It was a pleasure to have internationally renowned political activist and lecturer and culture critic Michael Parenti join us by phone during our June 17, 2010 show.
Dr. Parenti, now 77, talked about his new book God and his Demons which deals with the dark side of religion. Parenti also talked about his past favorite books, especially The Assassination of Julius Caesar and gave an assessment of modern US society. He refused to tell us what his next project is about but we hope to interview him again for that in the future.
On June 10, 2010 our studio equipment failed on us at the last minute thus having to cancel the phone interview that had been planned for the week.
But no need to worry with a co-host like Denis Rancourt! He discussed his recently released essay on science and its lies. The essay titled Some Big Lies of Science is linked here.
On June 3, 2010 undergraduate student Liam Kennedy-Slaney and graduate student Joseph Hickey joined Denis Rancourt in studio to go over University of Ottawa campus news. Both Liam and Joseph witnessed President Allan Rock's town hall meeting held earlier that week to address the already passed budged which implemented the controversial resource optimization plan.
Thanks for holding a town hall to address controversial issues after decisions are made Allan!
On May 27, 2010 Student Appeal Officer with the Student Federation of the University of Ottawa, graduate student in ethics at St-Pauls University and Ombudsperson Selection Committee member Zachary Fouchard joined his co-worker (and Five O'Clock Train co-host) Mireille Gervais to tell the University of Ottawa and the SFUO (student union) why he's saying "I'm done!"
From a disorganized student union to brutal meetings with the university administration, Zachary describes why he's just had it with this bullshit.
Shorty after the show Zachary left his position at the Student Appeal Centre and as member of the Omudsperson Selection Committee. He will be greatly missed by the hundreds of students who had benefited from of his kind support and advice in dealing with the hardships they faced when confronted to the U of O administration.
The theme was homelessness and dignity in the homelessness community of Ottawa, Canada. This one-hour documentary is well worth the viewing and shows how community radio can play a role is reparation and recognition of a community crushed by soulless institutions and mainstream ideology. (In six parts on youTube.)
On February 28, 2008, Denis Rancourt interviewed five representatives of the Ottawa, Canada, homeless community and of the Ottawa-based Harmony 6 project, a self-organized community project for and by homeless people who self-identify as suffering from mental health handicaps.
Listen to this inspiring view into how people can organize to be their best own helpers, with street-view commentary on police, institutions, welfare, mental health, art, motivation, and more...
And find out the street meaning of "harmonie 6".
The insights and discussions are riveting and real, featuring:
- Bugs, artist, Artists from Out of the Cracks - Christopher Reid, Founder of Harmony 6 - Darrin, homeless man, victim of post traumatic stress disorder - Stephen McKinstry, photographer, Kit Kat Productions - Matt Murray, social worker, Centre 454
An independent documentary film has been made about this radio event:
May 20, 2010, show: Patrick Imbeau, Michael Fancie and Sean Kelly, representatives of the Graduate Student Association at the University of Ottawa joined us in studio to denounce the University of Ottawa's proposed optimization plan.
The plan was concocted mainly by external "experts" without consulting the student body (nor professors, nor staff...) and plans to cut teaching assistant contracts and teaching positions while increasing laboratory fees. Oh yes, and all this just one month after the Board of Governors increased tuition fees by the maximum allowed by the province.
The Board of Governors is due to vote on the plan this Monday May 31, 2010 at 5:30pm in the 90 University Residence building room 140. Come out and speak your mind.
On May 13, 2010, Naomi Sutorius (Press Officer, Toronto Office), Susie Tector (MD; five missions in the Congo, Darfour, Pakistan...) and Michelle Chouinard (mental health professional, Project Coordinator; six missions in Indonesia, Haiti...) from Doctors Without Borders (MSF) joined Denis Rancourt in studio to discuss the work of this renowned politically responsible humanitarian organization.
The discussion included insightful comments on the motives and experiences of First World humanitarian aid workers and presented the outstanding model of aid used by MSF.
A recent project, Refugee Camp in the Hear of the City was a four city tour in Ontario and Québec where a refugee camp was physically recreated to show visitors what survival looks like for the 42 million people uprooted by war.
On May 6, 2010, Richard Sanders was in-studio for an in-depth interview about anti-war activism in Ottawa. Richard is a long-time Ottawa activist dedicated to the peace movement. He is the Coordinator of the Coalition to Oppose Arms Trade and publisher and main writer and researcher of the print magazine Press for Conversion. After a review of the history of the issue, we discussed the opposition to the upcoming CANSEC weapons bazaar being held at Lansdowne Park on June 2-3rd 2010.
On April 29, 2010, Marc Morano from Climate Depot joined us for a phone interview to discuss the political and scientific aspects of the Global Warming Scare.
Marc Morano exposes Global Warming as a hoax.
From ClimateGate to Al Gore, this show is sure to become a Five O'Clock Train favorite!
Undergraduate student Marc Kelly was released from jail on Tuesday April 13, 2010. He was charged and released under strict condition not to attend within 250 meters of any University of Ottawa property and to abstain from talking directly or indirectly, via telephone, Internet or any other means with all students and staff of the University.
On April 15, 2010, we dedicated our show to the Marc Kelly story by sharing the history of this unprecedented case in administrative injustice and institutional oppression against a student. Executive malfeasance with a capital "em"...
To help Marc Kelly / Share you thoughts on his case / join the community
email: marckelly.community@gmail.com
A friendly reminder that it's the CHUO funding drive! Please email your pledge and keep the show alive!
Part-I: On April 8th 2010 BC-based lawyer Doug Christie who had just given a speech in the University of Ottawa Tabaret Hall Rotunda during the afternoon joined us by phone as he was waiting for his flight back home. Christie, who had been afraid that his freedom of speech would be limited or even blocked by protesters of the University administration in light of Ann Coulter's recently canceled speech at the U of O expressed surprise and gratitude for the fact that he was able to speak on our campus. He also commented on student activist Marc Kelly's case saying that it was clear to him that an in depth inquiry where all sides could be heard was in order.
Part-II: During the second part of our April 8th show Duff Conacher from Democracy Watch joined us by phone speaking, amongst other things, of federal lobbying ethics. Both Mary Dawson (Ethics Commissioner of Canada) and Karen Shepherd (Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada) were heavily criticized for being lap dogs. The Democracy Watch lawsuit against the Canadian government regarding Prime Minister Harper's disregard for Canada's fixed election law was also reviewed: LINK HERE.
Following our phone-in interview with Virgil Grandfield on March 25th, 2010, we had the pleasure to welcome him live in studio on April 1, 2010. Virgil is fighting actively for the hundreds of workers who were enslaved by sub-contractors hired by the Canadian Red Cross following the 2004 Indonesian tsunami and requests that they be compensated.
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