Canada

Author

• Richard Sandbrook | Professor Emeritus of Political Science, University of Toronto

The invader cannot consolidate control if citizens and their institutions refuse to comply with its rule. The tactics involve a complete refusal to co-operate with the occupying force along with open defiance.

That means that governments at all levels in the invaded nation continue to supply only basic services: clean water, electricity and policing, for example. Governments resign and civil servants find ways to subvert every order issued by the invader.

Crowds fill urban squares in silent or derisory defiance of orders, making it apparent to all — the occupiers, the dictator’s audience back home, less committed citizens and global observers — who are the true purveyors of violence against non-violent people

Throughout the occupation, citizens and non-governmental organizations focus on subverting the loyalty and morale of the occupying troops and functionaries and rallying international support.

In Canada’s case, the long history of friendship with Americans would likely mean that the morale of the occupiers would be low. The aim is to encourage defections by soldiers and functionaries, and erode the support base of the dictator. This erosion of support could lead to the overthrow of the leader, or at least to his concoction of a compromise to cover a retreat.

Attracting international support to Canada’s cause would not be a challenge. Trump has already alienated most of humankind and foreign governments during his first weeks in office.

Obstacles

Non-violent resistance is most effective with nation-wide training, organization and leadership. The national government is best equipped to provide the facilities. Training of volunteers could include responding to natural disasters and emergencies, as well as implementing a civil defence strategy.

Yet partisan divides and apathy make such nationwide training difficult. It would likely be viewed with suspicion by right-wing populist forces in this era of conspiracy theories and misinformation.

Apathy might also be a problem.

These considerations suggest that top-down, apolitical training in civilian defence may not work. If so, training and organization should be the goal of as many existing civil society associations as possible: churches, synagogues, temples, civil rights groups, unions, Indigenous rights organizations, peace advocates and climate groups, for example.

The manual authored by Michael Beer, the longtime director of the Nonviolence International non-governmental organization, includes more than 300 tactics. Widespread training and organization can not only deter aggression but ensure countries remain free of tyrants.

U.S. president signed an executive order in the Oval Office on Wednesday

U.S. President Donald Trump is dealing another tariff blow to Canada, signing an executive order on Wednesday that will hit all non-U.S.-made autos with hefty import levies.

Trump said the United States will be applying a 25 per cent tariff on those imports, but it's not clear when they would apply.

The president said the auto tariffs will kick in on April 2 but suggested they could start at a base rate of 2.5 per cent.

"What we're going to be doing is a 25 per cent tariff on all cars that are not made in the United States. If they're made in the United States, there is absolutely no tariff. We'll start off with a 2.5 per cent base, which is what we were at, and we'll go to 25 per cent," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Autos are the second-largest Canadian export after oil — and by far the most lucrative manufactured product that Canada sells to the world, linked to hundreds of thousands of Canadian jobs.

I opened Facebook for the first time in months yesterday, and I was surprised at the amount of pro-CPC posts and comments. It's like the opposite of the pro-Carney posts I've seen here.

It seems like we've segmented ourselves by platform.

The spectre of interference by India has already rocked the early days of Canada’s federal election, with officials warning that sophisticated efforts from other hostile nations are expected in the coming weeks.

As Canadians prepare to cast ballots on 28 April, senior officials say that India, China, Pakistan and Iran are all expected to make efforts to subvert the national vote through increasingly sophisticated disinformation campaigns.

The use of artificial intelligence tools is likely to figure prominently in efforts to deceive voters and sway diaspora communities. Earlier this year, a landmark inquiry into foreign interference found that information manipulation the biggest risk to democratic institutions.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/41301894

Following Moe’s remarks, NDP Leader Carla Beck said it was about time that he woke up to Trump’s threats.

[Emphasis mine]

I couldn't agree more.

The national chief of the Assembly of First Nations says the fourth victim of a Winnipeg serial killer has been identified as Ashlee Shingoose.
Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak says she has spoken with the woman’s parents and offered her condolences.
“My heart goes out to all the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls,” she said.
Police are scheduled to confirm the identity of the victim, who was given the name Buffalo Woman, at a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

The JUNO Awards are back, bringing Canada’s Biggest Night in Music to Rogers Arena on Sunday, March 30th. Hosted by Michael Bublé, experience a night packed with electrifying performances from some of the country’s biggest names, including a historic, last-ever performance by Canadian Music Hall of Fame Inductees, Sum 41.

Archive: [ https://archive.is/VQNuO ]

Toronto police say a dangerous offender who was released from prison earlier this month is now residing in Toronto.

UK-based distributor Sphere Abacus is run by MD Jonathan Ford and sells shows including Leaving Neverland, Catch You Later, and Travels with Agatha with Sir David Suchet internationally. Bell Media will fold its programming into Sphere Abacus library in the wake of the deal, meaning that catalog swells to about 5,500 hours.

As well making a big move into international distribution with the Sphere Abacus deal, Bell Media’s Cohan tells Deadline about a project dubbed internally as ‘Northern Lights’. It will see the Canadian outfit forge a range of new international programming partnerships and seek to elevate Canadian talent and content on the global stage.

The deputy director of operations for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) said on Tuesday that the agency is braced for efforts to meddle in the April 28 vote. Ottawa’s relations with China and India in particular have been strained.

Following reports of Trump Cabinet members including journalists on private Signal threads, Trump officials have reportedly texted similar plans for an invasion of Canada to anchor of CBC’s The National, Ian Hanomansing.