Ariel Troster

Laureen Harper as the Day of Pink ambassador is a big problem. Here's why.

the views expressed — Fri, 10 Apr 2015 15:39:32 +0000

Well, then. I guess a few people liked the post I put up in haste the other night, while simultaneously entertaining my almost three-year-old and responding to a flurry of Tweets. Or they disagreed with me, but felt compelled to read it. Either way, I'm grateful.

How the Day of Pink sold out trans youth: Having Laureen Harper as a spokesperson

the views expressed — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 18:47:14 +0000

Chip in to keep stories like these coming.

When Laureen Harper showed up as a spokesperson for anti-bullying Day of Pink, Ariel Troster couldn't help but call out hypocrisy. On International Day of Pink, 2015, here are her thoughts as she composed them last night.

Wisconsin's spirit is infectious and undeniable

rabble staff — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 04:24:52 +0000

'There were 150,000 people in the streets of Madison on Saturday.'

Wisconsin rising

Ariel Troster — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 22:13:58 +0000

When I woke up on Thursday morning, I had no idea that I would be going to sleep in Madison, Wisconsin. When my boss wandered into my office that morning and asked me if I was willing to hop a plane and join a Canadian union delegation in solidarity with the thousands of workers who had been occupying the state capital for 10 days, I didn't think twice.

Stop Ontario's bill 106!

Ariel Troster — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 19:44:25 +0000

The people from the AIDS Committee of Ottawa and POWER (Prostitutes of Ottawa/Gatineau Work Educate & Resist) are urging Ontario residents to contact their MPPs to urge them to vote against Bill 106 at second reading ... here are the details:

Dear friends and allies,

Message to election candidates not to play with women’s rights

Ariel Troster — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 03:28:10 +0000

Women and men of all ages united today in Ottawa to tell message to election candidates not to play with women’s rights.

Message to Harper: Don't Play with Women's Rights!

Ariel Troster — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:16:49 +0000

Yesterday, representatives from women’s organizations, social justice groups and labour unions held a press conference to denounce the Harper government’s record on women’s rights and accused the Conservatives of seeking to undermine access to abortion “by stealth.”

On Sunday, women will be holding rallies across Canada to tell election candidates not to “play with women’s rights.” Here’s a excerpt from their statement:

Anyone But Harper

Ariel Troster — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:43:58 +0000

Maybe my partisan ideals have faded with a little age and experience, but I am now firmly in the Anyone But Harper camp, and am greatly relieved to hear that the NDP has tentatively opened the door to working in coalition with the Liberals after the election. Of course, Jack Layton is still pretending that he actually has a chance of becoming Prime Minister, and I am not sure if that strikes me as hope or hubris.

Family outing

Ariel Troster — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:32:15 +0000

You'll have to excuse me if I have to duck out to puke a little bit each time I see Harper trot out his family - as if this enough proves that he is a decent guy with everyone's needs at stake who is qualified to continue to lead the country. We get it. His children and wife are blond and idyllic. He is the masculine head of household, wearing a sweater to soften his look and convince us that he has a warm, nurturing side. Kind of like to ubiquitous photo of him with one of the kittens that Laureen fosters (poor kitten!).

Three big, gay issues you won’t hear about during this election

Ariel Troster — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 13:50:18 +0000

How soon we forget that only two years ago, the issue that dominated the election debate was whether people like me should be allowed to get married. Of course, all of the usual suspects lined up to pontificate about how this represented the end of the Canadian family. Several hundred gay marriages later, I am happy to announce that heterosexuality is alive and well, even if Harper and Dion are still fighting to one-up each other as the most fatherly, Leave It To Beaver types.

The axe falls on minority rights in Canada

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

On the surface, the Conservative government's announcement of $1 billion in cuts may seem benign. Since Paul Martin's devastating slash-fest in the mid-90s, we've become used to seeing social program

Do you hear that sound? That wheezing noise in the background is the sound of our rights being pulled out from under us. On the surface, the Conservative government's announcement of $1 billion in cuts may seem benign. If you were half asleep while watching the news last night, the gravity of the situation may not have hit you. But I know that I sat up in bed and couldn't sleep all night.

Why, you may ask?

Squatters make final arguments in Ottawa

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Monday, October 18, 2004

Over two years ago in downtown Ottawa, a group of students, activists and community workers took over an abandoned building as part of a G-8 protest. For seven days, dozens of people scraped wallpape

Over two years ago in downtown Ottawa, a group of students, activists and community workers took over an abandoned building on 246 Gilmour Street as part of a G-8 protest. For seven days, dozens of people scraped wallpaper, painted walls, cooked meals and planted gardens. On July 3, 2002, the police raided the squat, shooting tear gas canisters, smashing windows, and destroying the work of countless volunteer hours.

In a mass arrest, 22 people faced charges including breaking and entering, and several counts of mischief. Five of them pled not guilty, and chose to stand trial.

Sex education cuts put youth at risk

rabble archives — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 03:44:45 +0000

Wednesday, October 29, 2003

I'll never forget my sixth grade initiation into the world of sex education. Our guidance counsellor, Mrs. Hughes, played us a video that must have been produced in the 1960s. It featured cartoon ani

I'll never forget my sixth grade initiation into the world of sex education. Our guidance counsellor, Mrs. Hughes, played us a video that must have been produced in the 1960s. It featured cartoon animals, and whimsical drawings of the female reproductive system. The video ended with the following sage words of advice: “Abstinence is the best way to avoid pregnancy.” Mrs. Hughes (ironically about seven months pregnant herself) proceeded to rewind the video, and replay that particular comment five or six times.