Judy Rebick: Questions and Answers

posted Nov. 26 - 6:56 pm by Paula E. Kirman

Video footage I filmed of the Question and Answer period following Judy Rebick's closing plenary.

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Judy Rebick Video: Closing Plenary

posted Nov. 26 - 6:49 pm by Paula E. Kirman

I filmed Judy Rebick's closing plenary. Here is the footage.

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Teachers who don’t care

posted Nov. 23 - 7:01 pm by Paula E. Kirman

During Judy Rebick's Q&A period, one comment really resounded with me. An elementary school teacher was lamenting that her colleagues really did not care about the kinds of issues like the ones discussed at the Parkland Conference.

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Public economic education

posted Nov. 22 - 10:10 pm by Laura C

Public legal education has been empowering people by helping them understand the law in Canada for over 30 years. Jim Stanford is addressing the need for a similar kind of public economic education.

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Who is an economist?

posted Nov. 22 - 10:01 pm by Rob B

Stanford's talk seemed to generated two sets of responses: first, affirmation that it is a programme of common sense and realism that can win consensus among workers, and secondly, disappointment that Stanford's talk did not go further, that his talk existed "too much in the framework of existing capitalism." To some degree, I thought that both of these critiques missed the point. Part of what I began to think makes economics "exclusive" to a lettered group of people (who are usually closely aligned to the financialization industry) is not just its jargon—the "mumbo jumbo" that Stanford refers to; nor is it merely that economists "abstract" human realities into graphs and numbers. Rather, economics (as a discipline) limits the scope of what you may talk about in order to be recognized as an economist.

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Social media and social change

posted Nov. 22 - 8:57 pm by Paula E. Kirman

Judy Rebick talked about the rise of social media in her ending keynote address. Social media is becoming an integral part of activism, and for good reasons.

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Activist Class War

posted Nov. 22 - 5:50 pm by Paula E. Kirman

A grassroots union structure and cooperation between activists is essential in working for change in society.

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Anti-capitalist politics & piracy

posted Nov. 22 - 5:18 pm by Myles C

Develops linkages between Nathan Rao's talk on the French anti-capitlaist party & Judy Rebicks comments on piracry as anti-capitlist resistance.

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Caring is a radical act

posted Nov. 22 - 4:58 pm by Laura C

This post considers the role of government and the non-profit sector in a society that demands we care for one another.

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Levels of economic literacy & resistance

posted Nov. 22 - 3:16 pm by Myles C

An examination at the levels of economic litteracy presented by Jim Stanford and notions of agency in regards to pensions as a site of resistance.

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Parkland Photos

posted Nov. 22 - 12:54 pm by Paula E. Kirman

I took some photos at the Parkland Conference on Saturday afternoon. You can view my complete photo set here.

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Keeping the public out

posted Nov. 22 - 12:31 pm by Keely

I no longer feel embarrassed for my lack of understanding in how our economic system works. I feel angry.
One theme I discovered in this conference is how the system itself is designed to keep the public out.

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Divisions of Labour: Ursula Huws

posted Nov. 21 - 10:16 pm by Paula E. Kirman

One of the many perils of capitalism is the exploitation of workers. Ursula Huws discussed several examples of how the economy has given rise to different divisions of labour for the benefit of the corporate structure.

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Radical is Practical: Judy Rebick

posted Nov. 21 - 8:48 pm by Paula E. Kirman

To change our society we have to take our chances and make a stand. We have to engage youth and harness whatever advantages and technological advances we have available. Judy Rebick, a long-time activist, summed it all up by building on a catch phrase presented by another speaker: radical is practical.

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Saturday Photos

posted Nov. 21 - 8:17 pm by Tracy K

I have posted many photos from Saturday.  See all my conference photos at: 

http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2009_parkland_conference

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Jim Stanford: our translator

posted Nov. 21 - 2:36 pm by Keely

I must issue a disclaimer: I don’t understand economics. There are so many convoluted words with meanings that seem to change constantly. When I want to try and figure it all out, I just get confused and go around in circles, thwarted by the big wall of mumbo-jumbo.
Thankfully Jim Stanford is here.

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Jim Stanford – enthusiastic common sense

posted Nov. 21 - 8:57 am by Tracy K

Jim gave the only useful definition of the economy I have ever heard - the four letter word 'work'.  Jim speaks in common sense - a language that seems to be poorly understood by most economists, news reporters, bankers and politicians. 

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Photos – opening and Keynote

posted Nov. 21 - 8:48 am by Tracy K

I have posted photos from the Parkland Friday evening, see them at: 

http://www.pbase.com/tracyk/2009_parkland_conference

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Judy Rebick video — “Fix EI” town hall meeting

posted Sep. 30 - 3:38 pm by Cheri

Judy Rebick is our closing speaker. She is an energetic and empowering speaker. In this video, she addresses the "Fix EI" Town Hall Meeting held at Ryerson University in Toronto, September 21, 2009.

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Dr. Michael Hudson — “This is Not a Free Market”

posted Aug. 18 - 11:40 am by Cheri

The Renegade Economist goes to New York to hear Dr. Michael Hudson's views on the state of the US Economy. Dr. Hudson is not speaking at the conference, but his interview is definitely related to the topics that will be covered.

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Why personal change does not equal political change

posted Jul. 22 - 10:19 am by Cheri

Are we taking the easy route? Dumpster diving wouldn't have stopped Hitler, and composting wouldn't have ended slavery. Author Derrick Jensen will be speaking at our conference in November.

Would any sane person think dumpster diving would have stopped Hitler, or that composting would have ended slavery or brought about the eight-hour workday, or that chopping wood and carrying water would have gotten people out of Tsarist prisons, or that dancing naked around a fire would have helped put in place the Voting Rights Act of 1957 or the Civil Rights Act of 1964? Then why now, with all the world at stake, do so many people retreat into these entirely personal "solutions?" Part of the problem is that we've been victims of a campaign of systematic misdirection. Consumer culture and the capitalist mindset have taught us to substitute acts of personal consumption (or enlightenment) for organized political resistance. An Inconvenient Truth helped raise consciousness about global warming. But did you notice that all of the solutions presented had to do with personal consumption—changing light bulbs, inflating tires, driving half as much—and had nothing to do with shifting power away from corporations, or stopping the growth economy that is destroying the planet? Even if every person in the United States did everything the movie suggested, U.S. carbon emissions would fall by only 22 percent. Scientific consensus is that emissions must be reduced by at least 75 percent worldwide.

Read Jensen's entire article on Alternet: Why Personal Change Does Not Equal Political Change

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Out with the bad, in with the good

posted Jul. 17 - 2:36 pm by Cheri

Here is an article from Duncan Cameron with some ideas for Canada:

Canada has tested the limits of the power of inertia in economic policy. It is time for something new. The current industrial strategy dates back to 1988; its basic document is the free trade deal signed with the U.S. by the Mulroney government. Other than the NDP, no parliamentary caucus has questioned the not so hidden agenda behind the FTA/NAFTA -- economic integration into the faltering U.S. Empire -- so it would be fitting for Jack Layton and his party to take the lead in putting forward a renewed economic agenda for Canada.

This year's conference is all about why the economic crisis happened and solutions to the problems. Read Cameron's entire article on Rabble.

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The perils of financial memory loss

posted Jul. 17 - 2:31 pm by Cheri

Wouldn't it be nice to get back to the way things used to be? Faced with unfortunate events, that response is understandable (if not particularly practical). That kind of wishful thinking was behind the financial markets' exuberant but short-lived rebound in the spring. Jim Stanford is the keynote speaker for this year's fall conference, and this is the theme of Jim Stanford's article on rabble.ca, "The Perils of Financial Memory Loss."

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Michael Perelman, on Market Myths, Past and Present

posted Jul. 07 - 2:34 pm by Cheri

Michael Perelman:

"Unlike the New Deal, when the government put people to work producing valuable projects that people can readily appreciate while walking around cities today, this stimulus is largely directed toward prettying up corporate balance sheets."

Read the complete article on Truthout.org.

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