Posted: April 30, 2008

DEBATING THE FUTURE OF THE AMERICAN EMPIRE by James Laxer
  All the candidates must tiptoe around the fact that the Empire is in peril.
 

NGO ACCUSES MINISTER OF MISQUOTING THEM from Democracy Watch
  Democracy Watch calls on Federal Minister Peter Van Loan to apologize.

CANADIANS WANT HIGHER TAXES by Toby Sanger
  New poll shows two-thirds would rather pay the extra penny and receive the urban benefits.
 
 

TEMPLE TEMPEST by Paul Weinberg
  Extremist JDL resurfaces in Bathurst synagogue with Likud pol in tow.
 
 

MeanToons
TRUTH IN PRICING by John Meaney
  Just leave your wallet on the counter.

www.meantoons.com

Editorial

HAPPY MAY DAY, AMIGOS! by Ish Theilheimer
  New threats to working people renew relevance of unions.
 
 

Science matters

THE YEAR OF THE FROG by David Suzuki, with Faisal Moola
  Conservationists, universities, zoos and aquariums invite the public to "Jump in!" and save the frogs.

Canadian Politics

CONSERVATIVES FAIL TO BUILD TRUST by Geoffrey Stevens
  New book on Mulroney's regime only raises questions about Harperites' record.
 

ABORIGINAL PEOPLES CALL FOR CANADA TO SUPPORT ACTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE from the Indigenous Environmental Network
  Seven Aboriginal groups decry Canada's statement to UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

GREGOR FOR MAYOR by Bill Tieleman
  Gregor Robertson has integrity and a deep sense of public service.
 
 

ADJUSTING LEGISLATURE SCHEDULES from Inside Queen's Park
  Opposition, media, criticize plan to change Question Period to first thing in the morning.
 

DETAILS OF TILMA SURE DON'T SOUND HARMLESS by Ricardo Acuña
  First Bill from new Alberta government is a trade agreement that came into effect on April 1, 2007.

Workplaces
UNION ISLAND OPENS ON SECOND LIFE from Union Island
  Activists from around the world will gather online for training, strategizing, and fun.

Special CLC Convention Section
BALLOT BOX CAN BRING POWER FOR WORKERS – CLC by Ish Theilheimer
  Political action strategy focuses on building organizational capacity and training a new generation of activists.
 

Watershed ways

FEED THE WORLD by Ole Hendrickson
  For developing countries, biofuels are a catastrophe.

Consumers
FOOD PRICES TO RISE IN CANADA from The Canadian Press via CBC Consumers section
  New report reiterates that prices will increase in a few months.

Media files
NET NEUTRALITY SUPPORTS DIGITAL DEMOCRACY from NUPGE
  Here are some examples of how Internet Service Providers vary their service according to the content.

World beat
22 YEARS AFTER CHORNOBYL by Brian Whitmore and Claire Bigg
  In disaster's wake, a fading legacy of "Green" awareness.

Take action!
URGE UN TO TAKE URGENT ACTION ON FOOD SHORTAGES from Avaaz.org
  Developing world needs emergency funding increase, ban on speculation.

Feedback from our readers
IT'S AN OCCUPATION, NOT A WAR by Randy Nelson
  And the locals are not insurgents, but people who want their country back.

Humour
LIVING THE UNION LIFE TO THE FULL from the Internet
  No exceptions allowed.
 

PICK OF THE WEEK

THE PRICE WE PAY FOR CIVILIZATION "Taxes are good, necessary, and fundamental to guaranteeing the basic rights that Canadians deserve." So says a new website that also asserts that income tax actually saves you money, even if you don't get a refund, because, "Canadians have already paid for many services and benefits through taxes (healthcare, education, etc) that they will not need to spend their after-tax dollars on." April 30 is income tax deadline day. Here's a way to feel better about having done your duty: visit –   www.frazzeltax.org