I recently took part in a delegation to Venezuela sponsored by the San Francisco based human rights organization Global Exchange. This is the second part of my report on the trip. Part one can be found here. 

Ten years after the failed coup attempt of 2002, revenue from huge oil reserves and widespread popular mobilisation are supporting grassroots change for many parts of Venezuelan society. Despite media demonisation of the Venezuelan experiment here in Canada, the changes are significant and deserve to be better understood -- especially given the increasing importance of oil revenue for our country too.

An exciting new Trade Justice Network has come together in response to the proposed Canada/European Union "Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement" (C.E.T.A.)

Environmental, cultural, labour, farm, food safety and pro-democracy groups from Canada and Quebec have joined forces to inform Canadians and Europeans about the disturbing proposals that are on the table. The new trade agreement promises to go much beyond N.A.F.T.A. in constraining the ability of governments to act on behalf of citizens and communities.

Most British Columbians, and many Canadians, probably believe there is a moratorium preventing oil tankers from plying the waters off the fragile and beautiful B.C. north coast. After all, hasn't the federal government banned oil tankers from entering Dixon Entrance, the Hecate Strait and Queen Charlotte Sound since 1972?

The thing that is most alarming about Michael Ignatieff's threat to force yet another election is Michael Ignatieff himself. He thinks he can win, which is a particularly scary prospect.

Based on Ignatieff's writings, musings and comments, there's every chance a Michael Ignatieff government may well be worse than Harper's.

"Not possible", you say? Well, put a spotlight on Ignatieff's policies and priorities for a minute and a disturbing picture becomes quickly clear.

Who knew? It turns out the biggest threat to the Canadian economy and jobs is not collapsed global financial institutions, weak markets, lack of innovation or declining infrastructure. No -- apparently the clear and present danger Canada suddenly faces is "Buy American." As if out of nowhere, Buy American polcies are at the top of the agenda for the Harper government, premiers, business lobbies and the media. It matters little that the Buy American provisions of the recent Obama stimulus bill are much the same as those first instituted way back in 1933 and strengthened by the Reagan administration in the 1980s. It's now all hands on deck to stop the Americans from insisting that U.S. jobs be created when U.S.

Even though Gordon Campbell's B.C. Liberal government has been one of the most right wing in Canada -- and despite significant economic decline -- Campbell's Liberals have been re-elected for a third majority term. At only 48%, the voter turnout was the worst ever. Both those discouraging results merit serious reflection.

Campbell's Liberals secured 46% of the popular vote and 49 seats, versus 42% of the vote and 36 seats for the NDP. The NDP picked up three more seats than they had in 2005 and their popular vote was up slightly from 41% in 2005. The Greens only drew 8% of votes. As in the 2005 election, the Green vote declined and the Green campaign seemed less relevant than ever.

U.S. President Barack Obama's 10 minute interview with CBC.'s Peter Mansbridge last night was very disappointing, but not really surprising. Obama made it clear that on all the major North American issues, there will be very little change from Bush administration policies without major campaigning by social movements.

I'm recently back to Canada after a couple of months in Asia. One thing that's striking here at home, compared to elsewhere in the world, is how reluctant our governments and corporate media are to think differently in the face of the global economic collapse.

It's encouraging that Jack Layton is focusing on the tar sands early in the campaign. It was creative to take the NDP campaign plane to 5000 feet so media could film toxic tailing ponds from the air. It was useful too to take the tour to Fort Smith, N.W.T. where the connection was made between the tar sands and contamination of drinking water for aboriginal communities throughout the Athabasca and Slave river systems.

Layton called for "No New Approvals" of tar sands projects. In doing so, he joins more than 60 civil society organizations, including Alberta treaty chiefs and the Alberta Federation of Labour. So far, governments have never turned down or delayed a single tar sands project application.