“[Rather] a picture is beginning to emerge of a clash between an Iraqi Shia tribe on a pilgrimage to Najaf and an Iraqi army checkpoint that led the US to intervene with devastating effect.”

It should be noted that while this story was available via Reuters no domestic papers carried it. So far, I can only find this story in Haaretz and the Jerusalem Post. The National Post did not have any articles on Hamas yesterday. While the NY Times had seven articles on Hamas and its use of terrorism, it failed to mention this rather salient declaration from a British parliamentary committee.

The Conservation Council of New Brunswick is calling for a freeze on current greenhouse gas emissions in the province, and asking that the premier remember his past support of the Kyoto Protocol.

CCNB News Release: Conservation Council Calls for Greenhouse Gas Freeze

–It has actually always been part of the ideology in South America… it is just that the people have now got control over their governments and can actually put it into action.

–More on Venezuela’s process and democracy how it should be.

–The media say that the march only had 100 000 people in it. The real number is, of-course, much higher. It seems that there were probably around half a million people out in DC to march against the war.

–A rather interesting article. Demand a living wage.

–This is a US article but it could just as easily be about some of Canada’s cities. We need more social services, not less.

–This is a protest over the fact that nationalisation of the oil and gas sector have not gone far enough. Nice to see people in Bolivia know where their priorities are.

–It is quite easy to answer this. It is because it is not Labour that is in power, it is the opportunistic entryists from the right that brought in “New” Labour. Socialism is not even in the minds of those in New Labour. If people want socialsit policy then they are either going to have to drag the “New” out of Labour or they are going to have to build something new from scratch.

–Is there anyone except Bush and Bliar that actually think that the mission in Iraq is actually getting what they want?

–The troops are not providing security to the people of Afghanistan, if they were the numbers would not be what they are.

–Leftnews supports the Fredericton Peace Coalition’s stance. Support the troops, bring them home.

–Right, ’cause New Brunswick doesn’t have enough monopoly ownership over our forestry industry.

–We must continue to organise and put pressure on the governments of the world if we are going to save life on this planet.

–The fact that the city is not considering it should be of concern to the residents. Public services are more efficient and better run.

“A powerful speech highlighting the appalling situation in Iraq, and the pathetic handling of it by the British government: Ill-equipped troops, brutal treatment of civilians, and support for death squads: Welcome to democracy, Bush & Blair style!”

–The environmental review should be a national issue for the second refinery in Saint John. The Conservation Council and the people of Saint John are going to need public support from throughout the province to make sure that Irving is held to account for anything that they do with regards to this refinery.

–Global Warming. To stop it is going to take more than just market driven solutions.

–It is really something to see. Socialism continues to be the wanted future for workers around the world.

–The unions are on the ground at the World Social Forum.

–It needs to be understood that the “official” number of dead is well below the actual number of dead in Iraq because the “official” numbers do not count the mercenaries.

–Have a read and find out why it has happened. It is extremely important the people read something other than just the corporate press on this issue.

–A little on why lecturers in Britain did not get what they wanted from their union. Democracy in a union is necessary so that things like this do not happen.

–It is exactly because the Mass. “Universal” health care plan is not a universal health care plan. The large insurers are offering minimal coverage options where people can basically pay the insurers and get nothing in return. If the states want to help the poor and the working class in the US get access to insurance then they should adopt a single-payer (ie: the government — through taxation) system.

–Once again the Corporate Media has all but ignored the magnitude of the anti-war protests in DC over the weekend. Have a read here what they were really like and what they were all demanding.

–Always of interest to student and academics involved with social justice issues. Is there a way to be an academic and be directly involved in social justice? The answer is yes, but it is not that straightforward.

–Iraq Veterans against the war.

–I am intrigued by the title and the idea but it is a rather strange press release for a Sunday.

–It is easy, socialise the middle capitalists (ie: the distribution system) under either a worker control or cooperative model and redistribute the savings down to the farmer and the workers at the coffee houses.

–This is not the kind of clarity that the people of Canada were looking for. In fact, there is no clarity in this document as you might as well say the we are not going to leave until their is peace in Afghanistan. If we continue with the current mission as it is then there is no way for this mission to actually reach these goals… it goes the same for Iraq.

–I am not a fan of Dion either but this is just silly. Spending this amount of money on ads during the Super Bowl because you think that people might actually like the Liberals new green colours seems a bit over the top. They should count this as part of the federal campaign spending for the next election.

–The conservatives wouldn’t know a “green” plan if it introduced itself with a handshake in a jacket and tie.

–An interesting round-up of censorship in the Canadian media. Now it is mostly self censorship…

Suzuki is speaking in Fredericton, 12:30-1:30pm, Sunday, Feb. 4th at Wilmot United Church.

For more info, visit: David Suzuki’s “If you were Prime Minister…” Tour