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Website review: It isn`t babble

www.rabble.ca

Rabble, babble. While these two perfectly rhyming words may sound trivial and informal, the Canadian website under review actually uses them as the name for two sections that are anything but non-serious. This news portal identifies itself as "News for the Rest of Us.' "They' being those up there, who take decisions for "teeming billions' on the streets.

Its About Us section says that it is a new kind of publication, one built on the efforts of progressive journalists, writers, artists and activists. Launched nearly three years ago, it fuses the hot energy of activism with the cool eye of journalism. So it claims. In addition to original news stories, in-depth features, provocative interviews, and commentaries, Rabble.ca publishes columns by a few progressive voices in mainstream media, mainly in Canada.

Rabble.ca is also a place where the creative spirit is celebrated. After all, what's the use of being political if one can't have some fun with it? Its varied and rich verticals put across an informed, alternative view from Canadian civil society organisations on anything from globalisation to gender issues, from ecology and race to empowering the underprivileged.

Rabble.ca is an independent project of Alternatives, a Montreal-based non-governmental organisation and is also supported by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives. Rabble.ca is a more than an online magazine. It's worth checking out.