La Llorona, a Guatemalan Film on Guatemala’s Genocide–Sort of

Introduction My wife (who was born in Guatemala) and I went to see the film La Llorona last night. The showing of the film was sponsored by The Leo Panitch School for Socialist Education and the Socialist Project. Here is what the advertisement says: FilmSocial Presents: La Llarona Wednesday, October 30 / 7:00 pm - 9:00 … Continue reading La Llorona, a Guatemalan Film on Guatemala’s Genocide–Sort of

Athens dockworkers block ammunition shipment bound for Israel

The following is relevant for addressing possible future genocides ( https://peoplesdispatch.org/2024/10/18/athens-dockworkers-block-ammunition-shipment-bound-for-israel/): Workers at Piraeus Port prevented the loading of ammunition destined for Israel, condemning the political elite’s complicity in the ongoing genocide in Gaza October 18, 2024 by Peoples Dispatch Source: PAME Greece Workers at the Piraeus Port in Athens successfully blocked a shipment of ammunition … Continue reading Athens dockworkers block ammunition shipment bound for Israel

The Real World of the Rule of Law, Part 7: From Citizen to Accused, and then From Citizen to Suspect with the Emergence of the Police

Introduction As some of the left fall all over themseves referring to the genocide in Gaza and the West Bank as a breach of international law without gaining any criticial distancing from the limitations of "the law," , the actual nature of law and its procedural acrobatics lies hidden. It is better to remind workers, … Continue reading The Real World of the Rule of Law, Part 7: From Citizen to Accused, and then From Citizen to Suspect with the Emergence of the Police

Palestinian Trade Unions Call for Immediate Action Against the Ongoing Genocide

The Socialist Project posted the following recently on its website ( https://socialistproject.ca/2024/10/one-year-on-workers-everywhere-stop-genocide/): One Year On: Our Call to Workers Everywhere – Stop the Genocide Labour, War/Peace  •  October 16, 2024 Palestinian Trade Unions Call for Immediate Action Against the Ongoing Genocide One year ago, Palestinian trade unions made an urgent global call to action, imploring workers across the world … Continue reading Palestinian Trade Unions Call for Immediate Action Against the Ongoing Genocide

Should Not the Radical Left Take into Account the Attitude of Workers Towards Their Own Jobs? Part Three, The Case of the Toronto District School Board

Introduction One of the few things that I agree with the academic leftist Jeff Noonan, professor of philosophy at the University of Windsor, Ontario, is that leftists must start where workers are at: Political engagement begins from trying to understand where people are coming from. But where people are coming from can be interpreted in … Continue reading Should Not the Radical Left Take into Account the Attitude of Workers Towards Their Own Jobs? Part Three, The Case of the Toronto District School Board

The Rate of Exploitation of Husky Energy Workers, Or: How Unionized Jobs Are Not Decent or Good Jobs

Introduction In another post I presented the twenty largest employers in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, according to the number of employees (see A Short List of the Largest Employers Based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, Based on the Number of Employees). I also presented some posts where I calculated the rate of exploitation of such workers (see, for … Continue reading The Rate of Exploitation of Husky Energy Workers, Or: How Unionized Jobs Are Not Decent or Good Jobs

Hundreds of unions, NGOs in Spain call for general strike in solidarity with Palestine

The following was posted on the Socialist Project's website ( https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/hundreds-of-unions-ngos-in-spain-call-for-general-strike-in-solidarity-with-palestine/3343327): Nationwide protests demand action against Israel’s actions in Gaza Senhan Bolelli  |27.09.2024 - Update : 30.09.2024 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) stage a demonstration at Plaza Mayor in Madrid, where they filed their fourth complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Israel, condemning the killing … Continue reading Hundreds of unions, NGOs in Spain call for general strike in solidarity with Palestine

Critical Education Articles Placed in the Teacher Staff Lounge While I Was a Teacher, Part Thirty-Three: Economic Democracy

This is a continuation of a series of posts on summaries of articles, mainly on education. When I was a French teacher at Ashern Central School, in Ashern, Manitoba, Canada, I started to place critiques, mainly (although not entirely) of the current school system. At first, I merely printed off the articles, but then I … Continue reading Critical Education Articles Placed in the Teacher Staff Lounge While I Was a Teacher, Part Thirty-Three: Economic Democracy

Radicals Who Use Strawman Examples and Arguments Against Basic Income Do No Service to the Working Class

John Clarke, former major organizer of the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), recently posted the following on his Facebook page:  "Basic income makes capitalism inclusive.' I just saw a post on X that made this revealing claim and it expresses two fundamental illusions about basic income. Firstly, systems of income support are inadequate so as … Continue reading Radicals Who Use Strawman Examples and Arguments Against Basic Income Do No Service to the Working Class

Vast Overestimation of People’s Understanding of Their Situation Limits People’s Capacities to Aim for a Socialist Society

Introduction I find it interesting how radical activists forget their own past--such as formerly expressing social-democratic or social-reformist views. John Clarke, former major organizer for the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP), posted the following recently (July 09, 2024) on Facebook:  Some people conclude that the insufficient level of social resistance in this society is because … Continue reading Vast Overestimation of People’s Understanding of Their Situation Limits People’s Capacities to Aim for a Socialist Society