Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Jon Lee, Nadir Shansab, Janine Bandcroft May 27, 2015

This Week on GR

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

"A free press is the bellwether of democratic health," or so the saying goes. It's an accepted cliché to cast media as guardian and defender of the western ideal, but can we seriously consider the only thing standing between liberty and its sorry alternative is Sun Media, or Rupert Murdoch?

Far from championing the common weal, the over-concentrated, corporate interested fourth estate is today antithetical to the interests of Jane and Joe Blough; and, the sadder truth is: We can no longer count on the CBC to perform media's vital watchdog role either.

Happily, the vacuum created by that lack of enthusiasm within the Canadian media establishment to defend the country's democracy is quickly being filled by citizen journalists and community organizations who are bypassing traditional broadsheets and broadcasters to inform themselves and their neighbours.

Listen. Hear.

In that spirit, this Saturday, May 30th the Lower Island News is presenting 'Changing the Media Landscape' at Oaklands Community Centre. It's an opportunity to get acquainted with the changing nature of modern media.

Jon Lee is a volunteer organizer with the Lower Island News, and he joins us in the first half.

And; the media told us invading Afghanistan was the correct response to the 9/11 attacks. In the years since the narrative has varied, but fourteen years later, and an uncounted number of dead, maimed, orphaned, and people made homeless, Afghanistan is worse off now than when the West's "noble Mission" began. And, the Taliban, supposed object of the invasion and occupation, are as powerful now as ever.

Nasir Shansab is a dual resident of the United States and Afghanistan. The businessman, political commentator, and author was an advisor to the Ronald Reagan White House during the Soviet invasion and occupation of his home country, and has shared his unique insight into the country's centuries-long history of war and resistance with numerous media outlets in the U.S. Nasir's first book, 'Soviet Expansion in the Third World: Afghanistan a Case Study' was published from exile in the United States during the Mujahideen's resistance to the Soviets. His just released second book is, 'Silent Trees: Power and Passion in War-Torn Afghanistan,' a thinly disguised fictional account of life between and during Afghanistan's latest wars and occupations.

Nasir Shansab and bringing voice to Afghanistan's silence in the second half.

And; Victoria Street Newz publisher emeritus and CFUV broadcaster, Janine Bandcroft will join us at the bottom of the hour to bring us news of some of what's good to do in and around Victoria in the coming week. But first, Jon Lee and charting a changing media landscape.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Wednesday, 1-2pm Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: http://cfuv.uvic.ca, and now heard at Simon Fraser University's http://www.cjsf.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.