This week: Israeli Defense Forces spent much of last week punishing Gaza with rockets and bombs, initially in retaliation for an attack last Monday launched from Egypt into the Sinai Peninsula, far to the south. As was the case in August of last year, when eight Israelis were killed outside the town of Eilat, the IDF immediately connected this latest attack with Gaza, resulting in air attacks that have killed at least nine to date.
Egypt interceded in mid-week, brokering a ceasefire between the Hamas government in Gaza and Israel, but rockets and mortars fired from third parties in Gaza and IDF retaliation threatened to unravel that effort.
It all underscores the volatile situation in the region, made even more so perhaps by the naming of Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi as Egypt's new president.
Jon Elmer is a Canadian writer and freelance photojournalist who has lived in and reported from Occupied Palestine for the better part of the last decade. Jon's work can be found featured across the internet at Al Jazeera English, the InterPress Service, and Le Monde diplomatique among others, and at his site, JonElmer.ca.
Jon Elmer and interesting times continuing in Gaza and the Middle East in the first half.
And; the practices of Canadian mining companies abroad are increasingly in the global spotlight, if less often featured at home. From Madagascar, Continental Africa, and Asia, to Papua New Guinea, Central America, Mexico and right in Canada, mining outfits, many flying flags of mere convenience, are wreaking havoc on the natural world, despoiling the environment and ruining societies with the misfortune of existing above the objects of the industry's desire.
Worse than this is the complicity, in many cases, of the Canadian government.
Jennifer Moore is the Latin America Program Coordinator for Mining Watch Canada. Jen spent years in Latin America as a freelance print and broadcast journalist, specializing in communities affected by Canadian-financed mining companies.
Jennifer Moore and a victory for Ecuador in the second half.
And; Victoria Street Newz publisher and CFUV Radio broadcaster, Janine Bandcroft will join us at the bottom of the hour to bring us news from our city's streetz and beyond. But first, Jon Elmer and a fragile, and rapidly changing political climate in the middle east.
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, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://GorillaRadioBlog.blogspot.com
