The rank hypocrisy of Western civilization’s ruling elite, though never really too deeply hidden has, with the recent arrests of journalists and raids against their publishers, broken the surface of the body politic like some septic pustule.
But worse than embarrassment, this sore blooming in the face of much vaunted “rule of law” proclamations made across the once Free World, and elsewhere, is more pox than spot, and not easily vanished by either creams, lotions, or official bromides.
Last week, Australia’s State broadcaster ABC was just one such media outlet to experience the new democratic understanding of press rights and freedoms.
John Helmer is a journalist, former academic, government policy advisor, author, broadcaster and principal behind the news website, Dances with Bears. An Australian national, his recent article, ‘The Julian Assange Case Now Puts the US on Trial in a British Court: Is There a GET-OUT-OF-JAIL Card for Assange?‘ explores security state targeting of journalism, and the unenviable fate of his countryman and all those caught up in the new anti-information dragnets.
Some of John Helmer’s book titles include: ‘The Deadly Simple Mechanics of Society’, ‘Drugs and Minority Oppression’, (with Claudia Wright) ‘The Jackal’s Wedding – American Power, Arab Revolt’, ‘Grand Strategy for Small Countries, Case Studies in Transforming Weakness into Power,’ and his latest is the newly out political and personal memoir, ‘The Man Who Knows Too Much About Russia’.
John Helmer in the first half.
And; Canada’s senate has shot down proposed amendments to the new Impact Assessment Act, also known as Bill C-69. This despite what one Senator reports was a veritable “flood” of evidence from fishing organizations, indigenous leaders, and environmental groups concerned that, as it stands, the Bill delivers regulation of seabed oil exploration permits into the hands of petroleum interests.
Gretchen Fitzgerald is the National Programs Director of the Sierra Club Canada Foundation. Her work focuses on environmental impacts of offshore oil and gas, volunteer engagement, and climate change.
Gretchen Fitzgerald and rescuing the New Impact Assessment Act…Before It’s Too Late! in the second half.
And; Victoria-based activist and long-time Gorilla Radio contributor, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with some of what’s good going on in and around our town in the coming week. But first, John Helmer and journalism under fire.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Thursday between 11-Noon 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/","author_name":"Pacific Free Press"}