Alert! Radio

Judy Rebick, Murray Cooke and Dennis Pilon compare how the NDP would change under the leadership of Mulcair, Topp, Nash and Cullen. Greenpeace climate change campaigner Keith Stewart responds to the recent report claiming that coal and natural gas, not the tar sands are the real villains of global warming.

This episode of Alert gives a taste of Left Forum, a unique phenomenon in the U.S. and the world, that convenes the largest annual conference of a broad spectrum of left and progressive intellectuals, activists, academics, organizations and the interested public.  Over a thousand speakers participate in 300 panels.  The conference is held each spring in New York City and takes place this year from March 16 – 18th at Pace University. This year’s theme is “Occupy the System: Confronting Global Capitalism”.  We speak with three of the participants about their contributions –Joel Kovel. Barbara Epstein, George Katsiaficas.

This episode of Alert gives a taste of Left Forum, a unique phenomenon in the U.S. and the world, that convenes the largest annual conference of a broad spectrum of left and progressive intellectuals, activists, academics, organizations and the interested public. Over a thousand speakers participate in 300 panels. The conference is held each spring in New York City and takes place this year from March 16 – 18th at Pace University. This year’s theme is “Occupy the System: Confronting Global Capitalism”. We speak with three of the participants about their contributions –Joel Kovel. Barbara Epstein, George Katsiaficas.

Tracking Israel Apartheid Week in Montreal, Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg. Tess Tesalona describes a unique International Women’s Day program sponsored by Women of Diverse Origins in Montreal.

Tracking Israel Apartheid Week in Montreal, Halifax, Toronto, Winnipeg. Tess Tesalona describes a unique International Women’s Day program sponsored by Women of Diverse Origins in Montreal.

Sara Flounders, Director of the International Action Centre debunks the myth that Iran poses a nuclear threat and reveals that money and oil and containing Iran’s role as a regional Middle East power are the real motives behind the interventions under discussion.  Noted Canadian author Yves Engler discusses Canada’s interest in working with other powers to crush Iran.

Sara Flounders, Director of the International Action Centre debunks the myth that Iran poses a nuclear threat and reveals that money and oil and containing Iran’s role as a regional Middle East power are the real motives behind the interventions under discussion. Noted Canadian author Yves Engler discusses Canada’s interest in working with other powers to crush Iran.

Lindsey Pinto, Communications manager of OpenMedia.ca. discusses the Harper government’s on-line spying bill and why opposition to it is so fierce. Tom Walkom, national affairs columnist for the Toronto Star, disputes the very premise of he Drummond Report—that Ontario faces an imminent fiscal crisis unless it cuts back its entire government infrastructure and government services including both health and education. He looks at the impact these cuts would have, especially on lower income Ontarians. York University politics professor David McNally who recently visited China, discusses that country’s state capitalist system, its economic successes and its gigantic income inequalities.

Lindsey Pinto, Communications manager of OpenMedia.ca. discusses the Harper government’s on-line spying bill and why opposition to it is so fierce. Tom Walkom, national affairs columnist for the Toronto Star, disputes the very premise of he Drummond Report—that Ontario faces an imminent fiscal crisis unless it cuts back its entire government infrastructure and government services including both health and education. He looks at the impact these cuts would have, especially on lower income Ontarians. York University politics professor David McNally who recently visited China, discusses that country’s state capitalist system, its economic successes and its gigantic income inequalities.

Who will make the best leader of the NDP and does it matter?  Some surprising answers from Murray Dobbin, Corvin Russell, Simon Tremblay Pepin, Josh Brandon, Herman Rosenfeld, Stefan Christoff.

Who will make the best leader of the NDP and does it matter? Some surprising answers from Murray Dobbin, Corvin Russell, Simon Tremblay Pepin, Josh Brandon, Herman Rosenfeld, Stefan Christoff.

Micheal Vonn, Policy Director of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association discusses soon-to-be introduced “lawful access” bills to expand police surveillance powers. The federal government has announced that it will soon be introducing legislation to increase the ability of police to intercept private communications and access more personal information stored electronically. Steven Staples, President of the Rideau Institute takes on pro-war lobbyists at the Conference of Defence Associations, part of an increasingly powerful National Security Establishment in Ottawa. Canadian Dimension labour columnist Herman Rosenfeld analyses the anti-union campaign shaping up in Canada and laments about the weak state of the labour movement’s opposition.

Micheal Vonn, Policy Director of the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association discusses soon-to-be introduced “lawful access” bills to expand police surveillance powers. The federal government has announced that it will soon be introducing legislation to increase the ability of police to intercept private communications and access more personal information stored electronically. Steven Staples, President of the Rideau Institute takes on pro-war lobbyists at the Conference of Defence Associations, part of an increasingly powerful National Security Establishment in Ottawa. Canadian Dimension labour columnist Herman Rosenfeld analyses the anti-union campaign shaping up in Canada and laments about the weak state of the labour movement’s opposition.

Noted health care analyst Pat Armstrong reflects on what lies behind Harper’s new health care policy. It’s not just a matter of numbers. Pensions expert Andrew Jackson shows why Harper’s pension policy is fiscally unnecessary and devastating, especially for low income seniors. Investigative journalist Martin Lukacs talks about Harper’s tar sands agenda and his efforts to sell it in Canada, the USA and Europe.  He comments on the counter campaigns led by indigenous resistance movements in alliance with environmentalists, other activists and municipalities.

Noted health care analyst Pat Armstrong reflects on what lies behind Harper’s new health care policy. It’s not just a matter of numbers. Pensions expert Andrew Jackson shows why Harper’s pension policy is fiscally unnecessary and devastating, especially for low income seniors. Investigative journalist Martin Lukacs talks about Harper’s tar sands agenda and his efforts to sell it in Canada, the USA and Europe. He comments on the counter campaigns led by indigenous resistance movements in alliance with environmentalists, other activists and municipalities.