Veterans for Peace Radio Hour: Recent Episodes
jim wohlgemuth
Veterans for Peace is an international organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices for the causes of peace, humanity, equality, and justice. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide. Our radio show is on stations across the country.
Members of Veterans for Peace are once again not sitting idly by while the world devolves into calamity. Members Tarak Kauff, Ellen Davidson, and Anthony Donovan join us to talk about their peace walk which originated in Maine with a destination of Washington, D.C. on July 5, 2024. We caught up with them in Pennsylvania where they had just left Philadelphia on the way to Delaware and President Biden's home, Maryland past military polluters and war industry facilities to DC where they will take a stand for Peace. So far most of the walk has been inspiring with only enough problems to let them know that work has to be done and Peace is the goal. You can still join this walk, so listen to find out how. We then finish with a great version of Take Me Home Country Roads by Playing for Change.
As we remember President Kennedy's Peace Speech at American University on June 10, 1963, we realize that with each passing year, his words are more important and more recognized, but also more ignored by US leaders. This year we add the input of Dr. Jeffrey Sachs who reflects on how the last five presidents have specifically ignored President Kennedy and in fact done many of the things President Kennedy said we would never do.
While all eyes seem to be on Gaza, we ignore what the US is doing in Asia at our own peril. Author, scholar, activist, and teacher K.J.Noh returns to the show to explain what the US is doing in the Pacific. He explains the Pentagon plan called "transnational kill chain" and why the US continues to try to generate alliances to encircle and threaten China. What is Link 16? Are our military adventures bleeding us dry? Can we actually fight wars on two or three fronts at once? Is there a chance for peace? Would there be any difference between Biden or Trump? We then finish with Pink Flood.
Harvey and Jim profile the Israeli organization of IDF Veterans called Breaking the Silence which, like VFP, is trying to get the word out to the public of the futility of war. We also have a clip of Ayman Mohyeldin criticizing his own MSNBC along with final reflections of Memorial Day. We finish up with a song from Maher Zain, Palestine Will Be Free.
Are Moral Injury and Memorial Day in the US intertwined? Does our war culture, supported by the church, the military, our education, our politics, our defense industry, silence our national need to grieve war? Dr. Kelly Denton-Borhaug, author of "And Then Your Soul is Gone, Moral Injury and US War Culture, joins us to discuss that question and they way we "celebrate" Memorial Day. Harvey also shares his experience on how to recognize Memorial Day. Then we finish with Where Have All the Flowers Gone.
Harvey and Jim discuss the student protests and the unconscionable lies coming from the speaker of the house and the president weaponizing the Holocaust. Using recent clips from Breaking Points, System Update, and Shahid Bolsen they look at the attempts of the government to manipulate and generate a narrative of anti-Semitism to demean and condemn the peaceful protests on college campuses. Those messages are countered by the words of Shahid Bolsen and the official statement from Veterans for Peace.
Will Hopkins, the new Executive Director of Veterans for Peace joins Barry Riesch and Colleen Rowley Freedom Flotilla volunteers as we discuss today's VFP activism and tomorrow's activism. Will leads off by discussing how he went from combat to the peace movement and what he sees as vision and challenge for VFP. Then we turn to Barry and Colleen who are just back from attempting to sail as part of the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza to break the Israeli siege and bring aid to the Palestinian People in Gaza. We then finish with Emma's Revolution.
Bruce Carruthers our resident expert on VA Health Care updates us on a VA report that slams privatization, but can we get it released so that it can make a difference? Then we turn to Student protests with an update from the encampment at Vanderbilt. Then the Freedom Flotilla was blocked through the efforts of Israel and the US. Will another country offer a flag to let them sail? Finally, as college administrators consider the National Guard, we remember Kent State Day through song.
Today Harvey and Jim catch up and follow up with the alumni and student involved in the protest on the Vanderbilt campus. Harvey targets Boeing putting profit over passenger safety. We also reflect on an interview between Aaron Mate and Norman Finkelstein from six years ago about the Palestinian right to resist, the right to defend themselves. Veterans for Peace also has another letter, this time to Biden, calling out his violations of the Symington Glenn amendment in providing aid to a nuclear state (Israel) that has not signed on to the NPT. We finish up with a new song from Dave Rovics.
Vanderbilt University in Nashville is leading the way in the draconian responses against pro-Palestinian rallies and protests. Today we talk to a Vanderbilt Alumni, a Vanderbilt student who was suspended but now faces probation, and a Staff Writer for the Nashville Scene who was arrested. We find out what the students were protesting and why. We talk about the disparate treatment of pro-Palestinian efforts versus more reactionary groups. We try to understand the Chancellor's principled neutrality to education at Vanderbilt. Think about principled neutrality; what might that actually mean? We ask the question is Vanderbilt University betraying or actually upholding it history of dealing with protests on campus? We finish up with Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine.
Larry Hebert was able to join the show for this in-depth discussion of his hunger strike in support of Palestine and against the Biden foreign policy of Biden's unconditional support of Israel's genocide on Gaza. We missed our initially established interview time because Larry was directed to go to Walter Reed Army Hospital for blood work and a mental evaluation. After being cleared, he talked to us from the grounds of the US capital. We talked about his hunger strike, his protest, his frustration that Aaron Bushnell's self-immolation generated more of a response in the Middle East than it did in the US, and his disillusionment about the US Military. We finish with Eddie Mack and The Sound of War.
Veterans for Peace specifically documents the national and international laws that the US is violating in its facilitation of Israel's genocide in Gaza. Executive Director of Veterans for Peace Mike Ferner and VFP member Jack Gilroy join us to specifically go over that charges VFP alleges in a letter to Anthony Blinken and other senior members of the State Department that calls on the Inspector General to initiate a criminal investigation. They specifically detail how the US is in violation of at least six domestic statutes and treaties. To see the letter: https://www.veteransforpeace.org/files/4017/0777/8707/VFP_StDept_ltr_FINAL_2-11-24.pdf
We know that Israel has made claims that it has a greater historical claim to the land than the people in the West Bank and Gaza. So what do the historical facts actually say? For that we turn to Middle East Historian, retired teacher, and activist Krishna Madan to trace the turbulent history of the people who lived on the land east of the Mediterranean Sea. We talk to Krishna personally and refer to the presentation he gave to Veterans for Peace which you can see here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EUnXQOhtoE&t=30s
In this show we revisit our discussions with Ellen Davidson of Veterans for Peace on her discussion of Apartheid and the clear case of Israel/Gaza. Then we turn to Dr. Walter Hixson, author and historian on the dangers of the Israeli Lobby on our own democracy. Yes AIPAC and others threaten our democracy. We then finish up with a wonderful song from the RJ Phillips remembering Bloody Sunday at the Edmond Pettis Bridge 59 years ago March 7, 1965.
The Congress wants to ban Tik Tok so that is a good reason for Harvey and Jim to join Tik Tok to see why and we think we found out. It is all about the young people getting their news. Nothing is going to freak Congress out more than young people getting independent news. Then we talk about an article from Al Jazeera relating Rachel Corrie to Aaron Bushnell to Viola Liuzzo and other people recognized by the marginalized. We finish up wondering about the hullabaloo surrounding the Oscars and the movie Zone of Interest.
In this heart-wrenching show, we discuss Aaron Bushnell's self-immolation or as Chris Hedges characterizes it, his divine violence. We use several clips to explain better and characterize his sacrifice, including Caitlyn Johnstone and Ann Wright. We also discuss mainstream media's predictable failure in reporting on Aaron. We hear from veterans during vigils and tributes remembering and honoring Aaron. We finish up with Al Jazeera's take on Biden's food drop. Joe Cocker sings our tribute to Aaron.
Two staff members of the Highlander Center join us to talk about their work to derail fascism in the South. Emma Cager Robinson and Denzel Caldwell discuss the challenges in the South and the workshops, training classes, video screenings, and camps offered by the Highlander Center to combat the movement toward fascism in the South. This is critical as they believe that as the south goes so will the nation so we need to get this redirected now. They also highlight Tennessee as a quiet, covert domestic leader in this movement to the right.
Today we try to remember Black History and at the same time, we talk to a Black lady trying to make history. Amber Sherman, activist, and organizer, joins us to talk about local, national, international, and political issues facing us today. We also remember Septima Clark, referred to as the Mother of the Civil Rights Movement. Septima Clark taught Rosa Parks at the Highland Center and now Amber Sherman tries to follow in Septima's shoes by organizing in Tennessee.
The Summit on Nuclear Deterrence was just last week and "WE" were there to witness the insanity and the "evil." Harvey Bennett joined Greg Mello, Executive Director of the Los Alamos Study Group, and journalist Jim Carrier, who attended the three-day "summit" to hear members of the nuclear industrial complex and the Federal Government talk about nuclear war and deterrence. Can you imagine that they actually believe that we need to be ready to fight a nuclear war and win it? Hear that and a few voices of reason on what our country is doing in your name and with your tax dollars. We finish with Sam Cooke because change better come.
Dr. Walter Hixson, historian, author, commentator, and Middle East Scholar, joins us to discuss the Israel lobby and it's negative/dangerous influence in the United States. Dr. Hixson discussed the Israeli lobby anchored by the American Israeli Political Action Committee, (AIPAC) and identifies its influences not only on our federal representatives but also on our educational systems, our media, and down to our state and local officials. They are pervasive and dangerous. We then end with Imagine by John Lennon just to generate a little hope.
We start the show by hearing from two activists in the cause of helping Veterans meet the challenges they face returning to civilian life. Susan Combs talks about the program, Pancakes for Roger, inspired by her father, the late General Roger Combs, and the foundation she is building to support Veterans in his name. She includes the University of Missouri Veterans Legal Clinic and all the work they do to help Vets navigate the governmental bureaucracies. Then Aaron Eckerberg talks ETMS the cutting-edge treatment that is helping Veterans and first responders heal from the trauma of their PTSD. Harvey and I finish up with some discussion of recent events and then we hear a somber rendition of the Hymn from the Marine Corps Band.
Veterans for Peace Member Paul Gingras is the executive producer of a new documentary about Catonsville 9 Member Tom Lewis. Paul talks about his friendship with Tom, Tom's activism and connection with the Berrigans and of course Tom's art. All these experiences combined with Tom's early death led to Paul committing to create a documentary to ensure that the legacy of Tom Lewis will live on an thrive. We finish with Dar Williams!
Part two: After hearing Dr. King talk directly to us about the issues we face today with regard to racism, militarism, and capitalism, we bring back Climate and Peace Activists Cindy Piester and Dr. Omar Clay to complete their discussion from last week. They also give us assignments on what WE can do and what lots of people are doing to address the climate crisis, militarism, and more. We finish with a heart-wrenching song from Michael Heart.
COP 28 was not all bad news. VFP's Cindy Piester is back to give us a rundown about the good, the bad, and the ugly of COP 28 and this year she brought along Dr. Omar Clay to break the science down into scary details. Yes, there were major issues but the activists and delegates managed to make enough people mad that progress was actually made, despite the efforts of the US, the fossil fuel industry, and the oil baron President of the COP. We finish with Canary in the Coal Mine by Janet Bates.
Harvey and Jim discuss a variety of clips from some of their best sources Democracy Now, Breaking Points, and Counter Points. They specifically define genocide and terrorism and show that what Israel is doing is genocide while what Hamas did was terrorism in killing civilians in Israel. We also hear the pastor in Bethlehem calling our Christian Churches while Steve Sosebee relates the sad story of two Palestinian young men who were healed and then killed by Israel. Things got to change and so we hear Sam Cooke.
Ellen Davidson, VFP Board member, editor of Peace and Planet News, and activist, compares what is going on in Israel to what went on in South Africa and definitively makes the case that Israel is an apartheid state. She also talks about anti-Semitism and how Israeli actions are exacerbating anti-Semitism in the US and elsewhere. Harvey then reflects powerfully on US complicity, especially during this holiday season.
Pat Elder of Military Poisons dot Org joins us to talk about PFAS the threat that is silent, under the radar but could drastically alter humanity if not dealt with. And guess where a lot of PFAS in the US comes from, the US Military of course. Pat discusses the origins, the dangers, the overwhelming spread, and actions we can take just like Hawaii and Japan to start dealing with this man made mess. While the climate and nuclear Armageddon are right in our faces, PFAS is the danger that is going to sneak up on us unless we do something.
Today we realize just how important it is that the Biden Administration drop the charges against Julian Assange and not set a precedent that could undermine journalism worldwide. Today we share with you portions of the Belmarsh Tribunal which was convened by Democracy Now, The Intercept, and others as great minds from journalism, international politics, international law, and the media share the call to release Julian Assange, drop the charges, and end the efforts to extradite him. We reflect on his accomplishments and his impact on journalism and how the US could set a horrific precedent for all journalists if they continue, to pursue extradition.
You will not hear this story anywhere else but here. The Second Meeting of States Parties of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons just finished and VFP Member Anthony Donovan was there. He joins us to give his reflection on the meeting and his perspective on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. While the news is dominated by Israeli genocide in Gaza, the world does not stop and the efforts of so many countries to eliminate the threat of nuclear war continues. That is why the activism of Anthony, VFP and so many other groups needs to be recognized.
We share several important clips that link Israeli atrocities with US atrocities that you may have missed while celebrating Thanksgiving. We share the voices of Ta-Nehisi Coates, Michelle Alexander, and Rashid Khalidi from a show aired on Democracy Now and then Norman Finkelstein from an interview he did with Krystal Ball on Breaking Points. All related personal experiences showed how what is going on in Gaza by Israel (with our taxpayer complicity) is connected to what the US has been doing for a long time. Alexander relates the words of Dr. King, Coates the connection to the lives of his parents and grandparents, Khalidi and our genocide of Native Americans, Finkelstein with Nat Turner.
Krishna Madan educator, activist, and member of VFP joins Harvey and Jim to discuss a number of issues but primarily it is the Middle East. Krishna points out the history of Israel that Americans have been denied showing that the US public has been manipulated for more than 70 years to generate our un-questioning support for Israel. He turns the tables on Hamas using human shields and shows how Israel actually is the one using human shields. AND MORE including a song from Ireland to support the people of Palestine.
The MerchantsofDeath.org has initiated a people's war crimes tribunal against key weapons manufacturers. Harvey and Jim share this abridged version of the first session in this gripping show by highlighting the need, the precedent, and the facts about these war criminals. In this first session Merchantsofdeath.org concentrate on the US weapons makers fueling the genocide in Gaza. We finish with Masters of War by Bob Dylan
Dave Logsdon joins the show to talk about the Veterans for Peace project to reclaim Armistice Day a day to celebrate and work for peace. November 11 used to be Armistice Day but that was changed in 1954 when it became Veterans Day and since then it has been a holiday to celebrate war and militarism. VFP is trying to bring back that sentiment of peace to the United States before it devolves further into an outlier and bully within the world community. Dave Logsdon is the facilitator and coordinator of the project and joins us to share the importance of doing just that.
Veterans for Peace co-founder comes back to the show to share his experience in his recent trip back to Vietnam this time with his son. Doug relates and connects his experiences from 53 years ago with post-911 veterans and today's possible recruits through poetry and the work of Vietnam Veterans in Vietnam to help heal that country and themselves.
Harvey and Jim listen to and discuss the interview on Al Jazeera's The Bottom Line with host Steve Clemmons and guest Daniel Levy. They talk about the history of mistakes, ignored agreements, and broken promises that have led us to this moment of destruction and despair. After that, we hear the desperate words calling for a ceasefire from Rashida Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley, and Cori Bush. Then thanks to Mike Figueredo and his Humanist Report we reflect on a progressive who advocates for the death of more children. We finish with a wonderful call for peace by Michael August and Nell Levin and their song Jerusalem.
Today we are going to try to talk about and be relevant about the very fluid and disastrous situation in Gaza. We are going to share the VFP statement, hear from Caitlin Johnstone, Al Jazeera, Krystal, and Saagar from Breaking Point with a dire warning, and try to give our take on our own United States inability to help this by negating UN calls for a cease-fire, sending two carrier groups to the region as a so-called deterrent and sending billions of arms to a well-armed country which apparently is conducting war crimes and genocide. We finish up with a song about a human rights hero: Rachel Corrie.
Code Pink, Veterans for Peace, and many other organizations sponsored a forum in Washington, DC on Peace In Ukraine. The forum was facilitated by Eugene Puryear and Media Benjamin with speakers Lee Camp, Claudia DeLa Cruz, and Cr. Cornell West. The facilitators and speakers reflect the sentiment of the people of the world and the US in calling for negotiations. They then ask us to make waves and noise and bring that message to our leaders. Just like the song we end with they ask us to STAND like Sly Stone.
Harvey lives within miles of where the F-35 crashed and the pilot ejected, so we will talk about the F-35 and Harvey's efforts to reach out to his elected officials to get them to pay attention. Then we discuss a recent GAO study of the F-35 and we hear the words from the past of John McCain and Pierre Sprey. From that, it is clear the F-35 is expensive, dumb, and now very dangerous.
Bruce Carruthers of Save our VA (SOVA) working group updates us on their efforts to halt efforts to privatize the VA and identifies two bills that must be stopped, S1316 and S2649. Then Ryan Black of DefuseNuclearWar.org and Marcy Winograd of Code Pink and Peace in Ukraine joined the VFP No Nukes Working group to promote two weeks of action to push for peace and disarmament. Letting us know that if we don't we will face Great Balls of Fire (Jerry Lee Lewis).
In the wake of the nationwide actions on ending fossil fuels, Steve Morse of the Veterans for Peace Climate Crisis and Militarism Project joins the show to discuss why the biggest polluter is often ignored when we discuss our climate catastrophe. Steve also talks about the work of the Climate Crisis and Militarism Project and how you request their help to address the Climate. Jim interviews some people at the Nashville Climate March and we also hear from Jamal Bowman along with some word salad from Nancy Pelosi.
IF YOU KNOW OF SOMEONE CONSIDERING THE MILITARY YOU NEED TO SHARE ANN'S STORY FIRST. Today we hear the true story of ANN and her Military Sexual Assault and the resulting trauma. Jenny Pacanowski of Women Veterans Empowered and Thriving (womenveteransempowered.org) facilitates Ann telling her story about her experience and the continued failure of the military to address this issue. Before you join or before you let someone (especially a young lady) join the military you need to hear Ann's story. For help with military sexual trauma be sure to go to https://www.womenveteransempowered.org/ .
After a quick recognition of Labor Day and the UAW efforts to help the big three automakers support their workers, we return to our coverage of the VFP convention. We talk nukes in Europe, democracy in the US (or lack thereof), where VFP has been to help us be inspired on where we are going and then Kathy Kelly gives us inspiration and remembers Daniel Ellsberg. We finished with a song from Jacob George.
Veterans for Peace held its 2023 Conference with a dynamic set of speakers and impactful schedule of webinars/workshops. Harvey and I only touch on the importance of this conference and how it demonstrates the effective and important work of Veterans for Peace. We honored the memory of Daniel Ellsberg which was reflected in the conference theme of Choose Peace, Stand Up, Speak Out. We included clips from the first two days of the conference from the Climate, Deported Vets, War in Asia, Poetry, Remembering Dan and much more.
Professor Peter Kuznick joined the Veterans for Peace No Nukes group to discuss the movie Oppenheimer. Professor Kuznick provided the most in-depth analysis we have heard so far pointing out the many important and factual parts of the movie and the deficiencies, Professor Kuznick also provides a great history lesson about those times including a brief reference to Henry Wallace and how different things might have been. He also critiques several other movies that do not meet muster and refers to the thoughts of his friend and collaborator Oliver Stone. We finish with Joan Baez.
PLEASE SHARE WITH ANYONE CONSIDERING THE MILITARY.
Today we welcome Special Guest Dr. Sam Coleman of the Veterans for Peace Military Trauma working group. Dr. Sam discusses moral injury, military class structure, American class structure, and much more. Could it be that we are all suffering from Moral Injury? We also quickly discuss Niger and the struggles in Africa and remember Patrice Lumumba from so long ago. We finish with a song from friend of the show Jason Moon as we all try to find our ways home.
We start the show hearing and discussing clips from Professors Alperovitz and Ruane about why the evidence shows clearly that the bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki were not necessary. We then turn to the article written by William Hartung published in the Peace and Planet News about the movie Oppenheimer, Nuclear Industrial Complex, and public denial. During his article he refers to other movies and thus we share clips (but not spoilers) from Dr. Strangelove and Fail Safe. We also discuss other movies: Threads and The Day After. We finish with a classic from Vera Lynn.
There are TWO MOVIES out about the A-Bomb and about two amazing Physicists who created them. One is Oppenheimer about Robert Oppenheimer and the other is A Compassionate Spy about Ted Hall. In this episode, Harvey and Jim discuss and reflect on Oppenheimer and then they will introduce you to A Compassionate Spy by the name of Ted Hall. You have probably seen the first and never heard about the second even though both are getting great reviews, both involve the creation of the A-Bomb and both reflect on the dilemma of conscience of these two men that worked on it. This is truly fascinating. We also honor Sinead O'Connor.
Yes, More voices talking about the reality and the dangers of the war in Ukraine. We continue with the holistic/historical approach from Dr. Glenn Diesen and Pascal Lottaz of Nuetrality Studies. We get the European holistic approach from MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace. Then we finish up with a US historical and holistic approach with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs. Yes, you will hear more about media manipulation, US government bullying of Europe, and European capitulation. You will hear about the partnership growing between Russia and China thanks to our provocations and more.
In this first of a two-part discussion and for the second week in a row we try to take a historical and holistic view of the Russia-Ukraine war and much more by sharing an interview by Pascal Lottaz of Neutrality Studies with Norwegian Professor Glenn Diesen. Professor Diesen discusses how this war was predicted as far back as the Clinton Administration. He also points out how US policies past and now concentrating on military power have actually undermined our standing in the world which is moving toward Geo Economic power.
Harvey and Jim reflect on Glenn Greenwald's recent interview with John Mearsheimer in an attempt to spread the thought that it is important to look at the Russian/Ukrainian war from Russia's perspective to understand what provoked Putin and what we can expect in the future. Beyond that Mearsheimer also points out the effects of this war on the global power structure, the US/Nato's capabilities, the continuing escalation, Ukraine's untenable position and more. This clearly is not pretty.
Yes, Jim Goes off the rails. Harvey and Jim continue to ask the question Independence Day for whom, especially in light of the recent rulings of this supreme court which have gutted independence for women, students, the LGBT community, African Americans, and more. We ask about who is celebrating Independence Day: Native Americans, peaceful protestors, the enslaved and the generations since enslavement, and more. We then ask you for the fortitude to look to the continuing potential of the country for good despite what we all see from scotus as we continue to ask Independence for whom and strive for the day when we will have independence for all.
Do you know the long-term hazards of depleted uranium? Do you know what it is used for and why it is so popular with the US and other warring countries? Damacio Lopez joined the Veterans for Peace No Nukes Working Group for a discussion about depleted uranium and his 37-year fight to get this deadly element banned. He is joined by other members of the No Nukes group during this lively and abridged conversation.
We revisit our discussion last Veterans Day with Dr, Kelly Denton Borhaug on Moral Injury. This is such an important discussion not only if you are a veteran but also if you are an American who is keeping up with the world wide chaos and out policies of military insanity. No wonder we are depressed.
We start with Representative Jim McGovern trying to keep President Kennedy's call for peace alive through his House Resolution 77. He is introduced by Denise Duffield of Back from the Brink. Then are American Taxpayers arming and funding Nazi's in Ukraine and if so who cares after all they have no real power. RIGHT? BUT what if they do? We heard from Aris Roussinos on UnherdTV hosted by Freddy Sayers.
Let's be brutally honest President Kennedy would not recognize the country we have become. Today we remember and celebrate his call for and strategy for Peace In All Time. Harvey and Jim go step by step through the speech he gave in June of 1963 at American University, pin pointing the wisdom and humanity. They also highlight how far we have devolved as a country, as a world power, as an example for the world. President Kennedy would be so disappointed in how we have squandered our potential for good. This could be one of the most important shows we have ever done, if only someone would listen.
Gail Walker of IFCO Pastors for Peace revisited Nashville to promote the Cuba Caravan calling attention to the potential for Cuba to be a great friend to the US if we could get over our 64-year grudge. Then Gerry Condon, Helen Jaccard, and Ellen Barfield update us on the progress, the promise, and the incredible welcome the Veterans for Peace Sailboat the Golden Rule is receiving in the mid-Atlantic. They also discuss Cuba. We finish with the song Hiroshima by the English Group Wishful Thinking.
Here we are another Memorial Day. This year we have as our guests Matt Hoh, Associate Director of the Eisenhower Media Network, and Mike Ferner, interim Executive Director of Veterans for Peace discussing the mistaken message of today's Memorial Day. We will not only get their take on the devolution of this "holiday" but we will also go into the letter to President Biden, generated by the Eisenhower Media Network that appeared in the NY Times demanding a cease-fire and negotiations. Matt Hoh as Associate Director was instrumental in getting this letter into the Times and apparently, it is having an effect.
We talk to members of two very active chapters of Veterans for Peace, Tom Charles and Hollis Higgins of Spokane Washington, and John Wilks of Albuquerque. In Spokane, Tom has led the effort to get an ordinance passed to outlaw the nuclear weapons industry. Then John Wilks talks about the wasteland that the nuclear industry has made of New Mexico and their extensive efforts to educate the people and get this stopped. Both these chapters show what Veterans for Peace can do with some unity and energy. We then finish with Pete Seeger's live rendition of "Turn Me Round."
Today's show includes the wisdom of four people who will find on independent news because the truth they share is not ready for primetime mainstream media. While the subjects they talk about may seem different you can easily figure out their connection. Caitlin Johnstone talks about Biden's hypocrisy in celebrating press freedom day while persecuting Julian Assange, Krystal, and Saagar about the drone over the Kremlin and that dangerous escalation, Juan Gonzalez on burying the Monroe Doctrine, and Yanis Varoufakis about Europe becoming a vassal of the US, or worse.
In the wake of Biden's agreement with South Korea to port nuclear-armed submarines, we rushed to get KJ Noh back on the show to discuss this deal and ask does Biden really want war with China. KJ is not optimistic about a peaceful future unless we the people demand it. Then we briefly remember that was just May Day and of course, the US ignores its workers. We finish honoring Harry Belafonte.
Today we start with Dr. Jim Rine of the Climate Crisis and Militarism Project of VFP on Earth Day and the connection between the military and the climate catastrophe. Then we hear the presentation of Professor Xia Mian during the SHAPE (Saving Humanity and Planet Earth) (www.theshapeproject.com/) Webinar: The Rising Danger of Nuclear War – A Homage to Daniel Ellsberg.
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE END FOR A RECENT UPDATE FROM TENNESSEE. Today is another two-part show. We start in Tennessee where the republican caucus comes clean on their thoughts and feelings about the backlash from the expulsions. Then we turn to Krystal and Saagar and even Tucker Carlson who call out the mainstream media for their focus on the leaker and not the critical information that was leaked and how we have been lied to. THEN I UPDATE US FROM THE MORAL MONDAY IN TENNESSEE.
Today we cover several topics. We start in Nashville where the Tennessee legislature has demonstrated clearly its white supremacy and misogyny. We talk to people in the gallery who came to witness the unjustified and racist expulsion of Justin Jones, Justin Pearson, and Gloria Johnson. We then listen to a presentation by Azmat Kahn investigative reporter on the deadly impact of US killer drones and air strikes. We finish up with a song highlighting the disaster that is missing and murdered indigenous women called Red Dress from our friend Joseph Defilippo and the RJ Phillips band.
Peace Workers US .org put together a collection of statements from the speeches of Dr. King and Harvey and I wanted to share some of them and relate them to what is happening today. While we realize how much we lost when he was assassinated in April of 1968, we are grateful that his words and wisdom live on if only we would listen. So we are hoping we are planting a seed and if you want to hear all of the whole collection just go to peaceworkersus.org.
Three great peace activists join us to discuss the upcoming protest at Holloman Air Force Base in April. Toby Blome, Colonel Ann Wright, and Ken Mayers talk about drones, the dangers, and the damage to people on the ground and people at the control. They also discuss the international ramifications of drones and their uncontrolled spread. With all that, they are protesting at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico and are encouraging people to come. There will be transportation, lodging, food, workshops, speakers, music, and yes non-violent direct action, specifics are a secret. www.shutdowndronewarfare.org
K.J. NOH returns to the show to update us on US relations or let's say US provocations of China. KJ talks about the recent China negotiations that led to a thawing of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. This and of course the Chinese proposal for peace in Ukraine are triggering the US. He points out how the US continues to manipulate Pacific countries from Korea to Australia into provocative actions trying to provoke an action by China.
Greg Payton, an African American veteran of the Vietnam war, turned international peace activist with Vietnam Veterans Against War, Veterans for Peace, War Resisters’ League, and Black Veterans for Social Justice. Here he shares his stories from the racial battlefields of Vietnam to homeless vet to international peace activist. You will hear Greg relate how he was transformed and then how he has transformed the world he has touched, from Vietnam to South Africa, to Bosnia and Northern Ireland, and then to the local high school.
Author and Activist Dr. John V. Walsh joins us to weigh in on the February 19 Rage Against the War Machine Rally. John, who spoke at the sister rally in San Francisco, discusses the need for unity within the peace movement even when we differ on other issues. John points out that the rallies on the 19th were historic, involving diverse speakers from left and right all coming together to end war.
The time is too precious and too limited to exclude any voice for peace and if that requires single-issue rallies and protests then that is what we must do. We include speeches Anya Parampil and a dramatic speech from Tulsi Gabbard.
Ricardo Levins Morales artist, activist, and counselor gave a wonderful presentation called the Praxis of Hope sponsored by The Leadership Center for Social Justice of the United Theological Seminary. In the presentation, he discusses the nature and emotion of hope as compared to the despair that seems to be running rampant through society, especially among the young. He shares his thoughts and his plan to generate hope and combat despair.
After Harvey's update on the Golden Rule coming to Charleston, SC. this weekend, we turn the show over to our VFP comrade Carol Trainer from Louisville, Ky. to interview Poet, activist, counselor Roberto Schiraldi about this works, his poets, and his books on white supremacy and how to address it. You will hear several poems that address our need to recognize our own vulnerability as a way to release the grasp of our white supremacist culture. And as we finish another Black History Month, we hear from Sam Cooke.
Today we will hear about the US Military experience and the US Veteran experience from the African American perspective. Michael McPhearson former Executive Director of Veterans for Peace, Miles Thomas rapper (Megaciph), and Ronda Shelton member of the Hector Black Chapter of Veterans for Peace join the show to share their experience in the military and after. They weigh in on race, betrayal, corruption, wearing the uniform, and the police in this hard-hitting interview. We finish with a song with one of Miles' songs.
On the first day of Black History Month, the College Board removed a number of authors, activists, topics, and organizations from their requirements for AP African American studies. These voices critical to understanding the African American experience include author and activist James Baldwin. Today we spend the hour listening to James Baldwin in his own words as he talks to high school students about education and then to Dick Cavett as he talks about Black frustration and the understatement of the Black experience in the US.
Today we have scholars, activists, clergy, politicians, and peacekeepers sharing their thoughts about the Dr. King that is rarely recognized, the Dr. King that was anti-militarism, anti-nuclear weapons, and anti-war. Senator Nina Turner, Rev. Liz Theoharris, Pastor Michael McBride, India Walton, and Khury Petersen-Smith participated in this portion of a webinar hosted by Defuse Nuclear War. The webinar was facilitated by Hanieh Jodat.
When Janet Bates realized that her protests, her marches, her letters to the editor were still not stopping war, she got so frustrated that her husband recommended writing songs and so she did and we are so grateful. Today we will talk to Janet about her activism and the stories behind the songs that we will hear.
What are you going to do to celebrate the second anniversary of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons? Ralph Hutchison, outgoing Coordinator, and Tanvi Cardile incoming Coordinator of the Oakridge Environmental Peace Alliance, OREPA, join us to explain why celebrating this momentous treaty is so important. Two years ago the majority of countries voted to support the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear weapons and since the organizations like OREPA, Veterans for Peace, the Ban Treaty Collaborative, and many others have been trying to convince the US government to also support the treaty. While the battle is clearly uphill to get the US to sign on, as Ralph and Tanvi say, the anniversary provides a clear opportunity to educate the public and move the needle with our elected representatives to move toward sanity and away from mutual destruction.
Bill Astore is a historian for peace and a prolific writer for TomDispatch, Huff Post, Alternet, Antiwar.com, and many others including his own Bracing Views and Word Press on substack. He is a retired AF Lt. Col and retired professor of history at the AF Academy and technical school in Pennsylvania. Today he shares his insights into US War Culture, the military and the lack of integrity, militarism in sports, evangelism at the AF Academy, guns in schools, and more.
Helen Jaccard, Golden Rule Project Manager, and Gerry Condon former President of Veterans for Peace join us to get the new year off to an optimistic start. We visited with them about the Golden Rule the Veterans for Peace Peace Sailboat trip to Cuba as it is taking a detour from the Great Loop journey it is taking to bring a message of peace and nuclear disarmament.
2022 is over and in this show, we relive what we did on the show by sharing the hooks/the teasers for all but about 4 of our shows. We trace our steps from January and the Veterans for Peace alternative Nuclear Posture Review all the way to re-celebrating the Christmas Truce. We hoped that by sharing these hooks/teasers we might have seen some positive progress. It is hard to say that we did.
So you have always thought that the 1914, WWI Christmas Truce was spontaneous and it was the only one. Well, buckle up because we have news you may not have heard. Did you know that the military establishment was so upset that they wanted to shell their own troops? Did you know about the Easter Truce or how about the Truces (that's right more than one) on the Eastern Front? Did you know that the Christmas Truces are more important today than ever?
Learn all this and hear some Christmas Truce Music too.
After reflecting on their participation at a recent VA Community Healing Ceremony where veterans told their powerful and heart-wrenching stories of moral injury, Harvey and Jim turned their attention to one of the culprits of US War Culture, the media. Taking clips from a recent webinar hosted by the War Industry Resistors Network (veteransforpeace.org), we hear from author, activist, and professor Bill Astore and from World Beyond War, David Swanson. Bill and David discuss the media's complicity in US War culture and propaganda.
Cindy Piester, a member of VFP Climate Crisis and Militarism Project, the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, and decades-long peace and justice activist, joins the show after just returning from COP27 in Egypt. Cindy shares her insights into what good (and there were some) and not-so-good (and there was a lot)came out of COP 27. She tells us that for the first time militarism and the climate was not totally ignored, but still, COP27 did nothing to reduce fossil fuels.
Veterans for Peace Radio Hour and Podcast are real fans of Margaret Flowers's Pod Cast Clearing the Fog. When we saw that Margaret was interviewing Ann Wright, VFP Icon, we just had to share. Margaret Interviews Ann about the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, the project to try to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza and provide the occupied Palestinian populace with much-needed supplies and a little hope. Ann talks about the ruthless and often deadly Israeli policy toward the Palestinian public in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Ann talks about the efforts of the flotilla, the violent response by Israel, and the purposeful ignorance of the US Government. To hear the whole interview go to popularresistance.org and look for Clearing the Fog!
Charles Powell is a member of Veterans for Peace, an Air Force Veteran, and a veteran of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Charles was stationed in South Dakota at an ICBM site and shared his story of those tense days when they believed it was not a matter of if but when they would launch their missiles. He then shares how this experience and reflecting on US militarism, transformed him from a nuclear warrior to an anti-war activist and a Veterans for Peace Icon.
Dr. Kelly Denton-Borhaug comes on the show to discuss Moral Injury and the US War Culture and her powerful and important book "And Then Your Soul is Gone, Moral Injury and the US War Culture.." She discusses and defines moral injury and the impact of US War Culture not only on the military and veterans but more importantly on the US Citizen. She describes how that war culture is hidden in plain sight. She shows how this war culture takes more American lives than the battlefield, through military and veteran suicide. If you are a veteran this interview will help you understand and if you are a citizen this show will help you realize and make change imperative.
As we approach another ARMISTICE Day (aka Veterans Day in the US), we bring back and update our interviews with Garett Reppenhagen and Keslie Carrion about the need to reclaim Armistice Day. We show how Veterans Day has turned a holiday (Armistice Day) that celebrated and encouraged peace and world respect into a day to glorify militarism, exceptionalism, and marginalization. We also discuss the so-called "salute to service" that we will be bombarded with over the next week, who pays for all those flyovers, honor guards, advertisements, etc?. OH, don't forget your camo onesy for your infant.
KJ Noh rejoins the show to update us on the issues and challenges in the Asia Pacific area. From the protests, disasters, and miss-management of the President of South Korea, to the re-election of Xi Jinping in China and the effects on the region, to the next US-provoked confrontation with a nuclear power in Taiwan, KJ gives us his insights, wisdom, and concerns about today and tomorrow. K J Noh is a journalist, political analyst, writer, and teacher specializing in the geopolitics of the Asia-Pacific region and a friend of the show.
Daniel Ellsberg brings his experience and wisdom to the debate over how to understand and deal with Putin, Russia, and the war in Ukraine, as we continue to see both sides escalate. Using clips from the Brooklyn for Peace webinar and the Analysis News Website, we again find a respected source that says we must talk and he even gives a way to start negotiations with Putin.
Jeffrey Sachs spoke to the Brooklyn Peace Action and we share most of it in this episode. Jeffrey Sachs who has recently stirred controversy by alleging the US was responsible for the destruction of the Russian Nord Stream Pipeline, shares his wisdom from decades of working with both Russian and American leaders. He unequivocally calls for negotiations with Putin and explains why it is critical to begin talks now and stop the relentless escalation before we reach the precipice of what even Biden has called Armageddon.
Environmental activist and VP of the Veterans for Peace Chapter in Spokane relates the tale of how he blocked a train, got arrested, went to court, used the Necessity Defense, and won (kind of). George also explains why he is so environmentally conscious, the specifics of the Necessity Defense, and how his case can be a precedent for people taking non-violent direct action if they have to go to court.
As we approach Indigenous Peoples Day and Indigenous Peoples Month in Tennessee, we talk to Albert Bender, historian, lawyer, writer, activist, and member of the Cherokee Nation about the history of US imperialism and colonialism. Mr. Bender relates that the imperialism and colonialism from hundreds of years ago continues today, especially through the courts. However, from Standing Rock, to Child welfare to Indigenous Sovereignty to the Land Back Movement the fight for justice continues.
The Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2022 was recently passed and enacted. The Pact Act just may be a game changer for Gulf War Veterans' health coverage. In this episode Andrea McDonald and Paul Sullivan break down the specifics of the Pact act and how it relates to Gulf WARS veterans.,
During the Veterans for Peace conference, there was an in-depth discussion on the quality of the Veterans Health Service, the efforts of corporations and government to privatize the VHS, and what you can do to stop that privatization. The participants were Suzanne Gordon, author, and activist, Donald Cohen, from In the Public Interest, and Bruce Carruthers, representing the VFP project to Save our VA (SOVA) and of course friend of the show.
Helen Jaccard the Golden Rule Project Coordinator and Gerry Condon the former President of VFP and current coordinator of the No Nukes working group join us as the Golden Rule is launched into the Mississippi. They will discuss the effort that it has taken to get the GR from California to Minnesota by truck. They will share the message that Veterans for Peace sailboat the Golden Rule is bringing on this Great Loop journey. They will share and promote the message of nuclear disarmament, anti-imperialism and PEACE, as the Golden Rule sails down the Mississippi, into the Gulf of Mexico, around Florida, up the East Coast and then through waterways, in the North East. Helen and Gerry explain why this trip is critical right now and how you can welcome the Golden Rule when it comes to a waterway near you.
Harvey and Jim highlight just a small portion of the recent Veterans for Peace conference. Garett Reppenhagen, Susan Schnall, Chris Velasquez, Jules Vaquera, and the rest of the staff deserve such high praise for a great convention. In this show, we feature poems about the Korean War, voices from the front lines of Rimpac, a new way to look at the military's effect on climate, a focus on recruitment and then resistance, a discussion on moral injury, and we finish with Reverend Barber.
Roger Waters came to Nashville to turn a southern town progressive, and for at least one evening he succeeded. Roger brought his in-your-face concert "This is Not a Drill" with its hard-hitting message calling for Racial Justice, Human Rights, the end to militarism and police violence, gun control, climate responsibility while incorporating his songs into that message with amazing video presentations. Members of Veterans for Peace and their wives were invited as Water's guests and that included co-hosts Harvey and Jim who took this opportunity to share not only portions of the concert but also the message of Roger Waters in his own words. Thanks primarily to David Swanson and World Beyond War. So don't be another brick in the wall. Take a listen as you get comfortably numb, while Roger points out the difference between us and them and the powers that be. So take a listen after all we wish you were there. And no this is not Deja Vu.
Lillian Mauldin and Rosie Khan join the Veterans for Peace Podcast to share their story to pressure the University of Texas/Texas A&M Investment Management Company (UTIMCO) to divest from weapons and weapon systems manufacturers! Sharing their research and tactics they continue to work with their colleagues at the Women for Weapons Trade Transparency to bring to light the over $60 million dollars being invested in weaponry and war-making. They also share how you and your students can do the same at your university. Visit their extensive website at w2t2.org and contact them at w2t2.org@gmail.com
Dr. Joseph Gerson President of the Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security and Vice-President of the International Peace Bureau and American Friends Service Committee director of the Peace and Economic Security Program spoke at the Veterans for Peace No Nuke Working group and we are sharing his presentation. It is thorough and disturbing and continues our series of shows on trying to cope with the nuclear threat. Harvey and Jim add to this with a new article by Caitlin Johnstone who points out that even Henry Kissinger is alarmed.
Veterans for Peace sent an open letter to Biden demanding that he and his administration read our Nuclear Posture Review before issuing his. In this time of nuclear threat, and nuclear weaponization and modernization, of investment in apocalypse versus peace, the No Nukes group of Veterans for Peace crafted this open letter that group leader Gerry Condon came on the show to share, explain, and discuss. The conversation quickly expanded to other issues linked to nuclear weapons such as press coverage, militarism, politics. Gerry also gave a wonderful description of the Golden Rule Great Loop project, one effort o teach peace.
I am sure you know that Nuclear Weapons are a clear and present danger, but do you know how to talk to your neighbors or give a presentation about that danger? In this show, after a quick rant about the GOP betrayal of veterans, Harvey and Jim share portions of a presentation sponsored by Massachusetts Peace Action with guest speaker Ira Helfand of the Physicians for Social Responsibility. In this show, you will hear Dr. Helfand's presentation and get the initial training and consider how you would respond to questions you received.
YES YOU CAN HELP END THE BLOCKADE OF CUBA. YES, YOU CAN HELP CUBA AND THE PEOPLE OF CUBA. YES, YOU CAN HELP THE LATIN AMERICAN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE make doctors out of Americans.
The Peace and Justice Center from Nashville hosted a zoom with members of IFCO, the Intereligious Foundation for Community Organization Pastors for Peace. Cheryl Bash introduced the organization and then Dr. Samir Addrey a US citizen and a graduate of the Latin American School of Medicine described how Cuba educates doctors from around the world and then sends Doctors around the world to help where they are needed. Cuba does all this despite the more than 60-year-old, draconian blockade by the United States, a blockade that Obama started to lift, Trump reinstated and Biden maintains.
Friend of the show Bruce Carruthers returns to the show to update us on the status of VA Health Care and the good news that the AIR Commission has been derailed. The Asset and Infrastructure Review (AIR) commission was part of the Mission Act and was scheduled to review the recommendations coming from the non-veteran Secretary of Veterans Affairs to close or restructure more than 30 VA facilities. Thankfully a bi-partisan group of Senators derailed the commission by not seating commissioners. So good news but the fight continues to halt the push to privatize the VA.
Ralph Hutchison of the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance talks with the Veterans for Peace No Nukes Working Group about the Meeting of States Party of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Ralph talks about the international progress and commitment and at the same time calls out the US marginalization and disregard of the treaty that has been in force for a year and a half.
Harvey and Jim tap into and introduce you to the resource that is Peace and Planet News, a place where you can go to get the critical information you need to navigate today's chaotic world. This is not the main stream media. This is a resource where you can find voices of dissent, resistance and revolution but all in the name of PEACE. Harvey and Jim just scratch the surface talking about articles from Danny Sjursen and John Walsh along with a rap from MC Abdul and a song Don Maclean, a poem from Doug Rawlings and much more.
Today we listen to and discuss the voices of positive activism. We focus on the Poor People's Campaign rally in Washington, DC on June 18th after hearing from Dave Dittemore President of the Takoma Chapter of VFP. From the PPC, we hear from Reverend Barber, Dr. Cornell West, Bernice King, and voices from the crowd courtesy of Esther Iverem of the On the Ground Podcast. From Poverty to Peace, from Racial injustice to Roe V. Wade, from Climate to Guns, from Militarism to Misogyny, the voices address it all and call for us to PAY ATTENTION and inspire us to take action. WE HOPE
Chris Rodda senior research director for the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) and the author of ‘Liars For Jesus: The Religious Right’s Alternate Version of American History, unearthed the plans of the South Baptists to undermine the Chaplaincy within the military and replace it with Southern Baptist Chaplains, off base Chapels, and Christian counseling centers all at taxpayer expense. There goes separation of church and state, what could go wrong, right?
Susan Schnall President of Veterans for Peace and Doug Rawlings, co-founder of Veterans for Peace join us to talk about Veterans for Peace, the history, the projects, the future. From the No Nukes and Golden Rule to Saving our VA, collaborating with other groups while mediating disagreements, Susan outlines a vision for VFP. From how the organization started, to encouraging and welcoming young people to a poem, Doug shares his incites and pride in how VFP has developed into a force for peace.
Dr. Bill Ehrhart joins us to talk about General Smedley Butler and his efforts to call out capitalism, war, and the military. Bill also quickly outlines the rise of the imperialist US. Bill reflects on General Butler's service, the coup planned by the republican party to overthrow FDR that he thwarted, and his late-life activism. We need to remember Smedley's commitment to the Bill of Rights and the people of the US which are severely lacking today.
This is a portion of a great Webinar sponsored by the Center for Citizen Peace Building at UC Irvine. It features Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Maguire, Ambassador Elayne Whyte Gomez and Dr. Paula Garb. Moderated by Cynthia Lazaroff. This is a departure from recent shows as these ladies share personal stories related to the effects of violence and the efforts they make each day for peace.,
Authors Michael and Cynthia Orange join us to remember Memorial Day. Michael is a Vietnam Vet, diagnosed with PTSD relates his personal story of sharing and realizing his PTSD, moral injury, and guilt that derived from his military service. His wife Cynthia (of nearly 50 years), shares her experience and the suffering she experienced as a casualty of Michael's service, dealing with her own war. Then they share their collective efforts to cope, heal, and now thrive. This is an incredibly powerful show and shows the missing meaning of Memorial Day.
In this show we replay a webinar hosted by the United Anti-war Coalition (UNAC) called Stand with Alice Walker. In the webinar, Chris Hedges, Susan Abulhawa, Alice Walker, and host Jeff Mackler discuss how Alice Walker was banned from a book show because she is being accused of being anti-Semitic because of her support for the people of Palestine.
Today we interview Jim Rine of the VFP Climate Crisis and Militarism Project. Jim will talk to us about their efforts to address the connections between US militarism and the climate crisis and will help us find ways to educate and mobilize others to help us stop US militarism and reverse its environmental impact. We also hear a clip from Erik Edstom an Iraq combat vet, West Point Graduate, and climate activist as they both try to get us to look up!!!
Today we reprise portions of our show from four years ago with Peter Linebaugh, Labor Historian, about the history and meaning of May Day. Then we update it with clips from Democracy Now about Starbucks Unionization along with a clip from the Daily Show with Chris Smalls which highlight the growing worker resistance to today's predatory capitalism.
Today our special guest is former VFP President Adrienne Kinney who is just back from Western Sahara. Adrienne was part of a four-person group that went to Western Sahara to break the siege of Sultana Haya who has been confined in her home for almost a year and a half by Moroccan occupiers and repressors. Adrienne discusses the situation on the ground, the nonviolent resistance of the Western Saharan people and the brutal occupation of Morocco, and the complicity or ignorance of the western world and the UN.
Dr. Margaret Flowers podcaster author, candidate, activist, and pediatrician joins the show to discuss US/Nato, Russia/Ukraine, mainstream media/American ignorance, the potential of nuclear war, and more. Margaret points out the mistakes the US has made and is making with regard to the Russia/Ukraine war. She also points out the fog of misinformation coming out of Ukraine and the manipulation by the US media and their complicity in the escalation of the war.
Harvey and Jim discuss the mainstream media drumbeat for war and some of the outlets you can reach out to keep you up to date and sane. Using clips from Breaking Points and Secular Talk, we highlight the issues with the mainstream media and at the same time promote two great sites for more informative news. Then we bring in clips from Xia Mehan and Brian Toon on what might happen if the media pushes us into confrontation with Russia.
Denise Duffield Associate Director of Physicians for Social Responsibility/LA’s and the administrator/director of its nuclear threats program joins us today to discuss the Back From the Brink Campaign. She explains the specifics of this Campaign to restrict and then eliminate nuclear weapons. She then provides us with the tools to actually accomplish something with our elected official. She outlines the specific endorsements of the campaign and how we can reach out to our elected officials to secure their endorsement. So far over 300 elected officials. and over 60 states and cities have endorsed and yours could be next. If you are tired of holding a sign that no one reads at a march that no one cares about listen to this show and find out how you can make a difference.
K.J. Noh returns to the show on the heels of having an interview and other works banned from YouTube. He talks about the war in Ukraine and the Russian motives, but more importantly the influence of China, the influence of western imperialism, the situation in Taiwan, and the views of the global south. He also talks of censorship and the importance of continuing the share the hard truths that may not agree with the establishment mantras.
Award-winning producer Phil Grabsky joins the show to discuss his new film My Childhood, My Country: Twenty Years in Afghanistan. Phil talks about the continuing story of Mir the young man who he has tacked since he was a little boy growing up in Afghanistan. Phil's film, which just won best international film at the DC International Film Festival, traces Mir growing up under occupation and the strength, resilience, and commitment that is typical of the Afghan people. We get to see what life has been like through the eyes of MIR and we also get to hear Phil reflect on Afghanistan, the role of Nato/US, the comparisons to Ukraine/Russia. Phil points out the mistakes but also points out that the US war and occupation was NOT a total failure.
Ted Postol joined the VFP Nuclear Abolition Working Group meeting to discuss the possibility of accidental nuclear war, especially considering the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the increasing support for Ukraine by the US and Nato. In this extended show, Ted, who has been working on these issues at the highest levels on US government with interactions with colleagues in Russia, explains the US nuclear potential, the devastation possible, and the corner that Putin finds himself in. So does Putin escalate to hopefully deescalate? What might give Putin an off-ramp to end this?
Brian Becker peace activist, author, podcaster, National Coordinator of the Answer Coalition, co-founder of the Party for Socialism and Liberation joins the show to continue our discussion of US/Nato, Ukraine, and Russia. Brian digs deep into the information we must not ignore with regard to this complex and deadly situation in Ukraine. He tries to see where Putin is going and then digs into where the US and Nato have been and their culpability in this conflict.
John Walsh peace activist, author, historian comes on the show and discusses and helps us remember US and Nato history which has contributed to the dilemma we are in. Everything has a back story and anyone who does not realize that story puts all of us in jeopardy.
What is Critical Race Theory and why all the uproar? Today's show answers those questions, breaks down the anti CRT legislation in tennessee, determines what teachers have to do to comply, and discusses the dangers of not teaching the truth. With two guests, Timothy Hughes and an anonymous voice from the tennessee classroom, we discuss truth, teaching, students, parents, and politics surrounding this "controversy."
On this show Canain Townsend Associate Director & Director of Education & Outreach at the Moton Museum in Farmville Va. And Bob Hamlin, former board member, Docent, retired Master Sergeant, and a witness to history, tell this remarkable story of how the African American people of Prince Edward County Virginia endured the relentless efforts of a white supremacist school board in Prince Edward County, Virginia. This community and these students became part of the lawsuit that resulted in the Brown Vs Board of Education which ended separate but equal. However, they still had to face the reality that their county was not willing to follow the law. They had to scramble to find alternatives when Prince Edward County Virginia shut down all public schools rather than comply with integration. This is the story of how that community responded, survived, and eventually created a museum that re-tells the story and honors the people who would not give in to the white supremacists of the county and would not give up their right to an education.
In this extended show, as we continue to Honor Black History Month, activists Timothy Hughes and Elijah Whitesides look at Civil Rights activism today in light of the activism during the early '60s using Dr. King's Letter from a Birmingham Jail. They discuss what has changed and what has not changed. Unfortunately, it looks like not much has changed almost 60 years on from Dr. King and the letter he wrote responding to the white clergy in Birmingham.
Jackie Sims activist and housing advocate, executive director of PatheNashville.org, and friend of the show joins us again as we celebrate and honor black history month. Jackie talks about the challenges of communities of color, of the poor and marginalized in housing, incoming, voting and civil rights. While her concern is Nashville she speaks about challenges that face every community, city, and state.
Bruce Gagnon Coordinator of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space joins us today to break down the insane and aggressive approach that the US and NATO are taking with regard to Russia and Ukraine. We also talk about the US mainstream media drumbeat for war. We go through scenarios if we provoke an attack by Russia and we go through scenarios that could work toward peace. Unless the US and Nato can find a way to back off from the Russian border this will not end well. Bruce Gagnon provides information and motivation that you are not going to get in the mainstream media. We can not let this US/insanity get out of hand.
Today we link two events, the birthday of Dr. King and the anniversary of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. We hear Dr. King in his own words as he decries militarism in general and specifically nuclear weapons during his Nobel Peace Prize-winning lecture. We read an Op-Ed from the Oak Ridge Environment and Peace Alliance that links Dr. King with the TPNW and then we hear the words of Beatrice Fihn, Executive Director of ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, the Nobel Prize-winning organization the pushed for the TPNW. We note that Veterans for Peace, in the spirit of Dr. King and the spirit of Peace are issuing our own Nuclear Posture Review before the Biden Administration issues theirs. We hear Dr. King's call to action and then we finish with Dr. King's favorite song, sung by Mahalia Jackson.
We continue to discuss the importance of the effort of Veterans for Peace to develop a legitimate Nuclear Posture Review with a distinguished panel including David Swanson, Executive Director of World Beyond War, Alice Slater of World Beyond War and the VFP Nuclear Abolition Working Group and Rachel Clark of VFP and the Nuclear Abolition Working Group. While the Biden Administration and the Defense Department develop their own Nuclear Posture Review which will more than likely support nuclear saber-rattling and expansion of the madness of our nuclear program, Veterans for Peace has developed an alternative NPR, an NPR that considers humanity.
The Biden administration is working on a nuclear posture review that will determine our "needs" and ways to "use" our nuclear stockpile. Based on the Biden administration's support of militarism, saber-rattling and a bloated military budget, we can only assume that his nuclear posture review will be more of the same. SO WHY BOTHER. Thus Veterans for Peace and the Working Group to Abolish Nuclear Weapons worked the last two months to develop an alternative Nuclear Posture Review that actually considers the people, the planet, and PEACE. Members of Veterans for Peace and this working group come on the show to explain just exactly what is in the VFP NPR and why this is the one that should be implemented.
After a quick reflection on the year 2021 by Harvey, we replay one of the many great shows we had this last year. In this show, we once again hear from Adrienne Kinne, President of Veterans for Peace, and Garett Reppenhagen, Executive Director on how they both felt after the 911 attacks and how those feeling led them to join Veterans for Peace.
We are continuing but updating our show on the Christmas Truce. We found an interesting discussion and several songs on Sound Cloud that we thought we would share with you. However, this year something interesting happened. We realized that year after year those soldiers and civilians who demanded peace were telling us that we can do it too. With a unified effort, we can also demand peace like they did 107 years ago. This year we have some different songs about the Truce but also a couple of favorites. Spoiler SABATON kicks butt! The others are just wonderful!!! Special thanks to all our artists: Fenya, John McCutcheon, John Hardy, Sabaton, and the soundtrack of Joyeux Noel.
Nick Mottern, author, activist, co-coordinator of BanKillerDrones.org, weighs in on the recently passed War Budget. I know the media refers to it as the defense budget but there is NOTHING defensive about it. Nick comes at this from a different perspective going far beyond the numbers to discuss this budget in terms of legality, morality, spirituality, and even down to of all things public opinion. For reference, we reach back to a clip from Dr. King concerning the three evils. Then we finish up with a song by Charlie King called Send in the Drones.
Ralph Hutchison of the Oak Ridge Environmental and Peace Alliance (OREPA) talks about the actions being planned to celebrate the first anniversary of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Ralph talks about the treat, the impact, the further meetings, and most importantly the actions we need to take to call attention to the need for the US to sign this treaty.
Then Ralph and his group the Emancipators asks us to play their song Link in Your Chain.
The US media is wrong about Nicaragua, but you knew that. The recent coverage by the media of the election of Sandinista leader Daniel Ortega has vilified the Sandinistas, the election, the President, his wife the Vice President and painted a desperate picture of the people of Nicaragua. Our panel today debunks all of it. With two observers of the election and a long-term resident, we hear from people who actually were here in Nicaragua and who were neither paid nor manipulated into conveying the reality of US media falsehoods and continued US imperialism in Nicaragua and the region.
In this two-pronged show, we first start with the devolution of Armistice DAY into today's Salute to "Service" which actually means salute to militarism. Louis Raprager of Veterans for Peace and NNOMY discusses the true purpose of this week, the NFL, the Pentagon, and the US. Then Harvey and Jim review the white reasonableness (privilege) that got Kyle Rittenhouse off base on an article by Michael Harriot in the Guardian.
So was COP 26 worth it or was it just another cop-out? Chris Velasquez and Katie Consodine are back on the show to assess COP 26 and they do not hold back on their assessment. Then Adrienne Kinne, President of Veterans for Peace leads a distinguished panel that specifically points out the devastation to the climate and the environment of the military. With the bad news, they also provide us with assignments, marching orders, ways to respond. So buckle up.
Four post 911 Veterans discuss the under reported issue: the impact of US militarism and imperialism on the climate. The US Military is the number one polluter in the world and war is the biggest event that contributes to the climate crisis. These post 911 vets weigh in the fact that they will live and experience the next 50 years of the climate crisis and along with the Zoomers will have to clean up the mess that was left by generations that contributed to it (Boomers and Xers and those before).
Until 1954 November 11th was set aside to celebrate and strive for peace as a holiday called Armistice Day, remembering the end of WWI. After that, November 11th became Veterans Day and quickly devolved into a day to celebrate militarism, war, and American "exceptionalism." Veterans for Peace is working hard to reverse that and return to Armistice, a day to celebrate the end of war and the commitment to peace. We are joined by VFP Executive Director Garett Reppenhagen and VFP media person Keslie Carrion.
The war industry is coming to the mountains of Asheville, NC and a group of activists are trying to stop it. Despite the powers of the Chamber of Commerce, the Military-Industrial Complex, local and state government, and the one percent in Asheville, a group of activists calling themselves Reject Raytheon (rejectraytheonavl.com/) are doing what they can to try to educate the community and resist the building of a huge facility in the pristine mountains of Asheville. We speak with Ken Jones, Melody Shank, and Claire Clark about their efforts in Asheville, but their story is just part of growing concerns and protests throughout the country and the planet.
Hear the voices of protest from across the country at the People Vs Fossil Fuels week-long rally in DC. Harvey Bennett was on site at the rally all week long. From Indigenous Peoples Day to Youth Day, from Indigenous Elders to scientists, to anti-fracking activists, to a Vet for Peace, to a 14-year-old girl from Sunrise, Harvey shares the essence of the protest that made demands of the Biden administration while reflecting on the decades of inaction.
The agreement called AUKUS links the US, and the UK, to build nuclear-powered submarines for Australia, but the impact goes way beyond. Today's guests Dr. Alison Broinowski, a former member of the Australian Foreign Service, and David Swanson of World Beyond War join us to discuss the impact of AUKUS as a method of containing China, of US and UK putting Australia on the front line of that containment, of the possible violations of Nuclear Proliferation Treaty, of the impact on the ASEAN countries, of the impact globally.
Today's show features Sabina Mohyuddin, Executive Director of the American Muslim Advisory Council and friend of the show. We talk about the efforts and challenges of resettling Afghan refugees. We consider what they have lived through and are leaving from Afghanistan. We also consider the challenges they face in moving to the United States as not only an Afghan refugee but also Muslims and People of Color.
Today we highlight and discuss a lecture given by James Carroll (at UMass) titled Who loaded Trump's Gun, A Brief History of America's Nuclear Sin. We reflect on his discussion of our nuclear as it differs from the rest of the world and then tries to update it with Biden's continuing escalation of tensions with China.
Harvey Bennett discusses the hashtag #neverforget and points out that it goes both ways. We can never forget what they did to us but we also can never forget what we did to them. Using clips from Noam Chomsky and Jeremy Scahill he points out while we remember the tragedy of the 911 attacks on US soil, we are culpable of crimes against other nations, other communities, and other peoples at least as tragic.
The 911 attacks are twenty years gone but the impact remains. Two post 911 Vets join us to discuss the impact of 911 on their lives. They discuss the questions about what they were asked to do, the motives of the US government, the damage to the peoples we occupied, and more. We also hear a clip from Daniel Berrigan from 19 years ago realizing that our war crimes of the past had finally caught up with us. We finish with Twisted Sister.
ALERT, ALERT, ALERT: WAR WITH CHINA?
We just got out of Afghanistan, thank you Biden, but thanks to KJ Noh we see that we are only pivoting to a new and far more dangerous theatre of confrontation. KJ lays out not only what we are doing now to antagonize, demonize and marginalize China but that this has been in the planning for decades. KJ points that we have already initiated hybrid warfare against China, while China is actually no threat to the US and is only upgrading its military in response to our saber rattling. PLEASE TAKE A LITTLE TIME AND LISTEN. WE NEED TO GET THIS STOPPED.
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Labor Day is coming, So WHAT, just the holiday to end summer right. Not so fast on this show, we will remember the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Blair Mountain where miners were assaulted by corporate and government thugs on the ground and from the air. Then we will have special guest Vonda McDaniel, President of the Central Labor Council, who will discuss the current situation with Labor across the country and the importance of current legislation of not only workers but voters, democracy, and the country itself.
We finish up with a Joe Hill song sung by friends of the show Michael August and Nell Levin.
Mark Reese was an interpreter in Afghanistan and was actually in touch with the culture of not only Afghanistan but the other countries of the region including Uzbekistan. He weighs in on what is going on right now including what we might expect from the Taliban, our efforts to get our allies out, and the regional players as the US withdraws. Afghanistan is not a vacuum, what happens there affects the region, what happens in the region will affect Afghanistan.
https://soundcloud.com/user-55976759/82621-veterans-for-peace-go-deeper-into-afghanistan-the-region-with-interpreter-mark-reese
We know we can not trust the pundits on the mainstream media when it comes to what is going on in Afghanistan, so listen to this. While Kabul and the Afghan government were collapsing, Veterans for Peace was holding its annual conference where Ann Wright moderated a discussion about US involvement and the situation in the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Africa. We have portions of their discussion from Arash Azizzada from Afghanistan, Matthew Hoh ex-Marine and State Department, Danny Sjursen Afghan vet, author, and West Point instructor. Their discussion is not only timely but enlightening about the miscalculations of the US and the troublesome future for the reason if the US does not change our approach.
Friend of the show Jason Moon has a new CD, just released August 8, which remembers Vietnam Veterans but after you listen you realize Vietnam Vets, Post 911 Vets, and Vets in general still are in the same boat with the same issues, longings, and challenges. The only difference is the generation and burn pits vs. agent orange. After listening to Jason's heartfelt story to take on his PTSD, we hear clips from about seven of the songs from the new CD which is called: "The Last Thing We Ever Do." If you are a Vietnam Veteran and have read this far you are smiling.
Today we again remember that the US is the only country to drop an atomic bomb on cities with civilians, men, women, and children. We will hear from Tsukuru Fors describe pictures of people who survived the blast and what they drew. We will ask the question why drop the bombs? We will hear from Harvey who visited Nagasaki and the haunted story of the man, Joe O'Donnell, sent by the US Army to take pictures. We will finish with a plea for peace from survivors.
If you are a Millennial then this show is about you and YOU do need to hear. Does history repeat? Kind of, according to Bill Strauss and Neil Howe in their best-selling book The Fourth Turning (Published in the mid '90s). They have correctly predicted the onset of this crisis we are in right now and based on historical research, they predict that it is the millennial generation that will get us through this crisis and then rebuild the nation and the world in their own image, So if you are a millennial you need to take a listen and then get out your superhero cape.
From humorous to serious.
In this show, we remember Mike Gravel, Senator, Presidential Candidate, hero. We remember his in your face honesty and the legacy he left through the voices of other truth-tellers as part of the Gravel Institute. This show is funny and serious, enlightening and honest. That was Mike Gravel.
https://soundcloud.com/user-55976759/71521-veterans-for-peace-remembering-senator-and-hero-mike-gravel,
Three Code Pink activists talk about their efforts to call attention to and stop the drone warfare conducted by the US Military and the CIA from Creech Air Force Base. They will share disturbing information about drones, their "targets," and collateral damage. They also talk about whistleblower and hero Daniel Hale, who also called out the drone program and now faces prison. They will share how you can help.
As we approach another Independence Day we reflect again and update previous shows in which we ask Independence for whom. After a brief history lesson, we reflect on just some of the marginalized communities that have been left out or behind with regard to independence. We highlight the words of icons from the past as they fought for their communities and how their words ring true today. We hear songs about the struggle of these communities and we highlight the importance of the current efforts by some to pass the For the People Act, HR 1. So will it be Independence day for You?
The Pentagon Papers are 50 years old but still so relevant. Howie Machtinger of Veterans for Peace Full Disclosure Project is our special guest as we discuss Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers and realize so much is relevant today. We talk about the lies, provocations, and motives of LBJ and Nixon in the '60s in Vietnam and relate them to the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq, and then wonder about the lies we are being told today.
We have two topics today. First Nick Godell of Stop the Shut Offs Committee discusses how the Tennessee Governor and other governors are ending their pandemic related bans on shutting off utilities and ending unemployment benefits to force people to take minimum wage jobs even though data shows that punishing people will not get them back to work but that a living wage will.
Then we hear a talk given by Dr. Shennette Garrett Scott on the history and Celebration of Juneteenth, which is June 19th and hopefully is on its way to becoming a national holiday.
If you are a post 911 Veteran you need to listen. If you are in the military right now, you need to listen. IF YOU ARE THINKING ABOUT JOINING THE MILITARY, YOU REALLY NEED TO LISTEN. If you know anyone of those listed above, you also need to listen. Natasha Erskine, Vice President of Veterans for Peace shares her personal story of realizing, reflecting, and unpacking her military experience not only as an African American Woman but also as a vet complicit in the US mission since 911. From moral injury to activism in the street to Veterans for Peace, Ms. Erskine provides a powerful and heartfelt reflection of the US military and what that culture can do to a person who serves.
Ralph Hutchison returns to the show to update us on our Nuclear Nightmare. Despite a new administration our nation's nuclear arsenal continues to steal taxpayer dollars to support weapons contractors without increasing our national security. In fact, Ralph makes the argument that our misguided investment in nuclear arms actually makes us less secure since we have started a new nuclear arms race.
This is the show before Memorial Day and our guests Cynthia and Michael Orange discuss the need to recognize and remember those who went to war and came back physically whole but severely damaged. Michael, a Vietnam Vet, recounts his recognition that he needed help, and Cynthia, his wife, recounts her role as caregiver. This is an important show for anyone who is a Veteran or knows a Veteran. This is an important show to help us really understand the scope of Memorial Day. It is truly not about the first day to grill and go to the pool.
This is our unedited conversation with Christian Sorenson of the Eisenhower Media Network.
How did we get here? We know the tragedy that is going on in Palestine/Israel. We have heard about the hundreds of Palestinian deaths, the destruction in Gaza, the Westbank, and East Jerusalem. We have heard the Biden administration defend the Israeli government and block action by the UN, but why. Why are we here? again. You are not going to get this background and back story from the national media, but you will hear. On today's show, Christian Sorenson of the Eisenhower Media Network explains the history not only of Israel but also the Palestinian, the entanglement of the US, the influence of the military-industrial, Congressional complex. If you want to know more if you want to know how YOU ARE FINANCING this and how you can take action to stop it, listen to Christian Sorenson.
This is an update on the Veterans for Peace project to SOVA (Save Our VA). Biden has included $18 Billion in his infrastructure package for upgrading the VA, However the AIR Commission (Asset and Infrastructure), part of the Mission Act is being used by critics to delay that funding and enhance the chances of VA medical center closures and the increase in VA privatization. Special guests David Cooley and Bruce Caruthers of SOVA come on the show to talk about the problems with the Mission Act and the AIR commission and give us a call to action to SAVE OUR VA.
Harvey joined a VFP delegation to Cuba in 2014 and learned about why Obama's ultimate decision to open up relations with Cuba was so important and why Trump's closure was so devastating. Nevertheless and despite the draconian US embargo, Cuba and Cuban Doctors continue to be a resource for the world on combating Covid. They have developed a protocol to help cure people and are within months of developing their own vaccine. Harvey introduces and shares clips from authorities on Cuba and then we both beg the question: What are you waiting for BIDEN, restore the Obama relations with Cuba. We finish with Compay Segundo's version of Guatanomera.
Ann Wright is our special guest. Ann brings her decades of experience in the belly of the beast of the American empire as she weighs in on the global footprint of the US, from militarism to imperialism. Ann discusses the history of our foreign policy and then brings us up to date with regard to Biden and where his administration is or might be going.
First Jim rants about a militaristic article found in the Guardian from a Craig Mullaney who compared war to the Olympics??!!, Then Harvey updates us on the status of the Kings Bay Plowshares 7 who were awaiting sentencing and prison after daring to breech the security of the Kings Bay Naval Base to protest the United States Nuclear arsenal aboard the trident submarines based there. We also hear the words of Kathy Kelly, Beth Brockman, Robert Randall, and Jackie Allen Desseau during a Festival of Peace Celebration in honor of Mark Colville who was recently sentenced.
S. Brian Willson, radical activist, author, Vietnam Vet, joins the show to talk about the border and American Foreign Policy. Brian, the author of Blood on the Tracks, traces the US history of intervention from JFK to Biden and how our actions have contributed to Biden's border crisis and instability throughout the globe. Reflecting on his own experience in Vietnam and how the US became a nation that plunders and lies about it to the American citizen.
This is a show about activists and activism. We start off with two members of Veterans for Peace talking about legislation and activism to reduce militarism, end the nuclear threat, and redirect funds from defense to something good. Then we move outside of Rep Jim Cooper's office in downtown Nashville where a coalition of groups rallied to call on Mr. Cooper to adopt an aggressive progressive stance concerning a variety of issues. You will hear speakers from Indivisible, Veterans for Peace, Our Revolution, Moms Demand Action, The Mix on Immigration, Mothers for Medicare for All, Sunrise, Nashville Peace and Justice, and Criminal/Racial Justice reform. This is an extraordinary group, a collective, a coalition that proves that progressive groups can work together for a common purpose, showing that different issues are actually all connected. There is no time for BRUNCH just because Biden was elected now is the time to push.
Author and activist Jane Hussain is our special guest as we continue our discussion of foreign policy Biden style. She discusses the economic imperialism of China as well as the militaristic response that seems to be the only response the US is capable of.
Danny Sjursen, self-described, "leftist military veteran," along with nationally known author, speaker, professor, podcaster brings his wit and wisdom to our radio show. Danny, the author of Patriotic Dissent and Ghost Riders of Baghdad, speaks on Biden's foreign policy team, our recent saber-rattling with China, American Exceptionalism, our previous expeditionary blunders and more.
t was 50 years ago when Vietnam Veterans Against the War put together the Winter Soldier Investigation to bring to light the realities and atrocities of the American War on Vietnam. In this show, we will remember a little bit of that effort along with the Winter Soldier of 2008 which was presented by Iraq Veterans Against the War. We also try to reflect on and update the impact or lack of impact of these important events. Will anyone ever listen to the wisdom of the past or are we forever doomed to continue?
The Golden Rule is a sailboat for PEACE. After describing the history of the Golden Rule, the VFP sailing icon for peace, and the end of nuclear weapons, Helen Jaccard and Gerry Condon relate the latest project for this sailboat for peace. Beginning late this year they will sail the Golden Rule throughout the United States from the Mississippi to the east coast, from the Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes sharing the message of the dangers of nuclear weapons. However, they will also participate and advance the causes of humanity and justice where ever they sail. They will educate the public while sailing the message to more than 50 cities.
Mark Reese has been a Government Contractor, Translator, and Whistleblower. Mark served as a translator in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and other parts of Central Asia, Mark was truly on the front lines and brings a direct perspective into our never-ending wars and the good that we could do while highlighting the problems that we have created.
This is the full interview with Mark Reese, Government Contractor, Translator and Whistleblower. We interviewed Mark for our one hour radio show and so some of the interview full on the cutting room floor. In this you will hear his story of service to this country in central Asia and his reflections on defense contracting, translating, our missions in the middle east and central Asia and how we never take the time to understand the peoples of the country where we send our troops. Mark served as a translator in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and other part of Central Asia, Mark was truly on the front lines and brings a direct perspective into our never ending wars and the good that we could do while highlighting the problems that we have created.
Regional activist Amber Sherman talks to us about last year's occupation of Nashville in response to the George Flood and Breona Taylor murders. She then updates us on the Memphis Pipeline. Yes there is a pipeline controversy in Memphis. Then an update from Louisville where authorities refuse to tackle their racial issues. We then turn to reparations where Amber has some unique thoughts about actions to take, We also share a clip from Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative about the history of lynching. Then we finish with a song chosen by Amber from Lizz Wright called Barley.
From Charleston, S.C. Harvey conducts an interview with local activist Jason Jones and adds clips from a local lady who is trying to uncover the hidden history of Charleston to help healing but how can a plaque help the healing of a 400-year-old wound. Thus Harvey includes clips from the conference From Enslavement to Reparations: A 400 Year Journey for Justice and provides the case for reparations.
Kwame Leo Lillard, Freedom Rider, Civil Rights Icon, Activist, Community Leader in Nashville recently passed away. Kwame was a friend of our radio show and appeared multiple times. Today, with his words and the words of one of his many friends, Gary Burke, we remember Kwame. We remember his commitment, his courage, his organization, from being there for John Lewis, to protesting the forest bust, to creating a monument and celebration for USCT, we remember.
We begin by talking about the VA and their reluctance to acknowledge the disaster of burn pits. We share an article by Suzanne Gordon on the disaster of VA privatization. We commend the new Defense Secretary on his initial push to identify sexual misconduct in the military. Then we discuss Biden's missteps with regard to Russia and linking the new Start Treaty with allegations of Russian interference in 2016 and then finally comment on the possibility and the insanity that Biden will increase our number of troops in Iraq. We finish with Graham Nash' Military Madness.
After Will York explains the serious charges that the white insurrectionists should be charged with, we discuss Biden's speech. We highlight the surprising call out of white supremacists and racism along. Harvey discusses the unusual visit to Arlington while Tom shares a clip where Biden demands respect from his new staff. We share the most powerful words from Amanda Gorman and we finish up with one of the best renditions of the National Anthem.
In the wake of the invasion of the Capital, we host a panel discussion with three activists who have faced the hate from the same white insurrectionists that stormed the Capital. We have Beth Foster who was there at Charlottesville and Montgomery Bell Tennessee State Park protesting the American Renaissance Conference, Benny Overton who was also at Montgomery Bell and downtown Nashville, and Daryl Lamont Jenkins who has been tracking these white supremacists and goes where ever they go.
This is part two of our reflection of five years of radio shows. We do get this accomplished after a quick discussion on the insanity instigated by trump and performed by white supremacists at the capital on Wednesday. From remembering Hector Black, covering the struggle for civil rights, a flawed legal system, dealing with sexual trauma, realizing that climate change is here, and privatizing the VA to hearing songs about Labor Day, Veterans issues and remembering John Prine, we try to help you grasp where we have been starting 2016.
After five years of shows, 260 shows, over 15,000 minutes we decided we would try to remember where we have been in this part one of our milestone shows. We start out at the beginning and remember AVP with Trina Baum. We then reflect on Vietnam, Black History Month, Civil Rights, Dr. King, Militarism, and Nuclear Holocaust. We finish up with a very appropriate song by Mary Gautier.
This is the best Christmas show outside of the original story of Christmas. The Christmas truce demonstrated how the humanity of the Christmas Season (Peace on Earth Good Will to All)can actually happen when we collectively say no to the establishment, to the authorities, to the generals. Let's try to remember those brave young men who had the nerve for just one Christmas to say no to killing, no to war and yes to peace.,
We listen to and discuss a talk given by Jessica Katzenstein for a Twenty Years of War Project. She discusses the costs of blood and treasure related to the entanglement of the military and policing and how this entanglement has led to military tactics used during war being implemented on our own citizenry.
On todays show we start by remembering the Four Church Women murdered in El Salvador in 1980 with US complicity. Then we reflect on the MORE ACT and marijuana decriminalization. Then Rory Fanning's article on how white supremacy has infiltrated policing. Finally we have to discuss some of Biden's "picks" for his cabinet and staff. We finish up with a song by Jason Moon which pretty much sums up where we are.
Today on the Veterans for Peace Radio Hour, we talk about the great work of Government employees with the help of a clip from Krystal Ball, the dilemma of front line workers and the poor with the help of Reverend Barber, and the prospects of a positive foreign policy with the help of Lawrence Wilkerson. We finish with a great song from Stevie Nicks asking God to Show Them the Way.
Today's special guest is Dr. Steven Feldman who was a dentist for the VA and is very familiar with why privatization of the VA is a terrible idea not just for the veteran but for the public also. We are also playing a new song from Christine Moad (MissChristine) called Truth in Song. It is a wonderful song in search of truth.
Biden won, apparently, so what now. How do we try to talk to Trump supporters. How do we approach foreign policy, domestic challenges with health care, climate and justice? What can we expect from a Biden administration. David Swanson, Executive Director of World Without War weighed in while speaking to the Iowa Chapter of Veterans for Peace on Armistice Day.
After a quick update on the election process, we delve into reclaiming the spirit of Armistice Day. Armistice Day was established to honor and encourage peace, but after WWII it was changed to Veterans day but it has devolved into a day, a week a month to celebrate militarism.
Using several clips from several sources, we try to reflect on the election so far. What happened to the possible Biden landslide? Which demographics did the DNC ignore again? What might Trump do if a loss is at hand? We provide some information if not some answers.
In this show co host Tom Grose shares a clip about white supremacy and women, it is more disturbing than you thought. The co-host Harvey Bennett shares a clip from Rising with Daniel Allot about what is behind people voting for trump again. Finally Jim shares a clip from a Ted Talk by researcher Mindy Romero on why young people don't vote. It is not their fault.
Warren Duzak writer and contributor to the World Socialist Web Site, wsws.org is the special guest. Warren talks about the need for unification and then uprising of workers to address the challenges of this country and the world. He talks about Trotsky and has a controversial perspective on BLM. Harvey responds.
This show reflects the state of the county, chaotic and rambling. We start with a clip from the Thom Hartman show featuring Richard Wolff saying that capitalism is the virus. After some discussion Harvey shares a clip of Michael Moore's Rumble about the Michigan Militia and how he knows these people. Then we finish up discussing movies, economics, Biden and the democrats. Yep we were rambling. So Ramble On with Led Zeppelin.
In this episode we each pick out clips of great thinkers such as Howard Zinn, Chris Hedges, Michael Moore, Al Franken and others to share and discuss. We also discuss trump's visit to Walter Reed with covid and finish appropriately with John Lennon's "Instant Karma."
It is just Harvey, Tom and Jim discussing the chaos. Harvey does a great job bringing up actual Catholic teachings that should be used to challenge "acb" as mcconnell and the gop try to ram through her nomination Then we discuss what if and who will trump call on if he loses to Biden. We finish up with a little redemption from Bob Marley.
Friends of the show Michael August and Nell Levin discuss activism and music or better yet with music. From downtown Nashville to Jerusalem this show takes us on an activist's musical ride across the issues that face the US and the world today while remembering a certain young man who escaped to Walden Pond. The show ends with a memorial to RBG.
President of Veterans for Peace Adrienne Kinne describes a hopeful vision while acknowledging this time of challenge and threat from so many fronts. She sees the activism of the youth standing up to, and calling out, systemic problems from racism to science deniers to militarism, as a reason to be hopeful that radical change is coming. She sees Veterans for Peace as growing within these youth movements and the critical role veterans can and will take to make change.
Local high school student Cartier interviews Shahid Buttar who is challenging Nancy Pelosi for her seat in Congress. They talk about many issues with the focus on why young people, even as young as 12 should be thinking about what is going on with our representation or non representation by our elected officials. Afterall, it is their future.
After Harvey interviews BLM activist Jason Jones in Charleston, SC, the group debates police and policing enhanced by clips from On the Media from WNYC with Tom Devine and Frank Serpico. We finish up with a discussion on just how bad things are getting before John Prine and Iris Dement help us escape to Milwaukee.
Journalist, activist, philosopher, activist Dahr Jamail gave the key note speech at the Veterans for Peace national conference. He conveyed a message of activism for the sake of doing what is right, being on the right side of history, and being patient but always hopeful. We hear his full speech.
Hector Black just might have been the kindest, most humanitarian, being that many of us ever met. He died last week leaving a hole in the hearts of many but also leaving smiles for all the wonderful stories we can share. He was a World War II veteran, Civil Rights activist, Peace activist, and anti-death penalty worker. He demonstrated his conviction to forgiveness and to ending the death penalty by testifying against the death penalty even for his daughter's murderer. Here are just a few of the friends of Hector sharing stories.
Seventy-five years after the US became the only country to have dropped an atomic bomb on another people, are the memories fading? Can we let them fade? Does the question about why drop a second bomb still matter? It must matter!
The Minnesota chapter of Veterans for Peace did a great job with PeaceStock. Peace Stock is, as far as I know, an annual event with the name deriving from Woodstock but just substitute peace for wood. So while so many speakers were wonderful, we clipped and highlighted the keynote speakers Andrew Bacevich and Norman Solomon. So listen in for great information but do not expect optimism. Reality is overwhelming optimism.
Michael Brooks was a young man, news commentator and analyst, pundit or better yet political philosopher who died last week. He was on the Majority Report but also hosted his own show and was on Jacobin and elsewhere. So how did many of us miss him and why did he mean so much to so many others and why do a show on the Veterans for Peace Radio Hour? After all he was just another young pundit; well maybe he was more. Take a listen.
CAN THE VA HELP US FIGHT COVID?
We remember two civil rights icons, John Lewis and CT Vivien, and then dive into the question can the VA help us fight Covid. We listen to a panel and then discuss the opportunity we have in the United States to use the VA Health Care system to help us fight the Covid Pandemic. The key issue of course is will we do it?
We share the insights of expert panelists during a discussion on international Conscientious Objector Day. We also bring back friend and friend of the show JJ Rodriguez who talks about completing his CO and gaining his honorable discharge. If you are in the military you need to listen and remember the Gi Rights Hot line number 8774474487. https://soundcloud.com/user-55976759/veterans-for-peace-and-conscientious-objection-an-option-for-peace-of-mind.
Independence Day, Freedom Day, JuneTeenth or July 4rth who is really free? We share clips of powerful speakers talking about JuneTeenth/July 4rth. It is time we connect these two holidays and celebrations because when one of us is not free none of us are truly free/independent.
So who do we hear from? Frederic Douglas, William Barber, Cornell West and Martin King. :)
In this show, Tom Grose shows how this current pandemic is really not new and that we could have been vastly more prepared had we been listening to science. Tom uses clips from NPR and from the documentary We Heard the Bells: The Influenza of 1918, by Lisa Laden.
As nationwide protests continue Nashville was no different. This show follows the actions from Friday evening through Tuesday morning of young people led by activist Justin Jones as they occupy the grounds of the capital. Then the empire strikes back. Jim Wohlgemuth of Veterans for Peace found himself in the midst of some of it and provided some live audio. However, the energy of the movement centers on Justin Jones and his efforts to help Tennessee reform despite itself.
On this show we review the protests from the weekend and share clips, important clips, that we have found on NPR and You Tube about other perspectives from today and from the past about what is going on in the United States as people WITH MASKS brave the pandemic to have their voices heard. The clips include: Clint Smith, Bryan Stevenson, and James Baldwin and at the end of the show Aretha asks us to "Think".
The murder of George Floyd after Ahmaud Arbery and Breona Taylor has brought people into the streets. It is time for systemic change for a radical overhaul of systems. It is time to end the systemic racism in the United States. Harvey, Tom, and Jim discuss the protests and then special guest Timothy Hughes of Equity Alliance shows us a positive way to respond.
As the nation suffers a 911 of deaths every day from Covid, as the nation races toward twice the death toll of Vietnam, we reflect on Memorial day. This is clearly not the time for bunting and American flags. This is a time for reflection on what has happened not only in the wars we can name but the war against covid.
Harvey joined a zoom presentation and discussion by six of the seven Kingsbay Peace Activists. The 7th is in jail. They all await sentencing on May 28/29th for advocating for peace and demonstrating at the Kingsbay Naval Base near Savannah Georgia. That Naval base is the home to nuclear armed Trident submarines. The activists were there to just point out the futility of nuclear war and nuclear weapons.
After remembering the anniversaries of the Kent State and Jackson State murders, we realized that their impact, while often subtle, is with us today in all aspects of our culture. Using the clips of the reflections of scholars and activists as produced by Project Censored, we re-examin the long effects of the actions of both the peace activists and students and the long arm of the state. We finally realize the students were on the right side of history.
It was fifty years ago but to some of us it was yesterday. The shock of May 1970 lingers like the shots in Dallas, or Memphis, or the Embassy Hotel, or April 1975 or 911. In this show we reflect on two crime scenes, Kent State and Jackson State. We remember the slain and compare the events, the coverage and the response. https://soundcloud.com/user-55976759/veterans-for-peace-four-dead-in-ohio-two-dead-in-mississippi
Using our personal experiences with solar, electric cars, and other alternatives to fossil fuels, Tom, Harvey and Jim review and discuss Michael Moore's recent movie "Planet of the Humans" and we are not too pleased.
Welcome to the Veterans for Peace radio hour and as promised last week, welcome to part two of our celebration of John Prine, singer, songwriter, philosopher, folk icon and COVID 19 victim.
This is part one of a two part show remembering and celebrating John Prine, singer, song writer, poet, philosopher, icon. He passed away last week from Covid 19. You will hear personal stories from other members of Veterans for Peace as they remember John Prine and of course songs, lots of songs.
In this two part show we first hear from Tina Meli, Veterans for Peace member and VA employee who likely contracted covid but while suffering was unable to get a test. Then we hear from Michelle Shaw, author and blogger, who describes the un-relenting greed and opportunism of corporate America.
Tom put together this show with Nashvillian Anne Paine who was arrested as part of Jane Fonda's Fire Drill Friday movement.
So has Covid 19 got you down? Well how about nuclear holocaust? Ralph Hutchison or Oak Ridge Environmental and Peace Alliance (OREPA) update us on our nuclear nightmare, the expanding investment of tax payer dollars, the brand proposed war head, and the new nuclear arms race. Can we only imagine if all our wasteful spending here was redirected towards corona tests, nurses masks and ventilators.
Back to our discussion with Aaron Dye on being a millennial. As I mentioned last week, we have tried to profile and address many types of people on this show in our search for humanity, justice, prosperity and peace we have had a number of millennials on the show but never a millennial who would talk just about being a millennial, until now. We had part one last week in which Aaron talked about the millennial experience within the economy and within today’s social media and the new phrase or hashtag OK Boomer and of course you can hear that show by going to sound cloud and searching for Veterans for Peace chapter 089. Today we continue with his thoughts about the future.
We have tried to profile and address many types of people on this show in our search for humanity, justice, prosperity and peace we have had a number of millennials on the show but never a millennial who would talk just about being a millennial, until now. We had an opportunity to sit down with a young man and millenial and talk about life and living, country and economy, and what it is like to be a millennial. Of course he does not speak for all millennials but we all need to take a listen and understand his perspective. So of course the show is titled "OK BOOMER" :) Here is Aaron Dye.
Tom put together this great show based on a 1992 documentary about the 1960's struggle for voting rights in Mississippi. With our commentary about the tornado in Nashville. Jim weighs in about the strange results from super Tuesday where we seem to be on the brink of nominating the man who vilified Anita Hill, voted for the 1990's Crime Bill and just accepted the endorsement of a billionaire who supported stop and frisk.
After Tom's discussion on the pending pandemic and the pathetic response by the trump administration, we remember Harvey's tour of the Jefferson St. park displaying the heroes of the Nashville African American community. Then we replay our three year old interview with Justin Jones. Justin who is now running for Congress shows that his commitment to human rights and justice is not a new thing but something that has been ingrained in his being.
This is an extraordinary interview with an extraordinary young man. Over the years you will hear of Justin Jones as he makes his way and his name following in the steps of John Lewis, Diane Nash and yes Dr. King. Listen to this interview now and remember his name.
So another February and another chance to celebrate black history month and today instead of focusing on the past we are going to highlight the future with TSU senior and journalist to be and activist now Sarah Sulewski.
David Olney, from Nashville, died on January 18thunexpectedly while singing a song we are going to spend the hour remembering David Olney his music and contribution to humanity, equality and understanding.
As we approach the Dr. King holiday we reflect on the prophetic words he spoke 53 years ago and how relevant they are to our political and moral situation today. In this speech from 1967 to the Conference on New Politics he out lines the three evils of society: racism, extreme materialism and militarism. If only we would listen.
We try to deal with the week we just finished starting with the response to the trump assassination of Iranian General Soleimani to the trump response to the Iranian attack on two American/Iraqi bases. We hear from voices of the public at our peace rally on Sunday at which Jim Cooper and the military industrial complex were held to account. Then Tom and Jim discuss the week, Iran's response and break down trumps bizarre response.
In this two section show we update you on the status of efforts to try to remove the bust of nathan bedford forrest from the Tennessee state Capital building. Pastor Chris Williamson delivered 50,000 petitions requesting that the bust be removed to the Capital commission that oversees the historic committee which is responsible for the bust. Then in the second part Tom interviews Peter White on the history of women's rights to health care and the current legislative efforts to under cut those rights by a partiarchal society.
The House Democrats led by Congressman Jim Cooper of Tennessee District 5 passed the National Defense Authorization Act which gives a free hand to the Defense Department and this commander in chief to do what he wants with the military. It also includes a Space Force which has been the baby of Trump and democrat Congressman Cooper. On today's show Tom and Jim interview Bruce Gagnon the VFP expert on the weaponization of space and discuss just how incredibly bad this policy is. Standby it is worse than you think,
On this episode we try to review all the places where people are in the street. We try to convey why they are in the street and if they have something in common. Then we ask the question where is it all going.
Veterans for Peace is an international organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices for the causes of peace, humanity, equality, and justice. Our network is comprised of over 140 chapters worldwide. Our radio show is on stations across the country.
As we all know the US Military has the largest carbon footprint of any organization and so as Veterans concerned with PEACE we wanted to talk to young people who would like to change that. Lauren Hindman and Carolina Sears gave us a rousing promotion of today's climate strike and why our leaders need to start listening to young people.
Until 1954 November 11 was Armistice Day, a day to celebrate and work for peace. Then President Eisenhower changed it to a day to honor veterans and that is when the military industrial complex stepped in. Today Veterans are generally given an obligatory nod and maybe a wreath while we have a salute to militarism disguised as salute to service. You have seen it kids in camo, fly overs at football games, provocative advertising (be part of our team) during football games for those who could not make the team on the field, color guards, military equip shows and air shows. Oh there might be parades for Veterans but what is celebrated? Militarism. Militarism has taken over this country quietly and covertly starting with Reagan then George W landed on a carrier keeping the sailors an extra day out at see while their families and loved ones waited on shore. This show starts to address this and maybe lend itself to exposing where this country is heading.