The Corbett Report

On April 11, 2010 show co-host Denis Rancourt aired and commented a pre-recorded interview with James Corbett, creator of the Corbett Report - an "online open source intelligence news" network. The original recording was sound recorded by Skype from Japan on February 8, 2010.

In an intermission report co-host Rancourt also described the ongoing Fulcrum student newspaper scandal regarding cover surveillance and unethical journalistic behaviour (background HERE). In a second intermission co-host Rancourt commented on U of O president Allan Rock's behaviour during this year's Israeli Apartheid Week.

Israeli Apartheid Week Under Attack

SAIA (Students Against Israeli Apartheid - Carleton) members Sam, Dax and Heba joined us live in studio to discuss the events and controversy surrounding Israeli Apartheid Week.

With recent unanimous Ontario legislature decision to condemn the week, these Palestinian rights supporters explained why the word ''apartheid'' is more than appropriate.

The students also call on Carleton University to adopt a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions policy.

Canadians for Accountability

Allan Cutler and Ian Bron, two founding members of the Ottawa based not-for-profit organization Canadians for Accountability joined us live in studio on February 25, 2010.

C4A offers a network of support for whistleblowers and accountability activists. Allan and Ian having both suffered the backlash of being whistleblowers they shared their first hand experience and valuable information on how to protect yourself.

Fighting for Residential School Survivors Rights

Kevin Annett, one of the most popular Five O'Clock Train guests, joined us on February 18, 2010, to discuss the Friends and Relatives of the Dissapeared recent tactics in their fight for residential school survivors to get justice.



From a description of the assault he was subjected to, to the effects of the Olympics on the Native living in Vancouver, Kevin makes a vivid description of the every day life conditions faced by the Canadian Holocaust survivors.

A Conversation with York Teaching Assistant Fired for Giving ''atypical'' Grades

Tasia Alexopoulos was fired from her teaching assistant position at York University when she gave ''atypical'' grades (read, too many good grades!)

Not only was she fired from teaching, she was told not to have contact with undergraduate students!

A dangerous T.A. or a smart doctoral student? Judge for yourself! The Train interviewed her on February 11, 2010.

SOME BACGROUND:
TA stands for Tasia Alexopoulos

Blast from the Past: 5OCTrain 2008 interviews with Webster G. Tarpley - Correct predictions on Obama geopolitics

The Train featured two fall 2008 interviews with public intellectual, historian, and best selling author Webster G. Tarpley. The broad topics were a constitutional challenge to the Barack Obama candidacy, citizens' rights in a modern democracy, and US geopolitics of war.

[Please excuse some technical and voice quality problems in Part-I.]

Part-I was on October 30, 2008:

Part-II was on November 6, 2008:


In Part-II, before Obama was elected US president and before there were any precursors in the media, Tarpley explained with confidence that under Obama there would be de-escalation in Iraq and a very significant buildup in Afghanistan. Tarpley explained this in terms of the Democratic-Republican differences in geopolitical madness and in terms of the dominance of Wall Street on US politics.

The analysis in Part-II is framed in a study of fascism and its defining characteristics. Tarpley breaks the false notion that fascism always arises from and is driven by the right.

There is no substitute for listening to the terse interview in Part-II for understanding the US war machine - OMG this stuff never comes out in the mainstream. It's much worst then radical profs say...

Olympics and Genocide

February 4, 2010, show: Anarchists speak out against the many horrors surrounding the 2010 Olympics and its effect on the environment and people.

Avatar the Movie: Imperialism or Masterpiece?

On January 28, 2010, it was a pleasure to chat with Liam and Tasia who had strong opinions about Avatar the Movie in 3D on this week's show. Certainly, it took more than just cool graphics to make this mega production a blockbuster. But is the story truly engaging or just another racist tale?

Health ''Care'' in the United States

Dr. Barbara Starfield is a Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She joined us by phone on January 21, 2010, for a live interview discussing the dangers and inequalities of the American health care system.

Dr. Starfield's medical research and commentary went viral on the web following her 2000 article entitled "Is US Health Really the Best in the World?" [Journal of the American Medical Association, Vol.284, No.4, 2000, pages 483-485.] In this article Dr. Starfield explained that medical error is the third leading cause of death after heart disease and cancer.

How to Fight Suppression of Dissent

On Januar 14, 2010 Australian academic Brian Martin phoned in from Australia to share his valuable research results and insights on suppression of dissent.

From whistleblowing to fighting the backlash, his advice shows that whistleblowers all around the world are treated similarly by the agencies and bosses that attempt to suppress their voices.

Professor Martin's recommendations include concrete suggestions for the most effective ways for whistleblowers to defend themselves.

A Salary Just for Being a Canadian Citizen? A Discussion with Senator Hugh Segal

On January 7th 2010 we aired Denis Rancourt's pre-recorded interview with Conservative Senator Hugh Segal. In true Five O'Clock Train fashion we offered our comments and criticisms along the way. The general theme was Senetor Segal's project of 30 years promoting the concept of a citizen's guaranteed annual income for Canada.

SOME LINKS:
Senator Hugh Segal's web page
Livable Income for Everyone
Push from Senate news article

We also made a brief mention of this YouTube video promoting U of O's Dean of Science André E. Lalonde's new appointment booking system...

Happy New Year!

Unfortunately the CHUO studios encountered technical difficulties and our December 31st year end review of campus actions was not recorded.

Make sure to tune in every Thursdays at 5pm on 89.1 fm (Ottawa region, or in live stream) to catch us live.

And, like President Allan Rock said, "make sure to stay on the line" - we'll be right back in full force in 2010!

Full Time Graduate Student Barred from Campus for Political Reasons!

On December 17 Joseph Hickey joined us in studio. His coming to campus to attend the radio station was in itself an action of defiance of the Trespass to Property Act notice that currently bars him from all University of Ottawa property.

Hickey is a full time graduate student with research obligations and a teaching assistant contract with the University. He was served with a trespass notice following his involvement in an action that took place at the 'student walls' (listen to the Dec. 10th show for more background).

The use of trespass laws as a way of 'getting rid' of activist students dates back to the 60's when students were barred from campus for political expression, giving rise to the Berkeley Free Speech Movement.

From Campus to Honduras

On December 10th we began the show by discussing the history of the 'student walls' also known as the 'propaganda walls' located outside Morrisset Library on the University of Ottawa campus. Students have been using the walls to express themselves and display political art. In turn, the university has taken down the student's art and put up marketing messages. It's the story of the battle that is ongoing...

[Producer's Note: Sorry sorry erratum erratum - It's NOT Bolivia, it's Honduras. We meant Honduras from start to finish!]

The second half of the show was dedicated to The Real News journalist Jesse Freeston reporting live from Honduras where he is a first hand witness to the incredible rebellion and repression surrounding the June 2009 coup d'état.

Upper Year Psychology Students on School, Deadlines, Medication and How to Survive University

From negotiating with professors to getting addicted to ADHD medicine, University of Ottawa upper-year psychology students Hawra Sadic and Andrew Faulkner shared their stories during this down to earth and candid interview.

Many thanks to Andew and Hawra for joining us live in studio!