Although this letter is directed to Tarek Fatah, it can just as easily be applied to others who have left the Left. Indeed, the “bridge back to progressive politics, and criticism of the power structure, both economic and political, that engenders so much injustice in our world” requires an analysis that is antithetical to Liberalism.

“A demonstration by over 1000 people was held Sun. Dec. 10 in front of the Supreme Court and the Famous Five statues on Parliament Hill, to protest the changes to Status of Women Canada and other cuts by Harper. While CTV and others covered it, the Globe & Mail was silent. Their response to complaints from women: ‘While the question of what is news is always debatable by the public and the media, the Globe and Mail does not normally cover demonstrations unless the event crosses that magic threshold into newsiness. Demonstrations - even in Canada’s capital - are a fairly routine event and The Globe aspires to bring its readers stories that go well beyond the routine. As well, we have a small staff on Sundays and we must be very selective about what we cover’”. -From NB Women’s News - Dec. 19, 2006.

This is the second overture made by Syria towards Israel in the past three months. In October, Syria’s “President Assad said that Syria would be prepared to hold talks.” Of course, his statements were dismissed by Prime Minister Olmert:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6039076.stm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/programmes/newshour/news/story/2006/10/061010_assad.shtml

–As long as we live under capitalism, socialists and those that fight for equality, progress, and a future without oppression will be under scrutiny of the long arm of the State. Being in politics is not illegal. Being elected should not put you on the watch list. Fighting for democracy of the people and progressive change in the political system should not be suspicious… at least not in a free society. The Left must demand an apology from the RCMP and demand that they cease any current surveillance of people based purely on their political ideology.

–This is a call for a new Socialist Unity Party in Venezuela to be built from below. No more appointing officials, no more bureaucracy, just more democracy. All sounds good to me. The people of Venezuela will build their own future and we must make sure that they are able to do this without interference from the main capitalist countries.

–The Latin American people continue their drive towards socialism. It has been a perilous journey but they are determined. Have a look at the history of the movement here.

–That is a lot of students. They have gathered from across Latin America to promote student rights, human rights, worker rights, and the continued fight for equal access to education and opportunity.

–Sid Ryan the head of CUPE Ontario writes about his experience following the CUPE resolution calling for the end to the Apartheid actions of the Israeli State against the Palestinians.

–Capitalists continue their attacks on anything progressive and beneficial to the working people of this country.

–Yet another example of why the Carbon trading scheme of the liberals is not going to solve the problem of global warming and emissions. If Airlines benefit from it then it is not working correctly.

–Labour Party leader? Labour has had a history of having reasonable people within its ranks but where are their voices now?

–We must support this progressive move by some in the organised Christian sects. To fight the Church hierarchy cannot be easy especially in the direction of embracing human rights for all.

–How much more can the people of the US tolerate this kind of dictatorial action on behalf of the US Administration? Critics must exist in the government and must be given freedom to express their views otherwise there is no way to have discussions about foreign policy and there is no way that there can be rational and reasonable decisions made.

–Freedom to protest must be granted to all. My question here is who are the protesters that have ‘gone undergroud’? What are their aims and political ideology? The fact that the Guardian has left this out of their story makes me a bit suspicious of the content.

–There continues to be a campaign against Arar. There is no reason at all for Arar to be on a watch list unless the US Administration feels that because of his treatment he should be denied rights. Canada should not be tolerating such continued treatment of our citizens.

“Israel has already built 209 miles of wall, which means 42 percent of the project. Another 63 miles are still under construction.”

“What we are watching across the whole region is the steady but increasing collapse of American imperial power. It will not be a joyous event. It may prove to be terrifying. It will definitely be bloody. And Lebanon may now be the mirror that proves it all true.” - Robert Fisk

“On Sunday, the Oaxaca People’s Popular Assembly, or APPO, took to the streets for the first time since federal police lifted the last protest camp in Oaxaca, beating and imprisoning over 140 protesters and opening the way for state police to carry out a witch hunt for APPO organizers. In the following days, state police pulled people off the streets and from their homes, raising the number of detentions to 200.”

This is no way to treat peaceful protesters.

–As the US increases it operations to eliminate democracy in Cuba it is good to have a look at the history of this project.

–An interesting article looking at the difference between socialist Venezuela and capitalist Canada and their use of the oil (and other natural resource) wealth. In Canada it all goes to private hands and is squandered. In Venezuela it all goes to the people who democratically decide how it is spent. Now, you tell me which is more democratic.

–There is nothing that the State said to us that was true in the lead up to the war on Iraq. Pack of lies, all of it.

–Outrageous.