Reproductive Rights Crusader Bill Baird

New World Notes #321, 29:00 (April 29)

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Bill Baird (right), busted in Boston, 1967

For decades, Bill Baird has been a crusader for reproductive rights, including the right to purchase contraceptives--still illegal in Massachusetts (and elsewhere) in the 1960s!

Seeing a woman die from an attempted coat-hanger abortion changed his life. He survived assassination attempts, 8 criminal convictions, prison brutality, the firebombing of his abortion clinic (the nation's first), the breakup of his family, and the absence of any help from NOW, ACLU, & other potential allies. One of his 3 Supreme Court cases was cited 6 times in Roe v. Wade.

A scary and stunning story, well-told by Baird himself. Excerpted from a panel discussion at the University of Hartford, February 16, 2010.

This is a rebroadcast of New World Notes #110 (April 13, 2010)

Imperialism Old and New

Part 1: New World Notes #319, 29:29 (April 15)

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Part 2: New World Notes #320, 28:59 (April 22)

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A classic talk from 1999 by political scientist Michael Parenti.  It's just as illuminating today as it was then--and often funny, too. It is titled, Globalization: the New Imperialism.

In Part 1, Parenti shows how the Western colonial powers un-developed the "Third-World"--increasing poverty there in order to enrich private corporations at home. Indeed (Parenti argues), almost all U.S. foreign policy seems aimed at increasing the profits of the Fortune 500.

This is the real purpose of the hundreds of U.S. military interventions abroad--many of which overthrew democratically elected governments, replacing them with dictatorships friendly to U.S. corporate interests. Boosting corporate profits likewise is the reason befind our recent spate of "humanitarian" military interventions.

In Part 2, Parenti shows that imperialism's current form is "multilateral free-trade agreements" such as NAFTA and GATT. These draconian, anti-democratic treaties give corporations the power to veto any national laws that might interfere with their profits.

Parenti's brilliant, passionate, and funny talk is as relevant today as it was in 1999.

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Brief introductions by KD.

The recording of Parenti's talk courtesy of Sally Soriano and People's Video-Audio. I have slightly condensed Part 2 to fit our radio timeslot.

Bill Hicks

New World Notes #318, 28:56 (April 8)

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Cultural critic and stand-up comedian Bill Hicks died 20 years ago at age 32. In memoriam, we present a sampling of his recorded routines (suitable for broadcast).  With brief introductions by KD.

Included:

• The war
• The elite
• Hillbillies
• Gays in the military
• "This is your brain on drugs"
• Jay Leno
• It's only a ride

Thanks to Scooter at KPFT-FM in Houston for some of the selections here.