Spain is undergoing a crisis of democracy not seen since the rise of Generalissimo Francisco Franco’s fascist regime in the 1930’s. Over the weekend a Catalan referendum on separation was conducted, despite being declared illegal by the federal government. Police violence and other attempts to shut down the vote have played very badly abroad, and played right into the hands of regional president, Carles Puigdemont who, rumour has it, will unilaterally declare independence next week.
Dr. Pablo Ouziel is a Post-Doctoral fellow here at UVic,whose project in progress is, ‘Towards Democratic Responses to the Crisis of Democracy in Spain: Forms of Participatory and Representative Civic Engagement.’ He’s a Spanish national, and more poignantly, Catalan.
Dr. Pablo Ouziel in the first segment.
And; if any single thing emblemizes our times it is the dizzying pace of change. Just ten days ago the World trembled at the thought of a nuclear conflagration, triggered through the volatile confluence of overblown egomania one the one hand and extreme narcissism on the other. Which of these elementary character flaws describes the leader of America and which North Korea’s is both debatable, (one certainly not precluding the other) and a question wiser minds defer pondering. What’s certain though is: we’re living in mad days indeed.
Dimitri Lascaris is a lawyer, journalist and activist, reporting for The Real News Network. In his recently filed TRNN report, ‘Mad Man vs. Rocket Man: North Korea Crisis Hits Fever Pitch‘ he asks “Can the generals hold the impulsive American president in check?”
Dimitri Lascaris exploring perhaps the planet’s most dangerous territory, that space between the ears of Donald Trump, in the second segment.
And; Victoria-based activist and CFUV Radio broadcaster at-large, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottomish of the hour with the Left Coast Events Bulletin update. But first, Yves Engler and Jagmeet Singh; new bottle for old wine, or fresh start for a stale third party?
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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