Potppourri 2 (Gaza and Honduras)

New World Notes #334, 28:11 (July 29)

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Once again we try for a mixture of several different topics and stories--a "potpourri." (This sounds nicer than "hodgepodge.")  We end up with just two: Israel's latest assault on Gaza and the causes of the wave of child immigrants from Central America.

Or maybe these are not even different topics but just two parts of the same old story.

The show features commentary by KD, an article by journalist Ted Rall, a short video by Jewish Voice for Peace, and a song by Bruce Cockburn.

Notes, comments, and links

The video played on the show--Declaration, from the youth wing of Jewish Voice for Peace--is available on YouTube.  Click link to view.

Other resources mentioned on the show:

• http://www.youngjewishproud.org/
• http://www.thestruggle.org/
• http://www.commondreams.org/
• http://www.counterpunch.org/

Music added: Bruce Cockburn, "If I Had a Rocket Launcher," from Slice of Life: Live Solo (2009).

Morris Berman Returns

New World Notes #333, 28:50 (July 22, 2014)

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Morris Berman

Back from Seattle, KD reflects briefly on urban vitality, urban decline, and the dubious future of the whole political-economic System as we know it. Then, in a brilliant informal talk (a Q&A session), cultural historian Morris Berman discusses these issues and more--including digital technology, today's youth, and the failures of the "mainstream" media.

In November 2013, we broadcast a lecture by Berman that preceded this Q&A (NWN #297, "The Hollow Men"). But Berman's remarks today--lightly edited by KD--stand nicely on their own.  Thanks to Robin Upton, producer of Unwelcome Guests, for the audio.

Thought experiment: Which would you choose: legal marijuana or good weather?  Both arrived in Seattle at the same time, in the first half of July, 2014.  During my visit, I didn't hear anybody say anything at all about pot, but everyone was marvelling at five consecutive days without rain!  To a New Englander, the Pacific Northwest takes a little getting used to. . . .

More Berman:  Want to hear more of Morris Berman?  Here are two past installments featuring him.  Right-click to download:

• NWN #297, The Hollow Men (November 2013)
  
• NWN #200, Morris Berman (January 2012)

Pioneer Square neighborhood, Seattle, July 2014. 
(Note actual sunshine.)  Photo by Kenneth Dowst.
License: Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial

Is It Time To Stop Drinking Coke?

Note to radio stations:  This page is going up earlier than usual.  The installment you want might be on the previous page.  The installment on this page debuts in Hartford on July 15.

New World Notes #332, 29:15 (July 15, 2014)

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A manufacturer's dream: remove those pesky union organizers with your own death squad! Coca-Cola's bottlers in Colombia have done this for years. Here's the story in prose (by Julian Borger) and song (by David Rovics).

If you'd prefer to die more slowly, try drinking a whole lot of Diet Coke--or any other food containing aspartame (NutraSweet). James Corbett explains.

Fun Fact: What do NutraSweet & the Iraq War have in common?  Donald Rumsfeld!

This installment is a repeat of NWN #75, broadcast in August 2009.

The show discusses a 1971 Coke commercial titled "Hilltop." A video is here.

Lest we forget:  "Coke" and "Coca-Cola" are registered trademarks of The Coca-Cola Company.