UBC TEDx Talks: November 5th

Be sure to mark your calendars.  From the website:

"Imagine UBC’s most fascinating and engaging students coming together for a day, giving ‘the talk of their lives,’ sharing their ideas and discussing their visions for UBC and the world. Now imagine being there, with students, alumni, faculty, administration, and members of the general public watching this unfold and partaking in the various discussions, and think of all the possibilities that this idea-share holds."

To register, and for more information, go here. 

Black Keys: "Lonely Boy"

This will be out just in time for an epic marking session and writing a new chapter.  This album, in combination with the various "best of" lists, will make for an enjoyable December.  

Don't forget to support your local record store.

Early Canada Seminar

Some good people in Toronto are organizing a much needed reading/discussion group focusing on early Canada.  Did you know that stuff happened here before 1840?  True story.

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Early Canada Seminar

The Early Canada Seminar brings together established scholars, graduate

students, and public historians from the Greater Toronto Area and beyond

who are interested in Northern North America’s historical development

prior to the twentieth century. The group seeks to engage with a broad

range of historiographical subfields and methodological approaches. We

aim to integrate early Canada into an expansive spatial context that

reveals the various ways in which Northern North America’s past has

shaped, and been shaped by, developments occurring elsewhere in the

world. Accordingly, we welcome scholars whose work is influenced by

Atlantic World, Borderlands, and colonial Americas frameworks, among

others.

Meetings of the group, which will be held once per month during the

academic year, will typically involve presenters giving a brief—5-10

minute—introduction of a pre-circulated 30 page paper. The introduction

will be followed by a group discussion led by a pre-assigned discussant,

the objective of which will be to provide presenters with constructive

feedback. As an alternative, presenters will have the option of

delivering a longer—20-25 minute—talk on a paper that has not been

pre-circulated. These talks will also be followed by a group discussion.

Scholars interested in joining the group can sign up for our e-mail

list, which will provide information regarding the seminar’s upcoming

meetings and other activities. Scholars interested in presenting their

work should send a short abstract and approximate date for the

presentation. To join or suggest a presentation please contact us at:

ec.seminar[at]gmail[dot]com.

Regards,

Katie Labelle

Denis McKim

Tom Peace

Laura Smith

The Revolution Will Be Pluralized: Occupy Vancouver

On Saturday Rosemary and I participated in the Occupy Vancouver protest.  During the few hours we spent downtown, the protest was orderly, calm, peaceful, and fairly boisterous.  There was good music, a wide assortment of protesters from every demographic, and the police were polite and helpful.  We listened to a few speeches, went on a march, and generally felt good to be participating in an expression of democracy.

That said, leaving the protest brought a sense of unease.  Personally, I wasn't sure what the next step would be.  Granted, in Canada there is much to protest about: a government system that favours economic growth over environmental protection and social justice; a democratic infrastructure that does not adequately reflect the desires of the electorate (proportional representation); a growing chasm between the rich and the poor; and, increasingly, a society that is privatizing wealth and socializing debt.  For these reasons we should be angry, and we should be working to make a change.  But what, exactly, will that change be?  What will it look like, and whose ideals will it best represent?

I've heard over and over that the best thing about the Occupy movement is its lack of a single goal, its lack of an obvious leader (despite the typical claims that Anonymous is pulling the strings), and the plurality of voices/complaints contained within the movement.  That may well be true.  But I was slightly disturbed by the realization that I was marching with 9-11 truthers and Lyndon LaRouche supporters with occasional chants of "Eat the Rich".

This girl spent the entire march waving her 9-11 Was an Inside Job sticker.  At first I laughed, but I soon realized that we were participating in the same movement and I didn't want my views associated with hers.  Especially when it only takes a few minutes of reading Popular Mechanics to make the whole thing seem stupid.

The LaRouche folks got their crazy out for whatever reason.  This image isn't from the protest, but they had a booth with this poster. 

Others were more creative.

"Tall People for Wage Equality"

It was obviously a strong turn out, and kudos to everyone for wanting to make a change.  Before we go forward, though, shouldn't we figure out what the change is going to be?  As the Occupy movement morphs into the October 2011 Movement, some clarity will be necessary.  As great as he is to listen to, Chris Hedges can't speak for everyone all the time.

 

That said, I suppose plurality is rarely a bad thing.  These protests allow everyone to have their say, even the crazies.  This will breed tolerance (hopefully) and, at some point, clarity.  For now, the simple act of protest and expressing frustration peacefully will keep the movement strong. 

Occupy Vancouver

On Saturday I will be attending the Occupy Vancouver demonstrations, as much to express my concerns with the current state of our democracy, economic systems, and environmental record as to learn about possible alternatives.  Plus, I'll be able to answer any burning questions about 18th-century Acadia. 

Hope to see you there.