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Ottawa protest serves notice: Austerity will meet resistance

In Ottawa yesterday, thousands protested Harper's austerity agenda. (Photo: Ariel Troster)
It's been a year since Harper got his majority. In Ottawa yesterday, thousands protested his austerity agenda.

Related rabble.ca story:

Harper's F-35 fiasco not going away anytime soon

H2O, Not F-35s
The Council of Canadians calls for the Harper government to spend money on clean water, not on fighter jets. The F-35 fiasco is part of a growing crisis of legitimacy for Harper.

Related rabble.ca story:

Over 200 arrested at Ottawa tar sands protest

An RCMP officer speaks to a protester in Ottawa on Monday, Sept. 26, 2011 at the anti-tar sands protest. Photo: Marco Vigliotti

Over 200 protesters objecting to the federal government's enthusiastic support for Alberta's tar sands and the Keystone pipeline XL were arrested Monday morning as they attempted to stage a sit-in in the House of Commons.

The protesters wanted the chance to air their grievances with the environmentally reckless policies of the Harper-led Conservatives inside Parliament but were blocked from entering by fenced barricades and over 50 RCMP officers.

The protesters were encouraged by hundreds of boisterous supporters as they passed the media scrum and calmly hopped over police barricades.

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Over 100 arrested at Ottawa protest

An RCMP officer speaks to a protester in Ottawa on Monday, Sept. 26, 2011 at the anti-tar sands protest. Photo: Marco Vigliotti

Dozens of protesters objecting to the federal government's enthusiastic support for Alberta's Tar Sands and the Keystone XL pipeline running from Alberta to the Gulf of Mexico were arrested Monday as they attempted to stage a sit-in in the House of Commons.

Those arrested in the first wave of protesters trying to gain access to the House included chairperson of The Council of Canadians, Maude Barlow, and Dave Coles, the president of Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union, along with his executive assistant and rabble.ca blogger Fred Wilson.

The protesters aired their grievances with the environmentally reckless policies of the Harper led Conservatives inside Parliament but were blocked from entering by fenced barricades up to 100 RCMP officers.

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Women's World 2011: A workspace of reform and dialogue for the world

The thank you panel, Women's Worlds 2011. Photo: Elizabeth Littlejohn

"I know why it is called grassroots... since I began to garden, I know that when you pull up the roots, if a small piece remains, more grass will grow."

- b!wilder, spoken word artist

Nearly 2,000 international delegates, grassroots activists, academics, and policymakers congregated for the 30th anniversary of the Women's World Congress in Ottawa from July 4 to 7. With plenaries translated simultaneously into English, French, Spanish and American Sign Language, each day's sessions were based upon the themes Breaking Cycles, Breaking Ceilings, Breaking Barriers and Breaking Ground, under the broader theme: "Inclusions, exclusions and seclusions: Living in a globalized world."

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Ten ridings to watch: No Bloc party in Gatineau as NDP pursue

Election 2011: rabble.ca has chosen 10 key ridings across Canada for progressives to watch in the run-up to the May 2 vote, and asked local writers to assess them. The profiles highlight why the riding is important and issues local campaigns are focused on.

In Gatineau, incumbent Bloc MP Richard Nadeau is fighting hard to retain his seat, which he won from the previous Liberal MP with a handful of votes. That MP was no one else than Françoise Boivin, now running for the NDP!

Boivin's defection from the Liberal Party was controversial, linked with allegations (not proven) of malpractices. It now seems in any case that Françoise has the capacity to regain her seat as she is benefiting from the orange crush "wave".

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Outrage as Ottawa company cuts down Beaver Pond Forest

Just a 20 minute drive west of Parliament Hill in the nation's capital lies Beaver Pond, an old-growth forest that according to First Nations is of historic and spiritual significance.

The forest is also home to what archaeologists estimate to be a 10,000 year-old stone circle. But according to reports, as of Monday the 1,100-hectare wilderness is being "clear-cut" -- all to make room for a new subdivision.

It isn't only First Nations who value this land. Surrounded by suburbs, the land is used by area residents for walking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and mountain biking.

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The fight to save Ottawa's Beaver Pond forest from developers

Photo: www.ottawasgreatforest.com

A candlelight vigil in Ottawa's Beaver Pond forest on Jan. 1 marked the start of the United Nations International Year of the Forest -- and the last time people may be able to gather in its lush greenery before it's clear-cut.

Cutting down trees to make way for residential subdivisions is nothing new in Canadian cities. Private developers clear land to build homes, sometimes over residents' objections. Most cities have processes by which citizens can voice their concerns, but these often find in favour of landowners despite local, provincial, national and international statements made about protecting the natural environment.

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