Most of the mainstream media, with the help of the Mulcair and Topp campaigns, constructed the leadership battle at the NDP convention as a battle between those who wanted to move to the centre to win government and those who wanted to win maintaining the “traditional” social democratic values of the NDP.

This excerpt from my new e book Occupy This! appeared today on rabble.ca.  For only $3.99 you can download the book on Kindle, Kobo or i pad or onto your computer from Penguin.ca or google books

Zuccotti Park is located in my least favourite neighbourhood in New York City, halfway between Ground Zero and the Stock Exchange. It's usually a grey and lifeless part of the city inhabited by gawking tourists and rushing traders. The moment I stepped off the subway, however, I noticed a difference. Lively discussions were going on everywhere, one on one and in groups. Even before I stepped into the encampment, something felt different. It took me a while to understand what it was.

After I visited Occupy Wall Street in mid-October, I wrote my publisher Penguin and suggested that they re-issue Transforming Power as an e book since it covers a lot of elements that helped to build towards Occupy.  They came back with the proposal of a special E book that we could get out quickly with a mix of new material with some material from the previous book.  They said it would sell for $3.99.  What a great idea I thought.  Now five months later the E book is out called Occupy This! You can buy it on Kindle or Amazon.com, Kobo or Chapters and i

It's hard to create a community based on love and compassion in the middle of a society based on greed and fear. The hippies tried it without much success even in the backwoods. We tried it in the women's movement but even in all-women groups, the training we received in a patriarchal society restricted our ability to achieve it. The Occupy camps are the closest I've seen to that beloved community that has so escaped our grasp.

It's hard to create a community based on love and compassion in the middle of a society based on greed and fear. The hippies tried it without much success even in the backwoods. We tried it in the women's movement but even in all-women groups, the training we received in a patriarchal society restricted our ability to achieve it. The Occupy camps are the closest I've seen to that beloved community that has so escaped our grasp.

 Almost everyone I’ve talked to since what seemed like the sudden announcement of Jack Layton’s death had the same experience that I did. It hit me harder than I expected. I’ve lost other comrades, many closer than Jack was to my politics and my practice but his death hit me harder. I’ve been thinking about why.

The essay below is both parts of the essay that was published in two parts in rabble.ca

I have spent the last year mostly away from the mad activism that has characterized much of my adult life. After the G20 and its aftermath, I decided I needed a break. It was finally time to write the memoir that I had wanted to write for several years. So I decided to take three months totally off from activism. It turned out I needed more time. With some exceptions, I have stepped back from organizing, blogging and most speaking. You may be surprised that during that time, when Rob Ford was elected mayor of Toronto and Stephen Harper, prime minister, I have become more hopeful about possibility of actually making the world a better place.

As some of you may know, I am working on a memoir.  As part of the journey I returned to New York City where I lived in 1968.  A friend and filmaker Nova Ami asked if she could follow me and make short film about my memories.  I think it's a wonderful film that captures both New York and me in a beautiful, loving and fun way.  Hope you enjoy it.

In an unprecedented protest Parliament page Brigette Marcelle holds up a "Stop Harper" sign during the throne speech.  She obviously knew she would be fired.   Her statement says: "The country needs the Canadian version of the Arab Spring." 

Take it from me when a young person finds the courage to do something like this, there are thousands more.  Hooray!!

Below is her explanation.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, June 3, 2011