Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, J.M. Porup, Sandra Finley, Janine Bandcroft Dec. 10, 2012

In an age of tyranny, the people of America need salvation. They need to be delivered from themselves. With the wars on drugs and terror waning, the American oligarchy too needs a new bogey man; a new scourge to take the minds of the plebes off the real source their misery.

What America must have now is a villain so pernicious and all-pervasive none will ever again challenge the rightful order of things. But what, (and it’s a big butt) can fill the bill? And who can sell it to a nation hungry for change?

Enter Prophet and freshest yet crusader, President Jones, the man marshaling America’s greatest war of all, the insatiable Global War on Fat.

J.M. Porup is a Victoria-based novelist, recovering Lonely Planet travel writer, and self-confessed “American dissident in exile.” His novels: ‘The Second Bat Guano War,’ ‘Death On Taurus,’ and ‘The Judas Syndrome’ are now joined by, ‘The United States of Air’ a new book situating the reader in an absurd, and all too familiar, environment where governmental paranoia and excessive prosecutorial zeal marry to create a nightmarishly surreal world from which the only defense is laughter.

J.M. Porup in the first half.

And; we’re daily abused by economic statistics; statistics that tell us we’re doing great or poorly, growing, contracting, or heading for cliff falls. They’re gross, and sometimes domestic, but to GDP, GNP, and the rest of the alphabet soup mumbo-jumbo served up by the economic chefs indicate your reality?

Sandra Finley is a Saskatchewan-based activist, writer, and researcher and former leader of Green Party of Saskatchewan. Finley challenged the participation of the international arms manufacturer, Lockheed-Martin in Canada’s recent census, and was charged for her very public “Count Me Out” campaign refusing participation. Sandra’s 2007 Green Party campaign focused solely on economic indices, and the need for the implementation of realistic measures of our societies progress towards both citizen and environmental well-being.

Sandra Finley and counting correctly our Canadian way of life in the second half.

And; Victoria Street Newz publisher and CFUV broadcaster, Janine Bandcroft will join us at the bottom of the hour to bring us newz from our city’s streets and beyond. But first, J. M. Porup and the United States of Air, Utopic home of the brave, and land of the food-free.

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.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Zoe Miles, Jim Miles, Janine Bandcroft Dec. 3, 2012

The plans have been in the works for a while, and last week Island Timberlands prepared to begin clear-cut logging within the ancient forest of Cortes Island. Locals, organized through ‘Wildstands – a Cortes Island community alliance’ were ready. Forest access roads were blockaded, legal threats made by the company, and everything was looking like a War in the Woods in the making for Cortes.

That was last week; in the interim few days, Island Timberlands has withdrawn its claws, assuring locals its promised application for an injunction will be delayed for at least this week, while some form of negotiation can commence. It’s not the end of the fight for the forests of Cortes – or even the beginning of the end – but it is the end of the beginning. (sorry Winston).

Zoe Miles is a Cortes Island-raised activist and spokesperson for Wildstands, and she’ll join us in the first half.

And; last week the United Nations General Assembly, in a historic vote, ratified the Palestinian Authorities application for recognition by that body as a nonvoting observer non-member state. The motion was endorsed by an overwhelming majority, despite (or perhaps because of) weeks of bluster and bullying by Israel’s representatives and those of its nearest friends in Canada and the United States. In unprecedented fashion, Stephen Harper’s New Government of Canada called back to Ottawa senior diplomats from Israel, the West Bank, and most pointedly, from the UN missions in New York and Geneva. Reacting to domestic and international ridicule, Canada’s Foreign Affairs minister, John Baird assured, Canada’s diplomats will return to their posts following consultations on what future direction the country will take in dealing with the region.

Jim Miles is a retired educator, writing on politics, U.S. foreign policy, and the environment. His articles and book reviews are published online at the Palestine Chronicle and Pacific Free Press amongst others. Miles covered the surprise Canadian government reaction to the UN move in the article, ‘Congratulation Palestine from an Embarrassed Canadian.’ Jim Miles 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 newz from our city’s streets and beyond. But first, Zoe Miles and a Mexican Standoff in the woods of Cortes Island.

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.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Karl Grossman, David Rovics, Janine Bandcroft Nov. 26, 2012

It’s been touted as saviour of the North American, and Western world’s, energy crisis; indigenous, relatively clean-burning, and abundant “natural gas.” Its proponents claim it will by turns: End dependence on imported oil and gas from increasingly fractious regions; and, make North America again an energy superpower.

So, what’s the problem? Hydrological fracturing, or “fracking”, the key to unlocking the pipe dreams of energy self-sufficiency and continuity of the Western economic model, is proving to be both a Pandora’s Box of hyper-pollution, and an unwelcome rerun of colonial practice against communities living above coveted resources.

Karl Grossman is a multi-award winning veteran journalist specializing in investigative reporting, that all but lost art he also teaches at the State University of New York/College at Old Westbury.

He’s also the author of several books, including: ‘Weapons in Space,’ ‘The Wrong Stuff: The Space Program’s Nuclear Threat to Our Planet,’ ‘Power Crazy: Is LILCO Turning Shoreham into America’s Chernobyl?,’ and Cover Up: What You Are Not Supposed to Know About Nuclear Power.’ Karl too produces and hosts the television program, Enviro Close-Up, and his writing is regularly featured online at CounterPunch.org, CommonDreams, and the Huffington Post, among others.

Karl Grossman in the first half.

And; throughout the terrible years since the ‘day that changed everything,’ a question posed is; “Where are the protest songs of our time?” With this last year and some-odd proving the most restive period in the world since the late 1960’s, seeing popular movements rising throughout Europe, the Middle East, and even here in America, again the oft-asked yet seldom answered musical question is asked. But today we can respond.

Following the folk tradition of such American greats as Woody Guthrie, Pete Seager, and Phil Ochs, David Rovics has spent thousands of days gigging venues small and not so much so across the United States, Canada, and abroad. He’s been a stalwart of the nascent Occupy Movement, ringing out his prolific catalogue of songs affirming peace, justice, and humanity, while never fearing to spotlight and excoriate the real evil-doers of our times. He has also proven a populist pioneer of digital dissent, providing his 200-plus retinue of socially relevant songs for free to the masses through his website, DavidRovics.com.

David passed through Victoria Saturday, and true to form, performed at the demo/vigil for Palestine and again-blasted Gaza. David Rovics making available the song of protest to a new generation of malcontents 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 news from the city’s streets and beyond. But first, Karl Grossman and hydrological fracturing’s other toxic by-product.

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.

Ape Goes to the Nov. 24, 2012 Victoria Gaza Demo and Vigil

Went down to Victoria’s Gaza Demo and Vigil. This event was not organized by any single group or individual, but merely something thrown together by locals outraged by the massacre again of Gazans by the unrepentant and criminal Israel. At last count, more than 160 Gazan men, women, and children perished through the blitzkrieg, and more than 1100 were wounded. Psychological trauma is impossible to measure. Five Israeli’s are reported to too have been killed, and some dozens more wounded by rocket fire from Gaza. American activist musician and songwriter, David Rovics also appeared.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Jon Elmer, Paul Spong, Janine Bandcroft Nov. 19, 2012

Clearly we are living in an age of mass dementia. Over the weekend, scofflaw Israel rained bombs and missiles upon the heads of civilian homes, civil infrastructure, media studios, hospitals, and shot up anything that moved through the streets of Gaza City.

While there is nothing particular new about that, after all, Israel has treated the Gaza Strip and its benighted citizens like so many concentration camp inmates for years, picking them off with high-powered rifles and automated machine-gun turrets for no apparent reason beyond to terrorize them, and perhaps break up the monotony of a long shift in the watchtowers.

No, what punctuates the surreal insanity of this festering injustice is the reality defying gymnastics Western government spokespersons perform to somersault the truth of the matter, and how eagerly, in turn, their media collaborators parrot rather than challenge them.

Yes, Gaza is under full scale attack by Israel again, and as during the Christmas carnage of 2008-9, the demented few in power in Ottawa and London and Washington and Brussels will again provide cover for this egregious and obvious crime against humanity.

Jon Elmer is a Canadian freelance photo-journalist and author of the website JonElmer.ca. Jon has reported from and about Israel’s occupation of Palestine for more than a decade, his dispatches appearing at Al Jazeera English, the Inter Press Service, and Le Monde Diplomatique among others. Jon also completed an honours degree in political science at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia; his thesis – “Pulling from the roots” – being a study of Israel’s policy of assassination during the al-Aqsa intifada.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Jennifer Moore, Yves Engler, Janine Bandcroft Nov 12, 2012

Canada is a world leader in mining exploitation. Canadian mining companies have developed technologies and techniques now employed around the world, and Canadian laws are considered some of the most favourable for the industry anywhere. Lax regulatory oversight and near non-existent accountability for criminality committed by mining corporations both in Canada and abroad has proven an irresistible welcome mat for trans-national operators looking for countries to act as flags of convenience for their global operations.

The resulting damage done to Canada's reputation in the world is incalculable, and thanks to secretive governments, and an incurious domestic media environment, most Canadians haven't a clue why they are now perceived so poorly.

Jennifer Moore is the Latin America Program Coordinator for Mining Watch Canada. Jen spent years in Latin America as a freelance print and broadcast journalist, specializing in communities affected by Canadian-financed mining companies.

Jen is taking part this Thursday November 15th at 7pm in the Harry Hickman Building at UVic, with NDP MP Peter Julian, in 'Over Mined, Over Ruled: Justice Activism for Corporate Regulation,' a one night symposium exploring and analyzing Canada's role in international mining practices.

Jen Moore in the first half.

And; though Canadians largely still believe the country to be a force for peace and justice in the world the evidence increasingly belies that assertion. While it's arguable, Canada's colonial founding precludes the premise outright, since the end of the Second World War Canada ostensibly played peacemaker, standing between conflicted parties, and had at home initiated measures for social and economic justice, while championing responsible environmental stewardship.

But those days are past, and though Canadians may be the last to know it, the nation is now identified with the massively polluting Tar Sands, and the political regression embodied by the policies of Stephen Harper. It all paints an ugly picture of Canada and its new found place on the world stage.

Yves Engler is a Canadian activist and the author of seven books, including: 'Canada in Haiti: Waging War on the Poor Majority,' 'The Black Book of Canadian Foreign Police,' 'Playing Left Wing: from Rink Rat to Student Radical,' and his latest, 'The Ugly Canadian: Stephen Harper's Foreign Policy.' Yves will be here at UVic this Tuesday November 13th at 7pm in the David Strong Building presenting The Ugly Canadian, a lecture on this country's foreign policy in all its hideousness.

Yves Engler and Canada's "no more mister guy" image in the second half.

And; Victoria Street Newz publisher and CFUV broadcaster, Janine Bancroft will join us at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with some of things going on on our streets and beyond. But first, Jennifer Moore and justice activism for corporate regulation.

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.

Ape Goes to the November 11 MacKenzie-Papineau Remembrance

Every year, a group of stalwarts stand at the statue, ‘Spirit of the Republic’ to honour the memory of those Canadians who faced the Fascist threat in Spain. It is in the spirit of peace and hope for the end of militarism the commemorators brave the chill winds of November and give speeches remembering their, and their family’s experiences of war.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Sharmine Narwani Nov. 11, 2012

Over the last decade, Canada has changed its international focus, becoming more directly tied to both U.S. interests and methods of attaining and maintaing those interests. This has meant a dramatic increase in military spending, and a necessary redefinition of the role the country plays in the world. But are Canada’s politicians and militarists prepared to enter the byzantine world of hard power politics, and is the Canadian public being adequately informed about the ramifications of the nation’s new course?

Sharmine Narwani is a Senior Associate at St. Antony’s College, Oxford University and writes commentary and analysis of Middle East geopolitics for La Akhbar, Al Jazeera, the Huffington Post, and New York Times, among others. She holds Masters degrees from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in both Journalism and Middle East Studies. Sharmine has made three trips into Syria this year alone, and is recently returned from a visit to Iran, where she conducted a series of interviews concerning poltical and development issues there. Sharmine Narwani also produce the blog mideastshuffle.com where an archive of her writings on the region may be accessed.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Roger Annis, Paul Summerville, Janine Bandcroft Nov. 5, 2012

While New York City, and the rest of America’s eastern seaboard digs out from Hurricane Sandy, and electricity is returned to the “city that never sleeps,” little media coverage is being devoted to the primary victims of the “Super Storm” in Haiti.

Nearly three years past the massive earthquake that destroyed much of the capital, Haitians struggling to get back on their feet have had to cope with serial tropical storms and hurricanes, wide-spread governmental corruption and mismanagement, an imported cholera epidemic, drought, and now Sandy.

Early reports put Sandy’s death toll at 52 souls, but what is really worrying is the reemergence of cholera among the hundreds of thousands still living in crowded, poorly serviced, unsanitary, and exposed tent cities.

Roger Annis is a Vancouver-based trade unionist and social activist; a member of Vancouver’s Stopwar.ca coalition, Roger has also been involved with the Canada Haiti Action Network and runs the website, A Socialist in Canada.

Roger Annis in the first half.

And; long-serving Victoria MP, Denise Savioe stepped down in August, surrendering her seat for health reasons. Savioe held the seat through six years and three election campaigns, following her community service in Victoria as a city councillor. The Victoria seat had, until Denise’s first victory in 2006 had virtually belonged to Liberals through the aegis of former cabinet minister, David Anderson.

Now, by-elections have been called for three ridings, including Victoria for November 26th. Victoria’s Liberal hopeful is Dr. Paul Summerville, currently an adjunct professor here at UVic in the Peter B. Gustavson School of Business. Summerville worked previously for Deutsche Bank, Jardine Fleming, and Lehman Brothers. I spoke with Paul in March on energy policy in Canada.

Paul Summerville and our energy future in the second half.

And; Victoria Street News publisher and CFUV Radio broadcaster, Janine Bandcroft will join us at the bottom of the hour to bring us newz from our city’s streets and beyond.

But first, Roger Annis and Haiti, island in the heart of the storm.

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.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Jennifer Moore, Jesse Freeston, Janine Bandcroft Oct. 29, 2012

The practices of Canadian mining companies abroad are increasingly in the global spotlight, if less frequently featured at home. From Africa and Asia, to Central America, Mexico and right here in Canada, mining outfits, many flying Canadian flags of convenience, are wreaking havoc on the natural world, and ruining societies with the misfortune of existing above the objects of the industry’s desire.

Worse than this is the complicity, in many cases, of the Canadian government. Jennifer Moore is the Latin America Program Coordinator for Mining Watch Canada. Jen spent years in Latin America as a freelance print and broadcast journalist, specializing in communities affected by Canadian-financed mining companies.

Jennifer Moore in the first half.

And; in 2009, the mildly left of centre president of Honduras, Manuel “Mel” Zelayas proposed a change to the country’s constitution. Mel wanted to begin modest land reforms, reforms that would, among other things, recognize the rights of indigent share-croppers. Within weeks, the oligarchs running Honduras answered Zelayas’ modest proposal with one of their own: The military kidnapped the president, spiriting him into exile, and cracked down hard on human rights activists, journalists, and indigent farmers. Canada and the United States, the two great democracies of the hemisphere, at first tacitly, then actively supported the coup, and continue to do so, even as the country experiences oppression and injustice not seen in Central America since the terrible reign of the death squads in the 1980’s.

Jesse Freeston is a Montreal-based freelance journalist and documentary filmmaker who has spent the better part of the last three years documenting the struggle of the dispossessed farmers of the Aguán Valley and working to bring their story to the world. Freeston’s film, Resistencia documents the farmer’s struggle: Burned out of their homes, murdered, deprived of access to traditional lands, schools, clinics, and vital infrastructure destroyed, the families of the Aguán still refuse to be moved; “occupying, defending, and working more than 5,000 hectares of palm oil plantations.”

Jesse Freeston and the Honduran Occupy Movement 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 on-going events going on on our streets and beyond.

But first, Jennifer Moore and revisiting a victory for Ecuador.

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.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Jon Elmer, Janine Bandcroft, Oct. 22 Defend Our Coast Oct. 22, 2012

Over the weekend, the Finnish-flagged M/S Estelle attempted to ferry aid into the besieged Gaza Strip, and like previous attempts was intercepted by the Israeli navy in international waters, its crew and passengers taken into port at Ashdod and imprisoned.

As of Sunday October 21st, there is little word of the conditions of captivity for former Canadian MP Jim Manley, though a release from organizers of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition confirms: Some of the Estelle’s crew has been deported to Greece and Italy.

Reports from Israeli activists on the ship claim passengers were “tasered” by the Israeli boarding party. For its part, Israeli authorities lied about the cargo on board the Estelle, maintaining the ship contained “no humanitarian aid.”

The Estelle’s attempt to break the years-old blockade of Gaza comes on the heels of last week’s publication of Israeli documents confirming that state’s practice of a calorie counting regimen restricting the amount of food allowed into the Gaza enclave based on an estimated minimal caloric intake per person necessary to avoid wide-spread starvation. Also known as the “Gaza Diet,” the revelation is not news to Palestinians, or most Israelis, but does present an international embarrassment to the government, which has always denied such a policy existed.

Jon Elmer is a Canadian photo-journalist who has reported from the Occupied Territories for more than a decade. Jon’s work has taken him to some of the region’s, and the world’s, most troubled areas, filing reports for the Inter Press Service, Al Jazeera English, The Progressive, and Le Monde Diplomatique among others. His work can also be found at his website, JonElmer.ca. Jon Elmer in the first half.

And; the long-awaited October 22 manifestation is happening even now in downtown Victoria. The event, in part organized by the newly formed, Defend Our Coast coalition, and supported by a variety of international Environmental Non-Government Organizations hoped to rally British Columbians and others concerned about the Enbridge Gateway project, a massive pipeline proposal to sluice Tar Sands condensate-soaked bitumen to the port of Kitimat on its way to a trans-pacific voyage to the Asian market.

The format and nature of this demonstration is unique in my experience, and it has sparked some heated debate within the environmental community. I went down there this morning to record my impressions and those of the participants. Defending Our Coast in the second segment.

And; Victoria Street Newz publisher and CFUV broadcaster, Janine Bandcroft will join us at the bottom of the hour to bring us her take on Defend Our Coast and other manifestations in and around our city. But first, Jon Elmer on blockades and other doings in and around Occupied Palestine.

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.

Ape Goes to the October 22 Defend Our Coast Rally

Went down to the demo. to chill with several thousand fellow citizens concerned about oil tanker traffic off the coast of BC. Defend Our Coast, prominent organizers, message follows: The CBC is reporting 3,000 people are here today on this cold, just starting to get rainy October Monday. Our team thinks it’s closer to 5,000.

But remember: this is not just a protest rally. Hundreds of people have been trained (mainly over the past weekend) and intend to put their bodies on the line to get arrested. If we wanted sheer numbers, we would have held this on a weekend. The design of this action was for people who care passionately about protecting our coast to take direct action to show how strongly citizens across BC feel about this issue.

And as you can see from some of the earlier quotes from our First Nations allies, this direct resistance is just starting. And won’t stop until we win.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Dave Lindorff, Michael Parenti, Janine Bandcroft Oct. 15, 2012

Counting down, the US election 2012 pageant is near completion. With three weeks to go, undecided American voters have two more presidential debates to determine which of incumbent Democrat, Barack Obama, or Republican challenger, Mitt Romney they would feel most comfortable seeing steer the ship of state.

If past elections are any indicator, millions will forgo the privilege of voting, while millions more will have their franchise disallowed through a variety of restrictive ID requirements, new rules governing eligibility, and good old fashioned voter suppression.

There will be controversy, and probably blood too, but one thing is certain; the election will provide the nation a chance to evaluate its values, and the potency of American democracy in the increasingly troubled days of the early 21st Century.

Dave Lindorff is an award-winning muck raking journalist, founder of the news website, This Can’t Be Happening.net, and author of the books: ‘This Can’t Be Happening: Resisting the Disintegration of American Democracy,’ ‘Marketplace Medicine: The Rise of the For Profit Hospital Chains,’ and ‘Killing Time: An Investigation into the Death Row Case of Mumia Abu-Jamal.’ He is also co-author, with Barbara Olshansky of, ‘The Case for Impeachment: Legal Arguments for Removing President George W. Bush from Office.’ Dave is also recipient of a 2011 Project Censored award for his expose, ‘Toxic Intervention,’ uncovering the use of Depleted Uranium by NATO forces during the “liberation” of Libya.

Dave Lindorff in the first segment.

And; since September 2001, America has ramped up its militarization at home and abroad. But, it didn’t take that day of infamy to create America’s modern military empire, that was a project well underway long before the PNAC crowd took over Washington, D.C. Today, ten years into what might be termed the “perpetual warfare era,” the U.S treasury is sinking under the weight of war debt, as its subject citizens flounder in a rising tide of unemployment, under-employment, and an increasing scarcity of jobs necessary to lead “decent,” let alone financially transcendent lives.

Michael Parenti is an American educator, lecturer, social justice activist, and author of 23 books, including: ‘The Assassination of Julius Caesar,’ ‘Superpatriotism,’ The Culture Struggle,’ ‘Democracy for the Few,’ ‘ God and His Demons,’ and his latest, ‘The Face of Imperialism.’ Parenti is also recipient of awards from Project Censored, the Caucus for a New Political Science, the Social Science Research Council and many others organizations, including being awarded the Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition. He now serves various advisory boards and sits as a judge for Project Censored.

The crimes of empire, it’s often said, come home to roost, and The Face of Imperialism notes the homecoming of the “litany of injustices visited upon victims of U.S. imperialism: expropriation of their communal wealth and natural resources, complete privatization and deregulation of their economies, loss of local markets, deterioration of their living standards, a growing debt burden, and the bloodstained suppression of their democratic movements.”

Michael Parenti from the archive in the second half.

And; Victoria Street Newz publisher and CFUV broadcaster, Janine Bandcroft will join us at the bottom of the hour to bring us news from the city’s streets and beyond. But first, Dave Lindorff and America going to the polls.

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.

Ape Goes to Eco Warrior Screening

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.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Zoe Blunt, CLASSE, Janine Bandcroft Oct. 8, 2012

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.