Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Brad Wolf (Stand-Alone) March 15, 2023

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 15th, 2023.

There was a time, not so long ago, war profiteers where held to be exemplars of humanity’s basest instincts: Antitheses of Virtue, the very worst of the worst of Evil Doers, they were rightly and roundly despised. Now though, CEO’s of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon and Boeing and Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics and all their lesser factotums are welcome and well-treated in the halls of power and major media teevee studios alike.

Today, the profiteers need never fear official opprobrium, or being called to account for the bitter harvest of their dark seeds – at least not in the courts of the land. But there’s another weighing of justice at hand.

The Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal is coming – soon – and it promises to hold accountable the manufacturers of the weapons that kill combatants and non-combatants alike through the testimony of witnesses to the destruction wreaked and the crimes committed against Humanity with them.

Brad Wolf is co-founder of the Peace Action Network of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, an affiliate of Peace Action and a partner of World BEYOND War. He’s a lawyer, former prosecutor, professor, community college dean, and full-time activist for peace and justice.

His writings are published at The Progressive, Common Dreams, Counterpunch, Antiwar.com, Consortium News, and Dappled Things among others. He recently authored a book on former priest, Philip Berrigan’s collected writings, ‘A Ministry of Risk’. He’s also a key organizer with the Tribunal.

Today, Brad Wolf and attaching the human costs to the Merchants of Death.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Dimitri Lascaris (Stand-Alone) March 15th, 2023

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 15th, 2023.

Last week, Canada’s Ministry of National Defence announced a “review of our Defence Policy”. Though only five years into the Liberals’ 20-year Defence Policy Update, or “DPU”, DoD insists a new DPU is necessary if Canada is to, “be ready, resilient, and relevant to meet any threat in this changed global security environment”.

Dimitri Lascaris is a Montreal-based activist, journalist, and lawyer. He served as Justice Critic in the Shadow Cabinet of the Green Party of Canada and likewise for the Green Party of Quebec (PVQ). In 2020, Dimitri very nearly became leader of the Green Party of Canada, finishing second in a tightly-contested race with the now-departed Annamie Paul. Dimitri’s interviews for TRNN are at TheRealNews.com, and his articles appear at his website, DimitriLascaris.org.

This Saturday, March 18th, Dimitri will host ‘The Art of Peace: Seeing the World Through the Eyes of Our ‘Enemies’. The Special Webinar is his way of engaging with Canadians before embarking on a mission of peace to Russia next month.

Today, Dimitri Lascaris and the Art of Peace

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Dimitri Lascaris, Brad Wolf March 15, 2023

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 15th, 2023.

Last week, Canada’s Ministry of National Defence announced a “review of our Defence Policy”. Though only five years into the Liberals’ 20-year Defence Policy Update, or “(DPU”, DoD insists a new DPU is necessary if Canada is to, “be ready, resilient, and relevant to meet any threat in this changed global security environment”.

Dimitri Lascaris is a Montreal-based activist, journalist, and lawyer. He served as Justice Critic in the Shadow Cabinet of the Green Party of Canada and likewise for the Green Party of Quebec (PVQ). In 2020, Dimitri very nearly became leader of the Green Party of Canada, finishing second in a tightly-contested race with the now-departed Annamie Paul. Dimitri’s interviews for TRNN are at TheRealNews.com, and his articles appear at his website, DimitriLascaris.org.

This Saturday, March 18th, Dimitri will host ‘The Art of Peace: Seeing the World Through the Eyes of Our ‘Enemies’. The Special Webinar is his way of engaging with Canadians before embarking on a mission of peace to Russia next month.

Dimitri Lascaris in the first half.

And; there was a time, not so long ago, war profiteers where held to be exemplars of humanity’s basest instincts: Antitheses of Virtue, the very worst of the worst of Evil Doers, they were rightly and roundly despised. Now though, CEO’s of Lockheed Martin and Raytheon and Boeing and Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics and all their lesser factotums are welcome and well-treated in the halls of power and major media teevee studios alike.

Today, the profiteers need never fear official opprobrium, or being called to account for the bitter harvest of their dark seeds – at least not in the courts of the land. But there’s another weighing of justice at hand.

The Merchant of Death War Crimes Tribunal is coming – soon – and it promises to hold accountable the manufacturers of the weapons that kill combatants and non-combatants alike through the testimony of witnesses to the destruction wreaked and the crimes committed against Humanity with them.

Brad Wolf is co-founder of the Peace Action Network of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, an affiliate of Peace Action and a partner of World BEYOND War. He’s a lawyer, former prosecutor, professor, community college dean, and full-time activist for peace and justice.

His writings are published at The Progressive, Common Dreams, CounterPunch, Antiwar.com, Consortium News, and Dappled Things among others. He recently authored a book on former priest, Philip Berrigan’s collected writings, ‘A Ministry of Risk’. He’s also a key organizer with the Tribunal.

Brad Wolf and attaching the human costs to the Merchants of Death in the second half.

But first, Dimitri Lascaris and seeing the World and ourselves through the eyes of our “enemies”.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, David Rovics (Extended) February 25th, 2023

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 25th, 2023

On February 9th, a train derailed outside East Palestine, Ohio. The toxic cargo, purposefully ignited in a disastrously ill-advised attempt at environmental remediation.

David Rovics‘ new song, East Palestine is a modern ballad of an old American story of the venality and base corruption culminating in the Ohio catastrophe.

David’s recent article too, ‘Communications for Indy Musicians, Then and Now‘ is a reflection not only on his quarter century making a living as a touring musician, but of living and working in our mediated times. His new album, Killing the Messenger is due out any day, telling the stories of East Palestine and others.

David Rovics, Robert Hoyt, and Claude share a moment.

Today, David Rovics on Killing the Messenger in these end days of media in an extended talk.

Artist: David Rovics

Song: East Palestine from the album, Killing the Messenger

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Jeremy Kuzmarov, David Rovics February 25, 2023

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 25th, 2023

Last weekend saw mass anti-war demonstrations around the United States and Europe. In Washington, DC ‘Rage Against the War Machine‘ manifested in the very heart – if not the soul – of the nation with speakers and activists from a variety of pursuits and political persuasions agreeing to forego their disagreements on other issue for the moment to focus on the rolling disaster that is the global war machine.

Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and author who also serves as Managing Editor at CovertActionMagazine.com and he was there.

graphic: Monte Wolverton

Jeremy Kuzmarov and dispatch from DC in the first half.

And; On February 9th, a train derailed outside East Palestine, Ohio. The toxic cargo, purposefully ignited in a disastrously ill-advised attempt at environmental remediation. David Rovics‘ new song, East Palestine is a modern ballad of an old American story of the venality and base corruption culminating in the Ohio catastrophe.

David’s recent article too, ‘Communications for Indy Musicians, Then and Now‘ is a reflection not only on his quarter century making a living as a touring musician, but of living and working in our mediated times. His new album, Killing the Messenger is due out any day, telling the stories of East Palestine, and the other on.

David Rovics, Robert Hoyt, and Claude share a moment.

David Rovics on Killing the Messenger in these end days of media in the second half.

But first, Jeremy Kuzmarov and raging for peace in America.

 

Artist: David Rovics

Song: East Palestine from the album, Killing the Messenger

Artist: Robert Hoyt

Song: This Star from the album, Mind’s Eye

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Diana Johnstone, James Bissett December 17th, 2022

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded December 17th, 2022.

Looking at Europe’s tattered union today it would be easy to mistake just who the target of America’s proxy war in Ukraine is. Germany, the continent’s economic engine, has sputtered through the last half year, its industrial base shuttered by gas shortages and soaring electricity costs. And yet, Germany’s political leaders are backing the broadening of a war ostensibly meant to send Russia back to its agrarian age roots; no matter the cost to its own citizenry. How to make sense of it?

Diana Johnstone is an author and journalist. Her book titles 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, where her recent piece, ‘The Specter of Germany is Rising‘ appears.


Diana Johnstone in the first half.

And; a major part of Germany and the EU’s expansion plans lay in the small and impoverished Western Balkan countries. Last month, European Union big wigs met in Albania for the ‘EU-Western Balkans Summit’. European Commission head, Ursula von der Leyen used the platform to express the EU’s “strong partnership” with the Balkans, saying, “…we are taking every opportunity to bring our regions and our people closer together.

But, togetherness is the last thing desired for Western Balkans neighbours Serbia and Kosovo – the latter hived out of Serbia during NATO’s war there in the nineties, and later recognized – in some quarters – as an independent state.

James Bissett is a former Canadian Ambassador whose tenure in Yugoslavia coincided with its 1991 dissolution. At century’s end, he was one of the very few government insiders to oppose NATO’s 78 day bombardment of Serbia in the name of “humanitarian intervention.”


James Bissett and flaws in the EU’s recipe for Balkan integration in the second half.

But first, Diana Johnstone and what Germany’s eastward attentions mean for Europe’s future.

Song: How Much is a Life Worth?

Artists: The Four Fathers

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Ken Stone November 26, 2022

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 26th, 2022.

Though its technically illegal for Canadians to enlist in foreign wars, when it comes to the Ukraine conflict its clear Ottawa is happy to ignore transgressors. And, Canadian media is going that official blind-eying one further, lionizing Canadians killed in combat over there.

Ken Stone is an executive member of both the Syria Support Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. He’s also a contributing author to the Canada-Wide Peace and Justice Network‘s open letter regarding the recent death of Canadian Joseph Hildebrand, killed fighting in Ukraine.

Ken Stone and Canada’s role in keeping the killing in Ukraine going.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Song: Bombing Ourselves

Artist: David Rovics

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Jeremy Kuzmarov, Ken Stone November 26, 2022

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 26th, 2022.

Efforts to smother the remnant embers of free expression across media platforms are continuing apace. Concentrated corporate news ownership, suppressive speech legislation, and a burgeoning cancel culture are combining to muzzle investigation of corporate malfeasance and stifle the debate of government policy at perhaps the most crucial moment in human history. And, the communications technology revolution many hoped to democratize and counterbalance a worldview skewed by the dominant class has so far failed to materialize.

But don’t despair, there still exists real alternatives to the “mainstream” information monolith; honest, independent, and courageous media outlets that – if they lack anything – it’s merely broader recognition, and more generous support.

Jeremy Kuzmarov is a journalist and author who also serves as Managing Editor of just such an organization, CovertActionMagazine.com. CAM’s Fall funding drive is fast coming to a spectacular culmination with next week’s Pushback Against Empire: Holiday Party & Fundraiser, an extravaganza featuring a long list of celebrated countermedia luminaries.

Jeremy Kuzmarov in the first half.

And; though its technically illegal for Canadians to enlist in foreign wars, when it comes to the Ukraine conflict its clear Ottawa is happy to ignore transgressors. And, Canadian media is going that official blind-eying one further, lionizing Canadians killed in combat over there.

Ken Stone is an executive member of both the Syria Support Movement and Hamilton Coalition to Stop the War. He’s also a contributing author to the Canada-Wide Peace and Justice Network‘s open letter regarding the recent death of Canadian Joseph Hildebrand, killed fighting in Ukraine.

Ken Stone and Canada’s role in keeping the killing in Ukraine going in the second half.

But first, Jeremy Kuzmarov and having a party whilst pushing back too with CovertAction.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Song: Bombing Ourselves

Artist: David Rovics

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Alfred de Zayas, Yves Engler November 19, 2022

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 19th, 2022.

Last week a missile landed on a farm in the Polish countryside. Two people were reportedly killed, and the rocket that killed them was reported to be Russian. Immediately the media machine in the West began to churn, and perhaps without meaning to brought the World a step closer to the next and last World War. That the story was wrong – false at first, and faked after the fact – made little difference to its dangerous amplification.

Alfred de Zayas is a law professor at the Geneva School of Diplomacy whose lengthy career in the service of human rights law includes twenty five years at the United Nations as a staff member, special rapporteur, and after “retirement” a six year stint as Independent Expert on International Order to the UN.

De Zayas is too the author of twelve books, including “Nemesis at Potsdam” with a preface by the late Ambassador Robert Murphy, Eisenhower’s political advisor, “The Wehrmacht War Crimes Bureau”, with a preface by the foremost US expert on Prisoner of Wars, the late Professor Howard Levie.

His recent “human rights trilogy”: ‘Building a Just World Order,’ ‘Countering Mainstream Narratives: Fake News, Fake Law, Fake Freedom,’ and the forthcoming, ‘The Human Rights Industry’ are published by Clarity Press.

Alfred’s many essays appear online at Truthout and CounterPunch, where I found his recent article, ‘Peace as a Human Right‘ on the topic of “25 Principles of International Order to Ensure Sustainable Peace”.

And; this past week, Justin Trudeau broadcast on social media a conciliatory call he and British counterpart, prime minister Rishi Sunak made to Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding that infamous missile strike in Poland.

The call, made public in the most recklessly manner, proves again the current leadership in the West care little for either the sober conduct of governance or subtly international diplomacy demands.

Yves Engler is a Montréal-based activist and author who has published 12 books, mostly on Canadian foreign policy, including his latest ‘Stand on Guard For Whom? A People’s History of the Canadian Military‘. Yves is coming our way; November 26th in Nanaimo, the 28th in Victoria, and November 29th in Duncan. He’ll also be on the mainland November 30th in Powell River, and December 1st in Vancouver.

Yves Engler and handsome prime minister Justin’s ugly Canadian foreign policy in the second half.

But first, Alfred de Zayas and building another Order for the World.

 

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Song: Fighting Injustice

Artists: The Four Fathers

 

 

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Yves Engler November 19th, 2022

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded November 19, 2022

This past week, Justin Trudeau broadcast on social media a conciliatory call he and British counterpart, prime minister Rishi Sunak made to Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy regarding that infamous missile strike in Poland.

The call, made public in the most recklessly manner, proves again the current leadership in the West care little for either the sober conduct of governance or subtly international diplomacy demands.

Yves Engler is a Montréal-based activist and author who has published 12 books, mostly on Canadian foreign policy, including his latest ‘Stand on Guard For Whom? A People’s History of the Canadian Military‘. Yves is coming our way; November 26th in Nanaimo, the 28th in Victoria, and November 29th in Duncan. He’ll also be on the mainland November 30th in Powell River, and December 1st in Vancouver.

Yves Engler and handsome prime minister Justin’s ugly Canadian foreign policy.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Song: Fighting Injustice

Artists: The Four Fathers

 

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Terry Wolfwood, John Helmer July 28th, 2022

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded July 21st and 24th, 2022

Nearly seventy-seven years following the atomic annihilation of two cities, politicians in America and its NATO vassal states today are debating the strategic merits of a nuclear war with Russia, (and presumable China to follow). Absent the debate, naturally, is the moral question of both war and its necessary means. August 6th marks the grim anniversary of the destruction of Hiroshima by America – Nagasaki being unnecessarily destroyed three days later. In the years since, historians have proven neither attack was needed to bring Japan to the negotiating table; they had been attempting surrender for months before the bombs dropped. But as we learn, each time anew it seems, truth has little purchase for the warmongers.

The tragic and senseless destruction of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will again be commemorated by the Victoria chapter of the Women in Black, who will stand silent vigil August 6th at the inner harbour. All are welcome to attend.

Terry Wolfwood is Director and co-founder of the Barnard-Boecker Centre Foundation, at BBCF.ca. She’s a writer, poet, photographer, and long-time activist in pursuit of peace, social justice, and women’s rights. Her articles have appeared at Briarpatch, Peace News, and Third World Resurgence among other places. In conjunction with her many activities in support of justice and peace, Terry has served too as local coordinator for the Women in Black for many years.

Terry Wolfwood in the first half.

And; mere hours after signing an agreement allowing the safe passage of goods from Ukraine, an acknowledged Russian missile attack against the port of Odessa threatens to scotch the deal. Russia denies allegations made by Ukraine and western media it targeted grain silos in the port, instead saying a dry dock, warship under repair, and warehouse of American munitions were struck and destroyed. Meanwhile, Kiev’s president Zelenskyy spent part of his day today playing host to US congressional reps, eager to pad their war-making resumes in anticipation of the Fall election.

John Helmer is a journalist, author, and principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears. He’s a past scholar, and advisor to government at the highest level, and spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. His many book titles include: ‘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‘ is newly out.

John Helmer and Ukraine’s thickening fog in the second half.

But first, Terry Wolfwood and remembering still Hiroshima/Nagasaki.

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, Yves Engler, Yves Smith July 16th, 2022

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded July 13th and 16th, 2022.

The late, and truly great, British playwright, Harold Pinter summed up the age in his 2005 Nobel Prize for Literature acceptance speech. Delivered dramatically via video stream – something not so common then – and at the height of America’s military demolition of Iraq . The terminally ill Pinter spent most of his thirty two and a half minute address addressing the profoundly ignorant state in which We the people exist, and how we blithely allow the horrors of our times be committed in our name. Who hearing that speech could forget his hoarsely stentorian remonstration of the Bush claque and its cowardly coalition’s willful crimes? “It never happened. Nothing ever happened. Even while it was happening it wasn’t happening. It didn’t matter.”

Seventeen years later, and millions killed, maimed, dispossessed and made desperate the lying and killing continues apace. Pinter would be unsurprised, because as he said then, for the powerful, “… it is essential that people remain in ignorance, that they live in ignorance of the truth, even the truth of their own lives.” And so it is in Canada today, as we march towards another global war, standing on guard in ignorance.

Yves Engler is a Montréal-based activist, and author of 12 books, mostly on Canadian foreign policy, including his latest, ‘Stand on Guard For Whom? A People’s History of the Canadian Military’. He’s also a prolific essayist whose many articles appear at numerous sites online, including at his website, YvesEngler.com, where his recent article, ‘Is It Time for Canada to Apologize to Libya?‘ appears.

Yves Engler in the first half.

And; what’s old is news again: Inflation, the economy’s nemesis so long thought slain has resurfaced, its dragon’s teeth popping up in balance sheets and union negotiation positions, and most scarily, ravishing family budgets the World over.

Yves Smith is a Harvard Business School grad, blogger, and author whose investment banking and management career has intersected all the biggest names on Wall Street. In late 2006, seeing the financial ice bergs on the horizon and frustrated by the “obvious under-reporting…of the risk in all credit instruments” she started Naked Capitalism in an effort to “promote critical thinking through the medium of a finance and economics blog.”

Her 2010 book, ECONned: How Unenlightened Self Interest Undermined Democracy and Corrupted Capitalismfollowed, dissecting the “obvious” and inevitable 2008 financial disaster and the dismal Obama administration reaction to it. Yves’ has also written articles for many major publications, appeared on US network television and alternative online news programs like The Real News, Democracy Now, and the now-banned RT.

Her recent article at Naked Capitalism, The G-7 is Still Pushing Its Nutty Russia Oil Price Cap Ideareveals how at sea the West is in what is rapidly emerging as a truly New (economic) World Order.

Yves Smith and the stark state of a capitalist system in crisis in the second half.

But first, Yves Engler and “the considerable bearing of the truth on where the World stands now“.

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, John Helmer July 10, 2022

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded July 10th, 2022

Twenty-five hundred years or so ago, storied Chinese general and reputed author of The Art of War observed, “There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare.” Today, twenty and some years into George Bush’s “generational war”, Sun Tzu’s wise maxim seems to have eluded the modern masters of war. The NATO Alliance has spent the 21st Century hopscotching from country to country dealing death and destruction as it goes with the abandon of a malicious child on an ant hill, wantonly thumbing flat people, nations, and the very concept of International Law until. In 2022, we find ourselves on the threshold of another global war, one leading through Russia to a final confrontation with China.

John Helmer is a journalist, author, and principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears. He’s a past scholar, and advisor to government at the highest level, and spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. His many book titles include: ‘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‘ is newly out.

His recent article, ‘The Coming Verdict in the MH17 Trial is Certain, and Double Dutch’ reminds, NATO’s determination for a war against Russia in Ukraine is a multi-layered operation, predating anything Russia has done.

Today, John Helmer and Dutch courts doing double duty and NATO’s media doing its damnedest to get and keep the war on Russia going.

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 Special Funding Drive Show March 17th, 2022

GR 11-67 Funding Drive 2022 Show CFUV 101.9 FM cfuv.ca

(airdate/time) Thursday March 17th, 2022

11:00:00 2:30 Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 12th, 2022

And Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all who celebrate Ireland’s great, green saint. Today I’m leaving the usual show format for my contribution to this year’s Funding Drive. If you’ve listened over the last week you know, today is the penultimate day for our annual outreach. I’ll talk a little more about that as we progress, and about stories of the year past, the strange two years done, and Gorilla Radio after 23 years. And play some music too.

If you can help the station, go online to supportcfuv.ca, or phone us up – operators are standing by at: 250-721-8700 locally, 1-250-721-8700 from elsewhere on the island, in the nation, or across the World.

Meanwhile, listen to this….

11:02:00 6:00 Music: Benjamin Zephania – Naked – Rong Radio

11:08:45 2:40 Blatherskite – (bg: Benjamin Zephania – Naked – You Dream)

The great Benjamin Zephania, from his album ‘Naked’. That’s Rong Radio. You too may have been listening to the wrong radio stations. You may be listening to just that now…With that in mind, better cover our…bases….

11:09:15 :30 CFUV Disclaimer – Elephant Talk

One of the enduring gifts of the Covid-19 pandemic is the intense focus it has trained on our societal institutions: Not least of these being media. But, and it is an enormous but; the real penetrating, laser-like, lethal dosage attention has been much less on THE media, the dominant, near monopolies of information that is the legacy press, with its papers of record, or the state-sponsored broadcasters, and corporate allieged and aligned television network monolith media. No, it’s the “social media” the matter. It is you and me, and the little people speaking to each other representing the real danger to democracy.

In their kindliest incarnation, the teevee personalities shake their talking heads sadly, and from their gilded studios in the sky look down upon us and say, “Forgive the transgressors, they know not what they transmit. It’s the Russians you see, and those extreme populists that’s got a-hold of their tongues and minds…” “Just a little reeducation’s needed to bring them around, and some time away from Twitter, and Facebook, and Youtube. Soon enough, they’ll be seeing things rightly, and singing again from the right hymn books.”

Yeah; or maybe not.

11:11:00 5:00 Music: Transglobal Underground – Impossible Broadcasting – Radio Unfree Europe

16:40:00 :29 CFUV Funding Drive Announcement – Truth

17:10:00 3:00 Blatherskite

Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s special Funding Drive 2022 show. The impossibly good, Transglobal Underground and Radio Unfree Europe from their Impossible Broadcasting album of some years ago now. So, the pandemic is over! Well, maybe not so fast…but the mask mandates are dropping in BC, as are requirements for so-called vaccine passports – at least as of this date. Is it because the virus disappeared, surrendering the fight against humanity – a fight we never asked for? No. The mandates and ersatz vaccine passport regimes are going, for now, because legal challenges are primed and ready. Just more than a month has passed since the government here demanded health practitioners – including chiropractors, dentists, and all others subject to B.C. health-care colleges be vaccinated by March 24th or lose their license to practice. Last week, the provincial government changed their orders – while not, as Health Minister, Adrian Dix insists, backing down – saying health professionals must declare thier vaccine status to colleges, and those colleges informed they must now collect information on their membership. The files must be available to government inspection by month’s end, or else….something… the threat has been left unuttered for now.

It all goes to underscore the way the people of B.C., and in every jurisdiction, have been bullied, cajoled, and threatened to succumb to orders to subject their bodily integrity to substances whose medical efficacy and long-term safety are uncertain, or pay a price through a legal process that is so far unspecified, but certainly remains questionable. Will this all become a moot point as Covid-19 passes into endemic status? No. The groundwork has been laid for a next virus, where the same scenario will be restaged and refought but more importantly, the precedents set in information and behaviour control has been set, and where that is leading is already evident in the way the Ukraine war and its provenance is being presented – and not – across media.

20:10 4:45 Music: Angel Olsen – Aisles – Eyes without a Face

24:24 :30 CFUV Funding Drive 2022 Announcement – Timber

24:55 2:30 Blatherskite

Yes, you heard it. Once a year we here put our hats down on the pavement, laying bear our collective pates in a plea for alms. Nobody is going to starve if yoiu don’t donate, but it is a way you can show your appreciation for a nominal alternative to the kinds of radio nonesense we’re all subjected to. If you’ve just tuned in to CFUV: this is a campus/community station, comprised of volunteer programmers and syndicated contributors creating music, spoken word, and current affairs radio. Our studios are in the basement of the Studen Union Building at the University of Victoria, and we transmit locally via a puny 23 hundred and 90- odd watt transmitter. Honestly, you can barely pick us up in most parts of the city; unless you’re in traffic. BUT! The station also livestreams to the whole World – subject approval – on the internet at cfuv.ca. That probably doesn’t amaze many people today; but when I started doing this radio show, the internet wasn’t even a thing. There were no podcast, or anything like that: In fact, pterodactyls still ruled the skies in those day…and we spent our days watching for great circling shadows on the ground with the same intensity some now stare footward at there hand-held flatland machines. How things have changed!

When I began, the world was full of war and rumours of war. The Americans and Russian were nose to nose in eastern Europe, and many were fearing a war that could lead to a nuclear conflagration that would destroy us all. And the media; cripes!!! In those days, all you heard was how bad everybody else was: Evil-doer this and the next new Hitler him. Thank goodness that’s all over with. Goodness because CFUV survives yet for you listening enjoyment and information edification… FOR NOW… If you want to insure our continued flourishing…listen and tell your friends to listen… to alternative voices and opinions…

27:30:00 7:00 Music: Gil Scott-Heron – GasCD – Work for Peace

34:45:00 :30 CFUV Show promo – Pablo (Not Alone)

35:15:00 :30 CFUV Disclaimer

35:45:00 2:30 Blathersite

Well, you heard the lady: These opinions belong to me. It wasn’t until this year we here were impelled to attach disclaimers to programs. I mention this because it’s instructive when viewing where this country, Canada is in 2022, and where it’s headed when the citizenry are fear making their opinions known; or when those still unafraid to speak truth to power can do so only after taking the precaution of disassociating from those who may become collaterally victimized by truth-telling. This is apparently the democracy our leaders in Ottawa and Washington, and London, etc. would have us willing to send our sons and daughters to their doom defending, (or least send money and materiel to proxies for that purpose).

We have entered again the realm of censorship; a place where free speech is deemed dangerous to the common good, and thinking outside the provided parameters is in itself an act of sedition. Marching bravely beneath the banner of truth, the New Censors seek they say to protect us from ourselves – this was made evident during the pandemic crisis, and continues apace now, where those questioning the next war narrative are labelled agents of the enemy, and excommunicated. Just as the scars inflicted by the divisiveness of Covid will require years to heal, the abuse of our civil liberty will mark us indelibly. But, according to one of the exemplars of journalism and truth-telling, there is room to hope in this acrid atmosphere of censoriousness. Julian Assange says censorship is, quote “…an opportunity because it reveals fear of reform. It means that the power position is so weak that you have got to care what people think.”

38:15:00 3:20 Music: Angel Olsen – My Woman – Shut Up, Kiss Me

41:20:00 2:45 Blatherskite

Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s special Funding Drive 2022 show. That was the inveterate bard and showman, Chris Chandler doing the promo there. Long-time GR collaborator and host of Plant Powered Radio Janine Bandcroft recorded that more years ago than I can remember now. Before that was Angel Olsen’s 2016 song from her album My Woman, “Shut Up, Kiss Me.She also covered Billy Idol’s Eyes without a Face earlier in the program. And, as I said earlier, this show has been borne on the wings of war. It was the Former Yugoslavia being bombed into whatever it’s called now back then. In addition to all the dirty little secret wars since then, there’s been the destruction of Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, very nearly Syria, and of course Ukraine.

The war in Ukraine didn’t start two or three weeks ago. Even the CBC would admit, the killing and dying has been going on there for considerably longer. Back in 2014, agents of the Obama administration succeeded in hijacking popular – and peaceful – demonstrations against the fractious Yanukovych administration and overturning his government. They did this using the tactics of intimidation, street violence, assassination, and mass murder. The government installed by NATO and more specifically Obama’s hand in Kiev, Victoria Nuland moved next on the ethnic-Russian population of the eastern region. What resulted was a separatist declaration in two provinces and a subsequent war of subjugation by the central authority that had, before the recent Russian intervention, claimed the lives some 15,000 people, most of them in Donetsk and Lagansk. These are the regions repeatedly referred to by our state broadcaster as home to, “Russia-backed fighters” – as though they were not fighting from their own homes as Kiev’s shells rain on their back gardens.

Before the recent disaster, there were Canadians warning Ottawa of what we were heading for in Ukraine and eastern Europe and imploring it change course. Now, the opposite is the case, where Canada is increasingly fomenting war and destruction at the behest of our large neighbour south, and to the benefit of none save the arms dealers. I spoke recently with Glenn Michalchuk, a third-generation Canadian of Ukrainian decent and currently Chair of the Peace Alliance of Winnipeg about the then-impending storm now raging in the country of his forebears. Here’s Ken, joined by Tamara Lorincz of Canadian Voice of Women for Peace and the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute in a talk recorded in late January.

44:05:00 5:05 Clip Tamara Lorincz & Glenn Michalchuk (January 22, 2022)

49:10:00 3:35 John K. Samson -Winter Wheat – Vampire Alberta Blues

52:45:00 2:00 Blatherskite

Welcome back to Gorilla Radio’s special Funding Drive 2022 show. That was John K. Samson from his Winter Wheat album with Vampire Alberta Blues. Before that a bit of an interview I recorded with Tamara Lorincz and Glenn Michalchuk a couple months ago. We’re fast approaching the end of my time on this the penultimate day of this year’s effort to raise dough for the operations of the station. Go to supportcfuv.ca to find out what’s on offer gift-wise, (yes there are tote bags!). Or if you’re listening over the air, phone us up at 250-721-8700 to pledge your support.

54:45:00 3:00 Ashley Shadow – Nothing – For Love (can con)

12:00:00 –:–                              -0-

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, John Price, John Helmer February 26, 2022

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded February 23rd and 26th, 2022

As Canada stands on the precipice perhaps of war, what more timely moment could there be to examine Canadian foreign policy past and present, with an eye cast to a hoped for future?

The fire this time is burning in Ukraine, a country in which Canadian objectives – at least those of the political class – has played an instrumental role in the tumult there since 2014, leading to the crescendo of violence and uncertainty being seen today. The intrigues of Canada and its larger allies has ensnared Russia, as intended, and could lead next to similar conflict with China. But is this what Canadians want; following along in an endless parade of NATO-enforced wars and police actions in support of a failing U.S. empire?

John Price is professor emeritus at the University of Victoria, and member of the Advisory Board of the newly formed Canada-China Focus, a project of the Canadian Foreign Policy Institute and UVic’s Centre for Global Studies. He is too author of the book, ‘Orienting Canada,’ and his essays appear at Canadian Dimension.com, where I found his eight-part seriesinvestigating the crisis in Canada-China relations.”

John Price in the first half.

And; John Helmer and I spoke on the eve of what Russia is now calling its “military-technical” operation in Ukraine. Events, as John subsequently said, seem to have overtaken our conversation. Even so, the context he provides is invaluable, especially given the media landscape in this country, Canada where official sources do little more than parrot militarists in Ottawa and Washington – and, truth be told, they have been just that for some time longer.

John Helmer is a journalist, author, and principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears. He’s a past scholar, and advisor to government at the highest level, and spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. His many book titles include: ‘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‘ is newly out. His recent article, ‘The Body Language of the Speech – Putin has Repudiated Lenin, Stalin, Gorbachev, Yeltsin, & Mobilized Russia’s Defence Against U.S. Attack As Never Before‘ he compares to the great rallying speeches of Lincoln, Churchill, and even Shakespeare’s Henry the fifth. It is he says, “the most extraordinary [speech] in Russian history”

John Helmer and our most dangerous days ahead in the second half.

But first, John Price and decolonizing Canadian foreign policy in the face of a new global war.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio and serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/