Am Johal's blog

The political strongman is back in fashion

amjohal — Wed, 17 Aug 2016 18:47:31 +0000

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The strongman is back in political fashion. From Erodogan in Turkey, Putin in Russia, Orban in Hungary, Modi in India, Trump in the U.S., Netanyahu in Israel, el-Sisi in Egypt, the call for the strong nation is back too.

On Bud Osborn: A poet never dies

amjohal — Tue, 13 May 2014 20:34:40 +0000

It's raining right now while I write this in that dreary Vancouver kind of way. On Tuesday May 6 at night, the city lost an irreplaceable giant and we are all diminished by this sad, sad news.

Justice at stake: Chief Theresa Spence passes Day 15 of hunger strike

amjohal — Tue, 25 Dec 2012 23:04:54 +0000

Launched in the shadows of Parliament Hill two weeks ago, the hunger strike by Attawapiskat First Nation Chief Theresa Spence goes on. There is little to be heard from the federal government or Prime Minister Stephen Harper, but a cowardly silence.

Chief Spence said she is willing to die in an attempt to get the federal government and aboriginal leaders to discuss the treaty process and make fundamental changes.

Spence’s protest was ignited by the recent passage of the government’s second omnibus budget bill and has the support of "Idle No More." Through flash mobs and round dances in shopping centres around the country, they have shown their ability to disrupt, to make noise, celebrate and engage thousands of people across the country.

A Healthy Society: An interview with Ryan Meili

amjohal — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:58:28 +0000

Today is a National Day of Action for a 2014 Health Accord. With this in mind, we bring you an interview with Ryan Meili, the author of A Healthy Society and an important voice in the debate about the future of medicare in Canada.

Am Johal: In your book, A Healthy Society, you argue that a focus on health can revive Canadian democracy. How so?

Q and A with Miloon Kothari, former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing

amjohal — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 04:36:48 +0000

Miloon Kothari is the former UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing. In 2007, Mr. Kothari led a mission to Canada to evaluate its human rights record related to housing.

Q. Now that you have been away from your former role as the UN's Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing, what are some of your reflections on how the international human rights system supports the right to adequate housing?

On Islamophobia: An Interview with Daniel Tutt

amjohal — Thu, 03 May 2012 16:57:20 +0000

Daniel Tutt from the Unity Productions Foundations shares his views on combating Islamophobia in the United States.

Am Johal: You've been engaging in dialogues around Islamophobia and the general representation of Muslims in American society in a post 9-11 context for some time now. How would you describe the current context for Muslims in America, more than 10 years after the trauma of that event?

United We Can founder Ken Lyotier on Vancouver's Jim Green

amjohal — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:33:18 +0000

United We Can founder Ken Lyotier shared these words at a tribute for Jim Green on Saturday, April 14 at the Orpheum in Vancouver -- Green lost his battle with lung cancer earlier this year.

Celebrating Jack

amjohal — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 22:30:37 +0000

In a country like ours, we have little history of participating in collective mourning. It is neither fashionable, nor rooted in our traditions. For nations are built on founding myths which often distort history and deny certain historical suffering.

Today, Jack allowed us to cry together, to feel together, to mourn together -- to think of another world together.

Two questions with Chairman Bob

amjohal — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 05:53:23 +0000

Bob Williams is a former Vancouver City Councillor, former B.C. Cabinet Minister and is currently a board member with Vancity Credit Union, Canada's largest credit union. Am Johal interviewed him in Vancouver.

Up until the mid 60s, tenants couldn't run for public office in Vancouver. How did this change come about?

I was only on City Council for two years, I was a torpedo, and it was great fun. There had never been anyone on Council from the eastside since 1945. I beat out Harry Rankin so the Communists never forgave themselves. All 1,400 of them voted for me and I beat out Harry. This was back in 1964.

Understanding Stephen Harper

amjohal — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 06:36:42 +0000

As politics has shifted to the right since the early 80's, the left has been sadly left flat-footed as neo-liberal policies have proliferated around the western, democratic world. Where the right preached a gospel of smaller government, the left attempted to capture the political imagination by defending the role of the state. It was an important position to take, but as political strategy it has largely been a losing game. How can we deconstruct the neo-liberal rise to power and how do we rebuild a social democratic vision that inspires the country?

That is the central question of today's politics.

Wikileaks reveals U.S. thoughts on Turkish Foreign Policy: 'Rolls Royce ambitions but Rover resources'

amjohal — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 00:41:59 +0000

Below is a confidential memo leaked by Wikileaks. In it, the analysis articulates that Turkey foreign policy has "Rolls Royce ambiitions but Rover resources."

B.C.'s in custody deaths crisis: Interview with SFU Criminologist David MacAlister

amjohal — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 19:44:17 +0000

David MacAlister holds a B.A. and an M.A. in Criminology from Simon Fraser University, an LL.B. from the University of British Columbia, and an LL.M.

Goodbye Campbell

amjohal — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 15:30:03 +0000

It came as a shock, even though it had been expected for some time. The mighty three term Premier had been felled -- mostly by his own missteps, but with an assist to former Social Credit Premier Bill Vanderzalm and his populist anti-HST movement.

Gordon Campbell has been a total piece of work in his time in office -- he leaves in his immediate wake an HST referendum which will take place next year and a cancelled BC Liberal convention which was to take place in a few weeks.

Circumstances Alter Photographs: Interview with Michael Barnholden

amjohal — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:05:51 +0000

Vancouver writer Michael Barnholden is the author of Gabriel Dumont Speaks (Talon Books 1993), On The Ropes (Coach House Books 1997) and Reading the Riot Act: A Brief History of Riots in Vancouver (Anvil Press 2005). He recently released Circumstances Alter Photographs: Captain James Peters' Reports from the War of 1885 from Vancouver's Talonbooks. He is currently the managing editor of West Coast Line.

B.C. art attack: W2's Irwin Oostindie

amjohal — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:07:26 +0000

Irwin Oostindie is Executive Director of W2, a community media and arts space in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.

Q. W2 is one of the newest arts organizations in the city. It was one of the real hubs of activity during the 2010 Olympics. How has W2 been impacted by the cuts to arts? How do you view the Olympic funding for the arts -- was the $40 million for the opening and closing ceremonies worth it?

'Homegrown Terrorism': Interview with Grace Pastine

amjohal — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 01:08:05 +0000

Grace Pastine is the Litigation Director for the BC Civil Liberties Association

Q. There seems to be populist drumbeating on the part of the federal government related to everything from Tamil refugees to security threats. What do you make of the inflated national security rhetoric being used by governments?

B.C. art attack: Interview with Stop BC Arts Cuts' Lindsay Brown

amjohal — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 00:08:20 +0000

Lindsay Brown is the founder of Stop BC Arts Cuts

Q. The Chair of the BC Arts Council recently resigned. What was your reaction?

Jane Danzo's resignation broke the logjam we've been stuck in for a year, so I was hugely relieved. She was a government appointee and she knows the premier personally, so her public stand against the Arts ministry was fairly explosive. It certainly won her the admiration of thousands of British Columbians concerned about arts and culture. Her letter of resignation protested two things: the government's unreasonably devastating cuts to the B.C. Arts Council, and its political interference in B.C. arts and culture.

The B.C. economy: Interview with Doug McArthur

amjohal — Tue, 21 Sep 2010 23:52:40 +0000

Doug McArthur is a Distinguished Professor in the Graduate School of Public Policy at SFU. Previously, he was a Senior Fellow in Public Policy at UBC and served in a number of senior positions in the civil service in B.C.

Q - You prepared a paper in the spring of this year on the B.C. economy that was a diagnostic paper. What were the main structural concerns that you identified with the BC economy?

The sharp decline in the forest industry, the dependence on natural gas and construction over the past five years, stagnation in manufacturing and processing, low private sector investment and stagnant and low exports.

Unpacking the housing numbers: Interview with CCPA's Seth Klein

amjohal — Mon, 20 Sep 2010 23:53:52 +0000

Seth Klein is the Director of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, B.C. office.

Q -- The CCPA-BC just released its report, "Unpacking the Housing Numbers: How much new social housing is BC building?" When you went in to look at the numbers, what were your main findings?

Moral blindness: Interview with Gideon Levy

amjohal — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 05:07:08 +0000

Gideon Levy is an award-winning Israeli journalist and editor for Haaretz, a liberal Israeli newspaper. Levy's weekly column in Ha'aretz, "The Twilight Zone," deals with the politically and emotionally charged subject of the hardships of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza, and their conflicts with the Israeli military and Jewish settlers.

Prior to working for Ha'aretz, Levy was an aide  to Shimon Peres -- at that time leader of the Israeli Labour party, now  Israel's President --and served in the Israeli army for four years. The  son of two Holocaust survivors, he was born in Tel Aviv, where he  resides.

B.C. art attack: Interview with Headlines Theatre's David Diamond

amjohal — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 03:27:24 +0000

David Diamond is the Artistic and Managing Director of Headlines Theatre, based in Vancouver.

Tell me a little bit about Headlines Theater?

Headlines started in 1981. I was the co-founder of the company. This January, we will be celebrating our 30 year anniversary. We're an issue-based theater company and have been from the very beginning. Headlines is certainly one of the oldest political theater companies in the country. We do a number of projects a year, one main-stage, many other small projects that happen by invitation.

B.C. art attack: Interview with Judith Marcuse

amjohal — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 03:49:57 +0000

Judith Marcuse is the founder and Co-Director of the International Centre of Art for Social Change, a partnership with Simon Fraser University. She is also founder and artistic producer for Judith Marcuse Projects.

Am Johal: The BC government restored some funding recently to the arts. To what degree does it make up for the devastating cuts that were implemented?

Precarious labour: Interview with San Precario Connection organizer Alessandro Delfanti

amjohal — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:26:59 +0000

Alessandro Delfanti is an organizer withe San Precario Connection and will be visiting Vancouver for a series of talks in early October.

B.C. art attack: Interview with Alliance for Arts and Culture's Amir Ali Alibhai

amjohal — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 01:55:54 +0000

Amir Ali Alibhai is the Executive Director of the Alliance for Arts and Culture in BC.

Q - The B.C. government this past week restored some funding to the arts after heavy advocacy by supporters of the arts. To what degree will this make up for the cuts that happened?

B.C. art attack: Interview with VIVO General Manager Emma Hendrix

amjohal — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 23:37:59 +0000

Emma Hendrix is a multi-media artist and sound designer. He is the General Manager of VIVO Media Arts Centre.

Q - How has VIVO been impacted by the cuts to the arts? How has this impacted artists?

B.C. art attack: Interview with Artspeak Director Melanie O'Brian

amjohal — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:44:57 +0000

Melanie O'Brian is the Director of Artspeak Gallery in Vancouver.

B.C. art attack: Interview with PAARC President Keith Higgins

amjohal — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 02:21:00 +0000

Keith Higgins is the President of PAARC (Pacific Association of Artist Run Centres) and the Director of the Helen Pitt Gallery. He is also one of the founders of Artspeak Gallery.

The census and civil liberties: Interview with Micheal Vonn

amjohal — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 00:21:40 +0000

Micheal Vonn is the Policy Director with the BC Civil Liberties Association. She will be making a submission to the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology on the census.

Investing in children: Interview with Dr. Clyde Hertzman

amjohal — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 03:47:02 +0000

Dr. Clyde Hertzman is Director of the Human Early Learning Partnership (HELP) at the College for Interdisciplinary Studies at UBC; Canada Research Chair in Population Health and Human Development; and Professor in the School of Population and Public Health at UBC.

Arab-Israeli groups demand answers from Canadian government for funding cuts

amjohal — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 07:03:44 +0000

A few months, the Globe and Mail broke a story about the politicization of the International Development Research Centre after Canadian funding for Mada Al-Carmel, an Arab-Israeli NGO was suddenly cut. Mada Al-Carmel had been targeted by NGO Monitor, a pro-Israel organization which monitors Arab-Israeli and Palestinian NGOs, and their funders.

Now, a group of Arab/Israeli NGOs have released the following letter to the Canadian Ambassador in Israel: