Act Out! Podcast

The destruction of our planet for profit is deeply personal – so why shouldn't we treat it that way when it comes to the people perpetuating that destruction? Next up, from the streets of Puerto Rico, a look at what happened, how, why, what's next and what we can learn from this powerful push for change. https://www.facebook.com/comunaantilla/

Good news from the Grand Canyon and the problem with conflating environmental protection with indigenous issues. Next, updates from the fight against the Mountain Valley Pipeline and new research that shows just how vital stopping the fracking industry is. Finally, Iranian-American peace activist Leila Zand joins us to talk about the situation in Iran and recent developments.   https://intercontinentalcry.org/ https://www.facebook.com/appalachiansagainstpipelines http://bit.ly/supportmvpresistance https://www.fractracker.org/

Ongoing ICE raids are intersectional - and we have to see them in a broader context or our struggles will struggle and lose. PLUS Ana Tiffany Devez joins us to talk fight and build in El Paso AND we apparently don't have enough fracking infrastructure. A look at the warped thinking that perpetuates destruction and pedestals a vehemently oppressive system - and how we can creatively combat it.   https://www.artkillingapathy.com/blog/ https://unitedwedream.org/ https://weareheretostay.org/ifyouseeice/ https://www.instagram.com/foodnotwalls/ https://www.facebook.com/creativebrownresistance

Do you hear that? It's a tried and true alarm bell of a coming recession. We take a look at some recent reports on this "recovered" economy, the sadistic absurdity of wall street and what we have to do to mitigate the fall out of the coming bust. In short, we have a much better chance of surviving the violence of capitalism through the single most anti-capitalistic thing: collaboration. Next, Dr. Ashwin Vasan joins us to talk about an overlooked intersection between healthcare and the prison industrial complex. https://www.vera.org/ https://www.themarshallproject.org/ http://bit.ly/ActOutNewsletter

An important look at the ongoing steam roller of US empire, in particular in Venezuela – yeah, remember Venezuela? Dan Kovalik joins us to look behind the propaganda and into the deep and long history of US terrorism in Venezuela and beyond. PLUS some spoken word for this so-called "Independence Day."   https://twitter.com/danielmkovalik artkillingapathy.com

Legal wins against herbicides and pesticides are often just the beginning of more battles – and could fall short of the necessary change to protect our land and our soil. Next, the number of refugees worldwide is the highest its ever been, since the the UN started keeping track some 70 years ago. As the US perpetuates war, climate change and bolsters fascism here at home, we can not turn away from the reality we are creating. Finally, Vanessa Beck with Black Alliance for Peace joins us to talk about the 1033 program and the empire's militant home game. https://popularresistance.org/ https://blackallianceforpeace.com/

In the ancient forests of Northern California, a battle to protect life intensifies. Meanwhile, on the other coast, the battle against a fracked gas pipeline notches a couple of momentary wins. The US military doesn't just perpetuate climate change through war, but through actual fuel consumption. War literally is climate change. PLUS Diana Best, senior finance campaigner with BlackRock's Big Problem introduces us to the largest single investor in climate change in the world. Here's why they represent a vital target in climate justice work and more. tiny.cc/supportbasecamp Email to go to camp: efhum@riseup.net https://www.stopthewilliamspipeline.org/ https://www.blackrocksbigproblem.com

Nick Brana, founder of the Movement for a People's Party joins us to lay out the Democratic party's playbook, based on what he's seen on the inside and built in response on the outside.   https://peoplesparty.org/

A look at the worsening emergency in the borderlands – hint: the migrants aren't the ones creating the emergency. Next up, they say dissent is patriotic – but they clearly haven't met the 'Muricans pushing hardcore totalitarian legislation that criminalizes protest. And finally, we speak with a doctor from Physicians for Reproductive Health about the recent escalation in anti-reproductive rights legislation. nomoredeaths.org/ https://www.facebook.com/creativebrownresistance/ https://mutualaiddisasterrelief.org/ https://prh.org  

Try as we might, we can't hide from climate change. And now, thanks to a legally binding UN resolution, the US can't hide from its own heaps of trash. Next up, media literacy is a vital skill set – indeed, it shapes how we see every other issue. And now, there may be a way to build media literacy and hold journalists accountable by taking a page from Yelp and Rotten Tomatoes.   https://credder.com/

Last week, tens of thousands took part in the teacher's strike in Oregon. Their list of demands throw into sharp focus not only our nation's failures inside the classroom, but throughout society. Next, a Rhode Island school district has decided to publicly shame children as a kind of twisted lunch money stickup. PLUS Robbie Leppzer sits down to discuss his latest film, Power Struggle, which chronicles the decades-long grassroots fight against the nuclear power industry in Vermont, and why all Americans need to educate themselves on this issue.   https://www.powerstrugglemovie.com/ http://www.beyondnuclear.org/ https://www.nirs.org/

Human rights violations are rife in Alabama prisons – meanwhile, the Alabama Department of Corrections continues to overcrowd these torture centers while blaming mistreatment on staff shortages. Next up, we are effectively laminating our planet in plastic. And while the public recognition of plastic's evil and long life is growing, there are several aspects of this industry we don't talk about – and we really need to.   https://www.ciel.org https://bit.ly/ActOutNewsletter

Venezuela is under attack. As US empire applies various violent tactics to destabilize the nation, a group of activists stand in the way of the war machine by holding space at the Venezuelan embassy. Next, Netfa Freeman discuss pan-african issues and the neo-colonialist scramble for Africa also known as AFRICOM.   https://www.facebook.com/ColectivosporlaPaz/ http://www.pacadmv.org/

When fighting for human rights is a crime, we should all become outlaws. Sixteen activists fighting the overt rise of fascism find themselves in the crosshairs of our “justice system.” We take a look at the detention of migrant children, the celebration of white supremacist imperialism and how folks are standing up for justice. Next up, there is precious little ancient forest left in this world – and a patch in Northern California is quite literally on the chop block. We sit down with a forest protector for a look into the grotesque world of logging and destroying in the Mattole watershed.   https://bit.ly/borderland16 https://www.facebook.com/savethemattoleforest/

A special episode that takes a look at how US empire operates in two of its latest and long standing efforts to terrorize and oppress foreign peoples, trample self-determination, and whitewash hearts and minds here at home. Recently returned from trips to Venezuela and Iran, Kevin Zeese and Dr. Margaret Flowers sit down with me to discuss what US imperialism looks like from the front lines, and how the people the US targets are not only wise to these tactics, but they have no intention of submitting. https://popularresistance.org/ http://bit.ly/ActOut205VZ http://bit.ly/ActOut205Iran

Breaking up from the abusive relationship with oil and gas is no easy task – but several communities in Louisiana have started divorce proceedings. Meanwhile, lawmakers push to keep the abuser at home while the state quite literally disappears into the blue, oil-slicked abyss. Finally, two community organizers join us to talk about their current fight against a dirty energy project so horrific not even the Nazis wanted anything to do with it!   https://www.noc2d.com http://valleywatch.net

Who gets water and what does it cost? Should it even cost anything? A new report looks at what restricts access to water and the only real solution to address it. PLUS, as floods continue to pound huge swaths of the US, here's another reason to fear the storm surge (hint: snakes!) Pia Eberhardt wants you to know about the Energy Charter Treaty, a trade agreement that encompasses almost 25% of the world's countries and is on the hunt for more. https://www.energy-charter-dirty-secrets.org/

Rob from the poor to give to our wars. We take a dive into the grotesque sludge that is Trump's proposed budget - and why we should really care regardless of whether it passes Congress or not. Next up, Mnar Muhawesh with Mint Press News introduces us to NewsGuard, the new Big Brother that's here to tell you what to believe via a neo-con backed news ranking system. Hint: they wouldn't like our show. https://www.mintpressnews.com/

The war machine marches on towards toppling the democratically elected President Maduro of Venezuela. Meanwhile, the US empire isn't acting alone. Colombia is throwing in its lot with Uncle Sam to the continued detriment of both Venezuelans and Colombians. Nelly Velandia and Luisa Fernanda Gonzalez of Cumbre Nacional de Mujeres y Paz join us along with Gimena Sanchez of WOLA to discuss the ongoing human rights violations in Colombia. Focusing on war crimes against women, they explain the situation on the ground and the direct connections between their government, the United States and corporate malfeasance.   https://www.wola.org/ http://cumbrenacionaldemujeresypaz.com

Dissent – protest, direct action, civil disobedience – these are the manifestations of our power. And they are the only things that the ruling elite truly fear. Which is why we're seeing a wave of legislation being introduced to try and crackdown on that power – to strangle our ability to affect change. Here's the scoop and how we should respond. Next, industrial hemp is now federally legal – but what does that actually mean? What's included in that? And how does this affect conflicting state or local laws? Ministry of Hemp editor-in-chief Kit O'Connell joins us to lay it all out. https://ministryofhemp.com/ https://www.votehemp.com/ https://hempsupporter.com/ https://www.hemphistoryweek.com/