Needs No Introduction

Classes are ending. College and University students are putting away the books. It's been a difficult year as students, faculty and administration of several university campuses have had to deal with issues related to sexual violence on campus. St. Mary's University and Dalhousie University are this past school year's examples, but we've seen other incidents at other campuses too in the past few years. Add that to this winter's arrest of Jian Ghomeshi, CBC's former host of Q on sexually related violence, and we're hearing a heightened level of discussion about the issue to an extent that we've never heard before. And while hearing about these incidents is horrifying and disturbing, the fact that we're now talking about these issues is a good thing. When Sue Montgomery, along with fellow journalist Antonia Zerbisias, created the BeenRapedNeverReported Hashtag, even they were surprised by how quickly it took off. Many people, she said, don’t realize how widespread and normalized sexual assault is even in a coun

Michael Harris and Donald Gutstein are authors of two critically acclaimed political books.  Michael Harris is the author of Party of One: Stephen Harper and Canada's Radical Makeover. In Party of One, investigative journalist Michael Harris closely examines the majority government of a prime minister essentially unchecked by the opposition and empowered by the general election victory of May 2011. Harris looks at Harper's policies, instincts, and the often breathtaking gap between his stated political principles and his practices. Harris argues that Harper is more than a master of controlling information: he is a profoundly anti-democratic figure. Against the backdrop of a Conservative commitment to transparency and accountability, Harris exposes the ultra-secrecy, non-compliance, and dismissiveness of this prime minister. And with the Conservative majority in Parliament, the law is simple: what one man, the PM, says, goes. Donald Gutstein has written Harperism: How Stephen Harper and his Think Tank Colleagu

On March 4, the Aboriginal Law and Feminist Law Students Associations at the University of Toronto organized a panel event titled "Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirits: What's the State of Law and the Role of Advocacy?" to discuss the socio-historical causes of violence against Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people in Canada and what role, if any, the federal government plays in addressing the problem. The panel was moderated by Audrey Huntley of No More Silence and featured: Christa Big Canoe, Legal Advocacy Director of Aboriginal Legal Services Toronto; Pam Palmater, Mi'kmaw Lawyer and Associate Professor at Ryerson University; and Mary Eberts, Litigation Counsel, Native Women's Association of Canada and Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto Faculty of Law. The panel discussed the broad issues relating to violence against Indigenous women, girls and two-spirited people as well as practicable solutions to the problem. Part of the problem, they said, is a federal governm

"In May of 2011, Stephen Harper finally won his majority government. Not long after that, I got an email from an old friend telling me that rabble.ca, which had been a leading voice among Canada's alternative media for a decade, was planning to hire its first-ever parliamentary reporter. Might I be interested? It seemed like an intriguing idea. Making some effort to chronicle and analyze what Prime Minister Harper and his colleagues would do, now that they did not have to make the compromises necessary in a minority, would be a fascinating challenge -- in, perhaps, a Grand Guignolesque sort of way. " - Karl Nerenberg. The very same year that Stephen Harper won his first majority government, rabble.ca hired Karl Nerenberg to be our first ever Parliamentary reporter. Karl has seen a lot in his years on Parliament Hill. On February 18, a Panel discussion was held in Ottawa to mark the release of his new book, Harper vs. Canada: Five Ways of Looking at the Conservative Regime. Read an excerpt from the book here.

On Saturday March 14, 2015, people gathered together in communities across Canada for an emergency Day of Action to stop the government's "secret police" law Bill C-51. From Antigonish, Bancroft and Barrie, to Winnipeg, West Kootenays and Yellowknife, Days of Action were organized in over 50 communities across the country. In Toronto, over 2,000 people gathered on a cold drizzly day. They gathered at Nathan Philips Square, and then marched to the U.S. Embassy and the Toronto CSIS headquarters. For those of you who couldn't be there, here is a recap of the speeches, music and poetry. Speakers: Pauline Shirt - Elder Vanessa Gray, Young indigenous activist of the Aamjiwnaang First Nation  Suraia Sahar, Anti Racism activists who have been organizing against islamophobia Riaz Siani Mulji: Anti Racism activists who have been organizing against islamophobia Maryem Hassan Tollar, Juno Award winning Singer Peggy Nash, NDP MP Andrew Cash, NDP MP Rathika Sitsabaeisan NDP MP   Elizabeth May, Green Party Leader Marie Clai

"So the reason why I'm talking about Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls today is because Canada is killing our people, and if Canadians don't stand up and stand beside us and stand in partnership with us, more people are going to die." - Dr. Pam Palmater. Dr. Pam Palmater is a Mi'kmaw lawyer from Eel River Bar First Nation and holds the position of Chair in Indigenous Governance at Ryerson University. Pam was one of the spokespeople, organizers and educators for Idle No More movement and a well-known social justice advocate. The talk was titled "The Law's Role in Canada's Disgrace: Murdered & Missing Indigenous Women & Girls" and was part of the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law Shirley E. Greenberg Chair for Women and the Legal Profession Speaker Series. Recorded on Tuesday, February 24, 2015 in Ottawa, unceded Algonquin territory, by Greg Macdougall. You can also watch video recordings of a 12-minute interview and 73-minute talk with Pam Palmater discussing root causes/historical cont

Malcolm X was assassinated at Harlem's Audubon Ballroom on February 21, 1965. Fifty years after his death, the complex figure Malcolm X -- or, as he called himself after 1949, el Hajj Malik el Shabazz -- continues to inspire. On February 21, the Halifax North Memorial Public Library -- a location chosen in part for its role as the location of the 1968 meeting that lead to the creation of the Black United Front, an organization that advocated for the Black community in Nova Scotia -- held a panel to mark the anniversary of Malcolm X's death. Titled "50 Years Since Malcolm X's Assassination: The Legacy Endures; The Struggle Continues!" the panel discussed Malcolm X's own life as a deeply religious individual, a revolutionary internationalist and a leader in the Black liberation struggle as well as his impact on a generation of Black activists, artists, revolutionaries and intellectuals. Moderated by Dr. Rhonda Britton, pastor the Cornwallis Street Baptist Church, the Panel consisted of Dr. Afua Cooper (JRJ Chai

In 2012, the Attawapiskat reserve in Northern Ontario was deemed to be experiencing a housing crisis and put under third-party management. In the months that followed, the Federal Court reserved the decision, pointing out that the government's imposition of a third-party manager failed to address the systemic issues that had led to the crisis in the first place. While the ruling was deemed a victory for the community, the situation highlighted the complex and challenging reality facing Indigenous people in Canada. From higher rates of unemployment and rates of children in foster care to allegations of racism in health care, the discrimination experienced by Indigenous people in Canada is impossible to deny. Yet this discrimination goes beyond individual attitudes to the structures of society itself, including the structures meant to ensure an equal standing for all. On January 22, Halifax's Central Library hosted a panel discussion exploring Indigenous perspectives on law and rights and how the legal system i

FRIDAY OCTOBER 3rd, 2014 FROM 8:30AM TO 5:00PM  House of Commons Room 237-C, Center Block  This forum brought together parliamentarians, experts and the public, to continue dialogue on renewable energy and clean technology in Canada, and how it can be harnessed to create green jobs, foster sustainable growth and protect our environment. Hosted by: Peter Julian, Official Opposition, House Leader, Anne Minh-Thu Quach, Official Opposition Deputy Critic for Industry, François Choquette, Official Opposition Deputy Critic for Environment. Media sponsor: rabble.ca The forum consisted of four panels of experts, each centered on different dimensions of clean energy and industry. The four panels were: Renewable Energies, Energy Efficiency, Sustainable Industries & Urban Centers, and finally, International models. The forum was open to MPs, the public, civil society organizations, and the media. This episode of Needs No Introduction is an edited version of a portion of the proceedings. You can also listen to the ent

When posts in a Facebook group joking about having "hate-sex" and chloroforming women were made public, the anonymous members of "Class of DDS 2015 Gentlemen" were instantly infamous. As calls for a response from Dalhousie grew, however, the university equivocated, mired in a controversy for which it seemed to have no response. As of January 12, the 13 students, though suspended from clinical duties, will return to study in courses taught separately from their classmates. In a year rife with well-publicized cases of misogyny -- including a frosh week "rape chant" at another Halifax university -- it was clear that even in institutions of higher learning, education on how to address gendered violence and harassment is sorely needed. As the controversy over the Dalhousie Dentistry students continues, difficult questions arise: how do we address the complicated causes of gendered violence, and what role do universities play in instituting this change? On January 9, the Centre for Ethics in Public Affairs responde

This year, 2014, has seen the return of the debate on gender equality to the public consciousness. Yet some fear that when popular campaigns proclaim that "feminism is for everybody," the ubiquity of the term undermines its anti-oppressive potential. As the ongoing issues around feminist politics enter into the collective consciousness, have we lost sight of what feminism is for? How does the feminist movement maintain momentum while resisting being co-opted by those that would use the movement to meet ends that are indifferent and even hostile to feminism? This past October, these issues were discussed at the Women's Forum in Ottawa. Now in its third year, the forum focused on articulating "the feminist agenda." Asking how we can express a feminist vision of our individual and collective existence, the forum explored diverse understandings of gender inequality to provide ideas on how to move forward. In this panel, the issues discussed were as diverse as the speakers themselves. Moderated by Kate MacIntruff,

Ellen Gabriel was first introduced to the Canadian public in 1990, when she was chosen by the People of the longhouse and her community of Kanehsatà:ke to be their spokesperson during their resistance to the proposed expansion of a private nine-hole golf course near the town of Oka, Quebec. During the ensuing standoff between the Mohawk people and the Canadian army, Gabriel not only participated in negotiations to protect the sacred grove of pines, but also spoke out about the presence and leadership of women behind the barricades. Since then, she has worked to raise consciousness among politicians and the public alike of the history, culture and identity of Indigenous peoples. Although her national activities have been far-reaching, ranging from presentations to Parliamentary and Senate committees and the Quebec National Assembly to presentations and conferences and post-secondary institutions, the real breadth of her efforts extends to the international sphere. Gabriel has been active in the UN, participati

Last August, rabble.ca took part in a groundbreaking gathering of activists from across the country. The Peoples' Social Forum was four days of talks, discussion groups, arts events, demonstrations... all to call attention to some of the most pressing problems facing our country. And to figure out how to solve them. Even though it took place in the summer, we're still putting together programs based on the material I gathered. Even though it was a few months ago, the issues are still the same. Still pressing, and still needing to be solved. Today's Needs No Introduction focuses on independent media. Sponsored by rabble.ca, it was a panel called Media and Movements. It was moderated by Judy Rebick, one of the founders of rabble.ca. You'll also hear Jorge Barrera from the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, James Patterson (Canadian Dimension Magazine), Cathy Edwards (CACTUS - Canadian Association of Community Television Users and Stations ), Steff Pinch (rabble.ca), Diane Lamoureux, Monique Moisan (Revue À

Women throughout the world have always played their part in struggles against colonialism, imperialism and other forms of oppression. However, there are hardly any academic books on Arab political prisoners, fewer still on the Palestinians who have been detained in their thousands for their political activism and resistance. Nahla Abdo's Captive Revolution seeks to break the silence on Palestinian women political detainees, providing a vital contribution to research on women, revolutions, national liberation and anti-colonial resistance. Based on the stories of the women themselves, Abdo draws on a wealth of oral history and primary research in order to analyze Palestinian women's anti-colonial struggle, their agency and their treatment as political detainees. Nahla Abdo is an Arab feminist activist and Professor of Sociology at Carleton University in Ottawa. The book launch for Captive Revolution was on Monday, November 3, 2014 in Toronto. Introducing Nahla Abdo is David McNally, Alan Sears and Himani Banne

We all know Harper has transformed Canada, but how did it happen? Donald Gutstein has been following Canada's backroom political dealings for decades. In this podcast he discusses his new book: Harperism - How Stephen Harper and his think tank Colleauges have transformed Canada" What is Harperism? We've seen the effects of Harperism across our country. Today's discussion is a definition .. or several definitions .. of how Harper and his ideas have changed our society. Today we present a discussion from the book launch - “Harperism - How Stephen Harper and his Think Tank Colleagues Have Transformed Canada”. The launch was held at Simon Fraser University Harbour Centre Campus just a few days ago, October 8, 2014. The book was written by Donald Gutstein. In his own words, “I’ve studied the media and right-wing think tanks for two decades. My concerns are to understand how and why the Right is winning the war of ideas and to encourage the Left to get on the battlefield. Conservatives have successfully framed most

Van Jones says he came here to speak to the Good Jobs Summit because "you've got a crazy dude up here, and it's not Rob Ford." He has harsh criticism for our Prime Minister, saying Stephen Harper is more interested in looking good than doing good. Listen to hear the other things he says about Stephen Harper, the global economy and how to shift the power from the corporations and governments to the people. Van Jones is an American environmental advocate, civil rights activist, attorney, CNN commentator and best selling author. Also an adviser to President Barack Obama in 2009 on Green Jobs, his views on the environment, jobs and the economy are much sought after in the public sphere. He was the keynote speaker this weekend, October 3-5 at The Good Jobs Summit in Toronto. Sponsored by Unifor, the Canadian Federation of Students, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the CAW-Ryerson Social Justice Chair. The goal of the gathering was s to spark a national conversation about the quality of work in Canad

The iconic Maple Leaf Gardens was the stage last weekend for the Good Jobs Summit. The Good Jobs Summit was a national dialogue between workers, students, governments, employers and community organizations, with the goal of finding solutions and new approaches to jobs and the economy. The Summit featured a number of high-profile speakers, workshops and panel discussions, exploring questions of: How can we turn low-income, precarious jobs into good jobs? Where will the new good jobs come from? How can young workers and students succeed in Canada's difficult labour market? It was co-sponsored by Unifor, Canada's largest private sector union; the Canadian Federation of Students; Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and The Sam Gindin Chair in Social Justice and Democracy.   Featured speakers in the Friday night debate were: Trish Hennessy - Director - Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Ontario (Moderator) / Jim Stanford, Economist, Unifor / Todd Hirsch, Chief Economist, ATB Financial / Preet Bann

Van Jones is an American environmental advocate, civil rights activist, attorney, CNN commentator and best-selling author. Also an adviser to U.S. President Barack Obama in 2009 on Green Jobs, he is in demand as a speaker on his views on the environment, jobs and the economy. He is the keynote speaker this weekend, October 3-5 at The Good Jobs Summit in Toronto.   "We think that Van Jones will make an incredible contribution to the conversation that we need to have here in Canada about how we create quality employment opportunities, particularly for young workers and students," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "We know that the economy is churning out an increasing number of part-time, temporary and precarious jobs, which many cannot even afford to live on -- we need to have a serious conversation about solutions." The Summit is sponsored by Canada's newest labour union Unifor, the Canadian Federation of Students, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the CAW-Ryerson Social Justice Chair,

It was supposed to be a debate between Toronto mayoral candidates John Tory and Olivia Chow. It ended up being an opportunity for Olivia Chow to present her platform without opposition. At approximately 2 p.m., three hours before the debate was set to begin,  the organizers of the debate received a call from the Tory campaign advising the "because of competing campaign priorities in the new phase of the campaign," John Tory would not be attending the debate. The event was co-sponsored by the Ryerson Students' Union and TTCriders: A Voice for Transit Riders. Said Jessica Bell, Executive Director of TTC Riders: "TTC Riders are furious about John Tory's decision to cancel attendance at the debate last minute. It is disrespectful to riders."  "This is a sad day for student engagement in municipal elections", said Jesse Root, VP - Education of the Ryerson Students Union, adding that this is the second time the Tory campaign has cancelled an appearance with Ryerson students. But, the show went on, giving Olivia Cho

Chief Derek Nepinak was one of the youngest people to be elected Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs. He is quickly becoming one of the strongest voices in the struggle for Aboriginal rights in Canada. Born in Winnipeg, Chief Derek Nepinak, spent his first few years living in the home of his grandparents on the Pine Creek First Nation where he was able to live and observe the ways of his people; hunting, fishing, gardening, smoking fish, tanning moose hides and other traditional activities. Many years later, he interrrupted his studies for his Masters in Aboriginal Governance at University of Winnipeg to return home where he became the Chief of the Pine Creek First Nation in 2009. Two years later, he became Grand Chief of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs.   He holds a first-class honours degree from the University of Alberta, a law degree from the University of Saskatchewan and has completed the intensive program aboriginal lands, resources and governance at Osgoode Hall law school. Just before his