This Week on GR

by C. L. Cook

Local human rights and social justice activist, Terry Wolfwood attended an Algerian conference on Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli captivity. Terry has travelled to the West Bank and Jordan to participate in meetings and actions to further Palestinian dignity and national self-actualization on numerous occasions, bringing news of their struggle back to Victoria. Terry Wolfwood in the first half.

 

Listen. Hear.

 

And; all signs point to a spring election in B.C., where the economy, and sudden introduction of the so-called, Harmonized Sales Tax promises to be a big issue. But there's more going on in the province, and within the two leading parties, than just the HST.

Mehdi Najari is an on again off again member of the NDP, who ran against Carole James for the party's leadership in 1988 because, he says he was "fed up with [the] corporate lackeys and impostors" controlling the NDP. Mehdi Najari and the NDP's latest chance to get it right n the second half.

And; Victoria Street Newz publisher and CFUV broadcaster, Janine Bandcroft will join us at the bottom of the hour to bring us up to speed with the latest newz from the city's streets and beyond. but first, Terry Wolfwood and internationalizing the plight of Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.

 

Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Monday, 5-6pm Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, 104.3 cable, 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.com

Last Friday saw an eruption of violence in Jordan, where security forces attacked Palestinian refugees following a football match. It wasn't the first time violence has accompanied games between unofficial Palestinian champion, Wihdat and local Jordanian teams, and was quickly dismissed as a regrettable misunderstanding, but the directed actions of police, attacking only the Palestinian fans, and the level of violence used, points up the tensions existing between members of the Palestinian diaspora and countries hosting them still, three generations after the formation of Israel on their homeland.

As difficult life is for Palestinians living far from home, those still within their traditional territory face much more severe challenges. Last week too saw a gathering of Palestinians and their allies in Algeria for a conference concerning the fate of thousands of Palestinian political prisoners languishing in Israeli prisons. The conference drew attendees from 55 countries, including a delegation from besieged Gaza, and included such luminary activists as George Galloway and former U.S. Attorney General, Ramsey Clark.

Local human rights and social justice activist, Terry Wolfwood also attended in Algeria. Terry has travelled to the West Bank and Jordan to participate in meetings and actions to further Palestinian dignity and national self-actualization on numerous occasions, bringing news of their struggle back to Victoria. Terry Wolfwood in the first half.

And; British Columbia's political scene is living up to its hyper reputation; last week, long-time leader of the provincial New Democratic Party, Carole James resigned her position, opening the way for an NDP  leadership convention, following governing Liberal party leader, Gordon Campbell, who announced his own stepping down unexpectedly last month. It all points to a spring election in B.C., where the economy, and sudden introduction of the so-called, Harmonized Sales Tax promises to be a big issue. But there's more going on in the province than just the HST.