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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 4th, 2023.
Last month, the German government of Olaf Scholz relented to NATO pressure, agreeing to donate Leopard 2 tanks to the Kiev regime’s war effort. The United States was quick to follow, delivering the first 60 of a promised 109 Bradley M2A2-ODS Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine. Canada’s Trudeau administration in the last week too pledged tanks, the minister of defense, Anita Anand saying four Leopard 2’s would be given over, including ammunition, parts, and a deployment of Canadian soldiers to “train” Ukrainian tank crews. This while countries like Turkey work for a ceasefire agreement to end the near year-long conflict between Ukraine and its neighbour, Russia.
Glenn Michalchuk is chair of Peace Alliance Winnipeg, and president of the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians. Glenn’s been active in the peace movement since the Dirty Wars of Ronald Reagan in the 1980’s.
Glenn Michalchuk in the first half.
And; throwing tanks, ammunition, spare parts, and soldiers onto the fires of a hot war is not the only evidence of Canada’s new self-understanding as a warrior nation. In January too the contentious purchase of a fleet of American F-35 jets was approved by the Trudeau government.
A press release from Public Services and Procurement Canada reads in part, “Through Canada’s defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, the Government of Canada is acquiring modern military equipment to keep Canadians safe and protected, and to support the security of our international allies and partners.”
The release did not explain just how expediting nuclear winter makes Canadians strong, safe, or protected.
Tamara Lorincz is a fellow with the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute, member of Canadian Voice of Women for Peace, and a PhD candidate in Global Governance at the Balsillie School for International Affairs at Wilfrid Laurier University, where her thesis focus is climate and the environmental impact of the military. Tamara’s also served on the advisory committee of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, and contributed her knowledge and talents to the organizations World Beyond War, and the No to NATO Network.
Tamara Lorincz and militarism’s two ecological doomsday scenarios in the second half.
But first, Glenn Michalchuk and Canada’s all-in move on Ukraine.
Artist: David Rovics
Song: 116 Degrees
Album: May Day
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/
