Alternatives International

In Baghdad, the Social Forum Regains its Relevance

Michel LAMBERT — 2019-01-05T21:32:33Z

Last November 22nd to the 25th, I had the opportunity to participate in a little known event (at least in the North!) in Baghdad. A meeting bringing together activists of various faiths, from eleven Iraqi cities, organized around eight themes and articulating daily struggles towards social justice. This event, extraordinary by itself, but even more so in a country going through post-war trauma and conflicts, was the Iraqi Social Forum (“ISF”). The main lesson I learned is that the ISF is without a doubt one of the most mature and worthwhile models of a National Social Forum.

I want to share three observations. From these I drew lessons which can be highly relevant for the construction and success of national social forums elsewhere:

Observation 1: A two-layered structure, allowing both geographic and thematic involvement

This years was the fifth edition of the Iraqi Social Forum . Its open, "two-layers" structure, one geographical and the other thematic, are allowing broad involvement of just about every movement and organization at the level it wants.

Eleven municipal social forums constitute the geographical participation layer. At this level, grassroots organizations can mobilize with groups active in their cities or region (on a wide array of issues) or choose to coordinate with these local actors to bring their specific municipal/regional visions into the national process.

Organizations can also choose to involve themselves into one of the eight thematic “paths” (issues based platforms of organizations within the ISF), where groups are developing issues based joint action plans. Those eight paths are:

Civil and political rights (freedom of expression and press);
Economic and social rights;
Environment and water;
Women's rights and equality;
Non-violence and peacebuilding;
Minority rights and coexistence;
Right to education;
Heritage and preservation.

At this level, the convergence of action is not just local or regional, but rather aims at national integration of all stakeholder organizations in the thematic issue. Groups and movements are not only seeking a better convergence with the other movements on the thematic issues, but above all, they wish to deploy together a new program of activities. For example, to do advocacy work with the various government institutions pushing for changes to legislations according to the demands of civil society.

Observation 2: Five Years of Ongoing Convergence

The event of this past November was not understood by its participants as an end goal . Quite the contrary, the three day event was understood as a moment – a season - that comes back every year in order to bring all social movements together while the others seasons of the year are dedicated to movements, local forums, and thematic paths working to come into action.

Organizations involved on thematic issues meet monthly and develop yearly-specific action plans. Each of the municipal forums also have their own processes and the national forum in this context is just what it needs to be; an annual step to pool all of this.

It remains important, of course, for this Iraqi Social Forum to be held every year but the emphasis is on the very existence of a functioning two-layer structure as the real result of the process.

In this context, it is clear that the ISF is not so much a "mainstream" activity looking to harness wide support but rather a meeting of representatives of different organizations involved in the different movements articulated around different priorities.

Observation 3: The ISF, 12 months a year

National Social Forums often feature their own programming, but rarely endorse civil society initiatives after the event. Continuity is often the problem. The ISF has the particularity of actively working for social movements by endorsing all year long a wide array of meetings, actions, and spaces. The result is a cohesive approach to movement building that forces constant traction. The ISF is not one big important annual event, but a year long process that touches base nationally once a year.

Concrete examples include ISF initiatives to organize around participatory budget, campaign for a fair representation of women in government institutions, or another to save the Tigris River. On November 30, the ISF organized its annual Peace Marathon in Baghdad, which brought together thousands of young and old runners for peace.

The vision of a proactive ISF connected to its grassroots base responds to the important question of the political relevance of its processes specifically, and maybe, the political relevance of social forums more globally. The ISF, contrary to a sense of irrelevance that some Social Forums bereft of visions have left us with, appears for all the groups involved as well as other observers, as a process with a tangible added value for civil society groups. Therein lies the movement building of a united, driven and engaging civil society.

In conclusion :

What is interesting here is that there is no conclusion. The Iraqi Social Forum still has a lot to achieve.

But these three observations that might appear oversimplified are nonetheless crucial for they are allowing the event and its process not to be built towards a short-term goal but rather as a process in full growth and which still has much to give to the Iraqi civil society and more generally to Iraq.

I can only hope that other civil society groups working at national level in different parts of the world will take inspiration from the Iraqi Social Forum when it comes time to organize their own processes.

Make Montreal a Sanctuary City!

Donald Cuccioletta, Michel LAMBERT — 2017-02-08T14:13:58Z

In the aftermath of the Quebec City tragedy, we need more than solidarity messages

Toronto, Vancouver and Hamilton have adopted "Sanctuary City" status. So have 37 cities in the United States. It's time for Montreal to join the movement ! The horrific crime that has taken six lives in Quebec City last Sunday night is a wake-up call for us all. No longer can we pretend that there is no islamophobia in Quebec. Unfortunately, hate-mongering goes on daily. Sometimes in an open, heinous and criminal fashion, as witnessed at the Quebec City Mosque. Other times in a more hidden fashion, under the guise of a debate on wearing the Muslim veil in public.

Can anyone deny the toxic climate created by President Trump's "Muslim ban" or the repeated xenophobic utterings of his far right henchmen ? is it pure coïncidence that this hate crime occurred during a week-end saturated by media reports of Trump‘s islamohobic executive order ?

We need more than solidarity messages

As shown by the resistance movements south of the border, actions speak louder than words. Trump's blatantly racist move is not only decried publicaly but also challenged by spontaneous mass gatherings at US international airports, by courageous federal judges in Brooklyn and Massachussets, and by the mayors and city councils of New York, Los Angeles or Boston.

A "Sanctuary City" movement is gathering steam. Local authorities in 37 major cities - amongst them New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, Miami and Seattle- have stated that they will refuse to abide by Trump's Executive order and will protect undocumented immigrants from Federal officials.

Make Montreal a Sanctuary City

Prime Minister Trudeau has stated that Canada welcomes refugees. The Federal Minister of Immigration has confirmed that the governement will grant temporary residence permits to people stranded by the US President's sudden ban on immigration from seven majority islamic countries. Quebec Premier Couillard has solemnly declared "the whole world is watching. It's time that we showed who we really are". Mayor Coderre has added :"it's time we said it loud and clear : instead of building walls, we must build bridges".

Let's move from words to actions by making Montreal a sanctuary city. Let us take in those that are stranded in Canada's international airports. Let's denounce Trump's xenophobic exeutive orders or wall-building and open our city to Syrian refugees and those fleeing the terrible Middle-Eastern wars. Let's grant undocumented immigrants access to municipal services and demand that provincial and federal authorities do the same. Let's reaffirm unequivocally that Montreal stands against all forms of racism and xenophobia.

Montreal broke new ground when it adopted the "Anti-Apartheid and Nuclear Free Zone Policy" in 1987. In the sixties, our city welcomed thousands of young Americans who refused to serve in Vietnam. In 2003, hundreds of thousands marched in our streets to protest the US war in Irak.

Today, we must adopt a strong stand that will clearly show our willingness to live together and celebrate diversity.

Toronto, Vancouver and Hamilton have already adopted sanctuary city policies. It is high time that Montreal does it as well.

Let's show our solidarity and make Montreal a sanctuary city in 2017!

Donald Cuccioletta, President of Alternatives

Michel Lambert, Executive Director of Alternatives

The Future of the Peoples Social Forum

Michel LAMBERT — 2016-08-02T17:48:47Z

The next World Social Forum (WSF) will be held in Montreal from August 9 to 14. This WSF will be crucial as it will provide to the WSF International Council an opportunity to advance the necessary discussion about the future of the WSF, a process criticized both from the outside and inside and that appears more at the crossroads. The debates that will be held in Montreal on this issue will be essential, but for social movements from Quebec, Canada and First Nations, it will not be the only issue.

In fact, between 2011 and 2014, social movements here began an historic process of reconciliation between progressives from all three communities. This unique process in the Canadian state has created new bridges between labour and students unions, women's groups, intellectuals, citizens' associations and others, both from Quebec and Canada and with representative from several indigenous communities mobilized since the very beginning of the initiative. The well-known activist Naomi Klein had then called the People Social Forum (PSF) the "Most important gathering of social movements in Canada since the Summit of the Americas in April 2001".

Re-launch the Peoples Social Forum  

As the processes of social forums cannot be competitors, the mobilization around the World Social Forum in Montreal has inevitably put the process of PSF on ice, for a while at least.

But challenges remain. The Conservative government is no more, but neo-liberalism with a Trudeau sauce is less different than the selfies of the Prime Minister are suggesting. The Canadian alliance with oil and mining companies continues. Justin Trudeau has not withdrawn Bill C51 law that allows mass surveillance. Canada Post has not been saved. First Nations communities continue to suffer without access to clean water. Canada continues to sell billions in arms to Saudi Arabia while denying the human rights of Palestinians. Justin Trudeau even tried to criminalize people here who wish to support the international campaign of boycott (BDS) against Israel. The list could be long and it is clear that if we won a round against Stephen Harper, much remains to be done to bring forward the society we want.

In August 2014, following the PSF, all agreed on the need to create new bridges and strengthen the ones we built in the PSF. Beyond our obvious solidarity, it was actually the objective to create an alliance between First Nations, Quebec, Canada social movements than can play a role against the political policies that our governments put forward. We then had the dream to build a force capable not only to overthrow the Tories but also to finally force other parties to really stand out and offer progressive real alternatives. This goal still stands.

Participate in the General Assembly of the PSF on 8 August 2016  

The PSF will hold in Montreal its next General Assembly on August 8, just before the opening of the WSF 2016. The 30 months process that had lead to the event of August 2014 has opened big doors and built fundamental trusts among the movements and the people of our three communities.

It is imperative that we choose to pursue and invest in this process. Building a movement of movements in Canada must certainly be based on this work in progress with alliance between progressive forces in Quebec, Canada and First Nations.

1 August 2016

Peoples' Social Forum 2014 and Beyond

Michel LAMBERT — 2014-09-01T16:17:02Z

Much has been said, for the most part very positive, about the incredible Peoples' Social Forum, which took place from August 21st to 24th in Ottawa. Naomi Klein's comment during her opening speech that the Forum was the most important meeting of social movements in Canada since the American Summit in April 2001 really resonated with me.

The comparison between these two events is striking given that the pan-American alliance of social movements that was born from a vast alliance in their struggle against the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) had a considerable impact in stopping that project in its track. Social movements in all countries involved in the FTAA (as well as Cuba) responded to this neoliberal assault by joining forces at the pan-American level to deploy a global strategy while they were at the same time actively mobilizing nationally and locally. This “movement of movements” so-to-speak was successful. But Naomi Klein also reminded us in that we were unable to put the necessary efforts to keep it alive in the future – which calls for vigilance at this important conjuncture!

In 2014, both the political and social success of the Peoples' Social Forum show the incredible will and desire of activists from multiple social movements to work together in developing a common strategy in response not only to the Conservatives' attacks on programs, but any government that might follow them. This mobilization is all the more pressing given that a potential reelection of Stephen Harper in 2015 would undoubtedly launch a new round of attacks on our movements.

Beyond the technical evaluations of the Forum, the fundamental questions we must ask ourselves are the following: How do we sustain what we started at the Peoples' Social Forum in 2014? How do we build new bridges and solidify the ties we created during the Forum? Beyond our respective commitment and solidarities, how do we really create a lasting alliance between First Nations, Quebec and Canada that is indeed able to have an impact on the Conservatives' agenda and policies? And how do we force other political parties to really distinguish themselves and propose real progressive alternatives?

Supporting the First Nations, Quebec and Canada Dynamic

The Peoples' Social Forum was a historic and very necessary meeting of progressives hailing from the traditional “three solitudes” of Canada. The opportunities for a strategic alliance on thematic issues like climate change and human rights, for example, were necessary and important, but we must also acknowledge and respond to the fact that, just like during the times of the FTAA, all these groups are attacked by a common enemy.

The 30-month long process that led to the happening of the Forum from August 21st to 24th allowed for doors to be swung open and for trust-building between movements and people within these three communities. But our past is a heavy burden and there is much left to do. It is imperative that we choose to continue opening up and to invest in this process. Building a movement of movements in Canada must rely on the alliance that is currently being built between progressive forces in Quebec, Native communities and Canada, most notably, the labour union movement in the rest of Canada. Any follow-up to the Forum must function with this logic both as a political foundation and as an ultimate goal.

Supporting the Movement Assembly Processes

Nineteen thematic assemblies took place on August 23rd. Although results varied greatly from one group to another, the majority of Assemblies adopted common strategic perspectives. The Assembly of Social Movements on Climate Change, for example, suggested meeting again in October (date and location to be determined). The Assembly on Education also suggested meeting again to build on its program. Same goes for the Media Assembly which hopes to meet again as early as September. Many others have expressed wanting to meet again as well.

Many solid campaigns were also put forth. The Assembly on Democracy suggested creating a social political platform to force political parties to think differently. The Assembly on Social Services is keen on making the fight to keep Canada Post alive, which is at the heart of its struggle, with ambitions to create a large coalition of public services inspired by the Coalition Red Hand of Quebec in 2009. The Assembly on Mines suggested a national day against extractivism. The Assembly on Social Economy wishes to deploy an inclusive campaign that makes social economy a positive choice in the upcoming federal election. The Assembly on Palestine suggested to all organizations that participated in the Forum to adopt the BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) campaign against Israel. The examples are many. If, like the final declaration of the Assembly of Assemblies reads, we wish to actively involve our networks in blocking the Conservatives in 2015, we must immediately implement these suggestions, on inclusive and participatory grounds in the same spirit of the Forum.

A General Assembly on the PSF to be Held Soon

As all these activities are being put into motion and in order to ensure that the PSF be a long-term process, it is necessary that debriefs be done at technical and political level, as well as discuss the perspectives with as wide as possible participation from all those who supported the Forum and its process until August 2014. A General Assembly could be organized as soon as possible to reach this goal. We left the PSF feeling energized and it's important that we continue to put forth a global vision, shared by as many people as possible, of our process and our goals.

We must also consider other occasions for mass convergence, just like the Forum in August 2014. Perhaps a second Peoples' Social Forum in 2016? It's still too soon to speak of it, but during the second PSF General Assembly in July 2013, the delegates who participated agreed to move the PSF towards the West if a second edition were to take place.

Participating in the World Social Forum in Tunis in March 2015

An informal meeting of the International Council of the World Social Forum took place after the PSF on August 24th. The representatives of the organizing committee of the WSF of Tunis argued that the PSF's dynamic would be necessary in Tunis. Historically, Canadian participation of the WSF's different editions has largely been from Quebec. This time, it's important that we send a delegation that is truly representative of the movements active at the Peoples' Social Forum.

Assembly of Social Movements on Climate Change Kicks Off With a Bang !

Michel LAMBERT — 2014-06-12T16:00:13Z

More than sixty people were in Montreal on June 6th for the first ever Assembly of Social Movements on Climate Change, under the umbrella of the Peoples' Social Forum, taking place in August 2014. This preparatory meeting of the larger Assembly to take place on August 23rd gathered representatives from environmental groups, citizen movements, First Nations communities, as well as labour union representatives, women's groups and student associations, giving credence to the notion that the climate change issue is crossing over into seemingly dissociated sectors. British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and eight Native communities and groups were represented.

The meeting was held in cooperation with the passing of the Peoples' Walk for Mother Earth in Montreal, a 700-km journey from Cacouna to Kanesatake aiming to raise awareness among local communities who will be affected by both the Line 9 and Energy East pipeline projects.

An unprecedented willingness to work together

The call was initially made by Alternatives and the Council of Canadians, and successfully mobilized over fifteen groups just for the organization of the June 6 meeting. Respecting the autonomy and specific agendas of each other, the participants appreciated the opportunity and the urgency of working together in solidarity, complimenting each others work to obtain significant achievements against the pro-hydrocarbon and anti-climate policies of the present federal government. This initial meeting held discussions to build consensus at three levels.

Three priority issues

The Assembly has taken a stand against projects aiming to exploit hydrocarbons, as these projects are the main culprits in the rising rate of greenhouse gas emissions affecting climate change.
The Assembly will also address the much-needed transition towards green and renewable energies, climate jobs and decreasing our carbon footprint.
The Assembly of Social Movements on Climate Change will promote the idea of climate justice, and therefore the respect of fundamental rights of First Nations communities.

Converge, Coalesce, Coordinate !

The Assembly wishes to achieve more together than as a sum of all its parts. Activist art, direct action and civil disobedience are the main tactics that were agreed upon, along with disinvestment campaigns, training camps and common declarations

A sustainable Assembly

The Assembly of Social Movements on Climate Change, unlike the extractive industry, aims to be a sustainable and a lasting process ! Its structure will be inclusive, horizontal and participative, based on the Peoples' Social Forum Charter in order to debate and put forth common plans of action.

At the Peoples' Social Forum, and beyond

More than 10 000 people are expected to attend the Peoples' Social Forum in Ottawa from August 21st to 24th 2014. It will be a historic event : the very first time that many activists and progressives from French and English Canada as well as First Nations will come together to discuss the future we want to work towards. The issue of how we protect our environment will be of fundamental importance.

The Assembly of Social Movements wishes to halt climate change. Regardless of who will govern the country as of 2015, we know that the policies and actions of our government and the oil industry are responsible for the current situation, and the Parliamentary opposition offers far too few significant alternatives and changes. By joining forces from across the Canadian territory, including environmental and First Nations groups, citizens' movements, youth, scientists, workers, students and more, the Assembly wishes to leverage social justice movements through the climate change issue, giving new breath to current and historic struggles of civil society in favour of climate and social justice.

Michel Lambert is the Executive Director of Alternatives

Download the final report of this initial meeting of the Assembly of Social Mouvements on Climate

In Front of Pipelines, I Will Support the Mohawks

Michel LAMBERT — 2013-12-01T20:44:00Z

With hundreds of others, I participated on November 16 in an unprecedented mobilization in Kanehsatà:ke (Oka), Mohawk Territory. Twenty-three years after the terrible Oka crisis, Mohawks this time invited non-indigenous people to join the fight against the expansion of tar sands pipelines.

This unique invitation also came from several indigenous communities across Canada resulting in more than 130 demonstrations against the expansion of the tar sands. In all, thousands, maybe tens of thousands of people were mobilized to mark their presence and affirm their intention to fight this battle till the end. While we symbolically blocked Highway 344 with a "Round Dance," I realized that thousands of people in Canada were then simultaneously taking a deep breath of hope before getting back into a struggle till finish.

Mordor is here!

The comparison between the nauseous and hellish land of Sauron and the oil sands development sites is nothing new. It has already been shown that the current methods of production creates a toxic local environment, with increased rates of cancer and other health risks affecting first and foremost the First Nations communities living in the region.

The industry, of which 71 per cent is controlled by oil giants owned by foreign companies, led the Alberta government to approve more than 100 oil sands projects covering 92,000 square kilometres of northern boreal forest, and 100 other projects covering 50,000 additional square kilometres are available, representing a total area the size of Florida.

If the Canadian government gets the means to export its production through new pipelines, the oil sands industry plans to triple production to more than one million barrels per day over the next few years.

Joining the struggles of Indigenous Peoples

As all Quebecers who lived in 1990, I know that the Mohawks will not abandon the fight, whatever it costs. The bond that unites the Indigenous Peoples to their lands is such that they just cannot give up their struggle to protect it. But unlike then, the "whites" will this time have to make the choice to fight alongside and accept to receive blows. At Elsipogtog, New Brunswick, we have witnessed in the last weeks a sad spectacle of colonialism "à la Tsahal" where extractive corporations are supported by a most repressive State. These images of SWN trucks protected by the RCMP will one day be in history text books! And despite the injunctions, despite imprisonment, despite the tear gas and injuries to men, women and children, the entire Mi'kmaq community still resists the extractive machine.

Yet this battle against climate change and for the protection of environment is not only theirs because we all belong to the same land. While the Canadian Government supports the expansion of extreme oil from Alberta, we are increasing the collective responsibility of all citizens from here to cope with climate changes everywhere. In the aftermath of extreme catastrophe, as the one witnessed in the Philippines recently, we have a moral obligation to question ourselves, as a society, in the creation of global climate changes. We must question ourselves even more when the most marginalized communities decide to oppose the irresponsible development of the largest industrial project on the planet ( the tar sands ) braving government repression.

In short, when communities choose to go to the front line to stop irreversible damage to our ecosystems, but more importantly, to prevent Canada from launching its "climate bomb" in the atmosphere, we must respond "present"!

A season of action

On November 16 , the National Day of Action to defend the climate saw the participation of many environmental and community groups, trade unions and indigenous communities.

If the day was crowned with a huge success with dozens of mobilization "from Coast to Coast to Coast", the time is now to organize even more meaningful events and actions. November 16 alone shows that the success of future actions depends totally on indigenous participation.

If the environmental and social movements want to stop the expansion of tar sands, reduce our collective footprint on the environment, stop the policies of Stephen Harper and those after him with the same political ideology, they have to make a simple choice and that is to follow the "leadership" of the First Nations in this fight.

In front of pipelines, I will support the Mohawks. If social movements also do, we cannot be defeated.

Why Is Public Money Paying For The Right-Wing Hate And Misinformation Of Eric Duhaime?

Michel LAMBERT — 2013-06-11T19:34:39Z

Eric Duhaime and his hatred of anything close to the notion of common good is all over the place. On Sun News, Radio X, TVA, and several blogs, we see, hear or read him bashing community groups, women's associations, labour or students organizations.

Wherever the privileges of a wealthy minority are to be defended, Eric Duhaime, with support from one of the most amazing machines of media propaganda — Quebecor Media — goes on a war footing to attack and ridicule all social struggles, defending the rich and sadly, promoting the most pathetic individualism.

That the rich and famous who share his intolerant and dogmatic opinions pay the high cost of this publicity is already barely appropriate, but it all becomes completely unacceptable when one finally realizes that this fanatical bitterness, with which the vast majority of Canadians disagree, is actually being funded through our taxes. What if we said 'Enough'?

Ecologist 0.0

Opportunistic as he clearly is, Eric Duhaime has recently started talking against ecology. He now takes advantage of the current debates around tar sands to promote, without any nuance that would indicate an independent point of view, the position of an already billionaire oil sector. That very oil sector which is hugely funded through our taxes by Stephen Harper's Conservative Government. That climate change is reaching an irreversible level does not bother them; that the exploitation of Alberta's oil is in itself the most polluting project on the planet has no effect on them; and that Quebec and Canada now have the means and the abilities to move towards sustainable energy, they do not care.

On this issue, as on all others, Eric Duhaime has no character. He is just a puppet of Quebecor Media serving their interests. And for them, any person or group, asserting a different position, must be rejected, discredited, insulted, vilified, attacked. Young people who have recently received court injunctions for serving Duhaime and his employers of Radio X their own medicine are well aware of that.

Judge and executioner

Recently, Eric Duhaime published in the Toronto Sun his annual classic of insults-packed-with-lies about Alternatives and, in particular, our Festival of Solidarity. In his sterile palaver he claims that Alternatives received money from the Canadian government for their Festival, but "unfortunately," we did not! And as for the contribution from the Solidarity Fund for the festival, it amounts to 0.5 per cent of the education budget of our organization.

Here, as any classic right-wing commentator does, misinformation is used. Duhaime is judge and executioner at the same time. He constructs an argument based on lies about federal government funding and then berates those who would have given it. And in this way, an action that aims to bring policies for sustainable development for future generations, even if supported by thousands of citizens, becomes illegitimate. This is a very basic and dangerous Harper government approach, which implies that each and every tax dollar must be used to support the point of view and policy of the Conservative Party of Canada!

Who pays for the venom of Eric Duhaime?

What is really ironic and disturbing at the same time is that, unlike us, Eric Duhaime's Sun News and Quebecor Media are hugely funded by our tax money. And we are talking about millions of dollars!

For instance, the financial statements of Groupe TVA (ended December 31, 2012) are very clear about the fact that the company receives large amounts of subsidy and tax credit (the latter given by the Société de développement des entreprises culturelles - SODEC ) for the production and distribution of content.

In 2010-2011, TVA indeed received a total of $3.9 million from the Canada Fund for periodicals. Then there is the Fund for the improvement of local programming, the program supporting television productions, and MANY others. They have received significant sums in contributions from the Media Fund, a public-private partnership where Ottawa contributes 40 per cent, and pays each year, large sums to broadcasters like TVA and Sun News. TVA alone received $18.5 million in 2010-2011.

In an article published in the Journal des alternatives in November 2011, Emilia-Couture Briere recalled a revealing story about the CEO of Quebecor, Pierre Karl Peladeau, who has never hidden the importance of government subsidies to the company. On June 14, 2010, in a letter to the Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, he threatened to sue the federal government if it did not change the eligibility criteria for the Canada Media Fund, so that shows like Star Academy receive subsidies.

A hate generating business supported by public funds

Eric Duhaime is a radical right-wing extremist backed by a company with its ramifications milking the public coffers. Their efforts preventing us from getting support from the state or from labour organizations is in itself unacceptable. That he expresses his reactionary positions on the economy, politics and society in forums that share his point of view is one thing. That we the citizens fund corporate hatred against people's rights and social movements is completely unacceptable!

Neither Pierre-Karl Peladeau, nor Steven Harper returned our calls as to why they support Eric Duhaime.

After Rio : Building a Genuine Quebec, Canada and First Nations Alliance

Michel LAMBERT — 2012-07-06T23:25:00Z

On June 20, anticipating the failure of the United Nations Conference Rio+20, more than 50,000 people took to the streets of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil conjointly with dozens of other demonstrations around the world. These mobilizations demanded from the governments and corporations involved in the official conference, that solutions immediately be put into place to counter climate change and the degradation of the terrestrial environment. But more than the challenge, the great popular march in Rio was celebrating at the same time the holding of the People's Summit for Social and Environmental Justice, an unprecedented meeting at which notably the policies of extractivist expansion of the governments of Quebec and especially of Canada were decried. For the hundred Quebecers present, it is a matter upon their return of being the bearer of the vision of the Peoples' Summit and of achieving victories here against these anti-environmental policies, for the sake of our health and that of the rest of humanity. But we will not be doing it alone...

The Quebec and Canadian Plan Nord

The extractivist production model has as its aim the maximum exploitation of elements of Nature that are salable on the world market. Traditionally, what this has referred to is mineral extraction and production of oil, two Canadian "specialties." The extractive industry is based on the dispossession of the common heritage. In Canada, as elsewhere where Canadian extractive industries are at work : environmental tragedies multiply, local and indigenous communities are despoiled, legislation aimed at protecting ecosystems is dismembered, democratic rights of people are enfeebled, and policies of privatization are put into place to benefit the interests of transnationals and the energy and extractive industries.

And everywhere, this path has led to more environmental problems and to less immediate emphasis on the necessary solutions to the environmental crisis. Even worse, in the face of the financial crisis that has yet to end, the orientation of our governments is quite simply to more extractivism, more problems both upstream and downstream and, above all, a total refusal to integrate into their analyses the unimaginable environmental chaos that we will bequeath our children.

The Canada of Stephen Harper is the perfect example of this strategy of a relentless race towards the great void, towards immediate profit with no consideration of the consequences. The beginning and the end of the Canadian economic strategy is the coveting of more petroleum products from tar sands. Aside perhaps from security, the Conservatives are prepared at a minimum to risk all other sectors to ensure the unhampered development of Canadian oil ! This is why the Canadian Government still injects nearly a billion and a half into the industry every year. This is also the sole reason for the Canadian withdrawal from the Kyoto Protocol. This is the essence of Canada's new overture to China. This is the reason for the recent establishment of a new Canadian International Institute for Extractive Industries and Development, while institutions like Rights and Democracy are being shut down. This is the basis of the overt attacks against Canadian and Quebec environmental organizations, against anyone in fact who finds fault with the strategy. Etcetera !

With his Plan Nord, Jean Charest is demonstrating that he is still a Conservative at heart, for extractivism is also his one and only calling card.

From Rio to Ottawa

In Rio, a very special mention, the only one of its kind, was made of the Government of Canada in recognition of the particularly detrimental role of its national and international extractivist policy. More so than even the United States, Canada vehemently combats any suggestion that would cast a mere shadow over the use of fossil fuels as the principal source of the world's energy.

This Canadian "nomination" clearly signified that the follow-up to the People's Summit in Rio is not another summit held somewhere in the "elsewhere." If we want to be consequential with those communities at home and abroad who are affected by the Canadian policy, the determining factor in the coming months will be the work that we accomplish here, precisely against just this extractivist policy, against the production and distribution of oil from tar sands. Our struggles here over these issues will have an international impact.

A People's Alliance

For several months now, meetings have been held in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver and elsewhere. Others are expected in the coming weeks in St. John, Calgary, Winnipeg ... On the agenda, an acknowledgement shared by all sides of the urgency of building new alliances, particularly among the progressive forces of Quebec, Canada and the First Nations, articulated with, as one of the central axes, the environmental question.

In November 2012, in Ottawa, a first Founding Assembly of this new "People's Forum" will be convened. It will bring together individuals and organizations desiring to break free from their traditional shackles, to break down the historical barriers, and to unite their forces against the policies of Stephen Harper.

I know that you will be part of it...

Translated from French by Paul Germanotta

The Rebel Province

Michel LAMBERT — 2012-06-06T21:18:06Z

Michel Lambert

At the time of writing these lines, the very predictable and unilateral rupture of negotiations by the Charest government has just been announced. The faint glimmer of hope brought on by a few days of discussions has vanished. Student negotiators had accepted the government's financial frame. In the name of social peace, they had also considered financing university-funding increases in part by accepting a loss in personal fiscal advantages for students.

However, the government refuses any ending whereby the student associations will not submit completely. The compromise is judged insufficient and Michèle Courchesne must slam the door. Later, Jean Charest repeats that any “solution” to the crisis will need to maintain its initial problematic premise! Arrogance and contempt once more, and since day one. Clearly, the students will not give in.

Because they've already won!

Let's not kid ourselves. Short to mid term, the student's victory is likely to have concrete impact on the initially announced hike – at least in part. But their victory is already much wider than that. Student activism has opened a Pandora's box kept closed for far too long. Impacts on Jean Charest's neo-liberal strategy are dramatically real, namely with an electoral strategy that is now completely derailed. Charest the bully, who saw himself winning rapid elections on the backs of kids who would be put in their place, is now stuck, and at risk of losing big time. Liberal strategists are pulling their hair thinking of upcoming elections, and talking of pushing them forward as late as possible.

But what the student movement has accomplished is bigger even, and will make history. For one, the connections between the incredible popular demonstrations of March 22nd (tuition hike), April 22nd (the common good and the environment), and May 22nd (civil disobedience) speak for themselves. We have clearly migrated from an issue that was in theory specific to the student class to the deeper questioning of a system that is exclusively economic (fighting deficits as sole game plan), corrupted, that favours exclusion and has been put forward as the only existing solution by our governments for what seems like eons. Our youth is saying “No,” and with them, thousands of others are becoming aware of the drowsiness that's expected of us. The hordes of people, the neighbourhood movements, spontaneous and unifying, coming onto the streets each night to bang on pots and pans are calling not only for elections or for Jean Charest's resignation. They are clearly calling for a new social contract, a “new deal” to be based on respect and most of all on our rights to a decent life, a healthy environment and a democracy by all and for all.

Open arms

And to the sound of pots banging, it is all of Quebec that is being refreshed! And with it, the world… Indeed, for millions everywhere, from Denver to Paris, from Cairo to Ramallah, this “Maple Spring” is seen as part of a wider world movement, spanning from Arab revolutions to Greek and Spanish protests, to the Occupy movement's reaction to austerity. The international solidarity mushrooming everywhere is undeniable, and whatever Monique Gagnon-Tremblay may say, it isn't futile.

The attention we are receiving from everywhere is creating an extraordinary opportunity. Yesterday, pots and pans were heard in Toronto, Vancouver, Kitchener, Calgary and more. Pan-Canadian student movements are seeking to launch their own debate on access to education. Environmental groups and movements were fascinated by Montreal's April 22nd turnout and want to keep that ball rolling. Everything is pointing to an opportunity to re-open an old dream and to reach out to progressives all over Canada to build a movement that may focus on the Canadian government as well.

78 and 38: same fight

Sadly though, as history is writing itself in Quebec, Stephen Harper's government is preparing to have a scam of historical proportions passed with its C-38 bill, directly attacking refugees, workers, welfare beneficiaries, as well as environmental regulations – all under the lid of a “budget” law. With the objective to favour tar sand oil exports and with one swift tip of the wand, Stephen Harper could modify 753 clauses contained in 70 federal laws. Manon Cornelier recently wrote: “If he succeeds, and if this provokes only tiny ripples outside Parliament, he will deduce that intimidation tactics have worked – again – and that his guarantee of success is to do it again.”

What is occurring in Quebec indicates that we have the political maturity to meet this challenge. What is occurring in Ottawa implies that we have the duty to do so for future generations.

The time has come to move past the old grievances of our two solitudes. Progressives all over Canada are watching this rebel province, sensing a dynamic force at work. This is a historicrendezvous.

A social Forum for the peoples of Canada

A process is already underway. In recent months, meetings were held in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver. Others will follow, and this fall should launch a process that will lead to a large social Forum in 2014, preceding the next federal elections. We have the opportunity to build an extra-parliamentary Quebec/Canada/Aboriginal Nations alliance that could do to Stephen Harper what Quebec's population is presently doing to Jean Charest, which is, strongly contesting his politics and demanding his resignation. And we will obtain it.

A festival of solidarities

Alternatives is organising a gathering to this effect on Saturday, June 9th. Militants and organizations from everywhere in Canada and Quebec will join to discuss these issues. Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, Brigette Depape (the senate page will bear her « Stop Harper »), Patrick Bonin (AQLPA - 22 avril), Hervé Kempf (author of “How the Rich Are Destroying the Planet”), Jacques Létourneau, Louise Vandelac and many more will be present. Various music bands will also be taking part to celebrate, with us and with you, our solidarities. For more info: alternatives.ca.

And that is also a rendezvous.

Translated from the original French by Translating the printemps érable.

Alternatives Attacked!

Michel LAMBERT — 2011-02-28T17:34:29Z

It is with these two words that I began my day yesterday. Alternatives is once again the target of a report in the media, this time via the plume of an obscure professor at the HEC de Montréal.

Let's be clear: I am saying obscure because I wouldn't know this man from Eve or Adam. Clearly, after reading his text, he also knows little in terms of international cooperation.

To be fair, however, he is not the first. Alternatives is attacked regularly, by both the Left and by the Right. What is striking in the charges brought, as usual, is this abhorrent and total abstraction of what we actually do. In short, none of our detractors seem to know what we really do, and in the end their attacks are nothing more than value judgments without any basis in fact.

Mr. Coiteux stumbles twice, and hard, in this regard.

On the one hand, he dangerously insinuates that international cooperation organizations which also dare to educate the public and advocate on its behalf to our governments would be doing so to the detriment of their commitments to carry out humanitarian and development projects in the global South. These wise calculations, obtained from our publicly available reports, would show, according to him, a certain ‘diversion' of funds destined for aid work which are ‘redirected' towards political advocacy.

Yet nothing could be further from the truth and any Canadian civil servant in the field of international cooperation could easily explain to Mr. Coiteux that humanitarian and development projects financed by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) are meticulously scrutinized, and not once but twice! In short, if CIDA contracts Alternatives to support campaigns in Iraq for the rights of women (and it is precisely for this kind of work that the Canadian state calls upon our services), it will be precisely to this end that the allocated sums will go. The projects are approved in accordance with the priorities of CIDA, and they are evaluated, reviewed and audited, even several times. It is therefore totally impossible for funds to be used for other purposes than those for which they were allocated. Tell me, Mr. Coiteux, what do you have against the fact that we use 82% of our funds to support the rights of women?

Secondly, and this is even more serious, Mr. Coiteux's article implies that in order to have the right to express an opinion in Canada, one has to be elected! (Or perhaps at least a professor at the HEC…) This is a position that would no doubt please certain people in Ottawa, but it is still a very dangerous position. International cooperation organizations, just as with social organizations, are not “in competition” with political parties, but rather are made up of people who think and who have, in a democratic society, the freedom of expression and opinion. In Canada, our organizations mobilize, educate, and benefit from the involvement of a VERY large base of citizens, volunteers, and donors. These citizens of Québec and Canada who support us financially, month after month, are not, for example, in favour of the war in Afghanistan, and did not, for example, believe we had to scrap the Kyoto Accord. Curiously, these Canadian citizens, if we look at the latest poll numbers, are in fact the majority of voices in Canada and there are only a minority who believe in the policies of the government currently in power. More than ever, the argument that majority rules no longer holds sway, and there is currently a real danger in seeking to eliminate all democratic debate in this country.

To return to international cooperation, it is important to know that Canada now injects more than 90% of its funds and means into the multilateral system of the United Nations, where it gains no visibility and even less control. Thus to advocate presently for the reduction of the part played by our NGOs essentially amounts to advocating for the end of Canada's system of cooperation since, in the international arena, the only and unique representatives of Canadian international cooperation are Canadian NGOs. The most recent decisions of the Conservative government on international cooperation, which aim precisely to disadvantage numerous such Canadian organizations, will have the immediate consequence of depriving the country of the expertise and effective presence of multiple cooperation organizations, which threatens our entire system of cooperation itself.

Already, and even within CIDA, we can hear voices saying that Canada is rendering itself blind, and deaf as well.

This article was in response to this post in La Presse:
http://www.cyberpresse.ca/opinions/201102/22/01-4372904-bev-oda-un-manque-de-transparence.php

To comment on Mr. Coiteux's blog (and he seems to be losing the argument even there), visit this link:
http://martincoiteux.blogspot.com/2011/02/au-dela-de-laffaire-kairos.html

This is a translation of Michel Lambert's original article in the Journal des alternatives:
http://journal.alternatives.ca/fra/journal-alternatives/blogues/michel-lambert/article/alternatives-attaque