Myths, Media, and Militarism Cont'd American intervention in the Balkans has helped to put children in hospitals and transform their playgrounds into graveyards. ..What | hear a lot is “Hey we don’t necessarily agree with what you say, but we like to have a fighter there that is prepared to be hon- est.” That for me is an important lesson for all politicians. 10 influx: Magazine ~ October'1999 ily agree with what you say, but we like to have a fighter there that is prepared to be honest.” That for me is an important lesson for all politicians. Kelly - I found the media coverage on the day you addressed the removal of the word GOD to be ridiculously slanted. I could not find one source that correlated your speech with the voting down of same sex rights on the same day. What is lacking is an attempt to explain complex issues. Headlines and sound bites are great for captivating ratings; unfortu- nately, a lack of even rudimentary knowl- edge of public affairs promotes prejudice. I believe the more informed the public is the better position they are in to make meaningful judgements. Do you have any views on how the information environment could be altered to allow space for alternative views and per- _spectives? Svend - I personally believe that’s one of the most important issues that we have to confront if we are serious about democracy in Canada today. One of the greatest threats to democracy is the grow- ing corporate concentration in the media, coupled with an attack on public broad- casting and alternative broadcasting. Because, on one hand, if you are silencing alternative voices and the only voices that are being heard more and more are the voices of the corpo- rate elites - to use a stereotypical expression, to kind of cap- italize it the ‘Conrad Black Media’ - if all they get is a steady diet of right wing opinion people can’t make an informed decision. They start their day with line show hosts in the morning, then they turn on their BCTV news at 6 and they get more of the same. Its owned by the same company. Then maybe after dinner they settle down in to the sofa, they pick up the Vancouver Sun or the Province and they read those papers and it’s the same right wing slant. More and more the CBC is being starved for funds and more and more corporate influence in CBC and barely enough support for public and alternative Broadcasting. I am proud to say, for example, that I am a member of Coop media. I think that coop radio is a very valuable institution in our communi- ty and there should be a lot more support for alternative media and public broad- casting. I think we should also look at cor- porate concentration and in some cases break up compact concentration in the media. Kelly - I could not have said it better myself. I’m not sure how to go about doing just that. Svend - Well the Kent Commission many years ago made some recommendations on corporate ownership, it’s just a question of the Government having the guts to do something about it, but most of them are tied to the same interests that publish the papers: a right-wing skew. Kelly - That gets them elected. Svend - That’s right. Kelly - Corporations are increasingly putting their profits before that of Public Welfare. NAFTA and the MAI are examples of pieces of enabling legislation that are allow- ing corporations to make immense profits simply by threat- ening to do something. Metal Clad successfully sued Mexico for 90 million dollars when the Mexican Government refused to give the Corporation permission to pollute a whole region. Here in Canada, Etho recently won 251 million dollars when the Government tried to put a stop to a health threat. What steps can be taken to redistribute the balance of power back into the hands of the public? This question is similar in nature to the last one, I guess I am hammering on this issue. Svend - No, no, no, it’s an important issue. Fundamentally, I mean first of all, the MMT collapse by the Federal Liberals was obscene. To cave into that kind of cor- porate blackmail and abjectivity surrender saying not only are we going to give you tax payers money, but we are going to apologize publically for suggesting this might be an even- tual health hazard is absolutely appalling. But there is a broader issue here, and you touched on it. It’s NAFTA or the MAI or APEC - we say the APEC agenda, or now the FTAA, the Free Trade American’s Agreement - what these agreements are about, fundamentally, is shaking govern- ments and preventing democratically elected governments from making decisions in the best interests of their people, the environment, culture and their countries. I believe more strongly than I have ever believed it because I have fought these things for years, that we have got to get out of these destructive agreements. Before we lose our soul, before we lose our identity as a nation. Already they’re talking about a common currency with the United States and all of this stuff. I just think we have to stand up not just for some sort of jingoistic nationalism, we have to stand up for the right for democratically elected governments to be able to make deci- sions without being blackmailed and threatened by corporate interests that have no allegiance to anybody but their share- holders. ; Kelly - On April 22 of this year you stood in the House of Commons and referred to such “profoundly important” concerns as nuclear disarming, the role of NATO and activities at Nanoose Bay. You pointed out that Canada needed to take some responsibility and stop blindly following NATO’s lead. Do you believe the present Government will have the will to sincerely address these issues taking into account that Canada is rapidly becoming one of the world’s foremost suppliers of direct and indirect military equipment? Svend - On this one we’ve got to give the federal government some credit. Lloyd Axworthy has at least moved the government off to some extent, the totally American agenda on nuclear weapons. During NATO’s fiftieth anniversary he has pushed hard for it to review it’s strategic concepts. To reconsider, for example, first use of nuclear weapons, which I mean they still have this absurd policy of first use of nuclear weapons. So, in fairness, the Liberals have taken some baby steps on this, but it’s still far too little. I think NATO is a Neanderthal. An institution that is des- perately looking for a reason to exist. I think frankly, if I had my way, we would say NATO should be wrapped up and that we should be strengthening the United Nations. Get rid of NORAD as well. What is this ridiculous concept of having mutual treaties to protect us against bombers flying in over Canada’s North. I mean surely there are better ways to spend money. Whether it’s on homelessness or poverty or many other issues such as protecting the environment. So I think Canada could be playing a much greater leadership, particu- larly on nuclear disarmament issues. What’s happening in Nanoose Bay is just outrageous. They are actually expropri- ating British Columbia land in order to cowtoe to the Pentagon. I said in the House of Commons on this issue that they’re listening to the Pentagon instead of the people in Canada. That is obviously a concern. Again, I want to be fair, on land mines Canada has done some important work. But it’s a mixed record, and certainly not the kind of leader- ship we saw from Pearson, for example. Kelly - On one hand, they petition for the process of banning land mines and on the other hand, the majority of depleted uranium that is being used by American forces is coming from Canada. Svend - Oh yeah, not only that but we were part of a military strategy in Kosovo and Yugoslavia that allowed for the use of cluster bombs. Which, as far as I’m concerned, is absolutely evil, and it’s like spewing out a lot of mini land mines. So, on one hand, we sign the land mine treaty and the other, we have that as well. Kelly - Your passion to undertake the bold task of a “Humanitarian Fact Finding Mission to [the] Balkan States” was extraordinary. Upon your return back to Canada, have you been able to find the time to contemplate your experience? I could hear anguish in your voice listening to you on the radio, I couldn’t believe you were not on every newscast, but any rate you were talking about walking through a lobby and finding out there was ....... Svend - There was the Russian Soldiers... Kelly - It sounded like they were from all over? Svend - They were mercenaries, they were Russians, Ukrainians. Kelly - It sounded like they were just there to kill. Like big Game hunters, I mean, its insane. Svend - That’s exactly what they said, I could not believe it. I just said, “What are you doing here?”, they answered, “Well, we’re here to kill Muslims.” Kelly - And they jump from hot spot to hot spot around the world. continued on p.14 photo by ladies’ assistants Myths, Media, and Militarism Cont'd ‘American intervention in the Balkans has helped to put children in hospitals and transform their playgrounds into graveyards. ..What | hear a lot is “Hey we don’t necessarily agree with what you say, but we like to have a fighter there that is prepared to be hon- est.” That for me is an important lesson for all politicians. 10 influx’ Magazine ~ October'1999 lly agree with what you say, bu we like to have a fighter there that is prepared to be honest.” That for me is an important lesson for all politicians. Kelly - I found the media coverage on the day you addressed the removal of the word GOD to be ridiculously slanted. I could not find one source that correlated your speech with the voting down of same sex rights on the same day. What is lacking is an attempt to explain ‘complex issues. Headlines and sound bites fare great for captivating ratings; unfortu- nately, a lack of even rudimentary know! edge of public affairs promotes prejudice believe the more informed the public is the better position they are in to make ‘meaningful judgements Do you have any views on how the information environment could be altered toallow space for alternative views and per- spectives? Svend I personally believe that’s one ofthe most important issues that we have to confront if we are serious about democracy in Canada today. One of the greatest threats to democracy is the grow- ing corporate concentration in the media, coupled with an attack on public broad casting and alternative | broadcasting. Because, on one hand, if you are silencing alternative voices and the only voices that are being heard more and more are the voices of the corpo- rate elites - to use a stereotypical expression, to kind of cap- italiz it the ‘Conrad Black Media’ fall they get i a steady diet of right wing opinion people can’t make an informed cision. ‘They start their day with line show hosts in the morning, then they turn ‘on their BCTV news at 6 and they get ‘more of the same. Its owned by the same ‘company. Then maybe after dinner they settle down in to the sofa, they pick up the Vancouver Sun or the Province and they read those papers and it’s the same right wing slant, More and more the CBC is being starved for funds and more and ‘more corporate influence in CBC and barely enough support for public and alternative Broadcasting. I am proud to say, for example, that Tam a member of ‘Coop media. T think that coop radio is a very valuable institution in our communi ty and there should be a lot more support for alternative media and public broad- ‘casting. Tthink we should also look at co porate concentration and in some cases break up compact concentration in the media Kelly - I could not have said it better myself. T'm not sure how to g0 about doing just that. Svend - Well the Kent Commission many years ‘ago made some recommendations on corporate ownership, its just a question of the Government having the guts to do something about it, but most of them are tied to the same interests that publish the papers a rightwing skew, Kelly - That gets them elected, ‘Svend - Thar’ right. Kelly - Corporations are increasingly puting their profits before that of Public Welfare. NAFTA and the MAI are examples of picces of enabling legislation that are allow- ing corporations to make immense profits simply by thr ening to do something. Metal Clad successfully sued Mexico for 90 million dollars when the Mexican Government refused to give the Corporation permission to pollute a whole region. Here in Canada, Etho recently won 251 million dollars when the Government tried to put a stop toa health threat. ‘What steps can be taken to redistribute the balance ‘of power back into the hands ofthe public? This question is similar in nature tothe last one, I guess I am hammering on this issue. ‘Svend - No, no, no, it’s an important issue Fundamentally, I mean frst of all, the MMT collapse by the Federal Liberals was obscene. To cave into that kind of cor porate blackmail and abjectviy surrender saying not only are we going to give you tax payers money, but we are going to apologize publically for suggesting this might be an even tual health hazard is absolutely appalling, But there is a broader issue here, and you touched on it. It's NAFI the MAI or APEC - we say the APEC agenda, or now the FTAA, the Free Trade American's Agreement ~ what these agreements are about, fundamentally, is shaking gover ments and preventing democratically elected governments from making decisions in the best interests of their people, the environment, culture and their countries. I believe more strongly than I have ever believed it because T have fought these things for years, that we have got to get out of these destructive agreements. Before we lore our soul, before we lose our identity asa nation. Already theyre talking about a common currency with the United States and all of this stuff. [just think we have to stand up not just for some sort of jingoistic nationalism, we have to stand up forthe right for democratically elected governments to be able to make deci sions without being blackmailed and threatened by corporate interests that have no allegiance to anybody but their share- holders. Kelly ~ On April 22 of this year you stood in the House of Commons and referred to such “profoundly important” concerns as nuclear disarming, the role of NATO and activities at Nanoose Bay. You pointed out that Canada needed to take some responsibility and stop blindly following NATO's lead. Do you believe the present Government wi hhave the will to sincerely address these issues taking into account that Canada is rapidly becoming one of the world’s foremost suppliers of direct and indirect military equipment? ‘Svend - On this one we've got to give the federal government some credit. Lloyd Axworthy has at least moved the government off to some extent, the totally American agenda on nuclear weapons. During NATO's fiftieth anniversary he has pushed hard for it to review it's strategic concepts "To reconsider, for example, first use of nuclear weapons, which I mean they still have this absurd policy of first use of nuclear weapons. So, in fairness, the Liberals hhave taken some baby steps on this, but i’ stil far too little. T think NATO is a Neanderthal. An institution that is des- perately looking for a reason to exist. think frankly, f Thad ‘my way, we would say NATO should be wrapped up and that we should be strengthening the United Nations. Get rid of NORAD as well. What is this ridiculous concept of having ‘mutual treaties to protect us against bombers fying in over Canada’s North. Imean surely there are better ways to spend. money. Whether it's on homelessness or poverty of many other issues such as protecting the environment. So I think Canada could be playing a much greater leadership, particu- larly on nuclear disarmament issues. What's happening in Nanoose Bay is just outrageous. hey are actually expropri- ating British Columbia land in order to cowtoe to the Pentagon. [said in the House of Commons on this isue that they're listening to the Pentagon instead of the people in Canada. That is obviously a concern. Again, I want to be fair, on land mines Canada has done some important work. But it’s a mixed record, and certainly not the kind of leader~ ship we saw from Pearson, for example. Kelly ~ On one hand, they petition for the process ‘of banning land mines and on the other hand, the majority of depleted uranium that is being used by American forces is ‘coming from Canada. ‘Svend - Oh yeah, not only that but we were part of «military strategy in Kosovo and Yugoslavia that allowed for the use of cluster bombs. Which, as far as I'm concerned, is absolutely evil, and it’s lke spewing out a lot of mini land mines. So, on one hand, we sign the land mine treaty and the other, we have that as wel Kelly ~ Your passion to undertake the bold task of. a “Humanitarian Fact Finding Mission 10 (the) Balkan ‘States” was extraordinary. Upon your return back to ‘Canada, have you been able to find the time to contemplate your experience? I could hear anguish in your voice listening {to you on the radio, I couldn't believe you were not on every newscast, but any rate you were talking about walking through a lobby and finding out there was ‘Svend - There was the Russian Soldiers, Kelly - It sounded like they were from all over? Svend - They were mercenaries, they were Russians, Ukrainians. Kelly - It sounded like they were just thereto kil, Like big Game hunters, I mean, its insane. Svend - That’ cxactly what they said, I could not believe it.I just said, “What are you doing here?, they answered, “Well, we're here to kill Muslims.” Kelly - And they jump from hot spot to hot spot around the world ‘continued on p.14 ot ye nits