Articles 13 & 11 pertaining to copyright reform recently passed by the European Parliament pose an existential threat to the free and open Internet as we know it. On the show today we are very happy to have renowned journalist, author, blogger & activist Cory Doctorow! We discuss the terrifying details of the so-called link tax and upload filters as well as the broader implications from this both in Europe and across the globe. Cory also gives us a run-down on his new book Radicalized, a collection of four very awesome sounding novellas. Enjoy!

We continue our Latin American tour of 2019 and focus our attention on the new fascistic government of Bolsonaro in Brazil. Joining us is Fabio Durao, professor of Literary Theory from the University of Campinas in Sao Paulo! We go over the modern political history of Brazil, the recent elections, the endless absurdities of Bolsonaro vis a vis other authoritarian and right-wing governments like Trump and Duterte, the uselessness of Liberal moral outrage as well as the true agenda of this government to annihilate social security and bring Brazil back into a destitute, 19th century economy and culture.

For a quick and quite hilarious take, check out this extensive summary of recent Brazilian political history:

http://web.archive.org/web/20180804032713/http://buttons15.tumblr.com/post/172727989148/brazil-crisis-guide-for-gringos

Audio credit:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuQeKzWVZFQ

https://www.democracynow.org/2018/10/29/glenn_greenwald_on_election_of_bolsonaro

https://www.democracynow.org/2018/3/19/exclusive_brazilian_presidential_candidate_lula_on

Photo credit: https://www.teepublic.com/user/jeffbartels

Today on the show we have independent journalist Zoe Ducklow to talk about the Unistoten pipeline blockade up north here in British Columbia. We discuss indigenous rights & land claims, climate change, the role of activists in the struggle for a better world & reconciliation with indigenous peoples.

Check out Zoe's article here:

https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2019/01/08/LNG-Pipeline-Unistoten-Blockade/

Photo by Jeffrey Nicholls

Back on the show is our good friend & comrade Leigh Phillips to discuss with us the prospect of a Canadian Green New Deal! With the looming threat of climate catastrophe we talk about some possible solutions to the crisis at hand and the inability of the capitalist system to solve this calamity.

We touch on a lot of things ranging from clean energy, the shortcomings of modern day environmentalism, FernGully, a working class solution to global warming, the opening skirmishes of decarbonisation versus decolonisation, the absolute necessity of a massive public sector solution to the climate crisis that we face, and the fact that the climate crisis is completely within our ability to solve using actually-existing technologies but that it requires a massive mobilisation of the working class and revolutionary politics to do so.

Links:

http://www.couragecoalition.ca/a-green-new-deal-of-the-north/

http://theclimateexaminer.ca/2017/03/15/membrane-tech-help-decarbonise-oil-sector-wins-3m-alberta-grant/?fbclid=IwAR0lRnPrvADw3cXVbtXfWK7goFc1e2SIsjAY6qYPq713tSysqR9iF0GWXGs

http://theclimateexaminer.ca/2018/06/27/can-there-really-be-carbon-neutral-gasoline-a-bc-firm-reckons-it-might-arrive-sooner-rather-than-later/?fbclid=IwAR14f2LWR9SI7A8QGNnMOKvqR8-qUfDhEpmpy3hZaG4gxJ2gx1Myh7uKVQ4

Back on the pod is our Senior Venezuelan Correspondent Elias, joining us from Caracas! Active in the Hands Off Venezuela campaign as well as the Marxist left opposition within the PSUV he brings us up to speed on the ongoing political & economic crisis facing the country & ongoing attempt by imperialist forces to oust Maduro as president.

We discuss the changing political landscape within South America, the context of the imperialist coup attempt, the recent elections that were held, the state of the economy & the evolution of the Maduro government from revolutionary left to bureaucratic administrators of the crisis.

We're also happy to announce a new partnership with Ricochet Media! We've got a new home with them on their kick ass podcast network. Check it out!

On today's show we are happy to announce that Canada's most progressive politician Niki Ashton is our guest! We discuss the newly formed Progressive International: A cross-border effort to unify left wing political parties and movements from across the globe to help counter-act the rise of the right wing. We talk with Niki about what this movement is all about, what Canada can contribute to the global progressive movement and the importance that international solidarity plays in both political and labour movements across the globe.

Also, we have a brand new theme song now! Let us know what you think!

Links:

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Progressive International "teaser trailer"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6f_EEtdTwM

The full hour long launch video conference for PI featuring Niki Ashton, Bernie Sanders, Yanis Varoufakis and others:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4757NVsUp3c

On today's show we have as our guest Abel, an activist from Montreal, born in Nicaragua to talk about socialist governments and movements in Latin America as well as new forms of media and communication and how they intersect with politics and social movements.

As is tradition the Out of Left Field crew got together for our customary year-in-review episode! We talk about what happened in Canada and the world over: Some good, some neutral, and of course mostly bad things that happened over the year. Since so much stuff went on this past year we've separated the episode into two halves for your listening pleasure. And yes, we realise that we forgot to include the Ontario and Quebec elections but hey, we did a couple episodes on those already. Thanks to all our listeners for tuning in and an extra special shout out to our patrons for supporting the show. We'll see you in 2019!

As is tradition the Out of Left Field crew got together for our customary year-in-review episode! We talk about what happened in Canada and the world over: Some good, some neutral, and of course mostly bad things that happened over the year. Since so much stuff went on this past year we've separated the episode into two halves for your listening pleasure. And yes, we realise that we forgot to include the Ontario and Quebec elections but hey, we did a couple episodes on those already. Thanks to all our listeners for tuning in and an extra special shout out to our patrons for supporting the show. We'll see you in 2019!

Out of Left Field is expanding and on the move! Today on the show we inaugurate our newest, freshest and third co-host Avery Forrester! We discuss the Canada Post CUPW strike and compare it to the unrest under Macron in France. Can the Liberalism of Trudeau and Macron survive against the contradictions of capitalism and the new right wing, or is it simply a vestige of a previous era? What is to be done to move past this neoliberal hellscape? Let's find out!!!