The lecture's title and topic are borrowed from , which Berland co-edited with Ryerson Professor Blake Fitzpatrick of the Documentary Media Program. Her work explores how military culture now has such a hold on society that many people cannot remember a time when the military was not a constant presence in their lives.

Right: Jody Berland

This military presence appears either physically or more abstractly through art and society as a whole. As Berland noted in an interview, “While civilian deaths and acts of torture have remained invisible and secret, it’s impossible to miss the images of invasion and imprisonment that circulate the world on the Internet, on TV and in video games.” Her presentation will begin by exploring recent events during the G20 summit in Toronto and then move to a broader examination of militarism in Canadian society.

Cultures of Militarization is a collection of essays penned by 22 international scholars and artists who have each contributed their own perspectives and experiences. Each of the contributions jointly identifies how a military culture brings devastation to communities and individuals.

Berland's lecture is part of the "Canada: Like You’ve Never Heard it Before” Speakers Series, which features open lectures delivered by 91��ɫ faculty. Produced by the Canadian Studies Program and the Students for Canadian Studies Club, the series has an interdisciplinary focus and promotes undergraduate research and study of Canada.

The series is co-sponsored by Vanier College, Winters College, New College, Stong College, Calumet College, Founders College and the Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies.

Submitted by Alison Sanelli, a second-year humanities student; republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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“Cultures of Militarization,” edited by (right), professor in 91��ɫ’s Department of Humanities, and Blake Fitzpatrick, professor in the School of Image Arts at Ryerson University, features contributions from 22 international scholars and artists.

Drawing on a rich array of research sites and interdisciplinary resources, the authors explore how human relations, social policies and cultural values come to be defined by military interests, and how such interests might be freshly understood. They delve into the notion that the culture of war is both hidden and widespread, reaching deep into civic culture and affecting government, families, media, entertainment, public policy and personal beliefs.

Berland cites the recent WikiLeaks exposé of classified US military documents as evidence of the hidden aspects of war. “It is interesting to note that US military operatives face military proceedings not for atrocities or misinformation, but for participating in leakages of classified documents,” Berland says. “And while civilian deaths and acts of torture have remained invisible and secret, it's impossible to miss the images of invasion and imprisonment that circulate the world on the Internet, on TV and in video games.”

Berland cites other prominent examples: the Pentagon's classified budget for research and acquisition of information development has increased 78 per cent since 2001, totaling $34 billion in 2009. “Our own military spends $9 billion on F-35 fighter planes while remaining silent on questions regarding their technical and military justification,” she says.

Berland notes that this widespread increase in militarization does not only affect war zones. In the community of Glace Bay, N.S., a debate rages about the naming of a new school after Jimmy MacNeil, a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan in June 2010. From coast to coast, yellow ribbons adorn trees and lampposts, while in Ontario, Highway 401 is now known as the Highway of Heroes.

“Here in Toronto, we saw it play out in the streets during the G20 summit. Military culture is everywhere. Ultimately, we are all living the consequences of global militarization,” Berland says.

TOPIA subscribers will receive the special double issue; the book is available through . It will be formally launched at the Gladstone Hotel’s Melody Bar on Dec. 6, from 6 to 8pm. All are welcome.

For more information, visit the TOPIA website.

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin

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This G20 summit weekend, while peaceful protests did turn violent, some believe the police – who with their sheer numbers in full riot gear – went too far, at times, in their actions, proportionately to the threat.

For , a University of Toronto law professor and incoming dean of 91��ɫ’s Osgoode Hall Law School, the handling of the sound cannon struck a good balance. The police displayed it early, opponents challenged it in court and in the end a judge ruled it could be used, but only under certain conditions.

By contrast, the granting of additional police powers to detain those refusing to present identification within five metres of the fence, while approved in a lawful fashion, was not publicized, said Sossin.

"The middle ground to me is where the reasonable citizen or protester will say, this is a fair tool for the police, it may not be ideal," he said, adding when there are individuals looking for windows to throw bricks through, it doesn't seem unreasonable to search bags.

But the extra police powers expire on Monday, surveillance cameras are coming down and tapes will be destroyed after a certain time.

"It's a quintessentially Canadian approach to the legitimate demands of security, but with the enduring commitments to privacy, civil liberties and allowing dissent to happen," Sossin said.

The complete article is available on .

Professor Allan Young was also interviewed about the fallout from the G-20 summit in The Globe and Mail June 26:

People being tried on G20-related charges will appear in court behind closed doors: Anyone wanting to check out the proceedings will have to watch via video feed.

Having the public in the courtroom would be a security risk, court staff say. Several lawyers argue refusing the public entry undermines basic principles of an open-court system.

But Alan Young, a professor at 91��ɫ’s Osgoode Hall Law School, said making the public watch from an adjoining room isn't all that unreasonable. What's more worrisome, he said, is that authorities are anticipating such a glut of G20-related charges that they've set a special courtroom aside to deal with all of them.

“It concerns me they think there’ll be so many people they’re bringing in,” he said. “It’s sort of an overzealous approach.… It seems they’re trying to send a message.”

The complete article is available on .

Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer, with files courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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, a sociology professor in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Liberal Arts & Professional Studies who specializes in social movements, says dissent has trended toward creativity and away from aggression in recent years, a phenomenon she attributes to heightened security measures in the past decade.

"I think overall, post-9-11, you're seeing people saying, 'What can we get our message out doing that isn't quite as risky?' Protesters are a little bit scared," Wood said. A total of 12,000 police officers have been assigned to the summit.

"Protesters always have to find a balance between getting noticed and being legitimate, and there's a risk if you start being too theatrical because you get written off as not serious," Wood said.

The full article's available on .

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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The clip runs 4:30 and is available on .

Republished courtesy of YFile– 91��ɫ’s daily e-bulletin.

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Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer.

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Posted by Elizabeth Monier-Williams, research communications officer.

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