Despite being one of the world’s most ubiquitous substances, palm oil seems grossly misunderstood. Enter Max Haiven and Palm Oil: The Grease of Empire, the fourth instalment in the Vagabonds pamphlet series from Pluto Press. Haiven takes readers on a journey from the beginnings of the palm oil trade in West Africa to its explosion into a global … Continue reading The system is to blame for palm oil’s destructiveness →

Of the five men who led the Canadian Armed Forces during my time in uniform, Rick Hillier was by far my least favourite. He was, and still is, a snarky, self-serving, and arrogant opportunist who uses what little Newfoundland charm he possesses to stoke the fires of militarism and make the case for war. As … Continue reading Canada’s warmonger-in-chief bangs his blood-spattered drum →

Jean Charest wrapped up a mini-tour of Nova Scotia yesterday preaching moderation on all things except defence policy and military spending. The former Quebec premier was the first Conservative leadership candidate to visit the province. Speaking to a small but enthusiastic audience at a community centre in Dartmouth, he made an impassioned plea for the … Continue reading Charest preaches moderation, except on national defence →

Providing lethal military equipment to Ukraine could have unintended long-term consequences, says a researcher with a leading Canadian peace institute. Canada has sent rocket launchers, anti-tank weapons, machine guns, rifles, pistols, hand grenades, and ammunition to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia. These weapons will likely help the country in the short-term, but what happens when the … Continue reading To help Ukraine, Canada should prioritize diplomacy over arms shipments: researcher →

Alex Khasnabish is no fan of the convoy protests that have swept across Canada. In fact, he recently participated in a counter-protest in Halifax, where he works as an anthropology professor at Mount Saint Vincent University. A chance meeting at that event reinforced his belief that the protesters need to be heard in order to … Continue reading Listening to convoy protesters is the best deradicalization approach, professor says →