Posted: January 28, 2009

FINANCIAL ELITE HAVE NO SHAME by Linda McQuaig
  Even in face of crisis, they continue to push for tax cuts instead of stimulus.
 
 

WOMEN NOT INCLUDED IN FEDERAL BUDGET by Irene Mathyssen
  There is not a single mention of women in the entire budget document.
 

BUDGET SLEIGHT OF HAND by John Baglow
  Dazzling government budget promises lack substance needed to fulfill them.
 
 

AS POLITICIANS STALL ON CLIMATE CHANGE, GRASSROOTS ACTION FILLS VOID by Stephen Leahy
  NGOs have an extremely important role in pressing governments to act.
 

GOOD NEWS IN THE GLOBAL ECONOMY by Bob Dickson and Blaise Salmon
  World Microcredit Summit reaches its goal of providing small loans to 100 million very poor families.
 

STRAIGHT GOODS IS TEN! ... And to celebrate, we're giving away ten gifts to people who answer our Reader Survey. If you haven't already, tell us a bit about yourself, and you could win some great SG swag. But wait – there's more! SG's new, improved Forum makes it easy for subscribers to respond right away to each story. Just click on "Add Comment" at the bottom of every new article and leave your comments on the Reader's Forum.

Editorial
BUDGET PULLS PUNCHES ON JOB CREATION, ABANDONS WOMEN by Ish Theilheimer
  Conservatives offer lots of sizzle but not much burger for anxious workers and families – especially women.
 

EUGENE FORSEY DEBUNKS "CONSTITUTIONAL FAIRY TALES" by Helen Forsey
  Famed Senator's daughter draws on his work to explain the role of the Opposition.
 

Science matters
HUNTING IN PARKS IS AT ODDS WITH CONSERVATION by David Suzuki, with Faisal Moola
  Taking out the biggest and strongest animals affects the characteristics of future generations.
 

Health matters
TEN POINT PLAN FOR SHORTER WAIT TIMES from the National Union of Public and General Employees
  Planning, not privatization, the key to proper patient care.

MeanToons
OUT, OUT, DAMNED SPOT! by John Meaney
  Here is a good start to a much-needed house cleaning.

www.meantoons.com

Canadian Politics

BUDGET POLITICS by Geoffrey Stevens
  The Harperites have dispensed with budget secrecy in order to sell the idea of deficits.
 

HARPER AND STELMACH WILL BE SINGING FROM OBAMA'S SONG SHEET by Gillian Steward
  New US president will set the policy trend for Alberta and Canada.
 

TEST CABINET, NOT STUDENTS by Bill Tieleman
  Literacy and numeracy test results could help voters choose their leaders.
 
 

CHILDCARE CAN BOOST THE ECONOMY by Elsie Hambrook
  Non-profit programs offer the best return on government investment.
 
 

ONTARIO NDP LEADERSHIP CANDIDATES from Inside Queen's Park
  IQP interviews Ontario NDP leadership candidates Andrea Horwath and Peter Tabuns.

Consumers
CHILD SAFETY FEATURES NOW REQUIRED FOR NEW HOMES from Canadian Standards Association
  CSA releases 2009 Canadian Electrical Code.

Media files
MEDIA FUDGE GITMO FIGURES from Media Matters for America
  Many media repeat unverified claims that 61 former Guantanamo captives have returned to the battlefield.

IMPACT ON CBC OF A $200 MILLION CUT by Ian Morrison
  Friends of Canadian Broadcasting warn that Conservatives plan even more draconian cuts to CBC funding.

World beat
OBAMA TAKES NEW DIRECTION ON MIDDLE EAST by Uri Avnery
  A gap has opened between the US and Israel – a narrow gap that may become an abyss.
 

UN MADRID FOOD SUMMIT COULD MISS CRITICAL TARGET from Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières
  55 million young children are at risk for malnutrition.

PICK OF THE WEEK

HELP FUND MICROCREDIT PROGRAMS If you want to help fund microcredit programs, the best way is through the Citizen Bank program, linked from the bottom of the microcredit article. Another way is to place at least $50 with MicroPlace.com, for two years, and receive a 2 percent interest rate. While you are there, have a look at all the programs offered globally.   microplace.com

Hot headlines

ISRAELI TAIL WAGS AMERICAN DOG by Gwynne Dyer
  Israeli PM says that he bullied Bush and Rice into compliance.
 
 

A JOBS PROGRAM THAT FAILS by David Bruser
  Retraining injured worker to stock shelves costs more than it would to send him to university for four years.
 
 

BEHAVIOURAL ECONOMICS by Craig Lambert
  Good-by Milton Friedman! Hello, framing and human foibles.
 
 

Take action!
KEEP PUSHING OTTAWA from the Amalgamated Transit Union
  Transit workers need public support to get a new contract.

Humour
WHITE HOUSE TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY from the Internet
  Normal service now resuming.