Gorilla Radio from Pacific Free Press: Recent Episodes
Chris Cook
Gorilla Radio is dedicated to social justice, the environment, community, and providing a forum for people and issues not covered in the corporate media. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Thursday, 11am-Noon Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, on the internet at: cfuv.ca, and archived at: www.gorilla-radio.com. He also serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/ and @Paciffreepress on Twitter. Some past guests include: M. Shahid Alam, Joel Bakan, Maude Barlow, David Barsamian, Luciana Bohne, Helen Caldicott, Noam Chomsky, Paul Cienfuegos, Yves Engler, Laura Flanders, Amy Goodman, Glenn Greenwald, Denis Halliday, Chris Hedges, John Helmer, Julia Butterfly Hill, Robert Hunziker, Robert Jensen, Dahr Jamail, Chalmers Johnson, Malalai Joya, Kathy Kelly, Daniel Kovalik, Ingmar Lee, Dave Lindorff, Janos Mate, Stefania Maurizi, Sharmine Narwani, Greg Palast, Michael Parenti, John Pilge
Went down again to stand with about 250 Victorians, all outraged that this wanton slaughter of innocents continues in the face of all international law and basic morality.
Enjoined again about 150 Victorians disgusted and dismayed by Canada's failures to oppose Israel's determined genocide campaign against Palestinians in their homeland.
Enjoined about two hundred Victorians behind the Legislature Buildings to express a collective outrage at the continued genocide in Gaza, (and increasingly ferocious pogroms in the West Bank and Jerusalem) and the Western governments' refusal to step in to stop the killing. Just his week, the United States vetoed again a resolution in the UN to recognize Palestine as a State, a move that would trigger other provisions to protect the citizenry there.
Was there in spirit today, as Christina attended and recorded the event on the lawn of the B.C. Legislative Buildings today. She reports about 200 Victorians attending in solidarity, while some dozen or so counter-demonstrators were there to express sympathy with the Israeli state as it's murderous campaign of genocide and dispossession against the Palestinian people of Gaza and increasingly in the West Bank grinds on.Today also marked a turning point perhaps in the situation in the region, with Iran, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, and Yemen retaliating together against Israel's illegal bombing and assassination campaigns that have plagued their respective nations for so long.
Joined a couple hundred Victorians braving the weather to once again express their dismay at the Government of Canada's beyond weak response to Israel's horror in Gaza and the West Bank, Palestine.
Joined between 200-300 Victorians to again demand, for the 23rd week in a row, the Canadian government fulfill its obligations to international law and human decency.
Israel's Flour Massacre February 29, 2024Joined between 700-800 Victorians down at the Legislative Buildings to express outrage at the continued complicity of the Canadian government in Israel's genocide in Palestine.
Between 300 and 400 Victorians came out to express solidarity for Palestine and disgust and dismay at the Canadian government's acquiescence to the Israeli and American strategy of attacking the UNRWA and aid to the Gaza Strip in the wake of the International Court of Justice ruling against the genocide.
The locals were out in force again this Sunday. Between 400-500 Victorians came out to express their outrage and disgust at both the actions of Israel and inaction of the Canadian government to do anything to stop the Gaza genocide underway.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 29th, 2023Following fifty days of Israel's scorched earth attacks against Gaza a four day "pause" was brokered into being. As much as allowing humanitarian relief to the people of Gaza, the temporary respite in aerial and artillery bombing is meant too to interrupt the growing and increasingly adamant demonstrations of outrage around the World - most importantly within Western countries still unanimously supporting Israel despite the carnage.Meanwhile, in an unmistakable sign of cynicism, Israel's military is taking as many new prisoner hostages in West Bank home raids as it releases in exchange for its citizens captured October 7th.Dan Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. His book titles include: ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture’ the “Plot to” series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, and Russia, ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest’, ‘Nicaragua: A History of US Intervention & Resistance’, and his latest, ‘The Case for Palestine: Why It Matters and Why You Should Care'.Dan Kovalik in the first half.And; The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, or COP 28 is ready to get underway tomorrow, November 30th. The two-week confab conference is hosted this year in Dubai, one of the Arab Gulf States' fossil-fuel superpowers. That fact is not lost on critics, who already charge plans to allow oil companies into the meetings effectively makes The COPs less an environmental emergency meeting than oil dealers' bazaar.Dr. Joan Russow is former leader of the Green Party of Canada who since stepping down from the Greens has spent her time keeping the United Nations’ feet to fire as a reporter, and filmmaker recording past climate change conferences. She’s also producer of the film, ‘Cooperatives: Counterpoint to Capitalism’, and has served as the editor and driving force behind Peace Earth and Justice News, aka PEJNews.Joan Russow and is COP 28 the Conference of the Parties' shark-jumping moment in the second half.But first, Dan Kovalik making the Case for Palestine.Song: Humanitarian PauseArtist: David RovicsChris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Went down to the Legislature here in Victoria to join the roughly 500-600 Victorians concerned enough about the slaughter in Gaza to brave the chill.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 22nd, 2023This assault being waged against human decency in Palestine is a test; a test to gauge how much atrocity we watching will countenance. What we've allowed befall others in Yugoslavia, and Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Yemen, Syria, Ukraine, and elsewhere has metastasized, becoming finally the full-blown horror of Gaza. And it's a horror that will, if we allow it continue over there, in due course return to be visited upon us as well.So, why is it allowed time and again? And, who profits this belittlement of humanity?Kathy Kelly is a long-time peace and justice activist, essayist, author, and recipient of numerous awards for her peace service, including multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace prize. Kathy's book titles include, ‘Prisoners on Purpose: a Peacemakers Guide to Jails and Prison,’ and ‘Other Lands Have Dreams: from Baghdad to Pekin Prison.’These days she’s serving as Board President at World BEYOND War, where among other things, she’s been busy co-coordinating the November 2023 Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal. The Tribunal launched Sunday, November 12, with the first segment examining the wanton and repeated criminality of the destruction of Gaza.Kathy Kelly in the first half.And; for the last six weeks, millions have gathered in cities and towns across the World to express their collective outrage at what is happening right now in Palestine, and in an effort to pressure their respective governments to demand Israel stop its indefensible destruction of Gaza and its people. Victoria, British Columbia is no different, where every week since Israel's onslaught began citizens have come to the Legislative Buildings, seat of the provincial government, to raise their voices against the statuary and granite facades in hopes of moving their representatives.Soundscapes from the Palestine solidarity manifestations in the second half.But first, Kathy Kelly and trying the profiteers at 2023's Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal.Song: Nails in the WallArtist: Speedy J. - Kait GrayFrom Grant Wakefield's, The Fire This Time, 2002.Photograph: Munition workers painting shells at the National Shell Filling Factory No.6, Chilwell, Nottinghamshire in 1917. This was one of the largest shell factories in the country, circa 1917. Photo by Horace Nicholls, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.Photograph: https://www.instagram.com/khaledbeydoun/p/CzG4c2tATXn/ Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded September 13th, 2023. As the Ukraine front of the West's war against Russia continues its collapse - by all accounts, save Zelenskyy's - the battle to defeat the recalcitrant energy giant continues. Not content with attaching bank accounts and confiscating airplanes, agents of the West have taken too to piracy, seizing oil-laden Russian registered tankers on the high seas. But even that age-old tactic of America's maritime empire and its English predecessor pales beside the backroom buccaneering being employed to wrest from Russia the richest prize, the World's greatest tanker fleet. John Helmer is a journalist and author who’s spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. Principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears, Helmer has too been a professor of political science, sociology, and journalism, and served as advisor to governments at the highest levels. Among his many book titles are: ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt’, ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17’, ‘Australian Fascism: How It Destroyed the Courts’, and his latest, still steaming hot of the presses, 'SOVCOMPLOT: How Pirates Tried to Capture the Treasure of the Russian Seas, and Were Caught Out'.
John Helmer in the first half. And; America has been at war with Russia much longer than most people today appreciate. In 1944, though allies in the fight against the Axis Powers, the United States planned, after Hitler's fall, to turn its super secret super-weapon the A-bomb on its "friend" the Soviet Union, killing tens of millions of its people, and crippling its society. The plan was to send Russia back to the Stone Age. And the plan may have succeeded but for the Soviet's miraculous development of its own super weapon, promising any such action against it would provoke a mutual response. Mutually Assured Destruction, the MAD Doctrine, has hung over the heads of us all at varying degrees of imminent catastrophe ever since. But, how did the Soviets manage their miracle of atomic deterrence? Dave Lindorff is an Izzy Award-winning investigative journalist, author, founder of the web news site, This Can’t Be Happening.net, and documentary producer whose now released film, ‘A Compassionate Spy‘ tells the tale of Ted Hall, wunderkind physicist and spy who may well have saved Russia and the World from nuclear conflagration. Dave's been working on a companion book of sorts for the film titled, ‘Spy for No Country’, due out any day.
Dave Lindorff and Ted Hall saving Russia, saving the World in the second half. But first, John Helmer and Russia beating too the high seas picaroons. John Helmer's Dances with Bears
John on Gorilla Radio
Dave Lindorff's This Can't Be Happening
Dave on Gorilla Radio
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded August 30th, 2023 As the eyes of the World are focused on Ukraine, and Hawaii, and Africa, and all the places people are harried by natural and manufactured disaster, Israel has been busy going about its project of making the lives of Palestinians impossible in Gaza, hardly survivable in the Occupied Territories, and a daily terror for its neighbour, Syria.
Just yesterday, Israel again sent missiles into Aleppo’s international airport, shutting down its last functional runway. Israel has bombed Syria throughout the Summer – and before – with neither sanction nor censure from Canada and its ‘rule of law’ defending allies.
Ken Stone is with the Syria Support Movement International and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. We talked last about the EU’s 7th Brussels Conference on the Future of Syria and the Region – an annual event held without Syrian participation – on the first day of Summer past.
https://www.facebook.com/events/326073483194442/?ref=newsfeed Ken Stone and a long look at Syria’s long resistance to Empire.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded August 30th, 2023 The rain's return reminds Fall is coming to Vancouver Island. What remains as unchanged as the changing seasons here though is the continual rapaciousness of industry in the province and the serial iniquity emanating the capital city's heart, the B.C. Legislature.
Whether Social Credit, New Democrat, Liberal, BCLiberal, NDP matters not a whit to mining, logging, and fishing interests, or changes by a millimeter the plans of the frackers and pipeline layers, suburban sprawl-makers and downtown condo in-fillers; they can always be assured, business will continue as usual.
Joe Foy is the Protected Areas Campaigner with the Wilderness Committee. An old-hand, Joe was employee #1 way back when the Committee were known as WC2 - or Western Canada Wilderness Committee - and forty some-odd years later there's still so much work to be done.
Joe Foy in the first half. And; as the eyes of the World are focused on Ukraine, and Hawaii, and Africa, and all the places people are harried by natural and manufactured disaster, Israel has been busy going about its project of making the lives of Palestinians impossible in Gaza, hardly survivable in the Occupied Territories, and a daily terror for its neighbour, Syria.
Just yesterday, Israel again sent missiles into Aleppo's international airport, shutting down its last functional runway. Israel has bombed Syria throughout the Summer - and before - with neither sanction nor censure from Canada and its 'rule of law' defending allies.
Ken Stone is with the Syria Support Movement International and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. We talked last about the EU’s 7th Brussels Conference on the Future of Syria and the Region - an annual event held without Syrian participation - on the first day of Summer past.
https://www.facebook.com/events/326073483194442/?ref=newsfeed Ken Stone and Syria's long resistance to Empire in the second half. But first, from felled ancient forests and the Spotted Owl's imminent extirpation to the fracking pads and pipeline paths across the province, saving what remains with Joe Foy and the Wilderness Committee. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded August 9th, 2023. Over the weekend, Global Affairs Canada announced it was "suspending development assistance" to Niger due to the overthrow of the government there. Ottawa said,
"Canada reiterates its solidarity with the people of Niger and its support for democracy, peace, inclusive governance and the rule of law."
Clearly, when it comes to Canadian foreign policy there are coups, and then there are coups. Historically, Ottawa has either stood silently by - or more worryingly - played a major role in fomenting and supporting coups it deemed advantageous around the world, all putting to the lie its high road rhetoric of "support for peace, democracy, and inclusive governance"; nevermind "rule of law", that murky precept dredged up only when Canadian corporate interests are challenged by natives with the temerity to control sovereign wealth and resources.
Yves Engler is an independent, Montreal-based journalist and author. He’s written twelve books on Canadian foreign policy, and hosts the Canadian Foreign Policy Hour, a weekly examination of the country's actions in the World.
Yves' many articles appear across the internet, and at his website, YvesEngler.com, where his latest piece, 'Democracy far down list of Canadian interests in Niger' provides facts so disturbing to Canada's international reputation they remain unreported in the nation's corporate and state media.
Yves Engler in the first half. And; it's not only in Canada's foreign policy where the myth of its democracy-loving ways is confounded by its systematic erasure of those principles. Here at home too Ottawa is waging a determined campaign to roll back the clock on citizens' rights; back say a thousand years, predating the English Common Law's foundational habeas corpus legislation. Right now, August 9th, 2023, four men have been held with neither bail nor trial since February of last year.
Ray McGinnis is an author and retired educator-cum reporter after attending the Public Order Emergency Commission hearings in Ottawa last November. His latest article on some of the enduring aftermath of the unprecedented invocation of the Emergencies Act, ‘Coutts Four Denied Bail, in Prison in Canada for over 500 Days without Trial. Are they Political Prisoners?‘ appears at the Substack site, Propaganda in Focus and serves as damning indictment of the Trudeau regime's disconnect from western traditions of human rights, as understood for more than a millennia.
Ray McGinnis and Canadian jurisprudence's trip back to a Medieval future in the second half. But first, Yves Engler and Canada's dismal democracy record abroad. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded July 5th, 2023 Any day now could be the new "date that will live in infamy", as ominous hints at an attack against the Russian-held nuclear plant at Zaporizhzhia are being floated in the world presses. Both the Kyiv government and its American sponsor have filtered information into the media mainstream suggesting Russia will, as it did with the Nord Stream pipelines and Kakhovka Dam, sacrifice its own infrastructure in a false flag attempt to make Ukraine look bad.
The conflict has already gone nuclear, in a sense, with both documented missile and mortar attacks against Zaporizhzhia, and the introduction of Depleted Uranium munitions. So it seems, after nearly 80 years of an uneasy atomic detente, the thing most feared by generations past has begun, if in an unexpected way.
Dave Lindorff is an American publisher, Izzy Award-winning investigative journalist, author, founder of the web news site, This Can’t Be Happening.net, and documentary producer whose now released film, 'A Compassionate Spy' tells the tale of Ted Hall, wunderkind physicist and spy who may well have saved Russia and the World from nuclear conflagration.
Lindorff's also written a companion book for the film called, 'Spy for No Country' due out in November.
Dave Lindorff in the first half. And; among those that know, right now is the most dangerous moment the world has ever known. More than Ronald Reagan's "reign of error", where the pitch of western belligerence against the Soviet Union pinned the needle, the current slide into the big muddy of nuclear Armageddon is beginning to seem a grotesque inevitability. But, there was a precedent matching the horror of our moment. John Kennedy's retreat from the brink during the Cuban Missile Crisis is a fragile beacon of hope for our survival, and fittingly it is being seized upon by JFK's nephew, Robert F. Kennedy in his bid for the Democratic Party nomination for president.
Jim Kavanagh's a former college professor, now publishing political and social analysis as The Polemicist on Substack, and making videos on the same topics at Rumble. His articles appear online at, among other places, The Greanville Post and Counterpunch.org, where his recent article, 'RFK, Jr.'s Chances' appears.
Jim Kavanagh and Is Another Kennedy Enough? in the second half. But first, Dave Lindorff and the whistleblower who saved the world - for a while. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded June 28th, 2023 Does the news of the day seem more to you like a Hollywood movie than a real picture of the state of the World? Could Bondian billionaire villains, really be vying for not only control of the planet's governments and resources, but also for the very hearts, minds, and souls of We the People? And how could this all be happening before our eyes while the majority of us are unaware that everything we've known is slipping away? John Stauber is an independent writer, activist and author. His books include: 'Toxic Sludge Is Good for You', 'Trust Us, We're Experts', and 'Weapons of Mass Deception'. He's also been a long-time political and media activist who spent a career exposing corporate, political, and media propaganda campaigns.
John Stauber in the first half. And; last week witnessed a media circus hardly equaled in this century. It's all surrounding the march on Moscow of the contract mercenary Wagner Group, and even now pundits and Russia experts are struggling to make sense of what - were he running a midway food truck today - Churchill might describe as a riddle-wrapped mystery meat sandwich, served up in a hot enigma sauce. John Helmer is a journalist and author who’s spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. Principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears, Helmer has too been a professor of political science, sociology, and journalism, and served as advisor to governments at the highest levels. Among his many book titles are: ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt’, ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17’ and his latest, ‘Australian Fascism: How It Destroyed the Courts’.
John's been following the astonishing events within Russia over the last week, and provides some context in the second half. But first, John Stauber and revealing America's hardly visible oligarchy.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Here's audio of the Victoria Talk, delivered June 27th, 2023 The Canada-Wide Peace and Justice Network (CWPJN) is pleased to announce that it has organized a Canada-wide speaking tour for citizen-diplomat Dimitri Lascaris to report back to Canadians about his recent mission of peace to Russia. The title of the tour is “Making Peace With Russia, One Handshake At A Time.”
TOUR SCHEDULE
Date of event Location Contact/registration info
June 19 London Email peopleforpeace.london@gmail.com for info
June 20 Hamilton Registration
June 21 Toronto Registration
June 22 Winnipeg Registration
June 23 Regina Registration
June 26 Vancouver email info@mawovancouver.org
June 27 Victoria Registration
June 29 Montreal Registration
June 30 Halifax Registration
July 2 Fredericton Registration
July 3 Ottawa Registration
July 4 Kingston Canada-wide, free webinar, 8 pm ET Register: https://tinyurl.com/Dimitri-Kingston
Country-wide tour poster available here.
For security reasons, tickets will be sold at some venues while voluntary donations will be solicited at others. Also for security reasons, the venues of Mr. Lascaris’ lectures will be withheld until 48 hours before curtain time. The concluding virtual lecture (webinar), broadcast from Kingston, ON, will be free. Mr. Lascaris has generously waived any speaking fees so that any funds raised will go to rental and staging costs.
Canada-wide, free webinar, July 4th at 8 pm ET:
Register here
More Information In April 2023, Dimitri Lascaris, Canadian lawyer and journalist, embarked on a self-financed trip to Russia where he lectured to students, presented at a think tank, gave interviews, met officials and peace activists, appeared on Russian media, wrote articles and tweeted daily about what he saw and heard.
For its part, the CWPJN hopes that Dimitri’s tour will move the needle on Canadian public opinion in support of a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine and thus accelerate an end to the conflict.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded June 21st, 2023 Last week, European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and European Commission Vice-President, Josep Borrell emcee'd the EU's 7th Brussels Conference on the Future of Syria and the Region. Alert listeners may recall Senor Borrell as the malapropist who in an address last year to the European Diplomatic Academy in Bruges made plain his - and presumably his organization's - view of the World. It's worth repeating. The World according to Borrell consists of a garden, (Europe) perennially threatened by the persistent blight of an expanding jungle. Says Josep, "The jungle could invade the garden... walls will never be high enough in order to protect the garden. The gardeners have to go to the jungle... Otherwise, the rest of the world will invade us by different ways and means". Well the European gardeners have been busy in Syria over the last dozen years, slashing and burning and doing their darnedest to cultivate a new nature for one of the planet's oldest - and most stubbornly recalcitrant - patches of land. And they've not been alone; Canada too has inserted it's green thumb into the Syrian plot.
Ken Stone is an executive member of both the Syria Support Movement International and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War.
Ken Stone in the first half. And; as terrible as NATO's landscaping has been in Syria (and "the region") it's small potatoes compared to the planned project for Europe's bread basket. Canada recently announced more hundreds of millions of Canadian dollars be dedicated to scorching the Ukrainian soil, with nary a word piped up against it in either the House or main media.
Yves Engler is an independent, Montreal-based journalist and author. He’s written twelve books on Canadian foreign policy, including ‘Canada in Haiti: Waging War on the Poor Majority’, co-authored with Anthony Fenton.
His recent article, 'Canadian ‘progressives’ suffer bad case of war fever psychosis' recognizes the Green Party of Canada's thumb in the Ukraine war pie.
Yves Engler and Canada's deeply rooted war ethos in the second half. But first, Ken Stone and Europe making the Syria "jungle" bloom.
Song: Work for Peace
Artist: Gil Scott-Heron Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded June 14th, 2023 Over the weekend past, Canada's prime minister traveled with Chrystia Freeland to Kyiv, and promised, in an address to the parliament there, his undying support for the war's continuation. Speaking to the Verkhovna Rada, Justin Trudeau pledged $500 million more Canadian dollars, reassuring legislators, "You are the tip of the spear that is determining the future of the 21st century". Some future - for them and us - war and rumours of war for generations to come! Mr. Trudeau makes it perfectly clear: If the people are to have peace, they'll have to make it themselves.
Tamara Lorincz is a fellow with the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute, and member of Canadian Voice of Women for Peace. As the prime minister was whipping up the Furies in Kyiv Tamara was in Vienna, hammering out the details of the International Summit for Peace in Ukraine's 'Final Declaration of International Civil Society'.
Tamara Lorincz in the first half. And; as well as spending billions on the US-directed proxy-war against Russia while Canada's healthcare system crumbles, and tens of thousands live in the streets, the government here has too sacrificed relations with Russia, China, Iran, and others for no apparent benefit. Sadly, the official opposition too has failed to perform its duty, as has the unofficial media opposition. What's left but individual efforts in both fields in pursuit of peace?
Dimitri Lascaris is a Montreal-based activist, journalist, and lawyer. He served as Justice Critic in the Shadow Cabinet of the Green Party of Canada and likewise for the Green Party of Quebec. Dimitri’s interviews for TRNN are at TheRealNews.com, and his articles appear at his website, DimitriLascaris.org among other places.
In April, in an example of DIY diplomacy, Dimitri headed to Russia as a sovereign citizen of our Canada, strong and free to gain firsthand knowledge of the country and its people. Now, starting June 19th, Dimitri's heading across this country - from Halifax to Victoria - on the 'Making Peace with Russia, One Handshake at a Time' tour.
Dimitri Lascaris, bringing a message of peace home in the second half. But first, Tamara Lorincz and International Civil Society's unilateral declaration of peace.
Song: Life in Wartime
Artist: Talking Heads Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded June 7th, 2023 It's a beautiful June 6th as I write, and that makes it a good reason - if another was needed - to leave the teevee off tonight. For today is one of the War State's High Holidays, and the Death Cult will celebrate, blasting out its myriad memes of glory for the 79 year-old, U.S.-led invasion of Nazi-occupied France over as many channels as it can muster. But some may find World War II sagas a trifle anti-climactic, as its sequel roils the nightly news, moving from storm to tempest, and prompting the weary observation, "What's past is prologue."
Nick Mottern is a journalist, author, and co-coordinator with Kathy Kelly of BanKillerDrones.org, an organization founded to “inform the American public about the illegality, immorality and dreadful human consequences of U.S. drone attacks…” . Ban Killer Drones are calling for Ukraine and Russia to honour a moratorium proposed on the use of drones by numerous peace groups taking part this weekend at the International Summit for Peace in Ukraine.
Today, Nick Mottern and the fight to ban killer drones travels to Vienna for the International Summit for Peace in Ukraine.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded May 31st, 2023 That "war is a racket" no-one listening to this program more than once would doubt. But, just what kind of racket is the current conflagration roiling Ukraine; and just how many players - and how many games - are being run at the cost of the people doing the dying?
This week NATO kicked of its annual war games exercise, Arctic Challenge. The "exercise" is taking place in the "High North" and will, according to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and Air Forces Africa be an opportunity to "hone skills, fine-tune interoperability, nurture key relationships, and acclimate to the inherent challenges posed by fighting in the Arctic’s extreme conditions."
Moscow has objected to what's happening in the Barents Sea and over its neighbour countries, calling Arctic Challenge "illogical and harmful" and saying, "There are no issues in the North that require a military solution, nor issues that require outside intervention."
John Helmer is a journalist and author who’s spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. The principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears, Helmer has too been a professor of political science, sociology and journalism, and served as advisor to governments at the highest levels. Among his many book titles are: ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt’, ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17’ and his latest, ‘Australian Fascism: How It Destroyed the Courts’.
Today, John Helmer and watching the war's widening gyre.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded May 31st, 2023That "war is a racket" no-one listening to this program more than once would doubt. But, just what kind of racket is the current conflagration roiling Ukraine; and just how many players - and how many games - are being run at the cost of the people doing the dying?Stavroula Pabst is a writer, comedian, and PhD student in Communications and Mass Media Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her writing appears online at The Grayzone, Reductress, the Harvard Business Review, and at Unlimited Hangout where I found her tour de force article, ‘Ukraine’s Future Lies in the Great Reset’.Stavroula Pabst in the first half.And; this week NATO kicked of its annual war games exercise, Arctic Challenge. The "exercise" is taking place in the "High North" and will, according to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe, and Air Forces Africa be an opportunity to "hone skills, fine-tune interoperability, nurture key relationships, and acclimate to the inherent challenges posed by fighting in the Arctic’s extreme conditions."Moscow has objected to what's happening in the Barents Sea and over its neighbour countries, calling Arctic Challenge "illogical and harmful" and saying, "There are no issues in the North that require a military solution, nor issues that require outside intervention."John Helmer is a journalist and author who’s spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. The principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears, Helmer has too been a professor of political science, sociology and journalism, and served as advisor to governments at the highest levels. Among his many book titles are: ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt’, ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17’ and his latest, ‘Australian Fascism: How It Destroyed the Courts’.John Helmer and watching the war's widening gyre in the second half.But first, Stavroula Pabst and using Ukraine as accelerant for the New Global Society.Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded May 31st, 2023 That "war is a racket" no-one listening to this program more than once would doubt. But, just what kind of racket is the current conflagration roiling Ukraine; and just how many players - and how many games - are being run at the cost of the people doing the dying?
Stavroula Pabst is a writer, comedian, and PhD student in Communications and Mass Media Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her writing appears online at The Grayzone, Reductress, the Harvard Business Review, and at Unlimited Hangout where I found her tour de force article, ‘Ukraine’s Future Lies in the Great Reset’.
Today, Stavroula Pabst and using Ukraine as accelerant for the New Global Society.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded May 17th, 2023The status of Crimea is becoming the main issue forbidding peace between Russia and the NATO-backed government in Kyiv. Canada's official position - one shared by its NATO partners - treats the peninsula as "occupied" territory, referring to the 2014 referendum on joining Russia as "unconstitutional" and therefore invalid.For his part, Ukraine president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week, "The world should know: Respect and order will only return to international relations when the Ukrainian flag returns to Crimea."Needless to say, Russia sees things differently.Dan Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. He's just returned from an extended research mission in Russia, including travels throughout Crimea.Dan’s observed elections in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Colombia – where he witnessed the 2016 peace plebiscite promising an end to the generational war there. His book titles include: ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture,’ the 'Plot to...' series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, and Russia, ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest,’ and his recently released, ‘Nicaragua: A History of US Intervention & Resistance‘.Dan Kovalik in the first half.And; the epochal events roiling our World may seem to us to be all of the moment, but they are merely more of the same found under the Sun. History waxes and wanes, just as Fortune, ever capricious, turns the magnificent to meanness in a twinkle. It is all illusion, a bubble blown and popped and done. What endures are words of wisdom; verse uttered on a stage, prose printed on the page. It's a great and humbling realization to know our times will seem someday to some others as so many tempests in a char's pail.And if that sounds to you like so much philosophy, and all too poet-y, you ain't heard nothin' yet!Kim Goldberg is a Nanaimo-based poet, journalist, and author. She’s written 8 books of poetry and nonfiction, including her most recent collection ‘DEVOLUTION: poems and fables of eco-pocalypse‘. Kim is playing host this Saturday, May 20th in Nanaimo to 'Poetry of Resilience', a gathering of lettered presenters at the Harbourfront library branch. It will feature fifteen local poets and musicians sharing their vision of resilience through word and song.Kim Goldberg with the constant poets in the second half.But first, Dan Kovalik and Crimea as crucible of the Russia/Ukraine war. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to GR, recorded May 10th, 2023.Anyone paying attention knows We the People are up against an all-out assault on the rights and freedoms so hard won over the last century and a half. Corporations and their captured governments, combined with the media, are busy eroding laws meant to protect us, while rendering regulatory bodies built for that purpose worse than useless. So, what's left for a good citizen to do when faced with the de facto impunity of corporate and government malfeasance?Ashley Gjøvik is a lawyer, founder of the D&G Center for Megacorporation Reform, and serves as the Whistleblower Officer at the International Bar Association's Anti-Corruption Compliance subcommittee. She's also a former Senior Engineering Program Manager at Apple who, after asking questions about why an announced environmental health and safety team's “large-scale project” environmental tests were taking place in her office discovered just how toxic the Apple work environment could get.Ashley Gjøvik in the first half.And; Charles is King, but what - if a mere colonial dare ask - for Britain now that the party is over?Europe is in turmoil, the Ukraine war compounding the strain more than twenty years of NATO wars has wrought on EU and NATO member-country economies. It's a cold reality neither the English Channel, nor Brexit can cushion. And if escalating weapons transfers and ever more belligerent public pronouncements are an indicator, the situation can only worsen for Britons and Europeans alike.Andy Worthington is an English journalist, activist, author, photo-historian, filmmaker, musician, song-writer and principle of The Four Fathers band. He is too co-founder of both the ongoing Close Guantánamo campaign and successfully completed We Stand With Shaker campaign.Worthington’s book titles include: ‘The Guantánamo Files: The Stories of the 774 Detainees in America’s Illegal Prison’, ‘Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion’, and ‘The Battle of the Beanfield’. Andy’s articles appear at his website, AndyWorthington.co.uk, where he’s inviting participants to enjoin ongoing Close Guantanamo efforts.Andy Worthington and the state of Britain as the reign of Charles III begins in the second half.But first, Ashley Gjøvik and biting the poison Apple.Song: I want My Country BackArtist: The Four FathersChris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded May 3rd, 2023A generation in to the communications revolution begun by the internet, governments around the World are busy devising ways to limit, throttle, or eradicate entirely the ability of the citizenry to freely share their opinions, or express political dissent. And, Canada is no exception.Last week, Bill C-11 received ratification from the Senate, despite the government rejecting crucial amendment proposals put forward by that body.Rosa Addario is a Canadian telecommunications technology researcher. She's currently Communications Manager at OpenMedia, a quote, "community-driven organization [working] to keep the Internet open, affordable, and surveillance-free".Rosa Addario in the first half.And; the current conflict in Ukraine is proving to be the engine of a technological acceleration in both the methods and means of prosecuting war. Fortunately, those working for peace are too engaging new strategies and technologies to help bring the insanity of this, and the next, war to a halt.Kathy Kelly is a long-time peace and justice activist, essayist, author, and recipient of numerous awards for her peace service, including multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace prize. These days she's serving as Board President at World BEYOND War, where among other things, she's busy co-coordinating the November 2023 Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal.Kathy's many articles appear at sites across the web, including WorldBEYONDWar.org, where I found her recent piece, 'To End All Wars, Close All Bases'.Kathy Kelly and World BEYOND War's latest tech. tools in the struggle to end the madness in the second half.But first, Rosa Addario and what Bill C-11 portends for Canadians' freedom to read, write, and speak online.Song: Work for PeaceArtist: Gil Scott-HeronChris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded April 26th, 2023.Long before CIA whistle-blowers Jeffrey Sterling, John Kiriakou, or Philip Agee revealed the crimes of "The Agency" and warned of the dangers it posed to democracy - and decency - everywhere, there was David W. Conde. The first self-described "CIA Watcher" is the subject of an extensive article just out at CovertAction Magazine.Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and author who also serves as Managing Editor at CAM. His book titles include, 'Obama's Unending Wars', and 'The Russians Are Coming, Again', written with John Marciano. Jeremy's recent piece at CovertAction - one of a raft of great articles he's put up this month -'Meet a Forgotten CIA Critic Who Presciently Characterized The Agency as a Cancer in 1970 Book' is a fascinating profile of David Conde and his career spent exposing the criminal enterprise that is America's most famous intelligence organization.Also, CovertActionMagazine's Spring fund drive is on. It's the chance you have to support the kind of fearless journalism everyone says they want to support, if only they knew how!Today, Jeremy Kuzmarov on David W. Conde's the CIA - Core of the Cancer, and more.Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded April 19th, 2023.Last week, Russia placed sanctions on more than 300 Canadians, barring the mostly government apparatchiks and media personalities access to the country. It was, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, in hopes of "...encourag[ing] those on the black list to change their behaviour".Wide-ranging sanction policies - including those Canada aims at Russia and Eastern Ukraine - are now so common, (Canada alone sanctioning a couple dozen countries and thousands of individuals and entities) they threaten the World's economic system. Or so argues the recently published book, 'Sanctions: A Wrecking Ball in a Global Economy'.John Philpot is a Montreal-based defense attorney in International Criminal Law. Long active in Palestinian and African support organizations, and campaigns to free political prisoners, Meng Wanzhou and Alex Saab, Philpot is too an executive board member of Just Peace Advocates and the Sanctions Kill Coalition. John will be one of three speakers touring the Canadian book release, starting tonight in Hamilton.(For Montreal event Webinar livestream link here.)John Philpot in the first half.And last week, France's Constitutional Court allowed some of President Emmanuel Macron's pension reforms, notably the most contentious one; an age eligibility rise. Organized Labour there - who've rallied tens of thousands into the streets against the move over the last month - vows now to bring in a General Strike on the Workers' holiday, May Day.Meanwhile, Macron's address Monday was delivered to a cacophony of pots and pans - a regular cacerolada banging outside the walls of power - where the workers chanted, "If Macron won't listen to us, we won't listen to him!"Dr. Pablo Ouziel is a PostDoc at the Université du Québec à Montréal whose area of study is The European Union: Political, Legal and Economic Integration from Above and Below, and Settler Colonialism and Canadian Society.Pablo's book, ‘Democracy Here and Now: The Exemplary Case of Spain‘ chronicles the birth of the M15 movement against draconian government “austerity” measures, and the rise of authoritarianism there and across the western world. Pablo divides his time between Montreal and his native Catalonia.Pablo Ouziel and "Oui Emmanuel, Paris IS burning" in the second half.But first, John Philpot and Sanctions: the Hegemon's desperate bid to hold back the tides of change.Song: Juan Carlos El Bobon Artist: Pablo Hasel - YoutubeChris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded April 15th, 2023.Regardless of which level of government or party affiliation, the political process in Canada is incapable of preventing the rampaging destruction of what remains of the natural ecology here. Though the people say they want to protect and preserve the environment, what they're offered from on high is silence, or worse yet, dismissive lip service. On Vancouver Island, this means the destruction of trees and ecosystems more ancient than human history.Ingmar Lee is a long-time BC-based environment defender who describes himself as a “rotten, belligerent, iconoclastic, ungrateful, unrepentant, and unpleasant treehugger.” He's has spent a life-time making enemies of the “greedhead political fraudsters, money-grubbing business leaders, spinmeisters and journalistic hacks” working in the service of rapine corporations and their captured legislators. Ingmar's latest article, 'Voracious Industrial Logging Between Klaskish & Klaskino Inlet' recalls just what's being sacrificed and on whose altar.Brooks Peninsula as Google Maps Sees ItToday, Ingmar Lee and the destruction of the final forest frontiers.Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded April 15th, 2023.The World is changing - fast! And, nowhere is that more evident perhaps than in Europe, where the political class has decided to ditch liberal democracy in favour of an authoritarianism not seen there in almost a century. Germany and France are leading the regression, with policies and actions that have brought the citizenry into the streets demanding the restoration of rights and freedoms - so far to no avail.Diana Johnstone is an author and journalist. Her book titles include ‘ From MAD to Madness: Inside Pentagon Nuclear War Planning,’ ‘Circle in the Darkness: Memoirs of a World Watcher,’ and ‘Fools’ Crusade: Yugoslavia, NATO and Western Delusion.’ Diana’s articles can be found at ConsortiumNews.com, where her recent piece, 'Germans Down & Russians Out: Anti-War Views Criminalized in Germany' appears.Diana Johnstone in the first half.And; regardless of which level of government or party affiliation, the political process in Canada is incapable of preventing the rampaging destruction of what remains of the natural ecology here. Though the people say they want to protect and preserve the environment, what they're offered from on high is silence, or worse yet, dismissive lip service. On Vancouver Island, this means the destruction of trees and ecosystems more ancient than human history.Ingmar Lee is a long-time BC-based environment defender who describes himself as a “rotten, belligerent, iconoclastic, ungrateful, unrepentant, and unpleasant treehugger.” He's has spent a life-time making enemies of the “greedhead political fraudsters, money-grubbing business leaders, spinmeisters and journalistic hacks” working in the service of rapine corporations and their captured legislators.Ingmar's latest article, 'Voracious Industrial Logging Between Klaskish & Klaskino Inlet' recalls just what's being sacrificed and on whose altar.Ingmar Lee and the destruction of the final forest frontiers in the second half.But first, Diana Johnstone and a resounding echo of Europe's political past ringing ominously in the streets of Berlin and Paris today.Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 29th and April 2nd, 2023.And welcome to the Spring of discontent! While leaders In the capitals of Europe and America promise to carry on the Ukraine proxy war no matter the price, the People are already in the streets protesting the real and rising costs of that belligerence. For Canadians, whose government is already full-throatedly behind: the bellicose stance against Russia, prospects of an expanded war against China and Iran, battles by sanction in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and elsewhere, there is too Haiti.Last week, the Trudeau Liberals blithely announced another $100 million dollars to be delivered to the tiny island nation's military and police effort to keep the restive population under heel. This on top of millions already delivered. It's almost as if Ottawa believes the fatted tax goose's golden eggs will never flag.Yves Engler is an independent, Montreal-based journalist and author. He’s written twelve books on Canadian foreign policy, including ‘Canada in Haiti: Waging War on the Poor Majority’, co-authored with Anthony Fenton. His recent article, 'Canadian government prioritizes war over climate crisis' is a troubling portrait of a country few here in our home and native land would recognize.Yves Engler in the first half.And; just what is Canada's place in the world? Generations of us have been taught we are global agents of good; fair-minded, and justice-seeking. You know, "Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, we’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy", etc., etc. It'd be a great story, if only it were true.Pitasanna Shanmugathas completed an advanced degree at one of Canada's world-class Universities but found, beyond Canada's "two solitudes" another bifurcation - one not in the curriculum - separating the real from an imagined nation. And so, he says, he set out on an epic three year journey of discovery, from coast to coast to coast, and across the tractless prairies. He documented his Canadian quest in the film series, 'Truth to the Powerless: An Investigation into Canada’s Foreign Policy'.Pitasanna Shanmugathas and the hunt for Canada's elusive identity in the second half.But first, Yves Engler and Trudeau of the Tropics, taking Haiti.Song: The Panic Is OnArtist: David RovicsChris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 29th and April 2nd, 2023.And welcome to the Spring of discontent! While leaders In the capitals of Europe and America promise to carry on the Ukraine proxy war no matter the price, the People are already in the streets protesting the real and rising costs of that belligerence.For Canadians, whose government is already full-throatedly behind: the bellicose stance against Russia, prospects of an expanded war against China and Iran, battles by sanction in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and elsewhere, there is too Haiti.Last week, the Trudeau Liberals blithely announced another $100 million dollars to be delivered to the tiny island nation's military and police effort to keep the restive population under heel. This on top of millions already delivered. It's almost as if Ottawa believes the fatted tax goose's golden eggs will never flag.Yves Engler is an independent, Montreal-based journalist and author. He’s written twelve books on Canadian foreign policy, including ‘Canada in Haiti: Waging War on the Poor Majority’, co-authored with Anthony Fenton.His recent article, 'Canadian government prioritizes war over climate crisis' is a troubling portrait of a country few here in our home and native land would recognize.Yves Engler and Trudeau of the Tropics, taking Haiti.Song: The Panic Is OnArtist: David Rovics Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 15th, 2023.There was a time, not so long ago, war profiteers where held to be exemplars of humanity's basest instincts: Antitheses of Virtue, the very worst of the worst of Evil Doers, they were rightly and roundly despised. Now though, CEO's of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon and Boeing and Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics and all their lesser factotums are welcome and well-treated in the halls of power and major media teevee studios alike.Today, the profiteers need never fear official opprobrium, or being called to account for the bitter harvest of their dark seeds - at least not in the courts of the land. But there's another weighing of justice at hand.The Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal is coming - soon - and it promises to hold accountable the manufacturers of the weapons that kill combatants and non-combatants alike through the testimony of witnesses to the destruction wreaked and the crimes committed against Humanity with them.Brad Wolf is co-founder of the Peace Action Network of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, an affiliate of Peace Action and a partner of World BEYOND War. He's a lawyer, former prosecutor, professor, community college dean, and full-time activist for peace and justice.His writings are published at The Progressive, Common Dreams, Counterpunch, Antiwar.com, Consortium News, and Dappled Things among others. He recently authored a book on former priest, Philip Berrigan's collected writings, 'A Ministry of Risk'. He's also a key organizer with the Tribunal.Today, Brad Wolf and attaching the human costs to the Merchants of Death.Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 15th, 2023.Last week, Canada's Ministry of National Defence announced a "review of our Defence Policy". Though only five years into the Liberals' 20-year Defence Policy Update, or "DPU", DoD insists a new DPU is necessary if Canada is to, "be ready, resilient, and relevant to meet any threat in this changed global security environment".Dimitri Lascaris is a Montreal-based activist, journalist, and lawyer. He served as Justice Critic in the Shadow Cabinet of the Green Party of Canada and likewise for the Green Party of Quebec (PVQ). In 2020, Dimitri very nearly became leader of the Green Party of Canada, finishing second in a tightly-contested race with the now-departed Annamie Paul. Dimitri’s interviews for TRNN are at TheRealNews.com, and his articles appear at his website, DimitriLascaris.org.This Saturday, March 18th, Dimitri will host 'The Art of Peace: Seeing the World Through the Eyes of Our 'Enemies'. The Special Webinar is his way of engaging with Canadians before embarking on a mission of peace to Russia next month.Today, Dimitri Lascaris and the Art of PeaceChris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 15th, 2023.Last week, Canada's Ministry of National Defence announced a "review of our Defence Policy". Though only five years into the Liberals' 20-year Defence Policy Update, or "(DPU", DoD insists a new DPU is necessary if Canada is to, "be ready, resilient, and relevant to meet any threat in this changed global security environment".Dimitri Lascaris is a Montreal-based activist, journalist, and lawyer. He served as Justice Critic in the Shadow Cabinet of the Green Party of Canada and likewise for the Green Party of Quebec (PVQ). In 2020, Dimitri very nearly became leader of the Green Party of Canada, finishing second in a tightly-contested race with the now-departed Annamie Paul. Dimitri’s interviews for TRNN are at TheRealNews.com, and his articles appear at his website, DimitriLascaris.org.This Saturday, March 18th, Dimitri will host 'The Art of Peace: Seeing the World Through the Eyes of Our 'Enemies'. The Special Webinar is his way of engaging with Canadians before embarking on a mission of peace to Russia next month.Dimitri Lascaris in the first half.And; there was a time, not so long ago, war profiteers where held to be exemplars of humanity's basest instincts: Antitheses of Virtue, the very worst of the worst of Evil Doers, they were rightly and roundly despised. Now though, CEO's of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon and Boeing and Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics and all their lesser factotums are welcome and well-treated in the halls of power and major media teevee studios alike.Today, the profiteers need never fear official opprobrium, or being called to account for the bitter harvest of their dark seeds - at least not in the courts of the land. But there's another weighing of justice at hand.The Merchant of Death War Crimes Tribunal is coming - soon - and it promises to hold accountable the manufacturers of the weapons that kill combatants and non-combatants alike through the testimony of witnesses to the destruction wreaked and the crimes committed against Humanity with them.Brad Wolf is co-founder of the Peace Action Network of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, an affiliate of Peace Action and a partner of World BEYOND War. He's a lawyer, former prosecutor, professor, community college dean, and full-time activist for peace and justice.His writings are published at The Progressive, Common Dreams, CounterPunch, Antiwar.com, Consortium News, and Dappled Things among others. He recently authored a book on former priest, Philip Berrigan's collected writings, 'A Ministry of Risk'. He's also a key organizer with the Tribunal.Brad Wolf and attaching the human costs to the Merchants of Death in the second half.But first, Dimitri Lascaris and seeing the World and ourselves through the eyes of our "enemies".Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio recorded March 8th, 2023.March 20th marks the twentieth anniversary of America's second invasion of Iraq. Despite the tens of millions of people across the globe coming into the streets to hold at bay the dogs of George Bush's "generational war" Operation Iraqi Freedom's "shock and awe" - called "blitzkrieg" in another era - was launched.We all know what happened, and the failure of the People to stop the slaughter then and in Afghanistan in 2001 seemed to be the end of hope for the Peace Movement; but the flame for a World without War didn't die, and has in fact recently been spotted flickering in the capitals of Europe, Canada, and even in Washington, D.C.Ken Stone is an executive member of both the Syria Support Movement International and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the Wars.Today, Ken Stone and the smouldering desire for peace.Song: Work for PeaceArtist: Gil Scott-HeronChris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio recorded March 8th, 2023.March 20th marks the twentieth anniversary of America's second invasion of Iraq. Despite the tens of millions of people across the globe coming into the streets to hold at bay the dogs of George Bush's "generational war" Operation Iraqi Freedom's "shock and awe" - called "blitzkrieg" in another era - was launched.We all know what happened, and the failure of the People to stop the slaughter then and in Afghanistan in 2001 seemed to be the end of hope for the Peace Movement; but the flame for a World without War didn't die, and has in fact recently been spotted flickering in the capitals of Europe, Canada, and even in Washington, D.C.Ken Stone is an executive member of both the Syria Support Movement International and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War.Ken Stone in the first half.And; far from fulfilling its mandate to first be an agent opposing war in the World the United Nations' repeated failures in that seminal mission are now manifest in its endeavoring the opposite, the promotion of economic sanctions and military intervention. At least the recently released 'Group of Experts on Human Rights on Nicaragua' report leaves little else to conclude.Dan Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. His book titles include: ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture,’ the “Plot to” series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, Russia, (and the World generally) and ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest.’His latest is the recently released, 'Nicaragua: A History of US Intervention & Resistance', which "explores the pernicious nature of US engagement with Nicaragua from the mid-19th century to the present in pursuit of control and domination rather than in defense of democracy".Dan Kovalik and the latest chapter in the hybrid war* against Nicaragua in the second half.But first, Ken Stone and the smouldering desire for peace.Song: Work for PeaceArtist: Gil Scott-HeronChris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 1st and 4th, 2023.Last month, Justice Paul Rouleau held his nose and blessed Justin Trudeau’s invocation of the Emergencies Act to shut down the Ottawa Anti-Vaccine Mandate protest in 2022. This though none of the “tests” within the Act for doing so were met by the actions of ‘Freedom Convoy’.And, though providing a post-imprimatur to the government’s actions, even Rouleau says the means used to punish Canadians exercising their “democratic rights” to express political opposition to government policy, (like freezing bank accounts of participants' non-participating spouses) was “flawed”, he provides no legal remedies.Ray McGinnis is an author and retired educator. He says he “became concerned” with the disconnect between mainstream media and alternative livestream coverage of the Freedom Convoy. He subsequently attended the Public Order Emergency Commission hearings for a week in Ottawa last November, and his article on the event and its aftermath, ‘Commission Reveals that Trudeau Government Lied About Nature of Truckers Protests in Ottawa Last February to Justify Invocation of Emergencies Act‘ is published at CovertAction Magazine.Today, Ray McGinnis and the Freedom Convoy’s hard-learnt lessons for Canadians.Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 1st and 4th, 2023.Last month, Justice Paul Rouleau held his nose and blessed Justin Trudeau's invocation of the Emergencies Act to shut down the Ottawa Anti-Vaccine Mandate protest in 2022. This though none of the "tests" within the Act for doing so were met by the actions of 'Freedom Convoy'.And, though providing a post-imprimatur to the government's actions, even Rouleau says the means used to punish Canadians exercising their "democratic rights" to express political opposition to government policy, (like freezing bank accounts of participants' non-participating spouses) was "flawed", he provides no legal remedies.Ray McGinnis is an author and retired educator. He says he "became concerned" with the disconnect between mainstream media and alternative livestream coverage of the Freedom Convoy. He subsequently attended the Public Order Emergency Commission hearings for a week in Ottawa last November, and his article on the event and its aftermath, 'Commission Reveals that Trudeau Government Lied About Nature of Truckers Protests in Ottawa Last February to Justify Invocation of Emergencies Act' is published at CovertAction Magazine.Ray McGinnis in the first half.And; much has been made of the first anniversary of Russia's so-called "Special Operation" in Ukraine by the western press. Countless hours of television, and oceans of ink have been spilt to convince citizens in NATO nations of the righteousness of Kyiv's cause - and more importantly - of "our" noble motives in supplying its army with billions of dollars and an incomprehensible amount of high-tech weaponry.Robert Freeman is Founder and Executive Director of The Global Uplift Project. He's a past educator, and author of 'The Best One Hour History' series of books covering history from 'The Renaissance' and 'The Scientific Revolution' to 'The Protestant Reformation', 'French Revolution' and great wars of the last century.Robert's recent article, published at CommonDreams.org, 'Ukraine and the Tunnel at the End of the Light' is a hard-eyed assessment of both the disaster that is the Ukraine/Russia war, and the doomed political and economic dynamics behind the conflict.Robert Freeman and shedding the rosy aura around Ukraine's war prospects in the second half.But first, Ray McGinnis and the Freedom Convoy's hard-learnt lessons for Canadians. Song: After the Revolution (from the album Return)Artist: David Rovics Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 1st, 2023.Welcome back to GR, etc. Much has been made of the first anniversary of Russia's so-called "Special Operation" in Ukraine by the western press. Countless hours of television, and oceans of ink have been spilt to convince citizens of NATO nations of the righteousness of Kyiv's cause, and more importantly, our noble motives in supplying its army with billions of dollars and an incomprehensible amount of high-tech weaponry. In fact, Washington et al has invested so much in the successful outcome of the war - for now - officially accepting the effort has been a tragic folly is all but impossible; but, just off-camera, the reality chorus is growing more voluble.Robert Freeman is Founder and Executive Director of The Global Uplift Project. He's a past educator, and author of 'The Best One Hour History' series of books, covering history from 'The Renaissance' and 'The Scientific Revolution', to 'The Protestant Reformation', 'French Revolution', and the great wars of the last century.Robert's recent article, published at CommonDreams.org, 'Ukraine and the Tunnel at the End of the Light' is a hard-eyed assessment of both the disaster that is the Ukraine/Russia war, and the doomed political and economic dynamics behind the conflict.Today, Robert Freeman and shedding the rosy aura around Ukraine's war prospects.Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Christina went down to the rally and to talk to the people on the march...RELEASEGroups announce Feb. 25 rally at provincial legislature, issue declaration calling on the province to accelerate action for threatened forestsUNCEDED LEKWUNGEN TERRITORIES/VICTORIA – 168 organizations across British Columbia have issued a declaration called United We Stand for Old-Growth Forests, calling on Premier David Eby and his government to fulfill their commitments on old-growth.Signatories of the declaration, including the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, the Climate Caucus network of municipal elected leaders, and B.C. General Employees Union (BCGEU), are urging Eby to follow through on his October 2022 promise to “accelerate” action to protect old-growth forests within 100 days, and implement a paradigm shift in forest stewardship to safeguard biodiversity.The organizers announced plans for a mass mobilization to hold the province accountable, with a march and rally scheduled for February 25, Eby’s 100th day.“The government’s continued negligence and stonewalling on truly protecting old-growth and elder trees is endemic in its approach to climate change and the stewardship of our environment,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. “This feigned ignorance of what is happening to our forests by government and industry will be our downfall, and the impacts of this inaction will prevent us from leaving our future generations with a rich legacy of vibrant, healthy and productive forest lands.” Phillip added. “We must do everything in our power to protect these ancient giants and we cannot stop putting pressure on our governments to do their jobs: to protect us and the environment, not act as timber barons whose only concern is this year’s financial statements.”Despite promising to implement all 14 recommendations from the Old Growth Strategic Review (OGSR) in 2020, the B.C. government has permitted the destruction of thousands of hectares of the most at-risk old-growth stands in the province. The 2020 recommendations were tied to a three-year framework with the goal to have all implemented in 2023 — to date, not a single recommendation has been fulfilled.Premier Eby pledged to accelerate action upon becoming leader of the B.C. NDP, and called on Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Minister Nathan Cullen to “begin implementation of recommendations of the Old Growth Strategic Review” in his mandate letter. However, the most at-risk old-growth forests are still being clearcut while B.C. stalls on enforcing logging deferrals. The deferrals are the bare minimum and most urgent recommendation of the 2020 OGSR.“We must continue to hold our governments accountable for their contributions to the climate crisis that we are suffering through, and this environmental negligence and corporate greed must be stopped,” said Kukpi7 Judy Wilson, Secretary-Treasurer of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs. “Our future generations are dependent on the actions we take today, and we are at a critical point in time for direct action to protect forest ecosystems. For too long we have allowed governments to tear down our ancient elders, who are our relatives, but no more. We are standing up to protect them.”Protecting the last stands of old-growth is as much an issue for human rights, labour, education, and healthcare as it is for environmental groups. Organizers say this is a movement for all people, which is reflected in the list of declaration signatories, and are inviting all individuals and groups to participate in the United for Old-Growth march and rally at the B.C. Legislature on February 25.The signatories are calling on the province to align all forest management with the principles of free, prior and informed consent for First Nations. The declaration draws on the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Resolution 2022-32, affirmed by Chiefs in June 2022,
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 25th, 2023On February 9th, a train derailed outside East Palestine, Ohio. The toxic cargo, purposefully ignited in a disastrously ill-advised attempt at environmental remediation.David Rovics‘ new song, East Palestine is a modern ballad of an old American story of the venality and base corruption culminating in the Ohio catastrophe.David’s recent article too, ‘Communications for Indy Musicians, Then and Now‘ is a reflection not only on his quarter century making a living as a touring musician, but of living and working in our mediated times. His new album, Killing the Messenger is due out any day, telling the stories of East Palestine and others.David Rovics, Robert Hoyt, and Claude share a moment.Today, David Rovics on Killing the Messenger in these end days of media in an extended talk.Artist: David RovicsSong: East Palestine from the album, Killing the MessengerChris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 25th, 2023Last weekend saw mass anti-war demonstrations around the United States and Europe. In Washington, DC 'Rage Against the War Machine' manifested in the very heart - if not the soul - of the nation with speakers and activists from a variety of pursuits and political persuasions agreeing to forego their disagreements on other issue for the moment to focus on the rolling disaster that is the global war machine.Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and author who also serves as Managing Editor at CovertActionMagazine.com and he was there.graphic: Monte WolvertonJeremy Kuzmarov and dispatch from DC in the first half.And; On February 9th, a train derailed outside East Palestine, Ohio. The toxic cargo, purposefully ignited in a disastrously ill-advised attempt at environmental remediation. David Rovics' new song, East Palestine is a modern ballad of an old American story of the venality and base corruption culminating in the Ohio catastrophe.David's recent article too, 'Communications for Indy Musicians, Then and Now' is a reflection not only on his quarter century making a living as a touring musician, but of living and working in our mediated times. His new album, Killing the Messenger is due out any day, telling the stories of East Palestine, and the other on.David Rovics, Robert Hoyt, and Claude share a moment.David Rovics on Killing the Messenger in these end days of media in the second half.But first, Jeremy Kuzmarov and raging for peace in America. Artist: David RovicsSong: East Palestine from the album, Killing the MessengerArtist: Robert HoytSong: This Star from the album, Mind's EyeChris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 19th, 2023.On February 8th of this year, Dutch police presented new evidence to the District Court of The Hague regarding the July 17th, 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.Upon entering their evidence, the Dutch government and an Australian investigator on the case admitted to having held American military satellite images from the court, the press, and defence lawyers throughout the two-year trial for the wrongful deaths of the two hundred and ninety-eight people who perished aboard that ill-fated flight.John Helmer is a journalist and author who's spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. The principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears, Helmer has too been a professor of political science, sociology and journalism, and served as advisor to governments at the highest levels. Among his many book titles are: ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt’, his latest, ‘Australian Fascism: How It Destroyed the Courts,’ and ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17’.His recent article on the latest from The Hague and the MH-17 disaster is, 'US SATELLITE PHOTOS REVEALED AT LAST – NOW THEY INCRIMINATE THE DUTCH POLICE, PROSECUTORS, AND JUDGES IN THE MH17 SHOW TRIAL'.Today, John Helmer and the JIT's latest shot in the West's war against Russia.Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 18th and 19th, 2023.On February 8th of this year, Dutch police presented new evidence to the District Court of The Hague regarding the July 17th, 2014 downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17.Upon entering their evidence, the Dutch government and an Australian investigator on the case admitted to having held American military satellite images from the court, the press, and defence lawyers throughout the two-year trial for the wrongful deaths of the two hundred and ninety-eight people who perished aboard that ill-fated flight.John Helmer is a journalist and author who's spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. The principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears, Helmer has too been a professor of political science, sociology and journalism, and served as advisor to governments at the highest levels. Among his many book titles are: ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt’, his latest, ‘Australian Fascism: How It Destroyed the Courts,’ and ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17’.His recent article on the latest from The Hague and the MH-17 disaster is, 'US SATELLITE PHOTOS REVEALED AT LAST – NOW THEY INCRIMINATE THE DUTCH POLICE, PROSECUTORS, AND JUDGES IN THE MH17 SHOW TRIAL'.John Helmer in the first half.And; BC's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has granted permits for the Ministry of Forests to begin a Spring spraying campaign across swathes of Vancouver Island. The plan is to use Foray 48B, (better known as Btk) in an attempt to eradicate the "Spongy Moth"; and though the ministries say Btk is "harmless", there is contention to those claims.Dr. Jennifer Tynan is a physician and radiology specialist. Jennifer's also a mom whose child's school is in one of the proposed spray zones, and serves as spokesperson for Communities United for Clean Air, a grassroots initiative to stop the spray. Contact: communitiesunitedforcleanair@gmail.comJennifer Tynan and fighting to keep Vancouver Island's air clear of Btk in the second half.But first, John Helmer and the JIT's latest shot in the West's war against Russia.Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/ Song: Work for PeaceArtist: Gil Scott-Heron
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 18th.BC's Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategy has granted permits for the Ministry of Forests to begin a Spring spraying campaign across swathes of Vancouver Island.The plan is to use Foray 48B, (better known as Btk) in an attempt to eradicate the "Spongy Moth"; and though the ministries say Btk is "harmless", there is contention to those claims.Dr. Jennifer Tynan is a physician and radiology specialist. Jennifer's also a mom whose child's school is in one of the proposed spray zones, and serves as spokesperson for Communities United for Clean Air, a grassroots initiative to stop the spray.Gypsy Mothphoto: Butterfly ConservationToday, Jennifer Tynan, fighting to keep Vancouver Island's air clear of Btk.Contact: communitiesunitedforcleanair@gmail.comChris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 11th, 2023.This past week, Canadian Forces redeployed a CP-140 Aurora surveillance plane from its dedicated mission assisting U.S.-led drugs smuggling interdiction efforts in the Caribbean to spend two days flying reconnaissance over Haiti. Foreign Affairs Minister, Melanie Joly characterized the escalation of Canada's military involvement in the country as a "demonstration of Canada's commitment to Haiti". Last month, Canada demonstrated that commitment in the form of an unspecified number and type of armored vehicles being sold to a government that has already called for foreign military intervention to quell wide-spread public discontent with its corrupt and entirely unelected leadership.Yves Engler is an independent, Montreal-based journalist and author. He’s written twelve books on Canadian foreign policy, including ‘Canada in Haiti: Waging War on the Poor Majority’, co-authored with Anthony Fenton. His recent article, ‘Ottawa’s support for repressive Haitian police grows as democracy fades' appears at his website, YvesEngler.com, and puts to the lie - again - Canada's "concern for the people" of that benighted island.Yves Engler in the first half.And; the University of Victoria's Student Union has become another front in the Ukraine/Russia war. Last month, UVic's Ukrainiain Students' Society alleged harassment of its members and intimidation in the form of "hate crime" graffiti scrawled on one of its posters. They've also made allegations of "ongoing hate and harassment demonstrated by the YCL [Young Communist League]..." UVic's USS is, with similar student societies on campuses across the country, associated with the politically influential Ukrainian Canadian Congress.Tyan Cherepuschak is an undergraduate student at the University of Victoria, and is a Ukrainian-Canadian who until recently served as Vice-President to the UVic chapter of the Ukrainian Canadian Students Union (SUSK).And; Tyson Strandlund is a member of both the UVic chapter of the Young Communist League and the Vancouver Island Peace Council, a local chapter of the Canadian Peace Congress. He too is a Canadian of Ukrainian descent, who has studied in and visited Ukraine both before and after the 2014 Maidan coup.Tyan Cherepuschak & Tyson Strandlund on bringing the Ukraine conflict to Canadian campuses in the second half.But first, Yves Engler and Canada's caring military gestures to Haiti. Song: Watch the Buildings CrumbleAlbum: May DayArtist: David Rovics Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 11th, 2023.This past week, Canadian Forces redeployed a CP-140 Aurora surveillance plane from its dedicated mission assisting U.S.-led drugs smuggling interdiction efforts in the Caribbean to spend two days flying reconnaissance over Haiti. Foreign Affairs Minister, Melanie Joly characterized the escalation of Canada's military involvement in the country as a "demonstration of Canada's commitment to Haiti". Last month, Canada demonstrated that commitment in the form of an unspecified number and type of armored vehicles being sold to a government that has already called for foreign military intervention to quell wide-spread public discontent with its corrupt and entirely unelected leadership.Yves Engler is an independent, Montreal-based journalist and author. He’s written twelve books on Canadian foreign policy, including ‘Canada in Haiti: Waging War on the Poor Majority’, co-authored with Anthony Fenton. His recent article, ‘Ottawa’s support for repressive Haitian police grows as democracy fades' appears at his website, YvesEngler.com, and puts to the lie - again - Canada's "concern for the people" of that benighted island.Today Yves Engler and Canada's caring military gestures to Haiti. Song: Watch the Buildings CrumbleAlbum: May DayArtist: David Rovics Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 4th, 2023.Last month, the German government of Olaf Scholz relented to NATO pressure, agreeing to donate Leopard 2 tanks to the Kiev regime's war effort. The United States was quick to follow, delivering the first 60 of a promised 109 Bradley M2A2-ODS Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine. Canada's Trudeau administration in the last week too pledged tanks, the minister of defense, Anita Anand saying four Leopard 2's would be given over, including ammunition, parts, and a deployment of Canadian soldiers to "train" Ukrainian tank crews. This while countries like Turkey work for a ceasefire agreement to end the near year-long conflict between Ukraine and its neighbour, Russia.Glenn Michalchuk is chair of Peace Alliance Winnipeg, and president of the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians. Glenn's been active in the peace movement since the Dirty Wars of Ronald Reagan in the 1980's.Glenn Michalchuk in the first half.And; throwing tanks, ammunition, spare parts, and soldiers onto the fires of a hot war is not the only evidence of Canada's new self-understanding as a warrior nation. In January too the contentious purchase of a fleet of American F-35 jets was approved by the Trudeau government.A press release from Public Services and Procurement Canada reads in part, "Through Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada is acquiring modern military equipment to keep Canadians safe and protected, and to support the security of our international allies and partners."The release did not explain just how expediting nuclear winter makes Canadians strong, safe, or protected.Tamara Lorincz is a fellow with the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute, member of Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, and a PhD candidate in Global Governance at the Balsillie School for International Affairs at Wilfrid Laurier University, where her thesis focus is climate and the environmental impact of the military. Tamara’s also served on the advisory committee of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, and contributed her knowledge and talents to the organizations World Beyond War, and the No to NATO Network.Tamara Lorincz and militarism's two ecological doomsday scenarios in the second half.But first, Glenn Michalchuk and Canada's all-in move on Ukraine.Artist: David RovicsSong: 116 Degrees Album: May DayChris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded January 22 & 28th, 2023.More than two years after BC’s former premier, John Horgan’s re-election promise to implement the recommendations of his own government’s Old Growth Strategy Review panel it’s business as usual in the woods. While some of the OGSR's 14 point plan was implemented, big trees are still falling and the forests are in peril. The NDP also, after Horgan's snap election win, ceded policing authority to deal with old growth forest defenders near the capital to the federal RCMP, whose paramilitary tactics and brutality at the Fairy Creek encampments elicited international expressions of disgust and condemnation.Now, a grand manifestation of First Nations, conservation organizations, ecological agencies, and citizens concerned about the loss of an irreplaceable biological legacy is planned to surround the seat of government to state demands for policy change in more fervent language.Saul Arbess is a long-time peace, justice, and environmental champion. He describes himself as a cultural anthropologist and futurist, dedicated to "creating a new architecture of peace in the world". Saul served as National Co-chair of the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative, was co-founder and chair of the Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace, and currently works for peace, non-violence, and protecting the wildlands around his home city of Victoria.Photo: Bill JohnstonSaul Arbess in the first half.And, January on Canada's west coast means Season's change is soon; but even as we ready for Spring, east of here the cruelest months of Winter still lay ahead. That cold reality isn't however deterring citizen demonstration of dissatisfaction with the ongoing NATO wars and occupations.Monday, January 23, as part of the week-long protests around North America, Hamiltonians picketed the prime minister's cabinet meeting taking place in the Hamilton Convention Centre. One focus of their vigil being the "purchase of the obscenely-expensive F-35 fighter jets".Ken Stone is an executive member of both the Syria Support Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the Wars.Ken Stone and Canada's Winter war resisters in the second half.But first, Saul Arbess and Uniting for Old Growth in British Columbia.Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 26th, 2022. Though its technically illegal for Canadians to enlist in foreign wars, when it comes to the Ukraine conflict its clear Ottawa is happy to ignore transgressors. And, Canadian media is going that official blind-eying one further, lionizing Canadians killed in combat over there. Ken Stone is an executive member of both the Syria Support Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. He’s also a contributing author to the Canada-Wide Peace and Justice Network‘s open letter regarding the recent death of Canadian Joseph Hildebrand, killed fighting in Ukraine.
Ken Stone and Canada's role in keeping the killing in Ukraine going. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Song: Bombing Ourselves
Artist: David Rovics
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 26th, 2022. Efforts to smother the remnant embers of free expression across media platforms are continuing apace. Concentrated corporate news ownership, suppressive speech legislation, and a burgeoning cancel culture are combining to muzzle investigation of corporate malfeasance and stifle the debate of government policy at perhaps the most crucial moment in human history. And, the communications technology revolution many hoped to democratize and counterbalance a worldview skewed by the dominant class has so far failed to materialize.
But don't despair, there still exists real alternatives to the "mainstream" information monolith; honest, independent, and courageous media outlets that - if they lack anything - it's merely broader recognition, and more generous support.
Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and author who also serves as Managing Editor of just such an organization, CovertActionMagazine.com. CAM's Fall funding drive is fast coming to a spectacular culmination with next week's Pushback Against Empire: Holiday Party & Fundraiser, an extravaganza featuring a long list of celebrated countermedia luminaries.
Jeremy Kuzmarov in the first half. And; though its technically illegal for Canadians to enlist in foreign wars, when it comes to the Ukraine conflict its clear Ottawa is happy to ignore transgressors. And, Canadian media is going that official blind-eying one further, lionizing Canadians killed in combat over there.
Ken Stone is an executive member of both the Syria Support Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. He's also a contributing author to the Canada-Wide Peace and Justice Network's open letter regarding the recent death of Canadian Joseph Hildebrand, killed fighting in Ukraine.
Ken Stone and Canada's role in keeping the killing in Ukraine going in the second half. But first, Jeremy Kuzmarov and having a party whilst pushing back too with CovertAction.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Song: Bombing Ourselves
Artist: David Rovics
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 19th, 2022. Last week a missile landed on a farm in the Polish countryside. Two people were reportedly killed, and the rocket that killed them was reported to be Russian. Immediately the media machine in the West began to churn, and perhaps without meaning to brought the World a step closer to the next and last World War. That the story was wrong – false at first, and faked after the fact – made little difference to its dangerous amplification.
Alfred de Zayas is a law professor at the Geneva School of Diplomacy whose lengthy career in the service of human rights law includes twenty five years at the United Nations as a staff member, special rapporteur, and after “retirement” a six year stint as Independent Expert on International Order to the UN.
De Zayas is too the author of twelve books, including “Nemesis at Potsdam” with a preface by the late Ambassador Robert Murphy, Eisenhower’s political advisor, “The Wehrmacht War Crimes Bureau”, with a preface by the foremost US expert on Prisoner of Wars, the late Professor Howard Levie.
His recent “human rights trilogy”: ‘Building a Just World Order,’ ‘Countering Mainstream Narratives: Fake News, Fake Law, Fake Freedom,’ and the forthcoming, ‘The Human Rights Industry’ are published by Clarity Press.
Alfred’s many essays appear online at Truthout and CounterPunch, where I found his recent article, ‘Peace as a Human Right‘ on the topic of “25 Principles of International Order to Ensure Sustainable Peace”.
And; this past week, Justin Trudeau broadcast on social media a conciliatory call he and British counterpart, prime minister Rishi Sunak made to Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding that infamous missile strike in Poland.
The call, made public in the most recklessly manner, proves again the current leadership in the West care little for either the sober conduct of governance or subtly international diplomacy demands.
Yves Engler is a Montréal-based activist and author who has published 12 books, mostly on Canadian foreign policy, including his latest ‘Stand on Guard For Whom? A People’s History of the Canadian Military‘. Yves is coming our way; November 26th in Nanaimo, the 28th in Victoria, and November 29th in Duncan. He’ll also be on the mainland November 30th in Powell River, and December 1st in Vancouver.
Yves Engler and handsome prime minister Justin’s ugly Canadian foreign policy in the second half. But first, Alfred de Zayas and building another Order for the World.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Song: Fighting Injustice
Artists: The Four Fathers
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 19, 2022 This past week, Justin Trudeau broadcast on social media a conciliatory call he and British counterpart, prime minister Rishi Sunak made to Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding that infamous missile strike in Poland.
The call, made public in the most recklessly manner, proves again the current leadership in the West care little for either the sober conduct of governance or subtly international diplomacy demands.
Yves Engler is a Montréal-based activist and author who has published 12 books, mostly on Canadian foreign policy, including his latest 'Stand on Guard For Whom? A People’s History of the Canadian Military'. Yves is coming our way; November 26th in Nanaimo, the 28th in Victoria, and November 29th in Duncan. He'll also be on the mainland November 30th in Powell River, and December 1st in Vancouver.
Yves Engler and handsome prime minister Justin's ugly Canadian foreign policy.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Song: Fighting Injustice
Artists: The Four Fathers
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 19th, 2022. Last week a missile landed on a farm in the Polish countryside. Two people were reportedly killed, and the rocket that killed them was reported to be Russian. Immediately the media machine in the West began to churn, and perhaps without meaning to brought the World a step closer to the next and last World War. That the story was wrong - false at first, and faked after the fact - made little difference to its dangerous amplification.
Alfred de Zayas is a law professor at the Geneva School of Diplomacy whose lengthy career in the service of human rights law includes twenty five years at the United Nations as a staff member, special rapporteur, and after "retirement" a six year stint as Independent Expert on International Order to the UN.
De Zayas is too the author of twelve books, including "Nemesis at Potsdam" with a preface by the late Ambassador Robert Murphy, Eisenhower's political advisor, "The Wehrmacht War Crimes Bureau", with a preface by the foremost US expert on Prisoner of Wars, the late Professor Howard Levie.
His recent "human rights trilogy": 'Building a Just World Order,' 'Countering Mainstream Narratives: Fake News, Fake Law, Fake Freedom,' and the forthcoming, 'The Human Rights Industry' are published by Clarity Press.
Alfred's many essays appear online at Truthout and CounterPunch, where I found his recent article, 'Peace as a Human Right' on the topic of "25 Principles of International Order to Ensure Sustainable Peace".
Alfred de Zayas and building another Order for the World.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Song: Fighting Injustice
Artists: The Four Fathers
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 12th, 2022. Ten days ago, delegates from both sides of the two years-long war in Ethiopia convened in South Africa to sign a truce ending hostilities. The western press is declaring it a victory for the federal government of Abiy Ahmed, but is an end to the bloodshed without a reckoning for the crimes committed really peace - or merely a sowing of dragon's teeth for future conflict? Finian Cunningham is a prolific journalist and two-time Serena Shim Award for Uncompromising Integrity in Journalism recipient. He spent the better part of a decade living in and reporting from the Tigray region of Ethiopia, and his recent article, 'Ethiopia Peace Deal is Cover for Western Destruction of a Strong, Independent African State' questions the underlying motives behind both the war and its recently declared cessation.
Finian Cunningham in the first half. And; you've likely heard America held its mid-term elections last week. Of the many issues not made issue of by Democrat campaigners for office was the Covid-19 pandemic. Covid, you may recall, has been a big issue in the lives of millions in America, (and elsewhere) for about the last two and half years; but, you wouldn't know it to hear the stump speeches. Sam Husseini is an independent journalist, writing at Husseini.Substack.com, where his recent article, 'This Election "Is a Farce"...Was Covid Origins a Hidden Winning Campaign Issue?' appears.
Sam Husseini and the political left's other perceived political "third rail": Covid in the second half. But first, Finian Cunningham and Ethiopia's Civil War aftermath.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 12th, 2022. Ten days ago, delegates from both sides of the two years-long war in Ethiopia convened in South Africa and signed a truce ending hostilities. The western press is declaring it a victory for the federal government of Abiy Ahmed, but is an end to the bloodshed without a reckoning for the crimes committed really peace - or merely a sowing of dragon's teeth for future conflict?
Finian Cunningham is a prolific journalist and two-time Serena Shim Award for Uncompromising Integrity in Journalism recipient. He spent the better part of a decade living in and reporting from the Tigray region of Ethiopia, and his recent article, 'Ethiopia Peace Deal is Cover for Western Destruction of a Strong, Independent African State' questions the underlying motives behind both the war and its recently declared cessation.
Today, an extended interview with Finian Cunningham on Ethiopia's Civil War aftermath in the making.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 5th, 2022. Gorilla Radio is heard around the World, and as such I'd like to think it's universal. But whether acknowledged or not, everyone is sourced in space and in time; rooted physically, intellectually, and spiritually. I am Canadian; born in that place in the middle of the last century. My educational indoctrination taught me many things about my home country, its history, place in the World, and guiding principles. Most of these I discovered later to be false.
After completing an advanced degree in Canada's post-secondary education system, Pitasanna Shanmugathas felt the cognitive dissonance too. His reaction was to set out across our famously vast country on an epic three year journey of discovery - the result of which is his six part documentary film series, 'Truth to the Powerless: An Investigation into Canada's Foreign Policy'.
Pitasanna Shanmugathas in the first half. And; it's not just Canada's federal political infrastructure claiming allegiance first and last to democratic values and fair play. Here in British Columbia, the provincial NDP party recently held a leadership contest bearing less resemblance to those principles than to what passes as "democracy" in Banana Republic client states of the Empire.
Ingmar Lee is a long-time BC-based environment defender who describes himself as a “rotten, belligerent, iconoclastic, ungrateful, unrepentant, and unpleasant treehugger.”
Besides these sterling qualities, Lee has spent a life-time investigating truth, questioning accepted wisdom, and making enemies of "greedhead political fraudsters, money-grubbing business leaders, spinmeisters and journalistic hacks" of the state/corporate media and yellow press. He has in turn been called by those same an “environmental zealot”, “eco-terrorist”, and one committing the deeds of “a raving nutcase”. Just the sort for GR!
Ingmar Lee and the NDP's uninvited in the second half. But first, Pitasanna Shanmugathas and documenting a Canadian political odyssey. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded October 29th, 2022. While the source of the novel Sars-CoV-2, or Covid-19 virus is still a question of spirited debate - where that debate is allowed to happen - there is another, eerily similar case of a novel virus whose correctly determined proximal origins would shed an entirely new light on a deadly outbreak. And, more horrifying perhaps than the shared plot line of these two events separated by five years is the recurring cast of characters behind the scenes of both. Dr. Jonathan Latham holds a PhD in Virology and is co-founder and Executive Director of the Bioscience Resource Project. He is too Editor of the Independent Science News where his and independent journalist and Director of the Institute for Public Accuracy, Sam Husseini's recent article, 'Did West Africa’s Ebola Outbreak of 2014 Have a Lab Origin?' appears.
Jonathan Latham in the first half. And; it's harvest season in the northern hemisphere. From the pumpkin fields of the Saanich Peninsula to the sun-dappled slopes of the Mediterranean basin the ritual as old as homo-agriculturo is fully underway. In Palestine that means bringing in the olives, but all is not well where farmers and families brought together in communal effort are under attack in what my second guest calls the 'Undeclared Olive Harvest War.' Robert Massoud is the founder of Zatoun, an organization importing fair trade Olive Oil and other Palestinian goods from the West Bank, and working to provide a more accurate representation of life in Palestine to Canadians.
Robert Massoud and reaping Palestine's harvest in the context of a year of exceptional brutality and killing in the West Bank in the second half. But first, Jonathan Latham and getting to the root of the West African Ebola outbreak narrative.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome back to Gorilla Radio, recorded October 22nd, 2022. Britain's political disorder continues. This week, the latest inhabitant of 10 Downing St. vacated before having a chance to change the draperies. The ill-starred Truss premiership began with the spiking of the economy, and just got worse from there. Now the woman who would be Margaret again is gone...but what's to follow for an Albion at sea?
Andy Worthington is an English journalist, activist, author, photo-historian, filmmaker, musician, song-writer and principle of The Four Fathers band. He is too co-founder of both the ongoing Close Guantánamo campaign and successfully completed We Stand With Shaker campaign. Worthington’s book titles include: ‘The Guantánamo Files: The Stories of the 774 Detainees in America’s Illegal Prison’, ‘Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion’, and ‘The Battle of the Beanfield’. Andy’s articles appear at his website, AndyWorthington.co.uk, where he’s inviting participants to take part in 2022’s Close Guantanamo effort.
Andy Worthington in the first half. And; there is a thread connecting the political chaos and discord we see play out nightly on our teevee screens, and its name is BRI. That's the Belt and Road Initiative, China's plan to remake the World economy. Almost all the mad military manoeuvring and diplomatic thrashing on the part of America, NATO, and the rest of the erstwhile West witnessed these past years is best understood as the flailing efforts of a drowning hegemon - one willing to take all down with it.
Finian Cunningham is a prolific journalist and two-time Serena Shim Award for Uncompromising Integrity in Journalism recipient. His articles on international affairs appear at numerous online outlets, including Strategic Culture, where his recent piece, ‘All Roads (and Railways) Leading to China...And the West Ain't Happy’ appears.
Finian Cunningham in the second half. But first, Andy Worthington and the witless brevity of Liz Truss. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded October 6th and 9th, 2022. Whether by design or merely the inevitable, organic results of societal organization in this first quarter of the 21st Century, Covid has transformed the world in these last two years. Now the fear of illness and disease engendered by a disease few understand is being deliberately manipulated; used as a tool to turn the screws of what can only be described as the machinery of totalitarian control of the people. The leading actors in this drive may seem at first blush to be the billionaire class that has profited so handsomely throughout the crisis - but according to my first guest, it goes much deeper than that.
Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and author who also serves as Managing Editor of CovertActionMagazine.com. He’s the author of four books on U.S. foreign policy, including: ‘Obama’s Unending Wars’, and ‘The Russians Are Coming, Again’ co-authored with John Marciano. His recent piece at CovertAction, 'How Much is Covid Being Used as a Pretext for Imposing Ever Greater Levels of Social Control?' addresses the largely unasked question lurking behind the Pandemic Response.
Jeremy Kuzmarov in the first half. And; the United States and its allies have uniformly condemned the referenda in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson, just as the same chorus shouted down the Crimean referendum to join Russia in 2014. As has been the case throughout the Ukraine troubles, six is nine in Western media, but in this case challenging the legitimacy of the political will of the people Kyiv has bombed, rocketed, and starved for eight years takes the cake, cherry-topped and all.
Dan Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. Dan’s observed elections in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Colombia – where he witnessed the 2016 peace plebiscite promising an end to the generational war there. Kovalik’s book titles include: ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture,’ the "Plot to" series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, Russia, (and to control the World entirely) and his latest is, ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest.’
Dan Kovalik and searching for legitimacy amid Ukraine's disintegration in the second half. But first, Jeremy Kuzmarov and Covid, a crisis by design or opportunity? Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Gorilla Radio, recorded September 24th, and 25th, 2022 Joe Biden announced the end of the Covid-19 pandemic last week; so everyone can go back to life as normal and forget this unfortunate blip in business as usual ever happened. But before rushing away there’s a few things needing clearing up; some questions waiting for answers: Questions like, how is it possible, after more than two and a half years we still don’t know from whence this modern scourge arose?
There was an attempt, we’re told, in the form of a task force commissioned by the English medical journal, The Lancet to investigate the proximal origins of Covid-19, but that body was collapsed in a confusion of conflict of interest by its chair, Jeffrey Sachs in 2021. Finally, just weeks ago, The Lancet released, from a commission again led by Jeffrey Sachs, ‘Lessons for the Future from the Covid-19 Pandemic’. The first of its key findings inform, “the proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2 remains unknown.”
Dr. Meryl Nass is an internal medicine physician who has testified multiple times before the US Congress, a variety of State legislatures, (including New Burnswick’s provincial parliament) on the subjects of bioterrorism, Gulf War syndrome, vaccine safety and vaccine mandates. Nass has too served as a consultant to a variety of World bodies and governments on the prevention, investigation, and mitigation of chemical and biological warfare and pandemics, and was the first to prove the world’s largest anthrax outbreak was in fact due to biological warfare. Meryl writes at: MerylNass.SubStack.com.
Dr. Meryl Nass and staying on Covid’s trail.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded October 1st and 2nd, 2022 And welcome too to what appears to be the end of the pretense of Canada, the sovereign state. If we're honest, like Peter Pan's Tinkerbell, that place existed ever only as an article of faith: It was because we believed it, it was so. But in its deeds these last years, it is increasingly difficult to maintain the fiction this place named Canada is anything more in fact than a placeholder for Greater America and its now nakedly evident Empire.
Yves Engler is a prolific author, essayist, and political activist. Among his dozen books are ten detailing various myths of "Canada's" foreign policy past and present. His hundreds of articles on that and other matters of the moment appear across the internet and at his site, YvesEngler.com. Yves is too the host of the Canadian Foreign Policy Hour, a "weekly news roundup and interactive discussion about Canada’s role abroad." It's a forum made possible by the new communications environment, one that allows the citizenry sidestep corporate and state news mediation.
Yves Engler in the first half. And; things are changing so rapidly it's almost pointless to write now, two days before my second guest's interview, about the previously mentioned Empire's efforts to overthrow Russian leadership and usurp entirely the European economy. Just today, on September's last day, NATO is entertaining an expedited application to accept Ukraine into its fold; even as Russia announces the adoption of Western Ukrainian territories. These two actions, should NATO complete its part, automatically create a state of war between the NATO states and Russia - setting the stage for World War III. This all in the wake of the sabotage of Russia's Nord Stream I and II pipelines.
John Helmer is a journalist, author, and principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears. He’s a past professor of political science, sociology, and journalism and has served as advisor to governments at the highest level. Helmer has spent decades living in and reporting from Russia, and among his many book titles are: ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17,’ ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ and his latest, ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt’.
John Helmer and Aftershocks of the Nord Stream attacks as prelude to Armageddon in the second half. But first, Yves Engler and Canada's foreign-dictated foreign policy. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1999; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Gorilla Radio, recorded September 24th, and 25th, 2022 Autumn has come to America. The nights are cooler, with the promise of rain long-awaited. The Boys of Summer are readying for the World Series, and if the "lazy, hazy" days are past, the crazy, crazy ones are just getting started. You see, it's election season in the Land of the Free, and November is just around the bend. Some argue mid-terms are a B-Squad affair, lacking the Presidential main event, and while that might normally be true this election's biggest race - though not on the ballot - is all about who will make the White House dash in 2024.
Dave Lindorff is a publisher, Izzy Award-winning investigative journalist, author, and documentary producer whose in-production film tells the tale of Ted Hall, the wunderkind spy who may well have saved Russia and the World from nuclear conflagration. Lindorff's also the founder of the web news site, This Can't Be Happening.net where his recent article, 'Why are Liberals Defending the Outrageous Secrecy of this Supposedly 'Democratic' Nation? - Trump's legal troubles are exposing a National Security state run amok' enters America's democracy-making sausage factory wide-eyed.
Dave Lindorff in the first half. And; Joe Biden announced the end of the Covid-19 pandemic last week; so everyone can go back to life as normal and forget this unfortunate blip in business as usual ever happened. But before rushing away there's a few things needing clearing up; some questions waiting for answers: Questions like, how is it possible, after more than two and a half years we still don't know from whence this modern scourge arose?
There was an attempt, we're told, in the form of a task force commissioned by the English medical journal, The Lancet to investigate the proximal origins of Covid-19, but that body was collapsed in a confusion of conflict of interest by its chair, Jeffrey Sachs in 2021. Finally, just weeks ago, The Lancet released, from a commission again led by Jeffrey Sachs, 'Lessons for the Future from the Covid-19 Pandemic'. The first of its key findings inform, "the proximal origin of SARS-CoV-2 remains unknown."
Dr. Meryl Nass is an internal medicine physician who has testified multiple times before the US Congress, a variety of State legislatures, (including New Burnswick's provincial parliament) on the subjects of bioterrorism, Gulf War syndrome, vaccine safety and vaccine mandates. Nass has too served as a consultant to a variety of World bodies and governments on the prevention, investigation, and mitigation of chemical and biological warfare and pandemics, and was the first to prove the world's largest anthrax outbreak was in fact due to biological warfare. Meryl writes at: MerylNass.SubStack.com.
Dr. Meryl Nass and staying on Covid's trail in the second half. But first, Dave Lindorff and testing the state of American democracy. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1999; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded September 17th and 18th, 2022. This week past, the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency officially demanded Russia relinquish control of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, or (ZNPP), and "all nuclear facilities within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders" into the hands of "competent Ukraine authorities". The Russian-held nuclear plant has been repeatedly shelled and was too the target of a Kiev commando-raid. The IAEA's investigation on the status of the plant, and now this report, are precedent-setting for the agency, but not a departure from the recent trend toward politicizing international agencies to serve the interests of America and NATO.
John Helmer is a journalist, author, and principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears. He’s a past professor of political science, sociology, and journalism and has served as advisor to governments at the highest level. Helmer has spent decades living in and reporting from Russia, and among his many book titles are: ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17,’ ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ and his latest, ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt’.
John Helmer in the first half. And; even as the UN's IAEA and OPCW are co-opted against their mandates into the service of the war-state, so too countries big and small are strong-armed to bend their laws to suit the aims of the United States. Witness Great Britain's abandonment of the Magna Carta in the Assange case, or Canada's deplorable political arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou and two-plus year torturing of logic and jurisprudence required to keep her imprisoned. What chance then do smaller countries like Sweden, or Iceland, or Cabo Verde have when their leadership receives a call from Uncle Sam?
In the latter's case, that phone rang when Venezuelan diplomat and businessman, Alex Saab's plane landed for refueling in the tiny African nation, en route to Iran. Today, Saab languishes in an American prison cell for the crime of challenging imperial power.
Roger D. Harris' long civil rights activism career encompasses the teaching political science at a Historical Black College in Mississippi in the 1960's and community organizing in East Harlem, New York City.
Today, Roger's a Wildlife Biologist and conducts eco-tours with the Oceanic Society, but he still has an oar or two in the activist waters; sitting on the board of the human rights organization, Task Force on the Americas, and serving on the executive committee of the US Peace Council, among others. His political essays feature online at CounterPunch, Dissident Voice, Mint Press News, Popular Resistance, and at the Task Force on the Americas site, where I found his recent article, 'Possible Prisoner Exchange in US Hybrid War Against Venezuela'.
Roger Harris and freeing Alex Saab in the second half. But first, John Helmer and the IAEA's use as an instrument of one party in conflict. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1999; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded September 10th, 2022 The mantra, "A Better World is Possible" emerged in the early days of this century. Then it was a call to action to make manifest that promise by challenging those busy making the worst of Creation - destroying Nature, debasing humanity, and threatening even the survival of the planet - for the benefit of a few. I answered that clarion in this small effort, and after more than twenty years I wonder if perhaps another way to a better World is possible!
Alicen Grey is a creative polymath; novelist, playwright, poet, musician, and author of HologramPress.com, "publisher of mystical musings about the paranormal, the occult, aliens, magick, the metaphysical nature of reality, and other spiritual themes..." Alicen's solo music project, When Humans Had Wings has just released 'Run Rabbit Run,' an album she describes as "synchro-mystic", and a chronicle of her "in-progress self-liberation process."
Alicen Grey in the first half. And; the 38th Annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes Gala is hosted in Vancouver September 24th. This year, Testimonio: Canadian Mining in the Aftermath of Genocides in Guatelmala has been selected as a finalist for the "Jim Deva Prize for Writing That Provokes". The book is the collaborative effort of editors Catherine Nolin of the University of Northern British Columbia, and Grahame Russell of Rightsaction.org. In anticipation of the Gala evening, both Catherine and Grahame are talking about the book and the ongoing harmful impacts of Canadian companies' activities on the people of Guatemala.
Grahame Russell is co-founder of RightsAction, and part-time adjunct professor at UNBC. The non-practicing lawyer has lived and worked in Mexico and Central America, contributing his talents to CODEHUCA, the Commission for the Defense of Human Rights in Central America, among other positions performed for a variety of rights organizations in the region.
Grahame Russell and Testimonio in the second half. But first, Alicen Grey and exploring paths to the possible. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1999; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded September 3rd, 2022 In Serbia last week the drought-stricken Danube revealed the scuttled hulls of Hitler's Black Sea fleet, sunk in hopes of slowing the Soviet advance west. Seventy-eight years later the potentially explosive hulks serve the perfect metaphor for both an increasingly volatile political situation in the "Western Balkans", and as low-water mark in European East-West relations.
James Bissett is a former Canadian Ambassador whose tenure in Yugoslavia coincided with its 1991 dissolution. At century's end, he was one of the very few government insiders to oppose NATO's 78 day bombardment of Serbia in the name of "humanitarian intervention."
James Bissett in the first half. And; Europe's economy has fallen victim to the war in Ukraine, and the destructive effects will likely supersede the financial sector before it's done. The question begging to be asked now is whether that - highly predictable - outcome was merely collateral, or intentional.
Ken Stone is an executive member of both the Syria Solidarity Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War, who fought four-square the incarceration of Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou, extradition efforts by the United States, and stand opposed to the odious AUKUS military pact threatening war with China in the Pacific. The Coalition's website current features two excellent articles, by Moon of Alabama and economist Michael Hudson.
Ken Stone and addressing the aspect of the Ukraine war remaining sotto voce in the imperial presses, "Cui Bono?" in the second half. But first, James Bissett and back to Kosovo to get a look at Ukraine's future. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1999; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded August 6th, 2022. Europeans are experiencing a blow-back blast this Summer on multiple fronts. Hellishly hot weather, a financial meltdown, and the nagging persistence of the pandemic with all its attendant social pressures are combined to test the hardiest continentals – and, as warm as it is there now, Winter is coming!
Pablo Ouziel is an associate fellow at the Centre for Global Studies at the University of Victoria and a visiting fellow in the Department Politics and International Relations at the University of Southampton. His book, ‘Democracy Here and Now: The exemplary case of Spain‘ is published by University of Toronto Press and chronicles the birth of the M15 movement against draconian government “austerity” measures, and the rise of authoritarianism there and across the western world.
Pablo currently lives outside Barcelona.
Pablo Ouziel and Europe’s Summer of reckoning.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Song: For Love
Artist: Ashley Shadow
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded August 20th, 2022 Colombia inaugurated Gustavo Petro earlier this month. The election was close fought, the results indicating a near even divide between the Pacto Histórico candidate and his right-wing opposition, who split the vote between them, allowing Petro's victory. But, whether loved or loathed what's certain is, Colombia's first ever leftist president has made history, and could bring "historic change" to South America's most troubled nation. At least so says my first guest, who's recently returned from attending the August 7th inauguration ceremonies in Bogota.
Dan Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. Dan's observed elections in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Colombia – where he witnessed the 2016 peace plebiscite promising an end to the generational war there. Kovalik’s book titles include: ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture,’ the "Plot to" series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, Russia, (and to control the World entirely) and his latest is, ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest.’ His recent article, 'Colombia’s First Leftist President Will Bring Historic Change, If the US Lets Him' is a sign post at Colombia's political crossroad.
Dan Kovalik in the first half. And; it's no surprise Canada's foreign policy is aligned with the United States on Ukraine, Russia, Iran, China, and Latin America; successive federal governments have always got along by going along with our behemoth neigbour south, but it would shock many Canadians to learn the degree to which their political system has been infiltrated, and the mechanisms used to deliver the nation's decision-making into foreign hands.
Aidan Jonah is the Editor-in-Chief of The Canada Files, a socialist, anti-imperialist news site covering Canadian imperialism, federal politics, and left-wing resistance to colonialism across the world. Jonah has broken numerous stories, including how the Canadian Armed Forces trained neo-Nazi "journalist" Roman Protasevich while he was with the Azov Battalion, and how a CIA front group funded the group which drove the so-called "Uyghur genocide" vote in parliament.
Aidan Jonah and just when did the CIA start pulling Canada's strings? in the second half. But first, Dan Kovalik and Colombia's gamble on sovereignty with leftist, Gustavo Petro. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded August 13th, 2022 In early August the 'Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act' was read into the record of the US Congress. Democratic Senator, Jeanne Shaheen introduced the bipartisan draft law, (and a second regarding sanctions as laid out in the Dayton Accords) saying the initiative was necessary because, "Russian President Vladimir Putin's intentions to spread malignant influence throughout Eastern Europe are evident." Shaheen also says the Act, if passed "...[P]aves the way for wider Euro-Atlantic integrations." among other things.
More seasoned listeners may better recognize those "Western Balkans" as elements of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, (and Albania) collapsed in the 1990's, and it's largest remnant Serbia subsequently bombed into further balkanization by NATO in the so-named "Kosovo War" at the end of the last century.
Diana Johnstone is an author, former press secretary to the Green Group in the European Parliament, and journalist whose writings on Yugoslavia received recognition from Project Censored among others. Her books include ' From MAD to Madness: Inside Pentagon Nuclear War Planning,' 'Circle in the Darkness: Memoirs of a World Watcher,' and 'Fools' Crusade: Yugoslavia, NATO and Western Delusion.' Diana's articles can be found at ConsortiumNews.com.
Diana Johnstone in the first half. And; with the cooler evening's promise of a change of season coming, I find myself thinking of the cycles of time; everything changing while remaining, in a sense, the same. If that sounds a little more mystic than the usual prattle here, chalk it up to the weather. As the wheel of fortune would have it, it's been eight years to the day since I spoke last with my second guest - and in that time a lot has changed for both of us - and much too has remained the same.
Mickey Z. is a New York City born and bred activist, author, lecturer and martial artist who has the only-one-in-the-world distinction of having appeared in both a political anthology alongside Noam Chomsky, and featured in a Billy Banks karate film. Mickey Z.'s book titles include: 'Darker Shade of Green,' 'Self-Defense for Radicals: A to Z Guide for Subversive Struggle,' 'CPR for Dummies,' 50 American Revolutions You're Not Supposed to Know: Reclaiming American Patriotism,' 'The Seven Deadly Spins: Exposing the Lies Behind War Propaganda,' 'Occupy This Book: Mickey Z. on Activism,' and his latest, 'Occupy These Photos: NYC Activism Through a Radical Lens.' Mickey's newsletter and podcast can be found these days at his SubStack.com site, Post-Woke.
Mickey Z. and learning the "art of intellectual self-defense" in the second half. But first, Diana Johnstone and NATO's Fools' Crusade reprised in the Western Balkans. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded July 2nd 2022
As Summer’s dog days begin the drums of war are beating with heightening intensity. Canada’s prime minister, Justin Trudeau at the close of NATO’s Madrid confab dedicated his country’s future to one of increased war-making, promising more weaponry to the current hot war in Ukraine, and announced the inauguration of a “NATO research project”, the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic devoted to expected wars the military alliance will wage to secure the continued global economic domination of its member nations.
Trudeau’s bellicosity and hubris is no surprise, but that traditional pacifist nations in the alliance are willing to go along with NATO’s blatantly antagonistic New Strategic Concept is a worrisome sign of disasters to come.
Ron Ridenour is an ex-pat American journalist, author, editor, and peace and social justice activist currently living in Denmark. He’s worked as a special correspondent and freelancer for numerous publications in Europe, the US, and Latin America, including CovertAction Magazine where I found his recent article, ‘Does Iceland Set Benchmark for Peaceful and Politically Engaged People?’
Ron Ridenour in the first half. And; two and a half years after the onset of Covid-19 the pandemic is widely regarded as a past event. Even so, governments and media are warning of next wave variants they say require vaccination and booster regimens be again ramped up.
Leigh Vossen and Cassie Shroeder are members of Students Against Mandates, an organized manifestation of Canadian post-secondary students and their allies “fighting for the right of all students to receive an education, regardless of personal medical decisions.”
Leigh Vossen and Cassie Shroeder on students standing against mandates in the second half. But first, Ron Ridenour and Iceland’s essential place in a possible peaceful global future. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded August 6th, 2022. Europeans are experiencing a blow back blast this Summer on multiple fronts. Hellishly hot weather, a financial meltdown, and the nagging persistence of the pandemic with all its attendant social pressures are combined to test the hardiest continentals - and, as warm as it is there now, Winter is coming!
Pablo Ouziel is an associate fellow at the Centre for Global Studies at the University of Victoria and a visiting fellow in the Department Politics and International Relations at the University of Southampton. His book, 'Democracy Here and Now: The exemplary case of Spain' is published by University of Toronto Press and chronicles the birth of the M15 movement against draconian government "austerity" measures, and the rise of authoritarianism there and across the western world. Pablo currently lives outside Barcelona.
Pablo Ouziel in the first half. And; in these last mad years of pandemics, wars, and climate alarm if we've learned anything it is the fragility of institutions many of us once thought solid, if not sacrosanct. Cracks in our societal pillars are clear, there for all to see, despite the establishment's best efforts to paper over the fissures. Part of the media effort to convince us our system is sound and "the greatest ever" is the necessary denigration of those others in places like Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Syria, Iran, Russia, China, and of course North Korea.
Swiss author Felix Abt describes himself as a "politically neutral businessman...not sharing the typical partisan views about North Korea". After living and working in the country he says he can "contribute to a more objective view of a country he knows much better than the journalists and bloggers writing about it". Former CIA whistleblower, John Kiriakou says of Abt's second book, 'A Land of Prison Camps, Starving Slaves and Nuclear Bombs?', "Finally, the truth about North Korea... [revealing] ...the caricature we’re fed by the western media simply isn’t true."
Felix Abt and a capitalist's story of life in the "Hermit Kingdom" in the second half. But first, Pablo Ouziel and Europe's Summer of reckoning. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded August 6th, 2022. Europeans are experiencing a blowback blast this Summer on multiple fronts. Hellishly hot weather, a financial meltdown, and the nagging persistence of the pandemic with all its attendant social pressures are combined to test the hardiest continentals - and, as warm as it is there now, Winter is coming!
Pablo Ouziel is an associate fellow at the Centre for Global Studies at the University of Victoria and a visiting fellow in the Department Politics and International Relations at the University of Southampton. His book, 'Democracy Here and Now: The exemplary case of Spain' is published by University of Toronto Press and chronicles the birth of the M15 movement against draconian government "austerity" measures, and the rise of authoritarianism there and across the western world.
Pablo currently lives outside Barcelona.
Pablo Ouziel and Europe's Summer of reckoning.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded July 30th, 2022 If journalism is the "first rough draft of history" what Western historians will say about the origins of the current Ukraine war will roughly be a tale of desperate struggle between the freedom-loving patriots of a small nation, Davids, bravely facing down Goliath's unprovoked attack.
Russia also has a story to tell, and it too relates the saga of freedom-loving patriots, the Davids of Donetsk, bravely defending the unprovoked assails of Kiev and the perfidious NATO. What's certain is neither tale is quite true, nor entirely false. Factual ambiguity lies too behind the beginnings of this latest manifestation of the greater, and much longer, war between the two global behemoths.
Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and author who also serves as Managing Editor of CovertAction Magazine. He’s the author of four books on U.S. foreign policy, including: ‘Obama’s Unending Wars’, and ‘The Russians Are Coming, Again’ co-authored with John Marciano. His recent piece at CovertAction, ‘Russian-Hating Dream of Brzezinski Clan Nears Fulfillment as Poland Agrees to Host Permanent U.S. Base and Turn Baltic Sea into NATO Lake’ provides vital context both to the current conflict in Ukraine, and future geopolitical course desired by those in the West's highest echelons.
Jeremy Kuzmarov in the first half. And; Canada too is swept up in the war-mania zeitgeist, both as war-fighters and weapons dealers. Last month, federal and provincial ministers attended Britain's Farnborough War Fair - properly that is, the 'Farnborough International Airshow' - selling Canada as the go-to place in today's competitive international warmongers' bazaar. But lest Canadians despair, federal innovation minister, Francois-Philippe Champagne reassures, the nation hasn't strayed its peaceful path, saying Canada's "very stringent" oversight guarantees only those sharing our virtues will receive favour and permits to purchase the country's death-dealing merchandise.
Alex Cosh is managing editor at the web news site, The Maple. Alex attended too the Farnborough fair and relates the experience in his recent article, 'Ministers Promote Canadian War Industry at International Show'.
Alex Cosh and going to Farnborough, where "all the technology that leads to war originates" in the second half. But first, Jeremy Kuzmarov and the Brzezinski's generational war on Russia. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded July 21st and 24th, 2022 Nearly seventy-seven years following the atomic annihilation of two cities, politicians in America and its NATO vassal states today are debating the strategic merits of a nuclear war with Russia, (and presumable China to follow). Absent the debate, naturally, is the moral question of both war and its necessary means. August 6th marks the grim anniversary of the destruction of Hiroshima by America - Nagasaki being unnecessarily destroyed three days later. In the years since, historians have proven neither attack was needed to bring Japan to the negotiating table; they had been attempting surrender for months before the bombs dropped. But as we learn, each time anew it seems, truth has little purchase for the warmongers.
The tragic and senseless destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will again be commemorated by the Victoria chapter of the Women in Black, who will stand silent vigil August 6th at the inner harbour. All are welcome to attend.
Terry Wolfwood is Director and co-founder of the Barnard-Boecker Centre Foundation, at BBCF.ca. She's a writer, poet, photographer, and long-time activist in pursuit of peace, social justice, and women’s rights. Her articles have appeared at Briarpatch, Peace News, and Third World Resurgence among other places. In conjunction with her many activities in support of justice and peace, Terry has served too as local coordinator for the Women in Black for many years.
Terry Wolfwood in the first half. And; mere hours after signing an agreement allowing the safe passage of goods from Ukraine, an acknowledged Russian missile attack against the port of Odessa threatens to scotch the deal. Russia denies allegations made by Ukraine and western media it targeted grain silos in the port, instead saying a dry dock, warship under repair, and warehouse of American munitions were struck and destroyed. Meanwhile, Kiev's president Zelenskyy spent part of his day today playing host to US congressional reps, eager to pad their war-making resumes in anticipation of the Fall election.
John Helmer is a journalist, author, and principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears. He’s a past scholar, and advisor to government at the highest level, and spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. His many book titles include: ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17, ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ and his latest, ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt‘ is newly out.
John Helmer and Ukraine's thickening fog in the second half. But first, Terry Wolfwood and remembering still Hiroshima/Nagasaki. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded July 13th and 16th, 2022. The late, and truly great, British playwright, Harold Pinter summed up the age in his 2005 Nobel Prize for Literature acceptance speech. Delivered dramatically via video stream - something not so common then - and at the height of America's military demolition of Iraq . The terminally ill Pinter spent most of his thirty two and a half minute address addressing the profoundly ignorant state in which We the people exist, and how we blithely allow the horrors of our times be committed in our name. Who hearing that speech could forget his hoarsely stentorian remonstration of the Bush claque and its cowardly coalition's willful crimes? "It never happened. Nothing ever happened. Even while it was happening it wasn't happening. It didn't matter."
Seventeen years later, and millions killed, maimed, dispossessed and made desperate the lying and killing continues apace. Pinter would be unsurprised, because as he said then, for the powerful, "... it is essential that people remain in ignorance, that they live in ignorance of the truth, even the truth of their own lives." And so it is in Canada today, as we march towards another global war, standing on guard in ignorance.
Yves Engler is a Montréal-based activist, and author of 12 books, mostly on Canadian foreign policy, including his latest, ‘Stand on Guard For Whom? A People’s History of the Canadian Military’. He’s also a prolific essayist whose many articles appear at numerous sites online, including at his website, YvesEngler.com, where his recent article, 'Is It Time for Canada to Apologize to Libya?' appears.
Yves Engler in the first half. And; what's old is news again: Inflation, the economy's nemesis so long thought slain has resurfaced, its dragon's teeth popping up in balance sheets and union negotiation positions, and most scarily, ravishing family budgets the World over.
Yves Smith is a Harvard Business School grad, blogger, and author whose investment banking and management career has intersected all the biggest names on Wall Street. In late 2006, seeing the financial ice bergs on the horizon and frustrated by the "obvious under-reporting...of the risk in all credit instruments" she started Naked Capitalism in an effort to "promote critical thinking through the medium of a finance and economics blog."
Her 2010 book, 'ECONned: How Unenlightened Self Interest Undermined Democracy and Corrupted Capitalism' followed, dissecting the "obvious" and inevitable 2008 financial disaster and the dismal Obama administration reaction to it. Yves' has also written articles for many major publications, appeared on US network television and alternative online news programs like The Real News, Democracy Now, and the now-banned RT.
Her recent article at Naked Capitalism, 'The G-7 is Still Pushing Its Nutty Russia Oil Price Cap Idea' reveals how at sea the West is in what is rapidly emerging as a truly New (economic) World Order.
Yves Smith and the stark state of a capitalist system in crisis in the second half. But first, Yves Engler and "the considerable bearing of the truth on where the World stands now". Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded July 10th, 2022 Twenty-five hundred years or so ago, storied Chinese general and reputed author of The Art of War observed, "There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare." Today, twenty and some years into George Bush's "generational war", Sun Tzu's wise maxim seems to have eluded the modern masters of war. The NATO Alliance has spent the 21st Century hopscotching from country to country dealing death and destruction as it goes with the abandon of a malicious child on an ant hill, wantonly thumbing flat people, nations, and the very concept of International Law until. In 2022, we find ourselves on the threshold of another global war, one leading through Russia to a final confrontation with China.
John Helmer is a journalist, author, and principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears. He’s a past scholar, and advisor to government at the highest level, and spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. His many book titles include: ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17, ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ and his latest, ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt‘ is newly out.
His recent article, 'The Coming Verdict in the MH17 Trial is Certain, and Double Dutch' reminds, NATO's determination for a war against Russia in Ukraine is a multi-layered operation, predating anything Russia has done.
Today, John Helmer and Dutch courts doing double duty and NATO's media doing its damnedest to get and keep the war on Russia going. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded July 2nd 2022 As Summer's dog days begin the drums of war are beating with heightening intensity. Canada's prime minister, Justin Trudeau at the close of NATO's Madrid confab dedicated his country's future to one of increased war-making, promising more weaponry to the current hot war in Ukraine, and announced the inauguration of a "NATO research project", the Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic devoted to expected wars the military alliance will wage to secure the continued global economic domination of its member nations. Trudeau's bellicosity and hubris is no surprise, but that traditional pacifist nations in the alliance are willing to go along with NATO's blatantly antagonistic New Strategic Concept is a worrisome sign of disasters to come.
Ron Ridenour is an ex-pat American journalist, author, editor, and peace and social justice activist currently living in Denmark. He’s worked as a special correspondent and freelancer for numerous publications in Europe, the US, and Latin America, including CovertAction Magazine where I found his recent article, 'Does Iceland Set Benchmark for Peaceful and Politically Engaged People?'
Ron Ridenour in the first half. And; two and a half years after the onset of Covid-19 the pandemic is widely regarded as a past event. Even so, governments and media are warning of next wave variants they say require vaccination and booster regimens be again ramped up.
Leigh Vossen and Cassie Shroeder are members of Students Against Mandates, an organized manifestation of Canadian post-secondary students and their allies "fighting for the right of all students to receive an education, regardless of personal medical decisions."
Leigh Vossen and Cassie Shroeder on students standing against mandates in the second half. But first, Ron Ridenour and Iceland's essential place in a possible peaceful global future. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded June 25th, 2022 Last week British Home Secretary, Priti Patel did what was expected of her and signed off on the extradition to the United States of political prisoner, Julian Assange. Assange you may recall has languished in London's maximum security Belmarsh Prison, enduring the harshest conditions allowable under British law, since being dragged from asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy April 11th, 2019. But as deplorable as his treatment by British authorities has been - treatment that would illicit howls of protest were it discovered to be inflicted on a caged dog - central to Assange's defense against extradition is the prospect of an even grimmer fate at the hands of American Justice.
Steve Poikonen hosts Slow News Day on Rokfin, the pre-news news place you go to get hip BEFORE the s*it hits the fan! Steve's also an activist, documentary filmmaker, and contributor to the Union of the Unwanted and MCSC Networks. He’s also been an organizer with Action4Assange, co-host of the #FreeAssange Vigil, and has gone to the streets for Assange’s release in his home country, the United States of America.
Steve Poikonen in the first half. And; next week NATO, the 73 year-old alliance to defend Europe against Soviet Russia, will hold its annual summit in Madrid. NATO says it's meant to, among other things, present and endorse the war organization's "New Strategic Concept". Across Europe peace and civil society groups are set to demonstrate against the death and devastation created by NATO's existing concept and protest the prospect of more of the same. Meanwhile in Canada, coinciding with the Madrid meet up, the Peace and Justice Network here is mounting Days of Action, a coordinated effort to: Stop the Weapons. Stop the War. And, Stop NATO.
Tamara Lorincz is with Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, who last year led the No Fighter Jets days of action held across Canada. She’s also served on the advisory committee of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, and contributed her knowledge and talents to the organizations World Beyond War, and the No to NATO Network.
Tamara Lorincz and Days of Action to Stop the World's greatest purveyors of violence and war in the second half. But first, Steve Poikonen and the the next turn of the legal screw for Julian Assange. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded June 16th, 2022 Last week, CONAIE, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador began a popular protest over rising food and fuel prices and the neoliberal policies of Guillermo Lasso's government. Across the country Monday transportation hubs, government offices, and oil productions facilities were blockaded. The actions prompted a quick response from Lasso, whose military and police launched an operation to snatch CONAIE president, Leonidas Iza; a move the confederation denounced as "arbitrary and illegal".
Joe Emersberger is a Canada-based engineer of Ecuadorian descent. He's a writer and activist, and co-author with Justin Podur of the book, ‘Extraordinary Threat: The US Empire, the Media and 20 Years of Coup Attempts in Venezuela‘. Emersberger’s many articles focusing on Western media coverage of the Americas can be found at FAIR.org, CounterPunch.org, TheCanary.co, Telesur English, and ZComm.org, among other places.
Joe Emersberger in the first half. And; Britain's Home Secretary, Priti Patel is charged with making the final decision on the extradition of Julian Assange to America from his current incarceration in London's Belmarsh Prison, and she's expected to make that decision imminently. The publisher, journalist, and founder of WikiLeaks has been held in isolation within the maximum security facility since being dragged from asylum in Ecuador's London embassy three years, two months and five days ago.
Hundreds of doctors have petitioned Patel to deny extradition based on Assange's frail mental and physical health. A similar argument was made by United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, Nils Melzer after visiting Assange with two medical experts "specialised in examining potential victims of torture and other ill-treatment" shortly after his arrest in 2019. Melzer's demand for Assange's release was ignored then, as have been myriad subsequent appeals to the UK government from all quarters.
Nils Melzer and the torturous destruction of Julian Assange, from an interview we recorded in June of 2019, in the second half. But first, Joe Emersberger and Guillermo Lasso's presidency one year on: The perfect Sturm und Drang. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded June 11th, 2022 A foreign war is being used by the Canadian establishment to further entrench its thought monopoly on a nation still staggered following a two-plus year cognitive pounding. Now that the hoi polloi has been sufficiently head-softened, the reasoning seems, it's time for the second of the old one/two punch combination. Ukraine is doing double-duty in this, both providing Bay Street warmongers the necessary pretense of moral rectitude for their bloody bonanza, while too granting social license for Ottawa to tear the guts out of a burgeoning popular opposition - even if it means eviscerating the country's Charter of Rights and Freedoms. And, so far, the wind has blown from their back.
Stavroula Pabst is a writer, comedian, and PhD student in Communications and Mass Media Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. Her writing appears online at The Grayzone, Reductress, the Harvard Business Review, and at Passage, the "Canadian publication of thoughtful political, economic, and cultural ideas from a left-wing perspective" where I found her recent article, 'Big Tech's Purge of Dissenters is Impeding an Anti-War Movement.'
Stavroula Pabst in the first half. And; this Victoria has undergone massive changes over its nearly two centuries of settler occupation. One enduring physical feature of the area epitomizes the altered landscape and displacement of both the First Peoples and flora and fauna living here at the time of contact. The Bowker Creek Watershed, named for an early settler/farmer, has tenaciously persisted despite having had a city land on top of it; but, like the rest of the south island it little resembles its original self. The Bowker's survival though has never been certain, and now it depends on our diligent attention and continued vigilance in its protection.
Gerald Harris is a Director of the Friends of Bowker Creek Society and local leader of the Streamkeepers group working to reestablish salmon returns to Bowker Creek. The Friends are concerned by a recent sale of a section along the creek that could threaten both its ecology and the ability of citizens to protect it.
Gerald Harris and befriending the Bowker in the second half. But first, Stavroula Pabst and deconstructing Canadian dissent. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded June 4th, 2022 Its been almost thirty years since the Mike Harcourt NDP arrested more than a thousand people protesting the clearcut destruction of Clayoquot Sound. More than a generation later the 'War in the Woods' seems a cause lost to those still fighting to protect ancient forests here. Save Old Growth is a nascent citizen's resistance campaign organizing to pressure the provincial government to legislate an end to old growth logging now!
Sophie Papp and Zain Haq are coordinators of the Save Old Growth campaign. Sophie is an islander who while studying at UVic worked too with Access4All advocating for expanded online access for immuno-compromised students, and those facing other in-person class barriers. Zain is a co-founder of and strategist for Save Old Growth. He's been arrested multiple times for civil disobedience and was imprisoned earlier this year for blockading the path of the TransMountain pipeline.
Sophie Papp and Zain Haq in the first half. And; Colombians voted in national elections last week. It's seen as the first real chance to unseat finally the far right power structure that has brutalized social justice and environmental activists, the indigenous people, and union organizers there for more than three generations. The favourite going into the May 29th poll, leftist Gustavo Petro and running mate, Francia Marquez fell just short of the 50% needed for a first round victory, so will face another vote against second place finisher, Rodolfo Hernandez June 19th.
Dan Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. Dan has observed elections in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Colombia – where he witnessed the 2016 peace plebiscite promising an end to the generational war there. Of Kovalik’s 2020 film, ‘Nicaragua: The April Crisis & Beyond‘ on 2018’s so-called uprising in Nicaragua, Oliver Stone said, "Kovalik helps cut through the Orwellian lies and dissembling which make so-called ‘humanitarian intervention possible."
Kovalik's book titles include: ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest,’ ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture,’ and the "Plot to" series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, Russia, and to control the World entirely.
Dan Kovalik and Colombia's second try at an electoral first in the second half. But first, Sophie Papp and Zain Haq and stopping old growth logging. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded May 21st, 2022 In February of 2020, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police launched assaults against indigenous land defenders resisting TC Energy's plans to run the Coastal Gaslink pipeline across their Yintah, or traditional territory. The raids came as organized solidarity actions across Canada - and outside the country too - had garnered broad support, and forced government concessions. The burgeoning campaign however was abruptly derailed by the emergence of the Covid-19 pandemic just as it was proving most effective. But despite the rude interruption the Wet'suwet'en's fight never stopped, and it continues still.
Stefan Spirodan Christoff is a Montréal-based community activist, artist, and media maker whose Free City Radio program broadcasts from CKUT and CJLO radio in Montréal, and features across the internet. Christoff too coordinates Musicians for Palestine and serves on the board of the Immigrant Workers Centre in Côte-Des-Neiges and with the Cinema Politica Network. Stefan's articles also appear at, among other places, Breach Media and CanadianDimensions.com, where I found his recent article, 'Divesting from Colonialism: A Call for McGill University to Respect Wet'suwet'en Self-Determination.'
Stefan Christoff in the first half. And; the good people of Asheville, North Carolina spent their Earth Day disrupting number one global arms dealer, Raytheon's local evil-doing projects turning plowshares to spears by building weapons plants on top of the state's famously fecund farmland.
Ken Jones is a retired educator and lifelong anti-war activist. The former University of Southern Maine professor of teacher education and middle school teacher is too a proud draft resister of America's war against Vietnam and is currently an active associate member of Asheville's chapter of Veterans for Peace.
Ken Jones and Rejecting Raytheon in the second half. But first, Stefan Christoff and decolonizing McGill, and ourselves.
Chris Cook has hosted Gorilla Radio since 1999. Check out the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com
https://www.patreon.com/posts/67050084
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded May 14th, 2022 Niccolo Machiavelli, were he alive today, would likely beam with pride viewing the political progress of Justin Trudeau; recognizing at once the seed of his most famous work, The Prince bearing full fruit in the person of Canada's current prime minister. Five centuries since his seminal work, Machiavelli's name has added an "ism" and come to epitomize cold-hearted deceit, manipulation, and the zero-sum pursuit of ones goals irregardless of law, custom, or the plague of moral conscience.
Last week, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau traveled to Kiev to meet up with post-Maidan Ukraine president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trudeau's entourage included his #2 deputy and finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, foreign affairs minister, Melanie Joly, and various security state apparatchiks. According to the Canadian state broadcaster, in pursuit of peace Trudeau said Canada would increase weapons supplies and funding aid to Ukraine, while expanding economic sanctions against "Russian individuals and entities...complicit in Putin's war." Of Canada's complicity in fomenting the current crisis and its support of one side of the seven years-long civil war in Eastern Ukraine, Trudeau remained tactfully silent.
Dimitri Lascaris is a lawyer, journalist, advocate, activist, and former front-runner for the leadership of the Green Party of Canada. His articles are available across the internet and at his website, DimitriLascaris.org where he writes on the political vagaries of Canada's twenty-third prime minister, and other matters of the moment.
Dimitri Lascaris in the first half. And; the nuclear "option on the table" the Ukraine proxy war represents is slowly dawning on America's polity following comments by Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov who recently said during an interview, while his country was "doing everything to prevent nucelar war...those risks are now considerable." Incredibly though, reaction in some quarters of the US punditocracy has been to present nuclear war with Russia as both a surviveable and winnable strategy. But, is the ultimate threat of threats merely overblown?
Dave Lindorff is a publisher, Izzy Award-winning investigative journalist, author, and documentary producer whose in-production film tells the tale of Ted Hall, the American wunderkind who may well have saved Russia and the World from nuclear conflagration. Lindorff's also the founder of the web news site, This Can’t Be Happening.net where his recent article, 'Putin's Threat to Use Nuclear Weapons Is Not New: The US Nuked Two Cities in World War II and Has Threatened to Use Them Often Since Then' appears.
Dave Lindorff and addressing the nuclear chicken in the middle of the Ukraine crisis in the second half. But first, Dimitri Lascaris and calculating the limits of Canada's Liberal governors. Chris Cook has hosted Gorilla Radio since 1999. Check out the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com
https://www.patreon.com/posts/67049807
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded May 28th, 2022 In early May, Cuban president, Miguel Diaz-Canel returned the diplomatic favour, hosting his Mexican counterpart, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Havana. The two signed various agreements tying the two nations closer, while AMLO used the opportunity to further criticize historical US foreign policy in the hemisphere, reminisce about Mexican support for Castro and the Cuban revolution, and to call for the lifting of the decades-long blockade against Mexico's "sister nation." None of this likely pleases the United States, but worse still for the Biden administration is Obrador's hardly veiled threat to boycott next week's Summit of the Americas confab in Los Angeles.
Tim Boultbee is a long-time activist for Latin American human and democratic rights. From Ronald Reagan's Dirty Wars against the people of Nicaragua and El Salvador to the financial annexation of Mexico by means of the NAFTA agreement he has borne witness as an international observer at the front lines of the fight for justice. Tim is currently a member of CASC, the Victoria Central America Support Committee, assisted the Building Bridges Human Rights Project in Chiapas, and worked to raise funds for the Fray Bartolome Human Rights Center in San Cristobal.
Tim Boultbee in the first half. And; just as Canada has supported US belligerence in Latin America, (earning for the trouble exclusion from CELAC, the organization likely to determine the cultural, political, and economic future of the hemisphere) the current administration too has gone along with its larger neighbour's campaign to isolate China. The lengths Trudeau's government is willing to go to please Uncle Sam was made painfully obvious in its two-plus years contralegal persecution of Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou. Now, it has announced the exclusion of Huawei from this country's 5G communications network development.
Ken Stone is a long-time antiwar activist whose served as an executive member of both the Syria Solidarity Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. Ken and the Coalition fought tooth and nail against the incarceration of Meng Wanzhou and extradition efforts by the United States, and they've opposed the odious AUKUS military pact threatening war with China in the Pacific. The danger AUKUS presents to World peace ramped up last fall with the deal to provide nuclear powered submarines to Australia, and more lately with the announced rapid development of hypersonic missile technology and expanded electronic warfare aimed at the People's Republic.
Ken Stone on Huawei in Canada, and AUKUS going over the top in the Pacific in the second half. But first, Tim Boultbee and Biden's Summit of the Americas proving a low point in hemispheric interrelations. Chris Cook has hosted Gorilla Radio since 1999. Check out the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com
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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded May 7th and 8th, 2022. Though most Canadians don't know it they and their country are at war. And, it's not merely a war against "Putin's Russia" (started in response to the invasion of Ukraine). While it's true, Canada has been actively engaged in undermining Russia, it has not been doing so exclusively - at the same time it has in turn tried to undermine China, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Iran, Syria, and a host of other nations, (all conveniently catalogued for it by our friends and neighbours south). Only difference is, now the military aspect of Ottawa's international campaign of belligerence is glaringly apparent.
Yves Engler is a Montréal-based activist, and author of 12 books, mostly on Canadian foreign policy, including his latest, ‘Stand on Guard For Whom? A People’s History of the Canadian Military’. He’s also a prolific essayist whose many articles appear at numerous sites online, including at his website, YvesEngler.com, where his recent articles have focused on Canada’s growing involvement in the crisis in Ukraine, including 'Harper pushed conflict with Russia long before invasion.'
Yves Engler in the first half. And; while investigations by Canada's Department of National Defense exonerate itself of allegedly training Nazi's to kill Russians in Ukraine, (and presumably elsewhere) none are disputing the fact Canada's government is not only training, but also supplying the successors of Kiev's coupsters with the materiel vital to accomplishing that. And they're not alone. But, what remains the burning question of the moment is, "Where's the voice of global peace in this: Where's the United Nations?"
Last week, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres made his organization's position clear - sort of - by not only refusing to censure Ukraine's military for intentionally hiding its forces behind human shields in Mariupol, but possibly too, as my second guest reports, committing a war crime by taking part in a scheme to use those civilians as cover in an attempt to extricate combatants from the besieged Azovstal steel plant.
John Helmer is a journalist, author, and principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears. He’s a past scholar, and advisor to government at the highest level, and spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. His many book titles include: ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17, ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ and his latest, ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt‘ is newly out. His recent article, 'Did UN Secretary-General Guterres Commit a War Crime at Azovstal?"
John Helmer and crimes of commission and omission in Ukraine in the second half. But first, Yves Engler and Canada's long subterranean warmaking breaking cover. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio broadcast on CFUV.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded April 24th and 30th, 2022 God knows there's plenty to be afraid of on this planet of mad apes, not least of which are the agents of doom who would use the power of government agencies to create fear and panic in the public mind to further their political agendas, or merely line their own pockets. An abject case in point is the 2020 plot to kidnap and murder Michigan governor, Gretchen Whitmer by a hapless gang of local stooges on the eve of the presidential election. But all was not as advertised by the prosecution, or their star witnesses in the FBI. Last month, jurors threw out the case against two of those accused, and the jury hung on charges against two other "conspirators" when the extent of the FBI's role in fomenting and realizing an attack against the governor was revealed.
Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and author who serves too as Managing Editor of CovertAction Magazine. He’s the author of four books on U.S. foreign policy, including: ‘Obama’s Unending Wars’, and ‘The Russians Are Coming, Again’ co-authored with John Marciano. His latest piece at CovertAction is, 'Michigan Bomb Plot: FBI Scheme to Create False ‘Domestic Terror’ Cabal Exposed in Court'.
Jeremy Kuzmarov in the first half. And; incredibly, two and half years since the believed emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic uncertainty still surrounds the deadly pathogen's proximal origins. Instead, what exists now is a stand-off between two schools, each defending opposing theories that seem more politically doctrinaire than scientifically determined. But, nearing the third Summer of the pandemic, a third way, a novel phylogenetic method of analysis has emerged that promises to finally determine just where Covid-19 came from, and more importantly, how it came to dominate the course of human events.
Dr. Jonathan Latham holds a Masters degree in Crop Genetics, a PhD in Virology and is, along with Dr. Allison Wilson, co-author of a series of articles seeking to discover the origins of Covid-19. Latham is too co-founder and Executive Director of the Bioscience Resource Project, and Editor of Independent Science News, where his and colleague Allison Wilson's latest article, 'Delete, Deny, and Destroy: Chinese and Western Strategies to Erase Covid's Origin are Being Exposed by Independent Research' appears.
Jonathan Latham and the last gambit of the Great Virological Game in the second half. But first, Jeremy Kuzmarov and the FBI’s use of entrapment as part of a strategy designed to sow public fear and render support for draconian anti-terrorist legislation. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio broadcast on CFUV.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded April 23rd, 2022 The principle behind America's infamous military industrial complex isn't complicated. The formula is as predictable a process as making brunch; a simple recipe anyone can replicate - given the right ingredients. Step 1. Identify an enemy and stir up the people against him. Step 2. Set temperature to boil and allocate money through congress to fight enemy. Step 3. Cycle said funds through baked-in process of weapons procurement, and voila! It's so simple a child could do it.
Thursday, Joe Biden announced a further 800 million dollars worth of U.S. military aid for the Ukraine pot. This comes atop the roughly billion and half American bucks officially devoted to the war effort there - and brings the grand total of monies delivered or promised to more than $13.6 billion. That's some brunch! But then that's only the amount they've told us about: The real cost of this meal is much, much dearer.
Dan Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, award-winning journalist, union activist, human rights and democracy defender, filmmaker, and author. His book titles include: 'No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using 'Humanitarian' Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest,' 'Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture,' and the "Plot to" series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, Russia, and to control the World entirely.
Dan Kovalik in the first half. And; for two years now the planet has been held in thrall by a triad of media, the international medical community, and Big Pharma. We've all been told ad nauseum to follow the advice of the experts, sacrifice for the greater good, and most importantly of all, trust and follow the science. But can we safely put the World in the mouth of what my second guest calls "an outdated medical system invested in archaic practices"?
Gary Charbonneau is a Vancouver-based independent filmmaker whose first film, Vancouver Aquarium Uncovered made news in part for defeating attempts by that cetacean harbouring entity to use the courts to have his film quashed. Now Charbonneau is back and taking on another sacred cow with his timely documentary, The Medical Illusion: A Health Care in Crisis.
Gary Charbonneau and making the necessary transition to a new health care paradigm in the second half. But first, Dan Kovalik and the bitter harvest of America's long plotting against Russia being reaped now in Ukraine. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio broadcast on CFUV.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 16th, 2022. Israeli forces stormed Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque during Friday prayers last week. It was the culmination of attacks against Palestinians in towns, villages, and cities across the West Bank during Ramadan. Palestinian attacks within Israel since the beginning of the holy fasting month have too increased. As of writing, thirty people are dead on both sides, and it's feared this could be a prelude to a larger conflict. Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the Palestinian National Initiative says the confrontations over these two weeks "could become a wide-ranging Intifada."
Last year, military raids against worshipers in Al-Aqsa escalated to an eleven day conflict that included Israel's air force bombing Gaza killing hundreds, including at least sixty-five children.
Dr. Ramzy Baroud is a journalist, author, and editor of The Palestine Chronicle at PalestineChroncile.com. His book titles include, ‘My Father Was a Freedom Fighter’, ‘The Last Earth: A Palestinian Story’, ‘These Chains Will Be Broken: Palestinian Stories of Struggle and Defiance in Israeli Prisons,’ and his latest, co-edited with Ilan Pappé, 'Our Vision for Liberation: Engaged Palestinian Leaders and Intellectuals Speak Out.' Ramzy’s articles also appear across the internet and at his website, RamzyBaroud.net, where I found his recent piece, ‘Gaza’s Forthcoming Crisis Might Be Worse than Anything We Have Ever Seen.’
Ramzy Baroud in the first half. And; April begins the eighth year of the World's most dire humanitarian disaster, the asymmetrical conflict in Yemen. There, backed by western nations, Saudi Arabia has led a coalition of wealthy Arab states in a protracted war that has cost the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians; and threatens millions more.
Azza Rojbi is a social justice and anti-racism activist, author, and secretary of Mobilization Against War & Occupation, Vancouver's anti-war coalition. She's also with the Canada-wide #CanadaStopArmingSaudi campaign against this country's contribution to the suffering in Yemen, and works in solidarity with Latin America movements, including being a coordinator with Friends of Cuba Against the U.S. Blockade. Azza too serves on the Editorial Board of the Fire This Time Newspaper. Azza Rojbi's 2019 book, 'U.S. & Saudi War on the People of Yemen' is published by Battle of Ideas Press.
Azza Rojbi and Canada feeding the fire of war in Yemen in the second half. But first, Ramzy Baroud and Gaza without water. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio broadcast on CFUV.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded April 9th, 2022. The Trudeau administration has again demonstrated the elasticity of its commitment to the "international rules-based order" extends too to domestic jurisprudence. This time, the federal Liberals are turning a blind eye to the blatant recruitment of Canadians to fight in Ukraine. This flies in the face of the Foreign Enlistment Act, which clearly specifies those engaging in such activities are breaking the law, but as of this writing no arrests have been made or charges filed.
Ken Stone is a long-time antiwar activist whose served as an executive member of both the Syria Solidarity Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. Ken and the Coalition have released the statement on the government's latest failure to uphold the law, ‘Illegal Recruitment of Canadians for War in Ukraine’.
Ken Stone in the first half. And; as British Columbia's helicopter-assisted wolf culling season picks up, questions again are being raised about both the efficacy of the program and veracity of its claim to be necessary for saving the endangered Northern Caribou.
Eddie Petrashyn is an East Kootenay conservationist with Wildsight, an organization working to quote, "protect biodiversity and encourage sustainable communities in Canada’s Columbia and Rocky Mountain regions". Eddie's investigation into BC government-approved forestry practices in the Wood River basin, north of Revelstoke challenge the logic behind the BC NDP's conservation practices.
Eddie Petrashyn and saving northern caribou habitat in the second half. But first, Ken Stone and Canada's would-be foreign legionnaires. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded April 2nd, 2022 Mid-March marks the anniversary of what's been called the World's greatest humanitarian crisis. While that somber appellative may be moot, the war against Yemen continues into its eighth year with exactly the same horror and heartbreak you've seen amply depicted coming from Ukraine these past weeks - and rightly so - the difference though being the dearth of media coverage of Yemeni suffering. Pictures of schools and hospitals bombed, or the stories of parents and children maimed, killed, and rendered homeless still find little purchase in Canadian media.
But just because Canada's business, government, and media elite ignore the suffering of those in that benighted place does not mean Canadians don't care. Last week, members of the Victoria Peace Coalition took part in the Canada-Wide Peace and Justice Network event, Canada Stop Arming Saudi Arabia. It's an effort to end Canada's role in "fueling the war in Yemen", as the United Nations has repeatedly charged.
Colin Stuart is with the Victoria Peace Coalition, and is a supporter too of the Canadian Friends Service Committee, and a serving board member of World Beyond War.
Colin Stuart in the first half. And; the wars in Yemen and Ukraine are not the only ways Canada's new self-understanding as a 'warrior nation' manifest. Right here at home the militarization of the nation is moving forward on the double. Last week, the Trudeau government, newly reinforced by the party formerly known as the New Democratic Party, announced it would go ahead with its plan to spend billions on Lockheed Martin's F-35 attack jet. The purchase guarantees monies needed for the health and well-being of Canadians will instead be devoted to enriching one of the World's biggest purveyors of death and misery - for generations to come. And, it couldn't come at a worse time.
Glenn Michalchuk is chair of Peace Alliance Winnipeg. He's been active in the peace movement going all the way back to the era of Ronald Reagan's Dirty Wars in Latin America.
Glenn Michalchuk and Canada becoming a force against the people internationally in the second half. But first, Colin Stuart and Canada's part in Yemen's "forgotten war". Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 26th, 2022 Fortified with the assurance of a majority government, Canada's prime minister jetted off to Europe for "emergency" meetings at NATO's HQ in Brussels last week. It's fitting too in this instance that Justin Trudeau's political mandate, like that of the Kiev regime, was neither poll earned, nor an expression of the country's confidence in his leadership, but rather wrested from an NDP leadership too weak to defend democracy. In Ukraine, power was seized the old-fashioned way - from the barrel of a sniper rifle - as democrats bled in the streets. For Canadians, already hemorrhaging treasure in support the fascists over there, the real bleeding is perhaps yet to come.
Yves Engler is a Montréal-based activist, and author of 12 books, mostly on Canadian foreign policy, including his latest, 'Stand on Guard For Whom? A People’s History of the Canadian Military'. He's also a prolific essayist whose many articles appear at numerous sites online, including at his website, YvesEngler.com, where his recent articles have focused on Canada's growing involvement in the crisis in Ukraine, including 'Ukraine No-Fly Zone "Could Lead to End of Human Civilization".'
Yves Engler in the first half. And; a too brief ray of light shone down on journalist and publisher, Julian Assange last week. The world's preeminent political prisoner wed behind the walls of London's Belmarsh Prison, where he's been held contrary to all norms of British and international justice for nearly three years. The saga of Assange's struggle for freedom is well known to listeners of my second guest's Pre-News News Program, Slow News Day, available at Rokfin. It's where you go to get informed BEFORE the s*it hits the fan!
Steve Poikonen is an activist, documentary filmmaker, contributor to the Union of the Unwanted and MCSC Networks, and host of Slow News Day. He’s also been an organizer with Action4Assange, co-host of the #FreeAssange Vigil, and has participated in and helped organize multiple actions for Assange's release in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere in the U.S.
Steve Poikonen and justice denied again for Julian Assange in the second half. But first, Yves Engler and the dreadful inertia dragging Canada further into the mire of war. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 19th and 20th, 2022 Two years along and the Covid-19 epidemic is deemed done, by omission. Though the sickness goes on, Big Media has dropped the topic like a hot, rotten potato. But, before moving on, there's still a few questions of interest yet to be answered about the Sars-CoV-2 outbreak and its provenance; questions demanding more than an empty declaration of victory and tantalizing suggestions of a brand-spanking new war to follow, "after these brief messages from our sponsor".
Johnny Vedmore is an Investigative Journalist, Musician, Activist, Presenter of the Fungi Monkey Podcast, Video Creator, and Writer for UnlimitedHangout.com. His investigations and films can be found at his website FungiMonkey, and JohnnyVedmore.com, where I discovered his recent article, 'The Wellcome Five - The Proximal Origin of Covid Control'.
Johnny Vedmore in the first half. And; Britain's Supreme Court last week refused to hear Julian Assange's appeal of a High Court ruling allowing afterall his extradition to the United States. Assange has been imprisoned without trial in London's Belmarsh Prison since his unprecedented expulsion from asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy April 11th, 2019. United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture, Nils Melzer visited Assange during his first month at Belmarsh and described conditions of his incarceration in blistering terms in a statement released to the media. By all accounts, things have not improved for the prisoner.
UN Rapporteur on Torture Nils Melzer in place of Steve Poikonen in an interview we recorded in September of 2019 on Julian Assange's long punishment by process in the second half.
But first, Johnny Vedmore and Wellcome Trust, the "uncontrollable behemoth" in our midst. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
GR 11-67 Funding Drive 2022 Show CFUV 101.9 FM cfuv.ca (airdate/time) Thursday March 17th, 2022 11:00:00 2:30 Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 12th, 2022
And Happy St. Patrick's Day to all who celebrate Ireland's great, green saint. Today I'm leaving the usual show format for my contribution to this year's Funding Drive. If you've listened over the last week you know, today is the penultimate day for our annual outreach. I'll talk a little more about that as we progress, and about stories of the year past, the strange two years done, and Gorilla Radio after 23 years. And play some music too.
If you can help the station, go online to supportcfuv.ca, or phone us up - operators are standing by at: 250-721-8700 locally, 1-250-721-8700 from elsewhere on the island, in the nation, or across the World.
Meanwhile, listen to this....
11:02:00 6:00 Music: Benjamin Zephania - Naked - Rong Radio
11:08:45 2:40 Blatherskite - (bg: Benjamin Zephania - Naked - You Dream)
The great Benjamin Zephania, from his album 'Naked'. That's Rong Radio. You too may have been listening to the wrong radio stations. You may be listening to just that now...With that in mind, better cover our...bases....
11:09:15 :30 CFUV Disclaimer - Elephant Talk
One of the enduring gifts of the Covid-19 pandemic is the intense focus it has trained on our societal institutions: Not least of these being media. But, and it is an enormous but; the real penetrating, laser-like, lethal dosage attention has been much less on THE media, the dominant, near monopolies of information that is the legacy press, with its papers of record, or the state-sponsored broadcasters, and corporate allieged and aligned television network monolith media. No, it's the "social media" the matter. It is you and me, and the little people speaking to each other representing the real danger to democracy.
In their kindliest incarnation, the teevee personalities shake their talking heads sadly, and from their gilded studios in the sky look down upon us and say, "Forgive the transgressors, they know not what they transmit. It's the Russians you see, and those extreme populists that's got a-hold of their tongues and minds..." "Just a little reeducation's needed to bring them around, and some time away from Twitter, and Facebook, and Youtube. Soon enough, they'll be seeing things rightly, and singing again from the right hymn books."
Yeah; or maybe not.
11:11:00 5:00 Music: Transglobal Underground - Impossible Broadcasting - Radio Unfree Europe
16:40:00 :29 CFUV Funding Drive Announcement - Truth
17:10:00 3:00 Blatherskite
Welcome back to Gorilla Radio's special Funding Drive 2022 show. The impossibly good, Transglobal Underground and Radio Unfree Europe from their Impossible Broadcasting album of some years ago now. So, the pandemic is over! Well, maybe not so fast...but the mask mandates are dropping in BC, as are requirements for so-called vaccine passports - at least as of this date. Is it because the virus disappeared, surrendering the fight against humanity - a fight we never asked for? No. The mandates and ersatz vaccine passport regimes are going, for now, because legal challenges are primed and ready. Just more than a month has passed since the government here demanded health practitioners - including chiropractors, dentists, and all others subject to B.C. health-care colleges be vaccinated by March 24th or lose their license to practice. Last week, the provincial government changed their orders - while not, as Health Minister, Adrian Dix insists, backing down - saying health professionals must declare thier vaccine status to colleges, and those colleges informed they must now collect information on their membership. The files must be available to government inspection by month's end, or else....something... the threat has been left unuttered for now.
It all goes to underscore the way the people of B.C., and in every jurisdiction,
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 5th, 2022 Though not said in so many words, Canada is at war. Years of Canadian military support for the coup government and its successors in Ukraine has bolstered efforts to bring to heel the breakaway Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk. Up until a couple of weeks ago, that one-sided backing of Kiev in its civil war was officially limited to "non-lethal" aid and providing military "training", but that all changed on St. Valentine's Day. Then, as the Trudeau government's unprecedented enactment of the Emergencies Act was declared, a small announcement outlining the lethal change of policy, allowing machine guns, pistols, carbines and ammunition be shipped by Canadian companies into Ukraine was slipped past the Ottawa press gallery.
Ken Stone is a long-time antiwar activist whose served as an executive member of both the Syria Solidarity Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. Ken and the Coalition have released the statement on the situation, 'Ukraine: The US & NATO Created This Mess'.
Ken Stone in the first half. And; the last two years has proven a challenge to all of us. As individuals, the degree of that challenge has varied, for all the usual reasons life is more difficult for some than others - and for some new reasons too. But, more importantly, the pandemic, piled on top of the already present stressors of poverty, pollution, war, and ecological collapse, has made evident the fragility of our societies, and even that of human civilization.
In these early years of the 21st Century, the failure to maintain public trust has cascaded from all corners; from corporations and the government, to the church and even philanthropic institutions, all have lost favour in the public mind. None of these however are as mistrusted as Media. From "All the News That's Fit to Print" to "fake news" unfit for human consumption, there is a crisis of communication that today threatens as surely as any war or impending natural catastrophe.
Andy Lee Roth is the Associate Director of Project Censored and coordinates the Project's Campus Affiliates Program. His writings and research are published across the internet and in a variety of print publications. Andy's co-edited a dozen editions of Project Censored yearbooks, including the 2022 version, 'State of the Free Press 2022'. It's now out and available from 7 Stories Press.
Andy Lee Roth in the first half. But first, Ken Stone and Canada marching into another war of empire. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 23rd and 26th, 2022 As Canada stands on the precipice perhaps of war, what more timely moment could there be to examine Canadian foreign policy past and present, with an eye cast to a hoped for future?
The fire this time is burning in Ukraine, a country in which Canadian objectives - at least those of the political class - has played an instrumental role in the tumult there since 2014, leading to the crescendo of violence and uncertainty being seen today. The intrigues of Canada and its larger allies has ensnared Russia, as intended, and could lead next to similar conflict with China. But is this what Canadians want; following along in an endless parade of NATO-enforced wars and police actions in support of a failing U.S. empire?
John Price is professor emeritus at the University of Victoria, and member of the Advisory Board of the newly formed Canada-China Focus, a project of the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute and UVic's Centre for Global Studies. He is too author of the book, 'Orienting Canada,' and his essays appear at Canadian Dimension.com, where I found his eight-part series "investigating the crisis in Canada-China relations."
John Price in the first half. And; John Helmer and I spoke on the eve of what Russia is now calling its "military-technical" operation in Ukraine. Events, as John subsequently said, seem to have overtaken our conversation. Even so, the context he provides is invaluable, especially given the media landscape in this country, Canada where official sources do little more than parrot militarists in Ottawa and Washington - and, truth be told, they have been just that for some time longer.
John Helmer is a journalist, author, and principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears. He's a past scholar, and advisor to government at the highest level, and spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. His many book titles include: ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17, ‘Skripal in Prison,' 'The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ and his latest, 'The Jackals' Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt' is newly out. His recent article, 'The Body Language of the Speech - Putin has Repudiated Lenin, Stalin, Gorbachev, Yeltsin, & Mobilized Russia's Defence Against U.S. Attack As Never Before' he compares to the great rallying speeches of Lincoln, Churchill, and even Shakespeare's Henry the fifth. It is he says, "the most extraordinary [speech] in Russian history"
John Helmer and our most dangerous days ahead in the second half. But first, John Price and decolonizing Canadian foreign policy in the face of a new global war. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 23rd, 2022 John Helmer and I spoke on the eve of what Russia is calling its "military-technical" operation in Ukraine. Events, as John subsequently said, seem to have overtaken our conversation.
Even so, the context he provides is invaluable, especially given the media landscape in this country where official sources are little more now than parrots of the militarists in Ottawa and Washington - and truth be told they have been just that for some time longer.
John Helmer is a journalist, author, and principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears. He's a past scholar, and advisor to government at the
highest level, and spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. His many book titles include: ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17, ‘Skripal in Prison,' 'The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ and his latest, 'The Jackals' Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt' is freshly out now.
John Helmer and the most dangerous days ahead in Ukraine, Russia, and the rest of the World.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 12th and 20th, 2022 The Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club discovered last week the cost the province’s Community Safety Unit sees fitting for it to pay for the crime of providing British Columbians with medicines they cannot find elsewhere. Following raids led by the CSU in 2019 and 2020, the Buyers Club now faces fines approaching $6.5 million. It’s a price too far they say.
Ted Smith is a long-time justice activist and co-founder of the Victoria Cannabis Buyer’s Club, which for more than twenty-five years has provided cannabis-based products to people with terminal cancer and other incurable medical conditions. He says, though they were waiting for the CSU shoe to drop, the Club was still unprepared for the ridiculous amount announced. Nor were they ready for what followed: GoFundMe® disallowing their legal defense fund, and now webhost, Go-Daddy going and removing the club’s website - reportedly at the request of the CSU.
Ted Smith in the first half. And; there's a crisis in Canada. It's not the one you've likely been watching on the news nightly, but a greater crisis of confidence in the institutional foundations not only in this country, but across the western world. From the French Gilets Jaunes and Spain's Indignados, to the January 6th insurrectionists and Ottawa Freedom Convoyistas, there is an unmistakable whiff of tiki torch in the air. And, perhaps it's the promise of pitchforks to come that has Neoliberal, globalized leaders like Emmanuel Macron and Pedro Sánchez, and Justin Trudeau stabbing at the panic button? In Trudeau's case, the Canadian prime minister's minority government Februrary 14th declared a "public order emergency" and in an unprecedented step enacted the federal "Emergencies Act". This in response to a "fringe" group of truckers blocking streets in the nation's capital.
Dimitri Lascaris is a lawyer, journalist and activist, and former front-runner for the leadership of the Green Party of Canada. He calls the Trudeau government move "draconian & anti-democratic legislations" that he says "should not even exist".
Dimitri Lascaris on the Liberal government's St. Valentine's Day massacre of Canadians' civil rights, and the necessity to support dissent, even when you don't agree with the dissenters in the second half. But first, Ted Smith and the perils of practicing compassionate care for the sick and dying in Canada’s "legal marijuana" environment. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
The Victoria Cannabis Buyers Club discovered this week the cost the province's Community Safety Unit sees fitting for it to pay for the crime of providing cancer survivors and terminally ill British Columbians with medicines they cannot find elsewhere. Following raids led by the CSU in 2019 and 2020, the Buyers Club now faces fines approaching $6.5 million. It's a price too far they say.
Ted Smith is a long-time justice activist and co-founder of the Victoria Cannabis Buyer’s Club, which for more than twenty-five years has provided cannabis-based products to people with terminal and incurable medical conditions. He says, though they were waiting for the CSU shoe to drop, the Club was still unprepared for the ridiculous amount announced. Nor were they ready for what followed: GoFundMe® disallowing their legal defense fund, and now webhost, Go-Daddy going and removing the club's website.
Ted Smith and the perils of practicing compassionate care for the sick and dying in Canada’s new “legal marijuana” environment. From VCBC:
Hello!
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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 12th, 2022. Not content with the massive ecological damage created by land-based metals mining, industrial interests are now viewing the oceans of the world as the next frontier. Deep-Sea Mining, known too as Sea Bed Mining, is the next big thing - and we're told it will be a part of the solution to humanity's carbon pollution problem. Once again, technologists promise they'll fix the environmental problems they and modern society has created with technology, with technology. But, not everyone is convinced.
Julia Barnes is an environmental champion and award-winning filmmaker of the documentaries Sea of Life and Bright Green Lies. Julia is aligned now with an array of ocean defenders, contributing her talents to the effort to kill Deep Sea Mining in the cradle.
Julia Barnes in the first half. And; the Great Spotify Debate rages on, gathering adherents and detractors by the moment. You've likely heard of the furore Canadian rock legend, Neil Young began with his ultimatum to the online audio content streaming behemoth, saying its platform wasn't big enough for both he and talk show giant, Joe Rogan. Spotify replied to Mr. Young's demands by removing what music of his it had - doing little, incidentally to cool his spleen - so good for Neil. But, what about the majority of musicians whose music appears on the platform for a pittance; what does Spotify mean to them?
Rabble-rousing, anarcho-socialist type, David Rovics, whose frequent essays on political issues and societal observation are featured at CounterPunch and Dissident Voice.org among other places describes himself as a broadcaster, musician, blogger, and author of the novel, ‘A Busker’s Adventures’. But, he's more than just those things. David is also a husband and parent, alt-media maven, resident of the famously restive Portland, Oregon, and man with a special talent for pissing people off. His weekly program, This Week with David Rovics can be found through his website, DavidRovics.com, where you can read his essays, listen to his hundreds of original songs, or catch some of his hundreds of interviews. David also has picked bones with Spotify Inc. for years, and assays into it again in his latest essay, 'Neil Young, Joe Rogan, and a Swedish Billionaire' with a twist.
David Rovics and picking again at that pustule of the modern music reality, Spotify in the second half. But first, Julia Barnes and smashing the Deep Sea Mining Pandora in its box.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 5th, 2022. War and rumours of war are filling the headlines, and lede news broadcasts. Whether stories in the press are about a war recently past and its aftermath, like in Afghanistan, or a feared future war, as featured by sabres-rattling over Ukraine, what seems inescapable is war: War ever-present. This is perfectly illustrated in Afghanistan, where the end of war brings no peace, and in Ukraine where the killing and dying long preceded the rumour of fighting to come. So what's left to do but work for peace - and keep on working for peace.
Kathy Kelly is a long-time peace and justice activist, essayist, author, and recipient of numerous awards for her peace service; including multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace prize. She’s a founding member of Voices in the Wilderness and Voices for Creative Nonviolence, co-authored the book, ‘Prisoners on Purpose: a Peacemakers Guide to Jails and Prison,’ and wrote, ‘Other Lands Have Dreams: from Baghdad to Pekin Prison.’
Kelly has made numerous trips to Afghanistan as an invited guest of the Afghan Peace Volunteers and has lived alongside ordinary Afghan people in working-class Kabul.
Kathy Kelly in the first half. And; American and Canadian efforts to bring diplomatic and military pressure to bear on Russia over Ukraine may seem a mystery to those in the West who rarely receive context with their newspapers, or as part of their nightly newscasts. But worse still than the dearth of factual background information on critical issues available to readers and viewers from the media, the analysts and opinion-makers presented here more often than not represent those that profit most from the modern warfare economy. For those persevering though, it is still possible to glean sense from the chaos and even sometimes discern the hand behind the mayhem.
Ivan Katchanovski is a scholar, essayist, and author teaching at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa. He's the author of 'Cleft Countries: Regional Political Divisions and Cultures in Post-Soviet Ukraine and Moldova' and co-authored the books, 'Historical Dictionary of Ukraine' (Second Edition) and 'The Paradox of American Unionism: Why Americans Like Unions More Than Canadians Do, But Join Much Less'. His articles feature at Canadian Dimension.com, where his recent piece, 'The Hidden Origin of the Escalating Ukraine-Russia Conflict' appears.
Ivan Katchanovski and returning to Maidan to unwind the true origin story behind the current Ukraine-Russia conflict. But first, Kathy Kelly and the war not over in Afghanistan. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded January 29th, 2022 While the press here is doing its utmost to create panic at the prospect of a war with Russia in Ukraine, two things Canadians should know are: The war against Russia began in the West a century ago; and, it never stopped. The latest iteration of western hostility towards Russia - using Ukrainian fascists as a Cat's-paw to occupy its vast neighbour's attention - is an old gambit and, as the CBC might say, one "with a Canadian connection".
Richard Sanders is a full-time, full-on antiwar activist. He is a researcher, writer, campaign organizer and founder of the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade, or COAT. He's been at it since Ronald Reagan's Dirty Wars in Latin America in the 1980's, and continues the fight today. COAT's publication, Press for Conversion! has documented Canada's role in supporting far-right East European émigré groups; the same "rooted in fascist, ethno-nationalist movements that aided and abetted Nazi Germany...".
Richard Sanders in the first half. And; the Victoria Film Festival is back, running from February 4th through the 13th, with a hybrid model of in-person and online screenings. One of this year's offerings is Jeremiah Hayes' Montreal International Documentary Festival's People's Choice Award-winning 'Dear Audrey', an at once ethereal reflection on the enduring power of love, and unblinking revelation of life's sometimes steel-cold realities.
Jeremiah Hayes' Dear Audrey, "an invitation for all of us to take better care of each other" in the second half. But first, Richard Sanders and Canada's role revealed in the multi-generational war to divide and conquer Russia. Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded January 22nd, 2022 Unsurprisingly, Canada has joined America's sabre-rattling chorus in issuing threats against Russia should it behave as the U.S. says it shouldn't. It's a very old song and overplayed song. And, just like those once catchy radio tunes whose ubiquity condemns them to background oblivion, Ottawa's reflex bellicosity is in danger too of becoming just more white noise static in the martial cacophony. Today's selection may be Ukraine - but we've heard the lyric and the tune again and again and again.
Tamara Lorincz is a fellow with the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute, member of Canadian Voice of Women for Peace and a PhD candidate in Global Governance at the Balsillie School for International Affairs at Wilfrid Laurier University; her research focus the climate and environmental impacts of the military. Glenn Michalchuk is Chair of Peace Alliance Winnipeg and has been active in anti-war and peace movements going back to the Reagan Era of the 1980's.
Tamara Lorincz and Glenn Michalchuk in the first half. And; Canada's dyspeptic diplomacy is not limited to Russia; China too is disfavoured by the Trudeau government's truculence. Its latest ill-mannered gesture is an announced boycott against February's Beijing Olympics, which the prime minister says without irony is due to the concern of his "many partners around the world" for "repeated human rights violations" alleged against the People's Republic.
Ken Stone is a long-time antiwar activist whose served as an executive member of both the Syria Solidarity Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. Ken and the Hamilton Coalition are launching two petitions and one statement next week regarding the dismal state of Canada-China relations under Trudeau.
Ken Stone and reigning in Canada's running dog diplomacy in the second half. But first, Tamara Lorincz and ending Canada's military support of the civil war in Ukraine and its cheerleading for a broader war against Russia.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded January 15th and 16th, 2022 Last week, Russian and American diplomatic representatives met in Geneva for talks ostensibly aimed at forestalling an escalation of political manoeuvrings into open warfare over NATO expansion into states bordering Russia, and America's demand Russia return military units standing at the ready on their frontier with Ukraine back to barracks. Different now to long ongoing diplomatic friction between the nations, is a palpable sense of surrender on the Russian side - that is, the apparent abandonment of the hope America and its allies are capable of a reasoned solution.
John Helmer is a journalist, author, broadcaster, former political advisor to government, and principal behind the news website, Dances with Bears. Among Helmer’s many books titles are, ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17’ ‘Skripal in Prison’, ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia’, ‘Hitler Didn’t Die in Berlin – He Moved to Melbourne Where He Runs the State Government of Victoria: A True Covid-19 Thriller’, and his latest, The Dances with Bears Comic Book’. His recent article, 'Is Geneva 2022 Munich 1938 without Chamberlain's Piece of Paper? How to Read the US Paper for Peace in Our Time' breaks down the current diplomatic breakdown.
John Helmer in the first half. And; you may have noticed police in Canada look a lot like soldiers these days. Especially if you're within an "exclusionary zone". It's a place where the police uniforms go green as the law goes grey, and where citizens opposing extractivist business as usual get the "insurgent" treatment.
Molly Murphy describes herself as "a front line activist, builder, settler, and mother of three". She's also a BIPOC social justice warrior who counted as one among the more than 1,200 citizens arrested at Fairy Creek, (just up the road from Victoria). She's also co-author of the Mudgirls Manifesto, and author of the recent Briarpatch Magazine article, 'The C-IRG: the resource extraction industry’s best ally'.
The piece is a disturbing exposé of the RCMP practice of collusion with industry, and was produced in association with Research for the Front Lines, a new initiative, led by activist, researcher, educator and author, Dr. Jen Gobby. Research for the Front Lines "connects grassroots communities and organizers on the front lines of the fight for environmental and climate justice in Canada with researchers with skills, time, and labour to offer."
C-IRG at Work, Fairy Creek Photo Colin Smith. Briarpatch Jen Gobby and Molly Murphy taking to the Front Lines in the second half. But first, John Helmer and another front line, between America and Russia.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded January 8th and 9th, 2022 Contrary to the hoary adage, what's old in Washington these days is just old - and getting older by the day. Unlike his democratic predecessor, America's most seasoned president is not only willing to look back at history but seems ready to repeat it: At least as far as rerunning the long discredited Responsibility to Protect doctrine. Listeners of a certain vintage may recall the principle, dreamt up long, long ago; before the places it was applied became the smoldering ruins of where countries used to stand.
Poised right now at the heart of the Biden administration - in the perfect position to release again the Hellfire of "humanitarian intervention" - is Samantha Power, paladin of the 21st century 'Cosmopolitan Crusade'.
Dr. Chris Mott holds a Ph.D. in International Relations from the University of St Andrews. He says his work focuses on, "... historical geopolitics, grand strategy, and the intersection of defensive realism and conceptions of sovereignty in an era of increasing multi-polarity." His book, 'The Formless Empire: A Short History of Diplomacy and Warfare in Central Asia', traces the historical "...rise of indigenous forms of geopolitical strategy on the Eurasian steppe".
Chris also has served as researcher and desk officer for the U.S. Department of State, is a current fellow at the Institute for Peace & Diplomacy, and the author of numerous peer reviewed and general audience articles on foreign policy, including the recent Covert Action Magazine piece, 'Samantha Power and the Cosmopolitan Crusaders'.
Chris Mott in the first half. And; it's a story upon whose outcome the fate of life on Earth depended. At the beginnings of the nuclear age, two brilliant brothers were seconded to top secret US military projects. Each were determined to use their prodigious intellectual talents to help avert another disastrous World War; but by working on opposite sides of the Cold War divide.
Dave Lindorff is a publisher, Izzy Award-winning investigative journalist, author, and documentary film producer whose tentatively titled feature documentary tells the tale. Dave's film in-progress is on Ted Hall, the American wunderkind who may well have saved Russia and the World from nuclear conflagration. Dave's also the founder of the web news site, This Can't Be Happening.net, and contributor to The Nation magazine, where his latest piece, 'One Brother Gave the Soviets the A-Bomb. The Other Got a Medal' reveals new evidence of how both brothers beat J. Edgar Hoover's FBI at the height of America's infamous communist witch hunt.
Dave Lindorff and the Teenager Who Saved the World in the second half. But first, Chris Mott and the horrible second coming of humanitarian intervention.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com
Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded January 2, 2022. Regarding mastery of the propagandist's art British playwright, Harold Pinter lauded in his 2005 Nobel Prize for literature acceptance speech America for its "brilliant, even witty, highly successful act of hypnosis." How else to explain the serial crimes of our near neighbour, crimes committed without answer to any court - let alone broad public disgust or censure - but that the people are enstupored; victims of some malevolent, invisible mesmerist?
But for those of us aware, the unconscionable acquiescence of the mob does not excuse an abandonment of our duty to the truth. As Pinter said in 2005, "...[T]he search for the truth can never stop...It has to be faced, right there, on the spot."
Kim Goldberg is a Nanaimo-based poet, journalist, and author. She’s written 8 books of poetry and nonfiction, including her most recent collection ‘DEVOLUTION: poems and fables of eco-pocalypse‘. She covered BC current affairs for Canadian Dimension Magazine for many years, most recently on the Fairy Creek blockade, and also publishes at Substack, where her recent article, 'Mass Formation: How the Left Got Duped' examines the method, means, and implications of a society in the throes of mass hypnosis.
Welcome to Gorilla Radio's first program of the year, recorded December 30th, 2021 and January 3rd 2022. Honestly, we know the United States was never just. It's a human rights horror show now and always has been. Yes, "America" the propaganda construct is a triumph - we often have to remind ourselves of its genocides, slavery, and wars of plunder - but to any with even superficial familiarity, expecting justice from America is beyond naive. That's why some in Britain where surprised when their appellate court served journalist, publisher and political prisoner Julian Assange into the maw of America's industrial-prison complex. But then, justice is a stranger these days in England too.
Andy Worthington is an English journalist, activist, author, photo-historian, filmmaker, musician, song-writer and principle of The Four Fathers band. He is too co-founder of both the ongoing Close Guantánamo campaign and successfully completed We Stand With Shaker campaign. Worthington’s book titles include: ‘The Guantánamo Files: The Stories of the 774 Detainees in America’s Illegal Prison’, ‘Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion’, and ‘The Battle of the Beanfield’. Andy's articles appear at his website, AndyWorthington.co.uk, where he’s inviting participants to take part in 2022’s Close Guantanamo effort.
Andy Worthington in the first half. And; nearly a year since his ascent to office Joe Biden has succeeded in the first and foremost thing he was elected for; that is, he remains still to not be Donald Trump. But then, looking at Biden's record over this year passed, has the Biden difference been better for America and the World? My first guest is not optimistic, writing, "In many ways, Biden has actually been worse than Trump, for example, in his expansion of Special Forces operations in Africa, his aggressive stance on war in Ukraine, and in his use of human rights as a weapon to try to rally public opinion against China and Russia."
Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and author who serves too as Managing Editor of CovertAction Magazine. He’s the author of four books on U.S. foreign policy, including: ‘Obama’s Unending Wars’, and ‘The Russians Are Coming, Again’ co-authored with John Marciano. His latest piece at CovertAction, 'Biden’s First Year Foreign Policy Record May Be Worse than Trump’s' examines the new boss' dubious political accomplishments.
Jeremy Kuzmarov and looking back at Amtrak Joe's first year in the Oval in the second half. But first, Andy Worthington and what the Assange verdict and commencement of Gitmo's 20th year means for the real "rule of law".
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio. He also serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com
Welcome to Gorilla Radio's first program of the year, recorded December 30th, 2021 and January 3nd 2022. Honestly, we know the United States was never just. It's a human rights horror show now and always has been. Yes, "America" the propaganda construct is a triumph - we often have to remind ourselves of its genocides, slavery, and wars of plunder - but to any with even superficial familiarity, expecting justice from America is beyond naive. That's why some in Britain where surprised when their appellate court served journalist, publisher and political prisoner Julian Assange into the maw of America's industrial-prison complex. But then, justice is a stranger these days in England too.
Andy Worthington is an English journalist, activist, author, photo-historian, filmmaker, musician, song-writer and principle of The Four Fathers band. He is too co-founder of both the ongoing Close Guantánamo campaign and successfully completed We Stand With Shaker campaign. Worthington’s book titles include: ‘The Guantánamo Files: The Stories of the 774 Detainees in America’s Illegal Prison’, ‘Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion’, and ‘The Battle of the Beanfield’. Andy's articles appear at his website, AndyWorthington.co.uk, where he’s inviting participants to take part in 2022’s Close Guantanamo effort.
Andy Worthington in the first half. And; regarding mastery of the propagandist's art British playwright, Harold Pinter lauded in his 2005 Nobel Prize for literature acceptance speech America for its "brilliant, even witty, highly successful act of hypnosis." How else to explain the serial crimes of our near neighbour, crimes committed without answer to any court - let alone broad public disgust or censure - but that the people are enstupored; victims of some malevolent, invisible mesmerist? But for those of us aware, the unconscionable acquiescence of the mob does not excuse an abandonment of our duty to the truth. As Pinter said in 2005, "...[T]he search for the truth can never stop...It has to be faced, right there, on the spot."
Kim Goldberg is a Nanaimo-based poet, journalist, and author. She’s written 8 books of poetry and nonfiction, including her most recent collection ‘DEVOLUTION: poems and fables of eco-pocalypse‘. She covered BC current affairs for Canadian Dimension Magazine for many years, most recently on the Fairy Creek blockade. She also publishes at Substack, where her recent article, 'Mass Formation: How the Left Got Duped' examines the method, means, and implications of a society in the throes of mass hypnosis.
Kim Goldberg and watching more than the watch in the second half. But first, Andy Worthington and what the Assange verdict and commencement of Gitmo's 20th year means for the real "rule of law".
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio. He also serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com
Welcome to Gorilla Radio's first 2022 broadcast, recorded December 30th, 2021. Honestly, we know the United States was never just. It's a human rights horror show now and always has been. Yes, "America" the propaganda construct is a triumph - we often have to remind ourselves of its genocides, slavery, and wars of plunder - but to any with even superficial familiarity, expecting justice from America is beyond naive. That's why some in Britain where surprised when their appellate court served journalist, publisher and political prisoner Julian Assange into the maw of America's industrial-prison complex. But then, justice is a stranger these days in England too.
Andy Worthington is an English journalist, activist, author, photo-historian, filmmaker, musician, song-writer and principle of The Four Fathers band. He is too co-founder of both the ongoing Close Guantánamo campaign and successfully completed We Stand With Shaker campaign. Worthington’s book titles include: ‘The Guantánamo Files: The Stories of the 774 Detainees in America’s Illegal Prison’, ‘Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion’, and ‘The Battle of the Beanfield’. Andy's articles appear at his website, AndyWorthington.co.uk, where he’s inviting participants to take part in 2022’s Close Guantanamo effort.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing every Thursday between 11-Noon Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: https://cfuv.ca. He also serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com
Welcome to GR's Year-Ender episode.
Today I'll play out this stained 2021 in four fitting quarters taken from four of this past year's 52 Gorilla Radio programs...
There will be bloviating and some music too... First off, the threat of nuclear annihilation is back! America's team NATO has pushed Russia against the atomic wall in Ukraine with the prospect of U.S. nuclear-tipped missiles parked within just a few minutes flight time from Moscow.
In November, Vladimir Putin reiterated his "red line warning" regarding that near proximity and the existential threat it represented, making clear Russian missiles were now on a "5 minute" flight time hair trigger.
John Helmer is the most often appearing guest over the 23 years GR has aired. He's worked in and reported from Russia for the better part of the last thirty years, both before and since the disintegration of the Soviet system. Helmer's a journalist, author, broadcaster, former political advisor to government, and principle behind the news website, Dances with Bears. Some of his many book titles include: 'The Lie that Shot Down MH-17,' 'Skripal in Prison,' 'The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,' and 'Hitler Didn't Die in Berlin - He Moved to Melbourne Where He Runs the State Government of Victoria: A True Covid-19 Thriller' among many others. Here's John Helmer on NATO's Ukraine gambit and the new nuclear race's comeback. Another Australian journalist, Julian Assange spent all of 2021 as he had 2020 and most of 2019 suffering maximum security lockdown in London's Belmarsh Prison for the crime of revealing the crimes of empire. The political prisoners of 2021 after the break.
As well as the USA/NATO war machine's pushing the World ever nearer the brink of catastrophic war with Russia - and perhaps China too - this year past, it has too worked diligently to undermine civil society at home. Part of that effort includes the shutting down of dissenting narrative online, none arguably more vital to understanding our state of perpetual warfare than WikiLeaks - author of The Afghan and Iraq War Logs, Guantanamo and Syria Files, Vault 7 CIA Hacking Tools revelations, and the devastating Collateral Murder video among many others.
Earlier this month, Britain's appellate court overturned a High Court ruling denying a U.S. extradition petition on the grounds of prisoner Assange's fragile mental and physical health, allowing he be rendered unto American Justice to face unprecedented charges against a journalist and foreign national that could amount to almost two centuries worth of confinement. His family and supporters, and independent medical investigators with the United Nations fear Assange will not survive even the pre-trial detention.
Steve Poikonen is an activist and host of the ‘Slow News Day‘ podcast – available at Rokfin. He’s also an organizer with Action4Assange, co-host of the #FreeAssange Vigil, and has participated in and helped organized multiple actions for Assange in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere in the U.S. I spoke to Steve several times over the course of the year on the slow progress of the political case against the publisher, the last time in October. Here's Steve Poikonen on the continued Assange case charade.
That's Steve Poikonen. You can support his work over at Slow News Day podcast on Rokfin.
You're listening to Gorilla Radio's send off of 2021. I've heard it said this year was merely a replay of the unloved 2020; if only it were true. In this part of the World, across all metrics of progressive thought, 2021 marks a drastic decline in human rights and civil liberties. And it seems about to be getting worse. Julian Assange wasn't the only political prisoner held last year; whether Alex Saab in Cape Verde, or Meng Wanzhou in Canada, the much vaunted "rule of law" is increasingly seen for what it is: a sad joke. But the situation in Palestine is beyond even black humour. Israel's child prisoners after the break...