Five years on from the so-called “Euromaidan revolution” none of the reforms, or economic improvements promised by the victorious government of chocolatier, Petro Poroshenko have materialized. The situation in Kiev is not only now worse economically than under the usurped Victor Yanukovych, but also democratically, where according to my first guest there is less freedom and more political violence than ever.
Halyna Mokrushyna, Ph.D., is an independent researcher and journalist whose research interests include: the social and economic inequality and transition challenges of post-Soviet Ukraine, social memory and the politics of memory, Russo/Canadian relations, and the broader context of post-cold war East/West relations.
Her articles appear online at Truthout, Truthdig, New Cold War.org, and CounterPunch, where her recent article, ‘The ‘Peacekeeper’ Vigilante Website and Freedom of Speech in Ukraine’ chronicles disturbing incidents of media suppression, harassment, and violence against those criticizing the Poroshenko regime.
Halyna Mokrushyna in the first half.
And; the rampant development Victoria and environs has seen these last few years is showing no sign of slowing. On the contrary, the momentum is only building, gathering steam as it heads high over the Malahat, and westward towards Sooke. All that stands between the two fingers of this expansive boom is the wild forest and rugged country of the Sooke Hills. But that may not be for long. The Capital Regional District recently announced a plan to punch a highway through the Sooke Hills, ostensibly to provide an alternate up-island route to the Malahat.
Mark Worthing is an activist, naturalist and journalist currently working with Sierra Club BC. He’s a founding member of Tanker Free BC, and has worked with a variety of environmental groups on various campaigns, and led Sierra Club’s Flathead River Basin biodiversity study. Mark cut his journalistic teeth right here at UVic’s Martlet newspaper, and working as a freelance journalist.
Mark Worthing and stopping a road running through the Sooke Hills 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 to get up to in and around our town in the coming week, but first, Halyna Mokrushyna and under the gun and on the run from Ukraine’s “Peacekeepers”.
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"}