Another Jim Stanford / Tony Biddle collaboration: CAW puts out illustrated educational piece on financial collapse Written by economist Jim Stanford, How to Make a Financial Soufflé: The ingredients of Financial Chaos is a four-page educational leaflet that explains in easy-to-understand terms and images how and why financial crises, like the one currently gripping the globe, happen. Follow the crazy corporate chef as he whips up a fowl-tasting soufflé called Financial Chaos. See how the excesses of capitalist greed, combined with cheap credit and willful negligence on the part of government lead to the creation of speculative bubbles which inevitably implode, causing chaos and undue hardship in the real economy where ordinary citizens live and work. How to Make a Financial Soufflé is a call to action to transform our economy to one based on democratic control, fairness and genuine productive pursuits. To download a copy visit the CAW or see the "portfolio" section of Illustrated Educational Materials on this site.
	New book by economist Jim Stanford, illustrated by Tony Biddle Recently I had the privilege of illustrating Jim Stanford's new book Economics for Everyone: A Short Guide to the Economics of Capitalism (Fernwood Publishing, Pluto Press, Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives). Jim Stanford works with the Canadian Auto Workers union and is Canada's preeminent progressive economist. His writings appear regularly in The Globe & Mail, and he is frequently called upon by CBC television and radio to provide his analysis of current economic trends. Jim's new book is a ground-breaker — an economic text written in plain, entertaining language designed to demystify economics for the average reader. With the help of 28 of my cartoon illustrations and diagrams (or, "economic road maps" as we call them), Jim starts with the smallest microcosm of the capitalist system and gradually builds in complexity, chapter by chapter, until he describes the whole global system — and the risks and failures inherent therein. Economics for Everyone, as the title suggests, is for everyone, but it is especially valuable for labour, social justice and environmental activists who need to become more economically literate in their work. Jim has put together a complementary curriculum, available on-line, for those wishing to use the book as the basis for a structured course. For more information and to purchase copies of the book, visit economicsforeveryone.ca.
	Canadian Labour Congress launches illustrated educational material opposing Canada-Colombia free trade Towards the end of 2008, Prime Minister Stephen Harper surprised many Canadians when, seemingly out of the blue, he signed a free trade deal with Colombian President Alvaro Uribe — against the advice of a parliamentary trade committee. Colombia has the dubious reputation of being the most dangerous country in the world for unionized workers. Labour leaders are routinely targeted for assassination by right-wing paramilitary armies. Colombian labour, civil society and indigenous peoples' organizations strongly oppose nations like Canada engaging in trade relations with Colombia and ignoring the rampant violence and human rights abuses that take place there. The Canadian Labour Congress, in concert with major unions across Canada, is spearheading a campaign to block the ratification of Harper's free trade deal as soon as it comes up in parliament. A central part of this campaign is a four-page educational piece which I produced with the CLC titled Top ten reasons why Canada should cancel Harper's free trade deal with Colombia. For more information on the document see the "portfolio" section of Illustrated Educational Materials on this site, and for more information on the campaign visit the Canadian Labour Congress.

 
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