Alice Klein

We can deliver change this election by working together

rabble staff — Thu, 15 Oct 2015 17:22:36 +0000

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Like this article? rabble is reader-supported journalism. Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

Take heart. We the people, who see Stephen Harper and the Conservatives as a Canadian tragedy and a world-class blight on global problem-solving, are still more than two-thirds of the population.

Let's vote for our collective self-interest: smartly and efficiently to elect as many Liberals, NDPers and Greens as possible on October 19.

NOW Magazine will stand with sex workers against discrimination

rabble staff — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 16:42:14 +0000

Monday, December 8, 2014

NOW supports its feisty independent journalism by selling advertising. It has run ads for sexual services throughout its history, because as a publication that stands for human rights and free expression, NOW has refused to discriminate against sex work and sex workers while allowing advertising from other less stigmatized businesses.

We are mindful of the fact that advertising benefits independent sex workers in particular, as it offers a much safer and more secure way to connect and do business with clients. For many, the alternative to access to advertising is street-based prostitution.

NOW has run ads for sexual services throughout its history, because as a publication that stands for human rights and free expression, it has refused to discriminate against sex work and sex workers.

Voter turnout delivers real people's verdict in Toronto election

rabble staff — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:50:37 +0000

Monday, October 27, 2014

I support voting for the most politically experienced and best representative of our diverse and aspirationally inclusive city, the daring one who is explicitly caring, the unapologetic policy wonk and artist, the bicycle pedaller and community convener, the youthful grandmother warrior, Olivia Chow.

But I think we need to realize that there's something even more important in this race than whether Chow or John Tory is elected the next mayor. It is us.

The main and most important thing about this election is getting your ass out to a polling station and voting.

This election is a truly special one. It really comes down to a question of who we the people are. It's time for the people of Toronto to reveal ourselves to ourselves and to the world.

Are johns the new 'fags' because of Bill C-36?

rabble staff — Thu, 03 Jul 2014 22:24:43 +0000

Friday, July 4, 2014

Please support our coverage of democratic movements and become a monthly supporter of rabble.ca.

Sexual shaming is on the prowl, not just somewhere far away but, sadly, right here, right now. And it is state-sponsored.

I'm talking Bill C-36, officially called the Protection Of Communities And Exploited Persons Act. This is Harper-speak for "Of course I will devilishly manipulate sexual anxiety, primarily female, to get my next majority." Sacrificing the lives of sex workers on that unholy ground? Not a problem.

While Toronto celebrated Pride beauty, the federal government was busy unleashing a new moral panic in the form of Bill C-36.

Voting pro-social in the Ontario election

rabble staff — Thu, 05 Jun 2014 15:11:15 +0000

Thursday, June 5, 2014

I'm talking to you, fellow lovers, sharers and carers: where are we going with this Ontario election?

You know who you are, but for accuracy's sake, here's a checklist. Whether you're an NDPer, a Liberal, a Green or somewhere in between, you understand these are dangerous times.

First off, it isn't news to you that violence and repression are raging around the globe. You get that part of the reason is because inequality and corporate empowerment, both here and globally, are crazily off-kilter. Same for the fact that humans have destabilized the earth's climate and that life-forms on the planet are pretty much in a death spiral.

If we leave behind the win-lose, ideological lens of left and right, we can wake up to the fact that most of us in the NDP and the Liberal party and the Greens are in the sharing and caring camp.

A dark force unleashed: How Rob Ford has demonized Canadian democracy

rabble staff — Thu, 14 Nov 2013 16:53:50 +0000

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Folks, I'm warning you, there's a new threat looming at City Hall.

Listen up to all the solemn talk about rehab and Rob dealing with his "problem." Is this scandalous situation really about something as ordinary as addiction and its redemption? No way. That's just another pernicious new storyline that simply doesn't fit the crime.

I understand why the chorus of experts witnessing the Ford affair latch on to the familiar substance abuse drama. It's so clearly a major player in the cast of insidious characters now on the city stage. Of course Rob Ford is dangerous both to himself and others. But rehab doesn't cut it as an endgame. Even forcing him to step down doesn't do justice to the situation at hand.

The reason Mayor Rob Ford is unfit for office is not just that he has personal problems he must fix up. It's his insatiable hunger for power by any means necessary.

Learning from Thich Nhat Hanh, living legend of non-violence

rabble staff — Thu, 22 Aug 2013 17:26:04 +0000

Thursday, August 22, 2013

True love and happiness? Is that a fairy tale? Not according to fearless 86-year-old social activist monk and Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh (pronunced "tik nyat hawn"), who's sitting serenely cross-legged onstage.

I'm about to get some very simple how-to advice, but right now I'm not happy. I'm tired, and frankly, some family drama just erupted and has taken over my brain. Of course it happened right before this Brock University retreat with Nhat Hanh that preceded his Toronto talk last weekend.

True love and happiness? Is that a fairy tale? Not according to fearless 86-year-old social activist monk and Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh.

No time for an Ontario election: NDP and Liberals should work together on progressive policy

rabble staff — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:29:13 +0000

Thursday, May 9, 2013

This is crunch time for the NDP. Here is the question a lot of progressive people like me are asking: Is Andrea Horwath just another wind-up politician or is she an actual leader?

Because the same-old, same-old populist posturing that's going on right now makes it look like she thinks it's all business as usual, which it is not.

We all do understand that she and the party are in a quandary. But this budget is unfolding in a dangerous context that forces us to expand the frame of this conversation and get real.

The fact is that when it comes to the Ontario budget, this is no time for recklessness. We have a unique opportunity right here, right now. And the need for good government couldn't be greater.

Environmental movements and economies bring hope, inspiration this Earth Week

rabble staff — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 14:28:11 +0000

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Okay, it's true -- we are actually living the climate change and radical impoverishment reality that those who invented Earth Day 43 years ago were trying to help humanity avoid.

Economic recovery has become the most elusive term in the language of business, green looks as if it's off the table, and being eco-aware feels like being under siege.

But there's a secret that the oilmen and financiers would prefer we didn't know: the movement to protect life is awesomely more powerful than we give it credit for. And it's only going to grow, because, let's face it, the situation is extreme.

The pro-environment side is reshaping the way the world turns. As a result, we have a path to look toward and green moss to cushion our trudge through this oily mess.

Chief Theresa Spence's exceptional accomplishments

rabble staff — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 14:54:21 +0000

Thursday, January 31, 2013

Change the conversation, support rabble.ca today.

In media time, it's been light years since Attawapiskat chief Theresa Spence ended her 44-day fast last week. But beyond the dismissive attention span of Canada's mainstream body politic, there are different ways to count time.

In the near term, Spence has been shockingly belittled and underestimated because she spoke to the country in a new language, and I don't mean Cree, though that is also true.

What the history books will say, if things work out as they should, is that Spence stands among the most courageous and creative political leaders to have graced this country's mainstage.

Rob Ford's left-wing conspiracy theory

rabble staff — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 15:10:27 +0000

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Congratulations, fellow left-wingers.

Like me, you probably thought that Rob Ford was ousted from his mayor-ship this week by the same "stubborn sense of entitlement" and "dismissive" and "confrontational" attitude he has consistently shown since he was elected to the city's top job. But no. Not at all.

I only found out when Rob himself spilled the beans, shortly after the judgment removing him from office was announced, that it really was our conspiracy that did him in.

Wow. Frankly, until our Mr. (almost) Ex-Mayor explained differently in that post-ruling press conference, I'd been feeling that our conspiracy was a bit of a bust. Stephen Harper, I'm looking at you.

Congratulations, fellow left-wingers. Until our Mr. (almost) Ex-Mayor explained differently in that post-ruling press conference, I'd been feeling that our conspiracy was a bit of a bust.

Quebec student protests by the numbers

rabble staff — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 13:11:49 +0000

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

It's membership time. Cultivate Canada's media. Support rabble.ca. Become a member.

Unfair Canada

Richest 1 per cent increased their share of total income from 8.1 per cent in 1980 to 13.3 in 2007

Richest 0.1 per cent doubled their share from 2 per cent to 5.3

The 100 best-paid CEOs made an average of $6.6 million, 155 times the average wage of $42,988

Tax rate for richest dropped from 43 per cent in 1981 to 29 per cent in 2010

Cost of corporate tax cuts: more than $10 billion yearly

Unfair Quebec

Richest 10 per cent made 24 per cent more in 2006 than the richest in 1976

A numbers guide to the Quebec student protests and economic inequality in Canada.

Lessons from Quebec for the rest of Canada

rabble staff — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 12:12:56 +0000

Monday, June 4, 2012

It's membership time. Cultivate Canada's media. Support rabble.ca. Become a member.

Dear Quebec re-sisters and brothers: What an awesomely inventive laboratory of political resistance you have built. Thanks for taking the struggle against inequality and austerity to a new level and helping the rest of us see what's really going on.

Dear Quebec re-sisters and brothers: What an awesomely inventive laboratory of political resistance you have built. Thanks for taking the struggle against inequality and austerity to a new level.

Federal budget is all about control and resource industry domination

mgregus — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:38:36 +0000

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Finally, it's crystal clear. When it comes to public spending, it's the public, not the spending, the Harper government is really out to control.

The budget that came down last week was a defining moment, though not the way anyone expected. Naturally, Conservative Canada widely assumed the new majority would be all about government austerity. That was a misconception.

There will be government jobs shed, of course, but the Canadian Taxpayers Federation and its ilk were quite disappointed, which was the best thing about this otherwise truly disturbing budget. Economists internationally are in near-consensus that drastically cutting government spending is the fast way to halt economic growth.

That was no federal budget last week. It was a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms for Global Capital.

Leadership race leaves NDP stronger and wiser

mgregus — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 14:11:32 +0000

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Harper foes, take heart. The NDP rank-and-file made good on the party's Opposition promise at last weekend's leadership convention. Both the process and the outcome have left Canada's progressive majority stronger and wiser in many obvious and also subtle ways.

The voting results are a hope elixir. How fantastically different this convention was from the surreal electoral choices we keep seeing south of the border and, sadly, in our own city. Isn't it nice to know that real democracy, in the hands of the country's biggest concentration of social equality advocates, adds up to collective brilliance? That kind of faith renewed packs the energy that might just get new people interested in voting.

Harper foes, take heart. The NDP rank-and-file made good on the party's Opposition promise at last weekend's leadership convention.