Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Brian Czech, Jon Elmer, Janine Bandcroft Jan. 27, 2014

This Week on GR

by C. L. Cook - Gorilla-Radio.com

As 2014 begins, we in British Columbia are standing on the precipice of a familiar conflict; one pitting the interests of nature against the forces of economy. Each side has staked its respective positions: Jobs before scenery versus sustained natural survival over short-term profit. The "War in the Woods" this time though is of a grander scale than ever seen here before.

Governments, allied with trans-national corporate operators, are pulling out all the stops to ensure B.C. becomes a global energy-supply superstore for primarily Asian industrial expansion. Doing this, following their model, requires untold thousands of frack well pads, thousands of miles of pipelines, and mega-tanker access to refinery ports along this rugged coast, necessary they say to guarantee our economic prosperity moving forward. On the other hand, opponents argue; "Is this worth irreversible environmental and social risk?"

Listen. Hear.

Dr. Brian Czech is the founding president of CASSE the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy. He holds a Ph.D in renewable natural resource studies from the University of Arizona, and is a Visiting Professor teaching ecological economics in the National Capitol Region at Virginia Tech. Brian's scientific articles have appeared in dozens of peer-reviewed journals, while his more popular writings are published regularly at The Huffington Post and the Daly News blog.

Brian Czech is also the author of several books, his titles including: 'Shoveling Fuel for a Runaway Train,' 'The Endangered Species Act: History, Conservation Biology, and Public Policy,' and his latest, 'Supply Shock: Economic Growth at the Crossroads.' He's also an Interdisciplinary Biologist in the national office of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, where he received the 2010 Star Award for outstanding performance.

Brian Czech in the first half.

And; Canada's prime minister visited Israel last week. It was Stephen Harper's first official visit, and as well as raising eyebrows over there, the trip has stirred controversy at home. Jon Elmer is a Canadian freelance journalist and photojournalist specializing in the Middle East, and on Canadian foreign and military policy.

Jon has lived in and reported from Occupied Palestine for the better part of the last decade, while reporting too from more than a dozen countries from Nepal and Western Sahara, to the Basque country, and here in Canada. His articles and photographs are featured at the Journal of Palestine Studies, Le Monde diplomatique, The Progressive, and Al Jazeera English among others, and he contributed, with Anthony Fenton, to the book, 'Empire's Ally: Canada in Afghanistan.'

Jon Elmer on Stephen Harper in the Holy Land 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 what's good to do in and around Victoria in the coming week. But first, Brian Czech and getting ready for future supply shocks as our economy hits a crossroads.

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.