Rambling on Radicalism

“To be hopeful in bad times is not being foolishly romantic. It is based on the fact that human history is a history not only of competition and cruelty but of compassion, sacrifice, courage, kindness.” – Howard Zinn So much promise and hope, and yet so much, still, of all the worst of us. That [...]

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Small Solidarities

People from at least 30 countries (including Egypt) have sent pizzas to help feed the folks occupying the Capitol building in Madison, WI.  It’s a small gesture of support, but concrete & immediate. Here’s the info:  Ian’s Pizza, 608-257-9248. $20 gets a 20″ pie with drinks which will feed 8 people. Oh, and don’t forget [...]

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Watching Libya

The wave of rebellion continues across the Middle East and North Africa, with Bahrain and Libya being the latest to hold the gaze of the international media. Where all this will lead us is still unclear, and I continue to react with equal parts optimism and dread. There is no question that this is an [...]

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Jubilation, and then…

I have been meaning to get something up here the last few days, and actually started a few posts that are waiting half-done in my drafts folder. Today, however, there is only one thing: the Egyptian revolt, the resignation of Mubarek, the celebration and hope. And the wondering, “what next?”

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Comrades and Not

I haven’t posted here for some time – not because there is nothing to say, but simply because I’ve been busy and mostly concentrating my energies on local community-building projects. I’ve said nothing here about police repression at the G20/ G8, about the latest from Israel, the attacks on Libby Davies for her comments and [...]

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Activism and Demoralization

For as long as I can remember, I have been surrounded by activism. My folks were radical catholics, tied close to social movements in Latin America and the Philippines that based their anti-capitalist ethos in Christian ideals of equality, service, love. Christian, yes. But radical, no doubt. Indeed, though here in the North American context [...]

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Tactical Considerations

The apoc-olympics have hit Vancouver, and many good folks have been organizing protest and resistance for a long time leading up to this.  Late last week the real action began, with several opportunities to express our collective rage at this spectacle of capitalism in our communities and the legacy of stolen land, repression, heightened security [...]

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Curious?

Went off to a party last night – birthday for a band-mate of Meg’s from the inactive-but-not-defunct Flying Folk Army. And as we drank beer and talked about sword-based fitness routines and the possibilities of glory-holes for ex-smokers who crave second-hand smoke, one of the guests noticed a book given place of prominence atop a [...]

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Workday Fantasies

Crazy busy at work this week, which has meant no time for the blog at all, and a general frustration with the mounds of paper on my desk that seem to never shrink and the ever-growing folder of emails needing follow-up.  Really seeming like there’s a complaint-a-thon happening at the university these days, cause I’m [...]

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Red November, Black November

As we near the end of November, Meg is returning from the bargaining table, and I am about to take off for union meetings in Ottawa, with a fresh tattoo on my arm of the IWW sabocat – symbol of the wildcat strike and industrial sabotage. I won’t write much myself today, but instead want [...]

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