Pinter on Truth, Lies, and War

Part 1: New World Notes #395, 29:05 (Sept. 29)
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Part 2: New World Notes #396, 28:54 (Oct. 6)
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Too ill to travel to Stockholm, Pinter delivers his
Nobel address by video from London, December 2005.

Playwright Harold Pinter's Nobel Prize acceptance speech of 2005 (newly edited by KD) is a stunning indictment of U.S. wars and imperialism since 1945.

Pinter contrasts dramatic art--where "truth" is elusive, perhaps unknowable--with public life. Here truth can be known. But citizens don't know the truth because the government is lying and deceiving nonstop to cover up its imperialist plundering and its vicious wars of aggression.

The heart of the speech is a stunning denunciation--and survey--of U.S. military aggression abroad since 1945. Pinter pays particular attention to the then-current war against Iraq and the proxy wars of the recent past (notably against the Sandinista government of Nicaragua, under Reagan).

Ten years on, this remains a powerful and moving indictment of U.S. foreign policy--and of the foreign policy of the U.S.'s "lapdog," Pinter's own country, the United Kingdom.

With an introduction by KD and (in Part 2) a relevant song by Ethan Miller & Kate Boverman.

Stockholm

2015 marks the 10th anniversary of Pinter's Nobel speech and the 85th anniversary of his birth (in October 10, 1930, in Hackney, London, UK). He died in 2008.

Thanks to the Nobel Prize Committee for the video of Pinter's address.  I have cut approximately six minutes from near the beginning of the speech (a close analysis of parts of certain Pinter plays) and shortened several long pauses.  The speech is otherwise complete.

Trump, Iran, and Government Lies

New World Notes #394, 27:52 (September 22)
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Voice of the Establishment (one of many):
House Speaker John Boehner (R, Ohio)

The Establishment is aghast at presidential candidate Donald Trump. Why? Because Trump cheerfully acknowedges that the System is thoroughly corrupt and serves the interests only of the wealthy and powerful.
 
KD connects the Establishment's rejection of Trump ... the phony Congressional "debate" over the phony "Iran nuclear crisis" ... and the huge gap between the Official Explanation of our government's policies and what those policies actually are.
 
Then Richard Saunders discusses many of the government's baldfaced lies and fake "crises" that have served as pretexts for war for more than a century--with a little help from the corporate-controlled media.

Plus a song by David Rovics.

Richard Saunders is Coordinator of the Coalition to Oppose the Arms Trade.

Thanks to the Global Research News Hour for the Saunders interview (of September 2013), which I have excerpted and edited.

Consumed

Part 1: New World Notes #392, 28:10 (September 8)
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Part 2: New World Notes #393, 28:13 (September 15)
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Consumerism and overconsumption, from the perspective of "evolutionary psychology." A radio adaptation (by me) of the video documentary, Consumed: Inside the Belly of the Beast.

It's an interesting view of our addiction to consumer products and (relatedly) of our estrangement from nature. The piece offers some very good insights from the fields of psychology, sociology, and economic history. Introductions by K.D.

Part 2 includes also some reflections on the same theme by economist/philosopher Charles Eisenstein.

Steve Jobs introduces Apple's iPad

This two-part program was originally broadcast in February 2013.  

Thanks to Robin Upton, producer of Unwelcome Guests, for introducing me to the documentary.

Note: If you have any problems downloading the programs from the links at the top of the page, here is an alternative source of the program (broadcast quality MP3): Part 1 and Part 2