Category Archives: Uncategorized

In September of 2011, a social phenomenon erupted near Wall Street, New York City, as thousands of demonstrators gathered to express their outrage toward what they perceived as deeply flawed economic and political systems. Their protest, and subsequent encampment on … Continue reading →

I would like to recognize the contributions to this project of both my primary and secondary thesis supervisors, Professors Kirk LaPointe of the UBC School of Journalism, and Elvin Wyly of the UBC Faculty of Geography, respectively. Both have provided … Continue reading →

To all who are willing to stand up and take action, in the name of peace and justice, for the health of our world, and for the welfare of future generations

1.1 Introduction In the fall of 2011, a social phenomenon sprung into existence in New York City, capturing the imagination of millions, and inspiring many more to rethink what was possible. But although Occupy Wall Street is distinct and novel … Continue reading →

2.1    Kalle Lasn The head office of Adbusters Magazine is anything but conspicuous. Were it not for my foreknowledge of the precise address and a small sign pointing the way, I likely would have walked right by, assuring myself that … Continue reading →

3.1    Economic and political forces at work Many will remember the 2008 economic crisis as an isolated aberration, but the reality is much more complex than that. Just as a supernova represents the demise of a supermassive and highly unstable … Continue reading →

4.1    Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and their antecedents Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan’s predecessor in the Oval Office, was saddled with the ripple effect of the Iranian Revolution on both America’s society, and its economy. Not only was the country in … Continue reading →

5.1     Big credit, big deposits, big banks As the wealth of the employer class surged since the 1970s, bank deposits and credit followed suit. “In the last 40 years…you’ve had an unparalleled, historic boom, in which the growing productivity of … Continue reading →

6.1     Forcing Roosevelt’s hand Following the stock market crash of 1929, America—and most of the Western world—was thrust into the Great Depression. After the Republican administration of Herbert Hoover proved ineffective at alleviating the despair, Franklin Roosevelt, the Democratic candidate, … Continue reading →

7.1    The Arab Spring Though America (somewhat disingenuously) prides itself on its penchant for upholding liberty and democracy, its policies toward the Middle East and North Africa have tended historically to be inimical with both of these principles. By the … Continue reading →