Dru Oja Jay

Can campaign against austerity move from Quebec to the rest of Canada?

UnusualSources — Mon, 22 Jun 2015 13:49:57 +0000

The federal and provincial governments continue to cut social and environmental programs under a general label of austerity. Quebecers have led the way in fighting back against austerity with large protests across the province. However, in the rest of the country, communities have been slow to mobilize against ongoing austerity measures.

Hockey, Austerity and Collective Achievement

dru — Mon, 02 Jun 2014 14:45:36 +0000

What an improbable playoff run can teach us about social movements and ourselves

Last Thursday night, Montreal's beloved Club de Hockey Canadien ended a thrilling playoff run with a loss to the New York Rangers in game six of the Eastern Conference Finals.

No vote for Palestine

UnusualSources — Sun, 08 Dec 2013 23:00:59 +0000

Canadian Voters May Only Support Destruction of Palestinian Villages

Dru Oja Jay discusses his new article about how recent waffling by Elizabeth May on Palestine solidarity organizations suggests that there is no longer any Parliamentary representation for those who wish to vote against Israel's illegal occupation and settlement policies.

Where's the Democracy in the Environmental Movement?

dru — Tue, 10 Sep 2013 23:06:53 +0000

Struggles against tar sands and fracking in Canada are missing an ASSÉ or a SNCC

With tar sands, fracking and mining all on the rise, there's never been a more important time for a strong environmental movement in Canada. Surveying the landscape of organizations, one thing is missing: democracy. Which is to say, meaningful informed participation among equal participants.

The images are familiar.

Barriere Lake Community Members and Supporters Demonstrate in Ottawa

dru — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 05:47:28 +0000

The Algonquins of Barriere Lake and their supporters demonstrated on parliament hill today. For more information, check out the press release.

Secret Agreement in the Works Between ENGOs and Tar Sands Industry

dru — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 09:16:31 +0000

Will environmentalists continue to allow foundation funding to dictate to the movement?

A slew of recent articles have pointed to the likelihood that some foundation-funded environmental groups and the tar sands extraction industry are getting ready to make peace and sign a deal.

Firsthand report of arrests, tear gas, beatings of peaceful demonstrators at detention centre

dru — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 17:51:23 +0000

Interview with independent journalist Stefan Christoff

Note: the use of tear gas at detention centre is not confirmed, but police did use some kind of smoke weapon.

Police have arrested an estimated 100 peaceful protesters

dru — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 05:11:00 +0000

Interview with Ben Powless

Mohawk activist Ben Powless describes the scene at the Novatel Hotel at 1am on Saturday night.

An estimated 150 peaceful protesters have been arrested (they were given no option to leave).

The remaining 50 peaceful protesters are trapped by the police in front of the Hotel, where workers are on strike for basic benefits.

Foundation funding of environmental groups leads to diminished transparency, accountability: New report

dru — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:31:16 +0000

Offsetting Resistance: The effects of foundation funding from the Great Bear Rainforest to the Athabasca River

-- For immediate release --

-> Download the report at http://www.offsettingresistance.ca

A movement is building to shut down the tar sands, one of the most
destructive projects in human history. Decisions are being made about
the strategies that will be used and the goals that will be pursued.

But as the number of people opposing the tar sands grows larger, the
number of people making the crucial decisions is getting smaller --
and closer to the oil and gas industry.

A small, secretive group of insiders has been collaborating with large
American foundations and industry to concentrate decision-making power
concerning anti-tar sands campaigns. Headed by Michael Marx, one of
the architects of the Great Bear Rainforest deal in northwestern
British Columbia, these groups have a track record and a documented
trail of funding relationships that steer them--whether they intend to
or not--into closed-door, backroom deals with industry and government.

The lack of transparency, the absence of any democratic structures,
the questionable sources of funding, and the track record of these
corporate and foundation-funded Environmental NGOs are the subjects of
a new report by Macdonald Stainsby and Dru Oja Jay. Offsetting
Resistance: The effects of foundation funding from the Great Bear
Rainforest to the Athabasca River examines the role of ForestEthics
and other Environmental NGOs in the Great Bear Rainforest deal and in
the Northwest Territories Protected Areas Strategy. From there, it
reveals the hidden structures behind the emerging "North American Tar
Sands Coalition," which seeks to keeps its decision-making body
"invisible to the outside," while funnelling millions of dollars to