The Harper government’s announcement that it will change the laws regarding capital gains taxes to encourage more charitable giving strikes an ominous note for the country’s political culture. Harper is mimicking the Conservatives in Britain who are trying to pull the same trick with what they call the Big Society initiative...

Poverty, abuse and cultural practices are preventing a third of Zimbabwean girls from attending primary school and 67 percent from attending secondary school, denying them a basic education, according to a recent study which found alarming dropout rates for girls. Sexual harassment and abuse by even school teachers and parents,...

Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou survived a close confidence vote early Saturday morning. The vote was 153–145 for Papandreou. Upon winning, Papandreou stated he may step aside if necessary. Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos stated a new government would be formed to last until the end of February. Venizelos has been...

The high-profile sponsorship of a BC cancer research charity event by the world's biggest oil pipeline builder raises serious questions about the ethics of fundraising - and threatens to backfire for both organizations involved.Unless you never open a newspaper, turn on the TV, listen to the radio, or surf the web, you have...

Coast Salish Territory/ Vancouver, BC – From October 22-31, 2011 Grand Chief Edward John of the First Nations Summit political executive participated on a National First Nations mission to China led by the National Chief Shawn A-in-Chut Atleo. The mission also included leaders from the Union of BC Indian Chiefs as well as...

Nathan Cullen is visiting the West Kootenays and Grand Forks November 13, 14 and 15, as part of his campaign to lead the federal NDP. Cullen, a four-term MP from the northern BC riding of Skeena-Bulkley Valley, is on a prolonged tour of his home province."One of the things I like most about British Columbia is it's so far...

One perrenial issue here in town is our rather anaemic tax base. Trail has Teck, whose taxes heavily subsidize life down the hill. Rossland, on the other hand, has no industry and no large employers other than the seaonal Red Resort. As our recreation programs face funding challenges, we asked the candidates, "Should Rossland...

Lots of new hockey programs starting in the Arena this month! The Little Gretzky’s Hockey program is starting Tuesday, November 22 from 11:00-11:45am in the Rossland Arena. Team Profilli has signed on to lead the next generation of hockey players learn the fundamentals of skating and hockey. If you have a preschooler in the...

Fourteen local businesses and organizations were recognized as FortisBC announced the winners of its annual PowerSense Conservation Excellence and Leadership awards for outstanding achievements in energy efficiency.  “One of the most cost effective ways to meet our customers’ future needs is to encourage them use energy as ...

By Deena Stryker in SACSIS.An Italian radio program's story about Iceland’s on-going revolution is a stunning example of how little our media tells us about the rest of the world. Americans may remember that at the start of the 2008 financial crisis, Iceland literally went bankrupt.  The reasons were mentioned only in passing,...