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Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, John Helmer, Roger D. Harris September 18, 2022

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded September 17th and 18th, 2022.

This week past, the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency officially demanded Russia relinquish control of the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant, or (ZNPP), and “all nuclear facilities within Ukraine’s internationally recognized borders” into the hands of “competent Ukraine authorities“. The Russian-held nuclear plant has been repeatedly shelled and was too the target of a Kiev commando-raid. The IAEA’s investigation on the status of the plant, and now this report, are precedent-setting for the agency, but not a departure from the recent trend toward politicizing international agencies to serve the interests of America and NATO.

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 Helmer in the first half.

And; even as the UN’s IAEA and OPCW are co-opted against their mandates into the service of the war-state, so too countries big and small are strong-armed to bend their laws to suit the aims of the United States. Witness Great Britain’s abandonment of the Magna Carta in the Assange case, or Canada’s deplorable political arrest of Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou and two-plus year torturing of logic and jurisprudence required to keep her imprisoned. What chance then do smaller countries like Sweden, or Iceland, or Cabo Verde have when their leadership receives a call from Uncle Sam?

In the latter’s case, that phone rang when Venezuelan diplomat and businessman, Alex Saab’s plane landed for refueling in the tiny African nation, en route to Iran. Today, Saab languishes in an American prison cell for the crime of challenging imperial power.

Roger D. Harris’ long civil rights activism career encompasses the teaching political science at a Historical Black College in Mississippi in the 1960’s and community organizing in East Harlem, New York City.

Today, Roger’s a Wildlife Biologist and conducts eco-tours with the Oceanic Society, but he still has an oar or two in the activist waters; sitting on the board of the human rights organization, Task Force on the Americas, and serving on the executive committee of the US Peace Council, among others. His political essays feature online at CounterPunch, Dissident Voice, Mint Press News, Popular Resistance, and at the Task Force on the Americas site, where I found his recent article, ‘Possible Prisoner Exchange in US Hybrid War Against Venezuela‘.

Roger Harris and freeing Alex Saab in the second half.

But first, John Helmer and the IAEA’s use as an instrument of one party in conflict.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1999; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Dan Kovalik, Aidan Jonah August 20, 2022

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded August 20th, 2022

Colombia inaugurated Gustavo Petro earlier this month. The election was close fought, the results indicating a near even divide between the Pacto Histórico candidate and his right-wing opposition, who split the vote between them, allowing Petro’s victory. But, whether loved or loathed what’s certain is, Colombia’s first ever leftist president has made history, and could bring “historic change” to South America’s most troubled nation. At least so says my first guest, who’s recently returned from attending the August 7th inauguration ceremonies in Bogota.

Dan Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. Dan’s observed elections in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Colombia – where he witnessed the 2016 peace plebiscite promising an end to the generational war there. Kovalik’s book titles include: ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture,’ the “Plot to” series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, Russia, (and to control the World entirely) and his latest is, ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest.’ His recent article, ‘Colombia’s First Leftist President Will Bring Historic Change, If the US Lets Him’ is a sign post at Colombia’s political crossroad.

Dan Kovalik in the first half.

And; it’s no surprise Canada’s foreign policy is aligned with the United States on Ukraine, Russia, Iran, China, and Latin America; successive federal governments have always got along by going along with our behemoth neigbour south, but it would shock many Canadians to learn the degree to which their political system has been infiltrated, and the mechanisms used to deliver the nation’s decision-making into foreign hands.

Aidan Jonah is the Editor-in-Chief of The Canada Files, a socialist, anti-imperialist news site covering Canadian imperialism, federal politics, and left-wing resistance to colonialism across the world. Jonah has broken numerous stories, including how the Canadian Armed Forces trained neo-Nazi “journalist” Roman Protasevich while he was with the Azov Battalion, and how a CIA front group funded the group which drove the so-called “Uyghur genocide” vote in parliament.

Aidan Jonah and just when did the CIA start pulling Canada’s strings? in the second half.

But first, Dan Kovalik and Colombia’s gamble on sovereignty with leftist, Gustavo Petro.

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/

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, Dan Kovalik, Gary Charbonneau April 23, 2022

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded April 23rd, 2022

The principle behind America’s infamous military industrial complex isn’t complicated. The formula is as predictable a process as making brunch; a simple recipe anyone can replicate – given the right ingredients. Step 1. Identify an enemy and stir up the people against him. Step 2. Set temperature to boil and allocate money through congress to fight enemy. Step 3. Cycle said funds through baked-in process of weapons procurement, and voila! It’s so simple a child could do it.

Thursday, Joe Biden announced a further 800 million dollars worth of U.S. military aid for the Ukraine pot. This comes atop the roughly billion and half American bucks officially devoted to the war effort there – and brings the grand total of monies delivered or promised to more than $13.6 billion. That’s some brunch! But then that’s only the amount they’ve told us about: The real cost of this meal is much, much dearer.

Dan Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, award-winning journalist, union activist, human rights and democracy defender, filmmaker, and author. His book titles include: ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest,’ ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture,’ and the “Plot to” series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, Russia, and to control the World entirely.

Dan Kovalik in the first half.

And; for two years now the planet has been held in thrall by a triad of media, the international medical community, and Big Pharma. We’ve all been told ad nauseum to follow the advice of the experts, sacrifice for the greater good, and most importantly of all, trust and follow the science. But can we safely put the World in the mouth of what my second guest calls “an outdated medical system invested in archaic practices“?

Gary Charbonneau is a Vancouver-based independent filmmaker whose first film, Vancouver Aquarium Uncovered made news in part for defeating attempts by that cetacean harbouring entity to use the courts to have his film quashed. Now Charbonneau is back and taking on another sacred cow with his timely documentary, The Medical Illusion: A Health Care in Crisis.

Gary Charbonneau and making the necessary transition to a new health care paradigm in the second half.

But first, Dan Kovalik and the bitter harvest of America’s long plotting against Russia being reaped now in Ukraine.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio broadcast on CFUV.ca. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Denise Nadeau, John Philpot October 28, 2021

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded October 23rd, 2021

September 30th this year marked the first commemoration of National Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada. The date coincides with Orange Shirt Day, a popularly created remembrance of First Nations children kidnapped by the state and brutalized in the Residential Schools system. But the idea of Truth and Reconciliation is far broader than the schools, or any single aspect of the country’s colonial past; because whether you and your family arrived in Canada five, or five hundred and five years ago, you’re a part now of the continuing occupation of someone else’s home.

Denise Nadeau is an educator, scholar, and activist working at the intersection of somatic therapy, spiritual practice, decolonization, and racial justice. She is of mixed European heritage from Quebec and the author of the new book Unsettling Spirit: A Journey into Decolonization. She’s also an organizer with the Calls to Action Scavenger Hunt: In Search of Truth and Reconciliation event, to be held Saturday November 6th in James Bay.

Denise Nadeau in the first half.

And; Julian Assange is not the only prisoner of American extraterritorial lawfare. Alex Saab is a Colombian businessman, international “fixer”, and diplomat. A deal maker, Saab put his considerable talents towards aiding besieged Venezuela evade the illegal and deadly U.S. blockade to provide medicines and other much needed goods to the country. Though you wouldn’t know any of that watching the Western press who, as with WikiLeaks publisher Assange, has smeared him with politically motivated lies.

John Philpot is a Montreal-based defense attorney in International Criminal Law. Long active in Palestinian and African support organizations, the peace movement, and recent campaign to free political prisoner, Meng Wanzhou, Philpot too was a member of the Free Alex Saab delegation presenting to the annual African Bar Association meetings in Niger just days before Saab was extradited from Cape Verde last week.

John Philpot and America courting war in the second half.

But first, Denise Nadeau on the hunt for truth and reconciliation in our home on native land.

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, 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, Randy Caravaggio (Long form) December 10, 2020

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Welcome to Gorilla Radio recorded, December 9th, 2020

The Trump administration’s hard line on Cuba undid the diplomatic and economic advances of the Obama years. There’s hope in the long-besieged Caribbean island nation the inauguration of the 44th president’s vice-president, Joe Biden will signal a return to political rapprochement and removal of trade restrictions imposed by the departing Republicans.

But, it’s no sure thing. Though the president-elect promised a return to Obama era policies while campaigning, specifics are uncertain, and media and Senate pressures are already being applied.

Randy Caravaggio is a social justice defender and organizer with the Victoria Goods for Cuba campaign, and co-ordinator with Victoria’s contribution to the Pastor’s for Peace Caravan to Cuba. He’s also been a constant champion of the revolutions in Venezuela and Bolivia, and long-time supporter of Palestinian sovereignty.

Today, Randy Caravaggio and cautiously watching the tides of change in Cuba and Latin 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, 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 with Chris Cook, Dan Kovalik, Janine Bandcroft October 23, 2020

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Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s Home Edition, recorded live-to-tape via Skype on this date, October 21st, 2020.

Sunday’s landslide election victory of Evo Morales’ MAS party was and is cause for elation throughout Bolivia and the Americas this week; at least for those long-suffering under the heel of El Norte. But Luis Arces’ supporters can be forgiven if their celebrations are tempered with caution, considering what happened the last time a leftist government won elections there.

Daniel Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist and author. A labor and human rights lawyer since graduating from Columbia Law School, Dan has represented plaintiffs in Alien Tort Statute cases arising from human rights abuses in Colombia. He’s also a recipient of the David W. Mills Mentoring Fellowship from Stanford Law School, frequent lecturer, television and radio political commentator, and his articles appear online at the Huffington Post and Counterpunch, among other places.

His latest book is, ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian‘ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interests’.

Today, Dan Kovalik and Bolivia’s second chance.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Tyler Shipley, Joel Bakan, Janine Bandcroft September 10, 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 4th, 2020.

We all grew up with those infomercial-lengthed Canadian history bites, Heritage Minutes. With production values just hoakey enough to appear made by the Ministry of Education for your Grade 6 Socials class, the upbeat and nationhood-affirming vignettes have become, like the TransCanada and some other stuff one of the things that makes us Canadians Canadian. And, like some of the best-loved stories we like to tell ourselves about ourselves, Heritage Minutes is just a pile of crap. Or so contends my first guest.

Tyler Shipley is Professor of Culture, Society and Commerce at Humber College’s Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, and founding member of Canadian poliprog band, Consumer Goods. His first book, ‘Ottawa and Empire: Canada and the Military Coup in Honduras’ taught us more about ourselves than we hoped to learn, and the same is promised of his second title, ‘Canada in the World: Settler Capitalism and the Colonial Imagination.’ His recent article, ‘The stunning misinformation and whitewashing of racism behind Canada’s Heritage Minutes’ currently challenges our childhood indoctrination from the pages of The Canada Files website.

Tyler Shipley in the first half.

And; way back near the turn of the century, when the unbridled power of transnational capital and its enabling mechanism the modern corporation threatened to destroy democracy, Vancouver-based legal scholar and filmmaker, Joel Bakan released the now classic documentary film, ‘THE CORPORATION’. Now, more than fifteen years later, Bakan has revisited the topic with his newly released book, ‘The New Corporation: How “Good” Corporations Are Bad for Democracy’, and he’s teamed up again with fellow CORPORATION director, Jennifer Abbott on the new film, ‘The New Corporation: The Unfortunately Necessary Sequel’.

Joel Bakan and revisiting The Corporation fifteen years later 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, bringing us up to speed with some of what’s good going on in and around our town in the coming week. But first, Tyler Shipley and catching up on Canada’s pretend history, even as the real one catches up with us.

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 and Kevin Zeese Presente! from Aug. 9, 2018

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All who knew Kevin and who care about justice and human rights are deeply saddened to hear of his untimely death last night, taken suddenly at 64 years by a heart attack.

Tributes will follow from all quarters.

The peace enjoyed by the people of Nicaragua since the overthrow of dictator and tyrant Anastasio “Tachito” Somoza was hard-won, and not without reversals. In the last months, an attempt to unseat the elected government of leftist, Daniel Ortega however has seen what many fear could be the beginning of the end of that peace, and revival of the dark forces of fascism once buried, perhaps too shallowly, there.

Kevin Zeese is an American lawyer, political activist, essayist, and author. He’s also co-founder of the Drug Policy Foundation and current co-director of Popular Resistance.org, from where his and colleague, Dr. Margaret Flowers’ weekly podcast, Clearing The Fog emanates.

His frequent essays and articles on social justice issues in America and abroad appear at Popular Resistance, CounterPunch, and Gorilla Radio Blog among other places, and his book titles include: ‘Drug Law: Strategies and Tactics’, ‘Drug Prohibition an the Conscience of Nations’, and ‘The Great Issues of Drug Policy’.

Today, Kevin Zeese and the Lessons Learned from the Failed Violent Coup in Nicaragua.

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, Sara Birrell, Jonathan Latham, Janine Bandcroft September 3, 2020

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In Orwell’s classic dystopic Nineteen Eighty-four, The Party declares “War is peace…” and so the people are at peace, perpetually. Orwell didn’t consider his final book fiction; he would have titled it, it’s said, Nineteen Forty-eight, the year of its intended release, but the publishers felt it would work better to set the clocks forward some. Now, and since the end of the Great Good World War, we’ve known nothing but peace in the Orwellian sense; but our real World “peace” is maintained by a subtlety missed by the great author. ‘Humanitarian Sanctions’ are often the first shots fired in the modern way of war; and, it’s undeniably the case that “Truth” is their first victim.

Sara Birrell is a writer, student, and self-described “rank-and-file” union member. The avowed anti-capitalist, Saskatchewan settler’s essays can be found at Briarpatch Magazine, Sask Dispatch, Passage, Media Co-op, and the Carillon among other places. Her recent article, ‘Canadian Sanctions Are Liberal Warfare’ appears at The Canada Files website.

Sara Birrell in the first half.

And; nearly nine months into the most disruptive if not destructive pandemic known to history how is it we still do not definitively know where Covid-19 came from; after tens of thousands of television hours and millions of words printed, why must we still ask this most fundamental question?

Dr. Jonathan Latham holds a Masters degree in Crop Genetics, a PhD in Virology and is, along with Dr. Allison Wilson, co-author of a trilogy of articles seeking to both discover the origins of Covid-19 and forewarn the public of the dangers posed by the kind of research they posit is at the root of this and other modern pandemics.

Jonathan Latham and proposing an origin for SARS-CoV-2 and the COVID-19 Pandemic 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 in the coming week.

But first Sara Birrell and Sanctions: Canada’s World war.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Dimitri Lascaris, Yves Engler, Janine Bandcroft August 20th, 2020

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The Old World Order is busted and Canada’s foreign policy is gonna need to adapt quick to a whole New Order of things. Or so Canada’s self-styled “national paper” the Globe and Mail informs. But what’s a middle nation to do? Caught between behemoths baring their teeth in a fight for what looks like the last piece of the pie, at whose feet shall we prostrate in waiting to snatch up first the best crumbs fallen from the planetary dinner table? It’s a stark choice in a darkening World, according to the Globe, who helpfully whittle down our options to a Manichean menu choice between China and our more familiar supper partner, America. But can we pick our own foreign policy plate, without starving in the choosing?

Dimitri Lascaris is a Montreal-based lawyer, journalist, Real News Network correspondent, and political activist. He’s also one of nine aspirants spending their Summer campaigning for the leadership of the Green Party of Canada. Dimitri is on the stump in BC again this week, as the October leadership convention looms ever nearer.

Dimitri Lascaris in the first half.

And; Bolivians reacted to news their September 6th general election is off by taking to the streets and declaring a General Strike. It’s a dangerous move considering interim caretaker president, Janine Anez has shown little hesitation, or contrition, loosing the military and police to lethal effect on perceived enemies of her nine-month old coup regime. But then Anez can afford to be unrepentant because no-one is holding her accountable.
Yves Engler is a Montréal-based activist, essayist, and author whose articles appear at Ricochet, The Palestine Chronicle, and at his site, YvesEngler.com among other places.

Yves Engler and ‘Canada’s Support for Bolivian Coup Deserves Closer Scrutiny’ 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 to do in and around our town in the coming week. But first, Dimitri Lascaris and finding finally a truly Canadian foreign policy.

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, Yves Engler August 7, 2020

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Bolivians reacted to news the September 6th general election is off by taking to the streets and declaring a General Strike. It’s a dangerous move, considering interim caretaker president, Janine Anez has shown little hesitation, or contrition, loosing the military and police to lethal effect on perceived enemies of her nine-month old coup regime. But then Anez can afford to be unrepentant about the lives lost through both her jack-boot political sensibilities and tragically incompetent mishandling of the Covid-19 pandemic, because no-one is holding her responsible. Neither the Organization of American States as a body, nor its northernmost members the United States and Canada seem concerned about the destruction of Bolivian democracy, let alone over the fate of those crushed underfoot in the process. In fact, in Canada’s case, it’s a welcome development.

Yves Engler is a Montréal-based activist, essayist, and author whose articles appear at The Palestine Chronicle, Pacific Free Press, and at his site, YvesEngler.com among other places. The latest of Engler’s eleven books, ‘HOU$E of MIRRORS: Justin Trudeau’s Foreign Policy‘ questions the Liberals’ progressive pretense, while challenging the persistent national delusion that Canadians are “a benevolent force in the world”. His recent article, ‘Canada’s Support for Bolivian Coup Deserves Closer Scrutiny’ appears at Ricochet.

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, Arnold August, Ross Crockford, Janine Bandcroft June 25, 2020

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Welcome again 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 1st, 2020.

A World on fire; as our southern neighbour’s cities roil, the citizenry outraged again by the great gulf between the professed and practiced ethos of America, can Canadians afford smug superiority? There is too racism and injustice at the heart and in the mar

row of our society. The great difference is only one of scope and news coverage. Though Canada still enjoys a reputation as a good and fair country, the Trudeau government’s embrace of neo-liberal internationalism has both diminished the country’s independence and necessitated increasingly brutal domestic policies, especially where global capital is threatened by indigenous resistance.

Arnold August is a Canadian journalist, lecturer and author whose titles include: ‘Democracy in Cuba and the 1997–98 Elections’, ‘Cuba and Its Neighbours: Democracy in Motion’ and, ‘Cuba–U.S. Relations: Obama and Beyond’. His essays appear at websites in Latin America, Europe, North America and the Middle East, and at the Orinoco Tribune, where I found his recent article, ‘Trudeau in Pre-, Current and Post-Covid-19: Colonialism at Home, Imperialism Abroad – Need for Change’.

Arnold August in the first half.

And; while midwest Machiavelli, Rahm Emanuel is credited with saying, “you never want a serious crisis to go to waste” it’s a concept as old as politics; and a nonpartisan one too. Donald Trump’s political hero, (no, the other one) Winston Churchill also expressed the value of leveraging crises to do, as Emanuel helpfully reminds, “things that you think you could not do before.” Our Covid-19 moment is just such an opportunity, and not just for Chicago operators, or D.C. pols.

From every crevice it seems, snake-oil salesmen and politicians of all stripes are breaking cover to get things done while everyone is looking the other way. And even here in Victoria –

or near here anyway. The City of Langford has decided to ditch for the lockdown duration the encumbrance of public hearings, at least where it comes to trivialities like tax and spend, and development issues. That’s right. Due to social distancing concerns, council members are good for now with phoning in their proxies in the form of voice-tallied aye ayes for Mayor Young’s boundless building ambitions.

Ross Crockford is an award-winning journalist, editor, author, civic activist and co-founder of the watchdog website, JohnsonStreetBridge.org. He’s the recipient of a Western Magazine Award for business writing, the Jack Webster Award of Distinction for investigative reporting, and is a National Magazine Awardee for sports writing. Ross’ book, ‘Victoria: The Unknown City’ is THE alt. guidebook to both the seemly and less so sides of town both past and present, and he is too a regular contributor to Victoria’s finest publication, Focus Magazine where his latest article, ‘Is public input on developments a potential casualty of COVID-19?’ appears.

Ross Crockford and local democracy as Coronavirus victim 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 the Left Coast Events Bulletin of some of the good things to be gotten up to in and around Victoria in the coming week. But first, Arnold August and observing Canada under Covid: A Flagrant Fusion of Colonialism and Imperialism.