Tag: Afghanistan

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Yves Engler, Pitasanna Shanmugathas March 29th/April 2nd, 2023

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 29th and April 2nd, 2023.

And welcome to the Spring of discontent! While leaders In the capitals of Europe and America promise to carry on the Ukraine proxy war no matter the price, the People are already in the streets protesting the real and rising costs of that belligerence. For Canadians, whose government is already full-throatedly behind: the bellicose stance against Russia, prospects of an expanded war against China and Iran, battles by sanction in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and elsewhere, there is too Haiti.

Last week, the Trudeau Liberals blithely announced another $100 million dollars to be delivered to the tiny island nation’s military and police effort to keep the restive population under heel. This on top of millions already delivered. It’s almost as if Ottawa believes the fatted tax goose’s golden eggs will never flag.

Yves Engler is an independent, Montreal-based journalist and author. He’s written twelve books on Canadian foreign policy, including ‘Canada in Haiti: Waging War on the Poor Majority’, co-authored with Anthony Fenton. His recent article, ‘Canadian government prioritizes war over climate crisis‘ is a troubling portrait of a country few here in our home and native land would recognize.

Yves Engler in the first half.

And; just what is Canada’s place in the world? Generations of us have been taught we are global agents of good; fair-minded, and justice-seeking. You know, “Wherever they’s a fight so hungry people can eat, we’ll be there. Wherever they’s a cop beatin’ up a guy“, etc., etc.

It’d be a great story, if only it were true.

Pitasanna Shanmugathas completed an advanced degree at one of Canada’s world-class Universities but found, beyond Canada’s “two solitudes” another bifurcation – one not in the curriculum – separating the real from an imagined nation. And so, he says, he set out on an epic three year journey of discovery, from coast to coast to coast, and across the tractless prairies. He documented his Canadian quest in the film series, ‘Truth to the Powerless: An Investigation into Canada’s Foreign Policy‘.

Pitasanna Shanmugathas and the hunt for Canada’s elusive identity in the second half.

But first, Yves Engler and Trudeau of the Tropics, taking Haiti.

Song: The Panic Is On

Artist: David Rovics

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: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Saul Arbess, Ken Stone January 28th, 2023

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded January 22 & 28th, 2023.

More than two years after BC’s former premier, John Horgan’s re-election promise to implement the recommendations of his own government’s Old Growth Strategy Review panel it’s business as usual in the woods. While some of the OGSR’s 14 point plan was implemented, big trees are still falling and the forests are in peril. The NDP also, after Horgan’s snap election win, ceded policing authority to deal with old growth forest defenders near the capital to the federal RCMP, whose paramilitary tactics and brutality at the Fairy Creek encampments elicited international expressions of disgust and condemnation.

Now, a grand manifestation of First Nations, conservation organizations, ecological agencies, and citizens concerned about the loss of an irreplaceable biological legacy is planned to surround the seat of government to state demands for policy change in more fervent language.

Saul Arbess is a long-time peace, justice, and environmental champion. He describes himself as a cultural anthropologist and futurist, dedicated to “creating a new architecture of peace in the world“. Saul served as National Co-chair of the Canadian Department of Peace Initiative, was co-founder and chair of the Global Alliance for Ministries and Departments of Peace, and currently works for peace, non-violence, and protecting the wildlands around his home city of Victoria.

Photo: Bill Johnston

Saul Arbess in the first half.

And, January on Canada’s west coast means Season’s change is soon; but even as we ready for Spring, east of here the cruelest months of Winter still lay ahead. That cold reality isn’t however deterring citizen demonstration of dissatisfaction with the ongoing NATO wars and occupations.

Monday, January 23, as part of the week-long protests around North America, Hamiltonians picketed the prime minister’s cabinet meeting taking place in the Hamilton Convention Centre. One focus of their vigil being the “purchase of the obscenely-expensive F-35 fighter jets”.
Ken Stone is an executive member of both the Syria Support Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the Wars.

Ken Stone and Canada’s Winter war resisters in the second half.

But first, Saul Arbess and Uniting for Old Growth in British Columbia.

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/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Ken Stone January 22, 2023

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded January 22, 2023.

January on Canada’s west coast means Season’s change is soon; but even as we ready for Spring, east of here the cruelest months of Winter still lay ahead. That cold reality isn’t however deterring citizen demonstration of dissatisfaction with the ongoing NATO wars and occupations.

Monday, January 23, as part of week-long protests around North America, Hamiltonians will picket the prime minister’s cabinet meeting taking place at the Hamilton Convention Centre.

One focus of their vigil will be the “purchase of the obscenely-expensive F-35 fighter jets”.

Ken Stone is an executive member of both the Syria Support Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. He’ll be there Monday, and insists, “Canada needs an independent foreign policy” and “should get out of NATO, the aggressive US-led military alliance that drags us into every conflict of the US empire, including the war in Yemen and the occupation of Haiti.”

Today, Ken Stone and Canada’s Winter war resisters.

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/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Kathy Kelly, John Helmer December 5th, 2022

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded December 5, 2022.

As Afghanistan fades from Western consciousness, the effects of the twenty years-long war America and its willing coalition waged against the impoverished nation are yet being felt; still bearing bitter fruit for a generation of Afghans not born when the war began.

Kathy Kelly is a long-time peace and justice activist, essayist, author, and recipient of numerous awards for her peace service, including multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace prize. Kathy is too a founding member of Voices in the Wilderness and Voices for Creative Nonviolence. She co-authored the book, ‘Prisoners on Purpose: a Peacemakers Guide to Jails and Prison,’ and wrote, ‘Other Lands Have Dreams: from Baghdad to Pekin Prison.’

Today Kathy Kelly, an ad hoc group of Internationals, and the Chicago Chapter of Fellowship of Reconciliation are appealing for help for a group of young Afghans in desperate circumstances seeking resettlement to Portugal.

Kathy Kelly in the first half.

And; despite American and European posturing in support of continuing the war in Ukraine – already bleeding national coffers on both sides of the Atlantic white – recent leaks from the Pentagon, and public statements from the Biden White House, defy the jingoistic rhetoric. The U.S. president remarked this past week, “We have to respect the Ukrainians to decide the moment and conditions in which they will negotiate about their territory.” For Russia’s part, they’ve begun mapping out what a post-war Ukraine could look like.

John Helmer is a journalist, author, and principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears. He’s a past professor of political science, sociology, and journalism and has served as advisor to governments at the highest level.
Helmer has spent decades living in and reporting from Russia, and among his many book titles are: ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17,’ ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ and his latest, ‘The Jackals’ Wedding: American Power, Arab Revolt’.

John’s recent article at Dances with Bears, ‘UKRAINE ARMISTICE – HOW THE UDZ OF 2023 WILL SEPARATE THE ARMIES LIKE THE KOREAN DMZ OF 1953‘ provides an intriguing preview of Ukraine’s possible future.

John Helmer and a new Ukraine by New Year’s? in the second half.

But first, Kathy Kelly and reconciliation and resettlement for Afghanistan’s forgotten casualties of war.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1999. Check out GRadio.Substack.com, Gorilla-Radio.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Kathy Kelly, Ivan Katchanovski February 10, 2022

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 5th, 2022.

War and rumours of war are filling the headlines, and lede news broadcasts. Whether stories in the press are about a war recently past and its aftermath, like in Afghanistan, or a feared future war, as featured by sabres-rattling over Ukraine, what seems inescapable is war: War ever-present. This is perfectly illustrated in Afghanistan, where the end of war brings no peace, and in Ukraine where the killing and dying long preceded the rumour of fighting to come. So what’s left to do but work for peace – and keep on working for peace.

Kathy Kelly is a long-time peace and justice activist, essayist, author, and recipient of numerous awards for her peace service; including multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace prize. She’s a founding member of Voices in the Wilderness and Voices for Creative Nonviolence, co-authored the book, ‘Prisoners on Purpose: a Peacemakers Guide to Jails and Prison,’ and wrote, ‘Other Lands Have Dreams: from Baghdad to Pekin Prison.’

Kelly has made numerous trips to Afghanistan as an invited guest of the Afghan Peace Volunteers and has lived alongside ordinary Afghan people in working-class Kabul.

Kathy Kelly in the first half.

And; American and Canadian efforts to bring diplomatic and military pressure to bear on Russia over Ukraine may seem a mystery to those in the West who rarely receive context with their newspapers, or as part of their nightly newscasts. But worse still than the dearth of factual background information on critical issues available to readers and viewers from the media, the analysts and opinion-makers presented here more often than not represent those that profit most from the modern warfare economy. For those persevering though, it is still possible to glean sense from the chaos and even sometimes discern the hand behind the mayhem.

Ivan Katchanovski is a scholar, essayist, and author teaching at the School of Political Studies at the University of Ottawa. He’s the author of ‘Cleft Countries: Regional Political Divisions and Cultures in Post-Soviet Ukraine and Moldova’ and co-authored the books, ‘Historical Dictionary of Ukraine’ (Second Edition) and ‘The Paradox of American Unionism: Why Americans Like Unions More Than Canadians Do, But Join Much Less’. His articles feature at Canadian Dimension.com, where his recent piece, ‘The Hidden Origin of the Escalating Ukraine-Russia Conflict‘ appears.

Ivan Katchanovski and returning to Maidan to unwind the true origin story behind the current Ukraine-Russia conflict.

But first, Kathy Kelly and the war not over in Afghanistan.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/

 

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Vanessa Beeley, Andy Worthington September 23rd, 2021

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded September 18th and 19th, 2021

America’s military admitted this week, all Afghans killed in a drone bombing it carried out in Kabul last month were civilians. The admission followed three weeks of Pentagon insistence those killed were ISIS-K terrorists, and denials of contrary reports from the scene. In a statement issued September 17th, congressman and chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff expressed regret for those killed in what he characterized a “mistake with horrific consequences“, and offered his prayers for the dead and their surviving relatives. Schiff also expressed concern about the “accuracy and completeness of public statements made in the immediate aftermath of the strike” by the Department of Defense.

General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr., commander of United States Central Command and man answerable for the massacre, too expressed his “profound condolences to the family and friends” and reassures his government is “exploring the possibility of ex gratia payments“. Left unexplained by the general, and unquestioned by Chairman Schiff, was just why America was continuing its attacks against the country it has reportedly withdrawn from.

But then the same could be asked about Syria.

Vanessa Beeley is an award-winning independent journalist and photographer who has worked extensively throughout the Middle East; covering the U.S./NATO wars from where their bombs land in Syria, Iraq, and Palestine. She’s also reported the ongoing humanitarian disaster of Yemen since 2015. Her accolades include a Serena Shim Award for uncompromising integrity in journalism, finalist for the prestigious Martha Gellhorn Prize for Journalism, and was named one of Britain’s “most respected journalists” in 2018. She currently calls Damascus home.

Vanessa Beeley in the first half.

And; while Adam Schiff is bending a figurative knee for the “victims and their families” of America’s most recent “mistake” in Afghanistan, perhaps he could spare a prayer for the men rounded up, shipped off, and remaining still in the U.S.A.’s prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba?

Andy Worthington is an English journalist, activist, author, photo-historian, filmmaker, musician, song-writer and principle of The Four Fathers band. He is too co-founder of both the ongoing Close Guantánamo campaign and successfully completed We Stand With Shaker campaign. Worthington’s book titles include: ‘The Guantánamo Files: The Stories of the 774 Detainees in America’s Illegal Prison’, ‘Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion’, and ‘The Battle of the Beanfield’.

His articles appear at his website, AndyWorthington.co.uk, where he’s inviting participants for 2022’s Close Guantanamo effort.

Andy Worthington and sending the prisoners of the forever war home in the second half.

But first, Vanessa Beeley and America’s secret second front in Syria.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, David Swanson, Jackie Larkin September 9, 2021

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Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s Home Edition, recorded September 1st and 4th, 2021

Many took heart when America announced an end to its military occupation of Afghanistan last month. But optimism for a beginning of peace in that benighted country’s decades-long state of civil conflict and uncertainty is now clouded by bellicose statements made in Washington by an administration that seems to want to end its war and fight it too. Following a recent attack against civilians and American troops at Kabul’s airport, in a speech delivered to the World, president Biden made it clear the killing would continue saying,

“To those who carried out this attack, as well as anyone who wishes America harm, know this: We will not forgive. We will not forget. We will hunt you down and make you pay.”

These sentiments echo George W. Bush, who in commencing the invasion of Afghanistan twenty years ago said,

“We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail.”

David Swanson is an author, journalist, broadcaster, peace and justice activist, and executive director of World BEYOND War. The multiple Nobel Peace Prize nominee and U.S. Peace Prize recipient also hosts Talk World Radio and blogs at WarIsACrime.org, and DavidSwanson.org. His recent article, ‘No More Attacks on Afghanistan‘ is co-authored with peace activists Kathy Kelly, Nick Mottern, and Brian Terrell.

David Swanson in the first half.

And; last week video of the RCMP’s Emergency Response Team abusing land defenders at the Fairy Creek Blockade served as a further embarrassment for the national police force. Or at least the incident captured, just one in a series of disturbing actions, (including peace officers smashing helpless guitars) would embarrass any organization with a capacity for shame; something the RCMP have so far proven incapable of.

A recent statement from the Mounties regarding its strategy of enforcing an injunction against the protest declares ignorance reading,

“To date, we are not aware that we have received official complaints from any arrested persons as it relates to enforcement in Fairy Creek.”

That disclaimer was dated August 19th, ten days after an ERT assault on the Fairy Creek camp coinciding with the first anniversary of the blockade. There’s been more to complain about since.

Jackie Larkin is an educator and facilitator, social justice strategic planner and health care advocate. She’s an active member of the environmental change movement and co-leader of ‘The Work That Reconnects‘, a “deep exploration of our emotional, spiritual and ecological connection to all life on Earth”. Jackie is also a member of Elders for Ancient Trees, allies in the effort to protect the forest and lands under threat at Fairy Creek.

Jackie Larkin and standing for the forest in the second half.

But first, David Swanson and stopping finally western attacks against Afghanistan.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing every Thursday between 11-Noon Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: https://cfuv.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

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Ken Stone, Joe Emersberger September 2, 2021

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Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s Home Edition, recorded August 28th and 29th, 2021

Faerie tales always begin with a great wrong done. The evil deed, invariably committed by some grand Potentate or schemer to the throne often entail endungeoning a hero or heroine seen as a potential threat to power. What make Faerie tales different and apart from the tedious litany of yarns about injustice meted by the mighty upon the heads of the meek is that, more than being merely about crimes against the innocent, these universal and enduring stories detail the greater – and unforgivable – crime against innocence itself. Today this country, Canada is the villain in just such a grim story; but it’s no faerie tale, it’s the true-life case of Meng Wanzhou, held captive in Vancouver a thousand and more days.

Ken Stone is a long-time antiwar activist whose served as an executive member of both the Syria Solidarity Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. Ken and the Hamilton Coalition joined forces with online investigative journalism site, The Canada Files and rank and file Canadians upset with the country’s legal traditions traduced in this case to pursue the nation-wide FREE MENG WANZHOU campaign. They say,

“… it’s clear to Justice Holmes as well as Justin Trudeau, his entire cabinet, and indeed the whole world, Meng Wanzhou has committed no crime…”

Ken Stone in the first half.

And; if Meng Wanzhou is an entowered princess-prisoner of a petty tyrant eager to please a larger monster, Alex Saab is a knight errant, mired in that monster’s own web of intrigue and mass murder. Saab was in the service of besieged Venezuela, en route to Iran, another nation similarly blockaded by America, when he was intercepted by Cape Verde authorities and thrown into prison there. More than a year later, Alex Saab sits still in that prison awaiting the local judiciary’s decision on his appeal of its acquiescence to extradition requests by the United States.

Joe Emersberger is a Canada-based engineer, writer, activist, and co-author with Justin Podur of the newly released book, ‘Extraordinary Threat: The US Empire, the Media and 20 Years of Coup Attempts in Venezuela‘. Emersberger’s articles, focusing on the Western media’s coverage of the Americas, can be found at FAIR.org, CounterPunch.org, TheCanary.co, Telesur English, and ZComm.org, where his recent piece, ‘Alex Saab, Afghanistan, and the limits of US power‘ appears.

Joe Emersberger on Alex Saab and the increasing diplomatic acceptance of American atrocity in the second half.

But first, Ken Stone and making an election issue of the odious Canadian case against Meng Wanzhou.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Thursday between 11-Noon Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: https://cfuv.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

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Jeremy Kuzmarov, Aidan Jonah August 19th, 2021

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Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s Home Edition, recorded August 10th and 14th, 2021.

At month’s end, Ukrainian president and former teevee clown, Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Washington, doubtless in search of reassurance from long-time Kiev booster, Joe Biden. Zelensky’s position is particularly fragile now, as the U.S. has relented on its effort to halt Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline. That effectively puts an end to Ukraine’s strategic value as stumbling block between Russian gas and the lucrative European market.

But all this is cold comfort to those Ukranians East and West suffering a “proxy” civil war dragging on into its seventh year.

Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and author who serves too as Managing Editor of CovertAction Magazine. He’s the author of four books on U.S. foreign policy, including: ‘Obama’s Unending Wars’, and ‘The Russians Are Coming, Again’ co-authored with John Marciano. His latest piece at CovertAction, co-written with Steve Brown is, ‘Our Mission is to Lead the White Races of the World in a Final Crusade…Against Semite-led Untermenschen‘.

Jeremy Kuzmarov in the first half.

And; we in Canada, (and citizens throughout what was once called Western Democracy) are experiencing a political emergency. It is a crisis of trust: Trust in government, in corporations, in media; in fact a lack of faith across the spectrum of society. This apotheosis of incredulity is expressed in voter apathy, cynicism, and even resistance to public health information disseminated by government, media, and the corporate sector vital amidst a global pandemic.

No-one disagrees, unity of purpose is urgently required in this time of global calamity, but what’s to be done once belief is lost?

Aidan Jonah is Editor-in-Chief of The Canada Files, a web news site focusing on “Canadian imperialism, federal politics, and left-wing resistance to colonialism across the world.”

Aidan Jonah and the death and rebirth of Canadian journalism in the second half.

But first, Jeremy Kuzmarov and the next Nazi crusade finding purchase in Kiev.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Thursday between 11-Noon Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: https://cfuv.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

 

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Nick Mottern, Tamara Lorincz July 22, 2021

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Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s Home Edition, recorded July 17th, 2021

Almost twenty years since its beginning, America is quitting the war against the Taliban. Or so the papers say. Though it’s clearly too late for a good news spin on stories coming from what was Afghanistan – where more than a million have perished violently since 2001, with uncounted multiples more being maimed, orphaned, and rendered homeless – there is too another story not making the frontpage, or leading the evening news; that is the fact America’s president has promised to continue bombing in Afghanistan anyone, anywhere, anytime he sees fit from somewhere “over the horizon”.

Nick Mottern is a journalist, author, and coordinator of Knowdrones.com, an organization founded in 2012 expressly to “inform the American public about the illegality, immorality and dreadful human consequences of U.S. drone attacks…”

Nick’s worked as a reporter, researcher, writer and political organizer over the last 30 years, and his book, ‘Suffering Strong’ recounts his travels in Africa. His recent article, ‘”Biden Acknowledges “over the horizon” Air Attacks Planned Against Taliban’ appears at KnowDrones.com, where they’re also engaged in a campaign to keep military whistleblower, Daniel Hale out of prison. Hale’s sentencing is scheduled for July 27th.

Nick Mottern in the first half.

And; as there are no other problems in the country, the Canadian government is entertaining bids for billions of spare tax dollars from international fighter jet manufacturers. The competition is fierce, with the winner expecting to cash in on what opponents of the purchasing spree say will amount to as much as 77 billion Canadian buckaroos, with untold riches to be had for parts, maintenance, and (constant) repairs.

Tamara Lorincz is with Canadian Voice of Women for Peace. VoW are the organizers of the No Fighter Jets days of action held across Canada since the military procurement was announced. She’s also served on the advisory committee of the Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space, and has contributed her knowledge and talents to the organizations World Beyond War, and the No to NATO Network. She and VoW joined up recently with the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute to recruit more than a hundred personages of repute on both sides of border in a public campaign to kill the Liberals’ war spending plans.

Tamara Lorincz and opposing Canadian militarism in the second half.

But first, Nick Mottern and Biden’s not so sunny Afghan horizon.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Thursday between 11-Noon Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: https://cfuv.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

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Kathy Kelly, Pete Rockwell, Janine Bandcroft December 3, 2020

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Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s home edition, recorded on this date December 2nd, 2020.

Donald Trump has ordered a reduction in numbers of American soldiers currently in Afghanistan. This fulfills some conditions of a so-called “peace” deal signed with Taliban representatives in February. But, peace has proven elusive, with ever more deadly attacks taking place in the country, and as ever, civilians paying the greatest price.

Kathy Kelly is a long-time peace and justice activist, essayist, author, and recipient of numerous awards for her peace service, including multiple nominations for the Nobel Peace prize. She’s a founding member of Voices in the Wilderness and Voices for Creative Nonviolence, co-authored the book, ‘Prisoners on Purpose: a Peacemakers Guide to Jails and Prison,’ and wrote, ‘Other Lands Have Dreams: from Baghdad to Pekin Prison.’

Her recent article, ‘Like a Rocket in the Garden: The Unending War in Afghanistan’ chronicles the legacy of twenty years of America’s forever war in Afghanistan; an effort she describes as, “illegal and immoral”, bankrupt[ing] our economy and our society…”

Kathy Kelly in the first half.

And; in early November, Victoria City police enforced an order to tear down public showers installed by citizens concerned for the health and well-being of unhoused people living in tents in Beacon Hill Park.

Pete Rockwell is a Victoria-based photographer who began recording the city’s burgeoning unhoused residents in 2005. His pictures have featured in local publications like Focus on Victoria and the now defunct Victoria Street Newz and B-Channel News collective, among other places.

Pete Rockwell’s hard look at a prosperous city’s people in crisis in the second half.

And; CFUV broadcaster and host of Plant Powered Radio, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with some of what’s good going on in and around our town, and virtually too, in the coming week.

But first, Kathy Kelly and Afghanistan at the end of America’s occupation.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Thursday between 11-Noon Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: https://cfuv.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.ca/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Ariel Nasr, Will Tell, Janine Bandcroft July 2, 2020

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio’s continuing efforts, NOT broadcast live from CFUV Radio in the basement of the Student Union Building at the University of Victoria, but emanating live-to-tape via Skype from our home-based … studios on this date, June 17th, 2020.

In 2001 a great tragedy befell Afghanistan; but, as bad as hosting the inauguration of America’s Global War on Terror was for Afghans, it was merely the continuation of decades of suffering conflicts of other people’s making. Nearly twenty years after Operation Enduring Freedom’s first B-52 bombing sortie the fighting rages still; and though its name has since changed, the price those mired within The Long War pay endures. Yet, Afghanistan is more than a proxy battlefield for superpowers; made of more than just its most recent history.

Ariel Nasr is a celebrated documentary filmmaker, earning more than a dozen awards and nominations, (including an Oscar nod and Canadian Screen Award prize) for his film work; work encompassing writing, directing, and producing across platforms and crossing continents. Nasr’s credits include, ‘The Boxing Girls of Kabul’, Good Morning Kandahar, the interactive, ‘Kabul Portraits’ project, and his latest, the feature-length documentary release, ‘The Forbidden Reel,’ a “story of Afghanistan’s fearless and visionary moviemakers…“

Ariel Nasr in the first half.

And; as the tidal wave that has been the Covid-19 lockdown ebbs, around the World the financial and social damage wrought in its wake is beginning to be revealed. While Wall Street rockets, the biggest and strongest buffeted best by government bailouts, workers are finding promises made at the height of crisis are now quietly being broken. And like the pandemic itself, the pattern of feeding piles of public funds to corporations while pleading poor mouth to the starving knows no borders.

Will Tell is an expat living in rural southern India who says, as well as reneging on promises of financial aid to small business, the Indian government has, “NOT delivered on its promise to subsidise the ‘day labourers’. This includes taxi drivers, rickshaw drivers […and] self-employed skilled tradesmen […] either in the form of money […] or in delivery of staples [like] rice, dahl, cooking oil, [and] sugar.”

Will Tell and India racing to aid the powerful, whilst the rest are left to the Covid tsunami’s rip tide in the second half.

And; long-time Gorilla Radio contributor and Green Vegan Grandma Youtuber, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour with this week’s Left Coast Events Bulletin of some of the good things to be gotten up to in and around our town in the coming week. But first, Ariel Nasr and preserving a nation’s culture, frame by frame.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Thursday between 11-Noon Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: http://cfuv.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.ca/