May is a time for commemorations that begins with: the May Day(s), the ancient pagan ritual for Spring, and marking of Labour solidarity in Europe and America; and of course, tomorrow's Cinco de Mayo remembrance of one of Mexico's successful revolutions. But for the residents of Odessa, Ukraine's third city and most important seaport, May the 2nd i…

With the rolling back of labour rights, deterioration of working conditions, government maintenance of an artificially high unemployment rate, proliferation of guest worker programs, and prolonged wage stagnation we've witnessed over the last few decades, the workers around here, if not the World, have good reason to cry "May Day" But who would ans…

Earlier this month, Citizen's Forum, a public access public affairs program, produced by volunteers at Victoria's Shaw Cable affiliate, in accordance with CRTC mandate, was axed. Jack Etkin is the long-time, Victoria-based democracy and media activist host of, and producer behind the show, and a number of other media/democracy projects. Jack Etkin …

Last month, the International Tribunal for Yugoslavia came down with a verdict against Radovan Karadzic, the first president of the Serb Republic, and leader during the Bosnian War of the 1990's.Regardless of the merits of the ICTY's case against Karadzic, the manner in which it was conducted, and the refusal of the Court to investigate properly, l…

I went down to Victoria's Canadian Forces recruiting centre to talk to some of the people observing VOWS' annual day of demonstration.VOWS is calling on the Canadian Government too: "Substantially reduce military expenditures and re-allocate them to urgent social and environmental needs."They say: "The federal government should invest in programs t…