Almost as famous in Canada for the billions of government dollars cycled through its operations as it is for the seminal snow vehicle, the Ski-doo, Bombardier Inc. is currently earning international recognition too; though infamy might be the more accurate descriptor of reaction to the aerospace giant’s involvement in the A1 rail project promising to dissect centuries-old villages, disrupting the lives and destroying the livelihoods of people who will likely never be allowed to use the high-speed double-decker train carriages rocketing through their communities.
What’s worse though is, despite the A1’s probable illegality under international law, Bombardier’s participation in the project chugs along with the full support of the Canadian state.
Dave Thomas is an associate professor in the department of politics and international relations at Mount Allison University on Mi’kmaq territory, whose teaching and research interests focus on the role Canadian actors abroad play in international political economy, and the study of critical pedagogy.
His recent article in Briarpatch Magazine, ‘Bombardier and Israel: A corporation’s complicity in Palestinian dispossession‘ examines this country’s part in the contentious AI High-Speed rail project cutting through Palestine’s West Bank.
Dave Thomas in the first half.
And; in what may prove a preview of things to come on this side of the Pacific, last week South Korea’s president was removed from office in a political influence corruption scandal, the investigation of which this week reached into the boardrooms of some the country’s biggest companies.
Park Geun-hye, daughter of South Korea’s assassinated former military dictator, Park Chung-hee was impeached in December, but until last week enjoyed presidential immunity. The case has ignited a furore in the South, even as tensions escalate between North Korea and the Combined Forces Command, currently holding the biggest ever of its annual Foal Eagle “war games” exercises.
Tim Shorrock is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist, musician, and author of the book, ‘Spies for Hire: The Secret World of Intelligence Outsourcing.’ His articles appear at his website, TimShorrock.com, and in the Washington Post. Tim grew up in Asia, and spent much of the 1980’s in Japan, reporting on the financial intrigues of the then-biggest of the Asian Tiger economies.
Tim Shorrock in the second half.
And; passionate educator, horticultural innovator, and intrepid green business entrepreneur, Christina Nikolic will be here with the Left Coast News and Events update at the bottom of the hour. But first, Dave Thomas and “a [Canadian] corporation’s complicity in Palestinian dispossession.”
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Wednesday, 1-2pm Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: http://cfuv.ca. He also serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: https://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/
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