#OTTNEWS
Ottawa citizens rally against police actions at G20
This weekend Ottawa citizens gathered to demand a public inquiry into police actions during the G20 protests.
A new road to health on the street
For one regular visitor to the Youth Services Bureau's downtown Ottawa drop-in centre, it started off as a small problem -- more an annoyance than a real concern. Her mouth piercing had become infected, but alongside the other challenges that came with being homeless -- finding food and shelter, simply surviving-it didn't seem to warrant too much attention. In time, though, that small problem blossomed into a full-scale crisis. A trip to the emergency room led to a long-term hospital stay. The infection had spread and, even after treatment, she still lives with its effects.
Andrea Poncia, an HIV/AIDS educator who works at the bureau, thinks things would have turned out differently if the YSB had an integrated health service in place at the time.
Celebrating 40 years of Ottawa's Octopus Books
Forty years ago, the book ordering service provided by Octopus, a New Left tabloid paper of the day in the Ottawa area, became too much for Steve Harris, the paper’s publisher, chief writer, distributor, bottle washer, whatever.
A small group of us, primarily graduate students, concocted -- with Steve’s help -- the audacious plan to spin Octopus Books off from the paper. (Little did we know that we were pioneering in Ottawa the entrepreneurial model soon to be followed by Northern Telecom with SHL Systemhouse, Corel and dozens of others that have come and gone.) We badgered friends and professors for enough start-up cash to order a few books, rent some dingy space and build a few bookshelves.
Ottawa protest targets tar sands
One hundred protesters 'die' in the lobby of RBC branch near Parliament Hill, killed by the harmful effects of the tar sands including water contamination, poor air quality, and climate change.
The PM and the piano: Tuning up for a majority government?
Just over two weeks ago, Stephen Harper made a surprise appearance at the National Arts Centre Gala. He ambled onto the stage, sat down at a grand piano, and to a chorus of surprise-inspired laughter and a smattering of applause, sang the Beatles' 'With a Little Help from my Friends.'
Showcasing his modest talent on the ivories and singing in the Key of Ringo (but devoid of vocal passion -- the "ahhs" and "umms" are stiff. It's like watching a mannequin whistle) to some self-deprecating lyrics ("what would you do if I sang out of tune"), Harper had the media buzzing. A three-minute song did more for Harper's image than three weeks of Rockwellian sweater-vest advertisements during the 2008 federal election.
You, Me and the SPP
The SPP appears dead for now, but similar toxic corporate and government machinations continue. Join rabble.ca in Ottawa this Thursday for the premiere of a new documentary on the SPP.
Related rabble.ca story:
Was the NDP right to delay an election?
The political story in the capital is that the Bloc and the NDP will sustain the Harper government, at least for several weeks. The commentators have not been kind and have characterized the NDP particularly as weak and vacillating, nothing short of turncoats on their record of 79 votes against the Conservatives.
Afghan MP sends letter opposing arms trade show to Ottawa City Council
The following letter to Ottawa City Council comes from an Afghan woman Member of Parliament who expresses her clear opposition to the use of Ottawa facilities for any military trade shows.
Malalai Joya is an elected Afghan Member of Parliament. However, in May 2007 she was barred from Parliament for three years because she had denounced the many foreign-backed warlords and drug barons who dominate her government. While the Afghan Parliament passed a law giving immunity to all Afghan's who have committed war crimes over the previous 25 years, it also passed a law saying that Afghan MPs could not criticise each other.
Uribe, Harper and company
Earlier this week rallies were held in Ottawa and Montreal to denounce the presence of Colombian President Uribe in Canada and call for a halt to the FTA with Colombia. (Photo: commonfrontiers.ca)