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Happy New Year! Here's to a happy, healthy, revolutionary 2013. Love to all.

I am so enjoying re-watching the original Star Trek series, in order, from the beginning, on my US Netflix/Roku. I half-dread writing about "Star Trek TOS", because of... well, you know. The whole Star Trek thing. The whole sci-fi thing. If you read the " what i'm watching " and " what i'm reading " posts on wmtc, you know I am not a science fiction aficionado. Obviously I am not a Trekkie or a Trekker. I don't know or care about Star Trek trivia. Shatner* memes can be mildly amusing, but really, whatever. I just really like this show. (This is a problem when you casually enjoy something that has a cult following. I've never written about Xena, either, for the same reason. I'm not a fantasy fan. I just love that show!) I watched Star Trek as a kid, back when there was no need to append "the original series" to the name,** but before stumbling on it on Netflix, I hadn't seen it in more than a decade. I thought I had seen...

Congratulations to Andy Barrie, former CBC broadcaster, on being awarded the Order of Canada, the country's highest civilian honour. This CBC story says that Barrie "left the U.S. and moved to Canada during the Vietnam War". But if you listen to this interview , you will hear how Barry "left" and "moved": he had volunteered for the war in Vietnam, then deserted, and fled to Canada. Andy Barrie is a war resister, and was a deserter. (Do you hear that, Jason Kenney? Andy volunteered and deserted , and he was still allowed to stay.) Andy has been a longtime and active supporter of the War Resisters Support Campaign and of our current group of resisters to the invasion and occupation of Iraq. Thank you, Andy Barrie, for being in Canada, and for choosing peace.

At last, this is the fourth post of the talks I attended in November and December. Allan and I organized this in Mississauga, through the Mississauga "twig" of the IS . The talk was given by our friend and comrade John Bell. The other recent talks: noah richler, u.s. war resisters, and the militarization of canadian culture , from greece to chicago to toronto, workers fighting back against austerity , and talking radical: a history of canada through the eyes of activists . Allan is guest-posting this one. * * * * This past year, Conservative MP Paul Calandra hosted a War of 1812- related "celebration of the armed forces" in Stouffville, Ontario, including a military flyover. This was one small part of a nationwide propaganda campaign by Steven Harper's Conservative Government - which is costing Canadian taxpayers at least $30 million - to prop up a myth: a sense of Canadian glory about the War of 1812. The Conservatives claim that the War of 1812 united Canadian...

First we read about the horrific gang rape, with spectators. Then we learn that the victim has died. Then, on top of all that, we hear authorities may seek the death penalty for the perpetrators. I was heartened by the demonstrations and the vigils. Until I read that people are clamouring for murder. Murder is not justice. It is vengeance. It won't make women any safer.

Media Release For Immediate Release December 28, 2012 Attawapiskat Chief Spence heading into day 19 of hunger strike and seeking Canadians, Members of Parliament and politicians to urge Prime Minister Harper to meet and commit to Nation to Nation relations with Canada’s Aboriginal Peoples. Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, Ontario Chief Theresa Spence is heading into day nineteen of a hunger strike and concern for her health has been expressed by community members worldwide. Her resolve is unwavering to continue her hunger strike until the Prime Minister and his government agree to a meeting to discuss a commitment and a way forward to begin Nation to Nation treaty based relationship and a path forward for reconciliation with First Nations and Canada. Her condition continues to weaken every hour and the time has come for increased efforts to gain the support of Canadians and governments in forging this new relationship. Two events will be planned for Sunday December 30th, 2012. 1. Open hous...

‎ When our ancestors made treaties with the British Crown to allow the Queen's subjects to live in our territories, it was for as long as the sun shines, the waters flow and the grass grows. The Crown's only legal access to our lands is contingent upon the fulfilment of the promises made in the negotiations of treaty. Canada is considered a First World country and our peoples are living in extreme poverty and substandard living conditions. As nations, we held up our end of the treaty, yet Canada continues to only pay lip service to our relationship. — Chief Theresa Spence If the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs can meet with Chief Spence, as the Health Minister suggests , then the Prime Minister and the Governor General can do the same. It's not too much to ask. In fact, it's incredibly conciliatory and compassionate, considering the treatment aboriginal peoples have received and the conditions they have endured.