Tag: Mexico

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Tim Boultbee, Ken Stone May 28, 2022

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded May 28th, 2022

In early May, Cuban president, Miguel Diaz-Canel returned the diplomatic favour, hosting his Mexican counterpart, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Havana. The two signed various agreements tying the two nations closer, while AMLO used the opportunity to further criticize historical US foreign policy in the hemisphere, reminisce about Mexican support for Castro and the Cuban revolution, and to call for the lifting of the decades-long blockade against Mexico’s “sister nation.” None of this likely pleases the United States, but worse still for the Biden administration is Obrador’s hardly veiled threat to boycott next week’s Summit of the Americas confab in Los Angeles.

Tim Boultbee is a long-time activist for Latin American human and democratic rights. From Ronald Reagan’s Dirty Wars against the people of Nicaragua and El Salvador to the financial annexation of Mexico by means of the NAFTA agreement he has borne witness as an international observer at the front lines of the fight for justice. Tim is currently a member of CASC, the Victoria Central America Support Committee, assisted the Building Bridges Human Rights Project in Chiapas, and worked to raise funds for the Fray Bartolome Human Rights Center in San Cristobal.

Tim Boultbee in the first half.

And; just as Canada has supported US belligerence in Latin America, (earning for the trouble exclusion from CELAC, the organization likely to determine the cultural, political, and economic future of the hemisphere) the current administration too has gone along with its larger neighbour’s campaign to isolate China. The lengths Trudeau’s government is willing to go to please Uncle Sam was made painfully obvious in its two-plus years contralegal persecution of Huawei executive, Meng Wanzhou. Now, it has announced the exclusion of Huawei from this country’s 5G communications network development.

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 Coalition fought tooth and nail against the incarceration of Meng Wanzhou and extradition efforts by the United States, and they’ve opposed the odious AUKUS military pact threatening war with China in the Pacific. The danger AUKUS presents to World peace ramped up last fall with the deal to provide nuclear powered submarines to Australia, and more lately with the announced rapid development of hypersonic missile technology and expanded electronic warfare aimed at the People’s Republic.

Ken Stone on Huawei in Canada, and AUKUS going over the top in the Pacific in the second half.

But first, Tim Boultbee and Biden’s Summit of the Americas proving a low point in hemispheric interrelations.

Chris Cook has hosted Gorilla Radio since 1999. Check out the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com

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Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Steve Poikonen, Ron Ridenour June 24, 2021

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Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s Home Edition, recorded on the dates, June 13 and 19th, 2021.

On June 11 agents working for the American government arrested American “hacktivist” and man behind the Anonymous mask in some of that entity’s early public releases, Commander X from his home in Mexico City. Chris Doyon had been on the run, evading charges of masterminding a denial of service attack against the computer systems of the town of Santa Cruz more than a decade ago. The size of the operation to take Doyon into custody is curious, given the minor nature of the action he’s accused of participating in and the many years passed. Regardless, Commander X is back in the USA and in federal custody.

Steve Poikonen is an activist and hosts the ‘Slow News Day‘ podcast, available at Rokfin. He’s also an organizer with Action4Assange, and co-host of the #FreeAssange Vigil and has participated in and helped organized multiple actions in Washington, D.C., to bring attention to the plight of the imprisoned journalist and publisher. Steve’s hosted Doyon several times on Slow News Day and is now organizing support for his release.

Steve Poikonen in the first half.

Weeks past election day and still there is no clear winner declared in Peru’s presidential election. The contest pitted convicted felon and daughter of former president, Alberto Fujimori (himself currently in prison) against leftist upstart and political novice, Pedro Castillo. Castillo had a lead going in to the second round of the poll, but that’s when things started to get funny. In what looks eerily similar to election reversals in Bolivia in 2019, and earlier this year in Ecuador, a leftist contender could be defeated when all the numbers were going his way.

Ron Ridenour is a journalist, author, editor, and peace and social justice activist. The ex-pat American has lived and worked in Cuba, Nicaragua, and Bolivia and currently calls Denmark home. He’s worked too as a special correspondent and freelancer for numerous publications in Europe the US, and Latin America, and served as press aid to Bolivia’s president, Evo Morales and the governments of Cuba and Nicaragua.

Some of Ridenour’s many book titles include: ‘The Russian Peace Threat: Pentagon on Alert’, ‘Cuba: Revolution in Action’, and ‘Backfire: The CIA’s Biggest Burn’. Ron’s articles also feature at numerous online sites, including on ThisCantBeHappening.net, and CovertAction Magazine, where his latest, ‘Left-Wing Populist, Pedro Castillo, Leads Polls Before June 6th Election in Peru’.

Ron Ridenour and will Pedro Castillo follow in the footsteps of Evo Morales and Andres Arauz? in the second half.

But first, Steve Poikonen and freeing the Commander.

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, Peter Ewart, Ellen Moore May 20th, 2021

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Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s Home Edition, recorded on the dates, May 11th and 17th, 2021

Five centuries after Cortez, Mexico is again defending colonization by a foreign army. This time the Conquistadores come in the guise of transglobal corporations, their goal the gold to be gleaned from Mexico’s greatest treasure, maize. But first, Bayer-Monsanto would transmogrify, through the magic of Genetic Modification, the ancient grain into a more malleable form of glyphosate-resistant corn, ready for the application of millions of tons of Bayer-Monsanto marketed pesticides.

The one kink in the scheme is Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s vow to rid his country of GMO’s by 2024. And that’s where the sword leaves the scabbard for the chemical lobby and its U.S. Trade Representatives.

Peter Ewart is a Prince George, B.C.-based writer whose articles feature online and at the PG Daily News in Prince George. In his latest, ‘Mexico, Glyphosate and Bayer-Monsanto‘ he warns of the threat posed to the original staple crop of Turtle Island and its progenitors, the “People of the Corn”.

Peter Ewart in the first half.

And; last week, after nearly thirty years, the founder and board chair of Pan American Silver stepped into a golden sunset retirement made comfortable by the millions of dollars he made for himself and his shareholders at the expense of indigenous peoples and the natural environment throughout Latin America. In the meantime, he’s burnished a public image as philanthropist leader of corporate responsibility, and environmental champion; all belying a “legacy of community harm and environmental destruction“.

Ellen Moore is the International Mining Campaign Manager at Earthworks, a U.S. based non-profit that supports communities impacted by oil, gas and hard-rock mining. Before joining Earthworks Ellen worked in Nevada and Guatemala on issues related to human rights, environmental justice and mining. Moore moderated an event held last week to mark the toxic reality of Pan American Silver.

Ellen Moore and the false glitter of Pan American Silver in the second half.

But first, Peter Ewart and the cancerous return of Bayer-Monsanto, Mexico’s new Conquistadores.

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, Conn Hallinan, John Ross, Janine Bandcroft October 30, 2020

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Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s home edition, recorded “live-to-tape” via Skype from our home-based … studios on this date, October 27th, 2020.

An added caveat for today’s Friday edition; I recorded this program in 2011, just weeks before the murder of Libyan revolutionary and long-time national leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Colonel Gaddafi’s Libya was attacked by NATO forces nine years ago, and he murdered by NATO-supported fighters; cornered, mobbed, and stabbed to death in the most gruesome fashion. More vile though than the facts of Gaddafi’s slaughter is the fate of his country since. Once the richest country in Africa, benefactor to it’s neighbours and dedicated to Pan-Africanism, Libya is today a wrecked and war-torn disaster.

Conn Hallinan is an American educator and independent journalist. Hallinan is a columnist at Foreign Policy in Focus, and is author of the news analysis site, ‘Dispatches from the Edge, where he bravely opposed the accepted wisdom of the time, writing ‘Juan Cole: Ten Myths About Libya?’ challenging the University of Michigan professor’s support for NATO’s intervention in Libya.

Conn Hallinan and getting behind the myths of the destruction of the Gaddafi regime in the first half.

And; in January of 2011 the legendary journalist and author, John Ross died in Mexico.

Remembering John Ross, rebel to the roots in the second half.

And; CFUV Radio broadcaster and host of Plant Powered Radio, Janine Bandcroft will join us 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, for the coming week. But first, Conn Hallinan and a Libyan regime change rejoinder.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Thursday, 11am-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.com

Gorilla Radio Flashbacks with Chris Cook, Harry Rankin, John Ross September 5, 2020

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Today a Gorilla Radio flashback to a 2001 interview with iconic Vancouver councilor, Harry Rankin on the prospects of a new neoliberalism era in British Columbia politics.

And; a 2000 interview with author and journalist, John Ross on his life in Mexico and the release of his then new book, The War Against Oblivion.

 

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, Caitlin Manning, Christopher Black, Janine Bandcroft July 18, 2019

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It was all going to be so good. The new man promised, he had a plan: No more would they bow to outsiders; no more allow nature be subsumed by industry; and no more would they be left to watch as the best of everything was taken. It would be a shining new day.

Thus Mexicans received Andrés Manuel López Obrador, (or “AMLO” as he’s colloquially known) into the presidency. But that was last year.

Caitlin Manning is an American filmmaker and active participant in the movements against patriarchy, racism and capitalism. She’s currently working on Resistant Mexico, a series of films documenting resistance to neoliberal economic expansion, and retention of cultural modes, methods, and memory in Mexico.

Caitlin’s articles, and links to her films appear at CaitlinManningfilms.com, and at ROAR Magazine, where I found her article, ‘AMLO in office: from megaprojects to militarization‘.

Caitlin Manning in the first half.

And; last week Britain dispatched its navy to take into custody, at its still contentious Gibraltar sinecure on the Iberian peninsula, the Panamanian-flagged Iranian oil tanker Grace I. The Grace was, allegedly, Syria-bound when intercepted, something the UK says violates European Union sanctions. Iran denies it, but the bigger question bearing begging is, “Does the EU, America, or Britannia have the right to rule the waves?”

Christopher Black is a Toronto-based criminal lawyer specializing in international war crimes cases. He’s also an executive member of the Canadian Peace Congress. Black’s articles on international law, politics and World events appear at New Eastern Outlook among other places, where his latest, ‘A League of Perpetual Peace: An Impossible Dream?‘ reveals the West’s relentless chicanery that would, in its audacity, risk another global war.

Christopher Black and pyrates again off Barbary’s Coast in the second half.

And; Victoria-based activist and long-time CFUV 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, Caitlin Manning and the AMLO change Mexico did not hope for.

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, Pablo Ouziel, Timothy A. Wise, Janine Bandcroft February 21st, 2019

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Last week, Spain’s political path followed its European neighbours into uncertain territory. The young Socialist Party government of Pedro Sánchez, the shortest-lived government since the fall of Franco, lost coalition support over the continued prosecution of Catalan separatists involved with the “illegal” October 1, 2017 independence referendum.

Elections have been called for April 28th.

Saturday, hundreds of thousands came into the streets of Barcelona to demonstrate against the trials, started just more than a week ago, and show support for the twelve defendants, ten former members of the former Puigdumont government and two grassroots activists, they believe are being prosecuted falsely.

The court didn’t help its credibility, ruling testimony from the former president, currently living in exile, would not be allowed.

Dr. Pablo Ouziel is Postdoctoral fellow at the University of Victoria’s Political Science Department and Centre for Global Studies. He’s a native of Barcelona, and his Post-Doctoral Fellowship project at UVic, ‘Democracy Here and Now: The Exemplary Case of Spain’ couldn’t be more timely.

Pablo Ouziel in the first half.

And; were he alive today, Walt Disney might sing, “It’s a small planet afterall.” The World’s population has more than doubled since old Walt’s death in 1966, and the exponential increase in human numbers is the number one reason cited by proponents of the Green Revolution of that era, and reiterated by transnational agribusiness behemoths today, for the continued expansion of industrial scale agriculture and necessity of increasing the scope of genetically modified food crop organisms across the globe. It’s a no-brainer, right?

Timothy A. Wise is senior researcher at the Small Planet Institute and director of its Land and Food Rights Program. He’s also a senior research fellow at Tufts University’s Global Development and Environment Institute and founded its Globalization and Sustainable Development Program.

Wise is too author of the book, ‘Confronting Globalization: Economic Integration and Popular Resistance in Mexico’, and the recently released, ‘Eating Tomorrow: Agribusiness, Family Farmers, and the Battle for the Future of Food‘.

Timothy A. Wise and the politics on your plate 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, Pablo Ouziel and Catalans taking to Barcelona’s streets again.  

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/