Needs No Introduction

'Human Rights Fatigue.' It's the feeling that people are weary of hearing stories of victimization in the media. Monia Mazigh knows all about it. The Canadian academic and politician's husband Maher Arar was held without charge and tortured for almost a year by the government of Syria. The whole time, Mazigh fought to have his story heard, and get him home to Canada. In this lecture, she discusses her latest novel, Miroirs et Mirages, and why she believes the solution is to mix in everyday stories with tragedy.

Chris Hedges says America is experiencing a coup d'etat in slow motion. The American liberal class has allowed an unregulated, unfettered capitalism to create an empire of consumption. At the same time, the anonymity of the corporate state has corrupted the very fabric of social institutions. With American investigative journalism all but dead and legislation in place severely curbing civil liberties, Hedges says it is time to think about how to resist. He believes United States citizens can take their cue from the ongoing student protests in Quebec. Have a listen. 

  Janine Brodie knows we live in a world unsettled by multiple and overlapping crises of the political, economic, social and environmental. But this pervasive uncertainty has not dampened popular demands for social justice and equity. In fact, they have intensified. However, according to Brodie, the assault on social knowledge has obscured the traditional role academia plays in "speaking truth to power." Have a listen. 

What is wrong with civilization, and how can we fix it? It's no small question, but Don Tapscott has a few theories. He says, that unless organizations like Wall Street change to meet the digital age, they are doomed to repeat the failures that led to the collapse of global capitalism in 2008. In this lecture, he explains how the first generation to have "grown up digital" are, potentially, a solution. Have a listen. 

According to Governor General David Johnston, it’s the best time in history to be a scholar, as knowledge becomes ever more accessible to world citizens. But providing access to knowledge is still a challenge, and that’s something he wants Canadian academics to change. On the opening day of Canada’s largest annual gathering of scholars, the 2012 Congress of the Humanities, he laid out a five-part plan for the way Canadian scholars could lead the charge to build a smarter, more caring nation. Have a listen.

Three-time Juno Award nominee and Métis musician Jani Lauzon believes in the power of story. In this podcast, she gives a talk on storytelling and embodied knowledge at the Democratic Dialogue Via The Arts Symposium held at the University of Ottawa. In the process, she shares tidbits of wisdom from her past mentors and winds up telling a story of her own.

Muna Mire interviews Kim Crosby -- an award-winning multidisciplinary artist, community activist and queer survivor of sexual assault. Their conversation is centred around the process of opening up the space of Slutwalk for racialized women and transpeople. Is there privilege in calling yourself a slut? Can women of colour and transpeople afford to name themselves sluts in protest? Listen to hear more.

Celebrated professors and authors Cornel West and Frances Fox talk about the future of the Occupy movement, and their opinions on a changing America during the 2012 Left Forum, held at Pace University, in New York City in March. 

Speaking as the keynote for the Left Forum at Pace University on March 17, 2012, Michael Moore, the filmmaker responsible for such documentaries as Bowling for Columbine and Capitalism: a love story, talked hopefully about fundamental changes he sees taking place in America.  The podcast was recorded by Kim Elliott.

The aboriginal law conference in Vancouver B.C. brought together Bruce Granville Miller, who has written about oral tradition in the courtroom, Sophie McCall, an associate professor of English at SFU who has written about aboriginal storytelling and Darlene Johnston, a professor of law at UBC who has been recognized by the Indigenous Bar Association.  They discussed how to go about respecting aboriginal culture in the courtroom.

Winona LaDuke, the the executive director of Honor the Earth and the White Earth Land Recovery Project, was in Winnipeg on Feb. 24, 2012 to talk at the Growing Local conference. During her lecture she talked about the importance of sustainability, indigenous knowledge and independence.

Pat Mooney is the author and co-author of several books on the politics of biotechnology and biodiversity, and the award-winning director of the ETC Group. This week he spoke about whether we should trust the system that broke our planet to fix it.

The 2014 Health Accord will set out the national plan for our health care system and play a key role in determining the direction for health care in Canada. The Federal government has already revealed plans to cut federal health transfers.  On January 16-17, 2012 Premier Christy Clark hosted premiers from across the country to discuss health care and fiscal arrangements with the federal government related to the 2014 Health Accord. The Council of Canadians and the BC Health Coalition joined together to hold this townhall meeting. Following are the opening remarks by three researchers and advocates for health care, who say now is the time for Canadians to speak out to protect our public health care system. Rachel Tutte, the co-chair of the BC Health Coalition, introduced the series of three lectures:  Mike Luff, NUPGE Director of Communications, dispells the notion that health care is not affordable or sustainable - "a triumph of economics", and outlines the principles for building a new accord. 

In this lecture, Columbia University professor Saskia Sassen discusses the concept of the diminishing importance of national borders and the increasing dominance of something she calls the "transversal bordered space"; a result of the increasing interaction between government and private entities.

An interview with Annemieke Farenhorst, the University of Manitoba professor who has just been named the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council Chair for Women in Science and Engineering (prairie region). Farenhorst talks about the lack of women in classrooms, faculty and the professional world, and how we can begin to address this problem. 

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, Liberal MP Hedy Fry and NDP MP Libby Davies take part in the Media Policies for a Democratic Future panel at Media Democracy Day 2011. Moderated by Vancouver City Councillor Andrea Reimer, the panel tackled issues such as sexism in the media, mainstream versus independent media and the value of public media.

During her keynote at 2011's Media Democracy Day Judy Rebick discussed the origin of rabble.ca -- which she co-founded in 2001 -- and how technology has changed the face of activism over the past 10 years.

On the eve of Buy Nothing Day, Joseph Heath, author and professor of philosophy, was in Winnipeg, Manitoba to talk about consumerism.  Before his talk Heath gave an interview to rabble, during which he talked about the Occupy movement, the political spectrum in Canada and anti-consumerism.  

On Nov. 8, 2011 Greg Macdougall got the opportunity to sit down with Joan Kuyek, author of Community Organizing: a Holistic Approach. He talked to her about her new book, how it related to other books she has published, and how her experiences in the '60s and '70s have influenced her outlook on 21st-century activism.

The inspirational ballad, No Wall Too Tall, by folk singer and social change advocate, Raffi, calls for reform of the financial system. This song and many others are available for free download or streaming at the website of the organization Centre for Child Honouring. People say it’s hopeless, money rules the world It rules with an iron hand, and we’re helpless in its hold People say you’re crazy, you can’t break that wall It’s too old, too big, too strong, it’s never going to fall I say – think of the Iron Curtain, remember Berlin, Remember apartheid, look at the state they’re in There’s no wall too tall No wall too tall to fall No wall, no wall too tall Money vendors crowd the temple, survival crowds the heart It seems there’s no other way, you’re doomed before you start But we know a greater power in the hearts of the young and old Love for all the children, the compassion in our world And I say : No wall too tall No wall too tall to fall No wall, no wall too tall sound the call, blow the bugle, walls com