Dr. Steven E. Noble on queer theory and education

On October 27, 2011, CHUO 89.1 FM (Ottawa) The Train's Denis Rancourt interviewed Dr. Steven E. Noble, Educator, Researcher, Councellor, and former professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Ottawa.

This is what applied critical pedagogy, inspired by queer theory and critical disability theory, looks like in Dr. Noble's class room -- until he was fired in reprisal for filing a grievance to contest breaches of his contract. And that's what the University of Ottawa looks like.

Dr. Noble is also informed by his community work with addicted youth in the Downtown East Side, Vancouver, by his work with "mental illness" patients, and by his experience with government and public institutions.

Hazel Gashoka on Ottawa police brutality and racism in U of O student politics

On October 20, 2011, CHUO 89.1 FM (Ottawa) The Train's Denis Rancourt interviewed student activist, 4th-year psychology major and U of O Senate member Hazel Gashoka, live in-studio.

Unfortunately, the sound track was lost due to technical problems.

Ms. Gashoka described her 2003 violent and racist encounter with the Ottawa Police, from her first days as a 1st-year student on the U of O campus. Ms. Gashoka reported that she was pushed to the ground for no apparent reason by one of Ottawa's finest. When she protested, she was hauled off in cuffs into a dark holding truck, told to urinate on herself, and then dumped into a cold holding cell on a steel plate to spend the night, without ever being charged. Her recommended music for the theme was "Fuck the Police" by N.W.A.

Ms. Gashoka went on to describe:

• the inherent racism of the white U of O student union (SFUO) in its paternalistic management of Black History Month campus organizing,
• the SFUO's absurd stance in eliminating the Student Arbitration Committee - its constitutional independent judiciary arm - under the pretext of increasing "democratic representation", and
• the zoo that is the Senate of the University of Ottawa, chaired by president Allan Rock.

We apologize for not being able to provide this sound track for this interview.

"Mise en Demeure" Quebec radical anarchist alternative urban Montreal scene music

On October 13, 2011, CHUO 89.1 FM (Ottawa) The Train's Denis Rancourt went solo:

• to comment on the recent RIM Blackberry blackout media coverage,
• to read the latest press release from the Bradley Manning Support Network, and
• to feature the French text and music of "Mise en Demeure" ("Notice Served", roughly translated).

Host Rancourt tried to "translate" some of the titles and lyrics... and described the dumster-diving and police-violence-abused scene that has given rise to the penetrating expression of Mise en Demeure.

October 6th show cancelled

The October 6th (2011) production of The Train was CANCELED due to unforeseen circumstances.

Teacher Mike Kaulbars and student Jess Menard on pacifism and diversity of tactics

On September 29, 2011, CHUO 89.1 FM (Ottawa) The Train's Denis Rancourt interviewed Mike Kaulbars (long-time activist, producer of the "Politics of Resistance" course) and Jess Menard (local activist, Carleton U student) about non-violent resistance, activist tactics, and criticisms of the End Civ film by Frank Lopez and black bloc tactics...

Duff Conacher on the problem with "democracy"

On September 22, 2011, CHUO 89.1 FM (Ottawa) The Train's Denis Rancourt interviewed Duff Conacher, Founder and Board Member of Democracy Watch, by phone from Toronto.

The interview was a broad-based discussion about the main systemic and structural problems with Canadian "democracy", with some focus on the upcoming Ontario election.

The macro-level and most damaging problem is the lap-dog culture of Members of Parliament (MPs) who are dependent on party leaders for their jobs (and pensions) and who agree to be servile to the leaders rather than independent thinkers who work for their constituents without compromise.

But there are way more problems than that... We need our establishment/government watch dogs to be like Ontario Ombudsman Andre Marin...