Tag: John Horgan

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, Kevin Love, Ken Boon May 6, 2021

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Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s Home Edition, recorded May 3rd, 2021.

On March 29th CLAS kicked off what will be “a year-long celebration of 50 years of fighting for social justice. When the Community Legal Assistance Society began it was the first law office of its kind in B.C. All these years later, founding member, Mike Harcourt says of CLAS, “Probably hundreds of thousands of low-income tenants, people facing burdensome debt, people living with mental illness and other disabilities, those living with addiction, and other individuals battling bureaucracies or facing discrimination have benefited from our unique service.”

Well the need is still there, and is now perhaps greater than ever.

Kevin Love is a lawyer in CLAS’ Community Law Program, working primarily in the areas of mental health, and workers’ rights. Kevin represents CLAS on a number of committees, including the Worksafe BC’s policy and practice consultative committee as well as serving as chair to the Workers’ Compensation Advocacy Group.

Kevin Love in the first half.

And; more reports about the Site C mega-dam project have come out since I last talked to today’s second guest. In fact, since I started talking to him more than six years ago, millions have been spent on reports and studies and surveys and province-wide dog and pony shows, and no matter what the results of any of these are the Great White Elephant thunders on. It seems not even bare-faced reality stands a chance of getting in the way of a monumentally bad idea, as long as the people behind it are determined to abide in dream land.

Ken Boon is a Peace Valley farmer and president of the Peace Valley Landowners Association. Ken and his family have laboured to make real the tommyrot at the heart of the Site C project from the very beginning, and now some of their worst fears are becoming apparent even to the dullest minds of a generation down at the Legislature. And yet, the project goes on.

Ken Boon and politician saying the damnedest things about the Site-C project to nowhere in the second half.

But first, Kevin Love and celebrating 50 years with CLAS.

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, Norm Farrell, Dimitri Lascaris October 22, 2020

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Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s home edition, NOT broadcast live from CFUV Radio, but emanating live-to-tape on this date, October 16th, 2020.

While defending his government’s continuation of Site-C in last week’s leadership debate, Premier John Horgan claimed the megadam was a way to move B.C.’s “green clean energy” into the future.

But what are the ecological costs of this project; and just how green is hydro power generally? The North American Megadam Resistance Alliance says, “These megadams destroy rivers and forests and are a climate and social justice disaster.”

Norm Farrell is a writer and publisher of In-Sights.ca, a journal “covering Canadian public affairs with a focus on British Columbia…” [and] “...exploring political and economic issues.” Norm attended the NAMRA sponsored, ‘Canada’s Sinking Site C Megadam Webinar’ Wednesday.

Norm Farrell in the first half.

And; the recent Green Party of Canada leadership race was worthy of a Rocky picture, seeing a feisty outsider taking on seemingly insurmountable odds to challenge an establishment champion. And true to the billing it was an epic contest; the campaign’s eligibility opposed from the start, and when finally mounted, run against the backdrop of a global pandemic.

Lawyer, activist, and journalist, Dimitri Lascaris was our Rocky Balboa in this tilt, entering the ring promising to, “Defy the powerful. Confront injustice. [and] Unite progressives.”

Dimitri Lascaris on fighting from the ropes for a Green future in the second half.

But first, Norm Farrell and the politics, impacts, and BIG money behind Site C.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Steve Poikonen, Garth Mullins, Janine Bandcroft October 1st, 2020

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Welcome back 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, September 22, 2020.

Wikileaks has allowed us to see raw, naked power before it puts on a suit and tie, slicks back its hair and conceals the knife. – Jonathan Cook

The travesty masquerading as an extradition hearing for WikiLeaks publisher Julian Assange continues at London’s Old Bailey.

Steve Poikonen is a columnist, broadcaster, and host of the ‘Slow News Day‘ podcast available on Patreon.com. Steve’s also an organizer with Action4Assange, and co-host of the #FreeAssange Vigil. He and a retinue of activist have returned to Washington, D.C. to make again as public as possible in the Capitol the miscarriage of justice being perpetrated in England at the bequest of the U.S. government.

Steve Poikonen in the first half.

And; the provincial NDP government announced a snap-election Monday, three years into their minority mandate. Premier Horgan said one of the reasons for the early call was his party’s failure to get the BC Greens to go along with Bill 22, or the Mental Health Amendment Act, 2020.

The Act provides for the involuntary detention of youth presenting to hospital emergency rooms for toxic poisoning, something BC Greens MLA Adam Olsen says might benefit some, but he believes, “the unintended consequences of the bill also pose significant risk to young people, Indigenous youth in particular.”

Garth Mullins is a Vancouver-based activist, writer, broadcaster. Mullins is too a trade unionist, community organizer, recipient of the Carole Geller Human Rights Award, and guitarist and singer with the bands, Legally Blind, Work to Rule, and the Lumpin Proletariat. He’s also the principal behind the mic of CRACKDOWN, the podcast that is, “The Drug War, Covered by Drug Users as War Correspondents.”

Garth Mullins on CRACKDOWN, Covid, and life in a time of craven electioneering 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 in the coming week.

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, Halyna Mokrushyna, Mark Worthing, Janine Bandcroft Feb. 28th, 2019

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Five years on from the so-called “Euromaidan revolution” none of the reforms, or economic improvements promised by the victorious government of chocolatier, Petro Poroshenko have materialized. The situation in Kiev is not only now worse economically than under the usurped Victor Yanukovych, but also democratically, where according to my first guest there is less freedom and more political violence than ever.

Halyna Mokrushyna, Ph.D., is an independent researcher and journalist whose research interests include: the social and economic inequality and transition challenges of post-Soviet Ukraine, social memory and the politics of memory, Russo/Canadian relations, and the broader context of post-cold war East/West relations.

Her articles appear online at Truthout, Truthdig, New Cold War.org, and CounterPunch, where her recent article, ‘The ‘Peacekeeper’ Vigilante Website and Freedom of Speech in Ukraine’ chronicles disturbing incidents of media suppression, harassment, and violence against those criticizing the Poroshenko regime.

Halyna Mokrushyna in the first half.

And; the rampant development Victoria and environs has seen these last few years is showing no sign of slowing. On the contrary, the momentum is only building, gathering steam as it heads high over the Malahat, and westward towards Sooke. All that stands between the two fingers of this expansive boom is the wild forest and rugged country of the Sooke Hills. But that may not be for long. The Capital Regional District recently announced a plan to punch a highway through the Sooke Hills, ostensibly to provide an alternate up-island route to the Malahat.

Mark Worthing is an activist, naturalist and journalist currently working with Sierra Club BC. He’s a founding member of Tanker Free BC, and has worked with a variety of environmental groups on various campaigns, and led Sierra Club’s Flathead River Basin biodiversity study. Mark cut his journalistic teeth right here at UVic’s Martlet newspaper, and working as a freelance journalist.

Mark Worthing and stopping a road running through the Sooke Hills 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 to bring us up to speed with some of what’s good to get up to in and around our town in the coming week, but first, Halyna Mokrushyna and under the gun and on the run from Ukraine’s “Peacekeepers”.

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/