Reasons for Alarm, Reasons for Hope

New World Notes #482, 28:51 (May 30)
Broadcast quality MP3 (40 MB)
Decent quality MP3 (13 MB)

Eastern Phoebe

A brief talk by KD--on symbiosis, phoebes, and responding to backyard squirrel terrorism--introduces a longer (some would say "better") talk by Noam Chomsky.

Chomsky continues his discussion of the US today. This week he shares some shrewd insights on the radical pro-corporate, anti-social policies of the Republican Congress; the compromised news media; the Trump administration; the U.S.'s growing nuclear arsenal; and the government's persecution of Wikileaks' Julian Assange..

Yet Chomsky finds reasons for hope, too--in the recent large protest demonstrations by citizens; in the heroism of Assange, Chelsea Manning, and Edward Snowden; and in the popular success of Bernie Sanders.

Chomsky spoke in Cambridge, MA, on April 24, 2017, in response to questions posed by Amy Goodman. Chuck Rosina recorded the talk live. (Thanks again.) His complete recording is available on radio4all.net.

This is our fourth and final installment of Noam Chomsky's April 24 public talk. Previous installments are in NWN # 478, 479, and 480.

The Empire Turns on its Citizens

New World Notes #481, 27:46 (May 23)
Broadcast quality MP3 (38 MB)
Decent quality MP3 (13 MB)

Chris Hedges

Two short talks by journalist/essayist Chris Hedges on the bad effects of empire at home.

As empires buckle under their own weight, the harsh measures of control they use to subjugate countries abroad are turned on their own citizens. We see the evidence all around us: government spying on everyone, economic plunder, militarized police, trumped-up charges against dissenters, and the world's largest prison system.

The goal of the repression is to crush dissent and opposition, says Hedges

Hedges selections are taken from an interview with Sonali Kolhatkar, February 9, 2015, courtesy of Uprising Radio; and from a speech in Newark, NJ, October 9, 2014, courtesy of Building Bridges Radio. Many thanks to producers Sonali Kolhatkar, Ken Nash, and Mimi Rosenberg.

This installment was previously broadcast, as NWN #379, in July 2015. MP3 audio files downloaded from the links, above, may be identified as #379.

Capitalism vs. Democracy, Prosperity, Ecology

New World Notes #480, 27:52 (May 16)
Broadcast quality MP3 (38 MB)
Decent quality MP3 (13 MB)

Noam Chomsky

Nuclear weapons and climate change pose existential threats to life on earth. Democratic institutions would be able and inclined to deal with these threats. But since the 1970s, capitalism has succeeded in undermining democracy and democratic institutions, both in Europe and the U.S.  Thus we have a "perfect storm" of crises.

By undermining democracy, capitalists have also greatly increased their own wealth and reduced the prosperity of the 99%.

So argues Noam Chomsky, in this portion of his briliant and lucid recent talk in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The week's program features 13 minutes of Chomsky plus a related article, "We've Let Capitalism Kill the Planet," by Christian Sorensen. With brief introductions and commentary by KD and a song by Monty Python's Flying Circus.

Noam Chomsky spoke  on April 24 in response to questions posed by Amy Goodman. Chuck Rosina, recorded the entire talk live. (Thanks again.) His complete recording is available on radio4all.net.

"We've Let Capitalism Kill the Planet"--here lightly edited for radio by me--originally appeared on Counterpunch.org, March 28, 2017.

Noam Chomsky on North Korea and Syria

New World Notes #479, 27:25 (May 9)
Broadcast quality MP3 (38 MB)
Decent quality MP3 (13 MB)

North Korea and Syria--what to do? Noam Chomsky reveals some not-well-known facts about the situations, and he makes some intelligent suggestions for wise and humane action by the U.S.

As usual, Chomsky's analysis is a refreshing alternative to the belligerent cliches recited by government spokespersons and the corporate-controlled media.

He spoke in Cambridge, Massacgusetts, on April 24, 2017--in response to questions posed by Amy Goodman.

Chuck Rosina, recorded the talk live. His complete recording is available on radio4all.net.