Banned on the Hill: A True Story about Dirty Oil and Government Censorship - Tapa blanda

"Banned on the Hill: It’s a tour de force" Dr. Tom Pedersen, Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions

Franke James: Winner, Liberty Award for Excellence in the Arts, BCCLA

Franke James received the 2014 Liberty Award for Excellence in the Arts, from the BC Civil Liberties Association. “Franke James is the recipient of this year’s Excellence in the Arts award. Franke has spent years producing original artwork inspired by social and environmental justice. Franke’s artwork and books span print, TV, radio, and online mediums in Canada, the USA, and many other parts of the world. Outspoken on environmental issues, her works have come into conflict with the federal government – leading to the cancellation of her 20-city European art exhibition because of government interference from high-level bureaucrats. Her experiences as an artist facing muzzling and censorship by the federal government led to the publishing of her third book, Banned on the Hill, which chronicles her experience with free expression through eight “visual essays”. Her focus on environmental and social justice, and her fight for free expression, are a few of the reasons she is this year’s recipient.” BC Civil Liberties Association

“Banned on the Hill. It’s absolutely outstanding. It’s a tour de force and if you haven’t bought a copy, buy one. And then buy a second one for your kids and your grandchildren. Because we’ve got to get the youth." Dr. Thomas Pedersen, Executive Director of the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions

Description What would you do if you discovered you were blacklisted by your own government for speaking up on climate change and the tar sands? In Banned on the Hill, artist and author Franke James, tells how she first discovered she was being censored by the Canadian government -- and how she fought back. It's an inspiring story that shows how creativity, crowd-funding and investigative digging can work together to shine a bright light on a government that is more interested in message control than a citizen's democratic right to free expression. Through eight visual essays, James traces her personal journey as an active citizen discovering the power of speaking out. Interviewed in the Guardian newspaper James said that she hoped the book would serve as a how-to guide to other activists hoping to take on the Harper administration, especially with humour. "It's like a judo flip... you can actually flip someone who is much bigger than you."

Through entertaining, powerful and humorous real-life storytelling, James show us how to speak the hard truths -- and get heard. She shows us why actions speak louder than words and how each of us can make a difference in our front yards, our city, our country and our world.

Franke James is a Canadian artist, author and activist. James' work on environmental and social justice, and her fight for free expression, was recognized in 2014 by the BC Civil Liberties Association who awarded her their Liberty Award for Excellence in the Arts.

Banned on the Hill is the winner of the 2014 Gold IPPY Award and Foreword's 2013 Silver IndieFab Award. Published in May 2013, it is Franke James third book. Through eight visual essays, James traces her personal journey as an active citizen discovering the power of speaking out. Interviewed in the Guardian UK newspaper in May 2013, James said that she hoped the book would serve as a how-to guide to other activists hoping to fight back against government censorship, especially with humour. "It's kind of like a judo flip, meaning that you can actually flip someone who is much bigger than you."

ADVANCE WORD

“This book makes you think, and it gets you angry. Bravo!” CLAYTON RUBY, C.M., B.A., LL.B., LL.M., LL.D. (honoris causa)

“The Canadian government has clamped down on scientists who tell the truth about the tarsands—and it’s tried to shut up artists too. Happily, Franke James is indefatigable!” BILL MCKIBBEN, Founder, 350.org

“Franke James’ commitment to art, free expression and political commentary put her in the cross-hairs of Stephen Harper’s Conservatives. See what the government didn’t want the world to see.” ELIZABETH MAY, Leader, Green Party of Canada, MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands

“‘Banned on the Hill’ is such a feast for the eyes one could almost overlook the disturbing and sobering tale that it tells. In the battle to communicate the threat of climate change, we need all the ammunition we can muster. Franke brings it, with a deadly combination of artistic expression, verve, and wit.” MICHAEL E. MANN, Distinguished Professor, Penn State University and author of The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars

MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR

In addition to Banned on the Hill, James is the author of Bothered By My Green Conscience and Dear Office-Politics: the game everyone plays. Both were published in 2009. In Bothered by My Green Conscience, she recounts her adventures in going green, which included selling her only car, an SUV, and fighting bureaucracy at City Hall for the right to build a green driveway. (She won!)