Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. The show is archived at: www.gorilla-radio.com. The GR blog is at: gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com, and you can find and support the program at GRadio.Substack.com. Financial support is also possible through Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/PacificFreePress. Due to excessive bandwidth demands, we’ve been forced to shut down the vast GR archive for the moment. Please check out GRadio.Substack.com for past shows. – Ape
Today’s (May 14, 2018) ongoing citizen protest against the Site C dam project coincides with the announcement from the West Moberly First Nations of a decision rendered by the federal government regarding the injunction filed by the West Moberly and others to stop work on the contentious project. They argue Site C contravenes treaties they’ve signed with the government, and contend they were not properly consulted, and their objections and concerns not heeded properly.
Though almost everyone claims to love animals many of us still eat them, while most try not to think too much about the terrible treatment humans mete out to our fellow Earthlings. But beyond vegetarianism, veganism, and rescue pet adoption what’s a compassionate person to do?
Primates of the Animal Protection Party of Canada and their allies have brought this year’s Animal Advocacy Camp to Victoria to explore just that. The ACC takes place this April 14th at Camosun College’s Gibson Auditorium and features a number of keynote speakers covering a variety of topics. Tayler Zavitz is one of those and she’ll present, ‘Empathy as Terrorism? The Criminalization of Animal Activism in Canada’.
Tayler’s a PhD candidate at UVic’s Department of Sociology whose research focus is the repression of animal activism and the criminalization of dissent in Canada. She holds degrees in Political Science and Critical Sociology, (with a focus on Critical Animal Studies) and is a current student scholar with the brand new, Animals & Society Research Initiative at the University of Victoria. She’s also a reviewer for the Journal for Critical Animal Studies.
Tayler Zavitz in the first half.
And; Monday morning, missiles again flew into Syria, killing at least seven and wounding scores more. Though they didn’t admit responsibility, Israel is implicated. Merely the latest in a series of unanswered military assaults on its neighbour, this latest comes at a critical point in Syria’s long and bitter war.
Over the weekend, US president Donald Trump promised “action” in response to an alleged chemical weapons attack against civilians in Douma, the last stronghold of pro-jihadist groups in besieged Eastern Ghouta. And, while Trump and his allies in NATO condemn without benefit of investigation Bashar al-Assad’s government, Russia has issued its own Red Line, saying should any Russians in Syria come under fire Moscow will consider that an act of war.
Eva Bartlett is an independent Canadian journalist and activist who has lived in and reported from Gaza and Syria over the last decade. She has been one of the few Western witnesses of the destruction of war from where the missiles and bombs land, and one of even fewer to fix properly the responsibility on those firing and dropping them. Eva is currently preparing for another foray into Syria, even as Washington’s war drum beats louder.
Eva Bartlett and back to Syria in the second half.
And; Victoria activist and CFUV Radio broadcaster at large, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with some of what’s good to do in and around our town in the coming week. But first, Tayler Zavitz and meeting up with animals’ best friends at Victoria’s Animal Advocacy Camp.
There is within us a need for the wild, an innate recognition that the fine world we’re making, straight lined, tidy, ordered, and smooth, cannot sustain our souls; there is a knowledge that our dream of dominion over nature will ultimately destroy us and yet, we suppress ourselves, madly manicuring human nature to confirm and conform to an homogenized, sanitized, commodified vision of paradise. But, there is an awakening around the world. Millions are shedding the delusion we can successfully exist extant from nature and are working to reconnect with our only home, planet Earth.
Two years ago, Julia Butterfly Hill, came to ground after the longest tree-sit since homo erectus first ventured into the African savannah. And since returning to terra firma she’s been busy planting seeds. She founded the Circle of Life Foundation, an organization dedicated to a sustainable culture of life; published, ‘The Legacy of Luna’ a book chronicling her fight to save California’s disappearing redwoods; and has traveled around the world meeting and speaking with thousands about her experiences. In the first half of the program, featured speaker at UVic’s upcoming, ‘Women and Wildness’ forum, Julia Butterfly Hill…
It’s Canada’s turn to go to the polls today, and like our trading partners in the U.S. and Mexico, we’ve heard lmost nothing about the FTA, NAFTA, or the planned FTAA. Despite the profound effects these trade deals have on every aspect of life in our respective nations, the politicos are determined to peddle pap and prurience to the masses.
John Ross has written six books on Mexico, including the award winning, “Rebellion from the Roots: Indian Uprising in Chiapas” and he was in Victoria last week promoting his newest book, “The War Against Oblivion-Zapatista Chronicles, 1994-2000”.
“Remember: words have power; the power to put pictures in your mind.”
Never has that old Ukrainian saying been more true than when describing the media. For the last century, our ‘pictures in the mind’ have largely been manufactured by a small group of press barons and communication conglomerates. We mostly accept the limited scope of ‘all the news fit to print’ on an assumption that these privileged voices operate under tenets of objectivity and, ultimately, serving the public good. But today, that assumption does not bear scrutiny.
Kristina Borjesson knows better than most how media works; she’s a multi-award winning investigative reporter and producer whose resume includes: PBS’s Frontline, CNN Newstand, and both 60 Minutes and the CBS Evening News. But her twenty-plus years at the top of her field was no protection when she pursued a story nobody wanted told.
Now, Kristina Borjesson has edited “Into the Buzzsaw: Leading Journalists Expose the Myth of a Free Press”, a compilation of essays written by some of the most celebrated, and unjustly reviled, journalists in America. In the first half, Kristina Borjesson, caught in the “Buzzsaw.”
We Canadians like to think of ourselves as good neighbours. We like to believe that our only neighbour, the United States, feels the same way. But, the truth is: for more than two centuries, the United States has repeatedly and consistently tried to complete their dream of a continental nation encompassing all of North America.
Those efforts have included four separate military invasions of Canada and, when those failed, the application of continual political pressure and economic coercion designed to erode northern sovereignty. Today, their dream of a United Continental States of America is closer to fruition than ever before.
York University poli-sci professor, James Laxer on our decent into the continental drain.
We have a special program for you today for a couple of reasons: I’m joined live and in-studio by a pair of my favourite fellow primates, Victoria-based activist and CFUV Radio broadcaster at-large, Janine Bandcroft is here, as is local greentrepreneur and horticulturalist extraordinaire, Christina Nikolic.
If you listen regularly, you already know, Janine and Christina bring us the Left Coast Events Bulletin, your vital guide to some of the good things to get up to in and around Victoria week in and week out.
Today we three together form the Lean Green Gorilla Radio Funding Drive Money Raising Team – and we’ve got a beastly hunger for your figurative banana dreams!!!!
See below for more…but suffice to say, you can begin by dialing 250-721-8700 NOW…CFUV’s ANNUAL Funding Drive is here!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year…. FUNDING DRIVE is here from March 16th-23rd!
For this period of annual fundraising you can be sure to hear captivating radio, live performances, and passionate volunteers over CFUV’s airwaves. During Funding Drive, donations are taken in person or over the phone so we can continue to do what we do best – making innovative radio for Victoria and beyond!
Since 1984, CFUV has been a quintessential aspect to the Victoria community, providing alternative airwaves for everyone on Vancouver Island to connect with. Not only do we make unique radio, we teach people how to program, we advocate for marginalized/unrepresented voices, we provide accessible airwaves to those with disabilities, and we contribute to the Victoria community by sponsoring shows, hosting concerts, and supporting local. Whether it’s becoming a programmer for your own radio show, creating podcasts, or just wanting to discover great Canadian artists, CFUV aims to provide listeners and volunteers with a fresher and alternative form of radio broadcasting.
Donations received during Funding Drive go towards keeping what makes CFUV so great, and continues to provide a space for students and Victoria residents alike to come together and develop their creative talents. This year’s Funding Drive will run from March 16th to the 23rd, so get PUMPED!
The 911 for Health Care Tour took daughter of iconic Canadian politician, Tommy Douglas, credited as the founder of modern Canadian universal health care, across the country to rally the people against federal government cuts to transfer payments to the provinces who administer the program.
I went down to Victoria’s manifestation and spoke with Shirley, another icon of the political left, Dave Barrett, then-Green Party of Canada leader, Joan Russow, and NDP MLA Steve Orcheton.
Foreign meddling in electoral politics can legitimately be compared to an act of war. Just ask the voters of Honduras whose popular president was forced out of office at gunpoint by agents working for the interests of offshore corporations.
Since the replacement of Mel Zelaya in 2009 the coupsters, anointed by the good offices of El Norte, have run roughshod over the rights and dignity of the people, putting in place by hook, crook, bullets and batons an old-fashioned fascist regime; a banana republic the likes of which has not been seen since the last time Uncle Sam ran the show.
Jesse Freeston is a Canadian documentary filmmaker and video journalist. A seminal member of The Real News Network, he’s also produced documentaries for teleSUR, the world’s largest Spanish-language public broadcaster, and his latest film, Resistencia: The Fight for the Aguan Valley documents an agrarian take-over of palm oil plantations by share-cropping farmers. He’s currently working on his next independent film, Human Park.
And; media-shaded the last few years by neigbouring regional conflicts, and more recently by the Olympics and spotlight hogging Trump political circus, Gaza, and Palestine generally, has garnered scant coverage in North America’s press. That changed a little with Israel’s aerial and tank bombardment of the embattled enclave last week; but that the attention would hover a little longer there to reveal the desperate, ongoing plight of the World’s largest and longest refugee crisis.
Dr. Ramzy Baroud is an American-Arab journalist, media consultant, syndicated columnist, educator, founder and editor of the Palestine Chronicle, past editor of numerous online and print news organizations, and author. He’s currently embarking on a World-tour to promote his latest book, ‘The Last Earth: A Palestinian Story‘ to provide, he says, “a new take on the history of the Palestinian people, one in which the refugees are the core theme”.
That tour will bring Ramzy to our town next week, 7pm Friday March 2nd, right here at UVic’s David Strong building.
Ramzy Baroud and bringing the voice to Palestine’s refugees in the second half.
And; Victoria-based activist and CFUV broadcaster at-large, Janine Bandcroft will be here with the Left Coast Events bulletin to bring us up to speed with some of what’s good going on in and around Victoria in the coming week.
But first, Jesse Freeston and the story of Honduras’ never-ending coup.
The downing of a Russian warplane over Syria is further proof, if any were still needed, that news of the end of the protracted war there is premature. It also underscores the changing nature of the conflict, and its turn in a dangerous new direction.
It’s been confirmed, Major Roman Filipov’s Su-25 fighter was brought down by a MANPAD, or portable anti-aircraft missile system, reportedly fired by members of Jabhat al-Nusra. It’s a sophisticated piece of equipment not easily gotten, so just where it came from, and how al-Nusra ended up with it are the burning questions of the moment.
John Helmer is a long-time, Moscow-based journalist, author, and essayist whose website, Dances with Bears is the only Russian-based news bureau “independent of single national or commercial ties.” He’s also a former political science professor who’s served as an advisor to governments on three continents, and regularly lectures on Russian topics. Helmer’s book titles include: ‘Uncovering Russia,’ ‘Urbanman: The Psychology of Urban Survival,’ ‘Bringing the War Home: The American Soldier in Vietnam and After,’ and ‘Drugs and Minority Oppression’, among others.
John Helmer in the first half.
And; the Victoria Film Festival continues this week through Sunday, when it will feature Canadian director, Stephen Campanelli’s ‘Indian Horse’. The full-length feature recently took the Calgary Film Festival’s Audience Award for Narrative Feature, and was named the People’s Choice winner at last year’s Vancouver International Film Festival. It’s an adaptation of the Richard Wagamese’s widely acclaimed novel about Ojibway boy, Saul Indian Horse’s abduction into Canada’s residential school system.
Campanelli is a long-time Hollywood camera operator, working within legendary actor/director and producer, Clint Eastwood’s rarefied filmmaking circle. Among others, he’s collaborated with Eastwood on the films: ‘Million Dollar Baby’. ‘Gran Torino’, ‘Sully’, and their latest, and 21st collaboration, ’15:17 to Paris’. Indian Horse is his second film in the director’s chair, following 2015’s ‘Momentum’.
Stephen Campanelli and breaking the tormented silence of Canada’s residential school survivors.
And; Victoria-based greentrepreneur and horticulturalist extraordinaire, Christina Nikolic will be here at the bottom of the hour with the Left Coast Events Bulletin bringing us up to speed with some of the good things going on in and around our town in the coming week.
But first, John Helmer and the deadly consequences of America’s anti-Russia campaigns.
Went down to the plenary session on Day #1. There were two panels, separated by two audio files here. Appearing here is the raw audio. On this, the first plenary panel begins around the 45:00 minute mark, and the panelists are: Robert McCullough, Harry Swain, and Seth Klein.
Here’s the link to the official site with more details: https://sitecsummit.ca/
Welcome to the first GR of 2018. Or is it 1918? That was the year America was rocked by its first Red Scare. A century later, though media technologies are infinitely more sophisticated, the reptilian appeal to the basest elements of human nature remains as primitive as the limbic brain itself. The secret to the success of this kind of mass deception is provided by Nazi Minister of Propaganda, Joseph Goebbels who helpfully said,
“The English follow the principle that when one lies, one should lie big, and stick to it. They keep up their lies, even at the risk of looking ridiculous.”
That principle was eagerly adopted by the second wave of Red Scare McCarthyites after the Second World War, and may sound uncomfortably familiar today, as a third wave of Red Scarists crest.
Dr. Virginia Tilley is Professor of Political Science at Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. She’s also an essayist and author specializing in the comparative study of ethnic and racial conflict. Tilley’s book titles include, ‘Seeing Indians: A Study of Race, Nation and Power in El Salvador,’ ‘The One State Solution: A Breakthrough for Peace in the Israeli-Palestinian Deadlock,’ and co-author and editor of ‘Beyond Occupation: Apartheid, Colonialism and International Law in the Occupied Palestinian Territories’.
And; 2017, or Year One as U.S. president, Donald Trump may prefer, was by turns a bizarre and watershed year for American politics; and because what happens in the United States doesn’t stay just there, reverberations of the Trump Doctrine’s inaugural year are still being felt around the World. Nowhere is this more true than in Occupied Palestine, where the announcement of plans to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and relocate the US Embassy there, has predictably enough spurred a backlash that now threatens a renewed Intifada.
It’s ironic, or perhaps karmanic, that the country most keenly affected by US domestic policy, Israel, itself exerts the greatest influence on American life. From the massive transfers of wealth in the form of “aid” and the hugely influential Israel Lobby in Washington, to militarized police training and the construction of president Trump’s ‘Great Wall’ immigration policies, Israel and America are fellow travellers engaged in a true, two-way partnership. It is however, according to my second guest, a toxic relationship bringing hardship and injustice, especially to those, “…already socio-economically disadvantaged and marginalized.”
Zarefah Baroud is a freelance social and political commentator whose writing addresses human rights and environmental issues. A Media and Communications student at the University of Washington, her articles can be found at CounterPunch, Scoop, and Foreign Policy Journal among others.
Zarefah Baroud and Reevaluating a Toxic Relationship in the second half. But first, Virginia Tilley and what’s old is new again with The New Hysteria on Kremlin Trolls.
It’s Canada’s turn to go to the polls today, and like our trading partners in the U.S. and Mexico, we’ve heard lmost nothing about the FTA, NAFTA, or the planned FTAA. Despite the profound effects these trade deals have on every aspect of life in our respective nations, the politicos are determined to peddle pap and prurience to the masses.
