing hope for Canadians in its call for a new, socialized economy, "owned, controlled and operated by the people." On October 17th in Saskatoon, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives presented a forum called "The Future of Social Democracy in Canada: The Relevance of the Regina Manifesto in the 21st Century." Armine Yalnizyan, the CCPA's senior economist, was one of its speakers. She observed that even though many of the changes called for by the Manifesto have since become established aspects of Canadian life - like a national bank, labour standards and universal healthcare - its message remains just as relevant as it was 76 years ago.  View the full text of the Regina Manifesto here: http://www.connexions.org/CxLibrary/Docs/CX5373-ReginaManifesto.htm

Reverend Doctor Denise Yarbrough is the Interreligious Officer for the Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, New York, and a teacher of Interfaith Studies at Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School. In July of last year, she was part of a delegation that traveled to Israel and the Palestine under the sponsorship of Interfaith Peace Builders and the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation. There, she spent much time in the West Bank and in Palestinian sections of Israel itself, speaking with both Palestinian and Israeli human rights and peace activists. Tariq Jeeroburkhan recently caught up with Reverend Yarbrough by telephone to hear her opinions on the historical role played by Protestant Christian denominations in the founding of the State of Israel, and the influence of Christian Zionism in ensuring its continued existence and development.