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

This Week on GR

by C. L. Cook

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.

Listen. Hear.

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.