Year: 2006

<p>Well, now that we have established a Democratic Dictatorship there seems to be some confusion. This is America! Constitutional Monarchy? It can&rsquo;t happen here! We learned that in the third grade. </p>
<p>It has happened here! With the passing of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, America has its very first bona fide dictator! The Silver Spoon Kid from Texas has made good. Yee ha! Ride &lsquo;em cowboy! Oops, excuse me, that phrase best fits Rep. Mark Foley…</p>

GR's 'Three Christmas Special' is a mash of the last three years.

Here Comes the Sun!

cheers
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It’s been a big weekend for little Victoria just passed: Wrapping up today, the inaugural Victoria International Arts Symposium that played host to artists and activists from around the city and around the world. The theme this first year is “Artists of Conscience,” and with war and injustices of all description reigning freely these last half-dozen years, the time could not be riper for the culture-makers to focus their talents on those that would destroy all of humanity to serve their own base needs. <br><br>

While Victorians were treated indoors to visions of the better world possible, on the streets more than a thousand Victorians marched to mark the fifth anniversary of the Canadian military’s collusion in the rape and occupation of Afghanistan. I went down to the demonstration with a tape recorder to get the views of some of the participants at the march. Marching streeters in the first segment. <br><br>

And; yesterday more than seven hundred Victorians came out to hear Amy Goodman, host and executive producer of the wildly popular Democracy Now! news broadcast – heard daily at noon here on CFUV deliver a keynote speech titled, ‘Documenting Dissent.’ Goodman is at the end of an eighty city tour promoting here latest book, ‘Static: Government Liars, Media Cheerleaders, and the People Who Fight Back.’ I had the chance to interview Amy Goodman as she sped from one event to another Saturday. Amy Goodman fighting back in the second half.<br><br>

And; Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with some of the good things to do in and around Victoria in the coming week.

The Canadian Forces assessment of this country's military "needs" over the next two decades is in, and though it took a Freedom of Access to Information demand to become public, Canadians now know what they and their children are in for: Wars and rumours of war, stretching into the foreseeable future. David Pugliese is a reporter for the Canwest Global newspaper organ, the Ottawa Citizen, and author of the Canadian bestseller, Canada's Secret Commandos: The Unauthorized Story of Joint Task Force Two, and more recently, 'Shadow Forces: Special Forces in the New Battle Against Terrorism.' David Pugliese and Canada's rapidly evolving military in the first half.
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And; the coming carnage of Canada's military adventurism abroad holds barely a candle to the number of Canadians killed and maimed on this country's highways and byways every day; and the holiday season is especially deadly. B. C., famous for its mountainous roads and oceanside vistas is particularly dangerous, with more than 60,000 British Columbians killed or injured in auto crashes every year. Jill Franklin is a B.C.- based author whose titles include: 'The Promise of Paradise,' 'Death Comes Dancing,' Drunk on the Divine,' and 'The Ultimate Risk.' She's also the author of 'The Auto Accident Survivor's Guide for British Columbia,' written following her own near death experience. Jill Franklin in the second half.
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And; Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with all that's good to do in and around Victoria in the coming week. But first, David Pugliese and the Canadian Forces' marching orders for a new century.

We’ve seen it here, we’ve seen it everywhere; so-called liberalization has meant the privatization of core institutions that serve the public good. Health, education, electricity, transit, communication, sewage and water are, in the new philosophy, simply profit potentialities that should be offered only to those who can pay. It’s just business and who better, the logic continues, benefit these profit potentialities but the international business elite?

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Of course this line of “thought” hasn’t been embraced by everyone. Nurses in Halifax, bus drivers in Vancouver, peasants in Bolivia, are some of the vanguard of a burgeoning resistance to the new world economic order.
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On today’s show, a woman who’s been engaging and challenging the precepts of monolithic rule for almost twenty years. Vandana Shiva is a scientist/activist, feminist, author, and winner of the ‘Alternate Nobel’, the Right Livelihood Award. Her book titles, “Biopiracy: the plunder of nature and knowledge”, “Ecofeminism”, “Monocultures of the Mind: perspectives on biodiversity and biotechnology”, grace the shelves of today’s most progressive ecologists, feminists, and activists working to change the world for the betterment of all.

There are encouraging signs that the criminal enterprise, known also as the Bush administration is, after fully five years of free reign being called to account for its myriad transgressions. The Grand Jury investigation into the Valerie Plame affair has, many believe, all the elements necessary to bring down George W. Bush, but is there the political will in America to carry it through?

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Russ Baker is an award-winning, unabashed muckraking investigative journalist whose work has appeared across the media spectrum. He is a co-founder of MediaBistro, a website serving as a bridge between journalists and “new media” professionals. His latest endeavour is The Real News Project, which he describes as a “media production shop for groundbreaking, transformative, independent investigative journalism. Russ Baker in the first half.

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And; far-reaching laws enacted in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks in the U.S. have allowed for all manner of state excess. None have felt the sting of these laws more acutely than America’s Muslim community: imprisonment without due process, so-called “extraordinary rendition,” and broadened powers of search and seizure have combined to create a climate of fear for many Americans. But none of these is more disturbing than the “case” against Dr. Rafil A. Dhafir. Last month, after serving nearly three years in federal custody, Dr. Dhafir was sentenced to 22 years in prison: his crime; sending humanitarian aid to Iraq.

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Katherine Hughes is a Syracuse, New York potter and student who followed the prosecution of the local doctor, Rafil Dhafir, and says she became so concerned with the ramifications of it held for civil liberties she took a hiatus from her studies to look more deeply into the case than the local media was willing to. Katherine Hughes and the United States v. Rafil A. Dhafir in the second half.

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And; Janine Bandcroft will be here to bring us up to speed on all that’s good to do in and around Victoria this week. But first, Russ Baker and testing the media’s mettle.

There can now be left no doubt, America is today history’s grossest defiler of humanity. There need be no more allusions to Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany, as atrocity goes, with the recent admissions of the deployment of White Phosphorous in its attack on the Iraqi city of Fallujah, the Bush administration is breaking new ground and guaranteeing it will survive into the future as a cautionary benchmark against which all other atrociousness will be compared. <br><br>And what’s worse, fully half of the Americans polled by the Pew Research Center, say they approve of Mr. Bush’s torture policies against suspected terrorists. This after Abu Ghraib and Bagram, and Guantanamo, and the horrors of Afghanistan. Lila Rajiva is a Baltimore-based freelance journalist and author of ‘The Language of Empire: Abu Ghraib and the American Media.’ Lila Rajiva and atrocious conquest in the first half.

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And; Though hardly in the same league as its southern neighbour, Canada too has imperial ambitions. In April 2004, the tripartite coalition of Canada, France, and the United States conspired to take Haiti. Haiti’s populist President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide was kidnapped and spirited out of the country, his reformist government annulled. <br><br>Now, following more than a year and half of near chaos in Haiti, long promised federal elections are due. Jean St. Vil is a Canadian journalist and founding member of the Canada Haiti Action Network. He’ll be appearing here at UVic later this week for the symposium, ‘Why Haiti? The Ottawa Initiative or Canada’s First Coup d’Etat’ and to present the film ‘Aristide and the Endless Revolution.’ Jean St. Vil and Canada’s imperial ambition in the second half.

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And; Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with all that’s good to do in and around Victoria this week. But first, Lila Rajiva and America the Atrocious.

Gorilla Radio for Monday, November 28, 2005

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This week, NYC-based author and activist, Mickey Z. and 50 American Revolutions You're Not Supposed to Know About.

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And; Canadian Action Party Leader, Connie Fogal and the disappearing of Canada.

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And; Janine Bandcroft bringing us up to speed on all that's good to do in and around Victoria this week.

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Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Monday, 5-6pm Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, 104.3 cable, and on the internet at: http://cfuv.uvic.ca He also serves as a contributing editor at the progressive web news site: http://www.pej.org.

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You can check out the GR blog at: http://GorillaRadioBlog.blogspot.com

Despite heading a minority government, Stephen Harper has forwarded an agenda as radical as George W. Bush’s. In fact, it’s an identical agenda: More wars; more repressive laws at home; abandonment of environmental commitments; evisceration of public oversight; and, of course tax-cuts for the rich, while services for the poor are curtailed. How do the Conservatives get away with a program certain to shake a stronger administration? Because the opposition has so far refused to oppose. Catherine Whelan Costen is the president of the Canadian Action Party, an upstart that clings to the quaint notion, ‘Canada should be run for the benefit of Canadians.’ Catherine Whelan Costen in the first half.

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And; the propaganda mills have been working overtime in these last days leading to a wider war against the Muslim world. Last month, the National Post kicked things off with a bald-faced invented account spread across the front page alleging Iran wished to stitch the Star of David on every Jew in the country. <br><br>Two weeks ago, it was a terror plot in Toronto, hatched by handful of teenagers. Last week, the destruction of Abu Musab Zarqawi, reputed leader of the shadowy, al-Qaida in Iraq. But who really was the corpse pictured on the world’s front pages, and does it matter? William Bowles is a Brighton-based journalist and activist, whose web news site, Investigating New Imperialism featured an analysis of Zarqawi, and his relevance to the Iraqi resistance. William Bowles in the second half.

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And; Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with all that’s good to do in and around Victoria this coming week. But first, Catherine Whelan Costen, and Canadians taking action to save this country.

Israel’s "disengagement" from the Gaza strip continues, but beyond sending state-subsidized Jewish "settlers" directly into other occupied areas, primarily the West Bank, there’s little indication of how Ariel Sharon’s "genius" plan profits the Palestinians. Jon Elmer is a Canadian journalist who has spent time living in Palestine, and is today back in the occupied territory. He produces the news web site, From Occupied Palestine.org. Jon Elmer, keeping watch on the occupation in the first half. <br><br>

And; Well-known to any familiar with disaster relief, the "Golden 72 Hours" refers to the timeline where catastrophe becomes desolation. Over the first 72 hours of the unprecedented natural destruction reaped against the continental U.S., the federal infrastructure did next to nothing. While the "Leader" of the nation strummed guitar in San Diego, and sneaked in a round of golf as New Orleans burned, the message clearly sent to "Outre" America is: "In case of disaster, you're on your own."<br><br>

This lame abandonment comes after the billions of dollars diverted in recent years to the military and Homeland Defense, and drastic cuts to budgets requested for the shoring up of New Orleans' defensive network of levees. Now, with roving gangs, reportedly heavily armed thanks to the easy availability of firearms at such family centred vendors as WalMart, and tough talk coming from governing figures in the form of deployments of "Shoot-to-Kill" National Guard troops to curb looting and lawlessness, is revealed an impression of impending calamity none of the "punditocracy" wish to examine. And, it discloses a race/class war in America, poised to now leap like wild-fire across the country.<br><br>

Chris Floyd
is a London-based, American journalist and author, who’s column, Global Eye is published by The Moscow Times. He also produces the blog, Empire Burlesque, which forms the basis his new book, ‘Empire Burlesque: High Crimes and Low Comedy in the Bush Imperium.’ Chris Floyd and New Orleans burning in the second half.<br><br>

And; Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with all that’s good to do in and around Victoria this week. But first, Jon Elmer and the disengagement that wasn’t in Gaza

We’re now all too familiar with the swagger and uber machismo typifying George W. and his hyper-masculine administration. But way back at the turn of the century, Bush’s handlers knew they had to re-brand the perennial frat brat, petty criminal, failed businessman, and oft quoted misogynist vulgarian into a package palatable enough to woo the largest untapped constituency in American politics: Undecided, suburban women. <br><br>Enter the Bushwomen, highly placed conservative mid-wives tasked to birth the candidate anew. Thus, from pussy-huntin,’ silver-spoon fed Texas freebooter, "Dubya," sprang George "the W. stands for Women" Bush, compassionate conservative. And the rest is his story.<br><br>

Laura Flanders
is an activist, journalist, radio host, author, and founding director of the Women’s Desk at Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, or FAIR. Her books include, ‘Real Majority, Media Minority: the Cost of Sidelining Women in Reporting,’ and the recently released, New York Times bestseller, ‘Bushwomen: Tales of a Cynical Species.’ Laura is a frequently published columnist and television commentator Canadians may remember for her many appearances on C.B.C.’s public affairs program, Counterspin, and can now be heard on the newly created Laura Flanders Show, broad/webcast on Air America. Laura Flanders in the first segment.<br><br>

And; for any still harbouring faith in America’s ultimate, if ill-administered, good intentions in foreign policy, perhaps the graphic representations of the systemic rape, torture, and murder of detained Iraqis will finally bury that enduring myth. Since the sick-making revelations last week, the Bush administration has mouthed some contrite expressions of shock, and a half-hearted apology from the Commander-in-Chief. This as his armies renew heavy attacks against civilian populations in Iraq.<br><br>

Kurt Nimmo
is a New Mexico-based photographer, multimedia developer, blogger, and author. He’s frequently published by CounterPunch.org, and is a contributor to their political anthology, ‘The Politics of Anti-Semitism.’ His own compilation book, ‘Another Day in the Empire’ is now available from Dandelion Books. Kurt Nimmo and the daily grind of world domination in the second half.<br><br>

And, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with all that’s good to do in and around Victoria this week. But first, Laura Flanders and flushing out the Bushwomen.

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George Monbiot Mar. 24-03

In his article, 'A Letter from Canada: The New Religious Right,' award-winning American journalist Chris Hedges exposes what few of his Canadian colleagues will, the profound changes current prime minister, Stephen Harper is importing from south of the border, and their effective undermining of Canadian society. Quoting Hedges, he says: "Stephen Harper, inspired by the neocons to the south, appears determined to visit the worst excesses of George Bush's presidency on his own country." Chris Hedges and Harper's fundamental reordering of Canada in the first half.

And; Even as America's military ideology sinks into the fetid mire of moral disgust, its outrages recently and finally recognized by that country's electorate, the Canadian establishment remains firm on the need for Canada to "stay the course," refusing to "cut and run" in Afghanistan.

So enamored with the American way is Mr. Harper, he would have Canada enjoin with it permanently, putting an end to the nation much as he killed the country's founding political party.

Connie Fogal is the leader of the Canadian Action Party, and constitutional law lawyer, who says “under agreements entered under the Liberal regime post 9/11 including the Smart Border Plan and the Security and Prosperity Partnership Agreement, Canada is now but a step away from surrendering national sovereignty and being subsumed into a so-called North American Union. Connie Fogal and the end of the entity now known as Canada in the first half.

And Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with all that's good to do in and around Victoria this week. But first, Chris Hedges and Stephen Harper's pal God, ascending in Ottawa.