Students Against the U of O Resource Optimization Plan

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.

Follow up media report about the outcome HERE.

CHUO's 5O-Train in the news: Marc Morano interview

THIS hot Five O'Clock Train interview about climate change is hitting the bloggosphere. (Click on the images below to follow the links.)

Doctors Without Borders

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.

Weapons Bazaar in Ottawa

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.

Climate Chaos Yeah Right!

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!

Campus News!

Our April 22, 2010, show was dedicated to campus news.

For updates on the resource optimization plan, Denis Rancourt's case and the U of O's surveillance of Burma activists check out the show!



Most importantly, we discuss claims that Allan Rock is ethically challenged and question how he became U of O's president.

Marc Kelly Exiled from U of O Community

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!

Doug Christie on Free Speech and Duff Conacher on Democracy

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.

The Canadian Red Cross and Human Traficking - Part 2

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.

The Facebook group is here:
Trafficking is not Canadian, Red Cross: Pay Tsunami Workers - Facebook group

The Canadian Red Cross and Human Traficking

On March 25, 2010, Canadian Red Cross whistleblower Virgil Grandfield joined for us a telephone interview during which he shared his incredible story of how he came to discover and denounce human trafficking and slave labour use that took place in Indonesia following the 2004 tsunami during international aid reconstruction, the Canadian Red Cross' cover-up and how he undertook to investigate the situation himself.

Virgril Grandfield will join us again on April 1, 2010 live in studio. Make sure to tune in!

Background article HERE.

Cindy Sheehan live from Washington DC

On March 18, 2010, Cindy Sheehan and many anti-war activists joined us live from Washinton DC where they were participating in the CAMP OUT NOW action right outside the White House.



Many thanks to all the camper outs now who participated to the show: Mike, Tim, Missy, Will, Linda...

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.