Tag: media

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Diana Johnstone, Mickey Z. August 13, 2022

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded August 13th, 2022

In early August the ‘Western Balkans Democracy and Prosperity Act’ was read into the record of the US Congress. Democratic Senator, Jeanne Shaheen introduced the bipartisan draft law, (and a second regarding sanctions as laid out in the Dayton Accords) saying the initiative was necessary because, “Russian President Vladimir Putin’s intentions to spread malignant influence throughout Eastern Europe are evident.” Shaheen also says the Act, if passed “…[P]aves the way for wider Euro-Atlantic integrations.” among other things.

More seasoned listeners may better recognize those “Western Balkans” as elements of the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, (and Albania) collapsed in the 1990’s, and it’s largest remnant Serbia subsequently bombed into further balkanization by NATO in the so-named “Kosovo War” at the end of the last century.

Diana Johnstone is an author, former press secretary to the Green Group in the European Parliament, and journalist whose writings on Yugoslavia received recognition from Project Censored among others. Her books include ‘ From MAD to Madness: Inside Pentagon Nuclear War Planning,’ ‘Circle in the Darkness: Memoirs of a World Watcher,’ and ‘Fools’ Crusade: Yugoslavia, NATO and Western Delusion.’ Diana’s articles can be found at ConsortiumNews.com.

Diana Johnstone in the first half.

And; with the cooler evening’s promise of a change of season coming, I find myself thinking of the cycles of time; everything changing while remaining, in a sense, the same. If that sounds a little more mystic than the usual prattle here, chalk it up to the weather. As the wheel of fortune would have it, it’s been eight years to the day since I spoke last with my second guest – and in that time a lot has changed for both of us – and much too has remained the same.

Mickey Z. is a New York City born and bred activist, author, lecturer and martial artist who has the only-one-in-the-world distinction of having appeared in both a political anthology alongside Noam Chomsky, and featured in a Billy Banks karate film. Mickey Z.’s book titles include: ‘Darker Shade of Green,’ ‘Self-Defense for Radicals: A to Z Guide for Subversive Struggle,’ ‘CPR for Dummies,’ 50 American Revolutions You’re Not Supposed to Know: Reclaiming American Patriotism,’ ‘The Seven Deadly Spins: Exposing the Lies Behind War Propaganda,’ ‘Occupy This Book: Mickey Z. on Activism,’ and his latest, ‘Occupy These Photos: NYC Activism Through a Radical Lens.’ Mickey’s newsletter and podcast can be found these days at his SubStack.com site, Post-Woke.

Mickey Z. and learning the “art of intellectual self-defense” in the second half.

But first, Diana Johnstone and NATO’s Fools’ Crusade reprised in the Western Balkans.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca.  Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Song: Smoke and Mirrors
Artist: When Humans Had Wings

Please support Mickey’s Helping Homeless Women – NYC (my one-man project of nearly 6 years)

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Bonny Glambeck, Greg Palast, Janine Bandcroft June 27th, 2019

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It’s difficult to accept news of the epidemic-sized outbreak of sea lice at fish farms in Clayoquot Sound with anything but a weary sigh of unsurprise; afterall, why would Cermaq’s much contested operations there differ from everywhere else concentrated fish feed lots operate?

Cermaq, the formerly Norwegian company newly acquired by Japanese behemoth, Mitsubishi Corporation issued an apology, published in the local Tofino-Ucluelet Westerly News, admitting their inability to manage operations in the Sound safely, saying, “we were unable to effectively manage sea lice populations for a variety of reasons including unusually hot and dry weather…”. 

For those long chronicling the damage the industry does on a good day, and long predicting just such “unmanageable” outbreak scenarios, Mitsubishi’s “so sorry’s” arrive dead in the water.

Bonny Glambeck is director of Clayoquot Action, an organization dedicated, they say: “to keep Clayoquot Sound clean and green for future generations, to preserve the diversity and integrity of the ecosystems, and to maintain and develop community and cultural richness.”

Bonny Glambeck in the first half.

And; journalism is in crisis, and it’s not the good kind! Beyond the bane of “fake news” and journotainment upchucked by network television and the marquee legacy presses, whether in shooting wars, or digging through the muck of corrupt politicos and their big business patrons, real journalists are now considered fair game targets. From the remote reaches of Russia and the Middle and Far East, to the marbled capitals of Britain and America, the new contempt for them has made an always difficult and precarious profession almost impossible. Just as intended.

Greg Palast is an investigator, journalist, author, and filmmaker. He’s reported the news from both sides of the Atlantic for the better part of two decades, breaking stories for BBC flagship news program, Newsnight and The Guardian newspaper in Britain, and filing with The Nation magazine and Rolling Stone stateside. He’s the recipient of plaudits, laudatory recognition, and numerous awards for his work; the most recent being The Association of Mexican Journalists’ 2019 prize for International Reporter for his exclusive exposés of the theft of elections from Georgia to Mexico and corporate media ban-busting reportage from Venezuela.

Greg’s books, ‘Billionaires & Ballot Bandits’, ‘Armed Madhouse’, and ‘The Best Democracy Money Can Buy’ have all resided on the New York Times’ bestseller list, while his ‘Vultures’ Picnic’ was named Book of the Year by BBC Newsnight Review. His latest documentary film, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy: A Tale of Billionaires & Ballot Bandits is recut, and available at Gregpalast.com.

Greg Palast and the media’s crisis of stenography 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, Bonny Glambeck and Clayoquot Sound plague of sea lice.  

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/