This n’ That

This n’ That Sally Campbell

A woman at a music event last fall asked me: “Do you write about anything other than that?” Surprisingly, I had the presence of mind to answer: “When you say ‘that’, what do you mean?” Somewhat taken aback, she was unable to give me an answer. Her question has occupied my mind from time to time ever since. From asking myself: what exactly do I write about? to wondering if it all sounds like exactly the same refrain, week after week, to consolidating my sense of purpose, to reassuring myself that it truly is ok if people are uncomfortable or disturbed by what I write. I remember that my intention has been to explore difficult questions, to speak about what is perhaps not being spoken about, to rattle us out of our comfortable, privileged perspective that really doesn’t want to be bothered with the problems of the world – the violence, the inequities, the racism – and our complicity in those problems. Another approach could have been to say: “Hmmmm. What would you prefer I write about?”

And I suspect I know the answer: good things happening in our communities, local news, gardening, dance classes. Thankfully there are plenty of people already doing that very writing for both Denman & Hornby, and doing it well! We need local news, and especially in such disturbing times, we need good news.

So, this is what I write about. Is this “that”?

1. Israel-Palestine, because Israel’s settler-colonial apartheid project has now led to an ongoing genocide in which Canada is complicit by reason of our media coverage, our arms sales and trade with Israel, our weapons components sent to the US for eventual use in Israel against Palestinians, and our government’s refusal to condemn, isolate and boycott Israel.
2. Militarism in Canada and elsewhere, because we are seeing a surge in warfare and war- planning, led by the US. NATO is an aggressive US-led arms buying and selling, war-provoking and war-making entity. We need to reexamine our relationship to it.

3. Nuclear Weapons & the Treaty for Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), (yet to be signed by Canada) because a mere accident could destroy life on Earth as we know it. Because we have created a monster, tested it in ways that have caused massive health problems and ecological damage, then spent decades trying to contain its proliferation, only now to see governments reviving funding for “upgrades”, countries developing “tactical” nuclear weapons, and leaders recklessly voicing threats of their use once again.
4. BRICS + and other Global South partnerships, because we need (especially now) to broaden our trade, foster good relationships with other countries and reduce our US dependence.
5. Canadian tax laws allowing Canadians to get a tax write-off for donations subsidizing illegal Israeli settlements and the Israeli military, including benefits for young Canadian “lone soldiers” signing up to serve in the Israeli army. It is illegal in Canada to establish charities serving a foreign military.

6.Recipesfrommykitchenbecauseweneedtofeedourwholebeingsinhealthyandsatisfying ways, because cooking is fun and creative, and baking with little kids is the best.

• Resources to learn from, such as: Canadians for Justice & Peace in the Middle East, World BEYOND War, Mondoweiss, Jonathan Cook, The Grayzone, Helena Cobban & Just World Ed, Jewish Voice for Peace (US) and Independent Jewish Voices (Canada), Palestine Museum (films), Richard Wagamese, Eyewitness Palestine, Canadian Foreign Policy Institute & Yves Engler, Just Peace Advocates, Peter Beinart, and many more.
• The UN, its agencies and its Charter, because as flawed as it is, it’s all that we have on a worldwide scale. It came into being post WW2 to prevent another world disaster, but thanks to structural flaws such as the “Big 5” veto, it lacks the teeth to give effect to its resolutions. The ICJ – the judicial organ of the UN – has ruled on Israel’s occupation (illegal) and its War on Gaza (Preliminary Measures Orders pending upcoming trial on genocide). The ICC, complementary to the UN but independent, has issued arrest warrants for Israelis Netanyahu & Gallant, and Hamas leader Deif. There is a warrant out for Putin. And for Bush, Biden, Trump? Alas, it would seem the Courts do respond to pressures/threats by the world’s hegemon. The ICC has steered clear of these particular war-makers.

9. After 35 years’ work in the field of conflict resolution, I like to share some of my learnings about conflict, about ways that’ve had practical value for me and for my clients over the years. Studying conflict and mediative approaches rescued me from 12 years’ grind of a law practice, which, rooted in an adversarial system of justice, is necessarily stressful. Integrative concepts like forgiveness and apology, circle peacemaking, and collaborative problem-solving are not mainstream in our justice system.
10. Indigenous teaching and learning. We are fortunate to be in the beginning of an ongoing reconciliation process, and together, finding ways to repair wrongs, restore damage and build respectful relationships with our indigenous peoples. Our world is in a turbulent transition time of decolonization, with unprecedented disruption and chaos marking the end of a global empire. We need to embrace indigenous recognition of interdependence of all beings, including respect and caring for Planet Earth before our self-created climate crisis wreaks more havoc on the only home we have.

So that’s that, some of it anyway. There may be more forthcoming, but for now, I’ll be taking a timeout from my weekly offerings to organize and self-publish a small collection of “This ’n That” for the benefit of my grandchildren. If you have a favourite article, recipe or a piece that made a difference for you, please let me know (and perhaps say why), to help me decide what to include (sally@sallycampbellmediator.ca). Big gratitude to The Islands Grapevine for their ongoing community-building work of publishing both local and global content consistently all these years!