Editorials

New Winnipeg Jets among the only international professional sports teams in the world depicting in-service weapons of war.

The new Winnipeg Jets logo has received a lot of commentary with respect to the design, layout and overall look. While some are simply happy to retain the “Jets” label, others have applauded True North for using pro-military imagery in the new design.

The association of sport synonymously with military symbolism merits some further discussion.

Militarism, Sport, Europe. War without weapons (2003) edited by J.A. Mangan noted the extent to which nations have used, and use sport as a form of cultural conditioning throughout history, from Roman gladiators to the mass sporting events in 1920s Italy to modern-day North Korea.

Bad Sport, How owners are ruining the games we love (2010) by David Zirin notes that stadiums and sports teams are now often being used as religious and political platforms. Zirin highlights the fact that everything from “

Military Family Days” to pro-war speeches propagated by George Bush at halftime shows have changed the playing field from centres of leisure and entertainment to centres of modern-day nationalist zeal.

An arena full of uniformed spectators, fervently waving flags is certainly not an image often associated with Canadian sport, and bears striking allusions to the sport exhibition games in many countries with militaristic (and often dictatorial) governments.

Even in Canada, the Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs “Military Night” on February 19, 2011 saw a camouflaged Canadian Forces Light Utility Vehicle on centre-ice, rather than the beloved Zamboni or the much-coveted Dodge Ram.

The International Olympic Committee understands the negative associations military sloganism can have in professional sport, and prior to the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, informed US goalie Jonathan Quick that he would not be permitted to wear a “Support our Troops” slogan on his helmet through IOC Rule 51, though this type of policy does not exist in the NHL.

Chomsky’s Manufacturing Consent: The political economy of mass media (1988) found that associating militarism to sport simply propagates nationalist-like fervor, and is an iniquitous medium to garner support for our military actions overseas, legitimate or otherwise.

read full article http://mybananapeel.blogspot.com/2011/07/winnipeg-jets-logo-and-militarism.html

By Syed Hussan

"We are just here to ask you some questions Syed."

Said the younger, shorter man who introduced himself as Ryan. This other one said his name was Dave. "We are from the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Air Marshall Service." Badges flashed and taken away.

Its 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 28, 2011. I've just been put in an interview room with blood stains on the floor and clothes strewn around. I've been at the United States border, the Peace Bridge, since 4:45.

"I understand you are under house arrest, Syed."

"No, I am not."

"I see, why are you trying to enter the United States today, Syed."

I've already been interrogated by Customs and Borders Patrol, by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, by plain clothes men that declined to introduce themselves and I am exhausted.

"Look as I told the last five people, I was arrested with 1,100 people during the anti-G20 protests in June 2010, and I am awaiting trial. My house arrest was lifted a month ago. My mom was diagnosed with cancer last week, she's just had surgery and I need to go see her. I am just here to go to the Canadian consulate, get a Canadian re-entry visa, so that I can get back into Canada on my way back from Pakistan. I have had my bail conditions changed to allow that. The embassy closes in 30 minutes, why am I being held here?"

full article http://rabble.ca/print/blogs/bloggers/hussan/2011/07/crossing-us-border

CTV News.ca Staff

Prime Minister Stephen Harper says it is "disappointing" that the NDP's interim leader was once a member of the Bloc Quebecois, but Nycole Turmel said while she regrets her association with the separatist party she will not step down from her post.

Controversy has swirled around Turmel since she confirmed Tuesday that she was a card-carrying member of the Bloc for about four years before turning in her card in January. She is also a member of the provincial Quebec Solidaire, but says she intends to let her membership lapse.

"I think it's very disappointing," Harper said when asked about Turmel by reporters while handing out scholarships at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. "I don't know that I have a lot to say but I do think Canadians will find this disappointing. I think Canadians expect that any political party that wants to govern the country be unequivocally committed to this country. I think that's the minimum Canadians expect."

Turmel has hit back hard at her critics since news of her political affiliations broke, saying she joined the Bloc to support her friend, former Bloc MP Carole Lavallee. Lavallee held the seat in Saint-Bruno--Saint-Hubert from 2004 until her defeat in the May election.

full article http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/TopStories/20110803/harper-ndp-turmel-bloc-110803/

By Alex Roslin

After Japan’s Fukushima catastrophe, Canadian government officials reassured jittery Canadians that the radioactive plume billowing from the destroyed nuclear reactors posed zero health risks in this country.

In fact, there was reason to worry. Health Canada detected massive amounts of radioactive material from Fukushima in Canadian air in March and April at monitoring stations across the country.

The level of radioactive iodine spiked above the federal maximum allowed limit in the air at four of the five sites where Health Canada monitors levels of specific radioisotopes.

On March 18, seven days after an earthquake and tsunami triggered eventual nuclear meltdowns at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan, the first radioactive material wafted over the Victoria suburb of Sidney on Vancouver Island.

For 22 days, a Health Canada monitoring station in Sidney detected iodine-131 levels in the air that were 61 percent above the government’s allowable limit. In Resolute Bay, Nunavut, the levels were 3.5 times the limit.

Meanwhile, government officials claimed there was nothing to worry about. “The quantities of radioactive materials reaching Canada as a result of the Japanese nuclear incident are very small and do not pose any health risk to Canadians,” Health Canada says on its website. “The very slight increases in radiation across the country have been smaller than the normal day-to-day fluctuations from background radiation.”

In fact, Health Canada’s own data shows this isn’t true. The iodine-131 level in the air in Sidney peaked at 3.6 millibecquerels per cubic metre on March 20. That’s more than 300 times higher than the background level, which is 0.01 or fewer millibecquerels per cubic metre.

full article http://www.straight.com/article-415211/vancouver/fukushima-brings-big-radiation-spikes-bc?page=0%2C0

A call to action to all Canadians.  Stop the Wreckage of the Canadian Wheat Board and the handing of power over Canadian grains to foreign owners.  Stop the Harperites NOW ... with action.

Mordecai Richler's contempt for Canada (and for Quebec) lined him up with CIA values at a time when that organization was buying an Art Movement and infiltering cultures on a large scale.  How did Richler fit in?

The BC Rail Scandal trial of Basi, Virk, and Basi ended on October 18, 2010, the B.C. government absorbing all of the $6 million Defence costs.  That is most unusual when employees are found guilty.  What went on?  B.C.'s Auditor General wants to know. And so do British Columbians.  Here's what went on ....

               First off, I want to wish all of my Canadian brothers and sisters a very happy Canada Day on this July 1st, the birthday of, in my heart, the greatest country on earth! Once upon a time, this country was on the right track when it came to improving rights, freedoms, and standards of living. Unfortunately, in the late 20th and 21st centuries we have seen, a regression of sorts back to something that, although different in some ways, immensely resembles something out of the dark ages.

By Stuart Trew

The continentalists are out of the cupboard: The United States and Canada are taking another crack at North American integration, this time without Mexico. Civil servants are dusting off their policy playbooks, business lobbyists are flexing their muscles, and politicians are sexing up their communications strategies. Their opponents, activists fighting for a new economic model, are preparing a counteroffensive that we hope will succeed — again.

The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press has learned that the Harper government plans to appoint former British Columbia premier Gordon Campbell as Canada's new high commissioner to Britain.

Campbell's elevation to one of Canada's highest diplomatic posts comes after he resigned last fall as B.C. premier.

The Liberal premier's popularity plunged when he introduced the 12-per-cent harmonized sales tax in 2009.

by Michel Chossudovsky

While the US Congress questions the legitimacy of the war on Libya, the Canadian parliament with one dissenting voice, votes in favor of extending Canada's participation in an illegal and criminal military undertaking:

On Tuesday, after Canada recognized the NTC as Libya's legitimate government, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said the rebels are the true representatives of the Libyan population and will therefore be a critical player in Canada's efforts to provide assistance.

By Ryan Mailloux

The word science is derived from the Latin word "scientia," meaning knowledge. The acquisition of knowledge is one of the main driving forces of our society. Through basic research or "pure" science, we can acquire the knowledge necessary to understand the fundamental principles that govern our universe. Basic research then forms the foundation of applied research, since understanding the fundamentals accrued by "pure" science are used at the industrial level to generate products.

Will Unions Lament the Attacks or Lead a Fightback?

by Michael Hurley and Sam Gindin

We are living one of those historic moments that cry out for rallying the working-class to build new capacities, new solidarities, and concrete hope. The crucial question is not how far the attacks on the public sector will go. The real question is how far we will let them go? How will working-class activists inside and outside the unions respond? Do we have a counter-plan? Are we preparing one? Can we act as decisively as those attacking us?

The phrase used was "The Cold War" - describing a state of international tension many hardly remember.  It was a time of huge pressure to "align" with the U.S.A. or the U.S.S.R. U.S. pressure was unstinting (in Canada) on individuals and communities to align.  Mordecai Richler usually took loud positions that would be pleasing to the CIA, however unpopular with many Canadians.  Looking back, that fact forces the question - did he have an actual relation with the CIA? Was he an operative?