Homage to the New Year

By Don Kossick

Saskatoon

As We Walk This Earth

How do we walk this Earth?

Do we walk looking, observing, sensing..
feeling the energy of the wind.. the colors of the sky - blue, grey, red and orange at sunset.

The greeness of the grass reaching out to us...the drops of mositure on the leafy surfaces..
glistening.. translucent.

Do we see the rocks storing our histories.
Do we see wild life watching us.
Do we see the insects that surround us - the birds in their brilliance..
making the world we live in.

Do we see people.

People struggling to survive, in community, throughout the world.
Struggling for their well-being - their children - for a better world.
Struggling with hope, compassion, and care for one another.
Struggling against the abyss of nothing.

Do we see those with no hope - trapped in unremitting poverty,

Preyed upon by those who show no mercy.

Do we see the whole earth.

A wondrous creation - providing for all, but now under siege.
The siege of injustice, greed, profits before people...war and destruction.

Taking the the earth's precious resources, taking the dignity of all.

But we can see a rising,
A rising of hope for a better world.
A building in communion of a more just world.

Links being built - between and within us - creating a harmony of self,
And a harmony of a balanced earth.

This we strive for - step by step - inter woven with others and all that Earth is.

As we walk this Earth.

A Pub Crawl with Karl Marx

NYC doesn't do pub crawls any more, not even on New Years. So thanks to Kasama for digging this out. This account was written by Wilhelm Liebknecht in 1896, about forty years after the night described.

In the spirit of “hair of the dog” I offer the following recollection of a pub crawl with Karl Marx. This night out took place in London during the 1850s, where Karl Marx lived after the defeated continental revolution of 1848. Beer was a favorite among Germans– and refugees of 1848 had brought that love with them into exile around the world. 

One evening, Edgar Bauer, acquainted with Marx from their Berlin time and then not yet his personal enemy […], had come to town from his hermitage in Highgate for the purpose of “making a beer trip.” The problem was to “take something” in every saloon between Oxford Street and Hampstead Road – making the something a very difficult task, even by confining yourself to a minimum, considering the enormous number of saloons in that part of the city. But we went to work undaunted and managed to reach the end of Tottenham Court Road without accident.

There loud singing issued from a public house; we entered and learned that a club of Odd Fellows were celebrating a festival. We met some of the men belonging to the “party,” and they at once invited us “foreigners” with truly English hospitality to go with them into one of the rooms. We followed them in the best of spirits, and the conversation naturally turned to politics – we had been easily recognised as Germany fugitives; and the Englishmen, good old-fashioned people, who wanted to amuse us a little, considered it their duty to revile thoroughly the German princes and the Russian nobles. By “Russian” they meant Prussian nobles. Russia and Prussia are frequently confounded in England, and not alone of account of their similarity of name. For a while, everything went smoothly. We had to drink many healths and to bring out and listen to many a toast.

Then the unexpected suddenly happened…

Saskatchewan Crop Practices Need to Adopt to Climate Change

Adapting to Climate Change

The Director of Weather and Market Analysis with the Canadian Wheat Board says production practices in western Canada may have to be altered as the climate changes. Weather models indicate farmers on the prairies will see longer growing seasons and more weather variability.

"Certainly there's probably some challenges due to the climate variability that we would look at a generation or two ahead," said Bruce Burnett.

"There's probably going to be some opportunities, not only from an economic point of view but also re-inventing agriculture a bit as we go forward looking a newer crops, different crops, different production practices in western Canada."

Burnett says everybody in the agriculture industry in western Canada should be looking at the potential effects and adaptation requirements related to changes in the climate.

Discover Moose Jaw

Time for the left to get bold

This quote from Murray Dobbin's most recent blog , Harper's Arrogance Reflects Our Weakness, stresses the importance of getting serious about politics. For the left, this means getting serious about connecting, organizing and finding a new sense of boldness. Too much is at stake to do otherwise.

"Given the danger the country faces from the Harper dictatorship there should be emergency meetings being held in Ottawa with all the national unions, the churches, the Council of Canadians, national environmental organizations and other civil society groups whose job it is to create a political culture in which this kind of fascist-minded government simply could not operate.

Harper’s vicious politics were in some ways inevitable. If we allow our political culture to erode and weaken into little more than a side-show to consumerism, it is just a matter of time before the forces of reaction seize the moment and permanently change the country.

It means, in effect, that we are simply not serious in fighting the dismantling of the country. Given the values of Canadians, and the enormous capacity of civil society to respond to the challenge if it chooses to, this simply should not be happening. That it is happening is a dramatic demonstration of our failure of political will.

When will we get serious? Maybe that should be our collective New Year’s resolution. We have two months in which to accept the challenge."
Murray Dobbin's Blog

Senior's Power in Saskatchewan

As a generation of unonists and activists retire and hope to enjoy their senior years, they continue to organizet to have their voices heard as new realities confront them.

Seniors' Voice is published by a group of non-profit seniors organizations. Their stated purpose is "to inform seniors about the many and varied issues which impact on the sense of well-being of all segments of our society. We are dedicated to the preservation of our Canadian Quality of Life, which has made Canada the best country in the world in which to live." Visit their webpage for on-line copies of their newsletter and contact information.

Other organizations are also fighting for retired workers. The Saskatchewan Federation of Union Retirees (SFUR) is a provincial affiliate of the Congress of Union Retirees of Canada (CURC) which is the independent senior wing of the Canadian Labour Congress, representing retired members of the labour movement. It is open to anyone over 50 years of age, who has been a member of any Canadian Labour Congress affiliated union at any time in their working years (or is presently a member of a union) can join. Spouses are also welcome to join.

The Saskatchewan Retirees Association Inc. represents mostly former employees from Saskatchewan's public service. Visit the SRA website for more information.

"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Power is ever stealing from the many to the few." from Senior's Voice.

Tommy Douglas "The Cream Separator"

Tommy Douglas recites one of his favourite stories. Introduction by Pierre Berton, video by Doug Taylor.

Tommy Douglas on YouTube

A Tommy Douglas page has been set up on YouTube where you can see all Tommy Douglas and related videos in one place.

Visit TommyDouglasTube.

The Socialist Ten Commandments

More information on Socialist Sunday Schools here.

Next Year Country: First issue

Now, for the first time ever, the very first issue of Next Year Country from October 1972 is here in flip page style.

Contributors included Don Kerr, John Richards, Lorne Brown and John Conway.

Carbon Copy: Preventing Oil Sands Fever in Saskatchewan

By Terra Simieritsch , Simon Dyer and Marc Huot

The oil sands in Saskatchewan could hold as much as 2.3 billion barrels of bitumen, and cover an area of 27,000 square kilometres. Development of oil sands is still in its early stages in Saskatchewan, so there is still an opportunity to do things properly and avoid the mistakes in Alberta.
Download pdf here.
OilSandsWatch.Org

Leader Fails Canada

By Don Kossick

If there is a shame on Canada, it is a result of the complete lack of leadership provided by the government and our prime minister to creating a more sustainable world.

The sad thing is that the majority of Canadians do want emissions control that work and prevent the overheating of our planet. Unfortunately, Stephen Harper is putting the interests of a minority of Canadians ahead of that of the majority that is deeply concerned.

The fact that he did not speak as a national leader at Copenhagen and that Canada received the Fossil of the Year award indicates that we have a political leadership that simply does not care.

A function of a healthy democracy is the ability to balance all interests for the greater good of all. Prime Minister Harper does not get this.

Don Kossick
Program Developer

Making the Links

Making the Links Radio has been broadcasting for a decade on CFCR 90.5 FM community radio in Saskatoon. Making the Links is committed to reporting on international and local issues in a way that is informative, indepth and offers coverage not normally found in the mainstream media.

Regina Manifesto, Part 2: Murray Dobbin on the Future of Canadian Democracy

By Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
December 23, 2009

"This week, we bring you the other half of our two-part focus on the Regina Manifesto - a founding document of social democracy in Canada.

The Regina Manifesto helped shape the foundation of Canadian social democracy. It was written in 1933 against the backdrop of the Great Depression, representing hope for Canadians in its call for a new, socialized economy, "owned, controlled and operated by the people."

On October 17th in Saskatoon, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives held an event to examine the importance of the manifesto today - 76 years after it was written. The forum was called "The Future of Social Democracy in Canada: The Relevance of the Regina Manifesto in the 21st Century", and featured Murray Dobbin as one of its speakers. A long-time author, broadcaster and journalist, Dobbin observed that the manifesto is so in tune with modern concerns, it could almost have been written today."
- Rabble  Regina Manifesto podcast

Images - The Saskatchewan Prairies

Nice video from piaknowguy. Watch in full screen.

Brad hits the Wall

Saskatchewan premier's political Ponzi scheme collapsing

By John Conway

Regina

Ponzi schemes are suddenly well understood by many -- the fraudster promises great returns on investment, takes your money and keeps it, paying off those demanding some payout from the funds which continue to flow in from greedy suckers. Those schemes not uncovered by authorities eventually collapse, especially when a recession hits, financial panic sets in and investors scramble to get their money out.

If and when the economy tanks, the stage is set for payback and the government is forced to renege on promises by cutting spending, cutting programs and, horror of horrors, raising taxes. This can lead to humiliation and defeat -- though no prison time, of course.

Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall's Ponzi scheme has been hit by the world-wide recession before it even got off the ground. Last March, Wall brought in a budget with huge cuts in education property tax, with the biggest cuts going to rural and small town Saskatchewan, combined with large increases in school board funding.

Read John Conway's full Winnipeg Press article.

Tobey Nollet: Agrarian Socialist

The description of Tobey Nollet in the Saskatchewan Agricultural Hall of Fame might lead you to believe Tobey was a standard politician and Minister of Agriculture which, under his guidance, "the Lands Branch and the Conservation and Development Branch were established the latter providing an engineering service to deal with soil and water problems, flood control, irrigation and reclamation. Provincial community pastures were developed which now accommodate well over 100,000 head of cattle. Under an Earned Assistance Policy, hundreds of erosion control projects were undertaken, thousands of miles of field shelter belts were planted and more than 100 community grazing associations were organized and assisted."

But Tommy Douglas called him the most "vociferous socialist" amongst his ministers. Starting with the Farmer-Labor Group and then the CCF, Tobey was a dedicated reformer who fought hard to improve the lives of Saskatchewan farmers.

This snuff chewing, cussing Cutknife cattle rancher was elected with the first CCF governement in 1944. "We were out to build a new world, no matter how long it took. A world in which people would come first and in which the economic system would have social goals." he stated. "We were pioneering a new philosophy, and we were conscious that we couldn't fail. We had to make it work. We knew it wasn't going to be easy and there were no shortcuts."

His engagement as a soldier in World War One and his exposure to socialists back home in Montana shook his convictions and turned him to the left. "Ever since the war, I had been asking myself the question "What's wrong?'" He started reading everything from Robert Owen to Karl Marx. The Depression solidified his new convictions and he took up politics when he moved to Saskatchewan.

Throughout the fifties, Nollet denounced McCarthyism, the Cold War,  nuclear arms, military spending, world hunger and the "imperialistic exploitation" of the third world. His cantankerous character was infamous and he liked to stir up the right-wing opposition .

In the 1980s, he reviewed his accomplishments by asserting "I'm satisfied we did all we could. I would do it all over again, although I never considered myself as a politician; I considered myself as a reformer. Just to be in politics didn't appeal to me at all. But if there was a cause -- a real, just, worthwhile cause -- then I would endure politics and the political system as it is. I always considered myself in the left. I am a socialist and I'm proud of it. To be a socialist means your for the benefit of society. Politically it may be a bad word, but it expresses my viewpoint."

Tobey Nollet served as the Minister of Agriculture from 1946 to 1964. He died on April 16, 1988 in Kelowna, BC.

Quotes are taken from Olenka Melnyks's No Bankers in Heaven: Remembering the the CCF.