Winnipeggers say “HANDS OFF VENEZUELA!”

Posted: November 24, 2025 in In Solidarity, Nibbling on The Empire
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The United States has been meddling in Venezuelan affairs since the election of Hugo Chávez in 1999. Despite American backed coup attempts, assassination plots, and economic sanctions, the people of Venezuela have stood firm and continued to elect Chávez, and following his death in 2013, Nicolás Maduro. More recently, under the pretext of combatting drug smugglers, the US military has been murdering unarmed fishers (more than 80 to date) and amassing a naval force off the coast of Venezuela. An invasion could come at any moment.

International solidarity in opposition to America’s plans for Venezuela is building. In coordination with the Canada Wide Peace and Justice Network call to action for a week of emergency protests, Winnipeg peace activists held an information picket on November 23, 2025. The action was organized by Peace Alliance Winnipeg, The Manitoba Cuba Solidarity Network, United in Action, the Communist Party of Canada-Manitoba and Araucaria.

An opportunity for Canada’s New Democratic Party

Posted: October 1, 2025 in Socialism
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Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP) long ago abandoned the radical roots of its founding ancestor, the Co-operative Commonwealth Federation which, famously, pledged in 1933 that “No CCF Government will rest content until it has eradicated capitalism and put into operation the full programme of socialized planning which will lead to the establishment in Canada of the Co-operative Commonwealth.”

This changed in 2013 when the Party voted to remove “socialism” from the preamble to its constitution and instead work toward some vague vision of the “common good.” The new constitution’s decidedly unradical character confirmed a long established centrist practice that has made the NDP almost indistinguishable from the Liberal Party of Canada.

Fast forward to the 2025 general election; the NDP is decimated, going from 25 seats to 7; and the Leader resigns triggering a leadership campaign which is just getting underway.

For those of us who pay attention to these things, the question is “will the Party resolve to abandon its Liberal-lite posture and return to its radical roots or will it continue its slide into political irrelevancy?”

One indicator of the NDP’s collective intentions will be how it responds to the leadership campaign of author and activist Yves Engler. Yves pulls no punches; his “socialism” is loud and proud and he brings a sophisticated and nuanced critique of capitalism to the campaign that the NDP has not been exposed to for many decades.

I was a member of the NDP for more than 30 years, but resigned from the Party in 2008 over its shameful support for the State of Israel during its “Cast Lead” attack on Gaza. The party would have to change significantly before I would consider rejoining. If the NDP were to select Yves as its Leader, I could be convinced.

Stand up for Cuba

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Image  —  Posted: September 28, 2025 in Nibbling on The Empire
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Africa’s New Revolutions

Posted: August 30, 2025 in In Solidarity, Nibbling on The Empire
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The Alliance of Sahel States (French: Alliance des États du Sahel), or AES is a confederation formed between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, located in the Sahel region of Africa. The AES has been actively breaking colonial ties and its anti-imperialist stance has placed it in conflict with many of its African neighbours (as well as France, the former colonial master). Peace Alliance Winnipeg held a public forum on August 19, 2025 to explore this topic.

The forum was moderated by Canadian Dimension magazine columnist Owen Schalk and featured Professor Amina Mire of Carlton University and Prudence Iticka, an organizer with Black People United Calgary.

Resist NATO and Work for Peace

Posted: June 26, 2025 in Peace, War
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On June 24, 2025, members of and supporters of Peace Alliance Winnipeg rallied in Winnipeg to speak out against militarism and Canada’s membership in NATO. The rally was held in the wake of the recent illegal attack on Iran by the United States and Israel, the ongoing slaughter in Gaza by the Israeli military and plans announced by the Canadian government to greatly increase its level of military spending.

Confronting Imperialism in the Age of Western Decline

Posted: April 14, 2025 in Nibbling on The Empire, Peace
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Peace Alliance Winnipeg held its annual general meeting on April 12, 2025. This year’s meeting featured a keynote address by Manitoba author Owen Schalk entitled “Confronting imperialism in the age of Western decline.” Owen is a columnist for Canadian Dimension, the author of Canada in Afghanistan: A story of military, diplomatic, political and media failure, 2003-2023 and the co-author of Canada’s Long Fight Against Democracy with Yves Engler.

They refuse to kill for Israel

Posted: March 24, 2025 in Human Rights, Peace, War
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On March 20, 2025 I recorded the Winnipeg segment of the cross-country tour of Israeli refuseniks Tal Mitnick and Einat Gerlitz. The venue, Home Street Mennonite Church, was packed. The speakers were impressively articulate, poised and wise beyond their years.

In 2023, Tal Mitnick became the first conscientious objector to refuse military service after the October 7th attack by Hamas. After serving 185 days in military prison, Mitnick became a leader in the movement of young Israelis who are now refusing military service.

Einat Gerlitz was sentenced to 87 days in prison in 2022 for her refusal to join the Israeli army. An advocate for climate justice and LGBTQ+ rights, Gerlitz brings a feminist and queer perspective to her activism.

The pair were on a 12-city tour of Canada co-sponsored by Independent Jewish Voices Canada and the Mesarvot Network. Local sponsors in Winnipeg included the United Jewish People’s Order, Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba, Students for Justice in Palestine – University of Manitoba, Peace Alliance Winnipeg, MCM Palestine Israel Network, and the local chapter of Independent Jewish Voices.

Remembering Miguel Enríquez

Posted: November 17, 2024 in Nibbling on The Empire, Socialism
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Miguel Enríquez was a physician and a founder of the Chilean Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria – MIR (Movement of the Revolutionary Left). He was General Secretary of the MIR between 1967 and his death, on October 5, 1974, in a gunfight with agents of Chile’s secret police, the Dirección de Inteligencia Nacional, a Gestapo-like tool of the Pinochet dictatorship that tortured and murdered opponents of that vicious regime with impunity.

On October 5, 2024, members of Winnipeg’s Chilean-Canadian community celebrated his life and work. A half-century has passed, but the hopes and dreams for a better world live on. As Canadian singer-songwriter Nancy White sang about Víctor Jara, another famous Chilean murdered by Pinochet’s thugs, “they killed the man but they couldn’t kill the song!”

Israel’s unlawful occupation of Palestine

Posted: October 24, 2024 in Human Rights, Nibbling on The Empire
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Professor Michael Lynk, who teaches law at the University of Western Ontario, served as the United Nations “Special Rapporteur for the human rights situation in the Palestinian Territories occupied since 1967” from 2016 to 2022. He spoke in Winnipeg on October 18, 2024, about the occupation of Palestinian territory by the State of Israel, why this has been judged illegal under international law and why Israel stands accused of the crimes of genocide and apartheid.

Professor Lynk’s appearance was co-sponsored by Canadian Muslims for Palestine, Peace Alliance Winnipeg, Independent Jewish Voices Winnipeg, Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba, University of Manitoba Muslim Students’ Association, Diversity for Palestine and Faculty for Palestine.

Winnipeg Lanterns for Peace 2024

Posted: September 3, 2024 in Peace, Winnipeg
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On August 6, 1945 the United States dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. On August 9th, the Americans dropped another atomic bomb, this time on Nagasaki. The immediate combined death toll of the two raids was about 200,000. Over the decades that followed, many more thousands would suffer and perish from radiation induced illnesses.

Winnipeg is one of more than 8400 cities that belong to Mayors for Peace, an organization devoted to nuclear disarmament. Annually, in early August, Winnipeggers gather to affirm their commitment to peace and freedom from nuclear terror with a Lanterns for Peace Ceremony.

Typically, these gatherings have been organized by Peace Alliance Winnipeg and the Japanese Cultural Association of Manitoba. This year they were joined by the Mennonite Central Committee of Manitoba and the Winnipeg Monthly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).

This is the Winnipeg Lanterns for Peace ceremony that I recorded on August 6th, 2024.

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