Reparations for Africville? ¶ David Fuenmayor on Venezuela’s Political Crisis ¶ OCAP’s John Clarke on the Criminalization of Dissent ¶ An interview with Geoff Berner ¶ Yuill Herbert on Canada’s Boreal Forests >>>

dominion, n. 1. Control or the exercise of control. 2. A territory or sphere of influence; a realm. 3. One of the self-governing nations The Dominion within the British Commonwealth. CANADA’S GRASSROOTS NATIONAL NEWSPAPER • MARCH, 2004 • DOMINIONPAPER.CA • Vol. I, #16

Guantanamo reporting what’s going on, that Prisoner Describes the former Haitian military is “Torture” killing people. They are killing about 50 people a day in Cap Jamal al-Harith, a Brit- Haitien.” ish citizen who was held for Moise also said the former over two years without charge army has been equipped with by the American military was sophisticated weaponry, includ- recently released and returned ing helicopters and planes, and to England. asked reporters to find out Upon his return home where it was coming from. He from “Camp X-ray” on the US said that the army, which killed military base at Guantanamo thousands of Haitian dissidents Bay, Cuba, he described the during the US-supported Duva- conditions of life in the facility lier dictatorships, was tradition- to the British press. Scientists hold two Giant Pacific Crabs. Introduced by the Soviets ally used to oppress the poor of Al-Harith said that pris- Union in the 1950s, the versatile species has multiplied rapidly, and Haiti before it was disbanded by oners were kept in small wire the growing population is moving south along the Norwegian coast. President Aristide in 1994. Moise also drew attention cages, exposed to the weather families. Among the groups receiv- to the achievements of Haiti’s and to snakes, insects, and scor- “It took the Americans five ing funding are those collecting democratic government, and pions on the ground. The former minutes to take my son,” said signatures for a referendum on asked why the US chose to prisoner described brutal treat- Fadil Abdulhamid. “It has taken Hugo Chavez’s presidency and destabilize the country with an ment such as frequent beatings me more than three weeks the people who unseated the aid embargo. for minor offenses, torture, and to find him.” Human rights president in a short-lived coup “One has to ask, why is systematic humiliation. He lawyer Adil Allami commented two years ago. all of this happening? Is this cited specific instances where that “Iraq has turned into one The NED also provided because we used to have only 10 devout Muslims were forced big Guantanamo,” explaining funds to opposition groups in public high schools but now we to watch female strippers, and that the prisoners, who are as Haiti opposed to the recently- have over 150?” prisoners were told “we will kill young as 11 and as old as 75, deposed president Aristide. (Pacific News Service) your family and you.” have “essentially no rights.” Critics have claimed that the US foreign secretary Jack (NY Times) funding, along with a major aid Straw explained that there was embargo, was part of a success- “Stalin’s Last Army” “good reason” for detaining the US Government ful attempt to systematically Advancing on Europe suspects. When asked if any of Provided Funding destabilize the country. those held were innocent, he to Opposition in (Independent) The Norwegian govern- replied, “I can’t answer that ment is concerned that a popu- question, nobody can.” Haiti, Venezuela Haitian Mayor: lation of giant crabs is moving (Telegraph) “Hundreds Killed south from the Arctic, fueled According to documents by explosive population growth Iraq is “One Big obtained under the Freedom Every Day” and a lack of natural predators. Guantanamo” of Information Act, the US Known as “Giant Pacific government provided over a The 28-year-old former Crabs”, the species were intro- Over 10,000 Iraqi men and million dollars in funding to the mayor of Milo, a town of duced to the arctic region by boys are being held without Venezuelan opponents of Presi- 50,000 in northern Haiti, told Joseph Stalin’s Soviet govern- charge by the US military in dent Hugo Chavez in 2002. The reporters that the formerly ment in the 1950’s. Scientists Iraq, according to a recent New funds were channeled through disbanded Haitian military is say the species has a remark- York Times report. The prison- the National Endowment for now killing hundreds of people. able ability to adapt to new ers, who have been captured by Democracy (NED), a non-profit Jean Charles Moise, who is now conditions, and could reach as the military, are in most cases agency with a congressional in hiding, said that “the jour- far south as the Mediterranean not allowed contact with the mandate to “encourage democ- nalists are in Port-au-Prince, in the coming decades. outside world, including their racy.” but here in the north no one is (Telegraph) International News For full stories and additional reading, visit www.dominionpaper.ca International News Editor: Dru Oja Jay, [email protected] The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16 Canadian News 2 3 The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16

UN Recommends (Lower Mainland Coalition for Reparations for Social Justice) Africville Residents Stronger Whistle- The fight for compensation for former residents of Africville blower Protection received a boost when a United Needed: PSAC Nations report urged Canada to consider paying reparations. The Public Service Alliance Located in north Halifax, of Canada (PSAC) is worried Africville was home to about that the Liberal government’s 400 black Nova Scotians until new bill for “whistleblowers” it was razed by the city starting is not extensive enough to pro- in 1964. vide the proper protection and First a settlement for black recourse for those who choose Americans who fled the United to bring relevant issues forward. PSAC says it has been advocat- States during the war of 1812, Before: Africville circa 1984; the community was denied basic sani- ing for whistleblower protection Africville existed as a com- tation and water services by the city of Halifax. munity starting in the 1850s. for more than 20 years. Though the residents paid PSAC says that for whis- taxes, the city of Halifax pro- tleblower protection to be vided no services, and residents effective, it must meet several were left to make do with what criteria. It must allow for a was available. This set the stage person to confidentially report for the city’s relocation program any suspected wrongdoing to a in 1964, which was initiated on responsible third party outside the basis of the alleged poor formal departmental structures sanitation in Africville. Most and the allegations must be families were paid around $500 investigated by an independent in compensation. agency, providing anonymity Many historians cite evi- to the whistleblower whenever dence that the city used the possible. If an allegation turns humanitarian justification as out to be wrong or there is not an excuse to appropriate what enough evidence, no penalties was then seen as an ideal area should be imposed on the whis- for industrial development. tleblower so that others will not After: Years after the village was demolished and the land appropriated be discouraged. Recourse must Africville residents were not by the city of Halifax, the only remnant of Africville is a small monument. consulted in the formulation of be provided throughout the the relocation program. Despite province’s legislature. to arrange an emergency meet- procedure, and the entire set the trying conditions, many Prior to the refusal to leave, ing with Finance Minister Gary of rules must be applied to the surviving Africville residents the representatives had a meet- Collins before the end of March entire public sector. have recalled the community ing with Minister of State for to discuss the issue. The repre- “We also want a cultural with some fondness, citing the Women’s and Seniors’ Services sentatives refused to leave the change in government where strong community and inde- Ida Chong concerning the Lib- Legislature until Chong came it is possible to question the pendence. eral government’s cuts to the back to the table to have an motives and actions of the Efforts by the Africville province’s women’s centres. “open and honest discussion higher-ups without recrimi- Genealogy Society to gain com- According to the Lower about the realities for women nation,” says PSAC national pensation for the families of Mainland Coalition for Social in BC.” president, Nycole Turmel. He Africville residents has, to date, Justice, 100 per cent of core The funding that will be also says that the government not been fruitful. funding to BC’s 37 Women’s ceased has provided crisis inter- is refusing to agree to PSAC’s Centres will be cut as of March vention, as well as referral and suggestions and it is not offer- Five Arrested for 31, 2004, resulting in wide- emergency response services. ing any other solutions, even in spread closures. The coalition warns that cut- light of the ongoing media and Protesting Cuts to The representatives had ting the funding will continue public scrutiny. BC Women’s Centres two main requests during the the BC Liberal government’s “When the sponsorship meeting with Chong. First, trend of subjecting women to scandal broke I thought the Five representatives from they wanted a commitment to “starvation, harassment, vio- government was serious, but the British Columbia Coali- re-open the agreement between lence, homelessness, addiction, with each passing day, their tion of Women’s Centres were the government and the cen- unemployment, loss of their actions say otherwise,” he said. arrested last weekend after tres, thereby continuing the children, and isolation, with no (Public Service Alliance of refusing to leave an office in the funding. Secondly, they wanted legal aid and nowhere to turn.” Canada)

Canadian News Editor: Mark Parker, [email protected] The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16 2 3 Accounts The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16 Venezuela’s Political Battle Back in the Spotlight

by David Fuenmayor the opposition have appealed for a foreign intervention. CARACAS — Political struggle After Colin Powell invited has been the day-to-day reality the opposition to submit to the for Venezuelans in the last year reparation of the signatures, or so. The country is polarized there was a sudden decline in and the vehemence of the two anti-Chavez demonstrations. opposing factions is greater Venezuela’s commercial than ever. A large part of the newspapers and TV companies population now stands in the openly support actions against middle, disillusioned with both the president and have called Chavez and those who oppose for violence in pursuit of their him. The opposition is playing interests. The international their last card to oust him. media coverage has been On March 2 the National rather poor. It appears that Electoral Council (CNE) the international media base Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez surveys a crowd demonstrating declared that 1,832,493 sig- Continues on page 8 » natures had been approved in support of his presidency. Many signs denounced US meddling in Indymedia Bolivia and another 876,017 needed Venezuelan democracy. verification. These signatures onstrations and several mem- need to get at least as many In memory of were collected by the opposi- bers of the National Guard and votes as the president received Tooker Gomberg, 1956-2004 tion in support of a referendum policemen were wounded. in the 2000 election, i.e. 3.76 on Chavez’s presidency. The The authenticity of 876,017 million votes. ~ ISSN 1710-0283 ~ opposition has used different signatures was called into ques- Further more, the opposi- measures to attempt to over- tion due to similar handwriting tion is a conglomerate of differ- www.dominionpaper.ca throw Chavez in the past. In used to enter large numbers ent parties that before Chavez April 2002 they attempted a of signatures. This, despite came to power were always 2466 Robie St. #1, Halifax NS coup d’état; later on in Decem- numerous clarifications from disputing supremacy. The unity B3K 4N1 ¶ (902) 425-9888 ber they managed to stop the CNE stating that everyone among these parties is only a the oil industry, the pillar of had to fill in forms in their fragile one, a unity that will be The Dominion is a not Venezuela’s economy, for sev- own handwriting, with the only broken if they manage to vote for profit free newspaper eral months. Economists have exception being the illiterate or Chavez out. A separation of the covering topics of interest predicted it would take years handicapped. In Venezuela, 91.1 opposition will make it even to Canadians. We aim to to recover what was lost during percent of the total population harder for them to win against provide a counterpoint to the those months. The opposition over the age of 15 are literate. Chavez, who is still quite popu- mainstream papers, direct has placed all their hopes on This is the first referendum lar, especially among the poor. attention to independent the possibility of revoking the of this nature in the democratic Some hold the theory that journalism, and establish Chavez government using the history of Venezuela, and the the opposition had already a venue where alternative referendum, a tool Chavez him- first of its kind for the whole done this math and seeing forms of journalism can be self introduced. Latin American region. That the improbability of defeating practiced. The CNE declared that a explains some of the flaws in Chavez in a referendum tried The Dominion is published corroboration process would the process and the need for to resemble Haiti’s situation every three weeks and in be carried out in the following thorough revision of signatures hoping for an international print and on the web. days to prove the legality of the before giving a final result. intervention. US administra- 800,000 signatures that have If all of the signatures col- tion has kept a hostile stand Coordinating Editor not yet been recognized. The lected by the opposition are toward the Chavez government, Dru Oja Jay minimum number necessary to validated, they will add up to partly motivated by Chavez’s Arts Editors call a referendum is 2.4 million, 2.6 million, a fraction of the 11 defiance of US plans in the which represents approximately million Venezuelan voters. It is Americas. During the Summit Max Liboiron 20 percent of the Venezuelan said that abstention at the polls of the Americas held in Mon- Jane Henderson electorate. Initially reluctant to is on the rise. However, even terey, Chavez along with Argen- Canadian News Editor accept the CNE decision, the assuming that 50 percent of tina’s Kirchner and Brazil’s Lula Mark Parker opposition resorted to violent the voters refrain from voting, rejected the American-proposed Environment Editor protests to express their dis- the opposition could still be free trade agreement. Recently, Hillary Lindsay agreement. The riots that lasted far away from winning against Chavez has been increasingly Copy Editors for at least five days left 9 dead Chavez. The Constitution states adamant in his accusations of Amanda Janes and many wounded. Both sides that in order to revoke Chavez’s US intervention in Venezuela. Mark Parker suffered losses during the dem- presidency his rivals would Meanwhile, spokesmen from Sean Patrick Sullivan Accounts highlights the work of independent journalists from around the world. Send feedback or suggestions to [email protected] The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16 Feature 4 5 The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16 Is “Fighting to Win” a Criminal Act? OCAP’s John Clarke on the “Queen’s Park Riot” and the changing rules of class warfare

John Clarke is an organizer We should keep that in mind. with the Ontario Coalition It’s important to look at Against Poverty (OCAP) some of the backdrops to the in Toronto. The following state and legal attacks that are is an edited transcript of a coming down on people today. talk John gave at a public The first and most impor- tant one–and it plays out every- discussion on the criminal- where–is what is sometimes ization of dissent in Halifax, called the neoliberal agenda. A NS on December 16, 2003. decision has been made in the A full transcript and audio corporate boardrooms (and cor- recording are available at respondingly, in the legislatures DominionPaper.ca. and parliaments) to completely change the rules of the game. To I’d like to bring a message take back all barriers that stand of solidarity from the Ontario in the way of the enrichment of Coalition Against Poverty to the few at the expense of the this meeting, but more impor- many, and to remove all previ- tantly to everyone here in this ous social entitlement–all regu- city who is facing harassment lations that limited the banditry and intimidation because they of multinational corporations. John Clarke at an OCAP demonstration. Clarke is one of OCAPʼs stand up for what is just, and That is the agenda that is two paid organizers. OCAP what is fair. unfolding. As it unfolds, and On June 15th, 2000, the as populations start to feel a cessions, sometimes referred to things, you actually had to build Ontario Coalition Against sense of grievance, and start to as the post-war settlement, has a movement, a social movement Poverty organized a march for resist those changes–whether been replaced by its complete that would be strong enough homeless people and allies on it be fishers in PEI or people in opposite. During that period of and powerful enough to actu- the Ontario Legislature, and any Canadian city–when people relative social compromise, the ally achieve things. That’s how we faced criminal charges as a stand up against that agenda, reality was that social resistance the trade unions were built. result. In Halifax, it was a pro- increasingly the response of the became more constrained, That’s how people in the 1930s test against the G7. state is to say that “we are not more limited... less explosive, were able to organize for their If we’re talking about the going to make concessions; we and more ready to settle for survival in the face of the great criminalization of dissent, the are not going to provide social compromise, because conces- depression. first thing that must occur to us provision; we are not going to sions were being provided. In 1929, when a delegation when we look at those kinds of provide health care and social The difficulty we have of the unemployed was allowed examples is that we live in an programs. Our solution to your today is that the other side has to meet with the Prime Min- insane world, where people who grievance is going to literally be unilaterally revoked the deal, ister of the day, R.B. Bennett, go out and challenge injustice the policeman’s billy club.” And but many on our side are still they suggested to him that the are the ones who must defend the jail cells, and the courts. playing by the rules of that dead government should introduce themselves from the charge of That is the backdrop to this deal, of that exhausted compro- unemployment insurance for being criminals. whole situation. mise. unemployed people, which at When we marched on the We went through a long And so we have to grapple that time made up a huge chunk Legislature, back in Toronto, we period in history after the with the question of how we can, of the population. were aware that so far that year, second world war–especially as we say in OCAP, fight to win. Bennett’s response was: 22 homeless people had died on in the privileged parts of the That question of how we deal “Never will I, or any govern- the streets of Toronto. When it world–when concessions were with resisting–of how we take ment I’m part of, put a pre- comes to the crimes of the G7, being made. When living stan- up an effective resistance–is an mium on idleness.” And yet, in even the known ones would fill dards were improving, when absolutely decisive one. 1935, Bennett tabled a bill for volumes. Those that we don’t social programs were being At an earlier period in his- the introduction of unemploy- know about would probably fill introduced, when the succeed- tory, people didn’t believe that ment insurance... just before he volumes more. ing generation had a realistic the notion of resistance was was voted out of office. To say that anyone who expectation that they were raising a futile moral protest And today, I think what is stands up against such acts going to do better than their in the hope that the govern- happening is that people are of theft and murder and vio- parents had done in their living ments were listening. Because beginning to realize that we lence–and fights back against standards and their future. the governments of those days cannot go on playing by the them–must defend themselves And that has come to an certainly weren’t listening. rules of a dead deal. We cannot from the charge of being crimi- end. They weren’t interested in go on resisting on the basis of nal is astounding, and insane. That period of tactical con- moral protest. In order to win hope that those in the parlia- The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16 4 5 The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16

ment buildings are listening to resistance, to proceed on the potential to force them to show isters, whatever. us because we make a compel- basis of fighting to win. a mark of respect to people who But they chose a course ling moral argument. We live in a very large city really were what you might that we were astounded by. During the days of the where there is an enormous describe as “despised collateral They moved to clear the protest movement against amount of homelessness, and an damage”, homeless people. We grounds of the legislature. They Mike Harris, I was always enor- enormous amount of poverty, therefore went to the legislature rode horses into the crowd, and mously irritated when I heard and where each and every day, with a simple demand: that a they began what the riot police people make the comment: there are rampant injustices delegation of people affected refer to in their technical ter- “Mike Harris, I hope you’re going on. People are denied by homelessness be allowed to minology as “punch outs”–that listening.” Believe me, Mike welfare, people face deporta- address the legislature. is, full speed baton charges into Harris was not listening. tion from the country, people We’re not, I confess, expe- the crowd. And when the head But he could have been are being evicted from their rienced Parliamentarians, and of the riot squad was asked in housing–some 2,000 people “2,000 people per per month are being evicted in “It seemed to us Toronto at the moment. month are being We try to organize on a entirely reasonable evicted in Toronto” case by case basis to fight back that homeless people against those things. So we’ve made to listen. organized something that we should be allowed to But to do that, you had to call “direct action casework”. speak to people who speak his language. It’s no good It doesn’t usually mean going were in many ways speaking to him in the language to tribunals and speaking to of reason and moderation and adjudicators, it means bringing the direct architects compassion; you have to speak fifty people to a welfare office of their misery.” in a language that he’s going to to ensure that a family gets the understand. cheque that they’re entitled to. And so, throughout the It may involve going to Pear- court, “I take it, sir, that your world today, you’re starting to son Airport to try to prevent a officers are trained to hit with see people organizing to fight deportation from happening. these large clubs as hard as is back in a way that really makes We’ve done that successfully on necessary,” he said: “No, they a difference. It’s in what is a couple of occasions. are trained to hit as hard as sometimes called the South, in On one occasion, it they possibly can.” the historically oppressed coun- involved going to a Shell gas So when this happened, I tries, where you see the most station that was refusing to pay imagine they anticipated there Police watch a feast for homeless would be a rout–people would compelling examples. wages owed to an employee people organized by OCAP in A couple of weeks ago in who had been laid off, and put- flee the grounds. What actu- Yorkville, a posh Toronto shop- ally happened is that there Toronto, we were enormously ting up a picket line to prevent ping district. OCAP pleased that Joao Pedro Stedile, them from pumping any gas for was a battle. People stood their one of the leading figures of the a couple of hours. This had an we were told, in the words of the ground and people fought back. landless peasant movement in enormous impact in creating speaker’s executive assistant, It wasn’t organized, it wasn’t Brazil, came to Toronto and social conscience on the part of that “it would be outside the planned that there would be a gave a talk on the struggles of the employer. Westminister Model of parlia- confrontation, but once they his organization. In countries We organize these kinds of ment” for such a thing to occur. began the confrontation, there like that, you’re seeing people actions all the time; we inter- We knew that Hillary Westin, is no question that the people organize resistance that isn’t vene in hundreds and hundreds the lieutenant-governor, gets we brought to Queen’s Park did based on the possibility of a of situations. to yammer on in front of the not turn their backs. good sound byte on the six The one action that seems legislature all the time, and we Now, at the end of this, o’clock news, or putting for- to have offended the powers knew that visiting dignitaries they began a process of demon- ward an argument that will be that be, perhaps more than any get to do it, so it seemed to us ization and criminalization. compelling and interesting to other, was the event on June entirely reasonable that home- The event was portrayed in the the people in power. 15th. less people should be allowed mainstream media as the most People are actually orga- On that day, we brought to speak to people who were in evil thing that had ever occurred nizing to take what they need, around 1,500 people to the many ways the direct architects in the history of the planet... I’m and to make a difference in Ontario Legislature. A great of their misery. only slightly exaggerating. their lives. I think we need to percentage of the crowd was We also anticipated that it As well, they went all the start looking at those kinds of made up of homeless people. was likely that they would take way to the Supreme Court of examples ourselves. We didn’t want to do what a different view. We were aware Canada to win the right to all At OCAP, a small poor peo- most people do when they go that we would be blocked, the media tapes and photo- ple’s organization based largely to Queen’s Park, which is make and we were ready to press graphs of the day. They ended in the city of Toronto, we’ve 78 speeches and then leave. We the demand and hope that we up arresting 45 people, and tried to put into effect the same wanted to do something that might broker a deal–that we charging some of them with kind of notion: that it is today would be more challenging to might be given the opportunity quite serious things. Between absolutely imperative, if we are the government. Something to meet with the Premier, to continued on page 8 » going to organize an effective that could actually have the meet with senior cabinet min- The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16 Environment 6 7 Arts The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16 A New Era in Conservation The Canadian Boreal Forest Initiative by Yuill Herbert

The Canadian Boreal Initia- tive (CBI), launched at the end of last year, is a common vision for the largest conservation agreement in the world. It pro- poses a plan to protect approxi- mately 265 million hectares of forest and to manage a further area of equal size according to stringent ecological standards of development. “We have a unique opportu- Canadaʼs Boreal Forest is the largest intact forest ecosystem in the world. nity to pursue a balanced vision utive officer of forestry company conservation commitments, the tions–to produce a framework to conserve the entire Canadian Domtar Inc. Royer believes that unusual nature of the partner- for a very sensitive and fragile boreal region, while providing Domtar’s involvement in CBI ship, the magnitude of its vision resource that has more than for extensive economic ben- does not only demonstrate good and the process itself have monetary value.” efits,” explained CBI’s Director, corporate citizenship, but also generated controversy amongst According to Hummel, Cathy Wilkinson. good business. environmentalists. Charles however, the initiative is not Stretching across most of “It will allow us to better Caccia, a Toronto MP and taking over the government’s northern Canada, the boreal understand stakeholder con- chairman of the House of Com- job, but helping the government forest is the largest intact forest cerns,” he explained, “which mons Environment Committee, to do its job better. ecosystem in the world. will in turn improve our plan- believes that protection of only “Our initiative should be The vision is powerful due ning for future fiber supply.” 50 per cent of the Boreal is not understood for what it is–an to its unusual mix of propo- The economic value of the enough, suggesting instead that attempt by leading non-govern- nents, representing cooperation boreal is rivaled only by its eco- the target should be set at 80 ment parties and Aboriginal on an unprecedented scale. The logical significance. Globally, the per cent. peoples to collaborate and Boreal Leadership Council, boreal forest is of vital impor- But according to Monte generate solutions for govern- the spearheading committee tance. A 2001 report by the Hummel, one of the agreement’s ments to consider. In the past, of the initiative, is a mix of United Nations Environment chief architects and president of governments have claimed industry, environmental and Program called on Canada and the World Wildlife Fund, the their options were severely lim- First Nations organizations, a handful of other countries to CBI goes far beyond the 80 per ited by adversarial relationships including representatives of take immediate steps to protect cent proposed by Caccia. between First Nations, industry, some of the most significant the remaining large swaths of “The Boreal Forest Con- and conservation groups. This political and economic interests untouched forest. It found that servation Framework targets constant warfare has forced in the boreal region. The World just 21 per cent of the planet’s 100 per cent of Canada’s boreal governments to referee among Wildlife Fund, Canadian Parks land area was still covered with region for ‘conservation,’ where competing interests–a dynamic and Wilderness Society, Forest healthy forests, including large conservation is defined as strik- which… has not historically Ethics and Ducks Unlimited chunks in Canada, Russia, the ing a balance between strict pro- benefited Canada’s forests”. Canada are the environmental United States, the Congo and tection and sustainable use that The government shares groups involved. The Deh Cho parts of South America. Glob- meets the highest international Hummel´s view, but makes no First Nations, the Innu Nation ally, the largest conservation environmental standards,” said commitments. Brian Emmett, and Poplar River First Nation commitments to date have been Hummel. who heads Canadian Forest Ser- are also at the table. Most made by the Sakha Republic in The standard that the agree- vice, said, “We see CBI’s contri- intriguing are the industry northern Russia with 70 million ment proposes is the Boreal bution as a potentially positive representatives, including for- hectares, and by the Amazon Forest Stewardship Standard, input in the on-going global and estry companies Alberta-Pacific Region Protected Areas Agree- which was recently approved informed debate on how best to Forest Industries, Tembec Inc, ment, which protects 40 mil- by Forest Stewardship Council, practice sustainable forest man- Domtar Inc and Suncor Inc. lion hectares. “By acting now, a certification process that is agement”. “We know that it is crucial Canada can safeguard one of based on the principles of eco- In the meantime, the log- for the Canadian boreal region the world’s remaining large eco- logical protection and respect of ging continues, and one won- to be managed in a respon- systems–while it is still for the the First Nations. ders for how long the boreal sible way if we want future most part ecologically intact,” Caccia is also concerned by forest can simultaneously be generations to benefit from its urges Wilkinson. who is leading the initiative. both the world’s largest remain- economic, environmental, and Although the over 500 “It is the task of elected ing wilderness and the world´s social value,” said Raymond million hectares involved in governments–not of private largest source of facial tissues Royer, president and chief exec- the CBI far outdoes earlier sector businesses and organiza- and advertising fliers. •••

Environment Editor: Hillary Lindsay, [email protected] The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16 6 7 Arts The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16 On to the End: An interview with Geoff Berner by Henry Svec years covering the inside of a church-like building Geoff Berner has with his vision of human played in a punk band. existence. When he died, Geoff Berner has writ- he had his ashes placed ten for Sesame Street. above the doorway of Geoff Berner plays the the building. When I die, accordion and prefers my record company will to drink scotch out of a pour my ashes into the wine glass. vinyl vat at an LP factory. The canuck’s latest Each copy of this limited release, We Shall Not edition of my “Best Of” Flag or Fail, We Shall compilation will contain a Go on to the End, has little piece of me. quickly gotten the atten- tion of campus radio Do you ever get the stations across North feeling that no matter America and Europe. how potent or biting The record features your art may be, the his trademark stew of people who are most diverse and previously Geoff Berner is forever touring. To learn more about him and his interested are already incompatible styles. music visit www.geoffberner.com. Henry Svec aware of the issues Berner’s work combines or sentiments you’re folk, punk, rock, pop, and That’s about as clear a ters to him, or he would have dealing with? traditional Jewish music into statement as I can make about stayed in the private sector. He an organic whole. He is also the current situation in Israel. sees himself as a man of des- The key is to find a new difficult to pin down lyrically; tiny, building a legacy for him- angle on it that strikes someone Charles Bukowski, T.S. Eliot, Is corporate power and self and for his dead father, who in a way that it never has before. and Naomi Klein all seem to influence something that just missed becoming Prime No one’s world-view is totally have influenced these provoca- you are concerned with? Minister himself. I’m sure that rigid. It’s always full of swirling tive songs. We All Gotta Be a Prosti- he has dialogues with his father contradictory prejudices that While touring in Europe, tute Sometimes and Porn every hour of the day. can be plucked out of the soup the socially conscious trouba- Queen Girlfriend seem to So if I had one minute, I’d and exploited. dour took a breather to answer be very critical of consum- say: If you want to make your some questions for the Domin- erism and its effects. father proud, remember that Is the Canadian ion: every ruler, every society in his- drunken accordion player I think that whenever we fail to tory, is remembered and judged the twenty-first century Have you spent much see other people as people like mostly on this criteria: How version of the Greek blind- time writing since the new ourselves, we are vulnerable to effective was he at taking care soothsayer? Or maybe I’ve album? Any songs you’d the possibility of committing of the least powerful, the very got it all wrong... like to tell us about? terrible crimes. And when we young, the very old, and the ill? start to see ourselves as not Why not? Homer was just a guy, The next album is in the can. It’s worth much, then we are vul- You seem to be much more after all. He probably wasn’t a live CD, recorded in Oslo, with nerable to despair. a performer than a record- blind, either. He just kept leav- Wayne Adams on percussion ing artist. Is the record just ing his glasses in the previous and Diona Davies on violin. It In Iron Grey you sing a necessary marketing tool, town while he was on tour. features some old songs, some about the government not or an artistic medium in its odd covers, and a few songs being able to find your own right? Is the bard a role that you that will be on the next studio hiding place; if you could want to play forever? Do album. The studio album will have one minute of Paul A record is certainly an artistic you ever see yourself set- be called Lucky Goddamn Jew Martin’s attention, what medium in its own right, and tling down? and will be a hardcore klezmer would you say to him? requires a lot more hidden album. One of the highlights artifice. It’s sort of like the dif- [Not] until I drop dead on should be The Violins, a poem Paul Martin is an old man. ference between a play and a stage. by the great Palestinian poet, He doesn’t have much time to movie. Mahmoud Darwish, the laure- build a legacy, which is clearly Here in Norway, where I Henry Svec is currently ate of the Intifada. This will be his main concern, after the elec- am now, there’s a place called studying English litera- set to a klezmer melody and tions themselves. But money the Vigeland Mausoleum. ture and history at Mount arrangement. and power aren’t all that mat- Vigeland the painter spent 50 Allison University.

Arts Editors: Jane Henderson and Max Liboiron, [email protected] The Dominion, March 16, 2004 • Vol. I, #16 8

the 1920s: J.B. McLaughlin, who in protesting against a brutal police attack on strik- ing steelworkers, wrote a letter deploring this to his own union members urging them to take solidarity action in support of the steelworkers. He was sen- tenced to two years in Dorches- ter penitentiary for “seditious libel”. And the prosecutor in that case argued that it didn’t matter whether what McLaugh- lin said about the police was true or untrue; the very fact that he was trying to create disaf- fection by saying it made him guilty, and a jury right here in Halifax convicted him.

To read the second half of John Clarke’s talk, please visit www.dominionpaper.ca.

“Venezuela,” cont. from page 3 » “John Clarke,” continued from page 5 » their reports on coverage in the a third and a half of the people as so-called “organizers of a post war period has been very, fiercely partisan local media, arrested were homeless, they planned riot”. They laid two very rare. And to lay them as detracting from their claim to had the hardest time of all charges; against Stefan and part of an orchestrated attempt objectivity. It is also common getting out of jail. One young Gaetan they laid the charge of to crush an organization is for international press to cite homeless man, James Semple, “participating in a riot”, which almost unprecedented. You numbers out of context. For spent seven months in the Don carries a two-year jail term. would have to go back to the instance, the figure of 3.4 - mil jail before he could make bail. To participate in a riot, it is charges that were laid against lion signatures that the oppo- I was there to pick him up only necessary that you are one the leadership of the Commu- sition claims to have has been when he got out, and the first of “three or more persons gath- nist Party in 1931, where they widely reported, but very few thing he said was “It was worth ered together for a common laid section 98 criminal code have mentioned that there are it.” purpose in an unlawful assem- charges and seditious libel 11 million voters in Venezuela. Now, what they also did bly that has begun to disturb the charges against them, and gave During Chavez’s presi- was impose absolutely rigid bail peace tumultuously”. seven members of the Commu- dency, unemployment has conditions. Every person who That could be Jerry nist Party something like fourty increased, as well as inflation, was arrested was given the con- Springer. That could be just years in jail. poverty and malnutrition. dition that they could not asso- about anything. It could be any And you would have to Impunity, nepotism and cor- ciate with any other member of picket line skirmish; it certainly go back to the kind of charges ruption are also rampant. These the Ontario Coalition Against could be a demonstration where that were laid–“conspiracy maladies are not restricted to Poverty. So that was 45 people any level of disturbance occurs. and riot”–against unemployed Chavez administration and who were faced with the sort Against me, they laid two workers in Newfoundland in aren’t exclusively his responsi- of banning order that we could charges: “counselling to partici- 1935. bility, as they have been pres- associate with the Apartheid pate in a riot”, and “counselling When they sought to bring ent for decades. Just as Chavez regime in South Africa. There to assault the police”, based on in legal precedents to put before failed to carry out fundamental would also be serious reper- a speech I had made just before the judge, they themselves had reforms in his six years in power, cussions when anybody would we went up to the legislature. to keep coming back to the the opposition who seeks his get arrested on a minor charge To lay a charge of that kind 1930s; that was where all the removal failed for 40 years at afterwards. against somebody who makes precedents lay. We couldn’t achieving the very same task. It I was arrested at a political a speech has implications that find any direct comparisons to is no surprise, then, that many protest some time afterwards, are so obvious that I don’t even charging someone for making a Venezuelans distrust the oppo- and because of the bail condi- need to spell them out, but a political speech. The two exam- sition and feel disillusioned by tions I had, it took a month conviction on that would have ples we could find in Canadian Chavez. Those Venezuelans are for me to get out of jail. That been incredibly serious. Convic- history were Annie Buller, who the ones who will decide what was an experience that several tion on the two charges together got six months of hard labour will happen next. people had. could have meant seven years in in 1931 for a speech that she Being cynical, one might What they also did was to jail. never actually made because predict that they’ll wait until single out three of us–Gaetan Now, I would like you to she wasn’t there. the next election, hoping for a Heroux, Stefan Pilipa and step back and say that the laying And the other one would new messiah who promises to myself–and they charged us of those kinds of charges in the be a Nova Scotia example in save the country.