Each year, we here at rabble ask our readers: “What are the organizations that inspire you? Who are the activists leading progressive change? Who are the rabble rousers to watch?” And every year, your responses introduce us to a new group of inspiring change-makers. This is our ‘rabble rousers to watch’ series. Over the next few months, we’ll be sharing features about the people and organizations you nominated. Follow our rabble rousers to watch here.
We spoke with Bianca Mugyenyi about her work at the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute, and what inspires her to keep going.
A conversation with Bianca Mugyenyi
rabble.ca: Can you tell us about the work that you’re doing with your organization?
Bianca Mugyenyi: I direct the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute (CFPI) which informs people about the country’s diplomatic, aid, intelligence, trade and military policies abroad. The CFPI opposes the racism embedded in Canadian foreign policy and aims to bridge the gap between the reality and perception of Canada’s role in the world. You can find out more about our work here.
rabble.ca: How did you first get involved in activism?
BM: When I was six months old, a truck filled with soldiers came to the university in Kampala where my father lectured, searching for him. Fortunately a friend passed him in a hallway and tipped him off about the danger. And he fled, crossing the border to Kenya soon after. Beginning my life in exile was likely the start of it all. Experiences of racism as a child in Halifax and then as a teen made me dig deeper. When I came to Montreal for university, I joined an anti-racist women of colour collective called Fire. I went on to chair the Canadian Federation of Students-Quebec and was deeply inspired by the Quebec student movement. Coordinating campaigns at Concordia’s Centre for Gender Advocacy and helping launch the Leap Manifesto were also formative experiences.
rabble.ca: What does being nominated as a rabble rouser to watch mean to you?
BM: rabble is a leader in community-driven media, a staple source of information for progressive movements in Canada and has been doing amazing work for more than two decades. It’s an honour to be nominated by the rabble community.
rabble.ca: How do you take care of yourself and find the drive to keep going?
BM: I try not to skimp on sleep, find quiet moments in the day to recharge or meditate, find reasons to laugh and stay connected to family and friends. Music and art are also great sources of inspiration. My two young kids provide me with a lot of drive to keep striving for a more just and sustainable world.
rabble.ca: What is one goal you have in the next year?
BM: Helping to build an anti-war movement is more important than ever, especially one that connects the dots between militarism and issues like climate change. But it is a tough climate for that with Canada/NATO increasingly facing off with Russia in Ukraine.
rabble.ca: What do you wish people knew about the organizing you do?
BM: How much is done with so little. It’s hard to compete with a military that has hundreds of people in PR, dozens of museums and its own history department. The arms, mining and other industries with a vested foreign policy outlook also assist many organizations. Nearly all foreign policy focused think-tanks or NGOs in Canada receive direct funding from the military or Global Affairs Canada. In our case there’s no corporate or government assistance. Even union or other institutional financing is hard to come by. We are punching way above our weight by promoting international solidarity and a foreign policy that centres peace, justice and the planet.
Read more of Bianca Mugyenyi’s published work on rabble here.
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Nick Seebruch, editor
