Went down to the 32nd annual Earth Walk in Victoria today (April 20). I buttonholed a few local notables along the way. It was different from all the other walks, in that local organizers had abandoned the concept. Last year, corporate involvement soured the usual suspect toilers who'd put the show together with shoe-strings; this year they didn't show up. It was left for the sophomore Creatively United for the Planet, a trades fair and paid showcase for green-minded companies, artisans, and musicians to pick up the slack. Rather than culminate at the BC Legislature buildings for political posturing and speechifying, the marchers were ushered into the grounds of St. Ann's Academy, where vendors and paid stage shows awaited.
Went down to the University of Victoria to check out Jennifer Pickford's film Eco Warriors the Documentary, featuring local eco heroes Ingmar Lee, Zoe Blunt, and others.
Here's a bit of the blurb from the filmmaker's website: www.pickfordproductions.com
This documentary depicts the increasingly harsh treatment of people who protest against what they see as crimes to the environment. Today, protesters who were once described as environmental activists are being called ‘terrorists’, and environmental activism is being labeled ‘eco-terrorism’.
Environmental activists being labeled as terrorists is an increasingly real threat since United States Federal Bureau of Investigation now includes a category for 'eco-terrorism' under its Domestic Terrorism Section. Many see the use of the term 'eco-terrorist' as a propaganda term devised by law-enforcement to criminalize or marginalize their protests.
It's a simple question: "When did activism become "terrorism"?" and it's posed by the new documentary film, 'Eco Warriors.' This Thursday, the Red Octopus Collective production will hold its Victoria premier screening of Eco Warriors, right here at the University of Victoria's David Lam Auditorium. The presentation will include a Q and A with the film's executive producer, Jennifer Pickford and eco warrior, Zoe Blunt.
Zoe Blunt is a long-time environmental defender and activist/organizer, based on the South Island. Zoe's past campaigns include an attempt to forestall the so-called Bear Mountain development, (a failed effort that culminated spectacularly in a massive SWAT team assault on three tree-sitters at the site of the now derelict Spencer road overpass) and the successful turn-around of mega-developer at large, Ender Ilkay's Marine Trail Resort.
Zoe conducts activist workshops, took part recently in the Caravan to Wet-suwet-'en, an annual manifestation at the planned site of the pipeline confluence for the controversial Pacific Trail Pipeline project, and she was instrumental in convincing VanCity's ethical investments arm to disinvest of Enbridge related vehicles. Zoe has appeared on this show many times over the years, and joins us again in the first segment.
And; last week, the University of Victoria Student Society and UVic's Social Justice Studies played host to the 'Maple Tour', a cross-country educational forum conducted by two members of CLASSE, the Quebec student union that practically paralyzed Montreal and transfixed the world press with the largest civil demonstrations that province and this country, Canada has ever seen. Former CLASSE spokesperson, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois and executive and key organizer, Cloé Zawadzki-Turcotte were accompanied by Quebec journalist, and former student organizer, Ethan Cox to share their stories of "The longest student strike in Canadian history" and how it ended up, "[I]nspiring people across the country to stand up to "austerity."" Showing CLASSE with Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois, Cloé Zawadzki-Turcotte, and Ethan Cox in the second half.
And; Victoria Street Newz publisher and CFUV broadcaster, Janine Bandcroft will be here to bring us newz from our city's streets and beyond at the bottom of the hour. But first, Zoe Blunt and "When did activism become terrorism?" - drawing red lines in Canada.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Monday, 5-6pm 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/
G-Radio is dedicated to social justice, the environment, community, and providing a forum for people and issues not covered in the corporate media.
The late American writer, Kurt Vonnegut set the record straight in his great novel, Breakfast of Champions, where he wrote of the "discovery" of America by Columbus:
"1492. As children we were taught to memorize this year with pride and joy as the year people began living full and imaginative lives on the continent of North America. Actually, people had been living full and imaginative lives on the continent of North America for hundreds of years before that. 1492 was simply the year sea pirates began to rob, cheat, and kill them."
1862 is the date Victoria City would have us all remember with pride and joy, for that was the year "people" began living here. But actually, 1862 is the year pirates whose names grace our streets and byways yet executed a plan that rightly belongs atop the annals of world infamy; a plan that destroyed not only the lives of more than 100,000 individuals, but one meant to destroy entirely the peoples of the Pacific coast of what we now call British Columbia.
Genocide is a term loosely used today, but there is none better to describe the beginnings of European settlement at this place, and after 150 years, no better time to finally face the truth of it.
Tom Swanky is perhaps an unlikely historian. The retired businessman took on the research end of his son Shawn's film project on the Tslihqot'in War, and the hanging by the colonials of their Chiefs in 1864. It was during the research for that project, Tom noted the great gulf separating the victors' narrative from that of the vanquished, and discovered a paper trail leading to revelations he could hardly believe. Over ten years of research culminated in his book, 'The True Story of Canada’s ‘War’ of Extermination on the Pacific'. Tom will be presenting some of his research at the Seventh Annual Anarchist Bookfair, beginning September 8th.
Tom Swanky in the first half.
And; it's been said, "History doesn't repeat, but it does echo." and the echoes of the original colonial sins are ringing throughout the interior of British Columbia now. Though their suits may have changed in 150 years, the cut of the cloth has not; at this very moment, marauders cloaked in propriety plot to dispossess the natives, driving through their lands rightofways as paths to enrich themselves, and profit the distant government.
It's not gold for Empire this time, but energy they crave; the new coin of the realm. The Enbridge pipeline project hopes to make of the province a conduit for Alberta's bitumen mines, sluicing the toxic goo through pipes to the sea at Kitimat. Last week, the project sprung another leak, with VanCity announcing divestiture of all investments in the companies behind the scheme.
Zoe Blunt is a Victoria-area based environmental activist, organizer, and facilitator. She's a citizen journalist whose work has been instrumental in the implementation of myriad campaigns locally, and throughout the province designed to protect the ecological integrity of B.C.'s wild lands, ensuring habitat viabililty for the animals in it, and cultural continuity for the people depending on it. Zoe was front and centre in efforts to convince VanCity to change their investment portfolio options, excluding Enbridge related vehicles.
Zoe Blunt and plugging the pipeline's progress in the second half.
And; Victoria Street Newz publisher and CFUV broadcaster, Janine Bandcroft will join us in the second half to bring us up to speed with some of the good things going on in and around Victoria in the coming week. But first, Tom Swanky and the Great Darkening at the heart of our colonial beginnings.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Monday, 5-6pm Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, 104.3 cable, 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/
This week: NAFTA, CAFTA, CETA, and now the TPP or Trans-Pacific Partnership are all predicated on taking the people out of the process, essentially turning over the keys to the kingdom to a nebulous gang of transnational corporate operators who waste no time in gutting civil and labour rights, democratic participation, and environmental protections in the name of maximizing profitability.
These actors have, over the course of a few short decades, managed to make the post-trade pact world and its preceding world order unrecognizable; it's something current prime minister, Stephen Harper has long- promised to do for this country, Canada too.
And, Harper's 'New Government of Canada' has been busy; already killing Canada's Wheat Board, effectively putting independent producers at the mercy of the handful of corporate behemoths controlling the global grain trade, now he and his are after the Marketing Boards who have long- regulated egg and dairy production.
Wendy Holm is an award-winning agrologist, columnist, professional lecturer, and served as editor and contributing author to the book, 'Water and Free Trade.' She has received two Queen's Medals for contribution to community, and is recipient of the Rosemary Davis Award for passion and commitment to farming. Wendy Holm has also been awarded six national journalism awards for her outspoken defense of Canadian farm policy.
Wendy Holm in the first half.
And; Zoe Blunt and volunteers are heading north in August with the Caravan to Wet'suwet'en to rendezvous with First Nations and other groups concerned about the proposed bulldozing through of the yet to be approved Northern Enbridge pipeline right-of-way. To raise funds for the Caravan, the Art Against Enbridge auction ~ and happening ~ will be held Friday, July 27 between 7-10pm at the Cenote Lounge at 768 Yates Street, right under Lyle's Place.
Come meet the Caravan crew, sample a southwest menu and craft beers at this wild and weird art show and benefit.
Zoe Blunt and preparing the Caravan's canvases in the second half.
And; Victoria Street Newz publisher, and CFUV Radio broadcaster, Janine Bandcroft will join us at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with some of the good things going on in and around the streetz of the city. But first, Wendy Holm and Canada's Marketing Boards in the global trade crosshairs.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Monday, 5-6pm Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, 104.3 cable, 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.com
G-Radio is dedicated to social justice, the environment, community, and providing a forum for people and issues not covered in corporate and state media. Gorilla Radio airs live every Monday, 5-6pm Pacific Time. In Victoria at 102FM, 104.3 cable, and on t
2013-04-21
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