Activists Without Passports

Canada scuppers global climate talks, Canadian journalists take unprecedented action amidst their international colleagues.

November 2006 isn't the first time Canada takes an international lead thwarting progress towards global greenhouse gas reductions.

In November 2000 the UN climate talks' fall apart due in large part to Canada's loop-hole lobbying by Canadian representive, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Lloyd Axworthy. Turns out this was his final political act before leaving office.

Two Canadian activist journalists, Tooker Gomberg [3] and Kelly Reinhardt attempt to focus international attention on the severity of global climate change and the role their country is playing to foil the initial stages of greenhouse gas reductions. Their personal action resonates around the world, much to the dismay of the UN security force who try to remove them from the conference. This is their story, and the sequel to 'Talk, Talk, Take Action!' [4], their first report from the UN conference.

Tooker and Kelly are fresh off the Gomberg for Mayor campaign (see Playing with Democracy (remix) [5] below. They travelled to The Hague to report on the UN climate talks and end up squatting inside the conference centre for 5 days. After the conference centre action, the Activists Without Passports remain in The Netherlands a while to continue campaigning for climate justice and world peace.

In the spring of 2001, after several extremely stressful months of campaigning (election, climate talks, nuclear disarmament, Quebec City FTAA...)Tooker Gomberg falls into his first depression. He would never fully recover, and on March 3rd, 2004 Tooker Gomberg left a suicide note on his bicycle at the mid-point of the Macdonald Bridge in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was never seen again.

Angela soon discovered that the anti-depressant pharmaceutical drug he was using at the time has been proven to double the risk of suicide. She embarked on nearly two years of research, published Depression Expression [6], and teamed up with old friends, Kelly Reinhardt and Bridget Haworth for the Healthy Mind Body Planet Tour [7] 2006.

For more on the Healthy Mind Body Planet Tour [7] read Angela's blog [8] (Tooker's widow) and the Depression Expression [6] tabloid at Greenspiration [9]. Previous HMBP Series are listed below. As well stay tuned to rabblevision [10] for further HMBP Tour [7] videos.

Alternative Exposures: Montreal, Killaloe, Ottawa [11]
HMBP Series / Episode 6: While on the HMBP Tour [7], Angela, Kelly and Bridget make their way to Montreal, Ottawa, and Killaloe where professionals and citizens speak out about health issues. See how whistle blower Dr. Michele Brill-Edwards [12] fights for better health care. Hear the story of healer Gastone Naessens and how citizens are teaching themselves to be healthy.

Playing with Democracy (remix) [5]
HMBP Series / Episode 5: A short remix of the hit video, 'Playing with Democracy' from the 2000 Toronto Mayoral campaign. See why Tooker Gomberg [3] was the best candidate, and learn about some issues that affect everyone, everywhere. Now screening in select communities during the Healthy Mind Body Planet Tour [7] 2006.

Air Solution (remix) [13]

HMBP Series / Episode 4: A short remix of the 1991 video that Tooker Gomberg [3] produced to highlight the growing concern about environmental degradation, and his favourite solution - the bicycle. Now showing in select communities on the Healthy Mind Body Planet Tour [14] 2006

'Halifax Abridged' [15]

HMBP Series / Episode 3: In Halifax, the Healthy Mind Body Planet Tour [7] spends time on the bridge where Tooker breathed his last, and visit with the Justice Ministers staff and the Chief Medical Examiner calling for an inquiry into his death.'ALL ABOARD! the HMBP Tour departs here' [16]

HMBP Series / Episode 2: On April 1, 2006 the Healthy Mind Body Planet Tour [7] begins at Union (yoga) Station in Toronto, Canada. By train and car we aim for Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Trailer - Healthy Mind Body Planet [17]

HMBP Series / Episode 1: Introducing boilingfrog’s presentation on the Healthy Mind Body Planet Tour [7], April 3 - June 20, 2006. What have drug companies accomplished? Why are alternatives inaccessible?

and listen to our audio podcasts from the Healthy Mind Body Planet Tour: [7]

Friends of Tooker, Halifax [18]
Critical Dialogue with Dr. Michele Brill-Edwards [12]
Fredericton 2: up close in the Underground [19]
Fredericton: Stories from the Underground [20]
Critical Dialogue with Dr. David Zitner [21]
WARNING: There may be drugs in your food. [22]
Elsipogtog 2 [23]
Elsipogtog Speaks Out [24]
Launching the Healthy Mind Body Planet Tour [25]

Please spend some time at Greenspiration [9] to learn more about Tooker's, and his widow Angela Bischoff's ongoing work for social justice and the environment.

Donate to the HMBP tour documentary 'Off The Rails' (in production winterr 06/07).

send us $25 towards the doc and we'll send you the promotional tour dvd, complete with the live presentations and videos that toured Canada coast to coast in the spring of 2006.

cheque or money order payable to:

Greenspiration

Dundas Dovercourt rpo

Box 16040

Toronto, ON. Canada

M6J 3W2

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