Posted: August 06, 2008

BEHIND OBAMA'S RHETORIC by Linda McQuaig
  His main attraction is the notion that he is going to bring about real change.
 
 

WAR AND GLOBAL WARMING by Bruce K Gagnon
  The Pentagon is the single largest consumer of oil in the world. Only 35 countries consume more oil.
 
 

TIME TO RETHINK CANADA'S MISSION IN AFGHANISTAN by James Laxer
  Canadians need a reality check to counter Ottawa's soothing message that steady progress is being made.
 

WETLANDS HOLD 20 PERCENT OF WORLD'S CO₂ by Stephen Leahy
  Wetlands loss fuelling CO₂ feedback loop, scientists say.
 
 

MeanToons
HOW TO WATCH THE OLYMPICS by John Meaney
  2008 games present extra challenges.

www.meantoons.com

Editorial
CANADIANS READY TO DO THEIR PART FOR THE ENVIRONMENT IF GOVERNMENT DOES by Ish Theilheimer
  Political debate is hung up in trendy talk, rather than concrete ways to help ordinary people do the right thing.
 

MUSIC BEATS MEDIA by Penney Kome
  UK group says mainstream media deprive most people of a voice in democracy.
 
 

STAKEHOLDERS ARE AS IMPORTANT AS SHAREHOLDERS by Mark Brownlie
  Companies should plan for long-term best interests.
 
 

Science matters

BC'S BIODIVERSITY IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OF CANADA by David Suzuki, with Faisal Moola
  BC and Alberta are the only provinces that don't have endangered species laws.
 

MeanToons
IT'S A BIG STRETCH by John Meaney
  Some things are best kept out of reach.

www.meantoons.com

Canadian Politics

HARPER VOWS, "NO NEW TAXES" by Geoffrey Stevens
  Promise made at St-Agapit, Quebec, could come back to haunt PM.
 
 

COUNTING CALGARY'S HOMELESS by Gillian Steward
  Many homeless people in Alberta have paying jobs but can't afford a place to live.
 
 

GORDO'S CHANGES JUST PLAIN ROTTEN by Bill Tieleman
  New Order in Council allows BC to refuse benefits to children with autism.
 
 

HOW WE MAKE SEX WORK MORE DANGEROUS by Ginette Petitpas-Taylor
  Sex workers are caught in the messy Catch-22 that is the Canadian law and the way it is applied.
 

BILL C-543 FAR BETTER THAN BILL C-484 by Joyce Arthur
  New private member's bill would penalize assault on a pregnant woman rather than harm to fetus.
 
 

Workplaces
CANADIAN BUSINESS TAXES ARE AMONG THE LOWEST IN WORLD from NUPGE
  KPMG.ca study of 10 nations puts lie to corporate propaganda.

Consumers
273 MEDICATIONS INTERACT WITH ALCOHOL from Public Citizen
  Even having only one or two drinks when using some medications can be risky, says Public Citizen.

Media files

KEITH OLBERMAN GRABBING FOX AUDIENCE by Sherwood Ross
  Finally cable TV has liberal commentator who can compete with Bill O'Reilly.
 
 
 

PICK OF THE WEEK

ENJOY THE GAMES, WATCH OUT FOR RIGHTS Amnesty International monitors Olympics' human rights legacy. According to website: "While the world focuses its attention on the spectacle of the Games and its celebration of human sporting achievement, Amnesty International will keep you up to date with news, information and debate on human rights developments in China. We will mobilize people worldwide to ask the Chinese authorities to make sure the Beijing Olympics truly deliver a positive legacy for the people of China."   www.thechinadebate.org/en/index.php

Hot headlines
GETTING TOUGH ON CRIME IS TOUGHEST ON THE TAXPAYER by Contenta, Rankin, Powell and Winsa
  Survey shows longer sentences are popular with Canadians, but mandatory minimums get mixed reviews.

RABBI LERNER MEETS WITH THE KING OF SAUDI ARABIA by Rabbi Michael Lerner
  Dialogue proves useful, surprising, but somewhat restricted.
 
 

KARADZIC A VICTIM OF SOFT POWER by Gwynne Dyer
  Serbia succumbs to lure of EU membership.
 
 

USA IN ECONOMIC FREE FALL by William Greider
  In the 1990s, Republican Congress repealed all the post-Depression banking restrictions.

Take action!
SUPPORT WALK 4 JUSTICE by Tony Romeyn
  Sign petition demanding accountability for the disappearances of 18 women on Highway of Tears.

Humour
GETTING INTO THE OLYMPICS from the Internet
  Just a little nerve? ... and a prop.