This week @ rabble.ca: A tale of two very different conventions

Details: Published on Tuesday, 02 August 2016 11:30; Written by editor

28 Jul 2016

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As Republican and Democratic delegates met this week to choose U.S. presidential nominees, it was a tale of two very different conventions. The Republican National Convention put on one long blast of fearmongering, fingerpointing fiery rage while the Democratic National Convention brought the crowd to its feet on themes like fairness and sharing. Find more analysis on our U.S. politics page right here.

The 250,000 litres of heavy oil and diluent that Husky Oil spilled into the North Saskatchewan River on July 21, 2016 is rightly receiving significant public attention. But did you know it's just one of 18,000 spills in Saskatchewan? Read Emily Eaton's report to learn about the extent of the problem and what it means for our drinking water.

This week's top news

Hamilton's sanctuary city languishes as political will fades
Hamilton's city council unanimously approved a motion that permitted undocumented migrants to access municipal services. But lack of staff and will has led to a lack of change for these people.
By Sophia Reuss

Toronto Burlesque Festival 'lightning rod' for political debate
This weekend the Toronto Burlesque Festival begins! Laura Brightwell caught up with the Executive Director of Programming Coco Framboise to get her thoughts on the current burlesque scene.
By Laura Brightwell

Hunger strike continues as Goodale refuses to meet with immigration detainees
Public Safety Minister Ralph Goodale still hasn't agreed to meet with over 50 hunger striking immigration detainees.
By Sophia Reuss

This week's top blogs

Victoria's tent city could inspire national conversation about homelessness this summer
Jessica Hawkins takes a closer look at the ruling of Justice Hinkson in the Super InTent case in Victoria.
By Jessica Hawkins

Tougher laws won't stop drunk driving. We need to tackle Canada's drinking problem.
The latest stats on the death toll from Canada's weak laws on drinking and driving have led to renewed demands that policing be boosted. How about we look to changing the booze culture instead?
By Wayne Roberts

Canada will never end racism unless it dispels these three national myths first
Two weeks ago, Regent Park bore witness to possibly the most candid public discussion on racism with high-level decision-makers in Ontario's history. But it can't stop there.
By Vince Wong

Ursula Franklin a pioneer feminist, pacifist, scientist and social justice fighter
Ursula Franklin's brilliance, courage and kindness were in equal measure. She helped to shape feminism in Canada ensuring that it was also a movement for peace and justice.
By Judy Rebick

On Melania Trump, plagiarism and Eastern Europeaness
Cold War reminiscences are always about denigrating the former Soviet Bloc. Yet, despite the many faults of that system, education was not one of them.
By Raluca Bejan

This week's top columns

Bernie Sanders' insurgent populism has shaken the Democratic Party and it's not going away
The forces unleashed by Bernie Sanders hunger for a real populism, and they're unlikely to settle for anything less than a party that once again shows backbone against bellicose billionaires.
By Linda McQuaig

Privacy compromised: Legal rights and protections in Canada
What should the institutions that are privy to our private information do when they have to deal with competing privacy and secrecy concerns? Michael Hackl looks at Canada's privacy laws to find out.
By Michael Hackl, Pro Bono

Unity and healing is critical for a fractured Democratic Party
As the first woman in U.S. history is nominated to be the presidential candidate of a major party, a deep split in the Democratic Party has emerged.
By Amy Goodman, Denis Moynihan

Is slow 'growth' inevitable? A progressive response to sustained stagnation
Since the 2008 financial crisis, many economic projections now accept a pattern of slow growth as inevitable. Jim Stanford explains why it's important for progressives to dig beneath this argument.
By Jim Stanford

MORE FROM...
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This week's top podcasts

Oilsands workers supporting renewable energy
Adam Cormier and Lliam Hildebrand talk about Iron and Earth, an organization of oilsands workers pushing for support of renewable energy alternatives.
By Scott Neigh

Real world runway
The cancellation of Toronto Fashion Week could be a good thing. In this episode of gooderGoods, Kelly Okamura explains why.
By Kelly Okamura

Glenn Mullin on Buddhism, the power of the inner life and others
Glenn and David talk about "humourful humility," the power of the inner life, Buddhism, the first Tibetan fart joke and the beneficial presence of others.
By Face2Face

This week's top rabbletv

Welcome to Wynnetario
Dear Kathleen Wynne, You're right, it's your job. It's your job to stop the cops, stop the violence, stop the discrimination.
By John Greyson

This week's top books

Feminism has been taken over by capitalism, and it ain't pretty
When did feminism start meaning that consumption was the most revolutionary act? Marketplace feminism has been creeping in for quite a while and it's time to put it in its place.
By Kaitlin McNabb

In this issue

Upcoming events

MontrealWorld Social Forum 2016
The goal of the WSF 2016 is to gather tens of thousands of people from groups in civil society, organizations and social movements who want to build a sustainable and inclusive world.
By WSF

TorontoPeace Fest
Peace Fest encapsulates our passion for social justice and hopes for a brighter future as we shed light on the dark chapters of the history of the Second World War in Asia.
By ALPHA Education

MontrealNCS Peoples University: American Dreams with Thomas Hellman
As part of the World Social Forum in Montreal (August 9-14) and with the NCS Peoples' University, Thomas Hellman offers a unique take on American history.
By NCS Peoples' University

This week's top in cahoots

Discriminatory underfunding of First Nations policing needs to stop
Officers of the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, Canada's largest First Nations policing outfit, voted overwhelmingly for a strike mandate last week.
By Public Service Alliance of Canada

Engage with the electoral reform committee
From July 25-28 the federal government's electoral reform committee will hold 7 hearings. Join the conversation on Twitter, watch the meetings live and help replace Canada's outdated electoral system.
By Fair Vote Canada

What an expanded CPP means for someone like you
Are you an electrician? Do you work at a bank? Wherever you work the federal government's changes to the CPP will affect everyone. Here are some real numbers behind the federal government's new plan.
By Canadian Labour Congress

Active babble topics

Comedian Mike Ward ordered to pay 35k+ in damages for offensive comedy
By Boze

2016 Democratic National Convention
By NorthReport

Green Party sanctioned for peddling 'misleading' polling data in elxn42
By Mighty Middle

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This week's top tool

Help pay for the funeral expenses of Abdirahman Abdi
Let's support the family as we demand justice.

Poll

How's the 2016 U.S. presidential race treatin' ya?

The U.S. presidential race is officially, officially on with Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump battling to see who will be elected the apparent "leader of the free world."

How's the 2016 presidential race treatin' ya so far?

Choices Ugh. Is it over yet? I can't look. Pretty good! The RNC was a trainwreck and I cried when Bernie Sanders' brother nominated him. Meh. Two pretty dismal choices for America it seems. All right. Looking forward to watching the campaigns actually. They will no doubt be interesting! Horrible. Is this what democracy has come to? Great! GREAT. None of the above.