Pictures, Moving Pictures, and Sound
Idea #1:
‘Stop Human Trafficking App’ Takes Off (CNN)
Idea # 2
'The Rachel Maddow Show' Commentary (MSNBC)
Maddow comments on the police's force at UC Berkley Occupy protest and points out the irony of the location, the Occupy response, and the strength of this movement. She also notes police activities at other Occupy protests. The footage of the police is disturbing.'The Rachel Maddow Show' Commentary (MSNBC)
Boing Boing directed my attention to this.
Idea # 3
'Below the Line: Portraits of American Poverty' (Time)
Follow this link to a photo essay Feifei Sun did for Time Magazine. It is a collection of photographs that document poverty in the US.
Idea # 4
Simon Armitage: 'poetry is a form of dissent' - video interview (The Guardian)
Idea # 5
Earth | Time Lapse View from Space | Fly Over |
Nasa, ISS (YouTube)
I
saw this video a while ago, but am slow in posting. It is approaching a million views, so many of
you have likely seen it already. There
is no explicit social justice connection.
Impressive nonetheless. Enjoy.
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Book
Reviews and Commentary By Others
Idea # 6
How Ignorance, Greed
and Ideology Are Warping Science and Hurting Democracy By Julian Brookes (Rolling
Stone)
Rolling
Stone Reviews Fool Me Twice: Fighting the
Assault on Science in America and interviews its author, Shawn Lawence
Otto. The review demonstrates that this
book raises an important point about the need for citizens to actually know
what we are talking about when we participate in our democracy. Otto makes an important point, which is
relevant to the social justice discussion about issues such as climate change
and medical care. I am a bit concerned
by the interview, however. Otto seems to
be dividing religion and science by making statements such as, “The voice of values and religion – those are an important
part of our conversation; but we need a plurality of voices and we also need
the voice of facts, and reason, and knowledge.”
Despite this, I will be on the lookout for this book.
Idea # 7
Protesting the
Unnatural Aspects of Our Economy By David Suzuki (Huffington Post
Canada)
Suzuki
notes three concerns he has regarding the reverence with which our culture
treats the economy. First, well-being is
measurable on in financial terms.
Second, economic distribution is irrelevant. Third, the economy has the potential of unlimited
growth. Suzuki – while noting that doing
so will be complicated – suggests attempting to find the value of the
environment and realizing the economic cost in harming it.
From
the article: “I question whether our economic system is serving the goals that
are important to society. After all, an economy is a means to prosperity, not
the end.”
Idea # 8
We can't just ignore the poor (The Daily
Gleaner)
This editorial is specific to a recent public meeting in Fredericton, NB, but it still raises a couple of universal ideas. How do we move from simply talking about alleviating poverty and begin to actually alleviate poverty? How do we handle to co-existing problems of less government resources and more social need?
Idea # 9
My Take: If Rwandans can forgive killings, we can forgive the waitress By Jeremy Cowart (CNN)
This commentary encourages forgiveness. It uses the example of Rwandans forgiving murderers and then asks if we can forgive smaller grievances. Cowart suggests that when we need to attempt a greater act of forgiveness, it will be difficult if we harbour a grudge against the waitress.
Idea # 10
Who wants to talk about income inequality? By Jeffrey Simpson (The Globe and Mail)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Who wants to talk about income inequality? By Jeffrey Simpson (The Globe and Mail)
This commentary points to some statistics about income inequality and suggests some reasons why some think this inequality is an important issue and why others do not.
Essays and Interviews
Idea # 11
Medicare’s no match for catastrophic injury by Erin Anderssen AND Boyd Erman (The Globe and Mail)
This article outlines some of the deficiencies in Canada’s health care system that impact people who suffer catastrophic injuries. It raises some interesting questions to consider:
1. Our health care is excellent in its ability to save lives. Do we have a responsibility to people after their lives are saved?
2. If someone is injured participating in a recreational sport – which is actively encouraged by the government – does the government have a long-term responsibility to this person?
3. Can we afford such care?
Idea # 12
Why do Police Officers Use Pepper Spray? By Brandom
Keim (Wired)
Pepper spray is intended as an alternative to more violent responses – such as beating someone with a baton or using a gun to violence – when force is required by law enforcement. Sometimes, however, pepper spray is used when no force is required at all. Why?
Idea # 13
What George Orwell Can Teach Us About OWS and Police Brutality By Conor Friedersdorf (The Atlantic)
The writer suggests that the campus police sent in to deal with student protesters on university campuses are put in no win situations. First, the police are actual cops. Second, the administration sends them in. Third, they are heavily armed. Fourth, the students ignore the orders to leave. Pepper spray is a horrible way to respond to peaceful protest and the cop who used it should be fired. When administrators and superior officers put that many cops in this situation, however, should anyone be surprised that a few officers would rather be brutes than be mocked?
Idea # 14
Day 1 on four dollars of food per day By Aiden Enns (Geez)
Idea # 15
The Seed and the Tree By Christopher Watt (The Walrus)
This is a helpful interview with a scholar about Ghandi. In it, Ramin Jahanbegloo, demonstrates the dual role of democracy - as a system that provides both rights and responsibilities - and differentiates between pacifism and non-violence.
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Quick Bites
Idea # 16
Idea # 17
Idea # 18
Idea # 19
Idea # 20
Calgary’s ambitious 10-year homelessness strategy shows some growing pains By Allison McNeely (This)
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