Dec. 04: An incredible journey into and out of Afghanistan - Ken Hechtman, exclusive to Straight Goods and the Montreal Mirror
Keeping cool and being well grounded in the culture and history of Afghanistan helped keep correspondent alive.
Media files
Bravo, Ken Hechtman, Citizen Journalist - Ish Theilheimer
Democracies need independent information sources, especially during times of crisis.
Dec. 02: Hechtman's release a victory for free 'press'
Reporters Without Borders link up with polished Canadian diplomats to broker release of Straight Goods correspondent.
Parker's Last Column - he will be missed
Frustrated with attacks on democratic freedom and media quality, veteran freelance reporter Parker Barss Donham has taken on a new, hopefully more constructive career.
Media coverage of NDP convention one-sided - Barrie Zwicker
Globe's Simpson leads chorus in funeral dirge for party... evidence notwithstanding.
Poll suggests US public opinion improving
Americans have gotten sweeter on the media in the days following September 11.
Taking your liberties
C-35 - Canada's other anti-terrorism bill - Naomi Klein
"Kananaskis clause" would define protesters as terrorists: Taken together, Bills C-35 and C-36, "form a one-two punch that will knock out the right to protest outside of international meetings". A link to the Globe and Mail.
Crucial Gosselin case will determine if the poor have rights - Reuel Amdur
The courts and the editorialists have all held that it is perfectly lawful and deprives no one of any rights for a province to drive poor people to malnutrition, prostitution, and criminality, if not to suicide. Will the Supremes agree?
Consumer power
Need To Stop Spam? Let Us Help! - Lanny Boutin
Fight back with these tips and tools for protecting your inbox.
A simple way to save trees and cash
Make just a few changes to the settings of your word processing program and save a lot of paper.
Seniors and Health Care
New legislation "muzzles" home care advocates
Home care centers would be run by a cabinet-appointed board. The Ontario Coalitions of Senior Citizens' Organization (OCSCO) says new legislation could silence families, critics and patients.
Health Care
Gene patents threaten public access
In Ontario, Harris defended the public's right of access to a gene test for breast cancer "owned" by a US company - Dr. Gordon Guyatt.
WTO patent rules and drug access
At the recent WTO in Qatar, developing countries negotiated their way to access to generic drugs. But that's just one exception to WTO rules that protect patents on intellectual property. From Corpwatch.
Take action
First Nations make progress - despite the federal government - John Bird
Snapshot of Canadian-Aboriginal relations. Citizens for Public Justice.
Human rights on Yahoo!
OneWorld has created a daily news syndication on human rights, social justice and sustainable development in partnership with the mega-portal.
Your taxes
Golden Leech Awards
The corporate winners are...
Down to Earth
Count your holiday blessings with Suzanne Elston's ethical Advent calendar.
Take Action
Launch of Voter Rights campaign
Democracy Watch's new campaign calls for representative, elected and honest government.
What happened in Qatar?
What went on at the November WTO meeting? And what do activists do next?
Humour
(Warning: Parents might not find this joke funny) Why parents have gray hair
Posted: December 04, 2001
Making sense of patriotic Americans