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About the author
CKirkby
- earned degrees in language / literature and law (but is not currently a lawyer or a journalist);
- worked for over a decade on Parliament Hill;
- misses writing; and
- appreciates thoughtful comments, en anglais ou en français. (Email addresses are not published.)
Categories
Archive
Author Archives: CKirkby
The future I’m building
I’ve been trying to write for days but I’m all over the place in content and tone. What I keep coming back to is what I believe: that kindness and community are the only way through this mess. It’s hard … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, Community, Projects
Tagged future, intentional community, practice
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A successful minor campaign?
In 2009, according to transaction records, I became interested in an organization called Kiva, which “uses crowdfunded microloans as a force for good, creating a space where people can have one-to-one impact, and together, expand financial access for all.” The … Continue reading
Happy union AGM day.
I had a private comment in response to my post on Friday about questions members could put to federal labour unions, say at an AGM today. It included counter-arguments others might have in mind, so I decided to respond publicly. … Continue reading
Posted in Employment, Law, Politics
Tagged return to office policies, rhetoric v. action, solidarity, unions
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Suggested questions to put to unions re: fighting in-office policies
I’ve learned that my former union’s Annual General Meeting is being held this Sunday, 17 November 2024, including by Zoom. My emails to the union about fighting the federal government’s return-to-office policy have gone unanswered. Presumably it’s easy to ignore … Continue reading
Posted in Employment, Health, Politics
Tagged covid, return to office policies, rhetoric v. action, solidarity, unions
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Environmental law: not even satire
An article from Fatima Syed at actual news site The Narwhal, “‘We’re incredibly responsible’: Enbridge Gas president dismisses Canada’s emissions cap,” reads like an article from satirical news site The Beaverton. The Gas President’s complaints include that government incentives being … Continue reading
Posted in Climate, Commentary, Law, Politics
Tagged environment, government, Greenhouse gas emissions, regulations
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History
I’ve complained before about how history was taught to me in school. Most of the time it was extremely dull. I didn’t want to memorize the dates of battles far away in time and space that had no clear significance … Continue reading
Time
And you run, and you runTo catch up with the sun, but it’s sinkingAnd racing aroundTo come up behind you againThe sun is the same in a relative wayBut you’re olderShorter of breathAnd one day closer to death — Pink … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, Community, Employment, Music, Psychology
Tagged art, being human, labour, music, return to office policies, solidarity
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Dance like nobody’s getting COVID
A few things happened over the past week. Which means it’s time to get angry again about the federal government’s return-to-office mandate. I don’t know how much plainer it can be that it’s not okay for employers to unilaterally impose … Continue reading
The hope of seeds and gardens
I’m sitting in the Centretown condo of my good friend Élizabeth Powles. Outside are signs of construction and autumn. Inside are her loudly purring cat and what she describes as a fuck-ton of common milkweed seeds. (I correctly guess the … Continue reading
Petitioning the court
I developed a neat trick for my healing work, which is to convene a courtroom in my head. It starts with noticing that I’m doing something I don’t want to be doing. One low-shame example is sitting in a way … Continue reading →