Year: 2008

Welcome to GR's year end round-up show. We'll depart the usual format and call on no guests, but Janine Bancroft will join us at the bottom of the hour to offer her assessment of the year past. Like its predecessor, 2008 was bloody, full of outrageous injustice both here at home and away in the lands under military occupation. But, it too possessed extraordinary moments and extraordinary people that gave us hope for a better 2009.

Some examples of the former being the unprecedented shut-down of the Canadian parliament to avoid a non-confidence vote going through, and the not unprecedented shut down of the provincial legislature by the B.C. government which failed to see the value in sitting.

And in the latter case, fantastic developments in alternative energy technologies, and the growing acceptance of the necessity for a new economic and social paradigm broke through.

Over the next hour, I'll look back at some of the most significant occurrences over the last year, and try determine why they occurred, and what they portend for the coming year.

This year's Xmas celebration is unlike its predecessors in that I'll be joined by a guest in the first segment to discuss an issue too important to leave to the new year. Many Canadians are too young to remember a time when this country still retained a semblance of independence from the diktats of the United States, and possessed still an iota of dignity. Those days are sadly behind us now, and nowhere is that abrogation of a national will more obvious than in the shameful desertion of the priniciples we pronounce as essential to our country: Peace and Justice. While winter storms buffet Canada from coast to coast, and Canadians are caught up in the holiday season, Stephen Harper's shadow government, unchecked by parliamentary process or the press, conspires with the criminal regime south to evict the American men and women of conscience who refused orders they partake of the slaughter of innocents in Iraq and Afghanistan, seeking instead sanctuary in this "peace-loving" Canada. Even as the halls are decked in reverent remembrance of the 'Prince of Peace,' that man Stephen Harper and his evangelical fellows profess allegiance to, the true lambs of the global orgy of blood and violence are to be secreted out of the country and delivered to the altars of Babylon.

Lee Zaslofsky is the National Coordinator of the War Resisters Support Campaign in Canada. An American ex-patriot, Zaslofsky dodged the Vietnam War draft, coming to Canada with more than 50,000 of his compatriots in the 1960's and seventies. Lee Zaslofsky in the first segment.

And; Janine Bandcroft will join us at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with some of the good goings-on this holiday week, and to keep us conscious of the ongoing shelter emergency in Victoria and beyond. All that, and some holiday year end musings by yours truly. But first, Lee Zaslofsky and stopping Canada's deplorable Christmas deportations.

In 2004, Canada and the rest of the world's great defenders of democracy stood silent when Jean Bertrand Aristide, the duly-elected president of Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation, was over-thrown in a bloodless coup d'Etat. As a candidate, vying for a third comeback term as the country's chief executive, the former priest Aristide committed the cardinal crime: He promised to represent and serve the people, and this betrayal of corporate and elite interests could not be allowed to pass.
On February 28th, in the dead of night, American and Canadian commandos stole into the presidential palace and made off with the only hope of salvation for Haiti's miserably impoverished majority. Aristide was bundled off to house arrest in the Central African Republic and replaced with a more pliable, puppet regime. In a publicity stunt meant to blunt criticism of the blatant regime change, an internationally recognized crime against the peace, the perpetrators loosed NGO's, national aid entities, and United Nations "peacekeepers" to ensure justice for the captive population. That promise has not been met. Last week, reports of unchecked starvation in Haiti embarrassed the basket-case nation's minders.
Kevin Pina is an American journalist and film maker who has live in and reported from Haiti. His documentary film titles include: 'El Salvador: In the Name of Democracy,' Berkely in the Sixties,' Amazonia: Voices from the Rainforest,' 'Haiti: The UNtold Story,' and his latest, 'HAITI: We Must Kill the Bandits.' Kevin Pina in the first segment.
And; Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with some of the good going-ons in and around the south island in the coming week,and she'll report the latest in her continuing feature: State of the Shelter Emergency in Victoria and beyond. And I'll have a few comments about the state of Canada as the year winds down. But first up, Kevin Pina and Haitian promises of justice wearing thin.

A coalition of the Liberals and New Democratic Party, bolstered by a letter of understanding issued by the Bloc Quebecois, promised they would form a new government following the release of Harper's faux, or mini-budget last week. Harper's announced intentions to scrap funding of poltical parties, and erase pay equity legislation for women were just two articles the opposition could not stomach, but what about those other abominable policies supported by both the Liberals and Tories?

Jon Elmer is a Canadian freelance photojournalist and the creator of the news websites, FromOccupiedPalestine.org and JonElmer.ca. Jon has lived in, and reported from Occupied Palestine, and he's the single-most often featured guest to Gorilla Radio. Jon Elmer and a look at the abyssmal Canadian government policies no-one would end the government to stop.

And; Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with some of the good goings-on around the south island in the coming week, and to keep us posted on the State of the Shelter Emergency currently unfolding on Victoria's streets. Janine Bandcroft in the second segment.

And; I'll visit some of the past week's stories as posted on my website, Pacific Free Press.com. But first up, Jon Elmer and a greater lack of confidence in Canada's global policy positions.

This week, Canadian author, publisher, entrepreneur, Canadian economic nationalist, and social critic Mel Hurtig on the turmoil roiling the nation's capital; Janine Bandcroft brings us up to speed on good goings-on around the south island in the coming week, and introduces a new feature, State of Emergency: Bulletins from Victoria's Street.

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 to the web news site, www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://GorillaRadioBlog.blogspot.com

This week: Investigative reporter and author, Dave Lindorff and progressives standing up an Obama administration; Victoria permaculture gardeners and local food security proponents Rainey Hopewell and Margot Johnston putting the people back in the commons; Janine Bandcroft brings us up to speed with good goings-on in and around the south island.

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 to the web news site, www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://GorillaRadioBlog.blogspot.com

This week, Canadian photo-journalist Jon Elmer on the latest atrocities committed by Israel against the civilian prisoners of Gaza and the rest of Occupied Palestine; UVic PhD student Christopher parsons on Ontario's proposed "enhanced" driving license and its "Big Brother" connotations; Janine Bandcroft brings us up to speed with the goings-on in and around the south island.

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 to the web news site, www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://GorillaRadioBlog.blogspot.com

Elections season is not over yet for British Columbia. Next week, citizens around the province will be charged with their civic duty to bring in representatives on the municipal level. Steve Filipovic is one of Victoria's many mayoral candidates running to take up the post. Steve is a local boy, an accomplishment in itself in a city where 90% of the population comes from somewhere else, and is making his first foray into elected municipal service. Steve Filipovic in the first half.

And; that other election is done. Following a nearly two year-long campaign for the presidency of the United States of America, democrat Barak Obama is the new president-elect. Obama is scheduled to take up his post January 20th, 2009 in what millions around the world hope will be a paradigm-changing appointment. David Swanson is a long-time political activist and campaigner for change in his native America. He is founder of numerous activist websites, and has served as a campaign organizer for myriad campaigns, including a stint as chief organizer for Dennis Kucinich, and he's Gorilla Radio's first source on American politics. David Swanson on hope and disappointment in America's near future in second half.

And; Janine Bandcroft will be here to bring us up to speed with the Victoria political and cultural scene at the bottom of the hour. But first, Steve Filipovic and finding hope in our local political future.

This week, scientist and author, Rob Butler on the eradication of North America's birds; Glenda Ferris, a B.C. rural homesteader threatened by encroaching pipelines; Janine Bandcroft brings us up to speed on goings-on in and around Victoria in the coming week.

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 to the web news site, www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://GorillaRadioBlog.blogspot.com.

This week, journalist Conn Hallinan on the Colombian government's open season on union and indigenous activists; Canadian journalist and author Andrew Nikiforuk on Canada's environmental nightmare Tar Sands; Janine Bandcroft brings us up to speed on all the goings-on in and around Victoria in the coming week.

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 to the web news site, www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://GorillaRadioBlog.blogspot.com

GR goes down to the demonstration to stop old growth clear-cutting and put an end to raw log exports from Vancouver Island's dwindling forest lands.

This week, American journalist, activist, and author Mike Palecek and Guests of the Nation; and marking the seventh anniversary of Canada's Afghanistan entanglement.

Canadians for Peace and Justice at Home and in Afghanistan Rally and March Oct. 18/08

Gorilla Radio went down to the demonstration: Seven years, billions of dollars, and thousands of dead, maimed, and dispossessed later, the situation in Afghanistan is worse now than when Canadian troops entered the country to assist America's revenge for the 9/11 attacks. Across Canada, citizens opposed to the continued carnage the occupation of Afghanistan necessitates gathered and marched yet again in hopes of rallying the rank and file of the country to put a stop to this ongoing crime against humanity.

At home too, more Canadians than ever are homeless, and now find themselves targeted by police for the crime of making their poverty visible. Despite a recent ruling by British Columbia's Supreme Court upholding the right to shelter, Victoria City Police continue to arrest the poor and steal and destroy their meagre belongings.

Canada spends today waiting; waiting on the Fates of the economy, and waiting for an election that could determine no less than the ultimate survival of the nation. Tomorrow, the federal polls will open, the stock markets will open, and the country will cast itself into the future. The direction this nation will take for the remainder of the century, or perhaps the very survival of Canada as we know it, hangs in the balance.

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 to the web news site, www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://GorillaRadioBlog.blogspot.com

Great Interview with Jay Mowat, Danny Schechter, David Swanson Mon. S29, 2008.

 

Chris Cook