Tag: David Swanson

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

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:00 — 21.1MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS | More

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, David Rovics, David Swanson January 28th, 2021

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:59 — 18.1MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS | More

Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s Home Edition, recorded on the dates, January 25th and 26th, 2021.

And welcome to the dawning of, if not the Age of Aquarius, then the beginning of the end of the Trump Epoch. Of course, Joe Biden would have this moment be the start of his “Era”, but who out there believes there’s time enough left for that? At any rate, it is an opportunity for America to assess where it is and wants to be, and to perhaps finally give policy a chance.

David Rovics describes himself as a broadcaster, musician, blogger, and author of the novel, ‘A Busker’s Adventures’; but he is too a rabble-rousing, anarcho-socialist type, whose frequent essays on political issues and societal observation are featured at CounterPunch and Dissident Voice.org, among other places. David is also a husband and parent, alt-media maven, resident of the famously restive Portland, Oregon, and man with a special talent for pissing people off. His weekly program, This Week with David Rovics can be found through his website, DavidRovics.com.

David Rovics in the first half.

And; it’s not only the raging grease fire Trump left burning in America’s kitchen Biden needs addressing, there’s also the problem with the neighbours  to be dealt with. While some may fondly remember the Obama years, those overseas recall Joe riding shotgun on an interventionist foreign policy nightmare, the disastrous effects of which are still roiling the World beyond Pennsylvania Avenue.

David Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, and broadcaster. He’s the executive director of World BEYOND War, campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org, and a past Nobel Peace Prize Nominee whose book titles include: ‘War Is A Lie’, ‘When the World Outlawed War’, and ‘Leaving WWII Behind’. David blogs at DavidSwanson.org and WarIsACrime.org, and he’s the host of Talk Nation Radio. In his recent article, ‘Pope’s Words to Biden in Open Letter‘ Swanson puts the Pontiff in Catholic president, Biden’s policy equation.

David Swanson and preempting a third term of American intervention in the second half.

But first, David Rovics and the dangers of making sense in a post-sensical America.

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, David Swanson, Ron Ridenour, Janine Bandcroft November 12, 2020

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 56:52 — 18.2MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS | More

Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s home edition, recorded live-to-tape via Skype on this date, November 10th, 2020.

It’s that week again, when the citizenry is bidden to bow in remembrance to sacrifices made at the various altars to empire and nationalism of this terrible last century of slaughter. For some that observation is a sombre duty, for others an opportunity to propagandize a pyramidal power construct relegating those at its base to suffer penury, servitude, systemic oppression, and to be periodically pitched into the maw of mechanized warfare.

This vicious cycle may seem eternal, even the natural order of things for we who have no living experience of Peace. But that is the lie of our time, and the abomination we’re called to celebrate on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of this eleventh month.

David Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, and broadcaster. He’s the executive director of World BEYOND War, campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org, and a past Nobel Peace Prize Nominee whose book titles include: ‘War Is A Lie’, ‘When the World Outlawed War’, and ‘Leaving WWII Behind’. David blogs at DavidSwanson.org and WarIsACrime.org, and he’s the host of Talk Nation Radio.

David Swanson in the first half.

And; while last week’s election carnival is yet to come to a head, what happens over the months following is anyone’s guess; there’s less uncertainty for the Julian Assange extradition hearings in London’s Old Bailey where presiding magistrate, Vanessa Baraitser adjourned proceedings saying, “One way or another, my decision is likely to go after the US elections.”

The hearing will resume January 4th, and Baraitser will assuredly rule as bidden to by whomever will reside on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Ron Ridenour is a journalist, author, editor, and peace and social justice activist. Some of Ridenour’s many book titles include: ‘The Russian Peace Threat: Pentagon on Alert’, ‘Cuba: Revolution in Action’, ‘Backfire: The CIA’s Biggest Burn’, and his latest, still in progress, ‘Winding Brook Stories’. Ron’s articles feature at numerous online sites, including on This Can’t Be Happening.net, where his ‘A Horror Story in Two Parts: Will England Send Assange-the-Messenger to America’s Dungeons?’ and ‘A Travesty of Justice: UK Caters to the US Government’s Desire to Crush Assange’ appear.

Ron Ridenour and coming out of the trenches for Julian Assange and WikiLeaks in the second half.

And: CFUV Radio broadcaster and host of Plant Powered Radio, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour with the Left Coast Events Bulletin of some of the good things to be gotten up to in and around our town, and virtually too, in the coming week.

But first, David Swanson and rejecting war as business as usual.

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, David Swanson, Andy Worthington, Janine Bandcroft May 28, 2020

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:00 — 17.4MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS | More

Welcome to Gorilla Radio’s continuing efforts, NOT broadcast live from CFUV Radio, located in the basement of the Student Union Building at the University of Victoria, but emanating instead live-to-tape via Skype from our home-based … studios on this date, April 27th, 2020.

After, how many, months of this Corona virus aren’t we all sick of hearing about it? I know I am. So finally, this show is NOT about the Covid-19 outbreak…except it is. For those paying attention there are cracks in the media’s wall-to-wall pandemic coverage, allowing the light of truth still get in. And, what that spotlight reveals is the efforts made by the usual bad actors to leverage this emergency for their best advantage. From big money for big business, to the erasure of rights and freedoms for the little people, corona is the new crisis bonanza. But, there are two sides to that sword. Just as the disaster capitalists and crypto fascists are doing their damnedest to make more Hell of this on Earth, others see the opportunity presented by the pause in the economic paradigm to reorder global priorities, and perhaps make of the moment a better future.

David Swanson is a peace, justice, and political activist. The journalist, broadcaster, essayist, and executive director of World BEYOND War and campaign coordinator for RootsAction.org, is too a Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, and host of Talk Nation Radio. His book titles include: ‘War Is A Lie’, ‘When the World Outlawed War’, and ‘War No More: The Case for Abolition’. He blogs at WarIsACrime.org, and DavidSwanson.org, where I found his recent article, ‘The Economic Benefits of a Global Ceasefire’.

David Swanson in the first half.

And; before Covid-19 Britain’s national healthcare system, the NHS, was under attack. Vaunted as the first and best promise of a societal shift in favour of the common people following the Second World War, the NHS has suffered economic debasement by successive governments, and has been especially and habitually traduced by the conservative Tory party and its friends in the elite-dominated press. Over the last ten, terrible years of Tory rule though, the NHS has been ruthlessly savaged. Little wonder then that when the emergency did come they were ill-equipped to respond.
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 the ongoing Close Guantánamo campaign, and successfully completed, We Stand With Shaker campaign of 2014-15. 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 I found his recent piece, ‘The Coronavirus Lockdown, Hidden Suffering, and Delusions of a Rosy Future’.

Andy Worthington and health, wealth, and lessons recently learnt in the second half.

And; long-time Gorilla Radio contributor, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour with the 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, David Swanson and ceasing fire to take hold of the moment.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, David Swanson, Joyce Nelson, Janine Bandcroft October 10th, 2019

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:00:00 — 30.2MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS | More

Wars and rumours of same abound still throughout West Asia, where last week demonstrations for a more inclusive economy in Iraq were met with extreme state violence and the emergence of “mysterious sniper teams” reportedly killing protesters and police alike.

Meanwhile, American military manoeuvres in Syria stoked fears of a renewed Turkish incursion against Kurdish forces long at war there fighting those infamous agents of transnational mayhem for hire, Islamic State.

It’s clear in 2019, the New World Order promised by George H. Bush thirty years ago is but a mire of perpetual warfare.

David Swanson is an author, activist, journalist, broadcaster, and executive director of WorldBeyondWar.org.

Some of his many book titles include: ‘War Is A Lie’, ‘When the World Outlawed War’, and ‘War No More: The Case for Abolition’. David blogs at DavidSwanson.org and WarIsACrime.org, and is also the host of Talk Nation Radio.

David Swanson in the first half.

And; while the burning question in Canada’s looming election is vital to the nation, what else might we voters still undecided on “who looks best in a canoe?” want to consider before casting our franchise into the polling pot? How about something more prosaic like the privatization of Canada’s water supply and sewage management systems?

The Canada Infrastructure Bank‘s recent announcement it would provide “innovative funding” for just such a scheme is an issue currently left undebated by all federal parties, and entirely ignored by all in the press save, according to my second guest, the lonely alternative media site, Press Progress.

Joyce Nelson is an award-winning Canadian freelance writer, researcher, and author whose articles appear in the Watershed Sentinel and at CounterPunch.org. Some of her seven book titles include: ‘The Perfect Machine: TV in the Nuclear Age,’ ‘Sultans of Sleaze: Public Relations and the Media,’ ‘Beyond Banksters: Resisting the New Feudalism’ and its newly released sequel, ‘Bypassing Dystopia: Hope-filled Challenges to Corporate Rule.’

Joyce Nelson and ‘Privatizing Canada’s Water Infrastructure Should be an Election Issue‘ in the second half.

And; Victoria-based activist and long-time Gorilla Radio contributor, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour with the 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, David Swanson and wars past not passed, and finding peace in a World Beyond War.

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/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Kim Ives, David Swanson, Janine Bandcroft March 28, 2019

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 59:20 — 30.3MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS | More

Last month, a curious arrest came and went in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The incident surrounded the “catch and release” of a band of American mercenaries, allegedly nabbed in flagrante not in the boudoir, but the national bank.

In what sounds like a Mack Senate two-reeler, this Keystone Operation would be slapstick but for the deadly serious political situation in Haiti now, and its long history of foreigner-engineered disasters.

Kim Ives is a contributing editor at Haiti Liberté, a weekly newspaper published in French, Kreyol, and English,and veteran reporter, editor, and photographer for Haïti Progrès.

He’s also a past host of WBAI Radio’s Haitian news program, Lanbi Call, and documentary film maker whose projects include: ‘Bitter Cane’, ‘Ayisyen Leve Kanpe’, and ‘The Coup Continues’ among others.

Ives too is a founding member of the International Support Haiti Network (ISHN), formerly the Haiti Support Network (HSN), and has led numerous delegations to Haiti since 1986 to investigate human rights violations, union struggles, peasant land conflicts, and state-enterprise privatization campaigns.

Kim’s recent article, ‘American Mercenaries Arrested in Haiti Were Part of a Half-Baked Scheme to Move $80 Million on Behalf of Embattled President‘, (published in cooperation with The Intercept) broke the story of the hapless gang who couldn’t loot straight.

Kim Ives in the first half.

And; can any war be called “just”. It’s a concept not questioned enough, with most people assuming wars of self-defense are clearly defensible. While Afghanistan never attacked the United States, or anyone else, America and its “coalitions of the willing”, while invoking UN Article 51 and the “self-defense” doctrine, bombed, invaded, and continue to occupy that nation 18 years after the first bombs fell. All this in defense of what?

David Swanson is an author, activist, tireless promoter of pro-peace networks and websites, and co-founder of World Beyond War, an organization making the case for the abolition at last of that ultimate expression of human destructiveness. His book titles include: ‘Curing Exceptionalism’, ‘A Global Security System’, ‘War Is Never Just’, ‘War Is a Lie’, ‘Killing Is Not a Way of Life’, ‘War No More: The Case for Abolition’, and many more. He’s also the host of Talk Nation Radio, linked through his website, Let’s Try Democracy, and a devastatingly effective debater, especially on the topic of war and peace.

I came across a recording of David’s February 13th, 2018 debate with Pete Kilner, a military ethicist, at Eastern Mennonite University on the question, “Is War Ever Justifiable?” and it’s as succinct a refutation of the tropes of war and war making you’re likely to hear.

David Swanson, refuting the ‘Just War Doctrine’ in the second half.

And; Victoria-based activist and long-time Gorilla Radio contributor, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour with the Left Coast Events Bulletin, bringing us up to speed with some of what’s good going on in and around our town in the coming week. But first, Kim Ives and a half-baked Haitian heist hitting the fan.

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.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.ca/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Dave Lindorff, David Swanson, Janine Bandcroft January 17th, 2019

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 58:20 — 29.2MB) | Embed

Subscribe: Google Podcasts | RSS | More

Last month, Philadelphia Judge Leon Tucker ruled, in part, favourably in a two year-old plea by Mumia Abu-Jamal’s legal team. They had argued, a U.S. Supreme Court Justice presiding over a previous appeal should have recused himself.

Abu-Jamal has spent nearly 40 years in prison for the 1981 murder of Philly police officer, Daniel Faulkner; a charge he has always denied. The case has, from the beginning, been politically charged and fraught with procedural irregularities. Further to those, just days after Judge Tucker’s ruling, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office “discovered” six crates of evidence that has for years, they say, lay hidden in the back of a disused storeroom.

Lawyers and activists are excited now by the possibility those crates may contain material that could see Mumia freed.

Dave Lindorff is a Philadelphia-based investigative journalist and author. He’s covered the Abu-Jamal case extensively, and wrote the book, ‘Killing Time: An Investigation into the Death Row Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal. Lindorff is too founder of the multi-award-winning news website, This Can’t Be Happening, where his latest article on the Abu-Jamal case, ‘A Potentially Tectonic Event Shakes up the Mumia Abu-Jamal Case‘ appears.

Dave Lindorff in the first half.

And; does the World really need another celebration of war and warmakers? The good folks over at NATO think so, and they’re busy making preparation for just such an event. April 4th, 2019 marks the 70th anniversary of the multi-nation military alliance. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization has, since its Cold War inception, seen a massive expansion in both its membership and mission statement. Nothing if not resilient, NATO has not only survived, despite losing its raison d’etre rival, the USSR and its Warsaw Pact alliance, but thrived, no longer limiting activities to its titular region but creating “facts on the ground” across the globe.

David Swanson is an author, activist, tireless promoter of pro-peace networks and websites, and co-founder of World Beyond War, an organization making the case for the abolition at last of that ultimate expression of human destructiveness. His book titles include: ‘Curing Exceptionalism’, ‘A Global Security System’, ‘War Is Never Just’, ‘War Is a Lie’, ‘Killing Is Not a Way of Life’, ‘War No More: The Case for Abolition’, and many more.

Swanson is also host of Talk Nation Radio, linked through his website, Let’s Try Democracy, where a recent article dissects the myths and reveals the realities behind the organization that would have your anniversary cheers.

David Swanson and the ‘Top 10 Reasons Not to Love NATO‘ in the second half.

And; Victoria-based activist and long-time Gorilla Radio contributor, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour with the 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, Dave Lindorff and can the beginning of the end of Mumia Abu-Jamal’s long imprisonment be happening?

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.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.ca/