The Board of Directors and staff of the Centre for Public Legal Education Alberta wish to express our deep sadness over the passing of Linda McKay-Panos on November 3, 2024. At the end of this article, we reprint the tribute posted by Linda’s own organization - The Alberta Civil Liberties Research … [Read more...]
Rosa Luxemburg: Murder of an icon
Rosa Luxemburg, a young Polish turned German political activist, bravely opposed World War I and was murdered for it. Her legacy lives on in media and among modern-day political protesters. Rosa Luxemburg, an early 20th century political activist who opposed colonialism and militarism, … [Read more...]
Hart Pomerantz: Canada’s funniest lawyer
Not everyone can combine an almost six-decade legal career with a comedy career that included writing for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In and co-hosting The Hart & Lorne Terrific Hour, along other credits, but Hart Pomerantz can. If there were ever a coronation for the king of comedy in … [Read more...]
The Iraq War 20 Years Later: Those who spoke out and those who didn’t
With 20 years having passed since the start of the Iraq War, it is fascinating to look back at who spoke out against the war and who didn’t, including most surprisingly, left-wing journalist Christopher Hitchens. This year marks 20 years since the start of the Iraq War. Reading some … [Read more...]
Ayn Rand and the United States Court of Elitism: A strange symbiosis (Part 2)
Part two of this two-part series looks at 'Randian approaches to law and justice' by the United States Supreme Court, including when it comes to voting rights and environmental protection laws and policies. Part Two: Contemporary Erosion of “The Public Good” Looking at the current … [Read more...]
Ayn Rand and the United States Court of Elitism: A strange symbiosis (Part 1)
Part one of this two-part series reviews Ayn Rand's views and novels, to help us understand her influence on the United States Supreme Court. Part One: Who are Howard Roark and Judge Narragansett? At the end of August 2022, Senator Bernie Sanders gave a rousing speech to British workers who are … [Read more...]
Sorrowful Soliloquies: I Am Ariel Sharon (Part 1)
I Am Ariel Sharon by Yara El-Ghadban is a timely novel that sheds light on the ongoing tragedy of the Palestinian people. Part 1 of this article describes how Canadian politics, institutions and media have responded to the Israel-Palestine conflict, providing context for my review of I Am Ariel … [Read more...]
Sorrowful Soliloquies: I Am Ariel Sharon (Part 2)
I Am Ariel Sharon by Yara El-Ghadban, is a timely novel that sheds light on the ongoing tragedy of the Palestinian people. Part 1 of this article described how Canadian politics, institutions and media have responded to the Israel-Palestine conflict, providing context for my review below of I Am … [Read more...]
Roger Casement: Hedgehog ahead of his time
Roger Casement, the subject of Jordan Goodman's The Devil and Mr. Casement, was a leader in the modern human rights movement. Roger Casement was a giant in the modern human rights movement that emerged in the twentieth century. Indeed, Casement courageously, and with great determination and skill, … [Read more...]
WINning Through Courage, Vision & Conviction
WINning is the story of people – mostly women – whose courage, vision, and commitment provoked societal recognition of women’s realities and needs. In 1968, a small group of women put a plan in motion that would change the lives of countless women facing desperate choices. In WINning: The Trials, … [Read more...]
