There was little cause for optimism in Canada in July 1933. Thirty percent of the labour force was out of work. One-fifth of the population was on government relief. And severe drought had turned huge swathes of Prairie farmland into dust. But amid the deprivation and misery of the Great Depression, a new socialist party … Continue reading The Regina Manifesto at 90: lessons for the Canadian left
Author: Scott Costen
Scott Costen is a Nova Scotia-based freelance journalist. For more information, visit scottcosten.ca.
Musical scares
Surveillance, censorship and deplatforming may be hallmarks of the digital age, but they existed long before the advent of Facebook and Twitter. Consider the case of the young Bob Dylan, scheduled to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show on May 12, 1963. Told he couldn’t play Talkin’ John Birch Paranoid Blues, a satirical indictment of … Continue reading Musical scares
Ep. 18: Simon Black
Simon Black, an award-winning labour studies professor, high-profile activist, and prolific freelance writer reflects on the development of his socialist beliefs, his academic career, and the advocacy group Labour Against the Arms Trade. He also discusses current labour issues and the shifting political loyalties of working-class voters. https://open.spotify.com/episode/5lbIF58EukhtWsqmEMTgdQ?si=fbae2c607fc149d1
Ep. 17: Judy Rebick
Author, activist, journalist, and broadcaster Judy Rebick joins the podcast to discuss her groundbreaking career in left-wing politics, media, and the women’s rights movement. https://open.spotify.com/episode/3a3lvKzUELDIT34iRclcxt?si=6cc72a90f3e74a55
Ep. 16: Jodi Brown
Jodi Brown joins the podcast to discuss her work as an anti-poverty advocate, public housing watchdog, and executive director of the Nova Scotians Helping Nova Scotians Association. She also talks about provincial politics and an upcoming community event in Spryfield. https://open.spotify.com/episode/2FZoqcbExwaZ8gpAFQxQHO?si=2e1576b954b74203
Scott Costen 