Dru Oja Jay on Canadian media ownership ¶ ErinErin SteuterSteuter on the Irving media monopoly in New BrunswickBrunswick ¶ CCanada’sanada’s ffrontierrontier ccensorshipensorship ¶ Hillary Lindsay onon Fatal Harvest ¶ Heather Meek returns!

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Observers say that it is highly unlikely that a draft will be called before the election, but many others point to the lack of another viable source of soldiers to maintain the costly military occupations. (Salon)

Iraqi Money Missing

British humanitarian group Christian Aid released a report charging that the US-controlled Coalition Provisional Author- Argentinian lawmakers vote to turn over the Buenos Aires Brukman factory to its workers. Indymedia Argentina ity (CPA) had only accounted Brukman Factory the turnover is seen as a major “battlefi eld nukes”, maintaining for $1 billion out of $5 billion of Iraqi oil revenues and funds turned over to symbolic victory for widespread that Russian nuclear weapons radical workers’ movements in would only be used as “a means seized from Saddam Hussein’s workers Argentina. (Indymedia) of political deterrence.” “All government. The report quoted nuclear powers are improv- one “senior diplomat” as After a two year battle with If the US does it, so ing their nuclear potential and saying: “We have absolutely no police, owners, and the govern- idea how the money [from Iraqi can we: Putin Russia will do the same,” he ment, workers at the Brukman said. (Agence France-Presse) oil revenues] has been spent. factory in Buenos Aires cel- We know that more than US$1 ebrated a government decision Russian President Vladi- US reinstating the billion has already been trans- to turn over the factory to the mir Putin reaffi rmed his posi- ferred from the UN escrow Oil- workers. The Argentinian leg- tion that it is entitled to launch draft? for-Food account and we don’t islature voted to recognize the preventive strikes to maintain know how this money has been workers’ control of the factory national security, after the prec- A recent push by the Pen- spent, and this is Iraqi money.” following the bankruptcy of the edent set by the United States tagon to fi ll vacant draft board The report says that $5 billion Jakob Brukman, the factory’s in Iraq. “If the principle of seats across the United States have been reported as spent, owner. preventive use of force contin- has provoked speculation that but “at least $4 billion are unac- Following Argentina’s eco- ues to develop in international the draft will be reinstated counted for.” nomic collapse of 2001, Bruk- practice, then Russia reserves for the fi rst time since the L. Paul Bremer III, head of man shut down production. The the right to act in an analogous Vietnam war. The Pentagon the CPA, brushed off the accusa- workers subsequently occupied manner to defend its national insists that there are no plans tions, and insisted that “we are the factory and restarted pro- interests.” to draft young men into mili- going to be fully transparent.” duction, this time operating as Preventive strikes differ tary service, but many experts Christian Aid and other NGOs owners of a cooperative. Along from preemptive in that they have speculated that the US is have called on governments with hundreds of similar factory refer to a perceived rather than already running low on troops to withhold aid until the Iraqi occupations across Argentina, imminent threat. Preemptive for its continued occupations of money has been accounted for. the new collective was able to strikes are conducted against an Afghanistan and Iraq. A recent Newsweek report fi nd enough business to keep enemy that is about to attack. “We’ve failed to convince raised numerous issues of the mostly-female workforce The “principle of preventive our allies to send troops, accountability concerning the employed. use of force,” as adopted by the we’ve extended deployments Iraq reconstruction effort itself. Since then, the Brukman US government in its invasion so morale is sinking, and the A USAID offi cial was quoted factory was subject to two police of Iraq, involve attacking an president is saying we can’t as saying, “Saddam had better blockades and street battles. enemy that may attack in the cut and run. So what’s left?” accountability [in his economic After a massive solidarity cam- future. US Democratic representative affairs] than the CPA does.” paign from other factory occu- Putin did not follow the Charles Rangel was quoted as (Christian Aid, Oneworld) ••• pations, workers, and unions, US precedent of developing saying. International News For full stories and additional reading, visit www.dominionpaper.ca International News compiled by Dru Oja Jay, [email protected] The Dominion, November 11 2003 • Vol. I, #10 Canadian News 2 Video Solidarité: Resist, Reuse, Recycle by Daron Letts scious and creative about where and how we get that stuff seen,” Two Canadian independent he said. “Rather than working fi lmmakers embarked on in our little world until we get separate cross country tours some sort of recognition from this fall. Sheryle Carlson is an the broader fi lm industry and independent fi lmmaker from somehow get our foot in the Edmonton and Jonathan Culp door and work within the rules, is cofounder of Satan Macnug- it would be much nicer if we git Popular Arts in Toronto could create a space for people and a cofounder of the Toronto to do this sort of work autono- Video Activist Collective. Their mously with more support and road shows overlapped in Fred- on a more permanent basis. It’s ericton. just applying the usual activist values to this particular realm The War for Oil and Drug of work.” Money Audience response indi- Reaching audiences in cates to Culp that there is a eight cities across fi ve prov- Bush gets the boot in Plasticman and the Justice League, solid interest in do-it-yourself inces, Carlson’s tour featured by Jonathan Culp. Jonathan Culp video production across the screenings of her fi rst major country. production, The War For Oil real news providers.” that reached from the Yukon “There is a real desire for and Drug Money–a sixty minute Footage used in the War to Newfoundland (4 screenings this sort of programming, espe- documentary shot on Digital Hi for Oil and Drug Money was remain on the schedule). cially in smaller communities 8 and peppered with bursts of recorded during a press con- Assisted by a dissemina- with smaller or non-existent recycled-video collage. The doc- ference at the G6B People’s tion grant from the Canada arts scenes locally,” he said. umentary showcases lectures by Summit in Calgary (the coun- Council, Recycled Cinema fea- “The smaller towns have been Michael Rupert (former LA cop ter conference to the 2002 G8 tures shorts by 18 fi lmmakers, the places where people have turned investigative journal- Summit). including Allyson Mitchell and really picked up on it.” ist) and Michel Chossudovsky “We had all this footage Lex Vaughn, Will Munro, Marc The content is accessible (editor of Global Outlook and that we really didn’t know what Adornato and Meesoo Lee. to a broad audience with most economics professor at the Uni- to do with–so we focused on one Culp and his partner at Satan shorts being narrative based versity of Ottawa). particular press conference and Macnuggit Popular Arts, Siue and with no experimental Diverse audiences in com- worked with it,” she said, refer- Moffat, also contributed works abstract content. Many of the munity centres, campus the- ring to her collaborators, Barb to the program. selections are recorded on atres and in a Saint John park Allard and Rick Gustavsen. The tour is a means to Super 8 fi lm with old and found responded positively to the In addition to raising circumvent the limits of con- equipment. A majority address medium and the message. awareness about deeper analy- ventional distribution, such activist themes. The average At the end of the month- ses of September 11 and its pre- as fi lm festival screenings and budget for the 18 shorts was long tour, The Dominion spoke amble and aftermath, Carlson the occasional windows into $100. with Carlson by cell phone, used the self-funded tour to the corporate media system. Like Carlson, Culp is gath- somewhere on the Trans develop a network of indepen- Although the current tour ering contacts throughout the Canada Highway between dent media contacts across the received grant funding, Culp country, in hopes that increased Thunder Bay and Edmonton. country. and his colleagues funded the communication among com- A self-labeled media activ- Her next documentary will fi rst two tours through admis- munities of independent fi lm ist, Carlson developed her research alternative economic sion fees. makers will help to develop a “extroverted” blend of activism models in Canada. Currently, The Dominion reached decentralized infrastructure and independent video journal- she is working on a short on Culp by phone in St. John’s. through which to produce, ism in earnest following Sep- urban sprawl and a TV series He said that challenging distribute and expand indepen- tember 11, 2001. on envirofi tting the home. She media conventions requires an dent fi lm. In recent years, she cov- plans to fi ne tune her fi rst docu- interpretation and understand- Following the tour, which ered scrums at the Alberta mentary before distributing ing of the social context that wraps on November 22, legislature, documented local public copies in November. fi lm has, including the rituals of Culp will work on an upcom- anti-war protests and prepared movie going. ing feature. That project will video shorts on global warm- Recycled Cinema “If we’re interested in likely form the basis for Satan ing for posting on independent The 3rd Satan Macnuggit making different kinds of Macnuggit’s fourth Video Road news websites–her response to Video Road Show, titled Recy- movies, not just on different Show, he said. ••• the “huge need for viable infor- cled Cinema, is approaching the subjects but in different forms, mation by real journalists and end of a 40-city Canadian tour then we also have to be con-

Canadian News Editor: Daron Letts, [email protected] 3 Accounts The Dominion, November 11 2003 • Vol. I, #10 Journalists Question Media Ownership in Canada by Dru Oja Jay makes sources of political will for addressing media concentra- “Media concentration is tion scarce at best. The Acadian worse in Canada than in other Association of Journalists plans industrialized countries; in New to lobby the government to stop Brunswick, way worse.” Spoken media concentration, but sees by American media economics its work–especially as the busi- expert Robert Picard, this state- ness-friendly Paul Martin takes ment set the tone for a day-long power–as a damage control discussion on media ownership. campaign. President Phillipe Organized by the Acadian Asso- Ricard said that the association ciation of Journalists and held will argue for an end to CBC in Moncton, New Brunswick, budget cuts and regulation of “Media concentration in the further concentration of the media in Canada. 21st century: an international, Canadian Journalists hope to avoid the fate of Italy, where Prime Kim Keirans, who is national and provincial phe- Minister Berlusconi controls the largest newspapers and broadasters. nomenon” was the occasion director of the King’s College for a diverse dialogue between of the Canadian media market, that found that 75% of news journalism school, said that journalists, politicians, editors, including 14 metropolitan daily items in Canadian papers were the government could not be producers and academics. newspapers and hundreds of not initiated by reporters, but counted on to stop concentra- While citizen groups in community papers. came from a “canned event,” tion. “It’s not going to stop,” the US are putting unprec- Speakers at the conference such as a press conference or she said, arguing that the only edented pressure on Congress pointed to a number of prob- PR campaign. Erin Steuter, a relief from media concentration to reinstate cross-ownership lems with concentrated media Sociology professor at Mount will come from the efforts of regulations that the Federal ownership, almost all of which Allison University, said that communities and independent Communications Commission referred to a threat to democ- journalists are “under siege,” journalists. ••• recently attempted to roll back, racy. Jens Cavallin, a philoso- having faced massive layoffs those concerned about concen- pher from Sweden, compared since corporations like CanWest media empires to feudal states, Global, Thompson, and Hol- The Dominion is a not tration of ownership are real- for profi t free newspaper izing that in Canada, the fi nal with “kings and princes.” Raud- linger began acquiring newspa- sepp said that information is the pers and other media outlets. covering topics of interest step of deregulation is a fait to Canadians. We aim to accompli. Says Picard, “Canada “oxygen of democracy.” Jean “Before, journalists would only Pelletier of Radio Canada hinted post several stories a week, and provide a counterpoint to the backed itself into a corner–[the mainstream papers, direct government] didn’t act to stop at the danger that concentration now they’re being asked to post of power in the media could several stories per day, which attention to independent concentration when it could.” journalism, and establish The government is now left hold during an election. means that they stories are a venue where alternative with two choices. It can split up Former CanWest Global coming right off the newswires, forms of journalism can be the existing media monopolies, head Asper was well known with possibly an interview or an practiced. or it can open up the market for his staunch support of Jean attempt to clarify or confi rm The Dominion is published to foreign competition. The Chrétien, his intolerance of crit- something, but with none of bi-weekly in print and web fi rst choice is “messy” and will icism of Israel, and for the insti- the investigative journalism you involve a major political battle, tution of “national editorials,” would have seen before.” formats. while allowing foreign owner- which would appear in many Solutions were proposed, For more information, visit ship could mean domination by of the hundreds of papers he including the creation of a our web site: American media companies. controlled. Many recalled Silvio government fund to subsidize dominionpaper.ca “The soap box in the town Berlusconi, Italy’s egomaniacal independent newspapers, square is easily drowned out Prime Minister who controls stronger limitations on owner- Coordinating Editor by high powered, corporate- a vast empire of newspapers, ship, and various other regula- Dru Oja Jay TV, radio and construction tion schemes. Almost everyone owned amplifi cation,” said Arts Editors companies, and is the richest agreed, however, that these Enn Raudsepp, head of Con- person in Italy. Berlusconi’s solutions are either incomplete Max Liboiron cordia University’s journalism company owns the three largest or unrealistic. Unrealistic, Jane Henderson program. According to Raud- TV stations, the country’s lead- because the public is both Canadian News Editor sepp, 84% of Canadian media is owned by the fi ve largest ing daily, and dozens of other unaware of media concentra- Daron Letts media companies, resulting in outlets. tion, and not actively interested Environment Editor “increasingly homogenous per- Beyond the potential for in the issue. Hillary Lindsay abuse of vast political power, The fact that most of the spectives.” CanWest Global, the Features Editor many expressed serious con- media chains in Canada are largest Canadian media com- Susan Thompson pany, controls over 30 per cent cern about the quality of infor- owned by people politically in mation. Raudsepp cited a study line with the ruling Liberal party Copy Editors Mark Parker Accounts highlights the work of independent journalists from around the world. Sean Patrick Sullivan Send feedback or suggestions to [email protected] The Dominion, November 11 2003 • Vol. I, #10 Feature 4 Freedom of the Press is for Those Who Own One The Irving Media Monopoly in New Brunswick

2003, “Rock disregarded ethics free fl ight scandal overblown”– Living in New Brunswick where all of the English lan- ruling to advance Irvings’ Moncton Times and Transcript cause”–National Post October guage daily papers are owned by one company means October 23, 2003. 20, 2003, “New questions arise The adage that you don’t that there is very little variety in the type of news that over Rock, Irvings”–Toronto bite the hand that feeds you, Star October 14, 2003. Yet a means that the readers of the is available to New Brunswick readers. We face classic review of headlines from the New Brunswick papers are New Brunswick papers reads: being given a very different spin problems of monopoly media ownership in which homo- “Rock defends Irving trip”– on news than readers in the rest Fredericton Daily Gleaner geneity and a narrow range of opinion are common fea- of the country. In this case, the October 11, 2003 pA3, “Audit story attracted enough national tures of the news media. » by Erin Steuter of Irving deal shows no evi- media attention that local dence of confl ict”–Saint John people had access to alterna- Telegraph-Journal October 18, tive perspectives by examining language daily papers are For example: last month 2003, pA1/A11, “No Confl ict in the national papers. However owned by the most powerful all three New Brunswick daily Fishing Trip”–Moncton Times due to the for-profi t orientation economic entity in the province papers ran editorials within and Transcript October 11, of the media industry which means something else entirely. several days of each other 2003, pC3. Similarly, when it emphasizes wire-service fi ller The Irving empire–which critiquing the government’s became apparent that local MP over investigative local news includes over 300 companies, appointment of unsuccessful Claudette Bradshaw had also coverage, it is increasingly has an estimated net worth of provincial conservative can- benefi ted from Irving trips the common for New Brunswick approximately 4 billion dollars, didates to government posts. Irving papers covered the story news issues to be neglected and which employs 8% of the While this editorial position with the headline: “Bradshaw by the national media. When may well be justifi ed, and New Brunswick labour force refl ect the views of a majority in operations that span for- of New Brunswickers, the audi- estry, transportation, and ence nevertheless lost out on construction–is not exposed the ability to hear any another to investigative journalistic perspective on this issue. inquiry in the province’s Living in New Brunswick daily papers. Instead critical where all of the English lan- observers of the media can guage daily papers are owned easily identify the self serv- by a single large capitalist ing nature of the Irvings’ enterprise means that the voice media coverage on any issue of the corporate world speaks that concerns themselves. loudly and the coverage of For example: In October labour focuses on confronta- all three Irving papers ran tional and controversial events similar news headlines that such as strikes in which labour defended their bosses from is scapegoated. For example: accusations of undue infl u- this month all three papers ence when it was revealed ran editorials within several that they had given govern- days of each other critical of ment ministers free plane the community college and trips and fi shing junkets. prison custodians who were When the national walking the picket line as part media reported on the case of a Canadian Union of Public of the current federal Indus- Employees’ strike. Terms such try minister Allan Rock, as irrational, unreasonable, who made highly favourable ludicrous and greedy were pep- policy decisions affecting pered throughout the editorials the Irving empire after he revealing a pattern of Irving went on a fi shing trip hosted coverage of labour issues that by the Irvings, the national A corporate empire spanning oil speculation, refi ning and shipping, gas typically portrays labour as the newspapers’ headlines read: stations, food products, massive land holdings, forestry, pulp and paper, active and disruptive party. “Rock faces new confl ict-of- and employing one in eight New Brunswickers, the Irving group owns the Yet living in New Bruns- interest questions”–Globe provinceʼs three English-language daily newpspapers, as well as at least wick where all of the English and Mail October 14, seven of twelve community weeklies. Dru Oja Jay 5 The Dominion, November 11 2003 • Vol. I, #10 our own provincial papers didn’t reveal the proposed 30% work protocol was identifi ed as settle the strike. Thus when the are owned by the local mega wage cut at all. a ‘brainwashing’ exercise. national news media fall into corporation, it leaves us with The decline in investigative Not surprisingly, the words line with the Irvings’ account limited options to gain another reporting of local and regional ‘brainwashing’ and ‘blacklist- of their own controversies, no perspective. issues by the country’s national ing’ of strikers never appeared one is provided with the range Another example from papers has also resulted in a sit- in the Irving papers’ coverage of of opinion and perspective that October was coverage of a strike uation where the Irvings can at the strike. In contrast, the New is the heart of informative and at the Irving-owned sawmill in times act as agenda setters for Brunswick papers published the independent journalism in a Chipman, New Brunswick. The the rest of the media. In these names of the 37 striking work- democratic society. CBC news coverage headline cases the Irvings’ version of ers who were fi red by the com- Research on the Irvings’ was “Irving loggers protest certain events are reproduced pany under the headline “Not media coverage of their own wage cut”, the story revealed uncritically in the national welcome at the Refi nery”. The companies also reveals that the fact that the management media without reference to the re-orientation was described the papers routinely publish had proposed a thirty percent vested interests that the Irvings as a “back-to-work program” their own press releases as wage cut and was expecting have on a particular issue. that was a “tough transition” for news stories. For example this higher productivity from the For example, when the the men who “failed” and were month’s Saint John Telegraph twenty-seven month strike at Journal contains an article “The adage that you Irving Oil concluded in 1996 “When the national entitled “Refi nery Hires 1,000 with a humiliating defeat for for Maintenance Project” which don’t bite the hand the Communications, Energy news media fall into is almost identical to the Irving that feeds you, means and Paperworkers union, the line with the Irvings’ Oil press release on that topic company required a process of entitled “1,000 Tradespeople that the readers of ideological re-education which account of their own ‘Turnaround’ Saint John Refi n- was essentially a means for the ery”. the New Brunswick company to control the hearts controversies, no one The owners of the Irving papers are being and minds of its now broken is provided with the papers have also been known to labour force. Refi nery workers actively interfere in the papers’ given a very differ- spent two weeks at a local hotel range of opinion and editorial policy. The history ent spin on news than with facilitators from an Ameri- perspective that is of the Irvings’ ownership of can consulting fi rm where they the media is peppered with readers in the rest of were required to go through the heart of informa- stories of journalists forbid- the country.” a reorientation agenda which tive and independent den to name the Irvings as the included “venting emotions”, ones responsible for oil spills, “problem people” and a partici- journalism in a dem- of Irving executives forbid- pation in a “public declaration”. den to speak to the press, and workers, and the story included Successful completion of the ocratic society.” a case where the editor of the quotes from the workers saying fi rst week of this program was Saint John paper was denied that they couldn’t see how they a prerequisite to being “invited” permission to report that an could survive on less money or to week two, which involved “told to go home”. Irving-owned tugboat had run produce more. Said one saw “team building” exercises for But it is interesting to note aground for fear it would result mill worker, “We’re grabbing union members and their that the Irvings’ coverage of the in an insurance hike for the trees as quick as we can. We former colleagues who crossed issue was paralleled in the only company. When Neil Reynolds can’t grab them any quicker” the picket lines as well as national newspaper at the time, left the Telegraph-Journal in (NB CBC June 3, 2002). The replacement workers who had the Globe and Mail. The Globe 1995 after a stormy reign as CBC journalist also provided been kept on. Week two in turn and Mail allowed the Irvings editor he told reporters that the viewer with the accurate was followed by a practical test to set the agenda on the tone the paper’s owner, J.K. Irving, background information that at the refi nery lasting up to four and coverage of the strike and called him every day, telling “Irving companies are well weeks. Workers were assessed its unorthodox back to work him what he liked and did not known for their tough battles every day and did not get full protocol and presented virtu- like in the paper. with striking unions.” pay until they passed the entire ally identical coverage to the An incident during the However, readers of the program. national audience. It is also 1997 federal election revealed Irving papers in Saint John Returning workers at the interesting to note that the some insight into the conse- and Fredericton didn’t get any refi nery said that in reality, Globe and Mail even avoided quences of unsanctioned edito- coverage of the strike at all and the reorientation program covering traditionally news- rial action at an Irving-owned those in Fredericton read the was a combination “bitterness worthy elements to the story paper. In the weeks before the headline “Mill Workers Walk test” and “attitude alteration” when they followed the Irvings’ June 1997 federal election, the Out”, learned that the work- exercise. Workers were told lead and avoided covering New federal Liberal Party in New ers earn up to $16.35 an hour, that they were misled by their Brunswick New Democratic Brunswick was in electoral and were told that the issue of local union and to doubt the Party leader Elizabeth Weir’s trouble. The province, like the contention was “stalled contract credibility of the executives of attention-getting press confer- region, was turning against the negotiations.” The coverage of their national union. Labour ence in which she suggested that Chrétien Liberals. A few days the issue in the Irving papers observers noted at the time that the N.B. government should before the vote the Telegraph- failed to identify any of the con- the Irvings were blacklisting the call in the Irving Companies’ continued on page 8 » text for the labour dispute and striking workers and the back to loans if they did not agree to The Dominion, November 11 2003 • Vol. I, #10 Environment 6 Harvest Goon Fatal Harvest: The Tragedy of Industrial Agriculture: Review by Hillary Lindsay sections fi ll out this argument with essays on the environ- Our connection to the mental and social costs of the environment is perhaps most new technologies, farming apparent when we sit down at methods, and globalization, the dinner table to eat a meal. associated with industrial That “we eat our daily bread agriculture. without being conscious of The fi nal section, “Organic the massive loss of topsoil, and Beyond,” looks to the diversity and farm communi- future of farming. The editor ties involved in its production” warns the reader against the testifi es to North American’s temptation of seeing “simply disconnection from the land organic” as enough, by allow- that sustains us. It is this dis- ing large corporations to cash connection that is allowing in on the growing popularity of corporations to hide the very chemical free food: “If organic real and terrible impacts of the production ends up mimick- industrialization of our food ing conventional agribusiness supply, and it is this discon- (huge, faraway operations nection that Fatal Harvest: minus the chemicals, with The Tragedy of Industrial centralized distribution and Agriculture addresses. processing) what becomes Far from being the whole- of the independent, region- some, harmless industry that ally–and quality–oriented, the media makes it out to be, stewardship-minded farmer?” the authors of Fatal Harvest The essays in this section not demonstrate that modern only stress the importance agriculture is perhaps the “A must-read for anyone who eats in the 21st century.” of innovative alternatives biggest threat to water, soil, to industrial farming (from biodiversity, cultures and com- connection to the land (which is not only better than ever, but urban gardens, to farming with munities around the globe. exists, whether or not we are an absolute necessity in today’s the wild), but also stress the With over 250 striking photos conscious of it) and takes world. The second section of urgency of replacing a system and 40 essays from leading community, sustainable land the book is therefore devoted that gives so much power to thinkers, farmers and activists use and biological diversity as to debunking the myths which corporations willing to sacrifi ce such as Wendell Berry, Helena its priorities. These opposing promote and defend indus- all other values for increased Norberg-Hodge, Vandana modes of thought are visually trial agriculture. Among the short term profi t. Shiva and Wes Jackson, Fatal contrasted in Part Three. Here, 10 myths “debunked” in this Fatal Harvest is not simply Harvest calls on citizens to striking side-by-side photo section are that industrial a book about food, but also a become “paradigm warriors” in layouts compare agrarian and agriculture will feed the world, book about life. By honouring the fi ght against the industrial industrial landscapes for every- and the idea that industrial the relationships between food, worldview and the destruction thing from apples, to cotton, agriculture is cheap. According family, money, community, that is resulting. to wheat. With these photos to the editor of Fatal Harvest power, health and war, Fatal The book is divided up readers are guided “...past the “...hunger is not created by Harvest reminds us that many into seven sections. The fi rst, deceptive facade of modern lack of food but by poverty things start at the breakfast entitled “Farming As If Nature farms, which make them appear and landlessness, which deny table. Fatal Harvest is a must Mattered” questions the prin- as healthy, thriving, lush and people access to food.” and read for anyone who eats in the ciples of industrial agriculture productive into a visual under- ”if you added the real cost of 21st century. and proposes an alternative standing of the destructive and industrial food–its health, envi- * * * agrarian paradigm. The indus- deadly ‘monocultured’ reality of ronmental, and social costs–to trial worldview, Fatal Harvest current food production.” the current supermarket priced, Fatal Harvest: The Tragedy of argues, holds profi t as its fi rst According to the creators not even our wealthiest citizens Industrial Agriculture is edited priority, viewing nature as a of the book, this ‘deceptive could afford it.” When all costs by Andrew Kimbrell and pub- set of limits on productivity and facade’ has been maintained are calculated, Fatal Harvest lished by Island Press with a effi ciency which can be over- with millions of corporate argues, small-scale intensive listed cost of $45.00. If you have come by science. The agrarian advertising dollars dedicated to farms are more effi cient than the cash, it’s worth every penny; alternative considers humans’ the message that farming today industrial ones. The next three otherwise, try the library! •••

Environment Editor: Hillary Lindsay, [email protected] 7 Arts The Dominion, November 11 2003 • Vol. I, #10 A Serious Lack American Visual Artists and Imperialism Can’tLit Books Recently Seized or by Max Liboiron Detained by Canada Customs I have to admit out! Out of forty-seven that the abundance of artists from thirty “The past 20 years have American fl ags both- countries, not one had shown Canadian censorship ered me when I fi rst a direct reference to to be legal, durable, and came to New York a the war in Afghanistan popular. Canadian censors– few months ago. And or Iraq. The gallery whether government offi cials the bumpers stickers tour guide defended or common citizens–have saying ‘God Bless Our this lack by saying that shown little confi dence of the Soldiers’ didn’t ease the pieces were chosen abilities of other people to my mind much, either. before the war on Iraq think or behave responsibly But I breathed a sigh started. But the situa- after reading ‘objectionable’ of relief whilst walking tion remains ludicrous: books and magazines.” past the offi ces of the a ‘contemporary’ –F. Carter, Editors’ Assoc. of faculty of my fi ne arts exhibit claiming to rep- Canada program; on almost resent the world’s view every door was an anti- of America fails utterly • Adams, Carol: The Sexual Poli- tics of Meat: a feminist-vegetar- war poster from the to represent the world’s ian critical theory. internet. Relieved, I most current view of • Bataille, George: Blue of Noon set out to fi nd what the America. and Story of the Eye. American professional I left feeling • Carter, ed.: Outrage: Australian visual arts commu- enraged at the appar- Gay and Lesbian short story nity was saying about ent lack of concern, anthology. • Delany, Samuel R: The the war. Things went None of the “Justice Project” fi nalists dealt with awareness, and critical downhill from there. thought on the war by Madman. Bushʼs conception of justice. • The Evil Empire: Globalization’s My search began American visual artists. Darker Side, by Paul Hellyer in the hundred or so galler- abolishment of the death pen- When blatant opportunities • Fleming, Mickey: About Cour- ies in New York City’s Chelsea alty next to clips demanding arouse for commentary, the age. district. No mention of the war that murderers are not let out main issue was left out entirely. • Genet, Jean: Querelle and Pris- anywhere. So I emailed four of of jail... And a graphic lament- I ran to my studio to do some- oner of Love. the city’s galleries known for ing the lost American soldiers thing about that. • hooks, bell: Black Looks: race more ‘alternative’ shows. No in the two recent (and continu- To be fair, not all American and representation. luck there. Was I frustrated? ing) wars. Whether or not there visual artists are skirting the • Irving, John: The Hotel New Hampshire. Not yet; almost all of the art- were entries that were critical of issue; Susan Sontag spoke out • Kulaszka, Barbara: The Hate ists and art educators that I had Bush’s idea of ‘justice’ is impos- against the war in Afghanistan Crimes Law in Canada, 1970- come into contact with since sible to know; if there were, the minute Bush proposed it. 1994: Effects and Operation. moving to New York are very they were not chosen as fi nalists She was nearly stripped of her • Leavitt, David: A Place I’ve critical of Bush’s foreign policy. by the Justice Project’s jury. citizenship. There are surely Never Been. I was sure that some Americans My last hope resided in artists in their backroom studios • Mitchell, Mark, ed.: The Penguin were making art about what was the recent Whitney Museum all around the world making art Book of International Gay so passionately on their minds. of American Art’s show “The about the wars; the work just Writing. • National Lesbian and Gay Isn’t that what art is? American Effect.” The cata- isn’t easily accessible. And one Survey: Proust, Cole Porter, I came across an outdated logue’s forward by Maxwell can never forget the anti-war Michelangelo, Marc Almond call for submissions from The Anderson was promising: “How spoof posters on every faculty and Me: writings by gay men Justice Project, “a nonpartisan those who question our policies member’s door; the internet on their lives and lifestyles. organization dedicated to fi ght- and values perceive us is the is ultra-public and accessible. • Our Home or Native Land: What ing injustice and to creating a most urgent question we face in As far as the New York profes- Government’s Aboriginal Policy more humane and just world” a nation in search for security, sional art world goes, I’ll be the is Doing to Canada, by Melvin (http://justice.policy.net/ and in this exhibition we look fi rst to admit that it is more Smith • Pierce, William: The Turner artistscall/gallery/). at artists to teach us something a business than a Art World, Diaries. The website’s gallery fea- about ourselves that we cannot and the fear of losing one’s job • Rice, Anne: The Sleeping tures the young winners in learn from isolated introspec- seems to be a greater issue than Beauty Trilogy. video, animation, and graphic tion.” If the New York profes- real justice projects or looking • Stern, Phyllis Noerager, ed.: design medias. Featured are sional art world was silent on ‘to artists to teach us something Lesbian Health: what are the a pro-life animation clip, a lot the war issue, at least one can about ourselves.’ ••• issues?. of anti-gun and anti-nuclear depend on the international • Tory, Frank (ed.) Panthology graphics, clips that request the artistic community to speak I & II (allegedly burned by Customs) Arts Editors: Jane Henderson and Max Liboiron, [email protected] The Dominion, November 11 2003 • Vol. I, #10 8

Irving’s compensation package to the union ‘isn’t going to get any better’ and ‘like it or not, we believe they hold all the cards.’ A consequence of this discourse of defeatism is that the public “may begin to feel increasingly alienated and dis- connected from the civic life of their communities. They may develop a sense that they are without relevant, actionable information and, therefore, powerless to control the course of their own lives.” In conclusion, monopoly media in New Brunswick has resulted in a situation where we are left with generic news content in which contextual- ized and critical discussions of important social and economic issues that affect the lives and livelihoods of neighbours and families are addressed in a skewed and self-serving manner. The Irvings control all of the English-language daily papers in the province and now have incursions into the community papers as well, and this gives the giant corporation an unparalleled venue to pro- mote its own interests as well as insulate itself from inquiries and criticism. It would appear that the consolidation and con- vergence within the monopoly media has undermined our “Irving Media Monopoly,” continued from page 5 » society’s formation of a free and Journal took an editorial posi- paper’s editors took a position economy. independent press and brought tion in favour of Jean Charest’s in opposition to that of their Finally, the Irvings’ cover- us full circle back to a system Progressive Conservatives. J. K. employers they were publicly age of their own empire is par- where freedom of the press is Irving, the eldest of the three dressed-down. ticularly marked by a strategy for those who own one. Irving brothers responded by The papers routinely pres- of defeatism where those who writing a letter, published on ent the view that what’s good oppose the company are rou- Dr. Erin Steuter is an associate the front page on election day, for the company is good for tinely portrayed as naive, fool- professor of Sociology at Mount repudiating the editorial, and the province. When Irving Oil ish and irrational in their futile Allison University in Sackville, arguing instead that Canada maintained high production effort to challenge the Irvings. New Brunswick. This paper needed a majority govern- levels while replacement work- Last month’s coverage of the was presented “Media Concen- ment and that the Liberals had ers and management ran the closure of the Irving-owned tration in the 21st Century: an done a good job and deserved plant during the 1994 refi nery Saint John shipyard and the International, National and another term. (The Irvings, strike, the Irving-owned media decertifi cation of fi ve unions Provincial Phenomenon,” a starting with their father, K. C., heralded their accomplishment reveals examples of this classic conference organized by the tended to support the Liberals, with laudatory headlines about response. The Saint John Tele- Acadian Association of Jour- and J. K.’s son-in-law, Paul Zed this boon for New Brunswick’s graph Journal’s news coverage nalists (see article, p. 3). [M.P.-Fundy Royal] was one fi scal health. Yet when strikers and editorial on the story was of the Liberal incumbents who threaten to initiate a boycott fi lled with phrases such as ‘end would go down to defeat later of Irving products, this was of an era’, ‘stalemate’, ‘spin their that day, despite J.K.’s efforts.) proclaimed as a dire threat to wheels’ and ‘going nowhere This case shows that when the the health of the provincial fast’. The media stated that the