On January 27th, the Bell Let's Talk campaign flooded the airwaves and internet once again, with a corporate campaign taking aim at 'fixing' mental health issues. Discussing mental health is important: millions of Canadians of all ages are affected both at home and at work. Mental health includes anxiety, depression and if un-addressed can lead to mental illness and other health issues that leave individuals struggling for the rest of their lives.
Socialists understand better than most that regular people do not control or drive the current economy. Every day, social justice activists are struck with the realization that the economy is changing in a way that makes it harder to advance democratic interests. On one side, we have techno-Utopians who think App Innovation™ will foster a new, better and more efficient world. On the other side, elected officials act as cheerleaders for this economy – an economy based on exploitive precarious employment instead of democratic and sustainable regulated workplaces.
Socialists understand better than most that regular people do not control or drive the current economy. Every day, social justice activists are struck with the realization that the economy is changing in a way that makes it harder to advance democratic interests. On one side, we have techno-Utopians who think App Innovation™ will foster a new, better and more efficient world. On the other side, elected officials act as cheerleaders for this economy – an economy based on exploitive precarious employment instead of democratic and sustainable regulated workplaces.
On 4 February, 2016 Greece will come to a standstill as workers take to the streets in support of a general strike, organised by trade unions to protest against the dismantling of the country's social security system.
A variety of electronics are now being sold that connect directly to internet. From fridges to lights, thermostats to baby monitors, and security systems that connect to the TV, these devices communicate with one another for a variety of reasons. Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, the companies that develop these products care more about profit than your security and privacy.
The honeymoon with the Liberal Party (federal and provincial) is dragging-on a bit for those who fight for social and economic justice. While much of the population continue to get their news from media sources enamoured with the new Liberal brand, substantive change is hard to come by. Advancing free trade agreements and hobnobbing with the world's financial elite aside, progressive changes to employment insurance, welfare programs, and investment in public services are lagging.
Long the focus of US poverty activists and workers' representatives, arguments for maintaining low interest rates are gaining some support from some unlikely places.
Much of the news around Flint, Michigan's water issues are focusing on the terrible government management of their water systems, the slow response to the lead crisis affecting the city's citizens, and the donations being made by private bottled-water companies.
The explosion of the Zika virus is devastating lives in Latin America where a connection between the virus and birth defects of the brain have been discovered.
