Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Dan Kovalik, Yves Engler April 1, 2026

This Week on GRadio

by C.L. Cook - GRadio.Substack.com

 

April 1, 2026 

 

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded April 1st, 2026

Listen. Hear.

Nearly three months since his abduction - in a raid Venezuelan authorities say killed more than 75 people - Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro stood in a Brooklyn court before Judge Alvin Hellerstein in his second appearance, charged with “narco-terrorism” and drug trafficking.

The case can be seen as a bellwether of the Trump administration’s new understanding of international law. In that, Maduro’s fate is likely being closely watched by other leaders called out by the American president. Leaders like Colombia’s Gustavo Petro who is currently the subject of two Department of Justice investigations.

Dan Kovalik’s a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. Dan represented unions whose membership were targeted by Colombia’s death squads, served as a foreign observor to elections in the country, and is now President Petro’s legal representative in the United States.

Kovalik’s book titles include: ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest’, ‘The Case for Palestine: Why It Matters and Why You Should Care’, and his latest, co-authored with Jeremy Kuzmarov, ‘Syria: Anatomy of Regime Change’.

Dan Kovalik in the first half.

And; following an epic seven months-long campaign, the NDP has elected a new leader. Avi Lewis, former television host and son of NDP icon, Stephen Lewis won convincingly on the first ballot over the weekend. And already he’s making all the right enemies for voicing support of the humanity of Palestinian and Lebanese populations being bombed by Israel.

Yves Engler is an activist, journalist, and author of countless articles and essays detailing Canada’s foreign policy history. He’s written a dozen books on the subject, including: ‘Stand on Guard for Whom?: A People’s History of the Canadian Military’, ‘House of Mirrors — Justin Trudeau’s Foreign Policy’, ‘Left, Right — Marching to the Beat of Imperial Canada’, and his latest, ‘Canada’s Long Fight Against Democracy’, co-written with Owen Schalk.

Yves was too famously an aspirant for the leadership of the NDP, whose campaign to be included in the debates challenged the party’s commitment to the democratic process. It proved a challenge the backroom rulers of the party couldn’t meet. His latest article at YvesEngler.com insists, ‘As right leaps to pressure Lewis, we must push left’.

Yves Engler and what next for a Lewis-led NDP, and more in the second half.

But first, Dan Kovalik and trying to read the mixed American messages on Colombia’s outgoing president, Gustavo Petro.

 

Music: David Rovics/Ai Tsuno

Song: ‘Fighting and Dying for the Billionaires’

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/31/world/americas/gustavo-petro-colombia-president-us-charges.html

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/26/venezuelas-maduro-set-to-again-appear-in-us-court-how-strong-is-the-case

https://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2026/03/the-weight-on-delcy-rodriguez/

 

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at:

https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

@GRadio at UpScrolled, and on Telegram at: https://t.me/gorillaradio2024

 

Home News Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Dan Kovalik, Aidan Jonah August 25th, 2022

This Week on GR

C.L. Cook - Gorilla-Radio.com

 

August 25th, 2022

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded August 20th, 2022

 

Listen. Hear.

Colombia inaugurated Gustavo Petro earlier this month. The election was close fought, the results indicating a near even divide between the Pacto Histórico candidate and his right-wing opposition, who split the vote between them, allowing Petro’s victory. But, whether loved or loathed what’s certain is, Colombia’s first ever leftist president has made history, and could bring “historic change” to South America’s most troubled nation. At least so says my first guest, who’s recently returned from attending the August 7th inauguration ceremonies in Bogota.

Dan Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. Dan’s observed elections in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Colombia – where he witnessed the 2016 peace plebiscite promising an end to the generational war there. Kovalik’s book titles include: ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture,’ the “Plot to” series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, Russia, (and to control the World entirely) and his latest is, ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest.’ His recent article, ‘Colombia’s First Leftist President Will Bring Historic Change, If the US Lets Him’ is a sign post at Colombia’s political crossroad.

Dan Kovalik in the first half.

And; it’s no surprise Canada’s foreign policy is aligned with the United States on Ukraine, Russia, Iran, China, and Latin America; successive federal governments have always got along by going along with our behemoth neigbour south, but it would shock many Canadians to learn the degree to which their political system has been infiltrated, and the mechanisms used to deliver the nation’s decision-making into foreign hands.

Aidan Jonah is the Editor-in-Chief of The Canada Files, a socialist, anti-imperialist news site covering Canadian imperialism, federal politics, and left-wing resistance to colonialism across the world. Jonah has broken numerous stories, including how the Canadian Armed Forces trained neo-Nazi “journalist” Roman Protasevich while he was with the Azov Battalion, and how a CIA front group funded the group which drove the so-called “Uyghur genocide” vote in parliament.

Aidan Jonah and just when did the CIA start pulling Canada’s strings? in the second half.

But first, Dan Kovalik and Colombia’s gamble on sovereignty with leftist, Gustavo Petro.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998; in Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca.  Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Dan Kovalik, Deidre Nunan October 29, 2025

This Week on GRadio

by C.L. Cook - GRadio.Substack.com

 

October 29, 2025 

 

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded October 29, 2025

 Listen. Hear.

While good news for China, the Trump administration’s unacknowledged undoing of former president Obama’s ‘Asia Pivot’ means terrible days to come for America’s “backyard”, also known as the “Western Hemisphere”. Caribbean nations are discovering that. Venezuela is fully mobilized for defense against a U.S. Fleet, including the USS Gerald Ford Carrier Group, currently circling belligerently off its coast, as Colombia prepares to be added to the Yankee target list following President Gustavo Petro’s vociferous criticism of Trump announcements regarding, and actions against, its neighbours, even as the rest of the Caribbean reacts to the string of extrajudicial executions, in the form of boat bombings triumphantly carried out by America’s military.

Dan Kovalik’s a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. Dan represented unions whose membership were targeted by Colombia’s death squads, and he’s now President Gustavo Petro’s legal representative in the United States.

Dan’s book titles include: ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest’, ‘The Case for Palestine: Why It Matters and Why You Should Care’, and his latest, co-authored with Jeremy Kuzmarov is, ‘Syria: Anatomy of Regime Change’.

Dan Kovalik and making Monroe doctrine again in the first half.

And; despite rumours of peace in Palestine, The Holocaust in Gaza continues, and nearly two years on Israel’s military continues targeting lawyers, engineers, journalists, professors, and all those people whose skills are required to operate a functioning society.

Dr. Deidre Nunan is a Canadian orthopaedic surgeon who has spent years in humanitarian medicine, working in the field in Central and West Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean. She spent three weeks of her Summer in Nasser Hospital, Gaza, and is back home now telling Canadians from coast to coast to coast just what the cost of their nation’s continued support of Israel means for the people where its bombs land.

Dr. Deidre Nunan and coming home from Gaza’s killing fields in the second half.

But first, Dan Kovalik and making Monroe doctrine again.

 

Artist: David Rovics

Song: ‘Song for a Photograph’

 

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/ and on Telegram at: https://t.me/gorillaradio2024

 

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Dan Kovalik, Andy Worthington June 18, 2025

This Week on GR

by C.L. Cook - GRadio.Substack.com

 

June 18, 2025 

 

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded June 18th, 2025.

 

 Listen. Hear.

Iran is under attack. Just as in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen, the people of that ancient land are now under the bombs and rockets of Israel and its Western accomplices.

We've seen the modus operandi repeated: destruction of vital civilian institutions and infrastructure; targeting and murder of the professional class, whether at work or at home. The criminality of this monstrous assault is beyond question; the actions of the assailants indefensible. And yet it continues day after day, city after city, crime after bloody crime.

Dan Kovalik’s a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. Over the last several months Dan has been in Syria and Lebanon - countries now hardly recognizable - and before that he visited Iran. All to see firsthand who the people behind the Western propaganda curtain really are, and to bring their stories home to America.

Dan’s book titles include: ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture’, ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest’, ‘The Case for Palestine: Why It Matters and Why You Should Care’, and 'The Plot to Attack Iran: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Iran'.

Dan Kovalik in the first half.

And; though less than the horrors inflicted upon the women, men, and children of West Asia, there is fear, and brutality being visited against refugees, immigrants - both documented and otherwise - and the American citizens defending the rights and liberties guaranteed until recently by the US Constitution. They're discovering the hard way, this Trump administration holds the laws of its own land in the same contempt as those of the rest of the World.

Andy Worthington's an English journalist, activist, author, photo-historian, filmmaker, musician, song-writer and principle of The Four Fathers band. Andy is too a co-founder of the ongoing Close Guantánamo campaign. His book titles include: ‘The Guantánamo Files: The Stories of the 774 Detainees in America’s Illegal Prison’, ‘Stonehenge: Celebration and Subversion’, and ‘The Battle of the Beanfield. Andy's articles appear at: AndyWorthington.co.uk, where I found his latest, 'The Alarming Kafkaesque Basis of Trump’s “War on Migrants”'.

Andy Worthington asking not for whom America's bell tolls in the second half.

But first, Dan Kovalik and the plot against Iran revealed in real time.

 

Music ~ “The War Machine”

Artist: David Rovics

 

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/and on Telegram at: https://t.me/gorillaradio2024

 

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Dan Kovalik, Dimitri Lascaris July 8, 2026

This Week on GRadio

by C.L. Cook - GRadio.Substack.com

 

July 8, 2026

 

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded July 8th, 2026

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The twin earthquakes devastating La Guaira state, Venezuela June 24th were accompanied last week by a disaster in neighbouring Colombia. Though the theft of democracy perpetrated during Colombia’s presidential elections cannot match the 3,342 confirmed killed in Venezuela - yet - the illegitimate elevation of ⁠Abelardo De La ​Espriella promises to inflame a starkly divided Colombian polity, signalling perhaps an end to the tenuous peace accords agreed in 2016 to stop the decades-long civil war there.

Dan Kovalik’s a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. Dan represented unions whose membership were targeted by Colombia’s death squads during the generational conflict there, and he’s served as a foreign observor to elections in that country, and acts currently as Gustavo Petro’s legal representative in the United States. He too recently became the focus of the U.K. authorities.

Dan’s book titles include: ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest’, ‘The Case for Palestine: Why It Matters and Why You Should Care’, and his latest, co-authored with Jeremy Kuzmarov, ‘Syria: Anatomy of Regime Change’.

Dan Kovalik in the first half.

And; Iranians and Shia from around the World have come to the Grand Mosalla Mosque in Tehran in their tens of millions to observe funeral commemorations for the late Supreme Leader, Imam Seyyed Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was assassinated in a sneak attack February 28, 2026 during peace negotiations. The United States and Israel claim joint responsibility for the bombing that killed the Iranian political and Shia spiritual leader along with his wife, daughter, son-in-law, infant granddaughter, and an indeterminate number of Iranian officials.

Dimitri Lascaris is a journalist, activist, lawyer, broadcaster, and co-founder of Canada’s Disruption Network. His online show, Reason2Resist is available on Rumble, Youtube, and at Substack along with his many articles “focusing on Western government criminality”. Dimitri’s spent the last couple of years focused especially on the collective West’s destruction in West Asia.

Dimitri’s traveled to Iran to witness and record the remarkable demonstration of support for the late Iranian leader.

Dimitri Lascaris from Tehran in the second half.

But first, Dan Kovalik and is it past as prologue in Colombia?

 

Music: David Rovics/Ai Tsuno

Song: ‘Last Morning’

 

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at:

https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

@GRadio at UpScrolled, and on Telegram at: https://t.me/gorillaradio2024

 

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Sophie Papp, Zain Haq, Dan Kovalik June 9th, 2022

This Week on GR

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

 

June 9th, 2022 

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded June 4th, 2022

 

Listen. Hear.

Its been almost thirty years since the Mike Harcourt NDP arrested more than a thousand people protesting the clearcut destruction of Clayoquot Sound. More than a generation later the ‘War in the Woods’ seems a cause lost to those still fighting to protect ancient forests here. Save Old Growth is a nascent citizen’s resistance campaign organizing to pressure the provincial government to legislate an end to old growth logging now!

Sophie Papp and Zain Haq are coordinators of the Save Old Growth campaign. Sophie is an islander who while studying at UVic worked too with Access4All advocating for expanded online access for immuno-compromised students, and those facing other in-person class barriers. Zain is a co-founder of and strategist for Save Old Growth. He’s been arrested multiple times for civil disobedience and was imprisoned earlier this year for blockading the path of the TransMountain pipeline.

Sophie Papp and Zain Haq in the first half.

And; Colombians voted in national elections last week. It’s seen as the first real chance to unseat finally the far right power structure that has brutalized social justice and environmental activists, the indigenous people, and union organizers there for more than three generations. The favourite going into the May 29th poll, leftist Gustavo Petro and running mate, Francia Marquez fell just short of the 50% needed for a first round victory, so will face another vote against second place finisher, Rodolfo Hernandez June 19th.

Dan Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. Dan has observed elections in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Colombia – where he witnessed the 2016 peace plebiscite promising an end to the generational war there. Of Kovalik’s 2020 film, ‘Nicaragua: The April Crisis & Beyond‘ on 2018’s so-called uprising in Nicaragua, Oliver Stone said, “Kovalik helps cut through the Orwellian lies and dissembling which make so-called ‘humanitarian intervention possible.”

Kovalik’s book titles include: ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest,’ ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture,’ and the “Plot to” series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, Russia, and to control the World entirely.

Dan Kovalik and Colombia’s second try at an electoral first in the second half.

But first, Sophie Papp and Zain Haq and stopping old growth logging.

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing since 1998. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: cfuv.ca.  Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, John Helmer, Dan Kovalik November 11, 2021

This Week on GR

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

November 11, 2021

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded October 31st and November 4th, 2021

Listen. Hear.

November 1st marks the day Russia formally ends its diplomatic mission to the Western alliance’s military arm, NATO. Explaining the move, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told the press, “[T]he basic conditions for common work no longer exist.” NATO spokesperson, Oana Lungescu called the break in relations regrettable, saying, “We have strengthened our deterrence and defence in response to Russia’s aggressive actions, while at the same time we remain open to dialogue...”

The break ostensibly follows the expulsion again from Brussels of Russian diplomats accused of being spies, but is really the culmination of years of allegations and unfounded charges leveled against the country by the West in what amounts to a determined campaign of diplomatic and media warfare.

John Helmer is a journalist, author, broadcaster, former political advisor to government, and principal behind the news website, Dances with Bears. Among Helmer’s many books titles are, ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17’ ‘Skripal in Prison’, ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia’, ‘Hitler Didn’t Die in Berlin – He Moved to Melbourne Where He Runs the State Government of Victoria: A True Covid-19 Thriller’, and the just hot of the presses, ‘Complete Dances with Bears Comic Book’, a “true to life comic book coated in laughter, the only antidote certain to neutralize Novichok in your underpants, or a BUK rocket headed for your jetliner.” 

Helmer’s recent article, ‘Little Boy & Fatman – The Two Info-War Bombs Dropped on Russia‘ chronicles the continued hard cover and paperback edition assault on the country.

 John Helmer in the first half.

And; November 7th Nicaraguans go to the polls in national and local elections. It’s another test for long-time president, Daniel Ortega’s government; a test the United States and it’s ally Canada are eager to see him fail. Following years of crippling financial sanctions, and a determined media campaign of demonization and misinformation coming from the North, the question now is if Nicaraguan’s will continue to support Ortega 14 years into the former Sandanista guerrilla’s socialist reform program.

Dan Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. Dan has observed elections in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Colombia – where he witnessed the 2016 peace plebiscite promising an end to the generational war there. Of Kovalik’s 2020 film, ‘Nicaragua: The April Crisis & Beyond‘ on 2018’s so-called uprising in Nicaragua, Oliver Stone said, “Kovalik helps cut through the Orwellian lies and dissembling which make so-called ‘humanitarian intervention possible.”

Dan is currently in Nicaragua’s capital, Managua preparing for the election.

Dan Kovalik and Nicaragua’s testing time in the second half.

But first, John Helmer and the media crusade keeping the New Cold War with Russia on ice.

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Dan Kovalik, John Helmer March 27th, 2024

This Week on GR

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

 

March 27, 2024

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 27th, 2024

 Listen. Hear.

Russia held its presidential elections ten days ago, and if you haven’t heard, incumbent candidate, Vladimir Putin won reelection. At least that’s what they’re saying in the Russian press. On this side of the Atlantic however, America (and by default its Euro-allies) filled the week after with stories of the fix being in, trying to convince their viewers and readers the man with the 80+ percent approval rating had figuratively defenestrated opposition voters to steal the win, etcetera, etcetera, blah, blah, blah.

But that was before the terror attack in Moscow that claimed 139 lives at last count, and wounded hundreds more.

Dan Kovalik was in Russia for the vote, acting as an election observer. It’s something he has a lot of experience in, having performed that function many times in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Colombia. Dan’s a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. His book titles include: ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture’ the “Plot to” series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, and Russia, ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest’, ‘Nicaragua: A History of US Intervention & Resistance’. His latest is, ‘The Case for Palestine: Why It Matters and Why You Should Care’ due out in May.

Dan Kovalik in the first half.

And; as stated, the horror in the Crocus City Hall music venue has quashed the Western fake news campaign to delegitimize Putin’s election, and now looks to effect the nature of the two-plus years war between Russia and Ukraine.

John Helmer’s a journalist and author who’s spent decades living in and reporting from Russia. He’s the principle behind the web news site, Dances with Bears, and has too been a professor of political science, sociology, and journalism and served as advisor to governments at the highest levels.

Among his many book titles are: ‘Skripal in Prison,’ ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia,’ ‘The Lie That Shot Down MH-17’, ‘SOVCOMPLOT: How Pirates Tried to Capture the Treasure of the Russian Seas, and Were Caught Out’, and his lately released autobiography, ‘Dunce Upon a Time: A Life of Mistakes’. His latest article at Dances with Bears is, ‘The Evidence on the Crocus Gang Attack in Moscow‘.

John Helmer and what is known about the heinous Moscow attack in the second half.

But first, Dan Kovalik observing democracy in action in Russia, and making the case for Palestine.

 

Songs: “This Is Genocide” “Evening News“

Artist: David Rovics

 

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/

Gorilla Radio Syria Special with Chris Cook and Dan Kovalik March 16, 2025

This Week on GR

by C.L. Cook - GRadio.Substack.com

 

March 16, 2025 

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded March 16, 2025

 

Listen. Hear.

This past week, Canada's Special Envoy for Syria reiterated his country's support of the new regime, insisting "Canada can play a meaningful role in enabling Syrians to build an inclusive country that respects all of its citizens." Omar Alghabra's statement accompanied a pledge of a further $84 million dollars for "humanitarian assistance to respond to the crisis in Syria."

Though the provenance of that "crisis" does not appear in the Global Affairs Canada press release, everyone knows the disaster currently occurring in Syria is the product of regime change policies promoted and perpetuated by Canada and its allies for nearly fifteen years. But now, as Alawite communities experience an ethnocide as predictable as the seasons, Canada would have us believe throwing money at "experienced humanitarian partners to deliver life-saving assistance" will provide the "security and stability" it claims is its paramount concern.

Dan Kovalik’s a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. He’s recently returned from Syria, his third visit, talking to the people there and bringing their stories home to America.

Dan’s book titles include: ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture’ the “Plot to” series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, and Russia, ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest’, and his latest, ‘The Case for Palestine: Why It Matters and Why You Should Care’.

Today, a special report with Dan Kovalik on the West's Genocides in Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine and more.

 

Kim Iversen: Surprise! Regime Change In Syria Leads To Alawite & Christian Massacres (with Dan Kovalik)

Joint statement of the G7 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Charlevoix

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/ and on Telegram at: https://t.me/gorillaradio2024

Gorilla Radio with Chris Cook, Dan Kovalik, Kim Goldberg May 17th, 2023

This Week on GR

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

 

May 17, 2023

 

Welcome to Gorilla Radio, recorded May 17th, 2023

 

 Listen. Hear.

The status of Crimea is becoming the main issue forbidding peace between Russia and the NATO-backed government in Kyiv. Canada’s official position – one shared by its NATO partners – treats the peninsula as “occupied” territory, referring to the 2014 referendum on joining Russia as “unconstitutional” and therefore invalid.

For his part, Ukraine president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week, “The world should know: Respect and order will only return to international relations when the Ukrainian flag returns to Crimea.”
Needless to say, Russia sees things differently.

Dan Kovalik is a lawyer, educator, labour, peace, and justice activist, democracy defender, journalist, author, and filmmaker. He’s just returned from an extended research mission in Russia, including travels throughout Crimea.

Dan’s observed elections in Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Colombia – where he witnessed the 2016 peace plebiscite promising an end to the generational war there. His book titles include: ‘Cancel This Book: The Progressive Case Against Cancel Culture,’ the ‘Plot to…’ series on American efforts to undermine the governments and economies of Iran, Venezuela, and Russia, ‘No More War: How the West Violates International Law by Using ‘Humanitarian’ Intervention to Advance Economic and Strategic Interest,’ and his recently released, ‘Nicaragua: A History of US Intervention & Resistance‘.

Dan Kovalik in the first half.

And; the epochal events roiling our World may seem to us to be all of the moment, but they are merely more of the same found under the Sun. History waxes and wanes, just as Fortune, ever capricious, turns the magnificent to meanness in a twinkle. It is all illusion, a bubble blown and popped and done. What endures are words of wisdom; verse uttered on a stage, prose printed on the page. It’s a great and humbling realization to know our times will seem someday to some others as so many tempests in a char’s pail.

And if that sounds to you like so much philosophy, and all too poet-y, you ain’t heard nothin’ yet!

Kim Goldberg is a Nanaimo-based poet, journalist, and author. She’s written 8 books of poetry and nonfiction, including her most recent collection ‘DEVOLUTION: poems and fables of eco-pocalypse‘. Kim is playing host this Saturday, May 20th in Nanaimo to ‘Poetry of Resilience’, a gathering of lettered presenters at the Harbourfront library branch. It will feature fifteen local poets and musicians sharing their vision of resilience through word and song.

Kim Goldberg with the constant poets in the second half.

But first, Dan Kovalik and Crimea as crucible of the Russia/Ukraine war.

 

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, broad/webcasting since 1999. Check out the Archive at Gorilla-Radio.com, GRadio.Substack.com, and the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.com/