Eleven stories on the future of the left in Canada have now run in rabble.ca’s ongoing series: Reinventing democracy, reclaiming the commons: A progressive dialogue on the future of Canada.

Every Friday since May 20, stories that explore the options and possibilities have been published. The series is currently taking a hiatus for August, with our next story due to run after Labour Day on Friday, Sept. 9.

The series will run in this, rabble.ca’s 10th year, and is curated by journalist Murray Dobbin.

We invite readers to take a look at what we’ve published so far, add comments to the bottom of each story, or participate in chat about what has been run in babble, rabble.ca’s forum.

• Reinventing democracy, reclaiming the commons: A progressive dialogue on the future of Canada

By Murray Dobbin

rabble.ca is today launching this new series on the Canadian left, a look at where it stands after the recent federal election, and what the future can hold.

• Citizen engagement: The overarching solution

By Charles Dobson

If those who make up the attentive public realize they have been conned by a system set up for stability at the expense of individual and societal well-being, we could make some big changes.

• Reinventing democracy, reclaiming the commons: The plural present

By Janet Newbury

How does the little guy oppose the neo-liberal giant that is wreaking havoc on civil rights and environmental stability?

• Where do we go from here? Building an intergenerational progressive movement 

By Kevin Millsip

Next Up seeks to help young people develop skills, network, meet social change leaders and get insight into the best progressive policy solutions to many environmental and social justice challenges.

• When politics is personal what happens to people?

By Erika Shaker

We must move beyond the selfish individualism of the right that leads to irresponsible greed, and sell the solid progressive alternative of societal interconnectedness — which benefits everyone.

• The lure of the grassroots: Step beyond private life to public good

By Charles Dobson

Two related obstacles are the bigness of public problems and citizens feeling they are not competent to address them. Yet big problems are exactly those that require the tonic of citizen engagement.

• The Left and the end of Harper

By Alan Sears

I have a dream about the end of Harper, in which he is driven from office, a reviled figure.

• How the right knocks over democratic building blocks  

By Jamie Biggar

As creeping erosion diminishes our experience of progress through democracy, organizers need to step up their practice to provide it.

• Love in a time of climate crisis

By Velcrow Ripper

My journey has been to recognize the life-affirming spirit of our times. I learned that if we treat this earth better, potential disaster could be transformed into the greatest love story ever told.

• Beyond resistance: Creating a better world here and now

By Judy Rebick

Part one: After last year’s G20, I spent time away from the mad activism that has characterized much of my adult life in order to write my memoir. I discovered I feel more hopeful than ever.

• Beyond resistance: From the old to the new Left

By Judy Rebick

In the second of this two-part article, Judy Rebick discusses the importance of multi-generational dialogue in coming up with social change strategies.

Cathryn Atkinson is rabble.ca’s news editor.

 

 

Cathryn Atkinson

Cathryn Atkinson is the former News and Features Editor for rabble.ca. Her career spans more than 25 years in Canada and Britain, where she lived from 1988 to 2003. Cathryn has won five awards...