Robert Hackett

Robert Hackett is Professor Emeritus of Communication at Simon Fraser University. He has published eight (mostly collaborative) academic books on media and politics, most recently Journalism and Climate Crisis (2017). A co-founder of NewsWatch Canada (1993), Media Democracy Days (2001), and Openmedia.ca (2007), Bob has been one of the thousands of people campaigning to defend the community, the coast and the planet from the expansion of fossil fuel infrastructure, notably the Trans Mountain pipeline. He received SFU's Warren Gill award for community impact in 2018.

Blog

Oct 22, 2020

Why some environmentalists are turning off British Columbia's NDP government

Robert Hackett

Despite the promises made while in opposition, and some positive steps, the Horgan government's environmental policy seems to be: pick low-hanging fruit, but don't offend corporate carbon capital.

Blog

Sep 28, 2020

Environmental leaders on post-COVID Canada: Greener future, or new climate denialism?

Robert Hackett

Interviews with five of Canada's environmentalist voices -- David Suzuki, Catherine McKenna, Graham Saul, Bruce Lourie and Tzeporah Berman -- on strategies and options for a green recovery.

Book Review

Sep 21, 2020

Should Canada treat climate crisis like a war?

Robert Hackett

Seth Klein's "A Good War" is the book every climate-concerned Canadian has been waiting for.

Blog

Jun 30, 2020

Noam Chomsky discusses prospects for post-COVID-19 society

Robert Hackett

Powerful elites are running scared, says Chomsky. "The peasants are coming with the pitchforks."

Blog

May 19, 2020

Pipeline projects, the pandemic and the question journalists fail to ask

Robert Hackett

While thousands of B.C. businesses have closed and millions of British Columbians are urged to stay at home, fossil fuel-related expansion projects continue as if they are "essential services."

Blog

Apr 9, 2020

Why has B.C. Premier John Horgan bought the LNG pipe dream?

Robert Hackett

Today's B.C. NDP is a locked-down creature. There's not been much chance for internal debate on LNG policy, even within the caucus.

Blog

Feb 22, 2020

Wet'suwet'en solidarity blockades: corporate media's punditocracy is yesterday's news

Robert Hackett

The solidarity blockades may indicate a political tipping point in the struggle against extractivism and climate change. But corporate media and their paid pundits don't get it.

Book Review

Jan 9, 2020

Can poetry help us understand climate change?

Robert Hackett

That's the task that Catriona Sandilands and the 45 other contributors to "Rising Tides: Reflections for Climate Changing Times" have set for themselves. And it's no small challenge.

Blog

Nov 28, 2019

Jagmeet Singh can help stop the Trans Mountain pipeline

Robert Hackett

With one single pro-climate act, Singh could show a firm commitment to a fundamental plank in the NDP's platform -- to end subsidies to fossil fuels.

Blog

Nov 11, 2019

On Remembrance Day, honour the fallen by working for peace

Robert Hackett

When we commemorate the sacrifices of Canadians who have gone to battle over the years, let's honour not only the soldiers, but those who take risks to prevent war or to repair its damage.

Robert Hackett

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